Two WNBA sweeps, a fifth MVP for A’ja Wilson, a week full of heat on the sneaker wall and a bye-week breather for the Panthers. Here’s everything IAHHM covered from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11, plus what’s coming next.
The Week’s Biggest Stories
1. It’s Valkyries vs. Dream for the WNBA title. Golden State, only in its second season, swept the Aces to reach the Finals. Atlanta swept the Liberty to get there for the first time since 2013. Valkyries story | Dream story
2. A’ja Wilson wins MVP No. 5. Five MVPs, and Bam Adebayo can’t put it into words. Read it
3. RIP Mike Ditka. The Hall of Fame tight end who coached the ’85 Bears died at 86. Read it
4. New Music Friday. Gunna, Rick Ross, Offset & Don Toliver and Johnny Venus led the Friday drops. Earlier in the week, Victoria Monét, Quavo, Ari Lennox, Mac Miller and NoCap anchored our Tuesday roundup. Friday picks | Tuesday roundup
5. Ava DuVernay’s ’14th’ premieres at NYFF. It arrives ten years after ’13th’ changed the conversation. Read it
6. Chris Rock’s ‘Misty Green’ splits the critics. Our review says Rosalind Eleazar is the real story. Read the review
7. Sneaker week was loaded. The Air Jordan 1 High OG “Royal” is out with special packaging. The adidas Anthony Edwards 3 “Snow Camo,” Aminé x New Balance 992 “Outdoor School,” Nike Air Griffey Max 1 “Cincinnati Reds” and Nike Air Force 1 “Subway Rat” all dropped too. AJ1 “Royal” | AE 3 | Aminé x NB | Griffey Max 1 | AF1 “Subway Rat”
8. Cleveland finished the comeback. The Guardians beat the White Sox 2-0 in Game 5 and now face the Rays in the ALCS. Our Game 5 preview | WKYC recap
9. Young QBs had a week. Drake Maye beat the unbeaten Bills late, and Michael Penix Jr. stayed cool after the Falcons hung 45 on the Saints. Maye | Penix
10. DK Metcalf on Sauce Gardner: “Who?” The Steelers receiver had a one-word answer before Steelers-Colts. Read it
From The Archive
‘Training Day’ turned 25. We looked back at the film 25 years after it hit theaters. Read it
One Tuesday in 1998. Cypress Hill, Kurupt and Bizzy Bone all dropped albums on the same day. Read it
Lloyd Banks’ ‘Rotten Apple’ at 20. Read it
Carolina Corner
Bryce Young hears “MVP” in Charlotte. The Panthers beat the Lions on Sunday Night Football, and Young stayed locked in. Panthers legend Jonathan Stewart compared him to Peyton Manning and said pay the man. Bryce story | J-Stew story
Gamecocks get right in Gainesville. With Dylan Stewart back, South Carolina routed No. 16 Florida 38-19. LaNorris Sellers threw four touchdowns and ran for another. It was the Gamecocks’ first SEC win in more than a year. Our preview | WIS recap
HBCU and Carolina game day. NCCU and ECU homecoming, the WSSU throwback game and every kickoff time were in one guide. Read it
Who You Should Hear. Four Carolina artists are worth your attention right now. Meet them
Get on set. Our weekly casting call list had open roles in NC, Atlanta, Miami and LA. See the roles
Coming This Week (Oct. 12-18)
Mon., Oct. 12: ALCS Game 1. Guardians at Rays, 8 p.m. ET from Tropicana Field on TBS, truTV and HBO Max. (MLB.com)
New music. KenTheMan’s I Love 304s is slated for Oct. 13, and Famous Dex’s Dexter’s Laboratory 2 for Oct. 15. Dates can shift. (HotNewHipHop)
Thu., Oct. 15: The N.C. State Fair opens. It runs through Oct. 25 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. (Visit Raleigh)
Sat., Oct. 17: Air Jordan 5 “Halloween.” It comes in black and orange with glow-in-the-dark soles, priced at $220. (Sneaker News) Shop: Nike | Foot Locker | Finish Line | Champs Sports
Sat., Oct. 17: WNBA Finals Game 1. Valkyries vs. Dream tips at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Game 2 is Monday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock and USA. (NBC Sports)
Sun., Oct. 18: Panthers at Eagles. Carolina is on its bye today and returns in Philadelphia next Sunday. (WBTV)
On the radar: The Air Jordan 3 “Fireside” lands Oct. 30, and A&T’s GHOE 100 homecoming game against Elon is Oct. 31 in Greensboro. (AJ3 details | NC A&T Athletics)
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Sources
- WKYC: Guardians advance to ALCS with a 2-0 Game 5 win
- MLB.com: How the Guardians match up with the Rays
- WIS: Gamecocks rout No. 16 Florida, 38-19
- NBC Sports: 2026 WNBA playoff and Finals schedule
- WBTV: Panthers 2026 schedule
- HotNewHipHop: Hip hop albums dropping in October 2026
- Sneaker News: Jordan release dates for October 2026
- Visit Raleigh: 2026 N.C. State Fair
- NC A&T Athletics: GHOE date set
