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
Mets' Francisco Lindor exits game due to calf injury
Apr 22, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after his RBI infield single against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor exited New York’s Wednesday game against the visiting Minnesota Twins after the fourth inning due to left calf tightness.
Lindor, who was on first base following a single, did not appear to be running at full speed as he circled the diamond and scored on Francisco Alvarez’s double. The 32-year-old grimaced while rounding third and remained on the ground for a few seconds after sliding in ahead of Victor Caratini’s tag to give the Mets — who have lost 12 straight — a 2-1 lead.
Lindor was injured the same day Juan Soto returned from a 15-game absence caused by a strained right calf. The Mets won their first three games after Soto was injured April 3 before beginning their losing streak.
Lindor has missed just 15 games total since his most recent IL stint, in 2021, when he missed more than five weeks due to a right oblique strain.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Offensive eruption helps Orlando City take down Charlotte FC
Apr 22, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC defender Zakaria Taifi (19) celebrates a goal by midfielder Luis Otavio (5) against Charlotte FC in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Martin Ojeda scored his third and fourth goals of the season early in the second half to help Orlando City to a 4-1 victory over visiting Charlotte FC on Wednesday night.
Luis Otavio added his first career MLS goal early and Ignacio Gomez added his first late for Orlando (2-6-1, 7 points), which had scored only six times before Wednesday’s victory.
The 20-year-old Gomez was making only his second MLS appearance, playing on a short-term loan from Orlando’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve team.
The Lions also continued their recent defensive improvement, allowing only one goal in each of their last three matches after conceding 23 in their first six.
Morrison Agyemang’s header pulled Charlotte (4-3-2, 14 points) level late in the first half in their second of three consecutive away matches.
Charlotte conceded three or more goals for only a second time this season, the first coming in a 3-0 loss at the LA Galaxy in their second match of the campaign.
Ojeda’s multi-goal performance was his first since a brace in last season’s 3-2 win over Nashville on Sept. 20, the final two tallies of a 16-goal campaign.
Wednesday’s tallies came 12 minutes apart, with the first arriving in the 49th minute.
As Orlando worked the ball down the left flank, Ojeda drifted into space in front of Charlotte’s back line, which appeared to lose sight of him.
Eventually, the ball came to Justin Ellis, who drew multiple defenders on the left side of the penalty area, then dropped a pass to Ojeda near the penalty arc.
Ojeda hit it with his left foot, guiding his finish beyond Kristijan Kahlina’s dive and inside the right post.
His second came from a free kick earned when Zakaria Taifi absorbed Harry Tofolo’s foul above the right side of the penalty area.
Charlotte set up a three-man defensive wall. But Ojeda was able to curl a low, left-footed shot around it and into the bottom right corner.
This time, the lunging Kahlina reached it, but without enough power to push it clear of danger.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dramatic goalkeeper goal earns Toronto FC draw with Philadelphia
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran (1) looks on against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images A header from goalkeeper Luka Gavran six minutes into second-half stoppage time gave Toronto FC a dramatic 3-3 draw with the visiting Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
Gavran was downfield with the rest of his teammates during Daniel Salloi’s late free kick, bidding for an equalizer. Salloi’s initial shot was deflected back out to Alonso Coello, whose pass into the box found Gavran’s head for his first career goal.
The draw extended unbeaten streaks for both clubs. Philadelphia is 1-0-2 in its last three matches while Toronto FC are 3-0-4 in their last seven. Toronto is also 4-0-9 in its last 13 home matches dating back to last June.
Josh Sargent and Kobe Franklin scored for Toronto (3-2-4, 13 points) earlier in the second half as it recovered from a 2-0 deficit.
Milan Iloski, Danley Jean Jacques and Nathan Harriel scored for the Union (1-6-2, five points). Harriel was almost the late-game hero for Philadelphia after the defender converted a header off a corner kick in the 89th minute.
Frankie Westfield’s eighth-minute free kick off the goalpost highlighted a dominant opening 25 minutes for Philadelphia. Toronto then controlled the rest of the first half, but Union defenders Westfield, Harriel, and Japhet Sery all made impressive individual plays to disrupt scoring chances.
With the back line helping stifle Toronto FC’s attack, Iloski put Philadelphia ahead four minutes into first-half stoppage time. Jovan Lukic’s through-ball found Iloski moving between two Toronto FC defenders and Iloski buried the shot after entering the box.
It was Iloski’s second goal of the season, then Jean Jacques followed with his second goal in the 52nd minute. On something of a broken play for Toronto, Jean Jacques beat Zane Monlouis to a loose ball in the box and his one-touch strike sailed into the net.
Sargent and Franklin then recorded their second goals of the season, as Toronto FC roared back to quickly level the score.
Four minutes after Jean Jacques’ tally, Sargent took the ball in the box and made a canny move to find space before burying his second goal. Franklin then banked a shot off the post and into Philadelphia’s net for the 64th-minute equalizer.
–Field Level Media
Mets' Francisco Lindor exits game due to calf injury
Offensive eruption helps Orlando City take down Charlotte FC
