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Creighton UConn Basketball

Dix scored 21 points to leadCreighton to a 91-84 win over No. 5 UConntwo weeks after his mother lost her battle with colon cancer.

"I really respect this university for doing that and thinking of my mom," Dix said. "I know she would greatly appreciate it. I know she saw that."

In the four games since his mother's death, Dix is averaging 16 points, five rebounds and two assists. Creighton lost two of those games. The Bluejays lost to UConn by 27 points in the game before Dix's mother died, and faced another uphill battle against the Huskies.

"That locker room is still healing and they needed a shot in the arm," said Creighton coach Greg McDermott, who thanks UConn for also reaching out after hearing the news about Dix's mother. "We have been through a lot as a group; we've shed a lot of tears and they needed something like this. It's a great win for us. I'm not sure I've ever been prouder of a group."

Dix, a transfer from Iowa who leads Creighton in scoring has leaned on many people,including teammates, during this trying time.

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"I couldn't do it alone," Dix said. "My family, my teammates, my coaches, they all stick by my side. I try not to be alone, I try to be around people who want to see you do well.

"Basketball brings a lot of joy to a lot of people, so that kind of takes your mind of a lot of stuff. They have meant a lot, something like this can either separate you or get you closer to your teammates. They have all been by my side. The last couple of weeks haven't been easy but they stuck by my side."

UConn coach Dan Hurley sent his best to the Creighton team.

"They have dealt with some emotional pain, not just with Josh, but with Blake (Harper, whose mother died of breast cancer in 2023)," Hurley said. "I have so much respect for Mac, for Creighton, for their program."

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WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collieris confident the season will happen, but it won't come without compromise.

"Well, someone's gonna have to fold, aren't they?" Collier told USA TODAY Sports regarding the ongoing CBA talks while promoting a partnership with Unrivaled and Icy Hot.

A five-time WNBA All-Star with the Minnesota Lynx, Collier says the union continues to meet with the hope of getting a deal done. But, she reiterated the players' plan to stand firm amidst the revenue sharing road block and housing concessions by the WNBA.

On Tuesday, the players' union submitted a counterproposal in response to the WNBA'sFeb. 7 submission. In the proposal, the WNBPA requested 25% of gross revenue in the first year, increasing over the life of the agreement to an average of roughly 27.5%. The union also proposed a salary cap of less than $9.5 million.

The latest requested revenue share percentage is less than theproposal in December, where players asked for 30% of gross revenue. The WNBA is currently offering more than 70% of league and team net revenue. The league is also proposing a salary cap of $5.65 million per year, rising with league revenues.

In Tuesday's counterproposal, the WNBPA advocated for housing to continue in the early years of a player's career. The union proposed housing could be shed in later years of a contract and would be adjusted and phased out for players who make a certain amount of money on a multi-year, fully guaranteed contract.

Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals

The WNBA issued a statement, saying: "The Players Association's latest proposal remains unrealistic and would cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for our teams. We still need to complete two Drafts and free agency before the start of training camp and are running out of time.  We believe the WNBA's proposal would result in a huge win for current players and generations to come."

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According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the players' union's proposal would allegedly result in projected losses of $460 million over the lifetime of the agreement for WNBA teams. The person went on to share that the deal has to benefit both the players and teams to ensure continued investment and growth in the league.

Collier shared with USA TODAY that she did not have a specific response to the WNBA's statement, but did reveal some thoughts.

"We don't think, obviously, what we're asking for is unfair, otherwise we wouldn't be asking for it," Collier said. "But we understand it's a negotiation, and I think we are trending in the right direction. But, we have to be able to stand strong in what we believe in and make sure that we are getting a fair cut in this pie that we are building together as a league and as players."

A person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports there is asense of urgency from the players' union. According to the person, as Collier mentioned, the desire to play in 2026 remains, along with securing a transformational deal where the WNBPA "doesn't negotiate against themselves."

The regular seasonis scheduled to start May 8. However, before that can happen, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will have expansion drafts. Free agency and the2026 WNBA draftalso need to take place. Collier is aware that the closer the clock moves to May 8, the more anxious people may become. Still, she has hope things will work themselves out.

"I hope people just remember that we want to be out there, too. I think it gets [lost] with lots of different narratives out there that we're being unreasonable, whatever it is ― this is our livelihood. This is our job, our passions, what we love to do most in the world. We want to be out there. It's just such a pivotal time in women's sports, and we've been growing, growing, growing for so long," Collier said.

"Again, we just have to stand strong in what we believe in and what we think is fair. So I just hope they hold out and believe in us, continue to support us ― which they have been; they've been great ― and just know that we are gonna play again. It's gonna happen. This thing is gonna happen. Just be patient with us. Keep supporting us, and we're gonna get there."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Napheesa Collier on WNBA CBA talks: 'Someone's gonna have to fold'

In recent years, the combine's scope has drastically changed, altering the event's overall importance. The days of the combine being a true showcase for all the best players in each draft is long over, leaving a product that's been diluted by a lack of participants and a questionable need to be on prime-time television.

But there still are a few hidden elements that are important to the league's overall health. Sure, the list of what matters in Indianapolis dwindles by the year. The number of players who participate in drills and coaches who attend the event continues to shrink. Yet, there is one part of the process that is still incredibly important: the interview.

The combine is still a centralized hub for teams to get face-to-face time with prospects for the first time. Those interviews can heavily sway clubs to draft (or not draft!) them in April.

Being a leaguewide communication hub is also important for the combine. Beyond player interviews with prospective teams, it's one of the few times a large percentage of NFL teams' front-office personnel and agents will be in the same city over a prolonged period of days. The extended face-to-face time ignites preliminary discussions that allow free agents to agree to terms at the very second the "legal tampering" window opens — this year, it's March 9 at noon ET — followed by the official start of the new league year on March 11 at 4 p.m.

Those are conversations the public isn't privy to, but they become tangibly important shortly after the combine ends.

Perhaps the most critical part of the combine that still matters are the medicals. Again, that's information that is largely hidden behind the scenes, but it will matter throughout the draft process even if the information leaks out well after the combine is over. Sometimes these issues aren't heard about until early April when players head back to Indianapolis for medical re-checks. Yeah, real riveting information for viewers.

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The on-field workouts still matter for lower-level players and prospects who have a chance to put their name into the sphere of public opinion, but the amount of notable players who have been participating in the workouts has drastically reduced the overall importance of this event from a consumer perspective. Considering the NFL has flatly shown that players not participating in the event doesn't matter to its teams, there's no reason to think that the athletic showcase that used to be a hot topic will be coming back soon.

For the players who do participate in the on-field action, here are few drills to keep an eye on beyond the 40-yard dash.

Broad jump: This is great at measuring lower-body explosion in a way that projects how players can perform through contact. Some of the best tacklers, running backs and linemen have elite scores in this area.

3-cone drills: This one is crucial for wide receivers and defensive linemen. The ability to cut through tight spaces in short time is critical in getting open versus man coverage or beating offensive tackles around the edge.

Short shuttle: Some of the best offensive linemen and defensive backs in the league have high scores in this area because it shows the ability to immediately be explosive from a disadvantageous position. The Packers have historically valued offensive linemen who perform well in this drill.

Everything else,especiallythe throwing sessions, is going to be noise. It's nice to see how players move in some drills, but game tape is more useful.

The spectacle of some prospects standing out in the 40-yard dash is always going to be interesting, but the degrees have fallen as fewer players do workouts in Indianapolis. For hardcore observers of the draft, there are plenty of things to follow. For everyone else, the most relevant information derived from the combine will likely be hidden for a few weeks.

Obit Norman Francis

Community members, activists and leaders across Louisiana celebrated the life and accomplishments of Francis.

"The nation is better and richer for his having lived among us," said Reynold Verret, the president of Xavier University, which confirmed Francis' death Wednesdayin a statement.

Francis took a high-profile role in the state's response to Katrina, heading the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which was tasked with overseeing the multi-billion-dollar rebuilding effort.

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said that after Katrina, Francis "stood in the breach." Landrieu, who served as lieutenant governor when Katrina decimated New Orleans in 2005, said he often turned to Francis for advice and counsel — including in "his toughest moments."

"The most defining part of his character is that he treats every human being with dignity and respect," Landrieuposted on Xon Wednesday.

Francis was well-known for his role as president of Xavier University in New Orleans, the nation's only predominantly Black Catholic university. Francis held the position for 47 years beginning in 1968.

During his tenure, enrollment more than doubled, the endowment mushroomed and the campus expanded. The small school gained a national reputation for preparing Black undergraduates for medical professions and for producing graduates in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics and pharmacy.

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when parts of the school's campus were submerged under 8 feet (2.4 meters) of water, Francis vowed that the college would return.

Multiple civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, honored Francis as one of the nation's top college presidents. In 2006, then-President George W. Bush awarded Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

"Dr. Francis was more than an administrator. He was an institution builder, a civil rights champion, and a man of quiet generosity," Louisiana U.S. Rep. Troy Carterposted on social media. "He believed education was the pathway to justice. He believed lifting one student could lift an entire family."

Francis, the son of a barber, grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. He received his bachelor's degree from Xavier in 1952. He became thefirst Black studentat Loyola University's law school — integrating the school and earning his law degree in 1955.

He went on to spend two years in the Army, then joined the U.S. Attorney General's office to help integrate federal agencies.

Even then, he still couldn't use the front door to enter many New Orleans hotels, restaurants or department stores because of his race.

"Some people say to me, 'My God! How did you take that?'" Francis said during a 2008 interview with The Associated Press. "Well, you took that because you had to believe that one day, the words that your parents said to you 'You're good enough to be president of the United States' yes, we held onto that."

In 1957, he joined Xavier in the role of Dean of Men, beginning his decades-long career at the university.

Francis's wife,Blanche,died in 2015. The couple had six children and multiple grandchildren.

Instead of his Cabinet officials, however, he will be joined by representatives from countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Hungary and even Belarus, which is a member of the board despite being under US and European sanctions for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine. However, several key allies are still staying away from membership.

In addition to Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner; US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz; US special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who sits on the executive committee for the Board; and High RepresentativeNickolay Mladenov, who serves as the key link between the board and the Palestinian technocratic committee, are all expected to speak, along with other attendees, according to a senior US official.

Two sources familiar with the matter said the countries attending the meeting as members were told they will have two minutes each to speak, but another source said Wednesday that allotment was now expected to be 90 seconds. According to the US official, Trump may ask specific countries for updates or opinions. There are expected to be updates on issues of security, humanitarian efforts and the Palestinian technocratic committee meant to run Gaza, the senior US official said.

Trump has previewed big announcements for the meeting, including billions of dollars to support the reconstruction of Gaza and personnel for the stabilization force there.

But there are lingering questions about the broad mission of the Board of Peace, its effectiveness and the broader future of Gaza.

There is some concern in the international community that Trump has established the body as a counterweight to the United Nations, of which he has been a sharp critic.

In remarks on Monday, Trump confirmed that he thinks the Board is "going to go far beyond Gaza," but said "we're working in conjunction with the United Nations."

Trump, who could serve indefinitely as chair of the board, has been eager to tout his credentials as a peacemaker and has argued he was snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize last year. The meeting is happening at the US Institute of Peace, which Trump has recently renamed for himself.

The meeting – and the board itself – are a clear example of Trump pursuing a foreign policy goal without collective buy-in from America's closest allies: Most of the US' traditional European allies have rejected membership. As such, they will not attend or will only send representatives as observers for Thursday's meeting.

Many Middle Eastern countries will be present after having decided to join the Board, but it is unclear which, if any, of those countries will make the steep fiscal commitment of $1 billion to become permanent members. And many are sending their foreign ministers, rather than their heads of state, in part because the conference coincides with the start of Ramadan.

According to a senior Trump administration official, the following countries are expected to send representatives to the meeting either as observers or to represent a member state: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Iran looms over meeting

The inaugural meeting comes as the US military buildup in the Middle East is growing, and the specter ofpotential US military action against Iranis expected to loom large over the meeting. Trump has threatened that the US could strike Iran if a nuclear deal is not agreed to in the coming weeks.

"You can't disassociate Iran from the Middle East or the Middle East from Iran," one diplomat said.

Countries in attendance are expecting to discuss the Iran situation on the sidelines, with plans to reiterate that miliary action against Iran should be avoided.

"It's not anybody's preference to see a military action taking place in a region where we have at least 30% of the world's oil concentrated, and around a place that is a basic passage of traffic for international trade," the diplomat noted.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that more than 20 countries are expected to attend. The senior US official said the number includes countries participating as observers.

However, according to sources and public statements, many of the nations are not sending leaders to the meeting. Instead, they will be represented by foreign ministers or lower-level officials.

Israel, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Hungary and Belarus have all signed on as members of the board and are among the nations expected to have representation at the meeting.

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At least five countries that have not joined the Board of Peace as members, including Italy and Romania, are expected to send representatives as observers. The European Union will be represented by Dubravka Šuica, the commissioner for the Mediterranean, to the meeting, a spokesperson said.

Many European countries have said they will not become members of the board, amid concerns about its broader mission, and its members. Russia and China were both invited to join but have not done so.

Chance for progress on Gaza's future

On the whole, Thursday's conversation is viewed by participants as "exploratory," said one diplomat from a member nation. And while most countries attending the meeting know very little about what to expect from the meeting, some say that it represents the best chance to drive progress in Gaza.

There is an acknowledgement among some diplomats that Trump is best positioned to pressure the parties, particularly the Israeli government.

"Trump now has a big role and wants this to happen and he can control Bibi if he wants," another source said, referencing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Indonesia is expected to highlight its announcement in recent days that it is readying about 1,000 troops – and possibly thousands more – to possibly be part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to two sources familiar with the matter. However, a final decision, to be made by the Indonesian president, has not yet been made.

A pledge of troops to the ISF would be a victory for the Trump administration, which has been working to secure troop commitments for months, even before the Board of Peace was officially launched.

However, as of now, there have been no public final commitments from governments to send troops to serve as part of the ISF. And the timeline for the deployment of the troops and whether or how they will be involved in demilitarization of Hamas – one of the biggest hurdles – remains unclear.

In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said the Board "will announce that Member States have pledged more than $5 BILLION DOLLARS toward the Gaza Humanitarian and Reconstruction efforts and have committed thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force and Local Police to maintain Security and Peace for Gazans."

Trump did not provide further details about the planned announcements. No country has publicly announced funding for the reconstruction effort.

On the issue of reconstruction, one source noted there are concerns about funding reconstruction only for Israel to bomb Gaza again, which has continually happened. US officials have offered private assurances that this won't happen, the source said, and there is a belief among some that Trump will keep the Netanyahu government from doing so.

The source noted that many countries who will not commit troops to the ISF will be willing to give large amounts of money to support reconstruction.

The ISF, backed by the UN mandate, is a key component of the Trump administration's peace plan. It is meant to deploy to Gaza in order to support a Palestinian police force and allow Israel to begin withdrawing from the territory it still occupies.

An Israeli official says the US is planning for 20,000 soldiers to be part of the ISF.

One of the thorniest parts of the Trump administration's peace plan – the demilitarization of Hamas – has not yet been resolved.

One of the sources noted that there may be parallel tracks of deploying troops and beginning reconstruction while working on the issue of demilitarizing Hamas. Regional allies do not want Israel to use the lack of progress on phase two as an excuse, the source said, and there is an understanding by US officials and regional allies that demilitarization will be a long-term process.

The senior US official said they are under no illusions on the challenges regarding demilitarization but have been encouraged by what the mediators have reported back.

CNN's Oren Liebermann contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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