📰🏟️ On the clock

Good afternoon. Today’s edition brings you the top news from around the sports world. Just keep scrolling.

—Kyle

1) NFL Draft to feature new 8-minute rule

The NFL Draft kicks off tomorrow in Pittsburgh with the 1st round selections, where teams will have to adapt to a tighter decision-making window.

• Teams will have just 8 minutes between first-round picks, down from 10 in previous years.
• The change is designed to encourage a crisper production for fans, with the 1st round historically taking nearly 4 hours.
• It could also add complexity to any draft-day trades; 6 teams have 2 1st-round picks, and are seen as prime candidates to move up or down.

“On the clock” has a new meaning

2) Spurs lose Wemby to concussion, drop Game 2

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion from a hard fall in last night’s game against the Trail Blazers, and has been placed in the league’s protocol.

• Wemby played just 12 minutes in last night’s 106-103 upset loss to the Blazers before exiting the game.
• Under the NBA’s concussion protocol, Wemby could be available for Game 3 on Friday, but must hit several benchmarks.
• In other NBA playoff action: the 76ers upset the Celtics to even the series at 1-1, while the Lakers earned a 2-0 lead over the Rockets behind a vintage LeBron James performance.

NBA playoff winners and losers so far

3) Penguins down 0-2, amid wider Pittsburgh losing streak

The Penguins have gone down 0-2 to the Flyers in their NHL 1st-round matchup, placing Pittsburgh at risk of extending the city’s ongoing playoff losing streak.

• None of Pittsburgh’s 3 major sports teams (Penguins, Pirates, Steelers) have won a playoff round since 2018.
• That’s by far the longest such period among US cities with 3+ teams.
• Elsewhere in the NHL: the Utah Mammoths secured their first playoff win in franchise history (1-1 vs. Vegas), while the league-leading Avalanche are up 2-0 on the Kings.

Full NHL Playoff bracket

4) NWSL to add 18th team for record $205M fee

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is awarding its 18th franchise to Columbus, the league confirmed yesterday.

• The club, set to begin play in 2028, will be co-owned by Haslam Sports Group (NFL’s Browns, MLS’ Crew).
• The new ownership group is reportedly paying a record $205M expansion fee.
• That's nearly double what Denver Summit FC paid last year ($110M), and higher than the $165M fee paid for the Atlanta 2028 franchise ~6 months ago.

NWSL valuations are skyrocketing

5) Billy Donovan steps down as Bulls coach

Chicago yesterday announced the decision by Donovan, a 2025 inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame who’s walking away after six seasons with the Bulls.

• The Bulls said they wanted Donovan to remain in Chicago, but he reportedly chose to step down following meetings with team ownership.
• It comes just over 2 weeks after the Bulls fired executive VP of basketball ops Arturas Karnisovas and GM Marc Eversley, both of whom joined the franchise with Donovan.

Bulls need new leader to take the horns

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