Sports
Aryna Sabalenka completes Sunshine Double over Coco Gauff in Miami Open final
Mar 28, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the Butch Buchholz Championship trophy after defeating Coco Gauff of the United States in the final of the women’s singles at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka showed exactly why she deserves that top ranking Saturday.
Sabalenka completed the Sunshine Double, the first to do so since 2022, with her win over No. 4 American Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Miami Open final at Miami Gardens, Fla.
“I haven’t had a moment to stop, look back and realize what’s happened in the past months. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done and the fight I was able to bring on court,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony after the win. “Coco will fight for every opportunity and she played incredibly, but I was mentally strong. I knew I was doing everything right and it was just a matter of a few points.”
Sabalenka is just the 11th player ever to complete the Sunshine Double, when a player wins the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open back-to-back, and just the fifth ever woman to do so. She joins Steffi Graf (1994, 1996), Kim Clijsters (2005), Victoria Azarenka (2016) and Iga Swiatek (2022).
This also the second straight Miami Open championship for Sabalenka, who defended her title by dropping just one set along the way. She’s the first person since Ashleigh Barty in 2019 and 2021 to win back-to-back titles at this event.
Sabalenka came out hot in Saturday’s final, breaking Gauff’s first serve and forcing seven break point opportunities in the first set. Sabalenka rang home two aces to take the first set 6-2. Gauff fought back in the second set and earned the only break of the set to tie it at a set apiece.
But Sabalenka replicated her success in the first set by breaking Gauff’s first serve and raced ahead once again to a 3-1 lead. With the match on the line and Gauff serving once again, Sabalenka needed just one match point to ice the game and secure the title.
Overall, Sabalenka forced 11 break point opportunities and converted on four of them while facing only two herself. She defended her own serve well by winning 35 of her 47 first serve points (74 percent).
Gauff put up a valiant effort but struggled on her serve, being broken four times and conceding seven double faults.
“Aryna congratulations. We’ve had many battles, many finals and, I think you push me to be a better player,” Gauff said. “You’re a great fighter and hopefully we can play many more. I think we will.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Twins activate OF Byron Buxton from injured list
Jun 28, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Byron Buxton (25) looks on against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins reinstated outfielder Byron Buxton from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Buxton was placed on the IL with a right hip strain on July 7, a move that prevented him from playing in the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. He was voted to start in that game for the American League.
Buxton, 32, is hitting .271 with 25 homers and 45 RBIs in 75 games this season. The three-time All-Star has a .250 average in 12 seasons with the Twins. He has 193 homers, 481 RBIs and 124 steals in 137 attempts in 973 games.
Also on Monday, the Twins optioned infielder Tristan Gray to Triple-A St. Paul.
Gray, 30, batted .232 with four homers and 29 RBIs while playing in a career-high 63 games for the Twins this season. He is a career .222 hitter with eight homers and 39 RBIs in 110 games with the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, then-Oakland Athletics and Twins.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Paige Bueckers leaves game after collision, hitting head on floor
Jul 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) react after a play during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Dallas Wings star guard Paige Bueckers suffered a scary fall late in her team’s 90-82 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday in Arlington, Texas, leaving with 3:33 to play and not returning.
As Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike was dribbling down the court, she was fouled and lost her balance. She tumbled into the legs of Bueckers and the second-year player fell straight back, landing on her back.
The back of Bueckers’ head appeared to hit the floor when she fell, and the 24-year-old immediately grabbed her head.
After lying face down on the floor briefly, Bueckers walked off the court on her own but with members of the Wings’ staff flanking her as she continued to hold her head and had a slight limp.
Before walking off the court, she hugged Ogwumike after the two got up. Both players were selected to the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday in Chicago.
Bueckers finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting — including 2-of-4 from 3-point range — as well as five assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes. Ogwumike led the Sparks (10-15) with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
There was no update provided on Bueckers’ status after the game. Last season’s rookie of the year after being selected No. 1 overall out of UConn, Bueckers entered the day averaging 20.7 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 38.1% from distance.
The Wings are now 17-8, fourth in the WNBA and a half-game behind the Las Vegas Aces for third place.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees option RHP Elmer Rodriguez to Triple-A
May 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (71) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The New York Yankees optioned right-hander Elmer Rodriguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Monday.
Rodriguez, 22, was recalled Sunday before the second game of a split doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers to fill the designated 27th roster spot. He did not pitch in the game.
After making his major league debut April 29, Rodriguez is 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA over 17 innings across four starts.
–Field Level Media
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Twins activate OF Byron Buxton from injured list
