👀 Wild Day In Hoops!

PLUS Devastating News For JuJu, G-Men Welcome Russell Wilson To NY, Tough News For Lillard And The Bucks, Big East Father-Son Rivalry

March 28, 2025

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Welcome to Office Chair Sports! Your home for everything Sports & Biz! Today, we’re covering top news about:

  • Bright Future For The Valkyries

  • G-Men Welcome Russell Wilson To NY

  • Tough News For Lillard And The Bucks

  • Big East Father-Son Rivalry

  • Devastating News For JuJu

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🏀 Quick Hits

🏀 Bright Future For The Valkyries

Big news for the Golden State Valkyries!

The WNBA expansion team has become the first in league history to sell 10,000 season tickets before even playing their first game. Talk about making an entrance!

The Valkyries, who'll share Chase Center with the Warriors, actually received a mind-blowing 22,000 deposits for season tickets and are still working through that list. They'll tip off their inaugural season on May 16 against the LA Sparks.

This comes after the WNBA's attendance exploded last year, jumping 48% with 2.35 million fans and 54 sellouts. The Caitlin Clark effect was real too - three games featuring her Indiana Fever drew over 20,000 fans each.

Speaking of growth, women's sports revenue is projected to hit $2.35 billion globally in 2025, with basketball expected to surpass soccer as the top-earning women's sport. The WNBA plans to expand to 16 teams by 2028, with cities like Detroit, Cleveland and Nashville fighting for that 16th spot.

Meanwhile, player salaries remain a sticking point - Clark will make just $78K next season, less than half of what average pro pickleball players earn.

The players' union is already pushing for a new CBA to match the league's growth.

G-Men Welcome Russell Wilson To NY

The 10-time Pro Bowler chose New York over the Browns and Steelers, and it's a homecoming of sorts - Wilson won Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium with the Seahawks.

This move officially takes the Giants out of the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes and potentially pushes Rodgers toward Pittsburgh, Wilson's former team. The Giants' QB room now features Wilson, Winston, and Tommy DeVito.

Don't think this stops the Giants from drafting a QB though. They still hold the No. 3 pick, and owner John Mara has made finding their "quarterback of the future" the top priority.

Wilson went 6-5 as a starter in Pittsburgh last season after a disastrous stint in Denver. After a strong 6-1 start with the Steelers, he ended on a five-game losing skid. At 36, he's clearly a short-term solution for a team in transition.

🏀 Tough News For Lillard And The Bucks

The Bucks just got devastating news - Damian Lillard will be out indefinitely with blood clots in his right calf. For a team built around the Lillard-Giannis duo, this couldn't come at a worse time with the playoffs just weeks away.

Milwaukee's gone 8-5 without Dame this season, and while they've struggled offensively without him (no surprise), they've actually been solid defensively.

Giannis seems ready to embrace the grind. Coach Doc Rivers is leaning into defense by starting Ryan Rollins, who's impressed by picking up opponents full court. Kevin Porter Jr. has been balling since joining the team, shooting 43.9% from three and could step into a bigger role.

The blueprint looks clear: lean into their third-ranked post-All-Star break defense, play physical, and win ugly. It's not ideal, but with Antetokounmpo still anchoring the team, they're not dead in the water just yet.

🏀 Big East Father-Son Rivalry

A father-son coaching rivalry is brewing in the Big East!

Richard Pitino is heading to Xavier after an absolute heater of a season at New Mexico, where he led the Lobos to a 27-8 record, Mountain West title, and NCAA Tournament second round.

The younger Pitino will now coach in the same conference as his dad, Rick, who just swept Big East Coach of the Year honors after leading St. John's to regular season and tournament titles. Thanksgiving dinner just got way more interesting!

This move comes after Sean Miller bolted to Texas, leaving Xavier scrambling. Pitino was the hot name on the coaching market after his back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances at New Mexico, where he went 53-18 over the past two seasons.

Former Xavier coach Chris Mack was initially the favorite to return, but he's sticking with Charleston for a second season. Meanwhile, Pitino brings eight years of Big Ten experience from his Minnesota days to help Xavier compete in the loaded Big East.

Devastating News For JuJu

Man, heartbreaking news for USC and college basketball as a whole - JuJu Watkins is done for the season with a torn ACL. 

The superstar went down in the first quarter of their second-round blowout win over Mississippi State when she collided with defenders on a fast break.

The scene was rough - JuJu immediately grabbing her knee in obvious pain, unable to put weight on it as she was carried off the court. Coach Lindsey Gottlieb admitted she was "rattled" seeing her star player in tears. The injury clearly affected the game atmosphere too, with USC fans booing Mississippi State players throughout and some post-game tension during handshakes.

Even without their generational talent, the Trojans still crushed Mississippi State 96-59 behind Kiki Iriafen's monster 36-point performance. That's huge because USC, the last No. 1 seed in the bracket, will now face No. 5 Kansas State in the Sweet 16.

The timing couldn't be worse for Watkins, and this ACL tear will likely impact the start of her sophomore season too. A brutal blow to one of the most exciting players in women's college hoops, but USC showed they might still have enough firepower to make a deep run.

Internships 🙋

1. Sports Science / Strength and Conditioning Intern - The Columbus Crew is seeking a Sports Science / Strength and Conditioning Intern to support the Columbus Crew High Performance staff. This internship will allow you to work closely with and collaborate with several staff members from the performance department, and allow you to see how a professional high performance department is run, gaining experience in both the on-field and off-field sport science and strength and conditioning programs.

2. Athlete Medical Intern - Summer 2025 (UFC) - Learns the process medical claims processing for athletes, including coordination of efforts between individual service providers and insurance companies. Assists with athlete injury reports, medical condition status, and claims information. Supports research efforts for local trauma hospitals and EMT services in advance of each event.

3. Data Engineering Intern (Jacksonville Jaguars) - As a member of the Analytics department, the Data Engineering Intern will work alongside data engineers and analysts to support sales and marketing data initiatives.

4. Special Events Apprentice (Houston Astros) - The Special Events Apprentice will work with the Special Events Department to help with the execution of all non-baseball events and meetings held at Daikin Park. Our events business is wide-reaching and includes business meetings, galas, trade shows, corporate team building such as batting practices and softball games, holiday parties, and receptions.

5. Graphic Design Intern, Partnerships Solutions (Washington Commanders) - The Washington Commanders are seeking a creative and motivated Graphic Design Intern to join the Partnerships department as a seasonal intern to spearhead the design and development of Commanders Partnership creative.

Job Board 💰

1. Digital Coordinator - The Digital Coordinator at Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is a multifaceted digital support role that provides executional support across website management, digital sponsorship fulfillment, CRM & email marketing initiatives, and digital & social media campaign tracking.

2. Business Development Manager - We are seeking an experienced and B2B sales-focused Business Development Specialist with a passion for creating memorable event experiences. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in B2B sales, preferably within the events industry, and a strong understanding of client relationship management, sales strategy, and market expansion.

3. Athletic Trainer (UCF) - This position assists in the management of the overall Athletics Sports Medicine program within athletics, university, conference, and NCAA rules and regulations, and, under the direction of team physicians, is responsible for the care and prevention of injuries for assigned sports and student-athletes.

4. Production Coordinator (UFC) - This position works closely with the Director, Production to ensure shipment of all promotional elements from vendors and broadcast partners to UFC live events. This position is the primary contact between the production team and the athletes/athlete camps.

5. Sports Medicine Coordinator (UFC) - Work with the Sports Medicine Manager and Sports Medicine Coordinator to provide elite level sports physical therapy services, including evaluations, program planning, acute injury care, and treatments that include manual therapy, myofascial, modality and other therapeutic exercise interventions.

Thanks for reading - see you soon!