Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is sickened by teams tanking games to try to improve their draft position, calling it “ridiculous,” “losing behavior done by losers” and “much worse than any prop bet scandal” in a social media post on Thursday.

Ishbia linked his tweet to a Yahoo Sports story posted on X about tanking in the league. While not new, the so-called strategy came back to the forefront when commissioner Adam Silver spoke last weekend about its prevalence after the Utah Jazz were fined $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers were docked $100,000 last week.

“This is ridiculous! Tanking is losing behavior done by losers,” Ishbia wrote on his X account. “Purposely losing is something nobody should want to be associated with. Embarrassing for the league and for the organizations.

“And the talk about this as a “strategy” is ridiculous,” he continued. “If you are a bad team, you get a good pick. That makes sense. But purposely shutting down players and purposely losing games is a disgrace and impacts the integrity of whole league. This is much worse than any prop bet scandal. This is throwing games strategically.”

This is ridiculous! Tanking is losing behavior done by losers. Purposely losing is something nobody should want to be associated with. Embarrassing for the league and for the organizations. And the talk about this as a “strategy” is ridiculous.

If you are a bad team, you get a… https://t.co/VoUx3YEdB5

— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) February 19, 2026

Ishbia completed his purchase of the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury from Robert Sarver in February 2023 for $4 billion.

Phoenix does not control its own first-round draft pick until 2032 because of trades made since 2023, meaning the Suns cannot benefit from losing games intentionally.

“Horrible for fans that pay to watch and cheer on their team. And horrible for all the real teams that are competing for playoff spots,” wrote Ishbia, who played guard at Michigan State, appearing in 48 games (one start) from 1999-2002, including the 2000 national championship season

Silver said on Saturday during the All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, Calif., that teams’ blatant approach to tanking is worse than he’s seen in recent memory.

“Which was what led to those fines, and not just those fines but to my statement that we’re going to be looking more closely at the totality of all the circumstances this season in terms of teams’ behavior, and very intentionally wanted teams to be on notice,” Silver said.

The Jazz were fined for limiting the court time of two of their best players, while the Pacers were penalized for roster manipulation that kept three starters from a recent game.

Silver says the league could impose additional penalties, up to and including the forfeiture of the teams’ draft picks.

“I think we’re coming at it in two ways,” Silver said. “One is, again, focusing on the here and now, the behavior we’re seeing from our teams and doing whatever we can to remind them of what their obligation is to the fans and to their partner teams. But No. 2 … the competition committee started earlier this year re-examining the whole approach to how the draft lottery works.”

Ishbia, in his post, said he is confident that Silver will fix the problem with massive changes.

“Those of us in a position of influence need to speak out,” Ishbia wrote. “… the only “strategy” is doing right by fans, players, and the NBA community.”

–Field Level Media

Americans Amanda Anisimova, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula reached the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships along with Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina on Thursday.

The second-seeded Anisimova will meet the fourth-seeded Pegula, and the third-seeded Gauff will take on No. 7 seed Svitolina on Friday in the WTA 1000 tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

Gauff will be the most rested of the foursome after her 6-0, 6-2 victory against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in 67 minutes on Thursday. The other three quarterfinal matches all went to three sets.

“Each match, I’ve gotten better,” Gauff said. “I definitely wasn’t in good spirits before entering this tournament, but you know, one match can change everything. I honestly didn’t think I would be in the semis at the start of this, but I’m happy that I’m here.”

Gauff, who overcame eight double faults, won the first 10 games of the match and converted six of nine break points. She finished with 15 winners and 19 unforced errors, compared to eight winners and 33 errors for Eala.

Anisimova survived a two-hour, 38-minute battle with defending champion and No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia, winning 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) to set up her clash with Pegula.

Andreeva had a 3-1 lead in the final set before Anisimova took the next four games for a 5-3 lead. Not going away, Andreeva survived a match point and won the next three games. Anisimova jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak and finally prevailed on her fourth match point.

Andreeva, 18, doubled over in tears after her final backhand sailed long.

“It was such a tough battle, and I thought we played incredible tennis,” Anisimova said. “Seeing Mirra down like that, it’s understandable. We both fought so hard today, and it made me emotional seeing her like that. She was playing so well, she’s the defending champion and I feel like we both won on the court today. These type of matches, it’s always tough that someone has to lose at the end of the day.”

Pegula outlasted 12th-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in just under two hours, while Svitolina rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic in just over two hours.

Pegula struck eight aces and saved four of six break points. Svitolina balanced five aces with seven double faults while saving 11 of 14 break points.

This is only the third time three U.S. players reached the final four at a WTA 1000 event since the format’s introduction in 2009: Beijing 2025 (Gauff, Pegula, Anisimova) and Toronto 2024 (Emma Navarro, Anisimova and Pegula).

–Field Level Media

Field Level Media Top 100 rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft:

1. QB Fernando Mendoza Indiana (6-5, 225)

2. RB Jeremiyah Love Notre Dame (6-0, 210)

3. TE Kenyon Sadiq Oregon (6-3, 245)

4. S Caleb Downs Ohio State (6-1, 200)

5. WR Carnell Tate Ohio State (6-3, 195)

6. OT Spencer Fano Utah (6-4, 300)

7. WR Makai Lemon USC (5-11, 195)

8. LB Arvell Reese Ohio State (6-4, 243)

9. EDGE David Bailey Texas Tech (6-3, 247)

10. LB Sonny Styles Ohio State (6-5, 243)

11. EDGE Keldric Faulk Auburn (6-5, 285)

12. OT Kadyn Proctor Alabama (6-7, 365)

13. OT Francis Mauigoa Miami (6-6, 300)

14. CB Mansoor Delane LSU (6-0, 190)

15. DT Peter Woods Clemson (6-3, 315)

16. CB Jermod McCoy Tennessee (5-10, 193)

17. EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. Miami (6-2, 270)

18. CB Avieon Terrell Clemson (5-11, 190)

19. WR Jordyn Tyson Arizona State (6-2, 200)

20. DT Kayden McDonald Ohio State (6-2, 326)

21. EDGE TJ Parker Clemson (6-3, 255)

22. OLB Cashius Howell Texas A&M (6-2, 249)

23. CB Colton Hood Tennessee (6-0, 195)

24. CB Brandon Cisse South Carolina (6-0, 190)

25. WR KC Concepcion Texas A&M (5-11, 190)

26. QB Ty Simpson Alabama (6-2, 208)

27. OT Caleb Lomu Utah (6-6, 300)

28. CB Keith Abney II Arizona State (6-0, 190)

29. LB Anthony Hill Jr. Texas (6-2, 238)

30. OG Vega Ioane Penn State (6-4, 323)

31. RB Jadarian Price Notre Dame (5-10, 210)

32. C Connor Lew Auburn (6-3, 300)

33. LB Jake Golday Cincinnati (6-4, 240)

34. DT Lee Hunter Texas Tech (6-3, 333)

35. DT Caleb Banks Florida (6-6, 334)

36. CB Chris Johnson San Diego State (6-0, 185)

37. WR Omar Cooper Jr. Indiana (6-0, 204)

38. TE Max Klare Ohio State (6-3, 240)

39. LB CJ Allen Georgia (6-1, 236)

40. EDGE Akheem Mesidor Miami (6-3, 265)

41. CB Will Lee III Texas A&M (6-1, 191)

42. EDGE Joshua Josephs Tennessee (6-3, 240)

43. EDGE Malachi Lawrence UCF (6-4, 247)

44. FS Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Toledo (6-3, 209)

45. QB Taylen Green Arkansas (6-6, 225)

46. OLB R Mason Thomas Oklahoma (6-1, 249)

47. OT Monroe Freeling Georgia (6-7, 315)

48. OG Emmanuel Pregnon Oregon (6-4, 323)

49. OT Max Iheanachor Arizona State (6-5, 325)

50. WR Germie Bernard Alabama (6-1, 209)

51. EDGE Derrick Moore Michigan (6-3, 265)

52. WR Chris Bell Louisville (6-2, 220)

53. OT Dametrious Crownover Texas A&M (6-6, 335)

54. WR Bryce Lance North Dakota State (6-3, 210)

55. EDGE LT Overton Alabama (6-2, 274)

56. OG Chase Bisontis Texas A&M (6-6, 320)

57. EDGE Zion Young Missouri (6-5, 255)

58. OT Blake Miller Clemson (6-6, 314)

59. DT Domonique Orange Iowa State (6-2, 325)

60. OT Caleb Tiernan Northwestern (6-7, 325)

61. TE Eli Stowers Vanderbilt (6-3, 240)

62. SS Jakobe Thomas Miami (6-2, 200)

63. SS DQ Smith South Carolina (6-1, 209)

64. RB Jonah Coleman Washington (5-9, 225)

65. OT Markel Bell Miami (6-9, 340)

66. WR Ted Hurst Georgia State (6-3, 193)

67. CB Keionte Scott Miami (6-0, 195)

68. C Logan Jones Iowa (6-3, 302)

69. C Brian Parker II Duke (6-5, 300)

70. FS Bud Clark TCU (6-0, 190)

71. LB Harold Perkins Jr. LSU (6-1, 222)

72. SS Jalon Kilgore South Carolina (6-1, 197)

73. CB Charles Demmings Stephen F. Austin (6-0, 185)

74. RB Nick Singleton Penn State (6-0, 226)

75. QB Carson Beck Miami (6-4, 225)

76. CB Treydan Stukes Arizona (6-2, 200)

77. CB Hezekiah Masses California (6-1, 185)

78. QB Cade Klubnik Clemson (6-1, 210)

79. FS Genesis Smith Arizona (6-2, 204)

80. FS Dillon Thieneman Oregon (6-0, 205)

81. WR Zachariah Branch Georgia (5-10, 175)

82. WR Chris Brazzell II Tennessee (6-4, 200)

83. SS AJ Haulcy LSU (5-11, 222)

84. EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton Penn State (6-5, 265)

85. WR Antonio Williams Clemson (5-11, 190)

86. OG Gennings Dunker Iowa (6-5, 315)

87. FS Kamari Ramsey USC (6-0, 205)

88. RB Kaytron Allen Penn State (5-11, 220)

89. SS Zakee Wheatley Penn State (6-2, 192)

90. WR Deion Burks Oklahoma (5-9, 190)

91. OT Drew Shelton Penn State (6-5, 305)

92. CB Daylen Everette Georgia (6-0, 193)

93. OG Anez Cooper Miami (6-6, 350)

94. DT Tim Keenan III Alabama (6-2, 320)

95. EDGE Patrick Payton LSU (6-6, 255)

96. FS Isaiah Nwokobia SMU (6-1, 205)

97. CB Julian Neal Arkansas (6-2, 208)

98. CB Tacario Davis Washington (6-4, 200)

99. DT Darrell Jackson Jr. Florida State (6-5, 337)

100. EDGE Max Llewellyn Iowa (6-5, 263)

–Field Level Media