As the league has expanded to 29 teams (30 beginning in 2025 with San Diego FC), it has become more challenging to reach the ultimate stage and win it all.

Between the increase in teams, overall talent and format changes, among other factors, replicating success is not guaranteed.

With the 2024 playoffs next, a handful of historic teams can add to their title tally, while others are in search of their first. Here’s what to know about the most successful MLS Cup-winning franchises:

Who has the most MLS Cup Final appearances?

Beginning with appearances, nineteen teams have at least one, as aforementioned. Here are the teams with at least four or more since the first edition in 1996:

• LA Galaxy: 9
• D.C. United: 5
• New England Revolution: 5
• Columbus Crew: 4
• Houston Dynamo: 4
• Seattle Sounders: 4

Who has the most MLS Cup wins?

Not every team that reached the final won it, however, as seen with the Revolution. Here’s the list of teams with two or more wins:

• LA Galaxy: 5
• D.C. United: 4
• Columbus Crew: 3
• Houston Dynamo: 2
• Seattle Sounders: 2
• Sporting Kansas City: 2
• San Jose Earthquakes: 2

Who will win the 2024 MLS Cup?

Out West, the two premier contenders are the Galaxy and LAFC, the latter possessing home-field advantage in the conference. The Black and Gold last won the title in 2022, which marked their first.

In the Eastern Conference, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will be seeking their first-ever win following a historic Supporters’ Shield-winning season, also their first. Columbus will provide a challenging fight, however, with manager Wilfried Nancy still at the helm along with key players like Cucho Hernandez, Diego Rossi and more.

Who won the 2023 MLS Cup?

The 2023 final was won by the Columbus Crew, who beat LAFC at home 2-1 to win their third title.

During Monday night’s 41-31 loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay lost WR1 Mike Evans after he aggravated his hamstring injury on a dropped pass.

After hauling in a 25-yard touchdown reception earlier in the affair, Evans could not continue and was ruled out for the game.

Evans now will be out until after Tampa Bay’s Week 11 bye, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday.

WR Mike Evans is expected to be out until after the Buccaneers’ Week 11 bye due to the hamstring injury he suffered Monday night. pic.twitter.com/mKQLpKIkyv

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 22, 2024

Tampa Bay, at 4-3 and tied for second in the NFC South, will meet the Atlanta Falcons at home for a first-place battle, travel to the currently unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football before returning home to host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10.

Evans then would be slated to return on Nov. 24 when the Buccaneers return from their bye and travel to face the New York Giants.

The 31-year-old, who has never went a season without at least 1,000 receiving yards, had recorded 26 catches for 335 yards and six touchdowns through seven appearances. The 12.9 yards per catch currently is his lowest career average.

Tampa Bay also lost WR2 Chris Godwin against Baltimore, as he suffered a dislocated ankle in the closing minutes with the game essentially wrapped up. Godwin reportedly will undergo surgery and could miss the rest of the season.

The Los Angeles Rams have called multiple teams about trading the former Super Bowl MVP, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Mike Silver and Jourdan Rodrigue reported Tuesday, citing sources.

The Rams have called multiple teams about trading former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp sources tell @mikesilver, @jourdanrodrigue, and me.
The Rams have indicated a willingness to take on some of the ‘24 salary and are seeking a 2nd round pick.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 22, 2024

The Rams also reportedly are willing to take on some of Kupp’s 2024 salary if they receive a second-round pick. Fellow star receivers Davante Adams and Amari Cooper both fetched third-round picks in trades over the past few weeks.

Kupp, 31, has two years remaining on his contract after this season — $20 million in 2025 and $19.85 million in 2026.

The former Triple Crown winner has played just two games this season due to an ankle injury suffered on Sept. 15, but head coach Sean McVay said he’s expected to return on Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings.

When healthy, Kupp has been one of the NFL’s best receivers in recent years — but health always is a concern. Injuries have been an issue since his magical 2021 season when he won Super Bowl MVP, the Triple Crown and Offensive Player of the Year. Kupp played just nine games in 2022, 12 games in 2023 and already has missed four games in 2024.

If the Rams are willing to offload Kupp for picks, it could signal that they are embracing a full rebuild. The team is 2-4 this season entering its Week 8 date with the 5-1 Vikings.

With Aaron Donald now retired and Matthew Stafford in his late 30s, the Rams could shift focus to the next era. Los Angeles has drafted well with Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Jared Verse, and McVay still is just 38 years old despite coaching the team for eight years.

The 2024 NFL trade deadline is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5 — exactly two weeks away.

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Whether it was a four-time champion leaving his longtime team or a player joining a crosstown rival, a handful of offseason moves shook up the NBA this summer.

With those moves will come some highly anticipated homecoming games. Those players will return to their old stomping grounds as a visitor, with many expecting a warm welcome from their former fans.

Here’s a look at five of the must-watch homecoming games for the upcoming NBA season.

Paul George: 76ers vs. Clippers, Nov. 6

Paul George will face his old team early in the 2024-25 season, but it won’t be a traditional homecoming.

George and the Philadelphia 76ers will hit the road to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 6. Instead of returning to Crypto.com Arena, George will take the floor at the Intuit Dome in just the Clippers’ sixth regular season game at their new home in Inglewood, California.

After five seasons and three All-Star appearances in L.A., George switched coasts and signed a four-year, $212 million deal in Philadelphia.

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Klay Thompson: Mavericks vs. Warriors, Nov. 12

It will be an emotional night on Nov. 12 when Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks visit the Golden State Warriors.

Thompson spent 13 years in Golden State, earning four NBA championships and five All-Star selections while forming the greatest shooting backcourt in league history alongside Steph Curry. The 34-year-old also overcame two full missed seasons due to injury to contribute to the Warriors’ 2022 title run.

A golden age in Golden State came to an end this offseason, as Thompson joined the Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal.

Karl-Anthony Towns: Knicks vs. Timberwolves, Dec. 19

The preseason already provided a glimpse at how intriguing the Knicks-Timberwolves matchups in 2024-25 could be.

A blockbuster trade between the two sides sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick. Before even making his regular season debut with his new team, DiVincenzo brought some drama to the Timberwolves’ exhibition at Madison Square Garden with some words for New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, who is also the father of Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson.

On Dec. 19, Towns will make his return to the Minnesota, where he spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career after the Wolves selected him first overall in 2015. Despite putting together one of the best seasons in franchise history and reaching the Western Conference finals, Minnesota opted to deal a franchise cornerstone.

Less than a month after Towns returns to Minnesota, Randle and DiVincenzo will get a chance to play in front of the MSG faithful again on Jan. 17.

DeMar DeRozan: Kings vs. Bulls, Jan. 12

DeMar DeRozan had plenty of free agency suitors, but he ultimately landed with the Sacramento Kings as part of a sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls.

The move capped off a three-year run for DeRozan in Chicago. He was an All-Star in his first two seasons, but the Bulls once again bowed out in the Play-In Tournament to finish out 2023-24.

DeRozan should receive a warm welcome in the Windy City when the Kings visit the Bulls on Jan. 12.

Mikal Bridges: Knicks vs. Nets, Jan. 21

Instead of moving cities, Mikal Bridges is moving boroughs.

Bridges was dealt from the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets to the contending Knicks, reuniting him with three of his college teammates in Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo (before DiVincenzo was traded to Minnesota). The swap marked the end of Bridges’ year-and-a-half run in Brooklyn, one that began when he was shipped out from Phoenix in a trade that netted the Suns Kevin Durant.

As crosstown rivals, Bridges will face his former team four times in 2024-25. The Knicks will host the Nets at Madison Square Garden for a pair of games in November and visit Barclays Center on Jan. 21. New York will make a second trip to Brooklyn on April 13 to close out the regular season.

The apparel line will feature 11 NHL teams for the 2024-25 NHL season: Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Seattle Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights and defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The collaboration will expand to all 32 NHL teams for the 2025-26 NHL season.

“We’re big hockey fans here at lululemon, and we know our guests are too,” Celeste Burgoyne, president of Americas and Global Guest Innovation for lululemon, said in a press release. “We’re thrilled to partner with Fanatics and the NHL to grow our presence in professional sports and introduce our high-quality performance and loungewear apparel to NHL fans around the League who share our love for the game.”

The companies didn’t just tap some of the league’s biggest stars for the campaign. They also brought in the players’ significant others, with Detroit’s Dylan Larkin, Toronto’s John Tavares and Seattle’s Matty Beniers joined by their loved ones.

Very cool campaign for the new @NHL x @Fanatics x @lululemon collab: Players and their significant others modeling the fan gear.

The new apparel line will feature 11 NHL teams for the 2024-25 season, before expanding to a full 32 team assortment for the 2025-26 season. pic.twitter.com/FCrEr3dq28

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 22, 2024

“We are proud to celebrate the start of an exciting new season with the launch of this collection with Fanatics and lululemon, a premier global athletic apparel brand,” NHL chief brand officer and senior executive vice president Brian Jennings said. “With a unique campaign featuring our Players and their partners, we’re confident the elevated product offerings coming to team stores, select Lids stores and NHLShop.com will delight our fans.”

The first product release will come on Oct. 29 with NHL team marks on some of lululemon’s most popular items, including the Scuba Hoodie, Define Jacket and Everywhere Belt Bag.

Items will be available for purchase online through Fanatics and at several retail locations at participating team venues, within local markets and at the flagship NHL Shop NYC in New York City.

The former child actor will drive full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2025 for Reaume Brothers Racing. He will pilot the No. 33 Ford F-150 for all 25 races next season.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025,” Muniz said, via NASCAR.com. “My longstanding relationship with Ford has been a game changer, and I am thrilled to help facilitate additional support allowing us to tap into their exceptional technical and engineering resources. I’m confident that this synergy will elevate Reaume Brothers Racing and help us achieve great things together. I can’t wait to get started.”

Muniz, 38, is best known as the star of “Malcolm in the Middle,” which ran from 2000 to 2006, as he earned Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his performance.

But since 2006, Muniz’s passion has shifted to racing. He began driving professionally that year, but his NASCAR career didn’t begin until years later. Muniz tested in the ARCA Menards Series, a lower-level division, at Daytona International Speedway in 2022 before jumping into the series full-time in 2023. Over 20 starts that season, Muniz had a best finish of fifth and scored 11 top-10 finishes.

Muniz jumped in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series for select starts in 2024 as he continued to climb up the ladder. The Truck Series is considered the third-tier of NASCAR and the Xfinity Series is the second-tier below the top level Cup Series.

In two Truck Series starts for Reaume Brothers Racing this year, Muniz has posted finishes of 31st and 29th. He will run two more races this season to prepare for next year, including this Saturday’s event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

He ended up in the hospital with pneumonia, and he remained there into Monday evening, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said.

“It started acting up in the middle of the night, Saturday night or early Sunday morning,” Shanahan said on a conference call with Bay Area reporters.

“And it evolved as the day went. So once we found out he had the fluid in his lungs after the game, I believe they sent him over there [to the hospital].”

Shanahan said he found out after he got home on Sunday evening that Samuel was hospitalized with the condition.

There is no timetable for Samuel’s release from the hospital or when he will be available to return to practice or play, Shanahan said.

The 49ers, coming off a 28-18 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, return to action next Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. After the 49ers’ upcoming Week 8 game, San Francisco will have a bye week.

Samuel is the 49ers’ fourth-leading receiver with 20 catches for 335 yards and one touchdown through seven games this season.

Jauan Jennings, who leads the 49ers with 404 yards receiving, was inactive for Sunday’s game due to a hip injury. His status for the game against the Cowboys is uncertain.

The 49ers played most of Sunday’s game without their top three wide receivers.

Brandon Aiyuk, the team’s third-leading receiver, is out for the season after sustaining tears to the ACL and MCL in his right knee, Shanahan announced.

With Week 8 up next, all teams will be playing with no one off on their bye week.

The week will start with the Minnesota Vikings at the Los Angeles Rams for Thursday Night Football action, with the former seeing its flawless start snapped.

No international games will transpire in Week 8. Instead, eight games will form the early window Sunday, chief among them being the Philadelphia Eagles at the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons at the Tampa Buccaneers in an important NFC South clash.

Five games will shape the late window, with the Chicago Bears at the Washington Commanders potentially featuring No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels, who is dealing with a rib injury sustained in Week 7. The Kansas City Chiefs will look to go 7-0 when they visit the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Sunday Night Football will feature a classic rivalry, as the San Francisco 49ers will host the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup of two struggling teams looking for inspiration.

Monday Night Football will conclude the week with the Pittsburgh Steelers on primetime again when they host the lowly New York Giants.

Here’s a look at the full lineup:

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Buccaneers star Chris Godwin will undergo ankle surgery this week, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and he’ll see a doctor Tuesday to determine the damage.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero added that the injury will “most likely” end Godwin’s 2024 season.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles confirmed in his post-game press conference that Godwin dislocated his ankle late in Monday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The 28-year-old receiver was carted off with his left leg in an air cast, just 43 seconds before the end of the blowout loss after being tackled following a catch.

For Godwin and the Bucs, the timing of the injury makes it that much worse. He’s in the midst of a career year, totaling 576 receiving yards though Week 7 — second in the league behind Ja’Marr Chase. Godwin leads the league with 50 receptions and 350 yards after catch.

The Bucs, meanwhile, are now tied atop the NFC South with the rival Atlanta Falcons at 4-3. Tampa Bay and Atlanta will face off for the second and final time this season on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Florida, just three weeks after the Falcons’ overtime win over the Bucs.

Godwin is set to become a free agent after this season, so Monday night might have been his final snap for the Bucs. A third-round pick in 2017, Godwin has surpassed 500 receiving yards in each of his first eight seasons (including 2024). He has four 1,000-yard seasons and helped Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl in 2020.

An arrest warrant was issued for John Callis, 24, after cellphone video of an assault on two men in Commanders jerseys went viral. The warrant included allegations of first-degree aggravated assault and second-degree assault, police said.

It wasn’t clear whether Callis was released after his arrest Monday. An attorney for Callis did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night.

The victims seen on video were identified only as 23-year-old men.

Police allege Callis was the man in the video wearing a Ravens jersey and walking in the Federal Hill neighborhood, known for its nightlife, sports bars and historic architecture, a few blocks from M&T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens had just defeated the Commanders 30-23.

In the video, the man in the Ravens jersey kicks one of two men in Commanders jerseys who face him as he approaches. The Commanders fan is dropped with a punch as the other lunges at the Ravens fan, only to be thrown into a brick wall and ultimately felled.

The man in the Ravens jersey raises his arm and high-fives someone off camera while shouting, “I don’t lose!”

In court documents obtained by NBC affiliate WBAL of Baltimore, police said the suspect assaulted two of three victims twice after they returned to the area to retrieve a cellphone believed to have been lost during the initial altercation.

Video appeared to reflect only one of the two alleged encounters.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

• Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson lead Ravens’ elite rushing attack into Tampa Bay
• World Series ticket prices soaring ahead of Yankees-Dodgers matchup
• Lakers superstar LeBron James, son Bronny set to play together in historic first

First, the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers played to a shootout, with the former triumphing 41-31. However, it deserves some context as the Ravens trailed 10-0 before putting up 34 unanswered.

Tampa Bay trailed 34-10 in the fourth but scored a few touchdowns late to make the score line more flattering. But, in the process, the Bucs may have lost a star for the season, among another potentially important loss.

The second game saw the Los Angeles Chargers at the Arizona Cardinals in a more tightly contested affair, with the latter coming out victorious 17-15 thanks to a game-winning field goal from 32 yards out.

Let’s analyze both games further with winners and losers:

WINNER: Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry continue to power Baltimore

Baltimore, now 5-2, perhaps is a star wideout away from being considered the most threatening contender. Of course, Lamar Jackson will once again be tested in the playoffs, but he’s pushing for a third league MVP.

Moving to 23-1 against NFC teams, Jackson threw for 281 yards on 17 of 22 completions for five touchdowns and no picks, including 59-yard and 49-yard dots to Rashod Bateman.

Derrick Henry continued his rushing prowess, logging 169 yards on 15 carries with a long of 81.

DERRICK HENRY BREAKS OFF AN 81-YARD RUN.

📺: #BALvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/xXVR93t3uI

— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2024

Once Baltimore is in the lead, Jackson continued to prove it is a tough unit to slow down. With the addition of Henry, the efficiency has augmented. Now, imagine if the Ravens can somehow get Jackson a real WR1…

LOSER: Buccaneers lose both star wideouts

The Bucs dropped to 4-3 after the result, but things are looking bleak despite being above .500 still. Tampa Bay held a 10-0 lead early but began to unravel after losing Mike Evans to the hamstring injury he was trying to manage. It’s not yet clear how long Evans will be out.

But even worse, Tampa Bay may have lost Chris Godwin for a lengthy period. In the final minutes as the Buccaneers forced the issue trying to close the scoreboard gap, Godwin’s ankle appeared to bend awkwardly on a tackle. He was carted off in an air cast and is believed to have a dislocated ankle.

Godwin has been one of the top receivers this season, but injuries continue to hold him back. However, Todd Bowles’ playcalling could’ve easily avoided this one. Godwin is slated to hit free agency in the offseason.

WINNER: Cardinals stay close in NFC West

The NFC West has usually been a stalwart division, but that hasn’t been the case this season. Neither of the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams look like legitimate contenders for differing reasons, so the Cardinals have a chance if they can stay close.

Wins like this will keep them in the conversations even if they aren’t marginally better than San Francisco or Seattle. At 3-4, Arizona is level with the 49ers and a game behind Seattle.

Kyle Murray had far from a good game, but the Cardinals benefitted from Los Angeles’ offensive woes despite Justin Herbert’s big night.

LOSER: Chargers waste Justin Herbert’s strong throwing outing

It took seven weeks, but Herbert finally delivered a 300-plus passing-yard performance. But it didn’t matter, as the Chargers couldn’t find the end zone a single time and settled for five field goals from Cameron Dicker.

Herbert threw for 349 yards on 27 of 39 completions, no touchdowns and no picks while taking three sacks. J.K. Dobbins didn’t have a good ground showing, while Will Dissly led Los Angeles in the receiving department. Perhaps that’s the problem.

Los Angeles also lost two fumbles via Jalen Reagor and Teair Tart, who had intercepted Murray but failed to hang onto the football on the return and saw Arizona recover. The 3-3 Chargers host the New Orleans Saints next.

The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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To jog memories, the previous campaign ended with the Boston Celtics finally claiming Banner No. 18, doing so in a gentleman’s sweep over the Dallas Mavericks.

The Celtics are essentially running it back with the same personnel as no major changes to the roster were made under head coach Joe Mazzulla. But other teams, like the Mavericks, will be hoping to dethrone an elite Boston side.

Individually, Nikola Jokic will hope to repeat as league MVP and chase his fourth such honor as the Denver Nuggets also look to bounce back into Finals contention.

The rookie landscape is more precarious for the first time in a while. Headlined by No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks, it’s not quite clear which youngsters will emerge as the best of their respective class.

So, who will win NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and more? Let’s predict it all before the 2024-25 NBA campaign officially tips off:

NBA Oct 21

NBA power rankings: Where the league stands entering the 2024-25 season

Who will win the 2024-25 NBA Finals?

The Celtics and Nuggets, winners of the last two titles, exhibited the formula of a title-winning and contending team: superstars who defy the opposition’s tactics offensively and deploy a foundation of switchable defenders who are disciplined and can handle multiple positions.

Denver dropped a few tiers after losing key role players in Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, while Boston, as aforementioned, is running it back.

As long as the Celtics stay healthy, it’s safe to have them high on the list. Other teams who fit the bill are the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Teams a few tiers below include the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Mavericks and Nuggets due to injury concerns or lack of enough quality.

There are a few sleeper teams worth keeping tabs on, but that’ll be explored later.

Prediction: Thunder win.

Who will win 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year?

Last season saw the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren being the obvious candidates for Rookie of the Year. It’s a more strenuous prediction this time around due to the uncertainties surrounding most of the lottery selections.

How Risacher fares in Atlanta, as well as No. 2 pick Alex Sarr with the Washington Wizards, is unknown. They’re not as NBA-ready compared to Wembanyama and Holmgren, so players who could have more defined roles will compete for the honor.

Other names to watch include Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey, who will have a robust supporting cast to do the harder work around him in Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Co. Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware could have intriguing numbers under Erik Spoelstra, with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro all present.

San Antonio could go back-to-back with guard Stephon Castle, depending on how many touches he gets on the ball with Chris Paul in town. The Los Angeles Lakers could also have a contender if Dalton Knecht connects well off the bench alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Co. in JJ Redick’s first season as head coach.

Prediction: Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks.

Who will win 2024-25 NBA MVP?

Denver’s Jokic and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo have been mainstays in the MVP conversation the last few seasons. The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who placed second last season, should be in contention again if the team can reclaim the top overall seed out West.

Mavericks star Luka Doncic finished third in voting and could place higher if he finds his form early and maintains it longer. Dallas wouldn’t have made the Finals without his uptick in production in the latter few months, but it’ll need him to be more consistent from the get go.

Prediction: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder.

Who will win 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player?

The Most Improved Player award is tricky, as the most improved player doesn’t always win. Tyrese Maxey claimed the award last year and though some of his statistics improved, he already proved he could consistently play at a high level for multiple seasons.

Keeping that aspect in mind, some players who could be in the mix are Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, Mavericks center Dereck Lively II and Spurs center Wembanyama. Others include Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski and Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson.

Prediction: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs.

Who will win 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year?

This award is more straightforward. Rudy Gobert is a mainstay, but, after he won last season, there’s a good chance Wembanyama dethrones him this year and for years to come.

Lakers star Davis should get more credit for his impact as long as he stays healthy again like he did last season, while the Cleveland Cavaliers will hope for more out of Evan Mobley.

Prediction: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs.

Who will win 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year?

Last year’s Sixth Man of the Year controversially went to Timberwolves center Naz Reid, who started more often as a result of Karl-Anthony Towns’ injury and thus wasn’t exactly a true sixth man.

This time, it may fall into the hands of who deserved it more last season — Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk.

Prediction: Malik Monk, Kings.

Who will win 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year?

The Kings’ Mike Brown and the Thunder’s Mark Daigneault rightfully won the award in each of the last two seasons after leading their teams to impressive jumps. Who could that be this season?

Well, Brown may be in the mix again after Sacramento missed out on the playoffs last season, though it’ll depend how high it can climb after adding DeMar DeRozan. Spurs legend Gregg Popovich could find himself back depending on how Wembanyama and Co. fare, while the Grizzlies’ Taylor Jenkins, Houston Rockets’ Ime Udoka and the Orlando Magic’s Jamahl Mosley are possibilities.

Prediction: Taylor Jenkins, Grizzlies.

Who are the NBA sleeper teams in 2024-25?

The Thunder, Magic and Indiana Pacers all made the leaps last season, as predicted. The Kings don’t fully count because they rose to prominence in 2022-23 and now have one of the more complete starting lineups in the league, while Memphis will be back as long as it avoids the numerous injuries from last year, with Morant also available.

So, the attention then pivots to the Rockets, who under Udoka showed plenty of defensive promise but need long-term rotation planning. They have several talented youngsters, but might need to cash in on some of them for more proven stars to climb up the ladder.

San Antonio, as aforementioned, could compete for at least a Play-In Tournament spot with more guards complementing Wembanyama and Co.

The complete outside shot are the Charlotte Hornets, who with LaMelo Ball have made the Play-In Tournament twice but suffered blowout losses in both. Ball staying healthy is the biggest question mark, while Mark Williams and Brandon Miller showed promise last season. Can first-year head coach Charles Lee develop an identity for the team as rookies Nick Smith Jr. and Tidjane Salaun enter the frame? It’ll be a tall task.

The Minnesota Lynx head coach took aim at the officials over a controversial challenge ruling in the final seconds of regulation that helped New York force overtime, saying the title was “stolen from us.”

“I know the headlines will be ‘Reeves cries foul.’ Bring it on,” Reeves told reporters postgame. “Bring it on, because this s— was stolen from us. Bring it on.”

With Minnesota leading by two with just seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Lynx center Alanna Smith was called for a shooting foul on Liberty forward Breanna Stewart. Minnesota challenged the call, but the foul stood after the officials ruled that Smith wasn’t “in a legal guarding position.”

Stewart then sank both free throws to force overtime, where the Liberty closed out a 67-62 win for the original WNBA franchise’s first-ever championship.

“I thought today was incredibly disappointing,” Reeve said. “We have got to change our challenge rules and the officials during the game should have a third party [making the rulings] because that was not a foul. That call should have been reversed on that challenge.

“If we were to turn that clip in, they would have told us that it was marginal contact, no foul — guaranteed. Guaranteed. So when you review, those should be the same parameters that you’re reviewing with. But the three people who are on the game need a third party to let them know, because it decided the game.”

WNBA Oct 20

Who has won the most WNBA titles? Where the Liberty rank after 2024 triumph

WNBA Oct 20

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WNBA players opt out of current CBA after historic 2024 season

The challenge ruling wasn’t Reeve’s only complaint in regard to the Game 5 officiating. She also brought up the free throw disparity between the two teams and once again questioned how Lynx star Napheesa Collier was officiated in comparison to Stewart.

“We know we could have done some things, right, but you shouldn’t have to overcome to that extent. This s— ain’t that hard. Officiating is not that hard,” Reeve said. “When someone is being held, be consistent. If you don’t want to call holding on one end, don’t call it on the other. Be consistent. Every team asks for that.

“”It just doesn’t feel right that you lose a series with that level of discrepancy. We don’t have a team that whines and complains and all that stuff. Sometimes, it probably hurts us…But you have a star player like Phee that just — I don’t get it. I don’t get how she can be held and go to the basket and get hit, and then a marginal, at best, at best, sends their best player to the free throw line. I mean, that’s tough. It’s tough to swallow.”

There were 21 fouls called on the Lynx and 17 on the Liberty in Game 5, but New York held a 25-8 advantage in free throw attempts. Collier, who attempted 23 field goals, didn’t get to the line once.

Criticism of the officiating from head coaches became a theme of the tightly contested Finals, which saw two games go to overtime and three decided by three points or fewer.

Following Minnesota’s Game 3 loss where Stewart shot 10 free throws and Collier had four, Reeve said “the game is called differently” for the two star players. Then, in Minnesota’s Game 4 victory, the Lynx had a 20-9 advantage in free throw attempts and won a pair of tie-breaking free throws from Bridget Carleton, leading to Liberty coach Sandy Brondello to say New York “got no calls” and calling on the refs to “be fair.”

When Brondello was asked about the refs’ Game 5 performance in the wake of Reeve’s “stolen from us” comment, New York’s head coach seemed to jokingly say, “I thought they were pretty fair.”

“That’s what you’re gonna get, give and take,” she continued. “Game 1, we should have won that game, you know. But I have so much respect for Cheryl and that Minnesota Lynx team because, man, that was ugly. But we found a way to win.”

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The San Francisco 49ers have been continuously disrupted by injuries to key personnel on both sides of the ball. With Christian McCaffrey yet to play this season and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave out for the year, the latest star to suffer an injury was wideout Brandon Aiyuk, who is now sidelined for the season (knee).

With San Francisco 3-4 following a disappointing home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, it will again take on a team coming off a bye week.

Coming into Levi’s Stadium are the Dallas Cowboys, who at 3-3 are dealing with several issues of their own. The defense has been underwhelming and Dak Prescott, now the league’s highest-paid QB, just isn’t producing up to the paycheck.

Both teams desperately need a win, but which one will it be as a classic rivalry gets reignited? Here’s how you can watch the Week 8 “Sunday Night Football” game online or on TV:

When is the 49ers vs. Cowboys game?

The 49ers and Cowboys will meet on Sunday, Oct. 27.

What time is the 49ers vs. Cowboys game?

Kickoff time from Levi’s Stadium is set for 5:20 p.m. PT.

How to watch the 49ers vs. Cowboys Week 8 game live on TV

The 49ers-Cowboys game will air on NBC for “Sunday Night Football.” Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (color) and Melissa Stark (sideline) are on the call.

Local pregame coverage will begin at 4 p.m. PT with “49ers Pregame Live” on NBC Sports Bay Area and streaming live on the NBC Sports app. “49ers Postgame Live” will begin immediately after the game, at approximately 8 p.m. PT, again on NBC Sports Bay Area and also streaming on the NBC Sports app.

How to live stream the 49ers vs. Cowboys Sunday Night Football game

Live stream: Peacock, NBC.com

Mobile app: Peacock mobile app on Apple/Android, NBC mobile app

The current CBA expires in 2027, with the league and players union having the option to opt out by Nov. 1. The CBA was initially agreed upon in 2020.

The players now face the possibility of a work stoppage if a new deal is not negotiated by the end of the 2025 season, which is still covered by the current CBA.

“This is a defining moment not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm said Monday. “The world has evolved since 2020 and we cannot afford to stand still. If we stay in the current agreement, we fall behind. This is a new era and we are ready to lead transformational change.”

After a breakthrough year featuring increased television ratings, attendance figures and franchise values, the union is seeking an improved CBA that focuses on salaries, retirement benefits, better child care and family planning benefits and an equity-based model, among other key aspects.

“This isn’t some sudden wake-up call. It’s the culmination of what we’ve been driving for over the last several seasons,” WNBPA vice president Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces said. “We’ve played a key role in the league’s historic growth and now we’re breaking free from the current system to demand full transparency and an equitable stake in the business we’ve helped build.”

WNBA Oct 21

Angel Reese: My $73,000 WNBA salary can't cover my bills — ‘I'm living beyond my means'

WNBA Oct 20

Who has won the most WNBA titles? Where the Liberty rank after 2024 triumph

news Oct 11

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The WNBA in July announced a landmark 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime worth a reported $200 million annually, which is set to begin in 2026.

Also in 2026, the WNBA will expand with the launching of two franchises in Toronto and Portland. The Golden State Valkyries will make their debut in 2025 as more promising talent enters the league, which was accelerated in 2024 with rookies like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson and more.

The players are prepared to negotiate for as long as it takes, ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike said, citing league sources.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

During his Monday press conference, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn revealed that Daniels is “week-to-week” with a rib injury, and while he didn’t rule out playing the rookie quarterback this week, he did say that the team will be cautious with their handling of the situation.

“We’ll take him through all the steps at practice. We’ll assess how he’s doing. We’re hopeful he can play, but we’ll be sure to take every precautionary step and do everything smartly for the player and the man,” he said.

Quinn said the injury is not considered to be a long-term issue, which is good news for a Commanders squad that sits at 5-2 and is atop the NFC East after a 40-7 thrashing of the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Daniels only managed two pass attempts in the game, but Marcus Mariota stepped in admirably, with an 18-of-23 performance for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Mariota would in all likelihood be the starter for Washington against the Bears if Daniels can’t play.

The matchup between Daniels and Williams was a highly touted one for the NFL, with the league flexing it into a 3:25 p.m. kickoff slot for Sunday to set up a showdown between the top-two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2022, was selected No. 1 overall by the Bears, with 2023 Heisman winner Daniels going No. 2.

Nike will be the exclusive uniform and apparel provider for the National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Association for another 12 years after they renewed their partnership with the sneaker giant, the leagues announced Monday.

Under the terms of the deal, Nike will be the leagues’ global outfitting, merchandising, marketing and content partner until 2037. The company will also be in charge of designing and manufacturing uniforms, on-court apparel and fan merchandise.

Nike’s last deal with the basketball leagues, which kicked off during the 2017-18 NBA season, was reported to be worth $1 billion and marked the first time an apparel partner had its logo on an NBA or WNBA jersey. It is unclear how much Nike’s contract renewal with the leagues is worth, but a source familiar with the deal characterized it as “much bigger” than the previous contract.

As the largest athletic apparel company in the world, Nike has long been a favorite among professional sports leagues and their athletes. Even so, its contract renewal with the NBA comes at a time when the sneaker giant has had to work harder to maintain its critical partnerships, and new CEO Elliott Hill tries to regain market share lost in recent years.

Nike is also the official uniform supplier of the National Football League and Major League Baseball, but those relationships have taken a hit as the company faces declining sales and criticism that it has fallen behind on innovation.

The NFL’s deal with Nike expires after the 2027 season, but the league has opened up the process to other bidders and is already in talks with several companies interested in competing for the agreement, a source told CNBC.

Nike’s contract with the MLB does not expire until 2029. However, it will have to repair its relationship with the league after it debuted new uniforms earlier this year that led to widespread complaints from players and fans that they were see-through, did not fit right and looked “amateurish,” ESPN reported at the time.

Despite Nike’s recent stumbles, the NBA told CNBC it has no concerns about continuing its partnership with the apparel company.

“From our perspective, we have 100% confidence in Nike on a long term global basis,” said Sal LaRocca, the NBA’s president of global partnerships. “They’re endemic to basketball. They’ve been a partner of ours in one form or another for well over 30 years.”

LaRocca added the partnership has been so strong that the league did not even open the process up to other bidders.

When asked about the MLB fiasco, LaRocca defended Nike and said those kinds of issues come with the territory.

“I think any company that is on the edge of innovation and is always looking to push the envelope for improvement may run into some unintended consequences,” said LaRocca.

Nike has not faced significant criticism for its basketball uniforms. LaRocca said, “you’ll certainly see fresh new products on a regular basis from them.”

Nike has had a marketing partnership with the NBA since 1992 — and with the WNBA since its 1997 founding — and the brand endorses most of the leagues’ biggest players, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu.

As of Friday’s close, Nike’s stock has fallen about 24% this year and has underperformed both competitors and the S&P 500, which has gained about 23% this year. On Running and Deckers, two companies that have been taking market share from Nike, are up 79% and 43%, respectively.

Historically, Nike has outperformed the S&P 500 by an average of about 8%.

The 2024 World Series features a heavyweight battle between the No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 1 New York Yankees. It’s the first time that the two big-market powerhouses will square off for the championship since 1981.

The Dodgers are marking their fourth World Series appearance since 2017 and are looking for their first championship in a full season since 1988 (Los Angeles won it all in the pandemic-shortened, 60-game 2020 season). Dave Roberts’ club booked its latest trip to the World Series by defeating the No. 4 San Diego Padres in five games and winning the NL pennant over the No. 6 New York Mets in six games.

The Yankees, meanwhile, are back in the World Series for the first time since their 2009 championship season. Aaron Boone’s team disposed of the No. 5 Kansas City Royals in five games before taking down the No. 2 Cleveland Guardians in five games for the AL pennant.

The Dodgers-Yankees showdown will see arguably baseball’s two biggest stars both making their World Series debuts in Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. But which superstar will come out on top?

From the start date to the schedule and more, here’s everything to know about this year’s World Series:

When does the Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series start?

Game 1 of the World Series is set for Friday, Oct. 25.

How many games are in the Word Series?

The championship round of the MLB playoffs is best of seven.

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What is the World Series format?

The World Series features a 2-3-2 format where the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, along with Games 6 and 7 if necessary.

Who has home field in the Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series?

The Dodgers had a better regular-season record (98-64) than the Yankees (94-68), giving Los Angeles home-field advantage in the World Series.

What is the Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series schedule?

Here’s a full look at the World Series schedule (* = if necessary):

• Game 1: Yankees at Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 25, 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT
• Game 2: Yankees at Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 26, 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT
• Game 3: Dodgers at Yankees, Monday, Oct. 28, 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT
• Game 4: Dodgers at Yankees, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT
• Game 5*: Dodgers at Yankees, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT
• Game 6*: Yankees at Dodgers, Friday, Nov. 1, 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT
• Game 7*: Yankees at Dodgers, Saturday, Nov. 2, 8:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. PT

What TV channel is the Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series on?

All World Series games will air on Fox.

How to stream the Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series live online

The action will also be available to stream on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app.

How many times have the Dodgers and Yankees played in the World Series?

This will be the 12th-ever meeting between the Dodgers and Yankees in the World Series. New York won eight of the previous 11 matchups.

How many World Series appearances do the Yankees have?

The Bronx Bombers are making their MLB-record 41st appearance in the Fall Classic.

How many World Series have the Yankees won?

The Yankees were victorious in 27 of their previous 40 World Series appearances, giving them the most championships in MLB history.

How many World Series appearances do the Dodgers have?

This will be the Dodgers’ 13th time playing in the Fall Classic.

How many World Series have the Dodgers won?

Los Angeles owns six championships, good for sixth-most all time.

The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

World Series Oct 21

When is Yankees-Dodgers Game 1? World Series schedule, how to watch and more to know

Dodgers Oct 21

Nun who went viral at Dodger game recalls lifelong love for the team

Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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The league announced that Colts-Vikings will take the place of Jaguars-Eagles in primetime for Week 9.

WEEK 9 SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FLEX ALERT! 🚨#ForTheShoe | #Skol pic.twitter.com/Frs0XdDFWD

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 21, 2024

Colts-Vikings will kick off from U.S. Bank Stadium at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 3, and will air on NBC and Peacock. Jaguars-Eagles is now scheduled for 4:05 p.m. on CBS.

The Vikings were not scheduled to be on Sunday Night Football this season prior to the flex decision, while the Colts will now play on SNF twice in three weeks with another road matchup against the New York Jets scheduled for Week 11.

On the other end, the Jaguars will no longer appear on the SNF schedule, while the Eagles are now scheduled to make their 2024 SNF debut in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams.

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Colts-Vikings will pin two winning teams against one another. Indianapolis is 4-3 following its Week 7 win over the Miami Dolphins, while Minnesota is 5-1 after picking up its first loss of 2024 against the Detroit Lions this week.

The Week 9 swap marks the NFL’s first primetime flex of 2024. The league must provide 12 days notice before flexing a Sunday Night Football game.

“I just hope y’all know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” she said during a recent Instagram live, according to ESPN. “I don’t even think that pays one of my bills.”

Reese said her monthly rent payment is $8,000, meaning that a year’s housing costs her $96,000 — more than she earns in a full season. “I’m living beyond my means,” she joked.

Her salary wasn’t even enough to “pay my car note,” she said, laughing that she “wouldn’t even be able to eat” and “wouldn’t be able to live” on her earnings from the league.

It’s not the first time that Reese has opened up about her pay, or lack thereof. Back in May, she told ESPN that her primary income came from her numerous endorsement deals, describing her WNBA earnings as “a bonus.”

“Being able to play for what, four to five months, and get $75,000 on top of the other endorsements that I’m doing, I think it’s a plus for me,” she said at the time.

Reese has partnerships with brands including Reebok, Beats by Dre and Reese’s chocolates.

She also spends part of her offseason participating in Unrivaled, a new 3v3 league whose inaugural season will take place in Florida, to earn some extra cash. In the past, WNBA players have traveled to countries like Russia to supplement their salaries.

“A lot of us never wanna have to go overseas, but some people do have to go overseas, unfortunately,” she said in August. “Being able to make six figures within three months [in Unrivaled], being able to be housed in Miami, just being able to get better …. I think it’s amazing.”

Currently, the highest paid WNBA player is Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young, who earned just over $250,000 this season. The NBA’s salary leader, meanwhile, is Steph Curry, who earned $51.9 million from the Golden State Warriors last year and will make $55.7 million this upcoming season.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized at the CNBC Changemakers Event earlier this year that the league is making progress in catching up to men’s leagues that are “75 to 120 years old.”

“We’re tipping off our 28th season. I would say if you look at [the other leagues] 28 seasons in, we’re further ahead,” she said. “But we realize we still have a lot of work to do, and it’s all about the ecosystem around us that drives revenue.”

Want to earn more money at work? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Negotiate a Higher Salary. Expert instructors will teach you the skills you need to get a bigger paycheck, including how to prepare and build your confidence, what to do and say, and how to craft a counteroffer. Start today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 50% off through November 26, 2024.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

It took a five-overtime win in Nashville, a superspeedway win in Atlanta, a disqualification by Alex Bowman in Charlotte and a fuel mileage win in Las Vegas, but the No. 22 is heading back to the Championship 4. Logano held on with just enough gas to win Sunday’s South Point 400 in Sin City, qualifying him for the title race for a record sixth time.

JOEY LOGANO WILL RACE FOR THE NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP!

HE WINS AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY TO ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP 4! pic.twitter.com/KMZ7vJW5QV

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 20, 2024

With Logano moving on, there are just three open spots left and seven drivers still fighting for them over the next two weeks.

Next up, the Round of 8 continues Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC) at Homestead-Miami Speedway. How does the field stack up after Las Vegas? Here’s our latest NASCAR power rankings:

NASCAR Oct 20

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1. Christopher Bell

Last week: 2

Bell led 155 laps and finished second despite making an extra pit stop compared to Logano. He was charging hard but came up just short, though he’s in the best position based on points. Over the last 13 races, Bell has nine straight top-15s and 12 top-15s overall.

2. Kyle Larson

Last week: 1

The two-time defending Las Vegas winner never showed enough speed on Sunday. Larson went two laps down due to a pit road issue early, but he recovered to finish 11th. While it wasn’t an ideal opening race for this round, Larson is heading to his best track next week in Miami.

DISASTROUS PIT STOP FOR KYLE LARSON!

He goes a lap down AND has to pit again. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Cxrg2PHZSS

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 20, 2024

3. William Byron

Last week: 3

Make it four straight top-fives for Byron after his fourth-place finish in Las Vegas. The Hendrick Motorsports star is looking to make a second straight Championship 4 appearance, and the schedule sets up well for him. He won in Miami in 2021 and Martinsville in 2022 and 2024.

4. Joey Logano

Last week: 8

Every other year since 2014, Logano has battled his way into the title race. It’s been a down season for Logano, who is on pace for his fewest top-fives and top-10s since 2012. But none of that matters now, as he’ll head to Phoenix in a few weeks with a chance to win his third Cup title. The even-year magic is alive and well.

NEVER ever doubt Joey Logano in even-numbered years. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/1TyAihFvbb

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 20, 2024

5. Denny Hamlin

Last week: 4

Expectations were high for Hamlin entering the Round of 8, and he was just average on Sunday. An early pit call didn’t go his way, then it took a fuel gamble to salvage an eighth-place finish. Those types of runs won’t get Hamlin into the Championship 4, especially after Logano stole a spot with his upset win.

6. Chase Elliott

Last week: 5

Elliott started 18th and quickly raced into the top-five in Stage 1, showcasing unexpected speed after a so-so season. But at the start of Stage 2, he was squeezed in the middle of a three-wide battle and wrecked with Tyler Reddick and others. This essentially puts Elliott in a must-win situation to make the title race considering the lack of points he has.

TYLER REDDICK FLIPS!

Reddick and Chase Elliott both crash. Reddick was able to drive his car to pit road but is done for the day. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/kBjgRp4TC0

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 20, 2024

7. Tyler Reddick

Last week: 7

Speaking of Reddick, he actually got the worst of that wreck – flipping over and tumbling down the frontstretch. While Elliott continued on for a while, Reddick’s race was immediately over due to damage. The regular season champion is in serious danger of missing the title race, though Miami has traditionally been one of his best tracks.

8. Ryan Blaney

Last week: 6

The defending champion is in trouble. Blaney’s weekend started with a crash in practice, then he was collected in the aftermath of Reddick and Elliott’s wreck. He finished eight laps down in 32nd, so it could take a repeat win at Martinsville if he hopes to continue his title defense – because Miami has rarely been kind to him.

9. Alex Bowman

Last week: 9

Bowman’s DQ in Charlotte sent Logano into the Round of 8, but the No. 48 team didn’t seem discouraged in Las Vegas. He finished fifth, giving him four top-10s in seven playoff races. It’s been a strong finish to the season for Bowman, who will need to carry momentum into 2025.

10. Ross Chastain

Last week: First four out

It was a quiet seventh-place finish for Chastain, who has put together a decent stretch since he missed the playoffs. Miami is another opportunity for the Florida native, who finished second at his home track in 2022. 

First four out: Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, Martin Truex Jr., Daniel Suarez

The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

World Series Oct 21

When is Yankees-Dodgers Game 1? World Series schedule, how to watch and more to know

Dodgers Oct 21

Nun who went viral at Dodger game recalls lifelong love for the team

Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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Rob Manfred’s description of the Commissioner’s Trophy doesn’t do it justice, of course. After a 162-game regular season and month-long postseason, just one ballclub gets to lift the prize as World Series champions.

The World Series has been around since 1903 and 119 champions have been crowned. Yet, one team stands above the rest when it comes to the most trophies.

Here is a look at the teams that have won the most and fewest World Series championships.

Which MLB team has won the most World Series titles?

Say what you want about New York Yankees fans’ “27 rings” mantra, but it is undeniably factual.

The Bronx Bombers have far and away the most World Series titles with 27. They have now reached the Fall Classic 41 times dating back to 1921 and won their most recent championship in 2009. They will make their first World Series appearance since that 2009 title-winning season when they battle the Los Angeles Dodgers in this year’s Fall Classic.

The St. Louis Cardinals are the only other MLB franchise to win double-digit World Series titles. They won their first title in 1926 and picked up their 11th in 2011.

Here are the 10 teams with the most World Series victories:

Which MLB team has won the most World Series titles in a row?

The Yankees hold the record for most consecutive World Series titles, coming out on top five straight times from 1949 to 1953.

Only 14 teams in MLB history have won multiple World Series in a row. Once again, it was the Yankees that did it most recently, earning three straight titles from 1998 to 2000. 

Which MLB teams have not won a World Series title?

Five MLB teams are still chasing their first championship: the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners.

The Padres and Rays have two World Series appearances, while the Brewers and Rockies each have one. The Seattle Mariners are the lone MLB franchise that has not reached the Fall Classic.

The Texas Rangers were in this group until they prevailed in the 2023 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks to win their first title.

The two blue-blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the most recent in 2020 when the boys in blue brought it home during the pandemic. 

But the two teams haven’t faced each other when it matters since 1981. That last matchup ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title. 

So what’s changed in the past four decades? Well, a lot. 

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore. 

Tickets to this year’s showdown are over four figures at the lowest, at $1,034 to attend Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles. 

In New York, the cheapest ticket for game 3 is $1,385, and $1,110 for games 4 and 5. 

Between both stadiums, some of the tickets in 1981 sold for $20 on the baseline, $15 for the upper deck, and $5 for the bleachers. That’s estimated to be $70, $52, and $17 in today’s money.

Gas prices

$1.35. 

That’s the highest price gas reached all year in 1981 throughout the United States. 

But when adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to today at $4.68.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable now than it was four decades ago. 

Throughout 1981 a standard gallon of milk cost Americans $1.83 on average or $6.35 today. 

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk during the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

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Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year the iconic Ford F150 was available for purchase with the entry level beginning at $6,765, with top trims reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today. 

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065, and can be optioned well over $100,000.

Home prices

Remember when a single family home sold for five figures? Neither do we. 

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861. 

If you’d like to buy a home now in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium), it’ll cost you $1,077,623 according to Zillow. 

Prices across the entirety of California are just slightly lower, at $787,000. 

What else happened in 1981?

Here’s a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. 
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its feature in 1985’s cult classic “Back to the Future,” rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at age 36. 
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California. 
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.
• August 1 – MTV airs its first broadcast, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman trophy. 

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An MRI confirmed that the Cleveland Browns quarterback suffered a torn Achilles in Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, the team announced on Monday.

An update on Deshaun Watson's Achilles injury sustained in yesterday's game.

📰» https://t.co/QhPTyFwCPZ pic.twitter.com/LvQarkcoOY

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 21, 2024

Watson suffered the non-contact injury late in the second quarter. He was emotional as he was carted off the field and ruled out for the game early in the third quarter.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced Watson in Sunday’s defeat before suffering a finger injury. Jameis Winston, who was the emergency backup quarterback for the game, was then thrown into action and closed out the 21-14 defeat.

Multiple Browns players spoke out against fans who appeared to cheer after Watson went down with the injury. The crowd also appeared to boo Watson earlier in the day when he ran out onto the field for pregame introductions.

The Browns traded for Watson in 2022, sending six draft picks — including three first-rounders — to the Houston Texans before agreeing to an unprecedented five-year, $230 million contract that is fully guaranteed.

Watson has faced a number of sexual assault and harassment allegations, including serving an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He settled a civil lawsuit earlier this month with a woman claiming sexual assault and battery.

Watson has played just 19 games since joining the Browns, and he has been unable to recapture his Pro Bowl form from Houston. He has totaled 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 11 fumbles with Cleveland, and his play reached a new low in 2024.

He did not exceed 200 passing yards in any game this season, has the worst QBR of all qualified passers and the Browns are tied for the worst record in the NFL at 1-6.

This is the second straight year in which Watson has suffered a season-ending injury. His 2023 season was cut short after he suffered a displaced fracture in his throwing shoulder. He also has a history of lower-body injuries, including a torn ACL in his left knee from his college days at Clemson and another in his right knee during his rookie season with the Texans.

Watson still has two more fully guaranteed years on his contract at a $46 million base salary for 2025 and 2026. He carries a $172,770,000 dead cap hit for 2025 and $99,835,000 dead cap hit for 2026.

Looking ahead, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he has not committed to a starting quarterback for the team’s Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens as he monitors the extent of Thompson-Robinson’s injury.

The morning after the Dodgers trounced the New York Mets and earned their spot in the Fall Classic, tickets for the World Series were going for at least $1,000, depending on the game.

Game 1 of the World Series is Friday, Oct. 25, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. According to SeatGeek, the cheapest single ticket goes for $1,034.

Game 2 of the series stays in Los Angeles for the following night, Saturday, Oct. 26, where tickets actually jumped a couple hundred dollars. The cheapest single tickets runs for $1,209.

The next three games of the World Series will be in New York, if the series makes it to a fifth game. The cheapest ticket for Game 3 is $1,385; Game 4 is $1,110; Game 5 is also $1,110.

Although Game 6 and Game 7 are not guaranteed, those matchups have some of the priciest seats. Game 6, which is back in Los Angeles, goes for $1,359 and Game 7 has its cheapest ticket at $1,297.

And to be clear, all of those “cheap” tickets are for the so-called nosebleed seats.

Some of the most expensive tickets in the stadiums are down behind home plate. On Friday, Dodger Stadium tickets behind home plate were selling for between $15,000 and $20,000. 

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After months of speculation and predictions, and a couple of nail-biting series, the teams are set for the 2024 World Series.

Game 1 of the Fall Classic starts on Friday, Oct. 25, between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers claimed their spot in the series after delivering a crushing defeat to the New York Mets on Sunday night in Game 6 of the NLCS. Their World Series opponent had already been decided after the Yankees took down the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS in just five games.

Should the Yankees pull off victory, it would be their first World Series win since 2009. The Dodgers, meanwhile, tasted glory only a few years ago when they won the World Series in 2020.

This is the 12th time the two powerhouse organizations have faced off in the World Series, but their last meeting in the Fall Classic was all the way back in 1981.

Needless to say, there’s a lot on the line.

The odds to win have already been released, and the Los Angeles team is at a slight advantage, according to BetMGM. Let’s take a look:

Odds to win World Series

(As of Monday, Oct. 21, at 10:16 a.m. ET)

• New York Yankees (+110)
• Los Angeles Dodgers (-130)

The Fall Classic has arrived

It's a battle between The Bronx vs. Hollywood in the 2024 World Series. Here's a look at some of the storylines entering the big series between the Dodgers and Yankees.

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World Series Game 1 odds

• Spread: Dodgers (-1.5)
• Moneyline: Dodgers (-130), Yankees (+110)
• Over/under: 8

World Series schedule

• Game 1, Friday, Oct. 25: Dodger Stadium
• Game 2, Saturday, Oct. 26: Dodger Stadium
• Game 3, Monday, Oct. 28: Yankee Stadium
• Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 29: Yankee Stadium
• Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 30: Yankee Stadium (*if necessary)
• Game 6, Friday, Nov. 1: Dodger Stadium (*if necessary)
• Game 7, Saturday, Nov. 2: Dodger Stadium (*if necessary)

If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, please call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700 to speak to a counselor. Help is also available via an online peer support forum at www.gamtalk.org, and additional resources can be found at NCPG website.

New York neighbors who became cross-country rivals, the Yankees and Dodgers renew their starry struggle in the World Series for the first time in 43 years.

“When you’re playing for the Dodgers and playing for the Yankees, it better feel different,” L.A. manager Dave Roberts said at Yankee Stadium last June. “If not, you better do something different for a profession.”

Two of baseball’s most successful teams face each other starting Friday at Dodger Stadium, the Yankees coming off their 41st American League pennant and the Dodgers their 25th National League championship. New York is seeking its 28th World Series title but first since 2009, the Dodgers their eighth and second in a five-year span.

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The Yankees and Dodgers are meeting in the Fall Classic. Here's a look at some of the key storylines entering the series.

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Yankees pinstripes vs. Dodgers Pantone 294. The Bronx Bombers vs. the Dem Bums’ descendants. The granite-and-limestone of new Yankee Stadium on chilly autumn nights vs. Dodger Stadium in sunny Chavez Ravine, with the San Gabriel Mountains beyond the pavilions.

“It’s kind of what the people wanted, what we all wanted,” Dodgers star Mookie Betts said. “It’s going to be a battle of two good teams, a lot of long flights across the country.”

New York is 8-3 against the Dodgers in the most frequent World Series matchup, including 6-1 against Brooklyn and 2-2 since the rivalry became Big Apple against Tinseltown.

Mickey Owen, Al Gionfriddo, Cookie Lavagetto, Sandy Amoros, Johnny Podres, Don Larsen, Sandy Koufax and Reggie Jackson created indelible images in the matchup, which started in 1941 with one of the wackiest World Series turns.

Trailing 2-1 in the Series, Brooklyn led 4-3 with two outs in the ninth inning at Ebbets Field when Tommy Henrich swung and missed at strike three from Hugh Casey. The ball bounced away from Owen and rolled toward the Dodgers dugout as Henrich reached on the dropped third strike. Joe DiMaggio singled, Charlie Keller hit a two-run double and Joe Gordon added another two-run double later in the inning as the Yankees won 7-4 and went on to win the title in five games.

Lavagetto’s two-out, pinch walk-off double in the ninth ended Bill Bevens’ no-hit bid in 1947’s Game 4 and two games later Gionfriddo robbed DiMaggio of a tying three-run homer.

New York beat the Dodgers again in 1949, 1952 and 1953, frustrating the fans in Flatbush, but Brooklyn finally won the title in 1955 when Podres pitched a Game 7 shutout at Yankee Stadium and Gil Hodges drove in both runs. Amoros preserved the lead when he made a running catch of Yogi Berra’s sixth-inning drive in the left-field corner with two on and relayed to shortstop Pee Wee Reese, who threw to Hodges at first and doubled up Gil McDougald. Those players were celebrated in Roger Kahn’s 1972 book “The Boys of Summer.”

Larsen pitched the World Series’ only perfect game in 1956’s fifth game in the Bronx, Berra jumping into his arms after the final out, and the Yankees won Game 7 behind Johnny Kucks’ three-hit shutout in what turned out to be the last World Series game at Ebbets Field.

Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers to California after the 1957 season, and Koufax had an interlocking “LA” on his cap instead of a “B” when he struck out a then-Series record 15 in the 1963 opener at Yankee Stadium. The rivalry didn’t resume until 1977 with the first of three matchups in a five-year span.

Jackson’s three home runs led the Yankees to a clinching win in 1977’s Game 6. The Yankees won another six-game Series the following year, highlighted by third baseman Graig Nettles’ diving stops on Reggie Smith, Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes.

Los Angeles lost the first two games in the Bronx in 1981, and then won four in a row — capped by a 9-2 victory that had Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda dancing. The defeat prompted Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, his right hand bandaged after an alleged fight with Dodgers fans in a hotel elevator, to issue a written apology “to the people of New York and to the fans of the New York Yankees everywhere.”

Both teams feel the history created by their predecessors.

“You put that jersey on and those pinstripes, it just feels different,” Yankees slugger Juan Soto said.

Los Angeles took two of three when they met in a much-hyped series in June.

Roberts is reminded of the history when he approaches Dodger Stadium.

“I can’t believe I’m driving up Vin Scully Way, when I go to work,” he said. “It’s overwhelming, but I try not to let my head go there too often; I just try to do my job.”

Russell Wilson debuted for the Pittsburgh Steelers and helped rout Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets 37-15, a stunning result in the AFC clash.

Rodgers and Co. jumped out to a 15-6 lead and looked capable of producing a strong road result, but lost momentum with turnovers and once Wilson got going, Pittsburgh did not look back.

The result moved Pittsburgh to 5-2 as it enjoyed its best offensive game of the season, with New York dropping to 2-5 as things worsen for Rodgers and the team following Robert Saleh’s firing.

Let’s analyze the game further with three takeaways:

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Russell Wilson gives Steelers newfound optimism

Justin Fields helped Pittsburgh get off to a 3-0 start before some losses entered the frame, but there were doubts when Wilson was named the starter despite the former not necessarily deserving of a benching.

But Wilson, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, showed flashes of his brilliance from the past, completing 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns, no picks and a rushing touchdown to encapsulate a near-perfect night.

George Pickens also shined with five catches for 111 yards and a score, looking like a new version of himself. But Wilson and Co. will have to prove their production is sustainable, otherwise things could just end up as a purple patch.

Davante Adams doesn’t immediately fix Jets

Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. With Saleh gone as head coach, the Jets are now 0-2 and the whole season is in jeopardy at 2-5.

Rodgers wasn’t totally at fault for the loss but he didn’t look good, either, completing 24 of 39 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown and two picks. One pick near the end of the first half may have changed the trajectory of the game, as Wilson and Co. capitalized with a touchdown.

Breece Hall had a solid start but tailed off when the Jets did, and Davante Adams did not have the debut he would’ve hoped for, catching just three passes on nine targets for 30 yards.

Perhaps most importantly, the Jets’ defense looked completely out of it, which was one of Saleh’s strong suits the last few years despite the QB shortcomings under his tenure.

The Jets’ season could be done

The AFC is already incredibly tight as it is. With the Jets at 2-5, their playoff chances are gradually shrinking each week. They currently sit No. 12 in the standings, behind notable teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh.

As things stand, do the Jets have enough to prove they are a top-seven team in the conference? Some tough tests remaining on the schedule include a trip to Buffalo, while they will host Houston, the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams.

They can potentially afford another loss or two, but they desperately need to string a winning streak together with most of the tougher opponents out of the way. They’ll need significant shifts in mentality and playstyle to do so.

Now, history is upon them. For the 12th time it will be the Dodgers versus the New York Yankees in the World Series. 

The Dodgers journey to baseball’s dream destination was unconventional and fraught with obstacles. They needed three bullpen games and every single player on the 26-man roster to get here. 

One of those players was utility man Tommy Edman. 

Edman hit a home run and knocked in four runs as the Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 10-5 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series to clinch their 22nd pennant in franchise history. 

“This is what you always dream about as a little kid,” said Edman, who was named the MVP of the series. “I get to play in the World Series, and I get to play in it for the Dodgers against the Yankees. It’s pretty surreal.”

The celebration in the Dodgers’ clubhouse after punching their ticket to the 2024 World Series was one of relief and exultation. In a vacuum, they could have cared less about who they play next, they were ecstatic to get past the “OMG” Mets and back to their first Fall Classic since 2020. 

“We’re going to celebrate tonight, as we should,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts after the game. “But after that, I think the whole world was looking forward to this potential matchup between the Yankees and the Dodgers, this showdown.”

For Edman, the winner of the NLCS MVP, after finishing 2-for4 with a double, home run, and four RBI in the game, it will be his first time playing in the World Series.

“I kept getting up with guys on base and had a lot of opportunities to drive runs in,” said Edman of his record-tying 11 RBI during the series. “Playing in the World Series is a dream come true.”

For two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, it’s his first World Series after languishing a few miles up the freeway in Anaheim for the last six seasons. 

“I feel like I’ve finally arrived at this stage,” said Ohtani through an interpreter. “The goal was to get this far. I pictured myself getting this far. So just to be able to play on this stage with this team, I’m just so glad to be here.”

For Teoscar Hernandez, who had the biggest smile than anyone in the postgame clubhouse, it punctuates a risky decision in the offseason to sign with the Dodgers, validating that choice as he will also play in his first World Series. 

“It paid off,” Hernández said of his decision to sign with the Dodgers. “I’m the kind of guy who like to take risk, and this was definitely a risk, but I made the decision based off of which team gave me the best chance to win, and now I’m playing in the World Series. This is a dream come true.”

Sunday’s Game 6 nerve-racking victory came from all angles and involved almost all the players on the Dodgers roster.

Edman, who can play centerfield, shortstop, and second base knocked in the first two runs of the game with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line in the bottom of the first inning. 

Tommy Edman gives the @Dodgers the lead!

He's driven in NINE runs this series 😤 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/Q4qy8kM4dT

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024

Edman, who may have been the biggest acquisition for the Dodgers during a flurry of trade deadline moves that also featured Game 1 winner Jack Flaherty and Game you 6 opener Michael Kopech, extended the lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning. 

TOMMY EDMAN!

HE'S DRIVEN IN ALL FOUR @DODGERS RUNS TONIGHT! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/qlZSadVZMU

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024

“I never imagined once we acquired him, that he’d be hitting fourth in a postseason game,” said Roberts of his cleanup hitter in Game 6. “But I trust him. The guys on the team trust him. He’s made huge defensive plays for us and had huge hits. We are just very fortunate to have a player like Tommy.”

Will Smith followed with a two-run homer that put the Dodgers ahead 6-1, and sent the 52,674 blue towel waving fans into a frenzy. That was the moment they collectively began counting outs.

WILL SMITH!

IT'S BEEN ALL @DODGERS IN THIS ONE! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/uZxgOEvLnO

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024

The Dodgers deployed the full arsenal of their bullpen by rolling out seven different relievers to cobble together 27 outs. 

Ben Casparius, who started the season in Double-A, was the only reliever to throw more than one inning of scoreless relief. 

Ironically, it was veteran reliever Blake Treinen, that recorded the final six outs to send the Dodgers to the World Series. Treinen, who played a major role in relief during the 2020 title run, was not able to participate in the postseason the last three. Finally healthy, and back to full strength, he put the Boys in Blue on his back when they needed him most. 

“I’ve been through a lot,” said Treinen reflecting on his own journey since winning the World Series inside the Bubble in 2020. “I’ve done a lot of digging on who I was as a person, and who God created me to be. To be back here, and to have the opportunity to just play at this level, there’s just so much to be grateful for.”

The Mets left 13 more men on base in a series full of missed opportunities. On Sunday, they stranded the bases loaded not once, but twice during the game. All six games of the series were decided by four runs or more, the only time that’s happened in history.

Evan Phillips escapes the bases-loaded jam! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/kenovjjogF

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2024

Now it’s time for a different team from New York to take center stage and try their hand at beating the Dodgers, the team that finished with the best record in baseball during the regular season. 

Cue the highlights from the previous 11 times the Dodgers and Yankees met in the World Series. Names like Pee Wee Reese, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Reggie Jackson, will now be joined by Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Giancarlo Stanton, Juan Soto, Freddie Freeman, Gerrit Cole, and Walker Buehler in the rivalry’s lore. 

Surely the Dodgers will bring members of the 1981 championship team that defeated the Yankees in six games the last time the two teams faced off. Because for legends like Dusty Baker, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Fernando Valenzuela, Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Rick Monday, Bill Russell, Steve Yeager, Mike Scioscia, Dave Stewart, Bob Welch and the rest of the heroes of that squad, a Dodgers-Yankees World Series means everything. 

But for a city that hasn’t seen their team clinch a berth in the World Series at Dodger Stadium since 1988, and didn’t get to celebrate with a parade in 2000, Sunday’s victory means so much. 

It means the Dodgers are back in the World Series, against the hated New York Yankees of all teams. It means a Fall Classic for the ages and the stuff of storytelling dreams. It means the ghosts of Dodgers and Yankees pasts will finally have company when the history books are read centuries from now. 

Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for Friday night at Dodger Stadium. 

The Dodgers defeated the New York Mets in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series Sunday night and will face the Yankees in the Fall Classic.

It’s the Dodgers’ first World Series appearance since 2020.

After beating the Cleveland Guardians in five games in the ALCS, the Yankees are headed to their first World Series since 2009, when the Bronx Bombers won their last championship.

2024 World Series preview

The Yankees and Dodgers are meeting in the Fall Classic. Here's a look at some of the key storylines entering the series.

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Here’s what you need to know about the 2024 World Series featuring the Yankees and Dodgers:

When will the World Series start in 2024?

The 2024 World Series will begin on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8:08 p.m.

How can I watch the World Series?

The World Series will be broadcast on FOX.

What is the World Series schedule?

Here’s the schedule for the 2024 World Series.

Which teams are playing in the 2024 World Series?

The World Series will be between the Yankees and Dodgers, the 12th time the two teams have met in the Fall Classic.

What is the World Series format?

The World Series features a 2-3-2 format where the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, along with Games 6 and 7 if necessary.

Where will the World Series games be played?

The team with the best regular season record gets home field advantage in the World Series, meaning they get Games 1 and 2 at home, along with a potential Games 6 and 7. The other team gets Games 3 and 4, and a possible Game 5, at home.

Because the Dodgers had a better regular season record than the Yankees, Games 1, 2 and possibly 6 and 7 will be at Dodger Stadium, while Games 3 and 4 and a potential Game 5 will be at Yankee Stadium.

• Game 1: Dodger Stadium
• Game 2: Dodger Stadium
• Game 3: Yankee Stadium
• Game 4: Yankee Stadium
• Game 5: Yankee Stadium (*if necessary)
• Game 6: Dodger Stadium (*if necessary)
• Game 7: Dodger Stadium (*if necessary)

The New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime of Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, claiming the franchise’s first ever title win.

New York reached the stage five previous times, but lost in each, most recently in 2023. The Liberty had several worthy candidates to win Finals MVP, including experienced champion Breanna Stewart.

But it wasn’t Stewart who took home the honors. Instead, it was center Jonquel Jones, who averaged 17.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in the series to mark her first ever win of the award.

So, who has the most WNBA Finals MVPs? Here’s what to know:

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Who has the most WNBA Finals MVPs?

The most Finals MVPs belongs to former guard Cynthia Cooper, who won four Finals MVPs in a row with the now-disbanded Houston Comets from 1997 to 2000.

Here’s a list of players with multiple Finals MVPs:

• Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
• Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty/Seattle Storm: 2018, 2020
• Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks: 2001, 2002
• Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury: 2009, 2014
• Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx: 2015, 2017

Who won the 2023 WNBA Finals MVP?

The 2023 Finals MVP went to A’ja Wilson after she played a pivotal part in the Las Vegas Aces going back-to-back. The year prior, Chelsea Gray took home the honors.

How many WNBA Finals MVPs does Breanna Stewart have?

Stewart was a worthy candidate for 2024, but she did not add to her collection of two. The other two came with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and 2020, her only other title wins.

Newman was injured while taking a hit from a block after the Steelers caught an interception in the third quarter of the game at Acrisure Stadium.

The NFL reports Newman suffered a neck injury and needed to be stabilized on a backboard and taken off the field on a cart. NBC Sports’ Melissa Stark reported Newman had movement in his limbs.

Newman was taken by paramedics to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center four miles from the stadium, for evaluation, according to Mike Tirico during the NBC broadcast.

OL Xavier Newman (neck) is out. https://t.co/aac43gSy8X

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 21, 2024

He is in his second season with the Jets.

Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Co. won the 2024 WNBA Finals with a 67-62 Game 5 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Liberty, who fell to the Las Vegas Aces in last year’s Finals, got off to a rough start in their showdown with Minnesota. New York blew a 15-point lead in the final five minutes of regulation before losing Game 1 in overtime. The gut-wrenching home loss dropped the top-seeded Liberty to 1-4 overall against the No. 2-seeded Lynx this season.

But Sandy Brondello‘s squad responded in impressive fashion, winning three of the next four games — highlighted by a comeback Game 3 win on an iconic shot from Ionescu and a Game 5 victory in a winner-takes-all showdown — over a team that had been a thorn in their side all year.

It was quite the finish to what will go down as a historic season for the Liberty franchise…

Have the Liberty won a WNBA championship before?

The Liberty’s 2024 triumph marked the original WNBA franchise’s first-ever championship. New York was winless in its five previous trips to the Finals, finishing as the runner-up in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2023.

Which team has won the most WNBA championships?

There’s a three-way tie between the Lynx, Seattle Storm and now-disbanded Houston Comets for the most championships in WNBA history.

Houston won the first four WNBA titles from 1997-2000, with three of those Finals victories coming against the Liberty. The Storm were crowned champions in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020, while the Lynx won the title in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

WNBA teams with the most championships

The Liberty are the 12th different franchise in WNBA history to win it all. They are tied for eighth on the all-time championship leaderboard with four other teams.

Here’s a full look at the teams with the most WNBA championships:

T-1. Houston Comets: 4

T-1. Minnesota Lynx: 4

T-1. Seattle Storm: 4

T-4. Detroit Shock: 3

T-4. Los Angeles Sparks: 3

T-4. Phoenix Mercury: 3

7. Las Vegas Aces: 2

T-8. Chicago Sky: 1

T-8. Indiana Fever: 1

T-8. New York Liberty: 1

T-8. Sacramento Monarchs: 1

T-8. Washington Mystics: 1

The New York Liberty outlasted the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, making it the franchise’s first ever title. Jonquel Jones took home Finals MVP honors.

Minnesota, which forced Game 5 after being 2-1 in the series, led by double digits early before New York came back thanks to a third-quarter surge.

But the game went to overtime when Breanna Stewart made up for missed free throws. Minnesota started the five-minute period slowly with Courtney Williams unable to convert multiple times, and New York built a 7-2 advantage to win 67-62.

It was the first winner-takes-all overtime game in WNBA Finals history.

Minnesota, as it usually has been, was anchored by Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier. Collier had 22 points on 11 of 23 shooting and made key baskets down the stretch in the build up to overtime. She added seven rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal to her stat line, but noticeably did not attempt a single free throw.

Kayla McBride was the only other Lynx player who stood out, logging 21 points to support Collier on a 7 of 13 clip, with 1 of 6 of those being from deep. She added five rebounds, five assists and four steals, but no other Minnesota player scored more than six points.

The shooting wasn’t that better for the Liberty, who saw their two superstars struggle throughout. Stewart went just 4 of 15 from the field, missed all three 3-pointers and made 5 of 8 free throws, with two misses in the final minutes almost proving costly.

The two-time Finals MVP finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal, chipping in everywhere else to earn her third WNBA title. Her previous two came with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and 2020.

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WATCH: Sabrina Ionescu's logo shot helps Liberty beat Lynx in WNBA Finals Game 3

Sabrina Ionescu suffered one of the worst shooting performances in Finals history, going a shocking 1 of 19 with a 1-for-10 clip from downtown. She had just five points, but compensated for it with eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals and a block.

Jones added 17 points, making all seven foul-line attempts while Nyara Sabally was the unsung hero. Sabally came off the bench and scored 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting off the bench to go with seven rebounds, one steal and a block, with the Liberty supporting cast proving to be more reliable and consistent than Minnesota’s.

Prior to the result, New York had never won the WNBA title, going 0-5 all time. It made the 2023 finals but lost to Las Vegas in four games, and also reached the stage in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

On the opposite side, the Lynx have won four WNBA titles and were minutes away from a fifth. Minnesota first lifted the title in 2011 and most recently did so in 2017. The other two wins came in 2013 and 2015, a coincidental odd-year stretch.

Cobie Durant had an interception and later caused the fumble returned for a TD by Curl for the Rams (2-4), who forced four turnovers by Gardner Minshew. The Raiders’ backup quarterback was forced into action by an early hand injury for Aidan O’Connell.

Jaylen McCollough had two more interceptions for Los Angeles, including the game-clinching pick with 1:18 to play.

Matthew Stafford passed for 154 yards for the Rams (2-4), who snapped a two-game skid during their worst start to a season in coach Sean McVay’s eight years in charge.

Minshew passed for 154 yards for the Raiders (2-5) after replacing O’Connell, who didn’t return after a hand-to-hand collision with Curl during the Raiders’ second offensive series.

The Raiders managed 317 yards in their first game since trading Davante Adams to the Jets, but they were forced to settle for five field goals by Daniel Carlson after repeatedly giving the ball away or struggling in the red zone. Las Vegas has lost three straight.

The Raiders fell behind 20-6 midway through the third quarter, but had two late drives with a chance to save their game.

After settling for a short field goal with 2:46 left after reaching the Los Angeles 4, Las Vegas got the ball back with 1:39 left — but McCollough picked off Minshew’s final heave at the Vegas 34.

The Rams improved to 3-0 against the Raiders since they returned to the Los Angeles market, which these two franchises shared for 13 years from 1982-94. The Raiders have lost six straight games at SoFi Stadium to the Rams and Chargers.

O’Connell was penalized for intentional grounding on the play in which his hand was apparently injured. He went to the locker room moments later and didn’t play after returning to the sideline with his thumb wrapped.

Minshew was the Raiders’ starter to begin the season before losing the job to O’Connell this month, but the journeyman QB only excelled at getting the ball to star rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who had 10 catches for 93 yards.

Williams rushed 13 yards for a score in the second quarter, recording a rushing touchdown in his ninth consecutive game. The third-year pro has an NFL-best 24 touchdowns from scrimmage since the start of last season despite playing in only 18 of a possible 23 games.

Durant then forced a fumble while blitzing Minshew, and Curl scooped it up and ran untouched for his first TD since a 76-yard interception return as a rookie with Washington in 2020.

Los Angeles’ defense got its third takeaway when McCollough’s second interception in two games came on a pass deflected by the Raiders’ DJ Turner. A 24-yard jet sweep by Xavier Smith set up Williams’ second TD run.

Nate Hobbs intercepted a deflected pass and returned it to the Rams 14 late in the third quarter, but Vegas had to settle for Carlson’s fourth field goal and a 20-12 deficit.

Rams rookie Joshua Karty missed a 35-yard field goal attempt with 10:11 to play and the Raiders drove to the Los Angeles 4 before rookie DJ Glaze false-started on fourth and goal, compelling the Raiders to kick a fifth field goal with 2:46 left.

Injuries

Raiders: TE Harrison Bryant went to the locker room in the third quarter with an elbow injury.

Rams: WR Cooper Kupp missed his fourth consecutive game after participating in practice all week. Coach Sean McVay previously hinted that the Super Bowl 56 MVP was more likely to play in just one of the Rams’ two games in five days this week.

Up next

Raiders: Host Kansas City on Sunday.

Rams: Host Minnesota on Thursday night.

The Dodgers hold a 3-2 lead over the New York Mets, just one win away from clinching their record-setting 25th National League pennant. But it won’t come easy—not with two crucial players, All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman and second baseman Gavin Lux, absent from the lineup.

Freeman, who has been a linchpin in the Dodgers’ offense all season, is sidelined with a high-ankle sprain. The team made the call to rest him for another day, a decision that could reverberate throughout should they lose on Sunday.

Lux, another key piece, also won’t be in the lineup. Lux, a left-handed hitter likely would have been out of the lineup anyway against left-hander Sean Manaea. But Freeman, who faced Manaea in Game 2, is a little bit of a surprise even though he went 0-for-5 in that game.

Switch-hitter Tommy Edman is back in the cleanup spot, just as he was in the 10-2 victory in Game 4 of the series. Chris Taylor starts at second base. 

How Will the Dodgers Handle Manaea Without Freeman and Lux?

Sean Manaea, the Mets’ southpaw, is no stranger to the Dodgers. He handed them one of their worst losses of the postseason in Game 2 of the series, allowing just two with seven strikeouts, across five innings. 

With Freeman and Lux out of the picture, the Dodgers will have to depend on Max Muncy, who will slide over to first base and bat fifth. While Muncy brings a potent left-handed bat, he homered off Manaea in Game 2. 

Freeman’s absence is monumental not just for his bat, but for his leadership and ability to work counts. He thrives in high-pressure situations and can change the course of a game with one swing. Losing him is a massive blow, as he provides a layer of protection in the lineup that makes pitchers work harder for every out, and his defense at first base is elite. 

 Without him, the Dodgers lose a player who has been a consistent source of offense all season—especially against left-handers. Freeman slashed .290/.395/.520 against southpaws during the regular season, a level of production the Dodgers can’t simply replicate.

Lux’s absence only compounds the issue. While not the slugger Freeman is, Lux has emerged as a key contributor, especially in situational hitting. His speed on the basepaths and ability to turn singles into doubles put pressure on opposing pitchers. In Game 2, the Dodgers were flat offensively, and losing two of their spark plugs against a pitcher who’s already dominated them is not ideal.

Both players should be available off the bench to pinch-hit later in the game. 

The Bullpen Strategy

With Michael Kopech starting Game 6, manager Dave Roberts is leaning heavily on his bullpen—a strategy that has both its risks and rewards. 

Kopech has been lights out in the postseason, giving up no runs in his six appearances, and he’ll be tasked with setting the tone early. But the Dodgers will need their entire bullpen to be sharp, especially without the cushion of a full-strength lineup.

Roberts’ decision to start Kopech in a bullpen game is an interesting one, given that Kopech has spent the second half of the season as the Dodgers closer.  Since coming to the Dodgers in a midseason trade from the Chicago White Sox, he has been stellar. 

In his 24 regular-season appearances with the Dodgers, he posted a 1.13 ERA, striking out 29 in 24 innings. He’s earned the trust of Roberts, and rightfully so—his electric fastball and devastating slider could be just what the Dodgers need to neutralize the Mets early.

That said, relying on a parade of relievers comes with its own set of challenges. The Dodgers’ bullpen has been strong all year, but in a do-or-die game, fatigue can be a factor. If Kopech can give them two solid innings, it will be up to a mix of arms, including Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, and Ryan Brasier, to hold the fort against a dangerous Mets lineup that includes Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso.

The Dodgers are 1-for-1 this postseason in bullpen games. Essentially, Game 6 comes down to a coin toss. Here’s hoping it’s heads. 

The Olympic cyclist shared the news in an interview for the Sunday Times, published Sunday.

Hoy, 48, revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer in 2023 in an Instagram post in February. At the time, he said it was a “huge shock” and that he had had no symptoms up until that point. He added that he was receiving treatment, including chemotherapy, and that it was “going really well.”

At the time, he described his attitude as “optimistic, positive.”

But Hoy has known for a year that the cancer was terminal, and kept it under wraps until now, according to the Sunday Times interview.

He’s written a tell-all memoir about his experience with cancer. The memoir spares no details, sharing the ins and outs of his diagnosis and mental state throughout, according to the Sunday Times.

“I think it’s important to show how bad it was,” Hoy told the newspaper of his memoir.

“There’s so much positivity that can come out of this from all angles,” Hoy added. “I’m just really excited that this book hopefully will be able to help people.”

Last September, Hoy visited the doctor for what he thought was a strained shoulder, but a scan of the joint revealed a tumor.

Two days later, he was faced with worse news: A second scan found the cancer originated in his prostate and had metastasized to his bones, leaving tumors in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and rib — incurable stage 4 cancer.

Chemo began in November. Hoy chose to wear a cold cap to preserve his hair during all six rounds that took place over the course of 18 weeks, the Sunday Times reported. He faced a “violent” allergic reaction to the chemo in round two, forcing the two-hour session to extend to four hours.

Hoy was “absolutely broken by the end of it,” according to the Sunday Times.

The chemo was not guaranteed to shrink the size of Hoy’s tumors, but he told the Sunday Times the results after treatment were promising. He said he has faith that by the time his tumors regrow, someone might have invented a new treatment for him to try.

Hoy, who had been trying to keep his diagnosis and treatment a secret from the public, said it was “frustrating” when the news leaked halfway through his treatment. He learned of the leak when a friend called his wife to tell them a journalist had just called her to ask if Hoy had a terminal illness, according to the Sunday Times.

Around the same time as his diagnosis, Hoy told the Sunday Times Sarra found out she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“It’s the closest I’ve come to, like, you know, why me? Just, what? What’s going on here? It didn’t seem real,” Hoy told the Sunday Times. “It was such a huge blow, when you’re already reeling. You think nothing could possibly get worse. You literally feel like you’re at rock bottom, and you find out, oh no, you’ve got further to fall. It was brutal.”

Despite both facing incurable diseases, Hoy told the newspaper “I still feel like we’re lucky.”

Hoy is keeping a positive mindset and said he is trying to change “the perception of stage 4” with the release of his memoir. He noted “most of the battle for me with cancer hasn’t been physical. For me, it has been in my head.”

“I’m not trying to pretend that every day is amazing. But I have genuine moments of joy. I have laughter,” Hoy told the Sunday Times. “I’m not thinking about it all the time. I’m back to my old self.”

Hoy is currently in Copenhagen for the World Track Cycling Championships broadcasting for the BBC. On Saturday, he shared a message with his Instagram followers.

“You may see in the news this weekend some articles about my health, so I just wanted to reassure you all that I’m feeling fit, strong and positive, and overwhelmed by all the love and support shown to my family and me. Onwards!”

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News here:

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The Team Penske driver won the Round of 8 opener Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, leading the final six laps after a bold move to stretch the final run on fuel.

Logano, 34, is the first driver to qualify for the title race this year — and he continues his streak of making the finale in every even-numbered year since 2014. It will be his sixth Championship 4 appearance with his two titles coming in 2018 and 2022.

Christopher Bell, Daniel Suarez, William Byron and Alex Bowman rounded out the top-five behind Logano.

For Logano, making the Championship 4 this year was especially improbable. He appeared to be eliminated from the playoffs last week until Bowman was disqualified for failing post-race inspection. That gave the No. 22 team a second life, and now they will race for another title.

Bell dominated the race, leading 155 laps and winning Stage 2. He made a charge over the final stint to finish second behind Logano despite making an extra pit stop, but it just wasn’t enough.

Playoff drivers had trouble throughout the race, but no one had it worse than Tyler Reddick and Chase Elliott. After Reddick won Stage 1, the two drivers collided early in Stage 2 when Martin Truex Jr. drifted up the track to spoil both of their races. Reddick retired to the garage and finished 35th, while Elliott limped around to finish 37 laps down in 33rd.

Blaney, Hamlin and Larson, three of the presumptive championship favorites, also had issues. The defending champion started last after crashing in practice on Saturday, then was involved in the aftermath of Reddick and Elliott’s incident. He finished eight laps down in 32nd.

Hamlin had several pit road miscues, but stretched his fuel late to secure a decent eighth-place finish. Larson, meanwhile, went two laps down due to pit road problems and had a similar recovery to finish 11th.

The Cup Series will head to Homestead-Miami Speedway next Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC) for the second of three races in the Round of 8. While Bell is locked into the Championship 4, there are still seven playoff contenders seeking to claim the final three spots.

Here are the playoff points standings after a hectic race in Sin City:

McClaren’s driver Lando Norris started in the pole position, but he wasn’t aggressive enough to keep his position in first place.

Norris lost the lead on the first turn opening it up for Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to take over, jumping into the lead within seconds of the first lap, followed by his teammate Carlos Sainz.

He took the lead at Turn 1 and never looked back 💪@Charles_Leclerc completes a commanding win in Austin 🏆#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/sxbrPMFeJr

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 20, 2024

“It hasn’t been an easy weekend for the team, but we made it.” Leclerc said. “Keeping a steady pace was the goal and with the help of our engineers we were able to win.”

But not every driver had the same experience at the U.S. GP 2024. Lewis Hamilton’s experience at COTA went from bad to worse. The English driver started at P17 and spun out on lap three out of turn eighteen. Hamilton got stuck in the gravel and left the race early on a sour note.

This is the first time Hamilton failed to finish a race in Austin.

Even though Ferrari led the race effortlessly, the highlight of the day was the thrilling battle between Max Verstappen and Norris for third place.

“It was quite a difficult race,” Verstappen said.

As the race entered into its final laps, Norris overtook Verstappen for P3 after a tight battle. The move sparked radio debate, with Verstappen and Red Bull arguing that Norris had gone outside track limits.

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Norris received a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, dropping him down from third to fourth and promoting Verstappen to the final podium position.

It was a race where the tires dictated the pace of the race with the track temperature starting at 47 degrees Celsius.

This is the first 1-2 finish for Ferrari in the U.S. in 18 years.

Verstappen has won the past three years in Austin.

The next race in the U.S. is the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, which takes place over 50 laps of the 6.2 kilometers Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, USA, on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Click here for the full results.

With Halloween quickly approaching, teams across the league have started showing their true colors.

Whether it was a last-second kick or an upset road win, Week 7 provided plenty of surprises through the early window of games on Sunday.

The late window featured just three games, with one rout, one close affair and a Super Bowl rematch that was riveting for unconventional reasons.

Here are all the winners and losers from Sunday’s action:

WINNER: Star running backs

It was a good day to be a running back.

The league’s brightest stars came to play on Sunday, with Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Kenneth Walker, Joe Mixon, Josh Jacobs and Aaron Jones all scoring touchdowns and carrying their teams.

Barkley was a standout performer in his first trip back to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants, with 176 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Philadelphia Eagles‘ win. Gibbs (160 total yards, two TDs), Walker (93 total yards, two TDs), and Mixon (124 total yards, 2 TDs) each starred in their victories, while Jones (116 total yards, 1 TD), Robinson (143 total yards, 1 TD) and Jacobs (92 total yards, 1 TD) shined in defeat.

Saquon Barkley: “Not a revenge game.”

Also Saquon Barkley:

pic.twitter.com/U6ECFPGcMM

— Adam Rank (@adamrank) October 20, 2024

LOSER: Vikings, finally

The Minnesota Vikings are no longer undefeated.

In a back-and-forth NFC North battle, the Detroit Lions beat the Vikings 31-29 to put both teams at 5-1 this season. The Lions overcame a 10-0 deficit at the end of the first quarter to take a 21-10 lead into the break. Despite trailing 28-17 in the fourth quarter, Brian Flores’ defense carried the Vikings back to the lead 29-28.

Then, Jared Goff took the Lions on a 44-yard drive in the final two minutes to set up a 44-yard game-winning field goal by Jake Bates. Both teams proved themselves in this one, as it should be a battle to win this division all year long.

WINNER: Bengals inch closer to .500

After starting the season 0-3, the Cincinnati Bengals are quietly back in the mix.

Joe Burrow and Co. put together a solid 21-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in an AFC North rivalry game. Deshaun Watson left with an Achilles injury in the first half, and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson was unable to get anything going in the second half before he too left with an injury.

Burrow finished the game with 181 yards and two touchdowns — one to Ja’Marr Chase and one to Tee Higgins. Thompson-Robinson struggled in his first action of the season, going 11 of 24 for 82 yards and two interceptions. Jameis Winston tossed a touchdown in the closing moments to make it a one-score loss.

LOSER: Texans defense can’t hold on

In a battle of two rising young teams, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Houston Texans 24-22 on a last-second field goal by newly-signed kicker Brandon McManus.

Houston took a 22-21 lead on a field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn with 1:44 to play. But DeMeco Ryans’ defense, which had held the Packers to just seven points in the entire second half, let Jordan Love march down the field to set up the 45-yard kick.

Love finished the game with 220 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, while C.J. Stroud struggled with just 86 passing yards and 10 of 21 completions. Both teams are now 5-2 on the season.

WINNER: Anthony Richardson returns with a victory

It wasn’t always easy, but the Indianapolis Colts were victorious in Anthony Richardson’s return from injury.

Shane Steichen’s team held on for the 16-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Indy, though Richardson had an uneasy performance. The second-year QB had 129 passing yards and 56 rushing yards while completing 10 of 24 passes. Two field goals in the fourth quarter were the difference, as Miami’s offense with Tyler Huntley (who got injured) and then Tim Boyle remained ineffective.

The Colts are now 4-3 with help from both Richardson and veteran Joe Flacco this season. The Dolphins, on the other hand, are 2-4 with Tua Tagovailoa eligible to return from his concussion next week.

LOSER: Panthers somehow look worse

The Andy Dalton purple patch has, predictably, run its course. The Panthers were routed by the Washington Commanders 40-7, who moved to 5-2 despite Jayden Daniels leaving early with a rib injury and being ruled out.

Dalton completed 11 of 16 passes for 93 yards and two picks, with nothing else going right for them. Maybe just keeping Bryce Young playing was the right move for reps purposes, as it doesn’t do the sophomore much better to sit and watch.

Marcus Mariota stepped in for Daniels and shined, going 18-for-23 on completions for 205 yards and two touchdowns while Brian Robinson Jr. continued his form with another rushing touchdown.

WINNER: Kyren Williams carries Rams in rough QB display

The Los Angeles Rams picked up their second win of the season, but it was far from pretty. Matthew Stafford struggled at home, completing just 14 of 23 passes for 154 yards and a pick, though Cooper Kupp wasn’t able to go.

It was worse for the Las Vegas Raiders, as Gardner Minshew replaced the injured Aidan O’Connell early on and struggled mightily himself, mustering only 15 of 34 completions for 154 yards, no touchdowns and three picks in the 20-15 defeat.

But Kyren Williams led the way for Los Angeles, rushing in two touchdowns to go with 76 rushing yards on 21 carries. The 3.6 average is far from ideal, but the Rams need wins anyway they can get them and this result summarized that.

LOSER: 49ers still can’t beat Chiefs

The San Francisco 49ers fell to a deplorable 0-5 record against the Kansas City Chiefs under Kyle Shanahan. Two of those notably came in the Super Bowl, with the 49ers failing to avenge their recent big-game loss in the rematch at home, falling 28-18.

Patrick Mahomes had far from a good performance — 16-for-27 completions for 154 yards, no touchdowns and two picks — as the 49ers defense showed signs of improvement, but it didn’t matter.

San Francisco’s offense continued to struggle against Steve Spagnuolo, with Brock Purdy completing just 16 of 30 passes for 202 yards and three picks — one in the end zone — in spite of Brandon Aiyuk’s knee injury and Deebo Samuel’s illness preventing them from making an impact.

The Chiefs stayed perfect at 6-0 while the 49ers fell to 3-4 ahead of a “Sunday Night Football” clash against the Dallas Cowboys next week, a must win at this stage of the season.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson stepped in to replace Watson after being elevated to second-string quarterback ahead of Jameis Winston for Week 7. Watson was officially ruled out moments after the second half began.

On the play, Watson received a snap in the shotgun and stepped forward for what appeared to be a quarterback draw. When he tried to run, his right leg buckled and he quickly fell to the ground.

This was the non-contact injury to #Browns QB Deshaun Watson. It does not look good at all. pic.twitter.com/ES2MecuhD4 https://t.co/dKfcJ5SMMt

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 20, 2024

Deshaun Watson is emotional as he's carted off the field in Cleveland pic.twitter.com/IwHpZ53gy0

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024

After the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski said that testing is still to come, but early indications are that Watson tore his Achilles — which would end his 2024 season.

Watson has struggled throughout the season for the Browns, who entered this week last in the AFC North at 1-5. In Sunday’s game, he completed 15 of 17 passes for 128 yards as Cleveland trailed 7-0 when he exited. Nick Chubb, in his return from injury, got the Browns on the board with a rushing touchdown moments later.

Watson joined the Browns in a 2022 trade and signed the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history, but things haven’t gone according to plan for either party. The former Pro Bowler has faced a number of sexual assault and harassment allegations, including serving an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

On the field, Watson has never been able to regain his early-career form. He played just six games in 2022 and 2023 due to the suspension and injuries, and he totaled 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 11 fumbles in his 19 games with Cleveland.

Now, it appears his third season with the Browns will be ending early.

After losing to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, the team acquired star receiver Davante Adams in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, star pass-rusher Haason Reddick reportedly is joining his team after holding out for a new contract.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that Reddick and the Jets agreed to an adjusted contract and he will finally report to the team on Monday.

The two-time Pro Bowler will receive his 2024 base salary (approximately $9 million), plus new incentives that will allow him to earn the $12 million that he lost in fines for holding out.

Reddick was acquired in an offseason trade with the Philadelphia Eagles after the team lost Bryce Huff in free agency, but he never reported to New York as he wanted a new contract. He switched agents to Drew Rosenhaus last week when CAA dropped him as a client. Rosenhaus told Schefter that Jets owner Woody Johnson was “very involved in working this out.”

With over 10 sacks in each of the last four seasons, Reddick figures to bolster the Jets’ defense that already ranks second in fewest yards allowed.

Before Reddick joins the team tomorrow, the Jets will face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

LAFC (19-8-7), which is tied with the LA Galaxy atop the Western Conference with 64 points, earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs based on goal differential — a one-goal difference. LAFC plays a best-of-three first-round series against the winner of one-game wild card between the No. 8 seed Vancouver Whitecaps and the ninth-seeded Portland Timbers.

Eduard Atuesta came on in the 75th minute and scored moments later to give LAFC the lead for good at 2-1.

Jackson Yuell scored in the ninth minute to give San Jose (6-25-3) a 1-0 lead.

LAFC’s Denis Bouanga made it 1-1 in the 64th.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!? 🤯
DECISION DAY DRAMA 😲@HoustonDynamo takes down the @LAGalaxy with a 101st minute goal and LAFC fans are loving it.@LAFC clinch the top seed in the West! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/I9kkEwiCR4

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 20, 2024

The Trojans (3-4, 1-4 Big Ten) have lost their four games by a combined 14 points — all after being ahead in the second half. This time, they were up 28-14 before collapsing in excruciating fashion.

“That’s the tale of the last several weeks for us is doing some good things, get a lead and we obviously just have not been able to finish these games,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “It eats at you.”

Michael Lantz’s field goal attempt with two minutes left that would have sealed the game was blocked by Maryland’s Donnell Brown, and a costly pass interference penalty on John Humphrey on the ensuing drive paved the way for Billy Edwards Jr.’s go-ahead 3-yard touchdown run with 53 seconds left. Moss’ incomplete pass on fourth down with 11 seconds remaining ended it, and fans stormed the field to celebrate after the first meeting between the schools.

Riley called it a “tough one to swallow” after a “heartbreaking way to end it.”

“We’re confident in all these games,” USC safety Bryson Shaw said. “They come down to the wire, and you’re like, ‘How did that just happen?’ But full confidence. This hurts — don’t get me wrong. This hurts like crazy, but I know going forward that we’re going to keep fighting and that’s the only option we have.”

The Terrapins (4-3, 1-3) overcame some miscues that could have added up to another deflating defeat. Instead, Roman Hemby’s TD run and the ensuing 2-point conversion set the stage for a double-digit comeback, which happened with many of the 43,013 in attendance long gone.

Coach Mike Locksley joked he would have left, too, but said those who remained learned something about his team.

“Let’s buy in that we can win around here and we can win big, and I think today was a step in the right direction,” Locksley said.

Edwards was 39 of 50 for a career-high 373 yards and TD passes to Octavian Smith Jr. and Tai Felton. Kaden Prather had a career-best nine catches and 111 yards receiving, and Lavain Scruggs made the momentum-shifting play of the game by picking off Moss and returning it 51 yards to set up a touchdown.

“Billy continues to show tremendous leadership” Locksley said. “Billy is a guy that’s a winner and this team will fight. He’s taken on the personality that we need him to have as a leader.”

USC kept making self-inflicted errors, capped off by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Mason Cobb on the extra point that put Maryland ahead. The Trojans allowed Maryland to rack up 429 yards of offense, and they can’t seem to get out of this tailspin.

“It’s not about any kind of end result or whatever that may be,” said Moss, who was 34 of 50 for 336 yards with TD passes to Ja’Kobi Lane, Kyron Hudson and Duce Robinson. “We said at the beginning of the year we were committed to each other no matter what, no matter what the result, and I think that holds true.”

The takeaway

USC: Still without a Big Ten road victory, Riley’s group has some soul-searching to do in the post-Caleb Williams era. The Trojans have not been blown out, but losing like this doesn’t speak well to how players handle late-game situations.

“I own it,” Riley said. “It’s my responsibility. I’ve got to get this team to play better at the end of games, and I’ve obviously not done a good enough job of that.”

Maryland: Becoming bowl-eligible, something that seemed unlikely after losing 37-10 at home to Northwestern last week, is now realistic after pulling off this upset. The schedule down the stretch is brutal, but the Terps have a possible path.

Up next

USC hosts Rutgers on Friday night.

Maryland visits Minnesota next Saturday.

The pitching matchup between Carlos Rodon and Tanner Bibee lived up to expectations, and left the game tied 2-2 at the end of ninth inning.

With two men on and two outs in the top of the tenth inning, Soto delivered what is easily the biggest hit of his Yankee career thus far.

May we once again re-introduce, The Generational, Juan Soto. pic.twitter.com/6R5fWpEg6I

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 20, 2024

For most of the game, it didn’t seem certain that the Yankees would take the American League pennant in Game 5. They did not hold a lead until Soto’s home run.

The game started looking like the Bombers would have their way with Bibee. Torres started the game off with a single and then Soto doubles to have Torres go ahead to home plate, for him to be thrown out on a great throw by shortstop Brayan Rocchio.

Bibee seemed locked in from there, keeping the Yankees scoreless until the sixth inning, when Giancarlo Stanton got him with a two-run home run, knocking him out of the game.

Rodon gave up two runs in 4 2/3 innings, along with two walks and six strikeouts.

Now with the Yankees headed to a face off with either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, let’s take a look at some takeaways of the team’s performance:

Stanton is having a career-defining postseason

The complicated Yankees career for Giancarlo Stanton, the newly crowned ALCS MVP, is starting to get a whole lot less complicated.

At the top of the sixth inning, with the Yanks down 2-0 and second baseman Gleyber Torres on third, Stanton blasted his fourth home run – and fourth hit – of the series, tying the game.

When you look at when the home runs took place, the feat gets even more impressive.

All four home runs have come in the sixth inning or later and three of the four came with men on base.

In this postseason, Stanton has gone 9 for 31 for a .294 batting average and 9 RBIs.

The clutch home run was also the 15th home run in the postseason for the Yankees in his career, surpassing Babe Ruth on the all-time list.

Since Stanton was traded to the Yankees ahead of the 2018 season, he has had the New York City microscope looking down on him due to his massive $325 million contract.

The designated hitter has heard his share of the Bronx cheer at Yankee Stadium over the years, but it will be a warm welcome when he returns for the World Series.

Bullpen comes through

Mark Leiter, Jr., who was not even on the roster to start the series, came up big in the final two games of the series.

He was just one of the four pitchers the Yankees used Saturday night in relief of Rodon, as the Guardians went scoreless once the Yanks’ starter left the game.

In fact, the Guardians never even got a runner in scoring position off the pen.

It was not just Luke Weaver who came up clutch, it was a team effort. A sign that the Yankees have a lot going right for them in 2024.

Juan Soto: Worth it

He may sign with another team in the offseason (and maybe even with a team he faces in the World Series), but the trade for Soto is now officially worth it.

If he is a Yankee for one season, it’s been memorable enough.

Let’s see what he can do in the World Series.

He had just run through an exploding wall — literally — as a stunt double for former NFL star Rob Gronkowski in a Super Bowl commercial and had plaster all over his hair, face and body. 

But he had a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New York in a matter of hours, and his appearance was the last thing on his mind. Quickly throwing on a different set of clothes, Wallschleger rushed off the set and headed to Los Angeles International Airport for an acting role he had booked … as Gronkowski.

Portraying Gronkowski, the future Hall of Fame tight end and larger-than-life personality, on screen was easy. After all, they’ve been friends since college. 

“I’ve hung out with him for so many years,” Wallschleger said of playing Gronk on FX’s “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez.”

“It’s kind of like imitating your brother.”

That familiarity was evident this past week when Wallschleger’s imitation of Gronkowski, the former New England tight end, went viral. The scene — Gronkowski speaking to teammate Aaron Hernandez in the Patriots locker room — was so spot on that the real-life version had to applaud the effort. 

I asked @RobGronkowski about the viral gronk actor clip from the FX show..

we watched it twice. 🙂

Backstory here: pic.twitter.com/whqASbUk90

— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) October 10, 2024

“That’s my good friend Laith who is playing me there. I’ve known him for about 14 years,” Gronkowski said on the “Up and Adams” podcast. “He got the laugh right on. If I’m up and energized and someone cracks a good joke, that’s definitely my laugh right on.”

Wallschleger, an actor, stunt double and voice-over artist, is a former defensive end at the University of Delaware who spent training camp with the Arizona Cardinals. After his athletic career came to a close in 2018, he auditioned for and got into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and moved to Los Angeles full-time to pursue a career in entertainment. 

He admits his physique — 6-foot-4, 255 pounds — and background as an athlete helped him land small roles early on. His first big break was as a football player in a film called “It’s Time” about former Ole Miss defensive back Chucky Mullins, who was paralyzed after he made a tackle. It was there that Wallschleger met executives from Game Changing Films, a group that casts actors for sports-related projects. They eventually helped him get shows like The CW’s “All-American.”

The company’s mission seemed simple enough: find actors who could actually play sports to make a show or movie appear genuine. Except it wasn’t that easy. 

“You have the size component, you have the speed component, and then you have the performance component. It’s really hard to find all those things in an actor,” Wallschleger said. “Actors are, most of the time, pretty small. I mean, you look at Tom Cruise and he’s like, what, 5-8 or something like that? So it’s really difficult to find that combination.”

Wallschleger has gone on to play roles on “NCIS,” “Grown-ish,” “The Rookie,” “9-1-1” and other shows. He is currently filming an episode of Peacock’s “Poker Face,” and he is in an upcoming show called “Paradise,” starring Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden. Oh, and it was announced this week that he is the lead in a Lifetime Christmas movie about a football player who finds love with a pop star (sound familiar?).

He has also narrated Dodge Challenger commercials and multiple video games. 

His true calling, however, may be as a stunt double for, in his words, “all the big white guys in the NFL.” 

Wallschleger has been cast as Travis Kelce, Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa, JJ Watt and Zach Ertz. In the NFL 100 Super Bowl commercial, he played legendary Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and tackled Deion Sanders through a table.

No, of course not the real Deion Sanders. His stunt double. 

“They get paid millions of dollars,” Wallschleger said of professional athletes and coaches. “The last thing they want to do is step wrong, slip on something and then blow out a knee doing a freaking Visa commercial.”

Wallschleger is best known, at least now, as Gronk 2.0. The two became close friends years ago through his cousin Dean “Mojo” Muhtadi, who knew Rob’s brother Dan Gronkowski. The families started hanging out, and they have countless stories of partying together since. 

The camaraderie has paid off in a big way. When FX needed someone to play Gronk in “American Sports Story,” Wallschleger was a natural fit. He would go on to film scenes as the teammate of Hernandez, the Patriots tight end later convicted of murder.

Wallschleger said he initially was worried about telling his friend about the role. Years ago, Gronk refused to speak about the highly sensitive matter.

“Back then, what’s there to gain to comment on that?” Wallschleger said. “You want to respect the family and the severity of the situation and just kind of stay out of it. But he gave me his full endorsement on set.”

Usually, playing Gronk is far more fun.

For FanDuel’s “Kick of Destiny,” a live field goal attempt at halftime of the Super Bowl, Wallschleger stepped in for his friend in commercials leading up to the event.

In one, a montage similar to those in the “Rocky” films takes place. Gronk’s quad explodes from overtraining and rips his shorts.

“That was my leg,” Wallschleger said. “It really kind of stemmed from there. It was like, ‘Hey, man, like, if you need me in the future, I got you.’”

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. Read more from NBC News here:

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The victory boosted Verstappen’s confidence in the car since he has not won any of the last nine F1 races – eight grands prix and one sprint.

“It was not too bad, feels a bit like old times!” said Verstappen, “I’m very happy with today. I think of course if you look at the whole race, Ferrari was also very quick, but I think for us finally we were racing again.”

The Dutch driver kept Lando Norris of McLaren, at bay for 18 out of the 19 sprint laps at the Circuit of the Americas.

A lights to flag victory for Max Verstappen in #F1Sprint 👏

Bodes well for the rest of his weekend #F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/44Ur0LDaIJ

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 19, 2024

“Normally in the race we’re always looking back behind us, but now we could just do our own race and we had good pace.” Added the Red Bull’s top driver.

Verstappen is going for his fourth title in a row. He secured his pole position for Saturday’s sprint race, winning by nearly four seconds ahead of Ferrari’s driver Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard took advantage of Norris mistake in the first turn of the final lap and slipped behind Verstappen, securing second place.

Formula 1 returned from a four-week autumn break this week, kicking off the second race in the U.S. in Austin.

The last race on U.S. soil is scheduled for November 2024 on the Las Vegas strip.

Formula 1 US GP Sprint race results

1 Max Verstappen, Red Bull

2 Carlos Sainz, Ferrari +3.882

3 Lando Norris, McLaren +6.240

4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +6.956

5 George Russell, Mercedes +15.766

6 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes +18.724

7 Kevin Magnussen, Haas +25.161

8 Nico Hulkenberg, Haas +26.588

9 Sergio Perez, Red Bull +29.950

10 Oscar Piastri, McLaren +37.059

11 Yuki Tsunoda, VCARB +38.363

12 Franco Colapinto, Williams +39.460

13 Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +41.236

14 Pierre Gasly, Alpine +41.995

15 Esteban Ocon, Alpine +42.804

16 Liam Lawson, VCARB +44.008

17 Alexander Albon, Williams +44.564

18 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +46.807

19 Zhou Guanyu, Sauber +52.842

20 Valtteri Bottas, Sauber +54.476