The NBA’s Board of Governors has approved a vote to officially explore expansion franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, targeting the 2028-29 season.
A formal bidding process will now commence to assess potential ownership applicants.
Offers for each new team are expected to reach unprecedented figures in the $7bn to $10bn (£5.5bn to £7.8bn) range.
This significant move marks the beginning of the league’s widely anticipated expansion to 32 teams.
Multiple high-ranking officials have previously termed the expansion process as “when, not if.”
Billion-dollar valuations expected
North America’s premier basketball competition will examine prospective bids over the coming months.
A final vote to formally establish the new sporting franchises could take place later this year.
For the historic additions to be ratified, 23 of the 30 current governors must vote in favour of the proposals.
Franchise values have surged recently, highlighted by the Los Angeles Lakers selling for a record $10bn in 2025.
A highly anticipated return to Seattle
The addition of a Seattle franchise would see top-tier basketball return to the city for the first time since 2008.
The much-loved SuperSonics departed for Oklahoma City over a stadium lease dispute 16 years ago.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas has rapidly established itself as a premier destination for major professional sports.
The Nevada city already successfully hosts the WNBA’s Aces, alongside the NFL’s Raiders and NHL’s Golden Knights.
Conference realignment on the horizon
Adding two new Western Conference teams will necessitate a structural reshuffle to maintain regional balance.
League executives expect either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to switch to the Eastern Conference.
This adjustment would ensure a perfectly even split of 16 teams across both geographical divisions.
The competition has remained at 30 teams since its last expansion in 2004, when Charlotte joined the ranks.
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has cast doubt on a third fight with Tyson Fury, suggesting he could instead face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel before retiring.
The Ukrainian star is scheduled to defend his world titles against kickboxing crossover Rico Verhoeven in May.
That upcoming bout represents his first ring appearance since a knockout victory over Daniel Dubois last summer.
Mandatory obligations complicate retirement plan
Earlier this month, the 38-year-old outlined a clear three-fight roadmap to conclude his illustrious career.
He initially targeted Verhoeven, the winner of an upcoming Fabio Wardley versus Dubois clash, and finally a third meeting with Fury.
However, boxing authorities are expected to order the undefeated southpaw to face German contender Kabayel following his May defence.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the two-time undisputed champion admitted his schedule remains completely flexible.
Maybe I will fight Kabayel, maybe I don’t face Tyson Fury for a third time, and I fight Kabayel instead.
I only say my plan, but that is not set in stone.
Fury insists rival will demand trilogy
Usyk secured back-to-back decision victories over his British rival during 2024 to cement his historic legacy.
Despite those definitive results, the outspoken heavyweight maintains he was unfairly treated by the judges on both occasions.
The former WBC titleholder, who returns to action against Arslanbek Makhmudov next month, believes financial motivations will eventually force a third encounter.
He’ll be begging for a trilogy by the end of the year.
There’s no one for him to fight to make any money. There’s only the GK, the big man.
Paris St-Germain have provoked anger from title rivals Lens after requesting their Ligue 1 fixture be postponed to prepare for a Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) recently confirmed receipt of an application from the reigning French champions to move the top-of-the-table clash originally scheduled for 11 April.
Luis Enrique’s side face the Reds in a crucial two-legged European tie and are seeking extra rest between the high-stakes fixtures.
However, their domestic opponents, who currently sit just one point behind them in the league standings, have strongly condemned the prospect of rescheduling the match at this late stage of the campaign.
Lens question sporting integrity
Benjamin Parrot, general manager of the northern French club, released a defiant statement questioning whether the league’s governing body would actively defend domestic competition.
“The fact is, PSG made the choice of the Champions League, like Canal+, their broadcaster. Now, if the LFP doesn’t defend Ligue 1, who will?” Benjamin Parrot
Parrot argued that his side had built their squad and strategy specifically around known schedules to compete effectively across the season.
He further suggested that the capital club might have simply rotated their squad rather than requesting a delay if they held a comfortable 15-point lead at the summit.
Coefficient defence from the capital
In response to the growing controversy, a spokesperson for the Parisian outfit insisted that their European progress directly benefits the entirety of French football.
“The performances of French clubs competing in European competitions benefit French football as a whole, especially given that France currently occupies sixth place in the UEFA coefficient rankings.” PSG Spokesperson
The club highlighted the importance of securing fifth place in those rankings, which would yield up to seven European qualification spots for domestic teams.
With two French teams potentially reaching European semi-finals, the perennial league winners believe the schedule adjustment represents a vital sporting opportunity for the entire nation.
Aston Martin are battling extreme engine issues and a disastrous start to the 2026 Formula 1 season ahead of engine supplier Honda’s home race in Japan.
The Silverstone-based team have failed to finish either of the opening two Grands Prix in Australia and China.
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are currently struggling to avoid being the slowest cars in qualifying alongside newcomers Cadillac.
The primary cause of these early-season woes stems from immense vibrations generated by the radically altered 2026 power units.
Physical toll on drivers
The violent shaking effectively brought the car to a halt during pre-season testing and has severely limited track mileage.
The situation reached a critical point during the recent Chinese Grand Prix when Alonso retired after completing just 32 laps.
The two-time world champion was visibly forced to take his hands off the steering wheel on the long straights to alleviate the intense discomfort.
“We found more vibrations than any other sessions in the weekend. Physically I could not continue much longer,” said the Spaniard.
“I lost the feeling in my hands and feet. It was not a nice feeling.”
The intense mechanical feedback previously prompted legendary designer Adrian Newey to warn of potential permanent nerve damage for the drivers.
Leadership structure defended
Off the track, the struggling outfit faces mounting speculation regarding their senior management setup.
Reports recently suggested former Audi boss Jonathan Wheatley could arrive to replace Newey and assume traditional team principal duties.
However, co-owner Lawrence Stroll vehemently denied these rumours while reaffirming his commitment to the current unconventional leadership structure.
“We do things differently here, and while we don’t currently adopt the traditional team principal role that you see elsewhere – it is by design,” Stroll stated.
“As the most successful engineer in the history of the sport, Adrian’s primary focus is on the strategic and technical leadership where he excels.”
The immediate priority for the British constructor remains solving these critical unreliability issues before taking to the challenging Suzuka circuit.
Engine partners Honda are reportedly working tirelessly to find a safe mechanical solution ahead of a highly pressurised home event.
Supporters and potentially players from five qualified African nations face paying a visa bond of up to $15,000 (£11,800) to enter the United States for the 2026 World Cup.
The newly established Visa Bond Pilot Program comes into effect on 2 April following policy changes by President Donald Trump’s administration.
It will impact visitors travelling on business or tourist visas from 50 countries globally.
Five of those affected nations – Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Tunisia – have already secured their places at the summer tournament.
Significant financial hurdle for families
Fans applying for standard entry permits must deposit the significant fee before being granted access to the co-host nation.
These payments are required per person and range from $5,000 for children to $15,000 for adults.
A parent travelling with a child will be forced to make two separate bond deposits to attend the global showpiece.
The money will be fully refunded provided the individuals depart the country before their documentation expires.
Players may face entry issues
There is currently no explicit wording within the pilot scheme that grants immunity to athletes competing in major international sporting events.
Most footballers without existing documentation will likely need to apply for these specific visas to participate.
Consequently, the respective national football associations could be asked to deposit vast sums to ensure their squads can cross the border.
This presents a unique administrative challenge for debutants Cape Verde, who recently qualified for the finals for the first time in their history.
Geopolitical tensions threaten tournament
Wider political issues are also threatening to disrupt the expanded 48-team competition.
It remains unclear whether Iran will be permitted to compete amid ongoing conflicts involving the American government and Israel.
President Trump has previously stated he does not care if the Middle Eastern nation is forced to withdraw from the event.
A US State Department spokesperson told The Athletic that all applicants remain subject to the same legal standards regardless of age.
“All applicants must demonstrate they qualify for and intend to comply with the terms of a visa.”
This new financial requirement is not retroactive and will not impact supporters holding existing valid travel documents.
Tony Vitello makes Major League Baseball history tonight as he leads the San Francisco Giants against the New York Yankees, becoming the first head coach to jump directly from college baseball to the major leagues.
The 47-year-old takes charge for the season opener despite having absolutely no prior professional playing or coaching experience.
He arrives in California following a highly successful eight-year spell in the collegiate system.
A winning pedigree in college baseball
During his tenure with the Tennessee Volunteers, the fiery tactician transformed a struggling programme into national champions.
He guided the university to three College World Series appearances, ultimately lifting the prestigious trophy in 2024.
His teams were renowned for playing a brash, loud brand of baseball that relentlessly pushed competitive boundaries.
However, managing a major league clubhouse presents an entirely unprecedented challenge for the rookie manager.
Unrelenting intensity sets the tone
His fierce competitive nature was fully evident during a heavy 15-1 spring training defeat to Team USA in March.
Despite the exhibition status of the game, the newcomer appeared visibly furious in the Scottsdale Stadium dugout.
Observers noted Giants players giving their new boss plenty of space as his trademark intensity boiled over.
“They don’t know what he’s all about yet. It’s going to take them a while, probably until they start playing real games, but that showed me they’re starting to figure it out.”
Greg Vitello, father
Stepping into the unknown
The dramatic jump to the professional ranks represents a monumental leap of faith by the San Francisco hierarchy.
Prior to his appointment in February, the history-making skipper had never even attended a full spring training camp.
He now faces the formidable task of translating his collegiate success to the gruelling 162-game MLB campaign.
The true test begins immediately tonight under the brightest lights against the visiting Yankees.
World football’s governing body has permitted Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to retain its giant roof logo during the 2026 World Cup to prevent severe structural damage.
The unprecedented decision follows 18 months of intensive discussions between tournament organisers and stadium officials in the United States.
Strict global guidelines usually demand that all host venues completely hide existing corporate branding to protect exclusive sponsorship rights.
This contractual requirement explicitly mandates the covering of any skyward-facing logos or lettering on stadium roofs.
A structural impossibility
Administrators at the Georgia venue quickly realised that removing or obscuring their famous three-pointed star was entirely unfeasible.
The massive automotive emblem consists of eight interlocking and moveable panels that weigh 500 tons each.
Stretching 220 feet across, the metallic structure is heavily integrated into the arena’s complex retractable roof system.
Adam Fullerton, vice-president of operations at the ground, previously admitted that finding a safe solution for the roof signage was a source of great anxiety.
Protecting commercial interests
Hosts for the upcoming 16-venue tournament across North America must sign extensive contracts prohibiting unauthorised stadium branding.
Standard rental agreements for other events, such as the upcoming Club World Cup, do not enforce these rigorous clean zone policies.
Despite granting this rare architectural waiver, organisers maintain their commitment to defending the commercial exclusivity of their official partners.
In line with its brand protection policy, FIFA protects its brands and the exclusive rights of its sponsors, including clean zones around FIFA World Cup stadiums and other event sites.
FIFA is working closely with stadium authorities and host cities to implement these requirements… while taking into account the unique infrastructure and operational considerations at each venue.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has dismissed early-season speculation linking Max Verstappen with a move to the team, reaffirming his commitment to George Russell.
Rumours had surfaced suggesting the four-time world champion could leave Red Bull following recent expressions of internal discontent.
Pundits quickly speculated that Russell could be sacrificed by the Silver Arrows to make room for the Dutchman.
Early season driver market
The Mercedes boss expressed clear frustration that driver market gossip had already ignited just weeks into the new campaign.
“The astonishing thing is that these silly rumours are already surfacing in March,” Wolff told OE24.
“It’s silly enough that you normally have to discuss these things in July.”
The Austrian executive insisted there is absolutely no valid reason to consider altering his current driving partnership.
“We have two drivers with whom we have long-term, multi-year contracts,” he added.
“I could not be happier with either of them. Both are delivering top performances.”
Pundits question Russell’s future
Despite a strong start to the season, former Formula 1 drivers Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill recently cast doubt on Russell’s job security.
The British racer currently holds a narrow four-point lead over his teenage team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the drivers’ standings.
Both Mercedes men have already secured race victories this year, highlighting the team’s competitive pace.
Speaking on the Stay On Track podcast, Herbert suggested the Red Bull star’s unhappiness could trigger a blockbuster switch.
“I’ve heard little rumours again that with Max not being very happy where he is… is he going to be taken by Mercedes, which means they are going to get rid of George,” Herbert stated.
The Antonelli factor
Hill also weighed in on the internal dynamic at Mercedes, questioning if their 19-year-old Italian prospect has already become the favoured driver.
“Kimi is Toto’s protégé, if you like. He’s put his reputation on the line to get this guy in,” Hill observed.
“So George is always temporary,” the 1996 world champion added.
Wolff remains completely resolute in his strategy and quickly shut down any imminent pursuit of the reigning champion.
“There is absolutely no reason to even consider a line-up change, or other drivers. I say this with the utmost respect for Max,” Wolff concluded.