Indiana Fever Advance to the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Final with a Home Win over the Connecticut Sun The Indiana Fever (6-5) advanced to the Commissioner’s Cup Final, which will be played on July 1 at the Minnesota Lynx, with an 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night. With the win, the Fever earned an additional $3,000 for their Commissioner’s Cup beneficiary, Peace Learning Center, bringing their tournament total to $13,000 with a 4-1 record. Indiana took an early lead with free throws from Natasha Howard, which the Fever maintained throughout the remainder of the quarter, thanks in large part to an additional eight points from Howard. The Fever’s backcourt duo of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell scored nine and eight points, respectively, in the second quarter to give Indiana 47-39 lead at the halftime break. The third quarter saw Indiana take a 17-point lead with 21 points scored, limiting the Sun to just 13 points to put the Fever in front 68-52. Seven points from Damiris Dantas in the fourth quarter, along with five from Clark and Sophie Cunningham, capped off the final-clinching win.
The Fever earned $3,000 for their Commissioner’s Cup beneficiary, Peace Learning Center, bringing their tournament total to $13,000 with a 4-1 record. · The Indiana Fever advanced to the Commissioner’s Cup Final, where they will face the Minnesota Lynx on July 1 in Minnesota at 8 PM. Natasha Howard recorded her 50th career double-double in the third quarter, finishing the night with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The double-double is Howard’s second of the year. Kelsey Mitchell finished the night with 17 points, extending her double-digit scoring streak to 11 games, posting 10+ points in every game so far this season. The Indiana Fever begin a three-game road swing beginning tonight at expansion side Golden State Valkyries with tip off set for 10 PM on Amazon Prime Video nationally and WTHR locally.
Former Indiana Hoosier Grace Berger Signs with the Los Angeles Sparks Grace Berger has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA franchise announced Tuesday. Berger, a former IU guard, was waived by the Minnesota Lynx last month before the start of the WNBA season. Berger recently signed a deal with the Sydney Flames of the WNBL. Per the Sparks: “The Los Angeles Sparks have signed guard Grace Berger to a rest-of-season hardship contract. In 47 games over two WNBA seasons, the 26-year-old is averaging 3.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, converting 44.1 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from beyond the arc. Berger was drafted seventh overall by the Indiana Fever.”
The Sparks lost the Seattle Storm, who just signed former IU All-American Mackenzie Holmes Tuesday Night 98-67 in Los Angeles. Berger played 16 minutes off the bench going 0-4 from the field, 0-2 from three-point range with a rebound, an assist, a foul and 3 turnovers. Berger is a career 76.9 percent free-throw shooter. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Berger finished her IU career with 1,841 points, 573 assists and 752 rebounds. She averaged 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals and shot 45.2 percent for her IU career in five seasons. Indiana won 118 games with Berger on the floor. She played in 148 games for the Hoosiers, making 118 starts. She was a four-time All-Big Ten first team honoree and was named USWBA and WBCA All-American honorable mention in the 2022-23 season.
Jake Hanley Named Finalist for the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award After a fantastic rookie campaign at first base, freshman Jake Hanley was unveiled as one of the national finalists for the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division One Gold Glove award. The organization revealed three candidates at all infield positions and six finalists for the outfield spot on Monday afternoon. Hanley took over for veteran first baseman Brock Tibbitts this season and started all 56 games at his position. He was the first IU player to start every game in his rookie campaign since Logan Sowers (2015). Hanley was an instant impact defender in his debut campaign. He fielded at a perfect 1.000 clip with zero errors in over 400 chances.
The Hoosiers spent most of the season with three underclassmen in its infield positions. Along with Hanley, shortstop Cooper Malamazian and third baseman Will Moore each started over 40 contests for IU. The play of Hanley helped IU field at .970 clip on season. He picked a number of balls out of the dirt and became an easy target with his 6-foot-6 frame at the corner. Former infielder Tony Butler (2B) was the last IU player to make the ABCA/Rawlings National Gold Glove team. He worked a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 2016 with 77 putouts and 126 assists. Current IU assistant coach and former Wright State outfielder Zach Weatherford made the team in 2019. Hanley is the only freshman in the country to be named a finalist for the ABCA/Rawlings Division One Gold Glove team. He is one of three finalists for the first base position with Mulivai Levu (UCLA) and Cooper McMurray (Auburn). Levu narrowly edged out Hanley for the Big Ten’s All-Defensive team nod. All gold glove winners will be named later this week. It’s the 18th season that the organization has handed out the award to the best defensive players in college baseball.
Incoming Indiana University Volleyball Freshman Jaidyn Jager and Charlotte Vinson Named to the JVA All-American Team Incoming freshman outside hitters Charlotte Vinson and Jaidyn Jager were selected to the 23-person JVA Girls’ All-National Team for the class of 2025. The organization, the Junior Volleyball Association, announced the various teams last week for each high school age group. The JVA recognizes the top female indoor volleyball players competing for a member club in the 15s through 18s age group. Vinson, a product of Munciana, and Jager, who played for COAST, helped lead their respective programs to successful seasons in the spring.
Jager was a member of the 2025 USA Volleyball Girls 18U Open All-Tournament team. She fell just short of winning the Girls 18U Open National Championship, losing a deciding deuce set to Arizona Storm. Last year in 2024, she helped her club program to the 18U Elite Triple Crown Championship. Vinson and Munciana were winners of Silver Bracket A in the same tournament. Both players have reported to campus for summer classes and will be important additions to IU’s roster in 2025. Vinson and Jager were both consensus top 55 recruits in the class by Prep Volleyball and Prep Dig. They join a deep group of pin hitters including returning starters Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Avry Tatum.
Former Indiana Men’s Basketball Player Al Durham is the latest to 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 former Hoosier Al Durham. Durham joins Jordan Hulls, Race Thompson, Yogi Ferrell, James Blackmon Jr. and Troy Williams as the first six roster commitments for Assembly Ball. Additional players will be announced in the coming weeks. Durham spent four seasons at Indiana (2017–21), appearing in 97 career games. After cementing himself as a starter in his sophomore season, Durham averaged 9.8 points per game in his final three seasons with the Hoosiers. Durham transferred to Providence for his fifth year of eligibility, helping lead the Friars to the Sweet 16.
After graduation, Durham has spent three seasons playing professionally in Europe. Durham most recently played for Bàsquet Girona in Spain. 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.
WNBA All-Star Scavenger Hunt to Celebrate Women’s Hoops in Indiana Let the games begin! To get fans excited for the WNBA All-Star 2025 on July 18-19, officials have announced a statewide scavenger hunt. The All-Star Scavenger Hunt will kick off on Thursday, June 26 and take place at 20 locations across 17 cities in Indiana. Clues for each location in the scavenger hunt will feature trivia on Indiana’s iconic female basketball players, teams and programs and key moments, Pacers Sports & Entertainment officials said. The clues will be released by email and on social media. “As part of this summer’s red-hot celebration for WNBA All-Star, the All-Star Scavenger Hunt will engage Hoosiers from around the state and tap their knowledge of our state’s rich history of women’s basketball,” said Mel Raines, WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee Founding Chair and Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO. “WNBA All-Star Weekend is about so much more than what happens on the court and this scavenger hunt will showcase legendary Indiana basketball moments while sparking some interactive fun along the way.”
Here’s how it works: (descriptions provided by Pacers Sports and Entertainment)– Sign up at allstarhunt2025.com to get early access to clues, one hour before they go public on the date designated for your city. Clues will be released via email and on Pacers Sports & Entertainment’s social media including Facebook, Instagram and X. Be the first to arrive at the correct location with the right answer and receive two complimentary tickets for either the WNBA Starry 3 Point Contest and Kia WNBA Skills Challenge on Friday, July 18, or the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 19. Each All-Star Scavenger Hunt location will feature fun facts, lively conversations and several interactive opportunities including games, music and special guests.
The following locations will be included in the scavenger hunt: TIP OFF – Indianapolis -Thursday, June 26
Muncie – Friday, June 27
Fort Wayne – Friday, June 27
Seymour – Saturday, June 28
Bloomington – Saturday, June 28
Madison – Saturday, June 28
Fishers – Monday, June 30
Plainfield – Monday, June 30
Indianapolis – Tuesday, July 1
New Castle – Tuesday, July 1
Hammond – Wednesday, July 2
Indianapolis – Thursday, July 3
Evansville – Monday, July 7
Franklin – Monday, July 7
Warsaw – Tuesday, July 8
South Bend – Tuesday, July 8
West Lafayette – Wednesday, July 9
Lebanon – Wednesday, July 9
Terre Haute – Wednesday, July 9
FINALE – Indianapolis – Friday, July 11