Liberty has already made history in the NCAA softball tournament. Its triumph over Texas A&M was the talk of the fast-pitch world after the tournament’s opening weekend, as it marked the first time the top overall seed was unable to advance from its own regional under the current format.

But now that the Flames are in the super regionals for the first time in their own program’s history, they hope this thrill ride has one more stop after this week’s trip to Oregon. Two more wins against the Ducks would mean a spot in Oklahoma City at the Women’s College World Series.

“It’s attainable,” said Flames coach Dot Richardson. “I’ve been in the World Series, and now just envisioning Liberty softball being there is exciting. We just have to keep playing the way we play and focus on the ball. I’m just so humbled yet hungry to keep going.”

The opportunity against the top team actually came as something of a surprise. Liberty entered the tournament with 47 wins and might have been somewhat underseeded. Richardson said the team was expecting an assignment closer its home in the south Virginia mountains. An opponent like South Carolina or Clemson. Instead, it got the team the tournament committee ranked No. 1.

“But think about all the eyes that were on that game,” Richardson said. “That was just softball at the highest level. I’m getting chills here just thinking about it.”

UP AND DOWN: Winners and losers from softball tournament regionals

Naturally, the team is enjoying the ride. Right fielder Rachel Roupe, the hitting hero of the regional, told media members she and her fellow Flames haven’t slept much since the triumph against the Aggies.

“Right after we won we went to the hotel pool – which was closed so we had to jump the fence,” she said of the post-game celebration. “I think we got to bed at about 4:30 in the morning, and we haven’t slept much since we got back to Lynchburg.”

In truth the program has been building toward this breakthrough for some time. It began with the hire of Richardson, one of the most decorated players at the collegiate and Olympic levels in the history of the sport. Since Richardson assumed the reins in 2014, Liberty has become a regular participant in the NCAA tournament. As such, those associated with the program are hoping this year’s achievement is, to draw men’s basketball parallels, not so much analogous to that of Maryland-Baltimore County or Fairleigh Dickinson but more akin to Gonzaga’s breakout run in 1999.

Until now, though, the Flames hadn’t reached the round of 16 stage. They were one win away from the super regionals on two other occasions, in 2018 at South Carolina and last season at Georgia. In both those cases, however, the host team managed to beat Liberty twice to move on. Last year, in fact, the Flames were an out away from winning a deciding game in Athens, but the Bulldogs rallied for two runs in the seventh inning to prevail 3-2.

A similar scenario appeared to be unfolding as Texas A&M took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning in the deciding game on Sunday. But the Flames came up with five huge runs, capped by Roupe’s three-run homer, and held on for the 6-5 win as reliever Kaylan Yoder ended it with a strikeout.

“I truly think the reason we were able to win this game was because of last year,” said catcher Savannah Jessee, whose two-run shot started the sixth-inning rally. “Even though we were down … we were all super calm.”

Not quite everything broke Liberty’s way over the weekend. Had Oregon, the No. 16 seed, not avoided elimination twice against Stanford in its regional, Liberty might be hosting this super. But on the plus side, this trip to the west coast provides an opportunity for a couple members of the team, starting left fielder Paige Doerr and infielder Brynn McManus, to play in their home state.

“I told everyone it should be a lot cooler there this weekend,” Doerr said with a laugh.

The attention of the lacrosse world turns to Foxborough, Massachusetts, this Memorial Day weekend, the traditional place on the calendar for its biggest event as NCAA championships will be determined.

The women take the field first at Gillette Stadium on Friday with a pair of semifinal contests. The docket features the top four seeds, and they’re all quite familiar with the big stage. The field includes the three most recent champs, with the fourth making its second consecutive championship weekend appearance and third overall hoping to break through for its first title.

Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the games.

No. 1 North Carolina (20-0) vs. No. 4 Florida (20-2)

Time/TV: 3 p.m. ET, ESPNU

How they got here: North Carolina – beat Clemson 18-9, Princeton 19-10. Florida – beat Mercer 18-6, Stanford 13-12 (2OT), Duke 11-9.

National championships: North Carolina three (last 2022), Florida none.

Players to watch: North Carolina – Ashley Humphrey (31 G, 82 A); Chloe Humphrey (79 G, 27 A); Marissa White (45 G, 7 A). Florida – Gianna Monaco (73 G, 20 A); Frannie Hahn (32 G, 59 A); Jordan Basso (36 G, 38 A).

Quick sticks: The Tar Heels look to match the feat of an undefeated championship season they achieved in 2022. They beat all the other Final Four participants in the regular season, including a 14-9 win at Florida way back on Feb. 15. … The Humphrey sisters garner most of the headlines, but the UNC offensive depth goes well beyond them with 10 players recording at least 30 points on the season. … Due to conference realignment Florida is now an affiliate member of the Big 12 in women’s lacrosse, but the Gators’ winning ways have not changed. As mentioned, this marks the program’s third semifinal appearance, though they’ve yet to reach the championship game.

No. 2 Boston College (19-2) vs. No. 3 Northwestern (18-2)

Time/TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU

How they got here: Boston College – beat Stony Brook 10-7, No. 7 Yale 18-11. Northwestern – beat Michigan 15-7, Penn 17-12.

National championships: Boston College two (last 2024), Northwestern eight (last 2023).

Players to watch: Boston College – Rachel Clark (103 G, 22 A); Emma LoPinto (76 G 32 A); Mckenna Davis (25 G, 75 A). Northwestern – Madison Taylor (105 G, 41 A); Niki Miles (40 G, 26 A); Riley Campbell (35 G, 17 A).

Quick sticks: These two programs squared off in the championship game each of the last two years. The Eagles took last year’s meeting in a 14-13 thriller, and they upended the Wildcats 13-9 earlier this season as well – coincidentally also on Feb. 15. … Taylor and Clark have been nip and tuck all season in the national scoring race, and both are Tewaaraton Award finalists. BC has more scoring depth in support of Clark, but Sam Smith could be an equalizer for the Wildcats with her ability to control draws.

If you haven’t been paying attention, or maybe you’ve forgotten since it’s been a slow march, “Around The Horn” is airing its final episode Friday, May 23, ending an era that transformed sports television and the discourse surrounding our favorite games, players and events. 

More than that, though, it’s the disembarkation of a journey different for every fan who tuned in to the ESPN program. 

“That was our childhood,” my brother replied last week when I told him that the show’s finale was approaching.  

It’s true. For those of us who don’t have much (or any) memory of the 1990s, 5-6 p.m. ET on ESPN was holy hour, with “Around The Horn” leading right into “Pardon The Interruption” before the evening edition of ‘SportsCenter.’

Life gets busy. That hour becomes dedicated to after-school activities, then you go off to college, then you’re working or commuting or at happy hour (they probably have the show on at the bar without volume) or adulting in some other way. But oh how sweet are those times you tune in and catch a segment before your rotted brain’s attention shifts to something else during a commercial break. 

“ATH” had to fight that natural progression of life. At some point last year, ESPN executives decided “Horn” needed an end date. In March, news broke that the Friday before Memorial Day was going to be the final air date. 

No replacement for ‘ATH’ has been revealed. But we already know nothing can replicate a show that opened so many windows into different conversations we couldn’t have imagined had we not been watching that day.

It all starts with the host

Tony Reali took over the show from Max Kellerman, the original host, when he was 25. Overnight – literally, he accepted the job during the 2004 Patriots-Panthers Super Bowl (yes, the Janet Jackson halftime performance) and was in the host’s chair the next day – he became judge, jury and executioner (in the form of a mute button) to venerated columnists from across the country including Jackie MacMullan, Bob Ryan, Kevin Blackistone and Woody Paige. 

“It was always going to be a great show because Tony was in charge,” MacMullan told USA TODAY Sports.

In the beginning, however, imposter syndrome was real. 

“It took me a while, as a young host and as a young person in the industry, to really get past what was an enormous honor,” Reali said. 

Over the past month, Reali wanted to honor the panelists, production team and crew. There was the fan who showed up outside the Seaport studios in New York, and Reali brought him inside for a selfie. 

“I’ve had an opportunity to do that in ways I couldn’t script or imagine,” he said. 

Countless technicians and camera operators worked on the show. But the five-person editorial crew sustained the show over its 4,953 episodes. Coordinating producer Aaron Solomon was the brain behind the show and had his hands in every episode. Josh Bard, another producer, was the “beating heart,” said Reali. Jeff Weiner (video producer), Caroline Willett (producer/researcher/stat keeper) and Tierney Corrigan rounded out the crew. The small circle responsible for the show “is the most under-said thing,” Reali said. 

A couple of months ago, Reali was sad that he felt sad – that the show was being “sunset, or canceled, or whatever you want to call it.” He said he’s a realistic person and that no show lasts forever.

“But I was surprised that I was disappointed and sad because I thought the show still had more,” he admitted. 

Now Reali feels pride and gratitude and hopes the show has demonstrated that in its closing episodes. The opportunity to say goodbye has been “amazing” because rarely in life do we actually have the chance. Having months to think about it and do something he believes in – showing and telling the people who mean a lot to him in life exactly how they’ve imprinted upon him. 

“That’s the definition of gratitude,” he said.

The power of the ‘Horn’: Life-changing exposure, family atmosphere

Solomon could have been bitter about the show he worked on for 23 years ending. But he’s had time to digest and prepare, and as the finish line approached over the past couple of weeks, he had nothing but positive feelings. Hearing positive feedback and reading about the show’s impact in the news has helped put him at peace. 

“It’s just been an amazing feeling of love and appreciation for not only the fans of the show but also the panelists,” Solomon told USA TODAY Sports. “I feel their love and gratitude and that has been really gratifying, just to feel everybody’s love in the closing weeks, and even months.”

The show’s legacy, of course, is the sheer number and variety of voices “Around The Horn” introduced sports fans to. There was beauty in the variety – the emotional writing and viewpoints of a Bill Plaschke, compared to the sports-obsessed vibe of a Ryan. What started as a consistent lineup for the first several years turned into a more frequent rotation. 

The different cast members and Reali created a familial aspect of the program. Their interactions between takes or prior to shows, popularized on social media through “Between the Horn” segments, led to a “certain chemistry,” Solomon said. 

“It was more than ‘OK, roll tape, let’s get out of here,’” he said. 

Usually those discussions weren’t about sports. They revolved around family and daily, everyday life grievances. 

“I think that was something that came off and I think that will be missed,” Solomon said. 

What endured was a strange, lovable family that looked straight out of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” central casting, MacMullan said. It was a group that hardly ever saw each other in real life, and the bond was built through a box on a screen and nearly 2.5 decades. 

“It gave us exposure that really changed our lives in many ways,” MacMullan said. 

The array of topics on one “Around The Horn” could make a viewer the most well-rounded and knowledgeable in the room. Most programs rely on the same topics and sometimes the same teams for content. That was never going to fly on “ATH.” 

“I think that we try to give so many other sports, shed light on other sports, I think people are going to miss that,” Solomon said. 

Panelists came from diverse backgrounds. And no topic was off-limits. 

“You have to talk about the news of the day,” Reali said. 

The show often tackled subjects that intersected with society, culture, race and politics – and didn’t receive the same attention on other rundowns. 

“Some would say that might have been the downfall of ‘Around The Horn.’ But I’m not ashamed of it,” Solomon said. “And I’m actually kind of proud of the fact that we handled some topics that are difficult to handle.”

Now the craze in sports media leans into former athletes and personalities. Journalists were the priority on “Around The Horn.” It didn’t matter what you looked like or whom you loved. If you could talk about sports, “ATH” had a spot for you. 

Rivalries emerged. Nobody took it personally. MacMullan naturally went toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles and New York representatives, Plaschke and Frank Isola, respectively.

Then there’s MacMullan’s famous Gary Sheffield story; the ex-MLB slugger would nary engage media members, but he liked that she said Sheffield had the most violent swing in baseball on a show.

“That’s the power of Around The Horn,” MacMullan said.

An hour of sports TV that will never be the same

I dispute the notion that “Around The Horn” wasn’t a great show. Was it flawless? Absolutely not. The undefined scoring system, Reali always making sure the finals went three rounds and other nuances could take a viewer out of the game. 

But the game-fication of sports talk – different from what was on radio or highlight shows at the time – was also sports fandom candy. “ATH” was ahead of its time with personality-driven analysis that wasn’t fan- or team-specific. For sports-obsessed viewers, “ATH” displayed four people living the dream every single day. It made this profession and sports at large relatable. Every sports culture tastemaker of the 20th century is in some way affected by the show. It was the bridge from television to the Internet era. 

“ESPN has canceled this show and yet they’ve stolen all the best parts of it for every single minute of every single day,” MacMullan said. “I don’t get it, but that’s OK.” 

For some of us who made it into the business the panelists and Reali occupied, “ATH” was sort of like our first (only?) sports journalism class – lots of history, some ethics and a pinch of an introduction to reporting. MacMullen didn’t realize the influence on the industry during the early days of the show as it was still evolving. (Chaotic was how she described it in the beginning.) 

“It was just odd to have print journalists on the air like that,” said MacMullan, who had some experience from “The Sports Reporters.” But nothing could prepare somebody for “ATH,” the first of its kind in the sports television space: fast-paced, with turns on a dime. 

Something MacMullan didn’t realize until she retired was how difficult it was to be a consistent panelist because she had to be up to date on every sports topic if she wanted to perform positively. 

“I think we all took that seriously,” she said. 

Throughout the show’s run, Reali felt free and independent as a host. The only notes he ever received was “keep on doing what you’re doing” for 23 years, and he’s not complaining about that. 

ESPN has yet to tip its hand about what will replace “ATH” for those 30 minutes every day. Solomon said it will be interesting to see if it does as well with the viewing audience. “ATH” pulls in considerably fewer viewers than “PTI,” but both Reali and Solomon said their recent ratings have been consistent with the show’s history. 

‘ATH’ and “PTI” (hosted by Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser, both of whom were also print journalists), are descendants of “The Sports Reporters.” Kornheiser and Wilbon are the pinnacle of sports television and nobody is touching that, Reali said. 

“That’s a married couple you’re watching on TV,” Reali said. 

The durability of the show – five days a week no matter what – made it ubiquitous. Reali nodded to his origin as “Stat Boy” on “PTI” as something every sports television show would benefit from: acknowledging any mistakes or oversights. 

Words matter. What you say is more important than how you say it, and this show taught an entire generation that. 

For a while, Reali didn’t want to think like that. But he’s come around to the effect.

“I intentionally wanted the show to not just be about having an opinion but proving why your opinion deserves to be heard and proving why your opinion is the best opinion in this moment,” said Reali, who relayed that philosophy to panelists during that welcome-to-the-show phone call. 

Although Reali knew the verbiage was of the utmost importance, as a television creator-host-producer he subscribed to the idea that people will forget what was said, but they will remember how they felt. 

“I work in feelings,” Reali said. 

“Around The Horn” was a fuller conversation, more of a Sunday dinner or golf foursome or barroom.

“That is more what I was going for,” he said. 

Both had similarities that gave the 5-6 p.m. ET hour a different flair: rundowns, clocks, scoring systems, mute buttons.  

“Something felt different in the five o’clock hour than the rest of the viewing day,” Reali said. 

And after Friday, even though ‘PTI’ will still be there, that hour will never feel the same again.

CHICAGO — News that the New York Liberty have a valuation of $450 million, a record for a women’s sports team, isn’t just cause for celebration.

It’s a warning shot.

The days of treating women’s teams like charity projects with owners thinking they can run their franchises on the cheap are over. You can either invest, like the Liberty’s Clara Wu Tsai and husband Joe Tsai have, or you’re going to get left behind.

That should have been clear after the Chicago Sky lost pretty much the entire 2021 championship team to free agency. Or from the mass exodus from the Connecticut Sun this past off-season.

If it wasn’t, and we’ll get to that in a moment, the Liberty valuation is making it clear. With fireworks and blaring lights, no less.

According to The Athletic, the Liberty recently sold a portion of the team to investors in a deal that valued the franchise at $450 million. That not only makes the defending champions the most valuable women’s franchise in the world, it is more than double a $208 million valuation for the Dallas Wings just a year ago.

“I’ve been in this league for a really long time, and it’s just great to see the evolution,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said ahead of Monday night’s game against the Sky.

“Everyone is pushing for excellence, and it does start at the top. It starts with ownership,” she said. “We’ve got the best owners in the WNBA and they’re going to keep pushing for us to keep growing, us and collectively as a league.”

This isn’t just a case of the Liberty being a New York team or having a roster of stars. Once relegated to suburban Westchester County, Wu Tsai has described the Liberty as “a distressed asset” when she and her husband bought them in 2019.

But they invested. Quickly and deeply. They moved the team to Brooklyn. Gave the team first-class facilities at Barclays Center. Created a mascot, Ellie the Elephant, who has become a social media phenomenon — and money maker — in her own right.

It was these kind of moves that attracted the big names, like MVPs Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. The sponsors followed in droves. Liberty Mutual. Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty. Essie. And on and on it goes.

“It’s a testament to what investment will do,” said Natasha Cloud, who came to the Liberty in an off-season trade. “If you fully invest as our owners have, as our front office, as our staff has, that (valuation) number clearly is a reason as to why.

“That’s what we talk about when investing into women’s sports,” Cloud added. “It’s not only enough to be here supporting. You have to put your money into it, too, so that we can continue to climb. The demand has never been higher.”

This is where the warning part comes in.

The players know their value. They’ve always known it, but now that they know others do, too, they’re not going to settle for less. The smart owners know that, which is why we’ve seen the facilities arms race accelerate so quickly.

But there are still teams that are treading water. Yes, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun, this means you.

The Sky did announce plans last year to build their own practice facility — not anywhere close to the city, mind you — and even had a groundbreaking ceremony. But now it’s delayed by six months. Which means Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Courtney Vandersloot and Co. will spend yet another season sharing their practice space with senior citizens and weekend warriors at a suburban rec center that is even less close to the city.

And despite the Sky saying they planned to recognize their 20^th season with an anniversary logo “across on-court, in-arena, digital, content, and merch assets,” that logo was conspicuously absent from the Wintrust Arena court Thursday night.

These things sneak up on you, I guess.

Connecticut has at least acknowledged its inability to keep pace, with Sportico reporting two weeks ago that the Mohegan Sun have hired an investment firm to explore a sale of the franchise.

There’s money to be made in women’s sports. A lot of money, when the new $2 billion media rights deal begins next year. But like in all businesses, you’re going to have to spend money in order to make money.

Owners who can’t, or won’t, are on notice.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

No Caitlin Clark 3-pointers? No problem for the Indiana Fever.

The Fever star didn’t hit a single 3-pointer for the first time in her WNBA career, but her team held on to beat the Atlanta Dream 81-76 on Thursday.

It was a frustrating 3-point shooting night for Indiana overall, but especially for Clark. She was mostly quiet on the night as she dealt with foul trouble, finishing with 11 points, six assists and four rebounds. From 3-point land, she went 0-for-5.

It’s the first time she’s played a game without a made 3 since Jan. 13, 2022, when she was a sophomore at Iowa.

Despite the tough night for Clark, Indiana dominated near the bucket. Natasha Howard had a game-high 26 points on 12-for-17 shooting as the Fever outscored Atlanta 46-20 in the paint. The Dream did most of their damage from behind the arc with 10 made 3-pointers. Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 24 points and three makes from behind the arc.

It was back-and-forth for much of the game and Atlanta led with less than three minutes to go, but Kelsey Mitchell made her first 3-pointer of the night when it mattered most, putting the Fever ahead for good with 85 seconds left. Indiana closed the game on a 10-1 run.

Indiana gets revenge after Atlanta defeated the Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday and moves to 2-1 on the season.

Caitlin Clark, Fever vs. Dream highlights

Caitlin Clark stats tonight

• Points: 11
• Assists: 6
• Rebounds: 4
• Steals: 1
• Blocks: 0
• Turnovers: 4
• Fouls: 5
• Shooting: 4-for-11
• 3-point shooting: 0-for-5
• Free throws: 3-for-5

Fever closing in on victory

Indiana is on its way to hanging on, leading 80-76 with five seconds left. Caitlin Clark found Aliyah Boston for a critical layup to extend the lead, and Atlanta couldn’t respond.

Indiana leads Atlanta with one minute left

Kelsey Mitchell hits her first 3-pointer of the game to give Indiana a 76-75 lead. Caitlin Clark then hits one of two free throw attempts to make it a two-point ballgame in the final minute.

Caitlin Clark in foul trouble

It’s been a frustrating night for Clark, and it could end early. She picked up her fifth foul with 2:32 left in the game and one more will result in her fouling out. Atlanta has a 75-71 lead.

Brittney Griner fouls out

It’s another early exit for Brittney Griner. She fouls out with 3:38 left in the contest, the second straight game she has fouled out against Indiana. It wasn’t a quiet night for Griner as she was mostly in foul trouble with five points, seven rebounds and one block.

Atlanta leads 71-68.

End of 3rd: Fever 61, Dream 58

This game looks like it will go down to the wire with the Fever up by three points with 10 minutes left.

Atlanta had a run sparked by Te-Hina Paopao to tie it midway through the third quarter before Indiana gained some control back. Despite the lead, it’s been a relatively quiet night for Clark as she has just six points, five assists and one rebound. However, it’s been the Natasha Howard show for Indiana. She’s been efficient on the floor with a game-high 21 points on 10-for-14 shooting as the Fever have dominated near the bucket.

Despite not shooting the ball as well as Indiana, Atlanta has relied on the 3-point shot to keep the game close with nine deep shots made.

Fever, Dream tied

An 8-0 run by Atlanta has the score knotted up at 46-all with 5:31 left in the third quarter. The run has been sparked by rookie Te-Hina Paopao, who drilled back-to-back 3-pointers and has 11 points on the night. She’s one of three Atlanta players in double-figures alongside Rhyne Howard and Brionna Jones.

End of 2Q: Fever 37, Dream 34

A furious second quarter by the Fever has given Indiana a slight lead at halftime. After trailing by as much as eight points in the first quarter, Indiana got out to an 11-0 run to start the second frame and outscored Atlanta 24-16 in the quarter. It was primarily Kelsey Mitchell that got the Fever going with all nine of her points so far coming in the second quarter.

Rhyne Howard and Brionna Jones have been clicking for Atlanta as they account for 24 of the Dream’s points. Each player has also made two 3-pointers.

It was a mostly quiet effort from Clark in the first half with just four points, and she already has three fouls.

Sophie Cunningham has made a positive impact in her first game with Indiana as she’s dealt with an ankle injury. She was a +12 in the first half with five points, five rebounds and three assists.

Fever start 2Q on run

Indiana is starting to click with a 11-0 run to start the second quarter to take a 24-18 lead.

End of 1Q: Dream 18, Fever 13

Atlanta used a hot start to get an early lead on Indiana and lead by five after the first quarter.

The Dream started the game on a 12-4 run before Indiana’s offense found some rhythm to get back in the game. The combination of Rhyne Howard and Brionna Jones have done most of the damage for Atlanta with seven points each.

Clark was mostly quiet to start with just two points in the first 10 minutes.

Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard shove each other

Things have gotten chippy early with Clark and Howard exchanging words after they shoved each other.

Toward the end of the first quarter, Howard was guarding Clark as she brought the ball up court. A foul was called on Howard and immediately afterward, the two shoulder checked the other. Words were exchanged and the two were separated. No excessive foul was called on either player.

Atlanta takes early lead

The Dream have gotten out to a solid start in their first home game of the season. Atlanta leads 12-4 with 4:33 left in the first quarter.

Indiana has struggled shooting and taking care of the ball. It’s just 2-for-8 from the field with four turnovers. Clark scored the first bucket of the night for the Fever and has two points.

Indiana Fever starting lineup

• Caitlin Clark, guard
• Kelsey Mitchell, guard
• DeWanna Bonner, forward
• Natasha Howard, forward
• Aliyah Boston, forward

Atlanta Dream starting lineup

• Te-Hina Paopao, guard
• Allisha Gray, guard
• Rhyne Howard, guard
• Brionna Jones, forward
• Brittney Griner, center

What time is Fever vs. Dream?

The Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 22 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

How to watch Fever vs. Dream game: TV, stream

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta
• TV (local): MeTV Indianapolis | PeachtreeTV
• Stream: Prime Video

Fever vs. Dream odds

Odds via BetMGM

• Spread: Fever (-4.5)
• Moneyline: Fever (-190); Dream (+154)
• Over/under: 173.5

The only downside to the Florida Panthers’ dominant 5-0 win in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday was that key forward Sam Reinhart went down with an injury.

The Panthers announced during the second period that Reinhart, who was sent flying by a Sebastian Aho hit in the first period, had a lower-body injury and wouldn’t return to the game. He had been grimacing on the bench before heading to the dressing room.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice had no update after the game, saying Reinhart would be examined on Friday. He expected to have an answer by Saturday.

Reinhart plays on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and had 57 goals last season. He’s a finalist (along with Barkov) for the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward after finishing with five short-handed goals.

The Panthers had a 3-0 lead after one period but still had two periods to play. Other players, including fourth-liner A.J. Greer, rotated onto the top line throughout the rest of the game.

‘That guy, you can’t really replace. He does everything,’ Barkov said of Reinhart. ‘Every single guy who played there, he was great.’

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A former Milwaukee Brewers first baseman is suing the Cincinnati Reds over an injury at the ballpark he says ended his professional career.

While chasing a foul ball during a June 2023 game at Great American Ball Park, Darin Ruf injured himself on a tarp roller used to cover the infield during bad weather, according to a May 22 lawsuit filed in Hamilton County (Ohio) Common Pleas.

He fractured his kneecap and deeply lacerated his right knee, causing him to leave the game and be placed on the 60-day injured list, according to CBS Sports.

Ruf says the tarp roller had no protective cushioning or cap over the end of the roller, which was made of sharp metal. He also says he couldn’t see the exposed metal because a Gorilla Glue advertisement was covering it, according to the lawsuit.

“This didn’t need to happen. I wish it didn’t happen.” said Ruf in a news release. “Players shouldn’t have to worry about hidden hazards like that on a Major League field.”

A Cincinnati Reds spokesman did not immediately return The Enquirer’s request for comment.

Who is Darin Ruf?

Darin Ruf was a utility player in MLB for nine seasons, having stints with the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He also spent three years playing professionally in South Korea.

For his MLB career, Ruf registered a .239 batting average to go along with 67 home runs and 205 RBI. He also recorded an on-base percentage of .329.

He was 36 years old when he suffered the knee injury at Great American Ball Park in 2023.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Aaron Rodgers has still not yet clarified whether he will play during the 2025 NFL season, even amid his strong connection to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh appears to still be in a holding pattern six weeks later. Rooney echoed his patient approach when asked about the team’s pursuit of Rodgers as this week’s NFL owners meetings in Minneapolis.

‘A little while longer,’ Rooney said, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. ‘I’ll say the same thing.’

Rooney did not provide further information about the state of the Steelers’ discussions with Rodgers. In April, the Steelers owner had expressed confidence the 41-year-old would eventually sign with the team.

‘We keep getting positive sort of signals about it,’ Rooney said at the NFL’s annual meeting, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. ‘So yeah, I’d say we feel pretty good about it at this point.’

The Steelers presently have three quarterbacks on their roster, none of whom were with the team in 2024. Mason Rudolph, who spent six seasons with the Steelers before playing for the Tennessee Titans last season, currently tops the team’s depth chart ahead of sixth-round rookie Will Howard and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson.

Pittsburgh’s general manager Omar Khan made it clear the Steelers will carry four quarterbacks into training camp, so the team will likely sign another signal-caller soon. It’s just a matter of whether it will be Rodgers or someone else.

The defending champion Florida Panthers have a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals because they played a perfect defensive game in Thursday’s 5-0 victory.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ losing streak in the conference finals hit 14 games because they compounded that with defensive mistakes.

Goalie Frederik Andersen, the talk of the NHL through two rounds, was replaced after two periods because he gave up four goals on 16 shots.

But the first goal followed a turnover. Two Carter Verhaeghe wraparounds led to goals because his teammates outraced their coverage. Andrei Svechnikov took a bad penalty before Sam Bennett scored the first of his two goals.

Gustav Forsling gave Florida another goal from a defenseman and Matthew Tkachuk ended a 10-game goal drought. The Tkachuk-Bennett-Verhaeghe line combined for eight points.

In the meantime, Carolina couldn’t muster any pressure: three shots in the first period and four in the second. A Sebastian Aho goal was wiped out after an offside review. Sergei Bobrovsky finished with a 17-save shutout.

‘I don’t know what I was watching in that first period, and that didn’t go well,’ Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

The only blemish for Florida was star Sam Reinhart leaving the game with a lower-body injury after an Aho hit.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice didn’t have an update on Reinhart after the game.

USA TODAY provided live updates from Game 2 between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers. Highlights:

Hurricanes vs. Panthers highlights

Game recap

Panthers-Hurricanes final score: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 0

A dominant effort from start to finish for the Panthers. Game 3 will be Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.

Panthers-Hurricanes score: Aleksander Barkov goal

The Panthers were on the power play because Brent Burns played with a broken stick. Barkov tips in an Aaron Ekblad shot for the goal. That’s two power play goals in back-to-back games for the Panthers against the Hurricanes. Panthers 5, Hurricanes 0

Hurricanes go on power play

Eetu Luostarinen is called for tripping. No shots on the power play, but Seth Jarvis was out there after going to the dressing room earlier.

Seth Jarvis goes to dressing room

Not good news for Carolina. He was hit by Niko Mikkola.

Hurricanes go on power play

A.J. Greer is called for tripping. Panthers kill it off.

Hurricanes goalie change as third period starts

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour puts Pyotr Kochetkov in net at the start of the third period. Frederik Andersen gave up four goals on 16 shots.

End of second period: Panthers 4, Hurricanes 0

Things were looking better for Carolina when Sebastian Aho scored early. But it didn’t stick. The Panthers challenged for offsides and the replay showed that Brent Burns had knocked the puck back in the zone after it came out. The goal was overturned. The Hurricanes managed only four shots in that period and Sam Bennett scored. The only bad news for the Panthers: Sam Reinhart (lower body) was ruled out of the game after an Aho hit in the first period.

Panthers-Hurricanes score: Sam Bennett scores again

Carter Verhaeghe makes a wraparound and Bennett knocks in the rebound for his ninth goal of the playoffs. That ties him with Dallas’ Mikko Rantanen for the league lead. Panthers 4, Hurricanes 0

Sean Walker injury update

He has returned to the Carolina bench.

Sean Walker injury update

The Hurricanes defenseman heads to the dressing room after a hit by Florida’s A.J. Greer.

Sam Reinhart injury update

The Panthers say Sam Reinhart (lower body) won’t return to the game. He was hit by Sebastian Aho in the first period.

Hurricanes goal overturned on review

Sebastian Aho scores, but the Panthers challenge for offsides. Review concurs. Still 3-0 Florida.

Second period underway

Hurricanes have 33 seconds of power play left. and that’s killed. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour stays with Frederik Andersen in net.

End of first period: Panthers 3, Hurricanes 0

Definitely not the period that Carolina needed to end its 13-game losing streak in the conference finals. Defensive breakdowns. Bad penalty by Andrei Svechnikov. Frederik Andersen gives up three goals on five shots. Little pressure from Carolina. Florida’s Sam Bennett-Matthew Tkachuk-Carter Verhaeghe line has combined for six points.

Hurricanes go on power play

Too many men on the ice for Florida. Panthers get some big blocks there. There will be a 33 second carryover on the power play.

Hurricanes-Panthers score: Sam Bennett goal

The Hurricanes seemed to have things under control on that Florida power play and even had a short-handed chance. But Verhaeghe picks up the puck after his shot is blocked and fires toward Frederik Andersen. The shot is deflected in by Bennett. Three goals on five shots for Florida. Panthers 3, Hurricanes 0

Panthers go on power play

Andrei Svechnikov punches Matthew Tkachuk in the back of the head.

Hurricanes-Panthers score: Matthew Tkachuk doubles lead

Carter Verhaeghe comes out from behind the net and his centering pass is knocked in by Matthew Tkachuk, ending his 10-game goal drought. Defensive breakdown there by Carolina. Panthers 2, Hurricanes 0

Hurricanes-Panthers score: Quick goal by Florida

Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling scores after a turnover at 1:17. It’s his first goal of the 2025 playoffs. Florida defensemen now have 13 this postseason. Panthers 1, Hurricanes 0

Game underway

Jordan Staal line vs. the Aleksander Barkov lineup.

What time is Hurricanes vs. Panthers NHL playoff game?

Game 2 of the Carolina Hurricanes-Florida Panthers series is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina.

How to watch Hurricanes vs. Panthers NHL playoff game: TV, stream

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Location: Lenovo Center (Raleigh, North Carolina)

TV: TNT

Stream: Sling TV, Max

Hurricanes lineup

Jalen Chatfield out again

The NHL roster report lists Chatfield as a scratch and rookie defenseman Scott Morrow in the lineup, as he was for Game 1. Morrow had three shots and was a minus-3 in his NHL playoff debut.

Panthers lineup

Jesperi Kotkaniemi listed among scratches

It looks like he’ll be the person who’s sitting out as Mark Jankowski returns to the lineup. Kotkaniemi has three points in 11 games this postseason.

Goaltender matchup

Hurricanes’ Frederik Andersen (7-3, 1.74 goals-against average, .919 save percentage) vs. Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (9-4, 2.29, .905).

Mark Jankowski injury update

Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski is “a good option” for Game 2, coach Rod Brind’Amour said. He left Game 1 of the second round against the Washington Capitals with an injury.

Jalen Chatfield injury update

Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield skated Thursday morning after missing the past two games with an undisclosed injury. If Chatfield can’t go, Brind’Amour indicated he would lean toward having Scott Morrow over Alexander Nikishin in the lineup.

‘He understands our game a little better because he’s been playing it for a year,’ Brind’Amour said of Morrow.

Panthers vs. Hurricanes history

The Panthers have won five consecutive playoff games against the Hurricanes.

Panthers’ second-round win costly to Maple Leafs president

Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan won’t have his contract renewed after the team fell short again in the playoffs.

The Maple Leafs have a nine-year playoff streak under Shanahan, who was hired in 2014, and reached the second round this season for the second time since 2004. They won the first two games against the Florida Panthers in the second round. But they lost the series in seven games. Games 5 and 7 were 6-1 blowout losses at home.

‘It was determined that a new voice was required to take the team to the next level in the years ahead,’ MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement on Thursday.

CHICAGO — If there’s any consolation for the Chicago Sky, it’s that the New York Liberty are going to make a lot of teams look bad this year. 

Natasha Cloud led five Liberty players in double figures Thursday night as the defending champions ran roughshod over the Sky, 99-74. Cloud scored a team-high 18 points, Sabrina Ionescu had 16, Breanna Stewart 12 and Jonquel Jones had 11. But the number that should get everyone’s attention is 17 points from Kennedy Burke off the bench. 

The Liberty are, simply, loaded. And they made history Thursday night by knocking down a record 19 3-pointers in the win.

New York took control in the second quarter, outscoring Chicago 25-9. But say this for the young Sky: They kept playing. New York only outscored them 46-42 in the second half, though the Liberty did rest most of their starters for much of the fourth quarter. 

Chicago’s big problem, just as it was last season, is finding offense. Angel Reese was 0-for-8, while Kamilla Cardoso was 3-of-8. The Sky got a boost off the bench from Rachel Banham, who was 5-of-7 from 3-point range. But this team needs to find its shooting groove. And fast. 

Catch up on USA TODAY Sports’ live updates, score and highlights for the Liberty vs. Sky matchup on Thursday:

Liberty beat Sky: Full game highlights

Sky has ‘confidence’ in Angel Reese despite off night

Angel Reese’s bad night was just that. A bad night. That’s the way Sky coach Tyler Marsh sees it after Reese had just two points on 0-of-8 shooting. Reese did have 12 rebounds and three steals. 

‘Some of (her shots) were just rushed. That was really it,’ Marsh said after the Sky was routed 99-74 by the defending champion New York Liberty. ‘Angel knows we have confidence in her, just like we do in Kamilla. We have constant belief and confidence in all of our players to make those.’

Cardoso also had a rough night. She had six points on 3-of-8 shooting and four rebounds. 

Playing the Liberty will make any team look bad. But the Sky are young and are trying to implement a new system with a new coach with a lot of new pieces. That’s going to take time, said Courtney Vandersloot, the veteran returned to Chicago in the offseason after spending the last two years with the Liberty.

‘It’s still early. Obviously there’s a lot to work on, a lot to improve. But we’re going to figure it out,’ Vandersloot said. ‘We didn’t think it was going to come all perfect together in the first two games. We’re not panicking. I think we’re still in a really good place mentally.’

End of Q3: Liberty 75, Sky 54

The Chicago Sky came out of the locker room inspired and went on an 8-point run, cutting their 21-point deficit into 13 points less than two minutes into the third quarter. But the Liberty responded and extended their lead over the Sky back to 21-points heading into the fourth quarter. 

Sabrina Ionescu has a game-high 16 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-5 from three. Breanna Stewart added 12 points and two blocks, while Jonquel Jones is up to 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

The Sky have given up 20 turnovers that has led to 22 points for the Liberty.

Courtney Vandersloot and Rebecca Allen are the only Sky players to reach double-digits with 11 points each. Angel Reese has been held scoreless (0-of-7 FG), but is up to 10 rebounds (8 offensive).

Sky go on 8-0 run vs. Liberty

Where was this Sky in the first half? 

In a 21-point hole at halftime, Chicago opened the third quarter with a quick 8-0 run. Kamilla Cardoso outmuscled Jonquel Jones for a layup to get things started, Courtney Vandersloot made a 3 and then had the assist on a 3 by Ariel Atkins. That was enough for Sandy Brondello, who called a timeout with 8:40 left. 

The Sky still has a lot of work to do – a lot a lot – but it’s a good sign that they’re refusing to quit.

Halftime: Liberty 53, Sky 32

Well that got out of control quickly. 

The Liberty outscored the Sky 25-9 in the second quarter, allowing the defending champions to go into halftime with a 21-point cushion. New York leads 53-32. 

Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones lead the Liberty with 12 points apiece, but New York is getting contributions from everyone. On both ends of the court. Everyone who has played two minutes or more has scored and has at least one rebound, and all but two of those players also have assists. The Liberty also have eight steals. Eight! 

The Sky, meanwhile, well, they’re trying. They just can’t score consistently and are getting killed by their turnovers – 15 and counting.

Sky minority owner Dwyane Wade sits courtside

A perk of being an owner, and a Hall of Famer, is prime seating. 

Dwyane Wade was sitting courtside for the Chicago Sky’s home opener Monday night. Wade, a Chicago native who won three NBA titles with the Miami Heat, has been a part-owner of the Sky since 2023. He sat opposite the Sky bench and got a loud ovation when he was shown on the Jumbotron at the end of the first quarter. 

End of Q1: Liberty 28, Sky 23

New York Liberty superstar Jonquel Jones can’t miss … literally. Jones is up to eight points, shooting 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from 3. Sabrina Ionescu is also having her way and dicing up the Sky defense. She scored 10 points in the first quarter, shooting 3-for-5 from the field and 1-for-3 from 3.

Sky veteran Courtney Vandersloot has four points. Angel Reese has struggled offensively so far. She remains scoreless and is 0-for-5 from the field. Defense is a different story — Reese is already up to seven rebounds. The Sky’s bench, however, is keeping the contest close. Chicago’s bench has scored 12 of the team’s 23 points, led by four points from Rebecca Allen.

Courtney Vandersloot welcomed back with open arms

Back as if she never left. 

Courtney Vandersloot’s return to the Chicago Sky, the team that drafted her, after two years in New York was the Sky’s biggest move this offseason. That’s partly because she’s one of the best point guards to ever play the game, and helped lead Chicago to its only title, in 2021. But Vandersloot is also beloved in Chicago and by Sky fans. 

She was introduced last before Thursday night’s home opener, and took the court to a loud chorus of ‘Slooooot!’ 

What time is Liberty vs. Sky?

The New York Liberty vs. Chicago Sky game will tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 22 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

How to watch Liberty vs. Sky game: TV, stream

• Time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
• Location: Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois
• TV (local): My9 (New York) | The U (Chicago)
• TV (national): WNBA League Pass
• Stream: Fubo

Courtney Vandersloot will face former team

Thursday’s matchup between the Liberty and Sky will mark Vandersloot’s first game against her former team. Vandersloot played for the Liberty for two seasons in 2023-24 after spending 12 seasons in Chicago. She helped New York win its first WNBA championship last season, which marked the second of Vandersloot’s career. She previously won a title with the Sky in 2021, which marked the franchise’s first and only championship.

New York Liberty starting lineup

Chicago Sky starting lineup

Liberty vs. Sky odds

Odds via BetMGM

• Spread: Liberty (-12.5)
• Moneyline: Liberty (-700); Sky (+500)
• Over/under: 164.5

Check out Liberty’s 2024 WNBA championship ring

 The Liberty received their 2024 WNBA Championship rings during a banner-raising ceremony ahead of their 2025 season opening win over the Las Vegas Aces at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The Liberty, one of the original WNBA franchises, won their first WNBA title last season, which marked the first professional basketball championship for New York City since 1973. The ring was designed by Jason of Beverly Hills, as well as by Brooklyn-based designers Dynasty and Soull Ogun of L’Enchanteur.

Full details on the Liberty’s championship rings here.

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