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The Indiana Fever got off to a very competitive start to the season with Caitlin Clark on the court, beginning the year 2–2—with both of their losses coming by a combined total of just three points, including a nail-biter against the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty.
However, since Clark was ruled out for a minimum of two weeks with a left quadriceps strain, the Fever have gone 0–2, with los ses to the 3–4 Washington Mystics and the 1–6 Connecticut Sun.
Ahead of their Tuesday night matchup—once again against the Mystics—some exciting news emerged despite Clark still being sidelined.
According to Clark Report, the Fever’s game on Friday against the Sun drew 851,000 viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game on ION this season—even without Clark on the court.
The Fever’s matchup on Friday vs the Sun drew 851,000 viewers, becoming the most viewed WNBA on game ION this season despite Caitlin Clark’s absence
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) June 3, 2025
The Caitlin Clark effect continues even when she’s not on the court pic.twitter.com/0YUh8CPsgK
The news caught attention from WNBA fans:
"CC or not, I'm too invested to not watch the Fever. But you also can't pay me enough to watch any other team . I'm in Fever only mode," a fan said.
Someone else added , "Pretty Good Rating [without] Caitlin Clark on ION."
Another fan posted, "Win or lose, that's our team."
"I’m too invested at this point. Fever my squad we just need our CC back and we move," one more fan commented.
The most-viewed WNBA game across any platform this season remains the season opener between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, which featured rookie sensations Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
Broadcast on ABC, the matchup drew approximately 2.7 million viewers and peaked at 3.1 million, with a sold-out crowd packed into Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Clark’s impact on the WNBA—alongside Reese and other emerging stars—has been nothing short of transformative for women’s basketball and women’s sports overall.
More must-reads:
- Mercury's Alyssa Thomas ties her own WNBA single-season record
- World Series-winning pitcher won't commit to playing beyond 2025
- The '2024-25 NFL rushing touchdown leaders' quiz
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Angry Mike Vrabel vows to find 'rats' within Patriots organization who leaked major news
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wasn't mad about how the backups performed in the team's 42-10 preseason loss to the New York Giants. He was angry that someone had leaked the news that wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk would need season-ending shoulder surgery. When asked if he had anything to add to the reports that Polk would miss the season, Vrabel didn't give the media anything aside from his unvarnished feelings. "I'd like to find out where some of these [reports] come from. Some of these rats around here. So, we'll figure that out," he added in a news conference on Thursday. Coaches and reporters are hardly the best of friends on a good day. Often, a coach will deflect if they don't want to add fuel to a report the team hasn't made official, but usually they won't deflect and promise to get the "rats" providing this information. NFL insider Jordan Schultz broke the news ahead of the Patriots' preseason finale against the Giants. According to Schultz, the decision for Polk to undergo surgery was made to ensure the 2024 second-round pick would be healthy for the 2026 season. Polk dealt with health issues throughout the offseason. It was during the second quarter of New England's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders that he took a nasty hit on a one-yard run, leading to the shoulder injury that will sideline him for 2025. Last season, Polk had a tough rookie debut, catching just 12 receptions for 87 yards and recording two touchdowns. The hope for 2025 was that he could redeem himself and become a reliable enough target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Expectations for Maye are much higher now with the return of Tom Brady's old offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels. Without Polk to run routes, though, the already-thin wide receiver room is nearly devoid of talent behind veteran receiver Stefon Diggs. The Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year, $69 million contract in the offseason. However, Diggs has brought some unwanted attention to the team through his offseason antics and is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his time with the Houston Texans. While Patriot fans should feel some hope in the direction of the team under Vrabel — a former defensive star for New England during the dynasty years — this roster is still in the midst of a rebuild. And with such a troubled roster, losses may pile up, and the team's relationship with the media could worsen if another season feels like a waste. So, Vrabel being upset by Polk's injury is fair, but what doesn't feel fair is to single out Patriots staff and players who are potentially talking to reporters as hostile to the organization. It's perhaps not surprising that Vrabel is willing to voice his frustrations, as he's shown no fear when breaking up practice scrums. Still, it's the job of any journalist to build relationships with staff and team members to gain reliable sources who can help them accurately report the news. While the "rats" moniker for those in the building talking to NFL insiders and the New England sports media will be swallowed up by all the other headlines as Week 1 nears, it's notable that Vrabel's time as head coach in New England is already off to a contentious start.
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Dallas Stars lock up one of the league's best players with massive extension today in hockey history
The Dallas Stars have had many defining moments in their history, but few symbolize loyalty and leadership like Mike Modano's contract extension in the early 2000s. On August 21, 2003, the Stars officially locked up their franchise icon with an extension that cemented his role as the face of hockey in Texas. The move wasn't just about keeping a superstar forward, it was about keeping the identity of the Stars firmly tied to one of the most respected players in the game. Mike Modano's extension showed his loyalty and lasting impact on the Dallas Stars At the time, speculation lingered about whether Modano might test the waters elsewhere. Instead, he reaffirmed his commitment to Dallas, the franchise that had drafted him first overall back in 1988 when they were still the Minnesota North Stars. "This team, this city, it means everything to me. Staying here was the only choice that felt right," Modano said during the press conference announcing the deal. Those words resonated with fans, as his decision represented stability during an era when star players often left in search of bigger contracts. The extension also ensured that Modano would continue climbing the NHL record books in a Stars uniform. He went on to become the all-time American-born leader in goals and points, a record that defined his Hall of Fame career. Looking back, the August 21 signing stands as a cornerstone moment in Dallas Stars history. I think it was one of the smartest moves the franchise ever made, keeping Modano in green not only secured wins on the ice but also preserved a legacy that still inspires players today.
Bengals' Joe Burrow puts NFL on notice amid Trey Hendrickson contract standoff
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow finished fourth in Most Valuable Player Award voting for the 2024 season after his club missed the playoffs. During a recent chat with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Burrow put the league on notice regarding how he's feeling heading into the upcoming campaign. "I’m not sure I would say anyone is playing the position better than I am right now," Burrow remarked. "I'm pretty confident in my ability to go out and do that every Sunday. Now, it’s just showing that consistency, showing it year in and year out. I think what separates the legends is being able to do it year in, year out for five, 10 years at a time. So, trying to be able to find that consistency in my discipline and my process, doing the easy stuff in my sleep and then making the hard stuff look easy, then making a couple of great plays here and there, that’s what I am trying to do every week." Pro Football Reference stats show that Burrow ended the 2024 regular season leading the league with 460 completions, 652 pass attempts, 4,918 passing yards, 43 passing touchdowns and an average of 289.3 passing yards per game. The Bengals subsequently rewarded their QB1 during the offseason by signing wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, wideout Tee Higgins and tight end Mike Gesicki to new deals. "We want to be the best offense in the NFL," Burrow told Breer. That said, Bengals pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson remains in the middle of what's become an ugly contract standoff. Hendrickson is in the final year of his existing deal, and the two sides seemingly aren't close to agreeing on the amount of guaranteed money that would be attached to an extension. Burrow has repeatedly made it known throughout the summer that he thinks the Bengals should "reward" Hendrickson with a pay raise. "...I think the more that I can explain the thoughts of the locker room, explain why doing one thing one way might affect feelings in the locker room, as opposed to doing something a different way, it’s my job as a quarterback to be able to relay information like that," Burrow said about campaigning for Hendrickson to get paid before Cincinnati opens the 2025 season at the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 7. "And whatever their decisions are with that information, that’s for them to decide." On Friday, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Bengals at -140 odds to make the playoffs this season. Having a happy Hendrickson in the lineup would only improve Cincinnati's chances of enjoying what could become a special campaign.
Orioles' latest extension could spell doom for All-Star catcher
It's not a good day to be Adley Rutschman. The All-Star catcher could face an uncertain future with the Baltimore Orioles after ESPN's Jeff Passan reported an extension agreement between the club and top prospect Samuel Basallo on Friday morning. Basallo has just four games of MLB experience to his name, but the Orioles are investing in his future development at the big league level, with his plus hit tool that could make him a middle-of-the-order bat in Baltimore for years to come. On the flip side, this extension comes with potential consequences for Rutschman, who has suddenly gone from franchise player to tradeable asset. Selected first overall in 2019 by the Orioles out of Oregon State University, Rutschman was the first prominent figure of Baltimore's rebuild, debuting in 2022 and catapulting the club to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024. And while both of those runs were short-lived, there didn't seem to be much doubt that he would quickly entrench himself as a franchise cornerstone. However, Rutschman has struggled in 2025. The 27-year-old has spent time on the injured list, but even when on the field, his OPS of .684 and OPS+ of 92 are both below-average and short of his career .758 OPS and 116 OPS+, respectively. That lack of production, combined with injuries, has clearly sown doubt into the Orioles' belief that he will remain a key cog of Baltimore's future. And while it's possible that Basallo could eventually move to first base down the line, that doesn't change the perception that Rutschman might feel like an odd man out at Camden Yards. For years, many Orioles fans and pundits had been calling for Rutschman to be extended, along with shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who continues to shine amid larger team struggles. That doesn't seem to be the direction executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias is taking, though, as he appears content to let Rutschman and Henderson walk when they reach free agency. And in the case of Rutschman, specifically, he could now become an intriguing trade chip this winter if the Orioles are so inclined.
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