The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to their home city as World Series champions, and their adoring fans feted them with thunderous applause at a downtown parade.
On Monday, November 3, the Dodgers celebrated their glorious achievement ― becoming MLB's first repeat champion since the New York Yankees (1998-2000).
Two days earlier, the Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 at Rogers Centre.
After the morning parade, during which the players and team staff rode double-decker buses along the route, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto delighted the crowd with his comments during a fan rally at Dodger Stadium. More than 52,000 fans showed up at the ballpark for the rally.
"Losing isn't an option," Yamamoto said in English, the Associated Press reported. "To my teammates, my coaches, amazing staff and all the fans, we did it together. I love the Dodgers, I love Los Angeles."
Yamamoto was the first pitcher to win three games in the Fall Classic since Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Randy Johnson in 2001. He was the winning starter in Games 2 and 6, and pitching on no days' rest in Game 7, worked 2⅔ innings in relief.
Dodgers Superstar Ohtani Shares Thoughts on 2025 Title
Shohei Ohtani, the overwhelming favorite to repeat as National League MVP, also addressed the fans at the Dodgers' iconic ballpark.
His heartfelt message delighted the crowd.
"I want to say that I'm so proud of this team, and I want to say that you guys are the greatest fans in the world," Ohtani was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
Ohtani also delivered a reminder of his only objective for 2026.
"I'm ready to get another ring next year," the two-way superstar declared, according to The Associated Press. "Let's go."
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, who began the season as a starter and, after his return from an injury, made key contributions in the playoffs as a reliever, also celebrated his 24th birthday on Monday.
The Character of the World Series Champions
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the ballpark crowd with a spirited speech that highlighted his impressions of the team's character.
In the aftermath of the team's Game 7 triumph, the three-time World Series-winning skipper said "mirror" was a symbolic word to characterize the team's achievement.
"The reason I bring this word up is because every time we take the field, our players look in the mirror, and what we see is you guys (the fans)," Roberts said, according to the KTLA TV website. "We see toughness, we see passion, we see perseverance, too.
"And I'll tell you right now, this group of guys right now, they were never going to be denied to bring this city another championship. Every single day, when you guys look in the mirror as you guys unpack this season, you look back at each one of these guys and see what they sacrificed for each other, and most importantly for you guys."
Roberts has a precise goal for next season.
"What's better than two [titles]? Three!" he told the enthusiastic crowd, the Los Angeles Times reported. "Three-peat, three-peat! Let's go."
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Golf
Yamashita Triumphs in 3-Way Playoff at Maybank Championship
Miyuu Yamashita, one of the rising stars on the LPGA Tour, captured the Maybank Championship title on Sunday, November 2, in Kuala Lumpur.
Yamashita defeated South Korea's Hye Jin Choi and Australia's Hannah Green in a one-hole playoff.
On the par-5 18th hole, Yamashita made a birdie, while Choi and Green both finished at even par.
In regulation, the three golfers had 18-under 270s.
Yamashita had her best round of the tourney on Sunday, carding a 7-under 65. She shot a 66, a 70 and a 69 in the first three rounds.
"It's my first time [in a playoff] on the LPGA Tour, so I was really nervous," Yamashita said. "In every tournament, I try to aim for a win, and I'm very happy to have won for the second time this season."
Yamashita won her first LPGA Tour title at the Women's British Open, aka the AIG Women's Open, on August 3 in Wales.
During the third round in Malaysia, Yamashita said her putting was "not good," so she focused on her short game for the final round.
"I just practiced a lot," said Yamashita.
On Sunday, "my putting was solid and I could make many birdies," said Yamashita before adding, "so I'm very happy about it."
She had seven birdies in the final round, helping her tie for the day's best round.
Yamashita climbed from sixth to fourth in the world rankings on Monday.
Up next: The LPGA Tour's Toto Japan Classic (November 6-9) is in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture.
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Figure Skating
Chiba Victorious in Skate Canada International
Japan's Mone Chiba and Ami Nakai finished first and third, respectively, in the Skate Canada International women's competition on Saturday, November 1.
In Saskatoon, Chiba received 144.94 points in the free skate. Including her total from the short program, she placed atop the standings with 217.23 points for the two-day event.
The 20-year-old Chiba, who claimed bronze at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, was victorious in a Grand Prix series event for the first time.
"I'm very happy that I was able to finish this first Grand Prix event of the season with the best result possible and I'm able to move forward to my second Grand Prix," Chiba said after her dazzling performance to "Romeo and Juliet" in the free skate.
She added, "In both the short program and free program, there are obviously things that I can improve on, but in spite of my nerves, I was able to put it together. I want to be able to fight for even cleaner programs in the next event."
Chiba's next Grand Prix assignment is the Finlandia Trophy (November 21-23) in Helsinki.
Nakai, meanwhile, became the first female skater to clinch a spot in the Grand Prix Final, which will be held December 4-7 in Nagoya. She amassed 203.99 points to nab the bronze at Skate Canada. (On October 18, Nakai secured the women's title at the Grand Prix de France, a big step toward qualifying for the GP Final.)
Isabeau Levito of the United States was the runner-up in Saskatoon (209.77).
Malinin Establishes Personal-Best Score
In the men's competition, US superstar Ilia "The Quad God" Malinin had a record-setting score in the free skate (228.97) en route to victory on Sunday, November 2. He finished with 333.81 points, a personal-best total.
Malinin had six quadruple jumps in his spectacular free skate at Skate Canada.
"I think that it was one of the best programs I've done so far this season," Malinin said, according to the International Skating Union website. "After coming back from Grand Prix France, I really worked on just the cleanliness and feeling more confident on the ice and I definitely felt that today in my program."
Estonia's Aleksandr Selevko was the silver medalist (257.21) and Kao Miura secured the bronze (253.69) for Japan.
Kazuki Tomono slipped from second (after the short program) to fourth on the final day. He finished with 251.46 points.
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Basketball
Velca, Diamond Dolphins Setting the Pace in B.League's West
The Nagasaki Velca earned their 11th consecutive victory on Sunday, November 2, routing the host Kawasaki Brave Thunders 99-79.
Led by Jarrell Brantley's 21 points, five Velca players scored in double figures. Former NBA forward Stanley Johnson had an 18-point effort and Yudai Baba chipped in with 16. (Among all B.League players, Johnson is third overall in scoring at 21.2 points per game.)
On the same day, the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins recorded a 100-69 victory over the visiting Hiroshima Dragonflies. It was Nagoya's 10th straight win, and dynamic playmaker Takumi Saito had a team-best and season-high 20 points along with seven assists. Four of Saito's teammates also finished with 10 or more points in the rout.
Riding impressive winning streaks, the Velca and the Diamond Dolphins are tied for the best record (11-1) in the 13-team Western Conference. Furthermore, they are tied for the top record in the B.League, sharing that distinction with the Eastern Conference's Chiba Jets.
The Jets opened the season with 10 consecutive victories, then lost their first game on November 1 (a 78–69 road defeat to the Alvark Tokyo). A day later, Chiba bounced back with an 81-69 triumph.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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