Exclusive

With the BIG3's $5 million offer to Caitlin Clark never coming to fruition ... could a lucrative Angel Reese proposal be up next for the hoops league?

Don't count on it.

TMZ Sports caught up with Ice Cube at LAX this week ... and the BIG3 honcho said there will be no deal put in front of Reese anytime soon.

Jax Taylor is stepping away from his Los Angeles bar Jax's Studio City ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the "Vanderpump Rules" alum tells us ... he made the decision to terminate his partnership with the establishment, saying it was "a carefully considered and necessary step to prioritize his sobriety and mental health."

The news comes after folks on social media noticed workers removing his name from the Studio City building Saturday, sparking concern.

The Bravolebrity notably announced he would be exiting "The Valley" less than 2 weeks ago ... attributing his need to focus on his mental health and sobriety.

As you know, substance abuse and mental health have been longtime struggles for Jax -- and he sought in-patient treatment to better himself nearly 1 year ago.

He's been on an upward journey since -- even amid his divorce from Brittany Cartwright.

Amaya Espinal got a hero's welcome in the Big Apple after her winning run on "Love Island USA" ... including shaking it with a few of the New York Knicks' finest.

The 'LI USA' season 7 winner pulled up to Sei Less -- a fine-dining Asian Fusion restaurant in Midtown Manhattan -- Friday night after months in the villa ... and, she and some friends decided to go all out at the celeb hot spot.

Our sources say Sei Less is one of Amaya's fav restaurants, a place she frequented before achieving fame on 'Love Island' ... but, yesterday was a change for Espinal, who got a private dining room and was mobbed by fans while walking through the joint.

Former TNA wrestler Trenesha Biggers -- who went by Rhaka Khan -- has been arrested in New York City.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... she was escorted out of her former Midtown apartment building around 11:30 AM Saturday on a criminal trespass charge.

Tenants reported she remained on the premises without permission, in violation of an order of eviction she was previously served.

Jessica Alba is locked in with a kiss -- literally -- to her new beau Danny Ramirez!

Check out the pics of the actress and her new flame passionately smooching each other outside his house in Los Angeles Friday. They look like a couple of teenagers freshly in love ... holding on to each other and sneaking in one more kiss before they part ways.

The pair even matched in baggy gray sweats and black tops, plus dark-colored baseball caps. How cute!

Bam Margera is smiling back at memories with his good pal Hulk Hogan following his unexpected death this week.

TMZ caught the former professional skateboarder out and about with his wife Dannii Marie in the City of Angels Friday -- he told us it's been a "rough week" between the "shocking" loss of Hulk as well as Ozzy Osbourne ... and he took us down memory lane with the late WWE star.

BM was all smiles as he told TMZ he and his wife stayed in Florida all winter, specifically at the request of Hulk ... who used Dannii's professional stretching techniques to limber up his body.

If you thought life couldn't get worse for the alleged 'Scream' mask, gangbang teacher Brittany Fortinberry, then think again!

Fortinberry has been cooling her heels in jail since her February arrest and has been charged with 41 felonies, including sex crimes against minors — and now she's been sued by a bank for skipping out on credit card payments.

Synchrony Bank filed the lawsuit Wednesday in an Indiana court, claiming Fortinberry failed to pay $2,125.50 in credit fees she amassed since opening the account in 2021.

Even though he's got a new pair of lungs, Ben Askren says doctors have assured him he's fully capable of living a lengthy, healthy life.

The former UFC star sat with TMZ Sports just days after he returned home from his weekslong battle with a horrific case of pneumonia ... and while he's down a ton of weight and fresh off major lung transplant surgery -- he told us his long-term prognosis is very good.

"They say people run marathons and all this other stuff," he said of those who have been in similar situations to him.

Brutus Beefcake -- a WWE legend and one of Hulk Hogan's closest friends -- sat down with TMZ Sports this week to share his memories of the late wrestling superstar ... and it got emotional.

BB -- who's known Hulk for roughly 50 years -- told us Hogan was actually the reason he got into the squared circle ... explaining Hulk recruited him to the sport when he was just a high schooler.

The two went on to wrestle together in the 1970s as the "Boulder Brothers" ... and thereafter, they each became mainstays in between the ropes for decades.

Robert Whittaker is only 34 years old and still a top 5-ranked UFC middleweight, but the former champion revealed he can see the finish line of his fighting career!

TMZ Sports spoke to Bobby Knuckles just days before his UFC on ABC 9 main event scrap against Reinier de Ridder -- slated to go down from Abu Dhabi on Saturday -- when we asked him for a State of the Union on his career.

"I definitely feel the tenure like that I've had. I've been blessed to have been in this game for so long, but I feel like I'm right at the point where I can see the end is near, but I have all the experience and the body still to do what needs to be done," Robert said.

5:02 PM PT -- Hulk Hogan's death was addressed right at the start of SmackDown ... with WWE CCO Triple H taking the stage and giving a heartfelt speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday, we lost one of the biggest and most globally recognized icons in the world," Paul Levesque said with the WWE roster standing behind him. "A man I grew up watching, was fortunate enough to share the ring with and, like so many of us, were honored to call a friend."

"The truth is, he captivated millions of people and inspired them around the globe. We would not be standing here right now, all of us together, if it was not for him."

A 10-bell salute was then performed, followed by a video highlighting Hogan's incredible Hall of Fame-worthy journey through wrestling.

Fans in attendance chanted Hogan's name ... and displayed signs in honor of the late legend.

As we previously reported, several legends flew to Cleveland to be present for the ceremony.

Hulk Hogan will be honored with a farewell fit for a legend at SmackDown ... with several legends slated to be present for a tribute honoring the late wrestling icon following his death.

Sources tell TMZ Sports WWE is currently working on finalizing all the details to pay homage to the Hulkster just over 24 hours after his passing ... with names like Jimmy Hart, Sgt. Slaughter and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase flying to Cleveland for Friday's event.

It's no surprise the organization will acknowledge the loss -- Hogan was larger than life -- but we're told the ceremonious gestures will go far beyond the standard 10-bell salute for wrestling greats who have died in the past.

Bryan Kohberger won't be totally cut off from the world on the inside ... and, he can even send messages to young women across the country -- though not via any dating apps.

The Idaho Department of Corrections tells TMZ ... while prisoners don't technically have access to the internet, they can purchase tablets from the commissary and load them up with a ton of apps.

This means Kohberger and his fellow inmates can access select music, radio stations, podcasts, movies, television, games and books. They can also fire off emails and make phone calls ... BK's lifeline to life outside the prison walls.

A whites-only community in Arkansas is just looking to protect European identity and culture from diversity, and it's best for people of all races to have their own separate community centers ... so says the co-founder of Return to the Land.

We interviewed Eric Orwoll on "TMZ Live" Friday about the whites-only community that is looking to expand to Missouri and other areas ... and, we asked about why a whites-exclusive area is so important to their members.

Orwoll says white people value European heritage, and he says he thinks that identity is under threat in modern America. He says he understands if others want to blend and mix their cultures -- but, he thinks this would be at the detriment of pure cultural ancestry.

Summer's not over until Uncle Charlie Wilson says it's over -- the R&B emeritus is hitting the road in August with Babyface, El DeBarge and K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci -- everyone's invited ... 'cept the devil!!!

TMZ caught up with both Uncle Charlie and El DeBarge outside Hollywood Unlocked on Thursday ... their "Uncle Charlie's Cookout" tour will be zipping through U.S. hotspots, including L.A., Detroit, OKC, Charlotte, and more.

And these vets say they aren't doing anything but staying hydrated and prayerful leading up to the big show!!!

Long Beach, California rapper Trapboy JT found the perfect way to shoot new content and save his coins from well, trappin' ... by shooting a music video right inside an IKEA store!!!

On Friday, Trapboy JT dropped his new single "Out The Matrix" on WorldstarHipHop -- using plenty of backdrop scenes behind IKEA's wide array of kitchen appliances -- a moment that doesn't seem to be completely authorized ... more so tolerated?

Trapboy JT tells TMZ Hip Hop his team shot the video at an IKEA location in Carson, a city in the South Bay of Los Angeles County ... his team spent about 45 minutes in the store!!!

Brooke Hogan's got a lasting reminder of her late father, Hulk Hogan ... because she named one of her twins after him.

Sources close to Brooke tell TMZ ... despite Brooke and Hulk being estranged when she gave birth to twins back in January, she gave a special tribute to her famous father by giving her daughter his middle name, Gene.

Brooke's daughter is named Molly Gene Oleksy ... and she wanted the kid to have grandpa's middle name as a way to honor Hulk.