Captain Nicola Docherty insists Rangers won't rely on past success as they head into Sunday's SWPL Cup final.

Rangers are bidding to win the trophy for the fourth consecutive season, but face a tough task against current SWPL leaders Glasgow City.

The sides met last weekend in the league, with Rangers edging victory thanks to a late penalty from Katie Wilkinson to set up a mouthwatering rematch at Fir Park.

"It's not ours until we win it," said Docherty.

"We've obviously won it a number of years and it's been great over the years this trophy, but we know that it's going to be a difficult test on Sunday.

"It's the league leaders at the moment, who are at the top on merit, and so we need to make sure that we are we're on it but we're focusing on us as well."

Now 33, the Rangers captain is one of the more experienced figures in Leanne Crichton's squad.

While Docherty believes there is "no pressure" on the younger players, she admits representing Rangers brings its own expectations.

"I love that about them, their attitudes are excellent week in, week out at training," she said.

"There's no pressure on them because I think us as a group and the togetherness we've got in the squad, we always make sure that everyone feels confident and ready for the game.

"When you represent a club like Rangers there's pressure on you straight away to win silverware.

"I know that myself, I was a fan growing up as a young kid. I always want the men to be winning as many trophies as possible as well and we're trying to emulate that on the women's side."

A three-time winner of this competition, Docherty believes there won't be much to separate the sides on Sunday.

"I just think we've obviously been working hard behind the scenes to make sure that we're relentless in both boxes and it really does come down to the small margins in cup finals," she said.

"It comes down to who wants it more, who turns up on the day, and so it'll be a really close game but hopefully we're the ones that come out on top."

There is now a timeline on CL Josh Hader, according to Astros GM Dana Brown:

SS Jeremy Pena is not in the Opening Day lineup, but he is getting live ABs before the game in Sugar Land:

More on the timeline expected for Jeremy Pena from Chandler Rome:

UT Brice Matthews has clearly been coached up by Crash Davis (Kevin Costner’s character in Bull Durham) and has been working on his cliches before his first Opening Day:

Manager Joe Espada on how team plans to use Matthews:

Dana Brown on how team will use IF Isaac Paredes:

The Astros are 0-0 all time on March 26:

Nothing like the sound of a little Yordan Alvarez BP:

Astros manager Joe Espada on RP Christian Roa making the Opening Day roster:

Espada on how he will navigate playing time in LF:

Brown on the development of RF Cam Smith:

Brown on extension talks with CL Bryan Abreu, SP Hunter Brown and Pena:

2B Jose Altuve on Opening Day:

Matt Kawahara has 10 stats for the Astros to return to the postseason:

Lost in everything that happened with the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 season was just how much better starting left tackle Broderick Jones played before his neck injury. Pittsburgh's offensive line got banged up pretty bad and when starting left guard Isaac Seumalo went down, Jones stepped up.

But now, with the 2026 NFL draft less than a month away, Jones' health is the topic of discussion and it isn't good. Steelers team beat writer Bob Labriola talked about the draft and Jones' injury and definitely gave the impression the team is worried about Jones being ready to go this season and that the team could address tackle via the draft because of it.

“If it was up to me, my ‘concern’ wouldn’t be first-round pick concern, but based on the latest medical information on the eve of the draft, it might become late Day 2 pick concern," Labriola said.

With the Steelers picking No. 21 overall, they are in no man's land when it comes to blue-chip prospects. But there's a real possibility that a top offensive tackle slips through the cracks with the rise of Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling. But removing that exception, we agree that Pittsburgh could go with a different position in the first round and circle back to offensive tackle in the second.

If the Steelers do go for an offensive tackle early on Day Two, Clemson's Blake Miller makes the most sense, and if Pittsburgh chooses to use one of their third-round picks on the position, keep an eye on Northwestern's Caleb Tiernan, who can start at either tackle spot.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers beat writer gives troubling update on OT Broderick Jones

Women's March Madness predictions 2026: Carlan Gay's expert NCAA Tournament bracket picks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

You’re probably here for one reason: to see whether someone on the internet was bold — or reckless — enough to pick against an undefeated UConn team led by potential No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd and Sporting News National Player of the Year Sarah Strong. The answer is yes. I did it. And before Huskies fans close the tab in disgust, just know they won’t be the only ones mad at me.

Because while the anti-UConn pick is the headline-grabber, the real letdown for chaos lovers is this: I mostly went chalk in my 2026 Women's March Madness bracket. Sorry to the bracket sickos hoping for a 12-over-5 manifesto and a Final Four full of double-digit seeds. That’s not really where this is going. The top teams are top teams for a reason, and most of my picks reflect that, even if one giant swing sits right at the center of the bracket.

And LSU fans, you may want to brace yourselves, too. Flau’jae Johnson and the Tigers are good enough to make noise, good enough to scare people and absolutely good enough to make this prediction look stupid. But in this version of March Madness, their run ends before the Elite Eight.

So yes, there are takes here, and some of them might annoy you. But I’m not here to hurt feelings — I’m here to be right.

WOMEN'S MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | Full TV schedule | Printable bracket

Women’s March Madness bracket predictions 2026

Region 1 — Fort Worth picks

SN

FIRST ROUND

1 UConn over 16 UTSA

8 Iowa State over 9 Syracuse

5 Maryland over 12 Murray State

4 North Carolina over 13 Western Illinois

6 Notre Dame over 11 Fairfield

3 Ohio State over 14 Howard

10 Colorado over 7 Illinois 

2 Vanderbilt over 15 High Point

SECOND ROUND

1 UConn over 8 Iowa State

5 Maryland over 4 North Carolina

6 Notre Dame over 3 Ohio State

2 Vanderbilt over 10 Colorado

SWEET 16

1 UConn over 5 Maryland

2 Vanderbilt over 6 Notre Dame

ELITE EIGHT

1 UConn over 2 Vanderbilt

If UConn gets Vanderbilt in the Elite Eight, I’m taking the Huskies because this feels like one of those superstar vs. superstar matchups where the better team around the star wins it. The headline is obvious: Sarah Strong vs. Mikayla Blakes, the Sporting News Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year against the player she edged out for it. Blakes has been outrageous, leading Division I in scoring at 27.1 points per game with 12 30-point games, so this isn’t about pretending she can be shut off. She’s too good for that. But Strong is the kind of all-around problem who changes every part of a game, averaging 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 135 assists, 111 steals and 53 blocks while doing a little bit of everything for an unbeaten UConn team.

That’s why I’d still lean UConn. The Huskies just have more bodies to throw at Blakes and more ways to survive the stretches when she starts cooking. Between Strong, KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade, UConn has enough length, activity and defensive discipline on the perimeter to make Blakes work for everything. Arnold has 93 steals, Shade has 61, and UConn as a team is holding opponents to just 50.4 points per game, 33.3% shooting overall and 27.4% from three. That doesn’t mean Blakes won’t get hers. It means Vanderbilt probably won’t get enough easy offense around her to win the game. And that’s usually where UConn breaks teams — not by stopping the star completely, but by making everybody else come up with more than they have.

Region 2 — Sacramento picks

SN

FIRST ROUND

1 UCLA over 16 Cal Baptist

8 Oklahoma State over 9 Princeton

5 Ole Miss over 12 Gonzaga

4 Minnesota over 13 Green Bay

11 Nebraska/Richmond over 6 Baylor

3 Duke over 14 Charleston

7 Texas Tech over 10 Villanova

2 LSU over 15 Jacksonville

SECOND ROUND

1 UCLA over 8 Oklahoma State

5 Ole Miss over 4 Minnesota

3 Duke over 11 Nebraska/Richmond

2 LSU over 7 Texas Tech

SWEET 16

1 UCLA over 5 Ole Miss

3 Duke over 2 LSU

ELITE EIGHT

1 UCLA over 3 Duke

If UCLA gets Duke, I’m taking the Bruins because at some point, too much talent becomes the whole analysis. UCLA has looked like one of the most complete teams in the country all season, going 31-1, carrying a 25-game winning streak into the tournament and blasting Iowa by 51 points in the Big Ten title game. That’s not just talent on paper — that’s a team that has clearly clicked. Kiki Rice runs things, Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens give them real scoring balance, and the whole group feels connected in a way that makes them hard to speed up or knock off rhythm.

And then there’s Lauren Betts, which is really where this matchup tilts for me. Betts is averaging 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and shooting 56.2% from the field, and she’s the kind of interior force who can bend an entire game plan around her. Duke has a star of its own in Toby Fournier, who has been terrific at 17.3 points and 8.2 rebounds a night, but Betts is still the bigger problem in this specific matchup. Fournier is a bucket, but asking her to deal with Betts on both ends for 40 minutes feels like too much.

Duke is good enough to make this ugly, and its defense will absolutely have a say. But UCLA just has more answers. More size, more balance, more lineup versatility — and when the game gets tight, the Bruins feel like the team that can get to the cleaner shots. That’s usually what wins an Elite Eight game.

Region 3 — Fort Worth picks

SN

1 Texas over 16 Missouri St/SF Austin

9 Virginia Tech over 8 Oregon

5 Kentucky over 12 James Madison

4 West Virginia over 13 Miami (OH)

6 Alabama over 11 Rhode Island 

3 Louisville over 14 Vermont

7 NC State over 10 Tennessee

2 Michigan over 15 Holy Cross

SECOND ROUND

1 Texas over 9 Virginia Tech

5 Kentucky over 4 West Virginia

3 Louisville over 6 Alabama

2 Michigan over 7 NC State

SWEET 16

1 Texas over 5 Kentucky

2 Michigan over 3 Louisville

ELITE EIGHT

1 Texas over 2 Michigan

If Texas gets Michigan in the Elite Eight, I’m taking the Longhorns because this feels like the kind of game they love to turn ugly early and then control from there. Texas’ pressure defense is the whole story. This is a team that led the SEC in turnovers forced at 24.1 per game and was allowing just 53.0 points per game when Rori Harmon and Madison Booker were named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list. That hasn’t gone away. In the SEC Tournament, Texas forced 14 turnovers against Ole Miss, then forced 14 more and turned them into 16 points in the title-game win over South Carolina.

The other reason I like Texas is how often it punches first. Through its first 34 games, Texas outscored opponents 743-451 in the first quarter, which is a ridiculous margin and basically the stat version of good luck chasing them all night. That fast-start habit is a big deal against a Michigan team that can absolutely score — led by Olivia Olson (19.6), Syla Swords (14.6) and Mila Holloway (12.6) — but they were also averaging 15.0 turnovers per game. That is exactly the kind of number Texas sees and starts licking its chops.

Michigan is talented enough to make this fun, especially if Olson gets loose. But Texas has the better point guard to settle the game, the more disruptive defense and a real habit of building a lead before teams can get comfortable. In an Elite Eight game, that usually matters.

Region 4 — Sacramento picks

SN

1 South Carolina over 16 Southern/Samford

9 USC over 8 Clemson

12 Colorado State over 5 Michigan State 

4 Oklahoma over 13 Idaho

6 Washington over 11 South Dakota State

3 TCU over 14 UC San Diego

7 Georgia over 10 Virginia/Arizona State 

2 Iowa over 15 Fairleigh Dickinson

SECOND ROUND

1 South Carolina over 9 USC

4 Oklahoma over 12 Colorado State

3 TCU over 6 Washington

2 Iowa vs. 7 Georgia

SWEET 16

1 South Carolina over 4 Oklahoma

3 TCU over 2 Iowa

ELITE EIGHT

1 South Carolina over 3 TCU

If South Carolina gets TCU in the Elite Eight, I actually think the SEC title game loss ends up being a blessing in disguise. Not because South Carolina ever wants to lose, obviously, but because it sharpens the focus and drops the unbeatable talk right before the games really matter. Dawn Staley’s group still heads into March at 31-3, with an SEC regular-season title already locked up, and now gets a path that feels a little more tailored to what the Gamecocks do best: defend, switch, throw bodies at stars and make you work for every clean touch.

That’s why I like them against TCU. The whole matchup starts with Olivia Miles, who has been fantastic for the Horned Frogs at 19.6 points, 6.9 assists and 3.8 turnovers per game. She can absolutely control a game when she’s comfortable. The problem is South Carolina is built to make lead guards uncomfortable. The Gamecocks have the tournament experience, the depth and enough rangy defenders to throw fresh looks at Miles all night, crowd her driving lanes and turn every decision into a tougher one than usual. Miles is too good to completely erase, but South Carolina has the profile to make her look messy.

And if Miles starts coughing it up even a little, I’m not sure TCU has enough offense around that to survive. South Carolina has been here before. It knows how to win ugly, how to win late and how to make a star feel like she has to do everything herself. In an Elite Eight game, that usually ends with the more seasoned team moving on.

MORE EXPERT BRACKETS:DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona)

Final Four picks

SN

1 UConn over 1 South Carolina

1 UCLA over 1 Texas

Championship game: 1 UCLA over 1 UConn

If UCLA is the team that finally ends UConn’s run, it’ll feel less like a shock and more like a team cashing in on everything it learned the hard way a year ago. The Bruins are 31-1, just won a second straight Big Ten tournament title, and they’re coming off the kind of statement that makes you look at them differently — a 96-45 demolition of Iowa in the league title game that pushed their winning streak to 25. Last season’s hurt is still sitting there, too. UCLA reached its first NCAA Final Four in 2025 and got flattened 85-51 by UConn, a loss Cori Close openly framed as pain the Bruins needed to learn from.

That’s why I’d buy UCLA finally finishing the job. Lauren Betts is the biggest matchup problem on the floor, and if this is the title game, I think she gets the better of Sarah Strong this time. UCLA has more than enough around her with Kiki Rice and a roster that feels deeper, cleaner and more connected than it did a year ago.

And honestly, the unbeaten thing matters. UConn is 34-0, finished the regular season undefeated and is chasing back-to-back national titles after winning its record 12th championship in 2025. That usually sounds like a reason to trust the Huskies. But in a one-game final, I think the pressure of keeping perfection alive finally shows up at the worst possible time. UCLA has already lived the heartbreak. UConn would be carrying the weight. That’s why I’d take the Bruins to break the streak, deny the repeat and win the whole thing.

CHICAGO, IL. — Nate Oats' name continues to circulate for the North Carolina men's basketball head coach job opening.

However, don't expect the seventh-year Crimson Tide coach to jump to the Tar Heels opening, or any other one, for that matter. Oats candidly answered questions about his future with Alabama on Thursday, March 26, one day before the Crimson Tide takes on No. 1 Michigan in the Sweet 16 from the United Center.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness Sweet 16 games ranked as men's NCAA Tournament nears Final Four

"As a young high school coach, I didn't think I'd ever be in this spot not too long ago. I'm not a guy that's always trying to jump around," Oats said. "The grass isn't always greener. I love Alabama. My girls love Alabama."

"I'm not looking to leave," Oats added

Oats has led the Crimson Tide to four NCAA Tournament Sweet 16s, including a run to the Final Four during the 2023-24 season — the first Final Four appearance for Alabama in program history.

The program has reached the NCAA Tournament for six straight seasons, tying the longest mark in program history. Oats is not satisfied.

"I'd love to be the first coach to bring us a national championship," Oats said.

North Carolina fired Hubert Davis on Tuesday, March 24, following a first-round exit loss to No. 11 VCU. He finished with a 125-54 record over five seasons in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, including an appearance in the 2022 national championship game.

Oats signed an extension with Alabama in March 2024, ahead of the Crimson Tide's Final Four run. The team made the Elite Eight last season and is back in the Sweet 16. However, that does not mean Oats — who is making $5.5 million this season and under contract through 2031 — is necessarily looking for another contract extension.

"I still can't believe I am getting paid this much. I'm coaching basketball guys," Oats said of his current contract with Alabama. "I did this thing for free at Maranatha [Baptist] for three years. ... For the first 16 years I coached basketball, [I made] less than $500,000 total.

"My salary goes up half a million every year. I am a glorified P.E. teacher making too much money right now. So, I'm not going to complain."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama coach Nate Oats addressed the North Carolina coaching rumors

Opening Day is finally here after the Astros’ longest offseason in nearly a decade. Following a disappointing 2025 season that ended after Game 162, the Astros remade a significant portion of their roster and coaching staff in an effort to reclaim their spot atop the American League West. Here are the four biggest questions I have as they head into the first of 162 games.

Can they make their infield logjam work?

The Astros have five infielders who have made All-Star teams, earn significant salaries, and expect to play every day. The problem is, you can only start four on any given day. That means someone who believes they belong in the lineup will be left out every single day. Managing those expectations—while keeping everyone sharp—may be Joe Espada’s toughest challenge of 2026.

Some of that could sort itself out. Jeremy Peña suffered a finger injury during the lead-up to the World Baseball Classic and won’t be ready for Opening Day. Carlos Correa played more than 140 games last season for the first time since 2021, so it’s reasonable to expect he’ll miss a little time during his age-31 campaign. And, of course, the Astros could always trade from their infield surplus.

But what if everyone stays healthy? And what if no trade materializes? Things could get uncomfortable.

Did Dana Brown bring in the right starting pitchers?

The Astros remade their starting rotation after missing the playoffs in 2006. Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens departed, and then-GM Tim Purpura tried to replace them by trading for Jason Jennings and signing Woody Williams in free agency. Both moves were disasters, and Purpura was fired before the 2007 season ended.

This past winter, Dana Brown watched Framber Valdez leave and replaced him by trading for Mike Burrows and signing Tatsuya Imai in free agency. Both have had terrific springs, but joining the Astros is a major adjustment. Burrows is coming from Pittsburgh, where expectations and pressure were minimal, while Imai is transitioning from Japan to the United States—an adjustment that can be challenging both on and off the field.

The Astros gave up two prospects from a barren system to acquire Burrows, who is under team control for five seasons. They need him to be good not just in 2026, but well beyond. Imai signed a three-year, $54 million deal that includes opt-outs after the first two seasons. If he’s good, he’ll likely opt out and pitch elsewhere next year. If he struggles, he becomes another burdensome contract for a team that can’t afford many more.

Is the bullpen good enough behind Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu?

With Hader and Abreu slated for the eighth and ninth innings, the Astros have one of the best one-two bullpen punches in Major League Baseball. But do they have the depth behind them to get through the season?

That depth is already being tested, with Hader set to begin the year on the IL, along with Bennett Sousa, who authored a brilliant 2025 before getting hurt. The Astros will need Bryan King and Steven Okert to replicate last season’s success in roles known for volatility, while also hoping that pitchers like Roddery Muñoz, Kai-Wei Teng, Ryan Weiss, and Christian Roa emerge as reliable options, at least early in the season.

Is Cam Smith still the future of the team?

Late last February, I sat in Dana Brown’s West Palm Beach office and asked him who had impressed through the first two weeks of spring training. I think Brown said Smith’s name before I could even finish the question.

I’ve rarely heard a GM talk about a prospect the way Brown talked about Smith, whom he acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade. General managers usually try to temper expectations for young players, but Brown seemed to raise them every chance he got.

Smith made the Astros’ Opening Day roster out of spring last season despite having played just 35 games in the minors with the Cubs in 2024. That only heightened expectations. It looked like he might meet them after raising his OPS to .805 during the Astros’ 18–1 win at Dodger Stadium on July 4, but over his final 60 games, Smith slashed just .155/.248/.232 and found himself on the bench for much of September.

Brown said early in the offseason that Smith would have to earn a spot on the 2026 Opening Day roster, and he responded with an impressive spring. Smith, who turns 23 on Friday, remains under team control for another five seasons. And with no other impactful position-player prospects in the upper levels of the Astros’ system, they need him to live up to the billing.

Indiana football’s first two teams under head coach Curt Cignetti were afforded the tremendous luxury of several upperclassmen who had experience with his programs either at James Madison or in his first season in Bloomington.

That’s less true for this group, something Cignetti has been mindful of as the Hoosiers get started with spring practices.

“I feel like we probably have more work to do with this group than the first two teams, simply because there’s so many that we don’t have a one-to-three-year relationship with, whereas even the first year there were quite a few we knew very well,” Cignetti said during a press conference on Thursday.

The Hoosiers lost three running backs including starters Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, their two top receivers in Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., top tight ends Riley Nowakowski and Holden Staes, two starting offensive linemen in Pat Coogan and Kahlil Benson, the bulk of their edge rotation, starting linebacker Aiden Fisher and, last but not least, several starters in the defensive secondary including top cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and safety Louis Moore.

Needless to say, that’s a fair amount of roster attrition. Indiana has plenty of experience coming back with multiple top signings in the transfer portal and several true freshmen, but all of those pieces need to jel and that starts now.

Cignetti and the rest of Indiana’s staff were helped greatly in that process with leaders like Fisher, Ponds, Sarratt and others helping to set a cultural foundation for previous new signings and holdovers from Tom Allen’s last few teams. There’s simply less of those guys this year, necessitating more work for the staff.

Indiana has plenty of time for all of that jelling to take place, practice just started, but Cignetti has as good of a track record for making that happen as anyone in the sport. If there’s anyone to trust with getting a culture to set in, it’s him.

Mets vs. Pirates live score, updates: Highlights from MLB Opening Day with Paul Skenes, Freddy Peralta originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Game 1 out of 162 always feels a little different than the rest.

Opening Day is special. It feels like a sign of spring and of hope. And that's where the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves on Thursday afternoon when they match up in a game televised nationally on NBC.

Hope springs eternal on Opening Day. Anything is possible, even for a team like the Mets that collapsed down the stretch last season, or a team like the Pirates that hasn't done nearly enough winning lately.

Much of the optimism will stem for both teams from the guys on the mound on Thursday.

MORE: Mike Trout, Tiger Woods, and Superman without his cape

The Pirates send reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes to the hill.

The Mets counter with Freddy Peralta, their new ace acquired in an offseason trade from the Milwaukee Brewers.

It's just one game, but Opening Day is so much more, and we'll have updates for you below.

Mets vs. Pirates live score

Refresh for the latest.

MORE: Mets, Marlins risk Moneyball Ron Washington mistake

Mets vs. Pirates live updates, highlights

Second inning

- A 1-2-3 top of the second, capped off with a great play by catcher Francisco Alvarez on a dribbler to get the out at first.

First inning

- Oneil Cruz leads off the game with a single, reaching out for an offspeed pitch almost in the dirt to toss it into shallow centerfield.

- On the first pitch Brandon Lowe sees as a Pirate, he leaves the yard. Two-run home run to right field. 2-0 Pirates.

FIRST HOMER OF THE SEASON GOES TO BRANDON LOWE! pic.twitter.com/JoA4yn1Bss

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 26, 2026

- Freddy Peralta strikes out the side after the home run.

- Francisco Lindor leads off bottom one with a walk. Juan Soto follows with a single. Bo Bichette hits a sac fly to right field. 2-1 Pirates as Mets get one back.

- The Mets have now loaded the bases with one out. Skenes has already thrown 29 pitches.

- Brett Baty crushes a bases-clearing triple to centerfield. Oneil Cruz started in, and the ball then beat him to the fence. 4-2 Mets.

- On the very next pitch, Oneil Cruz lost a ball in the sun. Marcus Semien's popup dropped, Baty scored. 5-2 Mets.

- Skenes hit Francisco Alvarez with two outs and has been pulled after 37 pitches with two on and two outs.

- Lindor flew out to end the first.

Pregame

- Lineups are out for both teams. The Pirates go with Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds, Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O'Hearn, Jared Triolo, Spencer Horwitz, Nick Gonzales and Henry Davis. The Mets counter with Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., Brett Baty, Marcus Semien, Carson Benge and Francisco Alvarez.

- It's an MLB debut for Carson Benge, the Mets' talented outfielder who will start in right field.

- The Mets made news away from the field this morning, signing veteran Tommy Pham to a minor league contract.

- The Mets are making history by starting Bo Bichette at third base and Jorge Polanco at first base. You can read more here about something not done since Jackie Robinson.

- It's worth noting that the game may not start right on time. Opening Day festivities are always a wild card.

- The lineups have been introduced. It's almost time for baseball.

More MLB news:

• How a Blue Jays unknown can decide the World Series
• Juan Soto might lead MLB in a brand new stat
• Giants snap embarrassing 19-year streak that tied MLB record
• MLB's future of the shortstop position is immensely bright
• Cal Raleigh was supposed to play for the Braves
• 4 MLB teams that can unseat the Dodgers

“Would Myles Garrett fit in the San Francisco 49ers’ new defense under Raheem Morris?” That’s a question that should never be uttered involving one of the most dominant players during the past decade of the NFL.

That player may have just become more accessible. On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns reworked Myles Garrett’s contract. On the surface, it looks like a typical restructure that kicks the can down the road. But it’s the offseason. And what we do in the offseason is speculate.

Garrett was set to receive a $16.5 million. option bonus. He will now wait close to the regular season to receive that. Additionally, the reworked deal gives any inquiring teams added cap flexibility in a deal that goes through 2030–something you’d want for a player set to be 31.

Free agency has all but passed. The Browns have roughly $9 million in effective cap space. Sure, they’ll need money to sign their draft class, but the timing makes it valid to speculate. This is also the same team that proposed a rule change allowing teams to use draft picks for up to 5 years instead of 3.

If the Browns are doing their part to press the restart button and facilitate a trade, would the 49ers be interested? The answer is 31 teams should be interested. The last thing you want to do is sit idle and watch the Rams, Seahawks, or Eagles use draft picks and add a player of Garrett’s caliber. Garrett has a no-trade clause, likely limiting any potential deal to playoff teams.

Our SB Nation Browns’ site listed the 49ers as a potential destination:

Talk about a team that is always trying to get better and isn’t afraid to make big decisions, the Niners are always in play for big moves, have a roster that is getting older and needs to win now, plus Kyle Shanahan is one of the most respected coaches in the NFL. Adding Garrett after adding veteran WR Mike Evans this offseason could put San Fran in a position to leapfrog the defending Super Bowl champions in their division, the Seattle Seahawks.

The 49ers would go from contenders to Super Bowl favorites with Garrett. Worried about Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams getting off to slow starts after recovering from serious season-ending knee injuries? Garrett would quell any worries. Once Bosa regains his form, Williams would be put into a dream situation playing alongside Bosa, Garrett, and Osa Odighizuwa.

Of course, this is nothing more than conjecture after seeing a team rework a contract. The asking price would be sky-high. Still, so long as you keep your 2027 1st-round pick, it would be difficult to say no when you’re getting back Myles Garrett.

The Tennessee Titans' 2026 season will be the team's final season playing home games at the current Nissan Stadium. The New Nissan Stadium is slated to be finished in early to mid-2027, and the Titans will host games at the new stadium beginning next year.

Earlier this week, a handful of Titans representatives toured the new stadium while it is still under construction, and ESPN Insider Turron Davenport shared several videos on his X page.

A look at the lower bowl of the new Nissan Stadium. The area where I zoomed in is where the stage will be for concerts. The stage is the size of the Ryman Auditorium. The mosh pit for #Titans superfans will be the field level area under the stage. pic.twitter.com/EQdI5p5iGa

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 24, 2026

The new stadium will feature 60,000 seats, which is slightly smaller than the current stadium's 69,000 seats, but the new stadium focuses on proximity to the field and sightlines. The seats will be closer to the field, with no "nosebleed" section, and views will be improved. It will offer expanded exterior terraces and viewing areas for fans to connect with the city of Nashville.

Fans will experience easier access to upper levels with 44 escalators and 30 elevators, concessions will be easier to access, and there will be more of them, and there will be an increased number of restrooms for better guest experiences. The focus on the fans doesn't end there, though; the stadium seats will also feature padding, a clear upgrade.

The new stadium is fully enclosed with a translucent roof so that events can be held year-round without weather concerns, and the stage is the same size as Ryman Auditorium, which houses 2,362 seats and a 180 square foot stage. The Titans' locker room will be roughly 50 percent bigger with plans for 68 dedicated, fixed lockers, separate dedicated spaces for team meetings, training facilities, and even a dedicated space for the family of players, including a nanny service on event days.

With high-tech materials in use, the latest technology employed, and a focus on the guest experience, the new stadium is poised to be a major attraction in Nashville.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: See it: A look inside Tennessee Titans' new Nissan Stadium

Pittsburgh Pirates ace pitcher Paul Skenes is one of the most talented baseball players in the world but had an unfortunate start to the 2026 season.

Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, took the mound against the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday morning to begin his third MLB campaign. While he came into the bottom of the first inning with a 2-0 lead, the comfort did not last long.

The two-time All-Star allowed five earned runs, four hits and one walk and threw just 37 pitches before the Pirates called to the bullpen. He will come into his second start with an absurd 67.5 ERA.

Paul Skenes doesn't make it out of the first inning on Opening Day pic.twitter.com/jLudVfnppJ

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 26, 2026

This is less than ideal for Skenes as he looks to defend his Cy Young award.

But we can expect it to look a bit better for his next starting appearance.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Paul Skenes was shockingly pulled in first inning during Opening Day

For five straight seasons starting with the 2019-20 campaign, his second in the league, Luka Doncic was voted onto the All-NBA First Team. Last season, however, he didn't make the cut, presumably because he only appeared in 50 games.

Last season is seen as something of a down year for Doncic. But this season, he has been playing as well as ever, and he has elevated the Los Angeles Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and 13 wins in their last 15 games. He has won the last two Western Conference Player of the Week awards, and he could be entering the MVP conversation.

But Doncic still has some hurdles to overcome when it comes to receiving the postseason awards he may deserve. Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett said on a recent episode of his podcast, "KG Certified," that he feels Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham, but not Doncic, deserve to be on this year's All-NBA First Team.

Garnett's reasoning? The old narrative that Doncic doesn't play defense (h/t Heavy Sports).

“Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham are having better years of all-around basketball than (Doncic). I’m not a Luka hater, I’m a Luke fan. Hey, he’s killing. I didn’t say we are ignoring it. Listen – you got real candidates over here. And (Doncic’s) got two other killers on his team.

These men been doing it with just one and the cast. Showing up more consistency every night on both sides of the ball. (Doncic) only plays one side of the ball, bro. I love Luka but I’m looking at the game from the whole 360.”

It is true that in past seasons, Doncic was lacking on the defensive end. But this season, he has shown improvement on that end of the floor, not just in terms of team defense but also in the area of individual defense. He currently ranks seventh in the NBA with 1.6 steals per game, and he's doing a better job of staying in front of his man, especially in iso situations.

Overall, he's averaging 33.6 points on 47.4% overall shooting and 36.4% from 3-point range, 7.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists a game. He's leading the NBA in scoring average, and he just became the first player in nearly 40 years to average 40 points a game over a span of six road games.

In the month of March, he's putting up 36.9 points per contest. Right now, it's hard to argue that five players in basketball are better than him.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Kevin Garnett on why Luka Doncic shouldn't be on All-NBA First Team

Brazil vs. France live score, stats, highlights, result from international soccer friendly originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• Brazil vs. France live score
• Kickoff time where you are
• Pre-match stats
• Highlights, key moments
• Team news
• Upcoming games for both sides

Brazil and France meet in Boston on Thursday in arguably the biggest friendly matchup of the March international break.

Carlo Ancelotti's Selecao will face Les Bleus at Gillette Stadium in one of the last games involving these teams before their final World Cup 2026 rosters will have to be announced. That could make this game hugely important to those players hoping to make the cut.

These teams have had some famous meetings down the years, including in the final of the 1998 World Cup, when France won their home tournament. A year before then, Roberto Carlos scored arguably the most famous free-kick in history in a friendly meeting (see below).

The hope is this latest contest offers similar levels of excitement.

Tem coisa que não se explica… se admira.

Em 1997, contra a França, Roberto Carlos não cobrou uma falta, ele fez história e transformou um gol em obra de arte.

GOLAÇO DA NOSSA SELEÇÃO! 🇧🇷

ISSO É BRASIL! 💚💛#BateNoPeitopic.twitter.com/KovIN7Tij9

— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) March 25, 2026

Brazil vs. France score

Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA, United States)
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr. (USA)

Predicted lineups:

Brazil (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Wesley, Ibanez, Leo Pereira, Douglas Santos — Casemiro, Andrey Santos — Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Jr — Gabriel Martinelli

France (4-3-3, right to left): Maignan (GK) — Gusto, Konate, Upamecano, T. Hernandez — Tchouameni, Rabiot, Cherki — Olise, Mbappe, Dembele

Brazil vs. France off time

The match kicks off at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough at 4 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Brazil vs. France pre-match stats

• Brazil have won the previous two friendly meetings with France by a 6-1 aggregate score (3-0, 3-1).
• In 16 matches dating back to 1930, these teams have averaged nearly three goals per game whenever they meet (they've scored 47 times in those 16 previous clashes).
• Pele is the top goal-scorer in this particular fixture. He scored a hat-trick against Les Bleus in the 1958 World Cup semifinals.

Brazil vs. France team news

Brazil team news

• Neymar was not called up for this international window and is not involved here.
• Gabriel Martinelli has been tipped to lead the attack as he attempts to nail down a place in Ancelotti's final World Cup squad.
• Arsenal's Gabriel withdrew due to injury, with Ibanez and Leo Pereira expected to start in central defence. Marquinhos has hip pain and will be kept back for the game with Croatia next week.

MORE:Full Brazil roster for March 2026

France team news

• Kylian Mbappe is fit enough to play despite speculation that his knee injury was not properly treated earlier this season (he denied this).
• William Saliba pulled out of the squad, so Ibrahima Konate could partner Dayot Upamecano in defence.
• Rayan Cherki could get the nod in midfield.

MORE:France squad for March 2026 international break

Brazil vs. France highlights, key incidents

This section will be updated as highlights become available.

Brazil vs. France talking points, analysis

This section will be updated after the match.

Brazil vs. France reaction

Post-match reaction from both teams to follow.

Brazil vs. France upcoming schedules

Brazil upcoming fixtures

France upcoming fixtures

Where is Neymar? Why Brazil forward is not playing vs. France as hopes of World Cup return fade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Ever since tearing his ACL during a 2023 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, Neymar has dreamed of a return to the fold with the Brazil national team.

There feels like no better stage for such an occasion than the FIFA World Cup, but the window is quickly closing for the Santos star to prove his worth for that dream to come true.

As the summer tournament nears and Brazil continues its preparations for the coming competition, Neymar's chances of being in the squad have faded considerably.

The Sporting News explains why Neymar is not involved with Brazil as they face France and Croatia in March, and why it's starting to feel as if he won't be part of their World Cup campaign.

MORE:A full roundup of the players called in for Brazil to face France and Croatia in March friendlies

Why is Neymar not playing for Brazil vs. France?

Neymar was left off the Brazil roster for March friendlies against France and Croatia.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti considered including Neymar, but in the end decided that he would not be involved as the team heads to the United States for a pair of games against European opposition.

Ancelotti explained that Neymar's exclusion was because he was not convinced the player could offer full fitness to the national team.

"Why is he not on this list now? Because he is not 100%," Ancelotti said upon the release of the Brazil roster. "We need players at 100% right now."

The Italian would not rule out Neymar for the World Cup, indicating that as long as he proved he is fully fit, he would be considered.

"As I said, for the final list, the conversation is different. Neymar has to keep working and playing, showing his qualities in a good physical condition."

Will Neymar play for Brazil at the World Cup?

After being excluded from the Brazil roster for the March friendlies, it feels unlikely that Neymar will be part of the Brazil team to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Beyond his failure to make the squad for the final international break before the World Cup arrives, there are multiple reports from Brazil that suggest discord between the national team setup and the country's all-time leading scorer.

First off, Neymar disputed Ancelotti's claim that he is not fully fit. In a video posted to his social media, Neymar is shown on a treatment table saying, "Hey Ancelotti, what about me?"

"We were not called up," he says shortly after. "I’m sad, obviously. I’ll always root for the national team, right? Everything is fine. Now, it’s time to keep working. Keep improving."

Santos head coach Cuca also questioned Ancelotti's claim, saying that Neymar's absence from a recent Santos match — which Ancelotti attended hoping to see Neymar play — was due to load management, with three games in a seven-day stretch.

Reports from Brazil claimed the lead-up to this decision has created a rift between Neymar and Ancelotti. From the Italian's perspective, he is selecting players to perform at the World Cup, where games will routinely be three or four days apart.

According to CNN Brasil, as cited by WorldSoccerTalk, Neymar's public claim that he is fully fit has been received as insubordinate by the national team, and his absence from the match Ancelotti attended also harmed the relationship.

The chances of Neymar suiting up for a sensational return to the national team at the World Cup are becoming slimmer with every passing absence.

Don’t look now, but the NCAA Tournament is already 78 percent of the way over, as 52 of the 68 teams have been eliminated. With that in mind, it’s certainly not too early to look at how each conference has performed in the tournament. We know the Big Ten has dominated the tournament so far, but what about everyone else?

Let’s rank the conferences by performance as of now. Note that we only ranked multi-bid conferences.

1. Big Ten, 13-3, 6 teams remaining

With the Big Ten representing six of the final 16 teams remaining, they easily get the top spot. Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State and Illinois were expected to still be here, but Nebraska and Iowa are both surprise participants in the Sweet Sixteen. Is this the year the Big Ten breaks the national championship drought?

2. SEC, 13-6, 4 teams remaining

The SEC put up a very respectable 13-6 record the first weekend of March Madness. Texas and Tennessee were not expected to have advanced as far as they have, but Florida’s early upset was a major stain on the SEC’s record this year. All four remaining SEC schools are underdogs in the Sweet Sixteen. How many, if any, can break through to the Elite Eight?

3. Big 12, 9-5, 3 teams remaining

The middle part of the Big 12’s NCAA Tournament contingent largely disappointed this year. However, the top three teams are all set up very well. Arizona could be the tournament favorite given Duke’s struggles. Houston saw Florida bow out early, leaving it as the favorite in the South. Lastly, Iowa State is shooting as hot as anyone. There’s a world where three Big 12 teams make the Final Four.

4. Big East, 4-1, 2 teams remaining

The Big East was wildly disappointing in the regular season, with just three teams making the tournament. However, two of those three are still playing, as UConn faces off with Michigan State and St. John’s gets a crack at Duke. As both teams are in the East, only one could possibly make the Final Four, but it’s still been a successful NCAA Tournament so far for the Big East.

5. Atlantic 10, 2-2, 0 teams remaining

The A-10 only got two teams in this year, but both won a game, with 9-seed Saint Louis knocking off 8-seed Georgia, and 11-seed VCU capping off the comeback over 6-seed North Carolina. Sadly, neither team made it past the Round of 32, as Michigan and Illinois quickly squashed their dreams. It was a down year in the A-10, but its showing in the tournament wasn’t disastrous.

6. ACC, 5-7, 1 team remaining

We now step into the disastrous category. The ACC imploded in the NCAA Tournament with only one of its eight representatives making it out of the first weekend. Even that one team, Duke, hasn’t exactly looked that great. Many knew this wasn’t a vintage ACC type of year during the regular season, but we may have underestimated how bad the conference was.

7. WCC, 1-3, 0 teams remaining

The West Coast Conference typically goes as Gonzaga goes, and that was no exception this year. Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara both lost in the first round, and 3-seed Gonzaga lost to 11-seed Texas in the Round of 32. For a program like Gonzaga, that’s incredibly disappointing. For a conference like the WCC, not having any teams in the Sweet Sixteen is also incredibly disappointing.

8. MAC, 1-2, 0 teams remaining

I do feel bad putting the Mid-American Conference here, as it isn’t normally a two-bid league. The MAC got two teams in this season, but neither team lasted long. Miami (OH) did win a First Four game before falling to 6-seed Tennessee in the Round of 64. Likewise, 12-seed Akron couldn’t get out of the first round and got blown out by No. 5-seed Texas Tech. Unlike the ACC and WCC above, we can still call this a successful season for the MAC.

Yesterday we kicked things off with the first two installments of our top prospect series. Today we’re back with the next tier up

16. Silvano Hechavarria, RHP, Age 22 (DOB: 3/18/2003), Grade 40, 2025: NR

Signed out of Cuba in June of 2024, Hechavarria was older than the typical International Free Agent and he cruised through the DSL that summer before making his way stateside in 2025. There, he had similarly little trouble with the complex and the Florida State League, by late summer earning a promotion to a somewhat more age appropriate league with A+ Vancouver. Overall last season, he pitched 86.2 innings across the three levels, with an 82:23 strikeout to walk ratio and a 2.28 ERA.

Hechavarria looks the part of a starting pitcher, standing 6’4” and weighing 200lbs. He has a fairly short and tall delivery, releasing from a high three quarters arm slot to generate downward plane. The velocity on his fastballs varies from 89-97, mostly averaging 93-94. He mostly throws a four seamer, which has solid carry and above average arm side run, mixing in a sinker that’s got plus run and a little drop. Overall they look like solid average pitches.

His best pitch, and the most commonly thrown if you separate the fastballs, is a cutter-y slider in the upper 80s that projects as above average. He rounds out the arsenal with a change-up with splitter style movement that is his least refined offering but that flashes as a second 55 grade weapon.

It’s not the prettiest delivery, but Hechavarria has a loose athleticism and he repeats it well, with command of all four offerings that’s probably MLB average right now and has a chance to get to plus. The overall package is a potential #4 starter who lacks a true dominating out pitch but who gets through a lot of innings with a deep repertoire and by limiting base runners. 2026 will be about continuing to stretch out his workload after his year off while defecting and seeing how well his stuff plays against upper minors bats.

15. Blaine Bullard, OF, Age 19 (DOB: 8/16/2006), Grade 40, 2025: High School

Acquiring Bullard was a combination of luck and smart negotiating for the Jays. He was a big riser later in the 2025 draft process, with teams believing he was a top three round pick on talent. The word was that his commitment to attend Texas A&M was firm, though, and teams didn’t want to risk forfeiting top 10 round bonus pool money if he proved un-signable. The jays had managed to save up some money, though, and were in a position to dare him to turn down $1.7 million in the 12th round. It proved irresistible, and they got their player.

What they got for their money is a 70 grade athlete who has sky high upside but also remaining work to refine his game. Bullard is a switch hitter, although his left handed swing is by far the more polished of the two right now. He has the twitchiness and hand eye coordination scouts look for in future above average contact hitters, but he has some work to do to get to breaking balls. His approach is reported to be solid. He doesn’t have much present power, and while there’s room for him to add muscle on his frame he’ll probably always have below average raw. Combined with a swing that’s more geared for line drives, he looks more like an average/OBP type than a slugger. He’s a plus runner, and he looks to be an above average centre fielder who can do some damage on the bases.

The most likely outcome is a slap and dash fourth outfielder, but even a little power development and he has the potential to be a leadoff hitting, plus glove every day centre fielder.

14. Victor Arias, C, Age 22 (DOB: 8/24/2003), Grade 40, 2025: 24th

Arias is a long time Jays farmhand, having signed back in August of 2019 out of his native Venezuela. After the scrubbed 2020 minor league season, he climbed the ladder slowly, spending two full years in the Dominican Summer League, one at the complex, and another at A Dunedin. Throughout, he consistently posted solid batting lines, balancing strong walk rates with tolerable strikeouts and a modicum of power. Things finally accelerated a bit in 2025, as he got his first extended run at A+ Vancouver (after a late cup of coffee in 2024), continued to produce, and earned a bump to AA New Hampshire for the last 36 games of the season. He scuffled a bit at the top level, but overall slashed .272/.353/.403 on the season, racking up 33 extra base hits in 102 games and swiping 18 bags in 23 tries.

Another diminutive Jays prospect with surprising power, Arias stands 5’9” and is listed at 175lbs, but this season he saw a jump in his raw power and now posts above average to plus exit velocities. His 54% hard hit rate was the best in the system. His swing produces a lot of ground balls, which limits his over the fence power production, but he hits his hardest balls in the air and a tweak could unlock above average home run production. He has fringe average contact ability and plate discipline, but again there are flashes of an average hit tool.

He’s a plus runner, sometimes recording 70 grade home to first times, with an above average arm. His routes in centre field need refinement, so right now he’s a fringe average defender there in spite of his tools.

The story with Arias is a player with uncommon upside for a 22 year old five seasons and six years into his pro career, who’s held his own in the mid minors already. If the adjustments don’t come, he profiles as a fifth outfielder/pinch run specialist. Fully unlocking his tools would require multiple significant adjustments, but if he were to pull it off the ceiling would be high.

13. Yohendrick Pinango, Age 23 (DOB: 5/7/2002), Grade 40, 2025: NR

The return for Nate Pearson at the 2024 deadline didn’t look like much at the time. Pinango signed with the Cubs out of Venezuela in 2018, and while he lit up the DSL the next summer he was pretty unremarkable over the three minor league seasons following the pandemic. A torrid first month of the 2024 season at A+ popped him onto the radar and probably lead to the trade. He bombed in his first 33 games in the Jays system, posting a .518 OPS at AA New Hampshire. It all came together in 2025, though. Pinango torched the Eastern league to the tune of .298/.406/.522, earning a promotion to AAA Buffalo. He cooled down there, but still posted a roughly average line with lots of walks, solid K numbers, and some pop.

Pinango has always been a solid contact hitter, but his breakout was fueled by trading an aggressive approach for a very selective one. He now watches more strikes than would be ideal, but he rarely chases and waits on pitches he can hammer. As for the hammering part, his max exit velocity in Buffalo was over 115mph. Only 30 major leaguers last year could say the same. his 91.9mph average exit velocity and 47.6% hard hit rate were both comfortably plus. The lone offensive knock on him is that while he hits enough fly balls, his best power comes a low angles, producing line drives and hard grounders instead of home runs. If he can fix that, he could be a cleanup calibre hitter, and even if he can’t the combination of patience, contact and strength is enough for a viable offensive profile.

There’s a lot of pressure on the bat, as Pinango is a below average runner whose ugly routes and iffy arm make him a liability even in left field. If it comes together offensively he can be a regular regardless, but anything short and he’s likely a bench bat or not an MLB player.

Serie A giants Inter Milan are reportedly looking to tie star wingback Carlos Augusto down to a new long-term contract.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, negotiations are on hold as the player ‘took time’ to assess his options.

Though the Nerazzurri are ready to offload several defenders this summer, Carlos Augusto is not part of that group.

Indeed, the former Monza star has been reliable ever since joining the club in the summer of 2023.

However, he has not always been Cristian Chivu’s first option this season, making just 13 Serie A starts so far.

Inter Milan Looking to Renew Carlos Augusto Contract

Augusto’s versatility allows him to cover multiple positions at the back.

Though he is primarily a left-back, the 27-year-old has often excelled as a center-back in the absence of Alessandro Bastoni.

With the Italian’s future at San Siro hanging by a thread, Inter are keen to secure Augusto’s services for the long term.

However, the player has taken time to evaluate his current situation, said the report.

Augusto’s current deal runs until 2028, so there’s no immediate urgency to rush into a renewal.

Still, Inter would ideally sort out Augusto’s future sooner rather than later to avoid any uncertainty going into the summer.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced it signed five-year veteran guard Kayode Awosika on Wednesday. Awosika is joining Los Angeles after spending the last four seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions.

Before playing with the Lions, Awosika signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 as an undrafted free agent out of the University at Buffalo. He played the first season of his NFL career with the Eagles then the Lions signed him off Philadelphia’s practice squad in 2022.

With the Lions, Awosika contributed to one of best offenses in the NFL. He helped three different running backs (Jamaal Williams in 2022, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023) rush 1,000 yards or more in a season and allowed quarterback Jared Goff to throw for at least 4,000 yards in each season.

Throughout five seasons in the NFL, Awosika has made 50 career appearances and 11 starts. He has also played in four playoff games and started in the Lions’ NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2023 season.

Awosika is expected to compete with Trevor Penning for the starting left guard spot during training camp.

How Have the Chargers Bolstered the Offensive Line This Offseason?

In addition to signing Awosika, the Chargers signed former Miami Dolphins guard Cole Strange and former Washington Commanders center Tyler Biadasz this offseason.

Los Angeles will also be getting Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back from injuries next season. Slater missed the entire 2025 season with a ruptured patellar tendon he suffered in training camp. Meanwhile, Alt missed multiple games with a high ankle sprain before ultimately sustaining a season-ending ankle sprain in Week 9.

The offensive line was a big weakness for the Chargers last season. But with the new additions and return of key players, Los Angeles is hopeful that the offensive line will be stronger in 2026.

Photo Credit: David Reginek

When the Colorado Avalanche shook the foundation of their core by trading Mikko Rantanen for Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and picks, we should have felt a sense of de ja vu, but we didn’t. Intuition lost on many Avalanche fans and reporters alike (myself included).

The Rantanen deal wasn’t the first time we’ve seen a team trade a superstar and attempt to “make up for it in the aggregate,” as Chris MacFarland famously said following the deal.

This management philosophy really started with the trade of Nomar Garciaparra by General Manager Theo Epstein, who, armed with analytics and a plush pocketbook, used analytics and ‘team-building’ methodology to reverse The Curse of the Great Bambino finally.

The idea that leveraging a beloved superstar for multiple undervalued isn’t new around here. The Lindros trade, the Duchene deal, and now the Rantanen trade.

What’s different this time around?

The Avalanche might have landed a player much closer to the capabilities and level of production that they sent on as Martin Necas sits just 12 points shy of 100 on the season, a marker that stands as a true line in the sand between really good and superstar. That reality could effectively frame the deal as a superstar swap with a Jack Drury sweater.

The question now becomes, can he do it?

Enough Runway?

First, we must consider if there’s still enough runway for Marty’s 100-point season to take flight. With Necas currently finding his cruising altitude at ~1.31 PPG and 12 games to get 12 points, it’s not unreasonable to wonder if he does it with a game or two to spare. Add to that Marty has 7 points in his last three appearances, and I think we can make a strong case for optimism.

A more detailed look at the competition reveals even more evidence. Necas has historically (full career) scored a career average of 0.77 points per game against the teams left on the schedule. When you filter for Necas’ more recent years, he’s clipping at a more impressive ~1.05 points per game against teams on the remaining schedule.

The Avalanche will get the Stars one last time before season’s end, and Necas has 7 points in the three meetings so far this season, and 11 points over the last three seasons’ worth of matchups. He has made minced meat of the Kraken as well, the last few seasons, with 11 points in those six meetings. Guess who he logged his 30th goal of the season against?

The numbers are on Necas’s side, but he’ll have to see them through in a time frame when his Avalanche squad is trying to solidify itself as regular-season and Central Division Champs.

SPIN THAT WHEEL!

Martin Necas has had a multiple-point night 28 times this season. That means Necas has had a multi-point game in roughly 42% of the games he’s played in. In the spirit of visiting Vegas during this final stretch run, let’s call multi-point games a ‘bonus.‘

Say Marty slightly deviates negatively from that trend and only has a multi-point night every third game, Necas should hit the bonus four times before the year’s end.

Now we spin the wheel for the Mini, Minor, or Grand Prize.

The Mini prize is just the two-point night.

Necas has scored three or more points in a single game nine times this season, with three of such occasions coming against Vegas and Dallas, so let’s call that the Minor Prize.

For the Grand Prize, we set aside the elusive but achievable (and achieved against Dallas) four-point night, which Necas has realized twice this season, as recently as the beginning of March.

Triggering the ‘bonus’ will prove paramount for Necas’ quest to 100 points, and depending on the level of the prize, the mark could be reached sooner than we even anticipate.

Martin Necas isn’t just a part of the Mikko Rantanen deal. He could be a 40-goal-scoring and 100-point-getting winger in 2025-26.

He’s looking like he could be a bona fide superstar.

Do you think Necas will hit 100 points this season?

Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes remains under contract until 2028, but discussions for a new deal might be around the corner—if he’s not outright sold to Manchester United or Real Madrid, as widely reported, this summer.

According to Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder, however, Bruno’s contract talks will not focus on the Brazil international becoming the club’s top earner, as that’s not what the midfielder has in mind, nor will he push for it if he signs a new deal with the Magpies.

Ryder reported that Bruno and his representatives are focused on securing a deal that suits the player, rather than specifically targeting the highest salary at St James’ Park.

“It is thought that Bruno and his representatives are only keen to discuss a deal that suits their client, and he will negotiate on his own terms, suggesting that becoming the highest-paid player won’t be a motivation during talks,” Ryder wrote.

Bruno’s current contract arrangement has remained unchanged since his 2023 extension, which still has two years left to run. However, the report notes that since that deal was agreed, other players, such as forward Nick Woltemade, have climbed higher on the club’s top earners list, placing them above Bruno in the salary ranks.

Ryder made it clear that some new signings have surpassed established players in terms of salary, raising questions about Newcastle’s wage structure, and that could lead to trouble in Tyneside—seemingly not when it comes to Bruno, though.

It remains unclear which players signed for big-money deals, and whether or not the likes of Anthony Gordon or Sandro Tonali are part of that Woltemade-led group of big earners.

At the end of the day, it seems like the broader concern, according to Ryder’s report, is that failing to qualify for any European competition by the end of the season is what will inevitably influence future negotiations with current players and force Newcastle’s hand into sanctioning sales if they don’t want to find themselves in another Isak-like situation this summer.

Indiana men’s basketball’s first season under Darian DeVries came to an end when the Hoosiers didn’t receive a bid for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers finished 18-14 overall and 9-11 in Big Ten play, with a late collapse ending their March Madness hopes.

We’ll be recapping and analyzing DeVries’ first season in a few different ways from individual players to other lineups and trends.

Tayton Conerway

• Final statline: 9.5 PTS, 3.3 AST, 2.8 REB
• Role: I honestly don’t know.

Stats provided by KenPom,BartTorvik or CBB Analytics.

Initially in the starting lineup beside fellow point guard, Conor Enright, Conerway brought athleticism and speed to Indiana’s backcourt that it desperately needed. Even by the end of the season, with his starting spot having been taken, Conerway ended with the second highest-usage rate on the team, behind only Lamar Wilkerson.

While Conerway dealt with some injuries that kept him out of a few games, he seemed to be on a shorter leash when he returned to the rotation. Over the last ten games of Indiana’s season, he saw more than 10 minutes just five times.

This limited role is hard to square with Conerway’s advanced analytics. Per BartTorvik, he had the fifth highest efficiency rating, scoring higher on defense than DeVries’ preferred point guard, Enright. He also had the highest assist rate on the team, beating out Enright by about 6%.

Given his production in limited minutes and the fact that he had a skillset that his teammates lacked, it’s hard to see why Conerway didn’t play more given everything we’re seeing.

Regardless, Conerway’s inability to stay on the floor cost Indiana. He wasn’t a perfect player, but Wilkerson was the only one on Indiana’s roster even approaching perfection, and everyone besides Conerway was allowed to play through their mistakes.

The Hoosiers had extremely slim margins of error down the stretch, and it hurt the team to not have his quick burst and passing ability in the offense. Once the Hoosiers fell a win or two short of the NCAA Tournament, Conerway’s role and minutes emerged as one of the bigger puzzles of the 2025-26 Indiana team.

ONE Championship has decided to shutter the entire women’s strawweight division including reigning champion Xiong Jing Nan, who has been released by the promotion.

Promotion officials confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Thursday following an initial report from the Bangkok Post.

The move officially eliminates the women’s strawweight division, though many of the top fighters from the weight class had already moved down to atomweight in recent years. In ONE, due to the organization’s weight-cutting rules, strawweight constitutes fighters competing at 125 pounds while atomweight sits at 115 pounds.

Xiong claimed the inaugural ONE women’s strawweight title back in 2018 and went onto defend the belt seven times. Her only loss in the promotion came back in 2019 when she dropped to atomweight and was submitted via rear-naked choke by then-ONE champion Angela Lee.

She had previously defeated Lee at strawweight and then beat her again in the rubber match in 2022, which served as Xiong’s final defense of the ONE title.

Xiong fought one more time under MMA rules in 2025 where she scored a win over Meng Bo via unanimous decision, but she failed to make weight for the fight.

Now the 38-year-old veteran is a free agent with ONE deciding to close the doors on her division.

In recent years, ONE has promoted less MMA fights while adding Muay Thai, kickboxing and grappling divisions to the roster. Former ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes also recently secured his release and is now scheduled to face Muhammad Mokaev at the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card on May 16.

Well, now that the dust has settled down, I thought it would be worth reflecting on what was a very disappointing day.

Let’s start with the squad and how it affected the match.

When one takes out Eze, Odegaard and Merino, then the creativity is gone, and there is no backup.

Despite this, the first half should have seen us at least one goal to the good, and we went into half-time the stronger of the two sides.

Two factors from those first forty-five minutes were:

1. The booking, which completely altered the way our LB played.

2. The inability of the referee to protect Saka from consistent fouls, one of which saw him being hauled down, manhandled and no foul given.

At half-time, it seemed sensible to make substitutions and counter City’s ploy of standing four men outside the penalty area, to stop us using our normal system of building up from the back.

Neither of these options happened, and it was inevitable that City would score. They outplayed us from the very first minute of the second half, controlled the midfield with impunity and deserved everything they got.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Out thought, Out manoeuvred

There is no doubt in my mind that Mikel was out-thought, outmanoeuvred, and reacted far too slowly to events on the field.

I have always been hesitant to agree that Pep is the best ever, as there have been many brilliant coaches/managers before him, but watching how he completely dominated the way the game was to be played out was, in all honesty, a revelation.

Mikel, for all his excellent work these last four years, is way behind Pep’s tactical brain, and the fact that no halftime changes were made is a simple example of that fact.

Any Positives

Were there any positives from our point of view?

The way we took care of Haaland, who hardly did anything, is one important positive.

Another is the way Ben White played and reacted – I made him our MOTM.

Our fans were incredible from outside Wembley right up until the 90-minute mark, when all was lost, and they started leaving.

The other negatives?

Reading the “I told you so” remarks regarding Kepa’s mistake. Is there any keeper who hasn’t?

The thought that the season has come to an end with this defeat, our fourth all season and despite leading the PL, quarter finals of the FA cup and last eight of the CL.

No excuses, we were beaten by the better team on the day, the better tactician and the lack of creativity when losing Eze, Odegaard and Merino.

Let’s hope we can get players back for the rest of the season, and I have this feeling that the action of some city players will be used as motivation when we play them in the PL.

ken1945

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Look, we know why you’re here: you want to know how to get your mitts on one of those souvenir ferry boats. Or maybe you want to have a cute date (gay panic voice: orisitadate?). Or maybe family is visiting and you’ve been tasked with entertaining everyone because you are the only one with a) executive functioning skills who b) everyone still speaks to. Read on, for we have planned some perfect scenarios for you for whatever you’re looking to get out of your visit to T-Mobile Park.

(Let’s get this out of the way early. Ferry Boat tips: Get to the park early on Opening Day. Like 2 PM early. Proceed directly to the concessions where they are sold – list here, we recommend sidewinder fries at section 329 if you care intensely about the boat and not so much about what goes in it and crab nachos at 187 if you care about taste and are independently wealthy. Step three: get your ferry boat and guard it with your life.)

General tips:

Getting there:

• If at all possible, do not drive. If it is a weekend game or a game against the Yankees or Red Sox, absolutely do not drive. Take light rail, the bus, walk on to a ferry, park and ride, bike, go by unicycle if you have to, but parking around the stadium is miserable and expensive and the only thing worse than the cost of getting into your parking spot is trying to leave it at the same time 30,000 other people are trying to do the exact same thing. If you have to drive, go as early as you can and check the side streets south of the stadium – Utah Street is a popular one. Also, in a pinch, you can park in the International District where rates are lower and walk over, cutting through the Lumen parking lot, and as a bonus get something yummy to eat on your way.
• If you’re part of the light rail horde, consider this. For northbound travelers, get on the southbound train, hop off at Sodo, then hop on the next northbound train. You’ll get a seat and avoid the crush. You can do the inverse for southbound travel. It’s not the most efficient, obviously, but it can be helpful if you really want to avoid the crush.
• King County Metro (a.ka. The light rail and all King County buses) now take credit card taps and Apple Pay! You do not need to buy a ticket, have an ORCA Card, or cash anymore! You can just show up and tap, and it lasts like a normal transfer (2 hours). And the dang 2-line train will be connected all season to boot starting Saturday. (JT)
• If the weather is tolerable and you’re an avid or even mediocre bike rider living somewhere in the greater Seattle area, I absolutely recommend riding your bike to a game. It’s glorious, honestly. And you get to taunt death a little bit on they way ducking cars and pedestrians who wander into bike paths. But, wear your helmet, use common sense, and you’ll make it in one piece. The best part besides getting some cardio? You can park your bike for free right in the very front of the TMO parking garage and just walk across the street to either the right field of home plate gate. I think they lock up the bike cage like an hour after the game ends, so you can’t just leave it there while you hit a bar or something, but if you hate traffic, paying for parking, and/or don’t like the sardine crush of the light rail going home, then riding a bike is truly a great choice. (ES)

Pregame:

• On a nice day, hitting up the beer garden at Hatback directly across the street is a great way to kill time while you’re waiting for gates to open. For danker days, Hooverville south of the stadium will serve you a city special, or next door you can grab a beer and some pizza over at Fast Fashion. Vinason, right next to the King 5 building, is your home for delicious pho or banh mis if you need to fuel up before the game.
• We are always advocates here for starting your game day experience in the International District for a variety of delicious food – dumplings at Dough Zone! Hood Famous! Crispy pork from Ton Kiang in a plastic clamshell you can bring into the park!
• Coming from the south, Hooverville and Fast Fashion all day. Coming from downtown, Collin’s Pub forever. (ES)

Boring details:

Remember the clear bag policy, don’t try to bring in metal water bottles, etc., don’t slow everyone down in the bag check line because you didn’t look at the rules. Make sure you don’t have aerosol sunscreen, that’s an annoying one to have taken away on a July day game.

Giveaway Day Guide:

• There’s really only one tip and it’s this: get there early. However early you think you need to be, add an hour. Media gates open for a 6:40 game at 1:30ish and it’s not uncommon for me to see people already lined up when I walk in on the really hot giveaway item days (Ichiro plaque, anything Cal-related). Bring someone with you to hold your place in line so one of you can go get coffee, pizza, whatever, bring a book, bring your patience.
• For regular giveaways, like the hydro socks or whatever, showing up around an hour early should be fine. As for which gates are stocked and which run out, it’s kind of a crapshoot, but the right field gate tends to be a little less busy. Terrace Club seems like it would be a sure thing because there’s a dedicated stock of giveaways for that, press club, suites, etc., but don’t get complacent; you still need to be there early, because they will run out of the good stuff by game time. Alternately, you could skip the hassle and pay the upcharge on eBay, but I’ve always enjoyed hunting my own food, speaking metaphorically and metaphorically only. (KP)
• Bobblehead nights can be tricky, but for the random Monday nights, I’ve had success at 6pm for a 6:40 start. I’ve never quite cracked the code for which gate to go to, from the special T-Mobile line in LF to the Terrace Club entrance. If it’s a big time special giveaways, as Kate mentioned above, I’d say two hours should be plenty. (GB)
• The center field gates are usually my go-to entrance for giveaways and non-giveaways alike, and the Stadium light rail station drops you off a five-minute walk away, though I’ve noticed in recent seasons the secret is out. I echo Kate’s sentiment of getting there early. (CD)

Family Outing:

• I cannot stress this enough: You can bring food into T-Mobile Park! Any food! From chipotle to full charcuterie; from Peeps to pho; avocado toast to arancini. Obviously, the stadium food is fun and good but there is also an abject joy to unpacking a full meal that cost less than two ballpark beers and doesn’t necessarily make your gut gurgle or feel like grease is oozing from your pores (IM)
• Plan for some extra time. It’s baseball. Even with the pitch clock, the game cannot be rushed and neither should you be. If you’ve got kiddos, the 3rd level behind home plate and down the third base line is a playground for youth and adults alike. There are batting cages, beautiful views, and space enough for energetic youths to have a catch or simply frolic. (JT)
• The elevators behind home plate are there for a reason. If you’ve got folks with impaired mobility, give them a break. It’s how Dipoto and Hollander get around, you never know who you might meet! (JT)
• For anyone who hasn’t been to a game before, stop by the guest services desk on the main level and get a “my first game” certificate. It’s a free, adorable memento that’s fun for kids and grown folks alike. (KP)
• The child play area in center field gets full and overwhelming quickly on busy days; the play area on the 300 level over the home plate gate allows for more runaround room, but for the best tire-them-out-so-they’ll-sleep running, hit up the ramps behind right field, where your tiny terrors can run from the 100 level to the 300 level as long as their legs will hold with minimal interruption. (KP)
• With two kids between 5 to 9 years old, I recommend sitting either in the LF bleachers or up in the 300s closer to the foul poles on either side just because it’s usually less crammed and the kids can move around a bit in your row without pissing off some childless person with no empathy. Also, just prepare to hand the Mariners your credit card on the way in, close out on your way out. Don’t forget or you’ll have to do a walk of shame the next morning. (Taking a family of 4 to games is way too expensive now) (ES)

Date Night:

• For a first date: Don’t. Okay, okay, okay, maybe this isn’t universally true – especially with the pitch clock – but do still proceed with caution. They could be a batting average person. They could believe that Barry Bonds doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame. They could like the Yankees! It’s dangerous out there. (IM)
• For something more than a first date: 
  • Get two separate trays of garlic fries. Don’t fall for “we’ll split it.” You’re always gonna want more than they leave you and after they see you scoop the leftover garlic into your mouth like Oliver Twist you won’t be able to look them in the eye. Get two separate trays so you can both quietly go feral next to each other. That’s romantic in a way.[JP]
  • Try to plan around a wearable giveaway that way you can wear little matching outfits. Shirts/jackets are ideal for this but hats work too. [JP]

• Date Night, Gay Panic! Edition: Basically the same as above, but you must resist the urge to screenshot every message you exchange with the person and poll your friends “is this flirting y/n”. Don’t get popcorn (salty sheen on lips, stuck in teeth); get the $3 Red Rope (fun, eat Lady-and-the-Tramp style if feeling frisky). Stick to the 300 level, where it’s a little easier to hear each other and store away all those comments you’ll want to dissect later on. Important: do not do this in the moment! Watch the baseball. Ask what their favorite building in the skyline is. Around the fifth, suggest a stroll on the little faux boardwalk that got plucked out of a Regency novel and put in T-Mobile Park for exactly this purpose. Look at the water. Look at the buildings. Look at the person. Breathe. You’ve got this. (KP)

Work Outing:

• Pregaming is so important for this one. Find your most fun coworker, sneak out of the office early, and hit up either the Central Saloon or Merchant’s Café in Pioneer Square for some pregame drinks and Seattle history, since statistically speaking your coworker is probably not from Seattle. The Central is excellent if your coworker is enamored with stories of Seattle’s early grunge days; Merchant’s has an amazing downstairs that reportedly a) used to be a brothel and b) is haunted. Pass some time gossiping about office drama and drinking in Seattle history (literally and figuratively). The work-friendly sober alternative: hit up Hood Famous in the ID first and get fun coffee drinks and walk over to the stadium together from there; the gossiping is non-negotiable.
• If you’re a Baseball Person, and you are because you’re reading literally this website, this is your chance to shine. You’ve been training for this your whole life. Don’t dominate the conversation, but fill in the blanks for your less baseball-savvy coworkers: provide fun context about players, explain rules when prompted, direct people’s attention at certain key moments. Remember: be a tour guide, not a textbook. (KP)
• Hood Famous rules, get yourself an ubbe latte and a cookie. Honestly throw a rock in the CID and you’ll hit a lovely restaurant or cafe to get a pre-game meal or snack (do not actually throw a rock, obviously). (ES)

A sleepy, gray Tuesday night against the A’s with your person (romantic or platonic or something vaguely and distressingly in between): 

• It’s gonna be cold, so I recommend either the curry katsu or the Ivar’s clam chowder. Nothing like cupping a bowl of chowder in both hands while wearing fingerless gloves to welcome the return of baseball. Also don’t sit on the first base side in the 300 level on cold nights because the wind whips around in there and will give you a nasty chill. (JP)
• This is your person, and the ballpark is empty. Have no fear and get the garlic fries, or the most grease-laden slice of pizza (all of them, it’s all of them), indulge in the specific joy of food attentively made when the lines are short and getting to enjoy it with someone you’re not afraid will judge you for an oil stain on the front of your shirt. Also, sit somewhere nice. Life is short, there’s really not that much difference between paying fifteen dollars for a 300 level seat and thirty dollars for the comfort of Terrace Club. (KP)

Baseballin’ on a budget:

• Purchase the cheapest tickets you can find on the resale site of your choice (I’ve liked GameTime, but we’re beefing right now so I don’t fully endorse). Think: A Monday night against the White Sox. No giveaways, no bells, no whistles. Bonus if the weather is godawful.
• If you’re a nerd like me (and you ARE reading this site), keep score! Especially if you’re going by yourself keeping score can be a fun way to create a little memento of the game. People around you will think you’re very cool and will ask stuff like “was that a fly out or a line out” and “oh man Logan is dealing! How many strikeouts is that” and you’ll have the answer. Keep score, and you can always have the answers. (JP)
• Bus/train and walk over to Cone & Steiner. I’m loath to tell more people about this spot, but I love y’all (and am burying it in the middle of this tome). It’s a bougie general store, with an assortment of snacks and grab and go food. They have a reasonable beer/wine tap list with a happy hour that runs regardless of whether it’s a game day, and they also have a nice selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic goodies that you can purchase and open there. Get a beverage of your choosing and chatter away about roster construction in the relative quiet. Bonus if you get a bag of Tim’s to add to the mix too – then it’s like your very own aperitivo hour!
  • @ Mariners: If you’re reading this, please know that I would immediately and enthusiastically buy tickets for a Team Italia Night, particularly if it came with a pregame aperitivo hour. Aperol Spritz and some salty snacks on the Trident Deck? [Ryan] Bliss. (IM)
• There are two spots for 8 dollar pints, or at least there were last year. The first is tucked away in the Mariners Hall of Fame on the main concourse. The second is on the 300 level, in the green cargo container behind the batting cages directly above the home plate entrance. Take a sip and peer out at the cranes in the dockyard. They offer a lager, a pilsner, and for all you hops freaks they got an IPA. (JP)
• Eat before you go, pregame at happy hour – if you do the one in the ‘pen, at least buy two beers at once so you’re maximizing your time, and get the good beers at the bar by where ROOT Sports used to be where the lines are shorter – and bring in your own snacks. If you have to buy a snack, the Value Menu offerings will scratch that itch but not fill you up (unless you get the hot dog, but one can only eat so many hot dogs); the mindless carbs of the soft pretzel is the cheapest way to do that. (KP)

When your friend is visiting from out of town and they don’t really care about baseball but it’s a perfect Tuesday evening in July and tickets are $12:

• First of all, great call. Get seats in the 300 level of the first base line (or just buy get-in-the-door tickets and seat yourself there once you’re in) and take in one of the most beautiful views Seattle has to offer. 
• Get some food and happy hour drinks wherever your home base is, as that will be cheaper and likely better than whatever is around the stadium. Then bus/train in so that you arrive 3-20 minutes after first pitch and walk right in. On the ride, share a curated assortment of Mariners information with them, depending on what they’re drawn to. It’s important to have rooting interests, even (especially!) if they’re not about the wins and losses.
• Upon entering the stadium, you’re going to walk the 100 level concourse until you reach one of two things: First Base Vine or that one beer stand back by the Mariners history display that sells all the value beers. Depending on your visitor, you either double up on the Bale Breaker and/or Métier or you buy a bottle of middling Chateau Ste Michelle that becomes infinitely more palatable in its plastic Mariners carafe. Take the super escalator by First Base Vine to the 300 level.
• Having literally never had the ferry boat concession giveaway, I feel like it’s a must-have with visitors who don’t know baseball. Embrace your inner Derek Shepherd! (GB)
• Before going to “your” seats, detour to the panoramic overlook that looks out on the Sound and ferries. Take at least one photograph of your visitor in the ever-flattering PNW summer evening light.
• Proceed to seats – the further from other people, the more it feels like a private event. By now it’s the third inning, which does not matter at all, but you will still be in time to see the Salmon Run, which does matter to your visitor.
• Watch the sun set over the skyline, toast your visitor, cheer/heckle/yell as the spirit moves you (IM)
• If you’re in West Seattle, suck it up and take the water taxi there or home, vastly impractical as a mode of transport but so, so picturesque. I saw salmon literally leaping out of the water on one crossing. (I am pretty sure. Do not fact check me.) (KP)
• $12 tickets??? When and where? (ES)

If you want to eat the best food possible while avoiding mid-game concourse time:

• Get to Moto Pizza well before first pitch. If you head up into the nether regions of right field, you’ll find the trendiest pizza place for miles. Moto may be pricey, but it’s certainly worth trying and I know I’ll find myself there multiple times this season. The lines tend to be crazy about 30 minutes ‘til first pitch all the way through the third inning or so, and even then it’s a bit dicey. I’ve had success going there first thing when I enter, and mid-game; as long as you prepare yourself mentally for long lines, you’ll never be disappointed. (GB)
• What Grant said, but with Tamari Bar instead. (KP)
• Okay I lied. The onigiri or Trident Roll in the Walk-Off Market is really the fastest, best food you can get during a game. If the lines at these other places are nuts, try there. (KP)
• I also back Moto Pizza if you are there somewhat early. It’s worth the wait and money because it’s a ton of pizza and you won’t feel the need to eat anything else while you’re there. (ES)

What are your best T-Mobile Park scenarios? Share them in the comments below, and happy Opening Day to all who celebrate

Craig Carton has gone hard at Puka Nacua after fresh legal allegations brought the Rams star back into the spotlight, with the radio host framing the issue as bigger than one off-field mistake.

The case is sensitive and still unresolved, but it has reignited scrutiny around Nacua because the new claims arrived not long after a separate anti-Semitism-related controversy.

That wider context is what turned Carton’s reaction from criticism into a full-scale rant. It also means the story is no longer being judged in isolation.

Craig Carton unloads on Puka Nacua after fresh legal allegations

Carton delivered the rant while reacting to the new accusations surrounding Puka Nacua.

“If you uttered the words, ‘I hate all effing Jews,’ and there’s a witness to it, and you bit the witness, you got yourself a problem.

“Now, can you have a career? Yes you can. Can a team hire you? Yes, they can,” Carton said.

Carton’s point was not framed around whether Nacua can still play in the NFL. It was about how serious the allegations would be if proven, especially given the nature of the language involved and the physical accusation attached to it.

That is why the reaction landed with such force, because the claim touches both conduct and antisemitism at the same time.

Puka Nacua’s antisemitism scrutiny grew after a livestream apology and now faces fresh allegations

Nacua is currently facing civil allegations from Madison Atiabi, who accuses him of making an antisemitic remark during a New Year’s Eve outing and later biting her shoulder; Nacua’s attorney has denied the allegations, called them false, and said he intends to countersue for defamation.

A judge also temporarily denied Atiabi’s restraining-order request pending a later hearing, which means the underlying claims remain disputed and unresolved.

“Will the NFL suspend you? Maybe, maybe not. They may not get involved at all. But he’s also a dingbat. He’s a dumb jock. That’s all he is, and now he might be anti-semitic too,” Carton further stated.

The allegations also land in the shadow of a separate December 2025 controversy, when Nacua apologized after performing what he described as an antisemitic gesture on a livestream and said he “had no idea” what it meant.

That earlier episode is part of why this latest case has been judged so harshly in public, even though the current legal claims are still contested.

Read more:

This is a syndicated version of this story, originally featured on the BBC Sport website.

After a fourth defeat in a row, Liam Rosenior said that this international break had arrived at a good time for his players. It’s easy to see why.

The group look exhausted, bereft of confidence and reeling like a punch drunk boxer. They can’t get any worse, so a brief pause can only do them good.

Even the most reliable players in the team are at their limit or beyond it – Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah injured, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez totally physically spent, Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer struggling for anything their usual influence in games.

The two weeks to take a breath should help, but there are downsides too. The rising wave of criticism of Rosenior reached a frenzy after the capitulation against Everton on Saturday, and it now has a fortnight to soak in. It’s a football truism that you want to go into these international windows on a high – going into them after four damaging defeats with largely terrible performances is a disaster.

Rosenior and staff may struggle for quick fixes in two week break

Following the Everton game, the manager spoke about how he and his staff would be spending the time without games working on analysing what’s gone wrong. That’s all well and good – the problem is that it feels likely that their conclusions about the problems this team has are going to need solutions far bigger than those they can provide in a short period.

They can’t fix the fact they have two bad goalkeepers, no elite central defenders, an exhausted midfield and an erratic attack in a few training sessions next week. Nor can they undo years of misguided squad building. They might think up some tweaks that helps the team improve, but it will likely be too little, too late for Champions League qualification in any case.

A season that started with real promise has quickly turned as sour as any in recent memory.

Will Faulks @willfaulks

It’s one week after the Olympics when I chat with Madison Chock and Evan Bates. In a time where most athletes would slow down, look back at their journey, and figure out their next steps, the husband and wife ice dance duo are ramping things up. They tell me that they have a premiere later that night, followed by some other NYC stops before they head to L.A. for the Oscars. After that, they’re taking a quick trip to Japan where they’ll perform on the Stars on Ice Tour before returning to the States to travel around the country for the U.S. version of the tour. It’s not their first time getting to do all of this. With this being their fourth Olympics together, they’re total pros. But there’s certainly an extra set of eyes on them—and the sport of figure skating—after the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.

Before the current season even started, Madison and Evan were considered the favorites to win it all. However, a surprise came in March 2025, when France’s Guillaume Cizeron announced a new partnership with Canada’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry, setting up an obvious rivalry. (There’s also additional controversy surrounding the partnership due to their individual relationships with their former partners. Guillaume won gold in the 2022 Olympics with a different partner.)

After the team portion of the figure skating competition was complete (Team USA took gold), the two duos faced off in the individual discipline portion. Shockwaves shook more than just the figure skating world when Madison and Evan were scored eight points lower by a French judge in the free dance than Laurence and Guillaume, who placed first despite very obvious mistakes. Madison and Evan would win the silver medal, but it felt like the whole world was asking for an investigation. There was even hope for a rematch between the two teams before the season’s official end.

It won’t happen at the World Figure Skating Championships, which is taking place this weekend in Prague. The husband and wife duo posted on Instagram after their final Olympic skate with a statement writing, “We left it all on the ice in Milan. Our season feels complete with those four performances where we delivered our best.”

Off the ice, the couple have also made very distinct moves in recent years. Evan was voted by Team USA as the male flag bearer at the closing ceremonies for the 2026 Olympics, an honor for the skater, who has also become a mentor and leader for his fellow athletes over the years. Madison has been creating costumes not only for herself and her husband but also for other teams, including some of her own competitors.

It all feels like a natural and poignant stopping point for the three-time World champions, three-time Grand Prix Final champions, four-time Four Continents champions, and nine-time Grand Prix gold medalists. Oh, and they also won U.S. Nationals a record-breaking seven times.

But that doesn’t mean the questions have stopped: What are they doing next? Are they retiring? Is this the end of “Bock” as we know it?

Madison Chock and Evan Bates reveal to Cosmopolitan their hopes for the future, why it isn’t the last time you’ll see them at the rink, and the secret behind their relationship both on and off the ice.

We have to start with the very obvious question. You haven’t used the word “retirement,” so what is the future looking like for Chock and Bates?

Madison: I don’t think retirement is the word, because we’re definitely still gonna continue and be involved in skating. I think maybe we’re just transitioning to a different phase of our skating career. We decided to pull out of Worlds. We were really happy with how we performed at the Olympics and wanted to leave on that feeling. It felt like we had our four greatest performances at the Olympics, and we feel just complete with that experience.

What has it been like to navigate this experience because to me, as a fan who follows the sport every single year, it does become this phenomenon every Olympic year?

Evan: I think the mindset around the increased attention is just gratitude for interest in what we do. We put so much work into those four minutes on the ice, and knowing that there are future Olympians watching—little kids at home who maybe have never skated—that might see and connect with us and want to try skating or want to get into their own journey is really inspiring. I remember being a kid and watching the Olympics and hoping one day to be there. So I think that’s the magic of it. It unites the world and inspires the next generation.

There was a lot of talk online after the ice dance event of hopefully getting an investigation going after you came in silver. What was it like to hear all that support for you as a team?

Evan: Certainly the support was incredible. We were disappointed, honestly, in one regard, and that was about the result, but we were so fulfilled with the performance and with everything that we did leading up to it. When you attach yourself so much to the outcome, and then the outcome doesn’t go your way, it can be devastating. We’ve worked really hard to distance ourselves from the identity of ourselves only as figure skaters.

Based on what we heard from so many people, that resonated also, and I think there’s a real silver lining in the inspiration and example that you can set for other people in difficult, challenging times. I hesitate to say difficult times because we won a silver medal at the Olympic Games. That is something that we are so proud of and we shouldn’t overlook or downplay the magnitude of that accomplishment. We’re super proud. Three-time Olympic medalists. The way we skated, that is the biggest victory of all. We couldn’t have asked for more. And that also played into the decision to want to finish this season on that note.

Does it feel like because so many fans just tune in during the Olympics, some of your other accolades get erased sometimes?

Madison: Certainly for many people in the sport, and die-hard fans, nothing is really erased, but that’s just the nature of sport. It’s so fleeting. There’s always going to be that next young athlete coming up, that next young team. We’re really fortunate to have had the longevity that we’ve had. But people will move on to the next exciting skater and I hope that they do, because that’s what keeps the sport alive. So we’ll be right there cheering with everyone else for those young athletes coming up.

Evan: Even if we had won double gold, it goes away. People move on. We move on. Skating isn’t going to last forever, obviously. And now we’re going to take it and apply it to whatever’s next.

I do want to go back to the team event because—remembering what happened back in the 2022 Olympic Games with the Russian doping scandal and having to wait until 2024 to get your gold medals—it was a highlight getting to see you receive those medals as any other athlete would.

Madison: I think that event in particular, too, will go down in history as one of the most exciting. We’ve done a lot of team events before, and it’s never come down to the wire like that: just one point separating gold and silver. It all came down to the last few performances. I felt like we were living a movie. Japan just brought their A-game, and we had to just bring our A-plus game. I was so proud of everybody.

Evan: It really was a true team effort and a team event in every sense of the word. Every performance mattered, every point mattered. It was thrilling.

And Evan, for you, getting to cap that all off with being the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies, which is not only voted on by your fellow Olympians, but also feels very poignant considering how much you also have advocated for your fellow skaters over the years.

Evan: That was such an incredible honor. I was not expecting that. It’s hard to put into words kind of what that means. Madi and I both just value being good people and treating others well. We’ve learned through sport the kind of character that we want to uphold and what we want to represent. It’s a natural extension to take people under our wings, to see these young skaters who, frankly, we love. They keep the world so fresh.

I remember my first Olympics, the older skaters who I looked up to being nice to me, hanging out with me, and making me feel welcomed. I’ll never forget that. I think that’s where it started. I want to pay it forward and treat other people well. Even if we’re not in the Olympics in four years, we’ll be there cheering everybody on and will always continue to be part of this community.

Madi, you’ve also gotten to flex your other skills with your costume designs this season. I feel like you’re giving Lisa McKinnon a run for her money.

Madison: Thank you! I love it! The creative process, especially for costumes, is my favorite time of the season. I love diving into our story or other skater stories, and working together in collaboration to come up with something that will make them feel good. I think that’s so important to look your best and feel your best, so that’s my goal: to encapsulate the story that they’re going for and the essence of who they are as a person, so they feel comfortable and confident when they take the ice.

In ice dance, it’s really funny because people are always trying to guess everyone’s dating history with one another.

Evan: I love that people are like,We need to know if they’re dating, married, or divorced or exes.

Yes, and y’all have stood the test of time together as both ice dance partners and romantic partners. What is the secret?

Evan: I think just liking each other. Spending so much time together and always still enjoying each other’s company. The fact that we are very different people is helpful to us. We always have had a lot of contrast on the ice and then off the ice as well, in different interests, points of view. That’s what makes us unique and special as a team. I wouldn’t want it any other way than to be with somebody who challenges me. I think we’ve really rubbed off on each other pretty nicely.

Madison: I think we both also share that growth mindset. When we approach anything, it’s with the intention of how can we be better people, better partners and we share the love of just growing together. That’s a really strong foundation for any relationship.

You are such incredible storytellers on the ice. From your Daft Punk program from the 2022 Olympics to your Snake Charmer program from the 2019–2020 season, you really go deep into story and theme. Can you dive a bit into that creative process?

Evan: The creativity is maybe our favorite part, you know, coming together at the beginning of the season and having autonomy and creative choice over what we want to do. Ultimately, I think that’s the greatest gift that we’ve been given by our coaches and our creative team over the last eight years or so, and I think, I hope, I wish that for all young artists is to take control of your art and find your voice and the ability to express yourself through your medium. I think that is what we love, and the fact that we get to do it with each other and that we love each other and what we do…it just multiplies it and makes it even more special.

Madison: I don’t think there’s any other competitive sport in the world that you can really have that type of ownership, creativity, and storytelling in an athletic performance. That’s what’s so special about skating, and what really draws people in is that artistic side, the creation. You see people putting their heart and soul into their program and picking something, hopefully, that’s really true to who they are.

Madi, you’ve also been a huge part of this recent rise in women who are unafraid of showing how skating can be hot. We saw it with Ashley Wagner and now we’re seeing it with you. It’s very refreshing to see.

Madison: I feel so empowered by figure skating. There’s nothing better than the feeling of gliding across the ice and being in the hands of my partner and it being my husband allows for so much freedom and self-expression as a performer. When the music comes on, it’s really fun to just slip into that role and be whatever character the music calls for. Skating can be traditional and beautiful, but there’s also a rawness to it. It’s fun to let that shine through and not try to be so perfect every time. When you let go, there’s more room to play, more freedom. And with that comes a sensuality, a confidence and I’m feeling so in my zone. I have no inhibitions.

There is a joke going around that fewer teams will be participating next year as it will be the first time in six years that the rhythm dance is going back to an actual rhythm pattern: the golden waltz. Did you have a preference between the general themes of the past few years to the dance patterns?

Evan: I think the challenge is it can be really hard to be creative when the technical rules are really demanding, especially in a rhythm dance. It’s just jam-packed with elements, and you might have just a few seconds to connect things together. It becomes just a really technical program. I get it. It’s a sport, and we need those kinds of criteria to establish the fact that we’re a sport and not just a show. But the creativity is the most beautiful thing about figure skating and ice dance in particular.

You also have those programs that feel like watching a different team, especially with your exhibitions that are much more in the moment.

Madison: When we have the freedom that an exhibition program gives us, it’s really more open, and it’s about the performance, and the emotions and the feeling that you create on the ice.

You’re gearing up for Stars on Ice right now. It does feel significantly different this time thanks to a new hype around figure skating.

Madison: I agree, and it’s so exciting. I think skaters have long awaited this renaissance of figure skating to come about, and I’m so happy that it that it has, because there’s so much talent right now. Especially within Team USA, this is probably one of the best teams that we’ve ever had, as far as accolades and individuality, creativity, personality. That’s why our our sport is thriving so much. There are a lot of skaters just truly being their authentic selves when they step on the ice and feel that freedom. That energy is contagious.

Evan: I think it’s also going to be a celebration. That post-Olympics tour is always a huge release from all the stress and the pressure that every skater is under during that quad and building up to that Olympic moment. It really does take so much of your mental, physical, emotional bandwidth to really execute it and do it. And Team USA was great and came through strong. I know it was a roller coaster. It was hard to watch some performances. Some performances were storybook. Coming together, we’re going to do almost 30 shows and going to be on a tour bus together. We’re going to get lots of times to bond and just spend time together and celebrate everything that everyone has accomplished.

Speaking of the quad, it feels like after every Olympics, we say goodbye to so many greats. But this time, if this is your last time on competition ice, it feels like the end of an era for ice dance.

Madison: I think we’ve been feeling that for the past few years. Every time we go to competitions early in the seasons, we’re like, Oh, my goodness.

Evan: Particularly the Grand Prix and Nationals. You go to the final, you go to Worlds, you’re like, Okay, there’s a couple other people who are over 30.

Madison: It does feel like the transition has happened and we maybe are the last of that changing of the guard. We see that the people we used to compete against are now on the other side of the boards coaching our competitors and so that’s really where it’s all coming full circle. Now we’re taking a step back and going to the other side of the boards to help these young skaters as well. It’s been really lovely to have that kind of integration of our competitors as coaches, because we have worked with some of them. We’ve worked with Madison Hubble, we’ve worked with Jean-Luc Baker, and we feel their knowledge and point of view from them going from competing to transitioning into their coaching roles, and it’s been really fulfilling for us to be able to share that experience with them and bond in that new way as like coach and student in a way. But we’re friends. We grew up together. Sharing the sport in a new lens with them is really, really beautiful. That’s what sportsmanship is all about—it is to have that kind of relationship with your competitors where you can turn to them for advice at a certain point. To be able to experience that has been really lovely, and hopefully we’ll be able to give back to the younger skaters in that way as well.

What do you see the future of ice dance being like?

Madison: I hope people keep challenging themselves and pushing the creative boundaries. This is gonna sound cheesy, but if you can dream it, you can do it. I would love to see more risks being taken with creative choices and maybe the use of technology in our sport for judging to help take some subjectivity out of things. Skating is subjective, and that’s what’s beautiful about it. Maybe for the technical aspects, we can utilize AI or the tech that we have to kind of offload how much of the score is being reliant on the subjectivity of judges.

Speaking of the future, so many of us have been so inspired by this new generation of skaters, especially Alysa Liu. How have they inspired you?

Madison: I personally feel so inspired by Alysa. I think her take has been so refreshing, and we have had the privilege to witness her from her beginning, retirement—which is crazy to say—and then her big splash right back into the skating world. Just seeing her love and her intrinsic motivation for doing it for herself, because she wants to, because she loves it, because that’s her creative outlet, also rekindled something in us.

At one point we just fell in love with skating and wanted to be the best at it. It’s really so special when you find a passion like that and you’re able to pursue it and enjoy the journey. It’s not going to be fun every day. But if you show up and do the work and and learn to trust the process, you’ll always come up on top.

Final question: No audience, just the two of you on the ice, what would be the program you would skate to again to end everything on?

Evan: I would probably say just to do Chopin again, our first free dance.

Madison: Maybe we should do a show program to Chopin…

Evan: To close the circle and come back to it would be really fun.

Associate visual editor: Aily Zeltser.

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From the summer to the fall of 2018, Lindsay Whalen went from point guard of the Minnesota Lynx to head coach of the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team.

She retired having played the final nine seasons of her 15-year WNBA career as a Lynx, and it was no surprise that the Hutchinson, MN native wanted to immediately pursue coaching her alma mater back to the glory she achieved when she was a player and led the Golden Gophers to their lone Final Four in 2004.

One of the greatest floor generals and winners in WNBA history, Whalen had the mind for the job, and was expected to succeed. It would have been a great, feel-good story had it worked out. But the Gophers just missed out on the NCAA Tournament in Whalen’s first year at the helm after rising as high as No. 12 in the AP poll. The next year, they went 5-13 in the Big Ten, coming nowhere near living up to their preseason No. 23 ranking. Three losing seasons later, Whalen was out and Dawn Plitzuweit was in.

It wasn’t all bad, as Plitzuweit was a big-name hire, having led mid-major South Dakota to the Sweet 16 in 2022. The optimism surrounding the program was similarly high to when Whalen was hired.

This time, it’s panning out. All Minnesotans, including Whalen, now an assistant for the highly successful Lynx, can rejoice that their team is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005.

This is already one of the best seasons in program history, as the Gophers earned their second-highest Big Dance seeding ever at No. 4 (they were a No. 3-seed in 2005). Their current winning percentage (.750) is their third-best and their conference winning percentage (.722) is tied for fourth-best.

It’s been a quick build and a thrilling 2026 tourney for the Golden Gophers

Plitzuweit came in tasked with bringing the Gophers back to the relevance they enjoyed over their stretch of seven tournaments in eight years from 2002 to 2009.

In her first year (2024), the team notched a 20-win season, a winning percentage of .556 and a six-game improvement over 2023. In 2025, they improved by five more games to 25-11 and by three games in the Big Ten to 8-10. They were ranked as high as No. 23 but missed the tournament, although they actually won the WBIT.

This year, Plitzuweit has taken a team that was unranked in the preseason to the Sweet 16. They are making their first appearance in the Big Dance since 2018.

Their coming out party came on Dec. 7 when they led then-No. 7 Maryland by 15 late in the first half. The Terrapins forced double overtime, where the Gophers would lead by nine with 54 seconds remaining.

Quite the accomplishment for a team that wasn’t expected to make too much noise this year. Yes, they blew the lead in epic fashion, losing 100-99 to the Terps, but their ability to hang with a team in the national conversation was the sign of a great season to come.

Now, they’ve advanced further than Maryland.

Nothing embarrassing has happened since their Dec. 7 collapse. They’ve only lost to good teams, have beaten who they were supposed to beat and defeated No. 2-seed-in-the-Dance Iowa and No. 3-seed Ohio State during a nine-game winning streak from Jan. 21 to Feb. 18. For all this, they were awarded hosting privileges.

In front of over 10,000 fans for both games at Williams Arena (“The Barn”), Minnesota defeated No. 13-seed Green Bay in the first round and No. 5-seed Ole Miss, a feared SEC team that was favored by many, in the second round.

In Viking territory, the team from the same city as Lambeau Field gave the Gophers a scare, hanging close well into the second half. But Minnesota reversed their poor late-game execution from the Maryland contest, playing near-perfect basketball down the stretch to pull away by 17. Against the Rebels, The Barn erupted when Amaya Battle hit the game-winning shot, a contested mid-ranger, while falling down along the right baseline with 0.8 seconds to go.

Just like that, the pain of the Whalen years not working out was erased, and the Gophers found themselves dancing beyond the Round of 32 for just the fourth time in program history.

They are now one of just three teams still dancing from the vaunted Big Ten. UCLA and Michigan were expected to be here, but there were also six other teams receiving more votes than Minnesota in the preseason (Maryland, USC, Iowa, Michigan State, Washington and Ohio State) that are now home while the Gophers have the chance to keep going.

Loyal Minnesotans lead the way to the Sweet 16

Of the Gophers’ five core contributors, four—Battle, Tori McKinney, Mara Braun and Sophie Hart—are from Minnesota, and four—Battle, McKinney, Braun and Grace Grocholski—have played their entire careers with the program. So there’s plenty of North Star State pride to go around.

Battle, a senior guard, and Braun, a redshirt junior guard, have been the top performers in the tournament thus far, with Battle averaging 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and four assists, and Braun going for 16.5 points (7-for-10 from 3). Braun has played all 80 minutes, while Battle is second on the team with 76.

McKinney, a sophomore guard, leads the team in scoring on the season with 12.9 points per game, but all five average between 11 and 13 points, so they spread the wealth. Battle impressively leads with 7.5 boards per contest, despite being only 5-foot-11; she also paces the squad with 3.6 assists. Grocholski, a junior guard/forward with 68 made 3s at 42 percent, and Braun (59 makes at 35.5 percent) are the two snipers. Hart, a 6-foot-5 graduate center who is in her third season in the Twin Cities after transferring from NC State, is the team’s main post presence.

The Gophers’ success adds to Minnesota’s basketball craze

No. 1-seed UCLA is next on the schedule in Sacramento with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. Minnesota faces the Bruins on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

When UCLA won 76-58 on Jan. 14, Battle (16 points, seven boards, five helpers and three steals) and Braun (15 points on 3-for-6 from downtown) were the best players for the Gophers in defeat. Perhaps they will continue their Big Dance hot streaks and once again be the top weapons on Friday. But Minnesota will also be looking for a big game from McKinney, who was absent on Jan. 14 with concussion symptoms.

An 18-point loss to the Bruins actually isn’t that bad, especially considering your leading scorer was missing. And UCLA looked the most vulnerable of all the No. 1-seeds in the Round of 32.

It would be unwise to count Minnesota out.

They certainly have enough good vibes going for them.

The state has known a lot of basketball greatness with the Lynx of course being one of the best WNBA franchises ever. Plus, Paige Bueckers was a high school teammate of Battle’s at Hopkins High en route to becoming the No. 1 college recruit, a National Player of the Year, national champion and WNBA Rookie of the Year.

At the college level, too, Minnesotans have left a legacy, with greats like Whalen, Rachel Banham, Janel McCarville, Carol Ann Shudlick and Amanda Zahui B. But it’s a legacy of only 11 total tournament appearances that pales in comparison to that of the Lynx. The fanbase is hungry for more.

They hope Battle’s game-winner is just the beginning.

Indiana men’s basketball’s first season under Darian DeVries came to an end when the Hoosiers didn’t receive a bid for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers finished 18-14 overall and 9-11 in Big Ten play, with a late collapse ending their March Madness hopes.

We’ll be recapping and analyzing DeVries’ first season in a few different ways from individual players to other lineups and trends.

Lamar Wilkerson

• Final statline: 20.9 PTS, 3.5 REB, 2.4 AST
• Role: Starting Shooting Guard

Stats provided by KenPom or CBB Analytics.

If there was one unequivocal positive to Indiana’s 2025-26 season, it was the play of Lamar Wilkerson. He was a big get from the portal, as DeVries had to fend off Kentucky for his services, but ended up being worth every penny and more for the Hoosiers.

As expected given his past performances, Wilkerson had the greenest of green lights from 3-point range and took full advantage. He attempted 8.6 3s per game, hitting 37.8% of them to be Indiana’s most consistent perimeter scoring threat.

When he caught fire, as he did a few times this year, there was seemingly no stopping him. Wilkerson hit 10 threes as part of a 44-point performance against Penn State. He scored 41 points against Oregon on six made threes, with both games ending as blowout wins for Indiana.

As the season went on, Wilkerson also demonstrated an ability to drive and score at the rim. He did so as a pure shooting guard, looking to create shots for himself rather than teammates, but used his driving ability to be a productive scorer when the shots didn’t fall from deep.

Wilkerson converted above the D-I average % from every single area on the floor.

Probably the best example of Wilkerson’s versatility as a scorer was Indiana’s 2OT win over UCLA. Down both point guards early in the first overtime, Wilkerson took over the offense, scoring 10 of his 24 points that game on layups and free throws he earned by driving hard to the rim.

His production should have lifted Indiana to more wins with better pieces around him, but Wilkerson’s play this year would have been a boost for any program in men’s Division I basketball. He left his mark on the program in his short time in Bloomington and hopefully can serve as a model for future scorers considering Indiana under DeVries.

The Dallas Cowboys need help at pass rusher. We all know this.

Myles Garrett is an amazing pass rusher. Maybe the best in the NFL. We all know this.

You can never count the Dallas Cowboys out of anything, particularly a rumor, in the NFL.

We all certainly know this.

Myles Garrett is suddenly less impossible for the Cowboys

Something interesting happened this week that flew a little bit under the radar. Blame it on Opening Day happening across the sports calendar, or the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 getting set to happen this weekend.

Or maybe blame the fact that it had to do with the Cleveland Browns as they hardly move the national needle. Wherever you want to place responsibility, it was reported by ESPN late on Wednesday that the Browns applied some front office magic to the contract of Myles Garrett.

Here is the TL;DR thanks to our friends at Dawgs By Nature:

The two sides have agreed to move the date that Garrett will be paid his option bonus from the 15th day of the league year to a week before the regular season’s first game. That covers 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Garrett agreed to have $8 million of his base salary converted into a roster bonus in 2029 and 2030.

The change means that the Browns will have some additional flexibility to create cap space in each of the next five years.

Garrett will now get some of his money earlier in the year in 2029 and 2030.

The reason all of this is relevant to the Cowboys (and 30 other NFL teams) is the suspicion that has accompanied what the Browns did as one takeaway from these flicks of the pen is that Garrett is suddenly more trade-able from a contract standpoint.

What could Dallas even give up for Myles Garrett?

Part of the reason that the Cowboys make sense for a hypothetical Myles Garrett trade is that they were in the mix for the last pass rusher who was on the trade market in Maxx Crosby. That obviously did not happen, but the fact that the Cowboys were willing to part with serious assets shows that they may be willing to do so here.

Earlier this week ESPN also reported what the Cowboys offered (there were 3 different offers as talks progressed) before the Raiders made a deal for Crosby with the Ravens (that was obviously rescinded).

According to ESPN the Cowboys offered:

• Initially: Their second first-round pick (20 overall) and Osa Odighizuwa
• And then: Their higher first-round pick (12 overall) and a third-round pick
• Ultimately: Number 12 overall and a second-round pick

Now obviously Osa Odighizuwa was since dealt away to the San Francisco 49ers which netted the Cowboys a third-round pick this year (number 92 overall). In total the Cowboys have 8 picks at the moment for this year’s draft.

2026 Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks:

• 1: 12 overall
• 1: 20 overall (from Packers)
• 3: 92 overall (from 49ers)
• 4: 112 overall
• 5: 152 overall
• 5: 177 overall [comp pick]
• 5: 180 overall [comp pick]
• 7: 218 overall (from Titans)

It would stand to reason that any trade for Garrett would have to involve both first-round picks this year and likely future capital as well. It should be noted that Dallas cannot technically trade either of their first-round picks next year as the better of them (which is a matter that is to be determined) belongs to the New York Jets by way of the Quinnen Williams trade, but they could do something like a second-round pick that becomes a first-round pick if a condition is met, and it would obviously be a slam-dunk condition to appease the hypothetical trade.

Even something like 3 first-round picks feels low given Garrett’s career accomplishments, but it makes sense that the conversation would start there. A move like this would be a true all-in proposition from the Cowboys and despite the national narrative that surrounds them we haven’t really seen them do anything like that in some time.

For what it’s worth… Garrett has a unique history with the Cowboys. You will recall that he literally begged them to draft him ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft where Cleveland took him number one overall. He even noted that the Cowboys could use Tony Romo (who would soon retire) as a trade piece to try and get him.

“I’m speaking to you, Jerry,” Garrett says on the video. “Mr. [Jason] Garrett, make it happen. Dak Prescott is leading our team right now. I need you to take Tony Romo, take a couple picks, and give them to Cleveland so you can pick me up, please. I’d love to play in Dallas. Let’s make it happen.”

Maybe it will happen. Maybe it won’t.

Around and around we go.

The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their quest for a third straight World Series title, led by two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and a roster full of elite talent.

MORE:MLB preseason power rankings

How to Watch Los Angeles Dodgers 2026 MLB Regular Season

• Opening Day: Thursday, March 26, 2026
• TV Channel: Spectrum SportsNet LA (local); MLB.TV (out-of-market)
• Live Stream: DIRECTV – local (try for free); ESPN Unlimited – out-of-market (watch now)

You can catch the Dodgers all season long locally on Spectrum SportsNet with DIRECTV as well as out-of-market on MLB.TV with ESPN Unlimited. If you are in the Los Angeles area, DIRECTV is the right option for you, and the best part is that you can test the service today for free.

The enter the 2026 season as the clear team to beat after winning back-to-back World Series titles, cementing their place as the league’s dominant force. Their 2025 campaign was another elite run, combining top-tier offense, deep pitching, and postseason execution to repeat as champions once again.

Live Stream Los Angeles Dodgers 2026 MLB Games

At the center of it all is Shohei Ohtani, who continues to redefine what’s possible in MLB with his impact both at the plate and on the mound. His presence gives the Dodgers a unique advantage, as he remains one of the most dangerous and versatile players in the game.

Beyond Ohtani, they are powered by a stacked core that includes the new addition Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, giving them elite production all around. Betts and Freeman continue to anchor the lineup with consistency, while Tucker adds another dynamic middle-of-the-order bat. Yamamoto leads a deep rotation, reinforcing why this roster remains one of the most complete and dangerous in baseball.

Heading into 2026, the expectation is simple: a third straight title push. With Ohtani leading a loaded charge, the Dodgers aren’t just contenders, they’re chasing a dynasty.

Live stream the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2026 MLB season with DIRECTV: Start your free trial now!

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— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

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Pirates' Oneil Cruz has nightmare start to 2026 MLB season in centerfield originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Oneil Cruz used to be a shortstop.

Last season, he moved to centerfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he remains out there for the 2026 MLB season.

The Pirates were likely hoping that it would look better than it did on his first couple chances of the season.

Cruz had a nightmare bottom of the first inning that contributed greatly to Paul Skenes not even making it out of the frame.

MORE: Mike Trout, Tiger Woods, and Superman without his cape

First, the Mets loaded the bases after pulling within 2-1. That's when Brett Baty hit a flyball deep to centerfield.

Cruz came multiple steps in, then realized he had made a mistake.

He raced back on the ball that was over his head, but he had already lost too much ground. The baseball landed near the fence, and when all was said and done, Baty had a bases-clearing triple to put the Mets up 4-2.

The next hitter was Marcus Semien, and it got worse for Cruz.

Semien lofted a harmless popup to center, but Cruz lost it in the sun. Semien ran hard and got a double, and Baty scored for a 5-2 lead.

Skenes ended up being pulled after hitting a batter, and the Pirates got out of it with flyout induced by the bullpen. That flyball was to left, though.

Cruz will have to be better. It's a brutal start to the season for him in center.

More MLB news:

• How a Blue Jays unknown can decide the World Series
• Juan Soto might lead MLB in a brand new stat
• Giants snap embarrassing 19-year streak that tied MLB record
• MLB's future of the shortstop position is immensely bright
• Cal Raleigh was supposed to play for the Braves
• 4 MLB teams that can unseat the Dodgers

According to an official press release from IMG Academy on Thursday afternoon, the program has parted ways with Sean McAloon as the national boys basketball coach.

“IMG Academy Basketball has parted ways with national team head coach Sean McAloon,” the press release statement says. “We are thankful for the leadership and contributions he made to our basketball program, including the growth of our national team and securing the program’s first-ever national championship in 2019.”

IMG Academy will begin an immediate search for the next leader of our national basketball team. We firmly believe this is the premier high school basketball head coaching opportunity in the country, and we are committed to identifying a coach who will continue to build on our strong foundation of developing champions both on and off the court.”

The Ascenders ended this past season with a 21-11 record and finishing at No. 6 in the final 2025 Florida High School Boys Basketball Massey Rankings and No. 47 nationally, according to the Rivals National 2025 High School Boys Basketball Composite Rankings.

More about IMG Academy

Established in 1978, with a pioneering concept known as the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, IMG Academy has since grown to become a global phenomenon. Today, IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing access and opportunity for student-athletes with an innovative suite of on-campus and online programming. IMG Academy is the only education brand directly responsible for filling one-quarter of all college roster spots on an annual basis. In 2021 alone, IMG Academy helped place 30,000 kids into college.

How to Follow Florida High School Boys Basketball

For Florida high school boys basketball fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Sunshine State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the high school hops action throughout the season. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the hardwood excitement across the state.

ESPN NFL draft writer Jordan Reid has a new two-round mock draft out for the 2026 NFL draft. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they will go into the draft in less than a month on their home turf and hope

to score big on these first two picks. Let's take a look at the moves Reid made for the Steelers and break down the options.

First round - WR Jordyn Tyson - Arizona State

Tyson was on pace to be the top receiver in the draft but an injury sidelined him for a chunk of the season and kept him out of offseason workouts. He has a scheduled individual pro day coming and he is supposed to be healthy and ready to go. If he is healthy, this pick becomes a bargain and would give the Steelers an elite trio.

Second round - CB Keionte Scott - Miami

Reid noted how scrappy Scott is and that is definitely a nice trait for a Steelers cornerback but we just don't see this as the team's second-round need. With the health of starting left tackle Broderick Jones in question, landing a player who could come in and start this season in his place makes more sense. Northwestern's Caleb Tiernan stands out as a guy Jordan has coming off the board just after the Steelers pick who represents better value.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Breaking down the Steelers picks in new ESPN mock draft

Cory Sandhagen continues to take umbrage with Sean O'Malley not wanting to fight him.

Sandhagen (18-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) has called out former bantamweight champion O'Malley (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) several times, but O'Malley insists the UFC never offered him the fight.

O'Malley meets Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House, a fight Sandhagen thought should have been his. He criticized O'Malley's mentality and accused him of taking the easy road.

"Sean as a person, I'm not going to carry any hatred toward him or jealousy or anything like that. I like Sean as a person," Sandhagen said in an interview with Daniel Cormier. "As a fan, I don't think the way that type of character or whatever is interesting or inspiring at all. One of the biggest gifts that we have as athletes to give to people is inspiration to like go do something cool with your life, too. That means stepping up to the plate, taking big risks like I have in my entire career.

"I do it for me, but I also do it because inspiring and giving back. That's one of the few ways I get to do that in this sport is by inspiring people. 'Why would you take a fight against Umar? He's down in the rankings.' Because if I win, I get to inspire a bunch of people. If I go out and beat Merab (Dvalishvili) or I beat (Petr) Yan, I get to inspire a bunch of people because I know I took the hard road to get here. O'Malley is not about that life, so I can't be a fan of that dude in that way."

Sandhagen, who's coming off a title loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320, is adamant he can beat O'Malley at his own game.

"It's the only fight that makes sense for both of us," Sandhagen said. "Two, I like the fight. I know that I'll beat O'Malley. I know a lot of people are like, 'Cory is going to take him down. He's going to wrestle.' I'll outstrike O'Malley, too. We've got egos. I know I'm better than him. I want to go beat him, and I want to prove that I'm the better striker, I'm the better fighter just all around in general."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Cory Sandhagen: Sean O'Malley 'is not about that life'

Hamilton actor who plays George Washington hilariously botches Mets Opening Day national anthem originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets' 2026 season could have had a better start, to say the least; that applies both on and off the field.

In their first game of the year, the Mets fell behind 2-0 in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day, with Brandon Lowe hitting a two-run home run before New York struck right back. But even before the game, the organization had a bit of an embarrassing moment.

National anthem singer Chris Jackson botched his performance before Mets vs. Pirates at Citi Field, completely leaving out a line of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Here's a look at the video from Jackson's mistake in his national anthem performance.

MORE: The latest updates, results from 2026 Opening Day

Mets opening day national anthem video

For the first game of MLB's Opening Day, Pirates vs. Mets, Jackson got through a few lines of the national anthem fine. But after he sang "through the perilous fight," he began switching up the lines.

He moved back to the "what so proudly we hailed" line, confusing fans at Citi Field and watching from home as he entirely skipped over "o'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming."

The singer just messed up the words to the national anthem And he plays George Washington in Hamilton on Broadway. @CitiField@Mets#OpeningDay@ESPNNewYorkpic.twitter.com/KbpOmGLzjE

— Kevin (@post_game8) March 26, 2026

Of course, Mets fans didn't take the butchered national anthem as a good sign for their 2026 season.

Leave it to the Mets to mess up the national anthem on opening day pic.twitter.com/GxmFMezDYM

— ʜᴀᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ🦈(ɪɴᴋ) (@HammerTimeLays) March 26, 2026

George Washington just messed up the national anthem at Citi field. It does get more Mets than that #openingday

— Tori (@tdugaan06) March 26, 2026

Players on the line. Flag unfurled. Some of the lyrics to the National Anthem were sung correctly. It’s time to play ball. pic.twitter.com/wK2u0dUzkp

— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) March 26, 2026

Not an ideal start to the season there with the National Anthem #LGM

— John Mincone (@JMincone) March 26, 2026

Who is Chris Jackson?

Jackson, who performed the national anthem at Thursday's Mets game, portrayed George Washington in the original cast of the musical "Hamilton."

Jackson, 50, is an actor and singer who made his Broadway debut in 1997, appearing in musicals including "The Lion King" and "In the Heights." Jackson has also starred on CBS drama "Bull" and had TV roles on the shows "Fringe," "Gossip Girl," "Nurse Jackie" and more.

National anthem lyrics

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Earlier this month, United States President Donald Trump hosted the “Saving College Sports” roundtable at the White House. NCAA president Charlie Baker, numerous conference commissioners, and several collegiate coaches attended the event.

Just weeks later, Trump has formed five separate committees to cover legislation, rules, NCAA reform, media, and player issues. Per CBS Sports, meetings are expected to begin next week.

The committees are made up of former players, University Athletic Directors and Presidents, figures from in and around professional sports, and more. A few of the most notable names include former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, and 15-time Majors Champion Tiger Woods.

All five committees, and the list of their members, are below.

Legislative Committee

Rules Committee

*player reps will be added

NCAA Reform Committee

Media Committee

Player Issues Committee

*Player agent reps will be added

President’s Oversight Committee

Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Hannah Hidalgo is, perhaps surprisingly, not a Naismith Award finalist.

There are four finalists for the Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's College Basketball Player Of The Year award, and none are from Notre Dame. The finalists are Lauren Betts from UCLA, Mikayla Blakes from Vanderbilt and Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, both from Connecticut.

Hidalgo's 2025-2026 stat line reads like this: 25.2 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game and 5.6 steals per game.

No disrespect to any of the finalists, but those numbers seem like they should be enough to qualify Hidalgo as a finalist.

Down to the very best!

Introducing the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year Finalists! @jerseymikespic.twitter.com/GPKQ82cX1g

— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) March 25, 2026

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo missing from major award finalists

2026 Premier League Darts Night 8 Berlin Live results, scores and schedule originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Night 8 of the 2026 Premier League of Darts will take place in Germany, with Berlin being this week's host city.

The night starts with a match between league leader Jonny Clayton and last-place player Josh Rock.

Then, we'll see former world champions Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries clash for a spot in the semifinals.

The third quarterfinal of the night will be a rematch from last week, as Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting will face off for the second week in a row.

The final match of the quarterfinal round will be between last week's runner-up, Gerwyn Price and 2026 WC runner-up Gian van Veen.

2026 Premier League Darts Night 8 Berlin results, scores and schedule

Here is the schedule and the results from Night 8 of the 2026 PL.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts Night 8 draw, match predictions and 3 storylines to watch in Berlin

Quarterfinals

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts schedule, scores, results and updated table

Semifinals

Final

More darts articles:

• Luke Littler contract details: Teenage phenom signs richest endorsement deal in darts history
• PDC announces darts schedule for 2026: World Championship, Premier League and more
• Ranking the best PDC Darts moments from 2025: 9-darters to shocking upsets
• 2026 Premier League Darts prize money explained
• 2026 Premier League of Darts: Get to know the 8 participants
• Watch Josh Rock hit iconic Premier League 9-darter in front of home crowd in Belfast

Texas A&M junior wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman left practice early on Thursday afternoon after taking a collision on a downfield catch.

Bethel-Roman entered Texas A&M as a 4-star recruit by all three recruiting services and was ranked 207th by ESPN. After taking a year to redshirt, he became a key part of a lethal Texas A&M receiving core last season, finishing third on the team in receptions (24), receiving yards (503), and receiving touchdowns (5). 

With KC Concepcion heading to the NFL draft, the Aggie offense has a potential question mark in the WR room. Mario Craver will presumably fill the lead receiving role, but Craver’s unique skill set is best weaponized in shorter, RAC-friendly routes.

This leaves Bethel-Roman and his top-tier speed as the likely option to be Texas A&M’s deep threat. With the increased opportunity and a quality offense to support him, Bethel-Roman could be primed for a breakout season.

Bethel-Roman left practice after he hit the ground hard on a deep route. The team gave no update, but he did not return to practice, per Carter Karels of GigEm247.

Texas A&M receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman exited practice today with an injury after getting tangled up from behind on a deep route during 1-on-1s and hitting the ground hard. No update on his status, but he didn’t return.

— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) March 26, 2026

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Sam on X:@Smallred25

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M WR Ashton Bethel-Roman leaves practice with injury

Defending champions Lahore Qalandars started their Pakistan Super League with a comprehensive 69-run win over new side Hyderabad Kingsmen.

After opting to bat first, Qalandars posted 199-6, built on an opening stand of 84 between Fakhar Zaman (53 off 39) and Mohammad Naeem (30 off 19).

They were both dismissed by Hassan Khan, either side of Abdullah Shafique being run out, as Qalandars slipped to 94-3 but Haseebullah Khan made an unbeaten 40 and Sikandar Raza hit 24 off 10 balls to help them up to a defendable total.

Kingsmen, who are one of two new sides in the biggest edition of the PSL, struggled in reply and fell to 65-5 after nine overs, with captain Marnus Labuschagne top-scoring with 26 off 22 balls.

He was caught and bowled by Raza, who also picked up the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kusal Perera, as Kingsmen were bowled out for 130 off the final ball.

• PSL fixtures & table

PC Patch 1.1 has landed for Death Stranding 2 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has received PC patch 1.1, which adds new performance optimisations and fixes to the game. This includes a bug that prevented PC gamers from accessing Death Stranding 2’s VR Training Missions, and another that prevented Steam Friends from loading in […]

The post Nixxes releases PC Patch 1.1 for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach appeared first on OC3D.

Automated traffic grew 23.5% year over year in 2025 — about eight times faster than human traffic, which rose 3.1%, according to HUMAN Security’s State of AI Traffic report.

• AI-driven traffic appears to be a major contributor to that growth, with average monthly volume increasing 187% year over year, while traffic from AI agents and agentic browsers (e.g., OpenAI’s Atlas, Perplexity’s Comet) grew nearly 8,000% year over year.
• Automated traffic is defined in the report as: “All internet traffic generated by software systems rather than human users, including traditional automation such as search engine crawlers, monitoring bots, and conventional scraping tools, as well as AI-driven traffic.”
• This report follows Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince’s prediction that bots could overtake human web usage by 2027.

Why we care. Search is increasingly shaped by more than human queries, crawling, and indexing. AI agents now participate in discovery, comparison, and transactions — within Google’s evolving results and across AI-driven interfaces.

The details. HUMAN groups AI-driven traffic into three broad categories:

• Training crawlers collecting data for models. They still dominate at 67.5% of AI traffic, but their share is declining as scrapers and agents scale.
• Real-time scrapers that feed AI search and answers. Scraper traffic grew nearly 600% in 2025, driven by AI-powered search and real-time answer engines.
• Agentic AI systems that execute tasks autonomously. Smaller in share, but growing fastest and most disruptive.

AI agents behave more like users. These systems aren’t limited to reading content. They increasingly navigate funnels, log in, and transact. In 2025:

• 77% of observed agent activity (requests) occurred on product and search pages.
• Nearly 9% touched account-level interactions.
• More than 2% reached checkout flows.

About the data. HUMAN analyzed more than one quadrillion interactions (requests/events) across its customer base in 2025, with aggregated, anonymized data from 2022 to 2025. It classified AI-driven traffic into training crawlers, AI scrapers, and agentic AI using user-agent strings, infrastructure signals, and observed behavior, noting limits in self-declared bot identity, which may undercount or misclassify some AI-driven activity.

Bottom line. Traffic is becoming less purely human, and discovery is no longer confined to search engines. Optimization now means deciding which machines can access, interpret, and act on your content.

The report. The 2026 State of AI Traffic & Cyberthreat Benchmark Report

Google introduced a new user agent, called Google-Agent, that signals when AI agents act on users’ behalf, marking an early shift toward agent-driven web interactions.

What happened. Google added Google-Agent to its list of user-triggered fetchers on March 20 and has begun a gradual rollout.

• The Google-Agent user agent identifies requests made by AI agents running on Google infrastructure, including experimental tools like Project Mariner.

How it works. Google-Agent appears in HTTP requests when an AI agent visits a site to complete a user-initiated task.

• Example use cases include browsing pages, evaluating content, or taking actions such as submitting forms.
• This differs from Googlebot and other crawlers, which run continuously in the background without direct user prompts.

IP ranges. Google shared the IP ranges for its desktop agent:

Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; Google-Agent; +https://developers.google.com/crawling/docs/crawlers-fetchers/google-agent) Chrome/W.X.Y.Z Safari/537.36

And the IP ranges for its mobile agent:

Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 6.0.1; Nexus 5X Build/MMB29P) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/W.X.Y.Z Mobile Safari/537.36 (compatible; Google-Agent; +https://developers.google.com/crawling/docs/crawlers-fetchers/google-agent)

Why we care. This lets you identify agent-driven traffic in server logs. You can now distinguish traditional crawl activity from visits triggered by real users through AI agents. That should help you track agent-assisted conversions, understand emerging user behavior, and prepare for agentic search.

What they’re saying. According to Google’s announcement:

• “The Google-Agent user agent is rolling out over the next few weeks, and will be used by Google agents hosted on Google infrastructure to navigate the web and perform actions upon user request.”

What to watch. Early volumes will be low as the rollout continues, but now is the time to establish a baseline. What to do:

• Monitor logs for Google-Agent activity.
• Make sure CDNs and WAFs aren’t blocking the published IP ranges.
• Validate that key site actions, including forms and flows, work for automated agents.

Dig deeper. Google’s releasing Google-Agent: Here’s what to know

The post Ripple (XRP) Price Prediction 2026, 2027-2030: Will XRP Reach $5? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Ripple (XRP) Ripple’s XRP remains one of the most closely watched assets in the crypto market, largely due to its strong positioning in the cross-border payments sector and the continued expansion of Ripple’s financial infrastructure. Over the years, Ripple has focused on building partnerships with banks and payment providers to streamline international settlements through blockchain technology. XRP’s long-term outlook continues to revolve around global payment integration, institutional partnerships, and the adoption of RippleNet and On-Demand Liquidity solutions. These developments could gradually strengthen XRP’s role as a bridge asset for international payments.

XRP price structure around $1.30–$1.40 has emerged as an important demand zone where buyers have shown consistent interest. If this area continues to hold, the market could gradually shift from consolidation to recovery. With the broader crypto market entering another potential expansion phase, XRP remains positioned as one of the major altcoins that could benefit from renewed institutional and retail participation.Now, making this the most ideal time for XRP price prediction 2026-2030 to be in more focus. Read this to know in depth what’s coming next in XRP.

XRP Price Today

Cryptocurrency	XRP
Token	XRP
Price	$1.3607 -3.95%
Market Cap	$ 83,470,444,954.37
24h Volume	$ 1,881,552,499.5485
Circulating Supply	61,344,583,754.00
Total Supply	99,985,695,443.00
All-Time High	$ 3.8419 on 04 January 2018
All-Time Low	$ 0.0028 on 07 July 2014

Coinpedia’s XRP Price Prediction

Ripple’s XRP continues to maintain strong relevance in the cryptocurrency market due to its role in cross-border payments and financial infrastructure. If Ripple continues expanding its institutional partnerships and blockchain adoption grows globally, XRP could gradually regain stronger market momentum.

Coinpedia’s price outlook for Ripple highlights that  XRP could reach around $5–$6 by 2026, while a stronger market cycle and increased institutional usage could push the token toward $18 by 2030.

XRP Price Prediction March 2026

XRP is currently trading around $1.35, holding a steady range after recent volatility, and as March comes to an end, the price structure suggests a tight consolidation phase rather than a clear trend. Throughout March, XRP has struggled to sustain moves above the $1.40–$1.45 resistance zone, while buyers have consistently defended the $1.25–$1.30 support range. This behavior reflects a market where momentum is limited, but downside pressure is also being absorbed.

Heading into April, the key trigger remains a breakout above $1.45. If XRP manages to clear this level with strength, it could open the path toward the $1.60–$1.75 range, signaling a shift in momentum.

On the downside, if XRP loses the $1.25 support, the price may slip toward the $1.10–$1.15 zone, where the next demand area is likely to emerge. Overall, XRP appears to be in a range-bound accumulation phase, and the upcoming breakout from this structure will likely define its direction for April.

XRP Price Prediction 2026

Looking further into 2026, XRP’s growth potential will largely depend on the broader cryptocurrency market cycle and Ripple’s continued expansion in the financial sector. If Ripple strengthens its partnerships with global financial institutions and the adoption of blockchain-based payment infrastructure increases, XRP could gradually regain investor confidence. 

Historically, major altcoins tend to perform strongly during bullish market cycles, and XRP has often been among the leaders during such periods.

From a technical perspective, reclaiming the $2 level would be the first signal of a stronger recovery. Once this level is established as support, XRP could move toward $3–$4, where significant resistance previously existed. If the broader market enters a strong expansion phase, XRP could potentially reach $5–$6 by the end of 2026, supported by increasing liquidity and institutional interest.

XRP On-Chain Outlook

XRP’s on-chain data is currently pointing toward a cooling market environment, where activity has slowed but structural conditions are quietly improving. Spot trading volume across exchanges has dropped to its lowest level since 2024, reflecting reduced participation and weaker short-term momentum. This decline indicates that the market is no longer driven by aggressive trading, but is instead moving through a low-liquidity consolidation phase. At the same time, liquidity remains concentrated on major platforms like Binance, Upbit, and Coinbase, suggesting that while overall activity has declined, core market interest is still intact.

On the derivatives side, a more significant shift is unfolding. XRP’s leverage and open interest in Binance have dropped sharply, signaling a major reset in speculative positioning. The estimated leverage ratio has fallen substantially from previous highs, while open interest has cooled to much lower levels. This indicates that leveraged traders have largely exited or reduced exposure, removing excess risk from the market.

This combination of declining spot activity and reduced leverage suggests that XRP is transitioning from a highly speculative phase into a cleaner, more stable structure. With the market now less crowded and less prone to liquidation-driven volatility, the current setup reflects a reset phase, where pressure is building more gradually.

Overall, XRP’s on-chain signals point toward a market that is not weakening, but resetting after excess, creating conditions that often precede a more sustainable and directional move once momentum returns.

Ripple (XRP) Price Prediction 2026 – 2030

Ripple (XRP) Price Prediction 2026

The XRP price range in 2026 is expected to be between $3.40 and $9.50

XRP Price Prediction 2027

Ripple (XRP) price range can be between $7.50 to $12.00 during the year 2027. 

XRP Price Forecast 2028

In 2028, Ripple is forecasted to potentially reach a low price of $8.80, an average price of $11.50, and a high price of $16.00.

XRP Price Targets 2029

Thereafter, the XRP price for the year 2029 could range between $14.20  and $22.00.

Ripple (XRP) Price Prediction 2030

Finally, in 2030, the price of XRP is predicted to remain steady and positive. It may trade between $18.80 and $23.00.

Ripple (XRP) Price Projection 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050

Based on historical market sentiment and trend analysis, the following are the possible XRP price targets for longer-term time frames.

Market Analysis

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The post Ripple’s AI Finds 10 Bugs in the XRP Ledger; But The Community Shouldn’t Panic appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The XRP Ledger has been running without interruption since 2012. It has processed over 100 million ledgers, completed more than 3 billion transactions, and secured billions of dollars in value. By any measure, that is an impressive track record.

But Ripple is not resting on it.

In a detailed post published on March 26, Ripple engineer Ayo Akinyele revealed that the team has overhauled its entire security approach, deploying artificial intelligence to hunt for vulnerabilities deep inside the XRPL codebase. And the AI has already found things humans missed.

The AI Red Team Is Already Working

Ripple has established a dedicated AI-assisted red team whose sole job is to stress-test the XRP Ledger the way an attacker would. The results have been striking. The team has already uncovered more than 10 bugs, with only low-severity issues disclosed publicly so far. All are being actively fixed.

To be clear, none of these were catastrophic. But the fact that a decade-old system is still yielding new vulnerabilities under AI scrutiny tells you something important: the old way of testing was not thorough enough, and Ripple knows it.

“AI allows us to shift from reactive debugging to proactive, systematic discovery of vulnerabilities,” Akinyele wrote, “strengthening the ledger faster and with greater confidence than ever before.”

Why Now?

The timing is not accidental. The XRP Ledger is no longer just a payments rail. It is being positioned as infrastructure for tokenized real-world assets, institutional DeFi, and global financial settlement. The stakes are higher than they have ever been, and Ripple is adjusting its security posture accordingly.

The next XRPL software release will be dedicated entirely to bug fixes and improvements, with zero new features. That is a significant signal. In an industry obsessed with shipping new things, choosing to stop and fix what exists is a mature and frankly reassuring decision.

What Is Changing

Beyond the AI red team, Ripple is also requiring multiple independent security audits before any major network change goes live, expanding its bug bounty programme to bring in outside researchers, and running “attackathons” where new features are deliberately tested in hostile environments before they touch the main network.

The codebase itself is also being modernised, addressing structural issues like inconsistent feature interactions and undocumented assumptions that have quietly built up over more than a decade of development.

The post Why is Crypto Crashing Today: $16.4 Billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum Options Expire Friday appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

One of the largest single-day options expiries of the year is hitting markets on Friday, and the clock is already ticking. A combined $16.4 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum options contracts are set to expire at 8am UTC.

What Is Actually Happening

When options expire at this scale, markets experience what traders call “max pain,” the price level where the maximum number of contracts expire worthless and market makers take the least damage. For Ethereum, that level sits at $2,300, notably above where ETH is currently trading at around $2,067.

The bigger the expiry, the stronger the force dragging prices toward that level in the final hours. At $16.4 billion, there is a lot of gravity in play right now.

Bitcoin Is Carrying the Bulk

Bitcoin holds the majority of the $16.4 billion in notional exposure. With BTC currently trading around $68,969, the tug-of-war between options holders and spot traders is already underway. Both sides are jockeying for position before Friday’s cutoff, and sharp moves in either direction before 8am UTC are firmly on the table.

Ethereum, trading at $2,067 at the time of writing, is sitting well below its max pain level of $2,300. That gap is significant. It means ETH options sellers have a strong incentive to see the price drift higher before expiry, while put holders want it to stay exactly where it is.

The Broader Market Picture

The backdrop is not helping sentiment. The Fear and Greed Index is sitting at 29, firmly in fear territory. The broader crypto market cap stands at $2.37 trillion, down 2.67% on the day, but average RSI across crypto assets is at 40.99, hovering near oversold levels. 

Among the majors, Solana is down 4.62% on the day to $87.52, Dogecoin is leading with a 5.18% decline, and XRP is down 3.06% to $1.36. 

What Happens After the Bell

Once those options expire, $16.4 billion in open interest disappears from the board. The max pain gravity vanishes with it, and that is typically when markets find their real direction.

If Bitcoin and Ethereum have been suppressed into the expiry, the release of that pressure could send prices sharply higher. If they have been running hot into Friday, the unwind could cut the other way. Either scenario is possible.

The post Senator Tim Scott Just Gave the Clearest Update Yet on America’s Crypto Law: Here’s What He Said appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The CLARITY Act, America’s biggest attempt at crypto regulation, is inching toward the finish line. But as Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott told Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo on Thursday, there is still one critical piece missing: full industry buy-in.

Republicans and Democrats Are Actually Agreeing

In a rare show of bipartisan unity, Scott confirmed that both Republicans and Democrats are now aligned on the CLARITY Act, with the White House also on board. For a bill this complex and this consequential, that is no small thing.

“We now have Republicans and Democrats working together. The White House agrees as well,” Scott said. “I am very optimistic about where we are.”

The bill, which could come out as early as Easter, is designed to give crypto a proper legal home in the United States, separating digital commodities from securities and handing the CFTC clear authority over assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The Stablecoin Yield Fight

The thorniest issue holding things up is stablecoin yields. The latest version of the bill bans passive yield on stablecoins but allows activity-based rewards, a compromise that has not gone down smoothly with everyone at the table.

Coinbase, one of the most powerful names in crypto, has pushed back on the language. Circle, the issuer of USDC, saw its stock drop 20% following reports of the compromise. Scott acknowledged the tension but insisted all players are still engaged.

“I spoke with Coinbase. Everyone is still at the table,” he said. “Work to be done.”

He was also careful to push back on the idea that banks are winning the argument over crypto platforms on the rewards question. “We are talking about an apple and an orange, not an apple versus an apple,” Scott said, stressing that stablecoin accounts and FDIC-insured bank accounts are fundamentally different products and should not be regulated identically.

Why This Matters Beyond Crypto

Scott framed the CLARITY Act as something far bigger than a crypto bill. In his view, getting this legislation right is about keeping America economically dominant on the world stage. “This is the first time ever we have tried to deal with such a historic piece of legislation,” he said. “It will keep America as the most dominant player in the world economically.”

The Clock Is Ticking

With a potential Senate Banking Committee markup pencilled in between April 13 and 20, the window for passing the CLARITY Act this year is narrow. Miss the May deadline for floor votes and the bill likely gets pushed to 2027.

Scott sounded confident but realistic. “This is hard. Threading the needle is always difficult the first time. It gets better and better.”

Khleb builds a passive nutrition tracking system using smart plateware that captures calories and macronutrients automatically. Its smartplate and smartglass combine spectroscopy, computer vision, and precise weight sensing to determine what and how much you eat, then sync the data to the Khleb app and connected health platforms.

You just eat as usual with no photos, phones, or manual logging, while clinical-grade sensors deliver high-fidelity dietary insights at home.

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ShipSignal helps founders find validated product ideas and reach their first customers. It scans Reddit, Hacker News, Google Trends, Product Hunt, app stores, and YouTube to surface real demand, then scores opportunities with revenue estimates. ShipSignal delivers deep market intelligence, competitor breakdowns, unit economics, and week-by-week build guides. It also generates targeted lead lists and a go-to-market playbook so you can ship faster and start conversations with buyers on day one.

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Google introduces Performance Max updates, including audience exclusions, budget projections, and expanded reporting to give advertisers more visibility and control over campaign performance.

The post Google Adds New Performance Max Controls And Reporting Features appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Samsung has launched a new feature, Digital Home Key, in its Samsung Wallet in Canada. This feature lets people unlock their home doors using their Samsung Galaxy phones. It makes things easier because you don’t need to carry a physical key anymore.

Earlier, Samsung Wallet was mainly used for storing payment cards, IDs, tickets, and even car keys. Now, with Digital Home Key, users can also store and use their house keys digitally. This means you no longer need to carry a physical key to unlock your door.

The feature works with compatible smart locks that are set up using Samsung SmartThings and the Matter system. Once the lock is connected, users can easily add their home key to Samsung Wallet.

Image via Samsung

There are different ways to unlock the door. You can simply tap your phone using NFC, use hands-free unlocking with UWB when you are nearby, or even unlock the door remotely through the app. The technology behind this system is based on Aliro, developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance.

Samsung is working with popular smart lock brands, including Aqara, Nuki, Schlage, and Xthings, to support this feature. For security, the digital keys are protected by Samsung Knox. If your phone is lost, you can remove access remotely. This new feature started rolling out in March 2026 in Canada and will expand to more regions soon.

The post Samsung Wallet brings Digital Home Key feature to Canadian Galaxy users appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung has announced the expansion of the One UI 8.5 beta program by adding 9 new devices, ending months long wait.

The beta program allows users to test the latest features before official release, which also enables the company to get important feedback and improve the software by fixing loopholes for a better user experience.

Samsung started the One UI 8.5 beta program in December last year with the Galaxy S25 series. Earlier this month, the program expanded to the Fold 7 and Flip 7 foldables. In the meantime, test builds started to appear for the rest of the devices. Yet today, Samsung comes up with a surprise for these users with a major expansion.

As noted by us and confirmed officially by Samsung, the 9 devices that joined the One UI 8.5 beta program are:

1. Galaxy S25 FE
2. Galaxy S24
3. Galaxy S24+
4. Galaxy S24 Ultra
5. Galaxy S24 FE
6. Galaxy Fold 6
7. Galaxy Flip 6
8. Galaxy Tab S11
9. Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra

With these added, the total number of devices in beta has expanded to 15.

That’s not it, Samsung has announced that the number of One UI 8.5 beta devices will expand further in April. Though Samsung hasn’t said anything about these devices, we expect the S23 series and S23 FE to enter the test phase next, alongside Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 devices and more.

The post Samsung adds 9 new devices to One UI 8.5 beta appeared first on Sammy Fans.