CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office says the Chicago Bears’ proposal to fund a new lakefront stadium remains a “non-starter.”

Top aides of the governor met with the team on Wednesday.

The Bears unveiled a nearly $5 billion plan calling for public funding last week for an enclosed facility to be built next to their longtime home at Soldier Field.

Though the governor did not rule out more discussions, the team clearly is facing an uphill battle.

The Bears described the meeting with chief of staff Anne Caprara and deputy governor Andy Manar as “productive.” The teams says it shares “a commitment to protecting the taxpayers of Illinois and look forward to further discussions.”

NEW BIG 12 OUT TO PROVE A POINT

SCOTTDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Big 12 is about to play its first season without Oklahoma and Texas. The new 16-team conference lacks traditional super powers.

And the expanded College Football Playoff’s new revenue structure has created a perception the Big 12 is no longer a peer of the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference on the field.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark’s job is to push back against the narrative bigger bank accounts automatically make better football teams.

He says he was not happy with the new CFP revenue model, but he’s betting on the Big 12’s performance in the 12-team playoff to overcome perception.

CAITLIN CLARK ATTENDANCE BOON

By The Associated Press

WNBA teams have started experiencing the Caitlin Clark effect and the top overall draft pick hasn’t even played her first game.

To capitalize on Clark’s popularity, the Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have moved games against the Indiana Fever to bigger arenas.

When Clark played road games in college last season at Iowa, they were either sellouts or set attendance records at every single one.

The two-time reigning WNBA champion Aces relocated their game on May 25 from the 12,000-seat Michelob Ultra Arena to the 18,000-seat T-Mobile Arena.

ISHBIA LIKES WHERE SUNS STAND

PHOENIX (AP) — Mat Ishbia knows the offseason chatter around the Phoenix Suns is it’s a team with a top-heavy roster, salary cap issues and precious little room to maneuver after a disappointing season.

The second-year owner doesn’t believe it. Ishbia says “the narrative that the house is burning is incorrect.”

Ishbia was in Phoenix this week to do exit interviews with players, coaches and staff.

The biggest question is if coach Frank Vogel will return for a second season.

The Suns’ projected starting five for next season is under contract with Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen.