Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson has stepped down as CEO of that club and of the MLS’ Timbers, he announced Tuesday.

Paulson already had removed himself from Thorns-related decisions as a result of U.S. Soccer’s blockbuster investigation into abuse in the NWSL. President of business operations Mike Golub and former general manager Gavin Wilkinson, who had remained part of the parent club PTFC, were fired last week.

Thorns general counsel Heather Davis took on the decision-making roles for the Thorns. She will continue to serve as interim president and CEO after Paulson’s decision to step down, the owner said Tuesday.

When coach Paul Riley was fired by the Thorns in 2015 after sexual harassment and coercion allegations, Paulson kept the reason for his dismissal under wraps publicly, which allowed Riley to continue coaching in the league. Riley’s misconduct, and the Thorns’ role in allowing him to continue coaching, made up a significant part of U.S. Soccer’s findings.

“It is devastating to me that my goal of creating the shining example of what a women’s sports team could be, has now become synonymous with abhorrent and predatory behavior,” Paulson said in a statement Tuesday.

In his statement, he mentioned by name Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly, who both have accused Riley of sexual misconduct.

“I owe Sinead and Mana, the Thorns players and the NWSL my tireless effort to actively make sure what happened in 2015 never happens again,” he said.

Paulson described the organization as “at a crossroads” and his decision to step down as a measure of “accountability.” Interim chief operating officer Sarah Keane will lead a search for the next CEO.

“I know Heather and Sarah plan on having players meet final candidates so their voices can be heard,” Paulson said. “Through this process, I have committed to them that I will provide the organization with all necessary resources to ensure both clubs are not only a model of player safety, but the standard by which other organizations are measured.”

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark officially turned the NBA down on Wednesday, declining to participate in the 2025 Starry 3-Point Contest at next month's NBA All-Star Weekend. 

"Caitlin will not be at NBA All-Star," Clark's reps at Excel Sports Management told The Athletic. "She wants her first 3-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis this summer."

The men's league tapped the WNBA's reigning Rookie of the Year after last year's three-point contest between Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu and Golden State's Steph Curry proved a success. That WNBA vs. NBA event, in which Curry edged Ionescu 29-26, arguably outshone the NBA's regular three-point competition.

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Though Clark played in her first WNBA All-Star Game last summer, she did not take part in the three-point contest. However, with Indianapolis hosting this year's edition, the sharpshooter seems set on making her three-point debut on the Fever's home court.

Consequently, Ionescu could step in for a surprise rematch in Clark's absence. Though she hasn't confirmed any participation in the NBA's upcoming All-Star festivities in San Francisco, the Unrivaled player did recently mention that she'll miss some of her 3x3 games due to prior obligations — and that she'll be in her Bay Area home for the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend.

Clark to accept Iowa honor

Though Clark passed on the NBA, she will be in attendance at Iowa's home game against No. 4 USC on Sunday, when her alma mater will honor the star by raising her No. 22 jersey into the rafters of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The undisputed greatest player in program history, Clark led Iowa to back-to-back national championship games en route to twice being named the consensus National Player of the Year. Her 3,951 college points make Clark the Division I men’s and women’s all-time leading scorer, and she tops the NCAA women’s career three-point list with 548 shots made beyond the arc. 

Sunday's ceremony will make Clark the third player in program history to see her number retired, joining fellow Iowa standouts Megan Gustafson (10) and Michelle Edwards (30).

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Not to be outdone, Clark's foundation awarded four $22,000 grants to Iowa-based charities on Wednesday, giving back to the community who supported her historic collegiate run prior to Sunday's celebration.

Accordingly, the four organizations Clark chose to receive the grants are the University of Iowa Children's Hospital, the Coralville Community Food Pantry, the Boys and Girls Club of the Corridor, and the Iowa-East Central branch of the Special Olympics.

"I'm forever proud to be a Hawkeye," Clark said in the school’s December announcement. "It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni."

More Clark logo threes coming in May

Proving she can't stay away from campus for long, Clark has already scheduled a return trip — and she's bringing the entire Indiana Fever in tow.

According to a Thursday announcement, the WNBA team will take on the Brazilian national team in a preseason exhibition game under Clark's newly raised jersey on May 4th.

"We couldn’t be more excited to play at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and we know Iowa fans will deliver an unforgettable homecoming for Caitlin," Fever president of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement. "Countless Hawkeye fans have become Fever fans, and we consider them family."

How to watch Caitlin Clark's jersey retirement at No. 4 USC vs. Iowa

Clark's jersey retirement will occur during Sunday's 1:30 PM ET game between No. 4 USC and Iowa. Live coverage will air on Fox.

The NCAA's hottest conference shows no signs of letting up, with the SEC serving college basketball fans two of Thursday's most anticipated top-ranked clashes.

After last week's loss to No. 2 South Carolina and Sunday's low-scoring victory over unranked Texas A&M, No. 7 LSU ready to reclaim their previous firepower by gearing up for an offense-heavy battle with SEC newcomer No. 13 Oklahoma.

The Tigers have only met the Sooners once before, falling in to Oklahoma in a December 2019 matchup. However, head coach Kim Mulkey, who joined LSU in 2021, brings her own experience, tallying a 27-20 record against Oklahoma during her time at Baylor.

Both teams enter Thursday's matchup ranked in the nation's Top 3 for rebounding and Top 6 for scoring, with each having a particular penchant for points in transition.

Between LSU scoring leaders Flau'jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow — the nation's top rebounder who also leads the country with 19 double-doubles on the season — Oklahoma will need to lean on both defense and Sooner center Reagan Beers to tame the Tigers.

Don't sleep on Kentucky

Joining the Wildcats one year after leading Virginia Tech to their first-ever Final Four in 2023, No. 12 Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks has taken the once-struggling team to the upper echelons of the SEC table. The Cats are currently in second place alongside LSU and No. 5 Texas, all trailing defending national champs South Carolina.

Much of Kentucky's success rests on star guard — and Virginia Tech transfer — Georgia Amoore, who leads the Wildcats in points, assists, and steals.

The Australian standout will look to defend the Wildcats' undefeated 2024/25 home record — and clinch the program's 500th win at Historic Memorial Coliseum — when No. 22 Alabama visits on Thursday.

How to watch Thursday's Top 25 SEC basketball games

Both of Thursday's ranked SEC matchups tip off at 7 PM ET, when No. 13 Oklahoma takes on No. 7 LSU on ESPN2 while No. 22 Alabama faces No. 12 Kentucky on SECN.

For as long as WNBA superstar Angel Reese can remember, the McDonald's brand has been synonymous with basketball.

And she's not alone. From TV commercials starring NBA legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James to the brand’s involvement in youth basketball, working with McDonald’s has given a generation of athletes a new Wheaties box moment to strive towards.

"My biggest dream was to always be a McDonald's All-American," Reese told Just Women's Sports last week. And while Reese might have missed out on the All-American game as a high schooler due to pandemic-related shutdowns, her first professional alignment with McDonald's might end up being even more significant.

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Next month, Reese will become the first-ever women's basketball player to lend her name to a signature McDonald's meal deal, the Angel Reese Special. Inspired by "Angel's boldly original style and swag," the combo — a Bold BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese plus fries and a drink — this drive-thrus across the country on February 10th. 

Of course, McDonald's partnerships aren't limited to the world of sports. Musical artists and pop culture moguls like Saweetie, Cardi B, Travis Scott, and more have collaborated with the fast food giant in recent years. So it makes perfect sense that Reese, known for balancing a burgeoning pro career with influential projects off the court, is the first women's basketball player to make the leap.

"Obviously I'm a basketball player, but one day the ball will stop, and I always wanted to be more than that," she said. "That's why I try to tap into other things — my podcast, fashion, and everything else. To know I'm listed with some of the [McDonald's] greats obviously is a great feeling."

"It's amazing," she added. "It's bigger than basketball."

Learning from WNBA legends

"Bigger than basketball" has long been Reese's driving ethos. She takes her image very seriously, aiming to show little girls they too can make strides in the business of basketball. But she also wants global audiences to know that women's basketball has always been cutting edge.

"Lisa Leslie, she's been a face, putting on her gloss and makeup for games," Reese said. "Skylar [Diggins-Smith]'s been into fashion, They were wearing Skylar's jerseys — Drake, Wayne. You've got to realize this has been going on."

Entering her second year in the WNBA, the Chicago Sky rookie cherished the opportunity to personally give her role models their flowers.

"You guys helped me get to this point. You guys walked so I can run," she said, referencing the messages she's been able to give icons like Leslie and Diggins-Smith. "I'm doing these things because you guys did it."

Reese is currently starring for Rose BC, one of the six teams making up Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball's inaugural season. In Miami, she has a front-row seat to how established WNBA stars handle their personal brands, both on and off the court.

"It's like a summer camp — I'm learning everything from the vets," she said. "These are like my big sisters here, and I'm just enjoying everything."

Don't knock the hustle

Reese has been grinding non-stop since her senior year at LSU. Her longest break, she noted, only came after she suffered a season-ending wrist fracture playing for Chicago in early September. But the moment she was cleared to play, she moved to Miami and got to work.

Reflecting on her jam-packed 2024, Reese credits the professionals around her for helping her internalize many of the things rookies have to learn on the fly. These growing pains include reshaping ideas about how to eat, recovery, skill work, and avoiding burnout by taking time for yourself.

"There's no better time than now," she said emphatically. "I'm getting better because I'm around pros literally every single day."

"I think people forget that sometimes, that basketball has gotten me to being this superstar, and that's my main focus," she continues.

The 22-year-old has been in frequent contact with incoming Chicago head coach Tyler Marsh throughout the offseason. She's eager for the Sky to compete in the free agency market, putting together a core that can carry the team for years to come — some of which came early in reports of the signing of veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot.

The ultimate goal is making the 2025 playoffs, before launching a deep postseason run.

McDonald's deal is just the beginning for Reese

Between sponsorship opportunities, Unrivaled, and the WNBA, Reese's life is a juggling act. But she trusts that by continuing to grow on the court, everything else will fall into place. Like her McDonald's deal, she's always thinking about the bigger picture.

"I want somebody to be able to go to McDonald's and get a cup with Angel Reese's face on it. Like, who doesn't want to do that?" she said with a laugh. "Even with some of my other things I have going on — going in the store and getting my cereal box, small things like that — it should always be accessible."

"Women should be accessible," she emphasized. "We should be easy to see. We can turn on TNT every single night here and watch Unrivaled — this is what we deserve."

A legend in the sport of volleyball is stepping down, as longtime Nebraska head coach John Cook announced his retirement on Wednesday.

Joining Nebraska in 2000 after seven years with Wisconsin, Cook's 25 years at the Cornhuskers' helm included 14 conference titles, 12 trips to the NCAA Final Four, and four national championships (2000, 2006, 2015, 2017). Most recently, Cook led the team to back-to-back national semifinal appearances.

Even more, Cook turned Nebraska volleyball into a can't-miss phenomenon. The Huskers are currently riding a 339 home match sellout streak dating back to 2001 — an NCAA record for all women's sports.

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The three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year (2000, 2005, and 2023) also helped Nebraska stage two volleyball matches in their football stadium in August 2023, when 92,003 fans packed Memorial Stadium to break the international women's sports attendance record.

Cook retires with an overall 883-176 career record — the fifth-best all-time winning percentage in Division I (DI) volleyball history. His 722-103 resume with Nebraska makes him the winningest DI coach in the sport this century.

"I’ve been here for 25 years. That’s a long time to do something. It’s been a great run," Cook said in the school's announcement.

"For me personally, the greatest accomplishment in coaching is seeing former players...taking the lessons they’ve learned from being a Nebraska volleyball player and applying it to their everyday lives," he continued. "There is no greater reward in coaching than that."

"I’ve always said to 'Dream Big,' and we’ve dreamed bigger than any volleyball program in the history of the world."

Alumna Dani Busboom Kelly succeeds Cook

Cook's successor is former Nebraska volleyball star Dani Busboom Kelly, who helped earn the 2006 national title as the starting libero before serving as Cook's assistant during the Cornhuskers' fourth title run in 2015.

Busboom Kelly took over as Louisville's head coach in 2017, leading the Cardinals to the program's first-ever Final Four in 2021 and following it up with national championship game appearances in 2022 and 2024. She exits the ACC squad with a 203-44 record and has agreed to a six-year contract with her alma mater.

"The opportunity to come home to Nebraska is more than a dream come true," Busboom Kelly said in a statement. "Nebraska is the greatest place in the world to play volleyball and I am honored to be a part of it once again!"