Yahoo Sports AM: Discover How Women’s Sports Are Thriving Like Never Before!

Yahoo Sports AM is your go-to daily update for the latest in sports. Stay tuned for brief and exciting highlights!

🚨 Headlines

🏀 Upsets everywhere: On Thursday, three top-ranked men’s college basketball teams suffered shocking losses to unranked teams. Minnesota triumphed over No. 20 Michigan with a buzzer-beater, Oregon State defeated No. 16 Gonzaga, and Temple took down No. 18 Memphis.

⚾️ Hall of Fame voting update: Ichiro Suzuki leads with 100% of votes so far, followed by C.C. Sabathia at 93.3%, Billy Wagner at 84.7%, and Carlos Beltran at 80.4%. The final results come out on Tuesday.

🏒 Ovi breaks records: Alex Ovechkin scored the winning goal in overtime for the Capitals, marking a milestone as he scored against a record 179 goaltenders. He is now just 21 goals away from overtaking Wayne Gretzky as the all-time leader.

🏀 Thunder’s revenge: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shined with 40 points as the Thunder crushed the Cavaliers 134-114, avenging a previous defeat.

💔 Farewell, Bob Uecker: Bob Uecker, the beloved voice of the Brewers and star of “Major League,” passed away at 90. He was a cherished voice of summer for many fans.

📈 Women’s Sports Surge

The WNBA is in a completely different league now compared to just a few years ago. With a new league launching today and offering big salaries and sponsorships, women’s basketball is entering a new era.

Introducing Unrivaled: This new 3-on-3 league features 36 talented WNBA players. It signifies the rapid growth of women’s sports, now a booming industry with increasing sponsorships and fan support.

Record-breaking 2024: Thanks to rising stars like Caitlin Clark, 2024 saw amazing progress in women’s sports. Here’s a quick look at some achievements:

• Valuations and earnings: Angel City FC was sold for a record $250 million, raising the average NWSL franchise valuation significantly.
• Media and investment: The WNBA’s broadcasting deal skyrocketed to $2.2 billion, and the U.S. rights for future Women’s World Cups are secured by Netflix.
• Viewership and attendance: Women’s sports are drawing in record audiences, highlighted by the NCAA women’s championship being ESPN’s most-watched college basketball game ever.
• Expansion and creation: Multiple leagues, including new teams in the NWSL and WNBA, are on the rise, showing robust growth across women’s sports.

Remarkable milestones: The Paris Olympics made history with full gender parity, and dedicated bars for women’s sports are sprouting up across the country.

🏈 Divisional Round Preview

This weekend, the NFL’s final eight teams take to the field in the Divisional Round, often the most thrilling games of the season!

Texans (+8.5) at Chiefs (Sat. 4:30pm ET, ESPN): Kansas City looks to start their journey to a third consecutive Super Bowl after a unique season.

• X-factors: The Texans need their defensive stars to challenge Patrick Mahomes, while the Chiefs must shut down Houston’s top receiver.
• A streak and a drought: The Chiefs aim for their seventh straight AFC title game appearance, while the Texans seek their first.

Commanders (+9.5) at Lions (Sat. 8pm, Fox): Both teams are riding waves of success this season, making for an exciting matchup.

• Dynamic duo: Detroit’s star running back pairing returns, a challenging prospect for Washington’s defense.
• Nostalgic match: The Commanders last reached the NFC Championship in 1991, defeating the Lions in that game.

Rams (+6) at Eagles (Sun. 3pm, NBC): With standout players on both sides, this game promises excitement.

• Strong defense: The Eagles have been nearly unbeatable; scoring against them won’t be easy.
• Interesting fact: Rams coach Sean McVay is appearing in his 13th playoff game but has never faced the same team twice.

Ravens (-1) at Bills (Sun. 6:30pm, CBS): The weekend wraps up with a spectacular matchup featuring two MVP candidates.

• Quarterback duel: Jackson has the edge in their regular-season record, but playoff experience favors Allen.
• Stat highlight: Both teams enjoyed similar successful seasons, scoring nearly the same number of points.

🎾 Australian Open Update

19-year-old Learner Tien made waves by defeating No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev, becoming the youngest American to reach the Australian Open’s third round since 1990.

Younger players are excelling: Tien joins a group of teenagers who have recently taken down top-10 opponents, proving the future of tennis is bright.

📺 Watchlist

National Championship Showdown: Ohio State faces Notre Dame on Monday night for the first championship game of the 12-team era (7:30pm ET, ESPN).

The Buckeyes are favored, having bested the Irish in their last six meetings.

Other Notable Games:

• NFL: Texans at Chiefs, Commanders at Lions, Rams at Eagles, Ravens at Bills
• Australian Open: Various matches throughout the weekend
• NBA: Magic at Celtics, Grizzlies at Spurs, Timberwolves at Grizzlies, Celtics at Warriors
• NHL: Golden Knights at Hurricanes, Maple Leafs at Canadiens, Rangers at Canadiens, Lightning at Maple Leafs
• NCAAM & NCAAW: Exciting college matchups in both men’s and women’s basketball

Plus, catch the USMNT hosting Venezuela and Inter Miami facing Club América for a thrilling weekend of sports!

🏈 Super Bowl Trivia

Question: Name the four teams remaining in the playoffs that have each won at least two Super Bowls.

Answer at the bottom.

🏈 Jeremiah Smith’s Rise

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith has quickly become a standout this season, with many predicting he’d be the top pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

A remarkable journey: Jeremiah’s determination sparked from being cut from a youth football team. Inspired to prove his abilities, he trained tirelessly with his father, refining his skills to become an elite player.

Setting records: Jeremiah has shattered school records previously held by legends, proving he has the talent and work ethic to succeed at the highest levels.

Expert opinions: Analysts are pushing his name into the top draft talks, emphasizing that his skills are NFL-ready.

Trivia Answer: Chiefs (4), Commanders (3), Rams (2), Ravens (2)