Coaches and industry executives have suggested that NCAA transfer rules and name, image, and likeness deals would increase the gap between the college sports’ haves and have-nots. They predicted successful players would immediately transfer to perennial powerhouses lured by wealthy NIL collectives.

But this year’s Final Four slate tells a different story: one where parity in men’s college hoops is higher than it has been in years. The quartet of San Diego State, Florida Atlantic University, Miami, and UConn have already made history:

• In the seeding era, not since 1970, the men’s Final Four will not include any of the top-three seeds. 
• San Diego State, FAU, and Miami will make their debuts at the Final Four in Houston.
• San Diego State is the first Mountain West team to make it past the Sweet 16 in conference history.

Miami star Isaiah Wong, for example, decided to stick with the Hurricanes last year despite his agent saying he wanted to shop around for more lucrative NIL deals. (Wong, who has a partnership with prominent Miami booster John Ruiz’s company, later said the statement did not reflect his intentions.)

No school is immune to transfers. But some coaches and players emphasized the benefits of playing on the same team for multiple years rather than chasing the flashiest deals or biggest name-brand programs. 

“We knew that the grass isn’t always greener,” FAU’s Bryan Greenlee told reporters of players staying loyal to the team. As it turns out, they were right.

The National Women’s Soccer League, which kicked off its 11th season over the weekend, is looking to grow its overseas audience in collaboration with a sports industry giant.

The league is launching a free streaming service with UFC owner Endeavor available outside the U.S.

“We’re looking forward to providing our global fanbase the opportunity to watch these players compete for their respective NWSL clubs before the World Cup competition begins and upon their return this summer,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said.

The league is looking to the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand, to grow interest in the NWSL. The commissioner estimated that 25-30% of NWSL players will participate in the tournament.

The NWSL also works with DAZN, which provides non-exclusive league coverage in much of Europe, Japan, and Brazil. Tigo has a non-exclusive agreement with the league in a half-dozen Central American countries.

The league is in active negotiations with U.S. broadcasters on its next set of domestic media rights deals. 

Berman said the NSWL has received robust interest from a number of parties as it enters the last year of a three-year pact with CBS Sports for a reported annual $1.5 million.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ proposed $1.3 billion arena got a major vote of confidence from one of the city’s core demographics — even as others continue to oppose it.

The African American Chamber of Commerce, as well as a collection of Black religious leaders from around the city, have come out in support of the Sixers’ plan to build a new arena and commercial center tentatively named 76 Place.

“We want to make sure that 76 Place reflects our culture, reflects our vibrancy, reflects our diversity,” said the 76ers’ chief diversity and impact officer, David Gould.

Part of the team’s commitment to those values means creating jobs and business development opportunities, which includes using Black contractors — like Mosaic Development Partners — to build the project.

The 76ers have also committed to 40% of the concessionaires within the finished 76 Place to Black-owned food and drink operators.

However, not everyone is happy with the proposed project.

Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation publicly came out against 76 Place, citing the rapid decline of Chinese residents in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown after Capital One Arena opened in 1997.

Chinatown residents say the new arena would cause traffic and parking problems around the neighborhood, as well as diminish its cultural significance.

For their part, the 76ers have committed $50 million toward solving those logistical issues and preserving the neighborhood’s integrity.

The battle over trans rights has reached the Olympics.

World Athletics — the international governing body which oversees track and field, cross country running, and other running competitions in elite events, including the Olympics — issued rulings on Russia, Belarus, and transgender athletes.

The regulations bar athletes who have been through “male puberty” from competing in female-only competitions. 

“Decisions are always difficult when they involve conflicting needs and rights between different groups, but we continue to take the view that we must maintain fairness for female athletes above all other considerations,” said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.

He added “we will review our position” as evidence becomes available.

The NWSL currently only permits people who were born female at birth to play in its league, but commissioner Jessica Berman said last week that the league is reviewing that policy and will likely make an announcement on it in the coming months.

Russia, Belarus Banned

World Athletics is also banning athletes who are citizens of Russia and Belarus over the invasion of Ukraine. Those countries are prohibited from hosting events and attending, speaking, and voting at the World Athletics congress. 

“The unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus by countries and industries all over the world appear to be the only peaceful way to disrupt and disable Russia’s current intentions and restore peace,” said Coe. 

“The death and destruction we have seen in Ukraine over the past year, including the deaths of some 185 athletes, have only hardened my resolve on this matter.”