Caitlin Clark will miss the Indiana Fever’s game Thursday night with a groin injury, but her shooting slump continues to draw attention.

Stay present. Be the goldfish. Reflect. Don’t ruminate.

Unsolicited tips on how to help Clark’s shooting woes continue to pour in, thanks in part to four slump-busting experts who talked to USA TODAY Sports about The Slump:

Clark, ordinarily a sharpshooter from long range, is 1-for-23 from 3-pointers over the last three games.

What ails her, according to the experts, could be a mix of psychological, emotional and physical issues. Sure enough, on Thursday, the Fever disclosed that Clark, 23, has a left groin injury. She will miss her sixth game of the season, with the star missing five previous games due to a quad injury. The Fever are off to a 7-7 start.

“That could easily throw her mechanics off in a way that she’s not really aware of,’’ said Dan Blewett, author of “This Slump Shall Pass.” “So she thinks, ‘Why are these (shots) not going in? I’m taking good looks. Everything’s the same.’

‘Yet it’s not.’’

Blewett is one of the four slump-busting experts who spoke to USA TODAY Sports about not only what might potentially help Clark but anyone else mired in a slump.

Be the goldfish!

Nathan Jamail, a leadership coach in the world of business, offers a disclaimer.

‘I was 5-foot-3 in the ninth grade and I couldn’t make a two-pointer,’ he said. ‘I don’t know if I’m qualified to give Caitlin advice in basketball.’

Whether or not you can hit a logo 3, Jamail offers a metaphor he borrowed from ‘Ted Lasso,’ the TV series starring Jason Sudeikis. Lasso, the fictional soccer coach, says ‘be the goldfish,’ encouraging his players to forget their mistakes and quickly move on – like a goldfish presumably would.

Said Jamail, ‘I’m the weird father from the stands yelling when (his daughters) make a mistake, ‘Goldfish! Goldish!’ They’re like, ‘Dad, stop.’ I’m like, just, ‘Goldfish!’

‘There’s all kinds of really successful veteran athletes, what makes them successful is their ability to forget what just happened,’ Jamail added.

But Jamail said the key to ending a slump is confidence – and finding a source to help renew it.

‘For some of us, it might be triggered by a mentor,’ Jamail said. ‘Others might be triggered by an energy or meditation or whatever gets you to reset. You’re not going to recover your ability if you’re not feeling good about yourself or not feeling confident.’

Blewett, the author who’s written about slumps, said Clark missing the game Thursday could reflect a wise decision by the Fever.

‘Because you want to protect your players from not losing their confidence from something that’s beyond their control and their health is beyond their control in large part,” he said.

Behold, Samurai warriors

Blewett, a former minor league baseball player who works exclusively with athletes, also suggests staying present. Especially at the cost of overthinking, overreacting and accepting advice from outside trusted advisers.

He also prescribes careful assessment of the nature of the slump.

‘How much luck is at play?’ Blewett said. ‘Is it me? Is it my teammates? Is it the opponents? Are (opposing players) starting to adapt to me? How much do I need to adapt back?’

He said that inventory would include the player’s health, especially if they’re fighting through injuries.

‘That’s also the burden of leaders and superstars, is they know it hurts the team when they’re out,” Blewett said. ‘And so they try to tough it through everything. They want to stay on there because 75% (of) Caitlin Clark is maybe better than 100% of someone else.’

But he returns to an emphasis on staying present, potentially with meditation, and to be unafraid of the picturing the slump at work.

‘A lot of times we’re taught to only think positive, right?’ Blewett said. “The Samurai (warriors), they often meditated on the negative aspects. They would meditate on their own death. They would see themselves being cut down by swords so that they could be acquainted with it. And then they could eventually feel, like, I’m not afraid of being cut down in battle and when I’m not afraid I can be my best self.

‘I can be fluid, I can be relaxed, I can be without fear. And I can just react to my opponent’s sword. So the more they could be friendly with the potential negative outcomes and be comfortable with them, then they could let go and be free.’

The sophomore slump

Molly Schaller, associate dean and professor of Higher Education Administration at Saint Louis University, has worked closely with college sophomores since 1995. It’s part of her effort to understand the “sophomore slump.’’

At the heart of the phenomenon, according to Schaller, is transition. And she said she’s long wondered if the sophomore slump plagues athletes like Clark, who happens to be in her second season (i.e. sophomore year) in the WNBA.

“She really jumped straight from the heights of what it means to be a college level athlete to the WNBA,’’ Schall said. “That had to be so exhilarating.’’

But then comes Year 2. For students, Schall said, it can lead to changing their major, leaving their friend group, sleeping a lot, drinking too much, dropping out of school or changing schools. For the record, Schall is not comparing those behaviors to Clark’s shooting slump.

The common denominator for college students and basketball stars, according to Schall, is transition.

“Now you’re settling into that new environment and you can’t quite settle into yourself until you answer some questions,’’ she said. “Is this the way I want to be in the WNBA? Is this the way I want to be in the world? Is this the way I want to interact with my colleagues? Is this the way I want to interact with the fans? How’s my family handling all of those things?

‘So to me, it’s a natural thing of transition. All of that stuff starts to hit, who am I? And you have to resolve those questions to settle in for the long haul.’’

A shift in perspective

Dust, the associate professor at Cincinnati, applauds Clark. Not just for her on-court skill but also for how she said she’s approaching her shooting slump.

‘The challenge for myself going forward is just continue to pour into every other aspect of the game and I can continue to have an impact in those other areas,’ Clark said after she went 1-for-10 from 3-point range in Indiana’s 89-81 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on June 22.

During the three games of dreadful shooting from 3-point range, Clark has averaged 9.3 assists, collected six steals and, in one game, had seven rebounds.

‘That can be beneficial because then you get what’s called a confidence carryover, so that you are feeling better, you’re not ruminating about what’s not going well, because you’re contributing in a productive way,’’ said Dust, an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati’s Linder School of Business. “And then (accurate shooting) might more naturally come back because it is getting away from that negative (thinking).’’

In business and athletics, Dust said, it’s beneficial to think of performance on as long of a trajectory as possible.

“This happens a lot in sales,” he said. ‘They’ll talk about people struggling. They just can’t close a deal. They have a rough quarter, a rough year or whatever it is. But if you can get people to extend the window of how they’re evaluating themselves, in terms of their performance episode, then they might see that, oh, wow, overall I still am an incredibly high achiever in my area.’’

In other words, shooting 1-of-23 from 3-point range will not define Clark, a two-time Naismith College Player of the Year and 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year who continues to entertain and demonstrate a truth beyond basketball.

Not even the likes of Caitlin Clark are exempt from slumps.

Jake Paul’s right hand deserves attention and respect.

He has used it to knock out seven men inside the boxing ring. And Paul says he’ll use it to knock out Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in the first round of their cruiserweight fight Saturday, June 28 in Anaheim, California.

Yet once again, Paul’s skills outside the ring are proving to be just as important as his powerful right hand during his quest to win a world title. About six months after beating 58-year-old Mike Tyson, Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) will be stepping into the ring against the 39-year-old Chavez (54-6-1, 34 KOs), who appears to be long beyond his prime but still is the son of legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

“I like big names,’’ Paul said at his final press conference with Chavez Jr. before their bout. “I like legendary names. And he’s on my path to world championship.’’

The path is no fantasy.

Oscar De La Hoya, the Hall of Fame boxer, this week told reporters, “I think (Paul) can win a world title.’’ Paul, who embarked on his pro career in 2020, has said he’s already been in talks for a world title shot in 2026. And what about Chavez?

The upcoming fight fits into a pattern that has highlighted Paul’s youth.

Chavez will become the eighth opponent who was at least 10 years older than Paul, 28, at the time of their fight. (Tyron Woodley, who fought Paul twice, was also 39 during each of those bouts.) Paul was eight years younger than two other opponents.

His only loss came against Tommy Fury, who was 23 when he beat Paul by split decision in 2023. Paul was 26.

Though Paul has called his fight against Chavez “a very, very tough test,’’ the oddsmakers disagree. Paul enters his fight against Chavez as a consensus -750 favorite, meaning bettors must wager $750 on Paul to collect $100 if he wins.

In 13 fights, Paul has yet to select an opponent who oddsmakers have deemed the favorite.

Names like Tyson and Chavez, coupled with Paul’s own star power, have created lucrative opportunities as Paul sharpens his skills and chases his title dreams.

A long-established strategy

Promoter Kathy Duva said it’s obvious why Paul says he likes big names.

“He needs ‘names’ to sell his fights,’’ Duva said. “At some point, one is simply too old to box effectively. So he chooses (fighters who) are past it and counts on the public to react to ‘names’ they recognize without realizing that they are now too old to be competitive.

“Paul has taken the long-established strategy of testing a young fighter against a well-known veteran in a crossroads fight to a stratospheric new level! Chavez couldn’t even fight when he was young, but he does have his father’s name. So I guess he fits the profile.’’

Paul said he was in negotiations with Canelo Alvarez, which would suggest Paul was willing to take a risk against a far more accomplished fighter. But Duva dismissed the narrative.

“I think he’s smart enough to know that Canelo wouldn’t involve himself in such a circus,’’ Duva said, adding that it amounted to the “Hold Me Back’’ tradition reserved for press conferences and weigh-ins. 

That said, Duva is among those who think Paul could fight for a title.

“I wouldn’t ever rule it out,’’ she said. “Not as long as there is a sanctioning body out there willing to collect its fee. Another longstanding boxing fact of life.’’

Taking everything by storm

Teddy Atlas, the boxing analyst and retired trainer, considered Paul’s path to 11-1 and a potential title fight. “Let’s be honest here,’’ Atlas told USA TODAY Sports. “I mean, really honest.’’

Atlas said Paul’s celebrity and ability to guarantee sizable purses for his opponents allow him to “handpick’’ boxers. He also said Paul has nothing to apologize for.

“He was creative, he was smart, he was opportunistic,’’ Atlas said.

Paul has boxed four MMA fighters, one retired NBA player, a YouTuber and Iron Mike. Next up: the son of legendary Mexican fighter Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

“They worked hard,’’ Atlas said of Paul’s team. “They take risks. They’re in the tough business. He worked hard to build what he built.

“I know he hasn’t taken the risk of other fighters (who) have been taking the conventional route. But he’s still taking a risk.’’

Robert Garcia, The Ring’s 2024 Trainer of the Year, voiced support for Paul’s path. It has been charted in part by Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s business partner and manager.

“He’s doing exactly what every manager and promoter does at the beginning of a fighter’s career,’’ Garcia told USA TODAY Sports. “He only has (12) fights. He’s actually doing better than a lot of prospects that had (hundreds) of amateur fights.’

Trainer Johnathon Banks, a former world cruiserweight champion, lauded Paul and older brother Logan Paul, who boxed Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition bout and since has emerged as a WWE star.

“Whether it’s wrestling or boxing, they putting on big shows and doing big numbers and they just taking everything by storm,’’ Banks said. 

The 2025 NBA Draft continued Thursday with the second round at the Barclays Center.

The first round of the draft took place on Wednesday with Cooper Flagg selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks, marking one of the more predictable picks in the first round. However, Thursday’s second round offered up many surprises as NBA teams moved up and down the draft board to bolster their depth.

The Phoenix Suns moved up to acquire the 31st overall pick, the first of the second round, from the Minnesota Timberwolves to nab forward Rasheer Fleming of Saint Joseph’s. In exchange, the Timberwolves picked up the Suns’ No. 36 pick (via the Brooklyn Nets) and went on to draft Adou Thiero from Arkansas. Thiero is expected to play for the Los Angeles Lakers after receiving the pick from the Timberwolves, highlighting the amount of movement among picks in the second round.

NBA Draft second-round picks, grades

Here’s every player that was drafted in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, including the player’s alma mater and their draft grade:

31. Minnesota Timberwolves: F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s

Trade: Fleming is heading to the Suns.
2024-25 stats: 14.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 apg, 53.1% FG, 39% 3PT, 74.3% FT
Grade: A-

32. Boston Celtics: F Noah Penda, Le Mans Sarthe (France)

Trade: Penda is reportedly heading to the Magic.
2024-25 stats: 10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 45.8% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 67.9% FT
Grade: A

33. Charlotte Hornets: G Sion James, Duke

2024-25 stats: 8.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 0.8 spg, 51.6% FG, 41.3% 3PT, 81.0% FT
Grade: B-

34. Charlotte Hornets: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

2024-25 stats: 19.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.7 bpg, 0.5 spg, 65.3% FG, 34.4% 3PT, 68.1% FT
Grade: B+

35. Philadelphia 76ers: C Johni Broome, Auburn

2024-25 stats: 18.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.1 bpg, 51.0% FG, 27.8% 3PT, 58.7% FT
Grade: B

36. Brooklyn Nets: G Adou Thiero, Arkansas

Trade: Thiero is reportedly heading to the Lakers (via Suns and Wolves).
2024-25 stats: 15.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 spg, 54.5% FG, 25.6% 3PT, 68.6% FT
Grade: A-

37. Detroit Pistons: G Chaz Lanier, Tennessee

2024-25 stats: 18 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 43.1% FG, 39.5% 3PT
Grade: B

38. San Antonio Spurs: G Kam Jones, Marquette

Trade: Jones is heading to the Pacers.
2024-25 stats: 19.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.9 apg, 48.3% FG, 31.1% 3PT, 64.8% FT
Grade: B

39. Toronto Raptors: G Alijah Martin, Florida

2024-25 stats: 14.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 45.2% FG, 35.0% 3P, 76.1% FT
Grade: B

40. Washington Wizards: G Micah Peavy, Georgetown

Trade: Peavy is heading to the Pelicans.
2024-25 stats: 17.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.6 apg, 48.1% FG, 40% 3PT
Grade: B

41. Golden State Warriors: G Koby Brea, Kentucky

Trade: Brea is heading to the Suns.
2024-25 stats: 11.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 47.0% FG, 43.5% 3PT, 91.4% FT
Grade: B-

42. Sacramento Kings: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford

2024-25 stats: 20.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.4 bpg, 46.7% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 77% FT
Grade: A-

43. Washington Wizards: G Jamir Watkins, Florida State

2024-25 stats: 18.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 42.7% FG, 32.1% 3PT
Grade: B-

44. Oklahoma City Thunder: F Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern

2024-25 stats: 17.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 41.4% FG, 26.6% 3PT, 76.4% FT
Grade: B

45. Chicago Bulls: C Rocco Zikarsky, Brisbane (Australia)

Trade: Zikarsky is reportedly heading to the Timberwolves (via Lakers).
2024-25 stats: 4.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 0.3 apg, 52.4% FG, 20.0% 3PT, 57.1% FT
Grade: C+

46. Orlando Magic: C Amari Williams, Kentucky

Trade: Williams is reportedly heading to the Celtics.
2024-25 stats: 10.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.2 agp, 1.2 bpg, 56.1% FG
Grade: B-

47. Milwaukee Bucks: F Bogoljub Marković, Mega Basket (Serbia)

2024-25 stats: 13.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.8 bpg, 53.8% FG, 37.0% 3PT, 76.0% FT
Grade: B-

48. Memphis Grizzlies: G Javon Small, West Virginia

2024-25 stats: 18.6  ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 41.8% FG, 35.3% 3P, 88.0% FT
Grade: B+

49. Cleveland Cavaliers: G Tyrese Proctor, Duke

2024-25 stats: 12.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 45.2% FG, 40.5% 3PT, 68.0% FT
Grade: B

50. New York Knicks: G Kobe Sanders, Nevada

Trade: Sanders is reportedly heading to the Clippers.
2024-25 stats: 15.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 46.0% FG, 34.2% 3PT, 79.5% FT
Grade: C+

51. Los Angeles Clippers: F Mohamed Diawara, Chloet Basket (France)

Trade: Diawara is reportedly heading to the Knicks.
2024-25 stats: 5.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 38.3% FG, 31.0% 3PT, 48.8 FT
Grade: C

52. Phoenix Suns: Alex Toohey, Sydney Kings (Australia)

Trade: Toohey is heading to Warriors.
2024-25 stats: 10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 apg, 45.2% FG. 72.9% FT
Grade: B-

53. Utah Jazz: G John Tonje, Wisconsin

2024-25 stats: 19.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 46.5% FG, 38.8% 3PT, 90.9% FT
Grade: B

54. Indiana Pacers: G Taelon Peter, Liberty

2024-25 stats: 13.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 57.8% FG, 45.3% 3P, 77.3% FT
Grade: B-

55. Los Angeles Lakers: F Lachlan Olbrich, Illawara Hawks (Australia)

Trade: Olbrich is heading to the Bulls.
2024-25 stats: 8.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 60.2% FG, 55.7% FT
Grade: C

56. Memphis Grizzlies: G Will Richard, Florida

Trade: Richard is reportedly heading to the Warriors.
2024-25 stats: 13.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.7 spg, 48.7% FG, 35.9% 3PT, 84.4% FT
Grade: B-

57. Orlando Magic: G Max Shulga, VCU

Trade: Shulga is reportedly heading to the Celtics.
2024-25 stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.8 spg, 43.5% FG, 38.7% 3P, 78.3% FT
Grade: B

58. Cleveland Cavaliers: G Saliou Niang, Aquila Basket Trento (Italy)

2024-25 stats: 7.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 51.3% FG, 69.6% FT
Grade: C+

59. Houston Rockets: G Jahmai Mashack, Tennessee

Trade: Mashack is reportedly heading to the Grizzlies (via Warriors and Suns)
2024-25 stats: 6.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 45.4% FG, 35.1% 3PT, 72.3% FT
Grade: C+

Free agent signings after NBA draft

Here’s where some notable college stars are signing as free agents, according to reports from ESPN:

Hunter Dickinson (Kansas) is signing with the New Orleans Pelicans
Mark Sears (Alabama) is signing with the Milwaukee Bucks
Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest) is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers
Eric Dixon (Villanova) is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers
Chucky Hepburn (Louisville) is signing with the Toronto Raptors
Caleb Love (Arizona) is signing with the Portland Trail Blazers
Vladislav Goldin (Michigan) is signing with the Miami Heat

Why were there only 29 picks in the second round?

There’s only 29 picks in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft after the New York Knicks’ second-round pick was rescinded by the league for “violating league rules governing the timing of this season’s free agency,” the NBA announced back in December 2022. The league found that the Knicks were involved in free agency talks with Jalen Brunson before the date when discussions were allowed. Brunson signed a four-year $104 million contract with the Knicks in July 2022 one month after his father Rick Brunson was hired by the Knicks as an assistant coach.

What time does the NBA Draft second round start tonight

The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on ESPN. You can also stream the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft with Fubo.

Where to watch NBA Draft tonight

Time: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)
Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, New York)
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, Sling TV

Watch the NBA Draft with Fubo

Who has first pick in 2025 NBA Draft second round?

The Minnesota Timberwolves (via the Utah Jazz) own the No. 31 pick and will be selecting first on Thursday evening. But the Timberwolves have appeared to move down not he draft board. According to ESPN, Minnesota has traded away the first pick of the second round to the Suns in exchange for the No. 36 pick and two future second-round picks.

Second-round NBA draft picks on the move

The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft is quickly approaching on Thursday and some picks are already on the move. Here’s how the second-round draft order has shaken up, according to ESPN:

The Brooklyn Nets traded the No. 36 pick to the Phoenix Suns for two future second-round picks.
The Suns traded the No. 52 and No. 59 picks to the Golden State Warriors for the No. 41 pick.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have traded the No. 31 pick to the Suns in exchange for the No. 36 and two future second-round picks.
The Los Angeles Lakers traded the No. 55 pick and cash to the Chicago Bulls for pick No. 45.

NBA Draft order: Round 2

31. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah Jazz – reportedly traded to Phoenix Suns)
32. Boston Celtics (from Washington Wizards via Detroit and Brooklyn)
33. Charlotte Hornets
34. Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans Pelicans via San Antonio, Phoenix and Memphis)
35. Philadelphia 76ers
36. Nets (reportedly traded to Phoenix Suns)
37. Detroit Pistons (from Toronto Raptors via Dallas and San Antonio)
38. San Antonio Spurs (reportedly traded to Indiana Pacers)
39. Toronto Raptors (from Portland Trail Blazers via Sacramento)
40. Washington Wizards (reportedly traded to Pelicans)
41. Golden State Warriors (from Miami Heat via Brooklyn and Indiana – reportedly traded to Phoenix Suns)
42. Sacramento Kings (from Chicago Bulls via San Antonio)
43. Washington Wizards
44. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Atlanta Hawks)
45. Chicago Bulls (from Sacramento Kings – reportedly traded to LA Lakers)
46. Orlando Magic
47. Milwaukee Bucks (from Detroit Pistons via Washington)
48. Memphis Grizzlies (from Golden State Warriors via Washington and Brooklyn)
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Milwaukee Bucks)
50. New York Knicks (from Memphis Grizzlies via Oklahoma City and Boston)
51. Los Angeles Clippers (from Minnesota Timberwolves via Atlanta and Houston)
52. Phoenix Suns (from Denver Nuggets via Charlotte and Minnesota – reportedly traded to Golden State Warriors)
53. Utah Jazz (from Los Angeles Clippers via Los Angeles Lakers)
54. Indiana Pacers
55. Los Angeles Lakers (reportedly traded to Bulls)
The 2025 second round pick for the New York Knicks was rescinded by the NBA.
56. Memphis Grizzlies (from Houston Rockets)
57. Orlando Magic (from Boston Celtics)
58. Cleveland Cavaliers
59. Houston Rockets (from Oklahoma City Thunder via Atlanta – reportedly traded to Golden State Warriors)

What channel is the NBA Draft on tonight?

ESPN will be televising the entirety of the draft’s second roun

How to stream the NBA Draft

The 2025 NBA Draft will be available to stream across Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users, as well as Sling TV.

2025 NBA Draft: Best remaining players

USA TODAY Sports staff compiled a list of the best remaining players in the second round. Here is a full list broken down by position. Several are listed below:

Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s

Junior, forward, 6-8¼, 232 pounds, 20 years old
2024-25 stats: 14.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 apg, 53.1% FG, 39% 3PT, 74.3% FT

Fleming is a mobile forward who plays a physical game and has strong footwork to finesse his way around defenders. He likes to get easy buckets in transition, his 3-point percentage in nearly five attempts per game is encouraging and he is valuable in pick-and-rolls as the screener. Defensively, he deflects passes and can protect the rim. Fleming averaged 18.8 points and 7.7 rebounds and shot 58.9% in the last six regular-season Atlantic 10 Conference contests.

Maxime Raynaud, Stanford

Senior, center, 7-0¼, 237, 22 years old
2024-25 stats: 20.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.4 bpg, 46.7% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 77% FT

Born in Paris, Raynaud spent four seasons at Stanford and was first-team All-ACC his senior season. He can make 3s, rebound, protect the rim – the easy comparison is Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren. Raynaud works well in the pick-and-roll, runs the floor well, sees the court and can play in the low post.

NBA Draft odds

Odds for No. 31, first pick in the second round. *All odds provided via FanDuel (odds as of Thursday, June 26):

Rasheer Fleming (+115)
Noah Penda (+500)
Adou Thiero (+500)
Kam Jones (+550)

2025 NBA Draft mock drafts: Second round

USA TODAY Sports’ Mark Giannotto compiled a list of several mock drafts heading into the second round. Here is a full breakdown. The top potential picks are listed below:

31. Minnesota Timberwolves

ESPN: F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s
The Athletic: F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s
CBS Sports: F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s
Sports Illustrated: F Adou Thiero, Arkansas

32. Boston Celtics

ESPN: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
The Athletic: C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
CBS Sports: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Sports Illustrated: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

33. Charlotte Hornets

ESPN: C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
The Athletic: G/F Sion James, Duke
CBS Sports: F/C Johni Broome, Auburn
Sports Illustrated: F Bogoljub Markovic, Mega Basket (Adriatic League)

NBA draft grades 2025: Who earned an A for their first round picks?

With the No. 1 pick, the Dallas Mavericks (A) did not botch the 2025 NBA draft, taking Cooper Flagg first overall, and the Brooklyn Nets (A) were active with five first-round picks. There was only one real surprise – Portland (C) using the No. 16 pick to take Yang Hansen.

NBA Draft winners and losers: Duke hits lottery

Night 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft had a bevy of winners and losers. USA TODAY’s Lorenzo Reyes and Jeff Zillgitt break down the best and not-so-great from the first round. Here is one of the list’s winners.

Winners: Duke and Blue Devils coach Scheyer

The Blue Devils had three lottery picks – Cooper Flagg No. 1, Kon Knueppel No. 4, Khaman Maluach No. 10 – making it the third time in school history that Duke has had three lottery pick in the same draft. It also happened in 1999 (Elton Brand, Trajan Langdon, Corey Maggette) and 2019 (Zion Willamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish).

NBA Draft first-round picks

Here is how the first round played out on Wednesday:

Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke
San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers
Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, wing, Baylor
Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel, wing, Duke
Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, forward, Rutgers
Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, guard, Texas
New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, guard, Oklahoma
Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin, guard, BYU
Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina
Phoenix Suns(from Houston Rockets): Khaman Maluach, big, Duke
Memphis Grizzlies (from Portland Trail Blazers): Cedric Coward, wing, Washington State
Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue, forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
New Orleans Pelicans (from Atlanta Hawks): Derik Queen, big, Maryland
San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta Hawks): Carter Bryant, forward, Arizona
Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami Heat): Thomas Sorber, big, Georgetown
Portland Trail Blazers (from Memphis Grizzlies): Hansen Yang, big, Qingdao Eagles (China)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit Pistons): Joan Beringer, big, Cedevita Olímpija (Slovenia)
Utah Jazz (from Washington Wizards): Walter Clayton Jr., guard, Florida
Brooklyn Nets (from Milwaukee Bucks): Nolan Traoré, guard, Saint Quentin (France)
Miami Heat (from Golden State Warriors): Kasparas Jakučionis, guard, Illinois
Washington Wizards (from Utah Jazz): Will Riley, forward, Illinois
Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta Hawks): Drake Powell, wing, North Carolina
Atlanta Hawks (New Orleans Pelicans): Asa Newell, big, Georgia
Sacramento Kings (from Oklahoma City Thunder): Nique Clifford, forward, Colorado State
Orlando Magic (from Denver Nuggets): Jase Richardson, guard, Michigan State
Brooklyn Nets (from New York Knicks): Ben Saraf, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Brooklyn Nets (from Houston Rockets): Danny Wolf, big, Michigan
Boston Celtics: Hugo González, wing, Real Madrid (Spain)
Charlotte Hornets (from Phoenix Suns): Liam McNeeley, wing, Connecticut
Los Angeles Clippers (from Oklahoma City Thunder): Yanic Konan Niederhauser, center, Penn State

NBA Odds: 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year

*All odds provided via BetMGM (odds as of Thursday, June 26):

Cooper Flagg (-225)
Tre Johnson (+700)
Ace Bailey (+800)
Dylan Harper (+1100)

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt sounds off on NBA draft’s ‘hat situation’

One of the iconic moments of any pro sport’s draft is when a just-picked youngster steps up on stage with the commissioner to pose for a photo with a jersey and hat from his or her new team. It’s a symbolic start to a new career, one the players can look back on later with a sense of pride. Except when they know they’ll never play a single game for the team that drafted them.

The NBA has an odd custom where draft-day trades are officially announced by the commissioner after the picks are made. Which can lead to what ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt calls the league’s uncomfortable ‘hat situation.’

‘The league’s too smart to have the moment that they’ve waited their whole life for be a picture in the wrong hat. It just doesn’t make sense,’ Van Pelt ranted post-draft on SportsCenter. Read Steve Gardner’s full story on the hat kerfuffle here.

NBA second-generation golden era continues with 2025 NBA Draft

(Jase) Richardson will join a growing NBA trend this week when he becomes the league’s latest second-generation player. He and Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, the son of longtime NBA player Ron Harper, are projected to be first-round picks ahead of the 2025-26 season. It would be the seventh time in eight years multiple players were drafted with a father who played in the NBA. 

The rise can be attributed to a variety of reasons, according to experts, from genetics to exposure, access and socioeconomic factors thanks the rising cost of youth sports. The number of NBA alumni is also bigger now with the league more than 75 years old. But the pattern is more distinguishable than ever.

This past season, there were at least 33 second-generation players who appeared in an NBA game (or more than 7% of the league’s players). Of the 30 NBA teams, 21 had at least one second-generation player on their roster at some point. 

Read more on second-generation NBA players and their golden era by Mark Giannotto.

Mark Williams trade report: Hornets send center to Suns

Charlotte Hornets starting center Mark Williams is on the move, seemingly for real this time.

The Hornets are trading Williams to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the No. 29 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft and a first-round pick in the 2029 NBA Draft, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The Suns (on behalf of the Hornets) went on to select Liam McNeeley out of UConn with the No. 29 pick.

Williams was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish ahead of the trade deadline in February, but the Lakers announced two days later that the trade had been ‘rescinded due to failure to satisfy a condition of the trade.’ 

Cooper Flagg: How will Duke star fare in NBA?

USA TODAY Sports Lorenzo Reyes states: ‘Given his size and skill set, and given his ability to play multiple positions on the floor, Flagg should be an instant contributor for the Mavericks and will enter the season as the odds-on favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year. He’s a player with an already-polished portfolio that includes ball handling, passing, rebounding and scoring, all of which means he can find different ways to impact games. And it’s not just against college kids; Flagg’s experience scrimmaging against Team USA — when he was just 17 years old — drew praise from LeBron James, Kevin Durant and others.

‘With Kyrie Irving (torn anterior cruciate ligament) set to miss most of the season, Flagg could be asked to assist Dallas with distribution and playmaking, but his best fit is as a versatile wing who can blossom into a consistent All-Star, with a potential arc like that of a fellow Blue Devil, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.’

USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Gardner has more on Cooper Flagg and expert predictions around the draft.

Khaman Maluach and navigating Trump’s visa ban

A quirk related to Maluach’s visa situation will play out on Wednesday night at the 2025 NBA Draft. The NBA is preparing for the complicated scenario that would be triggered if Maluach were to be taken by the Toronto Raptors with the No. 9 overall pick. 

Given the current Trump administration policy related to South Sudan, Maluach would have to apply for a United States tourism visa and a waiver to South Sudan’s visa ban any time he enters the United States if he plays for the Raptors, according to the NBA. That would also be in addition to having to obtain a Canadian work visa. The Raptors had to cross the United States border from Canada for road games 19 times based on their 2024-25 schedule.

USA TODAY Sports’ Mark Giannotto dives into Khaman Maluach’s situation around the draft and visa bans.

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.

Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop Wander Franco received a two-year suspended prison sentence Thursday when he was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic, which could end his baseball career.

Franco, 24, who signed an 11-year, $182 million contract in 2021, will remain on Major League Baseball’s restricted list.

If he’s unable to secure a visa to work in the United States because of the guilty verdict, he won’t be able to play again in MLB. Even if Franco is able to obtain a visa in the future, the Rays could seek to have the remaining $133 million remaining on his contract voided based on violating moral turpitude.

MLB’s investigation remains open but if Franco never gets a visa, the league may consider it a moot point to even issue a punishment.

‘Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,’ MLB said in a statement. “We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.’

The minor informed the court that she had a sexual relationship with Franco when he was 21 years old. The mother of the victim, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was convicted of sexually trafficking her daughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Franco was placed on MLB’s restricted list in July 2024, 11 months after social media posts alleged that Franco had been in an inappropriate relationship with the minor since December 2022. Franco denied the allegations and he was on paid administrative leave until being put on the restricted list.

While Franco remains a free man, he was informed that if he violates any conditions of the court, he must serve his full two-year sentence. He is prohibited from approaching minors with sexual intentions.

Franco also faces charges in the Dominican Republic for illegal possession of a handgun after an altercation in a parking lot November, 2024, in San Juan de la Maguana.

Wander Franco contract

Wander Franco agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract before the 2022 season at the age of 20, having played just 70 MLB games at that point.

Wander Franco stats

2021: .288/.347/.463 – 7 HR, 39 RBsI in 70 games – finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting
2022: .277/.328/.417 – 6 HR, 33 RBIs in 83 games
2023: .281/.344/.475 – 17 HR, 58 RBIs, 30 SB in 112 games – named to AL All-Star team

(This story was updated to include video.)

Even after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded him to the Dallas Cowboys, wide receiver George Pickens was all set to host the George Pickens Youth Football Camp, which was scheduled for Saturday, June 28 in Pittsburgh. Then he pulled out.

In a Tuesday email to families that had registered for the camp, TruEdge Sports — the company that coordinates youth camps for several NFL and college athletes — notified families that Pickens had ‘walked back on his word.’ The former Steelers’ representation notified TruEdge that he was ‘no longer interested in attending the camp’ with his name on it.

In the email, TruEdge Sports told families that they had reached out to confirm Pickens’ participation shortly after his trade to Dallas was announced. At the time, they wrote, they ‘were promptly assured that George remained committed to the camp and intended to show up for the families who had registered.’

Instead, a couple of weeks before the day of the camp, Pickens informed TruEdge that he’d no longer be attending.

‘Let us be very clear: we are deeply frustrated by this decision and the position it has placed all of us in,’ TruEdge wrote in their email.

‘Our team at TruEdge was fully prepared to host a camp this Saturday because we were led to believe George would follow through on his commitment. His sudden decision to back out not only reflects a disappointing lack of accountability, but also shows a disregard for the families and children who were excited to meet him.’

TruEdge’s email was not all bad news. The company went on to say that they were committed to holding a youth camp in Pittsburgh over the summer, though it would be postponed to July.

TruEdge also said they were able to find an NFL player to replace Pickens: Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth. The company added that they were also in talks with multiple other Steelers players to make appearances at the camp in late July, since it now nearly overlaps with the start of Pittsburgh’s preseason training camp. All campers who attend the event during its new date will receive autographs from every player making an appearance.

The Steelers confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Freiermuth would be replacing Pickens at the camp. Both the Cowboys — Pickens’ new team — and TruEdge Sports declined requests for comment.

USA TODAY Sports also reached out to Pickens’ agent, who did not immediately provide a statement on his behalf.

The protester who waved around a Palestinian flag during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl 59 halftime show has been arrested, more than four months after the incident.

During Super Bowl 59 on Feb. 9, Lamar closed out his halftime show performance with his single ‘tv off.’ During the song, a man dressed in black went rogue on stage and ran around the set while he waved a Palestinian flag that read ‘Sudan’ and ‘Gaza.’ The protester then stood atop a black lowrider vehicle and moved toward the 50-yard-line before security tackled him to the ground.

The NFL confirmed to USA TODAY the day after Super Bowl 59 that the person had the flag hidden on himself before the show.

Officials said state troopers began to investigate the incident after it occurred and identified the protester as Nantambu. An investigation revealed Nantambu confirmed he was hired as an extra for the performance and while he was allowed to be on the field, he ‘deviated from his assigned role’ and did not have permission to perform the demonstration. Authorities added that law enforcement apprehended Nantambu during the show after he allegedly refused to comply with a stop order.

After the incident, New Orleans police said the protester would not be arrested or charged, but it was the state police who conducted the action. Louisiana State Police arrested Nantambu and charged him with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly. He is currently booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center.

‘We take any attempt to disrupt any part of an NFL game, including the halftime show, very seriously and are pleased this individual will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,’ the NFL said in a statement to the Associated Press.

After the incident, Nantambu told NBC News he wanted to use the moment to ‘highlight the human suffering’ related to the Israeli-Hamas war.

Nantambu is also related to an incident involving a former NFL player, as he confirmed to TMZ Sports that he was the victim in an alleged shooting involving Antonio Brown. According to an arrest warrant in Miami-Dade County (Florida), first reported by the Washington Post, Brown is facing a charge of attempted murder with a firearm stemming from an altercation outside of a May 16 boxing event in Miami.

The Indiana Fever held a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks but couldn’t close and get the win without Caitlin Clark.

Clark did not play Thursday night due to a groin injury. It was her sixth missed game of the season after a quad injury cost her five games. Clark’s status beyond Thursday is day-to-day, according to coach Stephanie White, and this setback comes as she’s in the midst of a prolonged slump. The 2024 WNBA rookie of the year has made just one of her past 23 3-point attempts over the last three games.  

The Fever are now 2-4 without Clark this season.

This was also the first game for Indiana since DeWanna Bonner, a free agent acquisition this past offseason, requested her release and was subsequently waived by the franchise after missing five games for personal reasons. Her absence came following a demotion from the starting lineup.

Sparks vs. Fever highlights

Final: Sparks 85, Fever 75

The Los Angeles Sparks came out swinging in the fourth quarter and controlled the final frame en route to victory.

A Natasha Howard basket put Indiana up 10 with 9:26 to go but L.A. outscored the Fever in the frame 35-17.

A Kelsey Plum 3-pointer finally put the Sparks back in front, 67-66, with 4:13 to go. Dearica Hamby and Azura Stevens put in the daggers with put-back baskets in the final minute.

Check out full stats from the game here.

Caitlin Clark injury complicates shooting slump

Caitlin Clark missed the Indiana Fever’s game Thursday night with a groin injury, but her shooting slump continues to draw attention.

Stay present. Be the goldfish. Reflect. Don’t ruminate.

Unsolicited tips on how to help Clark’s shooting woes continue to pour in, thanks in part to four slump-busting experts who talked to USA TODAY Sports about The Slump.

Check out the full story from Josh Peter here.

End of third quarter: Fever 58, Sparks 50

The Indiana Fever take an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter and it would have been a double-digit margin if Shey Peddy hadn’t hit a layup at the buzzer for the Sparks.

The difference in the game has been the 3-point shot and turnovers. The Fever have hit seven of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc while the Sparks are just 4-for-17. L.A. has 19 turnovers to Indiana’s 10.

Fever 34, Sparks 30: Halftime

It wasn’t a second quarter to remember as both offenses struggled to hold onto the ball and score.

Los Angeles couldn’t have had a worse start to the second quarter as it didn’t score a single point in the first six-and-a-half minutes of the frame. During that time, the Sparks went 0-for-6 from the field and turned it over six times.

But for as bad the Sparks were, Indiana was struggling to make buckets, consistently missing 3-point opportunities. It led by as many as nine points before a late surge in the quarter got Los Angeles within one point in the final minute. A Sophie Cunningham 3-pointer helped extend the lead before the break.

Indiana is shooting just 29.7% from the field and Los Angeles is 40.7%, but turnovers have kept the Fever in the game. The Sparks have turned it over 15 times, already equaling their average for the season. Rickea Jackson and Natasha Howard each lead with eight points for their teams.

Sparks 20, Fever 19: End of 1Q

It was a tale of two parts in the first quarter. The Sparks hold a slim lead after the Fever shook off a sluggish start. 

Los Angeles started hot with a 9-0 run in the first three minutes and seven makes in its first 10 shot attempts. However, Indiana woke up and eventually took a one-point lead in the final minute of the frame. Free throws by Emma Cannon gave the Sparks the lead right back before the buzzer.

The Sparks’ Rickea Jackson has eight points while Natasha Howard leads Indiana with six. 

What time is Sparks vs. Fever?

The WNBA regular-season game between the Los Angeles Sparks and Indiana Fever is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

How to watch Sparks vs. Fever WNBA game: TV, stream

Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
TV: FanDuel Sport Network-Indiana (local)
Stream: Amazon Prime

Kirsty Coventry has plenty of complicated issues to tackle as the new president of the International Olympic Committee.

Hosting the 2028 Summer Games in the United States − where President Donald Trump has sparked an international trade war, banned visitors from a dozen countries and orchestrated widespread deportations of residents − is certainly among them.

Yet in her first news conference since officially assuming her role as the highest-ranking official in global sports, Coventry indicated on June 26 that she has few concerns about the 2028 Los Angeles Games. She relayed ‘reassuring’ reports from local organizers about their conversations with government authorities, including at the federal level, and said she is confident that the Games will reflect the Olympic movement’s core values.

‘There is an incredible willingness to see that the Olympic Games are a huge success,’ said Coventry, who is the first female president of the IOC. ‘The reason I mention that is that that gives us faith, as the Olympic movement, that that platform will be there to ensure that our values are stuck to. But (also) that our values will also be heard and that we will be able to ensure successful Games for our athletes.’

The Trump administration recently banned visitors from 12 countries from entering the United States. And, according to multiple news reports, it has considered expanding the ban to include people from 36 other nations − including, notably, Coventry’s home country of Zimbabwe.

Though the enacted ban includes a carveout for athletes, relatives and coaches who are entering the country to attend a major sporting event, such as the 2028 Olympics, it raises questions about the ease with which the rest of the world will be able to enter and exit the United States for sporting events. Senegal, for example, recently canceled a women’s basketball training camp in the U.S. after several of its players were denied visas, according to a Facebook post from the country’s prime minister, Ousmane Sonko.

Officials with the IOC, the LA28 organizing committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee have all downplayed such concerns, while attempting to highlight the cooperation of U.S. government officials so far.

‘We all believe that sport is a great unifier,’ Sarah Hirshland, the CEO of the USOPC, said on June 18. ‘… And we have every assurance from the administration that they will be great partners in helping ensure that we are a great host country.’

For Coventry, the Los Angeles Games are just one item on a lengthy to-do list.

After formally taking over for outgoing president Thomas Bach earlier this week, Coventry met with more than 70 members of the IOC to seek input and brainstorm ideas for reform within the movement. Following those conversations, she said the group identified two main areas as ripe for immediate reform: The Olympic Games bid process and the participation of trans and intersex athletes, which she described as the ‘protection of the female category.’

‘It was pretty much unanimously felt that the IOC should take a leading role in bringing everyone together to try to find a broad consensus (on that issue),’ Coventry said.

Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer, said the IOC will soon establish working groups to examine both issues, though she did not provide any additional details on who will be part of the groups or any timelines for recommendations.

Coventry said she will spend parts of her first year as IOC president traveling to meet with various Olympic leaders. When asked by a Chinese journalist about plans to visit the country, she said a trip had been tentatively scheduled for November. When asked by a Ukrainian journalist about a possible visit to Ukraine, she expressed a desire to visit all Olympic stakeholders ‘and that will, at some point, include all of the (national Olympic committees) around the world.’

‘I think that sport plays an incredibly important role in today’s world, and especially the Olympic Games — where we see the best of humanity,’ Coventry said. ‘… You see grit, you see determination, you see teamwork — all things and all messages that are not just relevant but have to be passed to the younger generation today, to remind them and to show them that it’s not all doom-and-gloom. And that we actually, if we can celebrate in the diversity that we are and that we have, we can really work towards creating something great.’

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.