Sarah Ashlee Barker had her ACL surgery this morning according to her IG story

This is rough but I think it talks about a lot of what is missing from the Cunningham/WNBA discourse. Namely, that trans people are not hypothetical thought experiments. They are real people who are being genocided by our government & any coverage that doesn't center that reality misses the mark.

the answer is always to disavow it

Would you let the Proud Boys march in and sit courtside?

thefrankiedlc.news

On the role Adam Silver and the NBA will play in determining the Blazers’ future in Portland, whether Tom Dundon wants to keep them here or not www.rosegardenreport.com/why-adam-sil...

Why Adam Silver Won't Let Tom Dundon Move the Trail Blazers

City and county lawmakers are preparing to vote on their portions of a Moda Center funding package.

rosegardenreport.com

I do have to admit some of these AI edits of Jrue in a Sixers jersey are pretty convincing

Nika Mühl is in Portland for the first time since the expansion draft and will continue her ACL rehab with the Fire’s medical staff. They’re finally moving into their new practice facility in Hillsboro (shared with the Thorns) next week.

Brocato has been the Mavericks' director of basketball analytics since 2015 and Bahhur last worked as a video coordinator and then assistant coach with the Magic from 2022-24.

Michael Scotto@mikeascotto.bsky.social · 2d ago

The Portland Trail Blazers have hired James Brocato as Director of Basketball Innovation and Ameer Bahhur as Rip City Remix Head Coach for their G League affiliate, league sources told @hoopshypeofficial.bsky.social.

On the role Adam Silver and the NBA will play in determining the Blazers’ future in Portland, whether Tom Dundon wants to keep them here or not www.rosegardenreport.com/why-adam-sil...

Why Adam Silver Won't Let Tom Dundon Move the Trail Blazers

City and county lawmakers are preparing to vote on their portions of a Moda Center funding package.

rosegardenreport.com

Bridget Carleton on another heater

Obviously sucks that it took the SAB injury for Puoch to get back into the starting lineup but she works so much better with the starting unit than the bench. Don't need her to do as much offensively.

That’s all the Sparks got?

Portland Police investigate potential bias crime after fan was spit on during Fire game www.oregonlive.com/portland-fir...

I’m told this is a non-guaranteed deal. Sochan will be with the Blazers in training camp and compete for a roster spot.

Shams Charania Tweets@shamsbot.bsky.social · 4d ago

Free agent forward Jeremy Sochan has agreed to a one-year deal to sign with the Portland Trail Blazers, agent Deirunas Visockas of Gersh Sports tells ESPN. Sochan -- who has averaged 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists entering his fifth NBA season -- finished 2025-26 on the championship

On the WNBA's culture war finally making its way to Portland: www.rosegardenreport.com/the-wnbas-cu...

The WNBA's Culture War Comes to Portland

An entertaining Fire loss to Indiana was overshadowed by the circus around a Sophie Cunningham rally.

rosegardenreport.com

Hearing Dewayne give those talking points to city council the other day reminded me a lot of hearing Joe defend Micah Nori's contract. Know both of them too well to think either of them believe it but they have a new boss now with a different agenda than their old boss.

Erik García Gundersen@erikg503.bsky.social · 4d ago

Same guy 10 months ago. Wonder what changed between then and now???

Osceola #Magic coach Dylan Murphy is joining Mike Boynton Jr.’s staff at the University of Michigan as an assistant coach, a league source confirmed the @orlandosentinel.com. 247Sports was first to report. More: www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/08/01/o...

Magic’s Dylan Murphy departing Osceola for Michigan Wolverines

Under coach Dylan Murphy, Orlando’s G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic, finished the last three regular seasons atop the Eastern Conference.

orlandosentinel.com

On the WNBA's culture war finally making its way to Portland: www.rosegardenreport.com/the-wnbas-cu...

The WNBA's Culture War Comes to Portland

An entertaining Fire loss to Indiana was overshadowed by the circus around a Sophie Cunningham rally.

rosegardenreport.com

Fever lead 27-25 at the end of the first. Ugly start but shots started falling for both teams.

Very loud when Sophie Cunningham checks in. To me it sounded like an even mix of cheers and boos. Good amount of mini 🏳️‍⚧️ flags being waved.

Anyway, the basketball game....Fire are starting Leite, Carleton, Engstler, Puoch and DiLeo just like they did on Tuesday in Vegas in their first game post-SAB injury.

Dude literally just asked those two questions and then left. Alex did a good job not taking the bait.

Mooch@cachiporra.bsky.social · 5d ago

reminder that “biological males” is a trap phrase that has no purpose other than to launch anti-queer bullshit

Fire head coach Alex Sarama spoke pregame tonight about the recent wave of attention on Sophie Cunningham and the rallies outside of Fever road games. (FWIW, I have no clue who the guy was that asked the last two questions. Never seen him before and he left immediately.)

This is just the arena’s existing policy on signs that’s on the Rose Quarter website for all events (rosequarter.com/plan-your-vi...). The team hasn’t made any public statements about anything surrounding tonight’s game. Incredibly misleading and irresponsible to frame this like that.

👁️👁️👁️

Chris Hine@christopherhine.bsky.social · 5d ago

After 8 years covering the Timberwolves, I’m off to my next step — covering the 76ers for the @inquirer.com What a dream opportunity this is, and I’m so excited to cover a memorable time for the 76ers in tandem alongside my friend, the awesome @ginamizell.bsky.social (Cont…)

Positive update from the Fever: Aliyah Boston (right lower leg) listed as probable for Friday at Portland. She exited last game in the 2Q with an apparent right knee injury. Caitlin Clark and Monique Billings (left hip) also probable.

One difference Dundon didn't account for between the NBA and NHL is how much more attention is on you. You can do this cost cutting stuff in hockey and nobody cares nationally. You do it with an NBA team and Bill Simmons calls you "El Cheapo" and it will stick to you forever.

Story on the Fire picking up the pieces after losing their "heart and soul," Sarah Ashlee Barker, to a torn ACL: www.rosegardenreport.com/fire-picking...

Fire Picking Up the Pieces After Sarah Ashlee Barker's 'Devastating' ACL Injury

Barker suffered the season-ending injury in the Fire's last game before the All-Star break.

rosegardenreport.com

Sarah Ashlee Barker is at Fire practice today and seems to be in pretty good spirits. The exact date for her ACL surgery is TBD as they wait for the swelling in her knee to go down but it should be soon.

The Blazers tend to do this. Sidy Cissoko's two-way he signed during the 2024-25 season was for two years. So were the ones Jayson Kent and Chris Youngblood signed last season, so they're still under contract.

KeithSmithNBA@keithsmithnba.bsky.social · last wk.

John Tonje's two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers is a two-year deal, a league source told @spotrac.com.

On the two NBA beats I’ve spilled the most ink about: LeBron James and of course, the Blazers open.substack.com/pub/theburne...

LeBron's Philadelphia Freedom and Blazer Broadcasting Bummers

Erik writes about LeBron refusing to stand down in his pursuit for another ring, as well as cuts to Blazer Broadcasting alongside public arena negotiations.

open.substack.com