Breaking
Successful Beat
Author

admin

Browsing
Sports

Deion Sanders explains ‘new normal’ on game days after bladder surgery

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders gave a new update on his health after having his cancerous bladder removed in May and described his “new normal” on game days, which includes managing his bladder and having a sense of humor about it.

Sanders talked about it on the Colorado Football Coaches Show Wednesday Sept. 10, as his Buffaloes prepare to play Friday night at Houston After the show’s host, Mark Johnson, asked him about it, Sanders noted how his willingness to talk about the subject publicly has helped other people dealing with incontinence and similar issues.

“I gotta make sure I pee before I go out there,” Sanders said of his pregame routine.

A portable toilet has been installed on the sideline at Folsom Field for his use. It resembles a rectangular tent and is sponsored by Depend, the adult diaper brand that sponsors Sanders.

Sanders, 58, said he hasn’t used it yet. But a former Colorado player of his, Jimmy Horn Jr., visited him during the season opener against Georgia Tech and wanted to use it.

“Jimmy Horn asked me to use it the first week,” Sanders on the show. “I said, ‘No deuces. You can use it. No deuces.’ I say, ‘Jimmy, do not go in there and sit down and then … a gust of wind blows and everybody catch you sitting down on the toilet.’ We just bust out laughing. That was in the middle of the game.”

Deion Sanders: ‘Maybe it’s the reason God allowed it’

Sanders called it a “new normal.” After his bladder was removed, a new, smaller neobladder was installed to replace it and was made from his small intestine. His doctor said he is cancer-free.

“You gotta make sure you empty the bladder,” Sanders said on the show. “Sometimes, before the games, I use a catheter, so I can make sure my bladder’s empty so I don’t have to. Because when you feel it, you’ve got to use the bathroom or you start leaking. I’m sorry. But I’m getting explicit. But you start leaking. You gotta take care of it.”

Sanders explained why he’s open about a subject that can be uncomfortable to talk about.

“I’m trying to help somebody that’s going through the same,” Sanders said. “It’s amazing that everywhere I go, someone comes up to me and tells me about a family member or friend that has the exact same thing, and ‘Thank you for being vocal about it,’ because they’re dealing with that right now. It’s been at least several people since I’ve come back.”

After recovering at his estate in Texas, Sanders revealed his health situation in a news conference in Colorado on July 28. Johnson told Sanders that he watched it then and said, “I’m not sure there’s another human being on the face of the Earth that could have talked about incontinence and made it sound cool.”

“But you did, and then you make an impact on people,” Johnson said.

“Right, well, I’m thankful,” Sanders said. “I’m happy. And maybe it’s the reason God allowed it to happen to me.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

SEC showdowns lead Week 3 schedule. Our experts make Top 25 picks

  • Week 3 of college football features several key matchups, particularly in the southern half of the country.
  • Major SEC conference games include No. 3 Georgia at No. 15 Tennessee and No. 4 LSU hosting Florida.
  • Two significant non-conference games pit No. 23 South Florida against No. 6 Miami and No. 8 Notre Dame against No. 17 Texas A&M.

Our panel of pickers is back to weigh in on the biggest college football games in Week 3, and there will be differing opinions on several of them.

Much of the action will be focused on the nation’s southern half with numerous early conference clashes. A huge day in the SEC is headlined by No. 3 Georgia visiting No. 15 Tennessee, No. 4 LSU welcoming Florida, and No. 10 South Carolina in an intriguing home nightcap against Vanderbilt. Not far away in the ACC, No. 11 Clemson opens league play at Georgia Tech.

The Saturday schedule also features a pair of huge intersectional Top 25 matchups. No. 23 South Florida looks to continue its hot start at No. 6 Miami (Fla.), and No. 8 Notre Dame hosts No. 17 Texas A&M in an important prime-time showdown. Read on to see how our experts think those contests and others involving the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25 teams will go.

College football picks for Week 3 schedule

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Connecticut AG seeks documents from WNBA, vows ‘fight’ to keep Sun

Connecticut attorney general William Tong says he sent a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, inquiring into the circumstances of a potential sale of the Connecticut Sun. 

‘I am launching the inquiry because I am concerned about reports in the press that the WNBA may be wrongly blocking the sale of the Connecticut Sun that would keep the team here in Connecticut,’ Tong said at a Thursday, Sept. 11, news conference.

‘I am concerned that they might be doing so in a manner that might be anti-competitive and may violate state and federal laws.’

It was reported on Aug. 2 that a group led by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca had made an agreement with the Mohegan Tribal Nation to buy the Sun for a record $325 million with the intention of moving the team to Boston. Another group led by former Milwaukee Bucks minority owner Marc Lasry also had interest, with the intention of moving the team to Hartford, Connecticut.

The WNBA never presented the Pagliuca bid to its Board of Governors and released a statement saying it would control the location of all cities in the WNBA. The league, ESPN reported, also offered to buy the Sun from the Mohegan Tribe for $250 million and move it to a city of its choosing.

‘The WNBA is demanding the team be sold back to the league at a price tens of millions dollars below the market value of the team,’ Tong said. ‘Does the WNBA have the legal right?’

Tong said he is asking for a number of documents from the WNBA, including a copy of the league’s operating agreement, the membership agreement between the Sun and the WNBA, the league’s operating manual and its rules and regulations.

Additionally, Tong is seeking copies of all valuations of the Sun, including any appraisal, offer and/or expression of interest. The state, he said, is doing it to find out ‘what arguments we have to keep the team here.’

‘This team means a lot of to the state of Connecticut,’ Tong said. ‘For more 20 years we have spent launching, growing, supporting, loving this team. … They belong to us and I don’t think the WNBA should take them away from us.

‘I am going to fight as hard as I possible can and we’re going to exhaust every option to keep them here, where they belong.’

In recent days, the state of Connecticut has floated a plan to buy a minority stake in the team with the intention of keeping it in the state. Gov. Ned Lamont on Sept. 10 got behind the potential purchase of a share of the Sun as an investment opportunity.

“Ask Mohegan Sun whether it was a good investment they made 20 years ago,” Lamont said.

The Mohegan Tribal Nation, the owner of the Mohegan Sun casino, purchased the Orlando Miracle in 2003 for $10 million. The team plays in Uncasville, Connecticut, less than an hour’s drive southeast of Hartford.

The Sun played their final game of the season on Sept. 10. They finished 11-33, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Sun have reached the postseason in 16 of their 23 seasons in Connecticut, making the WNBA Finals four times but never winning a title.

A timeline of the Connecticut Sun sale saga

Sept 11: Connecticut attorney general William Tong announced at a news conference that he sent a letter to the WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, inquiring into the circumstances of a potential sale of the Sun. 

Sept. 10: Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont pitched a plan for Connecticut to become an investor in the Sun through the multibillion-dollar public employee pension funds it manages.

Sept. 8: U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, sent a letter to the WNBA stating the league should stay out of negotiations between the Mohegan tribe and prospective ownership groups.

Aug. 19: ESPN reported that the Sun ownership was trying to salvage a deal to sell the team by presenting multiple options to the WNBA.

Aug 3:  Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti said the team planned to play at Mohegan Sun Arena in 2026 because the deal with Steve Pagliuca’s Boston-based investor group was ‘not quite at the finish line yet.’ 

Aug 2: Reports surface that a group led by Celtics minority owner Pagliuca reached a deal to buy the Sun for a record $325 million and move the team to Boston.

May 13: Rizzotti said the Mohegan Tribal Nation group, which owns the Sun, was ‘exploring all options to strategically invest in the team,’ including a potential sale.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Ryan Routh chastised during opening statements in federal trial for ‘making a mockery’ of the court

Below are live updates from inside the federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in September 2024 at his West Palm Beach golf club. The proceedings are closed to electronics and not televised, with Fox News reporters providing firsthand accounts from the Federal Courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Secret Service agent describes ‘textbook ambush’ — 11:52 a.m. ET

The government’s first witness, Special Agent Robert Fercano, testified Thursday that Ryan Routh aimed a rifle directly at his face while lying in wait at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15, 2024.

Fercano, now with Homeland Security Investigations – but at the time a Secret Service agent – said he was scanning the sixth hole while Trump played the fifth when he noticed ‘several abnormalities on the fence line.’

‘There appeared to be a face, a barrel of a weapon and what I perceived to be plates, like Humvee plates like I saw in the Marine Corps,’ he told Department of Justice prosecutor Maria Medetis Long.

Fercano said he tried to make contact: ‘Hey sir,’ he called out. Moments later, he noticed the rifle barrel starting to move, heard ‘what sounded like a groan,’ and saw the man smile, he testified.

At first, Fercano said, he thought it could be a homeless person. But Fercano claimed the barrel followed his movement and he saw plates hanging from the fence that looked like makeshift bulletproof shielding.

‘This appeared to be a textbook ambush scenario,’ Fercano testified, saying he drew his weapon and fired as he walked backward.

Jurors also heard Fercano’s frantic radio calls:

‘Mogul on 5 green,’ at 1:24 p.m., alerting colleagues Trump was on the fifth hole.

Just 11 seconds later: ‘Shots fired, shots fired, shots fired.’

‘Be advised it looked like an AK-47 style rifle pointed through the fence.’

Prosecutors then presented the Chinese-made SKS rifle they say Routh used. Wearing black gloves, Fercano demonstrated for the jury how 1–2 inches of the barrel protruded through the fence that day.

Representing himself, Ryan Routh spent about 15 minutes questioning Special Agent Robert Fercano before the court broke for lunch.

Routh began with an unusual opener: ‘Good to see ya. First question, is it good to be alive?’

‘Yes, it is good to be alive,’ Fercano replied.

Routh followed up: ‘I’m sure your family is happy you’re alive and well?’ Prosecutors objected, and the agent did not answer.

Throughout the exchange, Fercano repeatedly identified Routh as the man he saw that day. ‘I saw you in the bushes… you smiled at me,’ he said. Routh did not dispute the identification.

Routh asked why Fercano moved off the golf cart path and onto a service path. Fercano said he was ‘thinking like a criminal’ and noticed Routh along the fence line.

When Routh asked if a tree limb blocked his view, Fercano said, ‘The path was unobstructed.’

Pressed on whether the suspect was concealed, Fercano answered: ‘Yes, you were concealed.’

Routh asked, ‘You happened to see the individual driving by?’ Fercano replied, ‘There was no individual driving by.’

In a final series of questions, Routh pressed Fercano about sniper tactics: ‘As far as being a sniper, what would be the best stance to shoot people? Standing, crouching, laying down?’

Fercano responded: ‘I wasn’t a sniper… it depends.’

Court recessed for lunch until 1:05 p.m., when prosecutors will decide whether to follow up with additional questions for Fercano.

Routh delivers rambling opening statement — 11:23 a.m. ET

Ryan Routh, representing himself in his federal trial where he is accused of attempting to assassinate Trump last year, spoke to jurors for just seven minutes before Judge Aileen Cannon cut off his opening statement, saying it had ‘absolutely nothing to do with this case.’

Routh began by apologizing to the jury: ‘Sorry to take your time and disrupt your lives…I’m so sorry.’ He then launched into a meandering monologue, citing everything from prehistoric human history to world leaders.

‘What is intent?… Why are we here? What is our intent? To love one another… Is this so difficult?’ Routh asked. He went on to reference Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Putin, Sudan’s civil war, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

After four minutes, Judge Cannon interrupted, dismissed the jury, and warned Routh his remarks ‘go beyond any relevance in the case.’ When he returned to similar themes, she stopped him again.

‘We have limited patience, and you don’t have unlimited license to go forward and make a mockery of the dignity of this courtroom,’ Cannon told him.

When the jury came back in, Routh grew emotional, choking up as he invoked Henry Ford and the Wright brothers, before saying: ‘This case means absolutely nothing. A life has been lived to the fullest.’

At that point, Cannon ended his opening remarks and allowed prosecutors to call their first witness.

Trial begins with prosecution’s opening arguments — 10:15 a.m. ET

Federal prosecutors opened their case against Routh on Thursday, telling jurors he came ‘within seconds’ of assassinating Trump during a round of golf in West Palm Beach last year.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley read Routh’s own words to the jury — ‘Trump cannot be elected’ and ‘I need Trump to go away’ — before laying out what he described as a ‘deadly serious’ plan to kill a major presidential candidate.

Shipley said Routh traveled from Hawaii to the mainland with a Chinese military-grade assault rifle, 20 rounds of ammunition, 10 burner phones, three aliases, stolen license plates, and ‘a trail of lies from Honolulu to Florida.’

Jurors were shown photos of the golf course perch where prosecutors say Routh hid for 10 hours with his rifle chambered, safety off, and pointed at a Secret Service agent clearing the hole for Trump.

That agent, Fercano, testified Thursday. Shipley told jurors Fercano spotted Routh’s face in the bushes and saw ‘the muzzle of a rifle pointed directly at his face’ before returning fire.

‘Had he not seen that rifle,’ Shipley said, ‘the defendant would have succeeded in killing Trump.’

Routh has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. Prosecutors say he was armed with an AK-style rifle when Secret Service agents stopped him near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach in September 2024. The attempt came just months after Trump was shot and narrowly survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.

Routh’s opening statement also began Thursday morning. He was given 41 minutes for his opening arguments, right after prosecutors finished their opening presentation. 

This is a developing story. Check back here for live updates.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Sports

SEC showdowns lead this week’s schedule. Our experts make Week 3 picks

  • Week 3 of college football features several key matchups, particularly in the southern half of the country.
  • Major SEC conference games include No. 3 Georgia at No. 15 Tennessee and No. 4 LSU hosting Florida.
  • Two significant non-conference games pit No. 23 South Florida against No. 6 Miami and No. 8 Notre Dame against No. 17 Texas A&M.

Our panel of pickers is back to weigh in on the biggest college football games in Week 3, and there will be differing opinions on several of them.

Much of the action will be focused on the nation’s southern half with numerous early conference clashes. A huge day in the SEC is headlined by No. 3 Georgia visiting No. 15 Tennessee, No. 4 LSU welcoming Florida, and No. 10 South Carolina in an intriguing home nightcap against Vanderbilt. Not far away in the ACC, No. 11 Clemson opens league play at Georgia Tech.

The Saturday schedule also features a pair of huge intersectional Top 25 matchups. No. 23 South Florida looks to continue its hot start at No. 6 Miami (Fla.), and No. 8 Notre Dame hosts No. 17 Texas A&M in an important prime-time showdown. Read on to see how our experts think those contests and others involving the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25 teams will go.

College football picks for Week 3 schedule

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Country artist shares why he’s throwing his star power into race to replace top Republican

Country artist John Rich is ‘rollin’’ into Tennessee’s upcoming special election with his own endorsement in what’s shaping up to be a crowded GOP primary race.

Rich, who makes up half of the iconic duo Big & Rich, is campaigning alongside his longtime friend, state Rep. Jody Barrett, as he runs to replace former Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.

‘I’ve known Jody, believe this or not, since we were seniors in high school together. We actually graduated the same high school,’ Rich told Fox News Digital in an interview.

‘We kept in touch, stayed good friends. But in the past four or five years, Jody has been a state rep in Tennessee. And so issues that were happening in Tennessee, Jody and I would join forces, him kind of on the inside of the political world and me standing on the outside with a really big platform and big audience. And we would work together, hand in hand, arm in arm, to make things happen.’

Barrett is one of 10 Republicans running to replace Green in the Oct. 7 primary.

The general election is scheduled for Dec. 2. But in the deep-red 7th District, which President Donald Trump won by more than 20 points in 2024, it’s likely the winner of the GOP primary will come out on top.

Barrett, along with state Rep. Gino Bulso, state Rep. Lee Reeves, and former Tennessee General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps, were the only Republicans invited to debate their candidacy earlier this week by Americans for Prosperity Tennessee, according to Tennessee Lookout.

Rich told Fox News Digital that in addition to appearing alongside Barrett at campaign events, he’s also promoted the conservative House hopeful to Trump himself.

‘I’ve actually texted the president a couple of times about Jody. I said, ‘You’re going to want this guy in Congress. I mean, this is one of your guys.’ And so I’m hoping President Trump, maybe he weighs in on this race,’ Rich said.

He added, however, that it’s possible Trump stays away from endorsing until after the primary is over.

Barrett has supported Trump on a broad range of issues, though he notably broke from the president’s COVID-19 vaccine initiative, called Operation Warp Speed, during the Monday night debate.

‘We have millions of Americans now who are vaccine injured, dealing with the results of this vaccine mandate,’ Barrett said at the time.

Nevertheless, Rich said Barrett has connected with Republicans in Tennessee, and he praised him for occasionally challenging establishment GOP aims and decisions in the state.

‘What I love about real conservatives is we will call out people in our own party if we think they’re making a mistake, if they’re on the wrong path,’ Rich said. ‘Whereas on the left, they just fall in line and do whatever they’re told every single time. Jody has proven that he will stand up for what his people want.’

He said at another point in the interview, ‘He’s legit. I mean, we start talking about what’s a conservative look like? It’s this guy. And again, when you’ve known somebody since you were 17, and now you’re in your early 50s, and they’re the same guy, that’s pretty rare.’

Barrett has also been endorsed by the House Freedom Fund, the political arm of the House Freedom Caucus.

‘Jody Barrett’s strong conservative record of leadership, not only standing up to Democrats, but also his own party when the RINOs get out of line, is exactly what House Freedom Fund looks for in a candidate,’ Allison Weisenberger of the House Freedom Fund told Fox News Digital.

Barrett himself told Fox News Digital he was ‘honored’ to have Rich’s endorsement.

‘John Rich is my lifelong friend, a proud Tennessean, a country music legend and one of President Trump’s strongest supporters in our state. Having his endorsement means a lot, because he has never been afraid to speak the truth and stand up for conservative values,’ Barrett said. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Pastor recalls last moments with Charlie Kirk: ‘American martyr’

Pastor Jack Hibbs, a close friend of Charlie Kirk, told Fox News Digital he was in disbelief when he heard the conservative firebrand had been assassinated after having spoken to him just hours earlier.

‘My initial thoughts, of course, like everyone else, is what is going on in our country?’ Hibbs said. ‘But then quickly, I think my second thought, which is the prevailing thought, is Charlie was obviously a young man of not only profound intellect, he had a great faith in Jesus.’

Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Wednesday at the kickoff of his ‘American Comeback Tour’ at Utah Valley University. He leaves behind his wife, Erika, and two young children, ages 1 and 3.

Hibbs, pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California, said Kirk had ‘a love for the Bible’ and the pair ‘spent the last several years going through the Scriptures together.’

Kirk’s assassination made him an ‘American martyr’ that will encourage an entire generation of ‘untold Charlies who will follow in his footsteps,’ he said. 

Hibbs and Kirk have collaborated over the last five years on their podcast shows and culture events. Kirk was invited several times over the years to speak at Hibbs’ church, born out of the Jesus People movement, on topics ranging from gender identity, abortion and school choice to biblical prophecy. 

Just hours before Kirk kicked off his American Comeback Tour, where he planned to travel across the U.S. to college campuses and invite liberal students to debate and ask him questions publicly, Hibbs reached out asking if he could get his brother entry into the Utah event.

‘Charlie was so kind and generous to let this stranger have a front row seat,’ Hibbs said. ‘And I know that that was Charlie loving on me by loving on my brother. And that’s just who he was, extremely, extremely generous.’

‘My brother sent me pictures of him and Charlie, standing together before the event started and everything looked great,’ Hibbs said. ‘And then my brother called me immediately during the shooting, I could hear people screaming and running, and my brother was about 25 to 35 feet away from Charlie.’

Hibbs urged Kirk’s supporters to remember his killing was ‘not the end of Charlie,’ because he had immense faith. 

‘This just galvanized an entire generation of not only those who follow Charlie, but those who criticized him. They watched a young man lay down his life for his cause,’ Hibbs said. ‘And I do believe that the result of today is going to backfire on anyone who had nefarious plots to silence Charlie.’

One of the last appearances of Kirk at Hibbs’ church was in March, an event titled, ‘A Christian or Pagan Nation.’

‘What a lot of people don’t realize is they see the Charlie Kirk, so to speak, in his armor, right on stage or on the university campus, but Charlie was a very tender-hearted young man, very, very empathetic,’ Hibbs said.

Kirk rose to prominence during the 2016 election cycle, emerging as one of the most influential voices in the MAGA movement and cultivating a close relationship with the Trump family. As the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), he built a nationwide platform that amplified the voices of young conservatives and brought them into the political arena.

Through large-scale TPUSA events, Kirk positioned himself as a bridge between lawmakers and grassroots youth activists, creating direct connections between the political establishment and a new generation of conservative leaders. His efforts extended to specialized gatherings such as the Black Leadership Summit, where young participants were even invited to the White House during President Donald Trump’s first term, offering them a rare opportunity to engage face-to-face with the president.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Sports

NFL says it’s reviewing domestic violence claims against Tyreek Hill

  • The NFL has opened a review of the latest domestic violence allegations against Tyreek Hill.
  • Lakeeta Vaccaro Hill said in court filings, obtained by TMZ, that the Dolphins player became violent on eight separate occasions during their marriage.
  • An NFL spokesperson said in an email to USA TODAY Sports: ‘It’s standard policy for the league to review a matter such as this.’

The NFL has opened a review of the latest domestic violence allegations against the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill.

Lakeeta Vaccaro Hill said in court filings, obtained by TMZ, that the Dolphins player became violent on eight separate occasions during their marriage. Vaccaro, in one alleged incident, said the Miami star spat on her. She also alleged he tossed a marijuana cigarette at her before leaving for the 2024 Pro Bowl.

A league spokesperson said in an email to USA TODAY Sports: ‘It’s standard policy for the league to review a matter such as this.’

Tyreek Hill’s attorney, Julius Collins, released a statement to USA TODAY Sports denying the claims.

‘The new allegations that Ms. Vaccaro and her counsel have decided to allege are all unsubstantiated, untrue and an attempt to generate bad media coverage for Mr. Hill and therefore extort a large settlement offer from Mr. Hill, of which we believe Ms. Vaccaro is not entitled in this 17 month (sic) marriage,’ the statement read.

In an email to USA TODAY Sports, Vaccaro’s lawyer, Evan Marks, wrote that her amended petition is ‘verified – meaning that she has sworn that the allegations contained therein are true and correct.’

‘Evidence will be presented to a jury who will then decide whether Ms. Vaccaro is entitled to be compensated for the damages that she sustained due to the conduct of Mr. Hill as alleged,’ Marks wrote.

Approximately 10 years ago Hill pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery by strangulation.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel addressed the situation on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at his news conference.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

10 best players in 2025 WNBA playoffs ranked, from ‘unicorn’ to top-tier

When the 2025 WNBA playoffs begin Sunday, Sept. 14, some of the top players in the league will be playing for a title.

The postseason will feature players like the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, the 2025 MVP, Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson and last year’s champions, New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and guard Sabrina Ionescu.

Others are also pushing for a ring, and their greatness should be recognized. Here are the top 10 players of the WNBA playoffs ranked, from ‘unicorn’ to top-tier (Statistics, per game in the 2025 season):

10. Satou Sabally, F, Phoenix Mercury

Points: 16.4, Rebounds: 5.9, Assists: 2.4, Steals: 1At 6-foot-4, the Phoenix forward is a rare combination of speed, size and handles ― a ‘unicorn’, if you will ― that aren’t seen with most players at her position. Sabally is a nightmare matchup on both sides of the ball, but her most potent weapon is her 3-point shooting (65 made in 2025 at 32% shooting). Her quick release often catches opposing defenders off guard and gives them little time to react. Sabally has a knack for making defenses look silly.

9. Jackie Young, G, Las Vegas Aces

Points: 16.5, Rebounds: 4.4, Assists: 5, Steals: 1.3

Young might be one of the most underrated players in the 2025 WNBA playoffs. Young is a brick wall as a defender and her strength is unsuspecting at the guard position. What’s more, she has impeccable handles and footwork, allowing her to manipulate defenses at will. Young can shoot from anywhere and ranks top-15 in the WNBA in points per game and made 3-pointers.

8. Nneka Ogwumike, F, Seattle Storm

Points: 18.3, Rebounds: 7, Assists: 2.3, Steals: 1.1

Look up the word consistency in the dictionary, and you’ll likely find Ogwumike’s picture next to it. The 14-year veteran has averaged nearly 54% shooting in her career, which is equally impressive and frightening. Ogwumike’s a three-level scorer who also has underrated skills as a passer and facilitator. Furthermore, she defends at a high level, frequently by causing disruption and mayhem.

7. Sabrina Ionescu, G, New York Liberty

Points: 18.4, Rebounds: 4.9, Assists: 5.5, Steals: 1.3

Ionescu has made a name for herself with cold-blooded shooting and assists on a rope that few others can duplicate. The former Oregon Duck boasts a ridiculous logo-esque range and excellent vision, which makes her one of the most elite guards in the WNBA. Ionescu is in the top 10 in both points per game and assists per game. However, her defense should not be dismissed. She falls within the top 15 in the league in steals per game.

6. Breanna Stewart, F, New York Liberty

Points: 18.1, Rebounds: 6.6, Assists: 3.5, Steals: 1.4

Stewart is fantastic at using her size and body control to her advantage to pick apart defenses. When she’s not knocking down shots from beyond the arc, the Liberty forward can be found doing damage in the paint. Nearly 59% of Stewart’s scoring comes from 2-point shots, and she’s second in the league in free throws made per game (5.5). Stewart is also one of the WNBA’s best defenders and allows the lowest points on drives and closeouts.

5. Kelsey Mitchell, G, Indiana Fever

Points: 20.2, Rebounds: 1.8, Assists: 3.4, Steals: 0.9

Mitchell arguably has one of the fastest first steps in the league. Her head-turning speed makes her one of the hardest players to guard, and when paired with her scoring, the Fever guard is electric. Mitchell ranks second in points (890) and first in made 3-pointers (111). She’s also especially dangerous in transition when utilizing her defensive chops to strip defenders and score on the other end.

4. Allisha Gray, G, Atlanta Dream

Points: 18.5, Rebounds: 5.4, Assists: 3.5, Steals: 1.1

Gray won three Player of the Month Awards this season, the only guard to do so in WNBA history. She’s a menace on both sides of the ball and lethal in transition. The Dream guard’s smooth footwork, breadth of shot selection and sticky defense make her a rare combination of skill. Her production on the court has propelled her to a ranking of sixth or better in points, made 3-pointers and free throws per game in the WNBA.

3. Alyssa Thomas, F, Phoenix Mercury

Points: 15.7, Rebounds: 9, Assists: 9.3, Steals: 1.6

2. Napheesa Collier, F, Minnesota Lynx

Points: 23, Rebounds: 7.4, Assists: 3.2, Steals: 1.6

Collier can do it all. She’s a three-level scorer with a signature turnaround jumper that’s seemingly impossible to stop. The Lynx forward offers a blistering 23 points per matchup and has put up 22 games of 20 points or more and six games of 30 or more points this season. Collier’s also an athletic defender who punishes opponents frequently and ranks fifth in steals (1.6 per matchup) and blocks (1.6) per game.

1. A’ja Wilson, C, Las Vegas Aces

Points: 23.4, Rebounds: 9.9, Assists: 3, Steals: 1.6

Wilson is top-tier, a human cheat code that defies logic. The Aces forward is arguably the best two-way player in the league, able to guard every position and put up points from anywhere. She leads the WNBA in scoring (23.4 points per game) and blocks (2.6 per contest) and is second in rebounds (9.9 per matchup) and ninth in steals (1.6 per game). This year, Wilson broke the record for most 30-point games in a single season with 13, seven of which were double-doubles. The eight-year veteran already owns the record for most points in a season with 1000 and has another scoring title within her sights.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Florida finally has leadership in place to fire Billy Napier

  • Billy Napier’s $22 million buyout is steep, but digestible.
  • Florida’s university leadership gained clarity with new interim president and contract extension for athletic director.
  • If Billy Napier is fired, he’d finish as Florida’s worst coach since the 1940s.

If Florida athletics director Scott Stricklin needs inspiration to fire Billy Napier, he need only listen to the coach himself.

In the aftermath of Florida’s most embarrassing loss in years, the Gators’ embattled coach laid the result at the feet of … the coach.

“It’s ultimately my responsibility,” Napier said after an 18-16 loss to South Florida.

Bingo. He’s responsible for this mess.

Napier, in his fourth season on the Gators sideline, routinely flunks Clock Management 101. He refuses to surrender play-calling duties of an offense that resists ignition. Special teams gaffes persist.

Florida’s showing against South Florida was gross, complete with a Florida Man spitting a loogie into a Bull’s face. As for who’s responsible for the South Florida calamity, nobody said it better than the Gators’ .500 coach.

“I think it is coaching,” Napier said.

This experiment failed. What more evidence does Florida need?

At this point, it’s a compliment to describe Napier as a coach on the hot seat. He’s a seat warmer for the next Florida coach.

Gators fans exiting The Swamp after the Week 2 debacle chanted their orders.

Fire Billy! Fire Billy!

The Gators’ upcoming stretch of four straight ranked opponents, starting with No. 4 LSU, can supply the epilogue to the worst Florida coaching tenure since the 1940s.

Florida, after delaying last year, finally has the framework to fire Napier. His nearly $22 million buyout, with no duty to mitigate the damages, is steep but digestible. And, importantly, the university has clarified its leadership.

Clarity in Florida leadership clears path to Billy Napier firing

Florida recently installed Donald Landry as its new interim president. Landry replaced Kent Fuchs, the previous interim president and a Napier supporter. Fuchs, Stricklin and Napier were a three-man band. Fuchs was Florida’s president when Stricklin hired Napier.

There’s a whole lot more to being a university president than cheering good sports teams, but having a spiffy front porch never hurt any administrator. What better way for Landry to prove himself viable for the university’s full-time presidency than kick-starting an invigorating new direction for the decaying football program?

There’s also clarity within the athletic department. Stricklin received a contract extension before the season that will keep him in his role through 2030. Stricklin previously hired and fired Dan Mullen. This extension settles whether Florida would allow Stricklin to oversee a third coaching search. Stricklin staunchly supported Napier in past rocky times. He gave him miles of rope, but they no longer are tied at the hip.

The coach can go, while Stricklin stays.

With fresh eyes in the president’s chair and Stricklin strapped into his athletic director’s role, Florida’s administration can set about fixing its ailing football program, lest the Gators fall further behind Miami, Florida State and South Florida.

Napier’s proven he’s a problem, not a solution. Even he can’t deny it. Florida repeatedly tried to make this work, with a coach who’s not a bad guy, just a failed coach.

Decent guys who are failed coaches walk away with buyout checks. That’s business.

No living down a Gators loss to South Florida

This loss to the Bulls will cling to Napier like a nylon shirt on a humid summer day.

It doesn’t much matter that South Florida looks like a solid team.  

Folks, a Gators spit-wad influenced the outcome, and an instate Group of Five school turned The Swamp into their personal party pad. That’s how this game will be remembered.

It’s as Bulls center Cole Best told me this week: “It really came down to, one team was more disciplined than the other.”

That about spells it out.

There’s a pivotal moment in most fired coaches’ tenures that you can pinpoint and say, that’s the day he was toast.

Will Muschamp was cooked after his 2013 loss at The Swamp to Georgia Southern, a Championship Subdivision opponent that won despite completing no passes. Jim McElwain made unsubstantiated claims about receiving death threats. Dan Mullen’s fortunes turned when Marco Wilson threw a shoe into a foggy sky.

The flimsy firewall Napier erected with four straight victories to close last season disintegrated after that loogie left Brendan Bett’s lips and USF’s Nico Gramatica made a winning field goal.

Florida could allow Napier to play this out, and maybe he scrambles to something along the lines of an 8-4 record. We’ve seen that act before. That was last season. And, then what happened?

In a continuing pattern, Florida lost more than it gained in the transfer portal. As a recruiter, Napier’s more of a Jack of clubs than an Ace. He recruits to a level more comparable to Mullen than to Urban Meyer, and he’s a far worse game-day coach than either.

It’s as Napier says: Coaching is part of the Gators’ problem. It’s time for Florida’s now-settled leadership to break the cycle and hunt solutions.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By