Quick Hits

• NCAA eligibility chaos: A federal judge in Colorado just ruled that all high school class of 2022 athletes get an extra year of eligibility. This overturns the NCAA's rules and throws college sports into a frenzy, opening up a chaotic transfer portal window right before the season starts.
• Blockbuster MLB trade: The Los Angeles Dodgers are going all-in for a third straight World Series title, acquiring two-time Cy Young-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.
• Caitlin Clark keeps breaking records: The Indiana Fever star just recorded her fourth career triple-double, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,500 points and 500 assists.
• Local soccer action: Minnesota United currently sits at a perfectly even 6-6-6 record after drawing San Diego FC 1-1 on Saturday.

Minnesota Teams

It’s been a busy weekend in the Twin Cities. Minnesota United (6-6-6) struck early but ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 draw against San Diego FC on Saturday, with San Diego's Anders Dreyer scoring the equalizer on a penalty kick in the second half. Over in the NFL, the Vikings are taking a moment to remember offensive lineman Korey Stringer, who tragically died from heat stroke 25 years ago. His widow, Kelci Stringer, has spent the last quarter-century making heat stroke prevention her life's mission. Meanwhile, Minneapolis is playing host to the sports entertainment world this weekend, as WWE's massive SummerSlam event takes over the city for a two-night spectacle on Saturday and Sunday.

NBA

The WNBA is dominating the basketball news cycle right now, both for what's happening on the court and the conversations happening off it. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark continues to rewrite the record books; she just dropped her fourth career triple-double and became the fastest player ever to reach 1,500 points and 500 assists, leading the Fever to their fifth straight win. However, the team is also dealing with off-court distractions. Fever player Sophie Cunningham recently made comments against transgender women participating in women's sports, which has led to rallies and protests outside recent games. ESPN's Dan Wetzel notes that the WNBA is now facing a political storm, trying to figure out how to navigate a growing national debate while the league just tries to play basketball. In other league news, the Tempo acquired Aneesah Morrow from the Sun in a trade to boost their frontcourt.

MLB

The Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest headline ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring Tarik Skubal, one of the best pitchers in baseball, from the Detroit Tigers. Skubal joins an already stacked Dodgers roster as they push for a third consecutive World Series title. In other moves, the Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Guardians swapped players in a 2-for-2 deal, with catcher Bo Naylor heading to Milwaukee and outfielder Blake Perkins going to Cleveland. As the deadline approaches, teams like the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants are still working the phones, trying to figure out whether to buy, sell, or retool their rosters for a playoff push.

College Sports

College athletics are going through a massive shake-up right now. A federal judge just handed the NCAA a major loss by immediately granting an extra year of eligibility to athletes who just graduated. Because of the ruling, college football general managers are frantically scrambling to adjust their rosters, as a flood of players can now enter the transfer portal in August. Beyond the courts, over 100 women's college basketball players have signed union cards in a groundbreaking effort to organize, starting with a petition filed by players at Oregon State. Lawmakers are also paying attention: the Big Ten and SEC are officially backing a new Senate bill called the "Protect College Sports Act," which aims to bring some federal regulation to the wild west of college sports.

NFL

Training camps are in full swing and the storylines are heating up. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is publicly "manifesting" a Super Bowl win, though CBS Sports points out he's trying to overcome a piece of NFL history that no quarterback has ever conquered. Over in Tennessee, Titans quarterback Will Levis is feeling confident heading into his fourth season, stating he still believes he's "a dang good quarterback" and that there aren't 32 better passers in the league. If you like behind-the-scenes drama, HBO's Hard Knocks debuts this Tuesday, featuring the Seattle Seahawks. In a fun crossover, former Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is transitioning to coaching, joining Georgia Tech's offensive staff for the upcoming college season.

Other Sports

In the fighting world, the UFC is dealing with some dark news. Former title challenger Anthony Smith is facing three felony charges, including first-degree domestic assault, after allegedly attempting to hit his wife with a car; UFC President Dana White has publicly addressed the incident. On a lighter note, the UFC is hosting a Fight Night in Serbia for the first time, headlined by local favorite Uros Medic taking on Daniel Rodriguez.