Let the screaming and angst begin.The Los Angeles Dodgers are landing Tarik Skubal.The rich get richer.You knew it was going to happen. The Dodgers werent going to let Skubal get away, and they certainly werent about to face him.They had the money, and they had the prospects.All it took was top pitching prospect River Ryan, outfielder Zyhir Hope and starter Brady Smith, and $9.93 million to convince the Detroit Tigers there was no need to delay their decision, and trade Skubal to the Dodgers.So, go ahead and start the parade route.The Dodgers are going to three-peat.You know it. Their rivals know it. And those demanding a salary cap know it.The Dodgers tried to play coy throughout the process, saying they were just fine without Skubal, and didnt need him.Then, they looked in the mirror. Who were they kidding?They had Yoshinobu Yamamoto and four question marks.You really think they were going to let the Milwaukee Brewers grab him and team him with Jacob Misiorowski?Or Atlanta with Chris Sale?Nope.They wanted nothing to do with the possibility of facing Skubal. And what's the best way to avoid that? Get him yourself.Oh, and just to get any suspense out of the way Skubal will be signing with the Dodgers as a free agent.Book it.Everyone in favor of a salary cap will be using this is Exhibit A. Yet, the truth is that the Dodgers grabbed their man simply with prospects.This had nothing to do with money, but everything to do with the organization's talent.In return, theyve all but guaranteed themselves a World Series.Theyve got Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Skubal, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Justin Wrobleski, Tyler Glasmow, Emmet Sheehan, and plenty of others.You think anyones going to knock these guys off?Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, tipped his hand earlier in the week when he said: There just arent many star-level players in the game. Any time one is available, were always going to participate in those conversations.'So the Dodgers did just like that, like they traded for Mookie Betts, signed Freddie Freeman, and signed Ohtani, Snell, Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker.Whoever the Dodgers want, they get.They will be remembered forever in baseball history, becoming the first National League team to win three consecutive World Series championships.No one is capable of stopping them.It may be only Aug. 1, but it might as well be Nov. 1.The World Series trophy is going to the Dodgers who have the most money, the most prospects, the most talent and the smartest front office.Everybody can yell about a salary cap. Bring it all on. The Dodgers dont care.Their biggest thought now is clearing space for another World Series championship trophy.See you at the parade.Foillow Nightengale on X: @BnightengaleThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarik Skubal trade guarantees Dodgers another World Series crown | Opinion

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Brandon Bye scored the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute and the Portland Timbers handed the rival Seattle Sounders their fifth straight loss with a 2-1 victory Saturday night. Kevin Kelsey also scored for the Timbers (7-8-3 ), who are undefeated in four straight games. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored the lone goal for the injury-depleted Sounders (7-7-3).The Pacific Northwest rivals went into the match with the series even at 16-16-11 in Major League Soccer play. With the win, the Timbers are now 11-8-4 over the Sounders at Providence Park. Seattle's Paul Arriola was subbed out in the opening minutes after what appeared to be a right leg injury, replaced by Kossa-Rienzi.Kossa-Rienzi scored in the 27th minute to give the Sounders the early lead. Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis got a hand on it but couldn't keep the ball out of the net. Before the end of the first half, Kevin Kelsey scored off a well-placed cross from Kristoffer Velde. Kelsey and teammate Jimer Fory did a coordinated dance to celebrate the equalizer. It was Kelsey's team-leading ninth goal of the season and Velde's fifth assist. The Timbers went ahead on Bye's blast off a feed from David Da Costa that sailed past Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas. At the final whistle, defender Finn Surman ran to celebrate with Pantemis while supporters in the crowd held a sign that read Fish Gutted.The Cascadia Cup was created by supporters of the Timbers, Sounder and Vancouver Whitecaps before the teams joined MLS. The trophy goes to the team with the most points in head-to-head matchups at the end of the regular season. The Timbers and the Sounder have played 126 times since the overall series started in 1975 when the teams were part of the NASL. ___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Georgian midfielder Saba Lonjanidze (12) brings the ball up the pitch during the rainy Saturday night match. | Meagan Johnson, RSL Real Salt Lake earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw in a rainy Saturday evening matchup at Energizer Park in St. Louis, snapping its two-game road losing streak as well as the home sides five-game win streak. an important point-earning win ahead of an extended upcoming home stretch, one that sees the Claret-and-Cobalt play five home matches in 15 days beginning on Tuesday.Solans nets seventh goal of rookie MLS season Entering the third consecutive road match following the World Cup hiatus, RSL Head coach Pablo Mastroeni made multiple changes to his starting lineup, including the addition of midfielder Lineker Rodrigues, who made his first-ever start with RSL on Saturday evening. After a first half mostly played in RSLs defensive end, both teams entered the locker room in a 0-0 stalemate. The Claret-and-Cobalt started the second half by creating far more attacking opportunities, finding the first strike after recently-acquired Georgian midfielder Saba Lonjanidze secured his second assist in three matches with RSL, sending an impressive no-look pass into the box for forward Sergi Solans, who took a touch around his defender before sending a perfectly-placed ball into the net. The 60th-minute goal marked MLS rookie Solans seventh of the season, giving the Spaniard sole ownership of RSLs 2026 Golden Boot race.Quotable:Its a good opportunity to reflect on these last three games, Mastroeni said. Obviously, in LAFC we had 80% possession and 30 shots and we lost. Then tonight, we have 35% possession and we get a point, so the game isnt always about playing the way you want. Theres an opponent thats riding a lot of momentum when were away from home, so, the positive from this game is a result for the group that was willing to suffer when we werent at our best with the ball.Game summaryReal Salt Lake entered the evening without 19-year-old MLS All-Star standout Zavier Gozo for the first time this season due to a hip strain suffered Wednesday night in Charlotte during his 27-minute appearance against the Liga MX selection. Throughout the first half of play, the Claret-and-Cobalt found itself in a defensive battle, the back line working alongside RSL goalkeeper and Captain Rafael Cabral, who showcased his presence between the posts to keep the home side scoreless through the first 45 minutes of play. After RSL entered the second half with energy to earn the goal by Solans in the 60th minute, St. Louis was able to find the equalizer, bringing the score to 1-1 just 12 minutes later. After trading offensive opportunities, RSL now returns to the Wasatch Front with a much-needed point before entering a busy 15-day home stretch at America First Field. The first three games in Leagues Cup against Liga MX opponents and then resuming MLS regular-season play. Up nextFollowing the long home hiatus dating back to May 16, Real Salt Lake returns to its fortress at America First Field in Sandy, where RSL has won eight of nine games this season, to host a trio of Liga MX opponents in Leagues Cup. The home opener of the tournament, and first of five home matches in 15 days at America First Field, is North American power Tigres UANL. The match kicks off on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. MDT, with tickets available at RSL.com. RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni coaches his squad from the sideline. | Meagan Johnson, RSL Spanish forward Sergi Solans (22) celebrates after his 60th minute goal to put RSL up 1-0. | Meagan Johnson, RSL Midfielder Noel Caliskan (92) battles with a defender in the Saturday night match against St. Louis City SC. | Meagan Johnson, RSL RSL midfielder Lineker Rodrigues (70) receives the ball in his first career RSL start. | Meagan Johnson, RSL

The news that Tarik Skubal was being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers traveled fast around the baseball industry on the night of Aug. 1.While the Dodgers were losing to the Boston Red Sox, the Milwaukee Brewers were busy beating the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. By nights end, the Brewers had both the best record in MLB and its best farm system.But they did not have Skubal, who now will try to help Los Angeles win a third consecutive World Series championship.MORE: Dodgers, Tigers finalizing Tarik Skubal tradeThe Dodgers beat the Brewers in a four-game National League Championship Series last year.I dont think anybodys surprised he went there, Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill told reporters in Anaheim. When they came out the other day and said they were going to be greedy, I think the whole world could take that serious, and that theyd probably make that happen.With less than 24 hours remaining before the MLB trade deadline, Megill said, were just being patient seeing what happens and if not lets just go with who weve got.MORE:Dodgers scratch 2 prospects at last minute before MLB trade deadlineIf the Brewers are going to knock off the Dodgers, they will have to do it without the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. Skubal cost the Dodgers two top-100 prospects (pitcher River Ryan and outfielder Zyhir Hope) but no one from their 26-man roster and none of their Top 4 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.The Brewers have a deep farm system too. Unlike the Dodgers, its been a while since the city has celebrated a World Series parade. Milwaukees next baseball championship will be its first since 1957, when Hank Aaron led the Braves over the New York Yankees.If the Brewers front office is kicking itself for letting Skubal go to their National League rivals, Megill didnt seem frustrated in the least.Its our job just to play baseball with the team they give us and the guys in this room, he said. Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter

The Los Angeles Dodgers went out and did their thing, agreeing to a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Tigers for back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal less than 48 hours before the MLB trade deadline.Already the favorites to win a third consecutive World Series title, the Dodgers add the best player available in Skubal, who is a free agent at the end of the season and expected to command the biggest contract ever for a pitcher.Los Angeles will send right-handerRiver Ryan,outfielderZyhir Hope, and rightyBrady Smith to Detroit in the deal.Heres a look at the trade that shakes up the balance of MLB power in 2026:Tarik Skubal trade detailsDodgers receive: LHP Tarik SkubalTigers receive: RHPRiver Ryan,OFZyhir Hope, RHPBrady SmithDodgers trade grade: ASkubal will immediately join World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and 2026 All-StarJustin Wrobleski in the Dodgers rotation, while Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell each try to make their way back from injury in the weeks to come. Shohei Ohtani also hasnt pitched in weeks due to a knee issue, so the blockbuster takes a ton of weight off Yamamoto and the currently sidelined pitchers as the calendar flips to August.Tigers trade grade: BPretty decent return on a deal that had to come together quickly, landing one of the games top prospects in Hope. But the Detroit regime will face questions after settling for Ryan rather than say, Emmet Sheehan, as the MLB-ready pitcher coming back. When is the 2026 MLB trade deadline? The MLB trade deadline for the 2026 season is set for Monday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET. Watch MLB games Watch MLB games all season long with Fubo This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won Tarik Skubal trade? Grades for Dodgers and Tigers

There goes Tarik Skubal.So, who's next?Tigers president Scott Harris pulled the trigger on a much-anticipated Skubal trade late Friday night, The News' Chris McCosky confirmed, sending one of the game's top aces to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three prospects. But are the Tigers done ahead of Monday's trade deadline? Not likely, given their record and their trade chips.Here's a look at who else could be moved:Will the Tigers trade Casey Mize?Now, all eyes turn to Mize, 29, the right-hander and No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He's not an ace, but he's looked like a legit No. 2 for the past two seasons, when healthy (he's battled groin issues this year). Like Skubal, he is a free agent-to-be this winter. He has a career-best 2.70 ERA this season, in 17 starts. The Tigers held him out of his scheduled start this week, signaling their willingness to move him, if not their definite intention. Mize won't net anything close the Skubal return, but he's got significant value for just about any contender.Will the Tigers trade Jack Flaherty?The Tigers dealt the right-hander once before, ahead of the 2024 deadline, coincidentally also to the Dodgers (with whom he won a World Series). Flaherty, 30, a right-handed starter, doesn't have the value that he had then, given the inconsistencies not just from start to start, but even from inning to inning. Wildness has been a huge concern this season, though he's righted the ship a little bit on that front in the last several weeks. A move here could come right down to the headline, and be with a fringe contending team that missed out on just about every other target.Will the Tigers trade Gleyber Torres?Like Mize and Flaherty, Torres, the veteran second baseman, is going to be a free agent this offseason, and the Tigers, loaded with minor-league infielders to go with Hao-Yu Lee, don't need him back. He's not the best defender, but he's a professional hitter who works walks and provide the occasional pop. Health is the biggest concern with him. Torres, 29, has struggled to stay activated this season, playing just his 54th game Saturday night (in which he homered in the 8-6 win over the Athletics). The return will depend how much a team is willing to pay of the $7-million-plus he's still owed.Will the Tigers trade Kenley Jansen?Jansen, 38, the veteran closer who picked up his 489th career save Saturday, doesn't have the firepower that he had even just a few years ago. He's showed his age more and more the last couple years, but he still gets the job done far more often than not. And a contender that needs multiple bullpen pieces might look at him as a supplementary option. He signed a one-year contract with the Tigers last winter, and Detroit holds a $12-million option for 2027. The Tigers probably would rather pick up the right-hander's $2-million buyout tab, or better yet, have somebody else pick it up.Will the Tigers trade Kyle Finnegan?Finnegan hasn't been the effective pitcher since the groin strain late last season that he was before the injury, when he was among the most-reliable relievers acquired at the 2025 trade deadline after the Tigers got him from the Washington Nationals. This season has simply not been good. His WHIP is over 1.500, and he allowed another home run Saturday, his seventh in just 46.1 innings. He's under contract through 2027 ($9.5-million salary next season). His value isn't super-high, and a likely 2027 lockout could make that salary (and any team willing to pick it up) moot.tpaul@detroitnews.com@tonypaul1984This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Who could the Tigers trade after dealing Skubal?

Tarik Skubal is the newest member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.In many ways, it feels apt. Baseballs richest and most powerful team acquires the biggest name at the MLB trade deadline, adding a two-time Cy Young Award winner to what was already one of the best rotations in baseball. It absolutely does not guarantee them a World Series, but it sure makes them feel inevitable right now.However, the deal also presents the most rich-person problem possible for the Dodgers: figuring out who goes where in that ridiculous rotation. Because, by our count, there are now seven players on this team who, if healthy, would be locks for any other four-man postseason rotation in baseball, and their depth doesnt end there.Even Thanos thinks this is an excessive hoarding of resources.Here is every arm available for the Dodgers in a world where everyone is healthy (which, to be fair, is not a world where the Dodgers have lived in for years) and where they fall in the October hierarchy.The locks (again, if healthy)Tarik SkubalWe can go through this quickly. Skubal entered 2026 as the consensus best pitcher in baseball. He has arguably lost that crown to Jacob Misiorowski in a season that required him to undergo a novel procedure to remove loose bodies in his elbow, but his velocity numbers have returned to his career norms and he just posted a 2.03 ERA in five July starts while striking out 41 batters in 31 innings.The Dodgers acquired him to be a frontline pitcher. He will be. And then he will hit free agency and likely break this next players record for the largest contract ever signed by a pitcher.Yoshinobu YamamotoLike Skubal, we dont need to spend much time here. Yamamoto cemented himself as one of MLBs best big-game pitchers last offseason, earning wins in three of the Dodgers four victories in an absurd World Series, and is having another fine season this year.The only reason the Dodgers would want fewer playoff innings from him is concern for his long-term health.Shohei OhtaniHeres our first real question mark. Everything the Dodgers have done this year indicates they want Ohtani pitching in October. This was his first season since joining the Dodgers that he entered Opening Day as an actual two-way player, but he hasnt pitched since July 3 due to a left knee issue that required a lubricant injection at the All-Star break.Any hope for a quick return disappeared when Ohtani skipped a bullpen session last week due to regression in the knee, and he reported a biceps issue days later. He is still playing nearly every day as a designated hitter, but the Dodgers have clearly decided to take it slow with him.Still, this all seems in service of making sure Ohtani is ready for October while having to throw as few innings as possible between now and then.The All-Stars who somehow arent locksBlake SnellThe other two-time Cy Young winner on this team began the season on the injured list with shoulder fatigue and returned after a single bad start in May, this time with loose bodies in his pitching elbow, just like his new teammate Skubal had.He is currently on a rehab assignment and said Friday he will need one more start before hes activated. Given his past success in the postseason, notably a 3.18 ERA in 34 postseason innings last year, you would imagine he has the inside track for that last spot. Its just hard to feel confident when he has made exactly one start this year, though it would hardly be the first time Snell suddenly emerges as an ace in the second half after struggling in the first half.Justin WrobleskiImagine being Justin Wrobleski. Imagine getting your first real season as an MLB starting pitcher and surpassing all expecations. Imagine ranking 12th in MLB in ERA while ranking behind only Yamamoto in innings pitched on the Dodgers. Imagine making your first All-Star team.And then imagine being told you might be pitching out of the bullpen during the playoffs, which Wrobleski did last year under significantly different circumstances. On any other team, Wrobleski not making the postseason rotation isnt even a conversation.Tyler GlasnowAfter a solid start to the season, Glasnow hasnt pitched since May 6 due to lower back spasms. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week.The towering right-hander came up huge in the 2025 postseason after past October struggles, with a 1.69 ERA and the Dodgers winning all six of his appearances (three starts). It is preposterous he is the sixth pitcher mentioned in this article.The other guysRoki SasakiIt would not be unfair to say Sasakis MLB career so far has been a bit of a disappointment, at least given the enormous expectations when one of the most-hyped pitching prospects in recent history joined his Samurai Japan teammates in Los Angeles.Sasaki struggled heavily as a starter in 2025, acquitted himself well as a reliever in September and October and struggled again as a starter in 2026. However, he appears to have turned a corner recently.His giant glove (to cut down on pitch tipping) has gotten most of the attention recently, but a velocity bump and a reworked pitch mix with a faster splitter separated from his signature pitch, now known as a forkball have also paid significant dividends with a 2.25 ERA and 26 strikeouts in has last four starts.The Dodgers have persistently indicated they view Sasaki as a starter. He might be proving them right. They are probably sending him to the bullpen in a couple months, if not sooner.Eric LauerThe Dodgers got Lauer for basically nothing in May after he was designated for assignment after 36 1/3 terrible innings for the Toronto Blue Jays, where he was openly disgruntled about his role.Lauer has now appeared in nine games for the Dodgers, with eight starts. The Dodgers have won all nine of those games. Hes been a great find for the team while some of the above pitchers have hit the IL Odds are decent they trade him away within the next two days.Emmet SheehanIf there was a surprise with the Skubal deal, it honestly wasnt the destination. It was that Sheehan wasnt packing for Detroit.If the Tigers were going to trade their ace, it was widely assumed they would want an MLB starting pitcher in addition to considerable minor league talent. Sheehan seemed to be the clear fit as both an MLB starting pitcher and a starting pitcher the Dodgers wouldnt mind giving up.Sheehan has real strikeout stuff and has flashed good results in the past, but he also struggled in October last year and hasnt been much better in 2026. The Dodgers giving him a change of scenery and letting him fill Skubals rotation spot in Detroit would have made sense.Then again, starting pitchers are a perpetually sought-after resource in MLB and other teams might be interested in taking a chance on Sheehan. Like Lauer, theres a decent chance the Dodgers trade Sheehan soon, if for no other reason that theres no room left for him on this roster with Skubal aboard.The total price of this Dodgers rotationAdd up all the 2026 salaries for the above nine pitchers on Fangraphs Roster Resource, without accounting for the deferrals in Ohtani and Snells contracts, and you get $191.4 million.That would be the 16th-largest payroll in MLB by cash, between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.Lets reflect on thisRemember the 2024 postseason, when we had no idea what the Dodgers would do with their rotation? When that group was Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler? You might recall Ryan Brasier starting an elimination game against the San Diego Padres.We are a long way from those days. Odds are good that at least one of the pitchers listed above wont be able to pitch in the postseason, but as long as its just one or two of them, we are going to see some supremely weird things. The Dodgers are committed to making this work, and that might mean an All-Star pitcher devoted to piggybacking a more established starter. In addition to 2024, recall that Ohtani, Wrobleski, Glasnow, Sheehan, Snell and Yamamoto all pitched in their triumph in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. That was a team emptying the clip, and they have evidently decided to enter this October with an even bigger clip.It is preposterous. It is infuriating for other fans. It is going to be talked about at the next collective bargaining agreement negotiations. It is the Dodgers in vintage form.

Indiana Fever vs. Portland Fire - 2026 WNBA regular season Imagn ImagesCaitlin Clark recorded her fourth career triple-double in the Indiana Fevers blowout win over the Portland Fire on Friday. Her explosive performance has boosted her chances of winning this years WNBA MVP award.Following the 26-10-10 stat line posted by Clark, betting sites like FanDuel ranked the Fever star No. 2 in the MVP race. In the process, Clark overtook Paige Bueckers, who has been having a stellar season with the Dallas Wings.Clark is at +1000, tied with Olivia Miles. Bueckers is at +1300.Leading the race is Aja Wilson (-475), the reigning MVP who has won the award a record-setting four times.Wilsons numbers (26.8 ppg on 53.2% FG shooting, 9.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg) are on an entirely different tier, but Clark has been stuffing the stat sheets as well. This season, the three-time WNBA All-Star is second in assists (8.0 apg) and fourth in scoring (21.6 ppg) while shooting a career-high 44.6% from the field.Though Bueckers is eighth in both points and assists (20.8 ppg, 6.0 apg), she has shot more efficiently than Clark, converting on 51.3% of her field goal attempts.Even in terms of team standings, Clark and Bueckers are neck and neck. Thanks to a five-game winning streak, the Fever (19-10) have climbed to the No. 4 spot while the sixth-place Wings (18-11) have some ground to cover as they look to halt a two-game skid.Compelling Argument Clark: Robin Lundberg Takes Up Caitlin Clarks Case for WNBA MVPFor WNBA analyst Robin Lundberg, Caitlin Clark simply cannot be overlooked in the WNBA MVP race.In a video posted on YouTube on Saturday, Lundberg presented Clarks MVP case.Lets call her Compelling Argument Clark, because she is starting to put together a compelling argument for league MVP. Caitlin Clark is playing at a higher level than any other player in the WNBA. Shes now hitting those deep threes consistently, and the Fever have the best offense in league history with her at the helm.Lundberg added that Clark has figured it all out, as evidenced by her methodical pace and her career-high field goal shooting.READ MORE:Caitlin Clarks MVP Case Gets Major Backing From Dave Portnoy and Skip Bayless After Latest SnubShes Rewriting Record Books Like Wilt Chamberlain: WNBA Reporter Says Nobodys on Caitlin Clarks Level in Strong MVP Argument After Historic NightCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, mens college basketball, womens college basketball, and college baseball!

Indiana Fever vs. Portland Fire - 2026 WNBA regular season Imagn ImagesSophie Cunninghams comments on transgender athletes have placed an even larger spotlight on the Indiana Fever. According to WNBA analyst Trysta Krick, the atmosphere surrounding Cunningham, her team, and her fans has taken on a different vibe.Writing a four-part post on Threads, Krick relayed her observations from the Fevers Friday night matchup against the Portland Fire, which took place at Moda Center.I went to the Fever game last night along with the pro Sophie anti trans women in sports rally. Heres how the vibe was. 1. Weird. Everyone around was tense and you could tell even though the coaches were prepped for the questions they were nervous and frustrated that this was going to be the main pre game topic. 2. Sophie was combative and when she left the 5 minute if that pregame media session she said sarcastically enjoy BASKETBALL tonight guys. Thank you for the BASKETBALL questions'View on ThreadsKrick added that Caitlin Clark was not available for both the pre-game and post-game media sessions, and that each Fever participant in these sessions was only allowed five minutes max to speak.In the final part of her Threads post, Krick described the crowd that gathered outside Moda Center.The crowd outside was media trained and a group of sports fans. They said they were the same group in Seattle that organized last game and will go to Minnesota. There was probably 2 dozen women that were part of this well funded group. They wore matching screen printed XX/XY tee shirts and had carbon copy signs that they all were holding. They told me they look the same because we made them all together.Fan rallies in support of Cunningham began earlier this week prior to the Fever-Storm game. Controversy ensued in Seattle when Storm owner Celeste Keaton allegedly berated two fans holding pro-Cunningham signs, leading the WNBA to suspend her from attending five home games.Everyone Has a Right to Peacefully Assemble: Cheryl Reeve Comments on Planned Fan Rally Ahead of Fever-Lynx GameReports suggest that another rally is planned ahead of the Fever-Lynx game on Sunday. During a media availability on Saturday, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was asked to give her thoughts on the matter.Reeve, whose team is at the top of the WNBA standings, said that the participants in these rallies are well within their rights to voice their views.I dont think we should feel like our safe space is being threatened. Thats what I enjoy about the WNBA, and I think we need to continue to safeguard that. I dont think these demonstrators are not peaceful. Not that Ive seen all of it, I havent heard everything thats happening. But everyone has a right to peacefully assemble. Thats whether you agree with them or not.Reeve added that, in her view, the narrative that transgender athletes are the biggest problem in womens sports is problematic.READ MORE:My Girl Was on That Seat Like Shes the Coach: Fever Fans Rave Over Caitlin Clarks Leadership as Bench Interaction Goes ViralFans Rally Behind Sophie Cunningham Holding Up L Sign to Silence Hostile Portland CrowdCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, mens college basketball, womens college basketball, and college baseball!

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired the biggest prize on the trade deadline market, getting two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.The two-time defending World Series champions added another big piece to their-star high-priced roster that already big-name players like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Mookie Betts.The Dodgers are in first place in the NL West and were already the favorites to become the first team to three-peat since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000 before adding Skubal. ESPN first reported the deal and said the Tigers would receive three minor league prospects in right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith and outfielder Zyhir Hope. The deal was agreed to during the Tigers win over the As on Saturday night that moved them within 2 1/2 games of the final wild-card spot in the American League. But it wasnt enough for them to keep Skubal. Skubal is eligible for free agency after the World Series. He has a $32 million salary, a record total in arbitration, after the team offered $19 million, and is expected to sign a massive contract in the offseason.The 29-year-old lefty said in July that it was his preference to finish the season with the Tigers to compete for a World Series championship, which has eluded the franchise since 1984.Detroit planned to contend again this season, bolstering the Skubal-led rotation by giving two-time All-Star pitcher Framber Valdez a $115 million, three-year contract in free agency and retaining three-time All-Star infielder Gleyber Torres with a $22 million deal.The Tigers, though, got off to a rough start and slumped to 16 games under .500 with about 100 games remaining.They bounced back in June and most of July to get into playoff contention with Skubal leading a rotation and three All-Stars in the lineup: rookie infielder Kevin McGonigle, catcher Dillon Dingler and outfielder Riley Greene.With a chance to possibly persuade management to keep Skubal by improving its playoff positioning, Detroit lost ground by dropping four of its last five games at home, including Skubals last start that was made even more memorable by a late-inning collapse.The Tigers led Baltimore 7-0 after six innings Wednesday and lost 10-9 in 12 innings. Skubal started the game, recorded his 1,000th career strikeout and was cheered at every opportunity by a crowd of 34,406. Skubal is 7-5 this season with a 2.79 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings. He is 61-42 with a 3.04 ERA over seven seasons, all in Detroit. In two postseasons, Skubal is 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA in six starts.Skubal had a minimally invasive surgery on May 6 to remove a loose body from his pitching elbow and returned to pitch on June 13.The way the surgery went is exactly how it was supposed to go, he said in July. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb