From Britney Griner’s return to another defeat for the Raiders, here’s what happened last week in Las Vegas Sports (Dec 5 – 11).
#6 Las Vegas Aces General Manager reacts to Britney Griner’s release
Brittany Griner was released from a Russian prison last week in a move that captivated the sports world. The former WNBA Champion was originally sentenced to nine years.
Politics aside, The WNBA community is very happy to have their fellow competitor home. The entire league took to social media to express their joy that Griner was finally back on American soil. The Las Vegas Aces also praised Griner’s release in a heartfelt message posted by Nikki Fargas on Twitter.
“The mental state of mind and that mental toughness that she exemplified through these last 10 months says a lot about her character and her faith and we can’t be happier to be back home,” Fargas said.
#5 Richard Childress Racing announces 2023 sponsors for Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch is facing a lot of unknowns going into his first season with RCR, but sponsorships aren’t one of them. Several sponsors have come on board to partner with the Las Vegas native for the upcoming season. These include Cheddars, Scratch Kitchen, 3CHI, Lenovo and BetMGM.
“Our business relationships are paramount to our organization, and we’re proud to confirm that our primary partners on the No. 8 team will be returning to RCR in 2023,” said Torrey Galida, president of RCR, in a statement. “Their commitment to our organization is a testament to our team’s collaborative approach and the value it has delivered to so many great brands.”
This news comes after Busch’s tumultuous exit with Joe Gibbs Racing just last season. Busch made his contract negotiations pretty public from the beginning and got a bad reputation as a result. Coach Gibbs later explained that sponsorship was an issue with Busch, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
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#4 Final decision on Athletics coming to Las Vegas expected in 2023?
The Oakland Athletics have been in negotiations with their home city for years now over a new stadium, but the team is also scouting Las Vegas as a possible place to relocate.
According to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, “the Athletics need to get a deal done before January 15th, 2024, which is when their revenue sharing extension ends. They need to have a deal by then, so this is a very, very important year.”
#3 Las Vegas Raiders playoff hopes plummet after loss to Rams
The Las Vegas Raiders’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams hurt on another level. Not only did it show how bad of a fourth-quarter team they are, but it also made their playoff chances plummet. Las Vegas now sits with a 4% chance of making the playoffs.
If the Las Vegas Raiders can win their last four games, they will have a 56% chance of making a wildcard spot, according to the New York Times. It might be a long shot, but it’s the Raiders’ last chance to save their season.
#2 Alex Pietrangelo to miss time for the Golden Knights
Alex Pietrangelo has served as an anchor for the Golden Knights but will miss time due to a family illness. Las Vegas has removed Pietrangelo from the active roster, and there is no clear timetable for his return. While the Knights will be down an important player, the organization remains in staunch support of their superstar.
“The Vegas Golden Knights wholeheartedly support Alex,” The Golden Knights said in a statement regarding their player’s absence. “the Pietrangelos ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this time.”
Pietrangelo has contributed a lot to The Golden Knights, including three goals, 18 assists, and seven power-play points. That’s a big loss for Las Vegas.
#1 Josh McDaniels gets honest about loss to the Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Las Vegas Raiders last Thursday, putting Las Vegas right back where it started. What makes the loss more disappointing is the Raiders’ offense couldn’t score in the second half. The defense also gave up two touchdowns in the final minutes of the game. This sealed the deal and left the Raiders in the dust.
“I don’t look at it as a step back. We didn’t finish the game — that’s the reality, you know?” McDaniels admitted in the post-game press conference. “I thought we were ready to play. I thought we competed. We got off to a decent start and then we didn’t capitalize.”
The Raiders had an impressive three-game winning streak going and a chance at a wildcard spot. Now, they must win their last four games to be in the conversation. Josh McDaniels is facing a myriad of criticism for his poor decision-making in Thursday’s loss. This probably isn’t enough to cost him his job, but it definitely destroyed the momentum he built.
And that’s what happened last week in Las Vegas Sports (Dec 5 – 11)!
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