Monday Minute: Caitlin Clark-Less Olympics, Record-Breaking Wrigley + The Clay Queen
Better than a cup of coffee.
It's Monday, June 10th, and we have all the conversation starters to kick off your week. Here’s what’s been happening in the world of sports:
Team USA Women’s Basketball Roster Drama
Although it’s not official yet, the leaked roster for Team USA's women's basketball team for the Olympics has caused quite a stir. Notably absent is rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, who has been making waves in women’s sports. Fans are outraged, but sources say her exclusion is due to potential backlash over limited playing time. The roster is stacked with seasoned talent, and Clark, despite her prowess, might not get much court time.
Stanley Cup Finals: Panthers Strike First
In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Florida Panthers shut out the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 in the first game. What made this game unique was its first-of-its-kind alternative broadcast in sign language. Game two is tonight, and it’s shaping up to be another exciting showdown.
Belmont Stakes: Dornach’s Big Win
The Triple Crown races had different winners for the sixth year in a row. Dornach dominated the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, owned by retired MLB player and World Series champion Jayson Werth. Werth compared this big win to his World Series victory with the Philadelphia Phillies, claiming horse racing is the most underrated sport in the world.
Historic Event at Wrigley Field
Saturday evening saw the first professional women’s sporting event at Wrigley Field in 80 years. The Chicago Red Stars hosted their first game at an MLB venue as part of their Red Stars Takeover Wrigley Field campaign, breaking the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) attendance record with 35,038 fans. This event was made possible by the ownership connection between the Red Stars and the Chicago Cubs, controlled by the Ricketts family.
French Open: Historic Wins on Clay
The French Open, the only major tennis tournament on clay, concluded with impressive victories. Carlos Alcaraz won his first French Open, defeating Alex Zverev, and became the youngest man to win a major final on all three surfaces (clay, grass, hard). This win moved him to the number two spot, surpassing Novak Djokovic. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner climbed to the number one ranking, dethroning Djokovic, who held the top spot for a record 428 weeks.
On the women's side, Iga Świątek continues to dominate, winning her third straight French Open title and fourth overall at Roland Garros. She is now the youngest woman to win four French Opens, boasting an incredible record of 35-2 at the tournament. Additionally, Coco Gauff celebrated victory in the doubles championship.
For more details on these stories and other sports news, visit Last Night's Game or follow us on social media @lastnightsgame. Have a fantastic week ahead!
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Monday Minute: Finals Frenzy, Caitlin Clark Getting Beat Up + A Four-Caddie Day
Oh hey, June.
Good morning, sports fans! We’re heading into an action-packed week. Here’s your quick rundown to kickstart your day.
Simone Biles Dominates Yet Again
Simone Biles continues to make history, winning her record-extending 9th all-around national title at the US Gymnastics Championships on Sunday. Even more impressive is that she’s having fun while doing it. The national championships are the final event for US gymnasts before the Olympic Trials in late June. The women’s team for Paris 2024 will be chosen after these trials.
Softball World Series Semifinals
The Softball World Series Semifinals are set for today, determining who will compete in the finals starting Wednesday. Oklahoma is aiming for its fourth straight championship. Here’s the schedule:
Oklahoma (2) vs. Florida (4)
NOON ET
2:30 PM ET (if necessary)
📺 ESPN
Texas (1) vs. Stanford (8)
7 PM ET
9:30 PM ET (if necessary)
📺 ESPN2
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals (NHL—National Hockey League) are set, featuring the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. This marks the fifth consecutive year that a team from Florida has made it to the Cup Final, which kicks off on Saturday.
NBA Finals
The NBA (National Basketball Association) Finals begin this Thursday, with the Boston Celtics facing the Dallas Mavericks. For an in-depth analysis, tune into our Wednesday Wisdom podcast and get ready to join the conversation.
French Open Highlights
Rain-delayed late-night matches didn’t stop Novak Djokovic from securing his 369th Grand Slam win, tying Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam wins in men’s tennis history. Meanwhile, No. 1 ranked Iga Świątek handed a double bagel (6-0, 6-0) to Anastasia Potapova, completing the shortest match of her career in just 40 minutes.
WNBA Update
The Indiana Fever (Women’s National Basketball Association) celebrated their first home win of the season. Still, the game’s chatter was dominated by Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter’s flagrant foul, which initially went uncalled. The foul was later changed to a flagrant, and the Sky were fined for not making all players available for post-game media, including Angel Reese, who was fined $1,000.
Golf Drama and Triumph
Robert McIntyre won his first career event at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open with his dad, Dougie, as his caddie. This father-son duo proved to be a winning combination.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese golfer C.T. Pan experienced a unique challenge when his caddie, Mike "Fluff" Cowan, fell and couldn’t continue. Pan enlisted a fan from the gallery to carry his bag, but after one hole, another volunteer took over for the front nine. Finally, veteran caddie Al Riddell, who lives nearby and was watching the tourney on TV, stepped in for the back nine.
Stay Connected
That’s your Monday Minute! Stay tuned to Last Night's Game and follow us on social media for all the latest updates.
Photo: Unsplash
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Have you tried our Tailgate Treats? They’re fan favorite meals served best with friends (or you can keep them to yourself). READ
Photo: Instagram/wnba
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Monday Minute: Biles Is Back, Golf Arrests And Monumental Victories + Triple Crown Breakdown
Heading into the official start of the summer.
Here’s your quick rundown to start the week with all the excitement from the weekend. We've got you covered from the end of Mystic Dan's Triple Crown dreams to Simone Biles' stunning comeback. Let’s dive in!
Triple Crown Breakdown: Mystic Dan Falls Short
Mystic Dan's quest for the Triple Crown ended on Saturday at the Preakness Stakes, with Seize the Gray winning. Mystic Dan's second-place finish extends a six-year drought where the Kentucky Derby winner has failed to repeat at the Preakness Stakes. This is the longest such drought since 1989 to 1997, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Simone Biles’ Road to Paris
Simone Biles made a triumphant return at the U.S. Classic at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. She dominated the field, winning the all-around title with 59.5 points, her highest score since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Her performance was nearly two points ahead of runner-up Shilese Jones. For the first time, 3 Black women, including Biles, Rebeca Andrade and Shilese Jones, swept the world championship podium, making it the first all-Black podium in World Championships gymnastics history.
PGA Championship: Schauffele’s Major Win
Xander Schauffele finally got the monkey off his back, winning his first career major title at the PGA Championship (Profesional Golfers Association). Schauffele, who has had 12 top-10 major finishes without a victory, matched the lowest round in major history with a nine-under 62 on Thursday. Check out more details about his victory [here]().
Scottie Scheffler’s Legal Drama
Charges against Scottie Scheffler are expected to be dropped this week, but here’s a little background on what got him into that scenario. The incident occurred after a tragic event where a security guard, John Mills, was struck by a bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. This led to significant traffic issues, resulting in Scheffler’s arrest when he allegedly drove past a police officer directing traffic. Scheffler later described the incident as "a big misunderstanding." Read more about the situation.
PWHL Finals: Boston vs. Minnesota
The Professional Women’s Hockey League is wrapping up its inaugural season with a heated finals. Boston is leading 1-0 in the best-of-five series against Minnesota. The excitement continues as these two teams compete for the championship.
NHL Playoffs: Game 7 Showdown
Canada is going to be rocking tonight as the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers (National Hockey League) face off in Game 7 of the Western Conference second round at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. With a spot in the conference finals, this game will surely be a thriller.
Stay tuned for all these exciting events and more. For detailed updates, follow us here or on social and keep yourself in the loop with all the sports action this week.
Photo: Unsplash
What’s Cookin’?
Have you tried our Tailgate Treats? They’re fan favorite meals served best with friends (or you can keep them to yourself). READ
Photo: Instagram/wnba
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Finally, a trend we can get on board with. MORE