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Last Week around the Leagues

by Fran Stuchbury
April 23, 2024 - United Football League (UFL)


This past week the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the first overall pick in the 2024 Women's National Basketball Association Draft, the Oklahoma City Blue won their first-ever NBA G League Championship, and the National Women's Soccer League Portland Thorns reorganized their soccer operations department resulting in Rob Gale being named the new interim coach. Highlights from this week come from Women's National Basketball Association, NBA G League, National Women's Soccer League, MLS NEXT Pro, USL League One, Major Arena Soccer League, United Football League, Canadian Football League, Indoor Football League, National Lacrosse League, ECHL, Professional Women's Hockey League, Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, North American Hockey League, Northwest League, South Atlantic League and International League.

BASKETBALL

Women's National Basketball Association

Two-time Naismith College Player of the Year Caitlin Clark tonight was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick of WNBA Draft 2024 which was held at the at the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) for the first time. A three-time unanimous first-team All-American, Clark led Iowa to its second straight appearance in the NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game earlier this month. The 6-0 guard averaged 31.6 points, 8.9 assists and 7.4 rebounds per game, leading all of Division I in scoring and assists. Clark finished her four-year career as the all-time leader in NCAA Division I history in total points (3,951 points) and three-pointers made (548). The Des Moines, Iowa native was the leading scorer in Division I for three of her four seasons with the Hawkeyes, becoming the only player in NCAA history with 1,000 points in back-to-back seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24). Clark is the second-straight No. 1 overall selection for the Fever, joining 2023 No. 1 pick Aliyah Boston.

Watch as Caitlin Clark was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Caitlin Clark talks being 1st pick of 2024 WNBA draft

WINNERS AND LOSERS from 2024 WNBA Draft: Full FIRST ROUND Selections

NBA G League

The Oklahoma City Blue (2-1) defeated the Maine Celtics (1-2), 117-100, at the Portland Expo Building to claim the 2024 G League Championship. Thunder assignment player Ousmane Dieng earned MVP honors after tallying 25 points, six boards, four assists and two blocks in the win. Oklahoma City led 29-22 after the first and extended its lead by outscoring Maine by 16 points in the second frame to hold a 63-40 halftime lead. After a back-and-forth third quarter the Blue led 92-67 entering the final frame. Oklahoma City held off a late rally from Maine to secure the win and its first G League title.

Here are the highlights.

Best Of 2024 G League Finals MVP Ousmane Dieng

SOCCER

National Women's Soccer League

Portland Thorns FC announced a reorganization of the club's soccer operations naming Rob Gale as Interim Head Coach and Mike Norris as Technical Director. The club will conduct a global search for the next head coach of Thorns FC immediately. "After an in-depth review, we have decided to start to reorganize our soccer operations department to better serve our club and our athletes," said Karina LeBlanc, General Manager and President of Thorns FC Soccer Operations. "Thorns FC have set the standard for excellence in the league. These changes will help us maximize our strengths as we continuously pursue championship-level success. ‚¬Â

The Portland Thorns moved Mike Norris to new role as the club's technical director and named assistant coach Rob Gale as interim head coach.

San Diego Wave FC have acquired veteran forward and Mexican National Team star María Sánchez from the Houston Dash. Sanchez will be under contract with the Wave through the 2026 season, with a mutual option for 2027. In exchange, the Wave will send $300,000 in Intra-League Transfer Funds, $200,000 in Allocation Money and an international slot in 2024 and 2025 to the Dash. "We are thrilled to bring María to San Diego and offer her a warm welcome to our club and community," said San Diego Wave FC President Jill Ellis. "For club and country, María has been an integral part of every team she has been on and her talent will be a wonderful addition to the club."

The crew are pleased to be joined by Sandra Herrera to take a closer look at some of the trades and signings made right before the deadline.

MLS NEXT Pro

This week we're taking you inside a historic weekend in MLS NEXT Pro. This matchweek saw goals, goals, and more goals. Michelle Montaine takes us through a record-breaking weekend.

USL League One

USL Eugene announced its intention to bring USL League One soccer to Eugene, Ore. In a historic collaboration, the Eugene Civic Alliance (ECA) and KidSports announced the nearing completion of the Civic Park Stadium, setting the stage for the creation of USL Eugene which would become the city's first professional soccer team. The stadium project, a symbol of community resilience and innovation, transforms Civic Park Stadium into a beacon of professional sports and community identity. This endeavor has produced a state-of-the-art complex featuring a 3,500-seat stadium, enhanced seating and concessions, top-tier locker rooms and a premier soccer field, ensuring an exceptional experience for players and spectators.

Eugene just months away from new soccer stadium. The Civic Park Stadium is scheduled for completion in November.

Major Arena Soccer League

Catch up on the 2nd week of playoff action with this week's MASL in 5 with Alex Bastyovanszky!

MASL Awards Show 2024. The best of the best from across the MASL are celebrated.

FOOTBALL

United Football League

UFL Top 10 Plays from Week 4

Battlehawks win three straight, drawing thousands of fans to The Dome at America's Center

Canadian Football League

Domonique Rhymes and Adarius Pickett talk about how they intend to change the Ottawa REDBLACKS culture in their first season playing the nation's capital.

Indoor Football League

IFL plays of the Week - Week 5

LACROSSE

National Lacrosse League

NLL Week 20: Top 5 Plays

Philadelphia Wings goalie Zach Higgins Notches 4000 Career Saves

Premier Lacrosse League

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) powered by Ticketmaster announced the professional lacrosse players set to be inducted into the Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame at the PLL's Alumni Weekend, August 3 - 4 at Homewood Field in Baltimore. Brendan Mundorf, Josh Sims, Kyle Sweeney, and Lee Zink have been named to the 2024 Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame Class by the Hall of Fame Committee and inductees. "Our 2024 Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame is built on a class of All-Pro's, All-Stars, MVP winners, MLL champions, and team captains," said Paul Rabil, Co-founder and President of the Premier Lacrosse League. "These players' demonstrated a longevity of success that will invariably serve as their legacy. It's an incredible honor to recognize their work and lasting impact on the game. ‚¬Â

HOCKEY

American Hockey League

The American Hockey League announced today that Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson of the Hershey Bears are the recipients of the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for the 2023-24 season. Since 1972, the award has been presented to the goaltender(s) on the team which allows the fewest goals per game in the regular season. This honor marks the fifth time in franchise history Hershey netminders have claimed this award. The Bears, who won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL's regular-season champions with a record of 53-14-0-5 (111 points), allowed a league-low 151 goals in 2023-24, an average of 2.10 per game. This is the second time in the last four years that Hershey's goaltenders have captured the Holmes Award as Zach Fucale and Pheonix Copley won the award in 2020-21. Shepard, 28, went 27-4-3 in 34 appearances and led the league with a 1.76 goals-against average - the lowest in club history and fifth-lowest mark in AHL history - and a .929 save percentage while recording five shutouts.

ECHL

The ECHL announced that Austin Magera of the South Carolina Stingrays has been named the 2023-24 recipient of the John A. Daley Memorial Trophy as the ECHL Rookie of the Year. Magera, who was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and the All-ECHL Second Team last week, finished second among ECHL rookies - and ninth overall in the league - with 74 points, was third among first-year players with 45 assists and was tied for third with 29 goals. His 14 power-play assists ranked fifth among rookies and he was tied for fifth with 21 power-play points.

Toledo Walleye forward Sam Craggs scored three in less than five minutes to get the Walleye up 2-0 in their first-round series against the Kalamazoo Wings.

Federal Prospects Hockey League

The Federal Prospects Hockey League announces its selection for the FPHL Most Valuable Player. The FPHL Congratulates Justin MacDonald of the Columbus River Dragons as the recipient for 2023-24 FPHL Most Valuable Player (MVP). MacDonald is this year's FPHL Most Valuable Player, leading the league in goals (45), assists (72) and points (117). MacDonald tied his career-best for points in a season (set with the Watertown Wolves in 2021-22), and set a career high in assists. He also led the league in plus/minus with a plus-69 mark and was second in game-winning goals with nine. This is MacDonald's fourth career MVP award, and third FPHL win (2015, 2022 with Watertown).

The Federal Prospects Hockey League announces its selection for the FPHL Rookie of The Year. The FPHL Congratulates Ryan Hunter of the Columbus River Dragons as the recipient for 2023-24 FPHL Rookie of The Year. The 22-year-old Hunter has certainly impressed in his first year of professional hockey. After wrapping up a junior career with the Bradford Bulls of the GMHL posting 51 goals, 65 assists and 116 points in just 41 games to earn MVP honors, Hunter's offensive prowess has made itself known in the FPHL this season. Currently leading all rookies in scoring with 71 points in 49 games, the Toronto, Ontario native has 18 multi-point games this season and currently ranks second in the league with a plus-52 rating.

Carolina Thunderbirds netminder Mario Cavaliere was named the FPHL's Goaltender of the Year. In his second season with the Carolina Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds goalie Mario Cavaliere has led the league in net for a majority of the season while posting a 19-4-1 record across 24 games this season. Cavaliere, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, led the league in Goals Against Average and Save Percentage with a 2.19 GAA and a .930 SV%. Cavaliere was named the FPHL's Goaltender of the Month for the month of December and it is his second year earning league honors after he was named to the Young Stars Squad last season.

Professional Women's Hockey League

"I really love Montreal," says Sara Gonneau, one of the over 21,000 fans that attended the PWHL's debut game at Montreal's Bell Centre on Saturday afternoon, setting a new attendance record for women's hockey around the world. Pamela Pagano reports.

Western Hockey League

After scoring eight hat-tricks during the regular season, Prince George Cougars forward Zac Funk grabbed his first three-goal night at the 2024 WHL Playoffs.

Ontario Hockey League

Battalion's Mike McIvor named OHL Goaltender of the Week

North American Hockey League

NAHL Top Plays - April 8-14, 2024

BASEBALL

Northwest League

Giants prospect Seth Corry records the final out of the sixth no-hitter in High-A Eugene history.

South Atlantic League

Yankees prospect No. 18 prospect Roc Riggio makes an acrobatic double play for High-A Hudson Valley

International League

Tigers No. 13 prospect Dillon Dingler throws out a baserunner in must-see fashion for Triple-A Toledo

Appalachian League

The Bristol State Liners are excited to announce that Todd Steverson will be the manager for the 2024 season. Originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round of the 1989 draft, Steverson opted not to sign. In 1991, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was drafted again as the 25th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1992 MLB Draft, and this time he did sign. He spent three years in the Blue Jays' farm system. He was later drafted by the Tigers in the 1994 Rule 5 Draft, where he found himself with the big league club before the end of April 1995. He later went on to manage and coach a variety of other teams in or associated with Major League Baseball such as the Potomac Cannons, Peoria Chiefs, Palm Beach Cardinals, Vancouver Canadians, Stockton Ports, Midland Rock Hounds, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox and the Las Vegas Aviators.

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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United Football League Stories from April 23, 2024


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