EUGENE, OR – No hurdles? No problem for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

McLaughlin-Levrone ditched the hurdles to run the open 400 this season – and so, far so good.

McLaughlin-Levrone ran around the track with a comfortable lead down the home stretch and crossed the finish line with a season-best of 48.90 to win the gold medal at the U.S. track and field championships.

“I wanted to challenge myself,” McLaughlin-Levrone said following the win. “I felt like this is the year I wanted to step out of the box and really push myself in a different way.”

Isabella Whittaker placed second (49.59) and Aaliyah Butler got third (49.91) to capture the two other qualifying sports for next month’s world championships in Tokyo, Japan.

For McLaughlin-Levrone, her main competition Saturday was her quest to achieve the women’s 400 American record. Sanya Richards owns the record (48.70) which has stood since 2006.

It would be quite the feat for already the top women’s track and field athlete in the country. Her resume includes four Olympic gold medals and she’s the current world-record holder in the 400-meter hurdles.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s impressive performance — without being pushed much by the other competitors — shows she’s inching closer at owning another record in an event that she still calls “foreign” to her.

“Everyone talks about the American record of course, that’s gonna come when it’s supposed to come,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “I think I learned a lot about myself. I think I learned a lot about the 400. But ultimately, every day it’s stepping on the track and being the best I can be, figuring out a race that is very foreign to me and taking on new challenges and being comfortable with the 400.”

McLaughlin-Levrone’s performance currently ranks her third in the world in the 400.

Sha’Carri Richardson arrested in alleged domestic violence incident, police say

It’s only a matter of time before she achieves the American record, and possibly, becomes the best 400-meter runner in the world as she is with the hurdles in front of her.

USA TODAY Sports is on the ground at the U.S. track and field championships and has the highlights from day three at Hayward Field:

Jacory Patterson wins men’s 400

Patterson used to work at UPS and now he’s a national champion.

The sprinter won his first ever national championship in the 400, running a 44.16. Patterson currently ranks third in the world as he now sets his sights on Tokyo.

“It feels like a dream. I put in the work,” Patterson said. “I give all thanks to the man above and my support system. They are the ones who got me here.”

Patterson used to split time between training on the track and working shifts at UPS. He’s since earned enough money to focus on the 400.

“My last day was June 5,” Patterson said with a smile.

Jonah Koech upsets Olympic champion in men’s 1,500

Koech used a final kick to surge past Ethan Strand to win the 1,500. He clocked in with a personal-best time of 3:30.17.

The 1,500 was one of the most competitive events of the day. Strand held on for second (3:30.25) and defending Olympic champion Cole Hocker earned a bronze medal, running a 3:30.37.

Reigning Olympic champ Masai Russell earns 100 hurdles crown

Russell separated from the field midway through the race and clocked in at 12.22 to win gold in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Grace Stark (12.31) and Alaysha Johnson (12.36) came in second and third, respectively.

Russell gestured as if to put a crown on herself after winning the race in convincing fashion. The defending Olympic champion is ranked No. 1 in the world in the 100 hurdles.

Reggie Jagers takes men’s discus

Jagers tossed a discus 219 feet, 4 inches on his third attempt to win the men’s discus. His winning throw was over four feet better than the rest of the field.

Chase Jackson wins women’s shot put

The two-time world champion threw 68 feet, 4 ½ inches to win. Jackson is currently the top shot putter in the world.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

WWE’s party of the summer is bigger than ever − and it’s already been burned down.

SummerSlam 2025 arrived and it’s the grandest edition of the storied event yet as it takes place over two days this weekend. Six matches kicked off the action on Saturday, Aug. 2, featuring a mix of championship matches and heated rivalries coming to a collision. Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker met Roman Reigns and Jey Uso in a major battle of groups, and Jelly Roll made his in-ring debut in tag team action.

The main event of the night was CM Punk against Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship as ‘The Best in the World’ went for his first WWE title in more than a decade.

Everything changed with an unbelievable ending.

Night one had the opportunity to set the stage for a massive weekend for WWE, and it’s safe to say it already has delivered. USA TODAY Sports had all the action for SummerSlam 2025 night one:

Watch: SummerSlam post-show

World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. CM Punk

Both stars took the slow approach to the main event match, understanding the absolute battle it was going to be. After feeling it out, Gunther finally landed a chop since Punk was blocking the early attempts. Despite the brutal shot, Punk didn’t get rattled and got back to executing some submissions. It wasn’t until Gunther landed more chops throughout Punk’s body that he finally gained some control.

Punk took chop after chop and tried to fight back several times, only to see Gunther respond with an even bigger shot with his hands or boot. Gunther was gloating about his domination as Punk tried to get back to his feet, only to just receive more punishing chops and more taunting from the champion.

There was a small of window of hope for Punk that was quickly shut down. Gunther had his opponent in a sharpshooter, and Punk somehow reversed it into his own submission. It’s been known the champion can’t handle submissions, but Gunther was able to grab the ropes to break it up. Both stars got back to their feet and Gunther got back to punishing Punk. The taunting continued but Punk didn’t let it happen long, trading shots with Gunther.

Momentum was finally turning toward Punk’s side, getting some offense in despite how gassed he looked. He climbed up the top rope but Gunther met him to throw him off of it and regain control. Gunther nearly had victory and was closing in but Punk kicked out. The challenger almost shocked him with a GTS, however Gunther got out and landed a power bomb. Gunther hit the drop kick and another power bomb, but the pin didn’t work, leaving the champion in disbelief.

With Punk on his feet, Gunther laughed and delivered more chops. The action moved outside of the ring with Gunther soaking in premature victory on the announcer’s table. He wasn’t paying attention to Punk, who got up and dropped him on the table to give himself more time to recover. The fall busted Gunther open and he was bleeding profusely. He scurried to the ring and Punk saw his opportunity. He went on the attack as Gunther tried to protect himself.

Punk delivered a flying elbow and went for the GTS, just for Gunther to move it into the sleeper hold. Punk got out and got back to his feet and finally landed the GTS. He landed one more finishing move and it knocked Gunther down. Punk then got the pin and he’s finally a champion again in WWE.

Seth Rollins comes back

The celebration for CM Punk doesn’t last long.

Seth Rollins comes out with a brace and crutches to remind Punk he is Mr. Money in the Bank. But he takes the brace off to reveal he is fine, and he comes to the ring and beats Punk with the briefcase.

Seth Rollins cashes in Money in the Bank contract

Wow.

After it was speculated Rollins would be out for an indefinite period, he comes back and is healthy. He cashes in the Money in the Bank briefcase and it takes just one stomp to put Punk down and Rollins becomes the new World Heavyweight Champion.

Analysis: The entire WWE universe just got played.

It wasn’t even a month ago everyone was under the belief Rollins suffered a major injury that was going to sideline him for months. It felt like there was going to be massive changes to the copmany’s trajectory.

Instead, it was the plan all along.

The main event match was already stellar, and it went a different route than typical matches Gunther loses in. Him taking a hard fall and bleeding changed the entire tone of the match, paving the way for Punk to win. He capitalized on the opportunity and seeing his emotional reaction to winning the championship was a sweet moment to savor.

But remember, Rollins swore he wouldn’t let Punk become a champion, and he delivered on his promise. His injury actually being a work is one of the greatest fake-outs in recent memory, given the extremes Rollins went to, to make it seem legit.

The collective gasp seeing Rollins toss the crutches is already another signature moment in his career, which he somehow continues to create in what has been a huge 2025 for ‘The Visionary.’ He showed he truly is one of the greatest minds in the business, and it’s another major chapter in the Rollins vs. Punk rivalry. It’s going to be intriguing seeing how this develops in what has once again become a top-tier storyline.

Another major event Rollins steals the show at.

Watch: CM Punk makes entrance

Randy Orton and Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul

Paul has made no secret about his distaste for Jelly Roll, and he delivered a cheap shot to the musician before the bell rang. Orton was going to start the match, but Jelly Roll tagged himself in to face Paul. He landed some shoulder shots to Paul and then landed a slam to rattle his opponent. McIntyre insisted he go in and deal with Jelly Roll, and Orton tried to hype up his teammate to face the ‘Scottish Warrior.’ Jelly Roll slapped McIntyre and landed some jabs before he was delivered a Glasgow Kiss.

Jelly Roll had to endure the attack of Paul and McIntyre before he was able to tag in Orton and let the ‘Viper’ turn the tide. He was readying for an RKO to McIntyre until Paul dragged his teammate out of danger. Instead, Orton delivered each opponent a slam on the announcer’s table. But McIntyre bounced back and delivered a Claymore to Orton.

After he punched Jelly Roll, Paul cleared the announcer’s table and McIntyre propped Jelly Roll on it. Paul climbed to the top turnbuckle and launched himself off to send Jelly Roll through the table in a big-time spot. Medical personnel came to check in on Jelly Roll.

Back in the ring, McIntyre and Paul teed off on Orton while Jelly Roll was taken out of the ring. But the musician stopped and insisted he get back to help his teammate. Orton tagged in Jelly Roll and he was back to life, punishing Paul with a chokeslam. McIntyre then got slammed by Jelly Roll but he was able to prevent him from pinning Paul.

Then came the wild sequence of a Claymore to Jelly Roll and Orton delivering an RKO to McIntyre. But Paul got up and threw Orton out of the ring and climbed up the turnbuckle for another splash onto Jelly Roll. He got the pin to defeat the artist making his in-ring debut.

Analysis: In terms of celebrities, Paul proves he is the better one. The winning team proves that not all celebrities can just walk in and win WWE matches, and flexed its muscle in a decisive victory. It was almost shocking given how celebrities typically win.

It was hard to predict how this match was going to go. There had been constant talk about how much Jelly Roll had been training for this, but it was fair to doubt it was going to be a great match. It wasn’t Bad Bunny-level good, but Jelly Roll held his own and did well in his wrestling debut.

Props to him for taking brutal spots in this match, on the announcer’s table and even taking the losing pin. It was an entertaining match and seeing the fight in the musician had the crowd rocking, and that’s half the battle in making it mean something. If this is Jelly Roll’s lone match in WWE, he did a solid job.

WWE Women’s Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Cargill showed a different edge to start the bout, taking Stratton outside of the ring and using the barricade to her advantage. But the quick start got to Cargill’s head and Stratton let the challenger know you can’t slip against her.

Despite losing focus, Cargill didn’t spend much time down, landing the Eye of the Storm on Stratton for the first real pin attempt. Stratton kicked out and it started what was a back-and-forth sequence from the competitors. Stratton tried the Prettiest Moonsault Ever and instead ate Cargill’s boots. The champion was down and Cargill executed Jaded. She had the title in her hands, but she rolled Stratton onto the ropes so the referee couldn’t count the pin.

Stratton was fazed and Cargill tried to set up Jaded on the top turnbuckle, but the champion countered it. Cargill hit the ground and Stratton went back up for her finisher. This time she landed it and pinned Cargill to keep her title.

Analysis: A match that had the potential to be the best of the night ends in a dud.

Cargill and Stratton each possess power and skill to really get the crowd on their feet, and while they did have some solid spots, it was such a quick match. You’d figure with how heavy Cargill has been pushed, she would have put on a big performance. But she didn’t really get the chance to have a high-quality one. It was extremely rushed and did a lot of damage to Cargill’s momentum, as she would’ve been better off with not having the match happen.

Stratton has had a stronghold on the title since she won it, but there hasn’t been a real good challenge for her since WrestleMania. Cargill had the potential to be that, but the women didn’t get the time to make it happen. An underwhelming ending makes a rematch not ideal, but if it happens, let’s hope it’s a better match that this.

WWE pays tribute to Hulk Hogan

WWE honors icon Hulk Hogan, who died at the age of 71 on July 24. In attendance is Hogan’s son, Nick.

SummerSlam attendance

WWE announces an attendance of 53,161 inside MetLife Stadium for night one.

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

A really fast-moving start between Zayn and Kross led to no real advantage, with the stars trading shots in and out of the ring. When Kross was on offense, he made sure to try and get in the head of Zayn, continuously taunting him. Perhaps Kross was too focused on trying to get Zayn to break, as he wasn’t going down easy.

With Zayn down, Kross’ wife, Scarlett, snuck him the steel pipe to hit Zayn with while she distracted the referee. However, he missed and Zayn landed the Blue Thunderbomb, going for a pin that was unsuccessful. From there, an angry Zayn emerged as the referee had to stop him several times from continuously attacking Kross.

While the referee checked on Kross, Scarlett then gave Zayn the steel pipe to use on her husband. Zayn grabbed it and contemplated using it, but he threw it out of the ring. Kross tried a roll-up but Zayn got out of it. Zayn then threw Kross into the turnbuckle and landed the Helluva Kick to take him down and get the pin for another victory over Kross.

Analysis: Guess Kross can’t get to everyone he crosses paths with.

It seemed inevitable Zayn would crack and finally embrace the sinister side, but he refused to do so and stays morally right. It was another quick bout and was rather forgettable, but it wasn’t about who won. Rather, would Kross be successful? He wasn’t, and losing the match is an extra sting.

This seems like the end of the road of a storyline that felt mostly underwhelming given the avenues it could go. It should get Zayn back into a title picture soon, but it puts Kross in dangerous territory of fading off into the back.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss

While the challengers tried to determine who would start the match, Perez and Rodriguez saw the perfect opportunity to launch the attack. Flair had briefly stopped the early disadvantage, but Rodriguez delivered a clothesline to Flair the referee didn’t see. The champions were very wise in how they plotted their hits so there wasn’t a window for Flair to get an advantage.

Flair was able to tag Bliss in and she unleashed the fury onto Perez. She went for the Twisted Bliss but Perez got her knees up, and she walked right into the power clothesline from Rodriguez to get the champions rolling again. Even though it’s been a short partnership with Perez and Rodriguez, they were flowing extremely well with the power and speed each possess.

Bliss was struggling to tag her partner in, with her opponents taunting her between hits. But she got it and the ‘Queen’ went to work with the signature Flair chops to Rodriguez. With Rodriguez and Perez on the ground, Flair hit the moonsault on both, but Rodriguez kicked out of the pin attempt. Flair then tried the Figure Eight that was quickly broken up by Perez.

The big moment happened when Bliss tried to hit the opponents but they moved out of the way, and she instead hit Flair on accident. It shocked her, and led to the champions readying for victory with a Tejana Bomb and Pop Rox. But just when the champions were about to retain, Bliss ran in to prevent the pin.

Bliss then had Perez ready for Sister Abigail when she turned and saw Flair staring at her. She said something to Flair, who looked like she was about to kick her partner. Instead, she kicked Rodriguez, and Bliss hit Sister Abigail on Perez to win the titles.

And the Allies of Convenience hugged to celebrate.

Analysis: They are indeed friends.

The match didn’t have any spectacular moments but there wasn’t any bad spots. However, the ending was pristine, giving fans a sudden moment of not knowing how this was going to end. The anticipation was one of the best a match could have, and the result made it even more satisfying to take in.

The Bliss and Flair storyline has been brilliant work, allowing the decorated stars the chance to show a different side of themselves and is something that has really hit with the fanbase. It’s been fun and fresh, and it would have been wrong to see this partnership end when it was getting good. Now they get the chance to flesh out a friendship while reigning over the tag team division.

On the other hand, the title loss will add a big problem for The Judgment Day. It’s going to make Rodriguez more upset with Perez, and friction will be heightened on whether the new member stays or not. It’s something that can continue until Liv Morgan returns.

Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed

No time was wasted with all four stars getting the action started immediately. Uso and Reigns had the early momentum, and they were feeling good as they started to ‘Yeet’ once more. But they got too cocky and Seth Rollins’ henchmen brought the brutality to their opponents. Breakker was showing off the speed with big running shots to both Reigns and Uso.

The match got to a traditional tag team format with Uso absorbing all of the powerful blows from the heavy hitters, with Reed and Breakker showing their chemistry has grown with some nice combination moves. Breakker went for a flying dive outside of the ring, but Uso moved out of the way and Breakker went into the announcer’s table. Uso had a window to tag-in Reigns, but he was too slow and the heels prevented it from happening.

After spending so much time taking hits, Uso finally got the hot tag in and Reigns went to work on Breakker. The OTC sent Breakker over the top rope, and then Reigns flew far outside of the ring to take both opponents out. Back in the ring, Breakker locked in for the spear but was met with a Superman punch.

Reed then came in and landed big shots to both stars, despite Uso trying a sneak attack. Reed showed he could fly as well with a suicide dive on Reigns and Uso. Breakker followed it with a flying clothesline on Reigns over the announcer’s table, leaving Uso a sitting duck. Despite the disadvantage, Uso kicked out of a pin after a signature Steiner tag team move.

Reed and Breakker were locking in for the finishing spears, but Reigns saw it and delivered the Superman punch to Breakker before he sent him through the barricade with a spear. Reed and Uso were alone and Reed readied for a tsunami, but Reigns emerged to deliver the Superman punch. Then, The Bloodline members used the signature 1D Uso move on Reed. However, Breakker came back to break up the pin.

Breakker had his sights on delivering a spear to Uso, but Reigns moved Uso out of the way to take the hit for his family member. Breakker lost focus, giving Uso time to hit a super kick. He then got Reed, and went up the turnbuckle to hit the Uso Splash and pinned Reed to secure the win.

Analysis: You must still acknowledge the OG Bloodline.

A stellar tag team match kicked off SummerSlam in a highly entertaining bout that showcased the current and future of the business. Reigns has undoubtedly cemented himself among the greatest to ever do it, and he proved it once more. Even though they lost, Breakker and Reed were each able to show they can handle going against the big names on their own.

This match could’ve gone so many ways given the compelling story developing between groups led by Reigns and Rollins. A win would’ve really catapulted Reed and Breakker to superstar status, but it’s hard to really launch them forward with Rollins still out. Reigns and Uso emerging victorious gives Paul Heyman motivation to make sure this new group doesn’t lose steam, and they’ll be hunting to get even in what feels like a long storyline developing.

Bronson Reed enters with Roman Reigns’ shoes

The ‘Tribal Thief’ sports the ‘Shoe-la Fala’ after he took Reigns’ shoes after Raw.

Jey Uso enters through the crowd

Uso continues his signature entrance, making his way through the crowd while the WWE universe hits the ‘Yeet.’

Who is host of SummerSlam?

Grammy Award-winning artist Cardi B.

The host kicks off the night entering the ring and welcoming the crowd to the first two-day SummerSlam.

Druski opens SummerSlam

The comedian does the promo to start the show.

When is SummerSlam 2025 night one?

SummerSlam 2025 night one takes place Saturday, Aug. 2.

SummerSlam start time 2025 night one

SummerSlam 2025 starts at 6 p.m. ET. The preshow begins at 3 p.m. ET.

Where is SummerSlam 2025?

The event takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets..

How to watch SummerSlam 2025

SummerSlam 2025 will stream on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

SummerSlam 2025 also will be available to watch at select Regal Cinemas theaters around the country. Tickets to see WWE SummerSlam in theaters are available on Fandango’s website.

SummerSlam 2025 preshow: how to watch

The SummerSlam preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including YouTube.

Stream WWE SummerSlam on Peacock

SummerSlam 2025 night one match card

Matches not in order

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross
Randy Orton and Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul
Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss
WWE Women’s Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. CM Punk

SummerSlam 2025 night one match order

While the complete match list hasn’t been made official, we know which ones will start and end the night.

Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed will kick off SummerSlam, and night one will be capped off by the World Heavyweight Championship match between Gunther and CM Punk.

SummerSlam 2025 stage

The stage has been shown for SummerSlam, and it’s a massive screen inside MetLife Stadium.

WWE makes SummerSlam two nights

For the first time in its 38-year history, SummerSlam takes place on two nights.

WWE first announced the decision for the 2026 event in Minneapolis, with it joining WrestleMania as the company’s two-day extravaganzas. But in September 2024, WWE said the 2025 edition in New Jersey would be a double-night event, kickstarting the timeline early.

With SummerSlam taking over Saturday and Sunday, it allows WWE to have more matches spread across the event rather than only having less than 10. In 2024, SummerSlam had just seven matches, and in 2025, it will have 12.

SummerSlam returns to New York area

It’s another SummerSlam in the New York area as it will be the fourth time it takes place in East Rutherford. Counting New Jersey and New York, the area has hosted 10 SummerSlam’s already, the most of any city. 

The inaugural one took place in 1988, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and was last in the area in 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

SummerSlam 2025 night one predictions

USA TODAY Sports’ wrestling writers predict night one of SummerSlam. See the full predictions for the entire event here.

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

Jordan Mendoza: Karrion Kross
Richard Morin: Sami Zayn

Randy Orton and Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul

Jordan Mendoza: Randy Orton and Jelly Roll
Richard Morin: Randy Orton and Jelly Roll

Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed

Jordan Mendoza: Roman Reigns and Jey Uso
Richard Morin: Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss

Jordan Mendoza: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss
Richard Morin: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss

WWE Women’s Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Jordan Mendoza: Tiffany Stratton
Richard Morin: Jade Cargill

World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. CM Punk

Jordan Mendoza: Gunther 
Richard Morin: Gunther

SummerSlam 2025 night two matches

What matches are taking place on night two? Here’s what’s happening on Sunday, Aug. 3:

Matches not in order

Tables, ladders and chairs match for WWE Tag Team Championship: The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Saban) vs. Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) vs. Andrade and Rey Fenix
Steel cage match for United States Championship: Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
No disqualification, no countout match for Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria
Intercontinental Championship match: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. AJ Styles
Women’s World Championship match: Naomi (c) vs. Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley
Street fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes

Is there a SummerSlam post-show?

Yes, a post-show will air immediately once the show concludes. It will air on Peacock and WWE social media, including YouTube.

The 2025 Little League Softball World Series has begun, featuring four games on the first day on Sunday at Stallings Stadium in Elm Street Park, Greenville, North Carolina.

On the first day of the tournament, Mill Creek Little League from Washington, representing the Northwest, will face off against Tulsa National Little League from Oklahoma, representing the Southwest to kick off the softball action. Throughout the day, additional games will showcase the diversity of the sport, with international teams like Cantareira Little League from São Paulo, Brazil, making their first-ever appearance at the Little League Softball World Series. Other teams from Canada and Prague will also be taking the field on the first day.

Stay a part of the action by following live updates for all the LLSWS action on Sunday, Aug. 3.

How to watch 2025 Little League Softball World Series

The 2025 Little League Softball World Series will be broadcast on ESPN platforms, with the championship game airing on ABC. Games will also be available to stream on ESPN+.

Dates: Aug. 3-10
TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC
Stream: ESPN+
Location: Greenville, North Carolina

Catch the Little League Softball World Series on ESPN+

2025 Little League Softball World Series schedule

Sunday, Aug. 3:

Game 1: (Purple Bracket) Northwest Region vs Southeast Region, 10 a.m. ESPN+
Game 2: (Orange Bracket) North Carolina Region vs Latin America Region, 1 p.m. ESPN+
Game 3: (Orange Bracket): Canada Region vs Europe-Africa Region, 4 p.m. ESPN+
Game 4: (Purple Bracket) New England Region vs Mid-Atlantic Region, 7 p.m. ESPN+

SummerSlam weekend caps off with night two of the event on Sunday, Aug. 3, in what should be one of the most impactful nights of wrestling since WrestleMania 41. All six matches taking place will be for championship gold.

There are rematches for the United States and Women’s Intercontinental Championship that should be brutal contests. The Intercontinental title is also on the line, and the much desired six-team tables, ladders and chairs match will be for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Plus, Naomi, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky meet again after the thriller at Evolution.

But, of course, the main event of the weekend is the WrestleMania 41 rematch, with John Cena defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes in a street fight.

When is SummerSlam 2025?

Night two of SummerSlam 2025 takes place Sunday, Aug. 3.

SummerSlam start time 2025

SummerSlam starts at 6 p.m. ET. The preshow for SummerSlam begins at 3 p.m. ET.

Where is SummerSlam 2025?

The event takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home stadium of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets.

How to watch SummerSlam 2025

SummerSlam will stream on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

SummerSlam 2025 will also be available to watch at select Regal Cinemas theaters around the country. Tickets to see WWE SummerSlam in theaters are available on Fandango’s website.

SummerSlam 2025 preshow: how to watch

The SummerSlam preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including YouTube.

Stream WWE SummerSlam on Peacock

SummerSlam 2025 match card

Matches not in order

Tables, ladders and chairs match for WWE Tag Team Championship: The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Saban) vs. Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer and Axiom) vs. Andrade and Rey Fenix
Steel cage match for United States Championship: Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
No disqualification, no countout match for Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria
Intercontinental Championship match: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. AJ Styles
Women’s World Championship match: Naomi (c) vs. Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley
Street fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes

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

Players were just about ready to take the field at the MLB Speedway Classic on Saturday, Aug. 2, but then the rain came in.

The MLB Speedway Classic between the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves, set to be the most-attended MLB game ever, was delayed for over two hours due to rain near Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. First pitch was finally scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET.

The game did begin, but it was not long before the contest was in a rain delay again that ultimately led to play being suspended.

Play will resume at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 3.

More than 85,000 tickets were purchased for the much-anticipated game, which was originally slated to have Tennessee natives Chase Burns and Spencer Strider on the mound for the Reds and Braves, respectively.

Here’s what to know about the weather delay and suspension:

Braves-Reds weather updates: Play suspended at MLB Speedway Classic

The MLB Speedway Classic was set to start at 7:15 p.m. ET, but the tarp was unraveled at 7:19 p.m. and remained there until around 8:50 p.m.

First pitch was eventually scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET, over two hours after it was initially scheduled. Spencer Strider was no longer the starter for the Braves. Austin Cox ended up taking the ball first.

But the Braves and Reds did not get far into the contest before the skies opened up and the game was delayed again.

The game was halted in the bottom of the first inning, the ‘home’ team Reds up 1-0 and with just one out recorded. Field conditions deteriorated rapidly during the inning.

Play was eventually suspended for the night around 10:30 p.m. ET.

When does MLB Speedway Classic resume?

The game will resume at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 3. It will once again be broadcast on FOX.

Both teams had built-in off days to allow for the potential weather contingency.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Lionel Messi knew he was injured the moment he tripped and fell on the pitch, rolling over to slap the ground in frustration.

Messi slowly walked from the penalty area across midfield, in front of Inter Miami’s bench as his frustration slowly boiled over. He slapped the back of his hips once, then slowly dropped to the pitch to sit.

Messi laid on his back, looking up at the sky – with fans inside Chase Stadium briefly concerned – before he sat up so a trainer could begin working on the inside of his inner right thigh.

Messi suffered the upper-leg injury less than 10 minutes into Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup victory via penalty shootout (2-2, 5-4 on penalty kicks) against Liga MX side Necaxa on Saturday, Aug. 2.

‘(Messi) felt discomfort, and we won’t be able to know until (Sunday) to know how severe the injury is,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the match. “There is probably something there. He wasn’t really in pain, but did feel a pull.”

Messi has dealt with recurring muscle injuries in the upper leg area during the later stages of his career – including during Inter Miami’s run in the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this summer, which he played through last month while turning 38 years old.

Against Necaxa on Saturday, Messi tripped while running past Necaxa defenders Raúl Sánchez and Alexis Peña toward the penalty area in the 6th minute of the match.

Messi waited until there was a stoppage in play to take a moment to rest before he was evaluated. He took off the captain’s armband and was substituted out in the 11th minute, replaced by midfielder Federico Redondo, and walked on his own toward Inter Miami’s locker rooms.

“We know he’s our most important player,” said Inter Miami’s Telasco Segovia, who scored in the 12th minute, shortly after Messi’s exit. “I hope he’s OK. I think so. Well, let’s wait and see what the doctors say.”

It was the second match in four days for Messi, who returned to action after having a week off. He skipped the MLS All-Star Game on July 23, then served a one-game suspension for skipping it on July 26.

Messi had two assists leading Inter Miami to victory in their first Leagues Cup match against Atlas on July 30, but complained of fatigue in the first half due to his layoff.

“Even if (the rest) seems better, for me it’s worse because I need to compete. I feel good physically the more matches I play and get into rhythm,” Messi told Apple TV. “The other day they didn’t let me compete, and I felt it in the first half, but the important thing is that we won.”

Mascherano, before the Necaxa match, added: “Leo made it very clear the other day after the game. I think it’s a message between the lines for everyone. He’s someone who feels much better playing than resting.”

Before Messi’s layoff, he played every minute in 22 of 23 matches with Inter Miami – showing no signs of slowing down despite his advanced age and workload.

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said during a recent press conference: “Load management is on Lionel Messi. … When he steps on the pitch, he will step off when the final whistle blows.”

Messi’s injury is a clear blow to Inter Miami – which sits in fifth place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 42 points in the regular season after winning the Supporters’ Shield last season.

It’s also a blow to the Leagues Cup tournament, which thrives off Messi’s presence. Messi led Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup title in 2023, but did not play in the 2024 tournament due to an ankle injury suffered during Copa America.

Leagues Cup executive director Thomas Mayo told USA TODAY Sports that Apple TV has experienced an over 100% increase in viewership during the first week of the 2025 tournament, with Inter Miami’s opening match ranking in the Top 3 on MLS Season Pass this year.

Inter Miami’s newest signee Rodrigo De Paul, who won the World Cup with Messi and Argentina, fueled his club Saturday with two assists and a made penalty kick in the victory. Jordi Alba scored the equalizer with a header in added time (90’+2’). Luis Suarez converted the last penalty kick, and goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo made a crucial save to help the club win without Messi.

Inter Miami will play Pumas on Aug. 6 in their final match of the Leagues Cup group stage.

Inter Miami will play two regular-season matches – at Orlando City on Aug. 10, and at home against the L.A. Galaxy on Aug. 16 – before the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on Aug. 19 and 20, if they qualify for the knockout stage.

“Obviously, you feel it. You feel it not having him (on) the pitch. He’s the best in the world,” Ríos Novo said of Messi. “We want him playing, but … we have to keep going. It’s no excuse. We have to work as hard as we can, and keep going.”

It’s getting close to crunch time for playoff seeding in the NASCAR Cup Series. This week in Iowa Speedway marks four races to go until the 10-race postseason kicks off at Darlington Raceway.

Further down the order, Ty Gibbs finished 21st to win NASCAR’s inaugural in-season challenge over Ty Dillon.

The grid heads to another oval this week but one that’s quite different from Indianapolis. Iowa Speedway is a short track oval with relatively low banking compared to many others on the calendar. It’s a new track – last year was the first NASCAR Cup Series race there – but it compares relatively well to longtime NASCAR mainstay Richmond Raceway.

Wallace is the latest driver to secure his spot in the playoffs. So far, 13 of the 16 spots have been clinched; three remain in play with four races to go. Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for the Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 3.

What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa start?

The Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local) on Sunday, Aug. 3, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa on?

The Iowa Corn 350 will be broadcast on USA Network, the first time it’s on that channel this season. Pre-race coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT).

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa?

Yes, the Iowa Corn 350 will be streamed on Peacock. The race can also be streamed on Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch NASCAR Cup races on Fubo

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa?

The Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol is 350 laps around the 0.875-mile track for a total of 306.25 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 70 laps; Stage 2: 140 laps; Stage 3: 140 laps.

Who won the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa last year?

What is the lineup for the Iowa Corn 350?

(Car number in parentheses)

Chase Briscoe (19) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
William Byron (24) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, (5) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Cindric (2) Team Penske Ford
Brad Keselowski (6) Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ryan Blaney (12) Team Penske Ford
Carson Hocevar (77) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott (9) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger (16) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Justin Haley (7) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin (11) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Josh Berry (21) Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Michael McDowell (71) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Joey Logano (22) Team Penske Ford
Bubba Wallace (23) 23XI Racing Toyota
Alex Bowman (48) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Christopher Bell (20) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Austin Dillon (3) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Cole Custer (41) Haas Factory Team Ford
Ty Gibbs (54) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Shane van Gisbergen (88) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick (45) 23XI Racing Toyota
Zane Smith (38) Front Row Motorsports Ford 
Riley Herbst (35) 23XI Racing Toyota
Erik Jones (43) Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Daniel Suarez (99) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Buescher (17) Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ross Chastain (1) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
John Hunter Nemechek (42) Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
Noah Gragson (4) Front Row Motorsports Ford
Ty Dillon (10) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Preece (60) RFK Racing Ford
Todd Gilliland (34) Front Row Motorsports Ford
Cody Ware (51) Rick Ware Racing Ford
Joey Gase (66) Garage 66 Ford
Kyle Busch (8) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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North Carolina football quarterback Max Johnson returns in 2025 for his sixth season of college football. He first had to defy the odds to be ready for fall camp.

Johnson, who started the Tar Heels’ season opener against Minnesota last season, suffered a gruesome leg injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the year. He revealed on Saturday, Aug. 2, that the injury required five surgeries and that he feared he would lose his leg at one point.

Johnson said he’s 100% cleared for the 2025 season.

‘There was a point and time where I thought I was going to lose my leg,’ Johnson told reporters on Saturday.

Johnson started his career at LSU, where he started numerous games as a true freshman before later transferring to Texas A&M, where he mostly served in a backup role. He’s now set to compete with South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez, who joined North Carolina in the spring transfer portal.

Johnson underwent surgery on his leg in Minneapolis after the road game, before returning to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the following days.

‘I ended up having five surgeries,’ Johnson told reporters on Saturday. ‘It wasn’t just the bone part, there were some other things. It wasn’t like it was such a horrible, horrible thing. I’ve talked with Coach (Bill) Belichick and Coach (Freddie) Kitchens that the best man is going to play. Whoever that is, I know Coach Belichick is going to make the best decision.

‘I’m just blessed to be here, to be able to compete. It just feels good to be able to do it again.’

The experienced quarterback has completed 486 of 803 passes (60.5%) for 5,923 yards with 47 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in his career. He left the 19-17 win over Minnesota after completing 12 of 19 passes for 71 yards with an interception and a rushing touchdown.

‘I couldn’t tell if it was my knee, my femur or my leg,’ Johnson said, looking back on when the injury first occurred. ‘I remember getting up (and) I put my shoulders around the trainers who were carrying me off the field and as soon as I got picked up, my leg kind of slipped out. Kind of felt it dangling. Right then and there I kind of knew it was my femur.’

Regardless of whether Johnson wins the quarterback battle in fall camp during Belichick’s first season in North Carolina, it has been a remarkable journey for the 24-year-old signal caller to get back on the field in 2025.

The MLB Speedway Classic didn’t go as smoothly as the league would’ve hoped. Rain caused the game to be delayed twice before play was suspended entirely on Saturday night. The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves will resume the game at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway.The Reds held a 1-0 lead after Austin Hays singled to left field and brought in Matt McLain to score a run in the first inning. Cincinnati had two runners on base when the game was paused.

Here’s everything you need to know about the restart of the MLB Speedway Classic:

How to watch the MLB Speedway Classic

The MLB Speedway Classic game between the Reds and Braves will continue on Fox. Fans can stream it on Fubo.

Watch the MLB Speedway Classic with Fubo

What time is the MLB Speedway Classic?

The Reds and Braves will resume play at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.

Date: Sunday, Aug. 3
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Stream: Fubo
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, Tennessee)

Major League Baseball attempted to make history and shatter an attendance record in the first regular season game played in Tennessee, taking place at Bristol Motor Speedway between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.

But Saturday’s game faced a two-hour delay due to rain then underwent a second delay that led to action being suspended.

Play is set to resume at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

The famed racetrack has been converted to host baseball for the showcase. Over 85,000 fans were expected on hand for the first-of-its-kind event. MLB’s previous attendance record was 84,587 fans at a 1954 game in Cleveland featuring the New York Yankees.

‘We’re locked and loaded,” Reds pitcher Brent Suter said. ”I tell you who’s locked in is the wives. We’ve got all these kids who are gonna be in like pit crew outfits. And wives with NASCAR boots and stuff.

“It’s awesome,” Suter added. “Their buy-in is off the charts.”

The abbreviated evening still featured stunning visuals from the racetrack that opened in 1961 and can seat nearly 150,000 for motorsports:

MLB Speedway Classic suspended

The MLB Speedway Classic game between the Reds and the Braves was suspended after facing a second rain delay. The game will resume Sunday.

David Ortiz visits bar with MLB Speedway Classic delayed

Former MLB All-Star David Ortiz was tasked as a member of the Fox broadcast team to help stall for time while the MLB Speedway Classic was delayed.

Oritz was seated next to Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Kevin Burkhardt throughout part of the show before getting out of his seat and visiting a bar at the venue.

Ortiz interacted with the crowd while talking to his broadcast team and joked about Jeter and Rodriguez picking up the bill for everyone sharing a beverage.

MLB Speedway Classic fans wait out rain

Fans in Tennessee waited out the rain while waiting for the start of the game. Some fans wore team-themed ponchos and remained seated.

Rain or shine, some fans are still having a good time.

MLB Speedway Classic: Braves vs. Reds delayed

The MLB Speedway Classic was delayed nearly two hours due to rain in the area. The tarp that covered the field was removed and final preparation is happening before the game can begin.

Not only did the weather delay impact the game’s start time, but also who would play on Saturday night.

Spencer Strider, who was originally slated as a starter, will not pitch for the Atlanta Braves.

MLB Speedway Classic: Pregame flyover

MLB’s official X account provided a video of the pregame flyover from the roof of Bristol Motor Speedway.

MLB Speedway Classic: Reds, Braves starting lineups announced

A NASCAR pit crew helped introduce the starting lineups for both the Reds and Braves.

Braves vs. Reds jerseys: MLB Speedway Classic

Watch Bristol Motor Speedway add a baseball field

Bristol Motor Speedway provided a time-lapse video of the transformation.

MLB played in different states

The MLB has brought its product to the state of Tennessee for the first time in the league’s history. Tennessee joins the list of states that have recently hosted an MLB game.

Since 2016, five different states welcomed the MLB for the first time.

North Carolina (2016)
Nebraska (2019)
Iowa (2021)
Alabama (2022)
Tennessee (2025)

MLB Speedway Classic trophy

Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones unveiled the trophy that will go to the winning team.

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