Latest news with #USBWA
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Dick Vitale, ESPN agree to contract extension through 2027-28 event in his honor
ESPN announced Monday that it reached a new multi-year contract extension with Dick Vitale, keeping the legendary broadcaster with the network through the 2027–28 season. This deal will bring his tenure with ESPN to nearly 50 years. Since joining the company in its inaugural year in 1979, Vitale has called over 1,000 college basketball games and built a legacy marked by passion, energy and excellence. Advertisement His numerous honors include induction into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Recently, he was awarded the prestigious Dean Smith Award by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and was recognized with the Winged Foot Award by The New York Athletic Club, introduced by former ESPN President George Bodenheimer. Beyond broadcasting, Vitale has been a tireless advocate in the fight against childhood cancer, with his efforts through the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund helping the V Foundation award over $105 million in research grants. In celebration of his contract extension and 86th birthday, ESPN Events, in partnership with the Charlotte Sports Foundation, announced the launch of a new annual men's college basketball event honoring Vitale. The inaugural game is set for Tuesday, November 4, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., and will feature a matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Duke Blue Devils. 'ESPN has been such a vital part of my life since December 5, 1979, and I was so thrilled to learn that ESPN Events will have an annual Dick Vitale Invitational,' Vitale said. '(ESPN chairman) Jimmy Pitaro and all my colleagues and friends at ESPN have been so good to me and I am so thankful for all of the prayers and love I have received from them during my cancer battles. ESPN has been family to me and has given me a life that has been even better than my dreams. To the Vitale family, ESPN is 'Awesome, baby' with a capital A!' Dick Vitale told me long ago that previous ESPN management had told him that he had a contract for as long as he worked at the company. The current group of executives has continued to hold up that promise. The addition of a tournament named after him is a nice piece of business to honour someone who helped build ESPN's place in the sport. Advertisement Whether you thought Vitale was too over-the-top or too beholden to his favourites — both of these points have merit — his passion for college basketball has always been clear. His commitment to fighting cancer has been noble. It's nice to see ESPN extend him for a couple of years. I hope he gets to go out — whenever that is — on his own terms. — Richard Deitsch, media reporter
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma center Raegan Beers named Honorable Mention All-American
Oklahoma center Raegan Beers named Honorable Mention All-American Raegan Beers' first season in an Oklahoma women's basketball uniform was an unqualified success. On Wednesday, she added to her trophy case. Beers, the 6-foot-4 junior center who transferred from Oregon State before the season, was named an Honorable Mention All-American by both the Associated Press and the United States Basketball Writers Association. It marked the second straight year she earned such honors. Beers led the Sooners in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots, averaging 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Her 66% shooting from the field ranked fourth in Division I. In addition, Beers notched 12 double-doubles during the regular season, the most games with a double-double since Joanna McFarland had 14 in the 2012-13 season. The All-American honors are just the latest on her resume. Earlier in March, Beers was named to the All-SEC first team and selected as a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award. In the penultimate week of the regular season, she earned USBWA National Player of the Week honors after scoring 30 points in consecutive games against Vanderbilt and Arkansas. In reaching that total in two straight, she became the first Oklahoma women's basketball player to do so since Courtney Paris more than 15 years ago. Beers' All-American honor also marked the fourth straight season the Sooners have had at least one All-American under coach Jennie Baranczyk. Skylar Vann, Madi Williams, and Taylor Robertson also received All-American will seek to keep its season going Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The third-seeded Sooners will play No. 14-seed Florida-Gulf Coast in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which can be seen on ESPNU. USBWA All-American Teams First Team Lauren Betts, UCLA Paige Buckers, Connecticut Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame Aneesah Morrow, LSU JuJu Watkins, Southern California Second Team Georgia Amoore, Kentucky Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt Madison Booker, Texas Ta'Niya Latson, Florida State Olivia Miles, Notre Dame Third team Audi Crooks, Iowa State Kiki Iriafen, Southern California Flau'Jae Johnson, LSU Sarah Strong, Connecticut Hailey Van Lith, Texas Christian
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowa's Lucy Olsen named USBWA National Player of the Week
After a dominant 28-point performance against No. 7 USC (19-2, 9-1 Big Ten), Iowa women's basketball (15-7, 5-6 Big Ten) star senior guard Lucy Olsen was named the National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association on Tuesday morning. Olsen, an offseason transfer from Villanova, powered the Hawkeyes to the 76-69 upset victory over the Trojans by shooting 10-for-18 (55.6%) from the floor and 8-for-9 (88.9%) from the free throw line, including four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 37 minutes of action. Olsen truly shined in the fourth quarter as she registered 15 points off 5-for-7 (71.4%) shooting from the floor and 5-for-5 (100%) from the charity stripe to go along with two steals and one rebound. B1G Lu 🤝 B1G Business. @LucyOlsenbball is the @USBWA National Player of the Week! #Hawkeyes — Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) February 4, 2025 While the Player of the Week accolade is an individual award, the recognition could potentially motivate the team even more as they fight back into the Big Ten tournament and NCAA tournament conversation Iowa's next matchup will see them travel to Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., for a clash vs. Minnesota (18-5, 6-5 Big Ten) on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network (BTN). Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa's Lucy Olsen named USBWA National Player of the Week
USA Today
05-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa's Lucy Olsen named USBWA National Player of the Week
Iowa's Lucy Olsen named USBWA National Player of the Week After a dominant 28-point performance against No. 7 USC (19-2, 9-1 Big Ten), Iowa women's basketball (15-7, 5-6 Big Ten) star senior guard Lucy Olsen was named the National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association on Tuesday morning. Olsen, an offseason transfer from Villanova, powered the Hawkeyes to the 76-69 upset victory over the Trojans by shooting 10-for-18 (55.6%) from the floor and 8-for-9 (88.9%) from the free throw line, including four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 37 minutes of action. Olsen truly shined in the fourth quarter as she registered 15 points off 5-for-7 (71.4%) shooting from the floor and 5-for-5 (100%) from the charity stripe to go along with two steals and one rebound. While the Player of the Week accolade is an individual award, the recognition could potentially motivate the team even more as they fight back into the Big Ten tournament and NCAA tournament conversation Iowa's next matchup will see them travel to Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., for a clash vs. Minnesota (18-5, 6-5 Big Ten) on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network (BTN). Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
USA Today
04-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles finalists for guard awards
Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles finalists for guard awards Notre Dame guards Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles have done so much during their collegiate careers that it's hard to keep up with it all. That includes all the honors they have accumulated. Some national awards soon could be theirs. The Basketball Hall of Fame has named Hidalgo one of 10 finalists for this year's Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which is presented every year to the top shooting guard in the country. This is not to be confused with the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award given by the USBWA, for which both Hidalgo and Miles were named to the midseason watch list. This award first was given in 2018 and has yet to be won by a Notre Dame player. Miles is one of 10 finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award, which is given to the country's top point guard. Skylar Diggins is the only Irish player to win the award, doing so in 2012 and 2013 Both players have done well, especially together in games like this: Best of luck to these two in trying to prove they are worthy of their respective awards. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions. Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89.
