Latest news with #McConnell
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA Team Makes Final Decision on Undrafted Rookie on Tuesday
WNBA Team Makes Final Decision on Undrafted Rookie on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As of early June, the Phoenix Mercury sit at a promising 5-2, holding the second spot in the fiercely competitive Western Conference, behind only the undefeated Minnesota Lynx (7-0). Advertisement Under second-year head coach Nate Tibbetts, the Mercury have established a defensive identity, forcing 16.3 turnovers per game (the best in the league) and allowing just 75.3 points per game (second-best overall). While offseason additions Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally have led the offense with 21.3 and 15.2 points per game, respectively, the team's collective effort has led to Phoenix's early success, highlighted by rookie contributions from Kathryn Westbeld, Monique Akoa Makani and Lexi Held. On Tuesday, the Mercury officially signed rookie Duquesne's Megan McConnell, sister of Indiana Pacers' T.J. McConnell, inking her to a one-year, $66,079 rookie contract, per Spotrac. Over in Pittsburgh, McConnell closed out one of the most decorated careers in Duquesne program history, finishing with 1,795 career points (second in school history). Advertisement McConnell also became Duquesne's all-time leader in assists (660) and steals (370) while her 144 games played rank as the program record, as do her 136 career starts and four career triple-doubles. During the 2024-25 season, McConnell averaged 18.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and a nation-leading 4.1 steals per game, earning Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference honors from 2022 to 2025. Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Despite going undrafted in the 2025 WNBA Draft, McConnell caught the attention of several teams. Shortly after draft night, she accepted a training camp invitation from the Mercury. Now, she's staying in Phoenix on a one-year deal. Advertisement Related: Lexie Hull's Mother Sends Indiana Fever Message After Third Straight Loss Related: Dallas Wings Get Bad News on Monday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Sixers guard TJ McConnell headed to Finals as Pacers beat Knicks
Former Sixers guard TJ McConnell headed to Finals as Pacers beat Knicks Former Philadelphia 76ers guard TJ McConnell has had to earn every opportunity he's gotten in the NBA. He went undrafted out of Arizona and received a chance with the Sixers in the 2015-16 season and spent four seasons with Philadelphia as a champion of The Process era. After his successful run with the Sixers, he signed with the Indiana Pacers in the 2019 offseason and has been a reliable piece of the rotation. He has made a difference in plenty of games for the Pacers and on Saturday helped Indiana finish off the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals 125-108 in Game 6. McConnell played 13 minutes off the bench and had three points, four rebounds, and two assists, and made scrappy plays all night. It was a performance that he has become known for in his career and he was a thorn in the side of the Knicks all series long. McConnell and the Pacers will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals starting on Thursday from the Paycom Center. The Thunder, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, also feature another former Sixers guard in the form of 2020 second-round pick, Isaiah Joe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
McConnell: Medicaid cuts likely to remain in Senate but not easy to pass
Sen. Mitch McConnell thinks the cuts to Medicaid spending in the wide-ranging budget bill backed by President Donald Trump will remain. He said to a crowd gathered at a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce event Friday that he supports those entitlement cuts, which reduce 10-year spending on Medicaid by about $723 billion and are estimated to cut about 12% of the government-funded insurance program spend in Kentucky. 'I'm hoping we come out pretty close to where the House did on Medicaid,' McConnell said. Those cuts are one part of so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' backed by Trump that was narrowly passed by the U.S. House in May. The bill also extends tax cuts which primarily benefit the wealthy and cuts spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, among other things. McConnell also made sure to mention how politically difficult it might be for those cuts to Medicaid and other entitlement programs that were present in the U.S. House-approved bill to make it through the Senate. He emphasized that the last major change to entitlements in the U.S. was passed just before his 40-year career in the Senate began. 'Ronald Reagan and (late speaker of the House) Tip O'Neill agreed to raise the age of Social Security from 65 to 67. Since then, there's been nothing significant done to any entitlement, and the reason for it, obviously, is they are all immensely popular and no matter which side has controlled the government, nothing has happened,' McConnell said. He also mentioned how he was tasked during the administration of former President George W. Bush with finding Democrats who might support entitlement reform. He recalled the response of one Democrat predicting political doom if they went down that path. 'He said, 'Well, you guys have got the White House, you've got the House, you've got the Senate. Go right ahead,'' McConnell recalled. 'You know what he meant: We'll see you in the next election.' McConnell did not say whether or not he thought the provisions making changes to entitlements aimed at benefiting low-income Americans would make it through the Senate, though the cuts are a key part of financing the tax cut extension. He did make it clear that he supported the general direction of the cuts, though, citing conversations he's had with Kentucky health care providers, many of whom rely on Medicaid. 'We've checked with healthcare providers and state government, and they're comfortable with the way that issue is dealt with in the House bill and (by Kentucky) Congressman (Brett) Guthrie, who was directly involved in it. I'm interested in how those who could potentially be affected by and feel about it, and they seem to be okay,' McConnell said. The proposed changes to Medicaid that would lead to the cuts include mandating that adults getting Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act expansion meet certain work requirements and repealing a Biden-era rule simplifying the eligibility and renewal process, among other changes. One part of the big bill that McConnell felt confident would make it through: the extension of the tax cuts. McConnell said he's 'almost certain' those cuts to the individual income tax rate will remain. 'I think what unifies Republicans the most is the desire to have the lowest tax rate possible, and I think that part of the bill is likely to be very similar in both the House version and what we actually end up passing in the Senate,' McConnell said. Everything else is up in the air, he indicated. 'There are a lot of other things that I'm not going to get into because we don't know now what the final verdict is, but I do think this bill will pass in some form. I think you'll like most of it,' McConnell said. McConnell was not entirely supportive of the president's agenda in other areas. As he's expressed previously, Kentucky's senior senator disapproved of actions Trump has taken on tariffs, noting that the commonwealth would be uniquely affected. 'We ought to be doing more trade agreements, rather than attacking our friends with tariffs,' he said. 'Hopefully the president will give up on this path and remember that free trade is very, very important.' Another hobby horse of McConnell's has been aid to Ukraine, which has totaled more than $180 billion over the course of the country's defense against invasion from Russia, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. He warned against the plans of the United States' ostensible enemies like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. 'What they want to do is displace American leadership with Chinese leadership or a combination or Russia or China,' McConnell said. 'We need to be leading our allies around the world with free trade.' The longtime politician and political junkie also had some thoughts to share about a Kentucky congressional seat that will be left open as a downstream effect of his choice not to seek reelection in 2026. McConnell told reporters after the event that he believed the Central Kentucky-based 6th Congressional District, which is currently held by Rep. Andy Barr who is now running for Senate, would stay red. That prediction comes in spite of Lexington, which makes up about 44% of the district, leaning more to the left in recent election cycles. 'Well, there's a blue spot in the middle of the sixth district, but it looks like most of it is pretty red, and I think whoever comes out of the primary has got a very good chance of winning,' McConnell said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
10 days later, no sign of missing Kansas woman
COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — It's been 10 days since deputies found the vehicle of 81-year-old Jerry McConnell in a remote part of Cowley County—and still, there's no trace of the missing Overland Park woman. McConnell was reported missing on May 14, prompting a Silver Alert. Surveillance footage showed her car traveling west into Cowley County the next evening. Authorities later located the vehicle on May 20, abandoned on private property near the 4000 block of 327th Road. The discovery triggered a multi-agency search that has since grown to include local deputies, CERT volunteers, the Kansas Highway Patrol, canine units, and even dive teams from Augusta Fire and Rescue. Despite daily efforts—both on the ground and by air—searchers have uncovered no new leads. 'We are extremely grateful for the tireless efforts of all those who participated in the search,' Cowley County Sheriff David Falletti said in a news release. 'The collaboration among law enforcement, volunteers, and community members has been outstanding.' Indecent liberties case against Wichitan to continue Authorities are asking nearby residents to check wells, outbuildings, and wooded areas for signs of McConnell. The sheriff said the search remains active and unresolved. Anyone with information is asked to contact Lieutenant Tommy Scott at the Cowley County Sheriff's Office at 620-221-5444. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Pacers' T.J. McConnell taunts Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and Ben Stiller in surreal moment
T.J. McConnell gave the star-studded celebrity row at Madison Square Garden a little taunting after hitting a 3 in the first half of Game 5 between the Knicks and Pacers on Thursday night. The Pacers point guard knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:14 left in the first quarter to cut the Knicks' lead to 25-18, and on his way back up the court to play defense, he flexed on the celebrity supporters, which was captured by a photographer and posted to social media by the team's X account. The hilarious photo shows McConnell gesturing toward the stunned row, which included Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh, Timothée Chalamet and girlfriend Kylie Jenner, and Ben Stiller. The image shows the reaction of the crew with varying degrees of emotions. T.J. McConnell of the Indiana Pacers shooting the ball during Game 5 on May 29, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images Stiller, who is off on the edge of the frame on the right, appeared to be staring McConnell down as Teller seemed to be making a face of frustration mixed with some resignation. Chalamet didn't seem to notice, and Jenner looked almost surprised as McConnell celebrated in their direction. While the trey felt like a big one, the Knicks maintained control throughout much of Thursday's Game 5 at MSG. T.J. McConnell jumps for a rebound during the first quarter of Game 5. Jason Szenes / New York Post The building was packed with stars, aside from the ones McConnell appeared to gesture to. Celebrity fans Spike Lee and Tracy Morgan occupied their usual courtside seats, while TV personalities Gayle King and Michael Strahan also sat front row. 'Law & Order: SVU' stars Mariska Hargitay and Kelli Giddish made the trip to the Garden for the game, as did singer Shaboozey, 'Sopranos' star Michael Imperioli and 'Euphoria' star Maude Apatow. Thursday's game did appear to disprove WFAN host Boomer Esiason's presumption, which he made on his morning sports talk show, that the team played better on the road because they 'hate' playing in front of the celebs at MSG.
