The U.S. women's national soccer team last night defeated Germany 2-0 in a FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal before a "near capacity crowd" of 51,176 in Montreal, advancing to Sunday's final in Vancouver. The crowd was "dominated by the red-white-and-blue, to the point where the game felt as though it were being played in New York or Chicago." The USWNT "seemed to respond to the massive outpouring of support with perhaps their best performance of the World Cup to date" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 7/1). For "all their flaws, this legacy-rich group of athletes still knows how to soar when the lights are brightest" (L.A. TIMES, 7/1).

The Univ. of Notre Dame today announced that it has finalized an agreement with Fermata Partners to begin management of the school's trademark licensing program. Notre Dame has 210 licensees that will begin the contract transition process immediately. The school becomes the fifth to align with Atlanta-based Fermata, joining Kentucky, Georgia, Oregon and Miami. All those deals have been secured in the past year. This marks Fermata's first major collegiate deal since being acquired by CAA (THE DAILY).

Chevrolet today will announce a long-term founding partnership for one of Daytona Int'l Speedway's five “injector” entrances being built as part of the $400M Daytona Rising project. The Detroit-based manufacturer, which joins Toyota and Florida Hospital as other brands that have struck founding partner-level deals, will have the right to brand and market Injector No. 2, which has 20,000 square feet of space plus a connecting “neighborhood” that features retail, dining and restrooms. Chevy also gets a presence at the World Center of Racing Zone being built as part of the project, and receives tickets and hospitality assets plus pace-car rights in select years.

Sources said that the track has been asking 10- to 15-year terms at $2-2.5M annually for the four smaller injectors, but DIS President Joie Chitwood III declined to confirm or deny those figures and added that the sides are officially calling the pact a multiyear one.

NBA free agency began overnight, and the '15-16 "salary cap is expected to come in" as much as $2M "higher than initial projections." This "could lead to significantly more spending room per team in the free agency period." Teams have been operating with an estimated cap of $67.1M. Sources said that the luxury-tax threshold, projected at $81.6M, "also is expected to be pegged at a significantly higher number" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/1). With the league's new TV deal beginning in '16-17 free agents this summer are "likely not going to accept anything now that potentially limits" them from "negotiating a hefty pay raise once the TV deal starts" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/1).

Signings have already begun, with the Spurs and F Kawhi Leonard agreeing to the "framework of a maximum contract extension" that could pay him more than $90M over five years (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/1). It "took only a minute into the start of free agency" for the Pelicans and C Anthony Davis to agree to a five year, $145M extension (NOLA.com, 7/1).

The NHL free agency signing period begins today at noon ET, and most GMs "know that they will overrate, overvalue and then overpay this year's unrestricted free agent class." If there were "ever a summer to wade carefully into the free agent pool, it is this one." At best, the pool "includes serviceable players." At worst, the pool "includes too many players whose performance levels are challenging to predict" (USA TODAY, 7/1).

Minnesota's quest for an MLS team "reaches a critical juncture" today, when the ownership group is "expected to ask the league to extend a deadline to show progress on its plans for a stadium in downtown Minneapolis." The deadline was originally set for today. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has "virtually ruled out alternate sites" by "maintaining that the league was sticking to the expansion agreement of building a soccer-only downtown stadium." An MLS spokesperson said that the league today "would elaborate on its issues" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/1).

NASCAR today announced that 130 of the Fortune 500 companies use the sport as part of their marketing platform, the third consecutive year that number has increased. The figure is up 7% from last year and up 20% since '08. That includes companies working with race teams, tracks and the sanctioning body. Meanwhile, the number of Fortune 500 tech companies involved in NASCAR is up 66% from '13, buoyed by Microsoft’s recent partnership with the sport (THE DAILY).

The sport is "far gone from the days when STP was king and had a prominent spot on Richard Petty's car." Brands linked to NASCAR now include "technology companies like Microsoft and Oracle." This is "not your granddaddy's NASCAR any more" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/1).

ESPN hired Marysol Castro to host “Premier Boxing Champions” and serve as a sideline reporter for the Little League World Series on ESPN. The former news anchor on N.Y.’s WPIX-CW will make her debut July 11 during ESPN’s launch of its "PBC" series. Castro also has had stints on CBS’ “The Early Show” and ABC’s “GMA.”

ESPN firmed up the rest of its "PBC" talent roster, choosing Todd Grisham and Bernardo Osuna to serve as "PBC" reporters, with Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas calling the fights ringside. On ESPN Deportes, Pablo Viruega and Delvin Rodriguez will call the fights, and Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will serve as co-hosts. Former referee Joe Cortez also will provide analysis.

As of today, 17 of the Univ. of Tennessee's 18 intercollegiate men's and women's sports teams "are hereby called Vols." The women's basketball program will keep the "Lady Vols" moniker (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/1). The move comes "despite sustained dissent and pressure that began shortly after the decision was announced." The change coincides with Tennessee's "transition to using Nike as its apparel provider" for all sports (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 6/28).

Nike co-founder & Chair Phil Knight yesterday “announced plans to step away from the company.” Knight, who helped launch the company in '64, has recommended CEO Mark Parker “replace him as company chairman, a change likely to occur” in '16 (OREGONLIVE.com, 6/30).

Yahoo Senior Dir of Fantasy Sports Clifton Ma has moved to FanDuel, where he will be GM/New Products. Ma will be based in L.A. and report to FanDuel CFO Matt King. Ma, a board member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, worked at Yahoo since '07 (Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large).

MasterCard today announced that it has extended its UEFA Champions League sponsorship through ’18 (MasterCard).

Churchill Downs has renamed its $175,000 September stakes, “designed as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup,” after trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic was formerly called the Homecoming Classic (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 6/30).

Digital media property ThePostGame today announced a sales and marketing partnership with ESP Properties and the launch of the TPG Studios creative services and production unit. ThePostGame also announced that it extended its content and distribution deal with Yahoo (ThePostGame).

Toyota runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating NASCAR driver Kyle Busch on his Toyota/Save Mart 350 victory: “Rowdy’s Back” (THE DAILY).

“The story is garbage. Team is staying put” – NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, on a N.Y. Post story on the Coyotes relocating to Las Vegas (TWITTER.com, 6/30).

“I’m not a big magic fan. It kind of creeps me out a little bit, but it was cool. That’s Joe” – Cubs P Jon Lester, on manager Joe Maddon bringing a magician into the clubhouse to lighten things up during a five-game losing streak (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 6/30).

"It’s his decision. I don’t feel great about it. We’ve spent a lot of money promoting this fight. A lot of people are excited about the fight, so it’s definitely disappointing” – UFC President Dana White, on Jose Aldo pulling out of his featherweight title fight with Conor McGregor due to a rib injury (MMAJUNKIE.com, 6/30).

“We love the fact that you can come to a Nationals game and walk out smarter” – Nationals Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer Valerie Camillo, on the team planning to introduce a Calvin Coolidge racing mascot during Friday’s game against the Giants (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 7/1).

Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” led with a countdown to NBA free agency, followed by the U.S.-Germany Women’s World Cup semifinal, Royals-Astros and Pirates-Tigers. Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with U.S.-Germany, followed by Jose Aldo withdrawing from UFC 189, Red Sox-Blue Jays and Rangers-Orioles.

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann called out his “world’s worst” persons in sports: Swedish F John Guidetti for “trash-talking” after defeating Denmark. Olbermann also blasted NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent for criticizing the NFLPA “for suing the league over stuff,” and Ukrainian tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov for hitting himself in the face with an attempted volley during his Wimbledon match.

The DETROIT NEWS notes Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert "has taken a leading role in the city's fight against blight." But his company, Detroit-based Quicken Loans, "had the fifth-highest number of mortgages that ended in foreclosure in Detroit over the last decade."

The HARTFORD COURANT notes Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos Jr. "remains Public Enemy No. 1" in Central Connecticut for uprooting the Whalers. But in North Carolina, he is "revered for bringing the National Hockey League to the region." And in Detroit, he is "considered an innovator and legend in the world of youth hockey."

Also:

• Did Nielsen botch radio ratings, force stations off the air?
• Las Vegas moves toward arcade-style video gambling games.
• MLB will be welcoming environment for first openly gay player.
• Why the Big 12 should not rush headlong into expansion.
• What is unique about playing tennis on grass versus other surfaces?
• NFL's Troy Vincent discusses his role in Deflategate punishment.
• Pro Football HOFers reflect on Robert Kraft-led trip to Israel.

Buried in Nike news: Board approved $30 million stock award for CEO Mark Parker. Needs to stay five years to get full value.

— Matthew Kish (@matthewkish) June 30, 2015

If my Fox Sports Go stream is any indication, we're not ready for an OTT world just yet.

— Joe Flint (@JBFlint) July 1, 2015

A League of Their Own was released on this date in 1992. A @lindsayczarniak tribute to the Rockford Peaches. pic.twitter.com/vmhmW7NQec

— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) July 1, 2015

We all know @espngolic we're living in a world where folks believe ATHLETES should be THANKFUL for what they have. Executives? Never that!

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 1, 2015

MillerCoors next week plans to launch a four-month ad campaign “extolling its status as an employer and corporate citizen in the eight U.S. cities where it makes beer.” The initiative marks the “first time MillerCoors is promoting its business image instead of solely marketing beer brands” (DENVER POST, 7/1).

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Famous Women.”

“On January 5, 1939, in a Los Angeles probate court, this national heroine was declared legally dead.”

“Who was Amelia Earhart?”

Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937.