• Slug: Sports-Diamondbacks Playoff Push, 760 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — During his playing career, which included seven seasons in the Major Leagues, Torey Lovullo saw the worst of a manager following a tough loss. Sometimes, Lovullo would take the frustrations to heart. There were also instances where there was no true message being sent, and he paid no mind.

Above all, those experiences have provided the eighth-year Arizona Diamondbacks manager with the knowledge of the right moment and circumstance to try and send a message to his group. There is a time and place, but if done right, a common sense of urgency is felt. And after suffering an 11-0 blowout to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday amid a tight wild-card race, he didn’t rip into his team, but tough conversations needed to be had.

“I did say some things to the team last night,” Lovullo said before Wednesday’s contest. “Everybody was engaged, everybody was listening to me and everybody was locked into what I was saying … I care about you guys, but we’ve got to figure some s— out.” Continue reading “Diamondbacks embrace pressure as MLB postseason push intensifies entering final regular-season series”

• Slug: Sports-Liberty Hayden Fletcher, 500 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Ethan Desjardine
Cronkite News

PEORIA – For the first time since 2021, after years of stellar play by two-time Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year Navi Bruzon, the Liberty Lions are looking to a new signal caller, senior quarterback Hayden Fletcher, to lead their offense.

Bruzon set the standard for quarterback play at Liberty, leading his team to a state championship in 2023, and finishing as the most decorated player in school history, passing for more than 7,500 yards and accounting for 112 touchdowns. Bruzon is now a freshman quarterback for Arizona State.

Those would be tough shoes for most players, but Fletcher is looking forward to the opportunity. Continue reading “Liberty’s new leader: Hayden Fletcher forges own path as QB for Arizona’s top-ranked team”

• Slug: Sports-Mercury WNBA Discrimination, 828 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Connor Moreno
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The rapid growth of the WNBA should be an opportunity for players to celebrate. But due to an unfortunate turn of events, players including Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner are taking a greater stance against the same social injustices she has fought against during her entire career.

Racism and sexism are all-too-familiar problems for Griner and they are starting to become a serious threat to the players in one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world.

After Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington shared a vulgar email that included a racial slur and explicit threats of sexual assault, Griner and Mercury guard Kahleah Copper felt compelled to speak out against foul behavior directed at WNBA players during Phoenix’s exit interviews Thursday. Continue reading “Phoenix Mercury stars Brittney Griner, Kahleah Copper speak out on WNBA’s handling of discrimination”

• Slug: Sports-Arizona Wildcats Triathlon, 730 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Thomas Forbes
Cronkite News

TUCSON – Five athletes ran across the finish line under the Arizona Wildcats arch by the McKale Center chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” while freshman Mia Wentzy waved an American flag over her head. It was a picture-perfect finish for Team USA competing against Team International in a friendly intrasquad competition at the University of Arizona’s campus on a recent cool Saturday morning.

The Wildcats triathlon team continues to train hard and foster camaraderie in the program’s second year of existence. The athletes hope the chants of “U-S-A” at home in Tucson turn into even louder cheers of celebration at the USA Triathlon National Championship in November.

In the meantime, the Red-Blue intrasquad was held on Sept. 14, in preparation for the team’s trip to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete Sunday with six other schools at the Battle in the Fort race hosted by TCU at Marine Creek Reservoir. The race consists of a 750 meter swim, 12.4 mile bike and a 3.1 mile run. Continue reading “University of Arizona’s triathlon team determined to build success after squad’s rookie season”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Swimming Behm, 780 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Tucker L. Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Things have significantly changed on the pool deck of the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center for the Arizona State swim and dive program. Legendary coach Bob Bowman went to Texas. Leon Marchand and his five Olympic golds went professional.

Luckily for the program, new coach Herbie Behm and a cast of remaining talented swimmers have ASU poised for a successful first season in the Big 12 in the wake of those changes.

“Now that we’ve had a lot of success, it’s different goals and different things we’re trying to reach, but still kind of who we are is very much the same,” Behm said. Continue reading “Uncharted waters: Herbie Behm ready to defend NCAA title, navigate new changes with ASU Swim and Dive”

• Slug: Sports–Rising Preview Stone. 910 words.
• Photo available. Graphics available.

By Cooper Burns
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – After Saturday’s decisive 4-0 win, Phoenix Rising FC turn the page to arguably their biggest game of the season. On Wednesday night, Rising face their rivals, Orange County SC, in a matchup with playoff implications.

The game is packed with storylines as both teams compete for the final two spots in the Western Conference, but none bigger than facing former Phoenix Rising coach Danny Stone, who was named interim coach of Orange County SC on Aug. 30.

Stone, an assistant coach for Phoenix Rising from 2021-23, helped guide the team to its first USL championship title last season. On Jan. 18, he was promoted to Rising coach after Juan Guerra left for Major League Soccer. Continue reading “Phoenix Rising FC set for showdown against former coach Danny Stone, Orange County SC”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Volleyball Big 12. 834 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Arizona State women’s volleyball assistant coach Shaughn McDonald stood near the end line of the court during a team practice, helping players perfect the form on their serves ahead of the Sun Devils’ upcoming game.

At times during the team scrimmage, McDonald paused play to direct the team to be more aggressive or correct players’ positions on the court. McDonald, a former libero for the Saint Francis Red Flash men’s volleyball team, has endless experience on the court and in the coaching zone.

Last year, he was the director of operations and technical coordinator for the Houston Cougars, one of ASU’s new Big 12 opponents. This year, McDonald uses his prior experience to help the Sun Devils adjust to their new conference and competition.

“This conference (Big 12) has retained a lot of really good players, so I do feel fortunate to have a little bit of insight into what those players and those teams do,” McDonald said following a recent team practice.

Continue reading “Shaughn McDonald brings valuable Big 12 insights as assistant to ASU women’s volleyball”

• Slug: Sports–Rising Hispanic Heritage, 700 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Sebastian Mondaca Sepulveda

Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Every time Phoenix Rising FC scored a goal, red smoke filled the sky, adding more color to an evening that was as festive as it was meaningful.

The goals came early and often – it was the first four-goal game this season for Phoenix, which had eight shots in the first 30 minutes – as the organization celebrated its annual Hispanic Heritage Night with a 4-0 victory against San Antonio FC Saturday at Phoenix Rising Stadium. The victory, which helped the defending USL champions keep their postseason hopes alive, also highlighted the importance of bringing in the culture within the community and the love of the sport.

Hispanic Heritage Month honors the diverse heritage of American citizens whose ancestors originate from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The celebration has grown since its origins as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, expanding into a full month under President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

Continue reading “On vibrant Hispanic Heritage Night, Phoenix Rising explodes with 4-0 win to keep playoff hopes alive”

• Slug: Sports–Life After Football, 1,860 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Dylan Ackermann
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Heading into the 1997 NFL Draft, former Arizona State offensive tackle Juan Roque felt superhuman.

Selected in the second round, 35th overall, by the Detroit Lions after leading Arizona State to an 11-1 record and a Rose Bowl appearance, the two-time first-team All-Pac-10 selection and consensus All-American was certain his best days were still ahead of him.

What many Lions fans remember as one of the most unforgettable Thanksgivings ended up being just as memorable for Roque, although for very different reasons.

Continue reading “Life after football: Arizona State alums Juan Roque, Steve Campbell reflect on challenges after competition”

• Slug: Sports–Girls Flag Football Arizona, 500 words.
• Photo available.

By James Morel
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Over the last year, girls flag football has drawn attention around the world after the International Olympic Committee announced it is among the sports that will be added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, school districts across the U.S. are adding the sport, with nearly half a million girls from the ages of 6 to 17 playing flag football, a 69 percent increase since 2019, according to the National Federation of High School Associations.

Few states have embraced the sport more enthusiastically than Arizona. Last year, 57 high schools in the state offered flag football. This season, more than 100 schools are participating at the 6A, 5A and 4A levels, according to the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Continue reading “Ready for primetime: Girls flag football on rise in Arizona with Cardinals backing”

• Slug: Sports–ASU Football Follow, 600 words.
• Photo available.

ByTucker L. Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After a lack of discipline, several errors from special teams and other issues piled up in Arizona State’s loss to Texas Tech in its Big 12 Conference debut, the Sun Devils have a chance to reflect on what went wrong and look ahead and what’s to come.

The Sun Devils entered their first bye week with a 3-1 record after the 30-22 loss in Lubbock, Texas, and have already matched last season’s win total. They had their chances on Saturday but dug a hole too deep to escape.

“You’re two to three plays away from … us being undefeated,” said ASU coach Kenny Dillingham. “That’s every season, for every team, forever.” Continue reading “Welcome to the Big 12: Hostile road environment rattles Arizona State football in loss to Texas Tech”

• Slug: Sports–Arizona Cardinals Reflections, 700 words.
• Photo available.

By Keller Brown
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After an explosive victory over the Los Angeles Rams in their second game of the season, the Arizona Cardinals sputtered offensively in a home loss to the Detroit Lions.

By Monday, the Cardinals were already looking ahead to the Washington Commanders, who visit State Farm Stadium next, and when they did, they might have noticed some faces familiar to Valley football fans.

Jayden Daniels, the Commanders quarterback and the second overall pick from last year’s NFL Draft, returns to the desert after playing his first three collegiate seasons at Arizona State. Daniels transferred to Louisiana State following his 2021 campaign and went on to win the 2023 Heisman Trophy before declaring for the NFL Draft. Continue reading “Cardinals ready to move on after loss to Lions against familiar faces”

• Slug: Sports–Suns Al McCoy Memories, 1,000 words.
• Photo available.

ByDoyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Al McCoy was the iconic voice of the Phoenix Suns for 51 years and is a beloved figure in Arizona sports.

But those who knew him best say that he was just as beloved as a person – someone who cared about the welfare of others.

Julie Fie, the former vice president of basketball communications for the Phoenix Suns, recalls living “parallel lives” in the NBA world with McCoy as two proud Iowans. While most Arizonans got to listen to McCoy over the airwaves, Fie heard his voice up close. Continue reading “It was good to hear your voice: Popularity of Suns broadcaster Al McCoy spanned generations”