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Fox News
20 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Portland's WNBA expansion team fires team president just two months into tenure: report
The WNBA's Portland franchise reportedly fired its president, Inky Son, just three weeks before the team is expected to launch its brand. Son's dismissal came as a result of significant "growing pains" and a "rocky" rollout, The Oregonian reported Friday. On June 20, the WNBA Portland X account posted the date of July 15, saying a countdown was on, potentially alluding to the announcement of the team's official name. The WNBA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment about Son's reported dismissal. Son was hired April 1 as the first employee of the WNBA's Portland franchise. Prior to joining Portland, Son was the chief administrative officer for the National Basketball Players Association. "This is an amazing opportunity to help bring back a WNBA franchise to Portland, a city that loves basketball and has already shown itself to be supportive of women's sports," Son said in a statement when she was hired. "I am honored to be in a position like this to further the women's game, and I look forward to creating a winning environment for our future players, our staff and the fans of Portland." Mike Whitehead, managing director of RAJ Sports, the parent company of the Portland WNBA franchise, expressed confidence in Son after she was hired. "As the very first employee of the organization, Inky will lay the groundwork for our future growth, and we are confident her leadership will drive the franchise to new heights, creating a lasting impact both in Portland and across the WNBA," Whitehead said in a statement in April after Son was hired. Son's responsibilities were to oversee all aspects of the business, including marketing, ticket and sponsorship sales, community relations, finance, legal and human resources. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
USA Today
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Lapointe's NYFW show scores Monica, Jordyn Woods plus full court Beyoncé dance routine
NEW YORK — Lapointe leaned into sports and court side dressing on Super Bowl Sunday, hours before kickoff – and for an entirely different sport. For the brand's 15th anniversary show during New York Fashion Week, the NBA's National Basketball Players Association practice court in midtown Manhattan was the backdrop for a WAG (Jordyn Woods), some "Real Housewives" (Meredith Marks of "Salt Lake City" and Jessel Taank of "New York City") and fur coats primed for a tunnel look (singer Monica and celebrity stylist Law Roach) to take in a game of fashion. Monica geared up for the show in a luxuriously plush, floor-length fur coat atop a monochromatic milk chocolate brown matching set of pants, top and jacket. Roach, known for styling A-list clients like Zendaya and Celine Dion, styled himself for courtside chic with a knee-length fur over a merlot sweater and silky pants in the same hue, an extra large Bottega Veneta woven leather clutch and oversized Chanel sunglasses as the finishing touches. Woods, who's dating NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns (who recently got traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the New York Knicks), opted for a high-neck, long-sleeved forest green dress with feather detailing on the skirt and a thigh-high slit. Marks donned a silver gown, while Taank went daring in a dangerously low-cut dress with side cutouts and a sequined fringe skirt, topped with a matching black blazer with fur lapels. If the fashion on the sidelines wasn't enough to hype up attendees, a lively dance performance to kick off the runway show did the trick. As a marching band soundtrack and the sounds of whistles filled the room, a dance troupe comprised of all young, Black girls dressed in hot pink, feathered outfits commanded center court, hitting an energetic routine to Beyoncé's song "My House," high kicking and death dropping as feathers flew into the air and the first model hit the runway. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Models strutted out in pieces that perfectly illustrate the brand's ethos: high-impact and dynamic with a sense of luxe whimsy. Sequined skinny pants and a matching tie-waist jacket with a feathered collar and sheer train was the first look down the runway, followed up by colorful animal prints, vinyl coats, jolts of hot pink and tennis ball yellow-green, and feathers and fur all over. The pièce de résistance: glimmering mini basketball-shaped purses in gold, silver and black varieties, crystalized and perfect for your next trip to a basketball arena (or when you're dreaming of being on the arm of an NBA or WNBA player). The collection marked a pivotal anniversary moment for designers Sally LaPointe and Sarah Adelson, who started the brand in 2008. The ever-fickle fashion industry doesn't always allow for brands to flourish, let alone last, and the show was a slam dunk. When is NYFW over? The week officially ends Tuesday, Feb. 11, with Thom Browne closing out the calendar. See all the photos from fashion week so far, plus catch up on USA TODAY's coverage of famous front rows (with Whoopi Goldberg, Keke Palmer and Sam Smith), the surprising model who hit the runway and a chat with one of the NYFW designers.
