• Slug: Sports–Daleny Vaughn BMX Olympics, 1,800 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Devon Henderson
Special for Cronkite News

PHOENIX – For an athlete to make it to the Olympics, it takes a village. Trainers push, facility managers open doors at odd hours and coaches endure almost as many sleepless nights as the athlete. 

To be an Olympian requires an ecosystem. 

For Team USA BMX rider and Tucson native Daleny Vaughn, her ecosystem is a bit closer to home.  Continue reading “‘I’m a pretty sore loser’: BMX pro and Tucson native Daleny Vaughn set for Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA All-Star Game. 1225 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – A young boy stepped in line for a meet-and-greet with A’ja Wilson Saturday at the WNBA Live fan experience inside the Phoenix Convention Center wearing the two-time WNBA champion’s Team USA jersey. He waited patiently at the AT&T activation space for his moment to capture a picture with Wilson, and when his turn came, he wrapped his left arm around the 6-foot-4 center and smiled for the camera. However, he didn’t leave automatically. Understanding the magnitude of an opportunity he may never experience again, he screamed to the Las Vegas Aces superstar, “I love you, A’ja.”

The interaction reflected the blossoming adoration many have for the WNBA and women’s basketball as a whole. Merch sales at WNBA Live set an all-time record for All-Star merchandise sales. The WNBA’s viewership is up 183% from last season, according to PBS. WNBA All-Star voting increased 600% from last year. For Saturday’s game, Footprint Center was sold out with 16,407 fans on hand to watch Team WNBA beat Team USA, 117-109.

Continue reading “WNBA stars embrace mentorship roles amid record-breaking All-Star Weekend”

• Slug: Sports–Reese, Clark All-Star. 680 words.
• Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In a star-studded matchup between Team WNBA and Team USA, a pair of rookies consistently got the loudest cheers from a sellout crowd of 16,407 fans at Footprint Center.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese were prepared for their big moment Saturday night in the All-Star spotlight. After facing off against each other for the past few years at the college level, the rookies teamed up in a 117-109 win.

Continue reading “Fan favorites Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese electrify sold-out Footprint Center in WNBA All-Star debuts”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA Live. 622 words.
• Photos available.

By Mateo Arenas
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In a year like no other for the WNBA, the sport’s monumental growth has impacted 2024 All-Star Weekend in a huge way.

WNBA All-Star weekend kicked off Friday at the Phoenix Convention Center with WNBA Live, an interactive fan experience in downtown Phoenix. The event set the ball rolling, ahead of Friday night’s 3-point contest and skills competition at Footprint Center. The two-day event gave fans an opportunity to dive into the WNBA world, in a season that has seen massive upticks in popularity for the league. The weekend’s festivities conclude with Saturday night’s WNBA All-Star game, in a Team USA vs. Team WNBA showdown.

While there have been events outside of the big game in the past – Phoenix is hosting it for the third time – this year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend looks different than previous displays. Josie Dumlao, a diehard Seattle Storm fan who goes by @stormcraziefanframe on Instagram due to the neon green sign frame she brings to home games, observed a stark difference from last year’s WNBA Live in Las Vegas.

Continue reading “WNBA’s surging popularity captivates Valley as All-Star weekend festivities take over downtown Phoenix”

• Slug: Sports–Cheryl Miller homecoming. 873 words.
• Photo available.

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – A legend who made an immense impact on women’s basketball walked inside the Footprint Center building just as she had done thousands of times before, but this time, she entered the doors as head coach of Team WNBA All-Stars.

Cheryl Miller was the first general manager and head coach for the Phoenix Mercury from the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997 until she resigned following the 2000 season. She led the Mercury to its first appearance in the WNBA Finals in the league’s second season.

As a Ring of Honor member, Miller’s name is on a banner hanging in the Footprint rafters forever.

“How cool is Cheryl Miller?” Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi asked reporters Friday. “You’re around a lot of people in this game. A lot of people take, and she always gives. She’s always giving to this game, the younger generation, (and) players that have been in this league for a long time. She always gives her love, her passion, her energy. I just love being around (her).”

Continue reading “Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller set to lead WNBA All-Stars in Phoenix homecoming at 2024 All-Star game”

• Slug: Sports-WNBA All-Star Skills. 884 words.
• Photos available

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – When a 14-year-old Jonquel Jones immigrated from the Bahamas in 2008 and arrived at Riverside Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, school trainer Reggie Bailey first noticed her length. Training processions ensued, the season progressed and Bailey recognized the New York Liberty center’s ability to shoot the 3-pointer.

Jones committed to expanding, and Bailey acknowledged that she had continually “developed” her 3-point shot throughout her time at Riverside Baptist. Playing AAU and high school basketball in America motivated her to inherit new skills and, in turn, build her confidence to evolve on the court. Twelve years after she graduated from Riverside, Jones participated in her third WNBA All-Star 3-point contest Friday at Footprint Center as part of the weekend showcase in downtown Phoenix.

Jones and Washington Mystics veteran Stefanie Dolson were the only two centers that competed in the field of five players. Jones, who is shooting 39.6% from behind the arc this season, finished second in the competition behind Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray. For the 2021 WNBA MVP, being a contestant in the competition served a bigger purpose.

Continue reading “WNBA stars Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones showcase evolving centers in All-Star Skills Challenge”

• Slug: Sports-Taurasi Court Unveil. 1077 words.
• Photos available.

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In downtown Phoenix, WNBA legend Diana Taurasi took center stage in a sleek new facility, surrounded by former and current teammates, marking another accolade in her 20-year career.

The star-studded assembly also included Cheryl Miller, the Mercury’s inaugural head coach and current leader of the Team WNBA All-Star squad, Taurasi’s teammate Brittney Griner and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

The scene Thursday unfolded within the Mercury’s newly unveiled $100 million, 58,000-square-foot practice facility, a state-of-the-art complex that boasts two full-sized courts named in Taurasi’s honor. The Diana Taurasi Courts, featuring a unique logo inspired by the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, stand as a testament to her impact on the game and the franchise.

Continue reading “Phoenix Mercury unveil Diana Taurasi Courts at new cutting-edge $100 million practice facility”

• Slug: Sports–Allan Houston Feature. 900 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Before Allan Houston ended his conversation with Maya Moore at the U.S.A. Olympic Basketball 50th Anniversary celebration in Las Vegas last Wednesday, he called his daughter Rowan. Her overwhelming disbelief upon seeing Moore in the camera frame mirrored her emotions from 14 years ago when the Minnesota Lynx legend and four-time WNBA champion responded to a letter Rowan sent her for a second-grade class assignment.

Whether via mail or FaceTime, communicating with her role model gratified Rowan because she admires what Moore embodies beyond basketball prowess: faith, integrity, sacrifice, leadership and legacy.

Those five words also comprise Houston’s social impact brand, FISLL. The brand aims to disseminate those principles through fashion, sports, technology, mentorship and community engagement. Licensing agreements with the NBA and select colleges, including HBCUs, are thriving, and now the two-time NBA All-Star is stepping into a new arena: the WNBA. Houston believes the obstacles players have endured reflect the brand’s values.

“They truly are leaders in our culture and everything that they’ve been through, they continue to fight,” Houston said. “Think about where we have come in terms of this appreciation for women’s sports and the W. They are putting their life on the line for a few months and not getting paid as much. They go overseas and have to play year-round now.

Continue reading “Allan Houston’s FISLL brand showcases WNBA stories through fashion during All-Star weekend”

• Slug: Sports–Jamea Jackson Feature. 994 words.
• Photo available

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As the dust settles from the Arizona State women’s tennis team 36th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, a new chapter unfolds for the program. Jamea Jackson ushers in a new era following the retirement of coaching legend Sheila McInerney.

The former WTA Tour player-turned-coach is poised to strengthen the Sun Devils’ winning culture, defined by four decades of success with McInerney at the helm. The transition marks only the third changing of the guard for ASU women’s tennis since 1954. As Jackson settles into her new role with big shoes to fill, she brings an appetite to take the Sun Devils to new heights in their Big 12 debut.

“Not often does a place like ASU open up; it’s rare that you even get a sniff at an opportunity like this,” Jackson said while reflecting on her first month as head coach. “And so, everyone that I’ve talked to, be that the girls on the team, be that the people in athletics, be that the student-athlete helpers, everyone’s been so phenomenal, and I’m getting to see firsthand what I already kind of knew way off way across the country.”

Continue reading “Fresh new look: Jamea Jackson takes helm at ASU women’s tennis, aims to smash expectations”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA All-Star Mural. 662 words.
• 5 photos available

By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — When the Phoenix Mercury asked local artist Antoinette Cauley to design a mural for their community project refurbishing local basketball courts, Cauley didn’t hesitate to say yes – even if it meant working in conditions that could be dangerous if she and her team weren’t careful.

Cauley used drone footage to make sketches and outline her design for the mural. She and her team began most days painting at 5:15 a.m. to beat Arizona’s crippling summer heat. Once temperatures reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the crew could no longer continue working due to the paint immediately drying when applied to the concrete.

After three weeks, Cauley and the Mercury unveiled the mural and the four refurbished courts at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex last Wednesday, just in time for the WNBA All-Star weekend, which takes place at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. The events kick off Friday night with the skills challenge and 3-point contest, followed by Saturday’s game featuring a matchup between the WNBA All-Stars and the U.S. Women’s National Team, which will represent the country in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.

Continue reading “Valley artist collaborates with Phoenix Mercury to design mural commemorating 2024 WNBA All-Star Game”

• Slug: Sports–Suns Point Guards. 838 words.
• Photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Jack Reeves
Cronkite News

LAS VEGAS – While the Phoenix Suns have three NBA superstars in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, they lack depth in one position critical to having success in the playoffs: point guard.

Many believed that was an area the Suns would address in this year’s NBA Draft. Instead, Phoenix decided to trade back from No. 22 and acquire an extra pick to address the team’s other priorities. Eventually the Suns selected Ryan Dunn out of Virginia at No. 28, and Phoenix native Oso Ighodaro out of Marquette at No. 56. Phoenix also added Collin Gillespie in June on a two-way contract.

Continue reading “Phoenix Suns bet on NBA Summer League to fill point guard void”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA All-Star Phoenix History. 765 words.
• One photo available.

By Mateo Arenas
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – When the WNBA All-Star Game first graced the Valley stage, the year was 2000, the band Santana had two of the biggest music hits in the nation and the WNBA’s average salary was $50,000. Fourteen years later, when Phoenix again hosted the All-Star game, Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy” graced the top of the charts, and the players’ average salary had jumped to $75,000.

The mid-summer showcase of the league’s best players returns to what is now called the Footprint Center this weekend, beginning with Friday night’s skills challenge and 3-point contest, followed by Saturday’s All-Star game. Only Uncasville, Connecticut has hosted more All-Star games (4) than the Valley, while New York and Las Vegas have also hosted the weekend three times each.

Continue reading “Skills, thrills and history: WNBA All-Star Game returns to Phoenix after a decade”

• Slug: Sports–Ellis to Team USA. 823 words.
• 2 photos.

By Joseph Furtado
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After Arizona State won its first Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League (WWCHL) conference championship, Sun Devils coach Lindsey Ellis jokingly threatened her players, saying, “If you dump water on me in this outfit, you’re all cut from the team.”

This lighthearted moment encapsulates the fun, exciting culture Ellis has created at ASU ever since she founded the women’s hockey team in 2016. She will be looking to do the same with her new team after being selected as head coach for the United States Women’s National University Team.

The decision came last week from the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which selected Ellis to lead the U.S. squad that will compete at the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games in Torino, Italy from January 11-23 at Torino Pala Tazzoli. The Torino Winter Games will be the largest international multi-sport event for athletes, featuring more than 2,500 players from over 50 countries.

Continue reading “Lindsey Ellis, architect of ASU women’s hockey, tapped to coach Team USA at Winter World University Games”