One of the biggest controversies in wrestling history gets the spotlight again in the Netflix series ‘Mr. McMahon’: the Montreal Screwjob.

As most wrestling fans know, in 1997 at the Bell Centre, Bret Hart defended the WWF title against Shawn Michaels. During the match, Michaels had Hart in the sharpshooter — Hart’s signature move — and Vince McMahon ordered referee Earl Hebner to end the match early, despite Hart not tapping out, and declare Michaels the winner. The infamous moment was met with heavy backlash, but also doubts as to whether Hart knew it was going to happen, or he was genuinely screwed out of giving up the title.

With a docuseries focusing on all the major moments of McMahon’s rise to power, the WWE founder, Michaels and Hart all had another chance to speak again on what happened that night.

What is said about the Montreal Screwjob?

Ahead of the match, Hart and McMahon discussed how ‘The Hitman’ was going to leave WWE for WCW. With his champion set to depart, McMahon wanted Hart to drop the title in his final appearance. The only issue was Hart didn’t want to drop the title to Michaels because the two had a legitimate feud against one another.

”Bret, I want you to do the honors for Shawn tonight, because we need someone to replace you. And Bret said ‘Well, I don’t wanna do that,” McMahon recalled.

Current WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque said he then told McMahon if Bret wasn’t going to drop the title, then he would have to do it for him. McMahon then told Hart the plan was going to be the match ending by disqualification. But when Michaels got to putting Hart in the sharpshooter, McMahon said he ordered the match to be ended, and he was ringside on purpose.

“I wanted to be out at ringside so that (Hart) would know what happened, and I took back what was mine. Bret obviously didn’t like that,’ McMahon said.

Hart then talked about how angry he was about it, with the notion he was not in on the ending.

‘It’s hard for people to imagine how mad you can get when you get betrayed like that on national television, and in a lot of ways, kind of made a fool of,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t have given a man more than what I gave Vince McMahon. None of that meant anything when Vince screwed me that day in Montreal.’ 

Was anyone else in on the Montreal Screwjob?

No other person confirmed they were in on the Montreal Screwjob, including Michaels, who told Hart after the match he wasn’t in on it. But Levesque made it appear he at least knew what was going to happen.

‘Vince was so adamant we had to absolutely swear that we knew nothing about this. He was like, ‘I don’t care who asks you, you bold-face lie right to them and say ‘I knew nothing about this. This was a Vince McMahon call,” he said.

Hart and McMahon met in the locker room after the incident, and the WWE boss said he knew he was going to be hit. When they confronted, McMahon said Hart hit him so hard ‘right in the temple’ and it knocked him out.

“He was out cold like a starfish,’ Hart said. ‘Probably the best thing I ever did, and he deserved every bit of that.’

McMahon capped off looking back at the incident by saying he doesn’t regret doing it at all.

The Pac-12 officially has its seventh member.

Utah State will be joining the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026, it announced Tuesday night, becoming the fifth Mountain West school to defect to the rebuilding conference.

The Pac-12 said the conference board of directors voted unanimously to admit Utah State, which will compete in the conference in all sports beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.

‘Utah State brings invaluable strategic insights and leadership that will greatly benefit our conference and its members as well as a history of competitive excellence and success. Today marks another exciting step for the Pac-12 – and it’s just the beginning of phase two,’ commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement.

The addition of the Aggies to the Pac-12 gives the conference seven universities. In addition to Washington State and Oregon State, the only two remaining members after this summer’s mass exodus, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State announced they were bolting to the Pac-12 less than two weeks ago.

The official announcement of Utah State also comes the same day the Pac-12 filed a lawsuit against the Mountain West. The two sides are in a scheduling agreement in football for this season for the Cougars and Beavers, but the Pac-12 is seeking declaratory relief from a judge over millions of dollars in penalties the Mountain West believes it is owed from the Pac-12 for acquiring its schools. The league’s current scheduling agreement with the Pac-12 calls for the Pac-12 to pay the Mountain West a withdrawal fee of $43 million if it poaches four Mountain West teams and $67.5 million if it poaches six, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

With seven members, the Pac-12 is just one school shy of meeting NCAA rules for the Football Bowl Subdivision, which requires conferences have a minimum of eight schools. The conference is currently being allowed to operate as a two-team league under a two-year grace period until July 2026, giving the league time to figure out what to do next after 10 other members recently left for more money, exposure and stability in other conferences. Since Utah State is departing, the Mountain West is also left with seven members and will likely need to expand to meet the NCAA requirements.

Earlier this week, the Pac-12 was interested in adding American Athletic Conference members Memphis, South Florida, Tulane and UTSA. However, on Monday, the four schools announced their commitment to the AAC.

In Tuesday’s announcement, the Pac-12 said the seven members will ‘collaboratively chart additional membership and other future conference considerations.’ One more school is all it needs.

OAKLAND — Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien walked into the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday and immediately the memories came searing through his body.

He no longer plays for the Oakland A’s, no longer lives in the Bay Area, but this is where his heart and soul will always reside.

This is home.

He was born and raised in the East Bay.

He went became an All-Star-caliber player with the A’s.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

He became a rich man after playing with the A’s.

And now, after coming to the Coliseum when he was just 5 years old, rooting for Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Jermaine Dye and all of the great A’s stars, later playing for the A’s and now as a visiting player, it hit him Tuesday night.

This will be the last time in his life he’ll be playing baseball in the Coliseum, with the A’s playing their final game at the stadium on Thursday against the Rangers.

“I’m focused on us playing good baseball,’’ Semien says, “but it’s a pretty surreal thing for someone to tell you these are the last baseball games here. I still don’t believe it.

“I’m sure when the game’s over [Thursday], and take the bus out of here, it’ll really hit me.’’

The A’s are moving to Sacramento after the season, two hours north of Oakland, where they’ll play for at least the next three years.

Then, they’re scheduled to permanently play in Las Vegas as early as the 2028 season.

Just like that, the 57-year-old Oakland Coliseum, home of four World Series championships, six pennants, 17 division titles and seven Hall of Famers, will be vacant.

“Definitely, there’s a lot of emotion for me,’’ Semien said. “This place is special for me. They gave me an opportunity here.

“I played a lot of Major League Baseball here, apparently more than anybody in the league right now. I worked out in this weight room, developed myself into a major-league player here. So that’s the part that really stings.’’

Semien indeed has played more games at the Coliseum (408) than any active player, while also being the active leader in hits, doubles, triples and runs at the stadium.

Now, with perhaps a scoop of dirt before he leaves the field on Thursday, he’ll be saying good-bye.

Semien says his family will be all be on hand for the three-game series, including Thursday’s finale. Security officials spoke to the Rangers before Tuesday’s game, warning them to be cautious in case fans become overzealous.

There’s expected to be 200 Oakland police officials on hand, compared to the usual size of 19, but this will be a game like no other, with the game sold out months ago.

Semien believes the crowd will be respectful, knowing that if things are thrown onto the field, it’s not as if A’s owner John Fisher will be cleaning the debris. It will be the loyal stadium workers who would have to clean up, most who are losing their jobs after Thursday.

“Personally, I’m not [concerned],’’ Semien says. “We kind of figured out a plan to make sure everybody’s safe. I’m good. I don’t know what the setup is exactly yet, but think they came up with a pretty good plan.

“I mean, I wasn’t at the last Raider game here, but I’ve seen what the frustrations were with the Raider fans, and them leaving. It’s definitely understandable.’’

Semien is hopeful that instead of worrying about any fan actions, his final memory of the Coliseum will be a home run, and perhaps a victory, too, scooping up some infield dirt before leaving town.

“It’s a special place, especially for a kid growing up in this area,’’ Semien says. “Once the Raiders left and this just became a baseball stadium, it was like, ‘this is cool.’ I spent the off-seasons here and working out on the field. I just thought that was a new beginning. It’s already over.

“So, it’s kind of sad how quickly that lasted.’’

While the A’s might be gone, it’s not as if the Coliseum will be torn down, with soccer games and other events planned for the facility.

Who knows, perhaps one day, a billionaire could emerge, refurbish or rebuild the Coliseum, and put Oakland in line for a potential MLB expansion site.

“I still think that there’s hope sometime for a team to come back here,’’ Semien said. “This particular lot of land is still going to be here if they ever wanted to build a stadium. So if anybody ends up taking over, and have the idea to bring them back …

“It depends on who’s in charge, you know. But it’s an area that’s hungry for baseball regardless of how the crowds have looked at times. When the ballclub is good, and if it was a better facility, it would have been a better situation.’’

Besides, Semien can attest, miracles can happen. When he was playing for the University of California, Berkeley, the baseball program was scheduled to be shut down after his junior year in 2011. Players were already planning recruiting trips to different schools. Halfway through the season, the team was saved with $9 million in donations.

So, who knows, maybe someone can come to the rescue again one day.

“I’m not a billionaire, I’m a player,’’ Semien says. “I would have liked the A’s to have a nicer place right here. I grew up here. I played here. I know this area.

“With good facilities, good concessions, good fan experience, you bring people. It’s all about the people. It’s something special for this community.

“I know all of the security guards. I know all of the people who work here. I’m sad for them.’’

1. A brave new (and always better) world

Change is evil, we’ve been told. The beauty and pageantry, the soul of fall Saturdays, is gone. 

Until it isn’t.

Until reeling Michigan finds itself against surging Southern California and reasserts in the first game of the new Big Ten.

Until Tennessee leaves no doubt about where it’s headed in its first game in the new SEC, and how we all better get serious about living under a Big Orange Moon. 

Until Georgia and Alabama — the undisputed kings of the sport in the College Football Playoff era — prepare this week for a regular season heavyweight fistfight that can only be described as Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns.

“I can’t imagine anything making any game feel less important in this sport,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart told me in July.

I ask you, when has change in college football ever not worked?

The Bowl Championship Series arrived in 1998, and was full of annual whining and complaining. And the sport exploded from regional popularity to national relevance. 

The College Football Playoff arrived a decade ago, and the “end of every game matters” crowd wailed. Now college football is second only to the big, bad NFL in popularity. 

Now that the CFP has expanded to 12 teams (and eventually 14 or 16 in 2026), those same nattering nabobs of negativism are complaining about the “loss of the regular season.”

I think I can speak for Illinois vs. Nebraska, Stanford vs. Syracuse and San Jose State vs. Washington State — high-level, last-second games last week on a random Friday night — when I say, are you out of your collective minds?

In the last 26 years, college football has survived (in no particular order): multiple postseason format changes, multiple phases of conference realignment eliminating two (two!) Power conferences (Big East, Pac-12), and multiple lawsuits that exposed the nonsensical ideal of the “amateur model” and moved the sport closer than it has ever been to a mini version of the NFL.

To this I say: yeah, so?

Players earning off their name, image and likeness, and free player movement, and more postseason games doesn’t mean the end of college football as we know it. 

It means the birth of something bigger and better. 

BOWL PROJECTIONS: Two unlikely newcomers join the playoff field

PLAYOFF BRACKET: SEC teams likely facing squeeze at end of season

2. Georgia vs. Alabama: Let’s play three

It wasn’t that long ago when Alabama vs. LSU was the be-all, end-all of the 2011 season. Then they played again in the BCS National Championship Game, the horror of that rematch pushing the sport into the CFP era.

Now here we are, and Georgia and Alabama could conceivably play three times this season. So could Ohio State and Oregon. 

So could Tennessee and Georgia, or Tennessee and Alabama or numerous other combinations of elite teams within the SEC and Big Ten. We could even get — hold onto your hat, folks — three Holy Wars in one season. 

I’m not sure the state of Utah could handle it — though it would be fantastic to introduce the world to the most hated rivalry this side of Alabama-Auburn.

Look, if you’d rather see Georgia vs. TCU because it’s “different,” take your 58-point loss in a national championship game and be happy with it.     

I’ll take the possibility of what happened In the 2021 NFL season, when the 49ers and Rams played three times — and the last two games were undeniably the best two of the entire season.

3. More is better, The Epilogue

Let’s debunk one narrative that quickly gained traction with the introduction of the new CFP format: the same three or four teams will win, anyway.

More teams in a tournament means more games, and more opportunity for rare individual performances. And more opportunity for injuries to impact games. 

Winning three or four postseason games in a long season that includes multiple heavyweight games in the regular season isn’t as inevitable as you think. Consider this road for No.1 Georgia: games remaining at No. 4 Alabama, at No. 2 Texas, at No. 5 Mississippi and vs. No. 6 Tennessee (still think the regular season is “lost” with the new CFP format?). 

If the Bulldogs get through that schedule, they’ll need another win in the SEC championship game against another heavyweight to earn a first-round bye in the CFP. Or they’ll have to win four more games to win it all.       

4. Army vs. Navy: twice in one season

I don’t want to be an alarmist, but we’re not that far from Army and Navy playing twice in one season. 

The Cadets and Midshipmen are unbeaten, and both will be a handful in American Athletic. 

Navy beat AAC favorite Memphis by 12 last week, and still must play remaining league heavyweights South Florida and Tulane. Army doesn’t play any of the three.

If Army and Navy advance to the conference championship game, it will be played the week before the annual game. That’s right, everyone, back-to-back weeks of the greatest rivalry in college football.

The only question that remains: which is more important? A conference championship, or The Game. 

5. The Weekly Five: Welcome to the season, Ohio State

Five key facts for national title favorite Ohio State, which gets its first test of the season Saturday at Michigan State. 

1. A star-filled offense is averaging 8.6 yards per play (TB Quinshon Judkins, 9.3 yards per carry; WR Jeremiah Smith, 20.1 yards per catch).

2. The Buckeyes are Top five in the nation in scoring offense (52.3) and defense (6.7).

3. The offense has seven plays of 40-plus yards, five of 50-plus yards and three of 60-plus yards. 

4. The three opponents this season (Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall) have a combined 3-7 record. 

5. Ohio State’s last win vs. a power conference team was Nov. 18, 2024, a 37-3 win over Minnesota.

6. An NFL scout’s view: Michigan CB Will Johnson

An NFL scout analyzes a draft eligible player. The scout requested anonymity to protect the team’s draft preparation.

“He’s physical and long, and is a terrific athlete. He understands the game situationally, which is so underrated. He knows how to set up quarterbacks and receivers, and you can tell he studies opponents and specific players. A smart football guy who is also an elite athlete, and has been making plays in big games since his freshman season. The first player taken at his position.”

7. Power Play: Utah arrives

This week’s College Football Playoff poll, and one big thing. 

1. Texas: Defense is No. 2 in the nation in scoring (5.5 ppg.) and opponent long scrimmage plays of 10-plus yards (5 per game), No.4 in opponent third down conversion percentage (21.8), and No.15 in turnovers forced (8).

2. Ohio State: The combined scoring defense ranks of Ohio State’s three opponents: Akron (130th in the nation), Western Michigan (129th) and Marshall (92nd). 

3. Miami: Canes lead the nation sacks (16), and Virginia Tech — Friday’s ACC opener in Miami — is 110th in the nation in sacks allowed (10). 

4. Utah: If QB Cam Rising (lacerated finger) is healthy, no one in the Big 12 is beating the Utes. 

5. Georgia: Georgia’s only win vs. Alabama under Smart was against a Tide team playing without its two best receivers in the second half of the 2021 national championship game. 

6. Alabama: The quarterback comparison in the Georgia series since 2016 (Smart’s first season at Georgia): Alabama quarterbacks (15 TD, 6 INT), Georgia quarterbacks (11 TD, 7 INT).

7. Tennessee: In four games, the Vols’ defense has got off the field with a three and out, on downs, with a turnover or a safety in 37 of 54 drives — or 68.5 percent of the time. 

8. Ole Miss: The combined record of the Rebels’ first four opponents (Furman, Middle Tennessee, Wake Forest, Georgia Southern ): 5-10.

9. Oregon: Ducks don’t play a new Big Ten rival until Oct. 4 (Michigan State), or a road game against a new conference rival until Oct. 16 (at Purdue). 

10. Missouri: Despite three legitimate deep threat options (WRs Luther Burden III, Theo Wease Jr., Mookie Cooper). QB Brady Cook is averaging only 7.1 yards per attempt.

11. Clemson: The offense is finding its pace and stride, and Tigers likely won’t be tested until the first week of November (vs. Louisville).  

12. Boise State: Washington State, potentially the Broncos’ most difficult game on the schedule, is 84th in the nation in run defense. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty leads the nation in rushing (193.7 ypg.), and is averaging 10.5 yards per carry. 

8. Mail bonding: Penn State’s first test

Matt: Why haven’t I seen Penn State in any of these College Football Playoff projections? No love for the Nits? — Paul Davidson, Richmond, Va.

Paul: 

It’s starts with the schedule. The West Virginia win was clunky with weather delays, a game that everyone eventually ignored. Then Bowling Green nearly beat Penn State in Week 2, and the Lions routed a terrible Kent State team — after an open week — last weekend.

Translation: there’s nothing sexy about the Lions. Yet. 

We’ll learn plenty about Penn State this week against unbeaten and surging Illinois. Two teams with similar styles (run the ball and throw play action, and play strong defense), this has the potential to devolve into a classic Big Ten rock fight.

Like it or not, fair or not, CFP projections — and to a point, weekly polls and the actual CFP poll — are influenced by offense. Penn State’s offense needs to show it in a game that matters.    

9. Numbers game: Nebraska’s swoon

34. When Nebraska lost to Illinois in overtime last Friday, it marked the 34th one-possession loss by the Huskers since the start of the 2017 season.

That number is far ahead of any other program in the nation, and has been the deciding factor in Nebraska failing to reach the postseason in the previous seven seasons. 

The Huskers have lost in nearly every conceivable way, including six games in overtime, three times to Group of Five schools (Northern Illinois, Troy, Georgia Southern), and five contest by a combined 22 points to bitter rival Iowa.

Next up: desperate Purdue, blown out in back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Oregon State. The Boilermakers have three wins over Nebraska since 2017 by a combined 15 points.      

10. The last word: Beware, LSU

LSU under new defensive coordinator Blake Baker is 14th in the SEC in scoring defense and total defense, and giving up an SEC-worst six yards per play. 

It is here where we introduce South Alabama, LSU’s opponent Saturday and a dangerous spot for a defense that hasn’t stopped anyone this season. Redshirt freshman QB Geo Lopez hasn’t thrown an interception all season, has nine touchdown passes and is averaging 9.2 yards per attempt.

The Brian Kelly isolation camera could get interesting on the SEC Network telecast.

The Columbus Crew have a chance to add another championship in a historic run under coach Wilfred Nancy.

The Crew, reigning 2023 MLS Cup champions, will host Club América, which won the 2023 Apertura and 2024 Clausura LIGA MX seasons, in the 2024 Campeones Cup on Wednesday night in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus, which also won Leagues Cup 2024 a month ago, could win its third title in a year with a victory tonight.

We’ll provide live updates below throughout the match. Here’s everything you need to know:

What time is the Campeones Cup?

The Campones Cup begins at 7:30 p.m. ET inside Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio – home of the Columbus Crew.

How to watch Columbus Crew vs. Club América in Campeones Cup live stream?

The match will be streamed live via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish, and on TUDN exclusively in Spanish.

What is the Campeones Cup?

The Campeones Cup is an annual competition that pits the winners of the previous MLS and LIGA MX seasons against each other for a trophy. This will be the sixth edition.

Think of it as a North American version of the Finalissima, the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, which sees the Copa America winner take on the UEFA Euro champions in a match.

Columbus Crew on title run

The Columbus Crew beat LAFC 2-1 in the 2023 MLS Cup, lost to Pachuca 3-0 in the Concacaf Champions Cup final June 1, and beat LAFC 3-1 in the Leagues Cup final Aug. 25.

The Campeones Cup is the fourth chance for Columbus Crew to win a trophy before the MLS season ends and the MLS Cup playoffs begin to end the 2024 season.

The Crew has also been here before: After winning the MLS Cup in 2020, the Crew won the Campeones Cup in 2021.

Campeones Cup winners

MLS teams have won three of the five Campeones Cups:

2018: Tigres UANL 3, Toronto FC 1
2019: Atlanta United 3, Club América 2
2021: Columbus Crew 2, Cruz Azul 0
2022: New York City FC 2, Atlas FC 0
2023: Tigres UNAL 0 (4), LAFC 0 (2)

Columbus Crew vs. Club América recent history

These teams last met during Leagues Cup 2023 group play, where the Crew beat Club América 4-1 on July 31, 2023. Cucho Hernández scored twice, while Christian Ramirez and Steven Moreira scored for Columbus, while Kevin Álvarez scored for Club América.

Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami on Oct. 2

The Crew is still in contention for the MLS Supporters Shield, and will be one of the most feared teams, along with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, for the MLS Cup this year. They’ll meet at Lower.com Field on Oct. 2.

Top 3 MLS Eastern Conference standings: Inter Miami (64 points), Cincinnati (56) and Columbus (56).
Top 4 MLS Supporters Shield standings: Inter Miami (64), LA Galaxy (58), Cincinnati (56) and Columbus (56).

Columbus Crew has four regular season matches remaining, while Inter Miami, LA Galaxy and Cincinnati have three games left this season.

ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ is marking the return of a familiar face in Tuscaloosa.

The show announced it will be heading to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the first time since former coach Nick Saban, who led the Crimson Tide program to six national championships, retired and joined ‘College GameDay.’ It’s not a surprise ESPN picked Tuscaloosa; on Saturday night, No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama will face off in what should be one of the biggest games of the year. Both teams will be coming off of a bye week.

Georgia (3-0) is currently sitting at No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, while Alabama (3-0) is fourth.

Here’s what to know for the fifth ‘College GameDay’ of the season.

Where is ESPN College GameDay this week?

‘College GameDay’ will be held near the Denny Chimes tower in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the Week 5 game between the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs and the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Who is the College GameDay celebrity guest picker this week?

ESPN has not yet announced the guest picker for Week 5. Blake Shelton, the country music star, appeared as the guest picker last week.

When is ESPN College GameDay?

‘College GameDay’ will air from 9 a.m. to noon ET on Saturday, Sept. 28. 

How to watch ESPN College GameDay

‘College GameDay’ will air on ESPN and ESPNU. It is also available through ESPN+ streaming. 

ESPN College GameDay crew

Recently retired Alabama coach Nick Saban is a new addition on ‘College GameDay’ for the 2024 season. The crew now includes: 

Rece Davis
Kirk Herbstreit 
Lee Corso
Desmond Howard
Pat McAfee
Nick Saban
‘Stanford’ Steve Coughlin

The Pittsburgh Pirates cut first baseman Rowdy Tellez with six games left in the MLB regular season.

Normally, this move wouldn’t mean much. However, Tellez was just four plate appearances shy of a massive $200,000 bonus, and fans are clamoring for Tellez to get his due.

Why did the Pirates cut Rowdy Tellez?

While nothing is confirmed, the most obvious reason is to save money.

The Pirates have nothing to play for. They’ve been eliminated from playoff contention, so if Tellez was playing horrendously, taking him off the 28-man roster wouldn’t help them.

All things Pirates: Latest Pittsburgh Pirates news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The team may try to claim that it was due to Tellez’s poor play — but Tellez isn’t playing that poorly. Through 131 games, Tellez has slashed .243/.299/.392, good for a .691 OPS and 91 OPS+. He’s below average, for sure, but not so far that he’s worth cutting. He’s also tied for fourth on the team in home runs (13) and third in RBIs (56).

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told reporters telling reporters that the impending bonus had ‘zero factor’ on the decision to cut Tellez.

‘We feel like we gave Rowdy lots of opportunity here this year,’ Cherington told reporters Tuesday night. ‘To his credit, he fought through some difficult times earlier in the year and fought his way out of it. Had periods of success and periods of frustration. This is just where we got to in the season.’

Cherington added, ‘In the old days of expanded rosters, we probably wouldn’t be sitting here having this conversation. But there are 28 spots, and 14 are going to go to position players. We feel like we have to get the 14 guys on the team, wherever we can, who have the best chance to contribute past this year.’

Who did the Pirates call up to replace Rowdy Tellez?

In cutting Tellez (as well as outfielder Michael A. Taylor), the Pirates called up infielder Liover Peguero and outfielder Josh Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis. Peguero was an easy call-up: He led all Pirates minor leaguers in hits (127), RBIs (79) and doubles (29) and tied for second in extra-base hits (46).

Palacios was a bit of a head-scratcher, though. In 20 games with the Pirates earlier this year, he hit .230 with two home runs and seven RBIs, which would put him on pace for pretty much the exact same stat line as Tellez for the season. Obviously, the two play different positions, and the Pirates’ need for an outfielder after cutting Taylor could’ve played into this decision.

The WNBA playoffs continue and will feature an exciting matchup between the top-seeded New York Liberty and the defending champions, the No. 4 seed Las Vegas Aces, in the semifinals.

Following their impressive victories in the first round, the Liberty and the Aces are set to clash in a best-of-five series. New York’s sweep of Atlanta and Las Vegas’s similar triumph against Seattle have set the stage for an electrifying semifinal showdown.

All eyes are on the first-round matchups between the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever. Fans are on the edge of their seats, speculating if rookie Caitlin Clark and the Fever, who are making their first playoff push since 2016, can make the necessary changes to bounce back from a 93-69 blowout loss to the Sun, or if it’s the end of their season.

The WNBA playoffs are here, and the excitement is palpable. Here’s everything you need to know about the rest of the WNBA playoffs.

WNBA playoffs bracket, results

First round matchups

No. 8 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 1 New York Liberty
No. 7 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 2 Minnesota Lynx
No. 6 Indiana Fever vs. No. 3 Connecticut Sun
No. 5 Seattle Storm vs. No. 4 Las Vegas Aces

2024 WNBA postseason schedule:

All times Eastern

Sunday, Sept. 22:

Game 1: New York 83, Atlanta 69
Game 1: Connecticut 93, Indiana 69
Game 1: Minnesota 102, Phoenix 95
Game 1: Las Vegas 78, Seattle 67

Tuesday, Sept. 24:

Game 2: New York 91, Atlanta 82, Liberty win series 2-0
Game 2: Las Vegas 83, Seattle 76, Aces win series 2-0

Wednesday, Sept. 25:

Game 2: Indiana at Connecticut (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 2: Phoenix at Minnesota (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Friday, Sept. 27:

Game 3*: Connecticut at Indiana (TBD, ESPN 2)
Game 3*: Minnesota at Phoenix (TBD, ESPN 2)

WNBA Semifinals:

Sunday, Sept. 29:

Game 1: Las Vegas at New York (TBD)

Tuesday, Oct. 1:

Game 2: Las Vegas at New York (TBD)

Friday, Oct. 4:

Game 3: New York at Las Vegas (TBD)

Sunday, Oct. 6:

Game 4*: New York at Las Vegas (TBD)

Tuesday, Oct. 8:

Game 5*: Las Vegas at New York (TBD)

* = If Necessary

(This story was updated to add a video and new information)