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The WNBA’s suprise title favorite, plus Balogun’s big move
- Story by
- The WNBA’s suprise title favorite, plus Balogun’s big move
The WNBA’s suprise title favorite, plus Balogun’s big move
Good morning! Make the right call today. Coming up:
🧐 A new WNBA title favorite?
📅 Baseball's frantic playoff race
↔️ What's a soccer transfer anyway?
Stretching: MLB, WNBA entering final stages
If I've learned anything in my five years on this job, the sports calendar — maybe save for a week or two in July — never truly slows. As we rightfully prepare for football's ongoing debut, the MLB and WNBA seasons are reaching dramatic summits in what feels like the background.
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We will rectify that today. I want to start on the diamond, which is a bit more pressing at the moment. A quick overview of where we stand on playoff races with a month to play:
In the AL, every division is still up for grabs. The Rays (four games up on the Yankees), White Sox (three-game lead on the Guardians) and Astros (two-game lead on the Rangers) are your leaders. There are nine teams realistically in play for three wild-card spots, too. Plenty of play for.
In the NL, division leaders have a bit more cushion. Only the NL East really remains within reach, as Atlanta holds a 4 1/2-game lead on Philadelphia. Seven NL teams still have a logical chance at their three wild-card slots. Not as busy as the AL, but still interesting.
The next two weeks are going to be frantic. Thankfully, we published an in-depth look at every contender's schedule for that period and came out with playoff odds for everyone. Catch up on that here .
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To hoops we go:
The Golden State Valkyries have been a really, really nice story this season. The second-year franchise, run the right way , making some noise among the WNBA elites. We have respected the Valks all year.
But now? With four games left in the regular season, Golden State might be the title favorite.
According to our latest projections, Minnesota — the best team in the league for the entire season — is the overwhelming favorite to earn the No. 1 seed. But that same data model favors Golden State to win the WNBA championship in its second season of existence. And, even rarer than that, the Valks are a W title contender without an MVP candidate. (Vegas still likes the Lynx to win, though.)
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See the numbers and read our analysis here .Let's keep moving:
P.S. We should also note the WNBA is taking two weeks off for the FIBA World Cup. More on that here .
News to Know
Oh no, computer
In the second set of her first-round U.S. Open win yesterday, No. 21 seed Anna Kalinskaya hit the shot above, which anyone with eyes and sentience can see landed in bounds … making it all the more shocking when the ball was ruled out. After a bungled review, the out call was upheld, which left viewers dumbfounded and Kalinskaya understandably miffed. U.S. Open officials admitted afterward the electronic line calling system had "inaccurately" called the ball out. Humans 1, computers 0. Read more here
.
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Balogun hits the Prem
USMNT star striker Folarin Balogun will join Premier League side Everton, The Athletic
confirmed one day before the transfer window closes, in a deal that should jolt any new American soccer fans. Everton will pay Monaco, Balogun's former club, just over $50 million for the transfer. Read our official story here
.
The Athletic 's Tom Bogert made a great point about how Balogun's move will bring more eyes for the player and for American soccer, even if he's leaving a Champions League club to do so.
Kiffin says current players gave OK
LSU coach Lane Kiffin said yesterday that current Tiger players encouraged him to pursue NFL rookies recently made eligible to return to college, adding that he "struggled" with the decision to do so. Kiffin added that he would follow whatever guidance comes from a Thursday court ruling. See his full comments here
.
In related news: The Chiefs claimed Jack Pyburn, the rookie linebacker cut by the Buccaneers on Sunday, off waivers yesterday. Pyburn had expressed interest in returning to LSU should he go unclaimed. It's a moot point now.
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Also, is Kiffin good enough to pull all of this off? Matt Baker has an interesting investigation into the numbers today.
More news:
Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte is back with the team as both sides try to move on from whatever kept him away. Read our full story.
The WEEI broadcaster who went on a rant during the Red Sox-Yankees game Sunday apologized. Read his comments here.
Lionel Messi retired from international play, again. It's emotional news for everyone.
The winner of that ultra-rare Cooper Flagg trading card declined an offer from the Mavericks for the collectible, instead going to auction. I see dollar bills.
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In other card news, a 13-year-old Mariners fan sold a giveaway card depicting Jimothy the raccoon for over $20,000. Yowza.
Missouri forward Mark Mitchell committed to Kentucky a week ago … and is now back at Missouri. These new rules are confusing for everyone.
For the first time, an MLB team has a sponsorship with a tampon company. Read more here.
Meatballs You Need to See: Goodbye, slow pitch
Something that remains entertaining every time I see it: a position player pitching in a big-league baseball game, which usually comes in the late throes of a blowout. Last night's Cubs win over the Brewers, a 17-3 drubbing , saw a chance for that exact type of fun.
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It produced this beautiful dinger:
That's a 40.7 mph pitch from first baseman Andrew Vaughn, trudging toward the top of the strike zone, where Alex Bregman — who had two homers already in the game — tomahawked it out of the park, which put the game at its final score.
Almost done today:
Watch Guide
📺 MLB: Brewers at Cubs
7:40 p.m. ET on TBS
If Chicago has any chance to catch Milwaukee in the NL Central, they'll need to continue the momentum here. The Cubbies are seven games back with 25 games to play. A chance, however slim.
📺 Tennis: U.S. Open
All day on ESPN networks
Once again we have full slates on both the men's and women's sides. Very fun. See all the matchups here
.
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Pulse Picks
A question I've gotten a lot as soccer transfer seasonramps up, from the more casual fans in my life: Wait, these clubs are paying those fees just to the player, right?The short answer is no. The long answer was covered really well yesterday, both via video — which you can watch by clicking above — and via story, which you can read here .
Aaron Donald'sreturn clearly made the RamsSuper Bowl favorites. But history isn't on their side .
Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyamahas found a voice beyond hoops, as Jared Weiss writes, and he's becoming less worried about upsetting anyone. Good read .
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We learned a lot from Indianaand Curt Cignettilast year. Will Leitch wondered if any of it is actually true .
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story on the WEEI broadcaster's rant during the Red Sox-Yankees game.
Most-read on the website yesterday: The Messi news.
Correction: Yesterday, we referred to former Titans quarterback Will Levis as a first-round pick. He was picked in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. We apologize for the error.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic .
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