• Slug: Sports-NBA Hispanic Culture, 2,200 words.
•  Photo available.

By Connor Moreno and Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As Spanish music and vibrant accompanying lights filled Footprint Center throughout a 103-97 Phoenix Suns victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday, the Suns and their fans celebrated more than just a win.

The game was played on the Suns’ ninth annual Dia de los Muertos night, celebrating a Mexican holiday that shows respect and appreciation for the dead. The Suns Dance Team members wore face paint depicting a calavera – sugar skulls – and performed alongside folklórico dancers at halftime.

Theme nights like these are part of a larger effort by the Suns and the NBA to embrace Hispanic culture – and appeal to the league’s growing Hispanic fan base. Continue reading “Phoenix Suns, NBA amplify Hispanic culture in Dia de los Muertos celebration and Mexico City Game 2024”

• Slug: Sports-CFP First Ranking, 710 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Fletcher Anderson
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – On Tuesday, voting will take place – we aren’t talking about politics.

The first College Football Playoff rankings of 2024 will be released, and with a new 12-team format, discussion will center around seedings and automatic qualifiers.

Since 2014, the CFP has determined the national champion using a four-team playoff, with no automatic qualifiers. Just the four best teams in the eyes of the committee. This year, they expanded to 12 and have a completely different format. Continue reading “Election Tuesday, CFP style: First college football poll of 12-team playoff season makes debut”

• Slug: Sports-Phoenix Rising Playoff Preview, 920 words.
•  2 photos available.

By Cooper Burns
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC seeks a rare feat, one that hasn’t been accomplished since 2018, when Louisville City FC won back-to-back USL titles.

Heading into this year’s playoffs, Rising’s road to gold appears all too similar to last season’s run. In the 2023 playoffs, Rising came in as the sixth seed in the Western Conference and needed road wins over San Diego Loyal SC, Orange County SC and Sacramento Republic FC to earn a shot at the title. After passing each test with victories, Rising went on to capture their first championship in franchise history against Charleston Battery.

Phoenix enters the 2024 USL Playoffs as the eighth seed in the conference and needs a similar run away from home to defend its USL championship, starting Sunday against conference foe New Mexico United.

Continue reading “Reigning USL champions Phoenix Rising FC opens back-to-back title quest in New Mexico”

• Slug: Sports-Tua NFL Concussions, 1,430 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Jalen Weathers
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Tua Tagovailoa’s return to the field Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals wasn’t just a comeback; it was a calculated risk highlighting the realities of professional football. After sustaining three concussions, the Miami Dolphins quarterback played without wearing a guardian cap at Hard Rock Stadium after missing six weeks of action.

With multiple concussions under his belt, the question about the NFL’s safety protocols is still relevant. Is the NFL doing enough to protect the players it showcases every week?

There is no question Tagovailoa can still play, but his return has reignited conversations about whether the NFL is equipped to prevent serious head trauma, particularly for a star quarterback who has brought entire stadiums and homes to silence after showing signs of the fencing position. Continue reading “Tua Tagovailoa’s comeback vs. Arizona Cardinals underscores NFL’s ongoing player safety challenges”

• Slug: Sports-Scottsdale Polo Championship, 720 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – At the center of WestWorld, thumping hooves against the ground couldn’t be heard over the cauldron of nonstop activities. There was blaring live music, lavish fashion and dog shows, unique concession stands and a fleet of motor vehicles – all colliding for a single extravagant festival.

The 13th annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships attracted a record-breaking turnout, with spectators from all corners of Arizona gathering to partake in the day’s lineup and watch the 10 best polo teams across the U.S. compete for the right to hoist the Molina Cup.

Though the sport has been around for centuries, polo moved to a new level in Arizona in 2011, when the championship matches started at WestWorld of Scottsdale with 2,500 people in attendance. Since then, popularity surrounding the event has grown tremendously, with 12,469 attendees present Friday for the first day of competition. Continue reading “Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships celebrates sport and high fashion in record numbers”

• Slug: Sports-Globalization of Sports, 1,800 words.
• Photo available.

By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Killings, kidnappings, violent oppression of political opposition, torture and censorship are just a few human rights abuses that officials in the Rwandan dictatorship are either credibly accused of committing or failing to investigate.

Paul Kagame, the Rwandan dictator who helped lead his country out of its horrid genocidal past, has been in power since 2000 and with no end to his reign in sight – yet the NBA is doing business with him.

As part of a widespread effort to expand his league’s global reach, Adam Silver and his team met with Kagame in Kigali in 2018 and advised him to build a new facility, BK Arena, that would host the first Basketball African League game in 2021. Continue reading “Profit vs. principles: Sports and politics collision creates controversy, opportunity”

• Slug: Sports-Big 12 WBB, 660 words.
• Photo available.

By Dane Palmer
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As the 2024-25 Big 12 women’s basketball season tips off, a new era of college sports begins, marked by transfers, new rivalries and high expectations.

With the conference’s expansion bringing in four new programs – Arizona State, Arizona, Utah and BYU – the level of competition has never been higher. The revamped Big 12 looks to grow in more ways than from just adding schools, with improved ratings, engagement and international experiences all on the checklist for commissioner Brett Yormack.

Yormack has big aspirations for the expanding conference, which now features 18 teams spread across 10 different states. Continue reading “Arizona State women’s basketball joins improved Big 12 Conference with fresh energy, high expectations”

• Slug: Sports-GCU MBB Preview, 1,070 words.
• Photo available.

By Brenden Paul
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As the clock struck 7 p.m. before the ring ceremony began, the student section known as the Havocs started singing “Be Ready” by Sovereign Grace Music in complete unison and without music, engulfing Global Credit Union Arena with their voices.

The Havocs’ impromptu celebration carried Grand Canyon University’s men’s basketball team into its emotional Western Athletic Conference championship ring and banner reveal ceremony Tuesday night, a reminder of the Lopes’ accomplishments from last season and what they have on the line this year.

It’s safe to say GCU fans are more than ready for the start of college basketball season. However, the Lopes have work to do to live up to the hype expected from the Havocs this season.  Continue reading “Rebounds and turnovers: GCU men’s basketball eyes improvements, looks to defend WAC title”

• Slug: Sports-GCU Roller Hockey, 860 words.
• Photo available.

By Brenden Paul
Cronkite News

PEORIA – Kawena Lee was awakened by teammate Zach Hoffman while taking a nap on his couch with the news that Bethel University’s roller hockey team had folded due to financial issues.

“I’m all lethargic and drowsy from my nap still, and (Hoffman) says, ‘Did you hear about the news?’ I said no, and he told me to check my email because Bethel just closed their roller hockey program,” Lee said.

One year removed from making the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) semifinals, members of the Bethel University Wildcats, located in McKenzie, Tennessee, suddenly needed new places to play for the 2024-25 season, and a trio of players found a home in the desert with Grand Canyon University. Along with forwards Lee and Hoffman, defenseman Josh Little also joined the movement to Arizona. Continue reading “Transfer trio: GCU roller hockey championship team boosted by newcomers from Bethel University”

• Slug: Sports-Arizona Cardinals Bears, 700 words.
• Photo available.

By James Morel
Cronkite News

TEMPE – On any given Sunday, the unusual can happen. Last Sunday, in something you’d see in a movie, the Chicago Bears were stunned by a last-second Hail Mary, while further south, the Arizona Cardinals jubilantly celebrated following a game-winning field goal.

The two teams, on contrasting paths, meet Sunday in a clash at State Farm Stadium, though the Cardinals know any ounce of momentum soared out the window when they touched down back in Phoenix.

“We got our work cut out for us, it’s going to be a big-time challenge,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters Wednesday. Continue reading “Arizona Cardinals return home to test momentum vs. heartbroken Chicago Bears”