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Good morning! Make the right call today. Coming:
Stretch: MLB, WNBA enter final stretch
Michael Reaves / Getty Images
If I’ve learned anything in my five years on the job, it’s that the sports calendar — except maybe for a week or two in July — never slows down. While we’re rightfully gearing up for football’s ongoing debut, the MLB and WNBA seasons are reaching dramatic peaks in what feels like the background.
We’re going to fix that today. I want to start with the diamond, which is a little more urgent right now. A brief overview of the playoff race with a month to go:
- In the AL, every division is still in play. 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. Nine teams are realistically in the game for three wildcard spots. Enough game for.
- In the NL, the division leaders have a little more cushion. Only the NL East really remains within reach, as Atlanta holds a 4 1/2 game lead over Philadelphia. Seven NL teams still have a logical shot at their three wild-card spots. Not as busy as AL, but still interesting.
The next two weeks are going to be crazy. Luckily, we’ve released a detailed breakdown of each contender’s schedule for that stretch and come up with playoff odds for everyone. See it here.
Let’s go to the hoop:
But Gradischer / Getty Images
The Golden State Valkyries have been a really, really nice story this season. The second year of the franchise, run the right waymaking noise among the WNBA elite. All year we respected the Valkovs.
But now? With four games remaining in the regular season, Golden State could be the title favorite.
According to our latest projections, Minnesota — the best team in the league for the entire season — is the heavy favorite to clinch the No. 1 seed. But the 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 contender. (Vegas likes the Lynx to win though.)
See the numbers and read our analysis here. Let’s move on:
PS It should also be noted that the WNBA is taking two weeks off for the FIBA World Cup. More on that here.
News you need to know
Oh no, a computer
In the second set of her US Open first-round win yesterday, 21st seed Anna Kalinskaya hit an overhead shot that anyone with eyes and sense could see landed in the frame… which made it all the more shocking when the ball was knocked out. After a botched review, the invitation was accepted, leaving viewers stunned and Kalinskaya understandably confused. US Open officials have since admitted that the electronic calling system “incorrectly” dropped the ball. People 1, computers 0. Read more here.
Balogun hits Prem
USMNT star forward Folarin Balogun will join Everton from the Premier League, The Athletic confirmed one day before the transfer window closes, in a deal that should shake up all new American football fans. Everton will pay Monaco, Balogun’s former club, just over $50 million for the transfer. Read our official story here.
The Athleticis Tom Bogert made an excellent point on how Balogun’s move will bring more eyes for the player and for American soccer, even if he leaves the Champions League club to do so.
Kiffin says the current players gave the OK
LSU coach Lane Kiffin said yesterday that current Tigers players encouraged him to pursue NFL rookies who recently became eligible to return to college, adding that he “wrestled” with the decision to do so. Kiffin added that he will follow any guidelines stemming from Thursday’s court ruling. See his full comments here.
- In related news: Jack Pyburn, the rookie linebacker cut by the Buccaneers on Sunday, was claimed off waivers by the Chiefs yesterday. Pyburn has expressed interest in returning to LSU if he goes unclaimed. That is now a moot point.
- Also, is Kiffin good enough to pull this off? Matt Baker has interesting research on numbers today.
More news:
- Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte is back with the team as both sides try to move on from what drove him away. Read our full story.
- The WEEI broadcaster who apologized during Sunday’s Red Sox-Yankees game. Read his comments here.
- Lionel Messi he retired from the international game again. It’s emotional news for everyone.
- The winner of that ultra rare Cooper Flagg trading card turned down the Mavericks’ offer for the collectible, instead going to auction. I see dollar bills.
- In other card news, a A 13-year-old Mariners fan sold a gift card showing Jimmy raccoon for over $20,000. Yowza.
- Missouri forward Mark Mitchell dedicated Kentucky a week ago… and now he’s back in Missouri. These new rules are confusing everyone.
- For the first time, an MLB the team has a sponsorship with a tampon company. Read more here.
Must-See Meatballs: Goodbye Slow Step
Something that remains amusing every time I see it: a position player who throws in a major league baseball game, which usually comes in the late throes of a strikeout. Last night’s Cubs win over the Brewers, shot 17-3saw an opportunity for just that kind of fun.
That produced this beautiful dinger:
IT’S A 3 HOMER GAME FOR ALEX BREGMAN! pic.twitter.com/AUYaBMS6bu
— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2026
That’s a 40.7 mph pitch from first baseman Andrew Vaughn, who trudged toward the top of the strike zone, where Alex Bregman — who already had two homers in the game — tomahawked him out of the park, putting the game at its final score.
Almost done today:
Viewing Guide
📺 MLB: Brewers at Cubs
7:40pm ET on TBS
If Chicago has any chance of catching Milwaukee in the NL Central, they’ll need to keep the momentum going here. The Cubbies have seven games left with 25 games to play. A chance, no matter how small.
📺 Tennis: US Open
All day on ESPN networks
Once again we have full boards on both the men’s and women’s sides. Very entertaining. See all matches here.
Pulse Picks
Why soccer transfers are so different from trading in American sports
Hannah Vanbiber and Reuben Pinder
A question I get a lot football transfer season growing, from the more casual fans in my life: Wait, these clubs only pay those fees to the player, right? The short answer is no. The long answer was very well covered yesterday, both through the video – which you can watch by clicking above – and through the story, which you can read here.
Aaron Donald return clearly made Rams Super Bowl favorites. But history is not on their side.
Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama has found a voice outside the ring, Jared Weiss writes, and is becoming less concerned about upsetting anyone. Good reading.
We learned a lot from it Indiana and Curt Cignetti last year. Will Leitch he wondered if any of it was really true.
Most clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story about WEEI broadcaster said during the Red Sox-Yankees game.
Most read on the website yesterday: News about the Messiah.
Correction: Yesterday, we mentioned former Titans quarterback Will Lewis as a first-round pick. He was selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. We apologize for the error.
