SI:CYMI | Caitlin Clark Has a Sore Throat

*cough* the WNBA refs screwed up *cough* Plus, news and updates from the NBA.

Kristen Wong Morning! This is Kristen Wong from Sports Illustrated. Amid the endless sports frenzy that has taken over the nation this June (Knicks winning NBA Finals, USA hosting this year’s World Cup) I would just like to remind everyone it is still Pride Month. Even if some MLB players still refuse to respect the LGBTQ+ community. New York City’s Pride Parade is taking place this Sunday, and I, for one, can’t wait to be outside cheering on the dykes, divas and drag queens—sporting events be damned. Forward this to your casual soccer-watching friend who still thinks Neymar is a star at the World Cup. (He’s a star in our hearts <3)   Recommended by  The headlines … Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK STRONG-ARMED: Caitlin Clark hasn’t been getting a very friendly whistle of late, and lots of people are reasonably (and unreasonably) pissed. Let’s get something straight: the WNBA’s officiating problem is a league-wide one that doesn’t just revolve around one star. That being said, Clark was on the receiving end of back-to-back cheap shots in the Fever’s loss to the Mercury on Wednesday night. Phoenix star forward Alyssa Thomas was retroactively assessed a flagrant two and suspended for a game for pressing her first into Clark’s throat during one of the plays in question. The refs need to do better, for Clark and the rest of the W’s players. … Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was arrested on eight felony charges stemming from an armed robbery and kidnapping earlier this year. … One common physical feature of NFL mascots is their buff suit that shows off their definitely, 100% real muscles. Which mascots are the coolest, the scariest, or the most controversial? SI’s Eva Geitheim took a good hard look. LAMELO & THE ANT-MAN: The Ball’s in the Timberwolves’ court, now. (Sorry). The Hornets traded star guard LaMelo Ball to Minnesota on Thursday, marking the end of a six-year era for Ball and Charlotte. Ball now teams up with Anthony Edwards to help the Timberwolves contend for a championship in the ultra-loaded West. Here are our grades for the blockbuster trade. NBA ROUNDUP: Missed the NBA draft? Here were the winners and losers with all 60 picks now in the rearview mirror. … And here are our NBA power rankings in the wake of the draft, with the Giannis-led Heat cracking the top five. … The Celtics seem more open than ever to dealing Jaylen Brown. Here are four logical landing spots for the superstar. … SI’s Dan Lyons wrote a thought-provoking piece on whether the Spurs should bring back Kawhi Leonard. … The Big 12 somehow dominated this year’s NBA draft. Patrick Andres took a deeper dive into why. Join Verducci's View Newsletter MLB insights and analysis delivered by Tom Verducci, offering a mix of expert commentary, inside angles and thoughtful perspectives on baseball’s biggest storylines. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE   Recommended by  Feed refresher … Screengrab on Twitter/@JerryWatkins22 Bow chicka wow wow look at these things we found online … LOOK MA: If your Twitter feed isn’t filled with Sophie Cunningham pointing memes, what are you even doing on the internet? The Fever guard went viral for sassily pointing at an opposing player during a WNBA game earlier this week, which in turn sparked a flood of endlessly entertaining memes. Just take your pick.  CLUB KIDS: The first rule of Fight Club... that’s probably what Tyler Durden was discussing alone in his suite at the USA vs. Türkiye game on Thursday night. What a flex for the Americans. THERE’S ART EVERYWHERE: One woman’s trash is @ArtButMakeItSports’ next masterpiece. The mad genius behind the Twitter account who “turns art into sports” dropped what might be his best comparison of all time: It’s an abstract orange and blue painting that mimics… the viral Knicks trash can lady (who was reportedly fired from her job over the disgusting act). Take a bow, sir. Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. Click to subscribe! 📺 What we’re watching this weekend ... WNBA:  Saturday, June 27 Sparks @ Fever—8 p.m. ET; CBS World Cup: All day, all weekend Friday, June 26 Norway @ France—3 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Uruguay @ Spain—8 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Egypt @ Iran—11 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Saturday, June 27 Croatia @ Ghana—5 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Panama @ England—5 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Colombia @ Portugal—7:30 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Jordan @ Argentina—10 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo Sunday, June 28 South Africa @ Canada— 3 p.m. ET; FOX/Telemundo France faces off against Norway for pole position in Group I, with both teams carrying six points apiece into what should be a high-octane matchup. Spain can top Group H with a tie or win over Uruguay. In what is indubitably the 40-year-old Luka Modrić’s last World Cup, Croatia will be looking for a solid result against Ghana to potentially leapfrog into second in Group L, while England need to bounce back against Panama after their latest disappointing draw. Following his brace against Uzbekistan, a well-known soccer powerhouse, can Cristiano Ronaldo keep up with the rest of the top goal-scorers of the tournament? We’ll find out soon enough in perhaps the most enthralling fixture of the weekend, Colombia vs. Portugal for first place in Group K.  That’s a wrap for today. See ya Sunday! Join SI The Post-Up A weekly spotlight on the biggest stories and in-depth reporting of women’s basketball—from compelling athlete features to sharp commentary on the latest news and scores. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE   Recommended by  We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. 625 Broadway, 10th floor New York, NY. 10012 You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:CYMI newsletter. You can unsubscribe here . Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions © 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. 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