Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
February 20, 2024 - Premier Lacrosse League (PLL)
This past week the NBA G League awarded an expansion team to Phoenix for the 2024-25 season, quarterback A.J. McCarron announced his return to the United Football League St. Louis Battlehawks, and the Boston Cannons won the Premier Lacrosse League Championship Series title. Highlights from this week come from the NBA G League, Women's National Basketball Association, United Football League, Canadian Football League, National Arena League, Premier Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League, Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League Major Arena Soccer League, American Hockey League, ECHL, Southern Professional Hockey League, Professional Women's Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, United States Hockey League, Appalachian League. Atlantic League, Major League Rugby, and Ultimate Frisbee Association,
BASKETBALL
NBA G League
The NBA G League and Phoenix Suns announced that the Suns have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA G League team, which is set to debut in the 2024-25 season. With today's announcement, the NBA G League expands to a record 32 teams, while all 30 NBA teams now own or operate an NBA G League affiliate. "Bringing a G League team to Phoenix was one of my first priorities as owner," said Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury team owner Mat Ishbia. "Adding a G League team creates another area for us to compete to be the best and will be a vital tool to help develop players and coaches. Just like the Suns and Mercury, our G League team will serve as a community asset and make a positive impact on and off the court."
Suns' Eubanks involved in altercation, G-League coming to Valley. The Suns and Mercury owner says he's focused on the team's success and will spend the money it takes to get there.
Women's National Basketball Association
Full highlights of Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu facing off in a 3-point Challenge at 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Malika Andrews spoke with Sabrina Ionescu and Steph Curry following their highly anticipated 3-point showdown on 2024 NBA All-Star Saturday Night and look ahead to potential future rematches.
FOOTBALL
United Football League
The St. Louis Battlehawks announced quarterback A.J. McCarron has agreed to contract terms and will return for the upcoming season. In nine games last year, McCarron set an XFL-record by throwing 24 touchdowns for the Battlehawks. He also led the league with a 68.8% completion rate and ranked second with 203 completions and 2,150 passing yards. Following the XFL season, McCarron was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals and was on their active roster the final six games of the NFL season. A native of Mobile, Alabama, McCarron won three BCS championships at Alabama, including back-to-back titles in 2011-12. A fifth round draft selection by Cincinnati in 2014, A.J. has played in seven NFL seasons and completed 113 of 179 passes for 1192 yards with 6 TDs and 3 INTs.
AJ McCarron COMMITS to the United Football League
The United Football League (UFL) will continue to build on the innovation of both the XFL and USFL with its rules for the 2024 season. The UFL has adopted several innovative rules from both previous leagues to deliver an exciting, fast-paced game with plenty of action. The UFL has adopted the XFL's points after-touchdown options. Kickoffs will resemble the USFL's more traditional-style play, with a modification moving the kickoff line back to the 20-yard line. Slight modifications have been made to the rules that overlapped, including alternate possession options in the fourth quarter. Both leagues implemented opportunities in 2023 for teams that are trailing or if the scores are tied. In 2024, the UFL will offer a 4th-and-12 from the 28-yard line.
The United Football League is getting ready to start its first season, and you can't play football without the ball. On Thursday morning, they unveiled the official league football and we already have one right here to show.
Daytona 500 Grand Marshal Dwayne Johnson joined the "NASCAR on FOX" crew and discussed the inaugural UFL season.
Canadian Football League
After 11 seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2013, '14-23) and Edmonton (2012), one of the league's all-time great linebackers, Simoni Lawrence, announced his retirement. The 35-year-old is the Tiger-Cats franchise leader in multiple categories, including total tackles (734), defensive tackles (727) and single-game tackles (17), while his 742 career defensive tackles rank 10th in CFL history. Lawrence is a three-time CFL All-Star (2015, '19, '21), a five-time CFL East Division All-Star (2014-16, '19, '21) and was named the east division's nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player three times (2015, '19, '21).
The BC Lions announced today the signing of National wide receiver Jake Harty to a one-year contract. Harty, 32, brings 69 games of experience under his belt after most recently suiting up in 14 contests with the Montreal Alouettes in 2023, hauling in four receptions for 36 yards and chipping in on special teams with eight tackles before earning his second Grey Cup ring.
The Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced they have signed American RB Ka'Deem Carey. Carey, 31, rushed for 476 yards with 21 receptions for 156 yards in nine games played for the Stampeders in 2023. The 5'9, 206lb Carey was a CFL All-star in 2022 after leading the CFL in both rushing with 1,088 yards and touchdowns with 10 while adding 28 catches for 248 yards in 14 games.
Highlights from Toronto Argonauts defensive back Qwan'tez Stiggers following an impressive 2023 where he was named Most Outstanding Rookie with 5 interceptions and over 50 tackles on the season.
National Arena League
The National Arena League officially reports that the North Texas Bulls franchise has been terminated from the National Arena League. This decision follows the evaluation of the North Texas Bulls logistics and financial situation, which includes failure to pay league dues as well as failure to provide an executed arena lease for the upcoming 2024 season. With just a month before kickoff, the league had decided effective February 16th, to revoke the membership of the North Texas Bulls from the National Arena League. The league had provided multiple extensions in order to assist North Texas in their first season with the NAL. But after a significant time, it was apparent that the North Texas Bulls had exhausted their window to compete in the 2024 season, ultimately due to failure to meet National Arena League operational requirements.
On Thursday, February 15th, the National Arena League notified the current Topeka Tropics ownership that due to violations of their League Affiliation Agreement, including failure to pay league dues and meeting other criteria to participate in the upcoming 2024 season, their current league membership has been revoked.
The National Arena League is in discussions with new ownership, and the Stormont Vail Events Center to allow the Topeka Tropics to participate in the upcoming 2024 season. The National Arena League will provide more details as soon as possible.
Carolina Cobras head coach Brandon Negron has a message for the Cobras fans.
LACROSSE
Premier Lacrosse League
Matt Kavanagh overtime game-winner gave the Boston Cannons a 23-22 win at The St. James in Springfield, Va., and the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League Championship Series title.
National Lacrosse League
NLL Week 11: Top 5 Plays
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
On Futbol Americas, Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez react to a report in the Athletic that suggests Inter Miami are far from compliant with MLS roster restrictions with the start of their season less than a week away.
The ESPN FC panel react to Inter Miami's 1-1 draw with Lionel Messi's boyhood club, Newell's Old Boys, and discuss the expectations for the MLS club this season.
National Women's Soccer League
The North Carolina Courage announces Sam Mewis as the first inductee into the newly-formed Courage 'Ring of Honor' with a ceremony set for March 16 during the 2024 NWSL season opener at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Ring of Honor is implemented to recognize and immortalize longstanding members of the organization who have contributed substantially to the success and legacy of the North Carolina Courage. Mewis played for the Courage from the inaugural 2017 season through 2021 and has six trophies with the club, several individual NWSL honors, and ranks highly among numerous Courage career statistical categories.
The Courage legend, Sam Mewis, will become the first member of the Courage Ring of Honor, created to immortalize and celebrate the icons of the team.
Portland Thorns FC have extended the reigning U.S. Young Female Player of the Year, Olivia Moultrie, keeping the 18-year-old midfielder in the Rose City through the 2026 season. "I chose to stay and play in Portland because I feel like this club has every piece needed to achieve excellence -- the roster, the staff, the ownership and of course the incredible supporters that create an unrivaled environment for every game," Moultrie said. "I absolutely cannot wait to continue to build towards achieving greatness with this club, and of course winning championships!" Moultrie, 18, first joined the club during the 2021 season, making her Thorns FC and NWSL debut on July 3 against Louisville, at the time becoming the youngest player to appear in a league match at just 15 years old.
Ali Krieger joins Kate Abdo, Clint Dempsey, Mo Edu and Charlie Davies on CBS Sports' Kickin' It as she opens up about her divorce and how Gotham FC's title run served as a welcome distraction during a painful period in her private life. In this candid conversation, Ali shares her experiences, resilience, and the power of finding strength amidst personal challenges.
Major Arena Soccer League
MASL Ten for Ten: Shelly Clark
Catch up on the week that was with this week's edition of MASL in 5 with Alex Bastyovanszky!
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
Rockford IceHogs Jaxson Stauber is the first-ever AHL goalie to score a goal and record a shutout.
A shutout and a goalie goal, and Jaxson Stauber is as humble as ever.
This kid.
ECHL
We're travelling to the ECHL where we look at Peter Laviolette of the Wheeling Nailers and his insult to a ref. That and more discussed on today's hockey video!
Southern Professional Hockey League
Week 17 Goals
Professional Women's Hockey League
The Professional Women's Hockey League and women's hockey as a whole saw history made with attendance. Toronto's 3-0 win over Montreal saw a record-setting crowd of 19,285 at Scotiabank Arena.
Western Hockey League
WHL Top 10
Ontario Hockey League
OHL Plays of the Week
United States Hockey League
USHL Goals Of The Week
3ICE
3ICE Season 3 Launch! Puck Drop - June 12th, 2024
BASEBALL
Appalachian League
Tri-State Baseball, the Appalachian League's newest team, unveiled its new team name and logos, announcing that the organization will be known as the Tri-State Coal Cats. "One of the deliverables we acknowledged as a focal point when the city and state came through so significantly for us with the financials for the new ballpark was our commitment to being an economic engine for additional development in our city and region," said Marshall Athletic Director Christian Spears. "Bringing a new team via the MLB-partnered Appalachian League was one of the ways we would do that. We are just thrilled that it came together quickly with the right partners and the right league in our brand new BallPark at One Jack Cook Way."
Tri-State Coal Cats - The season kicks off this summer.
Atlantic League
The worst kept secret in town is out: The Lexington Legends are back. The new ownership group, Temerity Baseball, previewed an impending name change last month with owner Andy Sandler suggesting it would be "legendary," and Legends founder Alan Stein celebrating his return to ownership by breaking out his closet full of blue and green duds. the ball club revealed its restored identity to a packed room of fans at the Red Mile, sharing not just the much celebrated and much-loved name, but also a series of images and marks that create a complete style package for the Atlantic League team. For 20 years, Lexington's Baseball team was known as the Lexington Legends, and a return of the iconic name was overwhelmingly requested by fans in a series of focus groups, surveys and social media posts. Sentence here about WKYT Poll if we have it (In a January poll, more than xxx people told WKYT, "Bring back the Legends!"
Counter Clocks strikeout: Lexington Legends are back up to bat. The worst-kept secret is finally out regarding the future of professional baseball in Lexington.
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
Major League Rugby (MLR), which represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America, is pleased to announce that 18 regular season matches will be aired on Fox Sports in 2024. The regular season begins on March 2 and culminates on June 29, with the Championship Series to follow.
The Gilbert Sportable Smart Ball, featured in every FOX Sports broadcasted MLR match, is set to revolutionize the viewing experience with the addition of real-time tracking and detailed play metrics like location, speed, and hang time directly on your TV.
Ultimate Frisbee Association
Showcasing the top five teams in takeaways from the 2023 season!
Did we miss anything newsworthy or fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
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Premier Lacrosse League Stories from February 20, 2024
- 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.
