The game between the Seattle Sounders and the Columbus Crew ended in a 1-1 draw during the final seconds of stoppage time after Stefan Frei went down with an injury on Sunday, July 6.

The Sounders goalkeeper was seen diving in the direction of the ball on a Columbus Crew’s corner kick attempt while several players were coming toward him and the net, trying to make a play on the ball. Frei took a knee to the head during the Columbus Crew’s corner kick attempt.

Medical officials were on the field to evaluate Frei before an ambulance arrived and he was transported off the field.

Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer said after the game that Frei was alert. He was being evaluated for both neck and head injuries.

‘(Frei) got hit pretty hard,’ Schmetzer said. ‘We’re in the early stages of that evaluation. As soon as we get a definitive, a real, good clarity on the extent of the injury, we’ll give you more. I don’t want to speculate.

‘He is going to the hospital, but he is fine. He was alert when he was loaded onto the ambulance … I’m very happy for our medical staff because they did a good job to be careful. We can’t underestimate that type of stuff.’

The game was no longer a priority for Schmetzer, who was heard during the game’s broadcast on Apple TV asking for officials to ‘stop the game’ following Frei’s injury.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

There were the young All-Stars, the first-time All-Stars and the old All-Stars, but no name resonated more brightly Sunday during the selections was Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Clayton Kershaw.

Just four days after entering the record books with his 3,000th strikeout, Kershaw is now going to the All-Star Game for the 11th time of his illustrious career, chosen by commissioner Rob Manfred as his “Legend Pick’ in recognition of the Dodgers veteran.

Kershaw, the oldest All-Star at 37 years old, becomes the first All-Star chosen by Manfred since 2022 when he chose Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera, who were in the final year of their careers. Kershaw has not announced whether this will be his final season, but after three Cy Youngs, two World Series championships and becoming the 20th pitcher to achieve 3,000 strikeouts, his Hall of Fame resume is already complete.

MLB ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS: Check out the full teams for Midsummer Classic

Kershaw is one of five Dodgers who will be at the All-Star Game, joining Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the most by any team. The first-place Detroit Tigers (Tarik Skubal, Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene and Javier Baez) and the Seattle Mariners (Cal Raleigh, Bryan Woo, Julio Rodriguez and Andres Muñoz) have the second-most representatives with four All-Stars apiece.

There are 19 first-time All Stars, including 21 players who are 26 years old are younger, with 22-year-old James Wood of the Washington Nationals being the youngest. Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, 23, is the youngest AL player, and joins his father, Jack, as the first father-son duo to be selected as All-Star shortstops, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Shane Smith is not only the first Chicago White Sox rookie pitcher to make the All-Star team, but also becomes only the second player to be a Rule 5 Draft pick and make the All-Star team the following season, joining Miami Marlins infielder Dan Uggla in 2006.

Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom, the two-time Cy Young award winner and a candidate to win his third, is returning to the All-Star Game for the first time since 2021. He’s 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA and his 101⅓ innings pitches are the most he’s accumulated since 2021.

There, of course, are plenty of players who were snubbed, well at least initially considering there are about a dozen players added before the July 15 All-Star Game with injuries and pitching limits. St. Louis Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, Astros starter Framber Valdez, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer, Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, Mets outfielder Juan Soto, Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, Phillies starter Ranger Suarez, Twins starter Joe Ryan, Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez and Rays third baseman Junior Caminero were among the most glaring omissions.

San Francisco Giants DH Rafael Devers may have gotten robbed of an All-Star selection simply by being traded last month from the Boston Red Sox. Devers entered the day hitting .262 with 17 homers, 67 RBIs and an .866 OPS, but his numbers paled in comparison to Shohei Ohtani (30 homers, 56 RBIs, 1.002 OPS) and Kyle Schwarber (27 homers, 62 RBIs, .922 OPS), who were the top two picks on the players’ ballot.

The players ballot, which also included managers and coaches, once again provided intrigue. They voted for Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña to be the starter, which went to Wilson in the fan balloting. They also voted for Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays to be the starting first baseman instead of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays.

While Freeman is the NL’s starting first baseman, the players wanted New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who easily won their vote. Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. received the most fan votes, despite not making his season debut until May 23, but finished only fifth in the player balloting. Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton wasn’t chosen by the fans, but he received the second-most votes from AL outfielders by the players, behind only Yankees MVP Aaron Judge.

In the NL, the players voted Padres setup reliever Jason Adam to the All-Star team, but not teammate Robert Suarez, the Padres closer, who is tied for the MLB lead with 24 saves. San Francisco Giants reliever Randy Rodriguez received the most votes among NL relievers, followed by Edwin Diaz of the Mets. In the AL, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman received the most votes ahead of Josh Hader of the Houston Astros, who has been perfect in 25 save situations.

The AL All-Stars selected by the players:

Catcher Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays.
First baseman Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays.
Second baseman: Brandon Lowe, Rays
Shortstop: Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros.
Third baseman: Alex Bregman, Boston Red Sox.
Outfielders: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins; Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians; Julio Rodriguez Seattle Mariners; DH Brent Rooker.
Starting Pitchers: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers; Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox; Max Fried, New York Yankees; Hunter Brown, Houston Astros; Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers.
Relief Pitchers: Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox; Josh Hader, Astros; Andres Munoz, Seattle Mariners.

The NL All-Star chosen by the players:

Catcher: Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies.
First baseman: Pete Alonso, Mets.
Second baseman: Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals.
Shortstop: Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds.
Third baseman: Eugenio Suarez, Arizona Diamondbacks.
Outfielders: James Wood, Nationals; Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks; Fernando Tatis, Padres.
DH: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies.
Starting pitchers: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates; Zack Wheeler, Phillies; Chris Sale, Atlanta; Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants; MacKenzie Gore, Nationals.
Relief pitchers: Randy Rodriguez, Giants; Edwin Diaz, Mets; Jason Adam, Padres.

MLB made six selections in each league to fill out their roster, and to assure that every club was represented. In the AL, Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm and Witt, of the Royals were chosen, along with pitchers Kris Bubic of the Royals, Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels, Woo and Smith.

In the NL, MLB chose 34-year-old Cubs starter Matthew Boyd for his first All-Star Game, also with starters Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers, Robbie Ray of the Giants and Yamamoto. It also selected first baseman Matt Olson of Atlanta and Kyle Stowers of the Miami Marlins.

While Tarik Skubal should easily be the choice to start the All-Star Game for the AL, it will be a fascinating decision for NL manager Dave Roberts of the Dodgers to choose between Zach Wheeler of the Phillies and Skenes of the Pirates. Wheeler threw a one-hit complete game Sunday, retiring 27 of the 28 batters he faced with 12 strikeouts while Skenes leads the NL in ERA (2.03) and opponent’s batting average (.182).

Skenes told reporters he’d love to start again after having the honor in last year’s All-Star Game as a rookie, but most of all, would love to sit down and chat with Skubal, who is 10-2 with a 2.02 ERA this season, with 148 strikeouts in 116 innings

“It would be cool, he said. “More than anything, I want to get him off to the side and ask him how he does what he does, basically. I’ve talked with him a little bit, but to see him do it again, at an even higher level than he did last year arguably, it’s pretty dang cool.”

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

Rosters for the 2025 All-Star Game, to be played July 15 in Atlanta, don’t necessarily represent a changing of the guard within Major League Baseball. Yet the 64 players selected to the National League and American League rosters announced July 6 indicate another wave of fresh talent has landed.

James Wood is in: The Washington Nationals’ 6-foot-7 outfielder whose .943 OPS leads NL outfielders will make the first of what’s expected to be many All-Star appearances.

Hunter Brown is in: The Houston Astros ace, who’d be the favorite to start the game in a Tarik Skubal-free environment, leads the major leagues with a 1.82 ERA and the AL with a 0.90 WHIP.

Among those not getting, at least for now, a golden ticket to Cobb County: Cubs slugger Michael Busch, Rays infielder Junior Caminero and Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. But stay tuned: Injury and pitching replacements will dominate this space for the next nine days until the Midsummer Classic tips off.

A look at the AL and NL rosters: 

American League All-Star roster

Starters (voted on by fans)

Catcher: Cal Raleigh, Mariners
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
Second base: Gleyber Torres, Tigers
Third base: José Ramírez, Guardians
Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, Athletics
Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees
Outfield: Javier Báez, Tigers
Outfield: Riley Greene, Tigers
Designated hitter: Ryan O’Hearn, Orioles

AL reserves

C Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays
INF Jonathan Aranda, Rays
INF Alex Bregman, Red Sox
INF Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees
INF Jeremy Peña, Astros
INF Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
DH Brent Rooker, Athletics
OF Byron Buxton, Twins
OF Steven Kwan, Guardians
OF Julio Rodríguez, Mariners

AL pitchers

Tarik Skubal, Tigers
Garrett Crochet, Red Sox
Yusei Kikuchi, Angels
Max Fried, Yankees
Jacob deGrom, Rangers
Shane Smith, White Sox
Hunter Brown, Astros
Kris Bubic, Royals
Bryan Woo, Mariners
Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox (reliever)
Josh Hader, Astros (reliever)
Andres Muñoz, Mariners (reliever)

National League All-Star roster

NL starters (voted on by fans)

Catcher: Will Smith, Dodgers
First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
Second base: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks
Third base: Manny Machado, Padres
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Mets
Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs
Outfield: Kyle Tucker, Cubs
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

NL reserves

C Hunter Goodman, Rockies
INF Pete Alonso, Mets
INF Elly De La Cruz, Reds
INF Brendan Donovan, Cardinals
INF Matt Olson, Braves
INF Eugenio Suárez, Diamondbacks
DH Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
OF Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks
OF Kyle Stowers, Marlins
OF Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
OF James Wood, Nationals

NL pitchers

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (chosen by commissioner as Legend Pick)
Chris Sale, Braves
Zack Wheeler, Phillies
Paul Skenes, Pirates
Logan Webb, Giants
Robbie Ray, Giants
Freddy Peralta, Brewers
MacKenzie Gore, Nationals
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers 
Matthew Boyd, Cubs
Edwin Diaz, Mets (reliever)
Jason Adam, Padres (reliever)
Randy Rodriguez, Giants (reliever)

When is the MLB All-Star Game?

The 2025 Major League All-Star is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta.

When is the MLB Home Run Derby?

The 2025 Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 14.

Who is in the Home Run Derby?

Several players have announced their plans to participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby as of Sunday, July 6.

Here’s who has committed so far:

Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Cal Raleigh, Mariners
James Wood, Nationals

WASHINGTON — It’s a strange existence, this life as baseball’s No. 1 prospect. The greater glory is often in anticipation, the projection of minor league greatness to big league excellence, and the parlor game of just when a buzzworthy talent will land at the game’s highest level.

Roman Anthony reached that apex on June 8, when he hit a 497-foot grand slam for Class AAA Worcester, a blast that figuratively punched his ticket from central Massachusetts to Fenway Park. Days later came the hurried drive east, the first big league start, hit and RBI and the fan delirium of what might come next.

And then, the hard part.

“You kind of understand that as a player – when you’re a prospect in the minor leagues and then when you come up here, nobody really cares anymore about your prospect status,” Anthony tells USA TODAY Sports.

“It’s time to help the team win.”

To that point, Anthony, 21, has been wildly successful, even if his first almost month in the major leagues has not yet produced a sizzle reel worth of sharable moments.

It would be hard to match the hype: Anthony’s ascent as a hitting savant since the Red Sox chose him with the 79th overall pick in 2022 crested these past two seasons, as an .879 career minor league OPS zoomed to .940 at Class AAA.

So when Anthony began his career with two hits in his first 27 at-bats – an .074 average and .416 OPS – the hype machine cooled. And a maelstrom gathered around him: The club abruptly ended its cold war with All-Star slugger Rafael Devers and on June 15 traded the designated hitter to San Francisco in a blockbuster that roiled two franchises.

Anthony had one major league hit to his name then, but the Red Sox did not consider spoon-feeding him; instead, they moved him to the No. 3 hole, and he’s batted either second or third in 16 games since.

They were rewarded with such foresight: Anthony has 16 hits in 50 at-bats since, a .314 average. One week ago, he had no multi-hit games; now, he has four, coinciding with the Red Sox winning five of seven to crawl back to .500 at 45-45 entering July 6.

“Now,” says Red Sox manager Alex Cora, “he’s finding green. He’s getting on base at a high rate. He’s doing an outstanding job.”

Even if his contributions aren’t the stuff of breathless anticipation.

Roman Anthony overcomes ‘gap’ between minors, MLB

It’s true: Home runs get the headlines. And Anthony hasn’t homered in nearly three weeks and 56 at-bats, since his first and only big league dinger off Seattle’s Logan Gilbert on June 16.

That’s not surprising given his batted-ball profile: Anthony’s groundball rate of 55% is 11% higher than the league average. He has struggled most with spin, to be expected of a young player, with a 40.5% whiff percentage on breaking pitches, more than three times his rate against fastballs.

And yet, he’s ripped six doubles and makes the right contributions to keep the lineup whirring. Cora lauded his focus in drawing a walk with an eight-run lead Friday; the next day, he hit a ball to the right side to move a runner that scored, then rolled a pair of singles that way to aid the Red Sox’s 10-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.

That we are witnessing the building of a foundation as opposed to an instant smash is hardly a surprise in this era. Since the revamping of the minor leagues in 2022, the gulf between Class AAA and the big leagues has been widening.

Anthony played just 93 games over two seasons at Worcester and was a month past his 21st birthday when he debuted in Boston. He was tossed into a grind where three-city, nine-game road trips are common, whereas the minor leagues have largely shifted to a format where six-game series in one destination are commonplace.

“I think the gap between minor league baseball and the big leagues is the biggest I have witnessed as far as stuff, execution, fastballs, obviously breaking ball stuff,” says Cora. “Traveling, everything. This whole six days in one city – it doesn’t prepare them for this. We played at 11 yesterday, we play at 4 today, tomorrow at 1, hop on a plane and then we got seven in a row in Boston.

“Minor league baseball is not preparing these guys for what this is. They’ve done a good job adjusting. The organization does a good job with them when they get here, try to keep it as simple as possible. But it’s a big adjustment period.”

Anthony adds another factor to this: The cutthroat nature of the majors, where the game becomes a binary – did you win or lose? – as opposed to the developmental priority of the minor leagues

“I think the biggest adjustment is learning how to prepare yourself to help the team win every single day,” says Anthony. “In the minor leagues, and coming to the big leagues, the idea of showing up every day to win is so much different than it is in the minor leagues.

“My experience so far has been awesome.”

It doesn’t hurt that the Red Sox are hitting an offensive high point in the post-Devers era, scoring double-digit runs in four of their last seven games. They haven’t shown a consistency in all phases to compete in the American League East but encouraging performances of late from starters Lucas Giolito and Walker Buehler create some hope they may can stay in many more games than they were earlier this season.

Cora admires Anthony’s ability to flush outcomes with the aplomb of a much more veteran performer.

“He’s a consistent player, a consistent individual,” says Cora. “He does not get caught up in results. He wants to put up good at-bats.

“He wants to get better.”

Roman Anthony would ‘much rather have it this way’

Anthony, of course, is just one of a gaggle of mega-prospects who came up through Worcester in recent years, now playing alongside infielder Marcelo Mayer. The third piece of their Worcester triad one year ago, catcher Kyle Teel, was dealt to the Chicago White Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade this winter.

Teel made his debut one week before Anthony, and the two talk or text frequently, Anthony admiringly noting that Teel is “killing it” on the South Side, with a .283 average and .400 OBP.

Yet it is Anthony – who will officially lose his “prospect” status by around the All-Star break – that many in the game believe will produce a 15-year career. Become an elite hitter. And, eventually, elevate the ball, put more of them in the seats and remain the longtime cog in the Red Sox lineup.

That’s still a way off. And the new-car sheen of his debut has long faded. Yet the beginning of a long relationship is only just beginning – with Anthony quietly fulfilling his end of the bargain, with greater things to come.

“I feel like AC trusts me and I feel like I’ve been having good at-bats and doing what I need to do to help the team. Continue to get better at that every day,” says Anthony. “Credit to the staff, trusting me and putting me in that position to hit there with such a great lineup around me.

“I’d much rather have it this way than be a prospect in the minor leagues. I’m in the big leagues and this is the dream – to be here. Just being a player on the Boston Red Sox who is trying to help this team win.”

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

CP3 could be calling it a career.

Chris Paul revealed he is nearing the end of his NBA career, as the 20-year veteran said he plans to play just one more season in the Association.

The 12-time NBA All-Star was asked about his future during a conversation with Jemele Hill at the American Black Film Festival. Hill mentioned Paul is in the ‘twilight’ of his playing career and asked how much longer he plans to play.

‘At the most, a year,’ Paul said.

Considered one of the best point guards to play in the NBA, Paul just finished his 20th professional season with the San Antonio Spurs. He started in all 82 games for San Antonio, the first time he accomplished the feat since he did so for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014-15 and the first time a player in their 20th season did it.

However, it wasn’t a flashy season from the veteran. He averaged 8.8 points per game, the lowest of his career, along with 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals. He also only average 28 minutes a game, his second-lowest after the 2023-24 season with the Golden State Warriors.

Chris Paul free agency: Where will guard play in 2025-26?

While it appears Paul will embark on a farewell tour, who he will do it for remains a question. He signed with San Antonio prior to the 2024-25 season on a one-year, $10.4 million contract, meaning he is a free agent.

Paul is one of the top remaining unsigned players, and he seemed to give Hill an indication of where he could be headed. Hill mentioned the Los Angeles Lakers are in need of a guard, and Paul mentioned his family has stayed in Los Angeles while he’s played across the country. But ultimately, a decision hasn’t been made.

‘I love to play basketball, but I love my kids and my family more. That is gonna weigh a huge part on my decision on what happens next year.”

Playing year 21 could make sense for Paul. He could play with longtime friend LeBron James on the Lakers, or he could rejoin the Clippers, where he spent six seasons. They are also playoff caliber teams that could give Paul a chance to get that elusive NBA title.

Paul has been one of the best guards in the NBA ever since he began his career in 2005 with the New Orleans Hornets. He’s an 11-time NBA All-Team member, nine-time all-defensive team member and has led the league in assists five times and steals six times.

His 12,499 assists and 2,717 steals are the most among active players and second-most in NBA history. John Stockton has the all-time record in both categories, with 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals.

Brian Campbell emerged victorious in a playoff at the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, on Sunday, July 6.

Fierce winds and firm greens had been the great equalizer this Fourth of July weekend at TPC Deere Run as defending tournament champion Davis Thompson began the final day at 15 under par, but wound up finishing tied for 18th. Campbell, meanwhile, defeated Emiliano Grillo in the playoff to take home the $1,512,000 top prize.

COMPLETE LEADERBOARD: 2025 John Deere Classic

What channel is John Deere Classic on today? Time, TV schedule

Round 4 of the 2025 John Deere Classic will broadcast nationally on Golf Channel from 1-3 p.m. ET and CBS from 3-6 p.m. ET. The action can also be streamed on ESPN+, Paramount+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.

TV channel: Golf Channel | CBS
Start time: 1 p.m. ET

2025 John Deere Classic top 10 leaderboard, payouts

2025 John Deere Classic purse, payouts

The total purse for the 2025 John Deere Classic is $8.4 million, with just over $1.5 million going to the winner. Here is the complete rundown on how much each position pays:

1st: $1.512 million
2nd: $915,600
3rd: $579,600
4th: $411,600
5th: $344,400
6th: $304,500
7th: $283,500
8th: $262,500
9th: $245,700
10th: $228,900
11th: $212,100
12th: $195,300
13th: $178,500
14th: $161,700
15th: $153,300
16th: $144,900
17th: $136,500
18th: $128,100
19th: $119,700
20th: $111,300
21st: $102,900
22nd: $94,500
23th: $87,780
24th: $81,060
25th: $74,340
26th: $67,620
27th: $65,100
28th: $62,580
29th: $60,060
30th: $57,540
31st: $55,020
32nd: $52,500
33th: $49,980
34th: $47,880
35th: $45,780
36th: $43,680
37th: $41,580
38th: $39,900
39th: $38,220
40th: $36,540
41st: $34,860
42nd: $33,180
43th: $31,500
44th: $29,820
45th: $28,140
46th: $26,460
47th: $24,780
48th: $23,436
49th: $22,260
50th: $21,588
51st: $21,084
52nd: $20,580
53rd: $20,244
54th: $19,908
55th: $19,740
56th: $19,572
57th: $19,404
58th: $19,236
59th: $19,068
60th: $18,900
61st: $18,732
62nd: $18,564
63rd: $18,396
64th: $18,228
65th: $18,060
66th: $17,892
67th: $17,724
68th: $17,556
69th: $17,388
70th: $17,220

DeMaurice ‘De’ Smith hasn’t served as the NFL Players Association’s executive director for more than two years. But there’s clearly no love lost between him and some of the NFL’s most important figures.

According to Awful Announcing, Smith plans to publish his new book, ‘Turf Wars,’ in early August. In it, he slams NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones, former NFL general counsel Jeff Pash and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Smith calls Goodell ‘a cold, dark void’ who ‘was in the employ of madmen.’

Jones is characterized as stingy despite his estimated net worth extending into the tens of billions in recent years.

Smith writes, ‘If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he’d stop and pick it up.’

Jones is one of the main names called out in the book, though Smith doesn’t let the rest of owners off the hook either. Awful Announcing’s report on the early copy of ‘Turf Wars’ includes that its author calls the overall group of NFL owners ‘a cabal of greedy billionaires.’

Notably, and despite the general characterization of NFL owners, Patriots owner Robert Kraft receives a nod in the acknowledgements section of Smith’s book, according to Awful Announcing.

The worst of all top NFL officials, according to Smith, is Pash, who retired in 2024 after 40 years of working with the league.

Smith calls Pash ‘definitely the most unscrupulous. In a corporation filled with ruthless people, Pash has everyone else beat.’

Smith didn’t stop at calling out NFL executives, either. Awful Announcing reported that the former head of the NFLPA called Rodgers ‘the god of Cheesehead Nation’ and ‘isolated and dismissive.’

Writes Smith: ‘He sat in the back row of the meeting room, issuing loud sighs before standing for a dramatic exit. An incredible quarterback, to be sure, but an even more impressive antagonist.’

That wasn’t all.

‘In August 2021, my phone chirped with a text from Aaron Rodgers,’ Smith writes. ‘‘Can you call me?’ it read. Could I not run into traffic instead?’

Smith’s criticism of players didn’t stop with Rodgers. Also on the chopping block is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who Smith calls out for criticizing players that kneeled during the national anthem because it ‘may be hurting the game and having an effect on revenue.’

Smith served as the NFLPA’s executive director from 2009 until 2023. During his tenure, he dealt with the 2011 NFL lockout amid new contract bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations and the ‘Deflategate’ incident from the 2014 AFC championship game.

Smith also was the man who filed the initial complaint with arbitrator Christopher Droney that accused NFL owners of collusion. Droney ultimately dismissed the case, though not before noting in a 61-page document that the NFL Management Council ‘encouraged 32 member Clubs of the NFL to reduce guarantees in future contracts with players at the March 2022 annual meeting.’

The report ultimately found that NFL owners had not been engaging in collusive conduct, but the document remained under wraps until Pablo Torre unveiled it on his podcast, ‘Pablo Torre Finds Out’ late last month.

Not for Shane van Gisbergen, though.

The Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet driver took pole and victory in both the Xfinity and Cup Series events this weekend, culminating in a methodical drive to victory in the Grant Park 165.

Michael McDowell took the lead from van Gisbergen on the opening lap en route to a Stage 1 win. Carson Hocevar’s spin on lap 4 took himself and four other drivers out of the running: Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski, Todd Gilliland and Will Brown.

McDowell’s run at the front came to an end early, though, due to a throttle problem reported on lap 32. He finished the day in 32nd with 31 laps led after starting from second on the grid.

It was far from a flag-to-flag win for van Gisbergen. He trailed McDowell for much of Stage 1 and worked his way through the field multiple times. He passed Tyler Reddick on lap 57 and cleared Chase Briscoe three laps later to take the lead.

Organizers put out a yellow flag shortly after he took the lead from Briscoe so an ambulance could make it to the infield to assist a fan. Ty Gibbs jumped up to second on the restart to become van Gisbergen’s top challenger in a dash to the finish but the New Zealander kept Gibbs behind him on the restart with nine laps to go.

Cody Ware hit the wall with two laps to go but van Gisbergen had crossed the start-finish line by the time organizers threw the yellow flag, meaning the race would finish under caution.

Gibbs and Reddick rounded out the top three behind van Gisbergen. The three-time Supercars champion’s been a standout on road courses this year. He took sixth in Austin and won in dominant fashion in Mexico City.

Forecasts predicted rain late in the race but it never came to fruition with all-dry running throughout the Sunday afternoon in Chicago.

USA TODAY Sports had full coverage of the Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course. Scroll below for results, highlights and a recap of the action.

NASCAR Grant Park 165 extended highlights

NASCAR Cup Series in Chicago results

Final results.

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Katherine Legge, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Josh Bilicki, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (out)
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (out)
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford (out)
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (out)
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (out)
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford (out)
Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford (out)
Will Brown, No. 13 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (out)
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (out)

In-season challenge bracket results

Sunday’s results in Chicago saw some surprises in the bracket with top seeds losing three matchups. Here’s how things look entering Round 3 next week in Sonoma:

Top half of draw

No. 32 Ty Dillon def. No. 17 Brad Keselowski
No. 8 Alex Bowman def. No. 9 Bubba Wallace
No. 12 John Hunter Nemechek def. No. 5 Chase Elliott
No. 20 Erik Jones def. No. 29 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Bottom half of draw

No. 15 Ryan Preece def. No. 31 Noah Gragson
No. 23 Tyler Reddick def. No. 26 Carson Hocevar
No. 6 Ty Gibbs def. No. 22 A.J. Allmendinger
No. 14 Zane Smith def. No. 3 Chris Buescher

Cody Ware’s crash forces race to finish under yellow flag

The Rick Ware Racing Ford hit the wall on the penultimate lap of the race but organizers did not throw the yellow flag until after leader van Gisbergen crossed the start-finish line, forcing the race to finish under caution.

Austin Cindric stopped on track with mechanical issue

The Team Penske Ford driver was one of many drivers involved in midfield collisions during the latest restart. He suffered a broken toe link and won’t continue in the race with 11 laps to go as the yellow flag comes out once again.

Caution period for ambulance

Shortly after van Gisbergen took the lead, officials put out a yellow flag and it was later confirmed to be for an ambulance to reach the infield. Green flag running resumes with 14 laps to go.

van Gisbergen takes the lead from Briscoe

The 2023 Grant Park 165 winner passed Chase Briscoe on lap 60 to take the lead once again halfway through the final stage. Sixteen laps remain from the streets of Chicago.

van Gisbergen moves to second

The road course standout is on a tear in the final stage of the race. His pass on Tyler Reddick on lap 57 puts him second behind leader Chase Briscoe with 18 laps left to go.

van Gisbergen hunting down the leaders

The winner of the first street race in Chicago two years ago has moved back up into the top five after his pit stop late in Stage 2. He’s now third behind Chase Briscoe and Tyler Reddick and closing down the three-second gap.

Stage 3 begins under caution

Erik Jones suffered a broken toe link after making contact with the wall late in Stage 2. Green flag running resumed on lap 48 with Chase Briscoe leading the field over Tyler Reddick.

Ryan Blaney wins Stage 2

Shane van Gisebergen and AJ Allmendinger were leading the way for much of Stage 2 but both pitted before lap 45, leaving the Team Penske Ford driver to take the lead and Stage 2 win. Chase Briscoe, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five after two stages.

Michael McDowell wins Stage 1

McDowell took the lead from Shane van Gisbergen on lap 1 and held on following the caution period to take the win after the first 20 laps. van Gisbergen kept behind McDowell for most of the stage but pitted on lap 18, leaving McDowell to take the stage win uncontested.

Red flag on lap 4 after big crash

Carson Hocevar spun out in the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet after hitting two walls and more cars collided and blocked the track. Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Todd Gilliland, Riley Herbst and Will Brown were involved in the wreck.

Green flag racing in Chicago

The lone street race of the 2025 Cup Series calendar is underway with Michael McDowell taking the lead from pole sitter Shane van Gisbergen.

How to watch NASCAR Cup race in Chicago

Race: Grant Park 165
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Chicago Street Course, Chicago
TV: TNT, alternate telecast on truTV
Streaming:Stream the Grant Park 165 on Sling

What is the lineup for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago?

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Will Brown, No. 13 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Josh Bilicki, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

NASCAR In-Season Challenge second round matchups

Thirty-two drivers qualified for the inaugural in-season challenge and 16 were eliminated in Atlanta. The 16 winners advanced to the second round and make up the remaining bracket. Here’s how things look entering Chicago:

Top half of draw

No. 17 Brad Keselowski vs. No. 32 Ty Dillon
No. 8 Alex Bowman vs. No. 9 Bubba Wallace
No. 5 Chase Elliott vs. No. 12 John Hunter Nemechek
No. 20 Erik Jones vs. No. 29 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Bottom half of draw

No. 15 Ryan Preece vs. No. 31 Noah Gragson
No. 23 Tyler Reddick vs. No. 26 Carson Hocevar
No. 6 Ty Gibbs vs. No. 22 A.J. Allmendinger
No. 3 Chris Buescher vs. No. 14 Zane Smith

What is the weather forecast for NASCAR Cup race in Chicago?

The Weather Channel is calling for a 60% chance of rain in Chicago today. The hourly forecast predicts the highest chance of rain between 4 and 6 p.m. ET which may hit towards the end of the race. Temperatures should stay around the low 80s.

What time does the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago start?

The Grant Park 165 is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local) Sunday, July 6, on the street course in downtown Chicago.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago on?

The Grant Park 165 will be broadcast on TNT. It’s the second of four races to be broadcast on the network. Pre-race coverage will start at 1 p.m. ET.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago?

Yes, the Grant Park 165 will be streamed on WatchTNT, Max and Sling TV.

Stream the NASCAR race at Chicago on Sling

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago?

The Grant Park 165 is 75 laps around the 2.2-mile track for a total of 165 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 20 laps; Stage 2: 25 laps; Stage 3: 30 laps.

Who won the NASCAR Cup race at Chicago last year?

Alex Bowman led the final eight laps, taking the lead on Lap 51 of the shortened race that ended with a countdown clock on Lap 58 instead of the scheduled 75 after weather disrupted the race. When the clock hit zero, Bowman needed to maintain his lead for two laps – taking the white flag and the checkered flag – to earn his lone victory of 2024. Bowman pulled away from Tyler Reddick and won by 2.863 seconds.

The starters for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game were revealed at the start of July, with Indiana’s Caitlin Clark and Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier named captains. As captains, those two have the unfortunate task of having to pick between the best players across the league, drafting their teams to face off against one another, and the full rosters have finally been revealed.

The reserves for the game were announced on Sunday, July 6, including several All-Star Game vets and a few first-timers. Among the reserves, there are four players who will be participating in the WNBA All-Star Game for the first time in their careers: Washington’s Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, Golden State’s Kayla Thornton, and Seattle’s Gabby Williams.

This year’s roster really is a celebration of the league. Despite 2025 marking the league’s first expansion sine 2008, nearly every team in the league is represented in this game, with only the Connecticut Sun lacking a player in the contest.

Here are the full reserves for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.

2025 WNBA All-Star Reserves

G Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics (first selection)
G Skylar Diggins, Seattle Storm
G Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
G Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
G Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks
G Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx
G Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm (first selection)
G Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
F Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics (first selection)
F Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
F Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
F Kayla Thornton, Golden State Valkyries (first selection)

2025 WNBA All-Star Game Starters

Captains:

G Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
F Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Starters:

G Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (first selection)
G Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
G Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
F A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
F Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
F Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
F Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
F Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury

WNBA All-Star Game snubs

As is the case with any selective process, there is bound to be a few worthy athletes left off the teams. 2025 is no different. Here are a few of the players that had a worthy All-Star case, but came up just short:

G Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx

The Minnesota Lynx boast the best record in the WNBA currently, and McBride has been a huge reason why. The four-time All-Star is shooting over 40% from three-point range for the second season in a row. Yes, her playstyle can lead to some duds if she isn’t hitting her shots. After all, she’s failed to record double-digit points in any game she doesn’t hit a three in. That said, her ability to expand the floor combined with her solid playmaking have made her one of the most feared players in the league for years. When she gets hot, she can turn a game on its head.

F Alanna Smith, Minnesota Lynx

You don’t get the best record in the WNBA without having a myriad of talent, and Alanna Smith is living proof. Though she could be considered the fourth scoring option on her own team, that doesn’t take away from her efficiency on the floor, shooting 48.6% from the field, all while providing solid glass work as well.

Smith always seems to come up big in the most clutch moments, providing a huge burst of energy in close contests. Two that come to mind are the early season affairs against Phoenix and Seattle. Minnesota won those games by a combined eight points, and Smith’s 35 points across those games were massive for the Lynx. In fact, across the six Lynx games decided by single digits this season, Smith is averaging 14.2 points per game. Big time players make big time plays in big time moments, and Smith is the embodiment of that statement.

C Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

She’s 6-foot-6, one of the best defenders in the WNBA, and is shooting over 43% from three-point territory. How is this woman not on the All-Star roster?

Well, the reason is availability. Jones has played in only nine games this year. She’s been fantastic in those games, but obviously, absence from games plays a large role in making these rosters. Her best chance to participate was likely the fan vote. After all, Caitlin Clark has played only nine games this season and is an All-Star captain. Alas, Jones’ spectacular season is going unappreciated currently.

G Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics

Sykes has been a defensive wizard her entire career. She’s been named to the All-Defensive 1st or 2nd team in four of the last five seasons and has finished top-three in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice. However, in 2025, she’s elevated her offensive game, averaging over 17 points per game, a huge four-point jump from her previous career-best. That type of improvement could have warranted more All-Star buzz.

F/C Azurá Stevens, Las Vegas Aces

Stevens remains a high-end rebounder with solid scoring upside. She won’t light up the score sheet most nights, but her impact cannot be understated. The Aces have leaned on her a lot to carry the offensive load, and Stevens delivers more often than not, putting up consistent numbers throughout the season. She’s only had four performances with fewer than four field goals made this season. For someone her size, she’s also a great free throw shooter, hitting shots from the charity stripe at over a 70% rate.

F Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream

A three-time All-Star, Jones has maintained her high level of play despite changing teams for the first time in her career this offseason. The Atlanta Dream already have two elite scorers though, which has made Jones appear as a bit of an afterthought behind Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard. Still, Jones remains arguably the best third option in the WNBA, offering solid rebounding and elite efficiency around the rim on offense, ranking top-15 in the WNBA in efficiency this season.

When is the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game?

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, July 19, airing at 5:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The game will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Indiana Fever.

Captains Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will draft their teams on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.