🥎 Extra-Inning Walk-Off Drama & NBA Finals Eve! 🏀

Happy Humpday  👋 

We’ve made it to one more sleep until the NBA Finals kick off, followed by the Stanley Cup finals starting on Saturday. Tomorrow’s edition will preview the NBA Finals - meanwhile, baseball and softball grabbed headlines yesterday with an extra-inning walk-off home run in the College Softball World Series - so let’s head to the diamond and check in over the pond on the French Open.

WTF Stat of the Day:  Nolan Ryan - The flamethrowing right-hander was a statistical marvel, with more strikeouts (5,714) and walks (2,795) than any other pitcher in history, to go along with a record seven no-hitters.

⚾️ San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned from baseball for life after betting on the sport. Marcano reportedly placed 387 bets totaling more than $150,000 since 2022. Some bets were placed on his teams. He’s the first player in over a century to receive a lifetime ban by MLB, which is a clear message to the rest of its players. Four others received one-year suspensions for gambling-related incidents, including A’s pitcher Michael Kelly and three minor leaguers.

🏒 Joe Pavelski shared that he “doesn’t intend to play” in 2024-2025, which is likely the end of the road for him, although he has yet to make an official announcement. If it is the end, what an incredible career it’s been. We’ll go deeper in a future letter, but beyond all the stats (1,300+ games, 476 goals, 1000+ points, 74 playoff goals (leads active players), it’s the commentary about him as a teammate and human being that will likely outshine it all. We’ll keep tabs on this story as it evolves - but for now, Joe - we salute you. 🫡 

🎾 Novak Djokovic, world #1, withdraws from French Open Tuesday with a knee injury. More details on the French Open are below and Djokovic’s past in Paris in “On This Day” at the end of the letter.

 🏈 SF 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey signs record setting contract extension worth $38 million over two yers.

🏈 Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is not expected at Cowboys Minicamp amid contract dispute following news earlier in the week that Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson became the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league with a four-year $140 million contract with $100 million guaranteed.

OU's 4-Peat Quest Lives On - #2 Oklahoma Rallies to Top #4 Florida (6-5) With Jayda Coleman’s Walk-Off Homer; Sets Up Clash With #1 Texas in CSWS Finals

 The four-peat quest lives! After dropping Game 2 in a blowout to #4 Florida, #2 Oklahoma needed a late-game rally and an extra-inning walk-off home run from Jada Coleman to upstage the Gators on Tuesday afternoon (6-5). The Sooners tied the game at 5-5 to force extras before two frames of nail-biting drama. Florida amassed five runs on just four hits during the six innings of regulation. OU had 12 hits, including a stellar day at the plate for Ella Parker (3-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBIs). Ultimately, it was the senior, Coleman, with a moment she’d never forget. Her walk-off was an opposite-field slap that cleared the wall by about a yard. 

 The 4-Peat Quest: Oklahoma has won the last three College Softball World Series titles dating back to 2021. They’ve also won seven under Patty Gasso since 2000. Only Arizona (8) and UCLA (12) have more.

 The Red River Rivalry: It’s the second time in three years that the Sooners and Longhorns will face off in the CSWS Finals. They also met in 2022. And with Oklahoma City as the host site of the CSWS, expect extra fanfare between the two rival schools. It’s just the second time in 20 years the CSWS Finals feature the No. 1 and 2 seeds.

 Watch: #2 Oklahoma Stuns #4 Florida With Extra-Inning Walk-Off HR (6-5)

🎾 TENNIS - French Quarters: Swiatek Sweeping Everybody

French Open Updates: Coco Gauff & Iga Swiatek Set for Paris Rematch; Novak Djokovic Withdraws With Knee Injury

There’s a twist at the French Open. The two biggest superstars of the women’s draw are on a collision course for a semi-final rematch. The top seed in the men’s draw is out unexpectedly with a knee injury. We’re nearing the final stretch at Roland-Garros, but it’s just the beginning of our Summer in Paris. Let’s catch you up on the happenings in Paris.

 Swiatek-Gauff Loading: Both #1 Iga Swiatek and #3 Coco Gauff were winners in the quarterfinals yesterday morning. Swiatek buried #5 Marketa Vondrousova in a breezy straight-set win (6-0, 6-2). Gauff rallied from one set down to upstage #8 Ons Jabeur (4-6, 6-2, 6-3). That sets up a Swiatek-Gauff showdown in the semifinals tomorrow. The pair of superstars met in the French Open quarterfinals last year. Swiatek went on to win the Paris title. Gauff won last year’s U.S. Open. Showdown!

 Women’s Singles (Quarterfinals)

#1 I. Swiatek def. #5 M. Vondrousova (6-0, 6-2)

#3 C. Gauff def. #8 O. Jabeur (4-6, 6-2, 6-3)

 Djokovic Withdraws: Novak Djokovic had an up-and-down 24 hours. The World No. 1 overcame two five-set comebacks to reach the men’s quarterfinals. Still, he withdrew Tuesday morning with a knee injury sustained in that fourth-round match with Francisco Cerundolo. The withdrawal means #7 Casper Ruud advances to the semifinals via walkover. #2 Janik Sinner and #3 Carlos Alcaraz are now the men’s favorites after a pair of straight-set runaways on Tuesday.

 Men’s Singles (Quarterfinals)

#2 J. Sinner def. #10 G. Dimitrov (6-2, 6-4, 7-6)

#3 C. Alcaraz def. #9 S. Tsitsipas (6-4, 7-6, 6-4)

⚾️ MLB Power Rankings - Yankees Ride 6-Game Win Streak Into Tie With Phillies for Best Record in the Majors

 There’s a new No. 1 in this week’s MLB Power Rankings. While the Dodgers, Guardians, and Orioles continue to shuffle between skids and streaks in our top five, it’s the Phillies and Yankees who might spend the summer jockeying for the top spot. The Yankees are back on top thanks to a six-game win streak where Juan Soto and Aaron Judge have caught fire. Our top seven teams remain untouched, but there are some sliders; Braves, Astros, Cubs, and Pirates. Here’s where they stand after 60 games:

 MLB Power Rankings

1. Yankees (43-19) ↑1

2. Phillies (43-19) ↓1

3. Guardians (40-20) --

4. Dodgers (38-24) ↑1

5. Orioles (39-20) ↓1

6. Brewers (36-25) ↑1

7. Royals (36-26) ↓1

8. Twins (33-27) ↑2

9. Mariners (35-27) ↑3

10. Braves (34-24) ↓2

 Teams 11-20: 11. Padres (32-32), 12. Rangers (29-32), 13. Red Sox (30-31), 14. Cardinals (28-31), 15. Diamondbacks (29-32), 16. Giants (29-33), 17. Rays (30-31), 18. Tigers (31-30), 19. Cubs (30-31), 20. Blue Jays (28-32)

 Teams 21-30: 21. Astros (28-34), 22. Nationals (27-33), 23. Reds (28-33), 24. Pirates (28-32), 25. Athletics (24-38), 26. Mets (26-35), 27. Angels (23-38), 28. Rockies (21-39), 29. Marlins (21-40), 30. White Sox (15-46)

HIGHLIGHTS

MLB

Gerrit Cole Ks 5 in Rehab Start -Yankees Top Twins (5-1), Win 6th Straight

Rookie Jared Jones Shuts Out Dodgers - Pirates Stifle Dodgers Bats (1-0)

Max Friend Tosses 13-K Gem - Braves Back in Win Column Over Red Sox (8-3)

Alec Bohm’s Late HR Sets Up Walk-Off - Phillies Beat Brewers in Extras (2-1, 10 Innings)

WNBA

Storm def. Mercury (80-62) - Ezi Magbegor Ties Career-High (21 pts)

Sun def. Mystics (76-59) - Connecticut Stays Perfect (9-0)

Liberty def. Sky (88-75) - Breanna Stewart (33 pts, 14 rebs), Angel Reese Gets Ejected

Soccer

USWNT def. South Korea (3-0) - 16-Year-Old Lilly Yohannes Becomes 3rd-Youngest Goal Scorer for USWNT

On June 5th, 2016, Novak Djoković of Serbia beat Scotsman Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to win his first French Open Men’s Tennis Title before Nadal rattled off the next 4! He won again in 2021 and last year in 2023 but his bid for back to back ended this week as he had to withdraw with a knee injury.

French Open (Quarterfinals)

W: #4 E. Rybakina vs. #12 J. Paolini (8:15 am ET)

W: #2 A. Sabalenka vs. M. Andreeva (9:30 am ET)

M: #4 A. Zverev vs. #11 A. de Minaur (2:15 pm ET)

*Stream on NBC Sports

 Softball World Series (Final)

Gm 1: #1 Texas vs. #2 Oklahoma (8:00 pm ET, ESPN)

 MLB

Cardinals at Astros (2:10 pm ET, ESPN+)

Dodgers at Pirates (6:40 pm ET, MLBTV)

Padres at Angels (9:40 pm ET, FS1)

 WNBA

Aces at Wings (8:00 pm ET, NBATV)

Lynx at Sparks (10:00 pm ET, WNBALP)

Trivia Time Answer

A.  Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to hit 500 home runs in MLB history at 32. A-Rod is also the youngest player in American League history to hit 500 home runs. His incredible power and consistency at the plate helped him achieve this feat at a young age.