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WNBA star Brittney Griner has signed a deal with the Phoenix Mercury, the team announced Tuesday. 

The big picture: Griner was released late last year in a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia that caught international attention. Her incarceration led her to miss the 2022 season. 

Details: ESPN reports Griner, who was a free agent, signed a one-year, $165,100 contract with the Mercury on Saturday.

This will be her 10th season with the Mercury, who drafted her No. 1 overall in 2013, per Basketball Reference. 

Her last game was in the 2021 WNBA Finals in which Phoenix fell to the Chicago Sky.

What they're saying: "We missed BG every day that she was gone and, while basketball was not our primary concern, her presence on the floor, in our locker room, around our organization, and within our community was greatly missed," Mercury General manager Jim Pitman said in a press release.

The Mercury "will continue to use the resources of our organization to support her, on and off the floor," he added.

Representatives for Griner did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Catch up quick: In December 2022, the WNBA star was exchanged in a prisoner swap for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. She landed back home in the U.S. at a Texas military base days later.

Russian officials  arrested Griner in February at a Moscow-area airport after finding a vape cartridge with cannabis oil in her luggage.

She pleaded guilty in July of last year. She received a nine-year prison sentence and was transferred to a penal colony.

Flashback: In her first public comments after coming home, Griner said she intended "to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season."

"I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon," she said.

Go deeper: How the Biden admin says Brittney Griner's release happened

Griner dunks in first basketball workout since Russian detention

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WNBA star Brittney Griner signs new contract with the Phoenix Mercury

Griner was arrested in February after Russian officials found a vape cartridge with hashish oil in her luggage.

 Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury during the 2021 WNBA Finals.

 Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury during the 2021 WNBA Finals. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

WNBA

NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

Sports

Former NBA star Paul Pierce agreed to pay a $1.4 million settlement over allegations that he promoted a cryptocurrency without disclosing he was paid, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Friday.

Driving the news: Pierce, nicknamed "The Truth," also made false and misleading statements about a token called EthereumMax, the SEC said.

The SEC previously charged Kim Kardashian with unlawfully promoting EthereumMax. She agreed to pay $1.26 million as part of a settlement.

The Boston Celtics legend received more than $244,000 worth of EMAX tokens to promote the cryptocurrency but didn't disclose how much he was paid in Twitter posts, according to the SEC.

Pierce, a Basketball Hall of Famer and 10-time NBA All-Star, did not admit to or deny the allegations in the settlement.

In addition to paying $1.4 million in the settlement, Pierce agreed not to promote any crypto assets for three years, the SEC said.

What they're saying: "This case is yet another reminder to celebrities: The law requires you to disclose to the public from whom and how much you are getting paid to promote investment in securities, and you can’t lie to investors when you tout a security," said SEC Chair Gary Gensler in a statement.

Worth noting: Go deeper: SEC's crypto stance gets a boost from Kim Kardashian

NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce to pay $1.4 million in crypto case

Pierce, nicknamed "The Truth," allegedly made false and misleading statements about the cryptocurrency EthereumMax.

Paul Pierce Boston Celtics stands on the court.

Paul Pierce Boston Celtics stands on an NBA court in 2010. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Cryptocurrencies

The Kansas City Chiefs are world champs yet again, beating the Eagles, 38-35, on Sunday night in the third-highest scoring Super Bowl ever.

Game recap: Philadelphia took a 10-point lead into the locker room on the strength of a Jalen Hurts masterclass, as the MVP runner-up rushed for two scores and threw for another just in the first half.

Then, it was Patrick Mahomes' turn to prove why he was the MVP, and he did not disappoint, engineering a near-perfect second half by scoring on all four drives and helping set up the game-winning field goal with eight seconds left.

Mahomes' heroics (21/27, 182 yards, 3 TD; 44 rush yards) earned him his second Super Bowl MVP.

Wild stat: Teams leading by double digits at halftime of the Super Bowl had been 26-1 before Sunday. Now, they're 26-2.

The big picture: Mahomes is the first player in NFL history with multiple championships and multiple MVPs in his first six seasons.

Chiefs win Super Bowl, 38-35

Patrick Mahomes earned his second Super Bowl MVP.

Super Bowl

Hurts and Mahomes make history at 2023 Super Bowl

"It's a historic moment. It's telling kids that maybe if someone is telling them they can't do something, that it can be done," said Hurts.

Football field at 2023 Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.

Kickoff time at Sunday's 2023 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes talk at a press conference the week of the Super Bowl.

For the first time, Apple Music, the NFL and Roc Nation are teaming up for the Super Bowl halftime show Sunday.

Driving the news: The highly anticipated halftime show featuring Rihanna marks her first return to the live music stage in seven years.

One of the biggest pop artists of the past two decades, she has been scarce in the music scene since her 2016 album "Anti."

Meanwhile, Rihanna made the Forbes’ Billionaires List in April 2022.

What they’re saying: Rihanna spoke Thursday at the Apple Music press conference about being asked to do the show three months after having her son. 

“When you become a mom there’s something that happens where you feel like you can take on the world and can do anything,” she said.  

“The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world. As scary as it was, because I haven’t been on stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all. It’s important for me to do this year. It’s important for my son to see that.”

Between the lines: Apple Music released a trailer for the performance on Thursday, featuring “Rihanna Drive” in Barbados, the singer’s birthplace. 

The music streaming service is inviting fans to experience the pop star’s catalog with their “Spatial Audio” feature, sing along with Apple Music Sing, tune in to Apple Music Radio for commentary and a recap show Monday following the game. 

The big picture: The nine-time Grammy winner, who spoke about representation at Thursday’s press conference, will follow several iconic female artists like Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Katy Perry, Madonna and Lady Gaga. 

Fox is broadcasting the big game and it can be watched on cable, most satellite providers or with an over-the-air antenna for free. The game can also be watched on the Fox Sports App or through most streaming services, including on Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV and fuboTV. 

Kickoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles is scheduled for 6:30pm EST Sunday, Feb. 12. The pregame starts at 6pm or 3pm PST, with ongoing coverage happening throughout the day. 

Super Bowl LVII halftime show features Rihanna

This is Rihanna's first return to the live music stage in seven years.

Rihanna poses for photos after the Super Bowl LVII Apple Music Halftime Show press conference held at the Phoenix Convention Center. 

Sports betting laws, by state

Data: American Gaming Association; Cartogram: Axios Visuals

For the first time ever, the Super Bowl is being held in a state where sports betting is legal — and at a stadium with its own sportsbook.

Why it matters: The milestone game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, represents America's — and the NFL's — vastly evolved stance on gambling.

State(s) of play: Arizona is one of 33 states (plus Washington, D.C.) with a live, legal sports betting market. It ranks 10th in total handle (wagers accepted) among all states since PASPA was overturned in 2018, per Legal Sports Report.

The intrigue: 50.4 million U.S. adults are expected to wager $16 billion on Super Bowl LVII, per the American Gaming Association. Both figures are roughly double last year's record tally.

Some of those bets will be placed at the BetMGM Sportsbook on the State Farm Stadium grounds.

It's one of 11 in-venue sportsbooks across the country and the first (of two) at an NFL stadium.

The big picture: The NFL has come a long way from being the league that once banned players from appearing at an offseason fantasy football event in Las Vegas.

Its reservations were rooted in a fear of match-fixing, but once PASPA was overturned and the nationwide attitude began to change, the NFL embraced betting as much as any league.

In 2021 alone, the NFL inked deals with Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings and FanDuel to be its official sports betting partners, as well as additional agreements with BetMGM, FOX Bet, PointsBet and WynnBet.

And frankly, the league should be thrilled by the sea change: 34% of fans say the expansion of legal sports betting has made games more exciting.

What we're watching: There's no one-size-fits-all approach to legal sports betting markets. Here's a brief snapshot of some differences nationwide, courtesy of our Axios Local coverage:

Arkansas legalized in-person sports betting back in 2018, but only began taking mobile wagers last March, per Axios NW Arkansas.

In Washington, gambling is limited to those on the premises of a tribal casino — a restriction some are pushing to change, per Axios Seattle.

North Carolina also only allows sports betting at tribal casinos, but lawmakers are expected to push for the legalization of mobile wagering soon, per Axios Raleigh.

This Super Bowl is the first in a state with legal sports betting

Americans are expected to wager $16B on the Super Bowl — roughly double last year's bets.

Sports betting

Native Americans are doubling down on protests over the Kansas City Chiefs' appropriation of Indigenous cultures ahead of the team's face-off against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The big picture: The push is part of a larger movement to end the use of racist stereotypes and sports traditions rooted in the cultural appropriation of Indigenous people who were systematically wiped out by white colonizers.

State of play: The team's name comes from former Kansas City mayor Harold Roe Bartle, who called himself "chief" as part of the so-called Tribe of Mic-O-Say, which he founded in the 1920s. 

The Tribe of Mic-O-Say, which is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America and still exists today, has long-perpetrated made-up narratives, imageries and ceremonies that relied on racist tropes and encouraged its members to "play Indian."

The Kansas City Chiefs franchise fully embraced the name, which spun off into appropriation that included the use of an arrowhead logo, a so-called "tomahawk chop" and "war drum," face paint, headdresses and other Indigenous symbols. On Super Bowl Sunday, the team will sport white jerseys with the arrowhead logo and the initials KC.

In the mid-1980s, Chiefs fans also began using a made-up "war chant" popularized by Florida State University.

Driving the news: Native Americans, led by the coalition Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots, plan to stake out in protest outside State Farm Stadium in Arizona this week.

Several Indigenous advocates from Kansas City are expected to join as well. 

What they're saying: "Native American mascots, including nicknames, logos, and costumes of Native American people in sports, promote stereotypes and dehumanize Native People," the coalition said in a press release about the demonstration.

"While fans can feel good about their team as they appropriate and mock Native people, real and actual Native people endure the consequences ... Native people are stereotypes, hate-crimed, and their voices are drowned out."

Worth noting: An art gallery owner in Scottsdale, Arizona was captured on camera harassing a group of Native American performers as they were attempting to film for the Super Bowl this week.

The video shows him chanting in a mocking manner and saying "MAGA Country" at one point, per Fox 10.

There are 22 federally recognized tribal nations in Arizona.

Flashback: When the Chiefs last played the Super Bowl in 2020, the team faced similar calls to ban the use of tribal headdresses and symbols, change its name and end the "tomahawk chop" and "war chant."

A ban on headdresses and face paint only happened after the Washington Commanders decided to drop its racist name.

Cheerleaders also began using a closed fist instead of an open hand for the "tomahawk chop," though the change was subtle and not nearly enough for many Native Americans, AP notes.

The team started inviting Native leaders to perform and hold ceremonies at some games after initiating conversations with the American Indian Community Working Group in 2014.

Don't forget: Several other sports teams have taken steps to rebuild their brands in recent years.

In addition to the Washington Commanders, the Cleveland Indians baseball team officially became the Guardians in November 2021 and discontinued its "Chief Wahoo" mascot.

Native Americans are protesting Kansas City Chiefs ahead of Super Bowl

The Chiefs has faced calls to end its use of a "tomahawk chop" and made-up "war chant" for years.

Photo of a Kansas City Chiefs fan wearing a fake mohawk and fake war paint on the face

A Kansas City Chiefs fan looks on during a pregame at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Jan. 21 Photo: Cooper Neill via Getty Images

Native Americans

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., will play host to the 2023 Super Bowl this weekend after years of waiting.

Why it matters: Picking a Super Bowl host city and stadium isn't done overnight — it's the result of a thorough and lengthy process that begins years in advance.

Driving the news: This weekend's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will be the first to feature two Black quarterbacks (and promises an epic halftime with the return of Rihanna).

The big picture: The process begins with the NFL gauging hosting interest across all of its clubs, Matt Shapiro, vice president of events strategy for the NFL, told Axios. Teams will work with their cities to determine interest, too.

The NFL will analyze "what might make sense for each year" and compare it with future plans and previously-announced cities, Shapiro said.

The league will then work with the Fan Engagement and Major Events Advisory Committee, which is a group of 11 different NFL clubs represented by owners and presidents, to review the potential cities.

Lastly, the NFL will put recommendations before NFL ownership for a vote.

The NFL can announce the location "once there has been an affirmative vote," Shapiro said.

Worth noting: The timeline to select a city can vary depending on circumstance, Shapiro said.

How NFL determines cities, venues for the Super Bowl

Zoom in: Weather, stadium quality, and the mix of hotels and nearby venues are main factors for the selecting a city, Shapiro said.

"Super Bowl is not just Super Bowl Sunday," he said. "There's a tremendous amount of events throughout the week."

The NFL will also consider how long it's been since a city hosted the big game, Shapiro said.

Local partnership and support also play a factor — "politically, logistically and otherwise," he said.

This year's Super Bowl Host Committee committed to $45 million in spending, committee president and CEO Jay Parry told Axios Phoenix. That's compared to $28 million for the 2015 game and about $13 million in 2008.

Yes, but: NFL will pull an audible sometimes. For example, it has hosted the Super Bowl in some cold weather cities, like the 2014 Super Bowl in New York.

MetLife Stadium ahead of Super Bowl XLVIII on January 31, 2014

MetLife Stadium ahead of Super Bowl XLVIII on Jan. 31, 2014. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

What's next: The NFL has already picked its next two Super Bowl locations — Las Vegas and New Orleans.

The league is always "looking at the horizon overall and figuring out the optimal strategic sequence" for picking future cities, Shapiro told Axios.

Of note: The NFL has recently expanded its reach to international cities with games in London, but there are no immediate plans for an international Super Bowl.

"I think we would never broadly take something entirely off the table, but at this point, at least in the short term horizon, we're focused on domestic cities," Shapiro said.

Go deeper: Super Bowl parties are getting more expensive

Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes will make Super Bowl history

How the NFL picks its Super Bowl cities

Cities don't bid to host the Super Bowl anymore. The NFL has a new and lengthy process to find the right host.

 In an aerial view of State Farm Stadium on January 28, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.

An aerial view of State Farm Stadium on Jan. 28, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

LeBron James scored his 38,388th career point Tuesday night in Los Angeles, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

The big picture: James reached the staggering sum by combining three critical factors better than any player in league history: longevity, consistent excellence and durability.

Longevity: He's one of just 10 players to play in at least 20 seasons, which fellow top-five members Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant also did. Karl Malone played in 19, so the only real outlier is Michael Jordan (15 seasons), because of course he is.

Consistent excellence: James has the fifth-highest career points per game average in NBA history (27.22), and he's looking as strong as ever in year 20, ranking seventh in the league this season.

Durability: He's rarely missed time to injury, logging the third-most regular-season minutes and by far the most playoff minutes all-time.

Between the lines: James becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer is particularly remarkable given he doesn't even consider scoring to be his best attribute. "I've always prided myself in being a pass-first guy," he told ESPN.

He also ranks fourth all-time in assists, and has scored more points than John Stockton (No. 1 on that list) and Jason Kidd (No. 2), combined.

It's that all-around nature that makes James such a unicorn. Some guys are scorers, some are distributors, some are defensive savants, some are great teammates; LeBron is all of those things at once.

The bottom line: It's hard to overstate the amount of hype surrounding James when he entered the NBA as an 18-year-old in 2003.

It's even harder to overstate how impressive it is that he not only lived up to — but actually exceeded — those sky-high expectations.

LeBron James breaks NBA scoring record

James combined three critical factors better than any player in league history: longevity, consistency and durability.

LeBron James during a game against the Portland Trailblazers last month.

LeBron James looks to pass during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers last month. Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Lebron James

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs may be the two teams competing in Super Bowl LVII, but a number of artists and actors will grab the spotlight during the big game too.

The big picture: A number of notable music artists, actors and performers — from viral TikTok stars to Grammy Award-winning singers — will appear throughout the Super Bowl LVII event, which kicks off Sunday, Feb. 12, at 6:30pm EST.

Here is a look at what performances to expect at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Super Bowl Sunday.

Jason Derulo and The Black Keys will headline the NFL TikTok Tailgate party ahead of the game, the NFL announced in January.

Fans will be able to watch "hours of live programming" from the event on the NFL's TikTok page, according to the NFL.

NFL experts and TikTok creators may appear during the party too, per the NFL.

Super Bowl LVII: Who is singing the national anthem?

Grammy Award-winner Chris Stapleton is scheduled to sing the national anthem before the game kicks off. Stapleton has won 15 Country Music Association awards and 10 Academy of Country Music awards, according to the NFL.

"CODA" actor Troy Kotsur will perform the national anthem in American Sign Language.

The Navy will conduct a flyover with women aviators as part of the formation during the national anthem as a way to celebrate 50 years of women flying for the Navy, the NFL said.

Who is singing "America the Beautiful" at the Super Bowl?

R&B singer Babyface has been announced to perform “America the Beautiful.”

Colin Denny, a member of the Navajo Nation in Arizona, will sign the song.

Who will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at the Super Bowl?

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who starred in the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls," is scheduled to sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Viral TikTok star Justina Miles, who is deaf, will sign the song. She will also provide the ASL version of the halftime show.

Super Bowl LVII: Who is performing at halftime?

Rihanna — yes, that Rihanna — will be performing at the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Rihanna hinted in an interview with E! News that she may bring special guests onto the stage for her 12-minute performance.

Why it matters: Rihanna, one of the biggest pop artists of the past two decades, has been absent from the music scene since her 2016 album "Anti." 

Instead, she has been busy becoming the youngest self-made billionaire woman.

Super Bowl LVII: Who is performing?

The NFL has a massive entertainment lineup on deck for Super Bowl LVII, which kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 12.

All NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL stories