Basketball Page 5 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Valkyries sign F Gabby Williams to multi-year deal
All-Star forward Gabby Williams signed a multi-year contract with the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday.,Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team for Williams, who spent the past four seasons with the Seattle Storm.,"For a player of Gabby's caliber to choose us in just our second year ... mea...

TCU's Olivia Miles signs with Unrivaled ahead of WNBA draft
Olivia Miles, expected to be among the first selections in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday, signed with Unrivaled.,Miles, a 5-foot-10 guard, is expected to make her debut with Unrivaled next winter in the 2027 season. Entering its third season, the 3x3 basketball league was founded by WNBA stars Naphe...

Wings sign defensive standout Alanna Smith to reported 3-year contract
The Dallas Wings have signed free agent forward Alanna Smith, the WNBA's co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, the team announced on Saturday night.,ESPN reported that Smith, who spent the past two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, has agreed to a three-year max contract, per her agent Sammy Wlosz...

Trail Blazers can clinch No. 8 seed with win vs. Kings
The Portland Trail Blazers look to secure the No. 8 position in the Western Conference when they host the woeful Sacramento Kings on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both clubs.,The Trail Blazers put themselves in position to nab a spot in the key 7 vs. 8 play-in contest by routing the visiti...

Warriors face Clippers, knowing rematch may occur soon after
The Golden State Warriors could have a hand in their play-in opponent when they wrap up the NBA regular season on the road Sunday night against one of the possibilities, the Los Angeles Clippers.,The Warriors (37-44) are assured of a 10th-place finish in the Western Conference, meaning they will ope...

No. 3 seed within Lakers' grasp in season finale vs. Jazz
A better seed in next week's Western Conference playoffs will be on the line Sunday night for the Los Angeles Lakers, who host the lowly Utah Jazz in both teams' regular-season finale.,Los Angeles (52-29) will earn the No. 3 seed with a win paired with a Denver Nuggets' loss to the San Antonio Spurs...

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets can clinch No. 3 seed against Spurs
The Denver Nuggets have plenty for which to play when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday in the teams' regular-season finale.,The Nuggets (53-28) have won 11 straight games, the longest active winning streak in the league. Denver's latest victory, a 127-107 home decision over top-seeded Okla...

Avoiding injury looms large as Thunder host Suns in regular season finale
The Oklahoma City Thunder's place in the postseason is set.,The Thunder (64-17) will be the No. 1 overall seed when the playoffs open, their third consecutive season earning the top spot in the Western Conference.,The Phoenix Suns (44-37) will be headed to the play-in tournament as the No. 7 seed, t...

Depleted Grizzlies wrap season against resting Rockets
The Houston Rockets finally had displayed signs of consistency that seemed to validate their standing as a contender in the West, with an eight-game winning streak confirming as much.,One result likely won't change that perspective, but the Rockets' defensive effort against the short-handed Minnesot...

Resting Timberwolves close regular season vs. Pelicans
The Minnesota Timberwolves do not know their playoff opponent yet.,All they know for sure is they will start the postseason on the road -- but not before they play one more home game in their regular-season finale. The Timberwolves (48-33) will tip off against the New Orleans Pelicans (26-55) on Sun...

Billy Donovan, perhaps coaching Bulls for last time, faces Mavericks
Chicago's season-ending road clash with the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday will be Bulls coach Billy Donovan's 482nd regular-season game on the bench.,Speculation continues to swirl that it may also be his last, what with the 60-year-old Hall of Fame coach linked to a shift to Chicago's front office.,Th...

Post-season bound Sixers host disappointing Bucks in finale
A horrible season in Milwaukee is coming to an end, while Philadelphia will play on beyond the regular season finale. The Bucks travel to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the 76ers on Sunday.,Milwaukee (32-49) was eliminated from postseason contention a while ago. This is the first time since 2...

Valkyries sign Veronica Burton to multiyear deal
Veronica Burton, the WNBA's Most Improved Player last season, re-signed with the Golden State Valkyries on a multiyear deal, the team announced Saturday.,Burton, 25, posted career highs of 11.9 points, 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals while starting all 44 games for the expansion franchise l...

Seven-time All-Star G Skylar Diggins joins Sky
Seven-time All-Star guard Skylar Diggins signed as a free agent with the Chicago Sky, the team announced Saturday.,Terms weren't divulged, but reports pointed to a two-year deal.,Diggins, 35, has career averages of 16.4 points, 5.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 335 games over 11 seasons.,"...

Raptors strive to secure top-six playoff spot in clash vs. Nets
The Toronto Raptors can clinch a top-six playoff spot with a win on Sunday night against the visiting Brooklyn Nets in the teams' regular-season finale.,The Raptors (45-36) dropped to sixth -- the final guaranteed playoff spot -- in the Eastern Conference on Friday night with a 112-95 road loss to t...

Dream re-sign G Rhyne Howard, four others
The Atlanta Dream re-signed guard Rhyne Howard and four other players, the team announced on Saturday.,The Dream also signed Allisha Gray, Brionna Jones, Naz Hillmon and Jordin Canada.,"This is a group that believes in Atlanta, believes in each other and is united in the pursuit of a championship," ...

Heat, Hawks clash with major playoff implications
The Miami Heat are guaranteed a fourth straight year in the play-in round, but -- with one game left in the regular season -- there's still something for Miami to chase.,On Sunday night, the Heat (42-39) will host the Atlanta Hawks (46-35). If Miami beats Atlanta and Charlotte loses at the New York ...

Hornets aim to bounce back in season finale vs. Knicks
After clinching the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks are expected to sit a number of key players in their regular-season finale against the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.,New York (53-28) has won five straight games and 12 of its past 15, including a 112-95 victory ov...

Cavaliers conclude regular season vs. last-place Wizards
The playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers and last-place Washington Wizards are locked into their spots in the standings, leaving nothing tangible for either team to play for -- except pride -- in their regular season finale Sunday.,Host Cleveland (51-30) is assured of finishing fourth in the Eastern Co...

Fever re-sign G Lexie Hull
Restricted free agent guard Lexie Hull re-signed with the Indiana Fever on Saturday.,Terms were not disclosed by the team for Hull, who announced her return earlier on Saturday in a TikTok with Fever star Caitlin Clark.,"Indy has been my home over the last four years, and there was no other place I ...