The NBA is no stranger to alternative investment pathways. In 2020, the league enabled private equity firms to pursue ownership stakes. Now, the board of governors approved future investments from sovereign wealth funds. Collectively, this will expand the opportunities for ownership, drawing cash from the $10.5 trillion pool. However, the move opens up the league to potential involvement from autocratic states which are looking for places to displace their wealth and could lead to some questionable investments.

The Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars are in search of new ownership. Thorns owner Merritt Paulson officially announced on Thursday that he was looking to sell his stake in the team. Hours later, Red Stars’ majority owner Arnim Whistler revealed that he contracted a financial partner to help him find a buyer for his stake in the franchise. The moves come in the wake of the US Soccer investigation which found extensive evidence of misconduct throughout the NWSL, but specifically within those two organizations. In a statement, Paulson confirmed his intentions to sell: “I believe it is in the best interest of the Thorns to have a new owner so that the Club can operate at the league level with a fresh voice to be a driving force for the NWSL.”

The College Football Playoff picture is beginning to get clearer. As Georgia readies to defend its national title, the red-hot TCU, Michigan, and USC find themselves in the running to pursue a national championship in 2023. The CFP revealed that it will accelerate the timeline for playoff expansion. As a result, 12 teams will be in contention for the national championship game beginning in 2024-2025. As a result of the additional teams – and corresponding rounds – the national championship game will be pushed back to Jan. 20, 2025.

Mariah Carey is the undisputed queen of Christmas. Now, she is taking her reign into Web3. The singer revealed a new partnership with EOS, which will bring “Mariah Carey’s Winter Wonderland” into Roblox. The virtual event will include a range of activities, including a 12-day scavenger hunt, games, and challenges. All will lead to a four-night stand of virtual performances beginning on Dec. 21.

Snoop Dogg loves family time. The Doggfather assembled his whole family, including his three children, wife, and five grandchildren, for the newest SKIMS campaign. The family stayed committed to cozy, donning matching fits as part of the Kim Kardashian-owned intimates company’s new holiday line.

Kanye West‘s troubling media tour continues. The Chicago rapper joined alt-right talk show host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for an interview in which he doubled down on deeply hateful antisemitic rhetoric and even praised Hitler. Then, he took to Twitter, where he tweeted a photo that included a swastika. As a result, he violated the Twitter guidelines surrounding the promotion of violence and was banned, once again, from the platform.

Things are getting cheesy in Orlando. In preparation for the upcoming Cheez-It Bowl, the snack giant is preparing a number of hotel rooms and on-field suites to stay on theme. Cheez-It will outfit four rooms at the official team hotels to replicate the inside of a box. Plus, they are offering some lucky fans the chance to watch the game from the room replicas. Fans must attend the Dec. 28 pep rally for a chance to win.