A Milli Futbol Takımı, 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası D Grubu ilk maçında Avustralya'ya 2-0 mağlup oldu. Karşılamanın sonucu dünyada yankı yaratırken Ozan Kabakçı'nın takımı Almanya Bundesliga ekibi Hoffenheim'dan dikkat çeken bir paylaşım geldi.

A Milli Futbol Takımı'nın Avustralya'ya 2-0 mağlup olması dünya basınında geniş yankı uyandırdı. Sonuç büyük şaşkınlık yaratırken Ozan Kabakçı'nın forma giydiği Hoffenheim da sessiz kalamadı ve resmi sosyal medya hesabından paylaşımda bulundu.

YEDEK KULÜBESİNDE YER ALDI

Türkiye'nin Dünya Kupası kadrosuna Vincenzo Montella tarafından seçilen isimlerden biri olan Ozan Kabak, Avustralya maçında yedek kulübesinde yer aldı.

Milli Takım'ın stoper ikilisinde Merih Demiral ve Abdülkerim Bardakcı yer aldı.

'OZAN YOK GALİBİYET YOK'

Ozan Kabak'ın formasını giydiği Hoffenheim, mücadelenin ardından bir tweet attı ve "Ozan yok, zafer de yok… Hadi günaydın" ifadelerine yer verildi.

Bu sezon Alman ekibiyle 26 maça çıkan Ozan Kabak, 4 kere de ağları havalandırdı.

Geçtiğimiz sezonun devre arasında Atletico Madrid'in Atalanta'dan kadrosuna kattığını Ademola Lookman için flaş bir iddia ortaya atıldı.

Fichajes'te yer alan habere göre; Nijeryalı futbolcunun teknik direktör Diego Simeone'nin beklentilerini tam olarak karşılayamadığı ve kulübün yaklaşık 50 milyon euro civarında gelecek teklifleri değerlendirmeye alabileceği belirtildi. Atlético Madrid’in oyuncuyu kış transfer döneminde yaklaşık 35 milyon euro karşılığında transfer ettiği vurgulandı.

Haberde, Simeone’nin Lookman’ın bireysel kalitesini zaman zaman beğense de taktik disiplin ve istikrar konusunda yeterli katkıyı alamadığı ifade edildi. Öte yandan İspanyol ekibinin, kadro planlamasında uygun teklif gelmesi halinde satışa onay verebileceği aktarıldı.

Atlético Madrid’in, gelecek tekliflere göre Lookman’ın geleceğine karar vereceği kaydedildi.

LOOKMAN'IN PERFORMANSI

Bu sezonun ikinci yarısında İspanyol ekibinde 24 maça çıkan 28 yaşındaki oyuncu, bu müsabakalarda 9 gol atıp 3 de asist yaptı.

Motosiklet sürücüsü Can Öncü, Dünya Supersport Şampiyonası'nın İtalya ayağında hafta sonunun ikinci yarışını 10. bitirdi.

Dünya Supersport Şampiyonası'nın 7'nci etabında 18 turluk son yarış, Rimini'nin Misano Adriatico kasabasındaki Misano Pisti'nde gerçekleştirildi.

Pata Yamaha Ten Kate takımı adına yarışan ay-yıldızlı genç motosikletçi Can Öncü, hafta sonunun son yarışında damalı bayrağı 10. geçti.

Misano'daki son yarışı, AS BLU CRU takımından şampiyona lideri İspanyol Albert Arenas birinci, PTR Triumph takımından İngiliz pilot Tom Booth-Amos ikinci, AS BLU CRU takımının diğer sürücüsü Endonezyalı Aldi Satya Mahendra üçüncü tamamladı.

- Bahattin Sofuoğlu, Misano'daki son yarışı tamamlayamadı

Motosiklet sporcusu Bahattin Sofuoğlu ise Dünya Superbike Şampiyonası'nın (WorldSBK) 7. ayağında İtalya'da hafta sonunun son ana yarışını motosikletinde yaşadığı mekanik problem nedeniyle tamamlayamadı.

WorldSBK'nin Misano ayağında ikinci yarışı, Aruba Ducati takımından İtalyan motosikletçi Nicolo Bulega kazandı. Bulega, geçen sezonki Estoril ayağının ikinci yarışından itibaren üst üste 24 yarışı birinci bitirerek kendisine ait superbike rekorunu geliştirdi.

Pilotlar klasmanı lideri Bulega, puanını 434'e yükselterek 2. sıradaki takım arkadaşı Iker Lecuona ile arasındaki farkı (313) açtı.

Dünya Superbike Şampiyonası ile Dünya Supersport Şampiyonası'nın 8. ayağı, 10-12 Temmuz tarihlerinde İngiltere Donington Park Pisti'nde koşulacak.

2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası E Grubu'ndaki ilk maçta Almanya ile Curaçao karşı karşıya geliyor. Karşılaşma TSİ 20.00'de başladı.

2026 Dünya Kupası'nda heyecan devam ediyor.

Julian Nagelsmann yönetimindeki Almanya, Dick Advocaat'ın çalıştırdığı Curaçao ile karşı karşıya geliyor.

ALMANYA - CURAÇAO MAÇI SAAT KAÇTA?

NRG Stadyumu'nda oynanan mücadele TSİ 20:00'de başladı.

ALMANYA - CURAÇAO MAÇI HANGİ KANALDA?

Faslı hakem Jalal Jayed'in yöneteceği karşılaşma TRT 1'den şifresiz bir şekilde yayımlanacak.

İLK 11'LER

Almanya: Neuer, Kimmich, Tah, Scholotterbeck, Brown, Nmecha, Pavlovic, Sane, Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz.

Curaçao: Room, Fonville, Obispo, Bazoer, Floranus, Comenencia, Bacuna, J. Bacuna, T. Chong, Locadia, Hansen.

İngiliz şarkıcı Perrie Edwards ile futbolcu Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Portekiz'de aile ve yakın dostlarının katıldığı özel bir törenle evlendi. Futbol ve müzik dünyasından birçok tanınmış ismin yer aldığı düğün büyük ilgi gördü.

Bir dönem Beşiktaş forması giyen Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ve İngiliz müziğinin tanınmış isimlerinden Perrie Edwards, sade bir törenle dünyaevine girdi. 2022 yılında nişanlanan çift, Portekiz'in Faro bölgesine bağlı Estoi köyünde evlendi. Yaklaşık 70 davetlinin katıldığı tören, yakın aile üyeleri ve dostların yer aldığı samimi bir atmosferde gerçekleştirildi.

DÜĞÜNE ESKİ TAKIM ARKADAŞLARI DA KATILDI

Bir dönem Beşiktaş, Liverpool ve Arsenal formalarını giyen Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, siyah smokiniyle düğüne giriş yaptı. Futbolcunun babası eski profesyonel futbolcu Mark Chamberlain ve kardeşi Christian da törende hazır bulundu. Perrie Edwards ise klasik beyaz bir Mercedes ile tören alanına geldi. Ünlü şarkıcıya babası Alexander eşlik etti.

Düğüne Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain'in eski takım arkadaşlarından Danny Welbeck, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson ve Harrison Reed de katıldı.

Reports in Italy claim that Massimiliano Allegri could give up on the severance pay he is owed from Milan in order to take up the vacant head coach position at Napoli. 

Milan night not have to pay any severance pay to Allegri

Allegri was dismissed as head coach of Milan the day after the 2025-26 season came to an end. 

He is widely expected to take over as head coach of Napoli, replacing Antonio Conte on a two-year contract, however, he must first come to an agreement to terminate his contract with Milan before starting work in Naples. 

Despite discussions over the last few weeks, Allegri and Milan have not yet come to a mutual agreement. 

Allegri would have been due to earn €5m on the second year of his Milan contract, expiring next summer, and he is reportedly set to earn €4.5m per year on his new deal with Napoli. According to reports on Sunday, Milan have offered to pay €500,000 in severance, i.e. the difference between the coach’s Milan and Napoli salaries. 

Calciomercato.com claims that Allegri’s initial request was for €2m and a further €3m for his staff. 

However, with the start of pre-season quickly approaching and with no agreement in place between the coach and club, the latest reports claim that Allegri is considering walking away from Milan without severance pay, so that he can get to work with Napoli within the coming weeks, if not days.

Weston McKennie believes that hosting the 2026 World Cup will ‘change football in the United States’, says that Milan’s Christian Pulisic will always be ready in decisive moments, but says that he has not heard much from the developments taking place at Juventus. 

McKennie on a flying start to the 2026 World Cup with the USA

McKennie and his USMNT colleagues got their home World Cup campaign off to a flyer with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Los Angeles. Though it was Folarin Balogun who provided a brace, McKennie and Pulisic were widely praised for their individual performances on the night. 

“A victory like this was exactly what I was hoping for,” said McKennie in an in-depth interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“Obviously, you never know what’s going to happen on the pitch because there are so many different expectations. But we know what we’re capable of, and the world has taken notice. 

“Winning 4-1 in the opening match is great, of course, but it’s just the beginning. That’s why we don’t want to overdo the celebrations; this needs to become the norm for us. Now we still have two group stage matches: let’s continue with performances like this and try to improve even further.” 

A moment of individual brilliance from Pulisic led to Damian Bobadilla turning the ball into his own net for the USA’s opener against Paraguay. That was the moment that McKennie thought his nation would get off to a winning start. 

“Probably after the own goal. I thought: ‘Okay, luck is a bit on our side today…’ But the moment that truly gave me goosebumps was when we walked onto the pitch: we listened to the anthem and sang it all together, us and the fans. It’s hard to describe a feeling like that unless you experience it firsthand. 

“In that moment, I thought back to all the hard work put in by the team, the staff, the coach, and the life journeys everyone had taken to get there, all together.”

McKennie praises head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the mindset that he has been able to bring to his squad. 

“For now, let’s take the positives from this match and not get ahead of ourselves. It was fantastic, and do you know why? We wanted to go out there and play like childhood friends, and we succeeded. That’s the secret. 

“The coach often tells us that the hard work is what we do before the match. The sacrifices, the time invested, the commitment: that’s the real graft. Then you go out there and the fun begins, because opportunities like these don’t come around often in a career. 

“And if you make a mistake, never mind, there’s always a teammate ready to cover for you. I’ve never seen the kind of unity we have, both on and off the pitch, in any other team I’ve been a part of.”

It has only been one game, but McKennie is confident that the 2026 World Cup campaign will change the way that football is viewed in the United States. 

“There are many people who, perhaps, had never come to support us before: we hope that, thanks to this performance, they can get to know us and feel closer to us. We want to be a team that people can identify with. We want them to see the joy with which we play, the electricity in the stadium. 

“And for those who say football is boring, well, there were five goals in the first game, so maybe they’ll change their minds! Hosting this World Cup will definitely change football in the United States, it’s impossible not to be moved by this amount of passion.” 

Pulisic has not hit the back of the net for Milan in 2026, but McKennie feels that his compatriot is always ready to step up in the big moments. 

“Christian is always ready when it truly matters. In recent months, many people have criticised him, wondering if he would be fit for the World Cup, if he would be able to make a difference. 

“But I’ve always said it, and I’ll continue to say it: I’ll support him indefinitely, as will the whole team. Christian is one of those players who never falters in decisive moments, and now I hope he continues.”

McKennie was also full of praise for the performance that centre-forward Balogun put in against Paraguay. 

“Balogun did his job, what we expect from him and what he expects from himself. He’s decisive in important moments and an extremely clinical finisher. If someone didn’t know what kind of player he is, I think they’ll have understood now. But I also think Folarin showed another side of himself that perhaps many hadn’t noticed before. 

“Against Paraguay, he got stuck into tackles, put his body on the line, and sacrificed himself for the team. In the past, perhaps some didn’t consider him a player willing to do the dirty work, but he’s shown everyone he’s ready to do it.”

McKennie was also asked for his thoughts about the change of CEO at Juventus, with Damien Comolli having been replaced by Giovanni Carnevali earlier this week. The Bianconeri midfielder says that he has no time to focus on anything other than the World Cup campaign at this point, though. 

“I haven’t heard anything about what’s happening in Turin, but I always have faith in Juve. I haven’t even spoken to my teammates about it. Right now, I’m focused on this tournament, which is too important for all of us. Once it’s over, then I can think about the rest and deal with Juve.” 

Everton are involved in a three-way transfer battle for the signature of Chelsea teenage attacker Sol Gordon.

Sol Gordon’s impressive performances at the youth level have attracted significant interest from Premier League clubs. Chelsea might struggle to hold onto the teenager, as contract renewal talks haven’t gone according to plan.

According to a report from Football Insider, Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle are all after the signature of Gordon. All three clubs are closely monitoring his situation and will look to pounce on any opportunity to lure him away from Stamford Bridge.

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Sol Gordon could leave Chelsea this summer

While the 18-year-old right-winger is yet to make his first-team debut, he has been doing wonders for Chelsea at the youth level. He enjoyed an outstanding campaign for the Blues’ Under-18s last season, helping them clinch the title. He finished with 11 goals and six assists from 28 games and also featured for their Under-21s a couple of times.

Gordon is quite highly regarded by people at Stamford Bridge, and they want to ensure he continues at the club. However, with his contract set to expire in 12 months and contract renewal talks stalling, there is a high chance he will be on the move this summer.

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More Stories / Latest News

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Jun 14 2026, 14:26

Premier League trio are after Gordon’s signature

Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle are all waiting in the wings for the perfect opportunity to try and strike a deal for the teenager. They consider the versatile forward a great option for the long run and want to add him to their squads this summer.

While he might not have played first-team football at Chelsea, the trio could offer him a shorter route to the senior team in an attempt to lure him. However, the Blues could still look to agree fresh terms with him in the coming weeks.

The post Everton and Newcastle tracking Chelsea’s next breakout star this summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed star edge rusher T. J. Watt to a three-year, $123 million extension last summer, the move was viewed as a commitment to one of the franchise’s greatest defensive players. Less than a year later, however, not everyone is convinced the deal will age well.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon ranked Watt’s contract as the fifth-worst in the league, citing concerns about the veteran pass rusher’s recent decline in production.

“The 31-year-old’s sack numbers have plummeted from 19 in 2023 to 11.5 in 2024 to seven in 2025,” Gagnon wrote. “This was his first relatively full non-All-Pro season since 2018, indicating that a decline is well underway.”

Watt, who turns 32 during the 2026 season, is coming off a campaign in which he recorded seven sacks after posting 11.5 in 2025 and 19 in 2023. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year remained a disruptive force, but his sack totals have steadily declined over the last three seasons.

The financial commitment is substantial. Watt’s extension carries $108 million in guaranteed money and ties him to Pittsburgh through the 2028 season. Gagnon also pointed to the potential long-term ramifications of the deal.

“Even if the Steelers move on after the 2027 campaign, Watt will have cost the team $94 million in salary and dead-cap charges for just two seasons of work,” he wrote.

Despite the criticism, Watt remains one of the most accomplished defenders in franchise history. He owns the NFL’s single-season sack record and has been the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s defense for nearly a decade. His presence still commands attention from opposing offenses and creates opportunities for those around him.

However, the Steelers’ edge-rushing room has evolved. Pittsburgh recently signed rising star Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100 million extension, while veteran starter Alex Highsmith remains under contract as well. With significant money now invested in all three players, the organization could eventually face difficult decisions regarding how resources are allocated along the defensive front.

For now, there is little indication the Steelers are ready to move on from Watt. Still, as Herbig continues to emerge and Highsmith remains a productive starter, questions about the future of Pittsburgh’s EDGE room are likely to persist.

A few years ago, the idea of the Steelers parting ways with Watt would have seemed unthinkable. If his production continues to trend downward while the team’s younger pass rushers ascend, that conversation may eventually become much less shocking.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

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Virgil van Dijk’s World Cup Farewell Carries Weight for Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk has rarely done sentiment in public. His career has been built on control, presence and a refusal to let noise become the story. Yet the confirmation that the Liverpool defender is expected to retire from international football after the 2026 World Cup gives this tournament a deeper emotional edge.

According to Dutch publication SoccerNews.nl, Van Dijk has decided this will be his final act with the Netherlands. For a player who has captained his country through European finals, intense scrutiny and changing generations, the timing feels deliberate rather than dramatic.

Speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, Van Dijk admitted the thought of walking away had first emerged after Euro 2024.

“After the last European Championship, I did have doubts about quitting,” he admitted.

“There was so much negativity in and around the group at the time that I was completely fed up with it for a while.”

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool Future Adds Intrigue

For Liverpool, the timing is impossible to ignore. Van Dijk remains under contract until June 2027, yet reports of Galatasaray interest add uncertainty to a summer already shaped by change at Anfield.

Andoni Iraola has just arrived as Liverpool head coach and is expected to reshape both the squad and leadership group. That does not automatically mean Van Dijk’s role is diminished, but it does raise a clear question, where does a 34-year-old captain fit inside a new cycle?

This is not a simple footballing equation. Van Dijk’s influence at Liverpool has always gone beyond defending set pieces or winning duels. Since his £75 million arrival from Southampton in January 2018, he has changed the rhythm of the side. Liverpool defended higher, played calmer and believed bigger because he was there.

World Cup Exit Could Frame Final Chapter

Van Dijk also made clear that his relationship with Ronald Koeman remains strong.

“We have a very good relationship and speak often.”

“We discuss the personalities and the composition of the group.”

“I certainly give my opinion, but I will never tell him who he should or should not leave at home.”

“He decides that himself.”

That sounds like a captain preparing to leave responsibly, not retreating emotionally. The World Cup opener against Japan now carries extra meaning. Every match from here could be one step closer to the end of Van Dijk in orange.

For Liverpool supporters, the wider concern is obvious. If this is the end of his international career, is the final club chapter also approaching? The answer may come this summer, with Iraola assessing his captaincy, Galatasaray circling and Van Dijk facing the realities of age, legacy and renewal.

Whatever happens next, his status is secure. Virgil van Dijk has been one of the defining defenders of his era. The World Cup now offers one last international stage for a player who changed Liverpool, lifted the Netherlands and made defending feel grand again.

The Buffalo Bills have concluded mandatory minicamp, which means just one thing: The quietest part of the NFL calendar is now upon us as we wait for training camp to begin in late July.

Don’t get me wrong, a little bit of downtime in the NFL calendar is a good thing for players, staff, beat reporters, and fans. That makes this the time of year where “no news is good news” when it comes to your favorite team. The last thing anyone wants to hear about are off-field troubles, fluke injuries, or unforeseen accidents. We all remember the Nyheim Hines jet ski injury from three years ago, which is the type of news every fans wants to avoid in the offseason.

There’s plenty for Bills fans to look forward to heading toward training camp, which should make these next six weeks fly by. A return to St. John Fisher University always gets fans excited, as the team celebrates 25 years of training camp at their home-away-from-home. Soon enough we’ll be getting reports on the latest camp scuffles, highlights from undrafted free agents, and updates on our projected 53-man rosters.

This lull in the calendar usually has me clamoring for the first preseason game of the year —- which I usually regret about five minutes after kickoff. But this year will certainly be different, as preseason games will give Bills Mafia their first true look at game day in the new Highmark Stadium (no disrespect to the team’s intra-squad scrimmage). For the first time in a long time, fans will be clamoring to get their hands on preseason football tickets.

Of course the preseason will quickly shift to the regular season, where the weekly performance of our beloved Bills will have a direct impact on my mood for the following week. As my wife and kids will remind me, they love it when the Bills win.

So while the quiet time of the offseason is upon us, it won’t be long before we’re swooning over Kaleb Elarms-Orr highlights from training camp, counting down the days to the preseason opener, and overreacting to everything that Keon Coleman says and does. I can’t wait!

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka withdrew from the RBC Canadian Open before Sunday's final round because of a hand injury.

After Koepka shot a 2-over-par 72 on Saturday, he revealed he could hardly hold his clubs when he was trying to swing.

"I don't know what it is," Koepka said. "I'm struggling to grip the club with my ring finger and pinkie finger, so can't grip it. So the club is kind of just, my fingers would come loose, it was kind of numb. I don't know what the deal was but hopefully we'll figure it out."

He received treatment on his left arm and elbow and said he "felt better the last few holes." However, his status is now in question for the upcoming U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where he won his second Open title in 2018.

Koepka was only two shots off the lead entering Saturday's third round, but his 72 dropped him all the way down to a tie for 32nd place as the final round began.

How to watch RBC Canadian Open final round

Here's a look at the TV and streaming schedule for Sunday's action at TPC Toronto:

• ESPN+: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET
• Golf Channel: 3-6 p.m. ET (Streaming on Fubo)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did Brooks Koepka withdraw? He leaves Canadian Open with injury

Dublin advanced into Round Three of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with a commanding second-half performance seeing them eliminate Cavan at Kingspan Breffni with a 1-24 to 0-16 win.

Despite leading by a single point at half-time, Dublin were clinical and punished a series of Cavan misses including over 10 wides for the Breffni men to see out an 11-point victory.

In a lively opening half, the sides were level on several occasions in an end-to-end contest with Dublin taking a narrow 0-13 to 0-12 lead into the break.

However, Cavan's wastefulness in front of goal proved costly, with a series of wides allowing Dublin to stay in touch before gradually taking control after the restart.

A key moment came when Ciarán Brady was penalised for a foul on Colm Basquel, allowing O'Callaghan to convert a penalty as Dublin's lead became unassailable.

The Breffni men were unable to mount a sustained comeback and bow out of the championship, while Dublin progress to Round Three and await their opponents following Monday's draw.

Dublin edge ahead at the break

In a tense, high-tempo opening period, there was little to separate the sides early on as both teams traded scores in an absorbing first half.

Cavan made a bright start on home soil, with early contributions from Paddy Lynch and Gerard Smith helping them settle, but there were already warning signs as the hosts registered six wides inside the opening 10 minutes, while Dublin proved more clinical and strung together a series of unanswered scores.

However, Conor Brady's two-point effort sparked the Breffni men into life midway through the half, levelling matters, before Paddy Lynch soon followed with a two-pointer of his own to edge the hosts ahead as they enjoyed spells of momentum in front of a vocal crowd of 14,486.

Dublin, though, responded strongly and finished the half on top. Con O'Callaghan was central throughout, adding a crucial two-point score and finishing the contest with an overall tally of 1-9, underlining his influence on proceedings.

The game remained finely poised throughout the opening half, with the sides level on several occasions as both defences were put under sustained pressure amid a relentless exchange of possession.

In the closing stages of the half, Dublin began to assert greater control, and Lee Gannon's fisted effort at the near post following a quick break ultimately edged Ger Brennan's side into a slender half-time lead.

Clinical Dubs pull away

The second half began with Cavan attempting to respond, but their early momentum was blunted by a combination of sustained Dublin pressure and their own inaccuracies.

Con O'Callaghan continued to dictate much of Dublin's attacking play, while substitute Ross McGarry made an immediate impact after his introduction, contributing vital scores to stretch the visitors' advantage.

Cavan continued to battle, with Emmanuel Shehu and Tiernan Madden both registering scores to keep the contest alive.

However, despite flashes of quality, the hosts struggled to consistently break down a disciplined Dublin defence, with opportunities frequently ending in turnovers or rushed finishes.

In contrast, the strength of Dublin's bench told as Colm Basquel added to the scoreboard with a well-taken effort following a driving run, while Paddy Small also chipped in as the visitors steadily pulled clear.

The defining moment arrived when Ciarán Brady was adjudged to have fouled Colm Basquel inside the area.

Con O'Callaghan stepped up and emphatically dispatched the resulting penalty into the top corner, effectively sealing the result and underlining his influence on proceedings.

From there, Dublin managed the closing stages with composure and control, retaining possession and dictating the tempo as Cavan's challenge faded.

O'Callaghan continued to orchestrate matters in attack, while Dublin's bench played a key role in maintaining their dominance throughout the second half.

Cavan's early promise and periods of attacking threat were ultimately undermined by costly errors and an inability to sustain pressure at key moments, with the hosts managing just four scores after the interval.

For Dublin, the result marks a significant step forward in their championship campaign under Ger Brennan, who returned to the sideline following a 12-week suspension.

His side will now await Monday's Round Three draw, with potential heavyweight opponents in store following shock defeats for Armagh and Donegal over the weekend.

For Cavan, meanwhile, it is the end of the road in the 2026 championship. Their exit will be tinged with frustration after failing to capitalise on their early platform in a contest that gradually slipped from their grasp.

Teams and scorers

Cavan: Liam Brady; Paddy Meade, Brian O'Connell, Jensen Tynan; Gerard Smith (0-3), Ciarán Brady, Jason McLoughlin; Conor Brady (0-2), Ryan Donohue; Tiarnan Madden (0-2), Niall Carolan, Emmanuel Shehu (0-3); Barry Donnelly, Patrick Lynch (0-5), Darragh Lovett (0-1).

Subs: Oisin Brady for Donnelly (42), Dara McVeety for Donohoe (50), Cormac Brady for Tynan (61), Ryan Tobin for McLoughlin (65), Cian Madden for Lovett (66).

Dublin: Evan Comerford; Greg McEneaney, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán MacMahon, Charlie McMorrow (0-1), Lee Gannon (0-2); Theo Clancy, Brian Howard; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Con O'Callaghan (1-9), Niall Scully (0-1); Paddy Small (0-3), Ciaran Kilkenny, Cormac Costello (0-2).

Subs: Colm Basquel (0-2) for Costello (21), Ross McGarry (0-3) for McEneaney (39), Eoin Kennedy for Howard (47), Sean Guiden (0-1) for Paddy Small (63), Tim Deering for Gannon (69).

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)

And just like that, it's next season in the NBA.

The New York Knicks will be feted with a championship parade through the streets of Manhattan on Thursday after a postseason in which they successfully rallied from six double-digit deficits to win games in the playoffs, including all four of their victories in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

It continued the unprecedented run of NBA parity, with eight different franchises winning championships in the last eight seasons — Toronto in 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Denver in 2023, Boston in 2024, Oklahoma City last year and now New York.

“To me, it just really speaks to the state of NBA basketball and the state of the future of the game," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. "And now with this draft class coming in this year — again, not just the first pick, but a draft that’s considered the deepest in many years — there's so much talent everywhere. ... So, it’s a really bright future ahead for the league.”

It is, but every team is now chasing the Knicks. They had all the answers.

For 29 other franchises, at least on some levels, there seems to only be questions.

— Will Milwaukee really trade Giannis Antetokounmpo after 13 seasons, 10 All-Star selections, two Most Valuable Player awards and an NBA championship in 2021?

— Will LeBron James come back to the NBA for a 24th season? If so, will it be with the Los Angeles Lakers for a ninth year or will he look for a presumably final chapter elsewhere?

— What will Washington do with the No. 1 pick in the draft later this month?

— And who will coach in Chicago, Dallas and Portland?

Those are just some of the major issues facing teams around the league as summer gets underway. It's going to be hard for the Knicks to repeat, because it's hard for any team to repeat — as the Thunder found out this season.

“The history of the NBA is littered with teams that were not able to find ultimate success again,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said. "I think there have only been three teams that have repeated since we’ve been in Oklahoma City, and the reasons for that are many, probably too many to list. But the fact is that it helps illustrate how rare and how special it is when you do have a chance to win at the highest level in this league or in professional sports in general.

"However, NBA history is also built on the backs of those teams that saw their losses as a continued quest for improvement and progress. Most importantly, they saw it as what competition boils down to, what it’s all about at any level of sports."

The Giannis question

Antetokounmpo, the biggest star in Milwaukee, will be eligible this fall for an extension that could be worth up to $275 million.

But the Bucks don't have a roster that's a championship contender. If they trade Antetokounmpo, they can essentially start over with what would be a slew of players and draft picks. If they keep him, there's no guarantee he'll be happy — because it seems like he's primarily interested now in trying to win more titles.

“I just think before the draft is a natural time, right, because if Giannis does play somewhere else we're going to get a lot of assets. ... You've got to get it right,” Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said in May, when the team introduced new coach Taylor Jenkins — who was told that Antetokounmpo may or may not be with the franchise when next season starts.

The draft is next week. And logic would suggest that the Bucks — if they are going to trade Antetokounmpo — may do so at least a few days before the draft, so they have some specific idea of who to target with the capital that they'll get as part of whatever deal might go down.

Miami has been mentioned in the Giannis sweepstakes for months, and the Heat are involved in talks with the Bucks again.

LeBron watch

James has never gone into a summer with this much freedom.

He could stay with the Lakers. He could pick another spot. He could retire. He could demand a max salary. He could take less money to help a team out. Or he could just continue posting videos of chip-ins on Instagram; yes, James has the golf bug.

“When the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do,” James said when the Lakers were eliminated this spring by Oklahoma City in a 4-0 sweep.

The Lakers have a lot of other decisions, including how to handle an extension for Austin Reaves. But getting some sense from James about his plans will surely go a long way toward having other moves fall into place.

The Spurs

Victor Wembanyama is eligible for a four-year extension that would top $250 million, and there's obviously no reason San Antonio wouldn't want to commit to keep the game's most fascinating player around. The extension would start in 2027-28.

There are some other roster spots to address, but the starters are under contract.

It will be interesting to watch how free agents view San Antonio as a destination, especially since the Spurs will go into next season as one of the favorites — if not the biggest one — for the 2027 NBA title.

“Competitiveness, that’s what makes you better,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “That’s what pushes you to continue to improve in the dark, long hours when nobody is around. We improved a whole lot this year. We have ... more motivation to continue to get better.”

Other top issues

— The NBA still hasn't revealed what, if anything, will come from an investigation by outside counsel into whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Kawhi Leonard and a California-based sustainability services company allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to circumvent league salary cap rules.

— Portland hasn't said who will coach next season, with interim coach Tiago Splitter still in the mix. Chicago and Dallas still have openings. It would seem advantageous to have coaches in place by the draft.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Lewis Hamilton is back on top—and for the first time in Ferrari red.

The seven-time Formula One world champion won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, his first win since he shocked the entire sport by leaving Mercedes for Ferrari last year. It took Hamilton 31 races with Ferrari to earn his first race win.

He joined the Scuderia last year on a deal that was reportedly worth $60 million per year. Some reports have even speculated that the racing star’s salary could be worth $100 million annually.

But Hamilton, 41, struggled in his first year with Ferrari, finishing sixth in the championship, behind teammate Charles Leclerc. He also failed to make the podium for the entire season for the first time in his career.

In November, Hamilton called his first Ferrari season a “nightmare.” 

Following Sunday’s triumph, Hamilton told Nico Rosberg, his former Mercedes teammate, that his dream has come true.

“I started out with a dream last year which seemed almost impossible during my time last year,” Hamilton said. “We nearly gave up hope. The team just continued to lift me up. We made so many changes and we made so many improvements.”

Asked by Rosberg where this win ranks among his record 106-race wins, Hamilton called it “something else.”

“I watched Ferrari have all that success when I was younger, watching it on TV. And I’ve been racing here, I’d always watch the screens wondering what it would be like to win in that car, and it’s come,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton last won an F1 race at the Belgian Grand Prix in July 2024, his final year with Mercedes. But his struggles dated back to his final few years in Mercedes. 

He failed to win a race in 2022 and 2023, and his seventh-place finish in the 2024 drivers’ championship remains the worst of his career.

But Hamilton’s win Sunday did come out of nowhere. He found the podium early in the 2026 season, finishing third at the Chinese Grand Prix in March, then finished second in back-to-back races in Canada and Monaco before his victory Sunday in Spain.

Hamilton is second in the drivers’ championship, but he still trails Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 66 points. Antonelli, 19, was the direct replacement for Hamilton when he left Mercedes in 2024.

Ferrari has not produced a drivers’ champion since 2007, Hamilton’s rookie season. That year, Hamilton, who was driving for McLaren, lost to Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen by just one point.

He would go on to win his first championship the following year with McLaren.

The post Lewis Hamilton Delivers Long-Awaited First F1 Win With Ferrari appeared first on Front Office Sports.

Portugal’s star-studded squad, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, has arrived in the United States for the expanded 48-team World Cup acutely aware of the immense expectations resting on their shoulders.

Tipped as one of the favourites to lift their first-ever World Cup trophy, the players are, however, adopting a pragmatic, game-by-game approach rather than looking too far ahead.

Midfielder Vitinha articulated this cautious optimism on Saturday, speaking through a translator before the team’s inaugural training session in the US.

"We have not talked about putting the high pressure on our team," he stated. "All competitions are won by focusing on the present moment and not worrying about future outcomes.

“What we can do is think game by game. ... We would love to win, and if we go through the group stage, we will go one game at a time."

Portugal are set to commence their group stage campaign against Congo on 17 June in Houston.

Beyond the tactical focus, the squad carries a poignant reminder of a fallen comrade. Vitinha revealed that each player has received a bracelet from Portugal’s Prime Minister, bearing their own name alongside that of the late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

Jota, a regular in the national squad, tragically died in a car crash in Spain last July and has been posthumously included as an honorary team member by coach Roberto Martínez.

"We have received this with a lot of love," Vitinha said, gesturing to the green and red band on his wrist.

Having touched down in the US on Friday evening, the Portuguese contingent will be based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, for the duration of the tournament.

Their first training session on Saturday was met with an enthusiastic reception from a crowd of chanting fans, with Ronaldo leading the team in acknowledging their support. However, the humid conditions and temperatures in the upper 80s F (around 31-32 Celsius) immediately highlighted a significant challenge.

Concerns over extreme temperatures have been a recurring theme across many of the 16 host cities, prompting measures such as cooling stations and hydration breaks during matches.

Vitinha acknowledged that the heat would undoubtedly impact Portugal’s players but stressed that it was a universal challenge.

"Obviously the physical question is very important," he remarked. "The weather conditions will very much affect how we play, but that is for everybody. It’s not just for us.

“With the temperatures in the United States, Mexico and Canada, it is very different, but it is the world championship. There are no excuses. There are no conditions that can keep us from giving everything for our national team."

Despite the sweltering conditions, players were observed hydrating throughout Saturday’s session and appeared relatively unaffected, perhaps aided by an earlier trip to the beach to unwind.

Vitinha underscored the importance of this mental respite: "It’s important for our head, our mental aspect as well to take advantage of the conditions we have," he concluded, "to relax a little bit."

Toyota survived a late battle with BMW and Cadillac to win the Le Mans 24 Hours and end Ferrari's recent domination of the famous race.

Former Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi held on to cross the line in the number seven Toyota TR010, 10.9 seconds ahead of the Netherlands' Robin Frijns in the BMW M Hybrid V8, with Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi a further 9.5 seconds back in the number eight Toyota.

Britain's Mike Conway and Dutchman Nyck de Vries completed the three-driver line-up with Kobayashi for the number seven Toyota, with 42-year-old Conway claiming his second victory at Le Mans for the Japanese team.

Ex-F1 racer Will Stevens ended the race 11.9 seconds behind Buemi in fourth after earlier promise in the morning session, just missing out on the podium in the American Cadillac V-Series R car run by the British Hertz Team Jota.

Ferrari's three 499Ps have ruled the legendary event, which takes place at Circuit de la Sarthe in north west France, by winning the past three events since returning to the sport in 2023 - but they had a ragged race.

The number 51 which includes Briton James Calado finished more than two minutes behind the winners, with last year's winner, the number 83 driven by Poland's ex-F1 driver Robert Kubica, further down in seventh.

Both the number 50 - which retired - and 51 Ferraris had early contact with cars further down the field, in a race in which the hypercar class' controversial 'balance of performance' limiting measurement was mentioned by some drivers after teams including Ferrari struggled to keep pace.

Toyota brought a minor upgrade to their car - along with rebranding for 2026 - and it appeared to help as the team claimed their sixth Le Mans victory.

Porsche have the most victories in Le Mans' top class with 19.

Toyota are the only marque who had stayed through leaner times in sportscars, last winning Le Mans between 2018-2022 against far fewer competitors.

"Finally we bring in a new car and that's made it happen," said Japanese driver Kobayashi.

"Mr Toyoda-san [Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda] has been supporting big time - finally we're back on top."

British talent featuring in golden era for sports cars

The series has rediscovered its popularity since the introduction of new hypercar rules for the top class of cars in 2021 - with manufacturers including Ferrari, Peugeot, Alpine, BMW, Toyota, Genesis, Cadillac and Aston Martin.

Le Mans - part of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) series - is a sellout each year as about 350,000 fans flock to Circuit de la Sarthe, while other races such as the Six Hours of Spa are growing in popularity.

Several former F1 drivers take part in the WEC, including the highly rated Stevens, who drove for Caterham and Marussia across 2014 and 2015.

Britain's former W Series champion Jamie Chadwick made history by becoming the first female to drive a hypercar at Le Mans during a test day before the race as she took the wheel of the new Genesis entry.

Reserve driver Chadwick saw her team-mates finish 13th in the number 19 car on its debut after the sister number 17 car retired with suspension failure.

In only the team's second year following a return to the top class of racing in the WEC, Aston Martin's beautiful Valkyrie was far more competitive and reliable - the 007 car driven by Britons Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble and Ross Gunn finished eighth, with number 009 car 14th.

Next year brings the reintroduction of a six-hour WEC race at Silverstone as both Ford and McLaren enter the series in the hypercar category - the former rekindling their legendary rivalry with Ferrari.

Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen is rumoured to be keen to compete in Le Mans following his participation in GT racing this year.

In the lower LMP2 category, in which the British company Gibson supplies the engines, Polish team Inter Europol retained their title with a one-two finish.

France's top female talent Doriane Pin ran high up in LMP2 earlier in the race but her Duqueine team retired with a few hours remaining following brake failure.

In the LMGT3 class, American manufacturer Corvette were victorious through Ben Keating, Nicky Catsburg and Britain's Jonny Edgar.

The sister Corvette, run by Racing Team Turkey by TF Sport, was sixth through Northern Ireland's Charlie Eastwood, who won Le Mans in 2020, Ireland's Peter Dempsey and Turkey's Salih Yoluc.

But there was heartbreak for Northern Ireland's Dan Harper on his Le Mans debut as he was forced to retire inside the final four hours of the race.

• Danger, beauty & carbon - why Le Mans is more important than you realise
• What connects Verstappen, Rossi and Le Mans 24 Hours?
• Hamilton wins first grand prix for Ferrari

After agreeing deals for Ibrahim Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva, Real Madrid are now set to secure their fourth signing of the summer. Jose Mourinho has been keen to bring a new left-back into his new squad, and the club have moved quickly to secure the services of one of the best players in the world in the position.

In the last 24 hours, it was reported that Real Madrid have registered their interest in Marc Cucurella. The Chelsea man has been a likely candidate to leave this summer, and while Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have also been following him as a possible signing, Los Blancos officials have already swooped to great effect.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that Real Madrid and Chelsea have reached an agreement over a deal for Cucurella, who has also accepted the contract offer that was on the table. The Spain international will jet into the Bernabeu after the 2026 World Cup to finalise the transfer, which will be worth a reported €50m.

Mourinho pushed hard for Cucurella signing

Image via Clive Rose/Getty Images

Mourinho made it clear to Real Madrid’s sporting department that Cucurella was the player he wanted to be his new left-back. The 27-year-old, who returns to Spanish football five years after swapping Getafe for Brighton, will likely start the 2026-27 season as the club’s starter in the position, which is bad news for the likes of Alvaro Carreras and Ferland Mendy.

Cucurella’s arrival will mean that Real Madrid definitely sell at least one left-back during the summer transfer window. Carreras is likely to be retained, and at 23, he is a candidate to make the position his own in the future. Mendy could depart if the club believes that he is not useful if he cannot stay fit, although the most likely player to move on would be Fran Garcia, who will drop down to fourth in the pecking order.

In a major development, Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella, who was a target for FC Barcelona this summer, has now reached a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old former La Masia defender will return to Spain, but will play for his boyhood club’s arch-rivals from next season onwards.

Cucurella was on Barcelona’s radar

Coming into the summer, Barcelona were keeping an eye on the left-back market, amid questions over the continuity of Alejandro Balde.

While the La Masia graduate is not for sale, the Catalans are not ruling out a departure in case a good offer arrives.

In that scenario, Barcelona were looking at Cucurella as an alternative, given his past history and familiarity with the club.

At the same time, however, the 27-year-old defender was also attracting interest from Real Madrid, and has now seemingly agreed to join them, with Fabrizio Romano giving the deal his trademark ‘Here We Go’.

This comes days after Cucurella had downplayed rumours of his departure, saying:

“Right now I don’t want to talk about that. The truth is that I am very happy where I am. I am happy, my family is very happy, but at the moment I don’t know anything.

What does this mean for Barcelona?

This will be the second transfer of the summer that Real Madrid have beaten Barcelona to, after swooping in for Bernardo Silva previously.

Headed to Madrid. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

As far as Barcelona are concerned, Cucurella’s move to the Santiago Bernabeu will not be seen as a major setback as the club continue to have full faith in Balde.

Indeed, the young Spaniard continues to be rated highly by the Blaugrana and there will be no departure unless the player himself asks for it.

Even in case of a possible exit, another former La Masia star, Alejandro Grimaldo, could be an option for the La Liga champions.

The Spanish international, for his part, has also expressed his desire to return to his homeland from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

• Simpson-Pusey bids farewell to Man City after completing a permanent move to FC Köln
• City will receive an initial €5.5M with add-ons potentially taking the total to €7.5M
• A buy-back clause and matching rights have been inserted into the deal

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has bid an emotional farewell to Manchester City after completing a permanent move to FC Köln, describing his time at the club as “an incredible chapter” of his life.

The 20-year-old centre-back joined Köln on a short-term loan in January before the move was made permanent this summer, with the defender having established himself as a reliable presence in the Bundesliga club’s backline across the second half of last season.

Simpson-Pusey came through the youth ranks at Manchester City and made his Premier League debut in a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in November 2024, becoming one of the most highly regarded young defenders to emerge from the City Football Academy in recent years.

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey leaves Manchester City for Bundesliga club

City will receive an initial €5.5 million from the sale, as reported by Alex James of the Manchester Evening News, with add-ons potentially taking the final total to €7.5 million, and both a buy-back clause and matching rights have been inserted into the deal – ensuring the club retain a degree of control over his long-term future.

Simpson-Pusey: Leaving as a man with lessons I’ll take forever

In an emotional parting message to Manchester City posted on Instagram, Simpson-Pusey wrote: “Came to City as a kid with a dream. It’s been an incredible chapter of my life and I’m grateful to everyone who has been a part of it.

“Thank you to the coaches, all the staff, my teammates, and the fans for making it what it has been. Leaving as a man with so many lessons that I’ll take with me forever.”

The warmth of the message reflects a player who has lived every stage of his development inside the City system, from the youth ranks through to the first-team setup under Pep Guardiola and now a permanent step into senior professional football in Germany.

What does the move mean for City and Simpson-Pusey?

The inclusion of a buy-back clause and matching rights ensures City are not simply closing the door on a talent they have invested significant time and resource in developing.

The shrewd structure of the deal gives City director of football Hugo Viana the option to bring Simpson-Pusey back to the Etihad Stadium should his development continue on its current trajectory at Köln.

Revealed: Hugo Viana’s financial agreement with FC Köln for Man City’s Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

For the defender himself, the permanent move represents the next step in a journey that began as a child at the City Football Academy as he now looks to establish himself as a top-level centre-back at the highest level of club football abroad.

City’s ability to generate €5.5 million rising to €7.5 million from the sale of an academy graduate while retaining future options through contractual mechanisms is consistent with the wider recruitment and asset management philosophy Viana has brought to the club since his arrival.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight champions Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje will clash TONIGHT (Sun., June 14, 2026) on the White House South Lawn from Washington, D.C., for UFC Freedom 250.

Topuria was obviously gifted in his first couple UFC fights, but I don’t think anybody fully anticipated his greatness. Topuria’s last three wins — consecutive knockouts versus Alexander Volkanovski, Max HollowayandCharles Oliveira — make up arguably the best trio of victories in the history of the sport. Initially, there were cries that Topuria was just beating up older opponents, yet each of those legends has scored at least one great victory after their loss to “El Matador.”

Perhaps he’s just that damn good?

Gaethje, meanwhile, should never be counted out despite his status as a significant betting underdog. “The Highlight” is more comfortable in a bloody war of attrition than just about anyone else. He thrives in gritty, ugly exchanges, which is not a situation we’ve seen Topuria in previously. It may not be the Lightweight title fight fans dreamed of, but some interesting questions are still being asked.

Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:

Topuria vs. Gaethje Betting Odds

• Ilia Topuria victory: -560
• Ilia Topuria via TKO/KO/DQ: -210
• Ilia Topuria via submission: +600
• Ilia Topuria via decision: +1200
• Justin Gaethje victory: +370
• Justin Gaethje via TKO/KO/DQ: +550
• Justin Gaethje via submission: +3500
• Justin Gaethje via decision: +150o
• Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

How Topuria Wins

Topuria joined UFC’s roster as a former Greco-Roman wrestler with a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Most of his early wins come via submission, but Topuria quickly became known for his boxing inside the Octagon. He throws incredibly crisp, powerful combinations both leading and countering, and his eyes are among the best in the sport.

Topuria doesn’t do anything overly complicated on the feet, but he only has to line up one clean right hand to end the fight.

It feels like there are many avenues to victory for Topuria here. Could he conceivably wrestle Gaethje to the floor and submit him? It’s possible. Odds are, however, that both Topuria and Gaethje will be gunning for the knockout here, so somebody hitting the canvas at the end of a shootout is most likely. Given Topuria’s advantages in speed and power, there’s a reason the odds favor him so strongly to win that kind of slugfest.

Does the Spanish champion have to make any major adjustment for his opponent? Honestly, I would just like to see Topuria actively working to check and counter low kicks. Beyond that, Topuria simply has to keep his defense tight and let exchanges play out, as he should have a massive boxing advantage here.

How Gaethje Wins

Gaethje rose to prominence as a wild brawler, a man who sprinted into exchanges in an attempt to exhaust both his opponent and himself. Over the years, he developed his footwork and style quite a bit, allowing him to operate as a forward mauler or savvy counter puncher. Either way, his thudding low kick remains a staple, and that weapon is likely his best path to some kind of success here.

Everyone tries to kick Topuria’s lead leg, of course. That’s the first thing you do against a sharp boxer, as their stance is usually somewhat vulnerable to low kicks. Topuria’s athleticism and distance management are excellent, however, so it’s not so simple as blasting a bunch of naked calf kicks and hoping for the best — that kind of approach would see Gaethje chinned early. Instead, Gaethje has to show his craft in setting up the low kick. I would love to see him mix other kicks into his attack if only to help land on the calf — he knocked out Dustin Poirier with a high kick after all (re-live that here)!

In addition, I’d love to see Gaethje try to use his clinch offense. Not only could he bring back the low kick from the clinch he used so well in PFL, but Gaethje could also try to wear on Topuria from close quarters. By making it ugly and hanging on the former Featherweight, Gaethje could slow his opponent’s hands and level the playing field a bit.

Topuria vs. Gaethje Prediction

Gaethje has a path to victory. He’s a great fighter with lots of championship experience and the kind of self-belief that can produce a great win. An upset is not impossible.

It’s also not likely.

Topuria is very possibly the best fighter in the world right now, and he’s still shy of 30 years old. Gaethje is eight years older and has been in literally dozens of brutal wars. He looked like an athlete in decline against Paddy Pimblett six months ago. There are just so many advantages — youth, boxing, momentum, jiu-jitsu, power — stacking up on the side of Topuria that it would feel irresponsible not to pick him.

Gaethje will try his best to thread the needle, but the margin for error has never been smaller for “The Highlight.”

Prediction: Topuria via knockout

For the latest UFC White House news and notes checkout our comprehensive event archive right here.

Spanish teen star (and Walmart shopper) Lamine Yamal will play in his first-ever World Cup match this Monday when Spain faces Cape Verde in their first Group H match of the tournament. The teams will meet at Atlanta Stadium (a.k.a. Mercedes-Benz Stadium) at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, airing on FOX and Telemundo.

Here's everything you need to know about watching the Spain vs. Cape Verde match at the 2026 World Cup live from the U.S. (Plus, find out how you can watch every game of the tournament).

Where to watch the Spain vs. Cape Verde match:

Date: Monday, June 15, 2026

Time: 12 p.m. ET

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

TV channels: FOX, Telemundo

Streaming:YouTube TV, DirecTV, Peacock, and more

Spain vs. Cape Verde game time:

The 2026 World Cup game between Spain and Cape Verde kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, June 15, 2026.

Spain vs. Cape Verde channel:

FOX will be broadcasting the Spain vs. Cape Verde World Cup game in English. A Spanish-language broadcast of the game will air on Telemundo.

Where to watch the 2026 World Cup without cable:

2026 FIFA World Cup group stage schedule: 

All times Eastern

Thursday, June 11

Mexico vs South Africa: 3 p.m. (FOX, Tubi) — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
South Korea vs Czechia: 10 p.m. (FS1) — Estadio Akron, Zapopan

Friday, June 12
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: 3 p.m. (FOX) — BMO Field, Toronto
United States vs Paraguay: 9 p.m. (FOX, Tubi) — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

Saturday, June 13
Qatar vs Switzerland: 3 p.m. (FOX) — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Brazil vs Morocco: 6 p.m. (FS1) — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Haiti vs Scotland: 9 p.m. (FS1) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

Sunday, June 14
Australia vs Türkiye: 12 a.m. (FS1) — BC Place, Vancouver
Germany vs Willemstad Curaçao: 1 p.m. (FOX) — NRG Stadium, Houston
Netherlands vs Japan: 4 p.m. (FOX) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador: 7 p.m. (FS1) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Sweden vs Tunisia: 10 p.m. (FS1) — Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Guadalupe

Monday, June 15
Spain vs Cape Verde: 12 p.m. (FOX) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Belgium vs Egypt: 3 p.m. (FOX) — Lumen Field, Seattle
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay: 6 p.m. (FS1) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Iran vs New Zealand: 9 p.m. (FS1) — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

Tuesday, June 16
France vs Senegal: 3 p.m. (FOX) — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Iraq vs Norway: 6 p.m. (FOX) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Argentina vs Algeria: 9 p.m. (FOX) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Wednesday, June 17
Austria vs Jordan: 12 a.m. (FS1) — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Portugal vs DR Congo: 1 p.m. (FOX) — NRG Stadium, Houston
England vs Croatia: 4 p.m. (FOX) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Ghana vs Panama: 7 p.m. (FS1) — BMO Field, Toronto
Uzbekistan vs Colombia: 10 p.m. (FS1) — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Thursday, June 18
Czechia vs South Africa: 12 p.m. (FOX) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: 3 p.m. (FOX) — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
Canada vs Qatar: 6 p.m. (FS1) — BC Place, Vancouver
Mexico vs South Korea: 9 p.m. (FOX) — Estadio Akron, Zapopan

Friday, June 19
United States vs Australia: 3 p.m. (FOX) — Lumen Field, Seattle
Scotland vs Morocco: 6 p.m. (FOX) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Brazil vs Haiti: 8:30 p.m. (FOX) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Türkiye vs Paraguay: 11 p.m. (FS1) — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara

Saturday, June 20
Netherlands vs Sweden: 1 p.m. (FOX) — NRG Stadium, Houston
Germany vs Ivory Coast: 4 p.m. (FOX) — BMO Field, Toronto
Ecuador vs Willemstad Curaçao: 8 p.m. (FS1) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Sunday, June 21
Tunisia vs Japan: 12 a.m. (FS1) — Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Guadalupe
Spain vs Saudi Arabia: 12 p.m. (FOX) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Belgium vs Iran: 3 p.m. (FS1) — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
Uruguay vs Cape Verde: 6 p.m. (FS1) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
New Zealand vs Egypt: 9 p.m. (FS1) — BC Place, Vancouver

Monday, June 22
Argentina vs Austria: 1 p.m. (FOX) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
France vs Iraq: 5 p.m. (FOX) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Norway vs Senegal: 8 p.m. (FOX) — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Jordan vs Algeria: 11 p.m. (FS1) — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara

Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs Uzbekistan: 1 p.m. (FOX) — NRG Stadium, Houston
England vs Ghana: 4 p.m. (FOX) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Panama vs Croatia: 7 p.m. (FOX) — BMO Field, Toronto
Colombia vs DR Congo: 10 p.m. (FS1) — Estadio Akron, Zapopan

Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs Canada: 3 p.m. (FOX) — BC Place, Vancouver
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar: 3 p.m. (FS1) — Lumen Field, Seattle
Scotland vs Brazil: 6 p.m. (FOX) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Morocco vs Haiti: 6 p.m. (FS1) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Czechia vs Mexico: 9 p.m. (FOX) — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
South Africa vs South Korea: 9 p.m. (FS1) — Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Guadalupe

Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs Germany: 4 p.m. (FOX) — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Willemstad Curaçao vs Ivory Coast: 4 p.m. (FS1) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Tunisia vs Netherlands: 7 p.m. (FOX) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Japan vs Sweden: 7 p.m. (FS1) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Türkiye vs United States: 10 p.m. (FOX) — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
Paraguay vs Australia: 10 p.m. (FS1) — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara

Friday, June 26
Norway vs France: 3 p.m. (FOX) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Senegal vs Iraq: 3 p.m. (FS1) — BMO Field, Toronto
Uruguay vs Spain: 8 p.m. (FOX) — Estadio Akron, Zapopan
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia: 8 p.m. (FS1) — NRG Stadium, Houston
New Zealand vs Belgium: 11 p.m. (FOX) — BC Place, Vancouver
Egypt vs Iran: 11 p.m. (FS1) — Lumen Field, Seattle

Saturday, June 27
Panama vs England: 5 p.m. (FOX) — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Croatia vs Ghana: 5 p.m. (FS1) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Colombia vs Portugal: 7:30 p.m. (FOX) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan: 7:30 p.m. (FS1) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Jordan vs Argentina: 10 p.m. (FOX) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Algeria vs Austria: 10 p.m. (FS1) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

EL PASO, Texas — Phoenix Rising fought back to rescue a point on the road against a Locomotive side trying to keep pace with them in the standings.

Alex Mendez put the hosts ahead just a minute into the second half of play following a rough first half in which neither side managed to create much of anything. JP Scearce equalized with his head off a Damian Rivera cross, with the latter being subbed on in the minute prior to the goal.

Phoenix Rising lineup notes

Just days after a home loss to Louisville City, Phoenix Rising made just two changes to its starting lineup. Daniel Flores came in as a winger, while Gunnar Studenhofft led the line. Damian Rivera and Alexander Vukovic were relegated to the bench, with Ihsan Sacko starting out wide and JP Scearce dropping into the back line.

However, the biggest surprises were the inclusion of Kelvin Arase and Dominique Badji on the substitutes bench. Both players had missed a lengthy spell due to injury, with their last appearances coming in April. Both were substituted into the match in the final ten minutes.

“It was great for us to get them those minutes together to play, and I’m very happy with what I saw from them,” Phoenix Rising coach Pa-Modou Kah said.

Slow second half start

Phoenix Rising was slow off the mark in the second half, and El Paso made them pay for that.

Just a minute after the break, Rubio Rubin on the edge of the Rising penalty area managed to cut back and run across JP Scearce and Pape Mar Boye, before finding an unmarked Alex Mendez running into the box. Mendez made no mistake with his finish, putting the hosts on top.

Minutes later, El Paso had another big opportunity. Eric Avila was fed the ball behind the back line to set up a one-on-one with Phoenix keeper Patrick Rakovsky, but a poor first touch ultimately squandered the chance.

“I think it was just miscommunication, misdirection, us not being sharp in the head,” Kah said. “That’s the only thing.”

A poor crossing performance… until it wasn’t

Phoenix Rising’s crossing was poor throughout the first half, as well as through the start of the second half. Through a collective 19 cross attempts, Rising had succeeded just once, and that came from a set piece.

“I don’t think something was wrong with the crosses,” Kah said. “Maybe the question is did we have enough runners. That’s what I would look at.”

In the 69th minute, Phoenix brought in Damian Rivera. Less than a minute later, his cross found the head of JP Scearce on the back post, who duly tucked away his chance.

Scearce himself was moved around on the field as part of that substitution, pushing up into the midfield, and Kah said that that change could have played a role in finally capitalizing from a cross.

“We know that [Scearce] can be that guy to give us that, so I’m very happy for him to score a goal,” the coach said.

Owain’s Take

Phoenix Rising and El Paso Locomotive ending in a draw. Feels pretty familiar, doesn’t it?

This was the fifth clash between the two sides under Pa-Modou Kah, and four of them have ended with the spoils shared. The other was a playoff matchup in which Rising progressed through a late spot kick converted by Charlie Dennis, so was hardly the most convincing of victories either.

After a bit of a stinker of a first half for both sides in which neither really found a way to create much of anything, I honestly thought that Rising had thrown it away after conceding early after the break, with how little they’d been able to do up until that point.

Instead, Phoenix Rising again reminded us: never, ever count this team out.

There are still going to be questions. How does this team actually work with a player like Gunnar Studenhofft up top? Can they stay switched on for a whole match, or will they still be error prone in moments as we’ve seen so many times?

Still, a point on the road is a point on the road, especially when trailing previously and on a short week’s rest.

But coming off of a loss in midweek, a cup loss last weekend, and only picking up a point now, all eyes are turning to that Oakland game next weekend. Pick up a win in that one, and you’ve halted the skid. Fail to do so, and you’re not going to be carrying the momentum that you want to into the extended break.

Top image: El Paso Locomotive

‘Just Be Yourself’

GSP is here to support his fellow Canadian, Aiemann Zahabi, as he faces off against Sean O’Malley at the White House 🇨🇦@CarolinePearce 🎤#UFCWhiteHouse | Sunday | Stream TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/7ue0Ki4Ddu— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 13, 2026

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are reportedly close to signing Germany left back Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Bild paper said on Sunday that bith clubs are confident to finalise the deal within the next days as board members for sport Max Eberl of Bayern and Markus Krösche of Frankfurt have agreed on a €55 million ($63.6 million) package.

The report said the clubs must still agree on a base fee and add ons. Frankfurt allegedly originally wanted more than €60 million.

Brown, 22, is to sign a contract until 2031 at Bayern where Canada's Alphonso Davies has been first choice as left back for years but has also been set back by various injuries.

Brown has had a meteoric rise in Frankfurt since joining from second division Nuremberg in 2024 which taken him all the way into the national team.

He has won five Germany caps and has been confirmed as a starter in the team's first World Cup match against Curaçao later on Sunday.

Bayern reportedly plan that Brown undergoes the mandatory medical at the World Cup and the deal is expected to be finalised after the Curaçao match.

Neither Bayern nor Frankfurt have commented on the issue, and Brown has said that "I am fully concentrating on the World Cup."

Former Bayern great Thomas Müller is confident that Brown will be a good addition to the Bayern squad “in terms of quality and potential."

He warned that there is “obviously fierce competition” at Bayern but that "he’s a player who’s certainly interesting. And I think everyone can see that he’s interesting.”

Lewis Hamilton won the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in Ferrari red on Sunday. George Russell crossed the line second for Mercedes, with Lando Norris completing the podium in third. Three Brits on the rostrum at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – and Jeremy Clarkson had thoughts.

Two of them, in quick succession, on X:

“Great to see three Brits on the podium in Barcelona,” Clarkson posted. “Just a shame the winner was sponsored by an Italian beer.” The follow-up landed immediately after: “One day, I hope Hawkstone is big enough to sponsor an F1 team. But which one?”

Hawkstone Has the Momentum – the Question Is Scale

For anyone who’s watched Clarkson’s Farm or followed his increasingly loud side-hustle in British hospitality, the ambition isn’t as far-fetched as it might sound.

Hawkstone launched in 2021 as a collaboration between Clarkson and the Cotswold Brew Co, built around barley grown on Diddly Squat Farm.

What started as a farm shop product has grown considerably since then. The Sunday Times named Hawkstone one of Britain’s 100 fastest-growing companies in 2024, and it climbed to number 23 on that list in 2025.

This isn’t the first time Clarkson has tangled Hawkstone up with Formula 1, either. During the Monaco Grand Prix, he promised to buy the entire Alpine team a pint if Esteban Ocon made the podium. Ocon did, and Clarkson delivered a tractor-load of Hawkstone to the factory.

What he hadn’t accounted for was the headcount. He called to ask whether to bring fifty pints, maybe a hundred.

The answer was just shy of a thousand.

So the affection for the sport is genuine. The branding instinct is there. The growth trajectory is real. What’s missing is the kind of commercial firepower that gets a logo onto an F1 sidepod – an exercise that starts at around $10 million a year for a midfield team and scales dramatically from there.

Which Team, Though?

Clarkson left the question open, which was either genuine uncertainty or savvy engagement-baiting. Probably both. The obvious answer, given his existing Alpine connection and the fact that their Enstone factory sits close to Diddly Squat in Oxfordshire, is Alpine. But obvious isn’t always right. And a British beer brand aligning with a British team would tell a cleaner story. That points toward Williams or McLaren, depending on how patriotic you fancy being.

Ferrari, naturally, is off the table. They’ve already got their Italian beer situation sorted, as Clarkson was kind enough to point out.

Manchester United’s Senne Lammens was named transfer signing of the season after what was a thoroughly impressive debut campaign.

The Belgian has looked like the most assured goalkeeper since David de Gea’s time at the club, making his debut against Sunderland back in October and not looking back since.

At a club like United, it’s almost a good thing to not have to talk about a goalkeeper as it normally means they’re doing a good job and staying out of the limelight for the wrong reasons.

However, in this instance, it’s a big positive to be speaking about Lammens and not just because of his performances.

Big win, small fee

The Red Devils purchased him for a cheap fee, from a ‘smaller’ league, with seemingly little to no competition or fanfare.

And yet, he’s proven to be an astute buy which is no mean feat when he’s up against the successful purchases of Mattheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo and Benjamin Sesko.

In fact, the club should go as far as making Lammens the model type of transfer they should be making moving forward.

The 23 year old is in the right age bracket, his statistics suggested he’d be a good fit, and he was scouted thoroughly with glowing reviews. What’s not to like?

Don’t repeat history

In previous years, Manchester United would have gone for the statement signing, expensive and hurting their wage structure. Often buying for buying’s sake in the hope this signing will finally be the one to put an end to the post-Sir Alex Ferguson failures.

Lammens represents a shift in strategy and one the club should lean into even more – narrow players down by profile and character, study the stats, send in scouts to watch them over months, and finally when it’s right, strike.

If United can do this with a proper strategy with respects to overall squad building, their wait for the Premier League title won’t last much longer.

The only embarrassing thing here is Old Trafford are behind every other club that’s already been doing this for years.

The Red Devils would see their quality improve drastically without hurting their wallets or upsetting any type of wage structure.

Trust the experts

This also leaves them the opportunity to make the statement signings when it’s the right time and fit, not sporadically or in a scattergun type of way.

More importantly than all, Lammens was signed over Emiliano Martinez who was put forward by Ruben Amorim – oh how things could have gone wrong.

That’s not to say Martinez definitely would’ve been a failure at the club but he’s now 33, would’ve been expensive to buy as his contract runs out in 2029, and he almost certainly would’ve demanded a big payday.

Lammens has so far proven to be a shrewd buy and should be the standard for the club moving forward so they can enjoy further success in this transfer window and beyond. Anything less leaves us in the vicious cycle of our past mistakes and failures.

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Betfred Super League

Bradford (0) 12

Tries: Atkin, Aekins Goals: Dean 2

Leigh (14) 38

Tries: Charnley 3, Senior, Hodgson, Brogan Goals: Cook 7

Josh Charnley broke the Super League all-time try-scoring record to help Leigh Leopards to victory at Bradford Bulls.

The 34-year-old grabbed a hat-trick at Odsal to take him up to 272 tries, one clear of Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall.

Charnley, who limped off with 15 minutes to go, now has 16 tries this season, behind only the Rhinos' Maika Sivo.

He set the Leopards up for a sixth win in seven matches, with Innes Senior, Bailey Hodgson and Louis Brogan also crossing to complete a comprehensive triumph.

Despite winning, Leigh stay in seventh, but they moved within two points of stuttering St Helens, who occupy the final play-off spot.

Bradford only had Chris Atkin and Caleb Aekins tries to show for a disappointing afternoon as defeat kept them in 10th at the halfway point of the campaign.

The corresponding fixture between these sides next year will be staged in Las Vegas on 27 February at Allegiant Stadium, home of NFL franchise Las Vegas Raiders, in the first match between sides from either side of the Pennines to be held Stateside.

But this one was lit up by vintage finishing from Charnley, whose tries have come for Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and now Leigh since his debut as a teenager in 2010.

An Adam Cook penalty goal had got the scoreboard moving but the Australian stand-off then produced an inch-perfect kick that bounced up perfectly for Charnley to run onto and move within one of Hall's record.

Bradford had plenty of territory but they did not possess anyone as clinical as Charnley and he showed why with his second try.

Charnley received a pass on the right touchline, side-stepped inside past two defenders and dived over before a third could get across to go level with the mark.

The Bulls grabbed the first points of the second half as scrum-half Atkin broke the line and then held off Charnley's attempted tackle to slide over.

However, the Leopards winger had the last laugh as Cook's pass gave him the chance to complete his hat-trick for Super League try number 272.

A fine burst through the defence from full-back Aekins got the Bulls' second try but easy scores from Hodgson and Brogan added gloss to the margin of victory.

The only negative was the sight of Charnley going off injured before the end, with Leigh hoping the evergreen winger will be able to keep adding to his record tally.

Bradford: Aekins; Armitage, Chamberlain, Blake, Ryan; Dean, Atkin; Sutton, Ackers, Doro, Fulton, Russell, Mellor.

Interchanges: Gardiner, Scurr, Steinwede, Hooley.

Leigh: Armstrong; Senior, Hodgson, Hughes, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Ofahengaue, Ipape, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.

Interchanges: Brogan, Pene, O'Brien, Horne.

Referee: Jack Smith.

Justin Gaethje has had plenty of support from fans ahead of tonight’s main event.

While Dana White isn’t doubting Gaethje’s ability, most people see this as a tough challenge for the interim lightweight champion.

There have been questions about Ilia Topuria’s mindset leading up to the fight, but he’s always been known for his calm and focused approach once he steps into the Octagon.

‘El Matador’ is the clear favourite going into the title unification bout, but results from Bloody Elbow’s poll indicate that fan opinion might not fully align with those odds.

Just 12% split in final predictions between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje

Alex Pereira has a huge lead over Ciryl Gane in fan predictions, which is no surprise. But the numbers for the main event are much closer than many expected.

Topuria remains the favourite, but only by a slim margin—he leads with 56.14% of the votes, just 260 ahead out of more than two thousand cast.

Gaethje picked up just under 44%, reflecting strong backing even if he isn’t expected to win outright.

A lot of comments pointed out that while some fans want to see Gaethje pull off an upset, they aren’t necessarily betting on it happening. For many, it’s more about hoping he can shake things up.

The fan base seems divided not just on who will win, but also why they want each fighter to come out on top. Topuria’s confidence this week has clearly rubbed some people up the wrong way.

Some fans simply don’t buy into the hype around Topuria and think Gaethje has what it takes to prove people wrong once again.

Read more:

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared his thoughts on a viral chant celebrating the New York Knicks title run on Sunday.

MS Now‘s Jacob Soboroff played Mamdani the rhyming boast that begin’s “My mayor’s Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish.” Soboroff asked the mayor if he’d met the originator of the phrase. Mamdani admitted he hadn’t, but said “his words have really stayed with all of us.”

“Thanks to him, there are a lot of people who have been running up to me over the last few weeks just shouting at me, ‘My mayor’s Muslim!'” he said. “It’s true, I am.”

Mamdani on the viral "my mayor's Muslim" Knicks fan: "Thanks to him, there are a lot of people who have just been running up to me over the last few weeks just shouting, 'My Mayor's Muslim!' I said, 'It's true. I am.'" pic.twitter.com/odEAhmopaI

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 14, 2026

The original version of the chant concluded with “my Christian Dior, Knicks in four,” the former line being a reference to late New York rapper Pop Smoke and the latter boasting that the Jalen Brunson-led Knicks would sweep the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were able to win one game in this series, so the chant was altered to “even the Pope’s on our side, Knicks in five.”  The Knicks secured their first NBA title in over 50 years with a win over the Spurs on Saturday.

Mamdani, who was wearing a Knicks jersey underneath his suit jacket, shared his view of the celebration throughout New York City.

“I think it was the same thing, no matter what part of the city you were in,” he said. “There’s nothing more you can ask for… It’s honestly a beautiful thing.”

Start your day with essential news from Salon.
Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Mamdani said that the Knicks run turned the nation’s largest city into “what feels like the world’s smallest town.”

“Everyone is thinking and hoping and praying for the same thing,” he said. “And now, here we are. We’re just pinching ourselves and asking, ‘Is it real?'”

Mamdani: "Oftentimes this kind of unity comes in moments of tragedy. And to see it coming now in a moment of joy, it's something I've never seen before across our city." pic.twitter.com/hYk2O2cShW

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 14, 2026

The post “It’s true, I am”: Mamdani reacts to viral “My mayor’s Muslim” chant after Knicks win NBA title appeared first on Salon.com.

It's official! The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA Champions.

As you can guess, NYC is fully losing its mind.

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You’ll never be able to accuse Ilia Topuria of lacking confidence.

The two-division champion was shocking UFC fans with his cocky attitude from the moment he arrived in the title picture. Leading into his first ever fight for a belt against featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski, “El Matador” updated the record on his Instagram bio to include a win over “The Great” … a whole two months before their fight.

Since then, many have been waiting for the moment Ilia would have to eat some humble pie. But as of now that dessert remains untouched as he continues to smash everyone he faces.

Topuria has been even more self-assured of a victory against Justin Gaethje coming into UFC Freedom 250 at the White House later today (Sunday, June 14th, 2026). Sure, he’s done the Instagram bio record update thing again, but that’s barely visible next to to the big victory party he held for himself in Washington D.C. on Saturday night.

Topuria did the same thing leading into his Charles Oliveira fight, and it seems like it’s becoming something of a tradition. While most fighters are in seclusion the night before a bout getting mentally prepared, the Spanish-Georgian fighter gathers together all his family and supporters for a big bash to celebrate the win he is about to have in 24 hours.

“It’s not a victory we have to earn,” Topuria declared in Spanish. “Victory is already ours.”

Video from the event shows a restaurant full to the brim with Topuria supporters cheering Ilia on and singing. Another video from the event captures heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk at the event, hugging Topuria.

Topuria has been predicting a first round knockout of Gaethje at the White House, and the public seem to agree with that general result. “El Matador” is as high as a -550 favorite at some sportsbooks, with Gaethje a heavy +400 dog. But every dog has his day, and maybe tonight will be the night Topuria gets a little too confident and leaves himself exposed to one of Justin’s big bombs. We’ll catch you at the White House (8 p.m. ET on Paramount+) with the results.

Phillies have a big Trea Turner problem that could use another standing ovation originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies' offense during the 2026 season has been one of the worst in all of Major League Baseball. They rank third-to-last in team OPS at .687, and it's not Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, or Brandon Marsh's fault that things aren't going well.

Looking across the roster, the struggles of the right-handed hitters are clearly why the offense is worse than normal. But, more specifically, Trea Turner's struggles are becoming a serious problem.

As Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation notes, Turner's .607 OPS during the 2026 season is worse than the worst mark during his standing ovation season of .642 OPS. This problem might need another standing ovation from Phillies fans to fix this summer.

It might be time for another standing ovation for Trea Turner

"The lowest his OPS dipped to in the standing ovation season was .642 on June 4," Lugardo notes. "It's at .607 right now."

During the standing ovation season, Turner's struggles were something of great concern. And for the Phillies fanbase, they took it upon themselves to try and help Turner, giving him a standing ovation despite his struggles.

It somehow worked, and he turned his season around, and he's since been a much better player for the Phillies than before that standing ovation.

Even in his debut season with the Phillies, his .778 OPS by the end of the year was a fairly solid mark. He then had an .807 OPS in 2024, followed by an .812 OPS in 2025.

MORE: Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

Unfortunately, things have gotten a lot worse for Turner this year, as his .607 OPS is a very bad mark, and his 65 OPS+ is nearly half of his 121 OPS+ mark from a year ago.

Turner has been a massive disappointment this season, and he's one of the main problems with the team's lackluster offense right now.

While another standing ovation might not work, if there were ever a time for the Phillies fanbase to test its luck with this standing ovation power, it would be soon, with Turner's struggles holding this offense back.

More MLB news:

• 5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for Cardinals
• Ex-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 success
• Tarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agency
• Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GM
• Yankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution

The Buffalo Bills often throw darts at versatile, athletic offensive line prospects late in drafts to see if they can find a player who can develop over the long term. This has been the case for as long as general manager Brandon Beane has been with the club, as it’s clear that he values keeping a stable of athletic, versatile offensive linemen. Some of those players make the team, some are flipped for draft capital, and others move on to other clubs.

Sometimes, those players move elsewhere before returning home to Buffalo. In today’s installment of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss a player who was originally drafted by the Bills, but has not played any regular-season games with the club that drafted him.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Name: Nick Broeker
Number: 65
Position: G
Height/Weight: 6’4” 305 lbs.
Age: 25 (26 on 10/7/2026)
Experience/Draft: 3; selected by Buffalo in the seventh round (No. 230 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft 
College: Mississippi
Acquired: Signed reserve/future deal with Buffalo on 1/13/2026

Financial situation (per Spotrac): Broeker’s one-year contract is worth a total of $1.08 million. That’s also the cap hit Buffalo will carry if he makes the 53-man roster. Buffalo will carry just a $5,000 dead-cap charge, the total sum of Broeker’s signing bonus, if they choose to release him.

2025 Recap: Broeker bounced around quite a bit last year after spending the 2023 and 2024 regular seasons with the Houston Texans. Houston let him go early in May, and Broeker signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 21. Pittsburgh released him prior to the preseason opener, and he was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys on August 8. He played in two preseason contests for Dallas, but was ultimately released by the team on August 25. He was a free agent until September 25, when he signed with Buffalo’s practice squad. He was not called up for any games before being released on December 9. Subsequently, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad on December 16, which is where he remained until Kansas City’s season came to a close at the end of the 2025 regular season. He signed a reserve/futures contract with Buffalo on January 13.

Positional outlook: Broeker is one of quite a few interior offensive linemen vying for a spot on the roster this season. The other players listed exclusively at guard are Ar’maj Reed-Adamns and O’Cyrus Torrence. Jude Bowry and Tylan Grable are listed at tackle/guard, while Austin Corbett, Connor McGovern, Alec Anderson, and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger are listed at center/guard.

2026 Offseason: Broeker is healthy and participating in OTAs.

2026 Season outlook: Broeker has 12 games of pro experience, albeit in mostly a special teams role that could generously be described as limited. He totaled just nine snaps on offense and 53 snaps on special teams across those 12 games and two seasons in Houston, so his experience isn’t likely to move the needle much as it relates to him making the roster over some of his less-experienced counterparts. Additionally, Broeker is a guard who doesn’t play anywhere else, which will put him behind the eight-ball as it relates to making the 53-man roster as a reserve given how much the Bills value positional versatility in their reserve offensive linemen.

Broeker is a good camp body, but he’s likely nothing more than that unless a slew of injuries occur ahead of him. He’s likely fighting for a spot on the practice squad this summer.

Brooks Koepka withdrew from the RBC Canadian Open before Sunday's final round due to a hand injury, the PGA Tour announced.

Koepka, 36, was tied for 32nd at 6-under after shooting a 72 on Saturday and dropping 25 spots on the leaderboard. He went into Saturday's round only two shots off the lead following a 64 on Thursday and 68 on Friday.

After Saturday's round, Koepka received treatment on his left arm and elbow, later telling reporters that he was having difficulty gripping his club.

"Yeah, I don't know what it is," Koepka said, via Golf Digest "I'm struggling to grip the club with my ring finger and pinkie finger, so can't grip it. So the club is kind of just, my fingers would come loose, it was kind of numb."

At the time, Koepka did not mention withdrawing as a possibility, hopeful that he and his team could figure out the issue and take steps to correct it so he could continue playing. Obviously, that didn't happen and perhaps the condition worsened overnight. Tee times moving up at TPC Toronto were moved up for Sunday due to weather concerns.

Koepka explained that his grip difficulties affected his swing while warming up and then as he began the third round. According to him, his hand was not bothering him before getting to the course, but once he began warming up, the troubles with his grip developed.

A trainer accompanied him during the round and administered treatment at the 11th hole. Koepka said that he felt better during the last few holes, but that apparently changed once he was done playing for the day.

The injury makes Koepka's status for next week's U.S. Open uncertain. He was eager to play the event at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, New York, where he won the 2018 event. That was the second of two consecutive U.S. Open titles for Koepka, who has won five majors during his career.

Jackson Suber tops the RBC Canadian Open leaderboard going into Sunday’s final round, one shot ahead of Bud Cauley at 13-under. Four golfers are tied for third place at 11-under.

It's that time of year again; we are just two weeks away from the 2026 NHL Draft. With the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals getting near the end, the attention will soon turn to the draft, free agency, and then the start of the 2026-27 season.

However, for a team like the Nashville Predators, their focus has been on the draft and the offseason for quite some time. So, let's look at a potential draft target for them. Today, we are going to look at Viggo Björck, the Swedish forward out of Djurgården (SWE J20).

For most, the first thing that stands out is his speed and size. At 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds, he is one of the smallest players in the draft, but he's also one of, if not the fastest players. He drives a lot of plays using his speed and typically averages around 20 minutes per night at just 17 years old. 

Scouts point out that he has slick passing, great awareness and vision, and isn't afraid to shoot the puck. So, adding him into a young Predators offence alongside the likes of Matthew Wood, Joakim Kemell, and Brady Martin would make them a team to watch in the next few seasons. 

Scout's Takes:

Here are some of the scouting reports put out by the most notable scouts/hockey writers in the NHL.

"While his numbers will be nothing to lose your mind over, the fact that Björck played on the first line – often skating in more than 20 minutes a night – as a 17-year-old in one of the top leagues in the world is bonkers. Björck was electric at the World Juniors, showing a high-end blend of hockey sense and raw skill."

"Some people will shy away from his size, but Bjorck never shies away from battling in the hard areas of the ice. He plays quick and fast and his three-zone detail has resulted in his coaches at the pro level in Sweden trusting him in all situations."

"Bjorck can play with the puck on a string and make plays as a natural facilitator who has a ton of poise and vision, but he also plays in and out of give-and-gos, will go to the net and finish off plays and has great overall sense on and off the puck. He’s also a quick and fast skater who can play at different paces and challenge both in straight lines and on cuts and turnbacks, even if he’s not a true burner for his size."

Draft Projection

Many 2026 NHL Draft mock drafts have Björck going somewhere in the 6-8 range, with some having him jump into the top five. That said, very few have him falling to number 10, where the Predators pick. Regardless, if he were to fall down to 10, or the Predators could move up in the draft, Björck is a name they should strongly consider calling.

Jalen Brunson's legacy is forever: Knicks win first NBA title in 53 Years originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

I have been a Knicks fan for 27 years. I have watched this franchise be the punchline of every NBA conversation for the better part of three decades. The Knicks were the Cleveland Browns of basketball, a proud and passionate fanbase with nothing to show for it but heartbreak and "wait until next year."

Tonight, that all changed. The New York Knicks are NBA Champions.

And I still don't fully believe it.

Jalen Brunson just wanted it more

There is no more complicated way to say this: Jalen Brunson wanted this Finals more than anyone on that court. In a fourth quarter where the Knicks trailed and the moment was as big as it gets, Brunson attacked. He drew fouls, he converted at the line, he gave New York its first lead of the night with 3:40 remaining and dared San Antonio to take it back.

They couldn't.

Brunson was the unanimous ECF MVP, led the Finals MVP ladder wire-to-wire, and was the engine behind the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in Game 4, a 29-point second-half deficit erased in a 107-106 miracle capped by OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds left.

This is not just the greatest Knick of all time. Jalen Brunson belongs in the conversation of the greatest athletes in New York City history alongside Derek Jeter, Lawrence Taylor, and yes, Patrick Ewing. The difference between Brunson and Ewing? Brunson got the ring. In New York, that is the line between legend and immortal.

The NBA just got a new villain

I'll be honest, I liked Victor Wembanyama before this series. I genuinely did. The talent is undeniable, and his upside is as high as any player we've seen in a generation.

But after this series? He's the villain. The NBA didn't have a young LeBron James moment with Wemby where they could look to the future and smile; it was ruined by how he acted at his press interview with the words: 

"appreciate y’all, see y’all… never.”

Then he walked off the set. If that is what the NBA is protecting, then maybe they need to re-evaluate their investments.

Wembanyama had three blocks early in Game 5 that were, frankly, goaltends. All three. The referees let them go. Then later in the game, when he finally got called for goaltending, he turned to the officials with the kind of outrage that only someone who has been protected all season could muster. He was whining to the refs like they hadn't been gifting him calls all night long.

He's the NBA's Josh Allen. Once you get in his head and once the moment gets too big, he disappears. And tonight, Brunson got in his head early and never let him breathe.

Will Wembanyama be a problem for the Knicks for the next 15 years? Probably. But right now, he's a really skinny Yao Ming with a bad attitude, and Jalen Brunson just put him in a poster that will hang in Madison Square Garden forever.

The Knicks' title win is bigger than people realize

People who aren't Knicks fans don't fully understand what tonight means. This isn't just a championship. This is the Cleveland Browns winning the Super Bowl. This is decades of being laughed at, of being the example other franchises use to explain what failure looks like, of watching LeBron, Steph, and everyone else collect rings while New York sat empty-handed.

Nobody believed the Knicks could do this. The oddsmakers didn't. The national media didn't. San Antonio was a -220 favorite entering this series. And yet here we are.

One more thing, just for food for thought: the Knicks won an NBA Championship before GTA 6 came out.

As good as both of these teams are, don't be surprised if this is a rematch next season. Regardless of what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Eastern Conference landscape, this Knicks core is built to last, and the Spurs will be hungry. But the glory belongs to New York.

53 years. Worth every single second.

Topline

Jalen Brunson, the 29-year-old New York Knicks point guard, was named the NBA Finals MVP after the team won their first championship title in 53 years on Saturday night—but the team that ended the title drought only came together after Brunson left a massive amount of money on the table two years earlier.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“He understands what winning is about,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said in an interview after the game on Saturday. “He took a pay cut that I wouldn’t take. Every time they would throw that number in front of me, I would say no, and I feel like I’m a great guy. He set the bar. That set the standard.”

Contra

Speaking to Vanity Fair for a profile in February, Brunson described his decision to take the smaller contract as a more personal decision. “I’ve seen players wait and then get hurt, and then they’re at the mercy of the organization,” Brunson said, noting he plays best when he has a “free mind” and not focusing on getting paid. “A lot of people say I sacrificed for the team,” Brunson added. “One hundred percent I sacrificed for the team. But most importantly, I made sure my family and I are taken care of.”

What to Watch For

In 2028, Brunson will be eligible to sign a new five-year contract, which could be worth up to $417.8 million, The Athletic reported in 2024. Brunson will turn 32 that year. “Obviously we’d love for them to do right by me,” Brunson told Vanity Fair in February. “I think anyone would. I feel like I sacrificed.”

Key Background

Brunson was a former McDonald’s All-American in high school, and became a breakout star for Villanova, leading the Wildcats to victory in the 2016 and 2018 NCAA men’s basketball tournaments. Brunson was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks as the 33rd pick in the 2018 NBA draft, but eventually left for free agency after not receiving a $55 million contract extension in 2022—leading him to sign with the Knicks. Brunson once again became the breakout star in the resurgent Knicks over the last few years, which went on an incredible postseason run to win the team’s first championship since 1973. Brunson scored 45 points in game 5 on Saturday night, going 14 for 27 from the field and 13 for 15 from the free throw line.

Further Reading

https://www.forbes.com/sites/hanktucker/2026/06/13/james-dolans-knicks-just-won-the-nba-title-heres-how-he-made-his-fortune/

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

LONDON (AP) — Emma Raducanu fell short of a dream title on home soil at the Queen's Club after Croatian lucky loser Donna Vekic won the final 6-0, 7-6 (6) in London on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Raducanu was looking for her first singles trophy since her stunning win as a qualifier at the 2021 U.S. Open.

The British No. 1 was swiftly beaten in the first set but saved three championship points in the second on the way to a tiebreaker, where she saved another and came close to taking it to a deciding set.

Rain earlier in the tournament resulted in Raducanu having to power through a two-match day on Saturday, beating Kamilla Rakhimova then American Iva Jovic to reach the first grass-court and third tour-level final of her career.

Raducanu finished runner-up to Sorana Cirstea in Cluj-Napoca, her second final, in February.

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

High hopes among FIFA, Fox Sports, and Telemundo for increased viewer interest in the 2026 men’s World Cup have been confirmed—and then some. 

The networks said that their first two featured broadcasts of the tournament both drew historic audiences. Among the initial findings:

• The June 11 tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa averaged 6.3 million viewers in the U.S. on Fox, according to preliminary figures. The viewership represented the most-watched group-stage match ever on English-language U.S. television that didn’t involve the American team.
• The U.S. men’s national team opener Friday against Paraguay averaged 15.99 million viewers, again according to initial figures. That marked the most-watched World Cup match involving the U.S. men’s team in English-language U.S. broadcast history, according to Fox research of Nielsen data. 
• That Fox figure for the U.S.-Paraguay match also more than doubled a comparable figure for a U.S.-Wales match to help open the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That latter broadcast aired in a weekday timeslot for U.S. viewers and in the non-traditional late fall window used in that iteration of the tournament for climate-related reasons. 
• The South Africa-Mexico match averaged 12.1 million viewers for the Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo, its streaming platforms, and NBCUniversal’s Peacock. That figure represents the most-watched World Cup opening broadcast in history, regardless of language, and the most-watched World Cup match in Spanish-language history.
• The Spanish-language coverage of the U.S.-Paraguay match on those same platforms, meanwhile, averaged 8.9 million viewers, representing its most-watched group-stage match ever not featuring Mexico. 

Each of these initial audience figures involves data from the Fox broadcast network, the Fox One and Tubi streaming services, or Telemundo’s platforms and Peacock. They are not, however, final figures that involve Nielsen Big Data + Panel methodology that is considered official currency across the media business. That data is expected later this week.

The combined audience for the U.S.-Paraguay match, meanwhile, came to 24.9 million across the English- and Spanish-language coverage—a figure that places it in the highest reaches of sports media.

“When the final Big Data numbers come in, it’ll be north of 25 million,” said Fox Sports president of insights and analytics Mike Mulvihill in a social media post. “Certainly holds its own with CFB, NBA, MLB championship audiences. Love to see it.”

Out-of-home viewership, something expanded by Nielsen early last year and since the last World Cup, added materially to the latest audience figures. 

Big Run of Sports

Despite the current lack of full viewership data, the preliminary World Cup viewership extends what has been a massive run in recent weeks across much of sports media.

The NBA Finals on ABC, won by the Knicks Saturday night, was up 116% through four games and at its highest level since 1998. Similarly, the Stanley Cup Final, also airing on ABC, is up 104% in viewership through four games.

Other properties such as MLB have also seen strong lifts on their national broadcasts this spring.

The uplift, however, isn’t entirely universal. Star power still matters in many sports and events, and a lack of it can seriously cut into the fan appeal. The recently concluded French Open particularly saw that, with viewership falling 25% and to its lowest level in 25 years amid all of the foremost names in both the men’s and women’s competitions being knocked out in earlier rounds.

The post World Cup Opens With Record TV Audiences for Fox, Telemundo appeared first on Front Office Sports.

PITTSBURGH — Konnor Griffin’s promising rookie season with the Pirates was paused when he was placed on the injured list since May with a right forearm strain on May 31.

The 20-year-old initially tried to play through the injury, serving two games as the team’s designated hitter, before the Pirates made the decision to put him on the IL.

Griffin, who has been able to hit during his entire stint on the IL, recently began a throwing program as he ramps up to get back into game shape.

“I think it’s a good sign that he is throwing, because he was able to do all the other baseball activities, really the whole time,” general manager Ben Cherington said on his 93.7 The Fan Radio show on Sunday. “Throwing was obviously gonna be the last thing to come. We wanted to make sure he was 100% asymptomatic before he started a throwing progression.”

Griffin started throwing from 90 feet at roughly 75% intensity on Wednesday at PNC Park and came away feeling good. As he continues to progress, the Pirates want to ensure they are being thorough with their franchise cornerstone.

“With this particular issue that he’s coming off of, we want to make sure it’s a legitimate throwing progression,” said Cherington. “This is not gonna be a two or three day thing. He’ll continue to build up volume and distance.”

The Pirates are still several weeks away from seeing Griffin back on the field with the team, so a rehab assignment will be needed before he’s reinstated. As of now, there is no timeline for when that will begin.

“We don’t have a specific date for that yet, but the fact that he’s in his throwing progression means that hopefully that’s coming not too long from now,” said Cherington.

Griffin appeared in 51 games for the Pirates prior to landing on the shelf and batted .270/.327/.402 with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs, 22 RBI and 14 stolen bases. He started 47 games at shortstop (49 appearances) and posted a .967 fielding percentage with three defensive runs saved.

The post No Timeline Yet for Konnor Griffin Rehab Assignment, Pirates Hoping Soon appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

Kevin Hart looked around at the tears in New York after the Knicks’ title and decided one courtside loyalist deserved more than just congratulations.

The Knicks’ first championship since 1973 turned Madison Square Garden’s long-suffering fanbase into a citywide celebration.

Hart’s video message began with that emotion, pointing to fans crying real tears after decades of waiting for this moment.

Kevin Hart wants Spike Lee to get a Knicks ring

Hart’s message quickly turned to Lee, the most recognizable Knicks fan of the modern era and the celebrity face most associated with their courtside culture.

“Shout out to Spike Lee, give Spike a ring. He deserves a f—– championship ring. I’m saying it here: give Spike a New York Knicks championship ring. That moth——- has been there for 76 years, in the front row. He’s spent $17 million on Knicks games. Give Spike a ring. Congrats, Spike, let’s go.”

It was classic Hart, exaggerated, profane, and easy to understand. Lee had been there through the losing, the false dawns, the playoff heartbreak, and now the payoff.

There is no indication yet that the Knicks will give Lee a ring, but the organization could choose to honor him. Championship ring distribution is largely controlled by teams and ownership, with players, coaches, executives, staff, and other selected figures often included in different tiers.

Spike Lee’s Knicks relationship is now 41 years deep

Lee has been a Knicks season-ticket holder since 1985, the same year Patrick Ewing arrived, making his official season-ticket relationship with the franchise 41 years old in 2026.

His connection goes even deeper as a New Yorker and fan, but 1985 is the clean marker for his permanent MSG presence. The courtside seat, orange-and-blue outfits, and constant reactions made him part of the franchise’s public identity.

That is why Hart’s demand lands after Jalen Brunson led New York past San Antonio in five games, won Finals MVP, and ended the 53-year title drought. Spike did not score a basket, but few non-players symbolize the wait more clearly.

Lee has already collected Knicks history in his own way, including a 1970 Red Holzman championship ring he bought at auction. This would be different.

A 2026 ring from the organization would not make him part of the roster, but it would recognize something real. For four decades, Spike Lee made Knicks loyalty visible. Hart is arguing that the first title of that era should make the appreciation official.

Read more:

1905
George Davis stole four bases in a 5-3 win at Washington, a mark that has stood for 121 years now (though tied nine different times). Davis led an onslaught that saw the speedy Sox swipe seven sacks on the afternoon without once being caught. Woe was Senators catcher Malachi Kittridge.

It was truly a different, dead-ball era, in that nine different White Sox swiped at least 11 bases in 1905, and the team totaled 194. Davis, in spite of his four-swipe day, did not lead the team; his 31 finished one shy of first baseman Jiggs Donahue. Davis did, however, finish with 7.2 WAR to lead the American League and make him the presumptive MVP (it was not officially honored as such in the early days of baseball). In the extreme dead-ball era, Davis’ hitting prowess landed him at just a .693 OPS.

Davis was elected to the Hall of Fame posthumously, in 1998.

1942
With an 11-4 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Washington, Eddie Smith won his first game of the year, in 12 tries, to improve to 1-10. What’s crazy about Smith’s winless streak, which stretched back to the start of the 1942 season, is that he didn’t pitch badly at all: seven complete games, five one-run losses, two two-run losses, and an 3.83 ERA/4.16 FIP.

In the 11 games leading up to this blowout win, the White Sox scored just 21 runs total (not runs in support of Smith, but TOTAL runs in all of the losses, plus one ninth-inning win when Smith had been removed from the game).

If you stretched back to the end of 1941, Smith’s losing run heading into this game was 15 straight, having lost his final five decisions in that season.

Despite a 3.98 ERA that wasn’t that much worse than league average (90 ERA+), Smith would end up leading the AL in losses, at 7-20. While it would be easy to blame a bad White Sox team for Smith’s misfortune in 1942, by 1920-50 White Sox standards the 66-82 White Sox weren’t all that bad; applying their winning percentage to Smith’s 27 decisions, the hurler should have gone 12-15 on the season.

1953
White Sox pitchers Billy Pierce and Sandy Consuegra both fired shutouts in beating the Boston Red Sox in a doubleheader at Comiskey Park. The Sox won, 6-0 and 1-0. Pierce was brilliant in the opener, with two hits and one walk against eight Ks for a 90 game score. And although the 1-0 score in the nightcap doesn’t indicate it, Consuegra was a lot luckier with his win, spinning a shutout on an eight-hitter; Chico Carrasquel knocked in the only run of the game, with a single to center in the second inning.

With the sweep, the White Sox moved from a tie for fourth place with the Washington Senators to third place, leapfrogging the Red Sox with these head-to-head wins. Chicago would spend much of the season in second place from there, but would fall no lower than third for the remainder of the 1953 season.

2000
The White Sox trounced Cleveland, 11-4, but still managed to fail. How? Well, a club-record 17 games hitting at least one home run was snapped in the win.

The streak started on May 26, when Frank Thomas hit a solo home run off of Cleveland’s Chuck Finley in the first inning of a 5-3 win. The White Sox hit 28 home runs during the streak, but interestingly from just seven hitters: Thomas (eight), José Valentín (five), Carlos Lee (five), Ray Durham (five), Magglio Ordoñez (three), Chris Singleton (one) and Greg Norton (one). Eighteen of the homers were solo shots, seven came with one runner on, two were three-run shots, and one was a grand slam.

The streak came close to snapping only three times, with two homers coming as late as the seventh inning to keep the streak going. The homer streak came closest to snapping on June 13, when Durham’s solo shot in the 10th inning kept it going.

The White Sox went 13-4 over the 17 games of the streak, raising their record from 26-20 to 39-24 and extending their AL Central lead to five games by streak’s end. Despite snapping the longball streak, this game came toward the start of a eight-game winning streak and wins in 14 of 16 to shoot to a commanding lead in the division — one that would not be relinquished.

One of the two losses in the stretch came against the Cubs, in a June 11 game when the White Sox exploded for five home runs — all solo shots — in a 6-5 final.

2009
With American League pitchers still having to bat in any interleague game played in NL parks, White Sox pitchers had long been a hole in the batting order of such games. Mark Buehrle, coming into a start in Milwaukee as a career 3-for-36 hitter with zero extra-base hits for a -49 OPS+ and a .083/.108/.083 slash, homered to lead off the third inning against Braden Looper.

Buehrle never homered again in the major leagues, and in fact would have just five hits (two doubles) in his career after this game. In his 14 years hitting in the majors, Buerhle was 9-of-125 for a .072/.087/.112 slash for a -1.0 WAR and -47 OPS+.

The White Sox prevailed in this tight game, 5-4, when A.J. Pierzynski singled in the deciding run in the bottom of the eighth off of Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman. Interestingly, pitcher Clayton Richard had pinch-run for Jim Thome in the inning and scored the eventual winning run.

University of Hawaii associate head baseball coach Keith Zuniga, the architect of one of college baseball’s top pitching staffs, is leaving the Rainbow Warriors to become USC’s pitching coach.

“It’s a tug at my heart because of what this place has meant to me and my daughters,” Zuniga said. “As a competitor, you see an opportunity like this (with USC) and you really want to go after it and give it everything you’ve got. I’m very excited, for sure. I wouldn’t be in this situation without (UH) Coach (Rich) Hill. He’s been great throughout this process. He’s someone I’ll continue to lean on the rest of my career.”

Zuniga will replace Sean Allen, who resigned as the Trojans’ pitching coach last week to become Lamar’s head baseball coach. At 34, Zuniga will be the youngest Power Four pitching coach.

Hill expressed gratitude and well-wishes to Zuniga and his family. In Zuniga’s three UH seasons, the ’Bows were one of four teams to finish in the top 20 nationally in earned-run average. This season, the ’Bows are third with a 3.45 ERA.

“I know he’s grateful for the opportunity, and he’s going to do his thing,” pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno said of Zuniga. “Great coach, great guy. … He deserves it. He’s going to do a great job. Being able to create bonds with everybody, I feel that’s what he does best. I know he’s going to do big things over there. It’s good for him and his family to move up the ladder in coaching. After college ball, hopefully it’s the pros for him.”

Hill is pondering different models to replace Zuniga. Connor Harrison, who pitched for the ’Bows from 2021 to 2024 and served as director of pitching development this past season, has been promoted to associate pitching coach. For now, Harrison is coordinating the UH pitchers’ offseason program. Harrison will remain as part of the staff this coming season. Hill said there is no timetable on adding a pitching coach, noting “we want to get it right.”

But during conversations on Friday, all the pitchers expressed confidence in Harrison’s coaching and Hill’s ability to find a quality pitching coach. Hill’s pitching-coach tree includes five who became NCAA head coaches and seven who are pitching coaches. Zuniga said Harrison and Trevor Ichimura, a graduate manager who was recently named as Chaminade’s pitching coach, were instrumental in the ’Bows’ mound success this year.

“Connor Harrison has my full endorsement,” Zuniga said. “Connor, in my opinion, is going to be a great pitching coach, whether it be right now or a couple years down the road.”

Zuniga developed an effective front-to-back staff with UH this year. Magdaleno, who was UH’s closer in 2025, emerged as an award-winning, series-opening starter. This past week, Baseball America and Perfect Game both named Magdaleno to their All-America third teams. Hekili Robello, who redshirted in 2025 after transferring from Santa Rosa College, impressed as a weekend starter and diligent student. Relief pitcher Tsubasa Tomii was named to the 2026 All-Big West first team.

Two weeks ago, USC contacted Zuniga. Last week, Zuniga had an in-person interview with USC officials, toured the Los Angeles campus and met with academic staff.

This past Thursday, Zuniga departed for a UH-sponsored, 10-day recruiting trip to Tokyo and Taiwan. During the flight to Japan, Zuniga was offered the job. Details were worked out while he was airborne. With Hill’s blessing, Zuniga finalized the USC deal. Another UH staff member replaced Zuniga on the recruiting trip.

Zuniga said he is assured all the recruits and roster players remain committed to UH.

“Everyone is locked in to being ’Bows,” Zuniga said.

The ’Bows will have a reorganized coaching staff when they officially move from the Big West to the Mountain West on July 1. Last week, Hill confirmed that Dave Nakama, UH’s hitting coach the past five seasons, was leaving the program.

The Spanish full-back would join Los Blancos after the World Cup after paying the €50 million release clause to Chelsea.

A lightning-fast deal, with hardly anyone seeing it coming, and one that could be among the biggest of the summer. Fabrizio Romano reports that Marc Cucurella would be Real Madrid’s new signing and has already confirmed it with his famous HERE WE GO.

There is already said to be a verbal agreement between all parties, and he is Mourinho’s preferred player for left-back.

Cucurella will leave Chelsea and join Madrid after the World Cup, with Los Blancos set to pay Chelsea the €50 million release clause.

A key player both for the Blues and, of course, for the Spanish national team, he would strengthen Madrid’s left flank with plenty of guarantees.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

As expected, Florida State lost another prospect from its 2027 class.

Athlete DaYon Cooper announced today that he’d be reopening his recruitment. He’s coming off a visit to Tennessee, who is likely recruiting him to play on offense.

He committed to FSU as a defensive back but has recently expressed more interest in playing wide receiver in college, which FSU did not agree to. He’ll likely end up flipping to the Volunteers or possibly the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who are also open to playing him on offense. Sounds like this move is best for both parties, as FSU is doing just fine at receiver.

VAR will continue to punish divers at the 2026 World Cup if they get away with simulation – but only if the tackler is incorrectly booked.

It follows an incident in the USA’s first game of the tournament against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday which caused some confusion inside the SoFi Stadium.

Paraguayan winger Miguel Almiron was dribbling towards the penalty area when he went down under pressure from US captain Tim Ream. The Dutch referee, Danny Makkelie, awarded Paraguay a free-kick and showed a yellow card to Ream.

Ream was incredulous and protested against the decision. Replays showed he had not touched Almiron, who had thrown himself to the floor to trick the referee.

The game continued with a Paraguay free-kick but was stopped moments later, mid-flow, with messages on the giant screen displaying: “VAR review, mistaken identity.”

Referee Makkelie was directed to the pitchside monitor where he quickly realised his error in penalising Ream. He reversed the decision, rescinding Ream’s yellow card and booking Almiron instead.

VAR interventions are not allowed for the express purpose of reviewing and correcting yellow cards, because that would mean too many interventions and break the flow of the game.

VAR can only overturn a yellow card after moments involving goals, penalties, red cards and cases of mistaken identity. The mistaken identity rule was introduced for incidents like the sending off of Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs in a Premier League game in 2014, when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the culprit of the offence.

The laws of the game state mistaken identity can be only be applied to red or yellow cards when “the referee penalises an offence but has clearly misidentified the player”.

Almiron’s yellow card was issued under the umbrella of mistaken identity, even though the referee had not “misidentified” Ream but had simply made an error in his interpretation of the incident.

The Independent could not find evidence of VAR being previously used in this way to overturn incidents of simulation.

But it is understood that Fifa is happy with how its officials handled the scenario, and there could be more occasions during the World Cup when divers are retrospectively punished. Fifa’s only gripe was that after Almiron was correctly booked, the game should have restarted from a drop ball – as is procedure when a game is stopped mid-flow – instead of a US free-kick.

However, that comes with the caveat that VAR would only step in to review an incident if a card was issued. If Ream had not been booked, there would have been no grounds under Fifa rules for VAR to conduct a review.

The wheels have officially come off the Mercedes-AMG hype train at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. What should have been a straightforward victory extension for the team transformed into a strategic and mechanical disaster. Between a catastrophic late-race DNF for championship leader Kimi Antonelli and an aggressive internal track battle that handed the win directly to Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Team Principal Toto Wolff was left furious.

In a tense post-race interview with Sky Sports, Wolff didn’t hold back, calling out his team’s recurring mechanical fragility and issuing a stern warning to his drivers about leaving race wins on the table.

Mercedes’ Costly Internal War

While Antonelli’s late mechanical failure ultimately sealed his fate, Wolff made it clear that Mercedes put themselves on the back foot much earlier in the race. George Russell and Antonelli engaged in a fierce wheel-to-wheel battle during the opening stints, a choice that Wolff believes destroyed their gap to the chasing pack and allowed Hamilton to capitalize.

“We tried to race fair in the team game, but maybe it cost us the win today,” Wolff admitted. “And that’s something which we need to discuss with the drivers—how are we doing it if we’re fighting somebody else for the win.”

When pressed on exactly how much time was squandered during the intra-team scrap before Russell’s first pit stop, Wolff provided a damning estimate.

“They raced each other quite hard before George’s stop, and I think we lost about four, five, or six seconds to Lewis. And then obviously, with the VSC [Virtual Safety Car], it changed the order.”

Although Wolff explicitly clarified that the drivers’ hard racing was “not at all” related to Antonelli’s subsequent retirement, the lost track position left Mercedes completely exposed. Instead of controlling the race from the front, they bled critical seconds that ultimately allowed Ferrari’s alternate strategy to succeed.

“Fat Points” and Championship Realities

Beyond the tactical errors on the pit wall and on the track, Mercedes is facing a deeply unsettling trend of unreliability. Just a few races after Russell suffered a mechanical setback in Canada, Antonelli’s car let him down in the closing stages of Barcelona.

For a team trying to anchor a world championship campaign with a rookie driver, these recurring failures are completely unacceptable to the Mercedes boss.

“I mean, you know, we just can’t compete for a championship if we have, every second race, a car that’s losing fat points,” Wolff blasted. “It’s one, then the other, and to finish first, first you have to finish. So, that’s just not good enough.”

To compound their anxieties, Russell’s pace completely vanished during the latter half of the Grand Prix. While Russell showed “incredible pace with the medium” tyre early on, his performance fell away drastically toward the end of that initial stint and failed to recover on the subsequent hard compounds.

Mercedes now heads to Austria, facing a massive internal investigation. Wolff has to solve a burning multi-front crisis: fixing a brittle technical platform, analyzing Russell’s sudden tire drop-off, and sitting down with both drivers to establish strict boundaries before their inner-team rivalry completely destroys their championship aspirations.

Intel's Arctic Sound 2T GPU, based on the Xe-HP architecture, has been pictured despite its cancellation several years ago. A User Placed An Order For Ponte Vecchio, But Instead Received An Arctic Sound 2T GPU Sample, Which Was Cancelled Back In 2021 It was 2018, and the Intel Graphics Team was developing cool new products based on its first-generation Xe GPU architecture, such as gaming, workstation, and data centre-class solutions. The company had already shared details of its gargantuan Ponte Vecchio GPU, a multi-tile and multi-package engineering marvel & we also started getting first details of Arctic Sound, a lineup […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/intel-cancelled-arctic-sound-xe-hp-gpu-resurfaces-dual-tiles-quad-hbm2e/

New details for Intel's upcoming Z990 & Z970 chipsets powering next-gen LGA 1954 motherboards have been revealed. Intel's Next-Gen Z990 & Z970 Are In Full Development: New Details Point To Higher Chipset Power Consumption, But With More IO Capabilities Recently, there have been new details rolling out for Intel's upcoming chipsets, mainly the high-end Z990 and Z970 series. We got our first glimpse at these motherboards at Computex 2026, and while the launch is still several months away, the first motherboards are already in development and expected to be ready even before Nova Lake Desktop CPUs launch. Z990 Chipset Smaller […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/intel-z990-chipset-goes-all-in-on-gen5-shrinking-its-die-while-pushing-power-to-14w/

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For the first time in their history, Curaçao secured a place at the 2026 World Cup. Despite not being a powerhouse national team, they surpassed Jamaica in the CONCACAF qualifiers, earning direct qualification to the tournament. Following this major sporting achievement, they have gained greater recognition, climbing positions in the FIFA World Ranking and potentially looking to surprise their opponents.

According to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, Curaçao are ranked 82nd with 1,294.77 points. With Germany as their first opponent, the result could directly affect their position in the standings. After being ranked 91st in 2024, they have managed to significantly improve their international standing. However, they have yet to match their highest-ever ranking, which was 68th in July 2017.

Even though Curaçao have improved their position in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, they remain the lowest-ranked team in their group at the 2026 World Cup. Germany currently occupy 10th place in the rankings, Ecuador sit 24th, and Ivory Coast round out the group in 33rd. With this in mind, they face the greatest challenge in their history: Shining on the World Cup stage.

Being the smallest country in World Cup history, Curaçao are already looking to leave a mark on the competition, as they have chances of even reaching the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams. With nothing to lose, they arrive with the hopes of impressing in the tournament. In addition, they have already demonstrated their progress in recent years, notably improving their world ranking with FIFA, which brought them to the 2026 World Cup.

What are Curaçao’s upcoming matches in the 2026 World Cup?

In their debut at the 2026 World Cup, Curaçao face Germany on June 14 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. They then face Ecuador on June 20 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas, Missouri. Concluding their run in the tournament, they face Ivory Coast on June 25 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Should they manage a strong campaign in the tournament, they could climb positions in the FIFA World Ranking, as they have the advantage of competing in the 2026 World Cup. However, they could also lose positions if they suffer three consecutive defeats. With this being their first appearance in the tournament, they seem to have no pressure, instead risking everything in an effort to shine.

Injuries can play a huge role in shaping competitions like the 2026 World Cup. For Germany, that became an issue in a very important position long ago, as Marc-André ter Stegen will not represent his country.

Ter Stegen is missing the competition because he was not called up by Julian Nagelsmann. However, the manager’s decision was not technical. It was an injury that ruled the goalkeeper out.

In just his second match at Girona, Ter Stegen suffered a severe tear in his left hamstring in January that required surgery. The timeline was too tight for him to make it back in time, and he ultimately could not recover before the squad was announced.

Ter Stegen’s season

It was a completely unexpected nightmare season for Ter Stegen. While still at Barcelona last year, a back injury became more difficult to deal with and required surgery that kept him out almost until the end of the campaign.

With Joan García now established in the lineup, the goalkeeper looked for a different club to get more minutes and keep his place in Germany, deciding to join Girona on loan with that goal in mind.

While Girona finished La Liga in the relegation zone, that may well have been because Ter Stegen was almost never able to play. The goalkeeper started in the 1-1 draw with Getafe and the 1-0 loss to Real Oviedo before the injury forced him out.

The replacement

After it was confirmed that Ter Stegen would miss nearly four months, Nagelsmann saw Oliver Baumann of TSG Hoffenheim as the replacement. However, that did not happen in the end. The manager instead opted to convince Manuel Neuer to come out of Germany retirement and join the squad.

Following FIFA’s new adjustments, Curacao managed to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup, qualifying for the tournament for the first time in history. Although they are not considered a highly competitive powerhouse, they have already become one of the biggest talking points among fans. In addition, they represent the smallest country ever to appear in the tournament.

Curaçao have a total area of 171 square miles (around 444 square kilometers) and a total population of only 158,000. Because of this, they are the smallest country to qualify for a World Cup in the tournament’s 96-year history. While Iceland held the record for the smallest population among World Cup participants in 2018, it now belongs to Curaçao, whose size is comparable to that of New Orleans, at roughly 440 square kilometers.

Even though they are an island located near Venezuela, they compete in CONCACAF, where they secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup. To do so, they managed to surpass Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda in Group B of the third round of the qualifiers. Without a world-class roster, they could struggle defensively, as their most recent friendlies against Scotland, Australia, and China resulted in multiple defeats.

Despite their small population, they are looking to make a statement at the 2026 World Cup. To do so, they will be aiming to defeat Germany, as they seek to climb the standings in Group E, where they will also face Ecuador and Ivory Coast. Without any high-profile stars in their roster, they could rely on a solid collective style of play.

Curacao eye historic breakthrough at the 2026 World Cup

With Germany and Ecuador as their direct rivals in the 2026 World Cup, Curaçao may not have an easy path to securing one of the top two spots. However, they could still aim to write their name into the tournament’s history, as they still have a strong chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, due to the reintroduced best third-placed teams system.

Following the expansion to 48 national teams, FIFA reintroduced the best third-placed teams system. Although it had disappeared after the 1994 World Cup, it was adjusted once again, giving eight national teams the chance to advance to the knockout stages. With this in mind, Curaçao could aim to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams and, with this being their debut in these stages of the tournament, make a major statement on the world stage.

The Netherlands enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the favorites to capture the title and finally secure the first-ever global star in the nation’s storied soccer history. However, as the Dutch prepare for their tournament run in North America, Oranje has been dealt a major setback. Versatile defender Jurrien Timber was officially omitted from the final 26-man roster.

The 24-year-old Arsenal defender suffered a persistent groin injury during the final stretch of the club season. Despite aggressive rehabilitation efforts, he failed to return to 100% physical fitness in time to meet manager Ronald Koeman’s strict medical standards for the tournament.

Interestingly, Timber did manage to make a high-profile appearance in Arsenal’s final match of the season, coming off the bench to play 55 minutes in a penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final. While that brief return sparked optimism within the Dutch camp, the progress was short-lived.

Once Timber arrived at the Netherlands‘ pre-tournament training camp in New York, the medical staff evaluated his condition after a friendly against Uzbekistan and determined that it was in the player’s best long-term interest to focus on a complete recovery. To fill the vacant spot on the roster, Koeman utilized FIFA’s late injury-replacement window to call up Sunderland right-back Lutsharel Geertruida.

Koeman about Timber’s injury

Mikel Arteta’s tactical gamble to feature Timber in the Champions League final generated significant debate and controversy back in the Netherlands. Prior to that match, the defender had spent roughly two months completely sidelined trying to heal the groin issue.

Addressing the situation during a press conference, Koeman expressed frustration but stopped short of pointing fingers at the Premier League club, though he frankly admitted the Champions League minutes exacerbated the issue. “You can’t blame the club, and I don’t want to do that either,” the Dutch manager stated. “However, it is clear that those minutes did not help his recover“.

Koeman further explained that while Timber might have been physically capable of logging occasional, sparse minutes later in the tournament, relying on an unfit player for a grueling World Cup campaign was out of the question for the coaching staff.

“He has been out of shape for a long time and continues to present symptoms that do not subside quickly, which means he will not be ready to compete in the short term,” Koeman concluded.

With Timber officially heading home to rest ahead of the domestic season, the Netherlands will now lean on their extensive defensive depth to anchor the backline for their upcoming Group F matches against Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia.

La Liga'ya geri dönen Deportivo'nun radarına giren İspanyol sol bek Angelino, geleceğiyle ilgili net kararını verdi: Deneyimli oyuncu, kariyerine Roma'da devam etmek istiyor.

Roma forması giyen 29 yaşındaki sol bek Angelino, transfer döneminin hareketli isimlerinden biri olmaya adayken geleceğine dair son noktayı koydu. İspanya La Liga'ya yeniden merhaba diyen Deportivo'nun kadrosuna katmak istediği deneyimli savunmacı, İtalya'da devam etmek istiyor.

Deportivo İstiyor Ancak Angelino "Roma" Diyor

İspanyol ekibi Deportivo'nun, Angelino transferi için Roma kulübünün kapısını çalıp çalmayacağı henüz belirsizliğini koruyor. Ancak oyuncu cephesinde karar oldukça net. İtalyan basınından Il Tempo'nun paylaştığı bilgilere göre; İspanyol futbolcu, kariyerine kesin olarak Roma'da devam etmeyi ve teknik direktör Gian Piero Gasperini'nin gözüne girerek kendisini kanıtlamayı hedefliyor.

Sözleşmesi 2028'e Kadar Devam Ediyor

Geride bıraktığımız sezonda şanssız sakatlıklar yaşayan ve bu nedenle yalnızca 9 karşılaşmada süre alabilen Angelino'nun İtalyan temsilcisiyle olan kontratı uzun vadeli. Deneyimli sol bekin Roma ile olan sözleşmesi 2028 yılına kadar devam ediyor.

Ferrari'nin İngiliz pilotu Lewis Hamilton, İspanya'da koşulan Formula 1 Dünya Şampiyonası'nın 7. yarışında damalı bayrağı ilk gören isim oldu.

Formula 1 Dünya Şampiyonası'nda sezonun 7. yarışı İspanya Grand Prix'sinde zafer Ferrari pilotlarından Lewis Hamilton'ın oldu.

FERRARI İLE İLK ZAFER

Hamilton, Temmuz 2024'teki Belçika zaferinden sonra ilk kez mutlu sona ulaştı. İngiliz yarış pilotu, kariyerindeki 106. galibiyeti elde etti. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari ile ilk galibiyetini İspanya'da aldı.

İspanya'da George Russell, ikinci sırada yer aldı. Yarış sırasında Russell'ı geçen ve ikinciliği alan Kimi Antonelli, aracında yaşadığı sorun sonrası yolun ortasında kaldı ve ikinci sırayı Russell'a kaptırdı.

İspanya GP'de üçüncü sıra Lando Norris'in oldu.

İspanya'da ilk beş sıralama şu şekilde:

1. Lewis Hamilton

2. George Russell

3. Lando Norris

4. Max Verstappen

5. Oscar Piastri

ABD'ye girişine izin verilmediği için 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası'nda görev alamayan Somalili hakem Omar Abdulkadir Artan'a turnuva ücretinin tam olarak ödeneceği bildirildi

BBC'nin haberine göre, Uluslararası Futbol Federasyonları Birliği (FIFA), Dünya Kupası'nda görev yapamayacak olmasına rağmen Artan'ın turnuva kapsamında hak ettiği ücretin tamamını almasını kararlaştırdı.

Dünya Kupası'nda görev yapmak üzere ABD'ye giden Artan, Miami Uluslararası Havalimanı'nda ABD göçmenlik yetkililerince yaklaşık 11 saat sorgulandıktan sonra ülkeye girişine izin verilmemişti.

ABD'nin Miami Uluslararası Havalimanı'nda durdurulan Artan, uzun süren sorgulamanın ardından ülkeye alınmamış ve İstanbul üzerinden Somali'ye dönmüştü.

ABD'li yetkililer, Somalili hakemin ülkeye girişine izin verilmemesine gerekçe olarak "terör örgütü üyeleri olduğu düşünülen kişilerle bağlantı" iddiasını göstermişti.

Artan ise hakkındaki iddiaları reddederek gerekli tüm belgeler ve geçerli vizeye sahip olduğunu açıklamıştı.

FIFA tarafından 2026 Dünya Kupası'nda görev yapmak üzere seçilen ilk Somalili hakem olan Artan, ülkesine dönüşünde yaptığı açıklamada, bir sonraki Dünya Kupası'nda görev yapma hedefini sürdürdüğünü ifade etmişti.

Afrika Futbol Konfederasyonu (CAF) tarafından 2025 yılında "Afrika'nın en iyi hakemi" seçilen 34 yaşındaki Artan, aynı yıl Afrika Şampiyonlar Ligi finali ile FIFA 20 Yaş Altı Dünya Kupası'nda da görev almıştı.

Fenerbahçe yaz döneminde sol ayaklı bir stoper takviyesi planlıyor. Bu konudaki en büyük adaylardan biri Gonçalo Inacio... Ancak Sporting Kulübü sadece serbest kalma maddesinde yazan rakamı talep ediyor.

Fenerbahçe'de öncelikli transfer hedeflerinden biri; sol ayaklı stoper... Konuyla ilgili çalışmalar sürüyor. Sarı-Lacivertliler, Sporting Lizbon forması giyen Gonçalo Inacio'yu ciddi şekilde istiyor. Fakat Portekiz temsilcisi, konuyla ilgili son kararını verdi. Geri adım atmayı da düşünmüyorlar...

24 yaşındaki stoperin mukavelesinde 60 milyon euroluk serbest kalma bedeli bulunuyor. Bu parayı ödeyen takım, Portekizli futbolcuyla bireysel şartları görüşebilecek. Daha düşük teklifler, Sporting tarafından değerlendirmeye alınmayacak. 1.85 boyundaki savunmacının 30 Haziran 2030'a kadar sözleşmesi var.

Gonçalo Inacio, Sporting'in altyapısından çıktı. 2020 yazında A takım kadrosuna dahil edildi. Portekiz Milli Takımı'nın da parçalarından biri... Oyuncuyla Milan da ilgileniyor. Fakat 60 milyon euroluk madde, Fenerbahçe kadar Milan'ı da düşündürüyor. Bu şartlarda Gonçalo Inacio'nun transferi pek mümkün gözükmüyor.

Fenerbahçeli N'Golo Kante'yle Paris FC ilgileniyor. Fransız ekibinin bu transfer için çok ciddi bir bütçe ayırdığı öğrenildi. Olası ayrılıkta Sarı-Lacivertliler sürpriz bir adrese gidecek...

Paris FC bir süredir N'Golo Kante'yi takip ediyor. Fransız ekibi, önümüzdeki sezon Ligue 1'e damga vuracak bir takım oluşturmayı hedefliyor. Ve bu uğurda çok ciddi paralar harcamaya hazırlar... Kante konusunda Dünya Kupası'nın ardından Fenerbahçe'ye teklif yapılması bekleniyor.

O İSİM KODAİ SANO

Eğer Fenerbahçe Yönetimi, muhtemel teklifi yeterli bulursa, Fransız yıldızla yollar ayrılacak. Kante yerine NEC Nijmegen'de oynayan Kodai Sano'nun düşünüldüğü öğrenildi. 22 yaşındaki genç futbolcu, hem merkez orta saha hem de ön libero bölgesinde görev yapabiliyor. Şu anda Stuttgart, PSV ve Borussia Dortmund da Japon oyuncunun durumunu takip ediyor.

SADECE 450 BİN EURO

1.80 boyundaki futbolcu, geçen sezon Hollanda Ligi'nde 34 karşılaşmaya çıktı. Sahada 3.060 dakika kaldı. 3 gol ve 7 asist üretti. NEC Nijmegen, Kodai Sano'yu 2023 yazında sadece 450 bin euro karşılığında Fagiano Okayama takımından transfer etmişti. Japon futbolcunun şu andaki tahmini piyasa değeri 12 milyon euro civarında... Ancak Nijmegen'in daha fazlasını talep etmesi bekleniyor.

The post Is Bitcoin Price Bottoming or Building for a Deeper Drop to $30,000? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin is holding above its 200-week moving average for another week, a level that has historically separated bull markets from extended bear markets. The question now dominating analyst discussion is whether the recen t drop to $59,000 was the cycle low or simply a temporary stop before a deeper decline toward $30,000 to $40,000. Why …

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Agentic AI is hungry, and apparently, traditional infrastructure is starting to feel the strain. That narrative helped push RENDER price more than 10% higher today, with the token climbing from its recent demand zone near $1.50 to trade around $1.75. The move followed a fresh announcement from Render Network highlighting a growing compute shortage. According …

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TAO price exploded more than 21% during Friday’s trading session after a sudden development in the artificial intelligence sector reignited interest in decentralized alternatives. The move came shortly after Anthropic announced that a U.S. government export control directive had forced the company to suspend access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for all …

Donetsk “Şaxtyor”unu çalışdıran Arda Turan Ukrayna Premyer Liqasında 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün ən yaxşı məşqçisi adına layiq görülüb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Ukrayna mətbuatı məlumat yayıb.

Klublar arasında keçirilən ənənəvi sorğunun nəticələrinə əsasən, birinci yeri türkiyəli mütəxəssis tutub. İkinci pillədə LNZ-nin çalışdırıcısı Vitali Ponomaryov qərarlaşıb. İlk üçlüyü isə “Polissye”nin baş məşqçisi Ruslan Rotan tamamlayıb.

Xatırladaq ki, Arda Turan 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümündə “Şaxtyor”u Ukrayna çempionu edib. Bundan başqa, komanda Avropa Konfrans Liqasında yarımfinala qədər irəliləyib.

Arda 2025-ci ilin iyul ayından “Şaxtyor”a rəhbərlik edir. 39 yaşlı mütəxəssis bu komandanı bütövlükdə 51 oyuna çıxarıb, 32 qələbə, 11 heç-heçə, 8 məğlubiyyət görüb.

Türkiyəli məşqçi “Şaxtyor”dan öncə vətənində “Eyüpspor”u da çalışdırıb.

Sunday’s reports claim that sides in Turkiye are beginning to step forwards for unwanted Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova, who will be allowed to leave the club after just one season. 

Trabzonspor possibility for Juventus’s Zhegrova

Zhegrova joined Juventus on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2025, signing on a permanent deal at a cost of €15m plus up to €3m in bonuses. 

Reports claim that Zhegrova was a player wanted specifically by former Juventus CEO Damien Comolli, who has since been replaced by Giovanni Carnevali at the top of the Bianconeri hierarchy. 

Zhegrova had suffered a major adductor injury in the January before he joined Juventus, which kept him sidelined for the entirety of the second half of the 2024-25 season. 

That injury clearly had an impact on his start to life in Turin, and in the end, the Kosovar was only able to play for 366 minutes across 19 appearances in Serie A, all of which came off the bench. 

With Comolli now gone, Juventus are expected to listen to any offers that come in for Zhegrova during the summer transfer window. 

According to the latest updates from TMW, some clubs in Turkiye are beginning to show an interest in picking up the 27-year-old in a low-cost deal. Trabzonspor have reportedly been in contact with Juve to request information surrounding Zhegrova. 

No formal talks have taken place just yet, but Sunday’s report claims that there is a good chance that the two clubs decide to proceed with negotiations.

Reports in Italy claim that Juventnus are hoping to raise around €50m from outgoing transfers by the end of June, and that there is a list of five players that the Old Lady are actively trying to sell. 

Which players could Juventus sell in the coming weeks?

Juventus missed out on Champions League qualification in the final few weeks of the 2025-26 season and according to Tuttosport, the club are hoping to raise €50m from early transfers to make up for the expected drop in revenues without access to Europe’s premier competition. 

The club have recently appointed a new CEO in Giovanni Carnevali, replacing the outgoing Damien Comolli. Tuttosport claims that given the excellent relationship that Carnevali has with Beppe Marotta from his time at Sassuolo, there could potentially be a few moves between the great rivals of Juventus and Inter. 

There have been suggestions that Inter could sell both Davide Frattesi and Carlos Augusto to Juventus, or that they could offer those players as part of player-plus-cash deals. 

In terms of players that Juventus could sell to Inter, Sunday’s report claims that Andrea Cambiaso is an interesting profile that has always been of interest to the Nerazzurri. In fact, Inter had looked at signing Cambiaso before he joined Juventus, but the Nerazzurri ultimately decided to sign Raoul Bellanova instead. 

Cambiaso has interest from several other sides, and Tuttosport reports that Juventus are willing to listen to offers in the region of €40m. 

Elsewhere, Juve are still planning to sell Nico Gonzalez to Atletico Madrid in a permanent deal. The Argentine spent the 2025-26 season on loan in the Spanish capital, but did not play quite enough minutes for his obligation to buy clause to be activated. 

Atleti are still said to be keen on signing Nico Gonzalez permanently, but are hoping to negotiate a ‘discount’ with Juve: Figures in the region of €25m are being discussed. 

Juventus are also hoping to sell two Brazilian midfielders in Douglas Luiz and Arthur Melo. There have been suggestions that both are of interest to Vincenzo Italiano and Besiktas, while reports from Tuttosport claim that Gremio are interested in keeping hold of Arthur permanently after spending the last season on loan back in his homeland. 

Juventus would reportedly like to bring in around €10m from the sale of Arthur, which would avoid them registering a capital loss on his signing, but these figures are slightly too high for Gremio. 

Tuttosport claims that Juventus will also be willing to sell Fabio Miretti if offers in the region of €15m come in this summer.

Carlo Ancelotti has already faced backlash for his decision to leave teenage talent Endrick on the bench for the entirety of Brazil’s World Cup draw against Morocco on Saturday night, but the coach says that he will not discuss ‘individual players’, only the team’s collective performance. 

Brazil supporters frustrated by Ancelotti’s decision to leave Endrick on the bench against Morocco

Brazil opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco in New York: Ismael Saobari opened the scoring after 21 minutes, Vinicius Jr. provided the response 10 minutes later. 

Though Morocco had reached an historic World Cup semi-final in 2022, Brazil were still considered the favourites by many heading into Saturday’s showdown. A 1-1 draw was still considered slightly underwhelming by fans of the most successful nation in World Cup history. 

Ancelotti has faced criticism online for one particular decision he made during the 1-1 draw with Morocco, namely the choice to leave 19-year-old Endrick on the bench for the whole game while Brazil were going in search of a goal. 

Endrick came into the World Cup having scored five times and having provided seven assists for his teammates from 16 appearances while on loan with Lyon in Ligue 1, but the teenager had struggled to break into the Real Madrid first team under Ancelotti in 2024-25 and now some fans are concerned that the same thing is happening with the Brazil national side. 

“I am not going to comment on individual players, I am here to talk about the team,” said Ancelotti when quizzed about his decision to leave Endrick on the bench during his post-match press conference. 

Still, many fans across social media still disagree with Ancelotti’s decision: “Whenever you mention Endrick, this is usually his response, even from when he was managing Real Madrid. This is unfair,” one supporter wrote on X. 

“Endrick wins them that game. Vini, Endrick and Raphinha should be the starting attackers,” another added. 

One fan wrote: “I won’t comment on individual players is what coaches say when they don’t have a good answer. Endrick deserves more than silence.” 

Daniel Farke’s Leeds United are keen on acquiring the services of Scottish youth international Cai McGunnigle.

On the back of his impressive performances for Hong Kong FC, Cai McGunnigle finds himself on the wishlist of a number of top clubs in Europe. Leeds United are one of the clubs interested in his services.

According to a report from Football Insider, Leeds United have invited the 17-year-old forward for a trial following his rapid rise in the Hong Kong Premier League. The Yorkshire-based club is seriously considering signing the Scottish youth international, who is also on the wishlist of AZ Alkmaar and West Ham United.

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European clubs are after Cai McGunnigle

Both clubs have also asked the youngster to undergo trials, as they weigh up whether to offer him the chance to move to Europe ahead of next season.

The teenage striker enjoyed an impressive campaign for Hong Kong FC last time out. He bagged three goals and an assist in just eight starts for the Hong Kong Premier League outfit.

He also holds the record for being the youngest goal scorer in the history of the league, having bagged his first goal at the age of just 16 years and one month.

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Leeds want to add McGunnigle to their youth setup

McGunnigle is considered one of the brightest young talents in Scottish football, and the West Yorkshire club want to see for themselves if he has it in him to be a part of their setup.

While little is known about him, he is regarded as a clinical finisher with strong tactical awareness. He certainly has the potential to be a special player.

Leeds have already added several exciting youngsters to their youth setup and could now make a move for the 17-year-old. However, a lot will depend on how he fares in the trials.

The post Leeds weighing up move for one of Scottish football’s brightest prospects appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The World Cup is finally here, and while its monstrous ticket prices have dominated much of the build-up, the actual football is finally set to take over. So, which teams are you likely to see should you stump up enough cash to secure your spot at MetLife Stadium on July 19th? 

Well, online betting sites have had their favourites priced up for months, and it’s the usual suspects who find themselves at the top of the odds lists. The latest World Cup betting at Bovada odds currently make Spain the 9/2 outright frontrunner, with France just behind at 5/1. Then there’s England at 7/1, third favourites. But what could each of their routes to the biggest game in world football potentially look like? Let’s take a look at their most likely path to glory. 

Spain

Spain famously stormed to a record-breaking fourth European championship crown in Germany two years ago. Now, their talented young squad attempts to take their talents from the continental stage to the global one. Lamine Yamal was just 16 years of age for much of that tournament in Germany in 2024. Now aged 18, he has matured into arguably the best player on the planet, and flanked by his loyal Barcelona cohorts, such as Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, and Pau Cubarsí, he is now tasked with bringing the famous gold trophy back to Spain for the second time. 

His side has been handed the perfect group to do exactly that. Luis de la Fuente’s men will face debutants Cape Verde in their opener in Atlanta on June 15th, before then facing Saudi Arabia in the same stadium five days later. Those two games will almost certainly yield six points and a slew of goals, before a clash with Uruguay in Guadalajara on June 26th brings their group stage commitments to an end. 

The bookies make Spain a whopping 1/5 favourite to top Group H, and if they don’t, it would be a monumental shock. Presuming that they do, then La Roja would likely face either Austria or Algeria in the stunning SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on July 2nd for another clash that they will be heavily favoured to win. Win that, and they have a Round of 16 clash against either Croatia or Colombia to look forward to, again a contest they’ll be well backed to win. 

Spain could well emerge at the quarterfinal stage without breaking a sweat. There, the USA, Turkey, and Belgium are considered their most likely opponents, arguably the weakest of any of the tournament favourites at that stage. In the semi-finals, second-favourites France will likely lie in wait. 

France 

France have reached each of the last two World Cup finals, and this summer, they aim to reach a record-equalling third straight. They beat Croatia in the first of those two showpieces in Moscow before losing a thriller on penalties to Argentina in Qatar four years later. However, if they are to reign supreme this summer, they will have to do so without two men who threaded the team together for over a decade: Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud.

Even without those two, Les Bleus still have quality right across the pitch, but it’s in attack that they’re truly deadly. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Desire Doue make up arguably the most fearsome attacking quartet at the entire tournament, and they will strike fear into each and every defence they come up against. But even so, they do have a much tougher run to the final than frontrunners Spain. 

Didier Deschamps’ side has been drawn into arguably the most difficult group at the tournament alongside both Norway and Senegal. Still, the bookies make them a clear 2/5 favourite to head Group I, and if they do, they will head to MetLife Stadium on June 30th for a clash with one of the best-placed third teams. 

From there, they will head to Philadelphia for a crunch round of 16 clash against fellow heavyweights Germany, before embarking upon a potential quarterfinal against the Netherlands in Boston on July 9th. After already running the gauntlet, a well-rested Spain side will then likely lie in wait in the semis, with July 14th in Dallas the date for that monster showdown. 

England 

Pretenders or contenders? That’s always the question with England. Their runs to each of the last two European Championship finals suggest that they are firmly the latter as opposed to the former, while the appointment of proven winner Thomas Tuchel only aids their case. Add to that the blistering form of Harry Kane, whose 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich this season have positioned him as the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, and it’s clear that the Three Lions could well roar. 

Heartbreak for England is a constant on the big stage…

+700 to bring home a World Cup for the first time since 1966 ??????? pic.twitter.com/oO0cPRYomD

— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) June 4, 2026

They must navigate perennial banana skin Croatia in their opening game, before then facing Ghana and Panama in Group L, a quartet that they’re 1/4 favourite to top. They will also face one of the best-placed third-place teams in Atlanta on July 1st, before gearing up for a likely clash against tournament co-hosts Mexico in front of thousands of Mexicans at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. 

The task gets no easier in the quarterfinals as the Three Lions will likely gear up for a clash with Brazil in a repeat of their 2002 quarterfinal. They will then probably face one of their two modern rivals in the semi-finals, either Argentina or Portugal, with those two set to square off in the quarterfinals and the winner facing England in the semis. 

The post World Cup: Each of the Three Favourites’ Likely Route to the Final appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The intense dialogue between Roma and Paulo Dybala continues, with Dybala having long prioritized a contract renewal with the Giallorossi.

As journalist Eleonora Trotta writes, the two sides are increasingly closer after several discussions to narrow the gap between his request (€4 million per season for two years) and Roma’s initial offer.

Among the most discussed aspects is image rights, which play a key role in the centenary year.

Gasperini remains confident.

For weeks, speculation has swirled around the future of Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.

After the Tigers suffered a stunning collapse following Skubal’s injury, many around baseball began to wonder whether Detroit could eventually consider trading the two-time Cy Young Award winner if the season continued to spiral out of control. According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, rival teams were certainly paying attention.

“Hold those phone calls,” Nightengale wrote. “The Detroit Tigers went into an utter free-fall after Tarik Skubal went down with a bone chip in his elbow, losing 21 of 25 games, with teams salivating at the chance to acquire Skubal.”

However, Nightengale noted that Detroit’s outlook has improved significantly in recent weeks. Since the start of June, the Tigers have begun to stabilize, posting a 7-3 record while welcoming Skubal back to the mound.

The positive developments do not stop there. Nightengale also pointed out that starting pitchers Casey Mize and Justin Verlander are both nearing returns, giving Detroit hope that its rotation could soon resemble the group it envisioned entering the season.

Because of that, the Tigers are reportedly not ready to make any decisions regarding Skubal’s future.

“The Tigers plan to wait until around the All-Star break to see if they can get back in the race before pulling the plug on their season and trading Skubal,” Nightengale reported.

At 29 years old and under team control beyond this season, Skubal would undoubtedly command one of the largest trade packages in recent memory if Detroit ever made him available. For now, though, the Tigers appear focused on seeing whether a healthier roster and a strong stretch of baseball can pull them back into contention before making any franchise-altering decisions.

Lewis Hamilton thanked Ferrari for helping him "achieve a dream" after taking his maiden grand prix win as a member of the Scuderia.

Hamilton and Ferrari went on the offensive in F1's tyre battle on a sweltering Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Unlike most other frontrunners, including poleman George Russell, Hamilton opted for a start of softs, with the excessive tyre degradation all but nailing him to a three-stop strategy.

F1 Barcelona GP: Lewis Hamilton takes maiden Ferrari win as Kimi Antonelli retires late

That allowed the seven-time world champion to fully flex his upgraded SF-26's muscles, putting pressure on Russell and the second Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli as they were nursing their hard tyres, with Russell in particular struggling for pace with a lack of front load.

Hamilton received an additional bit of assistance from old nemesis Fernando Alonso as the Spaniard parked his Aston Martin on lap 40, allowing the Briton to take his first and final stop under virtual safety car conditions.

But the Ferrari's blistering pace in the final stint suggested either Mercedes would have struggled to contain the 41-year-old on his quest for a first Ferrari grand prix win in 31 attempts.

On the outlap, an emotional Hamilton thank his team for helping him "achieve this dream" of winning in red.

"Grazie a tutti Maranello, thank you so much!, Hamilton said. "You helped me achieve this dream and I can't thank you enough. Thank you to everyone for pushing so hard back at home. I'm so proud of you.

"Thank you to my family and thank you to the fans for continuing to remind me who I am, I couldn't have done it without you."

Five quick takeaways from the F1 Barcelona GP

Afterwards, Hamilton said his 106th grand prix win was one of his very best. "They're all special in their own way but this one is something else," he said in parc ferme. "I watched Ferrari have all their success on TV when I was younger and wondered what it would be like to win in this car. I'm forever grateful and this is hopefully the first of many."

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Good morning, folks…

The Texas Rangers fell to the Boston Red Sox by a score of 6-3.

Shawn MacFarland laments that the Rangers once again failed to capitalize in key bases loaded situations.

The Rangers were without Corey Seager, who is day-to-day after a home plate collision on Thursday.

Before the game, Evan Carter landed on the injured list with a strained oblique.

Also before the game, the Rangers added veteran pitcher Joe Ross to the bullpen.

The Rangers will be making another roster move before today’s game due to Michael Helman suffering fractures in his right hand after being hit by a pitch.

Also suffering a broken hand on Saturday was Cleveland superstar Jose Ramirez, who broke a bone in his left hand on a swing.

On the other hand, Tarik Skubal returned from the injured list on Saturday.

Evan Grant says Jacob Latz should be an All Star.

David Laurila has his Sunday Notes column up at Fangraphs, which feature Jake Burger talking about his Tottenham fandom.

Botafogo’s board took advantage of the pause in the national calendar for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and finalized an international plan for the squad.

According to ge, Glorioso has stamped its passport for a mid-season training camp in Russia, where it will play four friendly matches against local giants in July.

The tour was made possible thanks to the Rio club’s excellent relationship with the Russian teams, which are expected to cover all logistical costs for the black-and-white delegation.

The Black-and-White Schedule

June 22: The squad returns to Rio de Janeiro to begin physical training at Espaço Lonier.

July 1: Departure of the delegation, made up of around 30 players, for Russia.

July 5: First main friendly, against CSKA Moscow, at the opponent’s stadium.

July 6: An alternative training match focused on giving playing time to players with fewer minutes and those who did not start the previous game.

July 10: Second main friendly, against Dynamo Moscow, along with another secondary match for the rest of the squad.

July 11: Botafogo’s official return to Brazil.

The black-and-white players had been off since June 5, after the match against Bahia in the Brasileirão. The full focus now is on getting the team ready for the return of official competitions, scheduled for July 22 against Santos at Nilton Santos, in the 19th round of the national championship.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Start spreading the news: The New York Knicks, off of the franchise’s first championship since 1973, aren’t favored to repeat as NBA champions.

New York beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on Saturday night to close out the NBA Finals in five games and win an NBA title for the first time in 53 years. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in the win and was named the 2026 NBA Finals MVP.

But it’s the Knicks’ opponent — the Spurs — that are among the favorites next season in the eyes of oddsmakers, along with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder and Spurs have odds around +250, well ahead of any other team at sportsbooks. Oklahoma City and San Antonio met in the Western Conference Finals this season, a series in which the Spurs won in seven games. Oklahoma City is expected to return most of its core team next season, including Jalen Williams, who was injured for most of the WCF.

The Boston Celtics (+550) have the next-best odds, followed by the Knicks at +650. There’s a significant gap down to the next tier of teams, with the Indiana Pacers (who will have Tyrese Haliburton returning) and Denver Nuggets at 28-1. Anthony Edwards’ Minnesota Timberwolves are among four teams (Lakers, Pistons, Cavs) at 30-1.

One player that could shift the futures odds is the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, who could be traded in the next two weeks. The Miami Heat (40-1) and Orlando Magic (80-1) are among several potential suitors, along with the Celtics.

The Sacramento Kings have the longest odds of any team at 1,000-1. The Washington Wizards, who own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft in a few weeks, are at 120-1.

The New England Patriots have a mysterious situation with second-round NFL Draft pick and edge rusher Gabe Jacas ahead of training camp.

Jacas, who remains unsigned and is the only second-round pick who hasn’t inked his rookie deal, was not around for mandatory minicamp last week.

Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that Jacas wasn’t with the team for minicamp and that the rookie had a procedure, although he didn’t go into specifics on what the procedure was.

Now, ESPN’s Mike Reiss is reporting that the procedure was a “clean-up” on Jacas’ knee.

MORE: Expansion coming soon? Should NFL add two more franchises?

The mystery there is it isn’t clear what happened to necessitate Jacas’ procedure, and Reiss reports the Patriots don’t know, either.

“But a source familiar with Jacas’ recovery said he underwent a knee procedure that was described as a ‘clean-up,'” Reiss reported. “It is not known whether something happened after Jacas’ physical exam and subsequent recheck at the combine, or when the Patriots had him in for a predraft visit the week of April 20, and that information wasn’t disclosed to the team.”

Why Gabe Jacas isn’t with Patriots

Reiss adds that Jacas hasn’t been with the team since May, and part of the reason for that is the Patriots not being willing to give him a “participation agreement.”

“Jacas hasn’t been with the Patriots since May, according to a source. His absence is tied, in part, to not being given a standard ‘participation agreement’ from the Patriots, according to a source,” Reiss reported. “Most draft picks receive such an agreement, which states that if they were to sustain an injury prior to signing their first NFL contract, the team would still be obligated to sign him to a contract based on the slot he was drafted.”

One potential reason for the hold up with Jacas’ contract is the Patriots could be looking for “a level of financial protection in the contract based on the medical procedure,” one NFL executive told Reiss.

MORE: Philadelphia Eagles star defender is officially holding in

The expectation, according to Reiss, is that Jacas’ procedure won’t cause a long-term issue and the hope is he’ll physically be ready to roll for training camp.

However, it remains to be seen if this standoff between Jacas and the Patriots will extend beyond the start of training camp, which begins on July 25.

Why Gabe Jacas’ offseason absence is bad news

A rookie like Gabe Jacas can ill-afford to miss practice time in their first season.

That’s because it’s hard enough to get acclimated to the NFL with a full allotment of practice time. Not having any so far will almost certainly stunt Jacas’ growth, and that will only get worse the more time he misses.

MORE: Former 49ers, Cowboys All-Pro linebacker dies at 36

Adding to that, Jacas isn’t likely to have much of a role, if any at all, to begin the season — and that’s especially true on a team run by Vrabel, who is not the kind of coach to hand a rookie anything.

That is bad news for the Patriots, who could use a jolt in the pass-rush from Jacas after the team finished tied for the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL last season.

Happy Sunday Husky fans. The Huskies are set to host a local offensive lineman this week after a break this weekend (due to UW’s graduation happening this weekend). After several busy weekends the Husky coaches got this weekend off and will gear up for a massive weekend next weekend to wrap up official visits.

4 star offensive lineman Rashaun Lavata’i from Curtis Senior HS, WA is set to visit Montlake tomorrow. Lavata’i who has shot up recruiting boards after some good showings at camps the last several months. The Huskies jumped in and offered Lavata’i and are battling WSU, Oregon State and Utah for a commitment from Lavata’i. Listed at 6’6’ and around 265 pounds Lavata’i looks destined for offensive tackle in college. The Huskies get the 3rd visit for Lavata’i who will wrap up his visits with Oregon State next weekend and then come to a decision. If the Huskies push you have to think they will be viewed as the favorite for him. On3 has as the #118 best prospect in the country and 9th best offensive tackle. Lavata’i is an intriguing prospect who has all the talent to be a future college tackle and would be a great pickup if the Huskies can land him.

Speaking of the offensive line the Huskies have only 1 offensive line commit but this next weekend the Huskies will host the balance of their offensive line recruits. Gecova Doyal from Puyallup HS, WA, Lincoln Mageo from Oceanside HS, CA, DaJohn Yarborough from Basha HS, AZ, and Tye Kennedy from Mountain View HS, AZ will all be on campus to check out Montlake (all are rated as 3 star prospects). The Huskies are battling Oregon in their quest to land Doyal who looks like a potential monster at offensive guard. Mageo who is one of the top offensive lineman in California in the 2027 class has been interested in UW a ton but has Michigan and Utah pushing hard for him. Yarborough has been a top target for the Huskies and looks like a potential early contributor in college. The Huskies are battling Mississippi State, Florida State, and Cal in their efforts to land Yarborough. Kennedy, who is a legacy Husky recruit, is looking at Stanford, Utah, Michigan, and UW. The Huskies appear to be the favorite for Kennedy and they would love to land Kennedy.

It goes without saying that next weekend will be huge for the Huskies in their quest for their offensive line class in 2027. It sounds like the Huskies will look at add 3-4 more recruits on top of Russell who will act as the lead recruiter next weekend for his fellow trench mates.

That is all for today and next weekend we will do a deep dive into any additional visitors.

Jun. 14—Warren Township guard Jaxson Davis accomplished something only three other high school basketball players in the state of Illinois had also pulled off when he was named the 2026 N-G All-State Player of the Year.

A back-to-back winner.

It's an exclusive group. King's Jamie Brandon was the first in 1989 and 1990. Then came Glenbrook North's Jon Scheyer in 2005 and 2006, Simeon's Jabari Parker in 2012 and 2013 and, finally, Belleville West's E.J. Liddell in 2018 and 2019.

The difference for Davis? The 6-foot-1 guard, who won as a sophomore and junior, could have made it three given what he was bound to do for the Blue Devils as a senior during the 2026-27 season.

Except Davis won't play for Warren next season. Like a growing number of the state's best players, Davis is headed to a prep school to close out his high school career. An opportunity with newly-found Monarch Academy (Kan.) he couldn't pass up as a bridge to college basketball.

Also on their way out of the state are fellow N-G All-State First Team selections Quinton Kitt (East Peoria) and Amarion Smith-Holley. Kitt, a 2027 Illinois commit, will join Davis at Monarch Academy, while Smith-Holley is taking his talents to Link Academy (Mo.).

So who does that leave as contenders to be the 2027 N-G All-State Player of the Year? These five players have the best shot:

Cole Kelly, Neuqua Valley

Kelly is 2 for 2 on N-G All-State First Team selections following a breakout freshman season for Neuqua Valley and an even better sophomore campaign that helped the Wildcats go 32-2. The four-star forward in the Class of 2028 with an Illinois offer averaged 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals this past season and will be asked to do much the same in 2026-27.

Darrin Laye Jr., Chicago Marshall

Laye was a state champion in 2025-26, helping the Commandos to a Class 1A title. Laye's productivity — and now championship pedigree — should help him gain traction on the recruiting front. The 5-foot-10 junior guard was the driving force for Marshall's state title, putting up 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals per game.

Mason Martin, Neuqua Valley

If Neuqua Valley can repeat its success from this past season and both play as crucial a role, how do you pick just one of Kelly or Martin? The Illinois-bound Martin can stake a serious claim as the best shooter in the state, though, having knocked down 118 last season at a 45 percent clip while averaging 19 points, four rebounds and two assists during his breakout junior year.

Brady Pettigrew, Bolingbrook

The title of top prospect in the state, regardless of class, is Pettigrew's. The 6-3 guard with an Illinois offer is ranked as high as a five-star recruit by ESPN. He averaged 21 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Raiders last season, is a top four scorer on the Nike EYBL U16 circuit and has a chance to make the Team USA roster for the upcoming FIBA U17 World Cup.

Ethan Vahl, Oswego

Vahl was the only one of the five that wasn't an N-G All-State First Team pick this past season, but the now Oswego junior did earn Second Team honors after averaging 21.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and two steals for a 22-win team. The 6-2 guard, ranked a four-star recruit by ESPN, has offers from Incarnate Word, Eastern Illinois and Iona.

New York was ready to celebrate the Knicks winning the NBA championship on Saturday, packing watch parties staged throughout the city and gathering in the streets to revel with their fellow fans — or anyone else who wanted to join in the fun.

Unfortunately, such celebrations usually come with unfortunate footnotes as some people get too rowdy and act out with behaviors that are certain to get them into trouble.

According to the New York Police Department (via FOX 5), 63 people were arrested overnight amid the large crowds gathered throughout city near Madison Square Garden, extending to the areas between Fifth and Ninth Avenues. Eventually, those crowds grew to include tens of thousands of people.

Charges among the 63 arrests included assaulting a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration.

Additionally, one shooting was reported near Times Square, injuring a 17-year-old who was taken to the hospital by police because an ambulance could not access the area where the incident took place. The teenager was shot in the left foot, according to CNN. A firearm was recovered at the scene and three people of interest in connection with the shooting were taken into custody.

The NYPD also reported four slashings or stabbings amid the disorder.

Property damage included five school buses that were set on fire or wrecked by people jumping on top of the vehicles and smashing them with bats. Those buses were being used to transport spectators from Manhattan to New Jersey's MetLife Stadium for World Cup matches, police reported.

Several NYPD vehicles also suffered similar damage from people hitting them with bats and jumping onto the cars, as did personal vehicles.

According to police, 10 NYPD officers were injured, including one struck by a glass bottle and another punched in the face.

Saturday's chaos followed unrest that took place after Wednesday's NBA FInals Game 4 at Madison Square Garden, during which the NYPD arrested 15 people and released another 41 with criminal court summonses as people jumped onto vehicles, climbed scaffolding, traffic lights and light poles, and even tried to flip a taxi cab, according to The Athletic.

Video footage showed San Antonio Spurs players having objects thrown at them as they returned to the team hotel following a stunning 107-106 comeback win by the Knicks. The police also reported 10 officers getting injured amid the disorder.

Emma Raducanu missed the chance to win a first title since her 2021 US Open triumph as she was beaten in the Queen's final by Croatia's Donna Vekic.

Raducanu, 23, paid the price for a slow start as she lost 6-0 7-6 (8-6) to Vekic, who was a Wimbledon semi-finalist two years ago.

The Briton valiantly fought off three championship points at 6-5 in the second set - and saved a fourth on Vekic's serve in the tie-break - but could not deny her opponent on the fifth as she sprayed a forehand wide.

Vekic, 29, was a lucky loser - meaning she was beaten in qualifying and put into the draw when French Open semi-finalist Marta Kostyuk pulled out injured - and has taken full advantage of her fortune to lift the trophy.

"Right now it obviously really stings, so I'm just going to try and let myself feel it today - but try and get over it pretty quick," said Raducanu.

• Watch Queen's doubles final as Britain's Nicholls seeks to win title

Raducanu, ranked 42nd in the world, seemed hampered by a leg issue as Vekic cruised to the first set in less than half an hour.

The British number one rallied superbly to move a double break ahead in the second set, but twice failed to serve out victory - and could not convert two set points at 5-4.

Vekic, who is ranked 76th but adept on the grass, is an experienced campaigner and held her nerve to level.

Both players looked to be tiring in a physical encounter, but Raducanu - backed by a vociferous home crowd - dug deep to force a tie-break.

Despite the defeat, Raducanu will take a lot of pride from an encouraging week on the British grass as she builds up towards Wimbledon.

Raducanu's season has been disrupted by a viral illness, meaning she was limited to only playing six matches from early February up to Queen's.

The ranking points she has earned in west London will push her up to the brink of the world's top 30, which could be enough to ensure she is seeded at the All England Club.

"I haven't really played much this season, but to think I have made two finals so far, which I haven't done in years, it has to be, in a way, celebrated," said Raducanu, who lost in the Cluj final in February.

"It's a good achievement for me and I'm proud of it."

'Amazing week' catches up with Raducanu

Raducanu has enjoyed a productive week at Queen's, which is hosting the WTA event for the second season since returning after a 52-year hiatus.

The question mark coming into Sunday's final was in relation to her fitness.

Raducanu played two singles matches on Saturday because of rain disruption earlier in the week and slipped on the baseline during her quarter-final win over Kamilla Rakhimova.

She wore strapping on her left thigh during the second match - her semi-final win over American teenager Iva Jovic.

The taping was evident again when she walked out on to Andy Murray Arena to face Vekic and it immediately looked like her mobility was hampered.

As well as being unable to move as freely along the baseline, Raducanu was not getting as low in her groundstrokes as she had over the previous days.

Raducanu found herself 5-0 down after little over 20 minutes as Vekic produced an almost flawless returning game.

Raducanu asked for more treatment from the physio at that changeover, but then Vekic broke again to wrap up the opening set in less than half an hour.

Afterwards Raducanu said she felt the workload was "part" of her slow start.

"Of course, fatigue - you're not driving up as much for your serve, which is such a big thing on grass," she said.

"It's just been an amazing week, but it's also been a long week, waiting around and some long days."

At the start of the second set, Raducanu implored her team for more vocal encouragement - and the home crowd further increased their level of support.

Raducanu suddenly had more spring in her step and took her third break opportunity in the third game.

Raducanu was now able to elongate the rallies - which always felt like it would be the key to her success - as Vekic's level dropped.

Another break for 5-2 provided further hope to the home crowd.

Everyone could feel it was a different match - but could Raducanu make her dominance count?

Vekic particularly looked like she would not have relished a decider, but it was Raducanu who buckled first - perhaps through mental fatigue as much as physical.

After being unable to serve out, Raducanu's grip on the contest loosened and Vekic held her nerve to ensure a compelling second set did not lead to the match going the full distance.

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Tristan Peters turned a 7-1 White Sox loss into a personal milestone by breaking up Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s no-hit bid with a ninth-inning home run.

Yamamoto took a perfect game into the eighth and a no-hitter into the ninth at Rate Field.

Then a former Savannah Banana became the only Chicago hitter who refused to let history finish cleanly.

Tristan Peters spoils Yamamoto’s no-no bid

Peters led off the ninth by driving Yamamoto’s pitch down the right-field line for his third MLB home run, ending both the no-hitter and the shutout.

Yamamoto was still outstanding. He worked 8.1 innings, allowed one hit and one earned run, walked nobody, and struck out seven on a season-high 109 pitches, improving to 7-4 with a 2.52 ERA.

His perfect-game bid had already ended in the eighth, when Chase Meidroth reached on a Mookie Betts error with two outs. Betts otherwise went 3-for-5 with three runs, Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer and walked three times, and Max Muncy went 3-for-3 with two homers, two walks, four RBI, and two runs.

Yamamoto had also stretched his streak of consecutive batters retired to 45, tying Mark Buehrle for second in MLB history behind Yusmeiro Petit.

For Peters, the swing fit a strong first full White Sox season. He is hitting .299 with three homers, 21 RBI, 15 doubles, four steals, and an .818 OPS, while handling most of his work in center field.

Tristan Peters’ path is a testament to Bananas’ success

Peters’ path was far from straightforward. Born in Winkler, Manitoba, he played at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, earning an NJCAA Gold Glove, before transferring to Southern Illinois, where he hit .355 with 20 doubles, six home runs, and 55 RBI in 2021.

That same summer, Peters played for the Savannah Bananas in their Coastal Plain League era. He was drafted by the Brewers in the seventh round, later moved from Milwaukee to San Francisco in the Trevor Rosenthal trade, then from the Giants to Tampa Bay for Brett Wisely.

He debuted with the Rays in 2025, was designated for assignment that winter, and moved to the White Sox for cash in December.

Peters is not the only Banana to reach MLB. Beau Sulser became the first in 2022 with the Pirates, Rylan Bannon followed with the Orioles, and Cade Povich later made it with Baltimore after pitching for Savannah in 2020.

That makes Peters’ homer more than just a footnote. It was a reminder that the Bananas’ old development pipeline is still producing players who deliver in big moments.

Read more:

After establishing himself as one of Atlético-MG’s defensive pillars and taking on the captain’s armband between 2024 and 2025, Lyanco faced the most delicate moment of his recent career due to a serious Achilles tendon injury suffered in October last year.

It was five and a half months of recovery. His official return came on March 18, in the win against São Paulo, but the player was on the field for only three minutes.

Since then, Lyanco has struggled to regain his high-performance level, alternating between the starting lineup and the bench, as highlighted by Lance!.

In the final stretch before the calendar break, he started in only one of Galo’s last five matches.

Patience and Focus During the Midseason Break

In an interview after the last game before the break, against Vasco, the center-back showed maturity in analyzing his current moment and looking ahead to a comeback:

"It was a very complicated injury. At first, I had to be a little patient, especially because I came back in the Brasileirão, not in the Mineiro. Of course, after an injury, you don’t come back the way you were. Everyone who goes through that faces difficulties in returning to their previous level. I’m someone who likes to work, and I’m patient."

The defender sees the suspension of the national competitions as the perfect scenario to get back into top shape: "I think that when you have time to work, not only on the collective side but also individually, it’s a break that helps a lot. I hope I can make the most of this moment and come back stronger," he concluded.

Atlético’s squad is currently enjoying some time off and is scheduled to report back at Cidade do Galo on June 22, kicking off a midseason training period. The first official challenge after the hiatus will be on July 22, against Bahia.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

A strategic masterclass gave Lewis Hamilton his maiden victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona Grand Prix while Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli retired late on.

The Mercedes driver was set to finish second behind Hamilton before an engine failure struck with three laps remaining, handing the runner-up spot to team-mate George Russell.

Five quick takeaways from the F1 Barcelona GP

Antonelli’s retirement therefore meant Lando Norris completed the podium, one which saw Hamilton finally achieve victory on his 31st Ferrari start during a rejuvenated 2026.

The seven-time world champion arrived in Barcelona after two consecutive runner-up finishes to Antonelli and said after Monaco last weekend that his 106th career victory “couldn’t be closer”.

But he was made to work for it, as a “big reset” led to Russell beating his former team-mate to pole after slipping 68 points behind Antonelli who rounded out the top three starting positions.

Different strategies were shown straight away though, as Mercedes chose the favourable mediums compared to Hamilton on softs, which had previously shown fragility in the heat.

So it didn’t take long for that to show in the 30C conditions, as Russell held firm at race start before streaking three seconds clear of Hamilton during a relatively static opening 10 laps.

The bigger gainer was Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc who jumped from 10th to sixth on mediums, before starting to apply pressure on the struggling Max Verstappen with softs.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Hamilton and Verstappen therefore respectively pitted for hard and medium rubber quite quickly, coming in on lap 12 with Russell following suit the next tour, though against his wish.

The Mercedes driver was worried he’d been “exposed” to Antonelli who’d extended his first stint, but race engineer Marcus Dudley confirmed there was “nothing to worry about”.

That’s because Antonelli only stayed out for two extra laps before fitting the hard rubber, where he rejoined in third to keep the order as it was during an expected two-stop contest.

But Ferrari threw yet another curveball with Hamilton’s strategy by pitting him for mediums on lap 28, having struggled to close on Russell across a very stationary second stint.

The seven-time world champion rejoined in seventh, quickly taking sixth from Oscar Piastri at Turn 4, before fifth on lap 30 as Verstappen suffered a slow 4.5s pitstop for hard rubber.

Yet opting for a three-stopper turned into a masterstroke from Ferrari, as it allowed a rapid Antonelli to close to within half a second of Russell after being caught out by traffic.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes

The championship leader therefore launched various attacks on the Briton, each time Russell holding firm, but it caused the Mercedes drivers to take time off each other while Leclerc easily let Hamilton by into fourth on lap 32.

“Am I catching them,” was Hamilton’s response, sensing his best chance yet of a maiden Ferrari win as he continuously cut the gap on fresh mediums - helped by Norris pitting from third.

Third soon became the race lead as Mercedes pitted both drivers for hards come lap 38, leaving Russell and Antonelli respectively 16s and 17s behind the Ferrari driver before a lap 41 VSC.

That happened through Fernando Alonso stopping at Turn 9, giving Hamilton a timely opportunity to pit for hards and rejoin two-seconds ahead of Russell just as the VSC ended.

“Great job guys” is how a buoyant Hamilton reacted, before gradually building his advantage across a controlled final stage as Mercedes had no answer to the pace of the Ferrari.

So the Scuderia eventually ended the Silver Arrows’ perfect start to 2026, taking victory at round seven and its first since Carlos Sainz’s win at the Mexico Grand Prix in October 2024.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

As for Hamilton, this was his first victory since July of that year in Belgium, crossing the line 19.5s ahead of Russell who’d briefly dropped to third after a late overtake from Antonelli down the pit straight.

But only two tours later, on lap 63, trouble hit Antonelli as it did Leclerc who’d lost the power steering on the sister Ferrari to retire from sixth.

So it left an all-British podium of Hamilton, Russell and Norris, ahead of fourth-placed Verstappen, fifth-placed Piastri and Isack Hadjar in sixth for Red Bull.

Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto were respectively seventh and eighth, with Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completing the top 10.

Antonelli consequently leads the championship by 41 points over Hamilton, while third-placed Russell has cut his deficit to 50. 

What does Kimi Antonelli still need to improve to become F1 world champion?

Oscar Piastri "could not believe" Pierre Gasly’s Monaco reinstatement

The trick behind Lewis Hamilton's best qualifying result for Ferrari

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Veteran Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi pulled away in the final session to win 24 Hours of Le Mans on Sunday as six different manufacturers finished in the top eight places in the elite Hypercar class.

As the lead changed with every set of pit stops, BMW led for much of Sunday morning before Cadillac, seeking a first Le Mans win for parent company General Motors, took over only for Toyotas to pounce with three hours to go.

Toyota's No.7 car, driven by Mike Conway, Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, restored Toyota control of the race they won from 2018 to 2022 before Ferrari took over.

"These are so bloody hard to win," said Conway, a 42-year-old Briton who won in 2021 with Toyota. "My team-mates were amazing. The team did incredible work."

The BMW driven by Robin Frijns, Rene Rast and Sheldon van der Linde were second. 

The second Toyota, driven by Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa was third. 

Cadillac were fourth, with a Ferrari fifth and seventh sandwiching the an Alpine. The 007 Aston Martin was eighth.

The established powers, Ferrari and Toyota, who have dominated the race since the creation of the Hypercar class, were battling new challengers Cadillac and BMW.

BMW No. 20 led but after Dutchman Frijns swerved into the gravel and suffered a slow puncture, it pitted to change tyres, fill the fuel tank, and allow Sheldon van der Linde to take over at the wheel. 

That allowed the No. 12 Cadillac, with Frenchman Nato putting in a stint in the driver seat, to take the lead with team sponsor Tom Brady, the former National Football League quarterback reportedly at the track.

The Toyotas had struggled early on but were now were moving faster than their rivals.

"I thought we were out of contention many times," said Dutchman De Vries, after his first win at the race. "We had a puncture. We had a sensor issue that cost us a lot of a straight-line speed. But Le Mans never ends til its over."

When Nato was slowed by a lower-category car, Hartley pounced to pass. The No. 7 Toyota, driven by de Vries, then passed the Cadillac on the inside.

The Toyotas began to pull away and to scrap with each other both on the track and in their radio conversations with pit, which initially indicated it wanted Hartley to cede first place to an irritated De Vries. When Hartley kept going on his worn tyres, he was called in for a change.

The two Toyota hybrids had stolen a march early in the race when they pitted very early for their first refuelling stop, allowing them to rejoin the race without getting stuck in the pack and benefiting from a clear track.

Thanks to this strategic shift, they quickly climbed back into the leading group, where the battle raged until the checkered flag.

nr-pb/ea

There's a whole bunch of stuff surrounding the UFC Freedom 250 fight on the South Lawn of The White House on Sunday, from who's participating to why it's not on Saturday to the possibility of a bug invasion.

But the big thing to remember is: It's a fight night. There will be pugilism in an octagon built at The White House. And if you're here, you might be wondering: Who's fighting? What's the full card?

We have answers! Here's what the full card looks like, ending with the main event:

• Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia (featherweight)
• Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus (middleweight)
• Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler (lightweight)
• Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis (heavyweight)
• Sean O'Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)
• Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane (Interim heavyweight championship)
• Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje (lighteight championship)

What time is does the UFC Freedom 250 air?

It's on at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 14.

What channel is UFC Freedom 250 on? Where is it streaming?

It'll air on CBS and will stream on Paramount+.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: UFC Freedom 250 full card with every fight at the White House on Sunday

Sunday’s reports claim that sides in Turkiye are beginning to step forwards for unwanted Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova, who will be allowed to leave the club after just one season.

Trabzonspor possibility for Juventus’s Zhegrova

Zhegrova joined Juventus on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2025, signing on a permanent deal at a cost of €15m plus up to €3m in bonuses.

Reports claim that Zhegrova was a player wanted specifically by former Juventus CEO Damien Comolli, who has since been replaced by Giovanni Carnevali at the top of the Bianconeri hierarchy.

Zhegrova had suffered a major adductor injury in the January before he joined Juventus, which kept him sidelined for the entirety of the second half of the 2024-25 season.

That injury clearly had an impact on his start to life in Turin, and in the end, the Kosovar was only able to play for 366 minutes across 19 appearances in Serie A, all of which came off the bench.

Edon Zhegrova signs his Juve contract with Damien Comolli

With Comolli now gone, Juventus are expected to listen to any offers that come in for Zhegrova during the summer transfer window.

According to the latest updates from TMW, some clubs in Turkiye are beginning to show an interest in picking up the 27-year-old in a low-cost deal. Trabzonspor have reportedly been in contact with Juve to request information surrounding Zhegrova.

No formal talks have taken place just yet, but Sunday’s report claims that there is a good chance that the two clubs decide to proceed with negotiations.

Remember the guy last month who suggested that Mark and Zygi Wilf could sell the Minnesota Vikings because the franchise did not spend big in free agency? He’s Pioneer Press’s Charley Walters, and after that theory was instantly and utterly debunked, Walters now believes Minnesota could trade quarterback J.J. McCarthy this summer.

All signs point to McCarthy remaining in Minnesota this season, but Walters isn’t buying it.

Vikings’ QB Takes Keep Getting Stranger

Walters: Vikings Could Trade McCarthy

Walters, no stranger to stirring the pot, got in his bag this weekend, writing about McCarthy and the Vikings’ quarterback situation, “It seems unlikely that Carson Wentz re-signed with the Vikings to be the third-string quarterback this season, or that Kyler Murray signed with the Vikings to be the second-string QB.”

“Curiously, a few weeks ago, during the rookie mini-camp, the Vikings brought in former Dallas-Baltimore QB Cooper Rush for a tryout. Remember, it was Rush who five years ago — subbing for injured Cowboys starter Dak Prescott in a Sunday night game in Minneapolis — passed for 325 yards and two second-half TDs to lead Dallas to a 20-16 victory.”

The Vikings often have veteran quarterbacks on speed dial — like Rush — with Desmond Ridder and John Wolford as examples in 2025.

“Depending on training camp performances, if the Vikings were to get a decent offer — say a third-round draft pick — for QB J.J. McCarthy, it wouldn’t be surprising if Minnesota starts the season with Murray, Wentz and perhaps Rush as its top three QBs,” Walters continued.

“Rush, now a free agent, played for $4 million for the Ravens last season.”

One Battle after Another

Walter always has something new and spicy to insert into his weekend column; the McCarthy trade proposition is merely the latest chapter.

He recently claimed the Wilfs could sell the team, as mentioned above, because after two years of heavy spending in 2024 and 2025, Minnesota put the clamps on the salary cap credit card, resetting the finances so that 2027 doesn’t look like a financial nightmare next March.

Walters also infamously claimed in September 2024 that the Vikings might move on from McCarthy six months after drafting him because Sam Darnold could blossom. Darnold later blossomed, and rather than keeping him around, the Vikings stayed loyal to McCarthy — to a fault — and did the opposite of Walters’ hot take.

Vikings Need QB Depth and Insurance

Would it be intriguing to explore a 3rd-Round pick for McCarthy’s services via trade if the club realized that Murray was its meal ticket for 2026 and beyond? Absolutely.

The problem? No one has a crystal ball, and Murray’s takeoff in Minnesota is not guaranteed. And even if Murray plays wonderfully under center, the fact remains that the man misses about one-quarter of all starts due to injury. If Murray gets hurt in 2026, the Vikings will need a Plan B. McCarthy, hungry to disprove the meme caricature of himself, is a fantastic Plan B, given his upside.

What’s more, two of the last three Vikings seasons have been gutted by quarterback injuries: 2023, when Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon, and 2025, when McCarthy encountered a high ankle sprain, concussion, and a broken hand. Minnesota should not be in the business this summer of subtracting QB1 options; it has been hoarding them all offseason to avoid re-runs of the 2023 and 2025 campaigns.

Our Steve Hoikkala noted this week, “McCarthy has been polarizing, especially in Vikings fandom. Fans are choosing sides, and I just prefer to root for all of our players wearing purple.”

“Yes that means I can root for Kyler Murray a Vikings fan growing up like Carson Wentz getting to live out a dream as a kid playing quarterback for their favorite team while still rooting for a 23 year old kid in J.J. McCarthy who is a 1st Round Pick that has only played 10 games while showing ‘some’ upside and development to go with an injury riddled season that didn’t meet expectations as well in terms of production.”

Trading McCarthy Feels like a 2027 Talker

Of course, if the Vikings fire up a 2026 season similar to 2024 — finishing 14-3 and reaching the postseason — with Murray fully thriving in the offense, trading McCarthy in 2027 is a different story. By that time, he’d have one year left on his rookie contract, two if Minnesota or a different team opted into his expensive fifth-year option.

You should absolutely expect the McCarthy trade rumor mill to heat up in 2027 if Murray propels the Vikings to the playoffs and posts 25-40 touchdowns.

Until then, McCarthy-themed trade takes are just silly — unless he demands a ticket out of town. McCarthy requesting a trade would be a whole new ball of wax, but so far this summer, he has claimed that Minnesota is where he wants to be.

Vikings training camp is less than seven weeks away.

Knicks’ Jalen Brunson sends message to Swifties amid Monica McNutt-Taylor Swift drama originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Fresh off delivering the New York Knicks first NBA title in 53 years, Jalen Brunson defended commentator Monica McNutt against Taylor Swift's fans.

The ESPN analyst offended the fans of 'Blank Space' singer after she was caught questioning Swift's loyalty to the Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Ever since, the Swifties have been up on McNutt, trolling the analyst for questioning Swift's Knicks fandom as the star singer arrived there wearing a Knicks outfit.

After the game, before McNutt could conduct her interview with Brunson, the Knicks guard made a great gesture. He took the camera from her hand and addressed the Swifties:

"I just want to say something to Swifties. She's really a good one. Cut her some slack. It's all good I promise."

jalen got a message to all the swifties pic.twitter.com/izMcwQ6UHt

— sports live tweeter yadira (@jonmoxIeys) June 14, 2026

As Brunson was saying this, even McNutt started hiding her face for a second and acknowledged the gesture. For the moment, anything Brunson requests is a must-do, at least for Taylor Swift's fans in New York. McNutt might have been saved from a lot of wrath that was otherwise going to haunt her for many, many days.

MORE: Jalen Brunson Game 5 performance: How Knicks star willed New York to first title in 53 years and became living legend

Jalen Brunson wins NBA Finals MVP

There were several contenders to win the 2026 NBA Finals MVP, including Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who delivered double-double performances in the first two games of the series, or OG Anunoby, whose successful tip-in in Game 4 kept the Spurs from equalizing the series.

However, there was one consistent and resilient man for the Knicks and his name was Jalen Brunson.

The point guard has scripted a book-worthy story and his NBA Finals Game 5 performance was telling what he has done for the Knicks over the last two years. The point guard was always among the scorers, especially in late-quarter stretches. Major thanks to him for the Knicks' several comeback wins in this series despite being down double digits.

In Game 5, he scored 45 points and averaged 32.6 points per game in the Finals. He finished ahead of Anunoby and the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Finals MVP race.

More Knicks news:

• OG Anunoby reveals who reached out after his instant Knicks classic
• Psychic says she contacted Willis Reed — and Knicks fans will love the message
• Knicks' Game 4 get-in prices drop to near $3k hours before pivotal Spurs encounter
• Victor Wembanyama-Jalen Brunson controversy grows as Draymond Green brings Steph Curry into debate

Phillies eying Angels or Cubs outfielders in trade to replace Adolis Garcia originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies may have already needed an outfield upgrade because of the struggles of Adolis Garcia.

Garcia's season-ending injury made the decision process easier here, though. The Phillies pretty much have no choice but to trade for an outfielder.

Now comes the intriguing part for the Phillies' fanbase: Who will they trade for?

USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote in a new article on Sunday that the Phillies apparently have their eyes on two outfielders:

"The Phillies are desperately looking to acquire an outfielder at the trade deadline with Adolis Garcia expected to miss the rest of the season with his torn lat, and have Angels right fielder Jo Adell and Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki on their radar."

MORE: Guardians' Jose Ramirez situation is one that could change everything

Those would both be big-time acquisitions for the Phillies.

Adell is a former top prospect who took a long time to blossom, but he has immense physical tools and can hit the ball a long way.

Suzuki is a well-rounded player, and he would provide some stability in the middle of the Phillies' lineup.

The Angels would likely want prospects as they look toward the future.

The Cubs are a competitive team that could use pitching help at the MLB level, so a deal with Chicago could be constructed differently. 

Either way, the Phillies clearly have a need, and the fact that these names are circulating already shows that a deal is almost certainly coming, it'll just be a matter of who moves one way and who goes back the other way.

More MLB news:

• Bo Bichette reveals his plans for his opt-out clause
• A 'gentlemanly' baserunning move confused the umpires, and everyone else
• Oneil Cruz is Pirates' big trade deadline question
• Outfielder retires from baseball to go play college football
• Dodgers have a very simple reason to trade for Tarik Skubal

Ferran Torres has made it clear he’s not interested in leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain amid rumors Luis Enrique’s side are keen on the Spain star.

Mundo Deportivo have reported that PSG view Ferran as a top target if they are to lose any of their forwards this summer, with Bradley Barcola tipped to move on.

Torres has been asked about the speculation while on international duty with Spain and told Sport: “I don’t know anything about PSG and I’m not interested.”

Barcelona are expected to offer Torres a new contract shortly but the forward also didn’t want to be drawn on that either, saying only: “I’m only interested in tomorrow.”

Spain kick off their World Cup campaign tomorrow against Cape Verde and Torres is eager to start off with a win.

“In a World Cup practically all of the matches are life or death. You play everything, you have a lot at stake. But it is true that the first game we have to start strong, we have to start by setting our style and getting the three points,” he said.

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Ben Shelton defeated defending champion Taylor Fritz 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in an all-American final to win the Stuttgart Open on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Shelton saved nine of the 11 break points he faced to win his first title on grass. He saved two match points in his semi-final win over Jiri Lehecka.

It’s the No. 5-ranked Shelton’s sixth career title and his third of the season after wins in Munich and Dallas in April and February, respectively. Shelton also defeated Fritz in the Dallas decider.

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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Classy Mandhana on form as India aim for big total against Pakistan

Fashion designer Harald Glööckler has given the nod to Germany's warm-up and home shirt at the World Cup but is perplexed by the blue away shirt.

“The colour blue usually stands for seriousness; it has a harmonious and calming effect, and people automatically associate it with the sea and water. To be honest, I don’t see how that relates to football, fighting spirit and the will to win,” Glööckler told dpa.

The shirt is dark blue with white dots which Glööckler named "completely unnecessary" and that they "spoil the look."

He said the shirt "doesn't appeal to me at all" as it looks downright soporific and would only make "a wonderful pair of pyjamas.”

The German federation DFB said the blue recalls warm-up and track suits the players wore in the past. The team has worn the shirt in tune-up games and will don it in their last group game against Ecuador.

The players will wear the traditional white shirt in the other games against Curacao and Ivory Coast, with Glööckler naming it "elegant, classic, simple."

He also praised the warm-up shirt with the German national colours of black, red and gold in a diamond pattern of having "a good blend of retro and modern design."

Defending champions Argentina got the full approval from Glööckler for both of their kits.

He said the dark blue away shirt with ornaments in lighter shades showed how the colour blue can be used in a good way and that the traditional home shirt with light blue and white stripes is "a real hit."

He said it brought back memories of football legend Diego Maradona which also showed the popularity of retro elements in fashion in difficult times.

"Especially in difficult times people long for happy moments and a sense of security, and for the hope that everything will be alright again. Remembering the good old days helps with that," Glööckler said.

People were looking for role models and a feeling of unity which is why football shirts have long transcended sport and are part of the everyday wardrobe.

"Why not? If they enjoy it and it does them good - something that does the people good has never caused harm," Glööckler said.

An emotional Lewis Hamilton took his first victory for Ferrari in a compelling Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix as championship leader Kimi Antonelli retired from second place with four laps to go.

It was a dramatic end to a gripping race that had tension and jeopardy throughout as Hamilton secured his first victory since the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix, when he was still driving for Mercedes.

The win turned on a virtual safety-car (VSC) period which allowed Hamilton, on a different pit-stop strategy to Mercedes, to pit and retain the lead.

Meanwhile, Antonelli had just passed Russell for second place with five laps to go after a race-long battle when his car ground to a halt because of an electrical shutdown.

Russell finished second and McLaren's Lando Norris was third in the first all-British podium since the 1968 US Grand Prix.

Hamilton said over the radio: "Grazie a tutti. You've helped me achieve this dream. I am so proud of you. To my family, I love you, and to the fans, thank you for continuing to remind me who I am."

The key stories of a momentous race were:

• Confirmation of Hamilton and Ferrari's return to the front
• Antonelli's first problem of the year providing much-needed luck for Russell
• A touch of irony as to the cause of the VSC that turned the race for Hamilton

Without the VSC, Hamilton's three-stop strategy - compared with the two of Russell and Antonelli - would have had him catching the two Mercedes and contesting for the victory in the closing laps.

Instead, the VSC allowed him to save 10 seconds on a stop and come out still in the lead, then pull away on fresher tyres.

Hamilton's victory, in combination with Antonelli's retirement, narrowed the seven-time champion's deficit in the championship to 41 points.

Russell also closes in on Antonelli and is now 50 points behind the Italian.

Asked about where it ranked among his 106 career victories, Hamilton said: "They are all special in their own way. But this one is something else. I watched Ferrari have all that success, when I was younger, watching it on TV and as I have been racing, I've always watched the screens and wondered what it will be like to win in that car and it has come.

"Everyone has worked hard for it and everyone deserves it. I am forever grateful to them and this is just the first of, I hope, many. Great pit stops today, great strategy. The car felt fantastic. Forza Ferrari."

Alonso's retirement delivers win to Hamilton

For a long time, the race seemed to be heading the way of one of the Mercedes drivers, as Russell converted his pole position into a lead from Hamilton and Antonelli at the start and the two raced in that order for almost the first half of the race.

The divergent strategies of the three cars became apparent as soon as Hamilton pitted on lap 11 to change his soft tyres.

Russell and Antonelli had started on the medium compound, but Mercedes chose to bring them in after Hamilton to protect track position, even though the team's radio communications made it obvious they knew they were on a different strategy.

When Hamilton pitted for a second time on lap 27, Antonelli began to pressure Russell for the lead, closing right up on his team-mate and trying a couple of times to pass into Turn One.

But the two drivers were warned not to waste too much time fighting, in the context of their battle with Hamilton.

Russell stopped for a final time on lap 36, Antonelli a lap later, handing the lead to Hamilton, who still had one stop to make.

Hamilton's job initially looked like it was to lose as little time as possible to the advancing Mercedes on their fresher tyres, before pitting, dropping to third, and trying to catch them again.

But Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin broke down at Turn Nine on lap 40, and that led to a VSC being deployed to recover the car safely.

Under a VSC, cars have to slow down and maintain their gaps, but as they are travelling slower, it means a pit stop costs relatively less time than under racing conditions.

Hamilton had a 14-second lead, and that was enough margin to stop under the VSC and come out still in front.

It put him in a strong position, out front and with tyres that were eight laps fresher. Only a problem now could cost him a victory and the car ran like clockwork to the end for Ferrari's first victory since Mexico 2024.

There were two small ironies. Hamilton's win was Ferrari's first in Spain since 2013, when the man who delivered it was Alonso, whose retirement caused the VSC that delivered this next one to his old arch-rival.

And the post-race interviews were conducted by Nico Rosberg, Hamilton's former Mercedes team-mate, with whom he had also had an acrimonious relationship when they were in the same team - and 10 years since the pair crashed together on the first lap of this race when competing for the title.

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Luck turns at Mercedes

At Mercedes, it was a tale of mixed fortunes.

Russell would probably have won the race had it not been for the VSC but until Antonelli's retirement it looked as if he would once again have to accept second best to his young team-mate, who has had such a sensational turnaround of form this year.

Russell needed a good weekend after a difficult run of form and results, and on a competitive level he has had one.

And for a long time, it looked like he would secure his second win of the year, only for the VSC to turn the race on its head.

He weathered the first wave of pressure from Antonelli mid-race and looked on course for victory.

But once the VSC vaulted Hamilton to the front, Russell remained under pressure from Antonelli and the 19-year-old passed him into Turn One with five laps to go.

No sooner had Antonelli moved into second place, luck turned against him, and the car ground to a halt between Turns Five and Six.

His retirement moved McLaren's Norris into the final podium position. The world champion had been close behind Antonelli for much of the race but not quite close enough to challenge.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fourth, from McLaren's Oscar Piastri and the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar.

In contrast to Hamilton's joy, his team-mate Charles Leclerc retired from sixth place when his Ferrari lost its power steering at about the same time Antonelli stopped.

Top 10

1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

2. George Russell (Mercedes)

3. Lando Norris (McLaren)

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

8. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

• Full Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix results

• Drivers' championship standings
• Constructors' championship standings

What's next?

There is a two-week gap to the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, from 26-28 June.

• Toyota reclaim Le Mans crown to end Ferrari streak

Two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones continued her switch into boxing by outclassing Argentina's combat sports influencer Federikita in her second boxing bout.

Fighting on the undercard of Tommy Fury versus former World's Strongest Man Eddie Hall at Manchester's AO Arena, Jones made it two wins from two as the 33-year-old stopped Federikita inside the second round.

Jones now seems to be pencilled in to face Hungarian MMA fighter Sheena Bathory, who earlier in the evening beat Tina Snows.

"Different sport from what I've competed in my whole life, it's still scary," Jones told Talksport afterwards.

"I'd just like to say massive respect to my opponent (Federikita).

"She deserves a massive clap. It was a little bit more difficult, but I'm chuffed.

"I was a little bit more nervous, the pressure was on but I've got the best supporters. What an atmosphere."

• Tommy Fury beats ex-strongman Hall in exhibition
• Olympian Jones using ADHD diagnosis to box clever

Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari win doesn't come out of nowhere

In his 31st grand prix start for Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton has finally taken the Scuderia to the top step of the podium, his first win in two calendar years.

You can't say it hadn't been coming. Surrounding himself with an engineering team and boasting a SF-26 that he had significant input in, Hamilton has been a totally different person this year, excising his demons this winter following a difficult 2025 campaign that brought him to the brink.

Mercedes had been dominant until this point in the season, but boasting an upgraded Ferrari in Spain, Hamilton and his side of the garage went for an aggressive three-stop approach in Barcelona's tyre battle, which the seven-time world champion was rewarded for by capitalising on a virtual safety car. That little assistance from his old friend Fernando Alonso doesn't detract from a race weekend that Ferrari executed to perfection. Hamilton has finally meshed with his new team, and the result was going to follow sooner or later. Turns out, it came at the first time of asking.

- Fil Cleeren

Antonelli also not immune to bad luck

The season that had been running so smoothly for Kimi Antonelli was hit by bad luck for the first time, as he retired with just a handful of laps remaining after pulling off a convincing move on George Russell.

That overtake was yet another reminder that it isn't simply Russell's misfortune that has allowed Antonelli to build such a commanding championship lead. Time and again, Kimi has shown that he can either be quicker than his more experienced team-mate or, at the very least, match him on equal terms.

Now, that lead in the championship has suddenly been cut by 25 points. And increasingly, it appears that if Antonelli is to face a title challenge this year, it may come not from Russell, but from someone else.

- Oleg Karpov

Leclerc faces a new challenge at Ferrari as Hamilton steps up

Charles Leclerc has long been Ferrari’s crown prince, and that status was reinforced ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix with a new multi-year contract. This season, however, the Monegasque finds himself in a situation he has not experienced in recent months, or even years.

Of course, Leclerc has previously had to battle team-mates such as Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, but last year he comfortably got the better of Hamilton despite all the hype surrounding the Briton’s move from Mercedes. In 2026, though, the story is completely different.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Hamilton has gained momentum at the Scuderia, and that indirectly puts pressure on Leclerc as well, if he wants to establish himself as Ferrari’s team leader in the long term. The last two race weekends have not been great in that regard. While his crash in Monaco could still be attributed to brake issues, Leclerc admitted in the media pen on Saturday that he was embarrassed by his Q3 crash in Barcelona.

Leclerc still possesses the raw speed and potential to deliver major success for Ferrari, but at the moment he is searching for answers with the 2026 car, the brakes, and over the last two weekends, with himself as well. Nothing has changed about Leclerc’s talent or raw pace — both remain evident — but with Hamilton’s progress, he now has something to prove.

- Ronald Vording

McLaren still has work to do to get back into the fight

McLaren appeared to have taken a step forward at the start of the weekend following a pair of frustrating results in Canada and Monaco, with Lando Norris topping the timesheets on Friday.

Andrea Stella was pleased to see the much-discussed front wing introduced in Monaco finally begin to deliver the expected gains after the team made a modification to the endplate. However, it was not enough to put McLaren on the same level as Mercedes and Ferrari in Barcelona.

Norris could manage only fourth place in qualifying and would have finished in that same position had it not been for Antonelli's retirement. Oscar Piastri endured an even more difficult weekend. The Australian started seventh, finished seventh and never looked genuinely competitive throughout Sunday's race.

At the very least, McLaren saw both of its cars reach the chequered flag, something that has not been a given in recent races. Yet that is scant consolation for a team that has won the most recent championships.

- Federico Faturos

Teams figuring out F1 2026 quirks

That was perhaps as close to a "normal" Formula 1 race as we've seen this season, with almost none of the early 2026 trends on display. Slowly but surely, teams are figuring out how to optimise starts, and it no longer looks like Ferrari holds any particular advantage in that area. In the opening races, it almost felt preordained that a red car would lead into Turn 1, given how well the Scuderia was handling starts relative to its rivals. But that's no longer the case - and in Barcelona even the softer tyres didn't help Lewis Hamilton beat George Russell on the run to the first corner.

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Perhaps Barcelona simply isn't the right track for it, but yo-yo racing also failed to materialise. There were overtakes, but none of the back-and-forth battles that became a hallmark of the opening races of the season.

Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is something everyone can decide for themselves.

- Oleg Karpov

F1 Barcelona GP: Lewis Hamilton takes maiden Ferrari win as Kimi Antonelli retires late

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While Dylan Crews only went 1 for 4 with a single yesterday, it still felt like he was in the middle of everything for the Nats. His impact in the field and on the bases was very loud in the Nationals 8-3 win over the Mariners. Crews pretty much sealed the win with his mad dash from first to home on a single up the middle.

Seeing Crews fly around the bases like that and watching him pop up when he slid in safely was so much fun to watch. Plays like that are part of the reason fans want the Dylan Crews thing to work out so badly. He is just one of those players that is consistently making winning plays out there.

However, it is tough to be a winning player when you are hitting .192 with a .562 OPS. Crews was seen as one of the safest and most polished hitting prospects in a long time when he came out of LSU. That offensive profile has not translated to the big leagues so far, especially not the 70 grade hit tool that was talked about out of the draft. 

At this point, I think we have a large enough sample size to say that a 70 hit tool is never coming. Crews has a .208 career average and .623 OPS in nearly 500 at bats now. He is never going to be the hitter he was supposed to be out of college. That does not mean he cannot improve and become a productive big leaguer. 

Crews still has some intriguing offensive tools, and I think he can become an average hitter with a couple adjustments. While Crews has struggled at the plate, fans have often pointed to his underlying data to suggest improvement could be on the horizon. After a while, it gets annoying because he has underperformed his expected stats for years now.

However, when you look at the data, there is no way he should be this bad. His xwOBA is .333, which is over 80 points higher than his wOBA of .252. For his career, Crews has underperformed his xwOBA by 40 points, so there must be something in his profile some of the expected stats don’t see. Part of it is likely the fact he hits a lot of ground balls and does not pull balls in the air.

When Crews does get a hold of a ball, it can be pretty to watch. He is not some massive guy like James Wood, but he can generate a ton of force and power. Crews has always hit baseballs hard, but they are usually ground balls or low liners. The other night, he elevated and then celebrated in the dugout.

There are some encouraging signs that Crews could be lifting the ball with more regularity. His average launch angle is up from 8.5 degrees to 12.1 degrees. Crews’ ground ball rate has also gone from over 50% to 42.6%, which is a major improvement.

I think Crews is due for a hot streak at the plate, but there are still plenty of holes in his profile. He has been chasing pitches more than ever, and his 37.2% chase rate is higher than Keibert Ruiz. For Crews to have more offensive success, he needs to keep the ball in the air and find the right pitches to swing at. He also needs to find a way to get into count leverage because it feels like he gets down 0-2 in about half his at bats.

There are still a lot of big picture offensive things Crews needs to work on, but his heart and hustle will never be in doubt. I think Crews is one of the best base runners in the sport. He is not afraid to swipe bags and is always trying to take the extra base. Crews is a man possessed out on the bases and we saw that yesterday.

I think base running is the best part of Crews’ game right now. However, he is also a good defensive outfielder. When you look at the metrics, Crews is a good but not elite defensive outfielder. After all, there is a reason Jacob Young is the center fielder when the two are playing together. If Crews was a Young level defender, there would be less pressure on the bat.

While Crews is not elite on defense, he is very good. He showed that yesterday when he got a chance out in center field. The 24 year old made a really nice catch at the wall to rob Victor Robles of extra bases. Like when he is running the bases, Crews has a reckless abandon in the field that I love to watch.

At this point, we know Crews can do the little things. He is constantly looking to take the extra base or run into a wall to make a catch. The secondary tools are fantastic for the former LSU star. However, there is still one big question that looms over his future. That question is can Dylan Crews hit? So far the answer has been no, but Crews still has time to figure it out, though that time will not last forever.

Forward Robert ended the European season in great style.

A Cruzeiro academy product, the 21-year-old featured in the Transfermarkt ranking that lists the top under-21 scorers in the 15 biggest leagues on the continent, taking 15th place.

Robert’s numbers in Denmark

Playing for Copenhagen, the forward enjoyed the most productive and decisive year of his professional career so far:

Matches played: 39

Goals scored: 8 goals (with half of them coming in the high-profile UEFA Champions League)

Assists: 3 assists

Young elite and Brazilian presence

The ranking has very few Brazilian representatives in the Top 20. Besides Robert, the other Brazilian to appear on the list is William Gomes, formerly of São Paulo and currently at Porto.

The survey also includes major rising stars of world football who are competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, such as Spain’s Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Turkey’s Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Argentina’s Nico Paz (Como), and Japan’s Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden).

The journey since Toca da Raposa

Promoted to Cruzeiro’s first team in 2023 by coach Pepa, Robert was that year’s unlikely hero after scoring the crucial goal against Goiás that saved Raposa from relegation.

After earning more minutes in 2024 under Larcamón and Seabra, he was sent to Copenhagen on loan and, shortly afterward, signed permanently by the Danish club for R$17 million.

In total, he has already recorded 69 appearances, 10 goals, and 6 assists for the European club.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

(Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

When Tim Iroegbunam arrived at Everton from Aston Villa in June 2024, it was a transfer wrapped in scepticism.

Just days before the end of the Premier League’s financial year, and with Lewis Dobbin heading in the opposite direction for an equivalent £9m fee, Iroegbunam’s arrival was labelled as little more than a PSR loophole.

​At the time, that was perhaps justified. But two seasons on, Everton look to have got the better of that deal. While Dobbin has been sent on consecutive Championship loan spells, Iroegbunam has slowly started to establish himself as a genuine Premier League option.

​It hasn’t been without bumps in the road. A horror show against Newcastle in November saw the 22-year-old hooked at half-time, but mistakes are to be expected from a player with only 2302 minutes of Premier League football to his name. That’s the equivalent of 25 games.

​Progress has been evident, and the question now is, what is his ceiling?

Everton have question marks over their midfield this summer. Repeatedly in recent seasons, the Blues have ranked among the lowest-possession teams in the Premier League, while it does not need data to demonstrate the dearth of creativity in the Everton engine room.

Iroegbunam solves neither of those issues, but with Idrissa Gana Gueye’s future unclear, is the time now for Tim to step into that role?

​Gueye, at his best, was an elite ball-winner. In five of his first six seasons, either side of a stint at Paris Saint-Germain, he ranked among the Premier League’s top three performers for tackles won. The Senegalese was the engine of the Everton side, snapping into challenges and distributing the ball efficiently.

Iroegbunam's ball-winning numbers are elite

​Iroegbunam, certainly, has those former traits.

Athletic enough to handle the heat of the modern Premier League, the midfielder’s ball-winning ability has impressed. No U-23 midfielder across Europe’s top five leagues last season bettered his numbers for possessions won, defensive duels won, sliding tackles, or shots blocked per 90. He ranked second in that age bracket for percentage of duels won, and fifth for percentage of aerial duels won.

Even amid the expected inflation of defensive numbers due to Everton’s low ball retention, Iroegbunam’s strengths are clear.

​The sticking point is the other side of his game, and there’s an argument that the traditional ball-winner is becoming a dying breed.

Eric Cantona once labelled France teammate Didier Deschamps the ‘water-carrier’, an affectionate if slightly insulting nod to an unglamorous role that revolved around regaining possession for more gifted teammates.

Modern football has seen a shift towards more technical number sixes. The world’s finest side, Paris Saint-Germain, utilise Vitinha as their deepest-lying midfielder, while Elliot Anderson has become the most in-demand midfielder of the summer for combining duel-winning with press resistance and forward-thinking passing. Elsewhere, Manuel Ugarte has struggled badly at Manchester United, despite being a data dream when it comes to ball-winning.

Could Hayden Hackney offer the ideal Iroegbunam complement for Everton?

​Iroegbunam’s in-possession statistics do not make for positive reading. Again judged against U-23 midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, he’s 74th for progressive carries, 106th for passes into the final third, and 116th for progressive passes completed and key passes. He’s also yet to score a top-flight goal.

​Everton’s interest in Hayden Hackney perhaps comes as a counter to Iroegbunam’s weaknesses. Rarely have two players looked more compatible on a data graph, with the duo’s strengths being entirely opposite. With James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall offering more rounded skillsets, is that the midfield make-up that Moyes is seeking?

​Iroegbunam is not the only player in the Everton squad with question marks over him this summer, but this feels like a pivotal moment for a player who turns 23 in June. An opportunity looks likely to open up, and the onus is on him to take it.

Ferran Torres may never be one of the headline stars in this Barcelona team, but his value continues to rise.

While much of the attention has focused on bigger names, the Spanish forward has quietly established himself as one of Hansi Flick’s most trusted attacking options.

That growing importance is one reason Barcelona remain confident about eventually agreeing a contract renewal with the 26-year-old, according to MARCA.

Ferran is currently the only senior Barcelona player whose contract expires in 2027 and whose renewal has not yet been finalised.

That situation is expected to be addressed this summer, though, as Deco continues to hold conversations over a potential new deal at Camp Nou.

A player Hansi Flick does not want to lose

An important player for Hansi Flick. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Ferran’s importance extends beyond goals and assists. His versatility remains one of his biggest strengths.

He can operate anywhere across the front line, offering Hansi Flick tactical flexibility, although the German manager prefers using him as a striker.

That adaptability helped him become a regular contributor during the 2025/26 campaign, and his numbers back his growing influence in the team too.

Ferran finished the season with 21 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, while also sharing the distinction of being La Liga’s top Spanish scorer with Lamine Yamal, on 16 league goals.

Inside the dressing room, he is also viewed as a positive presence, maintaining strong relationships with several key figures, including Pedri, Dani Olmo and Eric Garcia.

There are enough reasons for the Spaniard to merit a renewal, and Barça should be handing him one too, in an ideal world.

Europe continues to monitor the situation

Ferran’s contract expires in 2027. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

At the same time, Ferran’s performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere.

Clubs such as Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid are among those monitoring his situation.

Given his age, experience and productivity, that hardly comes as a surprise. The player, though, is currently focused on the World Cup and would not want distractions over his future.

Why Barcelona feel comfortable either way

The most fascinating aspect of this deal is Barcelona’s position.

Either way, they do not stand to lose. The club want Ferran to renew and remain part of Flick’s project. Yet they also recognise that his market value remains strong, at least for this summer..

That is why the situation is viewed internally as relatively straightforward. Renewing a proven attacker would be a success. Selling him for a major fee would also strengthen the club financially.

That said, the hope is that Barça hand him a new contract, with the club confident that the player himself is open to renewing.

After all, Ferran himself shut down the exit speculations earlier today, saying: “I don’t know anything about PSG and I’m not interested.”

The Miami Hurricanes crushed the Stanford Cardinal 42-7 in between losses to Louisville and SMU. After the upset loss the the Louisville Cardinals, Miami came out a bit flat on defense vs. Stanford. After a Miami missed FG to open the game, the Cards marched down the field on a 12 play 74 yard scoring drive that ate up 5:23 from the clock. The drive ended in a touchdown pass from Ben Gulbranson to Caden High over Zechariah Poyser’s dome.

So how does a bottom 30 offense in the country open the game with a touchdown scoring drive against a top-10 defense? And what did the ‘Canes defensive staff, led by CoreyHetherman, do in the 3rd quarter to flip the game? Watch the video to find out!

Thirty-two years ago Sunday — June 14, 1994 — the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup to become a “Forever Team” in this great big city of ours.

All these years later, their co-tenants at The World’s Most Famous Arena once again join the Rangers as a legendary championship team. The New York Knicks rallied again — because that’s just what they do — to win Game 5 of the NBA Finals on the road in San Antonio on Saturday night, and secure their first title since 1973.

Another Forever Team inspiring New York City.

Almost to the day (if not year) that the Rangers ended a 54-year championship drought, the Knicks wiped out 53 years of their own futility, winning the NBA championship on June 13, 2026. That’s pretty sweet symmetry right there.

Jalen Brunson, meet Mark Messier. OG Anunoby, you have your Stephane Matteau moment. Mike Brown, don’t cause us any Mike Keenan post-championship drama please!

And New York, continue to enjoy this incredible party, and rock that championship parade down the Canyon of Heroes in lower Manhattan on Thursday, just as you did in 1994 for the Rangers.

Sure, there’ve been other championships celebrated in New York in between the Rangers in 1994 and the Knicks today. The Giants had a pair of upset wins in the Super Bowl over the heavily-favored New England Patriots. The Liberty secured the WNBA title in 2024. And the Yankees, well, they won the World Series five times between 1996 and 2009.

But it feels different when one of the Garden brethren win a championship, Perhaps that’s because these teams simply don’t do it often. It’s become almost a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence when the Rangers or Knicks win the title. Heck, the Rangers won one single Stanley Cup championship in the past 86 years.

So, cherish this moment as a New York sports fan. There’s zero guarantee that this year’s brilliance carries over into next season for the Knicks. Or that it inspires the Rangers enough to get their act together and make a Cup run again any time soon.

But as former Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi told Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast this past week, “Look at those ’94 guys, they’re legends for life.” That’s because they accomplished what appeared to be impossible for so long. Just like these gritty blue-collar Knicks.

Forever Team.

New York Rangers news and analysis

Speaking of Girardi, he dished a few stories on former Rangers coach John Tortorella and praised him for teaching Girardi “how to be a pro” in this article pulled written off his Rink Rap interview this past week.

Here’s a first-hand account from our Ryan McInerney on exactly what the Rangers missed out on by losing the Draft Loettry and not getting the chance to pick Gavin McKenna first overall in this year’s NHL Draft.

The latest Rangers report cards include end-of-season analysis and grades for J.T. Miller, Mika Zibanejad, and Adam Fox.

NHL news and rumors

New Jersey Hockey Now: James Nichols elaborates on reports that the Devils are “gauging interest” in veteran goalie Jacob Markstrom on the trade market.

Detroit Hockey Now: Bob Duff breaks down whether the Dallas Stars might provide a solid trade fit for the Red Wings, should they move captain Dylan Larkin this summer.

NHL.com: The Vegas Golden Knights are without injured center William Karlsson when they try to keep their season alive Sunday, trailing the best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final 3-2 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Sportsnet: Luke Fox provides five reasons why the Hurricanes should wrap up the Stanley Cup title Sunday.

The Athletic ($$): Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman debate the top prospects in this year’s NHL Draft, which takes place June 26-27.

Related Headlines

• What Rangers Missing Out on by Not Getting to Draft Gavin McKenna
• Ex-Rangers coach ‘showed me how to be a pro,’ still ‘roasted’ Dan Girardi
• Former Rangers coach John Tortorella talks ‘stupid things’ in NBA, NHL Finals
• Ex-Rangers coach ‘really excited to work with’ Artemi Panarin again in L.A.

Even after the UFL crowned its champion, the NFL still found its way into the conversation. Following the Louisville Kings’ victory over the D.C. Defenders in the third United Bowl, UFL owner Mike Repole spoke with reporters. While discussing the current state and future of the UFL, he also touched on a topic that could have major implications for the NFL: expansion.

That portion of Repole’s comments largely flew under the radar, but the soundbite could offer a significant glimpse into what may be on the horizon. As the NFL continues to push for an 18-game regular season, expanding the league could become a logical next step.

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During his press conference, Repole discussed potential growth plans for the UFL, including adjusting the league’s schedule, adding games, and potentially introducing more teams. However, he casually mentioned that “[The NFL is] talking about two more expansion teams.”

If that’s true, should the NFL expand by two teams—or even more?

There are certainly domestic markets that could support an NFL franchise. At the same time, the league has aggressively pursued international growth, making overseas locations potential candidates as well.

The NFL currently consists of 32 teams divided evenly between two conferences and eight divisions. Each division contains four teams that play one another twice every season, creating a balanced and straightforward structure.

MORE: Former 49ers, Cowboys All-Pro linebacker dies at 36

Even the addition of the 17th regular-season game has gone relatively smoothly. Expanding to 33 or 34 teams, however, would create new scheduling challenges. It would also mean dividing league revenue among additional ownership groups, something current owners would have to carefully consider.

If expansion is truly under discussion, NFL owners must determine whether new franchises would generate enough growth to justify the move. To accomplish that, the league may need to target untapped metropolitan areas or continue pushing internationally. The question is whether the NFL is willing to make that investment.

For now, expansion probably isn’t the league’s best option. That said, don’t expect the NFL to avoid the idea indefinitely. If discussions are already taking place behind the scenes, expansion may be a matter of when—not if.

How soon that happens remains unclear. The most recent expansion franchise was in 2002 with the Houston Texans sparking the current NFL alignement. If the NFL does add two or more franchises, where should those teams be located?

Patriots Insider Reveals Reason For Gabe Jacas Contract Holdout originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After recording just 35 sacks last season, the New England Patriots made some changes to their pass rush in the offseason.

The Patriots signed Dre-Mont Jones in free agency and drafted Gabe Jacas in the second round of the NFL Draft. Jacas is the only Patriots draft pick who remains unsigned and is the only second-round pick in the NFL yet to sign. Jacas attended rookie minicamp, but was absent from OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

H does not have a contract yet, and Mike Vrabel revealed that he had a "clean up" procedure in his knee after the draft. That procedure has something to do with the contract holdout, as the Patriots seek financial protection in his contract, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.

"One high-ranking NFL executive hypothesized that the Patriots are likely seeking a level of financial protection in the contract based on the medical procedure, which would explain the holdup," wrote Reiss on Sunday.

Reiss noted that there is still hope that Jacas will be ready for training camp, but noted that the Patriots are trying to get him to sign a contract that protects them from paying him if he sustains an injury prior to signing his deal.

"Jacas hasn't been with the Patriots since May, according to a source," wrote Reiss. "His absence is tied, in part, to not being given a standard 'participation agreement' from the Patriots, according to a source. Most draft picks receive such an agreement, which states that if they were to sustain an injury prior to signing their first NFL contract, the team would still be obligated to sign him to a contract based on the slot he was drafted."

The details of his knee injury are unknown, but whatever happened happened before he was under contract with the Patriots. If the injury keeps him from playing, the Patriots do not want to be responsible for paying him. It would be different if he sustained an injury while under contract.

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