Earlier this month, the Milwaukee Bucks waived star guard Damian Lillard.
On Thursday, ESPN reported the nine-time All-Star and the Portland Trail Blazers were finalizing a three-year contract to reunite Lillard with the only other NBA franchise he'd played for.
Lillard was drafted by the Trail Blazers and spent his first 11 seasons with Portland.
He holds the record for the most points in franchise history. On Friday, Lillard took to social media to express his excitement about the reunion.
"RipCityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!," Lillard wrote in a post on X that featured a video panning the lockers of multiple Trail Blazers players, including Lillard’s No. 0.
The video concluded with a short message: "Together Again."
Lillard will likely be sidelined the entire 2025-26 season as he continues to recover from the Achilles tear he sustained in the NBA playoffs in late April.
The Bucks still owe Lillard $113 million, and payments are expected to be stretched over the next five years, according to the report. The 35-year-old's salary for the 2025-26 season will climb to $70 million due to his earnings from the Portland and Milwaukee deals.
The Blazers struggled without Lillard, finishing last season with a 36-46 record and falling short of the playoffs.
ESPN also reported that Lillard drew interest from multiple "NBA contenders," but he chose the team with which he had the most familiarity.
Ticket prices for the WNBA All-Star Game steeply dropped after it was announced Caitlin Clark would miss the game with a groin injury.
Clark was slated to be an All-Star team captain in just her second season and would lead Team Clark on her home floor at Gainbridge Field House in Indianapolis.
The cheapest ticket prices on TickPick were as high as $126, with an average resale price of $262, the highest in league history.
Front Office Sports reported the record prices on Wednesday, before Clark announced she would miss the game.
At the time of publication, the cheapest tickets on TickPick were $65, a 48.4% decrease.
Clark said Thursday she will not participate in the WNBA All-Star Game or its festivities after she appeared to aggravate a groin injury she sustained earlier in the season.
"I’m so excited for Indy to host WNBA All-Star this weekend. I want to thank the Indianapolis Host Committee and all of the people that have put endless work in over the past year to put this event together," she said. "I know this will be the best All-Star yet.
"I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game. I have to rest my body. I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I’m looking forward to helping Sandy (Brondello) coach our team to a win.
"Can’t wait to see you all out there."
Clark sustained the injury in the waning moments of the Fever’s win over the Connecticut Sun Tuesday night. She appeared to tweak her upper leg on a bounce pass to Kelsey Mitchell.
Injuries have been the main storyline for Clark this season. She’s missed nearly a dozen games because of injuries but still managed to lead fan voting for the All-Star Game.
The Philadelphia Phillies appeared to reference the sudden controversy involving Astronomer CEO Andy Byron during Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Citizens Bank Park jumbotron was seen playing a Coldplay song during its kiss cam. Byron was infamously seen allegedly being caught on the jumbotron with the company’s HR chief, Kristin Cabot, at a recent Coldplay concert.
The Philadelphia crowd exploded in laughter and applause when the song began to play.
Jason Martinez of Fox 29 got the moment captured on camera, posting it to his X account.
Astronomer posted a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the controversial matter involving its CEO.
"Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability," the company shared.
"The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly."
The company emphasized that no other employees appeared in the video, and confirmed that Alyssa Stoddard, the Senior Director of People at Astronomer, was not present at the concert.
The Coldplay concert Kiss Cam turned into viral chaos after frontman Chris Martin joked that a couple on screen were "either having an affair or just very shy."
Fox News has confirmed Cabot and her husband filed for divorce in 2018 and court documents appear to show their divorce was finalized in 2022. No divorce records have been found for Byron, who appears to still be married.
According to New Hampshire property records, Kristin and Andrew Cabot purchased a home as a married couple in April 2024.
Several other sports teams have referenced the sudden controversy.The St. Louis Cardinals posted a picture of Albert Pujols hugging Adam Wainwright, captioning it "When Coldplay starts playing your song."
The Seattle Mariners also offered up Cal Raleigh's services for dumping, considering his nickname is "Big Dumper."
An attorney representing a woman who sued NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN star Shannon Sharpe for alleged sexual assault announced Friday the lawsuit has been settled.
The attorney, Tony Buzbee, made the announcement in a post on X.
"On April 20, 2025, The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client. Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution," Buzbee wrote.
"All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice."
Sharpe initially called the allegations "false and disruptive" when the lawsuit was filed in April. The woman alleged Sharpe engaged in the intentional infliction of emotional distress and later assaulted her twice, once in October 2024 and in January 2025.
Sharpe stepped away from his duties at ESPN April 24 but pledged to return by the NFL preseason. He also called the lawsuit a "shakedown" and a "blatant set-up" by Buzbee and the accuser.
Sharpe's attorney, Lanny J. Davis, previously revealed a string of text messages that were allegedly from the plaintiff, which he says showed a consensual relationship. Davis claims the relationship involved "fantasy" and "role-playing."
Davis released a lengthy statement, which Sharpe shared on his social media accounts. In the message, Davis shared the sexually explicit messages.
Sharpe also released a video on X prior to Davis’ news conference in which he called the accuser’s legal action a "shakedown." He also mentioned that Buzbee planned to release an edited sex tape to support his client’s claims.
"This is a shakedown. I’m going to be open, transparent and defend myself because this isn’t right. This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee," Sharpe said. "Tony Buzbee targets Black men, and I believe he is going to release a 30-second clip of a sex tape that tries to make me look guilty and play into every stereotype you could possibly imagine."
Buzbee released a statement after Sharpe’s video message and Davis’ press conference, confirming the latter’s remarks about the previous proposed settlement. He also denied that any video of the plaintiff was altered, saying Sharpe’s claim was "demonstrably false, but also desperate."
"An incredibly damning video does indeed exist," Buzbee added in his statement. "The contents of that video speak volumes about Mr. Sharpe and his behavior. That video, which will be played to the jury, is extremely problematic for Mr. Sharpe. Sharpe's team, as I anticipated, disclosed the existence of this video in an effort to try and get ahead of it. That effort will fall flat."
Buzbee is well known for negotiating settlements for the women who accused Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault.
Bazley remained on the floor for a few moments in noticeable discomfort. Team trainers examined Bazley before he eventually left the court with the assistance of a wheelchair. The Celtics won the game.
The Lakers did not immediately provide an update on the forward's injury.
Bazley was drafted by the Utah Jazz but started his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder. More recently, Bazley appeared in six games with the Jazz during the 2023-24 season.
Bazley has had a breakout summer, averaging 11.2 points and 8.4 rebounds over the five games he's appeared in at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The Lakers are scheduled to play the Denver Nuggets Friday night. Los Angeles enters the game with a 1-3 record.
Former NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr., who resigned Thursday, reportedly charged the union for two visits to strip clubs.
Howell, 59, was picked up in a car from Fort Lauderdale International Airport Nov. 2, 2023, and stopped at a nearby Miami Gardens address. A union finance worker looked up the address and discovered it was Tootsie’s Cabaret, according to ESPN’s report.
Tootsie's Cabaret brands itself as the "Full Nude #1 rated Miami Strip Club."
The driver who dropped Howell off was hired to wait while Howell was inside the strip club. The driver waited seven hours outside before eventually dropping off Howell at his luxury condominium in Sunny Isles Beach around 6 a.m., according to the receipt ESPN obtained.
During this year’s NFLPA summit, Howell and two union employees went to Magic City, another strip club, according to the report. The trip cost $2,426 after they used two "VIP rooms" with multiple cash withdrawals from $200-$525, according to the report.
In the expense report, Howell’s trip to the strip club was labeled as "Player Engagement Event to support & grow our Union," according to the report.
The NFLPA told Fox News Digital it had no comment on ESPN's report.
"It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day," Howell said in his resignation statement on Thursday, according to ESPN.
"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."
Howell did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Howell was elected union president in 2024, and he resigned on his own, according to ESPN’s report.
Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker's week kicked off in Atlanta, the host city for the 2025 MLB All-Star game.
On Monday, Rooker participated in the annual Home Run Derby. The next day, Rooker was one of the three players American League manager Aaron Boone selected to compete in the All-Star game's first-ever swing-off.
Rooker went 2-for-3 in the historic Home Run Derby-style tiebreaker. However, Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber scored three points in the swing-off to help the National League win the thriller.
Several notable power-hitting All-Stars were noticeably absent from the unprecedented swing-off. The AL lineup was represented by Rooker, Jonathan Aranda and Randy Arozarena. Schwarber, Pete Alonso and Kyle Stowers stepped up to the plate for the NL
The list of names left some observers puzzled, which sparked some questions about the selections. ESPN MLB reporter Jeff Passan was among those who weighed in on the player selection for the swing-off and offered his preferred lineup.
"What could have been: Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Shohei Ohtani, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber," Passan wrote on X.
Rooker offered a rebuttal after he took notice of the suggested list of players.
"Am I not good enough for you Jeff," Rooker jokingly wrote in a response posted to X.
Rooker later made it clear he had nothing against the ESPN star.
"(Guys I like Jeff I’m not actually mad I would pick Aaron, Cal and Vladdy over me too)," the two-time All-Star wrote in a subsequent post.
Boone addressed concerns over his player selection for the swing-off, saying each manager was required to submit three names the day before the game. He added that his decision was based on the idea Judge would not be in the game in the late innings.
"We had to pick our guys yesterday," Boone told reporters. "Wanted to make sure I picked guys I knew would be in the game there and still hot. That was my choice."
This isn't the first time Rooker has responded on social media after his name was mentioned in something related to this year's All-Star festivities. The Athletics slugger took aim at a fan who criticized him for giving his child a bottle during Monday's Home Run Derby.
ESPN's cameras showed Rooker feeding his 11-month-old daughter a bottle while sitting near the dugout.
"Hey Rooker… did you really need to feed your baby on camera? Sometimes people just want to see you play," a viewer wrote on X.
Rooker responded, writing, "Yes, it was necessary to feed my 11-month-old child her nighttime bottle at like 9:00 pm. Thank you for asking."
Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese made her feelings clear on the recent negotiations between the WNBA and its player's union, the WNBPA, over a new collective bargaining agreement.
Reese said the proposal the WNBA sent to the players was "disrespectful."
"It was an eye-opener for me. Like, hearing the things and hearing the language of things and not things that I was happy to hear. It was disrespectful the things that we were sent back, the proposal that we were sent back," Reese told reporters at WNBA All-Star weekend on Friday.
"It's important to be able to be vocal. If I sit back, it looks like I don't care."
Reese is one of the league's more popular and polarizing players, and has built a passionate following largely on her ongoing rivalry with phenom Caitlin Clark dating back to their college days. Clark's and Reese's rookie season in 2024 saw the league break multiple viewership and attendance records, particularly due to games featuring Clark and the Indiana Fever.
"Obviously, women's basketball is skyrocketing. And it's important for us to get what we want now, not just now, but for the future as well," Reese said. "It's really nice to have vets that may not be playing for 10 more years, but they are speaking for us because they know how important it is right now."
The players met with league officials on Thursday, and the two sides did not come to a deal. Reese is one of many WNBA players who have expressed criticism for the league's handling of negotiations.
New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu said the players weren't just going to settle for "the minimum" in negotiations, while Phoenix Mercury player Satou Sabally called the league's latest CBA offer a "slap in the face."
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Associated Press after the meeting that the meeting was "constructive."
"It was very constructive dialogue. I think, you know, obviously part of the process is to go back and forth and, listen to the players, they listen to us and the owners who represent the board of governors," Engelbert said. "I still feel really optimistic that we can get something transformational done by the end. But it’s a process."
Reese previously ignited a social media firestorm after claiming that players are prepared to sit out games to demand higher salaries during an episode of her podcast in early March while previewing the upcoming CBA negotiations.
"I've got to get in the meetings, because I'm hearing like, 'If y'all don't give us what we want, we sitting out,'" Reese said.
Reese has griped about her financial situation in the past.
"The WNBA don't pay my bills at all. I don't even think it pays one of my bills. Literally," Reese said.
Reese signed a four-year, $324,383 rookie contract ahead of her first WNBA season in 2024. She made under $75,000 in her first year and will make less than that in 2025.
In October, Reese admitted she couldn't afford to pay her bills based on that salary, in an Instagram live video.
"I’m living beyond my means. Hating pays them bills, baby. I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all," she said. "I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. Let me do the math real quick. I don’t even know my (WNBA) salary, $74,000?"
Reese said she is paying $8,000 for rent.
"Babe, if y’all thought… That WNBA check don’t pay a thing," she added. "Did that even pay my car note? … I wouldn’t even be able to eat a sandwich with that. I wouldn’t even be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to live."
The WNBA players' union opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement last October, two years before its expiration. The current CBA will still cover the 2025 season, so the two sides have a year to negotiate a new agreement.
Nashville Police said a noose was found at the construction site of the Tennessee Titans' new stadium, according to ESPN.
The stadium is scheduled to open for the 2027 season, but work has reportedly been halted for an investigation.
"This week, a racist and hateful symbol was discovered on our site. There is no place for hate or racism in our workplace," the Tennessee Builders Alliance, which is leading the construction, said in a statement. "We reported the incident to law enforcement, suspended work and launched an investigation."
"Obviously, this is an environment where we want to try as hard as we can to prevent scenarios that might be fear- or hate-based," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said in a statement. "We've taken some steps, both with local policies, state policy and partnership with them to try, again, to keep temperatures low and prevent hate incidents like this.
"It is very concerning. There is an open investigation. I know the Titans are cooperating with Metro Nashville Police, and we'll see what that investigation turns up."
The stadium will seat 60,000 people and will cost an estimated $2 billion. More than half of that amount is public funding, the largest stadium subsidy in U.S. history.
The Tennessee Builders Alliance also said a reward has been made available for "information leading to the identification of the individual responsible," and all workers will be required to take anti-bias training.
The stadium will have a roof, unlike the current Nissan Stadium. Ground was broken for the stadium in February 2024, and the Tennessee State Tigers will also play there. "New Nissan Stadium" will also host the Music City Bowl annually.
The venue is being built next to the current stadium, which will be demolished.
The Titans, NFL and police did not immediately respond to emails from Fox News Digital.
Hicks also laughed at the hysteria while waving his hands as the bat entered the tower.
Kisner, on the other hand, slowly sunk into this chair and was nearly out of view of the camera. As he slid down in his seat, he pulled his sports coat off the back of the chair and pulled it over his head to protect himself from the bat.
Mike Tirico, who narrated the replay that showed the chaos, ribbed Kisner for his reaction.
"Kevin Kisner, this is a man who is a proud hunter. He’s under his jacket. He is spooked by this bat," Tirico exclaimed.
While Hicks and Kisner may have been bothered by the bat temporarily, they were at least under cover from the rain. Throughout the morning and afternoon, the weather has fluctuated from beautiful at times to downpours.
At the time of this writing, Matt Fitzpatrick was leading the major championship at 9-under par.
With the timing, fans thought it was a foreshadowing of a huge announcement.
It was not.
"Apparently, some of y’all feel trolled by my last story of Nick’s walkout… he’s not coming back to coaching, hate to break it to you," Kristen said in another post on her story, via the New York Post. "You had your time."
Saban surprisingly retired after the 2023-24 collegiate season, which ended in a Rose Bowl loss to the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines. And the pay-for-play landscape that college sports has become seems to have played some role in his decision even if he has denied that in past interviews.
"All the things I’ve believed in for all these years — 50 years of coaching — no longer exist in college athletics," Saban said shortly after he retired. "It always was about developing players, always been about helping people be more successful in life.
"My wife even said to me — we have all the recruits over on Sunday with their parents for breakfast. She would always meet with the mothers and talk about how she was going to help impact their sons and how they would be well taken care of. She came to me right before I retired and said, ‘Why are we doing this?’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ She said, ‘All they care about is how much you’re going to pay them. They don’t care about how you’re going to develop them, which is what we’ve always done. So why are you doing this?’
"To me, that was sort of a red alert that we really are creating a circumstance here that is not beneficial to the young people, which is why I always did what I did. My dad did it, I did it. So, that’s the reason I always like college athletics more than the NFL, because you had the opportunity to develop young people."
Saban has since joined ESPN's "College GameDay" and has fought on Capitol Hill for regulating name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.
He won seven national championships, the most ever by a head college football coach — one with LSU and six in Tuscaloosa.
Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu lamented Caitlin Clark’s latest injury that sidelined the Indiana Fever guard from All-Star weekend festivities, but she told reporters Friday that Clark’s contributions will still be felt at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Clark was ruled out of Wednesday night's game against the Liberty with a groin injury, her third injury of the season. It was enough to sideline the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year from this weekend’s All-Star events, where she was due to compete in the 3-point contest Friday and the All-Star Game Saturday.
Even so, Ionescu told reporters during a news conference Friday the Clark effect will still be in full effect.
"Obviously, it’s really unfortunate that we don’t have her, but she means a lot more to the game than just showing up and playing. I think you’re able to see that with just the excitement in Indy right now, regardless of if she’s playing or not."
Ionescu added she understands the frustrations Clark is experiencing being sidelined as the Fever prepare to host All-Star weekend.
"Obviously, we’re good friends. I’ve been able to talk to her a lot through this process. Honestly, I kind of went through something similar in my career. My first year I didn’t play due to injury, and my second year I had three to four soft tissue injuries that I was dealing with. You look back, and it’s kind of a blessing in disguise because you’re able to just learn and grow and understand it’s all a part of your journey," she said.
"Just trying to be that sound board for her and that voice having gone through something kind of similar."
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello, who will coach Team Clark in Saturday’s game, echoed Ionescu’s comments, reassuring fans that Clark will still be a dominant presence even from courtside.
"She’s still going to have a great impact on this team. I will give the coaching hat to her as much as she wants, to be quite honest," Brondello said with a laugh. "We’re going to play around with it a little bit. It’ll be fun. I think you’ve seen it with the Fever. She’s been very active on the sideline when she wasn’t playing. So, we’ll utilize that as well."
The WNBA announced that Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes and Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones will replace Clark and an injured Satou Sabally in the game this weekend. Both will play for Brondello.
The Fever announced Friday that Lexie Hull will replace Clark in the 3-point contest.
The sports world is chiming in on the viral supposed affair caught on camera at a recent Coldplay concert.
The band was playing at Gillette Stadium this week when a "Kiss Cam" caught a man and a woman getting awfully comfortable with each other in a suite.
The man and woman quickly hid themselves from the camera, and frontman Chris Martin joked that a couple on screen were "either having an affair or just very shy."
The pair, who online sleuths claimed are Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot, sparked a firestorm of speculation and mockery across social media.
Several sports teams decided to join in on the fun.
The St. Louis Cardinals posted a picture of Albert Pujols hugging Adam Wainwright, captioning it "When Coldplay starts playing your song."
The Seattle Mariners also offered up Cal Raleigh's services for dumping, considering his nickname is "Big Dumper."
Netflix also highlighted a moment in their recent "Quarterback" series when Kirk Cousins praised the band.
Michael Jordan's racing company also poked fun at the incident.
Byron is the CEO of Astronomer, the cybersecurity startup, and Cabot, according to her LinkedIn, is the company's chief people officer. It seems they have worked closely together for years.
Last November, Astronomer posted a press release, as the tech company announced Cabot as the newly appointed chief people officer.
"Kristin’s exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory," Byron wrote of his new employee at the time. "She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer."
The press release also included Cabot's statement about her new job: "I prefer to think of my role as people strategy versus traditional human resources, as the real magic happens when you align the people strategy with the business strategy."
Fox News' Stephanie Piang-Paunon contributed to this report.
EXCLUSIVE: The Mountain West Conference has addressed concerns over an investigation into alleged misconduct by former San Jose State transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming in an exclusive statement provided to Fox News Digital. The statement also clarified a mistaken response by Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez to a question about the issue at a press conference on Wednesday.
Fox News Digital reported in June that the conference hired the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher (WFG) to investigate allegations against Fleming of conspiring with an opponent to harm teammate Brooke Slusser in November. The same firm defended the Mountain West against a request for a preliminary injunction that would have ruled Fleming ineligible to compete in women's volleyball in that same month.
Fox News Digital questioned Nevarez at her Mountain West Media Days press conference on the issue, asking "In November, the Mountain West launched an investigation of misconduct into a San Jose State volleyball player. Why did the conference hire the same law firm that was hired to defend the player's eligibility in court to conduct that investigation, and was there any concern of a conflict of interest?"
Nevarez responded, "Well, that is a question concerning active litigation, so I'm not going to comment on ongoing litigation. But the statement that the same law firm represented the school in defending the player is incorrect."
Fox News Digital asked, "Why is it incorrect?"
Nevarez responded, "Because, that's not, that, the lawyer that did our investigation was not representing San Jose State." Fox News Digital did not insinuate in its question nor has it ever reported that the law firm represented San Jose State.
Fox News Digital immediately followed up during the press conference, saying, "It was representing the Mountain West to defend the player's eligibility in court." Nevarez did not respond, remaining silent for several seconds.
Fox News Digital then asked, "Are you confident in your legal defense?"
Nevarez responded, "Um, yes."
Fox News Digital attempted to question Nevarez about her response shortly after her press conference ended as she spoke with other reporters, but she ignored the inquiry and walked away. A Mountain West media relations associate said, "Sir, we have to get to another interview."
The Mountain West later provided its statement that claimed Nevarez "believed" the initial question was asking about the law firm representing SJSU.
"Commissioner Nevarez believed you were asking about our law firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, representing both the Mountain West and San Jose State. It was clarified that you were asking about a potential conflict of interest with the lawsuit related to a conference policy and the match investigation," the statement read.
The statement also claimed that WFG did not defend Fleming's eligibility in the November legal dispute.
"To be clear, Willkie Farr & Gallagher is defending the Mountain West’s policy regarding forfeitures, not a student-athlete's eligibility. Eligibility is determined by NCAA policy and the university, not the conference office. The investigation was focused on alleged player misconduct. The two matters in question are unrelated and thus there is no conflict of interest."
Four conference opponents forfeited games to SJSU in 2024, and the status of the forfeited matches and the impact of conference seeding was challenged in the request for preliminary injunction. However, Fleming's eligibility to continue the season and play in the conference was challenged as well as a key point.
WFG deleted a Nov. 27 press release from its website announcing the firm had secured a legal victory for the Mountain West against the plaintiffs, led by Slusser, seeking to keep the trans athlete out of the tournament. The page is still viewable via online archives and notes the athlete's right to play as the first issue in the dispute.
"Willkie secured a high profile win for collegiate athletic conference Mountain West Conference in a suit brought by members of San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball team and other Mountain West teams that played against SJSU. The suit sought to (i) prohibit a transgender woman on the SJSU team from competing in the MWC’s Championship," the press release read, later stating "Plaintiffs sought an order preliminarily (i) blocking the player at issue from playing in any remaining matches this season."
The press release also directly referenced the Mountain West's own gender eligibility policy.
"The court noted the player in question has played for SJSU since 2022, and that Mountain West’s policy on transgender athletes has been in place since 2022."
The WFG attorneys that represented the Mountain West argued against the request for a preliminary injunction as a whole, and made no clear distinction not to challenge the plaintiffs' request to have Fleming ruled ineligible.
"Preliminary injunctions are an extraordinary remedy only granted in true emergencies. The moving plaintiffs should not be granted such an extraordinary remedy based on the fabricated sense of urgency created by their decision to hold onto their grievances until the eve of this year’s conference tournament," read the Mountain West's response brief to Slusser's complaint.
Slusser and the other plaintiffs argued in their complaint that "Fleming has been continuously ineligible to play women’s volleyball pursuant to Title IX as Fleming’s sex is male and is therefore ineligible to play in, and should not be permitted by the MWC to play in, the MWC women’s volleyball tournament."
The lead attorney who represented the Mountain West in November, Wesley R. Powell, repeatedly insisted that the Mountain West is not subject to Title IX, as seen in transcripts of the November hearing obtained by Fox News Digital.
"Our position is that we're simply not subject to Title IX," Powell said during the status conference. "To be subject to Title IX we would have to be recipients of federal government support and the conference is not a recipient of any such support. And so from our perspective, all of the details, the expert testimony, you know, virtually everything that has been put into the record is ultimately irrelevant to us."
During oral arguments, Powell said, "It's only a Title IX issue if the Mountain West receives federal funds, and that is not the case."
Fox News Digital reached back out to the Mountain West and to WFG for a response to the presentation of these facts as they relate to the conference's statement. No response has been provided. None of WFG's attorneys have been accused of violating any applicable rules of professional conduct.
Slusser previously alleged in a bigger lawsuit against the Mountain West, signed by 10 other current or former women's college volleyball players, that Fleming and other teammates snuck out the night before an Oct. 3 game against Colorado State and met with an opposing player.
The lawsuit, and a separate Title IX complaint filed by former SJSU coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, alleged that the teammates who snuck out with Fleming allegedly later told players and coaches of an alleged plan by Fleming, in conspiracy with the Colorado State player, to have Slusser spiked in the face during the game.
The lawsuit and complaint alleged that the players who snuck out told other players and coaches that they saw Fleming also hand over an SJSU scouting report, with an agreement to throw the game in Colorado State's favor.
Slusser was never spiked in the face during that game. Fleming led the game in errors with 10, as San Jose State lost in straight sets.
The Mountain West Conference investigated the allegations in November, but concluded that "sufficient evidence" could not be found.
Public records obtained by Fox News Digital show that the lead WFG attorney in the investigation, Tim Heaphy, coordinated with SJSU and California State University legal counsel Dustin May to set up interviews with at least six witnesses. SJSU head volleyball coach Todd Kress was one of the witnesses.
California State University redacted the identities of the other five witnesses that corresponded with Heaphy and May during the investigation in public records provided to Fox News Digital.
Emails coordinating interviews for the investigation, obtained by Fox News Digital, repeatedly incorrectly stated the game took place on Oct. 2. A letter announcing the investigation had closed without finding sufficient evidence was sent just three days after May and Heaphy's first emails to witnesses to set up interviews were sent. That letter also incorrectly dated the game Oct. 2.
In February, Heaphy reached back out to May offering legal counsel in navigating a federal Title IX investigation into the situation over the trans athlete, as seen in emails obtained by Fox News Digital. May responded on Feb. 18, declining Heaphy's offer. Heaphy responded the next day, writing, "Please let me know if we can help in any way on this or other issues."
May's office initially responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment after providing the public records, requesting a list of questions and background information be provided before speaking. Fox News Digital did not provide the information or list of comments, and requested a virtual or phone interview.
May's office then responded with the statement, "Any speculation that the firm or attorney mentioned in your inquiry represented SJSU or the CSU is unfounded." Fox News Digital had not posed that question or any other stipulation, only an interview request, at that point.
Fox News Digital later followed up with May's office requesting an interview to address other questions, and fulfilled his office's request to provide background information on what would be discussed.
May's office responded saying, "He will not be available," and has not responded to request for further comment.
A former college football star was shot and killed following a physical altercation that turned deadly in a Texas parking garage last week.
Former Texas Southern football player Tyler Martinez was tragically killed on July 11 when he was allegedly shot several times by 22-year-old Isaac Jasper Robinson during a dispute in the parking garage of an apartment complex where both men reportedly lived, Houston Police said this week.
Police have since arrested and charged Robinson with murder.
"Tyler was a young man who was loved by his teammates and his personality was larger than life," football chief of staff Charles Nichols said in a statement from the university.
"In his mind, he was the best rapper on the team, and on the field, he was always trying to become a better football player. I will cherish our talks we had concerning life after football. I was so proud of him when he got his degree and started on his master’s degree. He will truly be missed because there was only one Tyler Martinez."
Police in Texas were called to the scene just after 8 p.m. Once there, officers found Martinez unresponsive and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics.
Houston police arrested Robinson after saying he "returned to the scene." He was charged with murder. According to KHOU, he is a current student at Texas Southern, but the two men were not known to one another.
Texas Southern wide receivers coach Jerwin Wilson remembered Martinez as a "joy to be around."
"He was a very adventurous person who could spark a light in any room," he said in a statement provided by the university.
Martinez was a defensive lineman at Texas Southern where he registered 82 total tackles, including 5.5 sacks across four seasons. In his junior year, he was second on the team with 44 tackles and led the team with 3.5 sacks.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has reportedly recovered from an injury setback and will be ready to compete with Daniel Jones for the starting job.
Richardson, 23, underwent season-ending surgery to repair an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder during the 2023 season. The 2023 No. 4 overall pick missed the final two weeks of the Colts’ offseason practices in June after he had soreness in that same shoulder.
When Richardson experienced soreness in the surgically repaired shoulder in June, the team’s medical staff thought rest would help the ailment, according to ESPN's report.
Training camp begins for the Colts next week, as all players are required to report by Tuesday.
Richardson has struggled throughout his two seasons in the NFL and is entering a pivotal training camp. Head coach Shane Steichen described the starting quarterback battle as an open competition.
The Colts signed Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million contract to come in and compete with Richardson.
Richardson, in 15 career games, has an 8-7 record, but that’s an indicator of how he has played in his tenure. The former Florida star has only completed just over 50% of his career passes with 2,391 passing yards and more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (11).
Richardson has been dynamic with his legs in his career, as he has 635 yards and 10 career rushing touchdowns while averaging nearly six yards per attempt.
Jones, 28, was released by the New York Giants in the middle of the last season after 10 games and then signed with the Minnesota Vikings for the remainder of the season. Jones did not appear in a game with the Vikings.
Jones has started 69 games in his career and owns a 24-44-1 record. Last season, Jones completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,070 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Paige Bueckers has confirmed the rumor circulating around the mill.
The No. 1 pick of this year's WNBA Draft said for the first time publicly that she is dating her former UConn teammate, Azzi Fudd.
On the red carpet for the WNBA All-Star break, WagTalk did a Q&A segment with Bueckers, dubbed "How well do you know your D1 girlfriend?" The Dallas Wings rookie revealed at the end it was Fudd.
The outlet asked Bueckers numerous questions about Fudd, including which high school she attended, what college her dad played for and what Fudd's phone case said ('Paige Bueckers' girlfriend).
The outlet then implored Bueckers to do a "girlfriend reveal," and she said it was Fudd.
The duo have been rumored to be in a relationship for several weeks, which speculation beginning shortly after they won the national championship back in April.
It's unknown how long Fudd and Bueckers have been dating, but at the very least, they were teammates from 2021 up until this past April. Fudd was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and is in the conversation to go No. 1 overall next year.
Fudd averaged 13.6 points per game in her first full season since her freshman year. She injured her knee in her sophomore year, restricting her to 15 games. Then, in the next season, she tore her ACL in practice, forcing her to miss all but two games. In an ironic twist, Bueckers tore her ACL before the 2022-23 season playing pick-up ball.
The duo played in two national championship games together - Bueckers joined the school one year prior to Fudd.
Fudd opted to stay in college for one more season, while Bueckers was taken by the Dallas Wings with the first pick just a week after winning the national championship.
John Sperring, 12, is a Make-A-Wish recipient, and his wish was to meet C.J. Stroud.
Sperring lives in Dallas, but after seeing NRG Stadium from his hospital room, he became a Houston Texans fan.
Sperring was born with hypoplastic heft heart syndrome (HLHS), where the left side of his heart is not developed and does not pump blood into the body. He underwent emergency open-heart surgery.
The 12-year-old was featured on ESPN's "My Wish" series, and when asked what him his strong, he said he was "praying to God that He would heal me quick, and I can get back."
Amid his Texans fandom, Sperring said Stroud has become his favorite player.
"He's a very humble player and always puts God first in his interviews," Sperring said.
Sperring spent the day with Stroud and his Texans teammates during their media day. He also signed a one-day contract to officially become a member of the Texans, and also caught practice and even broke down the team huddle.
Stroud asked how the Dallas kid became a Texans fan.
"From my hospital, I could see NRG [Stadium], and you're a great Christian," Sperring said.
Stroud later gave him a signed jersey with Bible scriptures "that made me think of you" -- Pslams 34:15-18, Philippians 4:6-7, and Jeremiah 29:11.
"To John! Go Texans!! Praying for you Buddy!" Stroud wrote on the jersey.
The two then shared a hug, and Stroud couldn't help hide his emotions anymore.
"You're gonna make me cry, bro," he said. "You already had me tearing up earlier… 12 years old, you love Jesus, I love that, man. Keep that child-like faith."
"You make me want to play harder," Stroud told Sperring after practice.
Stroud has continuously been outspoken about his faith - when asked about his goals for 2025 when this past season ended, he honed in on his relationship with God.
"Lock it back in with the Lord. Kinda in the lukewarm season – one foot in, one foot out. The Lord has helped me get outta that," he said at the time. "So, that’s really my 2025 goal is to be locked in with the Lord as much as possible. You know, fasting and praying, being part of a church here in Houston. That's my 2025 goal, being closer to the Lord."
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison pleaded no contest to a lesser charge in a 2024 DUI case that saw the third-year player arrested after he was found asleep behind the wheel of a car in California.
Addison, 23, agreed to a "wet reckless" plea, which in the state of California is a misdemeanor reckless driving charge that indicates that drugs or alcohol were involved.
"While Mr. Addison’s case would have made for a great trial, I admire him for taking responsibility by accepting the City Attorney’s ‘wet reckless' offer,’" Addison’s attorney, Jacqueline Sparagna, said in a statement. "Now, he can put this incident behind him and solely focus on his promising career."
A first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Addison was arrested after police in Los Angeles found him asleep behind the wheel of a white Rolls-Royce, blocking a lane near LAX.
As part of his plea, Addison will have to complete two online courses and pay a fine. His 12-month probation could be lessened to six months, but Addison could still be subject to further discipline from the NFL.
"We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review," the NFL said in a statement Thursday, via ESPN.
According to the outlet, Addison said last summer that he plans to accept whatever decision the league makes regarding the incident.
"Whatever's out there for me, whatever comes with it, I'll own up to everything. I feel like anything that comes my way is meant to happen or is deserved."
In a statement posted on social media, Addison’s agent said that the NFL player has "kept the organization apprised throughout these legal proceedings, and will continue in his full commitment to being a valuable member of his team."
In two seasons with the Vikings, Addison has recorded 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Former LSU Tigers gymnast Olivia Dunne opened up about a gruesome injury she suffered when she was younger that essentially shattered her dreams of becoming a U.S. Olympian.
The New Jersey native began her foray into elite gymnastics in 2014 and was added to the national team and began to work her way up to the senior elite level before committing to LSU, where she earned a national championship with the program before her collegiate career ended.
"I was actually competing on a hurt ankle at the 2018 USA Championships and, yeah, part of my ankle bone died. … Yeah, it just died. So, my Olympic dreams died with it," she said. "It kind of healed a little bit. It stopped bothering me. I went to college after that, but it was so painful. That was kind of my first real injuries.
"I’ve actually never gotten any surgery, which is kind of crazy for a gymnast. And I was like, I think if I just give myself time to heal, I can heal without surgery. But that’s something I take pride in. I have never needed surgery as a gymnast, which is very uncommon."
Dunne was able to compete at LSU until an injury ultimately derailed her final year at the program.
She has been one of the most-followed athletes on social media since she joined LSU. She boasts more than 8 million followers on TikTok and another 5.4 million on Instagram. She helped the Tigers to a national championship in 2024, but her final year with LSU was derailed because of an injury.
Since then, she’s been spotted cheering on her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, as he makes waves in MLB with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
