A Historic Outdoor Season of Record-Breaking Excellence

Jane Hedengren’s 2025 outdoor track season was nothing short of historic-a tour-de-force defined by resilience, record-breaking excellence, and a seamless follow-through on her fall and indoor dominance. After rewriting the high school distance record books in 2024-25, Hedengren came into the spring determined to redefine the limits of high school athletics-and she delivered.

Jane Hedengren After 3000m National Record and Final HS Race

Smashing National Records and Making History

She opened her outdoor campaign by obliterating the high school national 5,000 m record at the Bryan Clay Invitational, clocking a staggering 14:57.93, becoming the first U.S. high school girl to ever break 15:00 on the track. Less than two weeks later at the HOKA Festival of Miles in St. Louis on June 5, she shattered the mile record again with a blazing 4:23.50 (splitting a 4:04.68 1500 m en route), exceeding Polly Plumer’s iconic mark and standing nearly five seconds ahead of her competition.

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LeBron James will play basketball next season. But for whom?

The Los Angeles Lakers are the clear leaders. James picked up a $52.6 million player option over the weekend, which could have inspired little analysis if not for the cryptic statement that followed.

Now, an awkward situation would make anyone wonder — how would the league react if the best player of his generation, if not of any generation, became available? After all, this is the NBA, where it’s always worth monitoring two entities with diverging philosophies.

At 40 years old, James wants to win, and win now. Meanwhile, the Lakers just bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. They are still without a center and lost Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency. They have made it clear, both through their actions and their words, that they are building around the 26-year-old Luka Dončić. An organization that once revolved around James and only James now has other priorities.

And thus, a divide builds.

One side thinks more about the short term. The other considers years down the line.

“LeBron knows the Lakers are building for the future, and he also wants to compete for championships,” James’ agent Rich Paul said to The Athletic and ESPN shortly after James picked up his option. “We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with (owner) Jeanie (Buss) and (general manager) Rob (Pelinka) and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”

So, if James is evaluating what’s best for himself at this stage of his career, if he wants to make every season he has left count, and if he decides the Lakers can’t help him accomplish that, what’s next?

Most obviously, he and the Lakers could work together on a trade. Let’s break down the options.

One reason James would pick up the option, even if he were uncertain about his future, is for the money. He will make $52.6 million next season. No one else could pay him that on the open market.

The other reason is for security. James is one of two players in the NBA, along with Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal, to wield a no-trade clause. If James were to get dealt, he could choose his destination.

Trading James would be a headache. Given the no-trade clause, the list of teams couldn’t be long.

The San Antonio Spurs could cobble together the salaries to make a deal for him, but they won only 34 games last season. It would be difficult for him to argue that squad would have a better chance at a 2026 title than the more veteran one that costars Dončić. The Denver Nuggets could build a trade around Jamal Murray, but is there a contender in existence that needs an offensive hub less than the one that already employs the greatest one in the NBA, three-time MVP Nikola Jokić?

The James saga could end any way: Most likely in him remaining with the Lakers at least through the end of this season, but also, if the situation goes sideways, in a trade. Maybe if James wants a new home, the Lakers choose to do right by him, buying him out of his contract and sending him into free agency. Of course, the only motivation the organization would have to do this is for the good karma. Usually, if you say goodbye to an all-timer, you want players and/or picks in return.

Whether James would even consider a buyout could come down to how many more seasons he wants to play. If he believes he has three more years in him, then he’ll need another contract in 2026. Signing a cheap deal after taking a buyout this summer would make paydays in ensuing seasons more unlikely. But if he felt retirement was on the way in a year, that wouldn’t matter.

For now, though, James is a Laker. He is not negotiating a buyout with the team. He has not demanded a trade, and maybe he never will.

However, if he does eventually ask out and the Lakers comply, there are various franchises that could enter the conversation. Just as an exercise, let’s run through five of them (listed in no particular order), outlining how those teams could make James trades happen.

Cleveland Cavaliers

There is no team more obvious to throw on this list — from both James’ perspective and that of the Cavaliers.

On one side would be the romance. James could finish his career in the place he began it. On the other side is a squad that just won 64 games last season and sits in a conference that is falling apart.

The Cavs could be the favorites to win the Eastern Conference already. Add James to the mix, and they would vault into a tier of their own.

But it’s not that simple.

A hypothetical James-to-Cleveland trade is impractical, if not impossible.

Forgetting about James’ and Cleveland’s wants, the math it would take to get James traded back to Ohio would leave Pelinka writing on windows. The Cavaliers, as currently constructed, are the one organization certain to be above the dreaded second apron, a payroll threshold that limits a team’s resources, hinders the types of transactions it can pull off and forces significant luxury-tax payments.

Because of this, there is no way for the Cavs to trade for James without losing two of their top players: starting center Jarrett Allen and All-Star point guard Darius Garland.

One of the second-apron rules that dings Cleveland is about “aggregation.” The Cavaliers cannot aggregate players together to trade more than one at a time — unless they find a way to dump salary. At the moment, Cleveland is $23 million above the second apron.

Let’s say the Cavs trade Allen, an essential contributor, and Dean Wade, who combine to make $26 million next season, without taking any salary back, dipping them below the second apron. (Already, this is an aggressive move to make just to acquire a soon-to-be 41-year-old.) There would still be issues.

Because they would remain above the first apron, they would not be allowed to take in more money than they send out in a trade. The Cavaliers would need to compile enough salary to surpass $52.6 million and then some. If they flip four or five players for James, they need to leave enough room below the second apron to fill out the rest of the roster, since a trade where they aggregate players would hard cap them there.

De’Andre Hunter, Max Strus and Lonzo Ball combine to make less money than James does. And thus, Cleveland would need to include more players than just those three, but its remaining ones make make either too little (remember, sending out minimum salaries is not helpful in this scenario because the Cavs would just have to sign other minimum guys to replace them) or are too good to part with: Garland, Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley.

And thus, the only way a James acquisition could make sense for Cleveland would be if he somehow became a free agent and could sign there for cheap.

Dallas Mavericks

If there is one activity the basketball world has mastered, it’s connecting dots. The relationships are already in Dallas.

There’s injured All-Star Kyrie Irving, who James teamed up with for a title in Cleveland and who he has tried to play with again since. There’s 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, who the Lakers flipped for Dončić only five months ago — and who James never hoped to see leave. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison is a former executive at Nike, where James has a lucrative shoe contract. As became front-page news after the Lakers acquired Dončić, the two guys who would negotiate this deal, Harrison and Pelinka, go back a long way.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks could make an offer of just role players — albeit, important ones.

Future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson along with versatile contributors Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington would get the deal done financially. Dallas could trade a future first-round pick, as well, though draft picks would become complicated in a trade for James. Teams wouldn’t be excited about giving up chunks of their future to acquire a 40-year-old, even if there has never before been a 40-year-old as good at basketball as James is now.

On the other side, Pelinka recently said that the Lakers are focused on creating significant cap space in the summer of 2027. Gafford just agreed to an extension that will stretch into 2029. If Los Angeles were picky enough about its cap situation that it lost an imperative role player, Finney-Smith, who signed a four-year deal with the Rockets, over long-term money, then it may not be so enthusiastic about taking on Gafford, even if he already has experience excelling alongside Dončić.

Golden State Warriors

Ease your brain. The mathematics in northern California are not nearly as strenuous.

James is close with two-time MVP Stephen Curry, with whom he finally played last summer, when the couple paired up at the Olympics. He and former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green share an agent. He played for head coach Steve Kerr with Team USA. And the Warriors have the lure of … well, the Warriors.

Golden State has one obvious offer for James: Jimmy Butler for the quadragenarian.

Butler makes a tad more than James does, marking the trade legal, though if it were constructed this way, it would hard cap the Lakers at the first apron, since they’d be absorbing more money than they send out in a deal. If the Lakers were fine with that, they could execute the one-for-one trade. However, they may want to maintain flexibility, which they could do somewhat easily.

Golden State and Los Angeles could find a third team willing to take on one of the Lakers’ minimum salaries (say, Jordan Goodwin’s) without giving any salary back. This way, the total money leaving the purple and gold is above Butler’s incoming salary.

Beyond Butler, Golden State wouldn’t have many options in a trade for James. It could combine Green with role players Buddy Hield and Moses Moody, but that package isn’t as enticing for the Lakers. Plus, Moody would present the same issue that Gafford would or Finney-Smith would have: He’s under contract beyond 2027.

The Warriors could try including talented 22-year-old Jonathan Kuminga, who is a restricted free agent at the moment. But signing and trading Kuminga comes with speed bumps. A deal like this would fall victim to a niche CBA quirk called “base year compensation,” which complicates any sign-and-trade involving a player who earns a raise of more than 20 percent, as Kuminga would. Essentially, Kuminga’s outgoing money for Golden State would be treated as a different number than his incoming money to Los Angeles, which creates even more obstacles.

LeBron and Steph together at last in the NBA? (Photo by Gregory Shamus  /Getty Images)

LA Clippers

Let’s get wild. James stays in Los Angeles — just not at Crypto.

The Clippers could toss together a trio of shooting guard Norman Powell, who was sneakily better than ever last season, bench scorer Bogdan Bogdanović and defensive stopper Derrick Jones Jr., who was a starter next to Dončić on Dallas’ 2024 finals team. However, doing so would eat into the depth that made them so dangerous a season go.

Presumably, they would not want to part with starting center Ivica Zubac, who made his first All-Defensive team in 2025-26 and who they reportedly would not entertain in conversations with the Suns about former MVP Kevin Durant only a couple of weeks ago.

There’s another way the Clippers could go about this too — and yes, it’s one that would happen only in fantasyland. They could trade their highest-paid player, two-time finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, for James.

As he showed at the end of this past season, Leonard can still annihilate teams on both sides of the court when healthy. But he is often hurt. The goal is to forget about the first 82 games, to make sure his body is in its best shape come April. In that sense, even an older James projects to hold up better throughout a season.

The swap could clean the Clippers’ books, too. Leonard’s contract expires in 2027. James’ expires next summer.

With James’ money coming off the roster in 2026, the Clippers would enter what could be a star-studded free agency with enough cap space to sign a max player and then some.

However, the Lakers might not want to absorb more than $50 million of 2026-27 money for an oft-injured player who will be 35 years old by then. Unless the Clippers sweetened the deal with draft picks, Los Angeles may rather hold onto James in this scenario.

The Lakers may have a difficult time extracting draft picks from anyone, too, considering front offices around the league are locked into Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation with the Milwaukee Bucks — if Tuesday’s moves didn’t change things. Parting with picks while also giving up the salary slots it could take to acquire Antetokounmpo may not be worth it for some of these organizations who are waiting to pounce if the two-time MVP were to become available.

New York Knicks

This is another situation that combines basketball with cleaning up the finances.

Purely from a standpoint of matching salaries, the Knicks could construct various types of offers for James. The most chaotic deal would be flipping All-NBA big man Karl-Anthony Towns for James, straight up — two teams betting on the other’s star. Of course, this could leave the Knicks center-less, given Mitchell Robinson’s injury struggles.

They could pair a couple of wings, OG Anunoby and either Josh Hart or Mikal Bridges, in a trade for James. They could piece together a trio to offer for James: Anunoby, Robinson and point guard Miles “Deuce” McBride.

But Anunoby will make $45 million in 2027-28 and has a player option for the following season, which would eat into the Lakers’ possible cap space two summers from now. Meanwhile, the Knicks — or any other team — may not want to part with three key rotation pieces (and three of their four best defenders) for a 40-year-old.

The Knicks could justify Towns-for-James with a similar financial argument the Clippers could use in a Leonard-for-James one. New York owes Towns $110 million over the next two seasons. The five-time All-Star has a $61 million player option for 2027-28. Meanwhile, the Knicks are at risk of climbing into the second apron next season, a possibility that does not excite them but could be inevitable if they keep their current top five or six together.

Bridges, who is eligible for an extension now, can become a free agent in 2026. His new salary could drive the Knicks past that feared threshold.

James could double as a basketball fit, as well as a giant expiring contract to avoid the second apron in 2026-27 and maybe beyond. In Los Angeles, Towns and Dončić could destroy any defense they face.

But the Knicks are also made up of prime-aged contributors. This would make them older. Like in the other hypotheticals, a James trade to the Knicks, even in a world where both he and the Lakers agree it’s best for the two to part ways after seven years, isn’t likely. The Knicks didn’t get in on the hunt for Kevin Durant. Like so many others, they could be saving up salary and assets for a guy in Milwaukee. They may not handle this hypothetical much differently.

(Top illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photo: David Liam Kyle / NBAE via Getty Images)

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women’s basketball program welcomes six incoming first-years for 2025-26. The Bulldogs announced the class Wednesday.  

The incoming Bulldogs have been a part of successful teams, with four having won championships at various levels. They have excelled on the court, with three earning MVP honors. They have leadership experience, as five have been team captains. 

The newest Bulldogs have contributed to their communities in a variety of ways, including volunteering as camp counselors and tutors and at a food pantry. They have been involved with organizations such as Girls Who Code. 

The class joins the Bulldogs for the team’s fourth season with Dalila Eshe as Yale’s Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Women’s Basketball. 

Here is a look at the newest Bulldogs:

Rachel Augustine Itua
5-10
Guard/Forward
Alcalá de Henares, Spain
IES Antonio Machado

National Teams: U18F top 10 in two-pointers 2023-24, 2024-25… U18F top 10 in rebounds 2023-24… U18F Madrid Final 4 fourth place 2023-24… U16F Spanish championship 11th place 2022-23… U16F Madrid Final 4 third place 2022-23… U16F Spanish Championship (Clubs) fourth place 2021-22… U16F Madrid Final 4 first place 2021-22… U14F Madrid Selection (first place)… U14F Best Athlete in Alcalá de Henares. 

Notes: Volunteer at Voluntariado Machado, helping children study.

Why Yale? “The Yale women’s basketball team proved to have an amazing roster right from my very first visit. Not only was it comprised of amazing players and staff who I could learn from, but also fantastic people who helped those around them. This and their outstanding academics really cemented my decision to go to Yale.”
 
Radhika Garapaty
5-9
Guard
Milpitas, Calif.
Notre Dame San Jose High School
 
Notre Dame San Jose High School: Basketball team captain junior and senior years… Senior Most Valuable Athlete Award…  National Athletic Honors Society… First team all-league in WBAL senior year… Averaged 19.9 ppg during CCS run senior year… Second team all-league in WBAL junior year… MVP of CCS championship game junior year… Sportsmanship award of CCS championship game junior year… Honorable Mention for Best Bay Area girls basketball player junior year… Mercury News athlete of the week during CCS title run junior year… Overcame ACL surgery… Team MVP senior and junior years… Team was CCS Champions 2024 (first CCS win ever, by any sport, in school history)… Back-to-back appearances in CCS finals… Back-to-back appearances in state CIF playoffs… Finished third (tied with another school) in WBAL.
 
Notes: Loves to volunteer as a camp counselor for those who are interested in creative thinking, athletics, culinary skills and design… Dabbles in electric guitar… Black belt in mixed martial arts – 8+ years of martial arts experience… First person in her family to compete in a college sport… Would love to be an inspiration to those who will come after her: “One of my goals is for younger athletes to use my presence in this space as a blueprint for their dreams and aspirations – just as many of my role models have done for me.”
 
Why Yale? “I chose Yale because it offered a rare combination of an elite education, a very tight-knit community, and the opportunity to compete in the highest level of Division I Basketball – all while staying true to who I am and what I value. The coaching staff at Yale stood out to me immediately – they believed in me, not just as an athlete, but as a leader and a person, and that made all the difference.”

Sophia Gibson
6-4
Forward
Taylor Mill, Ky. 
Notre Dame Academy 

Notre Dame Academy: Basketball team captain… 9th Region all-tournament team… 35th District all-tournament team… Team MVP… Led team in field goal percentage and rebounds… Northern Kentucky Coaches Association all-conference Division I… Best Offensive Player… Player of the Game for Queen of the Commonwealth Tournament… 1,000 point club… Team was two-time 35th District champions… Also competed for track and field team.

Notes: Enjoys track and field, especially throwing shot put… Avid reader… Loves to take time to hang out with friends… Also loves playing pickleball, kayaking and hiking. 

Why Yale? “The Yale women’s basketball program immediately felt like family. From my very first visit, I sensed a special connectivity throughout the team and coaches. This support and connection are things I deeply wanted to be a part of, which made the decision to go to Yale easy.” 
 
Dorka Kastl
6-2
Forward
Budapest, Hungary
Holderness School

Holderness School: Basketball team captain… Class C All-NEPSAC senior and junior years… Team MVP senior year… Lakes Region Athletic League All-Star junior year… Team advanced as far as NEPSAC Class C semifinals… Also played soccer.
 
Notes: Enjoys community service, cooking, baking and photography.
  
Why Yale?  “When I visited Yale, it just clicked. The coaches, the team, the energy on campus — it all felt magnetic and welcoming. I knew I’d be pushed to grow both academically and athletically, but I also knew I’d be supported like family. It just felt like home from the first moment.”
 
Olivia Kim
5-8
Guard
Broomfield, Colo.
Broomfield High School

Broomfield High School: Basketball team captain senior year… Academic all-state senior, junior and sophomore years… First team all-conference senior and junior years… All-state senior and junior years… Highest three-point field goal percentage (51%) in state among girls with more than 50 three-point attempts 2024-25…  Selected for first team all-conference All-Star Game senior, junior and sophomore years… Selected by media for The Show Colorado All-Star Game 2024, 2025… Selected to play in CCGS All-State All-Star Game senior year… One of two from Colorado that got invited to NCAA Women’s College Basketball Academy 2024 (individual pathway)… Second team all-conference sophomore year… Team was league champions her senior year… Team qualified for state tournament all four years… Golf team captain senior year… Second team all-conference in golf junior year.

Notes: Soprano/alto in choir… Plays piano… Enjoys doing volunteer work. 

Why Yale? “I chose Yale because I was looking for a school that combined strong academics with a competitive basketball program—and Yale offered the best of both worlds. But what truly made it feel like home was the culture, both within the team and across the entire campus. I can’t wait to be part of the Bulldog Family!”
 
Hannah Wasserman
5-11
Guard
Scarsdale, N.Y.
Scarsdale High School
 
Scarsdale High School: Basketball team captain senior and junior years… All-section sophomore and freshman years… All-league sophomore and freshman years… Richard McNichol Christmas Tournament All-Tournament Team 2021… Kari Pizzitola Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Team 2022… Honorable mention Westchester/Putnam All-Star Team 2022… Lohud NY Section 1 Watchlist of Top Underclassmen 2022… Led high school team in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots for both seasons played… Injured 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
 
Notes: Volunteered at Bread of Life food pantry and founded an annual food drive at a local day camp… Volunteered as sports coach for special needs children… High school class treasurer…  President of Girls Who Code… Mother ran track at Yale and father played basketball at Amherst College.

Why Yale? “Yale is my dream school! It’s the ideal balance of outstanding academics, an incredible basketball program, and extraordinary people. I feel so lucky to join Yale’s dynamic, collaborative community.”