×
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.

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

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

Post Comment