Four WNBA playoff-bound teams will be in action Friday night, and each will be a heavy favorite as each battles a team that's already looking to next season.
The 3rd-seeeded Las Vegas Aces will host the Toronto Tempo, while the 4th-seeded Atlanta Dream will take on the Portland Fire, just freshly eliminated from the playoff picture.
Indiana is hosting Connecticut, while Washington is in LA to take on the Sparks. Read below for the best WNBA picks & moneyline plays for Friday, August 28.
WNBA moneyline picks for August 28
Matchup
Pick (Probability)
Sun vs Fever
94%
Fire vs Dream
14%
Tempo vs Aces
90%
Mystics vs Sparks
67%
💰 All moneylines parlayed
12.60x
Prices courtesy of Kalshi as of August 28.
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Expert WNBA moneyline picks for August 28
Sun vs Fever pick: Fever
Kalshi probability: 94%
The Indiana Fever are the highest-scoring team in the WNBA, averaging 96.6 points per game and ranking among the top in both field-goal and 3-point shooting.
The Connecticut Sun is the lowest-scoring team in the league, and the only squad below the 80-point-per-game plateau.
The Fever have ripped off five straight wins in this head-to-head, including a 35-point demolition the last time they met on July 22.
One game separates the 5th-seeded Fever from the 4th-seeded Dream and 3rd-seeded Aces as the teams jockey for home-court advantage in the playoffs.
With plenty to play for, the Fever don't mess around and lay another whipping on the Sun.
Fire vs Dream pick: Fire
Kalshi probability: 14%
We're picking a massive upset, but this matchup has all the makings of a trap game for the Atlanta Dream.
Atlanta has already clinched its playoff berth and just swept a 4-game road trip out West, which included a takedown of the defending champs.
They return home to take on a lightly regarded Portland Fire team that has lost three in a row, but the Fire did hang a 10-point loss on Atlanta the last time they met.
This will be Atlanta's second-to-last game before the FIBA break, and their last game is against the Minnesota Lynx, a big-time show-me matchup against the title favorites.
It's hard not to overlook Portland or pencil them in as a W, but they did come into Atlanta in July and shot 60% from the field, including 14-for-29 from 3-point range at 48%.
You might be far more comfortable taking the underdog on the spread, but the odds here are strong enough for me to take the shocker of a result.
Vegas ranks in the Top 5 in both scoring and points allowed, and should have little trouble disposing of a team that has one win in its last 15 games.
Mystics vs Sparks pick: Mystics
Kalshi probability: 67%
This is about the best number you're going to get for a favorite on this slate, and that's likely because the Los Angeles Sparks have beaten the Washington Mystics in four of the last six head-to-heads.
But don't let that H2H history fool you: Washington is tied for the second-best record in the WNBA over the last 10 (7-3), and they boast the league's second-best scoring defense, allowing just 83.2 points per game.
The Sparks have been in extended garbage time for a while now, with just three wins in their last 17. They are getting lit up on defense, allowing 92.5 points per game, which ranks 14th.
The Mystics handled LA in their last meeting on Aug 15, and you should see much the same Friday.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Tennessee guard Manny Green (1) speaks at Tennessee basketball media availability on Aug. 27, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Tennessee basketball is so loaded with transfers that it’s easy to forget about the freshman class coming in. Manny Green is trying to change that, though.
Throughout summer practices, Green has been standing out to those in attendance. The 6-7 wing enters the equation in Knoxville buried under several veteran faces in the rotation, but he’s quickly proven that he belongs and could make a push for some minutes this season.
“Manny’s been a pleasant surprise,” Tennessee assistant coach Amarrow Morgan said. “Like, just his willingness and understanding of what needs to be done in order for him to potentially get on the floor. He’s coming and asking questions.”
Green has something a lot of freshmen don’t these day, which is a want to understand the culture that was created before him. At Tennessee under Rick Barnes, that means embracing defense — and the Volunteers have had plenty of examples through the years. He also realizes that defense could be his way onto the floor early on.
“He’s doing things that most freshmen don’t do,” Morgan said. “He’s asking to watch film of Jahmai Mashack. He’s asking to watch film of Zakai Zeigler, some of the greats that came before him.
“If there’s an area that we could potentially be deficient at right now, we got a lot of scoring, who’s gonna be willing to be one of those tough, hard-nosed connectors, guys that are willing to guard? And man, he’s trying to do what he can and give himself a chance to play. He’s asking questions, trying to learn about those guys that came before him. And Manny has also been making shots at a high clip. We’re really excited about Manny and his development and his growth for sure.”
Green comes to Tennessee as a 4-star prospect ranking just outside of the top 100 players in last year’s cycle. The Georgia native scored 23.7 points per game as a senior, leading Cedar Grove High School to a 5-3A state title in Georgia. Green committed to Tennessee over Alabama, Auburn and several others.
“Just defensively, in my opinion, just understanding that, hey, Tennessee is being a top 15 defense in the country year in and year out,” Morrow said. “How can we continue to sustain it? How can we continue to have it? And we just need to do that with having guys with that type of mindset that Manny has. Manny has the right mindset right now. He understands that as a freshman, it might not be his offensive night every single night, but he’s just trying to do whatever he can and find an opportunity to get on the floor. And then from there, you never know what could happen.”
Green will fight for time behind the Juke Harris, Dai Dai Ames, Tyler Lundblade, Troy Henderson and others, but the potential is there for him to carve out a role. Could he be the next defensive stopper for Rick Barnes? Jahmai Mashack has made a career out of that, which is exactly why Green is going to work studying him.
Barnes will undoubtedly get frustrated early in the season and tinker with the rotation, as he always does. Don’t be surprised if Green is tossed onto the floor in a big spot so Barnes can see what he’s got.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: The NCAA logo is shown at the NCAA's National Headquarters before the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between the Michigan Wolverines and the Connecticut Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In 2024, UNC fielded a football team with 105 players on the roster. In between seasons, Bill Belichick brought in 70 new players, which meant 70 had to depart. After last season, 60 players were sent packing to make room for 60 new players. We even have guys like Taron Dickens who commit, come to campus, and then decommit to go somewhere else — all in one off-season.
In basketball, the 2024-25 team lost nine of the top 10 scorers, retaining only Seth Trimble from that list for the next season. In turn, only one player from last year’s top 10 scorers returns for 2026-27. The situation wasn’t quite the same as Dickens (different reasons), but UNC basketball just experienced something similar with Cameron Fens, eligible and ineligible as various judges pass judgement on NCAA rule changes.
Even coaches and staff don’t seem immune to the upheaval. See Steve Belichick (medical leave), Michael Lombardi (paid administrative leave), and Kim English (pulled a Taron Dickens).
YouTube channel SEC Shorts earlier this week opened their fall season with a sketch aimed straight at that fan frustration. Worth a watch, if only to know you’re hardly alone:
Are you one of those fans? Let us know in the comments below.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers handshake after the game on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If there’s one thing everyone loves doing at the end of August, it’s figuring out their plans for January. In this series, we are breaking down the Sixers 2026-27 schedule into chunks to try to preview how each stretch of the season will go. Part 1 is already available here.
The second quarter of the Sixers’ season starts with an interesting back-to-back before a long potential break. They’ll host a very young Memphis Grizzlies team on Dec. 1 before Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets come to town on the 2nd. Likely because it’s a back-to-back, this is a rare Sixers-Nuggets game that is not on national television, so there will be no player participation policy ramifications for anyone unavailable for it.
How the Sixers fare in the NBA Cup will determine their next game after that as there are 10 off days built into the schedule for the Knockout Round. The Sixers have yet to advance that far since the Cup’s creation, so they’ve been like the majority of the league that’s had two consolation games scheduled during this time. As discussed in Part 1, the Sixers will have a quite a gauntlet to run through to break that trend this season.
Normal play will resume on the 12th when the Sixers start a home-and-home with the Orlando Magic, wrapping up their three games with Orlando on the season. They’ll host a couple of Texan teams in the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets with a trip to Charlotte sandwiched in the middle before their yearly Disney on Ice December road trip.
That of course starts with a Christmas Day showdown in L.A. against the Lakers. Most expected the Celtics’ to be the Sixers’ Christmas opponent, but it’s not a huge shock they made the day centered around LeBron. They’ll also face the L.A. Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns while out on the West Coast before swinging by Milwaukee to finish the trip. It’s also worth noting that those Kings and Suns games are a back-to-back.
Six of their next seven games will come at home with a wide range of quality in opponents. They’ll have to deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, but they’ll also get the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards in that stretch. Interestingly enough, that Wizards game is on national television, so the league is curious what that team will look like with its mix of young and old, new talent.
This stretch of the season will be wrapped up with an MLK Day matinee in Atlanta. It’ll be the second time they see the Hawks in as many weeks, before heading back home to take on the Indiana Pacers for another back-to-back. Indiana will be another Eastern Conference team the Sixers will have played all their games against before the halfway point of the season.
Those 21 games are probably an easier stretch of schedule than the first leg. They play more teams that aren’t expected to be playoff teams, but teams like the Grizzlies and Wizards could be feistier than expected. The West Coast trip will be a good durability test. Playing five games in seven nights, the majority of them across the country, will give guys like Tryese Maxey and Jaylen Brown their chance to show their regular season value. It’s not the hardest stretch of Western Conference teams to go through, but the Kings are the only cupcake in there.
The ensuing homestand should be an equally fun response. Two of the harder teams in the West will be coming through this time. On top of that the Sixers will be seeing the Hawks and the Heat again, two Southeastern teams that could be vying for position with them in the East.
Like the first stretch of the season, the travel is once again pretty balanced, with a lot of off days coming before their first longest road trip of the season. As far as quality in opponents goes, it looks like an easier stretch than the first on paper, but they don’t play the games on paper.
12/1: vs. Grizzlies 12/2: vs. Nuggets (B2B) 12/12: vs. Magic (Cup Break) 12/14: @Magic 12/17: vs. Mavericks 12/21: @Hornets 12/23: vs. Rockets 12/25: @Lakers (Christmas) 12/27: @Clippers 12/29: @Kings 12/30: @Suns (B2B) 1/1: @Bucks 1/ 4: vs. Hawks 1/ 6: vs. Thunder 1/ 8: vs. Heat 1/ 10:@Raptors 1/ 12: vs. Wizards 1/ 14: vs. Nets 1/16: vs. Timberwolves 1/18:@Hawks (MLK Day) 1/19: vs. Pacers (B2B)
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 34 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #34.
Let's take a look.
Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre - 2001-2004 - Drafted in 1997 by the St. Louis Blues.
Grand-Pierre was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. He would spend three-plus seasons in Columbus, playing in 209 games. The "Hyphenator," as he is affectionately known, is now an analyst for the Blue Jackets during CBJ games.
He retired after the 2012-13 season, having spent the final five years of his career in Europe.
Dan LaCosta - 2008 - Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2004 NHL Draft.
LaCosta played in four games from 2007 to 2009. He spent the majority of his time playing for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch. He also played for the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL.
He retired in 2014 after playing a single season in England for the Cardiff Devils. He was also the goaltending coach for Cardiff.
Wade Dubielewicz - 2009 - He was undrafted out of Invermere, British Columbia.
The Blue Jackets claimed Dubielwicz off waivers from the New York Islanders in 2009. He played in three games for Columbus. He signed with the Minnesota Wild in the summer of 2009 after his time with Columbus.
He retired in 2011 after playing a single season in the DEL. He went on to become a goaltending coach and GM for the
Columbia Valley Rockies.
Dane Byers - 2012 - Drafted in the second round of the 2004 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers.
On November 11, 2010, Byers was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he was then assigned to the Springfield Falcons. He played a total of 8 games for Columbus.
On February 28, 2011. Byers and former CBJ original Rusty Klesla were dealt to the Arizona Coyotes. On July 11, 2011, however, he signed back with the CBJ for one season. He left for Europe in 2015 and retired in 2019.
Nick Drazenovic - 2013 - Drafted in the 5th round of the 2005 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues.
Drazenovic signed with the CBJ in 2011 and played a total of 8 games with Columbus. He spent his entire first year with Columbus playing for Springfield. The following year, he played 62 games for the Falcons as well.
He left for Pittsburgh in 2013 and would retire in 2016.
Dana Tyrell - 2015 - Drafted in the second round of the 2007 NHL Draft by Tampa Bay.
On March 5, 2014, Tyrell was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a deal that sent Jonathan Marchessault to the Lightning. Yes, that Marchessault, the one who got away.
Tyrell played a total of 3 games in his Columbus career before suddenly taking a hiatus and not playing for two years. In 2017, he would retire officially after playing four games in the ECHL.
Josh Anderson - "The Andy Man" wore #53 when he first started playing games in Columbus. Anderson played a total of 267 games for the Blue Jackets, spread over six seasons. He scored 65 goals and totaled 115 points during his time with Columbus.
The 2018-19 season saw Anderson set career highs in goals, assists, and points. Unfortunately for him, he was never able to replicate that in Columbus. The following year, he tore his shoulder in December and had to have season-ending surgery, which wasn't decided until March.
There were rumors floating around that Anderson was upset about the injury and how it was handled by Jackets' management, so he wanted out of Columbus. On October 6, 2020, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Max Domi and 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft, ending his career in Columbus.
Since the trade, Anderson has played in 349 games for the Habs. He has scored 81 goals and totaled 135 points over five seasons. His highest goal total in Montreal is 21, and his highest assist total is 13. His highest points total is 32, which he's done twice.
Anderson signed a 7-year, $38,500,000 contract with a cap hit of $5,500,000 per season in October of 2020, just days after the trade to Montreal. With one more season left on the current deal, it's safe to say that the Habs haven't gotten their money's worth on this deal.
Cole Sillinger - 2022-2023 - Drafted in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Sillinger wore #34 for two years before switching to #4 before the 23-24 season. It's hard to believe that Cole Sillinger is going into his 6th NHL Season already.
After scoring 31 points as a rookie, his second season was anything but good. Totaling just 11 points, he only played in 64 games and was demoted to AHL Cleveland. His third season was definitely a bounce-back year for young Sillinger. He would score 13 goals and total 32 points.
Two seasons ago, even though his point total was just one better than the career-high 32 he hit the year before, it was considered a breakout year for Cole. He had 11 goals, 5 off his career high of 16, but he had 22 assists, setting a new career high. He also set a career high by playing 16:55 per game. He was the kind of player that Dean Evason loved.
Last season, he backed up his career-best 24-25 season with another solid one. He set career highs in assists and +/-. Playing with Mathieu Olivier and Charlie Coyle, they put together arguably the best line that the CBJ had last season. Those three were noticeable every night and played havoc on opposing teams.
Sillinger was awarded a new 3-year, $13.875 million contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 24, 2026, avoiding an arbitration hearing. He will be expected to produce more points and keep building on what he's started.
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Feb 7, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Jared McCain (0) and guard Caleb Foster (1) chat during warm ups prior to the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils won 71-53.Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Around Duke, summertime might as well be called Brotherhood Time, as former Blue Devils regularly drop in to visit and advise the current players.
Recently, Jabari Parker and Jayson Tatum came home to talk to the 2026-27 Blue Devils, and most recently, Jared McCain came through.
McCain’s brother, Jayce, is a Player Development Specialist for Duke, and obviously, McCain visited him.
But he also had nice things to say about being part of the Brotherhood, and returning to campus: “It’s amazing, man; I love it. It brings me back to 2023, freshman year. It’s awesome. I love coming back here; it brings the best memories.”
We know that your life is busy, but that doesn’t mean you want to miss any news about your favorite team. So, we are rounding up all of the most important news, analysis, and commentary from LGHL and the rest of the Buckeye beat.
As you are probably aware, the NFL CBA allows each team to have 90 players on its offseason roster, but it also makes provisions for a 91st player who joins the team via the International Player Pathway (IPP) program. For the last several years, the Commanders have made use of this IPP exemption, as they have again this season, so Washington’s offseason roster limit is once again 91 players.
Washington’s 91st player via the IPP is currently edge rusher TJ Maguranyanga, who spent the 2025 season on the Commanders roster.
Surprising number of roster changes since the Lions game
In the four days that followed the Lions game, the Commanders announced nine roster moves.
Released/Waived (3)
RB Jerome Ford (released from IR with injury settlement) The veteran running back will have the opportunity to sign with any of the other 31 NFL teams if he is healthy, but, per the NFL CBA, cannot play for the Commanders in 2026. This move did not affect the number of players on the roster since Ford, on IR, was not counted against the 91-man limit.
S Will Harris After entering spring OTAs as one of the presumed starting safeties, Harris was released after the Lions game, presumably to give him the opportunity to catch on with another NFL roster ahead of Sunday’s mass cutdowns.
OT Foster Sarell Sarell was released in conjunction with the signing of OT D.J. Humphries, which is simply an attempt by the Commanders to upgrade the position group.
Injured Reserve (2)
When a player is placed on injured reserve during training camp, he is ineligible to return to play for the team that season although he can subsequently be waived with an injury settlement and play for another team when healthy.
S Malik Spencer The undrafted free agent was expected by many to wind up on the Commanders practice squad. The rookie safety was waived with an injury designation (hamstring) on Tuesday. Because he went unclaimed by another NFL team, he officially cleared waivers and reverted back to Washington’s roster the following day. As explained above, he will either spend the 2026 season on IR with Washington, or he can be released later with an injury settlement, and will be free to sign with any other NFL team. He cannot take the field in a regular or postseason game for the Commanders in 2026.
EDGE Drake Jackson Jackson, who has lost past seasons due to issues with his patellar tendon, reportedly injured his hamstring during training camp/preseason work.
A quick NFL Rules Tutorial: One potential benefit to players of being placed on IR in preseason
Accrued Seasons vs. Credited Seasons
Credited and Accrued season are important to NFL players:
Credited Season (3 Games): Used strictly for player benefits (pension, 401k, life insurance).
Accrued Season (6 Games): Used to earn time toward free agency milestones.
What happens if a player is placed on IR during the preseason?
Automatic Benefit: If a player is placed on IR in the preseason and remains on IR for the first three weeks of the regular season, he will automatically accrue a credited season. A player on IR must remain on full-pay status for at least six regular-season games to earn an accrued season.
The Exception (Injury Settlements): If the team negotiates an injury settlement and releases the player during the preseason, he only gets a credited season if the financial settlement covers the equivalent of three or more regular-season game checks; if the settlement covers at least six, he qualifies for an accrued season.
Credited seasons are more likely to be of importance to marginal players — especially those with very short careers or who spend a lot of time moving on and off of team rosters and practice squads — as player benefits are often tied to credited seasons. Some things that are likely to interest fans, such as a player’s minimum salary, are based on credited seasons rather than accrued seasons.
For a player who might have been cut without ever making the team’s roster, being placed on IR during the preseason could potentially help that player add a credited or accrued season, enhancing his qualification for benefits or moving him a year closer to unrestricted free agency.
Signed (4)
OT D.J. Humphries Humphries spent nine seasons with the Cardinals (2015–2023), establishing himself as a premium blindside protector and earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. He accumulated 101 career NFL starts. Following a torn ACL near the end of 2023, he became a journeyman backup. Humphries played two games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and appeared in eight regular-season games for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn made it clear that he would provide depth behind Brandon Coleman as opposed to taking over the starting LT position.
OLB Boogie Basham Over five seasons, he has played in 43 career games as a rotational pass rusher, bouncing between the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. Before signing with Washington, he spent the first half of 2026 playing locally in the UFL for the DC Defenders, where he recorded 24 tackles and three sacks.
S Joshua Bledsoe A 6th-round pick in 2021, he spent his first three NFL seasons (2021–2023) with New England, appearing in four regular-season games primarily as a special teams contributor. Since leaving the Patriots, he has spent time on the offseason rosters or practice squads of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, and also spent time in the UFL with the San Antonio Brahmas.
S Quindell Johnson After going undrafted in 2023, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams and later claimed by the Chicago Bears. He appeared in nine regular-season NFL games with Chicago during his rookie year, recording two tackles and one interception. He also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Accounting for Laremy Tunsil & Johnny Newton
While today’s chart lists 91 players, we know already that two of those players, LT Laremy Tunsil and DL Johnny Newton, will not be on the active roster in Week 1.
Timing counts for a lot with players who suffer major injuries in training camp. Here’s a quick explanation of the considerations for placing a player on IR under the relevant NFL rules:
1. The Pre-Cutdown Rule (Season-Ending)
As mentioned above, if the Commanders place Tunsil or Newton on IR during training camp before the final 53-man roster reduction deadline on Aug. 30, the player is automatically ruled out for the entire season. He would not be allowed to practice or play for Washington at any point during the year.
While Tunsil and Newton have already undergone surgery, head coach Dan Quinn said that doctors have not yet determined the recovery timeline for either player. If doctors determine, in the coming days, that Tunsil and/or Newton will not be able to return to play prior to mid-February, then the Commanders might choose to exercise this option.
2. The Cutdown Day Exception (Designated to Return)
NFL rules allow teams:
a. to designate, on cutdown day (Aug 30th), up to two injured players to return from IR during the season.
b. alternatively, the team can carry a player onto the initial 53-man roster and move him to IR the following day (Aug 31st) or later, opening up a roster spot; the only reason to do this would be if the team needed to designate two other players to return at the time the initial roster was set on Aug 30.
(Option A is almost certainly the one that the Commanders would choose in Tunsil’s case, probably Newton as well)
This approach (either option a or b) allows the player (Tunsil/Newton/both) to keep his season alive, as it leaves the door open for him to return after sitting out a minimum of four games (obviously, in these two cases, it would be closer to four months than four games).
If doctors determine that the player’s (Tunsil’s/Newton’s/both) return to play could happen prior to mid-February, then the Commanders might choose this option to keep all possibilities on the table. The only cost to the team is the opportunity to carry one or two more players on the training camp roster between now and Aug 30.
Not your typical depth chart
The chart below is only a depth chart insofar as it assigns players to positions and stacks them in an order.
The primary purpose of the chart is to keep track of the 91 guys that currently comprise the training camp roster, not to predict game-day alignments.
You will note, for example, that I have 12 offensive position stacks and 12 defensive position stacks on the chart despite the fact that a team can only field 11 players at one time.
You will also note that each player’s name appears only once regardless of the fact that he may play in multiple alignments or positions (e.g., an interior offensive lineman who can play center and both guard spots will appear at only one of those positions, not all of them). Again, this is by design, since the goal is to provide handy visual reference of the 91 individual players while also offering an overall snapshot of team strength and depth. The bias, though, is to provide a visual list of the full roster, not so much to create a game-ready depth chart.
Finally, you will also note that, where players are capable of playing more than one position (and likely to do so on game days), my decision on where to align them may be very different from your idea of where they belong.
The updated offseason roster/depth chart
NOTES:The numbers that appear beside some players’ names are 2026 cap hits per Over the Cap. I have not included cap hits below $1.5m.
The Commanders currently have 44 defensive players, 44 offensive players and 3 special teams players.
Please note that assigned positions and color codes are my own personal opinions; they do not necessarily represent the thinking of Washington’s coaches or front office, nor are they necessarily consistent with fan consensus or the thoughts of other writers on Hogs Haven. Finally, when it comes to backup players, I don’t put much effort into making sure that they are on the right or left or behind the specific player that they backup. I mostly just try to fit everyone on the chart efficiently.
It’s also probably worth noting again that my goal is primarily to illustrate the full offseason roster, not to create a conventional depth chart. I have, for example, 12 position stacks on offense and 12 on defense. Readers can project 11 or 12 personnel (or whatever else) on offense, as well as multiple defensive alignments.
The Philadelphia Flyers are set to have plenty of national exposure during the 2026-27 season. The NHL and its U.S. broadcast partners announced their national television schedule Wednesday, with the Flyers scheduled to appear in 19 nationally televised games throughout the regular season, and increase of five national broadcasts from last season.
Philadelphia will have nine games on TNT, six across ABC and ESPN and four exclusively available through ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu.
The Flyers will get their first taste of the national spotlight immediately, with their Sept. 30 home opener and playoff rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins airing on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Plenty of Rivalry Matchups
The Flyers will face off against the Penguins three times on national television, bringing quite a bit of attention to the Battle of Pennsylvania. In addition to Philadelphia's season opener against Pittsburgh, both the Jan. 31 and April 3 games at Pittsburgh will air on ABC.
Washington will also receive plenty of attention in the Flyers' national schedule. Philadelphia will visit the Capitals on Oct. 28 for a 7:30 p.m. ET TNT matchup before hosting Washington on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
The Flyers will also be featured against several notable opponents throughout the season, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues.
Philadelphia's national exposure picks up considerably during the second half of the season. They have four nationally televised games scheduled in February, including matchups against Tampa Bay, Dallas, the Rangers and Buffalo.
The Flyers will have several more national appearances down the stretch with a March 25 game against the Lightning, the Capitals on April 3 and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 8.
The regular season will conclude with Philadelphia hosting Washington on April 10 in a 12:30 p.m. ET game on ABC with what could be Alexander Ovechkin's last NHL game.
After ending their five-season playoff drought last season, the Flyers will have many opportunities to show a national audience what the next stage of the franchise's rebuild looks like.
INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 17: Jason Klotz #21 of the Texas Longhorns attempts a shot against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament March 17, 2005 at RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nevada won 61-57. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Multiple outlets reported earlier this week that former Texas men’s basketball standout Jason Klatz has died. Klotz was 44 years old.
Klotz was a memorable player on former head coach Rick Barnes teams. In his five seasons in a burnt orange jersey from 2000 to 2005, Klotz played at center for the Longhorns. Texas men’s basketball also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of those five seasons under Barnes: three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances and a Final Four appearance (back in 2003). Over that span, Klotz saw playing time in 12 NCAA Tournament matchups, which is tied for the most in Longhorns men’s basketball history.
Klotz logged seven minutes and scored one point in Texas’ Final Four loss to Syracuse.
He saw playing time or started in 131 games during that span, including 27 starts.
He averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17 minutes per game, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Prior to his college career, Klotz was a star at Klein High School in Houston.
We did one Q&A earlier in the week and had a ton of questions left over, so we thought we’d assemble a slightly different line up to tackle some more queries!
On today’s show, Martin, Sam, Jonny and Ant talk
• Attacking threat – in particular our wingers and forwards
• How many points would be a good return from the upcoming games?
• Which Sunderland player of the past would you add to the current squad?
• And loads more
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BROOKLYN, NY - AUGUST 27: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Valkyries on August 27, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images BROOKLYN, NY – AUGUST 27: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Valkyries on August 27, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Certain matchups can reveal a lot. When you’re matched up against one of the best teams in the league, you have to meet their level. You’re trying to catch them and see where you stand as we draw closer to the playoffs. A good outing can give you a boost heading into the postseason. A tough loss can leave you questioning what would happen in the playoffs. For the New York Liberty, they left Thursday night’s game with plenty of questions they need to answer.
The Liberty were held to a season-low 60 points in a 79-60 loss to the Valkyries on their home floor. Golden State’s physical defense kept New York’s offense out of rhythm for most of this one. The Valkyries played two nights back, while the Liberty had a five-day rest after playing the Indiana Fever on Saturday.
It didn’t matter. Golden State took grasp of this game and never looked back.
“With a team like this with the physicality and just really making it tough, after awhile that can make it really hard,” Breanna Stewart said. “And I think that we gave the effort and energy that we wanted but we got to knock down some shots, so we got to find an easier way to score.”
Stewart added 16 points and six rebounds, but New York’s offense became increasingly difficult to sustain as the game went on.
Jonquel Jones set the pace for the Liberty early on, finding range as her arsenal from deep kept the defenses honest as the ball hummed around the perimeter.
However, that’s where the good times for NY ended.
Cecilia Zandalasini hit a series of difficult jumpers in the second quarter, while the Valkyries’ rangy zone defense disrupted New York’s high-powered offense. The Liberty scored only 11 points in the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 42-30.
Zandalasini ultimately led all scorers with 20 points, including four three-pointers, while Gabby Williams added 16 points and four rebounds for Golden State.
New York tried to make a push after halftime, cutting the Valkyries’ lead to 10 points on several occasions, but never managed to make it over the hump. Veronica Burton stood out for Golden State, and tied her season-high for assists (13).
The Liberty lost because they missed opportunities… and open shots. They finished 7-for-31 from three-point range, and many of those attempts came on open looks created by solid ball movement. Sabrina Ionescu and Leonie Fiebich went a combined 2-15 from three, which is out of character for the both of them.
Open three-pointers in the corner, threes off of good ball movement, etc., but they couldn’t get anything going. That also answers our pregame question about how Fiebich would answer her 20-point outing against the Indiana Fever.
Throughout the second half, frustration started to mount. Fiebich got whistled for a… curious flagrant foul following a Tiffany Hayes fall. In the fourth quarter, tempers flared a bit as Jones and Burton got into a small collision.
The game was never in doubt, though.
With 3:13 remaining, the Liberty emptied the bench. Burton was a difference-maker, finishing with eight points, two rebounds and a game-high 13 assists without committing a turnover.
The Liberty shot just 19-for-63 from the field (30.2%) and 7-for-31 from three-point range (22.6%). Ionescu finished with seven points on 2-for-12 shooting, while Fiebich scored just three points on 1-for-7 shooting.
Final Score: Golden State Valkyries 79, New York Liberty 60
Chris DeMarco: "A game like this, if we're missing threes or we're missing shots, you have to find other ways to get points, obviously. So our offensive rebounds, eventually we got there. We feel like we could [have] rebound a little bit more defensively. Probably have to turn…
As we’ve mentioned several times: it was a season-low for the Liberty. By no coincidence, the previous lows for them this season were against the Valkyries as well (67, 70). Let’s just say it’s not looking good for New York if the two meet in the playoffs, a matchup some pundits deemed a potential playoff matchup preview.
“I feel disappointed with this one and a little bit embarrassed as well,” Rebecca Allen said after the loss. “I just don’t think that we should ever lose like that on home court.”
BROOKLYN, NY – JULY 22: Natasha Cloud #9 of the Chicago Sky hugs a fan before the game against the New York Liberty on July 22, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The last game before the FIBA World Cup break: New York closes things out with a matinee affair against the Chicago Sky at Barclays Center. Tip after 1:00 PM on August 29.
Dec 1, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Saint Francis Red Flash guard Skylar Wicks (8) dribbles against Xavier Musketeers forward Filip Borovicanin (4) in the first half at Cintas Center. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The craziest offseason in college basketball history continues to get weirder for the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Saint Francis Red Wolves transfer Skylar Wicks has decommitted from the program and reopened his recruitment, according to his agent Richie Felder. The hybrid wing committed to the Zags originally in June and was granted a waiver from the NCAA for an additional year of college basketball eligibility in August, deriving from his 2024-25 season with the UTSA Roadrunners.
The 26-year-old journeyman was going to have a tough time breaking into coach Mark Few’s rotation after Florida Gators lead guard Xaivian Lee transferred to Gonzaga just 24 hours before Wicks made his unsurprising announcement.
This subtraction from the 2026-27 roster technically brings it to 14 of the 15 spots filled, but it’s far from being officially complete.
Fifth-year point guard Xaivian Lee (Florida Gators transfer)
Fifth-year forward Chauncey Wiggins (Florida State Seminoles transfer)
*Forward/center Izan Almansa (Spain’s Real Madrid)
Redshirt freshman power forward/small-ball center Parker Jefferson
*Needs NCAA to approve college eligibility
The 2026 high school recruiting class consists of four-star wing Luca Foster, four-star center Sam Funches, and preferred walk-on wing Carter Nelson. Walk-on sophomore point guard Alonzo Metz will not count against the roster’s limit as he’s a designated student-athlete.
Point guard Nathan De Sousa of France’s Cholet Basket of the LNB Pro A (awaiting an international eligibility waiver), forward/center Izan Almansa of Spain’s Real Madrid of the EuroLeague (also awaiting an international eligibility waiver), and fifth-year point guard transfer Javon Bennett from the Dayton Flyers in the Atlantic 10 Conference (not permitted to play after an NCAA stay in the state of Ohio) are all still up in the air.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 27: Georgia Amoore #8 of the Washington Mystics handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Mercury on August 27, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Following a 94-84 victory on Tuesday, the Washington Mystics returned to the Mortgage Matchup Center for another tilt with the Phoenix Mercury.
Behind a career-high 25 points and six 3-pointers from Georgia Amoore, Washington earned an 80-73 road win.
The Mercury jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead before Shakira Austin got Washington on the board with two free throws. Phoenix’s advantage reached 13 points before Amoore drilled a pair of triples to settle her squad down.
After trailing 15-2, the Mystics answered with an 18-3 run to take a 20-18 advantage into the second quarter.
Kahleah Copper scored 20 of the Mercury’s first 25 points as they kept pace with the young Mystics.
Behind a trio of Kiki Iriafen buckets and a pair of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton assists, Washington embarked on a 10-0 run to open a 38-27 lead. But Phoenix held firm, trimming its deficit to just three entering halftime.
Copper’s dominance persisted in the second half as she reached 32 points on 13-for-18 FG to give her squad a 57-53 lead entering the final quarter.
Shay Ciezki drilled a 3-pointer and a five-foot jumper to push Phoenix ahead by nine to open the fourth. Washington was again on the ropes.
But spectators would soon find out that those moments are made for Amoore.
The second-year guard settled things down with an and-1 layup to trim the deficit to seven before she plucked the ball loose from her defensive assignment and tossed a dime to Austin for an easy layup. After a Sonia Citron steal, Amoore sunk her fourth triple of the contest to make it a two-point game.
And she wasn’t done there. Amoore slithered into the lane for an easy layup to put Washington ahead 67-65. After another Copper miss, Iriafen ran the floor and added three more to make it 70-65 with four minutes remaining.
In just three minutes, the Mystics had turned a 10-point deficit into a five-point advantage to quiet a once-lively Mortgage Matchup Center.
Phoenix scored twice in a minute as it eyed a late comeback. But Amoore had every answer.
The 5-foot-6 guard dribbled through the defense for a layup. Then she sank a cold-blooded corner three to put Washington ahead by four. Then she added another, this one a wing triple off a Citron feed that brought the Mystics’ bench to their feet and grew the lead to 78-73.
Rebecca Allen of the New York Liberty looks to pass the ball during a game against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. (2026 NBAE)
When the Liberty performance staff greenlit Leonie Fiebich’s return, the starting lineup inevitably had to change.
Rebecca Allen was the odd woman out. After a month as a starter, she shifted back to the bench for Saturday’s win against the Indiana Fever.
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In her 11th and final season, Allen knows this is how it goes.
“It just carries on as normal,” Allen said before Thursday’s 79-60 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. “It’s just starting the game at a different point.”
She also sees the bigger picture and understands what Fiebich brings.
“I mean, having Leo back is such a luxury for all of us,” Allen said. “You’ve got this length, this defensive, you know, she goes on all the best players as well defensively but offensively, we saw such a great game, especially the last one, so I think, I mean, there’s only good things having her back in the lineup. My role changes a little bit, but still my mindset doesn’t.”
Feibich scored just three points on 1-of-7 shooting in 32 minutes in her second game back Thursday. Allen had five points on 2-of-6 shooting in 12 minutes.
When Fiebich went down with a left foot injury in early July, coach Chris DeMarco had no choice but to tinker with the starting lineup that also included Sabrina Ionescu, Pauline Astier, Breanna Stewart and Jones.
Initially, DeMarco plugged Rebekah Gardner into the starting lineup.
After back-to-back losses, he decided to go big and start Han Xu alongside Stewart and Jones.
After another loss, he went with Marine Johannès.
None of it worked.
On a four-game losing streak, DeMarco turned to Allen.
Up to that point, Allen had sparingly cracked the rotation. Some of that was because she gradually eased into the season after missing most of training camp as she worked her way back from an undisclosed injury.
Allen appeared in only 10 of the Liberty’s first 25 games and logged the second-fewest minutes among players on the 12-player roster.
But Allen’s start resulted in a win. And then another. And then another.
DeMarco stuck with it, keeping Allen in the starting lineup for 12 consecutive games. New York went 9-3 during that stretch.
The five-player starting lineup featuring Allen was the Liberty’s best five-player grouping during that span, posting a net rating of plus-9.5.
Allen found her flow too.
“That was sort of obvious to see,” she said. “You sort of go those extended minutes, you can feel the ball a little bit more and it was good for myself and my confidence, too.”
Allen averaged nine points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from deep.
When the Liberty performance staff greenlit Leonie Fiebich’s return, the starting lineup inevitably had to change.
We’ve got you covered on the Liberty beat
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.
She also sees the bigger picture and understands what Fiebich brings.
“I mean having Leo back is such a luxury for all of us,” Allen continued. “You’ve got this length, this defensive, you know, she goes on all the best players as well defensively but offensively, we saw such a great game especially the last one, so I think I mean there’s only good things having her back in the lineup. My role changes a little bit, but still my mindset doesn’t.”
When Fiebich went down with a left foot injury in early July, DeMarco had no choice but to tinker with the starting lineup that also included Sabrina Ionescu, Pauline Astier, Breanna Stewart and Jones.
Initially, DeMarco plugged Rebekah Gardner into the starting lineup.
Rebecca Allen looks to shoot the ball during the second half of the Liberty’s 79-60 loss to the Valkyries on Aug. 27, 2026 at Barclays Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After back-to-back losses, he decided to go big and start Han Xu alongside Stewart and Jones.
After another loss, he went with Marine Johannès.
None of it worked.
On a four-game losing streak, DeMarco turned to Allen.
Rebecca Allen looks to pass during the Liberty’s loss to the Valkyries. NBAE via Getty Images
Up to that point, Allen had sparingly cracked the rotation. Some of that was because she gradually eased into the season after missing most of training camp as she worked her way back from an undisclosed injury.
Allen appeared in only 10 of the Liberty’s first 25 games and logged second-fewest minutes among players on the 12-woman roster.
But Allen’s start resulted in a win. And then another. And then another.
Leoine Fiebich looks on during warmups before the Liberty’s loss. Michelle Farsi for NY Post
DeMarco stuck with it, keeping Allen in the starting lineup for 12 consecutive games. New York went 9-3 during that stretch.
The five-player starting lineup featuring Allen was the Liberty best five-player grouping during that span, posting a net rating of plus-9.5.
Rebecca Allen looks on during the Liberty’s win over the Fever on Aug. 22, 2026, at Barclays Center. NBAE via Getty Images
Allen found her flow, too.
“That was sort of obvious to see,” she said. “You sort of go those extended minutes, you can feel the ball a little bit more and it was good for myself and my confidence, too.”
Allen averaged nine points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from deep.
Sun
Fever
Fire
Dream
Tempo
Aces
Mystics
Sparks
