Sports
Homecoming: Fever welcome back Stephanie White as head coach
Oct 6, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White watches from the sideline as they take on the Minnesota Lynx during game four of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images Stephanie White will be patrolling the sideline once again for the Indiana Fever.
On Friday, the Fever named the West Lebanon, Ind., native as their head coach. White previously held the same post from 2015-16 following a four-year stint as the club’s assistant coach.
“As we enter this new era of Fever basketball, I am thrilled to welcome Stephanie back to the franchise,” said Kelly Krauskopf, Fever president of basketball operations.
“Stephanie is a part of the fabric of this franchise, both as a former player and as a member of our championship coaching staff, so I’m quite familiar with her elite basketball IQ and leadership style. I am confident there is no one who better understands our culture or is more equipped to lead our group of players to the next level.”
The hiring of White comes four days after she was let go by the Connecticut Sun and five days after the Fever fired Christie Sides as their head coach.
White, 47, compiled a 37-31 record with Indiana before departing to become the head coach at Vanderbilt for five seasons.
She took over the Connecticut Sun in 2023, leading them to a 27-13 record that year and a 28-12 finish in 2024 before losing in the playoff semifinals both seasons. White was named WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023.
“I am incredibly proud and honored to return home to Indiana and lead the Fever during such a pivotal moment in this franchise’s history, as well as during such an important time throughout women’s athletics,” White said. “This franchise has and always will be committed to winning and I look forward to working every day to help deliver another WNBA title to the greatest basketball fans in the world.”
White played high school and college basketball (Purdue) in Indiana before getting drafted in the second round by the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting in 1999. She played four seasons with the Fever (2000-01, 2003-04).
The Fever parted ways with Sides after a 20-20 season that ended in the opening round of the playoffs.
Sides, who was 33-47 over two seasons with Indiana, had the responsibility of guiding the development of Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark, back-to-back WNBA Rookies of the Year.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Why the WNBA Won't Monetize Sophie Cunningham's Viral Point
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) celebrates Friday, July 11, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 99-82. When will the WNBA ever learn?
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham broke the internet after a viral dust up with Phoenix Mercury player DeWanna Bonner. During the on court argument, Cunningham pointed at Bonner, who was insisting that the Fever guard stop pointing at her.
The 22-second point took the internet by storm and strengthened Cunningham’s status as a fan favorite and one of the more recognizable stars in the WNBA.
But according to Front Office Sports, the WNBA’s Player’s Association is prohibiting the league or their partners from monetizing Cunningham’s viral point. According to Darren Rovell, the famous point isn’t allowed to be used in merchandising as it was viewed as “derogatory.”
“For licensed apparel, we generally do not feature or look to monetize player conduct from a confrontation between our members,” a statement from the WNBA said.
Cunningham has her fans and her haters. She’s one of the more polarizing figures in the sport, and this moment certainly magnified her persona. So, why wouldn’t the WNBA want to lean into this moment?
Of course, sportsmanship is important.
Like any sport, these women could be role models for little girls everywhere. Certainly, youth girls basketball coaches probably don’t want their student athletes to point in the face of their opponent during the heat of battle.
But this is professional sports. Sometimes, the badass moments are what make sport great.
According to Fever reporter Scott Agness, at Cunningham’s recent youth camp, each camper was allowed to take a photo with the 29-year-old.
“And as you’d expect, they all want to do the signature point,” Agness posted on X.
See, nobody was outraged. In fact, the children were smiling! Imagine that.
Some people that stumbled across the Cunningham point meme might not even realize that the clip came as a result of an on-court confrontation. And even if they were aware that the moment was during a dust up, does anyone really think pointing at another athlete is really that derogatory?
It feels like the players association stepping in here is just an overstep. So what if a t-shirt company makes a few bucks by creating an illustration of this moment? If anything, it’ll put more money in Cunningham’s pocket, as certainly there are plenty of brands who would be tripping over themselves to use her likeness.
Instead, if you want a t-shirt of Cunningham pointing, you’ll have to trust a boot-legged source. Of course, Cunningham won’t see a dime of those sales, but the players association is too concerned with protecting… what?
Sports
Golf Glance: Scheffler makes 3M debut; LIV back from hiatus; LPGA, Champions in Scotland
Scottie Scheffler is making his debut at the 3M Open. The PGA Tour turns its attention to Minnesota with the FedEx Cup playoff push in its final stages, LIV Golf returns from its lengthy hiatus and the LPGA and Champions tours are in Scotland.
PGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: 3M Open, Blaine, Minn., July 23-26
Course: TPC Twin Cities (Par 71, 7,431 Yards)
Purse: $8.8M (Winner: $1.584M)
Defending Champion: Kurt Kitayama
FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+)
Streaming: Thursday-Friday: 7:45 a.m.-7 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (ESPN+)
X: @3MOpen
NOTES: Only three weeks remain before the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs. … TPC Twin Cities was designed by Arnold Palmer in consultation with Minnesota native Tom Lehman. … Last year’s event saw five rounds of 62 or better produced by the field, including Kitayama’s 60 in the third round and Adam Svensson’s opening-round 60. … Eight players have competed in all seven previous editions of the event: Cam Davis, Tony Finau, Brice Garnett, Tom Hoge, Beau Hossler, Patton Kizzire, Peter Malnati, Troy Merritt. … Sponsors exemptions include reigning NCAA national champion and top-ranked amateur Preston Stout, Ryder Cowan, Muzzy Donohue and Sihan Sandhu. … Lee Hodges holds the tournament scoring record of 260 set in 2023.
BEST BETS: Scheffler (+265 at DraftKings) is coming off a T4 at The Open. He’s making his tournament debut as he seeks his first victory since the American Express in January. … Kitayama (+2250) defends this week and also finished T6 in 2024. … Maverick McNealy (+2350) finished T3 in Minnesota in 2024, when he posted a 63 in the third round. … Hideki Matsuyama (+2800) owns the longest active streak on tour with 28 consecutive cuts made. His best finish in three previous event starts was T7 in 2019. … Tom Kim (+2900) won two weeks ago at the Scottish Open.
Last Tournament: The 154th Open Championship (Ryan Fox); Corales Puntacana Championship (Stefano Mazzoli)
Next Tournament: Rocket Classic, Detroit, July 30-Aug. 2
LPGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, North Ayrshire, Scotland, July 23-26
Course: Dundonald Links (Par 72, 6,538 Yards)
Purse: $2M (Winner: $300,000)
Defending Champion: Lottie Woad
Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 4:30-8:30 a.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday: 8 a.m.-Noon (CNBC); Sunday: 7-11 a.m. (CNBC)
X: @Womens_Scottish
NOTES: The event became co-sanctioned by the LPGA in 2017. … Woad won last year in her professional debut. She tied the tournament scoring record at Dundonald of 267 first set by Ayaka Furue in 2022. … The 144-player field will be cut to the top 65 players and ties following 36 holes.
Last Tournament: Evian Championship (Haeran Ryu)
Next Tournament: AIG Women’s Open, Lancashire, England, July 30-Aug. 2
LIV GOLF
THIS WEEK: LIV Golf United Kingdom, July 23-26
Course: JCB Golf and Country Club (Par 72, 7,332 Yards)
Purse: Individual: $20M (Winner: $4M); Team: $10M (Winner: $3M)
Defending Champions: Individual: Joaquin Niemann; Team: Legion XIII
2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: 4Aces GC
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 8:15 a.m.-1 p.m. ET (FS2); Saturday: 8:15 a.m.-1 p.m. (FOX); Sunday: 8:05 a.m.-1 p.m. (FS1)
X: @livgolf_league
NOTES: The league resumes play following a lengthy break since the first week of June. … Rahm can mathematically clinch the individual season title with a win this week and Bryson DeChambeau ties for 2nd with two or more players or finishes solo third or worse. … The field includes 57 players comprised of 13 four-player teams and five wild cards with a daily shotgun start. … HyFlyers GC captain Phil Mickelson remains sidelined by a family medical matter and will be replaced by Scott Vincent. Ripper GC’s Elvis Smylie is replaced by Travis Smyth this week, while Martin Vorster is in for Southern Guards GC’s Louis Oosthuizen.
Last Event: LIV Golf Andalucia (Individual: Tyrrell Hatton; Team: Legion XIII)
Next Event: LIV Golf New York, Aug. 6-9
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
THIS WEEK: ISPS Handa Senior Open, Auchterarder, Scotland, July 23-26
Course: Gleneagles Hotel, Kings Course
Purse: $2.85M (Winner: $447,800)
Defending Champion: Padraig Harrington
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Stewart Cink
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 8:30 a.m.-Noon (GC); Noon-2 p.m. (NBC)
X: @ChampionsTour
NOTES: This is the final major of the season. … Darren Clarke won the previous edition of the event held at Gleneagles in 2022.
Last Tournament: Kaulig Companies Championship (Zach Johnson)
Next Tournament: Portugal Invitational, Algarve, Portugal, July 31-Aug. 2
DP WORLD TOUR
THIS WEEK: OFF.
Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed
Last Tournament: The 154th Open Championship (Ryan Fox)
Next Tournament: Danish Golf Championship, Funen, Denmark, Aug. 13-16
–Field Level Media
Sports
WTA roundup: Barbora Krejcikova cruises to first-round win in Prague
Jul 1, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic returns a shot during her match against Mirra Andreeva on day three at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Second-seeded Barbora Krejcikova converted 6 of 8 break points while sailing to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Linda Fruhvirtova on Wednesday in a first-round all-Czech matchup in Prague.
Krejcikova won 73.1% of her first-serve points (19 of 26) in a match that took one hour and 18 minutes. Krejcikova won the final three games of the first set and the last four of the second.
Czechs seeded No. 3, 4 and 5 also won their matches. Sara Bejlek, seeded third, knocked off Russian Anna Blinkova 7-6 (9), 3-6, 6-1. No. 4 Nikola Bartunkova rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 triumph over China’s Yuan Yue and No. 5 Tereza Valentova rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Australia’s Priscilla Hon.
Also, American-born Aussie Maya Joint posted a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Laura Samson of Czechia. Joint was the player who beat Serena Williams in the first round in the latter’s recent comeback attempt at Wimbledon.
MSC Hamburg Ladies Open
Top-seeded Oleksandra Oliynykova saved 16 of 22 break points while registering a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Germany’s Nastasja Schunk in Germany.
Oliynykova cruised through the first set before Schunk won the final four games of the second set to even the match. Oliynykova led 4-1 in the third before Schunk recovered to knot it at 5. Oliynykova then won the final two games.
No. 3 Panna Udvardy of Hungary notched a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Elena Pridankina of Russia. No. 5 Tamara Korpatsch of Germany won 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 when Andorra’s Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva retired due to a lower-leg injury.
No. 7 Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan beat Germany’s Mona Barthel 6-2, 7-6 (5), and No. 8 Sinja Kraus of Austria rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Darja Semenistaja of Latvia.
–Field Level Media
Why the WNBA Won't Monetize Sophie Cunningham's Viral Point
John Cusack R-Rated Crime Thriller Keeps The Mystery Hot To The End
