UNLV has stunning NIL-fueled QB exit; WNBA semifinals set; Presidents Cup preview

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Before we get to it, let’s take a moment to recognize a basketball legend stepping away. 16-year NBA veteran Derrick Rose announced his retirement early Thursday after an unforgettable career. The youngest player to ever win MVP, Rose vaulted to superstardom with the Chicago Bulls before a torn ACL sapped his game-changing athleticism, making him a role player — and valuable locker room presence — for the latter half of his career. 

Best of luck to Rose in whatever he does next, and onto the rest of the news. 

🏀 Good morning to all, but especially to …

THE MINNESOTA LYNX AND THE CONNECTICUT SUN

If you don’t know, now you know: Napheesa Collier is a bucket, and the Lynx are a wagon. Collier dropped 42 points, tying Breanna Stewart‘s and Angel McCoughtry‘s WNBA postseason record, as the Lynx swept the Mercury with a 101-88 Game 2 win.

Collier went 14 for 20 from the floor, 2 for 3 from deep, and 12 of 14 from the free throw line. She is an absolute nightmare to defend, incredibly versatile and always under control.

The Lynx, who are a WNBA-best 15-2 since the Olympic break, face the Sun next after Connecticut fended off the Fever, 87-81. Double-double machine Alyssa Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists, and Marina Mabrey (15 points) came up huge late. All seven Connecticut players who played scored at least eight points.

Unfortunately, what should have been a moment of joy was overshadowed by fan behavior. One fan got kicked out during the game, Thomas spoke out on the abuse she’s received from Fever fans, and DiJonai Carrington posted a threat she received on social media.

As a reminder: It’s possible to just enjoy the game and the players who make it such a great product, regardless of who you root for!

Much like the other semifinal, where the Liberty and Aces are meeting in a Finals rematch, the Lynx and Sun also represent a playoff rematch. The Sun won in three games in the first round last year.

To close, what a rookie season for Caitlin Clark. She, fittingly, became the first rookie to post a 25-5-5 playoff game in her final game of the year, and she’s excited to reflect back on an absolutely incredible 2024, Erica Ayala writes.

Clark might not be the only memorable exit. Did Diana Taurasi play her last game?

😃 Honorable mentions

💰 And not such a good morning for …

MATTHEW SLUKA AND THE UNLV REBELS

UNLV was one of college football’s best feel-good stories, but that narrative has shattered in a stunning turn of events. Quarterback Matthew Sluka, who transferred in from Holy Cross this summer and helped the Rebels get off to a 3-0 start as the team’s leading passer and rusher, is leaving the program and entering the transfer portal due to unfulfilled NIL promises.

There’s A LOT to unpack here. Let’s start with what they’re saying:

• In a tweet, Sluka said, “I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled. Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future.”
• Sluka was reportedly promised $100,000 by an assistant coach via verbal agreement, not a written one — a major no-no in the negotiation game. Sluka has not received any NIL compensation, multiple sources told Matt Zenitz.
• Blueprint Sports, which handles UNLV’s NIL operations, responded that “there were no formal NIL offers made during Mr. Sluka’s recruitment process.”
• UNLV also responded, saying “UNLV Athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of the NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada state law. UNLV does not engage in such activity, nor does it respond to implied threats.”

Sluka’s agent, Marcus Cromartie, is not a registered sports agent in Nevada, and that opens a new can of worms, Richard Johnson writes.

Sluka isn’t the first player to leave a program due to NIL issues, and he won’t be the last. Dennis Dodd, John Talty and Matt Zenitz have the inside story of a wild development in the Wild West of college athletics.

• “The prevailing sentiment is that the system is at fault here, rather than the player. It’s going to happen again. How long until players hold out in the middle of the season? … It’s just a matter of how deep the pool you swim in these days. It took Ohio State $20 million to shore up its roster in the offseason. Translation: Beat Michigan. UNLV’s program took a tumble Wednesday over a few hundred thousand.”

Hajj Malik-Williams will replace Sluka. UNLV hosts Fresno State on Saturday.

😕 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL, College Football QB Power Rankings

In happier quarterback news, we have new NFL and College Football QB Power Rankings.

In the pros, Josh Allen holds steady at the top, and it’s hard to argue with that. The Bills are absolutely dominant, and so is he. Here’s the top five:

1. Josh Allen (previous: 1)
2. Patrick Mahomes (3)
3. Lamar Jackson (4)
4. Brock Purdy (5)
5. C.J. Stroud (2)

The week’s biggest leap belongs to Sam Darnold, who is up from No. 17 to No. 10. He leads the NFL with eight touchdowns passing and is second — behind Allen — in passer rating. Furthermore, he and some others are making the cheap-vs.-expensive quarterback debate en vogue. Cody Benjamin took a deep dive.

• Benjamin: “The entire discussion is circular, in a way. Do you have a quarterback with a near-unmatched attribute, be it turbo mobility (e.g. Lamar Jackson), a supercharged arm (Josh Allen), or the total, clutch package (Patrick Mahomes)? Then, with rare exception, no price tag is too steep.”

To me, if you’re going to pay a quarterback big money, he’d better be the tide that lifts all ships. Mahomes has done it with and without Tyreek Hill. It’s early, but Allen is showing he can do it with and without Stefon Diggs. Jackson has never had an elite wide receiver. The truly elite ones find a way.

A cheaper quarterback — let’s say Darnold — might hit big compared to his contract, but they usually need more. It’s hard to argue with Darnold’s results so far, but it’s also hard to argue that Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, Kevin O’Connell and a great defense haven’t provided huge advantages.

Meanwhile, we have a new No. 1 in the college ranks.

1. Cam Ward (previous: 3)
2. Jalen Milroe (2)
3. Jaxson Dart (5)
4. Eli Holstein (6)
5. Shedeur Sanders (not ranked)

⛳ Presidents Cup preview: Can USA win 10th straight?

The Presidents Cup is back, and we’re set for four days of thrilling golf at Royal Montreal as the United States takes on the International team. If you’re not familiar with the event, it’s similar to the Ryder Cup, but instead of U.S. vs. Europe, it’s U.S. vs. the rest of the world, excluding Europe. The scoring and format is similar to the Ryder Cup, though the schedule is not quite as compressed.

It’s also not nearly as competitive. This is the 15th Presidents Cup, and the U.S. has won 12 of the previous 14, including each of the last nine. The Americans enter as heavy favorites once again. All 12 of their players are in the Official World Golf Ranking top 25, whereas only four of the International players are. The U.S. also has 10 of the top 12 players according to Kyle Porter’s ranking of all 24 players.

All three of our experts — Kyle, Patrick McDonald and Adam Silverstein — are taking the U.S. to win, but none are predicting a blowout. And I love Patrick’s pick for Team USA MVP.

• McDonald: “Collin Morikawa: It’s tough not to look at the top two players in the world here, but Morikawa’s quality isn’t as far behind as it may seem. He has been stellar in three team competitions and Royal Montreal appears to be right up his alley as fairways will be at a premium and quality iron play will need to be had. … Morikawa will captain the ship in the third partnership. That’s where this competition will be won and that’s where Morikawa will thrive as he poses a big threat in both formats and should have a strong chance to accumulate four points.”

Here’s more:

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

⛳ We’re watching the Presidents Cup. Here’s how.
🏈 Army at Temple, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Cowboys at Giants, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video