Quick Hits

• Vikings make a massive QB call: Minnesota ended their quarterback battle before preseason even began, naming Kyler Murray the Week 1 starter over J.J. McCarthy.
• End of an NBA era: Russell Westbrook, one of the most energetic and polarizing players in recent memory, officially announced his retirement after 18 seasons.
• A new king in baseball: For the first time in nearly two months, the Los Angeles Dodgers are no longer the No. 1 team in ESPN's MLB Power Rankings.
• NBA schedule drops: The 2026-27 season will tip off on Oct. 20, featuring a stacked opening night where the reigning champion New York Knicks will host the Philadelphia 76ers.
• Caitlin Clark returns: The Indiana Fever star had a one-game suspension for accumulated technical fouls scrubbed by the league, clearing her to play tonight against the New York Liberty.

Minnesota Teams

Vikings name Kyler Murray starting QB over J.J. McCarthy The Vikings' biggest offseason question has been answered: Head coach Kevin O'Connell officially named Kyler Murray the starting quarterback for Week 1. Murray, an offseason addition, beat out J.J. McCarthy—the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft. McCarthy told ESPN the decision was "out of my control" and that he wants to remain in Minnesota, but CBS Sports notes this move leaves McCarthy's long-term future with the team up in the air.

Twins set for the Field of Dreams The Minnesota Twins are gearing up for a special regular-season matchup this Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB Field of Dreams Game in Iowa.

NFL

Preseason is here (and so are some quirky rule changes) Week 1 of the NFL preseason kicks off Thursday, giving fans their first look at the new-look league. In a fun off-field update, the NFL now allows head coaches to designate someone else to throw the challenge flag. Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor joked that the rule change was long overdue, confessing, "We've been breaking that rule for eight years."

NFL heading to Australia The league's very first regular-season game in Australia is set to be a massive spectacle. The Jonas Brothers have been tapped to perform during the entertainment lineup for the season opener between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

NBA

Russell Westbrook calls it a career After 18 seasons, one MVP award, and stints with seven different teams, Russell Westbrook is retiring from professional basketball. ESPN notes that while he was a polarizing figure to some, his legacy is defined by single-handedly reviving the art of the triple-double. He finishes his career 14th on the NBA's all-time scoring list (27,176 points) and fifth in all-time assists (10,351).

Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season With Westbrook stepping away, the league is rolling out its new schedule. Alongside the Knicks hosting the 76ers to open the season on Oct. 20, the NBA also revealed the group stage schedule for the fourth annual in-season NBA Cup tournament.

MLB

A shakeup at the top As the regular season begins to wind down, we have a new consensus top team. ESPN's latest MLB Power Rankings knocked the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the No. 1 spot for the first time in nearly two months, noting an epic MVP battle and a Triple Crown pursuit as the top storylines to watch down the stretch.

Labor clouds on the horizon? ESPN drew some concerning historical parallels this week, comparing the current MLB labor battle to the infamous 1994 strike that canceled the World Series. With a potential lockout looming, the league is exploring what an alternate future might look like for the 2027 season.

College Sports

Louisville lands a massive transfer College basketball's preseason rankings are already shifting ahead of the fall season. CBS Sports reports that Louisville surged into the Top 10 of their early rankings after securing a commitment from North Carolina transfer Seth Trimble.

A new era for Michigan football Michigan's new era under star quarterback Bryce Underwood is taking a surprisingly calm approach to rivalries. CBS Sports notes that Underwood and veteran coach Kyle Whittingham don't believe players need to "hate" Ohio State to beat them—a philosophy Whittingham has successfully used in past rivalry games.

Other Sports

PGA Tour playoffs begin, LIV Golf struggles The PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs tee off this week in Memphis at the St. Jude Championship, with players fighting to secure a top-50 spot to advance to the next round. Meanwhile, the rival LIV Golf league is facing major questions about its future after reportedly canceling its $40 million season-ending team championship, marking the second event they've canceled this year.

Makhachev vs. Khabib Ahead of UFC 330, analysts are taking a deep dive into Islam Makhachev's dominant career, with some arguing that the fighter may have already surpassed the legendary resume of his own coach and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov.