St. John’s Opens With Best Ever NCAA Ranking

Johnnies head into preseason at #5

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@QueensLedger.com

On Monday, the St. John’s Red Storm Men’s Basketball team received a #5 ranking in the AP preseason poll. It’s the program’s highest ever ranking before the college season tips off, following their appearance as a #2 seed in the 2025 NCAA basketball tournament. 

The previous record for the program was set ahead of their legendary 1984-85 season where Lou Carnesecca’s Redmen marched their way to the Final Four. Now the Red Storm will look to improve on last season’s dominance which saw them win their first outright BIG EAST title since that very same 1984-85 campaign.

The Red Storm aren’t the only BIG EAST squad lauded in the AP’s Top-25 rankings. Just ahead of St. John’s are the rival UConn Huskies, who fell short in their quest to “three-peat” as national champions in March. Like the Red Storm, UConn’s March Madness run came to an end in the second round, falling to #1 seeded Florida. 

While they fell in both regular season matchups against St. John’s, dropped the conference tournament semifinal to Creighton, and finished third in the conference last year, UConn will enter the 2025-26 season as the highest ranked team in the BIG EAST.

The Creighton Bluejays also made the cut for the Top-25, coming in at #23. The Bluejays accounted for one of the two conference losses faced by Pitino’s Red Storm last season. They also put up a brave fight in the BIG EAST Tournament final before St. John’s pulled away late for a 82-66 win. Like UConn, Creighton’s NCAA Tournament was cut short by a #1 seed in the second round, falling to Auburn 82-70.

Despite a large contingent of Red Storm stars departing for the pros, the top transfer class in the nation has arrived in Queens. Reigning BIG EAST Coach of the Year Rick Pitino has built a formidable squad despite only four returning players in Seniors Zuby Ejiofor and Sadiku Ibine Ayo and Sophomores Ruben Pray and Lefteris Liotopoulous.

Ejiofor’s return will be vital for Pitino’s team this year, as the 2024-25 BIG EAST Most Improved Player was a major contributor on both sides of the floor. In his second year in Queens, Ejiofor brought his averages up to 14.7 points per game alongside 8 rebounds and over 2 combined steals and blocks per game. Zuby also saw his field goal percentage jump from 49% in 2023-24 to 58% to help power the Red Storm to glory.

Ejiofor was part of a trio of stars that shared countless Player of the Game, Week, and Month awards. His former teammates RJ Luis Jr. and Kadary Richmond are looking to cement roster spots with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards during NBA preseason camp, but Zuby will be eyeing another dominant college season to increase his draft stock.

A star-studded 7-player transfer class will be looking forward to their Red Storm debuts. Among them are former McDonald’s All-American and Top-10 High School prospects Ian Jackson and Dillon Mitchell, 2022-23 BIG EAST First Team honoree Bryce Hopkins, and shooting threats Oziyah Sellers and Joson Sanon. Also joining SJU via the transfer portal are reigning Big Sky Player of the Year Dylan Darling and Appalachian Athletic Conference (NAIA) Player of the Year Handje Tamba.

The Red Storm preseason slate tips off this weekend when St. John’s hosts Towson at Carnesecca Arena on Saturday afternoon. They’ll play another exhibition game against #7 Michigan on Saturday, October 25.

The Red Storm will host 12 games at Madison Square Garden this season, the most they’ve had since 1951-52. The first of these games is scheduled for November 8 against the #15 Alabama Crimson Tide. It’ll be the second game of the year for St. John’s, following their season opener against Quinnipiac at Carnesecca Arena on November 3.

Judge Orders City to Resume Negotiations with Queens Garden

The Jardin de Santa Cecilia Gentili, formerly known as Sunset Community Garden, was facing immediate eviction after members condemned Zionism.

BY COLE SINANIAN

At a federal district court house in Downtown Brooklyn on Friday, US District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ordered NYC Parks to resume negotiations with the Jardin de Santa Cecilia Gentili, a community garden in Ridgewood that the City had moved to evict after a neighbor complained its community values statement — which condemns Zionism, anti-semitism, nationalism, transphobia and “all forms of hate” —  was discriminatory. 

The City had previously terminated the garden’s license in May and issued a notice in August directing gardeners to vacate the space — located at the intersection of Onderdonk and Willoughby Avenues in Ridgewood — by September 3rd. The case had been moving through State court, but after a judge sided against the gardeners in July, the garden’s legal team re-filed in federal court, seeking a preliminary injunction to halt eviction. 

Judge Hall gave the gardeners and the City until November 7th to negotiate outside of court, asking the City’s lawyers to tell NYC Parks they must come to an agreement with the garden and present it to her on the 7th. 

The City alleged the gardeners had failed to adjust their community values to comply with public space rules and that a small memorial to Cecilia Gentili, a deceased neighbor and trans-rights activist, violated Parks’ rules. The City received complaints about the garden through City Councilmember and staunch Israel supporter Robert Holden, who submitted them on behalf of a neighbor named Christina Wilkinson. Wilkinson had been involved in the garden’s development in the early 2010s, but was no longer involved by the time the garden opened in 2023. 

But the gardeners, who are the plaintiffs in the case, argued that the City’s termination of the garden’s license based on the content of its values statement constitutes viewpoint discrimination, violating their First Amendment rights. And an NYC Parks official had admitted that the City rarely enforces rules on art installations in public gardens, which the garden’s legal team has argued is evidence of selective and discriminatory enforcement as the art piece in question honors a transgender woman. Successful eviction of the gardeners on behalf of a single disgruntled neighbor would set a dangerous legal precedent, the plaintiffs argued, and would embolden critics to employ the City’s power as a cudgel to silence marginalized groups. 

“It would unleash a chilling effect across the city, sending a clear command: censor yourself — surrender your Constitutional rights — or risk license termination and harassment,” wrote Niki Cross, the garden’s co-counsel, in a prepared statement to Judge Hall. 

Cross addressed the courtroom draped in a black keffiyeh — a traditional scarf known to symbolize solidarity with Palestinians — while the garden’s attorney, Jonathan Wallace, sat silently, sporting a low gray ponytail. Besides NYC attorneys Leslie Spitalnick and Blake Ahlberg, the City’s side of the courtroom was empty. About a dozen observers sat on the gardeners’ side, several of whom wore keffiyehs as well. In the minutes before the hearing began, an observer on the garden’s side distributed a pamphlet titled “The Land and the People: Community Gardens in NYC.”

A courtroom sketch by Melo Davis.

Cross argued that since the community values were written by private citizens who do not represent the City, they are protected by the First Amendment. Cross then addressed the Gentili memorial, asserting that it was targeted not because of City rules, but because of the message it memorializes a transgender activist. The gardeners provided evidence in a series of NYC Parks Instagram posts that depicted another, much larger wooden art installation in the garden that the City had not enforced, and in comments made by Carlos Martinez, director of NYC Parks’ Green Thumb program — which administers community gardens. He told gardeners in a meeting that the City tries to “turn a blind eye” to enforcing art installations because they are “part of the vibrancy of gardens.” 

Ahlberg delivered the City’s defense, arguing that the gardeners’ request for injunction was invalid since proceedings began in State court had been re-filed in federal court. He then characterized language in the community values — particularly the mention of Zionism — as likely to discourage members of the public from joining. 

Judge Hall expressed frustration that the case was in federal court at all, and criticized the City for halting negotiations with the garden. She also criticized the gardener’s discrimination claim and insisted that the City responding to a complaint is not equivalent to discriminatory animus. 

According to Cross, the City confirmed it would not evict the gardeners before November 7. 

“If negotiations fail for whatever reason, we will resume litigation, with the next step of seeking an injunction again if necessary,” Cross wrote in an email statement. 

Since it opened in 2023, the Jardin de Santa Cecilia Gentili has grown into a highly productive operation, producing hundreds of pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables. The gardeners deliberately built it as a safe space for Ridgewood’s queer, trangender and immigrant communities, though they maintain that no one has ever been turned away and that all are welcome in the garden. The community values statement that triggered the initial complaint was the democratically agreed-upon result of months of meetings and votes, and were intended to ensure inclusivity, gardeners say. This intent has been misconstrued— a series of New York Post articles falsely characterized the gardeners as antisemites, which gardeners say couldn’t be further from the truth. 

“As a Jewish person, I have always felt safe and accepted at the Garden,” wrote Jewish garden member Marcy Ayres in an affidavit. “With the response from the City and GreenThumb, I feel like they are endangering our safety, including my safety and that of the Garden’s other Jewish members.”

Queens Zoo Aids Effort to Save Endangered Rabbits

Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife Service

Queens Zoo Plays Key Role in Rabbit Conservation Effort

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Fifteen young New England cottontail rabbits bred at the Queens Zoo have been released into forests in Maine as part of a growing effort to restore the population of the region’s only native cottontail species, which faces extinction due to habitat loss and competition from non-native rabbits.

The rabbits, known as kits, were released in late August into sites across southern Maine, including Fort Foster Park in Kittery, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, and Thacher Island off the coast of Rockport. The effort involved the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Conservation Corps, and local park staff. Each rabbit was microchipped and treated for fleas and ticks before release to help improve survival rates.

“This release marks another important step in the ongoing recovery of the New England cottontail,” said Donna-Mae Butcher, assistant curator of animals at the Queens Zoo. “By working together with our partners, we are helping to ensure that this native rabbit has a future.”

The Queens Zoo, operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society, has been part of the New England Cottontail Breeding Program since 2016. The zoo’s breeding area is off-exhibit, designed to minimize human contact and allow natural mating and nesting behavior.

Adult males and females are paired in specially designed enclosures that allow females to select their mates, a process the zoo’s staff closely observes but does not interfere with. Once mating occurs, females are moved to secluded birthing areas that simulate natural conditions with hay, soil, and hideouts.

“We have partnered with Roger Williams Park Zoo, and what makes this successful is that we’re sharing experiences between both institutions,” Butcher said. “They’re not disturbed — we try and have minimal contact with them as possible so that their exposure to meeting each other is completely up to the female as to which male she’d like to choose.”

Nicole Schepis, a wild animal keeper at the zoo, helps oversee the day-to-day care of the breeding rabbits. “Our effort to breed these rabbits to help ensure they don’t go extinct show the great value of zoos to the conservation of wildlife, especially for species facing extinction,” she said.

The breeding program typically runs from March through July. The kits are born in the summer and weaned after about a month before being tagged for release. “We put ear tags and microchips in them so that when they’re released, we get to track them and keep tabs on their population,” Schepis said.

The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) has lost more than 80% of its range since the 1960s. It depends on dense shrubland and young forests, habitats that have declined due to development and forest maturation. The species also faces competition from the non-native eastern cottontail, which is better adapted to open spaces.

“They are native to New England and fill an important ecological niche in the places that they live, both for seed dispersal as well as a food source for predators,” Butcher said.

The Queens Zoo team said that breeding New England cottontail rabbits in captivity comes with its share of challenges, particularly in recreating the delicate conditions of their natural habitat. Some years yield better breeding results than others, and the staff is constantly adjusting and troubleshooting to improve outcomes. “You’ll have good years and you’ll have not so good years,” said Butcher. “It’s always trying to troubleshoot to see what can we do differently — maybe let them breed longer, maybe add more stuff or less stuff. It’s never always the same.” She added that noise and other human disturbances can also affect the rabbits’ behavior, requiring the staff to continually adapt and “think on the fly” to find what works best for the animals.

Zoo director Mike Allen said the program has shown measurable success. “Since we started this program nine years ago, we’ve released 145 rabbits,” he said. “Last year was our best year ever — we had 24 releases. This year we had 15. And overall, it’s doing really, really well.”

Researchers monitor the released populations through DNA-matched fecal samples collected in the wild. “Because we have their DNA, we can always match it up and see, okay, that’s one of ours, or that’s a wild one,” Butcher explained.

Conserving the New England cottontail is vital for maintaining the balance and health of the region’s ecosystems, the Queens Zoo team said. As a native species, the rabbits play an important ecological role in their habitats, contributing to seed dispersal and serving as a key food source for native predators

The Queens Zoo’s work is part of a regional partnership that includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state agencies from New York and New England, conservation groups, universities, and private landowners. The program’s success has helped keep the species from being listed as federally endangered; the International Union for Conservation of Nature currently classifies it as Vulnerable.

“There’s no point where you go, ‘Okay, we’re done,’” Butcher said. “It’s something we can continue to contribute towards.”

The Queens Zoo, located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, is open daily. For more information, visit queenszoo.com.

Key to the City Fair Connects Immigrants With Vital Services

Hundreds Attend Immigrant Resource Fair

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

Families and community members filled Paseo Park on 34th Avenue this past Saturday as the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) hosted its Key to the City resource fair — a kickoff event aimed at connecting immigrant New Yorkers with essential items and critical community services.

The fair, organized in partnership with Council Member Shekar Krishnan’s office, brought together more than two dozen organizations offering free resources, from school supplies and sanitary items to legal consultations and healthcare information. According to organizers, about 600 people attended the Jackson Heights event, reflecting the deep demand for support among immigrant families across the city.

“I’ve been with the organization for a little bit over a year,” said Jesus Casado, Director of Community Programming at NYIC. “In my role, I oversee this initiative, which is the key to the city program, which we’ve been running for about 15 years now, with the support of city council at large NYIC is a membership organization, a sort of a coalition that does policy and advocacy work to push for supports for the immigrant community in terms of legislation, campaigns and also direct services, which is one of the areas that I oversee.”

Casado explained that the event’s mission goes beyond distribution — it’s about building awareness and access. “We invite local organizations in the neighborhoods that we visit to table and provide information on the free services and resources that they can do for immigrant communities in the neighborhood,” he said. “In this past event that we had on Saturday, we had a little over 25–30 organizations providing information, swag, resources to our attendees.”

In addition to the fair, NYIC hosted a legal clinic at a nearby school in partnership with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), providing free consultations to attendees seeking help navigating complex immigration cases.

Jackson Heights was chosen for the kickoff due to its cultural and linguistic diversity. “We’ve had a long-standing partnership with Council Member Shekar Krishnan,” Casado said. “And also, it’s a neighborhood that has a rich, diverse community of people who speak Spanish, Bangladeshi communities. So, it’s a perfect spot.”

“The 15th annual Key to the City Event was an important reminder of the power of our community. We are proud to host this event in partnership with NYIC, which provides our immigrant communities with essential services, including legal assistance, school supplies, clothing, and more. As Donald Trump and ICE stoke fear, we are proud to stand united and fight to ensure that everyone has the resources they need to thrive in Jackson Heights,” said Krishnan of District 25.

For many immigrant families, the challenges of navigating city systems, language barriers, and economic insecurity can be overwhelming. Casado said the fair’s goal is “mostly connecting community members to life-saving resources and services. So it’s for them to learn about what organizations in their local neighborhoods are doing and how they can receive those services from them.”

He noted that some of the most pressing needs include access to legal counsel, food, and education. “The main need that American communities are faced with is legal counsel and legal support,” Casado said. “Another one that we see continuously is access to food. So there’s a lot of food insecurity. Education is another big one. Parents wanting to understand how they can enroll their children to school. What are their rights as immigrants in this country to access education?”

Beyond direct aid, the NYIC also focuses on education and empowerment through “know your rights” presentations and family preparedness resources — helping immigrant families plan for emergencies, including possible detentions.

“Well, I think now more than ever, our programming is instrumental, because there’s a lot of fear and concerns from our community,” Casado said. “So these events are a bridge for people to know that they have allies and they have the communities behind them, supporting them.”

The Key to the City initiative will continue throughout the fall, with the next community resource fair and legal clinic scheduled for October 28 in Manhattan’s Upper West Side in partnership with Council Member Gale Brewer.

Casado said residents can find updates about upcoming fairs through NYIC’s social media platforms and local partner organizations.

“These events show that people are not alone,” he said. “We want to make sure that people have the comfort and the agency to come to our events, take advantage of our services, our resources, and make sure that they’re not alone.”

Worker Wages and Protections Take Center Stage in NYC Mayoral Race

Gig Workers and Minimum Wage Loom Large in NYC Election

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

As New York City’s mayoral race intensifies, one of the central questions is how the next mayor will address the needs of the city’s working population, including the hundreds of thousands of gig workers who keep the city running. With affordability challenges mounting, voters are scrutinizing candidates’ plans on wages, worker protections, and benefits.

Paul Sonn, director of NELP Action, a nonprofit research and policy organization focused on labor and employment issues, said the stakes are high for working families in the city. “I’m trained as a lawyer, but I for a long time, have worked on Labor and Employment Policy for with the National Employment Law Project Action Fund, we’re a nonprofit research and policy organization, and so we work with state and local government and worker advocates on policies like the minimum wage and protections for gig workers and health and safety protection and unemployment insurance, and kind of immigration related policy and policy as it applies to the workplace.”

Sonn emphasized that key worker policy issues, including proposals to raise the minimum wage, stronger protections for gig workers, and paid leave, have become central in the race. “New York has already been a leader in many ways, in protecting workers in recent years, but there’s a lot more that it can do, and especially as part of an agenda to make the city more affordable for working families. The next mayor can do a lot to ensure that jobs provide decent pay and protections for New Yorkers at every income level.”

Raising the minimum wage is a top priority for the next mayor, as New York’s current rate of $16.50 lags far behind other major cities. Sonn noted that in Seattle, the minimum wage is nearly $21 an hour, while in Denver it is around $19. Advocates argue that a higher wage is critical to helping working families keep up with the city’s high cost of living.

Paid leave protections are another area where New York falls short. While the city has a limited law guaranteeing paid sick days, other cities provide broader access for family emergencies, doctor visits, and parent-teacher conferences. Sonn emphasized that expanding paid leave would make life more affordable and manageable for families struggling to balance work and personal responsibilities.

Gig workers, including food delivery and ride-share drivers, face ongoing challenges despite some of the nation’s strongest protections in the city. Sonn said a persistent problem is unfair firings, where workers are often removed from apps without warning or due process, leaving many unable to earn income or pay for essential expenses. Strengthening protections against these practices is emerging as a key campaign issue.

Other labor proposals under consideration include requiring companies like Amazon to directly employ delivery workers rather than subcontracting them. This change would aim to guarantee better wages and benefits while providing oversight to ensure safer working conditions. According to Sonn, such measures would be among the first of their kind in the country.

The debate over wages is tightly linked to broader affordability challenges, including housing, food, and childcare. Sonn said a higher minimum wage is “the foundation for being able to afford life in this super expensive city,” and that New York’s current rate exacerbates the cost pressures faced by working families.

Some critics warn that raising wages could push businesses out of the city. Sonn pointed to research from other U.S. cities, noting that predicted job losses largely have not materialized. “Most of the jobs that are most significantly affected are service jobs that really are linked to their locations… Those jobs aren’t going anywhere,” he said, stressing that fair pay can be implemented without harming local employment.

Sonn also highlighted that strong worker protections can coexist with economic growth. Cities like Seattle and Denver have higher minimum wages and comprehensive labor safeguards while maintaining thriving local economies. He said New York has made progress protecting gig and fast-food workers, but a citywide minimum wage that aligns with the cost of living remains a conspicuous gap.

On what question he would pose to candidates, Sonn said, “I guess, what are you going to do to ensure that every job pays a living wage and provides the protections that working New Yorkers need to thrive and afford life in our expensive city.”

NELP Action does not endorse candidates, instead focusing on policy analysis. Sonn said, “We just comment on policy. And so we were kind of all commenting on the platforms that are policy and positions that different candidates have articulated. We’re a nonpartisan organization.”

As the campaign moves forward, worker protections, wages, and affordability are expected to remain central topics in debates and policy proposals, shaping the future of the city for millions of New Yorkers.

Mamdani’s Words May Finally be Catching Up with Him

By Robert Hornak

Robert Hornak is a veteran political consultant who has previously served as the Deputy Director of the Republican Assembly Leader’s NYC office and as Executive Director of the Queens Republican Party. He can be reached at rahornak@gmail.com and @roberthornak on X.

In politics there are different kinds of lies, and there are different kinds of apologies. Like a craps player in Vegas, it looks like Zohran Mamdani is trying to bet he can cover all the options and still come out a winner.

Everyone knows the typical campaign promise lie. “If elected, I promise I will…” is a very common statement that every politician makes on the campaign trail. Sometimes they deliver, and sometimes they don’t. When they don’t, their opposition says they lied. But let’s be honest, nobody can pass a bill alone. You still need a legislative majority and the chief executive to sign the bill.

That’s really a promise to “try” to make something happen. Mamdani has made many of those, which many people are claiming he’s lying about. For most he will need to City Council to support him, and there’s little reason to think they won’t, but for some he needs Albany to approve his plans.

A perfect example is his promise to make buses free. The city doesn’t control the buses, the MTA does. It’s a state authority with a governing board appointed mostly by the governor. Control is in the hands of Albany.

Mamdani, currently a state legislator, could push a bill in support of this to show he’s serious. Of course, last time there was a bill to create free bus lines, Mamdani chose not to support it and voted against the budget deal in protest. He bailed on the previous attempt to make this happen, possibly burning his political capital on this, which may be why he doesn’t push for it now.

Mamdani has made many promises about his plans, and they almost all require new funding. Around $10 Billion in new funding. When called out for not having serious plans to pay for all this, he claims he will just tax the rich. Another proposal controlled by Albany, and once again a bill which he has not pushed in Albany to pave the way and show he’s serious.

Now, as the money to fund all his plans appears less sure, he now admits he might need a “plan B” to fund his agenda. When pushed on what he will do if he’s unable to secure the funds through new taxes he responded, “If this money is funded by the additional taxes or it’s funded by a better-than-expected (tax) assessment, or it’s funded by a pot of money that wasn’t previously spoken about, or savings that have come in, then the most important thing is that it’s funded.”

That’s a clever response, but it shows he really has no idea how he’s going to pay for all his promises, and he knows it. And many people are zeroing in on this to accuse him of more lying.

But the really damaging kind of lie is the one he told when questioned about tweeting, “We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.” He said that he would apologize for saying that, but then no apology ever came. Saying you’re going to apologize is not an apology.

And there are the different kind of apologies. The one where you say I feel really bad for what I said, and there’s the one where you say I feel really bad that you were offended by what I said. The second kind is really a non-apology.

But Mamdani has done neither. He wants to create a new kind, the pretend apology. He claims to be apologizing to officers that he speaks to, one-on-one. There are around 33,000 uniformed officers in the NYPD, and every one of them deserves an apology from Mamdani if he wants to lead them next year.

But he won’t, because he was lying to get out of an uncomfortable situation, claiming he would do something he had no intention of doing. And we can assume that is because he truly believes what he said. Or worse, is afraid to anger his many followers who believe it.

The lies are starting to pile up for Mamdani, and he’s not even mayor yet. With less than four weeks until election day, will this catch up with him, or will he skate by to a win, only to be exposed for all this next year?

WNBA Barrels Towards Contentious CBA Battle

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

As a thrilling WNBA Finals series between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury continues out West, many eyes are turning towards the upcoming expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement. With controversial clashes and rocky relations across the league, many are bracing for a hard fought period of negotiation as the league approaches its next era.

At the top of the long list of issues is a new spat between WNBA MVP runner-up and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Collier’s season came to an end with a brutal injury at the end of Minnesota’s Game 3 loss to Phoenix. In the final seconds, Mercury star Alyssa Thomas pounced for a steal, with her legs clashing with Collier’s as she took over possession.

Thomas put home a layup on the other end to finish the Mercury win and establish a 2-1 series lead, but the no-call by the refs led to an explosion from longtime Lynx leader Cheryl Reeve. Lynx players and assistant coaches had to help keep Reeve restrained as she was ejected from the game, and the coach’s comments in the postgame presser led to a suspension for Game 4. Without their star player and coach, the #1 seeded Lynx fell to the Mercury.

“When you let the physicality happen, people get hurt, there’s fights, and this is the look that our league wants for some reason,” Reeve said to open up her press conference. “I want to call for a change in leadership at the league level… it’s bad for the game.”

Reeve went on to comment on Collier’s lack of free throw attempts in a very physical series, calling the league’s choice of referee crew “malpractice,” along with some more harsh verbiage. On top of her suspension, Reeve was fined $15,000 for her comments, with the WNBA also fining the Aces’ Becky Hammon and Fever’s Stephanie White $1,000 for voicing their support for the Lynx coach.

Collier suffered multiple torn ligaments that will cause her to miss the 2nd season of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball league, in which she was the inaugural MVP last year. She wasn’t any softer on Engelbert and the league’s referee issues in her exit interview a few days later. “Year after year the only thing that remains consistent is a lack of accountability from our leaders,” the WNBA Players Association Vice President said.

Collier then brought up a previous conversation with Engelbert, noting that young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers drive significant revenue while making very little in their first four seasons of professional basketball.

“Her response was: Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t be making anything,” Collier recalled. “That’s the mentality driving the league from the top. The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them.”

Engelbert denied some of her comments and said she was “disheartened” to hear the remarks made about the league’s leadership. “If the players in the W don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better,” she said.

Some Liberty players were also vocal about Engelbert’s comments and how the league values their young stars. In an October 3 post on X/Twitter, Isabelle Harrison asked “Why won’t our commissioner talk about the fact that a transformational CBA requires a salary system that actually values the players and the revenue they drive in a meaningful way?”

Both Harrison and Natasha Cloud stated that they were standing with Collier, and Emma Meesseman posted “Phee for President” on her socials. Another Liberty star to speak out was Breanna Stewart, who currently serves as another Vice President in the WNBAPA.

“Phee and I agree – what’s best for the players is best for the business. The W’s growth depends on valuing its athletes,” Stewart said in a statement. “The CBA is where commitment is proven – and where the future of our game is decided.”

The Players Association will have some heavy requirements to meet before signing off on a new CBA, with many expecting it will require Engelbert stepping down as commissioner due to the growing rift between her and the league’s players. Between Engelbert, the referee issues, and contract valuation, negotiations are sure to be intense and long-lasting.

Whether the league can avoid a lockout is to be seen, but it would be detrimental to both the league and women’s basketball as a whole if the highly-anticipated 2026 season is delayed. The W has made leaps and bounds over the recent years, and now it’s time to see how that growth pays off for the players who have paved the way.

Messi Scores Two in Queens as Miami beats NYC

Boys in Blue bounce back with Hudson River Derby win and double over Red Bulls

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

The World’s Borough showed out for Lionel Messi’s first ever match in Queens last week. A crowd of over 40,000 filled Citi Field as New York City FC hosted Inter Miami. It was a pivotal match for Eastern Conference seeding, as NYC mounted an impressive hike up the table, even bypassing Miami (despite them having two games in hand).

NYC entered the match in the East’s 3rd seed with Miami right behind in 4th but still within reach of the Supporters Shield and 1st overall seed due to their extra games left to play.

It’s been a budding rivalry in the conference, with the sides already engaging in some heated contests and fans pitted against each other. It’s no surprise that Messi has caught the attention of fans across the country, especially in an international soccer capital like New York City. It wasn’t surprising to see so many pink #10 shirts mixed into the sea of sky blue NYC gear.

On the field, it was a series of blown chances that cost New York a foothold against the Floridian side. In the first half there were two golden opportunities to score, but a point-blank Thiago Martins header was saved by Miami’s Oscar Ustari and a shot by Nico Fernandez glanced off the wrong side of the post. 

Miami made the hosts pay before the break. Despite being the better side in the first half, NYC went into the half trailing by one after an immaculate assist by Messi to set up Baltasar Rodriguez.

The visitors piled on in the second half, with Messi finding the net himself in the 74th minute. The Queens crowd erupted as fans watched the greatest of all time beat the back line and softly chip the ball over Matt Freese.

Dejected, NYC limped towards the finish line, but Messi and Miami weren’t done. Luis Suarez netted a penalty in the 83rd minute before Messi completed his brace with a beautiful back-post shot just a few minutes later. The four goals scored were the most allowed by NYC all year, dampening what was a brilliant defensive record. It was also the first defeat suffered at Citi Field this year.

Just a few days later, NYC marched across the Hudson River to take on the New York Red Bulls. This time they got out on the front foot early, with Fernandez scoring just 90 seconds in.

Despite the early goal NYC again had trouble converting key chances, allowing their rivals back into the match. Youngster Julian Hall struck back to equalize in the 23rd minute and despite a brilliant header by Andres Perea to reestablish the lead, blown chances kept NYC from decisively pulling away.

Once again New York were punished, as Red Bulls star Emil Forsberg scored in the first minutes of the second half to keep his club’s playoff hopes alive.

Almost 20 minutes later and for the third time in the match, New York City seized the lead. This time it was captain Thiago Martins punching home a loose ball on the goal line after an initial stop on a Perea attempt.

With NYC unable to extend their lead, they looked to see out a tense finish. After 10 minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle finally blew, giving the visitors the win and a league double over their rivals. New York City players lifted the Hudson River Derby trophy in front of a sizable crowd of travelling fans.

The loss marked the likely end for the Red Bulls’ 15-year playoff streak, a Major League Soccer record. They currently sit in 10th, 5 points behind Chicago for the final postseason spot with matches coming up against 2nd place Cincinnati and 8th place Columbus.

For New York City, the season will come to an end at Citi Field against the Seattle Sounders after a road match against the rival Philadelphia Union. Just a few more points will secure a top-4 seed, giving the Boys in Blue a guaranteed home match in the playoffs.

Brooklyn Basketball Training Center Opens Doors Downtown

The Brooklyn Basketball Training Center is equipped with top-tier tools to help NYC kids perfect their skills! (Photos: BSE Global)

Liberty stars, Nets youngsters join Joe and Clara Wu Tsai for ribbon-cutting ceremony

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

On Thursday afternoon, Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment (BSE), the Brooklyn Nets, and the New York Liberty held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center. Located just across the street from the Barclays Center, the new state-of-the-art facility will be home to youth clinics, training camps, and an array of local programming to help build the next generation of Brooklyn basketball players.

Brooklyn Basketball, the flagship youth basketball program affiliated with both the Nets and Liberty, has spent a few years building a deeper connection with the local community. Now with the help of the brand new facility they will be able to take their relationship to the next level.

“This isn’t just a building, it’s a bold step in how we empower youth through sports,” said Nets CEO and alternate governor Sam Zussman in his opening statements. “This center is a place where fundamentals, teamwork, discipline, and mental toughness meet innovation, where expert coaching meets cutting edge technology, and where every kid who walks through these doors knows they’re seen, supported, and celebrated.”

“The greatest thing about this place is that it’s not just about the hoops, it’s the people who are going to be in here and the community we’re going to be giving back to,” added Nets General Manager Sean Marks.

Liberty stars Breanna Stewart, Natasha Cloud, and Isabelle Harrison were some of the first to test out the new technology, taking each other on in a passing minigame ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Natasha Cloud tested out a passing minigame

“Having this facility will show them how to reach [WNBA and NBA] goals. With all the technology and coaches involved in this, I think it’s going to be something everyone wants to be a part of,” said Stewart. “I hope I can come out here to work out if I need to,” she added with a laugh.

From left to right: Clara Wu Tsai, Breanna Stewart, Natasha Cloud, Isabelle Harrison, and Joe Tsai

Also joining Liberty players on stage to cut the ribbon was Nets forward Jalen Wilson and 2025 draft picks Nolan Traore and Drake Powell. After the speeches and ceremony, the NBA and WNBA players headed over to the hardwood to help out with the center’s first ever basketball clinic.

Nets 3rd year wing Jalen Wilson helps a kid with his jump shot at the first ever Brooklyn Basketball Training Center clinic

Wilson helped with jump shot form while others collected rebounds for a group of excited youngsters. It’s the first of many events to come, and with the Barclays Center just a few hundred feet away, Nets and Liberty players are sure to be a mainstay at the center.

A $340 Million Mishap as Mets Miss Postseason

Young arms, Minor League championships turn heads towards future

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

With the second-highest payroll in the Majors, the New York Mets missed the postseason in what can only be considered an abject failure. Despite a roster ripe with talent and the team’s red hot start that saw them lead the National League at multiple points, the season came to a close with a 4-0 loss in Miami.

The Mets finished level with Cincinnati, both holding 83-79 records, but the Reds earned the tiebreaker with a 4-2 record against New York to clinch the final Wild Card spot in the NL. As Francisco Lindor grounded into a season-ending double play, Mets players shared looks of dismay, disbelief, and shock that their 2025 campaign had come to a premature halt.

As any division rival should, the Marlins clearly took pride in playing spoiler. Miami played New York very well all season long, winning the season series 7-6. They were victorious in 5 of the 7 games played against New York in the back half of the season, only finishing 4 games behind the Mets with a payroll roughly one fifth the size.

Mets fans everywhere. I owe you an apology. You did your part by showing up and supporting the team. We didn’t do our part,” said owner Steve Cohen in a somber statement. “We are all feeling raw emotions today. I know how much time and effort you have put into this team. The result was unacceptable. Your emotions tell me how much you care and continues to motivate the organization to do better.”

A notable point in the Mets downfall was the lack of improvement following the trade deadline. While the acquisitions of Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers gave New York one of the best bullpens in MLB on paper, Helsley panned out as one of the club’s worst ever deadline pickups, with Rogers failing to find consistency.

Additionally, Cedric Mullins provided little improvement in CF despite an injury to Tyrone Taylor. He struggled to make an impact despite providing adequate defense in the outfield.

New Mets star Juan Soto acknowledged this season’s failure but remained optimistic about the future. He put together his first ever 30/30 season, leading the National League in stolen bases with 38 (tied with Oneil Cruz). He finished just two stolen bases shy of a 40/40 campaign, setting a new career high with 42 homers in 2025.

Another bright spot this year was the young pitching. Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat showed tremendous potential for the future, as pitching depth was a clear weakness all season long. Whether all three begin the 2026 season in the Majors remains to be seen, but all were up for the challenge as they tried to push New York into October baseball.

Mets Minor League affiliates also celebrated success this year. In the past few weeks, both the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies claimed league championships. Despite the MLB team coming up short, there is a good deal of talent awaiting their chance to prove themselves at the game’s highest level.

Fill the Form for Events, Advertisement or Business Listing