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Kawhi trade not yet completed: The Raptors' trade for Kawhi Leonard has still not been finalized, as it cannot be completed until the NBA's lengthy investigation into the Clippers ends. For the last 10 months, the league has been looking into accusations that the Clippers funneled money to Leonard as a way to circumvent the salary cap.
️ Derby's almost full: Phillies 1B Bryce Harper and Cardinals RF Jordan Walker have joined the field for Monday's Home Run Derby, which has just two spots left. Harper has a chance to win the Derby at his home park for the second time, first doing so with the Nationals in 2018.
Carlsson's historic payday: The Ducks matched Leo Carlsson's five-year, $90 million offer sheet from the Flyers, making the 21-year-old center the highest-paid player in NHL history by AAV ($18M). For reference, that figure would rank as the 190th-highest AAV in NBA history.
UCLA lands top prospect: Serbian phenom Nikola Kusturica has agreed to a multiyear NIL deal worth upwards of $12 million to play at UCLA beginning this fall. The 17-year-old, still two years away from being eligible for the NBA, is considered an early contender to go No. 1 in the 2028 draft.
No. 44 forever: It took far longer than anyone expected, but the Commanders are finally retiring John Riggins' No. 44 jersey. The franchise's all-time leading rusher likely would have received this honor long ago if he hadn't called out former owner Daniel Snyder for being a "bad guy" with a "dark heart," but Snyder's exit opened the door for them to change tack.
See what else is trending on Yahoo Sports.
(Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
At every turn in this World Cup, the game's best players have seized the moment and delivered performances worthy of the colossal stage. On Thursday, Kylian Mbappé took his turn yet again, bringing France within arm's reach of the summit once more.
France 2, Morocco 0: The tournament's presumptive favorites lived up to the billing in Foxborough, outshooting Morocco 22 to 5 en route to a comfortable 2-0 quarterfinal victory. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou's performance, which included a denial of Mbappé from the penalty spot, kept the game knotted for an hour, but that immovable object was no match for the unstoppable force that is Les Bleus.
They don't call it the beautiful game for nothing. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The heir apparent: Though perhaps overshadowed by Messi's miracle-laden farewell tour, Mbappé's form is as prolific as this competition has ever seen. And while he's just 27, giving us eons yet to watch his greatness, let this be a warning: If you've ever lamented not knowing you're in the good old days until you've left them, we're there right now, and they're as good as it gets.
Looking ahead: Mbappé and France are one win away from their third consecutive World Cup Final. Only Germany and Brazil have ever accomplished that feat, but Mbappé has never hesitated to lay siege to the history books.
(Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)
London, England — No. 10 Karolína Muchová outlasted No. 7 Coco Gauff in a thrilling three-setter on Thursday, winning a tense tiebreak to advance to her first Wimbledon final. For Gauff, the defeat was just her third three-set loss in a Grand Slam since the 2023 U.S. Open (17-3).
All-Czech final: No. 9 Linda Nosková cruised past No. 12 Marta Kostyuk in the other semifinal, ensuring a Czech woman comes out on top at the All England Club for the third time in four years (Markéta Vondroušová in 2023, Barbora Krejčíková in 2024).
(Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Gavarnie-Gèdre, France — Well, that didn't take long. Four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar turned an eight-minute deficit into a nearly three-minute lead with Thursday's historic and dominant ascent in the Pyrenees, climbing the iconic Col du Tourmalet in a record-smashing 42 minutes, 12 seconds to win Stage 6 and reclaim the yellow jersey.
Moving on up: This was Pogačar’s 23rd career stage win at the Tour de France, moving the Slovenian into fifth on the all-time list. Only Great Britain's Mark Cavendish (35), Belgium's Eddy Merckx (34), France's Bernard Hinault (28) and France's André Leducq (25) have more.
(Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images)
Las Vegas, Nevada — AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson's first matchup since going 1-2 in the NBA Draft did not disappoint, as Dybantsa (27-7-2) and the Wizards outdueled Peterson (24-3-3) and the Jazz on Thursday's opening night of Las Vegas Summer League.
Highlight of the night: Dybantsa laid down the hammer on Utah's Justin Harmon for his first poster as a professional.
Rory tees off on the 12th hole. (Luke Walker/Getty Images)
North Berwick, Scotland — The Scottish Open was crowded at the top after Thursday's opening round, with 71 golfers finishing under par including a five-way tie for the lead at 5-under. One of those co-leaders? Rory McIlroy, who's made a habit of dominating here.
13 straight: McIlroy has now carded 13 consecutive rounds in the 60s at this tournament, which he won in 2023, finished T4 in 2024 and finished T2 last year. Those scores, in order from most to least recent: 65, 68, 66, 65, 68, 68, 67, 66, 65, 68, 67, 66, 64. Not bad!
College football is more than just a version of the pro game. It has its own distinct style and culture — and its own massive following on Saturdays. Now, it's getting its own distinct Yahoo Fantasy sports experience.
That's right:College Fantasy Football is now on Yahoo. The traditional fantasy football you know and love, designed for the college game. Create or join a league now.
How it works: Like traditional fantasy football, Yahoo College Fantasy Football is a season-long game with head-to-head weekly matchups. Drafts, trades and waiver pickups work the same way, and the scoring system is similar.
Prepare for Draft Day: Drafts open on Aug. 3, and scoring starts a month later when Week 1 kicks off on Sept. 3. Here are our Top 300 player rankings to help you prepare for your draft.
Sign up for Yahoo College Fantasy Football!
(Yahoo Sports)
️ World Cup, Quarterfinals
Who will join France in the semifinals? Spain and Belgium take the field today in Los Angeles (3pm ET, Fox), followed by tomorrow's doubleheader of Norway vs. England in Miami (5pm, Fox) and Argentina vs. Switzerland in Kansas City (9pm, Fox).
Who should you root for? Morocco is off the table, but for Americans searching for a rooting interest there are seven worthy bandwagons to jump on. There's Norway, if you're catching Haaland fever; or England, if you're ready for "it" to finally come home. And of course there's the simple duality of whether you love Lionel Messi (Argentina), or have gotten tired of his non-stop success (Switzerland). Choose your fighter.
Wimbledon Championships
The men's semifinals begin soon, with No. 2 Alexander Zverev and local wildcard Arthur Fery taking the court first (8:30am, ESPN), followed by top-ranked Jannik Sinner vs. Novak Djokovic. Tomorrow (11am, ESPN) is the women's final — an all-Czech affair between No. 9 Linda Nosková and No. 10 Karolína Muchová — followed by the men's final on Sunday (11am, ESPN).
Chasing 25: Djokovic is yet again just two wins away from his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam, which has eluded him since winning No. 24 three years ago despite this being his eighth major semifinal in that time. One problem? Five of those eight have come against Sinner, who's 5-1 against him in their last six meetings.
️ Evian Championship
The season's fourth LPGA major continues this weekend (Fri-Sun, Golf) at France's Evian Resort Golf Club, where Japan's Aki Iwai shot a scorching 8-under 63 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead over the field.
Korda struggles mightily: World No. 1 Nelly Korda, seeking the Career Grand Slam and a spot in the Hall of Fame, got off to a disastrous start with a 3-over 74, 11 shots off the lead and in danger of missing the cut.
️ MLB, First-Half Finale
This weekend marks the last set of games before the All-Star break, and you could do much worse than closing out the first half on Sunday with one of the best pitching matchups imaginable, as Paul Skenes' Pirates host Jacob Misiorowski's Brewers in Pittsburgh (12:15pm, Peacock).
Plus… The MLB Draft is this weekend in Philadelphia, with Rounds 1-4 on Saturday (1pm NBC/Peacock/MLB) and Rounds 5-20 on Sunday (11:30am, MLB.com). To prepare for the proceedings, dive into our in-depth analysis of the Top 50 prospects, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman.
UFC 329
Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon for the first time in five years on Saturday night in Las Vegas (9pm, Paramount+), where his welterweight bout against Max Holloway headlines a card that also includes fan favorite Paddy Pimblett and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson.
Pre-fight reading:Conor McGregor isn't just fighting Max Holloway at UFC 329. He's fighting history(Ben Fowlkes, Uncrowned)
More to watch:
Plus: NBA Summer League (Fri-Sun, ESPN/Prime); NASCAR at EchoPark Speedway (Sun. 7pm, TNT); PLL Week 8 in Chicago (Fri-Sat, ESPN+/ESPN2); IFL Week 18(Sat-Sun, Yahoo Sports); BIG3 Week 4 in Los Angeles (Sat. 4pm, CBS)
Got plans this weekend? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city. Get tickets now!
Djoker takes on Jannik Sinner in the semifinals today. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic's seven Wimbledon singles titles are tied for second among men in the Open Era, trailing only Roger Federer's eight.
Question: Who is he tied with?
Hint: His last win came in 2000.
Answer at the bottom.
A mural of Messi adorns a wall in his hometown of Rosario. (Marcelo Manera/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
There are more than 100,000 people from Argentina whose first name is Lionel, for obvious reasons. But just 11 are named Messi thanks to an obscure 1969 statute prohibiting the use of surnames as first names.
Jeff Eisenberg, Yahoo Sports:
While Argentine supporters have painted towering murals of Messi, written songs in his honor and tattooed his face, jersey and autograph on their bodies, there's one form of tribute that remains largely forbidden across the country. Argentine law still prohibits expecting parents from turning Messi's well-known surname into a first name.
As of June 2025, there were just 11 Argentine citizens or legal foreign residents whose first name was Messi, all 19 years old or younger, according to the country's national registry of persons. That's far less than the 205 American citizens with the first name Messi. Or the roughly 265 people in France. Or the 363 Brazilians. Or the staggering 3,402 residents of Peru.
Keep reading.
Trivia answer: Pete Sampras
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
Kawhi trade not yet completed: The Raptors' trade for Kawhi Leonard has still not been finalized, as it cannot be completed until the NBA's lengthy investigation into the Clippers ends. For the last 10 months, the league has been looking into accusations that the Clippers funneled money to Leonard as a way to circumvent the salary cap.
️ Derby's almost full: Phillies 1B Bryce Harper and Cardinals RF Jordan Walker have joined the field for Monday's Home Run Derby, which has just two spots left. Harper has a chance to win the Derby at his home park for the second time, first doing so with the Nationals in 2018.Carlsson's historic payday: The Ducks matched Leo Carlsson's five-year, $90 million offer sheet from the Flyers, making the 21-year-old center the highest-paid player in NHL history by AAV ($18M). For reference, that figure would rank as the 190th-highest AAV in NBA history.
UCLA lands top prospect: Serbian phenom Nikola Kusturica has agreed to a multiyear NIL deal worth upwards of $12 million to play at UCLA beginning this fall. The 17-year-old, still two years away from being eligible for the NBA, is considered an early contender to go No. 1 in the 2028 draft.
No. 44 forever: It took far longer than anyone expected, but the Commanders are finally retiring John Riggins' No. 44 jersey. The franchise's all-time leading rusher likely would have received this honor long ago if he hadn't called out former owner Daniel Snyder for being a "bad guy" with a "dark heart," but Snyder's exit opened the door for them to change tack.
See what else is trending on Yahoo Sports.
️ LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, MBAPPÉ
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(Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
At every turn in this World Cup, the game's best players have seized the moment and delivered performances worthy of the colossal stage. On Thursday, Kylian Mbappé took his turn yet again, bringing France within arm's reach of the summit once more.
France 2, Morocco 0: The tournament's presumptive favorites lived up to the billing in Foxborough, outshooting Morocco 22 to 5 en route to a comfortable 2-0 quarterfinal victory. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou's performance, which included a denial of Mbappé from the penalty spot, kept the game knotted for an hour, but that immovable object was no match for the unstoppable force that is Les Bleus.
- As with Lionel Messi before him, Mbappé's first-half missed penalty did little to shake his confidence, serving only as a warm-up for the more difficult act that followed; namely, his sublime strike through traffic that broke the deadlock in the 60th minute and gave him eight goals this tournament, vaulting him past Messi for the Golden Boot lead.
- Six minutes later, reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé iced the game with an incisive run and a deft finish for his fifth goal of the tournament, assisted by none other than Mbappé. In any other World Cup, his tally would be among the best. In this one, it's an afterthought on his own team. Seriously, how stacked are France?!
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They don't call it the beautiful game for nothing. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The heir apparent: Though perhaps overshadowed by Messi's miracle-laden farewell tour, Mbappé's form is as prolific as this competition has ever seen. And while he's just 27, giving us eons yet to watch his greatness, let this be a warning: If you've ever lamented not knowing you're in the good old days until you've left them, we're there right now, and they're as good as it gets.
- Consider that Mbappé's second-half goal brought his career World Cup tally to an astonishing 20 goals in 20 matches. That would be remarkable against any foe, but to score with such consistency in the notoriously cagey environment of the World Cup is unfathomable. He may sit a goal behind Messi on the all-time chart now, but it's clear that — however this tournament ends — the Frenchman will one day stand alone at the top.
- And it's more than just volume, too, as 17 of his 20 goals have come in the second half, which is as remarkable as it is statistically improbable. With nine World Cup match winners (a record), Mbappé hasn’t padded stats in garbage time; he's pulled his nation by the scruff of its neck toward World Cup glory.
Looking ahead: Mbappé and France are one win away from their third consecutive World Cup Final. Only Germany and Brazil have ever accomplished that feat, but Mbappé has never hesitated to lay siege to the history books.
THE WORLD IN PHOTOS
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(Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)
London, England — No. 10 Karolína Muchová outlasted No. 7 Coco Gauff in a thrilling three-setter on Thursday, winning a tense tiebreak to advance to her first Wimbledon final. For Gauff, the defeat was just her third three-set loss in a Grand Slam since the 2023 U.S. Open (17-3).
All-Czech final: No. 9 Linda Nosková cruised past No. 12 Marta Kostyuk in the other semifinal, ensuring a Czech woman comes out on top at the All England Club for the third time in four years (Markéta Vondroušová in 2023, Barbora Krejčíková in 2024).
You must be registered for see images attach
(Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Gavarnie-Gèdre, France — Well, that didn't take long. Four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar turned an eight-minute deficit into a nearly three-minute lead with Thursday's historic and dominant ascent in the Pyrenees, climbing the iconic Col du Tourmalet in a record-smashing 42 minutes, 12 seconds to win Stage 6 and reclaim the yellow jersey.
Moving on up: This was Pogačar’s 23rd career stage win at the Tour de France, moving the Slovenian into fifth on the all-time list. Only Great Britain's Mark Cavendish (35), Belgium's Eddy Merckx (34), France's Bernard Hinault (28) and France's André Leducq (25) have more.
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(Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images)
Las Vegas, Nevada — AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson's first matchup since going 1-2 in the NBA Draft did not disappoint, as Dybantsa (27-7-2) and the Wizards outdueled Peterson (24-3-3) and the Jazz on Thursday's opening night of Las Vegas Summer League.
Highlight of the night: Dybantsa laid down the hammer on Utah's Justin Harmon for his first poster as a professional.
You must be registered for see images attach
Rory tees off on the 12th hole. (Luke Walker/Getty Images)
North Berwick, Scotland — The Scottish Open was crowded at the top after Thursday's opening round, with 71 golfers finishing under par including a five-way tie for the lead at 5-under. One of those co-leaders? Rory McIlroy, who's made a habit of dominating here.
13 straight: McIlroy has now carded 13 consecutive rounds in the 60s at this tournament, which he won in 2023, finished T4 in 2024 and finished T2 last year. Those scores, in order from most to least recent: 65, 68, 66, 65, 68, 68, 67, 66, 65, 68, 67, 66, 64. Not bad!
COLLEGE FANTASY FOOTBALL IS HERE!
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College football is more than just a version of the pro game. It has its own distinct style and culture — and its own massive following on Saturdays. Now, it's getting its own distinct Yahoo Fantasy sports experience.
That's right:College Fantasy Football is now on Yahoo. The traditional fantasy football you know and love, designed for the college game. Create or join a league now.
You must be registered for see images attach
How it works: Like traditional fantasy football, Yahoo College Fantasy Football is a season-long game with head-to-head weekly matchups. Drafts, trades and waiver pickups work the same way, and the scoring system is similar.
- Player pool: Draftable players include those from all 68 teams in the Power 4 (SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC), plus Notre Dame.
- New position added: In addition to drafting individual players and a defense, there's also now a roster spot for "Team Offense," rewarding team-level aggregate scoring.
- Expanded rosters: Whereas traditional fantasy football rosters have just 15 spots, the college game has 18. This reflects a sport that has more stars than ever thanks to the transfer portal creating new opportunities for playing time, NIL keeping talented upperclassmen in school and freshmen becoming increasingly game-ready.
Prepare for Draft Day: Drafts open on Aug. 3, and scoring starts a month later when Week 1 kicks off on Sept. 3. Here are our Top 300 player rankings to help you prepare for your draft.
Sign up for Yahoo College Fantasy Football!
WEEKEND WATCHLIST
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(Yahoo Sports)
️ World Cup, QuarterfinalsWho will join France in the semifinals? Spain and Belgium take the field today in Los Angeles (3pm ET, Fox), followed by tomorrow's doubleheader of Norway vs. England in Miami (5pm, Fox) and Argentina vs. Switzerland in Kansas City (9pm, Fox).
Who should you root for? Morocco is off the table, but for Americans searching for a rooting interest there are seven worthy bandwagons to jump on. There's Norway, if you're catching Haaland fever; or England, if you're ready for "it" to finally come home. And of course there's the simple duality of whether you love Lionel Messi (Argentina), or have gotten tired of his non-stop success (Switzerland). Choose your fighter.
Wimbledon Championships
The men's semifinals begin soon, with No. 2 Alexander Zverev and local wildcard Arthur Fery taking the court first (8:30am, ESPN), followed by top-ranked Jannik Sinner vs. Novak Djokovic. Tomorrow (11am, ESPN) is the women's final — an all-Czech affair between No. 9 Linda Nosková and No. 10 Karolína Muchová — followed by the men's final on Sunday (11am, ESPN).
Chasing 25: Djokovic is yet again just two wins away from his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam, which has eluded him since winning No. 24 three years ago despite this being his eighth major semifinal in that time. One problem? Five of those eight have come against Sinner, who's 5-1 against him in their last six meetings.
️ Evian ChampionshipThe season's fourth LPGA major continues this weekend (Fri-Sun, Golf) at France's Evian Resort Golf Club, where Japan's Aki Iwai shot a scorching 8-under 63 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead over the field.
Korda struggles mightily: World No. 1 Nelly Korda, seeking the Career Grand Slam and a spot in the Hall of Fame, got off to a disastrous start with a 3-over 74, 11 shots off the lead and in danger of missing the cut.
️ MLB, First-Half FinaleThis weekend marks the last set of games before the All-Star break, and you could do much worse than closing out the first half on Sunday with one of the best pitching matchups imaginable, as Paul Skenes' Pirates host Jacob Misiorowski's Brewers in Pittsburgh (12:15pm, Peacock).
Plus… The MLB Draft is this weekend in Philadelphia, with Rounds 1-4 on Saturday (1pm NBC/Peacock/MLB) and Rounds 5-20 on Sunday (11:30am, MLB.com). To prepare for the proceedings, dive into our in-depth analysis of the Top 50 prospects, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman.
UFC 329
Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon for the first time in five years on Saturday night in Las Vegas (9pm, Paramount+), where his welterweight bout against Max Holloway headlines a card that also includes fan favorite Paddy Pimblett and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson.
Pre-fight reading:Conor McGregor isn't just fighting Max Holloway at UFC 329. He's fighting history(Ben Fowlkes, Uncrowned)
More to watch:
- WNBA: Wings at Tempo (Fri. 7:30pm, ION); Liberty at Lynx (Sat. 1pm, ABC); Mercury at Aces (Sat. 6pm, NBCSN/Peacock); Sky at Wings (Sun. 7pm, ESPN)
- ️ PGA: Scottish Open (Fri-Sun, ESPN+/Golf/CBS) … Play continues at The Renaissance Club, where Rory McIlroy (-5) was among the five players tied for the first-round lead.
- ️ NWSL: Orlando vs. Kansas City (Fri. 8pm, Prime); San Diego vs. Angel City (Sat. 8:45pm, ION); Seattle vs. Portland (Sun. 4pm, ESPN) … San Diego (9-4-1) and Portland (8-3-3) sit atop the standings.
- Tour de France: Stages 7-9 (Fri-Sun, Peacock) … Riders will complete two more flat stages and a hilly stage before getting their first rest day on Monday.
Plus: NBA Summer League (Fri-Sun, ESPN/Prime); NASCAR at EchoPark Speedway (Sun. 7pm, TNT); PLL Week 8 in Chicago (Fri-Sat, ESPN+/ESPN2); IFL Week 18(Sat-Sun, Yahoo Sports); BIG3 Week 4 in Los Angeles (Sat. 4pm, CBS)
Got plans this weekend? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city. Get tickets now!
TENNIS TRIVIA
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Djoker takes on Jannik Sinner in the semifinals today. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic's seven Wimbledon singles titles are tied for second among men in the Open Era, trailing only Roger Federer's eight.
Question: Who is he tied with?
Hint: His last win came in 2000.
Answer at the bottom.
WHY THERE ARE SO FEW MESSI'S IN ARGENTINA
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A mural of Messi adorns a wall in his hometown of Rosario. (Marcelo Manera/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
There are more than 100,000 people from Argentina whose first name is Lionel, for obvious reasons. But just 11 are named Messi thanks to an obscure 1969 statute prohibiting the use of surnames as first names.
Jeff Eisenberg, Yahoo Sports:
While Argentine supporters have painted towering murals of Messi, written songs in his honor and tattooed his face, jersey and autograph on their bodies, there's one form of tribute that remains largely forbidden across the country. Argentine law still prohibits expecting parents from turning Messi's well-known surname into a first name.
As of June 2025, there were just 11 Argentine citizens or legal foreign residents whose first name was Messi, all 19 years old or younger, according to the country's national registry of persons. That's far less than the 205 American citizens with the first name Messi. Or the roughly 265 people in France. Or the 363 Brazilians. Or the staggering 3,402 residents of Peru.
Keep reading.
Trivia answer: Pete Sampras
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...
