Latest news with #SydneyColson
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fever get taste of winning — it tastes like champagne. Now they hope Commissioner's Cup title is 'turning point'
MINNEAPOLIS – Sydney Colson was seemingly in the clear. The Indiana Fever guard emerged from the visitors' locker room mostly dry, the only evidence of the celebration raging behind her being the drops of champagne on her oversized ski goggles and the shoulders of her Commissioner's Cup champion T-shirt. "Caitlin Clark's in there, biting all the bottles for everybody — biting through cans and (stuff), but it was fun," Colson said of the scene inside the victorious room. "I'm not a drinker, I don't know how to do champagne celebrations, but they were opening them; the coaches were having a good time chugging out of the Commissioner's Cup — it was fun. It was a good time." The Fever signed Colson, in part, for moments like this. A 10-year veteran and two-time WNBA champion, she brings the experience and winning pedigree often necessary to help elevate building teams like Indiana to that next level. And though Tuesday's 74-59 win over the Minnesota Lynx was not for the ultimate prize, it was an elimination game on the road against the league's best team; the closest approximation to a playoff game this team will experience until the fall. "I made it clear (before the game) we need to have a turning point in our season," Colson said. "We're trying to find our identity," she continued, citing the team's inconsistencies from game to game. "I said, no one's expecting us to win, so we're going to be able to play free. Let's go out there, execute on both ends and have confidence, believe we can do this on their home court. And I think we all played like we knew we could. Hopefully this mentality carries." As Colson continued fielding questions, three of her teammates — Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull — set a trap for her inside the locker room entrance, occasionally peeking out to make sure she hadn't gotten away. What are you doing with your share of the $500,000 prize pool for winning the Commissioner's Cup? "Oh my God, you're so nosy," Colson joked. And with that, she turned heel and returned to the locker room … where she was immediately ambushed by Clark, Cunningham and Hull, the three spraying her with champagne, then emptying their bottles over her head. "We love you, Syd!" Cunningham called out as she shook out the final drops of alcohol. "It's fun," Hull said of the celebration. "We worked really hard to get here and I'm happy we're able to celebrate that win together in a room like that." Those scenes and emotions inside the visitors' locker room were certainly well-deserved. Staring down a Western Conference behemoth in the Lynx and without Clark for a third consecutive game, the Fever shook off a wobbly first quarter to put together their most complete performance of the season and in doing so, secured their most impressive win of the year. The defense looked a step slow in the first quarter, struggling to keep up with a Minnesota offense that created traffic with a series of screens and player movement on each possession to find (or create) an open look. It was artistry in motion and snowballed into a 13-point lead with 8:13 left in the second quarter. The Fever (8-8) did not allow another basket until the opening seconds of the third. "We were more disruptive. We were in passing lanes. We didn't allow them to just pass the ball (and) we made their movement a little more difficult," coach Stephanie White said in her postgame news conference. "We made their movement a little more difficult, because of our positioning. Our point of attack on ball screen defense was better." The Fever's intensity was better, as was their attention to detail, White continued. Everyone was flying around and they were helping each other on the defensive side, Hull added. The Lynx would try their slips and rolls and the Fever had someone there, ready to intercept. Minnesota (14-2) entered Tuesday averaging 85.3 points and shooting 47% from the field. It struggled to reach its season-low 59 points against Indiana and shot a woeful 34.9%. "It's what we're capable of doing and we did it consistently for three quarters," White said. "That's what it's going to take for us." The offense did what it's done all season, particularly over this most recent stretch, with a variety of players stepping up in the absence of Clark. Aliyah Boston collected 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, Sophie Cunningham tallied 13 points and seven rebounds, and Kelsey Mitchell and Aari McDonald dropped a dozen points apiece. But how about Natasha Howard? Another offseason addition who brings that winning pedigree — she won two conference championships and a WNBA title in her two seasons in Minnesota (2016-17) — she earned game MVP honors after contributing 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting (8-for-8 free throws), 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Howard kickstarted the Fever offense in the second quarter, ending a four-and-a-half-minute scoring drought with a couple assists, then helped the visitors maintain control through the third, totaling 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting as the margin reached as many as 14. Of note, Howard scored 13 points vs. Los Angeles two games ago, then went for 15 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals last week vs. Dallas. "Tash flies under the radar," Mitchell said. "Not a lot of people respect what she does and brings to the table. She's won at every level and I think we have to give her flowers a little bit more." "We did whatever we needed to do to make the play down the stretch tonight, and down the stretch, that was with Tash. It was her game and it was our role to make sure she got what she needed." Most important to Tuesday's win, the Fever finally displayed that killer instinct, refusing to allow Minnesota even the opportunity to get back into the game. The Target Center crowd roared back to life as the home team clawed back to within seven and forced a timeout early in the fourth quarter. Indiana retaliated immediately with two baskets by Boston and another by McDonald. "We've run into some fourth quarters where we're ahead then we let the other team crawl back into it," Hull said. "We've worked in practice, going over that situation and making sure we're not playing not to lose and are instead continuing to build on that lead." The Lynx used last year's Commissioner's Cup championship run as a launching point for their season, the foundation of belief for that group on their way to another conference championship. Now the Fever have the same opportunity. "We need this mindset to fuel us forward," Colson said. "The rankings will take care of themselves. We know we're a capable team, we just have to show it consistently." Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever celebrate Commissioner's Cup win, hope it's turning point to season
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sky's Angel Reese gets her flowers from Fever's Sydney Colson during All-Star Weekend
The post Sky's Angel Reese gets her flowers from Fever's Sydney Colson during All-Star Weekend appeared first on ClutchPoints. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese received high praise from Indiana Fever veteran Sydney Colson during WNBA All-Star Weekend festivities, as the league's brightest stars gathered in Indianapolis to celebrate the 2025 midseason showcase. Colson, speaking during an interview with Yahoo Sports and former WNBA player Theresa Plaisance, took a moment to recognize the growth and poise of Reese, who is in her second season with the Sky. 'We're very happy for you,' Colson said. 'To see the road from your year one to your year two, you can tell you put in work and with all of the negativity that you receive, I hope you know that a lot of us, we admire you – how you carry yourself and how you show up all the time so keep being that.' Plaisance added to the sentiment, calling Reese 'a bright light in this world,' and praised the 23-year-old for carrying the sport of women's basketball 'on your shoulders with such poise and grace.' Sydney Colson's praise highlights growing respect for Angel Reese during All-Star weekend Reese, who was recently announced as the WNBA Edition cover athlete for NBA 2K26, continues to emerge as one of the league's most influential young stars. She is scheduled to participate in her second WNBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, suiting up for Team Collier against Team Clark. The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Reese enters the All-Star break amid a standout sophomore season with Chicago. Through 21 appearances, she is averaging 14 points, a league-leading 12.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 44.6% from the field in 31.7 minutes per contest. The 2025 All-Star Game comes at a time when Reese's profile continues to rise on and off the court. Her NBA 2K26 cover spot, revealed earlier this month, places her alongside NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony as one of the faces of the upcoming game, set to release on Sept. 5. The WNBA Edition will be sold exclusively as a physical copy at GameStop locations in the U.S. Despite facing criticism throughout her early career, Reese has earned consistent recognition from peers, fans, and media alike for her resilience and production. Colson's words serve as a reminder of the respect Reese commands among veterans in the league, even those from rival teams. While Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark will miss the All-Star Game due to a groin injury, Sunday's showcase will still feature several of the league's top talents, including Reese, as the WNBA celebrates its growing popularity and expanding audience midway through the 2025 season. Related: WNBA All-Star line to meet Wings' Paige Bueckers is jaw-dropping Related: Wings' Paige Bueckers debuts new Nike sneakers at All-Star Weekend
Newsweek
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Atlanta Dream vs Las Vegas Aces: Live Stream WNBA, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Las Vegas Aces (11-11) start the second half of their season with an important matchup against the Atlanta Dream (13-9). Both teams are in the playoff hunt, with each win providing the next step towards home-court advantage in the first round. Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream drives against Sydney Colson #51 of the Las Vegas Aces during the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 30, 2024 in Las Vegas,... Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream drives against Sydney Colson #51 of the Las Vegas Aces during the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 30, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More Photo byHow to Watch Atlanta Dream vs Las Vegas Aces When: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Time: 10:00 PM ET Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena TV Channel: ESPN, ESPN Deportes Live Stream: Fubo (TRY FOR FREE) The Dream put together perhaps their finest win of the season, throttling the Chicago Sky 86-49 in Chicago before the All-Star break. Five different Dream players scored in double-digits, with Brittney Griner's 15 points leading the way. Allisha Gray added 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, and was a team-best plus-33 in her 26 minutes of action. Atlanta held the Sky to a ghastly 25.4% from the field, as they tried to stay competitive without Angel Reese on the court. Las Vegas has been an interesting team through the first half of the WNBA season, as its record of 11-11 is better than its No. 9 rankings in points scored (80.6) and points allowed per game (82.1). They are led by one of the WNBA's brightest stars, A'ja Wilson, who averages 22.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game. In their last outing, they survived a furious comeback attempt by the Dallas Wings, who scored 34 points in the fourth quarter, ultimately resulting in a 90-86 victory for the Aces. This is the first of three matchups between the Aces and Dream, with two more games scheduled for the second half of August. Live stream Atlanta Dream at Las Vegas Aces on Fubo: Watch the event now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
New York Times
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Knock, knock. Who's there? Fever veteran Sydney Colson, the funniest WNBA player
INDIANAPOLIS — Sydney Colson, widely considered one of the funniest players in the WNBA, wasn't fearful of any awkward moments throughout her stand-up comedy set Saturday during WNBA All-Star Weekend. If the Indiana Fever guard made a joke that didn't land with the audience at the Everwise Amphitheater in downtown Indianapolis, she planned to give herself some grace. Advertisement If the crowd was tough on her, she planned to give herself some laughs, too. 'It's more butterflies than nerves at the anticipation of something,' Colson told The Athletic a few days before her set. 'But once I'm on the stage, (the reaction) is whatever, because I'm the kind of person that if people don't laugh and I thought it was funny, I'll still laugh anyway.' Fortunately for Colson, when she took the stage for the most notable stand-up performance of her budding comedy career, there wasn't much silence as she delivered her jokes. The crowd flowed with laughter as Colson displayed why her talent isn't just limited to the basketball court. Colson's set was a part of Fever Fest, a joint venture between her Indiana team and Hartbeat, an entertainment company owned by comedian Kevin Hart. The comedy and music festival featured performances from rap artists Bia and The Kid LAROI, as well as big-time comedians Deon Cole, Leslie Jones and Cedric the Entertainer. Colson was the opening act, an opportunity that had been years in the making. 'At the beginning of 2020, during the pandemic, I told myself that … I would go and do stand-up somewhere,' said Colson, who performed her first set in Houston a few years ago. 'I was kind of nervous about it, so anytime I'm nervous about something, I want to face it head-on. Because what's the reason for that fear? I want to know.' Since then, Colson, who said she's spent years studying more accomplished comedians, has continued to ascend. Her big break came when she landed a comedy series alongside former teammate and fellow aspiring comedian Theresa Plaisance titled 'The Syd + TP Show.' The 10-episode series premiered on FuboTV in September 2023. Colson, 35, hopes that Saturday's set at Fever Fest serves as another springboard toward her goal of becoming a full-time comedian and actress whenever she retires from pro basketball. 🤗🙏🏾technically my second time, but it's been like 4 years so I'm gonna force myself to do this more regularly now — Sydney Colson (@SydJColson) July 21, 2025 'My job is very public,' Colson said. 'People are gonna see when you lost a game or you didn't play well, but at the end of the day, basketball is just not that deep to me. I love it, and I work hard at it; I take it very seriously when I'm on the court. But we're not solving the world's problems with a basketball, so we should be allowed to laugh. And for me, I want to make as many people laugh as I can.' Colson's teammates, including two-time All-Star Caitlin Clark, tried to get her to practice her Fever Fest jokes on them. Clark even said she gave Colson a few 'bits to work on,' while secretly hoping to get a preview of Colson's set, but Colson wouldn't budge. If they wanted to see her perform, they had to show up in person like everyone else. Advertisement Clark, who was voted a team captain in the All-Star Game, had a jam-packed schedule Saturday and was unable to make it. However, in Clark's absence, Colson still had plenty of in-person support from the Fever, including teammate Sophie Cunningham, coach Stephanie White and COO/general manager Amber Cox. They all laughed and cheered as Colson opened Fever Fest with a seven-minute performance while she shuffled through her cue cards. The laughter grew louder with each punchline. Colson, whom White jokingly called 'the face of the league,' is one of the few WNBA players who is seemingly loved by fans, players and coaches of every franchise, likely because of her self-deprecating humor. Colson received a round of applause from the audience and a congratulatory hug from Cole as she left the stage. However, for all the jokes she cracked at Fever Fest, her teammates have made it clear all season that Colson's presence within the Fever franchise is no joke at all. 'She's one of the main leaders inside of our locker room, if not the leader in our locker room,' Clark said. 'She's the constant voice, and she has that great balance of when things can be fun and loose and making jokes and keeping everything light. But also, she's won before. She knows what it takes to win.' Colson is a two-time WNBA champion, winning back-to-back titles during her three-year stint with the Las Vegas Aces, before joining the Fever this year during free agency. She also won a national championship at Texas A&M in 2011, the only national title in program history. However, Colson is quick to point out that the peaks of her career wouldn't have occurred without her perseverance in the valleys. She tore her right ACL before her sophomore season at Texas A&M in 2008, underwent surgery in June 2008 and played in the Aggies' season opener against Mercer just 147 days later. Advertisement She was waived by the Connecticut Sun during her rookie season and spent three years playing overseas before returning to the WNBA, where she latched on for three years with the San Antonio Stars (now the Aces). She was out of the WNBA again in 2021, only to return and help the Aces raise two championship banners in 2022 and 2023. Despite being viewed as a perpetual jokester, Colson said she wasn't always upbeat throughout her trials. There were dark days and lonely hours. She views her comedic timing as a rare spiritual gift that has not only helped her along her journey but could help someone else along theirs, especially as she leans more into her 'other craft' of stand-up comedy. 'You can have down moments. You can even be seasonally depressed,' Colson said. 'Some people struggle with mood disorders or whatever it may be. So, I don't take it lightly that this is the mental state that I was given and the heart that I was given. I always try to uplift myself and make fun of myself, and in return, other people can hopefully be uplifted by that, too.' (Top photo of Sydney Colson: Courtesy of Indiana Fever)
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch Fever players celebrate in locker room after Commissioner's Cup win
Indiana Fever players spray and pour champagne on veteran point guard Sydney Colson after winning the Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday night vs. the Lynx
