Sports
Saturday Night's Main Event Winners and Takeaways From New York City
New York City had quite the weekend at MetLife Stadium and Madison Square Garden. Spain is the 2026 World Cup Champions, while new champions were crowned at Saturday Night’s Main Event. SNME started with a bang and ended with a head-scratching conclusion depending on who you ask. Blood was shed, careers were tested, and champions made appearances. Let’s hit the headlines.
A Trick/Treat For the Big Apple
For the first time this year, a match happened on the pre-show. Trick Williams retained his US title against The Laredo Kid. This match was really good, and the crowd got invested despite the match being announced earlier in the day. Both competitors got their offense in, and Trick hit his challenger with a trick shot for the win. The next surprise of the night was Stephanie McMahon introducing Oba Femi to the ring. WWE fans love strutting along to his entrance, but time will tell if the Nigerian Giant can keep this momentum through WM season. Femi cut a promo on Brock Lesnar. Their match will likely open one of the Nights, and Brock will receive a homecoming welcome from the Minnesota faithful.
A NEW ERA IS HERE
Let’s cut to the chase. Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley) beat Scream Mode (Brie Bella and Paige) to become the new women’s tag champs. Fans were holding their breath, hoping WWE wouldn’t fumble this opportunity. WWE didn’t, and we can all take a sigh of relief. The match had Paige and Brie Bella hitting their signature moves, while Hallon and Riley used the numbers game. In the end, Jayce Jane got involved without the ref’s awareness and flipped the pin in her team’s favor. A grab of the tights, and we have new champs. Lots of media outlets criticized Jessika Carr for dismissing the interference. Regardless, Paige can now venture into solo competition, while the Bella Twins can reunite when Nikki returns. With Fatal Influence now having tag team gold, it’s worth noting Jacy Jayne was rumored to face Rhea Ripley for the title at SummerSlam before Ripley got sidelined. These three can dominate SmackDown for years to come if given the chance.
The KAT and The Curse
That was loads of fun. Danhausen and JD McDonaugh put on a show for Madison Square Garden. It was a No Disqualification match featuring minhausens, tables, curses, and a hometown star. There was a focus on the New York Knicks jersey owned by Danhausen, which drew heat for the heels. The only gripe was the Judgement Day manhandling the minihausens when Danhausen escaped to reveal his surprise in the crate. Out came Karl Anthony-Towns, who hit a better chokeslam than most superstars on the roster. He joined in the ‘You are Cursed’ shenanigans, and the face-painted vigilante pinned his opponent for the win. For those unaware of the why this match happened, Danhausen uncursed the Knicks. They won the title, and MSG was loving this match from the moment the bell rang.
One Last Hurrah?
Lyra Valkyria picked up a victory against former tag partner Bayley in a hard-hitting affair. These two didn’t hold back, and Bayley may have broken Lyra’s nose with a direct shot from the elbow. One negative from this bout is the trope of ‘can she continue the matchup?’ when Lyra got busted open. She could, and she did. Lyra’s new theme song is amazing as well. After the match, Valkyria beat down Bayley and hit a Crow Wing on the stairs. Perhaps these two add a stipulation at SummerSlam, and Bayley gets her revenge because WWE LOVES 50/50 booking. Either way, Lyra’s presentation and character get props for now. Bayley’s contract expires at the end of the year, so many question marks remain about her future.
A Score to Settle
The stipulation for the main event was that if Gunther and Sami Zayn win, they’re added to the title match at SummerSlam. Their opponents were Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. In a tag team match clouded by the age-old question, ‘Can They Co-Exist’, these four hit it out of the park. This was the match of the night, and should’ve been the last segment of the show. Zayn hit the ref in a desperate attempt to save the match. Gunther overcame his two opponents and hit a powerbomb. This prompted a ref to come down for the three counts, only for Nick Aldis to yank him out of the ring. Aldis hit Gunther with the WWE belt, costing him and Zayn the match. Would’ve rather had Gunther snap and be held by officials as Nick Aldis smirks through the crowd than what was going to happen next.
The MVP and the OTC
A segment between the King of New York, Jalen Brunson, and Roman Reigns was advertised before the PLE. When the main event ended at 8:40 pm, it was clear these two were closing the show. They gave Jalen Brunson a 10-15 (felt like it) Goldberg-like entrance sans the headbutt, and had people clapping for him backstage. He and Reigns walked out, and did their usual finger poses and ACKNOWLEDGE US schtick. Seth Rollins’ music hit, and Tyrese Haliburton came out instead. Rollins failed in his sneak attack, and Brunson said ‘Try Me, M’fer’ before Reigns hit Rollins with a Superman punch. Neither NBA star got physical as they are both hurt, but Brunson got a massive ovation from the crowd. To close out the show, Reigns hoisted the NBA trophy while Brunson wore the WH belt and a custom-made one.
TKO’s obsession with celebrities/athletes continues, but we aren’t going to let one bad apple ruin the batch. There is one more Saturday, or should I say, Sunday Night’s Main Event left on the calendar on September 6th in Atlanta. Peacock’s deal with WWE expires at the end of the year, so it’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for SNME in 2027 and beyond.
Let’s hope WWE can keep this momentum going, but their toughest test lies ahead. SummerSlam tickets aren’t selling as well as TKO/WWE thought they would. Their ticket sales are only half of what last year’s SummerSlam attendance was. Let’s see what WWE has in store with two weeks left before the biggest event of the summer.
Sports
Remarkable finish helps Mystics snap Valkyries' 9-game win streak
Jul 20, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Washington Mystics guard Alicia Florez (2) controls the ball against Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen (2) during the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin combined for 38 points and 27 rebounds, both recording double-doubles, and the Washington Mystics scored 13 consecutive points down the stretch to end the Golden State Valkyries’ nine-game winning streak with a 90-82 triumph Monday night in San Francisco.
Iriafen finished with a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Austin collected a game-high 15 rebounds to complement 15 points for the Mystics (13-12), who trailed 80-73 after a Kayla Thornton three-point play for Golden State with 3:32 remaining.
Cotie McMahon and Sonia Citron ignited the late Mystics flurry with three-point plays, after which Iriafen sandwiched an Austin hoop with four points of her own, with two free throws giving the visitors an 86-80 lead with just 18.8 seconds left.
Citron capped a 17-point night with four late free throws, securing Washington’s first win in three tries against Golden State in the season series.
Michaela Onyenwere chipped in with 12 points and Georgia Amoore nine to go with a game-high eight assists for the Mystics, who had been held to 49 and 69 points in losses to the Valkyries earlier this month.
Washington’s improved scoring total was a direct result of brilliant shooting both from 3-point range (42.9%) and the floor (52.5%). Iriafen dropped in eight of her 12 shots, while Onyenwere and Amoore buried three 3-pointers apiece.
Kaitlyn Chen poured in a career-best 20 points for the Valkyries (19-8), whose last loss had been almost exactly a month ago (June 21) at Las Vegas.
Thornton had 15 points, including four 3-pointers, Veronica Burton added 12 and Janelle Salaun 11 for Golden State, which was outscored 17-8 at the free-throw line.
Burton also found time for a team-high seven assists, while Kaila Charles led Golden State in rebounds with five. Chen added six assists to her team-high point total.
Led by Chen, the Valkyries’ reserves outscored their Mystics counterparts 37-14.
– Field Level Media
Sports
Dillon Dingler homers twice as Tigers beat Cubs in 10
Jul 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) points after he hits a solo home run during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Dillon Dingler hit two home runs and added the go-ahead RBI single in the 10th inning to help the visiting Detroit Tigers survive a comeback by the Chicago Cubs in an 8-6 extra-innings win on Monday night.
Detroit led for essentially the entire game, scoring four times in the first inning, until Ian Happ’s two-run homer off Kyle Finnegan in the eighth knotted the score at 5-5.
With runners on the corners and no one out in the 10th, Dingler hit a chopper deep into the hole at shortstop and beat the throw to first from Dansby Swanson. Spencer Torkelson added on with a two-run single.
Trent Thornton (3-3) took the loss despite only facing one hitter in the frame. He exited the game after Riley Greene’s liner hit him in the left heel, getting replaced by Javier Assad.
Pedro Ramirez got the Cubs one run back after reaching on an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the inning and Swanson singled to bring the winning run to the plate, but Tyler Holton got Carson Kelly to ground out to close out the game.
Dingler — the Tigers’ starting catcher — shined on both sides of the plate, starting an inning-ending pickoff play to go along with a 4-for-5 night which included three RBIs.
Greene also homered for Detroit, opening the scoring with a three-run blast to right-center. Dingler tacked on with a solo shot to dead center the next at-bat.
In the third, it was Chicago’s turn to hit back-to-back homers. First, Seiya Suzuki hit a two-run shot off Jack Flaherty to cut the deficit in half. Michael Busch followed up with his 13th long ball of the season to make it a one-run game.
A baserunning snafu cost Chicago a chance to tie or take the lead in the fifth. Ian Happ was batting with runners on first and second with two out when Dingler successfully backpicked Suzuki at second.
Dingler took Tyler Ferguson deep to lead off the eighth, notching his third multi-homer game since June 1.
After Happ’s heroics, the Cubs had the bases loaded with a chance to walk it off in the ninth, but Kenley Jansen (2-4) struck out Alex Bregman to escape the jam.
Flaherty allowed three runs on four hits over four innings, striking out four and walking two. Cubs starter Jameson Taillon lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and four runs with two walks and six strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Another big night from Kayla McBride carries Lynx past Storm
Jul 20, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) shoots the ball while guarded by Seattle Storm forward Katie Lou Samuelson (33) during the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Kayla McBride scored a game-high 33 points Monday night and Courtney Williams made two late foul shots that enabled the visiting Minnesota Lynx to outgun the Seattle Storm 105-102.
Williams’ free throws with 4.0 seconds left put Minnesota (21-6) ahead by three and forced Seattle to hunt a 3-pointer that could force overtime. But Flau’Jae Johnson missed from the right wing just before time expired.
Rookie Olivia Miles added 32 points, plus eight rebounds and eight assists, to augment McBride’s seventh straight game of at least 20 points. Williams finished with 21 as the Lynx connected on 37 of 76 field goals and made 21 of 22 foul shots.
Johnson scored 26 points to pace the Storm (6-22), who fell to 0-11 in games decided by five points or less. Zia Cooke came off the bench to add 18 points, while Dominique Malonga chipped in 14 points and Natisha Hiedeman hit for 12.
Seattle led 90-86 when Malonga hit a floater with 4:41 remaining, but McBride and Miles combined for eight points in a 10-2 spurt that gave Minnesota the lead for good at 96-92.
The teams play again on Wednesday in their last game before All-Star weekend.
Minnesota entered the game with the WNBA’s best record but was looking to make improvements on defense after coach Cheryl Reeve criticized its performance on that end in Saturday night’s 101-93 win over Portland.
Instead, she got another game where the Lynx had to outscore the opponent. They led 23-13 at the 2:56 mark of the first quarter as Miles converted a layup but Seattle closed within 27-23 behind eight points from its bench.
The Storm erupted for 31 points in the second quarter, including six on the same possession by Johnson. She made three foul shots after a flagrant foul on Miles, then drained a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession that helped Seattle take a 54-53 edge to halftime.
Minnesota led 77-70 late in the third quarter before a four-point play from Katie Lou Samuelson got the Storm within 79-77 going to the fourth period.
–Field Level Media
Remarkable finish helps Mystics snap Valkyries' 9-game win streak
Dillon Dingler homers twice as Tigers beat Cubs in 10
