SPORTS
THURSDAY,
Deandre Ayton will join Luka and Lakers
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.
(AP) — Centre Deandre
Ayton has agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press yesterday.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal could not yet be announced between the Lakers and Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft — two spots ahead of Luka Doncic.
The Portland Trail Blazers bought out Ayton’s contract last weekend, and he has agreed to join Doncic and LeBron James
Bahamian big man to team up with LeBron James after Portland buyout
on a deal for the upcoming season with a player option for 2026-27. He will be paid more than $25 million by the Trail Blazers while playing for the Lakers next year.
Ayton’s arrival fills the Lakers’ most glaring offseason need, providing a lob target for James and Doncic.
By IAN HARRISON
TORONTO (AP) —
The Toronto Blue Jays wasted an eight-run lead, that outlasted the Yankees 11-9 last night as George Springer scored the go-ahead run on Devin Williams’ eighthinning wild pitch to tie New York for the AL East lead.
Toronto scored seven runs in the first inning off Will Warren and led 8-0 in the third, but the Yankees rallied with six runs in a sixth that included Giancarlo Stanton’s first home run of the season, a threerun drive.
And while Ayton isn’t known as a defensive stopper, the 7-footer will provide the size in the middle that the Lakers have missed since trading Anthony Davis to Dallas for Doncic.
Ayton, who turns 27 this month, spent his first five NBA seasons with Phoenix before joining the Trail Blazers two years ago as part of the three-team trade sending Damian Lillard to Milwaukee.
Ayton struggled at times in Portland while playing for mediocre teams, but he has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds during his seven NBA seasons while making 59 per cent of his shots. He played only 40 games for the Trail Blazers last season, getting sidelined for the rest of the year in February by a strained calf. While he
First official day of Tureano’s free youth boxing camp opens at the Percy Munnings Park
By Jonathan Burrows
UNDER the summer sun and the guiding hand of a national sports icon, the first official day of Tureano Johnson’s free youth boxing camp opened around 1pm yesterday at Percy Munnings Park.
The camp, a grassroots initiative aimed at introducing local children to the fundamentals of boxing, is a passion project for Johnson, who is regarded as one of the most accomplished boxers in Bahamian history.
However, the inaugural day of the camp was met with an unexpected obstacle when the bathrooms of the Percy Munnings Park were locked and inaccessible.
This logistical hiccup led many parents to reconsider leaving their children at the park for the full session.
Johnson informed parents that the facilities would be open in the coming days and offered the option to return then.
As a result, only two children remained for the first day’s activities, a situation Johnson handled with patience and
professionalism. The camp is expected to grow in attendance once logistics improve.
“I’ve made a few calls and I am still waiting to hear back on when they will be unlocking the bathrooms, but we are still going to be moving forward with the camp,” said Johnson about the bathroom situation at the park. Despite the low turnout, the camp proceeded with a focus on fundamental boxing skills.
The two young participants worked on fundamental boxing drills by learning how to jab, foot positioning and defensive movements.
They also engaged in endurance training and practiced skipping rope to build cardiovascular strength and coordination.
Johnson represented The Bahamas at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where he lost in the quarterfinals. After turning pro, he quickly gained recognition for his aggressive style and fierce determination.
In 2014, he captured the World Boxing Championships Continental Americas middleweight title and later became
a top-10 ranked contender, facing world-class opponents like Curtis Stevens and Sergey Derevyanchenko.
Known for his gifts, Johnson remains one of the most respected boxers to come out of the Caribbean region.
As the camp resumes today with the expectation of improved facilities and increased attendance, Johnson remains optimistic. “We will meet right back here tomorrow, and
hopefully we can fix this bathroom situation,” Johnson told campers and parents.
The boxing camp is scheduled to run for three weeks, every day from 1pm to 4 pm, with registration being open for children aged four to 16 years.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to bring their
to
New York tied the score 9-9 in the eighth when Aaron Judge hit a tworun homer off Yimi García (1-2), Judge’s 31st home run this season. Springer walked with one out in the bottom half off Williams (2-3) and stole second.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was intentionally walked, both runners advanced on Alejandro Kirk’s flyout and Williams bounced a changeup as Springer came home.
Addison Barger followed with an RBI single. Toronto won its third straight in the series and matched the Yankees at 48-38.
New York had held sole possession of the division lead since April 14, opening a seven-game advantage by late May. The Yankees are 13-18 since May 28, losing six of the past 10 series. Toronto has gone 21-10 in that span.
COCO GAUFF DISAPPOINTED BY HER WIMBLEDON
By
LONDON (AP) — Before Wimbledon began, Coco Gauff reflected on the significance of her breakthrough performance at the place six years ago — a run to the fourth round at age 15 — and what aspirations she harboured as she prepared to return.
“Even when I see videos of me during that time, it just doesn’t feel like it’s me. It felt like a dream.
I’ll always have special memories from that run and, I guess, it definitely fuelled the belief that I can be on tour and live out my dream,” she told The Associated Press.
“It’s something that always holds a special place in my heart. Obviously, I would love to win this tournament just for it to be like a full-circle moment,” she continued. “I feel like it would be like the start
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
CAMP
THE Southern University is all set to host a free basketball camp at the Agape Grace Gym from July 7-8. The camp is designed for boys from grades 7-12. All participating players must bring their own food and drinks. Interested campers are urged to contact coach Stephen Johnson at 1-242-577-1035.
SUMMER FEST TOURNEY
THE Crusaders/ Warhawks Volleyball Club, in conjunction with the Bahamas Volleyball Federation, is scheduled to host its inaugural Summer Fest Beach Volleyball Tournament from July 10-13 in Rolleville, Exuma. The tournament, sponsored by Fidelity
SEE PAGE E2 July
children
experience not just athletic training, but mentorship from one of the Bahamas’ finest sporting legends.
A YOUNG camper gets some pointers from the man himself on the first official day of Tureano Johnson’s free youth boxing camp yesterday at the Percy Munnings Park.
Photo: Jonathan Burrows
BAHAMIAN centre Deandre Ayton has agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press yesterday. (AP Photo) SEE PAGE E5
HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer
Associated Press
COCO GAUFF DISAPPOINTED BY HER WIMBLEDON LOSS BUT
FROM PAGE E1
DOESN’T WANT TO DWELL ON IT
of the dream, and — I don’t want to say ‘the finish,’ because I obviously
have a lot of career left, but — a full-circle type of situation.” A week after that conversation, the No. 2-ranked Gauff was out
of the bracket at the All England Club in the first round with a 7-6 (3), 6-1 loss to unseeded Dayana Yastremska at No. 1 Court
on Tuesday night. Gauff was undone by serving troubles, including nine double-faults, and more than two dozen unforced errors in all, not to mention Yastremska’s hard, flat groundstrokes. It was an abrupt, and mistake-filled, exit for Gauff, who so recently earned her second Grand Slam title — at the French Open via a three-set victory over No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
After Tuesday’s defeat, Gauff said, “I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don’t like losing. The main thing I’m sure my team and everyone is going to tell me (is): ‘You did well at Roland-Garros. Don’t be so upset.’ Things like that.”
But as much as she’ll want to move on and focus on what’s to come, the 21-year-old American acknowledged as she dabbed away the tears welling in her eyes during her news conference that she felt “a little bit disappointed in how I showed up today.”
It’s instructive to remember — setting aside that captivating 2019 debut, which featured a victory over Venus Williams — that Wimbledon’s grass courts actually have produced Gauff’s least successful Grand Slam results.
Yastremska’s take? She said she considers Gauff “much better on clay court and hard court than on grass.”
This was the second time in the past three years that she was sent home in the opening round. She’s never been past the fourth round at the All England Club, whereas at every other major tournament, including the hard-court
SPORTS CALENDAR
FROM PAGE E1
and Rubis, will feature a men’s 2-on-2 and women’s 3-on-3 format. Cash prizes of $1,000 will be awarded for the winners and $500 for the runners-up in both divisions. Interested teams are urged to call 422-4550 or 801-3131 for more details.
MILLER’S FUNERAL
THE funeral service for the late Harry Wenzel Miller, a former outstanding
Australian Open, she’s at least reached the semifinals.
Her first Slam trophy arrived on the hard courts of the U.S. Open in 2023 when she was 19. She already was the 2022 runner-up on the red clay at the French Open before going one step better this time.
Sabalenka’s selfdescribed “unprofessional” comments after last month’s title match in Paris became a real topic of conversation and, perhaps, a distraction. Gauff and Sabalenka sought to put it behind them — and tell fans they should, too — by filming TikTok videos together once they got to Wimbledon. “I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards,” Gauff said, “so I didn’t feel like I had enough time to
softball player, is all set to take place at 11am Saturday, July 5 at St Michael’s Methodist Church on Churchill Avenue. His interment will follow at the Western Cemetery. Miller, married to Moria Sweeting-Miller, is the father of Theresa MillerTynes, a former outstanding female softball player. His other children are Pamela Miller, Patrice Miller-King, Monique Sweeting-Miller, Jennifer Ferguson-Miller, Ashley Miller-King and Roberto Miller.
PEACE ON DA
STREET FAMILY NIGHT
PLANS are underway for the staging of the Peace on Da Streets’ Basketball Classics’ Road to 30 years of existence.
The event, being organised by the Hope Center under the theme “Shooting hoops instead of guns,” is slated to be held from July 14-19 at the Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Basketball Center.
The highlight of the event will be the Family Night, scheduled for Sunday, July 20 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when the finals in all of the divisions will take place, starting at 3pm. There will also be the Mr Ship It Three-point shootout and the Joe’s Slam Dunk Contest. The night will conclude with the exciting Clergy versus Politicians match-up.
VOLLEYBALL
BBSF TOURNAMENT
THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation is slated to hold a meeting 5pm Saturday at its office at the Bahamas Baptist College for all churches interested in participating in its co-ed volleyball tournament.
The tournament will take place from July 18-19 at the CI Gibson Gymnasium.
The registration fee is $200 per team for a roster of 12 players, which includes a mixture of men and women.
GOLF CHALLENGE
celebrate and also get back into it.”
It’s not easy to manage the tricky transition from the Roland-Garros clay to the Wimbledon grass.
There’s a reason it’s been a decade since a woman won both in the same season — and a reason that woman was Serena Williams.
By the end of the night, Gauff was eager to look ahead to the upcoming North American hard-court circuit, culminating with a trip to New York in late August.
“I mean, obviously I’m not going to dwell on this too long, because I want to do well at the U.S. Open. Maybe losing here (in the) first round isn’t the worst thing in the world,” she said, “because I have time to reset.”
BOXING
FUNDRAISER
THE Boxing Federation of the Bahamas is planning to host a souse out as a fundraiser on Saturday, August 2, at the National Boxing Training Center, Blue Hill Sports Complex. The event is scheduled to take place from 9am to 3pm with chicken pig feet and sheep tongue with Johnnycake or rolls on the menu for a donation of $15. Soft drinks, potato, coconut and zucchini breads will also be on sale. This is part of our effort to meet our goal of $60,000, according to federation president Vincent Strachan. “We are seeking your support by purchasing tickets and additional donations of food items, if possible,” Strachan said. The 15 members are expected to participate in The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Championships in St Lucia from August 1-3. The team is expected to depart July 31 and would remain there for a training camp with the St Lucia national boxing team. They would depart for Georgetown, Guyana from August 14-18 for the school boys and girls championship and seniors. They would remain in Guyana for another training camp until August 27. Then will head to St Maarten, for The Battle Of The Islands Championships.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
SPECIAL Olympics Bahamas is scheduled to hold their annual raffle grill fun day fundraiser on Saturday, August 16 from 11:30am to 6pm at the Stapledon School Grounds on Dolphin Drive. Dinners will include chicken, steak, fish, hot dogs, burgers, pastries and soft drinks. Domino’s, Connect 4 and basketball games will be played during the day. Interested persons are urged to call 426-0233, 477-0304 or 359-3558 for information on ticket purchases.
THE Strikers’ Three Club Challenge is slated to be held from July 11-13 at the Bahamas Golf Federation Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex with a shotgun start at noon each day. The 18-holes event will be played in three different divisions with $2,500 in cash prizes for first, second and third-place finishes as well as the closest to the pin finisher. Registration is required. For more information, persons can contact Swanno at 242-376-0811. The registration fee is $150 per person, which includes the green fees for two days, plus food and drinks.
COCO GAUFF, of the United States, reacts during her first round women’s single match against Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London yesterday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
BAHA MAR BUOYS & GULLS DRAGON BOAT TEAM HEADING TO MONTREAL FOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
FOLLOWING back-toback gold medal wins at the 2024 Bahamas International Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, the Baha Mar Buoys & Gulls Dragon boat team is making waves once again – this time on an international stage.
The team, comprised of 15 dedicated Baha Mar associates, has been invited to compete in the prestigious 2025 Pan American Club Crew Championships, taking place from July 4–6 at the Olympic Basin in Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal, Quebec.
“This team exemplifies the energy and excellence of Baha Mar,” said Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar.
“Their hard work, dedication and camaraderie make us proud, and we are honoured to support their journey to compete on an international level. We know they will represent The Bahamas beautifully in Montreal.” Originally formed in 2023, the Baha Mar Buoys & Gulls made their debut at the 2nd Annual Bahamas International Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, where they proudly placed 3rd in the 2nd division. Just one year later, the team
BAHA Mar Buoys & Gulls Dragon boat team has been invited to compete in the prestigious 2025 Pan American Club Crew Championships July 4–6 in Montreal, Quebec.
dominated the competition, securing two gold medals in both the 200-metre and 500-metre race categories. This milestone achievement and opportunity has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Baha Mar Foundation, which is proud to sponsor the team’s journey to the international championships.
Robert “Sandy” Sands, chairman of the Baha Mar Foundation, added:
“Supporting our associates in this extraordinary endeavour reflects the Foundation’s commitment to empowerment, community and opportunity. We are proud to help showcase the talent and spirit of our Baha Mar family on a global stage.”
As ambassadors of Bahamian culture and hospitality, the Buoys & Gulls continue to showcase the dynamic talents and unity of the Baha Mar community.
WHILE their focus was on their three-game series against the Orlando Monarchs, the Atlanta Smoke professional women’s softball team also participated in a free clinic for young players in the country. During the Don’t Blink Sports Entertainment and B4Real Sports’ inaugural Queen of Paradise
Women’s Professional Softball Series, the Smoke staged the clinic on Friday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. Smoke’s head coach Cat Tarvin said
they couldn’t ask to be in a better location to share their experiences with the young generation of players in The Bahamas. Not only was it the first time a
professional women’s softball tournament was played here, but it was also the first time that a camp also took place. During the camp, the Smoke took the players
from ages 7-17 through a series of drills. They were assisted by some of the local coaches and top softball players in the country.
MAVERICKS SIGN NO. 1 OVERALL PICK COOPER FLAGG TO ROOKIE CONTRACT, EXUM IS RETURNING, AP SOURCE SAYS
Intriguing Colorado Duo
By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer
ADALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks have signed No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg to his four-year rookie contract, and a person with knowledge of the agreement said yesterday the club is bringing back guard Dante Exum on a oneyear contract. The team didn’t disclose details in
announcing Flagg’s deal. However, the total value of the contract for the top pick on the 2025-26 rookie wage scale is in the range of $62.7 million, with a first-year salary of about $13.8 million, according to Spotrac. Those numbers can fluctuate slightly.
year a er quarterbacks dominated the top dozen picks, Miami’s Cam Ward is the only sure re high pick among premier passers this year Bringing the intrigue into the dra are Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter, who aims to play both cornerback and wide receiver in the NFL like he did in B oulder
There are team options in the third and fourth seasons of rookie deals. The Mavericks will have
Where will Shedeur Sanders land when teams gather in the land of Vince Lombardi to restock their rosters? at’s the biggest stor yline of the NFL dra in Green Bay Wisconsin, with mocks all over the map
Bypassing Colorado s precision passer could lead to deep regrets among talent evaluators, suggested longtime ESPN dra analyst Mel Kiper Jr Sanders overcame a substandard ground game and at times poor pass protection to throw for 37 touchdowns and more than 4,000 yards last season while completing more than 74% of his throws.
to clear a roster spot to re-sign Exum, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Dallas can’t yet sign the eight-year veteran player. Exum, who is set for his third season with the Mavericks, will help fill the void in the backcourt while Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL. Flagg said during his introductory news
Although Cam Ward, the consensus pick to go No 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, arguably brings more electricity to the position, Sanders’ skillset merits no sco ng He s not creative like Cam He doesn t have the mobility of Cam He doesn t have the rocket arm of Cam Ward, Kiper said But certainly Shedeur, in the right o ense, with the right personnel around him can be great ” Shedeur Sanders brings some of the same swag that his father who coached him at Jackson State and Colorado brought to the football eld in the 1980s and ‘90s when Coach Prime was known as Neon Deion” or “Prime Time
conference last week that he intends to play in the Summer League in Las Vegas later this month.
need, in their quarterback.
The Mavericks’ Summer League opener against the Los Angeles Lakers and Bronny James is set to be nationally televised on July 10.
Flagg was taken with the top pick after Dallas converted just a 1.8 per cent chance to win the draft lottery.
e Cleveland Browns own the second overall pick followed by the New York Giants. e Browns still need a franchise quarterback and the Giants could select their future signal-caller despite signing free agents Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this o season.
The 18-year-old from Duke became the fourth freshman to win The Associated Press national player of the year honours in the 64-year history of the award.
doing it my whole life, and I
Flagg led the Blue Devils to the Final Four in his only season. The 6-foot-9 forward joins a frontcourt that should include 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and promising young
and 15
centre Dereck Lively II, Flagg’s fellow Duke alum. The Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending 25-year-old superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Davis in February. Irving is another former Duke player to go first overall in the draft, in 2011. He will be out, probably until at least midseason, while recovering from a torn ACL. Irving was injured in March.
Ayton will join LeBron, Luka and Lakers after Portland buyout, AP sources say
FROM PAGE E1
has never been an AllStar, Ayton is the only player to average a double-double in points and rebounds in his first seven NBA seasons since former Lakers centre Dwight Howard did it over a decade ago.
Bypassing on-the- eld workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine and the Big 12 pro day only added to the doubts that suddenly swirled around t Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, w wondered how his son s stock c slipped when he hasn t thrown interception since the Alamo B “At the conclusion of the yea a er 4,000-some yards, all of a sudden his arm is weak ” Deion Sanders cracked I don t know when his arm got weak. But he protects the ball He had the highest completion percentage in college football this past year He’s the pillar of consistency But you ve got to understand when that last name is on your back, you re going to be attacked a ridiculed But we ’ re built for tha raised for this moment ” Kiper concurred saying Shed Sanders is accurate he s precise everything ever ybody wants. De making, accuracy, toughness, h he s 6-foot-and-a-half, can t cha right? But six-foot-and-a-half is good enough now in this day an
Ayton also knows Southern California after moving from The Bahamas to San Diego to play high school basketball. He went on to the University of Arizona before the Suns drafted him. The Lakers struggled without Davis in the paint last season, with Jaxson Hayes playing poorly enough to get benched by coach JJ Redick in their final two playoff games. LA was eliminated from the first round of the postseason by Minnesota in five games, with big man Rudy Gobert racking up 27 points and 24 rebounds in the clinching victory while the Lakers largely played without a centre.
Some of that, like his ashy watch pose a er touchdowns, may turn o opposing players and fans – and even some NFL scouts but it shows a bravado that pro teams want and
Other wise, LSU o ensive lineman Will Campbell and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter are two blue-chippers worthy of high dra picks. Cleveland would be hard-pressed to pass on Sanders teammate Travis Hunter, the two-way star who not only won the Heisman Trophy but also the Chuck Bednarik award as the college defensive player of the year and the Fred Biletniko award as the nation’s most outstanding wide receiver Hunter aims to play both o ense and defense in the NFL, too, and when asked how he d respond if the team that dra s him tries to restrict him to one side of the
BRONNY JAMES SAYS HE DOESN’T FOLLOW RUMOURS AROUND HIS FATHER LEBRON WHILE PREPARING FOR 2ND SEASON WITH LAKERS
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.
(AP) — Although Bronny James tries to stay off all social media, that strategy didn’t stop one of his friends from calling him up this week and asking him about LeBron James’ thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers’ direction — and what it all might mean for Bronny’s future.
“I said, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’” Bronny James said with a grin yesterday after practice with the Lakers’ NBA Summer League team.
“I don’t really pay attention to that stuff. There’s a lot of stuff going around that I don’t pay attention to.”
Bronny sounds ready to spend a long, hot summer ducking rumours, pleading ignorance on innuendo and concentrating on the work necessary to become a contributor during his second NBA season with the Lakers.
LeBron James has decided to pick up his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for his record 23rd NBA season — but his longtime agent, Rich Paul, announced the news with ambiguous comments in which he declared LeBron’s desire to compete for a championship this season, even while the Lakers are building for the future around Luka Doncic.
While many NBA observers are interpreting the comments as a prelude to a possible trade if the Lakers aren’t an elite
team in the fall, Bronny James said he isn’t thinking or looking that far ahead. The Lakers took a big step toward contention yesterday when centre Deandre Ayton agreed to sign with them as a free agent, filling their most glaring offseason need.
LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son to play together in NBA history last season, but the 20-year-old son of the top scorer in NBA history claims he doesn’t know what the future holds.
“We don’t really talk about that much, but I think when stuff like that does come up, he just tells me to not worry about it, not even pay attention to it,” Bronny said. “Just lock in to what you have going on right now, and that’s what’s going to get me better and keep me focused. I think it’s good that he tells me not to pay attention to that stuff.”
James first played for the Lakers a year ago in the NBA Summer League, and he is returning this month for another run. The
Lakers’ first game is in front of their famously passionate Vegas fans against No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks in the marquee event of the tournament. “Last year it was a crazy environment for me to step in and produce right off — being nervous, too,” Bronny said. “I feel like this year I’ll be able to go out and play freely and know what I’m going to go out there and do for me and my teammates. I’m just really excited to be able to play nervous-free.”
Bronny’s focus is on his conditioning and his diet. He has slimmed down to 215 pounds with a bit more work still to go, and he wants to be able to play 10-minute stretches with no fade. That’s also important for the mental aspect of the game for Bronny, who went into cardiac arrest two years ago during a summer workout at USC.
“I think that side of confidence just comes with time, and being able to go through or endure myself at a longer rate of time,”
Bronny said. “Just being able to be out there for longer time, going at it, just coming in every day and pushing myself even more than I did the last day, I think, is really good for me.”
Bronny also reaffirmed his determination to be a defensive stopper, even though he showed an ability to score last season in the G League and during a 17-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks last March.
“I can’t lose that defensive drive that will get me on the floor,” Bronny said.
“There’s going to be guys that can go out and score 15, 20 (points) a game. I’m most likely not going to be that guy right now, but to get myself on the floor, I have to be a defensive menace, and that’s my main focus, getting into that condition this year.”
Bronny won’t get a chance to play alongside Adou Thiero in Las Vegas, however. The Lakers’ second-round draft pick is still building strength after the left knee injury that bothered him at Arkansas, and while he won’t play in Summer League, he is expected to be fully ready for training camp.
LOS Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James, left, and
PORTLAND Trail Blazers centre Deandre Ayton (2) and Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic (15) vie for the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game, February 10, 2025, in Denver.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
MINISTRY HOSTS APPRENTICES TO ORIENTATION AND TRAINING SESSIONS FOR INSTRUCTORS OF 2025 SUMMER SPORTS PROGRAMME
THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Department of Sports hosted scores of apprentices, on July 1, 2025, to the orientation and training sessions for instructors of the 2025 Summer Sports Programme, held at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.
The programme is scheduled for July 7 to August 1.
Kelsie Johnson-Sills, acting director of sports, noted that there will be about 150 apprentices in more than 12 sports disciplines, as well as in the corporate sports area, in the 2025 programme.
She added that Urban Renewal, a number of the sports federations and other stakeholders had also partnered with the Ministry in the initiative.
Photos: Eric Rose /BIS
Liberty return home struggling after disappointing trip on the road
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer JONQUEL
NEW YORK (AP) —
The New York Liberty return home after a disappointing road trip that saw them drop three of their four games.
Help is on the way, though, as Leonie Fiebich will return from playing in the EuroBasket tournament for Germany. That will give New York back one of its two missing starters. Jonquel Jones is still recovering from a sprained ankle and is out for a few more weeks.
The team has really missed the two starters as its defence has struggled lately, giving up at least 89 points in three of the four road contests — including all three defeats.
JONES
- OUT FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS - IS STILL RECOVERING FROM A SPRAINED
The schedule also gets kinder to the Liberty with an eight-game homestand for most of July. With the All-Star break thrown in, New York doesn’t leave Barclays Center until a game at Dallas on July 28.
The Liberty will welcome Caitlin Clark and the Fever twice over that span as well as rival Las Vegas. Hey now, you’re an All-Star
The WNBA All-Star starters were announced this week led by captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa
ANKLE
Collier. The pair will draft their teams next week after the reserves are revealed this weekend.
Both are first-time captains.
Clark, by virtue of receiving the most fan votes, will have the first pick in the draft.
Other starters included Nneka Ogwumike, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Aliyah Boston and Satou Sabally in the front court. Sabrina Ionescu, Allisha Gray and rookie Paige Bueckers got the nod in the backcourt.
Power poll rankings Minnesota still is the No. 1 team with Phoenix and Atlanta behind the Lynx. New York, Golden State and Las Vegas were next. Seattle dropped three spots to seventh. Indiana and Washington followed the Storm. Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Connecticut rounded out the poll.
Expanded footprint
The WNBA announced three new teams will be
joining the league with Cleveland set to begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. That will give the league 18 teams — the most it’s ever had since it first started play in 1997.
Player of the week Angel Reese of Chicago averaged 19.7 points, 17 rebounds and five assists to help the Sky win two of their three games last week.
Other players receiving votes were Napheesa Collier of Minnesota, Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana and A’ja Wilson of Las Vegas.
Game of the week Seattle at New York, Sunday. The Storm play a three-game East Coast trip stopping in Atlanta, New York and Connecticut. They dropped two of their last three games and will try and get back on the winning track.
2024 WNBA FINALS MVP Jonquel Jones is still recovering from a sprained ankle and is out for a few more weeks. (AP Photo)