Photo essay: Michigan State celebrates return of Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Suns, returned to Michigan State University, where he played basketball for three seasons. The return was celebrated for the popular owner, whose NBA team opens its season tonight.
Arizona State researcher Terry Shoemaker explores how sports and religion share common ground
TEMPE — Following ASU professor and researcher Terry Shoemaker’s latest book release about sports and religion, Shoemaker joined scholar Randall Balmer to discuss their research during a conversation hosted by Arizona State’s Humanities Institute in Tempe.
Don’t ‘become a pickle’: Long-term psychological effects of youth gambling concern addiction experts
PHOENIX – Youth and teenage gambling have become a major problem not only in Arizona but across the country as legal sports gambling has increased. Psychological factors come into play, especially with at-risk groups.
New faces, same goal: GCU women’s basketball looks promising heading into final WAC season
PHOENIX – GCU women’s basketball is looking for a WAC Tournament win this season after a first-round loss last year. The new recruits and veterans may have immense talent, but they’re still working on their chemistry.
The Great Stair Climb: Bisbee 1000 pays tribute to mining town’s boom days
BISBEE – The Bisbee 1000: The Great Stair Climb celebrates the history of a quirky Arizona mining town that was the most populated city in Arizona and the largest between St. Louis and San Francisco when it was booming in the early 1900s.
Buying championships: How NBA’s second apron changes team building for owners, general managers
PHOENIX – Following an era of spending to win championships, the new second apron player payroll threshold is changing the way NBA teams construct their rosters.
Nights to remember: Phoenix Rising FC honors Fan Appreciation Night in final home game of season
PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising has been through a ton of adversity this season. To honor the faithful fans who stuck it out with them, the playoff-bound Rising hosted an open training session, then Fan Appreciation Night.
For Mike Budenholzer and Phoenix Suns, talk ‘really doesn’t matter’ ahead of 2024-25 NBA season
PHOENIX – When Mike Budenholzer visited Jusuf Nurkić in Croatia, he laid the foundation for this “talk is cheap” mentality. Ahead of the new NBA season, the Suns are adopting that mindset and letting the results speak for themselves.
Playoff bound: Phoenix Rising FC squeaks into USL Championship postseason, readies for Saturday’s finale
PHOENIX – Despite a 1-0 loss to Memphis 901 on Saturday night, Phoenix Rising clinched a playoff berth. With the help of other teams around the league, Rising no longer has to sweat out the final game.
Arizona Wildcats hope to regroup amid three-game skid, injury setbacks
TUCSON – After scoring just one touchdown against Colorado, the Arizona Wildcats are on a three-game losing streak with injuries piling up. They will try to regroup against West Virginia.
GCU men’s basketball balances experience, youth in final WAC championship pursuit
PHOENIX – Grand Canyon University looks for its fourth and final WAC championship trophy and a return to the NCAA Tournament. The older and wiser Lopes will use their talent and maturity to propel their team to a winning season before their move to the WCC.
Dillingham apologizes, ASU football looks to bounce back after kicker controversy
CINCINNATI – Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham apologized Monday for comments critical of ASU kicker Ian Hershey that he made in the wake of ASU’s 24-14 loss at Cincinnati. Still, it appears the ASU coach remains open to adding a walk-on kicker.
