UC Santa Barbara alum Ajay Mitchell became the ninth former Big West student-athlete to win an NBA title on Sunday, when the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers four-games-to-three in the 2025 NBA Finals. 

With the series tied 3-3, the Thunder took care of business in game seven with a 103-91 victory at home. Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named MVP. 

Mitchell was drafted with the 38th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and subsequently traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Gaucho guard was a three-time All-Big West selection, garnering First Team honors in the final two seasons, and was the league’s Player of the Year and Championship MVP in 2022-23. In 2023-24, the Ans, Liege, Belgium product averaged 20.0 points, on 50.4 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Wednesday, June 25, marks the start of the 2025 NBA Draft, with the first round taking place. The second round will be held on Thursday, June 26. The Big West has produced 128 NBA Draft selections since 1970. 

Big West Alums That Have Won an NBA Title

Water Polo Australia (WPA) is pleased to announce its women’s team for the 2025 FISU World University Games.

Set to be held in Rhine-Ruhr from 17-27 July, WPA has selected a 13-strong team to compete at the event.

Coached by three-time Olympian Rowie Webster, the team has been selected following a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection.

Alexandra Nasser (Australian Catholic University)

Alyssa West (University of Queensland)

Chelsea Isaac (Loyola Marymount University)

Emma Putt (University of Notre Dame)

Isabella Sayer (University of Notre Dame)

Jasmine Higgs (Indiana University)

Jessica Bihler (University of WA)

Lilli Harris © (University of Sydney)

Lucinda Marsh (University of Notre Dame)

Madeline Marshall (Monash University)

Mimi Stoupas (San Diego University)

Nioka Thomas (Arizona State University)

Samantha Henderson (Australian Catholic University)

Reserves: Isobelle Pamp, Nancy Lee, Olivia Muir

(This is a preview of Team Guam heading to Palau for the June 29 to July 9, 2025 Pacific Mini Games among 24 island nations.)

Guam’s beach volleyball squads have high expectations heading into Palau’s sands at the upcoming Pacific Mini Games.

The women’s team will have a target on their back – and rightfully so as Guam brings D1 college players Kristen Serrano of University of Hawaii and Austia Mendiola of Cal State Northridge.

The men’s team of Ryan Eugenio and Kana Sgambelluri don’t have the D1 pedigree, but volleyball is in their blood with a good amount of experience.

Women’s team

Guam will be represented by its best players, and the goal is nothing less than gold.

According to head coach Manny Guarin, the competition will be stiff, with powerhouses like Australia, Vanuatu, and Tahiti vying for the top spot.

“This will be Kristen’s and Austia’s first international competition as a team, but I am confident in their ability to work hard, adapt, and persevere,” Guarin said.

For University of Hawaii player Serrano, she is ecstatic to get another opportunity to represent Guam after the 2021 Mini Games, calling that experience life changing for the best.

“Austia and I have had a lot more exposure this past year playing in the NCAA, so we’re coming into these games with confidence and a higher level of competition. Of course, it’s always an honor to compete against other talented athletes from across the islands and learn so much more about their cultures. We are working hard to earn a medal and give it our all for our island,” Serrano said.

Mendiola said these past years, playing in the NCAA has pushed them to grow so much as athletes and she’s “very excited” to see what she and Serrano can do together.

“We’re training hard, staying focused, and ready to bring our energy and experience to the court,” Mendiola added.

Men’s team

The men’s team won’t have as high of expectations as the women, but the pair expect to do well.

Eugenio has the experience at 33 years of age, playing beach volleyball for 18 years and was part of the 2018 Micro Games bronze medal team in Yap.

The JFK High School graduate will play alongside the 18-year-old Sgambelluri, who was a standout at Guam Adventist Academy and was high school beach champion just a year ago.

Eugenio said the duo will “just give it our best and play our hearts out.”

The pair was selected during the King of the Beach Tournament and have been prepping for the last three months.

For the younger Sgambelluri, it will be his first international competition and he hopes to “bring honor and respect to our island and learn from the best in the region sharpening our skills to compete at the highest level.”

The men expect some tough competition from Fiji, Vanuatu and the CNMI.

Men’s coach Galen Balajadia has confidence in the Guam squad heading to Palau.

“Representing our home is one of greatest opportunities an athlete could ever have. Competing against other country’s best athletes is no small task but I believe our men’s team is ready to compete and showcase the heart and pride of our island,” Balajadia said.

Beach volleyball starts on Wednesday, July 2, at Long Island Beach and concludes on Tuesday, July 8.

ZAGREB, Croatia — Freshman Ryder Dodd was named the Best Player at the World Aquatics U20 World Championship after leading Team USA to a second-place finish, the highest finish ever for a USA Men’s National Team in World Championship play at any age group.

The Americans lost to Spain, 14-11, in the gold medal match. Ryan Ohl scored three goals to lead Team USA in the finals, but the Bruins’ four representatives scored seven of the 11 goals with Dodd scoring twice. UCLA freshman Bode Brinkema and sophomore Ben Liechty also scored a pair of goals in the finals while freshman Peter Castillo scored once.

Team USA battled back from an 0-2 start in Zagreb to reach the final, claiming wins over Montenegro, Iran, Serbia and Hungary. All matches were streamed live and are available on-demand on the World Aquatics YouTube. Live statistics were recorded for every match from MicroPlus Timing Services.

Spain jumped out to a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period. Dodd opened the scoring for the Americans to tie it at 1-1, but Spain answered with two consecutive goals to hold the edge going to the second. Spain looked to keep it rolling in the second quarter as they scored first for a 4-1 lead. That lit a fire under Team USA as their offense mounted a major charge. Castillo hit on a power play strike followed by an Ohl goal and a Dodd score for a tie game at 4-4 with 5:55 to go in the half. Spain stopped the run with a goal moments later but Team USA remain undaunted. They ripped off three more in a row for a six-goal explosion to build a 7-5 lead at the break, with Brinkema, Liechty and Ohl found the back of the net during the run.

Ohl scored in the opening two minutes of the third to extend the lead to three at 8-5, but then it was Spain turning the tables. Spain connected for three in a row and tied the game at 8-8 with play moving to the fourth quarter. The two teams traded goals back and forth in the early stages of the final period. Brinkema hit for a penalty to put Team USA back ahead early at 9-8, but Spain immediately responded to tie the game at 9-9 moments later. A similar scenario followed where Corbin Stanley gave the United States the lead on a power play only to see Spain tie the game at 10-10 with 6:29 to play. Liechty scored for Team USA on their next possession for an 11-10 advantage but unfortunately the offensive well ran dry the rest of the match. Spain scored the equalizer with 4:33 to play and then went ahead for good with 2:28 remaining. They would tack on two more goals as the United States tried to rally, securing the three-goal win.

For the tournament, Dodd led Team USA and finished second overall with 28 goals. He also contributed six assists, nine steals and two field blocks. Brinkema finished second on the team and 38th in the tournament field with 12 goals. He was tied for second overall with 16 sprints won (on 23 attempts) and added a team-high 14 assists to go with four steals and six field blocks. Liechty scored six goals and was second on the team with 11 assists to go with eight steals and one field block. Castillo finished with seven goals, two assists, two steals, and one field block.

Against Hungary in the semifinals, which Team USA won 18-16, the Bruins were at their best, combining to score 12 of the team’s 18 goals, while also contributing eight assists, five field blocks, two steals, and Brinkema winning all four sprints. Dodd scored six goals in the win while Castillo completed his only hat trick of the tournament against the Hungarians. Dodd scored a tournament-high seven goals in the 19-18 shootout win over Serbia in the quarterfinals and he opened the shootout scoring the first goal for Team USA. Liechty and Brinkema followed with penalty conversions as well to keep the Americans in the game. Brinkema contributed his only hat trick (on three shots) in the 16-10 win over Montenegro in pool play while Liechty scored his high of two goals in the finals against Spain.

Redshirt freshman Harry Tucker finished fourth in scoring on Team Australia with 10 goals. He also added six assists, three steals, and a field block for Australia, which finished 10th.