Ice Cube Taking Big3 Public, Eyeing a $290M Valuation

The Big3 is preparing to go public through a merger with Graf Global Corp., targeting a $290 million valuation and a stock market debut later this year under the ticker TONT (3-on-3). Co-founded by Ice Cube, the 3-on-3 basketball league says the move will give fans a chance to invest directly in the league’s growth, a rare opportunity in pro sports. The Big3 tips off its ninth season next week in Los Angeles.

Elon Musk officially became the world’s first trillionaire following SpaceX’s record-breaking $75 billion IPO, which valued the company at roughly $1.77 trillion. Reuters estimates Musk’s net worth now exceeds $1.1 trillion, driven largely by his stake in SpaceX alongside holdings in Tesla and X. The milestone further cements Musk’s influence across AI, aerospace, automotive, and social media as investor demand for his companies continues to surge.

The University of Utah is pushing deeper into the private equity era of college sports, finalizing its partnership with Otro Capital to launch Crimson Brand Partners, a new for-profit company designed to grow revenue across Utah Athletics. Backed by at least $100 million from Otro, the venture will oversee sponsorships, ticketing, licensing, events, and media operations while helping fund all 19 varsity programs. Former NFL and MLB executive Matt Webb will lead the company as CEO.

Google is investing $50 million to train more than 300,000 skilled trade workers across the U.S. as demand for AI infrastructure continues to surge. The initiative will support labor unions and trade groups focused on roles like electricians and HVAC specialists, addressing a projected shortage of millions of workers needed to build and maintain data centers and other AI-related facilities. The move follows similar workforce investments from companies including Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic.

Steven Spielberg’s return to the sci-fi blockbuster space is off to a strong start. Disclosure Day, the legendary director’s new UFO thriller starring Emily Blunt and Colin Firth, pulled in $6.5 million in Thursday previews and is tracking toward a $35 million domestic opening weekend. The film marks Spielberg’s first major popcorn spectacle since Ready Player One and continues his decades-long connection to alien storytelling.

Under Armour has reportedly declined to renew its WNBA footwear partnership, creating new complications for players signed with the brand. Under current league rules, athletes can only wear shoes from approved partners unless brands secure authorized supplier status, leading some players to cover logos on their sneakers during games. The situation has drawn attention to the WNBA’s restrictive apparel policies as the league continues to grow its commercial footprint.

Speaking of WNBA kicks, Kelsey Plum has officially signed with Adidas Basketball, marking a major addition to the brand’s growing women’s hoops roster. The WNBA champ and Olympic gold medalist recently transitioned away from Under Armour after years as one of its key faces in women’s basketball. Plum’s move to the Three Stripes follows months of speculation, signaling Adidas’ continued push to secure top-tier WNBA talent.

Pinterest is doubling down on AI-powered shopping and visual search with a massive new AWS partnership. The company signed a $4 billion cloud infrastructure deal with Amazon through 2031 — the largest agreement in Pinterest history — aimed at accelerating its AI roadmap, improving search responsiveness, and upgrading the technology behind its visual discovery platform as it pushes deeper into AI-driven commerce.

Heated Rivalry, Industry, and Widow’s Bay lead the way for 2026 TCA Awards nominations, each earning five nods across major categories. HBO Max tops all networks with 30 total nominations, followed by Apple TV with 20 and Netflix with 14. The Television Critics Association also expanded its awards slate to include new categories for animation and international series. Winners will be announced later this summer via TCA’s social platforms.

Chaka Khan has struck a catalog partnership with HarbourView, giving the investment firm a stake in her music rights as part of a broader deal focused on licensing and future creative development. Financial terms were not disclosed. The legendary R&B and funk vocalist behind hits like “I’m Every Woman” and “Through the Fire” joins a growing list of artists monetizing their catalogs as HarbourView continues to expand its portfolio of high-profile music assets.

Ben Schwartz has joined the cast of The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event, portraying New York DJ Murray the K. The ensemble project stars Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Barry Keoghan, and Joseph Quinn as the Fab Four, with an extensive supporting cast portraying key figures from the band’s inner circle. Each film will tell the Beatles’ story from a different member’s perspective, marking the first fully authorized scripted Beatles biopic spanning their rise and breakup.

Image: Danielle Parhizkaran / The Boston Globe via Getty Images