Sports
Jordan Walker, Cardinals eager to add to Reds' woes
Jun 2, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) reacts after hitting a one run single against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images Jordan Walker and the St. Louis Cardinals will look to continue their offensive dominance of the visiting Cincinnati Reds when the teams meet Saturday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game series.
The Cardinals took advantage of three Reds errors on Friday night to score three unearned runs in a 10-3 victory.
St. Louis has 24 runs in the three games between the teams this season.
Walker has been at the heart of the offensive surge against Cincinnati, doubling twice among his three hits on Friday. In three games this year against the Reds, who have lost six of their past eight games, Walker is 7-for-14 with two home runs, three doubles and eight RBIs.
Despite being without star rookie JJ Wetherholt for a second straight game due to a sore groin, the Cardinals got production up and down the lineup to wipe out an early 3-0 deficit on Friday.
“When you look at eight different guys driving in a run, that’s exactly the brand of relentless offense we’ve been trying to build,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “We didn’t panic when we fell behind early. We ground down their pitching, took heavy at-bats, and the floodgates opened. It’s exactly the kind of response you want to see to set the tone for the weekend.”
The Reds, on the other hand, have had trouble establishing a consistent offense since a hamstring injury sidelined Elly De La Cruz on Sunday against Atlanta. In four games without their star shortstop, Cincinnati has just 11 runs while allowing 27.
On Friday, the Reds yielded nine walks in addition to their three errors. Cincinnati manager Terry Francona received an automatic ejection when he argued after replay failed to overturn a safe call in St. Louis’ two-run first, ruling that first baseman Sal Stewart came off the bag prematurely on what would’ve been the third out of the inning.
“Too many mistakes, too many free passes,” Francona said. “We made errors. We didn’t throw strikes, and we paid a big price for it.”
Friday’s loss dropped Cincinnati to 2-11 against its National League Central rivals this season. In addition to the De La Cruz injury, the Reds are coping without relievers Emilio Pagan and Graham Ashcraft and backup catcher Jose Trevino.
“We’re at a point where we need some stability so much, with everybody going down, that’s been a little bit more difficult,” Francona said.
Saturday’s game will feature a pair of left-handers in an intriguing pitching matchup.
Nick Lodolo (2-1, 5.20 ERA) will take the mound for Cincinnati, looking to settle down a season marked by an inflated ERA across his initial five starts. Lodolo is 2-1 with a 4.85 ERA in three career starts against St. Louis.
The Cardinals will counter with Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.35), who will make his 13th start of the season. Liberatore has shown flashes of dominance this year, racking up 57 strikeouts in 62 innings.
Liberatore will make his first start in June after going 3-2 with a 3.98 ERA in six starts in May. He is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 10 career appearances against Cincinnati, including three starts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Caitlin Clark returns as Fever continue road trip at Sparks
Jun 24, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) celebrates a made shot in the first half against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The sputtering Los Angeles Sparks will try to snap a three-game losing skid on Wednesday when they welcome the visiting Indiana Fever.
Caitlin Clark (back) will be on the floor Wednesday before sitting out in the second part of a back-to-back against the Phoenix Mercury. She has missed the past two games.
Indiana (12-8) is entering the second matchup of a four-game road swing. Indiana began its Western Conference tour on Sunday with the first of book-ending games against Las Vegas. The 84-68 Fever win marked their third victory in the last four outings – one of which includes a 111-87 blowout of Los Angeles on June 27.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 26 points in last month’s rout of the Sparks (8-11) and had 27 in Sunday’s 84-68 defeat of the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. Mitchell’s 21.9 points per game are second-most in the league, just ahead of Clark’s 21.2.
The Fever were without Clark in the previous meeting against Los Angeles, as well as the start of the road trip in Las Vegas due to a back injury sustained in a June 24 loss to Phoenix. The prolific combo guard, whose 8.2 assists per game rank second in the league..
“Obviously, from a health standpoint, just getting back into it, I would assume I’d be on a minutes restriction (Wednesday). Still hopeful of a little bit more than 20 if I’m able to go,” Clark told The Indianapolis Star. “Hopefully, I feel good after the game versus Los Angeles and then will be available in (Las) Vegas (on Sunday).”
Fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston (right leg) will sit out against the Sparks and play against the Mercury, according to Fever coach Stephanie White.
Indiana was relying on Boston to help pick up some of the scoring slack.
After her 18-point, 10-rebound double-double in Las Vegas, Boston is averaging 17.1 points and 8.6 boards per contest.
Boston faces a Los Angeles interior in Dearica Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike who have carried the load in the absence of Kelsey Plum. Plum, who is averaging 23.9 points per game, suffered a lower left leg injury in mid-June and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Despite Hamby’s 53 points over the last three games, and Ogwumike’s 52 points in that same span, the Sparks have struggled to find consistent offensive contributions elsewhere. The result are three consecutive losses of 18-plus points after Monday’s 82-64 loss at home to Seattle.
Los Angeles shot a dismal 5-of-29 from 3-point range, and no Sparks’ scorers other than Hamby or Ogwumike notched more than eight points.
“That’s what I’ve said many times: the best thing about this league, also the hardest thing… but the best thing is that you have to turn the page,” Los Angeles coach Lynne Roberts said. “We’re going to play a good Indiana team…We’ve got to turn the page and just keep plowing through.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Caitlin Clark (back) in action vs. Sparks, will sit Thursday
Jun 24, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Phoenix Mercury guard Lexi Held (10) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been cleared to play in Wednesday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Sparks after a two-game absence due to back issues.
Clark will play in the front end of a back-to-back and then sit out Thursday’s game at the Phoenix Mercury. Fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston (right leg) will sit out against the Sparks and play against the Mercury, according to coach Stephanie White.
Clark exited a 111-109 home loss against the Mercury on June 24 and hasn’t played since. That is the same contest in which the fist of Phoenix star Alyssa Thomas landed on Clark’s throat after the latter had fallen to the court. Thomas drew a one-game suspension from the league.
Clark is averaging 21.2 points and 8.2 assists in 17 games. She has made 44 3-pointers at a 34.4% clip.
Boston is averaging 17.1 points and 8.6 rebounds in 19 games. Boston has hit 23 treys while making a stellar 45.1%.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Aces aim to beat expansion Fire for second time
Jul 5, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) drives against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter of their game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images The defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces are obviously a different team without four-time MVP A’ja Wilson on the floor.
Wilson has missed the Aces’ past three games with an ankle injury, which includes a 93-85 defeat to the New York Liberty on June 30 in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game and an 84-65 defeat Sunday to visiting Indiana.
The seven-time All-Star center could be closer to a return as she is listed as questionable for Las Vegas’ road contest against the expansion Portland Fire on Thursday night.
“We are trying to find ways to win basketball games,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of Wilson’s injury. “We have had to play small a little bit more, and we have had to scrap, but it is not just her points. It is her gravity and her pull.
“Her presence gets other people open, and now we are in a situation where people are really cheating off some players. We have to do a better job of finding space and moving the ball.”
The Aces (15-6), who entered Wednesday’s play tied with Minnesota atop the league standings, made news off the court this week when they waived polarizing backup guard Chennedy Carter, who was averaging 12.2 points per game.
The Aces didn’t give a reason for the move with Carter, who appeared in 13 of 21 games. Carter was playing for her fourth team in five WNBA seasons.
The expansion Fire (9-12) snapped a three-game skid with a 77-72 victory Saturday at Seattle as Carla Leite scored 20 points and had four assists.
At one point, the Fire had five of their six rookies on the floor together.
“My philosophy as a coach is trusting younger players. So I think it’s something I actively kind of want to do,” Fire coach Alex Sarama said.
Guard Karlie Samuelson (left middle finger) is questionable for Portland after missing the past three games.
This will be the second meeting between the Aces and Fire this season. Host Las Vegas won 105-89 at June 11 as Wilson scored 32 points and Leite led Portland with 18.
–Field Level Media
Caitlin Clark returns as Fever continue road trip at Sparks
Caitlin Clark (back) in action vs. Sparks, will sit Thursday
