Kershaw struck out Rafael Devers in the top of the fifth inning before exiting the game. Kershaw received a standing ovation after recording the out. The Dodgers earned a 6-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants and also clinched a playoff spot.

‘It was such a special night,’ Kershaw said during a postgame interview with Apple TV. ‘I can’t even put into words how special tonight was for me. … Thank you for 18 years. It hasn’t always been a smooth ride, but you guys have stuck with me. We have another month to go.’

Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young winner, announced Thursday that he would be retiring at the end of the 2025 season, which gave fans precious little time to scramble and buy tickets for the contest at Chavez Ravine. One of the greatest pitchers – lefty or otherwise – in Major League Baseball history, Kershaw has a 222-96 career record.

At 20 years old, Kershaw struck out the first major league batter, Skip Schumaker of the St. Louis Cardinals, whom he faced on May 25, 2008, at Dodger Stadium. 

Kershaw and the Dodgers didn’t get the victory that day, but the pitcher struck out seven and allowed two runs in six innings pitched.

Kershaw will likely continue to play for the Dodgers during the postseason, but what his role will be remains uncertain.

“I still feel there is a role for him, a spot for him,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday.

The Dodgers’ offense supported Kershaw’s effort Friday, starting with back-to-back home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Ohtani hit a three-run home run to left field, which gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game. Betts followed it up with a solo homer the next at-bat to take a 5-2 lead.

The Giants attempted a late comeback with two runners on base and the tying run at the plate before pitcher Tanner Scott and Betts helped record the final outs of the game.

Clayton Kershaw highlights: Giants vs. Dodgers

What Clayton Kershaw said after game

Dodgers clinch playoff berth

Final: Dodgers 6, Giants 3

Migual Rojas scored his second run of the evening after Andy Pages hit a double in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Dodgers lead the Giants 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Matt Chapman singled to center in the top of the seventh inning, bringing in Willy Adames to score. The Giants were unable to rally in the ninth inning while the Dodgers had Tanner Scott on the mound.

Clayton Kershaw stats vs. Giants

Innings pitched: 4.1
Hits allowed: 4
Runs: 2
Earned Runs: 2
Walks: 4
Strikeouts: 6
Home Runs: 1
Pitch Count: 91
Strikes: 56
ERA: 3.55

Clayton Kershaw’s night is done

Clayton Kershaw struck out Rafael Devers in the top of the fifth inning before exiting the game. Kershaw received a standing ovation from Magic Johnson and the rest of the crowd at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw thanked the crowd while holding his hat in the air. He would hug everyone in the dugout before coming back out for a curtain call.

The Dodgers’ offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning to support Kershaw’s effort.

Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run home run to left field, providing the Dodgers with their first lead of the game. Mookie Betts hit a solo home run the next at-bat. The Dodgers lead the Giants 5-2.

Kershaw gets through the fourth inning

Clayton Kershaw caught Willy Adames swinging to record another strikeout and send the game to the bottom of the fourth inning.

Kershaw threw over 20 pitches in the inning. He allowed a hit to Patrick Bailey, who singled to center field.

The Giants remain in front of the Dodgers 2-1.

Roberts indicated in an interview on Apple TV during the top of the fourth inning that he’s monitoring Kershaw’s performance closely.

“I’m watching him closely,” Roberts said. “… Given the emotion of yesterday, he’s not as sharp (tonight). The pitch count (70) is higher than we would like.”

Kershaw is expected to come back out in the fifth inning. There was activity in the bullpen late in the fourth inning.

Giants score in third inning

Kershaw struck out Rafael Devers before Matt Chapman hit a double to center the next at-bat.

Chapman scores after Wilmer Flores singles to center. The Giants take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning.

Kershaw throws a hitless second inning

Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers get out of the top of the second inning without allowing a run. Heliot Ramos and Willy Adames hit back-to-back pop-ups that were caught by Mookie Betts to get out of the inning.

Miguel Rojas hit a 402-foot solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the second inning to even the score for the Dodgers at 1. Andy Pages bangs one off the wall in left centerfield for a double on the very next pitch.

Clayton Kershaw allows home run to first batter

Heliot Ramos hit a solo home run 431 feet over the fence in center field on Kershaw’s third pitch of the game. The Giants take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Kershaw struck out two and walked one in the inning. Seventeen of his 23 pitches were strikes.

The Dodgers pitcher became the all-time leader in strikeouts against the Giants’ franchise with 417, passing Warren Spahn (416).

Clayton Kershaw acknowledged by fans ahead of game

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw walked out of the dugout and onto the mound for his warm-up in the final minutes before the game started. Kershaw received a warm welcome from the crowd and gave them a wave. His teammates stayed in the dugout so the pitcher could have his moment.

Dodgers lineup vs. Giants

Giants lineup vs. Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw arrives for final regular-season home start

Where to watch Dodgers vs. Giants on Apple TV

The Dodgers vs. Giants game Friday night will air on Apple TV+ with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET.

Watch Dodgers-Giants on Apple TV+

Dodgers vs. Giants odds

Clayton Kershaw stats

222-96 career record in 2844 ⅔ innings
3,039 strikeouts
2014 National League MVP
2011, 2013 and 2014 NL Cy Young winner

How many rings does Clayton Kershaw have?

Kershaw has won two World Series rings with the Los Angeles Dodgers – in 2020 and 2024.

The Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series, with Kershaw winning two games in the Fall Classic at the end of the COVID-shortened season. In 2024, the left-hander was injured and unable to pitch in the Dodgers’ postseason run that culminated with a World Series win over the New York Yankees.

San Francisco Giants congratulate Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw’s former teammates in attendance

Several of Kershaw’s former teammates have been spotted around Dodger Stadium before he takes the mound for his final regular-season home start. The former players included Andre Ethier, Austin Barnes, Trayce Thompson, Russell Martin and AJ Pollock.

Kershaw’s childhood friend and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was also in attendance for the game.

Coming off a bye week following a 69-3 drubbing at the hands of Oregon, Oklahoma State and coach Mike Gundy had to make a statement.

With Tulsa holding the ball and a 19-12 lead with under four minutes left in the game, the Oklahoma State crowd in Boone Pickens Stadium made its feelings about Gundy — the most decorated coach in the Cowboys’ history — known. ‘Fire Gundy’ chants rained down on the field, and were picked up on the ESPN broadcast, continuing chants that were kicking up sporadically throughout the game.

Gundy, a Midwest City, Oklahoma, native who has prowled the Cowboys’ sidelines since 2005, has reshaped a program that was listless before his arrival. He is 12-6 in bowl games since replacing Les Miles, who absconded for LSU after four years in Stillwater.

Oklahoma State went 3-9 last season, putting fire under his seat heading into the year. After an uninspiring 27-7 win over UT Martin to start the year, Dan Lanning’s Ducks completely dismantled Oklahoma State after some verbal sparring with Gundy during the week. On Sept. 19, Tulsa beat Oklahoma State on the road for the first time since 1951.

Teams have been quick to action with coaches so far this season, with UCLA firing DeShaun Foster and Virginia Tech parting ways with Brent Pry. While neither coach had the legacy at their respective schools Gundy has at Oklahoma State, the writing could well be on the wall in the ‘what have you done for me lately?’ college football culture. Just ask the fans who were chanting.

And then there were four.

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, No. 2 Las Vegas Aces, No. 4 Phoenix Mercury and No. 6 Indiana Fever have punched their tickets to the 2025 WNBA semifinals. If the first round was any indication, the semis should by exciting. Three of the four first-round series went to a decisive Game 3 and were won by a combined 10 points. (There were three first-round Game 3s total in the last four years.)

The semifinals tip off on Sunday and will move to a best-of-five (2-2-1) format. The 2025 WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven (2-2-1-1-1) format for the first time in league history.

The journey to the title continues on Sunday. Here’s a look at the semifinal round of the 2025 WNBA playoffs, including projected starting lineups, head-to-head records and X factors for each matchup:

No. 1 Minnesota Lynx (34-10) vs. No. 4 Phoenix Mercury (27-17)

Minnesota won the regular-season series vs. Phoenix, 3-1.

Minnesota Lynx starting lineup

Head coach: Cheryl Reeve

6 Bridget Carleton | F 6′ 2′ – Iowa State
8 Alanna Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Stanford
10 Courtney Williams | G 5′ 8′ – South Florida
21 Kayla McBride | G 5′ 11′ – Notre Dame
24 Napheesa Collier | F 6′ 1′ – UConn

Phoenix Mercury starting lineup

Head coach: Nate Tibbetts

0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland

Why Minnesota Lynx could win

The Lynx are battle tested. After trailing the scrappy Golden State Valkyries by 17 points in Game 2 of the first-round series, the Lynx didn’t panic. Instead, they clawed their way back to complete an epic comeback and swept the Valkyries by winning the clincher on the road. It not only highlighted Minnesota’s experience, maturity and wisdom, it also showed the Lynx will stop at nothing to reach their championship goal. Minnesota returned six players from last year’s WNBA Finals roster, tying the Liberty, Dream and Aces for the most continuity. And they’re fueled by their ‘belief in each other,’ Cheryl Reeve said, and the ‘power of friendship,’ Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith added. ‘We have the experience of hard games. We’ve been tried and tested. Especially last year we went through (the Finals) and have our core team back,’ Napheesa Collier said. Watch out everyone. The Lynx are coming for what was ‘stolen’ from them.

Why Phoenix Mercury could win

The Mercury dropped Game 1 against the defending champion New York Liberty in devastating fashion after forward Alyssa Thomas missed a game-winning layup in the final seconds. Phoenix regrouped and rattled off back-to-back wins to dethrone the defending champions and eliminate the Liberty from the postseason. The Mercury’s league-leading bench scored 20 points in Game 3, led by 13 points from Sami Whitcomb and four points from DeWanna Bonner, who hit a big shot to extend Phoenix’s lead to five points in the final minute. The Mercury flexed their defensive muscles in the win, outrebounding the Liberty 49-33, and can disrupt the Lynx if they can carry that aggression into the semifinals.

X factor: Mercury’s Big 3

The Mercury are 15-0 this season when their Big 3 — forward Alyssa Thomas, forward Satou Sabally and guard Kahleah Copper — score 10 or more points each, and they were spectacular in the Game 3 win. Thomas had her ninth triple-double of the season and fifth in the playoffs with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Sabally recorded a double-double with a team-high 23 points, 12 rebounds and three assists and Copper added 12 points and nine rebounds. The veteran core is the key to taking down the league-leading Lynx.

X factor: Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman

Hiedeman has provided the Lynx instant energy off the bench. The Sixth Player of the Year candidate averaged 18.6 points, 4.4 assists and two steals in the final five games of the regular season and carried that momentum into the first round of the playoffs, where she put up 18 points in Game 1 and followed that performance up with seven assists in Game 2. Coach Cheryl Reeve said Hiedeman is ‘playing at a different level’ and ‘playing her best basketball this season.’ The Lynx will need every bit to hoist the WNBA trophy.

Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury semifinal schedule

Game 1: Mercury at Lynx, Sunday, Sept. 21 | 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 2: Mercury at Lynx, Tuesday, Sept. 23 | 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 3: Lynx at Mercury, Friday, Sept. 26 | 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN 2)
Game 4 (if necessary): Lynx at Mercury, Sunday, Sept. 28 | TBD (TBD)
Game 5 (if necessary): Mercury at Lynx, Tuesday, Sept. 30 | TBD (TBD)

No. 2 Las Vegas Aces (30-14) vs. No. 6 Indiana Fever (24-20)

The Fever won the regular-season series vs. the Aces, 2-1

Las Vegas Aces starting lineup

Head coach: Becky Hammon

0 Jackie Young | G 6′ 0′ – Notre Dame
1 Kierstan Bell | F 6′ 1′ – Florida Gulf Coast
3 NaLyssa Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Baylor
12 Chelsea Gray | G 5′ 11′ – Duke
22 A’ja Wilson | C 6′ 5′ – South Carolina

Indiana Fever starting lineup

Head coach: Stephanie White

0 Kelsey Mitchell | G 5′ 8′ – Ohio State
1 Odyssey Sims | G 5′ 8′ – Baylor
6 Natasha Howard | F 6′ 3′ – Florida State
7 Aliyah Boston | C 6′ 5′ – South Carolina
10 Lexie Hull | G 6′ 1′ – Stanford

Why the Las Vegas Aces could win

Two words. A’ja Wilson. Wilson has been borderline unstoppable, claiming Co-Defensive Player of the Year, with her fourth MVP award likely coming next. Wilson scored more than half of the Aces’ points in their 74-73 Game 3 win over the Seattle Storm to secure Las Vegas’ seventh consecutive semifinal appearance, finishing with 38 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Her 38-point performance tied her playoff career high and marked her sixth career 30-plus-point playoff performance, tied for third most in WNBA history. ‘It didn’t matter who guarded her. Tonight she was just on a heater,’ Aces head coach Becky Hammon said. Indiana won the regular-season series over the Aces, but the teams last faced each other in late July and Hammon said the Fever ‘haven’t seen the real Aces yet.’

Why the Indiana Fever could win

The Indiana Fever continue to do the unthinkable. After getting blown out by the Atlanta Dream in Game 1, the gritty Fever went on to win the next two games, capped by a gutsy last-minute comeback in Game 3. It was Indiana’s first playoff series victory in a decade. The Fever have been resilient after losing five players — Chloe Bibby (left knee), Caitlin Clark (right groin), Sydney Colson (left knee), Sophie Cunningham (right knee) and Aari McDonald (right foot) — for the season. Their do-or-die mentality has kept their Cinderella season alive. Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell has led the charge, averaging 23 points in the first-round series vs. the Dream. The Fever’s defense fuels their offense, and if Indiana can get some stops and get out in transition, it can make things difficult for the Aces.

X factor: Aces’ bench

The Aces always have a chance with Wilson on the floor, but the three-time MVP will need some help if they want to win their third WNBA championship in four years. Wilson, Jackie Young (14 points) and Chelsea Gray (12 points) combined for 64 of the Aces’ 74 points in their Game 3 win, which is not sustainable as the Aces go deeper into the postseason. Six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd leads the second unit and will be key in taking a load off the Aces’ Big 3. Loyd had 14 and 13 points in Game 1 and Game 2, respectively, but was held to four points on four shot attempts (2-of-4 from the field, no 3-point attempts) in over 29 minutes of play in Game 3. That can’t happen moving forward.

X factor: Aliyah Boston

Boston will likely have the difficult task of guarding A’ja Wilson, her fellow South Carolina alum. Boston has faced her fair share of physicality this season, but she must help the Fever shore up the interior defense to keep Wilson and company out of the paint. The Fever gave up 56 points in the paint in their Game 3 win over the Dream, including 40 alone in the first quarter, a WNBA playoff record.

Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever semifinal schedule

Game 1: Fever at Aces, Sunday, Sept. 21 | 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 2: Fever at Aces, Tuesday, Sept. 23 | 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 3: Aces at Fever, Friday, Sept. 26 | TBD (ESPN2)
Game 4 (if necessary): Aces at Fever, Sunday, Sept. 28 | 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Fever at Aces, Tuesday, Sept: 30 | TBD (TBD)

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Envisioning the UFC event that’s set to take place at the White House next summer no longer depends on imagination.

UFC CEO Dana White provided renderings of the event to FOX News during an interview that amounted to a sneak peek. One image shows the White House in the background and a massive octagon in which the competitors fight (that weighs 15,000 pounds, per White) in the foreground.

White, speaking Sept. 19 with Bret Baier on FOX News Channel’s ‘Special Report,’ said that “… my vision for this thing is we have this big arch, as you can see, with the lighting grid. Because what I want is the White House in the back. And then when you shoot – when the fight goes around to the other side, you’ll see the Washington Monument in the background.’’

White said under 5,000 people will be seated in that area, but renderings show another area White says will accommodate tens of thousands more people.

“Yeah, we can fit 85,000 people over there,’’ White told Baier. “We’re going to have a stage where music – you know, we’ll have bands playing all day. And then people will be able to bring blankets and, you know, lay around and watch the fights.

“We’ll have – we’ll have screens up everywhere for everybody. We’re literally going to take over Washington, D.C., that week. We’re going to do the weigh-ins there. We’re going to have. … That’s what we’re talking about, yeah. And – and we’ll have fan events all week. We’re going to do our expo there. And just a total Washington, D.C., takeover.”

UFC at the White House renderings

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Clayton Kershaw received a rousing standing ovation from the home crowd Friday night after he was pulled in the fifth inning of his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw, who announced Thursday he would be retiring at season’s end, became emotional as he acknowledged the crowd on his way back to the dugout. The three-time Cy Young Award winner was embraced by his teammates upon his arrival.

He gave up 4 hits and two runs in 4.1 innings, striking out six, before exiting the game against the rival Giants.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated in an interview on Apple TV during the top of the fourth inning that he was monitoring Kershaw’s performance closely.

“I’m watching him closely,” Roberts said. “… Given the emotion of yesterday, he’s not as sharp (tonight). The pitch count (70) is higher than we would like.”

Roberts wanted to get him through the fifth inning, if possible.

Several of Kershaw’s former teammates were spotted at Dodger Stadium for the pitcher’s final regular-season home start. The former players in attendance included Andre Ethier, Austin Barnes, Russell Martin and AJ Pollock.

Kershaw’s childhood friend and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was also in attendance for the game.

Reed was found dead hanging from a tree on the Delta State University campus on Sept. 15. Cleveland Police Department officials said the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined the cause of Reed’s death was hanging and concluded the action to be suicide. Cleveland Police Department added that final toxicology results are ongoing and could take two to four weeks to finish, according to a statement, via the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network.

According to a press release from Crump’s office, Reed’s family has raised concerns after receiving conflicting accounts and incomplete information about the circumstances of his tragic death.

“Trey’s death evoked the collective memory of a community that has suffered a historic wound over many, many years and many, many deaths. Peace will come only by getting to the truth,” the press release read. “We thank Colin Kaepernick for supporting this grieving family and the cause of justice and truth.”

Kaepernick played in the NFL for six seasons. His decision in the 2016 season to kneel during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality sparked national debate.

The former quarterback hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2016 season. Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging collusion against him. The two parties reached a settlement in 2019.