Month: January 2025

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced on Thursday that Denver will be its 16th franchise, beginning play in the 2026 season.  Denver will begin playing alongside Boston as the newest clubs in NWSL.

A group led by Rob Cohen (Chairman and CEO of IMA Financial Group) and Project Level (a subsidiary of Ariel Investments led by Chairwoman Mellody Hobson), is reportedly paying a record expansion fee of $110 million, with Cohen to serve as controlling owner and governor, with Hobson as Denver NWSL’s alternate governor. It is reportedly the largest expansion fee ever paid for a U.S. women’s sports team.

Cohen said in a statement: “Denver is one of the best sports cities in the United States and we are thrilled to bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado. We believe that bringing NWSL to Denver will be impactful and transformative. Our goal is to work closely with Denver’s diverse communities to build a club that will operate with integrity and excellence from day one. We look forward to collaborating with our community to make Denver NWSL an inclusive and special club that all of Colorado can rally behind.”  

The franchise marks Denver’s first women’s professional sports team in a major national league; it is finalizing plans to build a dedicated stadium and performance facility for professional women’s soccer with the team’s name, crest and colors to be announced at a later date.

NWSL cmmissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement: “As the NWSL continues its rapid growth, we knew it was critical to launch our 16th team in a city with a passionate sports culture and vibrant fan base, and Denver is the perfect match. The club’s plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art training facility demonstrate a commitment to providing world-class environments for our players and fans alike. With this ownership group’s vision and dedication, we are confident that Denver NWSL will set new standards for excellence on and off the pitch, inspiring the next generation of players and supporters across the Rocky Mountain region.”

Editorial credit: Sasha_Strekoza / Shutterstock.com

Fourteen U.S. figure skaters were on board the American Airlines flight that collided with a U.S. Army helicopter on Wednesday, Jan. 29. According to Doug Zeghibe, CEO of The Skating Club of Boston, six members of The Skating Club of Boston (including two teens and their moms) were on the flight.

The FAA said in a statement that American Airlines flight 5342 crashed into the military aircraft over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after departing from Wichita, Kan. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at around 9 p.m. local time. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, with officials confirming on Thursday, Jan. 30, that there are no survivors.

The U.S. Figure Skating team confirmed on Thursday that several members of the governing body were onboard the aircraft at the time of the crash; they said in a statement on Thursday morning: “U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.  These athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.  We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

The Guardian said that also among those killed were former Russian world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov (citing Russian news agencies TASS and RIA). Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, were pairs figure skating world champions who won the title in 1994. The couple, who were married, were thought to have lived in the U.S. since at least 1998 after retiring from their competitive careers, helped to train young ice skaters.

The victims from The Skating Club of Boston have been identified as two teens, Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, their mothers, Molly Lane and Jin Han, and two coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov – former Russian world champions. Per Reuters, Inna Volyanskaya, 59, a former pair skater who competed for the Soviet Union, was also on the plan (citing Russian news agency TASS). According to the Washington Figure Skating Club’s website, Volyanskaya was a coach for the team.

Editorial credit: Eli Wilson / Shutterstock.com

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Johnson, 23, will have surgery on his left shoulder, which he injured during last Thursday’s 122-119 loss to the Toronto Raptors when the forward fouled Scottie Barnes in the second quarter. Johnson left the court immediately and did not return to that game; he was battling right shoulder inflammation entering the game vs. Toronto.

Now in his fourth NBA season, Johnson was having a career-best season. In 36 appearances, he averaged 18.9 points 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 35.7 minutes — all of which are career highs — while also contributing 1.6 steals per game and shooting 50% overall and 31.2% on 3-pointers.  Prior to the 2024-25 season, the Hawks signed Johnson to a five-year, $150 million extension.

Editorial credit: Anton Vierietin / Shutterstock.com

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis will miss at least one week of play time after straining his abdomen during Tuesday’s game at Philadelphia.

The Lakers announced that Davis suffered the abdominal muscle strain during the first quarter of the team’s 118-104 loss against the  76ers. The five-time all-NBA performer walked to the locker room with his right hand over his stomach when he left with 2:10 to go in the first quarter, and did not return. Davis had an MRI on Wednesday,and rather than staying with the team for the remainder of its road trip he will fly back to Los Angeles. Sources said that Davis will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.

Davis, 31, has appeared in 42 of Los Angeles’ 45 games this season and averaged 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.1 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game.  The Lakers (26-19) will visit the Washington Wizards on Thursday and the New York Knicks on Saturday before heading back to L.A. to visit the Los Angeles Clippers next Tuesday. Davis  could potentially return for the Lakers’ home game against the Golden State Warriors next Thursday.

Editorial credit: Natursports / Shutterstock.com