And following in his family footsteps, he threw some punches.

Malott, 29, is the brother of UFC fighter Mike Malott, who has a 12-2-1 record.

Jeff Malott signed as an undrafted free agent after leaving Cornell and played in the minors with the Winnipeg Jets organization. Signing with the Kings in 2024, he finally got an extended NHL opportunity last season with a March call-up and a trip to the playoffs. He made the Kings 2025-26 roster after a strong preseason.

Which leads us to Tuesday night’s season opener.

Malott jumped in and dropped his gloves with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson, who had crushed Los Angeles’ Warren Foegele with a clean hard open-ice hit.

Malott got in some good licks. He received two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct and five for fighting.

Runs in the family.

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is opening up about her decision to publicly criticize WNBA commissioner WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s ‘tone-deaf and dismissive’ leadership.

‘I just got to the point where I was fed up,’ Collier said on Monday, nearly one week after delivering a scathing statement following the Lynx’s playoff elimination by the Phoenix Mercury in the semifinals. ‘No matter the consequences, I felt like it was something that needed to be done.’

Collier spoke to former Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday during ‘A Day of Unreasonable Conversation,’ a one-day summit held annually in Los Angeles for changemakers, storytellers and activists.

‘I never had planned to do that,’ Collier said. ‘I am on the union for CBA negotiations … and for so long, I felt like I saw what was going on behind closed doors. For so long, we tried to have these conversations and move the needle. … And I saw nothing was changing.’

NAPHEESA COLLIER says the WNBA has the ‘worst leadership’ in scathing statement

Following the Lynx’s 86-81 Game 4 semifinal loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Sept. 28, Collier used her exit interview to air her grievances with Engelbert and the league, which she said has the ‘worst leadership in the world.’

‘The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings or even missed calls or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office,’ Collier said in her prepared statement. ‘We go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us.’

On Monday, Collier said she decided to put pen to paper after her frustrations finally boiled over, adding that she was willing to deal with any ensuing consequences because it was ultimately the ‘right thing to do.’

‘Coaches winning and losing alike were complaining about the same things over and over again, players over and over again, and we weren’t seeing a change that our leadership was trying to make,’ said Collier, who wore a boot on her right foot after tearing several ligaments in her ankle and a muscle in her shin on a controversial play in the final seconds of Lynx’s Game 3 semifinal loss to the Mercury.

‘Whether I was going to get annihilated for this or people were going to support me, I felt what I was doing was right. I felt like it needed to be said,’ Collier added.

In her statement, Collier recalled a specific conversation she had with Engelbert about WNBA officiating back in February during the inaugural season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league co-founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart.’I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin (Clark), Angel (Reese) and Paige (Bueckers), who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, ‘Caitlin (Clark) should be grateful to make $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.”

Collier continued: ‘In that same conversation she told me players should be, ‘On their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.’ That’s mentality driving our league from the top … The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them.’ 

Engelbert said she was ‘disheartened’ by Collier’s characterization of their conversation in a statement released on social media on Tuesday. During her annual press conference ahead of the WNBA Finals, Engelbert denied making a comment about Clark and said there’s ‘a lot of inaccuracy about what I said or what I didn’t say.’

Engelbert said she planned to meet with Collier this week, but Collier reportedly called off the meeting following Engelbert’s press conference.

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AI-assisted summary
• The network will air up to 100 regular-season games on NBC and its streaming service, Peacock.
• Sunday Night Basketball” or the moniker “Basketball Night in America” will broadcast each week from the game site.
• The on-air talent includes broadcasters Mike Tirico and Reggie Miller, with a studio team led by Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.

STAMFORD, CT — When a media company loses the rights to broadcast an event, even in sports, it’s rare for that company to make another run at those same rights, especially after two decades.

That’s what happened to NBC when Disney took over and outbid the Peacock network for the NBA broadcast rights in 2002. This marked the end of a successful 12-year run that helped boost the league’s popularity to new heights, largely thanks to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ dominance in the 1990s.

When the NBA on NBC signed off for the final time on June 12, 2002, after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 113-107 victory over the New Jersey Nets in Game 4 of the Finals – completing the sweep and the last three-peat among the four major North American sports – the network didn’t go into panic mode..

They still had Grand Slam tennis, Notre Dame football, and the sure moneymakers that are the Winter and Summer Olympic Games. It wouldn’t be until 2006 when the network secured the rights to “Sunday Night Football,” the top-rated program in the United States in each of the last 14 years.

Now, NBCUniversal is back in the hoops game after paying about $2.5 billion a year, which is part of the record 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal the league struck with Amazon and Disney.

“I look back on my early days at the NBA, in the weekly meetings we would have in Dick Ebersol’s office, and he famously had a sign behind his desk that said storytelling,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “That was as a reminder of his people, and I think that storytelling is just as important today with all the technology. I’m really looking forward to this partnership.”

The company’s executives presented their plan at a press event Monday at NBC Sports headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, aiming for a significant return on that investment, and have already exceeded advertising expectations for the season.

“It’s an enormous investment by the company. The NBA came around, and we thought it made sense for us,” Rick Cordella, NBC Sports president, said. “As the NBA fills a time in the schedule in the spring, where the NBA offers a diverse audience, and it’s not often you can take on a big sport and start from scratch.”

Don’t call it a comeback

The theme of the day was not only nostalgia but also advancing the product. Of course, “Roundball Rock,” the iconic theme of the NBA on NBC, is back, but Grammy-winning musician Lenny Kravitz will perform the show open for “Sunday Night Basketball” when it premieres on Feb. 1. 

“A global icon with unmatched style and passion, Lenny is the perfect artist to set the tone for coverage of the biggest game of the week every Sunday night,” NBC Sports Creative Director Tripp Dixon said. “As a fresh addition to our Sunday Night franchise, we’re excited for our Sunday Night Basketball anthem to capture the energy and spirit of the league, and with a superstar like Lenny at its foundation, we can’t wait for fans everywhere to see what we’ve cooked up.”

Up to 100 NBA regular-season games will air on NBC and Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights, with the latter games branded as “Coast 2 Coast Tuesday.’

Mike Tirico, the lead play-by-play broadcaster, Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, and Jamal Crawford will call the network’s first NBA game in over 23 years on Oct. 21 when the Houston Rockets face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Golden State Warriors head to Los Angeles to play the Lakers to complete the Opening Night doubleheader; Noah Eagle and Grant Hill are set to broadcast the nightcap.

It will have been 8,532 days between NBC’s last NBA telecast and this year’s season opener.

“To be back with the league and associated with the league is just heaven for me. The cool part now is I covered Reg, Jamal, and Melo, and all these guys. And now to work with them, it just kind of doubles down on my excitement,” Tirico said to USA TODAY Sports.

‘Some of my best moments were on NBC. Some of the best calls, Tom Hammond, Bob Costas, Marv Albert,” added Miller, who noted that the league needs a villain like he was in the ’90s. “It’s all about the calls for me. Some of my best moments were on this network. Now we get a chance to deliver some of these calls for these younger players.’

Top talent should lure viewers

Besides the games themselves, NBC is banking on the chemistry of the talent they have assembled to broadcast the games.

Part of that job belongs to Maria Taylor, as the lead studio host, along with analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.

“Sunday Night Basketball” or the moniker “Basketball Night in America” will broadcast each week from the game site, and while studio shows can be hit or miss, it didn’t take long for Anthony, Carter and McGrady to disagree with just about everything, especially when Anthony said the New York Knicks will be the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, which elicited hearty chuckles and negative head nods from his fellow retired coworkers. (Carter and McGrady both said that the Cleveland Cavaliers will rule the East.)

‘Sunday Night Basketball’ will take a break on Feb. 8 and 15, as the network broadcasts the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game and the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics from Italy.

There will also be an ‘on the bench’ portion of the game, where one sideline reporter or analyst will be assigned to each team, providing insight into their strategy.

Anthony acknowledged that he is taking it ‘day by day,’ as there will be a learning curve as a new studio analyst, but he assured viewers that he will approach the role with authenticity, teaching the game while entertaining, and moving the conversation forward.

He said his job was not to criticize players, but he also didn’t want to discuss the other companies that would be broadcasting the league and making any comparisons of content.

“We don’t talk about anyone else in this building,” Anthony said.

Who has the best MVP season or seasons in the history of the WNBA?

USA TODAY is trying to answer that question by ranking the 16 players who have been named MVP since the league began in 1997. From Cynthia Cooper, who was part of the league’s first dynasty with the Houston Comets, to A’ja Wilson, who is a part of the latest super team, we take a look at the women who built the W.

As for No. 1, you’ll have to scroll down to find out the answer. But, here’s a hint: She and her team are playing in their third WNBA Finals in four years and are within two victories of a third championship.

The WNBA Finals continue on Wednesday with Game 3 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The Aces hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

16. Yolanda Griffith, C, Sacramento Monarchs

MVP season: 1999

In her first season in the WNBA after coming over from the ABL, Griffith won both WNBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. She averaged 18.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 rebounds in her MVP season. Griffith was also named WNBA Finals MVP in 2005, when the Monarchs won the championship.

15. Jonquel Jones, F/C, Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty

MVP season: 2021

Jones helped the Sun to the league’s best record in 2021. They ended the season on a 14-game win streak, the fourth-longest in league history at the time. Jones finished with a league-best 11.2 rebounds per game and a career-high 19.2 points, scoring 20 or more points in 12 of 27 games that season. She became the first player in WNBA history to win MVP, Sixth Woman of the Year and the Most Improved Player awards in her career.

14. Nneka Ogumike, F, Los Angeles Sparks

MVP season: 2016

Ogwumike’s game is rooted in efficiency. She was named MVP after recording a 73.7% true shooting percentage — a record for NBA and WNBA players — which combines field-goal, 3-point and free throw percentages. The mark stands nearly a decade later. Ogwumike’s resume also includes No. 1 overall pick, WNBA champion, Rookie of the Year, All-WNBA first-team and four-time All-Defensive first-team.

13. Tamika Catchings, F, Indiana Fever

MVP season: 2011

Catchings finished as the WNBA MVP runner-up three seasons, before capturing the coveted award in her 10th season in 2011. One year later, Catchings added a WNBA Finals MVP after leading the Indiana Fever to their only title. The five-time Defensive Player of the Year is the WNBA’s all-time leader in steals by a wide margin and is top 10 in points, rebounds, free throws and minutes played.

12. Tina Charles, C, Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, Atlanta Dream

MVP season: 2012

Charles was named the MVP in 2012 after securing her third consecutive rebounding title. She led the league in rebounds for a fourth time in 2016. The eight-time All-Star became the fastest player in league history to reach 1,100 rebounds, doing it in 100 games. Charles remains the WNBA’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles. She ranks second in points, behind Diana Taurasi.

11. Elena Delle Donne, F/G, Chicago Sky, Washington Mystics

MVP seasons: 2015, 2019

Delle Donne became the first WNBA player to join the 50/40/90 club in 2019, shooting 50% from the field, 40% from the 3 and 90% from the free throw line for the season, a feat nine NBA players have accomplished. Napheesa Collier acheived the feat this season. Delle Donne also led the Washington Mystics to their first title in franchise history in 2019, winning her second league MVP. Her first came in 2015, her third season in the league.

10. Diana Taurasi, G, Phoenix Mercury

MVP season: 2009

Taurasi is one of three guards in league history to win MVP and as one of the greatest shooters ever, it’s the least surprising bit of her resume. A three-time WNBA champion, Taurasi also won Finals MVP twice. She is an 11-time All-Star and five-time scoring champion. Taurasi led the league in points per game (20.4) and made 3-pointers (79) during her her 2009 MVP season.

9. Sylvia Fowles, C, Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx

MVP season: 2017

Fowles might be one of the most underrated players on this list and in WNBA history. She’s an eight-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year with two titles and a Finals MVP. She also led the league in rebounds three separate seasons. During her MVP season, she was a walking double-double, who led the league in field goal percentage (65.5), total blocks (67) and win shares (9.2).

8. Breanna Stewart, F, Seattle Storm, New York Liberty

MVP seasons: 2018, 2023

Stewart winning MVP twice is impressive enough, but nothing sounds more astounding than the margin of her 2023 win. There were 13 points separating her from A’ja Wilson and Alyssa Thomas, the closest margin in league history. Why was it so hard? Stewart does it all, as evidenced by her three championships and two WNBA Finals MVPs. She is also a seven-time All-Star, six-time WNBA first-team and defensive team pick.

7. Candace Parker, F, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky

MVP seasons: 2008, 2013

Parker remains the only player in WNBA history to earn Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She averaged 18 points and close to 10 rebounds plus an absurd 2.3 blocks on 52% shooting. She added another MVP five years later because one was not enough. The former Tennesee star even has three WNBA championships and a Finals MVP because everything with her is elite.

6. Maya Moore, F, Minnesota Lynx

MVP season: 2014

Moore has four rings, and if that wasn’t impressive enough, she added five All-WNBA first-team selections and an MVP in eight seasons in the league. During her MVP season, she averaged a blistering 23.9 points on 48% shooting to go with 8.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals.

5. Lauren Jackson, F/C, Seattle Storm

MVP seasons: 2003, 2007, 2010

Jackson, who is from Australia, was the first international player to win MVP. A threat at both ends of the court, she led the Seattle Storm to their first two titles. Jackson was absolutely dominant in 2007, when Jackson led the league in rebounding (9.7 per game) and was second in scoring (23.8 ppg) and blocks (2.0 bpg).

4. Lisa Leslie, C, Los Angeles Sparks

MVP seasons: 2001, 2004, 2006

Leslie was first player to dunk in a WNBA game (and a WNBA All-Star game) and first to score 6,000 points. When she retired, Leslie was the league’s career leader in both points and rebounds. A two-time WNBA champion, she also won two Finals MVPs.

3. Sheryl Swoopes, F/G, Houston Comets

MVP seasons: 2000, 2002, 2005

After missing the 2001 season with a torn ACL, Swoopes came back to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 2002. She was in the top three in steals from 1998 to 2003 and was in the top five in both player efficiency and win shares during that span.

2. Cynthia Cooper, G, Houston Comets

MVP seasons: 1997, 1998

Cooper was the anchor of the Houston Comets team that won an unprecedented four consecutive WNBA titles. She led the league in scoring in each of her MVP seasons and was in the top 10 in assists and minutes played. Cooper, who helped USC to a pair of titles in 1983 and 1984, played 11 seasons overseas before the WNBA existed.

1. A’ja Wilson, C Las Vegas Aces

MVP seasons: 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025

Duh. Wilson is not only the W’s first four-time MVP, she joins LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Barry Bonds, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and Eddie Shore as the only athletes to win four or more MVPs. Wilson is the most dominant player in basketball right now, able to control a game both offensively and defensively. You might be able to slow her, but you cannot stop her.

The NHL standings could be a little more bunched this season.

Last year, the No. 1 overall team, the Winnipeg Jets, and the No. 32 San Jose Sharks were separated by 64 points. This year, USA TODAY predicts that the gap between first and last will be 47 points.

First, the Sharks and other bottom teams should improve. Also, the league is changing the rules on salary retention in trades. That will make it harder for top teams to load up and for bottom teams to have fire sales during the season.

Another factor is the 2026 Winter Olympics. Top teams will send more players to Italy in February for an intense tournament. Bottom teams won’t send as many players and will get some midseason rest.

USA TODAY Sports makes its annual attempt at projecting the records for all 32 NHL teams (explanations below) before the 2025-26 season starts on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Pacific Division

• The Vegas Golden Knights will benefit from landing the best free agent (Mitch Marner) and win the Presidents’ Trophy as the top regular-season team.
• The Edmonton Oilers are a threat to get back to the Stanley Cup Final – and win it – because of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid’s team-friendly extension will make it easier to build around the two stars.
• Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar will play his final NHL season. It will include a playoff berth and another first-round meeting with the Oilers.
• The Vancouver Canucks hope to shake off a disappointing season. They will need more from Elias Pettersson and for goalie Thatcher Demko to stay healthy.
• The Calgary Flames missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. They’ll be in the race until near the end.
• The Anaheim Ducks hope to take another big step in their rebuild with the hiring of coach Joel Quenneville. They’ll continue improving but fall short of the playoffs.
• The Seattle Kraken have a new general manager and coach but will miss the playoffs for the fourth time in their five-year existence.
• The San Jose Sharks should end their two-year streak of finishing last but will be among the bottom teams again.

Central Division

• The Dallas Stars changed coaches after losing in the conference finals for three seasons in a row. New coach Glen Gulutzan will try to get the team over the top.
• Nikolaj Ehlers is gone, but the Winnipeg Jets will be a top team as long as Connor Hellebuyck is in net. He might play less in the regular season with an Olympics to win for Team USA.
• The Colorado Avalanche got captain Gabriel Landeskog back during the playoffs and moved out Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood in the offseason.
• The Minnesota Wild took care of two priorities by getting forward Kirill Kaprizov and goalie Filip Gustavsson signed long-term. Kaprizov got a record deal.
• The Utah Mammoth have a new practice facility, a new name and logo and newcomers J.J. Peterka and Nate Schmidt. Things are looking up in their second season in Utah.
• The St. Louis Blues clinched the final Western Conference berth last season. They’ll be in the mix again this season.
• Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette is on the hot seat after last season’s free agent spree fizzled.
• The Chicago Blackhawks‘ rebuild around Connor Bedard will take time. Good thing Gavin McKenna is available to whoever wins the draft lottery.

Atlantic Division

• With the Toronto Maple Leafs missing Marner and the Florida Panthers missing Aleksander Barkov, the Atlantic Division title is there to grab for the ultra-talented Tampa Bay Lightning.
• It will be hard to replace Marner and his 102 points, but Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is healthy.
• No Barkov for seven to nine months. No Matthew Tkachuk early. But the Panthers are deep and coach Paul Maurice always makes the right moves.
• The Ottawa Senators have a good mix and should be able to extend their playoff streak to two seasons.
• The Montreal Canadiens added Noah Dobson, and Ivan Demidov is a rookie of the year favorite. They will be in the hunt for a playoff spot.
• Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams is under pressure to end the team’s 14-year playoff drought. He added depth to the defense and in net but traded No. 2 scorer J.J. Peterka.
• The Detroit Red Wings hoped they addressed their goaltending concerns by adding John Gibson.
• Was the Boston Bruins‘ missed playoff berth a one-off or a trend? Last season’s sell-off makes it more difficult to turn things around.

Metropolitan Division

• The Carolina Hurricanes signed free agent Nikolaj Ehlers and re-signed Logan Stankoven long-term. Could this be the year this group gets to the Stanley Cup Final?
• A lot of players had career years in 2024-25. That will be hard to duplicate but the Washington Capitals remain dangerous.
• The New Jersey Devils‘ key will be Jack Hughes staying healthy. They made the playoffs by only two points after he had season-ending surgery in March.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets jumped from eighth in the division in 2023-24 to fourth last season while honoring the memory of Johnny Gaudreau. They just missed the playoffs but should make it this time.
• A lot of New York Rangers players took a step back as they went from a Presidents’ Trophy to a missed playoff berth. Some veterans were moved as a result. New coach Mike Sullivan will need to get the rest back on track.
• New GM Mathieu Darche is putting his imprint on the New York Islanders. It helps that the team won the draft lottery and took defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
• The Philadelphia Flyers brought in franchise legend Rick Tocchet behind the bench. He won coach of the year in his first full season in Vancouver, but this team isn’t as talented.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a quandary. They could use a rebuild, but that’s not fair to Sidney Crosby and the older core. But if they start slowly, some secondary veterans could end up moving.

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