North High alum and championship-winning coach John Robinson joins Blacklight On Sports to reflect on decades of leadership in Twin Cities schools, sports, and communities.
Charles Hallman
Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Posted inSports
Victor Glover: From football to the moon
NASA astronaut Victor Glover, the first Black man assigned to a lunar mission, visited Indianapolis during WNBA All-Star Weekend to speak with kids about STEM, teamwork, and what it takes to fly to the Moon.
Posted inAnother View
Gophers mourn the loss of Sue Jackson and Kevin Smith
Sue Jackson and Kevin Smith, two unforgettable Gopher athletes, passed away this summer. We reflect on their legacy in maroon and gold.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Thornton and Burton Lead Valkyries’ historic first season
The Golden State Valkyries are breaking records and defying expectations in their first WNBA season — and they’re just getting started.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
Steven Davis Jr. on Life After the Game
Steven Davis Jr. went from Golden Gophers football captain to life coach and founder of Strive Higher After Sports. In this episode of Blacklight On Sports, he joins Hallman and McDonald to discuss mental health, identity, and helping Black athletes find meaning beyond the game.
Posted inAnother View
Players, coaches show their stuff at NBA Summer League
NBA Summer League gave Minnesota natives Jamison Battle, Dawson Garcia, and Curtis Jones the chance to prove they belong in the league. Coaches used the event to level up, too.
Posted inLynx/WNBA
Black Expo shares city with WNBA All-Stars
The Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration and WNBA All-Star Weekend overlapped in Indianapolis, sparking conversation around timing, impact, and community engagement. Players and vendors shared their thoughts.
Posted inOdds and Ends
HBCU interns work WNBA All-Star Weekend
At WNBA All-Star Weekend 2025, six HBCU students became the first interns in a new program aimed at building Black leadership in sports. Howard’s Beverly Robertson called it “amazing” as she gained experience in communications and media.
Posted inLynx/WNBA
Whalen gladly back coaching
WNBA Hall of Famer Lindsay Whalen returns to the All-Star Game as an assistant coach for Team Collier. After two years away from coaching, the Minnesota Lynx legend says she’s right where she belongs — back in the gym.
Posted inAnother View
NBA Summer League keeps us busy in Vegas
Minnesota Timberwolves guards Terrance Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham are showing poise and potential in their second NBA Summer League. With strong performances and coach praise, they’re part of a broader Minnesota basketball presence in Vegas.
Posted inOdds and Ends
De La Salle grad and Colts rookie is feeling blessed
Indianapolis Colts rookie Jalen Travis reflects on his first months as a pro football player. The DeLaSalle grad and Minneapolis native is embracing the grind of OTAs and looking ahead to fall training camp with a deep sense of gratitude and drive.
Posted inAnother View
Black women losing ground as WNBA head coaches
Seattle’s Noelle Quinn is the only Black woman head coach in the WNBA this season. Just two years ago, there were six Black head coaches in the league.
Posted inSports
Wrestling champ surprised to find herself coaching — and loving it
Kenya Sloan has been named the first women’s wrestling head coach at Delaware State. The national champ and undefeated high school athlete now leads the first HBCU program of its kind.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Twins’ Lewis takes injury in stride
Royce Lewis is rehabbing with the St. Paul Saints after another hamstring injury. The 24-year-old Twins infielder says he feels good and hopes to return soon.
Posted inLynx/WNBA
Courtney Williams’ biggest fan is her dad
Don Williams is a fixture at Lynx games, proudly cheering for his daughter Courtney Williams, the team’s starting point guard.
Posted inSports
Social media’s sports coverage lacks cultural literacy
Tonya McKenzie is calling out how Black athletes and coaches are portrayed in sports media and pushing for more Black voices in leadership and commentary roles.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Women of color still “dramatically under-represented” in coaching
The 2024–25 Women in College Coaching Report Card shows women of color remain vastly underrepresented in NCAA head coaching roles—just 7.5% nationwide. Also: Garcia’s NBA Draft status and Diamond Johnson’s 3XBA debut.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
Brianna Edwards on Trusting the Process: From Athlete to Coach
Brianna Edwards joins Blacklight On Sports to talk about her journey from pro athlete to head coach and consultant—building athletes into leaders for life.
Posted inAnother View
Hall of Fame inductees: ‘Greatness is never a solo performance’
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (WBHOF) Class of 2025 didn’t disappoint the packed Tennessee Theatre of family, coaches, teammates, media and others on Father’s Day eve, a Saturday night.
Posted inSports
Talking games and cookies
MLB pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson is blending baseball and business with his cookie brand The Cozy Cookie, now available at Target Field. The 24-year-old shares how sports, family, and sweet tooth moments inspired the launch.