Morning Buzz

Atlanta United President & CEO Garth Lagerwey “will not return” to his role after taking “two leaves of absence earlier this year for a cancer-related issue.” Lagerwey’s job “will be turned into a role that will oversee Atlanta United and the NWSL franchise" that is scheduled to start in 2028. The club has been run by Sarah Kate Noftsinger, Chris Henderson and Dimitrios Efstathiou in Lagerwey’s absence. Lagerwey, who was hired by Atlanta United in November 2022, said that he is “focused on his cancer treatment” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 12/1).

It will be “interesting to see how” owner Arthur Blank and AMB Sports and Entertainment “envision this hire, one that will have a different title but a larger scope of work than Lagerwey’s role.” Experience in women’s professional sports “should be high on the list of priorities,” but that “will not be the only point that Blank and his team will consider.” Ultimately, the new hire “will supervise two separate sporting entities with their own strategies and front offices” (THE ATHLETIC, 12/1).

The WNBA has offered its players a guaranteed max salary of $1M for the 2026 season that could climb to a projected $1.2M or more with revenue sharing, sources with knowledge of negotiations confirmed Monday.

The guarantee is a departure from an earlier league max salary proposal that totaled $1.1M, but, according to sources, was more of a projection with far less guaranteed money -- reportedly in the $800,000 to $850,000 range. In addition, the latest offer would put average 2026 player salaries in a projected $500,000 range and minimum salaries in a $225,000 range. The numbers were first reported by ESPN.

The proposals show the league is purportedly willing to move off its previous pay structure, which had raised salaries at a fixed rate of 3% annually. The union has maintained it wants salaries to grow as league revenue grows -- similar to the NBA -- and sources close to the league believe this offer complies with that request. For instance, sources said under this proposal the 2026 salary cap would balloon to $5M in 2026 (from a reported $1.5M) and then be tied in ensuing seasons to the growth of league business.

The WNBPA was not immediately available for comment. The current CBA was originally due to expire Oct. 31, but after an initial 30-day extension, the two sides on Sunday night extended their negotiating window another 40 days until Jan. 9, 2026.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR and the two teams suing it for alleged antitrust violations exchanged opening salvos yesterday to start their high-stakes trial, with both sides claiming that documents they have obtained from the other should vindicate them. The trial stemming from a lawsuit by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in October 2024 began in U.S. District Court’s Charles Jonas Federal Building in Charlotte. A jury of nine comprising six main jurors and three alternates was selected in the morning before the sides got a little over an hour for opening arguments in the afternoon in a packed courtroom. Driver and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin was the first and only witness called and is slated to continue today with final questioning from the team’s lawyers as well as a cross examination by NASCAR’s attorneys.

While leading off the opening remarks, teams lead attorney Jeffrey Kessler repeatedly said documents obtained through discovery would show actions that the teams view as anti-competitive. Because the judge had decided before the trial that NASCAR had effectively declared in a countersuit that it is the only buyer of the services of premier stock car teams in America, the company could be considered a monopsony but that a jury would decide whether it used its powers in an illegitimate way.

NASCAR’s opening statement began with how the teams were the ones who asked for the charter system in 2015 after forming the Race Team Alliance in 2014. Alston & Bird lawyer John E. Stephenson Jr. pointed out elements of the situation that he said Kessler left out. He told the jurors that, while the terms of the 2025 charter are in dispute, there is no dispute NASCAR paid out what it had promised on time during the original term of the charter agreement from 2016-24.

To read more on Day 1 of the trial, see Adam Stern’s full story here.

Guardians Ps Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz “are headed to court” today for a status conference in the Eastern District of N.Y., “marking a critical juncture in the federal gambling case” against them. The conference “represents the next step in a legal process carrying massive implications not just for the two players,” but for “how baseball handles gambling offenses in an era where sports betting has become mainstream.” The PLAIN DEALER’s Paul Hoynes provided insight into what Tuesday’s proceedings might entail, saying, “These meetings are used to perhaps set a trial date, exchange evidence, perhaps talk about a plea bargain or if there are motions to be made.” Sources indicate there’s ”significant pressure to reach a resolution before players report to Arizona in February.” Hoynes: “From talking to people that are close to the case that they would like to have this thing wrapped up by spring training. MLB would like to have this wrapped up by spring training” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/1).

The Stars rode the release of their new alternate jersey to a single-game NHL merchandise sales record. The total after-tax revenue for merchandise sales during last Friday’s game at American Airlines Center against the Mammoth was the highest for any regular season or playoff game in league history held at a team’s home arena. This excludes outdoor games, such as the Winter Classic, Stadium Series and Heritage Classic.

The Stars’ new black-and-green alternate jersey is a throwback to their Stanley Cup-winning 1999 season that incorporates their modern “victory green” color palette. The sweater features the team’s original crest stitched in silver and green, as well as a reimagined version of the classic State of Texas shoulder patch. The phrase “3OT 1999” is printed on the inside collar in reference to the Stars’ triple overtime victory in Game 6 that clinched the team’s first and only title against the Sabres.

“When we started the process of creating these jerseys, we knew that our fans would love the updated look on a classic design,” said Stars President & CEO Brad Alberts. “From the moment they went on sale, the response has been incredible. The record-setting achievement is only possible because of the amazing fans that support our team.”

Legends Global manages both in-venue and e-commerce merchandise for the Stars. Separately, the Stars have been working with Oak View Group to secure the franchise’s first jersey patch sponsor.

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Netflix made a “primarily cash-based second offer for the entertainment and streaming assets” of Warner Bros. Discovery and is “working to secure tens of billions in financing to fund the purchase,” according to sources cited by the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Sources added that Paramount “also made an improved offer for all of” WBD, including its collection of cable networks, while Comcast “submitted a second bid for the entertainment assets.” Comcast is “interested in the studios and streaming service, not the cable channels.” The terms of Paramount and Comcast’s new offers “couldn’t be learned.” It is “unclear whether there will be another round of bids,” as the parties “are now waiting to hear back from” WBD. A potential acquisition by Netflix “of the Warner Bros. TV and movie studios, their vast libraries of content and the HBO Max streaming service might face tough scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/1). WBD "hopes to make its pick before the winter holidays begin" (L.A. TIMES, 12/1).

L.A.-based talent management company Select Management Group is formally launching its own sports division, aptly titled Select Sports. Led by agency partner and head of ventures and sports, Amy Neben, the division is also headed by talent managers Alexia Maitland, Fred Johnson and Charley Button. The firm is focusing on individual sports like gymnastics, skateboarding and track and field, with planned eventual expansions into team sports starting with high school and college, with plans for pro leagues in the future.

The agency’s sports division is launching with a solid runway coming off the Paris Olympics, previously helping to represent names like two-time Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles, nine-time Paralympic gold medalist Oksana Masters and 17-year-old world champion skateboarder and two-time Olympic medalist Sky Brown. In recent years, the agency has helped it clients earn brand deals with companies like Visa, Nike, Samsung, Delta, Toyota, P&G, Lancôme, TAG Heuer, Red Bull and more. Other names in the agency’s roster include Paralympian Nick Mayhugh, gymnasts Simone Rose, Zoe Malomo and Asher Hong, social media influencer and former college golfer Haley Bookholdt, Paralympic sprinter Brittni Mason, taekwondo practitioner CJ Nickolas, sprinter Brittany Brown and more.

Select isn’t the only agency to launch a sports-dedicated division this year. Most recently, The Only Agency launched its own sports division in April. Where Neben sees Select Sports making its mark is by deepening its ties with mainstream outfits like CAA, where it shares clients and by finding athletes who are ambitious enough to break away from the micro-influencer economy flooding college sports, Neben said.

“What you have never been able to do with athletes, until social media, is build a brand around these athletes, unless they’re one of a kind. The problem is that most of the agencies in representation just aren’t interested in that. They’re interested in signing every single player under the same agent, monetizing while they’re competitive,” she said. “We’re not going to be signing an athlete is doing TikToks and has 15,000 followers. If there’s someone who’s really ambitious about social media and can build a brand, we’re interested. We’re entering this for the top athletes and people who can build a real brand.”

In this episode of On Stage, we bring you a joint conversation with Dee and Jimmy Haslam of Haslam Sports, one of the most influential ownership groups in American sports. Recorded on October 2, 2025, at Leaders Week London, this discussion offers an inside look at how the Haslams approach ownership, leadership and long-term community impact across their portfolio: the Browns, Crew and Bucks.

In a thoughtful and candid conversation with BBC Sport presenter Sarah Mulkerrins, the Haslams explore:

• A Unified Sports Vision: How ownership across the NFL, MLS and NBA fits into a broader mission driven by community, culture and competitive success.
• Leadership Philosophy: Their approach to hiring great people, supporting strong leaders and maintaining organizational alignment during both highs and lows. 
• Community Responsibility: Why civic pride and long-term social investment are fundamental to their sports ventures. 
• Infrastructure & Legacy: How stadium development, fan experience and city partnerships shape the future of their franchises. 
• Owning in a New Era: What modern ownership requires, from patience to adaptability to purpose-driven strategy. 

This is an insightful and grounded look at how two leaders think about sports not simply as businesses, but as platforms for generational impact.