📰🏟️ Worst-ever Wimbledon
Plus: World Cup thrillers…
Good afternoon. Welcome back to another week full of top sports stories. Let’s rock and roll.
—Kyle
Breaking: LeBron James has told the Los Angeles Lakers that he’s returning for an unprecedented 24th NBA season—but he plans to play for a different team next year.
1) World Cup knockout stage continues
Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 with a game-winning goal in the 6th minute of injury time, advancing to the round-of-16.
Meanwhile, two European powerhouses were eliminated in penalty shootouts:
- Paraguay upset Germany on penalty kicks (4-3) after a 1-1 draw to earn the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup, with Paraguay’s president declaring today a national holiday.
- In the nightcap, Morocco beat 3x World Cup finalist the Netherlands on penalties (3-2) following another 1-1 draw.
Elimination games continue today with three matchups: France-Sweden, Ivory Coast-Norway, and Mexico-Ecuador.
Keep up with the latest action
2) Grizzlies trade Ja Morant to Trail Blazers
The Memphis Grizzlies reportedly agreed to trade 2x All-Star G Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in a swap for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
- Morant, 26, was once viewed as a rising NBA superstar who could help the Grizzlies compete for their first Finals appearance in franchise history.
- But he hasn’t played more than 6 straight games since 2023, amid a rash of injuries and suspensions for repeatedly flashing a gun on social media.
- The Morant trade is the latest in a series of moves around the NBA ahead of this afternoon’s 5 pm CT deadline, when free agency officially begins.
Did Memphis or Portland win the deal?
3) Britain suffers worst-ever Wimbledon opening day
The 2026 Wimbledon Championships kicked off yesterday with 10 men’s and women’s players from host country Britain being eliminated, a record high in tennis’ Open era.
- Additionally, 2 of Britain’s top contenders—Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper—were forced to withdraw from the tournament on Monday due to injury.
- The country’s woeful streak extended to 13 straight match losses earlier today, before wildcard Katie Swan finally delivered a win.
Home is where the heartbreak is
4) Premier Lacrosse League closes $100M in financing
The Premier Lacrosse League announced a $100M funding round yesterday led by Ares Sports and Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, who owns the Brooklyn Nets and WNBA’s NY Liberty.
- The league, which was founded in 2018 and consists of 8 teams across the US, also received investment from ESPN and actors Glen Powell and Rob Mac.
- The PLL says its latest funding round is aimed at growing the league before the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, which will include lacrosse for the first time since 1908.
Can pro lacrosse ascend to new heights?
5) Ex-NBA players, agent charged in gambling scheme
Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis, along with current NBA agent Paolo Zamorano, were among 6 defendants indicted yesterday for an alleged gambling scheme.
- Federal prosecutors charged them with conspiring to rig Beasley’s performance in at least 4 NBA games while on the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24 to win prop bets.
- The indictment includes examples of bets totaling $75K+ and winnings of at least $121K.
- On one notable occasion, Beasley recorded his 4th—and prop bet winning—rebound in the final second at a time when the game was effectively over.
Inside the NBA’s latest betting scandal
🔥🙌 In Partnership with Kalshi
Upsets and surprises shake up the World Cup race
As the Men’s World Cup unfolds, one question attracts attention: Who will lift the trophy?
More than $470 million has already flowed into Kalshi’s World Cup winner market as traders react to results, injuries, standout performances, and shifting tournament paths. Each match reshapes the odds and sparks new debate about who has the best chance to win.
As the first regulated exchange dedicated to trading on future events, Kalshi offers markets across sports, politics, entertainment, weather, and more.