Sports
Sun ready for Fever, Caitlin Clark in Game 1
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) rushes up the court Friday, July 12, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 95-86. Behind rookie sensation Caitlin Clark’s record-setting campaign, the Indiana Fever embark on their first WNBA playoffs appearance since 2016 when they begin a best-of-three series on Sunday against the host Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Indiana earned the No. 6 seed, going 9-5 after returning from the Olympic break. Clark, the No. 1 overall draft pick, tied Kelsey Mitchell with a team-best 19.2 points per game, while Clark’s 337 assists were a WNBA record.
The assist total gave Clark an average of 8.4 per game to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
“I feels night and day from where I started (the season),” Clark said. “I’m proud of myself in that regard. I think I’ve learned a lot. … Once we kind of found our groove, I think my teammates have allowed me to be myself and that’s what has kind of brought us some success.”
Indiana had a scare in its regular-season finale Thursday vs. Washington, a 92-91 loss, when two-time All-Star and veteran Mitchell went down in the first quarter after a collision. Mitchell will be available for the playoffs and at full-strength, Fever coach Christie Sides said.
Part of Indiana’s late-season surge included an 84-80 victory over Connecticut on Aug. 28, their lone success in four games between the teams.
Five Fever players scored in double figures during the victory over the Sun, including Mitchell with a game-high 23, while Clark had 19 and Lexie Hull added 17. The trio shot a combined 11-of-25 (44.0 percent) from 3-point range.
Consistent 3-point shooting has been a key for Indiana throughout its run to the playoffs. The Fever finished the regular season hitting 35.6 percent from beyond the arc, third best in the league.
“I still feel there is a lot for us that we can achieve,” Clark said. “I have seen expectations that people have for us and that can get us further as an organization.”
Connecticut, the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, held opponents to 31.3 percent on 3-point attempts, second lowest in the WNBA, and boasted the league’s stingiest defensive yield at 73.6 points allowed per game.
The Sun also matched the Seattle Storm with a WNBA-high 16.3 turnovers forced per game, thanks in part to all four Connecticut starters averaging at least 1.2 steals per game.
The Sun spread their offensive production as well, led by Brionna Jones’ 18.2 points per game. Connecticut’s seven leading scorers average at least 10.5 per game for the season.
Marina Mabrey, a midseason addition in a trade from Chicago, is scoring 19.6 points per game in her time with the Sun, while primarily bringing a spark off the bench. She has averaged 14.9 points in her 16 games (three starts) for Connecticut.
“Indiana is playing really confident basketball,” Sun head coach Stephanie White said, according to the Hartford Courant. “… You’ve got to be able to give them different looks because they’re smart players. And when they get beat, they’re going to pick you apart. We’ve got to be consistent for 40 minutes.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Sparks trade 5-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to Mercury
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives against Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (8) during a game at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on June 13, 2026. The Los Angeles Sparks made a move ahead of Sunday afternoon’s trade deadline, dealing five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for guard Monique Akoa Makani, a first-round draft pick in 2027 and a second-rounder in 2028, ESPN reported late Saturday night.
Plum, who turns 32 on Aug. 24, has not played since June 21 because of a left leg injury. She is averaging career highs of 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game, but she has played in only 12 contests because of injuries in her ninth season.
She missed three games in late May/early June because of an ankle issue, then played in six games before the lower leg injury.
For her career, Plum averages 15.5 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 30.0 minutes in 290 regular-season games (248 starts) in eight-plus seasons. She missed the entire 2020 season because of an Achilles injury, then won the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award the next season.
She also averages 17.4 points, 4.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 33.7 minutes in 35 playoff games (28 starts) while with the Aces. She was part of league championships with Las Vegas in 2022 and 2023.
Plum has been selected for the All-Star Game for five consecutive seasons but was unable to play this year.
The San Antonio Stars (now Las Vegas Aces) selected Plum with the first overall pick of the 2017 WNBA Draft out of the University of Washington.
Makani, 25, is averaging 9.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 23.8 minutes in 18 games (15 starts) in her second season with the Mercury. In her two years in the league, Makani averages 8.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 22.2 minutes in 59 games (55 starts).
The Sparks are 10-17, 5.5 games behind the eighth-place New York Liberty for the last playoff berth. The Mercury are 11-19.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals lose DT PJ Mustipher (foot) for season
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman PJ Mustipher (79) against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Arizona Cardinals placed defensive tackle PJ Mustipher on injured reserve on Saturday because of a foot injury, meaning he will miss the entire 2026 season.
The Cardinals also placed defensive back Jaden Davis on IR due to an undisclosed injury sustained during the team’s second padded practice of training camp.
In corresponding moves, Arizona signed defensive lineman Brodric Martin, 27, and safety Quinton Newsome, 25.
Mustipher, 26, made 32 tackles in 15 games as a reserve last season with the Cardinals. The nose tackle played on 30% of the defensive snaps (300) and 20% on special teams (78).
He was on the Arizona practice squad for the 2024 campaign. He also played in four games for the New Orleans Saints in 2023, making four tackles.
Davis, 25, was a seventh-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phillies, Orioles on unsteady footing as trade deadline approaches
Jul 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies need more good results on the field when they take on the host Baltimore Orioles in the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday afternoon.
But with the trade deadline looming Monday, there are distractions for both teams.
The Phillies evened the series with Saturday night’s 5-0 victory, holding Baltimore to three hits.
Philadelphia is 2-8 in its last 10 games. It’s too soon to tell what the latest victory might mean for the Phillies, who suddenly seem to be dealing with more attention about retaining their wild-card status than chasing the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
“This too shall pass,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said of recent struggles.
The Orioles continue to waver when it comes to looking like a playoff contender. They’re 5-6 in their last 11 games and they’ve been shutout victims in two of their last four games.
“Still a lot of season left,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “We’re still trying to win every game.”
Baltimore was without an extra-base hit against four Philadelphia pitchers Saturday night.
The Orioles’ trade of starting pitcher Dean Kremer to the Minnesota Twins late Friday night shouldn’t impact the pitching for this weekend because the right-hander wasn’t slated to work against the Phillies.
Yet it might take time for the Orioles to absorb Kremer’s departure as team members reflected on the move Saturday.
“Dean’s been a leader here, a staple here for seven years he’s been here,” Albernaz said. “He has made a great impact on our clubhouse with all those players, and also the coaching staff, including myself, in the short time (I’ve) been around him.”
Right-hander Zack Wheeler (10-2, 2.53 ERA) will head to the mound for the Phillies on Sunday. He already has matched last year’s win total, but he’s without a victory in his past two starts. He lasted only three innings and gave up five runs in Monday’s no-decision at Miami.
“You have a bad day every once in a while, I’m sure,” Wheeler said.
Six of Wheeler’s victories have come in road games. In five all-time matchups against Baltimore, he’s 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA covering 28 innings.
Expect the Orioles, who are 2-3 at home since the All-Star break, to have lineup adjustments compared to Saturday, when the batting order was set to face a left-handed starter. That’s why designated hitter Coby Mayo was put in the leadoff position.
Baltimore used newly acquired catcher Jake Rogers in the starting lineup for the first time Saturday. He went 0-for-3 and struck out twice.
Right-hander Kyle Bradish (7-9, 3.74) will have the starting assignment on the mound for the Orioles, going for a victory in a third consecutive decision. He had two strong starts prior to a no-decision Monday when he gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings at Detroit.
This will mark only the fourth home start in a 10-game stretch for Bradish. He already has issued a career-high 52 walks this season. He’s 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two career starts vs. Philadelphia.
–Field Level Media
Report: Sparks trade 5-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to Mercury
Cardinals lose DT PJ Mustipher (foot) for season
