Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

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👋 Good morning! America's largest city is buzzing as the NBA Finals come to town, the Stanley Cup Final is delivering incredible drama (and lots of goals!) and the World Cup is right around the corner. Who's got it better than us? Tickets punched: No. 3 Georgia, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 6 Texas, No. 7 Alabama, No. 16 West Virginia, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Troy are headed to Omaha for the College World Series, which begins on Friday. In today's edition: All eyes on MSG, Korda wins another major, Zverev breaks through in Paris, USMNT's final tuneup, Vegas in the driver's seat, 4-point field goals, "Golf's Longest Day," and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...

🏆 NBA FINALS ALL EYES ON MSG (Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) With the NBA Finals returning to Madison Square Garden tonight (8:30pm ET, ABC) for the first time in 27 years — and the president in attendance at the World's Most Famous Arena — the Knicks and Spurs will try to do the impossible: pretend it's just another game. Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports: Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals will be Josh Hart's 30th home playoff game as a member of the Knicks — the 30th time he's seen fans fill the stands at MSG for a contest that means more than most. He's got a pretty good idea of what to expect. "The Garden is going to be rocking," Hart said Sunday at the Knicks' practice session. "Obviously, in this city we love our Knicks. So we're going to come out, show love, support. The energy is going to be electric." There will be two major differences to the regularly scheduled raucous and rambunctious atmosphere, though. For one thing, Monday will mark the first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden since June 25, 1999 — just a few weeks after the eldest Knick on this year's roster, guard Jordan Clarkson, turned 7 years old. For another, President Donald Trump plans to attend at the invitation of Knicks owner James L. Dolan, a longtime donor to Republican parties and candidates, including the president. This will mark the first time a sitting U.S. president has ever attended an NBA Finals game. (Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) What they're saying: News of Trump's attendance has generated strong reactions from some politicians and pundits. But inside the Garden, as both teams prepared for Game 3, players emphasized the importance of remaining laser-focused and tuning out the noise. "For me personally, [Villanova] Coach [Jay] Wright always talked about [how] we play for the guys in the locker room, and we don't really play to the crowd," Hart said. "So I feel like I'm able to kind of tune that out pretty well." "I think it could be [more difficult given all the attention], but isolating myself is something I've practiced over the years," said Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama. "I think I'm good at it. So it's not a problem. This is similar to something media-wise like the Olympics." Game notes: Heightened security: MSG will employ a strict no-bag policy and "TSA-style screening" in anticipation of Trump's arrival, and fans have been encouraged to arrive at least two hours early. Due to security concerns, the watch party outside the arena has been canceled. Ticket prices: The get-in price for Game 3 was approaching $10,000 on Saturday before settling around $6,000 on Sunday, according to Gametime. NBA commissioner Adam Silver admitted it was "frustrating" that more people can't afford to attend. Going streaking: With a thrilling 105-104 victory in Game 2 on Friday night, the Knicks logged their 13th consecutive victory. That now stands on its own as the second-longest winning streak in playoff history, trailing only the 2017 Warriors (15 straight). Backs against the wall: The Spurs are the 38th team to fall behind 2-0 in the NBA Finals. Five of the previous 37 teams came back to win the title (2021 Bucks, 2016 Cavaliers, 2006 Heat, 1977 Trail Blazers, 1969 Celtics), but none of them lost the first two games at home. Pregame reading: Wemby stopper? How Karl-Anthony Towns has bested Victor Wembanyama (Tom Haberstroh, Yahoo Sports)

🇺🇸 SNAPSHOTS PHOTOS ACROSS AMERICA Nelly reacts after her title-clinching putt barely dropped in. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles, California — Nelly Korda's sensational season continued on Sunday at Riviera Country Club, where the world No. 1 won the U.S. Women's Open by a stroke thanks to a clutch birdie on the 17th and a par putt at the last that circled the entire cup before dropping. By the numbers: Korda, who's won four of her eight starts this year, is just the third LPGA golfer in the last three decades to win the season's first two majors (2005 Annika Sorenstam, 2013 Inbee Park). She's also the first woman to win four majors in the 2020s, and is now just two points shy of earning her spot in the Hall of Fame (relevant: a major is worth two points). (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Chicago, Illinois — The USMNT lost to Germany, 2-1, on Saturday in their final World Cup tuneup — one last reality check for the Americans that offered mixed clues as to how they might fare on soccer's biggest stage. They flew to California after the game, and will train there ahead of Friday's opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Goal of the year? The Americans' lone goal came in the 37th minute when Antonee Robinson ripped a volley top shelf with one of the purest left-footed strikes you'll ever see. Unreal. (Al Bello/Getty Images) Saratoga Springs, New York — Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo replicated his success at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, surging into the lead down the stretch to win the 158th Test of the Champion. What could have been: No horse has won the Triple Crown since Justify in 2018, and this marked the second straight year that the Derby winner skipped the Preakness and then won the Belmont. It's a trend that will likely continue unless the Triple Crown changes its three-races-in-five-weeks schedule.

🌍 SNAPSHOTS PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images) 🇫🇷 Paris, France — At long last, Alexander Zverev is a Grand Slam champion, taking down Flavio Cobolli in five sets to win the French Open. His maiden major victory came in his 41st major appearance, the second-most attempts needed by a man in the Open Era to win his first major (Goran Ivanišević, 48). Women's champ: 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva beat qualifier Maja Chwalińska in straight sets for her first Grand Slam title, becoming the youngest woman to win the French Open since 1992 (Monica Seles), and the third-youngest woman to win a major this century (Maria Sharapova, 2004 Wimbledon; Emma Raducanu, 2021 U.S. Open). Antonelli driving the iconic Circuit de Monaco. (Mark Thompson/Getty Images) 🇲🇨 Monte-Carlo, Monaco — It's early in the season, but Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli appears to be running away with the F1 title, winning Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix for his fifth consecutive victory. With 156 points, the young Italian's lead over second-place Lewis Hamilton (90) is larger than Hamilton's lead over 10th place Pierre Gasly (26). So good, so young: Antonelli (19 years, 9 months) became the youngest driver ever to win at Monaco, smashing Hamilton's record from 2008 (23 years, 4 months). He also became the youngest in F1 history to record a Grand Slam (pole, led every lap, fastest lap, won race). (Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu via Getty Images) 🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico — Thousands of people flooded the sprawling Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday in an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the largest wave outside a stadium. The event was organized to support Mexico's soccer team, which plays South Africa on Thursday at Estadio Azteca in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Did you know? While the wave is believed to have been invented in Colorado in 1979 by a cheerleader named Krazy George Henderson, it was popularized via broadcasts of the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico. In fact, outside of North America it's referred to as "the Mexican wave."

💯 STAT SHEET BIG NUMBERS (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) 🏒 25 goals   The Golden Knights and Hurricanes have combined to score 25 goals so far in the Stanley Cup Final, the most through the first three games of a Cup Final since 1981.   ICYMI: The Knights nearly suffered a historic collapse on Saturday when the Canes erased a 4-0 third-period deficit — including three goals in 39 seconds!!! — to force overtime. But Vegas ultimately got the job done, winning 5-4 (2OT) to take a 2-1 series lead.   🏈 4-point field goals   The UFL made headlines this spring when it introduced 4-point field goals, awarding an extra point on successful kicks from 60+ yards. After just four were made all regular season, Sunday's semifinals featured three: two by Louisville Kings kicker Tanner Brown (60 and 63 yards) and one by DC Defenders kicker Matt McCrane (61 yards).   United Bowl-bound: The Kings beat the St. Louis Battlehawks, 29-20, to advance to the title game in their inaugural season. They'll face the reigning champion Defenders, who are back in the United Bowl after upsetting the top-seeded Orlando Storm, 28-22. Coming in hot. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) ⚾️ 103.7 mph   Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski threw a 103.7 mph pitch against the Rockies on Saturday, topping his previous mark (103.6 mph) for the fastest by a starter since tracking began in 2008. Altogether, 45 of his 98 pitches were clocked at 101+ mph, setting another MLB record.   Good luck, hitters: Misiorowski (7-2, 1.50 ERA) has been virtually untouchable since the start of May, compiling a minuscule 0.20 ERA over his last seven starts (1 ER in 45.1 IP). That's the lowest ERA over a seven-start span (min. 30 IP) since Bob Gibson in 1968 (0.14 ERA).   ⛳️ 36 holes   The road to the 126th U.S. Open concludes today with "Golf's Longest Day," as 10 sites conduct 36-hole qualifiers to fill the remaining spots for next week's championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Past U.S. Open champions Webb Simpson (2012), Lucas Glover (2009) and Geoff Ogilvy (2006) are among the notable names hoping to qualify.   Notably absent: J.T. Poston was scheduled to play in a qualifier today. Instead, he won The Memorial Tournament over the weekend (while playing 33 holes on Sunday!) to secure his U.S. Open spot, earn himself a $4 million payday, and get out of playing another 36 holes today.

⚽️ ROAD TO 2026 WORLD CUP TRIVIA (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images) The 2026 FIFA World Cup will crown the seventh men's world champion of the 21st century. Question: Can you name the six countries that won the previous six editions? Years: 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022. Answer at the bottom.

🙏 YOUR TURN GOT 2 MINUTES? (Giphy) One quick favor before you go: If Yahoo Sports AM is part of your morning routine, we'd love to learn a little more about you. This short survey takes less than two minutes, and your feedback will help shape the future of the newsletter. Thank you!

Trivia answer: Brazil (2002), Italy (2006), Spain (2010), Germany (2014), France (2018), Argentina (2022)

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NBA Finals

The San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks 115-111 at Madison Square Garden on Monday, trimming New York's lead in the NBA Finals to 2-1. The game also drew national attention as President Donald Trump became the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game, prompting enhanced security and boos from some attendees when he appeared on the Jumbotron. Read more.

WATCH: Trump reacts to being booed at Madison Square Garden

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👋 Good morning! For the first time in nearly seven weeks, the Knicks lost a basketball game. In today's edition: Spurs avoid 3-0 hole, MLB in Vegas, a dark day in college sports, American Outlaws, college baseball parity, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...

🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES ⚾️ Sin City slugfest: The Athletics began a six-game homestand in Las Vegas on Monday as a preview for their 2028 relocation, and the opener against the Brewers turned into the wildest game of the season. Milwaukee won, 15-14, in a 12-inning affair that featured 11 home runs, 34 hits and five lead changes. 🇺🇸 Warm welcome: The USMNT arrived at their training camp in Irvine, California, on Monday, where 5,500 supporters — who won a lottery to attend the workout — welcomed them to Great Park. The 194-acre sports complex will be their home base for the duration of the World Cup. 🥎 Record viewership: Game 2 of the Women's College World Series, which saw Texas beat Texas Tech for its second straight national title, averaged 2.5 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched college softball game ever. 🏒 Kings hire Laviolette: The Kings are hiring Peter Laviolette as their next head coach after he spent the last year out of the league following his firing from the Rangers. Laviolette, 61, has won 846 games as an NHL head coach (seventh-most) and one Stanley Cup (2006, Hurricanes). 🎾 Fed returns to Ashe: Roger Federer will play in an exhibition at this year's U.S. Open, taking the court alongside Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Aug. 25. Four days later, he'll be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

🏆 NBA FINALS SPURS BOUNCE BACK IN THE GARDEN (Al Bello/Getty Images) The Spurs bounced back in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, beating the Knicks 115-111 to snap New York's 13-game winning streak and cut their series lead to 2-1 in front of a rabid Madison Square Garden crowd. Star of the night: Victor Wembanyama finished with 32 points (11-18 FG, 2-4 3PT), 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals while getting the best of Karl-Anthony Towns (11 points), who had outplayed him through the first two games. Kelly Iko, Yahoo Sports: From the opening tip, it was clear the 22-year-old intended to take on an entire city, to attempt to overthrow Gotham like the Joker. His force both with the ball in his hands and his command of the square footage around him without it hit the Knicks like a gut punch. And in the fourth quarter, his 10 points screamed louder than any fan could, gradually reducing the amount of electricity in MSG until he was ready to rip the circuit breaker out of the wall. Shoutouts: Stephon Castle (23 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) was a force all night, providing a consistent source of downhill aggression. Jalen Brunson paced New York with 32 points, but OG Anunoby (28 pts, 9-13 FG) had the best game of any Knick. (Al Bello/Getty Images) Brown not happy with refs: Knicks head coach Mike Brown spent the bulk of his postgame press conference talking about the gap in free throws (32-22 Spurs), particularly in the second half (24-8 Spurs). "I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free-throw attempts in the second half to another team's eight," said Brown, who clearly hoped his words would have an impact on the officiating in Game 4. "The story is going to be there … because I said it." Yes, but: While the Knicks taking 10 fewer free throws overall and making seven fewer — in a game they lost by four — is a story, it's not the story. Not really, anyway. "That ain't cost us the game," said Towns. "We were definitely fouling a lot," added Brunson. Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports: No, the story is that, in the franchise's first NBA Finals home game in 27 years, the other shoe finally dropped. For the first time in 47 days, Brown's club ended the night on the short side of the scoreboard. The second-longest winning streak in NBA playoff history is over. The Knicks have lost; they are no longer invincible.

🏈 SORSBY SAGA A DARK DAY FOR COLLEGE SPORTS Sorsby after a game last fall as Cincinnati's QB. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)  A Lubbock County court has granted Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction against the NCAA, clearing the path for him to play football this fall despite betting on his own team's games. And just like that, college sports may have finally jumped the shark. Catch up quick: Sorsby — a rising fifth-year senior who joined the Red Raiders this offseason as a highly sought-after transfer — was deemed ineligible by the NCAA this spring after it was discovered that he wagered over $90,000 during the last four years at Indiana and Cincinnati, including at least 40 bets on the Hoosiers while he was a member of the team. Sorsby admitted to the transgression and completed an inpatient stay at a treatment facility for a gambling addiction. He also sued the NCAA for banning him, with his lawyers arguing his addiction is a mental health issue that should be supported, not punished. Monday's decision was a victory in that lawsuit, with his entire penalty boiling down to a two-game suspension. As it stands, the star transfer is cleared to start for Texas Tech in Week 3 against Houston. Let me repeat that: A college football player who admitted to betting on his own games — perhaps the single most cardinal sin in all of sports, and one usually met with a lifetime ban — will be allowed to play this fall, and will miss just two games against non-conference opponents. What they're saying: The NCAA said it is "deeply concerned" about the ramifications of the court's decision, and has already filed an appeal, with NCAA president Charlie Baker adding that "there is no better example of why targeted intervention from Congress is necessary." Sorsby's attorney, meanwhile, told Yahoo Sports that "this is a just result." Dan Wolken, Yahoo Sports: If Sorsby has a right to maintain his ability to play after betting on his own team, then sports pretty much cease to exist as a legitimate enterprise. It is hard in 2026 to get anyone to root for the NCAA, which will appeal this ruling out of self-preservation and principle. But somehow, [Texas District Court Judge Ken Curry] has pulled off the impossible. What to watch: Big 12 athletic directors have already had "serious" talks about not playing Texas Tech, and Georgia and Nebraska have instructed their coaches not to schedule them in any sports. We've officially reached the point of no return," Georgia AD Josh Brooks told Yahoo Sports.

⚽️ RED, WHITE AND BLUE AMERICAN OUTLAWS: ONE NATION, ONE TEAM (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports) America is co-hosting this year's World Cup, but the American Outlaws are the ones who will be bringing the party to every stadium, festival, bar and brewery they can, from sea to shining sea. Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports: Elvis Presley lives, and right now he's talking to Wonder Woman and a bald eagle in a gravel parking lot in North Carolina. All around Elvis, hundreds of American soccer fans of all ages, demographics and blood alcohol levels are snacking on hot dogs. Over near one fence, a drum circle is warming up, rat-a-tat-tats filling the sunny afternoon air. Red, white and blue is everywhere, from innumerable Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie jerseys, to dyed beards and wigs, to a T-shirt that simply reads, "WTF IS A KILOMETER?" Welcome to the land of the American Outlaws. (Jay Busbee/Yahoo Sports) Much like the Avengers, the American Outlaws began with an idea — an idea for a place that American soccer fans, and would-be soccer-fans, could gather and enjoy their love of the beautiful game. A place where they could say the word "soccer" and not be exiled. That idea, born in a basement in Lincoln, Nebraska, now literally spans the entire country, with more than 30,000 Outlaws and 200 chapters dedicated to spreading the word and the love about American soccer. Wherever the USMNT plays this summer, the Outlaws will be there. They'll drum, and chant, and cheer, and celebrate the very best parts of what it means to be American. And they'll be open to everyone, including you. All you have to do to join is start clapping to the beat.

💯 STAT SHEET BIG NUMBERS Texas celebrates after reaching its record-extending 39th College World Series. (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) ⚾️ 23 schools   College baseball has experienced a historic level of parity recently, with 23 different schools filling the 24 spots at the College World Series across the past three seasons. North Carolina, the No. 5 seed in this year's tournament, is the only program that has reached the final eight more than once since 2024.   Omaha-bound: No. 7 Alabama and Oklahoma punched the last two tickets to Omaha on Monday. They'll be joined in the eight-team field by No. 3 Georgia, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 6 Texas, No. 16 West Virginia, Troy and Ole Miss.   🎾 $1.6 million   Maja Chwalińska's historic run from French Open qualifier to women's runner-up earned her a cool $1.6 million — nearly twice her career earnings entering the tournament ($867k). The 24-year-old Pole also climbed all the way from 114th in the world to a career-high No. 21 following two weeks at Roland Garros that changed her life.   Consider this: Chwalińska couldn't even pay for her hotel in Paris, which she humbly never expected to need for so long. Polish sports drink company Oshee, which sponsors fellow countrywoman and world No. 3 Iga Świątek, ultimately stepped in and footed the bill. Hamlin waves a No. 18 flag in honor of Kyle Busch. (Brett Farmer/Getty Images) 🏁 63 wins   Denny Hamlin won at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday for his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory and 63rd of his career, matching the late Kyle Busch for the ninth-most in history.   Top 10: Richard Petty (200 wins), David Pearson (105), Jeff Gordon (93), Bobby Allison (85), Darrell Waltrip (84), Jimmie Johnson (83), Cale Yarborough (83), Dale Earnhardt (76), Busch (63), Hamlin (63).   ⛳️ 43 spots   "Golf's Longest Day" came and went on Monday, when 43 golfers qualified for next week's U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. They'll join the 19 players who got through the first three final qualifiers two weeks earlier, as well as the remaining 94 golfers who will comprise the 156-player field.   Notable names: Among those who qualified on Monday were eight-time PGA Tour winner Billy Horschel, six-time winner Chris Kirk and 17-year-old Miles Russell, who got the job done with Charlie Woods on his bag. Tiger's son, also 17, is Russell's friend and future teammate, as both rising seniors have committed to play at Florida State.

📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: TUESDAY, JUNE 9 (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) 🏒 Stanley Cup Final, Game 4   Huge game tonight in Sin City (8pm ET, ABC), where the Golden Knights will look to take a 3-1 lead and the Hurricanes will try to even the series before it heads back to Raleigh.   Another thriller in store? Two of the first three games have gone to overtime, and all three have been decided by a single goal, making this the first Stanley Cup Final since 2016 — and the fifth in the last 45 years — to have each of the first three games decided by that margin.   🎾 Queen's Club Championships   Serena Williams returns to the court today in London (12:30pm, Tennis) for her first professional tennis match since the 2022 U.S. Open. She's playing doubles alongside Canadian teenager (and world No. 9) Victoria Mboko against Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez, the third-seeded pairing at the season's first grass-court tournament.   What she's saying: "It's really about my kids getting to see me play," the 23-time Grand Slam champion said on Sunday when discussing her return. Williams has not definitively said whether she'll play singles again, but she has already committed to next week's Berlin Open, and there's still a chance she could compete at Wimbledon next month.   More to watch: ⚾️ MLB: Yankees at Guardians (6:40pm, TBS/Prime) … New York (39-26) visits Cleveland (37-31) in a battle of AL contenders. 🏀 WNBA: Dream at Sky (7pm, ESPN) … Atlanta's Angel Reese, averaging 13.3 points and a league-high 11.7 rebounds, faces her former team for the first time. 🇺🇸 Friendly: Brazil vs. USWNT (8:30pm, TNT) … The Americans will look to rebound after falling 2-1 to the Brazilians on Saturday. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.

⚽️ USA 94 WORLD CUP TRIVIA The World Cup logo formed by performers during the Opening Ceremony in Chicago. (Todd Rosenberg/Allsport/Getty Images) The first World Cup on U.S. soil since 1994 kicks off in two days. Question: Who won that tournament? Hint: It was not their first victory. Answer at the bottom.

⚽️ WHO YA GOT? MAKE YOUR PICKS The world's biggest soccer tournament kicks off in two days! Pick your group stage winners now in 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em from Yahoo Sports and FOX One. How to play: Make picks each round, earn points for correct predictions and climb the leaderboard. You can play solo against the field, create a private group with friends to compete for bragging rights, or join a public group to play with other fans. Beat the expert: Think you can pick better than Alexi Lalas? Go head-to-head with the former USMNT player by joining his group (with a previous entry or a new one), and see how your predictions stack up.

🙏 YOUR TURN GOT 2 MINUTES? (Giphy) One quick favor before you go: If Yahoo Sports AM is part of your morning routine, we'd love to learn a little more about you. This short survey takes less than two minutes, and your feedback will help shape the future of the newsletter. Thank you!

Trivia answer: Brazil (over Italy in the Final)

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👋 Good morning! Happy Hump Day. America the Beautiful: My favorite thing on the internet right now is this German dude traveling around the South for the World Cup, experiencing America. Waffle House at 1am. Exploring Chattanooga. The majesty of college football stadiums. Best country in the world. In today's edition: Canes even the series, Serena wins in return, Messi on campus, TIME 100, Braden Montgomery's dream MLB debut, Miles outshines Fudd, World Cup Pick 'Em, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...

🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES 🎾 Serena wins in return: Serena Williams was victorious in her first professional tennis match since 2022, teaming up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko for a doubles win at the Queen's Club Championships. The 44-year-old plays again tomorrow in the quarterfinals. 🏀 Postgame violence: Knicks fans turned violent across New York City following Monday's loss, with 21 people arrested after a watch party in Bryant Park and several instances of Spurs fans being attacked. Players on both teams condemned the violence as "unacceptable." ⚽️ USA 1, Brazil 0: The USWNT exacted some revenge after Saturday's loss, earning a scrappy victory over a Brazilian side that saw eight red cards. The Americans won't take the field again until November, when they face El Salvador in the CONCACAF W Championship quarterfinals. 🏈 Mr. Merch: No NFL player sold more merchandise last season than Bills QB Josh Allen, who claimed the No. 1 spot on the NFLPA's year-end top 50 player sales list. Patriots QB Drake Maye, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels rounded out the top five. ⚾️ Freeman reaches milestone: Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman recorded his 2,500th career hit on Tuesday, making him the 102nd MLB player to reach that milestone. Next among active players is Jose Altuve (2,430 hits), who could join Freeman by season's end.

🏆 STANLEY CUP FINAL ANOTHER NIGHT, ANOTHER THRILLER (Zak Krill/NHLI via Getty Images) The Stanley Cup Final delivered yet another thriller on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, where the Hurricanes beat the Golden Knights, 5-3, to draw even as the series heads back to Raleigh. Series rewind: There's still a long way to go before a champion is crowned, but this series already has the feel of an all-time classic. Every game has been electric, with both teams taking turns mounting furious comebacks. Game 1: Vegas 5, Carolina 4 … Entering the night, road teams were 0-55 when trailing by multiple goals in Game 1 of the Cup Final. By night's end, they were 1-55. Game 2: Carolina 4, Vegas 3 (OT) … The Canes became the first team since 1944 to win a Cup Final game after trailing by multiple goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Game 3: Vegas 5, Carolina 4 (2OT) … One of the wildest comebacks ever (Canes down 4-0 in the third, scored three goals in 39 seconds) was thwarted by another sudden-death goal. Game 4: Carolina 5, Vegas 3 … The Knights erased a 3-1 first-period deficit to tie the game heading into the third, but the Canes regained the lead on Jordan Staal's diving goal. Best Cup Final ever? It's too early to answer that question, but the fact that we can even ask it is telling. To borrow from The Athletic's Sean McIndoe, being in the "best series ever" conversation at this point is like a baseball pitcher having a perfect game through six innings. Nothing historic has happened quite yet, but we're far enough along to recognize that something special might be brewing. And if you haven't been watching, it's time to tune in. Speaking of tuning in… There was a lot of talk about this series being a "ratings disaster" due to the lack of major markets. Boy, was that wrong. The first three games averaged 4.9 million viewers on ABC (+101% YoY), and Saturday's clash averaged 5 million viewers and peaked at 6.1 million, making it the most-watched Cup Final Game 3 since 2002.

⚽️ MESSI ON CAMPUS FÚTBOL MEETS FOOTBALL (Gustavo Pagano/Getty Images) Argentina blanked Iceland, 3-0, on Tuesday night at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium in a World Cup tuneup match that became a surreal collision of global soccer and college football culture. And yes, Lionel Messi scored. Lionel Messi always scores. Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports: Leo Messi has dazzled audiences around the world with his loping, graceful brilliance, inspiring and thrilling literally billions of soccer fans with feats that might never be equaled. But rarely has he ever entered a stadium where any magic spell he could possibly cast would be, at best, the field's second-most-legendary kick. Right there on the same Jordan-Hare field where Bo Jackson and Cam Newton led the Tigers to glory, where Chris Davis ran past 11 Alabama defenders and into history, Messi and Argentina challenged Iceland in a World Cup friendly. College football has always been the closest American equivalent to international soccer — football and fútbol, you might say — since both boast tribal, borderline fanatical fanbases that stretch back generations. Sure, there are some superficial differences — Argentina fans chant, Auburn fans tailgate — but the same basic sense of devotion and community runs through the bloodstreams of both. Plus, America's top football universities possess mammoth stadiums tailor-made to host massive crowds. College football stadiums may not have all the FIFA-required amenities and infrastructure to host an actual World Cup event, but for a friendly like this one, they present an ideal opportunity to introduce two disparate sporting crowds to each other's traditions.

🇺🇸 THROUGH THE LENS PHOTOS ACROSS AMERICA (Jayden Mack/Getty Images) Chicago, Illinois — Braden Montgomery's first career big league game ended with a bang, as he launched a walk-off home run in his MLB debut to lift the surging White Sox past the Braves in the 10th inning. Doesn't get much sweeter than that. On the rise: The South Siders (35-31) have won 17 of their last 20 home games to move within a half-game of the Guardians (37-32) for the AL Central lead. Quite the vibe shift for a team that went a combined 162-324 (.333) over the past three seasons. (David Berding/Getty Images) Minneapolis, Minnesota — The Lynx blew out the Wings, 100-76, to win their eighth straight game and improve to a WNBA-best 10-2. Leading the way was No. 2 pick Olivia Miles (24 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast), who far outplayed No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd (6 pts, 2-12 FG) and already looks like one of the best players in the league. Meanwhile, in Chicago: Angel Reese led the Dream past the Sky, 82-75, in her first regular-season game against her former team. Her 17 rebounds tied a season high and were more than Chicago's entire starting lineup combined (16). (Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Berea, Ohio — With NFL mandatory minicamps underway, all eyes are on the league's QB battles. One that's sure to generate headlines is Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders, which first-year Browns head coach Todd Monken says will likely bleed into training camp next month. What he's saying: "I would have hoped [to name a starter], but I like both of them," Monken said Tuesday. "I don't know what to say. It's really as simple as that. They've both played well enough to earn the right to compete to start."

💯💯💯 TIME 100: SPORTS FIGURES (TIME) LeBron James has been named "Athlete of the Century" by TIME, which released its inaugural list of the 100 most influential people in sports on Tuesday. Who made the cut? James led a list of athletes, owners, media members and more who represent a cross-section of a sports industry that "remains one of the last realms in which massive global audiences gather together in real time." Basketball was the most well-represented sport, with 14 people including James, Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, A'ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Mavericks president Masai Ujiri and ESPN insider Shams Charania. Soccer was a clear second, with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland and Trinity Rodman leading a group of eight players, alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The other "Big Four" leagues were represented by four NFL players (Saquon Barkley, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Myles Garrett, Fernando Mendoza) and commissioner Roger Goodell, two MLB players (Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge) and one NHL player (Jack Hughes). Plus: Other figures include golfers like Rory McIlroy and Nelly Korda, tennis stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, media moguls like Bill Simmons and Pat McAfee, business owners like Michael Rubin (Fanatics) and Will Ahmed (WHOOP), and even Prince Harry, who founded the Invictus Games for wounded military personnel.

📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 On Monday night, the Garden belonged to Wemby. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) 🏀 NBA Finals, Game 4   The Knicks host the Spurs tonight at Madison Square Garden (8:30pm ET, ABC), looking to rebound after seeing their 13-game winning streak snapped on Monday. Will New York take a commanding 3-1 lead? Or will San Antonio tie things up before heading back home?   Road warriors: The away team has won the first three games of the NBA Finals for just the second time ever. The first time was in 1993 between the Bulls and Suns, when Chicago broke the streak with a Game 4 victory at home before ultimately winning the series in six.   More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Sparks at Storm (10pm, USA) … Sparks star Kelsey Plum (25.5 ppg) trails only A'ja Wilson (25.9 ppg) on the scoring leaderboard. 👟 NCAA Track & Field: Championships (8pm, ESPN/ESPN2) … The four-day event begins at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.

⚽️ GOLDEN BOOT WORLD CUP TRIVIA Messi and Mbappé during the 2022 World Cup final. (Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) Lionel Messi (13 goals) and Kylian Mbappé (12) are both within striking distance of breaking the record for most goals scored in World Cup history (16). Question: Who holds that record? Hint: German. Answer at the bottom.

⚽️ WHO YA GOT? MAKE YOUR PICKS The world's biggest soccer tournament kicks off tomorrow! Pick your group stage winners now in 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em from Yahoo Sports and FOX One. How to play: Make picks each round, earn points for correct predictions and climb the leaderboard. You can play solo against the field, create a private group with friends to compete for bragging rights, or join a public group to play with other fans.

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Trivia answer: Miroslav Klose

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Knicks complete record rally from 29 points down and beat Spurs 107-106 for 3-1 NBA Finals lead

NEW YORK (AP) — A record-breaking comeback, capped off by what could go down as a legendary play.

https://apnews.com/article/nba-finals-spurs-knicks-game-4-ba83cdcb98f92d0c9fffd32a5745c97c?

NBA Finals

The New York Knicks staged the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday. Trailing by 29 points late in the third quarter, the Knicks stormed back to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4. They are now on the brink of their first championship in more than half a century, with a chance to clinch the title in Game 5 on Saturday. Read more.

ANALYSIS: The Miracle at MSG: What it was like to know you just saw something special

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👋 Good morning! I still can't wrap my head around the Knicks' win last night. Unreal. In today's edition: A comeback for the ages in New York (and San Francisco!), World Cup kicks off, Mahomes signs historic extension, Serena's comeback on pause, new MLB metric, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...

🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES ⚾️ Walk-off slam: The Giants staged the comeback of a lifetime against the Nationals on Wednesday, turning a 9-1 deficit entering the eighth inning into an 11-10 victory thanks to a walk-off grand slam from rookie Bryce Eldridge. The win snapped a 4,291-game losing streak (!!!) by teams down 8+ runs in the eighth inning or later. 🏈 Moneybags Mahomes: The Chiefs have added two years to Patrick Mahomes' existing contract, which will keep the two-time MVP in Kansas City through 2033 on a deal valued at $504.75 million — the NFL's first half-billion dollar contract. 🏀 All eyes on MSG: Monday's Knicks vs. Spurs game at Madison Square Garden was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 since Bulls vs. Jazz in 1998, averaging 23.8 million viewers (and peaking at 26.3 million) on ABC/ESPN. 🎾 Comeback stalled: Serena Williams' first tournament back has been cut short after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, injured her knee in Wednesday's singles match, forcing the pair to withdraw from today's quarterfinal at the Queen's Club Championships. 🏈 Sign of the times: USC is hiring a Director of AI to join its coaching staff, with last season's director of football analytics, Conor McQuiston, being elevated into the first-of-its-kind position. The exact parameters of the role are unknown at this time.

🏆 NBA FINALS THE GREATEST COMEBACK IN NBA HISTORY Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates after a victory he'll never forget. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) The Knicks pulled off a comeback for the ages on Wednesday night, rallying from a 29-point deficit to beat the Spurs, 107-106, and take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Absolutely incredible stuff. Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports: It can't be too easy to try to hype up a crowd that just watched the hometown team get absolutely decimated in the first half of an NBA Finals game. But that's why you pay professionals like the Wu-Tang Clan, you know? After the final song of their excellent set, as Wu-Tang exited the floor at Madison Square Garden, Method Man said, "Knicks in five, what y'all talking about?" In the moment, that optimism seemed wildly misplaced. The Knicks had spent most of the first half on tilt, unmoored, bereft of composure and answers against a Spurs team that was running them ragged. After giving up a Finals-record 14 first-half 3-pointers, missing eight free throws and logging as many turnovers as assists (seven), the Knicks went into intermission down by 27 points — the largest halftime deficit of any home team in NBA Finals history. The lead, and the gravity pulling the Knicks down from the soaring heights of taking a 2-0 lead on the road toward a crushing 2-2 tie without home-court advantage, seemed insurmountable. But through Wu-Tang, all things are possible. "Had to give 'em a little Wu-Tang prayer, nahmean?" Ghostface Killah told Yahoo Sports. God must be pretty into Wu-Tang. Wu-Tang Clan performs at halftime. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) What we witnessed in New York on Wednesday night was nothing short of the greatest comeback in NBA history. Oh, other teams have come back from larger deficits. The Jazz hold the regular-season record, trailing by 36 before beating the Nuggets in 1996. The Clippers have the playoff high-water mark, surging back from 31 down to knock off the Warriors in 2019. But this was Game 4 of the NBA Finals. This was the Knicks, after spending the last several days in vibe-shift hell, playing their worst basketball in months, watching their best chance to win a championship in three decades slip away. This was the Spurs, a bad-ass young team led by a once-in-a-lifetime game-changer whose time had evidently come, announcing their primacy and dominance by making their veteran opponents melt down and puke all over their shoes. This was history; when a De'Aaron Fox pull-up jumper pushed the lead to 29 a couple of minutes into the third quarter, it seemed like all that was left to decide was the final margin and just how early Knicks head Mike Brown would decide to pull his starters to start getting ready for Game 5 back in Texas. And against most teams, things probably would've played out that way. But not these Knicks. The game-winner: O.G. Anunoby tipped in a missed 3-pointer in the final seconds to lift the Knicks to victory. "Right hand of God," said Karl-Anthony Towns postgame. "That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball," added head coach Mike Brown. Further reading: Epic collapse leaves Wemby, Spurs searching for answers The 10 wildest numbers from the Knicks' historic comeback De'Aaron Fox's gaffe in final seconds helps give Game 4 away

⚽️ THE BEAUTIFUL GAME THE WORLD CUP HAS ARRIVED (Yahoo Sports) At long last, our wait is over. The 2026 World Cup is finally here. Bigger than ever: This year's tournament features a record 48 teams playing a record 104 matches across a record 39 days in a record three countries. The U.S. will host 78 of those matches across 11 cities, while Mexico (three cities) and Canada (two cities) will host 13 each. The field: Teams are split into 12 groups, and some are more stacked than others, as you can see below. To wit, seven groups (C, E, F, H, I, K, L) have multiple teams ranked higher in our power rankings than any in Groups A, B and D. But hey, that's why they play the games. Group A: Mexico (20), South Korea (22), Czechia (28), South Africa (37) Group B: Switzerland (18), Bosnia and Herzegovina (30), Canada (33), Qatar (45) Group 😄 Brazil (6), Morocco (11), Haiti (39), Scotland (40) Group 😧 USA (19), Turkey (21), Paraguay (27), Australia (34) Group E: Germany (7), Ecuador (13), Ivory Coast (26), Curaçao (42) Group F: Netherlands (8), Japan (17), Sweden (29), Tunisia (35) Group G: Belgium (9), Iran (23), Egypt (31), New Zealand (44) Group H: Spain (2), Uruguay (14), Saudi Arabia (38), Cape Verde (41) Group I: France (1), Senegal (12), Norway (16), Iraq (47) Group J: Argentina (3), Austria (25), Algeria (32), Jordan (48) Group K: Portugal (5), Colombia (10), DR Congo (43), Uzbekistan (46) Group L: England (4), Croatia (15), Ghana (24), Panama (36) Format and schedule: The Group Stage (June 11-27) will whittle the field down to 32 countries, with the top two teams in each group and the eight best third-place teams advancing to the Round of 32 (June 28-July 3). Then comes the Round of 16 (July 4-7), Quarterfinals (July 9-11), Semifinals (July 14-15) and Final (July 19). (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports) At a glance: Best teams: Spain has the best odds to win it all (+450), followed by France (+500), England (+700), Portugal (+800), Argentina (+900), Brazil (+900), Germany (+1400), Netherlands (+2000), Belgium (+3300) and Norway (+3300). Best players: Lamine Yamal (Spain), Kylian Mbappé (France), Harry Kane (England), Ousmane Dembélé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) are among the most notable names to watch. Best games: Brazil vs. Morocco (June 13), Netherlands vs. Japan (June 14), England vs. Croatia (June 17), Turkey vs. USA (June 25), Norway vs. France (June 26), Uruguay vs. Spain (June 26) and Colombia vs. Portugal (June 27) are among the biggest group stage matches. Predictions: Who gets the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, biggest disappointments, championship picks and more The action starts today, with Mexico hosting South Africa in the opener (3pm ET, Fox), and South Korea taking on Czechia this evening (10pm, FS1).

⚾️ SWING AND MISS NEW METRIC: WHIFF DISTANCE Behold, the biggest swing-and-miss on record, courtesy of Clayton Kershaw. (Baseball Savant) "He missed that by a mile!" is a popular phrase uttered by baseball viewers and broadcasters alike to describe a particularly egregious swing-and-miss. Well, we can now measure exactly how big that hyperbolic "mile" actually is. New metric: "Miss Distance" and "Swing Timing" are now available at MLB's Baseball Savant. The data, tracked since the 2023 All-Star Game, tells you how much any given pitch misses a bat by across three dimensions: above or below, inside or outside, and early or late. By the numbers: The average miss comes by three inches, and no pitchers induce bigger misses across their entire arsenal than Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz and Padres closer Mason Miller (7.0 inches). Miller stands alone with the filthiest individual pitch, though: His slider misses bats by an average of 10.7 inches, which helps explain his sterling 0.94 ERA. Some of the other best pitches by miss distance are Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh's sweeper (9.7), Reds starter Andrew Abbott's curve (9.3), Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen's sweeper (8.3) and Cruz's splitter (8.0). As you might expect, not all pitches are created equal. Offspeed and breaking pitches like forkballs (5.8), slurves (5.6) and sweepers (5.0) miss bats by the most, while four-seamers (1.0), sinkers (1.4) and cutters (2.1) miss by the least. Why does this matter? Missing by an inch yields the same result as missing by a foot, but the data shows that pitchers who miss bats by the greatest distance also tend to be most successful in other metrics. Makes sense; if you're elite at fooling hitters, the contact they eventually make is unlikely to be very good. Worth a watch: Here are the 10 most extreme whiffs on record, led by a vintage Clayton Kershaw curveball thrown last year, which landed well in front of the plate and missed Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio's bat by 57.5 inches (almost five feet!).

📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, JUNE 11 An aerial view of Estadio Azteca, aka Mexico City Stadium. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images) ⚽️ World Cup, Day 1   It all starts today, with tournament co-host Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico City (3pm ET, Fox), and South Korea vs. Czechia in Guadalajara (10pm, FS1).   Third time's the charm: Estadio Azteca (which will be called Mexico City Stadium for the duration of the tournament) is the first stadium ever to host three World Cup openers after also earning that honor in 1970 and 1986.   🏒 Stanley Cup Final, Game 5   The Hurricanes host the Golden Knights tonight (8pm, ABC) in the latest installment of a thrilling Cup Final. With the series knotted up, it's now a race to two wins.   Historic performances: Mitch Marner (Vegas) is the fifth player in the last 106 years to record eight or more points in his first four career Cup Final games, and Jordan Staal (Carolina) is the fourth player in the expansion era to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Cup Final.   More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Sky at Fever (7pm, Prime); Mercury at Wings (9pm, Prime) … The season reached its quarter-point this week. Who are the winners and losers so far? ⛳️ PGA: Canadian Open (7am, ESPN+; 3pm, Golf) … World No. 4 Matt Fitzpatrick headlines the field at TPC Toronto, one week out from the U.S. Open. ⛳️ LPGA: Dow Championship (11am, Golf) … World No. 1 Nelly Korda headlines the tour's lone team event at Michigan's Midland Country Club. ⚾️ MLB: Mariners at Orioles (7pm, ESPN) … Bryan Woo (3.74 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) starts for Seattle (36-33), which has won 11 of 15 to climb into first place in the AL West. 👟 NCAA Track & Field: Championships (8pm, ESPN2) … Day 2 of 4 at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.

⚽️ FLASHBACK WORLD CUP TRIVIA A goal is scored during the 1930 World Cup Final. (Keystone/Getty Images) The 23rd FIFA World Cup kicks off today in North America, 96 years after the inaugural event was held in 1930 in South America. Question: Who won that first tournament? Hint: They were also the host. Answer at the bottom.

⚽️ WHO YA GOT? MAKE YOUR PICKS The world's biggest soccer tournament has arrived! Pick your group stage winners now in 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em from Yahoo Sports and FOX One. How to play: Make picks each round, earn points for correct predictions and climb the leaderboard. You can play solo against the field, create a private group with friends to compete for bragging rights, or join a public group to play with other fans. Most popular picks so far… (Yahoo Sports)

Trivia answer: Uruguay (over Argentina in the Final)

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Perks of sports fandom

Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

It's Day 1 of the World Cup, and we're in the middle of an electric NBA Finals series. If you're staying up past bedtime to watch the action, here's some good news: Research suggests watching sports — especially live — comes with key health perks. "ports fandom seems to be a win for mental health," Veronique Greenwood writes for Time. 🔎 Zoom in: Helen Keyes, a psychologist at England's Anglia Ruskin University, analyzed survey data from thousands of people to understand how sports fandom affects wellbeing. Keyes and her team found that attending live sporting events boosted life satisfaction and lessened loneliness. Researchers discovered that attending games had an even greater positive effect on life satisfaction than being employed. 💰 Reality check: World Cup and NBA Finals tickets aren't cheap. But you don't have to be in the stadium to reap the benefits. Another study revealed that even watching sports on TV boosts life satisfaction, Time notes. Plus, Keyes and her colleagues found that the wellbeing benefits of live sports held across the spectrum — from professional matchups to local amateur games. 📺 The bottom line: Throw that watch party! It's good for you.

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> Serena Williams exits HSBC Championship, her first professional tournament since 2022, after her doubles partner withdraws due to a knee injury (More)

> "24 Jump Street" is in development, with Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, and Ice Cube in talks to return for the third installment of the "Jump Street" franchise; plus why "23 Jump Street" was never made (More)

> FIFA World Cup: Mexico's Julián Quiñones scores tournament's first goal, nutmegging South Africa's goalkeeper (Watch) | Bosnia-Herzegovina faces Canada at 3 pm ET today, while the US faces Paraguay in Los Angeles at 9 pm ET (More, w/schedule)