Big Plays, Big Swings šā¾
Basketball battles, home run history, and a fresh Top 25 puzzleā¦ Who said Wednesday has to feel like hump day?
1ļøā£ Two for Two š
Last night, the WNBA playoffs were all about Game 2s on the right side of the bracket.
Remember, itās a best-of-three seriesā¦ so win two games and you move on.
First up: the Atlanta Dream, leading 1ā0 against Indiana.
No Caitlin, no problemā¦ at least last night. The Fever pulled away to win 77ā60 and tie the series. Game 3 coming Thursday.
Next up: Las Vegas, leading 1ā0 against the Seattle Storm.
The Aces were on a 17-game winning streak. They were winning by nine with just over four minutes left.
š„ Watch what happened.
Yep, Skylar Diggins helped the Storm outscore the Aces 16ā4 in those closing minutes. Tie series. Say it with us: Game 3 on Thursday.
Tonight, the left side of the bracket tackles Game 2.
Letās see if the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty, both up 1ā0, can stop their series from reaching Game 3!
2ļøā£ Next Stop: Home Run History
Now from buckets to bombsā¦ š£ā¾
Weāve been following the teams in the MLB playoff race. But last night, two stars reminded us to enjoy whatās happening right now.
Letās start with Cal Raleigh. Coming into yesterdayās game, the Mariners catcher had 54 home runs. Tied with former Yankees star Mickey Mantle for the most ever by a switch-hitter (a player who bats right- and left-handed).
Ready for 55?
š„ Hit play (pause when you see Cal grab his gold trident so you can keep reading)!
Now, what do you sayā¦
š„ Should we make it 56?
You heard the announcer!
With his second home run of the night, Cal tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the Mariners team record for most home runs in a season. Pretty cool!
While Cal was doing thatā¦
š„ Shohei Ohtani said, āWatch this.ā
He pitches. He hits. And now, heās the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs as a batter and strike out 50 batters as a pitcher.
Both of these stars care about their teams winning. And both are in great position to make the playoffs.
We canāt wait to watch them!
3ļøā£ Another Poll Puzzle š§©
Remember the AP Top 25 Poll that ranks the best college football teams?
Theyāre updatedā¦ again, and lots of teams shiftedā¦ again.
So weāre playing spot the differencesā¦ again!
Check out the picture below. Last weekās rankings on the left, this weekās on the right.
š How many teams didnāt move at all?
šµļø Did you and your grown-up get the same answer?
š Want extra credit? See if you can find:
One team that won their last game but dropped in the rankings.
One team that lost but stayed the same.
š¬ Drop your answers in the comments!
Need a hint? Think UTā¦ for both.
Three more days until another group of great games on Saturday!
All that action in one nightā¦ and weāve still got a packed week of games to look forward to.
See you tomorrow, Smallballers!
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TEXAS AND TENNESSEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Texas and Tennessee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!