Basketball

Swin Cash is all-in on the WNBA coming back to Detroit ... telling TMZ Sports the city and its fans deserve it -- no matter what the haters say!!

We spoke with the three-time champion at the Taylor vs. Serrano fight on Friday ... and asked her about the W's announcement that Motor City -- where Cash played from 2002 to 2007 -- would be home to a pro women's hoops team once again in 2029.

Of course, the Shock relocated to Tulsa in 2009 ... and eventually settled in Dallas in 2016.

LiAngelo Ball's soon-to-be ex-wife, Rashida Nicole, claims the hooper/rapper's former partner is trying to make her life a living hell amid her pregnancy ... unloading on the woman in a scathing social media post.

Nicole shared the note on her Instagram Story late Sunday night ... saying she tried to stay quiet to focus on her baby on the way, but she can no longer take it.

"I am sooo tired of this bish keep talking about me," Nicole wrote. "So let's talk about it!!! It's giving obsessed!"

The Caitlin Clark effect hate is real ... so says Nancy Lieberman, who tells TMZ Sports players need to embrace the "cash cow" and stop being petty.

We spoke with Lieberman after the All-Star voting results were released ... which showed Clark as the 9th-ranked WNBA guard in the player vote.

Keep in mind, CC has been suffering from injuries ... but has managed to earn 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game.

Forget about his moves on the basketball court -- LeBron James showed off his dancing skills at the opening night of Bad Bunny's Puerto Rico residency!

The Los Angeles Lakers star entertained the roaring crowd at the Puerto Rican-born superstar's concert in San Juan Friday night ... hopping on stage as he got down to the music.

LeBron, decked out in blue joggers, a floral-print button down and a yellow bucket hat, seriously looked like he was having the time of his life as he vibed to "Titi me preguntó" and recorded the experience. He hasn't posted any footage he shot on his phone yet ... but he clearly took home some serious memories.

Chase Budinger was able to successfully transition from the NBA to pro volleyball ... but he tells TMZ Sports he's yet to see a single hooper who could repeat his feat.

The ex-Houston Rockets forward swung by the TMZ offices this week to give some staffers a lesson or two on how things are done in the sand ... and afterward, he explained just how tough it is to be an AVP player.

He told us his opponents can "jump out of the gym," and "it's even more crazy, because they're doing it on the beach."

Pro hooper Caitlin Cunningham -- known online as "Caitlin Dark" -- has been making waves for their unique on-court appearance ... and they tell TMZ Sports they're down to team up with the WNBA superstar who inspired their new nickname!!

The Australian baller, who currently plays for the Rockhampton Cyclones of the NBL1, recently broke the internet for their gothic looks on the court -- a face full of makeup, jet-black hair, tattoos and fang teeth.

As it turns out, everyone's just late to the game ... 'cause Cunningham says this has been going on for their whole 20-year career!!

2:08 PM PT -- A rep for Coco tells TMZ ... "After an amazing season and a sold out tour, Donovan Mitchell and Coco Jones took a moment to recharge on vacation which turned it into a beautiful engagement."

"The couple has been dating for two years and look forward to building a life together."

Donovan Mitchell just took things to the next level with Coco Jones -- the NBA star popped the question ... and she said YES!!

The Cleveland Cavaliers guard shared the amazing news with his 3+ million Instagram followers on Friday ... with a photo of him kissing the R&B sensation in front of a beautiful sunset.

He also posted a video of his proposal near the beach ... showing him getting on one knee.

Bronny James and Cooper Flagg's Summer League showdown drew a crowd that resembled a real NBA game ... with plenty of notable faces in the stands for the contest, including Kyrie Irving!!

The matchup between the Lakers and Mavericks went down Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada ... where LeBron's son and the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick went at it.

Irving -- who tore his ACL during a game in March -- was posted up courtside to support his new rookie teammate, who finished with 10 points in his debut after going 5-21 from the field.

Megan Thee Stallion's taking advantage of Klay Thompson's summer off-season ... the NBA legend was cryptically spotted in her new IG post -- and it's because they're dating!!!

The "Hiss" rapper has a win-win situation with her social media posts doubling as promo for her Hot Girl Summer swimwear line ... but Klay's "Where's Waldo"-esque cameo in the background of her poolside shot was hard to ignore!!!

Meg knows her way around the hardwood ... she was linked with Chicago Bulls player Torrey Craig up until her Coachella performance in April -- but seems like all plays are running through Klay now.

We reached out to Meg's team ... no word back yet, but given her Houston hometown and Klay's current slot with the Dallas Mavericks, seeing each other shouldn't be an issue!!!

AVP took on TMZ ... and it ended up being a TKO.

Volleyball superstars Chase Budinger and Brandie Wilkerson popped by the TMZ offices on Wednesday ... and to warm up for their games at the AVP League Event in Los Angeles this weekend, they played a few of our staffers on our sand court.

Budinger, a former NBA star, and Wilkerson, a Paris Games silver medalist, faced off with TMZ Sports' Edward Lewis and Conor Hurley in Game 1 ... and while the first point went the journalists' way, it was total annihilation from there.

A "Jeopardy!" contestant mistakenly identified Paige Bueckers as Caitlin Clark during a clue that also included a PHOTO of the 2024 first overall pick ... in a record scratching moment on the famed gameshow!

The moment went down on Wednesday night's "Jeopardy!" episode ... as host Ken Jennings read the clue from the "Sporty Stuff" category to the three contestants, saying ... "This UConn star had an intense spring in 2025, playing on her first national championship team, and being picked first in the WNBA draft."

To make things even easier, the clue came with a photo of Bueckers in her Huskies uniform ... but it still wasn't enough for one of the contestants, Rahul.

2:51 PM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained more details on the split ... with docs showing March 24, 2025 for their date of marriage and June 15 for their separation.

The reason behind the divorce was listed as "irreconcilable differences."

Docs show Gelo is asking for joint custody and visitation ... and wants to terminate spousal support for both parties.

LiAngelo Ball has filed for divorce from Rashida Nicole ... just days after the influencer announced she was pregnant with the couple's child.

Court records, obtained by TMZ Sports, show the "Tweaker" rapper requested the split at a Southern California courthouse on July 3.

It's unclear when the two actually tied the knot -- though we did see the duo leaving the same SoCal courthouse back in February wearing all-white outfits and carrying a large envelope.

Former NBA player Ben McLemore was sentenced to 100 months in prison after he was convicted of raping a woman in 2021 when he was hooping for the Trail Blazers.

The more than 8-year sentence was handed down on Wednesday, a week after a jury found the former Blazers guard guilty of sexual assault and rape in a Clackamas County courtroom.

The incident happened in October 2021 at the home of former Blazer's player Robert Covington, where McLemore was accused of raping a 21-year-old woman during a party.

Larsa Pippen's got a thing for basketball players -- and apparently coaches, too -- 'cause Scottie's ex just opened up on a brief romance she had with a 47-year-old before linking up with her new boyfriend, Jeff Coby ... and he was a real whistleblower.

The reality TV star peeled back the curtain on her dating life on the latest episode of Angela Yee's "Lip Service" podcast ... when the topic of age being just a number was raised.

"I dated a guy that was 47 years old, before I dated Jeff, and he was so immature," Pippen said.

Angel Reese was pissed off to the max on Tuesday ... and she took her frustrations out on her coach's clipboard in the process -- swiping it out of her hands in the middle of the Chicago Sky's loss!!

The outburst happened with 29.9 seconds left in the game at George Mason University ... when Reese and the Sky were tied at 77-77 with the Washington Mystics.

As the Sky challenged a loose-ball foul, players headed back to the bench ... and Reese was visibly upset.

Dwight Howard's wife, Amber Rose Howard, has filed for divorce ... just six months after she tied the knot with the ex-NBA superstar.

Court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show the rapper and reality star -- known widely as Amy Luciani -- requested the split from the basketball player at a Georgia courthouse on July 1.

Amber wrote in the docs "The marriage is irretrievably broken," adding, "there are no prospects for reconciliation."