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Napheesa Collier scores 24 in season debut as Lynx beat Storm

Jul 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA;  Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) shoot the ball against Seattle Storm center Awa Fam (11) during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) shoot the ball against Seattle Storm center Awa Fam (11) during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Five-time WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier scored 24 points in her season debut as the visiting Minnesota Lynx defeated the host Seattle Storm 86-76 on Wednesday afternoon.

The seventh consecutive win for the Lynx (22-6) marked the first time Collier had played in nearly 10 months. The former WNBA Defensive Player of the Year had surgery on both ankles after being injured in Game 3 of the semifinals of last year’s playoffs. Last season, Collier was the second player in WNBA history to shoot at least 50% from the floor, 40% from 3-point land and 90% from the free-throw line, joining Hall of Famer Elena Delle Donne in the exclusive 50-40-90 club.

Collier also had 10 rebounds in 22 minutes of play. Before the game, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said Collier would be on a minutes restriction.

“This is not a full tilt,” Reeve said. “We still have a couple more steps to go before we see the ‘Phee’ we know her to be.”

Minnesota also received 20 points from Kayla McBride, 13 points and six assists from rookie sensation Olivia Miles and 11 points from Natasha Howard in the win.

Dominique Malonga led Seattle (6-23) with 21 points and nine rebounds. Awa Fam had 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Flau’jae Johnson chipped in 16 points in the sixth consecutive loss for the Storm.

Collier scored her first points of the season with less than three minutes to play in the first quarter when she received a bounce pass from Courtney Williams along the perimeter, then swished a one-dribble pull-up jumper from mid-range. She shot just 1 of 6 from the floor in the first quarter before shaking off the rust and knocking down 4 of 6 shots in the second quarter.

Seattle built a six-point lead early and still had a one-point advantage at halftime before the Lynx outscored the Storm 24-15 in the third quarter. The Lynx scored 19 points off 19 turnovers by the Storm. Minnesota also shot 39.1% (9 of 23) from beyond the arc, while Seattle was held to 15.6% (5 of 32) from 3-point land.

–Field Level Media

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Report: LIV Golf settles $1M trademark lawsuit

Apr 6, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; The LIV Golf logo is on display along the 10th hole during the second round of LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn ImagesApr 6, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; The LIV Golf logo is on display along the 10th hole during the second round of LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

The LIV has agreed to pay $1 million to Stinger Golf to settle a trademark infringement lawsuit with the Ohio-based golf tee manufacturer.

The Stinger Golf Club, one of LIV’s original four-man teams when the league debuted in 2022, rebranded to Southern Guards GC in January ahead of the tumultuous 2026 LIV campaign.

That change did not precede Stinger Golf’s move to sue LIV for $100 million in June 2025.

The company ended up accepting $1 million from LIV, per a July 6 filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

“Obviously $1 million doesn’t represent all the damages that our client suffered,” Brian Barakat, a partner at Barakat + Bossa, the firm that represented Stinger Golf, told Front Office Sports.

“It’s a settlement. Settlements are necessarily a compromise. What LIV did in this circumstance was pretty gross. We know that they knew long before they set up the Stinger Golf Club team that they were aware of our trademark, and they just decided that they didn’t care.”

The rebranded Southern Guards GC consists of South African players Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmeister.

Stinger Golf, which sells its tees in golf retail locations throughout the U.S. as well as online, was motivated to accept the compromise due to concern over LIV entering bankruptcy proceedings.

“They bowed to the realities of this situation and made a compromise that made business sense for them,” Barakat said. “We were very confident to go to trial. It wasn’t a compromise based on any fear of loss in the case. It was a compromise based on what we viewed as an imminent bankruptcy.”

LIV, World Wide Golf Brands, a former apparel partner of LIV, and the Stinger GC golf team were listed as defendants in the case. Only LIV will be making payments to the company.

–Field Level Media

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Roughriders mourning Jayden Dalke entering game vs. Elks

Jun 11, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Elks running back Kevin Brown (4) avoids a tackle by Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Jayden Dalke (38) during the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn ImagesJun 11, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Elks running back Kevin Brown (4) avoids a tackle by Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Jayden Dalke (38) during the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

If Thursday night’s home game with the Edmonton Elks has taken a back seat for the Saskatchewan Roughriders since late Saturday night, it’s understandable.

Jayden Dalke, a linebacker in his fifth year with the team, died after an auto accident at age 30. His car was driving the wrong way on a highway between Lumsden, Sask., and Regina when it hit another vehicle, whose driver also perished.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported that cannabis and alcohol were found inside Dalke’s vehicle. It’s also been revealed that Dalke stopped for gas in Lumsden and left without paying.

Saskatchewan canceled practice Sunday and briefly considered postponing the game but opted to play. The Roughriders were off last week after routing Hamilton 38-7 on July 12 to improve to 4-1.

How are players trying to focus on a game days after losing a team captain?

“Just be where your feet are,” said quarterback Trevor Harris. “You know, two things can be true at once. You can be focused on a goal that Dalke would want us to be focused on. And we can also mourn his loss.”

While Saskatchewan ping-pongs between readying for a game and mourning the loss of a teammate, Edmonton (5-1) makes the trip as the West leader. The Elks are coming off a 19-17 home win on Friday night over the BC Lions.

Defense was the primary reason for the result as Edmonton intercepted four passes from backup quarterback Chase Brice and converted those into 16 points. The Elks have pilfered 10 passes in the last three games and lead the league with 59 points off turnovers.

“It definitely feels good to get our offense back the ball and see those guys work because that’s a high powered offense,” said defensive back Kenneth Logan Jr. “Any chance we can get our hands on the ball and create a turnover, and create a spark for our team, that’s what we’re willing to do.”

If recent form holds, expect a close game. Last year’s season series saw the teams split two games with Saskatchewan winning 21-18 at home and Edmonton prevailing 27-25 in the Alberta rematch.

–Field Level Media

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Liberty make clutch shots, rally past Sky in wild finish

Jul 22, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA;  New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) grabs a rebound in the second quarter against the Chicago Sky at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) grabs a rebound in the second quarter against the Chicago Sky at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Jonquel Jones sank one of two free throws with 3.4 seconds left as the New York Liberty made a dramatic fourth-quarter rally to edge the Chicago Sky 95-94 on Wednesday night in Brooklyn.

Jones’ free throw capped a wild final minute for the Liberty (15-12), who trailed the Sky by eight with 58 seconds left. Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu made a long three with 56 seconds left, then another with 27 seconds to go to make it a two-point game, 93-91.

After Ionescu’s second three, teammate Breanna Stewart was called for a foul on Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot, but Vandersloot made only one of two free throws with 26 seconds to go in regulation. Ionescu then drove to the basket, scored and was fouled with 15 seconds to play. She made her free throw to tie the game at 94.

Chicago had time to set up and Vandersloot fired a pass to Kamilla Cardoso inside, but Cardoso’s layup rolled off and Cardoso was whistled for a foul grabbing at Jones for the rebound.

The Sky (9-18) have now lost their last two games in the final seconds after losing to the host Atlanta Dream on Jordin Canada’s buzzer-beating layup on Sunday. Chicago led by as many as 12 points on Wednesday.

Ionescu finished with a team-high 29 points and made five threes. Jones, hampered with foul trouble most of the night, finished with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Stewart totaled 20 points and nine boards.

Sky rookie Sydney Taylor was magnificent in the loss, finishing with a career-high 31. Vandersloot added 14 and Cardoso 10.

In the first half, the Liberty achieved the unusual circumstance of leading after the first bucket of the half, and leading after the last, but with Chicago ahead the whole way in between.

After the Liberty took a 2-0 lead, Chicago seized control and led 12-5 after a long three by Taylor with 7:23 remaining in the quarter. Chicago carried a 32-26 advantage after one.

The Sky went on a 6-0 run midway through the second quarter with Azura Stevens converting a pair of free throws for a 46-39 lead with 2:54 left, matching the biggest lead of the first half.

With Jones on the bench with three fouls, things looked bad for the Liberty, but they dominated the last three minutes of the half. Han Xu, Jones’ replacement, scored inside, then Stewart put back her own miss.

Rebekah Gardner scored on a putback with 52 seconds left to pull the Liberty to 46-45, then Ionescu drained a long three to give New York a 48-46 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

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