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LSU agrees to extension with Kim Mulkey
LSU and their women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey agreed to terms on a 10-year, $32 million contract, according to a Thursday article from ESPN women’s college and pro basketball writer M.A. Voepel.
The deal is pending final approval from LSU's Board of Supervisors.
LSU hired Mulkey in 2021 after she spent 21 seasons with the Baylor Bears. She won three national championships with Baylor. She was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
"Kim Mulkey is a champion and a Hall of Famer, and we are thrilled to welcome her home," LSU Director of Athletics Scott Woodward said in a 2021 release. "Her accomplishments are unprecedented, her passion is unrivaled, and her commitment to winning in all aspects of life – in the classroom, on the court, and in the community – is unparalleled.
"We look forward to working with her as she instills that championship culture at LSU."
LSU's success over the past two seasons has more than earned Mulkey her massive extension.
The Tigers have earned a 60-8 record in Mulkey's two years with the program, according to Yahoo! Sports Staff Writer Jack Baer. They won the National Championship during her second season. LSU scored the most points in a title game during its 102-85 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the National Championship.
Even though a pair of key LSU players were selected in the second round of the 2023 WNBA Draft, LSU is still in a great position to compete.
Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith transferred to LSU in April. She would be joined by DePaul forward Aneesah Morrow in May. Morrow averaged 25.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in her second season with the Blue Demons. Forward Angel Reese, a former Maryland transfer and the Women's Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 2023, will return to the roster for the 2023-24 season.
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Packers' concerning Tucker Kraft news comes at worst time possible
Ahead of an away Week 3 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, the Green Bay Packers were dealt a demoralizing blow in Thursday’s practice. Per ESPN’s Robert Demovsky, tight end Tucker Kraft has suffered a knee injury of unknown severity. It doesn’t sound great. The mere mention of “season-ending,” even preceded by “not,” is enough to send chills down the spines of Packers fans. Labeled a breakout candidate by many, Kraft was coming off a massive game against the Washington Commanders and is an integral part of the offense. Moreover, after losing Jayden Reed last week, Green Bay would benefit from having its more experienced targets available. Rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams are still finding their roles. Hopefully for Kraft and the Packers, he hasn’t suffered anything serious, but his status for Sunday is certainly up in the air. No Reed, possibly no Kraft. Still no Christian Watson. That's concerning for the Packers. Tucker Kraft going down now is an emotional blow more than anything On the bright side, the Packers might not need as much offensive firepower to hold off the Browns this Sunday. The Cleveland defense is strong, but so is Green Bay’s. Keeping the Browns’ Joe Flacco-led offense in check should not be the most formidable task in the world. If Micah Parsons — who has been unbelievably impressive thus far in Green Bay — and the defense can make Flacco uncomfortable and stymie opposing drives, the Packers offense won’t have to do as much. As of Thursday afternoon, Green Bay remains around a 7.5-point road favorite. The total is set at 41.5 across the board. Thus, a potential Kraft absence might not hit so hard this week. It’s more about what those tests indicate about his status moving forward. The possibility of losing Kraft for any extended period is an emotional crusher. Days after Reed had two surgeries is not the time to lose another key target. In Golden and Williams, plus Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs as resident “veterans,” the Packers' receiver room still has weapons, but its depth is being tested early.
Trevon Diggs injury update: Cowboys CB’s status revealed on Thursday practice report
The Dallas Cowboys released their practice report for Thursday, and Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs returned to the field. Diggs (illness), offensive lineman Tyler Guyton (shoulder, and wide receiver/return specialist KaVontae Turpin (neck) were listed as full participants in practice on Thursday. Cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) did not practice for the second consecutive day and is not expected to play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Trevon Diggs did not practice on Wednesday, but the illness was likely nothing serious since he was a full participant on Thursday. The Cowboys will need Diggs in the secondary since Bland is still out with an injured foot. In 2023, Diggs played in just 11 of the Cowboys’ 17 regular season games because he dealt with multiple injuries, including an injured left knee, which he had surgery on during the offseason. The former Alabama star returned to action in the Cowboys’ season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and played in 26 snaps. “It felt good,” Diggs said of his return, per Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. “Thankful, blessed to just go out there and be with my teammates competing. I missed it a lot being out all the time I was, so it was a blessing just to be out there.” Trevon Diggs enjoys playing in new Cowboys’ defense Diggs also reacted to the new defense led by defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. “This defense has been really cool to be a part of,” Diggs said. “Just the different coverages that we have, a lot of zone, a lot of man, corner blitzes, we’ve just got many coverages mixing it up and keeping an offense on their toes… I like it a lot, just being able to do the different things.” Speaking of Eberflus, Sunday’s matchup will be a homecoming for him since he was the Bears’ head coach from 2022 to last season. This week, Eberflus spoke to reporters about his time in Chicago. “There’s always hard moments in coaching,” Eberflus said. “You always are disappointed when you lose because you put so much into it, the players put so much into it, and you’re most disappointed for the players. Then once that settles in and you work towards the next day, the sun comes up and you move forward.”
Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless
Scout identifies key issue behind Arch Manning's underwhelming start
To overcome his early struggles, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning should follow a classic bit of advice from former UCLA Bruins men's basketball head coach John Wooden. Wooden once said, "Be quick, but don't hurry." The tip could make a massive difference for Manning, who has completed a below-average 55.3 percent of his passes through three starts. Longtime scout Todd McShay explains how Arch Manning is rushing while reading defenses In a story published Thursday, McShay explained the QB is trying to read defenses too quickly. Rushing this process is affecting his throwing mechanics, which have been scrutinized throughout the season. "When a quarterback is pressing, the game is moving faster in his mind, which can cause rushed mechanics and inaccurate passes," McShay wrote. "There's no rhythm — it's like watching a frustrated golfer swing or tracking the beats of a broken metronome." Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, a former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, shared a similar assessment of Manning. On a Wednesday episode of his podcast, Klatt further explained how this can impact his accuracy. "He's going from one to two before the picture ever materializes. He's ahead of the timing of the offense," Klatt said. "When that happens, you typically lose balance, you lose your pocket presence, your eyes go down because you're anticipating; the clock is moving too fast." Now, this issue seems fixable. It's just a matter of Manning taking a deep breath and assessing what the defense is giving him. When he does that, the results have looked good. He did so when he threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Parker Livingstone in a Week 2 win over San Jose State. In his Monday news conference, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said these "rhythm throws" are when Manning is at his best. It's incumbent upon him and his staff to create those opportunities for the 21-year-old QB. Hitting on more of those groove throws will be critical for Manning in Saturday's home game against Sam Houston State at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+, SEC Network+). It will help him build his confidence and slow down. When that happens, the game should start coming more easily to him and the rest of Texas' 88th-ranked passing offense (200.3).
6 extended takeaways from Day 1 of Maple Leafs training camp
TORONTO — The on-ice component of training camp is underway as the Toronto Maple Leafs took the ice at the Ford Performance Centre on Thursday, with new line combinations taking shape. Matias Maccelli received the first look with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies during the Group 1 session, and he may be the favourite to start the year on this line. William Nylander and John Tavares were paired together in Group 2 alongside Bobby McMann, and it’s clear that Craig Berube will be experimenting throughout training camp, in a search for his optimal combinations. “I think more than anything, we want to have a good first day. It’s a tough day,” Berube said. “It’s a lot of battling. It’s intense. Players, they could go and make it as intense as they want, but I thought it was really intense, which is what we want.” Here’s what you need to know from the first day of Maple Leafs’ training camp: It’s too early to be worried about Auston Matthews Auston Matthews said he’s fully confident about his health during Wednesday’s media availability, and Thursday provided a first opportunity to get a look at how the Maple Leafs’ captain is feeling. Matthews submitted a mixed performance during Thursday’s practice, with the extremely obvious caveat that it’s the first day of practice, and it’s too early to be genuinely concerned. Matthews’ puck skills remain otherworldly and during a sequence early in practice, he dangled Noah Chadwick rather easily to get to the net. In another sequence, Matthews beat Philippe Myers to the puck in the corner and fished it out for Matthew Knies in front of the net. He used his frame throughout the session to shield off defenders, win back pucks and instruct his teammates on where he wanted them to go in the offensive zone. And again, with the caveat that it’s way too early to be concerned: Matthews didn’t have the usual velocity on his shot throughout the majority of the session and Morgan Rielly won the majority of 1-on-1 battles against him. Matthews skates and fought through contact with his usual force, but we’ll be keeping our eyes and ears out to see if he gains the same velocity he had during his 69-goal campaign in 2023-24. There’s also a clear example of Matthews ripping the puck with his usual force early in the session, so it may just be a matter of Toronto’s captain rounding into form during the preseason. Berube didn’t seem remotely concerned and raved about Matthews’ leadership after Group 1 finished their session. “I thought he grew quickly as a leader. You guys don’t see it, the in-game things, in the room where he’s commanding,” Berube said of Matthews. “He’s not the only guy. We have a lot of strong leaders who don’t have to wear an A or a C.” Matias Maccelli gets first look on Toronto’s first line, but this could change when Max Domi returns Matias Maccelli was eager to prove himself on Toronto’s first line throughout practice and for now he’s getting the first look, although this could change when Max Domi returns from a lower-body injury. “ Just doing my best with the puck, without the puck, working hard,” Maccelli said, about what he’s focusing on when playing with Knies and Matthews. “ With the puck, trying to make plays, trying to play the same way they do. As we get going with the games, they’ll tell me what they expect and what they want, and then I’ll do the same thing.” Berube addressed reporters and he admitted that he initially planned to place Domi on the first line with Knies and Matthews. “Max went down. He was obviously a guy that I was going to put there. But Max should be back pretty quick, and then we’ll go from there,” Berube said. “I mean, it’s one day. (Maccelli is) in the process of just kind of feeling things out. And you get thrown on the line with Matthews and Knies, I mean, it’s a big step. He’s a guy that can make plays, we know that. “So that’s going to be a big part of it all if he’s making the right plays and the right decisions with the puck. Is he getting Matthews the puck enough for some opportunities and things like that? And then it’s just about him playing 200 feet, too. That line’s going to play against good lines, so he needs to be solid defensively, too.” Maccelli said he’s equally comfortable playing on either wing, but it may be a work in progress. He seemed to be a half-step behind Knies and Matthews in rushes, and when Domi is healthy again, it appears that Berube wants to try this combination out for opening night against the Montreal Canadiens. During camp, Maccelli will get a first look with Matthews and Knies, and it will be a combination that Berube will surely test out throughout camp, but the 24-year-old winger will need to earn his head coach’s trust before he’s affixed to Toronto’s top line. “It’s always weird to come to a new team when you don’t know anyone,” Maccelli said. “ I’ve only been in one spot and knew all the people there, so it’s different. But everybody’s been super welcoming and nice. So it’s been an easy adjustment.” Calle Jarnkrok stood out during Group 1 practice session, may be back to 2023-24 form Calle Jarnkrok was in excellent form during the first practice session and while we’re not pencilling him into the opening night lineup just yet, it’s an encouraging sign from the 34-year-old. Jarnkrok was paired alongside David Kampf and Michael Pezzetta and was the clear standout on the line, ripping his slot with the velocity we’re used to seeing. He roofed the puck past Dennis Hildeby twice off rush drills and wasn’t hesitant to win back pucks in battle drills. The veteran forward underwent groin and sports hernia surgery after suffering an injury during last year’s training camp and only returned to the lineup in March, where he registered a goal and seven points in 19 games, before adding one assist in 12 playoff games, primarily operating in a fourth-line role. Jarnkrok could very well be watching from the press box on opening night, but Thursday was a great start towards cementing his spot to begin the year. Anthony Stolarz wants to get deal done before the season Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz wants to be with the team for the foreseeable future and there’s a sense of urgency regarding his next contract. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving hinted Wednesday that a new extension could be imminent, and Stolarz wants to get the deal done before the year begins. “Our ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, so once the season starts, that’s all I want to focus on,” Stolarz said. “I’ll let my agent and Treliving talk that out and hopefully we can get something done here soon.” Stolarz recently appeared on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill, where he outlined what he wants from his next contact, and how he’s fully recovered from a season-ending concussion. Easton Cowan improves throughout practice, builds partnership with Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy Easton Cowan will be afforded every chance to make the roster and he improved as Thursday’s afternoon practice session went on. Cowan was paired with Dakota Joshua in 2-on-2 drills, where Joshua emerged as one of the best players overall through both practices. During controlled 3-on-2 rushes, Cowan was on the right wing, Joshua was on the left wing, with Nicolas Roy playing through centre, and it was a compelling trio that won puck battles and communicated well. It’s the first day of camp and nothing is finalized, but Cowan could find himself with a real chance of unseating the incumbents with a stellar camp. During battle drills, Cowan worked relentlessly, especially during a session against former London Knights teammate Landon Sim. It will be curious to see where Cowan slots into the lineup, when Max Domi returns to the lineup, but he’s firmly in the mix for a top-nine role and like Joshua, was among the best players from the opening day of camp. This line may get some extended looks together during Sunday’s preseason opener against the Ottawa Senators, and all three players are eager to make a strong first impression. Chris Tanev was among the several Leafs who complimented Roy’s ‘extremely underrated’ game, as he moves very well for a player his size, getting to the high-danger areas with relative ease. Joshua was dominant against several younger camp invitees, using his speed, size and hockey intelligence to great effect throughout the day. We can’t wait to see this line in action. John Tavares and William Nylander were the best players Thursday, Bobby McMann joins the line John Tavares and William Nylander were the best overall players from Thursday’s practice sessions, with Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly earning honourable mentions. These designations are built from what we observed in controlled drills, so it’s worth putting into perspective, but Tavares and Nylander were making high-end plays with ease, and Bobby McMann joined the group, with Berube watching closely. “I think Bobby can take another step in his game,” Berube said. “You know, doing some things a little bit differently. Especially playing with those two guys [Tavares and Nylander], getting those guys the puck more, getting to the net more. I like a big guy with those two guys, to forecheck, get in there and create loose pucks, help out JT in those situations. Willy’s gonna do his thing, we all know that. But Bobby, I feel, can take another step in his game.” McMann-Tavares-Nylander played 158:09 at 5-on-5 with a plus-six goal differential and a 60.4 percent share of the expected goals last season via Natural Stat Trick. There is some proof of concept that this line could work, but McMann simply cannot go 24 games without a goal like he did to conclude the 2024-25 season. “He was basically just saying we want a certain identity. We want to play hard. Don’t take any shifts off, don’t take any seconds off, pushing each other all the way through,” McMann said. “It started from the first drill. You’re chasing the guy down all the way through. You’re playing one-on-ones, two-on-twos. It’s just not giving up an inch.” McMann’s elite straight-line speed and ability to get to the high-danger areas certainly compliment Tavares and Nylander’s skill sets, but there will be some experimentation on the top line, and the challenge has been set for the 28-year-old with several players vying for a chance in the Maple Leafs’ reshuffled top-six.
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