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

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Lionel Messi raised his arms up in the air to celebrate once VAR confirmed his game-winning assist, hugging Luis Suarez and his new Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul.

Then, Messi made sure to give a piece of his mind to opposing player Matías Cóccaro after their testy Leagues Cup tournament opener.

Messi had two assists in his first match after his MLS All-Star Game suspension, Telasco Segovia (58’) and Marcelo Weigandt (90’+6’) scored goals, and Inter Miami beat Liga MX side Atlas 2-1 during their match on Wednesday, July 30.

“The other day they didn’t let me play, and today I noticed it, especially in the first set. But, well, the important thing is that we won.” Messi said of his endurance in an interview with Apple TV after the match.

Messi received a pass from longtime teammate Luis Suarez, then dropped it off to Weigandt, who scored in the final minute of the match.

The fireworks erupted inside Chase Stadium, but players quickly had their celebrations interrupted as referees initially ruled the play offsides. They continued celebrating when VAR confirmed the score.

“These are memories that will stay with you forever, in your mind and in your heart. And you have to enjoy them,” Weingandt said of his game-winning goal assisted by Messi.

Added Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi: “We had a lot of faith that he was onside. So, when that moment came, we were super excited. We’re happy about getting that goal.”

Inter Miami became the first MLS club to defeat a Liga MX side in regulation during the first phase of the Leagues Cup tournament, after Liga MX won five out of the first six matches and outscored MLS teams 14-7 overall one day earlier.

Despite the matches being played between MLS and Liga MX teams, they are competing to finish atop their respective league tables to advance to the knockout stage.

“I don’t know how the teams that played today did, but yesterday, the American teams here hadn’t won. And for us, winning today was important to gain an advantage because we’re competing against each other,” Messi said.

Like the game-winning goal, Messi creatively set up the first score of the match with help from another longtime teammate.

Messi saw a shot he missed off a defender rolling in front of Sergio Busquets, and quickly pointed into the penalty area for Busquets to pass him the ball. Busquets was already delivering the pass Messi wanted.

It was a feisty affair between both sides. The game started with Messi getting gut-checked by Atlas’ Sergio Hernández in the 6^th minute.

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano and Atlas coach Gonzalo Pineda were arguing with each other at midfield in the 35th minute as strong contests led to testy moments between both teams.

Rivaldo Lozano scored in the 80^th minute for Atlas to tie the match, and nearly force a penalty shootout if the game ended tied in regulation.

In the closing minutes, Messi delivered again.

De Paul, one of Messi’s closest friends who also won the World Cup in 2022, made his Inter Miami debut without practicing after his P1 Visa and international transfer certificate were approved before the match. He seamlessly fit in.

“The team could have sealed the win earlier and not had to go to the last minute. But hey, winning at the last minute adds spice, so we’re happy,” De Paul told Apple TV after the match.

Inter Miami vs. Atlas highlights

Inter Miami 2, Atlas 1: Marcelo Weigandt nets winner in stoppage time

Inter Miami avoided a penalty shootout the final moments of stoppage time, when Marcelo Weigandt scored the winner.

Lionel Messi assisted on the goal.

Inter Miami 1, Atlas 1: Rivaldo Lozano goal ties the match

Inter Miami finds itself 10 minutes away from a penalty shootout, instead of victory. Rivaldo Lozano scored in the 80^th minute for Atlas to tie this Leagues Cup match. If the match is tied at regulation, both sides will settle the score with a penalty shootout instead of playing extra time.

Inter Miami 1, Atlas 0: Segovia scores goal on Messi assist

Sergio Busquets found Lionel Messi sneaking behind the defense, and Messi dropped off a pass to Telasco Segovia as the Atlas goalie narrowed in on him.

Goal, Segovia. It’s 1-0 Inter Miami in the 58^th minute.

Busquets found himself with possession after Messi swung and missed on a shot that hit a defender. When Messi saw Busquets with the ball, he pointed toward the penalty area for Busquets to pass it. Segovia patiently delivered the finish.

Inter Miami 0, Atlas 0: Halftime update

• Luis Suarez hit the crossbar on the final play of a scoreless first half that was feisty between both sides.
• Messi was gut-checked by Atlas’ Sergio Hernández in the 6^th minute, setting the early tone.
• Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano and Atlas coach Gonzalo Pineda were arguing face to face with each other in the 35th minute as strong contests led to testy moments between both teams.
• Messi fired a shot in the 44th minute directly into a defender, as Inter Miami had just one shot on goal in the first half.

Inter Miami 0, Atlas 0: Goalie Rocco Rios-Novo has stellar save

Inter Miami 0, Atlas 0: Tadeo Allende misses shot on goal

Inter Miami 0, Atlas 0: Jordi Alba offside after pass from Messi

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is playing tonight. Rodrigo De Paul will also start in his Inter Miami debut.

Inter Miami starting lineup vs. Atlas

What time does Inter Miami vs. Atlas match begin?

The match begins 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina).

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Atlas live stream link?

The match will be available on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Watch Leagues Cup games on MLS Season Pass

Messi has another busy week with time off

Messi should be refreshed after his All-Star Game absence on July 23, and his suspension in Inter Miami’s scoreless draw with FC Cincinnati on July 26. Messi and his wife were on the Coldplay kiss cam during a Miami concert on July 27.

“Let’s hope he’s super motivated,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said of Messi, adding the suspension had a “silver lining” of “mandatory rest after many consecutive games.”

“I think, in a way, the break was good for him. And well, to start this new marathon of games we’re going to have ahead of us with the Leagues Cup and then the MLS, it’s good for him to be a little fresher.”

Inter Miami vs. Atlas prediction

Inter Miami 4, Atlas 1: Lionel Messi scores two goals and assists another in a dominant return to action after his All-Star Game suspension. — Safid Deen

Inter Miami vs. Atlas betting odds

Here are the betting odds, according to BetMGM.

• Inter Miami: -300
• Draw: +400
• Atlas: +525
• Over/under: 3.5

Inter Miami upcoming schedule

• Aug. 2: Inter Miami vs. Necaxa, 7 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup)
• Aug. 6: Inter Miami vs. Pumas, 7:30 p.m. ET (Leagues Cup)
• Aug. 10: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m. (MLS regular season)
• Aug. 16: Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. (MLS regular season)
• Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)

USA TODAY Sports’ 48-page special edition commemorates 30 years of Major League Soccer, from its best players to key milestones and championship dynasties to what exciting steps are next with the World Cup ahead. Order your copy today!

Aari McDonald and the Indiana Fever rallied after a slow start to beat the Phoenix Mercury 107-101 on Wednesday night.

McDonald had a career-high 27 points in the victory, shooting 7-for-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from the 3-point line. She was also a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line.

She brought a different mentality into the game that helped keep Indiana competitive in the first half.

‘It was all about confidence,’ McDonald said during her postgame interview on the ESPN broadcast. ‘I didn’t like the way I had been playing recently. … Tonight I was just in an attack mentality.’

Aliyah Boston contributed to the win with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

With the victory, the Fever have now won three straight games and improved to 15-12 overall. The Mercury fell to 16-10 on the season.

Alyssa Thomas produced a monster double-double for the Mercury with a game-high 32 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

Here is how things played out between the Mercury and Fever on Wednesday:

Fever vs. Mercury highlights:

Fever vs Mercury final score

The Fever bounced back after a slow start to beat the Mercury 107-101.

Alyssa Thomas scored a game-high 32 points and had 15 rebounds for the Mercury in the loss. Kahleah Copper added 22 points while Sami Whitcomb had 18 points and three assists off the bench.

Fever vs Mercury score: End of Q3

The Fever managed to hold a two-point lead after three quarters of play.

Aari McDonald has a game-high 23 points and three assists for Indiana. Damiris Dantas has produced 12 points and three rebounds off the bench. Aylssa Thomas has a team-high 20 points along with eight rebounds and six assists for the Mercury. Kahleah Copper has 17 points.

Fever vs Mercury score: End of Q2

The Fever battled back in the second quarter to take a 55-50 lead against the Mercury.

Indiana outscored Phoenix 35-20 to overcome a 10-point deficit at the end first quarter and take the lead into the locker room at halftime.

Aari McDonald had 17 points and two assists for the Fever. Sydney Colson and Kelsey Mitchell each had eight points.

Alyssa Thomas had 14 points and six rebounds for the Mercury. Kaleah Copper added 12 points.

Fever vs Mercury score: End of Q1

The Mercury finished out the first quarter with a 30-20 lead against the Fever.

Alyssa Thomas had eight points, four rebounds and two assists for the Mercury. Satou Sabally added six points and three rebounds.

Aari McDonald had a team-high five points and an assist for the Fever in the opening quarter.

What jerseys are the Indiana Fever wearing?

The Indiana Fever are wearing its ‘Strange Things’ themed jerseys on Wednesday.

The team has worn the jersey for back-to-back games.

The Fever brought back the jerseys as part of its collaboration with Netflix, which initially began with the debut of the jerseys in 2021.

‘Stranger Things’ is a popular series that’s exclusive to the streaming platform. The show, set in a fictional town in Indiana, will enter its fifth and final season later this year.

Fever’s starting lineup vs. Mercury

Aari McDonald, Kelsey Mitchell, Sophie Cunningham, Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston make up the Fever’s starting lineup for tonight’s game against the Mercury.

Mercury’s starting lineup vs. Fever

Monique Akoa Makani, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, Natasha Mack and Kahleah Copper will start for the Mercury in tonight’s road game against the Fever.

Will Caitlin Clark play against Mercury?

Caitlin Clark was officially ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Mercury.

It will be her fifth consecutive game missed due to a right groin injury. The second-year player sought another opinion from doctors and was said to have ‘no additional injuries or damage,’ according to the Fever.

There’s no timetable available for her return.

What time is the Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever game?

The Indiana Fever will host the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, July 30 at 7 p.m. ET at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3 and Merc+.

How to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever: TV, stream

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
• Streaming: ESPN3, Merc+

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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.