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Yankees mailbag: Who should’ve hit leadoff instead of Trent Grisham?

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before game two of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 05, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, we’re back for the latest edition of the mailbag, our first since the end of the Yankees season. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

jmack175 asks: What are the chances MLB changes the postseason format and re-seeds after the wild card round? Kinda dumb that the top two teams are playing each other after the wild card round is finished. A Tampa vs. Yankees series would be better as the final battle for the AL in a 7-game series.

I agree that the current format leaves a lot to be desired, with one of the glaring flaws being that in years such as this, when talent is so heavily concentrated in one division at the expense of the other two divisions in a particular league, you end up with the best teams all on one side of the postseason bracket, while the teams that made it in by default on the other side duke it out for a pass to the ALCS.

I’d imagine there are quite a few fans that would like to see change, and well, it seems like the league agrees. MLB’s latest proposal to the MLBPA reportedly includes a 154-game season, a seven-game division series, and allowing the higher seeds in each league to choose their opponents. Under this system, the three seed would get to choose their Wild Card round opponent, and then the number one seed would get to choose its division series opponent between the two Wild Card winners. This format isn’t at all perfect; if it was in place this year, for example, the third-seeded 81-81 Astros would’ve gotten to choose their first round opponent, and the Yankees still would’ve likely been left to play the Red Sox in the opening round. However, such a format also would have probably led the Rays to choose the White Sox as their Division Series opponent, letting the Yankees face the Guardians, and leaving the possibility of the Rays-Yankees ALCS that would’ve felt much more fitting given those were the top two teams in the AL all year.

Though I think this proposal would be a step in the right direction, I’d prefer the league go even further, and just seed the playoffs in order of record. It felt pretty silly to see the literally .500 Astros earn a higher playoff seed than a Yankees team that won 12 more games during the regular season. You could structure this in a way that still preserves some of the sanctity of the divisions themselves, by allowing the three division winners in, plus the three Wild Cards, and seeding those six teams by record. If MLB is to let 12 teams into its postseason tournament, I think this is the best way to seed it. 

Don Hood writes in:What has bothered me the most all season long is the lineup. I wrote into Pinstripe Alley several weeks ago remarking how I thought Lombard should be installed as the leadoff hitter. He gets on base, can steal a base, can cause distraction for the opposing pitcher, is fast at taking the extra base, etc. Last night, in the elimination game, Grisham, a horrible example of a leadoff hitter, went 0-5 with three K’s. Lombard, on the other hand, had two hits and a walk, on base three times. Absolutely time for change.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone that agreed with Aaron Boone’s decision to move Trent Grisham to the leadoff spot in the order. I’m something of a Grisham apologist, and I’ll note that before he got hurt in June, Grisham had a .332 wOBA a robust .360 expected wOBA, but it was clear before Boone penciled his name on top of the card on Wednesday night that that version of Grisham was nowhere to be found.

But the other half of Boone’s decision in Game 3, that of moving Ben Rice into the two slot out of the leadoff spot, made sense. Without Aaron Judge, Rice is the Yankees’ best hitter, and though it’s tempting to just bat your best hitter first to guarantee the most at-bats, you need to balance that desire with actually getting your best hitter in position to do maximum damage. To wit, Rice hit two home runs in Game 2, but with no on base. That game could’ve gone completely differently if men were on when Rice went deep, and the odds of the Yankees getting runners on ahead of Rice were higher with him hitting second behind a competent hitter.

Of course, a compromised Grisham does not look like a competent hitter, so that all leads to another question: who should have batted lead off? As Don notes, George Lombard Jr. could’ve been a reasonable option. Lombard has speed, and though it was just five games, he got on base at an excellent .368 clip in the playoffs.

That said, Lombard’s overall offensive numbers this season were nothing special, and it’s a lot to ask of the rookie to slot into the leadoff slot, especially without the platoon advantage, as he was on Wednesday (though for my money, I think Lombard might be a quality choice to lead off against lefties as soon as next Opening Day). Elsewhere, the choices still aren’t clear. Luis García Jr. is an excellent hitter against righties, but he’s not a guy who gets on base, and is better served lower in the order. The likes of Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero have speed but just not nearly enough offensive juice to warrant hitting leadoff.

I think there’s a safe choice, and then a wild card choice here. Cody Bellinger is either the Yankees’ second or third-best hitter with Judge out, and has the inverse skillset as García; Bellinger gets on base at a solid rate and has less power than Garcia. I would’ve likely penciled Bellinger in ahead of Rice on Wednesday. I do, however, want to highlight a sneaky option… Austin Wells. Though he made the baserunning blunder that may be the single moment that’s most remembered from this Yankee postseason, he put together some of the strongest at-bats of anyone in the lineup not named Rice in these playoffs. He’s also posted a .377 OBP and 143 wRC+ against righties post All-Star Break.

I’m not saying I would’ve done it, but the Yankees have experimented with Wells leading off before. He’s not the prototypical leadoff man, but since getting healthy this year, he’s been locked in against right-handed pitching. Maybe it’s something the Yankees can toy with again in 2027?

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Jabari Walker appears ready to play his role

CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Jabari Walker #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Much of the conversation around the Philadelphia 76ers this past offseason rightfully surrounded the pair of high-profile additions entering the starting lineup. However, the depth of the roster will also play a critical role in the Sixers achieving their goal of making a deep playoff run. One of the guys comprising the bench unit is Jabari Walker, who was on a two-way contract last season before being converting to a standard deal in February. The organization signaled their stamp of approval of Jabari during the offseason, opting to free up needed cap space by sending a second-round pick to Los Angeles in order to move Johni Broome’s contract, rather than waiving Walker, whose contract is only guaranteed up to $250k until January.

Walker has demonstrated thus far during preseason play that the front office made the right call. He has played excellent minutes off the bench in both games, recording a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds against the Knicks, and tallying eight points and seven rebounds against Brooklyn. Head coach Nick Nurse offered praise for Walker’s performance on Monday:

“He’s kind of been playing with a little bit more confidence this week. Just feels like he’s ready to pull the trigger, and certainly he goes in and snaps down rebounds. … On the perimeter shot just kind of looks like he’s maybe over a hump on when he’s got space, he’s going to take them, which is where we want him because he’s a really good shooter. So it’s good if he can provide space and rebound, he’s going to be on the floor.”

New teammate Jaylen Brown also spoke Monday in favor of Jabari’s play:

“I love Jabari. Jabari’s been great. He’s been awesome. He’s been doing his job. He’s been hitting shots. He’s been rebounding defensively and offensively. He’s been doing what the coaches have asked him to do. So he’s been great, and he’s been doing really well since training camp.”

Back on Media Day, Walker spoke to his comfort level in being here for his second season, playing under Nurse again with many of the same teammates:

“I know what Nick wants now. It’s pretty simple. You just have to do what’s right for the team. When you’re open, shoot the ball, make the right play, and the guys that we have are willing to do that. We have a great group, so just makes my job easier. I know that there’s no second guessing when I’m open. Coach is confident in me to do the right thing, so I know that I have to focus on the things, and it’s ultimately going to help the team. So me being selfish with shooting the ball when I’m open opens the court up for everybody. So when I think about it like that, then it’s exciting because you know that you’re an important piece to something that’s special.”

The shot will certainly be a swing skill for Walker, after shooting 33.7 percent from behind the arc last season on low volume. How well he shoots the ball could determine the extent of playing time Jabari receives because the opportunity is there, particularly in the wake of Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending Achilles injury. The Sixers are thin at the center position now, with Joel Embiid and Adem Bona the only true fives. Bona is currently out with what’s anticipated to be a minor foot injury, and Embiid will obviously miss games throughout the season due to load management (if hopefully nothing else). Walker is one of the players Nurse has mentioned as a small-ball five option, which is the role he has assumed across both preseason games with Bona out (and Embiid also sitting against the Knicks). On Media Day, Walker described how he’d like to establish his ability to play multiple positions:

“Yeah, I think I’ve showed bits and pieces of me being able to do it. I haven’t put it all together, which is exciting for me because I know where I have to improve. But I think I have the physicality to guard the five. I have the feet to guard the one. So there’s flashes of it, but I think this year I just want to put it all together and know what I’m looking for. Setting the right screens at the five and extending my range. I think my shot is feeling better. It’s looking better right now. So being able to be a real threat at the five and have that pop option and that just opens up the floor. So I know they’re not going to respect it right away, and I’m looking forward to proving them wrong and just being more of a threat.”

The chemistry built among the Sixers’ starting five and how healthy they can remain over the course of the long NBA season will be the driving forces in determining Philadelphia’s success this season. The contributions from the second unit and beyond will also play a role, though. Right now, Walker looks ready to play his.

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Early Snapshot Of Eastern Conference Shows The Difficult Road Ahead For Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres road to repeating as an Eastern Conference playoff team this season appeared challenging, not only because of the departure of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram would put more onus on the Sabres youngsters being able to fill the void, but also because a number of clubs looked to be better on paper. After two weeks, some of those teams are proving that evaluation is closer to reality. 

The Florida Panthers, who the Sabres will host on Monday afternoon in the finale of their five-game homestand, are an unbeaten 2-0-2 and second in the Atlantic, in spite of losing team captain Aleksander Barkov and veteran winger Brad Marchand to injury. 

The Ottawa Senators are tied for the lead in the Atlantic with a 3-1 record, which is somewhat surprising after the departure of Brady Tkachuk, but newcomer William Eklund suffered a severe ankle injury in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia that is expected to keep him out an extended period, while Tampa Bay is 3-1 after a 3-2 victory over Minnesota on Thursday with backup Dennis Hildeby making 34 saves.  

Other Sabres Stories

Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL  

Owen Power and his surprising start

Boston has started strong with a 3-2-0 record and throttled the Sabres opponent on Saturday, the Utah Mammoth, 6-0 at TD Garden on Thursday, while the Toronto Maple Leafs stole a point against the Vegas Golden Knights, thanks to a 40 save performance from Sergei Bobrovsky. The Leafs are 2-2-1 to start the season and Auston Matthews appears to be fully healthy for the first time in three years. 

The big surprise is the New York Rangers, who lead the Metro and the East with a 4-1-0 record. The Montreal Canadiens are surprisingly struggling at 1-2-1 and are behind the Sabres by a point, and will have to battle the next month without star forward Ivan Demidov. Buffalo has two more games on their five-game homestand before finishing October with seven of the next eight games on the road.

What occurred last year, when Buffalo was in last place in the East in early December and finished atop the Atlantic Division is not likely to be repeated. The Sabres will need to stay within range early in the season to remain in the mix for the postseason.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

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Wild Kobe Bryant ‘stripper party’ confession dropped by Lakers teammate

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Kobe Bryant in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey during a game against the Utah Jazz, Image 2 shows Kobe Bryant in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey looking up during a game, Image 3 shows A man wearing a white shirt and gold necklaces, speaking during an interview

Plenty of former Los Angeles Lakers players have shared great stories about Kobe Bryant as a teammate.

One story that former Lakers guard Nick Young shared during his appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast earlier this week paints Bryant in a completely new light.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) during a game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center on April 10, 2016, in Houston. Bryant plays in the last road game and second to last game of his NBA career. USA TODAY Sports

“Kobe was cool, though. I remember, people don’t know, at the beginning of the season, Kobe [has], like, a party for the team to get together. [He’d] have a stripper party. Yeah. Like, a little stripper party,” Young said.

“But, he taught me a little bit of swag, cause he had a party—had the bottles, and the girls come. And then he’ll leave. Like, you just won’t see Kobe no more. He’ll be like, ‘Hey man… I got y’all a little something something.’ We go upstairs, we see the strippers and stuff. Then Kobe like, ‘Y’all have fun and leave out.’ I was like, ‘Man, thank you!'” he added.

Nick Young talking about Kobe Bryant throwing a “stripper party” for the Los Angeles Lakers. (YouTube/@Club Shay Shay).

Young’s comments make it sound like Bryant didn’t partake in the parties himself, instead creating them for his teammate before fleeing the scene.

Still, this adds a very interesting wrinkle to how the late Lakers legend is remembered by his teammates.

The Mamba is recognized as not only one of the greatest basketball players to ever grace the court, but also one of the most driven, focused players in history.

Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers looks back in the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center in Los Angeles, April 13, 2016. Getty Images
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Takeaways from Dodgers vs. Brewers regular season games

MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 24: Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers at second base during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Dodgers and Brewers meet in a best-of-seven NLCS beginning Sunday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers already won four out of seven regular games against the Dodgers this year, but in the regular season. While last year showed us the regular season and postseason are different — Los Angeles lost all six games to Milwaukee before sweeping them out of the NLCS — there are some potential takeaways from the 2026 regular season matchups.

Dodgers vs. Brewers games, 2026

Offense tough to come by

In seven total games, the Dodgers outscored the Brewers 27-25, with both teams averaging under four runs per contest. In five of the seven games, the losing team scored one or two runs.

Only two games saw one of the teams score more than five runs — on May 23 in Milwaukee, the Dodgers had five extra-base hits and broken open a one-run game with seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings combined; and August 16 in Los Angeles, the Brewers scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning to get to six in the their last regular season tussle of the year.

The Dodgers hit just .188/.291/.335 in these seven games, while the Brewers hit just .228/.313/.307.

Of the Dodgers seven home runs, three were hit by Andy Pages and two by Max Muncy. Teoscar Hernández homered once and hit .375/.444/.500 in seven games against Milwaukee. William Contreras hit two of the Brewers’ three home runs against the Dodgers, hitting .304/.360/.565 in his six games.

Milwaukee on the season stole 162 bases, fifth-most in the majors, with a 75-percent success rate, which will be something for the Dodgers to watch. But the Brewers only stole two bases in seven games against the Dodgers, and was caught three times. Notably, Milwaukee in the regular season did not face Tyler Glasnow or Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ two starting pitchers most susceptible to running.

Pitchers you will see in the NLCS

The likely starting pitchers of the first two games of the NLCS were all very effective in Dodgers-Brewers games this season.

Jacob Misiorowski struck out six and allowed one run in a win at Dodger Stadium on August 15, a game you might recall as Charley Steiner’s first full game broadcast on radio this season. Misiorowski has a 1.59 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 17 innings over three games against the Dodgers, including Game 3 of last year’s NLCS.

Tarik Skubal allowed only two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts in six innings against the Brewers on August 16, but took a tough-luck loss.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto won both of this starts against Milwaukee, with 12 strikeouts and two runs allowed in 13 innings. Logan Henderson won both of his starts against the Dodgers, with 13 strikeouts and one run allowed in 12 innings.

Dustin May, whom you might remember as pitching the third-most regular season innings on last year’s Dodgers, started Game 3 of the NLDS for the Brewers, who acquired him at the trade deadline. On May 3 in St. Louis, May with the Cardinals allowed three runs in six innings in a loss to the Dodgers.

Roki Sasaki, now in the bullpen in October, had a 3.27 ERA in two starts against the Brewers, with more walks (seven) than strikeouts (six).

Baker’s dozen?

The Dodgers will likely add a 13th pitcher now that they are in a best-of-7 series after carrying a dozen pitchers in the best-of-5 NLDS.

Whether Justin Wrobleski makes the cut remains to be seen. In two starts against Milwaukee this regular season, Wrobleski allowed nine runs in 11 innings, including three home runs, and lost both games. Emmet Sheehan is another option should the Dodgers opt for a bulk pitcher in this round.

Four Brewers regulars — Jake Bauers (140 OPS+), Brice Turang (124 OPS+), Garrett Mitchell (112 OPS+), and Christian Yelich (91 OPS+) — all bat left-handed, as does Sal Frelick and David Hamilton. Should the Dodgers opt to carry more than three left-handed relievers, either at the expense of one of the five right-handed relievers who were active in the NLDS or adding a bulk pitcher, Jack Dreyer struck out four of his eight Brewers batters faced in the regular season in two appearances and 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

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Lakers’ Austin Reaves uncovers key aspect of return, ‘goes down the list’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves reacts to a foul call against the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter of a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) shoots the ball during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Thursday, October 8, 2026, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, drives past Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles

If the last week was the regular season, Austin Reaves would’ve been on the court with his Lakers teammates sooner than Thursday.

But the reality is that it’s still the preseason – and will be for another 1 ½ weeks, and two more games. 

Lakers star guard Austin Reaves is back. Getty Images

Which meant there was no need for the Lakers to rush their star guard back onto the floor after he suffered a minor ankle injury during practice last week.

“There was a chance he might be able to play in either of those games in Northern California,” Coach JJ Redick said of Reaves ahead of the Lakers’ 114-110 win over the Kings at Crypto.com Arena. “We knew it’d be sometime this week.”

Lakers star guard Austin Reaves (15) hardly missed a beat during his preseason debut. NBAE via Getty Images

Reaves made his long-awaited preseason debut in the Lakers’ preseason home-opening win over the Kings, providing the first glimpse of how the team’s starting backcourt will look with the team built out around him and superstar guard Luka Doncic.

And he hardly missed a beat, dishing out 8 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds in 25 minutes during a night in which he struggled with his shot (8 points on 2-of-7 shooting). 

“Obviously very nice to have Austin out there,” Redick said. “He did a great job [of] play-making and played overall just a nice floor game.”

Reaves was already acquainted and familiar with Doncic after being teammates for 1 ½ years before Reaves re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $180 million contract during this past offseason. 

The Lakers are closer to being whole with Austin Reaves (15) back. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Their friendship on and off the court is well-documented.

But Thursday was the first time Reaves shared the court with many of his new Lakers teammates – from Quentin Grimes and Kevon Looney (both of whom started on Thursday) to Sandro Mamukelashvili and Matisse Thybulle. 

“They were awesome,” Reaves said about his teammates. “Matisse has been great, Mamu was great, Jake’s been really good. Could go down the list. Very excited with what we have.”

The Lakers are hoping to get a better look at their entire team in one of their final two preseason games before their regular-season opener against the Warriors on Oct. 21 in Los Angeles. 

Ziaire Williams, who’s competing for a spot in the starting lineup, has sat out of the last two games, while Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton have yet to make their preseason debuts.

Austin Reaves threw multiple lobs to second-year forward Adou Thiero. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Redick said Kessler, the Lakers’ 7-foot-2 marquee free-agency acquisition this offseason, will play during the preseason. 

He also responded “no” when asked if there was a concern about Sexton not being ready for the regular-season opener.

The Lakers have two more preseason games: Tuesday vs. the Warriors in Las Vegas and Oct. 16 vs. the Nuggets in Los Angeles.

There’s clear direction for the Lakers over the next week outside of having more rotation players healthy and available.

“It’s just continuing to build chemistry and compete on the defensive end,” Reaves said. “I thought we’ve done a really good job, especially the guards, like I said, Matisse, Ziaire have been really good, Jake [LaRavia] as well, Adou [Thiero], [of] putting pressure on the other team’s best players but being able to keep the ball in front as well, not getting blow bys.

And if we do, [the] low man being there. But it’s kind of easier to dial that back instead of telling people not to pressure the ball when we want them to pressure but be smart while doing it. Like I said, it’s mostly just chemistry stuff.”

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2026 Houston Astros Season in Review

SACRAMENTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, right, presents Yordan Alvarez with a championship belt after defeating the Athletics 9-0 to win the American League West during an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

81-81 FINAL RECORD; AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST DIVISION CHAMPS

IN THE STANDINGS: The Astros finished the regular season in first place in the AL West with an 81-81 record, topping the second-place Rangers by 1.0 game. The Astros clinched their division on the final day of the regular season with a strong finishing kick, as they went 4-2 in their final six games, all on the road, to overtake the Rangers for the division title.

IN THE POSTSEASON: The Astros made their 19th postseason appearance in club history in what was the 65th year of the franchise that began in 1962. This season marked the 14th time in club history for the Astros to enter the postseason as a division winner. The Astros have won three different divisions in their history, the NL West (1980, 1986), NL Central (1997-99, 2001) and AL West (2017-19, 2021-24, 2026).

SINCE 2015: After a one-year hiatus, the Astros were back in the postseason this year for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons (2015-26). The Astros join the Dodgers and Yankees as the only teams in the Majors to qualify for the postseason in at least 10 of the last 12 years (since 2015).

POSTSEASON VETS: Since 2015, the Astros have played more postseason games (107) and earned more postseason wins (62) than any other AL club. The Astros are 62-45 in that span for a .579 winning pct. in the postseason.

THE WILD CARD ROUND: The Astros played in the Wild Card round for the fourth time in their postseason history. The Astros are now 3-4 all-time in the Wild Card round, dispatching the Yankees in the one-game playoff in 2015, sweeping the Twins in the 2020 Wild Card Series and getting swept by the Tigers in 2024 and the White Sox in 2026.

ABOUT THE WILD CARD SERIES: The Astros were swept in the Wild Card Series by the White Sox, losing Game 1 by a score 6-3, and losing Game 2, 7-3. The Astros out-homered the White Sox, 4-2, including one each by SS Jeremy Peña and 2B Jose Altuve. The Astros had several big performances out of their bullpen in the series, including impressive 3.0-inning appearances by RHP Miguel Ullola and RHP Peter Lambert.

AT THE HELM: Astros manager Joe Espada has guided the Astros to the postseason in two of his three seasons as the Astros manager since taking over before the 2024 season. Espada has posted a 256-229 regular season record in his three years as the Astros manager and ranks ninth in club history in managerial wins.

SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: After starting the season 20-31 after 51 games, the Astros went 61-50 (.550) in their last 110 games (starting on May 22). Their record since that date ranked fourth in the AL, trailing only playoff teams, the Red Sox (65-48), Yankees (63-47) and Rays (65-49).

LEAD PROTECTORS: The Astros went 70-0 when leading after 8.0 innings on the season. They were one of just four clubs that did not lose a game when leading after 8.0 innings, along with the Rays (85-0), Diamondbacks (72-0), and Rangers (70-0).

ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros posted a 42-39 record on the road, which was three games better than their home record (39-42), giving the Astros their sixth straight season with a winning road record. Houston started the season 1-9 on their first road trip before rebounding for a 41-30 (.577) road record after April 14.

MEASURING UP: The Astros went 29-26 (.527) against teams that finished with a winning record, with that winning percentage ranking fourth in the Majors, trailing only the Rays (40-28) in the AL. The Astros had winning records against five eventual playoff teams, the Cubs (3-0), Red Sox (5-1), White Sox (5-2), Guardians (4-2) and Phillies (2-1).

SILVER BOOT SECURED: The Astros finished their season series with a 9-4 record against the Rangers, securing them the 2026 Silver Boot. The Astros have now won the Silver Boot in 10 consecutive seasons (every year since 2017), during which the Astros have gone 102-55 vs. the Rangers.

GOIN’ DEEP: The Astros hit 226 regular season homers as a team this year, which were the most in the Majors. The last time the Astros led the Majors in home runs was in 2000, when they hit 249 homers. The 2026 Astros also led the AL in SLG (.417) and OPS (.732).

20-HR CLUB: The Astros had five players reach 20 home runs this season: DH Yordan Alvarez (42), 1B Christian Walker (29), 3B Isaac Paredes (25), SS Jeremy Peña (22) and RF Cam Smith (21). They were one of just three teams in the Majors to do so, along with the Braves (5) and Cubs (5).

TWO-OUT MAGIC: The Astros led the American League in two-out runs with 324 on the season, trailing only the Cubs (333) in the Majors. 3B Isaac Paredes was the driving force behind this, as he led the Majors in two-out RBI with 46.

UP TO THE CHALLENGE: Astros hitters were third in the AL in successful ABS challenges with 93 (in 185 chances). Among individual players, Jose Altuve had 21 successful challenges on the year, the most in the American League.

ABOUT THE ROSTER: The Astros used 28 different position players and 31 true pitchers for a total of 59 players used in the 2026 season. They used 19 different starting pitchers, a franchise record.

THE LINEUP: The Astros used 156 different lineups in their 162 games, repeating a lineup just six times on the season. DH Yordan Alvarez had the most starts at any spot in the lineup among Astros, hitting second 147 times.

ANNUAL HOUSTON BBWAA AWARDS: The Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America announced the 2026 Astros award winners as below:

• Astros MVP: Yordan Alvarez

• Astros Pitcher of the Year: Peter Lambert

• Astros Rookie of the Year: AJ Blubaugh

• Darryl Kile Good Guy Award: Bryan Abreu

• Fred Hartman Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball Award: Brent Strom

ASTROS 2026 HIGHLIGHTS:

Feb. 11……………First day of Spring Training

March 26 ………………….Astros Opening Day

April 3 ……………Alvarez records 500th RBI

April 6 ……………..Alvarez named AL POTW

April 21 ……..Altuve plays in 2,000th game

May 4 ………Alvarez named April AL POTM

May 13 …………..Cole walkoff single vs. SEA

May 25 ……..Astros throw no-hitter at TEX

June 3 ……….Arrighetti named May POTM

June 3 ………..Hader makes season debut

June 4 ……..Paredes hits 100th career HR

June 8 …………….Alvarez named AL POTW

June 8 …..Alvarez has six RBI in an inning

July 4 ………………Alvarez walkoff HR vs. TB

July 6 ………………Alvarez named AL POTW

July 11 ………………….2026 MLB draft begins

July 14 ……………..The 2026 All-Star Game

July 17 ……………Peña begins 15g hit streak

July 27 ………………..Peña named AL POTW

July 31…………Astros move into first place

Aug. 2 ……………..Astros win 11 of 12 games

Aug. 3 ……………Alvarez named July POTM

Aug. 3 …………………Astros trade for Varsho

Aug. 14 …………..Walker walkoff HR vs. SEA

Aug. 15 ……………Two added to Astros HOF

Sept. 3 ……….Hader named August ROTM

Sept. 4 ….Hader earns 250th career save

Sept. 9 …………..Altuve records 2,500th hit

Sept. 24 ……..Spence has three-HR game

Sept. 27 …………………Astros clinch division

Sept. 29……………Game 1 of the WC Series

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Breaking down the NBA’s second apron — and the Knicks headache that comes with it

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after making a 3-point basket next to Washington Wizards center Deandre Ayton, Image 2 shows New York Knicks owner James Dolan celebrates after winning the NBA Championship alongside team members and staff

On Friday, the Knicks announced the tabling of all extension talks until after the season begins, putting aside the pressing issue of possible new deals for star players including Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart.

One of the biggest obstacles in running back the same team that ended the Knicks’ 53-year championship drought over the summer is avoiding the severe penalties that come with exceeding the NBA’s salary cap.

The Knicks, Warriors, Suns, Magic, Timberwolves and Thunder are the teams over the first apron, which alone carries some restrictions. Only the Nuggets are over the second apron.

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after making a 3-point basket next to Washington Wizards center Deandre Ayton. AP Photo/Adam Hunger

A team with a payroll above first apron, which in 2026-27 sits at just over $209 million, can only acquire players via sign-and-trade if they move them below the apron. It also must match salaries within 110% of the outgoing salary as compared to the usual 125%, and cannot sign any waived players during the regular season if that salary surpasses the midlevel exception.

The second apron sits at around $221.6 million for this season, and the limitations get more strict, impeding a team’s ability to make trades, sign big-name free agents and select the most desirable players in the first round of the draft.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan celebrates after defeating the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA Championship during Game 5 of the NBA Finals at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Per the NBA’s CBA, should a team hit the second apron:

• It will not be permitted to combine the contracts of multiple outgoing players to match the salary of a player they’re trading for.

• It will lose their right to the midlevel exception that allows over-the-cap teams to still sign free agent players.

• Its future first-round draft pick will be frozen and thus cannot be traded, and there will be no cash considerations in their trades. That future frozen first-round selection will also automatically drop to the end of the first round, regardless of season performance, if the second apron is exceeded in two out of four seasons.

To put it simply, surpassing the second apron makes it extremely difficult for a team to build on its success and develop sustainable superteams, which certainly helps the league with parity, but doesn’t make players particularly happy as teams are often forced to make difficult decisions on high-value players.

That is exactly what the Knicks are facing right now.

Towns has a $61 million player option for next season and is eligible for a new four-year contract worth up to $276 million. The Knicks have offered Towns around $200 million, and while Towns is willing to take a pay cut as teammates have before him, he has made it clear that the two sides remain far apart.

To discuss an extension after October 19, Towns would have to decline his 2027-28 player option. Should Towns pick that up next season, adding in Hart’s player option and even if team options for Tyler Kolek and Pacôme Dadiet are declined, the Knicks are just $21 million under the second apron threshold with eight players locked in, and 14 total are needed.

Knicks owner James Dolan said over the summer that he would not go past the second apron, even in an effort to bring back the championship-winning team in full.

Center Mitchell Robinson left for Boston on a three-year deal, and now several stars are eligible for extensions. This week, Bruce Brown, in Knicks camp on a tryout, expressed displeasure with how the second apron restrains teams from paying the mid-tier players.

“The new CBA is good for max guys, new free agents and rookie extension guys. The middle guys, it kind of sucks for us. There’s not a lot of people getting that full mid-level,” he said.

The NBA released a statement pushing back on similar claims, stating that “annual salaries have increased by nearly $1.3 billion resulting in pay increases of approximately 30% for all classes of players.”

The second apron helps owners by making it appealing to stay under the limit, but players are hurt when they find their teams can no longer pay them what they want or deserve, and might be forced to look elsewhere.

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William Eklund Out For An Extended Period, But Help May Be Coming

The Senators may be getting one injured forward back just as they lose another for an extended period.

Following Friday's practice, Travis Green provided some encouraging news on Andre Burakovsky, who's getting close to making his Senators debut. The veteran winger could potentially return to the lineup as early as Saturday as the Nashville Predators visit.

Unfortunately, the news wasn't nearly as positive for William Eklund.

Jake Sanderson, who scored the winning goal on Thursday, talks about the 2-1 with over Philadelphia (Senatos YouTube).

The Senators confirmed that Eklund suffered an ankle injury in Thursday night's 2-1 home-opening victory over the Philadelphia Flyers and will be sidelined for an extended period.

Eklund was injured in the first period after a hit from Flyers defenceman Simon Benoit and awkwardly jamming his skate hard into the base of the boards. He needed assistance getting off the ice and was unable to put any weight on his left leg.

It's a disappointing development for the 24-year-old, who was just beginning to settle into his new surroundings. Acquired from the San Jose Sharks during the offseason, Eklund was expected to be a major contributor to the Senators' top six this season.

With Eklund now out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Burakovsky's potential return couldn't come at a better time. Whether he's ready to play Saturday remains to be seen, but the fact that it's a possibility is certainly encouraging.

Enforcer Kurtis MacDermid was also back on the ice after missing much of camp and the early part of the season.

On the other hand, defenceman Artem Zub was not out there on Friday as he continues working toward his return. Zub has yet to make his regular-season debut after dealing with an injury dating back to last April. He opted for rehab, which has turned out to be an extended one, and it remains to be seen whether that was the right choice. 

There were also a couple of other interesting notes at practice.

Defenceman Hoyt Stanley is still here, while Cameron Crotty (illness) was not at practice.

Crotty has been pressed into service early in the season because of the injuries to Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub and has provided some steady minutes in a depth role. But since he was sick, Stanley was called up from Belleville in the middle of the day on Thursday, giving the Senators another option as they figure themselves out, health-wise.

Sanderson has been sidelined since suffering an injury in the season opener against Toronto, Zub has yet to play, and Crotty is sick. Now Eklund faces a lengthy absence.

For a team that has already had to make a bunch of lineup adjustments, getting some healthy bodies back can't happen soon enough.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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Devils’ Stefan Noesen Clears Waivers

New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen has cleared waivers after being placed on Thursday afternoon.

The 33-year-old appeared in the Devils’ first two games of the 2026-27 season, averaging 7:24 of ice time per game. He was recently removed from the lineup in favor of 27-year-old Jesper Boqvist.

Noesen, a first-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, has recorded 83 goals and 175 points in 484 career NHL games. His 2025-26 campaign was limited to 38 games because of injury during which he registered three goals and seven points.

The winger enjoyed a career-best season in 2024-25 with New Jersey, scoring 22 goals and recording 41 points.

Noesen returned to New Jersey in July 2024, signing a three-year contract worth $8.25 million, carrying an average annual value of $2.75 million. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Throughout his NHL career, Noesen has played for the Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, and Devils. He also won the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League in 2022.

With Noesen clearing waivers, the organization announced they loaned him to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League. 

The Comets are scheduled to host their home opener Saturday night against the Rochester Americans at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Utica enters the matchup with a 1-0-0-0 record after defeating the Providence Bruins in its season opener on October 2.

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The Spurs of Prem Rugby: how Harlequins lost their swagger

Marcus Smith’s return from injury offers hope but Quins appear a fragile side beset by entrenched problems

Speak to anyone who holds Harlequins close to their heart and a word that often comes up is “fragility”. Fragile in defence against Gloucester last weekend but mentally fragile too. The scars of recent seasons are deep and the problems entrenched. A club that is famed for its swagger has, in short, lost its mojo and the more you pull back the curtain, the longer it appears it will take to return.

A caveat. It would be oh so very typical of Harlequins to swashbuckle their way past Sale Sharks on Sunday but in many ways, that feels like part of the problem. During pre-season Harlequins set themselves the target of following in the footsteps of Exeter, who finished ninth two seasons ago before reaching the final last June. As Marcus Smith pointed out, it was not so long ago that Quins were seventh in January with only two wins and champions five months later. But in the eyes of supporters, these former glories, these roadmaps out of their current malaise are doing little but masking the extent of the problems, offering but false hope.

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The Vancouver Canucks Are Taking A Lot Of Penalties At Bad Times

It’s common knowledge that the Vancouver Canucks are taking this year to focus on development. That’s why some of the scores from their first five games of the season aren’t necessarily being received negatively. What has been noticeable, however, is the volume of penalties the Canucks have been taking since the start of the 2026–27 season. 

In comparison to the rest of the NHL, Vancouver has taken a total of 20 minor penalties — 22 total penalties when including fights and misconducts. Only the Montréal Canadiens (21), Utah Mammoth (21), New York Rangers (21), Philadelphia Flyers (21), Ottawa Senators (22), and Carolina Hurricanes (25) have taken more minor penalties. They’re currently averaging 4.37 penalties taken per 60 minutes. 

A closer look at the numbers shows that the Canucks have not taken less than three minor penalties in a single game to start the 2026–27 season. In their 9–7 loss to the Edmonton Oilers and their 3–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, Vancouver took five penalties each game and played short-handed for 6:48 and 7:53 minutes respectively. Four of the 10 combined penalties they took in these two games were interference penalties. 

Taking penalties feels pretty standard for so early in the season, and in looking at Vancouver’s previous season totals, the numbers aren’t actually that different. The Canucks actually played in more penalty-killing time last season (30:03) than they have this year (27:21). The issue this year is when, exactly, Vancouver has been taking these penalties. 

In Vancouver’s first game of the 2026–27 season, a 6–5 overtime win against the Oilers, Linus Karlsson took a high-sticking call with around two minutes left in the third period and Edmonton down by only one goal. The Oilers ended up converting on the opportunity to send the game to overtime. Granted, the call on Karlsson was a little soft, and Vancouver went on to win — but the point still stands. 

In their next game against the Oilers, during the third period, Vancouver’s offence heated up, cutting what was initially an 8–3 deficit down to 8–6. The Canucks’ sixth goal came on the power play, capping off a three-goal onslaught that massively swung momentum into Vancouver’s favour. 

Less than a minute after Vancouver’s sixth goal, Marco Rossi took an interference penalty that put the Canucks on the penalty kill, taking away the advantage they’d managed to carve out with their possession time. Leon Draisaitl went on to score the Oilers’ ninth goal to put the game away. 

Aside from Vancouver’s 4–1 win against the Calgary Flames, the pattern of taking penalties in untimely situations continues. Against Vegas, the Canucks ate into what could have been valuable O-zone time by taking back-to-back penalties after having their own power play in the first period. Given their opponents’ ability to hold onto the puck, establishing more possession time after their first power play could have made the difference in a win or a loss. 

A similar situation occurred in Thursday’s 7–2 loss to the Hurricanes. Early in the first period, Vancouver earned an early power play three minutes into the game. Though, once their power play expired, Drew O’Connor took a tripping penalty that awarded the Hurricanes the advantage instead. After Andrei Svechnikov scored on that power play, as well as the penalty taken less than five minutes later, Vancouver found themselves in a 3–0 hole that they were never able to climb out of. 

Taking penalties is a big part of the game. Oftentimes, the timeliness of them can be the difference between a win and a loss. For Vancouver, this is an issue they’ll want to sort out sooner, while they’re still in ‘rebuild mode’, rather than later. 

Oct 8, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Eric Robinson (50) skates with the puck past Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Oct 8, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Eric Robinson (50) skates with the puck past Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (94) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

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Who Are Some Potential Washington Nationals Trade Chips This Offseason?

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 25: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals bats against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Nationals deployed a strategy of both buying and selling at the trade deadline this season, shipping off major league talents such as Curtis Mead, Luis Garcia Jr., and Foster Griffin, while also acquiring immediate big league help such as Connelly Early, Will Dion, and Yovanny Cruz. They didn’t quite buy in the sense some expected, holding onto almost all of their prospects except outfielder Christian Franklin, who was swapped for Orioles relief pitching prospect Joe Glassey, but they showed they would be somewhat aggressive in acquiring pieces that could help them win in the upcoming season.

So as the Nationals enter the winter and look to bolster their roster for a potential playoff push in 2027, the question looms of what current Nationals, either big leaguers or prospects, could be used as trade chips to strengthen the roster. Having taken over the organization about a year ago, there are still plenty of players in the system that Paul Toboni did not acquire, ones who he would be more willing to part with than the old regime would’ve been. Let’s examine some of those potential trade chips, and who Nats fans could expect to acquire if they were to be shipped off.

SS/2B CJ Abrams

I’ll begin by getting the big one out of the way, that being CJ Abrams. Abrams had a career year in 2026, setting new personal bests in just about all offensive categories, but he is also 2 years away from free agency, a defensive liability, and a middle infielder in a system with a plethora of middle infield talent on the way up. While in an ideal world Abrams could be a National long-term with a contract extension, it would be malpractice for Paul Toboni not to at least take calls from other teams about Abrams.

Now most fans would expect a CJ Abrams trade to be a signal of the Nationals selling, but does it have to be? Perhaps there is a world where a swap for a high-profile hitter or starting pitcher could be performed, bolstering the Nationals in another area while temporarily weakening them in another, at least until the likes of Seaver King, Eli Willits, and others can fill the gap.

2B Luke Dickerson

Luke Dickerson making it through the trade deadline as a National was somewhat of a surprise to me, as he was top of my list of prospects I expected the Nats to shop. Dickerson is a talented young ballplayer, putting up a strong 112 wRC+ in 118 games in 2026, but in a Nationals system filled to the brim with exciting middle infield talent, he’s an awkward fit. The Nationals have tried Dickerson all over the field, getting him plenty of outfield reps upon his call-up to High-A, but the best thing for both parties may be finding a new home for Dickerson and some more pitching depth for the Nats’ farm system.

1B/3B Yohandy Morales

Morales is another name I expect could be on a new ballclub by the start of 2026. Morales had a great year at Triple-A, with a 127 wRC+ in 104 games, and a solid cup of coffee at the big league level, with a 124 wRC+ in 17 games, but there are holes in his offensive profile that make me question his long-term viability as a big league bat, especially with the little defensive value he provides. The front office clearly had some questions as well, only finally giving YoYo a shot in the bigs in September despite some incredibly hot stretches at Triple-A during the year.

SS Coy James

James showed some exciting tools in 2026 at Low A, but similar to Dickerson, his fit in the Nationals farm system is awkward unless he were to be moved off the middle infield. The Nationals also not promoting James was somewhat interesting, although the logjam of infield talent at High A could also help explain that. James’ combination of power and speed makes him a more interesting trade chip than Dickerson and YoYo, with the chance of returning a quality big league reliever or backend starter if paired with another piece or two.

C Caleb Lomavita

Lomavita is another prospect brought in by the old regime that has simply been passed up in the Nationals farm system by other backstops, with Maxwell Romero Jr. earning the promotion to Triple-A over him midseason. Lomavita hasn’t posted bad numbers, with a 102 wRC+ in 85 games in 2026, but his free-swinging approach as well as subpar defense have led to him being passed up in the organizational depth chart. Lomavita may not bring in much value on his own, but could be used as a flier piece to help get a deal done.

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Why haven’t we seen Walker Kessler in Lakers preseason?

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Lakers player Walker Kessler at a press conference table during media day, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Lakers' Walker Kessler poses for pictures with NBA photographer Adam Pantozzi during media day

Where is Walker Kessler, you might be asking. 

You know, the Lakers’ franchise center whom they emptied their cupboard to acquire, sending two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to Utah, and signing him to a four-year, $130 million deal. 

Kessler has missed the Lakers’ first three preseason games after jamming his finger against the backboard during training camp, according to Lakers coach JJ Redick.

“It’s not concerning,” Redick said before the Lakers’ 114-110 exhibition win over the Kings on Thursday. “He’ll play in the preseason.”

Los Angeles Lakers player Walker Kessler (14) attends media day at the UCLA Health Training Center on Monday, September 28, 2026, in El Segundo, California. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Lakers have two exhibition games left. They play the Warriors on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Then they host the Nuggets on Friday at Crypto.com Arena.

Kessler only played in five games last season after suffering a torn labrum that required season-ending surgery. He’s an elite rebounder and rim protector who contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim in 2024-2025, tying him for fifth most in the NBA, according to NBA.com. 

While Kessler is yet to appear in purple and gold, Austin Reaves made his exhibition debut on Thursday. He finished with eight points, five rebounds, eight assists and one steal in 25 minutes. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 23 points in 25 minutes. 

But we have yet to see the Lakers’ Big 3 take the court together. 

Los Angeles Lakers’ Walker Kessler poses for pictures with NBA photographer Adam Pantozzi during media day in El Segundo, Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

A handful of other players were sidelined for Thursday’s exhibition game, including Ziaire Williams (soreness), Arthur Kaluma (lower leg), Collin Sexton (lower leg), Cameron Carr (contusion) and Dalton Knecht (contusion). 

“Would love to get some news on some people in the next few days and be able to see what we look like at full strength, at least in one of these games, and just build that rhythm with each other,” Redick said. “I’m very confident we’ll have enough practice time over the next 13 days, 12 days, whatever it is, until we start.”

The Lakers host the Warriors in their regular-season opener on October 21.

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Steph Curry’s mom, Sonya, married in whirlwind romance after divorce from former NBA star

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Sonya Curry attends the 2022 ESPYs at Dolby Theatre on July 20, 2022 in Hollywood, California. , Image 2 shows Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors on stage with his mom Sonya and dad Dell while holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy and the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy after winning during Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals on June 16, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sonya Curry married "the most amazing man" this summer, she shared in an Instagram post on Friday.

Sonya Curry married “the most amazing man” this summer, she shared in an Instagram post on Friday.

The author remarried five years after she filed for divorce from NBA great Dell Curry after three decades of marriage. They are parents to Warriors superstar Steph Curry, NBA sharpshooter Seth Curry and daughter Sydel Curry.

Sonya and her new husband, whose identity was not disclosed, were married at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort, she shared, adding that it was planned in just nine weeks.

“A year ago my mom passed unexpectedly, while simultaneously the most amazing man came into my life! & months late, I was blessed with becoming his wife!” Sonya wrote.

“Our union is a testament to the fact that God has seen every tear I’ve cried and answered every prayer that I had regarding the type of man that would be a perfect help mate for me (if God saw that it was in his will for me to remarry)! I hope this encourages you-not just about finding a husband or wife, but with any prayer you have submitted to God- to not lose hope.”

Sonya Curry attends the 2022 ESPYs at Dolby Theatre on July 20, 2022 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images

Sonya wore a white gown with gold floral print by Pnina Tornai from Kleinfeld Bridal and Iza diamonds.

Their wedding reception included warm white and neutral tones with white roses and candles — and roller skaters called Zoni Girls, who are part of the Arizona-based pop-up roller rink.

Last week, Sonya shared an Instagram video, entitled, “Summer 2026 recap,” which included footage from her wedding.

Sonya and Dell married in 1988, the same year Steph was born. The couple welcomed Seth in 1990, and daughter Sydel in 1994.

Warriors star Stephen Curry on stage with his mom Sonya and dad Dell while holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy after winning Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NBAE via Getty Images
Stephen Curry and Sonya Curry attend the 2023 Sundance Film Festival “Stephen Curry: Underrated” Premiere at Eccles Center Theatre on January 23, 2023 in Park City, Utah. Getty Images

The pair met while they were student-athletes at Virginia Tech, and connected on a recruiting trip for Sonya, who was an all-conference volleyball player for the Hokies.

The couple divorced in 2021 with each accusing the other of cheating — as messy details spilled out into the press.

Dell played in the NBA from 1986 until 2002, and retired as the Charlotte Hornets’ all-time leader in points (9,839) and 3-point field goals made (929).

He currently serves as a color commentator and analyst on Hornets broadcasts.