Former Indiana University Women’s Basketball Star Grace Berger headed to Australia to play for the Sydney Flames The Sydney Flames are excited to unveil their first import of the WNBL26 season is former Indiana University point guard Grace Berger. The United States guard, who joins the Hoops Capital club on a one-year deal, is the sixth player signed to Guy Molloy’s squad, joining Lauren Nicholson, Shaneice Swain, Emma Clarke, Agnes Emma-Nnopu and Carla Pitman. “I’m excited to have the chance to play for a club like the Flames, which I’ve heard so many great things about, particularly from my friend Celeste Taylor, who obviously played with the team last season,” said Berger. “Celeste had a great experience in Sydney and in the WNBL, saying both helped elevate her game, and I’m confident that will happen for me too.
“Not only that, but everyone also says Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, so I’m excited to experience that too.” Born in Louisville, Berger played her junior hoops in Kentucky, seeing her attend Sacred Heart Academy during high school. These four years culminated in her earning Courier-Journal Athlete of the Year, Kentucky All-Star and Seventh Region Player of the Year honors as a senior, after averaging 15.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists and leading Sacred Heart back to the regional final.
This success led to her playing college basketball at Indiana for five years, producing averages of 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game across her 148 appearances. During this time, Berger was named to the First-Team All-Big Ten (2020–2023) on four occasions, while guiding the Hoosiers to their first-ever Elite Eight appearance during the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Her impressive collegiate career saw Berger selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. Across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Berger suited up with the Fever on 47 occasions.
This time in the United States was followed by stints with Spain’s Gernika KESB and Turkey’s OGM Ormanspor. With this resume – which also includes spending the past few months with the Minnesota Lynx – to her name, Berger knows she can be a massive asset to the Hoops Capital side, while also continuing to elevate her own game. “Coming in as the point guard, I know it’s important for me to be vocal and that extension of the coach on the court,” said the 26-year-old guard, who believes the WNBL style suits her game. “It’ll be up to me to get us into our offence and put my teammates in their best position to succeed on offence, while also setting the tone on defense.
“[Further to that] plenty of WNBA players whom I’m familiar with have used the WNBL to catapult their careers, which combined with the great development system that the Flames have in place, feels like the perfect place for me and my teammates to take our games to the next level and become the best players we can be. “Personally, each year as a professional, my game has continued to grow, and I’m confident that will continue in Sydney, as we aim to win another championship for the city.”
Coach Guy Molloy is thrilled to add a player of Berger’s pedigree and work ethic to his squad. “Grace was a big-time college star, that’s had a strong pro career so far, and we’re excited to have her in Sydney this season, as we feel she can add a lot to the program,” Molloy said. “Her work rate and attitude are incredible, while also being someone who can create her own shot and handle the ball – not to mention having a reputation as a ‘mid-range master’, which is a tool that not many players have in today’s modern game. “Everyone I’ve spoken to about her says she’s also an amazing teammate and willing to do whatever is needed for success, which aligns perfectly with our Flames ethos. “All in all, I know she’s someone all the Flames fans will love and is going to help us to get to where we want to be as a team and club.”
Bloomington South Boys Golf to Compete in the IHSAA State Finals at Prairie View Golf Club The Bloomington South Panthers will tee off this morning beginning at 9:20 AM this morning at the IHSAA Boys Golf State Finals at the Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. The five Panthers will tee off starting on the 10th tee every ten minutes with the last Panther golfer starting at 10 AM. The first golfers will tee off at 8 AM and the final golfers will begin at 10 AM as 108 Golfers will compete for the Indvidual State Championship and 18 teams will battle it out for the Team State Championship.
Bloomington South finished third at the Washington Regional with a team score of 307 and advanced on the fifth score tie braker over Jasper. Evansville North won the Regional Title with a score of 285 and Castle finished second with a score of 292. Bloomington North finished 11th with a team score of 292. Gibson Southern’s Peyton Blanchard won the Indvidual Title with a 67. Edgewood’s Teigen Hulbert finished with an 80.
Bloomington South will be making their 27th appearance since they became Bloomington South in 1973. Bloomington High School made 16 appearances between 1933 and 1972. Bloomington/Bloomington South has 43 total appearances including the last five State Finals in the last 6 years with no tournament held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Panthers won the State Title in 1939 and were Runner’s up in 1940, 1947 and 1997.
Bloomington South Girls Basketball Finishes 3-1 at the IBCA/IHSAA Showcase in Fishers The Bloomington South Panthers finished 3-1 over the weekend at the IBCA/IHSAA Girls Basketball Showcase in Memory of Charlie Hughes. The Panthers played at Fishers High School on Friday beating Belmont 45-44 and falling to Northridge 52-42 in the second game. Saturday the Panthers played at Hamilton Southeastern High School winning both games 50-47 over Penn and 64-17 over DeKalb.
The event featured 113 teams from all over the State of Indiana as teams played 2 or 4 games during the event. Homestead, Pike, Fort Wayne Snider, Fishers, Cathedral, Brownstown Central, Brebeuf Jesuit, Tri-West, Trinity Lutheran and Castle all finished 4-0. Norwell, Brownsburg, Center Grove, Evansville Reitz, Gibson Southern, Carmel, Connersville, Heritage Christian, North Knox, Jeffersonville, South Knox, Oldenburg Academy and Delta all finished 2-0.
The Boys showcase will take place this weekend in Carmel and Westfield Friday through Sunday as 200 teams from all over the State will compete which will include Bloomington North, Bloomington South and Edgewood.
Former Indiana Hoosiers Jordan Hulls and A.J. Guyton Join the Assembly Ball TBT Squad Assembly Ball, the Indiana alumni team hosting The Basketball Tournament’s (TBT) regional alongside All Good Dawgs (Butler alumni) at Hinkle Fieldhouse from July 19–22, announced the roster addition of Indiana alumnus Jordan Hulls. Hulls join Race Thompson, Yogi Ferrell, James Blackmon Jr. and Troy Williams as the first five roster commitments for Assembly Ball. Additional players will be announced in the coming weeks. Also joining the squad as an assistant coach will be former IU basketball great A.J. Guyton. Guyton was All-Big Ten in 1998 and 2000 at IU, Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 2000 and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1997. He was honored as an All-American in 2000 and led the Big Ten in scoring that same season, averaging 19.7 points per game. He scored 2,100 points in his Indiana career.
Hulls spent four seasons at Indiana (2009–13), playing in 135 games and starting his final 113. A key contributor on back-to-back Sweet 16 teams, he helped the Hoosiers win the 2013 Big Ten title and rise to No. 1 in the national rankings. Hulls averaged 9.5 points and 2.8 assists per game over his career while finishing fourth all time at IU in 3-point percentage (44.1%) and third in free throw percentage (85.9%). The winner of the Indianapolis Regional will advance to TBT’s quarterfinals on July 27. The semifinals will be held on July 31, and TBT’s $1 million championship will be played on Aug. 3. Tickets are on sale now at tbthoops.com/tickets. For more information on this year’s TBT or Assembly Ball, visit tbthoops.com.
Indiana University Rowing’s Annabel Ortel Named an Athlete of the Year Finalist The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) announced its list of eight finalists for the CRCA Athlete of the Year award, featuring Indiana rowing graduate student Annabel Oertel. The CRCA Athlete of the Year award is given to one rower or coxswain in each division who exemplifies the pinnacle of competitive achievement, character, and leadership. A two-time All-American, Oertel became IU’s third first-team All-American last week. Indiana has produced five All-America awards in the last four seasons. Oertel led Indiana’s Varsity Eight crew to the boat’s best-ever finish at an NCAA Championships, placing ninth nationally. As a team, IU finished No. 14 – the program’s best finish since 2019. Oertel also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Summer Ball Assignments Announced for Nine Indiana University Baseball Players A select group of returning players for the Indiana baseball program will head off to designated summer ball assignments over the next two months. Among the players set to earn more reps this offseason includes IU’s stellar group of freshman position players. Freshman outfielder Hogan Denny and freshman shortstop Cooper Malamazian will lead a group of five players in the Northwoods League. IU players have had great success in the league up north with Ryan Kraft earning Pitcher of the Year honors with Kalamazoo last summer. Freshman southpaw Brayton Thomas will get some important innings with the St. Cloud Rox. Freshman outfielder Cole Decker and freshman catcher Brayden Ricketts will head out to the Appalachian League to earn some valuable at-bats this summer. Decker was a rarely used pinch runner and Ricketts was the third-string catcher – taking a redshirt season in 2025. Sophomore catcher T.J. Schuyler returns to Keene (NECBL) where he finished out the 2024 summer. Big Ten Freshman of the Year and all-conference first baseman Jake Hanley is headed to the prestigious Cape Cod League to play some early games for the Chatham Anglers.
2025 Summer Baseball Assignments Cape Cod League: Jake Hanley (Chatham Anglers) Northwoods League: Hogan Denny (Kenosha Kingfish), Cooper Malamazian (Madison Mallards), Brayton Thomas (St. Cloud Rox) and Caleb Koskie (Mankato MoonDogs) Appalachian League: Will Moore (Pulaski River Turtles), Brayden Ricketts (Pulaski River Turtles) and Cole Decker (Bluefield Ridge Runners) New England Collegiate Baseball League: T.J. Schuyler (Keene Swampbats)