Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks appear headed for a breakup.

The two sides are discussing Young’s potential exit from the team ahead of next month’s NBA trade deadline, according to multiple reports on Monday, Jan. 5, with the Hawks and their four-time All-Star willing to part ways with one another less than five years after the point guard led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals and became the face of the franchise.

Young’s representatives and the Hawks began having ‘collaborative talks’ over the past week, ESPN reported, after speculation about the point guard’s future increased throughout the first few months of this season. Young’s contract includes a nearly $46 million cap hit this season and a $48.9 million player option for 2026-27, but Atlanta elected not to offer him a max extension this past offseason.

Trae Young trade destinations

Only one team has been publicly linked to Young at this point.

The Washington Wizards are considered ‘a legitimate potential trade destination’ for Young, according to longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein, and the deal would involve the expiring contract of Wizards guard CJ McCollum. No trade had been finalized as of 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Whether Young wants a new contract along with the trade, as well as the Hawks’ willingness to attach a draft pick in the deal, could complicate any potential moves and limit his suitors. There’s also the reality that Young’s value is diminished since his defensive liabilities have muted his impact more noticeably in recent seasons.

Teams with an immediate need for a point guard, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves or perhaps the Houston Rockets, could make sense. But matching Young’s salary would involve a significant salary going back to Atlanta in return. Perhaps there’s a dark horse that needs more offensive punch and can cover for Young defensively, like the Toronto Raptors. Young could also be part of a deal with the Sacramento Kings, who are reportedly open to trading much of their roster.

Trae Young stats

Young, 27, has appeared in just 10 games this season due to injuries, but the Hawks have a 2-8 record when he plays and a 15-13 record when he doesn’t. He’s averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game, while shooting 30.5% from 3-point range. Forward Jalen Johnson has emerged as Atlanta’s new star, with the team’s defense improving significantly without Young on the court.

Young missed 22 games earlier this season with a sprained MCL and missed his fifth-straight game due to a quad contusion when the Hawks suffered a 118-100 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday. Atlanta went 0-5 during the five games Young played after returning from the knee injury.

Young has career averages of 25.2 points, 9.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting 35.1% from 3-point-range over eight NBA seasons.

AI-assisted summary
• Figure skaters Amber Glenn and Alysa Liu are top contenders for the 2026 U.S. figure skating championships.
• The duo’s contrasting ‘Type A’ and ‘Type B’ personalities create a dynamic and supportive partnership.
• Glenn and Liu are favorites to end a 20-year Olympic medal drought for U.S. women’s singles skaters.
• Despite being competitors, Glenn and Liu have a strong friendship and often learn from each other’s approach to the sport.

A popular theory is people have two types of personalities: Type A or Type B.

Type A people are driven, competitive multi-taskers who manage their time to best achieve goals. Type B are relaxed, patient and care-free people who don’t get rattled and do things at their own pace.

On the U.S. figure skating team, it’s Type A Amber Glenn and Type B Alysa Liu. So, what do you get when you mix the two? A dynamic, powerhouse duo.

“It’s Type A, Type B people side-by-side, and having a little bit of both usually ends up being a perfect match,” Glenn said.

After an impressive 2025, Glenn and Liu head into the 2026 U.S. figure skating championships this week looking for that final boost of momentum to take into the 2026 Winter Olympics. With that, they can lead Team USA into Milano Cortina poised to break the American hardware drought. 

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What makes Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu US favorites

The past year of has been filled with success for Glenn, 26, and Liu, 20. At the 2025 U.S. figure skating championships, Glenn won gold and Liu took silver by a narrow margin.

Since then, both helped Team USA win the 2025 World Team Trophy, Liu captured gold at the 2025 World Championship and 2025 Skate America while Glenn won the 2025 Cup of China. At the 2025 Grand Prix final in December, Liu won gold and Glenn finished fourth. 

Both skaters are near locks to be on the Olympic team, which will be announced on Sunday, Jan. 11, while the rest of the field is fighting for the third and final spot on the women’s side. But that doesn’t mean it’s a week to take off. Glenn and Liu will be the favorites to win the U.S. title, and a podium finish could give that extra boost of confidence with the Winter Olympics starting in early February.

Luckily, both of them are hitting their stride at the right time. 

Liu has come back from her retirement a stronger skater who has upped her artistry. Even though she is a calm person who doesn’t seemed bothered by much, she has really appreciated what it’s taken to reach that next level after she was a teenage star.

“I’m really enjoying my time. I really value my training. That’s kind of why I came back,” Liu told USA TODAY Sports in November. “I love training every day and putting my energy into something all the time.”

For the U.S. championships, all signs point to Liu finally using her Lady Gaga-inspired free skate fans have been clamoring for. Liu had said it just wasn’t quite right and needed to be worked on before she performed it. If all goes well, it could be the skate she takes with her to the Olympics.

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On the other hand, Glenn takes big chances with some technically difficult programs that often lead to big rewards. She’s a resilient, outspoken skater who has found the right place for her mentally, which has led to success. However, Glenn didn’t have the performance she wanted at the Grand Prix Final. It left her “invigorated” going into 2026, eager to defend her U.S. title and make it back-to-back-to-back crowns.

“It lit a fire in me that I really want to continue that rise, and I just have to remind myself that I’ve earned it, I’ve worked for it and I just need to do what I can do,” she said. “As long as I stay true to myself, I think I will be satisfied with whatever result I end up with at nationals.”

Challengers at 2026 Winter Olympics

The impressive showings are why Glenn and Liu are favorites to win medals in the Winter Olympics, something that no American women’s skater has done in the singles event since 2006, when Sasha Cohen took silver. Twenty years without a medal is the longest drought for the U.S. since the event began in 1924. 

Glenn and Liu could also give the U.S. its first gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002. The women’s field is wide open, although there are stiff challengers.

Russia has always presented the greatest challenge, and it will get to send one skater as an Individual Neutral Athlete. Adeliia Petrosian gets the opportunity and is positioned to medal, if not win gold. Japan will also send three skaters, headlined by 2022 bronze medalist Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai. 

Those competitors are something to think about for Glenn and Liu, but they’re not the focus at the moment. 

“It can be easy to get wrapped up in the Olympic conversation and what’s going on around you, rather than just focusing on what your individual goals are,” Glenn said.

Amber Glenn and Alysa Liu’s friendship

Given their recent runs, it could be easy to pit Glenn and Liu as rivals, but they’re far from it.

They can be seen on each other’s social media often, making Tik Tok videos. They hang out outside of competitions, including when they went on an adventure during the Grand Prix Finals in Japan.

“She’s just such a big sister to me,” Liu said of Glenn. “The idea that we compete against each other, it’s so weird to me. I really just see her as one of my friends and truly one of my teammates. I don’t know, doing things with her is really fun.”

Not only are they friends, but they’ve also learned plenty from each other. Glenn has seen Liu’s approach to skating and it has reminded her even though figure skating is intense, it’s also something they love. 

Although their careers aren’t the same, they share the same traits. It hasn’t been all glory. There have been peaks and valleys that have shaped where they are now. It has brought what Glenn said is a “new perspective to what a skating career over time looks like,” helping lead a new era that is trying to bring a team-oriented group that supports each other – and has the other’s back.

“It’s been great to have someone that has such a positive outlook on skating and on her career around me,” Glenn said. “And then on the flip side, I have an extra pair of tights if she rips them and doesn’t have a backup, or I have the schedule ready because she doesn’t have it.”

Type A and Type B, a perfect blend.

AI-assisted summary
• Figure skater Jason Brown, 31, is attempting to make his third Olympic team for the 2026 Winter Games.
• Brown is bringing back his viral ‘Riverdance’ program from 2014 for his short program this season.
• While known for his artistry, Brown faces challenges with the technical elements of his skating compared to younger competitors.

In a time where the young stars headline U.S. figure skating, Jason Brown is out to prove he still has it.

The 31-year-old burst onto the scene in 2014, when he went viral and earned a spot on the 2014 Winter Olympics team, eventually winning a bronze medal. Afterward, he thought he would call it quits, but he still had more to give and made it back to the Winter Games in 2022. Again, he thought he was done after that.

But in 2026, Brown is back at it for what could be the last dance. He heads into the 2026 U.S. figure skating championships with a chance to make Team USA for a third time, and he’ll try to do it with something that helped him reach stardom. That something is a blast from the past, and making it to the 2026 Winter Olympics would remain just as special.

“Just competing at an Olympic Games is the most special thing as an athlete and getting to represent your country,” Brown told USA TODAY Sports. “Gosh, it would be so special.”

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Jason Brown brings back Riverdance

At the 2014 U.S. figure skating championships, a long-haired, 19-year-old Brown performed Riverdance free skate program. With Irish music and dance, it became a huge hit and catapulted Brown into stardom.

All these years later, it is still one of the most memorable performances, as people have continuously told him about how special it was.

“That’s one of my favorite programs of his,” U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu said. “I remember watching that when I was little, and it’s the only program I remember watching when I was little, really, because it just stood out that much.”

Now in this season, Brown has brought back the hit performance, using it for his short program. It’s something Brown said “really launched my career,” so he is using it as an opportunity to say thank you to the fans for all the years of support he’s received.

Although using it for a shorter length, it has drawn the same type of reaction. The crowd roared when he performed it on home soil at 2025 Skate America in November.

Yet it didn’t get Brown on the podium. He was fifth in the short program and finished fourth in the men’s side of the event, six points out of bronze. It was a similar story the same month at 2025 Finlandia Trophy with a fifth-place finish.

It highlights one of the biggest challenges facing Brown: His creative artistry is among the best and why he’s able to win so many hearts over, but the technical side of skating is an uphill battle.

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It’s common for men skaters to execute tough jumps like triple Axels, but it’s not necessarily Brown’s forte. As a result, he’s under a bigger microscope. “I don’t have the luxury of anything to fall back on” for the technical side, Brown said, needing to basically be technically perfect to place high. Just those small errors can make it tough for when the best possible score isn’t the highest.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” Brown said. “Every time I go out onto the ice, I know that to be up there with the best, I have to be as perfect and as clean as possible.”

Jason Brown goes for third Winter Olympics

Brown’s pursuit of perfection will be on display this week at the 2026 U.S. figure skating championships, one last chance for each American skater to prove they belong on the Olympic roster that will be announced on Sunday, Jan. 11.

Team USA has three spots for men’s figure skating in Milano Cortina. Young phenom Ilia Malinin is a shoe-in, but it’s up in the air for the two remaining spots. The general sense is Brown is in great position to qualify, and it will take a strong outing to leave no doubt when the roster is announced.

Yes, he is a beloved skater, but he wants people to know he is very competitive, and he really wants people to take him seriously. He wants to prove that he belongs and he leaves no doubt in earning a spot.

If he qualifies, it could be the perfect cap to his long career. He hasn’t officially said this will be his swan song, but Brown did say in November “mentally, this is definitely an end of sorts.”

Given the stakes, Brown said he tries to not think about what it could mean to his career to make Team USA, but admitted it is hard to not to. Still, it’s quite the achievement to be chasing a third Olympic Games, especially to do it over two decades.

It was 12 years ago when Brown stole hearts around the world. Now in 2026, the veteran skater is trying to do it one more time — in Milan. 

“I’m really, really proud of my consistency, and I’m really proud of my longevity,” Brown said. “I’m really looking forward to just – fingers crossed – being out there in Milan.”

As he stays with Ole Miss through its run in the College Football Playoff, Austin Simmons has decided on his home for next season.

The Mississippi quarterback has signed with Missouri, according to multiple reports Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Simmons began the 2025 season as the Rebels’ starter, but suffered an ankle injury in a Week 2 win at Kentucky. Trinidad Chambliss took over the starting role and didn’t give it up, accounting for 4,180 yards and finishing eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.

In two starts this season, Simmons completed 33 of his 55 passes for 576 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. He also had 61 rushing yards and a touchdown. Simmons played in seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, completing 19 of 32 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown while serving as Jaxson Dart’s backup.

Simmons is expected to remain with Ole Miss through the playoff, giving it a viable option off the bench should Chambliss get injured or for any other reason. Under new head coach Pete Golding, the Rebels will take on Miami in the national semifinals in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 8.

Chambliss has confirmed he will return to Ole Miss in 2026 if his waiver for another year of eligibility is approved by the NCAA.

The 6-4, 215-pound Simmons was a four-star recruit coming out of Pahokee High School in Florida. He was the No. 19 quarterback in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Missouri had an opening at quarterback after Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal after an injury plagued season as the Tigers’ starter in 2025. The former Penn State quarterback accounted for 2,238 total yards and 17 touchdowns for a Missouri team that lost five of its final eight games after a 5-0 start. Pribula played in only two of the Tigers’ final five games.

Simmons will join a Missouri offense that already has one of the most productive offensive players in college football in running back Ahmad Hardy. Last season, the Louisiana-Monroe transfer rushed for 1,649 yards, the second-most among FBS players, while scoring 16 touchdowns and averaging 6.4 yards per carry.

One of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal is now off the board — and headed to an expected destination.

Former South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown has committed to Auburn, he announced on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

With his move, Brown follows new Tigers coach Alex Golesh from South Florida, where the two teamed up last season to engineer one of college football’s most explosive and productive offenses.

Given his recent track record, it’s easy to understand why.

While helping guide the Bulls to a 9-3 record in the regular season, Brown threw for 3,158 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 1,008 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. His 347.2 total yards per game ranked first among all FBS players, right ahead of Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia.

South Florida’s nine wins last season were the program’s most in eight years, helping Golesh earn the opportunity at Auburn after a strong three-year run with the Bulls in which his teams went 23-15.

The 6-3, 232-pound Brown was South Florida’s starter each of the past three seasons, though a lower leg injury in 2024 limited him to five games. As a sophomore in 2023, he threw for 3,292 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for another 809 yards and 11 scores.

At Auburn, he’ll step into the starting role at a program that has been in desperate need for a difference-maker at quarterback for years.

Despite having offensive-minded head coaches throughout that stretch, the Tigers haven’t finished higher than 68th among FBS teams in scoring offense since 2019. Last season, they averaged just 26.8 points per game, the 74th-best mark of 136 FBS teams. Those struggles negated what was a largely stout defense, one that finished 35th in the FBS in points allowed per game.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had to be restrained from going after the officials after he was ejected in the fourth quarter on Monday, Jan. 5, in a 103-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The first call that upset Kerr was when guard Stephen Curry made a basket but it was taken off the board after officials said he was fouled on the floor. Minutes later, a missed goaltending call led to a sequence where Curry was whistled for his fifth foul.

That set Kerr off, and he stepped on the court to yell at the officials, earning two quick technical fouls and a game ejection … with Snoop Dogg on the call for Peacock.

After the game, officials admitted the goaltend should have been called, but it did not trigger an automatic review because it occurred outside the final two minutes.

Curry ended up fouling out with 43 seconds remaining, and Jimmy Butler’s potential game-winning 16-foot jumper at the buzzer was off, dropping Golden State to 19-18 on the season.

Kerr did not attend the postgame news conference, with Warriors assistant Terry Stotts, who helped to restrain Kerr when he was ejected, taking his place.

‘I’m up here because I’m saving Steve some money,’ Stotts said.

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ATLANTA ― Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo seemingly dreams of creating chaos for opponents.

As Glorilla’s ‘Let Her Cook’ fittingly blares through the speakers at McCamish Pavilion, Hidalgo isn’t hard to spot. Her signature puff is tied up, ever so lightly bouncing, as the junior guard awaits the opening tipoff. Just one minute and 20 seconds into a New Year’s Day matchup against Georgia Tech, Hidalgo does one of the things she does best ― picks her opponent’s pocket.

As the minutes tick away, Hidalgo eventually gets another steal and zooms down the hardwood. With no one around her, she stops on a dime and drains a pull-up triple. It’s a regular day at the office for one of the best two-way players in the country. Hildago leads the nation in steals (5.9 per game) and is second in scoring (25.5 ppg) behind Iowa State’s Audi Crooks. As her junior season unfolds, Hilalgo says she’s matured as a person and player under Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey.

‘My biggest thing was that next play mentality and being able to manage my emotions, and then also be able to manage my teammates’ emotions and not be so worried about myself,’ Hildago told USA TODAY Sports. ‘I feel like I’ve grown a lot in that area, especially from a freshman to now. I still think I have a lot of growth to do … but I think that’s the area I’m most proud of.’

Since her collegiate debut in 2023, Hildago has been the ultimate competitor. She scored 31 points and three steals in her first college basketball game ― against then No. 6 South Carolina. The Notre Dame guard shared she’s had one goal since that day: ‘strike fear into my opponents’ eyes.’ A self-described ‘dawg,’ Hildago has lived up to her objective.

She has added numerous accolades to her name, including an ACC Player of the Year Award, two ACC Defensive Player of the Year trophies and the Dawn Staley award, given to the nation’s best guard. Hidalgo broke the Notre Dame record for consecutive games scoring in double figures (now 81 matchups and counting). She also set the program record for most points in a single game (44 against Akron on Nov. 12) and eclipsed the Division I record for steals in a game with 16. On Dec. 29 in a victory over Pitt, Hidalgo passed her coach on the Notre Dame career steals list. Ivey had 248 career steals from 1996-2001. Hidalgo now has 261 and is within 20 steals of all-time Irish leader Skylar Diggins.

Hidalgo is averaging career highs in nearly every statistical category and quietly carving out her place on the list of candidates for National Player of the Year. Outside of being a scoring threat, she takes pride in making ballhandlers uncomfortable. According to the New Jersey native, after forcing a takeaway, ‘It’s just you and the basket,’ and she enjoys the art of stealing, running into the open court and making plays. Hidalgo’s ability to make game-changing plays, like steals and even passes, which she admits might be one of her more slept-on skills, has become increasingly important for Notre Dame.

She is the only returning starter from and one of three players from last year’s roster. Former Fighting Irish guard and starter Olivia Miles moved on to TCU, and three other starters, including guard Sonia Citron, to the WNBA. The Irish lost back-to-back ACC games over the weekend and fell out of the Associated Press women’s college basketball rankings, ending a run of 85 straight polls ranked ― the third longest active streak.

With a brand new team that’s still figuring it out, Hildalgo’s been thrust into a larger leadership role. The Notre Dame star says while there have been plenty of good moments with a revamped roster, there’s still plenty of work to do.

The Fighting Irish guard is playing some of her best basketball with the support of assistant coach Charel Allen and Ivey, who played point guard at Notre Dame and spent time in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock. The former pro is sharing her knowledge with Hidalgo. Both she and Ivey have ‘point guard minds.’

‘She’s been preaching to me ever since my freshman year … ‘next play mentality,” Hildago said. ‘That’s the biggest thing because I’ve always been a player that’s very emotional, whether it’s high or it’s low. I’ve always been a very emotional player, and so she’s just really been trying to help me with my leadership skills and being able to be frustrated but knowing that my team needs me and they’re watching me.

‘She’s telling me, ‘Be you, but still be able to manage your emotions, manage the team.’ She just lets me play, and that’s the biggest thing for me, is that she allows me to play freely.’

One of the most popular kits in U.S. men’s national team history may be returning for the 2026 World Cup.

According to a leak from Footy Headlines, the USMNT will utilize a red and white striped jersey for the tournament on home soil next summer.

The Nike kit is reminiscent of the team’s “Waldo” jersey, which was U.S. Soccer’s primary kit from 2012 until 2014. It has remained a fan-favorite in the intervening years, with many calling for its return.

The new design is a slight departure from the previous look, with a wavy stripe pattern replacing the straight horizontal stripes.

A navy Nike swoosh is on the left side of the jersey with the U.S. Soccer crest on the right.

The jersey is also a callback to the primary kit from the 1994 World Cup, the last time the USMNT served as the tournament’s host. That kit also used a red and white striped pattern, but with vertical stripes instead of horizontal.

The U.S. women’s national team would also wear the new jersey along with the men’s team. The new primary kit is set to be released in early 2026.

The new kit could become a huge hit with the USMNT set to serve as co-host of the World Cup along with Mexico and Canada.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side has been drawn in Group D along with Australia, Paraguay and a European team yet to be determined.