Sports
LIV Golf warns employees of potential layoffs amid funding search
May 10, 2026; Sterling, Virginia, USA; Lucas Herbert lines up his final putt during the final round of LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jack Power-Imagn Images LIV Golf informed staff that layoffs could be on the horizon on Wednesday.
The golf organization is facing a looming money crisis as its primary backer, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced earlier this year that it will pull its funding after the 2026 season.
PIF’s decision to walk away after sinking a reported $5 billion-$8 billion in the venture has left LIV scrambling to find a reported $300 million in fresh capital, leading to the announcement to staff about potential reductions.
A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, a required step for large businesses ahead of potential mass layoffs, is being filed by LIV, according to Golf Digest.
Without denying the veracity of the reporting, LIV reached out to media outlets later in the day, saying it is implementing “no changes to LIV Golf’s current workforce, operations, or schedule at this time.”
Yet the golf league also admitted that communication with employees took place.
“As our process to identify strategic investors moves forward in a positive direction, and as part of responsible planning for a range of possible outcomes, we have notified employees in the United States and United Kingdom of potential future actions related to the League’s corporate workforce,” LIV said.
“This step is being taken in accordance with legal obligations in each jurisdiction. We deeply appreciate our employees’ continued dedication as we work toward a strong and sustainable future for the league.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Janelle Salaun's career night lifts Valkyries past Tempo
Jul 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Golden State Valkyries guard Janelle Salaun (13) looks for a passing option as Toronto Tempo guard Laura Juskaite (2) defends in the first half at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Reserve Janelle Salaun scored a career-best 26 points that included three 3-pointers late in game Wednesday night and the Golden State Valkyries defeated the host Toronto Tempo 83-75.
Reserve Kaitlyn Chen added 16 points for the Valkyries (16-7), who have won a franchise-best six consecutive games in their second season.
Kayla Thornton scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Golden State, who are 3-0 on a five-game road trip. Salaun finished 7 of 10 from the floor, including 5 of 6 from long range, and was 7 of 9 at the free-throw line.
Isabelle Harrison scored a career-best 24 points and added eight rebounds for the Tempo (9-12), who have lost three in a row. Marina Mabrey added 11 points while Julie Allemand and Maria Conde each scored nine points.
The Tempo overcame a 13-point deficit to lead by 59-57 entering the fourth quarter. Chen scored the first four points of the fourth to propel a 12-0 run that gave Golden State a 10-point lead with 7:01 to play.
Harrison’s driving layup cut the Valkyries’ lead to six, 71-65 with 3:33 remaining. Salaun hit two consecutive 3-pointers to increase the lead to 12 with 1:47 to play. After Harrison’s layup, Salaun made another 3-pointer to ice the game with 1:16 left.
The Valkyries shot 2-for-13 from the field in the first quarter and trailed 17-11.
Golden State opened the second on a 10-0 surge capped by Chen’s steal and layup to lead by four with 6:43 to play before halftime. Thornton hit a 3-pointer with 3:03 remaining to bump the lead to 10 as the Valkyries’ strong defense began to make its presence felt. Thornton added an 11-footer to increase the margin to 12. Golden State led 41-31 at halftime.
Thornton opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer. The Tempo turned up their defense and responded with a 17-2 run capped by Allemand’s 19-footer to take a 48-46 lead with 4:17 to go in the third. Kia Nurse completed the third-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer that gave Toronto a 59-57 lead.
Toronto center Nyara Sabally left the game in the first quarter with a left knee injury and did not return. She had two points in about seven minutes.
Golden State guard Gabby Williams left with a back contusion in the second half. She had seven points in 18 minutes.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs outslug Orioles
Jul 8, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) is congratulated by infielder Michael Busch (29) after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two of Chicago’s five home runs and the Cubs held on to beat the host Baltimore Orioles 9-7 on Wednesday night.
Crow-Armstrong’s second long ball of the game and 21st of the season put the Cubs ahead for good, 4-3 in the fifth inning, before the teams combined for nine runs across the last three innings.
Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back solo blasts in the fifth, then two batters later, Crow-Armstrong went deep again. Seiya Suzuki added a three-run homer in the seventh.
The Cubs, who will go for a series sweep Thursday night, produced their offense with eight hits and four walks as the team won for the eighth time in its last 10 games.
Tyler O’Neill hit two home runs across the final three innings for the Orioles, while Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo also homered. Jackson Holliday rapped four of Baltimore’s 14 hits, but he never scored a run in what became the team’s third consecutive loss.
Right-hander Colin Rea (7-5) won his second start in a row, allowing three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jacob Webb was called upon to pitch the ninth and the right-hander notched his fourth save by retiring the side in order.
Baltimore right-hander Dean Kremer (1-2) gave up four runs on six hits in five innings in his second start after coming off the injury list.
Following Crow-Armstrong’s third-inning home run, the Orioles built a 3-1 lead after Alonso’s two-run homer in the fourth.
Chicago’s three-homer fifth inning was followed by a five-run seventh for a 9-3 advantage.
O’Neill entered the game in the seventh as a pinch hitter and delivered his first homer of the game. The Orioles tacked on another run on Taylor Ward’s run-scoring single but stranded two runners on base while trailing 9-5.
Mayo slugged a pinch-hit homer in the eighth before O’Neill made it back-to-back homers for the Orioles.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tigers roll past Athletics behind Troy Melton’s career-best performance
Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton (52) throws a pitch against the Athletics during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Spencer Torkelson blasted a three-run homer, Troy Melton struck out a career-high nine batters, and the streaking Detroit Tigers rolled past the struggling Athletics, 6-1, on Wednesday.
Jake Rogers came off the bench and contributed two hits, including a two-run homer, while scoring twice. Riley Greene added two hits and drove in a run.
Melton allowed one run (zero earned) and four hits in 5 1/3 innings in Detroit’s seventh win in its last eight games. A trio of relievers held the Athletics scoreless the rest of the way.
A’s starter Jeffrey Springs gave up six runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out four. Springs has lost his last nine decisions.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer had three hits for the Athletics, who have lost five straight and nine of their last 10.
Both teams had an All-Star leave the game in the second inning. A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz departed due to an illness, while Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler exited after getting hit on his throwing hand with a foul ball.
The Tigers scored in the first inning. Dingler reached on an infield single and Kevin McGonigle and Torkelson drew walks, loading the bases. Greene drove in Dingler with a single.
The A’s stranded two baserunners in the second. Detroit then made it 3-0 in the bottom of the inning. Zach McKinstry walked. Then with two out, Rogers drove a Springs fastball over the left field wall for his second homer this season.
The A’s broke through in the fourth. Tyler Soderstrom hit a one-out double and scored when shortstop McKinstry made a throwing error on Jacob Wilson’s grounder.
Melton struck out the side in the fifth. His teammates then extended the lead to 6-1.
Rogers and McGonigle had one-out singles before Torkelson launched a Springs slider over the left field wall for his 15th homer.
The A’s stranded two baserunners in each of the sixth and seventh innings.
–Field Level Media
