Danielle Lerner
USA TODAY national sports enterprise reporter. California transplant, but the cool kind.
dlerner@usatodayco.com
- Reposted by Danielle LernerA staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
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- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is still contemplating an Olympic double at the L.A. Games in 2028, even though the Games' schedule makes it difficult. "I wouldn't say it's in the back of my mind. I think it's always towards the front, to be honest," she said. www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
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- In the last 18 months, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke a world record, pivoted to a new event and won a world title. Now, she's hitting pause. The four-time Olympic gold medalist discussed her pregnancy, plans for LA 2028 and her dad's health struggles: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
- Reposted by Danielle LernerJust wanted to take a minute, for no particular reason whatsoever, and celebrate some of the brilliant work that my @postsports.bsky.social colleagues have done in recent weeks. These stories take time and resources. They're also what make The Post so great. All gift links/free to read...
- Reposted by Danielle LernerIt has never been more important to understand what is happening in our world, and @washingtonpost.com's foreign reporters regularly sacrifice their own wellbeing and safety to bring us those vital stories. I'm so proud to share a newsroom with them. We need them more than ever. #SavethePost
- “Why did God let this happen to me?” A family is suing after an Aramark worker allegedly assaulted their 8-year-old son at NRG Stadium. “There’s a lot of people here that need to look within and are ultimately responsible for this,” the boy’s father told USA TODAY. www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
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- Can you measure Victor Wembanyama’s height in Oreos? How does birth order affect NBA performance? Which zodiac sign is the best at basketball? The NBA Research & Development Department has answers. Inside the offbeat experiments taking over social media: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
- Varun brought curiosity and professionalism to the Wizards beat and I know he’ll continue to do the same on the Rockets beat for the Chronicle. Give him a follow.
- Update from Ed Lacerte's daughter, Arianna: Ed is still waiting on his match, but the NMDP blood stem cell donor registry is up to 1,200 registrations! Incredible impact from the Celtics, NBA and USA Basketball sharing Ed's story: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
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- Happening now in women’s college hoops: Undefeated No. 2 Texas takes on No. 12 LSU. One player to watch for the Longhorns is Jordan Lee, whose emergence as a two-way star could propel Texas to a national title: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
- The NFL is aware of domestic violence allegations against Chiefs WR Rashee Rice and is investigating to see if he violated the league's personal conduct policy. What happens next? Decoding the NFL's disciplinary process and potential punishments: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
- Texas women's basketball is 17-0 and looks poised to return to the Final Four. You've likely heard of Texas stars Madison Booker and Rori Harmon. The unsung hero who could propel the Longhorns to a national title? Sophomore Jordan Lee. Inside Lee's rise at Texas: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
- For decades, Ed Lacerte cared for the NBA’s top players as an athletic trainer for the Boston Celtics and USA Basketball. Now, they want to save his life. Story on Lacerte’s tremendous impact and his quest to find a blood stem cell donor: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
- Holy crap Tonie Morgan! What a shot for Kentucky
- Sad to see Michelle Alozie leave Houston, though she should get more playing time in Chicago (on defense, it appears). It was a treat to shadow Alozie at Texas Children’s Hospital for this story on her dual careers as a soccer star and cancer researcher: www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports...
- A new force in the back 🛡️ Chicago Stars FC have acquired defender Michelle Alozie from the Houston Dash in exchange for allocation money and signed her through 2028. Welcome to Chicago, Michelle! 📰: chicagostars.com/first-team/c...
- WNBA players vote to strike if CBA negotiations remain at standstill www.usatoday.com/story/sports... via @usatodaysports.usatoday.com
- This week, FIFA announced record prize money for the 2026 men's world cup -- which also matters to the USWNT. Why? Because of the women's national team CBA and a target set by FIFA's president: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
- Sherrone Moore appeared via video and barely spoke at his arraignment hearing on Friday, where he was ordered by a judge to continue mental health treatment after he allegedly threatened self-harm at the home of a Michigan staffer. Story (TW self-harm): www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
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- NFL clubs voted at league meetings today to invest up to $32M in a pro flag football league. The NFL has been an important partner in growing flag, which is why @usafootball.bsky.social is holding talent ID camps in NFL markets to recruit for the 2028 Olympic teams: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
- For my first @usatodaysports.usatoday.com story, I went to a USA Football talent ID camp to learn how officials are scouring the country for flag football athletes with Olympic potential – building a pipeline while preparing for LA 2028 www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
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- Excited to share that today is my first day at @usatoday.com as a national sports enterprise reporter. I’ll write features and investigations about all sports – stories that cover the heartwarming, corrupt and weird. Email dlerner@usatodayco.com with tips, story ideas and dad jokes.
- Thanks for following along and reading. Really, it means the world. Please support local journalism and be kind to one another. See ya on the flip side. – 30 –
- Alperen Şengün: “Today, if I played the same way I played in the first half, I know we're gonna watch a film next day with Ime. So I just don't want to lose. I just got to get back. I know this team needs me, so I got to do whatever it takes to win.”
- Initial game story from the Rockets’ OT win over the Magic/ my obituary www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...
- Initial game story from the Rockets’ OT win over the Magic/ my obituary www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...
- Of course it's overtime for my last game. Why not?
- With 2:50 remaining in the game, Durant’s 3-pointer just gave the Rockets their first lead since 4-3 in the first quarter. It's 95-94 now. Strap in.
- END 3Q: Rockets 77, Magic 80. Houston has been knocking on the door but Orlando always manages to pull away. The Rockets just have to take care of the ball and make some shots under the basket.
- Fifth turnover of the game for Kevin Durant. He and Alperen Sengun have combined for nine of Houston's 11 turnovers.
- HALFTIME: Rockets 46, Magic 55. The Rockets cut the deficit to two points a couple of times, but the Magic are raining 3s and crowding the paint on defense. Houston has more turnovers (6) than 3-pointers (3, all from the bench). Kevin Durant has 15 pts, Reed Sheppard 10 pts.
- END 1Q: Rockets 23, Magic 30. Orlando shot 5-of-9 from deep and has five blocks. The Rockets’ offense looked best in transition but they shot just 40.7% from the field and are 0-for-3 from deep.
- The Rockets subbed in Aaron Holiday in what is normally Tari Eason's spot. Holiday got the bulk of Eason's minutes in the second half last game.
- Same Rockets starters vs. Magic tonight: Thompson, Okogie, Durant, Smith, Sengun
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- Rockets coach Ime Udoka on Tari Eason's injury: "It was a freak accident, got hit at a weird angle. So that part is unfortunate, no doubt. He'll be back sooner than later, so good news overall that he's not missing the season like (Bradley) Beal." www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...
- Tari Eason has a strained oblique and will be out 4-6 weeks, Rockets coach Ime Udoka just told us after practice.
- The Rockets are averaging an NBA-best 125.5 ppg with a dynamic offense predicated on balanced scoring from multiple players. Kevin Durant: “The great teams got multiple attacks. They can score in the half court, transition, offensive rebounding, they can score in multiple ways.”
- Alperen Şengün came one assist short of a triple-double as the Rockets turned defense into offense and rolled over the Trail Blazers for their first NBA Cup win www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...
- Alperen Şengün came one assist short of a triple-double as the Rockets turned defense into offense and rolled over the Trail Blazers for their first NBA Cup win www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...
- Rockets coach Ime Udoka didn’t have an update on Tari Eason (right hip contusion) postgame (this isn’t unusual, he’ll probably get more info tomorrow after season has been examined)
- That's 15 steals for the Rockets, a season high
- After Sharpe dunked on Smith and stared him down, Smith responded by nailing a 3-pointer over Sharpe and talked back to him. Fun matchup here.
- Tari Eason is out with a right hip contusion for the remainder of the game
- HALFTIME: Rockets 69, Blazers 60. Jabari Smith Jr. came up big with 10 points in the second quarter and the Rockets stepped up their effort on the boards. Hopefully Tari Eason is OK after leaving with an apparent injury.
- END 1Q: Rockets 41, Trail Blazers 32. Interesting dynamic as both teams are kind of getting beaten at their own game. Houston has three steals and seven points off turnovers against a steal-hungry Portland team, but the Blazers are leading 8-3 in second-chance points.
- Ime Udoka says Rockets starters remain the same tonight vs. Portland: Thompson, Okogie, Durant, Smith, Sengun. Says that while Portland is an aggressive team with good isolation scorers, the Rockets should be able to get an advantage by attacking the offensive glass per usual.
- The Rockets’ NBA Cup court is here
- The Rockets’ practice soundtrack is an audible gumbo of musical artists: Gunna, the Isley Brothers and Metallica all mixing in the same pot. Throw in some Afrobeat and jazz on occasion, too. It started with assistant coach Josh Bostic, the team’s vibe-setter www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...
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- Every year I'm in awe of the @houstonchronicle.com food team's Top 100 restaurants, and this year is no different. Love that you can mark which places you've already dined at and save a wish list. www.houstonchronicle.com/project/top-...
- "He taught me a lot when he was here. He was my brother," Alperen Şengün said of Tiago Splitter. More here: www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...
- Free throw practice contracts paying off for Steven Adams (Story: www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rocke...)
