'It's difficult:' Caitlin Clark says injury-riddled season has taken mental tollNew Foto - 'It's difficult:' Caitlin Clark says injury-riddled season has taken mental toll

Indiana FeverstarCaitlin Clarkhas experienced many firsts throughout her illustrious basketball career, from becoming theNCAA's all-time leading scoreratIowato setting theWNBA's single-season assist recordher rookie season, but Clark's sophomore WNBA campaign has presented a new first she would rather not have experienced. Entering the2025 WNBA season, Clark had never missed a collegiate or professional game. She appeared in every game for the Hawkeyes during her four years in black and gold and played in all 40 games for the Fever in her rookie year, in which she wonRookie of the Year. But Clark has dealt with the injury bug and missed 10 of the Fever's first 20 games of the season, marking her longest stretch of missed games in her career. "It's obviously hard sitting out and watching for a few weeks, so I'm excited to get out there,"Clark told reporterson Tuesday. "It's been so challenging because I've never been through this before." 2025 WNBA ALL-STAR DRAFT RESULTS:Caitlin Clark selects Fever teammates Clark suffered a quad injury during theFever's 90-88 loss to the New York Libertyon May 24 and subsequently missed five games. Clark returned to the Fever's lineup on June 14 in theFever's 102-88 win over the Libertyand dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. Clark then suffered a left groin injury four games later inthe Fever's 94-86 winover theSeattle Stormon June 24, which resulted in Clark missing the team's next five games, includingthe Fever's 2025 Commissioner's Cup winover theMinnesota Lynxon July 1. The Fever went 5-5 without Clark in the lineup. She returned for the Fever's80-61 lossto theGolden State Valkyrieson Wednesday, July 9 and recorded 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in the losing effort. "It felt good to be out there. It's going to take me a second to get my wind back," Clark said following the loss. "There's not anything that can replicate a true game... I was trying to play shorter stints, but sometimes it's almost harder to sit on the bench and come in the game. It's kind of finding a balance of that. Just trying to get my legs under me." Clark's injuries and sporadic availability has contributed toa shooting slump. In the past four games, Clark has shot 17-for-59 from the field and 3-for-28 from 3. Clark said battling the injury bug has been "challenging mentally," despite doing everything "to put myself in a position to be available the rest of the year." "It's honestly been hard, I'm not gonna lie to you. It's difficult going to prepare for games, but knowing you're not going to be playing in them," Clark said on Wednesday. "It's challenged me mentally. It's really hard to stop and go, stop and go, stop and go, especially when you're not feeling your best. Just trying to get my body as healthy as I can be and remain confident in myself." Fever head coach Stephanie White concurred,adding: "Being injured is just hard because you're injured, it's hard mentally. You want to be out there. Super competitive and want to help your team. Frustrated with the rehab process. Frustrated with all of those things, especially when it's your first. For (Caitlin Clark), this is the first time she's had to go through this. So everything from rehab and treatment and strength training to return to play is all new for her." Despite missing significant time this season, Clark is still averaging 17.4 points, 8.6 assists (second-best in the league) and 5.0 rebounds through 10 games. She was voted anWNBA All-Star captain(via fan votes) and is currently third inWNBA MVP odds, behind theMinnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier (-500) andPhoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas (+1000). The Fever find themselves in great position to make a run for the team's second consecutive playoff berth as the All-Star break quickly approaches. (The Fever went 9-5 last season after the 2024 All-Star and Olympic break to secure the team's first postseason appearance since 2016.) "When we get to the end of the year and playoffs, I think this is going to be a moment I can look back on be really proud of myself for everything I went through and how I've dealt with it," Clarksaidon Tuesday. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is set for July 19 in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Caitlin Clark: Injury-riddled season has taken mental toll

byMario Satorik
in
July 10, 2025

'It's difficult:' Caitlin Clark says injury-riddled season has taken mental toll

'It's difficult:' Caitlin Clark says injury-riddled season has taken mental toll Indiana FeverstarCaitlin Clarkhas experienced m...
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SEC college football stadiums rankings: Florida's Swamp is the toughestNew Foto - SEC college football stadiums rankings: Florida's Swamp is the toughest

They saycollege footballmeans more in the SEC. They're underselling it. It meanseverything. Marino Casem, a born and raised Southerner who coached at a few schools in the region, once said, "In the South, football is a religion, and Saturday is the holy day." Amen. Come holy day, tens of thousands of believers gather at SEC cathedrals far and wide – a hundred-thousand strong at some venues – and they'll scream bloody murder when the opposing quarterback goes behind center. They'll scream other things, too, that aren't fit to print. Some of those stadiums will even tremble amid the roar and the vigor. If an official's call goes against the home team, boos will rain down, and maybe somewater bottles and beer cans, too. Just after the dawn of the 20th century, a record-breaking crowd ata Tennessee-Alabama game turned so rowdythat police halted the game prematurely, and a Birmingham city official predicted college football wouldn't last in the South. If he could only see what it's become. I've covered games at every SEC stadium, and I've been to nearly all of them more than once. With one exception, each is worth visiting. Pack your drinkin' shoes – and your ear plugs. Here's how I rank the SEC's toughest stadiums: Combine gator chomps with the din of noise and Gainesville's humidity, and Steve Spurrier aptly said "only Gators get out alive" from The Swamp. Florida fans belt Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" before the fourth quarter to create one of college football's most memorable scenes. Florida boasts a .714 home winning percentage against SEC opponents the past 10 years, compared to .486 on the road in conference games. That's the definition of home-field advantage. FormerArkansasrunning back Darren McFadden once said of Death Valley: "The fans are relentless." That's especially true for night games. After LSU fans spend the day sucking down hooch, they're in no mood to take prisoners. QUARTERBACK RANKINGS:Big Ten|SEC|ACC|Big 12 UNDER RADAR:Five sleeper candidates for Heisman Trophy Tennessee fans are ruthless. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield described experiencing "a different type of loud" while playing as an opponent in Neyland. And when "Rocky Top" plays on a loop, it's psychological torture. Alabama fans, spoiled by the Nick Saban era, don't always roar as fiercely as others listed above, but last season's game againstGeorgiaserved a reminder that Tide fans can bring the noise when they feel they must. Alabama is nearly unbeatable at home the past 20 years. Kirby Smart almost never loses at home. That's partially a credit to the environment "Between the Hedges." Georgia fans literally bark their way into the stadium. Sometimes, the stadium noise isn't quite elite, but, when challenged, this venue can rumble. The Gamecocks peck above their weight at home, playing in one of the SEC's most underrated venues. The stadium comes alive when Darude's "Sandstorm" plays, and fans wave white towels chanting "U-S-C! U-S-C!" Kyle Field towers like no other, and it literally shakes when the noise swells. Love or mock the Aggie Yell Leaders, you can't deny they create a unique scene, and the Aggies entering to "POWER" is one of college football's best intros. Some say Jordan-Hare uncorks a strange voodoo magic on opponents. Or, perhaps Auburn fans just create a tough environment. Find someone who loves you the way Auburn fans love to "Swag Surf." Oklahoma's stadium fits neatly into the SEC tapestry, and the Sooner Schooner cruising the field paints a scene fit for the nation's premier football conference. With a capacity of 80,126, the "Palace on the Prairie" doesn't match the SEC's top colossuses, but it holds its own. Texas earns its reputation for having a bit of a "wine and cheese crowd" amid its 100,119 capacity, but Longhorns fans still can turn it up for big games. Texas has won 14 of its last 15 at home, resulting in triumphant renditions of "The Eyes of Texas." Several years ago, then-Missouri coach Barry Odombought thousands of tickets and gave them away freeto coax fans into the stadium. Fans will buy their own tickets, and Faurot perks up –iftheTigersare good. Missouri has won nearly 60% of its home conference games since joining the SEC. When Mississippi State fans get their cowbells clanging at full force, it sounds like a swarm of locusts has descended upon the stadium, allowing a venue with a capacity of 60,311 to buzz beyond its size. No school ever embraced being the "Pigs" quite like Arkansas, and the "Calling of the Hogs" ranks among the SEC's neater traditions. Fans consistently turn out, and yet Arkansas' SEC home record remains too bleak. No SEC tour can be deemed complete without sipping a tailgate drink in The Grove. As for the stadium environment, coachLane Kiffin once compared it to a high school venue. As the Rebels climbed these past few years, though, the vibe in the stadium improved, too. Kentucky became a tricky road trip at the height of the Mark Stoops era, and a basketball-leaning fan base would show up. Although it lacks the viciousness of many SEC venues, the conference's most modern stadium is a decent place to take in a game. Vanderbilt sprints away with the cellar spot. No other SEC school would play a season witha scoreboard held up by a crane. If you want to know which SEC foe Vanderbilt is hosting, peep the stands. They'll be tinted with the opponents' colors, as road fans visit Nashville to get a taste of the honky-tonks and take over Vanderbilt's small stadium. Blake Toppmeyeris the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him atBToppmeyer@gannett.comand follow him on X@btoppmeyer. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:SEC football stadiums rankings: Swamp at Florida bests Tiger Stadium

byMario Satorik
in
July 10, 2025

SEC college football stadiums rankings: Florida's Swamp is the toughest

SEC college football stadiums rankings: Florida's Swamp is the toughest They saycollege footballmeans more in the SEC. They're under...
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UN says if US funding for HIV programs is not replaced, millions more will die by 2029New Foto - UN says if US funding for HIV programs is not replaced, millions more will die by 2029

LONDON (AP) — Years ofAmerican-led investment into AIDSprograms has reduced the number of people killed by the disease to the lowest levels seen in more than three decades, and providedlife-saving medicinesfor some of the world's most vulnerable. But in the last six months, the sudden withdrawal of U.S. money has caused a "systemic shock," U.N. officials warned, adding that if the funding isn't replaced, it could lead to more than 4 million AIDS-related deaths and 6 million more HIV infections by 2029. "The current wave of funding losses has already destabilized supply chains, led to the closure of health facilities, left thousands of health clinics without staff, set back prevention programs, disrupted HIV testing efforts and forced many community organizations to reduce or halt their HIV activities," UNAIDS said in a report released Thursday. UNAIDS also said that it feared other major donors might also scale back their support, reversing decades of progress against AIDS worldwide — and that the strong multilateral cooperation is in jeopardy because of wars, geopolitical shifts and climate change. The $4 billion that the United States pledged for the global HIV response for 2025 disappeared virtually overnight in January when U.S.President Donald Trumpordered that all foreign aid be suspended and later moved to shutter theU.S. AID agency. Andrew Hill, an HIV expert at the University of Liverpool who is not connected to the United Nations, said that while Trump is entitled to spend U.S. money as he sees fit, "any responsible government would have given advance warning so countries could plan," instead of stranding patients in Africa when clinics were closed overnight. The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, orPEPFAR, was launched in 2003 by U.S. President George W. Bush, the biggest-ever commitment by any country focused on a single disease. UNAIDS called the program a "lifeline" for countries with high HIV rates, and said that it supported testing for 84.1 million people, treatment for 20.6 million, among other initiatives. According to data from Nigeria, PEPFAR also funded 99.9% of the country's budget for medicines taken to prevent HIV. In 2024, there were about 630,000 AIDS-related deaths worldwide, per a UNAIDS estimate — the figure has remained about the same since 2022 after peaking at about 2 million deaths in 2004. Even before the U.S. funding cuts, progress against curbing HIV was uneven. UNAIDS said that half of all new infections are in sub-Saharan Africa and that more than 50% of all people who need treatment but aren't getting it are in Africa and Asia. Tom Ellman, of the charity Doctors Without Borders, said that while some poorer countries were now moving to fund more of their own HIV programs, it would be impossible to fill the gap left by the U.S. "There's nothing we can do that will protect these countries from the sudden, vicious withdrawal of support from the U.S.," said Ellman, director of Doctors Without Borders' South Africa Medical Unit. "Within months of losing treatment, people will start to get very sick and we risk seeing a massive rise in infection and death." Experts also fear another loss: data. The U.S. paid for most HIV surveillance in African countries, including hospital, patient and electronic records, all of which has now abruptly ceased, according to Dr. Chris Beyrer, director of the Global Health Institute at Duke University. "Without reliable data about how HIV is spreading, it will be incredibly hard to stop it," he said. The uncertainty comes as atwice-yearly injectablecould end HIV, as studies published last year showed that the drug from pharmaceutical maker Gilead was 100% effective in preventing the virus. Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationapproved the drug, called Sunleca — a move that should have been a "threshold moment" for stopping the AIDS epidemic, said Peter Maybarduk of the advocacy group Public Citizen. But activists like Maybarduk said Gilead's pricing will put it out of reach of many countries that need it. Gilead has agreed to sell generic versions of the drug in 120 poor countries with high HIV rates but hasexcluded nearly all of Latin America, where rates are far lower but increasing. "We could be ending AIDS," Maybarduk said. "Instead, the U.S. is abandoning the fight." ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

byMario Satorik
in
July 10, 2025

UN says if US funding for HIV programs is not replaced, millions more will die by 2029

UN says if US funding for HIV programs is not replaced, millions more will die by 2029 LONDON (AP) — Years ofAmerican-led investment into AI...
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Iran urges U.S. nuclear watchdog to drop 'double standards'New Foto - Iran urges U.S. nuclear watchdog to drop 'double standards'

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran's president said on Thursday the U.N. nuclear watchdog should drop its "double standards" if Tehran is to resume cooperation with it over the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme, Iranian state media reported. President Masoud Pezeshkian last week enacted a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the IAEA said it had pulled its last remaining inspectors out of Iran. Relations between Iran and the IAEA have worsened since the United States and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June, saying they wanted to prevent Tehran developing an atomic weapon. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only and denies seeking atomic weapons. "The continuation of Iran's cooperation with the agency (IAEA) depends of the latter correcting its double standards regarding the nuclear file," state media quoted Pezeshkian as telling European Council President Antonio Costa by phone. "Any repeated aggression (against Iran) will be met with a more decisive and regrettable response," he said. Tehran accuses the IAEA of failing to condemn the attacks by the United States and Israel, and says the nuclear watchdog paved the way for the bombing by issuing a resolution declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. The bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities led to a 12-day war, during which Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel. IAEA inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran's facilities since the bombing campaign, even though IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said it is his top priority. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; editing by Mark Heinrich)

byMario Satorik
in
July 10, 2025

Iran urges U.S. nuclear watchdog to drop 'double standards'

Iran urges U.S. nuclear watchdog to drop 'double standards' DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran's president said on Thursday the U.N. nuclear ...
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Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debutNew Foto - Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut

NEW YORK (AP) — One game into his major league career, Cam Schlittler is the hardest-throwing member of the New York Yankees' rotation. Schlittler used his 100 mph fastball to shut down Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners during an eye-opening debut Wednesday night,pitching the Yankees to a 9-6 victorybefore a throng of friends and family members in the crowd. "Obviously, it's been my goal my whole life," Schlittler said. "I don't think I've really processed it yet." One of the team's top-rated prospects, the 6-foot-6 Schlittler struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. He threw New York's seven fastest pitches this season and his average fastball velocity of 97.9 mph was the highest for a Yankees pitcher this year. But it was his poise and improved secondary pitches that really impressed manager Aaron Boone. "You see his stuff really plays," Boone said. "I see a lot of potential." Boone called it "a great first step" and said Schlittler will get another big league start, likely after the All-Star break. "He was sick," said Yankees teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr., who homered twice and drove in four runs. Schlittler was called up from Triple-A to pitch in place ofinjured Clarke Schmidt, who is expected to undergo a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow that would sideline him for the rest of this season and much of next year. So there's a genuine opportunity for Schlittler to stick in the rotation for a Yankees squad trying to catch Toronto atop the AL East. "Obviously, just trying to get the first one under my belt and then whatever happens. I'm just fortunate that they gave me that opportunity," Schlittler said. "Just take it day by day and see what happens." Staked to an early 3-0 lead, Schlittler gave up three runs and four hits — including solo homers by J.P. Crawford and Jorge Polanco. The 24-year-old right-hander walked his first batter but settled down quickly and froze Raleigh, the major league home run leader, with a 100 mph heater for his first strikeout in the opening inning. "He was nasty," Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez said. That baseball was one of two sitting in Schlittler's locker after the game, both keepsakes inscribed and encased above the Yankees' championship belt for the night. Schlittler said the strikeout ball will probably end up in his room back home eventually, but first he planned to give it to his parents. "I know they'll cherish that," he said. Schlittler, who walked two, ending his outing with another strikeout of Raleigh before leaving with a 6-2 lead in the sixth to a standing ovation as his parents hugged in the Yankee Stadium stands. Schlittler was born in Massachusetts but said he always wanted to play for the Yankees. They selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 amateur draft from Northeastern in Boston, right in the heart of rival Red Sox country. The pitcher said his girlfriend and cousin were on hand in addition to plenty of friends, and he left 23 tickets for his supporters. But he said he wasn't all that nervous come gametime. "I think probably had more jitters this morning, honestly," Schlittler said. "I know my dad just in general gets more nervous than I do when I throw." ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byMario Satorik
in
July 10, 2025

Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut

Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut NEW YORK (AP) — One game into his major league career, Cam Schlittler is...
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Soler hits tiebreaking HR, Trout goes deep twice as the Angels defeat Rangers 11-8New Foto - Soler hits tiebreaking HR, Trout goes deep twice as the Angels defeat Rangers 11-8

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jorge Soler hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, Mike Trout went deep twice and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 11-8 on Wednesday night. Trout hit a two-run homer in the third and added his 16th of the season in the fifth, a solo shot that gave the Angels a 6-5 lead. His fly ball out to center in the seventh advanced two runners before Taylor Ward drove in both with a single, tying the score at 8. Travis d'Arnaud hit his sixth home run for Los Angeles in the fourth inning. José Fermin (2-0), the seventh of eight Angels pitchers, worked a scoreless inning and earned the victory. Kenley Jansen picked up his 16th save. Texas' Marcus Semien drove in four runs. He hit a two-run homer, his 10th, off Reid Detmers in the seventh for an 8-6 lead. Detmers had gone 22 consecutive appearances without giving up an earned run. Kyle Higashioka hit his third home run and finished with two RBIs for the Rangers. Neither starter went deep into the game. Los Angeles' Kyle Hendricks worked 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, four earned. Texas' Kumar Rocker pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up six runs. Key moment Soler's 421-foot homer to left came after Yoán Moncada's leadoff single against Luke Jackson (2-5). Key stat Trout's 29th multi-homer game — and his third this season — leaves him six homers shy of 400 for his career. Up next Texas' Patrick Corbin (5-7, 4.18 ERA) pitches against Jack Kochanowicz (3-8, 5.42) on Thursday. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byMario Satorik
in
July 10, 2025

Soler hits tiebreaking HR, Trout goes deep twice as the Angels defeat Rangers 11-8

Soler hits tiebreaking HR, Trout goes deep twice as the Angels defeat Rangers 11-8 ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jorge Soler hit a tiebreaking two-...
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Rescuers search for missing crew from Red Sea attack as US alleges Yemen rebels may have themNew Foto - Rescuers search for missing crew from Red Sea attack as US alleges Yemen rebels may have them

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rescuers searched Thursday for more than a dozen crew members who went missing afterYemen's Houthi rebelssank a ship in the Red Sea as the United States alleged the group may "have kidnapped" those on board. The Houthis released dramatic footage of the sinking ofthe Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned Eternity C, which the rebels targeted with gunfire and explosive drones for hours, killing at least three crew members. The attack on the Eternity C, as well as thesinking of the bulk carrier Magic Seasafter another attack Sunday, represent a new level of violence being employed by the Houthis after a months of holding their fire in a campaign they tie back to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, a new possible ceasefire in that war — as well as the future of talks between the U.S. and Iran overTehran's battered nuclear program— remain in the balance. The Houthis claimed that it fired a missile at Israel on Thursday morning, which the Israeli military said that it intercepted. US warns Houthis may have 'kidnapped' survivors A statement from the European Union naval mission in the Red Sea said the crew of the Eternity C included 22 sailors, among them 21 Filipinos and one Russian, as well as a three-member security team. Rescuers on Wednesday recovered five Filipinos and one Indian. Three people also were killed during the hourslong attack on the ship, the EU force said, and their nationalities weren't immediately known. In footage released by the Houthis, a rebel can be purportedly heard on a VHF radio transmission offering those on board the ability to flee the sinking vessel. However, it wasn't clear if any more crew fled and what happened to them. In a post late Wednesday on the X, the U.S. Embassy in Yemen — which has operated from Saudi Arabia for about a decade now — alleged that the rebels may have taken some of the crew. "After killing their shipmates, sinking their ship and hampering rescue efforts, the Houthi terrorists have kidnapped many surviving crew members of the Eternity C," the embassy said. "We call for their immediate and unconditional safe release." The Houthis haven't acknowledged taking any of the fleeing crew members and didn't mention whether it had any of them in their custody. However, the rebels can take days at times before acknowledging attacks. Attacks draw condemnation and support for sailors In the Philippines, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said that he has been leading an effort to reach out to the families of the missing Filipino sailors to update them on the search and rescue efforts. "It's human nature that one should be terribly worried and distraught about the situation," Cacdac told The Associated Press by telephone. "It's our role in government to be there for them in their utmost hour of need to ensure that not just government services, but throughout this hand-holding process, we will provide the necessary support." The Eternity C, flagged out of Liberia but owned by a Greek firm, likely had been targeted like the Magic Seas over its firm doing business with Israel. Neither vessel apparently requested an escort from the EU force. ___ Jim Gomez contributed to this report from Manila, Philippines.

byMario Satorik
in
July 10, 2025

Rescuers search for missing crew from Red Sea attack as US alleges Yemen rebels may have them

Rescuers search for missing crew from Red Sea attack as US alleges Yemen rebels may have them DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rescuers se...
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