⚾️ All Star Game won in unprecedented way

Beal contract buy out, NHL announces schedule, NBA commissioner update, and more!

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Sportie Newsletter
July 17, 2025

🏀 Basketball

Clippers to sign Bradley Beal to two-year deal after completion of buy out

Bradley Beal has officially completed a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and will sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The Clippers were viewed as the likely suitor for Beal's services if he was able to agree to a hefty buyout with Phoenix.

Beal, 32, had a no-trade clause on his previous contract and was set to make over $53 million during the 2025-26 season, which made finding a trade partner extremely unlikely. The three-time NBA All-Star had a whopping $57 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign before he came to terms with a buyout. 

Commissioner Adam Silver discusses expansion, the aprons & a streaming future

For NBA fans in Seattle, Las Vegas or other cities waiting to join the party, the incremental step Silver discussed Tuesday might be frustrating. It still could be several years before a specific city or group even gets the chance to be the 31st NBA team.

Also, in its new 11-year, $76 billion broadcast deal, every NBA game – including those made available over-the-air (ABC, NBC) and on cable (ESPN) – will be streamed. Unlike days of yore in which audience were tracked one-way via Nielsen ratings, the new technology will enable the league to gather data on its consumers. Amazon Prime and NBC’s Peacock will partner as streamers, too.

🏒 Hockey

NHL announces regular-season schedule for 2025-26

The National Hockey League (NHL) announced today the 2025-26 regular-season schedule, which will commence on Tuesday, Oct. 7 with a tripleheader broadcast exclusively on ESPN in the U.S., and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada. The season’s opening night is highlighted by the Florida Panthers raising their second Stanley Cup championship banner before facing the Chicago Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena at 5 p.m. ET.

Ovechkin wins ESPY for Best Male Athlete as first NHL player

What could Alex Ovechkin possibly do for an encore after winning his first Stanley Cup? On the night of July 18 at the ESPY Awards, "The Great Eight" found a way to deliver another memorable moment. 

After netting a trio of top-shelf NHL trophies his record seventh Maurice “Rocket” Richard, first Conn Smythe (playoff MVP) acknowledgment, and a Stanley Cup championship Ovechkin was the recipient of the Best Male Athlete and Best NHL Player at ESPN’s annual awards show known as the ESPYs

⚾️ Baseball

NL wins All-Star Game decided by unprecedented Derby-like swing-off

The fly ball off Jonathan Aranda’s bat stayed in the park, and the National Leaguers assembled in front of the home dugout jumped for joy.

No All-Star Game had ever ended like this. No MLB game had. It was the sort of ending ordinarily reserved for Wiffle ball wonderment or our most bonkers baseball dreams.

MLB commissioner discusses potential sale of Twins

Things are still about as clear as mud when it comes to who will buy the Minnesota Twins.

Earlier this year, reports of Justin Ishbia, a minority owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, interest seemed to spell the end of Twins fans' wait for new ownership.

Ishbia backed off, and news surrounding the sale has been quiet ever since.

That was, until Tuesday.