INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever are making progress on their new practice facility.

Pacers Sports and Entertainment shared renderings of the inside of the facility, situated across from Gainbridge Fieldhouse at the intersection of Maryland and Delaware streets, on Thursday morning. 

The 108,000-square-foot space will be a major upgrade from the Fever’s current practice space, which is situated inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse with just one court and minimal player support areas.

Those renderings include dual practice courts, a podcast studio, golf simulator, individual player spaces within the locker room, and a room for dedicated childcare services. It will also have a full kitchen with a chef, and a recovery suite that includes hydrotherapy pools, an infrared sauna, and massage therapy rooms.

The $78 million structure will be three levels, with part of the first story dedicated to be open to the public with a team store and the Fever Hall of Excellence.

“These renderings bring our vision into focus,” Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement. “Every element of this facility has been intentionally designed around our players including how they train, recover, connect and live day to day. This will set a new standard for women’s sports and continue to position Indianapolis at the center of that momentum.”

The facility is expected to open ahead of the 2027 WNBA season — just in time for what may be a frenzy of free agency for the second straight offseason.

Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar’s YouTube channel for Fever Insiders Live.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A shooter aimed at officers aiding a person with gunshot wounds in a home across the street, leading to an Indianapolis police shooting on Wednesday night, authorities said.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a person shot shortly before 8 p.m. in the 1200 block of East Sumner Avenue, which is a residential area.

Police told News 8 that they arrived to find a man in the second story of the home with a gunshot wound to the neck. Police say there was another adult in the house, along with two children. Police also found a firearm upstairs.

When shots began to be fired at officers from an upstairs window of a nearby home, police returned fire toward the shooter, striking the person. The person was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

The man who was initially shot was stable at a hospital.

Police say the children were unharmed.

Sumner Avenue will be closed in both directions between Harding Street and Bluff Road as they continue their investigation. Police ask for the area to be avoided, with no ongoing threat to public safety.

Per protocol, the officer who fired shots at the suspect was placed on administrative leave. That officer was not identified.

Detectives are asking anyone with information, video footage, or damage to their home to please call the non-emergency line at 317-327-3811.

Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is among the biggest rising prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Once viewed as a second-round pick, Cooper is now being discussed as a potential top-20 selection. The National Championship winner could be the third wideout drafted.

Cooper was outstanding as Fernando Mendoza’s go-to target in 2025, registering 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Indianapolis native continued attaching a jetpack to his pre-draft stock at the NFL Combine by running a 4.42 and leaping a 37-inch vertical.

Cooper is strongly positioned to be a first-round pick. We’ve identified the three most sensible team fits for Cooper in the 2026 NFL Draft.

2026 NFL Draft: 3 Fits for Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.

New York Jets

The New York Jets lack wide receiver depth behind Garrett Wilson. They acquired Geno Smith to play quarterback as a temporary solution earlier this offseason, buying them time to find a franchise arm. Smith is an aggressive gunslinger who needs more weapons at his disposal.

The Jets are going to draft the top defender on their board at No. 2 overall, with David Bailey and Arvell Reese as the favorites. With their second of their first-round selections (No. 16), they may target an offensive lineman or wide receiver. Cooper projects as an excellent complement to Wilson.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. this summer. That marks two consecutive offseasons the Steelers have made an aggressive trade for a receiver. Pittman joins DK Metcalf in a rather top-heavy receiver room in Pittsburgh.

Both Metcalf and Pittman are big-bodied wideouts who are vertical field stretches and contested catch winners. With the Steelers still sorting through Aaron Rodgers’ decision and their quarterback position, Mike McCarthy’s offense needs a receiver capable of doing short-to-intermediate damage as a yards-after-catch threat who can break tackles. The Steelers could target Cooper at No. 21 overall.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are still expected to trade disgruntled wide receiver A.J. Brown this offseason. Once Brown’s departure is finalized, the Eagles’ depth chart at receiver will become fairly thin, with DeVonta Smith being elevated into the No. 1 role.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was signed in free agency, but he’s a deeper rotational option at this point in his career. Cooper would thrive in Nick Sirianni’s system as a quarterback-friendly target Jalen Hurts could pepper underneath the coverage in creative concepts. Receiver has emerged as one of the Eagles’ bigger draft-day needs.