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The Atlanta Dream are the latest WNBA team to accommodate attendance demands for visits by the Indiana Fever and rookie sensation Caitlin Clark.
The Dream announced Thursday that home dates against the Fever on June 21 and Aug. 26 will be played at State Farm Arena, home of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
State Farm Arena holds more than 17,000 fans for basketball, compared to 3,500 for the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga.
The record attendance for a Dream game is 11,609, set at their inaugural contest at Phillips Arena in 2008 against the Detroit Shock.
The Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics previously announced plans to host Clark and the Fever in larger venues.
Clark was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft after breaking the all-time Division I scoring record -- for men and women -- at the University of Iowa.
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'That Team's Just Drama': Sophie Cunningham Isn't Backing Down Amid Fever-Mercury 'Beef'
Sophie Cunningham’s return to Arizona was eventful, to say the least. The 28-year-old came back to PHX Arena on Thursday, August 7, to battle her former team, the Phoenix Mercury, for the first time since her offseason trade to the Indiana Fever. Cunningham got a warm welcome from the home crowd as the Mercury showed a tribute video for her before tip-off. There’s no denying, however, that there was some animosity between her and some of her former teammates once the game started. Sophie Cunningham's Comments on DeWanna Bonner At one point in the game, Cunningham got into it with Mercury guard-forward DeWanna Bonner, who had a controversial exit from the Fever earlier in the season before signing with Phoenix as a free agent. According to Cunningham, there was, indeed, some bad blood there. "There's some, maybe a little bit of beef, because of our last podcast with how I mentioned some people should handle situations," Cunningham said on Wednesday’s episode of the “Show Me Something” podcast, which she co-hosts with reality TV star West Wilson. Cunningham believes Bonner and the Mercury did not like what she had to say about the latter’s Fever departure. She was referencing her previous comments from the August 5 episode of her podcast when she made her feelings known about Bonner’s exit. “I like DB,” she said previously. “DB was one of my vets when I was in Phoenix, and then we gathered here in Indiana. It was kind of a surprise she was signed to Indiana anyway. We’ll take her in a heartbeat. She’s a Hall-of-Famer, she’s a hell of a basketball player, can score from anywhere on the court. “But she got to Indiana and she just really wasn’t happy,” Cunningham added. “I want people to be happy, so that's why I’m kind of neutral on this one, which a lot of people are surprised about. She's towards the end of her career, so she deserves her flowers, she deserves to be happy." In the most recent episode of her show, Cunningham claimed that the animosity was brought about by her previous comments “a thousand percent.” Cunningham Explains Fever-Mercury 'Beef' Cunningham then shed some light on the supposed beef between the Fever and the Mercury. The 28-year-old also claimed that her earlier statement was taken out of context. "Our teams don't really like each other anyway," Cunningham said. "Just because of, I don't know, her leaving, some of those players used to be under our coaching staff, and so there's just like a lot there. “But I could have been way meaner. ... She didn't listen to the whole clip. She just saw the thing about she could have handled it more professional, which honestly, everyone that's talked to me besides their team was like, 'Yeah, she could have.' And so it's like, 'Duh.' "That team's just drama to me. I don't know. But I went home and started hitting some threes. You know I was talking all (expletive). Oh god, it felt so good. I know we lost by 30, but I still got mine off." As Cunningham admitted, the Fever got blown out by the Mercury in their intense matchup, 95-60, but she was able to go off and prove something in her return to Phoenix by dropping a team-high 18 points on five three-pointers. These two teams battle it out again on September 2 at PHX Arena, and there should be no shortage of action in that matchup.
Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice
Defense ruled the day during the joint practice between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots defense did a masterful job of disrupting Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Wednesday's practice. However, New England's offensive line was unable to allow Drake Maye to have enough time to finish plays. "Even with four new expected starters up front following last year’s debacle, Wednesday suggested that there will likely be some bumps ahead for this offensive line," Graff wrote. "Sure, going up against the Vikings was always going to be a difficult task. Greenard has been wrecking his own team’s practices in training camp, and everyone in New England knows how good Flores’ scheme can be. But the domination was so thorough by the Vikings’ front seven that three straight plays at one point would’ve resulted in a sack." Maye showed flashes of promise when he had time to throw downfield or was able to use his legs to buy time or scramble when pressure came. The concern is that the offensive line won't allow Maye enough time to even scramble, so he can make throws. Graff has noticed the same issues that happened on Wednesday have been a constant at training camp against the Patriots defense. With a new-look offensive line that includes first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle, the Patriots are expected to have some bumps at training camp and in September. New England's offense probably won't look great out of the gate while the offensive line develops in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme. If and when the offensive line improves, Maye will have a chance to show off the arm that made him the No. 3 pick in 2024. For now, the offensive line is a concern much like it was last season.
Six NBA players most likely to be traded
NBA teams won't assemble for training camp until September, but some players may not be on those teams for long. Here are six NBA players likely to get traded in the upcoming season. 1. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz Some NBA teams go all-in. The Utah Jazz have gone all-out, ditching veterans Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and John Collins this summer. Their lone remaining high-priced player is Lauri Markkanen, a 2023 All-Star who has four years and $196M left on his contract. He had a down year in 2024-25, playing just 47 games and dropping to 19 points per game, but the Jazz were also holding Markkanen out so much that they got fined. Markkanen's shooting would fit on nearly any NBA team, and he's still only 28 years old. The Jazz have amassed a lot of future draft picks, but many of them aren't great — pick swaps with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, and a 2027 Los Angeles Lakers first-rounder. Trading their Finnish superstar could get them a huge return, especially if NBA teams are seeing him dominate in EuroBasket exhibition games. 2. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors It seems like a foregone conclusion that Jonathan Kuminga will resign with the Golden State Warriors and equally inevitable that the Warriors will then try to trade their 22-year-old forward. The only holdup is that the restricted free agent and his team can't agree on a new contract. The Warriors need to get something back for their former lottery pick, but they also need to preserve his salary slot. Kuminga and his agent couldn't work out a sign-and-trade this summer, but once free agents who signed this summer can be traded Dec. 15, far more trade options will open up. Kuminga doesn't want to be on the Warriors. The Warriors don't want to guarantee him playing time. The breakup looks like it's coming. 3. Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics In a year where the Boston Celtics have dramatically slashed their payroll in Jayson Tatum's absence, they have a huge incentive to deal Anfernee Simons, the guard acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday trade. Getting rid of Simons gets them under the luxury tax, which is worth tens of millions of dollars, while also keeping the Celtics out of penalties for repeatedly being a tax team. It all depends on whether the Celtics will settle for the financial savings or hold out to get assets back for the impending free agent. But Simons is almost certainly headed somewhere. 4. P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks P.J. Washington was a huge part of the Dallas Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Unfortunately, he plays the same position as the guy the Mavericks just took with the No. 1 pick in the draft, Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks also have Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and the newly-extended Daniel Gafford. Washington and his expiring contract are now expendable. 5. CJ McCollum/Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards took on McCollum and Middleton in trades in the past year, moves that were primarily made to shed the long-term salaries of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma. But even though those players were both born in 1991, they should still be able to contribute to winning teams in 2025-26. The Wizards may value their veteran leadership, but they also have a roster full of recent draft picks who need playing time — and you can never have too many future draft picks.
Ex-Steelers Decision Maker Delivers Harsh Statement About Cam Heyward
The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t overly thrilled to learn that defensive stalwart Cam Heyward was seeking more money before the 2025 season. Just ahead of the 2024 campaign, the Steelers and Heyward went through similar negotiations, with the organization feeling they had done right by their veteran leader. Heyward, however, saw things differently. News broke that the All-Pro defensive lineman was staging a hold-in, participating in team activities but withholding his full commitment while waiting for a new deal. Mark Kaboly has even noted how unusual this situation is, pointing out that it should be a straightforward resolution for both sides to reach an agreement and save face. The fact that it remains unresolved has led some to believe there may be deeper issues at play beyond just contract numbers. This standoff has fueled speculation about what is truly driving Heyward’s demands and whether the relationship between the player and the franchise has become more strained than the public realizes. Former Steelers pro personnel coordinator Doug Whaley, who spent a decade in Pittsburgh working under General Manager Kevin Colbert, weighed in on the matter this week. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday, Whaley called the situation a significant misstep by Heyward and his camp. In his view, the veteran’s handling of the contract dispute could tarnish his standing with the team and complicate what should have been an easily negotiated extension for one of the Steelers’ most respected players. "Think about this," Whaley started in an interview with 93.7 The Fan Wednesday morning. "The 15 years of goodwill Cam Heyward has gained in the public and on the team, it's smashed over this lack of foresight. So to me, it's an abject failure from Cam. So I can understand why he has such vitriol from the fans because you should have did this before." Whaley has worked in professional football for decades and understands the inner workings of the league. His opinion on the matter carries validity, and it’s interesting to hear from someone who once made important decisions inside the Steelers’ building share where he stands. Heyward is the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner. When he received the honor, the Steelers fan base rallied behind him, expressing just how beloved he is in Pittsburgh. He still holds that status, but Whaley says he understands why some fans are upset with his request. "In the end, it's not on the Steelers," Whaley said. "This is on Cam Heyward and his camp." The coming weeks will be telling for both Heyward and the Steelers. Training camp and the preseason are usually a time for optimism, but this contract standoff has added an unexpected layer of tension. While most expect Heyward to be on the field when the games begin to count, the lingering negotiations could leave a lasting impression on how the organization and its fans view one of the franchise’s all-time great defenders. Steelers' Situation With Cam Heyward Causing Slight Tensions From the team’s perspective, it is a delicate balance between rewarding a player who has been a cornerstone of the defense for over a decade and making sound financial decisions for the future. For Heyward, it is about securing what he feels he has earned after years of leadership, production, and sacrifice for the team. Both sides have valid points, yet the longer this situation drags on, the more potential there is for frustration to build. Whaley’s remarks may not change the outcome, but they highlight a perspective from someone who knows the pressures of building a winning roster. Whether this ends with a handshake or more hard feelings, one thing is clear: the resolution of this standoff will play a role in shaping the Steelers’ 2025 season narrative. Do you agree with Whaley and his sentiments about Heyward?
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