For the first time in more than a month, the Lakers don’t know what comes next. And that uncertainty is much worse than the margin on the scoreboard last night.

Can you guess these WNBA college legends? On this week's episode of The Athletic Show, @zenakeita.bsky.social challenges the crew to name the 10 current WNBA players who won Women's National Player of the Year in college.

Comeback loading ⌛ JuJu Watkins participating at Team USA training camp in Phoenix, AZ this week. 📸 @usabasketball.bsky.social

LeBron James is not a fan of Memphis at all. In fact, he wants the Grizzlies to move 200 miles east to Nashville.

Luka Dončić went OFF in the month of March 🔥 ◽️ 37.5 PPG ◽️ 8 RPG ◽️ 7.4 APG ◽️ 2.3 SPG ◽️ West Player of the Month ◽️ West Defensive Player of the Month nominee ◽️ Led Lakers to 14-2 record Where would you place him on the MVP ladder?

With the NFL’s spring meetings complete, it’s time to check in with executives across the league for thoughts on the best and worst moves by AFC teams during free agency. Let’s start with the Dolphins signing QB Malik Willis…

Phil Mickelson announced Thursday he’ll miss the Masters and step away for an extended period “as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter.” This will be the first Masters Tournament without Mickelson and Tiger Woods since 1994. Read more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

NEWS: Michigan’s storied Fab Five will come together for an alternative broadcast of their alma mater’s Final Four game against Arizona on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: Steph Curry revolutionized basketball, perhaps the last transformative moment basketball has experienced… …until now. Can Victor Wembanyama define this era like Curry did his? The Chef thinks so.

EXCLUSIVE: The future of just about everyone with the Maple Leafs seems to be up in the air right now. William Nylander wants to stay … if, that is, the Leafs remain committed to chasing Stanley Cups and not tearing it all down.

Rap star J. Cole is taking his love for basketball to China. Cole has signed to play for the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association, his third time signing with a professional league.

NEWS: Iowa State star Audi Crooks announced she is entering the transfer portal. Crooks averaged 25.8 points per game this season.

After Hideki Matsuyama’s win at Augusta National five years ago this week, CBS cameraman Erik Leidal saw something out of the corner of his eye. “And that,” Leidal says, “is when Shota Hayafuji appeared.”

NEWS: Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has agreed to a free-agent deal with the Raiders, his agent announced on Thursday. Cousins, who just completed his 14th NFL season, was cut by the Falcons after two years with the franchise.

Last year, UConn spent more than $34 million on its men’s and women’s basketball teams. So, where exactly did that $34 million go? And beyond all the winning, how much is coming back into the athletic department because of these two elite programs?

In a 147-129 win over the Miami Heat, Jayson Tatum gets his first triple-double since returning from a torn Achilles.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has checked into a private facility, his attorney confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday.

It has been a stunning decline for Jaden Ivey, who went from a potential long-term duo with Cade Cunningham to being waived. Three of our reporters who chronicled his NBA journey outlined his career on and off the court:

A Category 1 ticket to the 2026 World Cup final now costs $10,990. FIFA has raised prices for dozens of matches, yet again, as the last sales phase begins. Story + details @theathletic.com:

NEWS: Bill Self announced he will return to Kansas to coach his 24th season at the school.

Umpire CB Bucknor left today's Rays-Brewers game after taking a foul tip to the face.

NFLPA executive director JC Tretter voiced disapproval of the league's potential use of replacement officials in 2026, citing concerns for player safety, in a joint statement released Wednesday. “Player safety requires trained, professional officials on the field." www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

In 2016, Villanova’s Kris Jenkins hit one of the greatest shots in men’s March Madness history to win the national championship vs. UNC. But it was far from random — the buzzer-beater was the product of years spent building chemistry and confidence as a team.

After the Maple Leafs announced that Keith Pelley would be the new team president, he said that his only goal was to win and win big. “The fans here not only deserve but demand a championship,” Pelley said. “We are not here to sell jerseys.”

After a 2-0 loss to Portugal, U.S. Soccer head coach Mauricio Pochettino had the figure 100 running through his thoughts, namely the players he considers to be among the best 100 in the world. And, according to him, there aren’t any Americans among them.

Over the past month of speaking to NFL coaches, scouts and agents, it’s time for @brucefeldmancfb.bsky.social's annual mock draft 👀 Thoughts?

Basketball and sneakers will always be synonymous with one another. Jalen Brunson debuts new Kobes for big games. Jarrett Allen only wears the Kyrie 3 TB Black White. It’s one of those games within the game that drives interest in the league, writes @jledwardsiii.bsky.social.

Luka Dončić has passed Kobe Bryant's 578 points in March 2006 for the most in a single month in Lakers history. 🐍 x 🪄

The stage for the 2026 World Cup is set. See you on June 11 🗓️

Just three days removed from having six calls overturned via MLB’s ABS challenge system, umpire C.B. Bucknor’s judgment was again called into question. This time, it involved a base hit and whether the runner actually touched first base. He did.

Yoshi and Yoshi on Yoshi bobblehead night. Say that three times fast 😂

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said there “hasn’t been” any cause for action under the league’s personal conduct policy regarding Steve Tisch, the New York Giants’ former co-owner. www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

🚨 GOALIE FIGHT 🚨 Igor Shesterkin and Jacob Markström drop the gloves. 🎥 Vince Z. Mercogliano/The Athletic

The USMNT drops both its March friendlies. ◽ L | 5-2 Belgium ◽ L | 2-0 Portugal

The Spurs are at the top of this week’s power rankings from @lawmurraythenu.bsky.social 🏀 One player per team is also recognized with the Power Rankings Frontier Award. Full list and analysis: www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

In his first public statement since his DUI arrest, Tiger Woods announced Tuesday that he is “stepping away” for an undisclosed period of time to “seek treatment.” Read more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Italy have not played in a World Cup knockout match since the creation of the iPhone in January 2007.

NEWS: Tiger Woods has waived arraignment, entered a not guilty plea on both misdemeanor charges and demanded a trial by jury. The defense has 10 days to file motions. More details: www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Group D has been finalized for the World Cup this summer: 🇦🇺 Australia 🇵🇾 Paraguay 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇺🇸 United States It’s a winnable group. Now, after Turkey’s win, it’s also a losable group, writes @henrybushnell.bsky.social.

NEWS: Jaden Ivey will receive his full $10.1 million salary this season even after the Chicago Bulls waived the guard for what they called “conduct detrimental to the team,” sources tell @mikevorkunov.bsky.social.

The good news: the USMNT has a chance to put Saturday’s 5-2 defeat to Belgium behind them. The bad news: they face Portugal next. Landon Donovan tells @adamcrafton.bsky.social that he’s worried whether this team has enough pride heading into the World Cup this summer.

From @theathletic.com: The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey for “conduct detrimental to the team” on Monday, hours after an Instagram livestream in which he delivered targeted comments about the NBA’s advocacy of the LGBTQ community.

Welcome to our very early first official ranking for the 2027 NHL Draft class. This initial top 25 is predominantly made up of 2009-born (yes, you read that correctly) prospects.

For the third straight postseason, Jon Scheyer’s Duke team is done in stunning fashion. Another collapse. Another double-digit lead gone. Another ending that adds to a growing pattern. At some point, it’s no longer a one-off. It’s the narrative.

BREAKING: More details on Tiger Woods' DUI arrest were released Tuesday morning. Officers described Woods' condition at the time of the crash, saying he was "sweating profusely" and had bloodshot and glassy eyes.

EXCLUSIVE: The 2026 class of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will be announced this week, and Dick Motta is a nominee yet again. But one of the winningest coaches in NBA history doesn’t concern himself with the acclaim — only the work matters.

GM Brad Treliving is out in Toronto. Most of his moves and non-moves simply did not work. The Maple Leafs are older, less talented, and facing a playoff-less spring for the first time in a decade.

All-NBA becoming position-less now has resulted in double-digit surefire members. Do you agree with these picks? Who should receive the remaining two spots?

The NCAA #MarchMadness Final Four groups are set 🏀 All four No. 1 seeds on the women's side advanced, while the men gave us a couple of surprises. Who ya got?

The Gamecocks’ dominance continues with their sixth consecutive Final Four appearance. South Carolina will face UConn on Friday 🍿