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When Chicago Sky veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered an ACL injury last week, it seemed likely that rookie guard Hailey Van Lith (who had been Vandersloot's backup to that point) would have her role with the team expand.
And it certainly did on June 15, as Van Lith played 24 minutes during the Sky's 78-66 win over the Connecticut Sun. She also finished with a WNBA career-high 16 points (on an efficient 6 of 8 shooting from the field) to go along with 5 rebounds.
Despite this victory, it hasn't been very smooth sailing for the Sky to this point, as they currently hold a 3-7 record. But that doesn't seem to have dampened Van Lith's spirits, which was conveyed by her boyfriend Jalen Suggs (who plays for the Orlando Magic in the NBA) during a June 16 appearance on ESPN.
"It has been really cool. It has made me become very reflective on my rookie year, and on my journey throughout my own path in the league," Suggs said when asked about Van Lith's rookie campaign, per an X post from espnW.
"Watching her take it on has been motivating as well, honestly. She's, I think, one of the purest competitors that I've ever met, that I've been around, and she pushes me to embrace that side of myself as well," he added. "But seeing her maneuver being a rookie, seeing a new situation, a new team, different pace of basketball... has been really cool. And us bouncing off each other, I think, has been great for both of our growth."
"[Hailey Van Lith's], I think, one of the purest competitors that I've ever met."@JalenSuggs talked about how Van Lith's growth as a pro motivates him pic.twitter.com/a4CotEkk4O
— espnW (@espnW) June 16, 2025
It's cool to hear how Suggs and Van Lith are supporting each other in their respective professional basketball journeys.
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Atlanta Dream Dealt Troubling Brittney Griner News on Thursday
Brittney Griner has been playing her first season with the Atlanta Dream, having found success in the newest chapter of her career. Griner began her professional career with the Phoenix Mercury but has since moved east, where she leads the Dream alongside Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. While she has been able to help lead Atlanta to one of the top spots in the league standings, Griner has recently dealt with a setback. On Thursday, Griner was ruled out of the team's next matchup against the Chicago Sky. She is dealing with a neck injury and has been in and out of the injury report for the past week. Throughout her first season with the Atlanta Dream, Brittney Griner has posted 10.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Griner last played on July 31 against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings. The matchup against the Chicago Sky will be her third straight game on the sideline for Atlanta. The Dream will face the Sky on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. Atlanta added salt to the wound with the news of Griner because Howard has already missed ample time this season due to injury. Howard last played against the Indiana Fever on July 12 and was eventually ruled out with a knee injury that has had her sidelined ever since. Howard's official ruling for the Chicago Sky game is doubtful. The Atlanta Dream are entering the matchup against the Chicago Sky riding a three-game win streak while being ranked as the No. 3 team in the league standings, just one game behind the New York Liberty for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Milroe surges past former NFL starter on first Seattle Seahawks depth chart
Despite being viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe ended up sliding into the third round. The 22-year-old — who was the starter for Alabama for two seasons — was selected with the No. 92 pick by the Seattle Seahawks. Although every player's dream is to go in the first round, Milroe likely couldn't have gone to a better situation. There is virtually no pressure on him as the Seahawks signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract this offseason, and they also have Drew Lock, who has started 28 career games on the roster as well. However, based on ESPN's initial depth chart, Milroe may be climbing the depth chart sooner than most expected. Seattle Seahawks depth chart As reported by ESPN, the Seahawks depth chart goes as follows: QB1: Sam Darnold QB2 Jalen Milroe QB3 Drew Lock If this truly ends up being the case, Milroe has taken major strides following his final season at Alabama. During his last year in Tuscaloosa, Milroe was criticized heavily for forcing passes into windows that weren't there after being late on reads. In his final season at Alabama, Milroe threw a career-high 11 interceptions to just 16 touchdowns, an increase of five more interceptions than he threw in 2023. Although training camp is still ongoing and the preseason games have yet to be played, clearly, Milroe is finding some success in the Pacific Northwest.
Jaydon Blue injury update: Major news emerges on Cowboys RB after Thursday practice exit
According to Nick Harris of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue suffered a bone bruise in his heel on Thursday. Blue was stepped on during practice, initially looking at an ankle sprain. Thankfully, the MRI came back with some positive news. “Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue’s MRI revealed a bone bruise in his heel after it was stepped on in today’s practice, according to a @startelegram source,” Harris said via X. “No ankle sprain. Good news for the young back who has emerged as an offensive playmaker in camp.” Blue previously told Harris that an ankle injury was what he suffered. Questions about the running back’s availability for Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams are now present. Something to watch as kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT from SoFi Stadium. Dallas took Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping to address its running back situation. Blue played his college ball inside the Lone Star State, suiting up for the Texas Longhorns. Plenty of guys at the position have come out of Austin and found quick success. Blue is hoping to be the next one. For now, there is an injury for him to deal with. No exact timeline has been provided per a report or by a team official. Hopefully, Blue is able to get things cleared up quickly and get his first taste of the NFL before Sept. 4’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. More on Jaydon Blue, Cowboys running back situation Running back was a position the Cowboys needed to desperately figure out this offseason. Rico Dowdle, the team’s leading rusher, was no longer on the roster. Behind Dowdle, Dallas did not have much else. A nice mix of veteran presence and youngsters was needed. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders provide the former, while Blue was a part of the draft class alongside Phil Mafah. A combination of those four figures to be on the opening night roster. Exactly how head coach Brian Schottenheimer splits up the carries is not yet known. Blue’s injury certainly does not help the situation. Cowboys players, in general, have been going down throughout training camp thus far. Making sure everyone is healthy will be critical heading into the season. Especially an explosive back like Blue, someone who can change the outcome of any game in just the snap of your fingers.
Steelers Now Have A Surefire Solution To End Cam Heyward's Hold-In
The Pittsburgh Steelers got hit with quite a bit of interesting news on Thursday. It started when NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was staging a hold-in, attending training camp but not fully participating as he seeks a new contract. Not long after that, kicker Chris Boswell was also reported to be interested in a new deal, adding another contract situation to the team’s growing list of concerns. As for Heyward, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly quickly suggested a possible solution that could effectively end the hold-in without requiring a full contract extension. Kaboly proposed the idea of adding incentives to Heyward’s existing deal, which would reward performance while avoiding a long-term financial commitment. He believes this compromise would allow the Steelers to show respect for Heyward’s contributions while keeping the team’s salary cap in check. Kaboly explained that the Steelers used a similar approach in 2016 with star wide receiver Antonio Brown. At the time, Brown was also seeking a new deal, and instead of offering an extension, the team added incentives to his contract to keep him satisfied for the season. The move kept Brown on the field and productive, and Kaboly believes this method could work just as well for Heyward, helping resolve the situation without complicating the team’s financial outlook. "Steelers don't restructure contracts until a year out, but Cam Heyward has 2 years remaining on his deal," Kaboly posted on his social media. "Here is the kicker and this is what I would use if I were Heyward: The Steelers worked some funny math with Antonio Brown in 2016 to get him a $4 million raise." Heyward just received a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Now, Kaboly is pointing out that with two years remaining on his contract, the Steelers typically don’t restructure deals until there’s only one year left. However, Kaboly believes that if the team follows the same approach they used with Brown, it could help resolve Heyward’s situation. "They moved $4 million of AB's 2017 money to 2016, then tore up the contract in 2017 and made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL," Kaboly said. "AB got a $4 million raise, and the Steelers were able to keep their long-standing policy intact." Both sides could technically come out ahead with this approach. The money was going to Heyward anyway, but by advancing a portion of it to this year, he gets earlier financial recognition without requiring a full extension. Then, when the time comes to negotiate a new deal, both parties can do so in good faith, working toward a contract that makes sense for everyone involved. For now, moving some money forward would be a clear sign of appreciation for Heyward’s contributions and an acknowledgment of how the market has shifted for elite defensive linemen. It would also allow the Steelers to maintain their long-standing policy of waiting until a player enters the final year of his contract before negotiating an extension. Ultimately, it’s a short-term financial gesture that builds trust and buys time for a more permanent solution. Steelers And Cam Heyward Both Could Come Out As Winners This approach not only benefits Heyward financially in the short term but also helps preserve the relationship between the player and the organization. It shows the Steelers value his contributions and want to keep him motivated without rushing into long-term decisions prematurely. By handling things this way, the team retains flexibility in managing their salary cap and future roster moves. It also avoids the potential pitfalls of a large extension that might limit options later. For Heyward, it offers a sense of security and respect while keeping open the door for a more comprehensive agreement when the time is right.
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