Women’s hockey league increases pay, adds teams
The Premier Hockey Federation is more than doubling each teams’ salary cap to $750,000 and adding two expansion franchises next season in a bid to capitalize on the wave of attention women’s hockey traditionally enjoys following the Winter Olympics.
The PHF’s announcement on Tuesday of its board of governors’ commitment to invest more than $25 million over the next three years is also considered a major step in attempting to thaw its relationship with United States and Canadian national team players, who have balked at joining North America’s lone professional women’s hockey league.
The six-team PHF is moving forward with plans to establish a team in Montreal and, without disclosing where, adding another expansion franchise in the United States.
The boost in the cap from $300,000 this season will lead to an average salary of $37,500 based on a 20-player minimum roster or $30,000 for a league-maximum 25-player roster. There will be no limits placed on a player’s salary as long as the team’s overall payroll remains under the cap.
The cash influx will also lead to the PHF providing full health-care benefits to its players, improving facilities and increasing the number of practices. Players will also gain a 10% equity in their respective team and have control over their likeness for marketing opportunities.
The league doubled its salary cap already from $150,000 a year ago, while also adding an expansion team in Toronto.
Basketball WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PIONEER LUSIA HARRIS DIES AT 66 >>
Lusia Harris, who became the only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team and scored the first points in women’s basketball history at the Olympics, died Tuesday, her family announced. She was 66.
Harris, who died in her native Mississippi, was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz in the seventh round in 1977, but didn’t try out for the team because she was pregnant at the time. The San Francisco Warriors tried to draft Denise Long in 1969, but the NBA blocked it because she didn’t meet the criteria to be drafted — in part because of her gender.
Harris helped Delta State University win three straight national titles in the 1970s and earned a silver medal for the United States at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Harris was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 as the first Black woman to earn that honor. She was later enshrined into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.
College football BRENDEN RICE, SON OF JERRY RICE, TRANSFERS TO USC >>
Former Colorado wide receiver Brenden Rice, the son of legendary receiver Jerry Rice, announced that he will transfer to USC.
Rice grabbed 21 receptions for 299 yards in 2021, the Buffaloes’ secondleading receiver in both categories. He led Colorado with three receiving touchdowns.
In two collegiate seasons, Rice has recorded 27 catches for 419 yards and five touchdowns. He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school.
USC hired Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley last month, leaving the Trojans to rely on the transfer portal to build a new recruiting class. Riley enticed one of his former Sooners, wide receiver Mario Williams, to transfer to USC.
He also flipped Class of 2022 running back Raleek Brown, Class of 2023 quarterback Malachi Nelson and 2023 wide receiver Makai Lemon — all five-star recruits in 247Sports’ Composite rankings — from the Sooners to the Trojans.
College men’s basketball
WILSON, BRAUN LEAD NO. 7 KANSAS PAST OKLAHOMA >> Jalen Wilson scored 16 points, Christian Braun hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 10.9 seconds left and No. 7 Kansas defeated Oklahoma 67-64.
Ochai Agbaji, the Big 12 scoring leader, had all 10 of his points in the final six minutes. Braun finished with 15 for the Jayhawks (15-2, 4-1 Big 12), who won their third straight.
Goldwire scored 15 points for Oklahoma (12-6, 2-4), which lost its third in a row.
CRYER, MAYER LEAD NO. 5 BAYLOR OVER WEST VIRGINIA >> LJ Cryer scored a career-high 25 points as No. 5 Baylor snapped a two-game losing streak with a 77-68 victory over West Virginia.
Baylor (16-2, 4-2 Big 12) bounced back after losing twice at home and relinquishing the No. 1 ranking.
Matthew Mayer added 20 points for Baylor, Adam Flagler scored 14 and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua scored 10. Malik Curry scored 19 points for West Virginia (13-4, 2-3).
College women’s basketball
GOODCHILD HELPS NO. 21 DUKE WOMEN BEAT MIAMI >> Miela Goodchild scored seven of her 17 points in the fourth quarter, Shayeann Day-Wilson had 11 points and seven assists, and No. 21 Duke beat Miami 58-49. Elizabeth Balogun added eight points, reaching 1,000 career points, for Duke (12-4, 3-3 ACC), which closed a stretch of three games in six days.
Soccer
CHELSEA DRAWS AT BRIGHTON, TITLE FURTHER OUT OF REACH >> After a 1-1 draw at Brighton, Chelsea, the European champion, might have to start looking over its shoulder in the race for Champions League qualification.
Chelsea’s winless run in the league stretched to four games after Brighton defender Adam Webster’s header in the 60th minute canceled out the opening goal by Hakim Ziyech in the 29th. Chelsea stayed in third place and is 12 points behind leader Manchester City.
EARTHQUAKES GET CASH IN TRADE WITH HOUSTON >> The San Jose Earthquakes acquired $250,000 of 2022 General Allocation Money from Houston Dynamo FC in exchange for a 2022 international roster slot.