Sports
Morning Buzz
Start your morning with Buzzcast with Abe Madkour: What’s next for the NFLPA? The W’s All-Star glow in Indy and big names and big personalities who move the needle
NFLPA Exec Dir Lloyd Howell has resigned effective immediately in a dramatic late-night statement issued on social media and sent to reporters Thursday. There was no immediate word of an interim replacement.
“It’s clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day,” Howell wrote. “For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as executive director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.”
The news comes after a series of disclosures this summer that raised questions about the union’s handling of several key matters in Howell’s two years in charge, including its decision to not share with members a major arbitration ruling in January. The union lost the case, in which it claimed owners colluded to prevent guaranteed salaries for star quarterbacks, but the arbitrator found that Commissioner Roger Goodell and then-General Counsel Jeff Pash urged owners to hold down guaranteed deals.
Also, federal prosecutors are investigating whether board members of OneTeam Partners, who include both Howell and MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark, had created compensation plans that could personally enrich them. Then, more recently, ESPN reported criticism of Howell’s perceived conflict of interest for serving as an aerospace/defense adviser to the Carlyle Group, which is an authorized private equity investor in NFL teams.
It’s business as usual regarding Netflix’s approach to live sports rights, which remains that sports are only a small part of its overall portfolio.
Despite Apple appearing to be in the driver’s seat for F1 media rights (at a reported $150M annually), UFC and MLB still up for grabs and the NFL possibly coming to market early, the company re-emphasized during its Q2 earnings call Thursday afternoon that sports are still just a minor part of its streaming strategy.
“Sports are a subcomponent of our live strategy, but our live strategy goes beyond sports alone,” said co-CEO Ted Sarandos, when asked specifically about F1. “We remain focused on ownable, big breakthrough events, because our audiences really love them. Anything we chase in the event space or in sports has got to make economic sense as well.”
Netflix has enjoyed streaming one-off, major events like the Jake Paul–Mike Tyson fight, and also holds the rights to WWE’s “Raw” in a 10-year, $5B deal. In 2027 and 2031, the streamer will exclusively host the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell “rejected a request” from NASCAR teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to continue racing with charters while they continue to battle NASCAR in court. The rejection means their cars will “race as open entries” at Dover, Indianapolis and “perhaps longer than that in a move the teams say would put them at risk of going out of business.” The teams “won’t lose their drivers or sponsors before his decision on a preliminary injunction.” Bell “left open the possibility of reconsidering his decision if things change over the next two weeks” (AP, 7/17).
Bell ruled the two teams “failed to establish irreparable harm to support entry of a TRO.” Lead counsel for the teams Jeffrey Kessler said they “remain confident that our motion for a preliminary injunction is legally warranted and necessary” (RACER, 7/17).
Thursday’s meeting between the WNBPA and WNBA to discuss the CBA “lasted for a couple of hours and ended with no resolution.” More than 40 WNBA players gathered for the meeting, which marked “the largest in-person player turnout in union history during CBA talks.” The sides “did agree to another meeting this weekend.” WNBPA Exec Dir Terri Carmichael Jackson said she doesn’t know that “I’m going to say progress, but we had spirited conversation.” Jackson: “We’re on track to get back to meeting, and to engaging in conversations that will lead us to a CBA” (ESPN.com, 7/17). WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that “both sides are in listening mode.” Engelbert: “It was very constructive dialogue” (AP, 7/17). The WNBPA said in a statement the WNBA’s response to their proposals “fails to address the priorities we’ve voiced from the day we opted out: a transformational CBA that delivers our rightful share of the business that we’ve built, improves working conditions, and ensures the success we create lifts both today’s players and the generations that follow” (WNBPA).
Most players “declined to comment when leaving the downtown Indianapolis hotel.” One player “characterized the meeting as ‘bullsh-t,’” and another “simply shrugged when asked how it went” (N.Y. POST, 7/17).
NBAE via Getty Images
Fever G Caitlin Clark will “not participate in the WNBA All-Star Game or the 3-point competition after injuring her right groin” in the Fever’s win over the Sun on Tuesday. Clark was “set to be the centerpiece of the All-Star weekend in Indianapolis,” as she was named a captain of one of the All-Star Game teams (USA TODAY, 7/17). Not having Clark for the All-Star Game, “particularly the one seemingly designed to showcase her as the new face of the league in a city hosting its first game, partially undoes months of planning for the WNBA and its ASG stakeholders” (YAHOO SPORTS, 7/17).
Clark had been set to “participate in her first 3-point contest as a pro” on Friday as part of WNBA All-Star Weekend. Others in the event include Liberty G Sabrina Ionescu, Mystics G Sonia Citron, Sparks G Kelsey Plum and Dream G Allisha Gray, the defending champion of the event. Clark’s management team earlier this year said that she “wanted her first 3-point contest to be in Indianapolis at the WNBA event” after she declined an invitation to compete at NBA All-Star Weekend. Participants also were announced on Tuesday for the skills challenge, with Gray, the winner from last year, headlining the event again alongside Liberty G Natasha Cloud, Storm Gs Skylar Diggins and Erica Wheeler and Lynx G Courtney Williams. Both events will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse beginning at 8pm ET Friday on ESPN (ESPN.com, 7/15). Clark “declined doing the 3-point contest at WNBA All-Star in Phoenix last summer, citing rest and mental health after what was a hectic rookie season.” With injuries and a “slight shooting slump” this season, her participation this year was “up in the air until now” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/15).
Neukom “was a leading voice of the front office” during the 2010 World Series run and, “amid controversy,” retired in September 2011. Getty Images Former S.F. Giants managing partner Bill Neukom has died at age 83. Neukom was an investor in the team starting in 1995 and succeeded Peter Magowan after the 2008 season. Neukom “was a leading voice of the front office” during the 2010 World Series run and, “amid controversy,” retired in September 2011, less than a year after the title. He was succeeded by Larry Baer. Before his time as a Giants executive, Neukom was a “prominent lawyer in the Seattle area,” making partner at K&L Gates. Starting in 1985, Neukom served as Microsoft’s first general counsel, where he spent a total 25 years (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/17). Neukom, “known for wearing his signature bow ties,” was the first Giants’ principal owner to guide the franchise to a championship since Horace Stoneham in 1954, when the franchise was in N.Y. (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 7/17).
Drake Star’s H1 2025 Global Sports Tech Report, which the eponymous investment bank released this week, continued to show that the sports technology and media financial markets are active on the deal-making front, both in terms of M&A and private financings.
Drake Star recorded 503 deals accounting for $51.9B in total value in the first two quarters of 2025, anchored by 233 M&A transactions ($32.2B) and 239 private financings ($6.6B). The H1 2025 M&A value figure is pacing similar to the full-year number Drake Star recorded for 2024 ($67.8B), while the private financing number has already eclipsed last year’s $4.5B, largely due to sizable fundraises by Napster when it was branded Infinite Reality ($3B) and DAZN (reported $1B from Saudi Arabia’s PIF and $827M from its owner, Len Blavatnik).
“The biggest theme out there is [that] sports as an industry has been so professionalized in terms of investment activities — it’s not anymore a trophy asset,” Drake Star Partner Mohit Pareek told SBJ. “It’s a very, very institutionalized asset class where you see huge amounts of activity, all the way from [the] grassroots level to youth sports to [the] pro league level.”
Takeaways: Focus on consolidation, deal quality
Ravens RB Derrick Henry has signed on as a brand ambassador for Amazfit, the consumer wearables brand owned by Zepp Health. Henry is Amazfit’s first NFL athlete sponsor, and he joins a roster of ambassadors that includes Olympic medal-winners such as sprinter Gabby Thomas and triathlete Morgan Pearson, as well as WTA No. 4-ranked tennis player Jasmine Paolini.
Henry, 31, is now entering his 10th NFL season and has been training this offseason with the T-Rex 3, a smartwatch that tracks heart rate, training load, stress and sleep. In a position beset by concerns over durability and career longevity, Henry has bucked that trend. He is far and away the NFL’s leading rusher over the past six seasons — his 9,130 rushing yards in that time are 2,256 more than anyone else.
“For me, smart recovery and training is a really big part of what I do to take care of my body,” Henry wrote to SBJ. “This will only make it easier for me to recover faster, know things like HR thresholds, or making sure my sleep is on point. Plus, the watches look great, which you know is important for me.”
Henry also noted that Amazfit offers a variety of tracking devices based on a wearer’s preference — watch, strap and ring — without the need for a subscription.
Mets’ sponsor MooMoo is unveiling a 50-foot by 36-foot, double-sided sign at Citi Field — next to the secondary scoreboard above the New Balance sign — featuring the online trading platform’s orange bull logo on Friday.
“It’s going to be super hard to miss. And for night games, it’s going to really pop as well,” Neil McDonald, MooMoo’s U.S. CEO, told SBJ.
MooMoo became a Mets’ sponsor on April 3 in a five-year, multi-million dollar deal. It was the first sports sponsorship for the platform, which has its U.S. headquarters in Jersey City, N.J.
The deal came together rather quickly, with the Mets and MooMoo initiating talks in early March. It was a result of Mets Dir of Partnership Development Justin Bergman seeing MooMoo signage in the subway, when the platform advertised in 520 cars.
Athlete-owned media platform PlayersTV is raising up to $10M in funding, with as much as $5M coming from a new crowdfunding campaign. The offering values PlayersTV at $50M.
PlayersTV was founded in March 2020 and has the backing of more than 70 pro athletes, including Basketball HOFers Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, Baseball HOFer Ken Griffey Jr., Chiefs TE Travis Kelce and Spurs G Chris Paul. The company is now profitable and nearing eight figures in revenue on some explosive growth: PlayersTV has already doubled its 2024 revenue this year, and the company projects 300% year-over-year revenue growth in 2026.
Given its strong financial profile, why would the sports media startup look for capital from its viewers as opposed to venture capital or private equity firms?
Co-founders Collin Castellaw and Deron Guidrey said they have intentionally avoided taking institutional money to ensure they can prioritize long-term growth goals over near-term monetization efforts, and that they want to keep their constituents front and center.
Alt, a trading card platform, has secured an asset-based revolving credit facility from Trinity Capital of up to $40M. The marketplace will use the capital to offer more lending and cash-advance opportunities to collectors on the cards they own. Alt offers purchasing and bidding on trading cards, consignment and storage of those items and can also provide funds while using a client’s inventory as collateral.
Alt gives its user a few tech-infused tools to navigate their purchases. The platform has a marketplace data insights tool and an AI agent to help with task navigation. The company launched in early 2021 with $31M in funding, then announced a $75M Series B funding round in November of that year.
Its investor group includes Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six and a stable of athletes like former NFLer Tom Brady, Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo and former NWSLer Alex Morgan. The San Francisco-based Alt, founded and led by CEO Leore Avidar, has approximately 50 employees. Ohanian is also a member of the company’s two-person board with Avidar.
Trinity Capital has a portfolio of 200-plus companies across various sectors. In the sports tech space, it’s involved with Sports Illustrated Tix and the Drone Racing League.
The Hornets are looking for a Senior Manager/Inside Sales. The Charlotte-based position is responsible for overseeing and managing the inside sales team while focusing on generating revenue through ticket sales, suite rentals and other key business opportunities (Hornets).
Univ. of Texas are looking for a Dir/NIL Revenue & Activation. The Austin-based position is responsible for aligning NIL strategy with institutional values and NCAA/conference guidelines, driving revenue through NIL-related sponsorship opportunities, and ensuring flawless execution of athlete engagements (Univ. of Texas).
PGA Tour are looking for a Dir/Ticketing Sales Strategy. The Ponte Vedra Beach-based position is responsible for ticket admission revenue performance by leveraging data, developing pricing frameworks and delivering actionable insights to maximize revenue and attendance (PGA Tour).
LA Galaxy is looking for a Marketing Manager. The Carson-based position is responsible for planning and executing all digital marketing, including SEO/SEM, marketing database, email, social media and display advertising campaigns (LA Galaxy).
Speed Reads…
Georgia State has hired Van Wagner, a N.Y.-based sports marketing consultant, “to identify the university’s inaugural naming rights partner for the Georgia State Convocation Center,” which opened in 2022 (ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, 7/17).
The new turf at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is “in place,” the school announced Wednesday. The turf was by far the most extensive piece of renovation left to complete during phase one of the venue’s rebuild (K.C. STAR, 7/17).
Track athlete Jadyn Mays “signed a professional contract” with Nike and is being “represented by Hudson Sports International” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/17).
Officials announced that Montreal will host the Canadian Grand Prix “until at least 2035.” The new agreement commits CA$117M (US$85.3M) in spending over the last four years of the contract (Montreal GAZETTE, 7/17).
Morning Hot Reads: Changes Are Working
TRIBLIVE went with the header, “Increased popularity shows changes are working for MLB.” After the first-ever “‘swing-off’ brought pizzazz to the finish” of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game, it “seems inevitable the concept will be used for regular-season games.” It “shouldn’t be,” as it has “a fatal flaw.” The “swing-off” uses “non-major-leaguers to help determine the result of MLB games, namely the batting-practice pitchers.” That “would be silly,” but “the concept is fun for the All-Star Game, and the idea is to be respected.” Sports “need change.”
Also:
Social Scoop…
Walking with Rory + JT group and I’ll say this: nothing can prepare you for hearing “Roll Tide” in an Irish accent. It’s awesome
— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) July 18, 2025
Bill Neukom, the former managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants and the face of ownership during the team’s 2010 World Series title, has died. He was 83.
Neukom played a huge part in ushering in the modern era of Giants baseball when he stepped into his role in… pic.twitter.com/Sn7oivHA4U
— KNBR (@KNBR) July 17, 2025
“A critic described this novel as ‘A man from down South sitting in a manhole up North…& signifying about how he got there.’”
Off the presses…
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back pages and sports covers from some of North America’s major metropolitan newspapers:
Final Jeopardy…
“What is ‘Invisible Man’?”
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Seven members of the UNC Asheville track and field program competed in the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off on Saturday (Dec. 6), highlighted by two school records, three indoor collegiate debuts, and three additional personal bests.
RESULTS
MILE (WOMEN)
2. Alison Graf 4:56.64 (SR)
3. Aneta Kucerova 5:03.06
10 Addison Corl 5:19.63 (PR)
12 Marika Dickel 5:22.96
MILE (MEN)
5. Bennett Moreno 4:17.58
7. Jan Malek 4:18.27
13 Tadiyos Sloan-Westmoreland 4:24.97 (PR)
3000M (WOMEN)
6. Aneta Kucerova 9:54.49 (SR)
7. Alison Graf 9:58.91
9. Marika Dickel 10:15.88
21 Addison Corl 10:44.70
3000M (MEN)
2. Jan Malek 8:24.27
11 Tadiyos Sloan-Westmoreland 8:44.97 (PR)
For full results, click here.
UP NEXT
Asheville officially begins its season on Saturday, Jan. 10, as the Bulldogs host the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International.
To stay updated with all things surrounding Asheville track & field, follow the team on 𝕩.
- For the second time, a Regional Final match will air on ABC (Sun., Dec. 14)
- ESPN is slated to air two Regional Semifinals on ESPN for the first time
- All four No. 1 seeds (Kentucky, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Texas) to host Regionals, Dec. 11-14
- All 12 matches will air on either ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, with all matches also available on the ESPN App
ESPN continues its exclusive presentation of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament this weekend with the Regional Semifinals and Finals set at the four top-seeded host sites – Kentucky, Nebraska, Pittsburgh and Texas.
Regional Semifinal play gets underway Thursday, Dec. 11, with four matches on ESPN2 from Kentucky (afternoon) and Pittsburgh (evening). The Regional Semifinals continue Friday from Austin and Lincoln, with the Texas Region airing on ESPN in the afternoon and the Nebraska Region airing on ESPN2 in the evening.
Regional Finals spring into action on Saturday, Dec. 13, with the Kentucky and Pittsburgh Regions as the first two teams claim their spot in the National Semifinals on ESPN2. Times will be determined following Thursday’s matches.
Action then wraps on Sunday, Dec. 14 on ABC/ESPN as the final two teams etch their spots in Kansas City, Mo. For the second time, a Regional Final will air on ABC – coming from either the Texas or Nebraska Region. Times will be determined following Friday’s matches.
Following the success last season, each Regional site will have a reporter on location, giving viewers insight from the sideline during the action.
Commentator teams calling the action from each location are as follows:
Kentucky Regional:
Play-by-play: Kevin Barnett
Analyst: Missy Whittemore – Three-time All-American at Florida
Reporter: Dawn Davenport – Three-year letterwinner at Auburn
Pittsburgh Regional:
Play-by-play: Anne Marie Anderson
Analyst: Nicole Branagh – Beach Volleyball Olympian and two-time All-American at Minnesota
Reporter: Shelby Coppedge – Four-year Texas A&M Corpus Christi defensive specialist
Texas Regional:
Play-by-play: Eric Frede
Analyst: Emily Ehman – Four-year Northwestern libero from 2016-19
Reporter: Michella Chester – Reporter & host for NCAA.com
Nebraska Regional:
Play-by-play: Courtney Lyle
Analyst: Holly McPeak – Three-time beach volleyball Olympian, third-winningest beach volleyball player of all-time
Reporter: Madison Fitzpatrick – Florida State beach volleyball standout (2018-22)
Studio Coverage:
Host: Sam Gore
Analyst: Mary Wise – Three-time AVCA Coach of the Year
Analyst: Jennifer Hoffman – Former Louisville All-American and U.S. National Team member
2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Regional Semifinals and Regional Finals Schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Site | Match | Network |
| Thu, Dec. 11 | 1 p.m. | Kentucky | Regional Semifinals Creighton vs. Arizona State Kevin Barnett, Missy Whittemore, Dawn Davenport |
ESPN2 |
| 30 mins after Match 1 | Kentucky | Regional Semifinals Cal Poly vs. Kentucky Kevin Barnett, Missy Whittemore, Dawn Davenport |
ESPN2 | |
| 7 p.m. | Pittsburgh | Regional Semifinals Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh Anne Marie Anderson, Nicole Branagh, Shelby Coppedge |
ESPN2 | |
| 30 mins after Match 1 | Pittsburgh | Regional Semifinals Purdue vs. SMU Anne Marie Anderson, Nicole Branagh, Shelby Coppedge |
ESPN2 | |
| Fri, Dec. 12 | Noon | Texas | Regional Semifinals Indiana vs. Texas Eric Frede, Emily Ehman, Michella Chester |
ESPN |
| 30 mins after Match 1 | Texas | Regional Semifinals Wisconsin vs. Stanford Eric Frede, Emily Ehman, Michella Chester |
ESPN | |
| 7 p.m. | Nebraska | Regional Semifinals Texas A&M vs. Louisville Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Madison Fitzpatrick |
ESPN2 | |
| 30 mins after Match 1 | Nebraska | Regional Semifinals Kansas vs. Nebraska Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Madison Fitzpatrick |
ESPN2 | |
| Sat, Dec. 13 | 5 p.m. | TBD | Regional Finals TBD |
ESPN2 |
| 7:30 p.m. | TBD | Regional Finals TBD |
ESPN2 | |
| Sun, Dec. 14 | 3 p.m. | TBD | Regional Finals TBD |
ABC |
| 7:30 p.m. | TBD | Regional Finals TBD |
ESPN |
* All 12 matches will also be available on the ESPN App
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PITMAN, N.J. – Following a pair of historic performances, TCNJ women’s basketball’s Amanda Baylock and TCNJ track and field’s Maxim Rychkov were tabbed as their respective sport’s NJAC Athlete of the Week, as announced by the conference this afternoon.
Baylock earns her first career Player of the Week nod following an outstanding stretch in which the sophomore averaged 21 points on .538/.500/1.000 splits along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists to guide the Lions to a pair of dominant NJAC wins.
The Scotch Plains, N.J. native opened her week hitting a trio of 3-pointers as part of a nine-point outing in TCNJ’s 69-43 win over Stockton before erupting on the offensive end in the Lions’ wire-to-wire victory over Kean. Playing just 25 minutes against the Cougars, Baylock set career highs in both points (33) and 3-pointers (7), both of which are the most by a TCNJ player since 2021. The sophomore now easily paces the conference and ranks fifth in Division III in 3-pointers made per game (3.4), converting at an impressive 38.6% clip.
Rychkov made history of his own in his 2025-26 debut en route to the sophomore’s second Track Athlete of the Week honors. Competing at the TCNJ Indoor Open, Rychkov matched the school record in the 60-meter (6.77) before breaking the TCNJ and NJAC record – held by future Olympian Cheickna Traore – and setting the third-fastest finish in Division III history in the 300-meter with his time of 33.54.
Sports
Volleyball’s Loryn Helgesen Named America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week
With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
Helgesen, from Kaysville, Utah, led the Aggies during a pair of matches last week at the NCAA Tournament, including a first-round upset of seventh-seeded Tennessee (3-2) and a loss to second-seeded Arizona State (3-1). Against the Volunteers, Helgesen finished with 14 kills on a .308 hitting percentage and tied for the team lead with four blocks while adding seven digs, one ace and one assist. Against the Sun Devils, Helgesen recorded 19 kills on a .429 hitting percentage, both team highs, and added three digs, one block and one assist.
Helgesen finished the season with a .295 hitting percentage, ranking ninth all-time for a single season at USU with at least five attacks per set. Her career hitting percentage of .275 also ranks sixth all-time in program history with at least 1,000 attacks.
Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
Join The Big Blue Club
Gifts to the Big Blue Club provide the resources necessary to build championship-caliber programs. It also comes with great benefits, including complimentary parking at football and men’s basketball games, access to the best seat locations, exclusive ticket presales, and more. Join online here or contact a member of the Big Blue Club via email or by phone at (435) 797-2583.
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
MEN’S BASKETBALL – Junior guard Mason Falslev (Benson, Utah) helped Utah State to a 1-1 record on the road last week with a 74-6` loss at South Florida and a 79-53 win at Charlotte. Against the Bulls, Falslev scored 19 points, to go along with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists, while shooting 7-of-17 from the floor, 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 2-of-4 from the free throw line. Against the 49ers, he scored 22 points, along with six assists, five rebounds, and four steals, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, 0-of-3 from 3-point range and 8-of-8 at the free throw line. For the week, Falslev averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game, while shooting 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the field, 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from 3-point range and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) at the free throw line.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL – Junior guard Aaliyah Gayles (Las Vegas, Nevada) led the Aggies with 16.0 points per game last week in a pair of road losses at LMU (63-58) and San Diego (70-66). Against the Lions, Gayles scored 12 points and added three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Against the Toreros, Gayles scored a team-high 20 points, USU’s first 20-point scorer this season, on 6-of-15 shooting, and led the team with four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.
2025-26 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 1 – Miles Davis, Football
Sept. 8 – John Miller, Football
Sept. 15 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 22 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 29 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, Volleyball
Oct. 13 – Tess Werts, Soccer
Oct. 20 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Nov. 3 – Mara Štiglic, Volleyball
Nov. 10 – Rine Yonaha, Soccer
Nov. 17 – Garry Clark, Men’s Basketball
Nov. 24 – MJ Collins, Men’s Basketball
Dec. 1 – Andrea Simovski, Volleyball
Dec. 8 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
– USU –
There’s no shortage of fast runners in the NC State athletic program. With women’s cross country coming off an NCAA National Championship run, many of the same speedsters who hoisted the big trophy have made the transition to indoor track season.
NC State’s top runners made the trip up to Boston, Massachusetts, to compete in the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, while the throwers stayed close to home and competed in the Winston-Salem College Kick-off in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Success continued for the Wolfpack in long distance running as a number of athletes marked strong performances in the 3000m and 5000m races.
In the 3000m, junior Angelina Napoleon led the charge with a fourth-place finish in the elite first heat, with a time of 8:46.15. Also competing in the first heat, Sadie Englehardt finished 17th with a time of 9:09.47. Junior Kate Putman competed in the second heat, finishing 14th with a time of 9:17.92.
Three NC State athletes competed in the 5000m, with senior Briley Bickerstaff finishing 40th with a time of 15:59.61, graduate Brooke Rauber finishing 54th with a time of 16:06.79 and junior Jolena Quarzo finishing 72nd with a time of 16:15.68.
Senior Grace Hartman, notably absent from the initial indoor track events, was away competing in the 2025 USA Track & Field Cross-Country Championships. In a field full of current and former NCAA champions and USA Olympians, Hartman finished with a strong sixth-place time of 34:25.7.
On the men’s side, junior Elliot McArthur sped through the mile in 4:03.19, placing eighth overall to become No. 9 on NC State’s top-10 list. Sophomore Noah Valyo and the UNC-Chapel Hill transfer, junior Luke Wiley, competed in the 5000m. Vaylo finished 156th in 14:27.13 and Wily finished 177th in 14:39.19.
In the throwing events, taking place in Winston Salem, junior Tony Taylor II showed out with a runner-up finish in the weight throw with a personal-best 17.83-meter toss. Sophomore Bradley Pawlak also showed some gusto with a fifth-place mark of 17.24. In the women’s weight throw, junior Natalie Griffith finished fifth with a personal-best 16.80-meter toss.
The Wolfpack women’s shotputters also made the trip to Winston-Salem. Junior Iniyah Mitchell finished 26th with a mark of 10.38m, while graduate Jakerra Covington finished 32nd with a mark of 9.71.
Next up, the Pack will head to Blacksburg, Virginia, for the Virginia Tech Invitational Jan. 16-17.
By The Associated Press
No. 4 Colorado def. American, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16
No. 4 Kansas def. High Point, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18
No. 6 Baylor def. Arkansas St., 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10
No. 5 Miami (FL) def. Tulsa, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20
No. 4 Indiana def. Toledo, 25-18, 25-15, 25-17
North Carolina def. No. 6 UTEP, 24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21
No. 8 UCLA def. Georgia Tech, 24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-10
No. 6 N. Iowa def. Utah, 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10
Utah St. def. No. 7 Tennessee, 25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11
No. 3 Purdue def. Wright St., 25-13, 25-21, 25-19
No. 1 Kentucky def. Wofford, 25-11, 25-19, 25-12
Cal Poly def. No. 5 BYU, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10
No. 3 Creighton def. Northern Colorado, 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8
No. 2 Arizona St. def. Coppin St., 25-11, 25-14, 25-12
No. 4 Southern Cal def. Princeton, 25-19, 25-12, 25-13
No. 3 Wisconsin def. Eastern Ill., 25-11, 25-6, 25-19
Marquette def. No. 7 W. Kentucky, 25-22, 25-21, 25-16
Michigan def. No. 8 Xavier, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23
Kansas St. def. No. 8 San Diego vs., 21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12
No. 6 TCU def. Steven F. Austin St., 25-8, 26-24, 25-20
Florida def. No. 7 Rice, 27-25, 25-23, 25-19
No. 5 Iowa St. def. St. Thomas (Minn.), 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8
No. 8 Penn St. def. South Florida, 25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19
No. 1 Pittsburgh def. UMBC, 25-10, 25-17, 25-13
No. 2 Louisville def. Loyola Chicago, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12
No. 2 SMU def. Cent. Arkansas, 25-13, 25-13, 25-13
No. 3 Texas A&M def. Campbell, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12
Arizona def. No. 7 South Dakota St., 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15
No. 1 Nebraska def. LIU, 25-11, 25-15, 25-17
No. 1 Texas def. Florida A&M, 25-11, 25-8, 25-14
No. 4 Minnesota def. Fairfield, 25-12, 25-7, 25-13
No. 2 Stanford def. Utah Valley, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14
No. 3 Purdue def. No. 6 Baylor, 25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20
No. 4 Indiana def. No. 5 Colorado, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13
No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 8 UCLA, 30-25, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17
No. 4 Kansas def. No. 5 Miami, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25
No. 3 Creighton def. N. Iowa, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21
No. 2 Arizona St. def. Utah St., 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15
No. 3 Wisconsin def. North Carolina, 25-14, 25-21, 27-25
Cal Poly def. No. 4 Southern Cal, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7
No. 2 Louisville def. Marquette, 21-15, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12
No. 1 Pittsburgh def. Michigan, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18
No. 1 Texas def. No. 8 Penn St., 25-16, 25-9, 25-19
No. 1 Nebraska def. Kansas St., 25-17, 25-21, 25-16
No. 2 SMU def. Florida, 25-11, 25-21, 26-24
No. 3 Texas A&M def. TCU, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 29-27
No. 4 Minnesota def. No. 5 Iowa St., 25-22, 25-21, 25-14
No. 2 Stanford def. Arizona, 25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20
No. 2 Arizona State vs. No. 3 Creighton, 1 p.m.
No. 1 Kentucky vs. Cal Poly, 3:30 p.m.
No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 4 Minnesota, 7 p.m.
No. 2 SMU vs. No. 3 Purdue, 9:30 p.m.
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Indiana, noon
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m.
No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:30 p.m.
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