Basketball: the main stories of 06.09.2026

The United States are into the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup in Berlin, and they got there shooting badly: 55-52 against Italy, with Caitlin Clark 0-6 from the field. Three days earlier the same side had brushed China aside; this time they held on grimly. Cecilia Zandalasini said afterwards that she had been poked in the eye, a claim the reports carry without any ruling from the officials attached to it. A 3-point margin against a side outside the tournament favourites is the first evidence that the American group can be squeezed.

Two days after the league took $30m and draft picks off the Clippers over the Kawhi Leonard contract, the consequences are running in several directions at once. Kenny Smith, the Inside the NBA analyst, said the club deserved it: "They weren't just walking the line — they were cheating." Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports reports that the sanctions may push the club towards trading Darius Garland, though that rests on a single account. On the same subject from the other side, J. Cole used a concert at the Intuit Dome to back the club's supporters against commissioner Adam Silver.

• ESPN's Anthony Slater says Golden State will hand the 38-year-old Stephen Curry a maximum extension worth $136.7m, with no discount; one outlet so far.
• LeBron James has been criticised on social media over his new partnership with the prediction platform Polymarket.
• Every squad at the World Cup except the United States, who are housed separately, was evacuated from its Berlin hotel overnight by a fire alarm, according to Sky Sport.
• Steve Kerr named rookie Yaxel Lendeborg as a candidate for the Golden State starting five.
• Ben Simmons, who signed a one-year deal in Sacramento two days ago, is open to staying beyond 2026/27, ESPN's Marc Spears reports.
• Isaiah Thomas, now a scout on Boston's staff, wants a season in Europe.
• Hapoel Jerusalem have moved to the next stage of the process for a permanent EuroLeague licence.
• Crvena zvezda opened pre-season with a 91-85 win over Milan, Jordan Nwora top-scoring with 23 points; Barcelona beat Andorra 101-96 after overtime.
• New York are weighing up a move for Bruce Brown, who has been linked with the Lakers.
• Writers close to Brooklyn expect Michael Porter to be traded before the deadline.
• Tonight: Lokomotiv-Kuban play Tofas and Dubai meet Besiktas at the Gloria Cup in Belek; Crvena zvezda face Olympiacos and Fenerbahce play Milan in friendlies.