Local Sports News: June 30, 2025

Devin Taylor Named a Unanimous All-American Junior outfielder Devin Taylor, one of the greatest players the program has ever seen, became a unanimous All-American on Thursday afternoon. With the release of D1 Baseball’s All-American teams, Taylor was honored by every major outlet following his outstanding junior campaign. Taylor becomes just the third player in program history to be named as a unanimous All-American. Kyle Schwarber and Dustin DeMuth were both awarded the same honor following IU’s outstanding 2014 campaign. In three weeks’ time, Taylor will seek to become the highest-drafted player since Schwarber went fourth overall – 11 years ago.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native smashed the career home run record during his junior season in Bloomington. He slugged at least 16 home runs in all three seasons and totaled 229 hits in 655 at-bats. He steadily improved his consistency during his college career, taking his batting average from .315 to .374 from his freshman to junior campaigns. Taylor was honored as a first-team selection by Perfect Game, Baseball America and the College Baseball Foundation. He was a second-team pick by the ABCA, NCBWA and D1 Baseball. He collected eight All-American honors during his collegiate career and leaves as one of the most decorated Hoosiers of all-time. On top of individual accolades, Taylor helped the Hoosiers to over 100 wins during his IU career. He made three Big Ten Tournaments and two NCAA Tournaments and led the program to seven postseason wins. Taylor is likely to become the highest-drafted player under head coach Jeff Mercer. A program legend by all accounts.

Taylor’s Postseason Honors (2025)
– First Team All-Big Ten (OF)
– Big Ten All-Tournament Team (OF)
– ABCA/Rawlings Midwest First Team All-Region
– Perfect Game First Team All-American
– NCBWA Second Team All-American
– ABCA Second Team All-American
– Baseball America First Team All-American
– College Baseball Foundation First Team All-American
– D1 Baseball Second Team All-American

Indiana University Selects CLC to Elevate Brand Program Indiana University is entering into a partnership with CLC, the nation’s leading collegiate licensing company, to assist in the management and marketing of IU’s trademark licensing program. The collaboration with IU and its licensees will further elevate the IU brand through an expanded portfolio of products and programs for fans. The new partnership will build on IU’s efforts to deliver innovative university-branded products, retail programs, and brand activations while maximizing value. This strategic, cohesive approach to merchandise and new revenue streams will support the IU student experience and key university programs, both top priorities for IU President Pamela Whitten.

“I’ve seen firsthand the immense pride people across Indiana and around the world havein IU, and this partnership will enable us to expand the universe of those wishing to display their love of our great university,” said Whitten. The university, which currently manages its licensing program in-house, conducted an extensive evaluation process to select the right partner that included industry benchmarking and data analysis, with due diligence led by a cross-university Task Force and supported by national strategic advisory firm Vianovo.

“We are excited to leverage CLC’s deep industry relationships and national footprint withother top college brands to expand the reach of our licensing program,” said Doug Booher, IU Associate Vice President and Chair of the IU Licensing Task Force. “Their ability to customize and scale programs and adhere to IU’s strong traditions, values, and commitment to innovation stood out to us. Together we can build upon work underwayand exceed the expectations of our fans.”

Indiana currently works with more than 300 licensed manufacturers to provide university branded merchandise to retailers across the country. CLC’s access to nearly 100,000 retailers will help strengthen the university’s relationship with key licensing partners while delivering new product opportunities and innovative, data-based retail and digital marketing programs to elevate the IU brand. “Indiana University is one of our nation’s largest academic institutions, with beautiful campuses, vibrant communities, strong core values, and a storied history of athletic success and academic entrepreneurial innovation. We are excited to help bring their brand story to life through a licensed merchandise program designed to delight IU fans with enhanced quality, assortment, and product availability,” said John Greeley, CLC’s SVP of Partnerships. “President Whitten and her team are committed to serving IU fans throughout Indiana and around the country, and we are honored and excited to help deepen their connection to IU.” The partnership with CLC officially begins July 1, 2025.

Hoosiers Represented at Athlete Activism Summit Three Indiana University student-athletes recently attended the “Athlete Ally Activism Summit,” held June 12–15, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, and Stevenson, Washington. The event was hosted by Athlete Ally in partnership with Adidas and centered around the theme of “spirit”—exploring its connection to self and mental health, the environment and personal values, and team and community. The IU student-athletes in attendance were Sadie Canelli (Field Hockey), Charlotte Rozzi (Rowing), and Chase Boyer (Women’s Tennis). Chase Boyer was selected as one of 13 inaugural athletes featured in the Athlete Ally Collective to empower college athletes to champion allyship in athletics and provide them with access to NIL deals.

Over the course of four days, the student-athletes engaged in a variety of thought-provoking workshops and experiences. They explored the concept of spirit in depth, examined their roles as leaders and advocates, gained insights into personal identity and brand development, and learned about the Native American history of the land at Skamania Lodge. The summit also offered the opportunity to connect with others while taking in the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Indiana’s student-athletes reflected on and shared their experiences from the summit:

Chase Boyer, Women’s Tennis- “The Athlete Activism Summit was an educational and eye-opening experience for me. Firstly, I did not know of many of the struggles that LGBTQ+ athletes dealt with, such as connecting with their fellow athletes or feeling welcomed into their athletic program. I always thought I tried to be inclusive, but hearing others’ stories made me realize I can do more. I especially enjoyed meeting and befriending athletes of all types of backgrounds from all over the country. I hope to bring the bright spirit from the summit back to Bloomington, in hopes of making the athletes here more confident and comfortable in all aspects of their identity. “

Sadie Canelli, Field Hockey- “Entering Athlete Ally, I initially felt apprehensive about meeting new people and sharing my personal experiences. However, as I encountered more individuals who spoke openly and vulnerably about their own lives, I came to understand that being able to share my story—and to be genuinely heard—is a profound privilege. Advocacy and allyship are not defined by a single action; rather, they involve a sustained commitment to using one’s resources and privileges to amplify the voices and experiences of others. Just being able to hang out and do fun activities with people who understand and hear you is such an amazing experience. One of my favorite experiences was the first day of getting there when people went so far out of their way to connect with others, and I met some amazing friends through just making friendship bracelets on a couch together. I would wholeheartedly recommend Athlete Ally to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of allyship or looking for a genuine, welcoming community.

Charlotte Rozzi, Rowing- “I had a great experience at the Athlete Ally Activism Summit. My favorite part of the program was getting to hear different panelists and speakers discuss hard conversations that directly affect student athletes. We also attended breakout rooms where we got to discuss the issues further within small groups and touch on our individual experiences. The biggest thing that I took away from this weekend is that there are many ways we can work on expanding the outreach of Indiana’s ally group, Hoosiers Out Loud. While I am not sure we have the capacity to work alongside a group such as Athlete Ally, there are many of their strategies we can implement.

I think that the most important thing I would want to share with others is the reminder that safe spaces are created, they don’t appear out of thin air. It takes time, commitment, and community to create long lasting spaces where student-athletes can feel appreciated and heard within their sports, and athletic departments. I hope that we can bring back a new sense of urgency for helping to develop Indiana’s Ally group and instill values that Athlete Ally holds. I want to expand our group to be known as an Ally group and not solely a LGBTQIA+ community within athletics. Getting more people involved strengthens the numbers as well as the impact of the group Lastly, I hope to have more consistent meetings and events which could consist of pride games, honoring history months, and more.

Indiana Pacers Las Vegas Summer League Schedule announced The NBA announced Friday the game and broadcast schedules for NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025, which will take place July 10-20 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. All 76 games of the 11-day competition will air live on ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+ and ESPN3) or NBA TV. Every game will also be available to stream on the ESPN App. The Indiana Pacers will play four games from July 10-17, beginning Thursday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m. ET against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After each team’s first four games, the top four teams will advance to participate in the playoffs, beginning with a semifinal doubleheader on Saturday, July 19 at 4 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET on ESPN. The two winning teams from the semifinal games will meet in the championship game on Sunday, July 20 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN. The 26 teams that do not advance to the four-team playoff will play a fifth game on either Friday, July 18, July 19 or July 20.

Indianapolis is Interested in an NHL Expansion Team Indianapolis is on the short list of cities interested in a potential NHL expansion team, according to a report by the Daily Faceoff. Five markets have expressed interest in joining the professional hockey league — Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, Austin and Indianapolis. According to Daily Faceoff reporter Frank Seravalli, the NHL informed the Board of Governors Wednesday that Indy was among those eying an expansion team.

Indianapolis is already the home of the Indy Fuel, the ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, which plays in the newly constructed Fishers Event Center northeast of the city. An expansion team comes with a hefty price tag. According to Sportico, creating a new NHL team will cost $2 billion in an expansion fee to be paid to the NHL. Plus, the franchise’s new owners would need to commit $1 billion to building a new arena, if the city needs one.

For markets with NBA teams, like Indy, a new arena might not be needed. NHL and NBA teams share an arena in 11 different cities. But it might not be that easy for the Circle City. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Indiana Pacers and Fever, is not built to hold a professional-sized hockey rink, a Fieldhouse official told News 8 Saturday. That means either renovations to the Fieldhouse or a brand new arena would be needed to house an NHL team. While the Fishers Event Center meets the dimensions for an NHL rink, the 7,500 seat capacity doesn’t match other NHL arenas that typically hold from 15,000 to 21,500 seats.

Atlanta has been the loudest with their interest in bringing the NHL back to Georgia’s state capital. Forsyth County, which borders Atlanta’s Fulton County, just approved a $3 billion mixed-use, NHL-ready arena called The Gathering at South Forsyth. If granted the expansion team, it would be the Peach State’s third try at supporting a professional hockey team. Atlanta was the home of the Flames and Thrashers before both teams moved to Canada, becoming the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets, respectively. Despite all the chatter, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman hasn’t confirmed any expansion details. “We have no pending applications, and we’re not seeking to initiate a formal process at this point,” Bettman told Daily Faceoff Wednesday.

The league is expected to intensify discussions of a potential expansion now that the NHLPA has a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was announced on Friday. So far, no official expansion bids have been put in front of the league — only “expressions of interest,” according to the Daily Faceoff article. Bettman told Daily Faceoff that a city has to check four boxes to be considered for an expansion team: “cohesive and well-heeled ownership, an NHL-ready arena, a burgeoning market and to answer the question if it makes the NHL better.” Only then will the bid be voted on by the Board of Governors. News 8 reached out to Indiana Sports Corp and the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office for confirmation on recent reports but have not received a response.

Indianapolis Indians Rout the Omaha Storm Chasers 12-1 A four-run first and a pair of three-run frames–the second of which was highlighted by a Jack Suwinski three-run blast–propelled the Indianapolis Indians to a 12-1win over the Omaha Storm Chasers on Saturday night at Victory Field. The Indians (45-34) came out swinging in the bottom half of the first frame, with the first six batters reaching safely. Ronny Simon drew a lead-off walk, and four consecutive singles off the bats of Ji Hwan Bae, Billy Cook ,Jack Suwinski and Nick Yorke sent three runs across the plate.

Malcom Nuñez broke up the singles by reaching on a fielder’s choice to set up a Liover Peguero sacrifice fly to cap the inning’s scoring. The home half of the second started similarly to the first, with Simon reaching on a lead-off walk and a Bae single. A wild pitch by John Gant (L,1-2) brought Simon home Yorke connected for his second RBI single, and Nuñez sent an RBI double to left to give the Indians a 7-1 early advantage. Peguero added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth with his fourth longball of the season and an RBI single in the seventh. Suwinski put an exclamation point on the night with a three-run shot over the leftfield wall in the eighth. The Storm Chasers’ (33-46) lone run of the contest was a bases-loaded walk issued to Joey Wiemer in the opening frame. Bubba Chandler tossed 3.1 innings, striking out six batters while walking four and yielding a run on three hits. Indian’s relievers Randy Labaut, Dauri Moreta(W,2-0) and Burch Smith combined for5.2 shutout innings, with Moreta striking out four of the six batters he faced.