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NBA to Name NBA 75 on October 19-21

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NEW YORK – (Source: Official NBA News Release) – The National Basketball Association will unveil its 75th Anniversary Team, comprised of the 75 greatest players in league history, during special editions of TNT’s NBA Tip-Off, presented by CarMax and ESPN’s NBA Today from Tuesday, Oct. 19 through Thursday, Oct. 21.

Twenty-five members of the team, representing a cross section of positions and eras from throughout the NBA’s rich history, will be announced on each of the three days.  The team is being selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media and current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives.

TNT will begin the unveiling of the 75th Anniversary Team on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. ET during an extended edition ofNBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax with the Sports Emmy Award-winning studio team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.  The 90-minute pregame show will air prior to the network’s opening-night doubleheader featuring the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Golden State Warriors visiting the Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET).

ESPN will take over the honors on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. ET when it announces 25 more members of the team duringNBA Today, the network’s new daily 60-minute NBA show hosted by Malika Andrews, ahead of its season-opening doubleheader with the Boston Celtics facing the New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Denver Nuggets taking on the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET).

The final 25 members of the team will be revealed on TNT’s NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. ET, in advance of the network’s presentation of the Dallas Mavericks vs. the Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET) and the LA Clippers vs. the Warriors (10 p.m. ET).

As part of “NBA 75,” the league’s celebration of its landmark 75th Anniversary Season, the NBA selected Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler, Magic Johnson, Bob Pettit and Oscar Robertson, as well as 14-time NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, to serve as ambassadors for the 2021-22 season.  Representing different eras of the league’s history, the ambassadors will make appearances throughout the 75th Anniversary Season and have a significant presence at NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland.

Boston’s Training Camp Roster

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BOSTON – (Source: Official Team News Release) – The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guards Ryan Arcidiacono, Garrison Mathews, and Theo Pinson, and forward Juwan Morgan, finalizing the team’s 20-player roster that includes nine returning players, three NBA All-Stars, and one first-year player.

Arcidiacono (6-3, 195), 27, joins the Celtics after previously spending his first four NBA seasons with the Bulls from 2017-18 to 2020-21. The four-year Villanova standout produced 4.8 points (43.1% FG, 37.3% 3-PT, 80.7% FT), 2.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 17.6 minutes in 207 games (36 starts) with Chicago, while shooting at least 37.0% from beyond the arc in each of his last three seasons. Arcidiacono has made at least three 3-point field goals in 14 games over the past three years, including a career-best five threes at Milwaukee on Nov. 28, 2018.

Mathews (6-5, 215), 24, has averaged 5.5 points (41.3% FG, 38.9% 3-PT, 89.1% FT), 1.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 15.4 minutes in 82 career games (24 starts) over two NBA seasons with the Wizards. The Franklin, Tennessee native played in 64 of the team’s 72 games in 2020-21, producing 5.5 points on 40.9% shooting (38.4% 3-PT). He notched five games of 15+ points, including a season-high 22-point performance on 6-of-12 shooting (4-7 3-PT) against Miami on Jan. 9.

Pinson (6-5, 212), 25, has played in parts of three NBA seasons with Brooklyn and New York from 2018-19 to 2020-21, averaging 3.0 points (30.0% FG, 89.5% FT), 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 9.0 minutes in 68 career games. Pinson also spent time in the G League with the Long Island Nets between 2018-19 and 2019-20, where he produced 19.6 points (44.2% FG, 38.4% 3-PT, 82.9% FT), 6.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 34.8 minutes in 43 games (all starts).

Morgan (6-7, 232), 24, has played in 50 games over two NBA seasons with the Jazz, shooting 51.8% on 56 field goal attempts (1.4 ppg), while averaging 1.1 rebounds. A native of Waynesville, Missouri, Morgan also played in 15 games with the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League in 2019-20, producing 14.3 points on 60.1% shooting, 7.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.7 blocked shots.

The Celtics’ current  20-player roster features nine returners from the 2020-21 season, including a pair of 2021 NBA All-Stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and the team’s longest-tenured player in guard Marcus Smart.

Five-time All-Star and 14-year NBA veteran Al Horford rejoins the Celtics, after having previously played in Boston from 2016-17 through 2018-19. He joins an experienced group of newcomers, which include veteran guards Josh Richardson and Dennis Schröder, forward Juancho Hernangomez and center Enes Kanter.

Boston opens preseason action against the Magic at TD Garden on Oct. 4, its first of four preseason contests.

BIG EAST Releases 2021-22 Schedule

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NEW YORK – (Source: Official News Release) – The BIG EAST Conference announced its 2021-22 men’s basketball schedule today with dates and matchups. Tipoff times and television designations will be announced at a later date. The conference will play a 110-game regular-season schedule with all 11 teams playing 20 league games in a double round-robin format. League play begins on Friday, December 17, with Villanova at Creighton. The Wildcats and Bluejays are the two BIG EAST teams that advanced the farthest in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Both squads advanced to the Sweet 16 round.

The regular season ends on Saturday, March 5, with 10 of the 11 teams in action. The matchups are: Villanova at Butler, DePaul at Connecticut, Seton Hall at Creighton, Georgetown at Xavier and St. John’s at Marquette.

The BIG EAST Tournament Presented by Jeep will be played in Madison Square Garden for the 40th consecutive year. It is the longest running postseason championship in college basketball at the same venue. The dates of the 2022 tourney are March 9-12.

2021-22 Conference Schedule

Friday, December 17
Villanova at Creighton

Saturday, December 18
Providence at Connecticut
Marquette at Xavier

Monday, December 20
St. John’s at Seton Hall
Creighton at DePaul

Tuesday, December 21
Xavier at Villanova
Connecticut at Marquette

Wednesday, December 22
Georgetown at Providence

Thursday, December 23
Butler at St. John’s
Seton Hall at DePaul

Tuesday, December 28
Connecticut at Xavier
Georgetown at Creighton

Wednesday, December 29
Marquette at St. John’s
Seton Hall at Providence
DePaul at Butler

Saturday, January 1
St. John’s at Georgetown
Villanova at Seton Hall
Butler at Connecticut
Providence at DePaul
Creighton at Marquette

Tuesday, January 4
Seton Hall at Butler
Xavier at Georgetown
Providence at Marquette

Wednesday, January 5
DePaul at St. John’s
Creighton at Villanova

Friday, January 7
Xavier at Butler
Marquette at Georgetown

Saturday, January 8
Villanova at DePaul
St. John’s at Providence
Connecticut at Seton Hall

Tuesday, January 11
Providence at Creighton
DePaul at Marquette

Wednesday, January 12
St. John’s at Connecticut
Villanova at Xavier

Thursday, January 13
Butler at Georgetown

Saturday, January 15
Creighton at Xavier
Connecticut at Providence
Seton Hall at Marquette

Sunday, January 16
Georgetown at St. John’s (MSG)
Butler at Villanova (WF)

Tuesday, January 18
Providence at Seton Hall

Wednesday, January 19
St. John’s at Creighton
Xavier at DePaul
Marquette at Villanova

Thursday, January 20
Connecticut at Butler

Saturday, January 22
Seton Hall at St. John’s (MSG)
Villanova at Georgetown
DePaul at Creighton

Sunday, January 23
Butler at Providence
Xavier at Marquette

Tuesday, January 25
DePaul at Villanova
Georgetown at Connecticut

Wednesday, January 26
Marquette at Seton Hall
Creighton at Butler
Providence at Xavier

Saturday, January 29
Georgetown at Butler
Marquette at Providence
Xavier at Creighton
Connecticut at DePaul
St. John’s at Villanova

Tuesday, February 1
Creighton at Connecticut
Seton Hall at Georgetown
Providence at St. John’s

Wednesday, February 2
Villanova at Marquette
Butler at Xavier

Friday, February 4
Creighton at Seton Hall

Saturday, February 5
Connecticut at Villanova (WF)
St. John’s at Butler
DePaul at Xavier

Sunday, February 6
Providence at Georgetown

Tuesday, February 8
Villanova at St. John’s (MSG)
Marquette at Connecticut
Butler at Creighton

Wednesday, February 9
Xavier at Seton Hall
Georgetown at DePaul

Saturday, February 12
Creighton at Georgetown
Seton Hall at Villanova (WF)
Marquette at Butler
DePaul at Providence

Sunday, February 13
Connecticut at St. John’s (MSG)

Tuesday, February 15
Villanova at Providence
Butler at DePaul

Wednesday, February 16
Seton Hall at Connecticut
St. John’s at Xavier
Georgetown at Marquette

Saturday, February 19
Xavier at Connecticut
DePaul at Seton Hall
Georgetown at Villanova

Sunday, February 20
Providence at Butler
Marquette at Creighton

Tuesday, February 22
Villanova at Connecticut

Wednesday, February 23
Xavier at Providence
Creighton at St. John’s
Butler at Seton Hall

Thursday, February 24
DePaul at Georgetown

Saturday, February 26
Creighton at Providence
Seton Hall at Xavier
Butler at Marquette

Sunday, February 27
Connecticut at Georgetown
St. John’s at DePaul

Tuesday, March 1
Providence at Villanova

Wednesday, March 2
Xavier at St. John’s
Georgetown at Seton Hall
Connecticut at Creighton
Marquette at DePaul

Saturday, March 5
Villanova at Butler
DePaul at Connecticut
Seton Hall at Creighton
Georgetown at Xavier
St. John’s at Marquette

CA – Carnesecca Arena, MSG – Madison Square Garden, WF – Wells Fargo Center

The BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden
March 9 First Round Tripleheader
March 10 Quarterfinal Doubleheader
Quarterfinal Doubleheader
March 11 Semifinal Doubleheader
March 12 Championship Game

NBA Today to Debut on ESPN in October

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BRISTOL, CT – (Staff, Wire Service and Official News Release reporting) – On the eve of the upcoming regular season, a new show, “NBA Today,” an hour-long panel discussion show, will debut on ESPN this October 18. Malika Andrews will host “NBA Today,” joined by network NBA analysts Kendrick Perkins, Chiney Ogwumike and Vince Carter along with ESPN senior writer Zach Lowe. Various ESPN network and ESPN.com basketball reporters will join the show when appropriate. The show will air weekdays from 3-4 ET.

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“NBA Today” replaces “The Jump,” which ESPN canceled amid controversy surrounding host and longtime basketball reporter Rachel Nichols involving comments she made about former colleague Maria Taylor.

Andrews, 26, joined the network in 2018 and has seen an increasingly visible role in ESPN’s coverage of the NBA. ESPN said Monday her new role is part of a multiyear contract extension, but details were not disclosed. Taylor left ESPN for a multi-million dollar deal at NBC Sports.

Celtics Round-Out Coaching Staff

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BOSTON – (Source: Official team news release) – The Boston Celtics announced that Will Hardy, Damon Stoudamire, Ben Sullivan, Joe Mazzulla, Aaron Miles, and Tony Dobbins will serve as assistant coaches on first-year head coach Ime Udoka’s staff. Evan Bradds, Garrett Jackson, DJ MacLeay, and Steve Tchiengang have been named to the team’s player enhancement staff, while Matt Reynolds will serve as a special assistant to Udoka. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Hardy joins Boston’s coaching staff after spending the last six seasons as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs from 2015-16 to 2020-21. The Williams College graduate has spent each of the last 11 seasons with San Antonio since joining on as a basketball operations intern in 2010, including a two-year stint as the Spurs video coordinator from 2013-15. Hardy served on the coaching staff during Team USA’s gold medal run at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He was also tabbed as San Antonio’s summer league head coach in Las Vegas in 2017 and 2018, as well as serving as the team’s head coach during the Utah summer league from 2015-18.

Stoudamire spent the last five seasons at the University of Pacific after being named the head coach of the men’s basketball team on March 16, 2016. He led Pacific to a 23-10 finish in 2019-20 – the program’s best mark since 2012-13 – en route to being named both the West Coast Conference Coach of the Year and the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year, given annually to the top minority coach at the Division I level. Stoudamire previously worked as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis (2011-13; 2015-16), the University of Arizona (2013-15), and in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2009-2011.

A 13-year NBA point guard, Stoudamire played in 878 career games (793 starts) with the Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, and San Antonio Spurs. He was named the league’s Rookie of the Year and was selected to the All-Rookie First Team in 1995-96 after being selected by Toronto with the seventh overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.

Sullivan joins the Celtics after winning an NBA Championship in his third season as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. He has seven seasons of experience as an assistant coach in the NBA, including a four-year stint with the Atlanta Hawks from 2014-15 to 2017-18. Prior to his time in Milwaukee and Atlanta, Sullivan served as an assistant video coordinator with San Antonio while also working in its basketball development department.

Mazzulla returns for his third year as an assistant coach after originally joining the organization prior to the 2019-20 season. The Rhode Island native most recently served as Boston’s head coach throughout the 2021 Las Vegas Summer League, guiding the Celtics to a 4-1 record and an appearance in the championship game. Mazzulla previously spent two seasons as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at Fairmont State University (2017-19), guiding the Falcons to a 43-17 overall record, and an NCAA Tournament bid in his second and final year.

Miles spent the last two seasons as a player development coach with the Golden State Warriors, after serving as the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors – Golden State’s G League affiliate – for two seasons from 2017-18 to 2018-19. The native Oregonian led Santa Cruz to a 57-43 record in his two seasons at the helm, including a 34-16 mark and trip to the G League Western Conference Finals in 2018-19. Miles played 10 seasons of professional basketball, eight of which came overseas, after a decorated collegiate career at Kansas in which he netted two All-Big 12 Third Team selections.

Dobbins begins his second season as an assistant coach with the Celtics after spending the previous two years as the team’s video coordinator. A native of Washington, D.C., Dobbins played a combined 13 years of professional basketball across Europe and the NBA G League. He was named the French Pro A’s Best Defensive Player three times (2009, 2013, 2014), won two French Cup championships (2010, 2015), and a G League title with the Asheville Altitude in 2005.

BOSTON CELTICS COACHING STAFF

Head coach: Ime Udoka (Portland State)
Assistant coaches: Will Hardy (Williams College), Damon Stoudamire (Arizona), Ben Sullivan (Portland), Joe Mazzulla (West Virginia), Aaron Miles (Kansas), Tony Dobbins (Richmond)
Player enhancement staff: Evan Bradds (Belmont), Garrett Jackson (Saint Mary’s), DJ MacLeay (Bucknell), Steve Tchiengang (Vanderbilt)
Special assistant to head coach: Matt Reynolds (Syracuse)

Celtics Finalize Deal for Juancho Hernangómez

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BOSTON – The Boston Celtics acquired forward Juancho Hernangómez from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guards Kris Dunn and Carsen Edwards, and the right to swap second round draft picks in 2026. Hernangómez, 25, holds career averages of 5.7 points on 43.0% shooting (35.1% 3-PT, 69.3% FT), 3.5 rebounds, and 16.4 minutes in 257 games (57 starts) with Denver and Minnesota. The five-year pro was originally selected by the Nuggets with the 15th overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft.

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Hernangómez (first player on right) for Spain

In 52 games with the Timberwolves in 2020-21, Hernangómez produced a career-high 7.2 points on 43.5% shooting (32.7% 3-PT) to go along with 3.9 rebounds, and 17.3 minutes. He reached the 20-point mark twice, including a season-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting (5-8 3-PT) at Denver on Jan. 5, and scored at least 15 points on seven occasions.

Edwards played in 68 games over two seasons with the Celtics after being selected in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft, averaging 3.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 9.2 minutes. Dunn was acquired by Boston as part of a three-team deal earlier this offseason on Aug. 7.

As part of the transaction, Memphis will own the right to swap a 2026 second round draft pick (the better of Miami’s or Dallas’s) with Boston’s 2026 second round draft pick.

Bruins: Bergeron to Play-Out Contract

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BRIGHTON – (Staff and wire service reports) – Boston Bruins team captain Patrice Bergeron will play the final season of his current eight-year, $55 million contract before deciding if he’ll return to the team in 2022-23. Bergeron, 36, has played his entire 17-year NHL career with the Bruins. He will be an unrestricted free agent in July.

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“I’m going to play out this year, and then talk about that after,” Bergeron said this week as the team assembled for rookie camp and captain’s training sessions in Boston.

A four-time Selke Trophy recipient as the NHL’s best defensive forward, Bergeron previously said he is focused on winning a Stanley Cup this season. After that, he’ll let the chips fall where they may.

“That’s something that a lot of people have asked me this summer,” Bergeron said. “I think for me, the way that I approach this year is I want to concentrate on this year. I have a year left on my contract, and I think it’d be useless of me to think about the future.

Bergeron recorded 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists) in 55 games last season. He was named a finalist for the Selke for a record 10th consecutive season in 2020-21 after winning the trophy in 2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17. A Stanley Cup champion in 2011, Bergeron has 917 points (375 goals, 542 assists) in 1,143 career games since being selected by Boston in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft.

“I think I want to create something special, as I said. We obviously want to work towards winning a Stanley Cup. I know everyone says that, but it’s definitely our goal as a team. And I think we always are competitive to be in that group of teams. So, I think that’s where that’s where my focus is at right now.”

USC Fires Helton

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and wire service reports) – University of Southern California coach Clay Helton was fired on Monday. The dismissal came two days after then-No. 14 Trojans were upset, 42-28, by rival Stanford. Assistant Donte Williams will serve as interim head coach as the search for a new head coach begins this week.

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“This afternoon I informed Clay Helton of my decision to make a change in the leadership of our football program,” athletic director Mike Bohn said in a statement. “Clay is one of the finest human beings I have met in this industry, and he has been a tremendous role model and mentor to our young men.”

Helton went 46-24 at USC, including seasons of 10-3 in 2016 and 11-3 in 2017. However, the Trojans are just 19-14 since the end of the 2017 season and Saturday’s loss signaled to Bohn, who became athletic director 22 months ago, that action was needed.

“As I committed to upon my arrival at USC, during the past two off-seasons we provided every resource necessary for our football program to compete for championships,” Bohn said. “The added resources significantly increased expectations for our team’s performance, and it is already evident that, despite the enhancements, those expectations would not be met without a change in leadership.”

Former USC stars Keyshawn Johnson, Matt Leinart and a host of alumni were among those expressing disappointment in the overall program after the loss to Stanford. Bohn asserted he will seek a coach who can turn the program back to a national championship contender. The Trojans have won 11 national titles with the most recent being in 2004.

“Over the next few months, we will conduct a national search for our new head coach,” Bohn said. “We will actively and patiently pursue a coach who will deliver on the championship aspirations and expectations we all share for our football program.”

Williams, who was a defensive backfield coach, is in his second season on the USC staff. He does not have head coaching experience and will debut this Saturday (Sept 18) at Washington State.

“Donte is an experienced and well-respected coach who is renowned for his ability to develop relationships with student-athletes and I appreciate his willingness to take on this challenge,” Bohn said. “With 10 games left, we still have control of our own destiny in the Pac-12 conference.”

Patriots Lose to Miami in NFL Opener

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Services Reports) – Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa passed for 202 yards and a go-ahead three-yard touchdown to rookie Jaylen Waddle as the Dolphins spoiled New England’s rookie quarterback Mac Jones’ NFL debut with a 17-16 win over the Patriots in the season opener on Sunday afternoon.

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Waddle, the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft, grabbed his first career touchdown catch with 10:51 remaining in the third quarter to put Miami on top for good at 17-10. Nick Folk‘s 42-yard field goal with 2:50 left in the third and another from 33 yards out at 10:36 of the fourth pulled New England within 17-16.

Tagovailoa, who also had a rushing touchdown, finished 16-for-27 passing and was also intercepted by New England defensive back Jonathan Jones with 8:07 to play in the fourth. Mac Jones and the Patriots drove 41 yards before running back Damien Harris lost a fumble at the Dolphins’ 11-yard line.

Waddle finished with four catches for 61 yards and the score and DeVante Parker had four catches for a team-high 81 yards for Miami (1-0).

Mac Jones, the No. 15 overall pick in this year’s draft, completed 29 of 39 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown in his pro debut. Harris rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries and Nelson Agholor made five catches for 72 yards and a score for New England (0-1).

Miami and New England were tied 10-10 at halftime.

Tagovailoa capped a 10-play, 80-yard opening drive with a three-yard TD run off the right tackle to put the Dolphins up 7-0 with 5:29 to play in the first quarter. Folk kicked a 27-yard field goal to put the Patriots on the board at 10:17 of the second.

Jones connected with Agholor for his first career touchdown pass with 2:30 left in the half to put New England ahead 10-7. The rookie faked a handoff to Harris before firing a seven-yard strike to Agholor.

Jones and Tagovailoa were teammates at the University of Alabama. Tagovailoa led the Crimson Tide to a national championship in the 2017 season and Jones guided the program to its 18th title last season.

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Ackerman Inducted into Hall of Fame

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UNCASVILLE – (Staff report with Official Big East News Release) – Former NBA executive and first President of the WNBA, former USA Basketball president and current Big East Conference Commissioner Val Ackerman will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of its 2021 class this weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts. She will be inducted as a Contributor. Ackerman previously received the Hall of Fame’s John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.

The Class of 2021 enshrinement ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 11.

Villanova head coach Jay Wright is also a member of the 2021 Hall of Fame class. Other inductees of the 2021 class are: Rick Adelman, Chris Bosh, Yolanda Griffith, Lauren Jackson, Paul Pierce, Bill Russell, Ben Wallace, Chris Webber, Howard Garfinkel, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Clarence “Fats” Jenkins, Toni Kukoc, Bob Dandridge and Pearl Moore.

“I’m extremely honored by this recognition and will be forever grateful to David Stern and Russ Granik for opening doors for me and allowing me to be part of so many exciting moments in basketball history,” said Ackerman. “It’s been a tremendous privilege to lead the BIG EAST and build on its proud heritage these past eight years, and to be part of the class that includes Jay Wright makes this moment very hard to top.”

Ackerman was named the fifth Commissioner of the BIG EAST on June 26, 2013. She was the founding President of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and is a past President of USA Basketball, which oversees the U.S. men’s and women’s Olympic basketball program. Ackerman also served for two terms as the U.S. representative to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). She has had a long and accomplished career in the sports industry and the distinction of serving in leadership positions in both men’s and women’s basketball at the collegiate, professional, national team and international levels.

Ackerman was named the first President of the WNBA in 1996 and oversaw the league’s day-to-day operations for its first eight seasons. During her tenure, the league expanded from 8 to 16 teams, drew broad national sponsor and network support, established women’s team sports attendance records and maintained successful player labor relations. Ackerman was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and received the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Billie Jean King Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Ackerman served on the USA Basketball Board of Directors for 23 years, including as President for the 2005-08 term, which culminated with gold medals for the men’s and women’s teams at the Beijing Games. She served as a primary NBA liaison to USA Basketball in the early years of the “Dream Team” era and was the driving force behind the 10-month tour of the USA Basketball women’s national team that preceded the 1996 Olympics and set the stage for the launch of the WNBA. She received USA Basketball’s Ed Steitz Award for contributions to international basketball in 2008.

While at the helm of the BIG EAST, Ackerman has presided over the rebirth of the conference following its return in 2013 to its original basketball-centric configuration. She led the move of the conference office to its current location in New York City and has managed the BIG EAST’s fruitful partnerships with Fox Sports and Madison Square Garden, which has hosted the conference’s men’s basketball tournament since 1983. Ackerman led the negotiations that resulted in the return to the BIG EAST in 2020 of the University of Connecticut, one of the conference’s charter members. The BIG EAST has maintained its national successes in men’s basketball since reconfiguration, highlighted by multiple NCAA tournament bids and Villanova’s national titles in 2016 and 2018.

Prior to assuming her role with the BIG EAST, Ackerman a widely acclaimed, comprehensive white paper detailing growth strategies for women’s college basketball.

Ackerman attended Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, New Jersey, where she remains the school’s all-time leading basketball scorer. She was among the first female athletics scholarship recipients at the University of Virginia, from which she graduated in 1981 with a B.A. in political and social thought. She was a four-year starter, three-time captain and two-time Academic All-American on the Cavaliers’ women’s basketball team. She was also the program’s first 1,000-point scorer and was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 50th Anniversary Team in 2002. Ackerman received her law degree from UCLA in 1985.