This yr, we saw women’s college basketball enter territory that forced sports fans to acknowledge its presence. From skyrocketing viewership throughout the season, with the NCAA Championship Game peaking at 24.1 million viewers in last quarter-hour of the matchwomen’s basketball has develop into a moment.

The numbers don’t lie, and the current buzz surrounding women’s basketball is the work of pioneering players who’ve been underrated since the WNBA’s inception in 1996. Stars like Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink and Caitlin Clark are amongst the all-star forged which might be at the forefront of the current movement powering the sport. With their on-court skills and popularity, this game-changing class of rookies hopes to keep up the momentum and buzz around women’s basketball because it moves into the league.

“Being a part of this draft class means everything to me, like I said, on and off the court,” Reese said after being chosen seventh overall in the first round of the WNBA draft to the Chicago Sky. “We are amazing, we should not just basketball players, we’ve a big impact on the community, the people around us and the little kids who look as much as us. Because we will operate across the country, everyone knows us wherever we go, our lives should not normal and possibly we will now experience a little bit of normality before the league. I’m just excited to be a pioneer, I’m excited to be a component of history and I just keep trying to the future, I realize it’s brilliant.

What’s unique about this yr’s draft class is that they’ll bring not only their talents to the league, but additionally their loyal fans and supporters. Because social media and NIL opportunities are an enormous a part of the collegiate experience of this draft class, the women attracted fans who weren’t necessarily there to play basketball. Twenty-year-olds heading to the league seamlessly mix the fashion, beauty and culture they know and love.

These athletes’ ability to perform at the highest level in basketball, fashion and beauty was evident throughout their careers and was showcased on the most vital night of their lives. They showcased their partnerships with designer brands and they even modified their uniforms mid-draft once they felt prefer it.

The popularity of the 2024 rookies was clearly demonstrated when the draft set a record for the most viewership in WNBA history with 2.45 million viewers. As expected, Clark was the No. 1 pick and was chosen by the Indiana Fever. She made a press release on the orange carpet by being the first female athlete or athlete to wear Prada during the draft.

Clark entered the draft after appearing on , where she made fun of host Michael Che for using women’s sports as a punchline.

“It’s really a confluence of a lot of positive things, both on the business side and on the basketball side.” WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert said when asked about the Caitlin Clark effect. “It’s the development of women’s sport. It’s Caitlin and the others, Angel Reese, that big rivalry ending last year’s national championship. So we have generational talent. They have a lot of fans on social media.”

Reese, nicknamed “Bayou Barbie,” arrived in a striking Bronx and Banco dress with a bedazzled hood and custom white and gold diamond plaid. This look comes just a couple of weeks after she became the first player to announce her plans to enter the draft via .

Reese hasn’t apologized since entering into the highlight, and draft night was no exception. The desire to boldly use beauty and fashion reaches a wider audience.

Former Tennessee forward Jackson, who was chosen fourth overall in the draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, wore two jumpsuits, one in red and the other in shiny silver.

“I just desired to create something edgy, cute, but with a bit statement. I even have my buffs (sunglasses). You know I’m from Detroit,” Jackson said on the orange carpet.

Whether it’s on the court or online, the impact of this yr’s draft is undeniable. Star power combined with basketball talent continues to extend the visibility of girls in sports and drive interest in the WNBA.

“So many people contact me from so many different places; Understanding our impact is not just at our school in the U.S., but its impact across the world is incredible,” Reese said. “Going abroad – when we go abroad with my team, with LSU – was a lot of fun because everyone recognized us, knew us and made us feel at home.”

“Women don’t usually get as much recognition around the world as we do, and it’s not even about basketball, it’s about the impact we’ve had on people’s lives.”

As these stars move into the league, they convey with them a newfound attraction. Many of those athletes will proceed their love of beauty and fashion of their latest cities, offering unique opportunities to cosmetologists and cosmetics suppliers across the country. These ladies take “look good, have fun” to a complete latest level and they’re just getting began.

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers fired coach Darvin Ham on Friday after just two seasons as coach.

The Lakers announced on social media that they were firing Ham 4 days after the season ended a first-round playoff loss to Denver in five matches.

Ham led Los Angeles to the Western Conference Finals lower than a yr ago in his first season as an NBA head coach. He replaced Frank Vogel, who was fired by the Lakers exactly 18 months after winning the franchise’s seventeenth championship in 2020.

Ham had two winning seasons and two playoff appearances, but that wasn’t enough for the championship-minded Lakers. With little time to capitalize on the simultaneous presence of Anthony Davis and 39-year-old LeBron James – who has not decided whether to return for his twenty second NBA season – the Lakers are once more resetting their coaching staff somewhat than placing the blame on general manager Rob Pelinka for the structure of the warehouse.

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“We greatly appreciate Darvin’s efforts on behalf of the Lakers and recognize the many accomplishments he has achieved over the past two seasons, including last year’s remarkable run to the Western Conference Finals,” Pelinka said in a press release. “We all want to thank Darvin for his dedication and positive attitude. While this was a difficult decision, it is the best course of action after a full season review. This organization will remain steadfast in its commitment to delivering championship-level basketball to Lakers fans around the world.”

Ham hosted a disappointing yr for the Lakers, who went 47-35 in the regular season and won the inaugural NBA midseason tournament. Then the Lakers they defeated New Orleans in the play-in game move as much as seventh in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, but that meant that they had to face Denver, which eliminated them from the playoffs last season.

Los Angeles led the defending champion Nuggets for long stretches of the first round, but Nikola Jokic and his teammates ultimately advanced to the second round series of comeback victories.

“It was a hell of two years to be sitting in that seat,” Ham said after the game. “A lot of good things have been done, but ultimately you want to win that top prize.”

The Lakers’ loss stung because James and Davis had been largely healthy all yr, and each superstars had played in more games than that they had played in an NBA season since 2017-18 – 76 for Davis and 71 for James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. D’Angelo Russell also had a powerful regular season, setting a franchise record for three-pointers made.

This health and success has only translated right into a four-win improvement in the rankings in comparison with last season, with Ham receiving much of the blame from fans and observers for his game management, slow tactical adjustments and reluctance to vary his player rotation and starting lineups. even when something didn’t work.

The Lakers fell right into a hole they couldn’t escape from it went 3-10 during the holiday season right after the Mid-Season Tournament final. Ham was widely criticized for his lineups and rotations during this poor stretch — including curiously benching Russell and Austin Reaves while allowing plenty of playing time for Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish.

This slump ultimately prevented the Lakers from ending in the top six in the West, despite the fact that they finished the regular season with a formidable 28-14 run.

Players publicly supported Ham, but the signs of frustration were clear. After the Lakers blew a 20-point lead and lost to Denver in the second game last month, Davis said the Lakers “have periods where we don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor,” which is widely interpreted as a glimpse into Ham’s coaching competence.

The Lakers achieved only a 43-39 result in their first season under Ham in 2022-2023, but took advantage of more favorable playoff matchups. After defeating Minnesota in the play-in game, they won a playoff series against Memphis and Golden State and reached the conference finals, where they were swept by Denver.

James, Davis and the Lakers haven’t won a playoff round in three of the 4 seasons since winning the 2020 championship in the Florida bubble.

Ham has two years left on his contract with the Lakers, who might be hiring their fourth head coach since James arrived in 2018. The latest coach might be the Lakers’ eighth coach in 14 seasons since the departure of Hall of Famer Phil Jackson in 2011.

Ham had an eight-year NBA profession as an athletic forward, winning a championship with Detroit in 2004. His first NBA assistant coaching job was with the Lakers in 2011, and he spent nine years as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta and Milwaukee. seasons – earning his second championship ring with the Bucks in 2021 – before returning to the Lakers as head coach.

James has a $51.4 million player option for next season, and his decision hangs over every offseason signing for the Lakers, who internally expect his return.

Pelinka must then determine whether he could make his long-awaited move for a 3rd superstar via trade or consider the assurances of Rui Hachimura and other players that the Lakers can turn out to be a contender with more continuity.

Russell has an $18.7 million player option after the sharpshooter excelled in the regular season and failed in the playoffs, notoriously going scoreless in the Lakers’ Game 3 against Denver. After Los Angeles was eliminated from the playoffs on Monday, the point guard said he had a “slight advantage.” I’ll try to make use of it.”

New York native and former NBA player Kenny “The Jet” Smith is currently the host of TNT and shares the duties with fellow former NBA players Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. One sec Shaq ($292,198,327) I Barkley ($37,505,000) made large sums of money during their playing days, Blacksmith just done $11,972,100 while playing in the NBA. Now, as an analyst, Smith earns more in one year than he did in his entire playing career.

Currently “The Jet” based on Essentially Sports. lasts make $16 million a year as a broadcaster on . The former Houston Rockets star played 10 seasons in the NBA from 1987 to 1997, winning two championships with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. After being drafted and playing for the Sacramento Kings for 3 years before joining the Atlanta Hawks Rockets. After playing in Houston, he played for 3 more teams: Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets, where he ended his career.

In an interview with Smith magazine explained how his path led him to TNT after leaving the game.

“Retirement (happened) when I started getting a lot of one-year situations. As we uproot our family every year, moving to another place became a bit of a hassle. TNT attracted players every year. After one segment, one of the producers said, “Hey, if you really want to do this, I think you’re good at it.” I thought it was just a parting gift, like everyone said. Towards the end of my career, one of the producers called me and said, “I have a chance for you.” At that point I made a career decision and here I am 20-some years later.”

Smith was the primary current and former NBA player to hitch the TNT staff when he teamed up with Ernie Johnson Jr. in 1998. Barkley joined the band in 2000, and Shaq accomplished the quartet in 2011.

Two years ago, the network signed all 4 men to long-term contracts that will keep the team together for several more years.

FELLAS IS BACK!

The #InsideNBA the crew will remain together for a few years after signing a long-term contract extension with WBD Sports. pic.twitter.com/X3l5oBuitc

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 17, 2022