5 funny Caitlin Clark moments from the All-Star Game, including her booing her own team
Clark brought plenty of energy and laughter to the marquee WNBA event, even from the sideline as one of the coaches for her Team Clark All-Star team.
Yes, the WNBA knows you're not happy with the referees this season
Clark's delightfully unserious personality was on full display during the All-Star Game, and we've rounded up a few of our favorite Clark moments from the evening's festivities in Indianapolis.
Q&A: Aari McDonald talks 'prankster' Caitlin Clark, Commissioner's Cup win
Hopefully, these hysterical Clark highlights underscore how much she means to the WNBA from a purely comical perspective. She really is one of the funniest people in the entire league.
Clark booed her own team when a play she drew up went awry
A mic'd-up Clark on the bench was just gold
Her Team Clark halftime plans made us chuckle
Clark wanted as many 4-point baskets as possible
Clark promised to cuss out the refs, of course
Clark was clearly having a grand time, even if she wasn't on the court.
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NBC Sports
10 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
WNBA Preview: First half recap, what to watch in the second half
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend came and went in the blink of an eye. The entertaining showcase of the league accentuated a very enjoyable first half of the season. Still, its weekend's conclusion also marks a new chapter in the season, one in which a higher level of urgency and seriousness is likely to develop. In today's column, we'll briefly recap the first half of the season before turning the page to what's to come. WNBA FIRST HALF RECAP Entering the season, we knew a couple of things to be true: 1) The Liberty had a legitimate chance to secure a second-straight WNBA championship, given their roster retention from the previous year, and 2) If any team could spoil New York's plans of repeating, the most likely would be the Lynx, a team that was an overtime period away from bringing home the 2024 WNBA title. The two squads raced out of the gates and began the 2025 season unblemished through nine games, hitting some extreme highs along the way. At the time of this writing, the two finalists comfortably occupy the top two spots in the standings, despite battling key injuries. New York currently harbors the best offense (107.4 offensive rating) and the second-best defense (97.7 defensive rating) in the league, while Minnesota is second in offense (107.2 offensive rating) and first in defense (94.8 defensive rating). These rankings are even more impressive when factoring in only nine games played for the Liberty's reigning Finals MVP, Jonquel Jones, and the Lynx's two leading scorers, Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, missing a combined seven games. Both teams performed like the class of the WNBA through the first half of the season, and they'll only strengthen their spots in that top tier of contenders should health become less of an issue over the back half of the season. 20-4 at the break. the work continues when we get back. The positivity towards the Valkyries has been plentiful in recent columns, so to avoid repetitiveness, I'll remain brief in my praising. The ability for this team, constructed through an expansion draft, to find instant success is something I wasn't prepared for. They've rallied around a really good defense to win games while the offense has survived thanks to mid-career peaks from Veronica Burton and first-time All-Star Kayla Thornton. Golden State did hobble into the All-Star Break with three consecutive losses, but they've responded to worse stretches earlier in the season by piecing together multiple-game win streaks immediately after. While the Mercury being a top-three team in the league isn't necessarily shocking, given the high-end talent they brought in, the fact that they've been this successful with the Alyssa Thomas/ Satou Sabally/ Kahleah Copper Big 3 only playing in six games together is certainly a surprise. Like Golden State, the Mercury come equipped with a high-level defense, but their up-tempo, three-point-heavy style makes them as challenging a team to defend as any on nights when shots are dropping. Phoenix has already taken down the top two teams in the league, proving its capability of being the best team on the floor on any given night, regardless of the opponent. It'll be fun to see what highs this team can hit when its star players are healthy and able to log heavy minutes together. Associated Press, WNBA SECOND HALF PREVIEW August 7 marks the official last day of the season to make trades. We've already seen the Aces move a future draft pick for NaLyssa Smith in an attempt to double down on their win-now timeline, and we've also watched the Wings trade for Li Yueru to shore up their frontcourt for this season and potentially ones to come. Now, the question is: what's next? The answer is unknown. However, several impactful players find themselves in interesting situations — think Aaliyah Edwards in Washington and Arike Ogunbowale in Dallas. Meanwhile, a couple of teams may be ready to either buy in for the remainder of the season or pivot and sell now to position themselves for upcoming drafts better. No matter the motive, trades are always exciting (from the fans' perspective) and could be especially important should they have an influence on the remainder of the 2025 season. More on the remainder of the season; we should be in for a fantastic second half. No teams have clinched a playoff berth this early in the season, but it would take things going significantly south for the Lynx, Liberty, and Mercury not to make it to the postseason; even the Dream and Storm feel like safe bets at this point. But from there? The race for the final seeds in the bracket could be a tight one. If the playoffs began today, the Aces would get the last spot in the bracket — they're at .500 through the midway point thanks to two otherworldly performances from the reigning MVP, A'ja Wilson, before the break, where she dropped back-to-back 35-point double-doubles that led Las Vegas to victories. With such special displays from her, one would think that even this flawed team has enough veteran experience and high-end talent to avoid falling out of the playoff mix. Will the young Mystics, led by first-year head coach Sydney Johnson and three All-Star reserves, continue their upward trend and eventually secure a postseason birth? Can the Valkyries mentioned above, who've run hot and cold throughout their inaugural season, slither their way from the outside to finish inside the bracket? Several storylines already exist, and plenty more will develop throughout the remainder of the season as games become more and more meaningful. THE WEEK AHEAD (Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3) Here's one of those contests that could ultimately impact the playoff picture (maybe it's too early to play the ramifications game, but we'll play it anyway for the sake of the column). The Sparks, winners of back-to-back games for the first time all season, will have a chance to string together a third straight victory against a Mystics team they just punished in Los Angeles by 19 points before the All-Star Break. That recent matchup between the two saw Washington's three-game win streak come to an end, but a trip back to Washington, D.C. for a rematch could bode well for the Mystics, who own a much better home record (7-3) than on the road (4-8). A win for either team could set the tone for the second half of the season. (Wednesday, July 23 at 10 p.m. ET on CBSSN) On the second night of a back-to-back, the Dream will travel from the Las Vegas desert to the Phoenix desert to face a dangerous Mercury team. Rhyne Howard (knee) won't appear in this game or any other one for the rest of July, which takes a bit of the excitement away from the first matchup between these two squads. Still, it should be a good game given the status of each team — the Dream has lost five of their last eight games and needs to be careful not to allow further slippage to weaken its postseason chances. At the same time, the banged-up Mercury wants to avoid back-to-back losses to keep pace with the Lynx and Liberty at the top of the standings. (Thursday, July 24 at 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video) There's a legitimate chance that Thursday's third meeting between Las Vegas and Indiana could provide an identical framework to the teams' most recent meeting — an Aces squad heading to Indianapolis to potentially face a Caitlin Clark-less Fever team on a Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That early July contest yielded a very bad 27-point Aces loss in which A'ja Wilson was the only Las Vegas player to score more than six points. Indiana's thumping of Las Vegas allowed them to end a 16-game losing streak to the franchise. We'll hope Clark is back from injury for Thursday's matchup, but even if she isn't, the third iteration of Fever-Aces has the makings of an intense one as both teams look to shift into another gear after a first half of the season that likely didn't meet their standards. (Friday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION) These two championship contenders have had some fun battles in each of their two matchups this season. Neither team has been at full strength for either game, and this will likely be the case again on Friday. Still, neither has needed a fully healthy roster to perform exceptionally. Alyssa Thomas has dominated the matchups, averaging 17.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Liberty, but the always dangerous Breanna Stewart, who snuck in 35 points in the first meeting between the teams, is capable of doing what is required to lead New York past Phoenix. Whatever the outcome, viewers should expect an entertaining product at Barclays Center on Friday night. (Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC) Sky-Fever, Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark; do I need to say more? From Chicago's side, the two previous matchups against Indiana this season generated some undesirable outcomes — the season-opening 35-point loss was simply an awful way to break in a new season, while the rematch a month later marked the end of Courtney Vandersloot's season (knee), and a major hurdle for the Sky to have to overcome. They have figured some things out lately and are performing much better than they did in those early-season matchups. Yet, Indiana has owned this matchup over the past couple of seasons. If healthy, a Clark-led Fever team would have the proven offensive firepower to present an unspectacular Sky defense with all sorts of challenges. The battle in the interior between Indiana's offense and Chicago's defense could be an indicator of how this one plays out. Chicago Sky's Angel Reese talks about her experience at the WNBA's most recent CBA negation meeting, including gaining a new perspective after a year in the league.
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez leaves game as left shoulder flares up, not considered serious
ARLINGTON, TX — On June 14, Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez tried to score from first base on a ball to the right-center gap, but an aggressive send resulted in him thrown out at home plate on a relay from Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. It wasn't a close play at the plate. Báez appeared to hurt his left shoulder on the head-first slide, as he remained on the ground for a few moments. As it turns out, he did suffer an injury that day. "My shoulder kind of got stuck," Báez said Sunday, July 20, more than a month later. "It's been bothering me, but I feel good. We've been doing treatment." SUNDAY'S GAME: Tigers snap six-game losing streak with 2-1 win vs. Rangers in Tarik Skubal gem In Sunday's game, Báez exited in the sixth inning with no obvious injury, replaced by Trey Sweeney at shortstop. Although there wasn't a specific play that triggered the issue, Báez said he felt soreness in his left shoulder while he was playing. The Tigers beat the Texas Rangers, 2-1, at Globe Life Field, snapping a season-long six game losing streak. Báez went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts before his departure. Manager A.J. Hinch didn't provide a specific diagnosis. "So Javy came into the dugout and just said he didn't feel right," Hinch said after Sunday's win. "I asked him what was going on. He just kept saying he didn't feel right, so I took him out of the game." Báez clarified afterward. "I was just trying to figure it out," Báez said. "I didn't want to keep playing with soreness. It is sore a little bit, but we've been doing treatment today, and we'll do treatment tomorrow, and we'll see how it feels." EL MAGO, AN ALL-STAR: 4 years after trade, Javier Báez and Pete Crow-Armstrong share CF as All-Star starters In 2025, Báez is hitting .274 with 10 home runs and a .746 OPS in 81 games, reclaiming his role as the Tigers' primary shortstop. The 32-year-old made the All-Star Game for the third time in his 12-year MLB career. He is one of the top candidates for American League Comeback Player of the Year. Báez doesn't expect a stint on the injured list. "Not for now," Báez said. "I don't think so. I think I will get better day-to-day. I'll see how it feels tomorrow." Need more proof that Báez is in the clear? He led the line of high-fives to celebrate the win, joked with teammates in the clubhouse after the game and rotated his left shoulder freely like it was no big deal. "I think it's something connected with all the muscles that go through my shoulder," Báez said, "but my shoulder, as you can see, it's really good. I have really good mobility." Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez out early vs Rangers
USA Today
38 minutes ago
- USA Today
Big Ten football 2025 preseason poll, All-Conference teams, award selections
Big Ten football media days are set to begin on Tuesday, July 22, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State and Rutgers will appear during Tuesday's session. Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Washington and Wisconsin will then follow on Wednesday, before Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA and USC close the event on Thursday. Unlike at this time last year, the expanded 18-team conference has a sense of normalcy and permanence. Media days for the 2024 season were our first look at Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA as conference members, which added an extra challenge to season preview and preparation work. That picture is much clearer entering 2025. Oregon solidified its position as a conference and national title contender in its first season as a Big Ten member, while Washington, USC and UCLA all fell a few tiers below that standing. A big question entering 2025 is which of those final three programs breaks out and returns to the top of the sport. Big Ten Position Previews: Defense -- Offense -- Quarterbacks -- Running Backs -- Wide Receivers -- Tight Ends -- Offensive Line -- Defensive Line -- Pass-Rushers With media days set to begin on Tuesday, there is no better time to unveil our 2025 Big Ten football season predictions, complete with our preseason poll, projected All-Conference teams and selections for the major individual awards Badgers Wire's Big Ten Football 2025 Preseason Poll Big Ten Championship: Penn State over Ohio State All-Big Ten First Team Offense Defense All-Big Ten Second Team Offense Defense All-Big Ten Third Team Offense Defense Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Pick: WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State While he isn't a quarterback, Smith is an easy pick for this award. The all-world wide receiver turned 76 receptions into 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2024. He should have little trouble replicating those tallies as the clear No. 1 option on Ohio State's offense in 2025. Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Pick: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State While Penn State may have the better overall team than Ohio State in 2025, the Buckeyes boast the clear top two players in the conference, if not in the entire sport. Downs transferred to Ohio State after a fantastic true freshman season at Alabama in 2023 (107 tackles, four for loss, two interceptions, four pass deflections, one forced fumble). He then met sky-high expectations with an All-American season leading the Buckeyes defense in 2024, finishing with 82 tackles, eight for loss, two interceptions and six pass deflections. Expect another fantastic season from the All-American safety. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Pick: WR Dakorien Moore, Oregon If any player has the potential to follow in Smith's footsteps as a true freshman wide receiver, it's Moore. The five-star recruit joins the Ducks as 247Sports' No. 4 overall player in the class of 2025 and No. 1 wideout. With Evan Stewart out for the year with a torn patellar tendon, Moore should have a path to lead the Ducks in targets. Big Ten Coach of the Year Pick: Bret Bielema, Illinois Bielama and Illinois' breakthrough 2024 season was overshadowed by an out-of-nowhere resurgence from Curt Cignetti's Indiana Hoosiers. 2025 will be Bielema's year to steal the headlines, as Illinois returns significant production and faces one of the conference's easiest schedules. College Football Playoff Participants Picks: Penn State, Ohio State, Illinois, Washington Penn State and Ohio State feel like annual write-ins to the CFP now that it includes 12 teams. Oregon is close to that standing, although the team may be set for a step backward after an offseason of significant roster turnover. While some would put Michigan next, I can't buy in until we know the team's situation at quarterback. That leaves Illinois, which, as mentioned, faces one of the lightest schedules in the conference. A path to 10-2 should be there if the team can replicate its form from last season. My breakout pick for 2025 is the Washington Huskies. The team was up-and-down last season as Jedd Fisch installed his culture and worked to turn over the roster. Remember, he took the job late in the cycle after Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama. The program is in a much better place entering 2025 after a full offseason of roster movement. Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. could be the Big Ten breakout player of the year, leading an offensive unit that is sneaky-talented. The major questions come on defense, where the team is set to start six transfers. The Huskies face a tough schedule, but they could sneak in at the bottom of the CFP field with a 9-3 record. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
