‘Unrivaled Basketball League’ to debut with some of WNBA’s biggest stars
A new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league set to debut Friday, Jan. 17, is putting the WNBA on notice. The league’s co-founders, two of the biggest stars in women’s basketball, say it’s the perfect off-season spotlight to grow the game.
Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, college teammates at UConn, came up with the idea hoping to capitalize on the growing popularity of women’s sports. Just three months ago, the pair were battling each other in the WNBA Finals. Now, they’re business partners, and anticipation for the league’s debut has been worth the wait.
“The people who have been in it, we’ve known for so long that the product that we have is so good and it’s really rewarding to see everyone else catching up and to see the game growing,” Collier told TNT Sports. “To see stars in our sport become superstars is really fun to be a part of, because change usually happens slowly, but it’s happening so quickly. To see it happening in real time and to be a part of that has been such a cool experience.”
The full-court 3-on-3 games will be played at a facility in Miami and broadcast on the Turner family networks. The league’s schedule has teams rotating with each other three times a week for two full months, covering most of the WNBA’s off-season. There will also be a 1-on-1 competition mixed in.
The idea is to keep players home during that time, instead of watching them go abroad to supplement their WNBA paychecks.
“Unrivaled is definitely replacing us playing abroad –– ‘Phee and I have definitely done our time overseas,” Stewart said. “And as we continue to build this league from year one, to year two, to hopefully many, many more down the road, we hope to expand and bring more and more players in.“
Some of the biggest stars in the WNBA will play with Unrivaled this season. Names like Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner and Angel Reese. Stewart says their salaries are the highest ever for a women’s sports league at more than $240,000 per player on average. That’s 60% higher than the average salary in the WNBA. Every player also receives equity and revenue shares from the league.
Women’s basketball great Candace Parker, who will be part of the Unrivaled broadcast team, says competition is a good thing.
“I think it’s gonna force the WNBA to look at themselves and think about what they can do better, and how to better the player experience,” Parker said. “I really valued looking at Unrivaled and seeing how intentional they were about ensuring the players were taken care of. Because guess what? When you’re a player and you’re taken care of and your needs are met, you’re paid well, there’s gonna be some pretty good basketball.”
There are big bucks behind the league, too –– more than a dozen major corporate sponsors have signed on. Individually, several NBA stars, Olympians like Michael Phelps and Alex Morgan, and tennis great Coco Gauff have put up more than $35 million. With that kind of cash and a player salary pool of $8 million, Unrivaled looks to be in it for the long haul.
Miami Heat suspend 6-time NBA all-star Jimmy Butler after trade request
Jimmy Butler, a 6-time all-star and one of the biggest stars in the NBA, has been suspended seven games by the Miami Heat for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.” In a statement Friday night, the Heat announced the suspension.
“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team, Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers,” the statement read.
“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be –– we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said. “I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant. I want to hoop, and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
Butler’s minutes have decreased this season as the Heat lean more on Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. In the loss to the Pacers, he scored just nine points, with four assists and two rebounds, while sitting on the bench during the fourth quarter.
“I felt great. I was focused. I felt like I was focused. I felt like I did my job. Well, at least, what my job is now,” Butler said of the game.
Led by Butler, the Heat have been to the NBA finals twice in the last five seasons and missed another trip by one game. For his part, head coach Eric Spoelstra says Butler does need to see the ball more.
“Hey, whatever we gotta do, got to get him activated, get the ball in his hands, play point,” Spoelstra said. “He’s done it before. We know how to get him going, he knows how to get going, these are not two strangers. Y’know?”
Statement from Pat Riley
"We usually don't comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler."
With the trade deadline a month away, Heat General Manager Pat Riley had previously said publicly he would not trade Butler, nor would he give him a contract extension. Butler, who will make $52 million this season, is now on the sidelines – at least for the next seven games- awaiting his fate. Cue the drama in Miami!
NBA suspends two players after fight between Heat and Rockets
The NBA has handed down fines and suspensions to several players after a fight on Sunday, Dec. 29, between the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat. Houston’s Amen Thompson and Miami’s Terry Rozier were both suspended for their role in the dust-up.
The suspension will cost Rozier about $143,242 in salary, while Thompson will lose about $127,586.
Tempers flared in the final 35 seconds of the game while the ball was being inbounded. Thompson and Miami’s Tyler Herro had some words before Thompson threw Herro to the ground. Both teams came together immediately after.
Rozier was the first man to defend Herro and described his reaction afterward. “We gotta protect all our guys, but especially Tyler at all costs. Just natural instincts, I ain’t trying to hurt nobody, but I seen it out of the corner of my eye. That’s just who I am,” he said.
There were seven ejections from the game. Houston’s Fred VanVleet was first, getting tossed for contacting referee Marc Davis following a five-second call being assessed against the Rockets. He was fined $35,000 for the infraction.
All told, the league handed out $145,000 in fines. Houston coach Ime Udoka was fined $50,000 for verbally abusing a game official, the Rockets’ Jalen Green was fined $35,000, and Herro was fined $25,000 for their roles in the fight.
“Just a physical game,” Herro said of the incident. “Guess that’s what happens when someone’s scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing. I’d get mad, too.”
Herro finished with 27 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the 104-100 Miami win.
Since the Heat and Rockets play in different conferences, they only meet twice during the regular season. Their next meeting is slated for March 21 in Houston.
Chinese-sponsored hackers behind ‘major’ breach: Treasury Department
Investigators accuse China of hacking U.S. Treasury Department computers. And funeral arrangements are set for America’s 39th president, Jimmy Carter. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased updates for Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.
Chinese-sponsored hackers are behind ‘major’ breach: Treasury Department
The U.S. Department of Treasury said it’s still working to determine the extent of damage from a data breach it called “a major incident.” In a letter sent to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on Monday, Dec. 30, the Treasury Department said a Chinese-sponsored “threat actor” was able to gain access to department employees’ workstations earlier this month and view “unclassified documents” maintained by those workers.
The letter said the hackers gained access through a third-party cybersecurity service called BeyondTrust and overrode certain department security measures. The department stopped using BeyondTrust after the attack.
The Treasury Department is working with the FBI and other members of the U.S. intelligence community to “fully characterize the incident and determine its full impact.” The department said it will provide Congress more information in a supplemental report within 30 days.
China’s ministry of foreign affairs denied any Chinese involvement.
Arrest warrant issued for embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol
The court recently voted to strip Yoon of his presidential powers. He faces impeachment over his short-lived declaration of martial law.
The court granted the arrest warrant for Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon is wanted for questioning in multiple investigations, including one over accusations of leading an insurrection — a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty in South Korea.
President Joe Biden spoke with the nation’s interim president in recent weeks, expressing America’s commitment to democracy there. America has roughly 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea as a deterrent to communist North Korea.
Memorial events scheduled for late President Jimmy Carter
Details are now public about the nation’s plans to pay tribute to the late former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday, Dec. 29, at 100 years old. Biden declared Thursday, Jan. 9, a National Day of Mourning. New Year’s Day will begin an eight-day mourning period.
The Carter family will gather in the former president’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, over the next few days.
On Saturday, Jan. 4, the state funeral will be held. It starts at 10:15 a.m. ET with a motorcade from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, and will travel through Plains, taking a brief pause at 10:50 a.m.
At that stop, the National Park Service will ring the historic bell on the Carter family farm 39 times in honor of the late president. At 10:55 a.m., Carter’s final journey to Atlanta will begin.
At 3 p.m., the motorcade will stop at the Georgia State Capitol for a moment of silence led by Gov. Brian Kemp. It will then go on to its destination, the Carter Presidential Center, for a service at 4 p.m.
Carter will lie in repose from 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, for the public to pay respects.
He will then be taken to Washington, D.C., where Congress will pay tribute in a private ceremony. Then Carter will lie in state for the public to pay respects until Thursday, Jan. 9, when Carter will be taken home to Georgia for a private family funeral service and internment. Biden is expected to deliver a eulogy at the funeral.
5 people charged in connection with singer Liam Payne’s death
Five people were charged in connection with the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne in Argentina, according to the country’s prosecutor’s office. Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October after police said he consumed “various substances,” including drugs and alcohol.
A friend of Payne, the hotel manager and its head of reception are accused of “negligent homicide” in connection with the singer’s death. If convicted, they face a maximum of five years in prison.
Two other hotel employees were charged with selling Payne drugs. They face up to 15 years in prison.
FAA investigating after Gonzaga Bulldogs’ jet ordered to stop at LAX
The Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation after a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team nearly crossed a runway as another flight took off from Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Dec. 27.
The FAA has launched an investigation after a Delta plane almost hit the Gonzaga’s men’s basketball team’s private jet on Friday. 😳
The jet, operated by Key Lime Air, was ordered by air traffic controllers to stop as a Delta flight took off. No one was hurt. Gonzaga was in Los Angeles for its game against UCLA on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Over 1 million expected to ring in the new year at Times Square
The NYPD said while there have not been any “specific credible threats” to the Times Square celebration, the department has been operating in a heightened threat environment since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel.
As for the big celebration, fans braving possible wet weather and the many others watching at home will be able to enjoy musical acts from Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and the Jonas Brothers.
NBA fines Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards $100,000 for obscene language
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is in the news again after using some colorful language during a post-game interview on Sunday, Dec. 29. It’s his fifth fine of 2024, bringing his total to $275,000 just before year’s end.
Edwards had just hit a game-winning shot to beat the Houston Rockets, which capped a 16-point comeback in the final four minutes. He was excited, but that excitement earned him a $100,000 disciplinary fine from the NBA.
During the interview, Edwards said, “Man all I knew was the play was for Drew to go 14, big small pick and roll, once he picked it up –– I gotta go get it, s***, Nickeil found me. He cut me off. I’m like, s*** I’m going for the win. Like Gilbert Arenas said, ‘I don’t do overtime.’ So, f*** it.”
Edwards is arguably one of the league’s brightest young stars, but he’s also a repeat offender, which, all told, has led to a $275,000 tab this year alone.
Here’s the list, including Sunday’s penalty:
Dec. 29 –– $100,000 for profane language
Dec. 23 –– $75,000 for criticizing officials
Dec. 9 –– $25,000 for profane language
Nov. 17 –– $35,000 for obscene gesture toward fans
Jan. 31 –– $40,000 for criticizing officials
Sunday’s fine was the maximum for using profanity during a live television interview, with the league saying in a statement that the amount was partly based on Edwards’ history of breaking the rule.
So, the question is: Will all those fines be effective in muzzling Edwards? Well, in July, he signed a contract extension worth $245 million over the next five seasons.
Sacramento Kings fire coach Mike Brown in midst of 3rd season
The Sacramento Kings fired head coach Mike Brown on Friday, Dec. 27, just 31 games into his third NBA season with the franchise. Brown was commanding a 13-18 start at the time of his firing.
On Thursday, Dec. 26, the Kings suffered a devastating loss to the Detroit Pistons, their fifth straight loss during their current homestand. But the way they lost may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The Kings gave up a 10-point lead with three minutes to go, allowing the Pistons to score 40 points in the fourth quarter. Jayden Ivey clinched the game at the buzzer with a four-point play, marking a brutal cap to the losing streak.
When asked what he felt needed to change, star player De’Aaron Fox opted to deflect, saying, “Uh, I don’t know.”
Fox may not have known what needed to change, but the team’s front office did. They fired Brown after Friday morning’s practice.
Before he learned his fate, Brown talked about his team’s struggles during the previous night’s loss.
“I don’t know why our pace wasn’t there and our physicality defensively when we want to go win the game –– instead of asking the refs to help us win the game –– wasn’t there,” Brown said. “I’m disappointed in all those things. Maybe a loss like this helps us, I don’t know, but we need to wake up.”
The dismissal was a surprise given that Brown was the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 2023 and had back-to-back winning records in his first two seasons in Sacramento, including a playoff appearance that snapped a 16-year drought.
In June, Brown signed a three-year, $30 million contract extension. Now, he’s out just 31 games into his third season in Sacramento and his fourth head coaching job overall.
Former Kings player Doug Christie has been named the interim head coach. He was an assistant on Brown’s staff. The Kings’ next game is Saturday, Dec. 28, in Los Angeles against LeBron James and the Lakers.
Phoenix Suns to offer steep discount on concessions with $2 value menu
Two years after he bought the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, and the WNBA’s Mercury, the youngest owner in the NBA continues to shake things up. Mat Ishbia announced on Wednesday, Dec. 18, a steep discount on the most popular concession items at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
Prices for hot dogs, bottled water, fountain soda, chips and popcorn went from as high as $9 down to $2.
He announced the discounts, which will run the rest of the NBA season, on the Suns’ social media channels.
“Winning starts with our fans,” Ishbia said. “When I walk the concourse at games there aren’t food options for families who don’t want to spend a lot of money. That needs to change, so today we’re rolling out our $2 value menu for all home Suns games.”
Winning starts with our fans. When I walk the concourse at games there aren’t food options for families who don’t want to spend a lot of money. That needs to change, so today we’re rolling out our $2 value menu for all home @Suns games. pic.twitter.com/BsluNoKD5P
“A family of 4 used to spend $98 on hot dogs/water/popcorn. Now they can enjoy that same meal for $24,” he said.
Sceptics might call the price drop a marketing or public relations stunt, but Ishbia has often talked about running his franchise, “how fans would want him to.” When the season began, he also made Suns games available to watch on free, over-the-air television.
“I’m focused on being the best owner I can be, do all the things the fans would want, my players would want, my coach, GM, the people that work in the community, I’m all in,” Ishbia told ESPN at the time. “By the way, this isn’t just, ‘hey you’ve owned the team two years, this is how…’ no, no. We’re all in.”
Ishbia, who bought the Suns and Mercury from Robert Sarver for $4 billion in December of 2022, is the CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, the number one overall mortgage lender in the nation.
Additionally, Ishbia said may not be done helping fans return to sporting events without going broke. Bloomberg recently reported that he and his brother Justin, who are worth nearly $15 billion combined, are interested in buying the Minnesota Twins. The baseball team’s current owners are exploring a sale.
The WNBA is making history once again. On Monday, Dec. 17, the league announced the Seattle Storm will take on the Atlanta Dream in Vancouver, Canada, marking the first regular-season game played outside the United States.
The matchup will take place Aug. 15, 2025 at Rogers Arena. The league, which began play in 1997, has showcased two preseason games north of the border.
In 2023, the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx played in Toronto and in 2024 Seattle beat the LA Sparks in Edmonton. Both, tabbed as “Canada Games” by the league, were sellouts.
The move to the regular season is an effort to capitalize on the success of those previous games, as well as a chance to build on record attendance and viewership numbers the WNBA experienced during the 2024 season.
“The WNBA Canada Game has been a tremendous opportunity to grow our league’s footprint,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “As we prepare to establish permanent roots in Canada with a Toronto franchise, this game and our year-round engagement efforts are a nod to the incredible momentum around women’s basketball in Canada.”
Vancouver, it’s YOUR time 🇨🇦
For the first time ever, the W will play an international regular-season game. Watch the Atlanta Dream take on the Seattle Storm on August 15, 2025, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. for the 3rd WNBA Canada Game.
The event in Vancouver is the result of the success players like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have had during their careers, combined with the emergence of new stars like rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who burst on to the scene during the 2024 season.
The WNBA’s growth has been fast and furious. The league recently announced they will add a 13th team next season, the Golden State Valkyries. In 2026, two more teams will join. They will play in Portland and Toronto.
Engelbert believes the momentum continues to build for the league, not just in Canada but worldwide. However, according to The Washington Post, the WNBA lost $50 million last season and in 28 years has never turned a profit. The NBA continues to lend significant financial support.
In July 2024, the league agreed to a new television rights deal worth $2.2 billion over the next 11 years, which, along with expansion fees from new teams, will help the bottom line. However, costs are expected to go up too. The league has one year to negotiate a new union contract with the players, who have said repeatedly they want higher pay.
The NBA announced it will return to China for the first time in more than five years. The decision comes years after the league and Beijing had a falling out over an executive’s tweet.
The league announced Friday, Dec. 6, that two preseason games between the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will take place in Macao next October at the Venetian Arena, owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
Macao is the only region in China where casino gambling is legal.
“NBA basketball is a global sport that attracts people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures. It creates exciting experiences that connect people while playing a positive role in communities. Sands is honored to bring the NBA China games to Macao so that the most elite level of basketball can be experienced directly by the fans who are so passionate about it.”
Statement by Sands President Patrick Dumont
These will be the first NBA games played in the country since a tweet by the then-general manager of the Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, on Oct. 4, 2019, set off a rift between the league and China. Morey, who is now general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, posted an image in support of ongoing protests in Hong Kong.
Morey’s controversial 2019 tweet
At the time, the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers were in China. Chinese officials responded to Morey’s comments by preventing the teams from holding pre-game and post-game press conferences.
Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta was quick to react at the time. He said Morey did not speak for the organization, and the teams were in China to promote the league internationally. Fertitta added the NBA was not a political organization.
Nets chairman Joe Tsai, also the co-founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, criticized the tweet in an open letter to NBA fans. He called the situation in Hong Kong a “third-rail issue.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Morey had the right to express himself. The NBA, in its statement, said it recognized that Morey’s views offended fans in China, calling it “regrettable,” and the league has “great respect for the history and culture of China.”
Silver’s response garnered bipartisan backlash from politicians in Washington, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., for the league not standing by Morey.
Fallout sparks protests
The tweet’s fallout sparked protests at NBA games. Demonstrators wore customized shirts and held up signs reading “Free Hong Kong.”
Morey issued a clarification a few days later, saying his tweets were his own and he did not intend to offend Rocket fans and his friends in China.
China, however, took action. NBA games were removed from airing on China’s state broadcaster for some time following the tweet. The league said the rift cost up to $400 million in lost revenue the following year.
Making amends
The league has since taken action to mend its relationship with China. NBA legend Yao Ming attended the memorial service for former commissioner David Stern in 2020. China thanked the NBA for sending more than $1 million in medical supplies to assist in COVID-19 relief efforts during the early days of the pandemic, and All-Star Stephen Curry visited China in the summer.
Now, with two games on the schedule, the NBA and China are looking to resume their partnership with a multiyear deal. The NBA said it will be holding a “Fan Day” during the week of the games.
Two more NBA preseason games are reportedly being planned in China for 2026.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
With North Korea entering the war, the Biden administration is now allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia. And President-elect Donald Trump returned to New York for a UFC showdown this weekend while also making more presidential picks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
It’s been nearly three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and while the U.S. has supported Ukraine since the start, President Joe Biden is now easing limitations on how U.S.-supplied weapons can be used.
The policy shift comes as President Biden’s time in office winds down and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to limit U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump has also promised to quickly put an end to the war with Russia but has yet to say how.
Biden’s decision comes as Russia unleashed a barrage of its own missiles in Ukraine Sunday, Nov. 17. Ukrainian authorities said 10 people, including two children, were killed and dozens injured in a Russian strike on a residential building in Sumy, near the Russian border.
Earlier in the day, Russia launched its largest attack against Ukraine since August, once again targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country. Ukrainian authorities said at least five people were killed in those strikes.
On the social site Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 120 missiles and 90 drones were fired into the country, with Ukrainian air defenses downing more than 140 targets.
Israeli strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah’s top spokesman
An Israeli strike on a neighborhood in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top spokesman, according to the militant group.
Mohammed Afif was an adviser to the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in an attack on Beirut in September. Afif had been responsible for Hezbollah’s media relations since 2014.
Lebanon’s health ministry said no evacuation warning was issued before the strike, which happened in the middle of the day, and four people were killed.
🔴ELIMINATED: Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah, Mohammed Afif
Afif was a senior Hezbollah military operative, in contact with senior officials and directly involved in advancing and executing Hezbollah’s terrorist activities against Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a “precise, intelligence-based strike” that “eliminated the terrorist Mohammed Afif, the chief propagandist and spokesperson of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
Trump attends UFC event in New York City, makes more picks for 2nd term
Over the weekend, President-elect Trump returned to Madison Square Garden to see the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s pay-per-view event. It was the first time Trump was back at the New York City venue since his rally last month and he received roaring applause from the UFC crowd Saturday night, Nov. 16, including chants of “USA!”
Trump was joined by friend and UFC President Dana White, as well as some of the names he’s recently picked to join his administration, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump’s oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also in attendance.
The president-elect also shook hands with Joe Rogan, one of the commentators for the event. Trump was a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Trump’s weekend also involved filling more key positions in his administration, including nominating Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver, Colorado based fracking company.
He also picked current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the agency’s chairman. Carr recently made headlines after claiming Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance on Saturday Night Live violated FCC rules.
More nominations from the president-elect are expected to come this week.
Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon rainforest
President Biden made history Sunday, Nov. 17, becoming the first sitting president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
While there, Biden met indigenous leaders and visited a museum at the gateway to the amazon. He also toured the drought-shrunken waters of the Amazon River’s greatest tributary and signed a U.S. proclamation designating Nov. 17 International Conservation Day, highlighting his commitment to the preservation of the region.
He also touched on concerns the incoming Trump administration might change U.S. climate policy.
“It’s no secret that I’m leaving office in January,” Biden said. “I will leave my successor and my country in a strong foundation to build on if they choose to do so.”
Today I issued an official proclamation to support the conservation of nature around the world.
That was the most that Biden publicly referenced President-elect Trump during his South American tour.
The transition was briefly mentioned during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s remarks on Saturday, Nov. 16 during his final meeting with Biden. While he also did not mention Trump by name, Xi appeared to signal his concern over what the new administration could mean for China’s relationship with the U.S. During his campaign, Trump promised to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Reports: WBD, NBA settle with 11-year deal; ‘Inside the NBA’ to air on ABC
Warner Brothers Discovery is back in the game when it comes to the NBA. Though the company will no longer be airing games on its TNT network after this season, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets report the two sides have come to an agreement to keep NBA programming in the Warner Bros. family.
The reports said the new deal will settle Warner Brothers Discovery’s breach of contract lawsuit, which it filed against the league after the NBA signed rights deals with Disney’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBC, and Amazon.
This 11-year agreement will see NBA content remain on Warner Bros. Discovery’s digital platforms Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. It also gives Warner Brothers Discovery the right to distribute games overseas in places such as northern Europe and parts of Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Reports said Warner Brothers Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license its popular TNT show “Inside the NBA,” featuring former-players-turned-commentators Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley starting next season. The show will air throughout the season on ABC and ESPN.
The deals are expected to be officially announced this week.
Netflix says 60 million households tuned in live for Tyson vs. Paul
Netflix also said 50 million households watched the co-main event that saw Katie Taylor retain her championship against Amanda Serrano. The streaming giant said that would make it the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in United States history.
Netflix said more information, like total viewers, will be released later this week.
Netflix’s future live sporting events will include NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE weekly programming starting next year.