• Slug: Sports–Bec Allen Olympics. 1014 words.
• Photos available.

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – A young Rebecca Allen was the first to wake, wipe her eyes and rise out of bed in her Australian household on Christmas mornings. Her mission: wake up her parents and brother. The Phoenix Mercury guard cherishes the December holiday and, even more so, family, but her consistent Christmas morning routine reflects her commitment to applying herself to whatever she loves.

At roughly 12, she found a new love: basketball. This love has provided Allen with a resume that includes a 2018 FIBA World Cup silver medal and an eight-year WNBA career, but also difficult setbacks.

Allen withdrew from the Paris Olympics after she suffered a high-grade hamstring injury in the Opals’ final exhibition match against Canada last Tuesday. Without its star, the medal contenders, thanks to 26 turnovers, suffered an upsetting 75-62 defeat to Nigeria in its first group phase match Monday.

Allen responded to the news of her injury on X, formerly Twitter, saying that she was “Shattered.”

“I feel terrible for Bec,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “These are opportunities you dream of as a kid – an opportunity to represent your country against the best in the world – and it’s taken away from you right before the Olympics. It’s devastating.”

Continue reading “Mercury forward Rebecca Allen’s past trials offer hope after Olympics injury”

• Slug: Sports–Rattlers coaches. 845 words.
• Photos available.

By Dylan Slager
Cronkite News

GLENDALE – As the Arizona Rattlers prepare for yet another postseason in the Indoor Football League, it’s impossible not to marvel at the organization’s steady success inside the padded dasher boards, along with its stability off the field.

When the Rattlers face the Vegas Knight Hawks Saturday night on the road in the IFL’s first round, they will be playing a team making its playoff debut, while Arizona has appeared in 27 indoor football playoffs (including the Arena Football League). And while the Knight Hawks beat the Rattlers twice this year – both teams finished the regular season 11-5 – Arizona coach Kevin Guy heads into his 25th playoff game with the team, hoping his 17-7 postseason record gives the Rattlers an advantage.

With that much success in the playoffs, Guy has to have built a sturdy foundation within his organization. And there is no better way to do that than by doing much of it yourself. While coaching the team, Guy is also the president of business operations and has held various front office positions within the organization for almost 16 years.

In 2021, Guy captured Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year and Franchise of the Year honors, marking the first time in the history of indoor football that one person has won all three of those awards in a single year.

By being involved with both sides of the team, the ability to succeed boils down to how Guy holds himself in both positions.

“Number one thing is you need to compartmentalize your day. If I’m dealing with football players and coaches, I’ve got my coaching hat on,” Guy said. “When I am dealing with the fanbase, corporate partners or the front office staff then I’ve got my president hat on. It all really depends on what meeting we are in.”

Continue reading “Double duty: Kevin Guy, Jeff Jarnigan manage coaching and front office duties while leading Arizona Rattlers into another postseason”

• Slug: Sports–Suns Summer League. 603 words.
• Photos available.

By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

LAS VEGAS — With three seconds left against Oklahoma City, Phoenix Suns power forward David Roddy headed to the line after being fouled and sunk his three free throws, sealing the team’s first NBA Summer League win in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. He finished the victory with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, but more important than his performance this offseason is his influence on his younger teammates.

Two years ago, Roddy was a rookie at Summer League after the Memphis Grizzlies drafted him 23rd overall. Then, the Colorado State product became the Suns’ youngest player on the roster last season after being traded to the team in February. During his third run in Las Vegas, he was the Summer League veteran that the Suns rookies relied on for his experience and advice.

Two-way Suns rookie Jalen Bridges is one teammate who is looking up to Roddy during his transition from Baylor to the NBA. He averaged 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and one assist, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.

Continue reading “Phoenix Suns showcase newest pieces during successful NBA 2K25 Summer League run in Las Vegas”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA All-Star Game. 1225 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – A young boy stepped in line for a meet-and-greet with A’ja Wilson Saturday at the WNBA Live fan experience inside the Phoenix Convention Center wearing the two-time WNBA champion’s Team USA jersey. He waited patiently at the AT&T activation space for his moment to capture a picture with Wilson, and when his turn came, he wrapped his left arm around the 6-foot-4 center and smiled for the camera. However, he didn’t leave automatically. Understanding the magnitude of an opportunity he may never experience again, he screamed to the Las Vegas Aces superstar, “I love you, A’ja.”

The interaction reflected the blossoming adoration many have for the WNBA and women’s basketball as a whole. Merch sales at WNBA Live set an all-time record for All-Star merchandise sales. The WNBA’s viewership is up 183% from last season, according to PBS. WNBA All-Star voting increased 600% from last year. For Saturday’s game, Footprint Center was sold out with 16,407 fans on hand to watch Team WNBA beat Team USA, 117-109.

Continue reading “WNBA stars embrace mentorship roles amid record-breaking All-Star Weekend”

• Slug: Sports–Reese, Clark All-Star. 680 words.
• Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In a star-studded matchup between Team WNBA and Team USA, a pair of rookies consistently got the loudest cheers from a sellout crowd of 16,407 fans at Footprint Center.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese were prepared for their big moment Saturday night in the All-Star spotlight. After facing off against each other for the past few years at the college level, the rookies teamed up in a 117-109 win.

Continue reading “Fan favorites Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese electrify sold-out Footprint Center in WNBA All-Star debuts”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA All-Star Mural. 662 words.
• 5 photos available

By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — When the Phoenix Mercury asked local artist Antoinette Cauley to design a mural for their community project refurbishing local basketball courts, Cauley didn’t hesitate to say yes – even if it meant working in conditions that could be dangerous if she and her team weren’t careful.

Cauley used drone footage to make sketches and outline her design for the mural. She and her team began most days painting at 5:15 a.m. to beat Arizona’s crippling summer heat. Once temperatures reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the crew could no longer continue working due to the paint immediately drying when applied to the concrete.

After three weeks, Cauley and the Mercury unveiled the mural and the four refurbished courts at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex last Wednesday, just in time for the WNBA All-Star weekend, which takes place at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. The events kick off Friday night with the skills challenge and 3-point contest, followed by Saturday’s game featuring a matchup between the WNBA All-Stars and the U.S. Women’s National Team, which will represent the country in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.

Continue reading “Valley artist collaborates with Phoenix Mercury to design mural commemorating 2024 WNBA All-Star Game”

• Slug: Sports–Suns Point Guards. 838 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Jack Reeves
Cronkite News

LAS VEGAS – While the Phoenix Suns have three NBA superstars in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, they lack depth in one position critical to having success in the playoffs: point guard.

Many believed that was an area the Suns would address in this year’s NBA Draft. Instead, Phoenix decided to trade back from No. 22 and acquire an extra pick to address the team’s other priorities. Eventually the Suns selected Ryan Dunn out of Virginia at No. 28, and Phoenix native Oso Ighodaro out of Marquette at No. 56. Phoenix also added Collin Gillespie in June on a two-way contract.

Continue reading “Phoenix Suns bet on NBA Summer League to fill point guard void”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA All-Star Phoenix History. 765 words.
• One photo available.

By Mateo Arenas
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – When the WNBA All-Star Game first graced the Valley stage, the year was 2000, the band Santana had two of the biggest music hits in the nation and the WNBA’s average salary was $50,000. Fourteen years later, when Phoenix again hosted the All-Star game, Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy” graced the top of the charts, and the players’ average salary had jumped to $75,000.

The mid-summer showcase of the league’s best players returns to what is now called the Footprint Center this weekend, beginning with Friday night’s skills challenge and 3-point contest, followed by Saturday’s All-Star game. Only Uncasville, Connecticut has hosted more All-Star games (4) than the Valley, while New York and Las Vegas have also hosted the weekend three times each.

Continue reading “Skills, thrills and history: WNBA All-Star Game returns to Phoenix after a decade”

• Slug: Sports–Ellis to Team USA. 823 words.
• 2 photos.

By Joseph Furtado
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After Arizona State won its first Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League (WWCHL) conference championship, Sun Devils coach Lindsey Ellis jokingly threatened her players, saying, “If you dump water on me in this outfit, you’re all cut from the team.”

This lighthearted moment encapsulates the fun, exciting culture Ellis has created at ASU ever since she founded the women’s hockey team in 2016. She will be looking to do the same with her new team after being selected as head coach for the United States Women’s National University Team.

The decision came last week from the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which selected Ellis to lead the U.S. squad that will compete at the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games in Torino, Italy from January 11-23 at Torino Pala Tazzoli. The Torino Winter Games will be the largest international multi-sport event for athletes, featuring more than 2,500 players from over 50 countries.

Continue reading “Lindsey Ellis, architect of ASU women’s hockey, tapped to coach Team USA at Winter World University Games”