Sports

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🏒 LAST TWO STANDING

STANLEY CUP FINAL: OILERS VS. PANTHERS

The Oilers and Panthers will meet in the Stanley Cup Final after Edmonton eliminated top-seeded Dallas and Florida knocked off top-seeded New York.* ‌ The favorite: The Panthers (-125 at BetMGM) are in their second straight Final (after three straight appearances by the NHL's other Florida team) and are seeking their first-ever championship. The underdog: The Oilers (+105) are making their first Final appearance since 2006. They're one of only seven franchises with 5+ Stanley Cups, but their last title was 34 years ago. 3 storylines: ‌ Fuel up those airplanes: Edmonton to Miami is the furthest distance between two cities in Stanley Cup Final history at 2,541 miles, per ESPN, edging out Vancouver to Boston (2,500 miles). The flight is about eight hours, so jet lag could be a real factor if this series goes the distance. Can the Oilers break the curse? Most NHL players weren't even born the last time a team from Canada won the Cup (Canadiens in 1993). Six have reached the Final since then (Canucks in 1994, Flames in 2004, Oilers in 2006, Senators in 2007, Canucks in 2011, Canadiens in 2021), but all six came up short. McDavid's moment: Connor McDavid is already one of the best hockey players to ever live, but he's yet to play on the NHL's biggest stage. This is his chance to prove that he's a winner and bring Lord Stanley back to his home country, all while becoming more of a household name in America, where casual sports fans aren't as familiar with him as they should be. Looking ahead: Game 1 is Saturday night in Florida (8pm ET, ABC).

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MLB announces sports betting suspensions for 5 players

Major League Baseball placed Padres infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano on the permanently ineligible list Tuesday for violating the league’s sports betting rules and policies. Four other players received one-year suspensions for other gambling-related violations.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-announces-sports-betting-violation-suspensions?

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It's NBA Finals time

Photos: Getty Images; Graphic: Brendan Lynch and Jacque Schrag/Axios Luka Dončić didn't get to watch the NBA Finals while growing up in Slovenia — games were usually on school nights and started in the middle of the night. He was still paying attention though, AP reports, and dreaming of making it to the finals one day. Tonight, that dream becomes a reality for the 25-year-old star. Why it matters: The Dallas Mavericks are playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011, when they won their first championship. The big picture: Game 1 starts at 7:30pm in Boston. The seven-game series is scheduled to end June 23, unless one team gets four wins before then. The first finals game in Dallas will be Game 3 on Wednesday. State of play: Dončić and Kyrie Irving, one of the NBA's strongest pairings, have a versatile team around them. Tyson Chandler from the 2011 championship team practiced with rookie Dereck Lively II and other players this week to help them prepare for the finals. Yes, but: This won't be easy. The Boston Celtics have long been the betting favorite to win the championship. They won 64 of 82 regular season games — the NBA's best record this year — and swept the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The intrigue: Celtics fans boo Irving. He had two tumultuous seasons in Boston and left for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. The Nets traded Irving to the Mavericks in 2023. The Celtics' Kristaps Porziņģis, who was a Mav from 2019-2022, is set to play in Game 1 after being out with a calf injury since late April. Porziņģis has been a better fit for the Celtics. "Me and KP have a good relationship. I don't know why people say otherwise," Dončić said Tuesday, addressing reports that they didn't get along as teammates. How to watch: ABC will broadcast the finals. The American Airlines Center is hosting a watch party for Game 1 tonight. Tickets are $10, and sales will benefit the Mavs Foundation.

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🐐 Players to watch in the NBA Finals

The matchup is about to get wild. Photo: Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

MFFLs and new fans want to see Boston go down. Why it matters: The Celtics are tied for the most NBA championships with the Lakers at 17. The Mavs have a ways to go to catch up, but it starts now. Here's who to cheer and jeer during the series… Kyrie Irving: LeBron James has said Irving is "the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen." The two won the 2016 championship together while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite leaving the Celtics, Irving has maintained a close relationship with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Jayson Tatum: The 26-year-old small forward is trying to solidify his status as one of the best Celtics players ever. This is his second chance at a championship trophy — the team lost to the Golden State Warriors in 2022. Tatum has averaged 35.5 points against Dallas this season, while Dončić has averaged 35 points in games against Boston. Jaylen Brown: Brown's performance against the Pacers got him the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. Brown has averaged 25 points per game in the playoffs, while Irving has averaged around 23 points.

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🏀 Your NBA Finals guide

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics (left) and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Photos: Stacy Revere/Getty Images, Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBA via Getty Images The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics begin their NBA Finals run tonight, Axios' Analis Bailey reports. The Mavs are in the Finals for the first time since 2011, with the Celtics looking for their first title since 2008. Storylines to watch: Dynamic duos Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown against Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving; Kristaps Porzingis' expected return; and Kyrie-related drama at Boston's TD Garden. The Finals will air on ABC and ESPN. Go deeper.

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🏏 1 fun thing: America's epic upset

The U.S. national cricket team celebrates after beating Pakistan in Grand Prairie, Texas, yesterday. Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP One of the biggest upsets in cricket history happened in Texas yesterday: The U.S. defeated superpower Pakistan, Axios Dallas co-author Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi writes. Why it matters: It's perhaps an American national team's most stunning upset since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" over the Soviet Union. The U.S. team in the T20 World Cup — hosted in America for the first time — features many players who don't play the sport full-time. A hero of the win, Saurabh Netravalkar, works full-time at Oracle. Keep reading ...

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📺 PUCK DROP

WATCHLIST: STANLEY CUP FINAL

(Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)

The Stanley Cup Final begins Saturday in Sunrise, Florida (8pm ET, ABC), where the Panthers are seeking their first title and the Oilers are seeking their sixth, Jeff writes. ‌ 31-year wait: Canada hasn't won it all since 1993, which is the same year the Panthers were founded. Will Edmonton bring the Cup to Canada, or will Florida finally break through? ‌ More to watch: ‌ 🏀 NBA Finals: Mavericks (0-1) at Celtics (Sun. 8pm, ABC) 🎾 French Open: No. 2 Sinner vs. No. 3 Alcaraz (Fri. 8:30am, Tennis); No. 4 Zverev vs. No. 7 Ruud (Fri. 11:30am, NBC); No. 1 Świątek vs No. 12 Paolini (Sat. 9am NBC) … Men's final is on Sunday (9am, NBC). 🐎 Belmont Stakes: The 156th "Test of the Champion" (Sat. 6:41pm, Fox/FS1) ⚾️ NCAA Baseball: Super Regionals (Fri-Sun, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU) … Eight best-of-three series to determine CWS field. ⚾️ MLB: Dodgers at Yankees (Fri. 7pm, Apple; Sun. 7pm, ESPN); Phillies vs. Mets* (Sat. 1pm, Fox; Sun. 10am, ESPN) ⛳️ PGA: Memorial (Fri-Sun, Golf/CBS/ESPN+) ⛳️ LIV: Houston (Fri-Sun, CW) ⚽️ Friendly: USMNT vs. Colombia (Sat. 5:30pm, TNT) … In Landover, Maryland. ⚽️ MLS: Four games (Sat. 7:30-8:30pm, Apple) ⚽️ NWSL: San Diego Wave vs. Orlando Pride (Fri. 10pm, Prime); Gotham FC vs. Angel City (Sat. 12:30pm, CBS) ⚽️ TST: Group and knockout stage (Fri-Sun, ESPN+/TST website) 🏀 WNBA: Fever at Mystics (Fri. 7:30pm, ION); Storm at Aces (Fri. 10pm, ION); Liberty at Sun (Sat. 1pm, ABC) 🏈 UFL: Michigan at Birmingham (Sat. 3pm, ABC); San Antonio at St. Louis (Sun. 7pm, Fox) … Winners meet in next Sunday's championship. 🏏 T20 Cricket World Cup: India vs. Pakistan (Sun. 10:30am, WillowTV) 🏁 F1: Canadian GP (Sun. 2pm, ABC) 🏁 NASCAR: Sonoma Raceway (Sun. 3:30pm, Fox) 👟 NCAA Track & Field: Men's and Women's Championships (Fri. 9pm, ESPN2; Sat. 5:30pm, ESPN)

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Coco Gauff is a Grand Slam champion in singles and doubles, exceeding her own expectations

PARIS (AP) — Coco Gauff is a Grand Slam champion in singles and doubles, something she did not expect to happen so soon.

https://apnews.com/article/french-open-women-doubles-coco-gauff-81b2f6eb3e17b4471c032ee178e78b81?

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🏀 Pic du jour: Mavs return winless in Finals

Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown put up 21 points in last night's win over the Dallas Mavericks. Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks return home this week winless in the first two games of the NBA Finals. The latest: The Mavs lost 105-98 to the Boston Celtics last night. The Celts now have a nine-game winning streak in the postseason. Why it matters: This is the Mavericks' first trip to the NBA Finals since winning the championship in 2011. They must win at home to avoid a sweep — and to keep Dallas fans happy. The intrigue: Kyrie Irving has struggled during the first two games against his former team, scoring just 16 points last night. He has lost 12 games in a row against Boston, per ESPN. What's next: The series moves to Dallas for two games. Game 3 is at 7:30pm Wednesday at the American Airlines Center. Tickets are pricey.

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🚨 ICYMI

HEADLINES

⛳️ Scottie wins again: Scottie Scheffler won the Memorial — his first title as a dad. He now has victories at Augusta, Bay Hill and Muirfield Village this season. Only three other players (Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Fred Couples) won at all three iconic venues in their careers. ‌ ⚾️ Super Regionals: Tennessee, Florida State, Virginia, UNC, Texas A&M, Florida and Kentucky advanced to the College World Series over the weekend, which included the final play in Pac-12 history. Georgia and NC State play a winner-take-all game tonight to complete the field. ‌ 🏈 Last two standing: The Birmingham Stallions and San Antonio Brahmas will meet in the inaugural UFL championship game after the Stallions beat the Michigan Panthers and the Brahmas beat the St. Louis Battlehawks. ‌ ⚽️ Record attendance: 35,038 fans descended on Wrigley Field on Saturday to watch the Chicago Red Stars play Bay FC, breaking the NWSL attendance record. ‌ ⚾️ Epic comeback: The Royals pulled off a stunning 10-9 victory over the Mariners, becoming the first team since 1995 to win a game after exiting the first inning down 7-0. ‌ ⛳️ A Sunday to remember: Linnea Strom shot an 11-under 60 to overcome a seven-stroke deficit and win the ShopRite LPGA Classic for her first LPGA title. ‌ 🥍 Rookie sensation: No. 1 overall pick Brennan O'Neill set the lacrosse world ablaze on Saturday, scoring six goals in the fourth quarter and OT to lift the Denver Outlaws to an 18-17 victory over the Utah Archers. ‌ 🏁 Racing roundup: Max Verstappen held off Lando Norris to win a chaotic Canadian Grand Prix (F1); Kyle Larson won at Sonoma to move atop the standings (NASCAR); Team Penske swept the podium at Road America (IndyCar). ‌ See what else is trending on Yahoo Sports.   🏀 NBA FINALS HOLIDAY, CELTICS TAKE GAME 2 Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday high five during the third quarter. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) The Celtics beat the Mavericks, 105-98, on Sunday in Boston to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals and win their ninth consecutive game. ‌ Star of the night: Celtics veteran guard Jrue Holiday had 26 points (11-14 FG), 11 rebounds and zero turnovers, all while playing his usual elite defense. This sequence perfectly summed up his night: Suffocating D, forces the turnover, hits the three. ‌ Jayson Tatum made up for a gross shooting night (6-22 FG) with 12 assists and nine boards, Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, Derrick White added 18 and Kristaps Porziņģis limped his way to 12. Luka Dončić — who was questionable with chest, knee and ankle injuries — had a triple-double (32-11-11) for Dallas. Kyrie Irving managed just 16 points and lost to his former team for the 12th straight time. What they're saying: Coaches often preach the importance of "knowing your role," and Holiday is a perfect example of that. Here he is after the game, demonstrating a humbleness and self-awareness that you don't always see in the ego-driven world of pro sports… ‌ Reporter: "If Jaylen and Jayson are the superstars on this team, what's your role? And if you're gonna be the team's leading scorer, leading rebounder and shoot the highest percentage in Game 2 of the Finals, why aren't you a superstar, as well?" ‌ Holiday: "I'm a utility guy. I'll do whatever. I'm here to win. … At the end of the day, this is their team. … The pressure that [Jaylen and Jayson] have on themselves to execute and to be great is a little bit different than my pressure. I've always been honest about that, and how they handle themselves [has] been so honorable. So it's slightly different. They're superstars and I'm here to support." ‌ Wild stat… Holiday has 38 points and zero turnovers through two NBA Finals games. The last player to do that? Michael Jordan in 1998. Not bad company for a utility guy! ‌ What's next: The series shifts to Dallas on Wednesday for Game 3, which will be the Mavericks' first home game since May 28.

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🏏 T20 WORLD CUP

USA CRICKET: MEET THE TEAM

Members of Team USA celebrate winning their World Cup opener against Canada. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Team USA has aced its T20 Cricket World Cup debut so far behind a multicultural roster that has a chance to shock the world and emerge from one of the tournament's toughest groups, Jeff writes. ‌ Where it stands: The Americans are 2-0 in group play after beating Canada and shocking Pakistan, and they can clinch a spot in the "Super 8" round today if they pull off an even bigger stunner against India, the No. 1 team in the world. ‌ David vs. Goliath: ‌ India's captain, Rohit Sharma, is an all-time great batsman with a net worth of $24 million, while teammate and former captain Virat Kohli — who has 269 million Instagram followers and a net worth of $122 million — may be even better. Meanwhile, Team USA captain Monank Patel owned a Chinese restaurant in South Carolina as recently as 2018, and star bowler (pitcher) Saurabh Nethralvakar is currently on leave from his day job as a software engineer at Oracle. What they're saying: "I always said that we could beat a top nation," said USA manager Kerk Higgins after beating Pakistan. "I saw the way the boys are playing over the last month or so. This is not really surprising to me." ‌ Meet the team: The 15-player melting pot of a roster hails from six different birthplaces, with more players born in India (five) than the states (four). ‌ India: Patel (captain), Nethralvakar, Harmeet Singh, Milind Kumar, Nisarg Patel USA: Aaron Jones (vice-captain), Jessy Singh, Noshtush Kenjige, Steven Taylor Pakistan: Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir South Africa: Andries Gous, Shadley Van Schalkwyk New Zealand: Corey Anderson Canada: Nitish Kumar Cricket in America: Many of Team USA's players came to the U.S. a few years ago to join Major League Cricket, a T20 league that launched last July. A majority of the roster will suit up for MLC's second season, which kicks off a week after the World Cup concludes. ‌ The big picture: While cricket has a long way to go before it gains a real foothold in the U.S., the World Cup and MLC are helping drive unprecedented interest. And proponents are already looking ahead to LA 2028 — the first Summer Olympics to feature the sport since 1900.   📺 NBA FINALS WATCHLIST: GAME 3 IN DALLAS (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports) The Mavericks host the Celtics tonight in Game 3 of the NBA Finals (8:30pm ET, ABC), where Boston is eyeing its 10th straight win and a commanding 3-0 series lead, Jeff writes. ‌ A rare occurence: The Celtics (+1.5 at BetMGM) are underdogs for the first time in these playoffs — and just the fourth time* in their last 99 games (!!!). ‌ More to watch: ‌ ⚽️ Friendly: USMNT vs. Brazil (7pm, TNT/truTV/Max) … In Orlando. 🏏 T20 World Cup: USA vs. India (10:30am, Willow TV) … In New York. Free broadcast available to FuboTV, DirecTV and Optimum customers. ⚾️ Bipartisan Baseball: Congressional Baseball Game (7pm, FS1) … The annual game at Nationals Park between Republicans and Democrats. *The other three: The Celtics were underdogs against the Kings on Dec. 20 and against the Bucks on Jan. 11 and April 9. They beat the Sacramento but lost both games to Milwaukee.

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🚨 ICYMI

HEADLINES

💔 RIP, Jerry: Jerry West, a Hall of Fame player, masterful executive and inspiration for the NBA logo, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday. He was 86. ‌ 🏈 No. 12 forever: Tom Brady was inducted into the Patriots' Hall of Fame in front of a sold out crowd in Foxborough, where his No. 12 jersey was retired. The date (6/12) was no mistake, combining his uniform with the number of rings he won for the franchise. ‌ 🏏 India beats USA: Team USA fell short in its upset bid against world No. 1 India. They'll need to beat Ireland tomorrow to advance. ‌ 🎾 Spanish duo: Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will represent Spain in doubles at next month's Olympics in Paris, where they'll play on the red clay of Roland Garros.   🏀 NBA FINALS THE MAVS ARE IN TROUBLE The Mavericks look on from the bench during the fourth quarter. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images) The Celtics beat the Mavericks, 106-99, on Wednesday and are now 48 minutes away from winning their record 18th championship. ‌ Dallas needs a miracle: No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series (0-156 all-time, 0-14 in the NBA Finals). If the Mavs hope to make history, they'll have to win four straight games against a team that hasn't lost more than two straight all season. ‌ The elephant in the room… Luka Dončić's defense isn't good enough to win a title, and his constant complaining to the referees is becoming a real problem.

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⚽ 1 for the road: Soccer stars defy age

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring during an exhibition match against Ireland on Tuesday. Photo: Miguel Riopa/AFP via Getty Images Europe's biggest soccer stars are extending their careers despite the increased pace and intensity of the modern game. The longevity of 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo — about to play in a record-extending sixth European Championship, the continent's biggest soccer tournament — almost defies belief. Luka Modrić is 38, still performing for Real Madrid and will play for Croatia at the Euros in Germany, which start today. Why it matters: Higher levels of fitness and stamina are being demanded of athletes. But that is being matched by ever-improving expertise in maximizing performance. Keep reading ... How to watch.

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🏆 3-0 DOUBLE SWEEP? (Giphy) Get the brooms ready. For just the third time in history, we could see a "double sweep" in the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final. ‌ Where it stands: The Celtics go for the sweep tonight in Dallas, and the Panthers will do the same tomorrow night in Edmonton. They beat the Oilers, 4-3*, on Thursday behind Conn Smythe favorite Sergei Bobrovsky, who has stopped 82 of 86 shots in the series. ‌ The history of the "double sweep": There have been 20 Stanley Cup Final sweeps and 10 NBA Finals sweeps, but only twice have they happened in the same year. ‌ 1983: 76ers swept Lakers, Islanders swept Oilers 1995: Rockets swept Magic, Devils swept Red Wings Of note: Both series starting out 3-0 is quite rare in its own right. The last time it happened was in 1996,** when the Avalanche blitzed the Panthers en route to a sweep and the Bulls won three straight games against the SuperSonics before eventually winning the title in six games. ‌ It ain't over 'til it's over (but it's probably over): While the Mavs and Oilers still believe they can win a championship, history isn't on their side. No NBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit (0-156 all-time, 0-14 NBA Finals) and it's happened only four times in the NHL, with just one occurrence in the Stanley Cup Final (Maple Leafs over Red Wings in 1942). ‌ *Story of the series: Edmonton's top five point-scorers during the regular season (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) have failed to score a single goal in the Stanley Cup Final. ‌ **Just to give a sense of how long ago 1996 was… That was the first year that more e-mails were sent than postal mail in the U.S. It was also the year "Independence Day" topped the box office, "Macarena" topped the charts***, the Beanie Baby craze began to reach its peak, and Yahoo! (hey that's us!) went public.

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🚨 ICYMI

HEADLINES

⚾️ No no-no: The Astros pulled Ronel Blanco on Sunday after seven hitless innings (and 94 pitches), ending his bid to become the seventh pitcher in MLB history with two no-nos in the same season after first tossing one on April 1. ‌ 🥇 Fourth Olympics: Katie Ledecky is headed to Paris 2024, making her just the eighth American swimmer to qualify for four Olympics. ‌ 🏀 Barkley to retire: Charles Barkley dropped a stunning announcement on Friday, revealing that he plans to retire from TV after the 2024-25 NBA season. ‌ ⚾️ Another betting scandal: MLB umpire Pat Hoberg was reportedly disciplined for violating the league's gambling rules. Hoberg, who denies betting on baseball, is appealing. ‌ 🏏 USA advances: Team USA advanced to the Super 8s of the T20 Cricket World Cup after their final group stage match against Ireland was abandoned due to weather. The final eight: USA, India, England, Australia, Afghanistan, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh. ‌ ⚾️ Dodgers injuries: Mookie Betts (fractured wrist) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (strained rotator cuff) are both out indefinitely after suffering injuries this weekend. ‌ 🏈 Lions sign Bates: Jake Bates, who hit three 60-yard field goals this season for the UFL's Michigan Panthers, signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Lions. ‌ ⚽️ Fastest goal: Albania scored the fastest goal in Euros history on Saturday, finding the net just 23 seconds into their eventual 2-1 loss to Italy.   ⛳️ 124TH U.S. OPEN VICTORY FOR BRYSON, HEARTBREAK FOR RORY (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Bryson DeChambeau won his second U.S. Open on Sunday, firing up the crowds and holding off a late charge from Rory McIlroy, who watched yet another major slip away.   🇺🇸 SNAPSHOTS PHOTOS ACROSS AMERICA Dereck Lively II finishes a dunk in the Mavs' blowout win. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Dallas — The Mavericks annihilated the Celtics on Friday to keep their season alive and hand Boston its first loss in five weeks. The 122-84 win was the third-largest in NBA Finals history. (Scott Rovak/UFL/Getty Images) St. Louis — The Birmingham Stallions shut out the San Antonio Brahmas, 25-0, to win the inaugural UFL championship and claim their third consecutive spring football title, having won the USFL in each of the past two years before it merged with the XFL. Walsh reacts after seeing her world-record-breaking time. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images) Indianapolis — Gretchen Walsh, 21, smashed the world record (55.18*) in the women's 100m fly on Saturday, then won Sunday's final to earn her first trip to the Olympics. (Steve Marcus/Getty Images) Las Vegas — Gervonta "Tank" Davis returned from a 421-day layoff to successfully defend his WBA lightweight title, knocking out Frank "The Ghost" Martin in the eighth round to improve to 30-0 (28 KOs). ‌ *First since Phelps: This was the first time a world record has fallen at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials since Michael Phelps' 200m individual medley in 2008.   🌎 SNAPSHOTS PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD Mattias Janmark celebrates after scoring one of the Oilers' eight goals. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Edmonton — Connor McDavid (3 assists*) and the Oilers staved off elimination against the Panthers on Saturday with an 8-1 shellacking, marking the second-largest margin of victory in Stanley Cup Final history. Denmark and Slovenia played to a 1-1 draw. (Chris Ricco/UEFA via Getty Images) Stuttgart, Germany — Three years ago, Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest on the field at Euro 2020. On Sunday, he scored Denmark's first goal of Euro 2024. Ferrari drivers Antonio Fuoco (L), Miguel Molina (R) and Nicklas Nielsen (in the car) celebrate their victory. (Fred Tanneau/AFP via Getty Images) Le Mans, France — Ferrari won its second consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday, outlasting Toyota in a wild and wet 92nd edition of the iconic endurance race.  (Tim de Waele/Getty Images) Villars-Sur-Ollon, Switzerland — The 87th Tour de Suisse, the final tune-up before the Tour de France, concluded on Sunday. ‌ *Passing Gretzky: McDavid's three assists gave him 32 for the playoffs, passing Wayne Gretzky's 1988 mark of 31 for the most ever in a single postseason.   📺 NBA FINALS WATCHLIST: GAME 5 IN BOSTON The Celtics bench looks on in disbelief during the fourth quarter of their blowout loss. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images) The NBA Finals head back to Boston tonight for Game 5 (8:30pm ET, ABC), where the Celtics hope to rebound from their historic loss to clinch their 18th title, Jeff writes. ‌ Bottoming out: The C's scored just 84 points in Game 4, the only time in 100 games this season they failed to break 90. They also had just 35 points at halftime, the fewest they've scored in any half under Joe Mazzulla.

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Celtics win 18th NBA championship with 106-88 Game 5 victory over Dallas Mavericks

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum put his hands behind his head, with TD Garden fans standing on their feet cheering around him, and took it all in.

https://apnews.com/article/mavericks-celtics-score-0cdf7b0fb7bc641a5007c8dff836832a?

ps:Congrats to the Boston Celtics!!

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Virginia reaches $1.3M settlement between Commanders and season-ticket holders

Virginia’s attorney general announced a $1.3 million settlement between the Washington Commanders and season-ticket holders after allegations that the team failed to return ticket deposits and added fees.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/sports/virginia-reaches-1-3m-settlement-between-commanders-and-season-ticket-holders/3644069/?

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🏒 McNASTY

WE ARE WITNESSING GREATNESS

(Elsa/Getty Images)

Connor McDavid (2 goals, 2 assists) led the Oilers past the Panthers, 5-3, on Tuesday to keep their season alive and force Game 6 tomorrow back in Edmonton. ‌ Historic performance: McDavid, who had a goal and three assists in Game 4, is the first player in Stanley Cup Final history with back-to-back four point performances. ‌ Points per game: The Oilers captain now owns the second-highest career points per game in the playoffs, trailing only Wayne Gretzky. ‌ Gretzky (1.84) McDavid (1.63) Mario Lemieux (1.61) Barry Pederson (1.53) Leon Draisaitl (1.49) Season for the ages: McDavid's 174 points in 2023-24 (regular season and playoffs combined) are the most since Lemieux had 188 points during the 1995-96 campaign.

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🚨 ICYMI

HEADLINES

🏀 Lakers hire Redick: L.A.'s coaching search is over, with the Lakers bringing in J.J. Redick on a four-year deal. He's the same age as LeBron James (39) and will be his 10th coach. ‌ ⚾️ Another walk-off: The Padres beat the Brewers, 7-6, on Jake Cronenworth's walk-off blast, their third straight home game to end in a walk-off homer. ‌ ⚽️ Argentina wins opener: Lionel Messi and Argentina kicked off their Copa América title defense with a 2-0 win over Canada. ‌ 💍 Surprise proposal: Lilly King qualified for the Olympics in the 200-meter breaststroke — then got engaged minutes later. ‌ 🏀 Bulls-Thunder swap: Chicago is sending Alex Caruso to OKC in exchange for Josh Giddey.     ⚾️ MLB AT RICKWOOD IN PHOTOS: BASEBALL IN BIRMINGHAM Willie Mays' No. 24 was painted behind home plate. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) The Cardinals beat the Giants, 6-5, on a spectacular night at Birmingham's Rickwood Field, where Negro Leagues legends were honored and Willie Mays' life was celebrated, Jeff writes. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Bill Greason, who at 99 is the oldest living Negro Leaguer, threw out the first pitch. Greason was Mays' teammate on the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948, played for the Cardinals in 1954 and lived an otherwise fascinating life that included being one of the first Black Marines. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds were among those in attendance, and here they greet some of the 60 Negro Leaguers who were honored before the game. Giants infielders huddle during a pitching change. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Both teams wore throwback uniforms, paying tribute to the San Francisco Sea Lions and St. Louis Stars of the Negro Leagues, and the game featured the first all-Black umpire crew in MLB history.

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🥊 Social sport showdown

Pickleball players at the Palisades Recreation Center and Playground. Photo: Craig Hudson/The Washington Post via Getty Images

In D.C., kickball is king: It's long been a rite of passage for twentysomethings to join a social sports league and hit the bar after a kickball sesh on the Mall. But thanks to pickleball's booming popularity, it's possible the crown might get passed. Why it matters: Pickleball — often dubbed the country's "fastest-growing sport" — exploded in popularity during Covid, and D.C. hasn't been able to keep up with the demand. But some people freakin' hate it: Namely, neighbors who say they're being driven bonkers by the ball's popping noise and all the pickleballers taking over local tennis courts. By the numbers: Between when social sports league Volo launched pickleball as an offering in September of 2022 and May of this year, the group saw a 1,450% increase in its number of D.C. pickleball participants. And when slots opened to play pickleball on the National Mall at a three-day event last September, they filled up in two minutes. What they're saying: Daniel Baynham, a managing director at Volo, says he's never seen such a swell of interest in his career. "The demand is just wild." It's so popular because it's easy to learn, you can snag inexpensive paddles and it doesn't require lots of running or intense movement, says Baynham — making it a cross-generational hit. Zoom out: So, is pickleball the new kickball? Well, not quite. Because of the game's limits — both in team size and local infrastructure — it hasn't yet managed to dethrone kickball as D.C.'s go-to social sport based on numbers alone, Baynham tells Axios. Only four people can play in a pickleball game, but a kickball team can be huge. And all you need is a field for kickball, whereas it's hard to find a court around here. "The demand versus the supply in D.C. is still way off," says Baynham. But solely in terms of buzzy popularity? Well, pickleball is the winner, hands down. "If I had 30 pickleball courts next to 30 kickball fields, I know pickleball would be filled," Baynham says. State of play: D.C. is trying to appease local picklers and get to work on building some new pickle palaces. Last year, the mayor set aside $750,000 in the city's budget to turn underutilized tennis courts into pickleball courts. D.C.'s Department of Parks and Recreation has picked the sites of these future courts and is in the process of finding a contractor, after which their locations will be announced, says a spokesperson. Meanwhile, groups like Kraken or Dill Dinkers are capitalizing on the craze by building fancy facilities with courts for rent and clinics. The intrigue: While leagues like Volo are geared toward socializing, not competition, some pickleballers are a little hardcore — this is D.C., after all, land of hyper-competitive try-hards. Once you hit the advanced beginner or intermediate-level leagues, things can get spicy, says Brittany Rheault, chief operating officer of sports league D.C. Fray. "They are very much trying to win that cup. They are determined to show off their skills." One fun thing to go: Competition and local drama aside, pickleball is really all about fun — as evidenced by the fact that its silly name automatically lends itself to some equally silly and pickle-focused team names (yes, some are NSFW, Rheault says). Rheault's a fan of "Pickle Backers." Baynham's favorite: "Pickle-us Cage." Full story. 🥒 Where to pickle     Photo: Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images   Hot pickleball summer is in full force at these DMV courts. Why it matters: Finding a place to pickle around here can be tough — it's best to plan ahead. We asked the crew at social sports leagues D.C. Fray and Volo to share some of their fave paddling spots around town. 🏓 East Potomac Tennis Center: You can snag courts at the Hains Point park via reservation or walk-in on a first-come, first-served basis. Trying to up your game? Sign up for private, semi-private, or group lessons, or an open play sesh. 🏓 Kraken Kourts and Skates: The Edgewood location has 14 indoor courts with cabanas for post-pickle chilling (it has a bar with beer, wine, and canned cocktails, plus snacks). You can either rent a court or sign up for drop-in play. Pickleball memberships and lessons are available, too. 🏓 King-Greenleaf Recreation Center: This spot is nestled in Southwest right between The Wharf and Navy Yard and has seven courts. Three are indoors, and four are outside. 🏓 Turkey Thicket Recreation Center: Come to Brookland for four dedicated pickleball courts, and 12 tennis-meets-pickleball courts (the latter are BYON — bring your own net.). 🏓 Walter Reed Community Center and Park: Currently, picklers must share the Arlington courts with basketball and tennis players, although there are priority pickleball hours. But pickle-dedicated courts are in the works. 🏓 Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center: There are six outdoor courts dedicated to pickleball at the Rockville site, plus two inside. It also offers clinics for aspiring pickle-heads.

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🚀 Women's sports blast off

Data: Axios research. Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios We're watching an explosion of new women's sports leagues and teams in America. At least 20 new teams will play their inaugural seasons in 2024, in existing leagues and entirely new leagues, according to an analysis from Axios' Ashley Mahoney and Simran Parwani. Why it matters: The women's sports industry is predicted to break the $1 billion barrier for the first time in total revenue this year — a 300% increase from 2021, Axios' Analis Bailey notes. For the first time in Olympic history, the Paris Games this summer will have an equal number of men and women athletes, Axios' Sara Fischer reports. The Athletic, TIME and Sports Illustrated are all investing more in women's sports coverage. Go deeper: Read Sara's deep dive on the state of women sports, featuring exclusive interviews with media executives at the ad festival in Cannes this past week.

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🏆 STANLEY CUP FINAL

GAME 7: IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

(Joseph Raines/Yahoo Sports)

The NHL couldn't script a more epic season finale than tonight's Game 7 in South Florida, where an incredible amount of history and consequence is on the line. ‌ The stakes: The Oilers have a chance to complete a miraculous comeback from 3-0 down and end Canada's 31-year Stanley Cup drought, while the Panthers will either win their first championship — or put the finishing touches on the worst collapse in NHL history. ‌ How we got here: ‌ Game 1: Panthers 3, Oilers 0 Game 2: Panthers 4, Oilers 1 Game 3: Panthers 4, Oilers 3 Game 4: Oilers 8, Panthers 1 Game 5: Oilers 5, Panthers 3 Game 6: Oilers 5, Panthers 1 The comeback kids: The Oilers are the first team in 79 years to erase a 3-0 deficit and force a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final, and a victory tonight would see them join the 1942 Maple Leafs as the only teams to hoist the Cup after dropping the first three games. ‌ The Canada curse: It's been 31 years since a team from Canada won the Stanley Cup (1993 Canadiens), which is by far the longest drought in the country's history. But don't make the mistake of assuming that all of Canada is rooting for the Oilers. ‌ From The Athletic's Ian Mendes ($😞 ‌ To our American friends who think we're obsessed with getting our trophy back, please know that we haven't put the country on pause waiting to see if the Oilers bring home the title. Not everybody on this side of the border is on pins and needles. We're not like England waiting for a FIFA World Cup. ‌ An Oilers championship — while erasing a 31-year drought — does nothing for any other fan base in this country. Cities like Ottawa, Vancouver and Winnipeg, who have never hoisted a Stanley Cup, don't receive partial credit. And if anything, an Edmonton championship will only further enrage Toronto fans, who are closing in on six decades without a title. ‌ Can Florida bounce back? The Oilers may have the momentum, but the Panthers have home ice, where they're 8-4 this postseason (and 2-1 this series). It would surprise absolutely no one if they dominate tonight and cruise to their first-ever championship. ‌ "This is probably the biggest NHL game in however many years, and so our fans are jacked up for it. We can't wait." — Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers forward ‌ The wrong kind of history: The Panthers hope to avoid becoming the sixth team in NHL/NBA/MLB history to lose a best-of-seven series after winning the first three games. NHL teams are 206-4 all-time after taking a 3-0 lead, NBA teams are 157-0 and MLB teams are 39-1.

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⛳️ HOT STREAK

SCHEFFLER WINS AGAIN

Scheffler with his wife, Meredith, and their newborn son, Bennett. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Scottie Scheffler won't stop winning. His latest victory came Sunday at the Travelers Championship, where he outlasted protesters and Tom Kim for his sixth title of the season. ‌ Rarefied air: Scheffler is the first player with six PGA Tour wins before July since Arnold Palmer did so in 1962. He's also one of just four players in the last 40 years to win six or more times in the same season, joining Tiger Woods (six times), Vijay Singh (2004) and Nick Price (1994). ‌ Scottie's last 10 starts: ‌ Arnold Palmer Invitational: Won The Players: Won Houston Open: T2 Masters: Won RBC Heritage: Won PGA Championship: Jail (T8) Charles Schwab Challenge: T2 The Memorial: Won U.S. Open: T41 Travelers: Won A very rich man: Scheffler has already earned $27.7 million in prize money in 2024 and could realistically get to $60 million by season's end. And that doesn't even include his lucrative off-course endorsement deals with Nike, TaylorMade and others. ‌ ICYMI… Cameron Young shot a 59 on Saturday, which marked the 13th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history. He recorded seven birdies, two eagles and no bogeys to finish 11-under.

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Top Cats: Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers 2-1 in Game 7

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Aleksander Barkov put his hands at either end of the Stanley Cup and began skating away to start the celebration that the Florida Panthers have wanted forever.

https://apnews.com/article/stanley-cup-2024-panthers-oilers-game-7-37f35a84a80b8f1494d3c38511d312f6?

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🚨 ICYMI

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⚽️ Euros scoreboard: Defending champion Italy advanced to the knockout round thanks to a 98th-minute equalizer against Croatia, whose tournament hopes were left hanging in the balance. Spain beat Albania, 1-0, to stay perfect and win their group. ‌ ⚾️ Rare triple play: The Phillies turned the first triple play of the season — and MLB's first 1-3-5 triple play since 1929 — in the third inning of their 8-1 win over the Tigers. ‌ 🏀 Cavs ink Atkinson: The Cavaliers are hiring Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson as their next head coach. The 57-year-old was previously head coach of the Nets from 2016-20. ‌ 💵 $270 million man: Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes has agreed to a five-year maximum rookie extension worth up to $270 million. Barnes, 22, averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game last season.