Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese has been named the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year; the honor was announced Thursday afternoon. Reese edged out Golden State Valkyries guard Gabby Williams, who finished second with 20 votes. Las Vegas Aces standout A’ja Wilson placed third. Wilson won the award in 2022 and 2023, and last season she shared it with Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith.

In her first season with the Dream, the three-time All-Star helped Atlanta reach the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018.

Reese said she wants her teammates to share in the moment. “I have the trophy, but I definitely want Jordin [Canada] and Rhyne [Howard] to sign it because I think they deserve it just as much as I do,” she said. “I’m grateful for Atlanta, I’m grateful for my teammates and my coaches and all the supporting staff that supports us. This is just the beginning.”

Reese Leads the WNBA in Defensive Win Shares

Reese’s defensive impact showed up across the board. She led the league in Defensive Win Shares (3.39) and ranked fourth in defensive rating (100.0). Atlanta gave up 7.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with her on the court, the biggest defensive on/off swing among Dream rotation players.

Defensive Rebounding Fuels Atlanta’s Defense

Reese also finished the possession. She grabbed 7.3 defensive rebounds per game, fourth-most in the league, and Atlanta held opponents to a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game.

Record-Setting Rebounding Season

Her work on the glass produced a historic year. Reese became the first player in WNBA history to reach 500 rebounds in a season, and she set single-season records for total rebounds, offensive rebounds, and double-doubles. She also set the league’s single-game rebounding record with 26 boards.

The WNBA named her its Peak Performer as the league’s top rebounder. She also became the first Dream player to win Eastern Conference Player of the Week three weeks in a row.

What began as a few encouraging words to Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen has grown into a community message – and a way to help nurture the next generation of journalists.

Earlier this year, Jacksonville Editor Lynn Jones offered spontaneous encouragement, telling him to ‘keep your head up’ and ‘keep it going.’ The exchange quickly went viral, gaining national and international attention across television sports programs, podcasts, social media and online video platforms.

The Jacksonville Free Press turned the unexpected attention into an opportunity to give back, creating “Keep Your Head Up” T-shirts inspired by Jones’ words. Hundreds of shirts have since been sold, with proceeds benefiting the Jacksonville Free Press Journalism Fund, which supports efforts to nurture, encourage and develop future journalists.

For Hammock and Bolden, the words extend beyond football. They said the message also serves as a reminder to their families to remain positive and keep moving forward through life’s victories and setbacks.

The shirts have allowed a fleeting viral moment to produce a more lasting impact. Proceeds from sales are helping support a fund focused on creating opportunities for aspiring journalists and encouraging young people to learn the importance of storytelling, community news and documenting history.

Based on reporting by Jacksonville Free Press.

Commissioners from HBCU athletic conferences joined university presidents and corporate leaders in Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 15, for the Salute to HBCU Sports Leadership Reception — an invitation-only gathering aimed at deepening investment in historically Black colleges and universities.

Hosted at Gensler’s K Street office, the evening brought together conference commissioners, campus presidents, and executives from sports, media and design organizations under the theme “Building Partnerships. Celebrating Excellence. Advancing HBCUs.” Gensler highlighted its partnership with Paxton Baker on the event in a post on Instagram, showcasing the room full of HBCU presidents and conference leaders.

Five Conferences, One Room

Commissioners from four NCAA conferences and one NAIA conference were on hand, representing institutions that compete across Division I, Division II and the NAIA:

Anthony Holloman — Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Charles McClelland — Southwestern Athletic Conference Jacqie McWilliams Parker — Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Sonja Stills — Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Kiki Baker Barnes — HBCU Athletic Conference

Their presence linked leadership from across the HBCU athletics landscape with campus administrators and organizations working in event management, design and media.

Presidents and Black Press Leadership in the Room

Among the university presidents in attendance were Prairie View A&M’s Tomikia P. LeGrande and Bowie State’s Aminta H. Breaux.

LeGrande’s appearance came just days after the Thurgood Marshall College Fund named her the recipient of its Educational Leadership Award, as announced by Prairie View A&M. She was honored at TMCF’s 39th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 12 in Washington. LeGrande has served as Prairie View A&M’s ninth president since June 2023.

Breaux, who has led Bowie State since July 2017, previously chaired the CIAA’s board of directors, according to her university biography.

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, also attended — fitting, given the NNPA’s role as one of the reception’s presenting partners. Chavis and HBCU GO’s Lawrencia Moten conducted two 30-minute interview sessions with the conference commissioners, covering topics ranging from the NIL era to conference growth and the experience of leading HBCU athletics, according to HBCU GO President Curtis Symonds, who spoke with HBCU Legends about the sessions.

Corporate and Institutional Partners

Five organizations presented the reception together:

Gensler — the architecture and design firm that hosted the event Events DC — the District’s convention and sports authority USA Track & Field — the sport’s national governing body National Newspaper Publishers Association — representing Black newspaper publishers HBCU GO — the network dedicated to HBCU sports and culture

That mix of partners pointed to a range of possible collaborations ahead, from athletic facilities and event operations to sports programming and media coverage.

Building Beyond the Scoreboard

What stood out most was the mix of people in the room — conference commissioners setting strategy for their leagues, university presidents shaping institutional priorities, and corporate partners bringing resources and expertise from multiple industries.

With college athletics undergoing rapid change, particularly for HBCUs navigating the NIL era and shifting conference dynamics, the reception offered a venue for candid conversation and relationship-building. Its underlying purpose went beyond athletics: using sports as an entry point to broader opportunities in education, workforce development and economic growth for HBCUs.

Based on reporting by Columbus Times.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left for the game winning touchdown as his team beat the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville. Hurts finished the day 26/37 for 264 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Prior to the final drive, the Eagles ran 25 plays for 45 yards. During the final drive Hurts went 6-8 with 61 passing yards and the touchdown. Titans defensive tackle — and team captain — Jeffery Simmons said this week that the way to defend Jalen Hurts is to make him “play quarterback.”

Hurts said to Simmons after today’s game: “You started that sh**. I had to finish it.”

Running back Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in the first half but he ultimately finished the game. He had four carries and nine yards and one catch for eleven yards. He will get an MRI for his injury, but admitted to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network he was fine.

Caleb Williams leaves game against Vikings with apparent lower-body injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was helped off the field with a right leg injury with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams was down, writhing in pain after scrambling to his left. After departing the injury tent, Williams raised his right fist, acknowledging the crowd while expressing his frustration. Testing will commence on Monday to find out more details about his injury.

“We’ll know tomorrow,” Johnson admitted regarding Williams’ injury. “He’s in good spirits. He’s a team player.”

Williams finished the day with 138 passing yards and one interception.

“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination,” Johnson said. “But, a hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. So, we’ll see. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Bryce Young once again dominated the Falcons

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is 5-1 against the Atlanta Falcons and is undefeated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Today, Young threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns as he led the Panthers to a 34-3 dismembering of the Atlanta Falcons. Georgia Tech alumnus Darren Waller caught two touchdowns and linebacker Devin Lloyd returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

Cooper Rush started his second straight game for the Falcons and it did not go well. The partisan crowd voiced their displeasure after Rush completed 10/17 passes for 86 yards and two interceptions. Jack Strand entered the game for Rush prompting cheers from the Falcons fans. The rookie threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt. Strand was the first QB to accomplish that feat since Sam Darnold in 2018 and is the first Falcons player to do that since Brett Favre in 1991. Strand finished the day with 59 passing yards and 16 rushing yards.

According to reports, quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. is expected to make his season debut this Thursday at the Green Bay Packers. His return should help the Falcons. They are the first team since the 2008 Rams to not run any plays in the red zone after the first two games to open a season.

The bright spots for the Falcons today were the Spelman College Jaguarettes performing with the Falcons cheerleaders and Florida A&M’s marching band, The Marching 100, also performed during halftime!

Jayden Daniels gets carted off after apparent arm injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half in his game against the Dallas Cowboys. During the play, Daniels got stepped on, braced himself for the fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. Daniels draped a towel over his head as he exited the field on the cart.

He was later ruled out.

Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow to the same arm during week nine of last season against the Washington Commanders, which led to him being shut down for the remainder of the season.

By Carla Thomas

Music, food trucks, bouncers, and rock climbing turned Ira Jinkins Park into a neighborhood block party on Saturday, Sept. 5, as nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard hosted his 15th annual back-to-school backpack giveaway in Deep East Oakland.

The Portland Trail Blazers point guard, an Oakland High School alum, returned to the recreation center where he trained as a kid and distributed backpacks stuffed with school supplies to nearly 400 children. Lillard was joined by family, friends, and former Oakland City Councilmember Desley Brooks in an event that has become a fixture of the neighborhood.

“I know what it is to grow up here and be here in Oakland,” shared Lillard. “I do feel like it’s my responsibility to be present and supportive and be a resource and be an example for the kids and right now as somebody from Oakland that’s well positioned, with a big platform,  I’m always trying to find ways to use that platform and serve our youth and community.”

While watching children play inflatable basketball and roll a giant beach ball on the grass, Lillard took in the scene.

“Doing something positive makes me feel great,” said Lillard. “I remember attending cookouts like this as a child and it was always a lot of fun. It feels great to not only show youth a great time, but to be of service to them.”

Beyond the giveaway, Lillard is funding renovations to the Ira Jinkins Recreation Center, including major upgrades to its basketball courts, the same courts he once used daily before heading to play recreation league games across town. Last Christmas, he provided gifts to more than 400 local families.

Sports agent Aaron Goodwin, who has represented Lillard throughout his career, described the tradition as core to who Lillard is: someone who consistently looks for ways to give back, uses his platform to inspire youth, and treats events like this as more than a handout, but a chance to be a genuine resource and example for kids from his hometown.

“That’s who Damian is,” said Goodwin. “He always wants to give back. He does this every summer, and he also has an annual Christmas giveaway. He wants to inspire youth that they too can achieve.”

Lillard grew up traveling to the Ira Jinkins Center to train before playing at Rainbow Recreation Center, and he went on to star at Oakland High before his college and NBA career took off. 

Lillard who has built a life legacy hosted the event within a center carrying its own historical weight.

The facility is named for Ira Jinkins, a civil rights organizer who helped lead West Coast marches honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and pushed for the creation of the MLK Regional Shoreline Park.

Its building sits within the William “Bill” Patterson Park complex, beside the East Oakland Sports Center that opened in 2011. Patterson was known for his civic impact and work with EBMUD East Bay Municipal Utility District, Merritt College, and the NAACP, among other organizations. A film on Patterson’s life debuted at the Oakland International Film Festival this week.

Last year, before the NBA All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area, the City of Oakland dedicated a court at the center in Lillard’s honor, and Lillard launched a $25,000-per-year scholarship with Portland State University for high school students across nine East Bay schools. He also sponsors camps and other programming throughout the nation.

Lillard sat out of the 2025-2026 NBA season due to an Achilles tendon injury incurred as a Milwaukee Buck. The year of healing will allow him to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. 

“This is a great event,” said Shawn, watching his grandchild enjoying the activities. “I’ve been to every single one of them (backpack giveaways); I’ve been knowing Dame (Damian) since he was 8 years old. You don’t have many people that give back the way Damian does. There’s no better guy to do this. His whole family is awesome from the top down.”

For Lillard, the annual tradition, held in memory of his late grandfather, Albert Johnson, remains a way of reinvesting in the community that shaped him.

The NFC will be compelling this season as its storylines are seemingly endless: quarterbacks must prove themselves, teams are rebuilding, and, in the case of the Dallas Cowboys, breaking their conference championship drought.

Let’s get into the preview!

NFC East Champion: Philadelphia Eagles

NFC North Champion: Detroit Lions

NFC South Champion: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC West Champion: Los Angeles Rams

Wild Cards: Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears

Philly and the high expectations

As much slander as Jalen Hurts receives from social media, sports talk radio, and the newspapers, he is the most consistent quarterback in the NFC East. However, the offense did not look its best compared to its Super Bowl LIX run. First and foremost, Sean Mannion became their offensive coordinator after Kevin Patullo was dismissed. Wide receiver AJ Brown was cast aside, and draft pick Makai Lemon arrived along with Dontayvion Wicks.

The loss of Reed Blankenship will be huge, but Andrew Mukuba, Kelee Ringo, and Jihaad Campbell have got to step up. In the end, head coach Nick Sirianni will likely calm everyone down, keep everything the main thing, and Philly will win the division. 

The Lions will Roar Again

The Detroit Lions won nine games last year, and it was widely considered a down year, not because they didn’t meet expectations. It was because they were measured against what they were last year. Yes, Jared Goff threw for more than 4,000 yards. Yes, Jahmyr Gibbs had a stellar season. The key for the Lions will be their offensive line. They added Blake Miller, and the glaring question will be whether the offensive line will gel and protect Goff. If there are no injuries, the Lions will be exciting to watch this season.

Bounce back season for the Bucs?

Quarterback Baker Mayfield got paid – handsomely – $165 million to stay in Tampa Bay! Defensive tackle Vita Vea also wanted to leave, yet the Bucs found a way to pay him too! However, head coach Todd Bowles somehow stayed away from the hot seat despite finishing the season with an 8-9 record. They’ve got playmakers in wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Jalin McMillan, and a returning Chris Godwin. 

What will be the Bucs’ primary issue? Todd Bowles. Can he maximize the talent he has on his defense? Tampa is the NFC South’s premier team with the premier roster. They have to prove it. 

The Land of Stars

This year’s Los Angeles Rams are the epitome of the axiom, “championship or bust.” They’ve got the consummate professional in Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Kyren Williams is a more than capable running back. They’ve got Myles Garrett, Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, and Aaron Donald coming out of retirement. They added Pro Bowl cornerbacks Jaylin Watson and Trent McDuffie to the secondary. However, Matthew Stafford’s back is something to watch as the season goes along. He is the glue to the entire operation. In 2025, Stafford dealt with an aggravated disc heading into the season.

Full Division Predictions

NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

NFC North: Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints

NFC West: Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals

NFC Champions

This year’s NFC Champion will be the Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, the Rams have the most talent. However, Jalen Hurts is unflappable under pressure, has the championship pedigree, and this offense has Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, and tight end Dallas Goedert. If the offense is functional and they get the most out of Saquon, the Eagles will fly to SoFi Stadium on Valentine’s Day 2027.