Clutch Goals, Coastal Greens, and Cooldowns ⚽⛳🛌
The Euro 2025 quarterfinals are on, The Open’s teeing off, and some basketball stars are getting a little rest.
Let’s get into our three things!
1️⃣ Eight Teams, One Dream ⚽
A few weeks ago, 16 of the top women’s national teams in Europe were gearing up for Euro 2025.
Now, the group stage is over, the field is down to eight, and the tournament is getting intense.
From here on out, if you lose, you’re out.
The quarterfinal matchups are set, and here’s how they’ll unfold:
Norway faced Italy yesterday.
Sweden takes on England today.
Spain meets Switzerland tomorrow.
France battles Germany Saturday.
🎥 Ready to see Norway vs. Italy? It was a thriller!
Cristiana Girelli scored both goals for Italy. What a clutch header in the 90th minute! It’s Italy’s first time reaching the semis in 28 years.
Now, three more tickets up for grabs.
Let the knockout chaos continue!
2️⃣ Who’s Your Pick for The Open? ⛳
It’s finally tee time at Royal Portrush! The Open Championship (one of golf’s most legendary tournaments) begins today, and it’s stacked with stars.
So we’ve got a question for you, Smallballers: Who’s gonna win it?
Let’s set the stage.
Royal Portrush is a coastal course in Northern Ireland. That means swirling wind, bumpy grass, and unpredictable bounces: a style known as links golf. (Old-school courses near the ocean are super tricky!)
It’s very different from the smooth, sunny setups many of us are used to.
🎯 The favorite? That’s Scottie Scheffler. He’s ranked #1 in the world and has already won a bunch of tournaments this season.
Experts say he has about a 15% chance to win.
💚 Rory McIlroy is next. Not only is he playing in his home country of Northern Ireland, but he’s already had a historic year.
Back in April, he finally won The Masters, completing the career Grand Slam. (That’s what it’s called when a golfer wins at least once at each of the four major tournaments.)
Experts say he’s got about a 12% chance.
🌎 Spanish star Jon Rahm is right behind. He says he loves links golf… which has to be a good sign, right?
Experts give him around an 8% chance.
And then there’s…
🤷 The Field. That means everyone else.
It includes big names like Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau. Oh, and Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, who finished first and second in 2019 when The Open was last held at this course.
The field has the best odds as a group, since there are so many dangerous players lurking.
🎤 So, your turn to predict!
Vote… then sit back and enjoy. The Claret Jug is officially up for grabs!
3️⃣ Rest Up to Rise Up 🛌
In yesterday’s post, we talked about Caitlin Clark’s injury… and wondered if she’d be ready in time for this weekend’s All-Star action.
So far? No clear answer.
She missed last night’s game against the New York Liberty. (The Liberty crushed the Fever 98–77 and Breanna Stewart went for 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.)
Caitlin’s still listed as “questionable” for Friday’s 3-Point Contest and Saturday’s All-Star Game.
It’s a good reminder: resting isn’t just about taking a break. It’s how athletes recover and stay healthy for the long run… so one small injury doesn’t turn into a big one.
😴 And speaking of rest…
The Dallas Mavericks just announced that they’re shutting down Cooper Flagg for the rest of Summer League.
And not because of injury… just to give their top rookie a chance to recharge.
Cooper dropped 31 points in his second Summer League game. The Mavs saw what they needed to see. Now they want him rested and ready for this fall.
That’s all for now. Three stories down, three more on the way tomorrow!
Go Rory! Jake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO RORY!!!!!!!!!!!