Leading Off: Verlander The Ring Man; Machado Moves Over

Troy Renck: It feels like the WNBA and USA Basketball will only be happy if they are in the C boarding group on Southwest Airlines, playing before half-empty arenas filled with ride-or-die fans telling the rest of us how we don’t get it. This issue resurfaced over the weekend when Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was not selected for the American team for the Paris Olympics.

Schools are letting out for summer around the country and break arrives for the Broncos by the end of this week, too. There’s plenty of work left to be done, though, over the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp, which begins Tuesday. These are the first mandatory days of the offseason. Most players and coaches have been participating in the voluntary work since before the NFL Draft.

Moderna combi flu and Covid jab gives better protection, study finds The GuardianCovid-flu combination vaccine shows positive results in late-stage trial, Moderna says CNNModerna's combo COVID and flu shot offers strong immunity in older adults during late stage trial ABC NewsModerna's combo COVID and flu vaccine works better than stand-alone shots on the market, study finds MarketWatchModerna combination Covid, flu vaccine shows positive late-stage data CNBC

Planet-first diet cuts risk of early death by nearly a third, study says CNNCan a diet that's good for the planet reduce your risk of dying from disease? CBC NewsWhat Is the Planetary Health Diet, and Can It Extend Your Life? U. S. News & World ReportPlanetary Health Diet’s climate and health benefits | News | Harvard T.

China Roundup: Chang'e 6 lands on the Moon, and record-breaking EVA - NASASpaceFlight.com NASASpaceflight.comWho owns the Moon? A new space race means it could be up for grabs BBC.comFirst detection of negative ions on the Moon European Space AgencyMoon cooperation beats competition as Chang’e-6 lunar samples offered to international scientists South China Morning PostWatch China's Chang'e 6 probe land on far side of the moon in dramatic video Space.com

New COVID variant KP.3 is on the rise: Here's what to know USA TODAYNew 'FLiRT' COVID Variants Could Be Driving an Uptick in Cases. Here's How to Avoid Them Scientific AmericanA Summer Guide to Covid Testing, Symptoms and Treatment The New York TimesNew COVID variant KP.3 climbs to 25%, now largest in CDC estimates CBS NewsNew SARS-CoV-2 variant predominates in the United States WSWS