PARIS – Diana Taurasi is clearly tired of questions about her age.
“It’s something that I’ve been doing since I was 5,” Taurasi, 42, said Monday. “It is something that I’ve dedicated my whole life to, and it’s just so easy for a question to be brought up in a manner where it’s not meant to be disrespectful, but if you’re the person being asked, it is a bit disrespectful.”
PARIS – Jade Carey, a Mountain Ridge High School alumnus and former competitor at Arizona Sunrays, is back in the Summer Olympics. This is her second trip to the Summer Games after she competed for Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won the gold medal in the floor exercise.
“I would say it’s really rewarding and special,” Carey said. “I never thought that I would even get there once, so to get there twice means that much more to me.
PARIS – Team USA swimming will have a target on its back. After dominating the medal count in eight straight Olympic Games, the U.S. has become the hunted, and the greatest predator is Australia.
The Australia-U.S. swimming rivalry is a major storyline In Paris. In a video promotion for the Games, NBC used videos of former U.S. swimmers and newspaper headlines to hype up the rivalry. The video credited 10-time Olympic medalist and longtime Valley resident Gary Hall Jr. for having “started” the rivalry.
PARIS – Filmmakers use it to enhance a cinematic scene with emotion, drama and urgency. On Friday night, Paris put on one of the world’s grandest productions, broadcast worldwide to over a billion people across the globe, and Mother Nature decided to intervene with that same element.
Rain.
As the heavens above the City of Light opened up for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, dumping rain on the spectacle below, the drama was heightened. While most of the just under 7,000 athletes that cruised down the river Seine – in various boats with their fellow countrymen – adorned clear ponchos so as not to ruin their perfectly tailored suits underneath, many of the thousands of fans at viewing parties in local parks across Paris weren’t so lucky. They hardly noticed. Continue reading “Rain can’t dampen mood as fans celebrate inclusive vibe of Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony”
MILWAUKEE – In the days after a would-be assassin tried to kill former President Donald Trump, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake shrugged aside calls for politicians to soften their rhetoric and refrain from stoking divisions.
The political climate is actually “good,” she said at one point during a whirlwind week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee at which she lashed out at the news media and reiterated claims that she actually won the 2022 election for Arizona governor, which the courts have repeatedly tossed out.
Slug: Sports–WNBA International Appeal. 1490 words.
Photos available.
By Aya Abdeen Cronkite News
PHOENIX – The basketball world converged on the Valley for this year’s historic WNBA All-Star Game, showcasing not only the sport’s elite talent but also its international reach. The weekend underscored how deeply interconnected the game remains between fans and players across the globe.
International interest, which involves fans and players from multiple countries, has significantly impacted the growth of the WNBA. From the league’s early years, international stars like Lauren Jackson, Michele Timms and Jennifer Azzi have attracted global attention. Over the years, many players have spent WNBA offseasons overseas, in countries like Turkey and Russia, to make more money and play at high levels.
For example, longtime Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi played overseas for 12 seasons in Russia and Turkey, where she won numerous titles worldwide. She retired from international play in 2017 (excluding the Olympics) but not before sitting out a WNBA season at the request of her Russian team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, sparking discussions about the WNBA’s salary cap.
Throughout her career with the Mercury, Taurasi played with international teammates such as Australian Penny Taylor (her spouse of seven years), Russian Maria Stepanova, and under Australian coach Sandy Brondello.
“The international players have always been an integral part of this league, especially here in Phoenix,” Taurasi said last Friday. “We talked about our Australian contingency with Penny (Taylor), (Michele Timms), and then you have it on the coaching side, too, with Sandy (Brondello) and bringing that international experience.
“So it’s a huge part of our league. The game grows internationally every single year and after 20 years, it’s in a really good place.”
WASHINGTON – Tucson congressman Juan Ciscomani, who enjoys a reputation as a relatively moderate Republican, has long been active with a group that promotes the goal of Christians stewarding the nation’s morality through “biblical citizenship.”
“I can wholeheartedly say that nothing in my life has given me a clearer direction for my life than Patriot Academy,” the first-term Republican wrote in a 2010 blog post.
PARIS – Nearly 400 miles south of Paris, in a city known for its foie gras but also its booming aerospace industry, several swimming coaches are quietly fine-tuning their not-so-secret weapon.
Former Arizona State swimmer Léon Marchand has returned home to Toulouse to prepare for the biggest stage in the world, the Paris Olympics
Slug: Sports–Nate Bjorkgren Team Canada, 1,200 words.
Photos available.
By David Bernauer Cronkite News
PARIS – Coaching basketball has consumed Nate Bjorkgren for more than half his life, all the way from the high school ranks to the NBA. Though he secured his first coaching jobs at high schools in his home state of Iowa, it was a move to Phoenix and a position as the head coach at Cactus Shadows High School where he was able to truly establish himself.
Now he finds himself on an international stage.
Bjorkgren will serve as Team Canada associate head coach for the Paris Olympics, where his group, widely considered one of the top teams in the tournament, will face Greece in opening round action Saturday.
PHOENIX – Sierra Smith had a vision to create a women’s flag football league when she first stepped foot on the campus of Arizona State University, but the rising sophomore needed help.
She first reached out to former athletic director Ray Anderson, whose assistant led her to Jason Pappas, the program coordinator for student engagement through sports and special events at ASU. The next month involved meetings and Zoom calls to bring the sport across the goal line of becoming an official club activity. Those discussions involved sorting out details and, with help from her twin sister Sophia, securing local sponsors and vendors.
All of Smith’s hard work and dedication paid off – ASU will open its inaugural season in January 2025 against teams from Conference Carolinas. The Sun Devils will hold a three-day tryout at the ASU Recreation and Sports Fields at Dorsey Lane starting Sept. 3.
“The reason that I wanted to start the women’s college football team at ASU was because we kind of were cut short of our opportunity to play at a collegiate level and to gain collegiate exposure in high school,” Smith, a native of Tampa, Florida, said.
LAS VEGAS — The night before the Miami Heat’s second Summer League game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, former Arizona State University guard Josh Christopher was in the gym until 11 p.m. preparing for the contest. The following day, Christopher put up 20 points during the fourth quarter and posterized two OKC point guards, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Since being plucked from the NBA’s G League and named to the Heat’s 2024 Summer League roster, Christopher has made it his mission to show that he belongs on an NBA team. After helping Miami win the Summer League Championship Monday night and earning MVP of the game, Christopher left Vegas knowing he had done all he could to raise his stock.
“We’ve done a great job of just having camaraderie and understanding what the culture is,” Christopher, who averaged 19.3 points, three rebounds, and two steals for the tournament, said following Sunday’s semifinal win against the Golden State Warriors.
PHOENIX – As Diana Taurasi spoke to reporters Saturday outside the Team USA locker room after the WNBA All-Star game, Phoenix Mercury teammate Kahleah Copper walked behind the six-time Olympian, dancing with one hand in the air and a flour taco in the other before using her unoccupied hand to play with Taurasi’s ear.
Taurasi turned, laughed and Copper leaned her head on the 20-year veteran’s shoulder.
Copper, in her first year with the Mercury, has quickly formed chemistry with her first-time teammate, a primary reason why Phoenix sits four games above its win total last year at 13-12 during the Olympic break. However, the Mercury aren’t Copper’s only new team this year, as she was selected for her first Olympic team.
Team USA reconnected during the WNBA All-Star weekend for the first time since training camp in April. Its 117-109 loss to Team WNBA Saturday night at Footprint Center exposed chemistry flaws, but Copper trusts time will heal that wound.
PHOENIX – Under a new manager and paced by a new signing, Phoenix Rising got their first win Friday night since June 8, and it came after a month of ups and downs for the club. Still, questions and concerns continue to revolve around the organization that won the USL title last season.
In the first game since a road loss to San Antonio, interim head coach Diego Gómez earned his first win at the helm Friday, as Rising defeated El Paso 2-0 at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium.
“Happy to come back home, happy to get the three points with a home crowd,” Gómez said. “I think we owe it to the fans. The team worked very hard for this and very happy we were able to win.”
The win moved Phoenix back into the playoff picture for the first time since the departure of Danny Stone, who was fired on June 29, ending his short stint as manager. Stone, appointed in January of this year, compiled a record of 5-6-6. He was a part of Rising coaching staff since March 2021, working as an assistant under Juan Guerra, who left in January to take an assistant coaching position for Houston Dynamo in the MLS. Stone played a vital role last season in helping bring an eventual USL Championship to Phoenix.
“Although my four years in Phoenix has come to an end and I’m disappointed that we weren’t able to keep pushing together for longer, I’m very appreciative of everyone who has given so much during my time with the club,” Stone said on X. “We’ve made some great memories together that I will always remember with pride. Wishing everyone at the club all the best in the future.”
Although Rising were not on top of the league when Stone was fired, they were in the playoff picture. Stone’s last game in charge was a 5-1 defeat at Memphis. Besides the one hiccup in the record, Phoenix had only lost one league game since late April.
The firing came as a shock, especially to many of the fans who are part of the Bandidos, a loyal supporters group that can be seen and heard behind the goal every home game.
“Thank you Danny for your tireless commitment to our club,” the Bandidos wrote on X. “We are in this situation due to the front office’s repeated lack of urgency to rebuild a successful team and addressing locker room egos. Thank you Coach Stone. Bobby Dulle & Co. GET OUT of our club.”
Dulle has been Rising president since being promoted from general manager in January 2023.
There is another question that has been brewing around starting winger Panos Armenakas, Phoenix’s leader in chances created (30). For the last couple games, Armenakas has been unable for selection, resulting in further questions from fans about what is happening in the locker room.
“Panos is still unavailable for selection tomorrow,” Gómez said. “It’s an internal matter, disciplinary issues. Right now I don’t want to focus too much on that. It was something that all the staff, the club and the team, teammates and players were brought in on the situation.”
During the El Paso game, the Bandidos waved banners and porters that read, “thank you Danny Stone, siempre un bandido, siempre un campeón,” and “free Panos.”
Despite all the noise around the club, Rising were able to steady the ship and earn a much needed win at home.
JP Scearce, a local product out of Chaparral High School, scored his first of Rising’s two goals on the night.
“It’s exciting to get my first goal here at home in front of the fans, in front of my family,” Scearce said. “I’m just happy and happy we got the win in the end.”
A boost earlier in the week came on behalf of a new signing, midfielder Charlie Dennis. Dennis comes from Tampa Bay, where he was a 2023 USL Championship All-League selection, scoring 11 goals and adding three assists for the Rowdies.
Dennis was able to play immediately, as he signed a multi-year deal with the team last week. He is expected to slot into the team quickly, as Phoenix is dealing with injuries and suspensions. His first appearance came Friday after halftime.
“He’s a midfielder with a lot of power to score,” Gómez said. “I think he can play as an eight or as a 10 depending on the situation. In every moment of the game I think he’s a player that can come help us in build up, and also help us in the last third and score some goals.”
Gómez, 34, is the second youngest manager in the USL. He joined Rising as part of Stone’s staff in January. Regardless of his experience and the state of the club, there is optimism among the players about what is to come.
“With Diego in charge I think he’s emphasized a lot on the competition,” Scearce said. “Every day of training is competitive, everyone’s trying to win whatever the training drill is. Coming into this game it was just to fight, to fight for the fans, to make them fall in love with the team again because we’ve been going through a tough moment. I think we’re heading in the right direction.”
Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo maintains his sixth clean sheet of the season to keep El Paso Locomotive FC at bay during their 2-0 victory. (Photo courtesy of Phoenix Rising)
PHOENIX – In a year like no other for the WNBA, the sport’s monumental growth has impacted 2024 All-Star Weekend in a huge way.
WNBA All-Star weekend kicked off Friday at the Phoenix Convention Center with WNBA Live, an interactive fan experience in downtown Phoenix. The event set the ball rolling, ahead of Friday night’s 3-point contest and skills competition at Footprint Center. The two-day event gave fans an opportunity to dive into the WNBA world, in a season that has seen massive upticks in popularity for the league. The weekend’s festivities conclude with Saturday night’s WNBA All-Star game, in a Team USA vs. Team WNBA showdown.
While there have been events outside of the big game in the past – Phoenix is hosting it for the third time – this year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend looks different than previous displays. Josie Dumlao, a diehard Seattle Storm fan who goes by @stormcraziefanframe on Instagram due to the neon green sign frame she brings to home games, observed a stark difference from last year’s WNBA Live in Las Vegas.
PHOENIX – A legend who made an immense impact on women’s basketball walked inside the Footprint Center building just as she had done thousands of times before, but this time, she entered the doors as head coach of Team WNBA All-Stars.
Cheryl Miller was the first general manager and head coach for the Phoenix Mercury from the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997 until she resigned following the 2000 season. She led the Mercury to its first appearance in the WNBA Finals in the league’s second season.
As a Ring of Honor member, Miller’s name is on a banner hanging in the Footprint rafters forever.
“How cool is Cheryl Miller?” Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi asked reporters Friday. “You’re around a lot of people in this game. A lot of people take, and she always gives. She’s always giving to this game, the younger generation, (and) players that have been in this league for a long time. She always gives her love, her passion, her energy. I just love being around (her).”
PHOENIX – When a 14-year-old Jonquel Jones immigrated from the Bahamas in 2008 and arrived at Riverside Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, school trainer Reggie Bailey first noticed her length. Training processions ensued, the season progressed and Bailey recognized the New York Liberty center’s ability to shoot the 3-pointer.
Jones committed to expanding, and Bailey acknowledged that she had continually “developed” her 3-point shot throughout her time at Riverside Baptist. Playing AAU and high school basketball in America motivated her to inherit new skills and, in turn, build her confidence to evolve on the court. Twelve years after she graduated from Riverside, Jones participated in her third WNBA All-Star 3-point contest Friday at Footprint Center as part of the weekend showcase in downtown Phoenix.
Jones and Washington Mystics veteran Stefanie Dolson were the only two centers that competed in the field of five players. Jones, who is shooting 39.6% from behind the arc this season, finished second in the competition behind Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray. For the 2021 WNBA MVP, being a contestant in the competition served a bigger purpose.
MILWAUKEE – Arizona Republicans were awestruck after a week devoted to all things Donald Trump – dazzled by a high-spirited finale and moved to tears in some cases as he recounted his narrow escape from an assassin’s bullet just five days earlier.
“I’m not supposed to be here tonight,” he said Thursday night as he accepted the party’s nomination for the third time in eight years.
“Yes, you are! Yes, you are!” delegates packed into a downtown Milwaukee arena chanted back near the end of the 2024 Republican National Convention.
PHOENIX – In downtown Phoenix, WNBA legend Diana Taurasi took center stage in a sleek new facility, surrounded by former and current teammates, marking another accolade in her 20-year career.
The star-studded assembly also included Cheryl Miller, the Mercury’s inaugural head coach and current leader of the Team WNBA All-Star squad, Taurasi’s teammate Brittney Griner and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
The scene Thursday unfolded within the Mercury’s newly unveiled $100 million, 58,000-square-foot practice facility, a state-of-the-art complex that boasts two full-sized courts named in Taurasi’s honor. The Diana Taurasi Courts, featuring a unique logo inspired by the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, stand as a testament to her impact on the game and the franchise.
MILWAUKEE – After four speech-filled nights at the Republican convention, Arizona delegates said they’ll return home more enthused than ever about former President Donald Trump.
State Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, a first-time delegate, said the Fiserv Forum felt “electric,” especially when Trump arrived Monday, two days after an assassination attempt.
“You can’t get more drama than that,” he said.
The electricity peaked again Thursday night as Trump accepted the nomination, and delegates said they’ll leave Milwaukee with a sense of Republican unity around Trump that was even stronger than when they arrived.
MILWAUKEE – The year Donald Trump won the presidency, the Republican platform declared that “traditional marriage and family, based on marriage between one man and one woman, is the foundation for a free society.”
The party reaffirmed the 2016 platform four years later during the pandemic.
