TL;DR
Ronaldo leaves Al-Nassr; Caitlin Clark out, WNBA odds shift; Ohtani, Judge lead MLB headlines.
Highlights
- Cristiano Ronaldo ends Al-Nassr stint after 25-goal, Golden Boot season; next club uncertain as Club World Cup speculation grows1.
- Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever) out at least two weeks with quad strain; WNBA MVP odds shift to Napheesa Collier; Fever title odds lengthen2.
- Oklahoma City Thunder lead Timberwolves 3-1 in NBA West Finals behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderâs 40 points; Anthony Edwards limited to 164.
- Edmonton Oilers up 2-1 on Dallas Stars in NHL West Finals; Carolina Hurricanes force Game 5 vs. Panthers in East3.
- Shohei Ohtani leads MLB with 19 home runs after back-to-back leadoff shots8; Aaron Judge (.398 AVG, 18 HR, 47 RBI, 1.246 OPS) is AL MVP favorite at -22509.
- Indy 500 viewership up 40% on Fox (7.05M avg.); Ălex Palou wins, Marcus Ericsson DQâd post-race, David Malukas promoted to P2517.
- Major French Open upsets: Cameron Norrie defeats Daniil Medvedev6; Daniel Altmaier ousts No. 4 Taylor Fritz7; Grigor Dimitrov retires injured20.
- England GK Mary Earps retires weeks before Euro 2025; Lionesses must name new starter11.
- SEC, Big Ten push 16-team College Football Playoff with eight auto-bids; ESPN offers up to $80M more for nine-game SEC schedule12.
- Toluca wins Liga MX title over Club América, ending 15-year drought; Alexis Vega named MVP13.
- Carlo Ancelotti named Brazil coach on âŹ10M salary14; Neymar, Rodrygo omitted for June qualifiers; Casemiro, Antony, Richarlison recalled15.
- Cadillac to join F1 in 2026; PepsiCo signs five-year F1 sponsorship covering Sting, Gatorade, Doritos18.
Commentary
Key player absences and shifting rosters are driving market moves across sports. Caitlin Clarkâs quad injury sidelines her for at least four games, lengthening Fever title odds and moving WNBA MVP betting in favor of Napheesa Collier2. In the NBA, the Thunder are one win from the Finals after Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderâs 40-point night, while Minnesotaâs Anthony Edwards was held to 16 points4. NHL conference finals remain volatile: the Oilers lead Dallas 2-1, while Carolina extended their series with Florida, ending a 15-game conference-final losing streak3.
Baseballâs top performers are separating from the pack. Shohei Ohtaniâs consecutive leadoff homers give him the MLB home run lead8, but Aaron Judgeâs .398 average, 18 HR, and 1.246 OPS make him a near-lock for AL MVP at -22509. In motorsport, the Indy 500 drew its largest audience since 2008 on Fox 5, but post-race penalties reshuffled the podium, impacting both payouts and fantasy scoring17.
Tennis bettors and fantasy players should note early French Open exits for top seeds: Cameron Norrie ousted Daniil Medvedev6, Daniel Altmaier upset Taylor Fritz7, and Grigor Dimitrov retired injured20. These results open up the menâs draw for value plays. In football, Cristiano Ronaldoâs Al-Nassr exit and uncertain future could affect Club World Cup markets1. Englandâs Mary Earps retires just before Euro 2025, forcing the Lionesses to identify a new starting goalkeeper11.
Structural changes are also in focus. The SEC and Big Ten are advancing a 16-team College Football Playoff with eight automatic bids, potentially reshaping futures markets. ESPN has reportedly offered up to $80 million more for a nine-game SEC schedule12. In international football, Carlo Ancelotti takes over as Brazil manager14, leaving Neymar and Rodrygo out of his first squad while recalling Casemiro, Antony, and Richarlison15. Tolucaâs Liga MX title13 and Cadillacâs F1 entry, alongside a new PepsiCo sponsorship, round out a week of significant developments18.