Sports
A'ja Wilson, Aces top Mercury, make Commissioner's Cup final
Jun 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner (24) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Las Vegas Aces clinched a spot in the Commissioner’s Cup title game against the New York Liberty with an 86-76 victory Wednesday night at the Phoenix Mercury behind A’ja Wilson’s 33 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.
The Aces (11-4, 6-1 Commissioner’s Cup) have won seven of their last eight games heading into the Cup title game at New York against the Liberty on June 30.
The Mercury (4-12, 2-5) have lost 10 of their last 12 games.
They had 22 turnovers compared to nine for Las Vegas. The Aces achieved 18 steals.
Wilson’s dominance inside led to a 42-30 scoring edge in the paint for Las Vegas. The Aces also outscored Phoenix 13-2 in second-chance points.
NaLyssa Smith had 21 points and Jackie Young 20 for the Aces. Smith made 8 of 10 shots from the field.
The trio of Wilson, Smith and Young combined to score 74 points, nearly outsourcing Phoenix.
Phoenix was led by Kahleah Copper’s 26 points.
The game had 12 lead changes and 11 ties through the first three quarters, a much closer affair than when Phoenix beat the defending WNBA champions 99-66 at Las Vegas in the season opener.
Las Vegas gained some separation early in the fourth quarter after outsourcing Phoenix 10-3 to take a 79-72 lead with 3:18 left.
Wilson’s short jumpers on consecutive possessions increased the lead to 84-74 with 1:52 remaining.
Las Vegas led by seven in the first quarter before Phoenix rallied to take a 47-38 lead with 3:24 left in the second quarter.
Phoenix led 49-45 at halftime behind 14 points from Copper and 10 from DeWanna Bonner, who did not score in the second half.
The duo combined to make 8 of 10 shots from the field in the first half, and Bonner made both of her 3-point attempts.
Wilson had 18 points for Las Vegas in the first half.
The teams had seven lead changes and five ties in the third quarter before the Aces took a 68-64 lead at the end of the period.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rory McIlroy to skip Travelers, third signature event of 2026
Jun 17, 2026; Southampton, New York, USA; Rory McIlroy walks on the tenth hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Pamela Smith-Imagn Images World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is skipping next week’s Travelers Championship, the final signature event of the PGA Tour season.
By opting against playing at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., McIlroy will have played in five of the eight signature events. The six-time major champion also missed other signature events such as the Cadillac Championship and the RBC Heritage.
Currently competing at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., McIlroy has only teed off in nine PGA Tour or PGA Tour co-sanctioned events this year — thereby putting the minimum of 15 events into question.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will headline the field at the Travelers, with defending champion Keegan Bradley also in the mix. No. 3 Cameron Young, No. 4 Matt Fitzpatrick and No. 5 Russell Henley are also set to compete in Cromwell.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Liberty eager to start new streak against injury-plagued Sparks
Jun 19, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty forward Satou Sabally (0) retreats on defense after scoring a basket against the Washington Mystics during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images The New York Liberty are looking to begin a new streak.
The Liberty (11-5) had their eight-game winning streak snapped on Friday night against the Washington Mystics. Despite the three-point loss, the group has worked through some early struggles and grown into one of the WNBA’s best teams this season.
While Breanna Stewart (19.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and Jonquel Jones (13.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg) have been steady all year, Satou Sabally has begun looking comfortable in her role off the bench after missing the first four games due to injury.
The 2025 All-Star for the Phoenix Mercury has averaged 14.0 points and shot 54.6 percent from the field over the last four outings. As she continues to get acclimated to her new team, their efforts to find her on offense are making the transition a bit smoother.
“I love that I have great people around me that keep spreading the floor,” Sabally said. “It’s really hard to guard all of us, so I just have to be ready.”
The Sparks (7-8) lost 99-83 on Wednesday night at home to the Minnesota Lynx. It was their second consecutive loss and, as they navigate injuries to stars such as Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink, the team hopes they can learn valuable lessons for the future.
“We’ve got to just learn what we need to and move forward,” Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts said. “You just keep grinding and you’ve got to have, you got to have the grit to just not focus on what’s not going well. And in terms of mentally, you’ve got to focus on what we can do to be better, and you know that’s on all of us. Coaches, players, everybody.”
Roberts said Brink (ankle) will miss Sunday’s game, but she’s hopeful Plum (lower leg) can return to the lineup after missing Wednesday’s loss.
If the Sparks don’t have Plum’s 25 points per game again, then they’ll rely more on Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike ranks sixth in the WNBA in rebounding at 8.9 per game and averages 15.2 points per game on 50.6% shooting from the field.
Sunday marks the first of a four-game road trip for the Liberty before returning home for the Commissioner’s Cup championship game on June 30 against the Las Vegas Aces.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hurricanes' Nicolas Deslauriers signs contract during parade
Jun 14, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Nicolas Deslauriers (44) raises the the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Rugged forward Nicolas Deslauriers picked a fine time to sign a two-year, $1.75 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Deslauriers put pen to paper during the team’s Stanley Cup victory parade on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.
“Two more f—ing years,” Deslauriers screamed to the crowd.
The deal will pay Deslauriers $850,000 in 2026-27 and $900,000 in 2027-28.
Deslauriers, 35, could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
“Nic has fit in with our locker room and culture from day one when he got to Raleigh,” Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said in a news release. “He provides a veteran presence and adds a physical element to our roster.”
Acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers on March 6, Deslauriers recorded one assist in seven regular-season games. He also appeared in one playoff game with Carolina.
Deslauriers has recorded 106 points (53 goals, 53 assists) and 799 penalty minutes in 708 games with the Buffalo Sabres (2013-17), Montreal Canadiens (2017-19), Anaheim Ducks (2019-22), Minnesota Wild (2022), Flyers (2022-26) and Hurricanes. He was a third-round pick by the Los Angeles Kings in 2009.
–Field Level Media
Rory McIlroy to skip Travelers, third signature event of 2026
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