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Adam Silver says Caitlin Clark has unfairly become a 'political football'

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) scrambles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever, 111-109.Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) scrambles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever, 111-109.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that issues facing the WNBA and Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark are about more that officiating, calling her a “political football” in the country.

The physicality in how opposing teams defend Clark and fouls are or aren’t called has been an issue since she entered the league in 2024 and instantly became a big draw for ticket sales and television ratings. But it came to a head on June 24 on a loose-ball play when Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas put a closed fist into Clark’s neck as Thomas tried to stand up. Thomas was not called for a foul on the second-quarter play in the game Phoenix won, 111-109.

Thomas, however, was issued a retroactive flagrant foul, a one-game suspension and $1,000 fine after the game. The WNBA found she was guilty of “recklessly making contact with her fist” on Clark’s throat.

Thomas, who termed the incident an accident, said she and her family received death threats, harassment and racist abuse, adding to a wider conversation about player safety and online behavior around the league.

“Ultimately, the issues around Caitlin Clark are not largely about officiating,” Silver said in New York while speaking on a panel at the Game Plan Summit, presented by CNBC and Boardroom.

“That particular incident is not about whether a foul should have been called at the time of the game or whether that was ultimately a flagrant non-review. I’ve come to know Caitlin really well. She’s an incredible player and also an incredible person. And she wants to focus on being the best player she can. And she’s become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think it’s incredibly unfair to her.”

Silver declined to comment about a report in the Sports Business Journal that he leaned on WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to suspend Thomas, saying it would be unfair to Engelbert and Clark.

“What people are trying to make a larger issue (about) is not (whether) that was a flagrant foul or not,” Silver said.

He said there is “no doubt about it” that WNBA officiating needs to improve.

Clark, in her public comments in early July, condemned “the harassment, the hate.”

“None of that is OK,” Clark said. “That goes for the opposing teams we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches.”

Fever coach Stephanie White also condemned the tone of the discussion, saying the league has seen an increase in “toxicity, racism, homophobia” and other hateful comments, particularly online.

Engelbert, speaking as a panelist at the event on Thursday in New York, said, “The vitriol and everything that our players receive … is unacceptable.”

She noted league initiatives to address harassment and add security at team-related activities. Engelbert also pointed to efforts in the offseason to improve officiating, including a committee of players, college coaches, general managers and officials. An officiating task force watches game film to examine on-court physicality.

–Field Level Media

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Yankees, Dodgers postponed due to heavy rain

Jul 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA;  A view of the field after the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium was postponed. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesJul 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of the field after the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium was postponed. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees was postponed due to heavy rain on Saturday and the teams will play a split doubleheader a day later.

Rain was projected throughout the New York area, and the game was postponed roughly three hours before the 8:08 EDT first pitch. It is the second time this season the Yankees had a Saturday night FOX game postponed due to rain after being postponed June 6 against Boston.

The first game will start at 12:35 EDT followed by the second game which will air on NBC/Peacock at 7:20 EDT.

The teams share a mutual off-day on Thursday, but the Dodgers are slated to visit the White House and will be honored for their second straight World Series title before returning to New York to face the Mets.

Ryan Weathers was scheduled to pitch for the Yankees and oppose Emmet Sheahan. Both players are likely to pitch Sunday while Cam Schlittler and Yoshinobu Yammamoto were slated to pitch for Sunday night’s contest.

Los Angeles opened the series with a 2-1 victory when Max Muncy hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Gerrit Cole in the seventh inning and Roki Sasaki touched triple digits several times in 5 2/3 innings.

The Yankees are 13-16 in their past 29 games. They will play the first of three doubleheaders over their final 65 games as they also play a doubleheader against Boston Aug. 29 and two games against Tampa Bay on Sept. 22.

–Field Level Media

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Reds lock up star RHP Chase Burns with 7-year, $105M extension

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns (26) pitches in the first inning between the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns (26) pitches in the first inning between the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

The Cincinnati Reds and star right-hander Chase Burns agreed to a seven-year, $105 million contract extension, the club announced Saturday.

Burns, 23, received the largest guarantee of any pitcher in MLB history with less than four years of service time. The deal, which begins next season and runs through 2033, includes a $2 million signing bonus. There are no options or deferred money.

“It doesn’t feel real yet,” Burns told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “I’m sure here soon, next year and the year after, it’ll start hitting me.

“God can get you an opportunity, and he can also take it away. The biggest thing is staying humble, staying hungry.”

The second overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, Burns has excelled in his first full season since debuting in 2025, when he appeared in 13 games.

He is 11-1 through 18 starts for Cincinnati, tied for second behind Milwaukee’s Aaron Ashby (12-2) in wins. Burns ranks fifth in the majors among qualified pitchers in ERA (2.54) and has amassed 118 strikeouts versus 37 walks. Opposing batters have hit just .206 against him. Burns is next scheduled to start Tuesday on the road against the Seattle Mariners.

“We think the sky’s the limit for him,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said of Burns. “We know he works his butt off. He’s trying to get better. He’s a young pitcher in the big leagues, so he’s still developing and he’s been pretty successful in developing at this level.”

The deal gives the Reds a formidable one-two punch atop the rotation. The club agreed to a $53 million, six-year contract with right-hander Hunter Greene in 2023.

“We’re going to build something great here. I think we have a great set of guys,” said Burns. “I think we’re going to keep getting better every year and that’s the end goal, to win a championship.”

Manager Terry Francona praised the deal and the Reds’ confidence in their young ace.

“It’s exciting for Chase,” Francona said. “As far as the organization goes, I think it sends a great message. It’s a really good thing.”

With an average roster age of 28.5, per ESPN, the Reds boast a talented young core.

“We love our core group, and we do think that they’ve got a lot of talent,” Krall said. ” We’ve tried to lock a few guys up over the years, and we’re successful with Chase and Hunter. We think this is a really good building block to build on for the future.”

Saturday’s signing was delayed slightly after a cup of coffee was spilled on the contract before Burns could put his signature on it. A new copy was printed, and the deal was consummated.

Burns earned his first All-Star Game nod this year, though he did not appear for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Burns cited a minor groin injury for pulling out of the game. He last pitched on July 8.

–Field Level Media

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World Cup Final Best Bets: Three Picks for Argentina vs. Spain

Lionel Messi and Argentina will try to win their second consecutive World Cup title on Sunday.Lionel Messi and Argentina will try to win their second consecutive World Cup title on Sunday.

The World Cup final is here, with a matchup between Argentina and Spain that should have the football world salivating.

Spain are the reigning European Champions. Argentina, the defending World Cup champions and two-time reigning Copa America holders.

Here are our three best bets for the encounter in East Rutherford, N.J.

Moneyline

You won’t find many sportsbooks offering the money line draw at a price north of +200 odds. And while that may seem steep, both history and circumstances suggest that’s the value play.

Over the entire course of World Cup history, 8 of 21 true finals have ended level after 90 minutes. And that includes a previous, much-higher-scoring era of the sport that lasted through the late 1950s.

Since goals per game came down in the 1960s, that ratio has increased to 7 of 16 finals.

And the relative ease of Spain’s semifinal victory, combined with the drama of Argentina’s fightback a day later, has obscured the fact that these sides are pretty even analytically.

Spain holds the highest expected-goal difference of the tournament at 11.2, but Argentina is second at 10.4.

Given the finals trend, that’s enough evidence to back the 90-minute draw trend here at +210 odds and an implied 32.3% probability.

Moneyline: Draw (+210, theScore)

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Goal bands

The trend for total goals in World Cup finals is not particularly clear. But there is a pretty consistent trend for both these sides over 90 minutes in knockout play.

Both Spain and Argentina are teams that aspire to be ball dominant. It’s a style that rarely leads to 0-0 draws, but also rarely leads to super high-scoring encounters.

In 90 minutes, each of these sides have seen the total land on 2 or 3 goals in three of their four knockout round fixtures. That was also true in three of Spain’s four fixtures at the 2024 European Championships and two of Argentina’s three knockout matches at the 2024 Copa America.

Maybe it won’t happen here. But at +100 odds and an implied 50% probability, you like betting on those chances.

Goal band: 2 or 3 total goals (+100, DraftKings)

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To lift the trophy

The oddsmakers are giving a slight edge to Spain here, which is probably reflective of their slight expected-goal superiority and maybe their perceived more difficult tournament path.

But the gap between these sides is small enough that matter, and those favor the Argentines.

For starters, Argentine fans have relentlessly followed this team across the United States, creating cauldrons of support that sound like home stadiums. Crowds aren’t the only factor that creates a quantifiable home-field edge, but they are part of it.

Argentina also have the experience of playing at this stage in the previous World Cup. Spain have also played in big matches, but World Cups are different. If you were going to nitpick their run so far, you might point out that they haven’t played against anyone from beyond the European continent in the knockout stage.

Lastly, the Argentine mindset here is a dangerous combination of unified but not overly pressured. The Albiceleste very much want to send out their greatest player on a high, and there is no debate about their national identity. But they are not under the same burden as four years ago when they were trying to prove Messi’s greatness and end a 36-year drought.

Spain have always had a more complicated relationship with their national squad, in part because of Basque and Catalan separatist sentiments.

These don’t transform a 75-25 game. But they can swing a 58-42 encounter to a true coinflip. I believe that’s the case here, and that’s why I’m betting on Argentina to lift the trophy at +130 odds and an implied 43.5% probability.

To lift the trophy: Argentina (+130, DraftKings)

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