Sports
Report: Sue Bird to become managing director of USWNT
Aug 9, 2024; Paris, France; Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird watch a women’s basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images USA Basketball plans to name Sue Bird its managing director of the women’s national team for the 2028 Olympic cycle, The Athletic reported Tuesday.
Bird, 44, was a member of five Olympic gold medal-winning teams and four FIBA World Cup champions during her storied playing career, which came to an end in 2022. Now Bird will take on an integral role in preparing Team USA for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
As managing director, Bird’s role will be analogous to Grant Hill’s on the men’s side, per The Athletic. She will shoulder the responsibility for selecting the rosters and coaching staffs for both the Olympics and the World Cup, a departure from the tradition of using a selection committee.
Hill succeeded Hall of Fame executive Jerry Colangelo in the role in 2021. Bird, like Hill, comes with unimpeachable credentials as a winner at the college, professional and international levels.
Bird will work alongside Briana Weiss, who has been the director of the USA women’s national team since 2021.
Following the country’s narrow escape in the 2024 gold medal game against France, and with the retirement of Bird’s contemporary, Diana Taurasi, the program is potentially in a transitional period. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and 2025 WNBA No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers could lead a youth movement for roster spots for the 2028 Olympics, and there was minor controversy when Clark was not chosen for the 2024 team.
Before the Olympics, the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup is scheduled for September 2026 in Germany.
USA Basketball has an announcement planned for Thursday in New York.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Furman Paladins guard Alex Wilkins (10) dribbles the ball against the UConn Huskies in the second half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Former Furman guard has Alex Wilkins transferred to Kentucky.
His transfer was announced on Saturday.
Wilkins excelled in his freshman season with the Paladins, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 35 games (all starts).
Listed at 6-foot-5, Wilkins showed his skills to a national audience in Furman’s lone game of the NCAA Tournament. He made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the Paladins’ 82-71 loss to eventual national championship runner-up UConn in the first round.
–Field Level Media
Sports
New Bengals DT Dexter Lawrence signs 1-year, $28M extension
Nov 16, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) scrambles away from New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence passed his physical and signed a one-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals through the 2028 season on Sunday morning.
Financial terms were communicated through Win Sports Group, which informed multiple media outlets that the extension was worth $28 million.
Lawrence was acquired by Cincinnati from the New York Giants on Saturday in exchange for the No. 10 pick overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“We are excited to add Dexter to our team,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “He has been a dominant player in the league since he was drafted, and he will be a tremendous presence on the field and in our locker room.”
Lawrence, 28, requested a trade last week and did not report to the Giants’ offseason program, with reports that discussions over a contract extension had reached an impasse.
The Giants have three of the top 37 picks in the 2026 draft. That includes their original first-round pick — No. 5 — and Cincinnati’s selection, No. 10.
A 2019 first-round pick (17th overall) out of Clemson, Lawrence has recorded 341 tackles, 30.5 sacks and 103 quarterback hits in 109 games (102 starts) over seven seasons in New York.
Lawrence was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022 through 2024, but not last season when he started 17 games and had 31 tackles, 0.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and one interception.
Cincinnati already added to its defensive line with offseason signings of former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract and former Minnesota Vikings tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million deal.
“The opportunity to add a player of Dexter’s ability was too good to pass up,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said. “… Dexter fits the vision we have on our defense and will also elevate others around him. We are confident in Dexter and can’t wait to see the positive effects he and the other players we have acquired this offseason have on our football team. We are excited to turn to the draft and our remaining picks to further enhance our team.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
St. Bonaventure sees influx of transfers added to basketball roster
Feb 28, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Mason Blackwood (1) drives the ball to the basket during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images Former Penn State forward Mason Blackwood became the latest transfer to commit to St. Bonaventure and to new head coach Mike MacDonald.
ESPN broke that news Sunday morning, and Blackwood’s transfer caps an eventful week for the Bonnies.
Per the 247 transfer portal and multiple reports, St. Bonaventure, located in Olean, N.Y., has added to its roster this week, along with Blackwood:
–Akbar Waheed III, a 6-foot-6 guard who redshirted at Boston College last season.
–Zach Philipkoski, a 6-4 guard, and 6-10 center Benjamin Bill, both of whom played for MacDonald at Division II Daemen.
–Taj Au-Duke, a 6-3 point guard who started his college career at Pepperdine but transferred to Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, where he became a first-team JUCO All-American.
–Ryan Kalambay, a 6-9 forward from Detroit Mercy.
Returning to the Bonnies from the 2005-06 roster are Ilia Ermakov, a 6-6 guard from Russia; John Ikpotokin, a 6-7 center from Ireland; Jack DeRose, a 6-foot guard and local product from Olean High School; Achille Lonati, a 6-5 Italian guard; and Joe Grahovac, a 6-10 forward from Santa Ana, Calif.
With Kalambay and Au-Duke from Canada, the Bonnies will have an international flair.
The Bonnies are losing four seniors and seven players to the transfer portal. According to 247Sports’ portal tracker, none of them have selected a new school.
Adding two players with experience in a power-conference program is a boost for St. Bonaventure.
Blackwood, from nearby Rochester, N.Y., appeared in 26 games as a freshman (one start) and averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds over 12.2 minutes. The 6-7 forward is expected to be a building block for the revamped Bonnies.
Waheed didn’t appear in any games at Boston College as a freshman. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.
St. Bonaventure finished 17-17 in the 2025-26 season and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 play.
MacDonald was hired as head coach on March 31 to replace Mark Schmidt, who retired after 19 seasons on the job. A 1988 St. Bonaventure alum, he led Daemen to a 265-86 record over 12 seasons. He led the Wildcats to NCAA Division II East Regional championships in 2026 and 2021.
He is the only coach to win 100 games with programs at the Division I (Canisius), II (Daemen) and III (Medaille) levels.
–Field Level Media
Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
New Bengals DT Dexter Lawrence signs 1-year, $28M extension
