WASHINGTON D.C. — In its second game without star Paige Bueckers (out with left knee sprain), UConn women’s basketball proved it can still turn around a tight first half into a blowout victory thanks to its relentless defense.
Washington, D.C
Wizards District Gaming Unveils 2024 Season Schedule – Monumental Sports
Season to kick off on Feb. 29, followed by first in-person matchup on March 3
Washington, D.C. – Today, Wizards District Gaming (WDG) announced its 2024 NBA 2K League schedule, featuring 21 games overall and seven live matchups open to fans.
WDG will kick off their season on Thursday, February 29, playing remotely against Celtics Crossover Gaming in THE SLAM OPEN 3v3 tournament. Fans will be able to cheer on the team for the first time in-person on Sunday, March 3 as the team hosts a rivalry matchup at District E Powered by Ticketmaster against 76ers GC. The 2024 Wizards District Gaming season is presented by Leidos.
The 2024 NBA 2K League season will kick off for the entire league on Wednesday, February 28, and will conclude at the end of June with the NBA 2K League 5v5 Playoffs and Finals. The season will be a mix of remote and in-person gameplay.
All in-person regular season and playoff games will once again be hosted in Washington, D.C. at District E Powered by Ticketmaster. District E is Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s nearly 14,000 square-feet live-event theater offering a 365-day-a-year series of immersive experiences in esports, music, event programming, and community events, as well as serving as the home arena for Wizards District Gaming. For information on tickets to attend NBA 2K League games live at District E, click here.
Wizards District Gaming has had a busy offseason as they hope to recapture the form that brought the 2020 and 2021 NBA 2K League championship titles to D.C. In September, WDG acquired the top selection in the 2024 NBA 2K League Draft via a trade with Mavs Gaming, which saw players Ryan “Dayfri” Conger and Justin “Kapp” Kaplan head to Dallas. With the first pick, WDG selected Benjamin “Benzo” Bernstein, widely regarded as a can’t-miss prospect and one of the best NBA 2K prospects in the Pro-Am scene for several years. With their second-round pick, #25 overall, WDG selected center Xavier “Type” Vescovi, a multi-year veteran in the NBA 2K League. Benzo and Type round out Wizards District Gaming’s 2024 roster that already featured longtime veterans Justin “Just Awkward” Howell and Antonio “Newdini” Newman, along with returning WDG shooting guard Brandon “B Rich” Richardson, who returned to the District via an offseason trade with Pistons GT.
“Wizards District Gaming is primed for a bounce back season and excited to compete for a championship,” said Patrick Crossan, Wizards District Gaming Head Coach & General Manager. “We can’t wait for our fans to watch our blend of young talent and veteran leadership, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at District E Powered by Ticketmaster on March 3 and throughout the 2024 season.”
WDG will play seven of its local-market games during the 2024 season in front of a home crowd at District E. After debuting during the 2023 season, Leidos returns as the Season Presenting Partner for all live WDG games at District E and will have its brand featured throughout the live game experience in the state-of-the-art esports arena. For fans not able to watch in-person, WDG games on March 17 and May 11 will be available live on Monumental Sports Network. All other games will be live streamed on Twitch.
The NBA 2K League’s 25 teams will compete in 3v3 and 5v5 splits throughout the season. The 3v3 portion of the season begins with the NBA2KL 3v3 SLAM OPEN from Feb. 28 through March 16, followed by the SWITCH OPEN March 20 through April 16, the STEAL OPEN April 19 and April 20, and finishing with the NBA2KL 3v3 Playoffs Wednesday, April 24 through Saturday, April 27. The 5v5 competition starts on Wednesday, May 8 with THE TIPOFF Powered by AT&T, followed by THE TURN Powered by AT&T May 29 through June 15, THE TICKET June 18 and June 22, and will culminate with the NBA2KL 5v5 Playoffs June 26 through June 29. Across THE BANNER CHAIN SERIES Powered by AT&T and NBA 2KL 3v3 BLACKTOP SERIES tournaments, and the NBA 2K League 3v3 and 5v5 Playoffs, the NBA 2K League will award $2 million in cash prizes. For more information on the NBA 2K League, visit www.NBA2KLeague.com.
For the latest news and updates about Wizards District Gaming, follow us on Twitter (@WizardsDG), Instagram (@WizardsDG), Facebook (WizardsDG), Twitch (@WizardsDG) and YouTube.
###
About Wizards District Gaming
Wizards District Gaming, owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, is part of the NBA 2K League, a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO). Launched in 2018, the league features the best NBA 2K players in the world. Wizards District Gaming drafts and/or retains gamers as part of a team that competes as unique characters in matchups against 24 other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs. For more information about Wizards District Gaming, visit www.wizardsdg.com.
About District E Powered by Ticketmaster
District E Powered by Ticketmaster is Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s nearly 14,000 square-feet live-event theater offering a 365-day-a-year series of immersive experiences in esports, music, event programming, and community events – along with pre-and post-event activations for fans attending NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards games, also owned by Monumental Sports. The venue creates a best-in-class competition and training venue for the esports franchises Monumental additionally owns, operates, and invests in, including Wizards District Gaming, Caps Gaming, District Elite and Team Liquid. To learn more, visit www.districtedc.com.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company’s 45,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $14.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Washington, D.C
UConn women's basketball overcomes tight first half to rout Georgetown thanks to relentless defense
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 11: Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies celebrates with teammates in the fourth quarter against the Georgetown Hoyas at Entertainment & Sports Arena on January 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Greg Fiume/Getty Images
A defense sparked by sophomore energy bunny KK Arnold, who in her new role with the Huskies is making an immeasurable impact off the bench thanks to a newfound sense of confidence.
Article continues below this ad
On Saturday, against the Hoyas, Arnold let the game come to her. She waited until the very right moment to reach in and latch herself onto a loose dribble to force a jump ball. She knew how to slowly shorten the distance between herself and a Hoya player until she was right in their face, pressing hard enough to force them to turnover the ball. And offense, she crashed into the paint, she perfectly timed her release to make a clutch layup.
“It’s amazing, no matter how much basketball these kids play, it’s all (about) confidence,” Geno Auriemma said. “You know, just even the finishes. Like last year, she had a hard time with those finishes. So, the confidence that she’s playing with right now is what’s way different than last year. I mean, she was confident last year, but I think she’s much, much more confident and much more sure of herself right now.”
Article continues below this ad
Led by Arnold’s spark on defense, the No. 7-ranked Huskies defeated Georgetown 73-55 Saturday afternoon at the Entertainment & Sports Arena, home of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, to advance to 6-0 in Big East play and 15-2 overall. The win concluded the teams’ regular season series after UConn previously beat the Hoyas in Hartford in December.
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 11: Kaitlyn Chen #20, Jana El Alfy #8 and Azzi Fudd #35 of the UConn Huskies celebrate in the third quarter against the Georgetown Hoyas at Entertainment & Sports Arena on January 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Greg Fiume/Getty ImagesUConn’s first game without Bueckers (who is expected back next week) last week wasn’t very competitive. The Huskies led Xavier, the last-place team in the Big East, the majority of the way on Wednesday, including by as much as 56 in the final minutes. The Musketeers were outmatched in every category even when Auriemma emptied his bench prior to halftime.
But Saturday was a different story.
Article continues below this ad
Despite only having nine available players with Ice Brady out sick, the Huskies allowed the Hoyas to punch first. And unlike the Musketeers, Georgetown (8-8, 1-4) never took its foot off the gas.
UConn’s defense couldn’t handle the hot start and allowed Georgetown to take advantage on the perimeter. The Hoyas went 4-of-6 on 3’s five-and-a-half minutes in. Georgetown freshman guard Khadee Hession couldn’t miss and ended the first half 4-of-5 from deep with a then-game high of 14 points.
Arnold (seven points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal) checked in at the first timeout and immediately ramped up the Huskies’ intensity.
She got in the face of her defensive assignments and stuck on them like glue, always flustering them by waving her arms up and down and never planting her feet flat on the floor. So much of her defensive impact goes unnoticed on the box score.
Article continues below this ad
“Coming in this year, you could tell she was more confident,” Azzi Fudd said of Arnold. “She understood what Coach wanted her to do, what she needed to do on this team. And I think it’s shown really well right now. Like, she’s bringing the intensity, the energy off the bench that we need defensively, most importantly. But then the defense turns to offense. You get transition buckets, you get easy looks. And I think just having that spark off the bench is so powerful.”
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 11: Sarah Strong #21 of the UConn Huskies drives to the basket in the second quarter against Kaliyah Myricks #25 of the Georgetown Hoyas at Entertainment & Sports Arena on January 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Greg Fiume/Getty ImagesArnold’s aggressiveness helped the Huskies not only slow down the Hoyas but also find their offensive rhythm. UConn ended the first quarter on a 9-2 run and forced Georgetown into three straight defensive stops to end the frame. The Huskies ended the first half ahead by five after shooting 59 percent from the floor, while keeping the Hoyas to 39 percent.
Yet, the Hoyas didn’t go down easily. Saturday’s first half featured five ties and eight lead changes until UConn pulled away in the third quarter.
Article continues below this ad
“We talked a lot about when you come in and you play somebody a second time (and) you’re on the road, you can’t go in expecting for them to just go, ‘Well, you know, just beat us.’ So, you’re gonna have to grind it out,” Auriemma said. “… You have to be able to withstand whatever’s happening in that game and figure out a way to win the game that day the way it’s being played.”
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 11: Kaitlyn Chen #20 of the UConn Huskies shoots the ball in the second quarter against Kelsey Ransom #1 of the Georgetown Hoyas at Entertainment & Sports Arena on January 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Greg Fiume/Getty ImagesThe Huskies double-teamed Hoya star Kelsey Ransom on the inbound pass on Georgetown’s second possession of the second half to force a turnover. Two plays later, Sarah Strong picked off a Hoyas’ dribble and laid it in on the other end.
UConn’s defense took over the game and shut down the Hoyas, forcing them to give up 14 points off 10 turnovers.
Article continues below this ad
Jana El Alfy stepped up under the basket and recorded a season-high four blocks. Even 5-foot-10 sophomore guard Ashlynn Shade got in on the action, swatting away Ransom’s layup with 7:18 to go.
Fudd, playing in her first homecoming game as a Husky, led UConn’s offense with a season-high five 3-pointers and 21 points. Strong followed with 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals with Shade finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
The Huskies next play Wednesday, Jan. 15, at St. John’s in Queens, New York.
Article continues below this ad
Overnight snow across the DC region
FOX 5’s Gwen Tolbart has your weekend weather forecast and what to expect with potential snow.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A winter weather system threatens the Washington, D.C. region this weekend.
According to FOX 5’s Gwen Tolbart, a Winter Weather Advisory until 1 a.m. Sunday for Garrett, Western Highland, Western Grant and Western Pendleton counties. An additional 2 to 4 inches of snow is possible with some isolated amounts up to 6 inches.
Gusty afternoon winds are expected to reach 40 mph and will cause blowing snow in the advisory area. Poor visibility and slick road conditions are to be expected.
Saturday will welcome some clouds that will eventually thin out to leave us with partly sunny skies. The highs are expected to remain in the 30s. Winds will be gusty from the Northwest region 10-15G30 mph. A very cold night ahead with mostly clear skies of 24F.
More sunshine is expected for Sunday with passing clouds. A cold and slightly breezy day on the horizon with highs again in the 30s. Overnight temperatures will drop to the low 20s and teens.
The Trump Organization is engaged in preliminary discussions to reclaim the lease on its former hotel in Washington, D.C., reports the Wall Street Journal.
The hotel is currently operating as a Waldorf Astoria.
The Wall Street Journal said Trump Organization executive vice president Eric Trump met with an executive from BDT & MSD Partners at Mar-a-Lago earlier this week to discuss purchasing the lease rights to the former Trump International Hotel Washington D.C.
BDT & MSD Partners currently controls the property’s lease, following a 2023 default and subsequent foreclosure by previous leaseholder CGI Merchant Group. The Trump Organization sold the hotel’s lease to CGI in 2022, and the hotel was reflagged as a Waldorf Astoria.
The 263-room hotel, which occupies the Old Post Office building, opened as a Trump hotel in 2016.
During President Donald Trump’s first presidency, the hotel was a prominent gathering spot for Republican lawmakers, lobbyists and others with business involving the administration. The property came under intense scrutiny because of ethical and legal concerns.
The hotel has some of the largest guestrooms in the city. Top-tier accommodations include the 4,000-square-foot Presidential One Bedroom Suite and 6,300-square-foot Waldorf Townhouse Two Bedroom Bi-Level Suite.
The hotel is home to restaurants The Bazaar by Jose Andres and the Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa, plus 38,000 square feet of event space and a 10,000-square-foot Waldorf Astoria Spa.
Southeast2 minutes ago
What Jimmy Carter’s genuine belief in humankind can teach us
Northeast5 minutes ago
New York Court of Appeals denies Trump motion to stop criminal case sentencing
New York44 minutes ago
How Maddrey Became the N.Y.P.D.’s Top Officer Despite Years of Scandal
Los Angeles, Ca47 minutes ago
Firefighters race to contain Los Angeles wildfires
Detroit, MI59 minutes ago
Detroit Pistons move back above .500 with Cade Cunningham triple-double vs. Raptors
Colorado2 years ago
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Videos2 years ago
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
Midwest3 years ago
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
South2 years ago
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
South3 years ago
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
News6 hours ago
Los Angeles Geared Up for Fire Risk, but Fell Short
Politics7 hours ago
Gov. Newsom cut fire budget by $100M months before lethal California fires: report
World7 hours ago
Sudan army says its forces enter Wad Madani in push to retake city from RSF
News8 hours ago
The architecturally significant houses destroyed in L.A.'s fires
News16 hours ago
Tulsa Massacre Was a ‘Coordinated, Military-Style Attack,’ Federal Report Says
-
Politics1 week agoNew Orleans attacker had 'remote detonator' for explosives in French Quarter, Biden says
-
Politics1 week agoCarter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics1 week agoWho Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health6 days agoOzempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
World1 week agoSouth Korea extends Boeing 737-800 inspections as Jeju Air wreckage lifted
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25822586/STK169_ZUCKERBERG_MAGA_STKS491_CVIRGINIA_A.jpg "Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech")
Technology3 days agoMeta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech
-
World1 week agoWeather warnings as freezing temperatures hit United Kingdom
-
News1 week agoSeeking to heal the country, Jimmy Carter pardoned men who evaded the Vietnam War draft