Sports
Ex-UConn duo back in Connecticut, out to lift Wings over Sun
Jun 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and guard Azzi Fudd (35) come back on the court during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd look to make their return to Connecticut a triumphant one and help the Dallas Wings snap a two-game losing streak when they square off against the suddenly hot Sun on Thursday in Hartford, Conn.
Bueckers and Fudd both played for UConn before being taken first in the WNBA drafts in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The Wings travel north for the first of a four-game road trip and on the heels of an 85-77 home loss to league-leading Minnesota on Sunday. Dallas (11-8) got a game-high 25 points from Bueckers while Fudd added 21 points, Maddy Siegrist hit for 12 and Jessica Shepard grabbed 16 rebounds.
The Wings trailed by as many as 23 midway through the third quarter before rallying to within four with 5:15 to play.
“We’ve had a lot of close games, a lot of games where we haven’t started great scoring-wise, and that kind of plays over into our defense,” Fudd said. “Then we kind of hit that second gear, but we need to start the game with that gear unlocked already.”
Meanwhile, Connecticut (4-15) has won consecutive games for the first time all year, with the latest victory a 68-57 home decision over Washington on Friday. Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Leila Lacan led the Sun with 12 points each, while Kennedy Burke added 11 and Brittney Griner and Charlisse Leger-Walker scored 10 apiece.
“It’s testament to us staying focused and committed,” Nelson-Ododa said of Friday’s victory and the team’s winning streak. “We’ve had so many games when it’s been a close call and we’ve had trouble finishing. We have been able to find our groove and finish out games in our style by keeping our composure.”
Thursday’s clash is the final Sun game to be played in Hartford. As part of the organization’s Sun Legends campaign, the franchise will fete former player Jasmine Thomas (now VP of basketball operations and assistant general manager for the Wings) and former coach (and current executive vice president and Dallas general manager) Curt Miller to celebrate their contributions to the team.
It’s the first of the teams’ three meetings this season, with the ensuing contests on Aug. 2 and Aug. 30, both in Dallas. The Wings have won three of the past four games played in Connecticut.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Matt Olson breaks out of homerless rut, helps Braves top Mets
Jul 3, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) celebrates with first baseman Matt Olson (28) after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Matt Olson emphatically ended a 16-game homerless streak Friday with pair of solo shots to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 win over the visiting New York Mets in the opener of a four-game series.
It was Olson’s second multi-home run game of the season and the 27th of his career. He raised his total to a team-high 22 homers this season.
The Braves had only five hits and four left the park. Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies also homered for Atlanta.
Grant Holmes (5-4) went five innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk, striking out two. Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI single to Bo Bichette in the ninth but earned his 17th save.
New York starter Christian Scott (2-1) worked four innings and allowed three runs on two hits and four walks, with seven strikeouts.
The Mets fell a season-worst 16 games below .500.
The Braves broke through in the second inning when Harris hit a two-run homer, his 15th. Harris had saved a run in the top of the first when he robbed Carson Benge of an extra-base hit by making a long running catch.
The Mets tied it in the third on an opposite-field home run by Juan Soto, his 18th of the season and 27th of his career against the Braves.
Albies put the Braves on top again in the third with a solo homer, his 14th, for a 3-2 lead.
Atlanta got another run in the fifth inning when Olson hit a solo homer to the right-center-field seats. The homer came against reliever A.J. Minter and ended a streak of 25 consecutive scoreless appearances by the left-hander. It was the first earned run the former Brave has allowed this season.
Olson hit another solo homer in the eighth off Kodai Senga.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Folarin Balogun on red card: 'Yellow card would have been fair'
July 3, 2026; Seattle, Washington, U.S.; Folarin Balogun of the U.S. speaks to media before training. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Forward Folarin Balogun disagreed with the red-card ruling that will see him miss the United States’ World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, and he admitted to experiencing a range of emotions since being sent off.
In the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif., Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament in the first half before receiving a second-half red card for his tackle on Tarik Muharemovic.
No foul was called against Balogun originally, but a video review led to the referee sending him off.
Speaking Friday in Seattle, where the U.S. will oppose Belgium on Monday, Balogun said, “I’ve seen many different opinions and takes. For me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward and I have to accept it. But the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.”
He added of the aftermath of the red card, “It’s been a roller coaster. There’s been lots of different emotions. I’ve been upset. I’ve been happy. It’s been surreal, to be honest. But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion.
“There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust.
“So I felt I did that. And as I said, I’m happy with the support, not just that I’m receiving, but the team. And I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do against Belgium.”
As for how the U.S. will cope against Belgium while missing their top scorer in the event, midfielder Tyler Adams said, “When you miss a player like (Balogun), obviously things change a little bit, but we’ve been flexible. Guys have shown that they’re ready to play. …
“If it’s (Ricardo) Pepi, if it’s Haji (Wright filling in for Balogun), if they go a different direction, who knows? I’m not the coach. But yeah, it should be an exciting opportunity for everybody.”
The USMNT were officially notified that Balogun’s suspension is the standard one match, so Balogun would be able to return to action in the quarterfinals against Spain or Portugal on July 10 in Inglewood should the U.S. win on Monday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spacestation, Liquid reach OWCS NA Stage 2 upper-bracket final
YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year. Spacestation Gaming and Team Liquid advanced to the upper-bracket final of the Overwatch Champions Series’ North American Stage 2 playoffs with a pair of 3-0 sweeps on Friday.
Spacestation blanked LuneX Gaming and Liquid did the same to Dallas Fuel, the team that finished second in the regular-season standings. LuneX and Dallas will meet in the lower-bracket semifinal on Saturday before Spacestation and Liquid square off in the upper-bracket final, with a chance to punch their ticket to the grand final.
Six teams participated in a round-robin regular season, with the top four advancing to the playoffs, which run from Friday through Sunday. All matches in the double-elimination bracket are best-of-five, except for the grand final, which will be best-of-seven.
In addition to earning shares of the $75,000 prize pool, the top four Stage 2 finishers advance to Stage 3. The top three finishers also will qualify for the Overwatch Champions Series’ Midseason Championship, a $1 million event scheduled for July 29-Aug. 2 in Paris.
On Friday, Spacestation hardly let LuneX get on the scoreboard, prevailing 2-0 on Ilios Control, 2-1 on King’s Row Hybrid and 3-0 on New Junk City Flashpoint.
Team Liquid opened with a 2-0 victory on Ilios Control, pulled out a 4-3 result on Dorado Escort and shut out the Fuel 3-0 on King’s Row Hybrid.
Overwatch Champions Series’ North American Stage 2 prize pool
1. $30,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
2. $15,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
3. $12,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
4. $8,000, qualifies for NA Stage 3
5-6. $5,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2 promotion/relegation — The Kafe, Disguised
–Field Level Media
Matt Olson breaks out of homerless rut, helps Braves top Mets
Folarin Balogun on red card: 'Yellow card would have been fair'
