• Slug: Sports–ASU men’s golfers. 1,421 words.
• Photos available.

By Dylan Ackermann
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – On the course, Arizona State men’s golfers Josele Ballester and Preston Summerhays aren’t exactly best friends.

Like true brothers, they argue, compete, and strive to outdo each other in everything and anything they do.

From the moment they step off the Thunderbirds Golf Complex in Phoenix, they return home, either retreating to their respective rooms or gathering around the television, continuing life as the No. 6 and No. 7 amateur golfers and roommates of nearly four years.

“It’s kind of funny because I love Preston so much but I want to beat him so bad every day,” Ballester said. “We always get those kinds of healthy but funny conflicts on the course. It’s great because it’s healthy competitiveness and that’s what you need.”

Continue reading “Friendship, fierce competition drive ASU men’s golfers Josele Ballester and Preston Summerhays in NCAA title chase”

• Slug: Sports-Phoenix Rising Postseason, 1,000 words.
• Graphic available.
• Photos available.

By Cooper Burns
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – On a cold November night in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in 2023, history was made in the United Soccer League. In a memorable match that still resonates with Valley soccer fans, Phoenix Rising defeated the Charleston Battery for the team’s first USL title.

Throughout the 2023 season, Rising was one of the best teams on paper statistically behind striker Daniel Trejo, Manuel Arteaga and Dariusz Formella – and that was just on the offense. Likewise, the defense was stacked with goalie Rocco Rios Novo, alongside defenders Darnell King and Eddie Munjoma.

While Rising had a talented roster, the team had to navigate through one of the deepest USL leagues in recent memory and finished the regular season in sixth place. Continue reading “Another magic moment? Phoenix Rising FC looks to replicate 2023 championship run”

• Slug: Sports-Football Guardian Cap, 1,620 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – When Erin and Lee Hanson were creating Guardian Sports in 2011, their son Jake Hanson was playing middle school football. Like all parents, the Hansons were concerned about the serious injuries that come with playing the physical sport.

The injury they feared most was concussions, which occur after athletes take hits to the head area. The Hansons’ apprehension mostly was due to the uncertainty and lack of information regarding concussions at the time.

This concern added more motivation behind the innovation of Guardian Sports, which aims to create equipment that will protect athletes and change how they play sports. The Hansons’ prior experience in the material science and technology industry led to the creation of the Guardian Cap. Continue reading “The rise of Guardian Caps: Protecting players, reducing concussions but facing pushback”

• Slug: Sports-Cree Thomas Notre Dame, 900 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Fletcher Anderson
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — When searching for information about Cree Thomas, you’ll find highlights, four stars next to his name, All-State honors and a commitment to Notre Dame. But to Thomas and those around him at Brophy College Preparatory, he’s so much more than what his football profile shows.

“Faith and family,” Thomas, a highly coveted senior cornerback, said when he was asked what is most important to him in life, also mentioning his role in the Black Student Union at Brophy.

“He’s a leader,” said Brophy defensive coordinator Kevin Scott. “And that to me is one of the most important things about him. At the end of the day, people want to follow someone like Cree.” Continue reading “Faith, family and football: Brophy College Prep star Cree Thomas proves he’s more than stats”

• Slug: Sports-Taurasi Mercury Future, 960 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Will longtime guard Diana Taurasi return for another season, or will the postseason mark the end of her heralded career in the Valley?

“I don’t know,” Taurasi, 42, said after the Mercury’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks Tuesday. “The last couple of weeks it’s been a little nerve-wracking for myself. I don’t want to make any emotional (or) rash decisions. I know the end is near. When that is, I don’t know.

“I’ve always been a person that just concentrates on what’s next, and that’s practice (on Wednesday), and (a game versus) Seattle on Thursday. When the season’s over, I’ll reflect, get advice from the people (who) are close to my heart and (have) been with me since day one. So you never know, but who knows.”

Continue reading “Diana Taurasi ponders future, Sophie Cunningham signs extension as Phoenix Mercury brace for WNBA playoffs”

• Slug: Sports–Arizona NFL Betting, 730 words.
• Photo available.

By Brenden Paul
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – When the calendar turns to September, sports fans in the Valley know that means only one thing: Football is back.

College football season is in full swing, the NFL is entering its third full weekend of action, and here in Arizona and across the country, the action won’t be entirely focused on the game taking place on the field.

Sports betting is back and bigger than ever before. The American Gaming Association projects that over $35 billion will be legally wagered (at a registered sportsbook) on the NFL nationwide this season. This is over a 30% increase from the $26.7 billion mark set during the 2023 NFL season. Arizona in particular is preparing for what is sure to be a busy wagering season. Continue reading “Betting boom: Arizona sports wagering poised for another record NFL season”

• Slug: Sports–Phoenix Rising Postseason, 700 words.
• Photo available.

By Sebastian Mondaca Sepulveda
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – With only eight games left in the regular season, Phoenix Rising FC is battling to secure a playoff spot in the USL Championship. Despite Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Sacramento Republic FC, the defending champions remain in seventh place in the Western Conference.

The loss comes after a stretch of promising form, including two consecutive wins and five clean sheets in their last six matches. Interim coach Diego Gómez, who took over after the firing of Danny Stone, has been instrumental in turning Rising’s season around.

The club started the year with high expectations following its inspiring underdog run to the USL Championship in 2023. However, early results fell far short of those expectations. Continue reading “Road to a repeat: Phoenix Rising FC fighting to hold playoff position after Sacramento setback”

• Slug: Sports–Phoenix Mercury Reunion, 900 words.
• Photo available.

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner and guard Diana Taurasi are the only two active Mercury players who were on the 2014 WNBA championship team.

Toward the end of a ceremony Friday to honor that group, Taurasi told the crowd at Footprint Center, “Let’s do it again.”

The Mercury have been trying to do it again ever since that 2014 championship, and this year’s club hopes to use that season as motivation to add the organization’s fourth WNBA trophy this season. Continue reading “‘Let’s do it again’: Phoenix Mercury aim to channel 2014 championship spirit for another title”

• Slug: Sports–Diamondbacks Playoff Hunt Reserves, 1,090 words.
• Photo available.

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo wasn’t surprised to see first baseman Christian Walker put up a two-home-run performance recently against the Texas Rangers.

And he knew that second baseman Ketel Marte’s 3-for-4 day less than 24 hours later, which helped the team to a two-game sweep of Texas, was in the making.

Marte and Walker, two cornerstones of Arizona’s infield, missed significant time with injuries, but Lovullo could afford to be patient. Continue reading “D-backups: Arizona Diamondbacks reserves come up big during hunt for playoffs”

• Slug: Sports–Diamondbacks Postseason Prep. 935 words.
• One photo available.

By Tyler Bednar
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks have experienced a whirlwind of a season. Coming off a miracle postseason run in 2023 that culminated with a trip to the World Series, the team started cold through the first two months of play, accumulating a 25-32 record. Now, with three weeks left before the playoffs, Arizona is back to its winning ways and eyes even more postseason magic.

With 16 games remaining in the regular season, the team is 82-64, first in the National League wild-card race, which the Diamondbacks lead over the San Diego Padres and New York Mets.

“Just staying positive,” starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt said of manager Torey Lovullo’s message to the team as it embraces the season’s final stretch. “Playing the game that we’ve played all year and being consistent, I think that’s kind of what we’ve tried to do all year, and we’re certainly looking forward to doing it, even though it’s kind of later in the season.

Continue reading “Surging Diamondbacks prepare for crucial series against Brewers, hope for healthy lineup”

• Slug: Sports–Black QBs. 1,132 words.
• No photos.

By Ethan Desjardine
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As the NFL wrapped up the opening week of the 2024 season, the prominence of Black quarterbacks continues to rise, solidifying their impact in the league and shaping the future of the most popular professional league in American sports.

The league saw a record number of African-American signal callers starting Week 1, with 15 of the 32 teams choosing Black quarterbacks to lead their offense, breaking the previous record set last season when 14 began the season as starters.

Black quarterbacks are not just starting at the most important position in sports, however – they are dominating.

Continue reading “Shattering stereotypes: The continued rise of Black NFL quarterbacks and the road ahead”

• Slug; Sports–Cardinals Wins. 600 words.
• No photos.
• Graphic available.

By Jalen Witness Weathers
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The NFL regular season is off to a familiar start for the Arizona Cardinals, who sit at 0-1 for the third straight year. After finishing 4-13 in each of the past two seasons, their Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills raises questions about whether this year will be different or more of the same.

With 17 games in an NFL regular season, every matchup matters. The Cardinals face a win total of 6.5, according to FanDuel, and to prove Las Vegas and bettors wrong, Kyler Murray & Co. must reach seven victories – something they haven’t achieved since their 11-6 campaign in 2021.

In the past decade, the Cardinals have never posted fewer than seven wins in three consecutive seasons. With a relatively easier schedule this season – they rank 24th in strength of schedule – Arizona plans to maintain its streak, starting with a much-needed victory Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Continue reading “Betting on a turnaround: Arizona Cardinals aim to surpass 6.5-win total after tough Week 1”

• Slug-Sports-Celeste Taylor Mercury. 1,100 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Connor Moreno
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — Twenty-one days. It’s not a lot of time. It’s three quarters of a month; six percent of a year.

But it was enough time for rookie guard Celeste Taylor to secure a roster spot with the Phoenix Mercury for the rest of the season. All it took was three seven-day contracts, each day more important than the last.

How would Taylor describe those three weeks? Emotional, anxious and impactful.

Taylor was signed to a rest-of-season contract with the Mercury on Sept. 6 after appearing in 10 games with the team and averaging 3.3 points, 1.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game.

Of all the feelings and difficulties of her unique rookie season, Taylor’s initial reaction to the contract was one of fulfillment.

“(I feel) accomplished working through the things I had to work through to get to where I’m at,” Taylor said.

Continue reading “Three contracts, one dream: Celeste Taylor takes peripatetic journey to Phoenix Mercury roster”

• Slug: Sports-Isaiah Thomas Free Agency. 1,050 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Dylan Ackermann
Cronkite News

TACOMA – NBA free agency has been underway for more than two months, and many players are still searching for their next home.

Among them, only one has finished in the top five in MVP voting, top three in points per game in a season, earned All-NBA Second Team honors and is a two-time All-Star: former Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Thomas.

Since signing a one-year deal with the Wizards in the 2019 offseason, Thomas has not secured a contract before the start of the regular season. Over the past four seasons, he has played just 31 games, with the 2022-2023 season being a complete absence.

For someone who, as Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard put it, “pretty much reached the pinnacle of being at the best,” Thomas, at 35 years old, is not ready to ride off into the sunset just yet.

Continue reading “Loving IT: Former Suns guard Isaiah Thomas embraces grind in quest for NBA comeback”

• Slug: Sports-Cam Skattebo ASU, 685 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News

TEMPE – To say Cam Skattebo had a good game is an understatement.

Skattebo was the fulcrum of the Arizona State offense against Mississippi State, rushing for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 33 carries. He also caught three passes for 35 yards.

Skattebo’s 262 rushing yards are the second most in school history and earned the senior running back Associated Press national player of the week honors. He saved his best highlight for last, breaking off a 39-yard run that allowed Arizona State to set up in victory formation and run out the clock for a 30-23 win in front of more than 45,000 fans at Mountain America Stadium. Continue reading “‘He mauls people’: Inside Cam Skattebo’s career game to push Arizona State past Mississippi State”

• Slug: Sports-Big 12 Tiebreaker Championship, 450 words.
• Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Chase Clemens
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – On the eve of Week 2 games for Arizona and Arizona State, the schools learned more about how their new conference will crown its champion.

The Big 12 announced its new tiebreaking policy Friday, which determines who will play in the conference title game if there is a tie.

Both teams are 1-0 and host games Saturday night. The Widcats face Northern Arizona and the Sun Devils will take on Mississippi State.

Continue reading “Big 12 reveals tiebreaker procedures to determine 2024 conference championship teams”

• Slug: Sports-Phoenix Mercury Resurgence, 830 words.
• Photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – One year ago, the Phoenix Mercury were a train wreck on an 11-game, season-ending losing skid that curtailed their consecutive postseason streak since 2012, with Diana Taurasi and other key players sidelined due to injuries.

Fast forward to September, and the organization appears re-energized following an offseason overhaul that saw only three players returning, along with the installation of a new coaching staff. The team’s energy on and off the court has improved thanks to the additions of Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen and Kahleah Copper, bolstered by the playoff and championship experience from the duo of Brittney Griner and Taurasi.

It is also clear there is still work to do. A tough loss Thursday to the Washington Mystics that saw no starters come to the postgame interview room afterward suggests the Mercury are still trying to right the ship. Continue reading “Year of change: From last place to playoff berth, Phoenix Mercury beginning to find their stride”