CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The word ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has long used, and is still using, is “restless,” to describe how uncomfortable he is with the general state of men’s basketball in the league.

Accordingly, the ACC has done just about everything within its power to move that needle, from marketing and branding to going back to an...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — So you think there is pressure in your job? In 2025-26, Jaland Lowe will step into Kentucky’s long-running line of point guard excellence — and attempt to uphold an exacting standard.

When UK began to recruit the former Pittsburgh Panthers standout out of the transfer portal, “probably the first thought that ran through...Read more

ATLANTA — When the Atlanta Dream think of their season, one word keeps popping up.

Pride.

One year ago, the Dream finished the regular season as the eighth seed with just 15 wins. They had just one All-Star in Allisha Gray and no players in the conversation for regular-season awards.

But things look different now. Despite falling short of ...Read more

PHOENIX — The message has been clear from coach Becky Hammon the past four years.

The Las Vegas Aces are at their best when playing tough defense. It’s what’s made them a dynasty.

The team will try to focus on those words when the WNBA Finals move to Mortgage Matchup Center for Wednesday’s Game 3 against the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces, ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Midway through the 2023 WNBA season, Aces coach Becky Hammon made a claim that male practice player Jaire Roberts had a hard time believing.

“If we win a championship, you guys are getting rings, too,” she said.

Roberts, 28, was old enough even then to know that it’s easy for people to get excited in a moment and say things...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ first practice of the week gave them hope of what they can look like whole when Marcus Smart takes the court.

Smart has been dealing with Achilles tendinopathy most of training camp and has been limited in practice. But coach JJ Redick said after practice Tuesday that Smart “did most of practice, including some ...Read more

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks discussed a potential trade that would have sent two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to New York this offseason — but the Knicks, according to an ESPN report, believed the Bucks were never serious about making a deal.

The conversations — detailed in a sweeping Tuesday morning report from ...Read more

CHICAGO — Matas Buzelis always wants to be coached harder. That has been a trend since the second-year forward stepped into the Advocate Center for his first training session with the Chicago Bulls last season.

Buzelis doesn’t want to be coddled. It doesn’t matter that he was a teenager when he was drafted. Or that he didn’t earn a ...Read more

When Pat Spencer showed up at Warriors media day last week, it was a legitimate and pleasant surprise.

Amid the chaos of the Warriors’ offseason, and given his solid playoff performance last season, it was presumed that Spencer had signed to play elsewhere.

It was no surprise, however, when Spencer — after playing a team-high 21 minutes in...Read more

NEW YORK — All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson is still adjusting to Mike Brown’s new up-tempo system — but the Knicks’ floor general says he’s growing more comfortable with each rep.

“I’m comfortable,” Brunson said after the Knicks completed a 2-0 preseason sweep over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Abu Dhabi Games on Saturday. �...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — It’s hard to believe that the WNBA and its players will find common ground on a collective bargaining agreement by Oct. 31, the day the current CBA is set to expire.

And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to believe that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert should remain in that role much longer.

The sides have made little ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 91-78 in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena to take a 2-0 series lead.

Guard Jackie Young led a group of historic performances for the No. 2-seeded Aces. Young finished with 32 points, passing Kelsey Plum (29 points in 2023) for the highest-scoring Finals game in...Read more

At times last season, there were questions about whether the feistiness was gone, amid a season dragged down by the Jimmy Butler circus as well injuries that prevented anything close to continuity.

After Erik Spoelstra guided — at least attempted to guide — the Heat through what turned into the most lopsided playoff-series rout in NBA ...Read more

ATLANTA — Mark it down, Hawks fans.

Kristaps Porzingis, the hope-lifting but oft-injured centerpiece of general manager Onsi Saleh’s busy offseason, is healthy and is going to play a lot of games.

So says Saleh himself.

“We’re super confident in Kristaps’ health and him playing a healthy season and having a great season,” Saleh ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — It’s not often the eyes of the sports world are fixated on the WNBA in the way they were Friday with eager anticipation for how commissioner Cathy Engelbert would answer the most anticipated question of her pre-finals news conference in Las Vegas.

She had several days to think about the moment and exactly what she would say ...Read more

The Las Vegas Aces’ win in Game 1 of the WNBA finals on Friday brought them a step closer to winning a championship. Yet for many players, teams and fans, eyes are already on the offseason.

As the Aces and the Phoenix Mercury battle, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association and league leadership are locked in their own standoff. ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — For the second time in a little more than a year Tarrant County, Texas will be the host to one of the most anticipated debuts in pro basketball.

In May 2024, Caitlin Clark made her pro debut with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever in a preseason game against the Dallas Wings at the College Park Center in Arlington. That game ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Guard Dana Evans came off the bench to match reigning MVP A’ja Wilson in scoring as the pair led the second-seeded Aces with 21 points each. Wilson added 10 rebounds and five assists.

Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally scored...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Amid a storm of condemnation from players and prominent sports figures, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke to the media Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Aces and Phoenix Mercury.

The embattled commissioner opened her remarks with a direct response to Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa ...Read more