If you woke up asking who won the Home Run Derby, the answer is Jordan Walker, and the way he did it was borderline unbelievable. The St. Louis Cardinals slugger walked into a hostile Philadelphia crowd and fell three home runs behind. Then he homered on his final six swings to beat hometown hero Kyle Schwarber. That was just the start of a huge night. Olivia Miles made WNBA history, a Utah Jazz guard was stretchered off in Las Vegas, and a World Cup semifinal is about to kick off. Here is everything trending in sports today.
| The Short Answer Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals won the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby, beating Kyle Schwarber 12-11 in the final at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. He is the first Cardinal ever to win it, and he took home $1 million. Elsewhere: France play Spain in a World Cup semifinal today in Dallas, Lynx rookie Olivia Miles set a WNBA record with a career-high 33 points, and Jazz guard Trey Alexander left a Summer League game on a stretcher. |
Trending in Sports Today at a Glance
| Trending Now | What Is Happening |
| Who won the Home Run Derby | Jordan Walker (Cardinals) beat Kyle Schwarber 12-11 in Philadelphia |
| Olivia Miles | Lynx rookie scored a career-high 33 and set a WNBA first as Minnesota beat Phoenix 104-100 |
| France vs Spain prediction | World Cup semifinal, today in Dallas, winner reaches the final |
| Trey Alexander | Jazz guard taken off on a stretcher in an NBA Summer League game |
| Portland vs Minnesota | Trail Blazers met the Timberwolves in Summer League, and a WNBA meeting is coming |
Who Won the Home Run Derby, and How
Jordan Walker won it, and he won it in the most improbable way imaginable. Facing Schwarber in the final at Citizens Bank Park, Walker was three homers down with a single do-or-die swing remaining. The crowd was desperate to see the Phillies star win. He needed a miracle. He got one.
Per MLB.com, Walker homered on his final six swings, including four in a row on do-or-die swings, to win 12-11. It was only possible because of the new Derby format, which scrapped timed rounds. Hitters now get a set number of swings, and earn extra ones by homering on their final swing. Walker’s comeback is exactly the drama the rule change was designed to create.
| 2026 Home Run Derby | Result |
| Champion | Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals |
| Runner-up | Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies |
| Final score | 12 to 11 |
| Venue | Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia |
| Longest home run | Junior Caminero, 491 feet |
| Prize money | $1 million for Walker, $500,000 for Schwarber |
| Milestone | First Cardinals player ever to win the Derby |
The $1 million prize is more than Walker’s $799,400 salary this season. Bryce Harper went out in the first round, and Junior Caminero of the Rays launched the night’s longest ball at 491 feet before losing in the semifinals. Booed relentlessly all night, Walker had the perfect line afterwards, telling the Netflix broadcast, “I was once told you don’t boo nobodies.” The All-Star Game follows tonight.
France vs Spain Prediction: The World Cup Semifinal Is Today
The biggest match of the World Cup so far kicks off today. France meet Spain in the first semifinal at Dallas Stadium, with the winner going through to Sunday’s final. Kickoff is 3 p.m. ET, which is 12:30 a.m. IST in the early hours of Wednesday for readers in India.
| Tale of the Tape | France | Spain |
| This World Cup | Six wins from six | Unbeaten, one draw |
| Quarterfinal | Beat Morocco 2-0 | Beat Belgium 2-1 |
| Goals conceded | Two | One |
| Danger man | Kylian Mbappe, 8 goals | Lamine Yamal, 1 goal |
| Bookmakers’ odds | +135 | +210 (draw +210) |
The subplot writes itself. Mbappe and Lamine Yamal are El Clasico rivals at Real Madrid and Barcelona, and they now meet on the biggest stage in the sport. France arrive with the tournament’s most fearsome attack, Mbappe leading the Golden Boot race. Spain arrive with the meanest defence, having conceded only once. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called it “a final before the final,” as Al Jazeera reported.
History is split. France won their only previous World Cup meeting, 3-1 back in 2006. But Spain have won three of the last four competitive meetings, including the Euro 2024 semifinal. Bookmakers make France narrow favourites, though nobody sensible is calling this one. Follow our World Cup 2026 updates for the result.
Olivia Miles Just Made WNBA History
The rookie of the year race is over, and it has been for a while. Olivia Miles poured in a career-high 33 points with eight assists on Monday night. The Minnesota Lynx came from behind to beat the Phoenix Mercury 104-100, and sixteen of her points came in the fourth quarter alone.
According to ESPN, she became the first player in WNBA history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists inside 22 career games. Teammate Kayla McBride added a season-high 37, the first time two Lynx players have gone for 30 or more in the same game. Coach Cheryl Reeve summed it up: “The success of the team is on her shoulders.”
Miles was the second overall pick in this year’s draft and is already an All-Star starter. She averages 18.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. Minnesota moved to 18-6 and sit top of the Western Conference.
Trey Alexander Taken Off on a Stretcher
The sobering story of the night. Utah Jazz guard Trey Alexander was taken from the court on a stretcher on Monday during an NBA Summer League game against the Chicago Bulls in Las Vegas.
As ESPN reported, the 23-year-old made contact with the Bulls’ Caleb Wilson while driving to the basket. He then went down behind the hoop, clutching his side, with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Medical staff attended to him, and he could not get up under his own power. Utah won the game 80-63.
| Worth Knowing The Jazz have not yet said what the injury is, and their Summer League coach said he had no update beyond confirming Alexander was being cared for by medical staff. Anything beyond that is speculation. Alexander, who went undrafted out of Creighton and was named G League Rookie of the Year, had only signed a two-way deal with Utah last week. |
Portland vs Minnesota: Which Game Are You Looking For?
This one is trending because two different Portland vs Minnesota matchups are in the news, so here is the quick sort.
The one played on Monday was NBA Summer League. The Portland Trail Blazers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, the late tip on a packed schedule. Portland led 58-44 at half time. For the confirmed final score and box score, check the official NBA game page, since Summer League results were still being finalised as this went live.
The other one is coming. Portland Fire, the WNBA’s new expansion side, visit the Minnesota Lynx on July 19. Given the form Olivia Miles is in, that is the Portland vs Minnesota worth putting in your calendar.
A Cardinals underdog silenced Philadelphia. A rookie guard rewrote the WNBA record book. And the two best teams in Europe meet with a World Cup final at stake, all in about 24 hours.
The one to watch now is France against Spain in Dallas. Whoever survives will start the final as favourite. And here is hoping the news on Trey Alexander is better than it looked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Home Run Derby in 2026?
Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals. He beat Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber 12-11 in the final at Citizens Bank Park, homering on his last six swings to complete the comeback. He is the first Cardinals player ever to win the event.
How much does the Home Run Derby winner get?
Walker banked $1 million for winning, which is more than his $799,400 salary this season. Schwarber earned $500,000 as runner-up, and the other six participants took home $150,000 each.
When is France vs Spain, and who is favoured?
The World Cup semifinal is today at Dallas Stadium, kicking off at 3 p.m. ET, or 12:30 a.m. IST on Wednesday. Bookmakers make France slight favourites at +135, with Spain at +210, but Spain have won three of the last four competitive meetings.
What record did Olivia Miles break?
She became the first player in WNBA history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists within 22 career games. She did it while scoring a career-high 33 points in the Lynx’s 104-100 win over Phoenix.
How badly is Trey Alexander hurt?
It is not yet known. The Utah Jazz have not released any details about the injury, and no timeline has been given. He was stretchered off after appearing to hurt his side during a Summer League game against the Bulls.
Who did Portland play against Minnesota?
The Portland Trail Blazers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Monday. Separately, the WNBA’s Portland Fire travel to the Minnesota Lynx on July 19.
