Good morning and happy Wednesday, welcome to October! Today`s sports news roundup covers a mix of outcomes, from MLB Wild Card eliminations and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert facing strong criticism, to potential changes in the Browns` quarterback lineup. However, not all news is unsettling; we begin with updates on Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors.
🏀 Five Key Sports Updates
- Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors finalize contract. Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors have concluded their prolonged contract negotiations, agreeing to a two-year, $48.5 million deal that includes a team option for the second year. Separately, coach Steve Kerr will start the season on an expiring contract, with talks for an extension deferred until after the season.
- Leadership changes in MLB and WNBA. Both MLB and the WNBA saw leadership shifts. In baseball, Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery have departed from the Angels; Washington had taken leave for surgery and will not return. In basketball, the Wings dismissed coach Chris Koclanes after a single season where the team posted a 10-34 record.
- Kirill Kaprizov becomes NHL`s highest-paid player. Kirill Kaprizov has become the highest-paid player in NHL history, signing an eight-year, $136 million extension with the Wild, averaging $17 million annually. This deal surpasses Alex Ovechkin`s 2008 contract as the largest by total value in the league`s history.
- MLB Wild Card action continues. The MLB Wild Card Series is in full swing, with the Tigers, Cubs, Red Sox, and Dodgers leading their series after opening victories. These teams aim to secure a spot in the Division Series today, while the Guardians, Padres, Yankees, and Reds will fight to force a decisive Game 3.
- Aces advance to WNBA Finals. The Aces have advanced to the WNBA Finals, ending the Fever`s unexpected playoff run. Las Vegas clinched the semifinal series with a 107-98 overtime win in Game 5, powered by A`ja Wilson and Jackie Young`s combined 57 points, sending the Aces to their third finals appearance in four years.
🗣️ Napheesa Collier Blasts WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
Frustration within the WNBA reached a peak as Lynx star Napheesa Collier publicly criticized Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during her exit interview. Collier`s four-minute statement addressed issues from officiating to player compensation, emphasizing her concern for the sport`s future over potential fines. She stated:
“I`m not concerned about a fine. I`m concerned about the future of our sport. At some point, everyone deserves to hear the truth from someone who I hope has earned the benefit of the doubt to fight for what is right and fair for our athletes and our fans. We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But right now we have the worst leadership in the world.”
Other WNBA players, including Angel Reese and Lexie Hull, supported Collier, as did Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who herself was fined $15,000 for recent critiques of officials.
📈📉 Pete Prisco`s NFL Week 5 Power Rankings
Pete Prisco`s NFL Week 5 Power Rankings reflect significant shifts, with the Ravens` 1-3 start and Lamar Jackson`s injury potentially placing them in the bottom half of the league. Conversely, the Steelers, led by Aaron Rodgers, have surprisingly risen to lead the AFC North and break into the top 10. The most dramatic movements include the Seahawks climbing 10 spots to No. 6 and the Commanders dropping eight spots to No. 15, largely due to their contrasting quarterback performances.
- On Seahawks: “Winning on the road at Arizona gets them to 3-1 behind a good defense and Sam Darnold playing well at quarterback. Maybe letting Geno Smith go was the right move after all.”
- On Commanders: “They need Jayden Daniels back. But the defense let them down in the loss to the Falcons.”
Here are the top 10 teams in Prisco`s latest NFL Power Rankings:
- Eagles (previous week: 1)
- Bills (2)
- Lions (6)
- Buccaneers (3)
- Rams (10)
- Seahawks (16)
- Packers (5)
- Chargers (4)
- Steelers (18)
- Chiefs (12)
🏆 UEFA Champions League Matchday 2 Recap
UEFA Champions League Matchday 2 saw many top clubs secure wins on Tuesday, including Inter Milan`s decisive 3-0 victory over Slavia Praha, along with successes for Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Atlético Madrid. In contrast, Liverpool suffered a second consecutive defeat, losing 1-0 to Galatasaray. Jose Mourinho`s return to Stamford Bridge was a forgettable one, as his Benfica team fell 1-0 to Chelsea. Matchday 2 continues Wednesday with highly anticipated clashes, notably Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain (despite potential absences like Ousmane Dembélé) and Arsenal vs. Olympiacos. Predictions for these and other Wednesday fixtures are available.
👍👎 Quick Takes: The Best (and Not-So-Best) of the Rest
- The Browns are set for another quarterback change, reportedly benching Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, a move that could potentially elevate them in the AFC North.
- Tyreek Hill`s season is over after undergoing surgery for a dislocated knee and torn ligaments; he aims to return by the start of the 2026 season.
- LeBron James will have an extended recovery period for a glute injury that is keeping him out of training camp, though the Lakers anticipate his readiness for opening night.
- Following his loss to Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez is out until 2026 after undergoing elbow surgery.
- We analyzed the first month of the NFL regular season, distinguishing between overreactions and reality, such as claims of the Seahawks as NFC West champions or A.J. Brown`s potential departure from Philadelphia.
- A detailed analysis reviewed Europe`s dominant second-straight victory in the Ryder Cup.
- Recent top-25 matchups led to significant shifts in Tom Fornelli`s college football power ratings.
- Jerry Jones suggested a possible contract extension for George Pickens, an early-season standout in his first year with the Cowboys.
- Inter and AC Milan received approval from the Milan City Council to purchase San Siro, clearing the way to demolish the iconic stadium and construct a new one.
- Brian Callahan tops the NFL hot seat rankings following the Titans` 0-4 start.
- UCLA has replaced offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri with Jerry Neuheisel in a play-calling role, amidst ongoing coaching staff changes.
- The Candid Coaches series in college basketball named Purdue`s Matt Painter as the sport`s top X`s and O`s coach.
- The 2028 NCAA Women`s Final Four will be hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, marking the first time since 2005 the event will be held in a football stadium.
- Dante Moore and John Mateer are leading Heisman Trophy candidates after the first month of college football.
- The Big 12 fined and publicly reprimanded Colorado for anti-LDS chants directed at BYU players and coaches during last week`s game.
- The Portland Thorns saw a drop in this week`s NWSL Power Rankings.
- Recently retired Dustin Poirier indicated he would return to combat sports outside the UFC, specifically stating he would unretire for a Zuffa Boxing match against Nate Diaz.
- Blake Brockermeyer`s latest NFL mock draft features a “quarterback frenzy,” with four signal-callers projected within the top 10 picks.
- Former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler has started a four-day jail sentence following a misdemeanor DUI conviction.
- Angel City FC defender and New Zealand captain Ali Riley will retire from professional soccer at the end of the NWSL season.
📺 Wednesday`s Top Sports Broadcasts
- ⚽ Copenhagen at Qarabag, 12:45 p.m. on Paramount+
- ⚽ Newcastle United at Union Saint-Gilloise, 12:45 p.m. on Paramount+
- ⚾ Gam 2 Tigers at Guardians, 1:08 p.m. on ESPN
- ⚽ Olympiacos at Arsenal, 3 p.m. on Paramount+
- ⚽ Paris Saint-Germain at Barcelona, 3 p.m. on Paramount+
- ⚽ PSV Eindhoven at Bayer Leverkusen, 3 p.m. on Paramount+
- ⚽ Athletic Bilbao at Borussia Dortmund, 3 p.m. on Paramount+
- ⚽ Manchester City at Monaco, 3 p.m. on Paramount+
- ⚽ Sporting CP at Napoli, 3 p.m. on Paramount+
- ⚽ Juventus at Villarreal, 3 p.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network
- ⚾ Game 2: Padres at Cubs, 3:08 p.m. on ABC
- ⚾ Game 2: Red Sox at Yankees, 6:08 p.m. on ESPN
- ⚽ Nashville FC at Austin FC, 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network/Paramount+
- 🏒 Preseason: Avalanche at Golden Knights, 9 p.m. on NHL Network
- ⚾ Game 2: Reds at Dodgers, 9:08 p.m. on ESPN
