Weekend Preview: WNBA All-Star Game, Beyonce's Shoutout + Olympic Nike Swag Bags
One week until the Olympics, but who’s counting?
Welcome to our weekend preview edition, where we have everything you need to know for sports small talk this weekend. Let's dive into the exciting events on the horizon.
WNBA All-Star Game
The weekend's biggest story is the WNBA All-Star Game (Women’s National Basketball Association), set for Saturday in Phoenix. The Phoenix Mercury is pulling out all the stops, highlighting the names of every all-star in WNBA history on their home court and showcasing previous games’ MVPs. Pitbull will perform at halftime, adding to the excitement.
The game features Team USA against the WNBA All-Stars, with rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese teaming up for the first time as members of the WNBA All-Stars. Clark will also be featured on the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) track on Josh Berry's No. 4 racing Ford this weekend.
WNBA All-Star selections earn a $2,575 bonus, with the MVP taking home $5,150. Winners of the three-point contest and skills competition each win $2,575, and participants earn $1,000.
Countdown to the Olympics
We're just one week away from the Summer Olympics opening ceremonies. Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles shared heartfelt messages from her heroes, Michael Jordan and Beyoncé. Jordan shared a plaque of Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" album art with a personal note and a text message from Michael Jordan, expressing his excitement to watch her win a gold medal.
Nike has unveiled their Nike athlete bag for Team USA, including 50 pieces of exclusive apparel, footwear and accessories for each athlete to stay comfortable and stylish in Paris, the world's fashion capital.
EA Sports NCAA Football Returns
Your video game-loving friends are definitely calling in sick today, with EA Sports releasing the revamped NCAA Football game today. Eleven years ago, the NCAA canceled its brand licensing contract, and EA Sports and Collegiate Licensing Company setted for $40M settlement for improper use of student athletes' names and likenesses. Now, NCAA Football is back, and fans, including Patrick Mahomes, are ecstatic. Mahomes is crediting the game's release and the Olympics for prompting him to bring a TV to training camp for the first time ever.
The British Open
Lastly, the final major of the golf season, the British Open (also known as the Open), is happening this weekend. The cut is today, so keep an eye on which players will make it through.
Have a fantastic weekend ahead! For more sports updates, check us out at lastnightsgame.com.
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Experience The Excitement When The WNBA's Finest Take The Court
The WNBA All-Star game will surely be a thrilling showcase of talent and competition.
Photo: Instgram/wnba
As the WNBA All-Star Game (Women’s National Basketball Association) approaches, anticipation reaches a fever pitch. With legendary players like Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner set to take the court, this year's game promises to be the greatest. But it’s not just about the stars; it's about the unique opportunity to witness history in the making and celebrate the peak of women's basketball talent. You won't want to miss this ball game, and here are the many reasons why.
Fans hold some power when it comes to shaping the WNBA All-Star lineup. The top 10 vote-getters land a spot on the team, showing off their skills to the delight of fans everywhere. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will be teammates due to their fans' support. No need to fret if your favorite player isn't on the Olympic team—they'll be rocking it on Team WNBA!
This year’s game is being held at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, as the court is set for hoop history. The iconic venue, home to the Phoenix Mercury and the Phoenix Suns, is hosting their first ever custom-designed court for the WNBA All-Star Game. The court will include the names of every All-Star in WNBA history and highlight the previous game MVPs.
If that's not enough to pique your interest, get ready for an electrifying halftime show at the WNBA All-Star Game featuring Pitbull, one of the world's most energetic artists ever. He's guaranteed to take the excitement to a whole new level.
So whether you’re grabbing a ticket or just tuning in at home, you won’t want to miss this WNBA All-Star game!
Swing for the Fences: The 2024 MLB Home Run Derby Showdown
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
In 1985, a long-standing tradition emerged as many of Major League Baseball's best home run hitters competed at the All-Star Game in the Home Run Derby. This year is no exception, with some rules changes, but the excitement over who will claim victory remains unchanged.
Before you head to the Home Run Derby—whether you're watching it live at the stadium or from home—there are a few key things to know. First, familiarize yourself with the updated rules, which evolved over the years. While players have had to adapt to these changes, one constant remains: to showcase and celebrate the league's power hitters. Here are the 2024 Home Run Derby rules explained.
The Home Run Derby will feature eight hitters in the first round, with no set seeds (a competitor or team given an initial ranking for a draw). The top four hitters advance to the semifinals, and seeds will be based on the number of home runs in that round, not on regular season performance.
Each round lasts three minutes. Hitters can face a maximum of pitches: 40 in the first round and semifinals and 27 in the finals. The round ends when the time is up, or the maximum number of pitches is reached, whichever comes first. If players hit the same number of home runs in the first round, the tie-breaker is who hit the longest home run. In terms of bonus pitches, each player now gets extra pitches until they make three outs during that time instead of getting just a 30-second extra time.
Although some rules have changed this year, one thing is clear: the top hitters will all compete together in the Derby. It’s the ultimate superhero team-up, with more home runs and fewer capes.