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Sports

Fever Media Day: Caitlin Clark declares herself WNBA’s ‘best transition player’

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The Indiana Fever held their annual media day on Wednesday ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, which will get underway in just over two weeks. On May 9, the Fever will host the Dallas Wings in a highly anticipated season-opener that will feature the last four No. 1 picks: Aliyah Boston (2023), Caitlin Clark (2024), Paige Bueckers (2025), and Azzi Fudd (2026). 

In many ways, last season did not go to plan for the Fever. They lost six players to season-ending injuries, including Clark, and saw DeWanna Bonner depart under unceremonious circumstances in the middle of the campaign. And yet, despite all their health issues, they were five minutes away from a trip to the Finals. Had Kelsey Mitchell not left the winner-take-all Game 5 of the semifinals with rhabdomyolysis, they may have knocked out the Las Vegas Aces. 

The Fever re-signed Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull to keep their core intact, added Monique Billings, Tyasha Harris and Myisha Hines-Allen in free agency and drafted Raven Johnson with the No. 10 pick. Heading into 2026, the Fever are once again projected to be one of the primary title contenders. 

As we wait for them to take the court for the first time, here are some key takeaways from media day. 

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Clark: ‘I’m the best transition player in the league’

Clark has never been short of confidence, and on Wednesday she called herself the “best transition player in the league.”

Here’s the full comment, which came amid a discussion about finding the balance between her on-ball and off-ball usage:

“I think I’m the best transition player in the league,” Clark said. “That’s where I thrive. Everybody knows that’s my game. So, getting the ball off a rebound in transition, that’s probably when I’m going to be a primary ball handler more than anything.”

Clark’s comment has created plenty of buzz, but it’s accurate. When she grabs a rebound and takes off the other way, the opposing defense is immediately in panic mode. No one in the league can match her threat as both a playmaker and shooter, or her combination of volume and efficiency. 

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As a rookie, Clark averaged a league-leading 7.3 transition possessions plus assists per game and generated 1.290 points per possession plus assists. Last season, even though she was never 100% healthy, Clark again led the league in transition possessions plus assists per game (6.5), and generated 1.365 points per possession plus assists. 

A more experienced and fully healthy Clark should be even better on the break this season, which is bad news for the rest of the league. 

Clark, Johnson haven’t spoken about Final Four moment

During Iowa’s upset win over South Carolina in the 2023 Final Four, Clark went viral for dismissively waving off Raven Johnson instead of guarding her when the then-Gamecocks point guard had the ball at the top of the key. Johnson, who got revenge on Clark and the Hawkeyes during the 2024 NCAA national championship game, has admitted that she struggled to deal with that moment. 

“I was all over the internet,” Johnson said on the “I Am Next” podcast last month. “That’s one reason I hate the internet now, because of that situation. I got bashed. I got bullied. I got called all these things that I wasn’t — aka, like a monkey. … It was just things like that, and I just thought I wanted to quit basketball at that time. I wanted to go in this little bubble of isolation and just be by myself.”

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One question for every WNBA team: Caitlin Clark’s health, Azzi Fudd’s fit, Angel Reese’s impact and more

Jack Maloney

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One question for every WNBA team: Caitlin Clark's health, Azzi Fudd's fit, Angel Reese's impact and more

Clark and Johnson are now teammates after the Fever selected Johnson with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, and Johnson said Wednesday that Clark has been a big resource to her early in training camp. 

“It’s fun to learn from the vets here, they definitely make sure I get the plays,” Johnson said. “Yesterday they were just throwing plays at me and I’m like, ‘Oh gosh, jeez, they run a lot of plays.’ But Caitlin Clark, she was helping me through all the hard times, she was helping me… I asked her probably like a thousand questions yesterday.”

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However, the Final Four moment has not been broached, and Johnson isn’t interested in looking back. 

“No, we haven’t [discussed the incident],” Johnson said. “I think that’s in the past, honestly. We’re teammates now and we have one goal, that’s to win a championship.”

Fever plan to ease Clark’s burden

Clark was limited to 13 games last season due to an array of lower-body injuries, and the Fever are already putting measures in place to try to ensure she stays healthy this summer. 

Earlier this month, coach Stephanie White said the team would monitor her workload during camp. “She doesn’t have to be out there every rep, just being mindful of reps,” White said. Though Clark, who was named MVP of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico last month, is now fully healthy, she understands the approach. “I think it’s just being smart. No need to overdo it at this point,” Clark said Sunday. 

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Once the season begins, the Fever will also try to manage Clark’s on-court responsibilities by giving her more off-ball reps. 

“It is exhausting, bringing the ball up 94 feet versus pressure every single time,” Clark said Wednesday. “So, we certainly need to find somebody that can handle the ball a little bit and give me a little bit of a break.” 

Clark was third in the league in usage rate last season (31.5%) and ninth as a rookie (27.7%), and has been fouled 233 times in 55 total games with the Fever, including both the regular season and playoffs. As a rookie, Clark’s 175 fouls taken were fifth in the league, and White has previously noted that the physicality teams use against her was a “factor” in her health issues. 

The Fever want to make Clark’s life easier on a night-to-night basis, which is part of the reason they drafted Johnson. 

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“[Johnson] can alleviate some pressure with Caitlin having to bring the ball [up],” White said Wednesday. “Look at the way the teams play her, 94 feet all the time. Again, how do we find ways to rest her on the floor? It’s having somebody else bring the ball up, initiate offense, and then get Caitlin into action, in the second or third action, or the second or third side.”

The challenge with that, of course, is ensuring that Clark actually gets touches when she doesn’t bring the ball up the floor. 

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How Al Nassr could look next season if Man United star and Mo Salah join Cristiano Ronaldo

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2 minutes ago

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23 April 2026

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Al Nassr could boast a team featuring some of the finest players on the planet next season – if Cristiano Ronaldo’s team gets their way this summer

Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, alongside several other high-profile names, could link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr next season. The Saudi Pro League side haven’t claimed the domestic championship since 2019 and have been forced to watch the recent supremacy of Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad.

It now seems they’re pulling out all the stops to claim the trophy next season. Al Nassr already possess a squad brimming with quality including the likes of Croatian World Cup finalist and Serie A winner Marcelo Brozovic as well as multiple Bundesliga-winning French international Kingsley Coman.

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Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane, a Premier League and Champions League victor, also features alongside Ronaldo. Meanwhile the once most expensive player on the planet, and former Chelsea forward, Joao Felix, plus Inigo Martinez, who secured La Liga with Barcelona in 2025, are just some other figures who comprise their squad.

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Nevertheless, they could be poised to elevate their super team to unprecedented levels. MEN takes a closer look at the five stars who could join Al Nassr this summer.

Mo Salah

Salah shocked the football world when he revealed his desire to depart Liverpool in March after nine years. The Egyptian sits third on the club’s all-time top scorers list and has secured two Premier League titles and the Champions League at Anfield.

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Multiple offers have reportedly surfaced to acquire his services, including one from Al Nassr. The club, owned by The Public Investment Fund (PIF), is understood to have expressed interest in partnering him with Ronaldo to form a formidable attacking partnership, positioning him as the league’s latest marquee arrival.

Nevertheless, several other Saudi clubs are similarly tracking the striker’s circumstances closely, including Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Qadsiah. Questions have also been posed regarding precisely how Salah would integrate into the team at Al Nassr.

Bernardo Silva

According to Saudi publication Al-Yaum, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are locked in competition to sign the Manchester City star on a free transfer. The Portuguese playmaker arrived at City in 2017 and has featured 451 times, claiming six Premier League titles and the Champions League under Pep Guardiola.

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Following City’s confirmation of his departure at season’s end, the 31-year-old is believed to be coveted by Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Silva has been representing Portugal alongside Ronaldo at international level since March 2015.

The attacking midfielder has additionally been connected with transfers to Barcelona or Juventus, alongside clubs in the MLS. However, his associations with the Saudi Pro League run considerably deep, as in 2023, Al Hilal were believed to be assembling a package valued at £75million per season to secure the player from City.

Casemiro

Manchester United announced last month that Casemiro will depart the club when his contract expires in June. The midfielder became strongly linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia in 2023 as he dropped down the pecking order under former United manager Erik ten Hag.

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Ronaldo, who played alongside Casemiro at Real Madrid, has reportedly advocated for the transfer. Inter Miami, co-owned by United legend David Beckham, are also eager to sign Casemiro.

Brazilian heavyweights Sao Paulo are also understood to be prepared to offer the player a two-year contract with an option to work for the club following his retirement.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Nevertheless, according to Marca, Ronaldo sees Casemiro as the defensive linchpin required to ensure Al-Nassr’s supremacy in the Saudi Pro League. The financial proposal being assembled in Riyadh is anticipated to rival almost any other offer Casemiro receives.

Antonio Rudiger

The German centre-back is entering the final months of his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu and is poised to become a free agent in the summer of 2026.

Rudiger moved to Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2022. The La Liga and Champions League victor is believed to be sought after by Al-Nassr.

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However, some reports suggest that remaining with Los Blancos is a “priority” for the centre-back. The Spanish giants have reportedly tabled a one-year extension for the defender, which could complicate any move.

Diogo Costa

Al Nassr are reportedly in the hunt for a new goalkeeper after losing faith in their current options, Brazilian shot-stopper Bento and Raghed Al-Najjar, who is sidelined through injury.

The 26-year-old Costa, who has claimed two Primeira Liga titles with Porto, would represent a significant acquisition for Al Nassr, with the likes of United and City both credited with an interest in recent months.

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While Ronaldo and his teammates are said to be fronting the pursuit of the goalkeeper, Costa penned a contract extension with Porto until June 2030 in December 2025, meaning any interested party would need to splash out a substantial fee to lure him away from his current club.

Speaking to O Jogo, Costa also suggested he would like to bring the curtain down on his career in Portugal. He said: “I would truly be the most fulfilled man in the world, because, as everyone knows, my dream has always been to play here. And now the story continues and I hope there will be more games.”

While the club’s prospective squad looks like something conjured up by a Football Manager fan with a cheat code, the reality is somewhat less glamorous for the Saudi Arabian outfit.

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As of the 2024/25 season, SPL clubs are permitted to register a maximum of 10 non-Saudi players. However, while 10 can be registered, only eight non-Saudi players are permitted to feature in the matchday squad for domestic fixtures.

This means that should Al Nassr genuinely wish to assemble a superteam, compromises will inevitably need to be made, with several of their potential new recruits facing an anxious wait for regular game time.

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LPGA’s first major of 2026 comes with big questions and massive stakes

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23 April 2026

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HOUSTON — For the first time in 2026, the LPGA is center stage, and the year’s first major comes with massive stakes.

Under the direction of new commissioner Craig Kessler, the LPGA has big plans to break through. That includes a new broadcast television deal, schedule changes, purse increases and a plan to create a stable of global stars. All this serves Kessler’s main focus: Finding a way to grab attention and hold on to it — to better satisfy the current fans who desperately want to see women’s golf elevated while harvesting a new group of supporters. 

Making that climb is easier said than done.

Perhaps no tournament better underscores the challenges facing the LPGA and women’s golf than this week’s Chevron Championship. It’s the year’s first major, but one that has lacked a significant identity. It was elevated to major status in 1983 but has gone through numerous name changes and moved from Mission Hills to the Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, in 2023. The only things that have stayed the same are the iconic jump into Poppie’s Pond and the winning robe, and even that has had to be shoehorned in since the move.

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The move to Texas didn’t help with this unique crisis, as the course at Carlton Woods and the event’s broadcast failed to make it feel like the major it’s billed as. As the LPGA has looked to grow and expand, the Chevron Championship has found itself at a crossroads. It has a rich history, and Chevron has invested in the event, but it hasn’t fully cemented a major championship identity that the LPGA needs for the first big tournament of the season. The Masters signals the start of men’s major season and serves as a launching pad for the rest of the pro golf year. Women’s golf needs the Chevron Championship, or a different tournament, to be something similar.

That’s why this week looms as a massive test for the Chevron Championship and the LPGA.

After three underwhelming years at Carlton Woods, the LPGA and Chevron made the decision to move the tournament from the Houston suburbs to Memorial Park, a muni in the heart of the city that also hosts the PGA Tour’s Houston Open. The move to Memorial Park was universally praised. Moving the event into the city should make it easier to boost attendance, giving it a bigger feel, and Memorial Park is a far more interesting course, with tricky greens that demand precision and a memorable finishing stretch.

But the move to Memorial Park also further underscores the ongoing identity crisis. What makes the U.S. Women’s Open, AIG Women’s Open and KPMG Women’s PGA exciting is the rotation of venues those majors run through. It’s hard for a non-iconic course to take root as a standalone major venue. On the men’s side, the only constant is Augusta National. If a major is going to come back to the same place every year, the course has to be a central figure in the story. It has to be something fans are familiar with and want to return to every year. 

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Jeeno Thitikul watches a tee shot at the Aramco Championship

At Chevron, World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul faces ‘challenge of her career’


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In order for the Memorial Park move to pay dividends, it’s going to need the help of one of Kessler’s first big swings as commissioner: the enhanced broadcast. 

Thanks to a deal with FM, Golf Channel and Trackman, LPGA broadcasts will have a 50 percent increase in cameras, three times as many microphones, quadruple the number of shot-tracing capabilities, more slow-motion cameras and drones. The LPGA rolled out the enhanced broadcast features at Sharon Heights earlier this year, and its debut was a clear win. There were kinks to work out and improvements to make, but the changes were noticeable and welcome. 

This week is the real test for those enhancements and broadcast partner NBC’s willingness to give this event the major shine. It’s incumbent on the broadcast to use all of the bells and whistles for greater storytelling, to highlight the intricacies of the Tom Doak course and create major tension. It’s not enough to say it’s a major; you have to make the viewer feel it.

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All of that leads to the one thing that’s out of the LPGA’s control this week, but that is most vital in giving this major the juice it needs: the stars have to show up. 

Back in November, Kessler said there’s “no silver bullet” to building stars. While that may be true, if you want to create inroads and build the audience, the needles have to be front and center on your biggest weeks.

That starts, and maybe ends, with Nelly Korda. 

Just as men’s golf has become dominated by Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, the LPGA needs Korda to do the same. After winning seven times in 2024, Korda went winless in what she called a “weird” 2025. She changed her schedule and preparation this year and has gone 1-2-2-T2 in four starts. The World No. 2 arrived in Houston after taking a week off and seems to be feeling free and easy as the first major arrives. Plenty of signs point to this being a Korda week, and that would be a welcome sight as the LPGA goes under the spotlight and the major season begins.

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Outside of Korda in 2024, the Chevron Championship has seen several first-time major winners in recent years. Building a base of major champions is good for the depth of the league, but if you’re looking to create a bigger fan base, the best path is to have your stars — Korda, Charley Hull, Jeeno Thitikul, Lydia Ko — in the mix entering the weekend, have them bring the eyeballs and then let them and the enhanced broadcast be the entry point to the rest of the tour.

That’s the formula for success for the LPGA and Chevron Championship. We’re about to see if they find it this week. 

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Trump envoy asks FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in 2026 World Cup: report

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23 April 2026

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An envoy for President Donald Trump has reportedly asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the 2026 World Cup this summer.

The Financial Times reported the plan is an effort to repair the relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which soured after the former’s comments against Pope Leo XIV regarding the war with Iran.

United States special envoy Paolo Zampolli suggested the idea to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

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President Donald Trump receiving the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2025. (Emilee Chinn/FIFA)

“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a U.S.-hosted tournament,” Zampolli told the outlet. “With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.

Italy had a chance to be in the World Cup already, but it lost in a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff final.

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Italy became the first World Cup-winning team to miss three consecutive tournaments after the 4-1 penalty shootout loss earlier this month.

“We still don’t believe it that we’re out and that it happened in this manner,” Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola told reporters at the time, according to the New York Post. 

“It’s upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup.”

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While Zampolli told Infantino about his proposed plan, FIFA’s president said Iran “for sure” will play in the World Cup despite the conflict involving the U.S.

Mehdi Taremi celebrating after scoring a goal at Azadi Stadium in Tehran

Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates after scoring a goal during a 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A game against Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium in Tehran March 25, 2025. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)

“The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” Infantino said during the CNBC Invest in America Forum earlier this month in Washington, D.C.

“We hope that, by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”

Infantino visited the Iranian national team in Turkey, which is where it has its training camp.

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All three of Iran’s group stage games are scheduled to be played in the U.S. That remains the case after Iranian government officials suggested to FIFA that their games be moved to Mexico because they could not travel to the U.S.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed FIFA’s rejection of Iran’s request, and it is insisting Iran play where it’s scheduled — SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle. Iran said earlier this month it would only decide on its team’s participation once it heard from FIFA regarding its relocation request.

Iran is scheduled to play at SoFi Stadium against New Zealand June 16 to begin its tournament. It will also play Belgium at the stadium before finishing group play against Mo Salah and Egypt in Seattle June 26.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino standing on the sidelines at Banorte Stadium.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends an international friendly between Mexico and Portugal at Banorte Stadium in Mexico City March 28, 2026. (Antonio Torres/FIFA/Getty Images)

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Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last month that Iran would be welcome to compete in the World Cup as scheduled, though it might not be “appropriate” considering the conflict.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he wrote.

Trump also told Politico, “I really don’t care,” when asked about Iran’s participation in the tournament. Infantino, who has a strong relationship with Trump, said Trump has “reiterated” to him that the U.S. welcomes Iran’s team to compete.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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NFL analyst reacts to new photos leak of Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel from Arizona resort

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39 minutes ago

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23 April 2026

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New photos of New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Dianna Russini have been leaked online amid their alleged affair scandal. After Page Six shared exclusive snippets of them spending time together at a luxury private resort in Sedona last month, fresh photos from that time have raised more questions about this situation.

In the new photos shared, we see Vrabel and Russini having breakfast together. According to the article, several eyewitnesses claimed that they dined alone, but sources close to the insider claimed that a group of friends joined them.

On X, NFL analyst Tony Farmer shared his thoughts on these new leaks of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini.

“That’s Vrabel! Same shirt as the prior published photos. Not a girls trip. Not “laughable” to suggest it’s not innocent. This is breakfast guys, that means the sleepover is confirmed,” Farmer wrote.

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After receiving extensive backlash for the scandal, Dianna Russini decided to resign from her position at The Athletic earlier this month. In her resignation letter, she stated that she’s doing so to avoid it hampering the career that she’s built and denied the affair allegations.

“I have decided to step down aside now- before my current contract expires on June 30,” Russini wrote. “I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to let it further oxygen or let it define me or my career.”

ALSO READ: Le’Veon Bell revives old Dianna Russini tweet with viral “Mike Vrabel” fan remark amid dating scandal

ALSO READ: “Mike Vrabel absolutely nuked Dianna Russini today”: NFL insider makes feelings known on Patriots HC’s comments on alleged affair drama

Mike Vrabel dodges a question about Dianna Russini’s resignation

After days of silence, Mike Vrabel finally addressed the affair allegations with Dianna Russini during a press conference on Tuesday. He was asked to share his thoughts on the insider’s resignation from The Athletic.

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However, the Patriots coach decided to dodge answering this question.

“I appreciate and respect every single question,” Vrabel said. “But I’m not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that. I appreciate your job and what you guys have got to do, but I have to make my comments and what I answer about our football team.”

The NFL has also come forward to state that it will not review and investigate the Vrabel and Russini situation.