Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
March 12, 2024 - United Football League (UFL)
This past week Birmingham Stallions running back Bo Scarbrough announced his retirement from football, the National Women's Soccer League's Orlando Pride signed Zambian international Barbra Banda to a four-year contract, and the Northwest League's Hillsboro Hops new city-owned ballpark became fully funded thanks to a final $15 million approval from the Oregon State legislature. Highlights from this week come from the United Football League, National Arena League, National Women's Soccer League Major League Soccer, Major Arena Soccer League, Northwest League, Women's National Basketball Association, NBA G League, American Hockey League, ECHL, Southern Professional Hockey League, Professional Women's Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, North American Hockey League, United States Hockey League, Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, National Lacrosse League, Major League Rugby, and Ultimate Frisbee Association.
FOOTBALL
United Football League
Birmingham Stallions running back Bo Scarbrough has announced his retirement from football. Hailing from Eutaw, Alabama, Scarbrough leaves an enduring legacy following an illustrious collegiate career with the Crimson Tide. His time at Alabama was marked by powerful performances, showcasing exceptional strength, agility, and an uncanny ability to break tackles, contributing significantly to the team's success. "You can love this game all you want. But at the end of the day, the game can't love you back because it's not a person; it's a ball," said Scarbrough. "I have so much respect for the people still playing. And when it's your time, you'll know it's your time. ¬Â
Two-Time USFL and NCAA National Champion, Bo Scarbrough, announces his retirement from football
The United Football League announced a partnership with Under Armour ahead of its upcoming season, which kicks off on March 30, 2024. Today's announcement is an extension of an expansive, multi-year agreement signed in 2023 with the XFL. "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Under Armour and appreciate their commitment to both the League and the future of spring football," said Russ Brandon, President and CEO of the UFL. "Under Armour has football in their DNA and a phenomenal history working across the high performance and professional sports ecosystem. We are committed to delivering only the best for our athletes, staff, and fans, and we know Under Armour will provide best-in-class products to represent the UFL. ¬Â
United Football League Uniform Rankings
ESPN revealed its signature commentator teams for the inaugural season of the UFL on ESPN & ABC platforms. Features five teams of signature voices across ESPN's roster of industry-leading football experts, many returning from the platform's 2023 XFL coverage, providing additional insight and expertise. The three ESPN/ABC teams each include a play-by-play commentator and analyst in the booth plus a reporter and analyst on the field. The sideline team will provide a unique vantage point for analysis and added access for fans throughout the game. ESPN Deportes' coverage will include a rotation of two teams, featuring a play-by-play voice and analyst.
Teams will cover ESPN's full 21-game slate across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes*. All of these games will also be available on ESPN+.
Canadian Football League
Linebacker Larry Dean is calling it a career after eight incredible seasons of CFL football. The Champ, as he's known to many around him, retires 25th all-time in CFL defensive tackles, a four-time CFL divisional all-star (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023), with three 100+ tackle seasons (2018, 2022, 2023), and as the East Division's nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2018, among many other accomplishments. All told, Dean played 108 regular season CFL games, registering 570 career tackles, 15 special teams tackles, 11 sacks, seven interceptions and eight forced fumbles.
The Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced that former CFL quarterback Drew Tate has joined the coaching staff as an offensive assistant. Tate, a 12-year CFL veteran quarterback, joins the Double Blue staff from Saskatchewan where he coached receivers in 2023. The Texas native started his coaching career following his playing days in 2018 with Coastal Carolina before coming to the CFL as the B.C. Lions quarterbacks coach in 2019. Between 2020 and 2022, Tate would coach offensive positions in the Spring League, at The University of Tennessee at Martin and Northen Iowa.
The BC Lions are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of head coach, Grey Cup champion and Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Dave Ritchie. Said Lions co-general manager and director of football operations Neil McEvoy: "Coach Ritchie was a champion at heart who represented the BC Lions with the utmost class and professionalism. Anyone who had the good fortune to work with him was better for it. He will be dearly missed by everyone across the Canadian Football League. ¬Â Ritchie served as Lions head coach from 1993-95 and would engineer one of the greatest turnarounds in CFL history, inheriting a squad that finished 3-15 in the year prior to his arrival and moulding them into Grey Cup champions in the unforgettable 1994 season. Ritchie's 31 victories are good for sixth all-time among Lion head coaches.
National Arena League
Around the NAL - Episode 1 - We break down some National Arena League history, briefly explain the removal of the North Texas Bulls and Topeka Tropics, and give an introduction to the 6 teams playing in the NAL this year! There's alot to be excited about.
SOCCER
National Women's Soccer League
The Orlando Pride has signed Zambian international Barbra Banda on a blockbuster deal acquiring the forward via transfer from Chinese Women's Super League side Shanghai Shengli FC. Banda joins the Pride following a $740,000 transfer fee and was subsequently signed to a four-year contract through the 2027 season, with Allocation Money used in the signing. The transfer agreement also involves a negotiated sell-on clause for any future transfer of Banda. In total, the Pride's signing of Banda will mark one of the largest all-in investments on a player in National Women's Soccer League history. Banda will join the team pending the receipt of her P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
Welcome, Barbra Banda! - Orlando Pride
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer today announced that Los Angeles Football Club head coach Steve Cherundolo has been fined $10,000 for his comments made following LAFC's match against Real Salt Lake on March 2. The comments are in violation of the league's public criticism policy.
Evander's Heroics: 97th Minute Golazo Lifts Portland Timbers to Victory!
Major Arena Soccer League
Join us as we celebrate the 10th anniversary season of the MASL by sitting down with those you have witnessed the evolution first-hand. This week we talk with Pete Richmire, the 1s and 2s behind all the league's statistical records.
Catch up on an action packed Week 15 with this week's episode of MASL in 5 with Alex Bastyovanszky!
BASEBALL
Northwest League
The last piece of the funding puzzle to secure the Hillsboro Hops' long-term future in Washington County was put in place last night when the Oregon State Legislature committed the final $15 million needed for a new city-owned ballpark. The announcement comes just days prior to the March 15 deadline imposed by Major League Baseball. "This news means that the Hops are staying in Hillsboro with a new, year-round ballpark, where our community will all be able to gather for decades to come," said Hillsboro Hops President and General Manager K.L. Wombacher. "On behalf of our team, I'd like to enthusiastically thank the Oregon Legislature, as well as our many business and community champions, and most importantly, our fans who raised their voices for the Hops. We are humbled by your support, and we can't wait to kick off another season together on April 5 and celebrate our shared future. ¬Â
Hillsboro Hops to stay after reaching funding goal
BASKETBALL
Women's National Basketball Association
The back-to-back WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces announced that the team is sold out of season ticket memberships for the 2024 season, making them the first team in WNBA history to sell out its season ticket allotment. Fans interested in adding their names to a waiting list for 2025 may do so by visiting the Las Vegas Aces website. Las Vegas tips off the 2024 WNBA season, Tuesday, May 14 at 7 pm PT against the Phoenix Mercury.
Las Vegas Aces season tickets sold out
ABC News' Robin Roberts sat down exclusively with basketball star Caitlin Clark to talk about her historic college career and why she's making the jump to the WNBA now.
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced that the second WNBA Canada Game will feature the Los Angeles Sparks and the Seattle Storm playing a preseason game on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. The 2024 WNBA Canada Game will be the second preseason WNBA game to ever be played in Canada and the fourth preseason WNBA game outside of the United States, following previous games in Toronto, ON (2023); Manchester, England (2011) and Monterrey, Mexico (2004).
Canada getting another WNBA game
NBA G League
The Grand Rapids Gold, the official NBA G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, have agreed to trade the returning player rights of Isaiah Thomas to the Salt Lake City Stars. In exchange, the Salt Lake City Stars have agreed to trade the returning player rights of MaCio Teague and Marcus Georges-Hunt to the Gold. The former NBA Star was acquired by the Gold in December 2021 where he made his debut for the team in a game against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants where he scored 42 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. Thomas secured 10-day contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks, followed by his return to the Gold in February 2022. Thomas capped off the 2021-2022 season with the Charlotte Hornets, signing for the remainder of the season in March 2022.
Isaiah Thomas (30 PTS & 8 AST) And Jason Preston (19 PTS, 13 AST, 10 REB) Lead Stars To Win
Top Dunks Of The Month - February 2024
Canadian Elite Basketball League
The Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) have promoted Sheldon Cassimy as the fourth head coach in franchise history. Cassimy has been a member of the Honey Badgers coaching staff since the CEBL Summer Series in 2020 under the guidance of Ryan Schmidt and Antoine Broxsie. Cassimy served as an associate head coach last season with the Honey Badgers, in addition to stepping in as head coach in three games in place of Broxsie who was assigned to the Cleveland Cavaliers for NBA Summer League.
HOCKEY
American Hockey League
Trouble to Triumph: The highest paid player in AHL history is back on the ice after treatment. Evgeny Kuznetsov just came back from the NHL Players Assistance Program, which is a joint venture between the NHL and the players' union that's meant to help players when they're struggling with mental health, substance abuse and other issues.
ECHL
Jack Dugan found a unique way to score the lone goal in Fort Wayne's 1-0 win over the Wheeling Nailers in ECHL action. After making a nice move to the net, the puck bounced around before going off the seat of his pants and in.
Professional Women's Hockey League
PWHL Toronto superstar Natalie Spooner visits her parents home to reconnect with her hockey roots and discuss what The Joy Of Sport means to her.
Peaches Sports Bar creates inclusive space for PWHL Toronto watch parties| International Women's Day
Southern Professional Hockey League
Week 20 Goals
Western Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
Saginaw Spirit defenseman - Zayne Parekh: All 30 Goals So Far (Record-Breaker)
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League (USHL) has announced the format for the 2023-24 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs. This season's playoffs will feature 12 teams, six from each of the Eastern and Western Conferences, beginning on Monday, April 15.
It took some time, but forward Ben Yurchuk delivered the Teddy Bear Toss score with his eighth goal of the season for Chicago Steel !
North American Hockey League
NAHL Top Plays - February 26 - March 3, 2024
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Plays of the month of February
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
NLL Week 14: Top 5 Plays
NLL Stories: Every Child Matters
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
MLR Champions, the New England Free Jacks host Old Glory DC in a 2023 East Conference rematch, who accomplish an upset ending the Free Jacks 13-game win streak 35-34 in Week 2 of MLR's 2024 season.
Pro Volleyball Federation
The Orlando Valkyries, proud member of the Pro Volleyball Federation, has announced franchise owner David Forman has appointed current team President & Chief Operating Officer, George Manias as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization. In his new role, Manias will work on behalf of Forman to represent ownership in all league matters and all bigger picture planning, guiding and directing the organization as the team and league grow beyond this inaugural season. "George has done a tremendous job in getting the Valkyries launched and up and running in such a short order," Forman said. "He has proven his worth to take over all facets of guiding the Valkyries ship. It is a crucial time for us and need to run this sports franchise more like a business to sustain for the long haul. George has the experience, know-how, energy and passion to do so. I'm happy to hand the keys over to him from here. ¬Â
Ultimate Frisbee Association
The New York Empire have not lost a game in two straight seasons, winning back-to-back championships on their way to tying a league record with 30 straight wins*. Here is one highlight play from each of their last 30 victories.
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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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.
