Raiders Owner Mark Davis has agreed to acquire the WNBA Las Vegas Aces from MGM Resorts Int’l, staking out new ground in his adopted market and buying into the WNBA in a time of growth. The deal is still pending approval from the WNBA BOG. Financial terms were not disclosed. This marks the second time in just over three years the franchise has been sold, coming after MGM bought the franchise -- then known as the San Antonio Stars -- in '17.

The WNBA is on something of a hot streak, posting a 68% viewership growth during the well-received '20 “wubble” season, thanks in part to a greater commitment from ESPN. It also reached a long-term CBA with the WNBPA one year ago, and is still under relatively new leadership with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert completing her first full season in ‘20.

CF Montreal

Montreal Impact are now CF Montreal after nearly a two-year rebranding process that came to fruition this morning during a virtual announcement with club Owner Joey Saputo and President Kevin Gilmore, among others. "I love the Impact. It's hard to let go of things you love. But here's the reality. To make an impact we need to retire the Impact,” Saputo said during the announcement. Gilmore told THE DAILY that the MLS club “needed to reflect our city and its people,” which he called “one of the most diverse and inclusive places in the world.”

Gilmore said, “The goal is to closely tie our brand and our identity to the city, to the people who founded the city, to the people who’ve come to the city aware of the opportunities and openness and inclusiveness that they find here,” he added. “And that resonates not just with our fans and helps even strengthen their bond to our club, but also with people who have pride in the city.” The team’s new motto is “Droit Devant,” which translates to “Always Forward.” The new typeface is Neue Montreal Bold.

Justin Kingsley and Paul Labonté, the team’s co-Creative Dirs, spearheaded the rebranding efforts along with Montreal’s internal marketing department. No agency was involved in the creative process.

The Lions have hired Rams Dir of College Scouting Brad Holmes under a five-year contract. Holmes to date has "spent his entire NFL career with the Rams," starting as a PR intern in '03, joining the scouting department as an intern months later before he "worked his way into position to run the team's past eight drafts." Holmes joins Bob Quinn, Martin Mayhew and Matt Millen as "first-time GMs the Lions have hired in the past two decades." He is "expected to team" with Owner Sheila Ford Hamp, President Rod Wood and adviser Chris Spielman to pick a new Lions coach (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/14).

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted Holmes' "meteoric rise," saying, “This was a name a couple of months ago no one had really heard of ... and he went to Detroit, had an unbelievably impressive interview.” NFL Net’s Tom Pelissero said this hire and the Falcons' potentially naming the Saints' Terry Fontenot their next GM are “notable" at a time that the NFL is trying to "promote upward mobility for minority candidates” (“NFL Now,” NFL Network, 1/14).

MLB hired former Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein as a "consultant regarding on-field matters." Epstein also will serve on MLB's Competition Committee and "work with baseball analytics experts" to "determine the likely effects of various rule changes." Epstein stepped down from his role with the Cubs last November. At the time, Epstein "expressed interest in owning an MLB team one day." But for now, Epstein will have a "direct line" to Commissioner Rob Manfred and have a "significant voice in potential rule changes" (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 1/14).

Sydney-based sportsbook PlayUp will attach its brand to the Devils' in-arena studio and a main concourse betting lounge at Prudential Center as part of a multiyear sponsorship deal signed ahead of the betting site’s planned launch in New Jersey next month. The Devils open their season tonight. Granted a license to operate in the state earlier this week, PlayUp joins a Devils sportsbook sponsor portfolio that also includes Caesars Entertainment and Unibet. It gained access to New Jersey through an agreement with Freehold Racetrack.

The betting lounge replaces one that operated for the last two seasons under the William Hill brand, which did not renew its expiring deal after it was purchased by Caesars late last year. Caesars sponsors a Prudential Center premium club. Along with branding the studio that will open when fans return, PlayUp will sponsor a team-produced pregame show available on Devils digital platforms. The sportsbook also gets TV-visible logos on-ice and on dasherboards, as well as virtual signs in broadcasts.

Overwatch League will have a new format for its '21 season that begins in April, with teams "divided into two groups: East and West." Instead of a traditional regular season, teams will play in "regional qualifier matches that will seed teams for the four standalone tournaments." All regular-season matches will count towards qualification for the '21 playoffs, but "only the top teams will qualify" for the four main tournaments. Matches will still be played online, but the league "will be using a new tool that establishes minimum latency connections" (ESPORTSOBSERVER.com, 1/14).

Premier Lacrosse League Founder Paul Rabil said that the PLL is "planning on returning to a tour-based model this summer" after its MLL merger. The PLL's third season will begin June 4, with the title game scheduled for Sept. 19. Over three and a half months, the PLL "will have games on 11 weekends, including three postseason weekends and an All-Star weekend." Specific game sites and locations are "expected to be released in the coming months." The PLL this week "officially rebranded the MLL’s Boston Cannons as Cannons Lacrosse Club, marking the eighth team in the league and the second consecutive year of expansion" (SI.com, 1/14).

Austin FC reached a multiyear sponsorship with Heineken, which now will serve as the club’s official import beer. The deal, which includes on-site activation and branded viewing parties at the team’s new stadium, begins with the club’s inaugural '21 season. Intersport helped to secure the deal. The beer has been the official beer of MLS since '14.

Credit One Bank and Allegiant have reached a "season-long helmet entitlement partnership" with the Golden Knights: Credit One Bank on home helmets and Golden Knights helmets on the road (Golden Knights).

Golden Knights

Meanwhile, the Islanders named existing sponsors UBS and Northwell Health their helmet branding partners for '20-21 (Islanders).

Islanders

UPDATE: Northwell Health will be on the Rangers’ helmets for all practices this year (THE DAILY).

The Univ. of Virginia women’s basketball program is "opting out of the rest of the 2020-21 season due to health and safety concerns." UVA follows Duke, which in December "became the first ACC program to make the decision" (Charlottesville DAILY PROGRESS, 1/14).

The Atlantic 10 will be moving its men's tournament from Barclays Center to "one of its member campuses -- although they haven't yet decided which one" (TWITTER.com, 1/14). 

Food delivery service Grubhub signed on to sponsor the League of Legends Championship Series, and it will be a presenting sponsor of the LCS Championships (ESPORTSOBSERVER.com, 1/14).

The Hawks' State Farm Arena became the first sports and entertainment venue in the country to become Sharecare Health Security verified. This verification process and platform was developed by digital health company Sharecare, with the support of CAA ICON and Oak View Group (Hawks).

Pro Football HOFer Brett Favre will star in online sports wagering platform TwinSpires' new brand campaign. The new campaign will begin rolling out next week (TwinSpires).

“Doesn’t everyone finally want to play here?” -- CNBC’s Jim Cramer, on the Nets bringing James Harden to Brooklyn (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 1/14).

"In some parts of the world, particularly in Asia, I think we’ll hopefully see some live events. Whether and when it’s safe to do that in the U.S., I don’t know right now. Obviously, it’s not really today" -- Activision Blizzard VP/Overwatch Esports Jon Spector, on when live esport events will come back (WASHINGTON POST, 1/14).

Tony Romo will be on-site this week to call the @Chiefs-@Browns on Sunday.

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 14, 2021

Chris Richards #FCBayern and #USMNT joins Jay-Z’s representation agency Roc Nation stable with likes of Marcus Rashford, Wilf Zaha and Kevin De Bruyne.

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) January 14, 2021

Auston Matthews on filming Amazon Prime series: "It's been great! Fellas are in here right now, they've been awesome. But it's like they're not even here. I think it'll turn out really well. I know as a kid growing up, I loved watching those behind-the-scenes shows."

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 14, 2021

One of the perks of covering the NBA is this: There are 30 head coaches and quite bluntly, there's not a jerk in the bunch.

The insight that comes with every answer we're getting these days is really quite appreciated.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) January 14, 2021

Longtime Red Sox and NBC baseball broadcaster Curt Gowdy will be featured on the next edition of MLB Network’s "The Sounds of Baseball" tonight at 7:00pm ET. Bob Costas and Tom Verducci will co-host the telecast.

720 -- Size, in square feet, of Daktronics' new showroom in Brookings, S.D., featuring the company’s latest line of indoor direct-view LED technology and control systems (Daktronics).