WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Named TIME’s Athlete of the Year
TIME has officially named Caitlin Clark its 2024 Athlete of the Year, joining an illustrious list of previous honorees that includes Lionel Messi, Aaron Judge, Simone Biles, and LeBron James. Clark sat down for an interview with the publication to discuss numerous topics, including her relationship with Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, her record-breaking rookie season with the Indiana Fever, the 2024 Paris Olympics snub, and much more. Clark also confirmed that she will not participate in Unrivaled, the soon-to-launch 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stwart. “It’s going to be good for me to do my own thing and have my own space,” she explained. “I kind of want to just stay out of the spotlight.”
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris Lead F1’s Highest-Paid Drivers of 2024
Max Verstappen’s incredible race to a fourth Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship title also means a serious payday for the Red Bull Racing leader. Per Forbes, Verstappen is this year’s highest-paid F1 driver for the third consecutive year, with the 27-year-old making $75 million in 2024 ($60 million in salary, $15 million in bonus money). Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton sits in second, earning $57 million this year ($55 million salary, $2 million bonus), while Lando Norris claims third at $35 million ($12 million salary, $23 million bonus). Rounding out the top five are Fernando Alonso at $27.5 million ($24 million salary, $3.5 million bonus) and Charles Leclerc just behind him at $27 million ($15 million salary, $12 million bonus).
Lil’ Kim, Method Man, E-40 to Perform at The Roots’ Summer Event
The Roots are celebrating hip-hop’s golden age era with the announcement of A Roots Picnic Experience: The Class of ’95. The band is bringing their annual festival from Philly to LA. The event serves as a follow-up to this year’s Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop Is the Love of My Life and will be hosted by Live Nation. Artists scheduled to perform at the Hollywood Bowl on June 8 next year include Lil’ Kim, Redman & Method Man, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ Quik, Raekwon, E-40, Goodie Mob, Havoc of Mobb Deep, and more. Tickets go on sale beginning Wednesday at 10 am PT.
Judy Garland-Worn Slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Sell for $28M
The ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz just sold for an incredible $28 million, making history as the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold at auction. Per Heritage Auctions, the shoes are one of four surviving pairs from the film and were once stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005. The Saturday auction also included the hat worn by the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, which sold for $2.9 million.
Unrivaled, Under Armour Agree to Uniform & Performance Apparel Partnership
Unrivaled confirmed Tuesday that it has signed a multi-year deal with Under Armour to make the sportswear brand its official uniform partner and performance outfitter. All players, coaches, and staff will sport Under Armour performance apparel and accessories both on and off the court. Athletes who currently do not have an active shoe deal will have Under Armour basketball footwear options available to select from. Under Armour will also allow players to create custom products. Over the weekend, Under Armour unveiled its new UA Flagship Brand House on the campus of the brand’s new headquarters.
Yankees, Katt Williams, ‘Inside Out 2’, & More in Google’s Year in Search 2024
Google unveiled its top trending searches for the year on Tuesday, and most topics reflected some of the most impactful events or people with curious minds wanting to know more. Gold medal-winning Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was the subject of undue controversy at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, took the top spot for searched athletes, with Mike Tyson, Lamine Yamal, Simone Biles, and Jake Paul not far behind. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Inter Miami CF rounded out the top three most-searched teams. The top trending search stayed in sports with Copa América, which saw Argentina claim its 16th title over the summer. In the entertainment space, Katt Williams finished 2024 as the most-searched among actors category, while Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us and Inside Out 2 took top honors in the song and movie categories, respectively.
Chris Evans is Returning to Marvel, But Not as Captain America
Chris Evans is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but not in the role that catapulted him to comic book royalty. According to Variety, the actor who brought Captain America to life will not don the red, white, and blue again but instead appear in Avengers: Doomsday in another capacity. Details surrounding Evans’ involvement in the flick remain a secret, but he’ll be reunited with Robert Downey Jr. The Oscar-winning Downey Jr. shined on screen as Iron Man for a decade but has now signed on to play Doctor Victor von Doom, the primary villain for the Fantastic Four.
LVMH Investing in Luxury Hospitality with French Hotel Deal
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has purchased a roughly 20% stake in high-end French hotel group Les Domaines de Fontenille, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. After the transaction is made official, LVMH will be the biggest shareholder in the company, signaling its belief in the luxury hospitality space. Created in 2016 by Frédéric Biousse, the company specializes in eco-friendly destinations and boasts properties in popular tourist cities like Marseille and Tuscany. In total, Les Domaines de Fontenille has 11 vacation spots across France, Spain, and Italy. Two more will join the fold in Brittany, France, next spring and in Aix-en-Provence in 2026.
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