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Caitlin Clark and the new-look Indiana Fever made their long-awaited debut in the 2025 WNBA season against the Chicago Sky. While a rivalry between these two teams appears to be brewing, the Fever won their fourth game in the last five matchups against the 2021 champions.
It was a performance to remember for the Fever, who saw one of their offseason additions, DeWanna Bonner, become the third all-time leading scorer in league history. Bonner surpassed Tina Thompson and now has scored 7,489 points during her career.
Additionally, Clark posted the third triple-double of her young career. The former No. 1 overall pick needed 41 games to tie Candace Parker at third on the all-time triple-double list.
The cherry on top came at the end of the game. The Fever dominated the duel from start to finish (22-17, 23-15, 20-13 and 28-13), leaving the Sky helpless at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The 93-58 win over the Sky was the largest season-opening win in the Fever's history. The team flexed the historic blowout right after the game ended.
largest season-opening win in franchise history #FeverWin pic.twitter.com/muS8faTz5w
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 17, 2025
They doubled down with a short video of Clark celebrating the remarkable performance and asking the fans to give it up for her teammates.
a 35-point win to start the season‼️#NowYouKnow pic.twitter.com/yKqEiWUvWX
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 17, 2025
After the first five games of the 2025 season, the Fever posted the largest winning margin among the teams that took the W in their season opener. They scored the third-most points among winners, only behind the Minnesota Lynx (99 points) and the Washington Mystics (94 points).
The next duel between the Fever and the Sky is scheduled for June 7 in Chicago. Meanwhile, Indiana will play its second regular-season game against the Washington Mystics on Tuesday. Chicago will play its home opener two days later against the defending champions, the New York Liberty.
More must-reads:
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'Future of Their Franchise': WNBA Analysts Slam Discussion About Sky Shutting Down Angel Reese
Throughout Angel Reese’s basketball career, she has always been a winner. She won championships in high school and with the LSU Tigers in the NCAA. Unfortunately, that form hasn’t materialised during her first two seasons in the WNBA. Consequently, fans are now beginning to question if Reese should continue to play this season. Typically, teams with high draft picks are in those positions because they were bad. The Chicago Sky don’t necessarily fit that criteria. The year before drafting Reese (2024), they had made the playoffs. Unfortunately, they couldn’t replicate that success in her rookie season. Chicago finished with a 13-27 record, which was ninth in the league. A season later, things haven’t gotten much better. Currently, the Sky hold a 7-19 record, which is the second-worst record in the league. Although they aren’t eliminated from postseason contention, it would take a miracle for them to turn their season around. As a result, fans believe it may be best to simply focus their attention to the 2026 WNBA Draft. The most effective course of action would be to guarantee as high a draft pick as possible. With Reese on the court, that goal is in jeopardy. Experts surrounding the league shut that notion down immediately. “You, as the franchise player of that team, are going to want to do what you can do for your team when you’re healthy,” Ari Chambers said on WNBA Hoop Streams. “I’m not sitting out if I’m Angel.” Reese’s track record displays how high her competitive nature is. It won’t be an easy feat to convince the two-time All-Star to sit out for the rest of the season. The only avenue that features Reese not suiting up for the Sky again this season would be due to injury. Unfortunately, that is the reality Reese lives in. The Sky star has missed the last two games because of a back injury. The organization interestingly doesn’t seem too worried about the injury, but is taking precautionary measures with their franchise star. Another year of poor performances isn’t simply going to cut it for the Sky. Before anyone begins to get any clever ideas, however, Chambers states that Reese is safe in Chicago. “If it’s time for her to go, where is she going? This is the future of their franchise. She’s a double-double machine and has made history as a sophomore in this league,” Chambers proclaimed. It would be unprecedented for the Sky to give up on Reese so early in her career. Her impact isn’t just on the court. She is one of the biggest names and brands in the WNBA. Reese on the court sells tickets, which is a valuable asset the team won’t want to part with easily. Winning doesn’t have to be the sole determinant of a successful season. “One of the beauties of this season has been watching Angel Reese blossom as a player,” LaChina Robinson said. Reese is averaging 14.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game while improving her efficiency from 39% in her rookie season to 44% this year. She continues to show a steady trajectory of improvement, which is a scary sight for the rest of the league. The Sky may not be a good team right now, but they have the tools to build a solid foundation. Between Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and Hailey Van Lith, they could be a force to reckon with in a few years.
One player from each AFC team who deserves Hall of Fame call
Let the (preseason) games begin. With the Detroit Lions-Los Angeles Chargers Pro Football Hall of Fame Game kicking off 2025 action, Yardbarker NFL writers mulled a player — past or present — on each AFC team who merits enshrinement in Canton. AFC East BUFFALO BILLS | LB Von Miller | As the NFL’s active leader in sacks (129.5), Miller — who's now with the Commanders — is a sure bet for the Hall of Fame even though he missed 14 games in three years with Buffalo. In 10 seasons with Denver, Miller earned a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, made eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams and was named MVP of Super Bowl 50, the last defensive player to win the award. MIAMI DOLPHINS | WR Tyreek Hill | His subpar 2024 season aside (81 catches, 959 yards, six TD catches), the 31-year-old receiver boasts a Hall of Fame resume (eight Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro nods in nine years). Hill led NFL receivers with 1,799 yards in 2023 and has six 1,000-yard seasons in his career, two fewer than Cris Carter, who spent the last five games of his Hall of Fame career with Miami. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Kicker Adam Vinatieri | The NFL’s all-time leading scorer (2,673 points) narrowly missed induction as a finalist in 2025, his first year of eligibility, and will be an automatic finalist in 2026. Vinatieri, who retired in 2021, holds records for most field goals made in the regular season (599) and playoffs (56) and helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls before winning another with the Colts in 2007. NEW YORK JETS | QB Aaron Rodgers | The enigmatic passer disappointed as a Jet, but four first-team All-Pro honors, four NFL MVP awards and a Super Bowl MVP with the Green Bay Packers can’t be overlooked. Rodgers’ 62,952 passing yards are the seventh most in league history, and his 4.34 touchdown-to-interception ratio is the best of any quarterback, past or present. — Bruce Ewing AFC West DENVER BRONCOS | WR Rod Smith | Smith played a key role when the Broncos repeated as Super Bowl champions in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The three-time Pro Bowler had 152 receiving yards in a 34-19 Super Bowl XXXIII win over the Atlanta Falcons, tied for the sixth most in a Super Bowl. The undrafted WR starred for Denver from 1995-2006, becoming the club’s career leader in receiving yards (11,389). KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | QB Patrick Mahomes | Star tight end Travis Kelce would be an excellent pick, too, but the Chiefs had won only one Super Bowl before Mahomes became the starter during the 2018 season. The 2017 first-round pick has won three Super Bowls and two MVPs in eight seasons with the Chiefs. Expect Mahomes, who turns 30 on Sept. 17, to keep bolstering his stellar resume. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | QB Philip Rivers | Rivers, who retired as a Charger in July, never reached a Super Bowl during his career, but neither did former Chargers QB Dan Fouts. That didn’t prevent him from making the HOF in 1993. The same should go for eight-time Pro Bowler Rivers, who ranks sixth in career TD passes (421). LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Guard Steve Wisniewski | It’s surprising Wisniewski isn’t in Canton already. Per Pro Football Reference, his HOF monitor score (76.58) is higher than that of HOF guard Mike Munchak (72.7). The former O-lineman is also a member of the HOF’s All-1990s team. — Clark Dalton AFC North BALTIMORE RAVENS | LB Terrell Suggs | Suggs, who played from 2003-19, and former Ravens guard Marshal Yanda were finalists for the 2025 class but missed out. Suggs was one of the more dominant pass-rushers of his era, accumulating 139 career sacks, earning seven Pro Bowl nods, one first-team All-Pro, a Defensive Player of the Year award and an NFL-record 202 tackles for loss. He was a key part of two Super Bowl winners. CINCINNATI BENGALS | QB Ken Anderson | The Bengals did not win a Super Bowl during Anderson’s career (1971-86), but that is pretty much the only thing separating him from other Hall of Fame quarterbacks, especially from his era in the 1970s. Anderson has an NFL MVP award and led the league in passing twice, completion percentage three times and passer rating four times. CLEVELAND BROWNS | Edge Myles Garrett | Garrett is still active, but it’s not hard to see the path his career is on. He has been the more dominant pass-rusher in the league from pretty much the day he arrived. He may not win a title in Cleveland, but he is going to finish as one of the best Browns players of all time and one of the best defenders of the modern era in the NFL. PITTSBURGH STEELERS | QB Ben Roethlisberger | Roethlisberger, who retired in 2022, does not have many individual accolades, but spending nearly two decades as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and earning two Super Bowl rings will be more than enough to get him in. It is just a matter of how long he might have to wait for induction. — Adam Gretz AFC South HOUSTON TEXANS | DE J.J. Watt | Widely considered to be a first-ballot lock, Watt — who retired following the 2022 season — will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028. His career could have been even better if not for several seasons being shortened by injury, but Watt is one of only three players to win three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. Few players were capable of changing the game the way a healthy Watt could. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Kicker Adam Vinatieri | The three-time Pro Bowl selection made 29 game-winning kicks in his career, including two that won Super Bowls for the Patriots. Vinatieri has four Super Bowl rings and could be considered the most clutch kicker of all time. There are four kickers in the Hall of Fame, and it is almost impossible to argue against Vinatieri becoming the fifth. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | RB Fred Taylor | The wait continued in 2025 for Taylor, a Hall of Fame finalist for the second straight year, but he did not get the nod. Taylor, who retired in 2011, ranks 17th in NFL history with 11,695 rushing yards and holds numerous Jaguars records. The only running back ahead of him on the all-time rushing list who is not in the Hall of Fame is Frank Gore, and he is likely to get into Canton eventually. TENNESSEE TITANS | RB Derrick Henry | Titans legends Eddie George and Steve McNair advanced in the Hall of Fame voting process for 2025, but there is a good chance neither will get into Canton. Henry, meanwhile, is already 19th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 11,423 yards and coming off a season in which he ran for 1,921 yards. Henry, who spent the majority of his career in Tennessee, should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. — Steve DelVecchio
Report reveals if Commanders intend to trade WR Terry McLaurin
In the absence of progress at the negotiating table, Terry McLaurin went public with a trade request on Thursday. The chances of the Commanders dealing him away have long been viewed as low, and that remains the case at this point. A number of teams inquired with Washington about McLaurin prior to the news of his trade request. As Nicki Jhabvala and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report, though, the Commanders informed suitors they have no plans of moving on from the two-time Pro Bowler. The sides remain at an impasse regarding extension talks, so interest on the trade front will no doubt continue until and unless an agreement is reached. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes a number of issues (including overall value and guarantees) are yet to be resolved in McLaurin’s case. That differs from, for instance, the case of Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals. The AAV of a new Cincinnati agreement appears to have been hammered out, but the sides are at an impasse with respect to guaranteeing more than the first year of any new pact. It remains to be seen general manager Adam Peters and the Commanders will be willing to reach or surpass $30M per year on a long-term contract. While remarking on the situation, one general manager told Russini they liken this case to that of Haason Reddick from last year. Reddick engaged in lengthy holdout with the Jets while seeking an extension following his trade from the Eagles. In the end, a short-term compromise was made but Reddick’s debut was delayed until Week 8 and he departed in free agency after an underwhelming campaign. Any similar absence through the regular season — something which, to be clear, McLaurin has not yet threatened — would of course be highly detrimental to a Commanders team aiming to duplicate last year’s run to the NFC title game. During a Friday appearance on the "Rich Eisen Show" (video link), NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said a trade cannot completely be ruled out at this point. The Patriots are known to be a potential suitor in the event Peters’ approach changes and consideration is given to a swap. Such a move would leave Washington with trade acquisition (and pending 2026 free agent) Deebo Samuel atop the WR depth chart. However, the Commanders have a star quarterback on a rookie contract, opening up a clear competitive window for them to build around Jayden Daniels before he commands a market-level salary. That would seem to include investing in a perennial thousand-yard threat like McLaurin — who already has an impressive rapport with his young QB. Coming to an agreement with the soon-to-be 30-year-old feels like an inevitability, whether it be before Week 1 or partway into the regular season.
How to watch the Detroit Tigers vs. the Philadelphia Phillies: First pitch, TV & streaming details for tonight
Whether you are tuning in on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, we've got you covered on all the latest when it comes to watching the Detroit Tigers taking on the Phillies. The Tigers are currently on a 4-0 run, contrary to their earlier 0-6 play, just before their streak. Both teams are in the running for the postseason, but the Phillies are trailing in their division. Tune in to see what happens in their matchup. How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 1 tonight Matchup: Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Date: Friday, August 1, 2025 Time: 6:45 PM ET TV Channels: NBC Sports Philadelphia and FanDuel Sports Detroit Live Stream Platform: DIRECTV (Regional restrictions may apply) Location: Philadelphia, PA Stadium: Citizens Bank Park Predictions, odds, and spread for Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies — Game 1 How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 2 tomorrow Matchup: Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025 Time: 6:05 PM ET TV Channels: NBC Sports Philadelphia and FanDuel Sports Detroit Live Stream Platform: DIRECTV (Regional restrictions may apply) Location: Philadelphia, PA Stadium: Citizens Bank Park How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 3 Matchup: Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Date: Sunday, August 3, 2025 Time: 7:10 PM ET TV Channels: ESPN and ESPN2 Live Stream Platform: Hulu + Live TV (Subscription required; regional restrictions may apply) Location: Philadelphia, PA Stadium: Citizens Bank Park Key players you need to watch on the Detroit Tigers Riley Greene – Greene led the Tigers in home runs with 26 while hitting .277 with a .850 OPS in 2025, making him a key offensive force for Detroit. Spencer Torkelson – Torkelson was second on the team in home runs with 23 and drove in 63 runs, providing significant power in the lineup during the 2025 season. Zach McKinstry – Serving primarily as the Tigers' third baseman, McKinstry hit .268 with 9 home runs and offered valuable versatility and strong all-around play in 2025. Key players you need to watch on the Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber – Schwarber leads the Phillies with 37 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a .957 OPS through the 2025 regular season, making him the team's most powerful hitter. Bryce Harper – Harper has contributed 15 home runs, 45 RBIs, and an .867 OPS, providing strong run production and on-base skills at first base. Trea Turner – As the Phillies' shortstop, Turner leads the team with a .289 batting average, collects 127 hits and 44 RBIs, and delivers consistent offense and speed. Key stats for Detroit Tigers Key stats for Philadelphia Phillies Who's winning the Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies series? With both teams looking to boost themselves just before playoffs, it's going to be a tight race to see which of these two teams can win the series. The Phillies are favored, and for good reason. They have just been more consistent down the stretch.
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