Last Week around the Leagues

This past week New York City officials approve a 25,000-seat stadium for Major League Soccer's New York City Football Club next to the New York Mets' stadium, Citi Field; the Hershey Bears set an American Hockey League record for most wins in a season with their 52nd; the Oakland Ballers signed Kelsie Whitmore, becoming the first woman to play in the Pioneer League; and Brooklyn FC revealed a "shared identity" for its USL Super League brand. Highlights from this week come from Major League Socce... Full Story

Indiana Fever Select Caitlin Clark with No. 1 Overall Pick in 2024 WNBA Draft

INDIANAPOLIS - With the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever picked University of Iowa guard Caitlin Clark on Monday night. "We are thrilled to add Caitlin Clark to our roster. This is a great day for the Indiana Fever and all of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. l am confident she will have an immediate impact on our team and the league. Any time you can add two consecutive No. 1 draft selections, it creates enormous interest and visibility," Fever General Manager Lin Dunn said. The 6-foot guard from West Des Moines, Iowa comes to Indiana after finishing her ti... Full Story

Comets Advance to Conference Finals

Utica, NY - The Comets (2-0-0) entered the Adirondack Bank Center on Monday evening looking to become the only team in this season's Playoff Semifinal Round to sweep their series and they used a come-from-behind effort to beat Utica (0-2-0) 7-5 to advance to the Conference Finals against the #4 Seed Milwaukee Wave. With the win tonight, both of the Eastern Conference's top seeds have been eliminated from the playoffs with UCFC joining the Monterrey Flash on the sidelines. As cliche as it sounds, tonight was a tale of two halves as Utica controlled much of the momentum in the first half, tho... Full Story

Thunder Announce 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff Roster

GLENS FALLS - The Adirondack Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils and Utica Comets, have announced that the club has released the roster for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Great Meadow Federal Credit Union, which begins Friday, April 19 at 7 p.m. against the Maine Mariners. The 24-man roster consists of 14 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders: Forwards: (6) Ryan Wheeler, (9) Tristan Ashbrook, (10) Ryan Smith, (11) Shane Harper, (13) Alex Young, (19) Timur Ibragimov**, (20) Andre Ghantous**, (22) Mac Welsher, (27) Travis Broughman, (28) T.J. Friedman... Full Story

• Indiana Fever Select Caitlin Clark with No. 1 Overall Pick in 2024 WNBA Draft - Indiana Fever (WNBA)
• UFL Week 3 Power Rankings: Panthers Make Big Jump; Stallions Remain No. 1 - (UFL)
• Lalonde Grabs First Playoff Win, Spirit Score 7 in Game 3 Victory - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
• Sparks Select Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson and McKenzie Forbes in the 2024 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm - Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
• Donovan scores brace; Union II remain unbeaten - Philadelphia Union II (MLS NEXT Pro)
• Five Second Period Goals Propel Caps to 1-0 Series Lead - Madison Capitols (USHL)
• Comets Advance to Conference Finals - Kansas City Comets (MASL)
• Utica City FC Suffers Season-Ending Loss to Kansas City in Game 2 of Conference Semifinals, 7-5 - Utica City FC (MASL)
• Christian Wolanin & Matt Irwin Help Lead Youngest Team in AHL Toward Playoff Run - Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
• Warriors Convert Usman Garuba to Standard NBA Contract - Santa Cruz Warriors (G League)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• Indiana welcomes Caitlin Clark to the Circle City - WNBA WTHR
• Beloit Sky Carp ready for first six-game series of season at ABC Supply Stadium - MWL Beloit Daily News
• WNBA commissioner says league will pay for charter flights; expansion to 16 teams possible by 2028 - WNBA Portland Oregonian
• Young Komets used 25 rookies, believe future is bright - ECHL Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
• WNBA draft: Chicago Sky select Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese - WNBA Chicago Tribune
• Brahmas QB Chase Garbers Injured, UFL Future Unknown - UFL NewsBreak - San Antonio
• Surviving the grind: United's Nava eager for long-awaited return - USL Albuquerque Journal
• Local Briefs: Steverson to serve as manager for Bristol State Liners - ApL Bristol Herald Courier
• WNBA draft: Sparks select Stanford's Cameron Brink with No. 2 pick, Rickea Jackson at No. 4 - WNBA Los Angeles Daily News
• Steelheads to face Allen in first round, series starts next week - ECHL Idaho Press-Tribune
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• Draw with Birmingham Leaves North Carolina Wanting More by Fran Stuchbury
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury
• Hot Start Continues for Courage in Another Shutout Victory by Fran Stuchbury
• OSC Weekly Live Event Listings by Chris Blackmar
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Inside the UFL by Fran Stuchbury

North Carolina FC takes on Birmingham Legion FC (Fran Stuchbury)

See All Today's Images The following minor league and alternative professional sports teams on OurSports Central have been viewed the most over the last seven days:

1. Corpus Christi Hooks - Texas League (TL)
2. Minnesota Lynx - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
3. Edmonton Elks - Canadian Football League (CFL)
4. Fresno Grizzlies - California League (CalL)
5. Charlotte FC - Major League Soccer (MLS)
6. Colorado Rapids - Major League Soccer (MLS)
7. Saskatchewan Roughriders - Canadian Football League (CFL)
8. Edmonton Oil Kings - Western Hockey League (WHL)
9. South Bend Cubs - Midwest League (MWL)
10. Columbia Fireflies - Carolina League (CarL)

The most recent minor league and alternative professional sports teams added to OurSports Central:

• Athens - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
• Buffalo Pro Soccer - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
• Kansas City Goats - The Arena League (TAL)
• Iowa Woo - The Arena League (TAL)
• Duluth Harbor Monsters - The Arena League (TAL)
• Ozarks Lunkers - The Arena League (TAL)
• The Town FC - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
• Ventura County FC - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
• Watertown Shamrocks - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• San Diego Clippers - NBA G League (G League)

OurSports Central provides coverage of select alternative and minor league professional sports leagues in addition to the top junior hockey leagues and college wood bat baseball leagues:

BASEBALL
Affiliated Minor League Baseball
AzCL, AzFL, CalL, CarL, EL, FLCL, FSL, IL, ML, MLBDL, MWL, NWL, PCL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
ApL, Northwoods
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, Pecos, PL

BASKETBALL
Men's Minor League Basketball
BIG3, CEBL, G League
Women's Basketball
WNBA

FOOTBALL
Indoor/Arena Football
AFL3, IFL, NAL, TAL
Outdoor Football
CFL, UFL

HOCKEY
Junior Hockey
NAHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL
Minor League Hockey
AHL, ECHL, FPHL, SPHL
Women's Hockey
PWHL

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL
Outdoor Lacrosse
PLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR, PVF
Other Women's
NWLS

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
CPL, MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL, USL1
Women's Soccer
NWSL, USLSL