Jim Trotter

LOS ANGELES — During a timeout midway through the third quarter Saturday in Crypto.com Arena, three young fans stood in a corner of the lower bowl and held up separate placards. They read: PLEASE … PLAY … HARD. The request was understandable considering their Lakers were battling history as well as the defending champion , who had won 11 in a row against Los Angeles and were one victory from sweeping them out of the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Advertisement But that’s the thing a…

It’s not surprising that corporations are lining up like fans along arena railings to get ’s autograph. The former Iowa star is a transcendent talent who has proven she is as proficient at breaking viewership records as scoring marks, drawing capacity crowds at home and on the road and even attracting 17,000 spectators to an open practice during Final Four weekend. Her jersey sold out within hours of her being drafted No. 1 overall by the , and multiple teams have moved upcoming games to larger…

Once again, the spotlight is back on organized sports and its relationship with legalized gambling after the banned center Jontay Porter for multiple violations of its gambling policy, including a three-month stretch this year in which he placed 13 bets on NBA games while using an associate’s online betting account. Advertisement There are levels of stupidity, just as there are degrees of dumb, and Porter measures off the chart in both. He violated the policy despite knowing, like the rest of…

CLEVELAND — Everyone wanted to talk about the game, which was expected after the women’s basketball team held off Iowa and second national championship in three years. But Dawn Staley also wanted to talk about the other game. Actually, that’s not strong enough. She was going to discuss it. Advertisement Basketball has played such an important role in her life that she protects it as fiercely as a mother would a newborn. Her love for it is matched only by her respect for it. So even as question…

CLEVELAND — There weren’t screams of outrage across the basketball landscape when the coaching staffs for Saturday’s inaugural Women’s College All-Star Game were announced several weeks ago, but there were whispers and raised eyebrows. Did you hear? Can you believe it? What were they thinking? The questions revolved around the inclusion of Cynthia Cooper as a volunteer assistant. While definitely a basketball legend, which is how she and the three other coaches were described in the announcement…

The Athletic has live coverage of in the women’s . CLEVELAND — Just when you thought this women’s season couldn’t give any more, just when you thought it had drained itself of record on-court performances, all-time viewership numbers and compelling grudge matches, it is giving us an opportunity to witness all three in one game, pitting Iowa against in the national championship showdown most fans and every ABC executive wanted. Advertisement It had to end this way, right? Great player versus gr…

CLEVELAND — Beneath the dim lights of their locker room in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, members of the South Carolina women’s basketball team curled up or stretched out on the carpeted floor. couldn’t help but smile. She has likened her job to running a daycare and reiterated her point by posting a video of the slumber session. Advertisement “Get your mats,” she wrote. “You don’t have (to) sleep … but you … have to lie down. #daycareduty” What began as a playful moment quickly turned into a long…

Oftentimes when society takes what is perceived to be a significant step forward, we stop and ask whether we are witnessing a movement or a moment. That question seems particularly relevant today as we near the finish line of the most memorable and consequential season in women’s collegiate basketball history. Advertisement An entity once marginalized by fans and broadcast partners alike is suddenly as hot as fish grease. The Associated Press is reporting that tickets to the women’s Final Four a…

When the name of a sport’s biggest superstar surfaces in a gambling scandal, it’s obviously news. So, yes, the question of whether superstar Shohei Ohtani authorized $4.5 million in payouts to an illegal bookmaker deserves every headline it has garnered. That said, I’m having a hard time getting as worked up about the “integrity of the game” argument as others who are spouting its importance. Advertisement That particular talking point lost credibility with me the minute sports leagues and team…

Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith does not have a history of speaking out on controversial issues, so his public criticism of the University of Florida’s decision to and fire the 13 employees within the department is noteworthy. “I’m utterly disgusted by UF’s decision and the precedent that it sets,” the Florida alum posted Sunday on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We cannot continue to believe and trust that a team of leaders all made up of the same background will make the right decision…