Hayden Cilley Articles - Page 7

The Phoenix Mercury losing Kahleah Copper wasn’t on their agenda. It also wasn’t on Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas’s radar. After all, the three were destined to be one of the WNBA’s top Big 3. Despite battling a back injury throughout training camp, a nagging knee injury resurfaced. Since Unrivaled, the All-WNBA guard has dealt […]

PHOENIX — Chemistry is an ongoing concept in basketball, especially for the Phoenix Mercury. After all, the Mercury had two crucial injury updates for Saturday’s home opener. Luckily, they had superstars Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally to lean on. The duo posted 20 and 27 points, respectively, in the 81-59 rout of the Seattle Storm. […]

The Phoenix Mercury received two pivotal injury updates before their season opener versus the Seattle Storm. Those two players? Kahleah Copper and Natasha Mack. Both players were dealing with respective knee and back injuries. However, Copper underwent arthroscopic surgery on her left knee, which will keep her sidelined for four to six weeks. Meanwhile, Mack […]

PHOENIX– Alyssa Thomas is one of the best players in the WNBA. After the Phoenix Mercury traded for Thomas in February, what they didn’t know was who they would be getting on and off the court. There’s a surprising alter ego on the hardwood, contrary to her off the floor. The former Maryland Terrapins forward […]

The New York Knicks are advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. After Karl-Anthony Towns was a major X-factor against the Boston Celtics, he showed some love to his brothers, who helped prepare him for the moment. KAT "For the brothers that was with me Saturdays at Gauchos Gym, Sundays at Rucker Park, to my Dominicans…Washington […]

When Aaliyah Edwards dominated in Unrivaled, many were unsure if it would translate back to the WNBA. Luckily for those and the Washington Mystics organization, they had just that. Although Edwards didn’t play, her teammates had a huge 94-90 win over the Atlanta Dream. Not to mention, the latter has a roster comprised of Brittney […]

Although Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was encouraged on Friday, the team still lost 84-67 to the Los Angeles Sparks. Following the game, it was a historic one for the franchise. This was its first game, not to mention the first game in front of their fanbase. Nakase explained via Kenzo Fukuda of […]

Stephen A Smith is the latest to hop on the Jalen Brunson train. The New York Knicks point guard has had plenty of praise from people across the league, and former players. Recently, Jay Williams said that Brunson could be the greatest Knicks player ever. Smith thinks there is something the former Villanova guard needs […]

Game 5 between the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars was highlighted by a single incident. Stars winger Jamie Benn leveled Mark Scheifele with one punch, leaving Jets head coach Scott Arniel stunned. He wasn’t necessarily stunned because of the punch. Rather, it was because of the punishment. For starters, Scheifele received two minutes for […]

Tensions are always high in hockey, especially in the NHL playoffs. With the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars squaring off in a Game 4 shutout, there was an impromptu moment between Jamie Benn, Mark Scheifele that caught Peter DeBoer’s attention. During the game, Benn sucker punched Scheifele, which led to an uproar of boos from […]

As Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck posted a Game 2 shutout, he posted another in Game 5. Still, the Jets trail the Dallas Stars, 3-2, in the second-round series. Following the shutout win, Hellebuyck had a simple message for his team about the Stars. “They’re going to have a big pushback the next game, so […]

Thursday, May 15, might be one of the toughest days for WNBA organizations, and especially for the Phoenix Mercury. After head coach Nate Tibbetts raved about the competitiveness of training camp, Thursday was the tough day. Despite a birthday celebration from Kahleah Copper, three players were not there to celebrate. Celeste Taylor, Megan McConnell, and […]

Is Chicago the place to go to die, if you’re a quarterback? Well, that’s what Caleb Williams asked himself before being drafted by the Bears with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. “Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” Carl Williams, Caleb’s father, told Seth Wickersham, author of “American Kings: A […]

Suspensions usually draw negative attention. However, if you’re New York Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, this is nothing to worry about. After Laney-Hamilton was hit with a season-ending knee injury, the Liberty suspended her contract for the upcoming season. She was injured during Unrivaled, so the team technically doesn’t have to pay her, since she was […]

The WNBA might have a scheduling conflict, as per the words of Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Despite the WNBA expanding the season to 44 games, that might be all they can do for the time being. On the Bill Simmons Podcast, the commissioner detailed why there’s such a problem with adding more games to the schedule. […]

Although the Edmonton Oilers are moving on to the Western Conference Finals, defenseman Darnell Nurse remains cautious. Despite the quality playoff run, there is plenty more hockey to be played. That was a point that Nurse hammered home after securing the Game 5 win against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. “Before we say […]

With the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire in 2026, it has put pressure on Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Although Unrivaled has put pressure on the WNBA for money, the commissioner has kept her stance. On the Bill Simmons Podcast, she detailed that meeting the player’s demands isn’t as simple as it looks. “We want […]

Whatever it takes is a popular mantra all across sports. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers have adopted that approach since the start of this season. They’ve had a flurry of comeback wins. However, it has made the team, and McDavid specifically, quite frustrated. A win is a win, no matter how anyone sees it. […]

The Dallas Cowboys might’ve reloaded, thanks to George Pickens. After the Cowboys traded for Pickens in the offseason, Chief Executive Officer Stephen Jones elaborated on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio on how valuable a receiver like him is. “He’s an uber competitor, and we had one in Dez Bryant who was the same way,” Jones […]

After the Vancouver Canucks and Rick Tocchet parted ways, the franchise found its next head coach. Adam Foote will be replacing Tocchet, according to Darren Dreger of TSN. The move comes after a disappointing Canucks season, which was highlighted by drama. For starters, wingers Elias Pettersson and JT Miller never saw eye to eye and […]

Florida basketball could reload this offseason. After they won the national championship, the transfer portal was calling their name. Despite Boogie Fland bailing from the NBA Draft, he remains in the transfer portal. As a result, the Gators have kept a close eye on him. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello detailed why Fland withdrew and went back […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers saga continues to be a talking point, even one to former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Although the latter has given his thoughts on the matter, there’s more to the story. With the NFL schedule dropping, Pittsburgh plays both the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets this season. However, […]

The Minnesota Timberwolves are up 3-1, and it’s thanks to Anthony Edwards. However, the All-Star guard learned a valuable lesson from his training, Chris Hines before the playoffs began. “My trainer [Chris] Hines always tells me, ‘Michael Jordan had Steve Kerr,’” Edwards told ESPN. “He always tells me stuff like that. So, it’s just being […]

The Philadelphia Flyers’ head coaching search has come to a close. According to Frank Seravalli on X (formerly Twitter), the Flyers are closing in on a deal to make Rick Tocchet the franchise’s next head coach. However, the move is not finalized, as he has to go through the steps in the process. Still, this […]

If anyone understands the situation Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is in, it would be Dwight Howard. The likely future Hall of Famer had a similar career trajectory with the Orlando Magic. However, after Antetokounmpo was rumored to leave the Bucks, Howard gave his reasoning to the Greek Freak about staying put in Milwaukee. “What […]

As soon as the Dallas Mavericks landed the No. 1 pick, all eyes were on Cooper Flagg. One of those pairs of eyes happens to be Rich Paul. The latter is Anthony Davis’s agent, who was traded to the Mavericks as part of the Luka Doncic trade. However, rumors are piling up about the franchise […]

Hours before, Bill Simmons said the Dallas Mavericks winning the NBA Draft Lottery would be a travesty. However, back in March, the longtime NBA reporter had an idea of what could happen. In an X (formerly Twitter) post by The Ringer’s official account, they recounted when Simmons predicted the Mavericks to land the draft pick. […]

The New Orleans Pelicans landed the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. As a result, it didn’t please Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III. On the Young Man & The Three Podcast, he remained cautious about his concerns with the draft lottery. However, he addressed the skepticism surrounding the wrong teams winning it. “This […]

Being down 3-1 hasn’t fazed the Golden State Warriors in the slightest. Following Monday’s 117-110 loss to the Timberwolves in their second-round NBA Playoffs series, Jonathan Kuminga explained what life is like in the locker room. Jonathan Kuminga: “The mindset and mood is still very high. Energy and vibe is still great.” pic.twitter.com/xmJpBzZhVJ — 95.7 […]

Although Jalen Brunson gave a message to the New York Knicks following their Game 4 win against the Boston Celtics, he forgot to mention making history. Brunson broke Kobe Bryant’s record for the most fourth-quarter points through ten games in the playoffs. According to Tommy Breer on X (formerly Twitter), he had a list for […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers moved on from George Pickens, and it’s an all-too-familiar feeling with defensive end Cam Heyward. On his podcast, he delved into Steelers history and detailed the receivers who stayed past their rookie contracts. “I think you’ve got to look at the track record of trading wide receivers,” Heyward said. “There’s been some […]

The Phoenix Suns are a living and breathing conundrum, thanks to the aftermath of acquiring stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. It’s not the two stars’ fault by any means. However, the Suns’ squandering the last of their draft picks wasn’t ideal. Before the NBA Draft Lottery, Durant mentioned he is interested in playing for […]

The Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson continue to be in a standoff. As Ian Rapoport sees it, he feels that a move could’ve happened already. However, there’s some important context to establish first. For starters, Hendrickson was due a new contract by the Bengals. After the team didn’t extend him, and extended Ja’Marr Chase and […]

The Connecticut Sun might not be the Connecticut Sun for much longer. They recently hired an investment bank to sell the team and relocate, according to Sportico reporters Kurt Badenhausen and Eben Novy-Williams. The sale comes as a bit of a surprise to outsiders. For WNBA fans, there isn’t much surprise here. After all, Connecticut […]

The New York Knicks and Boston Celtics Game 4 on Monday could feel like a Game 7. At least that’s what Stephen A Smith believes. On First Take, he explained his thought process for that claim. "I believe tonight's Game 4 winner wins the series. Period… If the New York Knicks are able to turn […]

Although the Philadelphia 76ers had an underwhelming season, general manager Daryl Morey has been asked about the possibility of trading Joel Embiid. He gave a simple and succinct answer. “We’re committed to Joel and Paul,” Morey said on the Rights to Rickey Sanchez Podcast. His commitment to the two stars says a ton about the […]

The Dallas Cowboys traded for George Pickens, and it shocked plenty. However, NFL and SI insider Albert Breer broke down how the team managed to land him. He explained that Dallas didn’t pick a single wide receiver with either of its nine draft picks. Not to mention, CeeDee Lamb needs a clear No. 2 option, […]

Even though Ohio State football won the national championship, head coach Ryan Day had his eyes on the prize. Once he obtained the ultimate prize, it wasn’t his true motivation. He explained to NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach if his perception would change following the national championship win. I asked Ryan Day what the day *after* […]

With the NBA Draft Lottery taking place on Monday, Bill Simmons is excited, just like any other fan. However, he hopes that one particular team doesn’t come away with the first overall pick… and that would be the Dallas Mavericks. “It’s weird because they should be last in the lottery karma rankings, but you could […]