Las Vegas sports produced plenty of headlines this week, but some of the more interesting developments happened away from the usual game coverage. A blockbuster Lakers sale could alter the city’s NBA expansion race, while a familiar former Raiders quarterback found a new football job. Elsewhere, a local youth coach earned a national honor, the Raiders helped Chaparral High School, and several lesser-known programs continued to expand the valley’s sports landscape.
Lakers sale reshapes Las Vegas NBA expansion race
A group led by former Disney CEO Bob Iger plans to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion.
The deal could affect the race to bring an NBA franchise to Las Vegas.
Iger had previously drawn links to the Las Vegas expansion process. His move toward the Lakers removes one prominent potential ownership group from the field.
Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom said the deal could create an opening for other bidders pursuing a Las Vegas team.
For Southern Nevada, the Lakers sale carries implications beyond Los Angeles. It could reshape the group of investors competing for a future Las Vegas franchise.
Former Raiders QB Derek Carr joins UCLA staff
Former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has joined UCLA as a special advisor to head coach Bob Chesney.
UCLA announced the move Monday. Carr will help Chesney and the Bruins’ offensive staff with game planning. He will also work with the team’s quarterbacks.
Carr spent 11 seasons in the NFL. He played most of his career with the Raiders, including the franchise’s first three seasons in Las Vegas.
The role gives Carr his first major position on a college football staff. It also reunites him with UCLA general manager Darrick Yray, who worked at Fresno State during Carr’s college career.
For Las Vegas fans, the move opens a new chapter for a familiar former Raiders quarterback.
Jenn-Jenn Marshall wins Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA coaching honor
Las Vegas youth basketball coach Jenn-Jenn Marshall won the 2026 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Community Coach of the Year award.
The honor completes a story that appeared in last week’s Off the Strip. Marshall entered the week as one of five national finalists. She was also the only Jr. WNBA coach among them.
The Las Vegas Aces announced her selection Friday. The team praised Marshall for developing young players and helping build interest in basketball.
Marshall has also worked with Aces Academy programs in Henderson. That gives the national honor a direct connection to youth basketball efforts in Southern Nevada.
Raiders surprise Chaparral football programs with new equipment
The Las Vegas Raiders surprised Chaparral High School this week with new equipment for its football and flag football programs.
Raiders football development staff visited the school and presented the gear to players. The visit also included an Intermountain Health Impact Player of the Week presentation.
The donation adds another local example of the Raiders’ work with youth and high school football programs across Southern Nevada.
For Chaparral, the equipment provides direct support to both tackle and flag football players as they prepare for another season.
Tuff-N-Uff brings championship fight back to Sahara
Tuff-N-Uff will return to Sahara Las Vegas on Wednesday, Aug. 19, with its 156th event.
Paula Bittencourt and Rainn Guerrero will meet in the championship main event. The card continues a busy 2026 schedule for the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts promotion.
Tuff-N-Uff has built its reputation as a developmental MMA promotion. It also ranks as the second-longest-running MMA promotion in the United States behind UFC.
The Sahara card offers another reminder that the city’s combat-sports calendar extends well beyond UFC and major boxing events.
Special Olympics Nevada flag football heads toward Raiders headquarters
Special Olympics Nevada begins its Las Vegas flag-football season Aug. 15 at The Meadows School.
The local program will practice and compete on Saturdays through Oct. 3. Special Olympics Nevada also plans to hold its Southern Nevada flag-football regional at Raiders headquarters. The organization has not yet announced a date or time for the regional.
The program includes Unified competition, which places athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Individual skills competition is also available for athletes still developing their game.
The Raiders headquarters regional will give local athletes a chance to compete at one of Southern Nevada’s highest-profile football facilities.
City of Las Vegas adds pickleball, kickball and ultimate Frisbee to fall youth lineup
The City of Las Vegas is offering several less traditional options as part of its fall 2026 youth sports season.
Pickleball will serve players ages 5 to 17 and begins Sept. 12 at Bill Briare Family Park, Durango Hills Park and Police Memorial Park.
Kickball, for ages 5 to 13, starts Sept. 11 at Veterans Memorial Fields and Doc Romeo Park. The city’s Ultimate Frisbee Football League will serve players ages 10 to 17 beginning Sept. 10 at the same two locations.
Registration runs through Aug. 19, and can be completed here.
The programs join more familiar offerings such as baseball, softball, soccer, flag football and indoor hockey.
Have a Las Vegas sports story, event or under-the-radar item you think Dice City Sports should cover? To suggest news for Dice City Sports or the weekly Off the Strip Sunday column, email Mark at Markh.dcs@gmail.com.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
