Latest news with #WintrustArena
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Threw Another 'Hilarious' Toy Onto WNBA Court On Friday
Fans Threw Another 'Hilarious' Toy Onto WNBA Court On Friday originally appeared on The Spun. For the second time this week, a fan or several decided to have some fun at the WNBA's expense, tossing an object onto the court in the middle of a game. Video from yesterday's game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Chicago Sky shows that a green dildo was thrown onto the Wintrust Arena court in the third quarter of the game. Officials temporarily paused the game so that the venue staff could remove it. In a pretty funny scene, the officials on the court were reluctant to go near the thing. One of them had to run across the floor to kick it towards a staffer, who was himself a bit nervous before ultimately grabbing the thing with a towel. The video has gone viral with millions of views online and tens of thousands of people remarking on the wild scene. People really don't seem to respect the WNBA. Let it never be said that people are too afraid to speak their minds when it comes to the WNBA. The responses to this have been downright wild: "This is gonna turn into a WNBA ritual… like throwing an octopus on the ice at Red Wings games. The game doesn't really start until the big green dildo hits the hardwood," one user responded. "Soon Vegas will be taking prop bets on if a green dildo will show up at the games," wrote another. "I'm starting to think no one respects woman's basketball," a third wrote. "Literally the only thing entertaining about these games is people throwing green dildos on the court." "My main issue with this is that if this keeps up it threatens to make the WNBA watchable and interesting." WNBA players weighed in. As funny as it is for fans - and especially people who hate the WNBA - the players were obviously not amused. But Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham made it clear that it's not just disrespectful, it's downright dangerous: Taking to X last night she bluntly said, "stop throwing dildos on the court… you're going to hurt one of us." But as you might expect, this only got the fans even more interested in what happened: "Throwing sex toys is protected by the first amendment. If you hate America and the constitution, I recommend leaving," one user replied. "Sorry, but you should embrace the trend. I mean, I would never have thought of going to WNBA game or was even aware that women played basketball in the first place. But the Dildo on the court thing, I may even bring the kids to game now, sound hilarious." "If you're going to throw something, throw beers on the court like a real sports fan." This is the second one this week. The first dildo throwing incident occurred on July 29, when the Golden State Valkyries took on the Atlanta Dream. For now, it looks like the incidents are being isolated to the Valkyries. But knowing how people love doing the opposite of what people ask them to do, this could quickly become a regular occurrence across the Threw Another 'Hilarious' Toy Onto WNBA Court On Friday first appeared on The Spun on Aug 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WNBA Reacts to Angel Reese's Outfit on Wednesday
WNBA Reacts to Angel Reese's Outfit on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It was a big day for Angel Reese on Wednesday. The 23-year-old made all sorts of waves on social media after Reebok officially unveiled her first signature shoe, the Angel Reese 1. Advertisement While Reebok has not revealed the release date of the pair, the announcement has already generated significant buzz online as Reese heads toward a major career milestone. Naturally, the two-time All-Star just had to do her bit to promote the big news. Reese achieved this by ensuring that her new kicks were prominently featured in her gameday outfit for Wednesday's matchup against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings at Wintrust Arena. Even the WNBA had to react to Reese's fit, pointing out how Reese wore her new kicks as an accessory for her ensemble. Reese went for a streetwear-inspired black-and-white look on Wednesday. There's no denying, however, that the highlight of her fit was her new pair of Reebok sneakers, which the 6-foot-3 forward draped over her shoulders. Advertisement In case you missed it, Reese's vintage-style shirt also featured her new kicks, which come in an all-white colorway. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese recently launched her signature shoe.© Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images It is worth noting that Reese is currently dealing with a leg injury, which had her listed as questionable to play against the Wings. The good news, however, is that she has been cleared to play, which means she should be able to debut her new Reebok shoes in the game. Reese was seen warming up before the game in the Angel Reese 1 and it looks like she will be rocking them come tip-off. Related: Angel Reese Steals the Show With Her Outfit for Sky-Wings Game Related: Chicago Sky Player's Return From Temporary Leave Has the WNBA Excited Related: Chicago Sky Coach Claims They Were 'Robbed' After Controversial Call on Tuesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Eater
24-06-2025
- Business
- Eater
South Loop's Two-Year Wait for the Southern Ends Today
Their dream began just about two years ago. Chef Xavier Vance and his business partner Troy Vivrett first shared the plan to open Southern Chicago via social media, declaring their restaurant as set to open in summer 2023. Two years later, the sprawling venue finally opened on Tuesday, June 24, at 2000 S. Wabash in the South Loop. Vance says they've gutted and renovated the 10,000-square-foot building, splicing soul food with an upscale steakhouse, a departure from the ownership's initial vision, which focused on brunch, cocktails, and contemporary Southern cuisine. The journey hasn't been easy for the entrepreneurs, and their vision has expanded over the last two years.'My business partner and I have been winging this project ourselves,' Vance says. 'It is our first restaurant.' Even without additional investors, Vance says he and Vivrett took over an additional 2,000 square feet of neighboring space: 'We also had to do an entire build-out on our own, and that caused an additional leg of permits that we had to go through,' Vance says. 'So that was a massive delay and altered our original timeline.' The work and wait, Vance says, will be worth it as after the expansion, Southern Chicago is now equipped to be a fine dining restaurant with an outdoor patio and private space for personal and corporate events. Ownership wants to lure patrons from nearby Wintrust Arena, Soldier Field, and McCormick Place. In a city that's thoroughly familiar with soul food, Vance's concept is to elevate traditional expectations into a more elegant experience. 'The concept of the restaurant is a Southern American steakhouse,' Vance says. 'We really want to emphasize that… sometimes when people are thinking of a restaurant that has the word southern or South, it's just strictly soul food, and that is not the case here.' Menu items include a wagyu burger, tomahawk steaks, seafood platters, and sides like braised collards and baked macaroni. Vance's background as a well-established professional caterer with culinary training from the Illinois Institute of Art prepared him to meet this moment. Years of event catering showed him what was missing from Chicago's scene, and what could set Southern Chicago apart. 'We want to give the people a fine dining experience from the moment they enter — from our host to our service, to our pastry chef, and the food quality,' Vance says. 'We want people to feel all the sweat and tears over the years that Troy and I have put into this project, because it was not easy.' The goal is to eventually offer lunch and brunch, but right now, in their initial opening, the plan is to focus on perfecting their dinner service. They've built a team that gives Vance confidence in what's to come. With nearby establishments like Oliver's and Apolonia carving out their own high-end niche at the southern end of the South Loop, this could mean new potential for the neighborhood. Southern Chicago will be one of the largest establishments in the area. 'I'm excited to be able to also give the city the versatility in having both a fine dining restaurant and also an event space.' Living in the Gold Coast and River North areas showed Vance and Vivrett a world of possibilities. 'Thinking of like, a Tavern on Rush or Gibsons — you know — myself and my partner lived in those neighborhoods for a number of years, and we enjoyed those dining aspects. And this should be in every part of the city… including the South Loop, because the area deserves it.' Southern Chicago, 2000 S. Wabash, Chicago, open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Wednesday; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. See More: Bars Chicago Restaurant News Chicago Restaurant Openings
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sky's Angel Reese arrives in style for Mercury showdown
The post Sky's Angel Reese arrives in style for Mercury showdown appeared first on ClutchPoints. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has expressed a strong desire to evolve her game and become a more versatile player, and that ambition was reflected through the triple-double she posted in last Sunday's road win versus the Connecticut Sun, but she also understands the brand component of her WNBA career. Advertisement The double-double machine has actively built a large following dating back to her time at LSU, knowing full well the benefits of connecting with fans beyond the court. She fully welcomes the opportunity to be both a basketball star and prominent pop culture figure, hence her pregame fashion shows this season. Reese put on her model face upon entering Wintrust Arena, posing for the camera man ahead of the Sky's Saturday afternoon showdown with the Phoenix Mercury. The league-leader in rebounds sported a leopard printed headscarf, camouflage shorts and multiple accessories, hours before squaring off with the team that currently owns the third-best record in the WNBA. Reese's outfits are becoming a part of her aforementioned brand. She drew attention with an all-black look at Chicago's June 7 clash with the Indiana Fever and is again commanding attention online with her most recent attire. Angel Reese can help the WNBA broaden its reach If a league wants to become truly successful, it need a hook that goes beyond the competition itself. Yes, superb athletes and an enjoyable product fuel the engine, but transcendent star power is required to boost it to the next gear. Just look at the 2025 NBA Finals. Two exciting teams vying for their first championship — the reigning MVP leads one and possibly the most clutch player in the game today leads the other. And yet, ABC's viewership numbers are down from last year. Great hoops and on-court suspense alone is clearly not enough these days. Advertisement The WNBA recognizes this, too, which is why it wants to market its presentation around the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry. More so, the W is clearly focused on highlighting some of its biggest personalities. Reese, in addition to the All-Star-level impact she has had in the early portion of her career, has the power to connect with young people in a different way. Bringing in a new audience that is not currently invested in the women's game is a top priority, and regardless of how basketball junkies feel, these grand fashion entrances generate buzz in both the WNBA and NBA. The focus has shifted to the action now, however. Reese and the Sky (3-8) are desperate for a signature win this year, but she and Kamilla Cardoso must contend with an imposing Mercury frontcourt that consists of Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas. Chicago trails 58-43 at halftime. Advertisement Related: Angel Reese drops 'Mebound' clothing line amid online backlash Related: Angel Reese's 4-word message to ex-LSU teammate after breakout game
Washington Post
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
With record crowd watching, Sky get blown out by Fever in first WNBA game at United Center
CHICAGO — Chicago Sky coach Tyler Marsh recalled working the 2020 NBA All-Star game at the United Center when he was an assistant with the Toronto Raptors. He mentioned that his first experience at a WNBA All-Star game was also in Chicago — two years later at Wintrust Arena. 'It's been cool moments,' Marsh said.
