#United States national basketball team

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[clarkmied]

SMALL BUT FEISTY - caitlin clark x reader

It’s my first time writing again after a couple years of a hiatus, but i’m back in my caitlin clark obsession (i never left it 🤫), but bare with me cause it might be a little rocky writing. If there’s any spelling errors that make the story confusing let me know !

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Your relationship with Caitlin had started back when you were in Dowling Catholic with each other. You had been the new kid from Michigan, and Caitlin had taken a interest from you since the first day of your guy’s Sophomore year.

Caitlin had figured out very quickly that despite your height that you were quite feisty. Instead of being on the basketball team, you had played for Dowling’s soccer team as a CAM. Often you could be seen either arguing with the ref’s about another player not being carded for a foul, or a yellow card you had received.

Other times it was a player from another team, there was one time that the argument had turned physical leading to you being sent off the field with a red. The point being you had a problem with running your mouth (even though it was mostly justified).

Even though you had problems with arguing, your skills had managed to earn you a spot in the USWNT national camps before the 2019 World Cup, Jill had been very impressed with you and how you played that she had put you on the World cup roster. Managing to open the scoring for the United States during the group stage, with also managing to score the final goal against the Netherlands.

When you had won the World Cup, your initial thought wasn’t falling down on the ground in proud tears or celebrating with your team. You had B lined right toward the friends and family section where Caitlin, her family, and some of your family sat. Like a complete maniac you had jumped over a couple of barriers, before pulling yourself into the stands to kiss Caitlin in front of the world.

From then on your name had blown up all over social media platforms, and deals from all sorts of sponsors had flooded in. The picture of you on your tip toes in a passionate kiss with Caitlin had broken the internet for months (it was also in a small frame that you would end up taking with you to college.)

When decision day rolled around you had a few choices, University of Iowa (where you could be with Caitlin), University of Michigan, UCLA, Stanford, UW Madison, Purdue, or Rutgers. Obviously after seeing Caitlin’s choice, you had committed to Iowa.

So that’s how you found yourself in today’s situation. Facing off with UW Madison, a day that you hadn’t been looking forward too. With the Badgers knowing exactly how to get you to lose your cool, and the fact that not only was Caitlin in the stands but Monika and Kate were too.

“She does not look happy..” Monika mumbled, as she watched you get off the ground for what seemed like the hundredth time today.

“It’s not even halftime and she’s been on the ground more times than she’s had the ball.” Kate added, as she glanced over at your girlfriend.

Caitlin had been getting fed up herself with the Wisconsin players, every time she saw you go down she noted that it was starting to take a little longer for you to get back up again. Her hands running through her hair, as she watched you trying to keep your cool.

“They know how dangerous she is when the ball is at her feet, but I don’t know how much longer she can take this.” Caitlin told them, worry slipping into her voice. She knew when it came to Wisconsin that a potential red card could be coming your way, and no matter how hot you looked when mad, she worried about how far people would push you to your snapping point.

“Only a few more minutes before half time, Cait. After that it’ll be a home stretch.” Kate tried reassuring, as she reached over Monika to give Caitlin’s a reassuring squeeze to her hand.

“Hey Y/L/N !” Liv Curry yelled to you, as she came towards you. “I thought you were supposed to be some next big thing, but I guess your just another washout.” She told you, knowing exactly how you could doubt yourself.

“Why don’t you kiss my ass, Curry.” You growled, as you pushed her away from you. “Oh you got to be fucking kidding me..” You mumbled, as you saw the ref come towards you and holding a yellow above his head. “Yeah, I see. You keep booking us but not them.. sell out.” You mumbled bitterly.

“What was that?” The ref asked, as he turned back towards you with a slight glare.

“Nothing.” You told him through gritted teeth.

“This isn’t going to end well..” Caitlin sighed, as she watched your team and the Wisconsin team walk back to the locker rooms for halftime.

“What’s their problem with our superstar anyways?” Monika asked, as she turned her head towards Caitlin.

“Jealously for some, others just go at her because once my girlfriend gets the ball at her feet she’ll send it into the back of their net.” Caitlin replied, as she turned her head to look at her friends. She was so happy that her best friends treated you so well, and that they saw you as their own as well.

“I wouldn’t be surprised that the Wisconsin coach put a little money into the ref’s pocket for the lack of fouls and cards called.” Kate sighed, as she glared at the ref’s talking in the middle of the field. If she could she would’ve stormed down there to give them a piece of her mind.

“It’s not going to take much more of them pushing her before she gets herself sent off.” Caitlin told them, as she played with the chain around her neck.

“Caitlin!” You called, as you were jumping up to catch her attention. And when you did, you waved her to come down to talk to you for a few moments. Once she was looking down at you at the barrier, you jumped up to pull yourself up so you could be somewhat eye level.

“Shouldn’t you be in your locker room?” Caitlin questioned, as she tucked a piece of your hair behind your ear.

“Coach D let me come talk to you for a few minutes, said that if it helped me that it would be worth me missing out of some of the locker time.” You admitted, a slight bitterness filled you as you thought about the Wisconsin team.

“Speaking of helping.” Caitlin raised a brow slightly, before pulling you up over the barrier so you were in the stands with her. “What can I do to help ease that frustration?” She asked sincerely, as she held one of your hands while rubbing small circles over your knuckles.

“Help me murder them after the game?” You asked, mostly joking.

“I can’t believe i’m saying this, but don’t focus on the bogus stuff. Just worry about putting that ball in the back of the net.” Caitlin told you, ignoring the way your eyes gave away that you were somewhat serious about murdering the Wisconsin girls.

“Who are you and what have you done to my girlfriend?” You mumbled, before leaning your forehead into her chest.

Caitlin chuckled softly, wrapping a arm around your waist while the other rubbed your back slightly. “I’m proud of you.” She whispered, before pressing a kiss to the crown of your head.

“I love you.” You mumbled, feeling somewhat better with the comfort Caitlin brought you. But you knew once the game was done and you were back in Caitlin’s arms that everything would be okay again.

“I love you too, baby.” Caitlin told you sincerely, as she pried you from her chest so you would look at her. “So so much. I love you more than you know.” She admitted, before moving to lean in to kiss you before being interrupted by one of your teammates.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Samantha told you both, before giving a kind smile. “But, it’s time for the line up again.” She told you, before jumping down and walking back to the tunnel.

“That’s my cue.” You mumbled, before leaning up to press a kiss to Caitlin’s cheek. “Kate. Monika.” You gave them a small smile, before jumping down from the stands and moved towards the line up.

Everything had gotten messier in the second half. More tackles were made not only against you but now the rest of the midfield were receiving the most of the ground. The refs had called a few fouls against Wisconsin this time, but they mainly called it against your team.

Your blood was basically boiling, just waiting for the right thing for the kettle to set off. The anger had only pushed you into scoring a hat trick, leading the team into a lead of one point.

It’s when the 85th minute hit is when you had snapped. Curry had made a comment about how you didn’t deserve Caitlin and then proceeded to almost take your ankle out in a bad tackle.

“What the fuck, Curry!?” You yelled, as you got up on your feet. “You could’ve almost ended my season!” You growled, as you came up to her.

“You should’ve been watching yourself.” Liv told you with a small smirk on her lips. “But then again Y/N you don’t really matter in this world.”

One minute you had been listening to Liv’s words, the next you found yourself punching her straight in the nose. Liv had taken a few steps back, before punching you straight in face. The two of you had basically charged each other, taking each other to the ground throwing punches at the other. The Wisconsin girls had been quick to try and come to Liv’s aid, but hell even some of them got into it with your team.

It was about another five minutes of both teams trying to break up the fight, when Samantha had managed to pull you off of Liv and away from the Wisconsin players. Once the Badgers had seen that the main source of danger had been taken away the fighting had died down.

The main ref had showed a red card to Liv, and then turned to you before holding up a immediately red to eject from the game. Along with holding yellows to a few members of both teams.

Kate and Monika basically had to hold Caitlin back from getting onto the field to run to you during the fight, both of them surprisingly struggling to stop your girlfriend. Once you had been taken off the field and to medical, they had let her go so that she could go find you.

After a good ten minutes of searching she had found you sitting on one the physio’s tables with a ice pack to your lip and nose that was clearly broken.

She moved to stand in between your legs, so that she could look you over herself. A hand brushing the messy pieces of hair out of your face.

“You scared me back there.” She admitted, as she placed a hand against your cheek gently. “Watching you get hit by Liv and those other players really scared me, Y/N.”

“I’m sorry..” You mumbled, as you looked down at the floor.

“I know, sweetheart.” She reassured, before putting her hand under your chin to make you look at her. “But, I know that it wasn’t your fault. I still love you, Y/N. Nothing will ever change that, Okay?” Caitlin raised a brow slightly, keeping her hand under your chin.

You nodded your head, as you kept your eyes on hers. Your face contorted slightly as a small wave of pain hit you.

“What’s wrong? Am I hurting you?” Caitlin asked worriedly, as she retracted her hand.

You shook your head slightly, before moving the ice pack away from your face. “I have a minor concussion.” You admitted, before leaning your head against her chest.

“What am I going to do with you?” Caitlin chuckled softly, as one of her arms wrapped around you while the other held the ice pack to your face.

“Take me home and cuddle with me?” You mumbled, a slight pout on your lips as you pulled away to look at her.

“Whatever you want, babe.” Caitlin chuckled softly, before kissing your lips. She pulled away from you, before turning so her back was towards you. “Hop on, Princess.”

“Yes ma’am.” You said teasingly, as you got onto her back.

“Ready?” She asked you, as she held onto your legs.

“Ready.” You nodded, before ducking your head as Caitlin carried you out of the physio room and out of the stadium.

“Look who it is!” Monika laughed softly, as they watched Caitlin carry you out.

“Damn Y/N, they got you good.” Kate told you, as she stood in front of you and Caitlin.

“You should see the other girl.” You grinned at her, despite your busted lip.

“We put your bags in the car.” Monika told you, before pointing towards Caitlin’s car. “Samantha brought it to us while Caitlin went to go get you.”

“Thanks guys.” You nodded, a small smile on your lips.

“I gotta get this one home, concussion and all.” Caitlin laughed softly, before beginning to walk towards the car with you still on her back.

“We’ll see you guys later!” The two called out, before walking to their own cars to leave.

Once both of you were settled in the car, Caitlin had started the journey back to your shared place. The car ride had been pretty much silent, seeing as you had fallen asleep pretty quickly in the passenger seat exhausted from the match and the fight. When the car was parked in the parking lot, Caitlin had left yours bags in the car and carried you inside bridal style.

You groaned lightly as you felt yourself being placed in bed, your eyes slowly fluttering open. “Baby?” You mumbled, as you reached out towards her.

“It’s okay.” She reassured, as she came back into view with some clothes in her hands. “Let’s get you into something more comfortable, yeah?” Her tone was more of her telling you than asking, and you had zero energy to argue with her.

You slowly lifted yourself up and with her help you had been able to change into one of Caitlin’s shirts and a pair of shorts.

“I’ll be right back, baby. I’m gonna go change into something more comfortable.” She pressed a kiss to her your forehead gently, before walking away to get changed.

You were about to whine that she was taking to long, but then you felt a dip in the bed and Caitlin wrapping arm around you so she could pull you into her. One of your hands moved to interlock with her hand that was wrapped around you.

“You’ll take care of me right?” You mumbled sleepily, as you glanced over your shoulder at her.

“Of course I will, whatever you need i’ll get it for you.” Caitlin told you honestly, as she rubbed your back with her free hand.

“Just hold me for right now?” You asked, as you felt your eyes fighting to stay open.

“Whatever you want, baby.” She told you, before pressing a kiss to your shoulder. “Get some sleep, baby, i’ll wake you up when it’s time.”

“I love you.” You mumbled softly.

“I love you too.” She told you, watching as you fell asleep in her arms.

Caitlin had done what she had said. She was there for you every moment, when you were startled awake before rushing to the bathroom, Caitlin had sat with you holding your hair as she rubbed soothing circles on your back. When you asked for something to eat, she had left to go make you something that you could keep down. She made sure to wake you up at the intervals, before making small talk to keep you up before letting you fall asleep again. Despite getting little sleep herself, she didn’t mind it at all. You were her everything, and she would always take care of you.

[hed-romancer]

Okay but Nandor doesn’t like basketball in general. Nandor likes the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team. He wanted to pledge allegiance to their unholy nation in 1992. He has a room full of merchandise just for this one team (Citizenship). He wears a jersey for them in Nouveau Théatre des Vampires. He wishes to play one on one with Michael Jordan wearing the team’s jerseys in The Wedding.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but there is no evidence that Nandor likes basketball outside of this one specific team. There’s no evidence Nandor knows what college basketball even is.

[holyblonded]

KENZA CREOXELLS

Kenza Esperança Creoxells (born August 13, 2003) is an American soccer player who plays for the Yale Bulldogs as well as the United States women's national soccer team. When she was younger she played for the Barcelona Femení youth team. She's currently plays for as a forward for the Liga F club Barcelona since she was 14 and 291 days old. She is the most recent winner of the Golden Girl Award and the Kopa Feminin Award.

𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗼𝘅𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀

Full Name: Kenza Esperança St. Clair i Creoxells

Date of Birth: August 13, 2003 (age 20)

Place of Birth: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain 

Height: 5'8"

Education: The Benjamin Franklin International School (graduated)

Yale University (currently)

Postion(s):           Forward

Current Team: No.3 - Barcelona

No.3 - Yale Bulldogs

International Team: United States

Awards: Full List

𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Kenza Esperança Creoxells, known in the soccer world as "Golden Girl" or "The King" alternately "King Kenza", was born August 13, 2004 to Akoni St. Clair and Nor Creoxells in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Her father is a retired NBA player who is known for his phenomenal rebounding skills. She two younger siblings, Khai and Kyro that don't have many current media appearances.

Creoxells has been playing soccer since she was merely two years old, but even back then she had a talent for it. Her talent was first seen by her father who encouraged her to keep playing and be "the best soccer player you can be." Creoxells’ parent divorced when she was merely 5 years old. She spends the school year with her mom in DC and her school breaks she spend it with her dad either in his usual residence in Minnesota.

When she was in Washington DC, she befriended Azzi Fudd. In Minnesota, she made many friends like Paige Bueckers and Jalen Suggs who both attended her father's basketball camps. In Barcelona, she befriended Leonkinda, a Greek aristocrat, as well as Pedri and Gavi, both fellow La Masia graduate.

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄

Her mother is Spanish supermodel, Nor Creoxells. She is very close to her mother and as a child, Creoxells was always spotted at the runway shows supporting her mom. Her mom speaks to her children strictly in Spanish and Catalan when they were growing up making that Creoxells first language. When Creoxells was ten, her mother got remarried to American basketball legend, Diana Taurasi.

Diana Taurasi came into Creoxells’ life when she was seven years old, and the two have been quite close. Creoxells has been pictured many times throughout her life at a basketball game and Taurasi has been photographed arguing with little league refs. The most iconic moment was at the 2012 London Olympics, when Taurasi gave her gold medal to nine year old Kenza, hard launching her relationship to Nor Creoxells. St. Clair has said, "she [Taurasi] has been an important figure in my life and to my career. She truly stepped up into a parent role like it was nothing. I owe everything to her."

NBA Legend, Akoni St. Clair is her father and at a  young age, Creoxells said he 100% encouraged her soccer career. Creoxells credits her dad with her success in soccer even though the two aren't that close. In fact, after her parents divorced, Creoxells didn't see her dad for two years due to his excessive partying. When Creoxells was 14, Akoni relinquished his parental rights for reasons unknown to the media. Since then, Kenza either has Creoxells or occasionally Taurasi on her jersey.

The five year old twin boys, Khai and Kyro, are often kept out of the spotlight, but Creoxells does seem to adore them. The twins were born through IVF that Nor carried. Anytime the two are brought up on an interview, there's a burst of excitement.

Creoxells has had numerous brief flings with fellow La Masia alum, Alejandro Balde. The two were spotted on the streets of Barcelona kissing  various times throughout their teen years. Though there is no confirmation of the relationship, the two seem to be great friends now. Giovanna Ramos is Creoxells’ recent fling as the two were pictured kissing outside of a club.  Although neither parties have confirmed nor denied the rumors.

Creoxells’ reoccurring relationship rumor is with Paige Bueckers. The two have known each other since childhood and are often seen around UConn and Yale campuses together. While both deny the rumors, witnesses say they often flirt with each other in public.

CAREER

When Creoxells was about 8 years old, she earned the opportunity to train at La Masia. After Creoxells and her father begged her mother, she was allowed to go and stayed with her mom's childhood friend, Alexia Putellas. Putellas quickly became another mother to her , watching her grow up and eventually join her on the pitch. Creoxells said, "La Masia taught me major discipline and how truly gifted I was at the sport (soccer). It also gave me the opportunity to build my skill set and knowledge in football. It also gave me the opportunity to build these relationships at Barca, I don't know what I would be doing without my team."

Creoxells has a very interesting style on playing. She has a keen eye and is able to spot spaces and gaps to squeeze herself through. Her elite ball control, speed, ambidexterity, and spatial awareness make her a dangerous player to go against. The way Creoxells even envisions a field is different from most players and seems to give her some sort of upper hand. In her entire carrer, Creoxells has never missed a penalty kick.

At 14 years old, Creoxells was offered a spot on the Barca Femení professional team. She accepted and played there ever since. Her debut game she scored a goal and a hatrick against Chelsea FC, but what made her memorable was her constant confused looks when she scored. At Barca, she earned the nickname, Bebita and Princesa, from her teammates. This nickname is not only due to her age but her naps that she took during any sort of break. Creoxells even got caught napping during halftime at a game, curled up next to Ingrid Engen and Mapi Leon. The second nickname was earned because of her judgmental glances during games and her lack of a poker face. For the Barcelona fans, they give her the nickname "Chica Dorada" aka Golden Girl. Her other nicknames like King Kenza came later on. Her newest nickname and a fan favorite is "La Artillero" meaning the gunner, poking fun at Arsenal who tried to take the prodigy many times but failed. The nickname also refers to her precision kicks into the goal.

After about two years of Creoxells playing on Barca and attending university, her grades slipped making Barca's manager Jonatan, decided to put St. Clair's spot on Barca is currently "on hold" as she furthers her education in college. Creoxells plans on graduating early so she can go back to play.

She currently plays for the USWNT but after they refused to raise her pay, Creoxells is in the process of switching teams. The USSF claim they are currently in negotiations with Creoxells’ management to dispute the situation. Not so long ago, the USSF faced a lawsuit against the women's team for equal pay. Creoxells made a statement saying, "They [USSF] are paying me less than what they said on a contract. It would take some serious groveling for me to stay on the team." She is currently eligible for the English (her mother) and Spanish (her mother) National Teams. As well as t

𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒

2x First-Team All-American

Gatorade Player of the Year (2022)

Hermann Trophy (2023)

Rookie of the Year (2021)

U.S Soccer Young Female Player of the Year Award (2022)

Golden Girl Award (2021, 2022, 2023)

2x NCAA Tournament College Cup

Primera División: 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23

UEFA Women's Champions League: 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23

Copa de la Reina: 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23

UEFA Women's Champions League Player of the Year (2022-23)

Kopa Féminin Award (2023)

[technofeudalism]

*sigh* we're really doing this aren't we? like... actually? after the last year? this is the response?

the richest man in the world throwing up a Seig Heil on stage in front of millions of Americans at the inauguration of a President carrying out mass deportations? not anti-semetic.

now, here is a non-definitive list of organizations, people and entire countries that have been called anti-semitic since October 7th by anyone officially affiliated with the Israeli government (parliament/advisors/ambassadors, etc.). this means accusations of:

direct anti-semitism

anti-Jewish sentiment

blood libel against the Jews

support/funding/helping Hezbollah/Hamas

some of these aren't actually wrong, mind you, but it shows how the frequently the term is being abused.

The ICJ

The ICC

UNRWA

The UN

UNHCR

OCHA

UN Secretary General António Guterres

UN CAAC reports

The EU (helping the PA)

Israel's arab citizens

Princeton University

Human Rights Watch

Qatar

Swedish government

Swedish media

Al Jazeera

Palestinian groups and anarchists (Blood Libel against settlers)

US Sanctions on Settlers

Amsterdam

Ireland women's basketball team

Reports of a growing phenomenon of settler violence

E.U. Foreign Minister Borrell

Sen. Jeff Merkley

Sen. Sanders

Rep. AOC

Rep. Omar

Rep. Tlaib

Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Karim Khan, Lead in the ICC

The BBC (Blood Libel)

South Africa (Blood Libel)

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (Blood Libel)

Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Blood Libel)

Tucker Carlson (Blood Libel)

USAID

USAID administrator Power

Ireland's President

Ireland's Taoiseach

Amnesty International

Brazil's President Lula

BDS

Turkiye's Erdogan

President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas

Students in United States Universities

Professors in United States Universities

NY Times Cartoonist

Prime Minister of Spain (Their country rewarded Hamas/Supports terrorism against Jews).

Prime Minister of Belgium (Their country rewarded Hamas/Supports terrorism against Jews).

Prime Minister of Norway (Their country rewarded Hamas/Supports terrorism against Jews).

Iran's government

Benny Gantz

Yair Lapid

Gabi Ashkenazi

Moshe Ya’alon

American Academic Jasbir Puar

i'm starting to think this Netanyahu guy might not be running the most credible operation over there.

[whirlpool-blogs]

Building a prodigy: How Jack Hughes’ blend of skill and personality morphed him into a top NHL prospect

Published: Jun. 21, 2019

Jack Hughes was pissed.

Standing in the driveway of his billet family house in Plymouth, Mich. — finally free to do so in the early spring after the cold, oppressing winter broke — Hughes grabbed a basketball, his eyes red with revenge.

Moments earlier, United States National Team Development Program teammate Alex Turcotte dunked directly over Hughes. Poster-worthy jams came frequently on the intentionally lowered nets, and Hughes wasn’t going let Turcotte have the last word.

The 5-10, 171-pound hockey player took the ball, drove to the net, catapulted toward the rim and unleashed hell.

“He got so mad,” NTDP defenseman Marshall Warren said. "Just went the other way and dunked on everyone.”

That outburst came during innocent pickup hoops played among some of Hughes’ best friends. Those circumstances never stopped him from being the first rip off his shirt, playing until sweat streamed from every pore on his body.

The desire to never be outdone stems from Hughes’ attitude on the hockey rink, where during his teenage years, his drive and skill transformed him into a top NHL prospect, which could culminate with his likely No. 1 overall selection by the Devils at the 2019 NHL Draft on Friday in Vancouver.

Even while scouts and coaches sung his praises as he tore through every level of youth hockey, Hughes developed his own distinct personality off the ice. His drive bled out in some aspects of life, but Hughes found ways to turn off his engine away from game that defined him.

"You get him into those athletic situations and he’s the ultimate competitor, but he’s able to flip the switch off, which I think bodes very well for him long term,” NTDP head coach John Wroblewski said. "Not just as a hockey player, but as a functioning adult and a product of a good family."

A JERSEY DOWN TO HIS KNEES

When Wroblewski accepted the heading coaching position at the NTDP in 2016, he inherited a group of 17-year-olds born in 1999 as the first group auditioning for his U18 team. Running spring practices in Plymouth, he was still getting acclimated with the names, faces and skills of his new roster.

Before a practice, Jeremiah Crowe, then the program’s director of player personnel, approached the coach and told Wroblewski another player would be skating with the team. He was the younger brother of Quinn Hughes, one of his 17-year-old defensemen. His name was Jack.

Wroblewski took the ice, and as the team trickled out, he saw a small, skinny 15-year-old kid emerge from the tunnel, with skaters two years his elder towering over him. Hughes’ assigned jersey hung down to his knees.

Yet the scrawny center skated with power rivaling any 17-year-old on the ice, and that group of teenagers was the best the United States had to offer. Wroblewski couldn’t keep his eyes off the kid that was supposed to be 24 months away being there.

"He had this magnetic ability, the puck just kept finding him and finding him,” Wroblewski recalled. "And when it did, the opposition couldn’t shut him down. They would give him too much time and space because he had this kind of forcefield that great players have.”

But the newest members of the U18 team picked up on this. Eventually, they stopped respecting the underage boy skating circles around them. They collapsed on Hughes, attempting to take away the freedom that came so easily.

That didn’t make a difference.

“If somebody rushed at him, he’d slide it right through their legs and go around them,” Wroblewski said. "It was amazing how he could manipulate players two years older than him and fit right in and be one of the best offensive players on the ice for two straight days.”

To Wroblewski and those seeing Hughes up close for the first time, it came as a mild shock, even with some of the murmurs that accompanied his arrival. They’d only heard secondhand what the crafty forward was doing from the day he put on skates.

Some of Hughes’ eventual NTDP teammates skated with him for the first time years earlier. In 2011, Hughes and a gaggle of 10-year-olds suited up for the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament in Edmonton, blissfully unaware of the future that awaited some them with the NTDP.

Even then, among players barely old enough to access their skills and talents on the ice, Hughes shined among his peers.

RAISED TO SUCCEED

The Hughes clan has already been dubbed the next great American hockey family.

Quinn Hughes, the oldest of three brothers, was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, and he’ll be a mainstay on the Vancouver Canucks’ blue line for years to come.

After Jack inevitably goes at or near the top of the draft on Friday, the youngest of the three siblings, Luke Hughes, will follow in their footsteps. The defenseman will likely hear his name called in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Genetically, the trio was bred to be hockey players. The brothers’ father, Jim Hughes, played college hockey at Providence. That never blossomed into a long pro playing career, but he carved out his path coaching in the NHL and AHL before becoming the Toronto Maple Leafs’ director of player development.

Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, was the one that taught the brothers most of their hockey chops. A former player on the U.S. Women’s National Team and a member of the University of New Hampshire athletic hall of fame, she introduced the three to skating. Then she showed them how to excel at the sport that came so naturally.

"She was our coach,” Jack Hughes said. "Our dad, when we were young, was coaching pro, on the road a lot, so it’s not like when you have a game, you get a fly by. Our mom, she knew the game too, so you’d hear it from her.”

But aside from Jack Hughes’ prodigious skill on the ice, the two parents molded the forward to be the person capable of handling the attention off of it.

"How does a kid who’s that good and has been tabbed the No. 1 pick, remain humble and hungry, and just overall a good person?” Wroblewski said. "You can’t look any farther than the parents.”

The NTDP cycles in class after class of America’s top hockey talent, plucked from every corner of the U.S., with the sole goal of developing the country’s next superstars.

Hughes fits that mold in every sense of the word, from his competitiveness and desire to never be second best. Yet away from the ice, Hughes’ life isn’t dominated by the game.

He has a shoe collection. He plays video games and poker. He golfs. He hangs out with friends. He does what, by most standards, many normal American teenagers do when they can escape the daily grind of school and sports.

His teammates don’t see him as an untouchable prodigy. Hughes never looked down on them from a pedestal as praise and hype followed him at every turn and continuously gained steam as he aged.

"He’s kind of a goofy kid. Loves hanging out with his buddies. Just making jokes,” teammate Trevor Zegras said. “To me, he’s always just been Jack.”

THE PATH TO NO. 1

David Gregory tried to avoid the hype. He heard the name more than enough, but like any prospect, he wanted to see for himself before drawing his own conclusions.

A North American scout for NHL Central Scouting, tasked with watching and evaluating hundreds of skaters every year across the U.S. and Canada, Gregory walked into Plymouth’s rink and saw Hughes at a camp, trying out for the development program.

Gregory saw Hughes again in his first U18 game, where the center received an early promotion as a 16-year-old. Gregory didn’t need that second viewing to know Hughes would live up to his billing.

“He’s already at full speed and he figures out how to find this other gear,” Gregory said. "If a hole opens up or there’s an opportunity to get to a different spot to make a play, he just finds more speed. It’s pretty amazing to watch.”

From the moment the whispers started years ago about Hughes potentially being the No. 1 overall pick, all the way through the palpable hype during his 2018-19 season, his teammates and coaches never saw a shift in the forward’s demeanor.

Traveling back from a European tournament on a Monday, the U18 team had a quick turnaround for a USHL road game in Omaha on Friday. Hughes roared from the get-go, skating with the ferocity of someone playing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

“He’s flying around the ice, and the other team’s trying to kill him. Literally,” Wroblewski said. "Three guys are trying to go after him and he’s still doing his thing and dishing pucks."

That consistent drive helped Hughes shatter the all-time scoring record at the NTDP, previously set at 189 points by current Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller. Hughes’ 228 career points also dwarfed the production of current NHL stars Phil Kessel, Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews.

As Hughes racked up record after record, he was still routinely the first on the ice for practices. If the goalies needed a shooter for drills beforehand, he was the first to volunteer.

"That’s also a part of a why he’s so good. He hates losing. He wants to be a difference maker all the time, which I think is why he’s going to be a special player,” goalie Spencer Knight said. “That’s something people might not see about him. Besides all the skill and the glamour, he’s a really good guy, and he’s always working hard.”

[fanaticsportsworld]

Stars light up the night as Team WNBA beats Paris-bound U.S. women’s squad!

The WNBA All-Stars vs. Team USA game is a highly anticipated exhibition match that showcases top talent from the WNBA facing off against the United States women's national basketball team. The Wnba were lead by Arike Ogunbowale where the stuffed the score sheet with 34 points! According to AP news, 22 of her points were in the 3rd Quarter alone! Although it did not look too good for Team USA, however it did show that no competitive game is an easy. No matter the star power you have. The U.S. women's team's next exhibition match is against Germany on Tuesday in London, before they travel to France for the Olympics. Germany, Belgium, and Japan are in the pool with the Americans.

Final Score WNBA All Stars 117 - Team USA 109

[the-physicality]

Honestly i don’t think the pwhl even tried to find US broadcasting partners. I know that espn would be too much of a reach considering college football and basketball are in season, and i’m glad they didn’t do anything with cbs or nhl network or espn+ (all servicesto which i myself do not have access). But ion seems like they would have done something and they’re hooked up to prime video (which sucks i know but is free) and they’ve had decent production for wnba and nwsl. Of course the league could have also bought their own platform (nwsl and wnba use the same software).

Though i think the main issue is that the people in charge have not critical thinking skills and cannot separate out youtube audiences by geography, and therefore have no way of selling the audience to any broadcasters…and i would say i’m 85% sure that the switch to twitch has to do with them not knowing how to block the feed in canada (because i saw some people say the youtube wasn’t blocked jn canada)

It really is so unfortunate that they are artificially limiting their audience size when they could be part of the big 3 north american leagues (nwsl wnba pwhl). Especially because the united states does have a larger population and therefore a larger potential audience. Even the wsl (located in england) switched to stream their games that weren’t broadcast in the us to be on youtube (instead of their app, FA player) and their international audiences showed substantial growth. Because youtube is more accessible.

Furthermore, they know that americans are a big part of the reason this league even exists (though the impetus was the canadian league folding) and half the teams in the league are located in the us, so why would they put so little thought into their access? Additionally, many of the exciting upcoming draft picks (read: young us national team players) are from the united states. In fact, the number one draft pick this year plays for a team in the US. so why would the league appear to actively limit the reach of the league in the usa? Again, i have to come back to the idea that tsn and canadian broadcasters want exclusive rights in canada (because they are paying the league for them) and the league doesn’t know how to block canadian access on youtube (even though i know it is possible to restrict by location as i have seen the screen)

[cauli-flawa]

CNN, December 2, 2024:

Moshe Ya'alon, a former Israeli Defense Minister with 30 years of service, accused Israel of committing genocide in North Gaza on Democrat TV. He told the news network that Israel was becoming a "corrupt and leprous fascist Messianic state."

When asked by his interviewer if he believed ethnic cleansing was "on the way," he responded; "Why ‘on the way?' What’s happening there? There’s no Beit Lahia. There’s no Beit Hanoun. [The IDF is] currently operating in Jabalya, and essentially, they’re cleaning the area of Arabs."

The Israeli Military confirms that Omar Maxim Neutra was killed in Hamas' assault on October 7. His body is still being held by Hamas. Neutra was originally thought to be alive and taken hostage.

Neutra served as a tank platoon commander in the IDF. He was known as a warm and optimistic person who brought light to his friend's lives. He also loved sports like basketball, volleyball and soccer, and was the captain of his school's sports teams. Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that he was killed in battle near Nir Oz, a kibbutz that was severely affected by October 7. Hamas murdered or kidnapped nearly 1 in 4 of the residents.

The Times of Israel Op-Ed, December 3 2024:

David Horovitz expresses concern over how Netanyahu's far-right administration may be a threat to the nation's democracy. Horovitz points out how he does not address mass draft dodging in the youth populace, encourages Justice Minister Yariv Levin to weaken and subjugate the judiciary, and centralizing government power to himself, among other problems.

Times of Israel, December 2, 2024:

Trump threatens Hamas and those holding hostages that there will be "all hell to pay" if the hostages are not released by January 20, threatening to attack with "unprecedented American firepower," as reported by the Times of Israel.

He wrote this threat on Truth Social: "Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East – But it’s all talk and no action! Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity."

He posted this announcement hours after the IDF announced the death of Omar Maxim Neutra, and two days after Hamas released a video of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli hostage, begging to be freed.

Hamas published a three-minute propaganda video where Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli dual citizen, begged Trump and Netanyahu for a hostage deal. Alexander addressed Israel in Hebrew, and the US in English. Alexander may have been held hostage for 420 days.

In the video, he expressed disappointment in the Israeli government for "neglecting" the hostages. "Do not neglect us. We want to return home," he said. "Fear and isolation is killing us. Do not forget us."

"It is unreasonable that we pay the price for a mistake made by the government." Alexander also encouraged Israelis to "go out and demonstrate every day and pressure the government."

He asked Donald Trump, soon to be president of the United States, to "use [his] influence and the full power of the United States to negotiate for our freedom." He also asked Trump to not "make the same mistake Biden has been making. The weapons he has sent are now killing us, the unlawful siege is now starving us."

Alexander also addressed his family, and said that "every day that passes, the pain increases."

"I miss you very much, Every day, I pray to see you soon. Please be strong, its only a matter of time before this nightmare ends," he concluded.

Edan Alexander was born in Tel Aviv, raised in New Jersey, and enlisted in the Golani Brigade.

Live page from Al Jazeera, December 3, 2024:

Gaza's health ministry claims that Israel's airstrikes have murdered 36 Palestinians and injured 96 people in the past day. The UN says that "food availability is at an all-time low across the entire Gaza Strip."

Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for his demands to release the hostages by his inauguration date.

Jewish-Canadian activists sat in front of the Ottawa parliament building, calling for an end to arms sales to Israel. Niall Ricardo, one of the organizers of the protest and a member of Independent Jewish Voices Canada, stated that “every bomb Israel drops on Gaza and every missile they fire into Lebanon carries a grim truth: the warplanes and attack helicopters raining destruction on civilians could not fly without hundreds of Canadian-made components."

CNN, November 30, 2024:

Following the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the displaced Lebanese people are finally able to return home and rebuild. The Israeli military demanded that the people living in the southernmost parts of Lebanon refrain from returning home.

Hussein Mallah got to work rebuilding his home and business right away. “My 24/7 bakery is going to be open for business tonight,” he stated triumphantly.

The ceasefire agreement is very fragile, and can easily break apart if either army chooses to violate it. Both the IDF and Hezbollah are already accusing one another of breaking the ceasefire arrangement. Reports state that Israeli forces have fired at Lebanese civilians and villages. Israel claims that they have observed Hezbollah regrouping.

In the aftermath, Israel will withdraw from Lebanon, and the Lebanese army will be deployed in the south to make sure the area is free of Hezbollah's weapons.

Mallah stays optimistic. "Even if the ceasefire collapses, we’ll just do the whole thing all over again." he said. "I was raised this way and I’ll always be this way. Nothing can break our spirits.”

The ceasefire brings hope to Lebanon even amongst the rubble of their homes. Marwa returned to her home in Beirut after two months of displacement, thankful for the ceasefire, but devastated by the unprecedented amounts of damage done to her suburban home.

"I couldn’t even tell you how difficult it was to see my home covered in broken glass, to see my memories ripped apart," she told CNN.

But not everyone has a home to return to. Umm Hussein knew about what happened to her house - Israel had bombed it to pieces. On the day of the ceasefire, she said, "Throughout this war, I was patient with my displacement. But today, I watch these scenes and I feel like a prisoner."

[usnatarchives]

The WNBA Story: Pioneering Women’s Pro Basketball in the United States

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has a rich history dating back to its inception in 1996. Established as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association (NBA), the league has since set a standard for professional women's sports in the United States.

The first game of the WNBA was conducted on June 21, 1997, a face-off between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks.

One of the pioneering teams of the league, the Houston Comets, left an indelible mark on the early years of the WNBA. The team secured the first four championships from 1997 to 2000.

Within the National Archives, records related to the WNBA offer fascinating insights into the league's evolution.

A team jersey and signed basketball from the Indiana Fever WNBA basketball team are on display in our exhibit, “All American: The Power of Sports."

[uniqrenders]

[alexbkrieger13]

Has the article already been shared? www(.)espn(.)com(.)au/football/story/_/id/38079094/how-cornhole-created-frenzy-swedens-world-cup-camp

How Cornhole has created a frenzy at Sweden's World Cup camp

UPPER HUTT, New Zealand -- Sweden and Bayern Munich defender Magdalena Eriksson has a target on her back. "Everyone wants to beat Magdalena," her Sweden teammate Olivia Schough says.

Eriksson and Scough are both part of the Sweden squad that hope to win the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but they are fierce rivals when it comes to what has been dubbed "The Alternative World Cup," a Cornhole competition that has gripped the camp between games. In the run-up to Sweden's nervy 2-1 win in their opener against South Africa, the Cornhole "group stage" took place, with the knockout rounds being played this week ahead of their second World Cup match against Italy at Wellington Regional Stadium.

Cornhole is a simple game, but one that's stirring strong emotions among the Sweden players. The competition is ferocious; there have been tantrums and wild celebrations, while both players and coaching staff have come up with far-fetched reasons not to take part because they can't handle the idea of losing.

The idea for the competition was proposed by team psychologist Rasmus Liljeblad as a way to help cure the boredom that can set in when you are away from home for potentially more than 40 days. For Sweden, whose base camp is in the quiet town of Upper Hutt, some 20 miles north of Wellington, that was a particular danger; therefore, they sought ideas to keep the players entertained. There are table tennis tables, a basketball court and a massive indoor screen alongside one of the training pitches where they can play interactive games. There is also an area where they can practice their golf swing.

However, Cornhole is the one activity that's created a frenzy across the squad.

Teams of two -- some opted for a three-player squad -- met in a "group stage" before this week's playoffs. The games take place in the players' lounge, using boards branded with the national team's crest. The aim is to throw a small hand-held sack through the hole in the board. If you manage that, you get three points. If the sack lands on the board, you get one point. The winning team is the first to 21 points.

The game is popular in the United States, one of the seldom-seen sports from around the world that features annually on "ESPN 8: The Ocho." The American Cornhole League events, which are broadcast globally, allow ACL pros to team up with celebrities for the competition: maybe the winners of Sweden's Alternative World Cup could get an invite next year?

Eriksson, who recently left Chelsea for Bayern Munich, hopes she will be in the running when the final comes around. "It's extremely competitive, as you can imagine," she told ESPN. "We don't know who is the best yet. We are coming into the playoffs now after a very tight group stage."

After a tough start, Eriksson and her partner, Barcelona forward Fridolina Rolfo, progressed to the knockout rounds, although they needed a win over the team's physios to kickstart their campaign. "If we had lost that, I think we would have withdrawn from the tournament," Eriksson added. "We wouldn't have deserved to be included."

Rosengard midfielder Schough, part of a team with defender Linda Sembrant and Sweden captain Caroline Seger, is waiting for Eriksson in the next round. "We had an easy group stage, four out of four wins," Schough told ESPN. "We are a strong team, but now we are facing Magdalena and Fridolina. [Eriksson] is a tough one, but I am very excited to beat her.

"Of course there is a fun side, but we always want to win ... and everyone wants to beat Magdalena."

Once the competition is over, there may still be some debate about who is the best. That's because Everton right-back Nathalie Bjorn and Manchester City midfielder Filippa Angeldal are not taking part.

Bjorn and Angeldal have known each other since they were six. They have gone on to play in an Olympics, a European Championship and now a World Cup together, but perhaps more importantly, they won the inaugural Cornhole competition, which took place at a camp before the World Cup. Given their 20-year relationship, they might have already had an advantage over their teammates, though some previous training with Bjorn's dad also helped hone their skills.

"My dad plays a little bit at home in Sweden, in Uppsala," Bjorn told ESPN. "He took me at Christmas, with Filippa and her girlfriend, and we went and played and had a competition against other players."

So why are they not trying to retain their crown? "I already won once," she added. "This time I felt like I can be a coach or referee and just see because I get easily bored. I can play two games and not be focused anymore. I just thought no, I am just going to watch now."

Eriksson is not so sure. "They don't want to come back and do worse after winning the last tournament," is her opinion. That gives an idea of how competitive the games can become.

"We have some players that get so angry and frustrated which is just funny to watch," Bjorn said. "You sit on the sidelines and just laugh. I would say everyone here is so competitive, so it's hard to name one or two because it's the whole team. When they are going to throw the bag and it goes somewhere else, it's just bad words coming out."

While some members of the backroom staff are involved, the coaching staff are not. Schough jokes that we should ask assistant manager Magnus Wikman why he didn't sign up.

"I like to play and I think I am quite good," Wikman laughed when asked by ESPN. "But in this situation, I think it's bad for the players to play [with me] because I talk a lot with them and [have to make decisions], so I think it's better I don't compete. If I lose, I am not going to control my emotions and that's not good for the players!"

Ultimately, the silliness and competitive Cornhole helps take some of the pressure off a group of players who headed to New Zealand with heady expectations placed on their shoulders by those back home in Sweden. Peter Gerhardsson's side are ranked third in the FIFA rankings and have a rich history in the women's game. They were runners-up at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and finished third at the World Cup in France four years ago. There is a demand for them to go far this summer.

"It is important to do these type of things as a team, to not always only think about football," Eriksson said. "Talking from my own perspective, I know I can be quite obsessive about football so I need things to distract myself and other competitions.

"It is a really nice way to get the group together. These games have been the highlights of the evenings. It's been fun and now we have the playoffs, so I will keep you updated."

[onenettvchannel]

FLASH REPORT: American YouTuber 'IShowSpeed' arrives in the Philippines, causes Fan Frenzy for meet-and-greet in BGC [#TeleRadyoSerbisyoEXCLUSIVE]

(Written by Rhayniel Saldasal Calimpong / Freelanced News Writer, Online Media Reporter and News Presenter of OneNETnews)

TAGUIG, NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION -- The American variety and veteran YouTube sensation 'Mr. Darren Jason Watkins Jr.', finally set foot in the country today, part of his highly anticipated Southeast Asia tour. This arrival of the 19 y/o Ohio state native, straight from the United States of America (U.S.A.), created frenzy among his Filipino fanbase, which led to huge masses of crowds and traffic jams across Metro Manila.

Indeed, his Philippine adventure started off with a bang. He played at a local basketball court in 'Brgy. 39, Zone 3, District 1' in 'Tondo, Metro Manila, National Capital Region'. The place was thronged with fans as the eagerness got the better of everyone to get a glimpse of the male YouTube star. It set the tone for a day that became truly frenzy-filled and filled with fervor.

Before going to the heart of the city, IShowSpeed made a quick detour to a local Chowking branch on Bustos Street, Sta. Cruz, this said city and province. The fast-food stop served as an emergency impromptu meet-and-greet location, where he was sat and hydrate himself in plain cold water, as eager fans were gathered outside to catch a glimpse of their online male YouTuber idol. He followed up his interest in Filipino culture by riding on top of a Kalesa, a horse-drawn transportation contraption, waving a Philippine flag to the delight of all that watched, helping spur his growing entourage on in excitement.

The joyride to BGC turned out to be a spectacle in its own right, as the male YouTube star replaced Kalesa with a motorbike, knowingly called as 'habal-habal'. The ride through busy Manila attracted even more attention; traffic came to a halt with fans trying to stay alongside their idol.

The chaotic night concluded before 7:30pm at 5th Avenue, BGC, in a Mercedes-Benz showroom, where IShowSpeed found refuge amidst a sea of people. Outside the unforgettable local dealership at Cats Motors Incorporated (CMI), chaos was at nothing less than pandemonium. If this day wasn't exciting enough, IShowSpeed teasingly posted to the internet media, including 'TeleRadyo Serbisyo: Dumaguete' and 'OneNETnews' that he would be meeting the Boxing legend and former senator "Manny Dapidran 'PacMan' Pacquiao", scheduled for tomorrow on Thursday (September 12th, 2024 -- Manila local time) when social media would once again go ablaze in the star-studded encounter.

In LIVE chats throughout the night, rumors are rife that the IShowSpeed Philippine Tour may well extend to the Visayas region on Day 2, including Cebu, Bacolod, Dumaguete and Siquijor. For now, unfortunately much however, Mindanao appears to be out of its itinerary.

IShowSpeed's arrival most certainly has left an indelible mark within the Philippines, and his livestream drew in more than 300,000 viewers from around the world, over half from the Philippines with 56% online audience share in this video sharing platform. And as this male YouTube star still goes on a rampage in this South East Asian adventure, one thing is for sure: IShowSpeed fever has finally swept the nation of the Philippines, and it isn't going away anytime soon.

This ongoing tour to South East Asia would be continued across the continent, first stopping in Thailand and later adding probably with the likes of Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia -- all for this month of September 2024.

SCREENGRAB COURTESY: IShowSpeed via YouTube LIVE VIDEO

SOURCE: *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWuJYrEZBkw [Referenced YT LIVE VIDEO via IShowSpeed] and *https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx685Idjol8tdYoSpnEhUNmxqKLfMVUOTW [Referenced YT Poster PHOTO via IShowSpeed]

-- OneNETnews Online Publication Team

[demifiendrsa]

THE FIRST SLAM DUNK | Official English subbed Announcement Teaser

The First Slam Dunk will hit theaters in the United States and Canada in Summer 2023 in its original Japanese with English subtitles & a new English dub.

Poster

Synopsis

Shohoku’s “speedster” and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure.

Born and raised in Okinawa, Ryota had a brother who was three years older. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was a famous local player from a young age, Ryota also became addicted to basketball.

In his second year of high school, Ryota plays with the Shohoku High School basketball team along with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui as they take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship.

And now, they are on the brink of challenging the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School.