Top 2026 recruit Saniyah Hall commits to USC women's basketball
Hall, a 6-foot-1 forward out of Spire Institute, recently starred at the U19 FIBA World Cup. She earned tournament MVP honors while helping Team USA win gold this summer. Hall was among only three 16-year-olds on the American roster, playing alongside several teammates who are already playing in college or entering college this year. Against Australia in the final, Hall scored 25 points on 50 percent. Despite being the second-youngest player, she led Team USA with 19.9 points per game, ranking third overall in scoring, fourth in steals and eighth in blocks.
SANIYAH MAKING EM DANCE 💃 @saniyahhall_ #USABWU19 x #FIBAU19 pic.twitter.com/uHKRYkk4V5
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 19, 2025
By adding Hall, USC has further established itself as one of the premier destinations in women's college basketball. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb signed sensation JuJu Watkins, the No. 1 recruit in 2023, then followed up by landing the No. 1 class in 2024. Jazzy Davidson, a top-three recruit in the class of 2025, is also set to join USC this fall. Hall is just the latest elite high school star drawn to the program's rising national profile.
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Watkins, The Athletic's reigning Player of the Year, sustained a season-ending right knee injury during the NCAA Tournament in March and is expected to miss time next season. Her lengthy rehabilitation could open the door for a return — potentially alongside Hall — for her senior season in 2026.
The Trojans went 31-4 last year, winning the Big Ten regular season title and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
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New York Times
a few seconds ago
- New York Times
NASCAR Cup Series at Iowa odds, predictions: Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell favored. How likely is an upset?
The NASCAR Cup Series is in Iowa this weekend, with just four races left before the playoffs commence. Drivers on the points bubble will be extra hungry for a win to clinch their playoff spot, and hoping that another new winner doesn't emerge from the field to push the cut line down. There's a lot to unpack about the Iowa race, the standings, the controversies around the playoff format and more. So, ahead of Sunday's race, we're bringing those questions, as we always do, to our resident NASCAR experts, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi. Take it away, guys! We've talked about Bubba Wallace a lot — what a thrilling way to see him finally clinch a win! Can you frame this from a historic standpoint for NASCAR and a career standpoint for Wallace? How much of an upset was this? Jeff: It feels like it was an upset simply in the sense that the Brickyard 400, barring some fluky weather or fuel-saving situation, was going to be about the best of the best on the top teams. And ultimately, you had a second-tier team (23XI Racing) with its B driver (instead of Tyler Reddick) beating everyone straight up — then holding off Kyle Larson on two overtime restarts when Wallace could have choked it away. When you consider Wallace had never won a regular-season race at all (his two victories came during the playoffs when he was a non-playoff driver), let alone one of NASCAR's crown jewels, this felt pretty significant for a driver who has been trying to break through. Advertisement Jordan: There's always pressure, but when you drive for a team co-owned by Michael Jordan, that pressure is amplified considerably. Then, when you factor in that Wallace hadn't won in 100 races, all while teammate Tyler Reddick has won multiple times and nearly the 2024 championship, Wallace needed that victory in a big, big way. And that he won at Indy of all places, and in the manner that he did, only enhances his accomplishment. This was huge. Now the perhaps-unanswerable: Do you think he pushed through a mental block with this win? Should we expect a better trajectory/focus? (Jeff said in early June that 'Maintaining track position up front and avoiding miscues are the two areas Wallace's No. 23 needs to improve upon.') Jeff: Wallace has been very vocal about his own confidence issues and mental weaknesses, which he has been working on over the years. Even after Indianapolis, Wallace said he spent the last 20 laps telling himself he couldn't get it done; at times, he can be his own worst enemy. But after a moment like Sunday, you would think going head-to-head with the best and not coughing it up — I personally thought he would lose the race once his lead was erased and it was headed to an overtime restart against Larson — has to be a major boost for his psyche. Next time he's in a clutch situation like that, he'll know for sure he can execute and deliver a win. Jordan: You'd think out-dueling Larson on multiple late-race restarts would give Wallace all the confidence in the world. It should. But a similar sentiment existed in 2022 when he won at Kansas, seemingly sticking it to all the naysayers. Then he went another 100 races between victories. So while Indianapolis should be a launching pad to bigger, sustained success, let's see what happens going forward. Nonetheless, let's again acknowledge how impressive Wallace was on Sunday in earning a win he certainly deserved. You wrote about a NASCAR playoff committee this week, noting that, at one point, the playoff format seemed certain to change for next year, but now it may not. One question: Is anyone in NASCAR still in favor of keeping the current one-race championship format? Jeff: There are certainly some on the TV side, the racetrack side and perhaps a few in the driving corps who like the format as-is and don't want to change it. I've spoken to them, at least privately. The argument is that the current format maximizes drama and excitement and forces drivers to step up, and they think it has created incredible moments (which is fair). But when it came time for anyone to vouch for it in the second meeting of the playoff committee in May, no one raised their hand to make their case for retaining it. That's not to say no one likes it privately, just that no one in the room spoke up for it. Advertisement In June, I did a poll on X that received more than 30,000 votes, and only 8.5 percent of fans voted in favor of keeping the current format. You can see the results here. Similarly, NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin did a poll, and only 7 percent voted for that option. Among fans, I'd confidently say it is the least desirable option — and that opinion is shared by the majority of the committee. The bottom line is the one-race format hasn't felt credible enough as a championship, and the playoff committee members are seeking a way to add more legitimacy to such an important part of the sport. Jordan: (Pours a drink. Then another. Long sigh.) The current playoff format deserves to be thoroughly dissected and examined. And if, from that, a better playoff format can be conceived, then wonderful. But to sit there and say with broad strokes that this format is primarily about luck and diminishes the championship feels a bit disingenuous. Last year, Joey Logano rose to the occasion when it mattered the most, effectively willing himself to the championship. Yet, instead of praising this as would've likely happened had it been a fan-favorite driver, he's cast as an 'undeserving champion' by a large swath of people. That's ridiculous. And if you look back on the history of this format, a valid case can be made that the eventual champion in most years was deserving. How likely is it that this race puts a new race winner in the playoffs? Jeff: I would have said the Brickyard only had a 20 percent chance or less — and I was wrong — so I'll go with 30 percent for Iowa. It's the second time NASCAR has raced at Iowa Speedway, but look at last year's inaugural race: Ryan Blaney dominated and won it, Larson led 80 laps and William Byron, Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell all finished in the top four. No surprises there. That said, we haven't seen a track like Iowa yet this season — it's sort of a hybrid short track — so you can't count out a surprise driver hitting on something. But I don't think it's very likely at all, personally. Jordan: Unlikely. Expect a repeat winner on Sunday as Iowa is just not the kind of track conducive to producing an upset. When the checkered flag waves, bet on a familiar face celebrating in victory lane. Advertisement Who do you like to win this Sunday? Jeff: Before I looked at the odds, I thought I was going to have a sneaky little pick for you: Christopher Bell. Then I realized he is already the No. 3 favorite (+475), just behind Blaney and Larson (who are tied at +450). So I guess my pick isn't exactly going out on a limb. I just thought, given Bell's two self-spins while racing for the lead at Dover two weeks ago and then his huge gaffe at Indianapolis that cleaned out Zane Smith, maybe bettors would have soured on Bell a bit. After all, he's gone winless since winning three straight races (Nos. 2-4 of the season) — which seems like a lifetime ago. But Bell is a terrific short-track racer, and he won at Phoenix, which is probably the closest thing we've seen to Iowa so far this year. So I'll go with him. Jordan: Having broken out of his mid-summer swoon, Kyle Larson is back to having a consistent presence toward the front of the field. He was fast at Dover two weeks ago and nearly won last week at Indy. He's long due for another win, and Iowa is the place it happens, setting up a late-push run to the regular-season championship. Who is a long shot you like? Jeff: Shout it from the rooftops: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at +15000. The long-shot talk heading into the Iowa race last year was about Stenhouse, who once won three straight Iowa races during his Xfinity Series days. Then at the inaugural Iowa Cup race, Stenhouse went out and finished fifth — his only top-five finish on a paved non-superspeedway in the last three-plus seasons. Heck, Stenhouse is +350 to even finish in the top 10 at Iowa. Sometimes drivers just click with certain tracks, and it feels like Iowa could be one of those for Stenhouse. Jordan: Ty Gibbs is listed at +4400, which is too high for a driver at a top organization that has had speed to win a handful of races this summer. The same applies to Alex Bowman, who's at +5000. Neither of these drivers is a likely winner on Sunday, but it certainly wouldn't be a shock if it happened. And for a deep sleeper, go with Erik Jones (+20000). He and his Legacy Motor Club team have been much improved to the point that he's both qualifying and racing better, and if he can get a little luck, Jones could turn some heads. Betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Kyle Larson: James Gilbert / Getty Images)
Forbes
30 minutes ago
- Forbes
The Whitney: Sierra Leone And Fierceness Put Their Rivalry On The Line
DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Flavien Prat #11 aboard Sierra Leone passes Fierceness ridden by John Velazquez #9 in the Breeders Cup Classic to win the Breeders Cup Classic on day two of the2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Race Track on November 02, 2024 in Del Mar, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Getty Images It's not as if 2024 Breeders' Cup champion Sierra Leone and his hard-charging runner-up Fierceness are the only two horses in today's Grade 1 $1-million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, but the longing among the racing punditocracy for a possible match-race-within-the-race between the two has been intense and has somewhat bigfooted the players' rather delicate exotic-building for Saratoga's 98th running of the midsummer feature. What to do? Dive in and enjoy it: Saffie Joseph is bringing White Abarrio and Skippylongstocking back, Steve Asmussen has entered Disarm. The Whitney bench of talent is unquestionably deep, so that there are multiple ways for whatever Todd Pletcher (Fierceness) and Chad Brown (Sierra Leone) have in mind to be wrecked as their athletes go head to head against each other. But before we get into what Irad Ortiz Jr. can do aboard White Abarrio to ruin Todd Pletcher's and Chad Brown's day, here's the refresher on the field. (Post Position, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Morning Line) (SCRATCH) Mindframe, Jose Gomez, Todd Pletcher, 5-2 Skippylongstocking, Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph Jr., 10-1 Highland Falls, Luis Saez, Brad Cox, 8-1 Mama's Gold, Romero Maragh, Jimmy Ferraro, 50-1 Sierra Leone, Flavien Prat, Chad Brown, 2-1 Disarm, Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen, 15-1 White Abarrio, Irad Ortiz Jr., Saffie Joseph Jr., 4-1 Contrary Thinking, Dylan Davis, Chad Brown, 50-1 Fierceness, John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 9-5 Post Time, Sheldon Russell, Brittany Russell, 12-1 (Source: NYRA, 8/2/2025) Enormous fun would be to see a fine stretch duel between the two Breeders' Classic gladiators this afternoon, and arguably even more fun for a goodly portion of the players would be to see Fierceness turn the tables and edge out his rock-hard rival. Sierra Leone rather snatched the lion's share of the $7-million purse last time out. There are as many who would favor Sierra Leone to bring another majestic close, but neither horse has had the best 2025 thus far, and that has led to some doubts in the oddsmaking hivemind, namely, right in front of us in the morning line. The (decisive) Breeders' Cup Classic victor has been seated on the second-favorite rung, at 2-1, while at 9-5 Fierceness, who has had a narrowly better 2025, has been touted the race favorite. It's rare for a Breeders' Cup Classic winner to be slotted second to anybody, but them's the breaks, and that's the reality of the view of Sierra Leone's current mental and physical fitness. In the take-no-prisoners view of the NYRA oddsmakers, the gap between the two horses grows more clear when we look at the morning line's implied probabilities. At 9-5, Fierceness comes into race day with a 37.5% implied probability of winning the race. Sierra Leone's flat 2-1 odds mean that he carries a 33.3% chance of winning, or 4.2% less than Fierceness. At this stratospheric level of equine talent, that 4.2 percentage point difference is a big gap. As ever, the running of the 98th Whitney will bear out the numbers or it won't. Their top-favorite status noted, there's still quite a laundry list of things to do for John Velasquez and Fierceness to beat off any sort of huge Sierra Leone close, whenever he brings it. One way to put this is to reduce their many complex tasks to two words: fuel management. They can ill afford too much pace, and they certainly don't want to get drawn into skirmishes up the backstretch with the likes of White Abarrio, who will be gunning for them. Similarly, one way to reduce Sierra Leone's and Flavien Prat's work to a phrase would be to say: They have a furlong less in which to get it done today. And as he does for Fierceness, White Abarrio looms as an especially distracting nightmare alongside Highland Falls and Skippylongstocking. These three have the moxie not just to distract but to occupy the full attention of the two favorites. In their thriller of a finish in the Classic, Sierra Leone and Flavien Prat didn't have just a little more the tank at Del Mar last November 2, they had a lot. As a result, the victor looked like he was out for a breeze as he overtook Fierceness and put a length-and-a-half between himself and the place horse by the time they got to the wire. But back then, Prat and Sierra Leone had that one downright luxurious extra furlong with which to play than they have this afternoon.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cubs meet the Orioles with 1-0 series lead
Baltimore Orioles (50-60, fifth in the AL East) vs. Chicago Cubs (64-45, second in the NL Central) Chicago; Saturday, 2:20 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Orioles: Tomoyuki Sugano (8-5, 4.38 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 71 strikeouts); Cubs: Matthew Boyd (11-4, 2.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 110 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cubs -209, Orioles +172; over/under is 8 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs host the Baltimore Orioles with a 1-0 series lead. Chicago has a 34-19 record at home and a 64-45 record overall. The Cubs have the highest team batting average in the NL at .255. Baltimore has a 50-60 record overall and a 23-33 record on the road. The Orioles have a 20-12 record in games when they did not allow a home run. Saturday's game is the second time these teams match up this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Tucker has 21 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 61 RBIs for the Cubs. Matt Shaw is 11 for 35 with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs over the past 10 games. Jackson Holliday leads the Orioles with 14 home runs while slugging .412. Jordan Westburg is 13 for 45 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 5-5, .243 batting average, 5.28 ERA, outscored by nine runs Orioles: 6-4, .297 batting average, 3.38 ERA, outscored opponents by 39 runs INJURIES: Cubs: Miguel Amaya: 60-Day IL (oblique), Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (calf), Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Javier Assad: 60-Day IL (oblique), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow) Orioles: Zach Eflin: 15-Day IL (back), Colin Selby: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Felix Bautista: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Maverick Handley: 10-Day IL (head), Scott Blewett: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jorge Mateo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gary Sanchez: 10-Day IL (knee), Ryan Mountcastle: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Cade Povich: 15-Day IL (hip), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Albert Suarez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Wells: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Bradish: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
