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In this week’s episode of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mary Pilon talk about the NBA Finals, including LeBron James’ inefficient dominance and the implications of player injuries. They’re also joined by Sports Illustrated’s Tim Layden to discuss American Pharoah’s Triple Crown win at the Belmont Stakes. Finally, they comment on the media coverage of the Women’s World Cup, with a focus on the allegations surrounding Hope Solo.

Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:

• Grantland’s Zach Lowe on Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
• Nate Silver predicted before Game 2 that losing Kyrie Irving to injury would reduce the Cavaliers’ chances of winning the series to 7 percent.
• Irving has faced pressure to play despite injuries, and he will now sit out the rest of the NBA Finals with a fractured kneecap.
• Since several of his teammates have been sidelined by injuries, LeBron James has been carrying the Cavaliers.
• Tim Layden writes about American Pharoah’s historic Triple Crown win in Sports Illustrated.
• Forty-three horses have died in New York since January, according to data from the New York State Gaming Commission.
• There have now been 12 Triple Crown winners, including American Pharoah.
• Prior to the race, a Wired article argued that it was unlikely American Pharoah would win based on several physiological factors, including the short recovery time between races.
• Earlier this year, 84 female soccer players lost a lawsuit against the use of artificial turf in the Women’s World Cup.
• Field temperatures reached 120 degrees in the tournament’s opening game.
• As of Monday June 8, FiveThirtyEight’s Soccer Power Index says the United States has a 26 percent chance to win the Women’s World Cup.
• Richard Deitsch on Fox’s terrible coverage of allegations against Hope Solo.
• Vanessa Dennis of PBS’s Newshour says FIFA is not doing a sufficient job of advertising the women’s tournament.
• The New York Times Magazine asks, “Why is U.S. Women’s Soccer Still Fighting to Exist?”

Hang Up and Listen’s weekly Football Ferns:

Mary’s football fern: Sports fans should embrace their role in dictating the behavior of sponsors like McDonald’s and Visa.

Stefan’s football fern: When talking about FIFA corruption, don’t forget little-known Thai Football Association president Worawi Makudi.

Josh’s football fern: A look back at Burgoo King, a contender for the Triple Crown in the 1930s, and the mysterious death of his young jockey.

On this week’s Slate Plus bonus segment, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mary Pilon discuss how they managed to shovel in so much TV watching during a jam-packed sports weekend. Visit slate.com/hangupplus and try it free for two weeks.

Podcast production and edit by Alexis Diao. Our intern is Emma Zehner.

You can email us at hangup@slate.com.