Miami, FL
Inter Miami CF Claims Double Win at 17th Annual Sports Business Awards: Team of the Year and Deal of the Year | Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami took home two prestigious honors at the 17th Annual Sports Business Awards on Wednesday night in New York City, with the Club having the standout performance of the evening among sports teams. Riding high after its July 2023 signing of Lionel Messi, the Club was recognized with Team of the Year and Deal of the Year.
The signing of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, transformed North American sports and catapulted Inter Miami into a global phenomenon overnight. His arrival at Inter Miami didn’t just elevate the team’s on-field performance immediately, but also ignited a commercial surge, helping transform Inter Miami into a reference point for fútbol globally.
Upon accepting the first award of the night for the Club, Inter Miami CF Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi said, “We did it because we didn’t know it was impossible. I can tell you, though, that our motto is Freedom to Dream. And we dreamt. We dreamt really big, and I can tell you that it was worth every bit of it.”
Just moments after receiving the Deal of the Year Award, Asensi returned to the stage alongside a group of staff members to accept the Team of the Year Award.
The second recognition underscores not just the monumental task of signing Messi, but also the Club’s adeptness in swiftly leveraging the extraordinary moment in the spotlight.
“We’re extremely proud that we’ve been able to pull that one off and to have the greatest of all time and the greatest that ever played the game play on the United States of America’s soil and Canada’s soil,” Asensi said. “We hope that this can elevate the game and the popularity of the game in this country.”
A Manchester United veteran is closing in on a deal to join another soccer great in the MLS.
Brazilian star Casemiro is expected to reach a deal with Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami after he revealed he would depart Man United this summer after his contract ends, according to multiple reports.
The addition of Casemiro, who was just named to Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, would bolster an already star-studded lineup for the defending MLS Cup champs, headlined by Messi, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
Casemiro would join Inter Miami as a free agent during the MLS summer transfer window, which runs from July 13 to Sept. 2, according to ESPN. Miami is the Brazilian’s top choice.
The LA Galaxy and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad also reportedly expressed interest in trying to lure Casemiro to their respective clubs.
Since Inter Miami does not have a Designated Player spot available on its roster, Casemiro’s contract will be less than $2 million for this season, barring one of the club’s three DPs doesn’t leave over the summer.
Inter Miami will also need to negotiate an agreement with the Galaxy, which holds Casemiro’s MLS discovery rights
The mechanism allows for a club to put a player on its discovery list, which is limited to five players, in order to get priority rights to negotiate with them in order to sign them.
According to The Athletic, no agreement has been reached between Inter Miami and the Galaxy regarding compensation for his discovery rights.
The news of the likely signing comes while the club has been in the middle of a spat with some of its most diehard fans, who protested over the lack of recognition during Inter Miami’s 2-0 win over Portland.
La Familia, the club’s collective of supporters’ groups, staged an 84-minute silent protest before breaking out in a chant demanding recognition from Inter Miami.
The protest overshadowed what Inter Miami’s first win at its new home field, but the Miami Herald reported that club leadership was set to meet with members of La Familia on Wednesday.
Miami next plays Philadelphia on Sunday in the last game before the World Cup break.
The United States is expected to announce the indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro at an event in Miami on Wednesday, and CBS News Miami will be airing the historic moment on-air and online.
Why is Raúl Castro being indicted?
Raúl Castro, 94, the younger brother of longtime dictator Fidel Castro, is expected to face charges related to the deadly 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue planes, as CBS News was first to report last week.
This comes as the U.S. continues to pile on the pressure on the Cuban government.
In recent months the Trump administration has threatened heavy tariffs on countries that export oil to Cuba, and that has led to widespread blackouts amid an economic and energy crisis.
How to watch the expected Raúl Castro indictment
CBS News Miami will begin special streaming coverage starting at 12:30 p.m.
Starting at 1 p.m., the United States Department of Justice is expected to make the announcement at an event in Miami.
You can stream special coverage starting at 12:30 p.m. on this page, or download the free CBS News app on your mobile or streaming device. The announcement from the DOJ will be broadcast live on CBS News Miami Channel 4, as well as the cbsnews.com/miami live stream.
2026 Patriot League ‘A’ finalist Marin Priddy will transfer and join the Miami-FL women for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. Priddy just finished her sophomore season with American.
“I am extremely excited to announce that I’ll be continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of Miami! I’m so grateful for this opportunity and so thankful for the amazing coaches at Miami!
I’m going to cherish the past two years at American and am so happy to have made the great memories and friends there. I’m excited for this next chapter! GO CANES”
Originally from San Clemente, California, Priddy arrived on campus in Washington DC in fall 2024. She had a strong freshman season and finished her year at the 2025 Patriot League Championships scoring 26 individual points. She was highlighted by personal bests in the 50 free (23.74) and 100 breast (1:04.71).
She returned for her sophomore season and had a breakout season. She concluded her sophomore year at the 2026 Patriot League Championships and scored 63.5 individual points. She most notably was 5th in the 100 breast with a 1:02.45 and 6th in the 50 free with a 23.29. She also had strong relay splits including a 27.78 50 breast, 1:02.05 100 breast, and a 22.85 50 free.
Luddy’s Time Progression:
| High School | Freshman | Sophomore | |
| 100 breast | 1:04.82 | 1:04.71 | 1:02.45 |
| 50 free | 24.13 | 23.74 | 23.29 |
| 100 free | 53.32 | 52.54 | 51.3 |
The Miami-FL women finished 12th out of 15 teams at the 2026 ACC Championships with 322 points. Divers Margo O’Meara and Chiara Pellacani led the way with 60 individual points each. Ashlyn Massey led the swimmers with 29 individual points.
Based on her best times, Luddy is a huge pick up for the team’s breaststroke and sprint free groups. Her 100 breast time would have led the team by almost two seconds this past season as Zofia Sobczak led the team with a 1:04.26. It took a 1:02.20 to earn a 2nd swim at the 2026 ACC Championships. Luddy would have also been 4th on the roster in the 50 free, earning her sprint free relay potential as well.
Luddy joins fellow transfer Kaelia Hughes who will arrive from Arizona State. Hughes is also primarily a breaststroker with best times of a 1:01.40 100 breast and a 2:13.09 200 breast.
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