Clayton Kershaw grateful for 'weird but cool' All-Star selection as 'Legend Pick'
Clayton Kershaw has been an All-Star 10 times before.
But no selection surprised him quite like this year’s.
Included on the National League All-Star team as a “Legend Pick” by Commissioner Rob Manfred in recognition of his career accomplishments, Kershaw did not get any advance warning from Manfred or anyone in the league office that he would be in the "Midsummer Classic."
When manager Dave Roberts gathered his Dodgers team to announce the club’s All-Star selections on Sunday, Kershaw forgot that the “Legend Pick” — which has been used in the past for players such as Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera — was even a thing.
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Thus, when Roberts announced Kershaw’s name, the 37-year-old was caught more than a little off-guard — having made just nine starts this season since returning from offseason toe and knee surgeries.
“Obviously, I don’t deserve to get to go this season, haven’t pitched very much,” he deadpanned. “I don’t know if Doc was going for the surprise factor or not. But I had no idea until he said it.”
But by Monday, the meaningfulness of what he described as a “tremendous honor” had also set in, with Kershaw expressing gratitude for what will be his 11th career selection, tied for the most among active players with Mike Trout.
“You never take for granted getting to go to an All-Star Game, regardless of the circumstances,” Kershaw said. “At the end of the day, it’s weird but cool, so I’m just going to enjoy it.”
While Kershaw’s limited workload would normally not warrant an All-Star selection, his stats haven’t been too far off that pace this year: A 4-0 record, 3.43 ERA and 1.254 WHIP in what is the 18th season of his future Hall of Fame career.
“I think there’s some good and some bad,” Kershaw said of his season so far. “I wouldn’t say happy, but I wouldn’t say disappointed either. I would say kind of right in the middle.”
The highlight of the campaign, of course, came in Kershaw’s last start, when he became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 career strikeouts.
But at this stage of his career, Kershaw’s real satisfaction has been with his health — finally past the various back, elbow, shoulder, knee and toe injuries that had plagued him over the last several seasons.
“I think the biggest thing is just the mental toll [that takes on you],” Kershaw said. “Anyone that has been dealing with stuff, I think it’s always in the back of your head. You wake up and you test it and you move around and you test it to see if it hurts, see how bad it hurts. [Now], instead of wondering if you can pitch, it’s just a matter of how you’re going to pitch. I don’t think I took into appreciation the mental toll that takes over time. So to just worry about pitching is nice, for sure.”
It has also allowed Kershaw “to get the reps and go back out and be able to feel OK in between starts to work on some stuff,” he said. “Figure out some different things mechanically and pitch-wise and stuff.”
Long-term, Kershaw still hasn’t decided if this will be his final season.
“I don’t know what is going to happen in the future,” he said. “I really have no idea when it comes to the years beyond this one. So I’m just trying to enjoy it, be part of a really good team this year.”
When it comes to next week’s All-Star Game, he isn’t even sure if he’ll pitch in the showcase exhibition, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta.
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“I’d love to pitch but I don’t want to take an inning away from somebody who’s never done it before or this is their first year or whatever,” he said. “I’ll enjoy just to hang or pitch or whatever.”
On Monday, Kershaw’s focus was instead on his final start of the first half: A scheduled Tuesday outing against the Milwaukee Brewers and their 23-year-old rookie starlet, Jacob Misiorowski.
Kershaw, 14 years Misiorowski’s senior, laughed when asked what it’s like to be the elder statesman in such high-profile matchups now.
“I saw a couple highlights [of him], know he throws hard,” Kershaw said. “But so does everybody. Except me.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Magic, Paolo Banchero agree to five-year max contract extension, locking up promising core
Paolo Banchero is getting a maximum contract extension to stay in Orlando.
This is not a surprise — the 22-year-old All-Star was a lock to get the max — and the Magic and Banchero's representatives reached the deal, with some perks for Banchero, a deal broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other reports. Banchero got a player option in the final year of that contract, something rarely given in rookie extensions (the last ones were Luka Doncic and Trae Young).
This is a five-year, $239.3 million contract, but it can increase to $287 million if Banchero makes an All-NBA team next season (a distinct possibility, as he would have made it this past season if he had stayed healthy and played enough games). Banchero will play one more season under his current contract at $15.3 million, then that will jump to at least $41.3 million for the 2026-27 season.
Last summer, the Magic signed Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs to five-year extensions (which kick in next season), and the recently acquired Desmond Bane's contract runs through the summer of 2029. That means the Magic have locked up their core — a group that won 47 games last season and was the No. 5 seed despite injuries. This team is poised to make a leap next season.
The 2023 Rookie of the Year averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game last season, but only played in 46 games due to an oblique injury that sidelined him for months. If he and the rest of the Magic core can stay healthy this coming season, Orlando should be hosting a playoff round, at least.
Shooting Analysis With Canucks 2025 First-Round Draft Pick Braeden Cootes
Braeden Cootes is known for a multitude of sharp hockey skills. It’s why he was picked 15th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Seattle Thunderbirds captain has been widely discussed for his leadership qualities, even drawing comparisons to former Canucks captain Bo Horvat for his character and two-way play. While his leadership and ability to play up and down the ice are essential, there’s another aspect to his game that Cootes also likes working on.
“I love to shoot pucks,” he said after the first day of the Canucks’ development camp last week. “It’s a pretty fun thing to work on, that’s for sure. Back in my gym and in Edmonton, we’ve got a pretty nice shooting area there that I like to work on a lot.”
Cootes’ appreciation of shooting practice is evident in the player he models his game most after — Brayden Point. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward has scored more than 40 goals in the past three seasons including a 51-goal season back in 2022–23. Even so, Cootes has more than just Point whose game he looks up to. A crop of the NHL’s youth also skate at the same place that Cootes does. The Canucks draft pick listed Olen Zellweger (Anaheim Ducks), Kirby (Montréal Canadiens) and Colton Dach (Chicago Blackhawks), and Kaiden Guhle (Montréal Canadiens) as a few who he has shared the ice with.
“There’s a lot of guys that are good players that you can, even just from a distance, look at how they’re shooting, how hard they work,” he said. “A lot of good players that I can learn from and watch them.”
Watching other players work on their skills has been beneficial for Cootes, who broke out offensively for the Thunderbirds in 2024–25 by scoring 26 goals and 37 assists in 60 regular season games. Fans got to see his skills firsthand at development camp last week, when he scored on a partial break during Thursday’s prospect scrimmage. When it comes to working on these skills, particularly in preparation for the NHL-level, Cootes cited a couple of things he’s been utilizing.
“Deception, different ways, watching video,” he explained. “I haven’t really shot on an NHL goal yet, but I’m sure I will in a couple months, and I’ll get a good standard on what that’s like, obviously, and then kind of go from there as well. Just trying to learn different things, new things, to score more.”
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Cootes credits watching other players — skaters and goaltenders — as part of the process he uses to develop his shot. One particular thing he likes to be aware of are “trends” in how some of the NHL’s goals are scored.
“You look at [Connor] Hellebuyck, about six-foot [four] — it’s pretty hard to shoot high sometimes. Goalies don’t want to go down either, it’s a lot more effort. If you show a little bit of deception, or you can freeze them for a bit, and then go five-hole. But that low glove, low far side, that’s a pretty new common thing in the NHL, where guys are shooting. Just trying to pick up on different trends that you can learn from.”
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Two-Time Stanley Cup Champ Tyler Johnson Retires: 'Thank You All For Being Part Of My Journey'
Two-time Stanley Cup champion Tyler Johnson announced his retirement from the NHL at 34.
The center played a combined 863 regular-season and playoff games in 13 NHL seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. He was part of the Lightning’s back-to-back Cup wins in 2020 and 2021.
“I’m filled with gratitude as I reflect on a journey that began as a kid in Spokane, Wash., dreaming of hockey,” Johnson said in a statement posted to his social media. “I can feel the crisp air of Eagles Ice Arena, where my mom, Debbie, taught me how to skate, and the countless hours my dad and grandpa spent coaching me, urging me to push harder.
“A short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL were very slim. But my family – my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents – believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”
In fact, Johnson has won championships in the WHL, world juniors, AHL and NHL during his hockey career. He won the WHL’s Ed Chynoweth Cup, playoff MVP honors and the Memorial Cup in 2007-08, his first year in major junior hockey. The season afterward, he won gold with Team USA at the world juniors and was named a top-three player on the squad.
“From ages 17 to 20, playing for my community, surrounded by friends and family, was an honor I’ll cherish forever,” Johnson said.
After four seasons with the Spokane Chiefs, Johnson went undrafted and played two seasons in the AHL before entering the NHL. He won the Calder Cup with the Norfolk Admirals in 2012.
Following that season, he played 62 games for the Syracuse Crunch before the Lightning called him up for 14 games to end the 2012-13 season.
Johnson’s best years were with the Bolts, including a career year in 2014-15. In 77 appearances, he recorded 29 goals and 43 assists for 72 points. He finished eighth in Selke Trophy voting that season, the highest he’s ranked for any award in his career.
“In the Lightning organization, I found my place,” Johnson said. He said Tampa was also where he met his wife, Megan.
His career ended with a short stint in Boston. He played nine games for the Bruins, recording two assists while averaging 13:05 of ice time. His tenure in Boston didn’t last, as his contract was mutually terminated after he made the roster through a PTO.
Johnson signs off with a total of 193 goals and 433 points with an average of 16:24 of ice time and a plus-19 rating. In the playoffs, he scored 32 goals and 65 points in 116 appearances, averaging 15:49 of ice time and a plus-seven rating.
“Now, after a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “I’m thrilled to focus on starting a family and exploring new paths. This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets – only gratitude for the rinks, the teammates, the fans and a sport that will always ignite my soul. Thank you all for being part of my journey.”
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Francisco Lindor: Mets’ impending IL returns 'almost like a trade deadline acquisition'
The Mets' reinforcements are coming. After battling without a handful of their regulars for a significant stretch this season, the Mets are hopeful that they’ll be able to get some big pieces back in action this week.
Jesse Winker is first on the list. The lefty slugger has been sidelined since May 4 with an oblique injury, but he played back-to-back games down in Syracuse this past weekend and could rejoin the team for the three-game set in Baltimore.
Winker will be evaluated before anything is confirmed, but he is coming off a strong showing in his potential final rehab appearance. He reached base three times and launched a two-run homer Sunday in Triple-A.
Getting him back in the mix would be a huge boost for this offense, especially as Starling Marte deals with a knee issue that flared up late in Sunday’s Subway Series finale.
Later in the week, Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea could return. Senga was a bit rusty during his rehab appearance Saturday in Double-A, but he said that he felt fine afterwards and, as long as everything comes back well the rest of the week, could rejoin the rotation in Kanas City.
The same goes for Manaea, who is still looking to make his season debut. The lefty has been dealing with elbow and oblique issues since spring training, but he is expected to make one final rehab appearance Tuesday in Syracuse, before potentially rejoining the team for the first-half finale.
He has allowed 12 runs (10 earned) while striking out 18 over 15 rehab innings.
"Getting them back is huge," Carlos Mendoza said. "It’s exciting."
"It’s almost like a trade deadline acquisition," Francisco Lindor added. “Those are some really good guys we definitely need and miss. That being said, the guys here have done a fantastic job stepping in while they were out.
"The way they’ve maneuvered through lineups, the way they have stuck together, it’s been really good to see. It’s adversity -- whenever somebody goes down, someone else has to step up and get the job done, and that’s what the guys have done."
2025 WNBA All-Star Snubs: Brittney Sykes and Kayla McBride among the biggest misses
The participants for the 2025 WNBA All-Star game have been set with captains Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark selecting their teams from an eight-player pool of starters and then a 12-player pool of reserves. That selection process will be revealed during an hour-long episode of WNBA Countdown on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will take place on Saturday, July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Complete roster of the 2025 @ATT WNBA All-Stars that will take the court in Indiana July 19 pic.twitter.com/6XgNr5UK6R
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 6, 2025
There are four first time All-Stars in Storm wing Gabby Williams, Valkyries Forward Kayla Thornton and Mystics rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen.
While there were some snubs in the All-Star starters category including primarily Skylar Diggins and Alyssa Thomas, the general opinion around the starters was that the weighted voting combining the fan votes, peer votes and media votes spit out a group that was mostly very fair and rational.
But the exact opposite feeling surrounds the reserves which were announced on Sunday afternoon. Some believe that this might have been the most perplexing group of players chosen by the head coaches in recent memory.
A void that stands out in the total group of 2025 WNBA All-Stars is the sheer lack of centers with Jonquel Jones, Alanna Smith, and Brionna Jones being left off the reserves list. Two Sparks front court players in Dearica Hamby and Azurá Stevens were left off after having pretty efficient starts to their seasons. But the argument against one or both of Stevens and Hamby being selected lies in the fact that the Sparks are 6-13 this season and are 10th in the standings out of 13.
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve expressed her confusion by the reserves selected, especially because teams like the Mystics are below .500 and will boast 2 All-Stars. Also the fourth best team in the league in the Seattle Storm will have the most All-Stars with three while the top three teams in the Lynx, Mercury and Liberty will have just two.
“Historically, teams at the top get a minimum of three, oftentimes four. So really disappointing,” Reeve said. “Really, really happy for Courtney [Williams]. The obvious one was [Napheesa Collier], but we are disappointed in the coaches voting with regard to their selections for All-Star.”
So who was snubbed and why are there a lot of questions surrounding the judgment of the 13 head coaches around the league? It’s hard to exactly know the reasons for the glaring discrepancies this season, but it’s worth remembering that there are seven first time WNBA head coaches this season.
Also, who knows what each coach considered while voting. They had from June 30 until July 2 to vote for three guards, five frontcourt players and four players of either position. Was this also a popularity contest when it comes to the players who are the most well liked around the league? Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello admitted on Sunday that she voted for Thornton, a player she coached for two seasons including during the Liberty’s championship year in 2024.
“She's been a role player all of her career,” Brondello said. “But to go into a new organization and do so well. I voted for her as an alternate. I think it would be great for her to get there, and because she deserves it.”
While Thornton hasn’t been the most efficient shooting 39.2% from the field and 27.9% from three, the Valkyries deserved a representative simply because of the season they’ve had as the best year-one expansion team in WNBA history. Thornton is their leading scorer, was a WNBA Western Conference player of the week last month and her contributions come on both ends of the floor.
Anyway, let’s get into some of the most head-scratching snubs in recent memory.
Brittney Sykes - Guard, Washington Mystics
Sykes is the Mystics’ leading scorer (17.9 ppg) and she often is tasked with defending the opponent’s best perimeter player. She is averaging 8.7 free throw attempts per game which leads the WNBA. She also leads her own team in assists averaging 4.6 per game.
Whatever about me…. But taking 2, and NOT including the best player from a below 500 team is crazy. https://t.co/sMUZ4QlCjY
— Dearica Marie Hamby (@dearicamarie) July 6, 2025
Speaking of Sykes’ own team, while Sonia Citron has put together an impressive rookie season and more efficient shooting splits than her teammate, her load isn’t as demanding as Sykes. It remains bizarre to reward a below .500 team in the league with two All-Stars and one of them isn’t even their number one option and leading scorer in Sykes.
Brionna Jones - Center, Atlanta Dream
Jones might be the Dream’s second most important player after All-Star starter Allisha Gray. She has just as many win shares as All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins and more than Sabrina Ionescu and Alyssa Thomas.
Even though Rhyne Howard is the Dream’s second leading scorer and was the second Dream player to make the All-Star team, her teammate in Jones has been leaps and bounds more efficient. Jones has been shooting 51% from the field and makes a little bit over 5 shots a game. Howard has shot 34.2% from the field and also makes a little bit over 5 shots a game.
It also begs the question if Angel Reese should have been a front court representative instead of Jones. While she has strung together a bunch of strong performances since June 10 including her first ever triple-double, Reese struggled mightily with her efficiency for the first month of the season, and her average scoring and rebounding numbers are slightly down from her 2024 All-Star season.
Kayla McBride - Guard, Minnesota Lynx
It wasn’t surprising to see a Lynx guard selected, but what was surprising was that it wasn’t McBride. Before the Lynx’s game yesterday afternoon against the Sky, which was on a back-to-back, McBride was putting together a historic season, shooting over 50% from the field, over 40% from three and over 90% from the line while averaging almost 15 points a game.
While Courtney Williams’ averages of 13.5 points and 5.9 assists are impressive, McBride has been averaging +12 plus-minus to Williams’ +7.7 in addition to being Minnesota’s second leading scorer behind Collier. It’s also worth noting that Williams had two games this season where she didn’t make a single field goal.
Alanna Smith - Center, Minnesota Lynx
Lynx head coach Reeve alluded to her team deserving more than two All-Stars, and there’s an argument to be made that besides MVP candidate Collier, it’s been Alanna Smith that steps up in critical periods. When Collier didn’t play on June 24 against the Mystics, Smith led the team in scoring with 26 points, five rebounds and six blocks.
Smith’s numbers are quite similar to first time All-Star selection Iriafen. Smith’s scoring sits below Iriafen's, averaging 12.3 ppg to Smith’s 10.1, and Iriafen also averages more rebounds (8.3 to 5.3). But, Smith averages greater efficiency shooting and more assists (2.9 to 1.3) than the rookie. Iriafen has also seen a decrease in minutes and efficiency following Shakira Austin’s reintroduction to the Mystics’ starting lineup.
Jonquel Jones - Center, New York Liberty
Luck hasn’t been very generous to the Liberty’s 2024 WNBA Finals MVP in Jones. Before she tweaked her right ankle twice, she was playing at an All-Star level averaging a hair below a double-double, in addition to 2.3 assists and 43.8% from three, the best average in her career since her third season in 2017.
Nothing worse than playing like an All Star and not being one. With that being said thanks to all the people who took the time to vote for me and congratulations to all the All Stars this year
— Jonquel Jones (@jus242) July 6, 2025
The case for Jones is when you look at how her team has performed with and without her this entire season. The Liberty are 9-0 when Jones plays and then when Jones has been out, the Liberty are 3-6. With Jones on the floor when she has played, the Liberty have a 29.94 net rating, but when she’s been off the floor and not playing, New York’s net rating shrinks to 7.44.
While the case against Jones has mainly been the fact that she’s only played in nine games so far this season, the same can be said of All-Star captain Clark who only has also played in nine games so far this season. While Clark did receive the top fan vote, shouldn’t the reserves be given the same grace as well when it comes to their performance impacting their teams? A scenario I could have seen here could have been that Jones was awarded the designation and then the Commissioner Cathy Engelbert could have named a player in her place.
Former Kraken Director Of Player Development Signs With Lightning
Former Seattle Kraken Director of Player Development, Jeff Tambellini, has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning as Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations.
Tambellini has been with the Kraken since the 2022-23 season, working as the Director of Player Development for three seasons. The Kraken have seen positive results from young players coming through their minor league system, and a large part is because of Tambellini's success.
Prior to joining the Kraken, the 41-year-old worked as a College Scout for the Lightning.
“I couldn’t be more excited to return to the Lightning organization,” said Tambellini. “It’s where I played, got my first NHL job, and earned my first Stanley Cup ring. I’m thrilled to once again work with such a great group of hockey professionals in Tampa Bay. I want to thank Julien (BriseBois) for the opportunity to take this next step in my career, and I can’t wait to get to Tampa and get started.”
Lightning hire Jeff Tambellini as Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey OperationsOn Monday the Lightning announced the hiring of Jeff Tambellini as the new Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations. The move effectively fills the vacancy left by Mathieu Darche, who was named General Manager of the New York Islanders in May.
Tambellini played 242 games in the NHL during his career, and he's used his experiences in hockey in the second stage of his career. The Kraken will thoroughly miss Tambellini, and he had only good things to say about his time in Seattle.
“I would also like to personally thank Ron Francis, Jason Botterill, and the entire Seattle Kraken organization for an incredible three years and for believing in me. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity they gave me and for allowing me to pursue this exciting new role."
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Nashville Predators' prospect Egor Surin showing immense growth following KHL season, development camp
When asked about getting "bigger" after the Nashville Predators Future Stars Game, forward Egor Surin seemed surprised.
"I'm bigger and stronger? You didn't see the Russian players. I was small, he said.
Since being drafted 22nd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Surin has added five more pounds and grown an inch, now standing at 6-foot-2-inches and weighing 197 pounds. It may not seem like much, but the way Surin skated and handled his build on the ice stood out.
In Saturday's game, he scored a goal and assisted on another, with his conversion serving as the first of the game. Throughout the development camp, Surin has utilized his size and speed to his advantage, making it difficult for other players to push him off the puck.
During the 3-on-3 tournament, while the ice was cut in half, Surin had no issue maintaining possession end-to-end and creating his own scoring chances.
He wasn't the biggest player on the ice, but it was obvious that he was comfortable playing within his frame.
"I like this time [of year]," Surin said. "I like my new friends, Swedish, American and Canadian guys. Everybody is so good, and I think that shows for friends and for our coaches good skills."
The reason why Surin believes his game has spiked is cause he never really had a break.
After being drafted, he trained in Florida before joining the KHL with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. In his first KHL season, he posted 14 points in 41 games and won the Gagarin Cup at just 18 years old.
Once that season ended, he arrived to development camp. He has a little bit of time off this year before KHL camp starts at the end of July.
"There's no relaxing at all. It's practicing all the time," Surin said.
Nashville was still on Surin's mind when playing in Russia, as former Predators forward Alexander Radulov was his teammate.
Radulov had a complicated time in Nashville, leaving the team before his contract expired to go play in the KHL before returning to play with the Predators for 17 games during the 2011-12 regular season and postseason.
However, Surin understood from Radulov what it was like to play in Nashville and what it was going to take for him to make the jump to the NHL.
"We [Surin and Radulov] talked about Nashville and the NHL, and I know what I must do to be better," Surin said. "He said that this is a great city and he liked playing in Nashville. He also told me about playing in the NHL. You need to be fast, strong, and you must be ready."
There's a lot of excitement around Surin's arrival to Nashville (or Milwaukee) but it likely won't happen until the 2026-27 season. He is in the final year of his KHL contract, which expires in May 2026.
Mets promote pitching prospects Jonathan Santucci, R.J. Gordon to Double-A Binghamton
Pitching prospects continue to quickly rise through the Mets' system. Two of the team's draft picks from last year received the call to Double-A on Monday.
Left-hander Jonathan Santucci, a second-round pick, is one of them. Santucci had a bit of a rough start to his first full year with the organization, but he has pitched to a 1.35 ERA over his past nine appearances in Brooklyn.
The 22-year-old allowed runs in just four of those outings and has 57 strikeouts. This stretch has helped him lower his ERA to 3.46 on the year.
SNY's Joe DeMayo had this to say about Santucci as he ranked him 15th on his updated Top 30:
“Santucci comes equipped with a fastball that will get up to 96 mph, a plus slider, and a changeup that he has a feel for and flashes plus but needs to find consistency. He’ll need some work on his command, but is athletic and has a starter’s build with an easily repeatable delivery.”
Thirteenth-round pick RJ Gordon out of the University of Oregon also received a promotion. Gordon is a 23-year-old right-hander who has pitched just as well as Santucci -- putting together a 3.06 ERA and 1.34 WHIP while striking out 76 batters and walking just 31 across 67.2 innings of work.
The pair joins a Binghamton staff headlined by top-100 prospect Jonah Tong. Tong's season continued this weekend, striking out 11 batters in 5.2 innings of two-run ball.
Phillies notes: Turner snubbed, Sánchez overlooked, Walker returns to rotation
Phillies notes: Turner snubbed, Sánchez overlooked, Walker returns to rotation originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
SAN FRANCISCO – If there was some disappointment in Trea Turner not being announced as a reserve for the National League in next week’s All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, it wasn’t really easy to find in the Phillies clubhouse before their series-opening meeting with the San Francisco Giants.
Despite leading the National League with 109 hits, and 31 multi-hit games going into Monday, Turner’s name wasn’t announced and, for now, he won’t be making his fourth appearance in the Summer Classic.
“I really wasn’t that surprised,” said Turner. “I think my teammates were more surprised than I was. It’s a hard position to get in, especially with the younger guys playing so well.” And when you are 32 and have played 11 seasons in the league, a snub like this maybe doesn’t hit home as hard as it would in year’s past.”
For Turner, that seems to be the case.
“My family does (want him playing in All-Star Game),” he said. “A lot of awards for me now, I’ve realized, are for the people around me. They probably want me to get those more than I. I just want to play baseball, do my job, do it well, win a championship. Four days at home would be nice. It’s a long season and we don’t get many days off so, for sure, I’m looking forward to going home, spending time with the family, maybe playing a little golf and just hang out and relax and kind of reset for the second half.”
Turner is pleasantly satisfied with what he’s done for the season thus far, following a game-plan that was laid out back in the spring. Though he still wants more. “Defense, for sure, just because where I’ve been at I feel like the defense has been pretty good,” he said. “Even when I make a mistake I feel like I put it behind me real quick and the next few games go right back to playing good. I like that it hasn’t kind of snowballed from that aspect.
“Hitting has been pretty good. I’d like to get going a little bit more but I think I’m doing a lot of things well that I hadn’t done the last couple seasons. I’m hitting the ball the other way better, not striking out very much so I think those two things are great. Consistency is there. I would like more power. Just extra base hits and getting hot in the sense that I feel like that I’ve been pretty steady for a while now and I haven’t gone on that crazy stretch where you kind of go unconscious. But I also think that’s kind of a good thing to be super steady, especially in the leadoff spot where I’m trying to get on base and score some runs.”
For the younger guys on the team, Turner appeared to be much more questionable about their snubs than his own.
“I’m shocked by Sánchy (Christopher Sánchez), honestly,” Turner said. “I couldn’t believe Sánchy didn’t get in and then I thought Ranger (Suárez) had a real shot as well. I think the voting happened a few weeks ago and so much changes in those two, three weeks leading up.
“I don’t remember Sánchy’s numbers when we were voting or when the fans were voting but I can’t believe he’s not there. Hopefully he’ll get added for somebody because he deserves it. He’s having a great season. I think he’s probably a top five pitcher in the NL. For him for sure.”
Sánchez entered his start on Monday with a 7-2 record and a 2.68 ERA, while Suárez posted numbers of 7-2 with a 1.99 ERA.
Speaking of Suárez, who was on an 85-pitch limit on Saturday due to soreness in his shoulder and back, manager Rob Thomson said: “Ranger is fine. Just kind of normal stuff. His workload in June was so high. For me, personally, it just sends up a red flag.”
Taijuan Walker’s return to Phillies rotation
On Tuesday, starter, reliever, starter, reliever and now starter Taijuan Walker will take the mound for his ninth start of the season. That all came about on Friday when the team announced that Mick Abel was being sent down to the minors, opening a spot in the rotation.
“It’s a lot, just going back and forth,” said Walker. “My whole career I’ve been a starter, love starting, want to start. But we have a good problem here where we have a lot of good starters, kids coming up that are going to be really good. So it’s one of those things, odd man out, or in. My job has been to go pitch and I’ve always been a team first guy and whatever that looks like. You want to start but just try to help the team any way I can, whether that’s relieving or starting. I go out there and just try to do the job the best that I can.”
As for how long he’ll be able to go out there against the Giants on what promises to be another chilly San Francisco night, Walker knows what’s expected of him and plans to meet the requirements.
“I always prided myself on giving what the team asks,” he said. “If they need an inning I’ll give them an inning. If they need four innings, I’ll give them four innings. But also being smart about it. I haven’t thrown more than 50 pitches in probably over a month. So I have to be smart with the pitch count tomorrow and hopefully keep it low through the innings and try to get through four innings.” Asked if there is a pitch count, Walker said, “probably 60ish.”
WNBA Preview: Angel Reese on a tear, fallout from NaLyssa Smith trade
With three empty-slate days, the opening week of July lacked the usual amount of WNBA action. Yet, the fewer days of games didn’t equate to a shortage of news.
WNBA EXPANSION TALK
In case you missed it, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert took to the podium on the final day of June to announce “that the WNBA is expanding from our currently announced 15 teams to 18 teams over the next few years.” Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030) will follow Toronto and Portland — the 14th and 15th teams — who will begin competing in 2026.
The WNBA’s expansion from 12 teams in 2024 to 18 over a six-year period is exciting for the league and a clear reflection of the new heights it is reaching. Naturally, additional rosters will lead to more available spots for players of all types — international players, draft picks, etc. What will be interesting to watch unfold is the almost yearly expansion draft, in which select players from existing WNBA rosters will be poached and placed on the new teams. Golden State’s fast start in its inaugural season could serve as a best-case scenario for these future expansion teams, but it’s hard to envision that level of success being the case for each incoming franchise. Nonetheless, league growth is positive.
RECENT WNBA PLAYER MOVEMENT
It was also a noteworthy week in the W concerning player movement, with news ranging from minor and medium to major.
The minor: The less headline-grabbing but still relevant stories were that players have begun to trickle back into the U.S. and rejoin their WNBA teams after completing their overseas commitments. Leonie Fiebich's return to the New York Liberty’s starting lineup felt significant. In contrast, Teaira McCowan’s return suddenly feels less consequential for a Dallas Wings team that has found its groove and added a center in her absence.
The medium: The Los Angeles Sparks released Shey Peddy and waived Odyssey Sims while claiming Julie Vanloo off of waivers. If you’re like me, the string of transactions likely threw you for a loop — Sims had started the first 11 games of the season for L.A. and then missed five consecutive games for personal reasons before being cut after her first game back. Peddy, who had replaced Sims in the Sparks’ opening unit, was released on the same day. Sims had been particularly helpful on the offensive end this season. Still, head coach Lynne Roberts spoke to the media and stated the rationale behind the transactions was that the team is “starting to get some of the players back,” later referencing Rae Burrell and Julie Allemand. While her reasoning is valid, the suddenness caught me off guard and is still hard for me to move past.
The major: The Las Vegas Aces parted with a 2027 first-round pick to acquire NaLyssa Smith from the Wings via trade. The move feels like a no-brainer deal for Dallas, but my thoughts are a bit more mixed when looking at this from the Aces’ lens. On the one hand, I understand moving all your chips to the center to try to build out as competitive a roster around A’ja Wilson as possible to compete for championships while she’s in her prime years, especially when the roster addition is young, provides a glaring need, and still packs some untapped potential as a recent lottery pick. However, on the other hand, the way the current veteran-heavy version of this team is performing, there’s the uncomfortable possibility this team could find itself in an unfavorable situation by the end of the 2026 season; not owning their 2027 first-round pick in that scenario would be brutal.
2025 WNBA ALL-STARS REVEALED
Finally, we’ll put a bow on last week’s action by touching on the 2025 All-Star reserves. A big round of applause to all the first-timers, specifically the veterans Kayla Thornton and Gabby Williams — it’s cool to see players evolve and outgrow roles deep into their careers to reach new peaks. And what’s All-Star discourse without complaints around whose name was not called (although it's always tricky to name the players they should replace)? So I’ll leave it at this: here’s a brief acknowledgement to Brittney Sykes, Brionna Jones, and the other unnamed players who had legitimate cases for making it in as reserves.
With that, we proceed to this week’s five must-watch.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Golden State Valkyries @ Atlanta Dream
(Monday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass)
We’re approaching the midway point of the season, and somehow, these two teams will be facing one another for only the first time. Atlanta had been rolling up until the past couple of weeks and has now lost three of four games, with the latest defeat coming without the services of Rhyne Howard (arm). Meanwhile, I was admittedly wrong about the Valkyries, who I claimed in one of my preseason takes would only be a fun team that plays hard. They’ve been a joy to watch and, not only that, but would be a playoff team if the postseason began today. Their success has led to Kayla Thornton becoming the franchise’s first-ever WNBA All-Star.
When the two teams clash on Monday, it should be a fun one for the three-point lovers — the Valkyries and Dream both rank among the top teams in the league regarding three-point attempts. The difference in the game could be whichever team is hotter.
Chicago Sky @ Washington Mystics
(Tuesday, July 8 at 11:30 a.m. ET on WNBA League Pass)
How about a quick hat-tip to Angel Reese and, to a lesser extent, the Sky? Reese has been on an absolute tear over the past five games, which has naturally equated to more team success for Chicago, who’ve won two of their past four games. And although the Mystics enter Tuesday’s matchup as losers of two in a row, they’ll also enter knowing they’ve already outclassed this Sky team earlier in the season. Brittney Sykes scored a season-high 32 points in that aforementioned matchup and might also take the floor with a chip on her shoulder after not being named a 2025 All-Star. Sykes’ snub, along with the Mystics’ desire to end their losing streak, could blend well with the Sky’s resurgence to create an entertaining game on Tuesday.
ANGEL REESE
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 7, 2025
She becomes the first player in WNBA history with 15+ rebounds in five consecutive games
16 PTS, 17 REB, 6 AST vs. MIN
24 PTS, 16 REB, 7 AST @ LA
17 PTS, 18 REB, 2 AST @ GSV
18 PTS, 17 REB, 6 AST vs. LA
10 PTS, 19 REB, 4 AST @ ATL pic.twitter.com/jhlO5CzbQO
Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty
(Tuesday, July 8 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN)
At the time of this writing, the Aces have not resembled the Aces we once knew, and injuries have knocked the defending champion Liberty off its path recently, resulting in six losses in the last nine games. Still, these are the two most recent WNBA champions whose star-studded rosters usually deliver a good viewing experience when matched up with one another. While the showdown may not be as anticipated as it has in the past, an A’ja Wilson vs. Breanna Stewart face-off is always top-tier when it comes to WNBA matchups. Both teams could really benefit from a big win at this point in the season, making Tuesday’s game one worth tuning into.
Minnesota Lynx @ Phoenix Mercury
(Wednesday, July 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass)
The Mercury are a banged-up group as I write these words, with Kahleah Copper (hamstring), Lexi Held (lung), and Satou Sabally (ankle) all unavailable to play against the Wings on Monday. If they remain out on Wednesday, Phoenix would still be capable of winning this game (see Indiana without Caitlin Clark vs. Minnesota in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship), but it wouldn’t be one I’d spotlight as a potential game of the week. Copper and Alyssa Thomas each missed the first two matchups between the two squads, while Napheesa Collier did not suit up for the first meeting. But if these two teams can meet at full strength for the first time this season, we’ll be in for a treat on Wednesday.
Dallas Wings @ Indiana Fever
(Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC)
Everyone had circled the June 27 battle between the Wings and Fever, including me. However, injuries derailed the highly anticipated duel between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. The good news is that there’s another bout on the schedule! The bad news is that we may potentially miss out again on the two most recent first-overall picks sharing center stage, as Clark has not taken the court since before the end-of-June matchup. So, much like the previously mentioned Lynx-Mercury game with injury caveats, the same is true for this Wings-Fever contest — it’s certainly must-see TV if the two headliners are available. Get your popcorn ready and be prepared for either scenario.
The Wraparound: Should The Lightning's Quiet Free Agency Be A Concern?
Welcome back to The Wraparound, where we discuss topics across the NHL in rapid-fire segments.
Should The Lightning's Quiet Free Agency Be A Concern? by The WraparoundundefinedHere's what Emma Lingan, Diandra Loux and Michael Augello discussed in today's episode:
0:00: Which player who elected for salary arbitration is due for the biggest payday?
4:35: Breaking down the Buffalo Sabres’ decision to elect for arbitration with Bowen Byram
9:50: Was Cam York’s extension a good deal for the Philadelphia Flyers?
15:25: Should the Toronto Maple Leafs pursue Jack Roslovic?
22:20: Are the Dallas Stars still considered Stanley Cup contenders?
25:45: Why Jakub Dobes’ extension was a smart move for the Montreal Canadiens
28:48: Will Jake O’Brien suit up for the Seattle Kraken this season?
31:50: Is a quiet free agency a cause for concern for the Tampa Bay Lightning?
See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.
Promo image credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Could Kyrie Irving return for the playoffs next season? 'Don’t hold your breath on that.'
Dallas has a lineup that could be a threat to anyone in the West, especially by the time they gel for the playoffs: Anthony Davis, No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford. However, it only comes together if Kyrie Irving is playing point guard.
Irving is going to miss most of next season recovering from a torn ACL, but could he return in time for the Mavericks to make a deep run? Irving threw some cold water on that idea during a streaming Q&A (hat tip HoopsHype).
"Don't hold your breath on [a playoff return]. You know what I'm saying? That doesn't mean I won't be back, it's just — I don't want to make any predictions on when I'm going to be back. I just want to be back 150,000% better."
Irving tore his ACL on March 3 and had surgery to repair his knee closer to the end of that month. While recovery times for ACL injuries vary, the average is approximately a little under a year. While that could mean Irving makes a return in time for the postseason, he's handling this in a mature way, not setting a timeline and letting his body tell him when it's time to get back on the court.
Kyrie's comments reenforce that recovery, especially for a major injury, is fluid & comes w/ a subjective component from the athlete. Average time lost for ACL tears in the NBA is ~11 months but he shouldn't return until he's physically & mentally ready. I think he is smart to…
— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) July 6, 2025
The Mavericks have a solid guard pairing of D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum, who can carry them through the regular season, although where that roster lands in a stacked Western Conference remains to be seen. If Irving is back and gets his legs under him, nobody is going to want to face this team — but Irving can't rush back because of that. He has to make sure he's right.
Injured Haliburton to miss 25-26 NBA season
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton will miss the 2025-26 NBA season after having surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon.
The 25-year-old had sustained the injury during the first quarter of the decisive game seven of the NBA Championship play-off finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder last month.
Haliburton fell down without any contact as he attempted to drive to the basket and was in obvious distress as he was helped from the court during the game that the Pacers lost 103-91 to end their hopes of a first NBA title.
Confirming the point guard's lengthy absence, Pacers president Kevin Pritchard said he hoped Haliburton "will be back better than ever".
"The surgery went well," Pritchard told WISH-TV.
"He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardise that now. So don't get any hopes up that he will play."
A two-time All-Star, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 73 games during the 24-25 regular season and 14 points, 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds during the NBA Finals.
He had played the decider against the Thunder despite suffering a calf strain in game five of the finals.
Haliburton became the third high-profile player to suffer a ruptured Achilles tendon in the play-offs, following the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and the Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard.
A similar injury had also kept Kevin Durant out for a full season when he was hurt in the 2019 NBA Finals while playing for the Golden State Warriors.