Connect with us

Sports

Mercury set for playoff tuneup vs. last-place Sparks

Syndication: Arizona RepublicPhoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) and guard Diana Taurasi talk during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Aces at Footprint Center on Sept. 1, 2024, in Phoenix.

The Phoenix Mercury will be the No. 7 seed heading into the WNBA playoffs, while the Los Angeles Sparks, with the league’s worst record, are trying to end their season on a positive note when the teams play Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The Mercury improved to 18-20 after their 93-88 win on the road against the Chicago Sky on Sunday.

Phoenix is 1 1/2 games behind the Indiana Fever (20-19) for the No. 6 seed with two games remaining, while the Fever have one. Indiana owns the tiebreaker between over Phoenix with a 3-0 sweep of the season series.

Brittney Griner scored 26 points with 10 rebounds and Diana Taurasi added 25 in Phoenix’s win at Chicago. Natasha Cloud had 18 points and 11 assists, while leading scorer Kahleah Copper (21.6 points) missed her second consecutive game with a back injury.

Mercury head coach Natt Tibbetts said defending Griner continues to be a chore for defenses. Griner was 12 of 20 from the floor.

“You hope that she settles (for poor shots) or hope you can get her pushed off the block early, in the possession,” Tibbets said Sunday about the options for defenses guarding Griner. “But she shot a ton of paint shots and that’s what we need.”

Sophie Cunningham, who just signed a contract extension through next season for the Mercury, made two free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining to seal the victory. Cunningham finished with 13 points and five rebounds.

Cunningham is a candidate for the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award averaging 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game to match a career high.

The Sparks (7-31) lost their seventh straight game in a 90-87 defeat on the road against the Seattle Storm on Sunday. Dearica Hamby (17.1 points per game) had 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in the loss to Seattle.

Decimated by injuries, Los Angeles will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year. The most serious injury was first-round pick Cameron Brink’s ACL tear in June. Lexie Brown (Crohn’s disease) and Layshia Clarendon (mental health reasons) also have been out.

“She’s just been so important for us and shouldered so much early,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said of Hamby. “She’s the most improved player in this league.”

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship

LPGA: CPKC Women's Open - First RoundAug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Australia’s Hannah Green held off Auston Kim on Sunday to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore for the second time.

Green, the 2024 champion, balanced three birdies and three bogeys on an eventful back nine to finish with a 3-under 69 and a final score of 14-under at Sentosa Golf Club. The 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner tapped in for bogey at the 18th for her seventh LPGA Tour title.

“When I did win Singapore two years ago, I went on to win two other tournaments that season and pretty much had my best season on tour,” said Green, 29. “So having a win so early in the season gives me a bit more flexibility with the tournaments that I can play. So I’m hoping that this puts me in good stead for the rest of the year.”

Green was at 16-under after birdies at the first, 11th and 13th holes and an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. Her birdie at the par-3 15th helped her survive a bogey-bogey finish.

“I knew that I had enough of a lead to be able to get away with making mistakes coming down the stretch. But I think 15 was the real turning point,” she said.

First- and second-round leader Kim nearly chased down her first title, matching the low round of the day with a 67 to finish one shot behind Green in the 72-hole, no-cut tournament.

Kim carded six birdies and an eagle at No. 8, but a bogey at the par-3 15th proved costly for the 25-year-old American.

“Overall, I think it was a really solid week,” Kim said. “A great way to start the year. I hit a lot of bad shots but I also hit a lot of good ones, and it was really confidence boosting. I hit all these bad shots, and I didn’t feel like I had anything chose to my A game, but I was still able it pull off a result like this and play some really solid golf.”

Australia’s Minjee Lee (72 on Sunday), Angel Yin (71) and France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (68) tied for third place at 11-under with South Korea’s Haeran Ryu (72) another shot back in solo sixth.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand finished with a 73 and tied for 31st at 2-under, one shot behind defending champion Lydia Ko (72) of New Zealand.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading

Sports

Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season

MLB: Spring Training-St. Louis Cardinals at Houston AstrosFeb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.

“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.

“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”

Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.

Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading

Sports

Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race

NASCAR: Truck Series ChampionshipOct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.

“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.

Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading