Sports
Caitlin Clark still must-watch TV during preseason
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) is announced ahead of a WNBA preseason game against the Brazil National Team May 4, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. It was a game that didn’t count and still the remote controls were flipping over to watch Caitlin Clark.
Sunday’s WNBA preseason game that featured Clark’s return to Iowa was a big hit on ESPN. The contest between Clark’s Indiana Fever and the Brazil women’s national team drew 1.3 million viewers, more than the league’s average rating (1.2 million) for last season’s regular-season games on ESPN.
ESPN said the audience peaked at 1.6 million viewers. The ratings are more impressive when you consider the game was completely one-sided with the Fever winning 108-44 after holding a 70-24 halftime advantage.
Clark played 19 minutes and scored 16 points during her return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the Iowa campus. Clark was a megastar for the Hawkeyes before beginning her professional career last season.
According to The Athletic, only two NBA preseason games since 2010 drew better ratings than Sunday’s game. Both of them involved LeBron James, one in 2017 when James was with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the other in 2018 for his first preseason game with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Indiana opens the regular season on May 17 against the Chicago Sky. The Fever will have 41 of their 44 regular-season games nationally televised or streamed.
–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
Twins activate OF Byron Buxton from injured list
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 21, 2026
