The 30th WNBA All-Star Game tips off at the United Center in Chicago at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

Festivities for the league’s pearl-anniversary All-Star weekend begin a little more than a day earlier, though, with the 3-Point Contest highlighting the events set for adjacent Wintrust Arena beginning at 8 tonight.

Well, adjacent in the major-city sense; the venues stand about five miles apart.

As a batch of “W” standouts aims to connect with their surroundings before a growing fanbase, what would be better than wagering on the proceedings?

Caitlin Clark in the 3-Point Contest, you say? Hey, maybe next year.

Odds are via BetMGM.

3-POINT CONTEST

The All-Star host Chicago Sky play their home games at Wintrust but graced the UC twice last season for the first WNBA contests in arena history.

Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey had moved on from the Sky by then but still is no stranger to Wintrust. She even helped Notre Dame capture the NCAA Women’s Tournament Chicago Regional there on the way to a national runner-up finish in 2018-19.

Mabrey enters the All-Star break as the league leader in made 3s (82). She’s about one month removed from drilling nine 3s while tying the league single-game scoring record of 53 points. That came six days after hitting nine more.

Although Mabrey stumbled to a 1-for-8 effort from deep during the Tempo’s first-half finale Monday, expect her to recalibrate her touch in familiar digs to start her first All-Star appearance in style.

Marina Mabrey to reach 3-Point Contest final (+150)

GAME MVP

Multiple teams shifted games against the Indiana Fever to larger arenas last season to accommodate a clamoring to see Clark, a transcendent star and the top pick in the 2024 Draft.

Injuries kept her from both contests at United Center, however. And no, there weren’t any dustups about the Fever’s injury-report designations.

Saturday marks a showcase event for the league, of course, but it could also serve as a dress rehearsal for Clark ahead of Indiana’s scheduled return to UC on Aug. 8.

Clark has navigated a balky back at times this season but otherwise is enjoying good health. She’s tied for fourth with Mabrey for the league scoring lead (21 points per game) and has the second-highest assists-per-game average at 7.9.

Clark recorded the first 40-point, 10-assist game in “W” history on July 17. See her shoot, pass and rise above the persistent social-media noise to set the tone Saturday night.

Caitlin Clark to win All-Star Game MVP (+600)

GAME TOTALS

The WNBA All-Star Game shifted from the traditional East vs. West format in 2018. That included the 2022 game at Wintrust, in which a team captained by A’ja Wilson defeated one led by Breanna Stewart 134-112.

The game has featured at least 270 combined points twice in the three seasons since. The outlier came in 2024, when the WNBA stars edged their counterparts from the U.S. Women’s National Team 117-109.

With no Olympic-snub tension attached to Team Cynthia Cooper vs. Team Teresa Witherspoon, all signs point to another scorefest.

All-Star Game over 274.5 points (-114)

The host Chicago Cubs sent 12 batters to the plate in a six-run first inning as they rolled to a comfortable 11-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.

Pete Crow-Armstrong was a perfect 2-for-2 with three walks and two RBIs for Chicago, which evened the series after the Tigers’ 8-6 extra-innings win on Monday. Michael Conforto added a two-run homer. Cubs starting pitcher David Peterson (5-7) was the beneficiary of the run support and took full advantage, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Detroit managed just three hits against Peterson, who struck out four and walked only one.

Dillon Dingler doubled in the second before hitting a two-run shot in the ninth to put the Tigers on the board. Dingler is now 6-for-8 with three long balls in the series. Valdez (5-7) recorded just two outs in 42 pitches, giving up five hits and two walks. He was charged with all six runs in the inning after Madden issued another bases-loaded free pass to Seiya Suzuki.

The first seven Cubs reached base against Detroit starter Framber Valdez (5-7). The scoring started with cleanup hitter Carson Kelly knocking a two-run single to right, followed by a bloop RBI hit for Michael Busch and a run-scoring infield single for Ian Happ. Crow-Armstrong — who started the big inning with a leadoff triple — drew a bases-loaded walk in his second at-bat and ended Valdez’s night, as he was pulled in favor of Ty Madden. Valdez (5-7) recorded just two outs in 42 pitches, giving up all siix runs on five hits and two walks.

Dodgers 2, Phillies 1

Max Muncy hit a two-run home run in support of Justin Wrobleski as visiting Los Angeles held on for a victory over Philadelphia.

Muncy’s fourth-inning blast off Zack Wheeler provided enough offense for Wrobleski (11-2), who allowed one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. The All-Star left-hander walked one and struck out seven in lowering his ERA to 2.62. Wheeler (10-2) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, striking out nine without a walk. Alec Bohm had three hits and an RBI.

The Phillies had runners on second and third with one out in the ninth against Tanner Scott. Brandon Marsh hit a grounder to third that resulted in Justin Crawford getting tagged out in a rundown between third and home, and then J.T. Realmuto — who was already on third — retreated towards second and was thrown out to end the game.

Rays 12, Blue Jays 2

Nick Fortes and Yandy Diaz hit three-run home runs and visiting Tampa Bay posted a season-best 21 hits to clobber Toronto.

Fortes finished with three hits and four RBIs, Chandler Simpson and Ben Williamson each added four hits and Junior Caminero had two hits and three walks for the Rays, who took a 2-0 lead in the four-game series. Tampa Bay is 7-1 against Toronto this season to clinch the season series.

Ernie Clement and George Springer had two hits apiece for the Blue Jays, who have lost six of seven.

Diamondbacks 6, Athletics 5 (10 innings)

Ildemaro Vargas slapped a bases-loaded single to left with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning as Arizona recorded a victory over the Athletics at Phoenix.

Nolan Arenado delivered the tying single earlier in the inning as Arizona won for the seventh time in the past nine games. Max Kepler added a three-run homer for the Diamondbacks.

Jacob Wilson drilled a tying two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and Jonah Heim hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for the Athletics. Shea Langeliers also homered for the Athletics, who lost for the 16th time in their past 19 games.

Padres 8, Braves 3

Manny Machado hit a pair of home runs and starter Walker Buehler recovered from early troubles to pitch 5 2/3 strong innings and help visiting San Diego beat Atlanta.

Machado, who went 2-for-5, hit a 412-foot solo homer to left field in the fifth inning and added a 418-foot solo shot to center one inning later. The Padres also got home runs from Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr., and the Tatis homer traveled 474 feet, the longest in the major leagues this season. Tatis went 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

Rookie Jim Jarvis hit a two-run triple for the Braves.

Rangers 10, White Sox 0

Brandon Nimmo and Wyatt Langford homered and Kumar Rocker and Marco Gonzales combined on a three-hit shutout as Texas routed visiting Chicago.

Nimmo powered the Rangers to a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, reaching White Sox starter Noah Schultz for a two-run blast with two out in the first inning. The Texas right fielder finished 4-for-4. Alejandro Osuna added three hits and three RBIs, Langford had two hits and two RBIs and Ezequiel Duran and Nicky Lopez both contributed two hits and an RBI.

Schultz (3-7), a rookie left-hander, endured one of his roughest outings. He allowed five runs on a career-high 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings. Rocker (3-8) countered with a sparkling effort to earn his first victory since May 19 at Colorado. The right-hander stymied Chicago over six shutout innings.

Guardians 5, Twins 2

Austin Hedges and rookie Petey Halpin had back-to-back sacrifice flies in a pivotal sixth inning, propelling Cleveland over visiting Minnesota.

Hedges brought home Kahlil Watson with the go-ahead run after the Guardians loaded the bases with no outs against Mike Paredes (0-3). After a double steal, Halpin’s sacrifice fly off Taylor Rogers drove in Travis Bazzana after a replay review overturned an out call at the plate to make it 4-2. Bazzana added a two-out RBI single in the seventh to make it 5-2.

Ryan Jeffers hit a solo homer in the first inning for the Twins, extending his on-base streak to 15 games.

Mets 4, Brewers 0

Zac Thornton tossed six scoreless innings and earned his first big-league win as visiting New York beat Milwaukee in the middle game of a three-game series.

Jared Young and Luis Robert Jr. homered while Carson Benge had an unusual two-run double for the last-place Mets, who have won three of five since the All-Star break against the Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies, each of whom currently occupy a playoff spot. The Brewers, blanked for just the fourth time this season, had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Thornton (1-1) allowed three hits, walked one and struck out two while extending his scoreless streak to 18 innings dating back to June 26. He has a 1.93 ERA in his first four major league starts. Brandon Sproat (3-5), who was dealt to the Brewers by the Mets in the Freddy Peralta trade in January, gave up two runs on four hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings.

Royals 3, Giants 2

Luinder Avila allowed two runs while setting career highs with seven strikeouts and 6 1/3 innings, while Vinnie Pasquantino and Nick Loftin each had two hits and an RBI as Kansas City won over visiting San Francisco.

Pressed into the Royals’ injury-ravaged rotation since early June, Avila (5-3) yielded five hits while helping secure a series win. Pasquantino and Loftin delivered RBI singles in the sixth to help Kansas City erase a 2-1 deficit.

Tyler Mahle (2-9) was charged with all three runs and allowed five hits while completing five-plus innings for the Giants, who have lost four straight. San Francisco managed only five hits and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Astros 5, Marlins 3

Tatsuya Imai allowed one run over six innings, Isaac Paredes clubbed a three-run homer and Houston sent reeling Miami to its eighth straight loss.

Imai (6-4) produced his fifth quality start of the season. He retired the side in order only once — in the second — but stranded four baserunners in scoring position across six innings. Astros closer Josh Hader notched his 11th save with a scoreless ninth, working around a leadoff double.

Joe Mack shaved the Marlins’ deficit to 5-3 with a two-run homer off AJ Blubaugh in the seventh, his ninth home run of the season and second of the series.

Rockies 8, Nationals 7

Hunter Goodman hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting Colorado over Washington in Denver.

Goodman leads all catchers in homers with a career-high-tying 31. Jordan Romano pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his seventh save, making a winner of Juan Mejia (3-6), who tossed a clean eighth. Goodman finished with two hits, Mickey Moniak also went deep and singled, Cole Carrigg had three hits and Jake McCarthy added two hits for the Rockies.

CJ Abrams homered twice, James Wood had two doubles and two RBIs and Luis Garcia Jr. and Nasim Nunez also had two hits each for Washington.

Angels 5, Cardinals 1

Jo Adell hit a two-run home run to highlight a five-run first inning and rookie Walbert Urena allowed one run on six hits over six innings to lead Los Angeles to a victory over slumping St. Louis in Anaheim, Calif.

Jorge Soler had a two-run double, Jose Siri doubled and had two hits and Zach Neto and Adell also had two hits for Los Angeles, which won its third straight game. Urena (6-7) threw 28 pitches during a scoreless first inning, 16 of which registered 100 mph or better. Mitch Farris, Chase Silseth and Ryan Zeferjahn combined to allow one hit over three shutout innings.

Alec Burleson had three hits for St. Louis, which lost its fourth straight and fifth in six games. Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (5-7) allowed five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Reds 4, Mariners 2

Chase Burns pitched five scoreless innings to win his 11th straight decision as Cincinnati defeated host Seattle.

Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suarez and Nathaniel Lowe homered for the Reds, who snapped Seattle’s three-game winning streak and knocked the Mariners out of first place in the American League West. Weston Wilson and Julio Rodriguez went deep for the hosts.

Burns (12-1), in his first full season, allowed three hits — singles by Josh Naylor and Victor Robles in the second and another single by Naylor in the fourth. The Mariners were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10. Luis Castillo (3-9) made a quality start, giving up three runs on four hits over seven innings.

–Field Level Media

Gerrit Cole and Max Fried have been teammates since last season but never in the New York Yankees’ rotation at the same time because of injuries.

That changes Wednesday when Cole and Fried start for New York in its day-night doubleheader with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cole (3-5, 3.93 ERA) will start the opener on Wednesday afternoon against fellow right-hander Mitch Keller (6-7, 5.14). Fried (4-3, 3.21), a left-hander, will return from a bone bruise in his left elbow for his first start since May 13 when he faces righty Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.77) in the second game.

Cole was recovering from Tommy John surgery on his elbow last season when Fried was 19-5 with a 2.86 ERA in the first year of an eight-year deal. They were set to be on the roster at the same time May 22 when Cole made his season debut but Fried went on the injured list on May 14 after his velocity diminished in a three-inning start at Baltimore one day earlier.

Cole is 1-4 with a 5.33 ERA in his past five starts and pitched six scoreless innings before Max Muncy hit a slider for a go-ahead two-run homer two batters into the seventh inning of Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Dodgers.

Fried threw 52 pitches in his first rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and was slated for another before the Yankees decided to activate after Tuesday’s game was rained out. In the start before getting hurt, Fried allowed five runs on six hits in six innings during a loss at Milwaukee on May 8.

Cole is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in a pair of starts against Pittsburgh, which drafted him first overall in 2011. Fried is 4-1 with a 3.94 ERA in eight career starts against the Pirates.

The duo is pitching in New York’s second doubleheader in four days after the Yankees opened the series with Monday’s 8-5 victory. Jazz Chisholm is hitting .368 (7-for-19) in his past five games after homering twice and driving in five runs.

“He’s capable of that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Chisholm, who batted .177 in 25 games last month and is hitting .228 overall. “When he gets it rolling, he’s capable of big things.”

The Pirates are playing their third doubleheader this month. Pittsburgh earned a pair of one-run victories when it swept a doubleheader from visiting Milwaukee on July 11 and split two games in Cleveland on Saturday.

Pittsburgh is 8-4 in its past 12 and has scored at least five runs in nine of those games.

Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez hit a two-run homer, has an RBI in eight straight games and is the first Pirate with an RBI and an extra-base hit in eight games in a row since Hall of Famer Willie Stargell in 1971.

He also is hitting .369 with 11 of his 13 homers and 29 RBIs over his past 23 games since June 19.

“It’s a product of my preparation during the offseason,” Valdez said through an interpreter. “Hopefully, that’s not the only achievement I’m going to do. I’m going to do hopefully more in a Pirates uniform.”

After getting a short outing from Braxton Ashcraft on Monday, the Pirates hope Keller starts reversing his recent struggles. After allowing three runs in three innings during a 10-5 loss to Atlanta on July 9, Keller is 1-5 with a 7.61 ERA in his past eight starts.

Keller is 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees.

Chandler, who is 2-2 with a 4.68 ERA in his past starts, will make his first appearance against the Yankees. In his most recent start, the right-hander allowed two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings while throwing 97 pitches in a no-decision during the Pirates’ 3-2 home win over the Brewers on July 11.

–Field Level Media