Basketball

The outside world was super critical of Chennedy Carter, but the home fans have her back ... and that was crystal clear in the Sky's return to Chicago, where CC received a rousing ovation in her first game since the controversy!

Carter and the Sky played against the New York Liberty on Tuesday at home -- their first game since Chennedy's body check of Caitlin Clark during last weekend's matchup.

It seems the Sky fans didn't care about the play, which was called dirty by many ... 'cause when she checked into the game, they cheered her on in a big way.

A trio of "Jeopardy!" contestants clearly needed to brush up on their sports knowledge prior to appearing on the game show Tuesday night ... 'cause they missed on some serious softballs, including one that simply asked them to identify NBA superstar Russell Westbrook.

The category that the three hilariously botched was titled "21st CENTURY SPORTS" ... and it became very clear quickly why it was the last subject the contestants took on in the first round of the contest.

In one of the first clues, host Ken Jennings asked the three which MLB team won the 2008 World Series. It offered up hints that the squad featured superstars like Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard.

11:30 AM PT -- The WNBA just announced one of Reese's technical fouls has been rescinded ... which means she'll at least save a bit of money, as the league penalizes players for each tech.

Angel Reese was not on the floor for the last couple minutes of the Sky's game Tuesday night ... and it's all 'cause a ref booted her from the action for bickering over a call.

The Chicago star's spat with the game official happened with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter of the Sky's tilt with the New York Liberty at Wintrust Arena.

The 22-year-old was whistled for a personal foul ... and she made it clear immediately she didn't agree with the call. She appeared to hurl some words at the ref -- before waving him off in disgust. However, after she made the motion with her hand, the official quickly called her for two technical fouls, and threw her out of the game.

If Caitlin Clark's teammates won't protect her from cheap shots on the court, Angel McCoughtry will ... saying she's down to sign with the Indiana Fever in a return to the league where she starred for years!

37-year-old McCoughtry joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) ... days after Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter's body check of Clark sparked a conversation around the basketball world.

Angel believes it's time for Caitlin (and all teammates across the WNBA) to protect each other.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese may not be the best of friends, but their careers will forever be tied to each other's ... so says Jemele Hill, who sees early comparisons to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird!!

The Atlantic reporter joined Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing situation between CC and AR ... and she believes both stars need each other -- comparing it to the Lakers and Celtics legends' on-court battles during their respective playing days.

"Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had the most watched men's national championship game in history," Hill said. "They had a rivalry from that game and they brought all that with them to the NBA."

Everything seems to be A-OK with Pat McAfee and Caitlin Clark following his controversial "white bitch" comment -- the ESPN personality said Tuesday the WNBA star has accepted his apology for the remark.

The former NFL player said on the "Pat McAfee Show" he reached out to Clark and the Indiana Fever as soon as he realized he had set the internet on fire with his statement.

He said a short time after he extended the olive branch, the team messaged him back and said they were "all good."

A man who attended a recent comic convention in China wore a Kobe Bryant helicopter crash costume to the event ... and, as you can imagine, it's sparked a ton of outrage here in the States.

The unidentified person created the crass and offensive ensemble for the festival in Hangzhou ... using plastic bottles, cardboard and a No. 24 Bryant Lakers uniform for the piece. He also capped it off with a Kobe Bryant mask.

Somehow, as he walked through the venue with it all strapped to his person ... other attendees seemed OK with it.

Legendary sports announcer Bob Costas is calling out the hypocrisy within the WNBA ... saying fans are choosing when to be outraged based on race -- pointing to a "Black on Black" incident involving Angel Reese to make his case.

A hard foul on Caitlin Clark resulted in a ton of backlash toward Chicago Sky player Chennedy Carter over the weekend ... with many claiming opponents are going too hard on the rookie sensation.

Costas says that energy was nowhere to be found for Reese earlier this season ... when Connecticut Sun player Alyssa Thomas grabbed her by the neck and pulled her to the court, resulting in a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection.

Angel Reese wants people to put respect on her name ... the star Chicago Sky rookie feels she deserves credit for making the WNBA popular now, not just Caitlin Clark!

Reese's remarks come just days after her first game against Clark -- which definitely wasn't without controversy -- as Angel's teammate Chennedy Carter took a cheap shot at the number one overall pick, resulting in a flagrant foul, and a bunch of criticism.

The ire wasn't only directed at Carter ... Reese also got her fair share for her reaction to the hard foul. She was asked about what happened during Saturday's game.

1:21 PM PT -- Pat McAfee is addressing the criticism ... saying he shouldn't have used the phrase when describing Caitlin Clark -- and he personally sent her an apology for his mistake.

"No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening," PM said on X. "I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe."

He added ... "My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize."

Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon just condemned Chennedy Carter for her controversial foul on Caitlin Clark ... calling the shooting guard's actions unnecessary.

The Sky honcho made the comments in a statement on Monday afternoon ... admitting the body check that Carter laid on Clark during their game Saturday was "not appropriate."

"Nor is it what we do or who we are," she added.

NBA legend Alonzo Mourning underwent surgery to have his prostate removed recently ... revealing he was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer.

The Hall of Fame center opened up on the procedure he had back in March ... explaining he was forced to take action following a routine prostate cancer screening that showed a rise in his PSA scores.

A second appointment confirmed Mourning had a Gleason score of eight ... which is a high grade of prostate cancer.

Cam'ron just returned fire after Anthony Edwards called out the New York rapper in his latest Adidas commercial ... going OFF on the Timberwolves superstar in a scathing freestyle.

The 22-year-old guard -- who signed with Adidas after turning pro -- released an ad shortly after Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs last week ... where he clapped back at the people who criticized him by sharing, quite literally, receipts.

One of the naysayers mentioned was Cam'ron ... who said on his "It Is What It Is" podcast that Edwards wasn't a superstar yet.

Seems Karl-Anthony Towns is hoping a little retail therapy will help him get over the Timberwolves' Western Conference finals loss ... 'cause the Minnesota star was seen going on a shopping spree Sunday -- one in which he appeared to buy loads of luxury items.

The four-time NBA All-Star hit Topanga Mall in the Los Angeles area to apparently find comfort in his credit card ... just a couple days after the Dallas Mavericks unceremoniously ended his season.

KAT's longtime girlfriend, Jordyn Woods, joined him for the excursion ... and it's clear the two spent some big bucks as they officially kicked off the basketball player's offseason.

Angel Reese has been fined by the WNBA after the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever ... but, it's not for what most fans might think.

The league announced a fine for the rookie for skipping media obligations postgame ... dinging her $1,000 for not making herself available to reporters. They've also fined the Sky $5k.

Of course, Angel clearly applauded a cheap shot foul her teammate Chennedy Carter hit Clark with during the game Saturday, and some may have thought the league would reprimand her for that ... but, so far, that's not the case.

Look out, future athletes -- WNBA star Brittney Griner says her baby on the way will 100% be involved in sports ... telling TMZ Sports it's a no-brainer!!

The Phoenix Mercury center has been a basketball star her whole life ... from recording 52 dunks her high school senior year to winning a title at Baylor in 2012 and earning a WNBA championship two years later.

Now that Griner and her wife, Cherelle, announced they're expanding their family ... we had to ask if the kiddo will follow in her footsteps and grow up with a ball in his hands.