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Deadspin | Report: Kelsey Mitchell still committed to upstart Project B  Sep 30, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) celebrates after making a play against the Las Vegas Aces during the second quarter of game five of the second round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images   Kelsey Mitchell might be wavering on an overseas commitment due to the major improvement in the WNBA salary structure.  But the upstart Project B told Front Office Sports on Thursday that the Indiana Fever star is still committed to the global touring league that will begin play in December.  Mitchell signed a one year, .4 million deal with Indiana earlier this month. On Wednesday, she told reporters at the Fever’s media day that it would take a “drastic, unique situation” for her to play overseas during the WNBA offseason.  “Where I’m at in my career now, I’d rather play it smart,” Mitchell said. “Make sure my body is what it needs to be. And then also, respecting my craft. I feel like sometimes when you go overseas, you lose sight on some of the perfecting of the skills that you miss out on just because you’re going to try to make a couple dollars.  “I got a soul so I’d rather make sure that I’m right before I want to keep going overseas and missing out on a lot.”  Mitchell, 30, is entering her ninth WNBA season. She is a three-time All-Star and averaged a career-high 20.2 points last season and finished fifth in the MVP balloting.   Mitchell has routinely played overseas during her stellar career. But last season, she stayed in the United States and played for Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.  “That was good basketball, and it’s in the United States, so I can’t really complain,” Mitchell said.  She is one of 13 players who were announced as players for Project B, which will play in various countries. The last stop is slated to be Tokyo from March 26-April 4.  Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas and Sophie Cunningham are among the other WNBA players who have pledged to play in the league.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Report #Kelsey #Mitchell #committed #upstart #Project

Deadspin | Report: Kelsey Mitchell still committed to upstart Project B
Deadspin | Report: Kelsey Mitchell still committed to upstart Project B  Sep 30, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) celebrates after making a play against the Las Vegas Aces during the second quarter of game five of the second round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images   Kelsey Mitchell might be wavering on an overseas commitment due to the major improvement in the WNBA salary structure.  But the upstart Project B told Front Office Sports on Thursday that the Indiana Fever star is still committed to the global touring league that will begin play in December.  Mitchell signed a one year, .4 million deal with Indiana earlier this month. On Wednesday, she told reporters at the Fever’s media day that it would take a “drastic, unique situation” for her to play overseas during the WNBA offseason.  “Where I’m at in my career now, I’d rather play it smart,” Mitchell said. “Make sure my body is what it needs to be. And then also, respecting my craft. I feel like sometimes when you go overseas, you lose sight on some of the perfecting of the skills that you miss out on just because you’re going to try to make a couple dollars.  “I got a soul so I’d rather make sure that I’m right before I want to keep going overseas and missing out on a lot.”  Mitchell, 30, is entering her ninth WNBA season. She is a three-time All-Star and averaged a career-high 20.2 points last season and finished fifth in the MVP balloting.   Mitchell has routinely played overseas during her stellar career. But last season, she stayed in the United States and played for Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.  “That was good basketball, and it’s in the United States, so I can’t really complain,” Mitchell said.  She is one of 13 players who were announced as players for Project B, which will play in various countries. The last stop is slated to be Tokyo from March 26-April 4.  Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas and Sophie Cunningham are among the other WNBA players who have pledged to play in the league.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Report #Kelsey #Mitchell #committed #upstart #ProjectSep 30, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) celebrates after making a play against the Las Vegas Aces during the second quarter of game five of the second round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Kelsey Mitchell might be wavering on an overseas commitment due to the major improvement in the WNBA salary structure.

But the upstart Project B told Front Office Sports on Thursday that the Indiana Fever star is still committed to the global touring league that will begin play in December.

Mitchell signed a one year, $1.4 million deal with Indiana earlier this month. On Wednesday, she told reporters at the Fever’s media day that it would take a “drastic, unique situation” for her to play overseas during the WNBA offseason.

“Where I’m at in my career now, I’d rather play it smart,” Mitchell said. “Make sure my body is what it needs to be. And then also, respecting my craft. I feel like sometimes when you go overseas, you lose sight on some of the perfecting of the skills that you miss out on just because you’re going to try to make a couple dollars.

“I got a soul so I’d rather make sure that I’m right before I want to keep going overseas and missing out on a lot.”


Mitchell, 30, is entering her ninth WNBA season. She is a three-time All-Star and averaged a career-high 20.2 points last season and finished fifth in the MVP balloting.

Mitchell has routinely played overseas during her stellar career. But last season, she stayed in the United States and played for Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

“That was good basketball, and it’s in the United States, so I can’t really complain,” Mitchell said.

She is one of 13 players who were announced as players for Project B, which will play in various countries. The last stop is slated to be Tokyo from March 26-April 4.

Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas and Sophie Cunningham are among the other WNBA players who have pledged to play in the league.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Report #Kelsey #Mitchell #committed #upstart #Project

Sep 30, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) celebrates after making a play against the Las Vegas Aces during the second quarter of game five of the second round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Kelsey Mitchell might be wavering on an overseas commitment due to the major improvement in the WNBA salary structure.

But the upstart Project B told Front Office Sports on Thursday that the Indiana Fever star is still committed to the global touring league that will begin play in December.

Mitchell signed a one year, $1.4 million deal with Indiana earlier this month. On Wednesday, she told reporters at the Fever’s media day that it would take a “drastic, unique situation” for her to play overseas during the WNBA offseason.

“Where I’m at in my career now, I’d rather play it smart,” Mitchell said. “Make sure my body is what it needs to be. And then also, respecting my craft. I feel like sometimes when you go overseas, you lose sight on some of the perfecting of the skills that you miss out on just because you’re going to try to make a couple dollars.

“I got a soul so I’d rather make sure that I’m right before I want to keep going overseas and missing out on a lot.”

Mitchell, 30, is entering her ninth WNBA season. She is a three-time All-Star and averaged a career-high 20.2 points last season and finished fifth in the MVP balloting.

Mitchell has routinely played overseas during her stellar career. But last season, she stayed in the United States and played for Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

“That was good basketball, and it’s in the United States, so I can’t really complain,” Mitchell said.

She is one of 13 players who were announced as players for Project B, which will play in various countries. The last stop is slated to be Tokyo from March 26-April 4.

Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas and Sophie Cunningham are among the other WNBA players who have pledged to play in the league.

–Field Level Media

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New football players’ group, AIF, launches to try to challenge FIFPRO’s global union role <div id="content-body-70897221" itemprop="articleBody"><p>A new international group representing football players launched on Thursday as a rival to the long-established global union FIFPRO, which has been in dispute with FIFA.</p><p>The Association of International Footballers (AIF) was founded in Madrid by David Aganzo, president of the new group that claims it will represent nearly 30,000 players. Aganzo also leads the players’ association in Spain (AFE) and was ousted as FIFPRO president in 2024.</p><p>Aganzo and other officials twice last year met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in what was widely seen as a challenge by the world football body to Netherlands-based FIFPRO’s mandate to represent players worldwide.</p><p>FIFA is the subject of a formal complaint made 18 months ago to the European Commission in Brussels by FIFPRO’s European division and the European Leagues group. The filing challenges the quality of FIFA’s governance and consultation with stakeholders.</p><p>FIFA said on Thursday it was made aware of the creation of AIF and remained “committed to open and constructive engagement with football stakeholders that uphold core principles, including representativeness.”</p><p>FIFPRO criticized the new group.</p><p>“FIFPRO recognises the strong work over several decades of AFE for men’s football players in Spain,” it said in a statement.</p><p>“However, the concept announced in Madrid by its current president appears nothing more than a speculative attempt to boost his own standing through a group which lacks the fundamental legitimacy to represent professional footballers globally,” it added.</p><p><b>ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/how-italy-nigeria-failed-to-qualify-for-fifa-world-cup-2026-teams-which-will-miss-wc/article70887202.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Broken blueprints: How Italy and Nigeria failed to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup</a></b></p><p>FIFPRO said the new concept was “driven by personal motives rather than a mandate from players around the world.”</p><p>Aganzo said the new model for a players’ union was needed in part because players’ voices were not being heard through FIFPRO. The new group said women’s players also needed stronger representation.</p><p>“Football players need a stronger voice. They don’t have the possibility to make decisions. AIF has been created to fight for them,” Aganzo said.</p><p>FIFPRO said Aganzo “has engaged with groups that fail to meet basic standards of player representation,” which it said must “be responsible and sustainable, built from the players up, through collective structures that ensure independence, legitimacy and accountability.”</p><p>“Such an approach to player representation is not in the best interests of professional footballers,” FIFPRO added.</p><p>FIFPRO claims its role is based on a mandate from 70 national player associations representing more than 60,000 footballers and is formally recognised by the European Union and international football governing bodies and stakeholders.</p><p>AIF will be governed by members from unions in Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #football #players #group #AIF #launches #challenge #FIFPROs #global #union #role

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Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2026 issues stem from poor auction and captaincy choice, says Sanjay Manjrekar <div id="content-body-70897150" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The comeback win over the Rajasthan Royals has breathed some life back into the Kolkata Knight Riders’ campaign after a winless start to IPL 2026.</p><p>A spirited bowling performance, led by spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine, followed by a crucial seventh-wicket partnership between Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy, helped the side jump off bottom place in the standings temporarily.</p><p>Victory at the Eden Gardens was only a small relief from the disappointing beginning to the season endured by the three-time champion. Injuries have played a major part in handicapping the side’s bowling arsenal, with India internationals Harshit Rana and Akash Deep ruled out with injury ahead of the tournament. Big money signing Matheesha Pathirana has just joined the team after recovering from an injury during the T20 World Cup.</p><p>Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar attributed KKR’s poor start to their auction strategy and their decision to hand the leadership to Ajinkya Rahane.</p><div class="inline_embed article-block-item"><p>[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JRdBRAbIk[/embed]</p></div><p>“KKR let go of Shreyas Iyer for whatever reason after a successful season and then picked a guy who didn’t get picked in the first round of bidding and made him captain. Captaincy in T20 cricket is huge and has a massive impact on the results,” Manjrekar said on <i>Sportstar’s Insight Edge </i>podcast.</p><p>“Ajinkya Rahane, the player, has also diminished. He’s lost his place on the Indian team. He’s not a natural T20 player. CSK got the best out of Rahane in the first six overs, but he was struggling post-six overs when the field spread out. He’s just not firing at the top of the order and can’t bat down as well. But he might as well bat down to accommodate the destructive T20 batters [Finn Allen and Tim Seifert],” he reasoned.</p><p>Manjrekar also explained that the KKR leadership has not utilised Australian all-rounder Cameron Green properly so far in the tournament, after bagging him for a whopping INR 25.20 crore.</p><p>“I just feel tall bowlers who hit the deck [like Green] are always going to be a risky option in India. I would use Green the batter a lot more. He’s also gone up and down the order a lot, so if you want to back a certain player, then you’ve got to stick with that player at a certain position,” he opined.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #Kolkata #Knight #Riders #IPL #issues #stem #poor #auction #captaincy #choice #Sanjay #Manjrekar

Deadspin | Austin Reaves cleared for on-court work, could rejoin Lakers’ lineup in 7-10 days  Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) look on from the bench in the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Austin Reaves is working out on the court and closing in on rejoining the Lakers’ lineup.   Reaves was cleared for the latest step in his progression of rehab from a Grade 2 oblique strain suffered on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the same game in which Luka Doncic (hamstring) was injured. Doncic remains out and has not considered any plan to be in the lineup during the Lakers’ first-round playoff series with the Houston Rockets, ESPN reported.   But Reaves’ return could become feasible if the best-of-seven series lasts five or more games.   Los Angeles holds a 2-0 lead in the series. Because of multiple days off between games in this series, Game 5 is scheduled for April 29; Game 6 is May 1 and Game 7 would be played May 3, more than four weeks after Reaves’ initial injury.    Reaves was the second-leading scorer for the Lakers this season, averaging career bests of 23.3 points and 4.7 rebounds to go with 5.5 assists per game.  Doncic’s timeline is thought to be closer to six weeks than the four-week range for Reaves.   The next phase of upramp for Reaves would involve graduating to halfcourt 3-on-3 work and full-court activities including 5-on-5 scrimmaging.   –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Austin #Reaves #cleared #oncourt #work #rejoin #Lakers #lineup #daysApr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) look on from the bench in the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Austin Reaves is working out on the court and closing in on rejoining the Lakers’ lineup.

Reaves was cleared for the latest step in his progression of rehab from a Grade 2 oblique strain suffered on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the same game in which Luka Doncic (hamstring) was injured. Doncic remains out and has not considered any plan to be in the lineup during the Lakers’ first-round playoff series with the Houston Rockets, ESPN reported.

But Reaves’ return could become feasible if the best-of-seven series lasts five or more games.


Los Angeles holds a 2-0 lead in the series. Because of multiple days off between games in this series, Game 5 is scheduled for April 29; Game 6 is May 1 and Game 7 would be played May 3, more than four weeks after Reaves’ initial injury.

Reaves was the second-leading scorer for the Lakers this season, averaging career bests of 23.3 points and 4.7 rebounds to go with 5.5 assists per game.

Doncic’s timeline is thought to be closer to six weeks than the four-week range for Reaves.

The next phase of upramp for Reaves would involve graduating to halfcourt 3-on-3 work and full-court activities including 5-on-5 scrimmaging.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Austin #Reaves #cleared #oncourt #work #rejoin #Lakers #lineup #days">Deadspin | Austin Reaves cleared for on-court work, could rejoin Lakers’ lineup in 7-10 days  Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) look on from the bench in the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Austin Reaves is working out on the court and closing in on rejoining the Lakers’ lineup.   Reaves was cleared for the latest step in his progression of rehab from a Grade 2 oblique strain suffered on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the same game in which Luka Doncic (hamstring) was injured. Doncic remains out and has not considered any plan to be in the lineup during the Lakers’ first-round playoff series with the Houston Rockets, ESPN reported.   But Reaves’ return could become feasible if the best-of-seven series lasts five or more games.   Los Angeles holds a 2-0 lead in the series. Because of multiple days off between games in this series, Game 5 is scheduled for April 29; Game 6 is May 1 and Game 7 would be played May 3, more than four weeks after Reaves’ initial injury.    Reaves was the second-leading scorer for the Lakers this season, averaging career bests of 23.3 points and 4.7 rebounds to go with 5.5 assists per game.  Doncic’s timeline is thought to be closer to six weeks than the four-week range for Reaves.   The next phase of upramp for Reaves would involve graduating to halfcourt 3-on-3 work and full-court activities including 5-on-5 scrimmaging.   –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Austin #Reaves #cleared #oncourt #work #rejoin #Lakers #lineup #days

Deadspin | PARIVISION rally in PGL Wallachia playoff opener  Dota 2 competitors at the 2025 Esports World Cup.   PARIVISION rallied for a 2-1 win against South America Rejects on Thursday as the playoffs got underway at the PGL Wallachia Season 8 tournament in Bucharest, Romania.  The other three upper-bracket quarterfinals in the  million Dota 2 event were decided by sweeps, with Aurora Gaming beating HEROIC, Team Liquid defeating Team Falcons, and BetBoom Team taking down Team Spirit.  Sixteen teams began the tournament with the top eight advancing from the Swiss-system group stage. The double-elimination playoffs continue Friday with all matches best-of-three until Sunday’s best-of-five grand final, where the winner will take home 0,000.  South America Rejects opened with a 46-minute win on red, but PARIVISION answered with a 39-minute victory on red and a 37-minute win on green to advance to the upper-bracket semifinals.  Aurora Gaming defeated HEROIC in 47 minutes on green and 59 minutes on red. Liquid beat Falcons in 63 and 37 minutes, both on green. BetBoom posted a 38-minute win on red and a 34-minute victory on green to send Team Spirit to the lower bracket.  Friday’s matches:  –PARIVISION vs. Aurora Gaming (upper-bracket semifinal)  –Team Liquid vs. BetBoom Team (upper-bracket semifinal)  –South America Rejects vs. HEROIC (lower-bracket round 1)  –Team Falcons vs. Team Spirit (lower-bracket round 1)  PGL Wallachia Season 8 prize pool:   1. 0,000 — TBD  2. 5,000 — TBD  3. 0,000 — TBD  4. ,000 — TBD  5-6. ,000 — TBD  7-8. ,000 — TBD  9-11. ,000 — GamerLegion, Xtreme Gaming, MOUZ  12-14. ,000 — Vici Gaming, Virtus.pro, Natus Vincere  15-16. ,000 — Team Yandex, Tundra Esports  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #PARIVISION #rally #PGL #Wallachia #playoff #openerDota 2 competitors at the 2025 Esports World Cup.

PARIVISION rallied for a 2-1 win against South America Rejects on Thursday as the playoffs got underway at the PGL Wallachia Season 8 tournament in Bucharest, Romania.

The other three upper-bracket quarterfinals in the $1 million Dota 2 event were decided by sweeps, with Aurora Gaming beating HEROIC, Team Liquid defeating Team Falcons, and BetBoom Team taking down Team Spirit.

Sixteen teams began the tournament with the top eight advancing from the Swiss-system group stage. The double-elimination playoffs continue Friday with all matches best-of-three until Sunday’s best-of-five grand final, where the winner will take home $300,000.

South America Rejects opened with a 46-minute win on red, but PARIVISION answered with a 39-minute victory on red and a 37-minute win on green to advance to the upper-bracket semifinals.

Aurora Gaming defeated HEROIC in 47 minutes on green and 59 minutes on red. Liquid beat Falcons in 63 and 37 minutes, both on green. BetBoom posted a 38-minute win on red and a 34-minute victory on green to send Team Spirit to the lower bracket.

Friday’s matches:

–PARIVISION vs. Aurora Gaming (upper-bracket semifinal)

–Team Liquid vs. BetBoom Team (upper-bracket semifinal)

–South America Rejects vs. HEROIC (lower-bracket round 1)

–Team Falcons vs. Team Spirit (lower-bracket round 1)


PGL Wallachia Season 8 prize pool:

1. $300,000 — TBD

2. $175,000 — TBD

3. $120,000 — TBD

4. $80,000 — TBD

5-6. $60,000 — TBD

7-8. $40,000 — TBD

9-11. $20,000 — GamerLegion, Xtreme Gaming, MOUZ

12-14. $15,000 — Vici Gaming, Virtus.pro, Natus Vincere

15-16. $10,000 — Team Yandex, Tundra Esports

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #PARIVISION #rally #PGL #Wallachia #playoff #opener">Deadspin | PARIVISION rally in PGL Wallachia playoff opener  Dota 2 competitors at the 2025 Esports World Cup.   PARIVISION rallied for a 2-1 win against South America Rejects on Thursday as the playoffs got underway at the PGL Wallachia Season 8 tournament in Bucharest, Romania.  The other three upper-bracket quarterfinals in the  million Dota 2 event were decided by sweeps, with Aurora Gaming beating HEROIC, Team Liquid defeating Team Falcons, and BetBoom Team taking down Team Spirit.  Sixteen teams began the tournament with the top eight advancing from the Swiss-system group stage. The double-elimination playoffs continue Friday with all matches best-of-three until Sunday’s best-of-five grand final, where the winner will take home 0,000.  South America Rejects opened with a 46-minute win on red, but PARIVISION answered with a 39-minute victory on red and a 37-minute win on green to advance to the upper-bracket semifinals.  Aurora Gaming defeated HEROIC in 47 minutes on green and 59 minutes on red. Liquid beat Falcons in 63 and 37 minutes, both on green. BetBoom posted a 38-minute win on red and a 34-minute victory on green to send Team Spirit to the lower bracket.  Friday’s matches:  –PARIVISION vs. Aurora Gaming (upper-bracket semifinal)  –Team Liquid vs. BetBoom Team (upper-bracket semifinal)  –South America Rejects vs. HEROIC (lower-bracket round 1)  –Team Falcons vs. Team Spirit (lower-bracket round 1)  PGL Wallachia Season 8 prize pool:   1. 0,000 — TBD  2. 5,000 — TBD  3. 0,000 — TBD  4. ,000 — TBD  5-6. ,000 — TBD  7-8. ,000 — TBD  9-11. ,000 — GamerLegion, Xtreme Gaming, MOUZ  12-14. ,000 — Vici Gaming, Virtus.pro, Natus Vincere  15-16. ,000 — Team Yandex, Tundra Esports  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #PARIVISION #rally #PGL #Wallachia #playoff #opener

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