The Minnesota Lynx became the first team to qualify for the WNBA playoffs this season after beating the Las Vegas Aces. The Lynx have the best record in the league and a clear lead for first place. Eight teams will make the playoffs, and the final spots and rankings are still being decided.
Key Facts
The Lynx won 98-87 against the Las Vegas Aces to secure a playoff spot.
Minnesota’s record is 27 wins and 7 losses.
Rookie guard Olivia Miles scored 26 points and had 7 assists in the game.
Kayla McBride set a WNBA record by making 10 three-point shots in a single game.
Eight WNBA teams will make the playoffs this season.
The current top eight teams include the Lynx, Valkyries, Aces, Fever, Mystics, Dream, Liberty, and Wings.
The Lynx have a 3.5 game lead over the second-place Golden State Valkyries.
The last few weeks of the regular season will determine playoff seedings among closely ranked teams.
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Caitlin Clark received a technical foul during a game but the WNBA later canceled the foul, so she will not miss any future games. Clark and her teammate Kelsey Mitchell helped the Indiana Fever win against the Chicago Sky and made WNBA history by scoring a record number of points as a duo.
Key Facts
Caitlin Clark got her eighth technical foul of the season during a game against the Chicago Sky.
The WNBA usually suspends a player after eight technical fouls, but they canceled Clark’s foul.
Clark bumped into a referee, which caused the technical foul.
The Indiana Fever won the game 90-86 on the road.
Clark scored 26 points, with 4 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in the game.
Her teammate, Kelsey Mitchell, scored 27 points along with several rebounds and assists.
Clark and Mitchell tied the WNBA record for the second-most 25-point games by a duo (8 times).
They scored a combined 516 points in their last 10 games, the highest ever for any duo in a 10-game stretch.
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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed condolences after the death of Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame coach and former player who passed away at age 86. Nelson had a career in the NBA spanning nearly 50 years as both a player and coach, achieving significant success and influence in the league.
Key Facts
Don Nelson died at the age of 86.
He won five NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics in the 1960s.
Nelson played for the Celtics, Lakers, and Chicago Zephyrs during his playing career.
He coached in the NBA for 31 years with four teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks.
Nelson won 1,335 games as a coach, the second-highest total in NBA history.
He was named NBA Coach of the Year three times (1983, 1985, and 1992).
Nelson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
He received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2025 NBA Finals.
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The Denver Broncos gave safety Brandon Jones a chance to try kicking field goals during practice as a backup option in case their main kicker, Wil Lutz, cannot play. Jones made three out of four attempts and has some soccer experience, though he has never kicked in football games before.
Key Facts
Wil Lutz is the Broncos' main kicker and will play his fourth season with the team this year.
Lutz missed a recent practice to attend Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame ceremony.
Brandon Jones, a safety, took field goal kicks during practice as a possible emergency kicker.
Jones made three of four field goal attempts in practice, including two from 35 yards.
Jones has not kicked field goals before in high school or college football but has played soccer.
Special teams coach Darren Rizzi tested Jones after hearing he joked about being able to kick.
Jones usually plays defense and recorded 78 tackles and one interception last season.
The Broncos hope not to rely on Jones for kicking in a real game, but he might be useful for special plays.
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The Detroit Lions signed Josh Dobbs as their new backup quarterback after Teddy Bridgewater decided to step away from football. Dobbs agreed to a one-year contract and has experience playing for several NFL teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots.
Key Facts
Teddy Bridgewater was originally signed by the Lions as backup to Jared Goff but chose to step away from the team.
Josh Dobbs signed a one-year deal worth $1.425 million, with $475,000 guaranteed, to be the Lions’ backup quarterback.
Dobbs played 13 games in 2023, including eight starts for the Arizona Cardinals with 1,569 passing yards and eight touchdowns.
He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in October 2023 and started four games there, winning two.
Dobbs also had short backup roles with the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots last season.
The Lions considered other quarterbacks like Jake Haener and Jack Plummer but chose Dobbs for his experience.
The team hopes that starting QB Jared Goff remains healthy during the season.
Dobbs entered the NFL in 2017 when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the fourth round of the draft.
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The Portland Fire basketball team changed Jordan Harrison’s contract from a development deal to a regular WNBA contract after she played well in six games. Harrison scored a career-high 13 points, with seven rebounds and six assists in her latest game against the Seattle Storm.
Key Facts
Jordan Harrison’s contract was upgraded from developmental to standard by the Portland Fire.
She played six games before receiving the new contract.
Harrison averaged 5.5 points, 3.8 assists, and 2 rebounds per game.
In her latest game, she scored 13 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and made 6 assists.
This was her best performance and most minutes played (28) in a single game.
Her increased playtime followed an injury to teammate Carla Leite.
The Fire had a roster spot available due to suspending Luisa Geiselsöder's contract for the season.
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Jacob Misiorowski, a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, became the second-fastest player in MLB history to reach 200 strikeouts in a single season. He achieved this milestone in 129 1/3 innings and currently leads all MLB pitchers with 204 strikeouts.
Key Facts
Misiorowski struck out Alan Roden of the Minnesota Twins to reach 200 strikeouts this season.
He reached 200 strikeouts in 129 1/3 innings, the second-fastest in MLB history.
The only pitcher to do it faster is Spencer Strider, who reached 200 strikeouts in 123 1/3 innings in 2023.
Misiorowski has 204 strikeouts for the season, leading all MLB pitchers.
He is the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award, which honors the best pitcher.
Misiorowski has a career-best earned run average (ERA) of 1.76 over 133 innings this season.
He is a two-time National League All-Star.
Misiorowski threw his first complete game, a one-hit shutout, against the Philadelphia Phillies in June.
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Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown said the team's defense is much stronger this year after improvements made during the offseason. The Bengals added key players and showed good teamwork in training camp, aiming to rank among the top defenses in the NFL for the upcoming season.
Key Facts
Last season, the Bengals' defense ranked next to last in yards allowed per game.
Chase Brown praised the defense’s progress during training camp, calling it a top 5 to top 10 defense.
The Bengals acquired Pro Bowl nose tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants.
They signed defensive end Boye Mafe for three years at $60 million after his Super Bowl win.
Safety Bryan Cook was signed for three years at $40.25 million, bringing two Super Bowl rings.
The Bengals picked defensive end Cashius Howell and cornerback Tacario Davis in the NFL Draft.
The team allowed 380.9 yards and 28.9 points per game last season, among the worst in the league.
The Bengals open their season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13.
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Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame NBA coach, died at age 86. Luka Doncic, a star player for the Los Angeles Lakers, honored Nelson on social media and spoke highly of his support for international players and their time together.
Key Facts
Don Nelson was a five-time NBA champion coach inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Nelson passed away on a recent Sunday at the age of 86.
Luka Doncic posted a tribute on X (formerly Twitter), expressing respect and gratitude for Nelson.
Don Nelson’s son, Donnie Nelson, was a Dallas Mavericks executive until 2021.
Donnie helped the Mavericks draft Luka Doncic in 2018 and had a strong relationship with him.
The Dallas Mavericks traded Doncic to the Lakers in 2024, a decision Don Nelson opposed.
Don Nelson protested the trade publicly by wearing Luka Doncic’s signature basketball shoes during the 2025 NBA Finals.
Nelson called trading Doncic a “tremendous mistake” by the Dallas franchise.
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Don Nelson, a Hall of Fame basketball coach and five-time NBA champion as a player, died on August 9 at age 86. He had a long career as a player and coach, known for his innovative coaching style called "Nellie Ball" and winning many games and awards.
Key Facts
Don Nelson was born on May 15, 1940, in Michigan and grew up in Illinois.
He was drafted into the NBA in 1962 and played mainly for the Boston Celtics.
Nelson won five NBA championships as a player with the Celtics.
After playing, he became a coach, leading teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors.
He was known for "Nellie Ball," a fast-paced, versatile style of basketball.
Nelson won NBA Coach of the Year three times and coached the U.S. team to a 1994 world championship gold medal.
He had 1,335 wins as a coach, ranking second all-time in NBA coaching victories.
Nelson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
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Dean Kennedy became connected with coach Bob Chesney after writing him a handwritten letter, which Chesney responded to with a note and donations to charities linked to Kennedy's family. This connection led to Kennedy working alongside Chesney at Holy Cross, then James Madison, and now UCLA, where Kennedy is the offensive coordinator.
Key Facts
Dean Kennedy wrote about 290 handwritten letters to coaches, receiving only two replies.
Bob Chesney was one of the coaches who replied with a handwritten note.
Chesney praised Kennedy and Florida's coaching staff in his response.
Chesney hired Kennedy as quarterbacks coach at Holy Cross a year after their letter exchange.
Kennedy got promoted to offensive coordinator at Holy Cross in 2023.
Chesney donated to two charities connected to Kennedy’s family: Christmas in the City and an ALS charity.
Chesney’s kindness influenced Kennedy’s view of him.
Now, both coaches are on UCLA’s coaching staff for the current season.
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Michael Brennan won the Wyndham Championship golf tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, with a strong finish of five straight birdies. This victory qualified him for the PGA Tour postseason, moving him from No. 105 to No. 47 in the FedEx Cup rankings.
Key Facts
Michael Brennan won the Wyndham Championship with a final round score of 6-under 64.
He made five straight birdies starting on the fourth hole, which helped him take the lead.
Brennan started the tournament one shot behind Beau Hossler.
Brennan’s win earned him a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs, which begin with the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Only the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualify for the playoffs; Brennan moved from No. 105 to No. 47.
Brennan is 24 years old, from Virginia, and played college golf at Wake Forest University.
Another player, Jackson Koivun, barely kept his playoff spot in the top 70 after finishing the tournament with some tension.
Brennan’s win is his second PGA Tour title in two years.
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Ty Gibbs won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway by using a smart pit stop strategy near the end of the race. He beat his teammate Christopher Bell by a very small margin to claim his second career victory.
Key Facts
Ty Gibbs won the race by 0.253 seconds over teammate Christopher Bell.
Both Gibbs and Bell pitted with 60 laps left, but Gibbs changed only two tires while Bell changed four.
Gibbs took the lead when Ross Chastain pitted near the end of the race.
Gibbs overcame a problem during his first pit stop that caused him to drop to 28th place.
Gibbs’s win was his second of the season and his career.
Christopher Bell finished second, marking his seventh time finishing second this season.
Ryan Blaney, the pole-sitter, finished third after leading the most laps (129).
The next NASCAR Cup Series race will take place at Richmond Raceway.
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The Atlanta Braves are reportedly interested in trading for CJ Abrams, a shortstop from the Washington Nationals, during the upcoming offseason. Abrams had a strong season with the Nationals, hitting 28 home runs and maintaining a batting average of .288 in 115 games.
Key Facts
CJ Abrams is a shortstop for the Washington Nationals.
The Atlanta Braves are considered a top possible destination for Abrams in the offseason.
Abrams played 115 games this season, hitting 28 home runs with 89 runs batted in (RBI).
He had 125 hits and a batting average of .288 this year.
Abrams is 25 years old and was a trade rumor candidate before the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline.
The Nationals may trade Abrams in the offseason to rebuild their team.
Acquiring Abrams would strengthen the Braves’ shortstop position and improve their lineup.
Other teams linked to Abrams include the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox.
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Cam Coleman, a wide receiver who transferred to Texas after a strong season at Auburn, made a spectacular one-handed catch during Texas football practice. The video of the catch became very popular online, showing Coleman's impressive skills and raising expectations for his performance with Texas.
Key Facts
Cam Coleman is a 6-foot-3 junior wide receiver who transferred from Auburn to Texas.
Last season at Auburn, Coleman caught 56 passes for 708 yards and scored five touchdowns.
Coleman is expected to be a key player alongside Ryan Wingo, both catching passes from Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
A video of Coleman making a one-handed catch during practice was posted on Texas football’s social media.
The video got 11.8 million views, 15,000 likes, and 2,500 reposts, and is still trending.
Football experts and fans praised Coleman's catch and potential contribution to Texas’s offense.
Some analysts believe Coleman could be a strong NFL prospect in the future.
The catch reminded viewers of plays by NFL star Odell Beckham Jr.
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Caleb Durbin, a key player for the Boston Red Sox, was given a rare day off during a game against the Athletics to rest. The team's interim manager, Chad Tracy, said Durbin and other players have been playing many games without breaks and need occasional rest to stay fresh.
Key Facts
Caleb Durbin is the Red Sox third baseman and has played in 109 of 116 games this season.
Durbin had a slow start but has become one of the team's best players since May.
His offensive stat called OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) improved to .728 after a weak start.
Manager Chad Tracy said the day off was just to give Durbin rest during a tough part of the season.
Other players like Ceddanne Rafaela and Andruw Monasterio will also need rest days.
Durbin was part of a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Red Sox during the offseason.
Red Sox fans hope Durbin’s absence is not a sign of a serious injury, as the team has sometimes downplayed injuries in the past.
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Teddy Bridgewater, a veteran quarterback for the Detroit Lions, has announced his retirement from professional football. He has played for multiple NFL teams during his career and will no longer be part of the Lions or any other NFL team.
Key Facts
Teddy Bridgewater was expected to be the backup quarterback for the Detroit Lions before retiring.
He previously announced retirement after the 2023 season but returned to play in 2024 and 2025.
Bridgewater has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Miami Dolphins.
The Lions' head coach, Dan Campbell, praised Bridgewater for his character and contributions to the team.
Bridgewater was the 32nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Over his career, he passed for 15,182 yards, 75 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.
He has not met the high expectations set when he was drafted but remained a valued teammate.
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Jose Mourinho revealed he initially agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United’s manager in 2013 but changed his mind and returned to Chelsea instead. Mourinho later became Manchester United’s manager in 2016 and is now managing Real Madrid again.
Key Facts
Mourinho agreed to become Manchester United manager after Ferguson retired in 2013.
He changed his mind because he wanted to honor his promise to Chelsea, where he had previously won two Premier League titles.
Ferguson confirmed Mourinho accepted the job but then backed out within hours.
Mourinho said his choice was based on needing to feel loved by the club, which he didn’t feel at United at that time.
Mourinho returned to Manchester United in 2016, winning the League Cup and Europa League before being fired in 2018.
Mourinho is currently back at Real Madrid, where he previously won La Liga and other trophies.
Mourinho had a difficult relationship with Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and several key players during his last stay at the club.
Former Real Madrid players said the strained relationship with Mourinho caused problems in the team.
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Indiana University's college football team, long known for losing, had a dramatic turnaround and finished an undefeated season by winning their first College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship. This success is credited to head coach Curt Cignetti's recruiting strategy and the use of the transfer portal to bring in proven players.
Key Facts
Indiana University football had the most losses in major college football history before this season.
The team finished the 2025 season undefeated and won the CFP National Championship.
Head coach Curt Cignetti valued recruiting players with proven game experience rather than just potential.
Cignetti used the NCAA transfer portal, where players seeking to change teams register, to recruit talent quickly.
An NCAA rule change now allows transfers to play immediately without waiting a year.
Former quarterback Fernando Mendoza and linebacker Aiden Fisher were among the transfers who helped improve the team.
Players transferred from lower-ranked programs and had a strong motivation to prove themselves.
Indiana beat the University of Miami 27-21 to win the national title in January 2026.
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Indiana University's football team has transformed from one of the worst programs in college football into a top contender, winning its first national championship. The team, led by coach and star quarterback Fernando Mendoza, has overcome a history of losing and low recruitment to achieve great success.
Key Facts
Indiana University football had more than 700 losses and was considered a losing program before this change.
The Hoosiers won their first national championship after an undefeated regular season and several postseason victories.
Fernando Mendoza, the team's quarterback, was once a middling player but recently won the Heisman Trophy and became the top NFL draft pick.
Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana, is 65 years old but now hosts a highly successful football team.
Historically, Indiana was known more for basketball than football and struggled to recruit offensive and defensive linemen.
The team defeated the then-defending national champion Ohio State to win the Big Ten title, their first conference championship since 1967.
The transformation was led by a new coach who was previously overlooked and worked with players not highly recruited.
Don Fischer, the longtime radio voice for Indiana football, describes the recent success as greater than a simple turnaround.
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