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NCAA Tournament Expansion to 76 Teams Nears Approval for 2027

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A long-discussed expansion of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments is now nearing reality, with the fields expected to grow to 76 teams as early as 2027, ESPN reported.

The proposal, which has circulated within college basketball circles for months, is widely anticipated to move forward. Two Division I athletic directors and three men’s basketball coaches told USA TODAY Sports there is a clear “expectation” the change will happen, with one coach saying, “We’ll be stunned if it doesn’t happen.”

A formal decision could come soon. Individuals familiar with the process say the plan is on track to be finalized in May. However, it must still clear multiple layers of approval, including oversight groups, the Division I Cabinet and the Division I Board of Governors. The NCAA released a statement on Tuesday addressing the expansion.

“Expanding the basketball tournaments would require approval from multiple NCAA committees, including the men’s and women’s basketball committees, and no final recommendations or decisions have been made at this time.”

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The push to expand comes amid growing debate about the current format, which includes 68 teams. The structure has been in place for the men’s tournament since 2011 and adopted by the women’s field in 2022. NCAA president Charlie Baker has previously signaled that changes were likely, adding to expectations that expansion is imminent.

If approved, the most visible adjustments would occur in the tournament’s opening phase. The traditional first round, 32 games played over two days, is expected to remain largely unchanged. Instead, the expansion would significantly reshape the play-in portion of the bracket.

According to ESPN, the men’s “First Four” would expand from eight teams playing four games to 24 teams competing across 12 games for entry into the main draw. Those winners would then advance to face teams already placed in the first round.

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Several key questions remain unanswered. It is unclear how many of the additional berths would go to at-large teams versus automatic qualifiers, which currently include four mid-major champions and four at-large selections. There is also uncertainty about where the expanded play-in games would be held. Since 2011, those contests have been held in Dayton, Ohio, except for the 2021 tournament, which was held in Indianapolis.

While a larger field would add more games to one of the most popular events in college sports, critics worry it could dilute the quality of competition. Expanding access may allow teams with middling records to compete for a national title, raising concerns about the overall strength of the bracket.

Others argue that the change could further tilt the field toward power-conference programs. UC Irvine head coach Russell Turner voiced skepticism about whether expansion would benefit smaller programs.

“It’s become stacked against mid-majors now. Whether that’s been the purpose of those who oversee the system or not is unclear to me, but with the way that they’re deciding the tournament bids now, it’s virtually impossible. I don’t see that changing if they let more teams in. I think they let more teams in, they’re just going to end up letting more power conference teams in.”

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Biggest US Pro Women’s Sports Unions Are Working Together To Achieve Success And Progress

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The unions for the National Women’s Soccer League and Women’s National Basketball Association are teaming up to create collective action to find success. Back in July, the WNBA participants in the All-Star Game all wore shirts reading “Pay You What You Owe Us,” and now that message is continuing to be amplified through collaborative efforts between the two unions. 

“When you’re fighting for something historic, something that has never been done before, it cannot happen in a vacuum,” said Erin D Drake, the WNBPA’s senior advisor and legal counsel who was also credited for the shirt campaign, according to the Guardian. 

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The shirts were later made available online for purchase, and quickly after the WNBPA’s soccer counterparts were participating in the action. 

“Most of our staff had already gone on the website and purchased the shirts themselves,” said Tori Huster, the deputy executive director of the National Women’s Soccer League Players’ Association (NWSLPA).

The NWSLPA amplified images of the players who got the shirts. Hopkins stated that this was a major moment for women athletes all throughout the United States. 

“It’s not just female athletes in the W that are experiencing this. It’s a message to send for virtually every female athlete across the United States in whatever league it may be that we deserve pay.”

“We’re always in constant support of each other. Wearing the t-shirts was just an expression of that relationship,” Hopkins said.

The WNBPA was founded in 1998 and set a major precedent for advocacy in women’s sports. WNBA players have also spoken out against racist systems, police violence, discrimination against the LGBT+ community, and many other polarizing social issues. In many ways, they set the tone for the NWSLPA, which was founded in 2017, to be the same force.

“Their collective action, their advocacy, for sure has been a shining example of what we aspire to be,” Huster said.

“When the NWSLPA was in its infancy, its leaders were like, Googling what labor unions were,” said Huster. 

Meghann Burke is the organization’s executive director, and was the only full-time staff member at the beginning. Her relationship with her WNBPA counterpart Terri Carmichael Jackson was the main connector between the two unions. 

“There’s probably not a month that goes by without Erin and I communicating about something,” Huster said.

“Over time, as our union has grown in strength, that’s become a relationship of reciprocity and mutuality,” Burke said.

“Terri was really important to us in course-correcting the league and creating a new standard for player safety in the NWSL,” said Burke.

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“It’s a tactic to be divided. It’s a tactic to feel in isolation when you are trying to assert your value and your worth. Both the WNBPA and NWSLPA reject that tactic.” Drake said. “Our orientation to the issues that affect workers is certainly grounded in our experience as women,” said Burke.

Both unions have fought for ensuring protections for mothers, overcoming underinvestment when compared to the male leagues, and securing proper healthy working environments. 

“Anytime you have an emerging league, a newer league, it’s more challenging, and by definition, the union is going to have typically less strength and a more difficult time. [That] is why it’s especially important now for these two unions to collaborate and to assist each other,” said Nellie Drew, a professor in sports law at the University at Buffalo School of Law. 

The two unions recently issued a joint statement which opposes federal immigration raids after WNBPA members requested their union speak out. 

“All of our statements – all of them – come from our player leadership. It was clear through conversations that NWSLPA members were having similar observations,” Drake said. 

The WNBPA then invited the NWSLPA to be a part of the statement, and they immediately accepted. Both unions have become powerhouses independently, and together, and are working on the greater purpose of getting better working conditions while using their platforms to speak up on political issues. 

“We can see the NWSLPA standing with the WNBPA during this contract fight because they know what it means to fight for respect on the job, for fair pay, and for a share in the massive profit their labor generates,” said Liz Shuler, the president of the AFL-CIO.

The AFL-CIO Sports Council is a group of players’ unions that is within the largest federation of labor unions in the United States.

“We’ve always been here, and now everyone’s kind of just catching on, and we’re not just gonna be grateful for the quote unquote momentum, but continuing to build off of us to work towards what we know we deserve and have always deserved,” Hopkins stated. 

“It’s just now there’s eyes on us – about damn time.”

wnba

WNBA All-Stars Make ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’ Statement During Warmup 

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The WNBA All-Stars sent a message this Saturday during warmup rounds before the game. All of the players on Team Clark and Team Collier wore shirts that said “Pay us what you owe us.”

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“We get a very tiny percentage of all the money that’s made through the WNBA, which obviously is made through the entertainment we provide. So we want a fair and reasonable percentage of that,” said Napheesa Collier.

The decision was also made after the players and the league failed to reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The WNBA’s fortune is tied up with the NBA, and while the relationship between both has grown over the years, there are many WNBA teams with no direct ties to the NBA. 

The league’s players opted out of their last CBA in October as they are looking for a better revenue-sharing model, increased salaries, improved benefits, and a softer salary cap, according to reports. 

After the last failed negotiations, many of the players stated that there was a large discrepancy between what they wanted and what was being offered to them from the league. Some players, including All-Stars Napheesa Collier and Angel Reese, have discussed a potential walkout if a new CBA is not reached by October. 

While the WNBA players aren’t suggesting that they should be paid the same as their NBA counterparts, they understand the high revenue they bring in. A WNBA rookie minimum is $66,000 compared to $1.27 million in the NBA. 

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Fans and supporters alike supported the players’ wishes at the end of the game with chants of “pay them!” and some even held up signs that read “pat the players” throughout the game. 

“We had no idea that they were in solidarity with our demonstration,” said Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBPA.

 “I’ve been hearing it all weekend at the fan events, supporting us and wanting us to get our fair share of the value.”

The players also recognized that this All-Stars game was potentially the last time that so many of them would be together in one place before the season ends, so they had to take advantage of the opportunity to get their message across. 

“This is a perfect opportunity to raise awareness for what we’re doing and do it together,” Collier stated.

The players have yet to decide if they’ll wear the shirts on their own teams throughout the second half of the season which begins this week. 

“You put it out there, and you stand on business, and we’re standing on business,” said Courtney Williams.

wnba

WNBA Investigates Reports Of Racial Slurs From Fans

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The WNBA stated that they are currently investigating reports of racial slurs directed towards Angel Reese during Saturday’s Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever game. 

“The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms – they have no place in our league or in society. We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter,” the league said in a statement. 

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The timing of the incident is currently unclear, however, the Fever released a statement that they are committed to their investigation.

“We are aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct during yesterday’s game and we are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation. We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.”

In the third quarter of the game with 4 minutes and 38 seconds remaining, Fever was up 56-42. Reese was claiming an offensive rebound and moving towards the basket when Indiana’s 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark slammed into Reese with her right arm, knocking her into the ground. 

Reese immediately stood up and made an attempt to confront Clark, who then walked away with Indiana’s Aliyah Boston stepped between the two of them. Clark received an upgraded foul from personal to flagrant 1 and Reese and Boston received technical fouls. 

Both Reese and Clark lessened the situation after the fact. The alleged racial slurs are unknown to be related to the initial confrontation, and Chicago Sky President and CEO Adam Fox made it clear that they “welcome the WNBA’s investigation of the allegations of fan misconduct,” according to  the Associated Press. 

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“We will do everything in our power to protect Chicago Sky players, and we encourage the league to continue taking meaningful steps to create a safe environment for all WNBA players,” Fox stated. 

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) stated that it was “aware of the reports of hateful comments and supports the WNBA’s investigation.”

In a statement, the players union said:

“Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport. Under the WNBA’s ‘No Space for Hate’ policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, appropriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The WNBA initially launched their “No Space for Hate” campaign ahead of the new season. The movement is set to target hate and promote respect in women’s basketball not only at the actual games, but online as well. 

“We believe that basketball can be a unifying force – a place where people from all walks of life come together not just to watch a game, but to connect,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. 

“We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom – not hate and vitriol.”

warriors

Sacramento Kings Investigating ‘Racial Bias’ Allegations After Rapper E-40 Ejected From Playoff Game 

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The Sacramento Kings are currently investigating allegations of “racial bias” from rapper E-40 after he was kicked out of his seat from a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors. 

E-40 said in a statement that he was consistently heckled throughout the game on Saturday, as well as one individual in particular who he “addressed in an assertive but polite manner” before security guards intervened and ordered him to leave the arena. 

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“Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that – despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur – racial bias remains prevalent. Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault.”

The Kings have stated that they are currently investigating the circumstances that led to the ejection of E-40.

“The Sacramento Kings take these claims seriously and are investigating the facts and circumstances regarding the situation, as we do anytime an accusation like this is made,” the team said in a statement.

According to the Associated Press, E-40 was allegedly standing and blocking the view of fans behind him and received a warning after several complaints. E-40 then allegedly refused to comply, leading to security officials escorting him out of his seat. 

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An individual familiar with the situation who spoke to AP but chose to remain anonymous, alleged that E-40 was actually never given a warning by security regarding “excessive standing.”

“It’s unfortunate. I love 40. He’s been our biggest supporter for years. I hope they right that ship because he deserves to be there by our bench. In my time knowing him, he’s always been respectful. He’s always been considerate of those around him. Very weird to see, and I hope it’s resolved,” Warriors Klay Thompson said. 

E-40 is known publicly as a major Warriors fan, and was a part of the delegation that visited the White House in the beginning of the current season.

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Kyrie Irving Traded To The Dallas Mavericks

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This past Sunday, The Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks made the major trade of Kyrie Irving, who’s now heading to Dallas.

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Brittney Griner’s Nine Year Sentence Upheld by Russian Court

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Brittney Griner, an American basketball player currently serving a nine-year sentence in Russia for drug charges, has had her appeal against the sentence dismissed by a Russian court.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow airport when cannabis oil vape cartridges carrying less than a gram of hashish oil were discovered in her luggage. She was convicted in August for “drug smuggling” and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Officials believe that the lengthy sentence was politically motivated by the collapse of U.S. and Russian relations after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The White House called the legal proceedings a “sham.” Elizabeth Rood, a high-ranking U.S. diplomat who was present at the hearing, also called the penalty “excessive and disproportionate.”

Her case has been referred to the State Department’s office under the label of hostage affairs.

Griner was legally prescribed the oil for pain management by her doctor in the U.S. She apologized for possessing it in her appeal, admitting she had packed the cartridges by accident while rushing to pack her luggage. During the U.S. basketball offseason, she had wanted to travel to Russia to play club basketball.

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In July, shortly before pleading guilty, Griner had written to President Joe Biden expressing her distress and calling for help from the government.

“I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments. I’m terrified I might be here forever. I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home.”

The state prosecutor arguing against her case called the continuing sentence “fair.” Alexander Boykov, the athlete’s lawyer, stated that “no judge, hand on heart, will honestly say that Griner’s nine-year sentence is in line with Russian criminal law.”

“Brittney is [a] very strong person and has a champion’s character. However, she of course has her highs and lows as she is severely stressed being separated from her loved ones for over eight months.”

Russia and the U.S. have discussed the possibility of a prisoner exchange between the two countries. There is speculation that the White House may offer up Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the “merchant of death.”

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan issued a statement saying Griner was being “wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances” and reaffirmed that President Biden had demanded her immediate release.

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“President Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately. In recent weeks, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to engage with Russia through every available channel and make every effort to bring home Brittney as well as to support and advocate for other Americans detained in Russia, including fellow wrongful detainee Paul Whelan. The President has demonstrated that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make tough decisions to bring Americans home, as his Administration has done successfully from countries around the world. The Administration remains in regular touch with representatives of the families, and we continue to admire their courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances.”

The sports star spoke to the appeals court remotely from a detention center located in a town near Moscow.

“I really hope that the court will adjust this sentence because it has been very very stressful and very traumatic…I’ve been here almost eight months and people with more severe crimes have been given less than what I was given.”

Though she is still imprisoned, she is grateful for the people working toward her release.

“Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are definitely helping me.”

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Warriors’ Draymond Green Fined, Not Suspended, for Punching Jordan Poole

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After punching teammate Jordan Poole during practice last week, all-star forward Draymond Green has been fined but will not be suspended by the Golden State Warriors.

Warriors’ coach, Steve Kerr, relayed the information after the team’s preseason win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Kerr said he expects Green to return to practice on Thursday. He will also participate in the Golden State’s preseason finale game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday and open the regular season in a game against the Lakers Oct. 18.

The decision came after Kerr met with the team and general manager Bob Myers.  Green and Poole have since met to talk about the incident. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry also stepped in to mediate some of those conversations, saying that there is “nothing that warranted the situation.” Curry believes it was “also something we feel like won’t derail our season, what we’re trying to build, and that’s with Draymond a part of that.” Kerr has decided not to reveal how much Green was fined.

“We have spent the last week in deep discussions with all of our key figures in the organization, including Jordan and Draymond, of course, Steph, all of our players, Bob, myself, and I can tell you there have been a lot of conversations, individual, one-on-one discussions, players-only discussions, everything that you can think of, all the different combinations that are possible to have in a conversation, we’ve had them. It’s been an exhaustive process.”

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Green has publicly apologized for punching Poole, saying he “failed as a leader.” Green also shared that he was in “a very, very, very bad space mentally” when he punched Poole. He decided to distance himself from the Warriors for a few days to give his teammates some time to “heal.” Green had since been completing his workouts alone until the team decided how to move forward.

“Hurt people hurt people. I hurt someone because I was in a place of hurt.”

During the Warriors’ run of four championship titles in eight seasons, Green has been instrumental to the team’s success, playing a pivotal role as a veteran presence and defensive leader. However, the time he has spent on the team has been tainted by a few incidents.

“Draymond sort of lives on the edge as far as his spot on our basketball team. He’s always right in the thick of things, and a couple times in his career, he’s crossed the line. He crossed the line with Kevin (Durant), and he crossed the line the other night in a much worse fashion.”

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On Friday, TMZ released a leaked video of the punch. The video shows the two players in a verbal altercation. Green then approaches Poole near the baseline until he bumps him in the chest. Poole pushed Green away, and then Green punched Poole in the face, sending him into the wall behind the baseline. The other teammates eventually broke up the fight.

Kerr said an investigation into the leak of the video is ongoing.

“We feel like this is the best way after assessing everything for us to move forward. It’s never easy, no matter what decision you make in a situation like this. It’s not going to be perfect. This is the biggest crisis that we’ve ever had since I’ve been coach here. It’s really serious stuff…We’re not perfect. Our team isn’t perfect. Bob and I have definitely made our share of mistakes over the years, but we’re going to lean on the experience we’ve had together over the last nine years and trust this is the best decision for our team.”

Kerr said that while Green broke “our trust with this incident,” he is “giving him the benefit of the doubt because he’s earned that, and I think our team feels the same way.”

Basketball Court

NBA And Microsoft Team Up To Bring Fans Courtside Virtually

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As professional competitive sports in America slowly make their way back to our television screens, many are unsettled by the sight of their favorite teams playing in front of empty crowds. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, all mass gatherings have been put to a halt, prompting all sports to essentially shut down. Now, sports are able to exist again, just in a much more condolences fashion. 

The NBA has heard their fans and as they gear up to restart the 2020 season on July 30th, they came to the agreement with tech-giant Microsoft that fans needed to be present at every game, just in a much safer and distanced way. Microsoft and the NBA announced this week that it would be using new technology to project more that 300 basketball fans onto 17-foot tall video screens that will be courtside during all games. 

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The fans will be able to interact with each other as well, allowing them to feel like they’re really sitting next to a bunch of other fans during the live games. Sara Zuckert is the NBA’s head of next generation telecasting, and recently spoke with the media about this new fan experience. 

“Our goal is to create an enjoyable and immersive experience where fans can engage with each other and maintain a sense of community as we restart the season under these unique and challenging circumstances.”

The specific feature from the Microsoft team is known as “together mode” and it was initially released in the beginning of July as a feature for remote workers to make meetings more engaging, allowing everyone to “focus on other people’s faces and body language, making it easier to pick up on non-verbal cues that are so important to human interaction.” 

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Microsoft claims that Together Mode uses AI technology to put all video chat participants in the same setting by giving everyone a shared background. The company claims this makes it easier for everyone to feel as though they’re in the same space as one another. In this case, that space will be a basketball arena, and the NBA claims that the chosen fans will be able to impact visual effects within the arenas themselves through “virtual cheering” and different graphics and animations to motivate the players. 

As we know, the NBA is using the “bubble strategy” to resume their season and protect all players and NBA staff members from potential Covid-19 infection. 22 teams are projected to play a total of 88 games, after which 16 will move on to the playoffs. Once eight teams remain, friends and families will be able to join and watch in person on the sidelines. 

Major League Baseball is looking into similar technologies to bring the same level of fan-energy to their arenas as they continue with their recently restarted 2020 season. As of right now the MLB is offering their fans the ability to buy cardboard cutouts of themselves to place in the stands for a more visually appealing game. 

Initial pictures of the new NBA fan format has a lot of individuals online criticizing the “dystopian” aspect of having what looks like a giant zoom meeting going on during basketball games, however, during uncertain times finding new ways to enjoy normal past times is what we all have to adjust to.

Brooklyn Nets

Kyrie Irving Among Players Refusing To Play 2020 NBA Season Amid Covid-19 And Social Justice Movements

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Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving is leading a player movement to skip the NBA’s restart of the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic and multiple protests regarding issues of social justice and the Black Lives Matter movement.

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