The first sent veteran guard Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm in exchange for former Mystic and three-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark, as well as guard Zia Cooke and Seattle’s first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Washington later cut Cooke as well as guard Sika Koné.

“The short answer is, it impacts the team in pretty much every way. She was their leading scorer, she was their top perimeter defender, she set the tone as one of only a few veterans on a really young team,” Hatfield said. “The Mystics lose part of their identity this season, not their entire identity, but a key piece that they have to kind of rebuild without her now.”

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The second sent forward Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Sun just hours before the trade deadline. The Mystics received Jacy Sheldon and the right to swap late first-round picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

“Sheldon is a guard, the Mystics don’t have much guard depth at all, especially after losing Sykes, so in the short term, Sheldon kind of balances the roster out a little bit better than Edwards did,” Hatfield said. “Edwards was being crowded out at the four, partly just because Kiki Iriafen, Shakira Austin, all those guys are really good, and they just had a lot of forwards to play.”

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The two also discussed Hatfield’s impression of the team’s strategy going into future expansion drafts and how they can use their cap space through the remainder of the 2025 season.

Make sure you tune in to Locked On Women’s Basketball for daily shows covering the latest news across women’s basketball from the college ranks to the WNBA, as well as Athletes Unlimited, Unrivaled and international competitions.

Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the group that owns the Washington Mystics, holds a minority stake in The Next. The Next’s editorial operations are entirely independent of Monumental and all other business partners.

UFC commentator Michael Bisping doesn’t expect to see Khamzat Chimaev change his usual approach at UFC 319.

At UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship. This title shot has been a long time coming for ‘Borz’ and now that it’s finally arrived, you’d have to think he knows just how important this fight is. If he wins, he heads for superstardom. If he loses, major questions will be asked.

RELATED: Chael Sonnen doesn’t believe it’s fair to question Khamzat Chimaev’s conditioning

In the eyes of some, Chimaev will need to alter his usual style in order to try and deal with what du Plessis has to offer. DDP is known for being pretty unconventional and that’s us putting it lightly, with the masses believing that his unpredictability is his greatest strength.

Alas, although this is a thought that’s gaining momentum, Michael Bisping has declared that he can’t picture Chimaev changing too much about how he approaches fights in the Octagon.

The spirit of youth baseball and the magic of the Little League Baseball® World Series take the spotlight this summer as ESPN rolls out the trailer for Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024. The new documentary premieres Monday, August 12 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with immediate streaming available on ESPN+.

Directed by Emmy Award-winner Rudy Valdez and produced by Imagine Documentaries, the same team behind Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series, the film captures the heart and soul of the world’s most celebrated youth baseball tournament. Set in the tradition-rich town of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the documentary focuses on the highs and lows, unforgettable moments, and life-changing experiences that take place each August on youth baseball’s biggest stage.

The film is a collaboration with Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios, a DICK’S Sporting Goods company, in association with MLB Studios. While Big Dreams celebrates the fundamentals of baseball; hustle, skill, and resilience. It also honors the enduring impact of sports on young lives, families, and communities across the globe.

“There’s something truly special about Williamsport in the summer — a kind of innocence, joy, and unshakable hope for the kids and families,” said director Rudy Valdez. “This isn’t just a baseball film — it’s about the nerves, the triumphs, and the bonds that remind us how sports can shape people’s lives in incredible ways.”

A cornerstone of summer baseball tradition for nearly 80 years, the Little League World Series is more than a tournament. It’s a global gathering of young athletes chasing their dreams. Elizabeth DiLullo Brown, Executive Vice President of Little League Baseball, emphasized the tournament’s legacy. “This film brings back all the memories that teams feel when they make it to the biggest stage in youth sports. It’s a representation of millions of smiles, friendships, and sometimes heartbreak — all moments that have become lifelong memories for kids around the world.”

Featuring teams from 11 countries and 10 U.S. states, the documentary follows inspiring journeys from the 2024 champions Lake Mary (Fla.) LL, international standouts Kuei-Shan LL (Chinese Taipei), Matamoros (Mexico) LL, and Hinsdale (Ill.) LL. Their paths to Williamsport, full of grit, teamwork, and passion for the game, highlight how the LLWS continues to unite players through the common language of baseball.

Mark Rooks, VP of Creative, Entertainment & Sponsorships at DICK’S Sporting Goods, underscored the brand’s deep ties to the game. “Little League has been a part of the DICK’S story since our earliest days. Through Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios, we’re proud to bring meaningful sports stories like Big Dreams to life — because these kids, their determination, and their dreams truly inspire.”

Produced by Marc Gilbar, Meredith Kaulfers, Rudy Valdez, Tim Wheeler, and Marquis Daisy, the documentary brings together ESPN, Imagine, Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios, and MLB Studios to tell one of the summer’s most compelling stories.

Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024 is set to deliver more than just baseball highlights — it’s a heartfelt look at the passion, purpose, and perseverance that define the youth baseball experience, echoing far beyond the field.

U.S. sporting equipment and apparel retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods has officially launched its content and production studio Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios ahead of the premiere on ESPN next week of its latest production Big Dreams: The Little League World Series 2024.

Directed by Rudy Valdez (The Sentence, Breakaway), the documentary goes behind the scenes of one of America’s most iconic youth sporting events, taking viewers to Williamsport, the unassuming town in rural Pennsylvania that’s hosted the tournament for nearly 80 years.

It is produced by Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries, in association with MLB Studios.

Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios was quietly established in 2024, with its work building on its parent company’s growing legacy in sports storytelling which began in 2014 with feature documentary, We Could Be King.

The documentary, following the path to glory of two rival Philadelphia area high school football team which were forced to merge due to a budget crisis, won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Documentary.

The company won a second Sports Emmy this year – which was the first award for Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios –  for short documentary The Turnaround by Ben Proudfoot.

The short doc saw Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios partner with Michelle and Barack Obama’s production company Higher Ground, Proudfoot’s Breakwater Studios and Major League Baseball.

The documentary tells the story of Philadelphia Phillies’ superfan Jon McCann, who helped inspire an unlikely 2023 standing ovation for Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, which helped turn the team around after hitting a major roadblock.

The company’s catalog now features five feature-length films and ten short-form or episodic documentaries, with additional projects forthcoming.

“Dick’s believes that sports have the power to change lives,” said Mark Rooks, VP of Creative, Entertainment & Sponsorships at Dick’s Sporting Goods

“And we’ve seen through our work how true that is for so many who have excelled, triumphed against the odds, and been defeated in sport. There are so many incredible and inspiring human stories that deserve to be told, and we could not be more excited to showcase how individuals, teams and communities are shaping sport, bringing people together and unifying and building communities for thousands.”

The name of the studio, Cookie Jar & A Dream, is inspired by the founding story of Dicks’ Sporting Goods dating back to 1948, when an 18-year-old Dick Stack borrowed $300 from his grandmother— her savings, kept in a cookie jar— to open a small bait-and-tackle shop in Binghamton, New York which grow into the company of today.

Rebecca Covington, Sr. Director, Creative Production at Dick’S Sporting Goods, said upcoming documentary Big Dreams was emblematic of the kind of projects Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios is aiming to produce.

“Being able to share big sports moments with fans is something that drives our team, and we look at the upcoming years with great excitement as we know there will be so many unforgettable stories deserving of the spotlight,” she said.

Watch the trailer for Big Dreams below:

STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame will welcome 10 former standouts this fall, with the induction ceremony scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26, and public recognition taking place Saturday, Sept. 27, during the Cardinal’s football game against San Jose State.

The Class of 2025 includes Sarah Beeson Andersen (softball), Erin Burdette (women’s tennis), David DeCastro (football), Ryan Garko (baseball), Dan Gill (men’s gymnastics), Kiley Neushul (women’s water polo), Kelley O’Hara (women’s soccer), Jeanette Pohlen (women’s basketball), Chasson Randle (men’s basketball) and Tank Williams (football).

Student-athletes are eligible for induction 10 years after their final competition season (Neushul and Randle are first-ballot selections this year). The selection process prioritizes collegiate athletic success (individual and team) and scholastic achievement, in addition to professional career honors, while also considering character, representation of Stanford University and contributions to sport and society. Inductees must attend the ceremony in person.

Among the most notable achievements of the Class of 2025:
•    All 10 inductees were honored as All-Americans, combining for 30 honors overall
•    2 inductees were members of an NCAA championship team while 2 inductees claimed NCAA individual titles
•    5 inductees were honored as their sport’s national player of the year
•    6 inductees led their team to a conference championship while 5 inductees were named their conference’s player of the year
•    3 inductees were recognized as CSC Academic All-Americans
•    2 inductees were Olympic medalists, combining for 3 medals overall (2 gold, 1 bronze)

The Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame will feature 490 individuals (including 33 multi-sport athletes) following the induction of this year’s class.

The Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame was originated by Walt Gamage, a longtime sports editor of the Palo Alto Times. Gamage, who had previously worked on many neighborhood newspapers in the Chicago area, moved to Palo Alto in 1944 and quickly became interested in Stanford sports. In early 1954, Gamage organized a Hall of Fame. The first class of inductees, including 34 of the greatest names in Stanford sports history, was announced in a full-page spread in the Palo Alto Times on December 21, 1954.

Sarah Beeson Andersen • Softball • 1999-2002
•    5th inductee from Softball and first since Lauren Lappin in 2023
•    Led Cardinal to four NCAA appearances, including the program’s first NCAA Women’s College World Series berth in 2001, resulting in a semifinal finish
•    Guided Stanford to 183 wins over four seasons, including a program-best 54 victories in 2001
•    3-time NFCA All-American (2000-02), one of only five players in school history to earn All-America status in at least three seasons, including first-team honors in 2001
•    4-time All-Pac-10 selection (1999-02), including first-team accolades in her final two seasons
•    School record holder in career putouts (1,957) while also ranking second all-time in RBI (201), third in walks (115), fourth in games played (261), fourth in doubles (66) and sixth in hits (259)
•    CSC Academic All-America First Team (2002), 4-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete honoree (1999-2002) and 3-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection (2000-02)
•    NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient (2002)

Erin Burdette • Women’s Tennis • 2002-05
•    20th inductee from Women’s Tennis and first since Nicole Gibbs in 2023
•    Member of three NCAA championship teams (2002, 2004-05) in addition to a runner-up finish in 2003
•    Provided the clinching point in all three NCAA championship matches during her career, including the final two in Athens, Georgia, less than 80 miles from her hometown
•    Fueled Cardinal to 56 wins combined over back-to-back undefeated seasons as a junior and senior, kick-starting an eventual 89-match winning streak that stretched into 2007
•    NCAA Doubles champion (2005) with Alice Barnes, posting a 33-6 record
•    2-time ITA National Doubles Team of the Year member, pairing with Lauren Barnikow (2004) and Alice Barnes (2005)
•    6-time ITA All-American, honored in both singles and doubles during her freshman and sophomore seasons
•    Powered Cardinal to four Pac-10 team championships and a 2-time Pac-10 Doubles Team of the Year honoree, pairing with Lauren Barnikow (2003-04)
•    Returned to The Farm for seven seasons as the program’s volunteer assistant coach (2015-21), helping lead Stanford to three more NCAA titles while on staff

David DeCastro • Football • 2008-11
•   100th inductee from Football and first since Stepfán Taylor in 2024
•    Member of three bowl teams, highlighted by a 40-12 victory over Virginia Tech in the 2011 Orange Bowl
•    Recognized as the best guard in program history, starting all 39 games he played in while producing 316 knockdowns, 68 touchdown-resulting blocks and a blocking consistency grade of 91.63%
•    All-American (2011), one of only 10 unanimous first-team honorees in school history
•    Outland Trophy finalist (2011), awarded to the best interior lineman in college football by the Football Writers Association of America
•    First-Team Freshman All-American (2009) by College Football News, starting all 13 games as a redshirt freshman
•    2-time All-Pac-10 first-team selection (2010-11)
•    Selected in the first round (No. 24 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers
•    In nine seasons (2012-20) with Pittsburgh, was a six-time Pro Bowl selection (2015-20) and three-time All-Pro (2015-17)

Ryan Garko • Baseball • 2000-03
•   50th inductee from Baseball and first since Carlos Quentin in 2024
•    Guided Stanford to four NCAA College World Series appearances (2000-03), including runner-up finishes in 2000-01 and 2003 and a semifinal effort in 2002
•    2-time member of the NCAA College World Series All-Tournament Team (2001, 2003)
•    Johnny Bench Award recipient (2003), presented annually to college baseball’s top NCAA Division I catcher
•    First-Team All-American (2003), closing out a senior season in which he led team in batting average (.402), doubles (24), home runs (18) and a school-record RBI (92) while striking out only 17 times
•    One of six players in school history to hit .400 or better in a season and boasted a career batting average of .350
•    Co-Pac-10 Player of the Year (2003), 2-time all-conference pick (2002-03) and member of two Pac-10 championship teams (2000, 2003)
•    Selected in the third round (No. 78 overall) of the 2003 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians, beginning a six-year MLB career that also included stops with the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers
•    Returned to The Farm as an assistant coach in 2014 and also served as the head coach for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers (2016-17) and University of the Pacific (2018-19)

Dan Gill • Men’s Gymnastics • 2001-04
•   6th inductee from Men’s Gymnastics and first since Josh Stein in 2018
•    Member of four teams that qualified for NCAA Championships, with the Cardinal placing sixth overall in 2002 as the best season during his career
•    Nissen-Emery Award winner (2004), presented annually to the top senior gymnast in the nation and one of seven honorees in program history
•    NCAA champion (2002) on vault, one of six Cardinal gymnasts to win an individual national title on that apparatus
•    9-time NCAA All-American (2001-04), earning at least one honor in each of his four seasons
•    Earned five All-America honors as a senior (2004), one of four gymnasts in school history to achieve five All-America accolades at a single NCAA championship
•    MPSF Gymnast of the Year (2004), the first gymnast in school history to receive the honor and one of seven recipients overall
•    Member of the U.S. National Team (2003-04) and competed on the bronze medal-winning squad at the Pan American Games that year

Kiley Neushul • Women’s Water Polo • 2012-15
•   7th inductee from Women’s Water Polo and first since Annika Dries in 2024
•    Member of three NCAA championship teams (2012, 2014-15), with the Cardinal also delivering a runner-up finish (2013)
•    Clinched 2015 NCAA title when she converted the game-winning penalty shot with 11 seconds remaining in a 7-6 victory over UCLA – one of her five goals in the match
•    2-time Peter J. Cutino Award recipient (2012, 2015) and ACWPC Player of the Year (2012)
•    4-time All-American, one of 16 players in school history to earn recognition in all four seasons
•    MPSF Newcomer of the Year (2012) and member of the 2014 MPSF championship team
•    2-time NCAA All-Tournament Team pick (2014-15) and 3-time MPSF All-Tournament selection (2012, 2014-15)
•    Ranks seventh in school history in career goals (222)
•    Olympic medalist with Team USA (2016 gold)

Kelley O’Hara • Women’s Soccer • 2006-09
•   9th inductee from Women’s Soccer and first since Teresa Noyola in 2024
•    Led Cardinal to four NCAA appearances (2006-09), back-to-back NCAA College Cups (2008-09) and a national runner-up finish (2009)
•    MAC Hermann Trophy Award recipient (2009) – the first recipient in school history – along with Soccer America Player of the Year (2009) and NSCAA Player of the Year (2009), leading the nation in goals (26) and points (65) as a senior
•    3-time NSCAA All-American (2007-09) and NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team pick (2009)
•    Pac-10 Player of the Year (2009), fueling the Cardinal to its first conference title in seven seasons, and a 4-time All-Pac-10 selection (2006-09)
•    Ranks fourth in school history in points (146), fourth in goals (57), and fifth in shots (344)
•    3-time Olympian with Team USA (2012, 2016, 2020) and two-time medalist (2012 gold, 2020 bronze), concluding her USWNT career with 160 caps and playing in every senior world championship from 2011-23
•    4-time World Cup participant with Team USA (2011, 2015, 2019, 2023) and three-time medalist (2011 silver, 2015 gold, 2019 gold)
•    Competed 11 seasons in NWSL, winning championships with Gotham FC (2023) and Washington Spirit (2021) while also collecting a title with FC Gold Pride (2010) of the WPS
•    CSC Academic All-America First Team (2009), NSCAA National Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2009), Senior CLASS Award finalist (2009), 3-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection (2007-09)

Jeanette Pohlen • Women’s Basketball • 2007-11
•   16th inductee from Women’s Basketball and first since Chiney Ogwumike in 2024
•    Led Stanford to four NCAA Final Fours (2008-11), two national runner-up finishes (2008, 2010) and records of 137-14 (overall) and 69-3 (conference)
•    Associated Press First-Team All-American (2011), John R. Wooden All-America Team (2011), U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-American (2011)
•    Pac-10 Player of the Year (2011), 3-time all-conference honoree (2009-11) and member of four conference championship teams that swept the regular-season and tournament titles each year
•    Ranks third in school history in minutes played (4,355), fourth in games played (150), fourth in career three-pointers (268) and sixth in career assists (560)
•    Signature moment was a buzzer-beating, coast-to-coast layup with 4.4 seconds left to propel Stanford past Xavier 55-53 in the 2010 NCAA Regional Final, advancing to the Final Four
•    Selected in the first round (No. 9 overall) of 2011 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, playing 148 career games for the franchise and winning a WNBA title (2012) while leading the league in three-point shooting percentage (2011)
•    Returned to The Farm and enters her fifth season as a member of the coaching staff, serving as an assistant coach

Chasson Randle • Men’s Basketball • 2011-15
•   44th inductee from Men’s Basketball and first since Arthur Lee in 2023
•    Guided Cardinal to NCAA Sweet 16 appearance (2014) and a pair of NIT championships (2012, 2015)
•    Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American (2015), leading team in scoring (19.6 ppg), assists (112) and steals (50) while ranking 19th nationally in free throw percentage (87.7)
•    2015 NIT Most Outstanding Player, averaging 23.6 points over the tournament run, including a game-high 25 points in the title game over Miami
•    Program’s all-time leader in scoring (2,375 points), games started (142) and minutes played (4,791) while also ranking second in school history in career three-pointers (304), third in career field goals (760), third in career steals (167) and fourth in career free throws (551)
•    2-time All-Pac-12 First Team selection (2014-15) and a member of the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (2012)
•    CSC Academic All-America First Team (2015), Senior CLASS First-Team All-American (2015), Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2015) and 3-time Pac-12 All-Academic selection (2013-15)
•    Played four seasons in NBA (2017-21) while also a member of championship teams in the NBA G League (2021, 2025), EuroLeague (2018), Liga ACB (2018) and NBL (2016)

Tank Williams • Football • 1998-2001
•   101st inductee from Football, joining David DeCastro in 2025
•    Member of two bowl teams, competing in the 2000 Rose Bowl and 2001 Seattle Bowl
•    First-Team All-American (2001), becoming the first defensive back in school history to earn such recognition thanks to his elite combination of size and speed
•    First-Team All-Pac-10 (2001) selection and team co-captain as a senior, producing a team-high five interceptions while leading the Cardinal to its most victories (9) since 1992
•    Second-Team All-Pac-10 (2000) honoree and cornerstone of the Cardinal’s 1999 Pac-10 championship team, recording six tackles as a starter in the Rose Bowl
•    Nine career interceptions rank tied for 10th in school history
•    Selected in the second round (No. 45 overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, finishing fourth in the 2002 Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after registering 16 starts, two sacks, one interception and six passes defended
•    Totaled 70 games, 59 starts, five interceptions and 283 total tackles over a seven-year NFL career, playing for the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots
•    Returned to The Farm and begins his second season as a defensive quality control analyst