Latest news with #womensbasketball
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Game Recap: Sparks 93, Mystics 86
The Los Angeles Sparks get the 93 - 86 road win over the Washington Mystics.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA expanding to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia by 2030
The WNBA is expanding to 18 teams over the next five years, with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia all set to join the league by 2030. Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia the season after, assuming they get approval from the NBA and WNBA Board of Governors. Toronto and Portland will enter the league next year. 'The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family,' WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. 'This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball.' All three new teams announced Monday have NBA ownership groups. Each paid a $250 million expansion fee, which is about five times as much as Golden State dished out for a team a few years ago. All three teams will also be investing more money through building practice facilities and other such amenities. 'It's such a natural fit that when you already have this basketball-related infrastructure, these strategies, cultures that you find to be successful, combinations of personnel that you find to be successful,' said Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group and the Cavaliers. 'Extending that into the WNBA, is just a natural next progression, especially if you have a desire to grow like we do.' Both Cleveland and Detroit had WNBA teams in the past, and Philadelphia was the home for an ABL team. 'This is a huge win for Detroit and the WNBA,' Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores said. 'Today marks the long-hoped-for return of the WNBA to a city with deep basketball roots and a championship tradition. Detroit played a key role in the league's early growth, and we're proud to reignite that legacy as the WNBA ascends to new heights. Our plans will bring new energy, investment and infrastructure to our city and the WNBA, and additional resources to our community.' Detroit sports stars Grant Hill, Chris Webber and Jared Goff will have minority ownership stakes in the team. The Cleveland and Detroit ownership groups said the Rockers and Shock — the names of the previous teams — would be considered, but they'd do their due diligence before deciding on what the franchises will be called. 'Rockers will be a part of the mix for sure, but we are at this point, we're not going to commit to a brand identity because we want to really get into it with our fans, do some research, be very thorough and thoughtful in that process,' Barlage said. The Detroit and Cleveland teams will play at the NBA arenas that currently exist, while Philadelphia is planning on a new building that will be completed hopefully by 2030. 'We tell the city it's going to open in 2031. We're hoping for 2030,' said Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment Managing Partner and co-founder Josh Harris, who owns the 76ers. 'So we're trying to underpromise and overdeliver. But, right now it's 2031, so that we have a year gap, you know. We've got the Xfinity center, the Wells Fargo, they'll play there.' Adding these three teams will give the league more natural rivalries with another team on the East Coast and Detroit and Cleveland near each other. 'I think there's some great historical rivalries in the NBA among these cities and, I think that will carry over to the WNBA,' Detroit Pistons vice president Arn Tellem said. 'I would love nothing more to have a rivalry like we do in the NBA with Cleveland and Indiana, Philadelphia and New York and all these great cities and, and I think we will.' Other cities that bid on teams that didn't get them include St. Louis; Kansas City, Mo.; Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Houston; Miami; Denver; and Charlotte, N.C. 'We didn't know the demand would be where the demand ended up when we ran the process last fall into the winter,' Engelbert said. 'Given the very high demand and supply, we wanted to evaluate, too, because we're very careful about, you know, making sure we're balancing the number of roster spots, the number of teams. 'But one thing I'm very struck by as we get into a new media deal, as the media market evolves, you know, being in these three big basketball cities is going to help from a media perspective, a corporate partners perspective.' All the metrics, such as attendance, television ratings and sponsorships, have been on the rise the last few seasons. 'You're seeing the key performance indicators around the business, but then also just the communal impact of having a women's professional sports team,' Barlage said. 'The largest growing segment of our Cavs youth academy, which serves 60,000 kids across the state of Ohio and upstate New York, the fastest growing segment is girls. You know, it's growing at a 30% clip year over year in participation rates. And so for us to be able to create role models, to be able to create symbols of progress, to create having ambassadors within the community representing all of these things.'
Fox News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Livvy Dunne shows support for Haley Cavinder following breast augmentation surgery: 'Bod is tea'
Former Miami Hurricanes women's basketball star Haley Cavinder shared a few photos of herself on social media on Tuesday following breast augmentation surgery. Cavinder, along with her twin sister Hanna, decided to have the surgeries done together as they continue their journey through their post-college basketball careers. The two basketball players played at Fresno State and Miami during their time in the NCAA. Haley Cavinder received plenty of supportive comments on Instagram, including one from former LSU Tigers star gymnast Olivia Dunne. "Bod is tea," Dunne wrote in the comments section of Cavinder's Instagram page. The pictures came about three days after the operation was finished. The twins explained in an Instagram post that "with our active lifestyle, we wanted a natural look that gives a little shape under a tee." Haley Cavinder played college basketball from 2019 to 2025 between the Bulldogs and Hurricanes. She was named the 2021 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and was a three-time All-Mountain West Conference first team selection. She averaged 16.9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in college. Cavinder is currently dating Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson and will likely be on the sideline supporting him as he embarks on his fourth season with the NFC East team. Ferguson had 59 catches for 494 yards last season.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Unrivaled Bets Big On College Talent With Watkins, Fudd In NIL Class
MEDLEY, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Napheesa Collier #24 of the Lunar Owls goes up for a shot against ... More Angel Reese #5 of Rose during the first half at Wayfair Arena on February 21, 2025 in Medley, Florida. (Photo by) Unrivaled, in partnership with Samsung, has signed 14 of the most prominent women's college basketball players to NIL deals, launching one of the sport's most ambitious athlete development efforts to date. The full roster includes: JuJu Watkins (USC) Azzi Fudd (UConn) Lauren Betts (UCLA) Sienna Betts (UCLA) Madison Booker (Texas) Audi Crooks (Iowa State) MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU) Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) Flau'jae Johnson (LSU) Ta'Niya Latson (South Carolina) Olivia Miles (TCU) Kiki Rice (UCLA) Sarah Strong (UConn) Syla Swords (Michigan) This class brings with it 32 NCAA Tournament appearances, 25 Sweet 16s, 14 Elite Eights, 10 Final Fours, and four national championships, along with a history of success on the international stage with USA and Canada Basketball. These athletes are already household names in college sports and will likely shape the direction of the game for years to come. 'Investing in elite women's basketball talent is central to our mission,' said Luke Cooper, President of Basketball Operations. 'This is about locking in the best players early and giving them the resources, platform, and support to grow with us.' Unrivaled Brings A New Model For Women's Basketball MEDLEY, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Rose BC members lift the championship trophy after defeating Vinyl BC in ... More the inaugural season of Unrivaled at Wayfair Arena on March 17, 2025 in Medley, Florida. (Photo by) Launched in 2023, Unrivaled was built to reimagine women's basketball. The league is player-led and structured around a short-form season designed to fit within the WNBA offseason, offering top-tier athletes a chance to earn, grow, and build their brands year-round. Co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league secured investment from high-profile backers including Alex Morgan, Chelsea Clinton, and Carmelo Anthony. Unlike traditional leagues that rely on centralized team structures, Unrivaled is designed to elevate players as individuals and entrepreneurs. That mission is reflected in this NIL class, which positions the league at the center of the women's basketball pipeline, years before these athletes reach the professional level. Unrivaled NIL Strategy Focused On Development NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 16: Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers are seen at 'Good Morning America' on ... More April 16, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by The Hapa Blonde/GC Images) The NIL agreements go beyond endorsement deals. The athletes will attend The Future is Unrivaled Summit, a multi-day event hosted at the league's headquarters in Miami. Programming includes on-court skill development, brand-building sessions, merchandise design, social media strategy, and group activities aimed at creating a sense of community and shared purpose. Samsung Galaxy, the league's presenting sponsor, will provide the mobile technology powering the summit, giving athletes access to advanced content creation tools and digital experiences. 'Samsung and Unrivaled are building the future of sports,' said Olga Suvorova, Vice President of Mobile eXperience Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. 'This summit isn't just about visibility. It's about opportunity, innovation, and opening new paths for athletes.' Unrivaled Strengthening Athlete Relationships BATON ROUGE, LA - MARCH 22: Flau'jae Johnson #4 of the LSU Tigers in action against the San Diego ... More State Aztecs during the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Reagan Cotten/LSU/University Images via Getty Images) Unrivaled's model centers around long-term athlete alignment. Last December, the league announced NIL partnerships with Paige Bueckers and Flau'jae Johnson. JuJu Watkins, already an investor through the league's Series A funding round, now deepens her involvement as a participant in the NIL program. These multifaceted relationships reflect a shift in how modern athletes engage with leagues, not just as performers, but as stakeholders and business partners. By meeting these college athletes early in their careers, Unrivaled is establishing a foundation of trust and loyalty. It's a long game designed to ensure that the league becomes a natural next step in their professional journeys. Unrivaled Rising Demand Meets Smart Strategy LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 12: Southern California Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) is ... More introduced during a NCAA women's basketball game against the Cal State Northridge Matadors on November 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) The women's basketball landscape is changing fast. College stars like Watkins, Hidalgo, and Fudd are pulling millions of views on social media and drawing national attention. The 2024 NCAA Women's Final Four shattered viewership records, and WNBA attendance and ratings are rising steadily. Commercial partners, media companies, and fans are recognizing what many inside the sport have long known, the product is elite, and the market is ready. Unrivaled is capitalizing on this moment by aligning its growth with the talent that is driving the surge. By investing in future stars now, the league is not only building credibility but also setting up a direct pipeline from college to its own platform. This is a clear shift from the reactive, late-stage recruiting model most leagues rely on. It's proactive, personal, and deeply strategic. This latest NIL initiative cements Unrivaled as more than a league, it is becoming an incubator for elite talent and a brand built on athlete empowerment. The business case is strong. By offering more than court time, including content opportunities, revenue sharing, brand-building, and investment in players, Unrivaled is building a model that reflects the modern athlete's needs and aspirations.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch USA vs. Australia in FIBA women's basketball U19 World Cup
It's the matchup we've all been waiting for since before the FIBA U19 women's basketball World Cup even started. Not just the gold medal game. But the finals matchup between USA and Australia that had been widely expected – despite both teams getting played down to the wire by France, and in Australia's case, by Hungary as well. Neither team has lost a game. With the tournament's top defense, USA has been dominant in every facet of basketball except for two offensive categories – three-point shooting and turnovers. Australia, on the other hand, has been electrifying from three with nearly 10 makes per game at above 40%. Both teams have a balanced attack in regard to individual production. America's top stars have been Montverde Academy (FL) wing Saniyah Hall (19 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 53.2% FG), incoming UCLA post and Grandview (CO) alum Sienna Betts (15.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 58.2% FG), Clackamas (OR) grad and incoming USC wing Jazzy Davidson (13.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.7 steals, 1.2 blocks, 61.1% FG), and two players with a year of college ball already under their belt. They are point guard Kayleigh Heckel, a UConn transfer from USC who played high school ball at Long Island Lutheran (NY) and Texas University wing Jordan Lee, a former St. Mary's (Stockton, CA) star. Among Australia's top players to watch are forward Sitaya Fagan (12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds), guard Bonnie Deas (12.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 blocks), guard Monique Bobongie (11.6 points, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals), wing Madison Ryan (10.8 points, 62.9% FG, 60% 3FG), and forward Manuela Puoch (9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists). Both squads are also packed with impact players off the bench capable of taking over for stretches. Here's everything you need to know about live streaming USA vs. Australia. How to watch USA vs. Australia Live Stream:Watch on YouTube USA vs. Australia will air live on YouTube. FIBA's online game hub also has an embedded YouTube player. USA vs. Australia start time Date: Sunday, July 20 Time: 8:00 p.m. CEST (UTC+2) / 6:00 p.m. UTC / 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. CEST on Sunday, July 20. The game will be played at Starez Arena Vodova in Brno, Czech Republic.
