Last weekend featured two of the most anticipated finals of this year’s sporting season, as Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG) took on Arsenal FC in the Champions League final, followed by the San Antonio Spurs taking down the NBA defending champions, the Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder on the same day.
The action began in European football, where PSG and Arsenal met in a historic Champions League Final. For Arsenal, the match represented an opportunity to secure their first European trophy in the club’s history. PSG, on the other hand, sought to defend their title after a successful campaign in the 2024-25 season. With both teams entering the match in near-perfect form, fans around the world witnessed a highly competitive contest as players such as Kai Havertz and Ousmane Dembele found the back of the net in the battle for continental superiority. PSG ultimately emerged victorious after a dramatic penalty shootout that ended with Gabriel Magalhães shooting the ball over the crossbar, with the match ending in a score of 4-3 after penalties.
“It was honestly quite devastating,” Oscar Lee (10), decade-long Arsenal fan, said. “Still, I was grateful that my favorite team was able to advance into the Champions League Final for the first time in 20 years.”
Later that evening, attention shifted across the Atlantic to the NBA Western Conference Finals. With the OKC Thunder aiming to secure their second consecutive NBA title, the stakes in Game 7 were at an all-time high. Standing in their way was the San Antonio Spurs, a young and talented team led by 7 ‘4 French phenom Victor Wembanyama. In a tightly contested matchup, the Spurs took the win with an 111-103 victory.
“It was such a good feeling,” Tiger Moon (10), San Antonio Spurs fan, said. “Wembanyama was really able to prove his abilities and showed the world why he deserved to be the first overall pick in the NBA draft.”
These two matches were the highlight of sports last week, and months of anticipation finally culminated in dramatic finales that showcased the very best of both soccer and basketball. Now that the Spurs have reached the NBA finals, the only obstacle remaining will be the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks.
