The Dallas Wings just got Paige Bueckers some major help
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 19: Alanna Smith #8 of the Minnesota Lynx poses with the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year award on September 19, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Minnesota Lynx just lost one of their cornerstones, as in one of the biggest moves of WNBA free agency so far, Alanna Smith is headed to Texas. The 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year is signing a max contract to join Paige Bueckers, the 2026 No. 1 Draft Pick, and Arike Ogunbowale on the Dallas Wings.
This is a deal that works so well for both sides. For Smith, she goes from someone who was waived just a few seasons ago to being paid the $1.19 million max salary in year one of a three-year contract. Dallas gets a much-needed presence in their frontcourt and a boost in defensive power and rim protection.
Smith also has chemistry with Arike, having just won an Unrivaled championship together last month. Her signing immediately boosts the potential of this rebuilding Wings team, and at +4,000, they now have the 8th best odds to win the 2026 championship, according to our friends at FanDuel.
This now shifts the offseason attention to the WNBA Draft, where there is no clear consensus on who the Wings will pick as they select No. 1 overall for the second year in a row. Before Smith signed, there was a clear need for a frontcourt presence, but now the situation is different. Will they pick a more traditional point guard option like Olivia Miles? A shooter in Azzi Fudd? Build out the depth behind Smith and draft her a rookie in Awa Fam or Lauren Betts?
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 19: Alanna Smith #8 of the Minnesota Lynx poses with the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year award on September 19, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Minnesota Lynx just lost one of their cornerstones, as in one of the biggest moves of WNBA free agency so far, Alanna Smith is headed to Texas. The 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year is signing a max contract to join Paige Bueckers, the 2026 No. 1 Draft Pick, and Arike Ogunbowale on the Dallas Wings.
Paige, for one, was thrilled:
Paige Bueckers can’t believe this is her life “WE HERE BABY” ‼️ pic.twitter.com/TVuO358za9
— WNBA Got Game (@wnbagotgame) April 12, 2026
Grading Alanna Smith to the Dallas Wings: A+
This is a deal that works so well for both sides. For Smith, she goes from someone who was waived just a few seasons ago to being paid the $1.19 million max salary in year one of a three-year contract. Dallas gets a much-needed presence in their frontcourt and a boost in defensive power and rim protection.
Smith also has chemistry with Arike, having just won an Unrivaled championship together last month. Her signing immediately boosts the potential of this rebuilding Wings team, and at +4,000, they now have the 8th best odds to win the 2026 championship, according to our friends at FanDuel.
This now shifts the offseason attention to the WNBA Draft, where there is no clear consensus on who the Wings will pick as they select No. 1 overall for the second year in a row. Before Smith signed, there was a clear need for a frontcourt presence, but now the situation is different. Will they pick a more traditional point guard option like Olivia Miles? A shooter in Azzi Fudd? Build out the depth behind Smith and draft her a rookie in Awa Fam or Lauren Betts?
All eyes are on Dallas now.
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#Dallas #Wings #Paige #Bueckers #major
#Deadspin #Busy #Sky #acquire #Rickea #Jackson #Sparks #Ariel #Atkins">Deadspin | Busy Sky acquire F Rickea Jackson from Sparks for G Ariel Atkins
Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kitija Laksa at PHX Arena on Sept. 9, 2025.
The Chicago Sky acquired promising forward Rickea Jackson from the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday for two-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins, the teams announced.
Jackson, 25, was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft and averaged 14.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 78 games (72 starts) over her two seasons with the Sparks. She averaged 14.7 points last season.
“It’s thrilling to acquire one of the great young talents in this league in Jackson,” Chicago general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a news release. “Rickea is only going to continue to ascend, and the organization is excited to witness that growth firsthand.”
Jackson will help fill the hole created when the Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream on Monday.
Chicago also announced the signing of free agent guard/forward DiJonai Carrington and the re-signing of legendary point guard Courtney Vandersloot.
Carrington, 28, has career averages of 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 162 career games (56 starts) with the Connecticut Sun (2021-24), Dallas Wings (2025) and Minnesota Lynx (2025). She averaged 9.8 points in 31 games last season between Dallas and Minnesota. Carrington was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024 with the Sun.
“We’re thrilled to bring DiJonai to the Sky,” Pagliocca said. “She brings speed, defense, versatility and a fierce competitive spirit, and we can’t wait to see her electrify Skytown.”
Vandersloot, 37, reportedly received a two-year, $1.5 million deal to return to Chicago even though she continues to rehab an ACL injury that occurred last June. The five-time All-Star, who has spent 13 of her 15 seasons with the Sky, ranks second in WNBA history with 2,886 career assists. Only Hall of Famer Sue Bird (3,234) has more.
“I truly believe the Sky are building something special, which made it a no-brainer to sign back,” Vandersloot said in a statement. “Finishing last season with an injury was disappointing, but I’m eager to be back on the court.”
Atkins, 29, became expendable when the Sky signed seven-time All-Star guard Skylar Diggins on Saturday.
Atkins averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 34 games for the Sky in 2025. She spent her first seven seasons with the Washington Mystics before being acquired by Chicago prior to the 2025 campaign.
She earned All-Star nods in 2021 and 2022. Atkins was a first-team All-Defensive selection in 2022 after being a second-team choice the previous four seasons.
Atkins was a key cog on the Mystics’ 2019 title-winning squad.
Overall, Atkins has averages of 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals in 251 career games (246 starts). She has a 36.2% accuracy rate from 3-point range.
More than the wicket, it was the method that stood out. Gurjapneet went hard into the pitch, using chest-high, bodyline deliveries to push David Miller onto the back foot. This was not containment. It was an attempt to disrupt.
With two new batters at the crease, Overton followed with a similar approach. Having been expensive earlier while chasing wide yorkers, he shifted back to his strengths, hitting the deck at pace and extracting uncomfortable bounce. Strokeplay became restrictive, and the pressure told. Overton finished with 4/18, breaking the chase open.
At the death, there was also a subtle adjustment. Kamboj ran in with a field set for the wide yorker, but targeted middle stump instead. The line change, combined with the visual cue of the field, forced indecision. Execution, rather than variation alone, made the difference.
This time, the plan held.
Whether this marks a lasting shift is still uncertain. But for the first time this season, CSK’s bowling looked less like a fixed template and more like a set of options.
More than the wicket, it was the method that stood out. Gurjapneet went hard into the pitch, using chest-high, bodyline deliveries to push David Miller onto the back foot. This was not containment. It was an attempt to disrupt.
With two new batters at the crease, Overton followed with a similar approach. Having been expensive earlier while chasing wide yorkers, he shifted back to his strengths, hitting the deck at pace and extracting uncomfortable bounce. Strokeplay became restrictive, and the pressure told. Overton finished with 4/18, breaking the chase open.
At the death, there was also a subtle adjustment. Kamboj ran in with a field set for the wide yorker, but targeted middle stump instead. The line change, combined with the visual cue of the field, forced indecision. Execution, rather than variation alone, made the difference.
This time, the plan held.
Whether this marks a lasting shift is still uncertain. But for the first time this season, CSK’s bowling looked less like a fixed template and more like a set of options.
Published on Apr 12, 2026
#IPL #Wide #yorkers #hard #lengths #CSK #template #solve #deathover #issues">IPL 2026: Wide yorkers or hard lengths? CSK might have found a template to solve death-over issues
In the IPL 2026 game against Delhi Capitals on Saturday, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, as Anshul Kamboj ran in to bowl the 18th over from around the wicket, aiming for wide yorkers, it was hard not to think back to Chennai Super Kings’ previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where Tim David had taken apart the death overs.
The aftermath of that defeat had triggered comparisons across leagues, pointing to a familiar pattern in the Super Kings setup: a one-dimensional death-overs plan built around wide yorkers from around the wicket, seen across the SA20, MLC and IPL.
The idea is simple. Keep the ball out of the batter’s reach. But it is also a narrow-margin method. Miss even slightly, and the same delivery becomes a scoring option, as RCB showed.
After losing Nathan Ellis in the pre-season, CSK’s approach took shape quickly. Matt Henry and Khaleel Ahmed were tasked with making early inroads, using seam movement and inswing. The middle overs were about control, before returning to wide yorkers at the death, regardless of personnel.
The returns were poor. Henry leaked runs at 13 an over across three games, Noor Ahmed went wicketless till the contest against DC, and the predictability at the death allowed RCB to score over 85 in the last five overs, including a 30-run over off Jamie Overton. Punjab Kings had earlier chased down 200-plus in Chepauk without much resistance.
The game against Delhi, however, hinted at a shift. CSK brought in Akeal Hosein for Henry and handed a debut to the left-armer Gurjapneet Singh.
What went right for CSK’s bowling against DC?
Set 213 after a Sanju Samson hundred, Delhi was off the block in a jiffy, racing to 61 in 4.5 overs.
The first check came through Khaleel, who removed KL Rahul, with Pathum Nissanka following soon after. At 66/2 at the end of the PowerPlay, the chase was still on track.
The expected move was Noor in the seventh over, in line with CSK’s usual pattern. Instead, Ruturaj Gaikwad turned to Gurjapneet, reading the assistance for seam off the red soil surface. The debutant responded immediately, striking with his first ball.
More than the wicket, it was the method that stood out. Gurjapneet went hard into the pitch, using chest-high, bodyline deliveries to push David Miller onto the back foot. This was not containment. It was an attempt to disrupt.
With two new batters at the crease, Overton followed with a similar approach. Having been expensive earlier while chasing wide yorkers, he shifted back to his strengths, hitting the deck at pace and extracting uncomfortable bounce. Strokeplay became restrictive, and the pressure told. Overton finished with 4/18, breaking the chase open.
At the death, there was also a subtle adjustment. Kamboj ran in with a field set for the wide yorker, but targeted middle stump instead. The line change, combined with the visual cue of the field, forced indecision. Execution, rather than variation alone, made the difference.
This time, the plan held.
Whether this marks a lasting shift is still uncertain. But for the first time this season, CSK’s bowling looked less like a fixed template and more like a set of options.
“We are aware of an incident involving Head Coach Ted Ginn Jr. over the weekend and are in the process of gathering more information,” UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon said.
The Aviators lost their first two games in franchise history under Ginn, who was a 14-year NFL veteran receiver, amassing 412 receptions for 5,742 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins (2007-09), San Francisco 49ers (2010-12), Carolina Panthers (2013, 2015-16), Arizona Cardinals (2014), New Orleans Saints (2017-19) and Chicago Bears (2020). He also had seven return scores (four punts, three kickoffs) and rushed for two touchdowns.
“We are aware of an incident involving Head Coach Ted Ginn Jr. over the weekend and are in the process of gathering more information,” UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon said.
The Aviators lost their first two games in franchise history under Ginn, who was a 14-year NFL veteran receiver, amassing 412 receptions for 5,742 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins (2007-09), San Francisco 49ers (2010-12), Carolina Panthers (2013, 2015-16), Arizona Cardinals (2014), New Orleans Saints (2017-19) and Chicago Bears (2020). He also had seven return scores (four punts, three kickoffs) and rushed for two touchdowns.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #DWI #arrest #Aviators #coach #Ted #Ginn #sidelined #loss #Renegades">Deadspin | After DWI arrest, Aviators coach Ted Ginn Jr. sidelined for loss to Renegades
Columbus Aviators head coach Ted Ginn reacts in the second half of the Columbus Aviators’ inaugural home game at Historic Crew Stadium on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. did not coach his team’s UFL game against the Dallas Renegades on Sunday after he was arrested and subsequently released from jail on Saturday in Texas on a charge of driving while intoxicated.
The Renegades improved to 3-0 with a 28-23 victory over the Aviators (0-3) in Frisco, Texas. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who served as the Kansas City Chiefs’ head coach from 2009-11, stepped up in Ginn’s stead.
Ginn, a former second-team All-American at Ohio State who was hired as head coach for the Aviators’ inaugural season in December, was booked into Tarrant County’s jail at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time and released on bond at 8 p.m.
Ginn turned 41 on Sunday.
“I want to address the situation that took place over the weekend. I made a serious mistake and take full responsibility for my actions. I’ve always believed in accountability and now it’s my turn to live that standard,” Ginn said in a post on his X account.
“I understand the responsibility that comes with being a leader & role model, and falling short of this is not something I take lightly. I’m committed to learning from this, making better decisions, and earning back the trust of my players, our organization, and the fans.
“I appreciate the support of my family and the United Football League, and I respect the process as it moves forward. My focus now is on taking the necessary steps to grow from this and represent the Columbus Aviators and this community the right way.”
I want to address the situation that took place over the weekend.
I made a serious mistake and take full responsibility for my actions. I’ve always believed in accountability and now it’s my turn to live that standard.
“We are aware of an incident involving Head Coach Ted Ginn Jr. over the weekend and are in the process of gathering more information,” UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon said.
The Aviators lost their first two games in franchise history under Ginn, who was a 14-year NFL veteran receiver, amassing 412 receptions for 5,742 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins (2007-09), San Francisco 49ers (2010-12), Carolina Panthers (2013, 2015-16), Arizona Cardinals (2014), New Orleans Saints (2017-19) and Chicago Bears (2020). He also had seven return scores (four punts, three kickoffs) and rushed for two touchdowns.
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