Wealthy Homie Quan, the Atlanta rapper who gained mainstream notoriety by means of the lure singles “Sort of Method” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” has died. He was 34.

Homie Quan, whose authorized identify is Dequantes Devontay Lamar, died at an Atlanta hospital, the Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed to The Related Press. The health worker was knowledgeable of his demise Thursday; particulars weren’t instantly obtainable, with an post-mortem scheduled for Friday.

Quan was one of many greatest names in hip-hop within the mid-2010s. He launched a slew of mixtapes earlier than he broke by means of in 2013 with the infectious “Sort of Method.” The tune grew to become so successful that a number of different rappers jumped on the remix, together with Jeezy and Meek Mill. He maintained his momentum, showing on a YG observe with Jeezy and releasing the London on da Observe-produced tune “Life-style” by means of his Wealthy Gang rap collective that included Younger Thug and Birdman.

Quan adopted up with “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” a tune produced by DJ Spinz and Nitti Beatz. It grew to become his highest charting solo single at No. 26 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 chart. He additionally featured on Lil Dicky’s viral “$ave Dat Cash.”

In 2018, Quan debuted his first and solely studio album “Wealthy as in Spirit,” which principally went with none options — aside from “Assume About It,” a single with Rick Ross.

Quan spoke with The Related Press in 2022 about returning to music after an abrupt hiatus. On the time, the rapper mentioned he was going by means of litigation with unbiased label T.I.G. (Assume It is a Recreation Report), however was ready to make a comeback.

Throughout that point, Quan ended up in a feud along with his outdated collaborator Younger Thug — who together with rapper Gunna — have been amongst a gaggle indicted on fees of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s RICO Act and in addition accused of participation in a prison road gang.

Quan mentioned there was no beef between him Younger Thug and was open to having a dialog with him if the chance introduced itself. He mentioned he hated to see Younger Thug locked up, including that rappers have been being focused by legislation enforcement.

“I wouldn’t say unfairly focused as a result of on the similar time, a few of these rappers are placing weapons in movies and, you understand, it’s like social media — it goes again to the social media factor,” he mentioned.

“I feel we exhibiting an excessive amount of, I feel they’re exhibiting an excessive amount of, you understand what I imply. Like that’s the distinction in my music, I’ma inform a narrative however I ain’t going to let you know how I did it,” he added. “It’s nonetheless Black artwork, however we’re undoubtedly being focused. In order that’s why I’m conscious of what I say in my music.”

___

Landrum reported from Los Angeles. Related Press author Gary Gerard Hamilton contributed to this report from New York.

Jonathan Landrum Jr. And Andrew Dalton, The Related Press

Hvaldimir, a beloved whale believed to have escaped a previous life as a Russian spy, was discovered useless over the weekend in what animal rights organizations say had been unnatural circumstances.

The beluga — whose title combines the Norwegian phrase for whale (hval) and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first title — rose to worldwide prominence after he was found by fishermen off the coast of Norway in 2019 carrying a digicam harness that learn “Gear St. Petersburg.”

Theories about his mysterious previous sparked headlines and intrigue, nevertheless it was his pleasant demeanor that received him scores of admirers within the years that adopted.

Hvaldimir labored his method alongside the Norwegian coast, frequenting fish farms and actively looking for out human interplay within the course of. He was “very excited about individuals and responded at hand alerts,” in accordance with the nonprofit Marine Thoughts.

The light big, who measured some 13 toes lengthy and weighed about 2,000 kilos, even went viral a number of occasions: for retrieving a kayaker’s dropped GoPro digicam, enjoying fetch with a rugby ball and enjoying with an underwater drone.

However Hvaldimir’s encounters with individuals weren’t at all times optimistic. He bore scars from being hit by a number of boats, and consultants warned that he confronted decrease odds of survival as a “solitary sociable particular person.” Considerations grew when he was noticed final yr in Sweden, which has extra individuals and fewer fish than Norway.

Hvaldimir’s case impressed the work of not less than two nonprofits devoted to marine conservation and Hvaldimir’s safety particularly.

OneWhale, based in 2019, advocated for Hvaldimir’s safety from “tourism and different risks.” Different marine biologists, involved in regards to the affect of relocating the whale, fashioned Marine Thoughts, which tracked Hvaldimir’s actions but additionally focuses on elevating consciousness about marine species extra broadly. NPR has reached out to each organizations for remark.

With the permission of Norway’s authorities, OneWhale was actively working to relocate Hvaldimir to a wild beluga inhabitants within the Arctic, the place belugas are usually discovered. The group had just lately introduced plans to move him within the coming weeks.

However hopes for Hvaldimir’s security had been dashed on Saturday, when he was discovered useless in what OneWhale known as the “closely trafficked waters simply exterior of Stavanger, Norway.”

“This morning, after receiving a sighting report from an area, our staff arrived to search out Hvaldimir floating peacefully within the water,” Marine Thoughts introduced on Instagram. “It’s not [immediately] clear what precipitated his demise, a necropsy will probably be carried out to find out his early passing.”

Hvaldimir was believed to be between 14 and 15 years outdated when he died. The common lifespan for a beluga whale is upwards of 30.

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute will conduct the necropsy — an post-mortem for animals — and launch the ends in “two or three weeks,” the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries stated in a assertion to Folks.

Within the meantime, theories and tributes are flooding social media.

Many questions stay about Hvaldimir’s life and demise

OneWhale stated in its announcement that it suspects Hvaldimir’s passing “was not a pure demise.”

In a collection of video messages later posted to Instagram, founder Regina Haug referenced “holes pouring with blood from his physique” and stated that out of a staff of marine biologists and veterinarians who had checked out photos of Hvaldimir’s accidents, “not certainly one of them imagine that Hvaldimir died of pure causes.”

“We acquired to go to Hvaldimir in the present day ourselves and see him and say goodbye, and there was no query that he was dying from one thing very unnatural and heartbreaking,” she stated tearfully, earlier than casting blame on those that labored to “block his transfer” and unfold misinformation in regards to the extent of his accidents.

Sebastian Strand, the founding father of Marine Thoughts, instructed AFP that there have been no seen accidents on Hvaldimir’s physique.

Strand additionally instructed the scuba diving publication Divernet that “we would favor to not speak about human rifts in a time of mourning Hvaldimir,” including that “individuals had completely different concepts of methods to greatest safeguard him.”

“For now, we work towards a remaining dignity of creating positive he’s saved effectively and examined so his demise won’t be a thriller,” he added.

Whereas authorities work to reply questions on Hvaldimir’s demise, it is doubtless a lot about his formative years will stay a thriller.

It’s extensively believed that he escaped captivity in Russian waters. Many, pointing to the label on his digicam harness and his responsiveness to people, imagine he was concerned in espionage.

The Russian navy has been identified to make use of marine mammals like whales and dolphins for intelligence functions (the U.S. has a historical past of comparable applications), although the Kremlin has by no means commented publicly on Hvaldimir.

Others theorize he was a lacking Russian remedy whale named Seymon, who lived in an enclosure and generally carried out for kids with disabilities.

What’s sure is that Hvaldimir’s playfulness and resilience each amused and impressed many. Environmental teams say his story shed a lightweight on the plight of beluga whales and, by extension, different marine species struggling to outlive.

Marine Thoughts credit Hvaldimir with touching tens of hundreds of lives over the past 5 years and bridging “the hole between people and wild animals in a method that few can.”

“His presence taught us in regards to the significance of ocean conservation, and in doing so, he additionally taught us extra about ourselves,” it added.

NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula’s US Open run began in tears.

Tasked with taking part in her longtime buddy Shelby Rogers within the first spherical, Pegula knew it might be emotional it doesn’t matter what occurred. Rogers had introduced that the match could be her closing one earlier than retiring, and after Pegula had secured the straight-sets win, the burden of the second appeared to hit.

“We grew up taking part in juniors collectively, grew up in the identical part, and it is actually loopy,” Pegula, the No. 6 seed, mentioned on the court docket at Arthur Ashe Stadium as she cried.

Pegula had beforehand advised reporters that she merely could not consider a few of her friends have been ending their careers. And, contemplating the success Pegula has had lately, it is sensible why she would suppose that. Whereas tennis is crammed with teenage prodigies and younger 20-somethings rising as superstars, Pegula did not advance to her first main quarterfinals till she was 26. She was 27 when she cracked the highest 20 for the primary time.

And now, at 30, Pegula is getting ready to her first Slam semifinal. Retirement is the very last thing on her thoughts. On Monday, with the help of the rowdy vacation crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Pegula defeated No. 18 seed Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-2. After advancing to the seventh main quarterfinal of her profession, Pegula is hoping this would be the match through which she will take it one step additional, or extra.

“Effectively, I at all times say I simply have to win a match to get to the semis after which that’ll resolve all the things, proper?” Pegula mentioned throughout her on-court interview Monday when requested about what it might take to advance. “However I imply, it does not actually matter to me. I imply, each match is each match. I’ve at all times performed it like that. It simply so occurs to be quarterfinals. “However on the identical time, to have the ability to say I have been in that place many, many occasions is nice. So I simply should preserve placing myself there and preserve making an attempt to play my recreation. And it is one level at a time whenever you’re on the market.”

In fact, attending to Thursday’s semifinal will not be simple.

Pegula first should get by way of world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, the winner of 5 main titles, together with the 2022 US Open, on Wednesday. The 2 have met 9 occasions on tour, with Swiatek holding a 6-3 edge. However Pegula beat Swiatek within the 2023 Canadian Open semifinals — a match Pegula went on to win — so she is aware of it is potential. Daunting, however potential.

However that is nothing new for Pegula, who overcame a debilitating knee harm early in her profession after which underwent hip surgical procedure in 2016. She was sidelined from competitors for practically a 12 months and questioned if she needed to proceed. Her love for the game finally received over and she or he determined to maintain grinding.

When she returned to competitors, her rating was exterior of the highest 800. However she made her first WTA closing in 2018 and received her first title on the Citi Open in 2019. None of that stunned Rogers, who has at all times identified how good Pegula may very well be when taking part in her greatest.

“Gosh, I simply bear in mind she at all times had some very easy, pure energy, which is not any totally different now,” Rogers advised ESPN this week. “And he or she’s so relaxed when she’s on the court docket. I really feel tennis comes, I do not need to say pretty simple, however she makes it look simple, and that is at all times been the case.”

In 2021, Pegula reached her debut main quarterfinal on the Australian Open. And since then, she has change into a constant presence within the second week of Slams. Following a quarterfinal run on the 2022 French Open, she cracked the highest 10 for the primary time, and by no means left. With a profession excessive of No. 3, first achieved in 2022, Pegula is ranked No. 6 and will rise as excessive as No. 3 in New York. It doesn’t matter what occurs from right here on out, she would be the top-ranked American lady within the subsequent rankings as a result of Coco Gauff, the defending champion, was defeated Sunday within the fourth spherical.

However, regardless of her excessive rating, Pegula hasn’t fared as effectively at majors this 12 months as she has in current seasons. She was upset within the second spherical at each the Australian Open and Wimbledon — tournaments through which she had reached the quarters in 2023 — and was unable to play on the French Open, or any of the clay season, as a consequence of an undisclosed harm.

However which may have been a blessing in disguise.

Whereas a number of of her friends, together with Swiatek, have complained concerning the calls for of the grueling schedule, and others, corresponding to Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, have cited the addition of the Olympics and the a number of floor adjustments as a part of the rationale for his or her early exits, Pegula mentioned her harm absence has allowed her to be “extra contemporary” at this stage within the 12 months.

“Once I began on grass, I [had] had a few months off,” Pegula mentioned Saturday. “Additionally, I did not go to the Center East [in February due to a neck injury]. I feel in a bizarre method, it was virtually a superb factor trying again that I have been in a position to form of begin that a part of the 12 months fairly contemporary. Although it was lots going backwards and forwards with the Olympics and the floor adjustments and all that.”

For the reason that conclusion of the Olympics — her second look with Group USA — Pegula received the title on the Canadian Open and reached the ultimate at Cincinnati. Few arrived in New York with extra momentum.

And he or she’s lived as much as the pre-tournament hype. Two days after her win over Rogers, Pegula confronted one other American in Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. Kenin had recorded a formidable victory over 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu within the opening spherical, however was merely no match for Pegula. With the 7-6(4), 6-3 win, Pegula continued her undefeated streak (11-0) towards People in 2024. Within the third spherical, she breezed previous Jessica Bouzas, 6-3, 6-3.

Throughout Monday’s match towards Shnaider, a rising 20-year-old star who has received three titles this season, Pegula wanted simply 87 minutes to safe the victory. Pegula has but to drop a set all match.

She’s now received 13 of her previous 14 matches and, together with Emma Navarro, is considered one of two American ladies to achieve the quarterfinals. If Pegula have been to defeat Swiatek, she would change into the oldest American lady to make her first main semifinal. If she have been to lose, she would tie the file for many Slam quarterfinal appearances with out reaching the semifinals by a lady within the Open period. Evidently, there’s lots on the road.

However for Pegula, it doesn’t matter what occurs, it will not change her purpose to win a serious title. Whereas a few of her direct friends retire, she’s extra targeted than ever.

“It will be frickin’ superior if I received a Grand Slam,” Pegula mentioned earlier than the match began. “I positively enable myself to dream, I at all times have since I used to be a child. So I feel you must take your self to these moments … I’d love to have the ability to say that I achieved that, that is at all times my purpose going right into a Grand Slam.”

“Hvaldimir, the title given to the grownup male beluga whale found in Norwegian waters in mid-spring 2019, has, within the years since, grow to be the subject of worldwide hypothesis, elevated and infrequently heated debate, reached world viral stardom and above all, captured the hearts and minds of all who encounter him,” wrote Hugh Francis Anderson in Oceanographic’s cowl characteristic for Concern 13, titled This Is Hvaldimir.

“And whereas the origins of Hvaldimir stay unknown, claims that he was skilled as a spy by the Russian Navy have gripped public and media consideration; his title a portmanteau of the Russian title Vladimir and the Norwegian phrase for whale, hval (pronounced val),” continued Francis Anderson.  

Now, the well-known beluga whale was discovered lifeless within the southwest of Norway by a father and son who had been out fishing off Risavika Bay, based on Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

“Hvaldimir was not only a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, an emblem of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between people and the pure world,” learn a social media publish by Marine Thoughts, a nonprofit organisation that was monitoring the whale’s actions.

The beluga whale was first noticed off Norway’s northern coast in 2019, outfitted with a man-made harness which had the phrases ‘Tools St Petersburg’ on it. Because the whale appeared accustomed to people, adopted boats and even fetched a rugby ball tossed into the water, it was broadly speculated that Hvaldimir was a ‘spy whale’ which could have escaped an enclosure after being skilled by the Russian navy.

The Russian authorities by no means responded to the hypothesis.

After the whale was discovered lifeless, it was lifted out of the water with a crane and brought to a close-by harbour for examination on Monday.

“We’ve managed to retrieve his stays and put him in a cooled space, in preparation for a necropsy by the veterinary institute that may assist decide what actually occurred to him,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand advised NRK. A report on Hvaldimir’s demise is predicted “inside three weeks”, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian Veterinary Institute stated.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jessica Pegula is again within the quarterfinals on the U.S. Open after a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Diana Shnaider on Monday, her seventh journey to that spherical at a Grand Slam match. Now comes the arduous half: Pegula is 0-6 in main quarterfinals over her profession.

The No. 6-seeded Pegula, an American whose mother and father personal the NFL’s Buffalo Payments and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, is on fairly a run in the mean time, having gained 13 of her previous 14 matches, all on arduous courts. That included her second consecutive title in Canada and an look within the remaining on the Cincinnati Open, the place she misplaced to No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

“I really feel like there’s been extra strain this yr, as a result of I did so properly coming into this match,” the 30-year-old Pegula stated. “I wish to preserve working my method and hopefully bringing my greatest tennis for the later rounds this time.”

Additionally returning to the quarterfinals was Karolina Muchova, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over No. 5 Jasmine Paolini, the runner-up on the French Open and Wimbledon this season. Muchova loved a breakthrough 2023, attending to the ultimate in Paris and the semifinals in New York, earlier than needing surgical procedure on her proper wrist in October, sidelining her for 10 months.

“This was my worst and most severe harm, I’d say. However, I imply, I like the game, so in my head, I used to be like, ’I’ll do every part I may to (get) higher and take a look at.’ And right here I’m immediately,” Muchova stated. “I’m only a actually completely happy child now.”

Pegula made it to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows two years in the past, earlier than shedding to No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who went on to win one among her 5 main championships. There could possibly be one other assembly in opposition to Swiatek looming: Pegula subsequent faces the winner of Monday night time’s match between Swiatek and No. 16 Liudmila Samsonova.

Three of Pegula’s six quarterfinal exits at Slams got here in opposition to a No. 1 participant — Swiatek twice and Ash Barty as soon as.

Requested throughout her on-court interview in Arthur Ashe Stadium what she must do to get to the semifinals this time, Pegula joked: “I at all times say I simply have to win the match to get to the semis, after which that’ll clear up every part, proper?”

She continued: “Hear, it doesn’t actually matter to me. I imply, each match is each match. I’ve at all times performed it like that. It simply so occurs to be (the) quarterfinals, however on the similar time, to have the ability to say I’ve been in that place many, many occasions is nice. So I simply need to preserve placing myself there and preserve making an attempt to play my recreation.”

That recreation labored fairly properly in opposition to the 18th-seeded Shnaider, a 20-year-old Russian who performed one season of school tennis at NC State and gained a silver medal in ladies’s doubles on the Paris Olympics.

Pegula compiled 22 winners, hit six aces, saved 7 of 9 break factors that she confronted and claimed 5 of Shnaider’s service video games.

“I really feel like I’m transferring so significantly better across the court docket,” Pegula stated, including that this was the “greatest, off the bottom, that I’ve felt.”

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Howard Fendrich, The Related Press

A rift within the friendship between a pair of girls’s basketball legends could also be past restore in mild of feedback made by each Nancy Lieberman and Sheryl Swoopes over the previous 24 hours.

Differing opinions in regards to the impression present star Caitlin Clark is having on the sport has pushed a wedge between the Corridor of Famers, with Lieberman saying the 2 not have a relationship anymore.

“My life goes to be good with or with out Sheryl Swoopes,” Lieberman mentioned Monday in an look on ESPN character Stephen A. Smith’s podcast.

Later that night, Swoopes fired again on social media saying, “my life is nice with out you too (and him).”

The disagreement, Lieberman instructed Smith, goes again to feedback Swoopes made in February on former NBA star Gilbert Arenas’ podcast during which she downplayed Clark breaking the NCAA profession scoring file.

Swoopes incorrectly said that Clark had benefited from an additional 12 months of eligibility as a result of COVID pandemic when she handed Kelsey Plum because the all-time ladies’s Division I factors chief. Lieberman mentioned she referred to as Swoopes as a buddy to let her know in regards to the error.

“Nicely, she obtained upset with me on the cellphone,” Lieberman instructed Smith. “And I used to be like ‘Sheryl, I am not doing something to harm you. I am simply sharing.’ And so our relationship just about isn’t occurring at this level.”

Lieberman additionally referred to as out Swoopes for not even mentioning Clark on a latest episode of her personal podcast regardless of praising a number of different members of the Indiana Fever for the staff’s scorching streak because the Olympic break.

Nevertheless, Swoopes countered the impression she has something in opposition to Clark, even going as far as to publish screenshots of an obvious textual content change between the 2 from February on her X account Monday afternoon.

Within the change, Swoopes admits she “made a mistake on what this 12 months is for you. Covid 12 months has me all confused…Lol! I additionally don’t have anything however respect for you and your sport.”

Clark responded by saying she had “no exhausting emotions” towards Swoopes and including, “I admire what you could have achieved for ladies’s bball and for uplifting women like me …”

Summer season’s farewell has arrived for a lot of households in west-central Saskatchewan, as college students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 went again to class on Tuesday.

Kindersley had three completely different back-to-school days with Westberry Elementary Faculty, Elizabeth Center Faculty, and Kindersley Composite Faculty college students exhibiting up for the primary day.

As you possibly can see within the title photograph above, the Kindersley Jr. Klippers had been available at Elizabeth to dish out some fist bumps to youngsters coming into their first day.

Elizabeth vice-principal Cam Aitken was additionally exterior greeting youngsters for the primary day. College students had a delicate begin to the yr with their “backpack day” final week.

“Simply gave youngsters the chance to come back in, meet their instructor, see their classroom. Drop some provides off so they are not carrying backpacks stuffed with stuff once they come for the primary day of faculty.”

Aitken and firm need to hit the varsity yr working, and faculty sports activities beginning as early as the primary day are a great way to get the ball rolling.

“We begin with soccer at this time, fairly certain volleyball might be beginning at this time or tomorrow. Cross nation, golf, these must get began quickly. Lots of issues get began.”

Throughout the block at the highschool was one other type of first day. Kindersley Composite Faculty obtained their new crop of Grade 9 college students, like Rylan Ginther who shared his emotions heading into a brand new faculty. 

“I am fairly excited.” mentioned Ginther when requested if he was nervous.” I imply, new faculty, get to strive a bunch of recent issues.”

KCS staggered their begins for the primary day. Grade 9 and 10 college students in Kindersley had been in school within the morning, whereas the seniors began their faculty yr within the afternoon.

Every of the Solar West Faculty Division, Dwelling Sky Faculty Division, and Chinook Faculty Division function colleges within the west-central area. Comply with the hyperlinks to view faculty calendars for 2024-2025.

WNBA Corridor of Famer and present Dallas Wings broadcaster Sheryl Swoopes responded to a fan on X who accused her of being “unfair” to Caitlin Clark with screenshots of alleged textual content messages. 

Swoopes’ submit on Monday confirmed three photos of her messages with a contact named Caitlin Clark that she claims befell on Feb. 5. The primary picture confirmed Swoopes apologizing for an incorrect assertion in regards to the size of Clark’s school profession earlier this 12 months.

“Hey Caitlin, I needed to personally attain out to you and say I made a mistake on what 12 months that is for you, COVID 12 months has me all confused,” Swoopes wrote. “I additionally don’t have anything however respect for you and your recreation and respect your talent. Congrats on all the pieces you may have completed so far. Be blessed.” 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The following two messages present Clark thanking Swoopes for reaching out and her contributions to the WNBA, and Swoopes returning one other message that proclaimed appreciation. 

Swoopes’ apology was for an incorrect assertion she issued in an look on the “Gil’s Area,” podcast with former NBA star Gilbert Arenas in February. Swoopes incorrectly mentioned that Clark stayed in school for 5 seasons and that she took over 40 pictures per recreation whereas discussing the subject of how Clark broke the NCAA’s all-time basketball factors document her senior 12 months in 2023. 

However Clark performed simply 4 seasons whereas averaging simply 22.7 pictures per recreation en path to the document. She didn’t want a fifth 12 months and even 22.3 pictures per recreation to attain essentially the most factors of any basketball participant, males’s or ladies’s, in school historical past.

Swoopes, who was the primary participant to be signed within the WNBA with the Houston Commets in 1997, was faraway from her common submit as Dallas Wings coloration commentator for the staff’s recreation towards Clark’s Indiana Fever on Sunday. 

Swoopes has fired off a number of responses to posts on X which have referenced her interactions and former statements on Clark since she was eliminated. 

CAITLIN CLARK’S HARSH RECEPTION BY THE WNBA IS ‘GOOD FOR THE GAME,’ ESPN’S HOLLY ROWE SAYS

Outdoors of the inaccurate assertion on Clark’s collegiate profession again in February, Swoopes has made a number of different feedback about Clark which have drawn criticism. 

Swoopes not too long ago praised Chicago Sky participant Diamond DeShields after a recreation wherein DeShields fouled Clark to the ground, committing a flagrant 1 foul. It was solely the newest in a sequence of controversial fouls the Sky dedicated on Clark of their 4 conferences this 12 months. 

Hours after DeShields dedicated the foul, she posted a screenshot of her notifications listing on Instagram, which included a string of hate feedback from a person referencing a spinal twine tumor DeShields overcame in 2020.

Swoopes wrote, “Head up child! Hate won’t win!! You might be coated and ain’t nothing these evil folks can do about that. All love for you!” in a submit on X in response to DeShileds after the Sky’s loss to Indiana on Friday. 

In an August episode of her podcast “Queens of the Courtroom,” Swoopes didn’t identify Clark as a motive for the current enchancment of the Fever. Swoopes solely praised Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull. Nevertheless, Clark has been the staff’s main scorer throughout its win stream, and is already one of many high scorers within the WNBA. 

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith responded to Swoopes’ statements within the episode and mentioned the Corridor of Famer was “insane to try this.” 

“Do you may have any concept how that makes you look?” Smith mentioned to Swoopes. 

Swoopes clapped again to Smith as quickly as she may in a response on X. 

“You speak about whomever and no matter you need to in your podcast. Appropriate? So why can’t I? Additionally, did you take heed to the ENTIRE episode? NOPE! I’ve a private relationship with these gamers they usually deserve recognition as effectively.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Throughout Swoopes’ absence from the printed sales space on Sunday, Clark put up 28 factors and 12 assists to guide Indiana to its fourth straight win and 6 in its final seven video games. Clark scored the 595th level of her profession, surpassing WNBA legend Tamika Catchings for essentially the most in a single season by a rookie in Fever historical past. She completed with 617 factors as Sunday’s recreation ended.

Clark has appeared to interrupt a landmark document in each recreation she’s performed in not too long ago. 

In Friday’s recreation towards the Sky, Clark had the primary 30-point, 12-assist recreation in WNBA historical past whereas turning into simply the fifth participant, and first rookie, to document not less than 30 factors and 10 assists in a recreation. On high of that, Clark now has 12 double-doubles, which breaks the WNBA document for many double-doubles by a guard in a single season.

Simply three days earlier than that, Clark set the document for many made 3-pointers by a rookie, surpassing the mark initially set by the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard. She was 3-of-12 from downtown and completed with 19 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists as Indiana picked up its fifteenth win.

That very same evening, she additionally turned the primary WNBA participant to have not less than 15 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in six consecutive WNBA video games. It was her tenth straight recreation with not less than 15 factors and 5 rebounds, which put her within the elite membership with Diana Taurasi because the gamers who’ve hit the mark.

Observe Fox Information Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox Information Sports activities Huddle publication.

The Rangers entered this collection in opposition to the Yankees as winners in 5 of their final six video games.

Nonetheless, they confronted some fairly mediocre competitors, with these victories coming in opposition to the Athletics and White Sox, two golf equipment with a mixed .329 profitable proportion.

Texas will now step up at school in opposition to a Yankees staff with one of the best American League report at 80-58 after grabbing Monday’s collection opener, 8-4.

The Yankees nonetheless have a lot to play for down the stretch, whereas the Rangers merely play out the string.

In Tuesday’s matchup, which options two southpaws, New York is the facet that provides worth as a -130 highway favourite at FanDuel.

Yankees evaluation

Carlos Rodón will get the beginning for the Yankees, and he’s displaying rather more high quality now that he’s lastly wholesome.

Rodón managed simply 14 appearances in his first yr in New York, going 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA. This season, he’s improved to 14-9 whereas bringing his ERA right down to 4.31. 

His numbers could be even higher if he might do a greater job retaining the ball contained in the park.

In 2024, Rodón is permitting 1.54 residence runs per 9 innings in comparison with a 0.88 mark in 2021 and 0.61 in 2022, when he had his finest seasons. 

Curiously, his velocity is simply as laborious (95.5 mph fastball common) because it has ever been at any level in his main league profession.

Whereas he’s by no means been one who throws a ton of floor balls, he posted higher numbers in these seasons as a result of his residence ballparks have been extra pitcher-friendly. 

Rodón ought to fare a lot better in opposition to a Rangers lineup with a .140 ISO common, the sixth-worst mark within the league.

Rangers evaluation

Texas will counter with Andrew Heaney, who has simply pitched higher than his 4-13 report.

His 3.95 FIP is correct according to his 3.94 ERA, which means his superior stats don’t level to any sizeable regression.

Nonetheless, Heaney has primarily struggled when going through New York. 

In keeping with Baseball Savant, in 101 plate appearances, this Yankees roster has a .289 xBA in opposition to him, with a .394 xWOBA and .585 xSLG.

Heaney’s pitching arsenal consists primarily of three pitches: a fastball (52.7%), a slider (27.8%) and a changeup (16.2%).

He’ll often combine in a curveball, which he throws roughly 3% of the time.

The issue is New York ranks second and sixth in runs above common in opposition to his two main pitches.

And if he tries to make the most of his changeup extra, the Yankees hitters will doubtless choose up the velocity as a result of he’s misplaced slightly little bit of separation in velocity between the offspeed pitch and his fastball.

Heaney does have good command and sometimes pitches in and across the plate to attempt to get hitters to chase. 

However the Yankees are a really affected person group with a league-best 10.5% stroll fee. Heaney may have come contained in the zone in some unspecified time in the future, and the Yankees shall be able to strike.

Yankees vs. Rangers choose

That is a type of matchups the place the opposite staff appears to have a pitcher’s quantity. In keeping with the Motion Community, Heaney’s groups are 89-90 (49.7%) within the video games he begins.

Nonetheless, in opposition to the Yankees, his groups are on a 0-6 skid and 1-6 in his profession.

Study all you must find out about MLB Betting

Furthermore, the Rangers are coming off a win in Heaney’s final begin, and so they’ve received back-to-back video games in his begins simply as soon as this whole season.

Search for the Yankees to overwhelm the Rangers, and we’re getting an honest worth with the guests at -130 odds. 

Decide: Yankees moneyline (-130, FanDuel)