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Posts tagged as “Basketball”

Lynx Outlast Fever 108–100 Behind Olivia Miles’ Big Night (108 – 100)

August 3, 2026
Lynx Outlast Fever 108–100 Behind Olivia Miles’ Big Night (108 – 100)

In one of the most explosive offensive clashes of the WNBA season, the Minnesota Lynx held off a relentless fourth-quarter rally by the Indiana Fever to secure a 108–100 victory at Target Center. Both teams came out firing in a blistering first quarter that ended tied at 36 points apiece—matching the league record for the highest-scoring opening period. Minnesota seized control in the second quarter to build a 64–53 halftime lead, eventually extending their advantage to 96–82 midway through the fourth quarter before Indiana mounted a furious late run.

Indiana cut the deficit to 100–98 with under three minutes remaining, but crucial late baskets from Minnesota’s backcourt sealed the win. The Lynx out-executed Indiana down the stretch, capitalizing on a 12 to 6 turnover advantage and an 11–5 edge on the offensive glass to notch their 10th consecutive victory.

Rookie sensation Olivia Miles spearheaded Minnesota’s hyper-efficient offense, pouring in 28 points. Miles set the tone in the second quarter with a dominant 14-point frame that gave the Lynx room to breathe. Paired with Courtney Williams’ 27-point effort, Miles displayed poise beyond her years, orchestrating key possessions in the final minutes to fend off Indiana’s comeback attempt.

Veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell was nearly unstoppable for Indiana, finishing with a game-high 37 points on a remarkably efficient 14-of-21 shooting from the field, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. The performance marked her fifth 30-point game of the season and her 14th consecutive game scoring 20+ points—the second-longest such streak in WNBA history behind only A’ja Wilson.

Full game highlights;

Next
After wrapping up a three-game road trip, the Indiana Fever return home to host the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx hit the road for a four-game swing, starting Thursday against the Los Angeles Sparks.

ICYMI: Clark has 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the Fever’s victory over the Fire  

August 2, 2026

ESPN:

Caitlin Clark had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for her fourth career triple-double, and the Indiana Fever won their their fifth straight with a 112-98 victory over the Portland Fire on Friday night.

Kelsey Mitchell also had 26 points for the Fever (19-10), who have won nine of their last 11 and had five straight games with 100 points.

This was one of Caitlin Clark’s best all-around games, placing her firmly in MVP contention, also the best game that we’ve seen where the Fever Big 3 are healthy and playing without any minutes restrictions.

Full game highlights;

Next
Indiana Fever will travel to Minnesota to face the league leader Lynx, while the Portland Tempo will host the LA Sparks, both games will be this Sunday.

ICYMI: LeBron James Joins Philadelphia 76ers on Two-Year Deal

July 26, 2026
ICYMI: LeBron James Joins Philadelphia 76ers on Two-Year Deal

In a major NBA free agency move, LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. The agreement includes a player option for the second year, offering the 41-year-old superstar flexibility while providing Philadelphia with valuable salary cap room.

Entering a record 24th NBA season after eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers, the league’s all-time leading scorer confirmed the decision on social media, emphasizing that his choice was driven purely by championship ambition rather than finances.

James’ signing instantly positions Philadelphia as a top title contender, pairing James with an elite star core:

  • Joel Embiid: Former MVP and premier interior anchor.
  • Tyrese Maxey: All-Star guard and dynamic playmaker.
  • Jaylen Brown: Newly acquired All-Star wing offering high-caliber two-way performance.

“I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.” James shared on social media regarding his choice.

By bringing his veteran leadership to the City of Brotherly Love, James aims to end Philadelphia’s title drought and capture the fifth championship ring of his career.

ICYMI: Here are the Participants to the 2026 WNBA Shooting Stars and 3-Point Contest

July 24, 2026
ICYMI: Here are the Participants to the 2026 WNBA Shooting Stars and 3-Point Contest

The WNBA All-Star Weekend is just around the corner and the WNBA has announced the participants to the 2026 WNBA Shooting Stars and 3-Point Contest, and yes no Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu in the 3-Point Contest, which will be a missed opportunity for the league.

Shooting Stars
Below are the participants for the 2026 WNBA Shooting Stars event:

Team WNBA Legend Current Player Nike NYBL Player
Minnesota Rebekkah Brunson Courtney Williams To be assigned
Seattle Lauren Jackson Flau’jae Johnson To be assigned
Washington Elena Delle Donne Shakira Austin To be assigned
Dallas/Detroit Deanna “Tweety” Nolan Jessica Shepard To be assigned

The WNBA Shooting Stars is a two-round, timed shooting competition in which teams have 70 seconds to score as many points as possible from seven shooting locations around the court. The competition features shots ranging from a layup to a long-range three-pointer, with the two teams posting the highest scores in the opening round advancing to the championship round.

3-Point Contest
Below are the participants for the 2026 WNBA 3-Point Contest:

Player Team Years in the W
Bridget Carleton Portland Fire 8
Azzi Fudd Dallas Wings Rookie
Natisha Hiedeman Seattle Storm 8
Rhyne Howard Atlanta Dream 5
Marina Mabrey Toronto Tempo 8
Janelle Salaün Golden State Valkyries 2

The State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest participants will compete in a two-round, timed competition with ball racks positioned at five main shooting locations around the three-point arc. Four of the racks contain four official WNBA game balls worth one point each and – in a nod to the league’s original orange-and-oatmeal-colored game ball – one oatmeal-colored “money” ball worth two points. The fifth rack will be a special “allmoney ball” rack containing five oatmeal-colored “money” balls with each made basket worth two points; eachcompetitor will choose their preferred spot for the “all money ball” rack to be located from among the five shooting locations.

Both the 2026 WNBA Shooting Stars and 3-Point Contest event will be this Friday, July 24th atthe Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Source: WNBA

Indiana Fever Routs Connecticut Sun by 35 Points Heading Into WNBA All-Star Weekend

July 23, 2026
Indiana Fever Routs Connecticut Sun by 35 Points Heading Into WNBA All-Star Weekend

The Indiana Fever closed out the first half of their 2026 season with an offensive clinic, thrashing the Connecticut Sun 123-88 on Wednesday, July 22, in their final game before the WNBA All-Star break. The 35-point margin marked the second-largest win in franchise history, while the 123 points set a new single-game franchise record.

Indiana’s star trio — all set to represent the Fever at All-Star Weekend in Chicago — set the tone from the opening tip. Caitlin Clark posted a commanding double-double with 27 points and 11 assists, shooting an efficient 8-of-13 from the field, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Kelsey Mitchell continued her hot streak, adding 23 points and knocking down at least three three-pointers for the tenth straight game. Aliyah Boston rounded out the trio with a strong all-around performance in the paint.

The Fever were nearly unstoppable from deep, connecting on 11 of 22 three-point attempts while shooting 62% overall from the field — building a big first-half lead they never relinquished. Connecticut struggled to keep pace, with Diamond Miller leading the Sun with 15 points in a game Connecticut played without Aaliyah Edwards and Brittney Griner.

Carrying big momentum into the break, Indiana (17-10) heads into All-Star Weekend looking like one of the most dangerous offenses in the league.

Full game highlights;

Next
After the All-Star the Indiana Fever will travel to Seattle to face the Storm on the 29th of July, while the Connecticut Sun will go to the Capital for a match against the Washington Mystics on the 29th as well.

Caitlin Clark named AP Player of the Week for the 5th Time

July 21, 2026
Caitlin Clark named AP Player of the Week for the 5th Time

Caitlin Clark was named the Associated Press (AP) National Player of the Week 4 times during her college career at Iowa, and then the most recent in her very young WNBA career, July 13–19, 2026.

Here are the AP News articles for each of those weekly honors:

  1. November 14, 2023 (Week 1): Honored after averaging 32 points, 9 assists, and 8.3 rebounds, which included a 44-point game against Virginia Tech and breaking Iowa’s all-time scoring record.
  2. January 9, 2024 (Week 9): Earned the recognition after averaging 34.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds, highlighted by a buzzer-beating deep 3-pointer to beat Michigan State and a triple-double against Rutgers.
  3. February 20, 2024 (Week 15): Awarded during her historic senior season run as she broke the NCAA Division I women’s all-time scoring record.
  4. March 12, 2024 (Week 18): Selected after averaging 28.6 points and 11.3 assists to lead Iowa to its third consecutive Big Ten Tournament title.

  5. July 13–19, 2026: She won the honor after averaging 25 points, 7.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game to help the Indiana Fever go 2–1, highlighted by a historic franchise-record 45-point, 10-assist performance against the Seattle Storm.

Indiana Fever released a 40-minute video of all of Caitlin Clark’s 3-pointers

July 21, 2026
Indiana Fever released a 40-minute video of all of Caitlin Clark’s 3-pointers

Caitlin Clark reached 200 career three-pointers on Friday, July 17, 2026, during the second quarter of the Indiana Fever’s 110–107 victory over the Seattle Storm.

Clark hit the milestone in her 74th career WNBA game, becoming the fastest player in league history to reach 200 made three-pointers. She surpassed the previous record set by hall-of-famer Katie Smith (81 games).

ICYMI: Clark, Wilson, Stewart Headline 2026 WNBA All-Star Draft Rosters

July 20, 2026
ICYMI: Clark, Wilson, Stewart Headline 2026 WNBA All-Star Draft Rosters

In a nod to league history, Naismith Hall of Famers Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon served as honorary general managers for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Draft.

A preliminary coin toss awarded top fan vote-getter Paige Bueckers to Cooper’s “Team Coop,” while runner-up Caitlin Clark joined Weatherspoon’s “Team Spoon”. Weatherspoon used the official first overall pick on four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, pairing her with Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Olivia Miles. Cooper countered by selecting powerhouse forward Breanna Stewart, alongside Kelsey Mitchell and Angel Reese.

Below is the full 2026 WNBA All-Star Draft Rosters;

2026 WNBA All-Star Draft
Pick Team Spoon Team Coop
1 Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever) Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings)
2 A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
3 Olivia Miles (Minnesota Lynx) Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)
4 Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever) Natasha Howard (Minnesota Lynx)
5 Jessica Shepard (Dallas Wings) Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries)
6 Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream) Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream)
7 Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream) Marina Mabrey (Toronto Tempo)
8 Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty) Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm)
9 Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks)
10 Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics) Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces)
11 Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks) Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics)

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve will lead the sidelines at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game. The duo clinched their coaching spots after their respective teams secured the WNBA’s two best overall records through games played on Friday, July 10.

The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25, headlines a feature-packed, three-day weekend of basketball action. The festivities kick off Friday, July 24, at Wintrust Arena with the Kia WNBA Shooting Stars and the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest, broadcasting live on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.

Indiana Fever Overcomes 13-Point Deficit to Rout New York Liberty (108 – 88)

July 19, 2026
Indiana Fever Overcomes 13-Point Deficit to Rout New York Liberty (108 – 88)

The Indiana Fever orchestrated a stunning second-half surge to defeat the New York Liberty 108–88. Despite falling behind by 13 points early on, Indiana completely flipped the script using explosive offensive execution and resilient paint protection.

Kelsey Mitchell led the charge with a spectacular 33-point masterpiece on a hyper-efficient 10-of-14 shooting from the field. It marked Mitchell’s second consecutive 30-point outing, punishing the Liberty defense relentlessly. Point guard Caitlin Clark contributed 17 points and 7 assists, including a critical third-quarter three-point play that ignited a decisive 16–2 run to hand the Fever their first lead. Inside, Aliyah Boston provided the vital spark during the second quarter, utilizing her size and grit to trigger the comeback while stabilizing Indiana’s interior defense. Boston scored 15 points, 7 rebounds with 2 steals and 1 block.

The Liberty relied heavily on their franchise leader, Breanna Stewart, who did everything possible to keep New York afloat by scoring a team-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting. However, New York folded under the Fever’s pressure, turning the ball over nine times in the third quarter alone. Indiana capitalized on those mistakes, outscoring New York 63–39 in the secondhalf to secure a statement 20-point victory. The Liberty remain without Satou Sabally, who is still in concussion protocol, and Leonie Fiebich, who is nursing a left foot injury.

The win over the Liberty came on the second night of a back-to-back, just 24 hours after the Fever defeated the Storm.

Full game highlights;

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The Fever will face the Sun this Wednesday night, while the Liberty will travel to Dallas for their third game against the Wings. Both teams will be playing their final game before the All-Star break.

Indiana Fever’s message to its international fans for International Night this Saturday against the Liberty

July 16, 2026

You could say that “Basketball is the unofficial national sports in the Philippines!”

Valkyries Cruise Past Fever to Claim Historic Eighth Straight Win (88 – 75)

July 16, 2026
Valkyries Cruise Past Fever to Claim Historic Eighth Straight Win (88 – 75)

The Golden State Valkyries extended their franchise-record winning streak to eight games with an impressive 88-75 road victory over the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Valkyries controlled the tempo of the matchup, pulling away in the second half with cohesive team play and sharp shooting. Golden State’s balanced offensive attack was led by Gabby Williams, who emerged as the top performer for her team, scoring 16 points and anchoring a robust defensive effort.

Despite the loss, the Fever showed flashes of resilience, staying within reach during the third quarter. Indiana’s standout performer was veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who delivered a stellar 20-point performance to set a franchise record with her eighth consecutive 20-point game. Meanwhile, teammate Caitlin Clark contributed 13 points in a physically demanding game marked by a heated second-quarter collision.

Full gamehighlights;

The Valkyries defeat the Fever 88-75 to obtain their 8th straight win!

Gabby Williams: 16 PTS | 3 STL | 3 REB | 2 3PM
Kaitlyn Chen: 14 PTS | 3 AST | 5/5 from the field
Tiffany Hayes: 13 PTS | 2 REB | 2 AST

With the momentum of their winning streak, the Valkyries head back to Chase Center to host the Washington Mystics on Saturday, July 18. The Fever will look to bounce back immediately as they remain in Indianapolis to face the Seattle Storm on Friday, July 17.

Fever rout Aces 109-75, led by Mitchell’s 27 points

July 13, 2026
Fever rout Aces 109-75, led by Mitchell’s 27 points

The Indiana Fever delivered a dominant statement win, routing the Las Vegas Aces 109-75 behind a historic collective effort. Leading the charge was Kelsey Mitchell, who carved her name into the history books by becoming only the fifth player in WNBA history to score 25 or more points in six consecutive games. Mitchell’s game-high 27 points set a fierce tone for an explosive Indiana offense.

Indiana’s flawless ball movement anchored a beautifully balanced attack, resulting in six Fever players scoring in double figures. Alongside Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham caught fire from deep, matching her season-high with six 3-pointers to finish with 20 points. Powerhouse center Aliyah Boston dominated the paint, recording a commanding double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Caitlin Clark orchestrated the offense with 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

The Aces struggled to contain Indiana’s depth but found a bright spot in superstar A’ja Wilson, who fought hard for a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. Jackie Young provided secondary support with 15 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop the surging Fever, who broke open the game with a staggering 23-9 closing run to complete the blowout.

Game highlights;

Next
This was the final stop of Indiana’s four-game road trip. They now head back home for a four-game homestand starting this Wednesday, when they will host the Golden State Valkyries, while the Aces travel to Canada to face the Toronto Tempo on Monday evening.

Indiana Stuns Mercury with Thrilling Late-Game Comeback (92 – 89)

July 10, 2026

The Indiana Fever showcased elite resilience in their recent matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, securing a thrilling 92-89 comeback victory on the road. Facing the second leg of a back-to-back and playing without an injured Caitlin Clark, Indiana’s depth and grit were tested to the absolute limit.

The true drama unfolded in the final five minutes of the game. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Mercury seemed in complete control, holding a commanding 10-point lead. Refusing to back down, the Fever orchestrated a furious late-game surge. They put together a blistering 23-10 run, anchored by lockdown defensive plays—including Makayla Timpson’s spectacular, high-stakes block on Phoenix star Kahleah Copper (“KK”) that denied the Mercury a critical basket and shifted the momentum entirely.

With under a minute remaining, the intensity peaked. Aliyah Boston ignited the comeback, draining a clutch turnaround jumper with just 34 seconds left to put Indiana up by one (88–87). Phoenix answered immediately to regain the lead, but the definitive moment belonged to Kelsey Mitchell, who exploded past the defense for a driving, game-winning layup. Mitchell finished with a spectacular 29 points, and the Fever iced the game from the free-throw line, capping off an unforgettable final stretch that sealed a massive victory.

Game highlights;

Next
The Mercury will travel to Las Vegas to play the Aces on Saturday, followed by a Fever-Aces rematch there on Sunday night.

Sparks Defeat Fever 106-92 in Caitlin Clark’s Return from Injury

July 9, 2026
Sparks Defeat Fever 106-92 in Caitlin Clark’s Return from Injury

The Los Angeles Sparks snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday night, defeating the Indiana Fever 106-92 at Crypto.com Arena. The highly anticipated matchup marked the return of Fever star Caitlin Clark, who scored nine points in 16 minutes on a strict minutes restriction after missing two games with a back injury.

Despite Clark’s return, Indiana was short-handed with Aliyah Boston sidelined due to a leg injury. Kelsey Mitchell shouldered the load for the Fever, exploding for a game-high 29 points. However, the Sparks’ dynamic frontcourt proved too much to handle. Nneka Ogwumike dominant performance led Los Angeles with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Rae Burrell added 22 and Dearica Hamby chipped in 21.

After Indiana jumped to an early 10-point lead (25 – 15), the Sparks surged ahead in the second quarter and never looked back, frustrating the Fever’s defense to secure a crucial home victory.

Injuries
Sparks are still without their leading scorer Kelsey Plum who is out due to a lower left leg injury and Cameron Brink for a left ankle injury. Fever sat out Aliyah Boston because of right leg injury.

Game highlights;

The Sparks defeat the Fever, 106-92, behind five players in double figures!

Nneka Ogwumike: 24 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST
Rae Burrell: 22 PTS (9-15 FG)
Dearica Hamby: 21 PTS | 9 REB
Ariel Atkins: 12 PTS | 2 STL
Erica Wheeler: 12 PTS | 6 AST | 4 REB

Next
Fever will travel to Phoenix for a rematch with the Mercury this Thursday.
Sparks will host Chicago Sky Friday evening.

Full list of 2026 WNBA All-Star Starters and Reserves Announced

July 8, 2026
Full list of 2026 WNBA All-Star Starters and Reserves Announced

It’s now complete, the WNBA released the full list of WNBA All-Star Starters and Reserves in this year’s WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago.

Below is the full roster of 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Stars.

All-Star Starters
PLAYER POSITION TEAM
PaigeBueckers Guard Dallas Wings
Caitlin Clark Guard Indiana Fever
^Olivia Miles Guard Minnesota Lynx
Kelsey Mitchell Guard Indiana Fever
Aliyah Boston Frontcourt Indiana Fever
Natasha Howard Frontcourt Minnesota Lynx
^Jessica Shepard Frontcourt Dallas Wings
Breanna Stewart Frontcourt New York Liberty
Gabby Williams Frontcourt Golden StateValkyries
A’ja Wilson Frontcourt Las Vegas Aces
All-Star Reserves
PLAYER POSITION TEAM
Sonia Citron Guard Washington Mystics
Allisha Gray Guard Atlanta Dream
Rhyne Howard Guard Atlanta Dream
Marina Mabrey Guard Toronto Tempo
Kelsey Plum Guard Los Angeles Sparks
Courtney Williams Guard Minnesota Lynx
Jackie Young Guard Las Vegas Aces
Kiki Iriafen Frontcourt Washington Mystics
Jonquel Jones Frontcourt New York Liberty
^Dominique Malonga Frontcourt Seattle Storm
Nneka Ogwumike Frontcourt Los Angeles Sparks
Angel Reese Frontcourt Atlanta Dream

The WNBA All-Star Weekend is set for July 23–25. The centerpiece of the three-day celebration is the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25. Leading up to the game, fans can enjoy the Kia WNBA Shooting Stars and the State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest on Friday, July 24, airing on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET from Wintrust Arena. Additionally, the WNBA Live fan festival, presented by AWS, will run from Thursday evening through Saturday at McCormick Place.

Australia routs Gilas Pilipinas for 50-points to advance to the second round (92 – 49)

July 7, 2026
Australia routs Gilas Pilipinas for 50-points to advance to the second round (92 – 49)

FIBA;

Australia never trailed and led for 38:05 as they delivered a blowout win over the Philippines, 92-49, on July 6, 2026, at RAC Arena in Perth in the 1st Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. The hosts seized control with a dominant opening quarter, built a double-digit cushion by halftime, and continued to widen the gap in the second half, outscoring the Philippines in both the third and fourth quarters to put the game to bed.

Despite the blowout, Gilas Pilipinas (2-4) will advance to the second round of qualifiers starting this August, where they face tougher opponents. They carry over their record, leaving them with little margin for error. Meanwhile, the undefeated Boomers (6-0) comfortably march forward, safely securing the top spot in Group E for the second round.

Full Game highlights;

Indiana Fever Secure First-Ever Road Win Against Las Vegas Aces, 84-68

July 6, 2026

The Indiana Fever secured a milestone 84-68 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday night, marking their first-ever franchise win against the Aces in Las Vegas.

The highly anticipated matchup lacked its usual generational marquee billing, as both teams played short-handed. Indiana’s electric guard Caitlin Clark was sidelined for her third consecutive game while recovering from a back injury. Meanwhile, Las Vegas was forced to operate without their anchor and four-time league MVP, A’ja Wilson, who missed her third straight game due to an ankle injury.

Despite the missing star power, the Fever capitalized on a dominant second-half surge. The undisputed top performer of the night was Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell. Celebrating her recent All-Star starter selection, Mitchell put on a masterclass by scoring a game-high 27 points, converting 10-of-12 free throws, and hitting timely buckets whenever Las Vegas threatened. She was supported by Aliyah Boston, who dominated the interior with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jackie Young led the struggling Aces with 15 points, but Las Vegas simply could not find their rhythm, collapsing to their lowest-scoring output of the season.

Game highlights;

Next;
The Indiana Fever will play the first game of a back-to-back road stretch this Thursday against the LA Sparks, followed by a matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces will have almost a week off before traveling to Portland to take on the Fire this Friday.

ICYMI: New Zealand Tall Blacks Outlast Gilas Pilipinas in Double-Overtime Classic (106 – 102)

July 5, 2026

FIBA;

Reuben Te Rangi delivered 22 points as New Zealand survived a double-overtime thriller, edging the Philippines 106-102 on July 3, 2026 at Spark Arena in Auckland in a 1st Round game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers. The Tall Blacks led for much of the night, but the game remained tightly contested, stretching through regulation and both extra periods before a winner finally emerged. New Zealand ultimately withstood a fierce late charge to seal the deal in front of their home fans.

Here’s the full game highlights between New Zealand Tall Blacks and Gilas Pilipinas;

Next
Gilas Pilipinas will face the Australians in the First Round of Group A this July 6th at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
The New Zealand Tall Blacks will host Guam at the Eventfinda Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, on July 6th as well.

A’ja Wilson is the Western Conference Player of the Month for June

July 3, 2026

Just like with Caitlin Clark, WNBA release a 10-mins highlight video;

A’ja Wilson claims her second Western Conference #KiaPOTM honors after a MONSTER June:

♠️ 26.5 PPG
♠️ 10.3 RPG
♠️ 2.9 APG

USA Basketball Announces 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Roster

July 2, 2026

Here’s the official roster of the 2026 USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team;

  • Pedro Bradshaw
  • Izaiah Brockington
  • Torrey Craig
  • Jacob Gilyard
  • Dewan Hernandez
  • Jay Huff
  • Mike James
  • Orlando Robinson
  • Matt Ryan
  • Terry Taylor
  • Jarrod Uthoff
  • Gabe York

The team will be lead by Head coach Stephen Silas with assistants Marlon Garnett, Clay Moser and Patrick Mutombo.

The USA are schedule to take on Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo this July 3rd. The squad will then travel to Zacatecas, Mexico, with the game scheduled to tip off at 10 p.m. ET on July 6th.

Breaking: Boston Celtics Sending Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and Draft Picks

July 2, 2026

Boston got the shorter end of this deal but I think the team thinks that it’s better for them to get Paul George than deal with a disgruntled player after the Giannis deal fell through.

Here are more details on the trade;

76ers receive;

  • Jaylen Brown

Celtics receive

  • Paul George
  • 2028 first-round pick
  • 2031 first-round pick (via PHI)
  • 2028 second-round pick (best of GSW/OKC/MIL)
  • 2030 second-round pick (best of WAS/POR/PHX)

Source: NBA

New York Liberty are the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Champions

July 1, 2026

In this year’s Cup Finals, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionsecu lead the Liberty to their second Commissioner’s Cup championship in front of their home crowd. Sabrina Ionescu scored 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists – her best offensive game of the season, while Breanna Stewart added 25 points and 11 rebounds to help the Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 93-85.

The Las Vegas Aces are playing without their leading scorer and four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who injured her right ankle on Sunday in a win over Chicago.

New York Liberty captured their second WNBA Commissioner’s Cup in 3 years. They won the cup in 2023 against the Las Vegas Aces as well.

Full game highlights;

Ja Morant Traded to Portland Trail Blazers

June 30, 2026

NBA;

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and forward Kris Murray, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin.

Morant (6-2, 174) has appeared in 327 career games (325 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Memphis, averaging 22.4 points, 7.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 31.7 minutes per game. He has earned NBA All-Star honors twice (2022, 2023), was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2022 and received the NBA Most Improved Player Award following the 2021-22 season.

Memphis Grizzlies have now traded all their 4 core players of Morant, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, and appears to be rebuilding with their young player lead by Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft.

Morant will join a young and point guard heavy Blazers team fresh off its first playoff appearance lead by Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, with their veterans, Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard.

Sources: Warriors eye LeBron, AD moves as Green declines option  

June 30, 2026

Anthony Slater, reporting for ESPN;

The Golden State Warriors are planning a pursuit of LeBron James in free agency and Anthony Davis via trade this week, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania, opening up the flexibility for such a possibility after Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million player option Monday morning.

Forget AD, forget Green, IF.. and only “IF” the Golden State Warriors are able to pull this off, they’ll be an incredibly fun team to watch. Steph Curry and LeBron James—the greatest shooter and one of the greatest to ever play the game, in the same team!!! It’s like having two cheat-code in the game of basketball.

Jimmy Alapag returns to PBA, takes over as NLEX head coach  

June 30, 2026

Matthew Li, reporting for Tiebreaker Times;

The former PBA Most Valuable Player has been named the new head coach of NLEX, beginning with the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup.

The appointment was announced Monday evening at the Meralco Center in Pasig, with Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, NLEX team governor Ronald Dulatre, and MPTC president Joey Lim present during the signing ceremony.

Alapag takes over from veteran mentor Jong Uichico, who guided the Road Warriors for five conferences and led the team to the quarterfinals in four of them.

The 47-year-old also becomes the fifth head coach in NLEX franchise history.

Coach Alapag will bring a treasure trove of NBA coaching knowledge, especially on the developmental side.