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Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
July 21, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)

This past week top high school basketball recruit Jonathan Kuming signed to play with the NBA G League next season, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame announced its class of 2020 which included quarterback Henry Burris, and Major League Soccer pushed back inaugural seasons for its three expansion teams. Highlights from this week are from the NBA G League, Women's National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, World TeamTennis, Major League Rugby, X League, Premier Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League and Southern Professional Hockey League.

BASKETBALL

NBA G League

Forward Jonathan Kuminga, a top high school basketball recruit, has signed to play in the NBA G League next season, it was announced by NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Kuminga is ranked by ESPN as the No. 4 player in the nation and the top player in New Jersey in the Class of 2020. A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuminga played at The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey, last season after previously attending Huntington Prep School in West Virginia and Our Savior New American School in New York.

Jonathan Kuminga's Best Plays As He Joins NBA G League

Martin Schiller has been named the head coach of Lithuanian basketball club Zalgiris Kaunas, which competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League and EuroLeague, the team announced. Schiller, who spent the past three years as head coach of the Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz), compiled a 73-69 (.514) record and improved his win total each season, twice earning playoff appearances.

Women's National Basketball Association

The Golic and Wingo crew addresses the news that reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne will be paid by the Washington Mystics whether she decides to play or sit out the 2020 season due to health concerns with Lyme disease.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer announced a new timeline for the inaugural seasons of three of the four expansion clubs. The new timeline is the result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the commencement of business operations and stadium development of these clubs and will give the clubs an appropriate timeline for a successful launch. Austin FC remains on schedule to begin competition in 2021 as planned. Charlotte, originally scheduled to begin MLS play next season, will now debut in 2022. St. Louis and Sacramento will begin play in 2023 instead of 2022.

LAFC forward Diego Rossi scored four goals in the teams 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy

United Soccer League One

USL League One announced its full schedule for the 2020 season, which will see the league's 11 teams compete over the next 15 weeks for a place in the 2020 League One Final. In a change approved by the League One Board of Governors this week, the regular-season schedule will now see each team play a total of 16 regular season games, with each club set to face every other team at least once over the course of the schedule. The top two teams in the regular season will advance to the 2020 League One Final, which will be played the weekend following the conclusion of the regular season.

OTHER SPORTS

World TeamTennis

Philadelphia Freedom star Sofia Kenin talks about learning new skills in quarantine, winning the 2020 Australian Open and what playing in WTT means to her.

Major League Rugby

Old Glory DC's top tries from the 2020 season.

FOOTBALL

Canadian Football League

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame (CFHOF) and Museum's Class of 2020 features four legends from the Canadian Football League (CFL), a record-setting university quarterback and a foundational program-builder. To be inducted under the Player category are offensive linemen Clyde Brock and Freddie Childress, and quarterbacks Henry Burris and Greg Vavra. In the Builder category, former Calgary Stampeders Head Coach and current President and General Manager, John Hufnagel, as well as, former Saint Mary's University coach and Athletic Director, Larry Uteck (posthumously), will be inducted.

Every pro football player dreams of getting that "call to the hall", but for former CFL QB Henry Burris, it wasn't a phone call. Instead, his friend and mentor, Damon Allen, helped deliver the good news in unique fashion.

With less than a week away until the CFL's self-imposed deadline to amend the 2020 CBA with its players association, where does the situation stand? Dave Naylor and Farhan Lalji discuss what needs to happen for the dialogue to continue, how players are preparing whether or not a season is salvaged and the future of Edmonton's team nickname.

National Arena League

During a recent National Arena League Board of Directors Call, the owners voted unanimously not to offer the Massachusetts Pirates a new three year membership agreement. We appreciate the two seasons on the field, and three-years that the Pirates were members of the NAL. However, as a league, we feel it is important to have partners that follow the rules on and off the field.

Team Founder and President Jawad Yatim responded to the announcement that the Massachusetts Pirates will not be taking part in the 2021 National Arena League season with some good news on the horizon.

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

X League

One of the biggest names in the history of football, Mike Ditka, becomes principal owner and Chairman of the X League.

LACROSSE

Premier Lacrosse League

The Premier Lacrosse League and NBC Sports Announce Championship Series Broadcast Schedule and take a look at the Waterdogs LC Jersey Reveal

National Lacrosse League

The Colorado Mammoth has appointed Brad Self as general manager of the lacrosse organization. The former assistant general manager and National Lacrosse League veteran will continue to focus on player personnel and development decisions for the club and serve alongside Mammoth Governor Matt Hutchings and Mammoth Head Coach Pat Coyle.

A flurry of Big Name Trades & Signings In The NLL this week

HOCKEY

ECHL

The South Carolina Stingrays, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Washington Capitals and AHL's Hershey Bears, announced that Ryan Blair has been named the 10th Head Coach in franchise history. Blair, 34, was hired as the team's Assistant Coach and Manager of Hockey Operations last summer and helped the Rays to the ECHL's best regular season record during the 2019-20 season while working under Head Coach Steve Bergin.

The South Carolina Stingrays have renewed their affiliation agreement with the NHL's Washington Capitals with a three-year contract extension, Capitals senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan and Stingrays president Rob Concannon announced.

Southern Professional Hockey League

With the career advancement of Jesse Kallechy up to the ECHL, Fayetteville Marksmen has named Assistant Coach and former Marksmen Defenseman Cory Melkert as the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the organization. Melkert spent a season each as a Player and as a Coach under Kallechy, learning how to properly recruit and lead a team into success. Alongside Kallechy, Melkert was able to immediately jump right into the cornerstones of coaching and learn the tools of the trade.

Words from new Fayetteville Marksmen head coach Cory Melkert

Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 21, 2020


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