Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
October 1, 2019 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Last week the officials from the National Arena League and Champions Indoor Football announced they will partner to form a new league for the 2020 season, the NBA G League unveiled an experimental rule change for the 2019-20 season regarding the number of free throws players will attempt, and Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew SC showed off renderings for its new 20,000 seat downtown stadium. Highlights from this week are from the Canadian Football League, International League, Women's National Basketball Association, Big3 and Major League Lacrosse.
FOOTBALL
Canadian Football League
An insane 17-yard touchdown reception by Edmonton Eskimos wide receiver Tevaun Smith:
The Montreal Alouettes go for it on third late in the fourth quarter and fail to convert. They lost to the BC Lions 25-23.
Maybe the most entertaining 'Ring of Honour' ceremony you'll ever see.
Congratulations Winnipeg Blue Bombers punter Bob Cameron. He played 23 seasons with them from 1980 till 2002.
Indoor Football League
The Iowa Barnstormers have named Ameer Ismail as their new Head Coach, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Pettit announced. Ismail joins the organization effective immediately and will oversee all coaching duties.
Champions Indoor Football
Representatives of the National Arena League (NAL) and Champions Indoor Football (CIF) announced that they will partner beginning with the 2020 season. The two leagues will compete together, under a new league name with two conferences, the CIF and NAL. Scheduling will include in-season crossover conference games and a championship game involving the conference champions.
National Arena League
The Carolina Cobras have accepted the resignation of Head Coach Billy Back. As the first Head Coach of the Carolina Cobras, Billy Back led the team to the Championship in its inaugural season in 2018. As well as an appearance in the 2019 Championship game, in which the Sharks won in the last few moments of the game.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
Columbus Crew SC unveiled renderings for its new 20,000 seat downtown stadium. The venue will sit in the heart of the Arena District in downtown Columbus. In addition to serving as Crew SC's new home, the stadium is set to include the first supporters' beer garden in Major League Soccer and a brew hall that will be open on non-matchdays.
A spectacular save by D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid against the New York Red Bulls:
USL Championship
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced that the club has appointed Alan Koch as the second permanent head coach in club history. Koch joins the Switchbacks FC with extensive experience in the USL Championship after earning the league's Coach of the Year award with FC Cincinnati in 2018.
Major Arena Soccer League
The Kansas City Comets announced that Kim Roentved will not be returning as head coach when the team kicks off the 2019-2020 season this fall. Roentved leaves the team with 56 wins in two different stints as the Comets head coach.
BASEBALL
Midwest League
Plans have been shared to build a new riverside ballpark stadium in downtown Beloit, WI. The new community stadium will play host to the Beloit Snappers, the Class A affiliate of the Oakland A's. In addition to the new stadium, the Snappers announced the team's future acquisition by Pensacola, Florida-based Studer Entertainment & Retail, who also currently co-owns the minor league baseball team the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
International League
Every smile. Every game. Every moment in minor league baseball. 2019 represented so much that is beautiful about our game.
BASKETBALL
Women's National Basketball Association
Washington Mystics Elena Delle Donne's 22-Point, 10-Rebound Game 1 Performance in their 95-86 victory over the Connecticut Sun.
NBA G League
The NBA G League announced an experimental rule change for the 2019-20 season regarding the number of free throws a player will attempt when he goes to the free throw line. Under the new experimental NBA G League rule, one free throw worth one, two or three points will be awarded in the event of any foul that would typically result in one, two or three free throws being shot under standard NBA rules. The experimental free throw rule will not apply during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or the entirety of any overtime period.
Matt Lilly has been promoted to General Manager, Delaware Blue Coats, after serving last season as Interim General Manager. In this role, Lilly will continue to oversee Blue Coats basketball operations, working closely with the 76ers to ensure a strong relationship between the NBA team and its G League affiliate.
BIG3
The BIG3 is in a state of shock over the sudden and tragic death of 3's Company Andre Emmett. He was 37. Andre was a member of the BIG3 family for two seasons and never without a smile on his face. His kindness towards others and easy-going demeanor made him a joy to be around. Off the court, Dre was passionate about helping young people through his Dreams Really Exist foundation.
LACROSSE
Major League Lacrosse
Here are the 2019 MLL MPV nominees.
Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced an attendance total of 12,556 from the inaugural PLL Championship this past Saturday (Sep. 21) at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA. - the highest ever single attended event in league history.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from October 1, 2019
- Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
