WNBA – WNBA expanding to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia over next five years
The WNBA is expanding to 18 teams over the next five years with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia all set to join the league by 2030. Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia the season after assuming they get approval from the NBA and WNBA Board of Governors. Toronto and Portland will enter the league next year. All three of the new teams that were announced Monday have NBA ownership groups. Each paid a $250 million expansion fee. All three teams also will be building new practice facilities for the WNBA teams. Detroit and Cleveland both had previous WNBA franchises, with Detroit being one of the most successful franchises in the early years of the league. The Detroit Shock won three WNBA Championships before moving to Tulsa, and then Dallas, which is now known as the Wings.
“This is a huge win for Detroit and the WNBA,” Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores said. “Today marks the long-hoped-for return of the WNBA to a city with deep basketball roots and a championship tradition. Detroit played a key role in the league’s early growth, and we’re proud to reignite that legacy as the WNBA ascends to new heights. Our plans will bring new energy, investment and infrastructure to our city and the WNBA, and additional resources to our community.” Detroit sports stars Grant Hill, Chris Webber and Jared Goff will have minority ownership stakes in the team. The Cleveland and Detroit ownership groups said the Rockers and Shock — the names of the previous teams — would be considered but they’d do their due diligence before deciding on what the franchises will be called.
WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association
Tonight
Indiana Fever at Minnesota Lynx, 8:00 p.m.
WNBA – Bueckers named All-Star starter, Ogwumike selected for 10th time
Paige Bueckers will play in her first WNBA All-Star Game while Nneka Ogwumike has earned her 10th selection. The league announced the remaining All-Star starters on Monday after Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier were named as team captains a day earlier for winning the fan vote. Bueckers will be the 10th rookie to start the game. The Dallas guard is ranked 11th in the league in scoring and sixth in assists to lead all rookies in both categories. She received the sixth most votes from the fans. Ogwumike, who stars for Seattle, is tied for the third-most All-Star appearances with Tamika Catchings and Brittney Griner.
MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Tigers, White Sox, and Cubs were off
Tonight
Detroit (Flaherty 5-9) at Washington (Williams 3-9), 6:45 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 6:20p
Cleveland (Williams 5-3) at Chicago Cubs (Boyd 7-3), 8:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox (Smith 3-5) at L.A. Dodgers (Yamamoto 7-6), 10:10 p.m.
NBA – Free agency opens with Spurs, Rockets, Hawks, Magic and Mavs making early moves
The Houston Rockets continued their offseason improvements by adding veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith on a four-year, $53 million deal shortly after the NBA’s free agency window officially opened. ESPN first reported the deal, and a person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed the terms to The Associated Press. Technically, the NBA free agency period opened at 6 p.m. Eastern time on Monday. In actuality, it has been rolling along. LeBron James has already opted in to a $52.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for this coming season, the Houston Rockets have traded for Kevin Durant and the Los Angeles Clippers saw James Harden decline his option in return for a new deal and a raise.
NBA – Knicks to conduct 2nd interview with Mike Brown for coaching job
A person with knowledge of the details says the New York Knicks will interview two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown for a second time as they seek Tom Thibodeau’s replacement. Brown’s return this week will make him the first of the known candidates to get a second interview for the position that has been vacant for nearly a month. Other candidates could also be asked to return, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the coaching search were to remain private. The Knicks have also talked with Taylor Jenkins, James Borrego and Micah Nori.
NHL – Red Wings trade Tarasenko, resign Kane
The Detroit Red Wings cleared some cap space ahead of the start of NHL Free Agency today, the Red Wings have traded forward Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for future considerations. Tarasenko is a two time Stanley Cup champion and has 1 year remaining on his 2 year deal at $9.5 million a year. The Red Wings then resigned forward Patrick Kane to another 1 year deal worth $3 million. Kane has spent the last two seasons with Detroit after coming back from a hip injury following his trade to the New York Rangers by the Chicago Blackhawks where he won three Stanley Cup Championships.
NHL – Back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Panthers re-sign Marchand and Ekblad
The Florida Panthers completed another hat trick less than two weeks since repeating as Stanley Cup champions. After Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett said they never wanted to leave South Florida, they got their wish. Days after locking up Bennett long term, the Panthers have agreed to re-sign Ekblad and Marchand, according to people familiar with the agreements. Ekblad agreed to an eight-year deal with an average value of $6.1 million, while Marchand agreed to a six-year deal.
NHL – Golden Knights get Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade from the Maple Leafs
The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade with Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the move who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced.. Vegas reportedly signed the 28-year-old two-time All-Star to an eight-year contract worth $96 million after sending Nicolas Roy to Toronto to jump the line on the top free agent before the rest of the NHL could talk to him. Marner is coming off career highs of 75 assists and 102 points.
Tennis – 2-time defending champ Alcaraz needs 5 sets to beat Fognini in the 1st round
Carlos Alcaraz needed to go through five sets against Fabio Fognini at Wimbledon before winning their first-round match to start his bid for a third consecutive title at the All England Club. Alcaraz eventually asserted himself in the last set to pick up the 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 victory at Centre Court on Monday. The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz had a much tougher time than anyone likely expected before he managed to extend his current winning streak to a career-best 19 matches. Fognini is 38. He has said he’ll retire after this season and he entered the day with an 0-6 record on tour in 2025.
NASCAR – Future of downtown Chicago weekend unclear going into the year 3 of contract
When it comes to NASCAR’s return to downtown Chicago, Julie Giese has a long list of responsibilities. The track president is monitoring an ambitious construction schedule for the street course, to go along with everything else that goes into the busy weekend. What happens next is going to have to wait. The future of NASCAR in Chicago is murky going into its third edition. The three-year contract that was announced in 2022 has two mutual options. Giese says there have been “good conversations” between NASCAR and the city, and there is time to work on the possibilities beyond the event.
MILB – Erie Seawolves will be renamed the Moon Mammoths in rebranding by John Oliver
The Detroit Tigers’ Double-A Erie Seawolves will be renamed the Erie Moon Mammoths after being picked by John Oliver of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight.” Oliver devoted a May 4 segment to names and promotions of minor league baseball teams, announcing his rebranding proposal. Two weeks later, he said Erie, based in Pennsylvania, had been selected after 47 submissions. On Sunday, Oliver announced he had picked Moon Mammoths. The name was inspired by the 1991 discovery of woolly mammoth remains by George Moon, a Summit Township resident who found a bone while scuba diving in Lake Pleasant, about 8 miles south of Erie. The mammoth remains are housed in the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Tonight
Great Lakes Loons at West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m.
Lansing Lugnuts at Fort Wayne Tin Caps, 7:05 p.m.
South Bend Cubs at Peoria Chiefs, 7:35 p.m. Sports Radio WSBT 7:15p
