Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
June 16, 2020 - NBA G League (G League)
This past week Brian Shaw was named head coach of the new NBA G League Elite Prospects team, Major League Soccer announced the league's plan to restart the 2020 season with all 26 MLS clubs competing in the MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida beginning July 8, the Premier Lacrosse League announced that Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, will host the upcoming PLL Championship Series, and both the National Arena League and Champions Indoor Football cancelled their seasons due to COVID-19. Highlights from this week are from the NBA G League, NBL Canada, Women's National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, Premier Lacrosse League, Major League Rugby and World TeamTennis.
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
Brian Shaw, a five-time NBA champion with nearly 30 years of experience as an NBA player and coach, has been named head coach of the new NBA G League team featuring elite youth prospects, it was announced by NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Before joining the NBA G League, Shaw served as head coach of the Denver Nuggets for two seasons from 2013-15. He also held the position of associate head coach with the Indiana Pacers for two seasons (2011-13) and the Los Angeles Lakers for three seasons (2016-19).
Brian Shaw On His Excitement To Coach Elite Prospects In The NBA G League
Brian Shaw On His Continued Interest In Coaching Basketball
National Basketball League of Canada
The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that Billy White of the Moncton Magic has been named Most Valuable Player for the 2019-20 season. The 6'8" forward finished the campaign averaging 18.9 points per game which was the highest in his five year career in the league. He also finished with a field goal percentage of 46% which included a career high 37% from three. The National Basketball League of Canada is pleased to announce that Billy White of the Moncton Magic has been named Most Valuable Player for the 2019-20 season. The 6'8" forward finished the campaign averaging 18.9 points per game which was the highest in his five year career in the league. He also finished with a field goal percentage of 46% which included a career high 37% from three.
NBLC Cuts: 2020 NBLC Most Valuable Player, Billy White
Women's National Basketball Association
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Dan Padover announced that fourth-year guard Kelsey Plum underwent successful on her left Achilles tendon. Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery. Plum is expected to make a full recovery, but will miss the 2020 WNBA season. Plum has averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 assists and 2.4 rebounds in her first three years in the league. She is a career 38.7 percent shooter from three-point range, which is the ninth highest percentage among active players.
After being selected 6th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Draft 2020, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan received surprise messages from former teammate A'ja Wilson and WNBA Legend & South Carolina Women's Basketball Head Coach Dawn Staley.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer announced the league's plan to restart the 2020 season with all 26 MLS clubs competing in the MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida beginning July 8. The tournament, which will be played without fans in attendance, provides a compelling way for MLS to resume its 25th season. Group stage matches will count in the MLS regular season standings and the tournament winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
MLS Is Back Tournament! What You Need To Know About Return To Play
Major League Soccer today conducted the official live draw for the MLS is Back Tournament to determine the group stage matchups of the competition. Each club will play three group stage matches, all counting towards the 2020 MLS regular season standings, and the tournament winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
LACROSSE
Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced that Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah will host the upcoming PLL Championship Series Powered by Ticketmaster. The three-week quarantined and fanless tournament is scheduled to run from July 25th through August 9th, with players arriving a week in advance, and all 20 games presented live across NBC, NBCSN, and NBC Sports Gold. The PLL was the first professional team sports league in the US to announce a return to play, unveiling its plan for the Championship Series on the TODAY Show in early May.
Premier Lacrosse League Announces Championship Series Will Be Held in Salt Lake City
FOOTBALL
Champions Indoor Football
The Champions Indoor Football League board of directors announced today that the 2020 season has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CIF had been exploring ways to play in 2020 and wanted to explore any and all possibilities before formally cancelling this season.
National Arena League
Over the course of the past few months, we have been faced with unprecedented circumstances that have caused multiple delays to the start of the 2020 season. Although we have worked hard to save the current season, it is with deep regret that we are announcing the cancellation of the 2020 National Arena League season. The health and safety of our fans, players and staff is of the utmost importance, and the lack of arena availability along with social distancing restrictions created many obstacles to overcome.
BASEBALL
Atlantic League
The Sugar Land Skeeters announced their intent to host a four-team professional baseball league at Constellation Field, beginning July 3 and running through Aug. 23. Each team is set to play 28 games for a total of 56 games during the season, with all games being played at Constellation Field. The teams will consist of former Major Leaguers and an assortment of professional players who've appeared at affiliated minor league levels as well as independent leagues.
American Association
The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball will begin a six team, 60-game season with fans in attendance on Friday, July 3, the league office announced. The American Association will begin the season operating out of three hubs, with games hosted by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Milwaukee Milkmen and Sioux Falls Canaries. The Winnipeg Goldeyes will operate out of the Fargo hub, the Chicago Dogs will operate out of the Milwaukee hub, and the St. Paul Saints will operate out of the Sioux Falls hub. Each team will play 42 of their 60 games in their hub to limit travel. The schedule will allow any of the three road clubs to return home for games if local governmental restrictions allow for games with fans in attendance.
Northwoods League
Another "pod" of Northwoods League teams comprised of the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, the Green Bay Booyah, the La Crosse Loggers, the Rockford Rivets, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, and the Wisconsin Woodchucks will return for play this summer starting July 1st. The season for this pod will last until August 20th, and will be capped with a two-day, pod playoff series. Working in consultation with state and local officials, the six teams have each developed a plan for safe operation in their respective locations, and the teams look forward to welcoming fans and players back for a much-anticipated season of Northwoods League baseball.
Texas Collegiate League
In multiple cities in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana press conferences are being held to announce the return of baseball after the COVID-19 pause of the college and professional game. The 2020 roster of teams will comprise of 10 franchises made up of active college players (upcoming sophomores to seniors) from different colleges and universities across the nation. The current four ownership groups including the Acadiana Cane Cutters (Lafayette, LA), Brazos Valley Bombers (Bryan-College Station, TX), Texarkana (TX) Twins, and Victoria (TX) Generals will be joined in 2020 by five Minor League organizations including Double-A franchises Amarillo (two teams), Frisco and Tulsa, and Triple-A franchises San Antonio and Round Rock.
HOCKEY
ECHL
The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce that Mark French has been named the team's new Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations. French, 49, has been a head coach for 14 of the last 15 seasons, working in the AHL, CHL, and WHL in North America, as well as the NLA in Switzerland. Mark began his professional coaching career as an assistant coach in 2004-05 with the ECHL's Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, who recorded 42 wins and 92 points. He then accepted his first head coaching position with the CHL's Wichita Thunder. Wichita went 70-59-16 under his guidance, and reached the playoffs twice in three years.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is proud to announce that Alexis Lafreniere of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Rimouski Oceanic is the 2019-20 recipient of the CHL's David Branch Player of the Year Award. Lafreniere was chosen most outstanding after scoring 112 points including 35 goals and 77 assists in 52 games for the league's highest point-per-game rate of 2.15 which is the best since Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters scored at a 2.50 pace in 2014-15. The top ranked North American skater for the 2020 NHL Draft becomes just the second back-to-back recipient in league history following fellow Oceanic captain Sidney Crosby in 2004 and 2005.
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
The Dallas Jackals are excited to announce the Head Coach and Director of Rugby, Allen Clarke. Clarke has over 30 years of rugby experience with a proven track record as a player, coach and providing high performance pathways. He won eight International caps for Ireland, played over 100 games for Northampton Saints and was a key member of the Ulster team that won the European Cup in 1999.
With the historic first pick in the inaugural Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft, the Dallas Jackals select Conner Mooneyham from Life University .
To the 24 Draftees, welcome to Major League Rugby
World TeamTennis
San Diego's Ryan Harrison chats with Genie Bouchard about joining the Chicago Smash, how she's dealing with quarantine and what she expects this season in WTT.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
NBA G League Stories from June 16, 2020
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- 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.
