Indiana Fever to have 17 Games Televised Locally on WTHR and WALV in Indianapolis
Fresh off a historic WNBA draft night and broad fan excitement for one of the League’s most successful franchises, the Indiana Fever and TEGNA, Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) announced on Monday a partnership to broadcast select Fever games during the 2024 season. Seventeen games will be shown for free over the air on WTHR or WALV, TEGNA’s NBC and MeTV affiliates in Indianapolis, giving fans across central Indiana the opportunity to watch the team and its young superstars compete to return to the WNBA playoffs. TEGNA will work with additional broadcast companies in the coming weeks to expand free over the air access to all available television markets outside of Indianapolis.
“So many new fans are tuning in to watch the world’s best basketball players compete in the WNBA, and the Fever have built a roster of incredible young talent that has caught the attention of basketball fans all over the globe,” said Rick Fuson, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. “TEGNA and WTHR have been amazing local partners for years, and we are excited that more fans than ever before will get the chance to watch these amazing athletes play.”
“This is an exhilarating moment for women’s sports. The WNBA and Fever are leading the charge with this groundbreaking local broadcast rights agreement,” said Dave Lougee, President and CEO, TEGNA. “The remarkable journey of Caitlin Clark and her teammates has captured the hearts and minds of millions. We’re thrilled to deliver all the Fever action to every household in the Indianapolis region.”
“We’re delighted to build on our strong marketing partnership with the Pacers and Fever and our longstanding commitment to local Indianapolis sports,” said Michael Brouder, General Manager, WTHR. “Our station has always been at the center of the biggest local events that capture the spirit of Hoosiers far and wide. Our entire team in front of and behind the camera will be helping the Fever connect with our community and fans like never before.”
The partnership between the Fever and TEGNA was brokered and negotiated by Dan Granik and David Sternberg of Range Sports, a Division of Range Media Partners, long-time consultants to Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The following games will be shown for free over the air on WTHR or WALV:
| DATE | TIME (ET) | OPPONENT | STATION |
| May 16 | 7:00 p.m. | vs New York | WTHR |
| May 22 | 10:00 p.m. | at Seattle | WTHR |
| May 25 | 9:00 p.m. | at Las Vegas | WTHR |
| May 30 | 7:00 p.m. | vs Seattle | WTHR |
| June 1 | 1:00 p.m. | vs Chicago | WALV |
| June 2 | 7:00 p.m. | at New York | WALV |
| June 10 | 7:00 p.m. | at Connecticut | WTHR |
| June 13 | 7:00 p.m. | vs Atlanta | WTHR |
| June 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at Chicago | WALV |
| June 27 | 10:00 p.m. | at Seattle | WALV |
| July 10 | 12:00 p.m. | vs Washington | WTHR |
| Aug. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | at Atlanta | WTHR |
| Sept. 4 | 7:00 p.m. | vs Los Angeles | WALV |
| Sept. 8 | 4:00 p.m. | vs Atlanta | WTHR |
| Sept. 11 | 7:00 p.m. | vs Las Vegas | WALV |
| Sept. 15 | 3:00 p.m. | vs Dallas | WALV |
| Sept. 19 | 7:00 p.m. | at Washington | WTHR |
Last week, the Fever selected Iowa star Caitlin Clark with the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, joins a talented roster that includes Olympian, WNBA All-Star, and unanimous 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston; WNBA All-Star and 2023 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award winner Kelsey Mitchell; NaLyssa Smith, the 2nd pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft; and more. Earlier this month, the WNBA announced that 36 of the Fever’s 40 regular season games will be broadcast on national television, as well. Fever season ticket packages and single-game tickets for the upcoming season are on sale now at FeverBasketball.com/Tickets.
Indiana University Women’s Golf Wins the Big Ten Championship
For the first time since 1998, the Indiana Hoosiers women’s golf team won the 2024 Big Then Championship. IU shot an 856 (288-285-283; -8) at the Bulle Rock Golf Course in Harve De Grace, Maryland over the weekend to earn the program’s eighth Big Ten Championship. Indiana’s final score ranked as the third-lowest three-round team output in program history, the lowest IU final mark in Big Ten Championship history, and the fourth-lowest winning tally in Big Ten Championships history. The eight team titles rank third in the Big Ten trailing only Ohio State (15) and Michigan State (9). Fifth-year senior Caroline Craig shot a 209 (69-69-71; -7) to become the 11th Hoosier to win the Big Ten Championship as an individual and the first since Danah Ford in 2004. Her three-round score tied for the third-lowest tournament score in program history, marked the lowest score by a Hoosier at the Big Ten Championship, and ranks as the sixth-lowest Big Ten Championship winning score in the history of the event.
Fifth-year senior Caroline Carig tied for medalist honors with a three-round score of 209 (69-69-71; -7). She produced a total of 14 birdies, tied for the team lead and the second most in the field of 84 players. Craig played under par for all three rounds. The Georgia transfer was 5-under on Par 5 holes for the weekend. Her 4.58 strokes per hole on Par 5s paced the tournament. Redshirt junior Caroline Smith tied for fourth and shot a 211 (73-71-67; -5). She matched Craig with 14 birdie conversions, second-most in the tournament, and secured at least four birdies in all three rounds. Smith’s bogey-free third round of 67 (-5) tied for the fifth-lowest single round in program history and ranks as the second-lowest single round in Big Ten Tournament history by a Hoosier behind only Erin Harper’s 66 in 2019. Sophomore Chloe Johnson played a 219 (72-71-76; +3) and tied for 23rd. She carded eight total birdies, which included four in the second round. Sophomore Faith Johnson returned to the clubhouse with a 54-hole score of 220 (74-74-72; +4). The Furman transfer led the field with 42 par conversions. Senior Dominika Burdová finished 54th at 228 (78-77-73; +12). She converted eight birdies with four in the third round. Redshirt sophomore Maddie May aced the third hole in the final round to finish at 229 (77-75-77; +13). She played seven birdies over three rounds.
The Big Ten Champion Indiana Hoosiers will await their NCAA Regional fate during the NCAA Women’s Selection Show, which will air at 2pm on Wednesday, on the GOLF Channel. Indiana earned a bid to one of the following regional sites: Auburn, Ala., Bermuda Run, N.C., Bryan, Texas, Cle Elum, Wash., Lansing, Mich., or Las Vegas.
Indiana University Men’s Golf wins Second Straight Tournament The Indiana men’s golf team shot an 871 (296-291-284; +19) to win the 52nd annual Robert Kepler Invitational played on the OSU Scarlet Course Friday through Sunday. The victory comes on the heels of winning the 2024 Hoosier Collegiate on April 7. The last time Indiana claimed multiple stroke-play tournament wins in a single season came in 2012-13. IU won the Northern Intercollegiate, Mission Inn Spring Spectacular, and NYX Hoosier Invitational that season. IU has won the Kepler Invitational five times in 33 appearances. Indiana’s last triumph in the event came in the spring of 1980.
Sixth-year senior Noah Gillard earned his second-straight top-5 finish and shot a 217 (75-72-70; +4) to tie for fifth place. He added seven birdies and an eagle on No. 12 in the second round to his scorecard. Graduate Thomas Hursey tied for fifth, his second-consecutive top-10 finish, after he turned a scorecard of 217 (74-72-71; +4). He converted seven birdies, which included four in the second round. Senior Drew Salyers tied for 22nd with a final tally of 221 (71-79-71; +8). He compiled six birdies throughout the weekend. Redshirt junior Robert Bender III shot a 223 (76-71-76; +10) with eight total birdie conversions. Freshman Cole Starnes finished at 224 (76-76-72; +11) with seven birdies. Postseason play will begin with the 2024 Big Ten Championships at the Scioto Country Club in Columbus. The 54-hole tournament will run from April 26-28.
Indiana University Softball’s Alex Cooper named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week
Indiana freshman Alex Cooper was named the Big Ten’s Co-Freshman of the Week by the conference office Monday afternoon. Cooper earned the honor for her outstanding play throughout the week of April 15-21 when the Hoosiers went 5-1 against Notre Dame, Purdue and Iowa. She was named co-freshman of the week along with Michigan’s Ella Stephenson. For the week, Cooper hit .353 at the plate with two home runs and six RBI while scoring five runs of her own. Cooper had a career day against Notre Dame last Tuesday when the Hoosiers won 5-3. She went 2-for-3 in the game with two home runs and five RBI. Her second home run was a walk-off grand slam to secure the win.
Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball player Kaleb Banks Transfers to Tulane University
Former Indiana forward Kaleb Banks has found a new home. The 6-foot-8 Banks announced on Sunday he is headed to Tulane where he’ll join head coach Ron Hunter. The Green Wave had a disappointing 14-17 season in 2023-24. The Georgia product averaged 2.6 points and shot 39.2 percent from the field as a sophomore at IU. He was one of Indiana’s key players in a win over Louisville with eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals. And he added a 12-point, five rebound effort in a win over Kennesaw State in late December.
His role significantly declined over the course of the season, however, signaling a possible transfer. Banks only appeared in late game mop-up duty over the last two months of the season. He did not play at all in 12 games. A year ago as freshman, Banks played in 24 games and averaged 2.0 points. Banks arrived at IU from Hampton, Ga., where he was the Georgia Class 4A Player of the Year for Fayette County H.S. He was a 2,000-point scorer and a 4-star top-100 recruit. Banks will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at Tulane.
Indiana Pacers Blown out in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs
Indiana’s first playoff appearance since the bubble started off on the wrong foot. The Pacers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, 109-94, on Sunday night. With Giannis Antetokounmpo out, Bucks guard Damian Lillard stole the show. He had 19 points in the first quarter alone, and all 35 of his points came in the first half. The Pacers started the game 0-for-13 from 3-point range before Myles Turner finally saw one fall from the corner. Indiana trailed, 69-42, at halftime. Milwaukee’s lead was cut to as little as 12 in the second half, but the Pacers fell into too deep of a hole after a slow start. Forward Pascal Siakam led the way for Indiana with 36 points. The former Raptor set a new playoff career-high in his first postseason appearance as a Pacer. The Bucks will host Game 2 tonight before the series comes to Indianapolis on Friday and Sunday.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson