To assist with your most difficult lineup decisions, you’ll find my Week 3 fantasy football rankings below (scroll to the bottom for complete rankings). Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.

Our team at the USA TODAY Sports Network also has you covered for all your fantasy football needs. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Need to know who the best starts and sits of the week are? We have an article for that. We also have fantasy defense rankings, kicker rankings and a trade value chart to help with all your trade decisions.

Given the volatility of this league and fantasy football in particular, these rankings will be updated up to a half hour before the Sunday afternoon games kick off. Let’s get to it.

Week 3 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Sleepers

• Colts QB Daniel Jones at Titans – Through two weeks, only Lamar Jackson has scored more fantasy points at quarterback than Jones. The Titans project as a tough matchup, but then again, so did the Broncos in Week 2. Jones is in the QB1 conversation in Week 3.
• Bengals QB Jake Browning at Vikings – After taking over for Burrow in Week 12 of the 2023 season, Browning ranked as the QB9 or better in five of his seven starts. The 29-year-old eclipsed 16 fantasy points in each of his final six starts.
• Seahawks QB Sam Darnold vs Saints – Darnold put up a dud in Week 1, but he rebounded in Week 2 with 295 yards and two scores against the Steelers. A home matchup with the Saints makes the veteran a decent streamer in Week 3.

Week 3 fantasy football running back rankings: Sleepers

• Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco at Giants – In 2024, the Giants gave up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing backfields. Seventeen backs totaled double-digit half-PPR points against them, including 10 with at least 15 points. Through two games this season, New York has given up the most fantasy points to runners. Pacheco has gotten off to a brutal start in 2025, but this is a perfect ‘get right’ matchup.
• Giants RB Cam Skattebo vs Chiefs – It didn’t take long for the Giants backfield to undergo a seismic shift. Rookie Cam Skattebo led the way in snaps (35) and touches (14) in Week 2, while running just one fewer route than Tyrone Tracy Jr. Given Tracy’s inefficient start, expect that shift to continue in Week 3 against the Chiefs
• Cardinals RB Trey Benson at 49ers – Week 2 saw Benson and James Conner in a near-even timeshare. While Conner led the way in snaps (30 to 25) and carries (11 to 3), Benson outpaced the veteran in routes (16 to 12) and targets (5 to 1). Conner has been one of the least efficient runners in all of football to start the season, and Benson could continue to chip away at the timeshare in Week 3 against the 49ers.
• Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. vs Raiders – This is for extremely deep leagues only. Prior to suffering a season-ending injury on TNF, Austin Ekeler was dominating the Washington backfield in snaps (36), routes (21) and touches (12). While Jacory Croskey-Merritt should be the primary beneficiary, it’s possible that Rodriguez will get enough touches to be a viable flex play in Week 3.

Week 3 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Sleepers

• Broncos WR Troy Franklin at Chargers – In Week 2, Franklin led all Denver wideouts in snaps (49), routes (28) and targets (9). This came after finishing second in all those categories in Week 1. The 22-year-old has garnered a 23.4% target share to date, which puts him firmly on the fantasy map. Franklin also faced a Chargers secondary that gave up the fourth-most fantasy points to wideouts over the second half last year.
• Browns WR Cedric Tillman vs Packers – Through two weeks, Tillman sits among the league leaders in snaps and routes, and his 15 targets are nothing to sneeze at. His fantasy day in Week was saved by a touchdown that should have been intercepted, but the fact that he’s getting elite usage makes him a viable flex, even in a tough matchup.
• Titans WR Elic Ayomanor vs Colts – Through two games, Ayomanor ranks second among Tennessee receivers in snap share (78%), route rate (75%) and target share (23.6%). Against the Rams in Week 2, he turned his six targets into 56 yards and a score. With the way the Colts offense has played, Tennessee should be forced to throw plenty in Week 3, making Ayomanor a worthwhile dart throw.
• Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson vs Chiefs – Through two weeks, only 14 receivers have generated more targets than Robinson (18). The 24-year-old is tied for seventh among wideouts with 14 receptions, and he ranks sixth in receiving yards. Given that the Giants will likely be in a negative game script against the Chiefs, Robinson is a viable play.

Week 3 fantasy football tight end rankings: Sleepers

• Saints TE Juwan Johnson at Seahawks – Johnson leads all tight ends in targets through two weeks. I’m sure everyone saw that coming. He also happens to be the TE3 in half-PPR points. With Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill still on the PUP list, Johnson is a top-eight play at the position.
• Commanders TE Zach Ertz vs Raiders – While Johnson ranks as the TE3 heading into Week 3, Ertz is a spot ahead at TE2. The veteran, who was the TE5 over the final eight weeks last season, is firmly in the TE1 conversation this week. Ertz will face a Raiders defense that ceded 2.3 more half-PPR points per game to tight ends than any other team in the league over their final 10 games of the 2024 season.
• Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson vs Bengals – Hockenson has gotten off to a brutal start this season, totaling just four receptions for 27 yards through two games, but he could turn that around in Week 3. In 2024, no team allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than the Bengals. In fact, they allowed 11 tight ends to rack up double-digit half-PPR points against them.

Week 3 fantasy football rankings: PPR and non-PPR

Wrestlepalooza 2025 was WWE’s first premium live event to stream on ESPN, as the company’s top shows now call the top sports network home. It needed a bang to start the partnership, and WWE did it with a card full of mega stars.

Near the end of his farewell tour, John Cena went against the returning Brock Lesnar. After she made her stunning return, AJ Lee had her first match in more than 10 years, tagging with CM Punk against rivals Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. Also, the Undisputed WWE Championship was on the line, and a new Women’s World Champion was crowned.

Watch: Wrestlepalooza postshow

Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

No trying to feel the match in this one with an aggressive start from both competitors and several changing swings in momentum. Yet McIntyre looked a step ahead of Rhodes, with the champion looking like he was playing defense after McIntyre got some solid shots in. McIntyre landed an Alabama Slam on the steel steps to rattle Rhodes.

The champion eventually recovered and had his first real offensive rhythm, which including a Cody Cutter. He went for a Cross Rhodes that was quickly foiled by McIntyre, who then turned the tide back in his favor. He wanted a Claymore that Rhodes was able to avoid, and he got out of a second attempt. With McIntyre on the ground, Rhodes locked in the Figure Four. The challenger broke it up and got up to rip out one of the turnbuckles. However, he was soon thrown into it.

McIntyre finally landed the Claymore later on just for Rhodes to kick out of the pin attempt. McIntyre was aiming for a Claymore into the announcer’s table but the referee held him back. He still ended up trying it, only for Rhodes to get out of the way and McIntyre to hurt his leg on the table. Hobbled, McIntyre tried a Claymore but couldn’t get it because his leg gave out.

He went down and Rhodes landed the Super Cody Cutter to set up the Cross Rhodes. It landed and Rhodes got the successful pin to retain his championship.

Analysis: The champion isn’t dropping the gold just yet. All the signs pointed to this being the event Rhodes would drop the title or something stunning would happen, but instead it ended with ‘The American Nightmare’ on top. Now it feels like Rhodes will keep the championship for the remainder of the year and into WrestleMania season. It feels like the clock is ticking on McIntyre to get his hands back on gold, so it will have to happen soon or he’ll get lost back in the shuffle.

This match was kinda funky and nothing really eventful happened, but still a quality performance put on by the two. This could be a rivalry that has a few more matches coming up, and that could be when the title change happens.

The Undertaker appears to surprise Stephanie McMahon

The WWE Hall of Famer comes out on his motorcycle and sits next to Stephanie McMahon to tell her she will be inducted into the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame.

AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins

The mind games were going on for Lynch and Rollins as they baited their opponents early, including a slap from Lynch to Punk to start the match. The champions embraced each other and left themselves open to Punk attacking Rollins outside of the ring. When the referee wasn’t looking, Lynch hit Punk, and then Lee did the same to Rollins a few moments later.

After the frenzied start, the match settled in with Rollins on offense against Punk. He was in full control, taunting Lee while getting some kisses from Lynch in between attacks. Rollins would distract the referee so Lynch could get her own shots on Punk.

There were several failed attempt tag attempts for Punk that were thwarted by Rollins. He eventually got it, but Lynch caught the referee’s attention and didn’t see Lee get tagged in. Rollins and Lynch assaulted Punk and the World Heavyweight Champion tried to launch his wife for a high attack, only for Punk to miss. The window for a tag looked to be wide open, but just as Punk got there, Lynch pulled Lee down to prevent it. Rollins then taunted Lee by skipping around his opponents.

That decision proved costly as Punk surprised Rollins with a GTS. Lynch tried to prevent Punk from tagging in, and Punk blew her a kiss as he finally got Lee in the ring. The returning star smiled before going full crazy on Lynch to turn the tide.

It took Rollins to slow down Lee, but she unleashed the same fury to him and teed off on the couple. Punk then got it to help his wife for a sweet sequence. Lee and Punk mirrored each other in the ring as they brought the fight. Lee was able to executed the Black Widow on Lynch while Punk had Rollins in a sharpshooter. Rollins got out of it and he got Lee off his wife, but Lee used the Black Widow on Rollins.

Lynch recovered and broke up the hold on her husband and the champions landed a synchronized Pedigree to try to finish the match. Lee and Punk both kicked out of pin attempts. They tried to finish the match once more, but it failed. Lee was closing in on a win before Rollins tripped her.

Punk then came in with a stomp to his rival, and was beating him down until Lynch slapped Punk. He confronted Lynch and she was able to get Punk in the sharpshooter. Punk reversed it and Rollins came back in time to land the Pedigree and stomp. Rollins was going to get the pin until Lee stomped Rollins. Then came a Manhandle Slam from Lynch on Lee and that nearly was enough to win.

Lee and Punk soon cleared the announcers’ tables to try and land a huge blow, but it was countered by Lynch throwing Lee into Punk. Lynch threw Lee back in the ring and went for the Manhandle Slam, but Lee caught her in the middle for the Black Widow. Lynch tapped out to get Lee and Punk the victory.

Analysis: Not bad for a 10 year break. It wasn’t the perfect performance, but Lee showed she still definitely has the talent that made her such a beloved star. This match had plenty twists and turns and whether you believe it or not, all of the competitors work so well in the ring together. The entertainment was there from start to finish, exactly what people envisioned when Lee made her triumphant return.

Now that Lee is officially back, she can set her eyes on challenging Lynch for her title. Meanwhile, Punk and Rollins may have to take a brief pause since the World Heavyweight Champion will be occupied with the Undisputed WWE Champion at Crown Jewel.

AJ Lee, CM Punk enter ring together

The best entrance music combination in WWE?

‘Cult of Personality’ plays for Punk before ‘Light it Up’ takes over for Lee.

Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins make epic entrance

The championship marriage comes out in style.

Women’s World Championship match: Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer

A meeting between two of the best wrestlers on the roster started in strict technical fashion, each trying to get an early leg up on each other. There were plenty of smiles and nods to each other before Sky was the first one to get a real offensive rhythm. Vaquer changed the tone when she had Sky’s arm locked on the turnbuckle. Sky countered the momentum with a backbreaker to Vaquer that left both stars laying on the mat.

When both stars got up, Sky was the one rolling and after doing her signature emote, went flying outside of the ring for another shot at her opponent. Sky tried a power bomb on the apron, and Vaquer reversed it for her own leap outside of the ring. The tide kept turning again back in the ring with shots and counters being traded at a quick pace.

Another rapid sequence unfolded and Sky had the Over-the-Moonsault readied, only for Vaquer to get her knees up. Vaquer was taking any chance to target Sky’s right knee and the pain she handed helped her finally get the Devil’s Kiss in. The crowd did it with her and she followed it with a SVB, but Sky kicked out. Vaquer took to the top rope and Sky got up to meet her to execute the Spanish fly.

Sky was started to feel the victory get closer, even exposing her knee for to land more damage. She tried the Over-the-Moonsault again and it didn’t land after Vaquer rolled out. ‘La Primera’ got up the turnbuckle and did her own Spiral Tap off the top. It landed and she got the pin for her first main roster title.

After the match, Vaquer and Sky showed respect to each other as the new champion celebrated.

Analysis: Another amazing match, what else did you expect? Sky and Vaquer are among the best in the business and they showed their excellent chemistry in what could end up being the match of the night. The momentum changed so frequently and allowed both stars to display their top-tier talent.

A case could have been made for either wrestler to win but Vaquer’s sensational rise continues. She’s achieving so many things at an incredible rate and she’s bound to become one of the faces of the company real soon. This championship reign should be fun to watch as ‘La Primera’ is indeed first in the women’s division.

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed)

There was back-and-forth shots traded to start the match, and The Vision tried to see what they could get away with by using a chair. LA Knight didn’t like that and Jimmy Uso took it, and the referee allowed it as Reed took a shot to the back. It didn’t seem to affect The Vision much as they began to tee off against Jimmy Uso, including reciprocating a shot with the chair.

It was a heavy assault from Breakker and Reed, not allowing Jimmy Uso to tag his brother in. After several missed attempts, it finally landed and Jey Uso went to work on Breakker, using his family’s signature moves in the process. The Usos brought tables into the ring as they were riding the momentum, including delivering a 1D to Breakker. The move has brought them plenty of victories, but Reed came in just in time to break up the pin.

Everyone was laid out in the ring when a finisher bonanza happened, lastly with Jey Uso landed a spear on Breakker. He then did an Uso Splash to try and get the win, only for Breakker to kick out. Uso and LA Knight were arguing over the incident and LA Knight nearly got an inadvertent hit with the chair. During this sequence Uso was badly cut and bleeding.

The Usos were caught off guard, allowing The Vision to seize the moment. Breakker speared his opponents through the table and Reed landed a tsunami on Jimmy Uso to capture the big victory for The Vision.

Analysis: Finally, The Vision picks up a much needed victory. The group have been wrecking havoc, but it needed to start winning matches. Now the momentum can keep on going rather than halting and having to start all over again. The Usos brought back some of the great things that made them one of the best tag teams in WWE history, and it showed they definitely should take another crack at a run together.

A funky match, this one wasn’t bad but wasn’t great either. The pacing was a little bit off, and the cut to Uso made it seem like the ending was rushed rather than let it naturally develop.

The Usos come out to old entrance music

Jimmy and Jey Uso are running back for their tag team match, coming out with their old signature entrance song before they change it up to Jey’s song to Yeet.

LA Knight will be a special guest referee

There will be another star in the ring for the tag team match between The Usos and The Vision as LA Knight will be the special guest referee.

John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar

Feeding off Paul Heyman’s electric introduction, Lesnar immediately attacks and gets Cena on the ground. He throws Cena around the ring while gloating to the fans. There’s also an introduction to Suplex City. Cena nearly turned the tide with a sudden Attitude Adjustment, but Lesnar quickly got out and put him back on the mat.

It took time, but Cena is able to land some shoulder shots to get Lesnar down. He delivers three consecutive AAs, yet Lesnar kicks out. Cena then goes for the five-knuckle shuffle but Lesnar gets up to deliver his own signature move, the F5. He executes two and gets Cena up for a third. After standing over Cena, Lesnar delivers a fourth but doesn’t attempt a pin.

Cena got up only for Lesnar to deliver a fifth and sixth F5 in brutal fashion. He finally went for the pin and got the victory.

Lesnar wasn’t done after the bell rang. He delivered an F5 to the referee and another one to Cena before walking away.

Analysis: All of that build for that. This match was heavily hyped by ESPN, but people seem to forgot Lesnar matches haven’t been great in some time. Much like most of his recent bouts, this one was quick and just a finisher bonanza with Lesnar ending up on top.

It’s hard to see how this match sets anything up, especially with such little dates left for Cena. He had been putting on exceptional performances recently, but this one seemed to be a waste.

Paul Heyman joins Brock Lesnar

The advocate is back for Lesnar, as Heyman introduces his longtime friend after the two had a conversation on SmackDown the night before.

John Cena makes entrance with several kids

It’s a party for the 17-time champion as children join Cena in his iconic entrance.

Pat McAfee arrives

The sports media giant makes trip from ‘College GameDay’ in Miami earlier in the day to Indianapolis. McAfee is accompanied by Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton as will be back on commentary.

Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque begins ESPN era

WWE chief content officer takes the microphone to welcome people ‘to the final form of sports and entertainment’ with the company now on ESPN.

When is WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025?

The event takes place Saturday, Sept. 20.

WWE Wrestlepalooza start time 2025

Wrestlepalooza begins at 7 p.m. ET. The Wrestlepalooza preshow begins at 5 p.m. ET.

Where is WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025?

Wrestlepalooza 2025 will be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

How to watch WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025

WWE Wrestlepalooza will stream on ESPN’s streaming service. Viewers can sign up for a subscription to the site here. Subscriptions start at $29.99 a month.

ESPN’s streaming service is available through select cable and TV packages, including:

• DIRECTV
• Fubo TV
• Hulu + Live TV
• Spectrum
• Verizon FiOS

If your cable or TV package includes ESPN, steps to activate it can be found here. The event will also be shown at select movie theaters nationwide.

Internationally, Wrestlepalooza will be available on Netflix in most markets.

Stream WWE Wrestlepalooza on ESPN

WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 preshow: how to watch

The Wrestlepalooza preshow will be available to watch on ESPN and WWE’s social platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 match card

Matches not in order

• John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
• AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins
• The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed)
• Women’s World Championship match: Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer
• Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

What will be first match at Wrestlepalooza?

As announced on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Sept. 18, John Cena and Brock Lesnar will be the opening match of Wrestlepalooza.

What match will close Wrestlepalooza?

The Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre will end the night.

Wrestlepalooza predictions

USA TODAY Sports’ wrestling writers predict what will unfold at Wrestlepalooza. See the full predictions for the entire event here.

John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar

• Jordan Mendoza: John Cena
• Richard Morin: John Cena

AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins

• Jordan Mendoza: AJ Lee and CM Punk
• Richard Morin: AJ Lee and CM Punk

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed)

• Jordan Mendoza: The Vision
• Richard Morin: The Vision

Women’s World Championship match: Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer

• Jordan Mendoza: Stephanie Vaquer
• Richard Morin: Stephanie Vaquer

Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

• Jordan Mendoza: Drew McIntyre
• Richard Morin: Drew McIntyre

WWE moves to ESPN

Wrestlepalooza marks the start of WWE’s new partnership with ESPN, as it will now stream its premium live events on the platform after previously doing so on Peacock.

According to CNBC, the deal is for five years with an average of $325 million per year. All WWE premium live events will air on ESPN. ‘WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fan base that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform,’ said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. ‘This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.’

AJ Lee returns to WWE

It’s time to light it up. 

AJ Lee has made her triumphant return to WWE after she retired from wrestling 10 years ago. Lee made her comeback during the Sept. 5 edition in SmackDown, joining her husband CM Punk in his hometown of Chicago. 

Her return to wrestling is something fans had been hoping and anticipating for years. Known for her unstable persona along with her elite promo skills and signature skip, Lee is considered one of the best wrestlers in the early 2010s. She was consistently at the top of the women’s division and is a three-time Divas Champion, tied for the most reigns in what was once the top women’s title. She retired in 2015.

John Cena farewell tour reaching end

Time is almost up for Cena as his 2025 farewell tour is in its final months. In his last year of in-ring competition, Cena has won the Elimination Chamber and the Undisputed WWE Championship, becoming the first 17-time title holder in WWE history.

Wrestlepalooza will mark the 31st appearance of 2025, and with 36 promised in his final year of wrestling, there are only five shows left for Cena after the show. His career will culminate with Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13.

His next appearance won’t be until Oct. 11 for WWE Crown Jewel: Perth. Here are the rest of the dates of his final run:

• Oct. 11: WWE Crown Jewel: Perth (Perth, Australia)
• Nov. 10: Raw (Boston, Massachusetts)
• Nov. 17: Raw (New York City, New York
• Nov. 29: Survivor Series (San Diego, California)
• Dec. 13: Retirement Match at Saturday’s Night Main Event (Location TBD)

Vacant Women’s World Championship to be awarded

A new Women’s World Champion will be crowned after Naomi vacated the title due to her pregnancy. She was set to face Vaquer at Clash in Paris but she dropped the championship prior to the event.

Vaquer, who won a title opportunity at Evolution, was still given her chance, and she’ll face Sky, who was the champion before Naomi won it by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

The chase for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship is down to 12 drivers following the first elimination race last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway to conclude the first round.

Joe Gibbs Racing drivers swept the three races of the Round of 16, with Chase Briscoe winning the playoff opener at Darlington Raceway, Denny Hamlin earning the victory at World Wide Technology Raceway and Christopher Bell taking the checkered flag at Bristol.

The three-race Round of 12 begins Sunday, Sept. 21 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, then moves to Kansas Speedway on Sept. 28 before concluding with another elimination race on Oct. 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the part oval/part road course Roval.

New Hampshire is hosting a playoff race for the first time since 2017 and just the fourth time since the current playoff format was enacted in 2014. Bell has won two of the past three races at the track, though recent races were held during warmer weather in June or July.

The playoff standings were reset to kick off the second round at New Hampshire, with Hamlin holding the top position (3,024 points). He has a two-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron and Kyle Larson, with Bell six points back in fourth and Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney rounding out the top five, seven points behind.

Here is all the information you need to get ready for the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

What time does the NASCAR playoff race at New Hampshire start?

The Mobil 1 301 is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 21 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.

What TV channel is the NASCAR playoff race at New Hampshire on?

The Mobil 1 301 will be broadcast on USA Network. Pre-race coverage will start at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR playoff race at New Hampshire?

Yes, the Mobil 1 301 will be streamed on Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV and Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream all NASCAR Cup Series playoff races on Fubo

How many laps is the NASCAR playoff race at New Hampshire?

The Mobil 1 301 is 301 laps around the 1.058-mile track for a total of 318.46 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 70 laps; Stage 2: 115 laps; Stage 3: 116 laps.

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at New Hampshire?

Christopher Bell led 149 of 305 laps, including the final 64, of the USA TODAY 301 on June 23, 2024. Bell outlasted the rain, darkness, repeated cautions and the rest of the field before pulling away from Chase Briscoe by 1.104 seconds following an overtime restart.

Two years ago, on July 17, 2023, Martin Truex Jr. earned his 34th and final win of his Cup Series career with a dominating performance in the Crayon 301. Truex led 254 laps, including the final 24, before edging Joey Logano by 0.396 seconds

What are the NASCAR playoff standings entering New Hampshire?

1. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, 3,034 points
2. William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, 3,032
3. Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, 3,032
4. Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, 3,028
5. Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, 3,028
6. Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing, 3,018
7. Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, 3,013
8. Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, 3,009
9. Austin Cindric, Team Penske, 3,008
10. Joey Logano, Team Penske, 3,007
11. Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing, 3,007
12. Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, 3,006

What is the lineup for the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire?

Here is the lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (car number in parentheses; P=playoff driver):

1. (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford
2. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford
3. (21) Josh Berry, Ford
4. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota
5. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet
6. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
7. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
8. (1) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet
9. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota
10. (88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
11. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
12. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
13. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
14. (23) Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota
15. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
16. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet
17. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
18. (19) Chase Briscoe (P), Toyota
19. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota
20. (38) Zane Smith, Ford
21. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
22. (2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford
23. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford
24. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
25. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
26. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
27. (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet
28. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
29. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
30. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
31. (41) Cole Custer, Ford
32. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
33. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford
34. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
35. (51) Cody Ware, Ford
36. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford

• Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout hit the 400th home run of his career on Sept. 20.
• Trout’s big moment also became a memorable moment for the fan who caught the 485-foot drive into center field at Denver’s Coors Field.
• The fan, who was at the game with his wife and two children, received some signed bats and also requested that he and Trout play catch. Trout obliged.

Trout’s big moment also became a memorable moment for the fan who caught the 485-foot drive into center field against the Colorado Rockies at Denver’s Coors Field.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing what it will take,’ Trout said after the 3-0 victory about getting back the milestone ball. ‘Hopefully, I can get it for my family and my collection. My boys are probably fired up back home.’

Trout obliged.

Mike Trout hits 400th career home run

The Angels star hit the milestone home run in the eighth inning and became the 59th MLB player to reach 400.

He has hit 200 home runs at home and 200 on the road.

It was the 22nd home run of the season — and first in eight games — for the three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star, who has played all of his 1,642 career games with the Angels.

‘A lot of my buddies back home and family members and a lot of people texted me, ‘Hey when are you going to hit this homer?’ I’m glad I got it out of the way,’ he said.

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PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury have claimed the final spot in the semifinals of the 2025 WNBA playoffs.

The No. 4 seed Mercury defeated the No. 5 seed New York Liberty, 79-73, in Game 3 on Friday at PHX Arena, ending the defending champions dreams of repeating. With the win, the Mercury advance to the semifinals for the first time since their 2021 WNBA Finals run and will face the No. 1 overall seed Minnesota Lynx.

Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas recorded her ninth triple-double of the season and fifth in the playoffs with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Thomas, who was named one of five WNBA MVP finalists earlier Friday, stepped to the free throw line with 17.6 seconds remaining as the arena erupted in ‘MVP’ chants. Thomas made one of two to effectively ice the game.

‘We aren’t ready for this to be over,’ Thomas said postgame. ‘We got a special group, we want to keep playing. Tonight was just about coming in here and taking this win.’

Mercury forward Satou Sabally recorded a double-double with a team-high 23 points, 12 rebounds and three assists and guard Kahleah Copper added 12 points and nine rebounds. The Mercury improve to 15-0 this season when their Big 3 scores 10 or more points each.

Liberty forward Breanna Stewart finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Guard Sabrina Ionescu was held scoreless in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 points in the loss.

Liberty vs. Mercury highlights

Jonquel Jones in foul trouble

Liberty center Jonquel Jones picked her fifth personal foul while jockeying for position with Mercury guard DeWanna Bonner with 6:40 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Mercury led 65-64. Jones was immediately subbed out. Breanna Stewart is up to four fouls, while Phoenix’s Bonner has five fouls.

End of Q3: Mercury 60, Liberty 59

The Mercury have a one-point advantage over the Liberty heading into the fourth quarter. Phoenix’s first semifinal appearance since the team’s Finals run in 2021 is on the line.

Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu started to heat up in the third quarter, scoring eight of her 22 points. New York forward Breanna Stewart added 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Mercury forwarded Satou Sabally has a team-high 18 points and is one rebound away from recording a double-double. Forward Alyssa Thomas is closing in on a triple-double with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. The Mercury are controlling the boards (39-23), but must take better care of the ball. Eleven Mercury turnovers has led to 16 points for the Liberty.

Halftime: Mercury 45, Liberty 41

The Mercury led by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, but the Liberty went on a 10-2 run in the closing minutes of the half to come within one point. Kahleah Cooper answered back with a 3-pointer to stretch Phoenix’s lead back to four points at halftime, 45-41.

Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (12 points, five rebounds and four assists), forward Satou Sabally (14 points, six rebounds and three assists) and guard Kahleah Copper (10 points and five rebounds) have each reached double-digit scoring. The Mercury are 14-0 this season when their Big 3 scores 10 or more points each.

Phoenix has 28 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds, compared to 15 for the Liberty.

New York forward Breanna Stewart has 14 points and three rebounds and passed Tamika Catching (352) for sixth place on the all-time playoff field goals list. Teammate Sabrina Ionescu is up to 14 points (6-of-10 FG, 2-of-5 3PT).

Several players are in foul trouble on both teams. Liberty guard Natasha Cloud and Mercury guard DeWanna Bonner each have three fouls.

End of Q1: Mercury 22, Liberty 15

The Mercury have a seven-point lead over the Liberty heading into the second quarter. Neither team has got off to the best start offensively, with the Mercury shooting 27.8% from the field and 2-of-6 from the 3-point line, compared to 33.3% from the field and 3-of-9 from 3 for the Liberty.

Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas has a team-high six points and two assists, while Satou Sabally added five points and three rebounds. Sami Whitcomb is up to four points and one steal off the bench.

Liberty forward Breanna Stewart opened 2-of-2 from the 3-point line, but she picked up two fouls in the first quarter. Guard Natasha Cloud added three points and Sabrina Ionescu has two (1-of-3 FG, 0-of-2 3PT).

The Mercury are controlling the boards early, outrebounding the Liberty 14-7 (including two offensive rebounds). Phoenix has made 10-of-10 free throws, while New York missed its two free throws attempts.

Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich goes down early

Both teams appeared to have some nerves to start, with the opening minute of Game 3 featuring turnovers by both teams. The Liberty got on the board first with a 3-pointer from Breanna Stewart, but the injury bug appeared to strike again. Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich took a knee to the abdomen area when Mercury guard Kahleah Copper went up for a layup with 8:47 remaining in the first quarter. Fiebich’s teammates surrounded her with towels. Eventually she was helped to her feet and gingerly walked to the bench.

What time is New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury?

The Phoenix Mercury host the New York Liberty in the decisive Game 3 on Friday, Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. ET at PHX Arena in Phoenix. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

How to watch New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury: TV, stream

• Time: 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT)
• Location: PHX Arena (Phoenix, Arizona)
• TV channel: ESPN2
• Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

New York Liberty starting lineup

Head coach: Sandy Brondello

• 9 Natasha Cloud | G 5′ 10′ – St. Joseph’s
• 13 Leonie Fiebich | F 6′ 4′ – Germany
• 20 Sabrina Ionescu | G 5′ 11′ – Oregon
• 30 Breanna Stewart | F 6′ 4′ – UConn
• 35 Jonquel Jones | C 6′ 6′ – George Washington

Phoenix Mercury starting lineup

Head coach: Nate Tibbetts

• 0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
• 2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
• 4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
• 8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
• 25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland

Phoenix Mercury injury report

The Mercury will have all of their players available for Game 3.

WNBA MVP finalists 2025

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson are finalists for the 2025 WNBA MVP award. The winner will be announced on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas stats

Thomas averaged 15.4 points, a league-leading 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 39 games (all starts) this season. The 33-year-old recorded eight triple-doubles this season, a WNBA single-season record. Thomas, who was traded to the Mercury in February following 11 seasons in Connecticut, nearly reached a triple-double in Phoenix’s Game 1 loss, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Thomas had 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds in Game 2.

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu stats

Ionescu averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 38 games (all starts) this season, shooting 40.1% from the field and a career-low 29.9% from the 3-point line. Ionescu had 16 points, seven assists and two blocks in Game 1, shooting 6-of-18 from the field and 3-of-12 from beyond the arc. She had nine points in Game 2, shooting 3-of-13 from the field, 1-of-8 from the 3-point line and 2-of-6 from the free throw line.

2025 WNBA Finals schedule

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