TMZ Sports - Page 31

Caitlin Clark is already delivering for the WNBA -- she put on a killer performance in her first preseason game, scoring basket after basket ... in front of a packed arena.

The basketball phenom was the center of attention Friday night as she and her Indiana Fever teammates battled the Dallas Wings to a sold-out crowd at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Clark racked up 16 points in just the first half, topping all the other players. She cooled off in the 2nd half, finishing with 21 points ... but, remember, it was just a preseason game, so players and coaches aren't exactly going all out.

If anyone thought rap was at an all-time low, Friday night just proved it's anything but ... with Drake and Kendrick Lamar dropping savage diss tracks within minutes of each other, and the internet is having a field day!

Drake threw the first punch minutes ago, dropping a 7 minute and 37 second track titled "Family Matters" ... where he rapped over three different beats, taking aim at not only K. Dot, but also The Weeknd, Rick Ross, Future, Metro Boomin and A$AP Rocky, among others.

Drake didn't hold back, accusing Kendrick of getting physical with his fiancee. He also hinted that Kendrick's manager had a baby with the same woman.,

Ryan Garcia clearly wasn't sweating his flunked drug test in the hours before it became known to the public ... 'cause TMZ Sports has obtained video of him partying hard at an L.A. hotspot on Tuesday night -- seemingly without a care in the world.

Garcia hit up Bootsy Bellows in West Hollywood at around midnight -- roughly 20 hours before it was revealed he had Ostarine in his system the day before his huge upset win over Devin Haney -- and he danced at his table with no signs of worry.

We're told by one person in attendance that Garcia appeared to be in great spirits the entire time he was there -- sippin' on tequila ... and even taking selfies with other clubgoers.

The Bella Twins haven’t entered the squared-circle in years, but they aren't ready to hang up their boots ... telling TMZ Sports they aren't ruling out an in-ring return in the future -- they're just waiting for the right moment.

We chopped it up with the former WWE duo on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs on FS1) this week ... and asked them about the possibility of stepping back into the ring after some time away.

The sisters admitted they miss being in on the action ... but there has been some more important business to attend to lately -- motherhood.

The Detroit Tigers will now be using one of Calvin Johnson's CBD products to help them get over their injuries ... and the Hall of Famer couldn't be more stoked for the partnership -- telling TMZ Sports he hopes it leads to a bunch more teams following suit.

The MLB squad and Johnson's Primitiv company -- which Megatron cofounded with his former teammate, Rob Sims -- made the union official on Friday ... revealing in a statement that the CBD co.'s topical cream will be available to the Tigers throughout the rest of the 2024 season.

And, when we talked to Johnson just minutes after the pact became official ... he was fired up -- telling us he really believes the cannabinoid-infused stuff could make a real difference in Detroit's run to the playoffs this year.

May the Fourth be with you TMZers ... now, check out the best from TMZ's television programs from a long week ago in a studio not so far, far away.

On "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles discuss Britney Spears' swollen ankle she shared on Instagram after her scary hotel incident.

Aaron Rodgers' awesome offseason kept right on rolling on Friday ... as he seemed to have a helluva time at Churchill Downs, smokin' stogies and hanging out with his good pal, Davante Adams!

The New York Jets superstar hit up the venerable race track in Louisville for the Kentucky Oaks one day before the Kentucky Derby went down ... and he looked like he was having a blast.

He was spotted enjoying a cigar -- and chatting it up with a bunch of famous people ... including Adams, who he was teammates with in Green Bay for nearly a decade.

Bad news for the rest of the NBA -- LeBron James still has half a decade left in the tank "body-wise" ... so says the Lakers superstar's agent, Rich Paul, who believes he can physically keep going for several years before retiring.

The Klutch Sports founder weighed in on his top client's future on the "All the Smoke" podcast with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes this week ... and he said there are a number of factors that will play into when Bron decides to call it a career.

But when it comes to the 39-year-old keeping up with the younger guys in the league, Paul feels James isn't anywhere near slowing down.

Willis Reed, Walt Clyde Frazier, and Patrick Ewing are generally considered the greatest Knicks ever, but the trio of Hall of Famers may have to slide over ... 'cause diehard NYK fan, Fat Joe, says Jalen Brunson's on the verge of being the G.O.A.T.!

"[Jalen's] so close to being the greatest Knick ever," Crack told Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs nightly on FS1), adding ... "So close, and in such short time."

Of course, the hip-hop superstar grew up in The Bronx, New York, and has been a loyal Knicks fan through the good, and unfortunately for New Yorkers, many bad times in his 5 decades as an NYK supporter.

Darvin Ham is out of the job -- the Los Angeles Lakers just fired their head coach after two seasons on Friday ... days after the Purple and Gold were booted from the playoffs in the first round.

Rumors of a change on the bench started right after LeBron James and Co. lost to the Denver Nuggets ... with many pointing the finger at Ham's lack of leadership or ability to make adjustments.

It wasn't all bad for Ham -- the team did make a solid run in the playoffs last year ... and won the inaugural In-Season Tournament back in December.

Saquon Barkley's goin' in on New York fans who were irked at his presence at the 76ers vs. Knicks game in Philadelphia Thursday night, with the NFL star telling the supporters of his former team to get over him jumping ship!

"It’s been two months… lol no way ya can still be this mad! Mf can’t even go to a basketball game 😂😂😂," 27-year-old Barkley tweeted on X after he was heckled for attending the game at the Wells Fargo Center in the City of Brotherly Love, where he sat courtside with Eagles WR A.J. Brown.

Of course, Barkley -- drafted by the G-Men in 2018 -- signed with the Eagles ... the Giants hated rivals, this offseason.

12:15 PM PT -- Ryan Garcia is firing back ... saying he'll break Conor McGregor's "weak ass ankle" if the two ever cross paths -- which is a reference to an injury Conor suffered against Dustin Poirier in 2021.

"You ran from being tested bc you were on Roids," Garcia posted on X ... while also mocking his recent movie with Jake Gyllenhaal. "Roadhouse or ROIDRAGE."

"FUDGE CONNOR CACA BRAIN"

8:33 AM PT -- Malinda Adams, the reporter who Patrick Beverley bullied on Thursday, said on her X page the Bucks guard reached out Friday morning to apologize.

"I appreciate it," she said, "and accept it."

She also revealed the Bucks' org. reached out to say it was sorry as well.

Dak Prescott will not face criminal charges over allegations he sexually assaulted a woman seven years ago ... cops revealed Thursday they found insufficient evidence to pursue the case any further.

The woman, Victoria Shores, had made the claims against the Cowboys superstar in a report with the Dallas Police Department earlier this year ... alleging Dak had been inappropriate with her in the parking lot of the XTC Cabaret strip club in Texas on Feb. 2, 2017.

The quarterback, though, was adamant he committed no wrongdoing ... filing a lawsuit against the woman after alleging she was attempting to shake him down for $100 million with the claims. He also filed a police report of his own in the case over the alleged extortion plot.

Shohei Ohtani and his new wife, Mamiko, made a rare public appearance together on Thursday ... throwing on some fancy outfits and attending a fundraising event.

The 29-year-old Japanese superstar and his former basketball pro partner rolled through the 8th annual Blue Diamond Gala at Dodger Stadium in L.A. ... joined by Ohtani's teammates and a handful of celebs.

Fellow Dodgers Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Kiké Hernandez and Mookie Betts brought their wives to the shindig as well ... while singer Ed Sheeran rolled through solo.

Ryan Reynolds is doubling down on his investment in the sports world, and it's in large part due to fans of his 2 biggest franchises ... TMZ has learned.

The actor's investment firm, Maximum Effort, announced Thursday it's spending big to become one of the leading investors in Homage, a sports apparel company with a specialty in vintage-style getups.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... RR is thrilled about the new addition to his portfolio because of his experiences with his English soccer club and the 'Deadpool' movies.