It’s officially opening day at Wimbledon, as a fortnight of action begins on the legendary grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Opening-round matches in both men’s and women’s singles get things started on Monday, June 30, with the first round continuing Tuesday.

Two-time defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his epic French Open championship, and women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka headline Monday’s schedule, while men’s top seed Jannik Sinner and reigning French Open women’s champion Coco Gauff will get an extra day of rest before they begin their quest for a championship.

Here’s a look at some of the top matches on Monday’s schedule at Wimbledon:

How to watch Wimbledon 2025

The 2025 Wimbledon Championships will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and Tennis Channel. Fans wanting to stream the action can watch matches on ESPN+ or Fubo.

Monday, June 30

• Main coverage: ESPN, Fubo, 6 a.m. ET
• Court 1: ESPN+, 8 a.m. ET
• Courts 2-18: ESPN+, 6 a.m. ET
• Match replays: Tennis Channel, 8 p.m.-11 p.m. ET

Wimbledon 2025 men’s singles

First-round feature matchups

Centre Court

• No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz vs. Fabio Fognini (Italy)
• No. 3 Alexander Zverev (Germany) vs. Arthur Rinderknech (France)

No. 2 court

• No. 9 Daniil Medvedev (Russia) vs. Benjamin Bonzi (France)
• No. 5 Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France)

No. 3 court

• No. 8 Holger Rune (Denmark) vs. Nicolas Jarry (Chile)

Court 12

• No. 12 Francis Tiafoe (USA) vs. Elmer Moller (Denmark)
• No. 24 Stefano Tsitsipas (Greece) vs. Valentin Royer (France)

Wimbledon 2025 women’s singles

First-round feature matchups

Centre Court

• No. 9 Paula Badosa (Spain) vs. Katie Boulter (United Kingdom)

No. 1 court

• No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) vs. Carston Branstine (Canada)
• Emma Raducanu (United Kingdom) vs. Mingge Xu (United Kingdom)

No. 2 court

• No. 6 Madison Keys vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Romania)
• No. 4 Jasmine Paolini (Italy) vs. Anastasija Sevastova (Latvia)

No. 3 court

• No. 20 Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) vs. Sonay Kartal (United Kingdom)
• No. 5 Qinwen Zheng (China) vs. Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic)

Court 15

• No. 22 Donna Vekic (Croatia) vs. Kimberly Birrell (Australia)
• No. 13 Amanda Anisimova (USA) vs. Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan)

Court 16

• No. 12 Diana Shnaider (Russia) vs. Moyuka Uchijima (Japan)
• No. 24 Elise Mertens (Belgium) vs. Linda Fruhvirtova (Czech Republic)

Court 17

• No. 31 Ashlyn Krueger (USA) vs. Mika Stojsavljevic (United Kingdom)

Court 18

• No. 14 Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) vs. Anna Bondar (Hungary)
• Naomi Osaka (Japan) vs. Talia Gibson (Australia)

Watch Wimbledon with Fubo

2025 Wimbledon schedule

The 2025 Wimbledon Championships are slated to begin on Monday, June 30, and run through Sunday, July 13. Men’s and women’s singles begin on June 30, while the men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles brackets begin play on Wednesday, July 2. Here’s a breakdown of the complete schedule for this year’s fortnight at Wimbledon.

• Monday, June 30: Men’s and women’s singles first round
• Tuesday, July 1: Men’s and women’s singles first round
• Wednesday, July 2: Men’s and women’s singles second round; men’s and women’s doubles first round
• Thursday, July 3: Men’s and women’s singles second round; men’s and women’s doubles first round
• Friday, July 4: Men’s and women’s singles third round; men’s and women’s doubles second round; mixed doubles first round
• Saturday, July 5: Men’s and women’s singles third round; men’s and women’s doubles second round; mixed doubles first round
• Sunday, July 6: Men’s and women’s singles fourth round; men’s and women’s doubles third round; mixed doubles second round
• Monday, July 7: Men’s and women’s singles fourth round; men’s and women’s doubles third round; mixed doubles quarterfinals
• Tuesday, July 8: Men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals; men’s and women’s doubles quarterfinals; mixed doubles semifinals
• Wednesday, July 9: Men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals; men’s and women’s doubles quarterfinals
• Thursday, July 10: Women’s singles semifinals; men’s doubles semifinals; mixed doubles final
• Friday, July 11: Men’s singles semifinals; women’s doubles semifinals;
• Saturday: July 12: Women’s singles final; Men’s doubles final
• Sunday, July 13: Men’s singles final; women’s doubles final

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The U.S. men’s national team defeated Costa Rica in a thrilling Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal that went to a penalty shootout at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 29.

The USMNT prevailed in the shootout, 4-3, after the two teams were knotted up a 2-2 after 90 minutes (there is no extra time in the Gold Cup until the final). The penalty shootout went to a sudden-death sixth round. After U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese stopped Andy Rojas’ attempt, Damion Downs — a 20-year-old making just his second USMNT appearance — put his attempt past Costa Rica’s legendary shot-stopper Keylor Navas for the victory. Freese made two saves in the penalty shootout, and nearly made saves on two other attempts.

In regulation, the game was a back-and-forth tussle. Costa Rica opened the scoring early on a penalty kick. Diego Luna answered later in the first half with his first USMNT goal. Early in the second half, Max Arfsten scored his first USMNT goal before Costa Rica answered in the 71st minute with an equalizer that eventually forced the game to go to a penalty shootout.

Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman (who had a penalty shot miss in the first half half of the game), Alex Freeman and Downs each made their penalty shootout kicks to give the U.S. the win.

The U.S. will face Guatemala — a surprise winner over Canada in another penalty shootout — in the Gold Cup semifinals on Wednesday, July 2 in St. Louis (7 p.m. ET on FS1). Mexico takes on Honduras — which upset Panama — in the other semifinal.

USMNT vs. Costa Rica highlights

USMNT vs. Costa Rica going to penalty shootout

The Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal ended regulation tied at 2-2, and the game immediately goes to a penalty shootout (no extra time until the final). As the USMNT’s Matt Freese faces the pressure of his first national team knockout penalty shootout, the veteran Keylor Navas gives Costa Rica a goalkeeping advantage.

Costa Rica 2, USMNT 2: Alonso Martinez ties it back up

After a high-flying start to the second half, the U.S. has gotten a bit sloppy in possession. Costa Rica finally made the USMNT pay for letting its opponent hang around.

U.S. goal keeper Matt Freese made a save on Carlos Mora’s attempt, but the rebound returned to Mora who dished it to Alonso Martinez, who knotted up the score at 2-2 in the 71st minute.

Now, Costa Rica has snagged the momentum in this spirited Gold Cup quarterfinal. With Keylor Navas between the pipes for Costa Rica, the last thing the U.S. wants if for this one to go to a penalty shootout. There will be no extra time if the game is tied after regulation.

USMNT 2, Costa Rica 1: Max Arfsten gets his first national team goal

It didn’t take long for the U.S. to take the lead in the second half.

Some delicious soccer-football play from the squad eventually led to the ball at the feet of a wide-open Arfsten in the box. Arfsten slid the shot past Keylor Navas and the U.S. took a 2-1 lead right after intermission.

Arfsten has rebounded nicely from his foul that led to a penalty, assisting on Diego Luna’s equalizer and now scoring to put the USMNT into the lead.

USMNT 1, Costa Rica 1: Diego Luna evens up the score

Despite giving up the opening goal via penalty kick, the USMNT has been the more dangerous of the two squads throughout the first half.

That pressure finally paid off in the 43rd minute when Diego Luna got his shot past Costa Rica’s legendary goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Luna — nicknamed the ‘Moon Man’ — adeptly collected Max Arfsten’s pass inside the 18-yard box and banged his shot past a diving Navas and into the back of the net. For Arfsten, it has to feel good to contribute to the goal after his foul resulted in Costa Rica’s first score on a penalty kick.

Malik Tillman bangs penalty shot off the post, fracas follows

The USMNT wasted a golden opportunity in the 37th minute to tie up the score, but Malik Tillman pushed his penalty shot off the left post.

A kerfuffle followed the play as emotions are running high at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Costa Rica’s Kenneth Vargas and U.S. defender Chris Richards were issued yellow cards for their involvement in the pushing and shoving.

The penalty shot was awarded after Tillman was clipped inside the 18-yard box by Juan Pablo Vargas and the play eventually went to VAR. A yellow card was issued to Juan Pablo Vargas for his foul on Tillman.

Diego Luna attempts trick shot

Getting a goal past Costa Rica’s 38-year-old goalkeeper Keylor Navas — arguably still the best ‘keeper in Concacaf — will be a challenge for the USMNT.

In the 18th minute, Diego Luna attempted an acrobatic shot, but it didn’t challenge Navas as the ball sailed over the crossbar.

Costa Rica 1, USMNT 0: Ill-advised foul results in penalty shot

A reckless challenge by USMNT defender Max Arfsten inside the 18-yard box on Kenneth Vargas resulted in a penalty shot goal by Costa Rica’s Francisco Calvo in the 12th minute.

U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese nearly stopped the shot, but Calvo was able to get the shot through inside of the post.

This is the first time that the U.S. has trailed in this year’s Gold Cup tournament. Let’s see how this largely inexperienced squad responds to early adversity in this quarterfinal match.

What time is USMNT vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup game?

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal between the USMNT and Costa Rica is set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET, with the teams meeting at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

How to watch USMNT vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup game: TV, stream

• Time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)
• Location: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
• TV: Fox (English), Univision, TUDN (both Spanish)
• Stream: Fubo, Sling TV

Watch the USMNT vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup game on Fubo

USMNT starting 11 vs. Costa Rica

Costa Rica starting 11 vs. USMNT

Concacaf Gold Cup bracket and remaining schedule

QUARTERFINALS

Saturday, June 28

• Honduras 1, Panama 1 (Honduras won penalty shootout, 5-4)
• Mexico 2, Saudi Arabia 0

Sunday, June 29

• Guatemala 1, Canada 1 (Guatemala won penalty shootout, 6-5)
• United States vs. Costa Rica at U.S. Bank Stadium, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)

SEMIFINALS

Wednesday, July 2

• Guatemala vs. United States-Costa Rica winner at Energizer Park, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
• Honduras vs. Mexico at Levi’s Stadium, 10 p.m. ET (FS1)

FINAL

Sunday, July 6

• Semifinal winners at NRG Stadium, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)

Which players are on the USMNT Gold Cup roster?

Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/England)

Defenders (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/France), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel/Germany), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

Midfielders (9): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/England); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/Spain), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands)

Forwards (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/Netherlands), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Damion Downs (FC Köln/Germany), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada)

Diversity is not what’s dragging down U.S. men’s national team. Data proves it

Whatever is wrong with the U.S. men’s national soccer team, and pull up a chair because there’s lots to discuss, diversity isn’t it.

That’s not just an aspirational statement. There are studies to prove it. In fact, researchers who’ve looked at both club and national teams across the world recently found diversity actually made squads better. — Nancy Armour

USMNT’s Alex Freeman is the son of Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman

Alex Freeman, a 20-year-old defender who plays professionally for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman.

Antonio Freeman spent eight of his nine NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, helping the team win Super Bowl XXXI. In that victory, Freeman had an 81-yard touchdown reception.

Alex Freeman, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, signed a homegrown deal with Orlando City in 2022. He made his debut with the team on April 29, 2023 during a win over the LA Galaxy. Alex Freeman made his USMNT debut as a starter in the team’s 2-1 defeat against Turkey on June 7.

What is the Concacaf Gold Cup?

The Gold Cup is a biennial tournament for national teams in the North and Central American and Caribbean region associated with Concacaf. Mexico (nine times), the U.S. (seven times) and Canada (one time) are the only nations to have won the Gold Cup. Mexico won the last Gold Cup competition in 2023.

USMNT 2025 schedule and results

• Jan. 20 (friendly) — United States 3, Venezuela 1
• Jan. 22 (friendly) — United States 3, Costa Rica 0
• March 20 (Concacaf Nations League) — Panama 1, United States 0
• March 23 (Concacaf Nations League third-place match) — Canada 2, United States 1
• June 7 (friendly) — Türkiye 2, United States 1
• June 10 (friendly) — Switzerland 4, United States 0
• June 15 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 5, Trinidad and Tobago 0
• June 19 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 1, Saudi Arabia 0
• June 22 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 2, Haiti 1
• June 29 (Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal) — United States vs. Costa Rica, 7 p.m. ET (U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis)
• Sept. 6 (friendly) — United States vs. South Korea, 5 p.m. ET (Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, N.J.)
• Sept. 9 (friendly) — United States vs. Japan, 7:30 p.m. ET (Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio)

Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier are set to go head to head when the Indiana Fever take on the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final on Tuesday, July 1. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will mark Round 2.

On Sunday, June 29, the WNBA announced that Clark and Collier will serve as captains of this year’s All-Star Game after picking up their second and fifth career All-Star nods, respectively. Clark, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Collier, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, earned the honor by receiving the most fan votes.

With the title of captain comes responsibilities. Clark and Collier will be tasked with drafting their All-Star teams playground-style from a pool of eight starters and 12 reserves. The remaining eight starters — selected by fan votes (50%), current WNBA players (25%) and media members (25%) — will be announced on Monday, June 30, while the 12 All-Star reserves will be selected by the league’s head coaches on July 6.

The WNBA All-Star Game draft will be broadcast on ‘WNBA Countdown Presented by Google” on July 8.

The Fever shared a social media video of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announcing the news to Clark and the Fever. ‘Caitlin, I just want to personally congratulate you on being named captain for the 2025 WNBA All-Star team,’ Engelbert said over the phone, which was held by Fever head coach Stephanie White. Clark’s teammates cheered and applauded. When Engelbert sent her best wishes for the upcoming 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final, Clark candidly replied, ‘We about to get that dub Cathy.’

Clark’s availability for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be something to monitor. Clark has missed a career-high seven games this season due to injury, including the Fever’s last two games due to a left groin injury. Her status for the Fever’s Commissioner’s Cup championship game vs. the Lynx remains unclear.

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be held on July 19 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Fever, and could feature more Indiana stars. In the first returns of fan voting earlier this month, Fever center Aliyah Boston was ranked third, trailing Clark and Collier. Will Clark and Boston team up again? We’ll have to wait and see.

Clark is averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game, which marks a career-high.

Collier learned she was an 2025 All-Star captain by way of her three-year-old daughter Mila, who wore a shirt that read, ‘Mama, you’re a All-Star.’ Collier’s husband Alex Bazzell was also involved in the unveiling, saying he’s ‘incredibly proud. She’s earned it. We’re excited about it and hopefully more and more to come.’

Collier has led the Lynx to a league-best 13-2 record while averaging a league-high 24.5 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game, the fourth-highest in the league. She’s a frontrunner for the 2025 WNBA MVP award.

Clark and Collier faced off against each other in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, where Clark and Team WNBA handed the U.S. women’s national team a loss before they went to the 2024 Paris Olympics and won another gold medal. Collier was held scoreless in three minutes of work off the bench for Team USA, while Clark had four points (2-of-9 FG, 0-of-7 3PT) and 10 assists in 26 minutes of work.

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ATLANTA — One of the biggest FIFA Club World Cup matches will take place Sunday, June 29, featuring one of the greatest players of all time, and a reigning champion.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami from Major League Soccer will face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup round-of-16 match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It’s the biggest match played by an MLS club in the league’s 30-year history, and it will come against the European champions.

Messi will face his former squad in PSG, where he briefly shined alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe before unceremoniously leaving in July 2023 to join Inter Miami. Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano will also face their former Barcelona coach in Luis Enrique, who is leading PSG.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Inter Miami-PSG matchup, and stay tuned for live updates from USA TODAY Sports.

What time is the Inter Miami-PSG match?

The match begins at noon ET (1 p.m. in Argentina, 6 p.m. in Paris.)

Where to watch Inter Miami-PSG match live stream link?

The match is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

Watch Inter Miami vs. Paris Saint-Germain live on DAZN

How to watch the Inter Miami-PSG match on TV in the US?

The match will be broadcast on TNT and TruTV in English; Univision and TUDN in Spanish.

Is Lionel Messi playing today?

Messi, in his first match since his 38^th birthday June 24, is expected to play. His status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup.

Is Ousmane Dembélé playing today?

Dembélé, one of the frontrunners for this year’s Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player, hasn’t played in the Club World Cup due to a quad injury. His status will be confirmed when PSG announces its starting lineup.

Inter Miami vs. PSG score prediction

Paris Saint-Germain 3, Inter Miami 1: This may not look pretty for Lionel Messi’s side and Major League Soccer. But just getting to this point in the Club World Cup is valiant enough. Messi scores a goal, but Inter Miami is outclassed by the Champions League winners. — Safid Deen

Inter Miami vs. PSG betting odds

Inter Miami is the biggest underdog of any team in the Club World Cup round of 16. Here are the betting odds for the match, according to BetMGM:

• Paris Saint-Germain: -550
• Draw: +725
• Inter Miami: +1250
• Over/under: 3.5 goals

Why did Lionel Messi leave Paris Saint-Germain?

Messi’s two-year spell at PSG was complicated, particularly upon his return to Paris from the 2022 World Cup triumph – having led Argentina to victory over France in the final. Imagine having to live and work in the same country you just delivered heartbreak to. Fans voiced their displeasure with Messi, who was also suspended by the club in May 2023 for taking an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia the day after a match.

When did Lionel Messi join Inter Miami?

Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023, joining the MLS club co-owned by Jorge Mas, Jose Mas and soon-to-be Sir David Beckham.

Who does Inter Miami/PSG winner face in Club World Cup quarterfinals?

The winner of Sunday’s Inter Miami-PSG match will face the winner of Sunday’s 4 p.m. match between Bayern Munich (Germany) and Flamengo (Brazil).

How has Inter Miami performed in the Club World Cup?

Messi and Inter Miami won a match, and settled for a draw in two others during the Club World Cup group stage. But they were able to advance as a Group A runner-up. They beat FC Porto (Atlanta), and drew against Al-Ahly (Egypt) and Palmeiras (Brazil).

How has Paris Saint-Germain fared in the Club World Cup?

PSG won Group B of the tournament: They beat Atlético Madrid 4-0, lost 1-0 to Botafogo (Brazil), and beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 during the group stage.

When is Lionel Messi’s birthday?

Messi turned 38 years old on June 24, 2025. He will turn 39 during World Cup 2026. Check out these photos from his birthday celebration last week:

Will Lionel Messi re-sign with Inter Miami?

Messi is under contract with Inter Miami through the 2025 MLS season. The club hopes he re-signs a contract extension to remain through, at least 2026. It’s possible Messi could sign a longer extension.

Will Lionel Messi play in the World Cup?

Messi has not yet declared whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. If he does, it would be his sixth World Cup and he would help Argentina defend its 2022 crown.

The 2025 Home Run Derby, to take place July 14 at Truist Park just outside of Atlanta, is still in the early stages of setting its field. However, the fledgling bracket already has a pair of big names attached to it.

The first player to declare, hometown star Ronald Acuna Jr., is sure to be the most popular player of the night. However, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, colloquially referred to as ‘Big Dumper,’ has had a torrid first half of the season and is looking to become the first catcher to win the derby and the first switch hitter to win it undisputed.

As with every year in the Home Run Derby, however, there have been some notable declinations. The past two winners − the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez − will not participate in this year’s iteration. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani also will not compete, stating ‘the current rules are tough. I don’t think there’s a chance,’ per Bleacher Report.

USA TODAY Sports is tracking which players will be in the 2025 Home Run Derby, with updates as well below.

Who is in 2025 Home Run Derby?

The 2025 Home Run Derby currently has two players in the mix: Braves star Ronald Acuna and Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has stolen the national spotlight with 32 home runs through June 28.

Here’s the list as it continues to grow, along with how many seasons and career home runs they have so far.

• Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves OF (9 HR in 2025, 174 career)
• Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners C (32 HR in 2025, 125 career)

Latest Home Run Derby participant updates

This section will be updated as players accept, decline invitations

Who won Home Run Derby 2024?

The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez will be passing off the Home Run Derby crown. The Dodgers slugger eked out a win over the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. with 14 home runs in the final round, one more than Witt’s 13. Witt, finished with one more homer for the overall event, hitting 50 to Hernandez’s 49.

Hernandez, however, will not be returning, saying his attention is on a Dodgers World Series repeat in 2025.

“I was considering it at the beginning, but not right now,’ Hernandez told AM 570 LA Sports on June 27. ‘I think I’m not going to do it this year. Maybe next year. Because last year, when I finished the Home Run Derby, I was a little tired, tight. My body was a little tired, and with the injury that I had with my groin this year, I don’t want to put anything at risk. So I’m going to stay put and not participate this year.”

Elly De La Cruz declines Home Run Derby invite

In addition to Hernandez and Ohtani, another major name has declined an invite to Atlanta. Reds wunderkind shortstop Elly De La Cruz will not participate, but the door isn’t closed for the future.

“The time is going to come,” he said, per The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY network. “But not now.”

Dave Parker, the two-time World Series winner and two-time batting champion whose dangerous exploits at the plate earned him the nickname Cobra, died Saturday after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, just one month before he was to be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Parker, 74, was an imposing left-handed hitting threat on two power-packed championship teams, the 1979 “We Are Family” Pirates and the 1989 “Bash Brothers” Oakland Athletics. He hit 339 home runs and won National League batting titles in 1977 (.338) and 1978 (.334) for the Pirates.

Parker never earned more than 24.5% support in 15 years of Hall of Fame voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, well short of the 75% required. But he was named on 14 of 16 ballots in December voting by the Classic Baseball Era Committee and will be elected alongside fellow Pennsylvania legend Dick Allen next month.

But neither will be around to see it. Parker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 and his prominence in the public eye diminished in the decade-plus since.

“I’m a battler,” Parker said in 2018.

That was evidenced in his climb to the Hall of Fame, and while he won’t be there for the induction, he was able to celebrate last December, when his election was announced.

“I’ve been holding this speech in for 15 years,” Parker told MLB Network that night.

Parker left such an impact that he’s a member of both the Pirates’ and Cincinnati Reds’ halls of fame. He was the 1978 NL MVP, when he led the majors in both batting average (.334) and OPS (.979), slammed 30 homers and earned an NL-best 7.0 WAR.

One year later, Parker banged out 193 hits and 20 home runs and, alongside Willie “Pops” Stargell, helped lead the Pirates to their first World Series title since 1960. Parker had a dominant postseason performance, getting four hits in 12 at-bats in an NL Championship Series sweep of the Reds, and was 10-for-29 (.345) and drove in four runs in the Pirates epic seven-game triumph over the Baltimore Orioles.

Parker left Pittsburgh for Cincinnati after the 1983 season but was still in his prime. He led the NL with 42 doubles and 125 RBIs in 1985 and earned All-Star nods in two of his four seasons with Cincinnati.

In 1989, he was the oldest player on a brash, power-hitting Oakland A’s team that featured beefed-up sluggers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire and Hall of Fame leadoff man Rickey Henderson. Parker hit 22 homers as the A’s primary DH as he added a second championship to his portfolio. He made his seventh and final All-Star team one year later with Milwaukee.

‘Dave Parker was a gifted all-around player whose numerous accomplishments led to his upcoming induction in Cooperstown this summer,’ MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. ‘He was a World Series Champion with the 1979 Pirates and the 1989 Athletics, a beloved All-Star Red in his hometown of Cincinnati, and an All-Star in Milwaukee. Dave was also a three-time Gold Glover on the strength of his famous arm, a two-time batting champion, and the winner of the inaugural Home Run Derby in 1985.’All of us throughout the game are deeply saddened by this loss. We will remember the Cobra forever, especially as his name soon officially joins the legends of our national pastime.’

In 2019, Parker was the subject of a 90-minute documentary produced by MLB Network, “The Cobra at Twilight,” which did not glaze over any of his career.

In 1985, Parker was called to testify before a grand jury in a trial that resulted in the conviction of six Pittsburgh men and a Philadelphia Phillies clubhouse worker on 11 counts of distributing cocaine.

Parker acknowledged he battled addiction from 1979 to 1982 and used that experience to mentor young players to avoid mistakes he made earlier in his career.

“The thing that resonated with me more than anything was that he did not want me to drift into some of the things off the field that he did,” Eric Davis, the Reds’ All-Star outfielder and Parker teammate, recalled in the documentary.

Yet Parker was a trailblazer in so many other ways. He was just the second ballplayer to earn at least $1 million a season when he signed a five-year, $5 million contract with the Pirates, with a sartorial style that arguably captured the late ’70s ethos better than anyone.

He returned to his native Cincinnati after that contract expired and became a beloved Red, even as the franchise failed to recapture the glory of the Big Red Machine years featuring another native son, Pete Rose.  

Eventually, Parker’s body of work was recognized by the Hall of Fame, setting the stage for an emotional celebration of life and career next month in Cooperstown.

“We join the baseball family in remembering Dave Parker. His legacy will be one of courage and leadership, matched only by his outstanding accomplishments on the field,” says Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the Baseball Hall of Fame. “His election to the Hall of Fame in December brought great joy to him, his family and all the fans who marveled at his remarkable abilities.

“We will honor his incredible life and career at next month’s induction ceremony in Cooperstown, where his legacy will be remembered forever.”  

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ATLANTA — If Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s cast of former Barcelona stars hope to pull off one of the biggest upsets soccer may ever see against Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup, they’ll have to outsmart one person who may know them all the best.

Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano last raised the Champions League trophy together with Barcelona in 2015 under the leadership of coach Luis Enrique.

Ten years later, Enrique reached the sport’s mountaintop again, leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League title last month.

Now, they’ll reunite again on the same pitch Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium – this time as adversaries with plenty of love and respect at the forefront of their round-of-16 matchup in the Club World Cup.

“I’m sure it’s going to be much more difficult than anyone can imagine,” Enrique said Saturday night before the match.

“They have the level. They have the quality. And they are winners. They’re players who have won a lot throughout their careers (with) that spirit inside them they’ve had all their lives.

“Emotionally, it’s very difficult to prepare for a game like this.”

It’ll be Messi’s first match against PSG since leaving the French club in July 2023 to join Inter Miami.

And he’s leading a Major League Soccer club just five years into its existence into a match against the European champions.

Inter Miami is the biggest underdog of any team in the Club World Cup round of 16. They have +1050 odds to beat PSG, the heavy favorite at -450, according to BetMGM.

But Enrique isn’t overlooking the opponent one bit.

He knows better.

Especially coaching against No. 10 on the other side.

“I had the opportunity to meet Leo Messi at the height of his career. Leo Messi’s peak has lasted 10, 15 years – I don’t know how long it will last,” Enrique said. “He is the best soccer player in history – without a doubt.”

Enrique still believes Messi, Suarez, Alba and Busquets are at the top of their games.

He looks forward to the few moments they’ll share together on the pitch Sunday, before and after the whistle is blown.

“When you give it some space and look back at what we’ve been through over the years, a smile appears on your face, and you want to share things again – even if it’s just 10 minutes before or after the game,” Enrique said.

Rising PSG star Désiré Doué, a 20-year-old who scored twice in the Champions League final, is excited to face Messi and the other Barcelona legends.

“Yes, it’s a special match, but it’s still a soccer game,” Doué told DAZN. “We’re lucky to be able to play against one of the greatest players in history and some of the greatest players who have marked the history of soccer.”

Messi’s heroics will be key if Inter Miami is going to pull off an upset against PSG, which dominated Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final on May 31.

Messi’s free-kick goal against Porto in Atlanta on June 19 is Inter Miami’s defining moment in the Club World Cup to this point. It was instrumental in helping them reach the knockout stage of a tournament featuring 32 of the best clubs in the world.

Some would argue Inter Miami has already peaked in the Club World Cup. They were the only MLS club to reach this point, while the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC both failed to win a match during the group stage.

Many don’t expect them to pull off the upset on Sunday.

Even they know the odds are stacked against them.

“It’s clear and we’re not naïve – we know that we’re the weaker team, but that doesn’t mean you can kill us off beforehand. We’re going to fight, which is what it’s all about,” Mascherano said.

“I think the nice thing about (Sunday’s) match is that we’ve earned the right to play it. … The challenge is to come out tomorrow and test ourselves against what is possibly the best team in the world today.”

Added Inter Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt: “We are a very humble team. We try to give our all. And hopefully, God willing, tomorrow will be kind to us and we can get a good result.”

Ilia Topuria said he would knock out Charles Oliveira in the first round of their UFC 317 bout on Saturday for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship belt. He did just that.

Topuria vacated his Featherweight title to move up to Lightweight division in April and the move paid off. He knocked out Oliveira in the first round of the main event to win the UFC Lightweight Championship, marking his third straight knockout win. With the victory, Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) became the first undefeated fighter and only the 10th fighter in UFC history to become a champion in two divisions.

The UFC Lightweight belt was up for grabs after champion Islam Makhachev moved up to the Welterweight division. 

Oliveira previously held the UFC Featherweight title from May 2021 to May 2022, when he was stripped of the belt ahead of his second title defense after missing weight by half a pound. It marked the first time in UFC history that a defending champion lost a title due to missing weight. 

USA TODAY Sports recapped UFC 317 and provided analysis through each fight:

UFC 317 main card results

Main event: Ilia Topuria def. Charles Oliveira via KO – Round 1, 2:27

• For the vacant UFC lightweight title

Round 1: Charles Oliveira started attacking Ilia Topuria’s legs early. Topuria landed a shot to Oliveira’s head that resulted in a gash above right eye. Oliveira landed a takedown, but Topuria ended up on top. Oliveira almost got Topuria into a leg lock, but Topuria wiggled free and the two fighters returned to their feet. Topuria knocked Oliveira out cold with a right hook that he followed up with a left hook. Topuria finished Oliveira off with a follow-up shot on the ground to end the fight in the first round as he stated he would.

We have a new UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria.

Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via submission (rear-naked choke) 

• For Pantoja’s UFC flyweight title

Round 1: Kai Kara-France came out swinging and Pantoja quickly took him down and gained control of Kara-France’s back. Fans started to boo to the bewilderment of the commentators. Pantoja threw nasty body shots as he locked his legs around Kara-France’s abdomen. Kara-France attempted to wiggle free and Pantoja mounted Kara-France and almost got an arm bar. Pantoja maintained control on the ground and dominated the round.

Round 2: Pantoja caught Kara-France with a loud body kick to the left abdomen that left a mark. Kara-France countered with some kicks of his own, but they didn’t appear to impact Pantoja. They exchanged some blows before Pantoja took Kara-France down again. Kara-France worked his way to his feet and tried a take down of his own. Pantoja appears to be slowing down, but ended the round with a kick that made Kara-France stumble back.

Round 3: Pantoja came out with another body kick and clinched Kara-France against the cage before scoring another take down. Pantoja got on Kara-France’s back and locked his legs around his waist again in a dominant position. Pantoja worked himself into position for a rear naked chokehold, forcing Kara-France to tap.

And still the UFC flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja.

Joshua Van def. Brandon Royval by unanimous decision

Joshua Van may have taken this fight on three weeks notice, but he came out sharp and landed several shots to Royval’s head. Royval focused on Van’s body early on, but Van brilliantly countered many of Royval’s shots. The second round opened with a flurry of punches from both fighters, who remained on their feet the entire round. Royval and Van both landed shots as the bout continued to be very close. The action picked back up in the third round as Royval and Van continued to duke it out without a single take down attempt. Both fighters were bloodied and battered but continued to throw punches at a high clip in the middle of the Octagon. Van knocked down Royval with a right hook to the chin with seconds remaining in the third round. Van won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27). Van declared that he broke his right big toe three weeks ago.

Beneil Dariush def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision

Dariush dropped Moicano early in the first round with a kick, but Moicano responded with a punch that knocked down Dariush. The two fighters then jockeyed for position on the ground before returning to their feet. More grappling ensued in the second round with Dariush dominating the exchanges. Dariush again took down Moicano in the third round, but Moicano reversed and almost took Dariush back before he got free. They returned to their feet. A fatigued Moicano had some moments in the third round, but it was too little too late. Dariush won by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Payton Talbot def. Felipe Lima via unanimous decision

Lima caught Talbot with some punishing punches early on and attempted to take Talbot down, but Talbot continually took control on the ground and showed his improved grappling skills. Talbot defeated Lima by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

UFC 317: Time, PPV, streaming for Oliveira vs. Oliveira

The match between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Oliveira will take place on Saturday, June 28 and can be purchased on ESPN+ PPV.

• Date: Saturday, June 28
• Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
• Early prelims start time: 7 p.m. ET
• Early prelims stream: UFC Fight Pass
  • Welterweight Jacobe Smith def. Niko Price via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:03 
  • Heavyweight Jhonata Diniz def. Alvin Hines via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Prelims card start time: 8 p.m. ET
• Prelims card TV: ESPN; Prelims stream: ESPN+, Disney+
  • Middleweight Gregory Rodrigues def. Jack Hermansson via KO (punch) – Round 1, 4:21
  • Featherweight Jose Miguel Delgado def. Hyder Amil via KO (knee and punches) – Round 1, 0:26
  • Women’s flyweight Tracy Cortez def. Vivian Araujo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Lightweight Terrance McKinney def. Viacheslav Borshchev via submission (Guillotine choke) – Round 1, 0:55
• Main card start time: 10 p.m. ET
• Main card stream: ESPN+ PPV
  • Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira; For the vacant UFC lightweight title
  • UFC flyweight title: Champ Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:55
  • Flyweight Joshua Van def. Brandon Royval via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Lightweight Beneil Dariush def. Renato Moicano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Bantamweight Payton Talbot def. Felipe Lima via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Catch UFC action with an ESPN+ subscription

UFC 317 prelim results

Gregory Rodrigues def. Jack Hermansson via KO (punch)

Gregory Rodrigues caught Jack Hermansson with a left hook to the chin that stunned Hermansson and knocked him out cold. Rodrigues landed one more punch before referee Herb Dean called the fight. Hermansson remained down in the Octagon several minutes after.

Jose Miguel Delgado def. Hyder Amil via KO (knee and punches)

It only took Jose Miguel Delgado 26 seconds to defeat Hyder Amil. Delgado dropped Amil with a knee to the chin.

Tracy Cortez def. Vivian Araujo via unanimous decision

Cortez dominated Araujo on the ground and won by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Terrance McKinney def Viacheslav Borshchev via submission (Guillotine choke)

The bout between Terrance McKinney and Viacheslav Borshchev was over soon after it began. McKinney caught a kick from Borshchev and immediately took him down. McKinney went for the Anaconda choke, before mounting Borschchev for the Guillotine choke after 55 seconds in the first round. ‘I want to show people I’m well-rounded,’ McKinney said after his win.

Jacobe Smith def. Niko Price via submission (rear naked choke)

Jacobe Smith remains undefeated after making Niko Price tap in the second round by way of a rear-naked choke, which marked the first submission of Smith’s career.

Jhonata Diniz def. Alvin Hines via Unanimous decision

Alvin Hines’ UFC debut didn’t go according to plan. Hines and Diniz went the distance, but the judges crowned Diniz the winner by unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

UFC reporter Megan Olivi announces maternity leave

FOX Sports reporter Megan Olivi, who covers the UFC and NFL for the network, announced that UFC 317 will be her last assignment before going on maternity leave. Olivi is expecting her first child with husband Joseph Benavidez, the former UFC flyweight title challenger.

‘Incredibly grateful to be healthy enough to work this event – not gonna lie, it feels pretty empowering,’ Olivi wrote on X. In a post on Instagram, she captioned a photo of her interviewing various UFC stars alongside her baby bump: ‘I cannot wait for this card … then it’s off to maternity leave to have a baby next week lol.’

UFC 317 preliminary and main card start times

• Early prelims: 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, Disney+)
• Prelims: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+)
• Main card: 10 p.m. ET (PPV on ESPN+)

UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira card

Fight card according to ESPN.

Main Card:

• Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira; For the vacant UFC lightweight title
• Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France; For Pantoja’s UFC flyweight title
• Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van; Flyweight
• Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano; Lightweight
• Payton Talbot vs Felipe Lima; Bantamweight

Prelims:

• Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodrigues; Middleweight
• Hyder Amil vs Jose Miguel Delgado; Featherweight
• Vivian Araujo vs Tracy Cortez; Women’s flyweight
• Terrance McKinney vs Viacheslav Borshchev; Lightweight

Early Prelims:

• Niko Price vs Jacobe Smith; Welterweight
• Heavyweight Jhonata Diniz def. Alvin Hines via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Christopher Ewert vs Jackson McVey; Middleweight

UFC 317: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira predictions

MMA Junkie: Volkanovski predicts Topuria knocks out Oliveira

Farah Honnoun writes:  ‘I think Ilia’s going to get the win. I think Ilia can catch him. I reckon early knockout – early knockout for Ilia Topuria. … He doesn’t just come forward and just stand in your face. He has a lot of movement. You see him slipping and slipping and trying to find his way in.’

ESPN: Experts pick Ilia Topuria

Anthony Smith writes: ‘Everything I look at in this matchup tells me to pick Ilia. He’s a better technical boxer. Against Josh Emmett in 2023, he showed he was defensively responsible, even though he had no problem standing in the pocket. Most people who avoid taking a big shot from Emmett do it by refusing to engage with him and backing away. Ilia is so technically sound, which is extremely impressive. And if he gets on top of Charles on the ground, I think he’ll do serious damage.’

Forbes: Ilia Topuria to beat Charles Oliveira

Trent Reinsmith writes: ‘If Oliveira approaches this fight like he has been competing as of late, he will be in trouble. That means Oliveira cannot opt to strike in range against Topuria, who is a powerful striker with good footwork and finishing skills. Oliveira must fight at distance and keep Topuria from getting in close. Oliveira has not shown a willingness to fight that type of battle.’

UFC 317 live stream

The Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira early prelims and prelims fight will be available to stream on ESPN+ and Disney+, while the main card will be streamed on ESPN Pay-Per-View.

UFC 317 price

UFC events are available to ESPN+ subscribers. The cost of the service is $10.99 a month or $109.99 for the year. The PPV is available for an additional $79.99.

UFC 317 odds: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira fight card

*All odds via BetMGM

Main Card:

• Ilia Topuria (-450) vs. Charles Oliveira (+325); For the vacant UFC lightweight title
• Alexandre Pantoja (-250) vs. Kai Kara-France (+200); For Pantoja’s UFC flyweight title
• Brandon Royval (EVEN) vs. Joshua Van (-120); Flyweight
• Beneil Dariush (-110) vs. Renato Moicano (-110); Lightweight
• Payton Talbot (-150) vs. Felipe Lima (-180); Bantamweight

Prelims:

• Jack Hermansson (+190) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (-235); Middleweight
• Hyder Amil (+135) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (-170); Featherweight
• Vivian Araujo (+210) vs. Tracy Cortez(-260); Women’s flyweight
• Terrance McKinney (-175) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (+145); Lightweight

Early Prelims:

• Niko Price (+1000) vs. Jacobe Smith (-3000); Welterweight
• Jhonata Diniz (-370) vs. Alvin Hines (+280); Heavyweight
• Christopher Ewert (+125) vs. Jackson McVey (-150); Middleweight

Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira: Tale of the tape

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