Women's Hoops Steal Spotlight

Unrivaled’s Unveils Team Name, Branding; Saleh to the Packers?

October 25, 2024

Good morning! Buzz still surrounds Unrivaled as they reveal team names

New Unrivaled Basketball League Reveals Sweet New Team Names, Logos
SI’s Liam McKeone writes, “In January the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a new league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, will take place. It's a big-money venture that has already lured a few significant names to play with its founders like Chelsea Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, Brittney Griner, and Angel Reese. There are still four players to be announced that will round out the 30-woman league.

“Introducing the six basketball clubs that will make up Unrivaled: the Laces, the Mist, the Phantom, the Lunar Owls, the Rose, and the Vinyl.”
^{Sports Illustrated}

WNBA Outlook is Promising After Record-Setting Year, Although the League Has a Few Challenges Ahead
AP News’ Doug Fineberg reports, “The league is expanding and will increase the number of regular season games to 44. The WNBA will hold an expansion draft for Golden State in December. The Valkyries will be the league’s 13th franchise. The league will add franchises in Toronto and Portland in 2026, with at least one other team starting in either 2027 or 2028.

“Although the WNBA could lose one of its iconic stars if Diana Taurasi announces her retirement, league officials are looking forward to another highly anticipated draft.”
^{AP News}

Oakland A’s Shop $500M Minority Stake in Deal That Values Vegas-Bound Team at $2B: Sources
The New York Post’s Josh Kosman writes, “Billionaire Oakland A’s owner John Fisher is looking to cash in on the team’s move to Las Vegas by selling off a minority stake that values the franchise at $2 billion—a whopping 66% increase from its most recent valuation, The Post has learned.

“Fisher—an heir to The Gap clothing empire co-founded by his parents, Donald and Doris Fisher—plans to start shopping a 25% chunk of the team with a price tag of $500 million in the coming days, two sources close to the situation told The Post.”
^{New York Post}

TKO Acquires IMG, On Location, PBR in $3.25B Deal
Per the SBJ, TKO Group announced that it reached a definitive agreement with Endeavor to acquire Professional Bull Riders, On Location, and IMG in an all-equity transaction valued at $3.25B. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and required regulatory approvals. No other stockholder approval is required. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025 (TKO).
^{Sports Business Journal}

Nick Wright Signing Fox Extension, Cementing Future Face of FS1
Nick Wright will sign a new, long-term contract to remain with Fox Sports’ FS1 network, Front Office Sports has learned. As FOS notes, the 40-year-old Wright, who co-hosts First Things First, has become “one of the biggest stars in sports media.” Fox declined to comment. FOS also points out that, since changing time slots, First Things First experienced a 53% increase in viewership.
^{Front Office Sports}

Packers Bring Robert Saleh, Former Jets Coach, Into Practice for Insight on Offense
Recently fired Jets head coach Robert Saleh was at a Green Bay Packers practice on Wednesday and is helping out with the team’s offense by providing a defensive perspective, head coach Matt LaFleur said via The Athletic.

“I’d say it’s pretty fluid,” LaFleur said when asked about the period of time Saleh will be helping.
^{The Athletic}

Clippers' Fresh Start Clouded by Old Struggles in Intuit Dome Debut
Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill writes, “As Ballmer’s new playpen opened its doors in Inglewood in the Clippers’ boldest, grandest attempt at keeping a footprint in Los Angeles, still yet to emerge from the Lakers’ massive shadow, it seems like last year would’ve been the best chance to take such a voyage.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Spanish League Working With FIFA to Take Barcelona-Atletico Madrid Game to Miami
According to AP News, the league said its partner in the U.S., Relevent Sports, is working with FIFA to ensure the league is cleared to host the match outside of Spain. Playing the match abroad is part of the league’s goal of promoting soccer and its brand in other countries.

The league first tried to play a regular-season match in the United States about five years ago, but its plans were reportedly scrapped after opposition from Spain’s soccer federation and the players’ union.
^{AP News}

Ole Miss Built a $10M Roster to Reach the 12-team Playoff. With 2 Losses, Now What?
“We have followed a plan that was deliberate and intentional to make an effort to be in this first 12-team Playoff,” said Walker Jones, the executive director of The Grove Collective. “That started two years ago.”

The Athletic’s David Ubben writes, “It culminated this fall, Jones said, having invested more than $10 million into a roster loaded with talent and highly recruited transfers. Jones said that number likely ranks among the top half of SEC programs. No. 18 Ole Miss’ goal is still technically in reach, but the 29-26 overtime loss to LSU on Oct. 12 sharply steepened the odds.”
^{The Athletic}

UConn Builds on Men's Hoops Titles With New Brands in the Fold, Including Ready-to-Drink Cocktails
SBJ’s Terry Lefton reports: “UConn basketball tips off its season on Nov. 6, and back-to-back NCAA men's titles have helped push the Huskies' sponsorship revenue up more than 10% compared to last season.

“The biggest new program benefactor is hair color and salon brand Madison Reed, which now has its corporate moniker and naming rights to the court at Gampel Pavilion. The brand is squarely behind the women’s basketball program, which has 11 titles compared to the men’s six.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

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