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Streaking Valkyries bring 7-game win streak to Caitlin Clark, Fever

Jul 12, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball during the first quarter of a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn ImagesJul 12, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball during the first quarter of a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Riding a club-record seven-game winning streak, the Golden State Valkyries are the hottest team in the WNBA.

They could still face a daunting road task against the surging Indiana Fever on Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

Entering play Tuesday, the Valkyries (17-7) were tied for the second-best record in the WNBA. On Friday, Golden State posted a 79-64 victory over Connecticut and set a WNBA record for the fastest expansion team to reach 40 wins, doing so in 68 contests.

Playing without injured star Gabby Williams (back contusion), the Valkyries trailed 19-17 after one quarter, then held the Sun to 45 points the rest of the way and shot 51.7% overall.

“We find different ways to win, and we just rely on every single person on this team,” said Golden State’s Veronica Burton, who had game highs of 17 points and six assists.

“Everyone can step up and contribute.”

It’s uncertain if Williams (15.0 ppg) will be available Wednesday for the Valkyries, who have held their last seven opponents to an average of 68.4 points and will try for a fifth consecutive road victory. A winner in 11 of its past 13, Golden State lost 90-82 at Indiana (14-9) on May 22. Burton (12.3 ppg) scored 25 and recorded five blocks during a 90-88 home win over the Fever six days later.

Indiana star Caitlin Clark had a combined 38 points while going 6-for-15 from 3-point range, with 15 assists in the season’s two previous meetings with Golden State. With her minutes restricted due to a lingering back issue, Clark recorded 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 24 minutes during Indiana’s 109-75 rout of Las Vegas on Sunday.

The win was the Fever’s fourth in five games, completing a 3-1 road stretch. They’ve scored at least 109 points three times in the past six contests.

“We’re building consistency to these types of efforts,” said Fever coach Stephanie White, whose team shot 55.9% overall and 15-for-31 from beyond the arc against the Aces.

“Just really proud of this group and how connected we continue to grow into.”

Fellow Indiana star Kelsey Mitchell (22.7 ppg) scored 27 on Sunday and has averaged 27.1 points across the past seven games. The Valkyries held her to 33 total points on a combined 9-of-23 shooting in the previous 2026 meetings.

–Field Level Media

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Bryson DeChambeau to debut set of 3D-printed irons at The Open

Jul 13, 2026; Southport, England; Bryson DeChambeau on the practice range during a practice round for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesJul 13, 2026; Southport, England; Bryson DeChambeau on the practice range during a practice round for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Bryson DeChambeau will bring the latest in technology to a 137-year-old golf course this week, and into a major tournament that is even older.

DeChambeau is set to debut a full set of 3D-printed irons for 154th Open Championship, which starts Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, Front Office Sports reported Tuesday.

DeChambeau has used single 3D-printed clubs in the past, playing in this year’s Masters with a 5-iron built under computer control. According to the report, DeChambeau said the full set of irons was recently approved by the United States Golf Association.

A two-time U.S. Open winner (2020, 2024), DeChambeau did not make the cut in any of the three major tournaments already played this year. That comes after he had top-10 finishes at last year’s Masters, PGA Championship and Open Championship.

Currently a member of LIV Golf, DeChambeau won tournaments in Singapore and South Africa in back-to-back weeks in March.

–Field Level Media

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Wizards shut down No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa for rest of Summer League

Jun 25, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards first round draft pick and number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa poses for a photo with his jersey during a press conference at InterContinental Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn ImagesJun 25, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards first round draft pick and number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa poses for a photo with his jersey during a press conference at InterContinental Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

The Washington Wizards decided they had seen enough from the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and shut down forward AJ Dybantsa for the rest of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, The Athletic reported Tuesday.

Dybantsa played two games in a Wizards uniform, averaging 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. The 19-year-old was the top pick out of BYU.

The Wizards also shut down second-year players Will Riley and Tre Johnson, who have also been productive. Riley averaged 25.0 points in two games and Johnson scored 26 points in the one he played.

The Wizards’ summer league players had five days of camp in Washington, D.C. before departing for Las Vegas.

The Wizards have not won more than 18 games in any of the past three seasons. Washington last made the playoffs in 2020-21 and last won a playoff series in 2016-17 when they advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

–Field Level Media

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Spain blank favored France to advance to World Cup final

July 14, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal and Unai Simon in action.  Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images July 14, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal and Unai Simon in action. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Spain are headed back to the World Cup final for the second time after denying France a third straight appearance with a 2-0 victory in a semifinal on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

Pedro Porro followed Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty in the 22nd minute by doubling the count in the 58th.

Spain, the 2010 champion, will play in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday against the winner of the reigning champion Argentina-England match in Atlanta on Wednesday.

France will play in the third-place match in Miami on Saturday.

Spain have a 37-match unbeaten streak (30 wins, seven draws), tying Italy’s European record.

The best chance for France came in the 82nd minute when Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon raced midway between the penalty area and the center circle to challenge Desire Doue for the ball.

Doue got to it but Simon ran back and cut the angle to make a save inside the box as two Spain defenders guarded the goal line. Simon (three saves) is the first men’s keeper to have six shutouts in a single World Cup.

Oyarzabal’s penalty in the 22nd minute put Spain ahead.

France trailed for the first time in the tournament when Oyarzabal scored his fifth goal of the World Cup with a shot to the upper right corner.

Lamine Yamal, a day after his 19th birthday, drew a foul by Lucas Digne on the right side of the box.

A long cross by Marc Cucurella was popped in the air by Digne. As he attempted a volley, Yamal snuck in behind him and as the ball hit his left shoulder, Digne kicked him in the left thigh, prompting Yamal to fall.

More misfortune befell France at the half-hour mark when veteran defender William Saliba left with an injury and was replaced by Max Lacroix, whose only action in the tournament was 90 minutes in the group finale vs. Norway.

Nearing 40 minutes in, Yamal set up an onrushing Fabian Ruiz but defender Dayot Upamecano was able to get a foot on the attempt to deflect the ball for a corner kick.

France were seeking to become the third nation to qualify for three straight finals, joining West Germany (1982, 1986 and 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998 and 2002).

The French won the World Cup in 2018 and were runners-up to Argentina in 2022.

–Field Level Media

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