Nick Sanchez grabs first Xfinity Series win at EchoPark Speedway
Panthers set to host Oilers in Game 6 of Final looking to win second straight Stanley Cup
For the first time since the start of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, a team has a chance to close out the series and hoist the historic trophy.
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Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Mercury should explore DeWanna Bonner homecoming after Fever breakup
The post Why Mercury should explore DeWanna Bonner homecoming after Fever breakup appeared first on ClutchPoints. Is a homecoming on the rise for current disgruntled Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner? It's certainly a possibility, and according to Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports, the Atlanta Dream and the Phoenix Mercury are her preferred teams. Advertisement Why would this be, though? After Bonner signed with the Fever in the offseason, she was set to be a pivotal part of the team's championship aspirations. She has the credentials, experience, and mental toughness. Fast forward to late June, and the All-Star forward wants no part of Indiana. On Tuesday, it was official that Bonner doesn't plan to return to the Fever. Circling back to the Mercury, though, is it a possibility for a homecoming? If that's the case, there are a multitude of factors involved in a return. Bonner can return to where it all started with the Mercury © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images In the 2009 WNBA Draft, Phoenix selected the former Auburn basketball standout with the fifth overall pick. Her rookie season was one to remember, and one that laid the foundation for her career. Advertisement During that rookie season, the Mercury captured their second WNBA championship in franchise history. While Diana Taurasi spearheaded the success, Bonner, off the bench, was a major beneficiary. So much so that she won three consecutive Sixth Player of the Year awards (2009-11), her ability as a stretch-big wasn't seen at the WNBA level, and it was one that caught many by surprise. As her career progressed, she became a full-time starter and made an even more incredible impact. In the 2015 season, she was awarded her first All-WNBA selection. However, four years later, she ended up with the Connecticut Sun, alongside her current fiancée, Alyssa Thomas. That could be a lingering storyline for some to eat up like a Thanksgiving feast. However, as Thomas said in her introductory press conference, she and Bonner are both their own players. They can make their own decisions, regardless of any speculation that they want to be together during the regular season. The Mercury might not want DeWanna Bonner This saying has been repeated multiple times, and it holds true: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Advertisement That sentiment is the current state of the Mercury. Their 11-4 record, and the trio of Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, and Thomas, have been exceptional. Despite the trio's achievements, they haven't played many games together. Rather, it's the culture, defense, and the rookies – who aren't really rookies – stepping up to the plate. Players like Monique Akoa Makani, Kathryn Westbeld, Lexi Held, and Kitija Laksa have all played overseas and have excelled. That excellence has translated to the WNBA rather seamlessly. Westbeld and Makani are two of the starters. Adding Bonner to the mix could push Westbeld to the bench, as both play center. Advertisement Another option could be sending the Cameroonian guard to the bench, and having Copper run the point, while including Westbeld and Bonner in the same starting unit. This might be a risk the front office is not willing to make. Even though she's had a storied career, harming what is brewing could turn the potion of success into one of disaster. Either way, time isn't on Phoenix's side. As Costabile's article said, Bonner is also interested in the Dream. The writing was on the wall for Bonner to leave the Fever. Now, it's about finding the right fit, and that might be back in the Valley of the Sun. Related: Why Kahleah Copper is comparing Mercury to Sky championship team Related: Kahleah Copper gives Mercury teammates their flowers after breaking 3-point record
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
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Liberty announce Jonquel Jones' return timeline amid injury
The post Liberty announce Jonquel Jones' return timeline amid injury appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Liberty provided a key injury update on Jonquel Jones before their upcoming matchup against the Seattle Storm. Advertisement Jones suffered an ankle injury on June 20 during their previous game against the Phoenix Mercury. New York lost 89-81, but her injury proved to be important as she left in the second quarter and didn't return. New York gave their update on Jones with an injury report on June 21. The team confirmed it was a right ankle sprain as she will be absent for at least a month. 'Jonquel Jones suffered a right ankle sprain at 8:35 in the second quarter of Thursday night's game against Phoenix. Jones previously sprained her right ankle on Thursday, June 5 against Washington,' the post read. 'After further imaging and evaluation, Jonquel avoided long-term injury, and she is projected to return to game action in approximately 4-to-6 weeks. Further updates will be provided as appropriate. Get well soon, JJ!' What's next for Jonquel Jones, Liberty John Jones-Imagn Images Jonquel Jones' injury came at a bad time for the Liberty, especially as they got off to a hot start this season. Advertisement The fact that it was the second time she sprained the ankle brings concern to New York as they need to her to stay healthy throughout the campaign. Throughout nine games this season, she averaged 12.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. The Liberty are 8-1 when she plays and 2-1 without her. Despite the small sample size, their loss to a solid Mercury squad might present a challenge to their overall depth as a whole month without Jones may prove to be difficult for the WNBA powerhouse. New York boasts a 10-2 record on the season, possessing the top spot of the Eastern Conference standings. They are 1.5 games above the Atlanta Dream and four games above the Indiana Fever. The Liberty will prepare for their next matchup, being on the road. They face the Seattle Storm on June 22 at 7 p.m. ET. Advertisement Related: Liberty's Breanna Stewart gets real on how brutal 2024 title vs. Lynx was Related: Liberty's Breanna Stewart dishes on helping Sabrina Ionescu grow into team leader
New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
The Savannah Bananas are a baseball fever dream, and they're on national TV this Saturday
There's always money in the banana stand, and there's always a good time in Banana Ball. The exhibition baseball circuit's premier humorists keep barnstorming Saturday at Nationals Park. Live from the nation's capital, it's … whatever this is! This game will also be available on ESPN+. Something called the 'Banana Ball World Tour' invites a round of questioning and clarification. This is our best effort to make sense of what we're about to see. Let's go wide to start off. Our peeled protagonists are independent and unaffiliated with MLB. They used to compete as members of the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball collective based in the South Atlantic. By 2023, the Bananas split (yup) from that league and shifted into full-time exhibition ball. Why be the life of someone else's dreary luncheon when you can throw your own lampshade-on-head banger? Advertisement The Bananas face off with a short rotation of partners. Those teams have suitably awesome names like the Texas Tailgaters and Party Animals. Saturday's game is against the Firefighters. What's a goon to a goblin? What's an extinguisher to a plantain? We don't have that answer yet, but stay tuned as our research progresses. Kind of. The game itself is unscripted and (somewhat) competitive. The Bananas and their opponents do indeed keep score. Still, proceedings go off the rails right quick, and we'll find precious few fans stressed about bullpen matchups or bad base-running. Of course there are. For starters, no bunting. That's an automatic out. No mound visits, because that's a waste of time. And no games exceeding the two-hour mark, unless a tiebreaker is needed. Fair enough. Now, for the true loopiness. Here's a five-pack of extra-unique Banana bylaws: Existential dread wilts in Bananaland. This is the team that turns strikeouts to potassium. Trust that this action is informed by a strange, unshakable love for baseball. None of the current players achieved MLB fame, but several have established themselves as comic performers, internet personalities and delightful novelties. Dakota Albritton is the best known of the Banana bunch, because he charts at 10-foot-9 on his trademark stilts. Seeing is believing, and oh, how we will now believe: The stilts are just the tip of the iceberg, if that iceberg were a colossal frozen banana. Here is a limited list of Banana Ball occurrences: Come for the Bananas, stay for Ham Porter, or Travis Hunter, or the world's undisputed wrestling champion: As we can tell, the Bananas traffic in a unique chaos. Anything is on the table with these folks. One constant, though, is inviting former star athletes back to their old home fields. Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton popped out in Philadelphia. Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer came through in Kansas City. Former Tennessee Titan Jevon Kearse did the 'weigh-in dance' in Nashville. Expect to see some notable retired Nats at Nationals Park. Advertisement We absolutely can. Baseball fandom will always hold space for random roster recitation. This correspondent will go with Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth and Tanner Roark. Give us your stray Nationals guesses in the comments, or hit us with other novelty baseball modifications worthy of Banana Ball. Streaming and ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo by Sean Rayford / Getty Images)
