The Golden State Valkyries are breaking records and defying expectations in their first WNBA season — and they’re just getting started.
Odds and Ends
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Hoopster Hall of Fame inducts three more Black women
WNBA greats Sylvia Fowles, Alana Beard, and Cappie Pondexter entered the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on June 8, 2025. MSR was the only Minnesota media present, continuing its leadership in women’s sports coverage.
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Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 inducts three Black players
Sylvia Fowles headlines the 2025 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame class, joining Alana Beard and Cappie Pondexter in celebrating their legacy and impact on the game.
Posted inCoaching while Black
MLB manager’s advice to hopefuls: ‘You gotta nail the interview’
In this Coaching While Black feature, Los Angeles Angels Manager Ron Washington reflects on leadership, resilience, and the challenges Black MLB coaches face.
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Transfer portal, NIL add to the pressure on Black coaches
The double-edged new normal in college athletics today is the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness). Since it was introduced in 2019, the number of men’s and women’s basketball players in the portal has increased each year from hundreds in 2019 to thousands in 2025.
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Maryland college baseball suits Burnsville native just fine
Freshman infielder Paul Jones II is the only Minnesotan on the University of Maryland baseball team. The Burnsville native and Cretin-Durham Hall graduate’s recent homecoming was a big hit.
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Knowledge of the game gives hoops coach an edge
Sometimes it’s best to step back, take a break and get a different perspective in order to move forward, a needed time to inhale so to speak. This is exactly what Chantel Osahor has done after completing her first season as Gonzaga WBB assistant coach.
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Woldeslassie leaves Mac for Denver
Abe Woldeslassie, a Macalester College grad who came back to coach the men’s basketball team for seven seasons, has resigned to take an assistant coaching position at Division I University of Denver.
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Black tennis coaches celebrate their historic matchup
Minnesota and Illinois in women’s tennis have met 32 times since 1991, and the 33rd meeting was the first time ever that both schools’ squads were coached by Black women, Lois Arterberry and Gabrielle Moore, who once were college teammates at Southern University.
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Twins Black hurlers warm up for the season
Alex Speas and Simeon Woods Richardson, both Black players on the Minnesota Twins, are working to make an impact on the team and to stick in the majors, with Speas aiming to join the “Black Aces” list and Woods Richardson aiming to improve his record.
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Black tennis coaches face off
Black female head coaches Lois Arterberry and Gabrielle Moore will face each other for the first time this season when Minnesota hosts Indiana in women’s tennis, with both coaches having a rich history in college tennis.
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Black tennis coaching ‘stagnant’
Rance Brown, Associate Head Women’s Tennis Coach at UCLA, has been instrumental in the success of the Bruins, winning two national championships and five Southwest Region assistant coach of the year awards, and is one of the few Black assistant coaches in the country.
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Strong-willed Strong on track with hoops and law
Joshua Strong, a 22-year-old law student and basketball player, became the only Division I basketball player to also attend law school at the same time, and is now working towards economic empowerment for Black communities.
Posted inCoaching while Black
First-year coaches on a learning curve
Stephanie Cooper and Rachel Naughton, two experienced coaches, have taken on the challenge of turning around the University of the Virgin Islands and Wilberforce University women’s basketball programs, respectively, despite the obstacles they face.
Posted inCoaching while Black
Black coaches shine in HBCU Athletic Conference, a true showcase of excellence
Fisk University’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach Victoria Crawford and Stillman College Assistant Coaches KaTia May and Montego Hoskins were honored with awards at the HBCUAC Post-Season Tournament for their leadership and excellence.
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Gopher wrestler establishes top game, bottom game
Quincy Hulverson, a redshirt sophomore wrestler from Tea, S.D., has adjusted well to college wrestling, and Anthonett Nabwe, a redshirt sophomore thrower, has set a new weight mark at the Snowshoe Open at the U of M Fieldhouse.