The LPGA is bringing star power to Florida this week, as a wealth of women's golf talent — and one basketball superstar — tee off at the 2025 edition of The ANNIKA.
Kicking off the event on Wednesday was the annual Pro-Am, with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark headlining the field for the second straight year.
World No. 2 golfer Nelly Korda once again joined Clark through her first nine holes, as Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull served as guest caddies.
The four-day professional tournament will then tee off on Thursday, though current world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul will not be in attendance for the second year in a row.
Korda, however, will lead the charge to both defend her 2024 title and secure her first win of the 2025 LPGA season — as well as add to her full trio of trophies collected at The ANNIKA.
Four other Top-10 players will look to upend Korda's back-to-back bid, including No. 3 Miyu Yamashita, No. 6 Charley Hull, No. 9 Mao Saigo, and No. 10 Lottie Woad.
With the 2025 CMA Group Tour Championship capping the LPGA season later this month, The ANNIKA will also see golfers on the bubble — like US stars Rose Zhang and 2023 champion Lilia Vu — try to snag enough points to make the end-of-year tournament's final 60-player cut.
How to watch The ANNIKA 2025 LPGA tournament
Coverage of the fifth edition of The ANNIKA continues through Sunday, airing live on the Golf Channel.
Five WNBA stars became cover stars this week, as Glamour Magazine named Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull, Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally, and New York Liberty centers Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally as the 2025 Women of the Year on Monday.
In the feature story, the players discussed the ongoing CBA negotiations, how they manage the WNBA's booming popularity, and other key issues.
"This is the best women's league in the world for a reason," said Jones. "The best athletes and the best competition, and people are seeing that now… It's time that we're paid like that."
Though the interview occurred weeks before her now-viral exit interview calling out WNBA leadership, Collier was already pointing out the disparities between player success and compensation.
"The amount of money that Caitlin Clark has made the league is insane, and she's getting 0% of it because we have no rev share," Collier said in her Glamour interview. "She gets less than $80,000 a year, and she's bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars. It's insane."
Hull also made waves, speaking to Clark's popularity with the Fever going on to battle injury adversity all the way to the 2025 WNBA semifinals.
"I think there is a level of jealousy when it comes to the Fever, just because of the media attention and the fans that have shown up for us ever since Caitlin got here," she told the magazine. "We've heard people and players and teams talking in their locker room about, 'We can’t let the Fever win.'"
The basketball world didn't hold back on Tuesday, with many of the sport's biggest names voicing support for Napheesa Collier after the Lynx star publicly criticized WNBA leadership in a now-viral press conference.
"I'm grateful to have those type of people to be able to continue to speak up for us," four-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson told reporters after her Las Vegas Aces' Game 5 semifinal win. "I'm going to ride with Phee always…. Moving forward, we've gotta continue to stand on business as we talk about this CBA negotiation."
"I agree with everything," said Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull prior to Tuesday's playoff decider. "We're at a really important time in the league and changes need to be made… really proud of [Collier] for making that statement today."
"It's the care for the human part for me. I'm still not sure if [WNBA commissioner] Cathy [Engelbert] knows I retired. Heard from everyone but her," two-time league MVP Elena Delle Donne wrote on Instagram.
"10/10. No notes!" tweeted Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, while 2025 Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers posted a photo of her and Collier to Instagram marked with the caption "Queen Phee."
The WNBA Players Association also spoke out, releasing a statement backing Collier as a longtime union leader.
"When Phee speaks, people listen," the WNBPA wrote. "The leaders of the league and its teams would benefit from listening to her powerful statement. The players know their value even if the league does not."
"They are fighting for their legacy and the future of basketball."
No. 6 Indiana is banking on home court advantage, as the underdogs tip off Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA semifinals against the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces on Friday night — with the short-staffed Fever looking to avenge the Game 2 loss that pulled the series level 1-1.
"We're excited," Fever guard Lexie Hull said prior to Friday's clash. "Just to be able to have two more [home games] for our fans that have been there with us all season, really excited for that, and we definitely do feed off of their energy."
Indiana will need the crowd to be their metaphorical sixth man this weekend, as they continue to navigate a hefty injury list and an up-and-down record.
Hull herself remains questionable with a lingering back issue, playing through discomfort in light of Indiana's tight roster constraints.
"I'm feeling sore still, but I think just a lot of treatment, trying to get our bodies as ready as we can be," she said. "I think for everyone, is it's the end of the season, everyone's a little fatigued and a little sore."
How to watch Las Vegas vs. Indiana in the 2025 WNBA semifinals
The No. 6 Indiana Fever will host the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces for both of their 2025 WNBA semifinals clashes this weekend, first tipping off Game 3 at 7:30 PM ET on Friday on ESPN2.
Game 4 will follow at 3 PM ET on Sunday, with live coverage on ABC.
Team Clark will tip off the 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend without its namesake captain, after superstar Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark announced she'll be sitting out of both the 3-Point Contest and the All-Star Game due to a lingering groin injury.
"I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I'm looking forward to helping Sandy [Brondello] coach our team to a win," Clark said in a statement.
In lieu of Clark as well as the previously injured Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally, Team Clark added both Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes and Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones to Saturday's roster.
Meanwhile, Clark's fellow Fever guard Lexie Hull will take over her spot in Friday's 3-Point Contest.
The availability of another starter on the Indiana star's All-Star squad is currently up in the air, as a recent knock to the wrist has Las Vega Aces icon and reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson's status listed as "to be determined."
As of Friday morning, there is no announcement for a replacement player should Wilson be unavailable on Saturday.
Roster shifts won't distract Team Clark
Despite the roster shakeups, Team Clark still boasts serious talent.
Along with Wilson, assuming she is playing, Saturday's tip-off will feature Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever) and Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), with Brondello set to name the team's two additional starters.
Team Clark's deep pool of reserves include Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm), Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics), Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics), Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces), Kayla Thornton (Golden State Valkyries), as well as the aforementioned Sykes and Jones.
Liberty boss Brondello will lead Clark's side, with the 2024 WNBA champion coach anticipating a little intra-team strife back in New York.
"I'm going to trap [Ionescu]," Team Collier forward — and Liberty star — Breanna Stewart joked earlier this week. "Full-court press on Sab [Ionescu] in the All-Star Game."
Though injuries are taking their toll, it would be unwise to count out a roster as young and hungry as Team Clark this weekend.
How to watch Team Clark at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game
Team Collier and Team Clark will square off in the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis at 8:30 PM ET on Saturday.
Live coverage of the game will air on ABC.
The Indiana Fever sent shockwaves through the WNBA draft with the No. 6 overall pick, selecting Lexie Hull out of Stanford.
Wheels up to Indiana! ✈️@lexiehulll has been selected as the number 6 pick in the 2022 #WNBADraft. pic.twitter.com/ArJIZfKcdG
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) April 11, 2022
While there hadn’t been a consensus pick at No. 6, many draft prognosticators did not have Hull going in the first round.
Hull was a major piece of the Cardinal for the last four seasons, helping lead Stanford to one national championship, two Final Fours, two Pac-12 regular season championships and three Pac-12 Tournament championships.
She had a great season from beyond the arc, making 38.6 percent of her attempts from 3-point range and pulling down 5.4 rebounds per game.
It’s not the first time the Fever have made a surprise pick in the draft. Last year they selected Kysre Gondrezick with the fourth overall pick in 2021. Gondrezick was later waived by the team and has since been picked up by the Chicago Sky.
Stanford is headed back to the Final Four, with the No. 1 seed and reigning national champion securing a 59-50 win over the No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns.
It was a rematch between the two teams following a November contest in which the Longhorns spoiled Stanford’s ring night celebration of last season’s title. In that game, a fourth-quarter comeback led Texas to a 61-56 win.
A similar story played out Sunday night, as the Cardinal took a five-point lead into the fourth. Texas cut the lead down to two before Lexie Hull was fouled and converted the three-point play. Stanford never looked back.
“It was a big play, no doubt about it,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said.
This marks the second straight year that the Longhorns have been eliminated in the Elite Eight.
Lexie Hull had 20 points for the Cardinal while sister Lacie contributed five rebounds and four assists. Afterward, Lexie Hull called it a “gritty” win.
“I’m just super proud of our team for staying with it, sticking with each other and being gritty,” Hull said. “I think it really comes down to who was the grittier team.”
Playing in their hometown of Spokane, the Hull sisters were the last to cut down the nets in the postgame celebration.
“I just remember after the game looking out and in pretty much every section of the gym, I knew somebody,” Lexie Hull continued. “It was super special. Tara told us at the end of our game in Spokane that if we [won in] Spokane, Lacie and I would get the nets. So we were really excited to have that opportunity tonight and really felt the love and support from everyone.”
As part of a full team effort by the Cardinal, Haley Jones added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double. Cameron Brink scored 10 points in the third quarter after sitting most of the first half in foul trouble. Francesca Belibi contributed 11 rebounds before fouling out.
Joanne Allen-Taylor had 15 points for Texas before fouling out. Rori Harmon added 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Turnovers were an issue for Stanford. The Cardinal gave the ball away 20 times, including 11 in the second half. But the Longhorns didn’t capitalize, scoring just 15 points off the turnovers. Texas also struggled with free throws, making just 11 of 20.
“When you’re going to play in these games, y’all, you’ve got to make free throws, and we’ve done that until today,” Schaefer said.
Following the win, the Cardinal danced in celebration.
Still dancing 💃💃💃#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/J5RZPqk5Sn
— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) March 28, 2022
“I think it just loosened people up and showed them that I had confidence in them,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “And they know I can’t dance so they’re watching me and laughing, so it was all good.”
Stanford took down Kansas 91-65 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday behind a career-high performance from senior Lexie Hull.
The defending NCAA champions have now won 22-straight games en route to the Sweet 16.
Ahead by just two points at the half, the Cardinal came out swinging in the third quarter, outscoring the Jayhawks 32-15. They extended their lead in the fourth, scoring 26 points to Kansas’ 19. Stanford’s largest lead was 34 points with six minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Hull, a prospect in the upcoming WNBA Draft, scored 36 points on six 3-pointers and added six rebounds and six steals. It was the highest-scoring performance by a Stanford player in the NCAA Tournament since Nneka Ogwumike had 39 against South Carolina in the 2012 Sweet 16.
“Lexie put our team on her back and just said, ‘We’re going to Spokane. I’m going to do whatever I need to do.’ And she did,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said of Hull, who was playing in her last game at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion.
Absolute masterclass 📚@StanfordWBB pic.twitter.com/DRmHXvXtIO
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) March 21, 2022
“I think it’s just I really wanted it,” Hull said of her performance. “In the back of my head I was like, ‘All right, I want to play in Spokane. My entire body wants to play in Spokane.’ Just our team, we really kept the ball moving, found the hot hand and ran with it the rest of the game.”
Sophomore forward Cameron Brink added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Hannah Jump had nine points to lead the Cardinal bench, which combined for 25 points total. Overall, Stanford shot 56.7 percent to Kansas’ 44.8 percent.
Zakiyah Franklin led Kansas with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. Ioanna Chatzileonti was the only other Jayhawks player in double digits, with 11 points.
“They were incredible in the third quarter. Lexie just went into takeover mode,” Kansas coach Brandon Schneider said. “As elite an offensive performance as I’ve witnessed in person, in the manner in which she scored in every way possible.”