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NBA Star Jalen Williams Says He Retired His Parents, Opens Up on $287 Million Extension
Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams discussed his rapid rise from an unknown college player to one of the NBA's top young talents within just three years during an interview with TMZ Sports at LAX. Williams, the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft, highlighted his successful 2025 season, which included All-Star and All-Defensive team selections, winning an NBA championship, and securing a massive five-year, $287 million contract extension. Williams described his journey as "surreal," emphasizing how quickly his life changed. He expressed particular pride in being able to retire his parents, Ronald and Nicole Williams, as a result of his success. Both parents served in the Air Force; Ronald worked as a jet engine mechanic and logistics specialist for 24 years, while Nicole worked in the medical field. Despite his achievements and new contract, Williams admitted he hasn't fully processed everything, including his significant payday, noting that the money hasn't hit his bank account yet. He also mentioned his focus on supporting his brother Cody Williams' professional career with the Utah Jazz, stating he plans to eventually step back and "soak it all in." On the court, Williams played a crucial role in the Thunder's NBA Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers during the 2024-25 season, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
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OFC Professional League will revolutionlise football in the Pacific - Karembeu
Former FIFA World Cup winner Christian Karembeu believes the new Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Professional League is the critical next step to close the gap between Pacific football and the rest of the world. Karembeu stated that witnessing Auckland City's performance against Boca Juniors reinforced his view that introducing professional football across Oceania will be revolutionary for the region. Karembeu highlighted the Pacific's abundance of natural athletic talent and argued that the new Pro League, with its professional coaches and managers, can rapidly develop amateur players into world-class competitors. He cited the success of the All Blacks rugby team in developing talent from Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji as a model, showing how raw talent can be transformed into superstars within a professional environment. Pointing to his own career, Tim Cahill's, and Marko Stamenic's as examples of players with Pacific heritage excelling at the highest level, Karembeu stated that Pacific players have always possessed talent but lacked the necessary professional guidance. He emphasized that the new league will educate players on essential professional aspects: how to train, recover, eat, understand intensity and quality, and maintain discipline regarding routines and lifestyle choices. Karembeu stressed that the new league requires quality managers, coaches, and experts across all areas of a professional sports organization (HR, accommodation, transport). He explained the fundamental shift from amateurism, where players "can do whatever they want," to professionalism, which demands specific behaviours and sacrifices; those unwilling to make these sacrifices "do not belong." He concluded by noting that the respectful and humble nature of Pacific players will aid their transition into professional football. Additionally, he asserted they "will also not be intimidated, because in the islands we are all warriors."
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NBA Summer League: Standout players from Day 10
NBA 2K26 Summer League action continued on Tuesday, featuring standout performances. Terrence Shannon Jr. maintained his scoring consistency for the Minnesota Timberwolves, posting 24 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in their win over Detroit. Despite seven turnovers, his scoring and defensive potential are viewed positively as he looks to fill a role vacated by Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The New York Knicks secured a 97-93 victory over the Brooklyn Nets thanks to a complementary effort from MarJon Beauchamp and Tyler Kolek. Kolek carried the offense in the first half with 23 points while Beauchamp struggled. Beauchamp then rebounded in the second half, scoring 20 of his total 25 points. Kolek also finished with 25 points, along with five 3-pointers, four assists, and four steals. The Knicks held off a late Nets rally led by Drew Timme (24 points, 10 rebounds). Ajay Mitchell and Branden Carlson led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a win over the Orlando Magic with a strong combined performance. Ja'Kobe Walter delivered a standout game for the Toronto Raptors, scoring 27 points despite their loss to the Houston Rockets.
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Puka Nacua Opens Up on Relationship With New Rams Teammate Davante Adams
The Los Angeles Rams made significant changes to their receiving corps this offseason, releasing veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp and acquiring three-time All-Pro Davante Adams. Third-year Rams receiver Puka Nacua, who had developed a strong bond and benefited from Kupp's mentorship over the past two seasons, expressed excitement about now getting the chance to learn from Adams. Nacua described Adams as "fantastic" since arriving at the facility and feels incredibly fortunate to learn from another "all-time great," comparing the experience to being "a kid in the candy store." He highlighted the exceptional quarterbacks and coaches he's worked with, stating, "My life is pretty good, I can't complain too much." Specifically, Nacua emphasized learning intricate route-running details from Adams, widely regarded as a top route-runner. He praised Adams' "ability to change pace while he's moving on the football field," his skill at "win[ning] against negative leverage," and his "suddenness at the line of scrimmage." Nacua stated that lining up next to Adams motivates him to perform at his best ("have all the gas turned on"). Nacua enters the season after two strong years to start his career, while Adams joins the Rams following five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. With Matthew Stafford at quarterback, the pairing of Nacua and Adams is anticipated to form one of the league's best receiving tandems, bolstering the Rams' pursuit of another Super Bowl championship.
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Seattle Storm vs. Golden State Valkyries: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch
The Seattle Storm (13-9) will play against the Golden State Valkyries (10-11) on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast locally on CW Seattle, KPIX+, and KMAX 31. Viewers can watch the WNBA season through Fubo, with select games also available on Prime Video. Officially licensed team merchandise is offered by Fanatics for fans. Injury updates include Katie Lou Samuelson of the Storm being out for the season due to a knee injury, while the Valkyries report no injuries. Tickets for WNBA games are available for purchase on Vivid Seats.
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Trevor Lawrence Reflects on Clemson's Dabo Swinney
Dabo Swinney recruited Trevor Lawrence after Clemson's 2017 national championship victory over Alabama, leading to another championship win against Alabama under Lawrence's quarterback leadership. Lawrence emphasized Swinney's authenticity, noting Swinney remains unfazed by media criticism and doesn't adopt a false persona. Lawrence credited Swinney with teaching him to ignore external noise, a crucial skill as he faces early NFL criticism. He silenced doubters in 2018 by becoming one of only two true freshmen ever to win a national championship, leading the nation with 30 touchdown passes and topping passer ratings as a freshman and sophomore under Swinney's guidance. According to Lawrence, Swinney excels as a motivator rather than a tactical coach, instilling unwavering confidence in players. Lawrence recalled Swinney's ability to make the team believe they could defeat any opponent, regardless of perceived superiority, through lengthy but captivating team meetings. This confidence-building is vital for Lawrence, who entered the NFL with limited experience under center or using cadences. His current collaboration with Jaguars offensive coordinator Liam Coen aims to replicate Clemson's underdog success against top teams like Kansas City, Buffalo, and Baltimore. Lawrence highlighted Swinney's role in elevating Clemson beyond its "Clemsoning" reputation—historically good but not elite—and breaking Nick Saban's college football dominance. He described Swinney as balancing motivation with leadership, contrasting cerebral coaches who overlook that aspect. The Jaguars are not seeking a new starting quarterback despite criticism. Meanwhile, Swinney is developing his next first-round prospect, Cade Klubnik—viewed as a top 2026 draft candidate—with Clemson opening its season against LSU on August 30.
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Barnwell: Seattle Seahawks playmakers have upside, questions
ESPN writer Bill Barnwell ranked the Seattle Seahawks' collective group of offensive playmakers (wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends) at No. 19 out of 32 NFL teams in his annual rankings. This placement reflects significant uncertainty surrounding the Seahawks' overhauled offense. During an appearance on Seattle Sports, Barnwell explained that the middle-of-the-pack ranking signifies a skill-position group featuring both upside and question marks. He characterized his view as "hopeful, but also skeptical," which aligns with the 19th-place finish. A major source of the hope and skepticism is wide receiver Cooper Kupp, signed by Seattle after they traded DK Metcalf. While Kupp had an elite career with the Rams, including a historic 1,947-yard season in 2021 (second-most in NFL history), injuries have limited him to only 33 games over the past three seasons. His per-game receiving average has also dropped significantly, from 90.2 yards in 2022 to 61.4 in 2023 and 59.2 in 2024, among the lowest of his career. Barnwell noted Kupp was elite very recently but finds it hard to gauge his current level due to persistent injuries.
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Golden State Valkyries: Takeaways from loss to Seattle Storm
The Golden State Valkyries entered the All-Star break on a losing streak, dropping their third consecutive game and fifth in their last six with a 67-58 loss to the Seattle Storm. This loss lowered their season record to 10-12. While they hold a winning 7-4 record at home, their road performance is poor at 3-8. Despite having all 11 available players score in Wednesday's game, the Valkyries were held to a season-low 58 points. Cecilia Zandalasini led Golden State with 12 points, followed by rookie Janelle Salaün with 10 points. Seattle secured the win behind a strong performance from Nneka Ogwumike, who scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Erica Wheeler contributed 15 points and Skylar Diggins added 10 points and six assists. The Valkyries struggled to contain Ogwumike, who scored 11 points and secured six rebounds in the first half, even though they held the Storm to 34.2% shooting overall. This game contrasted sharply with their previous two matchups in San Francisco, where the Valkyries had built significant halftime leads. That pattern did not repeat in Seattle.
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Where Does Jaguars' Offensive Trio Rank?
The Jacksonville Jaguars' offense struggled significantly last season, with most players regressing except for rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. New head coach Liam Coen, coming from a successful stint as the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, is expected to elevate the unit in 2025. CBS Sports ranked the Jaguars' offensive trio of Brian Thomas Jr., running back Travis Etienne, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the 19th best in the NFL, a drop from 16th the previous year. Despite Thomas Jr.'s historically great rookie season, the ranking fell due to concerns about Lawrence and Etienne. Lawrence played only 10 games and performed poorly, raising doubts about him meeting his initial high expectations. Etienne faces potential reduction in his role after the team added other running backs. Within the AFC South, the Houston Texans' trio ranked highest at 11th, followed by the Jaguars at 19th. The Tennessee Titans ranked 28th, and the Indianapolis Colts ranked 30th. CBS Sports attributed the Colts' low ranking to uncertainty at quarterback, where veteran Gardner Minshew is likely to start due to Anthony Richardson's injuries. Minshew's limitations mean running back Jonathan Taylor (still not back to his 2021 peak) and receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (possibly challenged by Josh Downs) carry a heavy burden, leading to voter skepticism.
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Scrapping rebounds from penalties being considered
Football lawmakers are considering radical proposals to eliminate penalty kick rebounds and expand VAR usage to cover corner decisions and second yellow cards. These ideas will be discussed at the next International Football Association Board (Ifab) meeting in March. The most significant proposal would prevent penalty-takers and teammates from scoring on rebounds after goalkeeper saves. This change would have nullified goals like Harry Kane's rebound goal against Denmark in Euro 2020. Proponents argue teams already have sufficient advantage with penalties, and this would eliminate encroachment issues. Ifab recently updated penalty rules following controversy during a Champions League match, clarifying that accidental double touches now result in retakes rather than disallowed goals. While support for further changes remains uncertain, any approved proposals could take effect by next summer's World Cup. VAR expansion would allow overturning incorrectly awarded corners when the ball touches an attacking player last. Second yellow card interventions are considered more contentious due to their subjective nature, though Ifab generally favors VAR for clear objective situations. Rule changes require approval from six of Ifab's eight voting members: FIFA holds four votes while the four British football associations each hold one vote.
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