PHOENIX — The Seattle Mariners, who made the painful mistake of trading third baseman Eugenio Suarez two years ago to the Arizona Diamondbacks only to watch him become one of the game’s premier power hitters, swallowed their pride Wednesday night and traded for him back.

Suarez, who has 36 homers and 87 RBIs, becomes the first player in baseball history to hit at least 35 homers before he was traded in-season.

“Super excited, it’s a great move,’’ Mariners MVP candidate Cal Raleigh told reporters after their game Wednesday night. “He’s pretty much everything you look for in a teammate. He’s supportive. Super nice. Keeps it light in the room. Always positive. And you add on to that, he’s a great player.

“We saw that when he was here the first time, and we were obviously all sad that he left, but we’re happy that he’s coming back …. Very, very excited for it. Obviously, we know how great a guy he is, how great he’s playing this year. Great, great add.”

It was the second deal the Mariners and Diamondbacks made in a week with the D-backs also trading first baseman Josh Naylor to Seattle for two pitching prospects. Now, they sent his corner infield teammate to provide the Mariners much-needed power to reach the postseason for only the second time since 2001 after near-misses the last two years.

The Mariners, fortunate that the market for Suarez never materialized the way the Diamondbacks envisioned, were able to pull off the deal without touching any of their prized prospects. The cost was first baseman Tyler Locklear, their ninth-best prospect, who leads all Triple-A hitters with 16 homers and 56 RBIs since June 1; and minor-league pitchers Hunter Cranton and Juan Burgos, their 16th- and 17th-ranked prospects, respectively.

Just like that, they now have a team built to win their first World Series championship in franchise history.

The Mariners (57-52) are five games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West, and are tied with the Texas Rangers for the third and final wild-card berth. Yet, with their star-studded rotation of Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller, they can scare the living daylights out of any team in the postseason.

And now, they finally have the power they have long coveted, with Suarez hitting 53 home runs over the past year, trailing only Shohei Ohtani (60 homers) and Aaron Judge (58). Raleigh (41 homers) and Suarez (36) make the Mariners the second team in MLB history to enter August with at least two players having at least 35 homers, joining the 1961 Yankees who had Roger Maris (40) and Mickey Mantle (39).

The Mariners now have one of the deepest and most-talented lineups in the American League, rectifying the blunder they made two years ago when they traded Suarez.

The Mariners thought his career was in a steep decline after the 2023 season, which saw him hit .232 with 22 homers, 96 RBIs and a league-leading 214 strikeouts. The Mariners sent him to Arizona, receiving only minor-league reliever Carlos Vargas and backup catcher Seby Zavala, while saving about $11 million in salary.

It looked like a shrewd move when Suarez was struggling so badly — hitting just .193 — that the Diamondbacks considered designating him for assignment in late June 2024. He instead caught fire, hitting .307 with 20 homers and a .942 OPS in the second half, and never cooled off.

Now, all the Mariners need is for Suarez to stay hot for three more months, their starting pitching to stay healthy, maybe grab one more late-inning reliever by Thursday’s trade deadline, and take the franchise on a magical ride to its first World Series.

It has been a long time coming, but now the Mariners have the lineup, the pitching, and the burning desire to pull it off.

They’ve saved prized prospects long enough.

Now, it’s time for a parade.

Follow Nightengale on X: @BNightengale

The on-air relationship between ESPN and Shannon Sharpe appears to be over less than two weeks after the Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and media commentator settled a $50 million lawsuit related to sexual assault and battery accusations by an ex-girlfriend.

The network has decided to cut ties with Sharpe, according to a report from The Athletic on Wednesday, July 30. Sharpe last appeared on ESPN in April, stepping away after the lawsuit was initially filed. But he publicly denied the allegations, calling it a ‘shakedown,’ and maintained his relationship with the accuser was ‘100% consensual.’

Sharpe said at the time he planned to return to ESPN’s airwaves when NFL training camps began ahead of the 2025 season.

The settlement in Sharpe’s case came to light on July 18 when Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the woman identified as ‘Jane Doe’ in the court filing, announced the sides had reached a resolution and the lawsuit would be dismissed. No details of the agreement were released.

The woman accused Sharpe of sexually assaulting her twice, in October 2024 and January 2025, after previously engaging in the intentional infliction of emotional distress. She said Sharpe became violent over the course of their relationship and recorded their sexual encounters without her consent. Sharpe never faced criminal charges in the matter.

‘On April 20, 2025, The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client,’ Buzbee said in a statement on X. ‘Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution. All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.’

Sharpe, 57, initially joined ESPN’s ‘First Take’ in 2023 for twice-weekly appearances alongside Stephen A. Smith after a long run debating Skip Bayless on FS1’s ‘Undisputed.’ He retired from the NFL in May 2004 after a 14-year career in which he won three Super Bowls and became the first tight end with more than 10,000 career receiving yards.

Sharpe also appears on the podcasts “Club Shay Shay” and “Nightcap” with former wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. They are produced and distributed by The Volume, a sports media company founded by FS1 star Colin Cowherd.

Dave Dombrowski finally did it.

Just ahead of Major League Baseball’s trade deadline day, the Philadelphia Phillies’ president of baseball operations made a big splash by landing one of the top closers on the market — Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins for Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait.

The move by the Phillies is a big one with the team in a ‘win now’ stage with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber towards the end of their primes or on expiring contracts.

Here’s how we’re grading the Jhoan Duran trade from the Twins to the Phillies:

Jhoan Duran trade details

• Phillies receive: RHP Johan Duran
• Twins receive: RHP Mick Abel, C Eduardo Tait

The Phillies acquired star right-handed closer Johan Duran from the Twins for prospects Mick Abel and Eduardo Tait.

Jhoan Duran trade grades

Phillies: A

Going into this week, it was no secret that the Phillies needed to bolster their bullpen in a big way. Their big offseason bullpen move of signing Jordan Romano (one year, $8.5 million) hasn’t worked out and star left-handed reliever Jose Alvarado is currently serving an 80-game suspension after testing positive for PEDs. Alvarado is not eligible for the postseason.

When the reliever market began to heat up on Wednesday, reports began to surface that the Phillies would likely need to give up their No. 1 prospect (Andrew Painter) in addition to other top prospects in a package for a high-end reliever like Duran. The odds of Dombrowski landing a reliever seemingly started to dwindle. He confirmed to reporters in Chicago after the Phillies’ loss to the White Sox that the team wasn’t going to trade Painter.

Dombrowski then made a big acquisition while not having to give up Painter, who is throwing in Triple-A right now and working his way back from Tommy John surgery. Got to give Dombrowski credit for this.

Landing a reliever like Duran is a big get for the Phillies, whose bullpen is ranked No. 24 in MLB with a 4.33 ERA. At 27 years old, Duran is also under team control for an additional two full seasons, which aligns with their current window with Harper, Wheeler and others. One of the top relievers on the market, Duran’s fastball is electric and averages 100.2 mph, which will certainly work late in games for manager Rob Thomson.

In four seasons with the Twins, Duran has posted a 2.47 ERA and 74 saves. That, too, will play for the Phillies, who haven’t had a surefire, lockdown closer since Jonathan Papelbon. The Phillies have their closer of the future. Not a bad way to go into Thursday’s trade deadline for Dombrowski and his staff.

‘We would not have paid this price for a rental,’ Dombrowki told reporters in Chicago after the Phillies officially announced the trade. Enough said by the future Hall of Famer.

Twins: B+

Though the Twins didn’t get a prospect of Painter’s caliber back for Duran, Minnesota still did rather well in its return for the closer.

Headlining the package for the Twins is Abel, a former first-round draft pick by the Phillies in 2015 who has pitched at the major league level this season. Called up on May 18 to fill the spot in the rotation for an injured Aaron Nola, Abel posted a 2-2 record with a 5.04 ERA across six starts and 25 innings pitched. Abel, the Phillies’ No. 6-ranked prospect, struggled over his final starts, which ultimately led to him being optioned back to Triple-A. Abel specifically struggled with his command, as he gave up nine runs and five walks in his final two outings vs. the Mets and Padres. Though he will be sent to Triple-A, he is a major league-ready arm for the Twins, should they have a need in the coming days and weeks.

Then there is Tait, who is the first Top 100 Prospect traded at the deadline since 2023 and the highest-ranked since 2022. At 18 years old and playing as high as Single-A, Tait is viewed more as a project prospect. He does possess some power and has a grade score of 60 for his arm, according to MLB Pipeline.

The New York Mets have landed perhaps the most coveted relief pitcher on the market as the MLB trade deadline draws near.

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded right-hander Ryan Helsley to the Mets in exchange for prospects Jesus Baez, Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt, the Mets announced.

Helsley first took over closing duties in St. Louis in 2022 and has enjoyed a highly successful run in the role, racking up a major league-leading 49 saves last season while pitching to an ERA of 2.04.

He has endured some rocky outings this season, however, as the Cardinals have faded from the playoff picture. He has 21 saves and a 3.00 ERA on the season, but has been much better over the past six weeks. Since June 15, Helsley has allowed only one run in his last 11 innings.

Ryan Helsley trade details

The Cardinals trade RP Ryan Helsley to the Mets for Jesus Baez, Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt.

Baez, an infielder, is the Mets’ eighth-ranked prospect. Dohm and Elissalt are both right-handed pitchers, the former the Mets’ 14th-ranked prospect.

Ryan Helsley stats

This season, Helsley has converted 21 of 26 save opportunities with a 3.00 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 36 innings. He also has struck out 10.3 batters per nine innings.

Ryan Helsley contract details

Helsley, 31, is in his final year of arbitration with the Cardinals, making him a free agent for the first time in his career at the end of the season.

He is currently making $8.2 million this season.

Cardinals depth chart update

With Helsley moving on, the Cardinals could turn to veteran right-hander Phil Maton or left-hander JoJo Romero to close out games.

Mets depth chart update

This story has been updated with new information.

The Mariners made a huge splash on the eve of the MLB trade deadline, agreeing to a deal that will bring slugger Eugenio Suárez back to Seattle from the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal wasn’t official and pending medical reviews.

It’s the second big trade between the clubs in the past week with the Mariners also acquiring first baseman Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks in a deal on July 24.

Suárez has 36 home runs and 87 RBIs and is on pace to become the first player traded in-season to finish with 50 homers since Mark McGwire in 1996. He has been on fire for the past 12 months, clubbing 53 home runs with 134 RBIs in 161 games beginning on July 28, 2024 – including a four-homer game in April, tying the MLB record.

Mariners third basemen have totaled just five home runs and 35 RBIs this season, bottom-five in the majors in both categories.

Suárez became one of baseball’s top power hitters at the end of the 2010s with the Cincinnati Reds, slugging 34 home runs in 2018 and 49 in 2019, topping 100 RBIs each year. But his struggles began after his 49-homer campaign, posting a .221 average – including a .198 mark in 2021 – from 2020-2023, the latter two years with the Mariners.

The Mariners traded Suárez to the Diamondbacks after the 2023 season and he totaled 53 home runs with a .751 OPS in 312 games during his first tenure in Seattle.

Suárez is a free agent at the end of the season and his exploits over the past year may have earned him a multi-year deal.

Eugenio Suárez trade details

Seattle Mariners receive:

• 3B Eugenio Suárez

Arizona DIamondbacks receive:

• 1B Tyler Locklear
• RHP Juan Burgos
• RHP Hunter Cranton

Eugenio Suárez contract

Eugenio Suárez is making $15 million in 2025 and will be a free agent after the season.

This story was updated to include new information.

AI-assisted summary
• Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas and five others were indicted on federal charges for operating an illegal gambling business.
• The operation allegedly involved high-stakes poker games at an Encino mansion owned by Arenas.
• Arenas faces up to five years in prison for each count if convicted.

Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas and five other people, including ‘a suspected high-level member of an Israeli transnational organized crime group,’ were arrested Wednesday, July 30 on a federal indictment alleging they operated an illegal gambling business in Encino, California, according the U.S. Department of Justice’s Attorney’s Office, Central District of California.

Arenas, 43, is charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.

Also charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business:

• Yevgeni Gershman, 49, a suspected organized crime figure from Israel
• Evgenni Tourevski, 48
• Allan Austria, 52
• Yarin Cohen, 27
• Ievgen Krachun, 43

According to the indictment that was unsealed Wednesday, July 30, Arenas and the other defendants ‘operated an illegal gambling business. Arenas rented out an Encino mansion he owned for the purpose of hosting high-stakes illegal poker games. At Arenas’ direction, Arthur Kats, 51, of West Hollywood, staged the mansion to host the games, found co-conspirators to host the games, and collected rent from the co-conspirators on Arenas’ behalf.

‘Gershman, Tourevski, Austria, and Cohen managed illegal ‘Pot Limit Omaha’ poker games, among other illegal games, at the Encino mansion, collected a ‘rake’ – a fee the house charged from each pot either as a percentage or a fixed amount per hand – and invited players to compete.

‘Gershman hired young women who, in exchange for tips, served drinks, provided massages, and offered companionship to the poker players. The women were charged a ‘tax’ – a percentage of their earnings from working the games. Chefs, valets, and armed security guards also were hired to staff these illegal poker games.’

Gershman and Valentina Cojocari, 35, are also charged with three additional counts: conspiracy to commit marriage fraud; marriage fraud; and making a false statement on an immigration document.

If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.

Arenas spent 11 seasons in the NBA, including seven-plus seasons with the Washington Wizards. He was a three-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection. In the 2009-10 season, it was discovered Arenas had brought guns into the Wizards locker room and had an alteracation with then-teammate Javaris Crittenton involing firearms in the locker room. The NBA suspended both players indefinitely, and Arenas ended up serving a 50-game suspension.

There are less than 24 hours remaining before the MLB trade deadline, and after all of the posturing and gamesmanship, everyone must show their cards by 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31 to find out who was bluffing and who was actually sincere.

There hasn’t been a single marquee player on the trade market who has been moved, and perhaps by the time the deadline ends and the musical chairs stop, some will still be wearing the same uniform.

Here are the top 10 players on the trade market with the odds (please no wagering) of them actually getting moved:

1. Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

UPDATE: The Diamondbacks agreed to trade Suárez to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for three prospects.

Suárez, who leads all third basemen with 36 homers and 87 RBI, is easily the top prize among all position players. The D-backs have been frustrated that they’re not getting overwhelmed with offers. Teams like the New York Yankees (Ryan McMahon) and Cincinnati Reds (Ke’Bryan Hayes) have pivoted to others, while the Philadelphia Phillies have declined to pay the freight. The Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs are the leading candidates to land him.

2. Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins

Just when it looked like the Marlins would have to wait until the winter to move him after his struggles, he finally is starting to look like one of the game’s premier pitchers again with 12 shutout innings in his last two starts. The beauty of Alcantara is that if you trade for him, you get him for three playoffs races. He’s under control through 2027, with a $17 million contract in 2026 and a $21 million club option in 2027. The Marlins also realize they can simply hang onto him and trade him in the winter or at next year’s deadline.

Odds he’ll be traded: 70%

3. MacKenzie Gore, SP, Washington Nationals

The Nationals certainly don’t want to move the 26-year-old. He’s 4-11 with a 3.80 ERA, but they still believe he’ll be a star, with 144 strikeouts in 117 23 innings, and walking a a career-low 3.4 per nine innings. Yet, with everyone starving for pitching, the Nationals say they have no choice but to listen. If someone grossly overpays, they’ve got no choice but to trade him to accelerate their rebuild.

Odds he’ll be traded: 15%

4. Dylan Cease, SP, San Diego Padres

The Padres have been shopping Cease for about a month, and still haven’t received the return they wanted. Cease, 3-10, 4.79 ERA, is the second-best pitcher on the market behind only Alcantara, with his 98 mph fastball, 92 mph fastball and 153 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings. Yet, for the Padres to trade him, they need quality players in return who can help this year’s team. The balance has been tough to find, with teams like the Houston Astros trying to strike the right balance.

Odds he’ll be traded: 50%

5. David Bednar, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Bednar has been a model of consistency for the Pirates, pitching in 23 consecutive games without giving up a run. He has 17 saves with a 2.37 ERA, while striking out 12.1 batters per inning. He also is under team control through 2026.

Odds he’ll be traded: 80%

6. Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

UPDATE: The Cardinals traded Helsley to the Mets in exchange for prospects Jesus Baez, Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt.

Helsley hasn’t been as dominant as a year ago when he saved an MLB-leading 48 games, but he still is a top commodity with 26 saves and a 3.00 ERA this season. The Cardinals could have traded him last winter, but wanted to wait until the trade deadline, believing his value would be higher. They are right. It is higher.

7. Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

He doesn’t light up the radar gun, doesn’t strike out 10 batters a game and will be 37 years old in October, but he’s one of the most dependable starters on the block. Kelly, a ground-ball pitcher, is 9-6 with a 3.28 ERA, with 121 strikeouts in 128.2 innings. The D-backs don’t have to move him, and will likely give him a qualifying offer, but will take what they can get at the deadline.

Odds he’ll be traded: 80%

8, Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Gallen, who has had three top-10 Cy Young award finishes, picked a lousy time to have the worst season of his career in his walk year. Gallen is 7-12 with a 5.60 ERA, having trouble with his control this year. Yet, he’s healthy. He’s durable. He’ll only be 30 on Sunday. And, oh yeah, he’s 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA against the Yankees and Mets this season.

Odds he’ll be traded: 90%

9. Luis Robert Jr., CF, Chicago White Sox

Certainly, the numbers don’t lie. He has underachieved, hitting .206 with 11 homers and 43 RBI. He is injury prone, playing more than 100 games only once in his career. And there’s no guarantee he’ll stay healthy for the pennant stretch. Yet, he’s supremely talented, is an outstanding defensive player, and can create havoc on the basepaths with his career-high 26 stolen bases in 87 games. If he performs well, teams can have pick up his $20 million club option in 2026 and 2027. But despite reports the White Sox will hang onto him if they don’t get a top 10 prospect, the truth is that they have no intention of picking up his option for next season.

Odds he’ll be traded: 99.9%

10. Carlos Correa, SS, Minnesota Twins

The Astros, fearing that third baseman Isaac Paredes will be out the rest of the season, recently reached out to the Minnesota Twins to check on their desperation level to unload the remainder of the $103.5 million on Carlos Correa’s contract. The answer? They’d love to have the salary relief, but they’re not about to eat half of his contract just to move him. They’re just fine keeping him through the duration of his contract. And Correa has made it clear to friends that he’s either playing for the Twins or Astros, but no one else.

Odds he’ll be traded: 10%

Follow Bob Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale.

The Minnesota Lynx got the best of the New York Liberty in their first matchup of the season.

The Lynx defeated the defending champion Liberty 100-93 in Minneapolis on Wednesday in a rematch of the 2024 WNBA Finals, which the Liberty won in five games over the Lynx. Although Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier said Wednesday’s victory over New York is ‘just a regular season win,’ guard Courtney Williams admitted that the Lynx had a ‘chip on our shoulder’ following the Finals loss.

‘Every time we play them, we try to come out and stomp them,’ said Williams, who matched her career high in assists (13), in addition to recording nine rebounds and six points. ‘Neither one of us is going to lay down.’

The Lynx shot 49.3% from the field and knocked down a season-high 15 3-pointers. Collier recorded her sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 30 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal. Collier is now tied with the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson for the most 30-point games this season.

The Liberty made things interesting down the stretch and went on an 11-0 run to come within four points of the Lynx with 1:02 remaining in the game. Collier responded with a driving layup that resulted in an and-one opportunity after she was fouled. Chants of ‘MVP’ rang out across Target Center as Collier knocked down the free throw to put the Lynx back up by seven points.

‘The score was close. We needed a bucket, so I tried to go out there and get it,’ she said. ‘It’s just a regular-season win for us. … We let what happened last season go. This is a new season.’

The Liberty’s losing streak extends to three games, their first of that length since 2022. Sabrina Ionescu finished with a game-high 31 points and five rebounds in the losing effort, while Marine Johannes had 14 points. The Liberty were without Breanna Stewart (right leg), Nyara Sabally (right knee) and Kennedy Burke (right calf) due to injury.

Here’s a recap of the 2024 WNBA Finals rematch on Wednesday:

Lynx vs. Liberty highlights

End of Q3: Lynx 68, Liberty 62

Minnesota’s backcourt is heating up. Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride went 3-of-14 from the field and 2-of-5 from 3 in the first half, but the duo started to knock down some shots in the third quarter. Williams connected on her first field goal of the night with 5:57 remaining, prompting an emphatic reaction. She’s closing in on a double-double with four points, 10 assists (which ties her season high) and seven rebounds.

‘I just want to affect the game. Right now I can’t throw a rock in the ocean … but I still got to do things to help us win,’ Williams told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the third quarter. Napheesa Collier has a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. McBride added 16 points, five assists and two rebounds.

The Liberty closed the third quarter on a 7-0 run to come within six points of the Lynx heading into the fourth quarter. Sabrina Ionescu has a team-high 17 points and three rebounds, while Marine Johannes added 11 points and four rebounds. Leonie Fiebich has been held to six points, shooting 2-of-7 from the field and 0-of-3 from 3.

Halftime: Lynx 51, Liberty 42

MV-Phee is on display. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier scored 13 of her game-high 19 points in the second quarter, helping the Lynx take their largest lead of the game at halftime, 51-42. In fact, Collier scored the last 11 points of the half for the Lynx. She added four rebounds, two blocks and one assist to her stat line.

Alanna Smith added 12 points and four rebounds for the Lynx, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from 3. Courtney Williams has turned in a defensive masterclass, with four rebounds, one block and one steal. The All-Star point guard is scoreless so far, shooting 0-of-7 from the field but has eight assists.

Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud each have 10 points for the Liberty.

Breanna Stewart injury update: Is Stewart playing vs. Lynx?

Stewart was ruled out of Wednesday’s matchup with a bone bruise in her right knee, Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello confirmed ahead of the matchup. Stewart suffered the injury less than four minutes into the Liberty’s 101-99 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on July 26. She appeared to suffer a non-contact injury as she ran up the court in transition. Brondello said Stewart avoided ligament damage, but added the Liberty will be cautious and put no timetable on her return.

End of Q1: Liberty 24, Lynx 24

We are all square after one quarter. The Liberty led by as many as eight points in the first quarter, but the Lynx went on a 7-0 run to tie things up.

Marine Johannes leads the Liberty with a game-high eight points, while Sabrina Ionescu added six points. New York is collectively shooting 62.5% from the field and 3-of-7 from 3.

The Lynx’s Alanna Smith hasn’t missed so far. She’s up to a team-high seven points, shooting 3-of-3 from the field and 1-of-1 from 3. Napheesa Collier added six points and Jessica Shepard has six off the bench. The Lynx are shooting 52.6% from the field, 3-of-6 from 3 and are out-rebounding the Liberty, 9-6.

‘Pay The Players’ signs on display

The crowd is rocking at Target Center for the 2024 WNBA Finals rematch between the Lynx and Liberty and the fans have something to say. Multiple spectators held ‘Pay the Players’ signs on Wednesday as WNBA stars continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the league before the current contract expires at the end of the 2025 season.

The message went mainstream at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, when Team Caitlin Clark and Team Napheesa Collier donned matching pregame shirts that read, ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us.’ After Collier was named the MVP of the WNBA All-Star Game, the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse chanted ‘Pay them!’

What time is the New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx?

The Minnesota Lynx will host the New York Liberty at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, July 30 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

How to watch New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx: TV, stream

• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Target Center (Minneapolis)
• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: The ESPN App

New York Liberty starting lineup

Minnesota Lynx starting lineups

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.