Danielle Lerner

Danielle Lerner

@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

USA TODAY national sports enterprise reporter. California transplant, but the cool kind. 🏳️‍🌈 dlerner@usatodayco.com

5.6K followers166 following1.8K posts

Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Great stuff from Mitch on the ever-changing landscape of college basketball. As Arizona State coach Molly Miller said, “The best ability for coaches is adaptability."

Mitchell Northam@northam67.bsky.social

Spreadsheets, NIL, rev share, transfer portal, international recruiting, 5-in-5, lawsuits… Roster construction in women’s college basketball has never been more complicated. I spoke with 9 coaches from 4 leagues about adapting to the constant changes: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comSpreadsheets, NIL and the portal: Inside women's college basketball’s roster revolutionNIL, the transfer portal, 5-in-5 and international recruiting. Women's basketball coaches are adapting to the constant changes for roster building.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

“Angel Reese, we share the same name. We come from the same city.We went to the same high school. We have the same high school coach. We both have a teammate named Izzy. I mean, could it get any better than that?” ICYMI, Angel McCoughtry on Angel Reese & the Dream doing what no ATL team has before:

Danielle Lerner@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

The Atlanta Dream never won a game in three prior WNBA Finals trips. So when the Dream got their first-ever Finals win vs the Valkyries, nobody was happier than Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta’s former franchise star. I called Angel to talk about the other Angel, the Dream’s Finals history and more:

usatoday.com'Finally!' Angel McCoughtry ecstatic over Atlanta Dream's first WNBA Finals winAngel McCoughtry led the Dream to the WNBA Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013, but the team never won a Finals game until this season against Golden State.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

The Atlanta Dream never won a game in three prior WNBA Finals trips. So when the Dream got their first-ever Finals win vs the Valkyries, nobody was happier than Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta’s former franchise star. I called Angel to talk about the other Angel, the Dream’s Finals history and more:

usatoday.com'Finally!' Angel McCoughtry ecstatic over Atlanta Dream's first WNBA Finals winAngel McCoughtry led the Dream to the WNBA Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013, but the team never won a Finals game until this season against Golden State.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

One of the quickest ejections in an NBA season? Less than one quarter into the Houston Rockets' season opener, Tari Eason is ejected for a foul on PJ Washington, ruled a flagrant 2.

Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

"You have to have very thick skin." Outgoing WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert reflects on her turbulent tenure and says handling criticism will part of the job for her successor, too. Plus, updates on the search and the WNBA's replay center: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comAfter turbulent WNBA tenure, Cathy Engelbert says successor needs ‘thick skin’Cathy Engelbert speaks on league growth ahead of the WNBA Finals between the Valkyries and Dream.

Danielle Lerner reposted

Meghan L. Hall
@itsmeghanlhall.bsky.social

BREAKING: Game 3 and Game 4 of the WNBA Finals will be at State Farm Arena, USA TODAY Sports has learned. Game 3 is now Oct 21. at 8 p.m ET. Moves from Oct. 22. Game 4 is still on Oct. 24, but now at 1 p.m. ET instead of 3:30 p.m. ET.

usatoday.comAtlanta Dream WNBA Finals home games 3 and 4 moved to larger arenaThe Atlanta Dream were originally set to play WNBA Finals Games 3 and 4 at a 3,500-seat arena. The games have been moved to State Farm Arena.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Some people just have the clutch gene, man. Watching Arike hit multiple game-winning buzzer beaters at the 2018 Final Four to help Notre Dame win the title is still one of the craziest sports feats I’ve witnessed in person.

Her Hoop Stats@herhoopstats.com

Quite the list of players Arike Ogunbowale has passed tonight to set the record for most points in a WNBA playoff game. herhoopstats.com/stats/wnba/r...

Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Arike Ogunbowale intentionally took less than the supermax when she re-signed with Dallas last offseason. The Wings are damn glad she did. 42 points in a playoff game tonifht vs Golden State. www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comArike Ogunbowale took discount on contract even with new CBA. Here's why.Arike Ogunbowale was eligible for the WNBA supermax salary but said it was a "no-brainer" to take a discount on her contract extension with Dallas.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami, Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai and former MLB player Kazuo Matsui (who played for the Astros from 2008-10) have a pregame chat at Daikin Park surrounded by Japanese media

Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Astros manager Joe Espada said he spoke to his players about tension with fans after Bennett Sousa and Christian Walker voiced their frustration with boos last night to The Athletic. More live updates from Game 2 as the Astros face elimination: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comWhite Sox vs Astros LIVE updates for AL wild card playoff Game 2The Astros look to stay alive at home against the White Sox in Game 2 of their AL wild card series. They'll have ace Hunter Brown on the mound.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

“They worked really hard to put themselves in this position, and they’re also team guys. They don’t want to let the team down.” Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams are back from injury and ready to ignite the Rockets. I spoke with Rockets head trainer Jason Biles about their recoveries:

usatoday.comVanVleet, Adams conquered injury rehab, now they're ready to ignite RocketsThe Rockets hope getting VanVleet and Adams back on the court for this season will boost performance and morale after a first-round playoff exit.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

How did a 38-year-old venture capitalist from India orchestrate a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that ensnared scores of people including Travis Kelce, his former NFL teammate Ross Travis and NBA player Gary Harris? I did a deep dive on Sid Jawahar: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comHe conned Travis Kelce, athletes and others out of millions. Who is Sid Jawahar?Before Siddharth Jawahar was sentenced to prison this month and ordered to pay back $31 million to victims, he ran a Ponzi scheme for almost a decade.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

We didn't get Coco Gauff vs. Jessica Pegula in the U.S. Open final, but we'll get it this December. Gauff has joined World Team Tennis as a player-owner on the Florida Flamingos, and her team plays Pegula's New York Empire twice. More on the announcement: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comCoco Gauff joins star-studded World Team Tennis as player-ownerGauff will play for the Florida Flamingos this December and face off against Jessica Pegula as part of the relaunched pro tennis league.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

There’s been a lot of conversation about transgender athletes around the WNBA lately. But what are the trans participation laws in each state? What do pro sports policies say? How many trans athletes are really playing women’s sports? All the facts: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comAway from WNBA, transgender sports participation's future decided state by stateAs transgender athlete eligibility debate roils in WNBA, a state-by-state look at where transgender girls can and can't play school sports.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Now pitching for the Los Angeles Queens in Game 4 of the @wpbl_official Championship series: 18-year-old Addisyn Baird, the only current high school student playing in the league. Read her story: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comThey asked why she wasn't playing softball. Now this high schooler is playing pro baseball18-year-old Addisyn Baird signed a contract to play for the LA Queens in the WPBL playoffs this month. After, she'll go back to finish high school.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Olympian Alysia Montaño lost her Nike deal after giving birth. Now, new research shows she’s not the only athlete who lost funding during pregnancy or postpartum. Montaño wants to be part of the solution, so she’s launching a collective for athlete moms: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comThis Olympian lost her Nike deal after giving birth. Research shows she's not aloneOlympic medalist Alysia Montaño is launching the Mother in Sport Collective for athlete moms and brands that support them.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

The 2027-2029 WTA Finals will be held in Charlotte, where the WTA is also moving its global headquarters. Here's what WTA Chair Valerie Camillo said about the move, a new finals format and the tour's finances: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comWomen's Tennis Association moves HQ, picks WTA finals host. Here's whereThe next three editions of the WTA's year-end tournament will be held where the Women's Tennis Association is moving its global headquarters.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Didn't have this on my bingo card today: Hyrox, the global fitness race, is in deep shit after its top athlete pooped her pants and was allowed to continue competing in a race in Beijing (which she won). www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comHyrox race goes viral after top athlete soils herself, shares equipment in winOrganizers of global endurance race Hyrox face backlash after allowing a top athlete to share equipment and finish after she soiled herself midrace.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

LIV Golf's restructuring plan calls for players to own 52% of the league, but there's still plenty of risk involved. "Players are going to be at the bottom of the totem pole if things go badly for LIV 2.0." More www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comWill LIV Golf survive its bankruptcy filing? It's up to the playersThe golf league's restructuring plan as described in court documents is creative but not without risk, according to a Harvard law professor.
Danielle Lerner@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Will LIV Golf survive its bankruptcy filing and attempted restructuring? It’s up to the players – many of whom are owed millions by the tour. I enlisted a Harvard law professor to help explain the nitty gritty of the proposal and next steps: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comWill LIV Golf survive its bankruptcy filing? It's up to the playersThe golf league's restructuring plan as described in court documents is creative but not without risk, according to a Harvard law professor.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Will LIV Golf survive its bankruptcy filing and attempted restructuring? It’s up to the players – many of whom are owed millions by the tour. I enlisted a Harvard law professor to help explain the nitty gritty of the proposal and next steps: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comWill LIV Golf survive its bankruptcy filing? It's up to the playersThe golf league's restructuring plan as described in court documents is creative but not without risk, according to a Harvard law professor.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Sam Kerr’s NWSL second act means a lot to a lot of people - a growth sign for the league, a magnet for Gotham. For Kerr, it’s simpler. “The motivation for me has always been to win trophies. I mean, when that’s gone, I think that will be the end for me because that’s the reason I get up every day.”

usatoday.comSam Kerr returned to NWSL for one reason: To win championshipsSam Kerr's return to Gotham FC and the NWSL was hailed as a win for the growing league. It also shows the Australian striker is as hungry as ever.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

World Team Tennis has added several top-ranked Americans to its 2026 roster, which includes two of this year’s U.S. Open semifinalists. I chatted with CEO Stephen Amritraj about the league’s relaunch, why they offered players equity and more: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comTop-ranked American players join World Team Tennis for 2026 seasonWorld Team Tennis unveiled the 2026 schedule for its comeback season and added Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien and Iva Jovic.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

The NFL's baseline neurological/ neuropsychological test might have missed signs of advanced CTE in living players -- potentially denying those players compensation in the league's concussion settlement but also undercutting their chances of early diagnosis. Story via @boombaca.bsky.social:

usatoday.comNFL players with advanced CTE got lowest impairment rating in league testing | ExclusiveA Boston University study found that NFL players with advanced CTE did not qualify for compensation under the NFL Concussion Settlement.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

In a new lawsuit, a former Cal softball player alleges she was pressured into a sexual relationship with her head coach, who reduced her playing time when she attempted to end it. The player says the coach kept her job for months after school officials found out. TW: sexual assault, self harm

usatoday.comEx-Cal softball player sues university, alleges coach pressured her into sexual relationshipA former Cal softball player has sued the university and its former head softball coach, alleging she was pressured into into a sexual relationship.

Danielle Lerner reposted

OptaAce
@optaace.optajoe.com

1 - With victory over Novak Djokovic, Mariano Navone has now: ✅ become the first player to defeat Djokovic in the R128 at the US Open ✅ become the first to defeat Djokovic in the R128 at a Grand Slam since Paul Goldstein (AO 2006). ✅ claimed a first ATP top 10 win at Grand Slams Firsts. #USOpen

Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Didn't have this on my bingo card today: Tulsa Little League parents got a court restraining order to play in the regional tournament after the team was initially disqualified over an ineligible player who hadn't even played in the tournament www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.comBarred Little League team gets reinstated for a chance at World Series berthThe Tulsa National Little League team has a temporary restraining order to compete for a spot in the Little League Baseball World Series on Tuesday.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

The latest baseball blunder: Little League International is asking a Texas judge to dissolve a temporary restraining order granted earlier Tuesday to the previously disqualified Tulsa team. "The Courts should not substitute its feelings of sympathy for the team that violated the rules."

usatoday.comLittle League challenges restraining order over disqualified Tulsa teamThe Tulsa team was disqualified from the Little League Baseball Southwest Region tournament but awarded a temporary restraining order in court.
Danielle Lerner
@danielle-lerner.bsky.social

Some people consider an Olympic or Ironman triathlon is an extreme endurance test. Mohamed Lahna is not most people. 3,300 miles, 47 days, one leg: Inside a Paralympian’s triathlon across America www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

usatoday.com3,300 miles, 47 days, one leg: A Paralympian's grueling triathlon across AmericaThree-time Paralympian Mohamed Lahna swam, cycled and ran across 16 states, starting in New York on June 13 and finishing in California on July 29.