Arizona

Close but no cigar for Arizona women’s basketball in double OT loss to USC

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2024

Close but no cigar for Arizona women’s basketball in double OT loss to USC

It couldn’t have been a worse way to end their final season in the Pac-12. The Arizona Wildcats had to play six of their final games against Top 10 teams. Three of those would be on the road. With everything they’ve experienced this season, it was just adding insult to injury.

Arizona has turned that insult and injury on its head down the stretch. It almost did again, but No. 7 USC was just a little too much in a 95-93 double-overtime victory over Arizona.

“We battled a really good team—No. 7 team in the country—took them into overtime and had chances to win,” said Arizona head coach Adia Barnes. “I’m not upset at all. Obviously, I’m disappointed in the loss, but our kids played their hearts out. We basically played six players. I mean, they played the whole entire game…We made some mistakes. Our bigs fouled out. It really hurt us in rebounding. The difference in the game was rebounding and the fouls. So I can’t fault us. They played hard and we had a chance to win…so I’m proud of our players and we have to have selective amnesia.”

In the last game between the two teams, Arizona kept it close through the first 20 minutes, going into halftime trailing by just five points. USC ran away with the third quarter before coming back to earth in the fourth. That third quarter was all it took.

This wasn’t a repeat of that game, but it ended with the same result.

Again, it was close through the first half. This time, Arizona went into the half with a slight edge—and it solved its third-quarter issues from the last meeting. The Wildcats extended their two-point lead out of the locker room to a 53-46 advantage after 30 minutes.

The nearly 7,600 fans in McKale Center were rocking, only getting louder as Arizona stretched its lead to 10 several times in the fourth quarter. Then, star freshman JuJu Watkins fouled out with 1:41 to go in the game. It looked like a foregone conclusion. Arizona would win its second game against a Top 10 team in less than a week.

USC had different ideas.

Kayla Padilla stepped up for USC again, this time aided by Kaitlyn Davis. After Watkins fouled out, Davis made two layups and a jumper to pull USC within three points. Padilla tied the game.

As was the case at Oregon State in their last double-overtime loss, all Arizona needed was one rebound.

Esmery Martinez put the Wildcats up by five with two free throws. There was just 29 seconds to go.

At the other end, USC missed a 3-pointer but grabbed the offensive board. Davis got the second-chance bucket and the whistle. She missed her and-1 but grabbed her own offensive board. Padilla missed the first 3-point attempt. Davis grabbed the offensive board again. The next 3-pointer didn’t miss. It was all even with seven seconds to go.

“What I talked about with the staff was it was the exact situation as Oregon State that lost the game,” Barnes said. “Offensive rebound, and then that led to the 3s because when you give good teams…two, three chances, they’re going to hit one eventually.”

Pueyo had one go off the back of the rim at the end of regulation. It would take at least five more minutes to decide this one.

In the second overtime, USC led by three points with just over a minute to go. Williams tied it with 20 seconds to go. Neither team could push ahead over those final 20, so it was on to the second overtime.

Arizona led by as many as two in the final overtime, but USC had the advantage most of the time. Courtney Blakely made two free throws to cut the lead to three with 54 seconds to go.

With just five seconds left in the third overtime, USC opted to foul Arizona to keep the Wildcats from tying it with a 3-pointer. Pueyo hit both of her free throws, but USC was still up by one.

The Wildcats put Rayah Marshall on the line with the one-point lead. She made just one of her two free throws, giving USC a two-point lead. With no timeouts left, Arizona had to go the length of the court with four seconds to go.

Jada Williams made it up the court and let the ball go. It bounced off the back of the rim. Heartbreaker.

Fouls were once again Arizona’s Achilles heel. Breya Cunningham picked up two early in the first quarter and fouled out 10 seconds into the first overtime period. She was extremely effective when she was on the floor, going 4 for 4 with 3 rebounds and 2 blocks, but was restricted to about 15 minutes of play due to fouls.

Martinez also played sparingly compared to some of her teammates. Part of that was related to fouls, but part was due to being elbowed in the face for the second straight game.

“Playing 50 minutes is hard,” Barnes said of the task assigned to Helena Pueyo and Skylar Jones. “And then I’m asking her to score, too. I’m asking them to guard good players…That’s not easy. I mean, they’re mentally tough and we’re in great shape, but it’s hard. You’re gonna take plays off. You’re gonna mentally miss some box sets…I think it’s just hard to sustain it with our style for 50 minutes.”

Pueyo didn’t look any different than she usually does despite the huge task she’d just completed. Jones sat at the podium giggling and talking about how the things she was doing were going to help her in the future, seeming unbothered by almost 50 minutes of tough basketball and cycling through the different positions she has to play when the bigs get into foul trouble.

“In the long run, it’s gonna make me better,” Jones said. “It’s gonna make me more versatile like Helena when I get older, so I feel like it’s hard right now, and I don’t want to do it right now, but I’m gonna do it…In practice, they’re teaching me how to front, you know get in front and use my body and things like that. So I think it’s just gonna help me be a better player overall as we progress.”

Despite the loss, Barnes felt that the game proved once again how much the team has improved since early in the season—and how much it would continue to improve.

“I think we know that we can play with anybody in the country,” she said. “I think we know we’re gonna win some more games and I think we all feel really good about that…I don’t think we’re afraid of anybody. I know that we could have boxed out a little bit better, but they’re also a really good rebounding team, but that’s that’s a mental focus and adjustment that you can adjust to that. I think it’s hard to adjust to not moving the ball or playing selfish, but we’re playing unselfishish and there’s a lot of plays that we scored. We had beautiful plays to our posts, so many plays where everybody touches the ball and got reversed twice and the layup. So we’re playing good basketball right now…Two less mental mistakes or one less mental mistake, and we win the game.”

Pueyo led the team with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 steals. Jones was just behind her with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.

Arizona also got double-digit scoring from Isis Beh with 16 points, Williams with 14, and Courtney Blakely with 11.

The team faces UCLA on senior day Saturday, Mar. 2 at 6 p.m. MST.

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Arizona

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

Published

8 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

The NFL’s legal tampering window is officially open, and it didn’t take long for the Arizona Cardinals to get in the mix.

A running list of the new names and familiar faces coming to Arizona in 2026:

New names on Cardinals roster this free agency

Kendrick Bourne

The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver brings another body to Arizona’s wide receivers room that includes Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.

He’s got plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur from their time together in San Francisco (2017-20). Bourne also spent a year with expected Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett in 2024 with the Patriots.

The wide receiver caught 37 passes for 551 yards in 16 games played (eight starts) last year.

He’s now on board for two years in Arizona.

Isaac Seumalo

The guard spent the past three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a seven-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

He’s started 104 out of 125 games played and has spent time at both left and right guard during his NFL career.

According to Next Gen Stats, the guard allowed a 3.7% pressure rate last year. That was the lowest rate among all eligible guards in 2025.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Monday.

He’s expected to back up expected starter Jacoby Brissett in 2026, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Coming off his seventh NFL season and first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew appeared in four games (one start) last year. He completed 46.2% of his throws for 37 yards and an interception.

Before landing with the Chiefs, Minshew spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20).

RB Tyler Allgeier

Allgeier comes over to Arizona on a reported two-year contract.

Before agreeing to terms on the $12.25 million deal with Arizona on Monday, Allgeier played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

He ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries last year, while adding another 14 catches for 96 yards.

While he worked mostly behind Bijan Robinson the past three years, Allgeier did surpass the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2022.

Familiar faces

L.J. Collier

Collier is back on a one-year deal.

The defensive lineman appeared in four games in 2025 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.

He recorded six tackles and two QB hits in what was his third season with the team.

Roy Lopez

After a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions, Lopez is back with his hometown team on a reported two-year deal.

In 17 games played last year, he recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass defensed.

Before his time in Detroit, Lopez spent two seasons with Arizona from 2023-24. During that span, he registered a sack, six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 30 games played (21 starts).

K Chad Ryland

Ryland is back on a one-year deal, the team announced.

Ryland went through plenty of struggles last season after a having a career year in 2024. His accuracy dropped from 87.5% in 2024 to 75.8% last season. He was especially inconsistent from 40 yards and on, compiling a 13-of-20 mark (65%). Inside 40 yards, though, Ryland was 12-of-13 (92.3%).

Arizona brought in kicker Josh Karty late in the year (more on him later), but Ryland never gave up his role and appeared in all 17 games.

A one-year deal isn’t going to break the bank by any means.

P Blake Gillikin

The Cardinals must feel pretty good about where Gillikin is at in his recovering from a back injury last year with their signing of the punter to a one-year deal.

Before he went down five games into the season, the punter was leading the league in yards per punt with 51.7.

Not only that, across his five seasons (65 games) in the NFL, he holds the all-time record for yards per punt at 48.5.

Staying healthy is key for Gillikin, who also missed time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.

RB James Conner

Technically not a free agent, Conner was a potential cut candidate given his contract.

But after reportedly revising his deal, Conner is returning for his sixth season with the Cardinals.

The running back brings plenty of leadership and a bruising running style to the mix.

He’s coming off an abbreviated 2025 (three games) due to an ankle injury but had rushed for a pair of 1,000-yard seasons the two years prior. He scored at least seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2022-24.

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

Much like Conner, Murphy-Bunting was another prime cut candidate due to his contract but reportedly revised his deal with Arizona as well.

Murphy-Bunting has a lot to prove after missing all of 2025 due to an injury suffered away from the team facility.

In his first season with the Cardinals, the cornerback recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles across 15 starts.

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Arizona

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year

Published

20 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year

The Arizona men’s basketball team went 29-2 overall and 16-2 in the Big 12, winning the conference’s regular season title.

The Wildcats were rewarded for their dominance in the Big 12’s men’s basketball awards, which were announced on March 9.

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, while Tobe Awaka earned the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award and coach Tommy Lloyd earned Coach of the Year accolades.

Bradley averaged 13.4 points and 4.6 assists. Awaka was the nation’s leading rebounder off the bench, averaging 9.7 rebounds and 9.9 points when entering the game as a reserve. Lloyd led Arizona to its first Big 12 regular-season title.

Arizona State was completely shut out of the awards, with Moe Odum not receiving honorable mention honors despite averaging 17.1 points per game and 5.9 assists per game for the Sun Devils.

2026 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Awards

Player of the Year: Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Defensive Player of the Year: Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Freshman of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Newcomer of the Year: Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
Sixth Man Award: Tobe Awaka, Arizona*
Most Improved: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

All-Big 12 First Team

Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Brayden Burries, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Kingston Flemings, Houston*
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
JT Toppin, Texas Tech*

All-Big 12 Second Team

Richie Saunders, BYU
Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Darryn Peterson, Kansas

All-Big 12 Third Team

Koa Peat, Arizona
Cameron Carr, Baylor
Rob Wright, BYU
Themus Fulks, UCF
Xavier Edmonds, TCU

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention:

Arizona: Tobe Awaka
Baylor: Tounde Yessoufou
Cincinnati: Moustapha Thiam
Colorado: Isaiah Johnson
Houston: Joseph Tugler, Milos Uzan
Kansas: Melvin Council Jr.
Kansas State: PJ Haggerty
Oklahoma State: Parsa Fallah
TCU: David Punch
Texas Tech: Donovan Atwell
West Virginia: Honor Huff
Utah: Terrence Brown

All-Defensive Team

Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Flory Bidunga, Kansas*

A tie resulted in an extra position on the team

All-Freshman Team

Brayden Burries, Arizona*
Koa Peat, Arizona
AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
Kingston Flemings, Houston*
Darryn Peterson, Kansas*

All-Newcomer Team

Cameron Carr, Baylor
Themus Fulks, UCF
Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech

*- unanimous selection

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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Arizona gas prices rise above national average amid Middle East conflict

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Arizona gas prices rise above national average amid Middle East conflict

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The average price of regular gasoline in Arizona surged more than 30 cents in just a few days, according to AAA, leaving the state’s average at around $3.84 per gallon as of Sunday. The national average stands at $3.45.

Arizona is now one of the most expensive states in the country to fill up, topping the national average by nearly 40 cents.

AAA said the war in Iran is affecting crude oil prices, which are now trading at more than $100 per barrel. Arizona’s Family also reported a slowdown in a major ship channel in the Middle East, adding further pressure to the market.

A seasonal factor is also contributing to the spike. The transition to summer-blend gasoline, which is required in spring, is driving prices higher as well.

Drivers at a central Phoenix gas station said they were caught off guard by the rapid increase.

“I was appalled,” one driver said.

“It was ridiculous,” said another.

“That is a lot, especially in such a short period of time,” said Andrea Webb.

The gas station attendant said some drivers are limiting how much they spend per fill-up, putting in only $10 to $20 at a time. Others said they are actively searching for the lowest posted price.

“I feel like I’m always on the hunt for whatever is the cheapest gas,” said Bailey Mitchell. “This was $4.09 versus $4.15, so I’ll take it.”

Not all drivers said they are cutting back.

“I’m gonna bite the bullet. I need gas in my car. I’ll fill it up,” said Webb.

ASU professor of supply chain management, Hitendra Chaturvedi, said oil prices could approach $130 per barrel if the war in Iran continues. That scenario could push Arizona gas prices close to $6 per gallon, the professor said. No timeline was given.

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