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Road-tested Aces aim to spoil Dream's home opener

WNBA: Las Vegas Aces at Connecticut SunMay 13, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) reacts after a play against the Connecticut Sun in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Entering the final contest of a four-game road trip, the Las Vegas Aces look more than comfortable away from home.

The reigning league champions will aim to complete the road sweep Sunday afternoon against the Atlanta Dream.

After flushing a 33-point season-opening home loss to the Phoenix Mercury, Las Vegas (3-1) posted a win over the Los Angeles Sparks before earning back-to-back victories against the Connecticut Sun.

Four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson had 45 points on Friday in the Aces’ 101-94 triumph over the Sun, going 15-for-18 from the floor.

Wilson continues to evolve as a 3-point shooter, according to head coach Becky Hammon. Wilson had a career-year behind the arc last season, shooting 42.4%, and made both of her attempts Friday, adding to her offensive arsenal.

“Her ability to step out and make someone guard her out there, you leave her open and she’s going to knock that down,” Hammon said. “She’s shooting over 40%, obviously not a high volume (4-for-7 this season). I’d like to get that volume up a little bit more, but as long as she’s shooting it efficiently, I think it puts a lot of pressure on the defense.”

Behind Wilson’s 26.3 points per game, Chennedy Carter adds 19.3 and Jackie Young averages 14.0 points and 6.0 assists per contest.

Atlanta (2-0) will make its home debut after setting a franchise record with 30 wins in 2025. The Dream went 16-6 at home in head coach Karl Smesko’s first year at the helm.

The game is sold out.

Atlanta has picked up a pair of road wins to begin the year, despite a lackluster shooting performance. The team is shooting just 40.1% from the field and has made only 16 of its 62 (25.8%) 3-point attempts.

“We realize that if we’re going to beat Vegas, we’re probably going to have to shoot the ball better than we have so far,” Smesko said. “I’m hoping to continue to see the improvement of one or two things that we really want to see get better for the Vegas game and hopefully that can make the difference.”

Allisha Gray is averaging a team-high 25.0 points per game, while Jordin Canada chips in 15.5. Offseason addition Angel Reese has posted 11.5 points and 15.0 boards through her first two games with Atlanta.

–Field Level Media

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Orioles' IF Jordan Westburg undergoes season-ending elbow surgery

MLB: Baltimore Orioles at New York YankeesSep 28, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg (11) throws out New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (not pictured) after fielding a ground ball during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Friday according to an industry source and multiple reports.

The 27-year old — who played in the 2024 All-Star game — suffered a right oblique injury early in spring training. As he was rehabbing from that injury, he experienced discomfort while throwing and was shut down from all baseball activities.

Westburg opted for a PRP injection on Feb. 20 and was ramping up his throwing progression in Florida before getting shut down earlier this month. He met with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and team doctors on Monday before deciding to have the surgery.

Since becoming a full-time starter for the Orioles in 2024, Westburg has been outstanding when he has been on the field. He posted a .792 OPS in 107 games in 2024, hitting 26 doubles, 18 home runs and driving in 63 runs. But he fractured his right hand after being hit by a pitch on July 31 and missed nearly two months.

Westburg saw time at second base and third base in 2023-24, but became the Orioles’ regular third baseman in 2025. He hit 17 home runs in 85 games, but suffered left hamstring, left index finger and right ankle injuries.

For his career, he owns a slash line of .264/.312/.456 with a .768 OPS in 260 games.

Westburg is regarded as an above-average fielder, with a career fielding percentage of .983.

Coby Mayo, 24, has seen the bulk of time at third base for the Orioles and he is slashing .174/.242/.321 in 37 games this season.

–Field Level Media

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Yankees place LHP Max Fried (left elbow bruise) on 15-day IL

MLB: New York Yankees at Baltimore OriolesMay 13, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) delivers during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees placed left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried on the 15-day injured list on Friday, after an MRI exam and CT scan revealed a left elbow bone bruise.

After getting off to a brilliant start in 2026, Fried (4-3, 3.21 ERA) struggled in May, allowing 11 earned runs and 17 hits in 14 1/3 innings over three starts. He left Wednesday’s start in Baltimore after only three innings, permitting three earned runs in 61 pitches.

Fried, 32, was 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA through seven starts (47 1/3 IP) in March and April.

After spending eight years with the Atlanta Braves (2017-24), Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees prior to the 2025 campaign. He made his third All-Star team with New York, posing a 19-5 record with a 2.86 ERA in 32 starts.

Fried is 96-44 in 210 appearances (194 starts) with a 3.04 ERA in 10 major league seasons.

There is no timetable for Fried’s return. He is slated to undergo repeat imagining in a few weeks or when asymptomatic to determine when he can resume throwing.

As of Friday afternoon, the Yankees have not announced a corresponding move.

–Field Level Media

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Familiar times for Orlando City, Atlanta United over 4-day span

MLS: Philadelphia Union at Orlando CityMay 13, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City SC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (71) controls the ball Philadelphia Union FC in the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Orlando City will face visiting Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. However, before that comes a Saturday night MLS encounter, the first of two meetings in four days between the two Southeastern rivals.

The first match, not the one on Tuesday, is the focus for Orlando interim head coach Martin Perelman.

“It’s true that we have two games in a row against them. We’re just focused on the first one. And we go one game at a time,” Perelman said. “Always, the most important game is the next one. That’s it. In that way, we prepare.”

Orlando (4-8-1, 13 points) saw a 3-1 lead over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday turn into a 3-3 match with 11 minutes remaining in regulation, but Martin Ojeda’s team-high ninth goal in the 90th minute rescued a 4-3 win for the Lions.

“Even though we know we need to address some things within the group … since we were up 3-1 and are not happy at all to let two goals as (easily) as it happened, (we are) also happy that we managed to turn that momentum around to get three points,” Orlando captain Robin Jansson said.

Atlanta (3-8-1, 10 points) saw its three-match win streak across all competitions end with a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy on May 9.

“The biggest difference is we want to play the way that we played for the first 70 minutes, but what we have to correct are the errors,” Atlanta head coach Tata Martino said through an interpreter. “In terms of how we want to play and the way that we want the team to attack, the result doesn’t change. We just need to clean up the mistakes.”

Martino said Miguel Almiron, who missed the past month due to knee irritation, is “doing better.”

“I would say he’s probably 85 to 90 percent, but we’re being cautious and evaluating him every day,” Martino said.

Atlanta is 11-7-6 all-time against Orlando in MLS play, but has lost its last two matches at Inter&Co Stadium.

In its last six matches across all competitions, Orlando has scored three or more goals on four occasions.

–Field Level Media

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