Sports
Fever's Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham remain committed to Europe's Project B
Sep 28, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) in the second half during game four against the Las Vegas Aces of the second round for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Indiana Fever stars Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham remain committed to upstart women’s basketball league Project B despite some earlier mixed messages about how the WNBA’s new CBA might affect their desire to play overseas.
Mitchell told reporters last week that it would take a “drastic, unique situation” to play overseas after the new CBA increased player salaries from a maximum of around $250,000 to $1.4 million.
However, she told Front Office Sports on Saturday that the nature of Project B — a touring league with seven two-week long tournaments across Europe, Asia, and Latin America from November 2026 to April 2027 — provides her with the flexibility to return to the United States in between the 5-on-5 league’s tournaments.
“There’s a big difference, and I think people recognize what that difference is,” said Mitchell, a 2025 All-WNBA First-Team selection. “Project B gives you a chance to do both, go in and come out, whereas (with) overseas basketball you’ve gotta be over there, eight months or seven months, just to get everything you want.”
Mitchell, 30, is entering her ninth WNBA season. She is a three-time All-Star and averaged a career-high 20.2 points last season and finished fifth in the MVP balloting.
Her Fever teammate Cunningham is also still committed to playing for Project B, which she said she initially signed with out of a desire for “security” when it was unclear whether a 2026 WNBA season would happen amidst the ongoing CBA talks.
Project B will reportedly pay out seven-figure salaries starting at $2 million and offer players equity in the league.
“When they’re offering that type of money, plus the signing bonus, plus having equity in the company, it’s a no-brainer. I have financially smart people around me, and they’re like, ‘You got to do it. Your body’s got to suck it up,'” said Cunningham, who will also be a WNBA analyst for USA Network this coming season while continuing to co-host the “Show Me Something” podcast with reality TV star West Wilson.
Cunningham, 29, spent her first six WNBA seasons with the Phoenix Mercury before being obtained by Indiana before last season.
The 6-foot-1 Cunningham averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 30 games (13 starts) in 2025 before she sustained a season-ending MCL tear in her right knee. She has averages of 7.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 212 career games (105 starts), with 305 career 3-pointers and 154 steals.
“When companies pour into us, they really see our value,” Cunningham said. “That’s not just on the basketball court — that’s just in life as a businesswoman.”
Both players signed one-year deals with the Fever, with Mitchell making $1.4 million on a supermax deal and Cunningham earning $655,000 for the season.
Mitchell and Cunningham are among 13 players who were announced as participants for Project B, which will play in various countries. Play is expected to begin in November, with the last stop slated to be Tokyo from March 26-April 4, per FOS.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red cards approved for players covering mouths at World Cup
Apr 22, 2026; Morristown, New Jersey, USA; An MLS match ball is displayed during an event for the opening of the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center. The complex has been selected as Brazil’s training home for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
One new rule permit officials to issue red cards for any players who cover their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent or to any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee.
This change stems from a Champions League match when Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni said racially abusive comments directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior while pulling his jersey up over his mouth to hide what he was saying. Vinicius was visibly emotional after the confrontation, and Prestianni received a six-match ban from UEFA for the incident.
The International Football Association Board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve a pair of FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behavior ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America
The other new amendment permit officials to issue red cards for any players who leave the field of play in protest of a decision made by a referee. It also applies to any team official who convinces his team’s players to leave the field in protest of a call.
IFAB said in its statement that all 48 teams competing in the World Cup will be informed of these amendments in the coming weeks.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees place DH Giancarlo Stanton (calf) on IL
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images The New York Yankees placed designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to a right calf strain.
The move is retroactive to Saturday. The Yankees recalled infielder Max Schuemann from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take his place on the active roster.
Stanton last played Friday at the Houston Astros and left after the sixth inning when he experienced stiffness in the calf while running the bases. The Yankees have kept him on the bench since then while waiting to see how his calf responded.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the team’s 4-2 win at the Texas Rangers on Monday that an MRI revealed nothing more than a strain that didn’t “look too serious.”
The oft-injured Stanton, 36, was limited to 77 games for the Yankees last year due to injuries to both his elbows. The former National League MVP (2017, Miami Marlins) was batting .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs through 24 games this season.
The Yankees had previously called up outfielder Jasson Dominguez from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and sent right-hander Luis Gil to Triple-A after he started Sunday’s loss to the Astros.
The 23-year-old Dominguez, who played in 123 games last season, began 2026 at Triple-A and batted .326 with three homers, 15 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 24 games.
Schuemann, 28, had a fine spring for the Yankees after they acquired him from the Athletics in February. In 234 games across two seasons with the A’s (2024-25), Schuemann has hit .212 with nine homers, 18 doubles, 47 RBIs and 21 steals.
In 2025 alone, Schuemann made starts at second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers' Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn on track to return next week
Jul 25, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (11) is congratulated by first base Andrew Vaughn (28) while rounding the bases after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins in the fourth at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio and first baseman Andrew Vaughn are both set to begin rehab assignments with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday ahead of projected May 4 returns to the major league level, the team announced Tuesday.
Both Chourio and Vaughn have been sidelined since at least Opening Day with broken bones in their left hands.
Chourio was placed on the injured list the day of the first game of the season due to a fractured bone at the base of his middle finger which occurred on a hit-by-pitch during a World Baseball Classic warmup game. He’s hit .272 with 42 homers, 64 doubles and 157 RBIs the last two seasons for the Brewers.
Vaughn sustained a broken hamate bone in Milwaukee’s Opening Day win over the Chicago White Sox. Acquired at the trade deadline last season from Chicago, Vaughn hit .308 with nine homers and 46 RBIs in 64 games with Milwaukee in 2025.
The Brewers, who have won the National League Central each of the last three years, are in last place of the competitive division at 14-13 just over a month into the regular season.
–Field Level Media
Red cards approved for players covering mouths at World Cup
Yankees place DH Giancarlo Stanton (calf) on IL
