Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
November 2, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
This past week ESPN received exclusive rights to National Lacrosse League games in a multi-year deal; the newest ECHL team in Savannah announced it will be named the Savannah Ghost Pirates; and Kansas City made history with plans for the first stadium being built for a National Women's Soccer League team, the newly-named Kansas City Current. Highlights from this week are from the National Lacrosse League, ECHL, American Hockey League, Federal Prospect Hockey League, North American Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, National Women's Soccer League, Major League Soccer, United Soccer League Championship, United Soccer League One, United States Football League, Canadian Football League, Women's National Basketball Association, NBA G League, Canadian Elite Basketball League, World TeamTennis, Major League Rugby.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League announced the most extensive United States media rights agreement in its history, giving ESPN and ESPN+ exclusive rights in the U.S. and the rest of the world outside Canada for live NLL games. All NLL games will be carried on an ESPN network or platform. ESPN linear networks - with a minimum of 10 live games annually - and ESPN+ will combine to carry up to 139 games exclusively each year. It will be the largest number of live televised games in the history of the league.
On the heels of the NLL's recent ESPN broadcast deal announcement, Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz joins Devan Kaney to discuss the league's media rights deals with ESPN and TSN!
HOCKEY
ECHL
The ECHL's newest team, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, revealed its new name and logo at a special event held at Ghost Coast Distillery. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson and Ghost Pirates management introduced the name and logo as well as the team colors of green and black to an enthusiastic group of fans. The Savannah Ghost Pirates will begin play of their 36-game home schedule at Savannah's new Enmarket Arena beginning October 2022.
The Savannah Ghost Pirates have officially set sail.
Plays of the Week
American Hockey League
50% of Hartford Wolf Pack games have ended in OT so far--Gettinger is responsible for their 2 OT wins! Check his latest below
Federal Prospect Hockey League
Goalie fight FPHL Binghamton Black Bears!!!!
North American Hockey League
Top Plays of the Week
Western Hockey League
Top 10 Plays of the Week
Ontario Hockey League
OHL Plays of the Week
OHL Saves of the Week
SOCCER
National Women's Soccer League
Kansas City NWSL owners Angie Long, Chris Long and Brittany Matthews announced plans to construct the first soccer stadium purpose-built for a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team. The announcement comes just over 10 months since the group was awarded a franchise and is the latest in a series of major investments for the team.
Once the stadium is complete, the team will no longer share a stadium with Sporting KC or the Kansas City Monarchs.
Powered by the rising momentum of an historic Inaugural Season, the Kansas City Current revealed its team name, crest and colors tonight at halftime of its final match of the year. Following a light and laser show and brand reveal video, Kansas City players returned for the second half of the match in kits bearing the new crest, which features a river current, pushing beyond the boundaries of a traditional soccer crest shape and representative of the power and promise of the athletes. Similarly, the design taps into Kansas City pride with two stars representing Kansas and Missouri, and a familiar "KC" re-imagined in a vertical format. The vertical format communicates the upward momentum of the team and the support of the women and Kansas Citians who have built the foundation.
The new name for the women's soccer franchise is the Kansas City Current.
Verizon Save of the Week - Jess Fishlock, OL Reign
NWSL Lookback Carli Lloyd
Major League Soccer
In the 55th minute, Portland Timbers' Dairon Asprilla delivered a world class goal that could possibly win goal of the year.
United Soccer League Championship
The USL Championship Final on Sunday, Nov. 28 will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and SiriusXM FC (Ch. 157), beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET for viewers and listeners in the United States. Live coverage will be available globally via ESPN International, Flow Sports, and YouTube.
The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week Presented by Cleer Audio for Week 27 of the 2021 regular season with Louisville City FC forward Cameron Lancaster being voted Player of the Week after recording the second hat trick of his career in the Championship to lead LouCity to a 3-1 victory against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night at Lynn Family Stadium that kept the two-time Championship title winners in contention for a first-place finish in the Central Division this season.
The 2021 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Twinspires have arrived! Games start Friday, November 5th and are all available on ESPN+.
United Soccer League One
USL League One announced the Team of the Week Presented by Cleer Audio for Week 29 of the 2021 regular season, with North Texas SC midfielder Bernard Kamungo named Player of the Week after scoring a pair of goals after coming on as a halftime substitute in a 4-1 win against the New England Revolution II that vaulted NTSC into the playoff positions with one game to go in the season.
It's time for the 2021 USL League One Playoffs presented by Twinspires! Tune in to ESPN+ for all matches starting Saturday November 6.
FOOTBALL
United States Football League
USFL financial commitment reached
Canadian Football League
Jeremiah Masoli airs it out to Jaelon Acklin who takes it all the way to the house 65-yards to extend Hamilton's lead.
Indoor Football League
The IFL announced its 19-week, 120-game regular season schedule for 2022, which kicks off on Saturday night, March 12, with defending IFL Champion Massachusetts Pirates hosting the Frisco Fighters and concludes with four playoff potential games in Week 19. The 2022 IFL schedule will include all 11 returning teams and the return of dormant teams, Quad Cities Steamwheelers and the San Diego Strike Force, along with new first year teams Bay Area Panthers and the Vegas Knight Hawks.
After a 6-7 season, the Spokane Shock have made a coaching change. The Spokane Shock announce the hiring of 2-time Arena Bowl Champion, Cedric Walker. Cedric comes to Spokane with a championship mentality at the highest level of indoor football as both a player and coach. Walker has two Arena Bowl Champioship rings. One with the Arizona Rattlers and one with the San Jose Saber Cats.
National Arena League
The Carolina Cobras are proud to announce that the former head coach of the Jacksonville Sharks, James Fuller, will be joining the Carolina Cobras coaching staff as Offensive Coordinator for the 2022 season. Coach Fuller comes to the Cobras with 22 years of coaching experience, staring back in 1999 as the Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach of the Portland Forest Dragons. NAL fans will know Coach Fuller from the Jacksonville Sharks as he led them to the 2019 NAL Championship and in 2018 bringing the Maine Mammoths back from the dead of a 1-7 start to finish 7-8.
BASKETBALL
Women's National Basketball Association
The Atlanta Dream announced two-time WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Dan Padover will join the team as General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. Additionally, Interim Head Coach Darius Taylor will move into the role of Assistant General Manager. Padover and Taylor will work closely with the Dream's ownership, President and Chief Operating Officer Morgan Shaw Parker, and Head Coach Tanisha Wright.
The push to attract a WNBA team to Oakland is getting some major star power. Alana Beard, WNBA All Star, who won a championship with the Los Angeles Sparks, is teaming up with an African-American ownership group to bring a pro women's basketball team to the Oakland Arena. Melissa Colorado reports.
Stan Verrett is joined by Chicago Sky Candace Parker following her historic WNBA finals win and what it meant to her to do it all in front of her family and friends.
NBA G League
After a successful first season that culminated with two top 10 NBA Draft picks, NBA G League Ignite is set to dazzle fans in the Entertainment Capital of the World in the team's second season. Featuring emerging young basketball stars from around the world, Ignite will host eight home games against NBA G League opponents at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas this season.
The 2021 NBA G League Winter Showcase will take place in Las Vegas from Dec. 19-22 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The event marks the return of the NBA G League's premier in-season NBA scouting opportunity to Las Vegas, spanning four days with more than 30 games spread across two courts. Games will begin at 11 a.m. PT each day with four games on each court.
Top Plays of the Week
Maine Celtics court put together.
Canadian Elite Basketball League
Professional basketball is coming to Montreal. The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced that the Montreal Alliance is being added as its ninth franchise and will begin play in 2022 at Verdun Auditorium. The team nickname, Alliance, was chosen to reflect Montreal's mosaic of municipalities and communities that together are an alliance that make Montreal one of the world's great cities.
Montreal Alliance the city's new basketball team. "If we add basketball to it, we're going to the moon baby," says one Montrealer as the Canadian Elite Basketball League announced a team is coming to the city in 2022. The season begins May 25 at the Verdun Auditorium. Wala Amara reports.
BIG3
Tri-State Larry Sanders was named Big3 Defensive Player of the Year. The 6'11" Forward/Center was a key piece to Tri-State finishing at the top of the regular season standings. Without a go-to player on offense responsible for all their points, Tri-State relied on strong defense from the whole team led by the big man down low. Sanders joins the list of James White, Chris Andersen, and Amar'e Stoudemire as players who have taken home BIG3 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
OTHER SPORTS
World TeamTennis
After closing the 2020 season with record-setting viewership of the title match, World TeamTennis will welcome a trio of broadcast partners for the upcoming 2021 season. The league announced that Tennis Channel, NBCSN and For The Fans will be the official broadcast partners for the 2021 season at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden Nov. 13-28.
WTT 2021 Promo Video
Major League Rugby
Old Glory DC's top 5 moments from the 2021 season.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from November 2, 2021
- Washington Spirit Forward Ashley Hatch Named 2021 NWSL Golden Boot Recipient - Washington Spirit
- Washington Spirit Forward Ashley Hatch Named 2021 NWSL Golden Boot Recipient - NWSL
- Klarna Gets in the Game, Kicks off Multi-Year Collaboration with Angel City Football Club - Angel City FC
- 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.
