Jeff Linder

The Las Vegas Aces open regular-season play Tuesday — 9 p.m. (CT), ESPN — at home against the Phoenix Mercury, and Kate Martin will be a part of it. She understands her role, and she embraces it.

Jan Jensen has been the Iowa women’s basketball program’s top assistant, recruiting coordinator and post developer for 24 years. Monday, mere minutes after Lisa Bluder’s retirement was announced, Jensen was announced as the successor.

In a shocking turn of events Monday afternoon, Lisa Bluder announced her retirement as University of Iowa women’s basketball coach. Longtime lieutenant Jan Jensen has been named head coach, effective immediately.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has released the boys’ qualifying list for the 2024 state track and field meet. Here are the Gazette area qualifiers.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has released the girls’ qualifying list for the 2024 state track and field meet. Here are the Gazette area qualifiers.

Here are five important storylines to watch in Thursday’s Iowa high school state-qualifying track and field meets concerning Gazette area teams. In each class, in each event, 24 entrants advance to next week’s state championships.

The Big Ten released its 2024-25 opponent assignments for women’s basketball Tuesday morning. Newcomers USC and UCLA will visit Iowa City. Nebraska is Iowa’s lone double-play.

Track and field: Actually it’s field and track for the Linn-Mar girls, who score 62 field-event points in an MVC Valley Division title repeat. Iowa City West wins the boys’ championship.

Prep track and field: Mount Vernon girls, Solon boys claim Wamac Conference championships.

Track and field: Solon-Mount Vernon girls’ duel in the Wamac is the top area storyline as the area conference meets loom.

Track and field: It’s a season of adjustment for Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Addison Swartzendruber, who with twin Sidney out for the season with a stress fracture, has “to take accountability myself.”

Track and field: Area Super Ten for April 17, 2024. Solon girls, Iowa City West remain No. 1 in the area, but Mount Vernon’s girls are closing.

Area softball Super Ten (2024 preseason): Reigning Class 3A state champion Williamsburg opens on top.

Drake Relays: After a three-hour delay Saturday, many of those that stuck around were rewarded.

Drake Relays (Saturday boys): Iowa City West’s Aidan Jacobsen emerged from a four-wide deadlock in the final 40 meters and claimed the boys’ 400-meter hurdles championship.