It’s one of the toughest races around and eight athletes in particular are basking in the glory of crossing the finish line.

The Great 8 are all adaptive athletes, and their completion of the Spartan Race at Blue Mountain was a dream come true.

The grueling race was this past weekend. The CEO of the IM ABLE Foundation in Berks County says this wasn’t just about finishing a race for these athletes. It was about proving what’s possible when we come together and believe in one another.

These eight athletes had to overcome extra challenges just to even get to the race — from using a wheelchair while living with spina bifida, to surviving pediatric cancer, to having a traumatic brain injury.

Competing in the Spartan Race was a part of IM ABLE’s “operation lead from the front” program, designed to empower veterans with disabilities.

They weren’t out there alone. More than 11,000 people took part in the race that included more than 25 brutal obstacles.

There were two photographers following the Great 8 around as they completed the challenges.

Forty-eight volunteers helped make all of it possible for the athletes, helping to lift, support and celebrate the Great 8 along the way.

‘Whoa’ – NASCAR Driver’s ESPYs Dress Is Going Viral originally appeared on The Spun.

There were no shortage of head-turning outfits at the annual ESPN ESPYs yesterday. But one NASCAR driver really stood out from the crowd.

It was Tricon Garage’s Truck Series star Toni Breidinger who drew all of the attention yesterday. She showed up to the event ready to walk the red carpet while wearing a bold red dress.

“2025 ESPYS,” she proudly wrote on Instagram and her X account last night.

Breidinger’s post garnered thousands of likes and shares on both platforms. Just about everyone agreed that she looked incredible and represented NASCAR well at the event.

“You look really pretty and will represent NASCAR with class. Have a fun night,” one fan wrote before the event.

“Such a magnificent woman !! Love everything about her!” wrote another.

“This is the only Toyota driver I’ll ever love,” a third declared.

“I retract everything I’ve said about Toyota racing.”

“You look stunning.”

Breidinger has long been a fan favorite in motorsports. After three straight top-10 finishes in the ARCA Menards Series, she was given a full-time seat in Tricon’s lineup for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

While Breidinger has yet to finishing higher than 18th in a race, she’s been determined to get better and hopes to earn her way into even higher levels of competition in the future.

All the while, Breidinger has been building her profile with big endorsement and sponsorship deals including Raising Cane’s and 818 Tequila among others.

Her next stop in the series will the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Related: Toni Breidinger Aims for Top Finish at Friday’s NASCAR Truck Race

‘Whoa’ – NASCAR Driver’s ESPYs Dress Is Going Viral first appeared on The Spun on Jul 17, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.

Bradley Beal posted on Instagram after his departure from the Phoenix Suns was finalized, generating many reactions from stars across the league. The simple two-word caption that followed sent shockwaves through NBA social media and revealed just how much his Phoenix chapter meant to him.

Why Did Bradley Beal Choose Such a Blunt Farewell Message?

After the Suns failed to qualify for the playoffs in the 2024-25 season, the franchise broke up its “superteam” and moved on from Kevin Durant and Beal. While Durant ended up being traded to the Houston Rockets, the Suns initiated a buyout and allowed Beal to sign a new deal with the Los Angeles Clippers after he briefly entered free agency.

Although Beal spent two seasons with the Suns, he could not help them accomplish anything significant. They were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs during his first season with the team and failed to qualify for the playoffs in his second season.

It is common for players to post heartfelt messages on Instagram whenever they change teams. This is viewed as an opportunity for them to share their feelings and also thank the fanbase of their former team for the love and support they experienced. However, Beal took a completely different approach.

The blunt farewell immediately caught the attention of his fellow NBA players, who seemed to appreciate his straightforward approach.

How Did NBA Stars React to Beal’s Instagram Post?

The relationship between Beal and the Suns’ fan base is not the best after two disappointing seasons. However, no one could have predicted that his farewell post’s caption would be a simple “peace out” sign and nothing more. Upon noticing his simple and cheeky caption, several stars, such as Trae Young, commented on his post.

Even if Beal was not respected and loved by the Suns’ fanbase, stars across the league certainly seem to be on his side. After all, Beal was a top scorer in the league just a few seasons ago and is one of the most experienced guards in the NBA. The support from his peers shows that respect remains strong throughout the league despite the Phoenix disappointments.

Some Suns fans may believe that Beal was the problem and that his inconsistency played a huge role in the team’s recent failures. However, with his move to Los Angeles, Beal now has a chance to prove them all wrong.

The Los Angeles Clippers might be a good fit for Beal and may offer him another chance at legitimately contending for an NBA title. Being paired up with James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and several other talented stars can be considered a recipe for success, provided that they stay healthy.

In any case, Beal’s post and the reactions from his fellow players have gained the basketball community a fair amount of attention. The upcoming 2025-26 season will reveal more about his capabilities at this stage of his career and whether the Clippers can provide the championship opportunity that eluded him in Phoenix.

The Denver Nuggets sort of lucked into having one of the best players in NBA history, drafting Nikola Jokic 41st overall in 2014. Of course, Jokic turning into a three-time MVP, Finals MVP, and an outright NBA legend was not expected, but the Nuggets will certainly accept it.

Now, Jokic is a worldwide superstar, despite a minimal sense of urgency to have any type of media presence. Still, his popularity is showing in his most recent trip.

Jokic is signed with the Chinese shoe brand, 361 Degrees, and the company organized a five-day trip for Jokic to visit China. Needless to say, the fans have gone wild. Multiple posts have shown the fan reactions to Jokic’s first day in China.

Discover Shanxi: “Nikola Jokić arrived at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, beginning his five-day tour in China.”

Via EuroHoops: “Absolute madness in China for Jokic! 🔥

( via 361sport_official )”

Via Katy Winge: “Nikola Jokić is officially on tour in China with his shoe partner 361Degrees and someone made him a horse head out of his shoes

From the @meridiansportrs Instagram page ⬇️ “

This past season, Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game with 57.6/41.7/80.0 shooting splits. Jokic ultimately finished second in NBA MVP voting, completing his fifth consecutive year of finishing in the top two for the award. Jokic is the first NBA player since Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird to reach that feat.

The Serbian big man is a global superstar, regardless of whether he wants to be or not.

The New York Liberty trounced the short-handed Indiana Fever on Wednesday night, a day after Caitlin Clark suffered a new groin injury.

Clark, who missed her 11th game of the season, was seen on the sidelines at Barclays Center in street clothes cheering her team on against the reigning WNBA champs. In their last meeting, Clark lifted the Fever to a thrilling win over the Liberty in an instantly iconic matchup that marked Clark’s first game back from her first groin injury. This time around, Clark could only watch as Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu dismantled the Fever en route to a 98-77 victory.

After the game, Clark was seen smiling and hanging out with some members of the Liberty outside the locker room. Liberty coach Sandy Brodello and Stewart seemed to be having a light-hearted conversation with Clark, along with what appeared to be her agent, Erin Kane.

The photo has since been making the rounds on social media:

So sweet.

Clark notably shared a heartfelt embrace with Ionescu on the court following the Fever’s loss. Clark picked the Liberty guard to be on her team for the WNBA All-Star game in Indianapolis on Saturday night, but the two stars may not end up getting the chance to play together with Clark’s status unclear. She appeared to bother her groin during the Fever’s Tuesday night game.

Still, it’s nice to see Clark in good spirits after her latest injury setback and receive support from both teammates and rivals who are hoping she can recover soon.

“You never want to see a player get injured. A player like Caitlin, coming back, has had a few injuries this year. She’s a great player. It would have been good for our crowd to see her,” Brondello said ahead of Wednesday’s game.

More WNBA on Sports Illustrated