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️ Record viewership: 39 million people watched the World Cup Final on Fox, making it the most-watched soccer telecast in American history. Nearly 24 million more watched on Peacock and Telemundo, bringing the total U.S. viewership to almost 63 million — more than every NFL game last season except the Super Bowl.
LeBron update: It's been more than three weeks since LeBron James told the Lakers that his 24th NBA season will take place elsewhere, but his decision may not be as imminent as some believed. "We're not going to be rushed," says agent Rich Paul.
ESPN layoffs: Karl Ravech, one of ESPN's most recognizable anchors who's been with the network since 1993, was laid off on Tuesday as part of the company's latest cuts. NFL insider Tom Pelissero was also among the prominent names let go from NFL Network, acquired by ESPN earlier this year.
All-Summer League: Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named Summer League MVP and headlined the All-Summer League First Team. Joining him were Cameron Boozer (Grizzlies), Caleb Wilson (Bulls), Brayden Burries (Bucks) and Meleek Thomas (Cavaliers).
️ 474 feet: Fernando Tatis Jr., blasted a 474-foot moonshot in the Padres' 8-3 win over the Braves, the longest home run hit by any player this season. Tatis is heating up, hitting three HR in his last four games after hitting just five in his first 96 games.
See what else is trending on Yahoo Sports.
(Hayden Hodge/Yahoo Sports)
The 2026 World Cup is gone, but those five magical weeks across the U.S., Canada and Mexico won't soon be forgotten. Here are some of the moments, players and elements of the tournament we'll be discussing for years, even decades, to come, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Jay Busbee.
Messi
That's really all we need to say, one name. If this World Cup was Lionel Messi's final run on the worldwide stage, what a run it was. There are players who rise to meet the moment, and then there are players who define the moment. Messi stands above them all.
Expansion worked
You can say that FIFA's naked desire for planeloads of extra revenue is the reason behind the World Cup's expansion, and you'd be right. But that doesn't mean it didn't work, as so many of those added slots went to beloved Cinderellas like Cape Verde and DR Congo, who provided some of the best stories of the tournament.
Pricey tickets
Here's the problem with sticker shock: If someone else is willing to pay it, that means they weren't quite so shocked. You have to concede: FIFA correctly read the state of the World Cup ticket market. And if you want to attend a future World Cup match, you should've started saving 10 years ago. High ticket prices are here to stay.
(Maja Hitij /FIFA via Getty Images)
The red card that wasn't
For the good of the World Cup as a whole, it's probably best that the USMNT lost to Belgium immediately after FIFA "suspended" Folarin Balogun's red card. Yes, the original penalty was unnecessarily harsh, but the idea of a bureaucratic autocracy arbitrarily fudging its own rules set an ugly precedent the USMNT might regret in World Cups to come.
England's collapse
This one will linger for years in the minds of the Three Lions faithful, who watched their beloved side come five regulation minutes from a spot in the World Cup Final before Argentina's magic flipped the script. Add this one to the ever-growing list of England agonies that we'll roll out and recount every World Cup from here on out.
France's surrender
The other semifinal will stick with us, too, mainly due to the fact that the overwhelming tournament favorite suddenly forgot how to score. Les Bleus stormed all the way to the semis with a combination of brilliance and brutality, looking like a champion-in-waiting until, suddenly, they weren't. The sting of their dramatic reversal of fortune won't soon dissipate.
(Steph Chambers/FIFA via Getty Images)
American journeys
If we learned nothing else from this World Cup, let's please learn this: we've got one hell of a great country here, even if we need to hear it from visiting international tourists. The visitors to America discovered so much more to love about this nation; and, if you were paying attention, America discovered so much to love about the rest of the world.
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian giant wasn't exactly an unknown when this World Cup began, but he quickly vaulted himself into the Messi-Mbappé conversation with his uncanny ability to score pretty much at will. He'll be around World Cups for a while, but this was the one where he began what could be a legendary journey.
Spain's dominance
A World Cup defined by high-scoring stars was won instead by its most complete team. In the end, La Roja's death by a thousand passes survived La Albiceleste's Messi-led disappearing act. What a way to end a fantastic World Cup… and start the countdown to 2030.
(Maria Lysaker/Getty Images)
Just one MLB hitter has won the Triple Crown since 1967. Can Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez become the second?
Where it stands: Alvarez — who's had 15 hits and 4 HR during his current eight-game hitting streak — leads the American League in all three categories roughly two-thirds of the way through the season. He seeks to join Miguel Cabrera (2012) as the only other player to win the Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
Zoom out: Despite never having finished a season as the league leader in any of those stats, Alvarez is about as likely a candidate you'll find to join this exclusive club.
Even more exclusive club? Just 13 players in the modern era (since 1901) have won the AL or NL Triple Crown, but only five of them* have led the entire majors in all three categories. Well, Alvarez is currently tied for the MLB lead in HR, one back in the RBI column and just six points off the lead in batting average.
*MLB-wide Triple Crown winners: Ty Cobb (1909), Rogers Hornsby (1925), Lou Gehrig (1934), Ted Williams (1942), Mickey Mantle (1956)
MJ stands at center court during a game in 1998. (Andrew D. Bernstein/ NBAE/ Getty Images)
Sotheby's sold four pieces of sports memorabilia on Monday for over $1 million each, bringing total sales for its Summer Sports Week to $26 million as collectors continue flocking to blue-chip assets representing pivotal moments from superstar careers.
The most unique piece? A section of Bulls hardwood — signed by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen — that sat at center court during Chicago's three-peat from 1996 to 1998. The price tag? A cool $1,792,000. Finally, my basement is complete.
(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)
️ Kari Anderson: Way-too-early 2027 Women's World Cup preview
Sad that the 2026 World Cup is over? Disappointed that the USMNT didn't make it further? No sweat — we're less than one year out from the real American contenders taking the field. Here's a little taste of what's to come when the 2027 Women's World Cup kicks off in Brazil next June.
(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports)
️ Russell Dorsey: Top 25 MLB trade candidates
MLB's trade deadline is less than two weeks away (Aug. 3), and with a majority of teams still sniffing at least a wild card spot, there could be plenty of action as clubs prepare for the stretch run. So let's rank the top 25 players who could be moved, starting with the two-time reigning AL Cy Young.
(Josh Heim/Yahoo Sports)
Cassandra Negley: WNBA All-Star weekend could be overshadowed by laundry list of contentious issues
This weekend's All-Star festivities should be a joyous celebration of the WNBA's 30th season. Instead, mere months after those contentious but ultimately fruitful CBA negotiations, the league is buckling under the weight of so many issues it's difficult to keep track.
How can you not be romantic about baseball? (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Yesterday's newsletter included a section about Twins All-Star Joe Ryan allowing an MLB record-tying six home runs, which inspired a response from a reader that was too good not to share.
Jeff T. (Greenfield, MA) writes:
What happened with Joe Ryan last night is a perfect illustration of why baseball appeals so much to someone like me. It is by far the least-predictable sport.
SGA would never have a game where he plays 32 minutes and scores two points and turns it over 15 times. Impossible. Josh Allen will never, ever, go 4-37 passing with 9 picks. Again, impossible. But Joe Ryan on Monday happened.
Cooperstown-bound sluggers can go 0-4 with 4 Ks and look, for one game anyway, like they don't even belong in the majors. Sometimes you can even pull a stunt like Bob Brenly, who once, when he was with the Giants, committed four errors IN ONE INNING, accounting for four runs against his team, but somehow balanced the ledger by going 3-5 with four runs batted in and two homers, including a walk-off shot in the 9th.
"This man deserves Comeback Player of the Year for this game alone." — Giants Manager Roger Craig
Read and react: If something we write inspires you, jogs a memory or otherwise elicits a reaction, don't hesitate to hit reply. We might just share your response in a future edition.
(Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
️ MLS
After a brief return last week before the World Cup Final, MLS is back for good tonight as all 30 teams take the field to kick off the second half of the season in earnest.
Debut to watch: Polish legend Robert Lewandowski makes his highly anticipated MLS debut tonight (7:30pm ET, Apple) for the Chicago Fire, visiting an Inter Miami side that will be without Lionel Messi as he takes a well-deserved post-World Cup break. Lewandowski, 37, scored 567 goals across the last 16 seasons for Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
More to watch:
Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city. Get tickets now!
Arenado stands on second base after his 2,000th hit. (Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Nolan Arenado, the newest member of the 2,000-hit club, is just the sixth player in MLB history with at least 2,000 hits, 350 home runs and 10 Gold Gloves.
Question: Can you name the other five?
Hint: Mariners CF, Giants CF, Phillies 3B, Reds C, Tigers RF
Answer at the bottom.
With the NFL season less than 50 days away, it's time to start thinking about fantasy drafts. The good news for you? Yahoo Sports and Cameo are teaming up to make it easy for fans to get a celebrity to announce their fantasy football league's draft order.
How it works: Beginning this season, fans can book personalized videos from Cameo directly within the Yahoo Fantasy experience, where a Cameo button is featured on the home screen and draft tab of the Yahoo Fantasy app, and in the game home on the Yahoo Fantasy website.
Create or join a league.
Trivia answer: Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench, Al Kaline
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
Continue reading...
HEADLINES
️ Record viewership: 39 million people watched the World Cup Final on Fox, making it the most-watched soccer telecast in American history. Nearly 24 million more watched on Peacock and Telemundo, bringing the total U.S. viewership to almost 63 million — more than every NFL game last season except the Super Bowl.LeBron update: It's been more than three weeks since LeBron James told the Lakers that his 24th NBA season will take place elsewhere, but his decision may not be as imminent as some believed. "We're not going to be rushed," says agent Rich Paul.
ESPN layoffs: Karl Ravech, one of ESPN's most recognizable anchors who's been with the network since 1993, was laid off on Tuesday as part of the company's latest cuts. NFL insider Tom Pelissero was also among the prominent names let go from NFL Network, acquired by ESPN earlier this year.
All-Summer League: Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named Summer League MVP and headlined the All-Summer League First Team. Joining him were Cameron Boozer (Grizzlies), Caleb Wilson (Bulls), Brayden Burries (Bucks) and Meleek Thomas (Cavaliers).
️ 474 feet: Fernando Tatis Jr., blasted a 474-foot moonshot in the Padres' 8-3 win over the Braves, the longest home run hit by any player this season. Tatis is heating up, hitting three HR in his last four games after hitting just five in his first 96 games.See what else is trending on Yahoo Sports.
️ THE LASTING LEGACY OF THE 2026 WORLD CUP
You must be registered for see images attach
(Hayden Hodge/Yahoo Sports)
The 2026 World Cup is gone, but those five magical weeks across the U.S., Canada and Mexico won't soon be forgotten. Here are some of the moments, players and elements of the tournament we'll be discussing for years, even decades, to come, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Jay Busbee.
Messi
That's really all we need to say, one name. If this World Cup was Lionel Messi's final run on the worldwide stage, what a run it was. There are players who rise to meet the moment, and then there are players who define the moment. Messi stands above them all.
Expansion worked
You can say that FIFA's naked desire for planeloads of extra revenue is the reason behind the World Cup's expansion, and you'd be right. But that doesn't mean it didn't work, as so many of those added slots went to beloved Cinderellas like Cape Verde and DR Congo, who provided some of the best stories of the tournament.
Pricey tickets
Here's the problem with sticker shock: If someone else is willing to pay it, that means they weren't quite so shocked. You have to concede: FIFA correctly read the state of the World Cup ticket market. And if you want to attend a future World Cup match, you should've started saving 10 years ago. High ticket prices are here to stay.
You must be registered for see images attach
(Maja Hitij /FIFA via Getty Images)
The red card that wasn't
For the good of the World Cup as a whole, it's probably best that the USMNT lost to Belgium immediately after FIFA "suspended" Folarin Balogun's red card. Yes, the original penalty was unnecessarily harsh, but the idea of a bureaucratic autocracy arbitrarily fudging its own rules set an ugly precedent the USMNT might regret in World Cups to come.
England's collapse
This one will linger for years in the minds of the Three Lions faithful, who watched their beloved side come five regulation minutes from a spot in the World Cup Final before Argentina's magic flipped the script. Add this one to the ever-growing list of England agonies that we'll roll out and recount every World Cup from here on out.
France's surrender
The other semifinal will stick with us, too, mainly due to the fact that the overwhelming tournament favorite suddenly forgot how to score. Les Bleus stormed all the way to the semis with a combination of brilliance and brutality, looking like a champion-in-waiting until, suddenly, they weren't. The sting of their dramatic reversal of fortune won't soon dissipate.
You must be registered for see images attach
(Steph Chambers/FIFA via Getty Images)
American journeys
If we learned nothing else from this World Cup, let's please learn this: we've got one hell of a great country here, even if we need to hear it from visiting international tourists. The visitors to America discovered so much more to love about this nation; and, if you were paying attention, America discovered so much to love about the rest of the world.
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian giant wasn't exactly an unknown when this World Cup began, but he quickly vaulted himself into the Messi-Mbappé conversation with his uncanny ability to score pretty much at will. He'll be around World Cups for a while, but this was the one where he began what could be a legendary journey.
Spain's dominance
A World Cup defined by high-scoring stars was won instead by its most complete team. In the end, La Roja's death by a thousand passes survived La Albiceleste's Messi-led disappearing act. What a way to end a fantastic World Cup… and start the countdown to 2030.
️ TRIPLE CROWN WATCH
You must be registered for see images attach
(Maria Lysaker/Getty Images)
Just one MLB hitter has won the Triple Crown since 1967. Can Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez become the second?
Where it stands: Alvarez — who's had 15 hits and 4 HR during his current eight-game hitting streak — leads the American League in all three categories roughly two-thirds of the way through the season. He seeks to join Miguel Cabrera (2012) as the only other player to win the Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
- AVG: .326 (second place: Rays DH Yandy Díaz, .312)
- HR: 33 (Rays 3B Junior Caminero, 29)
- RBI: 75 (Yankees 1B Ben Rice, 68)
Zoom out: Despite never having finished a season as the league leader in any of those stats, Alvarez is about as likely a candidate you'll find to join this exclusive club.
- The 2019 Rookie of the Year has never hit fewer than 30 HR in a full season, and he's one of just three active players with a career batting average of .300 or better.
- The lefty suffered a frustrating setback last season when a broken hand limited him to just 48 games, but the AL MVP frontrunner has played all but two games this year and has never looked better, barreling the ball more often than any other player in the league.
Even more exclusive club? Just 13 players in the modern era (since 1901) have won the AL or NL Triple Crown, but only five of them* have led the entire majors in all three categories. Well, Alvarez is currently tied for the MLB lead in HR, one back in the RBI column and just six points off the lead in batting average.
*MLB-wide Triple Crown winners: Ty Cobb (1909), Rogers Hornsby (1925), Lou Gehrig (1934), Ted Williams (1942), Mickey Mantle (1956)
PRICEY HARDWOOD
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MJ stands at center court during a game in 1998. (Andrew D. Bernstein/ NBAE/ Getty Images)
Sotheby's sold four pieces of sports memorabilia on Monday for over $1 million each, bringing total sales for its Summer Sports Week to $26 million as collectors continue flocking to blue-chip assets representing pivotal moments from superstar careers.
The most unique piece? A section of Bulls hardwood — signed by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen — that sat at center court during Chicago's three-peat from 1996 to 1998. The price tag? A cool $1,792,000. Finally, my basement is complete.
GOOD READS
You must be registered for see images attach
(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)
️ Kari Anderson: Way-too-early 2027 Women's World Cup previewSad that the 2026 World Cup is over? Disappointed that the USMNT didn't make it further? No sweat — we're less than one year out from the real American contenders taking the field. Here's a little taste of what's to come when the 2027 Women's World Cup kicks off in Brazil next June.
You must be registered for see images attach
(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports)
️ Russell Dorsey: Top 25 MLB trade candidatesMLB's trade deadline is less than two weeks away (Aug. 3), and with a majority of teams still sniffing at least a wild card spot, there could be plenty of action as clubs prepare for the stretch run. So let's rank the top 25 players who could be moved, starting with the two-time reigning AL Cy Young.
You must be registered for see images attach
(Josh Heim/Yahoo Sports)
Cassandra Negley: WNBA All-Star weekend could be overshadowed by laundry list of contentious issues
This weekend's All-Star festivities should be a joyous celebration of the WNBA's 30th season. Instead, mere months after those contentious but ultimately fruitful CBA negotiations, the league is buckling under the weight of so many issues it's difficult to keep track.
️ BASEBALL'S UNIQUE APPEAL
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How can you not be romantic about baseball? (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Yesterday's newsletter included a section about Twins All-Star Joe Ryan allowing an MLB record-tying six home runs, which inspired a response from a reader that was too good not to share.
Jeff T. (Greenfield, MA) writes:
What happened with Joe Ryan last night is a perfect illustration of why baseball appeals so much to someone like me. It is by far the least-predictable sport.
SGA would never have a game where he plays 32 minutes and scores two points and turns it over 15 times. Impossible. Josh Allen will never, ever, go 4-37 passing with 9 picks. Again, impossible. But Joe Ryan on Monday happened.
Cooperstown-bound sluggers can go 0-4 with 4 Ks and look, for one game anyway, like they don't even belong in the majors. Sometimes you can even pull a stunt like Bob Brenly, who once, when he was with the Giants, committed four errors IN ONE INNING, accounting for four runs against his team, but somehow balanced the ledger by going 3-5 with four runs batted in and two homers, including a walk-off shot in the 9th.
"This man deserves Comeback Player of the Year for this game alone." — Giants Manager Roger Craig
Read and react: If something we write inspires you, jogs a memory or otherwise elicits a reaction, don't hesitate to hit reply. We might just share your response in a future edition.
WATCHLIST: WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
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(Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
️ MLSAfter a brief return last week before the World Cup Final, MLS is back for good tonight as all 30 teams take the field to kick off the second half of the season in earnest.
Debut to watch: Polish legend Robert Lewandowski makes his highly anticipated MLS debut tonight (7:30pm ET, Apple) for the Chicago Fire, visiting an Inter Miami side that will be without Lionel Messi as he takes a well-deserved post-World Cup break. Lewandowski, 37, scored 567 goals across the last 16 seasons for Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
More to watch:
- ️ MLB: Tigers at Cubs (8pm, ESPN) … Third-year hurler Keider Montero (3.22 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) has been one of Detroit's most valuable players, moving from starter to long reliever and now back to starter again.
- WNBA: Sun at Fever (8pm, USA); Wings at Fire (10pm, USA) … Final day of games before the All-Star break.
- Tour de France: Stage 17 (7:20am, Peacock) … Belgium's Remco Evenepoel won his second straight stage on Tuesday, picking up 28 seconds on Tadej Pogačar, whose lead is now 4'32" with five stages left.
Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city. Get tickets now!
MLB TRIVIA
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Arenado stands on second base after his 2,000th hit. (Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Nolan Arenado, the newest member of the 2,000-hit club, is just the sixth player in MLB history with at least 2,000 hits, 350 home runs and 10 Gold Gloves.
Question: Can you name the other five?
Hint: Mariners CF, Giants CF, Phillies 3B, Reds C, Tigers RF
Answer at the bottom.
YAHOO FANTASY x CAMEO
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With the NFL season less than 50 days away, it's time to start thinking about fantasy drafts. The good news for you? Yahoo Sports and Cameo are teaming up to make it easy for fans to get a celebrity to announce their fantasy football league's draft order.
How it works: Beginning this season, fans can book personalized videos from Cameo directly within the Yahoo Fantasy experience, where a Cameo button is featured on the home screen and draft tab of the Yahoo Fantasy app, and in the game home on the Yahoo Fantasy website.
- When you tap on the button, you'll be able to book a celebrity on Cameo to announce or pick your league's draft order.
- Once the personalized video is ready, it will be available for every league member to watch on the Yahoo Fantasy app and website.
Create or join a league.
Trivia answer: Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench, Al Kaline
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
Continue reading...
