WNBA Preview: All-Star starters and snubs; Liberty look to get back on track
Well, yesterday was an example of that trend in practice. Not only did the league announce that it will be adding three more expansion teams in addition to the two more expansion teams in Toronto and Portland that will debut next season, but there was a trade, a surprise cut from the Golden State Valkyries, and the All-Star starters for the July 19 All-Star Game in Indianapolis were announced.
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The league announced that Cleveland would be awarded the WNBA's 16th team which will begin play in 2028, Detroit would earn the 17th, officially joining in 2029 and then Philadelphia would become the 18th franchise and would begin play in 2030. All ownership groups of these three new franchises paid a $250 million expansion fee, close to five times what Joe Lacob and Peter Guber paid for the Valkyries back in 2023.
Moments after all of that pomp and circumstance at the league office, the Las Vegas Aces traded for NaLyssa Smith which sent a Las Vegas 2027 first round draft pick back to the Wings. And as a result, the Aces had to waive rookie Elizabeth Kitley and veteran Tiffany Mitchell in order to make roster and salary room for Smith.
And then the Valkyries waived Julie Vanloo, who was away from the team competing in EuroBasket. Vanloo missed her Belgian National team's gold medal celebration after winning EuroBasket to make sure she was back in the Bay Area as soon as possible. She got news of being released merely moments after landing back in California. While Vanloo struggled at times during her minutes on court with Golden State, there are questions about the timing of the franchise letting her know of their decision before hopping on a long 14-15 hour flight back to San Francisco.
This all happened on a Monday and that's in addition to the day before where Angel Reese put on another career performance scoring while shooting over 52 percent from the field in addition to 16 rebounds and seven assists, nearly her second triple double. She did all of this while her former childhood idol Candace Parker was in attendance and got her jersey retired by the Sparks prior to tipoff.
Who are the 2025 WNBA All-Star starters?
Before I preview the week ahead, let's discuss the All-Star starters which were announced on Monday evening. The two highest fan vote getters, Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier, were named captains and automatic starters on Sunday. And then a day later, the final eight starters were announced by two different ESPN sponsored shows.
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The final eight starters were determined by the weighted combination of fan votes, media votes and player votes. Fan votes were weighed at 50 percent with the media and peer votes counting for 25 percent each.
What jumped out immediately in the league's weighted voting results was how Clark was ranked by her peers. The players ranked Atlanta's Allisha Gray first, New York's Sabrina Ionescu second and then Clark ninth.
This shouldn't be a huge surprise especially considering that Clark has only played in nine of the Fever's total 16 games so far this season, and she's shot the ball very inefficiently (39% overall and 29.5% from three) in addition to averaging 5.9 turnovers. But this also isn't the first time a very popular player was ranked lower by her peers as Ionescu got similar treatment two years ago and was ranked 19th by the players.
It's incredibly hard to argue with the eight other starters that were selected. A'ja Wilson is still putting up All-WNBA numbers even if they aren't as impressive as they were during her otherworldly 2024 MVP season. Gray has put together close to if not the best statistical season she's had since entering the league in 2017. Nneka Ogwumike earned her 10th All-Star selection on another incredibly efficient start to the season shooting 53.1% on 13.4 attempts per game. She's been even more efficient than MVP front-runner Collier.
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Prior to Ionescu's recent shooting slump, she and Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart were both putting up over 20 points a game and led their team in the Liberty to a 9-0 start prior to losing Jonquel Jones to an ankle sprain and Leonie Fiebich to EuroBasket.
The Mercury's Satou Sabally has also put up a career season so far and took the brunt of the scoring load when Alyssa Thomas was out for two weeks with a calf injury. Aliyah Boston has the highest field goal percentage (59.7) among players who play over 25 minutes a game.
And last and certainly not least, Paige Bueckers leads all rookies in points and assists per game and is third amongst rookies in field goal percentage for first-year players who play over 25 minutes a game. She is scoring the eleventh-most in the league and seventh most among guards sitting right below Ionescu and right above Clark.
Who Are The WNBA All-Star Starter Snubs?
The point is, it's incredibly hard to make an argument against any of these players starting in the All-Star game. The one that maybe there's an argument against might actually be Clark. Who could have replaced her just based on statistical output alone?
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Skylar Diggins comes to mind immediately just based on the fact that she's the 7th best in scoring and third in scoring among guards. Also, she's averaging the fourth most assists and is fifth in win shares ( 2.5) via Her Hoop Stats. She's fourth in field goal percentage among guards that average over 30 minutes a game ( 46.3 ).
Another guard that could have been an All-Star starter is Kelsey Plum who has put up an impressive statistical season so far even as her Los Angeles Sparks continue to struggle in their journey to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Plum leads all guards scoring 20.6 points a game and is sixth among guards in average assists with 5.6.
In a league dominated by versatile forwards, it's not a surprise that there wasn't enough room for maybe one of the most versatile in Alyssa Thomas. Thomas has put up some of the best numbers of her career, leading the league in assists (9.3) and averaging more points than she did during her 2023 season, the one where Stewart beat her out in the MVP voting. The reason Thomas missed the boat is probably because of the two weeks she missed.
The final player who I think there's an argument for to be an All-Star starter is Brionna Jones who while she doesn't score in the 20s like her peers, she's accumulated 2.3 win shares , the same amount that A'ja Wilson has and a bit more than Thomas and Sabally. She and Diggins are the only players within the top seven in win shares who didn't become All-Star starters.
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It would be shocking if any of these players who weren't named starters don't make the final All-Star team. Right now reserves are being voted on by the WNBA's head coaches and those results will be revealed this Sunday July 6 at 12 pm et. Just a disclaimer, head coaches cannot vote for their own players.
The Week Ahead
Since this week features the Commissioner's Cup Championship game on Tuesday night, there are fewer games to choose from. The league goes on a mini hiatus on Wednesday before picking up again on Thursday. After the Commissioner's Cup Final takes place in Minneapolis, the majority of the games to watch out for are rematches of recent matchups. Can the Fever get revenge on the Aces and can the Liberty redeem themselves against the Storm with Fiebich back from EuroBasket?
Commissioner's Cup Final: Indiana Fever @ Minnesota Lynx
(Tuesday July 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video)
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Now that Clark has been ruled out officially , do the Fever have a shot at winning? It's going to be a tough hill to climb for a team that almost fell to the Dallas Wings on Friday without Clark. This is the right move for Indiana looking at Clark's long term health, but what makes this matchup worth watching is the very fact that these two teams haven't played each other yet. The Lynx's two losses this season came in games where they were outworked by their opponent and allowed at least 20 opponent points off their own turnovers. If the Fever play hard, they have a shot. But if the Lynx value their possessions, this should be a very winnable game and Minnesota would become the first back-to-back Commissioner's Cup Champions in league history.
Las Vegas Aces @ Indiana Fever
(Thursday July 3 at 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video)
Even if Clark misses this game as well, it will be fascinating to see how much run newly acquired Aces forward NaLyssa Smith gets. The Aces won this matchup the first time around on June 22 with Clark on the floor for the Fever. But this will be the first test the Aces have to see if by adding Smith defenses actually guard her, which could open up more space on the floor. Las Vegas has often struggled when opposing defenses don't even guard Kiah Stokes and load up on their other players.
Washington Mystics @ Minnesota Lynx
(Thursday July 3 at 8:00 p.m. ET on League Pass )
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The Mystics will be looking for a win after dropping their latest 79-71 against the incredibly shorthanded Dallas Wings. But also the Lynx's second loss of the season came to the Mystics on June 24. While both teams were without their best players in Napheesa Collier and Brittney Sykes, the Mystics still defended aggressively and earned that win by forcing 19 turnovers and scoring 26 points off those turnovers. Can the two-way play of versatile center Shakira Austin stifle Collier at all? If Collier struggles and the Mystics' defense stays aggressive, I'd say this has the potential to be a really competitive game to pay attention to.
Golden State Valkyries @ Minnesota Lynx
(Saturday July 5 at 8 p.m. ET on League Pass)
The Lynx have a ton of fascinating matchups this week including one against the Valkyries. While Minnesota beat Golden State convincingly around a month ago, the Valkyries have somehow gotten better since they lost players to EuroBasket. (Presumably another reason why they waived guard Vanloo.) Following some New York Liberty struggles, the Valkyries now have the second best defense in the league which has powered them to a 2.7 net rating . Compare that to the -10.7 net rating that Golden State had when the Lynx last played the Valkyries.
Seattle Storm @ New York Liberty
(Sunday July 6 at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS)
The New York Liberty have been going through it lately, losing four of their last five games as they continued to adjust to playing without 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones and German wing Fiebich. One of those losses came to the Storm on June 22 when they only lost by 10 points 89-79. While Fiebich will most likely be available for this game and should provide more shooting and defense, it will be interesting to see how the Liberty continue to wade through their schedule before Jones returns presumably after the All-Star break. Can defeating a streaky Storm team get the defending champions back on track?
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USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
Meet the 'nicest player' in MLB: Cubs' Matthew Boyd stars after crushing injuries
CHICAGO — He may be the nicest, friendliest and most genuine player in baseball. He is loved by every one of his teammates, former teammates, coaches, managers, trainers, clubhouse attendants and batboys throughout the game. If you're not facing him, you're rooting for him. Everyone always wants the best for him, celebrating his triumphs, distressed during his injuries, surgeries and setbacks. MLB ALL-STAR GAME: Starters voted on by fans This 34-year-old veteran starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs should be going to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career. He is Matthew Boyd. 'Really, he's the nicest player in the game," Detroit Tigers starter Casey Mize, Boyd's former teammate, tells USA TODAY Sports. 'Sometimes, too nice. I want to tell him, 'It's annoying dude. You're too nice. Do you ever have a bad day?' " Says Cubs catcher Carson Kelly, who also is on the Mount Rushmore of the friendliest players in today's game: 'Hey, he's much nicer than I am. It's not even close. This guy is the same guy every day. He greets you with a smile on his face. He takes the time to actually ask questions. 'You know how you walk through the clubhouse and say, 'Hey, how you doing, or good to see you?' Well, he stops you and asks you that. He literally will stand in front of you, and want to talk to you and know the answer than just do the common courtesy. He's amazing. He cares about you not just as a baseball player, but a person. He brings people together, brings the best out of everybody, and he's always in a positive mood." Tigers Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and Mize gush about the impact Boyd had on their careers when they broke into the major leagues, spending time teaching them the nuances of pitching, and preparing for the mental challenges. 'He was awesome, just a great veteran for myself and Tarik and the young guys when we first got into the big leagues," Mize says. 'I mean, he really helped us. He wanted to make it as easy a transition as possible, and was just a super positive person that was really kind to us, always trying to make us better as players.'' It was no different for the position players, too, helping them develop into stars, on and off the field. 'He's one of best humans I've ever met in my life," Tigers All-Star outfielder Riley Greene says. 'He's just awesome. When I came up as a young kid, he was just one of those guys who taught me how to carry myself, what to do, teach the ins-and-outs of baseball. And he was super approachable. 'It's tough to not root for him because he's such a great guy, and he's fun to compete against too because he's a great competitor." He is a true All-Star, and if that time comes that he is formally announced, you will hear a celebration from coast-to-coast. Boyd is 8-3 with a 2.65 ERA and has been the most impactful pitcher on the entire Cubs' staff. He has permitted two or fewer runs in seven consecutive starts with a 1.66 ERA. He is tied for the third-most victories in the league, and ranks sixth in ERA. He even leads all pitchers with eight pick-offs. Pretty sweet for a guy who has already made more starts (17) this first half than in any entire season since 2019. 'He's a guy we all root for unless he's pitching against us that night," Cleveland Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis says. 'We loved him here. He was a guy we will always remember for what he did for all of us. 'The way he prepared. The way he competed. The way he respected the game. He wasn't with us long, but he left a lasting impact on all of us." Who else would spend just four months of last season with the Guardians, sign a two-year, $29 million contract with the Cubs, and then call manager Stephen Vogt to apologize for leaving? 'He's one of the best human beings I've ever been around in my entire life," Vogt says. 'Just a great teammate, great person, great husband, great father. We don't talk about those things enough in our game, people enough. 'When you know somebody like Matthew Boyd, you want him to go out and be successful because of who he is as a person." This is a guy who could have easily forsaken the baseball gods over the years for the rash of injuries that stripped him of his greatness. There were the four consecutive injury-shortened seasons. The triceps strain and forearm strain in 2021. The flexor-tendon surgery in 2022. The Tommy John surgery in 2023. The recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2024. The injuries prevented him from making more than 15 starts 2019 until this year. The injuries limited him to only one winning season as a starter in his career. The injuries kept him from pitching 80 innings since 2019. So many injuries, so many letdowns, so many frustrations, but not once did Vogt get angry at anyone, seek empathy, or feeling sorry for himself. 'All of the injuries I had, the Tommy John surgery, I wouldn't wish it on anybody," says Boyd. 'I was still very blessed. I look back on it now, and in 2021 we just had our twins, so I got to stay home. I got to coach my son's first year in T-ball, and I got to help coach my daughter's softball team. Sure, it would be nice to stay healthy, but we're a product of our experiences." And never once did the injuries impact the man's spirituality. Boyd is a deeply religious man with a wife, Ashley, and four young kids (8, 6, and 4-year-old twins), who co-founded a nonprofit organization called Kingdome Home, to help stop child sex slavery. 'I trust God and know he has good things planned for me,' he says. 'Every time there have been these unknowns in my life, he has come through better than I could have imagined. That's where my peace comes from." Boyd always believed one day that he would be healthy. One day he would become a front-line starter. And one day lead his team to the World Series. Now may be that time. He has never felt better. He has never pitched better. And he has the Cubs cruising in the NL Central, residing in first place since April 4. 'The Cubs expressed a lot of interest early, and the most interest," Boyd said, 'so we prayed, we prayed a lot for clarity. My wife and I have always prayed since we first got together, and it's kind of cool how God comes through. This is a place where I've always wanted to be, and there were so many reasons for us to be here, but I didn't know if it would ever happen. 'This franchise has got such a great history and history, and the fans are so into it, but there's a family connection here that was important to us.'' Boyd's grandfather, John Boyd, who died in 2019, grew up in Chicago. His first job was a groundskeeper at the White Sox's Comiskey Park but he was also a diehard Cubs fan. 'It's pretty special to be here, it's something that means a lot to me, to honor him like this"' says Boyd, who grew up in Mercer Island, Washington, about 30 minutes outside Seattle. 'Growing up, he was always talking about the Cubs, always. Like, I honestly think the happiest days of his life was when I debuted, and when the Cubs won the World Series. I remember being at my parents' house for Game 7 watching on TV, and when they won, he called my dad and started crying. 'I always called him after my outings, too. And when we talked, sometime during the conversation I would hear about how the Cubs did that night. I'd tell him about my outing, and he's say, 'That's great, but [former Cubs pitcher] Kyle Hendricks pitched great tonight, too'" The Cubs, who lost ace Justin Steele after four starts with season-ending elbow surgery, were without All-Star Shota Imanaga for seven weeks with a left hamstring strain, and are now without starter Jameson Taillon until August with a right calf strain, can't begin to imagine where they'd be without Boyd. They gambled in the offseason that he'd be a steady performer after watching him go 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in his eight starts with the Guardians, and dominate in the postseason with a 0.77 ERA. Yet, to think he could do this? 'We were very optimistic based on a very small sample, which is hard,' Jed Hoyer, Cubs president of baseball operations, told reporters after Boyd's last start. 'He pitched really well, obviously pitched in the playoffs. You never know exactly. He was a little bit of an unusual background. 'He's certainly exceeded expectations for us.' Boyd always knew that if healthy, he could become one of the best pitchers in the league. Sure, he's the one who put in all of the hard work, but he'll tell you that pitching coach Tommy Hottovy deserves a lot of the credit, and credits Kelly, who he first met back at Oregon State when he hosted Kelly as a college recruit. 'I have to give a lot of credit to the pitching guys that just helped unlock me mechanically, helping me be just a little bit more athletic," Boyd said. 'It's amazing what a few small tweaks can kind of bring out of you. I mean, there are so many variables, and I really don't like saying this, but after everything I've been through, I believe that my best is ahead of me, but if God has different plans, I know that will be great too." All his troubles happened for a reason, Boyd says, and now with his success, he's glad to share his journey to anyone who will listen. 'Hey, I know things may not always go the way you wanted," Boyd said, 'but I know that God doesn't make mistakes. He has had me in certain places for certain reasons. I may never know the reason why, but that's completely fine. 'I don't write the script, but the one who is much more powerful than me, writes it a whole lot better. 'So, I can't wait, because it's going to be amazing." Around the basepaths – While MLB teams and players are getting rich off gambling sponsorships, there's a growing fear among team executives and players that a gambling scandal could be around the corner, and ruin the integrity of the sport. Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz, who's being investigated by MLB for gambling on baseball, is facing a lifetime suspension if found guilty that he was betting on his own games in which he appeared. 'We talk about it all of the time," one GM said, 'and we'd be naive to think nothing is going on. It's getting scary." – The Cubs' urgency to find another starter accelerated when they placed veteran Jameson Taillon on the injured list with a calf strain, sidelining him for at least a month. They continue to purse Pirates starter Mitch Keller, but his price-tag is soaring with Keller yielding a 2.40 ERA in his last five starts, including seven shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. – Executives wonder if the Pirates will now be reluctant to trade some of their most valuable chips now that the team is performing well under interim manager Don Kelly (26-25), which would further alienate their fanbase. – Teams are starting to closely scout Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo (6-5, 2.65 ERA), believing that if they are out of the race, he'll definitely be placed on the trade block. Lugo, in the middle of a three-year, $45 million contract, has an opt-out after this season that he'd likely exercise instead of returning for $15 million in 2026. – The Yankees would love to acquire D-backs third baseman Eugenio Suarez at the deadline and slide Jazz Chisholm back to second base. The Yankees, along with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs, have also expressed interest in Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. – The Mets, who had a surplus of pitchers just three weeks ago, now have placed six pitchers on the IL – three starters and three relievers – since June 13. They are 5-14 in that stretch and are canvassing the market for starters and relievers. – While July 1 is famously known as Bobby Bonilla Day, collecting $1.19 million every July 1 until 2035, this is a holiday that others now share: Chris Davis, who hasn't played for the Orioles in five years, just picked up $9.16 million on July 1 as part of his deferred contract. He'll be paid at least $1.4 million through 2037. Also being paid July 1: Of course, beginning in 2034, it will become Shohei Ohtani Day. He is owed $68 million a year from 2034-2043 after deferring all but $2 million of his annual $70 million contract. – There will be a new Home Run Derby champion with Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Herandez saying he will not return to defend his title, making sure he stays healthy for the rest of the season. 'I wasn't tired at the end or the next day," Hernandez told the Orange County Register, 'but I was really sore. I think if your body is not ready, 100%, it can cost you an injury. So, I don't want to risk it. I'd rather be healthy and be playing the regular season. 'Good luck to the ones who are going to participate.' – Atlanta has zero interest in trading Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña is earning $17 million a year through 2026, and Atlanta has club options for $17 million in 2027 and 2028. He's not going anywhere. – The Toronto Blue Jays, who have won the AL East just once since 1993, has the entire country of Canada in a frenzy after finishing off a four-game sweep of the Yankees for the first time in franchise history, and moving into first place. Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins also boldly stated that the Blue Jays will be ultra-aggressive at the trade deadline, seeking a starter and a catcher. – While the Phillies are looking at relievers David Bednar and Dennis Santana of the Pittsburgh Pirates, they badly need a right-handed hitting outfielder at the trade deadline. Their left fielders are hitting .178 with a .278 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers this year with their center fielders hitting .235 with a .309 slugging percentage. The decision to sign free agent outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million has backfired. – The Red Sox haven't been the same since trading away Rafael Devers, 8-9 entering Saturday, but the Giants have been much worse since acquiring him, going 6-12. Devers is hitting just .215 with a .676 OPS, striking out 26 times in 65 at-bats since joining the Giants. – The Cleveland Guardians are expected to unload first baseman Carlos Santana by the end of the month, who could be a nice fit for the Boston Red Sox, while also potentially moving outfielder Lane Thomas and perhaps closer Emmanuel Clase. Clase should bring in a haul of prospects if the Guardians move him. He is under team control through 2028, owed $6.4 million in 2026 with $10 million club options in 2027 and 2028. – Pretty impressive that the Houston Astros are running away with the AL West, winning 27 of their last 37 games, despite All-Star slugger Yordan Alvarez playing just 29 games. Just imagine how powerful their lineup will be when he returns, perhaps in early August. – The Padres are spreading the word to every seller that they are searching for a right-handed hitting outfielder and a catcher, and aren't afraid to deal their prospects. They still believe they have the team to end their World Series drought, particularly with Yu Darvish's return and potentially Michael King. Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran still makes the most sense for the Padres. – Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte has been overwhelmed by the love shown towards him by D-backs fans after a fan incident in Chicago left him in tears, and was voted as the NL's starting second baseman. 'What Arizona does for me and my family," Marte said, 'I'm so grateful. I'm not maybe, from the Dominican anymore. I'm from Arizona now." – Atlanta's starting rotation has been absolutely devastated with injuries. Look at their rotation from their opening series in San Diego: And you wonder why they're 39-47 and sitting in fourth place in the NL East. – It's stunning that Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman still is dominant at the age of 37, yielding a career-low 1.32 ERA this season, while still throwing 100 mph with one pitch clocked at 103.8. – While the Giants picked up the 2026 option on manager Bob Melvin's $4 million-a-year contract, they did not give him an extension, making it more of a simple vote of confidence. 'If anybody deserves any blame from the top, it should be on me," Buster Posey, president of baseball operations, said after making the decision. 'It shouldn't be on our manager or coaching staff. I'm the one who sets the roster. So, I feel like with all those things considered, this was a good time for me to show my belief in Bob and his coaching staff." – Phillies starter Ranger Suarez is having a walk year for the ages. Check out his last 10 starts: – The Tampa Bay Rays, with an adjusted schedule to keep them out of the summer heat and rain delays in Tampa, are in the start of a stretch of play 35 of 52 games on the road. If they survive this stretch, they deserve to play their home postseason games wherever they choose. – There have been only six catchers in history who have hit 40 or more homers in a season. Mariners All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh could have 40 by the All-Star break. He entered Saturday with an MLB-leading 35 homers, already eclipsing his career high. – The Angels, believe it or not, have used only five starters the entire season. – Brutal break for Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy, who was hitting .308 with 12 homers and a major-league leading 48 RBI in his past 46 games, before suffering a deep bone bruise in his knee that will sideline him about six weeks. – Remember when the Yankees (42-25) and the Mets were (45-24) were sitting in first place and cruising back on Friday (June) the 13th. The two New York teams limped into the Subway Series this weekend having lost 28 of their last 39 games, and out of first place. The Mets were 6-14 since June 13 and the Yankees were 6-15. – Javier Báez, the man called El Mago, pulled off his finest magical trick by making the All-Star team as a starting outfielder despite ranking just ninth among outfielders with a .783 OPS, while actually playing more games at shortstop than in the outfield. – The Dodgers are so deeply and richly talented that they have survived 15 pitchers going on the IL, employed an MLB-leading 34 pitchers, prolonged slumps by Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, and are still running away with the NL West. The Dodgers and Giants were tied for first place on June 13, only for the Dodgers to win 15 of their next 18 games allowing them to use the second half as a dress rehearsal for the postseason. – If there was an All-Star selection for a utility player, Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays would be your man. During this Blue Jays' MLB-best 23-10 run, Clement is hitting .362. He leads the Blue Jays in WAR (2.4) and ranks fourth in baseball by producing 12 outs above average. – Just because a prospect tears up the minor leagues for a few months doesn't mean that he's instantly ready for the big leagues and that his success will automatically translate to the big leagues. Meet Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone. He entered July 6 hitting .157 with a .204 on-base percentage and .255 slugging percentage, striking out 24 times in his first 102 at-bats. – The Cleveland Guardians' offense continues to spiral, which should make them sellers at the trade deadline, losers of 22 of their last 28 games while scoring the fewest runs in MLB during that stretch. While All Stars Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan are hitting a combined .300 with a .818 OPS, everyone else is hitting .203 with a .615 OPS. – No one loves hitting at Dodger Stadium more than Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker. He became the first player to homer in six consecutive games at Dodger Stadium on Friday, giving him 20 career homers, 18 while playing for the Diamondbacks. – Maybe Yankees closer Luke Weaver wasn't quite ready to come back after spending less than three weeks on the injured list with his strained hamstring, as researcher Bill Chuck points out. He had a 1.05 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP on June 1, yielding two homers in 25 ⅔ innings, but since coming off the IL is yielding a 13.50 ERA with a 1.88 WHIP, giving up four homers in just 5 ⅔ innings. – Welcome back Paul DeJong, who returned to the Washington Nationals for the first time since being hit in the face April 15, breaking his nose, cheekbone and orbital bone below his eye. 'It's been a humbling experience for me to go back to square one," DeJong told reporters, 'and just pray to get healthy and recover from a traumatic injury.'' Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
The behind-the-scenes story of a WNBA controversy: Caitlin Clark, DiJonai Carrington and a journalist's questions
Little more than 36 hours after the Indiana Fever's season ended, at 1:41 p.m. Eastern on Friday, September 27, the Women's National Basketball Players Association posted a lengthy statement on social media: A MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF THE 144 This week was dedicated to celebrating and amplifying A'ja, Caitlin, DiJonai, and Napheesa for their hard work and truly exceptional performances all season long. We were not going to distract from their successes, nor would we dim the glow of the spotlight that centered them. They have earned that focus and celebration. But we will take this moment now to stand up for them and the rest of our members. Every single one of them. Because we call B.S. To unprofessional members of the media like Christine Brennan: You are not fooling anyone. That so-called interview in the name of journalism was a blatant attempt to bait a professional athlete into participating in a narrative that is false and designed to fuel racist, homophobic, and misogynistic vitriol on social media. You cannot hide behind your tenure. Instead of demonstrating the cornerstones of journalism ethics like integrity, objectivity, and a fundamental commitment to truth, you have chosen to be indecent and downright insincere. You have abused your privileges and do not deserve the cre- dentials issued to you. And you certainly are not entitled to any interviews with the members of this union or any other athlete in sport. Those credentials mean that you can ask anything, but they also mean that you know the difference between what you should and should not. We see you. Our relationship with the media is a delicate one that we will continue to strengthen because the media is essential to growing the game. No one knows that better than we do. But the players are entitled to better. They are entitled to professionalism. We call on USA Today Network to review its Principles of Ethical Conduct for Newsrooms and address what we believe is a violation of several core principles, including seeking and reporting the truth. USA Today Sports should explain why a reporter with clear bias and ulterior motives was assigned to cover the league. We also urge the league to review its policies and take measures to prevent such issues, protecting the integrity of the game and its players. Terri Carmichael Jackson Executive Director • Two hours later, USA Today took its turn posting on social media. Journalists ask questions and seek truth. At USA Today, our mission is to report in an unbiased manner. We reject the notion that the interview perpetuated any narrative other than to get the player's perspective directly. Christine Brennan is well regarded as an advocate for women and athletes, but first and foremost, she's a journalist. Roxanna Scott USA Today Sports Executive Editor • How did we get here? This is what happened: Almost exactly three days earlier, just before 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, between Games One and Two of the Fever–Sun playoff series, DiJonai Carrington walked across the court at the empty Mohegan Sun Arena to speak with a knot of reporters there to interview both teams after their respective practices. Social media was running wild with videos and photos of Carrington's fingers hitting Clark in the eye, with unsubstantiated claims and insinuations that Carrington had tried to injure Clark. There also were other videos making the rounds on the internet in which Carrington and teammate Marina Mabrey were seen laughing later in the game, including Mabrey motioning with her fingers. It appeared that they were mimicking former NBA star Carmelo Anthony's gesture celebrating a three-point shot, but the internet was rife with questions, comments, rumors, and innuendo about all of it, and since social media had driven so much of the conversation around the WNBA this season, there was only one way to give the athlete in question a chance to clear the air, and that was to ask Carrington about it. So I did. 'DiJonai, when you went and kind of swatted at Caitlin, did you intend to hit her in the eye, and if so—or if not, either way—could you talk about what happened on that play?' 'I don't even know why I would intend to hit anybody in the eye,' she replied. 'That doesn't even make sense to me. But no, I didn't. I didn't know I hit her, actually. I was trying to make a play on the ball and I guess I followed through and I hit her, so obviously it's never intentional, that's not even, like, the type of player that I am.' I followed up to give her a chance to address the issue of the other videos getting quite a bit of attention online. 'Did you and Marina kind of laugh about it afterwards? It looked like later on in the game they caught you guys laughing about it?' 'No, I just told you I didn't even know I hit her, so I can't laugh about something I didn't know happened.' In my long career, I've asked hundreds of questions that were far more challenging and potentially controversial than those. This is what journalists do. We ask questions, specific questions, sometimes difficult questions. In all cases, the athlete has an opportunity to take the questions any way he or she prefers, to fight back, to tell their side of the story, whatever they want to do. I would ask any male athlete what I asked Carrington, so why wouldn't I ask a female athlete those questions? I posted the video of my questions and Carrington's answers on social media; it received millions of views. By covering this story seriously, I was giving the WNBA the respect it deserved, just like the NFL or the Olympics. I was doing my job. • Fifteen minutes after I asked Carrington those questions, ClutchPoints' Matthew Byrne asked Clark during her on-court media availability what she would say to 'the crowd of people that think a hit like that was intentional.' Clark laughed. 'It wasn't intentional by any means. You just watch the play. It wasn't intentional.' Byrne's post on X received hundreds of thousands of views. Clark's answer was now available in the public domain for one reason: Byrne asked the question. • Just a couple of minutes after Carrington's interview session was over and she walked away, I was standing near the other reporters at the side of the court when her teammate DeWanna Bonner walked toward me. 'You disrespected my teammate,' she said. I put out my hand and tried to introduce myself, but Bonner did not want to shake it. 'You attacked my teammate,' she said. I motioned to my phone in my hand. 'Can I tell you what I said?' I was happy to show her the video I had just taken of Carrington's answers to my questions. I again tried to introduce myself since Bonner and I had never met, but Bonner wanted no part of that. 'You attacked my teammate,' she said again. I tried to introduce myself once more. 'I asked her a question to give her a chance to respond to a controversy.' 'You disrespected my teammate,' Bonner said again, walking away. Bonner never raised her voice, nor did I. It was the kind of tense but predictable conversation I have had dozens of times over the length of my career with professional athletes, especially in the National Football League. When a journalist is doing her job properly, and an athlete is doing hers or his properly, they sometimes will not get along. This happens relatively often in big-time sports. • No more than 10 minutes before the Carrington interview, I had chatted with Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White on the court. We had both been on an ABC News Live show a few months earlier, talking about the Caitlin Clark Effect, so it was nice to catch up for a few minutes and exchange cell numbers. Knowing how fraught the playoffs can be, and now possessing White's number, I decided to text her to let her know what happened in case she or her players wanted to discuss it with me. 'Your players are mad at my questions,' I wrote. 'Happy to discuss anytime. My questions gave DiJonai a chance to clear the air on a controversial topic. It was Journalism 101. I tried to introduce myself to DeWanna three times and tell her what happened but she just wanted to criticize me which of course is her right. Just fyi. Thanks.' Little more than an hour later, White replied. 'Thanks for the heads up.' Five hours later, a WNBA official called me in my hotel room in Uncasville, about a mile from the arena. The official had been informed by the Connecticut Sun public relations staff about my questions to Carrington and Bonner's response. The league official told me that the Sun PR people had told Carrington that she should not have gone to a teammate to confront a credentialed reporter, but rather should have come to the PR people, who could have handled the situation. Then the WNBA official brought up my questions to Carrington. 'I have a simple test about whether questions are appropriate or not,' the official told me. 'They should not be vulgar, rude, or inappropriate. Your questions were not vulgar, rude, or inappropriate. Your questions were fine. 'Unfortunately, most of our players have zero idea what real media exposure is,' the official continued. 'They don't know what real coverage is, they have been shielded at college and then they come to the WNBA not knowing what real questions are. Frankly, our players just don't get it.' The official requested their name not be used due to the sensitive nature of the issue. • At 11:30 the next morning, Wednesday, September 25, eight hours before Game Two, Carrington wasn't on the court. She wasn't in the locker room. She wasn't looking at game film. No, on the day she was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player, Carrington was poking her head through a gap in the black curtains surrounding a catering area backstage at the arena, raising her voice at three journalists sitting at a table. Indianapolis Fieldhouse Files Fever beat writer Scott Agness, Indianapolis Star Fever beat writer Chloe Peterson, and I were in the otherwise empty catering area, waiting for the Fever shootaround to end on the court nearby, when Carrington surprised us with her appearance between the curtains. 'Why are you talking shit about NaLyssa?' she blurted out loudly, referring to her partner, NaLyssa Smith, the Fever forward. The question surprised the three of us because no one was saying anything personal or derogatory about Smith. Agness and Peterson had been discussing a bit of Fever strategy they had just noticed on the court but had been asked not to divulge publicly—that Smith was going to be replaced in the starting lineup for Game Two by veteran Temi Fagbenle. 'You're saying she's a bad teammate!' Carrington yelled. Then she looked specifically at me. 'I walked past and I heard you talking shit about NaLyssa! It was you, out of your mouth!' Carrington, of course, had been outside the curtains while Agness and Peterson had been talking about the change in the Fever starting lineup. I invited Carrington to come inside the curtains to sit down and speak with us. She refused, but she was still talking quite loudly, so much so that her voice was carrying through a back hallway of the arena. Connecticut Sun manager of communications Alexandra Maund later said that her colleague, public relations specialist Caroline O'Keefe, heard the commotion and told Maund to find out what was happening. 'Caroline comes running over to me, 'DiJonai's yelling at somebody,' so I ran over and grabbed her away,' Maund said. The Sun's Marina Mabrey also heard Carrington, and she ended up rushing toward her teammate as well. They were on the outside of the curtains around the catering area, but visible to us through gaps in the curtains. We watched them convince Carrington to stop talking and walk away. Obviously surprised by this development, Agness, Peterson, and I immediately replayed the conversation around the table that preceded Carrington's arrival through the curtains and agreed that no one had said what Carrington said she heard. • That wasn't the end of it. Thirty minutes later, with Agness, Peterson, and me now back on the court, waiting to interview the players, Smith walked by, then came back toward the court moments later with her cell phone pressed to her ear. Carrington had left a voicemail for Smith relating her version of the catering area story, according to a Fever official. Smith strode toward me. 'Do you have something to say to me?' she asked. 'I'm always happy to talk to you,' I replied. She scoffed and walked away. Within minutes, back under the stands in a dark hallway, WNBA communications director Sam Tager was standing with Agness and me. Smith walked by us, looking at me. 'What did you say?' Smith asked. 'What did you say?' I told her that no one – Agness, Peterson, or I – said anything negative about her. 'You are lying,' Smith said to me and walked away. Tager shook her head: 'This is like a bad game of 'Telephone.'' Minutes later, Maund said she wanted to hear the entire story, and I was happy to tell it, so she gathered Fever PR director Ryan Stevens, Tager, Agness, and me around a backstage table. Each of us taped the conversation. I retold the details, and Agness added his, which corroborated mine. Peterson was on deadline, so she wasn't with us, but she later confirmed the same details. At the end of our meeting, Maund said, 'Jen (Rizzotti, the Sun president) is on her way in right now, and I'm going to talk to her about it. … I'll see what she wants to do. … You may be hearing from us, but I appreciate your honesty.' An hour later, a WNBA official who was not in Connecticut called me to say they had listened to the audio recording from our meeting about the incident and were going to follow up with the Sun about Carrington's behavior. • The news of the players union wanting to banish me for asking a question and a follow-up exploded not only in sports social media but also in the mainstream media. Over the next few days, I was supported. I was lectured. I was cheered. I was excoriated. A sampling: Soccer legend Megan Rapinoe, whom I have known and covered for more than a decade, said this about my questions on her podcast: 'That feels racist.' Lindsay Gibbs, who runs a women's sports newsletter, posted on X: 'Wild to see reporters I grew up admiring, trailblazers of the industry, become hacks in real time.' Carrington herself reposted the WNBA players association statement, adding '@cbrennansports, goofy.' Those who were angry with me believed that the WNBA was not the same as other sports leagues and required different kinds of questions—ones that took into account possible racial backlash before they were asked. There was concern that the two questions I asked could lead to social media attacks on Carrington and other Black players. Others thought the questions were appropriate, allowing Carrington to deal with a controversial topic on her terms, in her own words. Tom Jones, senior media writer for The Poynter Report, a daily media newsletter: 'Brennan was doing her job, a job she has done well and fairly for decades. In this case, she went directly to Carrington, as is the journalistically responsible thing to do.' The Boston Globe's Tara Sullivan: 'Absurd on its face, and laughingly uninformed and hypocritical in each of its five pages posted to social media last Friday, the statement indicted the WNBPA far more than it could ever hurt Brennan, a trailblazing journalist who has been on the ground covering women's sports for more than four decades. … The WNBA and its players keep fumbling their golden opportunity with a string of ill-advised decisions and PR gaffes exposing them as not being ready for prime time.' CNN's Jake Tapper and I discussed the players' call to ban me on his show, The Lead, on September 30. Tapper ended the segment this way: 'Whoever wrote that statement for the WNBA players union should probably read a little bit more about Christine Brennan before accusing her of buying into anything having to do with homophobia or racism or sexism, because those are horrible blights on our culture that you have been fighting against for decades.' Annie Costabile, the Chicago Sun-Times' WNBA reporter, said she understood how race and politics always have played a role in coverage of the league, but that threatening to take a journalist's credential was never the answer: 'Early on covering the beat, I experienced a sense of being protective of the players because I saw firsthand how disrespected the sport was collectively,' she said. 'I thought respecting the sport and the players meant being protective over being fair. I was wrong. Respecting women's sports doesn't mean we should cover the league in a soft manner. These women are athletes, the ultimate competitors, and they deserve the same coverage, including critical coverage, that we give to all sports. That's the mark of true equality. Sometimes when we have these conversations about coverage of the WNBA, you have to ask, are we treating it as a sport, or as a charity?'
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