This week’s good Black news came with a little bit of everything: sports history, legacy, and a whole lot of flowers. 

Cleveland is rolling out the red carpet for Laila Edwards, the 22-year-old Cleveland Heights native and first Black woman to make Team USA’s Olympic hockey team, who will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Guardians’ April 3 home opener. The team’s opening-day festivities are also tied to the franchise’s 125th anniversary, giving the moment even more hometown shine.

Brandy also had one of those full-circle moments that Black culture loves to see. The singer and actress received the 2,839th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with daughter Sy’rai, and friends Monica, Issa Rae, Babyface, and more showing up to celebrate. Rae called Brandy “the blueprint,” and Brandy herself reflected on the honor as “a definition of legacy,” reminding everybody that “Dreams don’t have an expiration date.” Brandy has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and helped shape modern R&B across music, TV, and film.

On the court, the Hall of Fame conversation is keeping Black excellence front and center, even though the Class of 2026 has not been officially inducted yet. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced that  Amar’e Stoudemire, Candace Parker, and Doc Rivers are among the eligible candidates for the class, with the full announcement set for April 4 during Final Four weekend. That means the wait is still on, but the names in the mix already tell you the kind of basketball royalty this class could carry.

The Antetokounmpo family is making NBA history in Milwaukee! When the Bucks signed Alex Antetokounmpo to a two-way contract in October 2025, it marked the first time in league history that three brothers were signed to active roster contracts with the same team, joining Giannis and Thanasis on the Bucks’ roster. It is a family storyline that keeps getting bigger in Milwaukee. Talk about a full circle moment!