7 Saints Coaches Out for Week 2 Due to COVID
Seven members of Sean Payton’s Saints coaching staff will miss Sunday’s game at Carolina after testing positive for COVID-19: analyst Jim Chaney, offensive assistant Declan Doyle, special teams staffer Phil Galiano, wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson, o-line coach Brendan Nugent, tight ends coach Dan Roushar, and running backs coach Joel Thomas. Payton said all seven coaches are vaccinated.
Storm’s Jewell Lloyd Ties WNBA Record with 22-point Quarter
With 22 points in the opening period, Jewell Lloyd stole the show as the defending champion Seattle Storm defeated the Phoenix Mercury 94-85 Friday night. It’s the biggest first-quarter scoring tally in WNBA history, and ties the overall single-quarter mark first set by the Mercury’s Diana Taurasi 15 years ago and later matched by Atlanta’s Brittney Sykes in 2019. Lloyd finished with 37 points for the game.
Shohei Ohtani to Pitch Sunday After Arm Soreness Improves
After concerns over lingering soreness threatened to shut down Shohei Ohtani’s pitching for the rest of the season, the two-way Angels star is now scheduled to start Sunday against the Oakland Athletics. A leading candidate for American League MVP, ShoTime is 9-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 115.1 innings pitched.
Zdeno Chara Returns on One-year Deal with Islanders
44-year-old defenseman Zdeno Chara is officially the oldest active player in the NHL after signing a one-year contract with the New York Islanders. Best known for his run with the Boston Bruns that included the 2011 Stanley Cup title, the six-time All-Star arrives in time for the opening of the Isles’ brand-new UBS Arena.
Cowboys, Fanatics Agree to 10-year E-commerce Deal
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys announced a decade-long pact with apparel and memorabilia giant Fanatics, tasking them with powering their e-commerce platforms. The news follows Fanatics’ big moves into the trading card space and reports of a possible upcoming sportsbook acquisition.
Intuit Pays $500M for New Clippers Arena Naming Rights
The Los Angeles Clippers broke ground Friday on what will be their all-new home in Inglewood, and while it won’t open until 2024, it already has a name: The Intuit Dome. As part of a 23-year contract with the Clips, Intuit will provide tax preparation and financial education services to local residents.
Sleeper Fantasy Sports App’s Valuation Hits $400M After Series C Round
The Sleeper fantasy app announced a $40 million Series C funding round this week, bringing its estimated valuation to $400 million — approximately four times their most recently reported figure. Big-name investors in the round include Klay Thompson, Baron Davis, Thirty Five Ventures, and Shane Battier.
