Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong stole his 40th base of the season on Thursday afternoon, a few weeks after belting his 40th career home run, which means the breakout star is now the seventh member of the 40-40 club in MLB history. He’s all the way up to 45 home runs now to go with his 40 steals. Here’s the historic 40th theft. 

The previous entries: 

Canseco, Acuña and Ohtani won league MVP in those same seasons, and it appears PCA is headed in that direction. 

As things stand, Crow-Armstrong is hitting .280/.374/.577 (157 OPS+) with 31 doubles, eight triples, 45 home runs, 107 RBI, 119 runs and 40 steals. He leads the majors in runs, home runs, total bases and WAR (9.8) while leading the NL in slugging, OPS and OPS+. With the injury to Ohtani keeping him off the mound and later placing him on the IL, the path is clear for the first Cubs NL MVP since Kris Bryant took the honors in 2016. The hunch here is PCA wins the award unanimously.

But PCA isn’t just having an MVP-caliber season; he’s putting together one of the greatest individual seasons in franchise history. He’s the first Cubs player to ever reach the 40-40 plateau, but before he came around, there had only been two 30-30 seasons, both by Sammy Sosa. PCA has now done it twice in a row and he’s still only 24 years old. 

Further, he’s in rarified air in club history if we look at WAR, which takes hitting, baserunning and defense into account as a kind of “catch-all” stat (note: It is required by law here that I point out this isn’t the only important stat and anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool). 

Among Cubs position players, here are the top 10 seasons by Baseball Reference’s WAR (heading into Tuesday): 

1. Rogers Hornsby, 1929, 10.6 WAR
2. Sammy Sosa, 2001, 10.3
3. Ernie Banks, 1959, 10.2
t4. Pete Crow-Armstrong, 2026, 9.8
t4. Ron Santo, 1967, 9.8
6. Ernie Banks, 1958, 9.3
t7. Ron Santo, 1966, 8.9
t7. Ron Santo, 1964, 8.9
9. Ryne Sandberg, 1984, 8.5
10. Ernie Banks, 1955, 8.1

Over in the FanGraphs version, he scores even better. Here are the top 10 in Cubs history, where he has the best season in nearly a century: 

1. Rogers Hornsby, 1929, 11.0
2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, 2026, 10.6
3. Sammy Sosa, 2001, 9.9
4. Ernie Banks, 1959, 9.7
5. Ron Santo, 1967, 9.5
6. Ernie Banks, 1958, 8.7
7. Ron Santo, 1964, 8.7
8. Ron Santo, 1966, 8.5
9. Hack Wilson, 1930, 8.0
10. Ryne Sandberg, 1984, 8.0

As a reminder, the WAR guidelines typically view 5.0 as an All-Star-caliber player and 8.0 as an MVP-caliber performer. Getting into double digits is generally considered an all-time great season. 

The all-around performance here is what is staggering. The numbers at the plate say PCA has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season. He’s in the top five in stolen bases and rates out excellently in other baserunning metrics. He’s arguably the best defensive player in baseball, too, sitting in first in fielding run value and outs above average.

When you take a 40-40 player with a strong triple-slash line who is a terror on the bases and an incredible defensive player, you get one of the best individual seasons the Cubs franchise has ever seen. 

And he’s only 24 years old. 

It’s a special season for Pete Crow-Armstrong. As his Cubs eye the postseason, he’ll look to lead them to a special season as a team next.

Irish boxing will make history in Cork on Friday, October 9, when Christina Desmond and Louise Creaven meet in the first-ever Irish women’s professional title fight – with Galway Bay FM sports broadcaster John Mulligan set to be on commentary for the landmark occasion.

The historic contest takes place at the Parochial Hall Arena in Cork City, bringing together two Irish fighters whose careers have taken very different routes to this groundbreaking night.

Desmond will have home advantage, while Galway’s Creaven will return from Australia for what will be her first professional fight on Irish soil.

Christina Desmond Brings Outstanding Amateur Pedigree

Christina Desmond has made an impressive transition to professional boxing and brings a wealth of international experience into the historic contest.

The Macroom fighter has won her opening five professional contests and enters the showdown with an unbeaten 5-0 record.

Her latest victory came in Spain, where she stopped England’s Sherie Barnes in the second round as she continued her rapid progress through the professional ranks.

Desmond’s professional success follows an outstanding amateur career in which she won six Irish Elite titles, claimed a European Championship silver medal and also secured European bronze.

She represented Ireland internationally for more than a decade and competed at the Youth Olympic Games before eventually making the move into professional boxing.

The possibility of Desmond competing in an historic Irish title fight had previously been discussed in connection with the proposed Katie Taylor Croke Park event. Instead, Desmond will now get the opportunity to make history in front of a home Cork crowd.

Louise Creaven Returns Home From Australia

Standing in Desmond’s way will be Killimordaly’s Louise Creaven, who has established her professional career thousands of miles away in Australia.

Creaven enters the contest with a 6-2 professional record and returns to Ireland following another important victory in Australia.

In August, the Galway fighter defeated Thailand’s experienced Thanchanok Phanan at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, forcing a stoppage in the third round of their scheduled six-round contest.

That victory came during a significant year for Creaven, who also challenged for an Australian title in 2026.

She will now swap Australia for Cork and, remarkably, the October 9 contest is set to be Creaven’s first professional fight in Ireland.

That makes an already historic night even more significant for the Galway boxer, who has spent much of her professional career building her reputation on the other side of the world.

John Mulligan to Call Historic Fight

There will be another strong Galway connection at ringside, with Galway Bay FM sports broadcaster John Mulligan set to provide commentary on the historic contest.

Mulligan has followed Creaven’s progress closely, including speaking with the Killimordaly boxer following her recent victory in Australia.

Confirming that he will be heading to Cork for the fight, Mulligan spoke of his excitement at being involved in such a significant occasion for Irish boxing.

“SO EXCITED to be going to this fight and more importantly to have the honour and privilege of commentating on two LEGENDS going toe to toe who are making history! Well done to all for making it happen.”

For Mulligan, it will be the opportunity to call the action as a new chapter in Irish professional boxing is written.

A Landmark Night for Irish Women’s Boxing

Ireland has produced some of the greatest female boxers in the history of the sport, with Katie Taylor’s achievements helping transform the profile of women’s boxing both in Ireland and internationally.

However, despite that extraordinary success, an Irish professional women’s title had never previously been contested.

The possibility of crowning an Irish women’s professional champion has been discussed for a number of years, but Desmond and Creaven are now set to finally make it happen.

When they step through the ropes in Cork, they will become the first two women to contest an Irish professional boxing title.

Desmond v Creaven – An Intriguing Match-Up

Beyond the historical significance, the fight itself provides an intriguing clash between two boxers with very different backgrounds.

Desmond possesses enormous amateur experience, having represented Ireland at major international championships before beginning her unbeaten professional career.

Creaven, meanwhile, has gained valuable professional experience in Australia, experiencing both championship boxing and the demands of building a career away from home.

It leaves an intriguing contest between Desmond’s extensive international amateur pedigree and unbeaten 5-0 professional record against Creaven’s 6-2 record and greater experience in the professional ranks.

But whatever happens when the bell rings, both women will already have secured their places in the history of Irish boxing.

Christina Desmond v Louise Creaven – Fight Details

• Fight: Christina Desmond v Louise Creaven
• Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
• Venue: Parochial Hall Arena, Cork City
• Occasion: First Irish women’s professional title fight
• Christina Desmond record: 5-0
• Louise Creaven record: 6-2
• General Admission: €60
• Gold Front Rows: €90
• Commentary: John Mulligan

October 9 will therefore be about much more than another professional boxing show in Cork.

For Christina Desmond and Louise Creaven, it is an opportunity to become the first winner of an Irish women’s professional title.

For those inside the Parochial Hall Arena – and for John Mulligan behind the microphone – it will be the chance to witness and document a genuine piece of Irish sporting history.

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Angel Reese is on a roll this season. The Atlanta Dream star has helped her team qualify for the playoffs. On the international stage, she was part of the USA team that won its fifth straight gold medal at the FIBA World Cup.

Reese has been one of the WNBA’s best two-way players this season, as shown by her performances for the Dream since returning from the FIBA break. She is averaging 19.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in her last three games.

While her offense has reached a new level since the World Cup, her defense has been strong all season. She is among the favorites to win the Defensive Player of the Year award this season.

Here is a look at some stats that support her case:

#1 Opponent True Shooting % differential

Angel Reese has proven herself a dominant presence on the court. According to Hoops Junkie, Reese’s opponents have a true shooting percentage of -6.0% when she is on the floor.

When Reese is on the court, the Dream’s opponents shoot 55.8%, and when she is off the court, they shoot 61.8%. Reese is ranked second in the league in this statistic.

#2 Team Block % Differential

According to Hoops Junkie, the Atlanta Dream make almost twice the number of blocks on two-point attempts when Reese is on the floor. They have a +4.5% block differential.

When Reese is on the floor, the Dream has 8.9% blocks per game. When she is off the court, the statistic falls to 4.3%. The Dream star ranks fourth in the league in this statistic.

#3 Team Steal % differential

The Dream’s defensive setups are more secure when Angel Reese is on the floor, with a steal % differential of +2.9%.

When Reese is on the court, the Dream swipes the ball 11.4% per game. When off the floor, that percentage drops to 8.6%. The Dream star ranks third in the league in this metric.

7. Single-game and season rebounding records

Angel Reese has been playing some of the best basketball of her career in her first stint with the Atlanta Dream. In a 78-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 24, the three-time All-Star broke the record for most rebounds in a single game. She recorded 26 rebounds in the win, breaking a 23-year-old record, which was previously held by Chamique Holdsclaw.

In the same game, Reese broke A’ja Wilson‘s record (451) for most rebounds in a single season. Later, the Dream star became the first player in WNBA history to record 500 rebounds in a single season. She currently has 521 rebounds this season.

6. Fastest player to reach 1,000 career rebound mark

Angel Reese shattered quite a few records this season. Earlier this season, she became the fastest player in league history to reach the 1,000 career rebound milestone.

She reached the milestone in the 79th game of her career, which, ironically, was a 113-96 win over the Indiana Fever on Jun. 20. Reese currently has a career total of 1344 rebounds.

5. Third consecutive rebounding leader

Since her rookie season, Angel Reese has made it clear that she is an ultimate competitor on the boards. She is a back-to-back rebounding leader, winning the title in 2024 and 2025.

The Dream star is currently leading the league in rebounds for the third consecutive season. She is averaging 12.1 rebounds per game, and it is safe to say that she will win the title for the third time in a row.

4. Fourth-highest Defensive VPM in the league

Reese has the fourth-highest defensive value per possession metric in the league. According to Databallr, the Dream star has a defensive VPM of +1.69. Only Aliyah Boston, Gabby Williams and A’ja Wilson are above her in this metric.

3. Leads the league in Opponent Turnover% differential

Angel Reese’s presence makes the Dream a turnover-forcing menace. According to Hoops Junkie, she is currently leading the league in opponent turnover percentage differential at +2.8%. It means that with Reese on the floor, Atlanta’s opponents are prone to turn the ball over.

Atlanta has an opponent turnover percentage of 18.5% with Reese on the floor and a 15.8% without her.

2. 4th best team defensive rating with a shorthanded front court

The Atlanta Dream have the fourth-best defensive rating in the league this season, at 103.5. With Brionna Jones out for the rest of the season, the Dream’s front-court defense relies heavily on Reese. So far, she has done a great job at commanding the Dream’s defensive line.

1. Best defensive rating differential in the league

Angel Reese leads the league in defensive rating differential this year, making her one of the most influential players on defensive possessions. She has a defensive rating differential of -15.5, meaning that the Dream’s opponents score 15.5 more points per 100 possessions when she is off the floor.

Combined with her elite rebounding skills, Reese’s importance on the Dream’s defense makes her a strong candidate for this season’s DPOY award.