The Sportsletter - A'ja Buckets & The Sho Goes On

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BY JEFF YODER

SEPT. 12, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

It’s a quick one before another big weekend edition tomorrow. A quiet Wednesday afternoon gave us a momentary football break and set the stage for a busy night of record-setting moments. A’ja Wilson is the new owner of the WNBA’s single-season scoring record and the Dodgers lifted four home runs in one inning.

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  WNBA  

Wilson Breaks the 'W' Scoring Record

Photo: Candice Ward / Getty Images

A’ja Wilson Breaks WNBA Single-Season Scoring Record as Aces Humble Fiery Fever Ahead of Playoffs (86-75)

Move over, Jewell Loyd. A’ja Wilson is the new record-holder of the WNBA’s single-season scoring mark. Wilson’s Aces met Caitlin Clark’s Fever in Indianapolis last night with history on the line. While Clark continues to hunt rookie records, Wilson needed 11 points to break Jewell Loyd’s single-season scoring mark (939 points). She got it with a jumper late in the first half. Wilson (now 956 points) finished with 27 points and 12 boards. Caitlin Clark (16 points) was just 6-for-22 while Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 24 points. Vegas beat Indiana (86-75) for the 14th consecutive meeting in the series.

Wilson’s 1,000-Point Season: Despite the Liberty owning the best record in the WNBA, there’s little doubt Wilson will win her third MVP award. She’s averaging 27.3 points and 11.9 rebounds, and she’s easily within reach of the WNBA’s first-ever 1,000-point season. She holds two of the top-four highest-scoring seasons in league history, both in the last two seasons.

Highest-Scoring Seasons (WNBA History)

1. A’ja Wilson (Aces, 2024): 956 points

2. Jewell Loyd (Storm, 2023): 939 points

3. Breanna Stewart (Liberty, 2023): 919 points

4. A’ja Wilson (Aces, 2023): 912 points

5. Diana Taurasi (Mercury, 2006): 860 points

Watch: A’ja Wilson Outshines Caitlin Clark, Breaks WNBA Single-Season Scoring Record

Other WNBA Highlights

Mystics def. Sky (89-58)

Storm def. Sparks (90-82)

  MLB  

Dodger Derby: The Sho Goes On

Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

Dodgers Make History With 4-HR 1st Inning, Including Back-to-Back-to-Back as Shohei Ohtani Nears 50/50 Season

It’s only by chance the Dodgers-Cubs series garnered our focus this week. The two clubs just keep producing highlights and history. After the Cubs took the first two games of the series, the Dodgers had their own derby to open Game 3. Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff blast (his 47th HR of the year) in the first inning before Tommy Edman, Will Smith and Max Muncy went back-to-back-to-back. It was the first four-homer first inning in Dodgers history. The Cubs battled back to tie the game at 7-7 before L.A. scored in the 7th and 8th to win (10-8). No road sweep for the Cubbies.

The Sho Goes On (50/50 Watch)

Not only did Ohtani hit his 47th bomb, he also swiped his 48th base to bring him even closer to the 50/50 club. Aaron Judge’s home run streak has also stalled at 51. Can Ohtani pass him, too?

Watch: Dodgers Blast HR Derby in 1st Inning to Beat Cubs (10-8)

MLB Quick-Hitters

Tyler O’Neill Hits Walk-Off HR in Boston

Red Sox Stun Orioles in 10th (5-3)

Nick Castellanos Hits HR After Hit-by-Pitch

Phillies Get Last Laugh Against Rays (3-2)

Francisco Lindor HR Saves Mets From No-Hitter

Mets Beat Blue Jays (6-2) After No Hits Through 8

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Walks It Off for Yankees

Yankees Beat Royals in Extras (4-3, 11 Innings)

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s HR Busts Bryan Woo’s Perfect Game

Mariners Still Hang on to Beat Padres (5-2)

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  STORYLINES  

🏈 NFL Sets Week 1 Ratings Record

The NFL set a new record last week with the most-watched Week 1 of the regular season in league history. The NFL and Nielsen announced an average of 21 million viewers per game. That’s up 12 percent from last season. (Bleacher Report)

⚽️ USMNT Welcomes Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino's hiring has been expected for weeks now, but that shouldn't diminish what a monumental coup landing him is for U.S. Soccer. His arrival can't come soon enough after the U.S. squandered two home friendlies this week. (FOX Sports)

⚾️ The Most Intriguing Races

With precious little time left in the 2024 MLB season, let’s take stock of ALL the races — for the 12 playoff spots and for the eight major awards — and rank them in order of intrigue. Some are done deals. Others are worth watching. (MLB.com)

  NEWS   📰 

🏈 Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Admits He Could Have Handled Things Differently in Pregame Arrest (CBS Sports)

🏀 WNBPA & Players Condemn Commissioner Cathy Engelbert Over Interview Comments About Clark-Reese Rivalry (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert Out for TNF, De’Von Achane a Game-Time Decision (ESPN)

🏀 Caitlin Clark’s Signature Wilson Basketball Sells Out Within 40 Minutes of Release (B/R)

⛳️ Rory McIlroy Says New York City Meeting Between PGA Tour & Saudi PIF is ‘Peculiar Timing’ (SI)

🏈 Former Heisman-Winner Reggie Bush Says ‘Everyone is Safe’ After Attempted Break-In at L.A. Home (LA Times)

🏅 Jordan Chiles Gifted Bronze Medal Clock by Flavor Flav at MTV Music Awards After Olympics Mess (USA Today)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Tonight's Must-Watch List

🏈 NFL (Thursday Night Football)

Bills at Dolphins (8:15 pm ET, PRIME)

⚾️ MLB

Red Sox at Yankees (7:15 pm ET, FOX)

Rangers at Mariners (9:40 pm ET, ESPN+)

Brewers at Giants (9:45 pm ET, MLBTV)

🏀 WNBA

Liberty at Wings (8:00 pm ET, PRIME)

  POLL   📊

Thursday Night Football Picks

It’s a showdown of AFC East powers tonight on Thursday Night Football (8:15 pm ET, PRIME). Josh Allen and the Bills take on Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins in Miami. Both teams needed double-digit comebacks to survive Week 1. Should be a fun one.

Who You Got? (click to vote)

Buffalo Bills | Miami Dolphins

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  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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