MLS Club Cup Results, New Ownership, Ron Washington, Draft Updates and More
40+ West Coast Headlines to round out June
This week’s newsletter is jam-packed with the NBA and NHL Drafts, MLS International play, NBA and MLS ownership changes, and protests that swept from Los Angeles to Seattle.
MLS on the World Stage
MLS regular season play resumes this week and weekend. The Seattle Sounders were bounced from Group Play in the Club World Cup. Seattle drew one of the best teams in the contest. LAFC did not do much better. They had two losses and one draw in group play after a controversial decision landed them in the cup.
LAFC’s big offseason acquisition Olivier Giroud is set to leave the MLS after ending his one-year deal with the team. Giroud agreed to a new deal with Lille this week.
Meanwhile, the Earthquakes’ owner made moves to sell the team.
A Week of Los Angeles Headlines
Lakers fans were both happy and sad as the team announced a major ownership shift. For the first time in decades, the Los Angeles Lakers will have a new majority owner.
Mark Walter had been part of the ownership group since 2021. He now takes majority stake at a valuation over $10 billion. Jeanie Buss holds onto her governor role, despite her family divesting their majority stake.
Kike Hernandez spoke up against ICE and the treatment of immigrants while his organization stayed quiet. The Dodgers faced backlash for an ICE raid that occurred outside of the stadium as well as the banishment of singer who sang in Spanish after they asked her not to.
Angels manager Ron Washington was sidelined indefinitely with a health issue.
New Champs Out West
This year’s NBA and NHL champions didn’t feature a lot of folks born in the Pacific time zone. Shout out to Branden Carlson. The OKC Thunder guard is from Northern California.
Other NBA Championships with California ties include Isaiah Hartenstein and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who both played with the Clippers once upon a time.
In the NHL, Jaycob Megna and Jonah Gadjovich are familiar names from their times with the Shark. Megna also has experience with the Ducks, Sharks and Kraken. Both will now get to drink from the Stanley Cup.
More on the NHL and NBA Drafts below.
West Coast Sports Links
Check out all the headlines you might have missed the last two weeks. I curate 40+ links from hundreds of sources to keep you having more West Coast centered sports conversations.
NFL
Deommodore Lenoir got arrested
Shaquill Griffin returns to the Seahawks
Aaron Rodgers announces this will be his final season
Cowboys add Robert Rochell at corner
Chargers will add patches to their jerseys
NBA
Warriors say Kuminga needs to sign
Clippers add former Kings Gm to their front office
MLB
Rafael Devers is at first base for the Giants
Seattle could add Josh Naylor or Ryan O’Hearn
Sean Hjelle responds to allegations of abuse
Rangers could add JD Martinez.
Barry Bonds is next for a statue
NHL
Knights keep Saad and Reilly Smith
Sharks buy out Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Breaking down the Trevor Zegras trade
How the Kings will keep their top restricted free agent
Evander Kane lands with the Canucks
MLS
Who will be LAFC’s next head coach?
Sounders not discouraged by group losses
Timbers add forward sign Gage Guerra
California Clasico heads to Stanford Stadium
Three SDFC players make the MLS All-Star team, one from the Timbers and LAFC also earn honors
More
UNLV changes schedule for Canelo Fight
Sacramento State set on joining D1
2025 NHL Draft
The NHL and NHLPA agreed to extend their season in CBA talks. The current deal expires in September of next year, but an agreement could come as early as next week. Here’s what you need to know about the NHL Draft:
San Jose Sharks
2nd overall: Michael Misa (C, Saginaw Spirit – OHL)
30th overall: Joshua Ravensbergen (G, Prince George Cougars – WHL)
Anaheim Ducks
10th overall: Roger McQueen (C, Brandon Wheat Kings – WHL)
Los Angeles Kings
31st overall: Henry Brzustewicz (D, London Knights – OHL)
Seattle Kraken
8th overall: Jake O’Brien (C, Brantford – OHL)
Vegas Golden Knights
Traded their first round pick to Nashville in a prior deal.
NBA Draft 2025
Fresno-native Cedric Coward was selected by the Blazers before getting traded to Memphis. The Washington State wing was one of the few drafted players born in the Pacific zone.
Portland ended up with center Yang Hansen out of China. The Kings traded for No. 24 pick Nique Clifford (Colorado St. guard) too.
Nevada guard Kobe Sanders landed with the Clippers via trade after the Knicks selected him with the 50th pick. The California native also spent some time with Cal Poly. Other West Coast Highlights from the NBA Draft:
Los Angeles Clippers
1st Round (30th overall): Yanic Konan Niederhauser, center from Penn State
Sacramento Kings
2nd Round (42nd overall): Chose Maxime Raynaud, center from Stanford
Golden State Warriors
2nd Round:
41st: Drafted Koby Brea (from Kentucky) but traded his rights to Phoenix
52nd: Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings) and traded for his rights
56th: Will Richard (Florida) via an acquired pick
Los Angeles Lakers
2nd Round (36th overall): Adou Thiero, a forward from Arkansas, originally drafted by Brooklyn and moved via Phoenix to the Lakers
2nd Round (55th overall): Australian Lachlan Olbrich, then flipped him to Chicago
PS the Summer League schedule dropped AND Bronny James is expected to play again.
Also sorry for being late as the news cycle was crazy the last two weeks. ALSO I took last week off to go wine tasting with my Love and we went to the Dodger game.
