Jones, Liberty Capture Second Commissioner’s Cup Title

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UNITED STATES – The New York Liberty are once again Commissioner’s Cup champions, and Jonquel Jones has another title to add to her historic career.

The Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 93-85 Tuesday night at Barclays Center to become the first franchise in WNBA history to win the league’s in-season tournament twice.

Jones finished with nine points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and provided her usual defensive presence in 33 minutes.

New York pulled away late after Las Vegas erased a double-digit deficit.

The victory was especially meaningful for the Liberty. They also won the Commissioner’s Cup in 2023 against the same Aces, but that season ended in disappointment as Las Vegas defeated New York in the WNBA Finals.

In 2024, the Liberty captured their first WNBA championship, and now they’ve added another Commissioner’s Cup title while continuing to establish themselves as one of the league’s premier franchises.

NBA

Two of The Bahamas’ biggest NBA stars have their contract situations settled as the league’s offseason continues.

Buddy Hield will remain with the Atlanta Hawks after the franchise fully guaranteed his $9.7 million salary for the 2026-27 season. The veteran shooter’s deal had been only partially guaranteed before Atlanta’s decision.

Hield averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting better than 39 percent from three-point range last season, but his role was significantly reduced after being traded to Atlanta.

He spent much of the second half of the year out of the Hawks’ regular rotation as the team prioritized its younger perimeter players.

Competition for minutes may only get tougher, with Atlanta adding Aaron Wiggins to an already crowded backcourt this offseason.

Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton has exercised his $8.1 million player option to return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ayton enjoyed a solid first season in Los Angeles, averaging 15.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and just over one block per game while shooting better than 58 percent from the field.

While Ayton’s decision keeps him under contract, reports suggest the Lakers could still explore their options at center as they continue reshaping their roster during free agency.

For now, both Bahamian standouts head into the 2026-27 season with their contracts secured.

MLB

Daunte Stuart has hit his first home run in affiliated professional baseball.

Stuart connected in the fourth inning for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, igniting a remarkable stretch that saw the club hit three home runs in the same inning.

The home run marks a significant milestone for the 25-year-old, coming just weeks after signing with the Philadelphia Phillies organization following a standout run in independent baseball.

Since joining the BlueClaws, Stuart has appeared in 11 games, batting .200 with nine hits, three RBI and six stolen bases.