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The Sportsletter (5/16/25)

The Sportsletter (5/16/25)

Subject Line TBD

May 16, 2025

Happy Friday 👋

We put the playoffs on the back-burner today (Highlights Section). We’ll know who’s filling out the semifinals by Monday. Also noteworthy: We’re 100 days from the CFB kickoff. 🙌

It’s moving day… The Sportsletter has fully switched tech platforms today. You might notice some glitches in the newsletter as we tweak the design to a new sending address. Here’s what you can do to help:

Email [email protected] if anything looks out of place in your email.
Move us to your primary inbox or add us to your address book. It tells your algorithm that you like us.
Hold your breath for Monday (we should be in the clear next week).

Letter Rip!

< GOLF >

Stars Stumble in R1 at Quail Hollow

Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images

Jhonnatan Vegas (-7) Takes Early Charge at PGA Championship — Scheffler (-2), DeChambeau (E) and McIlroy (+3) Struggle

A quick glance at the PGA Championship leaderboard might force a double-take… Who?! Stars are spiraling at Quail Hollow. Jhonnatan Vegas (-7) fired an opening-round 64 with two runs of three straight birdies on Thursday. After Vegas, it’s a collection of lesser-known names in the top-20. Most of the big stars are buried deep in the leaderboard. Bryson DeChambeau nearly aced the 17th, but even the biggest hitter in the field struggled to beat par. This course is no cakewalk.

Leaderboard (Round 1)

1. J. Vegas (-7)

T2. R. Gerard (-5)

T2. C. Davis (-5)

T4. L. Donald (-4)

T4. R. Fox (-4)

T4. A. Smalley (-4)

T4. S. Jaeger (-4)

T4. A. Rai (-4)

Other Notable Scorecards: S. Scheffler (-2), V. Hovland (-2), J. Rahm (-1), C. Morikawa (-1), L. Aberg (-1), B. DeChambeau (E), X. Schauffele (+1), J. Thomas (+2), R. McIlroy (+3)

PGA Championship Round 1 Highlights

SI: PGA Championship Day 1 Winners & Losers: Quail Hollow Shines

< NFL >

The Scheddy is Ready

Photo: Sopa Images / Getty Images

Which Teams Have the Easiest & Toughest Schedule in 2025? (+ Team Video Reactions)

The NFL schedule release continues to be a goofy PR stunt in May. We’re about as far removed from football season as possible, but the NFL is always relevant. Teams always find creative ways to announce the next season’s calendar. Here’s a collection of every team’s video (fun content if you have five minutes to kill at work today). Enjoy!

Beyond the goofy social media hits? We have real data to start planning and predicting next fall. The Eagles and Cowboys open the season in Philadelphia (Sept. 4). The easiest schedule belongs to the 49ers. The toughest road awaits the Giants. Here are the schedule links and the top five from both ends of the spectrum.

Schedules: Week-by-Week | Team-by-Team

Easiest Slate: 1. 49ers (.415), 2. Saints (.419), 3. Patriots (.429), 4. Titans (.450), 5. Panthers (.457)
Hardest Slate: 32. Giants (.574), 31. Bears (.571), 30. Lions (.571), 29. Eagles (.561), 28. Cowboys (.557)

*Opponent’s 2024 Win Percentage

Yahoo! Sports: Ranking All 32 Teams’ Strength of Schedule for 2025

< WNBA >

The ‘W’ Tips Off Tonight

Photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images

Players, Teams & Storylines to Watch as the WNBA’s 2025 Season Tips Off Tonight

The summer sports slate adds another season to the list with the WNBA’s return tonight. Now 13 teams (welcome to the Golden State Valkyries) will play 44 games between now and September. The New York Liberty are the defending champs. The Indiana Fever are a hot ticket in the sophomore year of Caitlin Clark. And newcomer Paige Bueckers is ready to awaken the Dallas Wings from last year’s 9-31 slumber. It all starts tonight!

Season Openers (Tonight)

Dream at Mystics (7:30 pm ET)

Lynx at Wings (7:30 pm ET)

Sparks at Valkyries (10:00 pm ET)

All Games on ION / WNBA League Pass

Full Opening Weekend Schedule

SI: There’s Much More to the Fever Than the Caitlin Clark Show

< ACTION >