Chipotle Nationals closed out the 2025-26 season and it’s now time to publish our final FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by Ballislife.com. CIA Bella Vista of Arizona won both the Nike EYBL Scholastic Tournament and Chipotle Nationals to cap off a memorable season in which it finished ranked No. 1 in the country. The...
Dawn Staley, Cori Close and the next mountain to climb
PHOENIX — In advance of Sunday’s national championship game, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was highly complimentary of UCLA head coach Cori Close. Staley said she knew what it was like to win that first title after so many years on the trail, and she wanted Close to have that experience — just not...
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Claims NBA MVP Frontrunner Status as Luka Dončić’s Season Ends in Oklahoma City
Luka Dončić re-aggravated a left hamstring injury on Thursday in Oklahoma City and will not play again in the regular season. His representatives announced Friday that they intend to challenge his ineligibility for the award with the NBA and NBPA. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander entered Thursday as the heavy MVP favorite. Nothing that happened at Paycom Center...
Dawn Staley’s remarks on rival’s outburst reflect a restraint familiar to Black women
PHOENIX — Ahead of the postgame news conference following South Carolina’s 62-48 defeat of UConn in the Final Four on Friday, the attending media gathered with a buzz as they waited for the show to begin. The anticipation, in large part, wasn’t to dissect the masterfully engineered takedown head coach Dawn Staley and her Gamecocks...
2026 WNBA Expansion Draft LIVE Log: Portland Fire & Toronto Tempo Picks
The day has finally arrived: the 2026 WNBA expansion draft is here, and the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will select their inaugural rosters. Nearly two weeks have passed since the Players’ Union and the WNBA agreed to a historic collective bargaining agreement. With a condensed schedule set in stone, the WNBA will welcome its 14th...
Michigan guard Nimari Burnett is more than prepared for Final Four spotlight
INDIANAPOLIS — For Michigan senior guard Nimari Burnett, it was a moment inspired by “The Decision,” the 2010 announcement that LeBron James was joining the Miami Heat. Burnett sat at a table in front of a large group — family, friends, videographers and photographers — to announce where he would be attending school. “It’s been...
2026 Texas vs. UCLA Women’s Final Four Preview: How, Who to Watch in Betts vs. Booker Clash
Lauren Betts and Madison Booker respectively headline this Final Four battle between the Texas Longhorns and the UCLA Bruins. Neighbors on last year’s Final Four bracket, the Texas Longhorns and UCLA Bruins will finally get to face off on women’s basketball’s grandest stage. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) The latter half of Phoenix’s Final...
Hasheem Thabeet continues career as ‘role model’ in Basketball Africa League
While Hasheem Thabeet has often been viewed as an NBA bust for his lackluster and short career, in Africa — more specifically his native Tanzania — he is seen as a pioneer, legend and role model. Back on “the continent,” Thabeet, the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NBA draft — selected ahead of such...
April’s best sneaker drops: Your guide to this month’s must-have releases
Our monthly series highlights the top releases from leading athletic footwear brands. Whether you’re an avid sneakerhead or just looking for the perfect pair to complement your style, navigating the vast world of sneakers can be overwhelming. From understanding where to buy to decoding the latest trends, consider this your road map to finding the...
NCAA Tournament Top Performers: Region MVPs!
Just like that, the madness of March has mostly surpassed us. The college hoops world descends on Indianapolis this weekend for the sport’s annual grand finale at the Final Four, where two No. 1 seeds, a No. 2 seed and a No. 3 seed will compete for the chance to join college basketball’s list of...









