Robert Sarver gives back to Suns employees, Cactus League underway in Arizona: top sports stories

PHOENIX - Robert Sarver is reportedly giving back to his ex-Phoenix Suns employees, and spring training is officially underway in Arizona – these are the top stories in the world of sports from Feb. 20-26.

1. Robert Sarver giving $20K bonuses to Phoenix Suns employees: report: According to a report, former Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver is giving many full-time Suns employees a $20,000 bonus. He is also donating $5 million to the Suns' charity. Sarver sold the Suns and Mercury franchises to billionaire mortgage executive Mat Ishbia after being suspended by the NBA for one year and fined $10 million after an investigation found he had engaged in what the league called "workplace misconduct and organizational deficiencies."

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver attends Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Sky 91-86 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

2. Spring Training 2023: Cactus League schedule for each team: Spring training is finally here! You can now watch 15 Major League Baseball teams in action all across the Valley. Cactus League games run through March 18.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Some fans watch the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks play during a spring training Cactus League game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images))

3. Kevin Durant misses game vs. Thunder on Feb. 24: Kevin Durant is expected to make his Suns' debut on March 1 on the road against the Charlotte Hornets. He hasn't played since early January when he injured his knee.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 26: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns warms up before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on February 26, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

4. Arizona Cardinals hire offensive, defensive coordinators: Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals are bringing in Nick Rallis as the team's new defensive coordinator. Rallis comes from Philadelphia, where he worked alongside Gannon as the Eagles' linebackers coach. For the offensive coordinator position, the Cardinals have hired Drew Petzing, who was the quarterbacks' coach for the Cleveland Browns.

(Arizona Cardinals)

5. Brittney Griner re-signs with Phoenix Mercury: The 32-year-old Griner had said she would return to Phoenix in a social media post in December, after she returned home from her 10-month ordeal in Russia that included time in a Russian jail and ended with a dramatic prisoner swap.

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Brittney Griner attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET)

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.