Flagg to the Rescue?

FOS writes, "Flagg could become the savior for franchises including the Wizards, Hornets, and Pelicans that have struggled to get out of the NBA’s cellar, or he could provide new life for teams such as the Sixers and Mavericks after disastrous seasons.”

April 22, 2025

Cooper Flagg’s Timing Is Perfect for the NBA and USA Basketball
FOS’ Annie Costabile writes, “Cooper Flagg, who declared for the NBA draft Monday, is about to completely change the trajectory of a franchise.

“The Duke freshman is the consensus No. 1 pick this June, and several teams battled for better lottery odds to hopefully secure the 18-year-old. When the lottery is complete in three weeks, Flagg could become the savior for franchises including the Wizards, Hornets, and Pelicans that have struggled to get out of the NBA’s cellar, or he could provide new life for teams such as the Sixers and Mavericks after disastrous seasons.”
^{Front Office Sports}

🚨 Head to the College Sports section for breaking news on paying student-athletes directly.

ESPN’s WNBA Coverage Mirrors the League’s Stunning Growth
FOS’ Annie Costabile writes: “At the Shed in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, cameras flashed as a throng of media pushed mini-mics into the faces of a line of WNBA hopefuls. Reporters inquired not only about their pro hopes, but also which designer they wore while walking across the orange carpet—the league’s very own version of the Met Gala. Outside, a crowd of people clamored to capture a clip of eventual No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers in a custom Coach look. 

“The frenzy at 2025’s WNBA draft is a testament to how far WNBA coverage has come—a path charted by ESPN as it enters its 29th consecutive season broadcasting the league. The network’s desk had the best view of the fashion show as WNBA Countdown went live from the draft.”
^{Front Office Sports}

USATF Cash Flow a Problem, ’22-23 Total Deficit More Than $12M
Cash flow for USA Track & Field has “been an ongoing problem,” according to sources cited by Rachel Bachman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL via SBJ. USATF ran a total deficit of more than $12M in 2022 and 2023, has “laid off several highly paid employees” and scrapped the L.A. Grand Prix and Bermuda Grand Prix from its schedule this season. This is happening less than halfway through a 23-year sponsorship deal with Nike worth nearly $500M. In some cases, USATF has “taken six months or more to pay out prize money.”
^{Wall Street Journal via Sports Business Journal}

Inside the Planned $1.2B Private Equity Fund From Dave Checketts and the Eccles Family
Longtime sports executive and investor Dave Checketts is teaming up with the Eccles family’s The Cynosure Group to launch Cynosure | Checketts Sports Capital. The 50-50 joint venture aims to raise at least $1.2B and lean on its partners’ extensive sports and investment histories to establish itself as the industry’s next big institutional investor.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Orioles, Nationals Add Direct-to-Consumer Streaming With MASN+
As of Monday, MASN+ will be available for $19.99 per month or $89.99 for the rest of the 2025 season. Subscribers will have access to 24/7 MASN and MASN2 content, including every available Orioles and Nationals game. MASN+ will be available via MASNsports.com or on iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku.
^{Sports Business Journal}

NHL Local Audiences Lower in U.S.; Comcast Distribution Means Different Narratives for Blackhawks, Avalanche
SBJ’s Austin Karp reports: “The sharpest drops came in two of the three biggest markets in the country. The Blackhawks had the biggest decline, down 78% this season on the team’s new RSN, Chicago Sports Network (co-owned alongside the Bulls and White Sox). But leaving NBC Sports Chicago for an RSN that has not gotten distribution with Comcast in the market meant a loss of just over 40,000 homes per game this season for the Blackhawks.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Chicago’s WGN Explores Local Sports as Comcast-CHSN Negotiations Drag On
Chicago-based WGN-TV “is interested in carrying local sports again and believes there’s a path to air Chicago Sports Network broadcasts of the White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks that Comcast has yet to carry,” according to Jeff Agrest of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. While WGN “isn’t positioned to pay a substantial rights fee” -- meaning the teams “would have to treat it as a marketing expense” -- the move could give the franchises “their largest TV audience since they launched CHSN in October.”
^{Chicago Sun Times via Sports Business Journal}

Hawks Fire GM Fields, Promote Saleh to That Role, Will Search for President of Basketball Ops
AP News’ Tim Reynolds reports: “Landry Fields was fired as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks on Monday after three seasons, with the team missing the playoffs in the last two of those.

“The Hawks promoted Onsi Saleh to the GM role, while also announcing that they have opened a search for a president of basketball operations. Atlanta went 40-42 this season, then missed the playoffs after going 0-2 in the play-in tournament.”
^{AP News}

Homestead-Miami Speedway Expected to Host NASCAR Title Race in 2026: Sources
The 1.5-mile track in South Florida previously hosted the championship weekend for NASCAR’s three national series — Cup, Xfinity and Trucks — from 2002 to 2019 before NASCAR shifted the November event to Phoenix Raceway.
^{The Athletic}

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UConn AD in Fluid Discussion on Revenue Sharing Cap With Recruit Budget
UConn AD David Benedict said that the institution is “likely to spend ‘over half’” of the $20.5M revenue-sharing cap while noting that it is a “fluid discussion,” according to Mike Anthony of the NEW HAVEN REGISTER. Teams will recruit “based on a budget and decide annually who to keep and who to recruit based on a budget and a price tag.” Benedict: “All we’re negotiating for is the rights to their NIL. Someone’s NIL is dramatically impacted if they’re not playing, but we’re going to be in an environment where we’re just negotiating for their NIL and it doesn’t matter how they perform. Of course it does.”
^{New Haven Register via Sports Business Journal}

NCAA Proposes New Rules to Allow Direct Payments to Players
ESPN’s Heather Dinich reports: “The NCAA Division I Board of Directors on Monday proposed deleting 153 longstanding rules from its handbook, a move that will allow schools to share financial benefits directly with players -- an expected step towards a new era of amateurism in college athletics, but one that remains contingent upon the approval of the House settlement.”
^ESPN

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