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Why this WNBA legend is excited about Big East women’s basketball airing on TNT, truTV

Why this WNBA legend is excited about Big East women’s basketball airing on TNT, truTV

It’s no secret that TNT Sports is expanding its offerings to fans. It was once again home to some of the top NASCAR races this season, and this college football season has been the place where folks can catch Big 12 and Mountain West games.

And during the women’s college basketball season, fans are going to be able to watch a whole lot of Big East action on TNT and truTV for the first time.

TNT Sports’ first Big East women’s basketball game will air on Wednesday and feature the nation’s No. 1 team and reigning national champions — UConn — take on Loyola Chicago of the A-10. The clash between the Huskies and Ramblers tips off from Storrs, Connecticut, at 7:30 p.m. ET on truTV.

In addition to broadcasting a full slate of games, TNT Sports will also have a studio show accompanying contests featuring two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker, former UConn All-American guard Renee Montgomery, and host Lauren Jbara. Autumn Johnson and Christy Winters‑Scott will contribute to coverage as well.

“Anytime you have a perennial champion like UConn, every team knows they’re testing themselves against the best of the best every single night,” Parker said. “That standard elevates the entire conference and pushes everyone to compete at a higher level.”

A season ago, the Big East got just two teams into the NCAA Tournament, but it has historically been a league that garners more bids. It aims to get back to that standard this season with teams on the rise like Marquette, Seton Hall, Villanova and Georgetown. Marquette was the only team in the country to not lose a single player from last season’s roster, Seton Hall received a first-place vote in the league’s preseason poll, and Villanova returns Canadian national team member Jasmine Bascoe. Creighton, which joined UConn in March Madness last season, should be strong again as well.

But it’s the Hoyas that Parker is the most interested in watching, along with UConn’s All-American stars.

“I’m really intrigued by Georgetown. They went through their share of ups and downs last year, but adding six transfers alongside the return of Brianna Scott makes them a fascinating team to watch,” Parker said. “And of course, players like Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong bring a lot of excitement and star power to the league.”

In all, TNT Sports will broadcast 15 games featuring Big East action this season on either TNT or truTV, and fans can also stream those contests on HBO Max. And eight of those games will include UConn, which will be led by the must-watch talents of Strong and Fudd.

A season ago as a freshman, Strong was just one of four players nationally last season to average at least 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. Fudd, meanwhile, is coming off a campaign in which she shot 43.6 percent from 3-point land — which was 14th nationally — and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four.

The questions are: Can Fudd and Strong be the bus drivers for UConn following the departure of Paige Bueckers? And can the Big East raise its level of play and parity to become a league that once again sends a handful of teams to the NCAA Tournament?

Answers might be found in games that air on TNT platforms.

“The game has evolved tremendously — not just in how players can find the best fit for their strengths through NIL and the transfer portal, but also in the style of play,” Parker said. “The pace, spacing, physicality, and overall athleticism have all taken major leaps, making the women’s game faster, deeper, and more dynamic than ever.”

Here’s the rest of the Big East women’s basketball slate for TNT Sports:

  • Dec. 28: UConn at Butler, TNT
  • Dec. 28: Creighton at Georgetown, truTV
  • Jan. 7: St. John’s at UConn, truTV
  • Jan. 8: Creighton at Marquette, truTV
  • Jan. 11: Villanova at Providence, truTV
  • Jan. 11: UConn at Creighton, truTV
  • Jan. 22: UConn at Georgetown, TNT
  • Feb. 1: Creighton at Seton Hall, truTV
  • Feb. 1: Marquette at Georgetown, truTV
  • Feb. 4: UConn at DePaul, truTV
  • Feb. 15: Villanova at Creighton, truTV
  • Feb. 26: Georgetown at UConn, TNT
  • Feb. 26: Providence at Creighton, TNT
  • March 1: UConn at St. John’s, TNT

All games also available via streaming on HBO Max.

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Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has approached the Court of Arbitration ​for Sport (CAS) to appeal against a four-year ‌doping ban handed to him by ​England’s Football Association (FA), British ⁠media reported on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian was charged with anti-doping rule violations in June last year ‌after a sample taken in 2024 produced an adverse finding ‌for a prohibited substance, reported ‌to ⁠be meldonium. Mudryk had said that ⁠the adverse finding came as a “complete shock” as he had never knowingly used a banned ​substance.

Having joined ‌Chelsea in January 2023 for an initial fee of €70 million ($81.83 million), Mudryk was provisionally suspended in ‌December 2024 and the 25-year-old has ​not played since.

“CAS confirms it has received an appeal by ⁠Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026,” it said in ‌a statement to the BBC and the Times.

“The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.”

The FA said it could not comment because the ‌case is ongoing. Reuters has contacted CAS ​for comment.

Meldonium is the same substance Maria Sharapova tested positive for, ⁠with the Russian tennis player initially being ⁠banned by the International Tennis Federation for two years before an ‌appeal led to her suspension being reduced to 15 months.

Published on Apr 29, 2026

#Chelseas #Mudryk #appeals #CAS #fouryear #doping #ban #Reports">Chelsea’s Mudryk appeals to CAS over four-year doping ban – Reports  Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has approached the Court of Arbitration ​for Sport (CAS) to appeal against a four-year ‌doping ban handed to him by ​England’s Football Association (FA), British ⁠media reported on Wednesday.The Ukrainian was charged with anti-doping rule violations in June last year ‌after a sample taken in 2024 produced an adverse finding ‌for a prohibited substance, reported ‌to ⁠be meldonium. Mudryk had said that ⁠the adverse finding came as a “complete shock” as he had never knowingly used a banned ​substance.Having joined ‌Chelsea in January 2023 for an initial fee of €70 million (.83 million), Mudryk was provisionally suspended in ‌December 2024 and the 25-year-old has ​not played since.“CAS confirms it has received an appeal by ⁠Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026,” it said in ‌a statement to the BBC and the Times.“The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.”The FA said it could not comment because the ‌case is ongoing.        Reuters has contacted CAS ​for comment.Meldonium is the same substance Maria Sharapova tested positive for, ⁠with the Russian tennis player initially being ⁠banned by the International Tennis Federation for two years before an ‌appeal led to her suspension being reduced to 15 months.Published on Apr 29, 2026  #Chelseas #Mudryk #appeals #CAS #fouryear #doping #ban #Reports

Deadspin | Rockies strive to do the difficult: Stop Reds’ Elly De La Cruz    Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Reds won the opening game of the series, 7-2.   Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz will look to continue his historic start to the season when the Reds host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game series.  The star shortstop had a pair of clutch defensive plays to go with his 3-for-4 night at the plate on Monday. De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs in Cincinnati’s 7-2 victory.  The homer was the 10th for De La Cruz, who became the first major leaguer since 1900 with at least 10 home runs and at least eight stolen bases before May.   De La Cruz has stolen his eight bases in 10 attempts. His 10 homers are tied for most by any major league switch-hitter before May since 1900, as he joined Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (2025), Oakland’s Nick Swisher (2006), and Houston’s Lance Berkman in 2002 and 2006.  Defensively, De La Cruz made a spectacular throw across his body from deep in the hole to throw out Kyle Karros by a half-step in the second inning Tuesday and started a key double play on a bad-hop grounder hit by Hunter Goodman to end the seventh inning.  “The win. That’s the best part. That’s the best part,” De La Cruz said after the game. “You play to win. We come with the same mentality every day. We’re just trying to win.”  The Reds have won eight of their past 10 games to remain in first place in the National League Central.  Cincinnati will send left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. He has struggled with command recently, issuing 14 walks in 20 1/3 innings in April.  Williamson often has labored to put batters away and failed to pitch deep into games. He has not exceeded 5 1/3 innings in four of his five starts. Williamson will try to improve on his most recent outing, when he allowed five runs on seven hits last Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 6-1 loss.   Williamson’s spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy as another left-hander, Nick Lodolo, prepares to make his 2026 season debut. Lodolo has been sidelined since beginning the season with a blister on his left index finger.  He has started twice against the Rockies in his career and has a 3.38 ERA and 11 strikeouts with no decisions.  Colorado will counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA), making his sixth start of the season, third on the road and first career start against Cincinnati. Sugano has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts.  In his most recent outing against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, Sugano earned the win after allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory, marking the first time this season he did not surrender a home run. With Kyle Freeland coming off the injured list and starting on Tuesday, Sugano is pitching on a full week of rest.  The Rockies squandered several scoring opportunities on Tuesday, stranding 10 runners and going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as their three-game winning streak ended.  “Bunch of runners on base. Situational baseball not good,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer lamented. “Runner on third base, less than two outs, 0-for-3. Plenty of chances, boys kept going, but just didn’t get the job done when it was needed.”  Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with eight home runs and is slugging .655, while Edouard Julien was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s loss.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Rockies #strive #difficult #Stop #Reds #Elly #CruzCincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Reds won the opening game of the series, 7-2.

Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz will look to continue his historic start to the season when the Reds host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game series.

The star shortstop had a pair of clutch defensive plays to go with his 3-for-4 night at the plate on Monday. De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs in Cincinnati’s 7-2 victory.

The homer was the 10th for De La Cruz, who became the first major leaguer since 1900 with at least 10 home runs and at least eight stolen bases before May.

De La Cruz has stolen his eight bases in 10 attempts. His 10 homers are tied for most by any major league switch-hitter before May since 1900, as he joined Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (2025), Oakland’s Nick Swisher (2006), and Houston’s Lance Berkman in 2002 and 2006.

Defensively, De La Cruz made a spectacular throw across his body from deep in the hole to throw out Kyle Karros by a half-step in the second inning Tuesday and started a key double play on a bad-hop grounder hit by Hunter Goodman to end the seventh inning.

“The win. That’s the best part. That’s the best part,” De La Cruz said after the game. “You play to win. We come with the same mentality every day. We’re just trying to win.”

The Reds have won eight of their past 10 games to remain in first place in the National League Central.

Cincinnati will send left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. He has struggled with command recently, issuing 14 walks in 20 1/3 innings in April.


Williamson often has labored to put batters away and failed to pitch deep into games. He has not exceeded 5 1/3 innings in four of his five starts. Williamson will try to improve on his most recent outing, when he allowed five runs on seven hits last Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 6-1 loss.

Williamson’s spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy as another left-hander, Nick Lodolo, prepares to make his 2026 season debut. Lodolo has been sidelined since beginning the season with a blister on his left index finger.

He has started twice against the Rockies in his career and has a 3.38 ERA and 11 strikeouts with no decisions.

Colorado will counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA), making his sixth start of the season, third on the road and first career start against Cincinnati. Sugano has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts.

In his most recent outing against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, Sugano earned the win after allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory, marking the first time this season he did not surrender a home run. With Kyle Freeland coming off the injured list and starting on Tuesday, Sugano is pitching on a full week of rest.

The Rockies squandered several scoring opportunities on Tuesday, stranding 10 runners and going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as their three-game winning streak ended.

“Bunch of runners on base. Situational baseball not good,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer lamented. “Runner on third base, less than two outs, 0-for-3. Plenty of chances, boys kept going, but just didn’t get the job done when it was needed.”

Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with eight home runs and is slugging .655, while Edouard Julien was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s loss.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rockies #strive #difficult #Stop #Reds #Elly #Cruz">Deadspin | Rockies strive to do the difficult: Stop Reds’ Elly De La Cruz    Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Reds won the opening game of the series, 7-2.   Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz will look to continue his historic start to the season when the Reds host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game series.  The star shortstop had a pair of clutch defensive plays to go with his 3-for-4 night at the plate on Monday. De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs in Cincinnati’s 7-2 victory.  The homer was the 10th for De La Cruz, who became the first major leaguer since 1900 with at least 10 home runs and at least eight stolen bases before May.   De La Cruz has stolen his eight bases in 10 attempts. His 10 homers are tied for most by any major league switch-hitter before May since 1900, as he joined Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (2025), Oakland’s Nick Swisher (2006), and Houston’s Lance Berkman in 2002 and 2006.  Defensively, De La Cruz made a spectacular throw across his body from deep in the hole to throw out Kyle Karros by a half-step in the second inning Tuesday and started a key double play on a bad-hop grounder hit by Hunter Goodman to end the seventh inning.  “The win. That’s the best part. That’s the best part,” De La Cruz said after the game. “You play to win. We come with the same mentality every day. We’re just trying to win.”  The Reds have won eight of their past 10 games to remain in first place in the National League Central.  Cincinnati will send left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. He has struggled with command recently, issuing 14 walks in 20 1/3 innings in April.  Williamson often has labored to put batters away and failed to pitch deep into games. He has not exceeded 5 1/3 innings in four of his five starts. Williamson will try to improve on his most recent outing, when he allowed five runs on seven hits last Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 6-1 loss.   Williamson’s spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy as another left-hander, Nick Lodolo, prepares to make his 2026 season debut. Lodolo has been sidelined since beginning the season with a blister on his left index finger.  He has started twice against the Rockies in his career and has a 3.38 ERA and 11 strikeouts with no decisions.  Colorado will counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA), making his sixth start of the season, third on the road and first career start against Cincinnati. Sugano has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts.  In his most recent outing against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, Sugano earned the win after allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory, marking the first time this season he did not surrender a home run. With Kyle Freeland coming off the injured list and starting on Tuesday, Sugano is pitching on a full week of rest.  The Rockies squandered several scoring opportunities on Tuesday, stranding 10 runners and going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as their three-game winning streak ended.  “Bunch of runners on base. Situational baseball not good,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer lamented. “Runner on third base, less than two outs, 0-for-3. Plenty of chances, boys kept going, but just didn’t get the job done when it was needed.”  Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with eight home runs and is slugging .655, while Edouard Julien was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s loss.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Rockies #strive #difficult #Stop #Reds #Elly #Cruz

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