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SPORTS Friday 20 September 2024
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese change the WNBA’s landscape,

and its future

By MICHAEL MAROT every single team that’s
AP Sports Writer going to be in the playoffs.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Year Obviously, the only team
1 of the Clark & Reese Show we didn’t beat this year
has been unlike anything was the (Las Vegas) Aces
the WNBA has ever seen. and the only way we would
Sure, this season’s final see them, I think, would be
chapter is still unscripted in the Finals.”
with the playoffs set to Reese was equally efficient,
start Sunday. But the rook- perhaps more proficient, in
ie seasons and attention her impressive season.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Re- The Chicago rookie for-
ese have had makes the ward established new
league’s outlook extremely league marks for single-
bright beyond this postsea- season rebounds (446), of-
son. fensive rebounds (172) and
Sold out arenas became overall rebounding aver-
the norm. Soaring televi- age (13.1). Though Reese
sion ratings helped expand didn’t hold the single-sea-
the fan base. Clark, Reese, son rebound record long
the presumptive league because Wilson broke it
MVP A’ja Wilson and oth- while Reese was sidelined
ers continually chased with a season-ending injury.
record-breaking statistics. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) celebrates after a three-point basket against the Dallas Reese did become the
And routine conversations Wings in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. first rookie with an All-Star
and social media posts Associated Press Game double-double, and
spurred sometimes heated very high level and the in- ued into the pros and has season records for assists she became the first WNBA
debates about everything terest has been, too.” elevated the profile of ev- (329) while becoming the player to record back-to-
from basketball to culture. It’s impossible to ignore how eryone around the league. first rookie to ever post a back games of 20 or more
“Watching the basketball much the sport has evolved And as much as everyone triple-double. Now, she be- rebounds while her 24
that’s been played this sea- since Clark, Reese and ar- attempted to manage the lieves a title run is possible double-doubles broke the
son and the talent that’s guably the best rookie class lofty expectations, Clark in the playoffs. “Once we league’s rookie record.
been on the floor across in league history arrived in and Reese, in particular, get there, I think it’ll feel a The only real disappoint-
the league, it’s been phe- April. The timing for the exceeded them. little more real and, obvi- ment has been the wrist
nomenal,” Chicago Sky league was perfect, too. The Indiana Fever guard’s ously, we’re not just happy injury that ended Reese’s
veteran Lindsay Allen said. Clark and Reese brought resume includes rookie to be there,” said Clark, season after 34 games, an
“The two rookies, Caitlin the swagger, confidence records for scoring (761), who helped Indiana end absence that could keep
and Angel Angel has been and passion they exuded 3-pointers (120) and All- the second-longest playoff the Sky out of the play-
huge for us and has been in a rivalry that captivated Star Game assists (10). She drought in league history at offs and possibly throw a
setting records. The bas- college basketball fans. broke the league’s single- seven years. “We really be- wrench into Reese’s Rookie
ketball has been at a very, That momentum contin- game (19) and single- lieve we can compete with of the Year hopes.q

Oldest horse racing track in US is closing. Freehold Raceway

shutting down on Dec .28

FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) — Free- ficult decision, especially of the year and cease live ing, closed in 2001 after 58 in January 2016. The thor-
hold Raceway, the oldest given the historical impor- racing and simulcast op- years of operation. oughbred track had
horse racing track in the tance of Freehold Race- erations on Dec. 28. Atlantic City Race Course opened in 1946.q
United States, is shutting way to the local commu- The main building of the in Mays Landing closed
down at the end of the nity and the New Jersey track was destroyed by a
year. horse racing industry,” track fire in 1984. Using tents, rac-
Track officials made the an- general manager Howard ing continued the next two
nouncement on Thursday Bruno said in a statement. years before a new build-
after a meeting with em- “Unfortunately, the opera- ing opened in 1986.
ployees. tions of the racetrack can- Freehold was acquired in
Horse racing has been not continue under existing 1998 by a joint venture of
conducted at the half-mile conditions, and we do not Penn National Gaming and
track in central New Jersey see a plausible way for- Greenwood Racing, which
since the 1830s. Harness ward. also owns Parx Casino and
racing become the sta- We are incredibly thank- Racing in Bensalem, Penn-
ple when The Monmouth ful for our dedicated em- sylvania.
County Agricultural Society ployees, horsemen and fan Freehold Raceway is the
was formed late 1853, and base for their support and third horse racing track in
it held harness racing the patronage for so many New Jersey to close since
following year at an annual years.” 2001. Garden State Park in Trotters head for the finish line during a horse race at Freehold
fair at Freehold Raceway. Bruno said the track will Cherry Hill, which held thor- Raceway in Freehold, N.J., on Oct. 24, 2020.
“This was an extremely dif- continue racing the rest oughbred and harness rac- Associated Press