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The NBA logo is seen outside an NBA store in New York on July 8, 2024. Under the terms of the deal, Nike will be the leagues' global outfitting, merchandising, marketing and content partner until 2037. As the largest athletic apparel company in the world, Nike has long been a favorite among professional sports leagues and their athletes. Despite Nike's recent stumbles, the NBA told CNBC it has no concerns about continuing its partnership with the apparel company. Nike has not faced significant criticism for its basketball uniforms.

Persons: Elliott Hill, Sal LaRocca, They've, LaRocca, you'll, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu Organizations: NBA, Nike, National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, CNBC, MLB, ESPN, WNBA Locations: New York

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis walks off the field with former NFL quarterback Tom Brady before the preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Aug. 26, 2023. National Football League owners are expected to approve Tom Brady as minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC. After he first retired from the NFL, Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million broadcasting deal with Fox Sports in 2022. The five-time Super Bowl MVP is not new to the Las Vegas sports scene. He is also a minority owner of the Women's National Basketball Association's Las Vegas Aces, which, like the Raiders, is owned by Mark Davis.

Persons: Mark Davis, Tom Brady, Tom Wagner, Brady, Wagner Organizations: Las Vegas Raiders, NFL, Dallas Cowboys, T, National Football League, CNBC, Raiders, Knighthead, Allegiant, Fox Sports, Las, Las Vegas Aces Locations: Arlington , Texas, Atlanta, Oakland, Las Vegas

☆ WNBA to expand Finals to 7 games, add to regular season next year
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Jake Piazza | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx scores the game winning basket during the game against the New York Liberty during Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on October 10, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Basketball fans will have even more chances to see their favorite stars play in the Women's National Basketball Association in the 2025 season. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league will expand its regular season from 40 to 44 games, and its Finals series from five to seven games, both beginning next year. The Finals round will be a 2-2-1-1-1 format for home games, with the higher seed hosting first. Viewership, attendance and engagement numbers all increased for the 2024 season, and in some cases set new records.

Persons: Napheesa Collier, Cathy Engelbert, Engelbert, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson Organizations: Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Barclays Center, Basketball, National Basketball Association, WNBA, Portland, CNBC, National Basketball Locations: Brooklyn , New York, Toronto, Portland

☆ Robert Kraft, professional sports leagues join forces with campaign against antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Robert Kraft, Founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), Lights the Empire State Building to Stand Up to Jewish Hate and All Hate on October 7, 2024 in New York City. The biggest names in sports are joining forces in a new campaign to combat antisemitism. The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, founded by Kraft, says 10% of U.S. adult males are blatantly prejudiced against Jewish people and tend to be outspoken about it. Kraft founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in 2019 to help address the rising hate against Jews in the United States. In June, he announced a $1 million donation to Yeshiva University to cover tuition for Jewish students who wish to transfer.

Persons: Robert Kraft, Billie Jean King, Shaquille O'Neal, Jim Harbaugh, Doc Rivers, Joe Torre, Ryan Blaney, Candace Parker, Kraft Organizations: Foundation, Combat, New England Patriots, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Women's Soccer League, NASCAR, Defamation League, The Foundation, Kraft, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Columbia University, Yeshiva University Locations: New York City, U.S, Israel, United States, mater

☆ WNBA viewership soars to new record, while attendance hits more than two-decade high
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Jake Piazza | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Women's National Basketball Association's viewership and attendance boomed during the 2024 season, as the league's popularity soared due to young stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The league's games drew more than 54 million unique viewers, an all-time record, across various networks including Disney 's ABC and ESPN, Paramount Global' s CBS, E.W. Scripps' Ion and NBA TV, among others, according to data the WNBA released on Friday. In addition, WNBA game attendance hit its highest level in 22 years, and grew almost 50% from the 2023 season, according to the league. Asked about the dynamic on CNBC earlier this month, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert did not explicitly condemn the vitriol toward players, sparking criticism from around the league.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Destanni Henderson, Angel Reese, Scripps, Ion, Clark, Reese, Cathy Engelbert Organizations: Indiana, Atlanta, WNBA, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Disney, ABC, ESPN, Paramount, CBS, E.W, NBA, Indiana Fever, Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces, CNBC Locations: Gainbridge, Indianapolis , Indiana, Portland

☆ Women's sports are on an upward trajectory as fans, brands engage
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The fervor and passion surrounding women's sports aren't going to go away, said Jessica Berman, commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League. Gotfredson noted that fans of women's sports are "fanning differently" and are more engaged "from a brand partner perspective" than those who follow men's sports and male athletes. "It's still a small percentage of brands spending in women's sports," she said. Both Brink and USC's women's basketball star JuJu Watkins agreed that more women's sports games need to be more accessible for fans, with Brink saying "keep showing it and making it easier to watch." Yet Berman said women's leagues have a lot of catching up to do.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Destanni Henderson, Jessica Berman, They're, We've, Berman, Sara Gotfredson, Gotfredson, Cameron Brink, Angeles Sparks, USC's, JuJu Watkins, Brink Organizations: Indiana, Atlanta, WNBA, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, National Women's Soccer League, CNBC, Trailblazing Sports, Women's National Basketball Association, Google, Ally Bank, AT, Angeles, United States Soccer Federation Locations: Gainbridge, Indianapolis , Indiana

☆ UConn basketball's Paige Bueckers to sign NIL deal with Unrivaled league, receive equity stake
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

University of Connecticut star Paige Bueckers will sign a name, image and likeness deal with the new women's basketball league Unrivaled, people familiar with the matter told CNBC. Unrivaled was founded last year by Women's National Basketball Association players Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty and Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx. In February, Bueckers announced she would forgo the 2024 WNBA Draft to return to UConn for her senior season. Unrivaled was started as a way to allow WNBA basketball players the option to play in the U.S. during their offseason. Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky was the first player from this year's WNBA rookie class to join the league.

Persons: Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Bueckers, Stewart, Collier, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, Geno Auriemma, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, John Skipper, David Levy, Ashton Kutcher Organizations: UConn Huskies, NCAA, Iowa Hawkeyes, Mortgage, University of Connecticut, CNBC, Women's National Basketball Association, New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx, WNBA, UConn, Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, Bueckers, National Basketball Association Locations: Cleveland , Ohio, U.S

☆ Amazon is winning the race for TV ad dollars, leaving Netflix and other streamers in the dust
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Lucia Moses | Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Both companies made a splash at this year's upfront presentations, where streamers make their pitches for the nearly $70 billion in annual TV ad spending and advertisers seek to lock down the bulk of their annual TV ad commitments. But among newer streamers, it's Amazon that's winning advertisers' wallets, several ad buyers told Business Insider. AdvertisementAmazon's big increase in ad inventory and lower ad prices, of about half the ad rate ($30 per 1,000 impressions) that Netflix sought when it launched its ad tier in 2022, put pressure on other TV ad sellers to lower their prices. A second ad-holding-company exec said they expected Amazon to be the third or fourth biggest TV ad seller in the upfronts, behind traditional TV stalwarts NBCUniversal and Disney and potentially YouTube. Data has shown that people watch three times as much Netflix as they do Prime Video, although Prime Video viewing is growing.

Persons: —, execs, NBCUniversal, They're, catchup, Netflix's, Max, Ed Papazian Organizations: Service, Netflix, Amazon, Business, Disney, Warner Bros, gunning, Sports, NBA, NFL, NASCAR, National Women's Soccer League, National Basketball Association, WWE, Fox, Wall Street, Prime, NBC, Media Dynamics

☆ WNBA reports record TV viewership for 2024 season, highest game attendance in 26 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Genna Contino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) maneuvers past Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins (7) and Washington Mystics guard DiDi Richards (12) during the Washington Mystics-Indiana Fever WNBA game at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2024. Across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS, the WNBA is averaging 1.3 million viewers per game, tripling last season's average of 462,000 viewers. About 400,000 fans attended games in May, the most first-month attendees in 26 years, according to the league. The number of people tuning in to games on TV grew 60% year over year among people of color. Viewership in the first week of the season more than doubled for young girls and people under age 35.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Ariel Atkins, DiDi Richards, Angel Reese, We're, Colie Edison Organizations: Indiana, Washington Mystics, Indiana Fever, Capital, Washington , D.C, NCAA, Women's National Basketball Association, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, WNBA, Chicago Sky Locations: Washington ,, Jersey

☆ Caitlin Clark salary criticism a 'false narrative,' says WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

But right now we're seeing that even if you're the best, women are not paid their fair share." However, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, speaking at CNBC's inaugural Changemakers Summit on Thursday in New York City, said there's a "false narrative" around Clark's expected salary, likening it to the way that executive salaries are displayed for public companies. Cathy Engelbert, Commissioner of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) speaking at the CNBC Changemakers Event in New York on April 18th, 2024. The NBA has around $13 billion in revenue while the WNBA is roughly around $200 million. Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected first overall pick by the Indiana Fever during the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Joe Biden, Clark, Victor Wembanyama —, —, Cathy Engelbert, there's, Engelbert, Danielle DeVries, Caitlin, she's, we're, Sarah Stier Organizations: Indiana Fever, House, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, Summit, Deloitte, National Basketball Association, CNBC, Nike, Gatorade, State, WNBA, Athletic, Getty Locations: New York City, New York, U.S, Iowa

☆ Caitlin Clark, the top rookie female basketball player in the US, is making less than the average detective or acupuncturist
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Caitlin Clark will earn less in the WNBA than some trade jobs – and the average athlete. Despite her low base salary, Clark could make over $3 million from brand sponsorships and endorsements. Clark, who wore a $17,000 Prada outfit to the draft, will make an estimated base salary of $76,535 in her first year. Lower-level draft picks make $64,154 as a base salary, but salaries are much higher for non-rookie players: The highest-paid WNBA players make over $200,000 in base salary. Despite the low base salary, Clark, who has over two million social media followers, stands to make major money from brand sponsorships and endorsements.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Clark, —, she'll, I've Organizations: WNBA, NBA, Service, Basketball Association, Indiana Fever, NCAA, of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Revenue, Bloomberg, Nike, Gatorade, State Farm Insurance

☆ South Carolina coach Dawn Staley says women's basketball will get 'better and better'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Dawn Staley just finished leading South Carolina's undefeated season and witnessing the end of Caitlin Clark's record-breaking college career — and she thinks women's basketball is only getting started. The matchup, broadcast on ESPN , was the most-watched basketball game at any level since 2019, according to Nielsen. "I hope every school or university treats women's sports like South Carolina," she said. Staley, who is the second-highest-paid coach in women's college basketball, has a salary of $3.1 million per season, and earned a reported $680,000 more in bonuses following South Carolina's championship. Staley also reflected on Clark's effect on women's basketball, not only through drawing new audiences to the sport, but also by appearing on platforms such as "Saturday Night Live."

Persons: Dawn Staley, Caitlin Clark's, —, Clark, Nielsen, Staley, …, Caitlin Clark Organizations: South, CNBC, of Fame, Gamecocks, ESPN, New York Stock Exchange, National Basketball, Indiana Fever Locations: Iowa, South Carolina

☆ Minnesota Timberwolves sale to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore falls apart
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Co-owners Alex Rodriguez, right, and Marc Lore of the Minnesota Timberwolves during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec. 30, 2023. The National Basketball Association's Minnesota Timberwolves and the Women's National Basketball Association's Lynx are no longer for sale after a deal with former baseball great Alex Rodriguez and businessman Marc Lore fell apart, the teams' owner Glen Taylor said Thursday. In a statement to CNBC, Lore and Rodriguez said they are disappointed with Taylor's comments. However, those circumstances did not occur," Taylor's statement said. Some reports suggest that the relationship among Taylor, Lore and Rodriguez became strained since the original deal was made.

Persons: Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore, Glen Taylor, Rodriguez, Marc, Alex, Taylor, Lore, Taylor's, Glen, Axios Organizations: Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Target Center, Basketball Association's Minnesota Timberwolves, Women's, Basketball, Timberwolves, Lynx, CNBC, NBA, Carlyle Group, Western Conference Locations: Target Center Minneapolis , Minnesota

☆ The state of women's sports: Top executives weigh in on parity, media share and NIL regulations
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

From Caitlin Clark fever in Iowa to a packed house of 92,000 fans for women's volleyball in Nebraska, women's sports have never been more at the forefront. Last year saw record media deals for women's sports as the NCAA and NWSL both inked groundbreaking agreements. David Dow | Getty ImagesCathy Engelbert, commissioner of the Women's National Basketball Association: One of the obstacles is the undervaluation of our assets. Jayna Hefford, senior vice president of operations for the Professional Women's Hockey League: Women's sports still struggle to secure prime broadcast windows, consistent airtime and traditional media coverage. Steven Ferdman | Getty ImagesAmy Howe, FanDuel CEO: Women's sports need to continue to position their star athletes (i.e.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Matthew Holst, there's, Renie Anderson, Jessica Berman, Jesse Grant, CNBC Jessica Berman, Cathy Engelbert, Breanna Stewart, David Dow, Jessica Gelman, John Lamparski, KAGR, Caitlin Clark's, Jayna Hefford, Haley Rosen, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, Michael Reaves, LPGA we've, Katrina Adams, Louis Armstrong, USTA Billie Jean King, Steven Ryan, Sabrina Ionescu, Coco Gauff, —, Berman, Pamela Duckworth, Engelbert, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Amy Howe, Steven Ferdman, FanDuel, Ionescu, A'ja Wilson, Rosen, Adams, they've, Renie, Anderson, I'm, influencers, Duckworth, Angel Reese, Billie Jean King, Jayna, Mark Blinch Organizations: Iowa Hawkeyes, NCAA, Michigan Wolverines, Carver, Getty, women's, Deloitte, CNBC, NFL, National Women's Soccer League, National Women's Soccer, WNBA, New York Liberty, Kia, Connecticut Sun, National Basketball Association, Business, New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Sports, Professional Women's Hockey, Association, Tiburon Golf Club, Professional, LPGA, USTA, Louis, USTA Billie, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, United States Tennis Association, Women's Tennis, Fubo Studios, FuboTV, NBA, Nike, Wall, Spring Studios, Renie Anderson NFL, Toronto, New York, Mattamy Athletic Centre Locations: Iowa City , Iowa, Iowa, Nebraska, Brooklyn , New York, New, New York City, Naples , Florida, NY, Toronto , Ontario, Canada

☆ Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia forms new investment group called Player 15
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mat Ishbia, majority owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, talks to the media during his introductory press conference at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on Feb. 8, 2023. Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is forming a new sports, entertainment and real estate investment group as a single unifying place for his investments. The new investment or holding company will be called the Player 15 Group, the company announced Wednesday. It will house the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns, the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury and the newly acquired G-League team for the Suns. The group follows similar one-stop shop investment groups such as Fenway Sports Group, Harris Blitzer Group and The Kraft Group.

Persons: Mat Ishbia, Ishbia, Harris Organizations: Phoenix Suns, Footprint, Basketball, Phoenix Mercury, League, Suns, NBA, CNBC, Footprint Center, Phoenix, Mercury, Fenway Sports Group, Harris Blitzer Group, The Kraft Group, United Wholesale Mortgage, Forbes, Michigan State University Locations: Phoenix , Arizona, Phoenix

☆ Las Vegas has invested billions into sports. The question is, will it pay off?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Natalie Rice | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Once known mainly for gambling and debauchery, Las Vegas has gained professional sports teams with the National Football League, the National Hockey League, Women's National Basketball Association and the United Soccer League in under a decade. The $2 billion venue was built for the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders and opened in 2020. "It's not just that the NFL's here, which is fantastic and a recognition of the maturity of Las Vegas," said Hill. Allegiant Stadium brought 1.52 million incremental visitors to the area, according to the 2023 impact report by the Las Vegas Raiders, with 88% of those visitors saying it was "the primary reason for their visit." In 2023, 40.8 million visitors flocked to Las Vegas, up 5.2% from the prior year, though still not as high as pre-pandemic levels.

Persons: that's, We're, Steve Hill, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, It's, Eric Fernwood Organizations: National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, United Soccer League, Major League Baseball, Las Vegas Convention, Visitors, Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant, Estate Investment Locations: Vegas, Sin City, United States, Las Vegas

☆ Griner receives WNBA Cares Community Assist Award
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 21, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Sky in the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 27 (Reuters) - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has received the season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award in part for her continued work in championing the safe return of wrongful detainees overseas, the league said on Friday. Throughout the 2023 WNBA season, Griner, who was freed from a Russian penal colony in a high-profile prisoner exchange last year, worked with Bring Our Families Home, a campaign that helps spread awareness about wrongfully detained Americans. "I know the opportunity, privilege and responsibility I have to make a difference in the lives of others, and I'll always remain committed to that," Griner said in a WNBA news release. During the season, Griner and the Mercury also hosted families and friends of wrongful detainees at their games.

Persons: Rick Scuteri, Griner, Viktor Bout, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, Footprint Center, Mercury, Griner, BG, Phoenix Rescue, National Basketball Association, Russia, Thomson Locations: Phoenix , Arizona, USA, Russian, Phoenix, Moscow, Ukraine, Toronto

☆ Liberty star Stewart named WNBA MVP
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sep 24, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) brings the ball up court in the fourth quarter against the Connecticut Sun during game one of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. "Stewie’s first season with the New York Liberty has been nothing short of historic on every level," Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb said in a statement. Alyssa Thomas, a forward for the Connecticut Sun, finished second in the voting in a close race while last year's MVP, Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, finished third. Stewart, the Liberty's first MVP, arrived in Brooklyn this season as one of the most highly sought-after free agents following her prolific tenure in Seattle. The twice Finals MVP finished second in scoring and third in both rebounding and total blocks, with a career-best average of 23 points per game.

Persons: Breanna Stewart, Wendell Cruz, Jonathan Kolb, Alyssa Thomas, A'ja Wilson, Stewart, Amy Tennery, Toby Davis Organizations: New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun, Barclays Center, National Basketball Association, Brooklyn, Seattle Storm, WNBA, Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn , New York, USA, Brooklyn, Seattle, New York

☆ U.S. forward Rapinoe to retire after current season
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Nathan Frandino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 8 (Reuters) - United States forward Megan Rapinoe will retire after this season, the 38-year-old said on Saturday, days before she leaves for the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Jun 27, 2023; Carson, California, USA; USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe during Women's World Cup media day at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsThe United States are gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive title at the World Cup. Rapinoe joined OL Reign in their inaugural season and holds the team record for most career goals (48) and assists (25). The United States kick off their World Cup campaign on July 22 against Vietnam.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, Rapinoe, It's, Kirby Lee, gunning, Sue Bird, Donald Trump, Colin Kaepernick, we’ve, Nathan Frandino, Amy Tennery, Clare Fallon Organizations: JOSE, Calif, Women's Soccer League, Dignity Health Sports Park, USA, Wales, National Basketball Association, U.S, Soccer, NFL, United, Vietnam, Thomson Locations: United States, Australia, New Zealand, California, Carson , California, USA, San Jose , California, France, New York

☆ Qatari fund buys passive stake in Wizards parent, Sportico reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Apr 7, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards center Jay Huff (34) dunks the ball against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/File PhotoJune 22 (Reuters) - The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is buying a passive minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent of the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, Sportico reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Monumental declined to comment, while QIA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The report comes weeks after another deal in the sporting world that involved a Middle Eastern country. Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jay Huff, Geoff Burke, Sportico, QIA, LIV, Granth, Maju Samuel Organizations: District of Columbia, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Capital, USA, Qatar Investment Authority, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Washington Capitals, Basketball Association's Washington Mystics, NBC Sports Washington, PGA, Thomson Locations: Washington, District, USA, Saudi, Bengaluru

Russell Westbrook, who played for the Washington Wizards in the 2020-21 NBA season, reacts prior to playing against the Denver Nuggets at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., February 17, 2021. Qatar's sovereign wealth fund has offered to buy a minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Washington Wizards and other Washington, D.C., sports teams, the National Basketball Association said Thursday. The NBA is still reviewing the deal with the Qatar Investment Authority, league spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement to CNBC. The NBA in November began to allow sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors to buy noncontrolling stakes in the league's teams. In addition to the Wizards, Monumental owns the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals and the Women's National Basketball Association team, the Washington Mystics.

Persons: Russell Westbrook, Mike Bass, QIA, Bass Organizations: Washington Wizards, NBA, Denver Nuggets, Capital, Washington , D.C, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, D.C, National Basketball Association, Qatar Investment Authority, CNBC, Sportico, Wizards, Monumental, Hockey League's Washington Capitals, Women's National Basketball Association, Washington Mystics, NBA G League, NBC Sports Washington, Monumental Sports Locations: Washington ,, Washington, Monumental, Qatar

☆ MLB, WNBA and NWSL games postponed due to poor air quality in U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Jun 7, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; Members of the Yankee Stadium grounds crew wait for word on the status of a game against the Chicago White Sox before the game was ultimately rescheduled due to poor air quality. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsNEW YORK, June 7 (Reuters) - Poor air quality conditions forced the cancellation of Major League Baseball (MLB), National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) games on Wednesday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south. MLB postponed games in Philadelphia between the Detroit Tigers and the Phillies and in New York between the Chicago White Sox at the Yankees. "These postponements were determined following conversations throughout the day with medical and weather experts and all of the impacted Clubs regarding clearly hazardous air quality conditions in both cities," MLB said in a statement. A WNBA game in Brooklyn between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty, which was set to tip off at 7 p.m.

Persons: Brad Penner, Amy Tennery, Toby Davis Organizations: Yankee, Chicago White Sox, YORK, Major League Baseball, Women's Soccer League, National Basketball Association, U.S ., MLB, Detroit Tigers, Phillies, Yankees, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Gotham FC, Orlando Pride, Aviation Administration, Newark Liberty International, WNBA, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Thomson Locations: Bronx , New York, USA, U.S, U.S . East Coast, Ohio, Kansas, Philadelphia, New York, Harrison , New Jersey, Brooklyn

☆ Aces lose 2025 first-round pick, Hammon suspended for WNBA rule violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 16 (Reuters) - The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) stripped defending champions Las Vegas Aces of their 2025 first-round draft pick and suspended head coach Becky Hammon for two games without pay for violating league rules on Tuesday. Hammon, who took the reins last year after eight years as an assistant coach with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, was found to have committed a "Respect in the Workplace" violation with comments regarding Hamby's recent pregnancy. The investigation, however, was not able to substantiate concerns over the Aces' conduct during the off-season. The Next reported in February that The Aces were under investigation by the WNBA for circumventing the salary cap. "The Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly.

☆ Toronto rolls out welcome mat for WNBA's first Canada game
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TORONTO, May 13 (Reuters) - The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) held a game in Canada for the first time on Saturday in what amounted to a celebration of women's basketball while perhaps planting the seeds for an expansion franchise. The sold-out pre-season game played at the home of the NBA's Toronto Raptors offered the latest sign that there is a growing appetite in Canada's biggest city and financial capital for professional women's basketball. The game aired live on three networks across Canada and the United States, featured an all-women, all-Canadian team for the broadcast and prompted the city to proclaim May 13 as "Welcome WNBA Day" to mark the occasion. "So Toronto is definitely on the list, but we'll continue to work on that through the season and hopefully have something to announce later." Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Griner plays in WNBA for first time since Russia detention
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I didn't think I would be sitting here. I didn't think I would be playing basketball this quickly," Griner told reporters after the Sparks handed them a 90-71 loss. Griner was greeted to roars of celebration at Phoenix's Footprint Center on Friday as she exited the tunnel and strode onto the court. "I didn't feel like I was gassed or dying," said Griner, who offered a withering self-appraisal of her defensive performance. The two-time WNBA scoring champion has been subject to enormous media interest since her return to the United States, using her super-sized platform to champion the cause of other Americans detained abroad.

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