Sports

Donovan Mitchell agreed to a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 7, 2026, making him the highest-paid player in the NBA by average annual value at approximately $68.25 million per year. The deal, which qualifies under the Designated Veteran Player provision due to Mitchell's three All-NBA selections, includes a player option on the fourth year and a full 15% trade kicker. By signing now rather than waiting for 2027 free agency, Mitchell secured his tenure through the 2030-31 season while forgoing an estimated $80 million he could have earned under a five-year supermax.

The 96th MLB All-Star Game takes place July 14, 2026, at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia's first hosting since Veterans Stadium in 1996 and the ballpark's inaugural appearance. The game doubles as MLB's centerpiece for the U.S. Semiquincentennial, with Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez starting for the National League — the first Phillies starter since Roy Halladay in 2011 — opposite Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease. Six Phillies made the roster, the franchise's most All-Star selections since 2009, while the Home Run Derby debuted a new swing-count format and moved from ESPN to Netflix for the first time.

Victor Wembanyama agreed to a five-year, $252.3 million rookie-scale extension with San Antonio on July 10, 2026, beginning in the 2027-28 season at 25% of the salary cap. Despite qualifying for a 30% supermax escalator worth approximately $303 million total, he declined the higher tier to preserve cap flexibility for the Spurs to build around him. The deal is the largest rookie extension by total value in NBA history, and CBA mechanisms leave open the possibility of a higher-value renegotiation or veteran extension if his elite performance continues.

Argentina, the defending 2022 World Cup champions, face England in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15, with the winner advancing to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 against either France or Spain. Lionel Messi, who arrived at camp with a hamstring strain, has since returned to full group training and scored as a substitute in a pre-tournament friendly, though his exact role for the semifinal has not been confirmed. England captain Harry Kane leads his side into the match with six goals in six games and no reported injury concerns among key personnel.