Travis Scott's Cactus Jack, Fanatics, Mitchell & Ness Team Up with Lids for College Collection
Lids has launched an exclusive apparel and headwear collection, “Jack Goes Back to College,” with Travis Scott‘s Cactus Jack brand, Fanatics, and Mitchell & Ness. The capsule is collegiate-inspired and features 28 different universities across the country, including LSU, UCLA, Clemson, Grambling State, and more. The collection boasts an assortment of Mitchell & Ness snapback hats reimagined with Cactus Jack imagery and university branding, along with t-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies, shorts, sweatpants, and backpacks. Products are available to purchase at select Lids locations, shop.travisscott.com, Fanatics.com, and select university online stores starting April 4.
Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Tapped as New Face of Coach
Coach announced on Wednesday that Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is the luxury brand’s new ambassador, coinciding with a new campaign of Spring 2024 watches and sunglasses. “This partnership is a bit of a full circle moment for me,” said Tatum. “I’m always trying to push my own limits, and I look forward to working with a brand, like Coach, which celebrates this.” In the debut ad, Tatum sports the Jackson Watch and Gradient Keyhole Square Sunglasses, two pieces the company says “reimagine Coach’s legacy of craft with the expressive attitude of today’s generation.”
Ice Cube Offers Caitlin Clark $5M to Play in the BIG3
Caitlin Clark isn’t just drawing attention from the WNBA. Ice Cube confirmed that he offered the Iowa star $5 million to play in his BIG3 3-on-3 professional basketball league. Calling her a “generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3,” CBS Sports writes that the proposal would require Clark’s participation in eight regular season games and, if her team qualifies, two potential playoff games. Clark, who has already declared for the W, would still be able to play in the WNBA should she join the BIG3 as well. If Ice Cube‘s recruitment efforts succeed, Clark will become the first woman to play in the BIG3 since the league was founded in 2017.
Beyoncé Releases 'Cowboy Carter' Tracklist Ahead of Album Drop
As anticipation heats up for Beyoncé‘s latest album, Cowboy Carter, dropping Friday, the superstar revealed the long-awaited tracklist via Instagram on Wednesday. Song titles include “American Requiem,” “Protector,” “Daughter,” “Spaghetti,” “Desert Eagle,” and “Sweet Honey Buckin.'” Two other tracks — “Dolly P” and “Jolene” — pay tribute to legendary country crooner Dolly Parton, and “Smoke Hour Willie Nelson” fittingly name-checks the country legend. Another song named “The Linda Martell Show” celebrates the pioneer Black country artist who made history as the first Black musician to play at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.
Sophia Smith Reportedly Becomes Highest-paid in NWSL with New Thorns Contract
Portland Thorns FC and forward Sophia Smith have agreed to a multi-year extension through 2025, with a player option for 2026. Portland did not reveal the financial terms of the deal, but ESPN reports that Smith’s new contract makes her the highest-paid player annually in the NWSL. “I’ve felt so welcomed and so loved and so believed in and I just felt like I wasn’t done here. And there’s still things that I want to do with this team and this club and trophies I want to win,” the USWNT player said about her decision to remain in Rose City. Smith is currently in her fifth season with the Thorns. The former Stanford Cardinal was the NWSL’s MVP and the US Soccer Player of the Year in 2022 while also earning MVP honors in the NWSL Championship that year.
Alysha Clark & Chiney Ogwumike Invest in PlayersTV
PlayersTV, an athlete-owned media network committed to lifestyle and culture, announced Wednesday the addition of WNBA stars Alysha Clark and Chiney Ogwumike as investor owners. The network also announced the appointment of Michele Ghee, CEO of Expectant Media, as its first Chairwoman of the Board. In her new role, Ghee will advise PlayersTV on its strategic direction of engaging with fans on a global scale. Ghee’s past accomplishments include stints at EBONY and Jet, EBONY Studios, WME, CNN, A&E, The History Channel, and BET Networks. While at BET, Ghee created and oversaw the first and only network for Black women: BETHer.