Cailtin Clark Returns as the Indiana Fever Fall to the Golden State Valkyries The Indiana Fever (9-10) dropped an 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday afternoon. Indiana was in front throughout much of the first quarter, leading 23-14 with 1:50 left on the clock, but a 7-0 run from the Valkyries made it a two-point game in favor of the home team. The Valkyries overtook the Fever in the second quarter, holding Indiana to just nine points in the second quarter to take a 41-32 lead. The Fever pulled in the game within five points in the third quarter, but were unable to overcome the deficit, as Golden State’s defense stymied Indiana’s offense and led to the visitor’s eventual win.
Returning from injury on Wednesday, Clark made her first basket of the game at the 6:46 mark of the first quarter. The score marked her first points since the 9:47 mark in the fourth quarter of the Fever’s June 24 game against Seattle, a total of 3 hours, 33 minutes and 1 second. Damiris Dantas, who missed the past five games while competing at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup with Brazil, saw her first minutes at 7:05 in the third quarter. Dantas led all players at the AmeriCup, averaging 21.4 points per game, scoring a game-high 35 points in the final against the United States. Kelsey Mitchell finished the night with 12 points, extending her double-digit scoring streak to 19 games, posting 10+ points in every game so far this season. Lexie Hull recorded her 300th rebound in the 4th quarter at 7:42, ending the night with nine rebounds. Rookie Makayla Timpson recorded a career-high 10 points, a career-high six rebound, a career-high three steals and a career-high two blocks. The Indiana Fever remain at home as part of their five-game homestand, hosting the Atlanta Dream Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air nationally on ION.
Bloomington North Names Brett Cooper as new Head Football Coach Call it Christmas in July for Brett Cooper. His plan was to hit the ground running when he woke up Wednesday, July 9, his first official day as Bloomington North’s new head football coach. He had announced his resignation from the same position at Perry Meridian on June 23, expecting to get to work with the Cougars after the regularly scheduled MCCSC board meeting the next day. But it was postponed to July 8, and like a kid staring at presents under the tree, he had to wait — and wait, to get to work. “I told my wife, it’s been almost three weeks, and I’ve been unemployed for two,” Cooper said. “It lets me know I love football. I’m chomping to get back.”
The Cougars have been in the hands of the mostly intact coaching staff left over from last year’s run under Anthony Lindsey, who resigned at the end of the school year. The official first day of practice is Aug. 4, so it’s two-minute drill time. “The timing is a little wild,” said Cooper, also hired as an assistant athletic director and business teacher. “Tomorrow is ground zero. But football is football. I joked with a lot of people about this when the opportunity presented itself. When I grew up, we put in the whole offense and defense in two weeks, so I’m not worried about the schematical side. “It’s getting to know the kids and the coaches, building that level of trust and accountability that will be the basis for our program, things you normally start establishing in December and January. Now, we’re five weeks from opening night.”
Cooper is a football lifer. Born in Springfield, Illinois, he didn’t stay there long, bouncing around like an onside kick as his dad’s college coaching career took him all over Illinois and Indiana. Robin Cooper was the last coach Evansville’s football program had before it shut down in 1997. Brett ended up graduating from high school in the Chicago suburbs and played college ball for his dad at Division III North Park in the early 2000s. He followed his dad into coaching and worked as an assistant at several spots, including Warren Central and Ohio power Massillon, before he landed his first head coaching job at Indian Creek from 2017-19, winning seven games each year. He moved on to Class 6A Perry Meridian, a program still looking for its first winning season since 2003. He inherited a program with two wins in three seasons and went 14-39. The Falcons became more competitive, especially in the Mid-State, however, going 4-7 overall in 2022 before a 2-8 season that saw five losses by six points or fewer. He went 5-6 last year.
Warren Central has ended Perry’s season at sectional three years in a row. He faces a similar challenge at North, which has posted six seasons in a row at .500 or better but also has a four-year losing streak to South in sectional play and an 11-year title drought. “Honestly, Perry Meridian was something we really took a risk on to have an impact,” Cooper said. “We did everything we could do to get things going in a different direction. And I think we left it better than we found it, and it should continue that way. “This opportunity this year, to win the last Conference Indiana title and compete in the playoffs, (North’s recent winning) helps the whole process. But a lot of work needs to be done. Getting to the sectional final is one thing; we’ve got to help push them over the top.”
Bloomington South Graduate and University of Indianapolis Redshirt Senior Derek Blubaugh Named One of Three CSC Academic All-Americans Three UIndy student-athletes were recognized as CSC Academic All-America® honorees as part of the At-Large teams, the organization announced on Wednesday. Wrestlers Derek Blubaugh who is a Bloomington South Graduate and Jackson Hoover were voted to the first team for the second straight year, while lacrosse senior Triston Schaffer joined his fellow Greyhounds as a first-time honoree on the second team. The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s At-Large teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes At-Large honorees in five divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and the College Division. Sports included as part of the At-Large program are women’s bowling, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s wrestling, among others.
Indiana Pacers Learn Group Draw for the NBA Cup A playoff rematch with a division rival highlights the Pacers’ group draw for the 2025 NBA Cup. The NBA unveiled the six groups for this year’s in-season tournament on Wednesday afternoon. Indiana is in East Group A, which also includes the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and the Washington Wizards. The Pacers took out the top-seeded Cavs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals this spring en route to the franchise’s second conference title. Indiana won all three games in Cleveland to defeat the Cavs — who led the East wire-to-wire and won 64 games in the regular season — in five games.
For the draw, the 15 teams in each conference were placed into five pots based on last year’s standings. One team from each pot was selected in a random draw to form each group. The format remains the same as the last two seasons. Each conference has been divided into three groups of five teams. Every team will play one game against every other team in its group (two home, two away for a total of four games). Group Play games will take place on “Cup Nights” on Tuesdays and Fridays from Oct. 31 – Nov. 28. The Pacers will host Atlanta and Washington in Group Play while traveling to Cleveland and Toronto for road games. At the conclusion of Group Play, the three group winners from each conference and one “wild card” team (the best second-place team in each conference) will advance to the Knockout Rounds.
The Quarterfinals will take place in NBA team markets on Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 11. The four quarterfinal winners will advance to Las Vegas for the Semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 13. The semifinal winners from each conference will meet in the Championship in Vegas on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Just like in years past, all NBA Cup games aside from the Championship will count toward the regular season standings. Dates and times for Group Play games will be announced next month when the NBA reveals the 2025-26 regular season schedule.
Indianapolis Indians Storm Back to Earn their Eighth Walk Off Win of the Season The Indianapolis Indians could not manage a run before the eighth inning but scratched across a pair of runs in the ninth inning to earn their eighth walk-off victory of the season in a 3-2 contest on Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field. With a 2-1 deficit in the ninth inning Matt Fraizer reached on a single with one out to represent the game-tying run for Indy (10-4, 52-36). He subsequently stole second and advanced to third on Gwinnett’s (7-7, 36-53) second error of the game. Tsung-Che Cheng followed with a two-out single to drive in Fraizer and Ronny Simon finished off the comeback with a walk-off double.
The Stripers struck first in the second inning, when Matthew Batten hit a two out solo home run to left-center field. The homer proved as the lone blemish on starter Sean Sullivan’s line, as he held Gwinnett scoreless and hitless otherwise. Gwinnett added a valuable insurance run to its lead in the fifth inning. Eddys Leonard led off the frame with a single stole second and advanced to third on an error before scoring on a Sandy León single. The Indians loaded the bases in their half of the fifth but could not crack the scoreboard until the eighth. Simon led off the frame with a walk before stealing a base and scoring on a single from Ji Hwan Bae to pull the Indians within one. Ryder Ryan, Colin Holderman, Michael Darrell-Hicks and Yohan Ramírez (W, 2-1) allowed only one run while combining for eight strikeouts across the final 6.0 innings of the contest. JoséRuiz(L, 0-1) took the loss for Gwinnett after allowing the game-deciding runs in the ninth.
Indiana Pacers Announce New Jersey Patch Partnership with Lucas Oil The Indiana Pacers will have a new patch on their jerseys going forward. It was announced on Wednesday that Lucas Oil and the Pacers have a “new multi-year jersey patch partnership.” As a result, Lucas Oil’s logo will be featured on the Pacers uniforms on the front left shoulder. The patch will begin appearing on the jerseys Thursday when the team starts NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas. “Lucas Oil is a true Indiana success story and a brand that has long stood for performance, innovation and community,” Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said in a news release. “We are thrilled to take our partnership to the next level and bring their name to the front of our jerseys. As we continue to grow our team’s global presence, we’re excited to help elevate Lucas Oil’s visibility on the world’s stage and to our passionate international fanbase.”
Lucas Oil, which was founded in 1989, is headquartered in Indianapolis. According to Lucas Oil, the company has “set the world standard in superior engine oils, additives, appearance and lubricant products – powering lifestyles across the automotive, trucking, marine, outdoor, motorsports, industrial and home product worlds.” “Our expanded partnership with the Indiana Pacers marks an exciting new chapter in a relationship built on shared vision, trust and outstanding results,” Lucas Oil CEO Morgan Lucas said in the news release. “This isn’t just the renewal of a contract — it’s a commitment to building on the momentum of an unforgettable Pacers season and creating new opportunities together. Through this collaboration, Lucas Oil will connect with one of the most passionate and loyal fan bases in professional sports, fueling growth, and delivering bold, innovative experiences for fans in Indiana and around the world.”