Latest news with #NBA-style
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries mailbag: Readers ask about roster size, hardship contracts and who will stick around
The WNBA and Golden State Valkyries are a new dimension for Bay Area sports fans, so we wanted to offer an open mailbag to give readers the chance to ask anything they wanted after the first few Valkyries games. There were a lot of fun questions, but some stood out as the best opportunities to explain the WNBA's complexities. It's hard to define one style since WNBA teams vary. The WNBA uses a smaller ball and shorter quarters, and player size is one of the most valuable assets a team can have. Unlike the NBA's 3-point focus, the WNBA rewards dominant big players like Jonquel Jones and A'ja Wilson. NBA play relies more on athleticism and a star ballhandler, while the WNBA emphasizes team depth. As Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen told the Chronicle when Washington played the Valkyries, you can't out-athlete anyone in the WNBA, but 'basketball IQ is how you win games.' The Valkyries are using NBA-style tactics to get bigs shooting 3s, a unique approach that might be due to head coach Natalie Nakase 's past as an NBA coach with the Clippers. After this season, the Valkyries have the rights to only five players from their current roster: Kate Martin (through 2027), Carla Leite (through 2028) and reserved free agents Janelle Salaün, Kyara Linskens and Julie Vanloo, who can't sign elsewhere unless the Valkyries do not sign them to a minimum contract. They also have this year's fifth overall draft pick, Juste Jocyte, who plans to join the team in 2026. The Valkyries own the rights to forward Maria Conde, who intended to enter this season but was sidelined by an Achilles injury in Europe during the offseason. French center Iliana Rupert, set to join this summer, still has two years left on her contract. That potentially puts eight players on the roster for next season. With a strong free-agent class this offseason, the team could look very different by this time next year. Leite and Salaün are two players the Valkyries will likely build around. Jocyte and Conde, given their potential, are seen as critical long-term assets for the team's future. Are the Valkyries still under the salary floor? Any targets from over-the-cap teams that they should be targeting to fix that? More generally, is the WNBA like the NBA, where cap space is its own kind of asset that can yield picks or players? The Valkyries are $106,322 below the $1,261,440 salary floor, meaning they're not meeting the league's minimum spending. Rupert's full-season cap hit of $74,398 will be prorated once she joins the team. If anything, the Valkyries will likely trade veteran players at the trade deadline if they're not in playoff contention. Kayla Thornton or Tiffany Hayes would be great additions for teams missing just a couple of pieces to make a postseason run. The Valkyries might trade veterans like Thornton or Hayes at the deadline if playoffs seem out of reach, as they could help teams close to a postseason. About 80% of the league's players hit free agency this offseason, so few teams over the cap will shed salary. Dallas, Connecticut, New York, Phoenix, Seattle and Washington hold rights to more than five players with cap hits beyond this season, mostly young ones. Contenders may trade expiring 'bad contracts' on guaranteed deals to free cap space; on that front possible players on the move include Las Vegas forward Kierstan Bell ($84,543) and Chicago guard Moriah Jefferson ($145,500). The Chronicle asked Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin about the cap floor before the season. She said, 'I have an understanding of all the deadlines and all the things that need to happen, and we're mindful of how we want to use our cap space.' Early roster cuts are among the most significant controversies in the WNBA annually. The Valkyries experienced one this spring when second-round draft pick Shyanne Sellers was an early training camp cut, to the surprise of many fans. The addition of the Valkyries added 12 roster spots to the league; Portland and Toronto will combine for 24 more next season. Many players believe the 12 spots per team aren't enough. Former Stanford All-American and current Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink said so on her podcast this week. The players' association might fight for roster expansion in next year's collective bargaining agreement negotiations. NBA teams have 15 spots and a developmental league system. The WNBA likely won't create a minor league soon. However, adding more roster spots and allowing practice players would help teams manage injuries better than the current system. Which leads nicely into the next question … WNBA teams can sign a free agent to a 10-day contract if they have 10 or fewer players available for two games in a row, as long as the same players miss both games. For example, forward Cecilia Zandalasini missed the first four games this season, and guard Tiffany Hayes missed two games in a row, one in Los Angeles and one in New York. The Valkyries could have signed someone to a hardship contract if those two players were also out for Thursday's game against the Liberty. These contracts do not count against the salary cap. Players can sign a hardship contract three times before they stay on the roster and begin to affect the cap. When the Valkyries lose Salaün, Zandalasini and potentially Vanloo to EuroBasket in June — which could mean their missing up to seven games — they will likely use this rule. Since they will be without two forwards and a point guard, they will probably sign a forward or wing for that period.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
No. 1 College Basketball Recruit AJ Dybantsa Announces New NIL Deal
AJ Dybantsa passed up offers from several major blueblood programs to join BYU under new head coach Kevin Young. Now, the top college basketball recruit in the nation is getting comfortable in Provo as he prepares for his first season with the Cougars this fall. Advertisement When he's not on the court, Dybantsa has been making appearances and connecting with fans. He's expected to become one of the top NIL earners in college sports. Recently, he showed up working at a local McDonald's, greeting customers in the drive-thru and handing out orders. He shared the moment on social media with the caption: "AJ x McDonald's new side quest unlocked" AJ Dybantsa, Dybantsa, Instagram Dybantsa joins BYU from Utah Prep in Hurricane, Utah, after stints at Saint Sebastian's (Mass.), Prolific Prep (Calif.) and finally Utah, where he reunited with top 2025 point guard JJ Mandaquit. Though he could've played another year of high school basketball, Dybantsa reclassified in October to join the class of 2025. AJ Dybantsa, including Brigham Young Cougars freshman. AJ Dybantsa/Instagram The 6-foot-7 forward earned a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Mexico. He scored 12 points in the gold medal game and averaged 13.8 points per game during the tournament. Advertisement At BYU, Dybantsa will play for Kevin Young, who brings NBA coaching experience from stints with the 76ers and Suns. Young has said he wants to turn BYU into an 'NBA factory,' making this a valuable opportunity for both coach and player. While many expect Dybantsa to play only one season in Provo, his development under Young's NBA-style system will be closely watched. In his first season as BYU's head coach, Young led the Cougars to a 26-10 record. Their NCAA Tournament run ended in the Sweet 16, where they lost to Alabama after giving up 113 points. Related: Hunter Dickinson Had No Words for Big Kansas Announcement Related: No. 2 College Basketball Recruit Reacts to Four-Star Prospect's Duke Visit
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AJ Dybantsa admits BYU wasn't top school, blown away by NBA ready program
AJ Dybantsa recently opened up in a recent interview about the unexpected journey that led him to commit to BYU, admitting that the Cougars were not originally on his top list. The star from Utah Prep revealed that it was actually his parents' idea to bring him home, a decision that eventually steered him away from elite programs and towards the unique opportunity presented by BYU. Advertisement Dybantsa shared that after considering his options, he found that the vision laid out by Kevin Young and the BYU coaching staff resonated with him, making the Cougars the only option he could embrace fully. Arriving in Provo just last week, the 6-foot-9 prospect has already made waves in the basketball world. His stunning performances in premier events—the McDonald's All-American Game, Nike Hoop Summit, and the Jordan Brand Classic—has set the tone as the nation's top-rated recruit in this year's class. Despite being courted by traditional powerhouses like North Carolina and Duke, Dybantsa found a deeper connection with BYU's program, recognizing its potential to provide him not only with competitive NBA-style program but also with a supportive environment to grow both on and off the court. Related: BYU Basketball players are turning heads for unexpected choice Dybantsa joins a group of talented teammates, including Robert Wright, Richie Saunders, Keba Keita, and Kennard Davis Jr., and becomes part of what many are calling one of the best starting five in BYU's storied history. His commitment marks a major chapter for the program as it continues to attract top-tier talent. Beyond the hardwood, Dybantsa is eager to establish his personal brand. He recently launched a YouTube channel and is planning to produce content throughout the season. This initiative reflects his desire to connect with fans and provide a behind-the-scenes look at his one-and-done collegiate journey. This also demonstrates that his ambitions extend well beyond his achievements on the court
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shaikin: 'No one should forget.' How the manager of the AL's best team is shedding his asterisk
Manager A.J. Hinch is in his fifth season with the Detroit Tigers, who are now atop the American League standings. (Jose Juarez / Associated Press) It has been eight years since the Houston Astros cheated their way through a year that included a World Series victory over the Dodgers. It has been five years since commissioner Rob Manfred publicly detailed the scandal and sanctioned the Astros and their leaders, if not their players. Does A.J. Hinch, the manager of those Astros, still hear about it? Advertisement 'Every day,' he said. Hinch now manages the Detroit Tigers. 'As a manager, my name gets announced in every stadium, every night,' he said Friday at Angel Stadium. 'So it gives everybody an opportunity to remind me that no one has forgotten. 'And no one should forget.' Read more: Shaikin: The Dodgers are good, and old. Should they try NBA-style load management? We'll get back to those Astros. But, first, we ought to tip our cap to these Tigers, the team with the best record in the American League. The Tigers have surrendered the fewest runs in the AL and scored the third most through Friday's games. Advertisement Their starting rotation includes defending Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (2.21 ERA), former Dodger Jack Flaherty (3.34) and former first-round pick Casey Mize (2.70). Mize preceded sluggers Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson as first-round picks in Detroit; Greene and Torkelson have combined for one more home run (17) than the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández (16). Hinch is something of an accidental manager. In 2009, he was the minor league director of the Arizona Diamondbacks when general manager Josh Byrnes asked him to manage the team. 'I thought he was crazy,' Hinch said. What Byrnes saw and many others in baseball did not: The traditional wall between the front office and the coaching staff was crumbling. The analyst or executive coming into the clubhouse might be there to help the manager and coaches, not to usurp their authority. Advertisement 'I think the Diamondbacks, for the first time, were ahead of the curve,' said Angels pitching coach Barry Enright, then a Diamondbacks pitcher. 'It was rare back then to see a front-office member come into the coaches' room. Now it's all one big unit.' Innovation is great when you win. The Diamondbacks did not, and Hinch did not manage even one full season before he and Byrnes were fired. Look at Hinch now: The Tigers earned their first playoff berth in 10 years last season, with a fraying rotation held together by Skubal and duct tape. In the first round, they beat the — dramatic pause — Astros. Two ex-Dodgers on the current Detroit roster compare Hinch favorably to Dave Roberts. 'Two incredible managers,' Flaherty said. 'I've been lucky enough to play for both of them.' Advertisement 'The Dodgers, they can just go out there and roll out their guys: We're here, we're going to beat you,' said utilityman Zach McKinstry, who ranks eighth in the AL with a .311 batting average. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch congratulates Zach McKinstry after he scored a run. McKinstry is a fan of Hinch's managing style. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press) 'The way we play the game, the way we know the game, the way we know our opponents beforehand, it's just unmatched. It's something I've never been a part of. We have to strategize and bring our best game every night.' McKinstry is sensitive to the unfortunately common perception: How good a manager does Roberts have to be if he can write Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman atop his lineup card every night? Advertisement 'Managing superstars like that definitely comes with different challenges,' McKinstry said. 'The way he uses his bullpen; he's really good at that. Super good manager. 'He can control the media. He controls his players. He controls that locker room. All good things.' When McKinstry was traded to Detroit in 2023, he was apprehensive about Hinch. McKinstry made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2020, the year the Astros' scandal exploded into view and Dodgers fans gathered to jeer the Astros' team bus, even as pandemic restrictions prevented them from entering Dodger Stadium. 'You come over here and you're like, 'What am I going to think?'' McKinstry said. 'I just kind of erased all that and came over here with open eyes and an open heart.' Advertisement Perhaps we all should, at least with respect to Hinch. Manfred suspended Hinch and Jeff Luhnow, then the Astros' general manager, for one year. Jim Crane, the Astros' owner, then fired Hinch and Luhnow. In his report, Manfred said Hinch did not devise, participate in or approve of the scheme to intercept the pitch calls of opposing teams on live video and communicate the upcoming pitch by banging on a trash can. However, Manfred said, Hinch did not put a stop to it. 'As the person with responsibility for managing his players and coaches,' Manfred said, 'there simply is no justification for Hinch's failure to act.' Advertisement In a year the American League is down, the Tigers are up. Does Hinch believe a World Series championship in Detroit would confer legitimacy upon him that the title in Houston might not, at least not to some fans? 'I don't want to win for me, or for my story, or because of what we did previously in my career,' he said. 'I want to win because of all the work that we put into it, and I want everybody to experience the feeling of being on top of the sport.' His remorse sounds sincere, not coming in a scripted statement but as we talked in the visiting dugout Friday afternoon. Hinch could have declined to talk about the scandal, or he could have offered some version of 'I've put that behind me,' but he did neither. 'It was wrong, and I should have handled it better,' Hinch said. 'I understand my role in my time in Houston, but my goal is to always own it, and do everything I can to show people that I can impact a team.' Advertisement If adversity reveals character, as those of us in the sports world like to chirp, consider the reaction of the three most prominent men Manfred cited in his report. Crane said: "I don't think I should be held accountable." Luhnow said he had been held out as 'the scapegoat for the organization' and sued the Astros. Hinch said he was wrong. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU's AJ Dybantsa soars as college basketball's top NIL earner
AJ Dybantsa is settling in for his only season in Provo. The top five-star college basketball player in this year's class has wrapped up his time at Utah Prep and looks to contribute early at BYU. While he passed on traditional powerhouse programs to be under Kevin Young's guidance, there were no mistakes in the process. Dybantsa will get NBA-style coaching before heading off to the league next year. Before that happens, he'll be one of the top NIL earners in the country. Advertisement Dybantsa was ranked No. 5 on the latest NIL valuation list, according to On3. His total is noted at $3.8 million, which is on the lower end. He also recently denied receiving a $7 million payout from BYU during the McDonald's All-American Game last month. Related: AJ Dybantsa denies $7 million payout from BYU With Duke's Cooper Flagg moving on to the NBA, Dybantsa will move up at least one spot to become the top college basketball earner. At 6-foot-9, Dybantsa has elite athleticism and a demanding court presences, giving him a comparison to Kevin Garnett. The versatile forward is already generating buzz from his play in the Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic. Advertisement Related: BYU's AJ Dybantsa does NBA legacy Duke commit dirty in highlight move Young has openly stated his vision of transforming BYU into a NBA feeder program and that starts with building around Dybantsa. He's getting Baylor transfer guard Robert Wright with him next year. The top floor general from the 2024 recruiting class will be a great addition in the Cougars' projected starting five, along with Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, Keba Keita, and Kennard Davis Jr.
