Game 7 of the WNBA Finals was the most-watched broadcast in the history of the league's playoffs, the WNBA announced on Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #wnba #goldenstatevalkyries #atlantadream

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 43 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder halted their two-game losing streak with a battling 117-112 road victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #nba #oklahomacitythunder #clevelandcavaliers #shaigilgeousalexander

The Golden State Valkyries entered the WNBA with a promise to win a championship within five years. They needed only two. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #natalienakase #goldenstatevalkyries #wnba #joelacob #gabbywilliams

Veteran guard Malik Beasley will enter a guilty plea in his federal betting-related bribery and conspiracy case, Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, told multiple media outlets Tuesday.Malik Beasley japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #nba #malikbeasley #gambling

The recent Park Shin-ja Cup in South Korea, won by Japan's Fujitsu Red Wave, highlights the growing trend of East Asian nations honing their skills against each other and strengthening their existing rivalries. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #fujitsuredwave #japan #southkorea #parkshinjacup

LeBron James and his new Philadelphia 76ers teammates crashed the New York Knicks' season-opening celebrations on Tuesday, beating the defending NBA champions 106-100 on the night they raised their title banner. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #lebronjames #philadelphia76ers #newyorkknicks #jalenbrunson #detroitpistons #bostonceltics #paulgeorge #cadecunningham

The Los Angeles Lakers waived former first-round pick Dalton Knecht on Monday to reach the NBA roster limit of 15 players ahead of the 5 p.m. ET deadline. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #nba #daltonknecht #losangeleslakers #bronnyjames

LeBron James, yearning to capture a fifth NBA title, tips off his record 24th campaign on Tuesday at age 41 with his new Philadelphia 76ers teammates chasing a championship. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #nba #lebronjames #philadelphia76ers

The New York Knicks will raise their championship banner Tuesday night in Madison Square Garden before they open their title defense against the rival Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #nba #newyorkknicks #jalenbrunson #philadelphia76ers #lebronjames #jaylenbrown

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson became the first five-time MVP in WNBA history Thursday, extending her record with another selection as the league's top player. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #lasvegasaces #a039jawilson #wnba

Europe's biggest basketball clubs must find a way to work with the NBA, Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos said after the clubs rejected a proposal from the U.S. league to join up for a new competition. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/1 #basketball #nba #euroleague #nba

Jonquel Jones scored 21 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds as the host New York Liberty made history by eliminating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx with an 87-71 victory on Tuesday night. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #wnba #newyorkliberty #minnesotalynx #oliviamiles #jonqueljones #sabrinaionescu #breannastewart

The reigning NBA champion New York Knicks have not decided whether to visit the White House and U.S. President Donald Trump this season, according to coach Mike Brown on Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #donaldtrump #newyorkknicks #mikebrown

All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard has agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Toronto Raptors, including a player option for the 2028-29 season, ESPN reported on Tuesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #kawhileonard #torontoraptors #losangelesclippers

The trade sending Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors was officially signed off on by both teams on Monday after months of delay amid the NBA's investigation into Los Angeles. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #kawhileonard #brandoningram #torontoraptors #losangelesclippers #gradeydick

The Los Angeles Clippers, severely punished last week by the NBA for salary cap rules violations involving star forward Kawhi Leonard, are reportedly under criminal investigation by federal prosecutors. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #losangelesclippers #kawhileonard #steveballmer #torontoraptors

Saki Hayashi set a FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup record with nine 3-pointers to lead Japan, which made 20 3-pointers to set a tournament record, to a win over Mali to open the tournament in Berlin. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #akatsukijapan #sakihayashi #maiyamamoto #fibawomen039sbasketballworldcup

Caitlin Clark says the chance to inspire fans and help grow women's basketball around the globe outweighs the intense scrutiny that follows her every move as she prepares for her long-awaited senior World Cup debut. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #caitlinclark #fibawomen039sbasketballworldcup

The NBA fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million and took away five first-round draft picks to punish the team for violating salary cap rules involving star forward Kawhi Leonard, who was ordered to pay $700,000. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #losangelesclippers #kawhileonard #steveballmer #adamsilver

Two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo, out of the NBA since the 2023-24 season, says he is finally healthy and ready to make a comeback. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #victoroladipo #nba

Angel Reese grabbed a WNBA-record 26 rebounds and the Atlanta Dream completed a perfect West Coast road trip with a 78-71 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #wnba #angelreese #atlantadream #losangelesesparks

Outspoken Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said the WNBA needs a commissioner who is bold and confident and not focused on themselves. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #sophiecunningham #wnba #cathyengelbert #lgbtq #transgender

The blockbuster sale of the Los Angeles Lakers keeps alive a sports gold rush among North America's billionaire elite, with pricey media rights, skyrocketing attendance and insatiable fans driving prices sky-high. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #losangeleslakers #nba #nfl #nhl #mlb #ottawasenators #seattleseahawks

Triple-double king and former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook announced his retirement after 18 seasons via social media on Wednesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #nba #russellwestbrook

Venture capitalist Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger are set to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers, with the deal valued at a record $12.5 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter on Wednesday. japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/0 #basketball #losangeleslakers #joshuakushner #bobiger #markwalter