• Slug: Sports-Big 12 Travel, 943 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

LAS VEGAS – University of Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu plans to rely more heavily on his counselor this year. The prudent approach stems from the increased travel responsibility he will endure this upcoming college football season and the possible academic challenges that may arise.

Arizona, Arizona State University, the University of Utah and the University of Colorado will make their Big 12 Conference debut this upcoming football season. As a result, schools like Arizona and ASU now face more frequent travel outside the West Coast, including games against teams as far as the University of Central Florida.

The shift to new time zones brings challenges such as altered assignment submission deadlines and possibly reduced cognitive function among players due to jet lag. These factors generate concern about the athletes’ ability to maintain full focus on their education. Continue reading “Big 12 debut brings new academic and travel hurdles for ASU, Arizona athletes”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Basketball Recruits 830 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Dylan Slager
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, ASU men’s basketball is looking to the future. The Sun Devils have utilized the transfer portal ahead of the 2024-25 season and acquired a trio of four- and five-star commits that could make the Sun Devils a formidable force in their Big 12 Conference debut.

The buzz around the Tempe campus centers on five-star commit Jayden Quaintance. The 6-foot-9 center, who played at Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, North Carolina), was a top prospect for schools like the University of Kentucky and Florida. However, the top center in the 2024 class chose the desert as his new home with coach Bobby Hurley taking the reins of his highly skilled rim control.

“Jayden Quaintance is special,” Hurley said. “And I could keep it real simple. What he’s going to be over the next couple of years is scary because of his approach and his makeup and his physical tools and all the things he does on the court.” Continue reading “‘Something to prove’: ASU men’s basketball rebuilds for Big 12 transition with high-profile recruits, transfers”

• Slug: Sports-Mercury’s Philadelphia Connection, 800 words.
• Photo available.

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

LOS ANGELES – Kahleah Copper held on to Natasha Cloud’s arm, bowed her head and shared a laugh with her teammate Sunday as they arrived at Crypto.com Arena and approached the visiting locker room. It’s a common off-the-court moment for the two Phoenix Mercury guards. But joy soon turned to aggression on the court, and the ”Philly Sisters” served the Los Angeles Sparks a “Philly Special.”

Copper and Cloud combined for 56 points on 51.5% from the field to lead the Mercury to an 84-78 victory over the Sparks, despite the absence of Diana Taurasi due to a leg injury. Cloud led the team with a career-high 31 points and added nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks in a stellar all-around performance. Copper finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Copper and Cloud, both Philadelphia natives and former teammates on the Washington Mystics during Copper’s rookie year in 2016, believe their pre-existing connection impacts their communication on the court, leading to Sunday’s successful outing. Continue reading “‘Philly Special’: Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper’s hometown grit reshaping Phoenix Mercury’s culture”

• Slug: Sports-No NIL International Students, 860 words.
• 2 photos available.
• Video available.

By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Beth Coulter was born and raised in Northern Ireland before moving to Arizona to play for Arizona State University’s women’s golf team. As one of her requirements on the Tempe campus as a Sun Devil athlete, Coulter had to attend mandatory name, image and likeness workshops to learn more about the ways young competitors like herself can market their personal brands to the public.

But there was just one problem – international college athletes like Coulter cannot receive money from NIL deals because of visa restrictions. Students choosing to study in the U.S. require F-1 visas, which allow them to study and live abroad but prevent them from participating in NIL deals.

“To sit there and think about the thousands of dollars that these American kids are earning. And we’re sitting there, and we can’t do anything, it’s a little bit frustrating,” said Coulter, who was the No. 7 recruit in Ireland and joined the Sun Devils team for its state-of-the-art facilities, the Valley’s warm weather and an abundance of opportunities. Continue reading “International athletes watch from sidelines as U.S. peers cash in on NIL deals”

• Slug: Sports-Mercury Schedule Toll, 1,000 words.
• Photo available.

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Natasha Cloud walked into the postgame press room at Footprint Center after Monday’s loss to the Connecticut Sun with three designer bags, but only had one in hand. Asked about her mental state, the Phoenix Mercury guard said, “Oof,” looked at teammate Kahleah Copper, laughed, turned her head back to the reporter and said, “You see these designer bags under my eyes.”

The Mercury traveled to Dallas the following day to face the Wings Wednesday, their fourth game in six nights. Phoenix finished 2-2 in the condensed stretch after defeating Dallas 104-96, tallying a season high in points, and sit sixth in the Western Conference with a 10-10 record.

The Mercury aren’t alone – many WNBA teams have endured a compressed schedule to account for the Olympic break from July 21 to Aug. 14. Continue reading “‘It’s a lot’: Phoenix Mercury battle mental challenges to endure grueling compressed schedule”

• Slug: Sports-Wheelchair Curling, 635 words.
• Photo available.
• Video available.

By Katrina Villareal
Cronkite News

TEMPE – In the sweltering heat of Arizona, an unlikely winter sport is sliding into popularity. Curling, traditionally associated with icy northern climates, has found an unexpected home in the desert state. Sparked by the excitement of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the ice sport is gaining traction among Valley residents.

Ability360 capitalized on the momentum from May to June by hosting six weeks of wheelchair curling clinics at the Coyotes Curling Club in Tempe, where participants learned the techniques required to master the game on ice.

Ability360, a nonprofit organization run by and for people with disabilities to address the needs and barriers within Arizona, aims to empower individuals to achieve or continue independent lifestyles within their community. Through programs like the curling clinics, they are opening up new possibilities for adaptive sports. Continue reading “Curling in the desert: Ability360 champions wheelchair curling in Arizona heat”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Brooks Haircuts, 520 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Jordan Hampton
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Small children peeked into the window at the Arizona Barber Academy in Tempe, eagerly waiting for a free haircut Sunday. Arizona State running back DeCarlos Brooks greeted them from the inside with a wide smile, matching their excitement before the 10 a.m. start during his second annual Cutback Giveback Haircut Event.

A local sponsor booth, two bounce houses and games were set up outside the academy as the cloudy and hot day approached the lunch hour and kids stood in line, awaiting their turn to sit in the barber’s chair. The event is part of the Chandler native’s effort to give back to the Valley, where the former Arizona Offensive Player of the Year starred in the Chandler High School backfield and won three 6A state championships.

Brooks hosted his first free haircut event in 2023, servicing 30 kids, according to the Arizona Republic. The community’s positive reception played a large role in bringing the event back for a second year. Among his supporters, which included Sun Devils teammates, his father, brother and mother were present.

Continue reading “ASU running back DeCarlos Brooks hosts second annual Cutback Giveback Haircut Event for local kids”

• Slug: Sports-Caitlin Clark Spotlight, Mercury, 660 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – A father skipped celebrating his son’s birthday Sunday in Dallas. Instead, he sat courtside to witness the anticipated matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever at Footprint Center with his brother’s two children.

As he sat and watched players warm up before tip-off, his mind wasn’t on the perks that came with his luxury seats; rather, he expressed anger through his raw, expletive speech that they missed one person walking out of the tunnel en route to the court for pregame warmups: Fever phenom Caitlin Clark.

Nearby, a middle-aged woman held up a “We love you #22” poster near women’s basketball fans of all ages showing Clark support by wearing or holding her Fever and Iowa Hawkeyes gear in hopes of getting her autograph above the same arena tunnel where the uncle missed the star rookie come out. Continue reading “‘A true professional’: Caitlin Clark’s poise under WNBA spotlight shines in near triple-double win vs. Phoenix Mercury”

• Slug: Sports-Rattlers Postseason Push, 600 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Dylan Slager
Cronkite News

GLENDALE – Win and win big – that’s the mentality of the Arizona Rattlers for the remainder of the regular season.

Rattlers coach and president Kevin Guy echoed the mantra during a June practice as the schedule reached a critical point, with five games remaining to make a playoff push.

“From this week forward, every game is a playoff game until the end of the season,” Guy told his players leading up to their matchup against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on June 15. Continue reading “Arizona Rattlers aim for IFL postseason push with win-first mentality”

• Slug: Sports-Suns NBA Draft. 1,040 words.
• Photo available.

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Two years ago, Ryan Dunn departed Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, Pennsylvania) for the University of Virginia to join the Cavaliers as a walk-on. The three-star recruit stepped on the court at John Paul Jones Arena with no sense of security but determined to embrace coach Tony Bennett’s pack line defense style of play, he reminded people why offense isn’t the only part of basketball.

In his second season at Virginia, the 6-foot-8 forward utilized his 7-foot-1 wingspan to haunt opposing offenses. He ranked 16th nationally and first in the ACC in blocked shots per game and earned a 2024 ACC All-Defensive team nod.

“Once I got to UVA and had my growth spurt, I think I got some God-given talents, and coach Bennett drew out that defensive mindset in me,” Dunn said. Continue reading “Phoenix Suns snag Virginia defensive standout Dunn, former Desert Vista center Ighodaro in NBA Draft”

• Slug: Sports-Rock Climbing Recovery, 900 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Jorden Hampton
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Jillian Stannard lay in a hospital bed, her skin peeling off after battling Stevens-Johnson syndrome and fibromyalgia. She could barely eat, and her body rejected the medication prescribed by doctors to treat her illnesses.

“I was throwing up. I was shaking, I was vibrating,” Stannard recalled. “I couldn’t stop seeing the images. I couldn’t sleep through the night even with prescription medication.

“And that’s when they essentially told me, ‘There’s nothing else for us to try. You’re on every medication.’ And so I didn’t know what to do.” Continue reading “Nature’s therapy: How Jillian Stannard found healing in rock climbing”

• Slug: Sports-Hockey in Desert. 880 words.
• Photo available.

By Mateo Arenas
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, former Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo also gave fans a reason to cheer on the opposite side of the Sun Belt.

Meruelo reportedly decided to step away from the franchise Monday, marking the end of an era for professional hockey in Arizona, for now at least, following his sale of the team in April. While hockey fans have often bemoaned the idea of hockey in the desert, the Florida-based franchises show that the heat doesn’t melt NHL hopes in the sunshine.

With the Tampa Bay Lighting and Florida Panthers added as NHL expansion teams in 1992 and 1993, respectively, the Coyotes were formed when the Winnipeg Jets relocated to the desert in 1996. As the Panthers just added a championship to their resume, the Lightning boast three, coming off of back-to-back wins in 2020 and 2021.

Continue reading “As Florida Panthers capture Stanley Cup, Arizona’s NHL hopes fade”

• Slug: Sports-GCU Roller Hockey, 1,600 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Joseph Furtado
Cronkite News

PEORIA – Dissatisfied with limited playing time for one of the nation’s top collegiate roller hockey teams, Aydin Schwetz had no choice but to start his own program that would eventually go on to match the success of his former team.

Since its Division I debut in 2022, Grand Canyon University has established one of the nation’s premier roller hockey programs in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association. However, Schwetz didn’t always plan to establish a new program at GCU.

His NCRHA career began at Arizona State University but was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He transferred to one of the NCRHA’s best collegiate roller hockey teams at Lindenwood University, where he appeared in 24 games in two seasons. Continue reading “Miracle on wheels: GCU roller hockey makes national championship strides in two seasons against all odds”