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🚨 HEADLINES
🏀 Wings survive, Dream advance: The Wings beat the Valkyries, ), to pressure Recreation 3 behind a WNBA postseason-record 45 factors from Arike Ogunbowale; the Dream cruised previous the Mystics, 5, to finish the sweep and advance to the semifinals.
🏈 CFP inches nearer to enlargement: School Soccer Playoff leaders y for the primary time since getting into right into a 30-day negotiating window with ESPN over an expanded discipline. The consensus: A doubling of the CFP to 24 groups appears like a foregone conclusion.
🏀 Historic viewership: Within the first yr of its new media deal, the WNBA posted its s since 2000. Video games averaged 771,000 viewers, up 17% in comparison with final yr, and a complete of 51 video games eclipsed 1 million viewers.
🏒 Penguins 7, Flyers 0: Wednesday's Battle of Pennsylvania was a r, with the visiting Penguins recording the most important highway shutout in a season opener in NHL historical past.
⚽️ Ronaldo leaves camp: Cristiano Ronaldo p on Wednesday following a reported rift with supervisor Jorge Jesus. His choice got here after studying he wouldn't be beginning right now's Nations League match towards Denmark.
See what else is trending on s.
🏈 FOOTBALL HEAVEN IS UPON US
Summer time could also be over, however the soccer gods have offered us with very reasonable compensation as fall will get underway: Beginning right now, there's a minimum of one NFL or faculty soccer recreation day-after-day for the subsequent 61 days. Hallelujah.
Video games we're most excited for: There are practically 1,000 video games scheduled between tonight's "Thursday Evening Soccer" matchup in Cleveland and "Monday Evening Soccer" on Nov. 30 in Tampa Bay. Listed below are 5 within the NFL and 5 in faculty we're notably excited to observe.
- Chiefs at Raiders (Oct. 4): For the primary time since each franchises debuted in 1960, they've each began the season 3-0. And so they simply so occur to be squaring off this Sunday.
- No. 2 Georgia at No. 7 Alabama (Oct. 10): The Bulldogs or Crimson Tide have gained every of the final six SEC championships, and look lots able to making that seven in a row.
- No. 8 Florida at No. 1 Texas (Oct. 17): The resurgent Gators and top-ranked Longhorns might need one thing to say about that, although.
- No. 5 Ohio State at No. 6 Indiana (Oct. 17): The Massive Ten title recreation rematch doubles as a really probably Massive Ten title recreation preview.
- Ravens at Payments (Nov. 1): I defy you to not get enthusiastic about Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson.
- No. 4 Miami at No. 3 Notre Dame (Nov. 7): The Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney present visits CJ Carr and the Irish in a battle of Heisman hopefuls.
- Steelers at Bengals (Nov. 15): Love him or hate him, Aaron Rodgers is likely one of the best gamers this recreation has ever seen. You would do worse than watching him tackle Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase.
- Vikings vs. 49ers (Nov. 22): "Sunday Evening Soccer" in Mexico Metropolis? Between arguably the 2 greatest groups within the NFC? Sure, please.
- NFL on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26): This trio of video games is just too good to select only one. Bears at Lions, Eagles at Cowboys, after which Chiefs at Payments in prime time. Fill your plate, discover a seat on the sofa, and luxuriate in.
- Michigan at No. 5 Ohio State (Nov. 28): Doesn't matter the yr. Doesn't matter their rating or information. "The Recreation" is at all times appointment tv.
Honorable point out: No. 23 UCLA at No. 15 Oregon (Oct. 10); No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 1 Texas (Oct. 24); Chiefs at Seahawks on "SNF" (Oct. 25); No. 8 Florida at No. 2 Georgia (Oct. 31); No. 7 Alabama at No. 11 LSU (Nov. 7); Raiders at 49ers (Nov. 8); Payments at Vikings on "MNF" (Nov. 9)
⚾️ IN PHOTOS: WILD CARD WEDNESDAY
4 groups had an opportunity to clinch their spot within the Division Sequence on Wednesday, and three obtained the job performed. Sorry, Braves — you've nonetheless obtained some work left to do.
Houston
Simply when it regarded just like the Astros would possibly claw again into this one, White Sox 2B Chase Meidroth r to provide Chicago the cushion it wanted for a series-clinching n. It's the primary playoff collection victory for the Southsiders for the reason that 2005 World Sequence.
Quote of the yr: "Think about a Jewish child from Brooklyn getting a letter from the Pope," White Sox proprietor Jerry Reinsdorf e, referencing the mail he acquired on Tuesday from Chicago native and Sox fan Pope Leo XIV. "I'm going to transform."
San Diego
The very best offense in baseball was no match for the game's hottest group, because the Padres once more s in a 4-1 win to finish the sweep behind a r from Gavin Sheets and 5.2 shutout innings from the bullpen.
Disappearing act: The cruelty of the postseason is that something can occur over a sufficiently small pattern, and the Cubs simply grew to become the primary group in MLB historical past to guide the majors in scoring throughout the common season after which rating one or fewer runs in a playoff collection.
New York
Properly, that wasn't even somewhat shut. After successful 9-0 in Recreation 1, the Yankees completed the job with a t in Recreation 2, eliminating the Pink Sox for the second straight season. The exclamation level got here courtesy of Cody Bellinger, whose r turned the win right into a laugher.
By the numbers: The Yankees out-hit the Pink Sox on this collection, 26-7, and outscored them 18-2, proving s.
Atlanta
There's by no means a boring second when the Braves and Phillies meet on the diamond, and this was no exception as Philly stored its season alive with three late homers — together with the m — to safe a 4-3 comeback victory within the Tenth inning. They'll be again on the market tonight for Recreation 3.
Bryce's redemption: Philly practically fumbled the sport away after Bryce Harper's l within the seventh inning gave Atlanta the lead. However then Kyle Schwarber and Harper went back-to-back to open the eighth inning and set the stage for Bohm's later heroics. "I wasn't not making an attempt to hit a homer, I can let you know that," d with a smile postgame.
🏈 NFL POWER RANKINGS
This week's s characteristic two newcomers to the High 10, with the Broncos climbing to No. 8 and the Raiders — make that the undefeated Raiders — leaping all the way in which to No. 10 after matching their total 2025 win complete simply three weeks into the season.
Up and down: The largest risers this week had been the aforementioned No. 10 Raiders (up 8 spots), the No. 23 Falcons (up 8), the No. 17 Steelers (up 6) and the No. 21 Commanders (up 6). The largest fallers had been the No. 22 Patriots (down 11), the No. 12 Bengals (down 7), and a quartet of groups who fell 5 spots every: No. 14 Eagles, No. 24 Texans, No. 25 Packers and No. 30 Buccaneers.
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🏒 THE PUCK DROPPED, BUT VALUATIONS DIDN'T
Earlier than the season's first puck dropped on Tuesday night time, Kurt Badenhausen and the group at Sportico launched their s. Not like the puck, none of these dropped.
By the numbers: The typical NHL group valuation is $2.43 billion, up 16% from the prior yr. Collectively, the league's 32 franchises are price $78 billion.
- Most worthy: Maple Leafs ($4.8B)
- Least invaluable: Blue Jackets ($1.5B)
- Largest gainer: Islanders (+40%)*
In good firm: NHL group valuations have grown 160% over the past 5 years, trailing solely the NFL's 166% among the many "Massive 4" leagues and climbing into competitors with MLB. The NHL's lowest group valuation (Blue Jackets, $1.5B) is now barely increased than the bottom in Sportico's MLB rankings (Marlins, $1.45B). The NHL's enchantment has elevated partly due to a relatively steady and ownership-friendly CBA.
This piece first appeared in n of Yahoo Sports activities Biz, our new sports activities enterprise publication. e to get on the listing.
*The Islanders not too long ago reached an settlement to promote roughly 15% of the group to a number of traders at a $3 billion valuation, in accordance with Sportico.
📺 WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, OCT. 1
⚾️ Phillies at Braves, Recreation 3
Atlanta hosts Philadelphia tonight (8pm ET, NBC) with the final spot within the Division Sequence on the road. Winner strikes on to face the Dodgers, loser goes dwelling.
Can Atlanta finish its drought? The Braves are 0-3 in postseason collection since successful the 2021 World Sequence, and two of these three losses got here towards the Phillies. Will their NL East rivals get the most effective of them once more?
🏀 WNBA Playoffs
It's y(9pm, USA), the place the defending champion Aces host the Fever for a spot within the semifinals.
Stars collide: In Recreation 1, A'ja Wilson grew to become the primary participant in WNBA historical past with a minimum of 35 factors, 15 rebounds and 75% taking pictures in a recreation. In Recreation 2, Caitlin Clark grew to become the primary participant in WNBA historical past with a minimum of 25 factors and 15 assists in a recreation. What sort of historical past will we see tonight?
🏈 Steelers at Browns
Cleveland hosts Pittsburgh on "Thursday Evening Soccer" (8:15pm, Prime) in a matchup of two groups unexpectedly sitting at 2-1.
Pittsburgh's highway woes: Can the Steelers reverse their fortunes at Huntington Financial institution Subject? They've gained simply certainly one of their final eight video games in Cleveland courting again to 2018, with three of these losses approaching Thursday nights.
Extra to observe:
- 🏒 NHL: Lightning at Rangers (7pm, ESPN+); Panthers at Sharks (10pm, ESPN+) … Reigning Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov (TB) and younger celebrity Macklin Celebrini (SJ) make their season debuts.
- ⛳️ PGA: Financial institution of Utah Championship (9:45am, ESPN+; 5pm, Golf) … Jackson Koivun and Max Homa headline the sphere at Black Desert Resort.
- ⚽️ Girls's Champions League: Man Metropolis vs. Actual Madrid (3pm, Paramount+) … Considered one of s to shut out Matchday 2.
Bought plans tonight? Gametime is the most effective place to attain last-minute tickets to the occasions in your metropolis. !
🏀 TRIVIA TIME
D'Angelo Russell, the No. 2 decide within the 2015 NBA Draft, is leaving the NBA and s of the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation.
Query: Who was the No. 1 decide within the 2015 Draft?
Trace: Timberwolves.
Reply on the backside.
🏀 FANTASY BASKETBALL IS BACK!
Yahoo Fantasy Basketball is again! The NBA season suggestions off in slightly below three weeks, however there's no time like the current to d. Play in a personal league or be part of a public one to compete towards different followers all season lengthy.
Strive "Excessive Rating": Conventional codecs stay accessible, however e provides a streamlined model of the sport when you really feel like a change of tempo that's much less of a each day grind. Rosters are trimmed to 10 gamers and weekly lineups are restricted to simply six starters, with solely their highest-scoring recreation of the week counting towards your complete.
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Trivia reply: Karl-Anthony Cities
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