The WNBA now has all of its head coaching spots filled after there were eight open positions this offseason.
Dallas named Chris Koclanes as its head coach on Monday and then an hour later Washington hired Sydney Johnson as its new head, rounding out the seven hirings.
There’s no common thread among the seven hires; three are former college head coaches (Karl Smesko, Lynne Roberts and Johnson), three were WNBA assistants (Koclanes, Johnson and Tyler Marsh) and one is an international coach (Rachid Meziane).
Stephanie White is the only former WNBA head coach to get one of the positions as she moved from Connecticut and returns to Indiana.
With the addition of Golden State next season, which hired Natalie Nakase as it’s coach, the 13 teams will have seven women in charge and six men.
College football
Colorado adds record insurance coverage for Sanders and Hunter >> Colorado secured what it said was record insurance coverage for quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as the star duo opted to complete their college careers in the Alamo Bowl rather than sit out and prepare for the NFL draft.
Colorado would not disclose the amount of insurance coverage each received, citing privacy laws. Coach Deion Sanders and athletic director Rick George both said it was the largest in college football history.
While college programs maintain insurance policies for their athletes in case of injury, Colorado increased disability coverage for its entire roster in the Alamo Bowl.
NFL
Jets’ Rodgers is dealing with a knee issue >> Aaron Rodgers is dealing with an injured knee that has the New York Jets quarterback’s status uncertain for the game Sunday at Buffalo, but interim coach Jeff Ulbrich expects he’ll play.
Rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu’s promising first season is over, though, as Ulbrich said the first-round pick will be placed on injured reserve with an injury to the plantar fascia in his left foot.
Rodgers was hurt in the Jets’ 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday but remained in the game.
NBA
Heat lose guard Smith for remainder of season >> Miami Heat guard Dru Smith has suffered another season-ending injury, this one a torn Achilles in his left leg.
Smith got hurt Monday night in Miami’s 110-95 win over Brooklyn. The Achilles tear was the preliminary diagnosis once he left the court for evaluation, and an MRI exam on Tuesday confirmed the severity of the injury.
It’s his third season-ending issue since February 2022. This injury comes 13 months after he was lost for most of the 2023-24 season with a right knee injury.
College basketball
AP PLAYERS OF THE WEEK >> Johni Broome, Auburn. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound fifth-year senior and preseason Associated Press All-American is making a habit of this. This is the second straight week and third time in four weeks that Broome has been the choice, this time based on a dominant showing in a 87-69 romp against then-No. 16 Purdue in his return from injury.
• JuJu Watkins, USC. The sophomore guard shined in the Trojans’ 72-70 victory over UConn, scoring 25 points with six rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
Olympics
Swiss snowboarder Hediger dies in avalanche >> Sophie Hediger, a member of Switzerland’s snowboard cross team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, has died following an avalanche at a mountain resort, the country’s skiing federation said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Monday at the Arosa resort in Switzerland.
Hediger, 26, competed at the Beijing Games in the women’s snowboard cross and the mixed team version of the same event.