Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
December 27, 2022 - United States Football League (USFL)
This past week the Ontario Clippers won the NBA G League Showcase Cup Championship title, Former USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin was named to the NFL Pro Bowl as a kick returner for the Dallas Cowboys, and Charlotte FC drafted Hamady Diop number one overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Highlights from this week come from NBA G League, Canadian Football League, Major League Soccer, the National Women's Soccer League, American Hockey League, ECHL, North American Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, Premier Hockey Federation, National Lacrosse League, Premier Lacrosse League, and American Ultimate Disc League.
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
The Ontario Clippers (15-4), the NBA G League affiliate of the LA Clippers, defeat the Windy City Bulls (12-7), 99-97, to claim the G League Showcase Cup Championship title. Clippers' guard Xavier Moon knocked down Ontario's last three buckets, including the game-winning mid-range pull up. Moon finished the game with 17 points to lead all reserves. LA Clippers assignee Brandon Boston Jr. led Ontario with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field. Malik Fitts added 19 points to go with eight rebounds.
Here are the highlights.
Top Plays of the Week.
Women's National Basketball Association
Head coach Tanisha Wright, AP Coach of the Year in her first season, and Dan Padover, two-time WNBA Executive of the Year, have each signed five-year contract extensions that will keep them in Atlanta through the 2027 season. "We are essentially building the Atlanta Dream from scratch, and that takes time," said Larry Gottesdiener, primary owner of the Atlanta Dream. "What Tanisha and Dan accomplished with this team in less than a year is extraordinary, and is something that should put the sports world on notice of exciting things to come from our franchise. ¬Â
Canadian Elite Basketball League
The Vancouver Bandits announced that its general manager for the past three seasons, Kyle Julius, will return to the sidelines as the club's head coach for its 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC). Julius previously served as the Bandits' head coach in 2020 when he led the Bandits to the CEBL finals. In 2021 and 2022, Julius continued his tenure as general manager but stepped away from the CEBL sidelines due to overlapping seasons with the P.LEAGUE+, where he has coached the Taiwan-based Formosa Dreamers since 2019.
FOOTBALL
United States Football League
Former USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin, who went on to dazzle the NFL as a Dallas Cowboys kick returner, has been named to the Pro Bowl. KaVontae Turpin has had a fascinating journey through professional football. Now, the former USFL MVP can add another title to his résumé - NFL Pro Bowler. The dangerous kick/punt returner was among seven Dallas Cowboys named to the NFC's Pro Bowl squad. He is the first player in Cowboys history to be named to the Pro Bowl as a returner.
Canadian Football League
Touchdown Atlantic is back! The defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts will take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Halifax on Saturday, July 29, 2023. The regular season match-up is set for Huskies Stadium on the campus of Saint Mary's University, with kick-off at 5 p.m. in Halifax (Atlantic Standard Time), which is 4 p.m. in Ontario (Eastern Time) and 2 p.m. in Saskatchewan (Central Standard Time).
Top 10 Touchdowns
Top 10 Defensive Plays
National Arena League
The National Arena League announces the removal of the Columbus Lions franchise from the League effective immediately. The decision was brought to motion on Monday, December 19, during a Board of Directors call. The NAL is executing that decision by removing the Columbus Lions from all National Arena League affiliation.
American Indoor Football Alliance
The Columbus Lions have accepted an invitation to become part of the American Indoor Football Alliance (AIFA). This move will secure the Lions' 16th season well within a competitive league and ensure an exciting and family-friendly fan experience on game-day. ¬ÅThe American Indoor Football Alliance is very proud to have the Columbus Lions join the AIFA family, the Lions organization brings an enormous amount of quality talent, eye for business, Football knowledge, and all around professionalism to the league the Lions organization also shares the vision of the AIFA on providing the best for our players, community and fans, ¬Â states AIFA Commissioner/Founder Alton Walker.
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
Charlotte FC drafted Hamady Diop number one overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft presented by Adidas. In exchange for the number one pick from St. Louis CITY SC, the Club traded $200K in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM), $200K in 2024 GAM, and an additional $50K GAM if certain incentives are met. St. Louis also receives Charlotte FC's 2023 20th overall pick.
Hamady Diop Clemson University junior won 2021 NCAA College Cup; CLTFC trades up to $450K General Allocation Money (GAM) to St. Louis in exchange for #1 overall pick.
Major League Soccer announced the complete 2023 MLS regular season schedule, highlighted by the inaugural campaign of the league's 29th club, St. Louis CITY SC. The 2023 season will also see the debut of MLS Season Pass, the unprecedented subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer that will have every match of the MLS regular season, Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, and Leagues Cup1 - all in one place and with no blackouts.
Best Diving Headers of 2022
National Women's Soccer League
The Houston Dash hired Sam Laity as the fourth head coach in team history. Laity brings extensive coaching experience through a decade-long career in the NWSL with the OL Reign. The 46-year-old coached in more than 200 NWSL regular season and playoff games during his tenure as an assistant coach at OL Reign and spent most of his career as the primary assistant under OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey.
First day on the job.
The Orlando Pride and forward Marta have agreed to a two-year deal, signing the player to the Pride through the 2024 season, with Allocation Money used in the signing. The 36-year-old looks to add to an already historic career in her upcoming seventh season with the Pride.
Free agent midfielder Debinha has informed the North Carolina Courage that she will not be returning to the club for the 2023 season. Debinha, who was declared an NWSL free agent by an independent arbitrator earlier this off-season, spent six seasons with the Courage, joining the team in 2017. Debinha appeared in her 100th NWSL regular season match in the 2022 season finale at San Diego. She scored 35 career goals in six seasons, including a career-best 12 in 2022 to earn NWSL First Team Best XI and was an MVP finalist. She also had nine goals in 16 career Challenge Cup games, including five in 2022 to help the Courage claim the Championship.
The National Women's Soccer League announced the hiring of Lauren Lopez as Chief People and Culture Officer. In the newly formed role, Lopez will identify, develop and implement human resource strategies, initiatives and best practices across the league and club ecosystem. She will also be responsible for establishing the league's organizational design, overseeing and enhancing player education, engagement and experience, and crafting and managing the league's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
United Soccer League Championship
The USL Championship announced its competition structure for the 2023 season. The league's 24 teams will be divided into two conferences - a balanced 12 in the Eastern Conference and 12 in the Western Conference. A 34-game regular season will be played from March 11 to Oct. 14, 2023. The home openers and full schedule for the 2023 USL Championship season will be announced in January 2023.
Major Arena Soccer League
The Major Arena Soccer League conducted the first ever MASL College Draft today via Zoom. All fourteen teams participated in the draft's three rounds. Forty--two players selected overall with the first two picks being territorial and the third round selection was at-large.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
It's been a remarkable journey, and another impressive notch in the Sutter-family belt. To be sure, Wranglers captain Brett Sutter has played a significant amount of hockey in the last 16-plus seasons. When he suits up for career game No. 1,000 in the American Hockey League on December 21, 2022, the Viking, Alta. native will have achieved something that only eight players have achieved ... ever.
Charlotte Checkers Riley Nash cracked the double digits last night netting his 10th goal of the season in overtime.
ECHL
Plays of the Week
Federal Prospect Hockey League
The Delaware Pro Hockey Group LLC announced today the appointment of Brian Verbeek as Head Coach for the Delaware Thunder Professional Hockey Club. Coach Verbeek joins the Thunder from Wyoming Ontario with an extensive background in hockey as player and coach. Coach Verbeek stated that, "I'm looking to help the organization develop a culture that breeds a winning attitude based upon hard work first, which will enhance and improve upon the secondary factor of talent. ¬Â
North American Hockey League
The Springfield Jr. Blues, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that current Assistant Coach Todd Pococke will take over General Manager & Head Coaching duties for the 2023-24 season! Yesterday, we announced that GM & Head Coach Tyler Rennette will step down from his roles within the organization at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. We are pleased to announce that we will be promoting Todd Pococke to those roles starting this summer.
The top plays in the NAHL from December 12 - December 18, 2022
Ontario Hockey League
OHL Plays of the Week
First Half Top 5: Goals
Premier Hockey Federation
The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) in partnership with the ECHL, have announced that Ann-Sophie Bettez of the Montreal Force and Sydney Brodt of the Minnesota Whitecaps will participate in the 2023 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic on Monday, January 16 at Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The game will air LIVE exclusively on NHL Network.
PHF Week Six Highlights
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
Welcome to the NLL, Las Vegas
Premier Lacrosse League
Jeff Teat 2022 PLL Highlights
OTHER SPORTS
American Ultimate Disc League
Top 10 wildest plays from the 2022 AUDL season
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
United States Football League Stories from December 27, 2022
- 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.
