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While You Were Sleeping: Steph, man
The NBA Play-In games continue to be great, led last night by one of the best players we’ve ever seen. Quickly:
Words run out when describing Steph Curry, who poured a vintage glass of his own shooting and served it to the Clippers last night in Golden State’s heart-pounding 126-121 win. The Clips led for most of this game, and then the Warriors — Curry, along with Draymond Green — looked 28 again as they went on a run in the game’s final minutes. Just look at this go-ahead 3-pointer:
STEPH CURRY GIVES THE WARRIORS THE LEAD!
GSW 120
LAC 117
50.4 TO PLAY IN A MUST-WIN GAME 🍿 pic.twitter.com/HgYTHtLlOp
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
Goodness. It’s jarring to see that and then realize this was a matchup of the ninth and 10th seeds in the Western Conference. Golden State has to play Phoenix just to make it to a playoff series. L.A. is done.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers into the full playoffs with 31 points in Philly’s 109-97 win in the early game, including seven straight late in the fourth quarter to put the game away. The Sixers advance to play the Celtics, and while we shouldn’t expect an upset, don’t forget Zach Harper’s point to us a week ago about a healthy Philadelphia team having a shot.
Moving on to a more serious matter:
Sagas: RIP, LIV?
Looking back, it is hard to believe LIV is just four years old. The renegade golf league upended the sport, bending tradition and throwing around money like it was water. Angst exploded from all corners of the golf world. The reasons were layered and political.
And then yesterday, The Athletic reported the disruptor outfit could be shuttered in a matter of days. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is mulling pulling its funding of the league. The timing of this — LIV is supposed to host a tournament in Mexico City this week — is shocking, while the outcome is less so.
Two points:
LIV’s entire ethos has been obscene amounts of money. It began by throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at every notable golfer on the planet. Some bit, notably including Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and eventually Jon Rahm. The new league promised a better product than the PGA Tour offered: three-round tournaments, splashy parties, private planes. Luxury and excess replaced tradition.
It never stuck, and my lingering memory of the company — should it indeed fold — is how it tore the sport apart. The term “sportwashing” has never been more relevant, as detractors accused the Saudi-backed league of papering over humanitarian disasters with golf money. And on a more boring note … nobody watched the actual golf.
Just look at this stat from our story: “LIV lost $590.1 million in its United Kingdom-based entity alone in 2024.” The league is burning cash with little return.
Eric Espada / Getty Images
There is a thought I can’t get out of my head in all this, though, and I want your opinion on it: Is golf in a better place now, partially, thanks to LIV? Two sides of my brain:
Yes, the PGA has won here emphatically, but don’t forget the many changes the tradition-steeped league has made to its financial reward structure. Purses are up across the board in response to the LIV threat. Rory McIlroy won $4.5 million at the Masters last weekend, more than double what Hideki Matsuyama won in 2021 ($2.07 million).
But man, remember how mad everybody was? Still is? I truly wonder if the sport lost any fans during this time. Maybe this new reality makes everything better, but I’m not sure.
So, is golf better now? Email me thoughts at thepulse@theathletic.com, and make sure you’re subscribed to see poll results in tomorrow’s newsletter.
News to Know
Christian Petersen / Getty Images
A’ja Wilson, supermax player
The most decorated player in WNBA history signed the league’s richest contract yesterday, a three-year, $4.4 million deal with Las Vegas that could reach $4.7 million with incentives. Wilson was a free agent this offseason, which coincided with the league’s historic new collective bargaining agreement, but zero people expected the 29-year-old to leave the Aces. This all comes after she made $200,000 last year. Wild. She’s quite deserving.
McGonigle joins rich prospect ranks
Tigers rookie sensation Kevin McGonigle agreed to an eight-year, $150 million contract yesterday, becoming the latest first-year big leaguer to get big money early. He has been awesome in the early going this year, hitting .313 with a .905 OPS for a Detroit team that figures to contend. Cody Stavenhagen’s story from an emotional Detroit day will make you root for the 21-year-old.
NFL onboards replacement refs
In what we can all hope merely amounts to a negotiating tactic, the NFL has begun onboarding possible replacement referees in case the league and the referees’ union are unable to ratify a collective bargaining agreement by May 31. If we do see replacement refs this season, is another Fail Mary in store? A botched tush push call? I shudder. Read our full update here.
More news:
Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Barcelona Open with injuries to his right wrist and forearm. It doesn’t sound great.
NBA ratings are up, even with the wide array of broadcasters. See the numbers.
Red Sox star Jarren Duran said he flipped off a fan Tuesday in Minneapolis because the fan told the outfielder to kill himself. The Twins are conducting an investigation.
A former executive sued Adidas and claimed the company fired her for reporting gender discrimination. Read the full story.
The woman who accused Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua of biting her withdrew her restraining order request yesterday. More here.
The Swiss men’s national hockey team fired its head coach after learning he forged a COVID-19 vaccination card in 2022.
Lehigh’s baseball team set an NCAA record by scoring 20 runs in the first inning of a game Tuesday. Final score: 38-6.
Watch Guide
📺 NHL: Blues at Mammoth
7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
This is the final day of the NHL regular season, and Utah is a playoff team for the first time since relocating from Arizona. The Mammoth are also locked into a first-round matchup with the Golden Knights, and while Las Vegas will be favored, Utah should be thankful it avoided the second wild-card spot and a date with the Avalanche. Anyway, this game should be a celebration.
📺 MLB: Mariners at Padres
8:40 p.m. ET on MLB Network
What’s up with Seattle, our preseason pick to win the World Series? As our Power Rankings detailed, Cal Raleigh just hasn’t been good yet, and the M’s are 8-11 in the early going. San Diego (12-6) has been great. Good game.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Here is the definitive story inside the Toronto Maple Leafs’ stunning failure this season. There is chaos, dysfunction and a special appearance from AI. What a read.
Another must-read today: Sam Blum on the One Riot, One Ranger statue that was deemed too controversial to display at a Dallas airport. So why did the Texas Rangers give it a home?
The past two years, the Timberwolves have been the NBA’s next big thing, a group of big talents poised to become a legit title threat. The talk has cooled despite a good season. The “three-headed goat” is still hungry, though.
Have you seen the MLB “Simpsons” hats? They rule, and the league is planning on more.
Many NFL teams worried about George Kittle during the draft process in 2017 because, well, Kittle liked to party. Then he put on the workout of his life while hungover.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story on Dianna Russini’s departure from The Athletic.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Dane Brugler’s seven-round mock draft.
📫 That’s all for now! Say hello at thepulse@theathletic.com, and check out our other newsletters.