Sports
Superwoman Napheesa Collier Can Deliver Minnesota Lynx WNBA Championship
To complete a sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in a best-of-three opening-round playoff series, the Minnesota Lynx needed a herculean effort from its lone Olympian, Napheesa Collier.
The sixth-year forward from UConn delivered.
Collier’s career-high 38 points in a seven-point Game 1 victory was followed by resetting her personal best: 42 points in a decisive 13-point Game 2 win. Collier is the first player in the history of the WNBA to score at least 35 points or more in two consecutive playoff games.
Think about that—the history of the WNBA.
Collier did something so impressive that it’s never been accomplished before by anyone. Not Sheryl Swoopes or Lisa Leslie. Not Diana Taurasi or Sue Bird. Not Lauren Jackson or Cynthia Cooper.
Collier stands alone in this exclusive club.
She scored 80 points in the Lynx’s wins over the Mercury, marking the club’s first playoff series win since the 2020 bubble. And she did it in an incredibly efficient fashion, shooting 25-of-39 from the floor, a 64 percent clip, while also making 25-of-28 free throws and 5-of-8 3-pointers. And in 77 combined minutes of play, she had just four turnovers to eight assists.
Collier is playing some of the best basketball of her career.
The question is: Is that enough to lead the Lynx to a WNBA title?
Consider that, if A’ja Wilson didn’t exist, Collier probably would’ve been the league MVP this season. Wilson won the award unanimously—and deservedly so—but Collier finished second with 467 voting points, a sizable margin in front of Breanna Stewart’s 295 points in third place. And in addition to her wild scoring totals over the Mercury, Collier is seen by many as the top defensive player in the WNBA, as evidenced by the AP voting her Defensive Player of the Year.
“I definitely think that Phee should definitely be getting kind of more attention than she’s gotten,” Stewart, Collier’s teammate at UConn, told the Washington Post. “Especially this year, just the way that she’s consistently been at the top from start to finish. People need to appreciate her game.”
In addition to her 20.4 points per game, which is fifth-best in the WNBA, Collier is averaging career highs in rebounds (9.7), assists (3.4) and blocks (1.4) per game. There’s an argument to be made that the 6-foot-1 forward from Missouri is seeing the game better than she ever has.
And back to defense for a moment, Collier is second in the WNBA in defensive win shares (2.9) and defensive rating (89.2), both of which are career-bests for her.
With Collier leading the way, Minnesota went 30-10 in the regular season, posting its best win percentage since 2017 when it went 27-7. Want to guess how that season ended for the Lynx? They won the Finals, marking their fourth championship under the guidance of Cheryl Reeve.
Since that era of Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson ended, the Lynx have been searching for a new face-of-the-franchise. It wasn’t obvious at the time in 2019 that Collier would become that when they selected her with the sixth overall pick of the draft, but it’s crystal clear now that she is. In addition to winning a gold medal this summer on a Reeve-coached Team USA squad, Collier was named to her fourth all-star team and is a lock to make her second straight All-WNBA First Team.
Collier has also already led the Lynx to capturing some hardware. Earlier this season, the Lynx went 4-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play and then, behind 21 points, six assists and six rebounds from Collier, beat the New York Liberty 94-89 for the trophy, while Collier was named the mid-season tournament’s MVP.
“She’s like an amoeba,” Reeve said of Collier. “If they’re going to let her be in the paint, then she’s going to find herself in the paint. She can screen; she can roll. She understands how to play in movement, be on the perimeter, and shoot the basketball. She’s shooting the three well. She just finds different ways to impact the game based on what’s dictated.”
The Liberty are the No. 1 overall seed in these WNBA Playoffs, but—counting the Commissioner’s Cup title game—the Lynx went 3-1 against them in the regular season. The Lynx also went 3-1 against the two-time reigning champs, the Las Vegas Aces.
Seemingly, the biggest hurdle remaining for Collier and the Lynx is their opponent in the semifinals, the Connecticut Sun. The Lynx went 1-2 against the Sun in the regular season, but those games were decided by an average of 2.6 points and Collier played just 24 minutes in a July 4 loss to Connecticut.
With a strong supporting cast around Collier of fellow all-star Kayla McBride, combined with Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams and Myisha Hines-Allen, the sky seems to be the limit for the Lynx. If they can get past the Sun in the semifinals, adding to Reeve’s collection of championships seems increasingly possible.
Sports
Another Tiger possibly on trade block, Casey Mize, faces Royals
Jul 19, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) pitches during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images The possibility of Tarik Skubal getting traded has loomed over the Tigers all season. But another key Detroit starter and impending free agent, Casey Mize, also could swap out uniforms if the Tigers choose to sell before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Mize could be making his last appearance with the club when the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon.
The 29-year-old right-hander has battled groin tightness at various times this season, but when he’s been on the mound, he has delivered quality innings. Mize (4-6, 2.79 ERA) has allowed two or fewer runs in 11 of his 15 starts.
Mize had his latest start, his first after the All-Star break, cut short when a comebacker from Los Angeles Angels’ Jo Adell struck his left wrist. He exited after 3 1/3 innings but didn’t have any lingering effects from the injury.
“I’m good,” Mize said, according to the Detroit News. “I (am) looking forward to Saturday. We’ve been checking all the boxes that we need to and I’m feeling good.”
Mize, who gave up one run and five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in Anaheim, Calif., is not dwelling on the trade speculation.
“Where we are as a team makes that more simple (to deal with),” Mize said. “There are so many unknowns. We’re in a 10-game sprint right now, and it takes tons of focus on what we’re doing here and now, day to day. That’s kind of how I’ve always played, so that makes it pretty easy to focus on that instead of the other stuff. I’m just leaning on that and really caring about what we’re doing right now.”
Mize hasn’t faced the Royals this season, but he has made more career starts against them than any other club. He is 3-2 with a 4.97 ERA in 13 starts vs. Kansas City. Royals catcher Salvador Perez has a .424 average with five extra-base hits against him in 33 at-bats.
Michael Wacha (5-7, 3.66) will start for the Royals. Wacha was sharp in his first start after his All-Star appearance, holding San Francisco to one run and three hits in six innings on Monday.
The 35-year-old right-hander had one of his best outings of the season against the Tigers on May 9, tossing seven scoreless innings. He only allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six.
In 11 career starts against Detroit, he is 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA.
Like Mize, Wacha is a potential trade candidate, as is another veteran Royals starter, Seth Lugo. Wacha is signed through next season with a club option for 2028.
“We’ll be open-minded to anything,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “But we have to be very, very pointed on what we want to get out of any one of those two. And it’s also, they made a commitment to us, and that’s big. And I think that’s important to the morale of the team.”
The Tigers have won three straight, including the first two games of the current four-game series. Skubal struck out 12 in 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball during the Tigers’ 2-1 victory on Friday.
Kansas City had won three straight prior to visiting Detroit, while the Tigers have won three in a row.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nationals All-Star Foster Griffin aims to level series vs. D-backs
Jul 19, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Foster Griffin (22) throws to an Athletics batter during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images Washington left-hander Foster Griffin looks to continue his stellar rookie season and help the Nationals gain in the National League wild-card race when the club hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Arizona took the series opener 3-2 on Friday and has won four straight and six of seven.
Griffin (11-2, 2.69 ERA) has made eight consecutive starts without allowing more than one run, a franchise record. The 30-year-old All-Star has won three straight starts and has not taken a loss since May 14.
Washington is 16-4 in his starts this year, 10-1 in his past 11 outings. Included in that run was his lone career outing vs. the Diamondbacks. Griffin threw five innings of one-run ball for a 14-1 victory in Phoenix on June 5.
Last time out, Griffin allowed a run on eight hits over seven innings during a 5-2 win against the Athletics on Sunday.
Griffin, who spent the previous three seasons in Japan, is a free agent after this season and could be making his final start for the Nationals if they opt to trade him before the Aug. 3 deadline.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here, enjoyed the clubhouse, the staff and front office,” he said, according to the Baltimore Banner. “The pitching staff, specifically, I feel like we’ve gotten along great, so we’ll see what happens.”
Arizona rookie left-hander Mitch Bratt (0-0, 5.06) opposes Griffin in his fourth major league start. Last time out, he gave up two runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings during a no-decision against the Athletics on Monday.
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched six strong innings on Friday and the Diamondbacks scored the go-ahead run on Gabriel Moreno’s seventh-inning sacrifice fly.
Arizona recorded its first run on a safety squeeze and its second when Ketel Marte got down the line in time to beat the potential double-play relay. Paul Sewald pitched the ninth for his 24th save.
“I thought we did a lot of little things right,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “It all added up and it was a great win. The bullpen went lights out, they executed. Paul got that big save.”
Moreno had two hits and reached base in his 40th straight start, moving into sole possession of the second-longest such streak in team history behind Corbin Carroll’s 44-game run in 2024.
Moreno has reached base two or more times in 12 of his past 15 games.
“It seems like he’s on base with every at-bat,” Lovullo said. “He spoils us with a really good approach. There’s just an ease to his game and he’s kind of in the middle of everything.”
The Nationals, who were opening a six-game homestand and had won three of four, got a two-run homer and a single from Dylan Crews. He is 6-for-21 (.286) in his past six games with two home runs, five RBIs and five runs.
CJ Abrams had two hits and is 11-for-21 (.524) in his past five games with two doubles, four home runs, eight RBIs and six runs.
Washington trails Arizona by three games for the third NL wild-card spot.
“We’re treating this like a playoff series,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “… Do whatever we have to do to come out of these with a win because we know how important it is against these guys.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rookie RHP Ryan Johnson, Angels attempt to level series vs. Giants
Jul 19, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ryan Johnson (32) pitches during the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Two teams that have struggled in close games would like nothing better than to be on the winning end of a one-sided affair Saturday afternoon when the Los Angeles Angels and the host San Francisco Giants continue their three-game interleague series.
Nine innings weren’t enough to determine a winner in the opener on Friday. The Giants emerged with a 7-6 win when Rafael Devers delivered a bases-loaded, walk-off single with one out in the bottom of the 10th.
The teams left the field with the scoreboard showing 8-6, the result of Devers’ long fly to left field having bounced over the fence. It initially was ruled a ground-rule double, with two runs scoring, even though only one was needed to end the game.
The Elias Sports Bureau, the official statisticians for Major League Baseball, reviewed the play shortly thereafter and the hit was changed to a single, producing one run. That made the official final score 7-6 and dropped Devers’ RBI total for the game from four to three.
The confusion was appropriate for teams that have struggled to record one-run wins this season. The Angels lead the majors with 19 one-run defeats, while the Giants have 16, tied with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres for second most in the National League.
Having watched his team fail far more than succeed in tight games, Giants manager Tony Vitello had an unusual reaction to watching his club blow a late 6-4 lead before recovering.
“It made for a better win to be honest with you — more exciting, more memorable for the guys,” he said. “A moment, hopefully, they can build confidence on, that we can come back if things don’t go perfect.”
Giants left-hander Robbie Ray (8-6, 3.33 ERA), who started a one-run loss against the Colorado Rockies in his most recent home outing, will take the mound on Saturday.
Ray is 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA in five career starts against the Angels, with the .750 winning percentage equaling his second best against any opponent. With a win on Saturday, Ray would match his mark against the Chicago Cubs, 4-1.
Ray got a no-decision on Sunday after yielding three runs (one earned) on seven hits in four-plus innings against the Seattle Mariners.
The Angels will send out rookie right-hander Ryan Johnson (2-4, 6.10 ERA) to oppose Ray, 34.
Johnson, 23, faced four batters in relief and retired them all in his only previous meeting with the Giants, on April 19, 2025. In his latest outing, Johnson threw five innings of one-run ball in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
While many Angels might be wondering where they will be after the upcoming trade deadline, Johnson, one of the franchise’s top prospects, has only pondered how he can be most effective the rest of this season and moving forward.
“I don’t know if there’s any specific goals other than just keep competing and getting a feel for being in the rotation week to week,” Johnson said following his Sunday outing. “I feel like I’ve been able to get into a good routine and figure out what I want to do in between starts that makes me feel good.”
–Field Level Media
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