LOS ANGELES — It may only be two games into the season, but so far, No. 12 Southern California looks like it changed almost every narrative from the preseason.

How do they replace Caleb Williams? Miller Moss has looked like another solidified quarterback that could work his way into the Heisman conversation. 

The defense that couldn’t stop anyone last season? It limited LSU to 20 points and didn’t allow Utah State to score for its first shutout since 2011.

A team not really in the mix for a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff spot? That may change this weekend.

USC will officially debut as a member of the Big Ten with its first conference game on Saturday. The team welcoming them will be the defending champion Michigan, which invites itsr new California member to the The Big House, a place where more than 110,000 thousand people will be preparing to give them a rude awakening.

Two of the most historic programs in college football, the Trojans and Wolverines appear to be headed in opposite directions. Southern California has sudden faith it can get back into the national spotlight and a consistent top 10 team, while Michigan – coming off a national championship – lost several key players, has a new coach and is awaiting the penalties stemming from its sign-stealing scandal. Not to mention it’s coming off a drubbing from Texas and an offense that hasn’t given much hope for a repeat season. The Wolverines are also making a quarterback change with run-first Alex Orji making his first career start.

Even if Michigan doesn’t resemble the team that went a perfect 15-0 last season, the Trojans appear to be treating them as still the class of the conference. USC coach Lincoln Riley said last week Michigan’s 19-point loss to the Longhorns was a lot closer than the scoreboard indicated. This week, he added it’s still a big challenge for his team.

“That’s a good football team that we have a lot of respect for. To have anything less would be a mistake on our part,” Riley said.

Can USC physically stand up to Michigan?

The revamped defense led by coordinator D’Anton Lynn should be chomping at the bit to go against a passing game that is among the worst in FBS, but especially with Orji under center, the running game will be the primary way the Wolverines try to move the ball. Riley likes where his defense is at and believes it’s going to improve, continuing to limit big plays and executing on tackles. 

But really, the focus of this game will be whether the Trojans can hang with physical, mighty lineman from Michigan that symbolize the grit the Big Ten is known for having. These matchups are why the Trojans emphasized gaining weight and adding muscle in the. You don’t just gain a combined 1,400 pounds during the offseason for nothing.

“I think it all always starts up front with the O-line, D-line. Them guys kick off the game and we follow along,” running back Woody Marks said. “We got to be dominant on both sides.”

As bad as the Texas loss was, it can’t entirely be pinned on Michigan’s defense. When the game was still in reach, the offense had turnovers on back-to-back drives that gave the Longhorns a short field to score. They added points after those turnovers and effectively ended the game before halftime.

The defense also held it together against Fresno State and Arkansas State. It limited the Bulldogs to 10 points and the Red Wolves didn’t get into the endzone until the final five minutes despite three interceptions thrown by Davis Warren. So far, Michigan only gives up 70 yards rushing per game, top 15 in the country. 

That’s why Marks said it’ll be critical for his blockers to establish the line of scrimmage early, and he believes it can be done because “our physicality is a different level.” His head coach added he’s glad the unit got to face LSU so they could get a glimpse of how tough it can get. Redshirt-freshman offensive lineman Elijah Paige said the unit gained immense confidence after defeating the Tigers.

But it’s not the same level of what’s awaiting them in the Big Ten opener.

“It’s a big test. Big test,” Riley said. “It’ll be a huge challenge. It’ll be a big part of the football game.’

USC, Michigan represent the bluest of blue bloods

No matter how much the Trojans say it, Saturday won’t be just another game. Not only is it the first Big Ten game, it comes against a team that matches the historical prestige.

“It’s an amazing opportunity. It’s a blessing to be able to play in a game like this,” Paige said.

Most importantly, it’s a measuring stick game that gauges whether the Trojans are a legit threat to win the Big Ten. Yes, the expanded College Football Playoff makes it slightly easier to get in, but it’s something USC hasn’t ever done, falling just short during Williams’ Heisman season.

“There’s lots of excitement around the program, knowing what’s happening, knowing what the opportunities that are coming ahead,” Riley said. “I don’t want to minimize it. It’s a big challenge. It’s a great opportunity, but once it’s over, it’s going to be on to the rest of it.”

Should USC leave Michigan with a win, it has a favorable rest of the schedule. Yes it still has Wisconsin, Penn State, Nebraska and Notre Dame, but luckily all of those games at home. 

So what does a win on Saturday do?

“Definitely sets the tone,” Paige said.

The 2024 WNBA playoffs are here, with eight teams still standing after a four-month campaign that came down to a dramatic final day of games on Thursday.

For some teams, like the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, making the playoffs was an obligation, with those teams clearly aiming for a championship rematch from game one. However, other teams — specifically the red-hot Minnesota Lynx and an Indiana Fever team lead by Rookie of the Year favorite Caitlin Clark — had to find their form after the Olympic break, bringing the kind of momentum that could spark postseason upsets.

The Phoenix Mercury will be looking to give three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi one more ring, while the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm want to prove they deserve the kind of attention New York and Las Vegas have gotten all year. Finally, the Atlanta Dream won three straight to claim the final playoff berth, clinching eighth place with a regular-season-ending win over the Liberty.

Here’s what you need to know about all eight teams heading into the 2024 WNBA playoffs:

WNBA playoff preview: Strengths, Weakness for all 8 teams

No. 8 Atlanta Dream (15-25)

Strengths: Rebounding, defensive improvements
Weaknesses: Shooting

The Dream conjured up a playoff spot despite a league-low 40.6% field-goal percentage, and enter the playoffs as the lowest-scoring team in the entire WNBA in 2024. The only Atlanta players to average over 20 minutes per game this season and shoot above the 43.8% league average were veteran center Tina Charles and part-time starter Naz Hillmon. Close-range, mid-range, or from beyond the arc, it just didn’t matter.

How did they get into the playoffs? Attacking the boards. Charles’ 374 rebounds trailed only A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese, and the only teams that out-rebounded Atlanta are the Liberty and the Chicago Sky. The Dream also dialed in on defense down the stretch, holding opponents to 76 or fewer points in each of the team’s final five games. Realistically, any hopes of knocking off New York (who rested four starters for big portions of Thursday’s loss between these teams) will hinge on that trend continuing.

No. 7 Phoenix Mercury (19-21)

Strengths: Experience, motivation, gritty mentality
Weaknesses: Rebounding, consistency, overreliance on three-point shooting

Despite the presence of 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner, Phoenix has struggled with rebounding all year, finishing 11th in total rebounds and 12th in rebound percentage (47%). That’s left the Mercury having to be very resourceful to win games, something that a vastly experienced roster — including the inimitable Diana Taurasi — has managed to do to pull off.

It hasn’t been easy, as the Mercury don’t particularly excel in any category. That’s in part because Phoenix relies so much on its shooters getting hot on a given night. Any time the Mercury shoot below 30% from three-point range, the team struggles, posting a 4-8 record on the season in those games. Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, and Sophie Cunningham all have that ‘shooters shoot’ mentality, but only Cunningham’s 37.5% is above the league average beyond the arc this season.

No. 6 Indiana Fever (20-20)

Strengths: Shooting, forcing fast breaks
Weaknesses: Defense, experience

The Caitlin Clark show is heading to the playoffs, which is impressive work for a team that was 1-8 after nine games. However, an 8-2 run coming out of the Olympic break changed the Fever’s season, and though Clark has been outstanding, the turnaround isn’t entirely on the rookie sensation. Aliyah Boston, NaLyssa Smith, and Kelsey Mitchell are all shooting over 46%, helping Indiana post a league-high 45.4% field-goal percentage on the season.

The Fever are the worst defensive team to make the playoffs, giving up over 85 points a game, but those numbers have improved somewhat down the stretch. Head coach Christie Sides has Indiana playing a high-speed game, which means taking risks (the Fever are fourth in the WNBA in turnovers) in the hopes that the court is open for Clark to pile up assists. A lack of experience may make a playoff run too much to ask, but this young Indiana team is ahead of schedule.

No. 5 Seattle Storm (25-15)

Strengths: Pushing the tempo, free throws, interior defense
Weaknesses: Three-point shooting

The Storm lead the league in steals — they’re one of two teams where all five starters have posted at least 40 in the category — and have attempted more field goals than anyone else this season. Generally speaking, if you play Seattle, you’d better be prepared to run. That leads to plenty of free throws, putting opponents in foul trouble on a regular basis.

Center Ezi Magbegor is second in the league in blocks, helping the Storm lead the WNBA, while veterans Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, and Nneka Ogwumike are all averaging over 15 points on the year. However, Seattle plays a volume game rather than leaning on high-percentage shooters, leaving them vulnerable in tight contests (or against teams that force the Storm to be patient).

No. 4 Las Vegas Aces (27-13)

Strengths: A’ja Wilson, depth, playoff experience
Weaknesses: Offensive rebounding

The Aces are the two-time defending champions for a reason, with a 16-3 record in the playoffs over the last two years. The roster is packed with serial winners who have a combined 27 WNBA and NCAA championships. It’s not just talent with Vegas, but rather a ruthless, never-say-die mentality to go with a long list of top-tier players. A league-worst 5.5 offensive rebounds per game qualifies as a flaw, but the Aces have mitigated that by leading the league in defensive rebounds.

Listing Wilson on her own as a strength may seem like a joke, but she’s the most dominant player in women’s basketball in the midst of her best season. How often do you see a center finish near the top of the league’s steals category, or see a Defensive Player of the Year contender also score nearly 200 more points than anyone else?

No. 3 Connecticut Sun (28-12)

Strengths: Defense, Forcing turnovers, getting to the free-throw line
Weaknesses: Rebounding

The Sun are tough as nails, a quality that always pays off in playoff basketball. Connecticut joins Seattle in having all five starters post at least 40 steals, and per Basketball Reference they force a turnover on 17.5% of opposition possessions (a league-best figure). Head coach Stephanie White’s team has given up the fewest field-goal attempts, and that’s how you become the only team this season to hold opponents below 75 points per game. You just don’t get easy buckets against Connecticut.

Perennial all-league forward Alyssa Thomas is the only player within 70 assists of Clark, but outside of DeWanna Bonner might be lacking in help on the glass. Still, despite the lack of chatter around this team as compared to the rest of the top four, DiJonai Carrington has leveled up, and a July trade for Marina Mabrey underlined that the Sun are aiming for the top.

No. 2 Minnesota Lynx (30-10)

Strengths: Three-point shooting, offensive efficiency, defensive execution
Weaknesses: Size, reliance on the three

Despite operating without a true center, Minnesota is roaring into the playoffs, with a 13-2 record since the Olympic break marking them as a legit contender to win it all. That run includes multiple double-digit wins over the Aces and Fever, and a statement 88-79 win on Sunday over the New York Liberty. Provided their long-range shots keep falling, the Lynx are a team no one wants to play right now.

Cheryl Reeve has Minnesota playing efficient ball, with a slower tempo emphasizing an ability to create open looks on offense (particularly from three-point range, where Minnesota shoots a league-leading 38.1%). Naphessa Collier would arguably be the MVP favorite if not for Wilson’s historic season, and seems poised to carry this well-balanced team through crunch time.

No. 1 New York Liberty (32-8)

Strengths: Shooting, team defense, rebounding, size
Weaknesses: Consistency

The star-studded Liberty are near or at the top in nearly every statistical category you can think of. All five starters have proven that they can single-handedly take a game over, while Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart make it next to impossible to get into the paint. New York has a team of ‘small ball’ players who aren’t actually small, posing matchup nightmares all over the court.

The Liberty are the only team to average over 10 three-pointers per game, while Sandy Brondello’s squad leads the WNBA with a 52.4% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plus, with Ellie the Elephant, the Liberty have the swaggiest mascot in American sports.

You have to dig deep to find a flaw with New York, but they have had a few more off-nights than you’d expect. The Washington Mystics pushed them hard three times this year, while Chicago and Minnesota have both managed to beat the Liberty in games where the New York offense couldn’t break 70 points.

WNBA playoffs: Bracket and pairings

Round One pairings

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 9/22

Game 1: Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty – 1 p.m. on ESPN
Game 1: Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun – 3 p.m. on ABC
Game 1: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx – 5 p.m. on ESPN
Game 1: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces – 10 p.m. on ESPN

Tuesday 9/24

Game 2: Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty – 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Game 2: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN

Wednesday 9/25

Game 2: Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun – 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Game 2: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN

Thursday 9/26

Game 3*: New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream – Time TBD on ESPN2
Game 3*: Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm – Time TBD on ESPN2

Friday 9/27

Game 3*: Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever – Time TBD on ESPN2
Game 3*: Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury – Time TBD on ESPN2

(* – If necessary)

How to watch the WNBA playoffs

The 2024 WNBA playoffs start on Sunday, September 22, and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. Fans that want to stream the games online can catch every game on ESPN+.

Watch the 2024 WNBA playoffs with a Fubo subscription

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This story was updated to add new information.

The WNBA postseason field is finalized after the conclusion of the regular season Thursday.

A’ja Wilson and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces are back in the playoffs along with seven other teams.

Three teams were battling for the eighth and final playoff spot Thursday. The Atlanta Dream earned the final playoff bid with a 78-67 victory over the New York Liberty.

The Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics fell short of a playoff bid after participating in the playoffs last season. The Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury earned a postseason bid after not qualifying in 2023.

Here’s who is in the playoffs and the first-round matchups:

WNBA playoffs bracket

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:

Game 1: Atlanta at New York (1 p.m., ESPN)
Game 1: Indiana at Connecticut (3 p.m., ABC)
Game 1: Phoenix at Minnesota (5 p.m., ESPN)
Game 1: Seattle at Las Vegas (10 p.m., ESPN)

Tuesday:

Game 2: Atlanta at New York (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 2: Seattle at Las Vegas (9:30 p.m., ESPN)

Wednesday:

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

Thursday

Game 3*: New York at Atlanta (TBD, ESPN 2)
Game 3*: Las Vegas at Seattle (TBD, ESPN 2)

Friday, Sept. 27:

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

(* – If necessary)

Final standings, seeds:

No. 1 New York Liberty

Breanna Stewart has led the Liberty to the league’s top seed. After losing in the Finals last season, the question remains whether this is the year they will claim the title as their own.

No. 2 Minnesota Lynx

Longtime coach Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx are back for another playoff run after they were quickly eliminated by the Sun last year in the first round. The Lynx have not made it to the Finals since winning it all in 2017.

No. 3 Connecticut Sun

The Sun will make their eighth consecutive playoff appearance but are still in search of their first title. The team reached the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022 but fell short.

No. 4 Las Vegas Aces

A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and the Aces have won the last two WNBA Finals and will compete for a chance at the three-peat under the guidance of coach Becky Hammon.

No. 5 Seattle Storm

Seattle has returned to the playoffs after missing out in 2023. The Storm were consistently in the playoffs from 2016-21, winning the title in 2018 and 2020.

No. 6 Indiana Fever

No. 7 Phoenix Mercury

Diana Taurasi and the Mercury are back in the playoffs after losing in the first round in 2022 and completely missing the postseason in 2023. This marks Brittney Griner’s first postseason appearance since returning to the team following her detainment in Russia.

No. 8 Atlanta Dream

The Dream reached the playoffs for the second consecutive year with Tanisha Wright at the helm. Prior to Wright’s arrival, the Dream went four seasons without a playoff appearance.

In the week since Washington State and Oregon State resurrected the Pac-12 brand and executed a hastily-arranged coup against the Mountain West, the level of angst about the next round of conference realignment has soared amongst schools outside the so-called power conferences. 

For more than a decade, those schools have been realignment passengers trying to hang on to life rafts as the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12 reshaped the landscape. But the revival of the Pac-12 — and its ability to gut the Mountain West of its most valuable members — has put several schools and conferences into an unfamiliar position. 

For the first time, some of these programs outside the Power Four have agency over their future. But they are also faced with tough choices, each of them laden with risk in an uncertain environment where distrust is running wild and the optimal outcome is unclear. 

In the wake of Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Colorado State jumping from the Mountain West and joining Washington State and Oregon State in the new Pac-12, USA TODAY Sports spoke to 10 people connected to the current realignment environment. All of them spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the conversations happening across college sports. 

Though it’s hard to predict how the shuffling will unfold, and particularly where it will end, there’s little doubt about its potential to touch every conference in the so-called “Group of Five,” as well as schools currently playing football in the Football Championship Subdivision. 

As a result, athletics directors and school presidents in those leagues have been scrambling for information about their options, while conference commissioners have been trying to game out various scenarios and gauge whether their members are solidly committed or have a wandering eye. 

It’s a lot to process. And as always in realignment, trust is in short supply. But any discussion of what’s going to happen starts with the following reality: The new Pac-12, which now has six committed members, will add more.

And for schools like Memphis, Tulane, UTSA and South Florida — all current members of the American who have been contacted to some degree by representatives of the new Pac-12, according to people involved in the discussions — there is an undeniable allure to a perceived conference upgrade. 

But there’s also hesitation on multiple levels. 

Where do AAC members stand?

While news of the Pac 12’s rebirth may have caught some people off guard — including within the Mountain West, where some administrators now feel warnings about a raid were not taken seriously enough — it was not a surprise to members of the AAC.

In fact, according to people with insight into that league’s internal discussions, new commissioner Tim Pernetti had months ago laid out a scenario where Washington State and Oregon State would use the significant assets they control from the Pac-12’s breakup to form a so-called “best of the rest” conference that would target some AAC members. 

Pernetti’s prescience has bought him some credibility within his membership — and perhaps some time.

At Memphis, arguably the most attractive school not currently in a power conference, there is clearly some intrigue about the new Pac-12, which would theoretically provide a more attractive group of opponents in both football and basketball. But there are also concerns, according to people familiar with the thinking of school officials. 

The first level of those concerns revolves around simple math: Until the Pac-12 lands a media deal, there’s no guarantee of a significant increase from what Memphis makes in the AAC (estimated to be in the $8 million-$9 million range). But the valuations being discussed for the new Pac-12 by its media consultants in the $10 million-$12 million range are only theoretical at this point, and may not make a meaningful difference financially when you consider increased travel costs.

Crucially, though, maximizing the value of the new Pac-12 is also going to depend on selling a true “best of the rest” configuration that Memphis and others would need to commit to with a Grant of Rights agreement that locks them into the league for the length of the contract.

That illustrates the other reason why patience may win out at Memphis. After an unsuccessful pursuit of Big 12 membership, school officials there are now eyeing the ACC as a potential landing spot in the next handful of years.

Leagues must consider future media deals

Even if the ACC retains Clemson and Florida State in the short term — recent reports indicate those two schools are now open to staying in the league under a new financial model and dropping their litigation to become free agents — hardly anyone believes the ACC is going to just sit still for the rest of the decade. 

That’s because of the looming specter of 2030, when negotiations will ramp up on new media deals for the Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and College Football Playoff. There will undoubtedly be another major realignment around those negotiations, just as there was the last two cycles, and that is when the ACC will be at its most vulnerable unless it can get ESPN to agree to massive changes in its own deal, which runs through 2036. 

Essentially, what Memphis officials have to figure out is whether it’s worth joining the Pac-12 now for a bit more money, but less flexibility to jump again if the ACC proactively expands before 2030.

Again, tough choices.

Could Air Force move to AAC?

Other schools have different motivations. Tulane, for instance, is also weighing travel cost issues and its current academic fit in the AAC with schools like Tulsa, Rice and the military academies. 

Meanwhile, Pernetti — a former media executive who helped launch CSTV (now CBS Sports Network) and ran IMG’s college sports wing — has publicly acknowledged that he’s working to lock down a private equity deal that would infuse cash to AAC members.

He’s also, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions, hoping to get Air Force to join Army and Navy in his league with the Mountain West now vulnerable. There’s belief within the AAC that having all three service academies would give the league some protection both in CFP negotiations and in the halls of Washington, D.C., should power conference schools try to engineer a full breakaway from the NCAA that would undoubtedly catch the attention of lawmakers. 

Whereas AAC schools are questioning whether the Pac-12 would be a true step up or more of a lateral move, there’s no question about those left in the Mountain West: They want in.

Heat is on Mountain West

Formed in 1998 when a group of schools broke off from the Western Athletic Conference, the Mountain West now faces an existential threat under similar circumstances a quarter of a century later. 

Within the Mountain West, there was a belief that they would ultimately absorb Washington State and Oregon State, who did not have anywhere else to go as the Pac-12 dissolved. But when those schools could not come to a long-term scheduling agreement with the Mountain West, they managed to lure Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State into the unknown with a promise that they’ll do much better than their $5 million distribution from the Mountain West, and a belief that they won’t have to pay the full boat on their exit from a destabilized, crumbling conference. 

Indeed, the heat has now shifted to Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez, whose league could be down to six if Air Force jumps to the AAC and UNLV eventually lands in the Pac-12, which seems likely once it gets in-state political clearance to change conferences without being tied at the hip to Nevada. 

In a sane landscape, some people with ties to the Group of Five would like to see the Mountain West remnants come to the negotiating table and perhaps merge with one of the other leagues. But given the egos and self-preservation instincts that drive many of these decisions, the more likely path is that the Mountain West tries to add some regionally congruent schools from C-USA like New Mexico State and UTEP (they have not yet been contacted by the Mountain West, per people with knowledge).

Bloated FBS doesn’t need to get bigger

The Pac-12’s resurrection, though, has forced Group of Five administrators to acknowledge the reality that either one of the current leagues will fold or more FCS members are going to be brought up to FBS to backfill amidst the game of musical chairs.

Both options are bad, but the latter may be worse. FBS is already up to 134 members, with Delaware and Missouri State coming in 2026. Schools like James Madison, Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State recently made the move. Last fall, the NCAA increased the transition fee from $5,000 to $5 million to discourage a bloated FBS from getting any bigger. There’s already enough of a disparity between the haves and have-nots in college football, and adding more of the latter only dilutes CFP revenue and adds legislative headaches for the Big Ten and SEC. 

All of this uncertainty is yet another headache for schools already reeling from past bouts of realignment, the House vs. NCAA settlement that will potentially cost them millions and adapting to the new world of NIL. 

But the Pac-12’s bold move to wreck the Mountain West is also forcing some entities to think differently about the future. Is the Group of Five better off with warring factions trying to poach from each other, increase travel budgets and pull up from the FCS to survive? Or would it be better for the leaders to get in a room, pull together a true “best of the rest” conference that has wings on both coasts and then work in concert to have other leagues with geographic balance? 

Nobody has ever had that conversation in a meaningful way. This time, angst and uncertainty may force it to happen. But as always in college sports, getting people to do anything hard and complicated in service of a better outcome may be too high a bar to clear. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger went 6-for-6 with three home runs, two stolen bases and 10 RBI in a 20-4 win over the Miami Marlins. It was the first time Ohtani has had six hits in one game, and the 10 RBI is the most any player has had in one game in Dodgers history.

Ohtani started the day off with a double to lead off the game. Later in the inning, he stole third base to get his 50th steal of the season.

In the second inning, Ohtani hit an RBI single that scored Max Muncy and stole second for his 51st steal of the season. The following inning, he hit an RBI double that brought in Gavin Lux and Andy Pages, but he was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple.

Then the homer parade began. In the sixth inning, he hit a two-run homer to the second deck of loanDepot Park. It was home run No. 49.

All things Dodgers: Latest Los Angeles Dodgers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

The following inning saw history made. Ohtani hit an opposite field home run to become the charter member of the 50-50 club.

The game was out of reach by the ninth inning, so the Marlins brought in infielder Vidal Bruján to pitch. Ohtani took advantage of the position player pitching by hitting another homer, once again launching it to the second deck of the stadium. He created the 50-50 club, and now he has the 51-51 club.

Other history Ohtani made Thursday:

Became first MLB player to record six hits, including three home runs, 10 RBI and two stolen bases in one game
Recorded first three-homer, two-steal game in MLB history
Set record for most home runs in a season in Dodgers history
Recorded most RBI in a game in Dodgers history

If there was any blemish on the day, Ohtani fell just short of the cycle. But he’s probably fine with that.

Longtime NBA reporter and writer Adrian Wojnarowski’s decision to leave ESPN and join the St. Bonaventure University men’s basketball team as general manager reverberated through the league Wednesday – from the NBA office in New York to team front offices to agents across North America and beyond.

The NBA communications department posted a tribute to him on social media, concluding with “Sources close to the situation say that his future is bright.” It was a nod to his stature and his wealth of inside information.

Over the course of more than two decades covering the NBA, Wojnarowski established – and maintained – relationships with the most important people in the league, and in turn, he become one of the biggest names in the league – the preeminent newsbreaker (Woj bomb!) and influential insider who flourished online, on TV and on multiple social media sites.

Here’s what NBA execs and agents had to say about Wojnarowski and his departure from ESPN:

Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder executive vice president and general manager

“Skill is seen over a long-time horizon, and when you think about someone like Adrian, what’s clear is he always adapted to all the changes to the industry and the league over a long period of time. He’s regularly operating at ownership levels, with many people at the league office, and the agent community in ways that were not thought possible when he first began.

“Then take into account that he can write long or short form, navigate social media, podcasts, and also perform on TV. It all illustrates how he not only adapted, but pioneered a skillset of possessing all these tools together and not just specializing for a period of time when the conditions suited how you learned the business. I think it’s great that he’s transitioning to something that he’s so excited about and I’m sure he will pioneer and adapt to many things much the same way there.”

Lawrence Frank, Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations

“I was fortunate to know him when I was with the Nets and Adrian was with the Bergen Record, so you’re going back over 24, 25 years. And he’s the same guy now as he was then. And I think it’s just his care factor for all people and how he went about his business. Obviously, he’s a relentless worker, but his relationships that he had throughout the league were all based on real giving. A majority of the conversations I had with Adrian didn’t even have anything to do with basketball. He obviously has a competitive drive. But when I first knew Adrian, it was never about breaking news. He was a terrific writer, was columnist for the Bergen Record. Obviously, Miracle of St. Anthony is an unbelievable book. And I have a lot of respect for Adrian because obviously he dealt with the entire league, and he was such a trusted source.

“And yet you don’t trust someone based on just a leap of faith. You earn trust every single day with your actions. And I think that’s why Adrian was the top of his profession and an elite in what he’s done and why he’s had such an impact. It goes way beyond the NBA. And I think even this decision to do what he’s doing for his alma mater, it’s all about doing things that are right for you and right for your family.”

Aaron Mintz, NBA agent

“It’s his work ethic, his character, his compassion, and his ability to build real, genuine relationships. He was elite in all of those. And the trust you had with him because of his strong value system was huge. He’s sharp, and his emotional intelligence is off the charts as well. He was the best at what he did. He did it the right way. And it’s interesting, as shocking as this was to many people, knowing who Woj is, I think it’s fantastic that he retired on his terms. He retired on top. It’s so rare to be able to do that. And it’s pretty cool.”

Justin Zanik, Utah Jazz general manager

“He did it not only with hard work and drive, but he did it with compassion. He always tried to understand what was going on and the purpose, not just to break the news, which I think is what had made him so successful. So when I saw the news, it made a lot of sense to me that he had standards for what he wanted to do for the rest of his life and the other dreams he wants to pursue. And his family, with his kids getting older and having a chance to be able to spend time with him, going out on top is never a bad thing.”

Mark Bartelstein, NBA and NFL agent

“First and foremost, it’s his work ethic. He was relentless, but not relentless in a negative way. Sometimes in the media, relentlessness can get people in trouble. Where you lose trust, you lose respect because you’re more out for the story than you are about understanding people’s lives are involved. And to me with Adrian, where I have so much respect for him, is that he fully understood that. There were times when it wasn’t the right time to share information, it wasn’t the right time to do a story yet, and he would always put himself second to making sure that he wasn’t doing something that was damaging to someone. And so I had great respect for that.

“Everything that we’re used to doing, we’re not doing it the same way a few months down the road, and nowhere is that more prevalent than in the media world. Adrian adapted with that, with the way media is consumed, with the way media is distributed. He always made sure that he was staying fresh and poignant with the way he was delivering his information. You’ve got to give him a lot of credit for that, the world that he lived in. I can understand why he made this change, because what he was doing, when you say 24/7, it is literally 24/7. It’s like being on call every moment because news never stops nowadays. There’s no offseason. It’s constant. And so what he was doing was a tremendously draining daily experience because of the constant flow of information.”

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt