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WNBA MVP race: how A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and the top players rank one month in We’re almost a month into the WNBA season, and it’s time for the first WNBA MVP rankings. A couple of disclaimers before we begin: team success is heavily weighed, so if your favorite player’s team has had a difficult start to the season, you’re unlikely to find them here. In this first edition, I excluded any players who are not currently on a playoff team (that means players on the Toronto Tempo, Washington Mystics, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, and Connecticut Sun). Sorry, Kelsey Plum.For that reason, the list is far from a definitive ranking of the best players in the WNBA. It’s based on production from the first month of the season, and players’ overall impact on winning. Some regular MVP candidates like Alyssa Thomas are not on this list due to their team’s early struggles (the Phoenix Mercury are 3-8 to begin the season).Now that those disclaimers are out of the way, here’s where everyone stands.A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas AcesTeam record: 6-32026 stats: 24.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, 60.1% TSA’ja Wilson hasn’t made a ton of headlines this season because she’s doing what she always does — dominating on both ends of the floor on a winning squad. Wilson leads the WNBA in points per game (24.8) and blocks (2.6). She’s also shooting 51.9% from the field and a scorching-hot 55.6% from three on two attempts per game. At 6-3, the Aces also have the league’s third-best record. The four-time MVP could very well win her fifth.Olivia Miles, Minnesota LynxTeam record: 8-22026 stats: 17 points, 6.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, 62.4% TSOlivia Miles was not expected to be here. But the 23-year-old rookie has been one of the league’s best playmakers, averaging 6.4 assists per game (the 7th-most in the league). She’s also finding her footing as a scorer, averaging 17 points per game (the 15th-most in the league). Her true shooting is the highest of any player on this list.But what makes Miles’ MVP case most compelling is that the Lynx — despite losing Napheesa Collier to injury and Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, and Natisha Hiedeman to new teams — have been the best team in the WNBA through the first month of the season, and Miles has been their most important player.Paige Bueckers, Dallas WingsTeam record: 6-32026 stats: 18.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 59.9% TSAt 6-3, the Wings are tied with the Atlanta Dream and Aces for the WNBA’s second-best record. And Paige Bueckers has been the engine that’s made it all work. Bueckers is averaging 18.3 points and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 49.2% from the field and 42.5% from three.The Wings have seen contributions from a slew of players — Arike Ogunbowale, Jessica Shepard, and Azzi Fudd have all been important — but if you’re looking for one player to credit for their early success, Bueckers is the obvious choice.Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream Team record: 6-32026 stats: 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 55.6% TSThe Dream have been one of the WNBA’s best teams, and the two-headed monster of Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard leads them. Gray, who was named to the All-WNBA First Team last year, is the third-leading scorer in the league thus far.Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Team record: 5-42026 stats: 19.8 points, 8.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 54.9% TSCaitlin Clark is averaging 19.8 points (fourth-most in the WNBA) and 8.1 assists (most in the league) to begin the season. She hasn’t had the most efficient start — her 54.9% TS ranks her below most of the other players on this list — but her gravity and playmaking continue to amaze.Rhyne Howard, Atlanta DreamTeam record: 6-32026 stats: 17.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.8 steals, 57.9% TSHoward has been instrumental in the Dream’s 6-3 start, and while she’s been outscored by Gray, she is the more impactful defender. To truly be among the league’s best players, however, Howard will need to find more consistency. The former No. 1 overall pick exploded for 36 points on Tuesday, but followed that up with an 8-point performance two nights later.Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana FeverTeam record: 5-42026 stats: 21.1 points, 2.4 assists, 59.6% TSIt’s hard to pin down who has been most important to the Fever this season, Kelsey Mitchell or Caitlin Clark. Mitchell, who is averaging the second-most points per game this season (21.2), gets the edge for now. The 30-year-old guard is shooting 48.6% from the field and 37.5% from three for a 59.6% TS, building off of her MVP-caliber season last year.Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty Team record: 6-42026 stats: 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 54.6% TSThe Liberty have won 3 straight games after starting the season 3-4, and are now tied with the Valkyries for the fifth-best record in the WNBA. Breanna Stewart, meanwhile, has been their best player, averaging 18.8 points (6th-most) and 8.6 rebounds (1oth-most) per game. But, Stewart’s not higher on this list for a couple of reasons: the Liberty have underachieved, and her three-point shot has completely escaped her — she’s shooting 18.8% from beyond the arc, and defenses are beginning to take notice.Veronica Burton, Golden State ValkyriesTeam record: 6-42026 stats: 13.6 points, 5.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 55.3% TSVeronica Burton doesn’t have the gaudy stats some of the players on this list have. But the Valkyries point guard is the team’s engine on both ends and has been crucial to their success so far this season. #WNBA #MVP #race #Aja #Wilson #Caitlin #Clark #top #players #rank #month

WNBA MVP race: how A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and the top players rank one month in

We’re almost a month into the WNBA season, and it’s time for the first WNBA MVP rankings. A couple of disclaimers before we begin: team success is heavily weighed, so if your favorite player’s team has had a difficult start to the season, you’re unlikely to find them here. In this first edition, I excluded any players who are not currently on a playoff team (that means players on the Toronto Tempo, Washington Mystics, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, and Connecticut Sun). Sorry, Kelsey Plum.

For that reason, the list is far from a definitive ranking of the best players in the WNBA. It’s based on production from the first month of the season, and players’ overall impact on winning. Some regular MVP candidates like Alyssa Thomas are not on this list due to their team’s early struggles (the Phoenix Mercury are 3-8 to begin the season).

Now that those disclaimers are out of the way, here’s where everyone stands.

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 24.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, 60.1% TS

A’ja Wilson hasn’t made a ton of headlines this season because she’s doing what she always does — dominating on both ends of the floor on a winning squad. Wilson leads the WNBA in points per game (24.8) and blocks (2.6). She’s also shooting 51.9% from the field and a scorching-hot 55.6% from three on two attempts per game. At 6-3, the Aces also have the league’s third-best record. The four-time MVP could very well win her fifth.

Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

Team record: 8-2
2026 stats: 17 points, 6.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, 62.4% TS

Olivia Miles was not expected to be here. But the 23-year-old rookie has been one of the league’s best playmakers, averaging 6.4 assists per game (the 7th-most in the league). She’s also finding her footing as a scorer, averaging 17 points per game (the 15th-most in the league). Her true shooting is the highest of any player on this list.

But what makes Miles’ MVP case most compelling is that the Lynx — despite losing Napheesa Collier to injury and Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, and Natisha Hiedeman to new teams — have been the best team in the WNBA through the first month of the season, and Miles has been their most important player.

Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 18.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 59.9% TS

At 6-3, the Wings are tied with the Atlanta Dream and Aces for the WNBA’s second-best record. And Paige Bueckers has been the engine that’s made it all work. Bueckers is averaging 18.3 points and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 49.2% from the field and 42.5% from three.

The Wings have seen contributions from a slew of players — Arike Ogunbowale, Jessica Shepard, and Azzi Fudd have all been important — but if you’re looking for one player to credit for their early success, Bueckers is the obvious choice.

Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 55.6% TS

The Dream have been one of the WNBA’s best teams, and the two-headed monster of Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard leads them. Gray, who was named to the All-WNBA First Team last year, is the third-leading scorer in the league thus far.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Team record: 5-4
2026 stats: 19.8 points, 8.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 54.9% TS

Caitlin Clark is averaging 19.8 points (fourth-most in the WNBA) and 8.1 assists (most in the league) to begin the season. She hasn’t had the most efficient start — her 54.9% TS ranks her below most of the other players on this list — but her gravity and playmaking continue to amaze.

Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 17.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.8 steals, 57.9% TS

Howard has been instrumental in the Dream’s 6-3 start, and while she’s been outscored by Gray, she is the more impactful defender. To truly be among the league’s best players, however, Howard will need to find more consistency. The former No. 1 overall pick exploded for 36 points on Tuesday, but followed that up with an 8-point performance two nights later.

Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Team record: 5-4
2026 stats: 21.1 points, 2.4 assists, 59.6% TS

It’s hard to pin down who has been most important to the Fever this season, Kelsey Mitchell or Caitlin Clark. Mitchell, who is averaging the second-most points per game this season (21.2), gets the edge for now. The 30-year-old guard is shooting 48.6% from the field and 37.5% from three for a 59.6% TS, building off of her MVP-caliber season last year.

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Team record: 6-4
2026 stats: 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 54.6% TS

The Liberty have won 3 straight games after starting the season 3-4, and are now tied with the Valkyries for the fifth-best record in the WNBA. Breanna Stewart, meanwhile, has been their best player, averaging 18.8 points (6th-most) and 8.6 rebounds (1oth-most) per game. But, Stewart’s not higher on this list for a couple of reasons: the Liberty have underachieved, and her three-point shot has completely escaped her — she’s shooting 18.8% from beyond the arc, and defenses are beginning to take notice.

Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries

Team record: 6-4
2026 stats: 13.6 points, 5.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 55.3% TS

Veronica Burton doesn’t have the gaudy stats some of the players on this list have. But the Valkyries point guard is the team’s engine on both ends and has been crucial to their success so far this season.

#WNBA #MVP #race #Aja #Wilson #Caitlin #Clark #top #players #rank #month

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We’re almost a month into the WNBA season, and it’s time for the first WNBA MVP rankings. A couple of disclaimers before we begin: team success is heavily weighed, so if your favorite player’s team has had a difficult start to the season, you’re unlikely to find them here. In this first edition, I excluded any players who are not currently on a playoff team (that means players on the Toronto Tempo, Washington Mystics, Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, and Connecticut Sun). Sorry, Kelsey Plum.

For that reason, the list is far from a definitive ranking of the best players in the WNBA. It’s based on production from the first month of the season, and players’ overall impact on winning. Some regular MVP candidates like Alyssa Thomas are not on this list due to their team’s early struggles (the Phoenix Mercury are 3-8 to begin the season).

Now that those disclaimers are out of the way, here’s where everyone stands.

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 24.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, 60.1% TS

A’ja Wilson hasn’t made a ton of headlines this season because she’s doing what she always does — dominating on both ends of the floor on a winning squad. Wilson leads the WNBA in points per game (24.8) and blocks (2.6). She’s also shooting 51.9% from the field and a scorching-hot 55.6% from three on two attempts per game. At 6-3, the Aces also have the league’s third-best record. The four-time MVP could very well win her fifth.

Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx

Team record: 8-2
2026 stats: 17 points, 6.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, 62.4% TS

Olivia Miles was not expected to be here. But the 23-year-old rookie has been one of the league’s best playmakers, averaging 6.4 assists per game (the 7th-most in the league). She’s also finding her footing as a scorer, averaging 17 points per game (the 15th-most in the league). Her true shooting is the highest of any player on this list.

But what makes Miles’ MVP case most compelling is that the Lynx — despite losing Napheesa Collier to injury and Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, and Natisha Hiedeman to new teams — have been the best team in the WNBA through the first month of the season, and Miles has been their most important player.

Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 18.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 59.9% TS

At 6-3, the Wings are tied with the Atlanta Dream and Aces for the WNBA’s second-best record. And Paige Bueckers has been the engine that’s made it all work. Bueckers is averaging 18.3 points and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 49.2% from the field and 42.5% from three.

The Wings have seen contributions from a slew of players — Arike Ogunbowale, Jessica Shepard, and Azzi Fudd have all been important — but if you’re looking for one player to credit for their early success, Bueckers is the obvious choice.

Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 55.6% TS

The Dream have been one of the WNBA’s best teams, and the two-headed monster of Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard leads them. Gray, who was named to the All-WNBA First Team last year, is the third-leading scorer in the league thus far.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Team record: 5-4
2026 stats: 19.8 points, 8.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 54.9% TS

Caitlin Clark is averaging 19.8 points (fourth-most in the WNBA) and 8.1 assists (most in the league) to begin the season. She hasn’t had the most efficient start — her 54.9% TS ranks her below most of the other players on this list — but her gravity and playmaking continue to amaze.

Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

Team record: 6-3
2026 stats: 17.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.8 steals, 57.9% TS

Howard has been instrumental in the Dream’s 6-3 start, and while she’s been outscored by Gray, she is the more impactful defender. To truly be among the league’s best players, however, Howard will need to find more consistency. The former No. 1 overall pick exploded for 36 points on Tuesday, but followed that up with an 8-point performance two nights later.

Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Team record: 5-4
2026 stats: 21.1 points, 2.4 assists, 59.6% TS

It’s hard to pin down who has been most important to the Fever this season, Kelsey Mitchell or Caitlin Clark. Mitchell, who is averaging the second-most points per game this season (21.2), gets the edge for now. The 30-year-old guard is shooting 48.6% from the field and 37.5% from three for a 59.6% TS, building off of her MVP-caliber season last year.

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Team record: 6-4
2026 stats: 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 54.6% TS

The Liberty have won 3 straight games after starting the season 3-4, and are now tied with the Valkyries for the fifth-best record in the WNBA. Breanna Stewart, meanwhile, has been their best player, averaging 18.8 points (6th-most) and 8.6 rebounds (1oth-most) per game. But, Stewart’s not higher on this list for a couple of reasons: the Liberty have underachieved, and her three-point shot has completely escaped her — she’s shooting 18.8% from beyond the arc, and defenses are beginning to take notice.

Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries

Team record: 6-4
2026 stats: 13.6 points, 5.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 55.3% TS

Veronica Burton doesn’t have the gaudy stats some of the players on this list have. But the Valkyries point guard is the team’s engine on both ends and has been crucial to their success so far this season.

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Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home. After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad: People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life. But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story. It’s a thank-you letter. I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today. The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes. I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention. You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word. For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it. Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from. It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry. You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain. On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way. When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough. Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for. Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me. After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own. So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton. It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona. Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own. Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man. You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong. Most of all, you gave me a home. With love and gratitude, (signed) Larry Fitzgerald HOF 26 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #homePro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026.

One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home.

After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl.

Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison.

Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad:

People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life.

But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story.

It’s a thank-you letter.

I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today.

The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes.

I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention.

You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word.

For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it.

Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from.

It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry.

You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain.

On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way.


When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough.

Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for.

Belonging.

And that sense of belonging changed me.

After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own.

So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton.

It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything.

Thank you, Arizona.

Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own.

Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man.

You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football.

You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong.

Most of all, you gave me a home.

With love and gratitude,

(signed)

Larry Fitzgerald

HOF 26

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home">Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home. After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad: People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life. But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story. It’s a thank-you letter. I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today. The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes. I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention. You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word. For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it. Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from. It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry. You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain. On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way. When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough. Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for. Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me. After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own. So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton. It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona. Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own. Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man. You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong. Most of all, you gave me a home. With love and gratitude, (signed) Larry Fitzgerald HOF 26 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it. #Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

Nellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky Bhasker

Tiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T Natarajan

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">TNPL 2026 Live: All-round batting display propels Nellai Royal Kings to 206/8 Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.TOSSTiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.PLAYING XIsNellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky BhaskerTiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T NatarajanPublished on Aug 09, 2026 #TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings

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