Indiana University Softball Alum Brianna Copeland Signs with Atlanta Smoke Indiana Softball alum Brianna Copeland has signed with the Atlanta Smoke of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league. Copeland joins the team in its first season in Atlanta after playing in Texas the last two seasons. The Smoke are the reigning WPF Champions, winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Copeland was a four-year standout for the Hoosiers, and her senior campaign was her best. The Pelham, Alabama, native hit .331 with 57 hits, 12 doubles, 13 home runs and 40 RBIs. She also recorded a .628 slugging percentage and a .440 on-base percentage. In the circle, she posted an 18-10 record while throwing 148 strikeouts and holding opposing batters to a .274 batting average.
Copeland was recognized as a 2025 NFCA third-team All-American, marking the second time she received the honor, as well as being named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team, NFCA All-Region First Team. She also earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and 2025 and was an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete in 2023. Through Copeland’s outstanding play, she helped elevate the standards of Indiana softball, leading the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history from 2023-25.
Carmel Native and Olympic Swimmer Aaron Shackell Announces his Transfer to Indiana University US Olympian Aaron Shackell has committed to Indiana, joining younger siblings Alex Shackell and Andrew Shackell with his commitment. Aaron made the announcement by placing @indianaswimdive in his Instagram bio. Aaron is expected to have a “hybrid” schedule just like his sister Alex will have, training with their club team Carmel Swim Club. Alex and Aaron both represented the US last summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Carmel is just over an hour north of Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana will be the third university that Aaron will have represented during his collegiate career. He arrived at Cal in fall 2023 and swam for the Golden Bears during the fall semester. He then returned home to train with his club team at Carmel while taking an Olympic Redshirt. This past season, Aaron began the fall semester with Texas and returned home to Carmel for the spring semester. Aaron Shackell was the #6 ranked recruit in the boys’ high school class of 2023. His last collegiate meet was midseason with Texas when he swam a 4:30.94 in the 500 free, off his lifetime best of a 4:15.35 that he swam in high school. Last month, Aaron competed at US Summer Nationals. He missed making the ‘A’ final of the 200 free by 0.30 seconds, swimming a 1:46.50 to be tied for 10th in prelims. He went on to finish 11th in finals (1:47.25). He also was 10th in the 200 fly (1:57.09) and 12th in the 400 free (3:52.25) but scratched both events in finals. His lifetime best in the 400 free stands at a 3:45.45, a time that he swam for 6th in the event at the Paris Olympics.
Former Indiana University Baseball Star Kyle Schwarber Selected to the Major League Baseball All Star Game for the Third Time For the third time in his career, Kyle Schwarber is an MLB All-Star. Schwarber will be returning to the Midsummer Classic for the first time since 2022 — his debut season with the Philadelphia Phillies. The former IU baseball star will serve as the backup DH for the NL. Schwarber’s 27 home runs this season are his second most in any season before the break, trailing only that ’22 campaign when he hit 29 in the first half. He ranks fifth in the MLB in home runs and 10th in RBIs. Schwarber has carried the load for Philadelphia, with no other Phillie hitting more than 11 home runs so far. He also leads the team in RBIs (63), runs (63), on-base percentage (.383), slugging percentage (.541) and OPS (.924). While he’s done it in the past, Schwarber won’t be participating in the Home Run Derby. The lefty slugger passed the 300-career homer mark earlier this season and currently stands at 311 over his 11-year MLB run. The All-Star game is Next Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Two Former Indiana Miss Basketball Stars to Play in the WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is set to be a homecoming celebration for two of Indiana’s most accomplished basketball stars, Skylar Diggins and Jackie Young. Both former recipients of the prestigious Indiana Miss Basketball award, these athletes have deep roots in the Hoosier State and are now set to showcase their talents on one of basketball’s biggest stages in Indianapolis.
Skylar Diggins: South Bend’s Basketball Icon- Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, Skylar Diggins made her mark early as a standout at Washington High School, where she led her team to a state championship and earned the title of Indiana Miss Basketball in 2009. She continued her dominance at Notre Dame, leading the Fighting Irish to multiple Final Four appearances and cementing her legacy as one of the program’s all-time greats. Now a seven-time WNBA All-Star, Diggins has become a household name in professional basketball, known for her leadership and scoring prowess.
Jackie Young: Princeton’s Record-Breaking Star-Hailing from Princeton, Indiana, Jackie Young rewrote the record books during her high school career, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Indiana high school basketball history—boys or girls—with 3,268 points. She was named Indiana Miss Basketball in 2016 and went on to win an NCAA championship with Notre Dame in 2018. As the first overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft, Young has flourished with the Las Vegas Aces, earning multiple All-Star selections and two WNBA championships.
A Celebration of Indiana Basketball- The All-Star Game in Indianapolis is more than just a showcase of elite talent; it’s a celebration of Indiana’s rich basketball heritage. Their journeys from local high school stars to WNBA All-Stars highlight the state’s deep connection to the sport and its ability to produce world-class talent. As these two Indiana legends take the court, fans in Indianapolis will have the unique opportunity to cheer on their hometown heroes and witness the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
Indianapolis Indians score 13 Runs in a Series Clinching Win over the Louisville Bats at Victory Field The Indianapolis Indians went on top in the first inning and held off the Louisville Bats despite a quartet of multi-run innings to win, 13-11, on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field. The win clinched Indianapolis’ sixth straight series victory against Louisville at home dating back to Aug. 2, 2022.The Indians (8-4, 50-36) took control of the contest early, loading the bases with just one out in the first inning. Billy Cook plated the first run for Indy on a hit by pitch and Nick Solak scored Indy’s final run of the opening frame on a wild pitch. The Bats (5-7, 37-50) came back to tie the game in the third inning on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout from Francisco Urbaez.
The Indians responded with a five-run flurry in the bottom half to break things open. Indy again loaded the bases before Cook reclaimed the lead on an RBI walk. Nick Yorke and Liover Peguero each followed with RBI singles, setting up Alika Williamsto draw Indy’s second bases-loaded walk of the game. Ronny Simon capped the third inning scoring at 7-2with a sacrifice fly, giving Indy its fifth run on just two hits in the frame. The Bats started to chip away, first with an RBI double from Jack Rogers in the fourth, but Indy got it right back with an RBI groundout by Yorke in the bottom end of the frame. The teams matched run totals again in the sixth. Davis Wendzel clubbed a three-run home run to pull the Bats within two in the top half before Jack Suwinski homered, Yorke doubled and Peguero singled to push the Indians to an 11-6 advantage.
Edwin Ríos smashed his 17th homer of the campaign, a two-run shot in the seventh, but those runs were erased with Suwinski’s fourth hit, a two-run double, in the Indians half of the inning. The RBI hit pushed the Indians to 13 runs, which is the most they’ve scored in a game this season. Additionally, Suwinski’s four-hit day matched his single-game career high in hits, which he’s accomplished twice previously. He last did so on Aug. 4,2021, at Akron while with Double-A Altoona. Louisville mounted one last comeback in the eighth, pushing across three runs on a walk and atrio of hits, but were shut down by Yohan Ramírez(S,7). Burch Smith (W, 2-0) took the win for Indy despite tossing only 0.2 innings, while Bats starter Chase Petty (L, 2-5) earned the decision after allowing seven runs (five earned) in 2.0 innings of work .The Indians had the day off on Monday before beginning a six-game series against the Gwinnett Stripers, Triple-AAA affiliate the Atlanta Braves, this evening at 7:05 PM from Victory Field. Both teams have yet to name a starter for the series opener.
15 Former Indiana University Football Players are on NFL Training Camp Rosters The 2025 NFL season is quickly approaching, and that means several former Indiana football players are battling for roster spots. Below is a summary of which Hoosiers are currently on 90-man rosters, along with the key dates as teams get set to cut down to 53 players. The Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions, who will face off in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31, will be the first two teams to have rookies and veterans report. Chargers veterans report on July 16, while Lions veterans report on July 19. Veterans on all of the other teams report the week of July 21. Here are some other key dates ahead of the 2025 season: Aug. 7-10: First Preseason Weekend. Aug. 15-18: Second Preseason Weekend. Aug. 21-23: Third Preseason Weekend. Aug. 26: Prior to 4:00 p.m. ET, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the Active/Inactive List. Sept. 4-5, 7-8: NFL Kickoff Weekend.
FORMER HOOSIERS CURRENTLY ON 90-MAN ROSTERS:
- James Carpenter, Jacksonville Jaguars, Defensive Tackle
- Luke Haggard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Offensive Tackle
- Zach Horton, Detroit Lions, Tight End
- Cam Jones, Kansas City Chiefs, Linebacker
- Raheem Layne, New York Giants, Safety
- Marcelino McCrary-Ball, New York Jets, Linebacker
- Micah McFadden, New York Giants, Linebacker
- Myles Price, Minnesota Vikings, Wide Receiver
- Kurtis Rourke, San Francisco 49ers, Quarterback
- Ian Thomas, Las Vegas Raiders, Tight End
- Jailin Walker, Las Vegas Raiders, Linebacker
- Trey Wedig, Los Angeles Rams, Offensive Tackle
- CJ West, San Francisco 49ers, Defensive Tackle
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Miami Dolphins, Wide Receiver
- Ke’Shawn Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Wide Receiver
The above are players who finished their careers at IU. Of note, Michael Penix, Jr. (Atlanta) and A.J. Barner (Seattle) are back in the league in 2025.
NOTABLE UNSIGNED FREE AGENTS- Dan Feeney, OL, Peyton Hendershot, TE and Caleb Jones, OL.