SPELLING BEE

Fourteen-year-old Zaila Avant-garde won the 93rd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee after spelling the word “Murraya” which is “a genus of tropical Asiatic and Australian trees having pinnate leaves and flowers with imbricated petals.” She is also an accomplished basketball player who holds three Guinness World Records for dribbling.

BASKETBALL

The Phoenix Suns grabbed Game 2 from the Milwaukee Bucks thanks to stellar play from Devin Booker who posted 31 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the Bucks with 42 points, 6 assists, and 12 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for the win. Game 3 is Sunday in Milwaukee.

OLYMPICS

Japan has now declared a state of emergency due to the rise of COVID-19 cases. Athletes, journalists and staff traveling to Japan for the Olympics are not required to be vaccinated (although about 80% are), but only an estimated 15% of Japan’s population has been vaccinated.

HOCKEY

The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup Champions again for the second year in a row. Tampa Bay now has its third championship in less than a year (with the Lightning winning the Cup 10 months ago, and the Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl in February).

BASKETBALL

The NBA Finals resume Thursday night with the Suns’ Dario Saric out after tearing his right knee ACL.

SOCCER

England beat Denmark and will now face Italy in the Euro 2020 Final. This will be England’s first Euros final since winning the World Cup in 1966.

BASKETBALL

The Phoenix Suns cruised to a 118-105 game 1 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Chris Paul (in the Finals for the first time in his 16 year career) demonstrated his leadership with 32 points and nine assists. Devin Booker added 27 points for the Suns, while a newly healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo added 20 points and 17 rebounds in his return to the Bucks.  Game 2 on Thursday night.

Malika Andrews took over the sideline reporting for Rachel Nichols who has been in the news recently for her controversial comments about her ESPN colleague Maria Taylor.

GOLF

Future hall of fame quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady competed against each other in the 4th edition of “The Match”. Rodgers and 2020 U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau beat Brady and 2021 PGA Champ Phil Mickelson in the celebrity fundraiser at the Reserve golf course in Montana.

OLYMPICS

U.S. Officials reported Sha’Carri Richardson (who tested positive for marijuana) will not be able to compete in Tokyo saying “all athletes must adhere to the current anti-doping code.”

BASKETBALL

The NBA Finals are set, with the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the Phoenix Suns. Game 1 is Tuesday night in Phoenix.

BASEBALL

MLB announced the rosters for the All-Star Game, and Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani made history as the first player to ever be named as an All-Star as both a position player and pitcher.

HOT DOG EATING

Speaking of setting records, Joey Chestnut continues to dominate the annual 4th of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. He broke his own record of 75 hot dogs and buns by devouring 76 hot dogs and buns (25 hot dogs and buns ahead of the second-place finisher) in 10 minutes.

FOOTBALL

The NFL fined The Washington Football Team $10 million after an investigation uncovered a “highly unprofessional” workplace for women. Team owner Daniel Snyder was not suspended but did hand over control of the team to his wife and now co-CEO Tanya Snyder.

BASKETBALL

Playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks relied on Brook Lopez who scored a playoff career-high of 33 points to give the Bucks a 3-2 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks.

NCAA

Just one day after the NCAA approved a policy allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), many deals were made. One player, Arkansas wide receiver Trey Knox was able to sign a deal with Petsmart with his beloved dog Blue.

BASKETBALL

Thanks to Chris Paul’s 41 points, the Phoenix Suns cruised past the LA Clippers to secure their place in the NBA Finals.

The Atlanta Hawks will play the Milwaukee Bucks tonight (series tied 2-2).

NCAA

The NCAA will now allow athletes to profit off of their names, images, and likenesses. According to reports, these top 20 athletes have the greatest chance of cashing in immediately on lucrative endorsements.

BASEBALL

Mississippi State beat Vanderbilt (9-0) to win its first-ever College World Series championship.

CHESS

12-year old Abhimanyu Mishra from New Jersey became the youngest grandmaster in chess history.