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The entirety you wish to have to learn about enlargement drafts

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The entirety you wish to have to learn about enlargement drafts

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⚙️ Expansion draft basics

Professional sports leagues are always looking to grow, and sometimes that means adding new franchises. In North American pro sports, expansion drafts are one of the easiest ways leagues populate new teams.

  • The NFL and MLB held the first-ever expansion drafts in the same year — the newly-enfranchised Dallas Cowboys selected their inaugural roster in March 1960 followed by MLB’s LA Angels and the now–Texas Rangers in December of the same year.

So what is an expansion draft? Just like a traditional entry draft, an expansion draft involves a team’s front office hand-selecting players to join their roster.

  • However, expansion drafts differ in two key ways: First, only the new franchise(s) select players, and second, the athletes chosen already play in the league, unlike in entry drafts where players are, you guessed it, entering the league.

Here are some expansion draft basics:

1️⃣ Protected players: Because the new franchise is choosing players from existing teams, those already-established teams can protect their top talent from being picked. Teams submit their protected player lists ahead of the draft, so the drafting team can plan ahead.

  • Another added wrinkle? In some leagues, like the NWSL, teams can use trades and allocation money to protect players. This gives existing teams greater control over which of their players are available for selection.

2️⃣ Selection process: Depending on the number of incoming teams — the NWSL’s 2023 expansion draft had two, but Friday’s WNBA expansion draft only had one — a team’s front office will select players like a traditional draft, either taking turns like in the NWSL’s most-recent case or making their picks all at once.

  • Some leagues require teams to choose at least one player from each team, while others opt to limit the number of players that can be chosen from one squad.

3️⃣ Roster building: Usually an expansion draft is a team’s first opportunity to fill out their roster, but once that’s done and dusted, the team can take part in additional roster building like the rest of the league, whether that’s through free agency, trades, or the entry draft.

  • For example, the Valkyries can add to their roster with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft next April — and that draft class is chock full of talent.

✅ The details

Everything you need to know about expansion drafts

Source: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

The details of an expansion draft vary from league to league and are often based on the intricacies of the sport itself. For example, the NWSL allows incumbent teams to protect nine players while the WNBA allows a maximum of six protected players — this discrepancy can be attributed to the difference in roster size between soccer and basketball.

A league’s unique collective bargaining agreement (CBA) can also add complexities to the expansion draft process, with aspects like salary caps and no-trade clauses influencing the way a new team drafts and functions over its first few seasons.

  • In the NHL, new teams must spend a minimum amount of their salary cap during the expansion draft, meaning they’ll have less cash available to build out their roster with trades and free agent signings.

Because CBAs are negotiated between the league’s players’ union and the league itself regularly, what was true for a league’s most recent expansion draft, might not be in the next iteration. Stay alert.

⚽🏒 Examples from soccer and hockey

Everything you need to know about expansion draftsEverything you need to know about expansion drafts

Source: Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Once their rosters are set, expansion teams are ready for their inaugural seasons — and while some hit the ground running, others take time to find their footing. Recent expansions in leagues like the NWSL and NHL show just how varied these journeys can be. Here’s a look at how it’s going:

⚽ The NWSL has had an impressive expansion push, adding six teams since 2021 with another on the way in 2026. The Utah Royals and Bay FC made their league debuts this March, Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC joined in 2022, and the Kansas City Current and Racing Louisville FC entered the fray in 2021.

  • Bay FC shined in their league debut too, making the playoffs before losing to the eventual championship runners-up, the Washington Spirit, in a spicy quarter-final last month.

🏒 As for the NHL, the league’s added two new squads in recent years: the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and the Seattle Kraken in 2021. Both expansion drafts operated under the same rules, but when Vegas entered the league, the regulations were brand new — and the Golden Knights capitalized.

  • And it paid off immediately, as the perennial powerhouse Knights made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season before winning it all in 2023.
  • The league was much more prepared for Seattle’s draft in 2021 and didn’t give up the same assets — but the Kraken haven’t been slouches, making the second round of the playoffs in just their second season.

👀 Who’s next

Everything you need to know about expansion draftsEverything you need to know about expansion drafts

Source: Nick Lachance/Toronto Star via Getty Images

Now that you’re well-versed in the expansion draft space, there are plenty of squads to keep an eye on as they prepare to make their league debuts.

The WNBA will be back in the spotlight next year when two franchises — the newly named Toronto Tempo and still-to-be-named Portland — build out their rosters before taking the court in 2026. Before the Valkyries, the W hadn’t added a team in 16 years.

  • Expanding the league from 12 teams to 15 (and eventually 16) is a big deal. With only 144 current roster spots, the additional 36 players Golden State, Toronto, and Portland can ink will allow more top-tier talent to stay in North America.

The NWSL will also be expanding again soon as BOS Nation FC is set to take the pitch in 2026 too. Though the newest NWSL expansion project faced backlash for its announcement campaign in October, the team’s ownership group is determined to make it right before the squad begins play.

As for the men, aside from San Diego FC’s foray into MLS next year, the only other league reportedly considering a new franchise is the NBA, which hasn’t added an expansion team since 2004.

  • But the league has expanded its schedule in recent years with games everywhere from Seattle to Montréal to Mexico City, so adding a 31st and 32nd franchise feels inevitable. Watch this space.



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WNBA: How Chennedy Carter is prospering taking part in in China

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WNBA: How Chennedy Carter is prospering taking part in in China

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A month into the WCBA season, things have officially started to kick into full gear, with teams that are blazing hot and other teams that are… well, not.

The Sichuan Blue Whales remain the only undefeated team thus far, with the Shanxi Flame and Henan Phoenix not too far behind them. On the other hand, you have squads like Tianjin Zhongxin, Hebei and Fujian that are still looking to establish some type of groove as they try to notch their first W of the season.

WNBA players remain on fire

WNBA talent has been sizzling in China. Kelsey Mitchell still is a flamethrower. Kalani Brown is bouncing back after a brief stint on the sidelines. Chennedy Carter is playing at an all-time level. Natisha Hiedeman finding her groove.

Mitchell, as previously analyzed, continues her elite play, with bucket-getting, dime-dropping, board-getting and defensive lockdowns. She has helped her Shanxi Flame secure five-straight wins, propelling them to the second-best record in the league—with no signs of slowing down.

Natisha Hiedeman has also been tearing it up for her Inner Mongolia squad. averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and four assists in two-straight valuable wins that have helped her team move up to the fifth seed.

Chennedy Carter also showcased her best performance of the season with a stunningly efficient 35-point, 10-rebound double-double that was accompanied by eight assists, which helped her Wuhan club snap their four-game skid. Carter also recently was given the “Good Temper Award” by the league, recognizing her growth as a player and competitor.

What’s next?

With the standings remaining tight and the level of play high across the WCBA, it will be interesting to see what shifts around over the next week or so.

Outside of the top two seeds from both groups, it is open season when it comes to standings and placement. With many teams starting to find their rhythm, expect many intense matchups for placement moving forward. How will these squads will continue to shape up? Which WNBA players will continue to be sizzling? And who else might have surprises in store?



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USWNT Pulls Off Wild Win Over the Netherlands in 2024 Finale

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USWNT Pulls Off Wild Win Over the Netherlands in 2024 Finale

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The 2024 NCAA DI volleyball tournament officially kicks off on Thursday, when 64 teams will gear up to battle for postseason glory in this weekend’s first and second rounds.

The college court’s best have their sights set on competing in the December 22nd national championship match in Louisville, Kentucky.

Along with the 31 conference champions who automatically received postseason invites, the NCAA committee revealed its 33 selectees in Sunday’s selection show. The top 32 teams are seeded one through eight in their respective bracket quadrants, and teams are guaranteed to only face non-conference opponents through the tournament’s second round.

Leading the field with nine teams each are the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC, followed by the Big 12 with six squads selected.

The four teams who finished atop the national rankings — Pitt, Louisville, Nebraska, and Penn State — all earned No. 1 seeds.

ACC powerhouses take aim at first national title

Sitting atop the rankings for most of the season, overall No. 1 seed Pitt showcases the ACC’s immense depth, despite the conference having yet to produce a champion. The Panthers, who finished with Division I’s best record at 29-1, have come achingly close over the last three seasons, falling short in the national semifinals each year.

Pitt’s only loss this season came courtesy of ACC newcomer No. 2 SMU, a team they could face in the regional finals after landing in the same bracket quadrant.

Similarly, Louisville has been a consistent contender for the conference, becoming the ACC’s first-ever team to make the championship match in 2022. Last year, the Cardinals failed to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2020, stumbling in a five-set quarterfinal thriller against conference rival Pitt.

No. 1 seed Nebraska and No. 2 Wisconsin landed in the same NCAA tournament quadrant. (Michael Gomez/Getty Images)

Big Ten dynasties seek continued dominance

After battling through arguably the sport’s toughest all-around conference, Big Ten behemoths Penn State and Nebraska will take aim at their eighth and sixth program titles, respectively. Only former Pac-12 team Stanford — now a No. 2 seed in their debut ACC season — boast more NCAA championships than the Nittany Lions or Huskers.

Both teams finished their 2024 regular season campaigns neck-and-neck, posting 29-2 overall records and going 19-1 in conference play to share the Big Ten title. Penn State holds the tournament edge, however, maintaining their streak as the only NCAA team to make all 44 championship brackets — one more than Nebraska.

Each faces an uphill battle in the 2024 championship field. The Huskers must contend with longtime rivals and 2021 champs No. 2 Wisconsin in their quadrant. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions find themselves in the same quadrant as reigning back-to-back champion Texas, who grabbed a No. 3 seed after a rollercoaster season. 

How to watch the 2024 NCAA DI Volleyball Tournament

The first and second rounds of the NCAA volleyball tournament will take place at 16 campus sites between Thursday and Saturday.

No. 5 BYU will kick off the action against Loyola Chicago at 3:30 PM ET on Thursday, with all 32 first-round and 16 second-round matches airing across ESPN platforms.



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WNBA: Jewell Loyd reportedly requests business from Seattle Hurricane

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WNBA: Jewell Loyd reportedly requests business from Seattle Hurricane

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On Wednesday afternoon, the Seattle Storm announced the conclusion of the external investigation into allegations of harassment by the coaching staff, with, in a statement provided to ESPN, “no findings of policy violations or any discrimination, harassment, or bullying.”

Shortly thereafter, Annie Costabile of The Chicago Sun-Times reported that, according to multiple sources, Jewell Loyd has requested a trade from the Storm. Costabile reports that Loyd “was at the center of the team’s investigation after she filed a complaint detailing allegations of harassment and bullying by the Storm’s coaching staff.” ESPN’s Alexa Philippou further clarified that, per a source, “it was Loyd who filed the complaint detailing the allegations against the Seattle staff.”

Drafted by Seattle with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft, Loyd has spent her entire career with the Storm, collecting six All-Star and three All-WNBA selections, winning two championships and leading the league in scoring in 2023.

After the 2023 season, when she bore a heavy load for an 11-29 Storm team transitioning away from an era defined by Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart, Loyd signed a two-year contract extension with the Storm, a commitment to the organization that encouraged free agents Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith to sign in Seattle. While reports of the discord within the Storm cited both Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith, with Ogwumike perceived as too cozy with the coaching staff and Diggins-Smith’s leadership style rumored to have rubbed teammates the wrong way, Philippou notes that, according to her source, “Loyd’s complaint had nothing to do with either star player.”

Costabile suggests that “Loyd’s trade request will serve as the catalyst for the Storm’s roster overhaul.” That overhaul will begin as soon as Friday, when the Golden State Valkyries will select one of Seattle’s unprotected players in the Expansion Draft.

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Sir Lewis Hamilton will pressure ultimate race for Mercedes at Global Constructors’ Championship–deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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Sir Lewis Hamilton will pressure ultimate race for Mercedes at Global Constructors’ Championship–deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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The GIST: Some drivers are leaning into the brotherly love heading into this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale, while others are choosing a different way to express their feelings. The tea is hot, the beef is well done, and there’s plenty on the line as F1 prepares to cap off another dramatic season this Sunday at 8 a.m. ET.

World Constructors’ Championship (WCC) title up for grabs: It’s a two-car race for the team crown after last weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix saw Ferrari cut McLaren’s lead to just 21. A first-place finish would net the race winner 25 points, second snags 19, and third garners 15 — needless to say, standing atop the podium at Yas Marina would go a long way in securing the WCC.

  • As for the drivers to watch, it’ll be up to McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to bring the estimated $140M prize back to their garages. Vroom, vroom.

Sir Lewis Hamilton set to drive in final race for Mercedes: The iconic pairing of Hamilton and Mercedes set the racing world on fire for more than a decade, claiming six World Drivers’ Championship (WDC) titles and eight WCCs since Hamilton joined the team in 2012 — the longest and most successful driver-constructor tandem in F1 history.

  • Hamilton, who won his first WDC with McLaren in 2008, will head to Ferrari next year to race alongside the aforementioned Leclerc. It’s the end of an era but the start of an age.



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Philadelphia Wings: 2024-25 Season Preview

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Philadelphia Wings: 2024-25 Season Preview

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Nick Pietras

Nick Pietras has been coaching lacrosse in the city of Detroit since 2019. He currently serves as the assistant creative director creating content and helping manage the image of Detroit United. He is currently attending Lourdes University pursuing a double major in marketing and business administration. Over the course of his senior year, Nick would tear both of his ACL’s leaving him to miss his senior season. He would play for the Lourdes University Gray Wolves for one year before his lingering knee injuries would abruptly end his college career. This is where his coaching career officially began as he became the offensive coordinator for his alma mater, Cousino High School. He would be one of the main influencers in the creation of Warren Consolidated Schools joint high school program and would oversee fundraising, marketing, and design endeavors. Six months later, Nick would be brought to Detroit to join the Cass Tech High School men’s lacrosse coaching staff as the defensive coordinator.

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NCAAW: Can No. 4 Texas ship No. 10 Notre Dame to a third-straight loss?

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NCAAW: Can No. 4 Texas ship No. 10 Notre Dame to a third-straight loss?

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The first night of the second-annual SEC/ACC Challenge came with plenty of thrills.

The second night of the inter-conference competition will see nine teams ranked in the AP top 25 in action, with three games featuring matchups between ranked opponents. And two of those games will pit a pair of teams in the top 10 against each other: No. 4 Texas (7-0) vs. No. 10 Notre Dame (5-2) in South Bend (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and No. 8 Duke (8-1) vs. No. 3 South Carolina (7-1) in Columbia (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).

So, with apologies to No. 14 Kentucky (7-0) and No. 16 North Carolina (7-1), who will meet in Chapel Hill (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2), No. 18 Ole Miss (5-2), who faces NC State (4-3) in Raleigh (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2), No. 5 LSU (9-0), who will welcome Stanford (7-1) to the Bayou (9 p.m. ET, ESPN), and No. 19 Alabama (9-0), who will travel to Berkeley to meet Cal (7-1), the two top-10 tilts will occupy most of our attention.

Will Texas send Notre Dame to a third-straight L?

All eyes will be on Notre Dame. Losers of two-straight games in the Cayman Islands, the pressure will be on the Irish to avoid a three-game skid and secure a home win. However, Texas is not the opponent Notre Dame wants to see marching into Purcell Pavilion.

After starting the season 6-0 against mostly uninspiring opponents, the Longhorns faced their first test on Sunday, meeting then-No. 12 West Virginia in the Gulf Coast Showcase championship game. Texas passed that test—even though they were not at their best. Rather, that Texas prevailed despite shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from 3 is a testament to their team strength. Flush with talented players, the Longhorns reliably can count on someone stepping up and carrying them through tough circumstances. On Sunday, it was senior forward Aaliyah Moore and sophomore forward Madison Booker. While Moore was the engine for the Longhorns through much of the game, scoring a team-high 20 points, Booker rose to the occasion in the clutch, scoring four of the team’s final six points to seal the 78-73 win.

Not only are the Longhorns deep, in contrast to a thin Irish team that continues to deal with injury-related absences, but Texas also has the personnel to match up with Notre Dame.

For all the ferocity that Notre Dame sophomore Hannah Hidalgo brings to the court, Texas senior guard Rori Harmon has the goods to match her; she, like the more celebrated sophomore, can be a two-way force. Before she was sidelined by a season-ending knee injury last season, Harmon had her best game on the biggest stage, delivering a 27-point and 13-assist double-double as Texas defeated UConn.

Still without senior forwards Maddy Westbeld and Liza Karlen, Notre Dame also could struggle to hang with Texas’ surfeit of forwards for a full 40 minutes. While any team in the country will have a hard time containing the sweet scoring game of Booker, she not only is supported by Moore, but also by ever-efficient senior forward Taylor Jones, emergent junior forward Kayla Oldacre and promising freshman forward Justice Carlton, who was named SEC and National Freshman of the Week.

That this group is expert at getting to the line—the Longhorns rank third in the nation in free throw attempts per game and first in makes—is even more concerning for a depleted Notre Dame frontcourt that cannot afford foul trouble. And even though the Texas offense hasn’t missed too many shots this season, ranking second nationally with a field goal percentage of 51.4, this group also is pretty good at extending possessions when shots do go awry. Texas’ 17.7 offensive boards per game is the ninth-best mark in the nation, with Oldacre and Jones both grabbing at least three per game.

Unless the Irish triumvirate of Hidalgo and senior guards Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron are absolutely incredible, expect the deeper, bigger and stronger Longhorns to bully their way to the win.

Has South Carolina flipped a switch?

In two games at the Fort Myers Tip Off, South Carolina, fresh off their first loss in 44 games, allowed their opponents to score a combined 87 points. That sort of defensive dominance was to be expected; it is disciplined, attention-to-detail defense that has been the foundation of head coach Dawn Staley’s string of successful teams. (And the main reason why the Gamecocks collected championship rings on Monday night.)

What was more encouraging for the Gamecocks was how, in vintage South Carolina fashion, they were able to turn that defense into offense. After a still sluggish offensive effort against Iowa State, their first opponent in Fort Myers, South Carolina’s offense was revitalized against Purdue, putting up 99 points. Sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 14 points, leading seven Gamecocks who reached double figures. As the team shot only 25 percent from 3, they racked up points in ways that have proven sustainable for the Gamecocks over the years: turning teams to over to score in transition and creating second chances by dominating the offensive glass. 20 Purdue turnovers and 30 South Carolina offensive rebounds helped the Gamecocks’ take 87 shots to the Boilermakers’ 53 attempts. It was an opportunistically explosive offensive performance.

Duke and head coach Kara Lawson will be determined to prevent such opportunities. At last week’s Ball Dawgs Classic, the Blue Devils earned their No. 8 ranking, outlasting a pair of teams then ranked in the top 10 in Kansas State and Oklahoma. The victory over the Sooners was the product of an outstanding offensive performance, with the Blue Devils shooting better than 56 percent from the field and exactly 55 percent from 3. Don’t expect them to put up such sparkling percentages against South Carolina. Yet, Duke is one of the nation’s better shooting teams, with a number of guards capable of generating efficient scoring opportunities, headlined by senior guard Reigan Richardson, recently named AP Player of the Week, and junior guard Ashlon Jackson. And making shots will be key against the South Carolina. Forcing the Gamecocks to take the ball out of the basket—rather than allowing them to get their aforementioned transition machine going by running off of rebounds or turnovers—will require South Carolina play halfcourt offense, their weakest, or at least most inconsistent, area of the game.

The Blue Devils, however, must be ready to battle on the glass. Even if they can force the Gamecocks into difficult first shots, second-chance points for South Carolina could doom Duke, and give the Gamecocks the home victory.

Game information

No. 14 Kentucky (7-0) vs. No. 16 North Carolina (7-1)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. ET

Where: Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, NC

How to watch: ESPN2

Auburn (5-3) vs. Virginia (6-3)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. ET

Where: John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA

How to watch: ACC Network

No. 4 Texas (7-0) vs. No. 10 Notre Dame (5-2)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN

How to watch: ESPN

No. 18 Ole Miss (5-2) vs. NC State (4-3)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC

How to watch: ESPN2

Boston College (6-3) vs. Arkansas (4-5)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, AR

How to watch: SEC Network

Florida (4-4) vs. Clemson (5-2)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, SC

How to watch: ACC Network

No. 8 Duke (8-1) vs. No. 3 South Carolina (7-1)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC

How to watch: ESPN

Stanford (7-1) vs. No. 5 LSU (9-0)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA

How to watch: ESPN2

No. 19 Alabama (9-0) vs. California (7-1)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Hass Pavilion in Berkely, CA

How to watch: ESPNU

SMU (5-3) vs. Missouri (7-3)

When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, MO

How to watch: SEC Network

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Rochester Knighthawks: 2024-25 Season Preview

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Rochester Knighthawks: 2024-25 Season Preview

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Nick Pietras

Nick Pietras has been coaching lacrosse in the city of Detroit since 2019. He currently serves as the assistant creative director creating content and helping manage the image of Detroit United. He is currently attending Lourdes University pursuing a double major in marketing and business administration. Over the course of his senior year, Nick would tear both of his ACL’s leaving him to miss his senior season. He would play for the Lourdes University Gray Wolves for one year before his lingering knee injuries would abruptly end his college career. This is where his coaching career officially began as he became the offensive coordinator for his alma mater, Cousino High School. He would be one of the main influencers in the creation of Warren Consolidated Schools joint high school program and would oversee fundraising, marketing, and design endeavors. Six months later, Nick would be brought to Detroit to join the Cass Tech High School men’s lacrosse coaching staff as the defensive coordinator.

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The whole lot you wish to have to understand concerning the 2024–25 NFL season

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The whole lot you wish to have to understand concerning the 2024–25 NFL season

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✏️ The setup

Fluff those couch cushions and stock up on your fave snacks — the NFL regular season runs from tonight’s kickoff through January 5th.

In terms of league setup, the NFL’s 32 teams are divided into two conferences: the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), which are further split into four divisions each — North, South, East, and West.

  • Those 32 teams play 17 regular-season games over 18 action-packed weeks (every squad has one bye week), squaring off against each divisional rival twice.
  • And these rivalries run deep, especially considering each division winner automatically qualifies for the postseason, along with the next three best teams in each conference, making up the 14-team playoff field.

The reason for the season? The Super Bowl, of course. Super Bowl LIX (aka 59) is slated for Sunday, February 9th, and will be hosted at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, home of the New Orleans Saints. Consider this your sign to ask for February 10th off work now.

🔀 Ch-ch-changes

Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NFL season

Source: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

The season setup might be the same, but this year’s teams look pretty different after an offseason chock full of movement. Here are four impact players who’ll be rocking new threads this fall:

Derrick Henry, running back (RB), Baltimore Ravens: Among the plethora of RBs who found a new home this offseason, King Henry’s arguably the biggest name. At 30 years old, the four-time Pro Bowler hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, amassing a league-best 3K yards over the last two seasons combined.

Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: After spending six seasons riddled by injury behind a mediocre-at-best NY Giants offensive line, Barkley turned heads when he signed with the Giants’ division rival. Now, Barkley is poised to put together a monster season with the loaded Birds…if he can stay healthy.

Stefon Diggs, wide receiver (WR), Houston Texans: A blockbuster trade to the Lone Star State ended Diggs’ four-year tenure with the Buffalo Bills, a stretch that finished on a slightly sour note. Now alongside 2023’s offensive rookie of the year, quarterback (QB) C.J. Stroud, Diggs has the talent to push the ascending Texans over the top.

Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: It’s been a difficult couple of seasons for Ciara’s hubby as there wasn’t much cooking happening during Wilson’s two years with the Denver Broncos. Now in Steel City, the nine-time Pro Bowler’s secured the starting job — beating out fellow Pittsburgh newbie, Justin Fields — for now…

And the mayhem continued with eight teams hiring new head coaches over the summer. From the rebuilding New England Patriots’ first-time bench boss Jerod Mayo to the new-era Washington Commanders wiley veteran Dan Quinn, there will be lots of new faces helming the sideline in Week 1.

🏆 The contenders

Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NFL season Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NFL season

Source: Michael Owens/Getty Images

Kansas City Chiefs, AFC West: With three titles in the last five seasons, football’s newest dynasty is on the hunt for the league’s first-ever three-peat. Born in 1989, tight end (TE) Travis Kelce’s inching closer to the dreaded cliff, but so long as QB Patrick Mahomes is slinging behind-the-back passes, KC’s the one to beat.

Baltimore Ravens, AFC North: The Ravens were considered the AFC’s best for most of last season but couldn’t upend Kansas City in the conference championship. Can two-time league MVP QB Lamar Jackson finally lead the Ravens back to the promised land? Adding the aforementioned King Henry to the lineup should certainly help.

San Francisco 49ers, NFC West: The perennial bridesmaid Niners have advanced to the conference championship four times in the last five seasons but haven’t managed to bring the Vince Lombardi trophy back to the Bay, even with the likes of superstar RB Christian McCaffrey and WR Deebo Samuel gracing the lineup.

  • With the same core running it back this year, anything short of winning the franchise’s elusive sixth Super Bowl will be a disappointment — hey, at least they’ll never go out of style.

Detroit Lions, NFC North: After winning just three games three seasons ago, the Lions’ glow-up has been nothing short of spectacular since head coach Dan Campbell and QB Jared Goff took the reins in 2021, leading them to the conference championship last season.

  • Now, buoyed by the best offensive line in football, RB Jahmyr Gibbs and TE Sam LaPorta are poised to build on stellar rookie campaigns alongside All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.

👀 More players to watch

Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NFL season Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NFL season

Source: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: From starting last season with a calf strain to tearing ligaments in his wrist weeks later, 2023 was not kind to the Bengals signal-caller. That said, when the real Slim Shady Burrow is at his best, he’s exceptional — calm, cool, and collected under pressure with pinpoint accuracy. The perfect QB combo.

  • Other QBs to watch: Tua Tagovailoa (pronounced TUNG-oh-vy-low-ah — Miami Dolphins), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons: Robinson was electric in his first season in Atlanta, finishing with 1,463 yards from scrimmage and easily putting himself in the league’s top-10 RBs as a rookie. With a new offensive coordinator, a better QB in Kirk Cousins, and a year of experience under his belt, expect Robinson to put some extra mustard on his stats this year.

  • Other RBs to watch: Breece Hall (NY Jets), Kyren Williams (LA Rams), Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts)

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys: After a month-long hold out, Lamb secured the bag, inking a four-year, $136M extension. And it’s money well spent: Lamb snagged a league-best 135 receptions last year, only dropping six passes all season. A good sign for the ’Boys, who need reliability above all else if they want to make their first Super Bowl appearance in nearly three decades.

  • Other WRs to watch: Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Puka Nacua (LA Rams), Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins)

George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers: All four teams in the conference championships last season had top-tier TEs, but Kittle might be the best among them. Not only does he reel in impressive grabs on the regular, he’s also an exceptional blocker — his ability to do both is what makes him the best in the biz.

  • Other TEs to watch: Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens), Dallas Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles), Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals)

🍿 How to tune in

Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NFL season Everything you need to know about the 2024–25 NFL season

Source: Ryan Kang/Getty Images

As mentioned, the gridiron gauntlet begins in Kansas City tonight at 8:20 p.m. ET with the reigning champs kicking off their pursuit of a three-peat against the Ravens on NBC in the U.S. and DAZN and TSN in Canada.

  • Week 1 action wraps up with the first Monday Night Football showdown of the year as QB Aaron Rodgers makes his return from last season’s Achilles tear when the NY Jets take on the 49ers at 8:15 p.m. ET. Are you ready for some football?



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NCAAW: SEC takes lead throughout first day of SEC/ACC Problem

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NCAAW: SEC takes lead throughout first day of SEC/ACC Problem

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The SEC/ACC Challenge did not disappoint on Wednesday. We had multiple tightly-contested games, and in the end, the SEC won four of the six matchups. Here’s how it all went down between these two conferences:

Oklahoma overcomes Louisville

In the battle of two ranked teams, No. 11 Oklahoma, down by as many as 17 points, came back to beat No. 22 Louisville, 78-72. The Sooners got it done largely thanks to the play of senior guard Payton Verhulst. She had 21 points, including six of the team’s last eight. Helping her were her sophomore forward Sahara Williams, who scored 15 points, and junior center Raegan Beers, who had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Louisville will be looking back at the fourth quarter with tremendous regret, given that they started the final frame up by nine but could not finish the job and pull off the upset.

Georgia Tech remains undefeated

Both Georgia Tech and Mississippi State entered this game unbeaten but only walked out that way. The Yellow Jackets got it done versus the Bulldogs, winning 78-75.

Mississippi State was leading 75-74 with less than 90 seconds left in the game. Georgia Tech senior forward Kayla Blackshear scored on a layup to take the lead. After the Bulldogs missed three attempts at the basket, grad forward Zoesha Smith pulled down the defensive rebound and freshman guard Dani Carnegie iced the game with a pair of free throws.

Tennessee wins thriller over Florida State

The final close contest of night one of the SEC/ACC Challenge happened between Tennessee and Florida State, with junior forward Zee Spearman converting the game-winning layup with 24 seconds remaining to give the Lady Vols the 79-77 win.

Tennessee got a big performance from sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper, who had 22 points to lead the Lady Vols. She also had seven rebounds, which tied for the team-high.

Florida State got a monster game from junior guard Ta’Niya Latson, who scored 38 points for the Seminoles. However, the bench production was lacking, as Sydney Bowles scored all 10 bench points for the team. Tennessee benefitted from 23 points by reserves.

Commodores claim biggest blowout of the night

Vanderbilt dominated Miami, beating them 88-70. The Commodores jumped out to a 21-9 lead to start the game and never looked back. Sophomore forward Khamil Pierre was marvelous in the win. She scored 28 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and stole the ball five times. She was the team leader in all three statistical categories.

Texas A&M edges out Syracuse

Neither Texas A&M nor Syracuse are considered top contenders in their conferences. However, the Aggies did just enough to win, executing a comeback victory by outscoring the Orange 21-11 in the third quarter. Texas A&M won 57-45 and did much of their damage near the rim, scoring 24 points in the paint.

Hokies come back in the fourth

Virginia Tech was down by as many as nine at one point but came out victorious, beating Georgia, 70-61. The Lady Bulldogs were up by four entering the fourth, but the Hokies went on a 24-8 run in the final 10 minutes to turn a narrow loss into a comfortable win. The Hokies’ attack was balanced, with four players in double figures.

The SEC currently leads the competition 4-2, but with 10 games scheduled for Thursday, the ACC will still have a chance to win this second-annual contest.

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