Japan and the United States butted heads yesterday in a World Cup final match that stretched into overtime. The U.S. women's team, though ranked number one going into the tournament, was unable to outscore Japan during the final penalty kick shootout. This is Japan's first World Cup victory.

The federal judge presiding over the Roger Clemens perjury case has declared a mistrial. Judge Reggie Walton made his decision after prosecutors exposed the jurors to evidence he ruled inadmissible. The government lawyers' blunder was a mistake Judge Walton said even "first-year law students" would have known to avoid.

Yesterday was a monumental day for the U.S. Women’s Soccer team. For the first time since 1999, the team earned a place in the World Cup Finals. The team earned their spot after winning a 3-1 match against France. On Sunday, the U.S. will go head-to-head with Japan, who also qualified for the finals yesterday, in a triumphant match against Sweden.

Major League Baseball's All-Star Game will take place in Phoenix, Arizona this year. The state has been the focus of national controversy over a recent law concerning unauthorized migrants, and 30 percent of league players are Latino — which means politics may overshadow the game. Groups on both sides of the debate are planning to make statements to spectators. George Vecsey, sports columnist for The New York Times, talks about the dynamic of the game.

It was a big weekend for the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, after a dramatic shootout victory against powerhouse Brazil propelled them to the World Cup's semi-final. The victory was yet another triumph for Team U.S.A. in a tournament that the country has traditionally dominated. Ever since the cup’s launch in 1991, the U.S. has either won or finished in the top three of the Women's World Cup.

After hours of negotiating, NBA players and owners failed to come to an agreement over salary caps and team revenue. Those involved said the meetings were friendly, but players will remain on lockout until a settlement can be reached. While players have proposed a string of pay cuts to be enacted over the next few years, team owners say it is not enough to make the teams profitable. The Players Association and team owners will meet in two to three weeks to discuss this issue again.

This morning at 11:45 am EST, the U.S. women's soccer team will play North Korea for their first game of the Women's World Cup, in Dresden, Germany. This will be the second consecutive Women's World Cup in which the U.S. has opened against North Korea. The U.S. team has won eight tournaments under their current coach, Pia Sundhage, and is said to have a great shot at winning the World Cup. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning, according to an official statement from the team. The news follows a bitter divorce battle between Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt, who reached a settlement earlier this month, and reports last week that Major League Baseball blocked the team from signing a television deal in order to raise funds for their payroll.

At this point in the most summers, Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin would be turning his attention to the first glimmers of football season, and to Tiger Woods, the shining star of golf.  But with an NFL lockout, a looming NBA stoppage, and a little firecracker from Northern Ireland taking over the links... It's a very different sports summer.  So what DOES a sports-watcher watch?  According to Ibrahim: Dodgeball, Cycling, and Badminton. 

22-year-old Rory McIlroy made golfing history at the U.S. Open yesterday, closing his four-day onslaught and setting twelve Open records at 16-under-par 268—eight shots ahead of his closest competitor, and four shots better than the U.S. Open record set by Tiger Woods. McIlroy is from Northern Ireland, and is the youngest winner of the tournament since the legendary Bobby Jones won in 1923. Mark Simpson, from our partner the BBC, joins us from McIlroy's Northern Ireland hometown, Hollywood, to discuss the match.

Today, tennis fans around the world will be tuning into the world-renowned grass court tennis tournament in London, the Wimbledon Championships. One of the four grand slam tennis championships, it is also the oldest and considerably the most prestigious. Here to talk us through the ins and outs of Wimbledon is a man who won four grand slam singles titles: American tennis champion Jim Courier.

The Boston Bruins brought the Stanley Cup back to their city for the first time since 1972, after defeating the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Wednesday night. "This one still hurts," says Canucks fan, Brian Wawryshyn, who runs CanucksCorner.com. Boston resident Mike Wilkins has been celebrating the win. And both fans say that the rioting in Vancouver is something neither team would be proud of.

The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat 105-95 in game 6 of the NBA finals. Takeaway sports contributor, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin reports on the game and what the loss means for the Heat going forward. The team spent a lot of money bulking up its roster, which includes LeBron James.

The NFL lockout continues, and the real fight now is between each sides' lawyers. The NFL has brought in Paul Clement, while Ted Olsen argues for the players. Both are former Solicitor Generals, and both are experts at arguing before the Supreme Court. Nando di Fino, sports writer for the Wall Street Journal, tells us what happens next.

Shaq told his fans first in a video posted to Twitter, "I'm about to retire... love you!"  He and his size 23 basketball shoes are done with the game. "He could dance, he could move, he could pass," says Takeaway Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin. He explains why Shaq was such a dominant force and what he might do next.

The NBA Finals will kick off tonight with Game 1 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat. As fans get ready for the first game, we hear from them about why their team has what it takes to win it all. Representing the Miami Heat is Michael Garrett, who started following his team when LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined. T.C. Fleming, on the other hand has been a fan for a long time. He moved to Dallas when he was two years old and has been a Mavs fan ever since.

Matt Scott, sports reporter for The Guardian talks about an explosive development in the FIFA scandal. It was alleged that Qatar had bribed FIFA in order to host the 2022 World Cup, and a new email has been released stating that this bribe had indeed happened. The future of FIFA and the World Cup bid in Qatar are on the line.

This weekend marks one hundred years since the first driver put tires to the starting line at the Indy 500, America’s most competitive car race. Sports writer Charlie Leerhsen is the author of "Blood and Smoke, A True Tale of Mystery, Mayhem, and the Birth of the Indy 500." Leerhsen discusses a century's worth of squealing tires and helps solve a lingering mystery from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's very first race.

Last night the Miami Heat beat the Bulls and will go on to face the Dallas Mavericks. Ibrahim Abdul-Matin says it's going to be a tough series. "I'm rooting for Dallas, but I think the Heat is going to win it." But that's not all that's happening in sports — ice hockey is heating up as well, tonight's hockey game between Tampa Bay and the Boston Bruins is one to watch. Ibrahim Abdul-Matin says the French Open is also worth turning on your television for.

Cyclist Tyler Hamilton has said that his former teammate, Lance Armstrong, took performance enhancing drugs in 1999. Armstrong won the Tour de France that year. Sports contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin who explains the drama, saying that Armstrong has been adamant that he has not used drugs. This comes at a time when the cycling world is looking for a "new face," someone who can be trusted.