BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover spent the second half of Saturday's game against Minnesota watching helplessly from the sideline after taking a big hit on an interception just before halftime.
Whether he returns as the starter after next week's bye may depend on how healthy he is.
Hoover has struggled since injuring his right arm two weeks ago against Ohio State, often overthrowing receivers, putting the ball behind them or wide of the mark. As a result, Indiana had to win back-to-back overtime games — 13-6 at Michigan last week and 23-16 at home against Minnesota on Saturday — to avoid a damaging second loss as they try to repeat as national champions.
“Josh, obviously, took that hit at the end of the first half — I can't remember the exact moment I made up my mind (to make the change),” coach Curt Cignetti said. “But Grant went in and did a good job.”
Cignetti didn't provide any additional details about Hoover's injury.
On Monday, Cignetti said he expected Hoover to be healthier and perform better this week than he did last week at Michigan when he was a season-worst 8 of 18 for 81 yards with one interception, his first of the season. He also ran for the winning TD.
But Saturday didn't start any better for Hoover or Indiana (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten).
The former TCU quarterback appeared to reinjure his right arm on the Hoosiers' first offensive play, his 2-yard run. The one scoring drive he led came after Indiana recovered a fumble at the Minnesota 14-yard line.
And as he continued spraying the ball around the field, frustrated fans started booing and Hoover and Cignetti had several sideline discussions.
So perhaps Hoover's fate had been determined even before the final pass of the half was batted at the line of scrimmage and picked off by Jaxon Howard. But when Minnesota defensive back Zack Harden shoved Hoover hard to ground, landing first on his injured shoulder before his head bounced off the turf, it didn't take long for Cignetti to make the switch to seventh-year quarterback Grant Wilson. Harden's play drew a flag for a personal foul.
“He just told me my number was being called so get ready to go,” Wilson said. “Emotions at halftime were just go do your job. That’s how it is no matter what. Even at Ohio State when Josh went down for that one play. It’s the same thought process — be prepared and ready to go all throughout the week, make sure you’re doing the right stuff. It’s the same.”
Wilson delivered in the most critical moments, too.
Despite finishing just 9 of 17 for 156 yards with one TD, he made the two biggest throws of the game — a perfect 33-yard completion to Charlie Becker with 13 seconds left in regulation to set up the tying 60-yard field goal and a 25-yard TD pass to Becker on the first play of overtime. A few plays later, Tobi Osunsanmi sacked Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey on fourth down to close out the game.
Now Hoover will get some extra time to rest and recover, and Wilson will get some extra time to prepare for Southern California — if he needs to fill in again.
“He’s got some real good qualities,” Cignetti said. “He started, obviously, I saw him up close at ODU (Old Dominion), and he’s a tall, strong guy who can make plays down the field. I have a lot of confidence in him.”
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Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker (80) catches a touchdown pass in the end zone during overtime of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A fresh WNBA CHAMPIONS T-shirt over her uniform, Gabby Williams cradled the shiny MVP trophy in one arm and gave it a kiss. She held up a No. 1 with her left hand, then hugged and high-fived her supporters all the way to Golden State's locker room where she pulled on some goggles for the celebration.
Williams made her way back to the Bay Area where she cherishes so many youth basketball memories exactly for a chance to do something like this — to win it all and be part of building something special.
And she has done that all right.
“I just walked into a group full of love,” Williams said. “And that just changed the entire trajectory of my career.”
Williams scored her team's final 11 points of the third quarter and dazzled through the fourth on the way to 30 points, and the Valkyries captured a championship in just their second season by beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a sensational first WNBA Finals Game 7 on Saturday night.
“Gabby is our closer she stayed patient, she stayed with it,” coach Natalie Nakase said. “Closing with 30, that is incredible!”
Williams joined Penny Taylor in 2007 for Phoenix as the only players in WNBA history to score 30 or more points in a winner-takes-all Finals game.
Jordin Canada scored 18 points, Allisha Gray 16 and Angel Reese had eight points and 12 rebounds for the Dream, denied another championship in the franchise's fourth try.
Gray made two free throws with 11 seconds left then Atlanta forced a jump ball — Gray against Williams — and Veronica Burton corralled it and converted two free throws with 5.1 seconds to go.
“I'm just so blessed, this is insane!” said Burton, cut by Dallas two years ago.
Rhyne Howard's layup tied it at 57 with 2:41 left only for Williams to answer once more with a clutch 3-pointer. She converted two free throws with 1:40 remaining, then Kiah Stokes scored a late basket. Stokes — now a four-time WNBA champion — pulled down 13 rebounds and blocked two more shots to cap her spectacular postseason.
Williams left Seattle with a great feeling about joining Golden State and its close-knit culture, returning to the Bay Area determined to prove herself as a WNBA star after all her international success — and now she's a postseason icon. Fans chanted “Gabby! Gabby!” throughout the fourth quarter.
“All it took was good people,” she said. “All we heard last year was we don’t have no stars. We don’t have no talent. Yeah right! We got good people. We got good people. We got winners. We got people who are ready to put their bodies on the floor to win a game.”
When the final buzzer sounded, the violet-clad sellout crowd at Chase Center went into a frenzy as players sprinted onto the floor to hug and celebrate as confetti fell from the rafters.
“Ballhalla” had become “Boohalla” for this far-but-haunted Halloween night in the raucous arena. Now, with a women's championship to its name right alongside the one earned by the Golden State Warriors in 2022.
“We gotta build a bigger trophy case,” co-owner Peter Guber said.
The team that led at halftime in the first six matchups had won every game so far, and the Dream were ahead 30-24 at the break. Atlanta also had been 16-0 this season when Reese made at least one 3. The Dream's DeWanna Bonner became the first player in WNBA history to reach 600 career postseason defensive rebounds.
Nakase told Williams at halftime the game would open up for her.
“Nat told me to stay patient, I trust her with my life,” Williams said. “I stayed patient.”
Nakase changed her starting lineup in a move that paid huge dividends after Golden State fell behind 2-1, inserting Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes and bringing Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini off the bench.
The 37-year-old Hayes, who came out of retirement two years ago and spent 10 seasons with the Dream, scored 11 points in the winner-take-all Game 7 and brought energy all series that made Nakase want to win for the veteran guard as much as anybody.
Valkyries owner Joe Lacob guaranteed a championship within the first five years for this franchise three years ago when the Bay Area was granted an expansion team, and in improbable, joyful fashion, his team accomplished it in Year 2. That after becoming the first expansion organization to reach the playoffs in its inaugural year in 2025.
During the victory ceremony, Lacob shouted out the team and its leaders, while Nakase, general manager Ohemma Nyanin and President Jess Smith hugged. And Lacob thanked the fans who have sold out Chase Center for every game since Day 1.
“Ballhalla!” Lacob hollered.
“These ladies deserve all the credit in the world for the incredible resilience, every last one of them, and our coach,” he said later. “I can't even say how proud I am. I don't care men, women, whatever, it doesn't matter, that is an incredible year, an incredible performance, not only tonight but the whole playoffs.”
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Atlanta Dream during the second half of the WNBA Finals Game 7 at Chase Center, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) reacts following a score during the second half of theWNBA Finals Game 7 at Chase Center, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Valkyries' mascot Violet lies on the court over fallen confetti following a Golden State championship victory at the WNBA Finals Game 7 at Chase Center, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) and forward Cecilia Zandalasini (24) reach to hug each other following their championship victory at the WNBA Finals Game 7 at Chase Center, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Atlanta Dream guard DeWanna Bonner (24) shoots against Golden State Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini (24) during the second half of Game 7 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) drives to the basket against Golden State Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini (24) during the second half of Game 7 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon (00) goes to the basket against Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) during the second half of Game 7 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) and forward Naz Hillmon (00) celebrates during the first half of Game 7 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) blocks a shot by Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) during the first half of Game 7 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
