Yoshinobu Yamamoto Leads Dodgers to a 2-0 Victory in National League CS; NBA Top 100 Unveiled; Pete Prisco Releases NFL Power Rankings

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🏆 Top 5 Highlights for Wednesday

1. UEFA Women’s Champions League Round 2 kicks off on Paramount+
   The second round of the UWCL features four matches today, all streaming on Paramount+. OL Lyon, Wolfsburg, and Barcelona aim to secure back-to-back wins, setting themselves up strongly with a third of the group stage games left. Chelsea looks to recover after a recent 1-1 tie against Twente. You can check out the full Round 2 schedule and follow league standings and storylines on the platform.

2. Dodgers take a commanding 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series
   Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a complete game to lead the Dodgers to a 5-1 win over the Brewers. This marked the first complete postseason game pitched by a Dodgers player since 2004 and only the second since 2017. The Brewers face a tough challenge, as historically only five teams have come back from a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-seven LCS.

3. UConn tops preseason women’s basketball rankings
   The AP released its initial Top 25 of the season, placing UConn as No. 1 for the first time since 2017. South Carolina shares the spotlight as the only other team to earn first-place votes. Despite losing Chloe Kitts to a season-ending injury, coach Dawn Staley remains confident in her roster’s resilience.

4. Alex Bregman opts out of his Red Sox contract
   After a strong season in Boston despite quad injury setbacks, Bregman plans to enter free agency this offseason. Coming off a 3.5 WAR and his third All-Star selection, he’s set to seek a potentially bigger contract, having been slated to earn $41.67 million annually for the next two years.

5. Jason Kidd extends his contract with the Dallas Mavericks
   Kidd will continue coaching the Mavericks on a multi-year deal. The extension wasn’t unexpected following a recent lock-in before the season and the Knicks’ failed attempts to interview him. Kidd’s experience includes a recent NBA Finals appearance, and he’ll guide a promising squad featuring top prospect Cooper Flagg for the 2025-26 season.

🏀 NBA Top 100 Players for 2025-26

The season-opening player rankings spotlight key stars as the NBA season nears. Oklahoma City Thunder lead with seven players in the top 100 following their finals run last year. Amen Thompson most improved, climbing 66 spots to #35, while Julie Holiday fell 47 places to 79th.

The elite top 10 players include:

1. Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
3. Luka Doncic (Lakers)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
5. Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
6. Stephen Curry (Warriors)
7. Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
8. Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
9. Kevin Durant (Rockets)
10. LeBron James (Lakers)

Analyst Sam Quinn emphasizes Jokic’s exceptional skills, calling him the “unquestioned alpha of the NBA” for his ability to make seemingly impossible plays.

📈📉 Pete Prisco’s Week 7 NFL Power Rankings

A new No. 1 emerges as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take the top spot. With Baker Mayfield showcasing MVP-caliber play, Tampa Bay stands as the only NFC team holding a 5-1 record despite injury troubles.

The Philadelphia Eagles dropped 10 spots due to poor cohesion, while the Seahawks bounced back with a seven-place leap after a key win. Prisco highlights Seattle’s defensive dominance and quarterback Sam Darnold’s affinity for deep throws.

Top 10 NFL teams this week:

1. Buccaneers (prev. 4)
2. Packers (7)
3. Steelers (5)
4. Colts (6)
5. Lions (1)
6. Broncos (10)
7. Seahawks (14)
8. Rams (11)
9. Patriots (13)
10. Bills (3)

👍👎 Other Notable Sports Updates

• Bears’ Jaume Mouret hospitalized as a precaution for a groin injury despite Monday Night Football win.
• US Men’s National Soccer Team finished strong, beating Australia 2-1 with Haji Wright scoring both goals.
• Titans search for new coach; Chiefs and Steelers coordinators under consideration.
• PSU reportedly interested in Matt Rhule for coach, but there’s debate over his fit.
• South Africa and Qatar qualify for the World Cup along with 48 other teams.
• Amanda Serrano scheduled for featherweight rematch vs. Erica Cruz in January.
• Portland’s WNBA expansion team expected to hire Cavaliers assistant Alex Salama as inaugural coach.
• Duke voted preseason top ACC men’s basketball team.
• Ravens expected to release defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo plans to end his career playing in Greece.
• Former NFL Pro Bowler Charles Leno retires two years after personal tragedy.
• Jets legend Nick Mangold seeks kidney donor publicly.
• Gordon Hayward joins Butler as executive basketball advisor.

📺 What to Watch Wednesday

• UEFA Women’s Champions League: St. Pölten vs. OL Lyon at 12:45 PM on Paramount+
• UEFA Women’s Champions League: Wolfsburg vs. Valerenga at 12:45 PM on CBS Sports Golazo Network and Paramount+
• Paris FC vs. Chelsea at 3 PM on Paramount+
• Barcelona vs. Roma at 3 PM on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+
• Twente vs. Leuven at 3 PM on CBS Sports Golazo Network and Paramount+
• Sam Houston vs. UTEP at 7 PM on CBS Sports Network
• Jacksonville vs. Delaware at 7 PM on ESPN
• Red Wings vs. Panthers at 7 PM on TNT
• Raptors vs. Celtics Preseason at 7:30 PM on NBA TV
• ALCS Game 3: Blue Jays vs. Mariners at 8:08 PM on FS1
• Blues vs. Blackhawks at 9:30 PM on TNT
• Mavericks vs. Lakers Preseason at 10:30 PM on ESPN

Fan Take:

For Fighting fans, staying updated on the evolving sports landscape highlights opportunities and challenges across leagues, from the powerhouse performances in women’s soccer to pivotal moves in the NBA and NFL. This news signals exciting shifts in team dynamics and player legacies, underscoring how the sports world continues to evolve with fresh talent and strategic decisions that could redefine future championships.