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Finality is an endlessly difficult thing for humans to come to grips with. It presents itself in different settings, taking different forms, and carrying different meanings. Sometimes it’s a slow burn, like seeing an ailing relative on their deathbed. And sometimes it’s instantaneous, like opening a rejection letter from a dream college.
For Indiana women’s basketball, Monday night presented the instantaneous version, in its most painful form, with meanings that the players will need a long time to grasp. Indiana, a No. 1 seed for the first time in program history, saw a golden opportunity to reach its first Final Four slip away.
And after that heartbreaking 70-68 loss to Miami (Fla.) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, IU’s locker room displayed the raw emotion that comes with that territory. “It’s hard to put into words right now,” Mackenzie Holmes said during Indiana’s press conference. “Just a lot of emotions in our locker room right now.”
Chloe Moore-McNeil couldn’t bear to sit in the room. The junior missed an open layup that would’ve given Indiana a one-point lead with less than 30 seconds to play. It’s a shot she could make in her sleep — and knowing the work ethic it takes to succeed at this level, she may actually have done that at some point.
And even 40 minutes after that shocking misfire, Moore-McNeil remained an emotional wreck. She stayed back by the showers, around the corner from the lockers, throughout the open locker room period. But her distraught wails and agonizing screams served as the background music for any conversations had in the vicinity.
Some players, like Kiandra Browne and Arielle Wisne, sat by their lockers wearing pure disbelief on their faces. Browne’s season ended the way it began, watching from the bench while recovering from an injury; Wisne saw the court for just the 11th game this season, for all of 30 seconds. But the veterans felt the same pain as everyone else.
Some, like Sara Scalia, buried their head in their hands or a towel, attempting to contain the same emotions that filled the room like a gas leak.
This was Scalia’s first NCAA Tournament experience, after missing out in each of her three seasons at Minnesota. She came to IU to win, and did a whole lot of it this season. But this, now, is her first taste of postseason agony. And that sting is unlike anything she’s felt before.
Grace Berger’s finality was twofold. Her heartbreak from falling short was the same as her teammates, but this also ended her stellar Hoosiers career. Berger, like Moore-McNeil, had a chance to put her team in front in the closing stretch. She missed a pull-up jumper — her deadliest weapon, the type of shot she’s built her potential WNBA profile around — with 13 seconds left. It’s a look that IU head coach Teri Moren would want in that situation every single time. But it just didn’t fall.
Losing is a part of sports, and only one team can truly end its season on a high note. Women’s basketball players exit this tournament teary-eyed every year. It’s hard to see seasons and careers end prematurely.
It’s a pain that doesn’t come with a playbook. These players will comprehend this on their own timelines. Some will wake up Tuesday morning with a clear head. Others may need days, weeks, or months.
Most of these Hoosiers will eventually start thinking about avenging this outcome in 2023-24. Berger will quickly turn her attention to preparing for the WNBA Draft in April.
But for Geary, this is truly a finality. She played one season at IU, after four at Providence. And she played only sparingly for the Hoosiers, and usually for short spells on the floor. Unlike Berger, this — in all likelihood — is the end of her competitive playing career.
And though Geary was emotional just like her teammates, she began to understand it by the end of the night. Around 90 minutes after the final buzzer, Geary returned to the court — still in full uniform — with a team manager. By that point, the only others remaining were media and employees cleaning up the seating bowl. Geary walked to the free-throw line, and the manager stood under the hoop.
She took a few dribbles, bent her knees, and sunk the shot. The manager caught it, and the two walked back into the tunnel they emerged from with arms around each other. On her way out, Geary looked around the arena, taking it all in one last time.
The rest of these Hoosiers will all accept this finality at some point. They’ll have no choice but to accept it. But it might take time.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
Credit: https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/after-shocking-upset-iu-womens-basketball-was-left-to-grasp-its-seasons-finality/
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NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal thanked everyone who was concerned about him and wished him well after he tweeted a photo of himself in a hospital bed over the weekend. The Basketball Hall of Famer explained he needed a hip replacement along with an edited video of him showing his butt to former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Rick Fox.
"to all the people who are worried and concerned. first off, let me say thank you. And lastly no need to worry, just had to get some BBL WORK AKA #hipreplacement. Thanks and love you all. but no need to worry and yes i’m fine," O’Neal wrote. O’Neal's initial tweet was addressed to NBA broadcaster Ernie Johnson and WNBA superstar Candace Parker, both of whom are taking part in March Madness coverage on various TV channels.
The four-time NBA champion is only 51 years old, but while it appeared he has slimmed down from his playing days, his hip took a little bit too much wear and tear. At his peak, the NBA center was 325 pounds standing at 7-foot-1. He told Logan Paul last year he ballooned up to 401 pounds. In December, O’Neal spoke about losing weight in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight."
"Once I just started changing those certain things, it dropped. It’s all about eating right."
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
Credit: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/shaq-updates-concerned-fans-health-hip-replacement-surgery
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The UConn women's basketball team is off to Seattle for its 29th consecutive Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies advanced with a win over Baylor Monday night at Gampel Pavilion. The 11-time NCAA champion Huskies are seeking a 15th consecutive trip to the Final Four. The first hurdle is Ohio State, UConn's opponent Saturday.
When: Saturday, 4 p.m. Where: Climate Change Arena in Seattle, an 18,300-seat downtown venue that's home to the WNBA's Seattle Storm and the NHL's Seattle Kraken.
Looking ahead: If the Huskies win Saturday, the Elite Eight game will be Monday against either No. 1 seed Virginia Tech or No. 4 Tennessee. History: UConn is 6-0 all-time vs. Ohio State. The teams last played on Nov. 24, 2019, in Columbus, a 73-62 Husky win. The teams first met in December 2010, when UConn won 81-50 in the Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden.
About Buckeyes: This is Ohio State's second Sweet 16 appearance in a row and 13th overall. Under former Notre Dame assistant and Washington head coach Kevin McGuff, Ohio State has won 20 or more games in seven of the past 10 seasons. The Buckeyes have reached the Final Four once (1993). The No. 3 seed Buckeyes are 27-7 this season and coming off a 71-69 win over No. 6 North Carolina in the second round. Ohio State has won seven of nine, including a victory over Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament before losing to Iowa. The victory over North Carolina was capped by a jumper from Jacy Sheldon with 1.8 seconds remaining. Guard Taylor Mikesell is Ohio State's leading scorer at 17.2 points per game.
Buckeye subplot: UConn graduate forward Dorka Juhász transferred from Ohio State two years ago. In three years at Ohio State, the 6-foot-5 Juhász averaged 13 points and 9.6 rebounds while starting 73 of the 75 games she played. She has emerged as an indispensable player and leader for UConn this season, averaging 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds.
Seattle subplot: It wasn't long ago when the coffee capital of the country was known as Storrs West. The Seattle Storm built an elite WNBA team around two UConn legends, Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart. Both are gone, of course, as Bird retired and Stewart signed with the New York Liberty. The Storm's current roster includes ex-Husky Kia Nurse, and Gabby Williams played with Seattle last year but is currently a free agent. Bird is still a presence in Seattle, so she may well be around this weekend.
Credit: https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/ncaa-tournament-seattle-sweet-16-ohio-state-tv-17851242.php
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/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/FSCO6RNV3RIHZDVGSZ35JXWHRM.jpg "Shaquille O 8217 Neal has hip surgery expected to miss broadcasting duties")
On Monday, TNT announced that Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal had undergone hip surgery, causing concern among fans. The four-time NBA champion and 15-time All-Star, known for his larger-than-life personality, shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Twitter, alarming followers. In response, TNT confirmed that O'Neal would be taking some time off to recover.
Although O'Neal will be unable to join his colleagues at TNT in the broadcast booth while he recovers from surgery, he wished them well via Twitter. "I'm always watching," he wrote, sharing a photo of himself in a hospital gown, "Miss y'all." TNT colleague and seven-time WNBA All-Star Candace Parker responded to O'Neal's tweet with a show of support: "Love ya big Fella."
Despite TNT's announcement, fans remained concerned about O'Neal's health. However, a spokesperson for TNT later confirmed to Reuters that the former basketball star and current analyst had indeed undergone hip surgery. As he recovers, O'Neal can expect to miss some time in the broadcast booth.
As of now, it is unclear when O'Neal will be able to return to his broadcasting duties, but it is expected that he will make a full recovery. Though fans and colleagues will miss his presence in the booth, they have sent their love and wishes for a speedy recovery.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Credit: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/shaq-hip-surgery-confirmed-after-hospital-photo-post-2023-03-20/
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Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal sparked concerns about his health on Sunday when he tweeted a photo of himself from a hospital bed. The tweet was addressed to NBA broadcaster Ernie Johnson and WNBA superstar Candace Parker, both of whom are taking part in March Madness coverage on various TV channels.
However, what O’Neal was doing in the hospital was troubling for fans of the former Los Angeles Lakers star. While prayers were up for the big man, Awful Announcing’s Ken Fang relayed the message Johnson said during the tournament broadcast. Johnson said O’Neal was having hip replacement surgery.
O’Neal is only 51 years old, but while it appeared he has slimmed down from his playing days, his hip took a little bit too much wear and tear. At his peak, the NBA center was 325 pounds standing at 7-foot-1. He told Logan Paul last year he ballooned up to 401 pounds.
In December, O’Neal spoke about losing weight in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "Once I just started changing those certain things, it dropped. It’s all about eating right."
Ryan Gaydos, a senior editor for Fox News Digital, reports on O'Neal's surgery and the concerns over his health that have arisen as a result of his hospital bed tweet.
Credit: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/shaq-sparks-concern-hospital-bed-photo
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The men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments are structured identically. Sixty-eight teams play 67 games — each lasting 40 minutes — to vie for college basketball’s top prize. There’s one inescapable difference: the men make twice as much money.
But those opportunities haven’t come equally. Data from Opendorse, a Lincoln, Nebraska-based marketing platform for athletes, found that male college basketball players make twice as much as their female counterparts. The numbers point to a disappointing reality that the long-standing disparities in professional sports already pervade college competition.
“It’s just following that historic trend of men getting more, being seen as more important,” said Andrea Geurin, the director of Loughborough University’s Institute for Sport Business in England. “Not that it is, but that’s our perception. That’s how society has always viewed sport.”
“When it comes to brand marketers, the women basketball players on this list stand out in terms of their marketability,” Lawrence said, pointing out that women tend to have higher engagement levels on social media. Of players competing in the March Madness tournament, eight of the 10 most-followed on Instagram are women, according to Opendorse. “Their audience is collectively much larger.” Zia Cooke, a basketball player for the University of South Carolina, is one of the high earners and has partnered with H&R Block for a gender inclusivity campaign.
“It just never seems fair that we can do the exact same work, spend the same time, make the same sacrifices as male athletes and not be rewarded the same way,” she said in an email. “But it also impacts our moms who work, our female coaches, our female professors. It’s everywhere. We’re all working hard to support ourselves and our families, too. The pay gap is everywhere and it compounds over the course of our lives and careers.”
The pay difference comes mainly from the second method of compensation: money flowing from so-called NIL collectives. In many cases, rich donors and alumni establish these funds to pool money from businesses and fans, then dole out that cash to a school’s athletes. Collectives exacerbate the pay gap between male and female basketball players. Opendorse data found that — excluding the money from collectives — male and female basketball players made roughly the same amount of money from NIL deals.
Collectives abound. The Garnet Trust for athletes at the University of South Carolina, for example, provides perks like early access to interviews and a team sticker for a $10-a-month membership. Higher-end options, at $100 a month, come with premium offerings like access to in-person and autograph events.
“A lot of the companies and individuals who are getting involved with collectives and who are investing in collectives are the traditional donors who have traditionally supported men’s sport,” said Thilo Kunkel, director of Temple University’s Sport Industry Research Center. “A large majority of them are men, and they are supporting what they have supported in the past.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has warned collectives that they can’t recruit athletes to a particular school by engaging directly with high school players. Even so, athletes know which schools have established collectives that are willing to pay up, so the funds likely factor into many players’ college decisions. The Drake Group, an education think tank, submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Education in January calling for increased oversight of NIL-related activities. Specifically, the group argued the department should clarify how deals, including funds coming from collectives, relate to Title IX requirements barring discrimination based on sex in education programs.
“For a lot of women’s basketball players, college is the peak of their earning potential,” said Lawrence. “There will be women’s basketball players that get drafted into the WNBA and take a pay cut.”
Credit: https://fortune.com/2023/03/16/how-much-do-college-basketball-players-make-ncaa-men-twice-as-much-women-nil/
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Kelsey Plum went there. The Las Vegas Aces guard had a savage response about why the Raiders traded her husband, Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, to the Giants on Tuesday.
The surprise move drew some criticisms on Twitter, with former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III writing: “Darren Waller JUST GOT MARRIED to Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces and Josh McDaniels’ wedding present was to trade him to the New York Giants. McDaniels is NOT a romantic.”
Plum – who tied the knot with Waller on March 4 in Las Vegas — responded to Griffin and made a witty joke (or a slight jab) about the Raiders’ head coach.
“Prolly cause he wasn’t invited to the wedding lol,” Plum wrote.
Plum then took to her Instagram Stories and shared a screen grab of Griffin’s tweet over a photo of her and Waller on their wedding day.
“Actually couldn’t be better, we’re so excited, NY let’s get it,” the All-Star guard wrote, adding a blue heart emoji.
Plum’s tweet came just a few hours after The Athletic reported that McDaniels accidentally leaked the news of the couple’s wedding earlier this month to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
The outlet also reported that Waller was upset with McDaniels when the Las Vegas Review-Journal posted a story announcing his and Plum’s wedding date days before their nuptials.
Waller and Plum — who’ve reportedly been dating since last year — had not publicly shared their plans to get married.
Prior to the trade, McDaniels said the 30-year-old Waller “will be a big part of what we’re going to do going forward.”
However, the Raiders were shopping Waller for more than a year, according to NFL Network.
Plum — an All-Star guard who helped the Aces win their first WNBA title last season — is preparing for the 2023 campaign, which begins in May.
The Giants sent a third-round draft pick (No. 100 overall) to the Raiders for Waller.
He is under contract with the Giants for the next four seasons after signing a three-year, $51 million extension with the Raiders in September.
Credit: https://nypost.com/2023/03/15/kelsey-plum-reacts-to-darren-waller-giants-trade-after-wedding-drama/
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Kelsey Plum and Darren Waller made headlines at the beginning of the month with their Las Vegas love story, but a new chapter has already been written less than two weeks later. Both professional athletes, Plum plays guard for the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, while Waller is a tight end for the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that their relationship would be long distance, as the New York Giants acquired the 30-year-old tight end in a trade with the Raiders. The Giants will send a third-round draft pick (No. 100 overall) to the Raiders for the 2020 Pro Bowler, according to sources from ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Plum had her own suspicions on whether Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels acted on ulterior motives when making the deal.
Waller was signed by the then-Oakland Raiders off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad in 2018, and he had a breakout season in 2019, surpassing 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. The franchise relocated to Las Vegas, and his hot streak continued with career highs in receptions (107), receiving yards (1,196), and touchdowns (nine).
Waller is third among NFL tight ends in catches (280) and receiving yards (3,394) since 2019 behind Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews, respectively. He also signed a three-year, $51 million contract extension in September, making him the league's highest-paid tight end.
Although Waller's move to the Giants may create a hurdle for the sports power couple, it is safe to say they will find a way to make their love withstand any challenges.
Credit: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35861828/kelsey-plum-darren-waller-las-vegas-trade
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Former Seattle SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp has been arrested and charged with a felony criminal offense due to a shooting incident that occurred in Tacoma, Washington.
The charges stem from an altercation in a parking lot, which escalated to shots being fired between two vehicles.
However, those close to Kemp claim that it was an act of self-defense, as he confronted someone who stole his iPhone.
The Tacoma Police Department has not named Kemp in its announcement, opting instead to refer to his age, gender, and charge of drive-by shooting.
The former NBA player has been booked into the Pierce County Jail following the incident.
Under Washington state law, the crime of drive-by shooting applies to anyone who fires a gun either directly from a vehicle or the immediate area surrounding it, creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury.
Kemp, also known as "the Reign Man," was a six-time NBA All-Star during his career, which largely took place with the Seattle SuperSonics before the franchise moved to Oklahoma City. Kemp has stayed active in Seattle, attending sporting events and recently opened his second cannabis store in the city.
Credit: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/09/1162148981/shawn-kemp-the-former-nba-superstar-is-arrested-over-a-shooting-in-a-parking-lot
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On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers retired Pau Gasol's No. 16 jersey into the rafters at Crypto.com Arena at halftime of their game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Gasol was traded to the Lakers midway through the 2007-08 season by the Memphis Grizzlies.
He spent the next six seasons with the Lakers, where he and Kobe Bryant won back-to-back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010 and reached the Finals in three straight seasons.
Gasol earned three of his six All-Star nods before he left the Lakers in 2014.
Gasol was extremely close with Kobe Bryant and both remained friends until Bryant died in a helicopter crash in 2020.
Vanessa Bryant, who was on the court with Gasol on Tuesday night, even presented Gasol with the WNBA’s Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award earlier this year.
While it took a few years, Gasol finally made it into the rafters just like Bryant predicted after winning an Oscar in 2018.
Credit: https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-officially-retire-pau-gasols-no-16-jersey-next-to-kobe-bryants-043659788.html
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