WNBA, WNBPA Agree to New CBA with Increased Salary Cap, Player Pay
The WNBA and the WNBPA reached a verbal agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday, just two months before the season begins. The deal dramatically raises player pay, with the salary cap reportedly jumping to $7 million (from $1.5M in 2025), a $1.4 million supermax, average salaries around $600,000, and minimum salaries above $300,000. The agreement, which still requires ratification, also includes an average of roughly 20% revenue sharing for players.
Oscars Viewership Dips to 4-Year Low on ABC, Hulu
The Academy Awards drew 17.86 million viewers across ABC and Hulu, down about 9% from last year and the showโs lowest audience in four years. Despite the decline, the Oscars still outperformed most recent major award shows. Paul Thomas Andersonโs One Battle After Another led the night with six wins, while Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor and Jessie Buckley took Best Actress.
Jay-Z Bringing ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and ‘The Blueprint’ to Yankee Stadium
Jay-Z is heading to Yankee Stadium for a pair of concerts celebrating two of hip-hopโs most iconic albums. The first show, โJAลธ-Z 30,โ takes place July 10, honoring the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, followed by โJAลธ-Z 25โ on July 11, marking 25 years of The Blueprint. Jay-Z was the first artist, alongside Eminem, to headline a concert at the new Yankee Stadium in 2010 as part of their Home & Home Tour.
Disney Officially Moves Out of Bob Iger Era, Welcomes New CEO
The Walt Disney Company is officially entering a new era as Bob Iger officially stepped down as CEO on Wednesday, with longtime executive Josh DโAmaro taking the helm. DโAmaro, most recently chairman of Disney Experiences, assumes leadership at a pivotal moment for the entertainment giant. His early focus will be sustaining growth in Disneyโs theme parks and streaming businesses while leaning on the companyโs storytelling and technology to guide its next chapter.
Tracy McGrady Bets Again on 1-on-1 Basketball
Tracy McGrady is bringing back the Ones Basketball League after securing new investment from Next Gen Sports. The 1-on-1 league, first launched in 2022, will return with a three-round tournament beginning May 15 in Orlando featuring city-based teams competing for a $100,000 prize. McGrady has largely self-funded the venture and says the 2026 season is focused on building momentum, with games expected to stream on YouTube.
Meta Makes NYC Pop-Up a Permanent Flagship Retail Location
Meta is making its Meta Lab store on Fifth Avenue a permanent flagship, signing a 10-year lease with Vornado Realty Trust for the space in New York City. The location, which opened as a pop-up in November, will serve as a hands-on retail hub where visitors can test the companyโs AI glasses, Meta Quest virtual reality headsets, and other Reality Labs hardware as Meta expands its immersive tech showcase strategy.
Dwyane Wade, Sue Bird, Tom Brady, More Tapped for JPMorganChaseโs Athlete Council
JPMorganChase has launched an Athlete Council to help shape financial education and planning programs for athletes navigating short, high-earning careers. The group includes stars such as Dwyane Wade, Tom Brady, Sue Bird, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Aโja Wilson, Jalen Brunson, and Ally Love. “Your decisions matter, and who you trust with your money matters,โ Wilson said at JPMorganChase’s Wednesday event announcing the council.
Madonna Joins โThe Studioโ Season 2 on Venice Shoot
Madonna appears set to join Season 2 of The Studio, the Hollywood satire co-created by and starring Seth Rogen. The singer teased her return to live-action acting on Instagram while posting from Venice, where production is underway. The series โ which follows a chaotic film executive running a fictional studio โ featured numerous celebrity cameos in its first season, though itโs unclear whether Madonna will play herself.
Yankees, Dodgers Lead the Way in Sportico’s MLB Team Valuations
Days after CNBC dropped its list, Sportico released its latest MLB team valuation rankings on Wednesday, with franchise values up 12% to an average of $3.17 billion. The New York Yankees lead at $9.4 billion, while the Los Angeles Dodgers follow at $9.05 billion, boosted by Shohei Ohtaniโs star power. The Boston Red Sox ($6.65 billion), Chicago Cubs ($6.48 billion), and San Francisco Giants ($4.36 billion) round out the top five.
Disney, Warner Bros. Score Biggest Share of California Production Credits
Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are leading Californiaโs latest film tax credit round, with Disney productions receiving $128.8 million and WBD $127.9 million. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that 16 TV projects, including returning shows like The Pitt, will benefit from the expanded program, generating $1.3 billion in statewide economic activity and supporting thousands of high-paying entertainment jobs.
All The Smoke Expands to Baseball; Matt Barnes to Host with Nick Swisher, Chris Young
All The Smoke Productions has launched a baseball vertical, ATS Baseball, debuting with the podcast ATS Dugout. Hosted by Matt Barnes alongside former MLB All-Stars Nick Swisher and Chris Young, the series will release 20-plus episodes during the season. Hall of Famer CC Sabathia serves as an ambassador and key contributor, helping expand All The Smokeโs footprint in baseball and attracting new audiences to the brand.
Image: Eakin Howard / Getty Images
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