The No. 1 overall Winnipeg Jets announced before Game 6 against the Dallas Stars that No. 1 center Mark Scheifele’s father, Brad, had died unexpectedly the night before.

Scheifele told the team he was going to play in Saturday’s game to honor his father. Not only did he play, he opened the scoring in the second period and was a force with nine hits.

The Stars were able to rally when Sam Steel scored in the second period and, late in the third period, Scheifele had to haul down Steel to prevent a breakaway. Thomas Harley scored in overtime before the penalty expired for a series-clinching 2-1 victory.

‘It’s tough to put into words what Mark went through today,’ Jets captain Adam Lowry said. ‘He gets a huge goal for us, plays a heck of a game and it ends the way it does.’

Scheifele received a lot of respect in the handshake line, including a long hug from Stars captain Jamie Benn, who was fined after Game 5 for sucker punching Scheifele.

USA TODAY provided updates on Game 6 between the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets. Game highlights:

What’s next for the Stars?

They will head to the conference final for the third year in a row. They lost the last two, including last year against the Edmonton Oilers, their next opponent. They went 2-1 against the Oilers in the regular season.

What’s next for the Jets?

They finished with the league’s best record, so there’s a good core there. Nikolaj Ehlers is the key unrestricted free agent. Mason Appleton and trade deadline acquisition Brandon Tanev also are UFAs. Kyle Connor can sign an extension this summer and fellow first-liner Gabriel Vilardi is a restricted free agent.

Stars vs. Jets highlights

Game 6 recap

Stars-Jets final score: Dallas wins in overtime

Thomas Harley connects with a one-timer from the slot at 1:33 with 13 seconds left in the Mark Scheifele penalty. Dallas is heading to its third consecutive Western Conference final with a 2-1 overtime victory. It will be a rematch of the 2024 conference final that Edmonton won.

Overtime begins

Things to remember: The Stars have nearly two minutes of a power play. Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey is injured.

End of third period: Stars 1, Jets 1

Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger were U.S. goalies at the 4 Nations Face-Off. They showed why by matching big saves in the third period. Hellebuyck stopped Mikko Rantanen in tight and Oettinger robbed Mason Appleton with a diving save. Forget the narrative about home Hellebuyck vs. road Hellebuyck. He has looked good in Dallas.

Stars go on power play

Mark Scheifele trips Sam Steel with 14.8 seconds left in regulation. First penalty of the game. Should it have been a penalty shot?

Jets kill off the remaining seconds of the period. Power play will extend into overtime.

Six minutes left in regulation

Still 1-1 after Dallas’ Evgenii Dadonov hits the post.

Huge save by Jake Oettinger

Oettinger dives across the crease to get a piece of Mason Appleton’s shot with the net wide open.

Brandon Tanev returns

He’s back on the ice after a collision.

Mark Scheifele chance

He fights off two defenders for a scoring chance, but his shot goes wide.

Brandon Tanev injury?

The Jets forward is grimacing on the bench after a collision with Miro Heiskanen.

Connor Hellebuyck save

He stretches out and gets his leg on a shot by Mikko Rantanen, who’s left alone in front.

Third period underway

No sign of injured Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey.

End of second period: Stars 1, Jets 1

Heartbroken Mark Scheifele is having a dominant performance. Not only did he score, he has nine hits through two periods. He opened the scoring but Sam Steel tied it up with his first goal of the playoffs. Shots were 12-8 Winnipeg in that period. Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey left the game with what appears to be a leg injury.

Josh Morrissey goes to the dressing room

The Jets defenseman is limping after being involved in a collision with Mikko Rantanen.

Jets-Stars score: Dallas ties it up

Sam Steel, who had a good chance in the first period, connects this time. He walks into a rebound and beats Connor Hellebuyck under the crossbar at 11:12. Stars 1, Jets 1

Jets-Stars score: Mark Scheifele connects

The Jets get their first sustained pressure and connect. Nikolaj Ehlers is stopped on a breakaway and with the Stars on a delayed penalty, Scheifele picks up a rebound and beats Jake Oettinger at 5:28. Jets 1, Stars 0

Second period underway

Still scoreless.

End of first period: Stars 0, Jets 0

Considering the Jets have a minus-5 goal differential in the first period in the playoffs, they have to be happy to escape with the scoreless tie. The Stars did control a lot of the play, but not a lot of their shots got through. Shot attempts are 26-12 Dallas. Shots on net are 6-3. Connor Hellebuyck makes a chest save on Lian Bichsel and a pad save on Matt Duchene. Jake Oettinger stopped the Jets’ best chance, by Cole Perfetti.

Stars continue pressuring

Dallas was in the Winnipeg zone for nearly two minutes. Three shots on net. Shot attempts widely in Stars favor.

Stars pressuring

Dallas’ Tyler Seguin shoots wide of an open net.

Six minutes in

No shots yet for Winnipeg. Dallas has two.

Game underway

Connor Hellebuyck makes a save on Mikko Rantanen early.

What time is Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets Game 6?

Game 6 of the Stars-Jets series is at 8 p.m. ET in Dallas.

How to watch Stars vs. Jets playoff game: TV, stream

• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: American Airlines Center in Dallas
• TV: ABC
• Stream: Fubo, ESPN+

Mark Scheifele to start in Game 6

The NHL roster report shows that Mark Scheifele will be out for the opening faceoff and center his usual line with Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi. The Stars will start with the Roope Hintz-Mikael Granlund-Mikko Rantanen line.

Mark Scheifele will play in Game 6

Jets coach Scott Arniel said Mark Scheifele will play in Game 6 after the death of his father.

‘He said that would be the wishes of his dad, that he would want him to play,’ Arniel said. ‘I know he’s been rooting us on.’

Jets players ‘gutted’ over death of Mark Scheifele’s father

Jets captain Adam Lowry reflected on Brad Scheifele, Mark’s father, who died unexpectedly. He said he had seen him numerous times during the team’s fathers’ trips.

‘The energy that he had was unmatched,’ Lowry said. ‘His joy and excitement for life, he really passed that down on to Mark. I think his positivity, his outlook on life, just a genuinely happy person. A terrible loss, obviously.’

He added: ‘It’s tough to put into words how gutted we all feel for Mark and his family.’

Jets announce death of Mark Scheifele’s father

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Saturday afternoon that star forward Mark Scheifele’s father, Brad, died overnight.

‘As an organization, we’re doing everything we can to support him and give his family our most sincere condolences,’ he said.

He said coach Scott Arniel was heading to the team hotel to talk to Scheifele and would provide an update later.

Dallas Stars fans donate to Mark Scheifele-supported charities

Connor Hellebuyck statistics on the road

Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck is 0-5 on the road this postseason with a 5.84 goals-against average and a .793 save percentage. In his last game in Dallas, he gave up three goals on 24 shots. He had a shutout while at home in his last game.

Jets winless on road this postseason

The Jets lost all three road games in the first round against the St. Louis Blues with goalie Connor Hellebuyck being pulled in each game. They played better in Dallas in the second round but lost both of those games to drop to 0-5 on the road this postseason. Their road losing streak is nine games stretching back to 2023.

The sprint to the finish saw Journalism run past Gosger, the horse with the second-longest odds to win, to secure the victory for trainer Michael McCarthy. Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli also withstood an inquiry after the horse bumped into other horses before making its final charge.

Everything checked out to the stewards and the favorite was declared the winner.

You can watch a replay of the 2025 Preakness below:

2025 Preakness replay

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.

Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas were impressive in their debut for the Phoenix Mercury, who routed the Seattle Storm 81-59 Sunday night in Phoenix in the WNBA season openers for both teams.

Sabally had 27 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes of action for the Mercury. She set a franchise record for the most points scored in a debut for a Mercury player. Sabally mentioned during the postgame interview that she received a text message before the game from Brittney Griner, who spent her entire career in Phoenix before joining the Atlanta Dream as a free agent in the offseason.

“I didn’t want to disappoint,” Sabally said when referring to following in the footsteps of former Mercury legends such as Griner and Diana Taurasi.

Thomas added 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes of play.

Sabally was traded by the Dallas Wings and Thomas was traded by the Connecticut Sun as part of a 10-team trade in early February.

Skylar Diggins scored 21 points for the Storm in the loss. Nneka Ogwumike finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Scroll below the photo gallery for a recap and highlights of Sunday’s game:

Highlights: Mercury 81, Storm 59

3Q: Mercury 60, Storm 46

Satou Sabally had 25 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes of play through three quarters. Alyssa Thomas has contributed 18 points.

Diggins was limited to just four points in the quarter. She displayed a level of frustration on the bench during the quarter after turning over the ball on an in-bounce pass.

Halftime: Mercury 41, Storm 30

The Mercury kept the Storm to 15 in each of the first two quarters. Satou Sabally had 17 points and four rebounds for the Phoenix. Alyssa Thomas added 13 points, four assists and three rebounds. Skylar Diggins had a team-high 13 points for the Storm. Ezi Magbegor went scoreless for Seattle but collected six rebounds.

1Q: Mercury 23, Storm 15

Satou Sabally had eight points and three rebounds for the Mercury in the opening period. Kathryn Westbeld had seven points and Alyssa Thomas added six points and three assists. Skylar Diggins had seven points for the Storm.

What time is Storm vs. Mercury?

For the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury, the 2025 WNBA season opens Saturday, May 17, as the teams face off in Arizona. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

How to watch Storm vs. Mercury WNBA game: TV, stream

• Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
• Location: PHX Arena (Phoenix, Ariz.)
• TV: CBS 5, Arizona’s Family Sports (both Arizona only), KOMO 4, CW Seattle (both greater Seattle only)
• Stream: WNBA League Pass

Journalism was the favorite and won the 2025 Preakness Stakes, Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, but the horse ridden by Umberto Rispoli hardly cruised to victory.

A late charge was required for Journalism (even odds) to edge Gosger (15-1). The final time of 1:55.47 held up following a brief inquiry after Journalism and other horses bumped each other shortly before Journalism began its final push.

Here’s a look at the final finishing order of the 150th Preakness Stakes, as well as basic payouts:

Preakness Stakes final results

1. Journalism (EVEN) – 1:55.47
2. Gosger (15-1) – ½ lengths behind
3. Sandman (6-1) – 2¾
4. Goal Oriented (8-1) – 6¾
5. Heart of Honor (20-1) – 8¾
6. River Thames (9-1) – 11½
7. Pay Billy (11-1) – 16½
8. American Promise (9-1) – 18¼
9. Clever Again (5-1) – 31½

Preakness payouts

Figures based on $2 bet (odds in parentheses)

• Journalism (Even): $4.00 Win; $2.80 Place; $2.40 Show
• Gosger (15-1): $9.00 Place; $5.40 Show
• Sandman (6-1): $3.60 Show

Bets

• $2 Exacta (2-9): $33.80
• $1 Trifecta (2-9-7): $73.50
• $1 Superfecta (2-9-7-1): $303.40

The Dallas Stars clinched a Western Conference final berth Saturday night by defeating the Winnipeg Jets in overtime.

They will face the Edmonton Oilers for the second year in a row in the third round, starting Wednesday night at home.

The Carolina Hurricanes won’t know their opponent in the Eastern Conference final until Sunday night, when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the defending champion Florida Panthers in Game 7.

But the league released two possible versions of the Eastern schedule, plus the Western one, on Saturday night.

Here are the matchups, schedule and television information for the conference finals of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs (all times p.m. ET, series are best of seven, x-if necessary):

How to stream NHL playoffs

Fubo and ESPN+ carry ESPN and ABC games. Sling and Max carry TNT games.

Eastern Conference final schedule (if Toronto advances)

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes

• Game 1: Tuesday, May 20, Carolina at Toronto, 8, TNT, truTV
• Game 2: Thursday, May 22, Carolina at Toronto, 8, TNT, truTV
• Game 3: Saturday, May 24, Toronto at Carolina, 8, TNT, truTV
• Game 4: Monday, May 26, Toronto at Carolina, 8, TNT, truTV
• x-Game 5: Wednesday, May 28, Carolina at Toronto, 8, TNT, truTV
• x-Game 6: Friday, May 30, Toronto at Carolina, 8, TNT, truTV
• x-Game 7: Sunday, June 1, Carolina at Toronto, 8, TNT, truTV

Eastern Conference final schedule (if Florida advances)

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers

• Game 1: Tuesday, May 20, Florida at Carolina, 8, TNT, truTV
• Game 2: Thursday, May 22, Florida at Carolina, 8, TNT, truTV
• Game 3: Saturday, May 24, Carolina at Florida, 8, TNT, truTV
• Game 4: Monday, May 26, Carolina at Florida, 8, TNT, truTV
• x-Game 5: Wednesday, May 28, Florida at Carolina, 8, TNT, truTV
• x-Game 6: Friday, May 30, Carolina at Florida, 8, TNT, truTV
• x-Game 7: Sunday, June 1, Florida at Carolina, 8, TNT, truTV

Western Conference final schedule

Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers

• Game 1: Wednesday, May 21, Edmonton at Dallas, 8, ESPN
• Game 2: Friday, May 23, Edmonton at Dallas, 8, ESPN
• Game 3: Sunday, May 25, Dallas at Edmonton, 3, ABC
• Game 4: Tuesday, May 27, Dallas at Edmonton, 8, ESPN
• x-Game 5: Thursday, May 29, Edmonton at Dallas, 8, ESPN
• x-Game 6: Saturday, May 31, Dallas at Edmonton, 8, ABC
• x-Game 7: Monday, June 2, Edmonton at Dallas, 8, ESPN

The 2025 Preakness Stakes featured a field of nine horses competing on a dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore for a distance of 1 3/16 miles, all vying for the prestigious Middle Jewel title.

With coveted trainers such as Bob Baffert returning to Pimlico, there was a lot of intrigue around this race, even if Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty opted out of the race in order to focus on the Belmont Stakes. Regardless, Derby runner-up Journalism entered the race as the odds-on favorite for the win at Pimlico, just as the horse did at Churchill Downs. This time though, Journalism didn’t disappoint.

After a slow start, and getting pinned to the railing around the last turn, Journalism kicked into high gear down the final straightaway, squeezing in between horses, then moving to the outside of Gosger, who had been in front for almost the entire race. Journalism took the lead at the absolute last second, winning by less than a length to take the crown at the Middle Jewel.

Here’s everything that happened at the 2025 Preakness Stakes:

Preakness replay: Watch the full race

Preakness payouts:

Figures based on $2 bet (odds in parentheses)

• Journalism (Even): $4.00 Win; $2.80 Place; $2.40 Show
• Gosger (15-1): $9.00 Place; $5.40 Show
• Sandman (6-1): $3.60 Show

Bets

• $2 Exacta (2-9): $33.80
• $1 Trifecta (2-9-7): $73.50
• $1 Superfecta (2-9-7-1): $303.40

2025 Preakness Stakes full results

*Horses listed alongside their pre-race odds

1. Journalism (EVEN) – 1:55.47
2. Gosger (15-1)
3. Sandman (6-1)
4. Goal Oriented (8-1)
5. Heart of Honor (20-1)
6. River Thames (9-1)
7. Pay Billy (11-1)
8. American Promise (9-1)
9. Clever Again (5-1)

Who won 2025 Preakness Stakes?

Pre-race favorite Journalism won the race in exhilarating fashion. After trailing for the first three-quarters of the race and being bumped into the inside railing on the last turn, Journalism found an extra gear on the final straightaway, pulling ahead of runner-up Gosger at the last possible second. Those two horses were far out in front of third-place Sandman, but that did not at all take away from the intensity that the race brought.

The 2025 Preakness was thrilling … and a big missed opportunity for horse racing

As Journalism won Saturday’s 150th edition of the Preakness, surviving one of the most rough-and-tumble stretch runs you’ll ever see and coming back from what seemed like an impossible position with 1/8th of a mile to go, you can understand why the state of Maryland is about to invest $400 million to give Pimlico Race Course the facelift it deserves

But, as thrilling as Saturday’s race was, and as great of a horse as Journalism appears to be, did anyone but the sport’s dwindling die-hards care? The answer, of course, is not really. The moment Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty was withdrawn from consideration for the Preakness, the race was essentially rendered meaningless in the greater sports landscape. 

And it didn’t have to be that way. — Dan Wolken

Click here to read Wolken’s full column on the 2025 Preakness and the state of horse racing.

When is 2025 Belmont Stakes?

The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 7 at 6:50 p.m. ET. The race will actually be shorter than the usual 1.5 miles though. The race will be hosted by the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, which boasts a smaller dirt track.

The final leg of horse racing’s triple crown sets up as a showdown between Preakness champion Journalism and Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty.

How did Journalism get its name?

Wellman and other owners bought the horse for $825,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale in 2023, but had some difficulty in coming up with a name off its sire and dam — Curlin and Mopotism, respectively — so they settled on Journalism. − John Leuzzi

What time is the 2025 Preakness Stakes?

The 150th running of the Preakness Stakes will be held Saturday, May 17. Post time is 6:50 p.m. ET

When is the 2025 Preakness Stakes?

• Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
• Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
• Stream: Peacock | Fubo (free trial)
• TV: NBC
• Location: Pimlico Race Course (Baltimore)

The 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course is set for Saturday, May 17, 2025. Fans can watch the race, which will be streamed on Peacock, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports.

Watch the 2025 Preakness States on Fubo

2025 Preakness Stakes post positions

Here’s where each horse landed, and morning-line odds:

1. Goal Oriented (Flavien Prat) | early odds: 6-1
2. Journalism (Umberto Rispoli) | early odds: 8-5
3. American Promise (Nik Juarez) | early odds: 15-1
4. Heart of Honor (Saffie Osborne) | early odds: 12-1
5. Pay Billy (Raul Mena) | early odds: 20-1
6. River Thames (Irad Ortiz Jr.) | early odds: 9-2
7. Sandman (John Velazquez) | early odds: 4-1
8. Clever Again (Jose Ortiz) | early odds: 5-1
9. Gosger (Luis Saez) | early odds: 20-1

Is Sovereignty at the 2025 Preakness?

The Kentucky Derby winner trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty, will not compete in the Preakness Stakes, disappointing hopes for a Triple Crown winner for the seventh consecutive year. The Triple Crown, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, is one of the most coveted titles in horse racing. Sovereignty’s victory over the favorite Journalism at Churchill Downs, with a time of 2:02.31, was a surprise. His withdrawal from the Preakness Stakes was an even bigger shock.

What is the 2025 Preakness Stakes purse?

The purse amount for the 150th annual Preakness Stakes has not yet been disclosed. Last year’s winner, Seize The Gray, received a Woodlawn Vase and $1.2 million from the total $2 million purse.

Time for horse racing to realize Triple Crown must change

Every Kentucky Derby-winning trainer has the same day-after script when it comes to bringing their horse to the Preakness. And the line is usually some non-committal variation of “they’ll tell us” if they’re physically ready to run back just two weeks later in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. 

Well, Bill Mott wasn’t kidding Sunday, the morning after Sovereignty’s victory. You could almost see the thought bubble forming around his words, telling everyone not to be too surprised if he and the management team at Godolphin, which owns the horse, decided to take a pass on Baltimore. — Dan Wolken

Preakness predictions: Expert picks

The Courier Journal: Journalism to win (2-3-8 finish)

Ed DeRosa writes, ‘As I discussed in a Courier Journal video, the win pool of this race will be very interesting given how inefficient that same pool was in the Kentucky Derby. I am referencing No. 2 Journalism being 3-1 in the win pool but closer to 2-1 in other pools. Sovereignty was the fourth choice in win wagering but second choice in the other pools. I bring this up because there is no sense trying to get cute with exactas, trifectas and such when a horse like Journalism — easily one of the top 3-year-olds in the country and the best/most accomplished horse on paper among this group — might be more than even money. I will bet him to win at odds of 6-5 or better. No. 3 American Promise should run better here than in the Derby. That seven-week layoff is an eternity for a D. Wayne Lukas trainee. No. 8 Clever Again is the “new shooter” with the heaviest artillery.’

NBC Sports: Clever Again

Staff writes the following with an added finish order: ‘For the Preakness, I am looking at the newcomers to the Triple Crown trail for a winner. Clever Again, Goal Oriented and River Thames all have potential to improve here. Clever Again was very impressive at Oaklawn in the Hot Springs Stakes, and as a son of American Pharoah, he should have no problem with the distance. The allowance race win by Goal Oriented at Churchill on Derby Day was tremendous, and he’s undefeated in two starts with a license to get better. And as impressive as Sovereignty was in the Derby, we shouldn’t forget that the horse that finished a neck behind him in the Fountain of Youth Stakes was River Thames. It’s tough to separate these horses, but here it is:’

• Clever Again
• Goal Oriented
• Journalism
• River Thames

Where is the Preakness Stakes?

The Preakness Stakes will enjoy its 150th running. It will take place at the iconic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

Last ten Preakness winners:

• 2024: Seize the Grey
• 2023: National Treasure
• 2022: Early Voting
• 2021: Rombauer
• 2020: Swiss Skydiver
• 2019: War of Will
• 2018: Justify (won Triple Crown)
• 2017: Cloud Computing
• 2016: Exaggerator
• 2015: American Pharoah (won Triple Crown)

Why are Kentucky Derby winning horses not competing at the Preakness?

It’s become a trend in recent years to see Derby winning horses opt out of the Preakness. With load management becoming a more popular training technique, it appears that many trainers are opting out of the Preakness for their horses’ health.

The short two-week turnaround between the Derby and Preakness can sometimes prevent horses from recovering fully after their race at Churchill Downs. Even Sovereignty’s trainer, Bill Mott, hinted that he’d rather focus on the Belmont Stakes, which is set for five weeks after the Derby, in order to give Sovereignty more time to recover. While the Triple Crown is a coveted achievement worth chasing, many trainers are focusing on maintaining their horses’ health and long-term success instead.

Which post produces the best results at the Preakness?

Post 6 has produced 17 winners at the event since 1909 with the most recent being 2021 winner Rombauer. Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018 ran out of Post 6 at the Preakness.

Here’s a full list of the Preakness winners out of Post 6 since 1909:

• 1915: Rhine Maiden
• 1924: Nelly Morse
• 1927: Bostonian
• 1928: Victorian
• 1935: Omaha
• 1939: Challedon
• 1950: Hill Prince
• 1952: Blue Man
• 1960: Bally Ache
• 1962: Greek Money
• 1966: Kauai King
• 1974: Little Current
• 1983: Deputed Testamony
• 2006: Bernardini
• 2013: Oxbow
• 2018: Justify
• 2021: Rombauer

Last-minute Preakness odds:

*All horses listed in order of post position; odds via TwinSpires.com

1) Goal Oriented 7-1

2) Journalism 6-5

3) American Promise 9-1

4) Heart of Honor 20-1

5) Pay Billy 11-1

6) River Thames 9-1

7) Sandman 5-1

8) Clever Again 5-1

9) Gosger 19-1

The 2025 WNBA season is here, and for the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury, the campaign tips off Saturday with a clash at PHX Arena.

Phoenix has undergone a major change this offseason, with four of last year’s starters no longer on the team’s roster. It’s going to be strange to see the Mercury on the court without Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, but Phoenix was aggressive in replacing their big names. With Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally arriving in offseason trades, Phoenix still has its fair share of all-league talent.

There’s a similar vibe with Seattle, who traded Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces during the offseason. Alysha Clark has returned, adding to a front line that includes 2024 All-WNBA Second Teamer Nneka Ogwumike and center Ezi Magbegor. Seattle expected more than a first-round playoff exit last season, so there’s pressure to prove this group can take the next step.

Here’s how to watch the Storm-Mercury game, including time, TV channel, and streaming options:

Halftime: Mercury 41, Storm 30

The Mercury kept the Storm to 15 in each of the first two quarters. Satou Sabally had 17 points and four rebounds for the Phoenix. Alyssa Thomas added 13 points, four assists and three rebounds. Skylar Diggins had a team-high 13 points for the Storm. Ezi Magbegor went scoreless for Seattle but collected six rebounds.

1Q: Mercury 23, Storm 15

Satou Sabally had eight points and three rebounds for the Mercury in the opening period. Kathryn Westbeld had seven points and Alyssa Thomas added six points and three assists. Skylar Diggins had seven points for the Storm.

What time is Storm vs. Mercury?

For the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury, the 2025 WNBA season opens Saturday, May 17, as the teams face off in Arizona. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

How to watch Storm vs. Mercury WNBA game: TV, stream

• Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
• Location: PHX Arena (Phoenix, Ariz.)
• TV: CBS 5, Arizona’s Family Sports (both Arizona only), KOMO 4, CW Seattle (both greater Seattle only)
• Stream: WNBA League Pass

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is listed as questionable for Sunday’s Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He is dealing with a left hamstring strain, the Nuggets said. Gordon sustained the injury late in Game 6 against Oklahoma City.

Gordon was tabbed as “the soul of this team” by players such as Nikola Jokić and played a crucial role in the Nuggets’ success throughout the postseason.

He hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of Game 1 that put the Nuggets ahead and proved to be the difference in a 121-119 victory against the Thunder.

Gordon is averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds (3.5 offensive boards per game) and 2.9 assists and shooting 48.5% from the field, 38.2% on 3-pointers and 85.1% on free throws in the playoffs.

Golden State star Stephen Curry just missed the final four games of the Warriors’ series against Minnesota with a grade 1 hamstring strain.

How did Aaron Gordon suffer his hamstring injury?

Gordon was seen grabbing at his hamstring after chasing a loose ball late in the Nuggets’ 119-107 Game 6 victory against the Thunder. He hopped over Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso trying to get to the basketball and grabbed at his hamstring when the ball went out of bounds with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter. Gordon checked out of the game with 53.4 seconds remaining in the fourth and did not return.

When is Nuggets-Thunder Game 7?

The Oklahoma City Thunder will play the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, May 18, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be played at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and air on ABC and ESPN+.