THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING CASEY KAUFMAN
Casey Kaufman is the men’s basketball head coach at Malone University (Division II). He’s been leading the program since 2015-16, and in 2021 led his program to 17 wins and an NCAA Division II Tournament berth.
Malone is a Christian university for the arts, sciences and professions in the liberal arts tradition located in Canton, Ohio.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Casey Kaufman about what it means to build and lead a Christ-centered basketball program.
Casey Kaufman, men's basketball head coach, is up now for our Malone Voices campaign! He has been at Malone for five years and the favorite part about his job is getting to interact with his players. Read his full interview at https://t.co/j18N9AOPDppic.twitter.com/R9Jo4oh7PQ
Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston brings the ball up the court, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Sunday’s 102-83 victory over the Dallas Wings means the Indiana Fever are one win away from entering the WNBA’s All-Star or Olympic break with a winning record for the first time since 2012. With superstar Caitlin Clark missing almost half the season through injury, it has fallen on the team’s other All-Star starter, third-year center Aliyah Boston, to help make up for Clark’s absence.
Boston is third on the team in scoring (a career-high 16.2 points per game) and leads the Fever in field goal percentage (a career-best 58.3%), rebounding (7.9) and blocks (1.1). Boston, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and three-time MVP A’ja Wilson are the only three players averaging at least 16 points and more than 7.8 rebounds per game.
Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Boston and her sister moved to Massachusetts to live with their aunt so they could further their academic and basketball careers. The Fever took Boston with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, following a stellar college career at the University of South Carolina.
Her accomplishments were honored Monday at the Massachusetts State House in Boston, where the Fever will face the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday at TD Garden, home of the NBA’s Boston Celtics. Governor Maura Healey and City Councilor Brian Worrell declared it “Aliyah Boston Day” in the city of Boston. She was a three-time Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year while at Worcester Academy, an hour west of Boston, becoming a five-star recruit before joining South Carolina.
“Don’t let anyone determine your worth or let anyone tell you what you can or can’t be in life because you’re more than that and everyone’s path is different,” Boston said during a ceremony. “So don’t compare your path to the person to your left or the person to your right, because it’s never going to be the same. So just embrace your journey and do the best that you can and dream big.”
“Born in Saint Thomas, raised with deep roots in the Caribbean, she came to Massachusetts with a dream and work ethic that wouldn’t quit and a purpose bigger than basketball.”
yesterday, the City of Boston proclaimed July 14, 2025 as “Aliyah Boston Day” at the Massachusetts… pic.twitter.com/uiaTVR8ngN
Following Tuesday’s game, the Fever will face the Liberty in New York on Wednesday, then Boston will return to Indianapolis to play in the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday. She was the third-leading All-Star vote-getter behind Clark and Collier and was Clark’s first pick in the All-Star draft. It is Boston’s third All-Star selection in as many years and her second time being voted a starter.
This one carries an added significance with Indianapolis hosting the game. Boston and Clark have become the cornerstones of Indiana’s rebuilding effort that led to the franchise’s first playoff appearance in eight years last season.
“I had that dream on my heart, and I feel like that’s why I’m in the position that I am now, because I trusted God’s plan for me but also, I put in the work,” Boston said in a WNBA video last year. “There’s just so many opportunities and doors I’ve been blessed to walk through.”
Boston’s confidence on the court comes from the trust she has in the Lord. She goes into every game knowing God has prepared her for whatever she is going to face.
“Before the starting lineups [are announced], I always take a moment and pray,” she said. “I always tell myself, like, ‘I’m equipped.’ God has prepared me for everything, and that just brings me peace because I know that whatever happens on the court, I’m ready for it.”
Though she is one of the WNBA’s most popular players, Boston wants to be known as a follower of God first and a basketball player second.
“I think we get confused sometimes that just because we play a sport and that’s what we do as our profession, that that’s just who we are,” she said. “I think that’s one of the biggest things for me, is just being able to see God through me. It’s my faith, it’s my family, that makes me me.”
The Fever-Sun game tips off on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, with the Indiana-New York game at 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday on CBS Sports Network, and the All-Star Game at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING TREY SMITH
Trey Smith is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs on their offensive line. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chiefs and has been a starter since his rookie year. He was a member of two Super Bowl championship teams and in 2024 was named to his first Pro Bowl.
Today on the podcast, Trey Smith shares his inspiring journey of overcoming adversity, the impact of faith and family, and the importance of resilience in the face of challenges. He reflects on his medical struggles in college, the loss of his mother, and how his faith has guided him through difficult times. Trey emphasizes the power of community, prayer and the lessons learned from his experiences, ultimately encouraging others to find strength in their own journeys.
From Tulsa to Mizzou, hooping'is fun again. I Off the court, l've got a few hidden talents -Rubik's cubes included. And if I'm turning on a movie? Interstellar is the go-to every time. & Check out my interview!@MizzouAthletics@MizzouHoops#MIZ#ETTBpic.twitter.com/pFPpIB708V
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING FRASER ELLARD
Fraser Ellard is a left-handed relief pitcher with the Chicago White Sox. He was selected in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft by Chicago and made his MLB debut in July 2024 against the Kansas City Royals.
Today on the podcast, Fraser Ellard shares about his journey of faith, navigating grief after losing his father at a young age, and how that shaped his understanding of God. He discusses the importance of finding purpose in adversity, the role of spiritual disciplines in his life, and the pressures he faced during his MLB debut.
