Latest news with #NaismithCollegePlayeroftheYear
GMA Network
a day ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
NBA: Grizzlies' Zach Edey to undergo ankle surgery —report
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half at Footprint Center on Feb. 11, 2025. Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images/REUTERS/File photo Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey is expected to miss some time at the start of the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery for a sprained ankle, ESPN reported Saturday. After a solid rookie season, Edey was injured in an offseason workout earlier this week. "After consulting with the Grizzlies and multiple specialists, we decided this is the best approach for Zach long-term as it gets him back to 100 percent with no limitations," Edey's agent Mark Bartelstein said, via ESPN. "He will make a full recovery and be back better than ever," The Grizzlies selected the 7-foot-4 center with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after a phenomenal college career at Purdue. He was named the Naismith College Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since Ralph Sampson (1982-83). As a rookie, Edey proved to be a pivotal presence for the playoff-bound Grizzlies, averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across only 21.5 minutes per game. He started 55 games. In the first round of the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Edey was productive in Game 4, recording eight points, eight rebounds, and seven blocks. He was the first rookie ever to record those minimums in a playoff game while playing 33 minute or less. —Field Level Media/Reuters
New York Post
31-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Paige Bueckers enters concussion protocol as rookie season hits speed bump
It looks like Paige Bueckers is experiencing the first bump in the road of her young WNBA career. Bueckers, 23, has entered concussion protocol and will miss at least two games, the Dallas Wings announced Friday. According to ESPN, Bueckers will be evaluated following the Wings' game against the Storm on Tuesday, with her earliest possible return being on June 6 against the Sparks. Advertisement 3 Paige Bueckers is seen during the first half of the Wings' loss to the Sky on May 29. 2025. Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images It remains unclear when exactly the rookie suffered the injury, but it seemingly occurred during Thursday's game against the Sky, according to the Wings' statement. Before her injury, Bueckers averaged 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists through his first six games with Dallas so far. Advertisement 3 Paige Bueckers drives past Courtney Vandersloot duing the Wing's road loss to the Sky. Getty Images Bueckers was selected by the Wings with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft after a standout college career at UConn. During her time with the Huskies, Bueckers was named Big East Player of the Year three times, along with winning the Naismith College Player of the Year following her freshman season. Bueckers also won the NCAA championship during this year, scoring 17 points in UConn's blowout win against South Carolina. Advertisement 3 A celebrating Paige Bueckers holds up a piece of the net after UConn won the 2025 women's NCAA Tournament title over South Carolina. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect After scoring 10 points in her first WNBA game on May 16, Bueckers said she was excited to grow as a professional. 'The first one's always the hardest, usually,' Bueckers said. 'Not to say that it won't get harder, but just being able to have a starting point and continuing to build off that. And then there's no more questions about what is it going to be like for your first WNBA game. Now you have move on past that.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
USC 5-Star Commit Alijah Arenas Makes Major NIL Announcement
USC Trojans basketball has their next massive NIL contract finalized. This time it's for men's basketball and prized five-star Alijah Arenas. Arenas has now joined the global sports agency Klutch Sports Group, with the venture announcing Arenas as the new addition on Monday afternoon. Klutch continues to grow and expand to the college game. Advertisement The agency is known for representing multiple star athletes regardless of sport. LeBron James is one of Klutch's more renown representatives. The Los Angeles Lakers star has been with Klutch since its inception of 2012. James collaborated with Rich Paul to form the agency outlet. James' former Lakers teammate Anthony Davis is another Klutch athlete. Alijah Arenas in McDonald's All-American game 2025.© Pamela Smith-Imagn Images Super Bowl LIX Most Valuable Player Jalen Hurts is a Klutch athlete on the NFL side. But Arenas now joins a deep college lineup here. And he's joining a fellow USC star by landing with Klutch. USC women's basketball star JuJu Watkins is with Paul and James' agency. Watkins has since witnessed Klutch expand her brand. The Naismith College Player of the Year earned new endorsement deals with Nike, State Farm and has her own painted mural in Downtown Los Angeles. Advertisement Watkins isn't the only high-profile college Klutch athlete. UConn star Ayanna Patterson and South Carolina standout Aliyah Boston are with the same venture. Even WNBA star A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces is with Klutch. Arenas won't be the first male USC athlete to sign with James, Paul and company either. Bronny James inked a deal with Klutch during his own Trojans career. The Chatsworth shooting guard Arenas recently survived a devastating car crash involving a Tesla cyber truck in late April. Arenas was left in an induced coma, but suffered no major injuries as his Tesla caught fire. Arenas is the nation's top shooting guard prospect by 247Sports for the 2025 class. He's also California's No. 2 ranked overall talent for '25, placing him behind combo guard Darryn Peterson of Prolific Prep in Napa. Peterson signed with Kansas during his recruiting period. Arenas will soon lead the future of USC men's basketball. Related: Potential JuJu Watkins Teammate Visiting USC Amid Push From Historic College Basketball Programs
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Breanna Stewart Comments on Sue Bird's Major Career Move
During her 19-year career in the WNBA, Sue Bird became known as one of the greatest players in the history of women's basketball. She helped lead the Seattle Storm to four championships, and she was named to the All-Star team an amazing 13 times. Wherever Bird has gone, she has won. She earned two national championships while at UConn, as well as five Olympic gold medals and four victories in the FIBA World Cup. Advertisement She was recently voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and she was also just named the managing director of Team USA women's basketball. Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty publicly praised Bird for her new title and jokingly asked her for a favor. 'I told her, hopefully you don't cut me,' Stewart said. Stewart won two WNBA titles with Bird on the Storm in 2018 and 2020, and she's fresh off leading the Liberty to the championship last year while earning her sixth All-Star berth. The forward averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks a game last year, and thanks to her continued productivity, the Liberty are favored by many people to win it all again this year. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart shoots as Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride defends during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Target Center on Oct. 16, Krohn-Imagn Images Stewart is also a former standout with the UConn Huskies, where she won the women's NCAA championship in all four seasons there. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament each time, as well as three AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year awards. Advertisement She has also won three gold medals each in the Summer Olympics and the FIBA World Cup. The next edition of the FIBA World Cup will take place next year in Germany. Related: Paige Bueckers' Former UConn Teammate in Attendance For WNBA Debut
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowa Sends Message Before Caitlin Clark's Second WNBA Season
The 2025 WNBA season begins this Friday evening, but before that, the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team shared a message about the highly anticipated opening of the pro league's new campaign. 'Let the games begin 😎Happy WNBA Opening Day!!' the Hawkeyes wrote in a post on X, which also featured a graphic showing former Iowa stars who are now in the top women's basketball league in the world, including, of course, Indiana Fever superstar point guard Caitlin Clark. Advertisement Others in the image are guard Kate Martin and center Megan Gustafson of the Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics rookie guard Lucy Olsen. Clark has the shiniest star of them all following an incredible rookie campaign in the WNBA. In the 2024 WNBA season, Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds while leading the league in 3-pointers and dimes. The two-time Naismith College Player of the Year added to her ever-growing collection of accolades by winning the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, as she helped the Fever win 20 games and make the playoffs for just the first time since 2016. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark dribbles against Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Zanine-Imagn Images However, Clark isn't playing this Friday as the Fever will debut on Saturday versus Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana. Advertisement Meanwhile, Martin and the Aces also play their first assignment on Saturday against the New York Liberty. Gustafson is unlikely to see action in that contest, as she is still out with an injury. As for Olsen, she can make her WNBA debut in the Mystics' Friday game against the Atlanta Dream. Related: WNBA Experts Predict Championship Winner for 2025 Season
