Grace Hand
Grace Hand Pronunciation (she/her/hers)
Sports Visual Journalist, Phoenix

Grace Hand expects to graduate in August 2024 with a master’s degree in sports journalism. Hand attended Sacred Heart University for her bachelor’s degree in sports communication and media with a minor in digital marketing. Hand is pursuing a career in the NHL.

Latest from Grace Hand

Photo essay: ASU senior builds community in the Valley through Phoenix Babes Who Walk club

TEMPE – ASU senior Grace Juliet is the brand manager of Phoenix Babes Who Walk, a club in the Valley that hosts walks meant to make friends and give people a sense of community.

Phoenix Babes Who Walk prioritizes the spirit of community and inclusivity that defines their growing walking club. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Betting on the future: Legalized sports gambling thrives, but at what cost to students and athletes?

PHOENIX – As betting numbers continue to rise in the state of Arizona, college campuses are no exception. With an interesting gambling past, ASU has seen the impacts of legalization.

The Caesars Sportsbook sign at Guy Fieri's DTPHX Kitchen + Bar represents a new normal in Arizona, where legalized sports betting is a daily activity for fans, including ASU students. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Life-saving method: Medevac helicopters start carrying blood, but what about ambulances?

PHOENIX – Blood in ambulances is proven to save more lives because patients are able to get transfusions faster. Other states are beginning to carry blood in ambulances, but Arizona hasn’t implemented this yet, at least not on the ground.

Pints of O negative blood sit in a refrigerator at the Vitalant Tempe donation center on June 20, 2024. Blood needs to be kept at a certain temperature until the moment it is transfused. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Photo essay: 2024 WNBA All-Star weekend recap, from practice to the game

PHOENIX – All-Star weekend brought players and fans to Phoenix for a two-day event filled with practices, fan festivities, skills exhibitions and Saturday’s matchup between Team WNBA and Team USA.


Golden goal: Mercury players, Team USA pack lessons from WNBA All-Star weekend for Paris Olympics

PHOENIX – Phoenix Mercury teammates Kahleah Copper and Diana Taurasi emphasize the importance of building team chemistry as they prepare with Team USA for the upcoming Olympics, following lessons learned from Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game.

Phoenix Mercury stars Brittney Griner, left, and Kahleah Copper turn their attention from the 2024 WNBA regular season to winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

WNBA stars embrace mentorship roles amid record-breaking All-Star Weekend

PHOENIX – WNBA stars A'ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu lead mentorship initiatives during a record-breaking All-Star weekend, highlighting the league's explosive growth and commitment to inspiring the next generation of players and fans.

A'ja Wilson, middle, shares a heartfelt moment with a young fan wearing her Team USA jersey at the WNBA Live fan experience in Phoenix. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Fan favorites Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese electrify sold-out Footprint Center in WNBA All-Star debuts

PHOENIX – Rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese captivated fans in their first WNBA All-Star Game debuts, contributing to Team WNBA's 117-109 victory over Team USA at Footprint Center.

Caitlin Clark, left, and Angel Reese high-five after Clark dishes to Reese for her record-breaking 10th assist in Saturday's 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller set to lead WNBA All-Stars in Phoenix homecoming at 2024 All-Star game

PHOENIX – Cheryl Miller, basketball legend and former Mercury coach, returns to Phoenix to coach Team WNBA against the U.S. Women’s National Team in Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game.

Cheryl Miller returns to the Footprint Center Saturday in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, this time as head coach of Team WNBA All-Stars. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

WNBA stars Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones showcase evolving centers in All-Star Skills Challenge

PHOENIX – Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones headlined the skills challenge and 3-point competition for WNBA All-Star weekend Friday night. The two discussed what it means to participate in the competition as bigs and hope the moment serves a purpose bigger than themselves.

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner showcases why she's a six-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist in Friday's All-Star Skills Challenge. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Valley artist collaborates with Phoenix Mercury to design mural commemorating 2024 WNBA All-Star Game

PHOENIX — Local artist Antoinette Cauley collaborated with the Phoenix Mercury to design a mural featured at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex. The team refurbished four basketball courts at the complex as part of their community initiatives commemorating the WNBA All-Star game.

The design highlights Mercury players like Diana Taurasi and Brittany Griner alongside a silhouette of a Jr. Mercury Legacy League member. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Skills, thrills and history: WNBA All-Star Game returns to Phoenix after a decade

PHOENIX – Phoenix will host the WNBA All-Star Game for the third time this weekend, featuring skills challenges, a 3-point contest and a star-studded game with Mercury stars Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi leading Team USA.

Phoenix is hosting its third WNBA All-Star game on July 20. The last two games in the Valley took place in 2000 and 2014. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Phoenix readies for 2024 WNBA All-Star Game with heat safety a top priority

PHOENIX – Phoenix is bracing for dangerous heat as temperatures are expected to reach 113 degrees during this year's sold-out WNBA All-Star game, prompting officials to implement extensive heat relief measures for the safety of visitors.

Fans will deal with high temperatures for WNBA All-Star Weekend, including an expected 113 degrees Saturday for the game. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

From Russian detention to Team USA: Brittney Griner’s third Olympic selection marks return to international stage

PHOENIX – Brittney Griner’s journey over the past two years, marked by her Russian detainment and subsequent return to the WNBA, culminates in her third Olympic Games.

Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner speaks at a press conference after the announcement of her third Olympic Games selection. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Tempe’s Grass Clippings Rolling Hills shines new light on golf with nighttime play

TEMPE – Grass Clippings Rolling Hills is Arizona’s first fully lit 18-hole golf course. The nighttime experience fosters a new vibe and vibrant community.

A diverse group of players, from beginners to seasoned golfers, enjoy the inclusive atmosphere at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

Joe Biden campaign tries to win Arizona seniors with bingo as Donald Trump campaign focuses on Black, Hispanic voters

PHOENIX – In Arizona, the Seniors for Biden-Harris campaign is connecting with older adults through pickleball, ice cream and bingo. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign launched two coalitions targeting Black and Latino voters. This unique campaign tactic highlights the evolving world of campaign strategy.

A Biden Bingo card at the start of a Seniors for Biden-Harris kickoff event at the Biden-Harris midtown field office in Phoenix on June 13, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)

From North Philly to Paris: Kahleah Copper’s road to 2024 Olympics a journey of tears, setbacks and success

PHOENIX – Mercury guard Kahleah Copper was selected to the Olympic roster for the first time. The trials she endured leading up to receiving the call makes her appreciate this achievement much more.

Averaging 24 points for the Phoenix Mercury, Kahleah Copper’s outstanding season performance underscores her readiness for the 2024 Olympics. (Photo by Shirell Washington/Cronkite News)

Just an eagle: One player’s perspective of competing in a U.S. Amateur Qualifier

SCOTTSDALE – The U.S Amateur Qualifier at Desert Highlands was one of the more difficult qualifiers in recent times. Cronkite News reporter Jack Reeves gives a firsthand account of what it’s like to compete in the intense event.


‘A long time coming’: Phoenix Mercury players rally behind ‘Unrivaled’ league as game-changer for women’s basketball

PHOENIX – With the launch of the "Unrivaled" league on the horizon, Mercury players like Morgan Bertsch and Sug Sutton see a chance to stay stateside, build careers and shape the future of women's basketball.

Unrivaled, a new women’s basketball league created by WNBA All-Stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, offers an alternative to traveling overseas and addresses the wage gap in women’s basketball. (Photo by Grace Hand/Cronkite News)