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WNBA Power Rankings: First Lynx, Liberty losses open race to Cup championship

by admin June 17, 2025

Michael VoepelJun 17, 2025, 08:30 AM ET
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The Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty losing their first games of the season didn’t change the top of ESPN’s WNBA Power Rankings, but it did shake up the Commissioner’s Cup picture.

A week ago, it seemed likely that the Lynx and Liberty would meet in the championship game on July 1, as they did last year. Now, the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever — with Caitlin Clark back in the latter lineup after missing five games (quad injury) — have a chance to beat the Liberty to represent the Eastern Conference, while the Seattle Storm face the Lynx for those rights in the Western Conference. And it all comes down to Tuesday’s concluding Cup games.

Let’s start in the East.

If the Dream beat the Liberty on the road, Atlanta will represent the East regardless of whether the Fever beat the Connecticut Sun thanks to Atlanta’s win over Indiana on June 10. If the Dream lose and the Fever win, Indiana and New York would be 4-1 — the Fever would have the tiebreaker as a result of their Cup game victory over the Liberty on Saturday, when Clark returned to action. (Note that results before Cup games started June 1 don’t count.)

The Liberty, who won the Cup title in 2023 and lost the championship to the Lynx last year, need to beat the Dream and have the Fever lose to the Sun in order to reach New York’s third consecutive final.

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Meanwhile in the West, the Lynx, Storm and the Golden State Valkyries could all finish at 4-2 in the Cup standings along with the Phoenix Mercury, who concluded Cup play Sunday. But because of the various tiebreaking scenarios, Phoenix and Golden State are already eliminated.

Minnesota still controls its Cup destiny. The Lynx will advance to the final if they defeat the Las Vegas Aces at home or if Seattle loses on the road to the Los Angeles Sparks. Seattle would need both a win over Los Angeles and a Minnesota loss to advance.

If the Lynx and Liberty don’t meet for the Commissioner’s Cup title, we won’t see the league’s two best teams face off until late July in what would be the first of four meetings over three weeks.

Previous ranking: 1

Next seven days: vs. LV (June 17), vs. LA (June 21)

Coach Cheryl Reeve was very pragmatic after last Wednesday’s 94-84 loss at Seattle, saying Minnesota simply didn’t play well enough to win on the road. The Lynx bounced back with a 101-78 win over the Sparks on Saturday behind Napheesa Collier ‘s 32 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. That, combined with the Liberty’s loss to the Fever, keeps the Lynx in the top spot. A win over Las Vegas on Tuesday gets Minnesota back into the Commissioner’s Cup final a year after winning it.

Previous ranking: 2

Next seven days: vs. ATL (June 17), vs. PHO (June 19), @ SEA (June 22)

The Liberty are not the same team without starters Jonquel Jones (ankle) and Leonie Fiebich (overseas commitment for EuroBasket). Coach Sandy Brondello said the team hopes to have Jones back for Tuesday’s game against the Dream, but the Liberty are thinking “big picture” about her health as it pertains to a long season. Sabrina Ionescu’s scoring stood out last week with a combined 57 points between a win over Chicago and a loss at Indiana.

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Clark, Ionescu trade buckets as Fever hand Liberty first loss

Caitlin Clark scores 32 points with seven 3s to lead Indiana past New York, despite 34 points and four 3s from Sabrina Ionescu.

Previous ranking: 5

Next 7 days: @ NY (June 17), vs. WAS (June 20), vs. CHI (June 22)

This is how effectively new coach Karl Smesko has translated his 3-point heavy offense from college to the WNBA: Atlanta set a franchise record with 18 3s in Sunday’s win at Washington. The Dream’s 84.6 points per game also rank third in the league compared to a league-worst 77.0 last season. Overall, they went 3-0 last week with wins over Indiana and Chicago, too, and are one win away from their first Commissioner’s Cup final. But they will have to get past the Liberty in New York on Tuesday.

Previous ranking: 4

Next 7 days: @ CON (June 18), @ NY (June 19), @ CHI (June 21)

The Mercury went 2-0 last week with victories over the Wings and Aces behind Satou Sabally’s combined 42 points and 18 rebounds. Their starting lineup and top reserves are now at full strength with Kahleah Copper (knee), Alyssa Thomas (calf) and Natasha Mack (back) having returned from injuries over the past week. Thomas had points-assists double-doubles in both wins after missing five games.

Previous ranking: 6

Next 7 days: vs. CON (June 17), @ GS (June 19), @ LV (June 22)

It took Caitlin Clark a quarter — in which she hit three consecutive long-range 3s — to reestablish her dynamic impact. She finished with 32 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds as the Fever handed the Liberty their first loss of the season Saturday, with Indiana making 17 3s just four days after losing to Atlanta with a season-low 58 points. The Fever did not have DeWanna Bonner (out for personal reasons) in the win but got a very good effort from their bench with a combined 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

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Caitlin Clark puts on a show with 25 first-half points in her return

Caitlin Clark lights it up with six 3s and 25 points in the first half in her first game back from injury for the Fever.

Previous ranking: 3

Next seven days: @ LA (June 17), @ LV (June 20), vs. NY (June 22)

Seattle has been hard to figure out. Are the Storm more like the team that dealt the Lynx their first loss last Wednesday? Or more like the team that was outrebounded 33-20 and fell 76-70 at the Valkyries on Saturday? It’s impossible to be sure right now, which is why the Storm have bounced around in each week’s edition of the Power Rankings. Thanks to the win over Minnesota, though, Seattle stays a smidge ahead of Golden State despite losing to the Valkyries on the road.

Previous ranking: 8

Next 7 days: @ DAL (June 17) vs. IND (June 19), vs. CON (June 22)

Perspective is everything. A 5-5 mark seems like a triumphant start for the Valkyries’ first season, even though that same record is arguably disastrous for the Aces. It looks like what the Valkyries said in the preseason about not underestimating them was not just hopeful rhetoric — they have won three in a row and lost the three games before that by an average of only 8.3 points. Kayla Thornton, picked up from New York in the expansion draft, has four double-doubles after just five total over her previous nine WNBA seasons.

Previous ranking: 7

Next 7 days: @ MIN (June 17), vs. SEA (June 20), vs. IND (June 22)

The Aces weren’t playing like contenders, even before three-time MVP A’ja Wilson entered the concussion protocol after being hit in the face during Wednesday’s 97-89 loss to the Sparks, though Las Vegas did rally to beat Dallas 88-84 on Friday before falling 76-70 to Phoenix on Sunday. Coach Becky Hammon said there should be more emphasis on penalizing hits to the head, telling reporters after the loss to the Mercury, “I think it’s something that people really have to start looking at, because people are dropping like flies with concussions.”

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Previous ranking: 10

Next 7 days: vs. SEA (June 17), @ MIN (June 21)

The Sparks fell 101-78 at the Lynx on Saturday, but let’s focus on the bright spots for Los Angeles: second-year forward Rickea Jackson, who missed games on May 30 and June 1 while in the concussion protocol, had a career-high 30 points in Wednesday’s 97-89 win over Las Vegas. And fellow post player Azura Stevens is averaging career bests in scoring (13.3) and rebounding (8.7) in her eighth WNBA season. That said, there is also a recent setback: Kelsey Plum, who leads the Sparks in scoring and assists, is out Tuesday with a leg injury.

Previous ranking: 9

Next 7 days: @ CHI (June 17), @ ATL (June 20), vs. DAL (June 22)

The Mystics have dropped four of their past five games since the end of May, including a 89-56 home loss to the Dream on Sunday in which Washington made only 3 shots from deep compared to Atlanta’s franchise-record 18. It was the Mystics’ lowest point total of the season and came only a week after they scored a season-high 104 against the Sun.

Previous ranking: 12

Next 7 days: vs. WAS (June 17), vs. PHO (June 21), @ ATL (June 22)

After losing to the Liberty and Dream earlier in the week, the Sky secured a much-needed pick-me-up Sunday with a 78-66 win at the Sun as Angel Reese got her first WNBA triple-double (11 points, 11 assists, 13 rebounds). Chicago has the league’s second-worst net rating at minus-14.6, ranking ahead of only Connecticut’s minus-22.

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Angel Reese has her first triple-double in the WNBA

Angel Reese records her first triple-double for the Chicago Sky with 11 assists, 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Previous ranking: 11

Next 7 days: @ IND (June 17), vs. PHO (June 18), vs. DAL (June 20), @ GS (June 22)

The Sun’s only game last week was their loss to the Sky, which highlighted just how much Connecticut’s offense and defense has struggled this season. The Sun have the league’s worst offensive rating (92.7) and lowest scoring average (71.3 points per game), plus the worst defensive rating (114.7). Somehow, the Sun still have one more victory than the Wings — but are also the only team that Dallas has defeated.

Previous ranking: 13

Next 7 days: vs. GS (June 17), @ CON (June 20), @ WAS (June 22)

The good news is that No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers has returned from the concussion protocol and illness, which kept her out four total games. She had 35 points in her return Wednesday, but Dallas still lost 93-80 at Phoenix. And just when the Wings looked like they could get back in the victory column Friday, the Aces outscored them 17-2 in the closing stretch of the 88-84 defeat.

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June 17, 2025 0 comments

Esports

J.J. Spaun’s future, favorites at The Open and how Ryder Cup are teams shaping up

by admin June 17, 2025

Mark Schlabach
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Mark Schlabach
ESPN Senior Writer
- Senior college football writer
- Author of seven books on college football
- Graduate of the University of Georgia
Paolo Uggetti

Jun 17, 2025, 08:11 AM ET

OAKMONT, Pa. — The U.S. Open, the third major championship of the season, produced the most unlikely champion in J.J. Spaun, who won in thrilling fashion with back-to-back birdies on the final two holes at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday.

Spaun was the only golfer to finish under par at 1-under 279, and he was the lone survivor on a day when the rain and wind made Oakmont even more treacherous.

The final major championship of the season, the Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland on July 17-20, is a month away.

Who will be the favorites in The Open? Will Spaun’s unlikely victory propel him to more wins? What about the Ryder Cup?

What do you expect from J.J. Spaun the rest of the season?

J.J. Spaun talks to the media after winning the 2025 U.S. Open. Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Mark Schlabach: Last season, Spaun missed the cut in 10 of his first 15 starts on the PGA Tour and was ranked 169th in the world. He was worried he might lose his tour card.

“Last year in June I was looking like I was going to lose my job, and that was when I had that moment where, ‘If this is how I go out, I might as well go down swinging,” Spaun said.

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Spaun turned things around late in the summer, and he’s been playing some of the best golf of his career this year. He tied for second at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches in February and lost to Rory McIlroy in a Monday playoff at the Players Championship. He’d been close to adding a second career victory on tour, and he finally got it done at one of the most difficult golf courses in the world.

“I think it’s just perseverance,” Spaun said. “I’ve always kind of battled through whatever it may be to kind of get to where I needed to be and get to what I wanted. I’ve done this before. I’ve had slumps kind of at every level. I’ve always kind of, I went back and said, ‘You’ve done this before. You’ve been down before. You got out of it.’ There’s kind of like a little pattern, so hopefully I don’t do that pattern again.”

Spaun’s competitors weren’t all that surprised that he won the U.S. Open, which is saying something. Although Spaun might not be that familiar of a name to people who don’t follow golf closely, he is considered one of the best ball-strikers in the world. His putter got hot over four days at Oakmont, which is one of the biggest reasons he won.

Paolo Uggetti: While at first glance it may seem like Spaun was a fluke U.S. Open winner, it’s a testament to his evolution as a player that he was able to outlast every person in the field this week.

As his new coach Josh Gregory detailed following the final round, Spaun could have been content just being a middling PGA Tour player — he had $17 million in career earnings prior to this week, after all — but instead he wanted, Gregory said, to be elite.

“It’d be very easy to settle and say what I’m doing works,” Gregory said. “To his credit, he said ‘I need to be better.'”

For Spaun, who has always been an elite ball-striker, that meant working on his putting and his chipping, which Gregory said he has helped with. This week was proof of the work he’s put in, and it will set him up well for the rest of the year. Now, whenever there is a course that prioritizes iron play, Spaun looks like he’ll also be able to rely on converting once he finds the green.

While contending at the final major of the year may be far-fetched given Spaun has never played in the Open, I fully expect Spaun to be in the mix at several PGA Tour events, including the upcoming Tour Championship.

Thoughts on the Ryder Cup after the year’s first three majors?

Schlabach: U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley was greeted by cheers of “USA! USA!” when he reached the 18th green at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday, and it’s a battle cry he’s going to hear often over the next few months.

Spaun all but secured his Ryder Cup spot by winning the U.S. Open. He’s third in points, trailing only world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and two-time major winner Xander Schauffele. Bryson DeChambeau is fourth, followed by Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa. They’re probably locks to make the team.

Besides Spaun winning, Russell Henley and Ben Griffin were probably the biggest moves at Oakmont. They tied for 10th at 5 over, and they’re now seventh and eighth in Ryder Cup points, respectively.

The top six players in the points standings after the BMW Championship on Aug. 17 will automatically make the team; Bradley will also make six captain’s choices.

Uggetti: I’m certain captain Luke Donald enjoyed seeing Viktor Hovland once again get close to securing his first major title as well as Tyrrell Hatton and even Jon Rahm, who nearly backdoored himself into contention, performing well. They all finished inside the top 10 and will all certainly be at Bethpage even if Rahm and Hovland are currently outside the top-6 in the European rankings at the moment.

Someone who is inside the top-6 is Robert MacIntyre, whose Sunday run to second place helped him score his best-ever finish in a major and bump his name all the way up to fourth in Ryder Cup standings.

MacIntyre was considered the last man two years ago in Rome, but he more than held his own going 2-0-1. On Tour this season, MacIntyre has four top-10 finishes, and that kind of result at a course like Oakmont will certainly strengthen his case and put him in a great position to return to the team in September.

Too-early thoughts on The Open Championship?

Scottie Scheffler didn’t play great the U.S. Open, but still managed to finish T-7. David Cannon/Getty Images

Schlabach: Scheffler battled his swing and his putter for 72 holes at Oakmont, but he managed to tie for seventh at 4 over for another top-10 finish at a major. Even at less than his best, Scheffler is still better than most, and I think the list of golfers who can contend at Royal Portrush starts with the three-time major winner.

“My main takeaway is I battled as hard as I did this week,” Scheffler said. “I was really proud mentally of how I was over the course of four days. I did a lot of things out there that could really kind of break a week, and I never really got that one good break that kind of propels you. I’d hit it this far off, and seemingly every time I did, I was punished pretty severely for it.”

Shane Lowry took home the Claret Jug the last time The Open was played in Northern Ireland in 2019, and I think he’ll be among the favorites again. Lowry struggled mightily in his second straight major and missed the cut after posting 79-78.

Rory McIlroy will be looking for redemption after missing the cut at Royal Portrush five years ago. He still battled his driver a bit at Oakmont but went home with some momentum after posting a 3-under 67 on Sunday. I think he’ll get his mind and swing in the right place before arriving in Northern Ireland.

“Look, if I can’t get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don’t know what can motivate me,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, as I said, I just need to get myself in the right frame of mind. I probably haven’t been there the last few weeks.

“But as I said, getting home and having a couple weeks off before that, hopefully feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, will get me in the right place again.”

Uggetti: How about the defending champion making another run at it? With everyone’s eyes on top of the leaderboard Sunday, Xander Schauffele quietly put together an under-par round to finish inside the top 12 at Oakmont.

Slowly but surely, Schauffele’s game has been rounding back into major championship form after he missed some time early in the season with a rib injury. In his last seven starts, Schauffele has five top-15 finishes.

“I’ve never been hurt before. So I think it was all kind of new,” Schauffele said this week. “I felt like I was playing at a pretty high level. Then I got hurt. My expectations of what I knew I could do to where I was were very different, and accepting that was tough. I think that was sort of the biggest wake-up call for me coming back.”

It’s fair to say Schauffele is nearly all the way back and just in time for the second major championship he won last season. The 31-year-old secured the Claret Jug last year at Troon with a marvelous Sunday performance that proved he could excel, not just on PGA Tour setups, but also on links courses with links conditions. Portrush will bring those two things to the stage in a month, and Schauffele will have the benefit of knowing he has won in that kind of environment before.

Besides Spaun, who were the biggest winners at Oakmont?

Schlabach: Viktor Hovland’s swing has been a mess — or at least he believed so — for much of the season, but he managed to get in the mix and finished third at 2 over and in third place. Hovland’s inner battle for perfection might preclude him from joining Scheffler, Schauffele and others as the truly best golfers in the world, but there’s little debate that he’s one of the most talented. Everything is there for him to win a couple of majors, at least.

“I keep progressing in the right direction, and to have a chance to win a major championship without my best stuff and not feeling very comfortable, it’s super cool,” Hovland said. “So I’m going to take a lot of positives with me this week.”

Although Adam Scott would have liked a better finish than Sunday’s 9-over 79, he was right there in the mix until conditions got bad on the second nine. I had believed Scott’s chances of contending in majors were over since he is 44 years old. But this was the first time he’s done it in quite a while, and he still might have something left in the tank to do it again.

Uggetti: I’ll go back to MacIntyre here. The man from Oban looked comfortable in the chaotic conditions Sunday and played the back nine at Oakmont in a bogey-free 2-under to grab the clubhouse lead that nearly got him in a playoff with Spaun.

“I’m just a guy who believes,” MacIntyre said. “Today was a day that I said to myself, ‘Why not? Why not it be me today?'”

All week, the Scotsman putted lights out, ranking fourth in strokes gained: putting and, despite a round of 74 on Friday, kept himself in the tournament that he predicted would have an even par winner.

MacIntyre was almost right.

Once he was finished with his round and he could only watch as Spaun drained the 64-foot birdie to secure a 1-under finishing score and the victory, cameras caught MacIntyre in the scoring room giving Spaun a hearty clap and an earnest “Wow.” It was a human moment that garnered a lot of praise and capped off a week MacIntyre will not soon forget.

“It feels great,” MacIntyre said of being in contention. “It’s what I’ve dreamed of as a kid, sitting back home watching all the majors. Yeah, it feels unbelievable.”

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June 17, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

FIFA Club World Cup Soccer: Stream Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City Live From Anywhere

by admin June 16, 2025

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The FIFA Club World Cup action shifts to Cincinnati on Sunday for a Group C clash that appears to be something of a mismatch, as German Bundesliga behemoth Bayern Munich takes on tournament underdog Auckland City.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch every match of the tournament as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if the match isn’t available where you are, along with a full fixture list.

Six-time UEFA Champions League winner Bayern comes into this tournament fresh from having clinched the German championship last month. With star man Harry Kane only just back from last week’s international duty with England, veteran striker Thomas Müller looks set to deputise up front for the Bavarians, while key defender Alphonso Davies is set to miss the tournament with a knee injury.

Auckland’s group of mainly part-time players, meanwhile, will be looking to pull off a major shock. The current OFC Champions League holder is seen as the weakest side in the tournament, but it comes into this game sitting in third in its domestic New Zealand National League and in reasonably good form, with three wins from its last four fixtures.

Bayern Munich take on Auckland City on Sunday, June 15, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET or 9 a.m. PT. That makes it a 5 p.m. BST start in the UK and a 2 a.m. AEST kickoff in Australia on Monday.

Thomas Muller is set to lead the line for Bayern Munich today in what is set to be the 35-year-old’s final tournament.

Alex Livesey/FIFA/Getty Images

Livestream the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 for free

The great news for footy fans is that sports streaming platform DAZN is set to broadcast all 63 matches of the FIFA Club World Cup free in almost every country, with coverage available in multiple languages.

DAZN

Existing DAZN subscribers or Freemium members can watch every game of the tournament as part of their current membership.

If you’re not a member, it’s easy to sign up for a free DAZN Freemium account using your email address to watch all the action at no cost through the DAZN app.

As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, DAZN offers a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the FIFA Club World Cup soccer action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.

It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.

However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.

If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.

James Martin/CNET

Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year)Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands

ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month.

Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)

Livestream Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City free in the UK

As well as DAZN, footy fans in the UK have a second option for watching FIFA Club World Cup matches that is also free.

Free-to-air broadcaster Channel 5 will show 23 select features live during the tournament, including today’s tournament opener.

That also means this match can be livestreamed via the network’s My5 online service. Coverage begins at 4 p.m. BST.

Channel 5 is available through Freeview, Freesat, Freely, Sky or Virgin Media.

If you want to stream the network’s coverage from the tournament, you can head to Channel5.com or download the dedicated My5 app for iOS, Android and smart TVs.

Livestream Bayern Munich vs. Auckland City in Australia

Like the UK, Australia also has a second option for watching the tournament live. Alongside DAZN’s free coverage, pay TV broadcaster Foxtel and its sister streaming service Kayo will also be showing all 63 games.

Kayo Sports

A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$40 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices.

The service gives you access to a wide range of sports, including F1, NRL, NFL, NHL and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts.

Better still, if you’re a new customer, you can take advantage of a one-week Kayo Sports free trial.

Quick tips for streaming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 soccer using a VPN

With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming soccer may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, because both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

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June 16, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Shane van Gisbergen wins NASCAR Cup race at Mexico City

by admin June 15, 2025

Jun 15, 2025, 07:15 PM ET

MEXICO CITY — Shane van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track — this one the iconic Mexico City road course — to win NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States in the modern era.

The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his first Cup victory since he won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago. That victory changed his career trajectory, and van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR.

Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride — van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR’s top level.

He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City earned him an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs with a shot to race for the Cup Series championship.

Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the first lap of the race because he’s an exceptionally skilled driver on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions.

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He won the pole in Mexico City and started the race as the betting favorite, particularly since rain was in the forecast. He had to contend with several challengers, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing among them, but took the lead for good with 31 laps remaining.

Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and van Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th.

Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.

Bell finished second in a Toyota for JGR — 16.567 seconds behind the winner. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet.

Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.

Chevrolets took five of the top-10 positions, including the victory.

Bad day for Busch

Kyle Busch, who started the race at the bottom of the playoff standings, suffered a massive setback when he crashed out of the race on the sixth lap and finished last in the 37-car field.

Busch, who was ranked 15th in the Cup Series standings when he arrived in Mexico City, blamed the incident on the wet track.

“Just in the rain, and I went down into (Turn) 11 and got on the brakes pretty hard, and everything was fine, everything was comfortable, stopped really good,” he said. “And I’m like ‘OK I can be a little more aggressive getting into 1,’ and I figured it was going to be fine, and as soon as I went to the brakes, it was like being on ice, and I was just sliding.

“About a second a half or so, I was trying to figure out which direction to go, and I was like I’ve got to turn this thing around backward, because I’m going to nail some people. Hate it for all those involved in my mishap. I hate that the rain came and now it’s nice and dry. Just have to go fight for more points in another week.”

Gordon gives command

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to give the command for drivers to start their engines and admitted before the race he’d done some practicing.

Why? Because he incorporated both English and Spanish in his delivery of the most famous words in racing.

“Hola Mexico!” Gordon shouted. “Pilotos start your engines!

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NASCAR races next Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where Ryan Blaney won last year.

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June 15, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

FIFA Club World Cup Soccer: Stream Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami Live From Anywhere

by admin June 15, 2025

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Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for free

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The inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup gets underway on Saturday with soccer legend Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates taking on Africa’s most successful club, Al Ahly.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is fit to start today’s game, alongside fellow big guns Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets however Spanish star Jordi Alba is set to miss out because of a hamstring injury. The Floridians form hasn’t been great coming into today’s game, with Javier Mascherano’s team currently sitting third in the MLS Eastern Conference after a run of just four wins from their last 12 games across all competitions.

Al Ahly, meanwhile, secured a record-extending 45th Egyptian Premier League title last month and come into this tournament opener having won their last six competitive matches. The prolific Wessam Abou Ali is the Red Devils’ key man, with the Palestinian striker having scored eight goals in Al Ahly’s last six matches.

Al Ahly take on Inter Miami on Saturday, June 14, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET or 5 p.m. PT. That makes it a 1 a.m. BST start in the UK and a 10 a.m. AEST kickoff in Australia on Sunday.

With Cristiano Ronaldo not appearing in this summer’s tournament, Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi has the chance to surpass the Portuguese star’s record for most FIFA Club World Cup goals. Messi has scored five goals in five Club World Cup appearances — just two behind Ronaldo’s tally.

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Livestream the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 for free

DAZN

Existing DAZN subscribers or Freemium members can watch every game of the tournament as part of their current membership.

If you’re not a member, it’s easy to sign up for a free DAZN Freemium account using your email address to watch all the action at no cost through the DAZN app.

As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, DAZN offers a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.

How to watch Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the FIFA Club World Cup soccer action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.

James Martin/CNET

Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months)

Livestream Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami free in the UK

As well as DAZN, footy fans in the UK have a second option for watching FIFA Club World Cup matches that is also free.

Free-to-air broadcaster Channel 5 is set to show 23 select features live during the tournament, including today’s tournament opener.

That also means this match can be live streamed via the network’s My5 online service. Coverage begins at 12 midnight BST.

Channel 5 is available through Freeview, Freesat, Freely, Sky or Virgin Media.

If you want to stream the network’s coverage from the tournament, you can head to channel5.com or download the dedicated My5 app for iOS, Android and smart TVs

Livestream Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami in Australia

Kayo Sports

A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$40 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices.

The service gives you access to a wide range of sports, including F1, NRL, NFL, NHL and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts.

Better still, if you’re a new customer, you can take advantage of a one-week Kayo Sports free trial.

Quick tips for streaming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 soccer using a VPN

With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming soccer may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, because both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

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June 15, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Mexico President Sheinbaum calls for no ICE action at Gold Cup

by admin June 14, 2025

Jun 13, 2025, 05:22 PM ET

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday urged U.S. authorities not to conduct immigration enforcement targeting attendees of a Gold Cup soccer match in Inglewood, California, where Mexico’s team is due to play the Dominican Republic on Saturday.

Her comments followed recent raids by immigration authorities in the Los Angeles area targeting undocumented migrants under policies associated with President Donald Trump’s administration, which have sparked protests across major cities.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in a now-deleted post to social media, had also promised to be “suited and booted” at the first round of Club World Cup soccer matches, the curtain-raiser event for next year’s World Cup.

“We don’t believe that at any soccer match there will be any [immigration] action. … We call for none to be taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Sheinbaum said in her morning news conference.

Asked if she would still advise fans to attend Saturday’s match at SoFi Stadium, Sheinbaum noted that Mexican consulates in the U.S. have established protocols to assist citizens if detained.

“This campaign we are carrying out through the consulates will provide all the information on what to do if detained, as well as ongoing contact with families,” Sheinbaum said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for immigration authorities not to target fans attending Gold Cup games in the U.S. Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu via Getty Images

In response to its social media post, CBP said it regularly provides security at big sporting events.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the FIFA Club World Cup 25 is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the Super Bowl. Our mission remains unchanged,” it told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Sheinbaum also addressed viral social media images of demonstrators in Los Angeles holding Mexican flags, dismissing them as “potential provocations.”

“Mexico will always promote peace,” she said, adding that its nationals in the U.S. are hardworking individuals who do not seek to incite violence.

Usually, the Mexican national team matches attract large crowds whenever it plays in Southern California. Its last match there was in March, when more than 50,000 fans attended a Nations League semifinal against Canada.

For safety concerns, the Mexican national team decided to change hotels earlier in the week and moved from downtown to Long Beach.

Mexico will play its next two Concacaf Gold Cup group stage matches in Arlington, Texas, and Las Vegas. The tournament also features Central American countries with sizable migrant populations in the United States.

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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June 14, 2025 0 comments