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Saturday Sports

SCOTT SIMON, HOST: And now it’s time for sports. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) SIMON: (Singing) Georgia. All right. Masters weekend at Augusta, college hockey – the Frozen Four down to two – and the WNBA draft. Michele Steele of ESPN joins us. Michele, thanks for being with us. MICHELE STEELE: Sure. I didn’t know you could […]

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Saturday Sports

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

And now it’s time for sports.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SIMON: (Singing) Georgia.

All right. Masters weekend at Augusta, college hockey – the Frozen Four down to two – and the WNBA draft. Michele Steele of ESPN joins us. Michele, thanks for being with us.

MICHELE STEELE: Sure. I didn’t know you could sing, Scott.

SIMON: I can’t sing. I think I just demonstrated…

STEELE: (Laughter).

SIMON: …As much, but I do enjoy it. Listen, the Masters – first two rounds have wrapped up in Augusta. Only half the players remain. Leading the way is Justin Rose, 8 under par, but a gaggle of players right behind him, including Rory McIlroy. Past champions, including Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, did not make the cut. So what do you take from all this so far?

STEELE: You know, excuse my French here, but my takeaway is just how gosh darn competitive it’s been, you know, if you take a look at the top of the leaderboard.

SIMON: Oh, your French is exquisite…

STEELE: Yes.

SIMON: …But go ahead. Yeah.

STEELE: Thank you. Merci. If you take a look at the top of the leaderboard, 14 of the 25 best players in the whole entire world – they’re within six shots…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Of the lead. Scotty Shuffler three shots back, Rory McIlroy entering the weekend two shots back. Rory McIlroy in particular – he has not been in the top 20 since 2018, so if you’re a Rory fan, you’re excited. You know, Scott, there’s something about Augusta National that just brings out the best of what the world has to offer, and that’s what we’re seeing play out right now.

SIMON: And so let us focus on two players. Jon Rahm of Spain and Fred Couples of the U.S. are in the hunt for kind of different reasons, aren’t they?

STEELE: Yeah. You know, Jon Rahm was the defending Masters champion just a year and a half ago. And that’s when, perhaps not coincidentally, he joined the upstart LIV Golf tour from the PGA Tour.

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: He just has simply, I mean, essentially flopped in golf’s majors in 2024. That seemed to be continuing into 2025 ’cause he was struggling a little bit at Augusta this week. He barely made the cut. We’ll see what he does this weekend. Now, as for Fred Couples, this is a fun story – 65 years old, opens with a 1-under 71 on…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: ….Thursday, giving himself a pretty good shot at making the cut. Now, he would finish at 4 over. But I like what he said, Scott, after his round. He said, I get into that car. I’ll come back tomorrow, have a nice lunch. I’ll be fine.

SIMON: Aw.

STEELE: And you know what? We’ll see him back next year.

SIMON: So the men’s national championship of college ice hockey tonight in St. Louis – Western Michigan Broncos against the Boston University Terriers. Western Michigan’s only won one of the top four overall seeds – still there – but BU is after redemption, right? They lost the national semifinals in the last two years.

STEELE: Yeah. You know, this is the Frozen Four you’re talking about. It’s college hockey’s own version of March Madness. And if you’re an NHL fan like me, you’ve got an eye on this game because of so many NHL prospects on the ice, especially on the BU side. Now, BU is favored in this game, but don’t count out Western Michigan. They beat the overall favorite, the University of Denver, in double overtime in the last round. And here’s something fun to watch – if you’re not a huge hockey fan, BU has a couple of brothers who play together, Quinn and Cole Hutson. They come from a crazy hockey-playing family. The older brother, Lane, is leading the Rookie of the Year conversation with the Montreal Canadiens. The younger brother’s playing – I love this team name. He’s playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. So Quinn and Cole Hutson – watch those brothers tonight. Lots of Hutsons in the house tonight, Scott.

SIMON: Aww. WNBA draft takes place Monday. Paige Bueckers, of course, of UConn is widely expected to be the overall pick. And a measure of the growth of the league, I gather, can be made because tickets to go to this year’s…

STEELE: (Laughter).

SIMON: …Draft are a lot pricier, aren’t they?

STEELE: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yesterday’s price, as they say, is not today’s price for women’s basketball. You know, the league saw tickets to the draft last year go absolutely bananas on the secondary market. Perhaps not a huge shock, since that was the Caitlin Clark class…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Draft. And the league decided, you know what? Our prices are a little bit low compared to the demand for this thing. So they made a change. It’s going to cost double to go as a fan. Last year, it was $50 for that lowest tier of ticket. This year, Scott, it’s $100.

SIMON: Wow.

STEELE: Don’t forget the fees on Ticketmaster. But you know what? All of those tickets are sold out. You’re going to have to watch it on TV.

SIMON: Oh, my word. And the price increase – nothing to do with tariffs, right? We ought to make that plain this week.

STEELE: You know, as far as I know, we’re not importing any tickets from anywhere else, so nothing to do with tariffs.

SIMON: All right.

STEELE: One of the rare stories not to do with tariffs.

SIMON: OK. Michele Steele of ESPN, talk to you soon. Thanks so much.

STEELE: You bet.

(SOUNDBITE OF BILLY BASS’ “THE BREAKS”) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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Adidas Signs Eight High School Hoopers to NIL Deals

Last Updated on June 2, 2025 Adidas has continued to stay ahead of the curve in identifying up-and-coming talent in basketball through name, image, and likeness initiatives. The global sports apparel brand has selected eight talented high school basketball players to headline the next chapter of its NIL roster. Each member will play a crucial […]

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Last Updated on June 2, 2025

Adidas has continued to stay ahead of the curve in identifying up-and-coming talent in basketball through name, image, and likeness initiatives. The global sports apparel brand has selected eight talented high school basketball players to headline the next chapter of its NIL roster. Each member will play a crucial role in building the legacy of Adidas’ 3SSB platform, which serves as the premier grassroots platform for Adidas Basketball, designed to showcase and support college athletes seeking to play at the next level.

This new edition includes:

  • Kaleena Smith
  • Adam Oumiddoch
  • Bruce Branch III
  • Oliviyah Edwards
  • Kate Harpring
  • Caleb Holt
  • Taylen Kinney
  • Anthony Thompson

Boys’ Basketball Stars Joining the Adidas NIL Wave

Caleb Holt, Taylen Kinney, and Anthony Thompson are the standouts that represent the 2026 class. Holt checks in as the second-ranked shooting guard in the class and is the top-ranked player in Georgia, per 247Sports. The Loganville, Georgia, product is known for his ability to get to the basket at will. Holt earned a gold medal as a member of the 2024 USA Men’s U17 National Team and is also a key player on the 3SSB’s Game Elite. 

Five-star point guard Taylen Kinney is one of two Overtime Elite members in the recent Adidas NIL class. Kinney plays for Overtime Elite’s RWE and 3SSB’s Wildcat Select team and is the fourth-ranked point guard in the 2026 class, per 247Sports, and the second-ranked player in Georgia. He is known for his ball-handling ability and scoring prowess. Kinney has built a strong presence on TikTok, boasting over 800,000 followers, and has gone viral for several TikTok challenges.

Western Reserve Academy’s Anthony Thompson is the top-ranked player in Ohio and the third-ranked small forward in the 2026 class by 247Sports. The five-star prospect plays for 3SSB’s Indiana Elite and is lauded for his versatility to play multiple positions and his 7-foot-3 wingspan.

Adam Oumiddoch is one of the top shooting guards in the 2026 class. The Arlington, Virginia, product plays for the Cold Hearts of Overtime Elite and 3SSB’s Wildcat Select. Oumiddoch has made a name for himself on the junior national circuit with USA Basketball and earned All-American honors as a freshman at Bishop O’Connell High School. Oumiddoch has one of the strongest social media followings of the class, with over 50,000 followers on Instagram. It is worth noting that Oumiddoch had a partnership with Adidas before the announcement of this recent class. 

Bruce Branch III is arguably the most talented player in the 2027 class. 247Sports has Branch slotted as the second-ranked player in the country for the 2027 cycle. The 6-foot-7 small forward out of Gilbert, Arizona, plays for 3SSB’s Compton Magic. Branch received high acclaim for his contributions to Perry’s Open Division state championship as a freshman. Branch is known for his athleticism and ability to score from three levels. 

Girls’ Basketball Stars Representing The Three Stripes

Kaleena Smith was the first high school women’s basketball player to sign an NIL deal with Adidas. Smith is the top-ranked high school prospect in the 2027 class by 247Sports. She plays for 3SSB’s 7 Days team and averaged one of the most impressive stat lines in 34.9 points, 6.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 steals per game as a sophomore. The Ontario Christian High School product earned the MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year and the Los Angeles Times Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year awards. 

Georgia high school basketball star Kate Harpring watches a Big Ten women’s basketball game featuring the Iowa Hawkeyes and the USC Trojans Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Photo courtesy: Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen via Imagn

Oliviyah Edwards is the top-ranked power forward in the 2026 class by 247Sports. The five-star prospect plays for Elite Sports Academy and 3SSB’s Northwest Greyhounds. What separates Edwards from the rest of her class is her elite athleticism, length, and rare dunking ability. 

Marist School’s Kate Harpring is the top-ranked player in the 2026 class by ESPN. The five-star prospect plays for 3SSB’s Southeast All-Stars and was instrumental in leading  Marist to a Georgia Class 6A state championship. One of the standout performances from Harpring’s championship run was her 45-point performance in the semifinals. Harpring is most known for being an efficient three-level scorer and defensive ability. She is also the daughter of former NBA player Matt Harpring.

  • Darian Kelly

    Darian is a Sports Industry Management graduate of Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. Darian hosts The Jersey Podcast and is a sports documentary fanatic who loves to talk professional and college football and basketball.

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Bulldogs poach Brian O’Connor from UVA

Mississippi State has finalized a blockbuster hire to replace fired baseball coach Chris Lemonis. Shortly after the Bulldogs were eliminated from the Tallahassee Regional at the hands of Florida State on Sunday, the program announced that it is hiring Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. The winningest coach in the history of the Cavaliers program, O’Connor has […]

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Mississippi State has finalized a blockbuster hire to replace fired baseball coach Chris Lemonis.

Shortly after the Bulldogs were eliminated from the Tallahassee Regional at the hands of Florida State on Sunday, the program announced that it is hiring Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. The winningest coach in the history of the Cavaliers program, O’Connor has been the head man in Charlottesville since 2004.

O’Connor took over a program that had never won a regional in its history and took Virginia to seven College World Series, winning the national championship in 2015 after finishing as the national runner-up the prior season. The Cavaliers reached the College World Series in each of the last two seasons under O’Connor but missed the postseason entirely in 2025 for the first time since 2019 after finishing with a 32-18 record.

“Mississippi State represents everything I love about college baseball — tradition, passion and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” O’Connor said in a release. “I’ve coached against this program and followed it closely for years. The atmosphere at Dudy Noble Field is nationally recognized as the best in the sport. I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead a program with this kind of legacy and fan base. Mississippi State has set the standard in college baseball, and I can’t wait to get to work, build relationships and compete for championships in Starkville.”

Mississippi State is set to formally introduce O’Connor with a press conference at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday night. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, the Bulldogs are set to make him one of the SEC’s highest-paid coaches with a competitive NIL budget.

He replaces Lemonis, who coached in Starkville for seven seasons and found immediate success after coming in from Indiana. MSU reached the College World Series in his first campaign in 2019, and after the 2020 season was canceled, the Bulldogs won the national championship under his guidance in 2021.

However, things deteriorated quickly after that campaign. Mississippi State missed the tournament in 2022 and 2023 while finishing 9-21 in SEC play both seasons, and it was eliminated in the Charlottesville Regional final last season. Lemonis was fired on April 28 after a 25-19 start to the 2025 season.

The Bulldogs are one of the top brands in college baseball and have reached the College World Series 12 times in their history. With a splashy hire of one of the most successful coaches of the last two decades, the program will look to return to competing at a national level.

Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.



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Wisconsin Badgers outside of Top 25 in college basketball ranking from The Athletic

The Wisconsin Badgers retooled their lineup this offseason with some key transfer portal additions. It apparently wasn’t enough to earn much respect from national college basketball writers. CJ Moore of The Athletic put out his Top 25 ranking for the 2025-26 season, and Greg Gard’s team didn’t make the cut. Wisconsin was listed under “others […]

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The Wisconsin Badgers retooled their lineup this offseason with some key transfer portal additions.

It apparently wasn’t enough to earn much respect from national college basketball writers.

CJ Moore of The Athletic put out his Top 25 ranking for the 2025-26 season, and Greg Gard’s team didn’t make the cut.

Wisconsin was listed under “others under consideration” on the outside looking in.

UW finished last season ranked 16th in the polls, so the school would drop at least 10 spots to miss the Top 25 to start next season.

Wisconsin is losing John Tonje to the NBA Draft but retained John Blackwell and brought in a few other starting-caliber guards in the portal to maintain strong depth.

It’s fair to question whether this new group can reach the heights of last season, but dropping out of the Top 25 feels like a drastic fall.

Gard still has one roster spot to fill and is hoping to add more size to his front court in the process, but the Badgers may still have a lot to prove in the regular season once again.



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Former Stanford Softball Star Wins Big 12 Pitcher of the Year

The season may not have ended the way that the Stanford Cardinal had hoped, but that does not mean that the Cardinal legacy is over for this year. Following a dominant stint for the Cardinal that saw her evolve into one of college softball’s top players, NiJaree Canady transferred to Texas Tech for her junior […]

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The season may not have ended the way that the Stanford Cardinal had hoped, but that does not mean that the Cardinal legacy is over for this year. Following a dominant stint for the Cardinal that saw her evolve into one of college softball’s top players, NiJaree Canady transferred to Texas Tech for her junior year in a move that saw her earn a $1 million NIL deal in the process.

Now after one season with the Red Raiders, Canady’s legacy continues to grow.

After finishing the 2025 season with a 30-5 record and a nation-leading 0.89 ERA, Canady was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year–the second consecutive season that she won a conference Pitcher of the Year Award and was also selected as a First-team All-Big 12 member.

Because of her strong efforts, undoubtedly becoming Texas Tech’s headlining player, the Red Raiders won the Big 12 regular season championship and are currently set to face Oklahoma for a spot in the Women’s College World Series championship.

But Canady also received lots of praise at the national level, earning a spot as a First-team All-American and being named the NFCA National Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year. Canady’s arrival revitalized a program that has been struggling for the past few seasons.

Last making an appearance in the NCAA tournament in 2019 under former coach Adrian Gregory, the Red Raiders won their first-ever regular season and conference tournament this year while making their first-ever appearance in both the NCAA Super Regionals and the Women’s College World Series. This has all happened in both Canady and head coach Gerry Glasco’s first seasons in Lubbock.

A star in both basketball and softball at Topeka High School in Topeka, Kansas, Canady posted a 21-0 record with a 0.26 ERA and 232 strikeouts as a junior before committing to Stanford prior to her senior year.

Skipping her senior basketball season to focus on softball, Canady’s final high school softball season saw her post a 13-1 record with a 0.84 ERA and 163 strikeouts–in only 74.2 innings.

Following two seasons at Stanford where she posted a 41-10 record with a 0.66 ERA, 555 strikeouts, 65 walks and nine saves, Canady was highly touted in the portal, receiving interest from schools such as Oklahoma, Texas and UCLA.

But the record-breaking NIL deal that Texas Tech offered her combined with her and her family feeling a strong personal connection to Glasco’s culture within the program led to her choosing to finish her college career with the Red Raiders.

Now, Canady has the chance to rewrite history by not only helping Texas Tech take down Oklahoma– a program that has won the last four Women’s College World Series, but also bringing the first-ever softball national title to Lubbock. If Canady is able to do both of those things, her legacy as a college softball legend will be cemented.

Phoenix Mercury Sign Former Stanford Star. Phoenix Mercury Sign Former Stanford Star. dark. Next



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USC RB Waymond Jordan inks NIL deal with C4 Energy

With his first season at USC on the horizon, Waymond Jordan signed an NIL deal with C4 Energy, he announced via social media. He arrived in Los Angeles this past spring as the top junior college running back transfer on the market. Jordan committed to USC in January out of the transfer portal and is […]

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With his first season at USC on the horizon, Waymond Jordan signed an NIL deal with C4 Energy, he announced via social media. He arrived in Los Angeles this past spring as the top junior college running back transfer on the market.

Jordan committed to USC in January out of the transfer portal and is looking to compete for a role in the Trojans’ running back room with last year’s leading rusher Woody Marks off to the NFL. He opened eyes during spring practice following his commitment, as USC running backs coach Anthony Jones said.

Repped by Darren Wilson, Jordan is also capitalizing in the NIL space. He joins an impressive list of athletes to sign an NIL deal with C4 Energy in the last few years, including former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and new Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch.

Jordan is coming off a standout sophomore season at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, where he won NJCAA DI Football Offensive Player of the Year and led the program to an NJCAA national title. He totaled 1,614 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns across 12 games, leading the nation in both categories.

It was a breakout year for Jordan, who had 202 yards and two touchdowns in seven games as a freshman in 2023 after arriving from Pensacola (Fla.) Escambia. That leap forward helped him become the No. 12 junior college player and No. 1-ranked JUCO running back transfer this past cycle, according to the On3 Industry Junior College Rankings.

What Lincoln Riley said about Waymond Jordan

During spring practice, USC head coach Lincoln Riley spoke highly of the different skillsets the Trojans had in the running backs room. Between Waymond Jordan, Eli Sanders – a transfer from New Mexico State – and Bryan Jackson still in the fold, the Trojans have options at the position.

“Waymond’s really compact, really kind of moves effortlessly and obviously a ton of production at [Hutchinson Community College],” Riley said. “Eli’s explosive. You just see his explosion. It jumps off the tape already, which is what we saw on tape. He averaged big-time yards per carry, but I think really brings a real explosive aspect to the room.”

USC will get the 2025 season underway Aug. 30 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans will take on FBS newcomer Missouri State in Week 1.





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FSU men’s basketball offseason thread #3: Roster updates, portal entries, transfer additions

Florida State basketball is undergoing massive changes across the board. Not only will a new coach be leading the Seminoles for the first time in 23 years but, in the day and age of the transfer portal, NIL, and yearly roster turnover, FSU is undergoing a massive roster overhaul. Advertisement “There will be a lot […]

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Florida State basketball is undergoing massive changes across the board.

Not only will a new coach be leading the Seminoles for the first time in 23 years but, in the day and age of the transfer portal, NIL, and yearly roster turnover, FSU is undergoing a massive roster overhaul.

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“There will be a lot of guys that hit the portal, and that shouldn’t scare anyone. That’s by design, both for these players and myself,” Loucks told reporters during his second interview since becoming Florida State men’s basketball coach.

This article will be updated throughout the off-season, tracking player movements and who will be part of Loucks’ first team in Tallahassee.

FSU basketball offseason roster changes: Departures

Transfer portal

  • Guard/forward Taylor Bol Bowen (Alabama)

  • Guard Daquan Davis (Providence)

  • Forward Malique Ewin (Arkansas)

  • Guard/forward Anastasios Rozakeas

Eligibility

Transfer portal additions

  • Guard Kobe Magee (Drexler)

  • Guard LaJae Jones (St. Bonaventure)

  • Forward Chauncey Wiggins (Clemson)

  • Guard Robert McCray V (Jacksonville)

  • Forward Alex Steen (Florida Southern)

Returning players

High school recruits:

  • Forward Thomas Bassong (France/ Overtime Elite)

  • Guard Cam Miles (IMG Academy)

https://youtube.com/@cbbtransferportal/videos (where you can find film on the new guys)

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https://app.seminoles.com/LukeLoucks (donate!)

https://seminoles.com/news/2025/5/28/mens-basketball-florida-states-opponents-released-for-18-game-acc-schedule-in-2025-26 (sked)

https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-seminoles-basketball-fsu-noles-hoops-team-tallahassee-college-cbb-acc/2025/5/2/24422555/florida-state-basketball-luke-loucks-michael-alford-nil-transfer-portal-acc-ncaa-tournament-kobe-nba?commentID=c3b192b2-c9cf-46ee-8c81-7041c4676e1c

https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-seminoles-basketball-fsu-noles-hoops-team-tallahassee-college-cbb-acc/2025/5/2/24422555/florida-state-basketball-luke-loucks-michael-alford-nil-transfer-portal-acc-ncaa-tournament-kobe-nba?commentID=e2bc2add-d458-4863-9b26-80cf813169d0

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https://247sports.com/season/2025-basketball/transferportal

https://on3.com/transfer-portal/wire/basketball

(portal activity is pretty much over, but that’s there for folks to see what’s still left in the bargain bin and to eavesdrop on other teams)

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