(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) leaves the field after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) It is still a mystery as to whether Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to return to the team next season and the veteran quarterback stated yesterday that he has not placed a deadline on the decision about his future. The forty-two-year-old Rodgers spoke publicly for the first time since the end of the Steelers’ season yesterday when he appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN. Rodgers expressed during an interview on that show that while he has been in contact with the team, the Steelers have not given him a deadline for him to let them know his intentions or plans for the upcoming season. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of VisitPITTSBURGH)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Fans can register now for free entry to the 2026 NFL Draft, which is presented by Bud Light, by downloading the NFL OnePass app or visiting NFL.com/DraftAccess by clicking here. This draft will take place in the Steel City on April 23rd–25th, and it will transform both the North Shore and Point State Park into a celebration of community, culture and football in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh for three days. According to a recent release from VisitPITTSBURGH, here is some more information that fans should know about the 2026 NFL Draft:

• In partnership with VisitPITTSBURGH and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the league will deliver an expansive Draft campus designed to showcase Pittsburgh’s landmarks, waterways and unmistakable skyline while creating an immersive fan experience for all ages.

• The Draft Theater and Main Stage will be located just outside Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, where the Draft will bring all 32 club selections to life across three days. Fans in attendance will be positioned in the heart of one of the country’s most recognizable sports districts and steps away from the action as prospects hear their names called and dreams become reality. Throughout the broadcast, Pittsburgh’s skyline, rivers and iconic bridges will provide a backdrop that reflects the beauty of the city and give fans in attendance a front row seat to the football celebrations. 
• Two iconic Pittsburgh mainstays will connect the Draft campus. The Roberto Clemente Bridge will close to vehicle traffic and serve as a pedestrian-only fan corridor linking the North Shore and Downtown, while the Gateway Clipper Fleet riverboats will provide transportation between Draft locations, offering fans a uniquely Pittsburgh way to experience the event while highlighting the city’s waterways.

• The NFL Draft Experience, the league’s interactive football theme park, will be located at both the North Shore Draft campus, including inside Acrisure Stadium, and Point State Park, transforming one of Pittsburgh’s most historic and scenic public spaces into a vibrant hub of football, community and culture. At the NFL Draft Experience, attendees will enjoy an immersive festival featuring:

• Interactive Exhibits & Sponsor Activations: Engage with special activations, including the opportunity to kick a field goal, run the 40-yard dash, participate in catching skills, earn free prizes and view NFL hall of fame exhibits, creating hands-on football experiences for fans of all ages.
• Player Meet & Greet Opportunities: Get autographs and interact with current NFL stars and Legends. The full schedule of player appearances will be available exclusively on the NFL OnePass app in the coming weeks.
• Photo Ops & Memorabilia: Capture memorable moments with the iconic Vince Lombardi Trophy, all 59 Super Bowl Rings and discover exclusive NFL merchandise at NFL Shop presented by Visa.
• Youth & Family Zones: Enjoy activities at the Play 60 Zone and take part in NFL FLAG drills, skills challenges, and football clinics tailored for young fans.
• Local Food & Culture Spotlight: Food and beverage vendors will showcase local fare, with concessions representing various cuisines and iconic restaurants in Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania.
• Acrisure Stadium Access & On-Field Activations: During Draft weekend, Acrisure Stadium will be open to fans looking to view the NFL Draft and experience exclusive activations inside the stadium and on the field itself.
• Steelers Country:  Serves as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ official fan destination during the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park, celebrating the unique traditions of Steelers Nation and creating a centralized space for fans to gather, engage, and experience Draft weekend together.

• Fans planning to attend the free 2026 NFL Draft Experience should download the NFL One Pass app. Available via NFL.com/DraftAccess, NFL One Pass is the must-have tool for navigating Draft weekend and provides real-time updates, a full schedule of interactive activities, Know-Before-You-Go information, and access to exclusive digital content and prizes including a grand prize trip for two to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles.
• Throughout the Draft, fans can also enjoy the free NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light, featuring live performances in the Draft Theater. The performances are free and open to fans on a first-come, first-served basis. Headlining acts will be announced in the coming weeks.                                                      
• The NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will be fully accessible to all attendees. For more details on mobility assistance, parking, transportation options and road closures, fans can check the Know-Before-You-Go information, which will be released over the coming weeks.

DATE	TIMING
Thursday, April 23	12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday, April 24	12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 25	9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

• All times are local and may be subject to change. 
• The 2026 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will be broadcast live on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes and will be available to stream on NFL+. Round 1 begins Thursday, April 23rd, followed by Rounds 2–3 on Friday, April 24th and Rounds 4–7 on Saturday, April 25th.

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pitt Head Coach Tory Verdi speaks during a ACC women’s NCAA college basketball media day, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, ,File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh fired women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi on Tuesday, ending a three-year tenure in which the Panthers struggled to find success on the court and Verdi potentially ran into trouble off it.

Athletic director Allen Greene announced the decision shortly after the Panthers missed the ACC women’s tournament after going 8-23, including a 1-17 mark in conference play.

“After a thorough and thoughtful evaluation of our women’s basketball program, it has been determined that we have not progressed enough competitively and now is the right time to seek a new leader for our program,” Greene said in a statement. “We thank Tory for his dedication over the past three seasons and wish him and his family nothing but the best in their future endeavors. The search process for our next leader is already underway.”

The decision comes just weeks after former Pitt players filed a lawsuit against Verdi and the university, alleging they were subject to Verdi’s abusive coaching methods and their pleas for the university to intervene went unheard. The school has denied the allegations.

Verdi went 29-66 with the Panthers, who hired him in 2023 following a lengthy run at Massachusetts.

Pitt’s next coach will be the program’s third in four years. The Panthers have struggled to find their footing since moving from the Big East to the ACC in 2013. Pitt has just one NCAA tournament appearance since swapping conferences, and that came in 2015 under Suzie McConnell Serio.

(File Photo of the Basketball Schedule Broadcast Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The 2025-2026 PIAA girls high school basketball playoffs are ready to begin with its first-round tipping off this Friday and Saturday. Seven teams from the area of the Beaver Valley will compete in this year’s state playoffs. They are Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Blackhawk, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Quaker Valley, Rochester and Sewickley Academy. According to the Beaver County Times, here is the full schedule for the first round of the 2025-2026 PIAA girls high school basketball playoffs, with the local teams in bold:

Friday, March 6th

2A: Aliquippa at Keystone, 6 p.m.

2A: Rochester at Kennedy Catholic, 7 p.m.

3A: Quaker Valley at Northwestern, 7 p.m.

3A: Seneca at Beaver Falls, 7 p.m.

3A: OLSH at Central Cambria, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 7th

4A: Fairview at Blackhawk, 1 p.m.

1A: Sewickley Academy at Farrell, 1 p.m.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Gene J. Puskar/ AP(The Associated Press))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs had two amazing games over the past week and was recognized by the NHL for his performances. Silovs was named the NHL’s Second Star for the week ending on March 1st. According to the Penguins, for all goaltenders with at least two games played over the past week, Silovs leads all major categories. The Penguins have earned points in 20 of their last 23 games, while also ranking in the top-three in the NHL for points, wins, win percentage, goals against, goals-against average and save percentage during that time. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin plays during a spring training baseball game, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Clearwater. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum,File)

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Top prospect Konnor Griffin homered for the third time this spring in the first inning of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Griffin, ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect, started at shortstop for the Pirates and hit a two-run shot off Kyle Leahy to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead.

Griffin went deep twice against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

The Pirates drafted Griffin in the first round in 2024. He reached Double-A last year, where he hit .337 with a .960 OPS in 21 games for Altoona.

(File Photo of the Basketball Broadcast Schedule Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Sewickley Academy raised the WPIAL 2A boys high school basketball trophy for the first time since 2018 on Friday after their 52-38 win over Jeannette at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh to win its sixth title in program history. Junior forward Adam Ikamba and sophomore forward Mamadou Kane each scored 14 points. The Panthers will face the No. 3 team out of District 10 at a site and time to be determined on Saturday, March 7th. 

(File Photo of an Aliquippa Quips Flag)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Aliquippa made history at the WPIAL boys high school basketball 3A championship on Saturday by winning its league record 15th WPIAL title in program history with a 65-54 win over South Allegheny at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh. Senior guard Qa’lil Goode had a game high of 30 points along with eight rebounds for the Quips. Goode is used to winning a WPIAL championship with Aliquippa because the multi-sport star caught the game-winning touchdown in Aliquippa’s 21-12 win over McKeesport at Pine Richland High School on November 15th, 2025 to win their 21st high school football WPIAL 4A Championship. The Aliquippa boys high school basketball team will be playing the runner-up of the subregional game between District IX and 10 at a site and time to be determined on Saturday, March 7th.