As the Phoenix Mercury wait for a decision from franchise face Diana Taurasi about her playing future, the organization has already gone ahead with a reset.

It lost center Brittney Griner in free agency when she signed with the Atlanta Dream, citing the “people” in that organization and its location for her decision to move her family.

Then in a web of a trade that included four teams, Phoenix sent guards Natasha Cloud and Rebecca Allen to the Connecticut Sun, plus guard Sophie Cunningham to the Indiana Fever.

In that, the Mercury reloaded by adding five-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas from the Sun and former Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally.

How does it all change the team’s playing identity?

“I think we’ll have a chance to play a lot faster. I think we have players who can play multiple positions,” second-year Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Wednesday.

“I am excited for sort of how mobile and fluid and quick this team can play.”

He foresees a more versatile team that can rip the ball out of the net and run, spacing the court with shooters and playmakers.

Look no further than Thomas, who averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game last season. Over different seasons, she has led the WNBA in steals and rebounds. Six times she’s made a WNBA All-Defensive team.

Sabally is still just 26 years old and last season averaged 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Together, the two new stars join Kahleah Copper, who in her first year with the Mercury proved she could carry the weight as a team’s leading scorer (21.1 points per game).

Those three players are at the core of Phoenix’s revamp.

And that’s before understanding where the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, the 42-year-old Taurasi, fits in. She was given a send-off without assurances the 2024 season would be her last with the Mercury or in the WNBA altogether.

“I don’t have much more information than you guys do,” U’Ren said Wednesday. “That’s her decision to make. We can go on and on about her impact on the team and what she’s meant to the community and the league.

“That’s an extremely personal decision and it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. And she’ll make it in due time.”

So is the door still open for Taurasi to return to a team that hardly looks the same as last year’s 19-21 squad?

“She and her agent and I speak all the time. I think, like I said, that’s a decision she’ll have to make in her own time but she’ll always have a place in our organization one way or another,” U’Ren said.

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Ever since the offseason began for the Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the non-playoff teams, there’s been one name circling around the franchise: pass rusher Josh Sweat.

On top of his already established relationship with head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was Sweat’s DC in Philadelphia from 2021-22, the free agent would be an instant upgrade at Arizona’s biggest weak point.

For those reasons, ESPN’s Matt Bowen has the Cardinals as the best team fit for his seventh-highest ranked free agent this offseason.

Cardinals coach John Gannon worked with Sweat in Philly, so he knows what he’d be getting in the 6-5, 265-pound edge rusher. … Sweat would add much-needed pass-rushing juice to Gannon’s defense, using his speed-to-power to get to the QB.

The veteran edge rusher is coming off one of his best regular seasons as a pro behind 41 pressures, 8.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 15 QB hits across 16 games (15 starts).

It was his play in Super Bowl LIX that was the exclamation point on his season, though, with 2.5 sacks in a dominant win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts took home Super Bowl MVP honors that night, but the pass rusher was right up there for consideration.

MVP or not, that performance did one thing: Increase the price tag for the free agent, who played on a one-year, $10 million deal in 2024. There is no way those figures are anywhere close to what he is going to command this free agency.

The Cardinals have cap space to spend, but with other needs and re-signings, just how much are they willing to lock up on a single player?

General manager Monti Ossenfort has been very measured in his spending on free agents, instead focusing on the NFL Draft to further build out the roster.

But with free agent’s stature, some added cash and Arizona’s current regime entering critical territory in Year 3, maybe that thinking shifts in 2025.

If either runway is clear this offseason, which game changer are you adding to the Cardinals defense?

Josh Sweat or Myles Garrett?

Full episode: pic.twitter.com/k18QvFQGv5

— Cardinals Corner (@AZCardsCorner) February 16, 2025

Adding to the outside linebackers room isn’t a bad place to spend, either. In addition to needing more bodies at the position, getting some premium talent that moves the needle past Zaven Collins’ team-leading sacks mark of five would go a long way.

Josh Sweat not the only top free agent fit for Cardinals

The defender wasn’t the only free agent in Bowen’s top 50 linked to the Cardinals, with Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper getting the same treatment.

Cooper is showing signs of decline, and he lost reps to Mack Hollins in the playoffs, but he still has solid route traits. The Cardinals would love a veteran like him alongside Marvin Harrison Jr., while also giving Kyler Murray another target in the route tree.

Getting on board with a Sweat-Arizona pairing is easy.

This scenario? Not so much.

While the wide receiver is just two seasons removed from his 1,250-yard effort in 2023, he didn’t give much to write home about in his eight-game run with Buffalo. He caught 20 balls for 297 yards for two touchdowns.

His playoff showing wasn’t any better behind six receptions for 41 yards in three games (one start).

Arizona could certainly use a deep threat to pair with Marvin Harrison Jr. Just not an aging wide receiver at the tail end of his career.

With Greg Dortch (restricted), Zach Pascal and Zay Jones hitting free agency, Arizona currently has Harrison, Michael Wilson and Xavier Weaver under contract who played for the Cardinals last year.

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SCOTTSDALE — The Arizona Diamondbacks value shortstop Geraldo Perdomo’s defensive stability, at-bat quality and leadership skills, rewarding the impact he’s had on the club with a contract extension on Tuesday.

The deal begins in 2026 and runs through 2029 with a $15 million club option for 2030, keeping Perdomo in Arizona at least two years beyond when he would have hit free agency.

Contract talks developed last week, but the Diamondbacks have known the 25-year-old possesses rare qualities for a long time, particularly his ability to connect with those around him.

“We saw it in the minor leagues,” general manager Mike Hazen said on Tuesday after the extension announcement. “I remember seeing him play in Kane County. I think it’s innate. I think it’s something he’s very comfortable with. I don’t think you can throw leadership on certain people. … He’s just always seemed very comfortable speaking his mind, being honest with teammates, with us.”

Perdomo called his ability to connect with teammates from all walks of life a gift, saying how showing respect and having fun with players of different backgrounds has earned him that level of respect. On the field, he has a feel for when to talk to his pitchers. In the clubhouse, he commands attention.

The Diamondbacks threw him into the pool early, calling him up as a 21-year-old in 2021, and Perdomo remembers not swinging once during his first MLB plate appearance. Over the years, manager Torey Lovullo has been open about being hard on Perdomo, and the young infielder has stepped up to the challenge of being consistent.

“I really started to pound the table hard for Gerry to get this and be a Diamondback for as many years as possible,” Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Tuesday.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo congratulates Geraldo Perdomo on his contract extension. @Bickley_Marotta

Watch Newsmakers Week live: pic.twitter.com/pIbGmurvwR

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 18, 2025

“What does he represent? Stability, leadership, consistency. … I need a shortstop to play the baseball game just the exact same way that he does, and I’ve been very hard on him. I’m not gonna lie. When he got here, he was still young, he still needed some training, and we had some very difficult conversations.”

Geraldo Perdomo develops into franchise shortstop

Perdomo played 11 games in 2021 and had to fill in for the injured Nick Ahmed for much of 2022. He played 148 games as a rookie, showing promise as a defender while struggling to get much going at the plate (.195 average).

But the D-backs maintained faith in the process, platooning him with longtime starting shortstop Ahmed in 2023.

Perdomo made the All-Star Game as an injury replacement after a hot start. Despite cooling off in the second half, he stepped up as a reliable, consistent everyday player in the postseason and earned his spot as the franchise shortstop going forward.

He continued to make strides as a defender, someone who may not have the flashiest highlight reel but makes up for it with his feel for the position.

“Shortstop is a tricky position,” Hazen said. “There’s an element of where can you get to on the field to make plays. And then there’s an element of making every single play and I think the sure handedness, steadiness, consistency, his technique, how he plays the position, is up there at the very top of of the game.

“We value how he plays the position, from intelligence, positioning and so many things I think get undervalued that may not show up on objective things at times, but the consistency with which he makes every play is a value for that position.”

Mike Hazen and Geraldo Perdomo’s opening comments after today’s announcement: pic.twitter.com/eQ3vClIIJS

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) February 18, 2025

The switch-hitter is an absolute headache for pitchers at the bottom of the order. He’s had minuscule chase, whiff and strikeout percentages, all in at least the 90th percentile of MLB last season, per Statcast. It is very common to watch him work a full count with Arizona’s power threats due up next, giving him the chance to work a walk or see a pitch to hit and flip the lineup.

Paired with a strong walk rate in each of the past two seasons (12.9% and 9.3%, respectively), Perdomo’s extension should most excite Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte at the top of the order, Hazen said.

The club learned the hard way during the first two months of 2024 — after Perdomo suffered a meniscus tear — how much of a void his absence created.

“We talked about it last year when he was out how much we missed him and what it meant,” Hazen said. “Yes, that was a topic that we discussed.”

Fortunately for the club, they did not take him out of circulation too soon.

Hazen credited assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye for arguing against potentially dealing Perdomo as a prospect way back in 2017. The Diamondbacks made a trade for veteran outfielder Jon Jay after reaching the 2017 postseason, and Hazen said Perdomo was on the table at one point. Instead, Arizona dealt pitchers Gabe Speier and Elvis Luciano, holding onto a future core member of the organization.

“I’m very thankful that Amiel didn’t let me trade him in 2017 for Jon Jay,” Hazen said. “Amiel said, ‘No chance you can trade Perdomo.’ So we didn’t, thankfully, and he’s still here because of it.”

Perdomo added, “I’m glad he didn’t trade me,” saying they’ve joked about it since then.

Geraldo Perdomo is here to stay as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ franchise shortstop.

GM Mike Hazen is counting his lucky stars Amiel Sawdaye stopped him from including Perdomo in trade talks way back in 2017. pic.twitter.com/VcEuRU5RX2

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 18, 2025

Diamondbacks committing to young core

The Diamondbacks have now committed long-term contracts to two members of its young core after signing Carroll through the 2030 season in 2023. Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawlar have also come through the system over the past few years, while Gabriel Moreno is in that age range having been traded from Toronto.

The Diamondbacks have some potential reshuffling on the horizon with a number of key free agents going into next winter. Investing in that young core, Hazen explained, is valuable to building sustainability.

“We’re going to try as much as we can to keep this group together, because I think that group of teammates staying together that have all come up through the minor leagues together, which I think is part of the reason they play well together at the major league level now, the level of respect between teammates is an important thing for us to try to build upon,” Hazen said.

Perdomo called this a special moment for his family in the Dominican Republic. The deal is worth a reported $45 million, life-changing money for his family after he described growing up without having much.

As for what changes for him in Arizona, he said nothing. He feels the team has unfinished business after the previous two years and is focused on winning with his guys.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about me,” Perdomo said. “It’s about how we are as a group, we are like a family. Sometimes a different guy has something to say … we support each other.

“I told Hazen and Torey a couple times we didn’t finish our job the last two years. It’s win the World Series. That’s what the mindset is right now.”

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The Arizona Wildcats fell six spots in The Associated Press’ top 25 men’s basketball rankings released Monday.

Arizona’s (17-8) descension in the AP poll follows the pair of losses the Wildcats suffered last week. Arizona lost at Kansas State on Tuesday and fell late to Houston at home on Saturday. Tuesday’s loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Wildcats.

The two-game skid comes after Wildcats had won 13 of their past 14 games after a 4-5 start to the season.

With six conference games to play, the Wildcats sit two games back of Houston for the conference lead and are tied with Texas Tech.

Houston rose to No. 5 after Saturday’s win at the McKale Center. The Cougars play at Arizona State on Tuesday.

Arizona plays at Baylor on Monday and hosts BYU on Saturday.

Auburn’s win at Alabama assured the Tigers would keep the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a sixth consecutive week.

The Tigers (23-2) received 59 of 60 first-place votes in Monday’s poll, reclaiming nearly all the support lost when they fell at home to Florida on Feb. 8. Auburn had been the unanimous No. 1 for three straight weeks before that loss, but remained at the top last week despite seeing nearly half of those first-place votes go primarily to Alabama, with a few to Florida and Tennessee.

But the Tigers won Saturday in a 1-vs.-2 road matchup against the rival Crimson Tide, hours after the committee that will choose the 68-team field for the NCAA Tournament put Auburn as its No. 1 overall seed in its preliminary rankings.

The top tier

The two teams to beat the Tigers sit right behind them. Florida and Duke were tied for third last week, and the Gators inched past the Blue Devils to break that tie and take the No. 2 spot while claiming the remaining first-place vote.

Alabama fell to No. 4, followed by Houston, Tennessee, Texas A&M — with its highest ranking since December 2017 — Iowa State, Texas Tech and St. John’s to round out the top 10.

Of that group, the Red Raiders represented the only change from last week’s set of teams, climbing three spots to replace Purdue for their first top-10 appearance in three years. Grant McCasland’s squad, which has lost just twice since the start of 2025, was unranked until cracking the poll at No. 22 on Jan. 27.

Rising

Michigan had the week’s biggest jump among ranked teams, climbing eight spots to No. 12 after beating Purdue last week and pushing its win streak to six games.

No. 15 Missouri jumped six spots, while No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 18 Clemson and No. 20 Maryland each rose five spots.

In all, 12 teams moved up from their position last week.

Sliding

Memphis took the biggest tumble of the week, falling eight spots to No. 22 after its overtime loss at Wichita State ended an eight-game winning streak.

No. 13 Purdue and No. 23 Kansas — the preseason No. 1-ranked team — also fell six spots, while No. 24 Mississippi tumbled five.

Ten teams fell from last week’s poll.

Welcome back

No. 25 Louisville was the week’s lone new addition, returning to the poll for the second time after a two-week stint in January. First-year coach Pat Kelsey has guided the program to its first 20-win season since 2019-20, with the Cardinals having lost just once since mid-December.

Farewell (for now)

Creighton (No. 24) fell out of the rankings for the second time this season. The Bluejays were ranked for the first four weeks, then returned last week for what turned out to be a one-week stay.

Conference watch

The Southeastern Conference had a national-best nine teams, including three of the top four and five of the top 10. The Big 12 and Big Ten each had five teams, though the Big 12 had three in the top 10 while the highest-ranked Big Ten team checked in at 11th.

The Atlantic Coast Conference had three, followed by the Big East with two and the American Athletic Conference with one.

Arizona falls 6 spots in AP men’s college basketball rankings – Feb. 17

Others receiving votes:

New Mexico 117, Saint Mary’s 63, UCLA 56, Creighton 27, Illinois 22, UConn 20, George Mason 15, Gonzaga 14, High Point 1.

Arizona in the USA Today Coaches Poll

Others Receiving Votes

Ole Miss 64; UCLA 49; New Mexico 41; Creighton 37; Gonzaga 15; UConn 11; Illinois 5; UC San Diego 3; VCU 2; George Mason 1.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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SCOTTSDALE — Major League Baseball will continue to broadcast Arizona Diamondbacks games on TV as it had last season, although the club is looking at new ways to increase visibility.

Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall said the team is negotiating with local stations to bring an over-the-air package of games to viewers this season.

“We’re working on those negotiations right now to see if we could take a package of games, almost like a game of the week, and have those on over-the-air partnership,” Hall said on Monday. “We’re speaking with several right now, and we’re excited about that opportunity.

“We look at our games as really like three-hour, or hopefully shorter than three hours, infomercials to get people to come out to the ballpark. So if we could get folks that maybe don’t have cable or have already cut the cord, but perhaps they have over-the-air, it’ll be an advantage to get to get a larger reach. Those would be simulcast, so if it’s 15-20, games, whatever it ends up being, we would still have those games played on the normal distribution channels.”

Diamondbacks games will continue to air on on the 2024 channels. For Phoenix viewers, COX showed the games on channel 34 while those in Tucson caught them on 26. DirecTV broadcasted on channel 686. Spectrum’s two channels were 304 and 444 while Xfinity/Comcast watched on channel 1261.

For streamers, DBACKS.TV will continue to provide every game for $99.99 per season. Hall said the D-backs had nearly 40,000 subscribers in 2024 and foresees that number jumping above 50,000.

Beyond expanding the number of screens games can be played on, adding an over-the-air package will present the club data when evaluating the future of its broadcasts.

“We’re establishing means right now to measure the lift in the business, to measure the lift in viewership and ratings,” Hall said. “We’re going to do an evaluation after that to see if it makes sense one day to just be exclusively over the air.”

Hall said the Diamondbacks are not the only club to look at this opportunity.

In the wake of Diamond Sports Group’s (Bally Sports) bankruptcy, MLB has taken over broadcasts for several teams, such as the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and recently the Cincinnati Reds.

The Diamondbacks have lost the regional sports network revenue stream but have made up funds in other ways, such as the jersey patch and sportsbook at Chase Field. Managing partner Ken Kendrick had previously called over-the-air a challenging financial model, but gaining an insight by using select games is seen as beneficial.

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TEMPE — Arizona State senior guard Adam Miller was tossed in the second half of a 74-70 loss to TCU on Saturday, his second ejection over a four-game span.

Miller was called for a foul on a drive, displayed his displeasure with the call and was assessed a technical foul. Another technical foul was assessed for his reaction, and he headed for the locker room straightaway with 16:37 left in the game.

“Adam disagreed with the call, and he said things he’s not allowed to say, and I heard him say it,” coach Bobby Hurley said postgame. “So he’s gonna have to, you know, own that now.”

The game was already a bit testy, as double-technical fouls were assessed to center Shawn Phillips Jr. and his TCU counterpart, Malick Diallo, early in the first half.

Miller had four points (1-for-4 shooting), one rebound and one assist in his 20 minutes.

One possession prior to his ejection, he had a steal for a powerful dunk that ignited the crowd with his team trailing, 41-37.

ASU has had its discipline issues this season, including when BJ Freeman earned his own ejection late in a Feb. 1 matchup with Arizona for headbutting Caleb Love. Freeman also had an earlier ejection in the first Colorado matchup on Jan. 4.

Miller’s first ejection came on Feb. 4 against Kansas State for appearing to slap guard Dug McDaniel while away from the play, later earning a one-game suspension in addition to the toss.

“If we were just getting smacked by 30 every night and we were a disaster of a team, then they probably wouldn’t care enough to be issued some of these violations and some of the conduct stuff,” Hurley said. “But I believe the group truly cares and they wanna win.

“We’ve been in a lot of hard games that we haven’t been able to win, so I’m very conflicted about how I feel about it.”

Both Freeman and Miller are considered key senior leaders for the team.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ray Harrison scored 19 points as GCU beat UT Arlington 82-75 on Saturday.

Harrison added five rebounds and three assists for the Antelopes (19-6, 9-2 Western Athletic Conference).

GCU guard Makaih Williams was playing the Mavericks for the first time since transferring out from UT Arlington before this season. Aside from how he shot the ball (0-for-5 from the field), he had a strong performance with five assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Tyon Grant-Foster scored 18 points and added five assists and three blocks. JaKobe Coles shot 4-of-9 from the field, including 1-for-3 from 3-point range, and went 4-for-6 from the line to finish with 13 points, while adding eight rebounds and three steals.

Darius Burford led the Mavericks (12-14, 5-7) in scoring, finishing with 14 points, one of six in double figures. Former Eastern Arizona College wing Raysean Seamster added 12 points and six rebounds for UT Arlington. Diante Smith also put up 12 points.

GCU hosts Cal Baptist on Feb. 22 for its homecoming game, which will be followed by a rematch against UT Arlington on Feb. 27.

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SCOTTSDALE — Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen described his club as one without many open seats, which is a good sign for any team.

Particularly with the position players, as most starting spots are pretty clearly marked.

Josh Naylor will take over the reins at first base, while Pavin Smith and Randal Grichuk are positioned to platoon similar to how Grichuk and Joc Pederson did so last season to great success. The rest of the infield is back from 2024, as is catcher Gabriel Moreno.

The outfield, meanwhile, is a deep position group the Diamondbacks will have to manage based on health and performance. How they balance playing time — specifically for Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas — is not something manager Torey Lovullo is thinking about this early but will come up closer to the season.

Two roles that will require camp competition to sort out are backup catcher to Moreno and utility infielder.

With full squad workouts scheduled for Monday, let’s look into some early comments that peek into the club’s thinking.

Diamondbacks position competitions

Backup catcher

Jose Herrera has built up a lot of trust in Arizona’s clubhouse, someone Lovullo called a “true Arizona Diamondback.” He’s been with the organization for nearly a dozen years and has gone back-and-forth between the majors and minors over the last three. Herrera has experienced 126 major league games in that span.

Rookie Adrian Del Castillo crushed the ball when he first debuted last season while Moreno was on the injured list, providing much higher offensive upside. Herrera has a career .537 OPS as a switch-hitter. Del Castillo, a left-handed bat, worked an .893 OPS in 87 MLB plate appearances last year while slashing 1.002 in Triple-A Reno.

A pretty notable wrinkle in this decision, as Hazen pointed out, is that Herrera is out of minor league options. He has to make the team or else another can claim him.

“He’s done a great job for us, he fits into our clubhouse, great balance with Gabi,” Hazen said of Herrera. “Del carried us offensively last year in so many different ways. I still want to see from Del improvement from behind the plate. It’s the hardest position to play in the game, so that comes with time.

“I thought he held his own really well last year — obviously offensively, take that aside — but even defensively. But I would like to see from a defensive standpoint him take that next step forward.”

That has been the focus for Del Castillo this winter as he strives to improve as a thrower and pitch framer.

Herrera is not quite Moreno when it comes to defensive prowess, either, as few catchers in the game are. Lovullo described Herrera as someone who can manage the staff and maintain a level of stability.

“The thing I’ve continued to say about Jose, and I told him in his one-on-one (meeting), is that when Gabi comes out of the game, Gabi has a certain set of tools that is very rare in this game, but the game doesn’t go backwards,” Lovullo said. “Jose keeps the line moving and has a very good feel for his pitchers and does a great job behind the plate.”

Lovullo said the club has a great catching situation and Herrera is going to compete, but early indications suggest he has the inside track. Del Castillo continuing to make defensive strides will push his envelope.

Rene Pinto, Aramis Garcia and Christian Cerda are the other three backstops in major league camp.

Backup infielder

The backup shortstop and utility role Kevin Newman occupied last year will be fought for in camp by newcomers and incumbents.

The Diamondbacks will need someone able to move around the infield and fill in for Eugenio Suarez at third, Geraldo Perdomo and shortstop and Ketel Marte at second base when it is time to get them off their feet. Even though this is a backup role, Newman received over 300 plate appearances due to injuries as an important floor raiser.

The Diamondbacks brought in veteran Garrett Hampson on a minor league deal, who filled a utility role with the Kansas City Royals last year by playing everywhere except catcher and doing so at a high level. His ability to play outfield is a bonus.

Blaze Alexander is another competitor, a terrific athlete who will need to show growth and stability at multiple defensive positions.

Top prospect and shortstop Jordan Lawlar may be “one of the first people hopefully we call upon,” Hazen said, but starting off in a bench role after the time he missed last year is “probably not what’s in his best interest.”

“We are going to need somebody that can move around the infield,” Hazen said before spring training. “If they can go into the outfield, that’s a bonus, kind of a two-for-one. But I think it’s more we need someone that’s going to move around the infield, second, third, short, more than outfield field at this point.”

The Diamondbacks claimed utility infielder Grae Kessinger from Houston to compete for this role and brought in non-roster invitees Ildemaro Vargas and Connor Kaiser.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia was awash in green on Valentine’s Day to celebrate its Super Bowl champions.

Swooning fans screamed and cheered Friday as MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie took turns hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the start of the team’s victory parade through the City of Brotherly Love.

Many fans camped out along the team’s parade route overnight, huddling under blankets and inside tents to secure prime spots near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the Eagles took the stage on the “Rocky” steps.

“You know I told myself that when I got drafted, that I wouldn’t come to the Rocky steps until I won a championship,” Hurts told cheering fans. “And now we’re here.”

Others decked out in Eagles jerseys climbed trees and light poles, perched themselves atop ladders and clung to a statue of Benjamin Franklin near City Hall to get a glimpse of record-setting running back Saquon Barkley and Cooper DeJean, the rookie defensive back who ran an interception into the end zone on his 22nd birthday.

“This team is special. We can’t be great without the greatness of others and that certainly applies to our fans,” said head coach Nick Sirianni.

Barkley, along with many other players, hopped off the open-air buses to walk along the parade route and exchange high-fives with fans who pressed against teetering barricades.

Jordan Jaindl, who couldn’t make it to the 2018 parade after the Eagles won their first Super Bowl, wasn’t going to miss this one, bringing his wife and three daughters from Binghamton, New York. This team, he said, was the embodiment of the city.

“Their work ethic,” he said. “How they have to grind for each win. We have to grind here in Philly.”

Fans showed up with grocery carts stocked with food and booze while a few stayed warm in a hotel, sipping champagne. One group roasted a pig with the number “15” carved into the side — a final shot at Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The Eagles, despite being underdogs, dominated the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, shutting them out in the first half before finishing with a 40-22 victory.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, who made an amusing gaffe when she mangled the spelling of the “Eagles” as she led a chant last month, corrected herself earlier this week by calling them the “N-F-L-C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S.”

She and other city leaders implored the team’s exuberant fans to stay safe and keep the mood festive for the Valentine’s Day dinner crowd.

“Do not climb any light poles,” the mayor said. “In the midst of all this beauty, all of the sacrifices this team has made to meet this moment, we don’t want it to all go by the wayside.”

Despite her admonitions, a few fans stood on top of port-a-potties and city trucks downtown.

Just weeks ago, a college student died falling from a street pole after the Eagles’ won the NFC championship game. A year ago, a shooting at Kansas City’s Super Bowl victory rally left one person dead and nearly two dozen wounded.

There was a large police presence along the Philadelphia parade route, which stretches from South Philadelphia where the Eagles play all the way to City Hall and then onto the art museum.

Dump trucks and heavy equipment blocked many of the side streets along the route. City schools closed for the parade, along with city courts and other agencies.

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