Category: NBA

How high-energy Drew Gilbert is evolving as Giants' emotional leader this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — “I think he’s starting to come out of his shell more and more.”

If you were to quess which Giants player that Tony Vitello quote was about, without already having read the headline of this article, Drew Gilbert might be the absolute last person you would have guessed.

San Francisco’s young outfielder, who captured the attention of both fans locally and across MLB with his high-energy play and, well, bizarre, dugout antics last season, is evolving as a player — and leader — on the field this season.

With so many injuries this season, and a handful of departures at the MLB trade deadline, Gilbert has become a mainstay in Giants lineups throughout the second half of a lost 2026 MLB season and is thriving at the plate, specifically in the leadoff spot as he aims to secure a prominent role next season.

With a solo home run and two RBI in San Francisco’s 6-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday at Oracle Park, Gilbert is batting .353 with three home runs, seven extra-base hits, 13 RBI and a 1.165 OPS over his last 10 home games, while slashing .400/.438/.800 with two home runs and six RBI out of the leadoff spot this season.

His success as of late has put the spotlight back on himself, and some fans have noticed fewer, if any at all, of the odd, viral celebratory moments that made him such a fan favorite last season after being acquired in a trade with the New York Mets on July 30, and even earlier this season.

It’s something Gilbert himself even acknowledged in a recent interview with KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” on Aug. 19.

“I want to be a good, winning player for the Giants,” Gilbert said. “That’s my number one goal, it always has been. I didn’t want to get it lost in the shuffle that term maybe I’m this fun, energy guy. But really, that’s not my goal. I feel like I bring more of an intensity because that’s really who I am. Like a competitive intensity.”

From being choked out by Matt Chapman in the dugout after his teammate homered to other unexplainable antics, a then-rookie Gilbert certainly seemed to have fully burst out of his shell immediately after arriving to his new team.

Then there was the famous thrust controversy earlier this season, where one of the Giants outfielders’ postgame win celebrations went viral, for obvious reasons, before the team asked them to stop doing it.

Moments like those, where Gilbert again found himself at the center of goofy on-field antics, were what Vitello believes might have played somewhat of a role in Gilbert’s slightly tamer demeanor as of late.

“I’m willing to bet there’s been moments at the beginning of the year, or even last year, where he was a little too wacky and putting energy into buckets that weren’t intelligent, or the best for him, but I think he’s finding that balance now of “How can I do this every day at the intensity level I want to and help the team?’ Vitello said postgame on Thursday.

“I think there’s good personality coming out. I talked with Buster [Posey] and [senior vice president and assistant general manager Jeremy Shelley] today about his unique style of leadership. We need it. And he doesn’t have to get permission from anyone to do it, he just needs to be himself. He may not be doing as many quirky things, but he’s playing with a level of intensity that’s good.”

At least behind the scenes, Gilbert’s personality and his relationships with his teammates have not changed.

“Drew’s been the same guy since he got over here,” infielder Christian Koss said. “I think it’s hard when the lulls we had in the beginning of the season, it’s hard to be super outgoing and energetic with the turmoil we were facing, but he’s showed up to the park every day, he’s brought his energy, I think now you’re just seeing it flourish a little more with the ballgames we’ve been in, but he’s as consistent as it gets.”

So how has someone so high energy, outgoing, and seemingly very comfortable in his own skin just now break out of his shell?

Vitello alluded to Gilbert, earlier in the season, possibly feeling somewhat anxious to speak up, and even fully embrace his personality, especially when the team is losing so many games and the rare fun on-field moments, like the postgame celebrations, generate so much attention to where the conversation surrounding the team is “blown out of proportion,” as Vitello described it.

While there might have been times when Gilbert’s infectious energy was slightly misplaced, as Vitello mentioned, the young outfielder, who has been an energizing force on the field, in the dugout and in the locker room, is proving he can maintain a balance the team needs for the rest of this season and in the future.

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I wish Enes Kanter Freedom did not take the bait from Chicago Sky’s Natasha Cloud.

During a game last week against the Indiana Fever, she shouted vulgar comments at the former NBA player, who was sitting in the crowd behind the basket.

He chirped back and showed off his massive wingspan and his T-shirt, emblazoned with the definition of the word “woman” (“adult human. female”).

Kanter Freedom was booted — and promptly became the story.

Critics have said that he’s using the protect women’s sportsmovement for clout. But some are using him to rewrite history.

Take, for example, The Athletic columnist Jerry Brewer, who wrote that Kanter joining the movement is a “man’s alibi” to “exclude.”

That’s ironic because, just a few sentences later, Brewer excluded all the women who are fighting this very battle.

“If the trans athlete debate were an organic, fully woman-led controversy, it could have prompted meaningful conversation, empathy in the pursuit of solutions and thoughtful measures taken after an extended process,” he wrote.

Either he been living under a rock or he’s willfully ignorant. My money is on the latter.

From the start, this has been an “organic, fully women-led” movement. Unfortunately, the ladies who have stuck their necks out haven’t been met with “empathy” or “meaningful conversation.”

They’ve been berated, dismissed and called transphobic.

It’s easier for the hypocritical be-kind brigade to call these women names instead of dealing with biological reality that shatters their bizarre progressive ideology.

Just ask the four high-school girls from Connecticut who, in 2020, after suddenly being smoked on the track by two boys identifying as girls, filed a lawsuit saying the boys’ participation was a Title IX violation.

It was tossed before being revived on appeals three years later.

Then came Riley Gaines, who was forced to compete against and change in a locker room with UPenn’s Lia Thomas. She came out against the obvious farce and was immediately slammed as a bigot and harassed by a mob of activists at San Francisco University.

On an episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” then-Congresswoman Katie Porter said Gaines was doing it for the “likes and clicks.”

To this day, the 12-time All-American is mocked by critics as a bitter loser.

Thomas’ teammate Paula Scanlan, who had to share a locker room with Thomas, was told by her school to seek therapy if she was uncomfortable with a 6-foot-4 dude and his penis in her locker room.

Jennifer Sey, a former Levi’s executive and US gymnast who founded the activewear company XX XY, has also been called a right-wing grifter for speaking up for girls.

In February, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was asked about males in women’s sports by an ESPN reporter. Her very compassionate and common-sense comments about protecting women’s sports led to her being called — say it with me now — a transphobe.

When this all started, many of these women tied themselves into knots to explain that they love trans people but biological differences are real. And in sports, that matters.

But no amount of throat-clearing saved them from being attacked by activists screaming that “trans women are women” and, therefore, entitled to women’s spaces.

Many, many people quietly agree with Cunningham and Scanlan and Gaines. But they see what happens to people who raise their voice.

Does Brewer know about the middle-school girls in West Virginia who were banned from competition after protesting a male participant? Has he heard about the Vermont high-school basketball team punished for forfeiting a game against a school with a male on the team? How about marathoner Natalie Daniels, who was harassed and kicked out of her running club after criticizing the Boston Marathon for allowing males who identify as women to compete in the female category?

Or the female-founded Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS)? Has he heard of a woman named Martina Navratilova? JK Rowling?

He should read up on Washington high schoolers Francis Staudt and Ahnaleigh Wilson.

Staudt faced harassment for sitting out a hoops match against a team with a male player. Wilson, who was beaten in track by a biological male, found herself berated at a Seattle Storm game by co-owner Celeste Keaton after she dared to hold up a sign thanking Cunningham.

“Our decision to speak up has been costly,” they wrote for The Hill this week. “We have been called hateful, transphobic, bigots and bullies. We have both been harassed online and in person.”

There are far too many brave chicks to count. In fact, at many points in this debate, I have asked: Where are the dudes? Why won’t they help?

This has always been an organic fight from women. Brewer, like many in sports media, just didn’t want to listen.

COLLEGE PARK, GA ― WNBA veteran DeWanna Bonner signing with the Atlanta Dream is now official.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, the Dream announced that they signed the two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star to a rest-of-season contract. ESPN and The Athletic reported that Bonner's deal is worth the prorated max of $116,000. Atlanta waived guards Aaliyah Nye and Jaylyn Sherrod in corresponding moves. Sherrod, who joined the team on June 29, was signed to a developmental contract. 

The new Atlanta forward joins the team in her 17th season. Her arrival comes on the heels of a buyout after 37 games (including 26 starts) with the Phoenix Mercury, where she averaged 10.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. During her career, Bonner has spent time with the Mercury, Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever, averaging 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game for her career.

She won championships with Phoenix in 2009 and 2014 and is the only player in league history to win Sixth Player of the Year three times. The 39-year-old is currently third on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list (8,200) and is just one of three players in league history to reach at least 7,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists. 

"It's been super exciting. I was really excited to have her here. She's probably been trying to get here for a couple of years now, and finally (her) being here when I'm here is really cool. She's kinda been like a big sister to me while I've been in this league, always checking in," Dream forward Angel Reese said.

Reese gleefully told media on-site Thursday that Bonner is a "fashion girlie" and into a lot of things that she is, and she looks forward to the fun relationship the pair will build in Atlanta. However, the Dream star also mentioned that Bonner will only make the team, which hopes to win a title this season, better.

Kentucky Basketball appears to be gearing up for a battle with the SEC and NCAA to get Mark Mitchell eligible.

According to Yahoo Sports reporter Ross Dellenger, Mitchell’s attorneys have amended their lawsuit in Kentucky, challenging both the NCAA and SEC to keep Mitchell eligible this coming season.

“Attorneys amended their complaint in the Kentucky eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA, requesting a judge hold the NCAA in contempt of court for allowing the SEC to issue a new policy that impacts the eligibility of 13 athletes, including Missouri-to-UK transfer Mark Mitchell,” Dellenger wrote on Twitter.

“Attorney Ryan Downton tells @YahooSports that the players believe the SEC’s new policy and “draconian penalties” interfere with their “constitutional right to have access to the court system,” as the sanctions may prevent schools from accepting the players onto rosters.”

It’s unclear whether this will directly address the SEC’s intraconference transfer rule, which would bar Mitchell from transferring from Missouri to another SEC program unless he entered the spring transfer portal window, or whether this is more about the new rules on pros returning to school. Either way, it’s clear that Mitchell isn’t throwing in the towel on getting to play next season.

We’ve thankfully got over two months until the college basketball season tips off, because at this rate, it’s going to take that long to figure out if Mitchell will be eligible this season for the Wildcats.

As expected, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Board of Directors held a vote to decide the fate of professional athletes that have aspired to return to the college ranks. The board unanimously adopted a resolution to enforce eligibility requirements that effectively prevent many professional athletes from returning to college athletics.

The verbiage in the ACC’s decision isn’t quite as ambiguous as the language from the Big 12 decision, but here is what we know for sure:

• Players that previously declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA draft and did not properly withdraw from said draft will no longer be eligible.
• Such cases include any player that signed with the NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate). As it pertains to the NBA Summer League, a contract includes any Exhibit 10 or two-way contract, as well as any agreement to compensation that exceeded any type of per diem.
• Finally, players that were listed on any roster for the leagues mentioned above are ineligible.

With these regulations in mind, it seems as though Carolina Basketball may be safe from any additional roster attrition. The ACC didn’t allude to an issue with international pros joining college, so Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov are presumably still eligible. Things can change overnight, and more clarification from the league may be provided in the near future, so take this declaration with a grain of salt. But the only other player that falls in the gray area of this decision is Neoklis Avdalas, but since he played for Virginia Tech last season I have a hard time thinking he is anywhere near a chopping block no matter what future rulings may transpire.

The other UNC-relevant part of this is that because former Tar Heel Seth Trimble never withdrew from the NBA Draft, participated in the Summer League, and agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract, his dream of becoming eligible to play for Louisville is essentially over. It’s obviously bad news for a guy who deserves one more crack at a national title, but something tells me that he could find his way on a NBA roster one day if he puts in the work. His athleticism, basketball IQ, and overall competitiveness is enough to keep NBA teams intrigued, but also the G-League is a tough league to exit. Hopefully everything works out for him moving forward.

Now we will wait and see if the ACC elaborates on anything announced today, and we will provide any additional information that may be particularly relevant to the Tar Heels. But what do you think about the ACC’s decision? Let us know in the comments below.

Once Kylie Jenner hit the Madison Square Garden court, it wasn’t hard to convince her who her NBA team would be.

On Wednesday’s episode of the “Better Half” podcast, Jenner joined as a guest and explained what made her fall “in love” with the Knicks.

“There’s something about the energy in the stadium and [in Madison Square Garden] and being there,” Jenner said. “It was so much fun, and then I followed them for those two seasons.”

The 29-year-old admitted she would never have been into the team if somone didn’t pull her into the fandom. She can credit boyfriend and Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet for that.

“I never was into it unless it was, like, someone was married or dating someone and then I would watch it,” Jenner said. “It wasn’t until I went to my first Knicks game that I fell in love.”

Jenner and Chalamet have been dating since 2023 and since then, the “Kardashians” star has found herself at home among the courtside stars and fan favorites of the Garden including Ben Stiller, Mariska Hargitay, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan and Spike Lee.

The couple was at the forefront of the Knicks’ championship in June, in which they won their first title since 1973 in defeating the Spurs in five games.

Chalamet was a major headline of the postgame celebrations as he was seen in various locker room photos covered in champagne, ripping his shirt and even shading cinema’s biggest night.

“Way rather this than the Oscars,” he said. “C’mon, baby! Knicks are champions, baby!”

The “Marty Supreme” actor was dedicated throughout the playoffs, leaving Jenner and the Met Gala behind to attend Game 1 of the Knicks-76ers playoff series in May.

“For them to win, I mean, I’m the luckiest Knicks fan ‘cause I feel like I am a new Knicks fan … and I got to see them win!” Jenner said.

Jenner and Chalamet aren’t ones to show up to a Knicks game casually, especially during the playoffs.

The two could be found decked out in orange and bright blue outfits throughout the season. Jenner admitted she has cultivated a collection in her closet.

“I have a whole section in my archive closet of just orange and blue things,” she said. “I have all the old Chanel, like, all every orange and blue thing that they’ve done. I have custom things. … I just keep making things, and I’ll just save it in my closet.”

Much of that collection includes oversized Knicks jackets, which Jenner said helps her not feel “naked” while sitting in courtside seat.

“When you have a big, fat, juicy ass and you’re sitting down and you’re wearing a little crop top, it’s just, like, my ass crack is always just [out],” she said. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God, my ass is just always out.’ I always have to bring a jacket or something so I can enjoy the game and not worry if, you know, I’m naked.”

LeBron James has been a part of many splashes in his career, but is the Philadelphia 76ers his best one yet?

Rockets star Kevin Durant said Philadelphia will be a “juggernaut” after they signed James this offseason, and believes it will be because of James’ willingness to take a step back.

Durant, a two-time title-winner with the Warriors, was joined by his co-host, Rich Kleiman, who looked shocked after Durant gave Philadelphia a hefty label ahead of the 2026 season.

“He understands how to put a winning basketball team together. He’s been in the league for 24 years; he should know how to understand how to do that,” Durant told Kleiman. “I feel like for him to take a minimum says a lot about his mindset and how he’s going to come into the team.”

In July, James shocked the world when he announced he was leaving the Los Angeles Lakers and would be joining the 76ers on a 2-year, $7.9 million deal.

On paper, the 76ers appear as one of the best teams in the NBA, as they hold a roster that features Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecomb.

At times last year, James appeared as a third option while playing alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Durant said he believes James’ willingness to take a step back will be the “connector” piece for the 76ers this season.

“Everybody’s not going to average 25 points on this team,” Durant said. “But it’s going to be nights where you’re going to be the man; it’s going to be nights where you’ve got to be the second guy, but it’s going to be moving parts throughout the whole season. Everybody’s role is going to change, and I think LeBron understands that.”

Durant went on to say that he believes this team has the intelligence to “make it all work.”

Rick Barnes continues to weave his Tennessee basketball team together through summer practices, trying to build some chemistry as each new face learns the system. Two of those key guards have yet to take part in those practices, however, both battling through injuries.

Tyler Lundblade, Tennessee’s first pull out of the transfer portal, has been sidelined with a back injury. Barnes has said the Volunteers are being cautious with him, but he’s nearing being back to full strength.

“As with Tyler, he’s just putting one foot in front of the other, step by step, just trying to continue to improve, and just work towards getting healthy,” Tennessee assistant coach Amarrow Morgan said today. “He’s very close to being there, for sure.”

Lundblade shot 43 percent from three-point range last season at Belmont, scoring over 15 points per game. The 6-5 shooting guard was named the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year.

Another guy nearing full strength is Troy Henderson, who returns to Tennessee for his sophomore season. Henderson has been dealing with a shoulder issue that dates back to last season.

“I think he’s very close, just the same,” Morrow said. “Like, if you watch him work out, he’s out there full throttle, full head of steam, hadn’t really done anything direct contact yet, but he’ll be out there very, very soon.”

Henderson didn’t do much statistically last year, but the flashes were certainly there. He’ll be battling for minutes behind Lundblade, Dai Dai Ames, Juke Harris and Terrance Hill in the Tennessee backcourt. Henderson appeared in 28 games last season.

Tennessee will continue to practice ahead of a couple of preseason scrimmages in October, coming against Xavier and Duke.

Who makes the rules in college athletics in 2026? Is it the NCAA, the longtime governing body of intercollegiate sports, or is it the judicial branch of the U.S. government?

Coaches are asking the same question. For Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz, who has led the Cardinals to four Final Fours, the answer is clear.

“If a court says they can play, how can a league say they can’t?” Walz asked rhetorically. “When all of a sudden did a league get more power than a court?”

Back in June, the NCAA changed its longstanding eligibility structures to an age-based model, commonly referred to as the “five-in-five” rule. Beginning with the day a student-athlete enrolls or their 19th birthday, whichever comes first, current and future college athletes will have five years to play five seasons of their sport. It was designed to simplify the eligibility process - no more redshirts, no more waivers and no more debates about seasons played at non-NCAA institutions like junior colleges. The hope was that this would quell the countless eligibility lawsuits the NCAA faced, like the one brought by Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in February.

What happened instead was a new wave of lawsuits, this time brought forth mostly by players who were freshmen in 2022 and believe they were excluded from this new eligibility structure.

Courts across the country - federal, state, district and circuit - have weighed in on these lawsuits. They have largely ruled against the NCAA, granting the plaintiffs - the players - more eligibility. Through these rulings, several former college football players have returned to campuses from NFL training camps.

The various lawsuits have also paved the way for a handful of women’s basketball players to return to college. Two of them this week signed with programs expected to make deep runs in the NCAA tournament this upcoming season.

Louisville added forward Amiya Joyner and Oklahoma State brought on guard Callin Hake. The head coaches of both programs - Walz of the Cardinals and Jacie Hoyt of the Cowgirls - spoke with USA TODAY Sports recently about the process in signing both of those players, the uncertainty surrounding the lawsuits and the risks ahead.

“The best way I can compare it to anything I've ever experienced is coaching through COVID,” Hoyt said. “When everything was just changing every day, and you thought you knew an answer and then you had to pivot because something changed. That's what it feels like right now. It’s wild times, for sure.”

Added Walz: “We’re playing with today’s rules. Tomorrow, it could all change. I’m just playing by the rules that are out there today.”

Who is Amiya Joyner?

A 6-foot-2 forward from Farmville, North Carolina, Joyner began her collegiate career at East Carolina in 2022. As a freshman, she was named American Conference Rookie of the Year and was a two-time all-conference selection. Last season, her senior year, she transferred to LSU and had a key role for Kim Mulkey’s Tigers, averaging 9.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting a stellar 59.7% from the floor.

LSU made the Sweet 16, where it was upset by Duke on a buzzer-beater, and Joyner thought her college career was over. She declared for the WNBA Draft but wasn’t selected, never signed with a team and didn’t appear in training camp. She instead joined the Upshot League, a new professional women’s basketball organization spearheaded by former WNBA president Donna Orender aiming to develop players for the WNBA. Joyner played in 22 games for the Greensboro Groove this summer, most recently appearing in a game on July 19.

Days later, Joyner was made eligible for college basketball again when Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that required the NCAA to declare all players from the high school class of 2022 eligible. Last week, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the NCAA a stay which reversed that decision.

While seen as a victory for the NCAA, that ruling did not impact state-level cases, perhaps most notably the decision by a Louisiana court to grant fifth-year eligibility to more than a dozen plaintiffs - including Joyner.

“Do I think it's wild and crazy? Yeah, I sure do. Did we have any intentions of looking at a fifth-year player like this? No, not really,” Walz said. “But then we had a situation where a scholarship came open, I said, ‘Alright, let's see what happens.’ If the courts have said you can do it, well, I'm not going to say no.”

Joyner entered the transfer portal and signed with Louisville. Walz said she started classes this week and is already practicing with the team.

“We had a need at that spot,” Walz said. “We needed some more back-to-the-basket strength, rebounding, interior post play. So, she definitely is going to help us. We’re filling a need - that’s what we use the portal for.”

Who is Callin Hake?

Hake, a 5-foot-8 guard from Victoria, Minnesota, spent all previous four years of her college basketball career at Nebraska, where she helped the Cornhuskers make three consecutive NCAA Tournaments and was a full-time starter in each of the last two seasons. As a senior last year, Hake averaged 7.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 35% from 3-point land. She led the Huskers in assists and steals while setting a program record for offensive fouls drawn in a single season with 33.

On Aug. 18, a Superior Court in Santa Clara County, California granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to make 73 athletes - including Hake - eligible again. That lawsuit also included Gonzaga’s Ines Bettencourt, Michigan’s Brooke Quarles Daniels, Texas Tech’s Adlee Blacklock and Arizona State’s Marley Washenitz among the women’s basketball players who were plaintiffs. Washenitz has since signed with UNLV.

Hake entered the transfer portal and arrived at Oklahoma State this week. One of the factors that went into Hoyt’s decision to bring in Hake was some of the Cowgirls’ international recruits dealing with visa issues, sprouting a bit of uncertainty across the roster.

“That has affected our decision to take Callin because we have several international players that have been some question marks where I would like there to be periods, but I just haven't had that luxury,” Hoyt said. “So we felt, just from an insurance standpoint in terms of just roster spots and having bodies here, that was something that we needed to look a little deeper into.

“The biggest thing for me is, how does this affect our culture? How does this affect the chemistry that we spent all summer building? It's better to pass on that extra spot if it's going to be disruptive to your culture. But Callin really just fit like a glove for us. She's an amazing human, first and foremost.”

SEC, Big 12 make new conference eligibility rules

This week, three of the Power 4 conferences have issued new rules related to eligibility. The SEC led the way by saying on Tuesday, Aug. 25 that players who had declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA drafts and did appropriately withdraw are not permitted to play in the conference. Players are also not allowed if they signed a contract with one of those leagues or were listed on a roster. The Big Ten issued a similar statement, but its rules apply only to football for now.

Meanwhile, the Big 12 has also adopted conference rules that forbid member schools from adding a player who has declared for a pro draft, been listed on the roster of a professional team or has signed a contract with a professional team in any sport.

In the case of Hake and Oklahoma State, those rules seemingly wouldn’t apply to her since she never declared for the WNBA Draft or played professionally in any capacity since leaving Nebraska.

“You don't want to do something that's not going to hold up. That's the last thing I want to do, is put my team in a situation where we thought that we had a player, and then we don't,” Hoyt said. “In Callin's case specifically, we feel like we hit all of the checkpoints. Our compliance team feels like Callin's situation is one that has the best chance of holding up if something were to come back.”

One of the NHL’s top goaltenders is back in the headlines.

On Thursday, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck publicly announced that he had requested a trade.

Hellebuyck, 33, made the proclamation in a statement that was posted on social media by his agent, Ray Petkau.

“Several months ago, I privately requested a trade,” Hellebuyck said in the statement. “I have tried to handle this situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options. With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.”

We’ll see if this public declaration moves the needle at all in terms of Winnipeg finding a deal that its comfortable with making for its elite netminder.

A couple hours after Hellebuyck’s statement went viral, the Jets responded with one of their own in which Winnipeg General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said, in part, “While we continue to work through the situation in a thoughtful manner, there is no update at this time.”

Contractually, Hellebuyck has five years remaining on his current deal, which runs through the 2030-31 season and comes with an average annual value (AAV) of $8.5 million.

It also carries a full no-movement clause, giving Hellebuyck total control over where he may ultimately end up, as no trade can be completed without him signing off on it.

Fresh off a gold medal-winning performance for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics and universally considered one of the best goaltenders in the world, the interest in Hellebuyck has been unsurprisingly high.

There were rumors swirling around Hellebuyck back around the NHL Draft in late June and into the new league year, which began on July 1, but things have been on the quiet side since.

The Florida Panthers were among teams often mentioned in the same breath as Hellebuyck, as Florida’s goaltending situation was in flux leading up to the start of July.

Longtime Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky left Florida in free agency, signing a three-year, $21 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Florida pivoted for a short-term fix, trading for veteran Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils and restricted free agent Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights.

Markstrom has two years remaining on a deal paying an AAV of $6 million while Florida signed Schmid to a new two-year, $4 million contract, giving the Cats a pair of tendies locked up for next two seasons.

Does that mean the Panthers would be out on any potential deal for Hellebuyck? Not necessarily.

The easiest path would be a deal that included a goalie swap, which would make sense for the Jets as they would likely want as solid of a tandem post-Hellebuyck as possible.

Considering Florida does not own another first round pick until the 2030 NHL Draft, the Panthers would almost certainly have to part ways with one or more of their elite pieces, as well as one of their few high-end prospects, in order to entice a deal with the Jets.

Another way to potentially peak Winnipeg’s interest would be to include young center Anton Lundell in any trade offer, though Lundell has been a player that Florida GM Bill Zito has been extremely hesitant to dangle in any possible deals.

If Zito and Co. feel comfortable with Markstrom and Schmid as their tandem, it doesn’t make much sense to rip up part of the roster, as the question will come down to whether a possible upgrade at goaltender would outweigh a potential downgrade up front.

Ultimately, there will have to be a combination of an offer that Winnipeg would accept coming from a team that Hellebuyck will approve a deal to.

Whether the Panthers have the wherewithal to check both of those boxes, or the desire to try, remains to be seen.

Is there a deal that you think would work for both sides? Let us know in the comments below.

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Photo caption: Nov 19, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; FloridaPanthersleft wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) tries for a tip in on Winnipeg Jets goaltenderConnorHellebuyck(37) in the third period at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)

Did you know that on July 23, 2020, the Seattle Kraken were officially named the Kraken? ​

The team that was once NHL Seattle was finally named the Seattle Kraken on July 23, 2020.

​According to NHL.com, former team president and general manager Ron Francis said the Seattle Kraken wasn't among the final name groups for NHL Seattle, and that the owners and executives were considering other names.

​However, on July 23, the league announced that the Seattle team would be called the Kraken, giving the club a clearer identity as those trade discussions continued. ​

The meaning of the name comes from the mythical, mysterious, and mighty sea beast. The deep-sea blue logo has ice blue, shadow blue, boundless blue, and red alert shades.

According to NHL.com, “The logo honors the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, who became the first team from the United States to win the Stanley Cup when they defeated the Montreal Canadiens in 1917, months before the NHL was born. It is an "S," like the Metropolitans logo, but with a tentacle and red eye.”

Ron Francis shared the meaning behind the name after the announcement.

"Seattle's a city with a deep maritime history," Kraken general manager Ron Francis said. "I think this name embodies a connection with the sea and a curiosity of what lies beneath it. It's a natural tie to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. In theory, it reflects the power and aggression of hockey. We're hoping that's the kind of tenacity our players show every time they take the ice. So I'm excited by it."

In the first five seasons in the NHL, the Seattle Kraken have made the postseason once.

The team saw the most success in the second season, posting a 46-28-8 record with 100 points. ​They were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs that year. ​

The Kraken enter the sixth season in the NHL hoping to make a stronger push than in prior years, with trade moves part of that effort. ​

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Fresh off a 94-84 win over the Mercury on Tuesday, Washington heads right back to Mortgage Matchup Center for a Thursday night rematch.

Kiki Iriafen is riding a serious hot streak, and she draws another prime matchup to keep the momentum rolling.

Our Mystics vs. Mercury prediction and WNBA picks expect Iriafen and Sonia Citron to set the tempo, driving Washington to a straight-up win and an ATS cover as short road favorites on Aug. 27.

Mystics vs Mercury prediction

Mystics vs Mercury best bet: Kiki Iriafen Over 24.5 points + rebounds -115

Kiki Iriafen is averaging a career-best 24.6 points + rebounds, but she’s been phenomenal over her last five, averaging 29.8.

Washington’s productive forward has posted 25+ points + rebounds in five straight and six of her last seven appearances. She’s done this in 10 of 16 road games while averaging 25.3.

Iriafen posted 21 and 28 points + rebounds in two matchups against the Phoenix Mercury, who also rank 14th in defensive rating across their last 10 games.

I'd play this up to 26.5.

COVERS INTEL: Phoenix has been crushed by opposing forwards, surrendering by far the most points (66.1) and rebounds (25.3).

Mystics vs Mercury same-game parlay

The Mercury have allowed the fourth-most points to guards (55.1) and the fifth-highest FG% (46.5). Sonia Citron scored 18+ in four of her last eight games, and she finished with 19 points in each matchup against Phoenix, shooting a healthy 12-for-19 from the floor.

The Washington Mystics are a league-best 23-15 ATS, including a 4-2 mark as the road favorite. The Mercury are tied for the worst home ATS record at 6-12, and Phoenix is just 2-6 as the home dog. Washington’s Top-3 defense and balanced offensive attack make this playable up to 5.5.

Mystics vs Mercury SGP +430

• Kiki Iriafen Over 24.5 points + rebounds
• Sonia Citron Over 17.5 points
• Mystics -4.5

Want more basketball parlays? Check out our WNBA parlay picks page!

Mystics vs Mercury player prop pick

Sonia Citron Over 1.5 threes -127

The Mercury have given up the second-highest 3-point percentage (36%) and the most made 3-pointers (6.1) to opposing guards. 

Citron has hit multiple treys in only 11 games this season, but she’s reached that mark in four of her last nine while shooting 50% from long range.

In two matchups with the Mercury, Citron shot a blistering 8-for-12 from beyond the arc. Citron’s recent efficiency and favorable matchup make this a line worth targeting.

Mystics vs Mercury odds

• Spread: Mystics -3.5 | Mercury +3.5
• Moneyline: Mystics -170 | Mercury +142
• Over/Under: Over 166.5 | Under 166.5

Mystics vs Mercury trend

The Mystics have covered the spread in three straight games against the Mercury. Find more WNBA betting trends.

How to watch Mystics vs Mercury

Mystics vs Mercury latest injuries

Mystics: No key injuries to report.
Mercury: Marta Suarez (Out), Kelsey Plum (Questionable).
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.

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Starting forward NaLyssa Smith is out for the season with a left leg injury, the defending champion Las Vegas Aces announced on Thursday.

The team did not disclose specifics regarding her diagnosis or treatment plan. She was not seen at Thursday's practice and Aces coach Becky Hammon did not answer questions about her status.

Smith sustained the non-contact injury during a 88-78 win over the the Toronto Tempo on Sunday, Aug. 23. When she exited the game with 3:15 mark of the third quarter, she was shooting 4-of-4 from the field.

Smith was in the midst of one of the best seasons of her career, averaging 11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds over 37 games this season. She was leading the league in field goal percentage at 63.8%.