January 2025

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

The Pistons big man is missing his own bobblehead night after losing his cool again vs. the Pacers. On Friday night the Detroit Pistons are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks, and as part of a promotion the team is giving away 5,000 Isaiah Stewart bobbleheads. This is part of a special “Dawg Pound” promotion the team has run this season, with a previous bobblehead being released for Jalen Duren.
There is just one problem with tonight’s planned giveaway.
Stewart might not be around for the game.
Earlier Friday the NBA announced a one-game suspension for Stewart, handed down along with a $50,000 fine for making “inappropriate and objectionable gestures” during Detroit’s loss Wednesday to the Indiana Pacers. Stewart was ejected in the second quarter for this shove on Thomas Bryant:

Isaiah Stewart was ejected from Pistons-Pacers after shoving Thomas Bryant. pic.twitter.com/y28vkYjaPL— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 30, 2025

Stewart received a Flagrant-2 and was ejected for the incident.
The Detroit player entered the game Wednesday against the Pacers with four flagrant foul points already on the season, so the call triggered the automatic suspension based on the NBA’s regular-season protocols.
As of publication, there is no word from the team on whether the bobblehead giveaway will be rescheduled.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

January was a brutal month for the Wizards, and this stat puts it into perspective Thursday night’s game between the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Lakers saw the hometown Wizards lose by a final score of 134-96. The Lakers outscored Washington 36-16 in the second quarter en route to a 78-48 lead at the halftime break, and Los Angeles was able to empty the bench during the second half as they coasted to the victory.
The loss dropped Washington to 6-41 on the season, and with the Wizards not playing again until February 1, the loss also closed out their month of January.
It was not a good month at all, as Washington finished with a 1-16 record in the month of January. Their lone victory came back on the first day on the new year, as the Wizards knocked off the Chicago Bulls by a final score of 126-107.
Just how bad is that record?
Consider this from the NFL world. While the Wizards were struggling Washington fans could take solace in the success of the Washington Commanders. Jayden Daniels and company closed out the regular season with a win over the Dallas Cowboys on January 5. While Daniels and the rest of the Washington starters sat that game out to rest for the playoffs, Marcus Mariota led the Commanders to a 23-19 win.
Then in the playoffs the Commanders put together a dream run to the NFC Championship Game. They knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 on Wild Card Weekend, and then took on the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. Washington stormed into Detroit and left the Motor City with a 45-31 win, and a spot in the NFC Championship Game.
While their dream run ended the following week in Philadelphia with a loss to the Eagles, that meant the Commanders finished January with a 3-1 record, having won two more games than the Wizards did over the same month.
Maybe February will bring some better luck for the Wizards.

Best plays from the past 7 days in the NHL, including Kyle Connor splitting the D and roofing one top corner, Charlie Lindgren flying back to absolutely rob the Canucks, and Connor Bedard’s amazing pinpoint control snipe from a near impossible angle.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid talks about the always exciting matchup vs. the Maple Leafs, but do we sense a little bitterness about having to play at 5pm ET at home just to accommodate them?

Photo by Joseph Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Nashville and Detroit are the latest cities hoping to bring professional women’s basketball to town. Two new cities are hoping to bring WNBA teams to town as the league continues expanding: Detroit and Nashville.
Those two bidders join a long list of cities that have reportedly expressed interest in bringing professional women’s basketball to town, a list that includes Charlotte, Austin, Cleveland, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Houston, and Milwaukee.
Already, three teams are set to join the WNBA — the Golden State Valkyries in 2025, and the Toronto Tempo, and a yet-to-be-named Portland team in 2026. But, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stated on numerous occasions the league is hoping to add a 16th team, and as the popularity of the league has exploded, a growing list of cities have entered the fold of WNBA expansion.
Tennesse’s expansion bid would be named after Pat Summitt
WNBA legend Candace Parker and NFL Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning are hoping to bring a team to Nashville, Tennessee, per Knox News. The team, already named the Tennessee Summitt in honor of Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, was officially revealed in a bid on Thursday. The bid is being led by Nashville Predators chairman Bill Haslam, as well as country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Its name is particularly fitting — Pat Summitt, who passed away in 2016, is one of the winningness coaches in NCAA history. If the bid was accepted, the team would play at Bridgestone Arena, beginning in 2028.

Bill Haslam has announced his bid for the WNBA’s final expansion team: the Tennessee Summitt.The team’s ownership group includes Candace Parker, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and Peyton Manning. pic.twitter.com/CkbhlL0PnY— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 30, 2025

Detroit aims for a WNBA team almost 15 years after the Shock left down
Detroit is another city vying for the WNBA’s 16th team. Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores is hoping to bring professional women’s basketball back to the city and submitted an official bid; the Detroit Shock was one of the WNBA’s most popular franchises for 12 seasons, winning three championships and regularly leading the league in attendance.

Investor group led by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores submits bid to bring the WNBA back to Detroit: https://t.co/hj7H8g59YO pic.twitter.com/z2elhTSiYV— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 31, 2025

But, the team was sold and move to Tulsa in 2010 — and in 2015, Tulsa Shock majority owner Bill Cameron moved the franchise to the Dallas area. Today, that franchise is the Dallas Wings.
“This is an exciting opportunity to welcome the WNBA back to Detroit and bring additional investment and economic activity into the city,” Gores said. “For the WNBA this is home, and our bid represents an unprecedented opportunity for the league to come full circle and effect a long-hoped-for Detroit homecoming. No city is more prepared to embrace the team as a community asset that drives unity and common ground.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmore and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan expressed fervent support for the bid.
“Michiganders are fired up,” Whitmer said. “Our passion for our teams and players is unmatched, our commitment to our communities remains unwavering, and our vision for women’s sports is crystal clear. My administration stands ready to support this franchise’s success.”
The team would play at Little Caesars Arena, where the Pistons play. The bid also includes plans for a brand-new practice facility and team headquarters.
The battle for the WNBA’s 16th team will be incredibly competitive, with nearly a dozen cities in the fold. This week, it only got complicated.

Starting Monday and lasting all week, we’ll be broadcasting PFT Live from New Orleans.