Sean McVay has been one of the most successful head coaches in the NFL since taking over the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. In just seven seasons, he has led the team through one of the most dominant stretches in franchise history, with only one losing season in 2022.
His offensive expertise and leadership have also influenced other teams, with former assistants like Matt LaFleur and Kevin O’Connell becoming head coaches. Despite his early success, McVay now faces new challenges as he looks to sustain his winning ways.
The Quarterback Factor in McVay’s Success
Much of McVay’s success has been tied to his quarterbacks. He initially developed Jared Goff into a capable starter, helping the Rams reach the Super Bowl in just his second season. However, McVay eventually lost faith in Goff, leading to a blockbuster trade for Matthew Stafford.
The move paid off immediately, with Stafford guiding the team to a Super Bowl victory in the 2021 season. Now, with Stafford aging, McVay must decide whether he can develop a young quarterback or if he will continue relying on experienced veterans.
Sean McVay (NFL)
McVay is widely regarded as one of the best offensive minds in football, but his ability to groom a young quarterback remains an unanswered question. His frustrations with Goff suggest that he may struggle with the patience required to develop a rookie. Stafford provided him with the experience and skill set to execute his offense at a high level, freeing McVay from the limitations of a developing passer. Whether he can successfully guide another young quarterback through growing pains remains to be seen.
McVay’s Preference: Veterans or Rookies?
The Rams’ current roster situation suggests they may not be in a position to draft a high-profile quarterback soon. However, at some point, they will need to find a long-term successor to Stafford. McVay’s history suggests that he prefers working with proven quarterbacks rather than taking the risk of developing a rookie. If the team does draft a young quarterback, how McVay approaches that transition will be one of the most intriguing storylines in the years ahead.
As McVay continues his career, his ability to adapt will be crucial to his long-term success. While he has proven he can win with veteran quarterbacks, he has yet to demonstrate the patience and willingness to develop a young signal-caller into a franchise cornerstone. With years of coaching experience now behind him, he may have learned from past challenges and become more open to the idea. The true test of McVay’s growth as a coach will come when he faces the decision of mentoring the next face of the Rams franchise.
Even casual fans know that records don’t matter when Ohio State and Michigan face off in any sport.
Just a few months ago, the unranked Michigan football team, a three-touchdown underdog, surprised the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. After that, the Buckeyes went on to win four straight games, all by double-digit margins, securing the College Football Playoff title.
This Sunday in Columbus, a similar situation will play out on the basketball court, as unranked Ohio State (15-10, 7-7 Big Ten) will try to upset No. 20 Michigan (19-5, 11-2) and spoil their surprising hopes for the conference title.
“I don’t believe in minimizing that game and this rivalry,” said Ohio State coach Jake Diebler. “We’ll certainly talk, and there’s even an educational component to this game to make sure our guys understand the history of this game.”
He continued, “There’s no minimizing it. There’s more to it, certainly in this time of the year and all of that, but make no mistake. This is a rivalry game, and we’ll embrace everything that comes with that.”
The Wolverines took over the top spot in the conference on Tuesday with their fifth straight win, a 75-73 victory over No. 7 Purdue, as first-year coach Dusty May tries to lead the team from worst to first. Michigan finished last in the conference last season (8-24, 3-17 Big Ten) under Juwan Howard.
“We’ve got some tough games in front of us,” May said. “But this is exciting to be in mid-February playing extremely meaningful games, competing for a championship with programs, coaches, and players that are at the top of college basketball.”
May and Michigan junior guard Roddy Gayle Jr. add an extra layer to this rivalry. May was rumored to be a leading candidate for the Ohio State job after Chris Holtmann was fired in February 2024 and Diebler took over as interim coach.
Ohio State (NCAA)
After Diebler led the Buckeyes to a 6-2 record, including a strong Big Ten tournament showing, he was named permanent coach on March 17. About a week later, May left Florida Atlantic to take the Michigan job.
One of May’s first transfers was Gayle, who played two seasons for the Buckeyes and will likely face a tough reception from Ohio State fans.
Gayle started the first 21 games for Michigan but was moved to a reserve role two games ago. He responded with 14 points against Purdue, his highest total since scoring 15 against Washington on Jan. 12. He is averaging 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
“Obviously everyone has seen that Roddy hasn’t been as good as we know he is,” said Michigan center Danny Wolf. “I don’t want to say slump, but everyone goes through it throughout the season. The way that guy’s bounced back, it makes me so happy, and we know that Roddy is someone you want to have in your locker room.”
The Buckeyes are relying on a transfer as well. Former San Diego State guard Micah Parrish followed a career-high 30 points at Nebraska on Sunday with 21 points in a 93-69 win over visiting Washington on Thursday, marking the first time in his 159-game collegiate career that he posted consecutive 20-plus point games.
“When we recruited Micah, we really wanted him to have a good opportunity (offensively),” Diebler said. “I think that is what made Ohio State special for him. Sometimes when you transfer to a new program, it takes some time to settle in. We’re starting to see that now. He’s playing confident, and we have great confidence in him.”
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway reached a big milestone Thursday night — his 150th career win.
“What a great 6 1/2 years for me, as far as all the talent that I’ve had and the coaches I’ve had, to be at 150,” Hardaway said after his team’s 80-65 victory at South Florida. “Thank God for the opportunity. I’ve grown so much in the game. Just happy to be here, being able to help the school and the city, you know, just try to advance.”
Hardaway will aim for his next 150 wins Sunday when the 14th-ranked Tigers travel to Wichita, Kan., for an American Athletic Conference game against the Wichita State Shockers.
Memphis (21-4, 11-1) is on an eight-game winning streak and holds a two-game lead over North Texas in the conference standings. The Tigers can improve from their performance at South Florida, where they made only 40.3 percent of their shots and missed 13 out of 30 free throws.
Despite the shooting struggles, the Tigers still cruised to a win thanks to strong rebounding and solid defense. They out-rebounded South Florida 51-34, grabbing 16 offensive boards that led to 16 points, and held the Bulls to 38.3 percent shooting.
Even with the shooting issues, Memphis had four players in double figures, including 15 points from Tyrese Hunter in his first game back after missing a 90-82 win over Temple on Feb. 9 due to a knee injury. It was the first game Hunter has missed in his four seasons, spanning 131 games.
“I got emotional just thinking about it when I first figured out the news,” Hunter said. “But it was for the best of the team.”
Derik Queen (NCAAB)
PJ Haggerty leads Memphis with 21.5 points per game, while Hunter adds 14.5 points and Dain Dainja chips in 12.8 points on 60 percent shooting. Dainja has been averaging just under 20 points per game over his last three games.
While Memphis is playing well, Wichita State (14-10, 4-7) has won three straight games, with their latest victory being a 69-64 win over Texas-San Antonio on Wednesday. The Shockers overcame 20 turnovers by dominating the boards 50-29, with Corey Washington recording a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double.
A key reason for Wichita State’s recent success is their defense. Opponents have made only 16 of 69 3-point attempts (23.2 percent) in the last three games, compared to 42.1 percent during the Shockers’ rough 1-7 start to AAC play.
“We’ve made a lot of adjustments but we’ve also grown a lot,” forward Harlond Beverly said. “We’re playing hard-nosed and being tough.”
Wichita State’s improved defense will face a tough challenge against Memphis, which ranks fourth in Division I for 3-point shooting accuracy at 40.1 percent. The Shockers also need to take better care of the ball. They committed 22 turnovers in their 61-53 loss to Memphis on Jan. 23.
Xavier Bell leads Wichita State with 14.6 points per game and makes 86.7 percent of his free throws. Washington adds 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds, while Justin Hill scores 13.3 points per game.
Memphis leads the all-time series 21-13, though Wichita State has a home court advantage with an 8-7 record at home.
Derik Queen played exceptionally well on Thursday night.
As the freshman center for the No. 25 Maryland Terrapins, Queen will lead the team into a Big Ten Conference game against Iowa on Sunday in College Park, Md. He will likely be a key focus in Iowa’s game plan.
Queen had an outstanding performance in Maryland’s 83-75 win at Nebraska, scoring a game-high 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Queen has the most 20-10 games (five) among Division I freshmen this year, a group that includes national Player of the Year candidates like Cooper Flagg of Duke and Ace Bailey of Rutgers.
“There have definitely been some games where I struggled a lot and my numbers and performances weren’t great,” Queen said. “But now since my coaches and my teammates are getting on me and telling me that I’m better than this and then me just watching film of myself, just keep building and (learn) what mistakes not to make again.”
Queen (15.9 points, 8.6 rebounds per game) and Julian Reese (13.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg) give the Terrapins (19-6, 9-5 Big Ten) a strong frontcourt. Having Ja’Kobi Gillespie (14.3 ppg, 4.7 assists), Rodney Rice (13.2 ppg), and Selton Miguel (11.8 ppg) shooting from outside also helps, making it harder for opponents to defend.
Gillespie and Miguel both hit 3 of 5 3-point attempts at Nebraska.
“When you have Selton Miguel, Rodney Rice and Ja’Kobi Gillespie out there shooting threes, it makes your life a lot easier,” Maryland coach Kevin Willard said.
Iowa State players celebrate after scoring
Together, these five players form one of the most productive lineups in college basketball. All five have scored in double figures in the same game four times, including Thursday night. Only Kentucky has done this more, with all five starters reaching double digits five times.
While Maryland is heading toward an NCAA Tournament spot, Iowa (14-10, 5-8) is fighting just to make the Big Ten Tournament. An 84-73 win at Rutgers on Wednesday, only their second win in the last eight games, was an important step forward for Iowa.
It was Iowa’s first win without their leading scorer, Owen Freeman (16.7 ppg), who is out for the season after finger surgery. Iowa won with strong performances from Josh Dix and Payton Sandfort, who combined for 46 points. The Hawkeyes outscored Rutgers 51-31 in the second half.
“We were locked in on both offense and defense in that second half,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. “I’m really proud of that. Especially when you’re on the road against a really good team, you have to stay connected, and we did.”
Even without Freeman, Iowa still has enough offensive power to beat any team. They are ranked 11th in Division I in scoring, averaging 84.5 points per game. They rely heavily on outside shooting from Sandfort (16.1 ppg), Dix (14.4), and Drew Thelwell (10.5).
It’s uncertain if Thelwell, who missed the Rutgers game due to an ankle injury, will return on Sunday. McCaffery said that Thelwell is getting closer to returning, but regardless, Brock Harding, who started in Thelwell’s place and contributed 13 points and seven assists against Rutgers, will play a big role.
Maryland leads the all-time series 9-8, including two wins last season. The Sunday game is the only scheduled meeting between the two teams this season.
Villanova will try to keep the momentum going from a big Big East win when they hit the road for a two-game trip through New England, starting with Providence on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (15-10, 8-6) are aiming for their fourth straight win and a season sweep of Providence after a 73-71 victory over No. 9 St. John’s on Wednesday, thanks to another strong shooting performance.
Wooga Poplar led the team with 22 points, and three other players scored in double figures. Villanova has now shot over 50 percent in two consecutive games and has done so 10 times this season. Sophomore Tyler Perkins hit the game-winning 3-pointer with nine seconds left.
“I’m just more glad we got the win,” Perkins said. “If it was me shooting, Eric (Dixon) shooting, it doesn’t matter. We got the win.”
Dixon, who leads the nation in scoring with 23.5 points per game, has been consistent all season and scored 17 points to help end St. John’s 10-game win streak.
However, the attention Dixon is getting inside is opening up opportunities for other players.
“I think we have a big-time team,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said. “I think our guys know that on any given day we come out, we play harder together, we can win.”
Providence (11-14, 5-9) has struggled with injuries during their recent four-game losing streak, which continued on Wednesday with a 91-82 home loss to Xavier.
Providence and Georgetown (NCAAB)
The latest injury was to Corey Floyd Jr., who is in concussion protocol after a car accident near campus earlier in the week. The bench also includes Jabri Abdur-Rahim and Bryce Hopkins, both out for the season with knee injuries.
“I can’t control a hit-and-run car accident. I can’t control Wesley Cardet’s IT band. I can’t control Bryce’s situation. I can’t control (Christ Essandoko’s) illness. I can’t control Jabri’s meniscus,” Providence coach Kim English said. “The only thing we can control is our preparation every day.”
English hopes his team can move past the tough loss and focus on the final stretch of games.
Despite Floyd’s absence, five players scored in double figures for Providence, who shot 53.7 percent against Xavier, including Bensley Joseph and Justyn Fernandez with 15 points each. The Friars struggled due to a 29-7 run by Xavier in the first half and a poor 2-of-10 performance from the free-throw line.
“Even still without Corey, I still think we had enough if we’re disciplined, if we play the right way,” English said.
No. 9 St. John’s and No. 24 Creighton will compete for the Big East lead on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Both teams have been reminded this week how quickly things can change between joy and disappointment, as they both look to bounce back from rare losses.
The Red Storm’s 10-game winning streak ended with a 73-71 loss at Villanova on Wednesday. The Bluejays had won nine straight before falling 70-66 to UConn at home on Tuesday.
Creighton’s loss (18-7, 11-3 Big East) ensured that St. John’s (21-4, 12-2) would stay on top of the conference heading into the weekend. But the Bluejays’ visit to New York will highlight how small the margin of error is for the Red Storm, whose four losses have all been by a total of just seven points.
One of those losses was a close 57-56 game at Creighton on Dec. 31, meaning a win on Sunday by the Bluejays would give them the tiebreaker for Big East tournament seeding.
St. John’s had a rare poor defensive showing on Wednesday, which reminded them of the challenges of sticking to their traditional style of play. According to KenPom.com, the Red Storm entered Friday with the second-ranked defense in the nation but just the 80th-ranked offense.
The Red Storm shot 44.3 percent and 29.7 percent from three-point range on Wednesday, exceeding their Big East averages. But Villanova shot 53.1 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from behind the arc.
“We weren’t there defensively, and that’s our identity,” St. John’s guard Aaron Scott said. “I don’t know (why). They have some good players on their team, but we just weren’t there defensively.”
St. John’s will need to fix their issues on both ends of the court without guard Deivon Smith, who is out indefinitely with a neck injury.
No. 12 St. John (NCAAB)
“He’s just not the same player he was a month ago and we’ve got to get him healthy,” coach Rick Pitino said about Smith, who also missed three games last month with a bruised right shoulder.
RJ Luis Jr. is St. John’s leading scorer with 17.4 points per game, followed by Zuby Ejiofor with 13.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Kadary Richmond is the team’s top assist man, averaging 5.2 assists and 12.3 points per game.
The loss to UConn was extra frustrating for Creighton, which had moved from the NCAA Tournament bubble into the Top 25 during their winning streak, with five of those wins coming by double digits.
Creighton led 37-23 with three minutes left in the first half, but UConn scored the next 13 points to start a 37-15 run, taking a 60-52 lead with 6:46 left.
The Bluejays tied the score at 65-all on a free throw by Fedor Zugic with two minutes left but missed two opportunities to take the lead over the next 91 seconds. UConn hit three of its last five free throws to seal their first win in Omaha, Neb.
“When you’re playing a team as good as UConn, you’ve got to be a little bit more perfect than we were tonight,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. “Had a real chance at the end of that first half to create some separation.”
Ryan Kalkbrenner leads Creighton with 19.0 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game, while Steven Ashworth, who averages 16.7 points per game, leads the team in assists with 6.8 per game.
Parker Kligerman during qualifying for a NASCAR truck series
Full-time television analyst and part-time NASCAR driver Parker Kligerman won the Truck Series season opener and quickly placed the checkered flag by the Daytona International Speedway logo.
Kligerman had celebrated all three of his previous truck victories in this way, including his first one at Talladega in 2012. So, it seemed fitting on Friday night for what Kligerman described as “the biggest win of my entire life” during an excited post-race celebration.
However, the celebration was short-lived: NASCAR disqualified Kligerman when his truck was found to be too low during a post-race inspection. Corey Heim was declared the new winner, and the change in the standings gave actor Frankie Muniz his first top-10 finish in his NASCAR career. Muniz is running the full Truck Series schedule this year as he balances a second career as a motorsports driver.
Kligerman, who retired from full-time racing at the end of last season and will have a larger role as a television analyst this year, said on Saturday that he would appeal the disqualification while preparing to cover the Xfinity Series race for The CW network.
“Biggest win of my life. Thank y’all for the wonderful messages. Over 700 texts,” he posted on social media. “I will not be commenting any further until we are able to present what I believe is a very, very valid case.”
“Until then, I’m fully focused on my job (as Xfinity analyst) because the drivers and teams deserve the full focus on the massive stage ahead of them,” he added.
Parker Kligerman celebrates after the win
Kligerman crossed the finish line first on Friday night, which would have been his fourth career Truck Series victory and his first win since Mid-Ohio in 2022.
His post-race celebration was a hit, and he energized the crowd by thanking the fans in the grandstands, saying, “All of you fans here at Daytona, thank you so much! God, I love this place. I love racing. I love winning.”
Kligerman stepped away from full-time racing at the end of last year and is now focusing on a growing broadcasting career. He had the support of Scott Borchetta, founder of Big Machine Label Group, throughout his career and was a fan favorite, despite never winning in 152 races in NASCAR’s top Cup and Xfinity Series.
Though he had a respectable career, Kligerman, now 34, decided to shift his future toward broadcasting. The CW has the full Xfinity Series schedule, and called Kligerman “one of the youngest correspondents to ever serve as a pit reporter for a NASCAR Cup race.”
The disqualification added to Kligerman’s racing disappointments. He almost won the Xfinity Series race last fall at The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but NASCAR threw a late caution flag just seconds before he crossed the white flag, which would have made the race official. He ended up losing in overtime, and a win would have advanced him to the Xfinity Series playoffs and been his first victory in that series.
Brad Keselowski relaxes in his garage before a practice
Ford led the final Daytona 500 practice with Brad Keselowski leading the pack as he tries to break a 15-year winless streak in “The Great American Race” on Sunday.
Keselowski has had a tough time at Daytona International Speedway. Although he’s often a strong contender, he often gets caught in accidents, which are common in this race. The field this year has 41 cars, the largest number in a decade, and if the Daytona 500 turns out like Saturday’s crash-filled ARCA Series race, it could get chaotic.
This could be a challenge for Keselowski, who has failed to finish in nine Daytona 500 races.
He co-owns Roush Fenway Keselowski, which built a Ford that reached 193.307 mph in Saturday’s 55-minute final practice session.
Alex Bowman, driving a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, followed Keselowski, with Cole Custer, who is back in the Cup Series after moving down to the Xfinity Series, finishing third in a Ford run by Haas Factory after Stewart-Haas Racing shut down.
Justin Allgaier came in fourth, marking a feel-good story for the Daytona 500. His Chevrolet, owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., is making its Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500 and is sponsored by country singer Chris Stapleton’s whiskey brand. Earnhardt has been deeply involved in this effort, and he was emotional after Allgaier made it into the field.
Kyle Larson, the 2021 champion who has never won the Daytona 500, was fifth in a Chevrolet, giving Hendrick Motorsports two drivers in the top five.
Alex Bowman stands next to his car
Corey Lajoie, who used his kids’ college fund to secure his seat in the Daytona 500, finished sixth in a Ford from Rick Ware Racing.
Ryan Preece finished seventh in a Ford from RFK, Justin Haley was eighth in a Chevrolet from Spire Motorsports, and Chris Buescher completed the top nine, putting all three RFK cars in the top positions. Zane Smith finished tenth, driving another Ford, this time from Front Row Motorsports.
Ford is the only manufacturer showing it can keep up with Toyota, which won the pole with Chase Briscoe, qualified Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. for the race on speed, and won the first of Thursday’s two qualifying races. However, Toyota did not perform as well in the final practice, with Ty Gibbs from Joe Gibbs Racing finishing 13th on the speed chart.
Ford showed its speed with Austin Cindric qualifying second for the Daytona 500 and beating Toyota driver Erik Jones in the finish of their qualifying race. Cindric was 21st on Saturday.
Defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron was 23rd in final practice, and the reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano was 12th. Helio Castroneves, a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner who got into the race using a controversial “world-class driver” provisional spot, was 20th.
Out of the 41 drivers, only 24 practiced on Saturday, as many didn’t want to risk damaging their cars before the big race. Some drivers who skipped the practice include pole-sitter Chase Briscoe, qualifying-race winner Bubba Wallace, and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, all of whom are driving fast Toyotas.
Napheesa Collier is one of the league’s co-founders. Her team, the Lunar Owls, is undefeated at 8-0, the last team with no losses. She’s the league’s top scorer, averaging 29.4 points, and grabs 11.5 rebounds per game. On Friday night, Collier made Unrivaled history by winning its first one-on-one tournament, which came with a $200,000 prize.
Collier’s final basket in the third game of her finals match against Aaliyah Edwards was a signature Phee fadeaway. It was fitting, as Collier’s footwork and skill have made her midrange jumpers some of the hardest to block in women’s basketball.
Wearing the same Nike Kobe 9s she wore during the WNBA Finals with the Minnesota Lynx, Collier, the No. 1 seed, jumped in excitement after making her final shot. She shared hugs with her Lunar Owls teammate, Skylar Diggins-Smith, who was sitting courtside, and with her family. “Queen Phee” was then crowned to mark the moment.
“I just wanted to celebrate with them, the people in my corner,” Collier said.
The tournament took place near Miami this week at the midpoint of Unrivaled’s first season, bringing together some of the best women’s basketball players in the world.
In Friday’s final, Collier lost the first game of the best-of-three series to Edwards 9-6. But Collier adjusted, staying calm against Edwards’ many pump fakes, and won the second game 9-4. In the deciding game, she shut down Edwards, winning 8-0.
Edwards reached the finals after beating Arike Ogunbowale in the semifinals, while Collier knocked out Azurá Stevens earlier that night.
The ever-changing landscape of the NBA and WNBA
Change is common in the NBA and WNBA’s All-Star Weekends, with new events and competition formats being introduced regularly. However, neither league has ever tried a one-on-one tournament, which is one reason why Unrivaled’s tournament generated so much excitement.
Holding a one-on-one tournament during the NBA’s and WNBA’s midseason breaks might interrupt a relaxing weekend for the players. It would also require players to set their egos aside and be okay with the possibility of losing. Still, Unrivaled showed how much excitement such a competition can create — for both fans and players.
“You’re putting yourself on the line,” Collier said. “So I do think the money would have to be worth it for players, but if it was, I think it’s a great thing for fans to watch. It’s super exciting. It’s fun for us to do, but on the upside, obviously, you have to make it worth it.”
Unrivaled made it worth it. As a result, it created a great midseason event. Other leagues should take note and make their own must-watch event.
Breanna Stewart reacts after missing a free throw
Not afraid to lose
Breanna Stewart was one of the players who pushed for the single-elimination tournament to be part of Unrivaled’s schedule. She thought that with a financial reward, it would make for an exciting event.
However, Stewart, who was one of the No. 1 seeds, didn’t last long in the tournament. She lost her first-round match to Edwards and was shut out 12-0 in a game that lasted less than two minutes.
Stewart’s place in women’s basketball hasn’t changed because of the result. She played, missed all her shots, couldn’t get consistent stops, and lost. She congratulated Edwards (who is also her Mist teammate), and the tournament continued.
This is one of the lessons from the one-on-one tournament. A game played to 11 points isn’t going to change a player’s entire career. Stewart had one of the worst performances possible in the event, but her legacy remains the same.
Free throws should not end the game
Three of the tournament’s best matchups ended with free throws: Courtney Williams’ second-round win over Rhyne Howard, and Ogunbowale’s second-round and quarterfinal wins over Skylar Diggins-Smith and Satou Sabally. While these were some of the most intense games, the finishes were disappointing.
Ending games with free throws in Unrivaled’s regular season already feels anticlimactic compared to other ways games could end. This was even more true in the tournament.
Here’s a possible fix: If a player is one basket away from winning and gets fouled, the game could reset, and the player would start a new possession at half court. If the player is fouled three times in a row, she would automatically be declared the winner (similar to an NFL rule that almost gave the Eagles a touchdown in the NFC Championship).
This might not be the perfect ending, but it should discourage fouling in the last moments and lead to more exciting game-winning baskets. Even if a game ends by default sometimes, would it really be worse than finishing at the free-throw line?
Finance is the major pusher
The prize money played a big part in the tournament’s success. The prize pool was divided so that the winner got $200,000, the runner-up $50,000, semifinalists received $25,000 each, and even the winner’s teammates got $10,000 each. Everyone knew what was at stake.
“That’s the only thing I’m thinking about,” Shakira Austin said after beating Chelsea Gray in the first round. “I’m tired as hell. All I’m thinking is, ‘2-hunnit, 2-hunnit.’”
The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement offers less than $7,500 combined to the winners of the skills challenge and 3-point competition. That’s why last summer, the WNBPA and Aflac partnered to give the winner $110,000. It made the event better, and if it happens again this summer, the quality of players participating will keep improving. Unrivaled’s one-on-one tournament worked the same way. Money mattered.
Arike Ogunbowale smiles after scoring a 3-pointer
By reaching the semifinals, Edwards earned more than one-third of her WNBA salary ($74,909) in less than 10 minutes of game time. As a No. 8 seed, she beat two No. 1 seeds (Stewart and Ogunbowale) to reach the final. But she fell short of beating a third top seed. Still, her second-place finish added to her earnings.
“It’s kind of crazy. I didn’t think about it like that,” Edwards said. “But I think that Unrivaled is a great space for athletes, especially young athletes like myself, to capitalize on making money here in North America and providing for our families.”
Can this tournament shape the basketball culture?
Unrivaled league leaders were excited to do something different that other leagues haven’t done in an official setting. But they hope the tournament’s impact will be more than just a weeklong event.
“We’re trying to really change the culture of women’s basketball,” Collier said. “You go to the playground or the park and you see guys playing pickup or they’re playing 1s, you don’t see that with women a lot, and we’re really trying to change that, just what it means to be a female athlete and the culture of playing in your backyard, playing at the park, playing 1s, like we’re doing. We’re not seeing that a lot and so we’re trying to change that.”
Whether Unrivaled will succeed in creating a shift is still to be seen, but the event definitely gave players a chance to show skills they might not usually display in other situations.
Super Bowl LIX is over now — the beers have been drunk and the light poles climbed — so we can start looking ahead to Super Bowl LX.
One NFL team can feel really good about where they are (once the celebration ends), while the other 31 teams will be trying to figure out what went wrong and how to improve.
Today, let’s see the players who will shape the 2025 offseason in fantasy football. The scouting combine is only two weeks away, and free agency starts in a month, so we don’t have much time to think about how the pieces will fall into place before things start moving.
Tee Higgins
Higgins is the biggest player to watch this offseason when it comes to how other players’ fantasy value will change. If he stays with Cincinnati — which might be what he wants — Joe Burrow becomes a top-five fantasy quarterback with a chance to win MVP in real life. Higgins is a physically powerful player who can improve any offense and quarterback he plays with. The quarterback he teams up with is likely to become much better once Higgins joins the team.
Every team would love to have a player like Higgins at the peak of his career, so there will be a lot of competition if the Bengals can’t or won’t re-sign him. The Patriots, Commanders, and Chargers are among the teams that need a receiver and have a lot of cap space. It’s easy to picture Higgins ending up in a situation where he gets more chances than he did in Cincinnati. If he gets over 140 targets, he will be one of the top receivers in fantasy.
Deebo Samuel
After a tough season statistically, mostly due to injuries, Samuel asked the 49ers for a trade, and his agent has been allowed to explore possible teams for him. It looks like he will likely be moving on. Even during a disappointing season for him, Samuel still managed 93 touches and was targeted 81 times; his exit would open up more chances for Jauan Jennings and give more opportunities to Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football.
Samuel seems like a perfect match for the Denver Broncos, who are looking for a versatile player. If Deebo is interested and the Broncos are willing to offer him a contract, the trade could happen.
Tyreek Hill
Hill appeared to use Super Bowl media week as a way to clarify his stance, telling almost every outlet that he would prefer to stay in Miami. Maybe that’s the case, and maybe the Dolphins are fully committed to keeping Tyreek.
However, Hill is a complex player who will turn 31 soon, and he was clearly unhappy at the end of the regular season. It’s important not to assume that Miami won’t be open to offers. Hill could be an attractive option for any team that misses out on Higgins.
Sam Darnold
It’s not completely clear whether Darnold is the best of the bad quarterbacks or the worst of the good ones, but we’ve learned that he can support two great fantasy receivers (before falling apart in a big way during the most important weeks of the season). If he stays in Minnesota, Justin Jefferson will remain a top-five fantasy pick, Jordan Addison will be a strong WR2, and Darnold will be a quarterback worth considering with potential.
If Darnold ends up in a team with less talent, he’s likely only a Superflex quarterback, and Minnesota’s receivers will depend on an interesting but unproven 22-year-old quarterback who is recovering from multiple knee surgeries. As much as we might like the idea of a J.J. McCarthy-led offense, he’s still an unknown. Darnold, however, just had a 35-touchdown season with a 14-win team.
Michael Hoecht celebrates after sacking Sam Darnold in the 2nd half
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers is not at his best anymore, but he’s not completely done either. At 41, he likely still wants to play professional football, but we know it won’t be with the Jets.
A big game of quarterback musical chairs is about to happen across the league, involving Rodgers, Darnold, Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and others. When the music stops, Rodgers could end up in a somewhat exciting place, maybe with the Steelers or Giants, or he could land in a less attractive location, like the Titans or Browns.
It’s also possible that the music will stop and Rodgers will be relaxing in a sensory deprivation chamber, disconnected from the idea of continuing his NFL career. He’s a free spirit, not tied to traditional ideas or expectations. Shrug.
Devante Adams
Adams and Rodgers keep ending up together, but it’s not certain that will happen this offseason. After a season where Adams gained 1,063 yards and scored eight touchdowns over 14 games, he’s sure to get attention if or when the Jets let him go.
He’s said to be interested in the Rams and Chargers, teams that would keep his fantasy value strong but could make things uncertain for players like Puka Nacua or Ladd McConkey. Adams is about to turn 32, but he’s far from finished. Every team that is competing for a championship and needs a receiver will at least check his price.
Chris Godwin
Let’s remember that when Godwin injured his ankle and ended his season in Week 7, he had been competing for the top WR1 spot for the year. At that point, he was one of the best options in fantasy. We shouldn’t be too worried about his recovery, either, since he and the Bucs had mentioned a possible return in the postseason if the team made a deep run.
Godwin is entering free agency at 29, after a half-season where he averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game and caught 80.6% of his targets. He’s been one of the most dependable players at his position since joining the league in 2017. A return to Tampa would be of interest to everyone involved, but it would certainly limit the recent excitement around Jalen McMillan.
If he stays healthy, Godwin is definitely the kind of receiver who can boost his quarterback’s fantasy value.
Chris Godwin (NFL)
Ashton Jeanty
Yes, there are a few reliable, older running backs who will be available in free agency, but this year’s draft class isn’t as strong as last year’s. Jeanty is the running back most likely to shake up fantasy draft boards this offseason. No matter where Aaron Jones or Najee Harris go, we won’t be thinking about those players at the end of the first round.
Jeanty just had one of the best individual seasons in college football history, rushing for a huge 2,601 yards while averaging 7.0 yards per carry and scoring 30 touchdowns.
He also caught 80 passes for 862 yards over three college seasons, showing he can be used in the passing game. If Jeanty ends up in Dallas — where he is often mocked to go — or in Chicago — where he is openly hoping to play — then someone in every fantasy draft will be picking him in the first two rounds.
Matthew Stafford
On one hand, it doesn’t make much sense for the Rams to trade a quarterback who just led the team to the divisional round, where they gave the eventual Super Bowl champions their toughest challenge in the playoffs. But maybe this is a case of a team trying to get rid of an aging star while his value is still high. There has been too much talk about a possible Stafford trade to just ignore it.
Stafford still has an incredible arm and is one of the most creative (and also immobile) quarterbacks in the game. If he is up for trade, he would be the best option available for 2025. Malik Nabers has already shown interest on behalf of the Giants.
Keyshawn Davis captured the WBO lightweight title with an effortless destruction of Denys Berinchyk at Madison
For years, people have been saying that boxing is dying, just like the old claim that “rock is dead.” We’ve heard this so many times since Cassius Clay made a name for himself.
Yet, just a week before one of the biggest boxing events in Saudi Arabia, where Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will fight for the undisputed light heavyweight title, 25-year-old Keyshawn Davis made a quick stop in New York to show what boxing’s future looks like.
Davis has been called the best boxer to come out of Norfolk since Pernell Whitaker, a statement that highlights the late champion more than the city. But Davis was in New York to try to win his first major title on Friday, and I wanted to check out what all the excitement was about.
There’s nothing more exciting in boxing than watching a young fighter on the brink of becoming a star. It’s even more thrilling when you see him at a small, famous venue like The Theater at Madison Square Garden. With the signature crisscrossed ceiling lights and the ring positioned to one side, it had the feel of an upgraded local event.
A small group of Ukrainian fans came to support their fighter, Denys Berinchyk, who briefly held the WBO lightweight title. I say “briefly” because he was a +475 underdog at BetMGM, which wasn’t a good sign.
He seemed more like someone meant to help create a star than a serious challenger, adding to the atmosphere. The first person to walk into the ring was Davis, and it wasn’t a long walk, but he took his time. Wearing white and gold, he stood out against the dark background, and as he lifted his arms, his white gloves moved in the air. The crowd reacted with excitement. There was a sense of high expectation.
Before the fights started, just before Vito Mielnicki and Connor Coyle were about to face off, two fans got into a heated argument in the men’s room after a disagreement.
Fans gathered around and cheered, with one person shouting, “Handle your business, Mr. Businessman!” — a nod to the star of the night, “The Businessman” Davis. The argument was resolved peacefully, but the anticipation stayed high throughout the evening.
Compared to other times I’ve been to The Theater, this one felt more important. I’d been here before for smaller events like a GLORY kickboxing match where fans told me to pay attention to Giorgio Petrosyan, who was seen as a rising star.
Those fans apologized when Petrosyan lost to Andy Ristie, in a way that felt like an apology from someone leaving the dinner table because they weren’t feeling well. I had also been at a Beat the Streets wrestling event years later, where Jordan Burroughs dominated Ben Askren. Both were much quieter events with little excitement.
Keyshawn Davis made Denys Berinchyk see ghosts during their lightweight title fight
But this was different
The Ukrainian flags waved, and the crowd cheered, but the chant that Davis heard was “NOR-FICK, NOR-FICK.” It sounded a lot more like a curse word, especially for viewers, but that’s just how Norfolk is pronounced. While it wasn’t a quick knockout like his win against Gustavo Lemos in November, Davis still showed his skill with a precise right hand.
That right hand was a key part of the fight. It was powerful. It promised something big. Every time it landed, it built the crowd’s excitement until the very end. Berinchyk moved in and out of the exchanges like someone playing with danger, and he tied Davis up whenever he had the chance.
But in the fourth round, everything fell apart. A strong hook combination to the body sent Berinchyk to his knee, and before referee Harvey Dock could stop the fight, Davis was already waving his hands from the neutral corner. He knew the fight was over as soon as he hit him.
You couldn’t help but feel bad for Berinchyk, who had been accused of sending a box of bananas and watermelon to Davis, which was seen as a racist gesture. He didn’t have an answer for Davis on the night of the fight.
Berinchyk got cut and beaten up in close exchanges, feeling more like a challenger than a champion. He won a silver medal for his country at the London Olympics over ten years ago and has had a successful career since. He even tried bare-knuckle boxing, fighting against former UFC fighter Artem Lobov just for fun.
But it feels like Davis isn’t just a boxer—he’s becoming the face of boxing itself. If there was any doubt, it was quickly erased. Davis, who has been around Terence Crawford long enough to learn how to handle himself as a winner, now holds the WBO lightweight title and will be aiming for more.
He’s now on the list of top names in boxing: Vasiliy Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson. Top Rank’s officials believe he will be a champion in other weight classes too.
“What a performance,” said 93-year-old Bob Arum, who has been promoting fights since George Chuvalo faced Muhammad Ali in 1966. “You saw the future of boxing tonight here in New York City.”
Indiana's Mackenzie Mgbako tries to shoot over UCLA's Tyler Bilodeau
It all felt strange, uncomfortable, and all too familiar.
UCLA, a team that’s usually careful with the ball, had a lot of turnovers. They missed free throws and went through a long scoring drought.
What had been a comfortable lead for UCLA against Indiana on Friday night quickly shrank to just two points, and the game, which had gone from a comfortable lead to a possible collapse, was headed in the wrong direction again for the Bruins.
With just 4.2 seconds left, Dylan Andrews stepped back up to the free-throw line. He had already missed two one-and-one attempts earlier, losing up to four points, which felt like a repeat of the Bruins’ tough loss to North Carolina in December.
As Andrews got ready for his free throws, he took a deep breath, dribbled twice, and spun the ball in his hands. He made the first one. Then he made the second.
About 30 minutes later, while standing in a hallway inside Assembly Hall, Andrews was talking about the free throws that helped his team secure a 72-68 win. He could only say a few words before being interrupted by UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond.
“Big-time right there,” Jarmond said as he patted Andrews on the shoulder.
Bruins coach Mick Cronin also praised him, as his team had committed nine of its 11 turnovers in the second half and barely survived a missed three-pointer from Mackenzie Mgbako that could have given Indiana the lead with six seconds left.
“He’s a great kid,” Cronin said with a smile, “and he really cares about his coach and he didn’t want to see me go to the hospital.”
UCLA guard Dylan Andrews brings the ball upcourt during the first half
How did Andrews make those free throws after missing?
“At the end of the day, you know you’re not going to make every shot,” Andrews said, “so you’ve got to stay confident, you’ve got to stay poised and the team needed it.”
UCLA (19-7 overall, 10-5 Big Ten) really needed those points, both for NCAA tournament seeding and to show they could win in Big Ten country. They pulled through despite guard Sebastian Mack missing the first part of a one-and-one with 1:18 left. During the same play, he was fouled and then earned a technical foul for elbowing Indiana’s Anthony Leal in the face.
“We kept our head down and we still fought,” Mack said after his team almost lost a seven-point lead in the last 78 seconds, “and that’s why we were victorious.”
UCLA’s first win in a Big Ten arena was a statement, showing that there’s still a lot of work left if they want to make a deep postseason run.
Here are some things Bruins coach Mick Cronin needs to think about: Should center Aday Mara (eight points, five rebounds, and two blocks in just 13 minutes) have played more in the second half after recovering from a suspected case of norovirus? Did freshman guard Trent Perry earn more playing time after possibly having his best performance of the season, including a key block of Myles Rice’s jumper with 1:57 left?
“Every game, I’m the same,” Cronin said. “We try to win, then we evaluate the film — what do we need to do to get better? Because for us, it’s about the NCAA tournament. That’s just the way it is.”
Cronin said he played Mara less because Indiana (15-11, 6-9) went small, but their comeback was partly fueled by inside baskets that Mara could have contested, given his 7-foot-3 frame.
The Bruins were up by two when Mack missed a driving layup. His teammate Skyy Clark briefly grabbed the rebound but was quickly double-teamed by two Indiana players, forcing a jump ball that went to the Hoosiers.
Rice missed a jumper, and Mgbako missed a putback before the ball went out of bounds to the Hoosiers with nine seconds left. Mgbako came off a screen, got open, and attempted a three-pointer, but missed. Andrews grabbed the important rebound and was fouled, sending him back to the free-throw line.
Forward Tyler Bilodeau led UCLA with 12 points, and Clark added 11. Guard Luke Goode scored 16 points to lead the Hoosiers, who have now lost eight of their last 10 games.
Indiana coach Mike Woodson, based in Bloomington, has decided not to return next season
This will be coach Mike Woodson’s final season after he recently announced his departure
When asked about being a potential candidate for Woodson’s job, Cronin joked about fans’ fickleness, saying, “Here’s how I look at that stuff: I might be on your hot boards and they might want my ass fired on our hot boards. That’s how I look at that, so I stay off the hot boards. That’s just the way it is — you can go from one board to the other real quick, hired and fired, you know what I’m saying?”
For the Bruins, playing their first game in this iconic arena had been on their minds for a long time.
About a month ago, during Big Ten media day just outside Chicago, Andrews and Kobe Johnson were already in sync on one thing: which arena they were most excited to play in.
Johnson glanced at his teammate, then said, “You want to say it at the same time?” Andrews answered, “Assembly Hall.”
If there was a part of the game that showed what the Andrews experience has been like during this up-and-down season, it came in the final minutes.
In the middle of the second half, he made a smart pass to Johnson for a layup, then hit a three-pointer that gave the Bruins a double-digit lead.
But then came the tough part. The offense kept turning the ball over and went almost three minutes without scoring. Then, Andrews missed a free throw on the first part of a one-and-one.
Redemption came when his team was on the edge of trouble, and Andrews kept believing in himself.
“I knew for a fact,” he said, “that if I got another shot to shoot free throws, that I was going to make it.”
