Peterson is listed as out for the No. 9 Jayhawks with flu-like symptoms, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. That makes the task harder for Kansas against No. 1 Arizona (23-0, 10-0).
The freshman guard has appeared in 13 games this season, averaging 20.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 48.9% shooting. This marks the 11th game of the season that the projected top pick in the 2026 NBA will miss this season. Peterson has also battled a hamstring strain and cramps earlier in the season.
Junior guard Jamari McDowell started in Peterson’s place, while senior guard Melvin Council Jr. and sophomore forward Flory Bidunga have stepped up in the games Peterson has missed this season.
Kansas and Arizona had a 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) tipoff. The Jayhawks' lone loss at home this season came against No. 5 UConn.
Four players were ejected following a fight during the third quarter of a game between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets on Monday, Feb. 9.
Suspensions could follow.
The brawl began bubbling when the Hornets’ Moussa Diabate delivered a hard foul on Pistons center Jalen Duren with more than seven minutes remaining in the quarter. The players exchanged words.
Duren shoved Diabate in the face, and Charlotte forward Miles Bridges shoved Duren. Diabate threw a punch at Duren and had to be held back by coaches and teammates, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Moments later, Bridges punched toward Duren. Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart, who was not in the game, rushed the floor and put Bridges in a headlock. Players from both teams swarmed in to separate them.
"Miles got some blows in," one announcer said on the broadcast of the game.
Will Pistons and Hornets players be suspended for brawl?
Once the NBA assesses its discipline from this fight, expect several suspensions and fines to be levied, particularly for those like Isaiah Stewart, who came off the bench.
According to the NBA rulebook, during fights or altercations, players who aren’t subbed in must remain on the sidelines, “in the immediate vicinity of their bench.” The league also stipulates that violators will be subject to an automatic one-game suspension without pay, with an additional fine of $50,000.
Because Stewart also threw punches and made contact with Hornets players, his suspension may be for multiple games.
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 7, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have updated availability for numerous key players for tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Dean Wade is OUT with an ankle injury, while Jaylon Tyson, who was also listed as questionable with an ankle injury, will be available to play.
Rookie Tyrese Proctor will be available to play after being questionable with an illness.
Max Strus and Evan Mobley remain out. Mobley hasn’t played since January 26 with a calf strain, while Strus has yet to play this season.
Cleveland’s wing depth has taken a hit without Wade. They traded De’Andre Hunter at the deadline for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, a move that has paid off in the short-term, but has left them without many backup options on the wing other than Wade.
Wade is also one of the team’s best and most underrated defenders. He consistently raises their floor defensively and isn’t as easy to replace as you might think.
The NBA's most versatile defenders this season, based on time spent guarding PG/SG/SF/PF/C:
1. Jarred Vanderbilt 2. Josh Minott 3. Dean Wade 4. GG Jackson 5. Jordan Walsh 6. Alex Caruso 7. Hugo Gonzalez 8. Naji Marshall 9. Spencer Jones 10. Gui Santos
The Cavs have managed to survive even with injuries to Wade, Mobley and Strus. They’ve done so behind an All-Star caliber season from Donovan Mitchell, huge performances from Jarrett Allen, and a new Hall of Famer in James Harden.
Harden made his Cavalier debut on Saturday and scored 23 points while helping his team get across the finish line. We’ll be watching to see how Harden continues to develop chemistry with his new teammates. Allen, in particular, should continue to thrive with another pick-and-roll ball-handler in the lineup.
This is Cleveland’s final game of their West Coast road trip. They previously played the Sacramento Kings, LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix Suns. After tonight, they’ll head home for their first game of February in Rocket Arena. They host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
The Cavs have the best winning percentage in the NBA since Dec. 29 and have a top-10 offense and defense during this stretch. Let’s see if they can keep on rolling and head home with one more win.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The injury-depleted Indiana Pacers have been dealt another blow, announcing Monday that second-year forward Johnny Furphy is expected to miss the rest of this season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Furphy was hurt during the third quarter of Sunday's 122-104 loss at Toronto. Team officials issued a three-paragraph statement Monday saying the Australian was taken to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and an MRI confirmed the extent of the injury. Indiana is in New York to face the Knicks on Tuesday.
Furphy is yet another addition to an expansive injury list headlined by two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has been ruled out for the rest of this season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 of June's NBA Finals.
Starters Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and key backups Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell have all missed games with injuries this season. The result: Indiana has the league's second-worst record at 13-40. The absences, however, gave Furphy, a second-round draft pick in 2024 out of Kansas, a chance to show what he could do in 21 starts. He was averaging 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
The Pacers also could be dealing with yet another injured player — new center Ivica Zubac, who Indiana acquired last week in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. He's been dealing with an ankle injury since December and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said recently that Zubac won't play until he's “really ready.”
The Boston Celtics just made an announcement their fans have been eager to hear.
The franchise said star forward Jayson Tatum, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in May, was assigned to participate in portions of a G League practice Monday, Feb. 9. Following that session, the Celtics will recall Tatum, where he’ll continue his rehab with the team.
The Celtics said they would issue future updates when appropriate.
Tatum, 27, had suffered the injury during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks, but has remained a steady presence around the team through its first 53 games of the season.
The announcement doesn’t necessarily mean Tatum will return to game action imminently, but it does carry significant implications.
Here’s everything you need to know about Jayson Tatum’s recovery from his Achilles tendon rupture:
Jayson Tatum injury update: What does it mean for a potential return?
Does this mean Tatum will absolutely return at some point during the 2025-26 season? Not necessarily. Is it a positive sign? Yes, overwhelmingly so.
Achilles tendon ruptures are complicated injuries that require calculated and arduous rehabs. That Tatum has progressed to the point of limited participation in practice signals that he has advanced to a certain level of competence.
In September, Tatum told USA TODAY Sports that he hadn’t fully ruled out a return to the court for the 2025-26 season, so this aggressive timeline indicates that Tatum and the Celtics may be considering a pathway toward a return.
To be sure: the practices will be controlled and the franchise will push Tatum only as far as he’s able. And even then, they will exercise prudence and will closely monitor how he responds to the sessions.
But, if Tatum is to return this season, he’d eventually need to return to practice and a return this soon should build optimism.
Still, there will be plenty of work left to do for Tatum, and the most challenging part of his recovery will almost certainly be mental. After extended absences, players often feel the need to be tentative or cautious out of fear of reaggravating the injury. Tatum may face similar concerns, and he may even feel he’s lost some explosion or speed.
But even though Achilles ruptures used to be considered career-ending injuries, modern medicine has allowed plenty of players to return to full health and participation after suffering them.
Boston has surpassed expectations and is 34-19, which is currently third in the East. If Tatum is cleared and able to return, he would instantly add a massive boost of scoring, playmaking and rebounding for the Celtics.
It would also make the Celtics a real threat to win the Eastern Conference
Jayson Tatum stats
Last season, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
In the third quarter of the Indiana game in Toronto on Sunday, the Pacers' Johnny Furphy went up and threw down a huge dunk, but he landed awkwardly and crumpled to the ground, grabbing his right knee. Clearly it was something serious.
The reactions said it all. It was hard on all of the Pacers.
Great concern for Johnny Furphy, who suffered a right leg injury and was taken back to the locker room in a wheel chair. pic.twitter.com/Aga2nd0u7x
Furphy suffered a torn right ACL and had surgery to repair that on Monday in New York, the Pacers announced. He is out for the remainder of this season, and likely much of next season as well.
It's a rough setback for Furphy, 21, who was starting to find his place on this team during his season. He had moved into the starting lineup (for 21 of the last 22 games) and on the season was averaging 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He's not out there as a scorer so much as a quality defender and rebounder, plus someone who knows how to work off the ball.
Furphy, the No. 35 overall pick in the 2024 draft, is under contract with the Pacers for next season at $2.3 million, with the team holding a $2.5 million option for the 2027-28 season as well.
In the latest sign that Jayson Tatum appears on a path to return to the Celtics before the end of the season, he has been assigned to the Celtics G-League team for a day of practice, Boston announced Monday.
Jayson Tatum will be assigned to participate in portions of the @MaineCeltics practice at the Auerbach Center this afternoon.
Following this practice, Tatum will be immediately recalled to the Boston Celtics, where he will continue his rehab process.
An assignment to a G-League team to get in a practice is now a common part of an injury return, even LeBron James was assigned to the G-League for a day this season. NBA teams do not practice much — especially this deep into the season, when recovery remains the most important thing — so assigning a player to a G-League team means he can get in a full practice while the team has the day off.
There remains no timetable for Tatum's return, but when asked, the organization says he is "making progress" in his recovery from a torn Achilles.
Tatum suffered that injury last May, in Game 4 of the Celtics' second-round series against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Recovery time for an NBA player from a torn Achilles is generally around 10-12 months, which could have Tatum back in March. At 34-19, Boston sits as the No. 3 seed in the East, and it's easy to envision how the return of their best player could spark a deep Celtics' playoff run in an open conference. That said, Tatum admitted he is re-thinking a return, in part because he doesn't want to rush his physical process, and in part because this team has found an identity without him this season and he doesn't want to parachute in and mess it up.
Tatum may be thinking about it, but a G-League assignment is a sign he is nearing a return.
The motion for a temporary injunction has been denied by Judge Daniel Pruet, according to The Tuscaloosa News ― part of the USA TODAY Network ― on Monday, Feb. 9. That means the 7-foot center's time with the Crimson Tide and return to college basketball are over.
The decision overturns the temporary restraining order by Judge James Roberts Jr. that Bediako received on Jan. 21 against the NCAA that made him immediately eligible.
Bediako originally played for Alabama from 2021 to 2023 before appearing in 82 games across three seasons in the G League.
“I respectfully ask the Court to uphold the NCAA eligibility rules challenged in this case, which are essential to the integrity of college sports, to the educational mission they serve, and to the opportunities they provide for current and future student-athletes,” Sankey wrote in the affidavit.
Bediako appeared in five games for the Crimson Tide, averaging 10 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 21.6 minutes. He had 12 points in Alabama's 96-92 win over Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 7.
The NCAA's argument against Bediako’s eligibility is that he signed multiple professional contracts since leaving Alabama after the 2022-23 season, which make him ineligible to return to the sport, according to the organization’s longstanding eligibility rules.
Bediako's return to college basketball is happening during a period when several former G League players have been added to college rosters for this season.
NCAA statement on Charles Bediako being ruled ineligible
NCAA President Charlie Baker released a statement on Bediako being ruled ineligible on Monday, Feb. 9.
“Common sense won a round today. The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students," he wrote in a statement released on social media.
NCAA President Charlie Baker statement: “Common sense won a round today. The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students. College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away…
"College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away to go pro and now want to hit the ‘undo’ button at the expense of a teenager’s dream. While we’re glad the court upheld the rules our members actually want, one win doesn't fix the national mess of state laws. It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability.”
Will Alabama have to forfeit games Charles Bediako played in?
No, Alabama will not have to forfeit the games Bediako played in because he was eligible due to a TRO. He appeared in five games with the Crimson Tide, with the team going 3-2.
Alabama beat Auburn 96-92 on Saturday, Feb. 7, and defeated Texas A&M 100-97 on Feb. 4. The Crimson Tide also had a 90-64 win over Missouri. They lost to Tennessee and Florida in that span.
I keep this page updated every time a deal goes down, and with the 2026 NBA trade deadline behind us, it’s time for another update.
Capologist. Have you heard this term? Given the complexities of the NBA salary cap, full of terminologies like options, luxury tax, first and second apron, mid-level exception, and Bird rights, you may feel like you need a PhD to understand it. You don’t. You just need this page, you capologist, you!
Fear not. We are collaborating with SalarySwish to leverage their data to answer any and all questions you could have about the Suns’ roster construction.
So bookmark this page, because this is where you’ll find answers to all of your questions, updated in real-time, with context and updates as they occur.
Now, onto the info…
Phoenix Suns Roster, Salaries, Draft Picks, Cap Space and More
Here is a table with all of the Suns’ salary information, courtesy of our friends at SalarySwish:
With all that data to unpack, let’s break down a few key takeaways, what they mean, and the questions they raise.
FAQ
How much salary cap space do the Suns have?
First, a refresher of the thresholds for the 2025-26 season:
— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) July 16, 2025
The team currently has one roster spot open, but with three two-way contracted players, the team will most likely fill that final spot with one of them. My guess? Jamaree Bouyea.
How much will the Suns pay in luxury taxes this year?
In short? As noted above, nothing. This team was the most expensive team in NBA history a season ago. Now? From a cap hit perspective, they are the 11th cheapest in the league.
What draft picks do the Suns have?
It can get confusing, but this is where the Suns have landed after all their wheeling and dealing. The short version? Phoenix holds seven draft picks, though many come wrapped in conditions that make them more decorative than practical.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 20: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons plays against the Charlotte Hornets at Little Caesars Arena on December 20, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Troy Weaver vindicated? The Detroit Pistons are facing an incredibly dangerous Charlotte Hornets team, and a bunch of that credit must go to head coach Charles Lee. He’s gotten his team to buy in, unlocked its mishmash of high-level offensive talent, and the Hornets have gone from cute story to real danger climbing up the standings in the East. Lee, of course, was the head coach candidate whom Troy Weaver wanted to hire two years ago before he was overruled by Pistons owner Tom Gores and Vice Chairman Arn Tellem, who forced Detroit’s general manager to hire Monty Williams instead. We all know how that worked out.
The Hornets enter tonight looking for the franchise’s first 10-game winning streak since 1998, which is also the last time the team had a 50-win season. The Hornets started too slowly to reach 50 wins this season, but they are a better team than their record suggests, and this performance is no mirage. While they are justifiably known for that potent offense, which has been the best in the NBA during the team’s nine-game win streak, the defense is no pushover. Over that same span, it ranks fifth in the NBA, one spot better than the Pistons. Detroit will likely need to win with its defense, as it has all season, but will need to do so without Ron Holland, who is out tonight for personal reasons.
Detroit loves a statement game this season, and hopefully, they realize this can be one of them.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina How: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons -2.5
LOS ANGELES — Before the Lakers’ victory over the Warriors, president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka told a handful of beat reporters the team would likely fill its 15th and final open roster spot after doing its “due diligence”.
A few hours later, the Lakers solidified how they wanted to use the roster slot by signing Kobe Bufkin to a two-year contract with a team option for the 2026-27 season in a move that may have gone under the radar since it was first reported late on a Saturday night and became official during Sunday’s Super Bowl.
While the Lakers could’ve gone in different directions for filling out their roster, signing Bufkin was the right move.
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year contract, solidifying their final roster spot. NBAE via Getty Images
Before even getting into what makes Bufkin worthy of being a full-time NBA player — and how he is likely outside the regular rotation for the remainder of this season — the Lakers’ other opportunities for their final roster spot needs to be addressed.
Because most times a roster or personnel move is made, there are, naturally, statements that fit into the “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” narrative.
Yes, the Lakers could’ve tried to sign someone off the buyout/midseason free agency market.
Cam Thomas, who’s since signed with the Bucks after being waived by the Nets, and Haywood Highsmith, who like Thomas was also waived by the Nets last week, were popular names tied to the Lakers.
But individually, both players either didn’t fit or came with their own risks.
Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bufkin defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 15. AP
For as talented as Thomas is, and his skillset is evident in the 21.4 points he’s averaged over the last three seasons, did the Lakers need a score-first, smaller guard who’s a liability on the defensive end of the floor? And unlike Bufkin, the team signing Thomas (the Bucks in this case) would either need to have or open up a spot in the rotation so Thomas could receive regular playing time. With Austin Reaves back in the lineup and the trade for Luke Kennard, the Lakers simply don’t have a need for what Thomas brings.
Highsmith would’ve been a tantalizing option, with the 6-foot-5 forward having a skillset (high-level perimeter defense, 38.8% shooting on 3-pointers the last two seasons) and motor the Lakers lack. But Highsmith has yet to play this season after having surgery in early August to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee — a procedure that was originally supposed to sideline him for eight-to-10 weeks.
The critiques about the Lakers’ options besides signing Bufkin highlight a bigger point: the buyout/midseason free agency market rarely provides players who’ll have a positive impact on a team’s chances of making noise in the playoffs, let alone contend for the championship.
Kobe Bufkin and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands before the game against the LA Clippers on January 22. NBAE via Getty Images
The team’s last two signings off the buyout market — Spencer Dinwiddie in 2024 and Alex Len last year — are usually how those types of midseason additions impact a team compared to Markieff Morris’ run with the 2020 Lakers that won the NBA title.
In Bufkin, the Lakers are getting a 22-year-old guard who they had interest in drafting in 2023 before he was taken by the Hawks, two spots ahead of the Lakers using the No. 17 pick to select Jalen Hood-Schifino.
As the No. 15 pick in 2023, Bufkin not only has the pedigree but also the size (6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan) to be successful in the NBA. Success in the G League doesn’t translate to success in the NBA, but the way Bufkin played for the Lakers’ South Bay G League affiliate shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s also shown he’s willing to step up his play defensively.
The Lakers have seen multiple younger or lesser-experienced players they’ve invested in have positive impacts on their next team after the Lakers decided not to see that investment through — with Jordan Goodwin being the latest example after they waived him over the summer to become salary cap compliant before signing Marcus Smart.
By signing Bufkin, the Lakers give themselves an opportunity to see what they can get out of their investment on a talented, young and inexpensive player — an especially important factor in the modern NBA with how punitive the salary cap aprons are for team building.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 27: Pat Spencer #61 of the Golden State Warriors and Cam Spencer #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies look on during the game on October 27, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With just two games left before the NBA All-Star Break, the Golden State Warriors return to the Chase Center to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. The game will be played at 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State split its recent two-game road trip following Saturday’s 105–99 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The effort was there, and the Warriors competed on both ends throughout the night. However, playing without Stephen Curry for the third straight game, the offense once again had to lean heavily on perimeter shooting — an area where the team struggled mightily, going just 14-of-51 from three (27.5%) on the night.
Moses Moody was one of the few bright spots offensively, leading the Warriors with 25 points, including five made threes.
It’s expected to be another shorthanded matchup for both sides of tonight’s game. Curry and newly acquired Warriors’ big man Kristaps Porzingis are not expected to return until after the All-Star Break, while Memphis will also be without star point guard Ja Morant.
Warriors are 8.5-point favorites tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center. Stephen Curry (runner's knee) and Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendon management) out with Seth Curry (sciatica) for Golden State. Ja Morant/Zach Edey among those out for Memphis.
While playing with a depleted roster following last week’s trade deadline, several Warriors have stepped into larger roles, including Pat Spencer. The former two-way guard was signed to a standard NBA contract prior to Saturday’s game against the Lakers and rewarded the team with 14 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and a steal in his spot start.
Spencer has provided valuable depth throughout the season, and his downhill pressure at the rim should continue to create the paint touches and perimeter opportunities that head coach Steve Kerr has emphasized during this stretch. Not to mention, he’ll get a chance to play against his brother, Cam Spencer, as Golden State looks to bounceback against a Grizzlies team that has a 2-8 record over their last 10 games.
Steve Kerr on Pat Spencer earning a standard NBA contract with the Warriors for the rest of the season:
“Thrilled to have Pat. The impact he has on our team, whether he’s play or not is pretty profound… you see what happens when we give him real opportunities.” pic.twitter.com/TgkIya5aSv
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Jayson Tatum is practicing with the Maine Celtics on Monday as he continues to recover from an Achilles rupture he suffered last week, the Celtics shared in an official press release.
Tatum will be assigned to participate in portions of the Maine Celtics practice at the Auerbach Center this afternoon. Following this practice, Tatum will be immediately recalled to the Boston Celtics, where he will continue his rehab process. Fellow Celtics players Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams are joining Tatum at practice.
It’s been almost 9 months since Tatum first suffered the injury, and the Celtics have never offered a recovery timeline.
It’s not unusual for athletes to be assigned to their G-League affiliate as they near a full recovery; earlier this year, for example, LeBron James practiced with the Los Angeles Lakers’ G-League affiliate, and five days later, he made his season debut as he recovered from an offseason bout of sciatica.
Similarly, Kristaps Porzingis practiced with the G-League last fall as he rehabbed an offseason ankle surgery, and six days later, made his season debut.
That doesn’t mean that Tatum’s return is just a week away — but it does open the door for that possibility.
Last week, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said that Tatum still has “a ways to go.”
“When it’s right, then we’ll all sit down and talk about it,” Stevens said. “There’s still no force from us. There’s no pressure from us. But there’s also not gonna be any of us saying, ‘Well, why doesn’t he just take another week?’ When he’s ready, he’s ready.”
Without Tatum, the Celtics are 34-19, owners of the Eastern Conference’s third-best net rating.
Courtney Williams and Saniya Rivers will be wearing new Unrivaled jerseys come next weekend. | Getty Images
Unrivaled, a league full of firsts, has announced the second trade—and first in-season trade—in league history.
On Monday morning, the league announced that Courtney Williams has been traded from Vinyl BC to Breeze BC, Saniya Rivers from Hive BC to Vinyl BC and Azurá Stevens from Rose BC to Hive BC. The trade comes in the wake of Aari McDonald’s season ending right leg injury; McDonald had only played one game for Breeze.
The conditions of the four-club deal are definite yet confusing. Per Unrivaled’s announcement, Breeze doesn’t seem to be forfeiting anything for Williams. The league also didn’t announce anyone going to Rose in return for Stevens. However, it is worth noting that Clare Duwelius serves as the lone general manager of Unrivaled; clubs do not have individual GMs. Transactions, thus, do not abide by the typical protocol or processes of WNBA trades.
The first Unrivaled trade came prior to Season 1, when Courtney Williams, Jackie Young, Tiffany Hayes and Natasha Cloud were swapped in a similar multi-team deal. This Season 2 deal thus makes Williams the first veteran of the 3×3 trade market.
With Breeze, Rose, Vinyl, and Hive respectively occupying spots No. 4 through No. 7 in the league’s current standings, the four-team deal doesn’t project to shake up the top of the league. However, it gives the Breeze a notable boost at the guard spot behind Paige Bueckers. That extra backcourt depth could be enough to make up some ground on the league leaders, especially considering they didn’t give up anything for Williams.
Vinyl is adding a highlight defender in Saniya Rivers, improving an already solid team defense. Vinyl is also one of the league’s tallest teams, a trend that Rivers, a 6-foot-1 guard, will fit. Vinyl, however, will have to put a larger burden of playmaking on Rhyne Howard and Erica Wheeler in the absence of Williams.
Unrivaled’s Saniya Rivers already settling in with Vinyl BC after being traded from Hive BC. 💿🖤
Stevens, now en route to the Hive, had a hot start to Unrivaled Season 2, but her production had quickly withered in the past two weeks, in part due to injury issues. Coming off a one-possession win, Hive will hope that she can reprise her scoring as they try to make a push in the waning half of the season. Ezi Magbegor is also dealing with an injury, giving Stevens a chance to inherit big minutes for her new team. Sans Stevens, Rose will have to add a developmental player if any of their players miss a game. Their current roster sits at just five players, and the developmental pool can be triggered when a team drops below five.
VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) — Villarreal scored twice in each half to hammer Espanyol 4-1 in La Liga and hand the Catalan club its heaviest defeat of the season on Monday.
The result ended a poor run which had seen Villarreal take one point from its previous three games. The win lifted it to equal on points with third-placed Atletico Madrid and seven ahead of Real Betis, although Villareal has a game in hand on both.
Georges Mikautadze gave Villarreal the lead 10 minutes before halftime when he met Tajon Buchanan's perfectly cushioned header and fired home a spectacular scissor kick.
Jose Salinas’ own goal six minutes later doubled Villarreal’s lead. Nicolas Pepe added the third five minutes into the second half when he rifled a low shot from outside the box after some skilful footwork.
Alberto Moleiro made it 4-0 five minutes later when he finished off an incisive counterattack.
Leandro Cabrera’s glancing header from a Cyril Ngonge corner with two minutes remaining was Espanyol’s only response.
Barcelona-based Espanyol has not won since before Christmas and has gone six matches without a win in the league. Monday's result marked the first time this season it conceded four goals in a game. It remained in sixth place.
