Welcome to Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Subscribe here to receive it every weekday morning.
๐จ Headlines
โณ๏ธ 18 holes down, 54 to go: Jhonattan Vegas (-7) leads the PGA Championship leaderboard without any top-10 ranked players. This marks a rare occurrence in tournament history.
Advertisement
๐ $8.5 billion: The 49ers are selling a 6% stake in the team at a record $8.5 billion valuation.
๐ช๐ธ Barรงa clinches title: Barcelona secures their 28th La Liga title with a 2-0 victory over Espanyol.
๐ NFL at LA28? NFL team owners will discuss allowing players to compete in flag football at the 2028 Olympics.
โฝ๏ธ Human rights complaint: A formal complaint has been filed against FIFA regarding the 2034 World Cup host Saudi Arabia.
๐ The Triple Crown needs a reset
Sovereignty won’t get the chance to compete for the Triple Crown this year. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Thirteen Triple Crown winners have been crowned in horse racing history. To see another, a new calendar may be necessary.
Advertisement
The new normal: Recent Derby winners are skipping the Preakness, indicating a change in horse breeding.
-
Horses are not bred for the demanding Triple Crown races, resulting in fewer contenders.
-
Many Derby winners opt out of the Preakness, affecting the competitive field.
The solution: Adjust the schedule to allow for better fields and more Triple Crown contenders.
Seize the Grey after winning the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes last year. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Spacing out the schedule could lead to more contenders and higher viewership.
-
By spacing out the races, the pressure on trainers and owners would be reduced, benefiting the long-term health of the horses.
-
Prominent thoroughbred owner Mike Repole has proposed a revised schedule to address these issues.
Tradition vs. change: Preserving tradition may conflict with the need for change to ensure the relevance of the Triple Crown.
Last word:
The breed has changed. The Triple Crown needs to change with it.
Advertisement
Preakness preview: Odds, pole positions
๐ธ Through the lens
(Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)
Washington, D.C. โ The Hurricanes defeat the top-seeded Capitals, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Denver โ The Nuggets force a Game 7 against the Thunder with a victory led by Jokiฤ and Murray.
(Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
Winnipeg โ The Jets defeat the Stars to extend the series.
๐ By the numbers: The WNBA is back
(Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports)
The 29th WNBA season begins today, here are some key facts and figures following the offseason.
Advertisement
+225
The Liberty are favorites to defend their title, followed by the Aces, Fever, and Lynx.
Year 2
Caitlin Clark, reigning ROY, leads the Fever into the new season as the MVP favorite.
13 teams
The Golden State Valkyries join the WNBA as an expansion team.
Advertisement
8 new coaches
The WNBA welcomes eight new coaches this season.
Best-of-7
The WNBA Finals will now be a best-of-seven series.
$2.2 billion
The WNBA secures a lucrative media rights deal, setting the stage for potential labor negotiations.
Advertisement
Go deeper: Preseason power rankings | Awards and playoff predictions