This is how the Mike Gundy era ends: With a 69-3 loss to Oregon that represents the program’s largest margin of defeat since 1907, a loss to in-state upstart Tulsa for the first time since 1998 and a midweek firing one day after Gundy responded to what he termed ‘fair questions’ about his dwindling job security.

The Oklahoma State job is open for the first time since 2005, when Gundy was promoted to replace LSU-bound Les Miles. The last season for the Cowboys that didn’t feature Gundy in some capacity was in 2000, when he was an assistant coach at Maryland.

PATH TO PLAYOFF: Sign up for our college football newsletter

The former Oklahoma State quarterback leaves a wide legacy as the winningest coach in program history and some big shoes to fill. Still, his successor will face less pressure given how the Cowboys have cratered since the start of last year.

These coaches would fit the bill for the Cowboys, starting with a pair of Group of Five head coaches ready for a bigger challenge:

Eric Morris, North Texas

A former receiver for Texas Tech, the Mike Leach and Kliff Kingsbury disciple has done good work at North Texas, going from five wins in 2023 to a First Responder Bowl bid last season to this year’s 4-0 start, which includes recent wins against Washington State and Army. Morris previously spent four years (2018-21) at Incarnate Word, where he recruited and developed Cam Ward; the two were reunited in 2022 with Morris as the offensive coordinator at Washington State. Morris has the chops as an offensive coach and the knowledge of the region to be a very strong fit in Stillwater.

GJ Kinne, Texas State

Kinne is a little less experienced than Morris, whom he replaced as the coach at Incarnate Word in 2022. Kinne has also never been a full-time assistant in the Power Four. But his record speaks volumes: Texas State went 8-5 in each of his first two years and is one of the favorites in the Sun Belt this season. Like Morris, he has a track record of productive offenses built around strong quarterback play.

Dana Holgorsen, Nebraska offensive coordinator

The former Oklahoma State coordinator might not represent enough of a break from the Gundy era. Holgorsen also failed to capitalize on a 12-win season at Houston in 2021, posting a losing record in three of his five years with the Cougars. He was also coach for eight years at West Virginia. Holgorsen almost certainly install a must-see offense that would play well in the Big 12.

Justin Fuente

Fuente is currently out of coaching and beginning a job as a consultant with the College Football Playoff. He’s also indicated no desire to get back onto the sidelines after a disappointing end to his six-year tenure at Virginia Tech that finished in 2021. But he’s an Oklahoma native who would lend the program a degree of professionalism and, like others on this list, has a long background and defined success on the offensive side.

Jim Knowles, Penn State defensive coordinator

If OSU wants to lean toward a defense-minded coach instead, Knowles would be a logical call given his experience under Gundy (2018-21). Knowles recently was the coordinator for Ohio State’s national champions and was hired at Penn State this past offseason. He also has head coach at experience at Cornell, where he went 26-34 from 2004-09.

Will Stein, Oregon offensive coordinator

Stein is undoubtedly a future head coach given the success he’s had across multiple starting quarterbacks at Oregon. The former Louisville quarterback has also worked at Texas, Texas-San Antonio and Lake Travis High School, one of the state’s top programs. The question might not be whether Stein would be a good fit in Stillwater but whether he’s a gettable target for Oklahoma State. Would he wait for a better Power Four opportunity?

Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator

Here’s an interesting candidate off the NFL ranks. Robinson was a three-year starter under center for the Cowboys (2007-09) who bounced around the NFL before entering coaching in 2019. His career has skyrocketed since: Robinson went from the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams that season, took on the title of passing-game coordinator in 2022 and was hired by the Falcons in January of 2024. Ties to the program will get Robinson’s name in the mix, but his youth and lack of any college experience are red flags.

Tre Lamb, Tulsa

Why not hire the local coach who just beat you? Lamb, 36, is one of the youngest coaches in the Bowl Subdivision despite being a head coach since 2020, when he was hired at Gardner-Webb. That Tulsa is his first taste of this level of competition is an issue, for one, and Lamb wouldn’t move the needle like other names under consideration. It would require some forward thinking from Oklahoma State to make this hire.

The Indiana Fever keep winning without star guard Caitlin Clark, begging the question: How?

At the beginning of the 2025 season, the Fever had championship expectations. They had just finished a successful offseason, bringing in a new coach, Stephanie White, and a few players, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Cloud and Sophie Cunningham, to help them get there. However, it hasn’t played out as the likely imagined. Five players have been lost to season-ending injuries, setting the Fever up for a rough end to the year.

Still, through all the obstacles, Indiana is going strong. So, the question becomes: How are the Fever cruising through the WNBA playoffs without Clark? Here are three reasons why they are stacking win after win.

1. The Indiana Fever have depth ― a lot of it

Due to injury, Clark played 13 games in 2025, which means the Fever spent a significant amount of time without her, trying to replicate a fraction of what she brings to the team. That’s hard to do. It’s like taking the engine out of a car and trying to drive it anyway. (Hint: That doesn’t work.) So the Fever turned to their depth, which included guards Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, Cunningham, Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald. Then, in a wild twist of events, the depth got hurt. Cunningham, Colson and McDonald all suffered season-ending injuries, putting Indiana at a real disadvantage.

Unfortunately, it didn’t stop there. The forwards on the team were impacted, too. Chloe Bibby also had a season-ending injury. Damiris Dantas missed the entire first round of the 2025 playoffs with a concussion. So, how is Indiana still going after all of that sort of turmoil? The Fever have depth ― a lot of it. The team’s front office deserves a ton of credit for going out and signing guards Odyssey Sims and Shey Peddy for relief. They also drafted forward Makayla Timpson and signing veteran Brianna Turner.

Sims and Peddy have extensive WNBA experience and seamlessly integrated into the Fever’s system after just a few games. Timspon and Turner were further down in the depth chart, but have played critical minutes as the season went on. All four players, plus Mitchell, Hull, forward Natasha Howard and center Aliyah Boston, have become crucial to the Fever’s success in the back half of the season. The Fever don’t upset the No. 3 seed Dream and steal a game from the No. 2 seed Aces in the playoffs without the contributions.

2. Stephanie White’s WNBA playoffs coaching clinic

As of the publishing of this story, Fever coach Stephanie White has 30 games of playoff experience in the WNBA. She’s led teams on deep playoff runs three separate times between her tenures with Indiana and the Connecticut Sun. In other words, White is not new to this. She’s true to this. Quite frankly, she and her staff deserve a lot more credit for what they have done to keep the Fever operating at a high level. That’s likely a lot of hours of film study, clipboard work and the unseen moments of pouring into players to get the most of them.

Perhaps what is most impressive about White’s current run with the Fever is her ability to not only come equipped with a formidable game plan but also to deploy timely adjustments. It often goes under the radar, but it’s that sort of work that has the Fever in the semifinals. For example, deploying Peddy in the waning minutes of Game 3 against the Atlanta Dream when the Fever’s season was seemingly on the line. Peddy immediately hit a 3-pointer and caused a deflection moments later, which went onto ignite a series-sealing momentum shift. That sort of small in the moment but ultimately large decision is a glimpse of not only White’s thought process and brilliance, but the trust in her players to execute.

3. The Fever are extremely resilient

As cliché as it sounds, the Fever are a resilient team. They are playing inspired basketball, with a lot of energy and intensity. That’s probably a walking nightmare for opposing teams to deal with because Indiana is already one of the most prolific teams in the league when fully healthy. What’s more, it’s likely motivating for the team that not many people expected the Fever to be in the second round of the playoffs, given all the injuries and, at times, the up-and-down nature of their season.

That sort of belief in one another and White is noteworthy, and ignites a much larger conversation. Could the Fever actually win it all without Clark? Then, if they were to win a championship this season without their top player, how many could they potentially win with Clark once she returns?

In a news release, Sooners coach Brent Venables announced that starting quarterback John Mateer will undergo surgery on Wednesday, Sept. 24 to fix a right-hand injury sustained in the Sooners’ win vs. Auburn. The expectation is for the Heisman Trophy candidate to ‘return to action sometime this season.’

Oklahoma mentioned in its news release that Mateer sustained his injury during the first quarter of the Sooners’ SEC opener against Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 20. Backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who split time last season with Auburn transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold, will start in Oklahoma’s next game on Saturday, Oct. 4 against Kent State.

Mateer is coming off his second ranked win at Oklahoma in Week 4, as he led the Sooners to a 24-17 win over then-No. 25 Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 20. The Washington State transfer has rushed for at least one touchdown and passed for at least one touchdown in each of his last 10 games dating back to last year with the Cougars.

The 6-foot-1 quarterback is off to a hot start with the Sooners, who are ranked No. 10 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and 4-0 on the season with two ranked wins against Michigan and Auburn. Oklahoma is currently on bye in Week 5 of the season.

Here’s the latest on Mateer’s injury:

John Mateer injury update

Oklahoma announced on Sept. 23 that Mateer will undergo surgery on Sept. 24 to fix a hand injury that he sustained in the Sooners’ SEC opener win against the Tigers.

Mateer sustained his injury in the first quarter vs. Auburn, per Oklahoma’s news release. He played through the injury for the remainder of the game, completing 24 of 36 passes for 271 passing yards and one touchdown. He also added a 9-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead score for Oklahoma.

‘After consulting with medical experts, it became clear that surgery is the best option for John and his short- and long-term future,’ Venables said in a statement. ‘He’s extremely disappointed he will miss some game action but is eager to correct the issue and move forward. As he is with everything, we know he will be aggressive with his rehabilitation and work to return to the field as quickly as possible.’

How long is John Mateer out?

Oklahoma didn’t give a clear timetable for Mateer’s return in its news release, as the Sooners said he is expected back on the field ‘sometime this season.’

ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Mateer is expected to miss ‘about a month’ of the season and that the surgery he will undergo is ‘considered straight-forward.’

The Sooners play Texas on Saturday, Oct. 11 — two weeks and three days after Mateer’s scheduled surgery.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Russell Wilson has been benched by the Giants for rookie QB Jaxson Dart, per multiple reports.
Barring an injury to Dart or a trade before the deadline, Wilson will have a tough time finding his way back into action this season.
Wilson is set to hit free agency again next spring, but starting opportunities will be immensely difficult to come by.

Russell Wilson was bound to hand off the New York Giants’ starting quarterback role to Jaxson Dart at some point.

But the 36-year-old’s benching wasn’t the product of a controversy that simmered over the course of a season. Instead, the sense of inevitability surrounding the change hit early, with coach Brian Daboll executing the switch Tuesday, per multiple reports, after his team fell to 0-3 with a ‘Sunday Night Football’ faceplant against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now, after his third consecutive high-profile flameout in as many years following previous splits from the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers, the 10-time Pro Bowl passer is staring down what appears to be a shortage of options in both the near and long term.

Here’s a breakdown of what could be ahead for Wilson:

What’s next for Russell Wilson this season with Giants?

While the Giants have yet to publicly reveal any details surrounding the move to Dart, the odds of Wilson finding his way back to action for New York seem vanishingly small.

When Daboll first left the door open for a change behind center on Monday by saying the coaching staff was ‘evaluating everything,’ it represented a stark tonal shift from the message that the organization had clung to for nearly five months. After the Giants traded up to select Dart at No. 25 overall in the NFL draft, Daboll immediately declared Wilson the starter, noting that the team wouldn’t rush the development of its young quarterback. Even as the Mississippi product shined throughout training camp and preseason action, franchise brass didn’t budge on its insistence to roll with the veteran.

To make such a swift about-face, then, indicates the organization reached a breaking point – and far sooner than many would have predicted.

External pressures were clearly mounting, as fans chanted ‘we want Dart’ after Wilson threw his second interception just before halftime Sunday in a 22-9 loss to the Chiefs. The rookie’s insertion into the lineup for a handful of plays elicited a surge of cheers, and the crowd doubled down on its disapproval of Wilson by booing him upon his subsequent returns.

But the Giants’ decision undoubtedly entailed far more than consideration of optics. While Wilson did provide one game of dizzying highs with his Week 2 deep-ball assault against the Dallas Cowboys, New York’s attack repeatedly stalled when stakes were at their highest. The offense ranks 31st both in the red zone scoring and on third-down conversion percentage.

The Giants might envision Dart as a potential antidote to both those woes. An adept runner, he is sure to change the complexion of the attack with more run-pass options. New York’s embrace of those wholesale changes illustrates the level of buy-in for embracing a new chapter – and leaving Wilson and his volatile playing style behind.

With Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen entering the season on hot seats that seemingly have only gotten toastier, there’s no discernible upside in turning back to Wilson at any point for the rest of this season. If Dart flourishes, he’ll surely continue to start. But even if he falters, what incentive is there to sit him given that jobs could be on the line? Upon retaining the existing regime, co-owner John Mara made clear he wanted the organization to quickly identify an answer at quarterback. Daboll and Co. have seen enough from Wilson already to rule that he isn’t it, so it’s now on them to determine if Dart is.

Wilson’s only reasonable route back to reclaiming the starting gig might involve Dart being sidelined by an injury. The Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young, for one, managed to bounce back from last season’s benching once Andy Dalton’s thumb injury opened a window for him to prove himself with a fresh opportunity. But the age dynamic and resource commitment in that scenario were the inverse of what Wilson faces. And even coming back with a hot hand might not be enough for the 36-year-old to entrench himself unless Dart is shelved for an extensive stretch.

Could Giants trade Russell Wilson before deadline?

Expect to hear Wilson’s name floated plenty ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline. But there’s a strong likelihood that there will be more fan interest than team interest in acquiring the 14th-year pro.

Financial factors shouldn’t prove much of an obstacle for either the Giants or anyone interested in his services in a potential deal. Wilson’s one-year, $10.5 million deal carries a base salary of just $2 million, so taking a flier on him wouldn’t necessitate much of a commitment. With another capable veteran backup around in Jameis Winston, New York could embrace a split fairly seamlessly.

But what kind of market – if any – will there be for his services? Injuries have already hit several teams hard behind center, with five backups starting in Week 3. Still, front offices are typically reticent to shake up the position during the season with outside additions. Even rare midseason quarterback trades, such as the Minnesota Vikings’ 2023 pickup of Joshua Dobbs, are most often spurred by a pursuit of depth rather than a plug-and-play starter.

Wilson’s best hope of finding a new setting this year, then, might be for a team in search of some insurance. The Cincinnati Bengals threw their support behind backup Jake Browning once Joe Burrow was lost to turf toe, but maybe a team that had looked to be all in on 2025 would want to evaluate options beyond recent signings Mike White and Sean Clifford, especially after Sunday’s franchise-worst 48-10 loss to the Vikings. Beyond that, however, it’s difficult to identify possible suitors, though the landscape could change quickly in the coming weeks.

Russell Wilson’s 2026 outlook in NFL free agency

For the third time in as many years, Wilson is set to hit the open market as a free agent in March. The options for him figure to be even more limited than they were in his previous two trips.

Wilson already has seen his range of possibilities largely shaped by other quarterbacks’ decisions, as the Giants emerged last March only after their pursued trade of Matthew Stafford and flirtation with Aaron Rodgers both fizzled out. The other teams that he spoke with, per multiple reports, were the Cleveland Browns, who scavenged for low-cost signal-callers throughout the offseason, and the Steelers, who opted to embrace the unknown with a potential pursuit of Rodgers rather than bringing back the passer who started 11 games for them in 2024.

Russell Wilson contract details: How benching impacts QB’s incentives

With Wilson’s latest – and perhaps final – starting stint lasting just three games, it seems like a long shot that he could find someone willing to give him another go as a first-stringer. The last chapter of his career, then, might be determined by his willingness to operate as a backup.

It’s largely unfamiliar territory for a player who immediately stepped into the spotlight with the Seattle Seahawks as a third-round rookie. Outside of a two-game benching at the conclusion of his time with the Broncos and an injury-related absence to start last season with the Steelers, the starting gig has been all Wilson has known. A player who has earned more than $313 million throughout his career would likely make a relative pittance next year unless he’s somehow able to boost his value prior to the offseason.

But Wilson has been resolute about his desire to continue playing, even throughout a stretch in which many have wondered when he’ll choose to wrap things up.

‘I definitely want to play another five to seven years,’ Wilson told ESPN’s Hannah Storm last November. ‘I think that’s always been my goal, I’ve been clear about that since the beginning. I think that’s always been my mindset, is the longevity of the game. I’ve been fortunate to be able to play 200-plus games and really not miss many. … I feel great, I feel young, I feel like I can still move around out there and make all the decisions and all the throws.’

Just as he learned this week, however, plans can change in an instant.

The injury-ravaged Indiana Fever pulled off the biggest upset of the 2025 WNBA playoffs to start their semifinal series against the Las Vegas Aces, and an unlikely trip to the WNBA Finals suddenly seems within reach.

That’s what is now riding on Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals between the Aces and Fever on Tuesday, Sept. 23 in Las Vegas. The Fever pulled off a stunning 89-73 victory over the Aces in Game 1 after Las Vegas had closed the regular season with 16 consecutive wins and beat the Seattle Storm in the opening round of the playoffs.

All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell had a playoff career-high 34 points, and the Fever shot 50 percent as a team, spoiling the pregame celebration accompanying the news that Aces star A’Ja Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to win four MVP awards. Wilson had a double-double in Game 1 (16 points, 13 rebounds) but shot just 6-for-22 from the floor.

Here’s how to watch Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces:

What time is Fever vs. Aces Game 2?

Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals series between the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 6 seed Indiana Fever is scheduled to tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local) on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

How to watch Fever vs. Aces WNBA playoffs: TV, stream for Game 2

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 23
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT)
Location: Michelob ULTRA Arena (Las Vegas)
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Stream Fever-Aces series on Fubo (free trial)

Fever injury report: Lexie Hull questionable

Fever guard Lexie Hull (back) was listed as questionable on Tuesday’s injury report. Earlier Tuesday, Hull admitted after shoot-around that she’s ‘a little sore. I’m not going to lie.’ Hull added, ‘It’s catching up to me. We’re just going to keep getting warm and keep going out there and try to forget about the pain… but that’s everyone. Every one is playing with bumps and bruises.’ Hull is averaging 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season. 

Chloe Bibby (left knee), Caitlin Clark (right groin), Sydney Colson (left knee), Sophie Cunningham (right knee), Damiris Dantas (concussion protocol) and Aari McDonald (right foot) have all been ruled out for Game 2.

Kelsey Mitchell has been carrying the Indiana Fever — it’s time everyone noticed

In a tumultuous season defined by injuries and resilience, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell has remained a constant.

Mitchell has, in fact, been a constant for the Fever organization ever since she was drafted No. 2 overall out of Ohio State in 2018. She’s endured ups and downs during her eight-year career in Indiana, including six losing seasons and five different head coaches, enough turmoil to send any top pick packing.

But Mitchell never bailed and the 29-year-old is now leading the Fever’s improbable postseason charge.

‘There have been multiple times this season where (Mitchell) has put us on her back and she’s carried us,’ Indiana head coach Stephanie White said on Sunday after the Fever upset the Las Vegas Aces 89-73 to steal Game 1 of the WNBA playoff semifinals behind Mitchell’s 34-point performance. Full story here.

Are Caitlin Clark’s Air Force 1s the key to Indiana Fever’s playoff success?

Caitlin Clark may not be able to play for the Indiana Fever, but she’s clearly trying to influence her teammates with her shoe game. The All-Star guard, who is out with a right groin injury, has worn black Nike Air Force 1 sneakers for the last three games of the playoffs. The Fever’s record in those three games: 3-0.

It started when the Fever were down 1-0 in their best-of-3 first-round series to the Atlanta Dream. She walked out on the court with the shoes, which exude toughness, and got a big reaction from teammates.

A’ja Wilson named 2025 WNBA MVP for record fourth time

A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season. She is the first four-time MVP, besting three-time winners Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson. 

WNBA MVP voting results

A’ja Wilson received 51 of 72 first-place votes and 21 second-place votes (657 points) from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The Las Vegas Aces center won the award over finalists Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (534),  Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (391), Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (180) and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (93).

A’ja Wilson stats

Wilson averaged a league-leading 23.4 points (2nd-best in her career), 10.2 rebounds (2nd-best), 3.1 assists (ties her career-high), a league-leading 2.3 blocks (2nd-best) and 1.6 steals (2nd-best) in 40 games (all starts) this season. Wilson averaged 29.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the Aces’ first-round playoff series against the Seattle Storm, including a 38-point performance in Game 3, tying her playoff career high. However, she was held to 16 points in the Aces’ Game 1 loss to the Fever, shooting a dismal 27.2% from the field. 

A’ja Wilson named Co-Defensive Player of the Year

For the third time in four seasons, Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. But this time there is a twist. Wilson will share the award with Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith, the WNBA announced Thursday.

WNBA playoffs 2025: Aces vs. Fever scores, results and schedule

All times Eastern; *-if necessary

Fever lead series 1-0

Game 1: Fever 89, Aces 73
Game 2, Tuesday: Fever at Aces, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3, Friday: Aces at Fever, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
*Game 4, Sunday: Aces at Fever, 3 p.m. ET on Sunday (ABC)*
Game 5, Tuesday, Sept. 30: Fever at Aces, TBD

Indiana Fever roster

Las Vegas Aces roster

2025 WNBA Finals schedule

*if necessary

WNBA champions by year

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Zion Williamson says he hasn’t felt this good since college or high school, and he had a message for those criticizing the New Orleans Pelicans that should make the former Detroit Pistons ‘Bad Boys’ legend now leading the team’s front office proud.

Williamson’s struggles to stay on the court were again a focal point at Pelicans media day on Tuesday, Sept. 23 ahead of the start to the NBA preseason. But this year, there is no angst or concern being expressed about Williamson’s status, even though he played in just 30 games last season due to hamstring and back injuries.

Pelicans coach Willie Green praised the work Williamson put in this offseason. Teammate Trey Murphy III declared him to be ‘slimmer than I have ever seen him during the summertime.’ Joe Dumars, the former Pistons star hired as New Orlean’s executive vice president for basketball operations in April, deemed Williamson’s offseason to have gone ‘great.’

‘I haven’t felt like this since college, high school,’ Williamson said, ‘where I can walk in the gym and I feel good.’

Williamson, 25, is entering his seventh NBA season after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke. The two-time All-Star had a strong statistical campaign in 2024-25, averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists, but he again had issues being in the lineup on a consistent basis. Williamson has played more than 30 games in a season just twice since entering the league due to a variety of ailments, and his weight and conditioning have frequently been mentioned in conjunction with his lack of availability.

But the insertion of Dumars into the mix in New Orleans appears to be having an impact on Williamson thus far. Dumars said he spent his first offseason with Williamson preaching responsibility and accountability and that ‘you can’t be great without any responsibility.’ Neither Dumars nor Williamson would go into detail about what the responsibility would entail, outside of being a better leader for an organization that finished with a 21-61 record in 2024-25 due to a litany of injuries.

‘I like Joe. What you see is what you get. He’s going to hold me accountable and as he holds me accountable, he’s going to give me a lot of responsibilities as well,’ said Williamson, who has three seasons left on the max contract extension he agreed to with New Orleans in 2022. ‘I’m excited for it and I look forward to it. I know he’s going to hold me to a really high standard and if I slip up or anything, I know he’s going to be right there to make sure I get right back on path.’

‘It helped a lot that they believed in me,’ added Williamson, while also mentioning new Pelicans General Manager Troy Weaver.

Williamson said a key difference this time is the rehab plan put together by the Pelicans when he came back from his hamstring injury last season. The team incorporated more of a variety of workouts, with football and boxing training involved to keep Williamson engaged throughout the process. He also prepared for this season with a familiar face, working out with former Pelicans assistant and WNBA great Teresa Weatherspoon.

But expectations aren’t high for New Orleans, and Dumars’ decision to trade an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to move up to select Derik Queen in June raised eyebrows. The Pelicans also added Jordan Poole in an offseason trade involving C.J. McCollum as they await the return of Dejounte Murray from a torn Achilles suffered last January.

Williamson emphasized he feels differently about the Pelicans’ outlook, in part, because Dumars has brought a new energy into the franchise in which ‘nobody’s going for none of that soft stuff … that ‘Bad Boy’ mentality.’ His response to the naysayers on Tuesday played right along with that attitude.

‘I love the composition of this team. There was a time where I felt like Trey (Murphy), where I kept tabs on it, kept notes on it. But nah, that’s in the past for me,’ Williamson said of the team’s critics. ‘How I feel on it now? Whatever you said at that certain time, when we are in a certain position, you just got to stay over there. There’s no coming over here, don’t want validation. You don’t even have to waste your time and say, ‘Them guys really did it.’ I don’t care. You just got to stay over there.’

The PGA of America will now provide a $200,000 stipend to each U.S. Ryder Cup team member.
European captain Luke Donald stated his players would not accept payment for participating in the event.
Several American players, including Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, plan to donate their stipends to charity.

For nearly a century, golfers were not directly compensated for their participation in the Ryder Cup. 

In addition to the charitable donations ($300,000) the PGA of America gave on behalf of the 12 American players and the captain since 1999, the organization voted in November 2024 to also fund a $200,000 stipend for the U.S. squad. 

Europe captain Luke Donald noted in an interview with SkySports on Monday, Sept. 22 that European players would never accept the idea of being paid to play in a tournament as prestigious as the Ryder Cup. 

‘Every one of them was like, ‘This isn’t a week to get paid,” Donald told SkySports. ‘We have such a strong purpose in this team and what we play for.’

But U.S. players and captain Keegan Bradley said that it won’t go directly to their pockets, however. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said Tuesday he and several of his teammates will donate their extra cash to charity. 

‘I’ve never been one to announce what we do. I don’t like to give charitable dollars for some kind of recognition,’ said Scheffler, who said he and his wife are active in various local Dallas-area charities. ‘We have something planned for the money that we’ll be receiving. I think it’s a really cool thing that the PGA of America has empowered us to do.’

Xander Schauffele was another U.S. golfer who said he planned to donate the money and blamed the media for hyping up the discourse surrounding the Americans’ bonus. 

‘You guys keep talking about it and trying to make it this negative thing. It’s whatever everyone views it as,’ Schauffele said Tuesday. ‘There’s a lot of pride that comes into playing in one of these, and yes, we’re happy to get paid for this, and yes, I plan on donating it. It’s something that selfishly will make me feel good about what I do.’

Bradley said the changes came about because the PGA asked him last year how to modernize the compensation structure and he gave his input. Team member Patrick Cantlay said he wasn’t privy to those discussions. 

“I don’t think any of the team members were,” said Cantlay, who said he’ll be donating to a set of charities that are significant to him. 

‘This event is very good at generating lots of noise and that’s not going to help us put points on the board,’ Cantlay added. ‘I think we need to put 100% of our focus on playing the best golf we can and let the noise be exactly what it is, just noise.’

Caitlin Clark may not be able to play for the Indiana Fever, but she’s clearly trying to influence her teammates with her shoe game. The All-Star guard, who is out with a right groin injury, has worn black Nike Air Force 1 sneakers for the last three games of the playoffs.

The Fever’s record in those three games: 3-0.

It started when the Fever were down 1-0 in their best-of-3 first-round series to the Atlanta Dream. She walked out on the court with the shoes, which exude toughness, and got a big reaction from teammates.

‘I fear you, you mean business,’ Fever All-Star center Aliyah Boston joked before Game 2. ‘Black Forces?! Them (refs) better watch out.’ 

BE LIKE CAITLIN CLARK: Buy black Air Force 1s

Ever the superstitious type, after the Fever won Game 2, Clark wore same outfit and Air Force 1s for Game 3. After the Fever upset the Dream, they celebrated the shoes on the court.

‘I mean, they’re working, so,’ teammate Lexie Hull said following the Game 3 win. ‘We told her she’s bringing them in her bag, wearing them every day.’

For Game 1 of the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces, Clark wore black and white Nikes to the Michelob ULTRA Arena. Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham was concerned, asking about the black Air Forces. Clark said: ‘Don’t worry, I’ve got them.’

Clark wore all black for the game, including the Air Force 1s, and the Fever stunned the Aces to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 semifinals.

Here’s guessing the black AF1s will be back for Game 2, Tuesday in Las Vegas.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis lost 26 pounds during the offseason by cutting out sweets.
His weight loss has resulted in increased energy, allowing him to play more snaps and make more impactful plays.
Davis scored a 61-yard touchdown on a blocked punt return, reaching a top speed of 18.59 mph.

From one big guy to another, what the heck is the secret for Jordan Davis?

The Philadelphia Eagles’ mountain of a defensive tackle, off to such an impressive start to his fourth NFL season, has revealed a new-and-improved version of himself after losing 26 pounds during the offseason. This might be inspiring for any of us needing to drop a bit of extra weight.

“It’s really just cutting out the sweets for me,” Davis told USA TODAY Sports during a recent interview.

Call it a classic case of addition by subtraction.

Davis, listed at 6-6, 336 pounds, provided one of the most riveting highlights from Week 3 in the NFL with his 61-yard touchdown return of a blocked field goal on Sunday that put the finishing touch on Philadelphia’s comeback victory against the Los Angeles Rams.

You may marvel at the toe-drag swag by a nifty wide receiver in the end zone or correctly consider it cool when a cornerback takes it to the house with a pick-six, but for my money there’s nothing quite like the rare sight of a big fella rumbling with the football for a long-distance run to paydirt.

In Davis’ case, the ultra-athletic adventure began in the middle of the trenches as he leapt to swat Josh Karty’s kick like a basketball center would reject a shot in the lane. Then he kept his balance while in pursuit. He was already in stride, accelerating, when he scooped up the football.

And boy did he turn on the jets. According to NextGen Stats, Davis clocked at 18.59 miles an hour during his sprint – fastest by a player weighing at least 330 pounds since 2017.

“All that weight he lost, he might not make that block last year. He might not make that play last year,” star running back Saquon Barkley told reporters after the Eagles (3-0) kept their perfect record intact.

Davis, 25, would probably agree with that assessment. A week earlier, after spending a few hours chasing Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium, Davis told me how his weight loss has made a tremendous difference in boosting his energy level.

“Like night and day,” he explained. “I feel more comfortable just being out there. I’m able to run. I cramped up, chasing after Pat (in Week 2), but I’d rather be cramping up than to be overweight and a little sluggish.”

The early results, he added, have added motivational fuel to stay consistent with a regimen that begins in the mind.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day,” Davis said. “This was a process that started last season, really. I’m just glad everything has come to fruition. This is what I work for. I’m just glad that I’m out there.”

The Eagles drafted Davis from Georgia with the 13th pick overall in 2022, and his potential for stardom was backed by a phenomenal showing at the combine when he posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.78 seconds at 341 pounds. But then came the questions of whether he would develop into more than a one-dimensional run-plugger. The weight was part of the problem.

He clearly got the message when defensive coordinator Vic Fangio challenged him to become an every-down player. Although the Eagles use a heavy defensive line rotation, more snaps were to be had this season, given the free agent departure of Milton Williams.

“You know, they were asking me to do more,” Davis said. “To be on the field more. To make more plays, I had to change my body. I had to be more conditioned.”

In addition to the physical work, Davis knew he needed to change some lifestyle habits.

“It’s definitely a mindset thing, just realizing it’s OK to say no,” he said, referring to less-healthy food options. “That and just knowing what the bigger goal is at hand. At the end of the day, I’m here to be a key player for this team. I just want to make sure that I’m here and can provide in any way I can.”

The snap counts offer a barometer. Davis, who played 25% of the defensive snaps in the Super Bowl 59 smashing of the Kansas City Chiefs, played 87% of the plays in the season-opening win against the Dallas Cowboys – the extra load brought on by the ejection of his defensive tackle mate, Jalen Carter, at the start of the game for spitting on Dak Prescott. In Week 2, when Davis batted down two of Mahomes’ passes in extremely muggy conditions, he logged 53% of the snaps.

On Sunday, when he also chased down Matthew Stafford for a crucial sack in the third quarter, posted five tackles, including one for a loss, and had a quarterback hit, Davis was on the field for 45 defensive plays (68%). For the young season, that’s 69.5% of the defensive plays (130 of 187), with another 29 snaps on special teams in three games.

Another challenge will come in the heat at Tampa on Sunday, when the Eagles face the Buccaneers in a battle of NFC unbeatens.

More snaps and more big plays, though, are hardly the only motivators in this case.

“Also, just looking in the mirror,” Davis said. “Like, alright, it’s time to really lock in and kind of tighten up, and just really be a man and say this is the time. The buck stops here.”

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni can vouch for a different flow.

“I’ve seen him walk around with his shirt off a lot more now, which he should,” Sirianni said during his postgame press conference on Sunday. “It’s good, and he just worked his butt off. You saw it in training camp like this would happen, and he’s played good football through the first three weeks.”

It helps for Davis to stay a bit obsessed with his new habits. When we chatted in Kansas City, he was eager to hit the scale after a long day in the heat.

“I’ve got to weigh myself after this,” he said. “I shed a few.”

How often does he check on his weight?

“Every day,” Davis said. “I think my thing is just being accountable for myself. We get our weigh-ins weekly, but for me it’s more so about staying on top of it where I can see. I’m like, ‘Alright, I had a big dinner. I need a little extra work.’ Or maybe I’m not eating enough, so I’ve got to get my protein and calories in. If anything, I just need to be consistent, keep tracking it. It’s been paying dividends.”

Which is undoubtedly a winning formula for the fast big man in the middle.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell

On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social

Bryson DeChambeau has long been a polarizing figure in the golf world, with his unorthodox playing style, his decision to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf and his outsized persona on the golf course generating plenty of fans and critics alike over the years. The 2025 Ryder Cup has been no different thus far, but it could ultimately benefit the United States team.

DeChambeau was back in the spotlight after Golf Channel analyst and former PGA Tour golfer Brandel Chamblee declared DeChambeau a ‘captain’s nightmare’ on Monday because of the attention he seeks for himself in order to promote his YouTube channel. Chamblee, a frequent and outspoken DeChambeau detractor, called DeChambeau ‘an odd duck when he’s trying to blend in with the team and he has so many potential bulletin-board mistakes.’

The remarks went viral and some of DeChambeau’s prominent American teammates and United States captain Keegan Bradley defended his presence at Bethpage Black during Tuesday’s new conferences before play begins on Friday.

‘Just his golfing ability alone is an X-factor for our team, but also, he’s a really fiery player,’ Bradley told reporters. ‘When you come to a Ryder Cup, you don’t want guys to try to be something they’re not. We have a lot of calm, mellow guys, so we need the energy from Bryson.’

‘I was telling Keegan, I feel like Bryson could be like the difference for us in a strange way from the standpoint of feeding into these fans, the style of golf he plays,’ Xander Schauffele added. ‘He’s been great in the team room.’

Both Bradley and Ryder Cup rookie J.J. Spaun also noted the effort DeChambeau had put in to being at team dinners and activities ahead of the Ryder Cup despite not playing with the rest of his teammates on the PGA Tour.

Chamblee ripped DeChambeau on Monday in the aftermath of an interview with Rory McIlroy published in The Guardian recently that included a comment in which the 2025 Masters champion said of DeChambeau, ‘The only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people. That is basically what I think of that. To get attention, he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others.’

DeChambeau had previously said he would ‘chirp’ in McIlroy’s ear during the Ryder Cup if they played against one another. The two were paired together during the final round of The Masters when McIlroy completed golf’s career grand slam and DeChambeau said McIlroy never spoke to him over the 18 holes.

DeChambeau is scheduled to speak to reporters on Wednesday. It’s safe to say his teammates are glad he’ll be there.

‘The people love him and I think he loves the opportunity to represent his country,’ said Scottie Scheffler, who teamed with DeChambeau at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. ‘I’m excited to kind of unleash him this week.’