Sports
Kelvin Sampson Turns Houston Basketball Into a Powerhouse Again
When the University of Houston introduced Kelvin Sampson as its head coach almost 11 years ago, the well-traveled basketball veteran stepped into one of the sport’s longest shadows. As the 2025 calendar turns to March, Sampson’s Cougars are setting a new standard for a program long synonymous exclusively with the late, great Guy Lewis.
Houston closes out its 2024-25 regular-season slate with games against Cincinnati on Saturday and two of the last three programs to win the national championship, Kansas and Baylor. However, the Cougars have already sealed no worse than a share of the Big 12 Conference championship.
Houston embarks on this stretch and the Big 12 Tournament playing for its third straight No. 1 seed and an inside track to its second Final Four appearance in five seasons. Not since Hall of Famer Guy Lewis coached the Cougars to three straight Final Fours from 1982 through 1984 has Houston enjoyed such success.
In fact, at no time since Lewis retired in 1986 has Houston reached the heights that are fast becoming routine for the Cougars under Sampson. From 1961, when the first Lewis-coached Houston team reached the NCAA Tournament, until the Hakeem Olajuwon-led national runner-up Cougars team of 1984, the program played in 14 editions of the Big Dance.
In the three decades between Lewis’ retirement and Sampson’s 2014 hire, only four Houston teams reached the NCAA Tournament—one fewer than the total Final Four appearances the program made under Lewis.
Yesteryear’s powerhouses fade from glory regularly in college basketball and spend generations chasing past success in futility. When Sampson came to Houston in 2014, the program was one such example, sharing qualities with teams like DePaul and UNLV: once-dominant juggernauts in cities that produce top-flight recruits, but who opt to go elsewhere.
Keeping in-state prospects around has been one pillar of Sampson’s resurrection of Houston basketball. His first NCAA Tournament team at UH in 2017-18 featured key players like Armoni Brooks of Round Rock and Fabian White of Atascocita, who grew into a standout on the 2022 Elite Eight team.
This year, Houston features forward J’Wan Roberts, a graduate of Shoemaker High School in Killeen, and L.J. Cryer of Katy. As a two-time All-Big 12 selection headed for a third, the Baylor transfer Cryer is the de facto star of the 2024-25 Cougars.
But if there’s another quality of Sampson’s tenure at Houston that best explains the program’s return to Lewis-era levels of prominence, it’s that the Cougars don’t rely on stars.
Make no mistake; Cryer is a terrific player. He shoots almost 42 percent from 3-point range and will finish a third consecutive season averaging in the neighborhood of 15 points per game.
However, other teams jockeying for No. 1 seeds alongside Houston include Auburn with Johni Broome, a stat-sheet-stuffing big man averaging a double-double per game. Broome’s a throwback to a time when dominant centers owned college basketball—a time like the mid-1980s when Olajuwon and Houston faced Patrick Ewing and Georgetown for the national championship.
Broome’s recent 31-point, 14-rebound effort against Georgia is unlike any stat line a Cougar is likely to produce. Cryer went for 28 points in a pivotal win over Iowa State, but just five the next time out against Texas Tech.
The results of those two games were the same, though: Houston wins that secured the Cougars’ stake to the Big 12 championship.
And then there’s fellow No. 1 seed contender Duke, built around the explosive game of likely No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg. The freshman phenom compares to Lewis-era Houston greats in that his NBA readiness is clear in college.
Indeed, Lewis’ best Houston teams were built around players like Elvin Hayes, Clyde Drexler, and Olajuwon—college stars who went on to pro greatness.
It’s rare for college teams to compete for championships without NBA talent, and Sampson has and continues to attract future pros to his program. His teams differ from Lewis’ Final Four squads in that this era of NBA-bound Cougars are not the individually dominant presences of the past.
And in that contrast lies another characteristic that explains Sampson’s success with a program that seemed destined to long for days gone by. Sampson has unlocked Houston’s potential to return to its prior peak not by emulating what defined the program before, but by embracing his own philosophy.
No one will confuse the aggressive, defensive-oriented style of the present-day Cougars with Phi Slamma Jamma, but it’s Houston’s hard-nosed approach that makes it successful. Tune into a UH game, and you are guaranteed to see maximum effort from all five players on the court for all 40 minutes.
It’s a trait that made Sampson-coached teams winners elsewhere, from a historically downtrodden program like Washington to his tenure at Oklahoma, which produced a Final Four run. This is also the identity that could elevate Houston to a milestone that not even the great Guy Lewis reached: a national championship.
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
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