UNLV has beautiful NIL-fueled QB exit; WNBA semifinals set; Presidents Cup preview

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Earlier than we get to it, let’s take a second to acknowledge a basketball legend stepping away. 16-year NBA veteran Derrick Rose announced his retirement early Thursday after an unforgettable profession. The youngest participant to ever win MVP, Rose vaulted to superstardom with the Chicago Bulls earlier than a torn ACL sapped his game-changing athleticism, making him a job participant — and worthwhile locker room presence — for the latter half of his profession. 

Better of luck to Rose in no matter he does subsequent, and onto the remainder of the information. 

🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE MINNESOTA LYNX AND THE CONNECTICUT SUN

If you do not know, now you recognize: Napheesa Collier is a bucket, and the Lynx are a wagon. Collier dropped 42 points, tying Breanna Stewart‘s and Angel McCoughtry‘s WNBA postseason document, because the Lynx swept the Mercury with a 101-88 Game 2 win.

Collier went 14 for 20 from the ground, 2 for 3 from deep, and 12 of 14 from the free throw line. She is an absolute nightmare to defend, extremely versatile and all the time beneath management.

The Lynx, who’re a WNBA-best 15-2 for the reason that Olympic break, face the Solar subsequent after Connecticut fended off the Fever, 87-81. Double-double machine Alyssa Thomas had 19 factors and 13 assists, and Marina Mabrey (15 factors) got here up large late. All seven Connecticut gamers who performed scored a minimum of eight factors.

Sadly, what ought to have been a second of pleasure was overshadowed by fan conduct. One fan acquired kicked out throughout the recreation, Thomas spoke out on the abuse she’s received from Fever fans, and DiJonai Carrington posted a menace she acquired on social media.

As a reminder: It is potential to simply benefit from the recreation and the gamers who make it such an ideal product, no matter who you root for!

Very similar to the opposite semifinal, the place the Liberty and Aces are meeting in a Finals rematch, the Lynx and Solar additionally signify a playoff rematch. The Solar received in three video games within the first spherical final yr.

To shut, what a rookie season for Caitlin Clark. She, fittingly, grew to become the primary rookie to put up a 25-5-5 playoff recreation in her closing recreation of the yr, and she’s excited to reflect back on an absolutely incredible 2024, Erica Ayala writes.

Clark won’t be the one memorable exit. Did Diana Taurasi play her final recreation?

😃 Honorable mentions

💰 And never such morning for …

MATTHEW SLUKA AND THE UNLV REBELS

UNLV was considered one of school soccer’s best feel-good stories, however that narrative has shattered in a surprising flip of occasions. Quarterback Matthew Sluka, who transferred in from Holy Cross this summer time and helped the Rebels get off to a 3-0 begin because the staff’s main passer and rusher, is leaving the program and entering the transfer portal as a consequence of unfulfilled NIL guarantees.

There’s A LOT to unpack right here. Let’s begin with what they’re saying:

• In a tweet, Sluka mentioned, “I dedicated to UNLV primarily based on sure representations that have been made to me, which weren’t upheld after I enrolled. Regardless of discussions, it grew to become clear that these commitments wouldn’t be fulfilled sooner or later.”
• Sluka was reportedly promised $100,000 by an assistant coach through verbal settlement, not a written one — a serious no-no within the negotiation recreation. Sluka has not acquired any NIL compensation, a number of sources advised Matt Zenitz.
• Blueprint Sports activities, which handles UNLV’s NIL operations, responded that “there have been no formal NIL provides made throughout Mr. Sluka’s recruitment course of.”
• UNLV also responded, saying “UNLV Athletics interpreted these calls for as a violation of the NCAA pay-for-play guidelines, in addition to Nevada state regulation. UNLV doesn’t interact in such exercise, nor does it reply to implied threats.”

Sluka’s agent, Marcus Cromartie, is not a registered sports agent in Nevada, and that opens a new can of worms, Richard Johnson writes.

Sluka is not the primary participant to go away a program as a consequence of NIL points, and he will not be the final. Dennis Dodd, John Talty and Matt Zenitz have the inside story of a wild development in the Wild West of college athletics.

• “The prevailing sentiment is that the system is at fault right here, reasonably than the participant. It will occur once more. How lengthy till gamers maintain out in the midst of the season? … It is only a matter of how deep the pool you swim in as of late. It took Ohio State $20 million to shore up its roster within the offseason. Translation: Beat Michigan. UNLV’s program took a tumble Wednesday over just a few hundred thousand.”

Hajj Malik-Williams will replace Sluka. UNLV hosts Fresno State on Saturday.

😕 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL, School Soccer QB Energy Rankings

In happier quarterback information, we have now new NFL and College Football QB Power Rankings.

Within the professionals, Josh Allen holds regular on the prime, and it is exhausting to argue with that. The Payments are completely dominant, and so is he. Here’s the top five:

1. Josh Allen (earlier: 1)
2. Patrick Mahomes (3)
3. Lamar Jackson (4)
4. Brock Purdy (5)
5. C.J. Stroud (2)

The week’s largest leap belongs to Sam Darnold, who’s up from No. 17 to No. 10. He leads the NFL with eight touchdowns passing and is second — behind Allen — in passer score. Moreover, he and a few others are making the cheap-vs.-expensive quarterback debate en vogue. Cody Benjamin took a deep dive.

• Benjamin: “Your entire dialogue is round, in a means. Do you have got a quarterback with a near-unmatched attribute, be it turbo mobility (e.g. Lamar Jackson), a supercharged arm (Josh Allen), or the overall, clutch bundle (Patrick Mahomes)? Then, with uncommon exception, no price ticket is simply too steep.”

To me, if you are going to pay a quarterback massive cash, he’d higher be the tide that lifts all ships. Mahomes has finished it with and with out Tyreek Hill. It is early, however Allen is displaying he can do it with and with out Stefon Diggs. Jackson has by no means had an elite broad receiver. The really elite ones discover a means.

A less expensive quarterback — for example Darnold — may hit massive in comparison with his contract, however they normally want extra. It is exhausting to argue with Darnold’s outcomes to this point, nevertheless it’s additionally exhausting to argue that Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, Kevin O’Connell and an ideal protection have not offered large benefits.

In the meantime, we have now a brand new No. 1 within the college ranks.

1. Cam Ward (earlier: 3)
2. Jalen Milroe (2)
3. Jaxson Dart (5)
4. Eli Holstein (6)
5. Shedeur Sanders (not ranked)

⛳ Presidents Cup preview: Can USA win tenth straight?

The Presidents Cup is again, and we’re set for four days of thrilling golf at Royal Montreal as america takes on the Worldwide staff. In case you’re not acquainted with the occasion, it is much like the Ryder Cup, however as an alternative of U.S. vs. Europe, it is U.S. vs. the remainder of the world, excluding Europe. The scoring and format is much like the Ryder Cup, although the schedule will not be fairly as compressed.

It is also not almost as aggressive. That is the fifteenth Presidents Cup, and the U.S. has received 12 of the earlier 14, together with every of the final 9. The People enter as heavy favorites once again. All 12 of their gamers are within the Official World Golf Rating prime 25, whereas solely 4 of the Worldwide gamers are. The U.S. additionally has 10 of the highest 12 gamers in keeping with Kyle Porter’s ranking of all 24 players.

All three of our specialists — Kyle, Patrick McDonald and Adam Silverstein — are taking the U.S. to win, but none are predicting a blowout. And I really like Patrick’s choose for Staff USA MVP.

• McDonald: “Collin Morikawa: It is robust not to take a look at the highest two gamers on this planet right here, however Morikawa’s high quality is not as far behind as it might appear. He has been stellar in three staff competitions and Royal Montreal seems to be proper up his alley as fairways shall be at a premium and high quality iron play will have to be had. … Morikawa will captain the ship within the third partnership. That is the place this competitors shall be received and that is the place Morikawa will thrive as he poses an enormous menace in each codecs and may have a robust likelihood to build up 4 factors.”

This is extra:

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

⛳ We’re watching the Presidents Cup. Here’s how.
🏈 Military at Temple, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Cowboys at Giants, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video