Nike

Jordan Brand has signed LSU G Mikaylah Williams to an NIL deal ahead of her first appearance in the NCAA Women's Tournament later today. With this deal, Williams said in a statement that she hopes to "push boundaries, inspire and elevate the game" alongside Jordan Brand. Other Jordan Brand NIL athletes include UCLA G Kiki Rice and high school phenom Kiyomi McMiller. Williams and LSU, entering the tournament as a No. 3 seed, open the tournament against No. 14 seed Rice at 4pm ET on ESPN (FOOTWEAR NEWS, 3/22).

The Masters 1000 tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati "will increase to 12 days each" next season and events in Dallas, Doha and Munich "will be upgraded to the 500 level" as part of changes announced today when the ATP Tour released its 2025 calendar for men's tennis. The London-based ATP will have 60 tournaments in 29 countries next year. Other changes include "moving the Hamburg Open from July to May, shifting the event in Los Cabos from February to July, and switching the Cordoba Open to Mallorca, Spain, as part of the lead-in to Wimbledon." The Estoril tournament is "no longer part of the calendar," but the tour said it will "try to find a solution for the highly regarded event to take place in 2025, and beyond." The calendar reveal comes as tennis is "at something of a crossroads," with proposals to alter the way the sport is organized being discussed by its leaders (AP, 3/22).

NBCUniversal and Imax have agreed to a deal to "bring live coverage of the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 26 to more than 150 giant-screen theaters" in the U.S. as ticketed events. Imax and NBCUniversal will "split the box office take" for the showings. NBC already had announced that its "daily live daytime coverage" of the Olympics will be shown at AMC Theaters across the U.S. from July 27 to August 11, "also as ticketed events." Select live coverage will be shown in "around 160 AMC locations, with tickets available via AMC and Fandango" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/22). Imax hopes the "special, limited-time programming such as Summer Olympic coverage could drive moviegoers" to the theaters. Once they're there, "advertisements for other films or special events could lure them back again" (CNBC, 3/22).

Activewear brand Rhone has appointed ESPN Chair Jimmy Pitaro and longtime marketing exec Tess Roering, formerly the Chief Commercial Officer for CorePower Yoga and head of marketing for Athleta, to its board. They join Rhone co-founder & CEO Nate Checketts, his brother-in-law and fellow Rhone co-founder Carras Holmstead, Checketts’ father and decorated sports business exec Dave Checketts, L Catterton Managing Partner Jon Owsley and Sweaty Betty co-founder Simon Hill-Norton. Rhone’s leadership recently assembled an investor group including multi-team owner David Blitzer and Charlotte Hornets co-Chair Gabe Plotkin to reacquire the company from L Catterton. The new board members, who join ahead of the May debut of Rhone’s first womenswear line, are expected to play a role in the lifestyle brand’s efforts to reach a wider audience.

The Orioles are releasing a new video series called "The Next Chapter" on Wednesday, the day before the 2024 season begins. It’s "not entirely clear what it’s about," and "the only hint we have is a 10-second clip" of CF Cedric Mullins sitting down in a white chair, exhaling, and casually asking someone off camera, "What’s going on?" The title of the series "has a certain ring" to David Rubenstein, who is waiting for his purchase of the team to be approved by MLB. Rubenstein posted on X last night hyping the series, writing, "The next chapter...I like how that sounds. Go @Orioles" (BALTIMORE BANNER, 3/22).

While attending Charlotte's SBJ Best Sports Business Cities celebration, former NFLer Thomas Davis shared his thoughts on the biggest sports business story he is following -- NIL.

Media and entertainment company Footballco has been named an official media and content partner of the NWSL for a three-season collaboration. The deal provides Footballco with worldwide rights to distribute NWSL official match highlights for the next three seasons, commencing with the 2024 season kickoff last weekend (NWSL).

The FA has defended Nike's St George's Cross design on its new England kit, which was intended to celebrate the 1966 World Cup team, saying that "'it is not the first time' different colours have been used." The body said that it "understood what the flag 'means to our fans,' and it will be displayed prominently at Wembley tomorrow -- as it always is" (BBC.com, 3/22).

Cricket Australia has "postponed a Twenty20 international series against Afghanistan's men's team" for the second time in a year "in support of women's rights." Last March, CA consulted with the Australian government and postponed a one-day series against Afghanistan after a "marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls in the country under Taliban rule." (Melbourne AGE, 3/21).

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal & CEO Toto Wolff said his wife F1 Academy Managing Dir Susie Wolff "has always followed through on her convictions and values," referencing how she began legal action against the FIA after its conflict of interest inquiry into her last year (BBC.com, 3/22).

More:

• How the AFL has developed a culture of concealment.
• Football kits change too much – unashamed greed got us to this point.

A great event in Charlotte to announce the @carolinaascent brand and celebrate women’s pro soccer coming to this incredible city. Thanks for having me and congrats to everybody involved. Awesome!! #Readyformore #TogetherWeRise 🧡💜💛💙 pic.twitter.com/9659sMJ9NP

— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) March 22, 2024

After 8 years and countless memories, @PSchrags bids farewell on his last “NYC Era” episode of GMFB. pic.twitter.com/RMOedpNjgA

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) March 22, 2024

CBS coverage of the Northwestern-Florida Atlantic game featured an unexpected CBS News special report on Kate Middleton. The special report came during a commercial break, and no game action was missed. pic.twitter.com/4hP4mmhNoP

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 22, 2024

The @Capitals new Cherry Blossom sweaters are absolutely gorgeous 🌸😍 pic.twitter.com/VEu50Z9LWK

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 22, 2024

BREAKING: Per source close to the negotiations, PRO Referees & the PSRA have reached a tentative agreement that will likely be put to a vote over the weekend.#MLS #MLSSeasonPass #Referees #UnionStrong @MLS #NYCFC #NewYorkCityFC #CINvNYC pic.twitter.com/wsyjqHAESs

— Glenn Crooks (@GlennCrooks) March 22, 2024

Second annual Ian Eagle NCAA Tournament BINGO game. Four games.. goal is to complete the board. pic.twitter.com/XJVXudMuws

— Harrison Vapnek (@harrisonvapnek) March 22, 2024

Tim McGraw is a Caitlin Clark fan pic.twitter.com/peWwv9s2LX

— Iowa Chill (@IowaChill) March 22, 2024

Former NFLer J.J. Watt stars in the latest Miller Lite ad alongside stars Luke Wilson, Reggie Miller, Mia Hamm and David Ortiz.

60.8 billion --  A record-high 60.8 billion minutes of college basketball was watched this season -- "men’s and women’s combined, all networks through the conference tournaments" (X, 3/22).