February 9, 2026

THE NUMBERS IN the cylinder were 3, 5, and 2. All were low. Typically, the teams with the worst records—and thus the highest odds in the annual NBA draft lottery—are assigned these low combinations.

Just one more number to reveal.

Justin Zanik, general manager of the Utah Jazz, leaned on his elbows, scrutinizing his flip card filled with the numbers assigned to his team.

Will Dawkins, general manager of the Washington Wizards, sat quietly with his hands folded below the table.

Rick Schnall, co-owner of the Hornets, adjusted his glasses and noted the numbers he needed with a pencil.

They all remained side by side, stoic—as decorum required—but this moment had the potential to alter the trajectory of billion-dollar businesses. The three teams with the best odds, none of which had experienced any luck in the first three drawings that night last May.

This was their last chance to advance. Matt Doria, an NBA vice president, removed the next number from the machine.

11.

“Charlotte Hornets.”

Schnall removed his glasses and leaned back, a weight lifted from his shoulders. Dawkins extended a handshake. Zanik turned to offer a flat smile. Schnall replied with a sympathetic shrug.

And just like that, it can mean the difference between selecting a player like Kon Knueppel, whom the Hornets drafted at No. 4 with this lottery result and who is a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, and not securing such talent.

It also marks the line between immediate reward and engaging in the NBA’s emerging tanking strategy: the flip.

KNUEPPEL IS HAVING one of the finest rookie shooting seasons in league history, hitting 42% on eight 3-point attempts per game (for reference, Steph Curry shot 43% on five attempts as a rookie).

even if the Hornets have been building this roster over several years—having had four top-six picks in the last six drafts—Knueppel’s arrival has accelerated a turnaround, propelling them to their longest winning streak (nine games) in over two decades.

At the trade deadline, Charlotte also made a bold move for guard Coby White, aiming for a legitimate playoff push.

Meanwhile, the Jazz selected Ace Bailey at No. 5 and the Wizards drafted Tre Johnson at No. 6. Both franchises are optimistic about their futures, and a season or two from now, they could be vying with Knueppel regarding their influence on the game. but, neither team has allowed for such a shift just yet.

Instead, the Wizards and Jazz are at the forefront of a new hybrid strategy: actively tanking while also making moves to acquire stars during a disappointing season, all to set up a swift resurgence next year. The flip.

“How can you fault them?” remarked one Eastern Conference general manager. “The stakes for securing a top-four pick last year were monumental. This year, everyone recognizes that being in the top four or missing it is substantial.”

The Wizards traded for multiple-time All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis, two players expected to help them reach the playoffs for the first time in five years…next season.

Young returned from a quad injury to play five out of six games for the Atlanta Hawks in December. but, after being traded to Washington, he hasn’t played in six weeks, and there’s currently no estimated timeline for his return.

Following a hand injury last month, the Dallas Mavericks announced that Davis would likely miss six weeks. After acquiring him last week, Dawkins informed reporters in Washington that Davis would be returning to Dallas for rehab, with a potential return timeframe now closer to ten weeks.

All of this positions the Wizards to secure the highest draft pick this year (noting that their pick would convert to the New York Knicks if it falls outside the top eight), but they plan to make a move toward contention next year when both Davis and Young should, theoretically, be healthy.

“You might think your fans are the toughest to answer to during a rebuild,” stated a seasoned league executive. “But the real challenge comes from your owner. Owners want a clear timeframe for when a rebuild will conclude, and it’s evident that some of these teams are under pressure.”

The Jazz, too, find themselves in a similar position, as they aim to execute their own flip—from tanking to the playoffs as swiftly as feasible.

Utah’s pick is also top-eight protected, and the Jazz are a living example of what a few lottery positions can entail. The team’s coaches and front office praise Bailey’s potential, but he was not invited to participate in the league’s Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend, while former Duke teammates and top-four picks Cooper Flagg and Knueppel take center stage.

The Jazz, moving like the Wizards, made a significant move at the trade deadline, surprising the league by trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. in a deal heavy on draft picks with the Memphis Grizzlies.

In his inaugural game with the team on Saturday, Jackson scored 22 points in just 25 minutes, only to be benched during the fourth quarter of a narrow three-point loss against Orlando.

His new teammate, Lauri Markkanen, recently missed seven consecutive games due to illness and has frequently been removed from the lineup during close contests. Markkanen finished with 27 points in 27 minutes against the Magic and sat alongside Jackson during the fourth—a situation likely to recur as the season progresses.

“Trae and AD, plus a top-five pick in this draft, or Jaren and Markkanen alongside another top-five pick, and you’ve got something special,” an Eastern Conference coach remarked. “Without a standout from this draft, teams at the bottom may just find themselves stuck in mediocrity.”

Actions taken by other teams suggest they are planning similar strategies, including the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers.

THE NETS DID something unprecedented this season by acquiring and utilizing five first-round picks and routinely fielding the youngest lineups in the league (the Wizards fielded a lineup with an average age of 20.6 years at one point).

Without control over their first-round picks for the foreseeable future, the Nets have strong motivation to secure the highest possible pick and subsequently leap back into relevance. This explains why they held on to forward Michael Porter Jr., who is having a career season and is in high demand, during the trade deadline.

He is crucial for the flip, which the Nets hope to achieve by actively utilizing their nearly $50 million in cap space this summer. The Pacers are looking for a similar turnaround, albeit a few years down the line: a swift rebound next season upon the return of star point guard Tyrese Haliburton from a torn Achilles.

Indiana took a significant step toward that goal by acquiring new franchise center Ivica Zubac from the LA Clippers at the deadline.

After playing 15 out of 16 possible games before the trade, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle announced that Zubac would miss several upcoming games due to a sore ankle that hadn’t been previously reported. He also recently became a father.

Others teams, such as the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Dallas Mavericks with Kyrie Irving, could also benefit from short-term losses as key players deal with uncertain injuries.

“Isn’t it ironic?” asked one Western Conference executive. “Charlotte trades for White hoping to utilize him immediately and finds out he’s injured. Meanwhile, Utah, Indy, and Washington acquire players and find ways to keep them sidelined.”

When the Hornets conducted a physical on White last week, they discovered a previously undiagnosed calf injury, necessitating an adjustment to the trade, with Charlotte removing a second-round pick from the deal with the Bulls.

Inevitably, some irritation exists within the league, despite the flip strategy having some logical foundation. This topic surrounding these long-range, non-competitive tactics was raised at a recent NBA competition committee meeting, according to sources.

but, any significant rules changes to address this trend won’t have an immediate impact this season.

The trend of tanking may only become more pronounced and possibly more widespread.

This raises some philosophical questions regarding the league’s overall direction.

“You know the story of Icarus and what happens when you fly too close to the sun,” stated one team president. “I think some teams risk flying too dangerously close to the ground.”

MILAN — Handle with care. This is the advice from gold medalist Breezy Johnson at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after she and fellow athletes discovered their medals had broken just hours after being awarded.

Olympic organizers are conducting an investigation with “maximum attention” following reports of several medals detaching from their ribbons during the festivities of the opening weekend.

“Don’t jump in them. I was jumping with excitement, and it broke,” stated women’s downhill ski gold medalist Johnson after her victory on Sunday. “I’m sure someone will fix it. It’s not badly broken, just a little bit.”

The television broadcast in Germany captured the moment biathlete Justus Strelow realized his mixed relay bronze medal had fallen from the ribbon around his neck and clattered to the floor as he celebrated with teammates.

The German team cheered as Strelow attempted to reattach the medal, only to discover that a smaller piece, presumably the clasp, had broken off and remained on the ground.

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu shared a clip on social media showcasing her team event gold medal, detached from its ribbon.

“My medal doesn’t need the ribbon,” Liu wrote early Monday.

Andrea Francisi, the chief games operations officer for the Milan Cortina organizing committee, mentioned they are actively working on a solution.

“We are aware of the situation. We have seen the images. Clearly, we are trying to fully understand if there is an issue,” Francisi said Monday. “We are paying maximum attention to this matter, as the medal represents the dream of the athletes, and we want everything to be perfect in that moment, which we consider to be the most important. So we are addressing it.”

This isn’t the first instance where the quality of Olympic medals has been called into question.

Following the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, some medals had to be replaced after athletes reported they began to tarnish or corrode, developing a mottled appearance likened to crocodile skin.

The first UEFA Women’s Champions League play-offs will kick off on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the competition’s structure and intensifying the pressure on the eight competing teams.

The clubs that finished between fifth and 12th in the league phase will now engage in a tense, two-legged struggle to advance to the knockout rounds. With slim margins for error, the play-offs present unique challenges. Established teams like Arsenal and Wolfsburg seek to reaffirm their positions among Europe’s best, while Manchester United and OH Leuven aim to make history by extending their impressive debut seasons. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are motivated to reclaim their past glory, each eager to surpass their previous best performances in the tournament.

– Stream LIVE Women’s Super League games on ESPN+ (U.S.)
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Except for Wolfsburg and Juventus—familiar foes from past tournaments—all other matchups feature sides that already met in the league phase. yet, numerous changes have occurred since those encounters, as the winter break and transfer window have impacted team dynamics, form, and momentum across all clubs.

As the end of March approaches, the competition heats up for quarterfinal spots. The successful teams will go on to face the four clubs that received automatic entry into the knockout stage: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and OL Lyonnes.

Arsenal vs. OH Leuven: Revitalized Arsenal pose a new challenge

The last encounter between Arsenal and debutants OH Leuven took place at the end of 2025 during a challenging time for the reigning champions. A slump in form forced them to seek a win alongside several other favorable outcomes to secure a top-four finish. Disappointing results in both the Champions League and the Women’s Super League (WSL) had nearly derailed their European title defense and domestic quest for their first title since 2019, leaving losses and draws in their wake.

In stark contrast, the context of this two-legged play-off is dramatically different, as Arsenal has started the latter half of the season with considerable strength. Gaining seven points against fellow top-three teams in their first three league matches of the year has sent a clear message, including a narrow 1-0 triumph over champions-in-waiting Manchester City, slightly igniting the title race. This momentum has also extended beyond domestic competitions, with Arsenal lifting the inaugural FIFA Champions Cup and claiming the title of world champions, albeit benefiting from certain advantages.

Their 3-0 win against OH Leuven in the league phase occurred during a time when Arsenal struggled with their attacking cohesion, frequently failing to capitalize on chances and displaying uncharacteristic defensive frailties. even with the convincing scoreline, their performance was far from exemplary. Now, however, the title holders seem to have found their rhythm at both ends of the pitch, posing a much stiffer challenge for OL Leuven if they wish to reach the knockouts for the first time.

Paris FC vs. Real Madrid: Spanish side’s chance for an El Clasico knockout

Real Madrid managed a 1-1 draw with Paris FC during the league phase, a result that encapsulated a season marked by inconsistency. The expectations surrounding the team have often exceeded their performance on the field, yet a potential breakthrough may be on the horizon if they can navigate the play-offs successfully. Awaiting them could be a highly anticipated El Clasico in the women’s Champions League since 2022—a painful 5-2 loss—but past failures may serve as the motivation to inspire this Madrid squad.

Madrid faced 18 consecutive defeats against Barcelona. even so, their historic first Clasico victory in March 2025 shifted the narrative. This accomplishment not only boosted their domestic confidence, but could also sharpen their focus against Paris FC and reignite their aspirations to challenge Europe’s elite, including last season’s finalists and former champions.

Historically, Madrid has never progressed past the quarterfinals of this competition. Their desire to disrupt Barcelona’s supremacy and secure a first-ever semifinal appearance may drive them forward.

The squad is filled with intent and ambition, yet execution has faltered on the pitch. Their biggest concern remains conversion; despite averaging more than 20 shots per game this season, Madrid often struggles to transform chances into goals, frequently scoring only once or twice per match. If they can find greater efficiency in front of goal, the path to their most successful Champions League run yet may finally open.

Wolfsburg vs. Juventus: German side’s struggle to maintain leads offers Juve an opportunity

even with often appearing in control during matches and stretches of the league phase this season, Wolfsburg has, time and again, found ways to relinquish their advantages. Few teams have been as consistently well-positioned, and few have been as frustrated by their outcomes. For example, the German giants managed to protect leads in their opening two matches before suffering their first setback at the hands of eight-time champions OL Lyonnes. A subsequent victory over Manchester United seemed to stabilize their position: avoiding defeat in their final two fixtures would have secured a top-four finish.

yet, familiar shortcomings reemerged. In a match against Real Madrid, Wolfsburg failed to capitalize on a two-player advantage, suffering a damaging 2-0 loss. Days later, they squandered an early lead against Chelsea, ending the match 2-1 in defeat. They ranked 16th out of 18 league-phase teams in minutes spent trailing (166), reaffirming a long-standing concern regarding the club: when Wolfsburg is ahead, they frequently struggle to maintain control and see matches through.

This inconsistency renders this fixture unpredictable. History provides some reassurance—Wolfsburg remains among the few winners of the competition—but recent years hint at a lingering psychological barrier. They have not won the trophy since 2014, and the memory of their 2023 final defeat—after leading 2-0 against Barcelona and ultimately losing 4-2—stays fresh.

It seems unlikely that Wolfsburg will rectify their issue of yielding winning positions prior to facing Juventus. Until they prove otherwise, confidence in their ability to secure critical moments will remain brittle, allowing the Italian side to exploit any weaknesses en route to the knockouts.

Atletico Madrid vs. Manchester United: Is Atletico rising?

Atletico and United have faced each other previously in the league phase, where the English newcomers secured a narrow 1-0 victory. The Spanish side has quietly grown into one of the competition’s dark horses, navigating the group stage without elimination and, on paper at least, securing a relatively favorable route to the knockout rounds.

For United, making their competition debut, the challenge is formidable. Aware of their struggles to find the back of the net earlier in the season, they bolstered their attacking options with three new signings to enhance their edge. Yet Atleti’s steady progress appears to tip the balance of the tie in their favor.

The heated match that saw both sides reduced to 10 players last time only sharpened Atleti’s determination to make an impact on the European stage. The Spanish team scored 13 goals across their six league-phase matches, underlining their offensive threat, and both clubs have improved since their last confrontation.

also, Atletico has won four of their last five two-legged encounters in UEFA competitions. compared to, United’s limited experience at this level is reflected in a mixed record, with one win and one defeat in their two-legged encounters.

This matchup presents Atletico an opportunity to regain the European momentum they haven’t truly felt since their quarter-final appearance in 2019-20. After grappling to qualify in recent seasons, last year’s impressive league campaign has shifted perceptions. Increasing confidence suggests that this run could go deeper.