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The WNBA announced that the pre-season will be televised for the first time ever. There will be four games that will be televised nationally and the rest will be available via streaming services. The Fever against the Brazilian National Team will be one of the four games nationally televised. In this article, we will take a look at the rest of the games and discuss what could be the main reason for this popularity boost over the last couple of years.
WNBA Pre-Season Games
The first game I wanna talk about is the Fever and the Brazilian National Team facing off in Iowa City at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This will be 2024 Rookie of the Year Catlin Clark’s homecoming at Iowa where she became the Division 1 scoring leader for men’s or women’s basketball.
ION a television station will kick the pre-season off with a doubleheader on Friday. The first game will feature the Las Vegas Aces against the Dallas Wings. This will be number one overall pick Paige Bueckers first game in a WNBA uniform. The second game of that doubleheader will feature the Chicago Sky against the Brazilian National Team at LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Sky’s Angel Reese homecoming after leading the league in rebounding in her rookie season. The league is definitely growing in popularity and will continue to see this growth in the years to come.
Final Thoughts
This is a huge milestone for the young league and will only continue to reach more. The only other time a pre-season WNBA game was televised nationally was the New York Liberty vs the Chinese National Team in 2019. This is great for all the WNBA fans as it will give them even more opportunities to watch their favorite team. All teams of the WNBA have until May 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. to finalize their roster for the regular season. Stay tuned to Total Apex Media for all your WNBA News.
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- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
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Fever Coach Stephanie White Sends Strong Message on Angel Reese
The Indiana Fever recently defeated the Chicago Sky 93-78, earning a victory over their rivals despite Caitlin Clark being ruled out. Clark has been ruled out for quite some time, having missed a large portion of her second season in the WNBA with a string of injuries. Another WNBA star who's recently dealt with a setback is Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese. The 23-year-old Sky star was ruled out of the matchup against the Fever, nursing a back injury. Before the Fever versus Sky matchup, Indiana coach Stephanie White spoke on the absence of Reese. During her conversation with the media, White labeled Reese as the "best rebounder" in the WNBA. "We know that she is the best rebounder in this league," White said. "The way they use her in the point-forward position sometimes creates some challenges." Angel Reese has earned the label from Stephanie White. Since entering the WNBA last season, Reese has been widely regarded as one of the best rebounders in the league, having capped off her rookie year by averaging a double-double. She finished her rookie season posting 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Reese was second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Throughout her second season in the WNBA, Angel Reese has posted 13.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, similar to her stat line from her rookie season. The Chicago Sky will await the return of Reese, who's widely known as their best and most versatile player.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Five Players Off to a Great Start at Green Bay Packers Training Camp 2025
We are still in the first week of Green Bay Packers training camp for the 2025 season. While it’s still early and fully padded practices are just beginning, here’s a look at five players who are off to a great start at Packers training camp 2025. We discuss the players; the reason they’re on this list and what their potential strong play could mean for them going forward. Five Players off to a Great Start at Packers Training Camp 2025, Number Five: K Brandon McManus Kicker Brandon McManus enjoyed a nearly perfect debut season in Green Bay in 2024, making all his extra points and missing just one field goal during the regular season. In training camp, the veteran kicker has been automatic. He made his first 15 field goal tries including three-of-three from 50 yards out or more. His long was a 56-yard effort. The Packers need another strong season from McManus after struggling through a season and a half of inconsistent kicking after parting ways with Mason Crosby. So far, he’s off to a great start. Number Four: WR Dontayvion Wicks Dontayvion Wicks led the team in targets last season with 76 but was only fourth on the team with 39 catches. Drops were a problem all season. He had nine drops or a drop percentage of 11.8. The Packers need Wicks to cut down on the drops and take advantage of his speed and ability to get open when running pass patterns. So far, Wicks has stood out in training camp and made some big plays. He is also holding on to almost every catchable ball sent his way. Wicks may have more upside than any healthy veteran receiver on the Packers roster. He needs to continue to be consistent to solidify his spot in the lineup in what is now a crowded receiver room. Five Players off to a Great Start at Packers Training Camp 2025, Number Three: CB Carrington Valentine Carrington Valentine has a fight on his hands for playing time as camp started. He will battle with Keisean Nixon and newcomer Nate Hobbs for a spot at boundary corner. At the start of camp, Hobbs and Nixon were ahead of Valentine on the depth chart. But Valentine has looked good thus far in camp. He had two interceptions during the first few days of practice and has done a good job in coverage. As usual, he’s played physically in coverage, and he’s done a good job of breaking up passes. His goal is to carve out a bigger role for himself in the defense as he enters this third season in the NFL. He’s come a long way from being a seventh-round draft pick and now hopes to establish himself as a full-time starter. Number Two: DT Kenny Clark Kenny Clark is coming off the worst season of his NFL career statistically in 2024. The three-time Pro Bowler went from a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023 to just one in 2024. He lacked the explosiveness coming off the snap of the ball that made him a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line throughout his career. At OTAs, Clark revealed that he played last season with a broken big toe which hampered his effectiveness. Thus far in camp, Clark seems to be regaining his explosiveness and so far, he feels good. “All that stuff is behind me,” Clark told reporters. “You don’t really know what to expect coming back, especially with the foot. Today I felt a lot more comfortable. I’m allowed to play free and be me.” A healthy Clark would be a big improvement for the Packers defensive line in 2025, both when defending the run and rushing the quarterback. Five Players off to a Great Start at Packers Training Camp 2025, Number One: WR Matthew Golden During the first few days of training camp, first round pick Matthew Golden flashed the talent he has that made him the Packers first wide receiver taken in the first round since 2002. Golden has been catching nearly everything thrown his way. The Packers receiving corps struggled with drops all season. One reason the Packers drafted him was because he has reliable hands. The Packers have also utilized Golden on jet sweeps and end arounds, much like they did the last two seasons with Jayden Reed. Head coach Matt LaFleur appears to be at least auditioning Golden for that role to see how he handles it. It would be one way to ensure he gets a certain number of touches early on while he’s still learning the offense. Golden still has work to do, but he’s made a good first impression at training camp.
Mets Could Steal Massive Star From Their Biggest Rival
In 2024, the New York Mets may have pulled off the biggest jersey swap of all time- acquiring massive free agent Juan Soto on an enormous 15-year, $765 million deal. However, this shouldn’t be the end of the line for New York. The team still has money, and perhaps they can use it to pay for a massive star. Big-Name Free Agent Could Be on the Radar for Mets The Biggest Bat on the Free Agent Market May Not be Kyle Tucker Sure, Kyle Tucker is a younger player with some superstar potential. Some might say that he is a superstar. However, the one very consistent bat is the bat of Kyle Schwarber. Over the last five seasons, Schwarber has hit at least 32 homers. This season is no exception, as he is on pace for 57 home runs. Schwarber strikes out a lot. However, his at-bats usually end in either a homer, a strikeout, or a walk. Schwarber remains one of the most significant game-changing bats on the market. He is heading into his age-33 season, but he reminds many of a Nelson Cruz-type bat. A bat that can last well into the late 30s. Tucker may be a good defender and a possibly excellent bat, but consistency remains on the side of Schwarber. The Mets Shouldn’t Stop at Alonso and Soto Now, the Mets may very well have to contend with another free agency of Pete Alonso. However, if the Mets have learned anything this season, they probably won’t hesitate to sign Alonso, especially with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the market. This will leave the Mets with options in free agency. Go big or play it safe and improve minimally. The Mets typically aren’t used to liking Schwarber, who seems to always be on a rival team. However, this doesn’t mean that it is impossible for him to pry away from the Phillies. Sure, the Mets can be content with the signing of Soto and, hopefully, also Alonso. But if New York wants to make the best team ever to play in Queens, New York may very well want to go after some of the bigger names on the market. If many people thought the Mets were in contention for Vladdy, then they can definitely be in contention for Schwarber. The Mets also don’t have a definitive DH, and even with some saying Soto is a potential DH in the future, Soto will likely continue to play the outfield. Schwarber would be a dream DH for New York. Schwarber Will Not Be Easy To Sign, But Neither Was Soto If there is one thing that many have learned over the last few seasons, it is that the Mets don’t just settle. The Mets have made huge trades, huge signings, and more. Schwarber has made it relatively clear that he likes Philly, and even his teammates have expressed that they want him to stay. And of course, Philly is capable of providing the money for Schwarber to stay. However, New York is even more capable. If the Mets make a good trade ahead of the deadline, young players live up to their potential, and the Mets make a big splash in free agency, then New York would be virtually unstoppable. It used to be the New York Yankees that got everything they wanted. Now, there might be a new sheriff in town. The Mets are starting to turn the corner and are becoming the new juggernaut in New York. Perhaps the Soto signing was just the beginning. Signing a free agent away from a bitter rival wouldn’t be easy. However, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time for New York.
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