Hall of Fame baseball manager Bobby Cox, who transformed the Atlanta Braves into a dynasty during the 1990s and led them to their 1995 World Series championship, passed away Saturday at age 84 in Marietta, Georgia, the team announced.
Cox had been battling health issues since suffering a stroke in 2019. The legendary skipper guided the Braves through their most successful era, turning around a franchise that had been struggling in last place when he took control in June 1990.
Just one year later, Cox orchestrated one of baseball’s most remarkable turnarounds, leading Atlanta from worst to first and into the 1991 World Series, where they fell to Minnesota in a thrilling seven-game series. That dramatic season launched an unprecedented run of 14 straight division championships.
During his 25-year tenure with the Braves, Cox became synonymous with the franchise’s success before stepping down following the 2010 season. His contributions to the game were recognized in 2014 when he was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In other sports news, the Cleveland Cavaliers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 116-109 victory over Detroit in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. James Harden delivered when it mattered most, nailing three crucial shots in the final two minutes, while Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points. The win cuts Detroit’s series advantage to 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Monday night in Cleveland.
Harden’s performance was a significant bounce-back after struggling in the previous two games, finishing with 19 points alongside Jarrett Allen’s 18. Mitchell reached a career milestone, becoming the fastest player to score 2,000 postseason points, achieving the feat in just 73 games. Detroit’s Cade Cunningham recorded his second career playoff triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, though he was hurt by eight turnovers.
The WNBA season kicked off with much fanfare as the highly anticipated matchup between Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever and Paige Bueckers’ Dallas Wings drew a sold-out crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. After a 10-month wait to play at home, Clark and the Fever fell just short in a thrilling 107-104 loss to Dallas.
Arike Ogunbowale paced the Wings with 22 points, while Bueckers contributed 20 in the victory. Clark had a chance to force overtime with a deep three-pointer but came up short, finishing with 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and five turnovers. Kelsey Mitchell topped Indiana’s scoring with 30 points, and Aliyah Boston added 23.
In Major League Baseball transactions, the San Francisco Giants have shipped struggling catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for minor league pitcher Matt Wilkinson and the 29th selection in the 2026 draft. Despite winning two Gold Glove awards for his defensive prowess, Bailey’s offensive struggles prompted the move, as he was hitting just .146 with one home run and five RBIs.
The New York Giants began their rookie minicamp under new head coach John Harbaugh, who described the weekend sessions as a rehearsal rather than a competition. Top draft selections Arvell Reese and Francis “Sisi” Mauigoa participated in Saturday’s activities, with Harbaugh emphasizing preparation for upcoming workouts when veterans return.
UCLA’s Megan Grant made college softball history by launching her 38th home run of the season, breaking the Division I single-season record during the Big Ten Championship Game against Nebraska. The senior slugger connected on an 0-2 pitch from Jordy Frahm, sending it deep to left-center for a solo shot that gave UCLA a 2-0 lead in the third inning, though Nebraska ultimately won the conference title 7-2.
The Phoenix Mercury delivered a statement victory in their WNBA season opener, crushing the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 99-66 and spoiling their ring ceremony. Alyssa Thomas led the way with 20 points as Phoenix gained revenge for being swept by Las Vegas in last year’s finals. The 33-point margin represented the Mercury’s largest victory since August and marked the Aces’ most lopsided defeat since early last season.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s NBA draft lottery in Chicago, several teams are positioned to benefit from strategic rebuilding efforts. Washington is guaranteed a top-five selection, while Brooklyn and Utah could be rewarded for enduring historically poor seasons. The lottery will be determined by four ping-pong balls drawn in a secure room, with the resulting combination determining which team earns the coveted first overall pick.
Finally, Shane van Gisbergen celebrated his 37th birthday by capturing the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. The New Zealand driver, who has dominated road course racing with five wins in his last six attempts on road and street circuits, will start ahead of Michael McDowell and Austin Cindric when the green flag drops.
