SI:AM | WBC Knockout Stage Set

Team USA got some help from Italy to advance to the quarterfinals, where it will face Canada.

DAN GARTLAND Good morning, I'm Dan Gartland. In case you missed it, our latest Stadium Wonders video dropped yesterday. For this one, I went to the University of New Mexico to tour The Pit, one of the loudest venues in college basketball and the only one that's dug 37 feet below ground.  In today's SI:AM: 🏈 Breer's free agency notes 🏀 Updated men's bracket 😬 Lousy bubble teams Italy saves Team USA Thomas Shea/Imagn Images That was a weird 24 hours where we thought Team USA might be eliminated in the opening round of the World Baseball Classic, huh? After a loss to Italy on Tuesday (and manager Mark DeRosa's highly publicized misunderstanding of the stakes), the U.S. team was in danger of crashing out of the tournament before the knockout stage for the first time in its history. But Team USA got the help it required when Italy beat Mexico on Wednesday, 9–1, ensuring the U.S. would advance to the next round.  Elsewhere in pool play, Canada continued its hot streak with a 7–2 win over Cuba and the Dominican Republic beat Venezuela, 7–5, in an electric game to determine the Pool D winner.  The quarterfinals will begin on Friday. The schedule looks like this:  • South Korea vs. Dominican Republic (6:30 p.m. ET Friday on FS2) • United States vs. Canada (8 p.m. ET Friday on Fox) • Puerto Rico vs. Italy (3 p.m. ET Saturday on FS1) • Venezuela vs. Japan (9 p.m. ET Saturday on Fox) CONTINUE DAN'S COLUMN ON SI The best of Sports Illustrated Kyler Murray is officially a free agent, and Albert Breer says all signs point to one team as his ultimate destination. Breer also has notes on what was likely the biggest problem for the Ravens in the nixed Maxx Crosby deal. Kevin Sweeney breaks down a disastrous finish for Indiana's men's basketball program, whose $10 million roster is unlikely to yield an NCAA tournament bid. Two former college stars, both recently let go from men's college basketball head coaching jobs, are at a crossroads, Pat Forde writes. Sweeney shares which teams need strong results in the final days leading up to Selection Sunday in his latest NCAA men's bracket watch. Bryan Fischer argues that the struggles of bubble teams are making the case for contracting the NCAA tournament field rather than expanding it. Michael Rosenberg commends PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp for rethinking the entire Tour. In that same spirit, Rosenberg proposes a way to fix the FedEx Cup playoffs. In case you missed it, it was a wild night in the Champions League. Jamie Spencer catches you up.  Grey Whitebloom ranks the best nine performers from the first legs of the Champions League round of 16.  Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE! Marc DesRosiers/Imagn Images 👀 The top five ... … things I saw last night:  5. A wild off-balance three-pointer by Iowa's Bennett Stirtz to beat the shot clock.  4. Vinnie Pasquantino's three home runs for Italy against Mexico. He's the first player in WBC history to have a three-homer game.  3. Pasquantino's postgame quote about having had a celebratory espresso shot after each of his homers.  2. A whole bunch of clutch saves by Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler in the final 90 seconds of Montreal's game against the Senators. (It was only the 11th career NHL start for Fowler, a 21-year-old who grew up in Florida.) 1. Juan Soto's long first-inning homer that sent the crowd into a frenzy.  The best of SI Video Are the Lakers better when LeBron James does not play? Has SGA locked up the MVP award, and how has Jayson Tatum looked in his return so far? Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols answer these questions in the latest episode of the Open Floor podcast. Join the SI Boxing Newsletter Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix provides a weekly spotlight, featuring in-depth reporting and sharp commentary, on the biggest fights and stories inside the ring. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE W We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. 625 Broadway, 10th floor New York, NY. 10012 You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:AM newsletter. You can unsubscribe here  . Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions © 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. All betting and gambling content included in the SI:AM newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators' opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or texting 800GAM. Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.