Latest news with #Sparks
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why didn't Caitlin Clark play? When Indiana Fever star may return
Here was Stephanie White with the latest on Clark, before last night's game vs Sparks: day-to-day Caitlin Clark missed her sixth game of the season on Thursday night in an eventual 85-75 Indiana Fever loss against the Los Angeles Sparks. Clark has been ruled out of Friday night's contest at the Dallas Wings as well. It will be Clark's seventh game missed this season via injury. Why didn't Clark play against the Sparks and why won't she play against the Wings? The 6-foot guard is sidelined with a groin injury. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White commented on the potential timeline for Clark to return. "Just day-to-day. It depends on a lot of her rehab and therapy and strength training and how that goes. Right now, it's just day-to-day," White said. White said after Thursday's loss that the compacted schedule would factor into whether or not Clark would be available. "Certainly, in my mind, it is," White said of the tight schedule. "At the same time, she has shown she's tough, and a quick healer, so we'll see." Obviously, now fans know that they won't see Clark back out on the court until Tuesday night at the earliest. The Fever take on the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, July 1 in the Commissioner's Cup Championship at 7 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video presented by Coinbase. After that, Indiana (7-8) hosts the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, July 3 at 6 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video. Clark previously missed five games earlier this season with a left quadriceps strain. The Fever went 2-3 minus Clark in their games between May 28 and June 10. Following that initial injury absence, Clark returned and erupted for 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including a career-high seven made 3-pointers in a 102-88 win over the New York Liberty. Clark played in five games after her initial injury absence, averaging 17.8 points per game. But, Clark was in the midst of a three-game shooting slump when she suffered this latest groin injury. The former Iowa superstar made just 1-of-23 3-point attempts in her most recent three games played. On the season, Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game on 39.0% shooting and 29.5% 3-point shooting in nine games played. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footage of 'snitch' WNBA star trying to get Caitlin Clark in trouble goes viral
Caitlin Clark was the center of attention once again during Indiana Fever's game against Seattle Sparks - despite only being a spectator on the night. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year was ruled out of the fixture after suffering a groin injury and was forced to watch on as the Sparks ran out 85-75 winners. It was the sixth game that Clark has been forced to miss during the season as questions over her availability for the Fever continue to crop up. While she wasn't able to make an impact on the court, she did step foot on it - much to the frustrations of Sparks star Kelsey Plum. Fan footage from the game has since gone viral as eagle-eyed supporters noticed the moment Plum alerted officials to the fact Clark had stepped onto the court. Plum could be seen pointing towards Clark and calling for the referee to dish out a technical foul to the injured Fever star. kelsey plum telling caitlin that she has to sit her ass down 😭😭 — winn (@caitsversionn) June 26, 2025 Clark - who stood with her arms spread wide in a gesture that signified her confusion at Plum's pleas - was not punished by the officials for the incident. It appeared that it was, in fact, a light-hearted interaction between the two WNBA star given that, afterwards, both stars were seen smiling. Responding to the viral video, one fan wrote: 'Kelsey and CC are always giving each other a hard time'. 'She was being a snitch', another wrote as they took aim at Plum for her actions. However, another user then said: 'What's sad is many won't understand that this was a joke'. Indiana Fever star Clark has dominated the WNBA since being drafted into the league last year, however has endured some hardship in recent weeks. The 23-year-old had her worst game of the season on Tuesday against the Seattle Storm, scoring just six points on 3 of 13 shooting with eight turnovers.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Caitlin Clark sidelined by sudden injury as everything changes for the Indiana Fever
(Image Source - Getty Images) The Indiana Fever experienced a major setback on June 26 when their star Caitlin Clark was ruled out of the game against the Los Angeles Sparks due to an unexpected left groin injury. Just two nights earlier, Clark had made headlines with a jaw-dropping fall in Seattle, and her absence has quickly shifted the team's dynamics. Now, with the Fever's offense in a precarious position and uncertainty hanging over them, everyone is questioning — how serious is this injury? Stephanie White reveals cautious day to day approach as Caitlin Clark undergoes MRI During the Fever's 94–86 win over the Seattle Storm on June 24, Caitlin Clark collapsed in the closing seconds while trying to secure her position—this incident sparked immediate concern. The team updated her status on Thursday morning, confirming she would be sidelined for the Indiana vs. Sparks game due to a left groin injury. This is a tough hit for the Fever, who were sitting at a 7–7 record and depending on Clark's all-around game to help them rise in the standings. Head Coach Stephanie White confirmed that Clark had an MRI on Wednesday night, describing her condition as "very much a day-to-day thing." This cautious method reflects how the Fever dealt with her earlier left quadriceps strain in May, which sidelined her for five games before she had a breakout game with 32 points against the New York Liberty on June 14. But unlike that injury, the extent of the groin strain is still uncertain—raising concerns about how long she could be out this time. The Fever's record stands at just 2–4 during Clark's six-game absence this season, and the 85–75 loss to Los Angeles on Thursday made it obvious why: the Sparks outscored them 35–17 in the fourth quarter. Star forward Azurá Stevens put up 23 points, with Kelsey Plum adding 21. Indiana found it hard to keep their offensive flow, which shows how much Clark's presence impacts everything from assists to spacing. To address this, the Fever recently signed Aari McDonald on a hardship contract and parted ways with veteran DeWanna Bonner, hoping to enhance their backcourt. This groin problem comes at a time when the Fever is already struggling. Clark, averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds over nine starts this season, has been off her game from long range, sinking just 1 of 23 three-pointers in her last three games. As a former Iowa standout and the reigning Rookie of the Year, she's dealt with leg issues before, but her erratic play only increases the stakes. Caitlin Clark's groin injury could be seen as a minor issue at first glance, but the timing and circumstances really raise some red flags. Since the MRI results haven't been revealed yet, the Fever are in a tough spot, dealing with a "day-to-day" situation — and they have to make adjustments on the fly without a player who has previously revolutionized their offense. Also Read: Stephen Curry celebrates Morgan Riley's Underrated Golf Tour victory after clutch final round at Eisenhower course No matter if she comes back for Friday's game in Dallas or if this issue lasts longer, Indiana has to face the fact that Clark not being there shakes up their young team—and maybe even their hopes for the playoffs. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Crusoe Introduces Crusoe Spark: Modular AI Data Centers for Scalable Edge Computing
SPARKS, Nev., June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crusoe, the industry's first vertically integrated AI infrastructure provider, today announced the launch of Crusoe Spark™, a turnkey, prefabricated modular AI factory designed to bring powerful, low-latency AI compute to the network's edge. These AI-optimized modular data centers integrate all necessary infrastructure—including power, cooling, remote monitoring, fire suppression, and racks that support the latest GPUs—into a single, portable unit. Crusoe Spark enables rapid deployments with diverse power sources for on-prem AI, edge inference, AI capacity expansion needs, with units delivered as fast as three months. AI at the edge is transforming industries by enabling real-time decision-making and intelligence directly where data is generated, without the latency and bandwidth limitations of a remote cloud system. This capability is critical for applications including autonomous vehicles needing instant reactions, real-time patient monitoring in healthcare, predictive maintenance in manufacturing, and smart city infrastructure optimizing traffic flow and public safety. This rapidly expanding market is driven by the explosive growth of IoT devices and the demand for immediate, localized AI insights. Crusoe's leadership in AI infrastructure is built upon its deep experience in hyperscale development and energy infrastructure, including its 1.2-gigawatt site in Abilene, Texas. Crusoe Spark extends this expertise to solve the critical challenge of deploying powerful AI compute closer to where data is generated and decisions are made. With over 400 modular units already deployed globally, operating in some of the harshest conditions, Crusoe brings proven reliability to the edge. 'As AI becomes ubiquitous in everyday life, it needs infrastructure solutions to match its diverse needs. This means gigawatt scale AI factories in some cases and low latency inference at the edge in others. We're excited to announce the launch of Crusoe Spark, enabling the rapid deployment of AI everywhere you need it,' said Chase Lochmiller, CEO and co-founder of Crusoe. 'These highly efficient and mobile data centers are designed for high density clusters of GPU's to be deployed on-prem, at the edge or anywhere else you want easily accessible intelligent infrastructure. The modular and ruggedized design enables us to efficiently scale to meet your needs, even in the most challenging environments.' The announcement follows Crusoe's announcement of its strategic partnership with Redwood Materials to deliver scalable, renewable, and rapidly deployable power solutions for AI factories. About CrusoeCrusoe is on a mission to align the future of computing with the future of the climate. Crusoe provides a reliable, scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for AI infrastructure by harnessing large-scale clean energy, building AI-optimized data centers, and empowering builders to reach their AI potential. Crusoe is empowering the AI revolution. Media ContactStephanie SchlegelOffleash for CrusoeCrusoe@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TechCrunch
a day ago
- Automotive
- TechCrunch
Redwood Materials launches energy storage business and its first target is AI data centers
Tucked between two massive buildings in the hills of the Nevada desert, 805 retired EV batteries lie in a neat formation, each one wrapped in a nondescript white tarps — and hiding in plain sight. A passerby might not realize that it's the largest microgrid in North America, that it's powering a 2,000 GPU modular data center for AI infrastructure company Crusoe, or that it is Redwood Materials co-founder and CEO JB Straubel's next big act. Redwood Materials announced Thursday during an event at its Sparks, Nevada facility it was launching an energy storage business that will leverage the thousands of EV batteries it has collected as part of its battery recycling business to provide clean power to companies, starting with AI data centers. The new business, called Redwood Energy, is kicking off with partner Crusoe. The old EVs, which are not yet ready for recycling, store energy generated from an adjacent solar array. From here the system, which generates 12 MW of power and has 63 MWh of capacity, sends power to a modular data center built by Crusoe, the AI infrastructure company best known for its large-scale data center campus in Abilene, Texas, the initial site of the Stargate project. Redwood said it recovers more than 70% of all used or discarded battery packs in North America. It has apparently been stockpiling batteries that aren't ready for recycling, with more than 1 gigawatt-hour worth in its inventory already. In the coming months, it expects to receive another 4 gigawatt-hours. By 2028, the company said it plans to deploy 20 gigawatt-hours of grid-scale storage, placing it on track to become the largest repurposer of used EV battery packs. To illustrate the commitment of Redwood — and by extension, Straubel — the company's entire event from the lights and DJ to the food and big screen, were powered by the microgrid. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW 'We wanted to go all in,' Straubel said, breaking into a wide toothy smile. Splashy effects for the event aside, the microgrid set up with Crusoe is not a demonstration project. Straubel said this is a revenue-generating operation, and one that is profitable. And even more of these will be deployed with other customers this year. 'I think this has the potential to grow faster than the core recycling business,' he said. Redwood Materials has been on an expansion tear in recent years. The company, which has raised $2 billion in private funds, was founded in 2017 by Straubel, the former Tesla CTO and current board member to create a circular supply chain. The company started by recycling scrap from battery cell production as well as consumer electronics like cell phone batteries and laptop computers. After processing these discarded goods and extracting materials like cobalt, nickel and lithium that are typically mined, Redwood supplies those back to Panasonic and other customers. But the company has expanded beyond recycling and into cathode production. Redwood generated $200 million in revenue in 2024. Much of that comes from the sale of battery materials like cathodes. It's footprint has grown too, and well beyond its Carson City, Nevada headquarters as it locked up deals with Toyota, Panasonic, and GM, started construction on a South Carolina factory, and made an acquisition in Europe. Redwood Energy is the next step, one that isn't tied to setting up its systems to be off grid. The retired EV batteries can be powered by wind and solar, or it can be tied to the grid. In the case of the Crusoe project, it's powered by solar. 'There's no green intent required here,' CTO Colin Campbell said during a tour of the microgrid. 'It's a good economic choice that also happens to be carbon free.' For over a decade, companies have been promising to build grid-scale storage from used EV batteries, but they've only materialized in small amounts. Redwood, which got its start as a battery materials and recycling company, is creating a new business line that promises to deliver gigawatts of much needed energy storage in just a few years. 'This really demonstrates how economical the waste hierarchy actually is,' Jessica Dunn, a battery expert at the Union of Concern Scientists, told TechCrunch. That a large recycler like Redwood recognized the profit potential in reprised EV batteries shows 'where this end of life market will go,' she added. Redwood was founded to build a supply chain that could handle the predicted wave of used EV batteries that will hit the market. But that wave hasn't materialized quite as quickly as some predicted. Repurposing batteries is a clear business opportunity for Redwood, but it might also be a business imperative. 'If Redwood didn't enter the repurposing market, then they wouldn't get a share from the repurposed battery. They'd have to wait the five, ten, 15 years until they retired.' she said. In the meantime, other companies would be able to sell the batteries for grid-scale storage, cutting Redwood out of years of revenue. Straubel acknowledged this, noting in an interview that in many ways Redwood Materials started a bit early. 'We started really early, and in a way we started Redwood almost too early,' he said, noting the company initially was collecting consumer batteries and production scrap ahead of the coming wave of EVs. 'Right now, the recycling market is mostly manufacturing scrap, consumer electronics, and EV batteries that have failed under warranty,' Dunn said. That has been enough for Redwood to process over 20 gigawatt-hours annually, but it pales in comparison to the 350 gigawatt-hours in EVs today and the 150 gigawatt-hours expected to hit the road every year. Redwood currently has a recycling facility at its 175-acre campus in Sparks, Nevada, and it's developing a 600-acre facility in Charleston, South Carolina. The latter will remanufacture cathode and anode copper foil, both of which contain critical minerals that the U.S. would prefer stayed within its borders. The company previously said that it will be capable of making 100 gigawatt-hours annually of cathode active material and anode foil by the end of this year. By the end of the decade, it expects production to hit 500 gigawatt-hours.
