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Natasha Howard had a double-double, Caitlin Clark scored 20 points and the host Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun 88-71 on Tuesday night.
Howard finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 and Damiris Dantas had 13 off the bench as the Fever (6-5) finished 4-1 in the Commissioner's Cup to win the Eastern Conference title after Atlanta lost at New York, 86-81.
Tina Charles scored 20, Olivia Nelson-Ododa had 14 points and eight rebounds and reserve Jaelyn Brown scored 13 to lead the Sun (2-9), who went 1-4 in Commissioner's Cup play.
Hull and Mitchell each made a 3-pointer and the Fever started the third quarter with an 8-4 spurt that produced a 55-43 lead.
Charles made two free throws before Jacy Sheldon committed a flagrant 1 foul against Clark, and Charles, teammate Marina Mabrey and Clark were called for technicals for their reactions.
Clark made three free thows and Howard added a tip-in to give Indiana a 60-45 lead. Saniya Rivers made a 3-pointer for Connecticut, but the Fever finished with an 8-4 run to take a 68-52 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Sun crept within 71-61, but Indiana scored the next five points to regain command.
Another altercation happened in the final minute and the Fever's Sophie Cunningham and the Sun's Lindsay Allen and Sheldon were ejected.
The score was tied at four before Lexie Hull and Clark each made a 3-pointer to help the Fever take a 14-8 lead. The Fever led by six again before Charles scored eight points to help Connecticut tie the score at 18.
Indiana scored the next six points and the Sun scored the last five, leaving the Fever with a 24-23 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Clark had seven points and three assists, and Indiana extended the lead to 41-33 midway through the second quarter. Charles answered with a basket before the Fever took their biggest leadoff of the half at 47-35.
Brown made a field goal and Haley Peters added two free throws for the final points of the quarter, and Indiana held a 47-39 halftime lead.
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Andy Reid’s main flaw will cost Chiefs a trip to the playoffs
The Kansas City Chiefs' postseason aspirations suffered a massive blow after losing to the Dallas Cowboys 31-28 on Thursday. The loss dropped the reigning AFC champions to 6-6 on the season, leaving them with virtually no margin for error. The officiating made numerous questionable calls that may have favored Jerry Jones' team. However, the lack of discipline and numerous penalties have been a hallmark of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid's teams for years. Chiefs' lack of discipline will cost them a playoff spot Per OPTA Stats, the Chiefs committed five pass interference penalties in the second half alone, four of them on defense. That's the most PI penalties by any NFL team in the second half of a game in the past 35 years. When asked about it, Reid said they needed to be better in that regard, something he's said at least a dozen times this season. Then, he actually stood by the way his players tried to cover wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens: "I'm not always going to agree with the calls, but the calls were made," Reid said, per Charles Goldman. "They've got some big physical receivers, and my guys were fighting. You've got to stay aggressive against those guys. That's the way you do it." Granted, some of the calls were terrible, but this has been a frequent talking point with the Chiefs. Even if he actually agrees with the defensive players' approach to covering those two guys — which clearly didn't work, as they combined for 200 yards and one score — the lack of adjustments and accountability will ultimately doom this team this season.
Jerry Jones claims Jets turned down absurd trade offer involving Micah Parsons, Quinnen Williams
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently revealed that he offered Micah Parsons plus a first-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for Quinnen Williams during training camp. Jerry Jones says Jets turned out incredible trade offer for Quinnen Williams “I wanted a one and Parsons for Williams,” Jones said on 103.5 The Fan. That seems like an absurd offer, but Jones left little up to interpretation. “A one and Parsons for Williams,” he repeated. Later, he added that the deal did not go through because the Jets “did not have the cap room to pay [Parsons].” Jones also said something similar to WFAA’s Ed Werder: “We tried at training camp with the Jets to basically make an exchange that was ready to go, heads up, with Quinnen and Micah and a one, and we didn’t get it done.” Parsons, of course, was instead sent to the Packers for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. The Cowboys later acquired Williams before the trade deadline for a package including a 2027 first-rounder, a 2026 second-rounder and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. Jones has slowly revealed more and more information about the Parsons trade since it was completed. During a September radio appearances on ESPN New York, Jones said that called the Jets regarding Williams when he was shopping Parsons before the season. The Jets were not interested, he claimed, because they “didn’t have the resources to entertain [the] conversation,” similar to his pronouncement on 103.5. If true, Jets made a big mistake If Jones’ latest revelation is true, that means two things. First, he was willing to sacrifice a massive amount of value to move Parsons and acquire Williams. Second, the Jets made a huge mistake in not accepting the deal. Although Williams is an excellent defensive tackle, Parsons is undoubtedly a better and more valuable player, even at a higher price point. This year, Williams has 2.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss this season; per Pro Football Focus, he ranks fifth among interior defenders with 40 pressures but 38th with a 12.1% pass-rush win rate. Parsons, meanwhile, has 12.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, plus 67 pressures and a 24.3% pass-rush win rate, both top-three marks among NFL edge-rushers. In his career, he has averaged 0.89 sacks and one tackle for loss per game; Williams’ per-game numbers are 0.41 sacks and 0.60 tackles for loss. Those numbers may not tell the complete story of either player, but it seems like the Jets should have taken Jones’ offer. Sure, they would have had to pony up for Parsons’ mega-extension, but they were already prepared to move on from Williams. Adding an extra first-round pick on top would also give the Jets an opportunity to add another starter — if not a star — on a rookie contract. That would help to offset the financial cost of acquiring Parsons. How realistic is Jerry Jones' claim? But Jones’ words should also be taken with a grain of salt. He has spent a lot of time trying to retroactively justify trading away Parsons, especially after using some of the resulting draft capital to acquire Williams. Claiming that the Jets were not interested in Parsons and a first-rounder for Williams serves to downplay the former’s value and boost the latter’s. The idea that the Jets could not afford to pay Parsons does not hold water, either. After his extension, the All-Pro edge-rusher’s cap hit in 2025 is just $9.97M. New York certainly could have designed a similar contract structure and absorbed Perhaps the Jets didn't want to commit so much money to Parsons as they were clearly contemplating a rebuild. Parsons would still be a cornerstone for that effort, but he may not have wanted to weather any losing seasons in the hopes of a future turnaround. But again, adding another first-round pick would have accelerated that process, and a core of Parsons, cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson seems like a solid foundation for the Jets to build from. That is an expensive trio, but having elite players at three of the sport’s most important positions is a good problem to have. Instead, the Jets declined the Cowboys’ initial offer for Williams before moving him and Gardner at the deadline as part of what appears to be a full-on franchise reset.
Ohio State exorcises Michigan demons with blowout road win
Ohio State's long nightmare is finally over. After four consecutive losses to arch-nemesis Michigan, the Buckeyes snapped their longest losing streak in the rivalry since 1988-91 with a dominant 27-9 road victory on Saturday. Ohio State cruises to first win versus Michigan since 2019 College Football Playoff No. 1 Ohio State (12-0, 9-0 in Big Ten) had plenty to play for on Saturday, needing a win to clinch a spot in next Saturday's conference title game against No. 2 Indiana (12-0, 9-0 in Big Ten). After falling into an early 6-0 deficit, the Buckeyes outscored the Wolverines 27-3. After the first quarter, Ohio State out-gained No. 15 Michigan (9-3, 7-2 in Big Ten), 325-73. With no more questions about its ability to beat Michigan, Ohio State can turn its attention to winning the program's first Big Ten championship since 2020 and becoming the second back-to-back national champion in five years, joining Georgia (2021-22). While plenty of talented teams will compete for an NCAA title in the playoffs, the Buckeyes appear to be a cut above the rest. They have the best defense in the country, holding all 12 of their regular season opponents under 17 points, including seven under 10 points. They also have arguably the best set of skill position players in FBS, led by wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. True freshman running back Bo Jackson had a monster game against Michigan, rushing 22 times for a season-high 117 yards. The Buckeyes are a well-oiled machine entering the postseason. Nothing appears capable of getting in their way, not even the demons they exorcised on Saturday.
Mavericks Announce Klay Thompson News After Lakers Game
The Dallas Mavericks came into their latest stretch of games under heavy scrutiny, still trying to find stability after what many consider one of the most drastic midseason overhauls in recent history. Less than a year ago the franchise traded away franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic in a blockbuster deal that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. Expectations were that Davis’ arrival alongside veterans such as Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving would anchor a competitive roster. But instead, the Mavericks have struggled mightily, entering Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers with a 5‑15 record. They are tied for the second-worst record in the Western Conference and are losers of their last three games, including Friday’s defeat to the Lakers. In a further blow to their already fragile rotation, the Mavericks announced that Klay Thompson will be unavailable for the game Saturday against the Clippers as he continues to manage a left knee injury. That absence leaves Dallas even thinner at wing and perimeter‑shooting spots, just as the team tries to halt its skid. Thompson arrived in Dallas in July 2024 via a six‑team sign‑and‑trade, signing a three‑year, $50 million contract. A longtime championship winner with the Golden State Warriors, he earned four NBA titles and built his reputation as one of the greatest shooters in league history. Thompson was expected to bring veteran leadership, elite perimeter shooting and playoff‑tested experience to the Mavericks. However, in his second season, his role on the team has already been altered. After beginning the campaign in the starting five, head coach Jason Kidd moved him to the bench in early November. The veteran wing’s production has dipped significantly this season. In 19 games, he is averaging 10.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 21.5 minutes. The news also comes as Dallas continues to deal with other major absences, including guard Kyrie Irving, who continues to recover from a torn ACL. Anthony Davis returned against the Lakers after 14 missed games but will not play in the second half of the back-to-back to manage a calf injury. However, rookie Cooper Flagg was upgraded to available after dealing with a right thumb splint. With Thompson out, Davis sidelined and limited depth available, the Mavericks face an uphill challenge against a Clippers squad also struggling — but at least healthier.
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