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Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Kids dance during a Wichita State men's basketball game on March 2, 2024. The Shockers won their senior night game against Rice, 87-66. (File photo)

‘Shocker fans for life’: Potential impact of Wichita couples’ season ticket donations

Owen Prothro, Sports Editor August 25, 2025

Shane and Kianne Prill have been Wichita State men’s basketball season ticket holders for the better part of 25 years, watching their kids grow up in Koch Arena to the frequency of Shocker faithful roars. With...

The Black team celebrates a fourth set win in Wichita State volleyball's Black and Yellow scrimmage. The Black team won four sets to one on Aug. 23.

What Shocker volleyball learned from its Black and Yellow scrimmage

Owen Prothro, Sports Editor August 23, 2025

Less than a week before its regular season starts, Wichita State’s volleyball team held a Black and Yellow intersquad scrimmage Saturday afternoon. The Black team won four of the five sets (25-19),...

Head coach Kirk Hunter speaks to the women's cross country team before the start of the JK Gold Classic race. Wichita State took third overall, with two individuals in the top 15.

Senior-studded Shocker cross country team looks to go out on top

Owen Prothro, Sports Editor August 21, 2025

“Catching the vision” is what cross country runner Cesar Ramirez said about how Wichita State will attain its goals of running in the NCAA Championship and bringing home the first American Conference...

Brady Hamilton pitches for Wichita State on May 3. The Shockers lost, 6-1, against the East Carolina Pirates.

Shocker baseball player reflects on All-Star game, championship game experience ahead of junior season

Mack Smith, Reporter August 20, 2025

After Wichita State’s baseball season ended last year, most players had plans to play in collegiate summer leagues. But pitcher Brady Hamilton didn’t have an exact idea of where he wanted to go.  He...

Junior Brooklyn Leggett high-fives teammates at the exhibition game against Kansas State. Leggett led the Shockers with 10 kills, 11 points and a .192 attacking percentage.

Shocker volleyball voted third in American Conference preseason poll

Owen Prothro, Sports Editor August 19, 2025

Coaches from around the American Conference made their picks ahead of the volleyball season Tuesday morning. Wichita State was voted third in the American’s preseason poll, after being picked second...

WSU men's basketball head coach Paul Mills describes how he feels summer workouts have gone so far this year. Mills previously was the head coach at Oral Roberts University and an assistant coach at Baylor.

Shocker basketball’s 2025-26 non-conference slate announced

Owen Prothro, Sports Editor August 15, 2025

Wichita State men’s basketball released its 13-game non-conference schedule Friday morning.  Two opponents from last season’s non-conference schedule are on the Shockers’ slate this year; they’ll...

Members of the Wichita State volleyball team huddle up to celebrate after defeating Tulsa on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. The Shockers beat Tulsa in a 3-0 sweep.

‘Submarine ride’: Shocker volleyball finds its depth ahead of 2025 season

Owen Prothro, Reporter August 12, 2025

Wichita State volleyball head coach Chris Lamb began fall practice on Aug. 4 with what’s become known as his “submarine speech.” In it, Lamb compares the course of a season to working in the depths...

Coach Colin Foster plays tennis with a youth at the free clinic. (File photo)

Shocker women’s tennis coach Colin Foster steps down

Owen Prothro, Reporter August 11, 2025

Colin Foster has resigned as Wichita State women’s tennis head coach and accepted the position of director of tennis at the Wichita Country Club, WSU Athletics announced Monday morning. The announcement...

AfterShocks fans gather in Koch Arena to watch the TBT championship game on Aug. 3. The crowd broke the TBT championship attendance record with 9,029 in attendance.

More than 9,000 showed up as the AfterShocks threw down for $1 million

Owen Prothro, Reporter August 4, 2025

A crowd of 9,029 stood shoulder to shoulder inside the confines of Koch Arena. Except, it wasn’t on a mid-winter day. It was on a weekend in August. The number of fans at Sunday’s title match...

The AfterShocks pose for a picture with a check for $1 million after winning the championship game of The Basketball Tournament. The AfterShocks won six straight games to claim their title.

Seeking fortune, finding family: AfterShocks win big

Owen Prothro, Reporter August 4, 2025

Win six games in The Basketball Tournament, and your team wins a million bucks. But how does the money get split up? For the AfterShocks, they’ll split the purse among the 14 members listed on...

AfterShocks guard Marcus Keene points to the TBT bracket asking to celebrate the AfterShocks championship game win on Aug. 3. The AfterShocks had never played in the TBT championship.

AfterShocks win TBT’s $1 million prize, break championship game attendance record

Owen Prothro, Reporter August 3, 2025

The AfterShocks have done it. Wichita State’s team of alumni has survived the six-game summer gauntlet that is The Basketball Tournament to claim their first crown and $1 million grand prize. “Six...

AfterShocks head coach Zach Bush holds up one finger to the crowd as he walks into the tunnel on July 31. With the win, the AfterShocks became the first alumni team in TBT history to host the championship game on its home court.

The AfterShocks are one game from $1 million. They need their fans more than ever.

Owen Prothro, Reporter August 1, 2025

After smaller-than-usual crowds for the AfterShocks’ opening games in The Basketball Tournament this year, forward Markis McDuffie urged fans on social media to come watch the team of Wichita State alumni...

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