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New York Post
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Sandy Brondello cherishes rare family weekend during WNBA All-Star festivities
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW INDIANAPOLIS — There's nothing quite like an impromptu family vacation to Indianapolis, right? OK, so maybe that city doesn't top the average list of desired getaway spots. And this weekend is technically a work trip for Liberty coach Sandy Brondello and her husband and assistant Olaf Lange. Advertisement But family time can be a rarity for them, especially with their oldest son, Brody, playing basketball in Australia and their teenage daughter, Jayda, living at the family's home base in Phoenix. So anytime together is better than being apart. And this trip is worth cherishing. 'It wasn't planned,' Lange told The Post, 'but we're grateful.' 3 Assistant coach Olaf Lange (L) and head coach Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty talk in the second quarter of Game Two of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs finals against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 11, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images Advertisement Admittedly, Brondello thought she was free from All-Star coaching obligations since the Mercury were a half game ahead of the Liberty in the WNBA standings with only the Wings on deck earlier this month before the top two WNBA coaches were picked. But the Mercury surprisingly lost their July 3 game, which meant the Liberty had the second-best win percentage in the league. So much for those plans to lay low and enjoy a summer weekend in New York ahead of the second half of the Liberty season. Advertisement Don't get it wrong: Brondello was honored to be named a coach for Saturday's All-Star Game, and the rest of her family was excited to spend time together. Covering the Liberty like never before Sign up for Madeline Kenney's Inside the Liberty, a weekly Sports+ newsletter. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters 'We'll enjoy the whole part of it,' Brondello said. 'They love being around the team. They love getting to know the players and it's great that we get to share [this] with our family.' The family of four planned to go to dinner and attend several of the events taking place over the weekend, including Sabrina Ionescu's party on Thursday. They also attended Friday night's festivities and watched Natasha Cloud win the skills challenge and Ionescu become the 3-point champion. Advertisement Talk about an amusing Friday night for this — as Lange put it — 'family of all basketball fanatics.' 'It's become this fun weekend where there's a little bit of work to do but [not nearly as much] that happens during the season,' Lange said. 3 Olaf Lange and Sandy Brondello look on before the game against the Minnesota Lynx during Game 3 of the 2024 WNBA Finals on October 16, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NBAE via Getty Images Brondello and Lange's intense passion for basketball has been inherited by their two children. Neither Brondello nor Lange forced Brody and Jayda to play the sport they made careers out of, but the two naturally gravitated toward the game at a young age. Jayda plays on her high school basketball team, and Brody is in Brondello's native country developing his game. When he was at Liberty practice last week, he took some reps going up against WNBA players. Given that Jayda lives a shorter flight away, she's around the Liberty more often. After practices, Lange has been seen working with her on her floater and Brondello on the 15-year-old's catch-and-shoot 3s. Advertisement This lifestyle — one that they've been practically living since Brondello and Lange met in Germany in the 1990s — works for them. Brondello and Lange, who married in 2005, have coached alongside one another in San Antonio, Russia and for Australia's national women's basketball team. 3 Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics and head coach Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty react during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star practice sessions at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images They coached against one another in the 2021 WNBA Finals when Lange was then an assistant on the Chicago Sky's staff and Brondello headed the Phoenix Mercury. Advertisement 'We've been doing this for almost 30 years, it works for us,' said Lange, who joined Brondello in Brooklyn in 2022. 'I understand that many people say, 'I couldn't work with my spouse.' But we've been doing this since we were young. So for us, it's just our life. And we got home, we still talk about basketball every day, and we love it.' His kids enjoy it, too. 'It's really fun because I always know that they're telling me the right things and they're always going to be honest,' Jayda said. 'It's very nice to have all the resources and opportunities just to learn more. It's really fun.' Advertisement Attending WNBA Finals games, being part of last year's championship parade in New York and getting behind-the-scenes access to this year's All-Star festivities are just some of the perks. 'When they're grown up and they're looking back on all those years, they will realize how special these days were,' Lange said. 'You never realize it as much when you're in the moment.'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark Has Message For The Media After Cheap Shot From Marina Mabrey
Caitlin Clark Has Message For The Media After Cheap Shot From Marina Mabrey originally appeared on The Spun. Caitlin Clark may have taken a cheap shot from Marina Mabrey during Tuesday night's game between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun, but she's still standing tall. Advertisement During the third quarter of the Fever-Sun game, Jacy Sheldon was called for a reach-in foul on Clark. The former No. 1 pick took exception over Sheldon hitting her in the face. As she was chirping at Sheldon from a few feet away, Mabrey stepped in and shoved her to the ground. Those antics from Mabrey and Sheldon eventually led to Sophie Cunningham retaliating in final minute of the game. As you'd expect, the media wanted to ask Clark and the rest of the Fever about these altercations during Tuesday night's postgame press conference. "I think it was pretty obvious that stuff was brewing," Fever head coach White said. "When the officials don't get control of the ball game, when they allow that stuff to happen ... this is what happens." UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT - SEPTEMBER 25: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever looks on during a press conference after losing 81-87 to the Connecticut Sun in Game Two of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs first round at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by)Clark, on the other hand, wasn't interested in talking about Mabrey's cheap shot. In fact, she told reporters to ask about the Fever advancing to the Commissioner's Cup Final. Advertisement "You guys came for basketball, let's talk about basketball," Clark said. "Come on now. We're going to the Commissioner's Cup Championship, that's pretty exciting. Y'all wanna talk about that? Let's talk about that." WNBA fans applauded Clark for her postgame comments. It's better to go down this road instead of continuing her beef with Mabrey. The Fever will be back in action Thursday night against the Golden State Valkyries. Related: Brawl Breaks Out After Sophie Cunningham Fouls Caitlin Clark's Rival Caitlin Clark Has Message For The Media After Cheap Shot From Marina Mabrey first appeared on The Spun on Jun 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Fever Superstar Caitlin Clark Receives Huge Praise From NHL Legend
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has taken the sports world by storm over the last few years. First, she completely changed the women's college basketball landscape. She brought attention to the sport that had never been seen before. Now, she has done the same thing for the WNBA. Clark has changed how the world views women's sports. The viewership has increased for everything she has been a part of, and it has changed for good, it appears. Even women's college basketball has a much bigger place in the public eye due to Clark's impact. Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever reacts against the Atlanta Dream on August 26, 2024 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever reacts against the Atlanta Dream on August 26, 2024 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo bySadly, Clark is currently dealing with a quad injury early on in her second WNBA season. She will ideally be back in a little under two weeks, but her presence is being missed. Read more: Mystics HC Sends Warning About Fever Without Caitlin Clark As a rookie during the 2024 WNBA season, Clark lived up to the hype. She broke numerous records and won the Rookie of the Year award. In addition, she helped lead the Fever to the WNBA Playoffs. Not only has Clark received national attention, she has become a global sports icon. Fans across the world have fallen in love with Clark on and off the basketball court. Her game is highly entertaining, but the way she carries herself away from the game has turned a lot of heads as well. One sports legend who is a huge fan of Clark is none other than NHL icon Wayne Gretzky. The hockey superstar recently spoke out with a high opinion of the Indiana star. "Look at Caitlin Clark, how she's just taken over the country — and for that matter, maybe the world — in how she's encouraged so many young girls now to participate in sports," he said. Read more: Caitlin Clark Injury Impacts Sky-Indiana Fever Rivalry Game Ticket Prices Being given that kind of compliment from a living legend like Gretzky is a true testament to the career that Clark is putting together. Now, she just needs to get healthy and back on the court to lead the Fever to a championship. To begin her second WNBA season, Clark has played in four games. She averaged 19 points, 9.3 assists, six rebounds, 1.3 steals, and a block per game. Clark is well on her way to another big-time year and living up to the hype once again. Hopefully, her injury status will get a good update in the near future. Her team badly needs her back in the lineup. Make sure to follow Newsweek Sports for all WNBA news and updates.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
INDIANA FEVER WELCOMES CHICKEN SALAD CHICK TO GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE FOR GAME DAY DINING
COLLEYVILLE, Texas, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Meauxmentum Strategies and Investments is pleased to announce that its Chicken Salad Chick restaurants are an official sponsor of the Indiana Fever, bringing the brand's made-from-scratch chicken salad to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. "We are incredibly excited to be an official partner of the Indiana Fever and support the growth of women's sports and the Indianapolis community," said Troy Morrison, CEO at MSI. "Our presence at Gainbridge Fieldhouse allows us to connect with fans meaningfully and be part of the excitement surrounding the Indiana Fever and professional women's basketball. We're proud to offer Fever fans a taste of our fresh, made-from-scratch favorites." Chicken Salad Chick features a dedicated cart inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which is near section 14. The cart will offer fans a selection of signature flavors and other popular items during Fever home games, enhancing the game-day experience. The initiative began on Saturday, May 17, when the Indiana Fever officially tipped off the 2025 season at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Chicago Sky. MSI is the franchisee of eight Chicken Salad Chick locations in the Indianapolis area. About Meauxmentum Strategies and Investments, LLCMeauxmentum Strategies and Investments, LLC (MSI) is the shared services company of franchisee groups North Texas Bells, LLC, North Texas Wings, LLC, Memphis Wings Operations, LLC, Southern Wings Enterprises, LLC, Austin Chicks, LLC, Oklahoma Chicks, LLC, and Indy Chicks, LLC. MSI is committed to its mission statement, "Consistently, Best on Block." The company has grown to over 120 locations across seven states. See for more information. About the Indiana FeverThe Indiana Fever tipped off the 2025 season at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, May 17, vs. the Chicago Sky. Last season, led by WNBA All-Stars Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Caitlin Clark, the Fever advanced to the WNBA Playoffs for the 14th time in franchise history. To learn more about the upcoming season, purchase tickets, or join the season ticket waitlist, visit About Chicken Salad Chick Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Founded in Auburn, Alabama, by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 290 restaurants in 21 states. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in the 2023 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious for the third consecutive year, Fast Casual's Top Movers and Shakers from 2018 to 2024, QSR's Best Franchise Deals in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024, and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises list from 2019-2024. See for additional information. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Meauxmentum Strategies and Investments, LLC Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's Pregame Outfit For Fever-Sky is Turning Heads
After securing a 20-20 record in her rookie season, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were eliminated from the WNBA Playoffs after just two games in the first round. But the Fever made some major changes in the offseason, bringing in coach Stephanie White and adding numerous veterans, looking to contend for a championship in 2025. Advertisement On Saturday, Indiana opens the new season with a rival, hosting Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever got the best of the Sky in 2024, securing a 3-1 head-to-head record. Before the game, Clark was seen walking into the arena, posing for photos with her first pregame outfit of the regular season. The former Iowa Hawkeyes star was donning a sleek black tailored suit with cropped trousers and a matching blazer over a sheer black top. She topped it off with black pointed-toe heels and a large black leather tote bag. "first arrival fit of the season for Caitlin Clark," the Indiana Fever wrote on X. WNBA fans enjoyed Clark's business look for the 2025 opener, taking to social media to leave their thoughts. Advertisement "Okay i see you Caitlin Clark in her businesswoman era," one fan said. "She all business.," added another. "Business attire .. y'all know what that means," wrote a third. "She means business," commented a fourth. "She looks posted a fifth. "Caitlin Clark Kent," joked a sixth. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images In her rookie season with Indiana, Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists, making the All-WNBA first team in the process. But this time around, she has more weapons surrounding her, including newcomers DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard and Sophie Cunningham. Following the Sky game, the Fever will be back in action on Tuesday, hosting Brittney Griner and the Atlanta Dream. Related: Kate Martin's Pregame Outfit For Valkyries-Sparks is Turning Heads
