📰🏟️ NBA free-agent bonanza
Plus: Serena falls in singles return…
Good afternoon. Today’s edition brings you the top news from around the sports world. Just keep scrolling.
—Kyle
P.S.: We’ll be off tomorrow for the July 4 holiday, but back in your inbox on Tuesday.
1) Norway, France, Mexico advance in World Cup
Norway won a World Cup knockout match for the first time in history yesterday, with star striker Erling Haaland netting the game-winner in the 86th minute of a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
- Kylian Mbappé struck twice in France’s 3-0 win over Sweden, setting a record for WC knockout stage goals (10) and drawing within 1 of Lionel Messi’s record 19 goals overall.
- Mexico won its first knockout game in 40 years in the nightcap, defeating Ecuador 2-0 in front of a raucous crowd of 80K+ fans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
- Team USA faces Bosnia and Herzegovina tonight at 7 pm ET in a “win or go home” match to qualify for the round-of-16.
What to know ahead of USA’s showdown
2) NBA free agency action is heating up
The NBA free agency period has picked up in intensity this morning, following a relatively quiet first night. According to recent reports from today:
- The Utah Jazz traded C Walker Kessler to the LA Lakers for two 1st-round picks and two 1st-round swaps, with the Lakers signing Kessler to a 4-yr, $130M contract.
- C Mitchell Robinson is leaving the NBA champion NY Knicks to sign a 3-yr, $47M contract with the rival Boston Celtics.
- G Norman Powell signed a 2-yr, $45M deal to join the Chicago Bulls, after an All-Star season with the Miami Heat.
- PF John Collins agreed to a 3-yr, $51M contract with the Detroit Pistons.
- G Quentin Grimes signed a 4-yr, $60M deal with the LA Lakers.
3) Serena Williams falls in return to Wimbledon singles
Serena Williams made her much-anticipated return to the singles stage after 4 years at Wimbledon yesterday, but fell short in 3 sets to 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint.
- Earlier today, Williams, 44, said she tweaked her knee during the singles match, but still aims to play Wimbledon doubles alongside her sister Venus.
- Wimbledon Day 3 action is already in full swing; men’s #1-seed Jannik Sinner, #7 Novak Djokovic, and women’s #7 Coco Gauff all survived tough challenges, while women’s #1 Aryna Sabalenka advanced with ease.
Latest updates from the All England Club
4) Blackhawks’ Bowen Byram signs record $75M extension
The Chicago Blackhawks are signing defenseman Bowen Byram to a 6-yr, $75M contract extension, ESPN reported this morning.
- The average annual value of $12.5M, which kicks in for the 2027-28 season, would make Byram the highest-paid defenseman in NHL history.
- It comes days after the Blackhawks traded the #4 and #45 picks in last week’s draft, along with defenseman Louis Crevier, to acquire Byram and LW Jordan Greenway from the Buffalo Sabres.
Bowen Byram bags the big bucks
5) NY Liberty win 2nd WNBA Commissioner’s Cup
The Liberty became the first WNBA team to win multiple Commissioner’s Cups with last night’s 93-85 win over the Las Vegas Aces, who were missing injured superstar A’ja Wilson.
- New York, led by game MVP Breanna Stewart, will earn the lion’s share of the $500K prize pool awarded for the WNBA’s 6th annual in-season tournament.
- The game doesn’t count toward either team's season record, with both squads currently ranked 2nd in their respective conferences.
How the Liberty won the trophy
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