Latest news with #RookiesoftheYear
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wings' Paige Bueckers faces more scrutiny in WNBA Rookie of the Year race
Wings' Paige Bueckers faces more scrutiny in WNBA Rookie of the Year race originally appeared on The Sporting News For virtually the entire 2025 season, Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has been considered the overwhelming favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Year honors. But the Washington Mystics' Sonia Citron is closing in fast as the regular season enters its final weeks, and an award race that once held little intrigue could suddenly blow up. MORE: Mystics' Sonia Citron sends Paige Bueckers a Rookie of the Year warning WNBA legend Candace Parker and Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston -- both former Rookies of the Year -- broke down what Bueckers has to do to stay ahead of Citron on their "Post Moves" podcast this week. In essence, Bueckers already has built a strong case -- she leads all rookies in points, assists and steals per game -- but Citron's efficiency and head-to-head wins over Bueckers threaten to tip the scales. "Everyone that has to vote (on the award) is going to have a fun job doing that," Boston said. "Both Sonia and Paige are killing it." Parker, who remains the only player in league history to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season, suspects Bueckers has the award in the bag. But Citron's recent performances -- including 18 points in a win over Bueckers' Wings last Sunday -- have given Parker some pause, as has the fact that Bueckers has missed seven games this season. "It's just a matter of her being on the court, (it's) what all of us want to see," Parker said. "I think I give the nod to Paige Bueckers for Rookie of the Year, but Sonia, make me change my ways!" Whether Bueckers holds on or Citron completes an improbable rally to win Rookie of the Year, the WNBA is in good hands with these players -- both named to All-Star teams as rookies, and both celebrated for their efficient, multifaceted playing styles. MORE WNBA NEWS: Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd finally answer the biggest question about their relationship Sparks' Cameron Brink gets major health update that could affect WNBA playoff picture We now know what Caitlin Clark and Stephen Curry would look like as teammates Angel Reese back injury update will frustrate Sky fans Bold Napheesa Collier prediction could turn WNBA MVP race on its head
USA Today
25-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Overreactions from Day 1 of Steelers training camp
On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers had their first training camp practice. We are just over a month to the start of the regular season and that was the last Thursday without football until February. This year's training camp is unique thanks to the aggressive offseason the front office partook in and we saw so many new faces on the field. The Steelers are hoping to not only return to the playoffs but also make a deep run. General Manager Omar Khan said in his training camp press conference that this team was built to win a Super Bowl this season. That makes every one of these practices even more important. With one practice in the books, every pundit has thoughts and takeaways from day one and we have our own share of overreactions as well. Aaron Rodgers is washed up Rodgers' first training camp practice as a Steeler was inconsistent. He missed some throws and even threw an interception on his first throw in team drills. This obviously means the signing was a mistake and he's got nothing left. The heat could be a problem You could see just from watching practice that the heat was serious, and head coach Mike Tomlin got what he wanted there. We don't know if practicing in the heat will benefit the team at all during the season or if this will just end up causing issues during camp when guys start passing out. Jalen Ramsey is a safety now Cornerback Jalen Ramsey took reps with the safeties on Thursday, as well as cornerbacks. This obviously means the Steelers are moving him to free safety to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick and the whole trade was just a waste of time. Top rookies tearing it up already Defensive tackle and Derrick Harmon and running back Kaleb Johnson both had strong first days. Harmon made several plays and the line of scrimmage and Johnson looked sharp and decisive in his runs. They are both immediate front-runners for Rookies of the Year.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The unique way Dylan Harper can meet high expectations with Spurs
The post The unique way Dylan Harper can meet high expectations with Spurs appeared first on ClutchPoints. As the second overall selection of the NBA Draft, Dylan Harper joins a San Antonio Spurs team that boasts the last two Rookie of the Year winners. Advertisement The pressure is on, yes, it is, but not in the way you might think. For several reasons, the odds are against Harper netting the Spurs another ROY winner. What would determine whether Harper meets high expectations is what the Silver and Black do in his first year. It'll be tough for Dylan Harper to win Rookie of the Year No NBA team has ever featured three consecutive ROY winners. Last season, the Spurs became the third team in league history to draft and keep back-to-back Rookies of the Year when Stephon Castle captured the trophy off the heels of Victor Wembanyama's historic campaign. They matched Minnesota Timberwolves rookies Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns in 2014-2015 and Buffalo Braves teammates Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio in 1972-73. A Harper Rookie of the Year win would prove unprecedented. Advertisement Regarding the ROY race, though, more important is the presence of Cooper Flagg. If Harper was the second-best prospect in this draft – and he was – then Flagg was the top prospect in the field. He's the odds-on favorite to win the award. Specifically, Flagg will be aided by the reality that he'll have a chance to put up big numbers. Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving will miss much, if not most, of next season, and Anthony Davis is injury-prone, so the former Duke Blue Devil is going to have the ball in his hands plenty. Conversely, Harper joins a team that features veteran ball-handler De'Aaron Fox, a generational superstar in Wembanyama, and the reigning Rookie of the Year in Castle. © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Dylan Harper's true measure of meeting Spurs expectations Because Harper joins two players who've made All-Star games – Wemanayama this past season, Fox in 2023 – and the most recent ROY, the Spurs fully expect to contend for a postseason spot. They were in contention last year until Wemby went out with an injury. After winning 22 games the season before, San Antonio improved by 12 wins, despite missing not only Wemabanyana since February, but Fox as well for the final month. Advertisement The Spurs spent the weeks prior to the draft somewhat engaged in talks to acquire future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Durant. Reports indicate the Phoenix Suns wanted either the second overall pick or Castle in a trade for KD. From the start of any negotiations, the Spurs made both off-limits. Stands to reason for Castle because of what he just did in his first taste of the NBA. That Harper was untouchable tells you what GM Brian Wright and company think of the former Rutgers Scarlett Knight. If Harper plays a big role in helping the Spurs improve by another 12 wins or so and into the playoffs, he'd put the franchise ahead of schedule. If Durant was supposed to mean 'win now,' the 19-year-old from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, was supposed to represent the future. If Harper checks both boxes, he would've accomplished far more than any personal hardware. Related: Why Spurs strike NBA Draft gold again with Carter Bryant Related: Victor Wembanyama calls Dylan Harper after Spurs' No. 2 pick
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Who is Nancy Feldman? Alex Cooper accuses former soccer coach of sexual harassment
Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper has accused her soccer coach from Boston University (BU), Nancy Feldman, of sexual harassment. The accusations were made as part of the 30-year-old's new Hulu docuseries Call Her Alex, which premiered on Tuesday (June 10). Born in a suburb of Boston, Feldman is credited with building the women's soccer team at BU from the ground up during her 27 years as a coach. Her original love for sports started with baseball, but due to the absence of Title IX, she was unable to compete alongside boys of her age. 'I was sorely disappointed because I love baseball,' she said during an interview with ESPN in 2022. Her love for sports soon found an avenue in soccer at the age of 13 alongside other passions like softball, basketball, and running track. During her time pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, she played forward and midfield in the soccer team and still holds the record for most goals scored in a single game, according to university records. After finishing her bachelor's in 1983, she then went on to gain a master's in exercise and sports studies from Smith College in 1988. Feldman joined BU as the head coach of the newly opened women's soccer team, which previously only had a club team. 'Feldman has coached 149 all-conference selections, 25 all-rookie honorees in addition to 11 Defenders of the Year, eight Rookies of the Year, seven Midfielders of the Year, six Offensive Players of the Year, and six Goalkeepers of the Year,' says the official BU Athletics website. She announced her retirement from the position in 2022. 'I'm walking away healthy, with family that I have put second to my soccer responsibilities. Soccer as a fan will always be part of my life. I'll always be a BU fan of the athletic program and I'm sure I'll be at games,' she said at the time in an interview with BU Today. As for her personal life, Feldman has two children with her longtime partner Emily and is also a grandmother of two. Cooper joined BU's soccer team in 2013 as a freshman and claims in her docuseries that the abuse started in her sophomore year when Feldman was 'really starting to fixate on me, way more than any other teammate of mine. And it was confusing.' 'It was all based in her wanting to know who I was dating, her making comments about my body and her always wanting to be alone with me.' Although Cooper's mother, Laurie, brought the issue to the athletic authorities at BU, the dean refused to fire Feldman and completely dismissed her claims of sexual abuse. The podcaster was allowed to keep her full sports scholarship even though she quit the team in her senior year. No official statement has been released by BU or Feldman in response to Cooper's claims.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL to honor league's best offensive lineman with Protector of the Year award
Amid a flurry of announcements and rules decisions from the NFL owners meetings in Minneapolis comes a new award. NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent announced on Wednesday that the NFL will issue the Protector of the Year award at the end of each season to honor the NFL's best offensive lineman. Advertisement Vincent credited Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl guard Dion Dawkins and retired Los Angeles Rams All-Pro tackle Andrew Whitworth for helping facilitate the award. A panel of retired offensive linemen including Whitworth will determine the winner. "I'm going to give credit to Dion Dawkins from Buffalo," Vincent said, per NFL Network. "He was truly instrumental, him and Andrew Whitworth, of just making sure that we recognize the big fellas. "LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O'Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Andrew Whitworth will be the panel. ... They've come up with a criteria on skills, metrics, impact, leadership, durability and strength of the opponent. We'll be tracking that quarterly with this group." Buffalo Bills guard Dion Dawkins, 73, was instrumental in the creation of the Protector of the Year award, according to NFL executive Troy Vincent. () (Bryan Bennett via Getty Images) Dawkins and Whitworth both praised the decision on social media, with Whitworth declaring that it "means everything to the big guys up front." "It's time the men who lead, protect, and never ask for credit are recognized as the backbone of this game!" Whitworth wrote. The award will be issued alongside other individual awards including MVP, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and Rookies of the Year on both sides of the ball. It will be the only position-specific award handed out by the NFL for an off-ball position that doesn't garner consideration for any of the other awards.
