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🏀 5 things you need to know on Wednesday
- The LeBron James era is over for the Lakers. There will be no ninth year in which King James wears a Lakers jersey. The biggest dominoes of NBA free agency so far It fell yesterday when James hit the open market, I told the team I intended to sign elsewhere.. While his accomplishments in Los Angeles are still in the dust, it’s never too early to consider which franchise will be lucky enough to develop his talents. The Warriors have been linked to him in recent days. and clearly a favorite to carry him But these other teams would also be logical landing spots.. Not all NBA writers are convinced about Golden State presents the most interesting situationsBut I can’t help but drool at the idea of James, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzisis. Everyone Teams Up in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, the Lakers need to rebuild their identity. And their top priorities are already clear. and we got yours Free agency winners and losers.
- Kawhi Leonard will be traded back to the Raptors. The NBA offseason isn’t just about signing free agents. An absolutely blockbuster trade between the Clippers and Raptors will see Leonard return north seven years after leaving Toronto. This is a home run move for Los Angeles in that it leverages Leonard’s value and secures Brandon Ingram, Grady Dick and a number of draft picks (including unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033) in return. Our trade performance reflects how far ahead the Clippers are Due to parting ways with the seven-time All-Star, Someone who didn’t live up to expectations at all Throughout his seven years with the team.
- Serena Williams and Ben Shelton will not play at Wimbledon. For two of America’s biggest names, their stay in the tournament was short-lived. Neither Williams nor Shelton could make it through the opening round. Because of Tuesday’s loss. Williams still has at least one doubles match left, though. But her run in the singles field is over One game left until her return. She lost in three sets to 20-year-old Maya Joynt in her first singles match in four years. Shelton is the highest-seeded American male player at Wimbledon. Lost to Otto Virtanen in 5 sets Despite going into play perceived as at least a threat to return to the quarterfinals. What’s left in the bracket Second round matches start today.
- Kylian Mbappé kept France moving to highlight Tuesday’s World Cup match. Three more teams advance to the Round of 16: Norway, France and Mexico. Mbappe again It was shining as brightly as any star The players who were active throughout the three games recorded two more games (third game of this tournament). Les Bleus defeat Sweden 3-0. His fifth and sixth goals at the World Cup put him at the front of the Golden Boot race alongside Lionel Messi and put him one goal ahead of Messi’s pace on the tournament’s all-time leaderboard. And at yesterday’s nightcap, Mexico became the second host nation. Send the national team to the round of 16 They won 2-0 against Ecuador. Will the US be next? The USMNT returns to action tonight against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- NHL free agency begins today. The NBA isn’t the only league to enjoy free agency. The 2026 class hasn’t been as eye-catching as others in recent years, but there are still some big names who could make a breakthrough. We ranked the top 30 free agents.Ahead of the game, which is expected to feature offseason performances, including several Stanley Cup champion goaltenders.
🏆Don’t miss this: Who had the best year in college sports?
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There are football schools, there are basketball schools, and in a very small number of cases there are so-called “everything schools.” In modern college athletics, the strongest brands and wealthiest athletic departments often dominate the entire sport. This was most evident in the 2025-2026 academic year, which officially ended.
I have created a formula to determine. Which Power Four schools have had the most success in the six major sports? And it turns out that one athletic department is head and shoulders above the rest. congratulations texas To have the best year in major college sports! Our own Cody Nagel explained the characteristics of the Longhorn.
- Nagel: “The Longhorns posted a regular season winning percentage of .750 or higher in five of six sports and accumulated 100 more postseason points than any other Power Four school. Texas was consistently strong across the board, but the biggest highlight was softball, where the Longhorns won the Women’s College World Series for the second straight year.”
The top nine schools were all from the SEC or Big Ten, but all four leagues featured in the top 25. In fact, the Big 12 dominated the 20th to 25th place range.
20. arizona
twenty one. virginia
twenty two. University of Southern California
twenty three. iowa
twenty four. arizona
twenty five. Kansas
⚾ White Sox write greatest first-half success story in AL history
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Almost nothing has gone according to script in the American League this year. More than 50% of regular-season games have been completed, and nearly every team considered a preseason contender is in the midst of a dramatically underperforming campaign. On the other hand, the team white socks All their expectations were subverted.
Chicago is One of two clubs to earn an ‘A’ rating Thanks to an incredibly quick turnaround that no one expected, it’s on the MLB interim report card. Remember, it was only two years ago that the White Sox set the modern record for most losses in a single season.
Matt Snyder on his sudden rise from the Southsiders.
- Cheat: “After losing 121 games the year before last and 102 games last season, the White Sox are not only over .500, they’re competing for a division title. This is a monster win for the franchise. Victories are all about landings.” Munetaka Murakami It was a complete coup, miguel vargas Blooming into a star, colson montgomery He has already hit 20 home runs. There are questions about the rotation, but this White Sox team is clearly ahead of schedule.
On the other end of the spectrum, neither of the current ALCS participants has led the division through 86 games. of blue jays He has achieved an astonishing record of 11 games in the AL East Division. mariners They are trying to make a comeback in the American League West, which is the worst district in baseball. Neither of them achieved a passing score.
👍👎 The best (and not the best) of the rest
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📺 What I’m Watching on Wednesday
🎾Wimbledon 2nd round, 6am on ESPN
⚽ World Cup: England vs. Democratic Republic of the Congo; fox noon
⚾ White Sox vs. Orioles, 12:35pm on MLB Network
⚾ Yankees Tigers, Peacock 1:35 p.m.
⚾ Mets vs. Blue Jays, 3:07pm on ESPN Unlimited
⚾ Cubs Padres, 3:30 p.m. on MLB Network
⚽World Cup: Belgium vs. Senegal, FS1 4pm
⚽World Cup: USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 8pm on Fox
⚾ Brewers Reds, 8:10 p.m. on MLB Network
