Surge in viewers leads ION TV to extend current 3-year broadcasting deal with WNBA
ION, which is owned by the Cincinnati, Ohio-based, E.W. Scripps Company, did not reveal the length or value of the contract, which extends the network's original deal reached in 2023 to broadcast regular-season games and host a weekly studio show.
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Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Every lesbian and sapphic WNBA No.1 draft pick since the league started
;;; Darrell Walker/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images From Left: Sue Bird, Brittney Griner, Paige Buckers, and Chamique Holdsclaw. The WNBA has been getting gayer every year since its inception. With 41 queer players in the league this year, the StudBudz taking over All-Star weekend, and couples like Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd and NaLyssa Smith/DiJonai Carrington making headlines, the WNBA's LGBTQ+ fans are eating well. Over the course of the nearly 30-year history of the WNBA, 11 of the No.1 overall draft picks have been gay. All of these players held off on coming out until after they had joined the league and have been living their lives out and proud ever since. Do we wish there were even more? Of course! But not only were these players the best of the best in the NCAA, but they've gone on to have illustrious, headline-making careers in the WNBA. So who are these gay No.1 draft picks, where are they now, and what's been going on in their romantic lives? Paige Bueckers (2025) Paige Bueckers is the latest No.1 overall pick after having won the NCAA National Championship in 2025 while playing for Conn. Bueckers was drafted to the Dallas Wings, where she now plays alongside DiJonai Carrington and Arike Ogunbowale. Relationship status Bueckers finally confirmed her relationship with her former UConn teammate and best friend Azzi Fudd last week, after months of teasing fans and speculation. Jewell Lloyd (2015) Jewell Lloyd was picked No.1 by the Seattle Storm after having played for Notre Dame. On February 1 she was officially traded to the Las Vegas Aces as part of a huge three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm, that also sent Kelsey Plum to the Sparks. Relationship status On July 20, Lloyd semed to hard launch her new relationship with Miami Hurricane player Natalija Marshall. This comes after she started publicly dating Estonia point guard Téa Adams last year. Brittney Griner (2013) Brittney Griner was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury when she was the first overall pick in 2013. The three-time Olympic gold medalist and 10-time All-Star played 11 seasons with the Mercury before joining the Atlanta Dream. Relationship status Griner met her wife Cherelle Griner when they were both attending Baylor University. They tied the knot in 2019, and Cherelle stood by Griner's side while she was being detained in a Russian prison. The two were reunited in 2022 and in July 2024 they announced the birth of their son Bash. Angel McCoughtry (2009) Angel McCoughtry was originally drafted to the Atlanta Dream out of the University of Louisville. Since then, she was the WNBA Rookie of the Year, won two Olympic gold medals, and was a five-time WNBA All-Star. McCoughtry last played for the Minnesota Lynx in 2022, and is currently producing the thriller TV show Apartment 6B. Relationship status McCoughtry got engaged to Brande Elise in 2015, but the two have since split up. Candace Parker (2008) Since being the No.1 overall pick in 2008, Candace Parker has racked up a long list of accomplishments. She is a three-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time NCAA champion, two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, a seven-time WNBA All-Star, and five-time Russian League National Champion. Parker played for the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and the Las Vegas Aces over the course of her career, which ended in 2024 when she retired to pursue a career in broadcasting for NBA and NCAA games. Relationship status After keeping things under wraps, Parker announced she married Anna Petrakova in 2019. The lovebirds had been teammates during the WNBA offseason when they were both playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg. Now they share two children. Seimone Augustus (2006) Seimone Augustus was drafted to the Minnesota Lynx before going on to win four WNBA Championships, including leading the Lynx to their first title. She also took home Rookie of the Year, won multiple titles while playing overseas, and is now the assistant coach for the LSU women's basketball team, where she rocks incredible outfits every game. Relationship status Augustus married LaTaya Varner in 2015, but the couple divorced a few years later in 2018. Janel McCarville (2005) Janel McCarville was initially drafted to the now-defunct Charlotte Sting. The star center played her final WNBA season with the Minnesota Lynx in 2016, after winning a WNBA Championship with the team in 2013. After retiring from the WNBA, McCarville returned to he home state and is now coaching high school basketball in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Relationship status McCarville has been very private about her personal life, but appears to spend a great deal of time with her family. Diana Taurasi (2004) When GOAT Diana Taurasi was the No.1 draft pick back in 2004, the Phoenix Mercury snapped her up, and she ended up playing for the team for the entirety of her legendary 20-year-long career. She is the WNBA's all-time leading scorer and one of the most decorated basketball players of all time, taking home three WNBA championships, six Olympic medals, and is an 11-time All-Star. Relationship status Taurasi met her wife Penny Taylor in 2004 while they were both playing for the Mercury. They got married in 2017 and share two children together, a son named Leo and a daughter named Isla. Sue Bird (2002) Sue Bird, who is considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, was drafted by the Seattle Storm when she was the No.1 draft pick. During her career, Bird took home four WNBA championships with the Storm, five Olympic gold medals, was selected as an All-Star 13 times, and was picked for All-WNBA teams. Much like Taurasi, Bird retired in 2022 after 20 years on the same team that originally drafted her. Relationship status Bird got engaged to soccer legend Megan Rapinoe in 2020. The pair have both retired from the world of sports and now host a podcast together called A Touch More. Ann Wauters (2000) Ann Wauters was the No.1 draft pick by the now-defunct Cleveland Rockers back in 2000. She was Rookie of the Year, won a WNBA Championship while playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, was a All-Star in 2005, and won countless championships while playing overseas. During her career she also played for the Atlanta Dream, San Antonio Silver Stars, and Seattle Storm. Since retiring, she has spent the last two seasons as the assistant coach with the Chicago Sky. Relationship status Wauters met her partner Lot Wielfaert in 2007. They got married in Belgium that same year, and then in 2010 they both announced they were pregnant at the same time. Wielfaert, who was also a pro baller, retired to help raise their children. Wauters was a pioneer at a time when very few public figures were out and even fewer were public about having children, and the WNBA didn't provide maternity care. The couple is still together and shares three children, Lou, Vance, and Dree. Chamique Holdsclaw (1999) The WNBA had its inaugural season in 1997, and just two years later it's first LGBTQ+ player was drafted when Chamique Holdsclaw was picked No. 1 overall by the Washington Mystics. Holdsclaw was named Rookie of the Year, was a six-time WNBA All-Star, and took home a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Relationship status Holdsclaw married Cara Wright in 2018, and the couple has a son named Cairo and a daughter named Camdyn Rose. This article originally appeared on Pride: Every lesbian and sapphic WNBA No.1 draft pick since the league started RELATED Meet all 41 queer players in this season's WNBA From elephants to purple aliens, ranking the WNBA mascots by how Sapphic they are Why the WNBA power couple NaLyssa Smith & DiJonai Carrington news has lesbians spiraling
Fox Sports
12 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Yankees vs. Phillies Prediction, Odds, Picks
Data Skrive Cody Bellinger and Kyle Schwarber will be among the stars on display when the New York Yankees face the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET, at Yankee Stadium. Bookmakers list the Yankees as -158 moneyline favorites, while giving the underdog Phillies +134 moneyline odds to win. New York is the run-line favorite (-1.5). A 9.5-run over/under has been set for this matchup. Here is everything you need to know from a betting perspective on the Yankees-Phillies game, regarding the run line, moneyline and total, plus expert picks. Keep up with MLB on FOX Sports. Check out the best moments between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. Yankees vs. Phillies Game Information & Odds When: Friday, July 25, 2025 at 7:05 p.m. ET Where: Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York How to watch on TV: Apple TV+ Favorite Favorite Moneyline Underdog Moneyline Total Over Total Odds Under Total Odds Run Line Favorite Run Line Odds Underdog Run Line Odds Yankees -158 +134 9.5 -124 +102 -1.5 +128 -154 Yankees vs. Phillies Prediction Score Prediction: Yankees 5, Phillies 4 Total Prediction: Under 9.5 runs Win Probabilities: Yankees 54%, Phillies 46% Yankees vs. Phillies Betting Insights This season, the Yankees have been favored 88 times and won 50, or 56.8%, of those games. New York has a record of 32-18, a 64% win rate, when favored by -158 or more by bookmakers this season. The Yankees have a 61.2% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline. The Phillies have won in seven, or 33.3%, of the 21 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs this year. Philadelphia has a mark of 2-3 in contests where oddsmakers favor it by +134 or worse on the moneyline. The Phillies have an implied victory probability of 42.7% according to the moneyline set by oddsmakers for this matchup. The Yankees have a 2-4 record across the six games they were a moneyline favorite in their last 10 matchups. Over their last 10 outings (all had set totals), the Yankees combined with their opponents to go over the run total five times. The Yankees are 4-6-0 against the spread over their past 10 games. Stat Avg/Total Record 5-5 Runs Per Game 4.9 HR 18 ERA 4.19 K/9 6.9 Aaron Judge has racked up a team-best batting average of .345, and paces the Yankees in home runs (37) and runs batted in (84). Of all hitters in the majors, Judge is second in homers and second in RBI. Bellinger is hitting .285 with 20 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs and 29 walks. Bellinger is 32nd in homers and 36th in RBI among all hitters in MLB. Bellinger has two straight games with at least one hit. During his last five outings he is hitting .318 with two doubles, two home runs and three RBIs. Paul Goldschmidt is batting .288 with 23 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 29 walks. Trent Grisham is hitting .255 with nine doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 44 walks. Grisham takes a five-game streak with at least one hit into this one. In his last five games he is hitting .316 with two doubles, a home run, three walks and five RBIs. Over the past 10 games, oddsmakers have not installed the Phillies as underdogs once. In their last 10 games with a total, the Phillies and their opponents have combined to hit the over six times. The Phillies have a record of 3-7-0 ATS over their last 10 games. Stat Avg/Total Record 5-5 Runs Per Game 5.1 HR 17 ERA 3.76 K/9 10.2 Schwarber has put up a team-high 34 home runs and has driven in 78 runs. Schwarber's home run total puts him fifth in MLB, and he ranks seventh in RBI. Trea Turner has a club-high .290 batting average. Turner is 113th overall in homers and 103rd in RBI this year. Bryce Harper is batting .271 with 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 45 walks. Nick Castellanos has 22 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and 22 walks while batting .269. Check out the best moments between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies recommended Item 1 of 3
New York Post
12 minutes ago
- New York Post
Sun vs. Sparks prediction: WNBA picks, odds, best bets
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. The Connecticut Sun own the WNBA's worst record at 3-19 and are widely recognized as the least-talented team. However, they are expected to welcome back top scoring guard Marina Mabrey on Thursday when they host the Los Angeles Sparks as six-point underdogs with a total of 166.5 points. A knee injury has kept Mabrey out for more than a month and Connecticut has managed just a 1-8 mark over that span. She is a necessary piece in their offense and her mere presence creates better opportunities for her teammates. Plus, during this extended absence, role players were asked to handle more of the scoring burden and that served as baptism by fire. Players such as Bria Hartley and Aneesah Morrow have seen their games evolve. Connecticut Sun players Aneesah Morrow (24), Saniya Rivers (22), Bria Hartley (14), Tina Charles (31) and Leila Lacan (47) stands on the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Boston. AP Plus, rookie Saniya Rivers is adjusting to the pro game, scoring in double figures in four of her past five games. Veteran Tina Charles has been a solid constant while leading the team with 15.6 points per game. Connecticut faced the Sparks less than two weeks ago and the teams combined for 180 points. The Sun offense has eventually learned to score without Mabrey, so I expect her return to only help that output. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps These two defenses rank worst and second worst in field goal percentage and points allowed. This shapes up to be another high-scoring affair. I have a 56-47-1 ATS record in this Post sports section. My next play is Sun-Sparks Over 166.5 points (-110, FanDuel Sportsbook). Why Trust New York Post Betting Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He's also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
