It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … Violet the raven.

The Golden State Valkyries unveiled (or should we say unhatched) their new mascot on Birdwatchers Night at Chase Center during Monday night’s game against the Connecticut Sun. Violet confidently strutted onto the court in front of a sold-out crowd at halftime to ‘Best Friend’ by Bay-area artist Saweetie.

Violet donned a white and black cheerleader outfit that featured the Valkyries’ logo on the front and her name on the back as she executed a perfect cartwheel to much applause. Violet’s outfit was complete with a pair of yellow glasses, striped socks and a pair of white sneakers.

‘heyyyyy besties,’ Violet wrote on her new social media account.

WHAT IS A VALKYRIE? Everything to know about Golden State Valkyries WNBA expansion team

Violet just so happens to be named after the team’s official color, Valkyrie Violet, which ‘symbolizes power, ambition, nobility, and women’s empowerment, much like purple has been used symbolically in modern history,’ the team previously announced.

‘Something’s hatching’

Golden State hinted at Violet’s arrival and dropped Easter Eggs leading up to Monday’s announcement on Birdwatchers Night. A mysterious violet egg was first spotted outside of the Chase Center on Aug. 7 and a wildlife expert hired by the team predicted there’s a ‘bird species’ inside. Violet feathers also turned up near the egg.

‘I got called by the Valkyries to come and take a look at this big egg that showed up on campus. It’s a violet color which we don’t usually see and it’s got very bright gold speckles on it,’ wildlife management expert Kenny Elvin said in a video shared on social media. ‘It’s far larger than anything else that I’ve seen before. …

‘There are violet feathers. I don’t know any birds that are quite that color. We’ll see as it evolves. This egg could hatch very soon.’

Elvin was on to something. The Valkyries brought the egg inside Chase Center for closer inspection and even built a nest for the egg to feel at home. Each fan in attendance for the Valkyries’ matchup against the Connecticut Sun even received a pair of Valkyries Binoculars to spot the egg’s hatching.

Leading up to tipoff on Monday, the Valkyries released a video showing the mysterious violet feathers all over Chase Center as forward Monique Billings warmed up, another clue hinting at Violet’s color and origin.

Violet is sure to have a cult following. The Valkyries, the league’s first expansion team since 2008, have sold out every game at Chase Center this season.

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NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch, who broke his collarbone while celebrating his Xfinity Series victory at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, Aug. 9, is “grateful to be walking,” after his scary fall.

The 19-year-old driver had taken the checkered flag in Saturday’s race at the New York road course and was climbing out through the window to celebrate on the roof his car when one foot got caught in the window netting. Zilisch stumbled then took a hard fall to the pavement.

“The last thing I remember is thinking, I don’t know why, but I thought I was going to break my femur,” Zilisch said Monday, Aug. 11, on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. ‘My leg was stuck. I thought I was going to get caught in the headrest and just, I thought I was done.”

Zilisch blacked out momentarily before on-track medical personnel rushed to his aid and whisked him away in an ambulance.

On the podcast, Zilisch revealed the first things he remembered saying to the medical personnel when he came to before they put him on stretcher with a neck brace.

“I was talking to the medics like, ‘I’m good. I’m good. My shoulder hurts a little but that’s it,’” he recalled. “I was like, ‘Why am I on a stretcher right now? I feel fine.’ I didn’t realize what had happened.”

Zilisch was back at Watkins Glen the next day for the NASCAR Cup Series, though only as a spectator. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the car they planned to have him drive in Sunday’s race, which was eventually won by Trackhouse driver Shane Van Gisbergen.

Speaking to NBC Sports reporter Marty Snider during the Cup race, Zilisch expressed his relief and appreciation.

“So, glad it wasn’t any worse, and the collar bone was the extent of the injuries,’ he said. … Hopefully, my young bones will heal fast, and I’ll be able to get back in it as soon as possible.”

What’s next for NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch

Zilisch said surgery might be his best option for a quick return to racing, and he has a window because the Xfinity Series is off Aug. 15-16, while both the Craftsman Truck and Cup series race at Richmond Raceway that weekend.

Zilisch, who drives in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports – the team co-owned by siblings Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller – won his sixth race of the season at Watkins Glen and is likely to be one of the favorites for the 2025 Xfinity Series championship. But the first thing on the agenda is healing and recovery.

“I think it might be something that I might have to get surgery for. But in this case, I think surgery is something that speeds up the process, so you can get plates and screws and get it reconstructed back together,’ Zilisch said Monday on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.

“Shane [van Gisbergen] talked about it. He had an injury in 2021 and broke his collarbone — he had plates, screws, everything done and he was racing back the next weekend. Thankfully, the collarbone is a relatively quick bone to fix and heal.”

The Xfinity Series returns to racing on Aug. 22 at Daytona International Speedway, a track known for big crashes. Zilisch is the Xfinity points leader and has already missed one race this season due to a back injury.

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback has been sidelined for the entirety of training camp thus far with a back injury. Stafford received an epidural to relieve the pain from an aggravated disc in his back, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Aug. 6.

Stafford went through a workout on Saturday, throwing 60 passes without limitations. Head coach Sean McVay was optimistic about the 37-year-old quarterback, revealing the team planned to have him in training camp practice on Monday.

That was short-lived, however, as Stafford appeared at practice in street clothes.

McVay said, via the team’s website, that Stafford ‘didn’t feel good enough’ to participate, adding that they would take a cautious approach.

The Rams coach said that Stafford ‘had a great workout’ and ‘felt good’ on Saturday, ‘but then you come into today (Monday), it doesn’t feel great, and so didn’t think it was the right decision to be able to push him.’

With the Rams’ season opener less than a month away, the clock is ticking on Stafford’s ability to be ready in time for Week 1 – even if the veteran figures to require less practice at this stage of his career.

McVay continued to emphasize the importance of being smart in their approach to the injury, stating that they’ll continue to take it one day at a time.

‘More than anything, I feel for a guy that I really care about that wants to be out there more than anything else,’ McVay said. ‘We’re going to be smart. But he didn’t feel good enough, and we didn’t think it was the right thing to do based on how he woke up feeling today.’

As for the possibility of surgery, McVay said that wasn’t a conversation they’ve had, adding that it hasn’t come up. He was also non-committal about Stafford’s status if there was a regular season game this week, saying he didn’t know if the quarterback could play, but added, ‘I think he still probably would be able to play just based on how he feels.’

There are still a few weeks to sort everything out, but for now, it’s Jimmy Garoppolo who continues to get the first-team reps in practice.

As for the Rams, they’ll want Stafford atop the depth chart when they battle the Houston Texans in Week 1. Based on McVay’s comments, however, don’t expect L.A. to rush him back.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and his agent are being sued by a Hawaii real estate investor and a broker, alleging that both men got them terminated from a $240 million housing development on Hawaii’s Hapuna Coast that they brought him in to endorse.

The lawsuit was filed in Hawaii Circuit Court on Aug. 8 and obtained by USA TODAY Sports. It says that Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, wanted assurances from Kevin J. Hayes Sr. — a developer who has been in business for 40 years — and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto before they demanded their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a company based in Las Vegas, remove both from the real estate deal.

Ohtani is referred to in the lawsuit, in which some portions are redacted, as ‘Otani.’ The developers say in the lawsuit that they spent more than a decade trying to work on the deal before signing Ohtani to an endorsement deal in 2023.

‘This case is about abuse of power. Defendants used threats and baseless legal claims to force a business partner to betray its contractual obligations and strip Plaintiffs of the very project they conceived and built. Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity,’ the lawsuit says. “Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity. Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants’ misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all — celebrity or not.”

Ohtani and Balelo are accused in the lawsuit of ‘tortious interference and unjust enrichment, who used their ‘celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs’ role in the project’ and attempted to sabotage a second business venture.

Ohtani is listed in a 2024 press release for the Vista at Mauna Kea Resort project, aimed at appealing to Japanese and U.S. high-end buyers, that says he will be the first resident on the property. ‘To me, Hawaii is a beautiful blend of Pacific Ocean cultures,’ Ohtani says in the release. ‘Here, I found my own paradise at Mauna Kea Resort: Two perfect beaches, two amazing golf courses, and so much more. I selected my homesite and am building my winter home here. This is a special place – a place I will soon call home.’

Ohtani is in his second season with the Dodgers, after signing a 10-year, $700-million contract, helping Los Angeles win the World Series last year. He is a five-time All-Star and three-time Most Valuable Player, who is hitting .284 with 42 home runs and 78 RBI for the NL West leaders in 2025.

The Little League Softball World Series concluded today with Indiana and Pennsylvania competing for the title in Greenville, North Carolina.

Pennsylvania made its first championship game appearance since 2018, and the West Suburban LL squad from Johnstown did not disappoint.

Johnstown, representing the Mid-Atlantic region, recorded four consecutive shutout wins to end the tournament and capture the 2025 LLSWS championship over Floyds Knobs, Indiana, which was representing the Central region.

The victory marks the first Little League Softball World Series title for a team from Pennsylvania since 1978.

Reagan Bills was once again the star of the show for Johnstown, pitching yet another complete game shutout en route to a 1-0 victory. Bills also drove in the only run of the contest, proving vital on both sides of home plate.

Both teams earned semifinal victories on Saturday, Aug. 9 to advance to the title game.

In the consolation game earlier Sunday, the Southwest region team from Tulsa, Oklahoma edged Pitt County, North Carolina, representing the host region, 3-2 to claim third place.

USA TODAY Sports had full coverage of Sunday’s championship game. Scroll below for all the highlights, plus scores from every game of the tournament.

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 8 scores

Third-place game: Tulsa, Oklahoma (Southwest) 3, Pitt County (North Carolina) 2

Championship game: Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) 1, Floyds Knobs, Indiana (Central) 0

Pennsylvania wins 2025 LLSWS: Pennsylvania 1, Indiana 0

Five games. This softball team from Johnstown, Pennsylvania played five games. Through those five games, Reagan Bills and Pennsylvania pitching surrendered just one run. They ended the tournament with four straight shutouts, including 1-0 victories in two of their last three games.

Bills was certainly the standout of the tournament, and the MVP of this championship game. Not only did she pitch yet another complete game shutout, but she drove in the only run of the game. Bills was dominant from the start of the game to the very end, only ever really running into trouble once, when Indiana loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning.

Bills ended the game with two strikeouts in the sixth, tossing over 100 pitches in the victory. It was a worthwhile effort, because for the first time in nearly half a century, the Little League Softball World Series title belongs to the state of Pennsylvania!

Bills denies Indiana their best chance

Facing a 1-0 deficit and only six outs to work with, Pennsylvania’s Reagan Bills, the star of the tournament came up clutch in the most clutch moment possible. With the bases loaded and two outs, Bills got the batter to line out right back to her, ending the inning. Her teammates were exhilarated, jumping in the air. They head to the dugout looking to extend their lead. The team from Johnstown is just three outs away from earning their state its first LLSWS title since 1978.

Pennsylvania strikes first!

Reagan Bills isn’t just doing it from the circle. Bills is helping her team’s cause on both ends, driving in the first run of the game on a single back up the middle. While it looked for a moment like the runner would get thrown out at home, the ball got past the Indiana catcher, allowing both Bills and the other runner to reach scoring position with only one out.

Adalyn Hines now steps up to the plate with the lead and a chance to make it even bigger. Pennsylvania leads 1-0.

Mercer would get out of the inning without any further damage. But the minimal damage that was done could be all Pennsylvania needs to win.

Leadoff triple called back in controversial moment

In a scoreless affair, a leadoff triple from Indiana’s Sawyer Abel looked to be the breakthrough one of these teams needed to gain momentum. However, a controversial call from the home plate umpire, labeling Abel out of the box at the moment of impact not only called the triple back, but labeled Abel out.

The video showed that Abel’s left foot was indeed out of the batter’s box, but it was still a devastating call against Indiana, which has been dying for any momentum against Reagan Bills. To make matters worse, Scarlett Renn would reach base on an error one batter later, meaning Abel would’ve almost certainly scored. It remains 0-0.

Indiana starting to find holes

Reagan Bills may be tough, but she’s not untouchable. The top of the second saw Indiana get two runners on base including a single that was arguably the hardest hit ball against Bills all tournament. Though the game remains scoreless, Indiana may have found an advantage. Pennsylvania has leaned heavily on Bills all tournament. While Indiana has leaned similarly on Riley Mercer, Pennsylvania is much more reliant, meaning if Indiana can push Bills out of the game, they may have their win condition.

Reagan Bills goes three-up, three-down to start championship game

Pennsylania’s Reagan Bills has been arguably the best pitcher in the tournament all weekend. She’s allowed zero earned runs throughout the weekend, and has been a strikeout machine. In this first inning, strikeouts were not the answer. Bills recorded the first out on just one pitch after Indiana’s Scarlett Renn tried to bunt on. Just two pitches later, a flyout to center. Only then did Bills record her first strikeout, to end the inning. We head to the bottom of the first in a scoreless affair.

Indiana, Pennsylvania history in LLSWS title games

A team from Indiana has never won the Little League Softball World Series championship. Despite the tournament beginning in 1974, no team from Indiana has even reached the championship until now. On the other side, no team from Pennsylvania has won the championship since Shippensburg, Pennsylvania won the tournament in 1978.

FINAL: Oklahoma 3, North Carolina 2

Oklahoma’s Harmoneigh White did it all. Pitching, hitting and defense. She threw a 91-pitch complete game (61 strikes) allowing just three hits, two walks and two runs while striking out five batters. At the plate, she went 1-for-2 with an RBI-double in the bottom of the first inning, which proved to be the winning play. In the field, she recorded the final out of the game on a pop up to herself. North Carolina’s Emily Mills held her own on the mound (five innings, two hits, three runs, two strikeouts) as her team tried a comeback in the consolation game.

North Carolina gets a huge defensive stop by Abby Pohlplatz

With the bases loaded with one out, Pohlpltaz snags a liner to third base and them immediately dives to tag the runner caught a little too much off third base for the double play. Pitcher Emily Mills gets a fly out to end the inning and another threat. After five innings, Oklahoma leads 3-2 over North Carolina.

North Carolina gets another base runner but can’t cut into deficit more

Avery Cash’s two-out walk got didn’t produce another base runner or another run and Oklahoma still holds a 3-2 lead over North Carolina after the top of the fifth inning.

Oklahoma goes three up, three down vs North Carolina’s Emily Mills

The changeup seems to be the pitch that is working for Mills as she get her third strikeout of the game to go along with two ground outs. Oklahoma leads 3-2 after four innings.

North Carolina starts to heat up

North Carolina Caroline Reynolds gets a one-out single and then an error puts runners at first and second. Kenzie Brown then records the biggest hit of the day for North Carolina with a two-run double. Oklahoma’s Harmoneigh White ended the threat with a strikeout and a pop out. After top of fourth inning, Oklahoma leads 3-2.

Oklahoma gets a runner in scoring position but can’t add to lead

A leadoff walk and a fielding error got runners to first and second with one out. But North Carolina’s Emily Mills works out of another jam with two consecutive groundouts. We have played three full innings, still 3-0 Oklahoma.

North Carolina strands two runners

North Carolina had something cooking with a one-out walk from Avery Cash and then a bloop single to right field by Abby Pohlplatz. But an outstanding catch by Oklahoma catcher Palmer Miner on an excuse-me swing and a ground out ended the threat. 3-0 Oklahoma after top of third inning.

North Carolina’s Emily Mills getting into a groove

Mills strikes out the first and second batter of the inning and then gets a great defensive stop at third base for the ground out. Mills up to 37 pitches but Oklahoma still leads 3-0 after bottom of the second inning.

Oklahoma’s Harmoneigh White picks up several strikeouts

White struck out two of the three batters she faced in the top of the second inning and has only 32 pitches so far in the game. Still, 3-0 Oklahoma

Oklahoma with a burst of offense

Oklahoma’s Palmer Miner had a two-run double on the 17th pitch from North Carolina’s Emily Mills and then Harmoneigh White added a near home run. The ball landed just in front of the 200-foot sign down the left field line and she settled for an RBI-double. 3-0 lead for Oklahoma after first inning.

North Carolina goes down 1-2-3 vs Oklahoma’s Harmoneigh White

White needed only 12 pitches to get two ground outs and a pop out in the top of the first inning.

It’s Oklahoma vs North Carolina in the LLSWS consolation game

The final day of the Little League Softball World Series will start with the consolation third place game between Oklahoma (Tulsa National Little League) and North Carolina (Pitt County Girls Softball Little League).

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 7 results

Saturday, Aug. 9

All times Eastern

Orange bracket championship

• Game 19: Floyds Knobs, Indiana (Central) 2, Pitt County (North Carolina) 0

Purple bracket championship

• Game 20: Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) 4, Tulsa, Oklahoma (Southwest) 0

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 6 results

Friday, Aug. 8

• Game 17: Tulsa, Oklahoma (Southwest) 3, Lake Mary, Florida (Southeast) 1
• Game 18: Floyds Knobs, Indiana (Central) 1, Iwate, Japan (Asia-Pacific) 0

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 5 results

Thursday, Aug. 7

• Game 15: Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) 1, Tulsa, Oklahoma (Southwest) 0
• Game 16: Pitt County (North Carolina) 3, Iwate, Japan (Asia-Pacific) 2

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 4 results

Wednesday, Aug. 6

• Game 13: Floyds Knobs, Indiana (Central) 2, São Paulo, Brazil (Latin America) 0
• Game 14: Lake Mary, Florida (Southeast) 5, Mill Creek, Washington (Northwest) 3

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 3 results

Tuesday, Aug. 5

• Game 9: Mill Creek, Washington (Northwest) 10, Westchester-Del Rey Los Angeles (West) 0
• Game 10: São Paulo, Brazil (Latin America) 10, vs. Repentigny, Quebec (Canada) 1
• Game 11: Floyds Knobs, Indiana (Central) 4, Prague, Czechia (Europe-Africa) 1
• Game 12: Lake Mary, Florida (Southeast) 9, Guilford, Connecticut (New England) 0

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 2 results

Monday, Aug. 4

• Game 5: Pitt County (North Carolina) 5, Floyds Knobs, Indiana (Central) 3
• Game 6: Tulsa, Oklahoma (Southwest) 2, Lake Mary, Florida (Southeast) 1
• Game 7: Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) 9, Westchester-Del Rey Los Angeles (West) 0
• Game 8: Iwate, Japan (Asia-Pacific) 6, Repentigny, Quebec (Canada) 1

2025 Little League Softball World Series Day 1 results

Sunday, Aug. 3

• Game 1: Lake Mary, Florida (Southeast) 9, Mill Creek, Washington (Northwest) 2
• Game 2: Pitt County (North Carolina) 4, São Paulo, Brazil (Latin America) 3
• Game 3: Repentigny, Quebec 5 (Canada), Prague, Czechia (Europe-Africa) 4
• Game 4: Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) 2, Guilford, Connecticut (New England) 1

How to watch 2025 Little League Softball World Series

The 2025 Little League Softball World Series will be broadcast on ESPN platforms, with the championship game airing on ABC. Games will also be available to stream on ESPN+.

• Dates: Aug. 10
• Times: Consolation game (noon); Championship game (3 p.m. ET)
• TV: ESPN (consolation game) | ABC (Championship game)
• Stream: ESPN+ (championship game), Fubo
• Location: Greenville, North Carolina

Stream the Little League Softball World Series on ESPN+

The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are nearly upon us, with just two races remaining in the 2025 regular season following Shane van Gisbergen’s win at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, Aug. 10.

Van Gisbergen collected his fourth win of 2025 to tie Denny Hamlin for the most victories this season.

Sixteen drivers will compete in the 10-race playoffs, and only three berths remain available, with 13 drivers already locked into the postseason. Drivers clinch automatic spots in the playoffs with a victory in any regular-season race (not including The Clash and All-Star race) if there are not more than 16 different winners in a season – which there won’t be this year.

If a winless driver takes the checkered flag at either of the next two races – at Richmond Raceway and Daytona International Speedway – he will gain entry to the playoffs. If not, the remaining spots will be allocated to the winless drivers with the most points this season.

Winless drivers currently above the cut line will have to weigh – along with their crew chiefs and owners – whether to prioritize points in the final two regular-season races to maintain their position in the standings or race for the win. For those below the cut line, Richmond and Daytona will be must-win situations.

Here’s a look at the top 20 drivers in the standings following Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen ranked by playoff seeding as of now:

NASCAR driver standings — Projected 2025 playoffs

A look at the top 20 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, ranked by projected playoff seeding with two races remaining in regular season.

Includes rank, driver, wins (playoff points in parentheses), regular-season points, and points above or below 16-driver cut line, where applicable:

1. Denny Hamlin….. 4 (24) ….. 731
2. Shane Van Gisbergen….. 4 (22) ….. 441
3. Christopher Bell….. 3 (17) ….. 727
4. Kyle Larson….. 3 (23) ….. 727
5. William Byron….. 2 (17) ….. 812
6. Chase Elliott….. 1 (6) ….. 770
7. Ryan Blaney….. 1 (11) ….. 710
8. Chase Briscoe….. 1 (7) ….. 674
9. Bubba Wallace….. 1 (7) ….. 610
10. Joey Logano….. 1 (7) ….. 583
11. Ross Chastain….. 1 (6) ….. 571
12. Austin Cindric….. 1 (8) ….. 502
13. Josh Berry….. 1 (6) ….. 445
14. Tyler Reddick….. 0 (1) ….. 701 ….. +117
15. Alex Bowman….. 0 (0) ….. 644 ….. +60
16. Chris Buescher….. 0 (-3) ….. 618 ….. +34
17. Ryan Preece….. 0 (2) ….. 584 ….. -34
18. Kyle Busch….. 0 (0) ….. 516 ….. -102
19. Ty Gibbs….. 0 (0) ….. 493 ….. -125
20. AJ Allmendinger….. 0 (0) ….. 489 ….. -129

Upcoming NASCAR Cup Series races

Here are the final two races in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season. You can stream both races on Fubo, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch NASCAR Cup races on Fubo

At Richmond Raceway

• Race: Cook Out 400
• Date: Saturday, Aug. 16
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Richmond, Virigina
• TV channel: USA Network
• Streaming: HBO Max and Fubo

At Daytona International Speedway

• Race: Coke Zero Sugar 400
• Date: Saturday, Aug. 23
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
• TV channel: NBC
• Streaming: HBO Max and Fubo

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Alex Palou put to bed what can only be deemed one of the most dominant championship performances the IndyCar Series has ever seen, capturing his fourth career season championship with two races still left to contest before the 2025 season is complete.

Will Power, the 44-year-old veteran whose future with Team Penske is uncertain, won the Bitnile.com Grand Prix of Portland by 1.6 seconds over Christian Lundgaard. Power earned his 45th career win and first since last year’s Portland race.

By virtue of his third-place finish at Portland International Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 10, Palou increased his cushion over Pato O’Ward to 151 points.

O’Ward entered the weekend as Palou’s only mathematical challenger started on the pole but had a power failure after the restart on Lap 21 causing him to go eight laps down. With only a maximum of 108 points to be earned over the final two race weekends at the Milwaukee Mile (Aug. 23-24) and Nashville Superspeedway (Aug. 30-31), O’Ward no longer holds any chance to pull off what for weeks would’ve been maybe the most miraculous championship comeback the sport had seen.

A title fight the 26-year-old Mexican driver has frequently deemed ‘over’recently, always accompanied with a chuckle, is now formally so, with Palou going wire to wire for his fourth IndyCar title in five seasons, all since joining Chip Ganassi Racing for the start of the 2021 IndyCar campaign off the back of a 2020 rookie season that even days ahead of signing with CGR had left him uncertain if his career in IndyCar would last beyond a single season.

The 28-year-old Spaniard won that 2021 season opener and was off to the races, like he was this season.

Unlike that debut campaign with Ganassi, or any major American open-wheel season of any kind since A.J. Foyt’s in 1979, Palou would go on to win five of the first six races of the season, a feat matched only three times in the sport’s history (Foyt in 1964 and ’79, and Al Unser Sr. in 1971). And in only one of those spectacular seasons, Foyt’s 1964 campaign, did one of those drivers ride their early hot streak to not only an Indianapolis 500 victory as well as a championship, as Palou has now done. It’s the first time in 15 years (Dario Franchitti, 2010) that a driver has paired a championship with a chance to kiss the bricks in the same calendar year.

Still with two races left, it’s unclear whether Palou may match Foyt’s all-time series mark of 10 wins in a single season (a record matched, but not beaten, by Unser Sr. in 1970). But already with eight victories, it makes Palou’s 2025 season, and his six-year resume, already one of the best the sport has ever seen.

Palou is now just the third driver to win three consecutive championships in series history, joining Ted Horn (1946 to 1948), Sebastien Bourdais (four straight in 2004 to 2007) and Dario Franchitti (2009-11). Along with Franchitti (2007 to 2011), who won four consecutive IndyCar championships in which he competed after taking 2008 off to race in NASCAR, Bourdais and Foyt (1960 to 1964), the Ganassi driver is also one of only four to win four titles in five consecutive seasons.

The speed at which he amassed his four Astor Cups (six seasons) can only be matched by Bourdais, who captured four Champ Car championships in his first five years in the sport, albeit during the waning years of the split when his competition was a bit watered down and fragmented with drivers from Ganassi, Penske and Andretti all competing in the Indy Racing League full-time.

To boot, Palou is only the sixth driver to even hit the four titles mark, and with just one more, he’d break ties with Franchitti, Bourdais and Mario Andretti and join just Foyt and Scott Dixon as the only drivers to reach five championships in major American open-wheel racing.

Palou’s title was the 17th for Chip Ganassi Racing in 30 years. The 17 IndyCar championships tie Penske Racing for most in series history.