Porter faces charges in betting case
Former Raptor Jontay Porter will be charged with a federal felony connected to the sports betting scandal that spurred the NBA to ban him for life, court papers indicate. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn filed what’s known as a criminal information sheet on Tuesday. The document doesn’t specify a court date or the charge or charges, but it does show the case is related to an existing prosecution of four men charged with scheming to cash in on tips from a player about his plans to exit two games early. The Associated Press sent messages Wednesday to Porter’s St. Louis-based lawyer, Jeff Jensen. He said last month that Porter had been “in over his head due to a gambling addiction” but was getting treatment and cooperating with law enforcement. Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace’s office declined to comment on the new developments. An NBA probe found in April that Porter tipped off bettors about his health and then claimed illness to exit at least one game, creating wins for anyone who’d bet on him to underperform expectations. Porter also gambled on NBA games in which he didn’t play, once betting against his own team, the league said.
Kraken hire Campbell as assistant
Jessica Campbell will become the first woman to work on the bench of an NHL franchise after the Kraken hired her as an assistant coach Wednesday. Campbell, 32, has spent the last two seasons working as an assistant coach for Seattle’s AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley alongside head coach Dan Bylsma, who was hired in late May to take over the head job with the Kraken. There were immediate questions about whether Campbell would be making the move with Bylsma to Seattle. She will, breaking through another barrier for women in hockey. Emily Engel-Natzke was hired by the Capitals in 2022 as video coach, making her the first woman with a full-time assistant role in the league. “During our tenure in Coachella Valley, I saw firsthand Jessica’s commitment to player development,” Bylsma said. “Her ability to establish relationships with her players, specifically Tye Kartye, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans, was an important factor in this hire.” Campbell was a decorated player in the NCAA, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and Canada’s women’s national team, with whom she won silver at the 2015 world championship.
Clark, Reese named WNBA All-Stars
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese will team up on the WNBA All-Star team to play against the U.S. Olympic team led by A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. The pair of remarkable rookies were selected Tuesday by a combination of votes from the media, players and fans as well as the league’s 12 coaches to play in the game in Phoenix on July 20. “I don’t think I’ve ever been her teammate before, even at USA Basketball. I know people will be really excited about it, but I hope it doesn’t take away from everyone else,” said Clark (pictured). Clark was the leading vote-getter from the fans, receiving 700,735 with her Fever teammate Aliyah Boston finishing second 72,000 votes behind. Reese was fifth with 381,518 votes. Clark ranks third in assists with 6.9 and Reese leads the WNBA in rebounds at 11.4. “They just told me I’m an All-Star. I’m just so happy,” an emotional Reese said after her Sky beat the Atlanta Dream. “I know the work I’ve put in,” Reese said. “Coming into this league so many people doubted me and didn’t think my game would translate.” Associated Press