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🏀 5 issues to know Thursday

1. A’ja Wilson’s last-second shot places Aces a win away from third WNBA title. With simply 0.3 seconds left in Sport 3 of the WNBA Finals, Wilson knocked down the game-winning shot to push the Mercury to the brink. Las Vegas held a 17-point lead within the ultimate body, however Phoenix mounted a livid cost to tie the sport earlier than Wilson’s ultimate bucket. Now, the Aces are one win away from their third WNBA title within the final 4 years.
2. Three MLB groups lengthen their seasons in do-or-die video games. The Tigers, Cubs and Phillies all performed like determined groups yesterday and fought to see one other day. Detroit’s offense got here alive simply within the nick of time. Chicago exploded for 4 runs within the first inning and held on from there. Kyle Schwarber set the tone for Philadelphia in a rout of the Dodgers. Keep tuned proper right here for all the outcomes and schedules because the division sequence proceed.
3. Joe Flacco has formally been named the Bengals’ beginning QB. Simply at some point after Flacco arrived in Cincinnati, coach Zac Taylor named him the starter. Flacco replaces Jake Browning, and the excellent news is it could’t get a lot worse for the Bengals offense. On the opposite finish of the commerce, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was caught off guard by the deal.
4. Eagles LB Nakobe Dean is on monitor to make his season debut on Thursday evening. As Week 6 of the NFL season begins, the Eagles protection will get an enormous enhance with Dean coming again into the fold. Extra good harm information for Philly — and unhealthy information for the Giants — Saquon Barkley downplayed the foot harm he is been coping with this week.
5. School athletes are one step nearer to being allowed to gamble on professional sports activities. For the time being, sports activities betting of all types is forbidden for NCAA athletes. That might change following a vote by the NCAA DI Administrative Committee. The present system is a headache to police, so limiting the ban to school athletics could also be the very best path ahead for either side.

🏀 Don’t miss this: A’ja Wilson’s last-second bucket lifts Aces

When the Aces took a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter of Sport 3 of the WNBA Finals, it appeared like they had been going to stroll to a 3-0 sequence lead. Then the Mercury began to rise as they bought scorching and tied the sport at 88 with underneath a minute remaining. That is when A’ja Wilson got here up with the clincher in a 90-88 win.

As our personal Jack Maloney notes, even earlier than final evening, Wilson had a terrific case because the WNBA’s G.O.A.T. The one factor she lacked was a signature second. Not anymore. Cross “signature second” off the legacy to-do checklist.

• Maloney: “A’ja Wilson is the one four-time MVP in WNBA historical past, a three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months and a seven-time All-Star. She’s received two titles and a Finals MVP, and at 29 years outdated already has a case because the G.O.A.T. However till late on Wednesday evening, she was missing a real signature second. That modified with a spin and a fade and a shot that rattled across the rim earlier than it nestled within the internet to offer the Aces a 3-0 lead within the Finals and transfer them inside a win of their third title within the final 4 years.”

After an unbelievable 34-point efficiency from Wilson, a brand new WNBA Finals profession excessive, she is one win away from including one other ring to her résumé. 

On the opposite facet, the Mercury have made it clear they will not go down and not using a struggle, however they is likely to be moving into the ring with one hand tied behind their again in Sport 4. Satou Sabally left Sport 3 with a head harm, and she or he remains to be being evaluated for a concussion.

Blue Jays ship Yankees packing in ALDS

For the primary time in nearly 10 years, the Blue Jays are within the ALCS after defeating the Yankees 5-2 in Sport 4. It was a crew effort for Toronto as eight completely different pitchers mixed to carry New York to 2 runs on six hits.

As for the Blue Jays’ bats, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. simply saved tormenting the Yankees as he drove within the recreation’s first run with a single within the first inning. That was Guerrero’s ninth RBI of the sequence, and if there’s any comfort for the Yankees, it is that they held him to only one RBI this time.

The Blue Jays will now transfer on to play the winner of the sequence between the Mariners and Tigers, which can strikes again to Seattle for Sport 5 Friday after Detroit’s 9-3 win Thursday evening.

As for the Yankees, the place do they flip now after a step backward? New York has grow to be a mannequin of stability with Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone main the best way for the final 9 years. Given the Yankees’ constant postseason struggles towards equal competitors, Mike Axisa wonders if the crew ought to deliver again a few of that Steinbrenner-esque rashness.

• Axisa: “Stability is an effective factor and one thing groups crave. It really works for the Yankees as a result of they’re within the race nearly each season. It additionally hasn’t labored as a result of their season retains ending the identical method. The Yankees won’t ever be judged by their common season and early October success. After this a few years, it is truthful to ask whether or not this management group can get them over the hump.”

Now, with the Yankees within the midst of the second-longest World Collection drought in crew historical past, what might be performed this offseason to get them over the hump in 2026?

🏈 Story of the tape: Heavyweight struggle in Eugene

The most important recreation of an thrilling Week 7 faculty soccer slate might be performed in Eugene this weekend as No. 3 Oregon hosts No. 7 Indiana.

Whereas this might not be your father’s conventional Huge Ten showdown, make no mistake about it: the Geese and Hoosiers are completely two of the School Soccer Playoff frontrunners, and so they each have particular expertise.

Our personal Cooper Petagna broke down which crew has the sting at every place, and all eyes are on the quarterbacks on this one. Dante Moore (Oregon) and Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) are each within the Heisman Trophy combine — and within the high 10 of Mike Renner’s up to date 2026 NFL Draft massive board.

However which one will give his crew a bonus in Autzen Stadium on Saturday? Petagna leans towards Mendoza.

• Petagna: “Though the previous five-star in Eugene most likely possesses extra long-term bodily upside, Mendoza’s blistering begin to the season is difficult to disregard. Ranked because the No. 4 quarterback within the switch portal in accordance with 247Sports, the California switch has been a near-perfect slot in Curt Cignetti’s offense, rating top-five nationally in completion share, passing effectivity, and touchdowns by way of six weeks.”

Indiana already asserted itself as an up-and-coming faculty soccer menace final season, however as our personal John Talty factors out, nothing would say greater than rolling into Oregon and taking down a top-five crew.

If you happen to’re questioning the place to see this battle of the faculty soccer titans, I’ve excellent news for you. Simply flip your tv dials to CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon.

👍👎 The most effective (and not-so-best) of the remaining

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

⚾ NLDS Sport 4: Phillies at Dodgers, 6 p.m. on TBS/truTV
🏈 Louisiana Tech at Kennesaw State, 7 p.m. on ESPNU
🏒 Devils at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. on Hulu
🏈 East Carolina at Tulane, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Jacksonville State at Sam Houston, 8 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏈 Southern Miss at Georgia Southern, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
🏈 Eagles at Giants, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video
⚾ NLDS Sport 4: Brewers at Cubs, 9 p.m. on TBS/truTV
🏒 Golden Knights at Sharks, 10 p.m. on Hulu