A new beginning: Trailblazing high school football camp opens doors for Arizona talent at HBCUs

GILBERT – Arizona’s inaugural HBCU football camp featured 35 high school athletes from the 2025 class, with scouts present from Howard University, Lincoln University, North Carolina A&T, Alabama A&M, and Morgan State University.

Jayden Wooden, who earned All-Conference honors as a senior safety at Morgan State in 2022, talks to athletes during Arizona’s first HBCU Football Camp at Higley High School in Gilbert, Arizona, on Saturday. (Photo by Joshua Heron/Cronkite News)

More than the money: NIL deals provide career prep for ASU athletes beyond the field

TEMPE – With the introduction of NIL in June 2021, athletes have taken full advantage of the opportunity to make money off of their name, image and likeness. Some Arizona State students are even using their NIL deals to get a headstart on life post-grad.

After benefiting from NIL rights, former ASU beach volleyball player and recent graduate Kate Fitzgerald plans to pursue a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovation at Arizona State. (Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

Happy to be home: Armed with championship on resume, Budenholzer excited to guide Suns

PHOENIX – A player who grew up in Holbrook is now the coach of the Phoenix Suns, and Mike Budenholzer couldn’t be happier. The team hopes his championship experience in Milwaukee will pay off in Phoenix.


Spring training treasures: Exploring the intersection of baseball and card collecting in Arizona

PHOENIX – Against the backdrop of Arizona's spring training season, there's a thriving sports card market as collectors converge at shows and vendors capitalize on the enthusiasm of baseball fans.

With all 15 Cactus League teams concentrated within a 45-mile radius, the Valley becomes a hot spot for card traders chasing down their favorite players and rookie cards. (File photo by Brooklyn Hall/Cronkite News)

Sporting a greener future: U.S. arenas, stadiums tackle carbon footprint to score environmental wins

PHOENIX – Sports venues are going green by pioneering sustainable design and retrofitting older stadiums with eco-friendly technologies to reduce their environmental impact.

The solar panel installation at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta generates 1.6 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year, reducing the venue's electricity use by 29%. (Photo by Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

From niche to norm: Sports betting’s relentless expansion grips Arizona and the nation

PHOENIX – States across the nation have seen massive growth in handle and revenue, including Arizona. With the factors that have led to the growth along with big market holdouts with untapped potential, there may be no end in sight for the industry’s boom.

Sports betting has transitioned from an illegal niche activity to an integral part of the modern live sports experience, generating billions in revenue across the United States. (File photo by Michael DeStasio/Cronkite News)

Cracks in the blacktop: How Peoria maintains basketball courts in spite of Arizona’s environment

PEORIA – Outdoor basketball courts in the Valley face unique circumstances when it comes to weathering and climate, which Peoria officials and specialists have to keep up with.

Sonoran Mountain Ranch Park in Peoria has three basketball hoops on its court and is nestled near the Eastwing Mountain Preserve trails. (Photo by Lauren Kobley/Cronkite News)

Nod to the past: The ties between baseball and bobbleheads

PHOENIX – Bobbleheads are some of the most popular giveaways around MLB, which makes them a hot commodity for baseball fanatics. Here’s why teams give so many away, why fans collect them and the significance they have for players and their families.


From college stardom to WNBA uncertainty: Rookies fight steep odds to realize dream with help of former coaches

PHOENIX – Making a WNBA roster is one of the hardest achievements in professional sports. Due to the quick turnaround time and the lack of available roster spots, few rookies make the cut.

Charisma Osborne's dream of playing in the WNBA took a step forward by getting drafted, but now the real test begins as she vies for one of Phoenix's final roster spots. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

‘Doing great’: Mat Ishbia encouraged about Phoenix Suns’ future despite sweep

PHOENIX – After a first-round sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and general manager James Jones were grilled about the future of the Suns.

Although he was disappointed in how the Phoenix Suns’ finished the season, owner Matt Ishbia said he remains confident about the future. (Photo by Huston Dunston/Cronkite News)

Unhittable: Pitching powers propel GCU softball to record season, WAC crown

PHOENIX – Grand Canyon softball is dominating during the program's WAC Championship defense, led by stellar pitching and timely hitting from players like Hailey Hudson and Kayla Rodgers.

GCU's pitching staff has been lights-out, posting a 2.48 ERA to end the regular season and power the Lopes' upcoming WAC tournament run. (Photo courtesy of GCU Athletics)

Bobby Winkles enshrined in bronze at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, cementing ASU baseball legacy

PHOENIX – Former Arizona State baseball coach Bobby Winkles is immortalized after a successful 13-year career. He earned three national championships during his career and made a lasting impact on Sun Devil sports.

Bobby Winkles' statue stands immortalized along the third baseline at, Phoenix Municipal, honoring ASU baseball's first varsity head coach. (Photo by Tyler Bednar/Cronkite News)