Latest news with #MeghanHall
NBC Sports
7 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Clark could step into All-Star Game coaching role
Natalie Esquire and Meghan Hall dive into the top storylines ahead of WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, discussing the impact of Caitlin Clark's absence, if Sabrina Ionescu can reclaim her 3-point title and more.
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Will College Sports Commission really be able to police money paid to athletes?
Will College Sports Commission really be able to police money paid to athletes? Show Caption Hide Caption Livvy Dunne on NIL and how female athletes can benefit from it Meghan Hall chats with Livvy Dunne about the world of NIL and how she's setting a course for future college athletes to succeed like she did. Sports Seriously In the handful of days since details became public about how the new rules around college athlete pay will work, there are still many unanswered questions. But the one that seems most important to the coaching staffs that must build rosters is as old as time: Will the new College Sports Commission truly be able to police the money that will inevitably change hands under the table? The thing about the so-called "Wild West" era of name, image and likeness, as unregulated and messy as it seemed at times, was that everyone knew the score. It might not seem logical for a booster collective to pay $750,000 for an unproven left tackle, but it was, in a strange way, all above board and out in the open. The new world after the House vs. NCAA settlement is going to be different in several ways, at least on paper: A $20.5 million 'benefits cap' per school that will go up incrementally every year An online clearinghouse run by the prominent accounting firm Deloitte where athletes have to register outside NIL deals over $600 for approval, powered by an algorithm that measures market value. The idea is to sniff out booster-fueled deals that have created what some administrators like to call a fake market for players, while allowing athletes to pursue the so-called "real NIL" like product endorsements. A still somewhat opaque arbitration process an athlete can use if a deal gets rejected, where a supposedly independent person (or persons) will have the final say on whether a deal goes through. Some kind of subpoena power that would be used in such a process, though it's unclear exactly how far-reaching that power will be (Are we talking about bank and tax records? Text messages?) and the impact of non-compliance. Would a court of law really intervene to enforce the subpoena? And, perhaps most significantly to the fan experience that has been turned upside down by a completely unregulated transfer environment, schools will have the ability to offer multi-year contracts with buyouts and penalties. If, for instance, a player wants to transfer after the first year of a two-year deal, the buyout paid by the new school would count against its cap. We know all this stuff will, at some point, be subject to further lawsuits and scrutiny unless there's some kind of Congressional intervention. The entire idea of imposing certain earning limits on athletes without some type of collective bargaining process is probably a loser in the long-term. OPINION: Tennessee's attempt to undermine settlement is a red flag in new world of college sports Even in the halls of NCAA headquarters these days, there's a hint of a Jerry Seinfeld attitude about whether some of these limits will hold up after years of getting their rear end handed to them in court: Good luck with all that. But ultimately, this is what the power conferences wanted. This is their show. They created the CSC, they agreed on these rules and they're the ones who ultimately must figure out something else if this doesn't work. Some of the people that put a lot of time and effort into creating this new setup are understandably annoyed by cynical commentary about whether it will work before it even gets off the ground. However, many of the biggest cynics are inside their houses. Based on the messages I've received from coaches who – let's face it – understand how the real world works a whole lot better than the C-suite folks, there are legitimate concerns about whether the CSC and Deloitte will truly be able to follow the money. OPINION: Opinion: Trump and proposed commission on college sports can't change reality What if, for instance, an athlete strikes a deal with a booster and just … doesn't report it to the clearinghouse? Will there truly be a mechanism to find it and police it? That was always the NCAA's problem with enforcement: It was difficult, if not impossible, to compel cooperation without subpoena power. Though arbitration proceedings like the one outlined in the House settlement will provide some type of subpoena power, how far reaching will it be? Will its power vary by state? Will it truly be enforced? And if someone gets busted, will the school avoid penalties by claiming they didn't know? If so, we're kind of right back where we started. Additionally, as sports attorney Darren Heitner pointed out this weekend on X, the language in the rules makes it somewhat questionable whether Deloitte could reject a deal funded by a booster collective but presented by a corporate entity like a car dealership being used as a pass-through. Don't scoff: Lack of imagination is what got these guys into a bad situation in the first place. When NIL became legal in 2021, few saw the true impact of collectives coming. And the whole thing about buyouts limiting transfers? What if agents just simply don't allow their players to sign a contract that would truly limit their ability to change schools without repercussions for themselves or their new school? It's not like athletic departments have done a great job negotiating those things when it comes to their own coaching contracts. At this stage of the game, it's not productive to say the new system is doomed. While it seems a longshot given the current political climate and governmental priorities, perhaps Congress will come in and codify this stuff to some extent. And maybe all of the guardrails built into the CSC will keep things orderly to some extent. But now that power point presentations and Q-and-A documents are being circulated in advance of the July 1 implementation, the people who deal with recruiting realities on a day-to-day basis are wondering whether they're in for a fair fight or this is simply a new way for cheaters to perform a very old trick. Better to poke those theoretical holes in it now, because in just a couple weeks, you can guarantee some people are going to try to find real ones.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The WNBA's 'Line 'Em Up' program is banking on the 3-ball
The WNBA's 'Line 'Em Up' program is banking on the 3-ball Show Caption Hide Caption Diana Taurasi has a funny story on getting technical fouls in the WNBA USAT's Meghan Hall asks WNBA legend Diana Taurasi about her tech fouls in the WNBA and Taurasi shares a funny story. Sports Seriously Colors are often used as symbolic cultural tools that evoke soul-stirring emotions. For the WNBA, its signature orange hue has accomplished that and more for the 29-year-old professional sports league. It's also become synonymous with representation. The phrase "If you can see her, you can be her" is woven into the DNA fibers of that striking shade of orange, and its reach is growing beyond the hardwood. On June 9, the WNBA launched 'Line 'Em Up', a nationwide campaign that seeks to paint the official WNBA 3-point line on outdoor courts across the country. The hope is that it will create a designated space for women and girl athletes on public courts, one of the most accessible areas within basketball. "When a young girl walks onto that basketball court and sees the WNBA orange 3-point line, they know that they're being represented in a democratic community space where they once were not," Phil Cook, the league's chief marketing officer, told USA TODAY. As simple as the concept sounds, Cook revealed that the idea to paint the orange line developed into something more, the longer the WNBA dove deeper into the possibilities for young players. The league pondered: "What if we just painted an orange line on every outdoor basketball court in the country?" Then it became, "And that orange line is the actual 3-point distance of the WNBA's 3-point line." Finally, the WNBA's front office landed on the true heart of the matter: "And we allowed young girls to go out and imagine them taking the same shot as their WNBA heroes at the park." USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women's sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more all season Bingo. With one proverbial brush stroke, the WNBA is potentially painting the early legacies of future pros, something that current Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles understands. "Growing up in Queens, New York, at that time, it was really hard to be a female to get on the court, " Charles said in a short film developed as part of the campaign. "I know I had something to prove. We've all been through it. All the greats.""You think this line just showed up one day?" challenged WNBA legend Sue Bird, who also makes an appearance. "Generations of women worked hard for every inch of that arc." Players like Bird, the recently retired Diana Taurasi, Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride, and Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner, who all sit on the top-ten list of the most made threes in WNBA history, drained shot after shot to get this moment. Their hard work built a foundation for today's specialists, like Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, who will, in turn, inspire many athletes who step behind the orange lines. Still, as important as WNBA 3-point arcs across the country will be, the concept of creating access and safe spaces through representation isn't new. The MLS maintains mini-pitches in each club's city. The NFL has the "Play Football" initiative, which engages youth through camps, activities and flag and tackle football. There are also numerous court refurbishment projects across the country. So, what makes this initiative different, a cut above the rest? "I think what makes us unique is that this was the one simple kind of initiative or action that differentiated just an upgrade. It's an upgrade in that it represents a league that was ignored in this space," Cook explained. "The entire WNBA was not represented in this space. Dropping that line down now represents an entire league's identity and can drive participation and authenticity in this space." What's more, Cook shared that the increased visibility by bringing professional women's basketball closer to communities and parks could provide a glimpse into just how far-reaching the WNBA's impact is becoming. "When we start seeing young athletes, young women chalking up their driveways with orange chalk to represent that 3-point line ― when we get to that virality of scale, we'll know we're onto something."
USA Today
08-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings: TV channel, time and how to watch
Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings: TV channel, time and how to watch Show Caption Hide Caption Diana Taurasi believes the 'physicality' of the WNBA decreasing USAT's Meghan Hall catches up with WNBA legend Diana Taurasi and her reaction the the Fever-Sky game and how the physical aspect of the W is changing. Sports Seriously The WNBA regular season is in full swing as the Dallas Wings take on the Minnesota Lynx in a showdown at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The Wings are aiming to snap a four-game losing streak following a 93-79 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. Despite the defeat, DiJonai Carrington led the team in scoring with 16 points, along with four rebounds and four assists. JJ Quinerly contributed 14 points and four assists off the bench, while Luisa Geiselsoder also came off the bench to record 11 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. The Lynx are currently on a roll, with an impressive eight-game winning streak. In their most recent 88-65 victory against the Phoenix Mercury, Napheesa Collier's outstanding performance, scoring 18 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and providing five assists, was a key factor. Natisha Hiedeman's 18 points also played a significant role in the win. Here is how to watch the Minnesota Lynx face off against the Dallas Wings on Sunday. More: The Seattle Storm are showing us how flimsy culture can be What time is Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings? The Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings game will tip off at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 8 at College Park Center in Arlington, TX. How to watch Minnesota Lynx vs. Dallas Wings WNBA game: TV, stream
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadiens: Larionov's Wish About Demidov Is Not Montreal's Command
Livvy Dunne on NIL and ensuring future female college athletes will benefit like she did Meghan Hall chats with Livvy Dunne about the world of NIL and how she's setting a course for future college athletes to succeed like she did.
