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Friday, March 13, 2026B Section SportsPhoto (Getty Images)By NORAL PARHAMnoralp@indyrecorder.comIndy Ignite has selected Indiana University Health as the official health care and sports medicine provider for the 2026 season, the professional women%u2019s volleyball team announced on March 5.Through the partnership, IU Health provides the team and staff with comprehensive care, such as sports medicine, orthopedic services and sports psychology. The collaboration supports Ignite%u2019s commitment to player well-being both on and off the court.%u201cOur partnership with IU Health has already been incredibly meaningful for our team,%u201d Indy Ignite head coach Lauren Bertolacci said. %u201cOur access to outstanding medical professionals and mental health resources allows us to support our athletes as whole people, not just performers. We know that our players are in safe hands and are cared for on and off the court.%u201dIU Health, Indiana%u2019s most extensive health system, will offer the team a full spectrum of primary and specialty care services throughout the season. Services include a dedicated team psychologist providing specialized mental health support and resiliency expertise.Dr. Bryan Saltzman serves as head team physician for Indy Ignite. Saltzman is chief of sports medicine and shoulder and elbow surgery at IU Health.%u201cWe%u2019re excited to stand alongside Indy Ignite and support a team that brings such intensity and pride to the court,%u201d Saltzman said. %u201cOur team of dedicated health professionals is prepared to provide the comprehensive, coordinated care that these athletes need to compete at the highest level.%u201dThe IU Health medical leadership team also includes Dr. Stacie K. Hirota, an osteopathic and sports medicine physician, and Elaine Gilbert, a clinical psychologist.IU Health operates hospitals, specialty clinics and allied services across Indiana, employing more than 34,000 team members. The health system was named among U.S. News & World Report%u2019s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals as a high-performing hospital in four specialties.Indy Ignite concluded its inaugural 2025 season as runner-up in the Major League Volleyball championship. The team began its second season in January 2026.The Ignite are part of Major League Volleyball, described as the nation%u2019s premier professional volleyball league. The organization%u2019s mission includes pursuing victory, empowering women and serving the community through professional volleyball.Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.By NORAL PARHAMnoralp@indyrecorder.comThe second annual She Creates Sports Summit, presented by Group 1001 convened on March 6 at Industrious at the Stutz, bringing together female creatives, storytellers and innovators shaping the future of sports.Group 1001, an insurance holding collective with more than 1,500 employees and $76.4 billion in combined assets under management, sponsored the summit as part of its commitment to investing in sports and education initiatives for girls and women nationwide.The daylong event, held during the Allstate Big Ten Women%u2019s Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, featured sessions on real-time storytelling, photography, digital content creation and the growing influence of women in sports media. Attendees gained insights from industry leaders and executives across professional sports organizations.%u201cShe Creates Sports Summit represents our commitment in action as we work toward our 2050 Vision to make Indiana the women%u2019s sports capital of the world,%u201d Chief of Staff & Strategy at Indiana Sports Corp., Sarah Myer, said. %u201cBy investing in the women creatives and storytellers who shape how sports are experienced, we%u2019re not only building the leadership infrastructure essential to a thriving women%u2019s sports ecosystem but also fostering connections and amplifying voices that will elevate the entire industry.%u201dIndiana Sports Corp, founded in 1979 as the nation%u2019s first sports commission, organizes the event as part of its broader mission to create positive impact through world-class sporting events. The nonprofit organization works to drive economic vitality, foster civic pride in the community, and champion access and education through sport.The summit welcomed women working in sports organizations and adjacent partner organizations who share a passion for the intersection of creativity and athletics. Organizers emphasized that creativity in sports spans all departments %u2014 from operations to media, marketing to events and programming.A welcome mixer on Thursday evening provided attendees with an additional networking opportunity to connect with fellow creatives and industry professionals during the Big Ten Tournament.%u201cWe%u2019re honored to be the presenting sponsor of the She Creates Sports Summit this year and to provide an opportunity for women creatives in the sports field to network with like-minded professionals and learn from industry leaders,%u201d Chief of Sponsorship Strategy and Activation at Group 1001 Mike Nichols said. %u201cWe aim to invest in sports and education for girls and women across the country through various initiatives, and this event is an incredible way to further that mission right here in our corporate hometown.%u201dThe summit builds on the success of its 2025 launch, which established Indianapolis as a gathering place for women shaping sports media and creative industries. This year%u2019s programming focused on practical skills and industry trends while fostering connections among attendees.Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.By NORAL PARHAMnoralp@indyrecorder.comTop-seeded UCLA delivered a historic performance March 8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, dismantling No. 2 seed Iowa 96-45 to claim its second consecutive conference tournament championship.The 51-point thwacking set a record for the largest in a Big Ten Tournament final, surpassing Iowa%u2019s 33-point victory over Ohio State in 2023. The Bruins (31-1) shot a tournament-record 63.5% from the field, dished out a tournament-record 34 assists and tied the finals record with 15 steals.%u201cI expected this, so I am joyful and full of gratitude,%u201d UCLA coach Cori Close said. %u201cI want to thank the incredible players that really fulfilled their mission and stayed committed to the hard character qualities that we knew we needed to make this kind of run.%u201dKiki Rice, named the tournament%u2019s Most Outstanding Player, orchestrated the offensive showcase with 16 points, seven assists and four steals. Big Ten Player of the Year Lauren Betts added 14 points and seven rebounds. In comparison, Charlisse Leger-Walker contributed 13 points and five steals.Bruins set records in dominant effortUCLA%u2019s 25-game winning streak stands as the second-longest in Division I women%u2019s basketball this season. The Bruins never trailed, building a 22-5 lead after the first quarter and stretching it to 42-20 by halftime. They outscored Iowa 29-9 in the fourth quarter alone.%u201cWe take pride in our defense, and I think that%u2019s what really ignited us today,%u201d Rice said. %u201cWhen we can start with a lot of pressure, being the aggressors and dictating on the defensive end, it%u2019s going to help us and get us easier looks on offense.%u201dClose, named Big Ten Coach of the Year, praised her team%u2019s preparation and focus.%u201cI think my biggest responsibility as the leader of this program is to hold the standard,%u201d Close said. %u201cWe were 0-for-9 on offensive rebound misses at halftime. The danger is, when you%u2019re really efficient offensively, you just think every shot%u2019s going in. On a night that you might not be as hot, you have to have the habits and discipline.%u201dIowa (26-6) appeared in its fourth Big Ten championship game in five years, but couldn%u2019t withstand UCLA%u2019s relentless pressure. The Hawkeyes committed 15 turnovers and shot just 27.9% from the field.Freshman Ava Heiden led Iowa with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, battling effectively against the taller Bruins frontline. Addie Deal added 11 points off the bench.Sienna Betts deliversWith the outcome long decided, the fourth quarter belonged to Lauren Betts%u2019 younger sister. Sienna Betts, a freshman, scored a career-high 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, grabbed four rebounds and dished four assists in 19 minutes off the bench.%u201cCoach Cori came to the bench in the fourth quarter and said, %u2018This is Sienna%u2019s world, and we%u2019re just living in it,%u2019%u201d Lauren Betts said. %u201cI%u2019m just really proud of her because I know this season it%u2019s hard being a freshman on this team with these elite players. She continues to stay confident.%u201dThe Betts sisters combined for 28 points and 11 rebounds. Sienna%u2019s breakout performance highlighted UCLA%u2019s depth %u2014 six Bruins scored at least eight points.Iowa%u2019s season in retrospectHawkeyes coach Jan Jensen, in her second season leading the program, credited UCLA%u2019s superiority while expressing pride in her team%u2019s journey to the championship game.%u201cI think the world of Cori and her staff,%u201d Jensen said. %u201cJust had them prepared and locked in and ready to roll.%u201dIowa navigated the season without injured guard Taylor McCabe, a primary outside scoring threat. The Hawkeyes recalibrated and won their way to the title game behind a young core that includes Heiden, Deal and guard Chit-Chat Wright.%u201cThis loss does not define Iowa women%u2019s basketball season,%u201d Jensen said. %u201cThey%u2019ve been stellar all year. If the pundits are right, they say (UCLA%u2019s players are) all going to the league. Most of us have one or two go, but they have a lineup like that. We just have to take our licking and understand that we played a great, great team, and we weren%u2019t nearly at our best.%u201dThe victory marked the first time the No. 1 seed has won the Big Ten Tournament since Maryland in 2021. The last five tournament titles have been captured by either Iowa (three) or UCLA (two).All-Tournament selections included Lauren Betts, Rice, Iowa%u2019s Ava Heiden, Ohio State%u2019s Chance Gray and Iowa%u2019s Hannah Stuelke.Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.No. 1 UCLA crushes Iowa, captures Big Ten Tournament titleThe UCLA Bruins defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2026 Big Tern Women%u2019s Basketball Tournament, held on March 8, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The title marks the second straight championship fror the Bruins. (Photos/Joshua Herd PhotographyIndy Ignite names IU Health official health care, sports medicine provider(Photo provided/Indy Ignite)She Creates Sports Summit returns to Indianapolis during Women%u2019s History Month