📰🏟️ Lane + AI = chaos
Plus: Sports leagues in expansion mode...
Good afternoon. The top sports stories of the day are at your fingertips. Let’s get right to it.
—Kyle
1) Major sports leagues are in expansion mode
This week, the NBA’s Board of Governors advanced plans to expand to 32 teams by the 2028-29 season, with Seattle and Las Vegas being the expected destinations.
It comes as several other leagues are carrying out their own expansion plans:
- MLB: Once upcoming CBA negotiations are done, the league is reportedly expected to explore adding two new teams, with Salt Lake City seen as one of the top locations.
- NHL: Officials are in talks to add a 33rd team in Texas (Houston or Austin) as early as 2029-30, with a potential 34th team coming later.
- WNBA: The league has a trio of new teams coming to Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030), with plans to keep expanding beyond 18 teams.
📣 FULL-COURT PRESS
Headlines across the sports world
- 🏈 North Carolina DC Steve Belichick resigns following an internal investigation into the UNC football program's culture under his father, head coach Bill Belichick.
- 🎰 LeBron James’ endorsement deal with prediction market Polymarket is worth $15M/yr, per new report—nearly 4x what James will make from playing for the Philadelphia 76ers ($4M/yr).
- 🎓🎟️ UCLA announces free football and basketball tickets (men’s and women’s) for all students, the latest step by new CEO and athletic director Tim Harris to boost student engagement and attendance.
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2) Notre Dame, Nebraska revive historic CFB series
Notre Dame and Nebraska are bringing back one of college football’s old-school matchups, announcing a home-and-home series for 2032 and 2033.
- The Irish will visit Lincoln in 2032 before hosting the Cornhuskers in South Bend in 2033, with both games scheduled for late October.
- It’ll mark the historic programs’ first meeting since 2001, with Nebraska leading the all-time series 8-7-1.
- Notre Dame and Nebraska rank 4th and 8th, respectively, in all-time wins and have combined for 13 national titles in the poll era.
🌐 WEB GEMS
Interesting things to click
🤖 Lane + AI = chaos…How ChatGPT and Lane Kiffin could have gotten LSU kicked out of the SEC.
⚾ Time for a mercy rule?...The tactical ‘farce’ turning baseball games into slow-pitch softball.
🤔 Pushing a little too hard: Why do elite athletes soil themselves so frequently?
3) USMNT calls up 16-y.o. phenom Cavan Sullivan
The USMNT is kicking off its 2030 World Cup cycle with one of American soccer’s biggest young stars.
- Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan, 16, has reportedly earned his first senior national team call-up for a series of upcoming friendlies.
- Sullivan has been on a tear since MLS returned from the World Cup, recording 6 goals and 8 assists across 9 games.
- Sullivan was the youngest athlete in major North American pro sports history when he debuted for the Union at 14, and is set to become the youngest USMNT player since Freddy Adu (2006).