• Slug: Sports–Phoenix Mercury Reunion, 900 words.
• Photo available.

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner and guard Diana Taurasi are the only two active Mercury players who were on the 2014 WNBA championship team.

Toward the end of a ceremony Friday to honor that group, Taurasi told the crowd at Footprint Center, “Let’s do it again.”

The Mercury have been trying to do it again ever since that 2014 championship, and this year’s club hopes to use that season as motivation to add the organization’s fourth WNBA trophy this season. Continue reading “‘Let’s do it again’: Phoenix Mercury aim to channel 2014 championship spirit for another title”

• Slug: Sports–Phoenix Mercury Reunion, 770 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In the decade following the Phoenix Mercury’s 2014 championship win, the members of that team have continued their basketball legacies both on and off the court.

The Mercury celebrated the 10th anniversary of their third – and most recent – championship Friday after the team’s 88-69 home loss to the Connecticut Sun. It was the first time the team had reunited since Phoenix won the title 10 years ago.

The reunion featured current players Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, former Mercury players who were members of the 2014 team – including star forward Penny Taylor – along with Connecticut wing DeWanna Bonner, who was a member of two Mercury championship teams, including the 2014 squad. Continue reading “‘Forever family’: 2014 Phoenix Mercury championship team reunites to celebrate 10th anniversary”

• Slug: Sports–Cardinals Big Sunday, 400 words.
• File photo available.

By James Morel
Cronkite News

TEMPE – A day after Kyler Murray’s near-perfect performance and domination of the Los Angeles Rams, running back James Conner and coach Jonathan Gannon took to the podium to sing the team’s praises.

Murray threw for 266 yards, with 130-yards worth of his passes being pulled in by the young rookie sensation Marvin Harrison Jr. Sunday at State Farm Stadium in a 41-10 rout.

Murray ended the game with a 158.3 quarterback passer rating, the highest score a quarterback can receive and a career high. Continue reading “‘One of the best’: Cardinals praise performances of Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr. in blowout win”

• Slug: Sports–ASU 3-0 Start, 560 words.
• Photo available.

By Tucker L. Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Kenny Dillingham was quieter than usual in his Monday afternoon press conference. While his team reaped the rewards of a long weekend after Thursday’s 31-28 win over Texas State, the coach stayed hard at work.

“Friday … I was in San Marcos, then went (from) San Marcos to San Antonio, saw five schools in San Antonio, then left San Antonio and went to El Paso,” he said about his recruiting journey. “Saturday we had a day off, so I got to hang out with the little guy.”

Such is the schedule of the modern college football coach. Between his team posting a 3-0 start for the first time since 2019 and being a dad, Dillingham doesn’t have time to slow down. His team doesn’t either. Continue reading “Old friends, tortillas and more: ASU prepares for Texas Tech in first conference clash in Big 12”

• Slug: Sports–Diamondbacks Playoff Hunt Reserves, 1,090 words.
• Photo available.

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo wasn’t surprised to see first baseman Christian Walker put up a two-home-run performance recently against the Texas Rangers.

And he knew that second baseman Ketel Marte’s 3-for-4 day less than 24 hours later, which helped the team to a two-game sweep of Texas, was in the making.

Marte and Walker, two cornerstones of Arizona’s infield, missed significant time with injuries, but Lovullo could afford to be patient. Continue reading “D-backups: Arizona Diamondbacks reserves come up big during hunt for playoffs”

• Slug: Sports–Diamondbacks Postseason Prep. 935 words.
• One photo available.

By Tyler Bednar
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks have experienced a whirlwind of a season. Coming off a miracle postseason run in 2023 that culminated with a trip to the World Series, the team started cold through the first two months of play, accumulating a 25-32 record. Now, with three weeks left before the playoffs, Arizona is back to its winning ways and eyes even more postseason magic.

With 16 games remaining in the regular season, the team is 82-64, first in the National League wild-card race, which the Diamondbacks lead over the San Diego Padres and New York Mets.

“Just staying positive,” starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt said of manager Torey Lovullo’s message to the team as it embraces the season’s final stretch. “Playing the game that we’ve played all year and being consistent, I think that’s kind of what we’ve tried to do all year, and we’re certainly looking forward to doing it, even though it’s kind of later in the season.

Continue reading “Surging Diamondbacks prepare for crucial series against Brewers, hope for healthy lineup”

• Slug: Sports–Black QBs. 1,132 words.
• No photos.

By Ethan Desjardine
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As the NFL wrapped up the opening week of the 2024 season, the prominence of Black quarterbacks continues to rise, solidifying their impact in the league and shaping the future of the most popular professional league in American sports.

The league saw a record number of African-American signal callers starting Week 1, with 15 of the 32 teams choosing Black quarterbacks to lead their offense, breaking the previous record set last season when 14 began the season as starters.

Black quarterbacks are not just starting at the most important position in sports, however – they are dominating.

Continue reading “Shattering stereotypes: The continued rise of Black NFL quarterbacks and the road ahead”

• Slug; Sports–Cardinals Wins. 600 words.
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• Graphic available.

By Jalen Witness Weathers
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The NFL regular season is off to a familiar start for the Arizona Cardinals, who sit at 0-1 for the third straight year. After finishing 4-13 in each of the past two seasons, their Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills raises questions about whether this year will be different or more of the same.

With 17 games in an NFL regular season, every matchup matters. The Cardinals face a win total of 6.5, according to FanDuel, and to prove Las Vegas and bettors wrong, Kyler Murray & Co. must reach seven victories – something they haven’t achieved since their 11-6 campaign in 2021.

In the past decade, the Cardinals have never posted fewer than seven wins in three consecutive seasons. With a relatively easier schedule this season – they rank 24th in strength of schedule – Arizona plans to maintain its streak, starting with a much-needed victory Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Continue reading “Betting on a turnaround: Arizona Cardinals aim to surpass 6.5-win total after tough Week 1”

• Slug-Sports-Emmanuel Taban Valley Suns, 725 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Alex Sanchez
Cronkite News

TEMPE – For Emmanuel Taban, basketball is more than just a game – it’s an escape, a lifeline that has been guided by mentors like his grandmother and his seventh-grade art teacher Wilie Muñoz, whose belief in Taban recently pushed him to take the next step in his journey.

The 6-foot-7 forward, a Kenyan refugee whose grandmother raised him, traveled to the U.S. in the spring of 2004 before moving to Phoenix in 2008. Last weekend, he was one of the many hopefuls who showed up for the Valley Suns’ open tryouts at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex. The new G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, the Valley Suns open their inaugural season Nov. 8. 

“My seventh-grade art teacher sent me the flyer (for the tryout) and said she would pay the buy-in fee if I wanted to do it,” Taban said of Muñoz. “It’s surreal, I cried when she sent me the message.  Continue reading “From Kenya to Valley Suns hopeful, Emmanuel Taban uses teacher’s motivation to reach his dream”

• Slug-Sports-Celeste Taylor Mercury. 1,100 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Connor Moreno
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — Twenty-one days. It’s not a lot of time. It’s three quarters of a month; six percent of a year.

But it was enough time for rookie guard Celeste Taylor to secure a roster spot with the Phoenix Mercury for the rest of the season. All it took was three seven-day contracts, each day more important than the last.

How would Taylor describe those three weeks? Emotional, anxious and impactful.

Taylor was signed to a rest-of-season contract with the Mercury on Sept. 6 after appearing in 10 games with the team and averaging 3.3 points, 1.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game.

Of all the feelings and difficulties of her unique rookie season, Taylor’s initial reaction to the contract was one of fulfillment.

“(I feel) accomplished working through the things I had to work through to get to where I’m at,” Taylor said.

Continue reading “Three contracts, one dream: Celeste Taylor takes peripatetic journey to Phoenix Mercury roster”

• Slug: Sports-Isaiah Thomas Free Agency. 1,050 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Dylan Ackermann
Cronkite News

TACOMA – NBA free agency has been underway for more than two months, and many players are still searching for their next home.

Among them, only one has finished in the top five in MVP voting, top three in points per game in a season, earned All-NBA Second Team honors and is a two-time All-Star: former Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Thomas.

Since signing a one-year deal with the Wizards in the 2019 offseason, Thomas has not secured a contract before the start of the regular season. Over the past four seasons, he has played just 31 games, with the 2022-2023 season being a complete absence.

For someone who, as Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard put it, “pretty much reached the pinnacle of being at the best,” Thomas, at 35 years old, is not ready to ride off into the sunset just yet.

Continue reading “Loving IT: Former Suns guard Isaiah Thomas embraces grind in quest for NBA comeback”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA Commissioner Under Fire. 400 words.
• File photo available

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – A Phoenix Mercury forward joined the chorus of WNBA players and fans who criticized commissioner Cathy Engelbert for recent comments about social media attacks on players. 

“I am not a politics person, but that’s B.S., come on,” Natasha Mack said Wednesday. “We’ve got to hold everybody accountable. That’s all I have to say.”

Engelbert faced backlash after her statement Monday on the rivalry between league stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and the increasing harassment of players. She compared the players to NBA legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson and their long-enduring rivalry. Continue reading “Mercury player joins chorus of voices criticizing WNBA commissioner for comments on Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry”

• Slug: Sports–Valley Suns Tryout Hopefuls. 837 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Koby Braunstein
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Kyree Walker has more to prove.

The former five-star recruit wants another G League shot to preserve his lifelong dream of earning his way onto an NBA roster.

After the Phoenix Suns became the 30th and final NBA franchise to boast a G League affiliate, the Valley Suns held open tryouts at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex last Saturday to bolster their new pathway program for their inaugural season in 2024-2025.

Walker, who played for Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, California before transferring to Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, was once on a career track that seemed destined for the NBA. Now he is seeking one of the Valley Suns’ coveted training camp spots in hopes of rekindling his pro aspirations.

“I was more in shape than I thought,” Walker said. “I felt more athletic than I did two months ago. A lot of my game is coming together.”

Continue reading “Kyree Walker, G League hopefuls take their shot at Valley Suns tryouts”

• Slug: Sports–9/11 Tower Challenge. 1,271 words.
• 5 photos available.

By Chase Clemens
Cronkite News

GLENDALE – Everyone who’s old enough remembers where they were on Sept. 11, 2001.

Angela Harrolle was a special agent with the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service in Washington, D.C. She was in the middle of training at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Virginia when the planes struck the World Trade Center in New York City.

Class was abruptly stopped.

“They wheeled in this TV, and we were all standing around it,” Harrolle said. “And we were just overwhelmed because we had seen that the planes had hit the Twin Towers in New York. We didn’t know what to expect.”

Continue reading “Climbing for the fallen: First responders, families commemorate 9/11 heroes at Glendale’s Tower Challenge”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Culture Dillingham, 750 words.
• 32photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Tucker Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Before the 2023 season kicked off, Arizona State football faced a flurry of challenges: a bowl ban, recruiting violations and a shaky administrative situation loomed.

A year after navigating through those tense times, Kenny Dillingham entered the 2024 season as the second youngest head coach of an FBS program. His love of the game, exuberant demeanor and commitment to his roots have helped him progress one of the sport’s most difficult rebuilds at a rapid pace. The 30-23 win over Mississippi State validated his efforts, marking the second straight game with over 10,000 students in attendance.

“You could feel the energy in the stadium,” he said after the win. “This is a fun place to be when it’s rocking.” Continue reading “Activated: Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona State football rebuild gains steam with statement win”

• Slug: Sports-AZ Compass Prep Recruiting, 1,240 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Dylan Ackermann
Cronkite News

CHANDLER – Prep schools are reshaping the college basketball recruiting landscape, making it easier than ever for top college coaches such as Auburn’s Bruce Pearl to identify and pursue the nation’s best high school players.

It’s why Pearl and other top college coaches, including Arkansas coach John Calipari, were at the AZ Compass Prep Pro Day. It is the fourth year that the Chandler-based basketball academy has held the pro day, which gives recruiters a chance to watch top prospects in action.

“This time of year, it’s hard to leave campus because we’re getting started in a couple months,” Pearl said. “But the prep schools have done so much of the weeding out for us.” Continue reading “AZ Compass Prep changing recruiting game with top coaches flocking to scout rising stars”

• Slug: Sports–Cardinals Presser. 800 words.
• Photo available.

By Keller Brown
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The Arizona Cardinals had a long flight home after a 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills Sunday, a game in which they had an early lead over last season’s AFC East winners.

This is the second consecutive year the Cardinals have opened their season with a loss on the East Coast. It also was the second year in a row that they blew a halftime lead in the opener. They led Washington 13-10 at halftime a year ago.

This time, they led 17-3 in the second quarter and 17-10 at halftime and failed to execute in the second half, but the team is moving forward with three straight games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

“When you have those opportunities to capitalize to force a punt, or a turnover, or make them kick a field goal in the red zone, you have to capitalize on them,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said Monday. “Good offenses are good, they’re good for a reason. We got to keep the score down a little bit more.”

Continue reading “Arizona Cardinals shift focus to correcting Week 1 mistakes ahead of home opener vs. Los Angeles Rams”

• Slug: Sports–Valley Suns Tryout. 625 words.
• Photos available.

By Connor Moreno
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Hundreds of players from varying basketball backgrounds gathered Saturday at the Tempe Sun Devil Fitness Complex, hoping to become part of a new era of Phoenix basketball.

The Valley officially adopted a new hoops darling – the G League Valley Suns – in February and open tryouts commenced with Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones among those in attendance.

“Phoenix at its core is a basketball town,” said Brendan Sabean, the new team’s general manager. “So to add another entity, and team in general, to the Valley will bring a cool environment for people to come watch games and watch some good hoops.”

Continue reading “Valley Suns hold first tryouts, marking new horizon for Phoenix basketball”

• Slug: Sports-Cam Skattebo ASU, 685 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News

TEMPE – To say Cam Skattebo had a good game is an understatement.

Skattebo was the fulcrum of the Arizona State offense against Mississippi State, rushing for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 33 carries. He also caught three passes for 35 yards.

Skattebo’s 262 rushing yards are the second most in school history and earned the senior running back Associated Press national player of the week honors. He saved his best highlight for last, breaking off a 39-yard run that allowed Arizona State to set up in victory formation and run out the clock for a 30-23 win in front of more than 45,000 fans at Mountain America Stadium. Continue reading “‘He mauls people’: Inside Cam Skattebo’s career game to push Arizona State past Mississippi State”

• Slug: Sports-Big 12 Tiebreaker Championship, 450 words.
• Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Chase Clemens
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – On the eve of Week 2 games for Arizona and Arizona State, the schools learned more about how their new conference will crown its champion.

The Big 12 announced its new tiebreaking policy Friday, which determines who will play in the conference title game if there is a tie.

Both teams are 1-0 and host games Saturday night. The Widcats face Northern Arizona and the Sun Devils will take on Mississippi State.

Continue reading “Big 12 reveals tiebreaker procedures to determine 2024 conference championship teams”