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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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#WNBA #legend #excited #Big #East #womens #basketball #airing #TNT #truTV

The challenge of picking the Kentucky Derby winner out of a field of 20 3-year-olds is imposing. Heading into the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs this week, just figuring out which horse will be favored is tough enough.

Journalism emerged as the clear favorite in last year’s Kentucky Derby after winning the Santa Anita Derby and posting big speed figures in his last two prep races. Journalism, of course, wound up second to Sovereignty.

A handful of contenders could be the post-time favorite this Saturday. The morning-line choice, Arkansas Derby winner Renegade, drew the tricky inside post. The top three finishers in the Florida Derby — Commandment, The Puma and Chief Wallabee — finished within a length of each other. Further Ado romped in the Blue Grass Stakes, posting the field’s top speed figure.

Renegade was extremely impressive swooping the field and pulling away in the Arkansas Derby. He’s a deep closer, so the inside draw may not be as much of a disadvantage as usual. However, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will have to thread his way through the field to get into position to take the lead during the stretch run.

Commandment has won his last two races by slim margins, sneaking up the rail to beat Chief Wallabee in the Fountain of Youth, then closing from the outside to catch The Puma in the final stride of the Florida Derby.

The Puma got the jump on Commandment in that slow paced race, while Chief Wallabee awaited room along the inside, then swung out to finish just a half length behind. Clearly, there’s not much separating that trio.

Further Ado pulled away from a mediocre field during his Blue Grass romp but the speed figure for the race stands out. The mystery regarding Further Ado is whether he’s a ‘horse for the course’ — his two best races have come over the Keeneland track.

There are a few others to consider. So Happy won the San Anita Derby and while the California horses seem a cut below this year, his speed figure was competitive. The X factor is Danon Bourbon, a Kentucky bred who won all three of his races in Japan. Emerging Market captured the Louisiana Derby in just his second career start.

However, the winner is likely to come out of the first group of five. Which one? I’ll give a slight nod to Chief Wallabee.

Trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado should be familiar to race fans — they were in the winner’s circle with Sovereignty last year.

Chief Wallabee doesn’t have as much experience as Sovereignty coming into this year’s race. Sovereignty won a stakes race at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. His stablemate didn’t even debut until January.

Mott is making an unconventional move for the Derby, adding blinkers to Chief Wallabee to help with his focus. Blinkers tend to make horses run closer to the pace, which could be pretty fast on Saturday.

However, the horse has posted sharp works since the addition of blinkers. Mott had Sovereignty ready to peak in the Derby last year — why can’t the Hall of Famer pull off the same feat?

Renegade’s running style could make it difficult for him to win but I see him as the most likely entrant to run in the money. Further Ado could work out a nice stalking trip. I’m not sure he’ll hold off all the closers.

Emerging Market is being ignored mainly due to his lack of experience but he could be the most talented horse in the race. He’s one to strongly consider in exotic wagers.

Top five: 1. Chief Wallabee; 2. Renegade; 3. Further Ado; 4. Emerging Market; 5. Commandment.

#Kentucky #Derby #Picks #Expert #Predictions #Top #Contenders #Deadspin.com">Kentucky Derby 2026 Picks: Expert Predictions and Top Contenders | Deadspin.com   The challenge of picking the Kentucky Derby winner out of a field of 20 3-year-olds is imposing. Heading into the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs this week, just figuring out which horse will be favored is tough enough.Journalism emerged as the clear favorite in last year’s Kentucky Derby after winning the Santa Anita Derby and posting big speed figures in his last two prep races. Journalism, of course, wound up second to Sovereignty.A handful of contenders could be the post-time favorite this Saturday. The morning-line choice, Arkansas Derby winner Renegade, drew the tricky inside post. The top three finishers in the Florida Derby — Commandment, The Puma and Chief Wallabee — finished within a length of each other. Further Ado romped in the Blue Grass Stakes, posting the field’s top speed figure.Renegade was extremely impressive swooping the field and pulling away in the Arkansas Derby. He’s a deep closer, so the inside draw may not be as much of a disadvantage as usual. However, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will have to thread his way through the field to get into position to take the lead during the stretch run.Commandment has won his last two races by slim margins, sneaking up the rail to beat Chief Wallabee in the Fountain of Youth, then closing from the outside to catch The Puma in the final stride of the Florida Derby.The Puma got the jump on Commandment in that slow paced race, while Chief Wallabee awaited room along the inside, then swung out to finish just a half length behind. Clearly, there’s not much separating that trio.Further Ado pulled away from a mediocre field during his Blue Grass romp but the speed figure for the race stands out. The mystery regarding Further Ado is whether he’s a ‘horse for the course’ — his two best races have come over the Keeneland track.There are a few others to consider. So Happy won the San Anita Derby and while the California horses seem a cut below this year, his speed figure was competitive. The X factor is Danon Bourbon, a Kentucky bred who won all three of his races in Japan. Emerging Market captured the Louisiana Derby in just his second career start.However, the winner is likely to come out of the first group of five. Which one? I’ll give a slight nod to Chief Wallabee.Trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado should be familiar to race fans — they were in the winner’s circle with Sovereignty last year.Chief Wallabee doesn’t have as much experience as Sovereignty coming into this year’s race. Sovereignty won a stakes race at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. His stablemate didn’t even debut until January.Mott is making an unconventional move for the Derby, adding blinkers to Chief Wallabee to help with his focus. Blinkers tend to make horses run closer to the pace, which could be pretty fast on Saturday.However, the horse has posted sharp works since the addition of blinkers. Mott had Sovereignty ready to peak in the Derby last year — why can’t the Hall of Famer pull off the same feat?Renegade’s running style could make it difficult for him to win but I see him as the most likely entrant to run in the money. Further Ado could work out a nice stalking trip. I’m not sure he’ll hold off all the closers.Emerging Market is being ignored mainly due to his lack of experience but he could be the most talented horse in the race. He’s one to strongly consider in exotic wagers.Top five: 1. Chief Wallabee; 2. Renegade; 3. Further Ado; 4. Emerging Market; 5. Commandment.   #Kentucky #Derby #Picks #Expert #Predictions #Top #Contenders #Deadspin.com

drew the tricky inside post. The top three finishers in the Florida Derby — Commandment, The Puma and Chief Wallabee — finished within a length of each other. Further Ado romped in the Blue Grass Stakes, posting the field’s top speed figure.

Renegade was extremely impressive swooping the field and pulling away in the Arkansas Derby. He’s a deep closer, so the inside draw may not be as much of a disadvantage as usual. However, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will have to thread his way through the field to get into position to take the lead during the stretch run.

Commandment has won his last two races by slim margins, sneaking up the rail to beat Chief Wallabee in the Fountain of Youth, then closing from the outside to catch The Puma in the final stride of the Florida Derby.

The Puma got the jump on Commandment in that slow paced race, while Chief Wallabee awaited room along the inside, then swung out to finish just a half length behind. Clearly, there’s not much separating that trio.

Further Ado pulled away from a mediocre field during his Blue Grass romp but the speed figure for the race stands out. The mystery regarding Further Ado is whether he’s a ‘horse for the course’ — his two best races have come over the Keeneland track.

There are a few others to consider. So Happy won the San Anita Derby and while the California horses seem a cut below this year, his speed figure was competitive. The X factor is Danon Bourbon, a Kentucky bred who won all three of his races in Japan. Emerging Market captured the Louisiana Derby in just his second career start.

However, the winner is likely to come out of the first group of five. Which one? I’ll give a slight nod to Chief Wallabee.

Trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado should be familiar to race fans — they were in the winner’s circle with Sovereignty last year.

Chief Wallabee doesn’t have as much experience as Sovereignty coming into this year’s race. Sovereignty won a stakes race at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. His stablemate didn’t even debut until January.

Mott is making an unconventional move for the Derby, adding blinkers to Chief Wallabee to help with his focus. Blinkers tend to make horses run closer to the pace, which could be pretty fast on Saturday.

However, the horse has posted sharp works since the addition of blinkers. Mott had Sovereignty ready to peak in the Derby last year — why can’t the Hall of Famer pull off the same feat?

Renegade’s running style could make it difficult for him to win but I see him as the most likely entrant to run in the money. Further Ado could work out a nice stalking trip. I’m not sure he’ll hold off all the closers.

Emerging Market is being ignored mainly due to his lack of experience but he could be the most talented horse in the race. He’s one to strongly consider in exotic wagers.

Top five: 1. Chief Wallabee; 2. Renegade; 3. Further Ado; 4. Emerging Market; 5. Commandment.

#Kentucky #Derby #Picks #Expert #Predictions #Top #Contenders #Deadspin.com">Kentucky Derby 2026 Picks: Expert Predictions and Top Contenders | Deadspin.com

The challenge of picking the Kentucky Derby winner out of a field of 20 3-year-olds is imposing. Heading into the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs this week, just figuring out which horse will be favored is tough enough.

Journalism emerged as the clear favorite in last year’s Kentucky Derby after winning the Santa Anita Derby and posting big speed figures in his last two prep races. Journalism, of course, wound up second to Sovereignty.

A handful of contenders could be the post-time favorite this Saturday. The morning-line choice, Arkansas Derby winner Renegade, drew the tricky inside post. The top three finishers in the Florida Derby — Commandment, The Puma and Chief Wallabee — finished within a length of each other. Further Ado romped in the Blue Grass Stakes, posting the field’s top speed figure.

Renegade was extremely impressive swooping the field and pulling away in the Arkansas Derby. He’s a deep closer, so the inside draw may not be as much of a disadvantage as usual. However, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will have to thread his way through the field to get into position to take the lead during the stretch run.

Commandment has won his last two races by slim margins, sneaking up the rail to beat Chief Wallabee in the Fountain of Youth, then closing from the outside to catch The Puma in the final stride of the Florida Derby.

The Puma got the jump on Commandment in that slow paced race, while Chief Wallabee awaited room along the inside, then swung out to finish just a half length behind. Clearly, there’s not much separating that trio.

Further Ado pulled away from a mediocre field during his Blue Grass romp but the speed figure for the race stands out. The mystery regarding Further Ado is whether he’s a ‘horse for the course’ — his two best races have come over the Keeneland track.

There are a few others to consider. So Happy won the San Anita Derby and while the California horses seem a cut below this year, his speed figure was competitive. The X factor is Danon Bourbon, a Kentucky bred who won all three of his races in Japan. Emerging Market captured the Louisiana Derby in just his second career start.

However, the winner is likely to come out of the first group of five. Which one? I’ll give a slight nod to Chief Wallabee.

Trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado should be familiar to race fans — they were in the winner’s circle with Sovereignty last year.

Chief Wallabee doesn’t have as much experience as Sovereignty coming into this year’s race. Sovereignty won a stakes race at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. His stablemate didn’t even debut until January.

Mott is making an unconventional move for the Derby, adding blinkers to Chief Wallabee to help with his focus. Blinkers tend to make horses run closer to the pace, which could be pretty fast on Saturday.

However, the horse has posted sharp works since the addition of blinkers. Mott had Sovereignty ready to peak in the Derby last year — why can’t the Hall of Famer pull off the same feat?

Renegade’s running style could make it difficult for him to win but I see him as the most likely entrant to run in the money. Further Ado could work out a nice stalking trip. I’m not sure he’ll hold off all the closers.

Emerging Market is being ignored mainly due to his lack of experience but he could be the most talented horse in the race. He’s one to strongly consider in exotic wagers.

Top five: 1. Chief Wallabee; 2. Renegade; 3. Further Ado; 4. Emerging Market; 5. Commandment.

#Kentucky #Derby #Picks #Expert #Predictions #Top #Contenders #Deadspin.com

South African opener Ryan Rickelton brought up his maiden IPL century against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, April 29.

Coming into the side for the injured Quinton de Kock, Rickelton was at his sublime best, unleashing an array of shots to all parts of the park as he brought up his century in 44 balls.

Rickelton’s century today was the fastest 100 by a Mumbai Indians batter, bettering the 45 ball effort by Tilak Varma against Gujarat Titans earlier in the season.

While this was Rickelton’s first century in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, the South African has already scored two centuries representing the MI brand in the SA20 before, where he plays for MI Cape Town.

Published on Apr 29, 2026

#SRH #IPL #Rickelton #smashes #maiden #IPL #century">MI vs SRH, IPL 2026: Rickelton smashes maiden IPL century  South African opener Ryan Rickelton brought up his maiden IPL century against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, April 29.Coming into the side for the injured Quinton de Kock, Rickelton was at his sublime best, unleashing an array of shots to all parts of the park as he brought up his century in 44 balls.Rickelton’s century today was the fastest 100 by a Mumbai Indians batter, bettering the 45 ball effort by Tilak Varma against Gujarat Titans earlier in the season.While this was Rickelton’s first century in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, the South African has already scored two centuries representing the MI brand in the SA20 before, where he plays for MI Cape Town.Published on Apr 29, 2026  #SRH #IPL #Rickelton #smashes #maiden #IPL #century

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