The Sun has denied G MARINA MABREY’s trade request from earlier this month. Mabrey’s agent, MARCUS CRENSHAW of The FAM agency, in a statement said, “In this current age of women’s empowerment and support of the players, the CT Sun threatening to force Marina Mabrey to play for them after her trade request is mind-boggling.” Sun President JENNIFER RIZZOTTI said that the organization decided it “wasn’t in our best interest to move her because of the value that we gave up to get her, but also that we place on her” (ESPN.com, 2/18).
SOMETHING LOST: LAFC F OLIVIER GIROUD lost approximately $500,000 worth of jewelry when his L.A. home was burglarized earlier this month. Giroud and his family “were not at the property when burglars broke in and stole jewelry and other items -- including 10 luxury watches -- belonging to the 2018 World Cup winner” (ESPN.com, 2/18).
LASTING MEMORY: A new mural featuring late Basketball HOFer KOBE BRYANT and Lakers G/F LUKA DONCIC is complete in front of Carrera Cafe in L.A. The mural depicts a moment when the Mavericks visited the Lakers on Dec. 29, 2019, early in Doncic’s second season with the Mavs, when Bryant -- wearing a green Eagles beanie and orange jacket -- was seated courtside with his daughter, GIANNA. Doncic heard someone “trash talking in Slovenian, turned around and there was Bryant, smiling.” After the game, Bryant “greeted the budding superstar,” who is now a member of the Lakers. The mural was painted by ARUTYUN GOZUKUCHIKYAN, known as ARTOON (L.A. TIMES, 2/18).
NAMES: Nonprofit Swim Across America has named two new leaders to its BOD -- Flagship Pioneering General Partner HARRY WILCOX and Brookfield Asset Management Associate TIM BUTTIGIEG (Swim Across America)....Bucks F KYLE KUZMA proposed to his longtime partner, supermodel WINNIE HARLOW. The couple announced the news in a joint Instagram post yesterday (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/18)....Spurs F HARRISON BARNES, alongside his wife, BRITTANY BARNES, have donated $250,000 to the AlamoPROMISE tuition-free program, benefiting students at St. Philip’s College, a Historically Black College and University and Hispanic-Serving Institution within the Alamo Colleges District (Alamo Colleges District)....Former Univ. of Georgia baseball player DYLAN GOLDSTEIN has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA “seeking another season of eligibility.” The lawsuit comes “on the heels of an NCAA waiver allowing athletes who competed at non-NCAA schools an extra season of eligibility.” However, the waiver “does not help Goldstein,” as it “covers eligibility for the 2025-26 academic year.” He is seeking eligibility for the current 2025 season. Goldstein’s situation is “similar” to Vanderbilt QB DIEGO PAVIA, whose case “set the waiver in motion.” Both would have exhausted their eligibility in 2024 counting their years in junior college (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/18).
