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Afternoon Edition

April 17, 2025

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The Commanders and Washington, D.C., are closing in on a deal for a $3 billion stadium on the site of the team’s “spiritual home,” RFK Stadium, with up to $2.5 billion coming from team ownership.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

Commanders Plan $3B Return to RFK Stadium Site—With Some Opponents [[link removed]]

D.C. Events

The long-discussed notion of the Commanders returning to the site of RFK Stadium in a new facility is moving much closer to reality, but there are still critical hurdles for the team to overcome.

Commanders owner Josh Harris and the District of Columbia are closing in on the framework of a stadium agreement, according to sources and multiple reports, that would see Harris provide up to $2.5 billion toward a stadium costing more than $3 billion, with public money funding as much as $850 million of the cost. Those taxpayer funds would be spent largely on infrastructure.

The RFK Stadium site, where the franchise played from 1961 to 1996, has frequently been eyed as the logical spot for the Commanders, with Harris calling the area the team’s “spiritual home.” That notion picked up steam earlier this year after the land transferred from federal control to the District [[link removed]]. The team’s current home, the 28-year-old Northwest Stadium, is now seen as outdated by modern NFL standards, and the lease there expires in two years.

The latest breakthrough in the years-long Commanders stadium saga appears to be the willingness of Harris to fund the vast majority of the project privately. That sentiment differs materially from more uncertain NFL stadium development proposals in markets such as Chicago and Cleveland, where teams are looking for public money to shoulder about half of the respective costs.

A deal in Washington, if completed, would target a stadium opening in 2030.

“In the coming days, we will share more on our growth agenda by highlighting our next budget to grow D.C. and outlining a plan to realize abundant opportunities at our RFK [site] as we forge ahead with shaping D.C.’s future economy,” the office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement.

Caution Signs

Despite the advancing stadium discussions, at least two major obstacles are in front of a final deal. Any agreement must pass the D.C. council, with varying degrees of support there, and despite significant local growth in recent years, serious budget challenges remain. The latest D.C. budget points to a shortfall of potentially more than $1 billion [[link removed]] after its federal funding was slashed in the latest continuing resolution approved by Congress, in turn leading to spending freezes and public employee furloughs.

Neighborhood opposition in areas near RFK Stadium also promises to be heavy. Already, an activist group called Homes Not Stadiums has filed paperwork seeking to place an initiative on next year’s election ballot that would block a new stadium on the RFK land. The group instead is seeking to prioritize affordable housing on the roughly 175-acre site.

There is still some momentum for both the Commanders and the District, however. The team just had a breakthrough season [[link removed]] during the rookie campaign of quarterback Jayden Daniels after a long stretch of mediocrity, reaching the NFC championship game in January, and is poised for a big uptick in national broadcast exposure [[link removed]] next season. Those positive feelings around the franchise counter the often-embattled tenure of former team owner Dan Snyder.

Bowser, meanwhile, successfully brought back Monumental Sports & Entertainment [[link removed]]—parent entity of the NBA’s Wizards, NHL’s Capitals, and WNBA’s Mystics—in turn helping scuttle a planned arena development in neighboring Virginia.

SPONSORED BY JUST INGREDIENTS

Bryce Harper’s Secret Ingredient

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“As a professional athlete, I’m always mindful of what I put into my body. Just Ingredients [[link removed]] stands out for its commitment to using ingredients that truly support health. I’m thrilled to partner with a brand I trust and help inspire others to prioritize their wellness,” said Harper.

“Our partnership with Bryce is about more than just promoting products—it’s about educating and empowering people,” said Just Ingredients founder and CEO Karalynne Call. “We want to help individuals make informed decisions about the products they use, and how those decisions can lead to better health.”

Travis Hunter’s Two-Way Ambitions Could Present New Pay Questions [[link removed]]

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Just one week out from the 2025 NFL Draft, a crucial dilemma around one of this year’s most intriguing prospects—on and off the field—is starting to build momentum.

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, the two-way star from Colorado, has not been shy about his desire to play both offense and defense full-time in the NFL, like he did in college. Achieving that goal would not only be unprecedented from an X’s and O’s standpoint, but also in terms of what that could mean for Hunter’s wallet [[link removed]] long-term.

As the draft approaches, GMs of teams with high picks, where Hunter is likely to be selected, have taken note.

“I would not be afraid to play him on both sides of the ball,” said Giants GM Joe Schoen, who holds the third overall pick. Schoen, speaking with reporters [[link removed]] Wednesday, added that while it would be difficult for Hunter to play both ways full-time, it would also “be hard to keep him off the field.”

On Thursday, Browns GM Andrew Berry compared Travis Hunter to Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani [[link removed]]. “It’s a little bit like Ohtani,” he said. “You know he’s playing one side, and he’s an outstanding player. If he’s a pitcher or hitter, he’s an outstanding player. You, obviously, get a unicorn if you use him both ways.” Berry reiterated that he views Hunter as a receiver first, but also said “we necessarily wouldn’t put a cap on or govern in terms of what he could do.”

As a top-five pick, Hunter would sign a four-year contract worth between roughly $35 million and $42 million. He would then be eligible for an extension after his third season, when whichever position (or positions) he’s playing will be a major factor in how much he makes from his second contract. Hunter is repped by Lil Wayne’s agency [[link removed]], Young Money APAA Sports.

In 2025, pending any further new deals, the average annual salary of the five highest-paid receivers is set to be $34.85 million, while that figure for defensive backs is $24.82 million, according to Spotrac [[link removed]]. It’s clear that being an elite receiver pays better than being a top cornerback—but what would a top-five player at both positions be worth?

Hunter sure seems like he wants to find out. What would he do if a team wouldn’t let him play both ways? “It’s never playing football again,” he told CBS Sports this week [[link removed]]. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”

That’s an even stronger sentiment than the one he expressed at the combine [[link removed]], when he said he’d like to play both sides but added “that’s not my job to figure it out.”

WNBPA Matches NBA’s 3-Point Contest Prize. Will Caitlin Clark Join? [[link removed]]

The Indianapolis Star

The WNBA Players Association is improving upon a pitch to get Caitlin Clark to participate in her first professional three-point contest.

The WNBPA announced Thursday that the prize money awarded by sponsor Aflac for the WNBA’s three-point contest will increase to $60,000, which matches the first-prize winnings for the NBA’s competition.

The difference, however, is that the WNBA’s prize is given via a sponsor, whereas the NBA’s is written into its collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Additionally, the NBA rewards other participants ranging from $10,000 for the last-place finisher (eighth) to $40,000 for the runner-up. The purse is $195,000.

According to the WNBA’s CBA, the three-point contest winner receives $2,575, meaning this year’s first prize totals $62,575. However, the remaining participants don’t get a share of the sponsor’s prize pool and will receive just $1,030, according to the CBA.

The number of WNBA three-point contest participants is not set, but there were just five players last year. If that continues this season, the total purse would be $66,695.

The WNBA’s All-Star prize money is another point in the growing list of issues the league and its players must agree on during its CBA negotiations. The WNBPA opted out of the current CBA in October [[link removed]], and a new deal, if ratified, will kick in by the 2026 season.

Will Caitlin Clark Participate?

Clark did not join last year’s contest even though the winner’s prize money was raised to $57,575 (with $55,000 coming from Aflac). Last season was the first time a sponsor supplemented the league’s prize money, which also included $55,000 for the Skills Challenge winner, but the announcement of the increase came just one day before the competition.

While it hasn’t been confirmed whether Clark will participate in this year’s contest, it appears to be part of her plan. The NBA was reportedly luring her to join a special three-point contest [[link removed]] during its All-Star weekend in February, akin to the Steph Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu shootout last year, but Clark declined [[link removed]]. According to ESPN, Clark wants her first three-point contest to be this season with the WNBA.

The 2025 WNBA All-Star festivities will be hosted by Clark and the Indiana Fever this year on July 18–19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

LOUD AND CLEAR Double Standard?

The Cincinnati Enquirer

“If I did that, I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.”

—Serena Williams said in an interview with Time magazine [[link removed]] on men’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner receiving a three-month suspension for testing positive [[link removed]] for the drug clostebol last year. Williams, who was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, said she is a fan of Sinner and that he’s “great for the sport.”

“I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down,” Williams said.

Sinner, who has won three Grand Slams since January 2024, is set to return by May 7 at the Italian Open, his home tournament. He will not miss a Grand Slam due to his suspension.

You can read Annie Costabile’s full story on Williams’s comments about Sinner here [[link removed]].

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rafael Nadal ⬆ The French Open, which begins next month, announced it will honor its 14-time champion, who played his final Grand Slam at Roland-Garros last year. A special ceremony at the main Court Philippe-Chatrier will be held May 25, following that day’s matches.

Carlos Locklyn ⬇ Oregon is suing its former running backs coach due to a dispute over the buyout amount the school claims it is owed. A civil suit claims Locklyn, who left the Ducks on April 1, 2024, to take the same job at Ohio State, owed Oregon a buyout of 50% of his remaining salary through the full term of his then-recently signed contract—approximately $400,000—within 60 days and has yet to pay the school, according to The Oregonian [[link removed]].

Athlete representation ⬆ Former Bobcats and Knicks forward Derrick Brown and former Wisconsin guard Jordan Taylor have formed FreeGame, a new, athlete-focused management and representation group. The entity seeks to upend the traditional agency business with a more athlete-focused model. Current clients include Minnesota forward Bobby Durkin and DePaul guard Taylor Johnson-Matthews, among others. “We want to have a new space and speak directly to our own historical [perspective] of playing and being in the game,” Brown tells Front Office Sports.

NBA playoffs ⬆ LG this week introduced an interactive experience for the NBA playoffs to its more than 50 million TV users, including statistics, matchup histories, and links to live-game action on YouTube TV. The destination, developed by Pennsylvania technology company Epoxy.ai, is a move by the major electronics manufacturer to offer more original content and be more active in higher-margin services businesses.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LIVE

Redefining the Future

As a proud extension of the Mizuho Americas Open, Excel Sports Management and Front Office Sports present the Breaking Barriers Summit [[link removed]], with official partners Versant Health and Delta—designed to celebrate and empower female leaders across industries.

Inspired by the excellence, resilience, and ambition seen in women’s golf, this exclusive event unites trailblazers and changemakers for meaningful conversations about leadership, innovation, and empowerment.

Through dynamic panel discussions and networking opportunities, the summit fosters collaboration among industry leaders, inspiring the next generation of women in business.

The Breaking Barriers Summit will take place May 8 in New York City. Learn more or request to attend here [[link removed]].

Conversation Starters Saudi Arabia released renderings of a potential future Formula One circuit, which includes an opening corner that is 20 stories high. Check it out [[link removed]]. Netflix’s The Clubhouse introduced the small farmers who supply mud-rubbed baseballs to the league’s franchises. Watch it here [[link removed]]. Take a look [[link removed]] at the luxury suites inside the San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park. Editors’ Picks Rangers Star Artemi Panarin, MSG Sports Paid Settlements to Accuser [[link removed]]by Meredith Turits [[link removed]]A former team employee accused Panarin of sexually assaulting her. Flailing Kings Fire GM After Losing Play-In [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Monte McNair helped the team end a 16-year playoff drought. Lee Corso Will Retire From ESPN at 90 [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The broadcaster is hanging up his headgear in August. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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