Latest news with #all-WNBA
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mercury lose Kahleah Copper for 4-6 weeks, adding to roster shakeups before opener
A new era in Phoenix is off to a bumpy start. The Mercury open the 2025 season Saturday night without Diana Taurasi or Brittney Griner for the first time in more than two decades, and they will now be without Kahleah Copper for the foreseeable future. The four-time All-Star and 2024 Olympian was the only returning starter from last year's roster after a massive offseason overhaul, but Phoenix announced Saturday that she had a left knee arthroscopy and will be out for four to six weeks. Advertisement Copper participated in Unrivaled during the winter but suffered a right leg injury that limited her to appearances in seven of 16 games. She had been relatively healthy in WNBA action, missing only five games in 2023 and 2024 combined. Her best year was 2024, averaging 21.1 points as she earned all-WNBA honors for the first time in her nine-year career. She also played a pivotal role off the bench for the United States in the gold medal game against France at the Paris Olympics last summer. Phoenix built a top-heavy roster entering 2025, sacrificing much of its depth to acquire All-Stars Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas. Sami Whitcomb is the only other player on the Mercury to have ever averaged double figures in points, and that was in 2021. Phoenix will also be without Natasha Mack for two to three weeks because of a lower back injury. Copper and Mack were the only returning players on the roster, which lost mainstays Taurasi and Griner to retirement and free agency, respectively. Coach Nate Tibbetts joked during the offseason that the Mercury would have to wear name tags during training camp, but their roster is currently closer to an expansion team than a contender in terms of continuity. They'll take the floor against the Seattle Storm on Saturday with zero players from 2024, plus three rookies. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Phoenix Mercury, WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Chicago Tribune
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Indiana Fever veterans getting acclimated to the Caitlin Clark experience: ‘The eyes are on you here'
INDIANAPOLIS — DeWanna Bonner signed with Indiana to win a third WNBA championship. She never anticipated the local welcoming committee would find her in grocery store produce sections, along the streets of Indianapolis or anywhere else she visits. Bonner isn't just recognizable because she stands 6-foot-4 or is already a fan favorite in this basketball-frenzied state. The 37-year-old veteran is getting a glimpse into what it's like to be a teammate of the WNBA's top drawing card, Caitlin Clark. 'Everywhere I go, it's like, 'We're excited for the season, thank you for being here,' so it's been really refreshing,' Bonner said, noting it is a different level of attention than she experienced playing with Phoenix and Connecticut. 'The eyes are on you here; the lights are bright.' Thanks to a cadre of young stars including rookie Paige Bueckers, along with the budding rivalries around the league — notably Clark and Angel Reese — the spotlight is shining brightly on the WNBA. Their ascension, with stars such as A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Britney Griner still playing at a high level, is bringing record-setting attention to televised WNBA games. Bonner is another of those veterans still playing well. She starts this season ranked third in league history in games played (502) and seven points short of surpassing Tina Thompson (7,488) for No. 3 on the career scoring list. She's also a six-time All-Star and two-time all-WNBA selection. But even someone as accomplished as Bonner can't overshadow Clark, last year's WNBA rookie of the year. Clark helped the Fever snap a seven-year playoff drought as Indiana shattered league records for home attendance, road attendance and total attendance. As Clark was breaking the league's single-season assists record the WNBA enjoyed record TV ratings. The intrigue has only grown this year. With a star-studded cast of title-winning veterans, like Bonner, now surrounding Clark, expectations and interest continue to soar. Indiana tips off the 2025 season Saturday hosting Reese and the Sky. Indiana drew more than 12,400 fans to its only home preseason game even though Clark sat out with a leg injury. Their second game, played at Clark's alma mater, Iowa, sold out in 42 minutes, drew record ticket prices on the secondary market and attracted 1.3 million viewers — larger than all but two NBA preseason telecasts since 2010. Chicago Sky's 2025 season is all about change and growth — 'but the goal is to make the playoffs'That made Indiana an easy choice for the veterans seeking one-year deals as they await a new collective bargaining agreement. 'Who doesn't want to play in front of sold out crowds at home and when you're away?' Indiana center Aliyah Boston said. 'You have a bunch of people wearing Fever jerseys wherever you play. I think that's so important because you know you're always going to have a family coming from the fans because they're always going to cheer you on.' The experience of being Clark's teammate includes dealing with long lines of fans, hordes of autograph seekers at every stop, dozens of nationally televised games and, of course, answering so many questions about Clark. Longtime WNBA player and new Fever forward Natasha Howard is embracing the atmosphere. Howard is returning to Indiana after spending her first two seasons in Indy, the second during Stephanie White's first tenure as head coach. White, Indiana's original No. 22, has returned in the same capacity. Howard, however, comes back with a new perspective after winning the 2017 WNBA title with former Minnesota All-Star Maya Moore, two titles with Sue Bird in Seattle and two playoff appearances as teammates of Stewart and Ionescu in New York. 'It feels good to be playing with Caitlin, a true point guard who controls the floor,' Howard said. 'I see her leadership in practice, the way she talks in huddles. I think it's because she did it at Iowa for four years, but I feel like she wouldn't be in that category with the superstars if she wasn't a good leader.' Clark has grown accustomed to the fanfare over the past three seasons, the first two as a breakout college phenom at Iowa and last season as the most watched rookie in league history. Now everyone wants to see what she'll do for an encore. Bonner believes Indiana now has the elements Clark and the Fever need to take that next step. 'They want to win, that's all I needed to hear. They wanted to win, they wanted to be led,' Bonner said. 'They didn't have any experience last year in the playoffs, so this is totally different. But I've also been following them a little bit because no one understands playing in this type of environment but the people who have done it.'
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers Getting Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Treatment
You do not have to look far to see the similarities between WNBA stars Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. As the last two No. 1 overall draft picks, both players made history in college basketball before bringing legions of fans from the UConn Huskies to the Dallas Wings and from the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Indiana Fever, respectively. Advertisement Both entertaining guards will feature prominently in the WNBA's opening weekend of the 2025 regular season. Bueckers makes her professional debut on Friday night against the Minnesota Lynx at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION. Clark follows on Saturday with Indiana's season opener at 3 p.m. ET on ABC against another WNBA showstopper — Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. Paige Bueckers is interviewed by ESPN after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Carchietta-Imagn Images Amid the Fever-Sky showdown and other marquee contests like the Golden State Valkyries' first game against the Los Angeles Sparks and the rematch of the past two WNBA champs between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, SLAM magazine left little doubt what it is looking forward to this weekend. Advertisement The famous hoops publication awarded Bueckers and her Wings teammates a special edition cover for its 2025 WNBA season preview, putting her star power in orbit much like Clark and Reese early in their pro careers. Bueckers may not be the best player on the team — that would be all-WNBA guard Arike Ogunbowale, who is rightfully front and center of the SLAM cover. All three players, including free agent pickup DiJonai Carrington, got their own unique digital covers as well. The truth is, Ogunbowale was not putting the 9-31 Wings on news stands last season. Fairly or not, that kind of marketing power has followed some of the league's youngest stars. Advertisement Clark and Reese are joint cover stars of Athlon Sports' 2025 WNBA Preview, following the commemorative edition Athlon made to celebrate Clark's record-breaking 2024 Rookie of the Year campaign. The Fever star also graced the cover of TIME as its 2024 Athlete of the Year, while Reese's catalogue of cover shoots includes Vogue and SLAM's 250th edition. "It's crazy, I went from being the oldest and I guess the vet on the UConn team to being the youngest here, or one of the youngest,' Bueckers told SLAM ahead of her WNBA Debut. 'I'm [continuing] to stay humble, stay hungry and working to be the best teammate, best leader I can be, [and] working to find my voice. Obviously, I don't have as much experience, but I still feel like I have a lot of knowledge and wisdom for the game and a lot of love for it.' Advertisement Related: Fans Waste No Time Comparing Paige Bueckers to Caitlin Clark Related: Caitlin Clark Gets Big Reality Check From Indiana Fever Coach
Fox Sports
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Fever veterans getting acclimated to new experience with Caitlin Clark in basketball-rich Indiana
Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — DeWanna Bonner signed with Indiana to win a third WNBA championship. She never anticipated the local welcoming committee would find her in grocery store produce sections, along the streets of Indianapolis or anywhere else she visits. Bonner isn't just recognizable because she stands 6-foot-4 or is already a fan favorite in this basketball-frenzied state. The 37-year-old veteran is getting a glimpse into what it's like to be a teammate of the WNBA's top drawing card, Caitlin Clark. 'Everywhere I go, it's like, 'We're excited for the season, thank you for being here,' so it's been really refreshing,' Bonner said, noting it is a different level of attention than she experienced playing with Phoenix and Connecticut. 'The eyes are on you here; the lights are bright.' Thanks to a cadre of young stars including rookie Paige Bueckers, along with the budding rivalries around the league — notably Clark and Angel Reese — the spotlight is shining brightly on the WNBA. Their ascension, with stars such as A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Britney Griner still playing at a high level, is bringing record-setting attention to televised WNBA games. Bonner is another of those veterans still playing well. She starts this season ranked third in league history in games played (502) and seven points short of surpassing Tina Thompson (7,488) for No. 3 on the career scoring list. She's also a six-time All-Star and two-time all-WNBA selection. But even someone as accomplished as Bonner can't overshadow Clark, last year's WNBA rookie of the year. Clark helped the Fever snap a seven-year playoff drought as Indiana shattered league records for home attendance, road attendance and total attendance. As Clark was breaking the league's single season assists record the WNBA enjoyed record TV ratings. The intrigue has only grown this year. With a star-studded cast of title-winning veterans, like Bonner, now surrounding Clark, expectations and interest continue to soar. Indiana tips off the 2025 season Saturday hosting Reese and the Sky. Indiana drew more than 12,400 fans to its only home preseason game even though Clark sat out with a leg injury. Their second game, played at Clark's alma mater, Iowa, sold out in 42 minutes, drew record ticket prices on the secondary market and attracted 1.3 million viewers — larger than all but two NBA preseason telecasts since 2010. That made Indiana an easy choice for the veterans seeking one-year deals as they await a new collective bargaining agreement. 'Who doesn't want to play in front of sold out crowds at home and when you're away?' Indiana center Aliyah Boston said. 'You have a bunch of people wearing Fever jerseys wherever you play. I think that's so important because you know you're always going to have a family coming from the fans because they're always going to cheer you on.' The experience of being Clark's teammate includes dealing with long lines of fans, hordes of autograph seekers at every stop, dozens of nationally televised games and, of course, answering so many questions about Clark. Longtime WNBA player and new Fever forward Natasha Howard is embracing the atmosphere. Howard is returning to Indiana after spending her first two seasons in Indy, the second during Stephanie White's first tenure as head coach. White, Indiana's original No. 22, has returned in the same capacity. Howard, however, comes back with a new perspective after winning the 2017 WNBA title with former Minnesota All-Star Maya Moore, two titles with Sue Bird in Seattle and two playoff appearances as teammates of Stewart and Ionescu in New York. 'It feels good to be playing with Caitlin, a true point guard who controls the floor,' Howard said. 'I see her leadership in practice, the way she talks in huddles. I think it's because she did it at Iowa for four years, but I feel like she wouldn't be in that category with the superstars if she wasn't a good leader.' Clark has grown accustomed to the fanfare over the past three seasons, the first two as a breakout college phenom at Iowa and last season as the most watched rookie in league history. Now everyone wants to see what she'll do for an encore. Bonner believes Indiana now has the elements Clark and the Fever need to take that next step. 'They want to win, that's all I needed to hear. They wanted to win, they wanted to be led," Bonner said. 'They didn't have any experience last year in the playoffs, so this is totally different. But I've also been following them a little bit because no one understands playing in this type of environment but the people who have done it.' ___ AP WNBA:
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Fever veterans getting acclimated to new experience with Caitlin Clark in basketball-rich Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — DeWanna Bonner signed with Indiana to win a third WNBA championship. She never anticipated the local welcoming committee would find her in grocery store produce sections, along the streets of Indianapolis or anywhere else she visits. Bonner isn't just recognizable because she stands 6-foot-4 or is already a fan favorite in this basketball-frenzied state. The 37-year-old veteran is getting a glimpse into what it's like to be a teammate of the WNBA's top drawing card, Caitlin Clark. 'Everywhere I go, it's like, 'We're excited for the season, thank you for being here,' so it's been really refreshing,' Bonner said, noting it is a different level of attention than she experienced playing with Phoenix and Connecticut. 'The eyes are on you here; the lights are bright.' Thanks to a cadre of young stars including rookie Paige Bueckers , along with the budding rivalries around the league — notably Clark and Angel Reese — the spotlight is shining brightly on the WNBA. Their ascension, with stars such as A'ja Wilson , Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Britney Griner still playing at a high level, is bringing record-setting attention to televised WNBA games. Bonner is another of those veterans still playing well. She starts this season ranked third in league history in games played (502) and seven points short of surpassing Tina Thompson (7,488) for No. 3 on the career scoring list. She's also a six-time All-Star and two-time all-WNBA selection. But even someone as accomplished as Bonner can't overshadow Clark, last year's WNBA rookie of the year. Clark helped the Fever snap a seven-year playoff drought as Indiana shattered league records for home attendance, road attendance and total attendance. As Clark was breaking the league's single season assists record the WNBA enjoyed record TV ratings. The intrigue has only grown this year. With a star-studded cast of title-winning veterans, like Bonner, now surrounding Clark, expectations and interest continue to soar. Indiana tips off the 2025 season Saturday hosting Reese and the Sky. Indiana drew more than 12,400 fans to its only home preseason game even though Clark sat out with a leg injury. Their second game, played at Clark's alma mater, Iowa, sold out in 42 minutes, drew record ticket prices on the secondary market and attracted 1.3 million viewers — larger than all but two NBA preseason telecasts since 2010. That made Indiana an easy choice for the veterans seeking one-year deals as they await a new collective bargaining agreement. 'Who doesn't want to play in front of sold out crowds at home and when you're away?' Indiana center Aliyah Boston said. 'You have a bunch of people wearing Fever jerseys wherever you play. I think that's so important because you know you're always going to have a family coming from the fans because they're always going to cheer you on.' The experience of being Clark's teammate includes dealing with long lines of fans, hordes of autograph seekers at every stop, dozens of nationally televised games and, of course, answering so many questions about Clark. Longtime WNBA player and new Fever forward Natasha Howard is embracing the atmosphere. Howard is returning to Indiana after spending her first two seasons in Indy, the second during Stephanie White's first tenure as head coach. White, Indiana's original No. 22, has returned in the same capacity. Howard, however, comes back with a new perspective after winning the 2017 WNBA title with former Minnesota All-Star Maya Moore, two titles with Sue Bird in Seattle and two playoff appearances as teammates of Stewart and Ionescu in New York. 'It feels good to be playing with Caitlin, a true point guard who controls the floor,' Howard said. 'I see her leadership in practice, the way she talks in huddles. I think it's because she did it at Iowa for four years, but I feel like she wouldn't be in that category with the superstars if she wasn't a good leader.' Clark has grown accustomed to the fanfare over the past three seasons, the first two as a breakout college phenom at Iowa and last season as the most watched rookie in league history. Now everyone wants to see what she'll do for an encore. Bonner believes Indiana now has the elements Clark and the Fever need to take that next step. 'They want to win, that's all I needed to hear. They wanted to win, they wanted to be led,' Bonner said. 'They didn't have any experience last year in the playoffs, so this is totally different. But I've also been following them a little bit because no one understands playing in this type of environment but the people who have done it.' ___ AP WNBA:
