the needle

All things Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever. (Fire Stephanie White)

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

This is so incredibly sad to hear.
These are the girls who had their sign taken away.
The storm and their leadership should ashamed.

[Jon Root @JonnyRoot_]

BREAKING: The identity of the man that berated the two teenage female Sophie Cunningham supporters at the Seattle Storm vs Indiana Fever game is Marco Esquivel.

Esquivel is a Nordstrom corporate employee in Seattle.

His LinkedIn is no longer active.

@Nordstrom, will you publicly condemn his actions?

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

Trending up. The games are more fluid so far in July and it’s helping her get into a rhythm.

[Clark Report @CClarkReport]

Caitlin Clark’s shooting splits by month:

May: 24.7 Points per 36 on 39/33/95
June: 24.8 Points per 36 on 46/35/79
July: 30.7 Points per 36 on 48/38/91

She just keeps getting better 👀

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

@MarcJr24 @HanaHoops It has to do with what I said. Notice the fever at the top of the now floating ship. 🚢

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

@twisty_nipplez @awfulannouncing She would’ve by now and has by now. Multiple times. She’d honestly probably have more support if she never did

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

You can bet your ass if this was a Fever player they’d be getting punished.

[Underdog WNBA @UnderdogWNBA]

There will be no punishment for Angel Reese or Paige Bueckers over this incident, per @AnnieCostabile.

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

Looks like Adam silver didn’t step in this time.

[Robin Lundberg @robinlundberg]

Source tells me there will be no punishment for Angel Reese or Paige Bueckers in relation to the betting video.

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

@Sierra321776585 She has been talked about for MVP some.

I like Kelsey, realistically though as only a scorer I can’t see her objectively winning it.

The only way for someone to overtake Aja would be by being the greatest offensive engine in history, which we just so happen to have lol

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

About time to start getting Clark back in that MVP convo.

[Indiana Fever @IndianaFever]

during our 4-game win streak:

Caitlin Clark: 30.3 PPG | 55.9 FG% | 50.0 3P% | 8.8 APG | 1.5 SPG
Kelsey Mitchell: 28.5 PPG | 56.2 FG% | 51.9 3P%

No. 1 & 2 in scoring in the WNBA.

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

@MarcJr24 @HanaHoops

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

If instead of making the bet in person, they made this bet on fanduel, would this response be the same?

Could they still intend it as a “joke?”

Would the verbiage still be “friendly wager?”

The money is the same.

[Alexa Philippou @alexaphilippou]

WNBA spox statement on a since-deleted post in which Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers bantered about a friendly wager ahead of yesterday's Dream-Wings matchup:

"While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted, WNBA players are well aware of the league's policies prohibiting betting on WNBA games and receive training every year reinforcing those policies. We recognized that the post missed the mark, removed it shortly after it was published, and addressed the matter internally. We will also use this as an opportunity to reemphasize with the players involved that conversations about wagering on WNBA games, even when intended as a joke, can have negative consequences.”

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

@CanadianCatCP Lia Thomas disproves the premise. There is no way for you to have an honest opinion from your position without sounding delusional.
An irrelevant male swimmer transitioning and then winning three Ivy League titles.

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

@bballstatswdesc @bulldogs_stan1 @DBGyt_ This is a hater ass comment and I don’t think you realize it.
It’s her average for the season. Just like everyone else’s.
You could say that she had a very slow start and she would be far more efficient if not for it.

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

@ForeverBrie92 Grown adults shouldn’t need a safe space. They should play and talk about basketball. Victimhood shouldn’t be celebrated

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

Sophie stood on what she said and ducked absolutely nothing 😂

[Jemele Hill @jemelehill]

Just a couple weeks ago, Sophie Cunningham was asked about the negative attention the W receives and she essentially said, that’s part of the job and she realizes she’s an entertainer. Cool.

She’s building an entire brand on being outspoken and yet when the smoke came, she ducked it. The Fever betrayed their other players and Stephanie White by putting them in a position to answer to something they didn’t say.

Roberta had every right to ask these questions. The Sophie Cunningham rally happened at this game. If a rally is taking place outside the arena, you don’t want until later to ask about it.

If Sophie Cunningham is going to build a brand behind being outspoken, her and the Fever are going to have to take the shit that comes with it. Don’t be in it for the jersey sales and then when people start asking questions, you want to run. It doesn’t work that way.

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

@jemelehill She stood on what she said ten toes down, you absolute clown 😂

[Jackson Thompson @JackThompsonFOX]

The Seattle Storm have apologized for the conduct of a co-owner toward to young girls who were supporting Sophie Cunningham on Tuesday night. But footage and testimony shows a further storm of chaos the two girls endured that the team has not addressed.

https://t.co/tb7nvpZLJs

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

She’s the only adult in the room

[Sophie Cunningham @sophaller]

I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind.

Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. You’ll be hearing from me soon💕 yay for gifts.

Truly embarrassing of the co-owner. Unfortunately shows the type of leader she is.

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

Ask the storm a few non-basketball questions about this at the next post game presser if you’re an objective journalist who deserves to have credentials

[Roberta 🏳️‍🌈 @robertawbb]

Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been fined and suspended from attending the team’s next five home games after last night’s incident involving Fever fans, the WNBA confirmed. @BlackRosieMedia

[the needle @cc22feverFC]

Slap on the wrist.
Deserves a lifetime ban from wnba events.

[Jackson Thompson @JackThompsonFOX]

The WNBA has confirmed to me that Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been suspended from attending the team's next five home games and has been fined.