The Sportsletter - Au Revoir & Finals Faves

BY JEFF YODER

JUNE 10, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Welcome Back 👋

It’s finally starting to feel like summer (at least where I am). The tandem-Finals (NBA/NHL) are in full effect as we sprint into mid-June, and the favorites are in control. We'll also celebrate some hard-won titles at the French Open. It's a Paris goodbye (for now) until the Olympics next month.

Plus, Caitlin Clark dropped 30 points and was left off Team USA. The U.S. Open brings us another golf major this week. And UConn's Dan Hurley says he’ll make his Lakers decision sometime today (stay tuned).

Letter Rip!

TENNIS

How the French Open Was Won 🏆

Photo: Robert Prange & Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images

Carlos Alcaraz Rallies for 3rd Major in 5-Set Thriller / Iga Swiatek Sweeps the Field in 3rd Straight French Open Title

The second major of 2024 is in the books, and what a ride we went on in Paris. Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz claimed the hardware this weekend at the French Open with polar opposite victories. Swiatek cruised to another straight-set win for her third straight Roland-Garros crown while Alcaraz needed a massive comeback to capture his own three-piece of history. Here’s how the French Open was won.

Alcaraz Wins 5-Set Thriller for 3rd Major

#3 C. Alcaraz def. #4 A. Zverev (6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2)

He became the favorite after Novak Djokovic went out with a knee injury in the quarterfinals, but it took every ounce of a five-set comeback for Carlos Alcaraz to defeat Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s French Open final. Zverev led in sets (2-1) after a third-set tiebreaker before the Spaniard flipped a switch. Alcaraz won 12 of the last 15 games in do-or-die mode to earn his third major in epic fashion. At age 21, he's the youngest men’s player in tennis history to win majors on three different surfaces (Previous: Rafael Nadal, Age 22) — U.S. Open (hard court), Wimbledon (grass), and French Open (clay).

Swiatek Sweeps 3rd Straight French Open

#1 I. Swiatek def. #12 J. Paolini (6-2, 6-1)

Line ‘em up and knock ‘em down! Iga Swiatek’s French Open run has become something of legend. She dropped just one set during the entire tournament en route to her third straight Paris title and fourth overall major victory. In Saturday’s finale, there was no wavering. Swiatek outpaced Jasmine Paolini in just over an hour. She’s won 21 straight matches at Roland-Garros and she’s 35-2 there in her career. Her five total majors at 23 years old already gives her the most among active women's players other than Venus Williams (7).

Tennis Fans: We'll have you covered for Wimbledon action next month.

SI: Carlos Alcaraz is the New King of Clay With French Open Win

NBA FINALS 🏆

Game 2: Boston Abounds 🍀

Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

Celtics Use Full Fleet of Defenders to Stifle Mavericks in Game 2 (105-98) | Lead Finals (2-0)

The Dallas Mavericks might have one of the best backcourts to ever play the game, but the Boston Celtics’ defensive lineup is abundantly deep. That looks to be the lead storyline in the 2024 NBA Finals after two games. Boston’s pesky defenders kept Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving under 100 points for the second straight outing Sunday night. Game 2 (105-98) was closer than Game 1, but Dallas hasn’t had a 20-point scorer not named Doncic in the first two Finals showings. The Celtics were out-rebounded (43-41) and out-shot (47.5%—45.2%) by the Mavericks last night. It didn’t matter. The C’s defensive fleet appears to have all the answers, even on a night where Doncic tallied a 30-point triple-double (the first in Mavs’ franchise history). Luka is clearly not 100 percent healthy, though. Kyrie Irving, on the other hand, is now 0-for-8 on 3s through two Finals games.

It’s 2-0 heading back to Dallas, and the Mavs will need to defend home or let the Finals slip. Teams who go up 2-0 in the NBA Finals go on to win the title 86% of the time.

Stat Sheet (Game 2)

L. Doncic (DAL): 32 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast, 4 stl

J. Holiday (BOS): 26 pts, 11 reb

J. Brown (BOS): 21 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl

J. Tatum (BOS): 18 pts, 9 reb, 12 ast

P. Washington (DAL): 17 pts, 7 reb

K. Irving (DAL): 16 pts, 6 ast

Watch: Celtics’ Defense Too Much for Mavericks in Game 2 (105-98)

NBA Finals (Game 3)

Celtics at Mavericks (Wed. 8:30 pm ET, ABC)

FOX Sports: Luka Doncic Makes Shots, But Jayson Tatum’s Playmaking Pushes Celtics to 2-0 Lead

STANLEY CUP FINALS 🏆

Game 1: Shutout for Sunshine Bob ☀️

Photo: Dave Sandford / Getty Images

Panthers Stump Oilers in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Finals (3-0) Thanks to Sergei Bobrovsky’s Latest Playoff Shutout

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals was a no-doubter for the Panthers Saturday night in South Florida. The Oilers fired nearly twice as many shots (32-18), but Florida’s stout goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky didn’t budge. Sunshine ‘Bob’ carried through with a shutout as the Panthers scored one goal in each period off the sticks of Carter Verhaeghe, Eetu Luostarinen, and Evan Rodrigues. Canada’s last hope to break the 31-year Cup curse isn’t off to a great start, but the Oilers will get a second shot at cracking the Bobrovsky code tonight in Game 2.

Stat Sheet (Game 1)

C. Verhaeghe (FLA): 1 Goal

E. Luostarinen (FLA): 1 Goal

E. Rodrigues (FLA): 1 Goal

A. Barkov (FLA): 2 Assists

S. Bobrovsky (FLA): 32 Saves

Watch: Bobrovsky, Panthers Shut Out Oilers in Game 1 (3-0)

Stanley Cup Finals (Tonight)

Gm 2: Oilers at Panthers (8:00 pm ET, ABC)

NHL: Oilers Expect Even More Push From Panthers in Game 2 of Stanley Cup Finals

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

⚾️ MLB

Cubs’ Shota Imanaga Shuts Down Reds (4-2)

Angels Top Astros With Chaotic Walk-Off HR

Adley Rutschman Has Huge Day for O’s (6 RBIs)

⚽️ Soccer

Colombia Hands Beatdown to USMNT (5-1)

Score 2 Early, 3 Late in Embarrassing Rout

🏀 WNBA

Caitlin Clark (30-8-6) Hits Seven 3s in Fever Win

Liberty Hand Sun 1st Loss of 2024 Season (82-75)

Mercury Escape Wings in Double-OT (97-90, 2OT)

⛳️ Golf

Scottie Scheffler (-8) Hangs On to Win Memorial

Holds Off Collin Morikawa (-7) to Continue Dominant PGA Run

⚾️ College Baseball World Series

Florida Tops Clemson With 13th-Inning Walk-Off

Gators Advance to MCWS After 5-Hour Affair

STORYLINES

🏀 They Woke the Caitlin Clark Monster

The Women’s Team USA roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics was announced over the weekend, and Caitlin Clark wasn’t on it. Clark and Arike Ogunbowale were the two most notable snubs. “They woke a monster.” (CBS Sports)

🎾 50 Parting Thoughts From Paris

Another two-week tennis major has come and gone, leaving little time before the next — Wimbledon. Jon Wertheim’s dispatch from Roland Garros includes Carlos Alcaraz’s takeover, Iga Swiatek’s dominance, and more from the grounds. (Sports Illustrated)

🏈 Can the NFL Avoid Political Football?

The Kansas City Chiefs just visited the White House again, but it was their first during an election cycle. The last time the NFL was a battleground in the culture wars was 2017. It might not be the only time football and politics collide this year. (The Ringer)

NEWS 📰

🥊 Boxer Ryan Garcia Arrested in Los Angeles for Felony Vandalism (ESPN)

🏀 NBA Hall of Famer Chet Walker Dies at Age 84 (B/R)

⚽️ Chicago Red Stars Game at Wrigley Field Breaks Single-Game NWSL Attendance Record (SI)

🏈 NFL Facing Class-Action Lawsuit Over ‘Sunday Ticket’ That Could Cost $21 Billion (CBS Sports)

🐴 17-1 Longshot Dornoch Scores Upset Victory at Belmont Stakes for Former MLB Player (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 TE Darren Waller Officially Retires From NFL at Age 31, Reveals Near-Death Experience in Video (NBC Sports)

🏀 Ex-LSU Player Josh Maravich, Son of Pete Maravich, Dies at Age 42 (FOX Sports)

🏀 UConn Head Coach Dan Hurley to Make Final Decision on Lakers Offer Today (Yahoo! Sports)

SCHEDULE 🗓️

Today's Must-Watch List

🏒 Stanley Cup Finals