Taurasi drew her sixth and final foul during the fourth quarter of the Mercury’s 101-88 loss against the Minnesota Lynx, who completed their sweep of the Mercury and ended Phoenix’s 2024 season.

A standing ovation for Diana Taurasi in the Target Center 👏 pic.twitter.com/JzQxpEbQYa

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 26, 2024

Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts commended Taurasi and thanked her for welcoming him throughout his first year in the league.

“What an opportunity for me to coach the greatest ever,” Tibbetts said during Wednesday’s postgame press conference.

Taurasi, the league’s all-time leading scorer and 3-point shooter, has continued to allude to her retirement but hasn’t made an official announcement.

“If it is the last time, it felt like the first time,” Taurasi said during the Mercury’s last regular season game on Thursday.

“I think once the season’s over, I’ll have a better idea of what it looks like for me in the future,” Taurasi added.

During Wednesday’s game, Taurasi and the Mercury could not contain Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who tied a WNBA playoff record with 42 points.

After the Lynx’s Game 1 win on Sunday, Collier joked about potentially ending Taurasi’s career and the Mercury’s season with a Game 2 win.

The 6-foot-1 forward clarified her comments on X, noting that she only wanted the Lynx to win and not have to play a Game 3.

“I feel lucky to have played with her (Taurasi) on Team USA and against her,” Collier said during Sunday’s postgame press conference.

Al McCoy’s legacy was built on his kindness. In his profession, he became known for mentoring young broadcasters as they began their commentating careers, supporting and encouraging them from their first seasons on the job through their roles as colleagues.

As the sports world continues to mourn the loss of McCoy, the longest-tenured broadcaster in NBA history who died on Saturday, several colleagues and mentees shared similar stories about how he went out of the way to welcome them.

Phoenix Suns radio analyst Tim Kempton recalled how the legendary Suns play-by-play announcer eased his nerves during his first broadcast for the team.

McCoy would raise his finger and point to Kempton, a former NBA player, to signal that it was his turn to talk during a segment.

“It was very comforting to me at the time because I was brand new to radio broadcasting,” Kempton said when he joined Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Monday.

As Kempton prepared to enter his first year with the team, McCoy was already in his 30th. The two ended up being broadcast partners for 21 years until McCoy retired in 2023.

“He was everyone’s friend,” Kempton said.

Some of Kempton’s favorite McCoy memories come from their time on the road together when he and McCoy would visit the local restaurants and bars of whichever city the Suns were playing in.

“Al would take me to one of his old haunts,” Kempton said. “They’d all have a piano in them.”

McCoy had played as a jazz pianist before getting into broadcasting. Kempton recalled McCoy “playing a couple of tunes” before the two settled down to grab dinner and a drink. The staff would usually greet McCoy as if he were a regular.

“He left a mark and an impression that won’t be touched,” Kevin Ray, the television play-by-play announcer for the Suns, said when he joined Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Monday.

In July 1989, Ray, who went to college at Pittsburg State in Kansas, moved to Flagstaff to pursue his sports broadcasting career. He landed a job as the sports director for Flagstaff’s KVNA-FM.

At that time, the Suns were training at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

“Al reached out to welcome me to the great state of Arizona,” Ray recalled.

The two bonded over their midwestern roots. Ray began attending Suns games and listening to McCoy call plays.

“That’s when I really saw the magic this man had and that he possessed,” Ray said.

Ray, who has also been a play-by-play voice for the Dallas Cowboys, joined the Suns in 2003 as the team’s pregame and postgame telecast host. In 2017, the Suns promoted Ray from sideline reporter to television play-by-play announcer.

McCoy went from a mentor to a colleague for Ray. He noted that being McCoy’s teammate was one of the pinnacles of his career.

“He was willing to lift me up and provide a roadmap for me,” Ray said.

Mike Breen, the announcer for the New York Knicks and lead voice for the NBA on ESPN, recalled his first game in Phoenix when McCoy walked up to the East Coast commentator and introduced himself.

"For a man who wasn't very tall, he was a giant of a man. In our business, he was the dean of all NBA broadcasters."

– ESPN and Knicks voice Mike Breen spoke to @BurnsAndGambo on the late Al McCoy

Full segment: https://t.co/ARyu6sIXpe pic.twitter.com/mzb1wL2RVR

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 24, 2024

“For a man who wasn’t very tall, he was a giant of a man. In our business, he was the dean of NBA broadcasters,” Breen told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Monday.

“He already had this reputation and this aura as one of the giants of this industry, yet he would already carry himself as one of the guys,” he added. “When I first started, I didn’t know anybody. You would go into arenas, and he would be the one to approach you. … He came over to introduce himself to me. And I knew exactly who he was.”

Al McCoy touched play-by-play broadcasters outside of his sport

McCoy’s generosity and talents spanned beyond the NBA.

Dave Pasch, an NBA broadcaster for ESPN and the Arizona Cardinals’ radio play-by-play voice, paid homage to McCoy on Sunday during the Cardinals’ home game against the Detroit Lions.

Pasch used McCoy’s iconic phrase “shazam!” as Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. scored a touchdown during the first quarter.

“It was great to be able to honor him,” Pasch said when he joined Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Tuesday morning.

Pasch knew who McCoy was even before he had connections to the Valley.

In 2002, as Pasch prepared to move to the desert for his new role as the Cardinals’ play-by-play announcer, sports commentator Bob Costas told Pasch that he needed to meet McCoy as soon as he arrived in Arizona.

“He was as kind and thoughtful and gracious as everyone said he was,” Pasch recalled.

Kempton praised his former broadcast partner’s longevity and ability to maintain a positive energy throughout every game. He added that the legacy McCoy left behind will live on for generations to come.

“You thought he would go on forever,” Kempton said. “It seemed like he would.”

The duo was named in college basketball insider Jon Rothstein’s list of 25 impact freshmen for the 2024-25 season.

Quaintance, a 6-foot-9 center from Raleigh, N.C., first committed to the Kentucky Wildcats before flipping to ASU. In addition to his height, Rothstein praised Quaintance’s skillset.

A multi-talented offensive threat, Quaintance is one of the best all-around players in the 2024 class.

Quaintance is the No. 2 center prospect in the 2024 recruiting class and the ninth-ranked recruit in the country, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings. He is the highest-ranked recruit in Arizona State basketball history.

Sanon ranks 24th on 247 Sports’ nationwide top recruits list.

Like Quaintance, the 6-foot-5 Sanon was committed elsewhere (Arizona Wildcats) before signing with the Sun Devils.

Sanon was considered one of the best shooters and overall scorers in the high school game. He helped his former school, Vermont Academy, win the 2024 NEPSAC AAA championship.

A volume scorer with confidence, the 6-5 Sanon should excel in Bobby Hurley’s guard-friendly system.

During the offseason, the Sun Devils lost key players like Frankie Collins and Jamiya Neal to the NCAA transfer portal. Guard Adam Miller will return to the team for the 2024-25 season alongside center Shawn Phillips Jr., but the roster turnover is expected to allow both Quaintance and Sanon to play large roles.

Arizona Wildcats’ impact freshmen

Arizona lost backup wings Paulius Murauskas and Filip Borovicanin to the transfer portal while forward Keshad Johnson and shooting guard Pelle Larsson left for the NBA.

With that being said, the forward rotation will look completely new for Arizona even though it returns Caleb Love, who withdrew his name from the 2024 NBA Draft.

McDonald’s All-American Carter Bryant committed to the Wildcats in 2023, and along with Oakland transfer Trey Townsend, could have a path to immediate playing time.

Bryant has natural gifts and instincts that allow him to seamlessly shoot, dribble and pass. He’ll immediately have a significant role in the Wildcats’ rotation.

The 6-foot-8 signee is ranked fifth on 247 Sports‘ best power forward recruits nationwide.

The Mercury guard didn’t give a “yes” or “no” answer regarding her anticipated retirement decision. The game could have been Taurasi’s last at Footprint Center with two road games to begin the Mercury’s playoff run against the Minnesota Lynx coming. A home game to close the three-game first-round series is not certain.

“Once the season’s over, I’ll have a better idea of what it looks like for me in the future,” Taurasi said during a postgame press conference.

Diana Taurasi said she still hasn't made up her mind on whether to hang it up yet. pic.twitter.com/r0X7AdQwZb

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 20, 2024

Taurasi has donned the Mercury jersey for all 20 of her seasons in the WNBA. Her loyalty to the franchise has cemented her basketball legacy in the Valley.

“If it is the last time, it felt like the first time,” Taurasi said as she stood center court alongside her family and teammates after the 89-70 loss to the Seattle Storm.

To honor her achievements, Mercury players wore special edition Taurasi “GOAT” jerseys for their pregame fits and warmups on Thursday.

In 2021, as the WNBA celebrated its 25th season, fans voted to crown Taurasi as the league’s greatest of all time (GOAT).

Fans and former teammates, friends and family of Taurasi gathered to take in the potential farewell.

Geno Auriemma, Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer and Taurasi’s former UConn Huskies coach, attended the game. Auriemma and Taurasi hugged on the sidelines following her emotional “If this is it” speech.

Taurasi won three straight national championships with the Huskies before Phoenix took her No. 1 overall. The 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year then led the Mercury to three WNBA championships.

“(Auriemma) knew if I could just scratch the surface of where he thought I could go, something special could happen,” Taurasi said.

Former Seattle Storm and Team USA guard Sue Bird also attended the game alongside her wife and former professional soccer player, Megan Rapinoe.

The crowd pleaded with Taurasi to put off her retirement, chanting “one more year” as she addressed the X-Factor after the game.

“I think they tricked Sue with that one last time,” Taurasi replied to the chants from the crowd.

If Taurasi finalizes her decision to retire, the Mercury will continue to thrive, she believes.

“We’re in a good place going forward, regardless,” Taurasi said.

She highlighted center Brittney Griner, small forward Kahleah Copper along with Sophie Cunningham, Rebecca Allen and Natasha Cloud as the faces of the Phoenix franchise moving forward.

“I’ll always be a part of this franchise,” Taurasi said. “Through the wins and the losses.”

After an incredible performance on Sunday, Harrison received one of the most prestigious player awards in the NFL.

Not the MVP but the NVP — the Nickelodeon Valuable Player.

.@MarvHarrisonJr ARE YOU READY TO GET SLIMED?! pic.twitter.com/4mqbkTtoXo

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 18, 2024

The rookie scored two touchdowns and racked up 130 receiving yards on four catches to help the Cardinals defeat the Los Angeles Rams 41-10 on Sunday.

Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was eager to present Harrison with the honor and dump two jars of green slime on his head, a mandatory ritual following any Nickelodeon award win.

The NVP award, part of the “NFL Slimetime” on Nickelodeon, is a player of the week honor given to players based on fan votes.

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was the first to ever receive an NVP in 2021 after the Cardinals crushed the Tennessee Titans 38-13 during their season opener. Murray finished the game with four touchdown passes.

Harrison wore a protective cap in the video but to no avail. After Johnson dumped the jars of green goop on Harrison, the wide receiver was left covered in slime.

“Remember that, P?” Harrison asked Johnson before referencing the iconic Nickelodeon tune, the SpongeBob Krusty Krab Pizza song.

In addition to the award, Harrison received a purple chain with an NFL Slimetime logo pendant and a silver trophy featuring the orange Nickelodeon blimp.

Harrison looks to continue his success on the field during the Cardinals’ game on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Participants will complete a 5K race through downtown Phoenix. The course will begin and end at Chase Field.

Proceeds from the race will be donated to local non-profit organizations that provide patient treatment and support for those diagnosed with cancer. Donations also support screening tools that can assist with earlier diagnoses and innovative treatment options for current patients.

Individuals and businesses can register to raise money for the event. Funders can sign up individually or as a team and are eligible for prizes like D-backs tickets and autographed merchandise.

All participants will receive a commemorative shirt, drawstring bag, finisher medal, chip timing for the race and an upper-level ticket voucher for one of Arizona’s games against the San Diego Padres from Sept. 27-29, the weekend of the race.

The D-backs are facing a potential knock-out matchup against the Padres to close the season.

The race registration fee is $50 through Sept. 20 and $60 after Sept. 20. Registration closes on Sept. 28.

For more information or to sign up, fans can visit dbacks.com/race.

Former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden says quarterback Kyler Murray was the first player from the team to reach out after the Cardinals cut Golden in 2023.

“That says a lot about his (Murray) leadership and his development as a leader to reach out and show me love,” Golden said when he joined Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Tuesday.

Murray had a near-perfect performance during the Cardinals’ 41-10 win on Sunday against their NFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Rams. He finished with a passer rating of 158.3 after completing 17 of 21 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns.

“He can throw the ball and scramble and run the ball down the field,” Golden said on Murray’s strengths. “When you can do that at a high level like him, the sky’s the limit.”

The linebacker has seen Murray grow all the way from a rookie to team captain of the Cardinals.

After being released from Arizona, Golden became a free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 1. Shortly after, the Steelers placed Golden on the reserve/retired list.

Golden officially announced his retirement on Aug. 21, concluding his nine-season career in the NFL.

“I’ve been able to live my dreams and do everything I’ve wanted to do with football,” Golden said. “It was time for me to move on to the next step of my life.”

The Cardinals selected Golden in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played in 127 games throughout his career, recording 51 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and 344 total tackles.

Despite his retirement, Golden’s ties to Arizona remain strong. The University of Missouri alum attended the Cardinals-Rams game as an honorary captain.

Golden praised Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck for his performance during Sunday’s game.

“I always believed in him (Gardeck) because he came to work every day,” Golden said.

Gardeck led Arizona’s defense on Sunday with three sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble against the Rams.

The Cardinals will host the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium on Sunday.

“They had a very disappointing year, last year … couldn’t have gone much worse. Devin Booker plays a role on this team where he gets so much credit internally from the coaching staff, from his teammates about being the unsung MVP, to quote Steve Kerr,” Legler said on Tuesday during his NBA Today appearance. “That’s got to make Devin Booker feel very good in terms of how he’s viewed as a winner. Kevin Durant was great.

“They’re going to get more than 41 games together with Bradley Beal. I like some of the new pieces they’ve added. I think Phoenix has the most to grab from a team standpoint from those star players who played on the Olympic team.”

Which players from the 2024 USA Basketball team will carry their success into this upcoming NBA season? 🤔 @LegsESPN says to watch out for KD, D-Book and the Suns 👀 pic.twitter.com/xm1CtgcJ2K

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 10, 2024

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr went out of his way to name Booker the “unsung MVP” during his press conference after the team defeated France to win gold in Paris.

During the Summer Olympics, Durant averaged 13.8 points on 54% shooting from the field, while Booker averaged 11.7 points on 56.8% shooting.

Booker started all six games and shot 56.5% (13-for-23) from 3, the fifth-best percentage from long range in USA Basketball Olympic history.

Durant came off the bench for the Americans until the Olympic gold medal game against France to help Team USA secure the gold. He had strained his left calf in April, causing him to miss a series of five Olympic exhibition matches before heading to Paris.

“I think Phoenix has the most to grab of those star players that played on the Olympic team,” Legler said of the Suns’ disappointing 49-win team from last season.

The Suns were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Following the early playoff exit, the team fired then-coach Frank Vogel and replaced him with two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer.

Booker and Durant were tied for the fifth most points per game in 2023-24 with 27.1.

In their second-to-last possession of the third quarter, the Mercury turned the ball over on their third shot-clock violation of the game. Phoenix scored just six points during the quarter, making it one of their worst this season.

“We haven’t played very well. I don’t think we are hiding from that,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said.

After the first quarter, the Mercury trailed the Sun by five points.

Connecticut extended their lead after the second half with a 20-0 run during the third quarter.

DeWanna Bonner, a forward for the Sun, had seven points during the third and finished the game with 14 points. Bonner played for 10 seasons with Phoenix before being traded to Connecticut in 2020.

Phoenix center Brittney Griner was the team’s top scorer on Friday, totaling 26 points.

One of the latest Mercury signees, Celeste Taylor, ended the contest with four rebounds and two blocks. Taylor replaced Kahleah Copper in the starting lineup for Friday’s game.

Copper, the Mercury’s leading scorer this season, was absent due to a back injury.

“We don’t think it’s anything serious,” Tibbetts said.

The 6-foot-1 small forward’s absence was apparent as the Mercury continued to struggle offensively.

Mercury guards Rebecca Allen (hamstring) and Charisma Osborne (leg) were also missing from the game due to injuries.

Tibbetts spotlighted forced turnovers, points off turnovers and defensive rebounds as the team’s biggest struggles on the court.

“It’s going to be about our approach, our physicality and slowing down and being organized,” Tibbetts said.

The Mercury had seven turnovers by the end of Friday’s loss. The team’s last regular season game will take place on Thursday at Footprint Center before the WNBA playoffs begin on Sept. 22.

Phoenix (17-20) is ranked seventh in the WNBA playoff seedings and Connecticut is ranked third (26-10).

Game 3 Threads ‼️👀#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/V6XMuGVehF

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 11, 2024

The Sun Devils will wear white and gold uniforms during Thursday’s game in San Marcos, Texas.

The white jerseys feature maroon squad numbers outlined in gold. The numbers are stitched on the shoulders of the sleeves as well. Arizona’s state flag is printed on the sides of the uniform in a sheer gray shade, with the sun rays beaming out just below the upper arms.

The jerseys are paired with gold pants. The pants have a large pitchfork on the right thigh and the Adidas logo on the left upper hip.

As for the matching gold helmets, Sparky decals are notably missing from the equipment after it was featured boldly last week.

Instead, a maroon pitchfork is printed on the sides of the helmet, adjacent to a maroon stripe that runs from the front to the back of the headgear.

The Bobcats (2-0) could turn out to be the Sun Devils’ (2-0) toughest competition so far this season.

The Texas State team will wear a more muted look for Thursday’s game. The Bobcats’ jerseys are black, with the school name and player numbers threaded in dark red and outlined in gold.

𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝟑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐒🌵#PackTheWack #TakeBackTexas pic.twitter.com/wX9mK5As9z

— Texas State Football (@TXSTATEFOOTBALL) September 11, 2024

The team helmet also features the Bobcats’ signature gold, which is dimmer and more metallic than the Sun Devils’ traditional yellowy gold shade. A black stripe and two burgundy stripes run from the front to the back of the helmet.

Arizona football fans may recognize Texas State’s helmets, which looks similar to the Wildcats’ alternate headgear that will debut this year.

Both helmets have three team-colored stripes printed from the front to the back. Arizona and Texas State each feature ‘Cats’, a shortened name for the team mascots, printed in cursive font on the left and right sides of the gear.

“Both organizations are deeply rooted in this community and committed to making a positive impact,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said in an announcement.

Desert Financial also holds the naming rights for Arizona State University’s Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, home of the Sun Devil basketball teams.

The deal with the Cardinals includes terms like the Desert Financial logo being displayed on the Cardinals’ practice jerseys and more.

Other pieces to the Cardinals’ partnership with Desert Financial Credit Union

• The local credit union is now the presenting partner of the Arizona Cardinals training camp and plans to enhance the fan experience for future seasons.
• DFCU will provide annual financial literacy education for members of the Cardinals organization and community partners.
• The company will become the exclusive provider of newly designed Cardinals-branded debit cards that will provide fans with benefits and deals at State Farm Stadium.
• Desert Financial will continue its community initiatives and charitable programs with the team, such as the annual “Civics Matters Arizona” program, which provides an all-expenses-paid, four-day trip to Washington, D.C. for more than 250 Arizona high school students to learn about civic engagement. The company will also add financial literacy to the program’s curriculum.

Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin doesn’t doubt Marvin Harrison Jr.’s talent but believes the rookie needs time to develop following his underwhelming NFL debut.

Harrison had one catch for four yards on three targets during the team’s season-opening loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

“When you have a guy (Harrison) that talented, you have to move him around and find ways to get the ball in his hands to make him comfortable early on and find that rapport with the quarterback,” Boldin said when he joined Wolf & Luke on Tuesday.

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Boldin had a different first-game experience when he entered the league.

On Sept. 7, 2003, Boldin made his NFL debut with the Cardinals and finished the game with 10 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

“I had the opportunity to come in right away and show the team what I was able to do,” Boldin said of his rookie season.

The 14-year NFL veteran emphasized the importance of wide receivers building relationships with their quarterbacks by working and going through reps together before games.

Harrison’s only preseason appearance was on Aug. 10 during the Cardinals’ game against the New Orleans Saints, where he played a total of three snaps. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray did not play during the preseason.

Boldin said playing everyone in the preseason is a “necessary evil” that coaches must do to help players get a feel for the game. When reflecting on his NFL career, Boldin explained how training camp and the preseason allowed him to perfect his timing.

“It’s tough to simulate what the game is going to be like if you don’t play in the preseason,” Boldin said.

Harrison began his first professional game with high expectations from Cardinals fans and team officials who predicted the Ohio State alum would produce immediately.

Boldin noted that social media has added immense pressure to young players and believes it will intensify for Harrison ahead of the Cardinals’ home opener on Sunday against the team’s NFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Rams.

“I’m sure every time he picks up his phone, he’s going to hear about it,” Boldin said.

Each year, the Roberto Clemente Award recognizes players across Major League Baseball for their philanthropy and positive impacts within their communities.

Sewald and his wife, Molly, partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Child Crisis Arizona to raise money for children across Arizona and provide them with a safe environment.

The pitcher and his wife pledged to donate $1,000 to Child Crisis Arizona for every strikeout this season and have personally contributed $80,000 so far. The Diamondbacks Foundation agreed to match the Sewald family’s donations.

“I am honored to be named the Diamondbacks nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. A man who put his own safety at risk to help those in crisis and a true humanitarian,” Sewald tweeted to his X account.

He began Sewald’s Strikeouts 4 Kids in 2022 while playing for the Seattle Mariners and continued the initiative after his trade to Arizona.

Former D-backs pitcher Curt Schilling won the award in 2001 for his charitable donations toward combating ALS. No D-backs player has won the award since Schilling.

Fans can vote for which player they want to see win this year’s award. Voting opened on Monday and will stay open until the end of the regular season on Sept. 29.

The Cardinals franchise has continued to grow steadily, with the team increasing its value by 13% this year. Last season, the Cardinals were valued at $3.8 billion. Team owner Michael Bidwill is the third generation in his family to own the franchise, making the Cardinals the oldest continuously run professional football franchise in the NFL.

78.5% of Arizona’s franchise valuation comes from the league’s shared revenue, such as national television media rights deals.

As for local media rights deals, the Cardinals announced a multi-year partnership with Arizona Family in June, making the television station the team’s official television partner.

Only 9.7% of the team’s net worth comes from the market, and 4.6% comes from the brand. A team’s market value is attributed to its city and local market.

The Dallas Cowboys continue to reign as the highest-valued team in the NFL, with an estimated worth of $10.1 billion. The Cowboys have become the first NFL team to surpass $10 billion in value.

The Cincinnati Bengals are the least-valued team in the league, with an estimated value of $4.1 billion.

The Arizona Cardinals will play their first game of the 2024 season against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.

Katherine Fitzgerald, the Bills beat reporter for the Buffalo News, gave us three things to know about the Bills when she joined Bickley & Marotta on Thursday.

“This fan base is so hungry for a Super Bowl,” Fitzgerald said on what the Bills Mafia expects of head coach Sean McDermott this year. 

In the meantime, the Cardinals will head to Buffalo to kick off their Week 1 season opener.

No more Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis for the Bills

With wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis no longer on the Bills roster, the team must work with a new group of WRs. 

“There’s only one wide receiver (Khalil Shakir) on this roster who has caught a pass in a game from Josh Allen,” Fitzgerald said on concerns for the team. 

In August, the Bills had 15 players dealing with injuries, including offensive players like WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck) and backup QB Mitch Trubisky (knee). Brandon Beane, the Bills’ general manager, wished the team had more time to practice together during the offseason.

However, it’s not all bad for the Bills offense. Rookie WR Keon Coleman, who was selected 33rd overall by Buffalo in the 2024 NFL Draft, is anticipated to replace Diggs. The Florida State alum caught 50 passes for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns last year during his final college season.

Defensive concerns for the Bills

For the first time in eight years, the Bills are without Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, the team’s top safety duo. Instead, Buffalo will rely on Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin, the starting safeties for Sunday’s game.

Hamlin will start his first game since suffering cardiac arrest during the Bills’ matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023. During the 2022 season, Hamlin was a starter for the team, replacing Hyde, who was out with a neck injury. Last season, Hamlin had a backup and special teams role on the Bills roster and appeared in five games.

Rapp and Hamlin had limited time to practice together due to Hamlin’s hamstring injury, which he struggled with during the offseason.

Josh Allen’s offense

Don’t expect too many changes to the Bills’ offensive style of play this year, as Fitzgerald noted you’d “lose some of the magnificent plays [Allen’s] able to do” if the Bills were to make changes to their offensive strategy. 

Instead, Fitzgerald is most interested in how Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady will perform during his first full season as the team’s OC. Brady was named Buffalo’s interim OC in November 2023 before being promoted to full-time in January 2024. 

Sal Maiorana, a reporter for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, explained how Brady worked to assemble the offense during the Bills training camp in July.

When Brady took over in mid-November, he was essentially married to Dorsey’s offense and was only able to tweak a few things here and there. Now, with an entire offseason under his belt, Brady is crafting his own scheme – with major input from Allen regarding what he thinks will and won’t work – and it is being implemented during training camp at St. John Fisher University.

According to Brady, “everybody eats” on his offense. The OC has been working to get each player involved in different ways on the field, like wideout Curtis Samuel, who Brady cites as an adaptable player able to take on various roles.

In 2020, when Samuel played for the Carolina Panthers, Brady was the team’s OC. That season, under Brady’s guidance, Samuel had 77 receptions, 851 receiving yards, 41 carries and 200 rushing yards— a career-best for the 29- year-old.

Taylor signed her third and final seven-day contract with the Mercury on Aug. 30. She’s appeared in 10 games so far for Phoenix, averaging 2.7 points and 1.0 assists in 12.2 minutes per game.

“This is a place that took a chance on me and believed in me, all the way through the line from the players to the staff to the front office,” Taylor told Desert Wave Media reporters during a postgame press conference on Thursday.

Taylor has received support from her new teammates, including Mercury guard Natasha Cloud. “She’s Celeste Taylor. That’s all her,” Cloud tweeted to her X account during Phoenix’s victory against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night. The win led to the team clinching a spot in the WNBA playoffs.

The team signed Australian Olympian Amy Atwell to a seven-day contract on Thursday morning. Later that evening, the 6-foot guard played her first game for Phoenix during the team’s 90-77 loss to the Washington Mystics.

Atwell’s contract will expire on Sept. 12 at midnight.

The Mercury are on the road for their next game against the Seattle Storm on Saturday.

She returns to the team after practicing with the Mercury during the team’s 2024 training camp in late April.

Atwell recently won bronze with the Australian Opals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She made that roster as a replacement for Mercury forward Rebecca Allen, who was set to compete for Australia before aggravating a hamstring injury during practice.

Atwell was selected 27th overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2022 WNBA Draft out of Hawaii and appeared in four games during her rookie season.

According to WNBA rules, players can only sign three or fewer seven-day contracts with the same team in one season.

The Mercury recently signed guard Celeste Taylor to her third and final seven-day contract. Taylor had four rebounds and two assists during the Mercury’s 74-66 win against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night, which led to Phoenix clinching a spot in the playoffs.

Atwell joins as the Mercury prepare to face the Washington Mystics at Footprint Center on Thursday night.

Allen (hamstring) and guard Charisma Osborne (lower leg) are out for Thursday’s game.

The 2023 NL Rookie of the Year has been on a hot streak with a 1.042 OPS, 24 RBIs and 30 runs scored throughout August.

Carroll set a franchise record for the D-backs after reaching base in 41 consecutive starts.

“When he (Carroll) gets on base, something good is going to happen,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo told reporters on Monday afternoon following Arizona’s loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Carroll had 11 home runs for the month of August, trailing just Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who were tied for 12. Judge won AL Player of the Month.

Carroll also ranks sixth in the league with 102 total runs scored.

On Thursday night, Carroll hit a game-winning grand slam to help Arizona defeat the New York Mets 8-5. The team is leading all of baseball in grand slams, hitting 10 so far this season.

The D-backs lost three of four games to the Dodgers, hurting their chances of winning the NL West. Following the loss, Arizona dropped to second in the NL Wild Card standings behind the San Diego Padres.

The Diamondbacks are on the road for their next game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.

Cloud, who is currently averaging 11.6 points and 6.8 assists per game, will miss Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Dream.

As per the WNBA rules, coaches and players are automatically suspended without pay for one game after receiving seven technical fouls. Following the suspension, the coach or player must sit out another game for every two technical fouls amassed.

The Mercury are still missing key players due to injuries. Forward Rebecca Allen (hamstring) and guard Charisma Osborne (lower leg) continue to sit out games. To help combat a depleted roster, the Mercury recently signed WNBA rookie Celeste Taylor to a seven-day contract.

Taylor will compete for Phoenix during their next game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night at Footprint Center.

Mercury guard Diana Taurasi also received her seventh technical foul during Sunday’s game, but the call was rescinded upon league review, making Taurasi eligible to play against the Dream. The WNBA vet has previously received single-game bans for technical fouls on two separate occasions during the 2016 and 2018 regular seasons. In 2013, Taurasi received nine technical fouls, causing her to miss two games.

The Mercury currently lead the league with 32 technical fouls, the all-time single-season record for team technicals.

Phoenix guard Kahleah Copper received a technical while playing against the Aces. Copper, Phoenix’s lead scorer, now has six technical fouls.

During Phoenix’s match against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night, Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham was ejected from the game after receiving two back-to-back technicals.

The Mercury are on a three-game losing streak, but the team is still contending for one of the three remaining playoff spots.

The top eight out of 12 teams will make the postseason. Phoenix (16-17) is currently ranked seventh behind the Indiana Fever (17-16), who are looking to make their first playoff appearance since 2016.

The Mercury missed last year’s WNBA playoffs and finished last in the league.

There are seven games left before the WNBA playoffs begin on Sept. 22.

Those looking to try out can not be considered prospects, international players or players who have been eligible for and participated in an NBA Draft. The team will only accept tryouts from players who are former NBA Draft picks, NBA Summer League participants from 2023 or 2024, Division I All-Americans, Division I All-Conference performers and former 2024 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament attendees.

Applicants must pay a $300 fee to participate and can sign up at thevalleysuns.com/tryouts.

The Valley Suns began building their roster in June of this year after acquiring the rights of 14 players in the G League expansion draft. The team has the rights to these players, but that does not guarantee that they will play for the Valley Suns during the upcoming season.

Suns two-way players Jalen Bridges, Collin Gillespie and TyTy Washington Jr. will likely play for the Valley Suns.

On July 4, the Suns signed Bridges, a forward, to a two-way contract just days before the NBA Summer League began. Bridges averaged 10.8 points and 1.2 steals per game during Summer League.

The Valley Suns recently hired John Little, a former assistant coach for Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, as head coach.

The 2024-25 G League season will begin on Nov. 8.