1st Down: The Las Vegas Aces are one game away from becoming WNBA champions for the first time in the franchise’s history. That’s because of their 85-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun at home on Tuesday night in Game 2 of the Finals. A’ja Wilson was nearly flawless, scoring 26 points on 10-13 shooting from the floor and racking up 10 rebounds as well while Chelsea Gray added 21 points and dished out eight assists in the ‘W.’ Game 3 will be back in Connecticut on Thursday as the Sun looks to live another day.
2nd Down: LIV Golf has announced the purse for its finale to be held in October at Trump National Doral, and it is quite a substantial amount of money that will be on the line. The field will compete for $50 million, which will be the largest in golf history to date. $16 million of that will go to the winners of the team competition, where 12 groups of four will compete to take home the prize. Second place will be splitting $10 million, so there is quite an incentive to rise as high as possible on the leaderboard.
3rd Down: Kyle Busch will be racing for the final time for Joe Gibbs Racing in a few weeks, with the driver confirming on Tuesday that he would indeed be headed elsewhere, signing a contract with Richard Childress Racing, to end months and months of speculation and negotiations. Busch has 60 overall Cup Series wins, but 56 of them were with JGR, so it’s a big step in the career of the 37 year-old. He has won two Cup titles, making him the only driver in the series with more than one currently, and RCR will hope that boosts their profile and spot after years of mediocrity. He will drive the #8 car in 2023, as the team will expand to three cars to accommodate him, Austin Dillon, and the soon-to-be-departing (in 2024) Tyler Reddick.
4th Down: The UEFA Champions League’s truncated group stage rolled on on Tuesday night across Europe, and the big story was the return of Robert Lewandowski to Munich as his new Barcelona side came up against his old Bayern team. The Pole was not given a fine welcome back as his team slipped to a 2-0 defeat after second-half goals from Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane denied the visitors. Elsewhere, Liverpool bounced back from an opening defeat to beat Ajax late at Anfield, with Joel Matip proving the hero in the 2-1 win with an 89th minute goal. Tottenham, meanwhile, fell 2-0 in Lisbon to Sporting to a pair of 90th minute goals from the hosts.
