Indiana

Indiana Fever Superstar Caitlin Clark Honored with Butter Sculpture

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2024

Indiana Fever Superstar Caitlin Clark Honored with Butter Sculpture

When the Indiana Fever drafted Caitlin Clark, it was clear that they were getting a generational superstar.

She is the most popular women’s basketball player in the history of the game and the impact of that fact has been felt by how much viewership the WNBA has received this season.

Clark has become a fan favorite to many and hated by many others. She is one of the most polarizing athletes ever seen in professional sports.

During her college career, Clark broke record after record. She also was extremely successful in the NIL marketplace.

After everything was said and done, On3 had given here a massive NIL valuation of $3.4 million.

Following her impressive career on and off the court in college, the leap to the WNBA has proven to be one that she has handled very well. However, there are many who are waiting and hoping that she fails.

Thankfully, Clark has found a way to rise above the hate and criticism. She has simply focused on playing basketball.

In her rookie season with the Fever, Clark has played in 26 games, averaging 17.1 points per game to go along with 8.2 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. She has averaged 5.6 turnovers per game, which needs to come down. In addition to those averages, Clark has shot 40.5 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from the three-point line.

All of that being said, Clark was recently honored at the Iowa State Fair with a cool, but also a weird thing. A butter sculpture was made of her.

Caitlin Clark butter sculpture @ Iowa State Fair! She’s always smooth it seems. pic.twitter.com/oPWKxQoycR
— Steve Bruce (@bruce_hoops) August 8, 2024

That’s right, a sculpture, made of legitimate butter, was unveiled.

Simply being able to make something like that out of butter is an amazing feat in and of itself. However, it also shows just how popular Clark has become.

While she didn’t end up making the Olympic team this year, she did make the WNBA All-Star Game. She’s also in the middle of competing for the Rookie of the Year award, with Angel Reese being her primary competition. The WNBA Playoffs are also something she’s trying to lead Indiana to.

It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for Clark. Hopefully, she will continue living up to the hype on the court and become the all-time superstar that she has been built up to be.

All of that being said, the impact she has made on women’s sports deserves to be recognized. There will always be haters and critics, but Clark has done an amazing job of being a beacon for women’s basketball and sports in general and she has carried herself in the right way.

Source link

Indiana

Indiana Pacers Slide as 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Rise

Published

6 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Indiana Pacers Slide as 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Rise

The Indiana Pacers are making a real argument to be the worst team in the NBA this season.

The Pacers could become the first team in the Eastern Conference to reach 50 losses this season if they don’t beat the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night. Power rankings across the internet have the Pacers and Kings as the bottom two teams in the league.

NBA.com, John Schuhmann (30, no change)

Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter. | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

“With the Jazz beating the Wizards on Thursday and the Nets’ incredible comeback in Detroit over the weekend, the Pacers are the only team without a win (they’re 0-9) since the All-Star break. Seven of those nine losses have come against other teams with losing records,” Schuhmann wrote.

“The Pacers and Kings are now tied for the fewest wins (15), and they’ll meet for the second (and final) time on Tuesday, with the Pacers having won the first meeting (Dec. 8) behind 28 points and 12 assists from Nembhard. That’s the end of the Pacers’ four-game trip, and they’ll then return home and begin their only stretch of five games in seven days.”

The Athletic, Law Murray (30, no change)

“The Pacers are the only team in the league without a win since the All-Star break, so they’re comfortably nestled at the bottom of these rankings. Indiana was only regular bad for the third quarter of the season overall, though the interior defense has been slammed like brakes,” Murray wrote.

“If they don’t win Tuesday in Sacramento in the Tyrese Haliburton trade bowl, then they’ll have to go and upset a team that is trying to secure wins for the rest of the March schedule.”

Clutch Points, Brett Siegel (29, down 1)

“As soon as Tyrese Haliburton went down with his Achilles injury, everyone knew that the Indiana Pacers would be taking a step back. The decision for this to be a gap year and completely tank was made after several impactful players, like Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard, all went down with injuries,” Siegel wrote.

“After all, a team that found success through its depth is nothing when all of its key talents are injured.

“The Pacers own the second-worst record in the NBA right now, giving them a real shot at getting the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Remember, Indiana will keep their selection this season if it falls inside the top four, which have a 52.1 percent chance of happening.”

Overview

It’s hard to argue the Pacers not being in this position because they’ve only won 15 games so far this season. On top of that, their last victory came on February 11, which was the final game before the All-Star break.

This isn’t exactly a bad thing for the Pacers, however, because they need that first-round pick to return to them in the draft. If they get the wrong shake in the lottery, the Pacers could be forced to give up their first-round pick in this year’s draft to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade.

The Pacers should use the rest of the season to figure out who fits in their system and develop their young players in hopes of some of them cracking the rotation for next season and beyond.

Source link

Indiana

Looking ahead: Five takeaways on high school basketball regional matchups

Published

18 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Looking ahead: Five takeaways on high school basketball regional matchups

The high school basketball regional matchups and sites are set. Still more to come on recapping sectional week, including a wild championship Saturday night, but wanted to get out some initial thoughts and takeaways on the upcoming regional round.

Showdown at Southport

Pike vs. Mt. Vernon.

Is Caitlin Clark going to show up again? She should.

This matchup, set for Saturday at 4 p.m. at Southport Fieldhouse, is probably the headliner of the 4A regional slate. The first game was insane, as the two teams combined for a state-record 30 3-pointers in Pike’s 84-81 overtime win.

What do we have for an encore? Third-ranked Pike got through the more difficult Sectional 11 at Plainfield, defeating the fifth-ranked Quakers 56-53 on Friday, rallying from a 15-point third-quarter deficit. The Red Devils (23-3) played confident in a 79-68 win over a pesky and physical Brownsburg in the championship game, led by 17 points and four assists from junior guard Jahari Miller and three others in double figures.

The x-factor is Luke Ertel. Pike coach Jeff Teague, after Saturday’s win, called the Mt. Vernon senior “the best player in the state.” He will not find many arguments there. The Purdue recruit led the fourth-ranked Marauders (24-3) to the Sectional 9 title at Greenfield-Central with 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 64-50 win over the host Cougars.

Not many better matchups (are there any?) around the state than this one.

The second game at Southport is interesting, too. Talented Lawrence Central (14-11) has won five in a row, including a 70-57 upset win over Lawrence North in Sectional 10 at Tech. Decatur Central (19-6) set a school record for wins and won its first sectional since 2005.

Class 4A north battle at Plymouth

You could make a case for Chesterton vs. No. 2 Crown Point at Michigan City, but to me the most interesting 4A north regional matchup is No. 6 Northridge (24-1) vs. No. 8 South Bend St. Joseph (21-4) at Plymouth.

Northridge and South Bend St. Joe are two dramatically different teams, which adds a little bit more intrigue to the game. Northridge won its first sectional championship in six years with a 48-37 win over Warsaw in the sectional at Elkhart.

The Raiders, led by senior and Indiana All-Star candidate Brady Scholl, leads the state in 4A in points allowed per game at 44.4. South Bend St. Joseph, last year’s 3A state champion, leads the state in scoring at 78.4 points per game.

That game is 7 p.m. at Plymouth, following the 4 p.m. Class 3A game between No. 6 Columbia City (22-4) and Hanover Central (12-14).

Intrigue at Greencastle

Fourth-ranked Northview is a really good 3A team. Anyone who watched the Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle can confirm. The Knights rolled to the Sectional 27 title at Speedway with a 64-43 win over Cascade behind an 18-point night from Trayven Buis and 17 from Quinn Lewis.

But I have my eye on Northview’s game against Roncalli (17-7) in the regional at Greencastle. The Royals came through a tough Sectional 26 at Greenwood, knocking off the host Woodmen 56-44 in the sectional championship. Roncalli is balanced and veteran and added a big piece to the puzzle with Joey Ortman returning from a back injury that cost him most of the season.

I think this has a chance to be one of the best games of the day anywhere in the state.

Doubleheader at Martinsville

Oh man. There are a couple of great matchups set for Martinsville.

The first, No. 4 Parke Heritage (23-4) vs. No. 5 Centerville (24-2) could potentially decide the Class 2A entry from the south in the state finals. It is a huge game, a rematch of Parke Heritage’s 47-41 win over Centerville in the same round last season.

We have written and talked quite a bit about Parke Heritage, which had its path stopped in the semistate the past three years. This could be the team to break through.

We have probably not written enough about Centerville, which steamrolled Hagerstown (85-57) and Shenandoah (66-36) to win the sectional. The Bulldogs have knocked off teams like Delta, Guerin Catholic, Liberty Christian and Pendleton Heights this season. Seniors Shea Hollendonner (19.7 ppg, 4.2 rebounds) and Landyn Keiser (11.1 ppg, 5.2 rebounds) are Centerville’s top players.

The second game also looks tantalizing. No. 3 Cathedral (21-5) defeated No. 10 Brebeuf Jesuit (18-6) on Dec. 5 by nine points, 71-62. It is a little surprising these programs have only met once previously in the tournament, a Brebeuf sectional win 25 years ago.

Brebeuf knocked off No. 5 Guerin Catholic 48-47 for the Sectional 25 championship at Frankfort and Cathedral took out Crispus Attucks 81-63 in the Sectional 26 championship at Broad Ripple.

Neither of these teams will be the favorite to come out of the 3A south – that is top-ranked Silver Creek (27-1) – but the winner at Martinsville might be the Dragons’ toughest challenger.

The Class 2A north

Loaded.

The Class 2A north bracket looks awesome. There are a couple heavyweight matchups in the regional – No. 3 Westview (24-1) vs. No. 7 Gary 21^st Century (17-6) at North Judson and Blackford (20-6) vs. No. 9 Lapel (20-5) at Lapel (cue the complaints that Lapel gets to host a regional game).

Gary 21^st Century, which beat Westview three years ago in the regional, is led by senior point guard Terrence Hayes Jr. (17.6 ppg, 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists), one of four players averaging in double figures. Kaden Grau (19.1 ppg, 5.1 rebounds) and Austin Schlabach (18.4 ppg, 5.5 assists) are standouts for Westview. Neither team was threatened in the sectional.

Blackford was challenged in the sectional, getting through Alexandria (62-54), Eastbrook (42-35) and Wapahani (49-39) in Sectional 40 at Eastbrook. Amarian Leggett (26.7 ppg, 4.3 assists) is one of the top sophomores in the state. Lapel has taken off since a 19-point loss to Oak Hill, winning 10 consecutive games. Owen Garber put up a cool 30 points in Lapel’s 77-54 sectional championship win over Sheridan in Sectional 39 at Elwood.

Here are the full regional matchups

Class 4A

Chesterton vs. Crown Point at Michigan City, 8 p.m.
Northridge vs. South Bend Saint Joseph at Plymouth, 7 p.m.
Fort Wayne Snider vs. Carmel at New Castle, 4 p.m.
Harrison (West Lafayette) vs. Homestead at Logansport, 4 p.m.
Mt. Vernon vs. Pike at Southport, 4 p.m.
Lawrence Central vs. Decatur Central at Southport, 7 p.m.
New Albany vs. Castle at Southridge, 4 p.m.
Columbus North vs. Terre Haute North at Greencastle, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A

Columbia City vs. Hanover Central at Plymouth, 4 p.m.
East Chicago Central vs. Mishawaka Marian at Michigan City, 5 p.m.
West Lafayette vs. New Haven at Logansport, 1 p.m.
Delta vs. Blackhawk Christian at New Castle, 1 p.m.
Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Cathedral at Martinsville, 7 p.m.
Northview vs. Roncalli at Greencastle, 4 p.m.
Evansville Bosse vs. Princeton at Southridge, 1 p.m.
Silver Creek vs. Batesville at Charlestown, 4 p.m.

CLASS 2A

Westview vs. 21st Century Academy at North Judson, 7 p.m.
Bishop Luers vs. Bremen at Huntington North, 7 p.m.
Blackford at Lapel, 4 p.m.
Benton Central vs. Oak Hill at Frankfort, 4 p.m.
Parke Heritage vs. Centerville at Martinsville, 4 p.m.
Cardinal Ritter vs. Triton Central at Greenfield-Central, 7 p.m.
Paoli vs. Linton-Stockton at Seymour, 4 p.m.
Austin vs. Forest Park at Charlestown, 1 p.m.

CLASS A

Fort Wayne Canterbury vs. Tri-County at Huntington North, 4 p.m.
Triton vs. Marquette Catholic at North Judson, 4 p.m.
Monroe Central vs. Southwood at Lapel, 1 p.m.
Rossville vs. North Vermillion at Frankfort, 1 p.m.
South Decatur vs. Hauser at Seymour, 1 p.m.
Liberty Christian vs. Greenwood Christian at Greenfield-Central, 4 p.m.
Barr-Reeve vs. West Washington at Washington, 1 p.m.
Northeast Dubois vs. Bloomfield at Washington, 4 p.m.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.

Source link

Indiana

Supercross: Results From Indianapolis, Indiana

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Supercross: Results From Indianapolis, Indiana

What is a Press Release?

A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.

A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.

Source link