Latest news with #Basketball
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fans are Talking About Paige Bueckers' Big Rejection on Lexie Hull
Fans are Talking About Paige Bueckers' Big Rejection on Lexie Hull originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever faced the Dallas Wings on Friday night, looking to get back to .500 after dropping two of the last three. It was supposed to be the first meeting between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers at the WNBA level after going head-to-head twice in college. Advertisement However, Clark was out with a groin injury. The reigning Rookie of the Year missed Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Sparks, too, and has now missed seven games this season. The Fever needed others to step up in her absence, and Lexie Hull was one of the guards who had shown the capability to do so in the past. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10).© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images With just under 10 minutes in the fourth quarter and a Fever 74-69 lead, Indiana guard Sophie Cunningham cut into the lane with the ball and dished it out to Hull in the corner. Hull immediately pulled up for three, and Bueckers came sliding over and blocked it as the crowd cheered. Fans were quick to share their reactions to the play on social media. Advertisement "Paige said 'not in my airspace' and sent that shot to customs," a fan said. "get that weak stuff outta here," another wrote. "What in the A'ja Riyadh Wilson was that block, Paige Bueckers??" added another. "Bueckers the block on Lexie hull !! She does it both ways !!" one added. "Mannnnn so Paige Bueckers giving out buckets and snatching them on defense," a fan wrote. "Can do it all," wrote a fan. The Fever ended up winning 94-86, and it turned out Hull didn't need to do much, with Kelsey Mitchell scoring 32, while Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard contributed 21 and 15 points, respectively. Aari McDonald, who is now signed for the rest of the season after the team waived DeWanna Bonner, adding 13 points. Advertisement With the victory, Indiana now holds an 8-8 record heading into Tuesday's matchup against the Minnesota Lynx. Related: Caitlin Clark's Behavior Toward Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads Related: DeWanna Bonner's Resurfaced Quote Turns Heads After Being Waived by Fever This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's Behavior Toward Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads
Caitlin Clark's Behavior Toward Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever were in Dallas on Friday night for what many thought would be the first WNBA meeting between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. It turned out fans would have to wait a bit longer for that, as Clark was out for the second straight game with a groin injury. Advertisement The reigning Rookie of the Year was still in attendance on the bench, supporting her teammates. Just prior to tip-off, Clark sat next to Aliyah Boston and gave her a long hug. But after that, the 6-foot guard got up and walked straight over to first-year Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. The two shared a smile as Clark wrapped her arms around Cunningham for a hug, just like she did with Boston. The moment was caught on video and shared on social media by the WNBA. "Caitlin Clark delivers pre-game motivation as the Fever prepare to face the Wings," the WNBA wrote. Fans saw the video and shared their reactions in the replies. Advertisement "Everyone knows CC gives the Best Hugs," one fan said. "CC type: hugs," another wrote. "I love their inspirational!" added another. "She's the cutest," said a fan. "this is the real reason she made the trip. this right here," another fan added. "SOPHIE," one said. Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Clark and Cunningham have built a close friendship since Cunningham joined the Fever from the Phoenix Mercury as a free agent this past offseason. They've even embraced the fan-created nickname 'Tres Leches,' which includes the two of them and fellow Fever guard Lexie Hull. Related: DeWanna Bonner's Resurfaced Quote Turns Heads After Being Waived by Fever Related: Fever Fans Weigh In After Signing Familiar Face This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Perfect Lakers Trade Scenario To Land Young Player And Two FRPs For Austin Reaves After $246M Max Deal Rumors
Perfect Lakers Trade Scenario To Land Young Player And Two FRPs For Austin Reaves After $246M Max Deal Rumors originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Los Angeles Lakers' offseason continues with more troublesome news as their star, Austin Reaves, has declined the four-year, max extension offered to him. While this was expected, considering he is worth a lot more in the market, this decision puts the Lakers in a very complicated position. Advertisement Reaves' contract is undervalued, currently set to earn under $14 million next season. When factoring last season's averages of 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, all while shooting 46.0% from the field, he is a bona fide star. The 27-year-old's decision to decline the max extension sets him up to be a free agent in the summer. Reaves expressed his desire to remain with the Purple and Gold. This will allow the team to sign him on a new contract in the 2026 offseason. The Lakers can potentially offer him a five-year deal worth $246 million. This has major implications for the team, particularly due to Luka Doncic's pending contract extension and LeBron James' future outlook with the team. James is currently expected to opt in to the final year of his contract, rendering him a free agent next summer. If the Lakers' superstar comes off the books, re-signing Reaves at this value doesn't become as much of a challenge, especially with the additional spending power that the team will have thanks to their new owners. Advertisement In the unfortunate situation that the Lakers cannot do so, we take a look at a potential trade the Purple and Gold can try to swing to get the most out of his contract. Potential Trade Details Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Devin Vassell, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick San Antonio Spurs Receive: Austin Reaves This trade is beneficial for both teams involved. For the Lakers, this deal sees the arrival of a talented young player in Devin Vassell, along with two essential first-round picks. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs continue to build upon their extensive backcourt rotation by adding another star-caliber player. Advertisement The addition of Devin Vassell could bring major changes to the Lakers' overall starting rotation. The 24-year-old had seen a relative decline in productivity after falling out of the Spurs' main rotation and receiving fewer minutes. Regardless, he recorded an average of 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He was impressive on the offensive front as well, shooting 44.3% from the field while knocking down 36.8% of his shots from beyond the arc. Vassell's creativity as an offensive player may not be on par with Reaves, but his ability to finish on plays may make him a better outlet option in this case. At 24 years old, he is also three years younger than the Lakers star, and with four years left on his contract, the Lakers will have some flexibility with managing their cap space after acquiring him. Meanwhile, the Lakers will also add two draft picks to their depleted reserves. Given the number of picks the Purple and Gold have used in trades, it would be a fortunate sight to see the team get some back in return. Although these only become relevant two years from now, the possession of draft capital is always a positive sight. Advertisement For the Spurs, acquiring Reaves could effectively transform the team from a playoff contender into a title contender. San Antonio features some incredibly talented players in the backcourt. From De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle to their rookie Dylan Harper, the Spurs are stacked in the guard position. While the addition of Reaves could theoretically pose problems for the development of players like Castle and Harper, it could also be invaluable to have him aid their development. The competition for the starting spot could see the two grow at a much faster rate, a positive sight for a young team. Reaves' versatility on offense would pair well with Fox, who often operates in the midrange. While the Lakers' star is also known to do the same, he has shown himself to be a capable three-point shooter even while playing off-ball. Reaves' ability to distribute and function in the pick-and-roll also makes him a solid partner for Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. The one-two punch of Reaves and Wembanyama could have opposing defenses confused due to Reaves' ability to create shots for himself and the big man's ability to shoot the long ball. Advertisement San Antonio's roster since drafting Harper has looked interesting. With title aspirations in the future, adding Reaves would become a part of the overall picture, lending to the need of fortifying their frontcourt. While this trade wouldn't necessarily help the Lakers become title contenders, the Spurs could very well become a genuine threat as favorites in the West. Related: The Lakers' Dream Starting Five For The 2025-26 Season This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Fever Turn Heads With Kelsey Mitchell Announcement on Friday
Indiana Fever Turn Heads With Kelsey Mitchell Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever have become one of the most hyped teams in the WNBA since the arrival of Caitlin Clark. Advertisement While Clark, and even Aliyah Boston, have taken much of the spotlight over the past two seasons, there has been one anchor for the Fever all these years. Kelsey Mitchell, who has been with the Fever since 2018, has been widely regarded as one of the best guards in the league. She hasn't just made a difference as a scorer, but a recent accomplishment proves that the Fever star has stacked up the stat sheet. "Congrats to Kelsey Mitchell on 500 career rebounds," posted the official social media account of the Indiana Fever. With Mitchell surpassing 500 rebounds in her career, she has become the fourth-fastest player in WNBA history to reach 4,000+ points, 500+ rebounds, 500+ assists and 500+ three-pointers made. Upon the release of the announcement, some fans took to social media, sharing their thoughts on the Kelsey Mitchell announcement from the Indiana Fever. Advertisement "Congratulations. Love you Kelz," said one fan. "Let's keep up the good work and the lead," said another fan. "Kelsey buckets," mentioned one fan. "Woohoo! Go Kelsey," commented one fan. "On trrrueeee rebounds," said one fan. "Aliyah need to grab some boards," said another fam. Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images During the 2025 season with the Indiana Fever, Kelsey Mitchell has posted 18.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. She's helped lead the Fever to a 7-8 record heading into their matchup against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings. Related: Aliyah Boston Reacts to Indiana Fever News on Sunday Related: Stephanie White Reveals Good News for Caitlin Clark After Roster Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cooper Flagg Sends Strong Message About Caitlin Clark on Friday
Cooper Flagg Sends Strong Message About Caitlin Clark on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Without any doubt, the Dallas Mavericks selected Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday's NBA draft—something he now shares with Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark, who was taken first overall by the Fever in 2024 after a historic career at Iowa. Advertisement On Friday, during Flagg's introductory press conference with the Mavericks, a reporter asked him to name his Mount Rushmore of NBA and WNBA players. Flagg didn't hesitate when listing his NBA picks: Larry Bird—his all-time favorite player—along with Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. As for his WNBA Mount Rushmore, Flagg took a moment to think before selecting Candace Parker, A'ja Wilson, Brittney Griner, and finally, Caitlin Clark. He capped off his list with a strong message about the Fever guard. 'I might put Caitlin Clark on there just because she's changed the game so much and it's heading in the right direction," Flagg said. "I just love what she's been able to do.' Caitlin Clark is only in her second WNBA season, but she's already made a massive impact both on and off the court. While she's a standout player—currently the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game and firmly in the MVP race—her influence goes far beyond the box score. Advertisement Clark has helped reshape the landscape of the league from a fan perspective. WNBA arenas have consistently sold out when she plays, and the attention surrounding the sport has reached unprecedented heights since her arrival. Caitlin ClarkTrevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Cooper Flagg isn't the first NBA player to praise Clark for all she's accomplished, and he certainly won't be the last. Although she's been ruled out for Friday's game, her Fever are set to take on the Dallas Wings at the American Airlines Center—the same arena where Flagg will make his home for years to come. Related: Jason Kidd Makes Big Statement on Cooper Flagg Ahead of Summer League Debut vs. Lakers This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
