WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association
Yesterday
Atlanta Dream 86, Chicago Sky 49
New York Liberty 98, Indiana Fever 77
Liberty 98, Fever 77 – Stewart leads Liberty to 98-77 win over the Fever as Clark missed game with groin injury
Breanna Stewart had 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to help the New York Liberty to a 98-77 win Wednesday night over the Indiana Fever, who played without star guard Caitlin Clark. Clark missed the game after injuring her right groin on Tuesday night in the final minute of the game against Connecticut in Boston. Clark has a busy weekend ahead as Indiana is hosting the WNBA All-Star Game and she’s slated to compete in the 3-point contest and is captain of one of the two teams. Sabrina Ionescu, who will also be in the 3-point contest, added 15 points and nine assists for the Liberty. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 16 points.
Dream 86, Sky 49 – Atlanta starters combine for 58 points in 86-49 victory over the Sky
Brittney Griner scored 15 points, Brionna Jones and Allisha Gray each added 14 points, and the Atlanta Dream cruised past the Chicago Sky 86-49. Atlanta opened the third quarter on a 14-0 run and closed the frame with a 74-36 lead. The Dream made 13 field goals in the third — one more than the Sky had through three quarters. The score was 62-26 before the Sky made their second field goal of the second half with 3:24 left in the third. The Dream led by as many as 43 in the fourth. Both teams were missing key starters. Chicago star Angel Reese missed her first game of the season with a leg injury and guard Ariel Atkins was out due to a calf injury. Dream forward Rhyne Howard will be out for the rest of July with a knee injury. Chicago avoided its lowest scoring game in franchise history when Moriah Jefferson made a jumper in the lane with 30.3 seconds left.
WNBA – Caitlin Clark sidelined again with another injury heading into All-Star weekend
The Indiana Fever might be without star guard Caitlin Clark again for a bit after she injured her groin Tuesday night late in a win over the Connecticut Sun. It will be a busy week for the league’s young star if she can play at all. She sat out the team’s 98-77 loss against New York and her status for WNBA All-Star weekend, which Indiana is hosting, is up in the air. Clark is supposed to compete in a loaded 3-point contest Friday night and is captain of one of the All-Star teams.
WNBA – Women’s stars’ name, likeness and image brands carrying over into WNBA
Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are part of the new generation of women’s basketball stars who have been able to profit off their name in college and build brands that have helped them excel off the court in the WNBA. The trio was able to develop their brands and increase their star power before they set foot in the pros. The next group up in college that is led by Hannah Hidalgo, Flau’jae Johnson, Olivia Miles and JuJu Watkins has already benefitted from the NIL.
MLB – Major League Baseball
Friday
Boston Red Sox at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Pittsburgh Pirates, 6:40 p.m.
Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers, 8:05 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 7:40p
MLB – Major League Baseball officially changes score of All-Star Game
Major League Baseball has decided to change the final score of Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. Previously the scored was listed as a 6-6 tie with the National League winning on a Home Run swing off tiebreaker, similar to a hockey and soccer shootout. But it was still listed as 6-6 until yesterday, when MLB announced that the final score would be listed as 7-6 for the National League to reflect the tiebreaker. It’s similar to the tiebreaker used by the NHL where no matter how many goals are scored in the shootout, only one goal is added to the final score to show the winner.
NHL – NHL releases schedule, the last 82-game season before new CBA increases it to 84
The NHL has released the full 2025-26 schedule. It is the final 82-game season before the new collective bargaining agreement kicks in and increases to 84. Alex Ovechkin begins his 21st season on Oct. 8 when he and the Washington Capitals host Boston. Ovechkin is at 897 career goals after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record and can now surpass 900. After raising their second consecutive Stanley Cup banner on opening night Oct. 7 against Chicago, the back-to-back defending champion Florida Panthers host Philadelphia two days later. The league’s 32 teams will combine to play 1,312 games between Oct. 7 and April 16 with the playoffs to run from then through much of June.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Simone Biles win top honors at ESPYS
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Simone Biles have been named Best Male and Female Athletes at the ESPYS. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to an NBA title last month and was also named league MVP. Biles, an 11-time Olympic medalist, won for her standout performance at the Paris Games, earning three golds and a silver. Suni Lee received the Best Comeback award after battling kidney diseases. Basketball legend Oscar Robertson was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for his groundbreaking work in NBA labor rights. Comedian Shane Gillis hosted the event, drawing mixed reactions for his controversial monologue.
Golf – British Open at Portrush starts with an Irish cheer. That’s how the last one ended
The 153rd edition of the British Open is underway at Royal Portrush. Padraig Harrington of Ireland had the honor of the opening tee shot. That was a fitting choice. He’s a two-time Open champion. And it meant the Open at Royal Portrush would start the way the last one ended with big cheers for an Irish golf shot. The last time here was 2019 when Shane Lowry ended it with a tap-in par to win the claret jug. Rory McIlroy is the favorite son of Northern Ireland and played in the afternoon. Scottie Scheffler was part of the morning wave.
NCAAFB – DeBoer looking to escape Saban’s shadow and lead Tide back to playoffs
Kalen DeBoer is looking to restore Alabama as one of the nation’s top college football teams. At the same time, he’s looking to escape the shadow of Nick Saban. DeBoer is entering his second season as Alabama coach after a 9-4 finish in his 2024 debut. DeBoer said at SEC media days that his team “fell short” last season because it failed to qualify for the playoffs. He says the Crimson Tide have learned from their shortcomings and are in position to enjoy greater success in 2025. DeBoer says Alabama must “be better in the big moments” this season.
NCAA – Mountain West Conference pauses expansion as it negotiates media deals
The Mountain West Conference has announced a pause on adding new schools. Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said Wednesday that the focus is on media rights negotiations and managing current transitions. The conference will welcome Grand Canyon in all sports except football this year. Hawaii and Texas-El Paso will join as full members in 2026, while Northern Illinois and UC Davis will have limited memberships. Meanwhile, five schools will leave for the Pac-12 next year. Both conferences remain in a legal dispute over fees. The Mountain West also plans to relocate its headquarters to Las Vegas in 2026.
NFL – Von Miller signing 1-year deal with the Washington Commanders, AP source says
Von Miller is joining the Washington Commanders. Miller is signing a one-year contract with Washington, a person familiar with the agreement tells The Associated Press. The NFL’s active sacks leader posted to social media, “DC… What’s good?” with an automated image of him in a No. 24 Commanders uniform. The 36-year-old edge rusher’s deal comes a week before the start of training camp. Miller was cut by Buffalo in a salary cap-saving move in March after injuries derailed his time with the Bills.
NBA – Bradley Beal, 3-time All-Star, agrees to buyout with the Phoenix Suns
Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns have agreed to a buyout on the final two years of his contract. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the deal hasn’t been officially announced. ESPN reports that the buyout paves the way for Beal to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. Beal is expected to give back $13.9 million of the $110 million he’s owed from the Suns, which allows Phoenix more flexibility as it tries to rebuild its roster.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Friday
Great Lakes Loons at Dayton Dragons, 7:05 p.m.
Beloit Sky Carp at South Bend Cubs, 7:05 p.m. Sports Radio WSBT 6:45p
West Michigan Whitecaps at Lansing Lugnuts, 7:05 p.m.
