STEWART LEADS TEAM USA TO FIBA WORLD CUP GOLD MEDAL
Stop if you have heard this before UConn fans, Breanna Stewart has made history.
In Team USA’s 97-79 Gold Medal Game victory on Sunday, Stewart became the first player to win MVP of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Twice. She also won the award back in 2018. In the gold medal game, the former Husky star recorded a double-double after scoring a game-high 22 points with 10 rebounds and four assists in the comeback victory.
Naphessa Collier posted six points and seven rebounds. Paige Bueckers played just under three minutes as it appeared she injured her knee during the pre-game shootaround.
Perhaps Bueckers and Team USA will be extra cautious with the Dallas Wings superstar. The 2025 National Champion seemed fine while celebrating with her teammates after the victory.
Gabby Williams posted 20 points and seven assists for France took home the Silver medal.
France led by as many as 14 points in the first half after Williams knocked down a three-pointer over Collier for a 31-17 lead. However, the United States stormed back, Stewart scored four points in the second quarter as the Americans trailed by just two, 45-43 at halftime.
Team USA’s first six points of the second half all belonged to the Huskies. Stewie used a screen from Chelsea Gray and exploded to the basket for an easy layup to tie the game at 45. On Team USA’s next possession, Collier made a backdoor cut and converted a layup over Williams for her first bucket of the game and a 47-45 USA lead. Moments later, Stewart grabbed a Jackie Young miss and finished with a layup to give the U.S. a 49-47 lead. Collier drilled a jumper for the United States first double-digit lead of the game, 64-54 with 1:19 left in the quarter. The United States outscored France 30-12 in the third period.
Team USA led by as many as 24 points after Stewart finished another layup off a miss and was fouled. She converted the old fashion three-point play to push the lead to 83-59.
The United States have now won five straight FIBA World Cup Gold medals.
Stewart, one of the most decorated players in basketball history, added another piece to her trophy shelf. She has now won four FIBA World Cup Gold medals, tying Sue Bird for most all-time, three Olympic Gold medals, three-time WNBA Champion and of course a four-time NCAA Tournament champion with the Huskies.
After the game, Stewart was asked if we should expect to see her in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“Oh yeah! Stewart exclaimed. See you in LA.”
NFL WEEK 1 ROUNDUP: FAGNANO, BELL INACTIVE
Joe Fagnano, Skyler Bell and Justin Joly were all inactive for Week 1 of the NFL season. All three are reportedly healthy, Given that Fagnano started the season third on the Ravens quarterback depth chart, it is hard to imagine that the former Husky gunslinger will be active for many games this season, barring any injuries. Meanwhile Bell is behind Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer on the Bills wide receiver depth chart to begin the season. As for Joly, he is listed as the fourth tight end on the Dolphins roster breakdown.
Travis Jones recorded four tackles, including three solo and two for a loss in the Ravens opening day 41-23 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Jones is coming off a career-year after posting career-high’s in tackles (47) and sacks (5). Those five sacks led the Ravens defense.
Matt Peart and the Denver Broncos will open their season tonight against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
In other UConn-NFL news, three former Huskies are on a practice squad, RB Nathan Carter (Kansas City Chiefs), OL Chase Lundt (Buffalo Bills) and Valentine Senn (Arizona Cardinals).
KAY AND SEARS BOTH STRUGGLE ON THE BUMP
Neither Anthony Kay or Andrew Sears could make it past the fifth inning in their respective starts over the weekend.
On Friday, Kay pitched four innings, allowing five hits, three runs while walking one batter and striking out two in a 11-7 Chicago White Sox loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The White Sox held a 1-0 lead when Kay took the mound for the first time in the bottom of the first innings, but the southpaw allowed an RBI double to Alec Burleson that even the score at one apiece. Kay struck out Joshua Baez on three pitches to end the threat.
After a leadoff double, followed by a single, the Cardinals had runners on second and third with nobody out to start the bottom of the second. Leo Bernal scored on a fielder’s choice to give the Cardinals their first lead 2-1. Kay walked the next batter, Nathan Church to load the bases. However, he limited the damage once again by getting Jose Fermin to pop out and Ivan Ferrera to fly out to center to end the inning.
In the top of the third, Chicago tied it up at two on Chase Meidorth’s second home run of the game, however St. Louis struck back in the bottom half of the frame after Baez singled home Jordan Walker to re-tie the game at three. Kay was able to set aside the Cardinals in order in the fourth inning, but that was the end of the day for the White Sox hurler.
Kay is now 9-9 with a 4.53 ERA on the season. At the moment, Kay is scheduled to make at least two more regular season starts as the White Sox are in a heated AL Central race with the Cleveland Guardians. The White Sox, losers in eight of their last 10 games, currently hold just a half game lead over Guardians for the division. The team that does not win the division will likely not make the postseason as Cleveland trails the Boston Red Sox for the third and final AL Wild Card spot by six games with two weeks left in the regular season.
Sears made his second career start on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies. The first two innings, the lefthander was able to hold the Rockies scoreless, picking up two strikeouts. However, Sears ran into a lot of trouble in the top of the third inning. After retiring Ezquiel Tovar on a ground out, the former Husky star hit Jake McCarthy with a pitch, allowed a single to Connor Norby and then Hunter Goodman got a hold of a 93 mile per hour fastball and sent it into the left field seats for a 3-0 Rockies lead.
The Tigers offense responded with two runs in the bottom of the third, but it was more trouble for Sears in the top of the fourth inning as Adael Amador extended the Colorado lead to 4-2 after an RBI double. The southpaw went back out for the fifth inning, but after allowing a leadoff double and a one-out single to put runners on second and third, his outing was over.
Sears picked up the no-decision and is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA across four appearances (two starts) to begin his major league career.
KATIE LOU SAMUELSON UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGERY
The former Husky sharpshooter will miss the Seattle Storm’s final four regular season games after having left knee surgery last week, the team announced. She averaged 4.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game over 32 contests this season.
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