Lee Elia, known for managing the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies during his decades-long career in MLB (and for an infamous, expletive-filled postgame rant), has died. He was 87.

The Phillies announced that Elia died on Tuesday less than one week shy of his 88th birthday on July 16.

‘The Phillies mourn the loss of Lee Elia, who managed the club from 1987-88,’ the team said in a social media post on Wednesday. ‘Elia was a valued contributor to the Phillies for much of his half century in professional baseball. The third base coach for the 1980 World Series championship team, he also spent time in the organization as a minor league player, manager, scout and director of instruction.’

Born in Philadelphia in 1937, Elia graduated from Olney High School and attended the University of Delaware before signing with the Phillies in 1958. He played in the minor leagues for several years and subsequently signed with the Chicago White Sox. He was called up to the majors in 1966.

He also had a brief stint with the Chicago Cubs in 1968. He appeared in 95 total MLB games and had a .203 batting average.

Elia transitioned to coaching after landing a third base position with the Phillies in 1980. The squad went on to win the 1980 World Series over the Kansas City Royals.

‘I never really entertained thoughts about managing the Phillies. I just kept saying, ‘Geez, it would be great if one day I could be a coach for the Phillies,’ ‘ Elia once recalled. ‘That became a reality in ’80 and not only was I a coach, but I was a third base coach on a world championship ball club. And that to me was the ultimate.’

In 1982, Elia was hired as the manager of the Cubs. He lead the team to a 73-89 record that season. The Cubs didn’t fare much better in Elia’s second season. He was dismissed with the team sporting a 54-69 record.

Before then, though, Elia memorably delivered an infamous, expletive-laced rant mostly directed toward Chicago fans for heckling and booing the home team following a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 29, 1983.

Elia was hired to take over as manager for the Phillies in 1987 after the team got off to a 29–32 start under John Felske. Elia led the Phillies to a 51-50 mark, the team finishing the season with an 80–82 record. He retained the manger position for the 1988 season but was fired late in the year as the Phillies finished a disappointing 65–96.

He held various other coaching jobs for the New York Yankees (1989), Seattle Mariners (1993–1997; 2001–2002; 2008), Toronto Blue Jays (2000), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003–2005) and Baltimore Orioles (2006).

Elia was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

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.

Jim and John Harbaugh were in Washington as the NFL calendar draws closer to training camp.

The Harbaugh brothers were spotted exiting the West Wing of the White House on Thursday. A White House pool report later confirmed that the NFL head coaches visited.

A person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports that the White House invited the Harbaugh family.

John, 62, is entering his 18th season as the Ravens’ head coach. Jim, 61, is going into his second year as the Chargers’ head coach.

This isn’t the first notable White House visit for the Harbaugh brothers. Former President Barack Obama welcomed John and the Ravens to the White House in 2013 to honor the team’s Super Bowl 47 championship. Jim, while the head coach at Michigan, also got some time with President Obama at the White House in 2015.

Jim and the Chargers are just days away from training camp. Chargers rookies report to training camp on July 12 in El Segundo, California. Chargers veterans report July 16. The Ravens rookies report July 15 and veterans are scheduled to show up July 22 in Owings Mills, Maryland.

The NBA gave Cooper Flagg a nationally televised showcase for his first game with the Dallas Mavericks.

Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, made his first appearance for the team in an NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas on Thursday night against Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers with ESPN’s cameras focused on their every move.

Flagg is expected to provide immediate help for the Mavericks on both ends of the floor, and his first game in Las Vegas offered the first glimpse of how quickly he can adapt to the NBA.

James is about the only player participating in the NBA’s Summer League who can perhaps challenge or surpass Flagg in terms of curiosity and intrigue. The son of LeBron James appeared in 27 games for the Lakers as a rookie and already played in one summer league game for the Lakers during the California Classic.

Check out the top moments from Flagg’s Summer League debut:

Final: Mavericks 87, Lakers 85

Check out the top highlights from the NBA Summer League game between the Lakers and Mavericks:

Cooper Flagg, Bronny James final stats

It was a slog in the second half for both Cooper Flagg and Bronny James — at least in terms of scoring.

Neither player scored a single point after halftime and both struggled to find consistency with their shots.

In his first competitive game since April 6, Flagg struggled to find efficiency. He missed each of his six attempts after intermission and finished the game with 10 points. He shot 5-of-21 overall and added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Still, Flagg was able to make several winning plays down the stretch. He swatted a massive block on Lakers guard DJ Steward before he eventually got the ball back in transition. And, with the defensive attention he drew, Flagg cut into the paint before spinning and finding Mavericks guard Ryan Nembhard — brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard — for a go-ahead 3, the one that eventually would win the game.

“Not up to my standard,” Flagg said during a post-game interview with the ESPN broadcast. “But I’m going to regroup, I’m going to be all right. It’s a new feeling, new environment, new teammates.”

James missed a would-be go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds to play and finished with eight points on 2-of-8 shooting. He added two rebounds and two assists.

The Mavericks won 87-85.

Cooper Flagg, Bronny James stats through third quarter

Neither player scored in the third period, as Cooper Flagg missed all three of his attempts and Bronny James missed both of his tries.

Flagg is entering the fourth quarter with 10 points on 5-of-18 shooting (27.8%), with five rebounds, two assists and three steals.

James has eight points on 2-of-6 shooting, with two boards and one assist.

The Mavericks are up 68-62.

Scoring slows in third for both Flagg and James

It has been a quiet third quarter for both Cooper Flagg and Bronny James, who have combined to miss all four of their shot attempts in the period. Neither has scored a single point in the third.

Flagg, who has played 21:40, caught a quick rest midway through the quarter.

Cooper Flagg, Bronny James stats at halftime

In what has been an entertaining game, Cooper Flagg and Bronny James have both been active.

Flagg played 16:22 (of 20 possible minutes) and shot 5-of-15 from the field (33%) for 10 points. Flagg missed all four of his 3s. He added three rebounds, one assist and two steals.

James has been on the floor less, playing 10:03, and has been selective with his shot, hitting his first two attempts. He finished the half with eight points on 2-of-4 shooting, going 3-for-4 on free throws. James has also recorded one rebound and one assist.

The Lakers are up, 47-43.

Bronny James guards Cooper Flagg

The Lakers and Mavericks coaching staffs are delivering. Giving fans what they want, the Lakers have put Bronny James on Cooper Flagg in the second quarter.

James, known best for his defense, is a shorter guard and cedes seven inches to Flagg. Still, James was aggressive in using his hands to disrupt Flagg. During one sequence, Flagg tried to back down James, who poked the ball out, though he was called for a foul.

On the inbounds, Flagg received the pass and used his height to quickly put up a jumper over James, flushing it from the left wing.

End Q1: Mavericks 19, Lakers 17

If the first quarter of Cooper Flagg’s summer league debut could be characterized in one phrase, it would be high volume.

Flagg handled the ball and dished passes, put up nine shots — three of which were 3s — sprinted out in transition, and scored six points on 3-of-9 shooting (33%). Flagg appeared to get more settled as the game wore on. He played 9:08 in the first quarter, of 10 possible minutes.

Flagg added one rebound and one steal in the period.

Bronny James played only 4:41 in the period, but hit both his shots for five points.

“Trying to be myself, be as aggressive as I can and make plays for my team,” James said during an in-game interview with the ESPN broadcast.

James also described Flagg as “a quick, powerful big” in the interview.

The Mavericks are putting Cooper Flagg to work

Dallas is putting the ball in his hands, using his size and handle to create. Immediately, after Dallas won the tip, the Lakers threw a quick double-team at Flagg, who handled it well and got the ball out of his hands quickly.

The Mavericks ran the first play for Flagg, and he missed a 14-foot jumper from the left elbow. He also missed his second attempt, a 3 pointer from just left-center of the top of the key.

On the other side, Bronny James laced his first two tries, a mid-range jumper and a catch-and-shoot 3. James has looked poised and confident with the ball in his hands, and also dished an early assist.

After he got a short breather on the bench, Flagg would get his first basket in emphatic fashion, scooping a steal and throwing down a dunk in transition. It apparently settled him down; on the following possession, Flagg worked his way to the right side of the floor, and hit a step-back jumper over Dalton Knecht.

Then, later in the quarter, Flagg leaked out in transition and put home an easy layup, with a foul, giving him the chance for an and-1 after a media timeout.

What time is Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers?

The NBA Summer League game between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. in Las Vegas).

How to watch Mavericks vs. Lakers: TV, live stream for Cooper Flagg NBA Summer League debut

Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Location: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas)
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+, Fubo

Watch Mavericks vs. Lakers with Fubo

Mavericks star Kyrie Irving in Vegas to catch Flagg debut

Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who’s nursing a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered late in the regular season, is in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas to watch Cooper Flagg’s summer league debut.

Irving is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season with the injury.

With tipoff looming …

Fans are starting to trickle in for what’s anticipated to be a full house to see Cooper Flagg’s debut against Bronny James and the Lakers.

Cooper Flagg throws down highlight dunk during warmups

As if his summer league debut wasn’t already getting enough hype, the Mavericks social media team fanned the flames by posting a short clip of Flagg casually flushing a windmill dunk during pre-game warmups.

The caption for the video?

‘He’s ready.’

Ticket prices surge for Cooper Flagg’s debut versus Bronny James, Lakers

According to ticket marketplace Vivid Seats, the average price for Thursday night’s Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Lakers summer league game in Las Vegas was $223 (as of afternoon of July 9). It’s a hefty price for an exhibition, and the most expensive summer league ticket in two years.

It trails the average cost ($297) of the summer league debut of Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, which took place Friday, July 7, 2023.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the cheapest get-in ticket, including fees, is listed at $66.89 for general admission. The most expensive ticket is $3,072.30 for a courtside deck seat below one of the baskets.

Since then, prices have come down some, with the most expensive seat available, with an hour-and-a-half left for tipoff, at $1,063.94.

Most of the NHL’s top free agents have new contracts.

But there are also trades to be made as NHL teams acquire or move players to improve their immediate future or get their salary cap situation under control.

There were two trades on July 10. The Dallas Stars sent veteran defenseman Matt Dumba and a draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok. Also, the Toronto Maple Leafs dealt tough guy Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Henry Thrun.

The New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes pulled off the biggest trade of July 1 with Carolina acquiring defenseman K’Andre Miller and signing him to an eight-year contract.

The Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights also made a major deal on June 30, sending Mitch Marner to Vegas, which signed him to an eight-year, $96 million deal,. The Golden Knights sent forward Nicolas Roy to the Maple Leafs.

Tracking the latest trades from the NHL offseason:

July 10: Maple Leafs trade Ryan Reaves to Sharks

Reaves, 38, has 1,100 career penalty minutes but he had been used less and less by the Maple Leafs. He appeared in only 35 games last season and was waived and sent to the American Hockey League in March, playing three games with the Marlies.

“He will bring energy, personality, physical play and toughness to our group,’ Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. ‘He has been a part of many winning teams, and I witnessed firsthand the positive impact he can bring to a group when I was with the Rangers.”

Defenseman Henry Thrun, 24, is heading to Toronto in the trade after recording 12 points in 60 games last season.

July 10: Stars trade Matt Dumba to Penguins

This deal helps the Stars’ cap situation because Dumba makes $3.75 million and is in the final year of his contract. They also send a 2028 second-round pick to Pittsburgh. According to PuckPedia, the Stars now have about $2 million in cap space. Dumba, 30, had only 10 points last season, but did have 70 hits and 60 penalty minutes. Kolyachonok, 24, who makes $775,000, had seven points in 35 games between the Penguins and Mammoth last season.

July 8: Oilers acquire Hobey Baker winner Isaac Howard

The Oilers acquired the rights to Michigan State forward Isaac Howard from the Lightning and signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in a trade of prospects.

Howard was the No. 31 overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. He had 26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games last season to win the Hobey Baker Award as top men’s college hockey player. He’s considered NHL-ready and could play alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.

Edmonton sent forward Sam O’Reilly, the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, to the Lightning in the trade. He helped the London (Ontario) Knights win the 2025 Memorial Cup title and reach the final in 2024.

July 1: Hurricanes acquire K’Andre Miller from Rangers

The Hurricanes landed 25-year-old defenseman Miller and gave up defenseman Scott Morrow, 22, a conditional first-round pick and a 2026 second-rounder. Carolina signed Miller to an eight-year deal with a $7.5 million cap hit.

Trading Miller gave the Rangers the cap space to sign Vladislav Gavrikov, the top defenseman in the free agent class. The Hurricanes were changing up their blue line with veterans Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns hitting free agency. The Hurricanes also signed free agent defenseman Mike Reilly.

July 1: Sharks acquire Alex Nedeljkovic from Penguins

Nedeljkovic is entering the final year of his contract and he struggled this past season with a 3.12 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. He and Yaroslav Askarov could split time in San Jose.

July 1: Blackhawks acquire Sam Lafferty from Sabres

The forward is returning after previously playing in Chicago for parts of two seasons. He struggled in Buffalo with seven points in 60 games. The Sabres get a 2026 sixth-round pick in return.

July 1: Bruins acquire Viktor Arvidsson from Oilers

The Bruins acquire forward Viktor Arvidsson from the Oilers for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, Arvidsson had signed a two-year deal with Edmonton last season and did not work out. He was in and out of the lineup in the playoffs. But he did score 26 goals two seasons ago and could fill a middle-six role in Boston. Edmonton saves $4 million in cap space.

July 1: Canadiens-Blues trade

The Canadiens acquire forward Zachary Bolduc for defenseman Logan Mailloux. Bolduc adds secondary scoring after scoring 19 goals and 36 points in his first full season. Mailloux, who was taken in the first round of the 2021 draft despite asking not to be drafted, has played eight NHL games. The Canadiens recently acquired Noah Dobson, who fills the role of offensive defenseman.

June 30: Golden Knights acquire Mitch Marner from Maple Leafs

The sign-and-trade deal allows Marner to sign an eight-year deal and lands them the top free agent in the 2025 class. Toronto was going to lose Marner for nothing in free agency, so they did well to get a roster player. Roy is signed through 2027 at a $3 million cap hit.

June 30: Red Wings trade Vladimir Tarasenko to Wild

Tarasenko has won two Stanley Cup titles, but he disappointed with 33 points in his lone season in Detroit, while averaging less than 15 minutes a game. He has another year on his contract at $4.75 million, so the Wild get secondary scoring at a reasonable price. Detroit gets future considerations in the deal.

June 30: Maple Leafs acquire Matias Maccelli from Mammoth

The Mammoth get a conditional 2027 third round pick in return. Maccelli, 24, gets a fresh start after dropping to 18 points in 55 games this past season. But he can provide secondary scoring for Toronto after totaling 106 points over the two seasons before that. If he gets 51 points this season and the Maple Leafs make the playoffs, the third rounder becomes a 2029 second-round pick.

June 30: Predators-Golden Knights trade

The Nashville Predators acquire defenseman Nicolas Hague and a conditional third-round pick from the Golden Knights in exchange for forward Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. Nashville will retain 50% of Sissons’ salary. If Vegas wins two rounds in the 2026 playoffs, the Golden Knights will move a second-round pick instead.

June 28: Red Wings acquire John Gibson from Ducks

The Detroit Red Wings acquire goalie John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks for goalie Petr Mrazek, a 2027 second- round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick. Gibson had been mentioned in trade rumors for years and the Red Wings have needed better goaltending for years. Lukas Dostal has emerged as a No. 1 goalie in Anaheim and needs a new contract as a restricted free agent. Mrazek is a better fit financially at $4.25 million than Gibson at $6.4 million. Gibson, who will get more playing time in Detroit, had a solid season with a 2.77 goals-against average and .911 save percentage, a little better than how Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon performed.

June 28: Senators acquire Jordan Spence from Kings

Spence’s ice time had dropped, particularly in the playoffs, so the trade gives him more opportunity. The defenseman is only 24. Los Angeles had drafted a defenseman, London’s Henry Brzustewicz, in the first round. The Kings receive a 2025 third round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder.

June 28: Sabres, Penguins swap defensemen

The Buffalo Sabres acquire defensemen Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau from the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Connor Clifton and a 2025 second-round pick.. The Sabres are changing up their defense after earlier acquiring Michael Kesselring. Clifton is entering the final year of his contract. Timmins is four years younger.

Also: The Washington Capitals acquire defenseman Declan Chisholm and a 2025 sixth-round pick from the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Chase Priskie and a 2025 third-rounder.

June 27: Blue Jackets acquire Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood from Avalanche

The Avalanche get back 20-year-old forward Gavin Brindley, a third-round selection (77th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft and a conditional 2027 second-rounder. This move helps the Blue Jackets’ depth. Wood has a lot of speed and kills penalties. Coyle, acquired by the Avalanche at the trade deadline, had 25 goals two seasons ago. The Avalanche clear cap space.

June 27: Canadiens acquire Noah Dobson from Islanders

Dobson, a restricted free agent, signed an eight-year, $76 million extension as part of the deal, according to Friedman. Dobson, a skilled offensive defenseman, had 70 points two seasons ago and joins a Montreal blue line that features rookie of the year Lane Hutson. Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche gets two picks in the middle of the first round. Could he use the 16th and 17th picks as part of a package to move up in the draft? He didn’t, drafting Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson. Heineman, whom the Islanders acquired from the Canadiens as part of the deal, is known for his speed and two-way ability.

June 26: Mammoth acquire JJ Peterka from Sabres

The Utah Mammoth will be aggressive this offseason as they head into their second season in Salt Lake City. Peterka is coming off a career-best 68 points and totaled 55 goals the past two seasons. The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent and signed a five-year deal with the Mammoth after the trade.

The Sabres, who need to adjust their roster to try to end a 14-season playoff drought, get back defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan. Kesselring, 25, had a career-best 29 points as he got more ice time because of injuries on the Utah blue line. Doan, 23, is the son of former Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan. He has another year left on his contract.

June 26: Panthers acquire Daniil Tarasov from the Blue Jackets

The Panthers give up a 2025 fifth-round pick for Tarasov, 26, a restricted free agent who became available with Jet Greaves emerging in Columbus. Current backup Vitek Vanecek is a pending unrestricted free agent. Tarasov has a career 3.44 goals-against average but those numbers should come down while playing behind a better Panthers defense. Sergei Bobrovsky will be 37 next season and has a year left on his contract. General Bill Zito potentially has found his future No. 1 goalie.

Also: The Seattle Kraken acquired two-way center Frederick Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild for a 2025 fourth-round pick. … In a free agency move, the Dallas Stars re-signed captain Jamie Benn for one year at $1 million, plus an additional $3 million in potential performance bonuses

June 25: Oilers trade Evander Kane to Canucks

This was a salary cap move, saving more than $5 million with the Oilers needing to re-sign defenseman Evan Bouchard. The Oilers get back a fourth-round pick. Kane, a Vancouver native, adds help on the wing with the Canucks expected to lose Brock Boeser to free agency.

June 25: Oilers trade Evander Kane to Canucks

This was a salary cap move, saving more than $5 million with the Oilers needing to re-sign defenseman Evan Bouchard. The Oilers get back a fourth-round pick. Kane, a Vancouver native, adds help on the wing with the Canucks expected to lose Brock Boeser to free agency.

June 23: Flyers acquire Trevor Zegras from Ducks

Zegras wanted to play center and the Ducks didn’t have room for him there in their top six. The Flyers land a creative forward who has scored several lacrosse-style goals but also has dealt recently with injuries. The Ducks get back center Ryan Poehling, who wins faceoffs and kills penalties, two areas where Anaheim needed improvement. They also receive a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder.

Also: The Seattle Kraken acquired two-way center Frederick Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

The NFL is coming together to donate to the relief efforts in Texas.

Kerr County and the Texas Hill Country saw catastrophic flood waters from the Guadalupe River sweep through their area during the early morning hours of July 4.

Heavy rainfall overwhelmed the area, damaging homes and youth camps – including Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp that lost at least 27 campers and counselors. At least 120 people have been confirmed dead, with more than 160 still unaccounted for, according to officials.

As search and recovery efforts continue, the region is getting a boost from teams on the gridiron, who have pledged their support.

The Houston Texans were the first to announce their donations on Saturday, July 5, with more coming throughout the week. The Dallas Cowboys and the NFL Foundation joined the Texans on Sunday, July 6, with each contributing $500,000 in a $1.5 million total donation.

Teams from other leagues have gotten involved as well, hoping to help the community in the aftermath of the tragedy. Here’s a look at the NFL teams and owners that have pledged their support.

NFL donations to Texas flood relief

Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Atlanta Falcons

Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, pledged $500,000 through the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation on July 10.

“We hold the people of Texas, especially those in Texas Hill Country, close in our thoughts as the devastating floods have brought hardship and heartbreak to so many,’ the foundation said in a statement. ‘We mourn the losses and stand with those who are suffering, offering our deepest sympathies and unwavering support.’

Clark Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, lost a relative, 9-year-old Janie Hunt, in the flood that devastated Camp Mystic.

On July 9, he was part of a group that donated $500,000 to the recovery. Hunt, who also owns Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas, joined Austin FC, Houston Dynamo FC and MLS as part of the group donation.

“Our family is devastated by the tragedy in Central Texas,” Hunt said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to those grieving – in particular, to the parents who lost children, those who lost family members, and the far-too-many who have lost friends, neighbors, and loved ones.

“This has shaken our community to its core. Today, along with our MLS partners, my brother and I are humbled to support those directly assisting the victims of this unimaginable tragedy. In the wake of such sadness, we are awed by the hearts of our fellow Texans, and we are grateful for the true community leaders – in boats, helicopters, or trucks filled with food – who are showing up for their neighbors in need.’

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings shared on July 9 that they donated $500,000 to support rescue and recovery efforts.

‘We are deeply saddened by the continued devastation and loss of life in the Texas Hill Country and can’t imagine the pain so many are experiencing,’ Mark, Zygi and Leonard Wilf, the team’s owners, said in a statement. ‘We are praying for peace for the families who have lost a loved one and strength for those who continue to risk their lives leading the rescue and recovery effort.’

NFL Foundation

Following the donations from the Texans and Cowboys, the NFL announced on July 6 it would join in with the two Texas clubs – putting in $500,000 on behalf of the NFL Foundation.

‘The National Football League’s two Texas-based teams – the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans – are uniting with the NFL Foundation to support the victims’ families and survivors of the heartbreaking floods in central Texas,’ the league said in a statement. ‘Together they will contribute $1.5 million to provide both immediate assistance and long-term resources to those most impacted by the catastrophic flooding.’

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys announced their donation on the morning of Sunday, July 6, contributing $500,000.

‘Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastation and loss of life caused by the floods in Kerr County and Texas Hill Country, especially for the young girls and their families, as well as all of those lost and their loved ones,’ the team said in a statement. ‘This has been devastating to see and we hold everyone impacted in our thoughts and prayers. Standing side by side with The Salvation Army’s critical response, we are also donating $500,000 to provide immediate resources for rescue, relief and long-term recovery efforts.’

Houston Texans

Cal, Hannah and Janice McNair were the first from the NFL to pledge their support for the people of Texas, donating $500,000 on behalf of the Texans.

‘We are heartbroken by the loss and damage that our neighbors in the Texas Hill Country have endured,’ the McNair family said in a statement. ‘We are especially devastated to hear about the children who are still missing and we are praying they are reunited with their families soon. Our hearts will remain with everyone affected and in addition to our donation, we will continue to support the search, rescue and recovery efforts in the coming weeks.’

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.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are supposedly a small-market team, but are spending money and investing in their future like big-market teams.

Continuing their busy offseason, the NBA champions and guard Jalen Williams agreed to a five-year maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $287 million. The extension kicks in at the start of the 2026-27 season.

The 24-year-old Williams averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists this season, earning third-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defensive honors, and played with a torn ligament in his wrist during the last three months of the season, including the team’s seven-game NBA Finals triumph over the Indiana Pacers.

The Thunder’s recent spending spree includes center Chet Holmgren, who signed a five-year extension, fully guaranteed for $239 million, which could have a total value of $250 million and keeps him with the franchise through the 2030-31 season.

The cornerstone of the franchise, guard and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a four-year, $285 million contract extension, with an annual value of $71 million, earlier this month.

With the spending spree, Oklahoma City is approaching nearly $250 million in payroll starting in the 2026-27 season, putting them past the first and second apron, which could result in penalties for exceeding the salary cap.

After days and weeks of intense speculation, the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments won’t be expanding — at least not quite yet.

In a statement released on July 10, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt said that no decision has been made on tournament expansion after it was “discussed at length” this week during meetings for the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball committees.

Gavitt added that expanding the fields to 72 or 76 teams, or sticking with the current 68-team model, remain “viable outcomes” in advance of either the 2026 or 2027 tournaments.

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament last expanded in 2011, when the advent of the First Four stretched the field from 65 to 68 teams. The move had an immediate impact, with VCU advancing all the way to the Final Four after it had been one of the last teams selected for the tournament. The NCAA women’s tournament remained at 64 teams until 2022, when it also made the jump to 68 teams.

Whether it goes to 72 or 76 teams — ESPN reported last month that the latter is the more likely option — it would be the largest increase in tournament teams since 1985, when it went from a 53-team event to a 64-team one.

The discussion around tournament expansion has intensified this year. While speaking with reporters at a Big 12 meeting in May, NCAA president Charlie Baker said the NCAA had been having ‘good conversation’ with its media partners about the possibility of increasing the number of teams in the field.

‘Our goal here is to try to sort of get to either yes or no sometime in the next few months because there’s a lot of logistical work that would be associated with doing this,” Baker said at the time. “If we were to go down this road, you just think about the opening weekends, who has to travel the longest, it gets complicated.’

Though tournament expansion has support from many administrators and coaches — and stands to increase the value of the NCAA’s media-rights deal for the events — it has been a topic of widespread and intense criticism from fans.

Dan Gavitt statement on NCAA tournament expansion

Here’s Gavitt’s statement in full:

“The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees met this week, with the men’s meeting taking place in Savannah and the women’s meeting in Philadelphia. The topic of expanding the field for each championship was discussed at length but no decision or recommendation was made. The still viable outcomes include the tournaments remaining at 68 teams or expanding the fields to either 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2026 or 2027 championships.”

NCAA tournament expansion history

Though it has been nearly 40 years since there was significant NCAA men’s basketball tournament expansion, the event has grown considerably over the course of its existence.

What began as an eight-team competition in 1939 doubled to 16 teams in 1951. By 1975, it had doubled again, all the way up to 32 teams. It increased to 40 in 1979 — the year that Magic Johnson and Larry Bird famously faced off in Michigan State’s win over Indiana State in the national championship game — and again grew by eight teams in 1980, up to 48. After getting to 53 teams, it became a 64-team tournament in 1985 and remained at that number until 2001, when the formation of the Mountain West created the need for one more automatic bid.

The final round of expansion came in 2011, when three more at-large bids were added to the tournament, making it a 68-team event that included the First Four, a group of four play-in games.

Here’s a look at the history of NCAA tournament expansion:

1951: expands from eight to 16 teams
1953: grows from 16 to 22 teams
1975: expands to 32 teams
1979: grows from 32 to 40 teams
1980: expands from 40 to 48 teams
1983: goes from 48 to 52 teams
1985: expands to 64 teams
2001: adds one team, expanding to 65
2011: First Four implemented, growing field to 68

Cooper Flagg is making his debut in a Dallas Mavericks uniform as the team begins NBA Summer League play against the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas.

Flagg was the No. 1 overall pick by the Mavericks on June 25.

All eyes will be on Flagg, especially for fans of the franchise, hoping he is the answer to their future success after the team traded away Luca Doncic to the Lakers last season.

Flagg joins the NBA after spending just one season at Duke. As a freshman, Flagg started all 37 games that he played in and averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 30 minutes per game.

He won the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award.

Here’s a breakdown of Flagg’s Thursday night performance:

Cooper Flagg stats tonight vs. Lakers

Stats through first quarter

Points: 6
FG: 3-for-9
Rebounds: 1
Assists: 0
Steals: 1
Blocks: 0
Turnovers: 0
Fouls: 2
Minutes: 9:23