Keeping the faith: GCU, others believe religion and sports can coexist

PHOENIX – GCU is an interdenominational Christian university whose messaging of faith exists in a world where religion and sports can sometimes be uncomfortable bedfellows.

Members of the GCU men’s basketball team believe in not only playing together but praying together as a means to strengthen their team. (Photo courtesy of GCU Athletics)

Star athletes and best friends: Basha’s Gabriella and J.J. Garcia share unique bond through sports

CHANDLER – Gabriella and J.J. Garcia share a unique sisterhood through playing sports at Basha High School. With a mom who was a star at Arizona State University, the two sisters learned the competitive spirit, discipline and love for one another.

Sisters J.J., left, and Gabriella Garcia share a special bond at Basha High School as they prepare for their respective state championship runs. (Photo courtesy of Gabriella Garcia)

Golf It Forward aims to grow women’s golf, empower future generations through Marilynn Smith’s legacy

SCOTTSDALE – Marilynn Smith served as an LPGA icon on and off the course and Golf It Forward has served as a beacon for keeping her spirit and traditions alive behind the vision of Smith's dear friend Debbie Waitkus.

Marilynn Smith, one of the 13 founders of the LPGA, helped grow the women's game through her 21 tournament victories and tireless promotion of the sport. (Photo by Gregory Lee/Fairfax Media via Getty Images)

Hockey hotbed: Arizona might have lost its NHL team, but push for the sport’s growth continues

PHOENIX – The Arizona Coyotes are relocating to Utah next season, but the team’s effect on the growth of hockey in the Grand Canyon State is evident.

Hockey in Arizona remains strong behind the explosion in popularity from the high school level to the NHL. (File photo by Savannah M Nugent/Cronkite News)

Clock is ticking: Arizona Cardinals set eyes on NFL draft with fourth pick overall

PHOENIX – With the NFL draft on the horizon, the Arizona Cardinals are preparing for what could be a generational draft but no one knows the true plan.

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort is focused on finding "good players" and "good people" through the 2024 NFL Draft to build the team back into a contender. (Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Epes/Arizona Cardinals)

Pressure, resilience define former Pinnacle star Spencer Rattler’s unconventional journey to NFL draft

PHOENIX – Ever since middle school, Spencer Rattler has been in the spotlight. From Pinnacle High to Oklahoma to South Carolina, the quarterback’s closest coaches and trainers from Arizona reflect on how he’s dealt with the pressure leading up to the NFL draft.

Former Pinnacle High School quarterback Spencer Rattler participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in March. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

NFL tight end Mark Andrews wants to inspire others with diabetes both on and off the field

MESA – Mark Andrews, a tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, has never let his type 1 diabetes slow him down on the field or off it. He aims to inspire others with his story and his accomplishments despite his diagnosis.

Mark Andrews, giving low-fives to a group of Dexcom employees, is grateful for having a continuous glucose monitor to help him control his blood sugar. (Photo courtesy of Dexcom)

After losing players to the transfer portal, Arizona State football looks to returnees to bolster defensive line

TEMPE – Every school loses players to the transfer portal, but the Arizona State football team is counting on some returnees to bolster its defensive line.

Edge rusher Prince Dorbah is among the returning players that could help boost the defensive line. (Photo by Spencer Barnes/Cronkite News) Edge rusher Prince Dorbah is among the returning players that could help boost the defensive line. (Photo by Spencer Barnes/Cronkite News)

A walk toward growth: Success of Nelly Korda, improved marketing could help increase LPGA audience

GILBERT – Now firmly settled into the LPGA 2024 season with Arizona hosting the inaugural Ford Classic in March, golfers reflect on the recent growth that the sport has seen plus improvements that still can be made.

Golfer Robyn Choi walks toward the third green of Seville Golf and Country Club, which serves as one of the 25 LPGA tournaments to be played in the U.S. in 2024 out of the 37 announced at the beginning of the season. (Photo by Maxwell Williams/Cronkite News)

Inspired: Football mom’s idea brings HBCU programs, local players together at Arizona camp

PHOENIX – Britney Buckles was watching her son Xavier playing football for Williams Field High when an idea came to her. Why not bring coaches from HBCU programs to Arizona for a camp that would connect them with local players they otherwise couldn’t afford to recruit? The result is a May 18 HBCU camp at Higley High School featuring at least four HBCU programs.

More than 100 HBCU programs have football, and several of those schools will come to Arizona in May to watch local athletes. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)

With Arizona Coyotes leaving, relocation talk clouds Roadrunners’ future in Tucson

TUCSON — After the Arizona Coyotes were sold and approved to relocate to Salt Lake City, rumors have swirled about the team's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, potentially moving to Tempe's Mullett Arena.

Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo has hinted at moving the Roadrunners to Tempe, drawing concern from the Tucson hockey community. (Photo by Spencer Barnes/Cronkite News)

No funding, no problem: ASU Overwatch stuns esports elites without university’s financial backing

TEMPE – Despite lacking funds and support, ASU's Overwatch esports team defied expectations, climbing into the top 10 national rankings and stunning the collegiate scene.

Without scholarships or backing, ASU's scrappy Overwatch team has emerged as one of the best in the nation in the collegiate esports scene. (Photo by Sammy Nute/Cronkite News)