Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham recently divulged several details about new basketball startup Project B, including that she asked teammate Caitlin Clark to join.

On her podcast, Show Me Something, Sophie Cunningham & West Wilson, Cunningham talked about the growing number of other leagues outside of the WNBA. The Fever guard admitted that most American players would likely play basketball in the offseason for organizations such as Project B, Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited. However, Clark was not on that list. The veteran revealed that she attempted to recruit Clark, but was unsuccessful.’All these leagues are great, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have the [WNBA], you don’t have the platform. So, you don’t have the eyes. You don’t have the recognition,’ Cunningham said, acknowledging that the WNBA is still the preferred choice for many players, including Clark. ‘I tried to get her to play in [Project B]. She was like ‘No.”

USA TODAY reached out to Cunningham for comment.

Despite Clark turning down Cunninham’s pitch, she says she is ‘super excited’ to play with teammate Kelsey Mitchell. Cunningham gushed that after turning down Project B twice, she eventually signed on once learning more details, including having access to top treatment, charter flights and more. She also shot down the notion that Project B has ties to Saudi Arabia (a growing concern among many in basketball circles), sharing that the league was backed by four wealthy tech companies.

‘I think the people that are running it are just good, good people, ‘she said. ‘What a great time to expand my brand globally. I get to play year-round, which will help me stay in shape … I’m hitting my prime.’

In addition to Cunningham and Mitchell, several other WNBA players have joined the organization founded by former Facebook executive Grady Burnett and Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice. The ever-expanding announced list includes Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, New York Liberty forwards Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich, Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd, Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, former Washington Mystics guard Li Meng, and Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun and guard Juste Joycte.

Project B, slated to run from November 2026 to April 2027, is expected to be made up of six teams of 11 players and played on a traveling circuit overseas. The new league has emphasized player compensation, a point of contention in the WNBA’s ongoing CBA negotiations, reportedly promising to pay players salaries starting at $2 million annually.

The Washington Commanders made a surprise run to the NFC championship game one season ago behind Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.

Things haven’t been quite the same for the Commanders in 2025.

The second-year quarterback has been in and out of the lineup with injuries this season as the Commanders have fallen to 3-9 ahead of a Week 14 road game against Minnesota.

Daniels’ latest injury came on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 9 at home versus the Seattle Seahawks. He suffered a dislocated elbow as the team lost 38-14.

Washington’s relied on veteran Marcus Mariota in his place for six starts – most recently a 27-26 loss to Denver on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 13.

Will Daniels be back in the lineup for Week 14 against the Vikings? Here’s the latest on his status.

Jayden Daniels injury update

Commanders coach Dan Quinn stated that Daniels has been cleared for contact and will start on Sunday against Minnesota. Daniels was a full participant in Thursday’s practice and that put him in line to make the start.

Daniels was initially feared to need surgery on his dislocated elbow. He did not and the team decided against putting him on injured reserve (IR) and instead would re-evaluate him during the team’s Week 12 bye.

He did not make significant enough strides to start against Denver but will be back for Week 14.

The Commanders haven’t been eliminated from playoff contention yet. At 3-9, they’d need to win out and get plenty of help from other teams in the process but are still in the hunt.

Washington Commanders schedule

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was in attendance for 2026 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, the event revealing the matchups for next summer’s tournament in North America.

Trump arrived about 30 mins before the draw was scheduled to begin, popping up on the red carpet with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Once inside the building, Trump sat in the audience with the First Lady while Infantino took the stage to get the ceremony underway.

Before the drawing of teams began, Trump was awarded the inaugural ‘FIFA peace prize,’ a new annual honor that was announced after Trump didn’t win the esteemed Nobel Peace Prize. Following an extended video honoring Trump, Infantino presented him with a medal and the trophy, gushing over the American president before handing him the mic.

‘This is truly one of the great honors of my life,’ Trump said after receiving the award.

Trump joked that the United States is unique in calling the sport ‘soccer’ rather than ‘football’ like most of the world.

‘We never call it that because we have another conflict with a thing called football,’ Trump said. ‘But when you think about it, this is football, there is no question. We have to come up with another name for the other one. It really does not make sense when you think about it.’

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney were also in attendance with the three countries co-hosting the World Cup. Trump returned to the stage with Carney and Sheinbaum to assist with the draw and officially place the host nations in their pre-determined groups. Trump told the crowd about watching Brazilian legend Pele when he played for the New York Cosmos in the late 1970s.

The American president has taken on a public-facing role in World Cup preparations since beginning his second term, becoming quite friendly with Infantino, who has appeared with Trump multiple times this year. Trump also attended the summer Club World Cup final, sitting in a suite with the FIFA boss, and ended up standing on the stage during trophy celebrations, much to the bewilderment of the players.

Trump is expected to be handed the inaugural ‘FIFA peace prize,’ a new award that was announced after the U.S. president didn’t win the esteemed Nobel Peace Prize.

The Village People are performing ‘Y.M.C.A’ live at the event, a song that became something of an anthem for Trump through the years and one of his favorite numbers to dance to.

On the red carpet, Trump said the U.S. is ‘ready to host’ next summer and that Infantino has done a ‘fantastic job,’ congratulating FIFA on early World Cup ticket sales.

A loss to NFC North rival Green Bay on Thanksgiving put the Detroit Lions out of playoff seeding. A week later, the Lions bounced back with a crucial win over the Dallas Cowboys.

That win may have come at a cost on defense.

Safety Brian Branch tore his Achilles in Detroit’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ win over Dallas, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The injury happened in the fourth quarter as Branch was in coverage on Cowboys’ tight end Jake Ferguson.

Branch is the latest secondary player to miss time for the Lions. Cornerback Terrion Arnold underwent season-ending shoulder surgery earlier this week and fellow safety Kerby Joseph hasn’t played since Week 6 due to a knee injury.

Branch made his first Pro Bowl last season with a career-high four interceptions, one sack, 109 tackles and 16 passes defensed. He hadn’t tallied an interception yet through 12 games this year but had a career-best 2.5 sacks in addition to nine passes defensed and a fumble recovery.

With Branch out, the Lions brought veteran Daniel Thomas in to finish out the game at safety. Thomas spent the last five years in Jacksonville before coming to Detroit after roster cuts in August.

The Lions get a 10-day rest before another crucial game for their playoff hopes: a Week 15 road matchup against the NFC-West leading Los Angeles Rams.

When will Brian Branch return?

Given how late in the season this injury is, Branch is extremely unlikely to return to the field this season. He should be back in time for the 2026 season depending on how his surgery and recovery go.

Players have returned less than six months after surgery – running back Cam Akers did so in 2021 for the Rams. But others have taken closer to eight months, such as quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Branch will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2026. Because he was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Lions do not have a fifth-year option to exercise and secure him for one more season.

Chloe Kim is preparing for the 2025-26 season, which includes the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Kim sought intensive therapy after the 2022 Beijing Olympics to address her mental health struggles.
She is partnering with the Ad Council’s “Love, Your Mind” campaign to promote mental health awareness.
Kim credits her therapist and a strong support system of family and friends for helping her reach a better place.

The roughest time of the year for Chloe Kim – the offseason – is almost over.  

The two-time Olympic gold-medal snowboarder’s first event of the 2025-26 season – which includes the 2026 Winter Olympics – starts this month. Sometimes, Kim’s anxiety fuels thoughts that she’ll wake up one day forgetting how to snowboard, as if the 25-year-old didn’t become the first woman to repeat as the Olympic halfpipe champion at the 2022 Beijing Games. 

“But the minute I get my snowboard on, I’m like, ‘Oh, why was I being so dramatic? I’m totally fine,’” she said. 

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Kim spoke to USA TODAY Sports in November through her partnership with Ad Council’s “Love, Your Mind” campaign that included other elite athletes such as Paige Bueckers, Bijan Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

“Obviously I was super down and into it because mental health is a very important topic to me,” Kim said. “So whenever we can continue to spread that messaging it’s what I’m here for.” 

Kim went into detail about her mental-health struggles following the 2022 Olympics, the upcoming Olympic season and her relationship with Cleveland Browns defensive end (and likely NFL Defensive Player of the Year) Myles Garrett.

Questions and answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. 

Question: When did you really start to take stock of your mental health? 

Answer: It was something I struggled with during COVID. I think it was, what, 2021 at the time? I think I tried to do things by, I don’t know, getting into self-care and whatnot. But my mental health got really bad, honestly, a couple of years ago. At that point I started doing intensive therapy and really like feeling a lot of things I have experienced in the past and finding better ways to cope with all the stress and pressure that inevitably comes with being a professional athlete. And I think that I am in a better place now, which I’m feeling grateful for.

That intensive therapy, was that pre-Beijing, or after? 

Kim: It was after.

That was definitely a stressful Olympics for a lot of people. Did that “bubble” atmosphere have an added effect or was it typical post-Olympics blues? 

Kim: I think it was just an accumulation of events. I think I was somebody that had found success at such a young age and was given very adult responsibilities at a young age. I think when you’re so young and going through your formative years, it’s very confusing to be put in that type of position. I think that there were a lot of things that I had experienced that were abnormal in a lot of ways. I am such a social butterfly and I think it really started when I felt that many people couldn’t relate to what I was going through and I started villainizing myself and thinking I was the problem. I think as I grow older, I continue to harbor those feelings of, I don’t know, just like – I just didn’t like myself that much. And I wasn’t my biggest fan. And I think that took a toll on me after ten-something years and I think as I experience more pressure and more expectations, I’m very hard on myself. I think all of that had to blow up at some point. I had to hit rock bottom to see that I needed to take care of myself. I think COVID was the thing that, I don’t know, caused it to explode. 

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I think a lot of people probably felt that way, too. 

Kim: Yeah, I think even interactions with my friends and family were so awkward because I was so afraid of getting COVID going into the Olympics, something that I trained for could go away completely if I caught it. I think it was hard for me to find support and just a sense of community my way. It was there for me. But I think I was just so afraid of the what ifs that I inevitably isolated myself. That really took a toll on me. After the Olympics, it just got really bad. So, really grateful for my therapist. She’s the best. I owe her a lot. 

Shoutout your therapist. Shoutout all therapists. Are you able to find that sense of community you mentioned with your fellow Olympians? Fellow athletes? 

Kim: Absolutely. That’s kind of what I’m realizing now. When I look back at my old self I’m like, Oh my gosh, I was so silly for isolating myself in so many ways because I have such an amazing community. My family’s amazing – I’m so grateful to have them, they’re so supportive and always there for me. My friends are amazing, love every single one of them so dearly, and so grateful for them. I have an amazing support system. I just think that when you are at your lowest low, it’s hard to see that. You kind of need to get to a point where you realize, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m not OK.’ So I’m really happy I went through that process because now I can reflect and look around me and be just so grateful for the people I do have in my life, because they’ve been there since day one in a lot of ways.

Where are you at in your training right now? 

Kim: I just got back from a training camp, which was really nice to get my feet back. My first competition is actually in the middle of December, it’s in Colorado. And yeah, I feel good. I think I’m trying to stay consistent and maintain my routine and treat it like it is any other season – because it is like any other season. I think it’s very easy to get riled up going into the season because you don’t know what’s going to happen, and sometimes I panic, and I’m like ‘What if I wake up tomorrow and don’t know how to snowboard? What if I just don’t know what I’m doing anymore?’ It’s like a weird, anxious thing I have. But the minute I get my snowboard on, I’m like, ‘Oh, why was I being so dramatic? I’m totally fine.’ So I think right now is probably the roughest time for me, but then the minute I’m back on snow and doing my thing I’m all good.

I know you have to go and this has been awesome, but real quick. Before you met Myles, did you know how good he was? 

Kim: I grew up in a very Korean household, so we didn’t really watch American sports, or sports in general. It was whatever my dad was into. I guess my dad did watch football when he first came to America, but when I came around, it was a lot of, like, golf, tennis, things of that sort. So it’s actually funny that we’re in this position right now, because I had no idea who he was. Like, zero idea. I actually don’t know many, many athletes. Like I know Tom Brady and LeBron James. That’s my extent, that’s all I know. But now I’m all about it. But honestly, Myles is such an incredible athlete. I’m constantly inspired and in awe of him and how hard he works and how incredibly kind he is. He genuinely is one of the kindest people I think I’ve ever met. I’m really lucky to be part of his life and lucky that he’s part of mine. Yeah, we’re happy.

On Sunday, every team in college football’s top division will learn its postseason fate. But before College Football Playoff berths and bowl destinations are determined, there is one more piece of business to be settled on the field.

So as December begins, it’s time to crown conference champions. Some are more meaningful than others, and even those that appear to be attractive matchups might not live up to their billing. But we’ll attempt to break them all down here in order of importance and interest.

We’ll begin with a battle of the last two unbeaten squads and work our way through the rest, many of which are encore presentations.

Big Ten: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Indiana

Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: Ironically, the matchup involving the highest-ranked teams is the least consequential of the conference finales in terms of the actual value. The winner in Indianapolis will be the top overall seed, though the runner-up is unlikely to fall from the top four so both will get byes. But this contest could determine the Heisman winner, with numerous candidates on the field for both undefeated squads. Naturally, the quarterbacks are the headliners. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has delivered a couple game-winning moments, with WRs Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt providing many of the highlights. Buckeyes QB Julian Sayin has taken full advantage of his ultra-talented receiving corps, featuring Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate along with TE Max Klare, resulting in a lofty 78.9% completion rate. There will be plenty of star power on the defensive side as well, with veterans like Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs leading the charge for the Buckeyes and Aiden Fisher and Louis Moore making plays for the Hoosiers.

Why it could disappoint: Given Ohio State’s romp through the playoff last year, a one-sided affair is always a possibility. Then again, it’s fair to wonder how this year’s version of the Buckeyes will respond under pressure, which they haven’t faced in quite some time. The Hoosiers for their part still feel like they have a point to prove. Bottom line, both teams should give maximum effort even with playoff spots essentially locked up.

SEC: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 10 Alabama

Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: It’s the SEC and thus indisputably a big deal, but it’s a rematch in Atlanta that neither party especially wanted. The Crimson Tide find themselves in the unenviable position of having to beat the Bulldogs again to guarantee a spot in the playoff, but Georgia is similarly not enthusiastic about having to face its annual nemesis for a second time. In the Bulldogs’ favor, they’ve been playing better defense since losing to the Crimson Tide back on Sept. 27 with LB CJ Allen as the centerpiece. Alabama QB Ty Simpson must get back to being decisive with the ball as he was during the Tide’s eight-game winning streak. Bulldogs QB Gunner Stockton has fewer deep targets but gets more ground support and can take off himself when needed, though he won’t want to meet up with Tide LB Justin Jefferson too often.

Why it could disappoint: Based on the past month, Georgia would be considered the stronger candidate to make this a runaway. But the Crimson Tide probably won’t be left in the dust, particularly because of their recent history with the Bulldogs.

Big 12: No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Brigham Young

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: Saturday’s first so-called power conference finale has arguably the highest of stakes. The Red Raiders are likely in the playoff field win or lose but would have a strong case for a first-round bye with a victory in Arlington, Texas. The Cougars would have an argument for inclusion should they fall to Texas Tech for a second time, but their place in the committee’s penultimate rankings makes that an iffy proposition. BYU QB Bear Bachmeier was outshone by Red Raiders LB Jacob Rodriguez in their prior encounter. He’ll need help from RB LJ Martin to avoid a repeat performance. Texas Tech QB Behren Morton didn’t have a huge passing day but took better care of the ball, something Cougars DB Tanner Wall hopes to change.

Why it could disappoint: Many of BYU’s issues were self-inflicted in their first meeting with the Red Raiders, including several miscues in the kicking game. But even if the Cougars clean those up, Texas Tech could prove to be the more complete team. Should that be the case, at least there’s a viewing alternative (see below).

ACC: No. 17 Virginia vs. Duke

Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC

Why watch: The ACC’s season of chaos culminated in a wild weekend that produced the messiest championship pairing among the power leagues. If the Cavaliers handle the Blue Devils in Charlotte, N.C., as they did three weeks ago, they’ll be off to the playoff with little controversy. A Duke win could result in the conference being omitted from the field altogether, though the lobbying would be loud. UVa’s backfield tandem of QB Chandler Morris and J’Mari Taylor set the tone early in the first meeting at Duke. The Blue Devils will need DE Vincent Anthony Jr. to make an impact in the Cavaliers’ backfield. Blue Devils QB Darian Mensah will have to be sharper and get better protection. UVa will need another big night from LB Maddox Marcellus as he fills the formidable shoes of injured mainstay Kam Robinson.

Why it could disappoint: It’s quite possible Virginia will dominate here as it did in Durham. The first few series for Duke will be critical to show this one might be different.

American: No. 20 North Texas at No. 21 Tulane

Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: The winner here will be headed to the College Football Playoff, though the joy will be tempered somewhat as both coaches will be off to new jobs when the season concludes (Tulane’s Jon Sumrall to Florida and North Texas’ Eric Morris to Oklahoma State). In a refreshing change, this is one of the few title tilts that is not a rematch. It could also feature plenty of excitement with both teams sporting high-octane attacks, though the Mean Green’s aerial assault is more prolific. North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker enters the game with 3,835 passing yards and 29 TDs with just four picks. He spreads the ball among a variety of targets, though WR Wyatt Young and RB Caleb Hawkins get their share of touches. Tulane DB Jack Tchienchou figures to have a busy night. Green Wave QB Jake Retzlaff has 14 TDs each by air and on the ground, though he puts the ball in harm’s way on occasion. He has four reliable targets with over 400 receiving yards each, though one of them, WR Bryce Bohanon, has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury and remains questionable. The Mean Green secondary features numerous takeaway threats, including Will Jones II and Quinton Hammons.

Why it could disappoint: It probably won’t. The Green Wave can cause heart palpitations for their fans even when they win. North Texas can score in bunches, but both teams should have enough firepower to stage a comeback if needed.

Sun Belt: Troy at No. 19 James Madison

Time/TV: Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: The Dukes host this event for the first time, continuing their meteoric ascent from Football Championship Subdivision contenders to regular bowl participants. There’s a chance a win might even mean a playoff bid, though that would require some help – in short, Dukes’ fans will become big Duke fans should their team prevail. The Trojans seek their third SBC crown in four years, though their spot in this contest wasn’t secured until they finished off Southern Mississippi on the final weekend of the campaign. The driving force for James Madison is QB Alonza Barnett III, who gets plenty of help in the backfield from RB Wayne Knight. The Trojans will counter with QB Goose Crowder, who missed time with a shoulder injury but has been effective when needed in the team’s two-game closing stretch.

Why it could disappoint: There’s definitely mismatch potential here. JMU is unscathed in Sun Belt play, and only one of the wins was by a single digit margin. The Trojans were blanked a few weeks ago at Old Dominion, whom the Dukes demolished 63-27 earlier.

Mountain West: UNLV at Boise State

Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: This is the third consecutive year the Broncos and Rebels meet for the MWC title, although their appearance here this time was anything but inevitable. Computer rankings broke a four-way tie to determine the finalists over New Mexico and San Diego State. The Broncos also won this year’s regular-season clash with UNLV in a 56-31 romp back on Oct. 18. The Boise State offense has struggled since then, but QB Maddux Madsen is expected to return from a leg injury for this rematch, and RB Dylan Riley has contributed over 1,000 yards on the ground. UNLV will counter with the offensive triad of dual-threat QB Anthony Colandrea, RB Jai’Den Thomas and WR Jaden Bradley.

Why it could disappoint: The Broncos usually have their way of things on the blue turf. It might take some time for Boise to regain its offensive rhythm, which could help the Rebels avoid a rerun of their previous encounter.

MAC: Miami (Ohio) vs. Western Michigan

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN.

Why watch: It will be up against the Big 12, but it might be worth a look if history repeats itself and that game is mismatch. This is the third consecutive appearance in the MAC title game for the RedHawks, who seek their second crown in that stretch. The Broncos are here for the first time since their most recent league championship in 2016, which was P.J. Fleck’s final season in Kalamazoo before he rowed his boat to Minnesota. Miami is responsible for WMU’s single conference loss, a 26-17 decision on Oct. 25, but the Broncos have since rattled off four consecutive wins. Broncos QB Broc Lowry has accounted for 21 total TDs, 14 of them by land. The RedHawks offense is in the hands of freshman QB Thomas Gotkowski, who has led back-to-back victories in the aftermath of the midseason departure of starter Dequan Finn.

Why it could disappoint: #MACtion rarely does, though the Broncos might have the edge in offensive continuity here. WMU has also exhibited better ball security, so a turnover-filled contest might not go Miami’s way.

Conference USA: Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State

Time/TV: Friday, 7 p.m. ET, CBSSN.

Why watch: The Gamecocks seek a second consecutive C-USA title, though this year’s squad looks quite different with both staff and roster largely rebuilt. Charles Kelly did more than just keep Jax State afloat after Rich Rodriguez answered the call back to West Virginia. But what Jerry Mack accomplished at Kennesaw State might be even more impressive. The Owls are here for the first time in just their second year in the league after winning just two games in 2024. The Gamecocks won the regular-season meeting with Kennesaw State 35-26 on Nov. 15 on this same field, which was the Owls’ lone league loss that ultimately earned the Gamecocks hosting privileges. Jax State does most of its damage on the ground, led by RB Cam Cook with both QBs Caden Creel and Gavin Wimsatt able to step in and take snaps. The Owls feature a more conventional aerial attack with QB Amari Odom at the controls. His primary targets are WRs Gabriel Benyard and Christian Moss.

Why it could disappoint: Again, things could unfold largely as they did the first time. But there shouldn’t be any surprises between these familiar opponents, and both teams should be ready for the big moment.

In 2026, the world will turn its attention to elite soccer in June and July as the FIFA World Cup is hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

In preparation for this prestigious tournament, the U.S. Men’s National Team will play a series of international friendlies.

The USMNT’s friendlies will begin in March with two games in Atlanta. The U.S. men will face Belgium on March 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, followed by a match against Portugal on March 31.

In May, the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte will host a friendly match against an opponent that has yet to be announced. Then just six days before their first FIFA World Cup group stage game, the Americans will play Germany on June 6 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Here is the USMNT friendly schedule and how to watch.

U.S. Men’s National Team friendly schedule 2026

Saturday, March 28, 2026: USA vs. Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Tuesday, March 31, 2026: USA vs. Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, 7 p.m. ET on TNT
Sunday, May 31, 2926: USA vs. TBD at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. ET on TBS
Saturday, June 6, 2026: USA vs. Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, 2:30 p.m. ET on TBS

Former NHL center Ryan Kesler is headed to trial to face two misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, The Athletic reported Thursday.

The case was originally filed against Kesler on Oct. 23, when the 41-year-old pleaded not guilty over alleged events that transpired on Jan. 1, according to court records.

However, district judge Marc Barron found that the prosecution had successfully established probable cause against Kesler in the preliminary examination.

The accuser, now 17, shared the details of this case with the court during a two-hour span on the stand, The Athletic reported. She said she had fallen asleep on a couch beside Kesler at a New Year’s Eve party at his home. 

The complainant said she woke up with Kesler’s foot allegedly rubbing against her crotch and her foot in an equal position over his shorts, The Athletic reported.

Kesler’s attorneys called out the accuser’s recollection of the night and his alleged actions as inconsistent, and said that should have stopped the case from going to trial.

“Ryan emphatically denies the allegations and is completely innocent of the charges,” Kesler’s attorney, Robert Morad, told The Athletic.

“The charges are baseless and he is prepared to fight them vigorously in court. As the legal process begins, we ask for respect for his privacy and for the integrity of the judicial system. We are confident, when all the facts and circumstances are presented, that he will be fully exonerated.”

Kesler played 15 seasons in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks and twice represented the United States in the Winter Olympics. He appeared in 1,001 NHL games and finished his career with 258 goals and 573 points. The Livonia, Michigan, native last played in an NHL game in 2019. 

Kesler was in his third season as a head coach with the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club. The elite Detroit-area youth program told The Athletic that Kesler was ‘removed from his position while this matter is addressed by the judicial system,’ but that the allegation was not connected to the organization.

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