The post Bitcoin Shorts Surge as Funding Turns Deeply Negative—Is a Short Squeeze Coming? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Bitcoin price is yet again facing significant upward pressure as the token has plunged below $66,000 from an intraday high of over $68,400. Observing the current trade dynamics, it appears that the star crypto is entering a high-tension phase as traders are now expecting the price to plunge. The short bets are increasing notably and have reached a level that usually results in sharp volatility. This suggests the BTC price may get exposed to more sell pressure or a sudden short squeeze may catch bears off-guard. 

With Bitcoin hovering near key technical levels, the imbalance between rising short interest and cooling spot momentum is creating a fragile setup. The question now is whether this wave of bearish bets will push BTC lower or fuel the next breakout.

Bitcoin Short Positioning Hits Extreme Levels

Recent derivatives data from Santiment show a clear spike in short exposure, with funding rates slipping deeply into negative territory. Negative funding means short traders are paying longs to keep their positions open, a sign that bearish sentiment has become crowded.

When funding stays mildly negative, it often reflects healthy hedging. But when it turns sharply negative, it suggests positioning is becoming one-sided. Markets tend to punish extreme consensus. If too many traders lean in the same direction, even a small upward move can trigger forced liquidations, accelerating the price higher in a short squeeze.

At the same time, open interest remains elevated, indicating that leverage is still active in the system. High open interest combined with negative funding creates a volatility setup, price does not stay compressed for long under these conditions.

The key now is whether spot demand can absorb selling pressure. If buyers defend support levels, the imbalance in shorts could fuel a rapid breakout. If support breaks, however, the crowded short trade may continue to build, reinforcing downside momentum.

Key Levels That Could Trigger the Next Move

Bitcoin is compressing between clear technical boundaries, and with funding deeply negative, these levels now carry even more weight.

Immediate Resistance: $70,000–$72,000

This zone has capped recent recovery attempts. A strong daily close above $72,000 with expanding spot volume could trigger a short squeeze. If that happens, liquidation clusters sit near $75,500, followed by $78,000. A squeeze extension could target the $82,000–$85,000 liquidity pocket, where prior distribution occurred.

Immediate Support: $59,000 – $60,000

This is the current pivot zone. A decisive breakdown below $59,000 on rising volume would invalidate squeeze expectations in the short term. In that case, downside targets sit at $54,000, followed by the major demand block around $50,000–$52,000.

Open interest remains elevated, meaning leverage is still active. If price breaks either boundary with conviction, volatility could expand quickly. For traders, the setup is clear: above $72K favors squeeze dynamics; below $59K shifts the structure toward a deeper correction.

What’s Next for Bitcoin Price as Shorts Crowd the Market?

Bitcoin price is sitting at a leverage-heavy turning point. Deeply negative funding shows that traders are leaning aggressively short, but extreme positioning alone does not guarantee a squeeze. It simply increases the probability of volatility.

If the BTC price reclaims $72,000 with strong spot demand, the imbalance in shorts could fuel a move toward $75,500 and potentially $78,000. However, without real buying pressure, rallies may continue to fade. On the downside, losing $59,000 would confirm that sellers remain in control, opening the door to $54,000 and possibly the $50,000–$52,000 demand zone.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Bayer Leverkusen have reached an agreement to sign Aleksa Damjanovic from Red Star Belgrade. A verbal deal is in place, and it will see the 17-year-old striker leave the 1991 European Cup winners to join the Bundesliga side at the end of the season. Damjanovic is a product of the Red […]

The post Bayer Leverkusen reach agreement for teenage striker Aleksa Damjanovic appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Bayer Leverkusen reach agreement for teenage striker Aleksa Damjanovic appeared first on Soccer News.

It's Brody King's wrestling world at the moment, as the AEW star continues to draw attention for the anti-ICE chants seemingly done in his honor on "AEW Dynamite" last week, chants that led to speculation regarding his absence from "Dynamite" this week. But in between all the controversy, King has a massive opportunity this weekend at "Grand Slam: Australia," where he'll challenge MJF for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. 

With the spotlight on him, and the momentum in King's favor after his resounding defeat of MJF to secure the title shot, many are wondering if AEW could pull the trigger and make King the champion. That would be a change of plans, however, as during a Fightful Select Answers Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp revealed that AEW's original direction did not call for King to unseat MJF this weekend. 

At the same time, Sapp noted that AEW hadn't factored the amount of buzz King would receive in the last week, and believes that a King victory was now possible. Ultimately though, he expects that its more likely that MJF retains the championship, based on long-term plans AEW reportedly has for the title.

While King's momentum is at a fever pitch, he has been far from the only AEW star chasing the AEW World Title over the last month, with "Hangman" Adam Page, Andrade El Idolo, Kenny Omega, and Swerve Strickland all also vying for the top prize. Page and Andrade will also be in Australia for "Grand Slam," with the winner receiving a title shot against either King or MJF at AEW Revolution, while Omega and Strickland will face each other in singles action on "Dynamite" next Wednesday in Sacramento.

Read more: AEW Stars: Meet Their Spouses & Partners

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Chris Unger via Getty Images

After the UFC cut heavyweight Jailton Almeida following a second uninspired loss, should we see this as a sign that patience for underperforming fighters is quickly running out in the world’s top MMA promotion? Also, did BKFC just deliver the best combat sports offering of the past weekend, and if so, what does that tell us?

All this and more in this weekend’s mailbag. To ask a question of your own, hit up @BenFowlkesMMA on X or @Ben_Fowlkes on Threads.

@GeorgeWilb77062: Was there any funky line movement reported leading up to Jailton Almeida’s final UFC fight? Oh, and has anyone ever pointed to the canvas floor, declaring before the world to stand their ground, then not throw a single offensive strike?

That was honestly one of the most frustrating heavyweight fights of the modern era. It was all the more frustrating because, when he actually wants to, it seems like Jailton Almeida can actually fight. It’s just that he doesn’t seem to want to anymore. Instead he wants to stand around and make faces like he’s so bored of all this, which in turn makes us pretty bored watching him.

The UFC apparently agrees, because he’s already been cut from the roster. I hope people realize how drastic a move that is. For the longest time, the UFC policy seemed to be to hold onto heavyweights for as long as possible. An underperforming bantamweight might get cut right away, but heavyweights got to stick around and stink up the joint for years. Now, after two consecutive losses, the UFC goes and cuts a heavyweight who was still ranked in the top 10. (Almeida is actually still listed at No. 8 on the UFC website.) That’s wild!

You have to do really, really badly to get cut as a ranked heavyweight in today’s UFC. The division is so thin as it is. Tai Tuivasa has lost six in a row only just now fell out of the top 15. Cutting Almeida seems like a signal that the UFC is less patient than ever with guys who put on boring fights and lose anyway. Whether or not you believe that’s how talent should be evaluated, that’s now the reality. Fighters must adjust accordingly.

@ewillcock: Looks like BKFC had a good night of business. I really enjoyed watching the fights on YouTube for FREE.

Maybe it was the nostalgic main event, but i wondered if you have any thoughts on the card, and what's next for the promotion?

I spent Saturday night flipping back and forth across three different sports broadcasts: UFC Fight Night on Paramont+, BKFC’s Knucklemania event on YouTube, and Olympics coverage on Peacock.

Of those, BKFC definitely delivered the most entertainment and excitement with the least filler. (I get that Olympics broadcasts are aimed at a general audience, but come on, do I really have to watch a segment about some dude’s relationship with his grandmother before I can see him jump his snowboard off a big, icy ramp?) I think there’s absolutely a market for what BKFC is doing. I also think the big challenge is going to be figuring out how to consistently make money while playing to an audience that is essentially a niche within a niche.

Going live on YouTube at this point is smart, though. Too many fight promotions, while still scratching and clawing for market share, make the mistake of putting stuff behind a paywall in exchange for a relatively small and short-term cash infusion. BKFC needs to grow its audience. It needs to give people a chance to see what it’s doing and get excited about it. And there was a lot to get excited about at Saturday’s show.

@justlikelasagna: What does it say about the community of MMA fans (not all of them, just the vocal ones) that Tom Aspinall felt it necessary enough to show images of him getting eye surgery to prove that he really did f*** up his eye?

Some segment of MMA fans will never miss a chance to accuse an MMA fighter of being a coward. They must really enjoy it. They see this as a sport populated by people who are scared to fight and looking for any way to avoid it. They never seem to ask themselves why such people would seek out professional fighting as a vocation. They just adopt this as their viewpoint and then view everything through that lens.

I think it’s because that’s the thing that would make the most sense to them. Most people would be scared to get in a cage and fight a highly trained opponent. Most people should be. It’s a scary thing. But simply because they might be inclined to fake an injury in order to avoid it, it doesn’t mean everyone else would. Some people really are built different. And anyone who becomes UFC heavyweight champion is probably one of those people.

But honestly, is it really so hard to believe Tom Aspinall’s eyes were messed up? We all saw Ciryl Gane go knuckle-deep into both eyes. He went full Three Stooges on this man. Do people have a hard time imagining that this might do serious and lasting damage to one of the most delicate organs in the human body? Because I do not. If anything, I’m surprised we don’t see more ongoing eye issues from the many, many eye pokes in this sport.

@MMAJunkieGeorge: You think the UFC can benefit from an annual 8 man/woman grand prix to spice up divisions? Say Kayla Harrison beat Nunes and retired, let's crown a new champ via GP.

Maybe that'll shake things up in regards to who is next, interims, BMFs, doghouse (Arman). Two mil to the winner.

George, you know I love a tournament. Those old PRIDE Grand Prix events? That was some of the best MMA of the 2000s. But I also know how much the UFC hates tournaments, and not without reason. Remember when the flyweight division was brand new and the UFC did a modest four-man tournament to crown its inaugural champion? Even that managed to be a pain in the butt before it was over.

But some of these divisions where there’s really not much going on as it is? There’s really no reason not to do a tournament. Sure, some alternate will probably swoop in and win it while fighting all of one time in the final, but so what? A tournament is the best and easiest way to take a crop of fighters we don’t really know or care about and turn them (or at least one of them) into something memorable.

@logsupacoowacky: What's the over/under on how many of the eleven title holders will fight between now and the White House card?

There’s only one numbered UFC event between now and mid-June that’s still without a headliner. That’s UFC 327 in Miami on April 11, and so far the announced lineup for that one looks like a pretty good UFC Fight Night event — but nothing special. I think we’ll probably see one title fight added to that card somewhat soon.

But even then it would mean that the first half of 2026 would see a grand total of three UFC title fights (unless you include the BMF title, which I don’t). Of those three, one was an interim title fight and another was a rematch no one asked for that ended up being basically a rerun of the first fight. So in other words, UFC 327 is the one chance to have a true, fresh title fight prior to the White House event.

That leaves an awful lot of UFC titles that could be defended on that White House card. Maybe the UFC really is planning to deliver the seven or eight title fights Donald Trump seems to be expecting. If so, that could be a tricky broadcast (if you have seven or eight fights that could either last 30 seconds or 30 minutes, it’s tough to plan for). It would probably also mean that the few months following that event would be as light on title fights as the months leading up to it.

@Screenplaya: Does the UFC provide supplements to fighters, as Derrick Lewis said? Do they contain banned substances, as Derrick Lewis might've intimated? And, since we have weight classes to ensure fighters fight people their size, why is weight-cutting allowed?

When UFC exec Jeff Novitzky pushed back on Derrick Lewis’ claim that the UFC gave him peptides, it was the peptides part he disputed — not the claim that the UFC might be providing fighters with supplements. That seems a little weird to me. How would you feel if you found out that the UFC was giving your opponent some good stuff to help his training but hadn’t offered any to you? Because I could see not loving that.

As for weight-cutting, how do you stop it? Stuff like hydration tests don’t really work, at least not unless you’re willing to scratch a bunch of your own fights when people inevitably fail. You could try to do what California has experimented with and just tell fighters which division they need to compete in, but that could get heavy-handed in a hurry. I agree that it’s actually insane to have fighters deplete themselves so drastically the day before the competition, all just to fight someone who’s basically the same size, but I also don’t know how to make them stop. So far, neither does anyone else.

@LCombatsports: In an environment where combat sports media jobs are extremely hard to come by, what would you recommend anyone wanting to increase interest and engagement in one's work? Perhaps to be able to make some money in this field.

Don’t pin your hopes on someone offering you a job in MMA media. Don’t sit around waiting for an opening somewhere. There aren’t many, and with the combination of AI, declining ad revenue, and general uncertainty about how to take internet content and turn it into money, the environment will probably only get tougher.

I think the best approach is creating your own thing, whether it’s a podcast or a Substack or a social media presence or (and I realize this sounds dreadfully old school) a website. Something you control, where you can put up the content that you like, and then build an audience from there. Maybe someone sees it and offers you a job. Maybe you gradually monetize it. But either way, you own it and no one can take it away from you with a round of sudden layoffs.

Indiana football remains in the mix for one of the top wide receivers in the country in the class of 2027, according to On3/Rivals.

Monshun Sales, who attends Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, announced a final four of Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama and Miami on Wednesday afternoon. It’s the Hoosiers and the three teams they beat in the postseason to win the national championship.

Sales is a 5-star prospect who ranks in as the second highest-rated wide receiver and eighth highest-rated prospect overall in the class of 2027 in the Rivals Industry Ranking. He holds offers from other top programs including Michigan, Oregon, Notre Dame and LSU, among others.

Wide receivers have enjoyed success in Indiana’s offense, where position coach Mike Shanahan doubles as coordinator and play caller, for each of Curt Cignetti’s first two seasons leading the program. Both Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. project as NFL Draft picks this spring while Charlie Becker emerged as a rising star during the Hoosiers’ run through the regular season. Additionally, Cooper Jr. starred at Lawrence North like Sales before committing to Indiana.

Sales would be the first 5-star to commit to Indiana in program history. As a star at a premier position and an in-state recruit, he’d be a huge get for the Hoosiers in 2027.

Atlético Madrid is STEAMROLLING Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.

And there’s still the entire second half ahead at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

There was even a bizarre own goal. 

The Colchonero opened the scoring in the seventh minute.

Cubarsí’s back pass to Joan García turned into a goal after the Barça goalkeeper was “fooled” by the bounce of the ball.

Check out the play below and give your opinion!

Joan García had made a great save from Giuliano Simeone’s attempt just two minutes earlier.

Ruthless, Atleti got their second in the 14th minute with Griezmann. A series of passes and a perfect finish from the Frenchman. 

The third only didn’t come in the 23rd minute thanks to Koundé.

But it came on a perfect counterattack.

Unable to count on the injured Raphinha, Hansi Flick took off the booked Casadó to bring on Lewandowski in the 37th minute.

An attempt that didn’t have the immediate effect he’d hoped for.

Barça then saw Julián Álvarez end his drought—he hadn’t scored yet in 2026—after finishing off another lethal attack in the 47th minute. 

The return leg will only be on March 3rd, with Barça as the home team.

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

Terrible news, everyone. Fiorentina’s back in action this weekend. Even worse, Serie A’s most disappointing side takes on Como, a team that’s already won twice in Florence this year, most recently in the Coppa Italia. The Lariani, of course, have gone from strength to strength, knocking Napoli out of the Coppa on penalties on Tuesday. Perhaps the Viola can ambush their high flying hosts, who might be tired out from their midweek exertions, but let’s be real: Como’s miles ahead and is the obvious favorite.

The match will be played on Saturday, 14 February 2026, at 14:00 GMT/9:00 AM EST at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinagaglia in Como. The forecast calls for a grey day on the banks of the lake with the chance of some rain, which perfectly suits my feelings going into this one. As a reminder, Fiorentina’s fans aren’t allowed to travel for Serie A games for the rest of the year after their idiotic clash with AS Roma fans on a highway outside Turin.

Three things to watch for

1. Intensity, urgency, all that jazz

Every cliche applies to Fiorentina right now. There aren’t leaders, there’s no character, the mentality is awful. I quantified it with a look at late-game performance earlier this week but you don’t need numbers to see that something fundamental is broken at this club. Whether that’s the deaths of Joe Barone and Rocco Commisso in quick succession or the organizational turmoil in upper management positions, things aren’t right and that hasn’t trickled down to the players so much as inundated them.

Fiorentina has shown glimpses of competence, of course. The first half against Como was excellent, for example, despite a wackily-rotated squad. The second half against Torino last time out was very good until the turtling began. Everything could and must improve, of course, but that’s not possible at this juncture. Cutting out the boneheaded mistakes would go a long way to staying in Serie A, though. If the Viola can just not dribble urine down their own legs, they’ve got a reasonable chance of getting something from this.

2. Set piece defense, as per usual

Fiorentina has gone ahead in both meetings with Como this year and in both, Como equalized through a set piece goal. I’m as sick of writing about this topic as you are of reading it but the fact remains that Fiorentina is almost uniquely catastrophic at defending set pieces; before fbref lost its data, the Viola had conceded more chances from them than any team in Serie A, and I haven’t seen anything that would change that. The only silver lining is that for Como to equalize from another corner or free kick would mean that at least Fiorentina will have scored again, only to unravel as per.

3. What fresh idiocy Fiorentina will unveil

One thing that’s been fun* about this year’s Fiorentina is the variety of errors that every player commits. We’ve seen defenders make inexcusable passes out the back, fluff their clearances, or stare at forwards running past them without moving. We’ve seen midfielders dribble into culs-de-sac of their own construction, bork 5-yard passes, and stand astonished in the center circle rather than track back. The forwards have missed goals in increasingly creative ways, dribbled into touch, and wandered off the pitch to enjoy a nice bowl of carabaccia.

Variety is the spice of life and this is a very spicy team indeed. If you, like me, have pretty much given up hope for this incredible collection of bozos to actually do their jobs for 90 minutes, the only entertainment they can offer you is a series of mistakes that deserve the Boots Randolph treatment. If we’re stuck on this sinking ship, all we can do is fire up the kazoos and provide a morbidly raucous chorus before the waves close over our heads.

*this has not actually been fun at all

Possible lineups

Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Department

Everyone from the experts to the bookies to the bettors predicts Como to win and that’s the correct opinion. After all, Serie A’s nouveau-est riche side is in the hunt for a Champions League place and, even if that’s probably beyond it, Europe beckons any team in 6th at this stage of the season. The visitors are, of course, complete and utter ass. Their only advantage is a few extra days of rest and that’s not nearly enough to tip the scales.

Due to the curse that is TMBGD, though, I guess I’ll call it a 1-2 win for the visitors. The Moose has shown signs of life lately and I like his odds to get in behind the Como defense a couple of times; he’ll need to finish one of those chances, of course, but we’re in a safe space here so let’s assume he does. Como will pull one back via Paz after a scramble at a free kick, setting the stage for a late winner on the break from Marco Brescianini as the hosts pour bodies forward. Como’s going to dominate this game by every statistical and emotional metric but hey, why not pretend like Fiorentina has a chance? We lose nothing by hoping.

Forza Viola!

Don't look now, but Nikola Jokic is back in the picture.

An afterthought in January when he missed 16 games with a left ankle sprain, the Serbian big man has risen to second on the NBA MVP Odds board thanks to an impressive seven-game stretch in which he has averaged 24.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 9.4 assists per game. His strong play has Denver back in the thick of the playoff hunt and has Jokic within striking distance of his fourth most valuable player trophy.

Jokic's reemergence has coincided with an injury to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has seen his odds move from -380 to -210 while he deals with an abdominal strain that is likely to sideline him for at least five games. 

Let's take a look at the latest NBA MVP odds below.

🏀2026 NBA MVP odds

Team		Movement
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	<<-210>>	▼
Nikola Jokic	<<+320>>	▲
Cade Cunningham	<<+1400>>	▼
Luka Doncic	<<+800>>	▼
Jaylen Brown	<<+3300>>	▼
Victor Wembanyama	<<+5000>>	▲
Anthony Edwards	<<+15000>>	▼
Jalen Brunson	<<+25000>>	▼
Tyrese Maxey	<<+25000>>	▼
Donovan Mitchell	<<+30000>>	▼

Our friends at bet365 have boosted Nickola Jokic's NBA MVP odds from +320 to +375. Act now while the value lasts.

NBA MVP prediction

With voters increasingly sensitive to both team success and two-way impact, SGA has the cleanest path to an MVP narrative this season. He's the best player on a top-two team in the West, elite efficiency from all three levels, and offers real defensive bite at the point of attack. His game scales without drama—he can dominate in isolation or flow within movement-heavy actions, and he gets to the line a ton without forcing bad shots. If Oklahoma City’s depth keeps their net ratings gaudy when he sits, while his on/off still pops, he’ll own the “drives winning” storyline that tends to decide close MVP races.

Doncic will put up video-game numbers again, yet the bar for heliocentric guards keeps rising, and defensive skepticism plus any midseason usage management could ding his case. 

By contrast, SGA’s steadiness, durability, and two-way credibility give him multiple avenues to “win” the discourse even if raw counting stats are a tick lower—especially if the Thunder post the league’s best record.

Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Stake: 2 units

📈 NBA odds over time

This year's MVP chase has been a heavyweight melee. Follow along all season as we update this graphic with contenders rising and falling. 

💰2026 NBA MVP opening odds

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +150
• Nikola Jokic +350
• Luka Doncic +380
• Giannis Antetokounmpo +1200
• Victor Wembanyama +1200
• Anthony Edwards +2500
• Kevin Durant +5000
• Cade Cunningham +6000
• Jalen Brunson +8000
• Donovan Mitchell +10000
• Paolo Banchero +10000
• Trae Young +15000

NBA MVP betting data

The following data is courtesy of BetMGM.

• Highest ticket percentage: Victor Wembanyama 17.6%
• Highest handle percentage: Luka Doncic 21.8%
• Biggest liability:  Victor Wembanyama

Popular NBA futures odds

• NBA championship odds
• NBA Rookie of the Year odds
• NBA Most Improved Player odds
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds
• NBA Coach of the Year odds
• NBA Clutch Player of the Year odds

How is the NBA MVP decided?

The MVP award is one of the most prestigious honors in professional basketball—and one of the most debated. But how is the MVP actually chosen?

🗳️ MVP Voting Process

The MVP is determined by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the U.S. and Canada, as well as a fan vote that counts as one ballot. Each voter selects five players, ranked from first to fifth place. The point system is as follows:

• 1st place vote: 10 points
• 2nd place: 7 points
• 3rd place: 5 points
• 4th place: 3 points
• 5th place: 1 point

The player with the highest total point tally at the end of voting is crowned NBA MVP.

📊 What Do Voters Consider?

While there's no official checklist, MVP voters typically weigh several key factors:

• Individual statistics: Points, assists, rebounds, efficiency, advanced metrics like PER or Win Shares
• Team success: MVPs are rarely chosen from losing teams and Top 3 seeds are the norm
• Narrative and storyline: Voters often reward players overcoming adversity or carrying a franchise
• Consistency and availability: Games played, durability, and clutch performance matter

👀 Voter Biases and Trends

Some unofficial trends also influence MVP outcomes:

• “Voter fatigue”: Players who've already won may need to outperform their own past seasons to win again
• New blood bias: Voters sometimes prefer rising stars over repeat winners
• Position favoritism: Guards and forwards tend to dominate MVP voting, although that trend has been changing in recent years

📜NBA MVP betting history

A quick look at recent NBA MVPs and their opening odds.

Season	Player	Opening Odds	Team
2024-25	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	+400	Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24	Nikola Jokic	+450	Denver Nuggets
2022-23	Joel Embiid	+600	Philadelphia 76ers
2021-22	Nikola Jokic	+1600	Denver Nuggets
2020-21	Nikola Jokic	+2500	Denver Nuggets
2019-20	Giannis Antetokounmpo	+210	Milwaukee Bucks
2018-19	Giannis Antetokounmpo	+475	Milwaukee Bucks
2017-18	James Harden	+1100	Houston Rockets
2016-17	Russell Westbrook	+200	Oklahoma City Thunder
2015-16	Stephen Curry	+650	Golden State Warriors
2014-15	Stephen Curry	+1600	Golden State Warriors

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Caleb Wilson, North Carolina men’s basketball’s superstar freshman forward, broke his left hand in a loss at Miami on Tuesday and will be out for a yet-to-be-determined period of time, the university announced on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Wilson suffered the injury in the first half of the 75-66 loss. X-rays taken during the game came back negative, which prompted him to return to the contest, but additional imaging that was done after the No. 13 Tar Heels returned to Chapel Hill, North Carolina revealed a fracture.

“The evaluation process is ongoing to determine the timetable for Wilson’s return,” North Carolina said in a statement.

Caleb Wilson out with fracture in left hand. pic.twitter.com/sI1zr4JG0A

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 12, 2026

REQUIRED READING: Bracketology projection for NCAA Tournament field has new No. 1 seed

Wilson has been one of the brightest stars in what has been widely hailed as one of the best freshmen classes in the sport’s recent history. The 6-foot-10 Atlanta native is averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game for North Carolina, which is 19-5 after a disappointing 2024-25 season in which it barely snuck into the NCAA Tournament field.

Wilson has been integral in that improvement. He has set North Carolina program records for scoring in double figures in each of his first 24 career games and for his 17 games with at least 20 points. He’s fourth in the ACC in scoring, third in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage (at 57.8%).

In a thrilling 71-68 win last Saturday over archrival Duke, he had a team-high 23 points and helped keep the Tar Heels’ offense afloat in a game in which it fell behind by as many as 13 points.

The former five-star recruit is widely projected as one of the top five picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Three of North Carolina’s seven remaining regular-season games come against teams ranked in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: No. 23 Louisville (on Feb. 23), No. 18 Clemson (March 3) and the rematch with No. 6 Duke (March 7), as well as a Feb. 17 game at an NC State team that’s receiving votes in the poll.

The Tar Heels are a No. 4 seed in the latest mock NCAA Tournament bracket from USA TODAY Sports.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caleb Wilson breaks hand, out indefinitely for UNC basketball

The countdown to Longhorns spring camp has begun which means it’s the perfect time to break down the roster. Today, it’s about the Longhorns I see making a major leap in 2026 and become household names. 

I’ve circled five players that I feel are set up for major success this season if they are able to put together strong spring camps:

WR Kaliq Lockett 

Sark loves playing his top line guys and that doesn't include Lockett(at least as of right now). That being said, I expect more rotation at the skill positions in 2026, both to stay healthy and because of the depth at RB and WR. Lockett factors in as likely the WR4 or 5 on the team, sitting behind either Cam Coleman or Ryan Wingo. I believe he’s capable of playing at either and the addition of Sterling Berkhalter makes me think he’ll likely fill in behind Wingo. Wherever he lines up, I believe he will make an impact when he’s on the field. 

Saving some of his best for last. Tough and gritty after taking a few big shots.

Kaliq Lockett the freshman on the other end ooo wee pic.twitter.com/5nEMaOgOS1https://t.co/vTPJbxbDC4

— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) December 31, 2025

TE Nick Townsend 

This is a player I’m very bullish on in 2026. I believe Townsend is not only capable of being the TE1 for Texas, but one of the best TEs in the SEC in 2026. He’s able to step into more of a receiving role in 2026 with the addition of Michael Masunas and Spencer Shannon, both elite blockers. I don’t think Townsend will match what Gunnar Helm did in 2024, but I don’t think it’s because he can’t. The room is just insanely talented and deep, but I believe Townsend is the most talented of the bunch and will explode in 2026. 

This block from Nick Townsend was one of a few really good showing from the true freshman, saw @CoachJeffBanks pumped from his play today

You better come correct because Townsend is coming with the smoke

This play had me screaming at the top of my lungs in DKR pic.twitter.com/dIhzKfbvd8

— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) September 7, 2025

DB Kade Phillips 

I believe there are very few players for Texas that will benefit more from Will Muschamp’s addition than Phillips. His man coverage ability is about as good as you will find and continues to build heading into his sophomore season. Phillips is a top tier playmaker in the secondary and I think he will be a difference maker for Texas this season. He's one of the most important players in the Muschamp defense. Muschamp always had elite CBs at Georgia(Lassiter, Everette, etc.). Having one side of the field shut down is a must and Phillips is more than capable of filling that role. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Phillips on an All-SEC team in 2026. 

we see you, Kade Phillips pic.twitter.com/u4QvVGBtPg

— Landon Holifield ✭ (@TheLandoShow) November 22, 2025

DB Xavier Filsaime 

Filsaime is someone that craves contact. That’s a must in the Will Muschamp defense and something I believe will allow Filsaime to thrive. Filsaime needs to slow down at tim but he’s a great talent that is capable of making a major leap in year three. I think the S room has three guys that need to step up and he’s one of them(McDonald, Williams Jr.). With Jonah Williams splitting time between baseball and football during the spring, Filsaime will need to be ready to play major snaps early in 2026. 

DL Maraad Watson 

I believe the DL rotation for Texas will be as strong as any in the country this season. Maraad Watson, heading into his second year as a Longhorn, figures to factor into that conversation consistently. Watson has remarkable ability for his size and I expect him to consistently be on the field in 2026. He seemingly needed a year for the “SEC strength” to come, but now I think he can be a force in this defense. He likely won’t be the top line player, but he can be a difference maker in the run and pass game this season. 

True underclassmen defensive players with double-digit snaps against Texas A&M last night:

Colin Simmons
Graceson Littleton
Kobe Black
Alex January
Maraad Watson
Ty'Anthony Smith
Lance Jackson
Kade Phillips
Xavier Filsaime

The future of the Texas defense pic.twitter.com/oRdxAkHaxY

— Evan Vieth (@EvanVieth) November 29, 2025

Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Townsend, Phillips highlight breakout candidates for Texas next season

Jared Verse wasted no time establishing himself as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and led the league in total pressures (including playoffs) in 2024 before continuing to play at a high level last season.

He still has room for improvement, though. Verse wants to get even better, elevating his game to the elite level where Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett and the other top pass rushers live.

One way to get there? Train with them. Verse said on “The Pivot” podcast recently that Parsons invited him to train together in Dallas. Of course, Parsons is rehabbing a torn ACL, but he still wants to work with Verse and help him get better.

“I'm a student of the game now. I think I’ve got to get a lot smarter,” Verse said. “I was just talking to Micah two days ago. We were talking, he was like, ‘Bro, you are so fast, use your speed.’ Even Micah, he’s still recovering from his injury. He’s got a long way ahead of him. He said, ‘Come to Dallas.’ He trains in Dallas. He said, ‘Come to Dallas. Let’s work together.’ I’ve got to start working with these dudes who are at the level I want to get to. I haven’t spent enough time with Micah. I haven’t spent enough time with Will (Anderson). These dudes that dominate the league that I’m trying to get to that level. But they all work together. They’ll get and do workouts together. I’ve got to start getting into that.”

Verse has some untapped potential, something he’s well aware of. He wants to get better at finishing plays and turning pressures into sacks, something he improved upon this past season when he increased his sack total from 4.5 to 7.5.

Parsons and Garrett are still a tier above Verse, though, which is why he wants to pick their brains and learn how to clean up certain areas of his game.

Training with them can’t be any harder than working out with Aaron Donald, which Verse checked off his bucket list – or “never-doing-again” list – last summer before the season started.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Packers star Micah Parsons invited Jared Verse to train in Dallas

Feb. 12 (UPI) -- South Korean teen Gaon Choi scored a 90.25 to win gold Thursday in the Olympic halfpipe, denying Chloe Kim of a record third consecutive victory.

Choi, 17, received treatment after a nasty fall on her first of three runs in the competition in Livigno, Italy. She initially raised doubts whether she could continue, but rallied to overtake Kim with a stellar final run.

Her victory gave made her the first athlete from the Republic of Korea to win a gold medal in snow sports.

Kim posted an 88 on her first run and remained in the lead until the final round, when Choi posted a 90.25. She fell on each of her final two runs while trying to complete back-to-back double cork 1080s -- a trick with two somersaults and three rotations -- en route to a silver medal.

Japan's Mitsuki Ono, who scored an 85 on her first run, placed third. Americans Bea Kim (77) and Maddie Mastro (5.50) finished eighth and 12th, respectively.

Kim was denied in her quest to become the first female or male snowboarder to win gold at three consecutive Olympics. She also was attempting to tie Shaun White, who watched on Thursday at Livigno Snow Park, for the most gold medals (three) ever won by a snowboarder.

The 25-year-old American shrugged off the dislocated shoulder she sustained last month in training and started her initial run with a backside 720. She proceeded to land a switch backside air and double cork 1080, among other tricks, en route to her highest score.

Chloe Kim FLIES to FIRST place through the first run in the halfpipe final! pic.twitter.com/WarlCqfuQu— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 12, 2026

Japan's Ono (85) and Rise Kudo (77.5) were in second- and third-place, respectively, after the first run. Ono and Kudo remained in podium range after their second runs, with Kudo improving her score to 81.75. But Choi, who fell on her second run, saved her best performance for when it mattered most en route to shuffling the podium.

Spain's Queralt Castellet, who won silver in the halfpipe in 2022, placed 10th. Japan's Sena Tomita, who won bronze in 2022, placed ninth.

The men's snowboard halfpipe will be held at 1:30 p.m. EST Friday in Livigno. Jake Pates, Chase Josey and Alessandro Barbieri are the Americans set to compete in that event. Japan's Ruka Hirano and Australia's Scotty James, who earned gold and silver in the event in 2022, also are in the 12-man field.

Switzerland's Jan Scherrer, who won bronze in 2022 and sustained a concussion during training, did not participate in qualification for the event.

Cubs' Nico Hoerner trade rumor news shifts to contract idea originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract, and it changed the entire picture of their lineup.

Prior to that, it looked like Matt Shaw would start at third base with Nico Hoerner at second base.

Bregman is a third baseman, though, so something has to give.

Bregman will play third. Where does Shaw go? Does Hoerner get moved?

The free agent deal has put Hoerner in a number of trade rumors, even as he comes off the best season of his NHL career.

Now, though, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand thinks a contract extension could be in play rather than a trade.

"The Cubs extended Hoerner on a three-year, $35 million deal in March 2023, buying out his final two years of arbitration and his first year of free agency in the process," Feinsand wrote in a new article on Thursday. "The signing of Alex Bregman this winter shifted Matt Shaw into a utility role, potentially setting him up to take over for Hoerner a year from now, but Hoerner is a proven commodity coming off of his best season (6.2 bWAR in 156 games). The Cubs could look to extend Hoerner again, especially if they like the idea of Shaw moving around the diamond."

Hoerner could likely fetch something solid in a trade, potentially another pitcher. Shaw could also have his own trade value, given his youth and recent status as a high-ranking prospect.

Chicago could also stand pat, though, and find ways to use both Shaw and Hoerner. It's an option worth considering, especially given the way Hoerner seems to be appreciated in the clubhouse.

The Cubs likely don't have to rush here, and so it'll be fascinating to see what they decide in the end.

MLB analyst makes the case for the Tigers to extend Riley Greene originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Tigers fanbase has been treated to quite the rollercoaster of an offseason over the winter. The biggest question was whether the club was going to trade Tarik Skubal or not. 

So far, they have not, and an extension is still on the table, but now the focus is on the newest starting pitcher who joined the rotation, and that would be Framber Valdez. 

The two sides agreed on a three-year, $115 million contract, but he isn't the only new arm coming. The club also agreed to bring veteran Justin Verlander back on a one-year, $13 million deal.

MORE: Tigers' Reese Olson out for season amid Justin Verlander news

MLB analyst makes the case for the Tigers to extend Riley Greene

The starting rotation is now locked up for the 2026 season. If the group can avoid any injuries, this could be a dangerous starting rotation. 

With that set, the front office can focus on other things, like extending some of its younger talent. Riley Greene could be a prime extension candidate, and MLB.com's Mark Feinsand breaks down why. 

"Greene makes the list for a second straight season, and although his bWAR dipped from 5.4 to 2.2 in 2025, he set career highs with 36 home runs, 111 RBIs, and a .493 slugging percentage in 157 games last season. Greene will earn $5 million this year and is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons, making the 25-year-old a prime candidate for the Tigers to extend -- especially if they don't believe they will be re-signing Tarik Skubal next offseason."

Greene is coming off a monster season where he was a big part of the club's offense. And if he goes off again this upcoming season, it will only cost Detroit more money. 

It makes a ton of sense for Detroit to reach an extension with its rising slugger sooner rather than later.

More MLB news:

• Anthony Kay warns the rest of MLB that Munetaka Murakami is the real deal
• MLB analyst pushes the Rangers to extend MacKenzie Gore for future stability
• The Astros could face a big problem in extending Hunter Brown
• All eyes will be on Angels' RHP Grayson Rodriguez this spring
• Orioles' Shane Baz considered a prime breakout candidate for the 2026 season

NEED TO KNOW

• Rich Ruohonen said he had the best day of his life on Feb. 12
• The personal injury attorney from Minnesota became the oldest Winter Olympian in Team USA history
• Ruohonen, an alternate on the men's curling team, threw two stones during the match against Switzerland

Rich Ruohonen has made Winter Olympics history!

The 54-year-old Minnesota man entered the record books when he played during Team USA’s men’s curling game against Switzerland on Thursday, Feb. 12.

When Ruohonen — an alternate on the team — threw his first and second stones, he became the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian of all time.

"To go in and make both was great. It was awesome," he told reporters after making his throws. "The crowd was cheering me on and the [Swiss] Schwaller team were so great about it."

He added, "Normally in our game we shake hands if it's out of reach and I just told them, 'Hey guys, we're just going to get this out of way, do you mind if I play a couple rocks and we play one more end?' and they said, 'Great, you deserve it. Get in there.' “

Ruohonen’s teammates thought as much, too. After the U.S. allowed two points, lead Aidan Oldenburg was seen on the broadcast walking to the sideline and pointing to Ruohonen as if to say, "You're in."

Ruohonen broke a nearly 100-year-old record held by Joseph Savage, who was 52 when he competed in pairs' figure skating at the 1932 Lake Placid Games when figure skating was a summer sport, according to Olympics records.

Despite Team USA going on to concede after trailing 8-3 through eight ends, Ruohonen told reporters that it was the best day of his life.

"I think it was," Ruohonen said. "I mean, it's kind of bad under those circumstances that we're in a loss, and I'm a team player 110 percent, but I told them, 'Let's just get it out of the way now so we don't have to worry about it the rest of the way.' "

When he’s not curling back at home as a two-time national champion, Ruohonen works as a personal injury attorney in Brooklyn Park, Minn., according to The Athletic.

Amid making history on the ice, Ruohonen also spoke out about competing at this particular point in history and shared his perspective on ICE operations in his home state.

“I’m proud to be here, to represent Team USA and to represent our country,” Ruohoen said on Wednesday, Feb. 11. “But we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention what’s going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it’s been for everybody.”

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He added, “This stuff is happening right around where we live. And I am a lawyer, as you know. We have a constitution. It allows us freedom of the press, freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, and makes it so we have to have probable cause to be pulled over. And what’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of gray.”

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

Read the original article on People

NEED TO KNOW

• Chloe Kim narrowly missed out on completing a historic gold medal three-peat after she took silver in the women's halfpipe on Feb. 12
• Choi Gaon of South Korea won gold, narrowly defeating Kim in the race, and Mitsuki Ono of Japan won bronze in Livigno, Italy
• Kim was the reigning champ heading into the day, as she also took home gold in Beijing in 2022 and in PyeongChang in 2018

Chloe Kim took silver in the women's halfpipe at the Winter Olympics, narrowly missing out on a historic three-peat.

The Team USA snowboarder came in second place in the event at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, Feb. 12 in Livigno, Italy. Choi Gaon of South Korea won gold , while Mitsuki Ono of Japan came in third with 85.00.

Kim — who was competing on a torn labrum — scored 88.00 during her first trip down the course, and only faced a challenge in the third run, when Gaon scored 90.25 and took the lead. Kim then took a tumble on her last attempt, and wound up with silver.

If the California native, 25, had won gold in the event, she would have become the first person to ever complete a women's snowboard halfpipe “three-peat," following her gold medals in Beijing and in PyeongChang.

Kim's win in Beijing made her the first woman to ever win two gold medals in halfpipe, making today’s run all the more historic.

She was just 17 years old when she won in 2018, the youngest woman to ever win gold in the snowboard halfpipe.

She had solid support in the stands, with her NFL star boyfriend Myles Garrett cheering her on. Garrett brought a camera with him to snap photos of Kim’s run during the qualifying round, and repeatedly called her “so amazing” as he watched in awe. She was the only competitor to score about 90 in the qualifying round.

Kim’s silver medal was hard-won, as she was fresh off an injury that she feared might put her Olympic dreams in jeopardy. In early January, she injured her shoulder in training, just over a month before the Games began.

"Ugh... I hate that I have to make this video. But I felt that it was necessary, so here we go," Kim said in an Instagram video. "I've been here for a couple of days. I'm currently in Switzerland and on my second day of training, I took the silliest fall, and that ultimately resulted in me dislocating my shoulder.”

The athlete said at the time that she was “trying to stay really optimistic” about her chances of competing, and noted that she wasn’t in much pain.

Months before the Games, Kim told PEOPLE that she didn’t feel a ton of pressure to defend her gold medal, but hoped she’d be able to do her best while enjoying the ride.

"I think the pressure I feel is wanting to do the best that I can and see what happens from there — but I just really want to enjoy this journey more than anything I think," she said. "At each Olympics I always go into it with a new set of goals. And I think this time I just really want to enjoy the experience and have a good time."

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.

Read the original article on People

An infernal semi-final. FC Barcelona has just delivered, without a doubt, the worst first half of the Hansi Flick era.

Crushed by Atlético Madrid (3-0 at halftime), the Blaugranas may have said goodbye to their hopes of qualifying for the Copa del Rey final.

Granted, this is only the first leg, but things already look very bleak.

As usual, internet users did not hold back. A review of tweets.

https://x.com/Noaminhoo10/status/2022047266333503933?s=20

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

Not since 1999 has McLaren entered a Formula 1 season striving to defend both titles, after Lando Norris added a maiden Drivers’ crown to McLaren’s second straight Constructors’ championship in 2025. McLaren has now climbed the mountain—so can they stay there?

McLaren has been indisputably the success story of the last regulatory cycle.

Back in 2022 it was entrenched in the midfield, aspiring to extricate itself from a long-running slumber, and a sequence of poor performances and results prompted a strategic rethink that eventually bore fruit mid-2023. From then onwards McLaren has been at the sharp end of the field, resulting in back-to-back Constructors’ Championships, and a Drivers’ Championship for Lando Norris.

Now the ambition is to defend both of those titles.

“We are champions, but we don't carry being champions into 2026,” McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella said. “Everyone will start from the starting blocks. Everyone will start from zero. You know, like our internal narrative is anything we will achieve, we will have to deserve it.”

McLaren began looking into its 2026 car, the MCL40, as early as Easter 2024, when the regulations were in an embryonic stage. Research and development ramped up through mid-2025, with focus switching from the MCL39 to the MCL40, perhaps facilitating a late-season resurgence from Red Bull. But McLaren is happy with the path that it has forged.

“We started this car so much earlier than we normally would,” said Chief Designer Rob Marshall. “A lot of the initial prep and groundwork was done. We lifted off on last year’s car to focus on this, but I wouldn’t say it suffered, I think. You could argue that others maybe kept pressing on with their 25 car longer than we did, but I think we probably did the right thing in the end.”

The current-spec MCL40 is “probably pretty much what we will bring to the first race,” with McLaren keen to learn as much as possible before giving the green light to upgrade packages.

“We really are going to have to be very focused on getting our heads around this car,” Marshall said. “It’s very complicated. It’s all new. There’s a lot of stuff that we need to dial in and tune in. So I think bringing a lot of new stuff to it, early doors, would complicate stuff. I think we’re better off understanding our platform before we get too keen on redesigning it before it’s turned a wheel.”

Added Stella: “We thought that in the economy of a season, it was important to start and launch the car in the most competitive package and configuration. That’s why we pushed all the timing to the limit, but within a very manageable limit.”

In the previous era one of McLaren’s strength was in its efficiency and correlation, with updated parts delivering their expected performance. The team is confident that can be retained in a new ruleset.

“The cars are all new, any built-in advantages have gone, but we've still got the same people and tools doing it,” Marshall said. “The tools will be stretched in a different direction, but you hope our approach is consistent and we go about it the same way. Hopefully we get similar or the same results.”

A large part of McLaren’s 2025 campaign concerned the micromanagement of its two strong drivers, with the team regularly going the extra mile to ensure fairness between Norris and Oscar Piastri. Norris eventually prevailed, in spite of Max Verstappen’s late surge, but his champion status will not earn him any preferential treatment.

“We will enter 2026 with continuity,” Stella said. “We will keep racing the McLaren way. If we have been able to achieve success in 2024 and then in 2025, what has added extra value to what we have achieved is the way in which we have achieved in such a collaborative, supportive way, cohesive way, together with our drivers. I was particularly pleased to see how energetic, proactive, full of ideas, but also full of support [the drivers are] to the way we have gone racing the McLaren way in the past. So that's the perspective of going into 2026 racing from a team point of view.”

Both drivers are still onboard with that approach, albeit a streamlined one, with Piastri conceding that “we probably caused some headaches for ourselves that we didn’t need to last year.”

Piastri spent swathes of the short winter break in his native Australia, reconnecting with family and friends, after a year in which he led the title race for the majority of the season—in only his third year—before slipping to third, only 13 points behind champion Norris.

Piastri won seven grands prix but did not triumph in any of the last nine rounds, in which he went six straight events without a podium.

“Obviously last year wasn’t the final result I wanted, but I think it was nice to go into the off-season, through the off-season, and reflect on it as a whole,” Piastri said. “It’s easy to get drawn into the ending but when you take a step back and look at how good last year was compared to my first couple of years, how strong the car was as a team, some of my individual performances I was really proud of, when you take a step back and look at those, some races at the end of the year were a little bit painful but to look back on the proud moments was nice to do over the break.”

Piastri described looking back on 2025 as “some nice lessons to learn, some tougher lessons to learn,” and insists he can draw confidence from the near-miss.

“I think in terms of performance, the peaks I had was a nice confidence boost and statement for myself that when I get things right and maximise my potential I can be a very strong competitor,” Piastri said. “I think some of the lessons in the back half of the year were very different in nature, a couple of things in Austin and Mexico from a technical and driving point of view that let’s say I hadn’t been challenged on earlier in the season, and then just obviously there’s a pretty long string of races where it was pretty eventful for lots of different reasons, how I can manage those things better, how we as a team can manage those things better, that’s probably one of the most important lessons.”

If Piastri is to achieve his ambition then he will have to dethrone his team-mate as World Champion.

A relaxed Norris is still embracing that mantle of World Champion but stressed that his achievements in 2025 have not altered his hunger entering 2026.

“I still have many more wins in F1 and try and get as many more championships as possible, but if I never do, I’m still happy, I achieved one,” Norris said.

“I don’t feel any different coming into this season, I just want to go out and win, there’s just my baseline feeling is that, I think it’s more at the end of the day if I don’t achieve something again I always have something I’m very proud about, but it hasn’t taken away any motivation or desire to do it again.”

USA women's hockey goalie has been a brick wall through preliminary round originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

USA women's ice hockey breezed through the preliminary round with a 4-0 record, led by goalkeeper Aerin Frankel who played in three of the games.

In Frankel's starts against Czechia, Finland and Canada, she only allowed one goal, while her offense supported her with 15 total goals. 

Frankel, who plays in the PWHL with the Boston Fleet, has been the statistically best goalie through the opening round. 

The United States' defense has only let up 45 shots on goal, and Frankel has been a brick wall with those that have gotten through. Her 97.78 save percentage is the best among all goalies in the Olympics. The 0.33 goals against average is also at the peak of the list.

MORE: Olympic women's hockey scores: Updated results, schedule for 2026 tournament games today

The native New Yorker's two shutouts are also leading all Olympic goaltenders. Only three other goalies in the 2026 games have recorded a single shutout. 

Frankel has set herself apart from the crowd. The Americans face off against Team Italy Friday afternoon in the play-off quarterfinals.

The leading Italian goalkeeper, Gabriella Durante, has allowed five goals in her 132 minutes on the ice. The USA has the edge in the goalkeeping department with the play-offs ahead.

Its goalie is not just known on the ice, though. She has also gained attention for her instagram page dedicated to rating and sharing the best Caesar salads. 

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A post shared by @painbyromaine

Frankel has also started to share some of her meals in Milan, outside of her typical Caesar salad posts. The Italian food must be helping feed her elite week that she has had so far in the Olympics.

Her and Team USA are looking to gain its third gold medal this year in Italy.

More Olympic news:

Tkachuk, Hughes brothers make Team USA history dating to 1964 Olympics

USA Olympic bobsled results: Updated scores for monobob, two-man and four-man events

Winter Olympics' 10 highest-paid athletes in 2026, from Eileen Gu to Ilia Malinin

What goofy stance means in snowboarding vs. regular feet

Chloe Kim's bid for a third straight gold medal in the Olympic women's halfpipe fell just short as her final run ended with a fall. That meant South Korea's Choi Ga-on won gold after coming back from a bad fall of her own.

But Kim didn't hesitate after her third and final run. She went right over to Ga-on and gave her a huge hug and congratulated her. That's the Olympic spirit right there. And as you'll see below, a lot of fans loved seeing Kim be classy there.

Two golds and a silver for Kim in her career. That's pretty incredible, I'd say:

A GOLD MEDAL MOMENT 🫂

Chloe Kim found Choi Ga-on the moment she finished her final run for the silver medal to give the South Korean a congratulatory hug when she clinched gold. pic.twitter.com/9BmkrDfA5S

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 12, 2026

this was an insane final what a comeback for choi gaon congrats to her so happy for her & south korea & chloe with the amazing class you are still the greatest ever!!!! 🇰🇷🇺🇸 https://t.co/EymqCZ4RZa

— cam 🤍☄️ (@wildcatseoul) February 12, 2026

Chloe Kim isn’t just an incredibly talented athlete, but such a class act — everything an Olympic athlete should be and the kind that actually makes me feel patriotic. #WinterOlympics#Olympics2026#MilanoCortinaOlympic2026#ChockAndBatesWereStillRobbed

— James Knobloch (@JamesSaysHey) February 12, 2026

Third Olympic Medal at only 25 years old for Chloe Kim 🐐

She was the first to congratulate Choi Gaon. Class act 👏

Source: @BleacherReportpic.twitter.com/Lvxsxpf7Gi

— YoungBuck®️ (@Buck7990) February 12, 2026

Nothing but class. The absolute best of us is Chloe Kim. So proud #Olympics2026

— Lina Tragni (@linatragni) February 12, 2026

Agreed.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Chloe Kim classily congratulated Choi Ga-on after Olympic halfpipe

Would the New York Mets and New York Yankees benefit from a hard salary cap being instituted in MLB’s next collective bargaining agreement? An interesting new report details a few reasons why it would help the pair of NY baseball teams.

There has been a lot of speculation over the last few months that MLB is headed toward some dark days this time next year. The Los Angeles Dodgers dominating the league and winning back-to-back World Series with the most expensive roster in league history has frustrated many around the game. Especially owners of small and mid-market clubs.

Having over a billion dollars in deferred contracts and other teams like the NY Mets and Blue Jays handing out massive deals in recent years has created a narrative that MLB needs a hard cap to stop the out-of-control spending.

In theory, the idea would hurt wealthy clubs because it would diminish their greatest power, spending huge sums of money. However, a new report from The Athletic’s Evan Drellich suggests a hard cap in the next CBA would be a good thing for teams like the NY Mets and NY Yankees.

New MLB hard cap could have a max of $240 million

“Teams like the LA Dodgers, who have a league-high $402 million payroll, the NY Mets, and the NY Yankees would actually benefit from a limit on their spending.

“‘The biggest beneficiaries are going to be the biggest markets, and the biggest losers will be the small markets,'” a management source told Drellich. ‘… The big markets will do well because there will be no pressure from fans to go to $300-400 million payrolls and so forth.’”

Drellich suggests a potential hard cap could top out at $240 million and have a floor of $160 million.

Young stars could hit MLB free agency sooner

Another interesting facet of the addition of a hard cap is the changes players would want made to other contract guidelines to benefit them in different ways.

“The free agency and arbitration processes would also change,” Drellich suggests. “In the current system, it would be almost unthinkable for owners to let players become free agents sooner than the current wait time of six years, or to hit arbitration earlier than the current standard of three years. But a cap could reduce those wait times.”

New York has always been a top destination for free agents, especially because of the prestige of the Yankees brand. Shortened rookie contracts and arbitration mean young stars would be available for the pair of NY clubs far sooner.

NY Mets and NY Yankees could get out of bad contracts sooner

Another change to contracts that might come with a new hard cap is that, according to Drellich, deals may no longer be guaranteed. In a hard cap system, payroll limits are tied to overall revenue from the league. That makes guaranteed deals harder to have.

While it is not a lock, it is a possibility, which means the NY Mets and NY Yankees would be able to get out bad deals sooner than they can now.

Related Headlines

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Seventeen-year-old Choi Ga-on denied American great Chloe Kim snowboarding history as she brushed off an early fall to win Winter Olympic halfpipe gold.

Kim had been hoping to become the first snowboarder - male or female - to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals.

But as heavy snow fell in Livigno, South Korean Choi usurped Kim at the top of the standings with 90.25 points from her final run, a score the 25-year-old could not better on her last attempt.

It showed remarkable resilience from Choi, after she had earlier taken a brutal fall in which she hit the icy lip of the pipe and flipped into its centre, lying motionless for some time.

But she eventually brushed herself down and stunned the onlooking crowd with her spellbinding third run, her coach bursting into tears at the realisation of what she had achieved.

For Kim, the build-up to the Games had been far from ideal.

With just one competition under her belt this season, she dislocated her shoulder and sustained a torn labrum in what she described as the "silliest fall" in training in Switzerland last month.

But despite having her shoulder in a brace, she showed little sign of it affecting her as she scored 90.25 in qualification on Wednesday.

Watched on by Team USA 'honorary coach' Snoop Dogg and snowboarding legend Shaun White in Thursday's final, eight-time X Games champion Kim had looked set for gold after her opening run scored 88.00, with few coming close.

But Choi's score - met by both cheers and gasps of shock from the onlooking crowd - piled the pressure on Kim, only for a fall to ensure she would leave an Olympics with silver for the very first time.

Japan's Mitsuki Ono took bronze with a score of 85.00.

More to follow.

• Day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics
• Full schedule including times of medal events
• Winter Olympics 2026 medal table

Nick Castellanos shares 4-page handwritten note after Phillies release appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Nick Castellanos have finally come to the end of their relationship. The club gave Castellanos his release Thursday with one year and $20 million remaining on his contract. Castellanos and Phillies manager Rob Thomson had been at odds with each other since an incident in June of last season that had made its way out of the dugout and into the headlines.

Despite the end of his time with the team, Castellanos wrote a four-page letter to the Phillies organization and the team’s fans and posted the first page of it on his Instagram account. While he thanked ownership, staff, teammates and president of operations Dave Dombrowski, there was no reference on the first page to Thomson.

The divide between Castellanos and Thomson was largely the result of the outfielder’s shaky defensive play. He fared poorly in all the defensive ratings and Thomson had stuck by him for years. However, when the manager removed him from a game in June for a defensive substitute, Castellanos reacted negatively to the situation and Thomson did not like how the outfielder behaved or what he said.

The Phillies had worked hard to get Castellanos a new team during the offseason, but the team was unable to swing an acceptable deal. There was no chance of a reconciliation between the team and the player as Castellanos was instructed not to show up for the start of spring training.

Castellanos can sign with any other team. His new employer will only be responsible for the amount he signs for while the Phillies will owe him the difference.

Related: Phillies release Nick Castellanos after failing to trade him

Related: Zack Wheeler says quiet part out loud about Phillies’ playoff struggles

The Miami Dolphins are expected to move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this offseason, with multiple reports that the team is trying to find a trading partner for the 2023 passing-yardage leader. If Miami does not land a trade for the former Pro Bowl selection, they likely will look to release him as a post-June 1 cut, eating the remaining guarantees and signing-bonus accounting against the salary cap over two seasons. With Tagovailoa likely on his way out of Miami, the Dolphins may only have second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers on their roster at the start of the new league year in March.

Could they be in the market for a veteran to bridge the team to their next drafted “franchise” quarterback? And could that veteran be a four-time Pro Bowl selection who may be looking to come out of retirement?

Last May, quarterback Derek Carr suddenly retired. Needing surgery and likely to miss the 2025 season anyway, Carr and the Saints worked out a deal that would free up $30 million in guaranteed money still owed to him by the Saints, but would allow Carr to keep his original signing bonus without New Orleans looking to recoup that money.

Fast forward to the 2026 offseason, and it seems like Carr may be ready to return to the NFL. According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, Carr could be headed toward a return. Around the NFL writer Nick Shook adds, “momentum appears to be building toward a possible return to the NFL for the four-time Pro Bowler,” and has Miami as a possible landing spot:

The Dolphins are expected to move on from Tua Tagovailoa this offseason and might only have Quinn Ewers, heading into his second pro season, as their best remaining option. With a roster that is talented enough to contend and includes stars like De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins only need a proven starter to complete the majority of their offensive picture. They’d find that in Carr, who would need to be convinced of new head coach Jeff Hafley’s vision but could find a welcome home in warm and sunny Miami.

With a projected deficit of $16 million entering 2026, Miami would likely need to create some cap space in order to make this possible. If they want Carr badly enough, though, they’ll find a way to make it work.

Selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr started his career with the then Oakland Raiders, moving with the team to Las Vegas in 2020. He joined the Saints in 2023, playing two seasons before retiring. In his 11-year career, Carr threw for 41,245 yards on a 65.1 percent completion rate with 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions. He has a 92.8 career passer rating. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2022.

If Miami is looking for a short-term starting quarterback who provides stability and can ultimately serve as a mentor to a younger player – either Ewers or a drafted passer in 2026 or 2027 – Carr could be the perfect fit.

What do you think of the idea of Miami pursuing Carr this offseason?

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham will likely miss England’s March international fixtures ahead of the 2026 World Cup, according to the BBC.

The Three Lions face Uruguay and Japan at Wembley at the end of March.

Bellingham suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month and was supposed to be out for around four weeks.

However, it appears he will be out for between six and eight weeks, a massive blow for Thomas Tuchel’s squad.

Bellingham has been struggling with injuries for some time, allowing Morgan Rogers to usurp his place in the first team.

The former Borussia Dortmund ace is in no danger of losing his place in the team, but will be desperate to get back to his best and find consistency.

The 22-year-old has managed six goals and four assists in 28 appearances this term, but Rogers’ form will keep him on his toes.

Rogers has been in sensational form for Aston Villa, playing a talismanic role in their title charge, while Ollie Watkins has struggled for form.

The Villa star has recorded 10 goals and seven assists in 36 appearances this season, including some absolute piledrivers to decide games.

Based on current form, Rogers has built a compelling case to be placed ahead of Bellingham in England’s midfield hierarchy, at least in the short term.

The 23-year-old playmaker has thrived when given responsibility, showcasing creativity, direct running, and a growing knack for decisive moments.

While Bellingham remains one of England’s most gifted players, his recurring injury setbacks have created an opening Rogers has seized with aplomb.

Tuchel values momentum and match sharpness, both of which Rogers currently possesses in abundance.

If he maintains his trajectory and continues influencing big games at club level, he should edge himself into England’s starting XI, carrying that advantage into the 2026 World Cup.

Benjamin Sesko is now beginning to show real promise as Manchester United’s leading striker.

In his last six games, the summer 2026 signing has scored five times, suggesting he has finally settled at M16.

Sesko needs a capable alternative

Yet while Sesko is proving to be the striker United truly needed, there remains a sense that the club’s attacking department is not quite where it should be.

For all his potential, United would benefit from another top‑class forward. Adding a sharp‑shooting alternative, or even direct competition, would elevate their frontline to one of the finest in the league.

Joshua Zirkzee might have been that option, but with the Dutchman heavily linked with a summer move away, United must look elsewhere. With the right addition, their attack could reach a whole new level.

Strikers on the Radar

Several names are already being linked with United. Jean‑Philippe Mateta and Karl Etta Eyong are reportedly on INEOS’ shortlist. But as the 20‑time English champions weigh up their options, they may be tempted to add Brentford’s in‑form striker Igor Thiago to their wishlist.

Thiago battling Haaland for the Golden Boot

Thiago has been prolific in front of goal, scoring 17 times this season, second only to Erling Haaland.

Stepping up after the departures of Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo from the Gtech Community Stadium last summer, the Brazilian has looked every inch the real deal.

And, like Ivan Toney, Wissa and Mbeumo before him, expectations are that he is destined for a big move away.

United could certainly use a player of his calibre, and convincing the Samba star to follow Mbeumo to the Theatre of Dreams may not prove too difficult.

Thiago’s Confession

The United speculation is rightfully growing following Thiago’s recent admissions about his childhood football memories via TNT:

“I wasn’t that interested in football… but then my brother made me watch the Premier League every weekend, especially Manchester United. From there it grew on me… feelings of love and affection.”

Some may interpret this as a subtle “come get me” plea, and United fans will hope INEOS take note.

At 24, Thiago could be the perfect foil for Sesko. The competition between the two would push each other to greater heights, potentially putting United into prime mode.

For the 20-time English champions’ opponents, that prospect would be nothing short of frightening.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

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The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games did not quite end up being the coronation for Chloe Kim many thought.

The 25-year-old still won a medal in the women's halfpipe event, but she fell just short of winning gold in women's halfpipe at a third consecutive Olympics, taking the silver.

Kim, who went last after finishing first among the 24-member field in the qualifier with a score of 90.25, put up an 88 on her first run but crashed out on the next two. Korea's Gaon Choi won gold after scoring a 92.5 on her final run. Japan's Mitsuki Ono earned bronze with an 85.

Full women's halfpipe results

Here are the full results from the women's halfpipe final on Thursday:

• 1st: Gaon Choi, Korea
• 2nd: Chloe Kim, United States
• 3rd: Mitsuki Ono, Japan

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Chloe Kim win? Full snowboarding results from Winter Olympics

Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby has been the subject of trade rumors early in the 2026 NFL offseason.

The five-time Pro Bowler is doing his best to avoid feeding into them, as he explained on a Feb. 10 edition of Jim Gray's "Let's Go!" podcast.

"My focus has been on getting healthy because that's all I can control right now," Crosby said when asked what he wanted amid the rumors. "That's all that matters to me is being with my daughters and being with my wife and taking care of myself."

"People are gonna have rumors," Crosby added. "I just looked at my phone – I've been working all morning. Everyone's hitting me up, 'Did you say this?' I can't control that. You earn that as a player. If I wasn't doing the right things and if I wasn't the person and player I was, people wouldn't be talking about all the nonsense. But that's what comes with it. If you have drama, if you have a losing season, they just try to throw gasoline on the fire and make things a certain way."

Crosby has been the subject of trade rumors since the end of the 2025 NFL season. He left the Raiders facility after being shut down for the final two games of the regular season, expressing discontent with the decision as Las Vegas jostled for the 2026 NFL Draft's No. 1 pick.

"I don't give a (expletive) about the pick, I don't play for that," Crosby said after the decision in December. "That's not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that's what I focus on every day."

More recently, Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Feb. 4 that Crosby was done with the Raiders while ESPN's Adam Schefter further outlined in a Feb. 9 appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that "there's a feeling around the league that Maxx Crosby would like to be traded."

Crosby has made it clear he is paying no mind to the rumors as he begins preparations for his eighth NFL season.

"For me, I know what I'm about. I know what I represent," he told Gray. "I really don't care what everybody has to say. I used to a lot as a young guy. I really don't give a damn. People can have their own opinions. I know what's going on. I know my truth. And I don't need to sit here and keep rehashing it to people that don't know what's going on. So, I don't even waste time with it."

That said, Crosby also acknowledged one of his main goals is to win. He has endured five losing seasons across his first seven years with the Raiders, including a 3-14 campaign in 2025.

"I have a lot of goals, but I do wanna win," Crosby said. "That's all that matters ultimately, but I wanna be in a place mentally where I'm 100% myself. I just wanna focus on football. That's truly what I want."

"People that know me know I'm about the work and football," he added. "I just wanna play football and be left the (expletive) alone. Period. And people that don't understand that, don't (expletive) know me."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maxx Crosby addresses Raiders trade rumors, future with team

You wouldn't know New Orleans Saints fans are feeling more optimistic than ever if you just looked at the standings. Winning six games and finishing last in the NFL's weakest division hasn't lowered expectations for 2026. For one thing, they seem to have a quarterback after drafting Tyler Shough. Could their five-year playoff drought come to an end?

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler ranked all 18 teams that missed the playoffs, including the Saints, based off their future outlook. And the Saints have found themselves in a "sneaky good trajectory" after kickstarting an overhaul last season. Here's why Fowler argues there's hope for a quick turnaround in New Orleans:

Quarterback Tyler Shough showed promise as a starter, providing hope for the future. Wide receiver Chris Olave and left tackle Kelvin Banks are among the young pillars on offense. And the defense overachieved, ranking in the top 10 in several defensive categories. Young players in the secondary are trending well. And, look at that, the team's cap deficit isn't pushing $80 million. Progress!

Those are some solid reasons for optimism. At the same time, the Saints haven't seen it through just yet. They're still old and too expensive at some major position groups. A surging salary cap and the clearance of some dead money on their books helps, but there's still work to be done. And as far as the rest of the NFC South is concerned, the Carolina Panthers are defending their title, while the Atlanta Falcons are right there with the Saints in Fowler's "sneaky good trajectory" tier, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a few slots ahead of them as a team that's "a few moves away" from returning to the playoffs.

It's too soon for anyone in New Orleans to take a victory lap. Fowler highlighted some reasons the rebuild could take longer than hoped, too:

The Saints' roster has been among the league's oldest for years. It's time to get younger. That's a lengthy process. Moving on from free agent veterans such as Cam Jordan and Demario Davis seems timely, even though they have held up well. The front seven needs at least one more quality player. On offense, the backfield needs fresh legs, as Alvin Kamara turns 31 this summer.

Even so, the Saints are definitely trending in the right direction. Having a quarterback the team believes they can win with every Sunday changes everything. If they can make some smart moves in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft, New Orleans just might end that playoff drought and really give fans something to cheer about.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN: Saints are on 'sneaky good trajectory' with Tyler Shough at QB

The official online fan shop of the Olympic Games has been selling T-shirts with designs from the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936, which were used by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis for propaganda.

There are calls in Germany for the sale of the shirts to be stopped, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended it as being part of its Heritage Collection, celebrating styles from all editions of the Games.

The T-shirts, which are emblazoned with the original poster design for the Berlin Olympics by Franz Würbel, are currently out of stock.

The 1936 Games were used by Hitler as a chance to promote his ideals of racial supremacy and to glorify Nazi Germany on an international stage.

The Berlin T-Shirt shows a male figure wearing a laurel wreath. Over his head are the Olympic rings. Underneath him is the Brandenburg Gate and the words "Germany Berlin 1936 Olympic Games".

"The 1936 Olympic Games were a central propaganda tool of the Nazi regime," Klara Schedlich, spokesperson for sports policy for the Green Party faction in the Berlin House of Representatives, told the German press agency, DPA.

She accused the IOC of "clearly not reflecting sufficiently on its own history" and said "the choice of image is problematic and unsuitable for a T-shirt", without context.

The IOC told the BBC that while it "of course acknowledge[s] the historical issues of Nazi propaganda" it wanted to also remember that the Berlin 1936 Games saw "4,483 athletes from 49 countries compete in 149 medal events".

"We made an Olympic Heritage Collection available to the public that celebrates 130 years of Olympic art and design. For this series, emblems, pictograms, posters and mascots from all editions of the Olympic Games are featured," a spokesperson said.

"Many of them stunned the world with their athletic achievements, including Jesse Owens."

Jesse Owens, an African-American track and field athlete, won four gold medals at the 1936 Games, crushing the Nazi myth of Aryan racial supremacy.

The spokesperson said that the historical context of the Berlin Games was explained at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, and that only a limited number of 1936 T-Shirts had been produced and sold.

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Two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones will make her boxing debut in March.

The 32-year-old former Team GB star will take on American celebrity Egypt Criss in Derby on Saturday, 7 March on the undercard of a bout between middleweights Ty Mitchell and Gabe Rosado.

Welsh fighter Jones will be in the boxing ring for the first time exactly 12 months since announcing her change of sports.

She became a star of the 2012 London Olympics by winning taekwondo gold at the age of 19 and went on to defend her title four years later in Rio de Janeiro.

Jones also competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and in Paris three years later, became world champion in 2019 and is a three-time European champion.

Criss, 27, is the daughter of hip-hop stars Anthony 'Treach' Criss from Naughty by Nature and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton from Salt-N-Pepa.

• Boxing schedule and results 2026
• Watch every Born to Brawl episode

More boxing from the BBC

• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

North Carolina has lost freshman star Caleb Wilson to a fracture in his left hand, though it's unclear exactly how long he'll be out.

The school announced the nature of Wilson's injury Thursday, coming two days after the 11th-ranked Tar Heels' loss at Miami. It's potentially a huge blow for UNC coming roughly a month from Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament, with the 6-foot-10 forward regarded as a high-end NBA prospect while leading the team in scoring (19.8) and rebounding (9.4).

Wilson exited the Miami game to head for the tunnel and later returned to the game with his left wrist and palm area heavily taped while finishing with a season-low 12 points.

In its release, the program said X-rays taken during the game were negative for a fracture. But additional imaging done after the team's return to Chapel Hill revealed a fracture, and the evaluation process is ongoing to determine a timetable for his return.

Wilson, who is from Atlanta, ranks sixth among freshmen nationally in scoring.

___

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New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy wasted no time assembling his staff for the 2026 season. On Thursday, the team announced that the coaching staff for the 2026 season has been finalized.

The staff has 25 coaches in total, three more than the 22 coaches on the staff last season for the Steelers, as confirmed by PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh.

Tight ends coach Robert Kugler and game management/QB coach Tim Berbenich were officially announced with the finalization of the staff.

Kugler comes to the Steelers fresh off coaching in the Super Bowl as an assistant offensive line coach for the Patriots. He also has Pittsburgh ties, attending North Allegheny High School. Berbenich is the first game management coach that the Steelers have ever hired. He gained experience as a coaching analyst under Sean McVay with the Rams and, most recently, in a game management/pass game specialist role with Raheem Morris with the Atlanta Falcons.

The team also announced that it has retained strength and conditioning assistant Justus Galac.

Next up for McCarthy will be assembling the roster for his first season coaching his childhood team.

With the report that both sides are open to a return, it seems likely that quarterback Aaron Rodgers could be back with the Steelers for the 2026 season, but nothing is for certain as of now. With the legal tampering period for pending free agents set to open up on March 9, McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan’s actions will provide some more insight into the team’s plans for the 2026 season with their signings.

Finalized Steelers coaching staff announced Feb. 12

Head coach: Mike McCarthy (last coached the Cowboys from 2020-24)

Offense

• Offensive coordinator: Brian Angelichio (former Vikings pass game coordinator and tight ends coach)
• Quarterbacks: Tom Arth (retained)
• Offensive line: James Campen (last coached the Carolina Panthers offensive line from 2022-23)
• Running backs: Ramon Chinyoung Sr. (former Cowboys assistant offensive line coach)
• Wide receivers: Adam Henry (former Bills wide receivers coach)
• Tight ends: Robert Kugler (former Patriots assistant offensive line coach)
• Senior offensive assistant: Frank Cignetti Jr. (former Packers quarterbacks coach)
• Game management/quarterbacks: Tim Berbenich (former Falcons pass game specialist/game management coach)
• Assistant offensive line: Jahri Evans (former Saints assistant offensive line coach)
• Offensive quality control: Eric Simonelli (former TCU assistant linebackers coach)

Defense

• Defensive coordinator: Patrick Graham (former Raiders defensive coordinator)
• Assistant head coach/secondary: Joe Whitt Jr. (former Commanders defensive coordinator)
• Defensive pass-game coordinator/defensive backs: Jason Simmons (former Commanders defensive pass-game coordinator)
• Defensive line: Domata Peko (former Colorado defensive line coach)
• Outside linebackers: C.J. Ah You (former Texas Tech outside linebackers coach)
• Inside linebackers: Scott McCurley (retained)
• Defensive assistant: Shawn Howe (former Montana defensive coordinator)
• Defensive assistant: Pat Reilly (former Texans offensive assistant)

Special teams

• Special teams coordinator: Danny Crossman (former Dolphins special teams coordinator Danny Crossman).
• Senior special teams assistant: Derius Swinton II (former Raiders interim special teams coordinator)

Strength and conditioning 

• Head strength and conditioning: Mark Lovat (former Titans assistant strength and conditioning coach)
• Director of performance integration/sports science: Grant Thorne (former Titans assistant strength and conditioning coach)
• Strength and conditioning assistant: Justus Galac (retained)
• Strength and conditioning assistant: Abe Munayer (former head of athletic performance for Olympic sports at San Jose State)

Chief of staff: Steve Scarnecchia (formerly former Falcons chief of staff)

What do you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 coaching staff?Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments below!

Chloe Kim came up short in her attempt to become the first person to win three consecutive Olympic snowboarding gold medals on Thursday, finishing second in the halfpipe to South Korea’s Gaon Choi at Livigno Snow Park.

Choi stormed back from a nasty crash on her first run in which she clipped the lip of the halfpipe and came tumbling almost head first onto the icy surface. She looked shaky on her second run then the 17-year-old who leads the World Cup standings threw down a near flawless 90.25-point run while fresh snow fell to jump ahead of Kim, who had 88 points on her first run.

Dropping in last as the top qualifier, Kim had a chance to grab the gold medal back. She flashed two thumbs up to her coaching team before dropping in. But she fell on a cab double cork 1080, which she had stomped in her first two runs.

Read more:2026 Winter Olympics Day 6 live updates: Jessie Diggins wills her way to bronze

At the bottom of the halfpipe, Choi threw her arms in the air. Her coach ran to hug her. Kim, after sliding to the bottom of the pipe, ran through the crowd to congratulate Choi. The new Olympic champion was celebrating with Kim’s family.

The snowboard stars have history. Kim helped Choi train at Mammoth Mountain Snowboarding Club. Choi counts Kim among one of her snowboarding idols after Kim launched herself to superstardom at the 2018 Olympics.

Kim, then 17, became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal in PyeongChang. She followed it up with a historic gold in Beijing, where she became the first woman to win two Olympic gold medals in halfpipe.

The 25-year-old Kim suffered a torn labrum in her right shoulder in early January while training in Switzerland. It was the second time she had injured her shoulder in less than four weeks after she was forced to withdraw from a World Cup competition in December.

The injury meant the Olympics were Kim’s first competition of the season.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

It’s time for NBA All-Star Weekend! The midseason exhibition tournament will be held this Sunday, Feb. 15, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. But before the big All-Star Championship Game, there’s a star-studded celebrity game, the slam dunk contest and more fun NBA events for fans to enjoy. This year’s All-Star game also features a new format, with three teams competing (USA Stars, USA Stripes, and World) in a round-robin style. Yahoo Sports broke down the new NBA All-Star competition format for you.

Most of the action will air across NBC and Peacock. Here’s the full NBA All-Star Weekend schedule and everything you need to know to watch the game.

How to watch the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend:

Dates: Feb. 13-15

Location: Intuit Dome

TV channel: NBC, ESPN*

Streaming: Peacock

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star game?

The 2026 NBA All-Star Championship Game will be held this Sunday, Feb. 15. Leading up to the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Weekend has a packed slate of events, including the 3-point contest, and slam dunk contest. NBA All-Star Weekend events run from Friday, Feb. 13 - Sunday, Feb. 15.

NBA All-Star Weekend schedule:

Friday, Feb. 13

• Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game: 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

• Rising Stars Game 1 – Team Melo vs. Team Austin: 9 p.m. ET (Peacock)

• Rising Stars Game 2 – Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac: 9:55 p.m. ET (Peacock)

• Castrol Rising Stars Championship: 10:35 p.m. ET (Peacock)

• NBA HBCU Classic (Hampton vs. North Carolina A&T): 11 p.m. ET (Peacock)

Saturday, Feb. 14

• NBA All-Star Media Day presented by AT&T: 1:30 p.m. ET (NBA App, NBA TV)

• Commissioner Adam Silver News Conference: 4 p.m. ET (NBA App, NBA TV)

• NBA All-Star Saturday Night: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• State Farm 3-Point Contest: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• Kia Shooting Stars: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• AT&T Slam Dunk Contest: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

Sunday, Feb. 15

• NBA G League Next Up Game: 2:30 p.m. ET (NBA App)

• All-Star Game 1 – Stars vs. World: 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• All-Star Game 2 – Stripes vs. Game 1 Winner: 5:55 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• All-Star Game 3 – Stripes vs. Game 1 Loser: 6:25 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

• All-Star Championship: 7:10 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

What channel is the NBA All-Star game on?

The Majority of NBA All-Star Weekend events will air on NBC and stream live on Peacock. The exceptions to that rule are the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, which will air on ESPN, and the media events, which will air on NBA TV and stream in the NBA App.

How to watch the NBA All-Star game without cable:

More ways to watch NBA All-Star Weekend for free:

Who is playing in the NBA All-Star Game?

USA Stars

• Head coach: J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons)

• Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

• Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

• Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

USA Stripes

• Head coach: Mitch Johnson (San Antonio Spurs)

• Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

• Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

• Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors*

• Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors

• Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets

• LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

• Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

World

• Head coach: Darko Rajaković

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

• Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers

• Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder*

• Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

• Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers

• Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

• Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

• Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

"*" denotes unable to play because of injury

Who is participating in the NBA All-Star slam dunk contest?

• Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat

• Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic

• Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs

• Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers

Who is playing in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest?

• Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Kon Kneuppel, Charlotte Hornets

• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks

• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

Benjamin Pavard’s future remains uncertain after a difficult spell on loan at Marseille, casting doubt over whether the French club will make his move permanent.

The defender joined Marseille last summer on a loan deal that includes a €15m option to buy, a clause Inter had expected would likely be triggered.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 20: Benjamin Pavard of FC Internazionale Milano faces the media during the Training/Press Conference ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Urawa Red Diamonds at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on June 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

However, Pavard has struggled to convince in Ligue 1 and has reportedly come under increasing criticism from supporters, as per reports from the Corriere dello Sport.

De Zerbi departure offers Inter one last chance to cash in on Pavard

The recent managerial change could yet offer the Frenchman a fresh opportunity to revive his season, but if his performances do not improve, Marseille may decide against activating the purchase option.

Roberto De Zerbi was removed from his post as head coach and a breath of fresh air could be just what the former Bayern defender needs.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 25: Roberto De Zerbi, head coach of Olympique de Marseille reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Olympique de Marseille and Newcastle United FC at Stade de Marseille on November 25, 2025 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

However, if Marseille choose not to activate their option, Pavard would return to Inter in the summer – although not necessarily for long.

The Nerazzurri are not believed to have plans to reintegrate him into the squad, meaning a new solution would have to be found.

Inter could also be forced to reassess their valuation of the player if they seek a permanent transfer elsewhere. Sporting director Piero Ausilio would then be tasked with finding a buyer and resolving the situation ahead of the new campaign.

Even clubs outside of Europe's top five leagues are going to demand higher fees. Anfield Watch understands that the club's midfield shortlist includes, Caleb Yirenkyi, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Eduardo Camavinga, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Warren Zaire-Emery and Kees Smit.

It's the latter, who plays for AZ Alkmaar that could end-up being a more affordable option. Smit is still an elite talent but he doesn't play for one of the big clubs who would demand a hefty fee, even in the Netherlands, Alkmaar aren't the biggest of clubs.

Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax are ahead of them.

But it looks like Alkmaar are going to be demanding a huge transfer fee as revealed by Fabrizio Romano.

“The name I keep bringing to the table: Kees Smit, the AZ Alkmaar midfielder,” the transfer insider reported on his YouTube channel.

“[His agent] Jorge Mendes is in control of the situation. There is Real Madrid interest, there are Premier League top clubs interested, several top clubs. So, it’s going to be a big battle between Spanish and Premier League clubs.

“For Kees Smit and AZ Alkmaar, it’s going to be a huge summer. It’s not going to be easy to sign him. Something like €40m-45m is not enough, it’s not enough money.

“Get ready for Kees Smit, because he’s going to be a big part of conversations.”

Smit is a fantastic player, but the fact that Liverpool are going to essentially have to pay over £40m for a player with little experience in European football is a staggering amount.

That's the nature of the market right now.

And to be fair, for a player of Smit's talent, it might be worth it. He really is one of the best young midfielders in European football right now.

He's been a stand-out in the Eredivisie. His vision and his pressing ability combined with his technical qualities make him an ideal profile.

However, there are so many risks with buying a young player from the Netherlands. Liverpool don't want to be spending in excess of £40m on a gamble.

So, it will be interesting to see how this saga plays out.

The Copa del Rey heats up with a semifinal that feels like an early final: at the Metropolitano Stadium, Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid hosts Hansi Flick’s Barcelona for the first leg of the semifinal.

The Colchoneros arrive at this stage after eliminating Deportivo La Coruna and Real Betis, the latter swept aside with a clear 5-0 victory. In the league, they are third, but far from the top spot, which is held by the blaugrana, and they see the cup as the most concrete opportunity to give meaning to their season.

Barcelona’s journey has been different: they are flying high in La Liga and have reached the Top 8 in the Champions League, avoiding the playoffs. In the Copa del Rey, the Catalans have overcome Racing, Albacete (who knocked out Real Madrid), and come into the semifinal boasting an extraordinary run: 17 wins in their last 18 official matches.

Last year, also in the semifinals, it ended 5-4 on aggregate for Barça after a thrilling 4-4 in Madrid and a second-leg win sealed by Ferran Torres. The return leg is scheduled for March 3.

With Real Madrid already eliminated from the other side of the bracket, the Metropolitano clash represents a huge opportunity for both teams. The first act took place yesterday with the Basque derby between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, won by the biancazzurri thanks to a goal from Turrientes.

🔄 SUB Flick: Casadò out, Lewandowski in

Hansi Flick tries to shake up Barcelona and opts for a substitution already in the first half. 

In the 39th minute, Marc Casadò, previously booked, makes way for Lewandowski.

The German coach hugs the midfielder and has a brief, intense conversation with him, probably explaining the reason for the decision.

🧨 Lookman SHOW, Atletico scores three

Atletico Madrid keeps pressing and finds their third goal in the 33rd minute of the first half.

The move is started by Giuliano Simeone, who sets up Alvarez. 

The pass to Lookman is brilliant: the Nigerian opens up his foot and scores diagonally to make it 3-0.

Fermin hits the crossbar ⛔ Koundé CLEARS off the LINE 😲

Non-stop excitement in Madrid! In the 20th minute, Olmo delivers a corner directly to Fermin, who heads it onto the crossbar.

Simeone’s Atleti responds immediately: Molina outsmarts Barcelona’s defense and sets up Alvarez, who shoots first time.

Koundé’s intervention on the line is crucial, saving at the last second.

Own goal 😱 Eric Garcia +Grizou: SHOCK start for Barça ❌

The Civitas Metropolitano clash heats up in just a few minutes: by the 14th, Atletico are already 2-0 up.

The opener comes from a sensational own goal by Joan Garcia: the Barcelona goalkeeper lets an Eric Garcia back pass slip under his foot. 

Lookman scores the tap-in, but the ball had already crossed the line.

Just before the quarter-hour mark, the Colchoneros double their lead: Musso launches for Lookman, Koke spreads it right to Simeone, who finds Griezmann’s run into the box. The Frenchman opens up his foot and sends the ball to the far post.

✅ The official lineups

ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Musso; Molina, Pubil, Hancko, Ruggeri, G. Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez. Coach: Simeone

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Garcia, Kounde, Cubarsì, E. Garcia, Balde, Casado, De Jong, Fermìn, Yamal, Ferran Torres, Olmo. Coach: Flick

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

Our final position preview ahead of the 2026 college baseball season focuses on the pitchers, all 21 of them on Florida's official roster.

The Gators return perhaps the most talented 1-2 punch in the SEC in Liam Peterson and Aidan King. Both are expected to be among the top draft pitchers selected in the next two MLB drafts, but who will take over the all-important Sunday spot in the rotation? The trio of Luke McNeillie, Russell Sandefer (UCF) and Cooper Walls (Hawaii) presents three viable options and a ton of depth should injuries strike.

With Jake Clemente drafted over the summer, Florida needs a new closer and setup man. Two returners, Christian Rodriguez and Joshua Whritenour, appear primed to man those roles. The Gators have many long-relief options behind all those named above and more lefty specialists than last year. Finally, a quartet of freshmen will look to carve out roles in the bullpen early on in their careers.

Let's take a look at the 2026 Florida pitching staff.

Friday starter: No. 12 Liam Peterson (Jr.)

Leading the pitching staff is junior Liam Peterson, who has been a part of the starting rotation since his freshman year in 2024. He's played with Team USA, earned multiple preseason All-America nods and figures to be one of the first college arms drafted this summer.

As a freshman, Peterson started 15 games and appeared 17 times for Florida. He worked a 6.18 ERA over 62 2/3 innings while striking out 76 batters. He lowered that ERA to 4.28 last year and elevated his K% from 25.7% to 31.5%. Peterson has elite stuff, but he gets harder than most top-end pitchers do.

When he's on, he might be the best pitcher in the SEC. It's consistency that eludes, but he's improved with each season. If that trend continues, he'll be a first-round pick come June. D1Baseball ranks him No. 20 among starting pitchers heading into the season.

Arsenal: Peterson has a four-pitch mix that features both a slider (mid-80s) and a curveball (high-70s). His fastball runs up to 99 mph, often sitting around 96-97. Both breaking balls are above average, earning a 55 grade from MLB scouts, but he uses the slider more. His changeup (mid-80s) is also usable, albeit not a plus pitch at this point.

Saturday starter: No. 47 Aidan King (So.)

Aidan King started the 2025 season coming out of the bullpen, as most freshmen do. An injury to Pierce Coppola thrust him into a long-relief role early on and he quickly claimed the No. 2 spot in the starting rotation. Since then, he's been considered one of the top arms in the 2027 class.

His 2.58 ERA was the lowest of any Florida pitcher over a full season since Brady Singer in the 2018 season (2.55), and he finished the year just under 10 strikeouts per nine innings with a 7.6% walk rate. King induced groundballs 44.3% of the time last year and had a line-drive rate below 20%. He rarely gives up home runs, too. Avoiding a sophomore slump is always difficult, especially now that there's more tape for teams to study, but King has everything else going in the right direction.

Arsenal: King's fastball averaged 93 mph a year ago, but a year of college workouts should bring that number up. He flashed 97 at one point, so the mid-90s is a reasonable expectation now that he's a year older. That velocity increase should help his high-80s changeup become more effective as well, which means even more groundballs. His slider clocks in around 82-83 mph with some sharp, late break. That's the swing-and-miss pitch against righties and has the makings of a plus pitch.

Sunday starter: No. 38 Cooper Walls (So.)

Hawaii transfer Cooper Walls will get the starting role on Sunday to open the season. He won Big West freshman pitcher of the year honors last year after working a 3.73 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 60 1/3 innings. While the strikeout rate doesn't appear too impressive, he had a 3.02 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 5.6% walk rate. Walls' groundball rate of 48.7% was even higher than King's last season, too. D1Baseball ranks him No. 46 among transfer portal pitchers.

Arsenal: Walls worked in the low 90s with his fastball, averaging 89.5 mph last year, but he's capable of reaching 98 mph. Expect him to fall somewhere around 93-95 this year. His mid-80s slider is a true swing-and-miss pitch, which generated a 47% whiff rate over the fall. He'll mix in a mid-to-high 70s curveball, but Walls is still developing a true third pitch.

Midweek starters: No. 17 Russell Sandefer (Jr.)

Russell Sandefer transferred to Florida after a year with the UCF Knights. He spent his freshman year at Division II St. Leo. He appeared primarily in relief with UCF last season but made six starts in 18 appearances. His 3.38 ERA and 49-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 50 2/3 innings are solid, but he didn't impress enough over the fall to lock down a spot in the weekend rotation. A 48.1% groundball rate is promising, but that was against Big 12 bats, not SEC.

Still, if Walls struggles early, Sandefer appears to be next up in the rotation. He should get plenty of midweek starts to prove himself, too. D1Baseball ranks him No. 118 among college draft prospects, No. 128 among starting pitchers and No. 24 among impact transfers.

Arsenal: Sandefer has a mid-90s fastball that has touched 98-99, albeit with a more typical top-end around 96. He rounds out his arsenal with a low-to-mid-80s slider that generated a 47% whiff rate, a high-80s cutter, and a low-to-mid-80s changeup with a 49% whiff rate.

X-factor: No. 9 Luke McNeillie (Jr.)

The third starting option is third-year Gator Luke McNeillie, who has made four starts over 54 appearances over the last two seasons with Florida. He enters the year as Florida's most reliable option out of the bullpen. Expect McNeillie to work as a high-leverage, multi-inning reliever, but he could wind up starting more games this year if Walls and/or Sandefer struggle. He could also serve as a closer, if needed.

McNeillie threw 35 2/3 innings over 26 appearances as a freshman in 2024, posting a 7.07 ERA with 43 strikeouts and 21 walks. All of those numbers improved in 2025, as McNeillie lowered his ERA to 4.82 over 52 1/3 innings (28 appearances) with 72 strikeouts and 24 walks. The K% and BB% are promising and 2.77 SIERA bodes well for him heading into his junior year. He held opponents to a .230 batting average last year,

Arsenal: He's mostly fastball and slider with a fairly even split between the two. The heater sits in the mid-90s with good carry/ride, and his release helps it look even faster. The slider is in the mid-80s with two inches of vertical break and generates a 46% whiff rate. He trusts it, and it's a potential plus pitch. A lack of a true third pitch is what keeps him from starting games, but he does flash a changeup every now and then. Command is also an issue at times.

Late-inning arms: No. 15 Joshua Whritenour (R-Fr.) and No. 8 Christian Rodriguez (R-So.)

If McNeillie isn't closing out the game, Florida has two reliable late-inning arms to lean on in Christian Rodriguez and Joshua Whritenour.

Both missed their freshman year with Tommy John, but Rodriguez saw some action last year before breaking out in the Cape Cod League over the summer. His 5.32 ERA over 23 2/3 innings last season was slightly inconsistent, but he should be better a year removed from injury. In high school, Rodriguez ramped it up to 97 mph, making his "Bugs Bunny," high-70s changeup an elite weapon. He also has a high-70s slider. Rodriguez was one of the best relievers in the CCL, posting a 0.93 ERA over 19 1/3 innings. If he can replicate those numbers, he'll be a key member of the bullpen for Florida.

Whritenour is coming off an injury, but he has the look of a modern-day closer. He can run the heater up to 100 mph, often sitting in the high-90s, and his high-80s slider generates a 48% whiff rate. The lack of experience could lead to growing pains, however. He didn't get a taste of Division I ball last year like the rest of his class.

If Florida is going to run the closer by committee, these are the top two options.

Long-relief options: No. 23 Billy Barlow (R-Sr.), No. 22 Jackson Barberi (So.) and No. 37 Matthew Jenkins (Jr.)

Florida needs more than one long relief option in McNeillie and that's where Billy Barlow, Matthew Jenkins and Jackson Barberi come in.

Barlow and Jenkins transferred in last year with hopes of starting games. Both pitched primarily out of the bullpen, but Barlow got seven starts and Jenkins got four. Neither are expected to start much this year, barring injuries, but their ability to throw multiple innings should help out whenever a starter gets an early hook and McNeillie isn't available.

Barlow's 6.26 ERA over 46 innings in his first year with Florida is higher than his career 5.16 ERA over 155 1/3 innings. He was much better as a starter for Clemson and will hopefully return to form. He was much better in the second half of last season. The experience is an obvious plus, and he has a four-pitch mix that features a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider, a high-80s cutter and a low-to-mid-80s changeup. He can be very effective at times, but it's important for Kevin O'Sullivan to recognize when he doesn't have it early on in an outing.

Jenkins transferred from JUCO Sante Fe in Gainesville and never really found his footing. He gave up 15 earned runs in 14 innings, leading to an elevated 9.64 ERA. His strikeout rate was impressive at 34.8%, but the walk rate was up near 16%, too. If he can find some more control, Jenkins will be an effective long reliever for Florida this year. He throws a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider with a 40% whiff rate over the fall, a mid-70s curveball with a 57% whiff rate and a high-80s changeup.

Barberi made five spot starts for Florida last year as a true freshman and posted a 4.45 ERA over 32 1/3 innings. He has a fastball that can touch 100 mph and averages around 96, and both his mid-80s slider and mid-to-high-80s changeup generate swing-and-miss. Because of the starts, Florida could use him in a long relief role, but the stuff also poises him to pitch multiple days in a week in high-leverage situations.

Right-handers: No. 31 Ricky Reeth (R-Sr.), No. 20 Schulyer Sandford (R-Fr.), No. 21 Caden McDonald (R-So.) and No. 27 Blaine Rowland (So.)

Ricky Reeth spent the last three years at Notre Dame, posting a 5.00 ERA over 111 2/3 total innings. He has a strikeout-to-walk ratio above 3.0 for his career and was approaching 4.0 last season. His 21.6% strikeout rate and 6.0% walk rate were also impressive in 2025. The question is how well is stuff will play against SEC bats. His fastball sits in the low-90s, his slider is in the low-80s and his changeup is a consistent 82 mph. There's potential for Reeth to eat a lot of innings if he can remain consistent.

Schuyler Sandford was one of the more highly anticipated arms in the 2025 freshman class, but an injury kept him out for the entire year. At 6-feet-6-inches, Sandford has the size and length to reach the upper-90s with his heater, but it was around 92-93 against Georgia Southern and peaked at 96 this fall. He also has a mid-80s slider. His outing against Georgia Southern wasn't too impressive, but there's bound to be growing pains after Tommy John surgery.

Caden McDonald will be a two-way threat for Florida this year. While plenty of people are excited about his bat, he's a fine option on the mound. McDonald posted a 5.14 ERA over 28 innings (20 appearances) out of the bullpen last year. Opponents hit .280 off him, and that number needs to come down. But remember that he was coming off Tommy John, similar to Rodriguez. A year removed from the injury, he's bound to take a step forward, assuming the two-way role doesn't affect him.

McDonald posted a 3.51 ERA over 25 2/3 innings over the summer in the Cape Cod League. He has a four-pitch mix that features a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider, a high-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup.

Blaine Rowland posted a 3.21 ERA over 14 innings in eight appearances last year, but he hasn't been talked about much since the 2025 campaign ended. He didn't throw during the fall or the preseason, so there could be an injury that's unknown at this point. He's a 90-91 mph fatball guy with a slider that moves a ton. This might be a redshirt year for him, though.

Southpaws: No. 33 McCall Biemiller (So.), No. 44 Ernesto Lugo-Canchola (Gr.) and No. 32 Rivers Kurland (Fr.)

Left-handers are always important in baseball, and Florida has five on its roster. However, three of them are freshmen, so don't expect them all to get innings.

McCall Biemiller is the only returning southpaw on the staff. He had a 5.93 ERA over 13 2/3 innings (11 appearances, one start) last season. Command was an issue for him, as he walked (17) nearly as many batters as he struck out (18). Still, opponents only hit .224 off him, his strikeout rate was above 27% and his groundball rate was 48.4%. Biemiller needs to show more consistency this season, but he should be the first lefty out of the bullpen for Florida. He has a low-90s fastball, a low-80s slider with a 40% whiff rate over the fall, a mid-70s curveball with a 57% whiff rate and a high-80s changeup.

Ernesto Lugo-Canchola was brought in from Division II Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) to give Florida more depth in this role. He's like a left-handed version of Reeth, in that he'll eat innings when needed. Lugo-Canchola struck out 103 batters over 94 2/3 innings last year. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, his low-90s fastball looks a bit faster thanks to the downhill action, and he pairs it with a low-80s slider. He had a 2.00 ERA last year and opponents hit just .164 off him, but it's a big jump from DII to the SEC.

Rivers Kurland is the younger brother of second baseman Cade Kurland, but this isn't a case of nepotism. The younger Kurland improved dramatically during his high school years and looked like a legitimate ace as a senior when Gators Wire saw him at the FHSAA State Championships. He's a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, but has that action that throws hitters off. His fastball will likely clock in under 90 mph, and his breaking ball is in the mid-70s, yet both are effective. Maybe Kurland belongs in the nextsection, but it's hard to pick which freshmen will get chances on an SEC ball club.

Freshmen: No. 34 Eli Blair (Fr.) and No. 35 Jackson Hoyt (Fr.) and No. 45 Minjae Seo (Fr.)

Florida's other three freshmen arms are Eli Blair, Jackson Hoyt and Minjae Seo.

Blair and Hoyt are both lefties with mid-90s fastballs. Blair is 6-foot-8, which is as projectable as it gets, but he might need some more development before being trusted in Division I action. The same goes for Hoyt, who is 6-foot-3. However, with only a handful of left-handers on the roster, they could get playing time.

Seo is the only righty, but he won't pitch this year with an injury.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Previewing Florida baseball's 2026 pitching staff

Vikings and Cardinals predicted to pull off blockbuster quarterback trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals both have a question mark at the quarterback position.

The Vikings need to add a veteran quarterback behind J.J. McCarthy after the former first-round pick failed to cement himself as the long-term answer in 2025 and was the biggest reason Minnesota missed the playoffs.

In Arizona, the expectation is the Cardinals will trade Murray if there are any takers, which would leave Jacoby Brissett as the only notable quarterback under contract.

Bleacher Report's Moe Moton makes an intriguing prediction for both teams that sees a trade that sends McCarthy to Arizona and Murray to the Vikings. Moton then suggests the Cardinals sign Kirk Cousins to provide some insurance.

"The Cardinals should call the Minnesota Vikings about a signal-caller swap to dump Murray's contract and take on J.J. McCarthy's rookie deal," Moton said. "The third-year quarterback's contract would cost only about $6 million against the cap."

"In addition, Arizona can add Kirk Cousins to replace Jacoby Brissett, who may not fit into the new coaching staff's plans," Moton added.

This trade would make sense for both teams.

The Vikings would get a proven veteran quarterback who would be an upgrade over McCarthy and gives Minnesota a better chance to make the playoffs. And, at the age of 28, Murray can be a multi-year solution.

Meanwhile the Cardinals would get a young signal-caller who gives them at least some semblance of hope for the future at the position.

Arizona can deploy McCarthy in 2026 and see if he can cement himself as the long-term answer. If not, the Cardinals can turn to the 2027 NFL draft, when the quarterback class will be much better.

More NFL News

• Eagles trade rumor is exciting news for 49ers, Chiefs, Raiders, Broncos
• A.J. Brown trade rumor could lead to deal with Steelers, Bills or Patriots
• George Pickens rumor points to Cowboys making huge mistake
• Seahawks rumor pinpoints 4 possible Klint Kubiak replacements
• Raiders rumor names 2 favorites for OC under Klint Kubiak
• ESPN's Cowboys-Raiders trade prediction would shake up offseason

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona live score, stats, highlights, talking points from Copa del Rey semifinal 1st leg originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona score
• Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona highlights, key incidents
• Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona team news
• Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona upcoming fixtures

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona lock horns in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal tie on Thursday.

The Catalans have enjoyed a dominant recent record against Atleti, winning eight of the past 10 meetings in all competitions. That includes both legs of the semifinals last season, when a remarkable 4-4 draw at Camp Nou was followed by a 1-0 win for Barca in the capital.

Hansi Flick's team are still targeting a quadruple after winning the Supercopa de Espana in January, while Atleti will be determined to keep alive their hopes of a first trophy since they were crowned La Liga champions in 2021.

MORE:Barcelona's up-to-date injury list

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona

Location: Estadio Metropolitano (Madrid, Spain)
Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera

Starting lineups:

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2 right to left): Musso (GK) — Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri — Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman — Griezmann, Alvarez

Atletico subs: Oblak, Esquivel, Gimenez, Lenglet, Le Normand, Mendoza, Baena, Vargas, Nico, Sorloth, Almada

Barcelona (4-3-3 right to left): J. Garcia (GK) — Kounde, Cubarsi, E. Garcia, Balde — De Jong, Casado (Lewandowski, 36'), Lopez — Lamine Yamal, Torres, Olmo

Barcelona subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Cancelo, Araujo, Martin, Jofre, Bernal, Tommy, Bardghji, Hernandez, Lewandowski

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona highlights, key incidents

33 mins: IT'S 3-0! INCREDIBLE FROM ATLETICO! Another sublime counter involving the four forwards ends with Julian Alvarez playing a delicate pass to Lookman, who makes no mistake with a side-foot finish. Brilliant from Diego Simeone's team.

14 mins:GRIEZMANN MAKES IT 2-0! It's a terrific counter-attacking move that ends with Griezmann placing a low finish beyond Joan Garcia from inside the box. Atleti have taken early control here.

Watch (USA):

Griezmann makes it 2-0 for Atletico Madrid! They are shocking Barcelona right now 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DV7ID0Q5se

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 12, 2026

7 mins: GOAL! ATLETICO LEAD! It's an awful mistake from Joan Garcia, who seems to take his eye off the ball and allows Eric Garcia's pass to roll towards goal and over the line. The referee doesn't signal a goal, and Ademola Lookman puts the ball in the net anyway, but that will go down as an own goal from Eric Garcia.

Watch (USA):

HUGE MISTAKE FROM JOAN GARCIA IN THE BACK WHICH GIFTS ATLETICO MADRID A GOAL! pic.twitter.com/9j5LOxI41u

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 12, 2026

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona reaction

This section will be updated when match reaction is available.

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona team news

Atletico Madrid team news

• Pablo Barrios is out with a muscle injury, while Johnny Cardoso is not in the squad after sitting out the loss to Real Betis last time out due to a minor issue.
• Nico Gonzalez is available and on the bench. Copa goalkeeper Juan Musso starts, while Diego Simeone is fielding a very attack-minded lineup featuring Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez, Ademola Lookman and Giuliano Simeone.

Barcelona team news

• Raphinha and Marcus Rashford are both sidelined due to injury, so Hansi Flick has had some thinking to do regarding the left side of his attack. Dani Olmo looks set to fill that role, with Fermin Lopez deeper as part of the midfield trio along with Marc Casado and Frenkie de Jong.

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona upcoming schedules

Atletico Madrid upcoming fixtures

Barcelona upcoming fixtures

After two campaigns in Foxborough, Robert Kugler will be moving on to the AFC North.

The former New England Patriots assistant has been named the next tight ends coach of Pittsburgh Steelers under head coach Mike McCarthy, the organization announced Thursday.

Kugler marks the first known departure from the reigning AFC champions’ coaching staff. The 33-year-old had been hired by the Patriots as an assistant offensive line coach in 2024. And after Jerod Mayo’s lone campaign at the helm, he was retained last February by eventual AP NFL Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel to oversee the front five alongside veteran position coach Doug Marrone and fellow assistant Jason Houghtaling.

New England’s offense finished the 2025 regular season ranked third around the league in total offense, including fourth in passing and sixth in rushing. Quarterback Drake Maye was sacked 48 times over that span before being taken down for an additional 21 from the wild card through Super Bowl LX.

Prior to heading to Gillette Stadium, Kugler worked with the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line for two years after initially entering the NFL ranks in the same capacity with the Houston Texans in 2021. He made collegiate coaching stops at UTEP, Washington and Appalachian State.

Playing football at North Allegheny High School while his father, Sean, oversaw the Steelers’ offensive line, Kugler went on to serve as a two-time captain at Purdue. The convert from tight end to center started 43 consecutive games for the Boilermakers.

He spent training camp with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2016.

As Liverpool struggled through a dire autumn that saw the collapse of their Premier League title defence hopes, one of the players whose personal form was often highlighted for having fallen off most from the season before was that of centre half Ibrahima Konaté.

Complicating matters was that the 26-year-old French international was on an expiring contract and there were many who believed it a foregone conclusion he would join Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2026—just as fellow Red Trent Alexander-Arnold had in 2025.

Whether or not his poor form in the autumn played a role, those links have largely disappeared in recent months, and now along with Konaté’s form ticking up in the new year, there even some renewed chatter that a Liverpool extension might not be a genuine possibility.

While The Athletic’s James Pearce outlines this week that the club haven’t given up hope Konaté will re-up, clu captain and teammate Virgil van Dijk has come out in the wake of Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland to publicly encourage Konaté to do just that.

“We speak about everything and it’s a process,” Van Dijk said following the match. “It’s never that easy that we can just say get it done, it’s a process and we’ll see what comes out of it. But obviously I want him to stay, he’s an important figure on the pitch and off as well.

“He’s one of the leaders, he’s outstanding and in my eyes aworld-class centre-back, but I can do only so much. It’s in the club’s hands together with his agent and himself so let’s see what comes out of it.”

After winning Super Bowl 60 with the Seattle Seahawks, new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is getting a late start to filling out the rest of his coaching staff. However, Kubiak is wasting no time after officially getting hired earlier this week, making one hire and interviewing a couple of candidates for the two coordinator spots.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders are hiring Mike McCoy as assistant head coach. McCoy and Kubiak worked together in 2017, when the former was the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator and the latter was one of the team’s offensive assistants.

McCoy also brings head coaching experience to the first-year head coach’s staff, serving in that role from 2013 to 2016 for the then San Diego Chargers and as the Tennessee Titans’ interim head coach this past season after Brian Callahan was fired in Week 7.

Meanwhile, the Raiders will have a new defensive coordinator for the first time in four years after Patrick Graham left for the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of Graham’s understudies could end up being his replacement.

Per The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov, current defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator Rob Leonard will interview for the defensive coordinator job in Las Vegas. Meirov also notes that Maxx Crosby, who has been the subject of recent trade rumors, thinks very highly of Leonard. The coach has been in Las Vegas since 2023 and added the run game coordinator to his title ahead of this past season.

At offensive coordinator, Kubiak is already leaning on his network. Pelissero also reported that the Raiders are interviewing current Seahawks wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson for the job. The two coaches have only spent this past season working together, though. Jackson has nine seasons of experience as an NFL coach, all as a wide receivers coach, and was in the college ranks from 2008 to 2016. He also had a five-year career as a wideout for the Cleveland Browns.

NEED TO KNOW

• Livvy Dunne is throwing it back to her college days
• The college gymnast and Sports Illustrated model recently visited her alma mater
• Dunne announced her retirement from gymnastics on April 17, 2025

Livvy Dunne is feeling nostalgic.

The former collegiate gymnast-turned-Sports Illustrated model posted a series of videos to her TikTok account, taking followers along with her as she returned to Louisiana State University.

In the Feb. 6 video, the influencer could be seen back in the LSU gym with other gymnasts, as she performed a backhand spring on the spring floor to cheers from her former teammates.

In another Jan. 30 video, Dunne threw it back to one of her first times on the LSU campus with some snaps from her recruiting visit to the school.

"Remember what you looked like on your recruiting trip," Dunne wrote over a series of photos and videos of herself approximately six years ago.

Dunne joined the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in 2020, competing on the uneven bars.

In April 2025, Dunne's college career ultimately came to an end when the Tigers finished third in the NCAA semifinals.

At the time, Dunne had been injured and unable to compete. She shared a message on X bidding the sport goodbye.

"Couldn’t have asked for a better 5 years! Thank you, LSU," the gymnastics star wrote shortly after the meet. In a second post, she said, “✌️ out gymnastics it’s been real… and of course forever LSU!"

Later that year, in July, Dunne appeared on the What’s Your Story? With Stephanie McMahon podcast, touching on why she had never attempted to compete in the Olympics.

Dunne, who previously competed with Team USA in 2017, referenced an injury she had sustained as a teenager, which led to a medical condition that limited her athletic ability.

"I was actually competing on a hurt ankle (at) the 2018 USA Championships," she said on the podcast episode, adding, "And part of my ankle bone died... so my Olympic dreams died with it."

Dunne, who was named a 2025 Sports Illustrated Swim cover star, also hinted at more "on-screen" work when speaking with PEOPLE exclusively on the red carpet at the issue's launch party in May.

"My life has revolved around gymnastics," the former college athlete told PEOPLE at the event. "So, honestly, to be able to say yes to more things and potentially maybe do some more performing art stuff on screen — and I'm very excited."

Just prior to the end of her gymnastics career, Dunne told PEOPLE that she was looking forward to being able to support her Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, boyfriend Paul Skenes, at his games.

"I'm super excited to be able to spend time with Paul," she said. "I've always had to train during my summers and stuff... So to be able to not have to do gymnastics training and be able to spend more time in Pittsburgh with Paul enjoying the baseball season, I'm looking forward to that."

Dunne and Paul both attended LSU and were introduced by mutual friends. They later confirmed their relationship in August 2023.

Read the original article on People

ESPN released its latest NBA Draft Big Board rankings on Thursday, with two Kentucky Wildcats included in the top 100.

Jayden Quaintance comes in at #18 in the latest rankings, dropping from #9 in the previous rankings.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo had this to say about Quaintance:

It’s unclear if he will try to play the rest of the way, and NBA scouts presently have more questions than answers about him as a prospect. The circumstances make him a tricky case ahead of the draft, given the limited amount of minutes he’ll have on his résumé following ACL surgery in March 2025.

Woo pointed to Quaintance’s defensive upside and ability as a lob threat as factors that could lead to him being drafted in the lottery, but JQ will likely have a lot to prove to NBA scouts with so little film available following the ACL surgery if he doesn’t play again this season.

ESPN has Otega Oweh in the top 100, coming in at #93.

After a slow start, Oweh has turned it on as of late, looking more and more like the Oweh we saw toward the end of last season. Oweh has scored at least 20 points in all but two SEC games (18 points against Texas and 12 against Tennessee in Knoxville).

Noticeably absent from ESPN’s rankings is Malachi Moreno.

SB Nation recently had Moreno ranked as the 23rd overall prospect in the class, and other outlets had him ranked in the top 30.

Moreno’s numbers aren’t eye-popping (8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks), but he’s put up those numbers in just 22 minutes per game and played a major role for Kentucky when many didn’t expect him to at the beginning of the season.

For now, it doesn’t appear Kentucky is in real danger of losing Moreno to the NBA this year, but he’s still got plenty of time to progress in his development and bolster his stock while hopefully guiding Kentucky toward a deep NCAA Tournament run.

You can check out the full ESPN rankings here.

Bruins' players in the Olympics represent 5 different countries originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Bruins are well represented in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

They've got one of the largest groups of NHL players in these Olympics.

It's the first time NHL players can compete in the Games since 2014, so it's a cool chance for fans of a given team to watch their players represent their countries. 

All told, the Bruins have players competing for five different countries at the Olympics.

MORE: Tkachuk, Hughes brothers make Olympic history not done since 1964

What Bruins players are at the Olympics?

There are eight Bruins at the Olympics, split between a handful of countries.

Superstar forward David Pastrnak plays for Czechia. He was the flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies.

“Honeslty, speechless. Very honored,” Pastrnak told NHL.com. “Going over there to represent my country, I am going to give it my all. Really happy and honored to be able to hold our flag and represent us in the ceremony."

MORE: USA curling's Danny Casper doesn't let GBS health issue slow him down

The United States has two Bruins. There's first-line defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who is paired with Minnesota's Quinn Hughes. Backup goaltender Jeremy Swayman also comes from the Bruins.

Sweden has two Bruins on its roster: Hampus Lindholm and Elias Lindholm. They are not brothers.

Finland has two Bruins, too: Henri Jokiharju, the veteran defenseman, and Joonas Korpisalo, a reserve goalie.

Latvia rounds out the Bruins representation. Boston prospect Dans Locmelis represents Latvia after spending this season with AHL Providence.

More Olympics news:

• This U.S. luge star was parodied on SNL
• Amber Glenn gets into music dispute during Olympic figure skating program
• Breezy Johnson's wild Olympics end in engagement
• U.S. Olympians get paid shockingly less than other countries for gold medals
• This USA curling star looks like Pommel Horse Guy
• 5 U.S. women's hockey stars attended the same high school

He may be a physical specimen, but Torrez Finney isn't indestructible.

As it turns out, Finney (11-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) found that out recently if he wasn't already aware. During his UFC 325 loss to Jacob Malkoun, Finney suffered a leg injury and was noticeably hobbled for the official decision.

Wednesday, Finney revealed the extent of the damage. He suffered a torn ACL and meniscus and underwent surgery the day after his Jan. 31 defeat. Finney added that the injury occurred in the first 15 seconds of the fight.

Thank God he’s built me to overcome every obstacle I’ve faced and that will be the story once again. I tore my ACL and both of my meniscus within my knee. Got me into surgery the next day. He said it’s insane I was able to fight tearing that 15 seconds into the fight
✊🏿😈🔥 pic.twitter.com/uPZ6lgqvwv

— Torrez Finney (@punishertorrez) February 12, 2026

The defeat was Finney's first of his professional career. The 27-year-old middleweight entered the bout having won his promotional debut vs. Robert Valentin in April.

Finney did not reveal a timeline for his return. However, it's common for professional athletes to take somewhere in the nine-to-12-month range to return from a torn ACL. Some are able to return as soon as seven months after injury.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Physical specimen in UFC reveals devastating injury 15 seconds into bout

Fans can look forward to a new offensive-minded regime with head coach Mike McCarthy at the helm of the Pittsburgh Steelers, no doubt looking to acquire additional playmakers in free agency this offseason.

If Pittsburgh ultimately looks to add another wide receiver opposite DK Metcalf, Marquise Brown of the Kansas City Chiefs would be an ideal acquisition.

Stats

• 2019: 46 receptions, 584 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns
• 2020: 58 receptions, 769 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns
• 2021: 91 receptions, 1,008 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns
• 2022: 67 receptions, 709 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
• 2023: 51 receptions, 574 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns
• 2024: 9 receptions, 91 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns
• 2025: 49 receptions, 587 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns

Fit with Steelers offense

If Calvin Austin III walks in free agency, the addition of Brown could be viewed by some as an upgrade at wide receiver. With game-changing speed and acceleration, exceptional route running, and versatility to make an impact outside and in the slot, Brown could be exactly what the Steelers sorely lacked last season. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that his cousin Antonio Brown was arguably the greatest wide receiver in franchise history.

Contract prediction

Brown could predictably sign a two-year deal worth around $18 million, above Spotrac's projected $5.5 million average annual salary, given his upside and potential impact in Pittsburgh.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers 2026 free agency scouting report: Chiefs WR Marquise Brown

Xbox plans to prepare developers for the future at GDC 2026 Microsoft has confirmed that it will be at GDC 2026 in full force, with plans to discuss the “future of Xbox”, implying that we will hear about the company’s “next-generation” plans at the event. While Microsoft’s statements are somewhat vague, a talk from their […]

The post Xbox to prep devs for “what’s next” at GDC 2026 appeared first on OC3D.

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As the Greek island of Samos emerges as a popular international destination, UK residents’ travel patterns are changing dramatically. This surge in interest is being driven by the introduction of new direct flight routes, which have effectively bridged the gap between British airports and this North Aegean sanctuary. As the 2026 flight season approaches, the Municipality of Western Samos has been tasked with actively promoting the island on a global scale. This strategic initiative aims to highlight a wide range of experiences that go well beyond the traditional “sun and sea” narrative. Samos is presenting a more nuanced identity to the world by emphasising the island’s unique gastronomy, rugged outdoor adventures, and deep historical significance.

A Strategic Pivot Toward Alternative Tourism

The conventional appeal of Mediterranean beaches is no longer viewed as the sole driver for tourism in the region. Instead, a multifaceted approach is being adopted by local authorities to cater to the evolving tastes of modern travellers. It is recognized that British tourists are increasingly seeking authenticity and depth in their holiday choices. Consequently, the local administration is prioritizing the development of “alternative tourism” sectors. This involves a concerted effort to showcase the island’s mountainous terrain, its sprawling vineyards, and the quiet sophistication of its culinary traditions. To ensure these offerings reach the right audience, partnerships are being explored with high-profile organizations, including the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in the UK. Through these collaborations, the island’s image is being reshaped from a seasonal summer getaway into a year-round cultural hub.

Culinary Heritage and Gastronomic Exploration

The flavours of Samos are being positioned at the forefront of this new promotional campaign. The island’s gastronomic identity is deeply intertwined with its legendary winemaking history, particularly the production of the world-renowned Muscat wine. Visitors are being invited to explore local vineyards where ancient techniques are still honoured, alongside modern tasting rooms that reflect the island’s growing sophistication. The culinary experience is further enriched by the use of locally sourced ingredients—honey from the slopes of Mount Kerkis, olive oil from century-old groves, and seafood caught fresh from the Aegean. By emphasizing these authentic epicurean journeys, Samos is successfully attracting a demographic of travellers who value quality and local provenance over mass-produced tourist fare.

Adventure and the Great Outdoors

For the spirited traveller, the natural landscape of Western Samos is being developed as a premier destination for outdoor activities. The rugged beauty of the island provides a dramatic backdrop for a variety of pursuits, ranging from challenging treks on Mount Kerkis to leisurely walks through the Potami waterfalls. Detailed guided tours are being organized to lead visitors through lush forests and hidden valleys, ensuring that the island’s biodiversity is both appreciated and preserved. Furthermore, the coastal waters are being utilized for sustainable marine activities, such as kayaking and sailing, which allow for a closer connection with the environment. This focus on adventure is intended to appeal to a younger, more active generation of British travellers who prioritize physical engagement and environmental stewardship during their travels.

Unveiling the Layers of Antiquity

The historical wealth of Samos remains one of its most compelling assets, and it is being highlighted as a cornerstone of the island’s international appeal. As the birthplace of Pythagoras and the site of the magnificent Heraion, the island offers a historical narrative that spans millennia. Significant archaeological landmarks, including the Tunnel of Eupalinos—an engineering marvel of the ancient world—are being integrated into comprehensive sightseeing itineraries. These sites are not merely being presented as static ruins but as living monuments to human ingenuity and cultural evolution. By providing well-structured tours and educational resources, the Municipality is ensuring that the historical legacy of Samos is accessible and engaging for the intellectually curious visitor.

Sustainable Growth and Future Prospects

As the tourism landscape evolves, Western Samoa’s commitment to sustainable development becomes more apparent. The influx of British tourists is being managed with a focus on quality over quantity, with the goal of avoiding the pitfalls of overtourism that have plagued other Mediterranean hotspots. The infrastructure is being gradually upgraded to accommodate new flight arrivals while preserving the island’s authentic charm. This balanced approach is expected to provide long-term benefits to the local economy and community. Samos is setting a standard for other Aegean destinations by promoting a tourism model that values both the natural environment and local culture. In the coming years, the island is expected to solidify its reputation as a sophisticated, multifaceted destination that provides something truly unique to international travellers.

In an exciting move that’s transforming US travel, Hawaiian Airlines has joined the ranks of Alaska, Southwest, United, JetBlue, and more US airlines, upgrading their flight travel experiences with Starlink inflight Wi-Fi. As US airlines embrace Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency internet, passengers flying across the USA can now expect lightning-fast Wi-Fi, making it easier than ever to stay connected. Starlink Wi-Fi is no longer just an upgrade; it’s becoming a game-changer for the US tourism sector.

However, not all airlines are on the same page. While American Airlines and Delta continue to rely on traditional, self-sourced Wi-Fi systems, the majority of US airlines are jumping on the Starlink bandwagon. With Hawaiian Airlines leading the way, the USA is witnessing a revolution in flight connectivity. This shift signals a new era for US tourism, one where staying connected in the skies is no longer a luxury but an expectation. Starlink is setting the new standard, and the impact on US travel could be monumental. Stay with us as we dive into how these upgrades are reshaping the future of air travel and US tourism.

In a world where US tourism is rapidly evolving, Starlink has emerged as the game-changer that passengers have been desperately waiting for. As US airlines continue to transform the in-flight experience, Starlink Wi-Fi is leading the charge, providing lightning-fast internet to thousands of travellers soaring across the USA and beyond. But what does this mean for the US travel industry? How are US airlines embracing this transformative technology, and how does this impact US tourism as a whole? Keep reading, as we dive deep into the US tourism sector’s monumental leap into the future of air travel connectivity.

The rapid expansion of Starlink Wi-Fi on US airlines marks a new era for USA tourism and US travel overall. With US airlines aggressively deploying Starlink satellite technology, airline connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s an expectation. This is especially crucial for passengers flying long distances, where Starlink‘s unparalleled speed and low latency are vital. The implications for US tourism and US travel are nothing short of monumental, setting a bold standard for global air travel. In the USA, air travel isn’t just about getting from A to B—it’s about experiencing a digital revolution in the skies.

Hawaiian Airlines Leads the Charge with Starlink

Hawaiian Airlines Pioneers the Future of US Tourism with Starlink Wi-Fi!

As US airlines scramble to get Starlink on their planes, Hawaiian Airlines has already embraced this revolutionary technology. Offering high-speed, low-latency satellite Wi-Fi, Hawaiian Airlines became the first US carrier to install Starlink on all of its Airbus A321neo and A330 fleets. And it’s not just about speed. This cutting-edge technology is free for all passengers, making it a game-changer in the US tourism sector.

This innovation is transforming US travel, allowing passengers to access super-fast Wi-Fi gate-to-gate on transpacific routes, making it easier to stay connected no matter where you’re flying. And for US tourism, this means enhanced engagement with potential visitors, better customer satisfaction, and overall increased attractiveness as a travel destination. For anyone exploring US travel, the experience aboard Hawaiian Airlines is now elevated to new heights. prnewswire.com

United Airlines Steps Up: More than 300 Planes with Starlink Wi-Fi by 2027

United Airlines is Transforming the Future of US Tourism with Starlink Wi-Fi. Don’t Miss It!

United Airlines isn’t far behind. The airline is on a mission to revolutionize US travel by offering Starlink Wi-Fi on more than 300 regional jets, with mainline aircraft soon to follow. United’s commitment to Starlink is a key move in transforming US tourism, ensuring passengers enjoy high-speed internet while flying across the USA and the world. By 2027, United Airlines will equip over 500 aircraft, ensuring USA tourism is boosted with faster, reliable inflight connectivity.

Passengers will be able to access high-speed Wi-Fi throughout their journey. United Airlines is leading the way in US travel, proving that Starlink isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of air travel. For those in the USA tourism sector, this signifies a huge step forward. Connectivity equals better engagement with travellers, driving a future where in-flight connectivity isn’t just about internet—it’s about unlocking a better passenger experience.prnewswire.com

Alaska Airlines: Full Fleet Deployment of Starlink by 2027

Alaska Airlines to Transform US Tourism with Full-Starlink Rollout by 2027!

Imagine the future of US tourism where every passenger enjoys high-speed internet, regardless of flight duration. Alaska Airlines is taking bold steps to make this a reality. With Starlink Wi-Fi set to be installed across their entire fleet by 2027, Alaska Airlines is positioning itself as one of the leaders in US travel. As the airline continues to evolve, its passengers will benefit from seamless connectivity on both regional jets and long-haul flights.

In the world of USA tourism, this marks a major milestone. Passengers will be able to access reliable, fast Wi-Fi from takeoff to landing, allowing them to stay connected while flying over the Americas or coast-to-coast across the USA. For US tourism, this upgrade helps Alaska Airlines meet the demands of the modern traveller—especially for those who consider connectivity an essential part of their travel experience. news.alaskaair.com

Southwest Airlines: 300 Planes Equipped with Starlink by 2026

Southwest Airlines Joins the Revolution! 300 Planes Will Be Equipped with Starlink!

It’s not just the big players—Southwest Airlines is gearing up to equip 300 Boeing 737 aircraft with Starlink Wi-Fi by 2026. For US tourism, this is a game-changer, bringing faster and more reliable Wi-Fi to an airline that already offers free Wi-Fi to its passengers. By rolling out Starlink, Southwest is ensuring its passengers are never disconnected, even in the skies over the USA.

For US travel, this move is huge. Passengers will be able to stream, work, and stay connected with family and friends in ways they never could before on domestic flights. This isn’t just about keeping passengers entertained—it’s about making USA tourism a better experience. Southwest’s move will also ensure it continues to be a leader in US tourism, with seamless connectivity keeping passengers loyal to the brand southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com

JetBlue Airways: Kuiper Network, Not Starlink – Will JetBlue Join the Revolution?

JetBlue’s Kuiper Network: The Future of Wi-Fi for US Tourism or the Missing Link?

While JetBlue Airways isn’t jumping on the Starlink bandwagon just yet, it is planning to implement Amazon’s Kuiper Network by 2027. This move highlights JetBlue’s commitment to improving US tourism through better connectivity. While Starlink Wi-Fi is already revolutionising US travel, JetBlue’s partnership with Amazon could usher in a new chapter in inflight connectivity for the USA and beyond.

For the US tourism sector, this move shows how competitive the US airlines market is, with carriers vying for the ultimate in-flight experience. Whether Starlink or Kuiper, the takeaway is clear—US travel is on the brink of something extraordinary. As airlines evolve with technology, passengers are the winners in this USA tourism revolution.

American Airlines and Delta: Starlink Still Not a Part of the Plan

Are American Airlines and Delta Missing Out on the Starlink Revolution?

While Starlink is dominating the skies with other US airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have not yet incorporated it into their offerings. American Airlines relies on AT&T/Viasat for its in-flight internet services, while Delta continues to provide free Wi-Fi through traditional satellite systems. But with US tourism pushing for faster and more reliable connectivity, it seems that Starlink is the future—and the competition is heating up.

For the US tourism sector, this presents a challenge. American Airlines and Delta risk falling behind as Starlink-equipped airlines offer a superior passenger experience. As USA tourism continues to evolve, those US airlines that offer Starlink Wi-Fi will undoubtedly have a competitive edge. Official Source: news.aa.com

The Future of US Tourism Is Starlink-Connected Skies

US Tourism Will Never Be the Same Again—Starlink Wi-Fi Transforms the Way We Travel!

The integration of Starlink Wi-Fi into US airlines is no small feat—it’s a digital revolution in the sky. For USA tourism, this technology means faster, reliable, and uninterrupted connectivity, allowing passengers to stay connected and engaged with their journey. As Starlink continues to expand its reach, US travel is on the verge of a major transformation. From Hawaiian Airlines to United and Southwest, the airlines that adopt Starlink are setting the bar for US tourism and US travel for years to come.

In March, when the cold UK weather is at it’s worst, we often feel the need to leave the country, and to enjoy the sun again. If you want to escape the cold, it’s good to know that there is plenty of destinations that are only a short flight away and are basking in the sun. Whether you wish to relax at a beach, enjoy a vibrant city, or dive into a new culture, plenty of warm and sunny destinations are waiting for you. Find the sunny and warm destinations that are ideal for your March vacation and are just a four hour flight away from the UK.

The Caribbean

March is one of the best times to visit the Caribbean. The weather is hot but not overwhelming, with average daily temperatures around 28°C. Whether you head to Jamaica, the Bahamas, or Barbados, the Caribbean offers stunning beaches, clear waters, and plenty of opportunities to unwind or explore. The Caribbean is perfect for those who enjoy a laid-back atmosphere or want to dive into local culture and history.

Top Travel Tips:

• Barbados offers an idyllic combination of beaches and historical attractions, perfect for a mix of relaxation and exploration.
• For a more active vacation, Jamaica provides abundant opportunities for water sports and adventure.

Canary Islands, Spain

The Canary Islands are a perennial favorite for those seeking year-round sunshine. With temperatures averaging around 20°C in March, this Spanish archipelago provides a mild, pleasant climate ideal for outdoor adventures. Each island offers something unique—from the volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote to the lush greenery of La Gomera. If you love a mix of sun and exploration, the Canaries are perfect for both relaxing on beaches and hiking through dramatic terrains.

Top Travel Tips:

• Lanzarote is great for art lovers and those seeking adventure with its volcanic parks and stunning beaches.
• Tenerife offers more family-friendly activities with theme parks and a lively atmosphere.

Morocco

For those who enjoy city life with a sunny backdrop, Morocco is an excellent choice in March. Marrakech, with its rich history and cultural vibrancy, has average temperatures around 22°C, offering perfect weather for sightseeing. Explore bustling souks, ancient palaces, and the beautiful Jardin Majorelle. The charming streets of Chefchaouen, famously known as the Blue City, also provide a serene atmosphere with plenty of sunshine.

Top Travel Tips:

• Marrakech is ideal for those seeking a mix of culture, shopping, and history.
• If you prefer tranquility, head to the coastal city of Essaouira, which offers both sun and a more relaxed pace.

Mexico: Cancun and Tulum

If you’re looking for a vibrant destination with sun and excitement, Cancun and Tulum in Mexico are excellent choices. With daily temperatures around 29°C, the weather is perfect for beach lovers and those wanting to enjoy the nightlife. Cancun, known for its lively nightlife, is ideal for partygoers, while Tulum offers a more relaxed vibe with stunning beaches and eco-friendly resorts.

Top Travel Tips:

• Cancun is ideal for those who want both beach relaxation and an active nightlife scene.
• Tulum provides a more tranquil experience with its beachfront resorts and ancient Mayan ruins to explore.

Las Vegas, USA

For those seeking a fun-filled destination with plenty of sun, Las Vegas is a top contender. Temperatures in March hover around 22°C, providing pleasant weather for both outdoor activities and indoor entertainment. While known for its casinos and vibrant nightlife, Las Vegas offers more than just gambling—there are numerous shows, world-class restaurants, and thrilling attractions to enjoy.

Top Travel Tips:

• Las Vegas is perfect for a combination of relaxation by the pool, gourmet dining, and live entertainment.
• Consider visiting the nearby Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon for a bit of nature and adventure.

Thailand

Although a bit farther from the UK, Thailand offers fantastic weather in March, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C. Whether you’re visiting the beaches of Phuket or exploring the temples of Chiang Mai, the sunny weather makes it a perfect destination for both relaxation and cultural exploration. Thailand provides a great balance of stunning beaches, lush jungles, and vibrant cities.

Top Travel Tips:

• Phuket and Krabi are great for those who love pristine beaches and water activities.
• Chiang Mai is ideal for travelers interested in culture, history, and nature, especially if you want to explore temples or trek through the mountains.

The Maldives

For the ultimate tropical paradise, the Maldives should be on your list. With average temperatures around 31°C, the Maldives offers crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and luxurious resorts. If you’re seeking a relaxing beach holiday, the Maldives provides a peaceful setting to unwind, enjoy spa treatments, and savor world-class cuisine. The islands’ natural beauty and calm atmosphere make it a top choice for honeymooners and those looking for a serene getaway.

Top Travel Tips:

• Opt for an all-inclusive resort to make the most of your stay in this idyllic paradise.
• Enjoy water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, or simply relax by the beach.

Vietnam

Vietnam is another fantastic option for March, offering a blend of culture, beaches, and vibrant cities. With temperatures around 25°C to 30°C, it’s ideal for both outdoor adventures and exploring bustling cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. The beaches in areas such as Phu Quoc and Nha Trang are perfect for those who enjoy sunbathing, while Vietnam’s rich history and cultural heritage provide plenty of sightseeing opportunities.

Top Travel Tips:

• Explore Vietnam’s historical sites, such as the ancient town of Hoi An or the temples in Hue.
• Phu Quoc Island is perfect for beach lovers looking for a quieter spot away from the crowds.

Conclusion

Do you want to experience the city life in Marrkech, the calm beaches in Maldives, or want to see the liveliness in Las Vegas? These March destinations are a great get away from the UK’s March chill. All these destinations have warm weather along with a plethora of activities and cultural experiences. You should check the partnered restrictions and visa rules about the March destinations you choose.

For years, Cuba has been a bucket-list destination, famed for its vintage cars, rhythmic salsa, and sun-drenched beaches. However, in February 2026, the music has quieted as the island faces one of the most significant energy and logistical collapses in its modern history.

On February 11, 2026, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officially upgraded its travel advice, warning British nationals against all but essential travel to Cuba. This rare and serious escalation comes as the island grapples with a nationwide power grid failure and a critical shortage of aviation fuel that has grounded hundreds of flights.

A Nation in the Dark: The Power Grid Collapse

The primary driver behind the new travel warning is the “severe and worsening disruption” to Cuba’s essential infrastructure. The island is currently experiencing persistent nationwide power outages, with some regions left without electricity for more than 24 hours at a time.

These blackouts aren’t just an inconvenience for tourists; they are a systemic failure affecting:

• Water Supply: Pumps rely on electricity, meaning water shortages are now common even in major cities like Havana.
• Communications: Mobile phone networks and internet access are intermittent as towers lose power.
• Health Services: While major hospitals have generators, the FCDO warns that medical care for travelers may be compromised.
• Food Safety: Prolonged outages are affecting refrigeration, leading to concerns over food spoilage in restaurants and hotels.

The Aviation Crisis: No Fuel at the Gate

Perhaps the most shocking development for travelers is the “Aviation Fuel Blackout.” On February 9, 2026, Cuban authorities issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) stating that Jet A-1 fuel would be unavailable at all nine international airports until at least March 11, 2026.

This has caused immediate and widespread chaos for airlines:

• Cancellations: Carriers like Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat have suspended all operations to Cuba effective immediately, affecting over 400 weekly flights.
• Technical Stops: European airlines, including Air France, Iberia, and Air Europa, are continuing some services but must make technical refuelling stops in third countries like the Dominican Republic or the Bahamas on their return legs.
• Tankering: Some short-haul airlines are “tankering”—carrying enough fuel from their departure point for the entire round trip—which significantly limits the number of passengers and luggage they can carry.

The Human Impact: Beyond the Resort Gates

It’s easy to look at travel warnings as a list of logistical hurdles, but for the people of Cuba and the travelers currently there, the situation is deeply personal. British tourists on the ground describe a “pervasive anxiety.” While many large resorts in Varadero and Cayo Coco are utilizing solar power and heavy-duty generators to keep the lights on for guests, the surrounding communities are struggling.

The FCDO has urged those currently in Cuba to “carefully consider if your presence is essential.” For those who choose to stay, the advice is stark: conserve mobile phone charge, stock up on bottled water, and be prepared for ground transportation to simply stop as fuel rationing at petrol stations becomes more stringent.

What This Means for Your Booking

If you have a holiday booked to Cuba in the coming weeks, the FCDO’s “against all but essential travel” advisory is a critical turning point for your consumer rights:

Travel Insurance: Most standard travel insurance policies are invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. However, the update typically triggers the right to claim for cancellation if your trip was booked before the warning was issued.

Package Holidays: If you booked through a UK tour operator (like TUI or a specialist agency), they are generally required to offer a full refund or an alternative destination if the FCDO advises against travel.

Flight-Only Bookings: If your flight is still operating (e.g., via a European hub) and you choose not to go, you may not be entitled to a refund unless the airline cancels the flight.

Looking Ahead: Will Stability Return?

Industry experts, including Cuba specialist Matthew O’Sullivan, suggest that while this is a “turbulent” moment, it could be the catalyst for necessary change. Currently, the crisis is exacerbated by regional geopolitical tensions and secondary sanctions that have choked off oil supplies from traditional partners.

For now, the “Pearl of the Antilles” is in a state of suspended animation. The Cuban government is working to stabilize the grid, but with aviation fuel supplies not expected to normalize until mid-March at the earliest, the message to travelers is clear: Wait.

The beauty of Havana’s Malecón and the white sands of Varadero will still be there, but 2026 has reminded us that even the most beautiful destinations are vulnerable to the realities of energy security.

The landscape of elite global travel is once again defined by the announcement of the 2026 accolades, where Four Seasons Hotel Baku has been distinguished with the prestigious Forbes Five-Star rating. This honor is recognized as one of the most significant achievements in the luxury hospitality sector, ensuring that the property remains a beacon of excellence within Azerbaijan. As the only hotel in the nation to receive this specific level of acclaim, the establishment is solidified as a primary destination for discerning international travelers seeking unparalleled service and Caspian Sea views.

The commitment to maintaining such a high standard is reflected in every aspect of the guest experience. It is understood that the Forbes Travel Guide utilizes a rigorous inspection process, making this second consecutive win a testament to the consistency found at the Baku property. Within the heart of the capital, a fusion of classical architecture and modern refinement is presented to visitors, creating a sanctuary that transcends the traditional hotel stay.

A Continued Legacy of Excellence in Azerbaijan The retention of the Five-Star rating for the second year in a row is viewed as a monumental milestone for the local tourism industry. It is noted that this recognition is not merely a badge of quality but a reflection of the deep-seated culture of service that has been fostered by the leadership and staff. The atmosphere within the hotel is described as a blend of grandeur and warmth, where the artistry of Azerbaijani culture is integrated with global standards of professionalism.

By securing this position once again in 2026, the property is elevated to a global stage, standing alongside the most iconic hotels in the world. It is observed that the evaluation process performed by anonymous inspectors focuses heavily on the emotional connection and the efficiency of service, both of which are found in abundance at this Neftchilar Avenue landmark.

Architectural Grandeur and Local Heritage The physical structure of the hotel is characterized by its classical European influence, which stands in harmonious contrast to the surrounding historical landscape. From the balconies, views are offered of the 12th-century Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the modern skyline that defines the ambitious spirit of the city. The passive experience of observing the Caspian coastline from the hotel’s vantage point is considered a highlight for many who visit.

The interior design is maintained to reflect a timeless elegance, ensuring that every hallway and guest room provides a sense of tranquility. It is emphasized that the preservation of such a magnificent environment requires constant attention to detail, a task that is evidently managed with great success by the dedicated onsite teams.

Sanctuary of Wellness at Jaleh Spa Restoration and relaxation are prioritized on the ninth floor, where Jaleh Spa is situated. This facility is recognized for its Romanesque-style pool, which is bathed in natural light through expansive windows. The spa is frequently cited for its unique offerings, specifically the exclusive facial treatments that utilize rare Azerbaijani saffron oil. This local ingredient is valued for its restorative properties and serves as a bridge between ancient heritage and modern wellness rituals.

The environment within the spa is designed to slow the passage of time, allowing guests to immerse themselves in a quiet atmosphere of luxury. Each treatment is executed with a level of precision that aligns with the overarching Five-Star criteria, ensuring that the wellness experience is both authentic and world-class.

Culinary Sophistication and Social Spaces Gastronomy is treated as an art form at Zafferano, the signature Italian restaurant of the hotel. Here, authentic flavors from Italy are presented in a setting that overlooks the sea, providing a sensory experience that is both sophisticated and inviting. The restaurant is noted for its ability to balance contemporary elegance with traditional recipes, creating a dining destination that appeals to both locals and international visitors.

As the evening progresses, the social focus shifts to Bentley’s Bar. This space is described as an intimate and sophisticated venue where masterfully crafted cocktails are served. The ambiance is further enhanced by live piano melodies, creating a backdrop for memorable interactions. The focus on high-quality ingredients and expert preparation in these venues is a key component of the hotel’s successful bid for the Forbes Five-Star distinction.

The Human Element of Five-Star Service According to Saakshee Gahlawat, the General Manager, this achievement is a direct result of the heart and passion demonstrated by the team. It is suggested that the culture within the hotel is built upon a shared commitment to excellence and genuine care. Every interaction is viewed as an opportunity to curate a moment of refined luxury, transforming a standard stay into something significantly more impactful.

The dedication of the staff is seen as the primary driver behind the hotel’s ability to meet the exacting standards of the Forbes Travel Guide. This sentiment is echoed by Amanda Frasier, President of Standards & Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide, who notes that the winners of these awards set the standard for authentic experiences in a changing luxury landscape.

Azerbaijan’s Gateway to the World As Baku continues to evolve as a hub for culture and commerce, the hotel serves as a gateway for those wishing to explore the spirit of the nation. The vibrant and cultured essence of Azerbaijan is reflected in the hospitality provided, making the property a vital component of the country’s international identity. The 2026 Forbes Five-Star award serves as a formal validation of the hotel’s role in providing world-class travel options.

The rigorous independent inspection process ensures that only the most deserving properties are recognized. By maintaining this status, the hotel confirms its place among the elite, offering a level of well-being and service that remains unparalleled within the region. The journey towards this achievement is one of continuous improvement and a steadfast refusal to compromise on the quality of the guest experience.

Hundreds of passengers are isolated across Canada as Air Canada, WestJet, Jazz, American, and more airlines face a wave of 105 cancellations and 291 delays. This disruption has affected major cities like Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and many smaller regions in Ontario, Quebec, and beyond. Due to extreme cold weather, travelers are facing significant delays in flight operations. As temperatures drop and winds pick up, airlines struggle to manage their schedules, leading to widespread chaos. Passengers are left stranded at airports, with long waiting times and uncertainty about their travel plans. The cancellations and delays are severely impacting both domestic and international travel, leaving thousands of travelers frustrated.

It’s crucial for passengers to stay updated on their flight status and make alternative arrangements as needed. Airports and airlines are working tirelessly to resolve the situation, but cold conditions continue to challenge their operations.

Cold Weather Alerts and Its Impact on Air Travel

The cold wave that has swept across Canada has led to numerous flight cancellations and delays, especially in areas like Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. The Grand Erie Public Health issued cold alerts across regions like Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk due to temperatures plunging below –15°C, with wind chills reaching –20°C or lower. These conditions have severely impacted flight operations, especially ground handling and de-icing procedures.

Analysis of Affected Airports and Airlines

As of 12 February 2026, Canadian airports have reported a staggering total of 105 flight cancellations and 291 delays across the country. The Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), the busiest in the country, has seen the highest number of delays, with 122 delayed flights. This significant disruption is largely due to the weather conditions, as de-icing procedures take longer, and delays in boarding and check-in processes increase.

Other major airports have also been severely affected:

• Montreal-Trudeau (YUL): 22 cancellations and 52 delays have been reported, making it one of the hardest-hit airports.
• Halifax International (YHZ): With 6 cancellations and 28 delays, passengers are facing longer wait times and disruptions to their travel schedules.
• Calgary International (YYC): Flights have been delayed with 27 delayed flights and 8 cancellations due to icy conditions affecting ground handling.
• Smaller airports like Kangiqsualujjuaq (XGR) and Kangirsuk (YKG), while fewer in numbers, still reported cancellations and delays that impacted essential travel.

Airlines Affected: A Closer Look at the Major Carriers

Among the airlines, WestJet has reported 16 cancellations and 33 delays, followed by Jazz (ACA) with 15 cancellations and 31 delays. These two major airlines are particularly impacted by the weather, as they handle a large number of domestic flights connecting regional and international hubs.

Other affected airlines include:

• PAL Airlines, with 13 cancellations and 18 delays, experienced disruptions to their regional flights.
• Air Borealis and Air Inuit reported higher cancellation rates, with Air Borealis seeing a 66% cancellation rate, which resulted in 12 cancellations across its network.
• Air Canada also experienced delays, with 77 delayed flights, causing significant operational challenges, especially given the large volume of domestic and international flights it operates.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

If you are one of the many passengers affected by the flight disruptions, here are a few steps you can take:

1. Check for Updates: Always check the status of your flight through the airline’s website or the airport’s flight status page before heading to the airport. This will keep you informed about any changes or cancellations.
2. Contact Your Airline: If your flight is cancelled or delayed, reach out to your airline for rebooking options. Many airlines are offering to rebook passengers on the next available flight at no additional cost.
3. Consider Travel Insurance: If your flight has been significantly delayed or cancelled, look into whether your travel insurance policy covers disruptions due to weather. Many airlines and insurance companies provide compensation for additional expenses like accommodation and meals.
4. Prepare for Longer Wait Times: Due to the cold weather, passengers should expect longer wait times both for security checks and boarding. Dress warmly and make sure to pack extra snacks and entertainment.

Conclusion

Canada’s winter weather continues to cause widespread disruptions in air travel, particularly in regions like Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. With 105 flight cancellations and 291 delays, passengers should stay informed, make alternative travel arrangements, and exercise patience as the aviation industry works to address the ongoing challenges posed by the extreme cold. As the situation evolves, it is important to regularly check flight statuses and be prepared for any changes.

Source: FlightAware and affected airports

NEW YORK CITY is currently undergoing a breathtaking, almost ethereal transformation as a massive winter storm wraps the Manhattan skyline in a shroud of white and silences the perpetual roar of the streets. But as we step into the heart of February 2026, that beauty has been replaced by a biting, high-stakes reality. For the thousands of travelers looking to find warmth in a Broadway theater or adventure on the slopes of the Midwest, the air has turned from crisp to cruel. We are witnessing a moment where the sheer power of nature has forced a world-class nation to pause, leaving families huddled in airport terminals and vacationers staring at frozen horizons. It is a time that tests our collective resilience and reminds us that, despite our modern marvels, the ancient spirit of winter still holds the ultimate say over our journeys and our dreams.

The Polar Vortex Returns: An Arctic Outbreak Paralyzes Millions Now

A monumental weather event has officially taken hold of the American landscape, as a southward sag in the polar vortex has plunged the United States into a dangerous deep freeze. According to recent meteorological updates, a brutal wave of Arctic air has descended upon New York, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Michigan. This prolonged cold wave, which began its descent in mid-January, has grounded thousands of flights and turned major interstates into treacherous ice chutes. Governmental updates from the National Weather Service (NWS) indicate that wind chills have reached life-threatening levels from the Great Lakes all the way to the Deep South. In Tennessee and Missouri, states often unaccustomed to such sustained subfreezing conditions, the impact has been devastating. Emergency declarations have been issued in dozens of counties as infrastructure strains under the weight of the ice. Officials mentioned that the early 2026 cold wave had become one of the most significant winter events in recent history, forcing a complete rethink of winter travel safety.

Aviation Meltdown: 10,000+ Flights Grounded Across Major Hubs

The most visible shock to the tourism economy has been the near-total collapse of flight schedules at key gateways. Aviation tracking data indicates that at the height of the latest storm, more than 10,000 flights were scrubbed or delayed over a three-day window. Airports in New York, Chicago, Boston, and Detroit have found themselves at the epicenter of a logistical nightmare. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), de-icing operations have become increasingly complex as temperatures plummeted into the single digits. Travelers at Nashville and St. Louis hubs, which are typically used as weather-friendly alternatives, were caught off guard as sleet and freezing rain turned runways into skating rinks. Airlines mentioned that they were proactively scrubbing departures to prioritize passenger safety, though this has left thousands of tourists stranded in hotel lobbies and airport concourses.

Roads of Glass: The Treacherous Path Through the Midwest

On the ground, the story is equally dire. In Illinois and Michigan, state troopers have logged a historic number of multi-vehicle accidents as blowing snow and lake-effect bursts reduced visibility to zero. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) warned that even well-salted routes were no match for the flash-freezing rain that accompanied the Arctic front. Governmental road safety monitors in Tennessee reported that the recent ice storm left over 250,000 residents without power, further complicating travel for those trying to escape the cold. In New York and Massachusetts, the combination of dense urban centers and snow-narrowed streets has brought ride-hailing and shuttle services to a standstill. Officials suggested that motorists should avoid all non-essential travel until the weather moderated later this month.

Tourism Hotspots Go Silent: From Broadway to the Great Lakes

The economic toll on city-center tourism has been profound. In New York City, where January and February are traditionally vital for budget-minded international tourists, foot traffic has evaporated. Museums, theaters, and observation decks have seen walk-up sales plummet. According to the New York City Tourism + Conventions board, the cumulative impact of subzero wind chills and recurring transit snarls has kept even the most dedicated shoulder-season fans indoors. In Chicago and Detroit, outdoor festivals and skating rinks have been forced to adjust hours or cancel events entirely to prevent frostbite. In Missouri’s wine country and Michigan’s lakefront towns, bed-and-breakfast owners mentioned that they had seen a wave of rebookings as travelers cited both safety concerns and the sheer fatigue of the relentless storm cycle.

Ski Country Split: Too Much Snow vs. Too Little Adventure

Interestingly, the winter sports sector is seeing a tale of two seasons. While resorts in Vermont and Upstate New York have deep bases, the extreme cold has often made the slopes too dangerous to ski. High winds have repeatedly closed summit lifts, and resorts have issued warnings about the risks of frostbite on open runs. Conversely, in the Rockies, some areas are struggling with a snow drought. The U.S. Forest Service has noted that warm spells further west have left many trails with thin cover, forcing some Western resorts to pivot to non-ski activities. This geographic imbalance is frustrating for travelers who find that their local slopes are too cold to reach safely, while their mountain getaways lack the deep powder they expect for the price.

A New Chapter for the Winter Traveler

As the Arctic air continues to howl through the canyons of our cities and across the vast plains of the Midwest, the future of winter travel stands at a historic crossroads. The 2026 freeze has proven that even with all our technology, we are still at the mercy of the elements. It is a moment that demands patience, preparation, and a deep respect for the power of the natural world. We invite you to stay safe and informed during this extraordinary cold wave. Whether you are waiting for a flight in a crowded terminal or hunkering down at home, remember that the warmth of the season will eventually return. The beauty of travel is not just in the destination, but in our ability to navigate the challenges along the way with grace and resilience. The ice will eventually melt, the runways will clear, and the world will be waiting for us once more. Your next winter adventure is out there—whenever the wind finally decides to change and the world wakes up again.

A burgeoning partnership between two of the continent’s most formidable tourism powers has dramatically altered the landscapes of African diplomacy and economic integration. In a high-level diplomatic engagement, Kenya’s State Department for Tourism, represented by Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa, met with His Excellency Hatem Yousri Hosni, the Arab Republic of Egypt’s Ambassador to Kenya. The primary goal of this assembly was to discuss a transformative Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to connect the tourism sectors of these two countries. This proposed collaboration is being hailed as a watershed moment for both countries’ hospitality industries, indicating a shift towards a more integrated and diverse continental travel market.

The Synergy of Heritage and Conservation

The core of this bilateral agreement is rooted in the exchange of strategic blueprints aimed at product diversification. While Kenya has long been recognized as a global leader in wildlife conservation and safari experiences, Egypt stands as a master of cultural heritage tourism. Through this MOU, a framework is being established where Egyptian expertise in managing world-class historical sites is shared to enhance Kenya’s nascent cultural tourism sector. Conversely, the advanced conservation models and eco-tourism frameworks developed within the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife are expected to be utilized as a reference for Egypt’s efforts in preserving its own natural assets.

This reciprocal relationship is intended to create a more robust tourism portfolio for both nations. By learning from Egypt’s success in monetizing and preserving ancient history, Kenya aims to broaden its appeal to global travellers who seek experiences beyond the traditional savannah. This strategy is perfectly aligned with the Kenya Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Strategic Plan (2023–2027), which emphasizes the need for product diversification to maintain destination competitiveness in an increasingly crowded global market.

Elevating Hospitality Standards Through Training

A critical component of the discussions involved the elevation of human capital within the hospitality sector. It is recognized that the physical beauty of a destination must be matched by international service standards to attract and retain high-value global visitors. To this end, Egyptian hospitality expertise will be leveraged to facilitate the training of Kenyan personnel. This technical exchange is designed to ensure that local staff are equipped with the skills necessary to meet and exceed global expectations.

Under the proposed MOU, the exchange of innovative ideas will not be a one-time event but rather a sustained platform for professional growth. By adopting world-class hospitality practices from Egypt, the Kenyan tourism workforce is expected to undergo a significant transformation. This initiative is anticipated to bridge the gap between local service delivery and international benchmarks, thereby enhancing the overall visitor experience and solidifying Kenya’s reputation as a premier African destination.

Economic Revitalization and Job Creation

The broader implications of this partnership extend far beyond the immediate tourism sector. The strategic strengthening of bilateral ties is viewed as a primary driver for national economic growth. It is projected that an increase in international tourist arrivals will provide a much-needed boost to local businesses, ranging from artisanal markets to large-scale transport providers. The creation of jobs for the youth and local communities is a central pillar of this diplomatic mission, ensuring that the benefits of the tourism industry are felt at every level of society.

Furthermore, the alignment of these two nations within regional frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) serves to reinforce the economic viability of this MOU. By streamlining tourism protocols and fostering a spirit of cooperation, Kenya and Egypt are positioning themselves as a united front in the global travel industry. The collaboration is not merely about increasing numbers; it is about creating a sustainable and resilient economic ecosystem that can withstand global fluctuations.

Future Outlook: A Unified African Destination

The global travel community is keeping a close eye on Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife as it works to finalise this strategic partnership. The combination of the “Cradle of Mankind” and the “Cradle of Civilisation” provides a distinct value proposition unrivalled by other regions. The successful implementation of this MOU is expected to serve as a model for other African countries looking to capitalise on their unique cultural and natural strengths through bilateral collaboration.

The dedication demonstrated by both Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa and Ambassador Hatem Yousri Hosni emphasises the significance of diplomatic cooperation in the modern era. As these blueprints become actionable projects, the hospitality sectors in Nairobi and Cairo are poised for a golden age of growth, propelled by shared knowledge, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the future of African tourism.

Wenchang, a city in Hainan Province, is becoming a center for space tourism after having successfully launched its Long March- 12 carrier rocket on February 3, 2023. This is a historic mission for China as it is the 19th attempt to put a group of satellites into low orbit from the Wenchang Space Launch Site. More than just a historic milestone for the China aerospace industry, it is also a first for the Wenchang space tourism industry. As the southern most launch site in China, Wenchang is the only launch site in the southern region of China that offers a close view of rocket launches to the public, making it an attractive place for space tourists.

With the commencement of space tourism from Wenchang, the future of space tourism in China is very promising. Wenchang is going to become one of the most sought-after space tourism destinations in the world. It is also going to be the center of commercial rocket launch viewing in China. Space tourists are going to be able to experience all the latest space launch technologies and enjoy space themed adventure and luxury tourism.

Wenchang’s Strategic Location: A Key Contributor to Space Tourism Growth

Wenchang’s geographical advantages—close to the equator and surrounded by vast sea areas—make it an ideal location for space launches and a perfect setting for the burgeoning space tourism sector. As the site for China’s first commercial spacecraft launch facility, Wenchang is expected to attract global visitors looking to explore the world of space exploration in a region that combines cutting-edge technology with natural beauty. Space tourism is not only boosting the local economy but also creating an entirely new tourism segment for the region, where tourists can enjoy a unique experience watching live rocket launches while exploring Hainan’s pristine beaches and cultural heritage.

The region’s growth as a space tourism destination is supported by Hainan Free Trade Port policies, including zero tariffs and low tax rates, which attract space-related businesses and international tourists. This innovative tourism model, which combines space exploration with eco-tourism, positions Wenchang as a key player in global tourism growth.

Tourism Impact: Space Exploration Meets Cultural and Adventure Tourism

Space tourism has quickly become a key tourism driver in Wenchang, reshaping the local tourism landscape and contributing significantly to economic development. With the establishment of space launch viewing areas, space museums, and aerospace science centers, Wenchang is becoming a must-visit destination for space enthusiasts and adventure travelers. According to official statistics, the region recorded over one million tourist trips in 2025, many of which were driven by space tourism, with “rocket-chasers” flocking to the area to witness live launches.

The growing interest in space tourism is having a substantial economic impact on Wenchang and surrounding regions. Local businesses—from hotels and restaurants to tour operators and transportation services—are benefitting from the influx of international visitors, creating new opportunities for job creation and service sector growth. Local homestay operators and small businesses are seeing a shift from traditional industries to a new space tourism economy, with Wenchang’s transformation from a fishing community to a modern aerospace hub evident in the growing tourism demand.

Space Tourism’s Future Impact: A Catalyst for Sustainable Tourism Growth

As space tourism grows, Wenchang is increasingly focused on ensuring the sustainability of its tourism industry. The “Space Town” project, currently under development, will combine aerospace technology with themed tourism, allowing visitors to explore space while also enjoying the region’s natural beauty and cultural attractions. The creation of space-themed tourism districts will likely further boost local economies while ensuring that the region remains an eco-friendly and sustainable tourism destination.

The integration of space exploration with local tourism is a powerful model for sustainable tourism growth, as it draws international visitors while maintaining respect for the natural environment and local traditions. By promoting space tourism, Wenchang is creating a new tourism ecosystem that not only boosts economic development but also enhances the region’s cultural tourism appeal.

Hainan’s Growing Role in Global Space Tourism

The introduction of space tourism in Hainan, particularly in Wenchang, is poised to make the region a leading destination in global space tourism. As China’s space industry continues to grow, the demand for space tourism experiences will expand, attracting affluent travelers seeking exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. This presents Hainan with the chance to establish itself as a key player in the global tourism market, offering a combination of luxury and adventure that is increasingly in demand among international visitors.

By combining space exploration with luxury travel and local cultural tourism, Hainan will strengthen its position as a top destination for both space enthusiasts and tourists looking for unique, high-end travel experiences. This multi-faceted approach to tourism development will not only promote local economic growth but also drive sustainable tourism across the island.

Wenchang’s Space Tourism Impact and Future Growth

Wenchang has positioned itself as a leader in space tourism. This innovative space technology provides a new opportunity for interested travelers and will drive tourism growth for Hainan and all of China. As demand for space travel increases, it will bring sustainable growth to the regions’ tourism economy while attracting high spending travelers. This will allow the local economy to grow as tourism demand increases, especially as space travel becomes a more common experience.

Space tourism in Wenchang will legacy impact Hainan’s tourism economy. China will then be able to offer travelers luxury, adventure, and sustainable tourism, further establishing the country’s global leader status. Wenchang will continue to be a tourism and global exploration hotspot, especially as the local government collaborates with innovative infrastructure to support the aerospace sector.

With its unspoiled beaches, natural pools, and volcanic landscapes, El Hierro is the perfect place to escape the crowds and enjoy the lesser-known unspoiled beauty of the Canary Islands. El Hierro also offers many other natural and rustic attractions. Here is a complete guide to this calm getaway.

Why El Hierro Stands Out

Unlike its more famous neighbors, such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria, El Hierro remains off the beaten path. Its relatively low profile has preserved the island’s charm and beauty, making it a perfect destination for those looking to relax away from mass tourism.

With year-round mild temperatures averaging 21°C in winter, this island boasts idyllic conditions for outdoor activities like hiking, snorkeling, and beach lounging.

Explore the Island’s Pristine Beaches

El Hierro is home to several picturesque beaches, some with black volcanic sand and others with striking red sand. Whether you prefer relaxing by the water or taking a refreshing dip, El Hierro’s beaches offer something for everyone.

• Playa del Verodal: Known for its dramatic red sands and towering cliffs, this beach is one of the island’s most stunning. While swimming here is not advised due to strong currents, it is a great spot for photography and soaking in the beauty of nature.
• Cala de Tacorón: A peaceful cove tucked between black volcanic sand and clear turquoise waters. The calm sea makes it an ideal location for swimming and snorkeling, providing a chance to explore marine life in a tranquil setting.
• Las Playas: Stretching for 4 kilometers, this black pebble beach is perfect for a quiet walk or just enjoying the views. Although not ideal for swimming, its beauty is undeniable.
• Playa de Timijiraque: If you’re looking for surfing waves, head to Playa de Timijiraque. Its consistent waves make it a popular spot for surfers seeking an adventure.

Natural Pools: A Must-See

El Hierro is also famous for its natural volcanic pools, where you can swim in calm, crystal-clear waters. These pools are the result of volcanic lava flows, and they offer a safe, sheltered spot for swimming. The island features several must-see natural pools:

• Charco Azul: Situated near Playa de los Bucios, Charco Azul is one of the most popular natural pools on the island. The waters here are calm, making it an excellent place to swim. The surrounding scenery is also breathtaking, with volcanic rocks and lush vegetation.
• La Maceta Natural Pools: These pools, located in the northern part of El Hierro, offer stunning coastal views and provide the perfect place to cool off after a day of sightseeing. With easy access and facilities nearby, La Maceta is a favorite spot for both locals and visitors.

Hiking Trails for Adventure Seekers

El Hierro’s volcanic landscape offers an array of hiking opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just enjoy a leisurely walk, there’s a trail for you.

• La Llanía Route: This popular hiking trail takes you around the island, offering breathtaking views of the coast and the volcanic landscape. Along the way, you may come across landmarks like the Roque de la Bonanza and the Orchilla lighthouse.
• Pico de Malpaso: For those looking for a more challenging hike, climbing Pico de Malpaso, the highest point on the island, is a rewarding experience. From the summit, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of El Hierro and the surrounding ocean.

El Hierro’s Unique Volcanic Landscapes

El Hierro’s volcanic terrain is a defining feature of the island. The rich black and red sand beaches, rocky coves, and rugged cliffs all tell the story of the island’s geological history. A visit to El Hierro is a chance to explore nature in its purest form, with dramatic landscapes that are perfect for hiking, photography, or simply taking in the view.

How to Get to El Hierro

El Hierro is easily accessible by plane or ferry. You can fly directly from mainland Spain or from nearby Canary Islands like Tenerife. There are also ferries that connect El Hierro with other islands in the archipelago. Once on the island, you can rent a car to explore its many attractions or take advantage of local buses to get around.

Where to Stay

Though El Hierro is less developed than other Canary Islands, it offers a range of accommodations for every budget, from rustic guesthouses to comfortable hotels. Many accommodations offer stunning views of the sea or the island’s volcanic landscape, giving you a true sense of tranquility.

For an authentic experience, consider staying in one of the island’s charming rural houses or eco-friendly accommodations, where you can immerse yourself in nature and enjoy the peace and quiet that El Hierro is known for.

Best Time to Visit

El Hierro enjoys pleasant weather year-round, making it a great destination at any time of the year. However, to avoid the crowds and enjoy a more peaceful experience, consider visiting during the off-peak months, such as spring or autumn. The winter months are also ideal, with temperatures averaging 21°C, providing a mild climate perfect for outdoor activities.

Final Thoughts

For travelers seeking a compact paradise to immerse themselves in natural beauty without the distractions and crowds found in other tourist hotspots, El Hierro stands unrivaled in the geographies exposed by the surface of the earth. From natural pools and scenic mountains to hideaway beaches, El Hierro, part of the Canary Islands, provides beaches and hiking opportunities and combines both relaxation and activities. If you want to take a break and enjoy the peace of nature, you will find the place to re-energize.

Samsung is getting ready to launch new foldable phones this year. Along with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the company is also working on another Galaxy Z Fold model. New inforamation show that Samsung has already started software development work on this new Fold.

The first software build for this new Fold has been spotted. The firmware version is F971USQU0AZB1. This confirms that Samsung has started working on the phone’s software. The device is expected to run Android 17 with One UI 9 right out of the box.

The new Fold is internally codenamed “H8.” According to rumors, it may come with a wider design, similar to what Apple is expected to introduce with its first foldable iPhone. Although full specifications are not available yet, the device is expected to share many features with the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

This second Fold device is believed to be a slightly more affordable option. Reports also say that Samsung plans to launch this device globally.

In addition, the first One UI 9 firmware has been seen for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8. This suggests that Samsung’s upcoming foldable phones will be the first to feature the new software. Along with them, the major One UI update development has also begun for last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7.

One UI 9 will be Samsung’s next major software update based on Android 17. The new foldable phones will likely launch with it pre-installed. Stay tuned for more information.

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It's been over two years since Sony’s last flagship earbuds came out and it was about time for an update. Enter the WF-1000XM6, still sporting an absurdly long name, these feature an updated design alongside claims of even better sound tuning and noise cancellation. The earbud version of the WH-1000XM6 gets two more microphones compared to its predecessors with promises of even better call quality and adaptive noise cancellation. Sony actually claims these earbuds inherited their adaptive noise canceling from the over-ear XM6s alongside an optimized antenna structure for better...

While the world’s top national teams are currently focused on preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, other upcoming commitments are starting to emerge on the horizon. One of those is the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, where Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will aim to defend the title they won last year.

The European tournament will begin in September, during the first FIFA international break following the World Cup in North America. On Thursday, the draw was held to determine the groups for each of the four divisions.

Portugal were arguably the biggest beneficiaries of the draw, avoiding some of the toughest possible opponents. Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and Croatia all rank among the top 13 in the FIFA Rankings, making them formidable rivals.

Instead, Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates were placed in Group A4, the only group without any of those top-ranked teams. Portugal will face Denmark (21st in FIFA rankings), Norway (32nd), and Wales (35th) as they compete for a spot in the quarterfinals.

How does the UEFA Nations League 2026-27 work?

All UEFA member nations participate in the Nations League. Teams are divided into four divisions based on competitive level and recent results, with promotion and relegation systems similar to club leagues.

In the top division, the most competitive teams are placed into four groups of four. In the first round, each team plays home-and-away matches against the others in their group. After six games, the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals. The tournament is scheduled to conclude in the summer of 2027.

League A groups:

Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Türkiye

Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece

Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czechia

Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales

Will Cristiano Ronaldo play in the Nations League?

Cristiano Ronaldo turned 41 last week. He remains a key figure in soccer despite his age and will be one of the main attractions at the 2026 World Cup. However, his international future after the tournament in North America is unclear. Similar to Lionel Messi, the next World Cup could be Ronaldo’s last major challenge with Portugal, as it is hard to imagine him starting a new four-year World Cup cycle at his age.

That said, the one-year duration of the UEFA Nations League could be enough motivation for him to continue. If he decides to participate, Ronaldo will be aiming for his third Nations League title, having previously won the tournament with Portugal in 2018-19 and 2024-25.

While the defeat against Real Sociedad raised doubts among supporters, Barcelona managed to turn things around, stringing together six consecutive victories. As a result, they enter the Copa del Rey semifinal against Atlético Madrid as clear favorites. Unlike previous matches, however, the Blaugrana are dealing with the significant absences of Raphinha and Marcus Rashford. Even so, Hansi Flick stunned many by naming Robert Lewandowski on the bench.

Robert Lewandowski is in peak physical condition and even scored in the recent match against RCD Mallorca. However, coach Hansi Flick chose to start Ferran Torres instead, a decision seemingly based purely on tactics. Despite this, the Polish striker may still get playing time, as he sits on the bench, ready to leverage his experience and goal-scoring prowess to make a difference.

Although the Polish absence is surprising, Ferran Torres is a fairly safe bet, as he has been the team’s top scorer this season. In addition, the Spaniard offers ideal tactical flexibility to face Atlético Madrid’s strong defense, which is a real advantage. Furthermore, he played only a few minutes against Mallorca, so he is in better physical condition than Lewandowski, who has started two consecutive games.

Alongside the Spaniard, Hansi Flick has decided to rely on Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo in attack, seeking fluid movement up front to unsettle Atlético Madrid’s defenders. However, Barcelona will also place their hopes in Fermín López’s scoring ability, as he has netted 10 goals this season. With such impressive squad depth at his disposal, the Blaugranas should not face major obstacles in securing a place in the Copa del Rey final.

Robert Lewandowski could be facing his final season at Barcelona

Unlike previous seasons, Robert Lewandowski is no longer an undisputed starter at Barcelona. Alongside his physical issues, the veteran has experienced a drop in form, remaining far from the level he showed in earlier campaigns. As a result, the Blaugranas have delayed offering the Polish striker a contract renewal, even setting specific conditions to extend his deal.

Amid this uncertainty, his wife, Anna Lewandowska, made remarks suggesting that his time in Barcelona may be coming to an end. Nevertheless, the veteran has regained his scoring rhythm, attracting interest from several European clubs. Therefore, the Polish forward is expected to continue shining in front of goal, as he has reportedly received a formal offer from an MLS team ahead of the 2026–27 season.

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Fenerbahçe tarihinin en kötü dönemine dair itiraflar gelmeye devam ediyor. Dönemin önemli futbolcularından Mamadou Niang, "bizi o kadar çok korkuttular ki takımdan ayrıldım" diyerek 3 Temmuz sürecinde yaşadıkları kabusu ancak 15 yıl sonra anlatabildi.

3 Temmuz sürecini yaşayan isimlerden Mamadou Niang, Fenerbahçe forması giydiği 2010-11 sezonu ve sonrasında yaşanan süreçle ilgili çarpıcı açıklamalarda bulundu. ZackNani kanalının PodCastine konuşan Senegalli yıldız, o dönem takımdan ayrıldığı için pişman olduğunu itiraf etti.

Niang, şampiyonluk yolunda verilen emeğin bizzat tanığı olduğunu vurgulayarak suçlamaları reddetti:

- O sezonu bizzat sahada yaşayan biriydim. Ne kadar büyük bir mücadele verdiğimizi, hangi zorluklardan geçtiğimizi kendi gözlerimle gördüm.

- Trabzonspor’u mağlup ettik, Galatasaray ve Beşiktaş’ı deplasmanda yendik. Bunlar tesadüf değil, bir şampiyonluk yürüyüşünün göstergesidir.

- Başkanın rakip takımların primlerini artırdığı iddialarına hiçbir zaman itibar etmedim.

Ayrılık sürecinin de bir "yanlış yönlendirme" kurbanı olduğunu itiraf etti:

- O dönem çok yalan yanlış şeyler anlatıldı. Fenerbahçe’nin 2. Lig’e düşürüleceği konuşuluyordu. Haliyle alt ligde oynamak istemiyordum. Bizi o kadar çok korkuttular ki takımdan ayrıldım.

Ayrılık kararının ardından yaşadığı pişmanlığı gizlemeyen Niang şu ifadeleri kullandı:

- Daha sonra birileri gelip Fenerbahçe’nin aklanacağını söyledi ama iş işten geçmişti. Sonuçta Fenerbahçe ligde kaldı, ben ise aslında hiç istemeyerek, boş yere takımdan ayrılmış oldum," ifadelerini kullandı.

Kulüpler Birliği, yabancı sınırının tamamen kaldırılması için bir kez daha harekete geçti. TFF Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu da sıcak bakıyor. Ancak Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'ın 'yerli oyuncu' hassasiyeti malum. Sonucu herkes merakla bekliyor.

Kulüpler Birliği Başkanı Ertuğrul Doğan son toplantının ardından yaptığı açıklamada yabancı sınırlamasının kaldırılması için bir kez daha düğmeye bastıklarını açıkladı. Toplantıda kulüplerin büyük bir çoğunluğu, yabancı sınırının tamamen kaldırılması yönünde görüş bildirdi.

Toplantının ana gündem maddeleri şunlardı:

- Sınırın kalkması ve serbest piyasa koşullarının uygulanması.

- Gelir dağılımının kulüp maliyetlerine göre yeniden düzenlenmesi.

- Müsabaka saatlerinin ve saha şartlarının iyileştirilmesi.

TFF Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu'nun da kulüplerin bu talebine hak verdiği ve serbestlikten yana olduğu bilinse de, düzenlemenin önünde dev bir engel var.

Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, daha önce yaptığı açıklamalarda sahada çok sayıda yabancı oyuncu olmasına karşı olduğunu belirterek çok net bir çizgi çekmişti:

- Sayı 6-7’ye çıktığı zaman bakıyorsun sahada neredeyse yerli futbolcu yok. Bunu doğru bulmuyorum.

Erdoğan'ın bu yaklaşımı nedeniyle TFF'nin tam serbestlik konusunda nasıl bir yol izleyeceği net değil.

Sınırın kaldırılması için daha önce şu formüller üzerinde çalışıldı:

- Transfer edilecek yabancıların belirli bir yaşın altında olması.

- Oyuncunun kendi milli takımında oynama yüzdesine bakılması.

- Kulüplerin borçlanma durumuna ve bütçesine göre yabancı kontenjanı tanımlanması.

Türk futbolunda taşlar yerinden oynayacak. Rekabet Kurumu'nun 'ekonomik uçurum' incelemesiyle başlayan süreç, Kulüpler Birliği Başkanı Ertuğrul Doğan'ın açıklamalarıyla resmiyet kazandı. Şampiyonluk paylarının yeniden düzenlenmesi ve yayın gelirlerinin Anadolu kulüplerine kaydırılması gündemde. Sahadaki rekabetten önce, kasalarda eşitlik dönemi başlıyor!

Fotospor, geçtiğimiz günlerde "Dev Kulüplere Rekabet Şoku!" başlığıyla duyurduğu haberde yıllardır süregelen "3 Büyükler - Anadolu takımları" arasındaki ekonomik uçurumun yargı radarına girdiğini iddia etmişti. Rekabet Kurumu'nun, Anadolu kulüplerinin rekabet gücünü felç eden bu sistemi "kısıtlayıcı uygulama" kapsamında mercek altına alacağı ve TFF için kritik bir sürecin başlayacağı belirtmişti.

Süper Lig'de 30 Günlük Geri Sayım: Dev Kulüplere Rekabet Şoku!

ERTUĞRUL DOĞAN İLK KEZ AÇIKLADI

Dün bir açıklama yapan Trabzonspor Başkanı Ertuğrul Doğan, ekonomik dağılımın yeniden düzenlenmesi konusunun gündemde olduğunu resmen doğruladı:

- Şampiyonlukla alakalı dağıtılan rakamların yeniden düzenlenmesi gündeme geldi. Bugün alınması gereken kararların tamamı alınmış oldu. Ama karar verici kurum TFF'dir. Bu hafta federasyonla paylaşacağız.

ANADOLU KULÜPLERİNE MÜJDE

Bu gelişmeler, Süper Lig’de "puan cetvelinden önce kasaların eşitlenmesi" dönemine girildiğinin sinyali olarak yorumlanabilir.

SÜREÇ NASIL İŞLEYECEK?

Kulüpler Birliği'nde olumlu/olumsuz görüşler harmanlanarak bir model oluşturulacak. Kısa süre içinde hazırlanan yeni gelir dağılımı modeli TFF Başkanı'na sunulacak. Uygun görülürse Rekabet Kurumu'nun da yayın gelirleri ve pay sistemine dair hukuki inceleme başlatması gündemde. TFF'nin onayıyla birlikte gelecek sezondan itibaren yayın gelirlerinde Anadolu kulüplerinin payının artırılması hedefleniyor.

Eğer planlanan değişiklikler hayata geçerse, sadece "şampiyon olmuş" takımların değil, ligde varlık gösteren tüm takımların daha dengeli bir bütçeye sahip olması hedefleniyor. Bu durum, Anadolu kulüplerinin büyük takımlarla olan transfer ve kadro kalitesi farkını kapatması adına tarihi bir dönemeç olabilir.

Türk futbolunda gençlerin "pişme" sorununa İspanya modeli ile neşter vuruluyor. Kulüpler Birliği, B Takımı projesi için talepleri topladı. Maliyetleri düşürecek yeni formülle dosya TFF'ye sunuldu. Artık yetenekler kiralık gönderilip kaybolmak yerine kendi kulüplerinin çatısı altında profesyonel liglerde sertleşecek.

Türk futbolunun kronik "genç oyuncu gelişimi" sorunu bir kez daha masaya yatırıldı. Kulüpler Birliği Başkanı Ertuğrul Doğan "B Takımı" projesinde taleplerin toplandığını ve topun artık TFF'de olduğunu açıkladı. Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe ve Galatasaray'ın başını çektiği "B Takım" projesini destekleyen takımlar, Avrupa'daki başarılı örnekleri (Real Madrid B, Barcelona B) referans alıyor.

ERTUĞRUL DOĞAN MÜJDEYİ VERDİ

Kulüpler Birliği Başkanı Ertuğrul Doğan, sürecin işleyişine dair kritik bilgiler verdi:

- TFF'ye 'şu kulüpler B takım uygulamasından yararlanmak istiyor' diye yazımızı vereceğiz. Özellikle alt liglerdeki konaklama ve seyahat maliyetlerini, B takımlarını A takımlarla birlikte seyahat ettirerek aşmayı planlıyoruz. Federasyon uygun görürse önümüzdeki sene bu uygulamaya geçeceğiz.

U19 SEVİYESİ BEKLENTİLERİ KARŞILAYAMIYOR

Süper Lig kulüplerine göre U19 liginin rekabet seviyesi düşük. Mevcut sistemde genç yetenekler, profesyonel sertliği göremeden gelişimlerini tamamlıyor.

B takım sistemi gelirse büyük takımlar genç oyuncuları başka kulüplere kiralayıp takibini kaybetmek yerine, kendi tesislerinde ve kendi antrenörleriyle geliştirebilecek.

DAHA ÖNCE DE GİRİŞİM OLDU

18-20 yaş grubu oyuncular 2. veya 3. Lig'deki profesyonel takımlara karşı mücadele ederek pişecek. Son 5 yılda gündeme gelen B Takımı sürecinde şunlar yaşandı:

-2020 - B Takımlar Ligi Kararı - Pandemi ve lojistik engellere takıldı.

-2022 - Rezerv Lig Uygulaması - Sadece 4 hafta sürdü; tesis ve maliyet gerekçesiyle kaldırıldı.

-2023 - 15 Milyon TL Krizi - TFF'nin 3. Lig'e giriş bedeli olarak istediği rakam kulüplerce yüksek bulundu.

DİĞER KULÜPLER İTİRAZ EDİYOR

Projenin önündeki en büyük engel, 2. ve 3. Lig kulüplerinin itirazları. Alt lig temsilcileri, dev bütçeli kulüplerin B takımlarının ligin dengesini bozacağını ve şampiyonluk yarışına "etik dışı" müdahale olabileceğini savunuyor.

UEFA Uluslar Ligi'nde 2026-2027 sezonu kura çekimi yapıldı. A Milli Futbol Takımı'nın rakipleri belli oldu.

UEFA Uluslar Ligi'nde yeni sezonun eşleşmeleri belli oldu. Türkiye, UEFA’ya üye 54 federasyon takımının 4 ligde mücadele edeceği turnuvada A Ligi’nde yer alacak.

İŞTE RAKİPLER

Fransa, İtalya ve Belçika A Milli Takım'ın rakipleri oldu.

Milli Takım, A Ligi Grup A'da mücadele edecek.

A Milli Futbol Takımı'nın UEFA Uluslar A Ligi'ndeki rakipleri Fransa, İtalya ve Belçika oldu.

Belçika'nın başkenti Brüksel'de gerçekleştirilen kura çekimine 4. torbadan katılan ay-yıldızlı ekip, A Ligi 1. Grup'ta Fransa, İtalya ve Belçika ile eşleşti.

Kura çekiminde, Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, Başkan Vekili Zehra Neşe Kavak, Dış İlişkiler Kurulu Başkan Vekili Çağrı Kanver, A Milli Takım Teknik Direktörü Vincenzo Montella, Dış İlişkiler ve Milli Takımlar İdari Direktörü Buğra İmamoğulları, A ve 21 Yaş Altı Milli Takım İdari Müdürü Mert Tuncay ile Milli Takımlar İletişim Müdürü Türker Tozar yer aldı.

A Ligi kura çekimini Portekizli eski milli futbolcu Pepe, B Ligi kura çekimini Fransız eski milli futbolcu Patrick Vieira, C Ligi kura çekimini İspanyol eski milli futbolcu Fernando Llorente, D Ligi kura çekimini ise Belçikalı eski milli futbolcu Mbo Mpenza gerçekleştirdi.

A Ligi

1. Grup: Fransa, İtalya, Belçika, TÜRKİYE

2. Grup: Almanya, Hollanda, Sırbistan, Yunanistan

3. Grup: İspanya, Hırvatistan, İngiltere, Çekya

4. Grup: Portekiz, Danimarka, Norveç, Galler

B Ligi

1. Grup: İskoçya, İsviçre, Slovenya, Kuzey Makedonya

2. Grup: Macaristan, Ukrayna, Gürcistan, Kuzey İrlanda

3. Grup: İsrail, Avusturya, İrlanda Cumhuriyeti, Kosova

4. Grup: Polonya, Bosna Hersek, Romanya, İsveç

C Ligi

1. Grup: Arnavutluk, Finlandiya, Belarus, San Marino

2. Grup: Karadağ, Ermenistan, Kıbrıs Rum Kesimi, Letonya/Cebelitarık

3. Grup: Kazakistan, Slovakya, Faroe Adaları, Moldova

4. Grup: İzlanda, Bulgaristan, Estonya, Lüksemburg/Malta

D Ligi

1. Grup: Cebelitarık/Letonya, Malta/Lüksemburg, Andorra

2. Grup: Litvanya, Azerbaycan, Lihtenştayn

Turnuva formatı ve maç takvimi

A Ligi'nde gruplarını ilk iki sırada tamamlayan 8 takım, iki ayaklı çeyrek finallerde mücadele edecek. Bu eşleşmelerin galipleri, Haziran 2027'deki final turnuvasına katılacak.

B ve C Liglerindeki dört grup birincisinin yanı sıra D Ligi'ndeki iki grup birincisi, A, B ve C Liglerine yükselecek.

A ve B Liglerinde dördüncü sırayı alan takımlar, otomatik olarak B ve C Liglerine düşecek. C Ligi'nde dördüncü sırayı alan en kötü iki takım da D Ligi'ne gidecek.

A Ligi'nin üçüncü sıradaki takımları ve B Ligi'nin ikincileri, B Ligi'nin üçüncü sıradaki takımları ve C Ligi'nin ikincileri, iki ayaklı play-off maçı oynayacak.

C Ligi'nin dördüncü sıradaki en iyi iki takımı ile D Ligi'nin iki ikincisi arasında da play-off mücadelesi yapılacak.

Turnuvanın maç takvimi ise şu şekilde:

1. maçlar: 24-26 Eylül

2. maçlar: 27-29 Eylül

3. maçlar: 30 Eylül-3 Ekim

4. maçlar: 4-6 Ekim

5. maçlar: 12-14 Kasım

6. maçlar: 15-17 Kasım

Çeyrek finaller: 25-30 Mart 2027

Finaller (A Ligi): 9-13 Haziran 2027

“Nyukasl” UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının pley-off mərhələsinda qarşılaşacağı “Qarabağ”la matçdan əvvəl azarkeşlərinə müraciət ünvanlayıb.

Arena.az bu barədə İngiltərə klubunun mətbuat xidmətinə istinadən xəbər verir.

Belə ki, klub rəhbərliyi Bakıda keçiriləcək ilk matçdan əvvəl azarkeşlərdən Azərbaycan mədəniyyətinə diqqətli yanaşmağı tövsiyə edib. Məlumatda azarkeşlər üçün vacib olan səfər, təhlükəsizlik və davranış qaydaları əksini tapıb:

“Azərbaycana səfər edənlərin etibarlı pasportu olmalı və əvvəlcədən viza almalıdırlar. Viza prosesi üçün bir həftə vaxt ayrılması və səyahət sığortasının əldə edilməsi lazımdır. Ölkənin rəsmi valyutası manatdır. Bakıda kart və təmassız ödənişlərdən geniş istifadə olunur, həmçinin, bankomatlar mövcuddur. Hava limanından şəhər mərkəzinə taksi və ya birbaşa avtobus xidməti ilə getmək mümkündür. Metro səhər saat 06:00-dan gecə 00:00-dək fəaliyyət göstərir və istifadə üçün kart lazımdır”.

İngiltərə klubu azarkeşlərinin “Gənclik” metrostansiyasından istifadə etmələrini və stadionun “B” qapısına (Gate B) yönəlmələrini xahiş edib:

“Girişdə stüardlar və polis tərəfindən yoxlanışlar aparılacaq, stadion ərazisində hərbi qulluqçular olacaq. Stadiona A4 ölçüsündən böyük çantalar, çətirlər, həmçinin, pirotexnik vasitələr, vuvuzelalar buraxılmayacaq. Bayraqlar 1,5m x 2m ölçüsündən böyük olmamalı və siyasi şüarlar ehtiva etməməlidir. Stadion daxilində qəlyanaltılar və içkilər (o cümlədən pivə) satılacaq. Kənardan spirtli içki gətirmək qadağandır”.

Ramazan ayının başlayacağı və fevralın 18-dən orucluğun start götürəcəyi və ingiltərəli azarkeşlərdən buna, həmçinin, yerli mədəniyyətə hörmətlə yanaşmaları tövsiyə olunub. Şəhidlər Xiyabanı kimi tarixi və mühüm məkanlarda davranışlara xüsusi diqqət yetirilməsi, hörmətsizlik edilməməsi barədə də xəbərdarlıq olunub.

Matç bitdikdən sonra isə “Nyukasl” azarkeşlərinin təhlükəsizlik məqsədilə 30 dəqiqə tribunada saxlanılacağı bildirilib.

Xatırladaq ki, “Qarabağ” – “Nyukasl” oyunu fevralın 18-də Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika stadionunda keçiriləcək. Oyuna saat 21:45-də start veriləcək.

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso is set to travel to Naples for a dinner meeting with several Napoli players expected to be included in the upcoming national team squad.

According to reports from Nicolo Schira, the Azzurri boss will meet members of the Partenopei contingent ahead of the decisive play-off fixtures, with Antonio Vergara poised to receive his first senior call-up.

The youngster has been in impressive form in recent weeks and is now expected to join Alessandro Buongiorno, Alex Meret and Matteo Politano in the Italy squad.

Gattuso to meet Napoli players as Vergara anticipates first call-up

Vergara’s inclusion would mark a significant milestone in his rapid rise this season, as the youngster continues to establish himself as an important figure at club level.

Vergara earned his opportunity to make an impression at the Maradona after a series of serious injuries to the Napoli squad.

However, since his big break, he has done nothing but impress – and now is set to earn a maiden call-up to the national team.

Gattuso’s visit underlines the growing importance of Napoli’s core within the national team setup, as Italy prepare for crucial matches on the road to major tournament qualification.

Italy found out that they will face France, Belgium and Turkiye in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, after being drawn into Group A.

The Azzurri were in pot 2 for the draw, and can feel slightly hard done by after what appears to be a difficult draw.

Italy and France have a decades-old rivalry, whilst the Azzurri have triumphed more often than not over Belgium and Turkiye.

However, all these nations are armed with players familiar with Italy – with several Serie A stars among the squads that will prepare to face Gennaro Gattuso’s side.

Who are the Serie A stars ready to face Italy in the Nations League?

France have a number of high-profile players playing in Serie A.

At Milan, Mike Maignan and Christopher Nkunku are both in contention for a place in the squad. Meanwhile, Inter & Juventus brothers Khephren and Marcus Thuram will also likely feature for Les Bleus. Former Rossoneri full-back Theo Hernandez will face many old teammates and rivals, whilst Roma’s Manu Kone is also involved in the French set-up.

Belgium have a handful of stars in Serie A. Kevin De Bruyne will likely feature after he recovers from his injury. Juventus forward Lois Openda is a regular, whilst Milan duo Alexis Saelemaekers and Koni De Winter both also feature. Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere could also potentially play against Italy in the Nations League.

Turkiye, meanwhile, have several influential players currently based in Italy. Kenan Yildiz, arguably one of the best forwards in the league, will no doubt be involved, alongside Roma wing-back Zeki Celik, Inter talisman Hakan Calhanoglu and Pisa midfielder Isak Vural.

Italy discovered their UEFA Nations League fate for the 2026-27 edition of the international tournament, with the Azzurri drawn into Group A alongside France, Belgium and Turkey.

It is a tricky draw for Gennaro Gattuso’s side, with three very competent teams standing in their way.

But how have Italy fared historically against these sides?

Italy & France old rivalry ignites

The Azzurri and France have met many times over the years, with 39 matches between the two nations.

Of course, the most famous of those meetings was the 2006 World Cup final, where Italy won on penalties after the infamous Zinedine Zidane headbutt.

France also knocked the Azzurri out of the 1998 World Cup, after a 0-0 draw resulted in a penalty shootout victory for Les Bleus.

More recently, the two teams met in the Nations League in 2024. The Azzurri won 3-1 in France in September before Didier Deschamps’ side returned the favour two months later with a 3-1 win in Milan.

Azzurri have more luck against Belgium & Turkiye

Italy have lost just four of 26 meetings with Belgium, with the most recent defeat coming in an international friendly in 2015. Italy’s last official defeat to Belgium came in Euro 1972. In the 2024 Nations League, the sides drew 2-2 in Italy before the Azzurri won 1-0 in Brussels thanks to an early goal from Sandro Tonali.

Italy’s record against Turkiye is even more impressive. Of the 14 meetings between the two sides, Italy have never lost – winning 10 times. The sides last met in an international friendly in 2024 that finished 0-0, with the last official match at the postponed Euro 2020, with a 3-0 Azzurri win in the tournament’s opening fixture.

Liam Rosenior expects an “emotional” return to Hull City in the FA Cup and wants Chelsea to approach the tie the same way they would the Premier League or Champions League. Rosenior’s first permanent managerial role came at Hull, where he took charge from November 2022 to May 2024. He was dismissed shortly after narrowly […]

The post Rosenior anticipates ´emotional´ return to Hull for FA Cup clash appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Rosenior anticipates ´emotional´ return to Hull for FA Cup clash appeared first on Soccer News.

Ubisoft has just reported its third-quarter financial results for its 2025 fiscal year, which covers the last three months of 2025, ending right at the end of the year on December 31, 2025. This is an important distinction to make, only because these results do not include all of the layoffs and restructuring that happened at the start of this year when the company announced its "major reset." This means that Ubisoft went forward with its plan to reorganize the entire structure of the company and layoff hundreds of workers across multiple of its global branches and its own headquarters […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/ubisoft-third-quarter-growth-thanks-to-assassins-creed-overperformance/

Smartphones and PCs were going to be the obvious casualties of the DRAM shortage, but this global problem has also begun affecting routers, with the latest data revealing that companies mass producing networking equipment that don’t have a secure supply chain or strong negotiation power have been struck the hardest. With demand for memory increasing for AI server segments, both DRAM and NAND flash prices have jumped by more than 600 percent, meaning that if you want to upgrade your home or work network, you’d better upgrade fast. Around 20 percent of low-to-mid routers’ Bill Of Materials (BOM) accounts for […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/memory-crisis-impacting-routers-now-7x-more-expensive/

Earlier today, Pearl Abyss published its Q4 2025 earnings report, and in the subsequent earnings call, the South Korean company revealed interesting tidbits about what it will focus on after the imminent launch of Crimson Desert. The executives revealed that, depending on market demand (that is to say, depending on how well the game sells), Pearl Abyss already has plans to potentially add downloadable content and even multiplayer. As you probably remember, the game was actually supposed to be an MMO at first. Then it shifted to an open world game with multiplayer elements, but in the last few years, Pearl Abyss hasn't […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/crimson-desert-expand-multiplayer-dlcs-depending-market-demand/

Three years ago this coming April, Wccftech's Alessio Palumbo caught up with Kwalee Labs (formerly Bonsai Collective) to talk about their debut game, Luna Abyss. A UK-based game studio co-founded by Harry Corr, Benni Hill, and former Team17 producer, Hollie Emery, they started working together in 2019, setting out to create what would become a story-driven, first-person bullet-hell shooter (FPBHS) set in a dystopian world where you play as Fawkes, a prisoner stuck not just in the dreary prison of Luna, but in the middle of a mysterious prophecy. While we still don't have an exact release date, back in […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/luna-abyss-hands-on-preview-doom-returnal-a-good-time/

New research suggests that the path to alcohol dependence may differ depending on when the condition begins. A study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence identifies distinct roles for genetic variations and childhood experiences in the development of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The findings indicate that severe early-life trauma accelerates the onset of the disease, whereas specific genetic factors are more closely linked to alcoholism that develops later in adulthood. This separation of causes provides a more nuanced view of a condition that affects millions of people globally.

Alcohol Use Disorder is a chronic medical condition characterized by an inability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse consequences. Researchers understand that the risk of developing this condition stems from a combination of biological and environmental factors. Genetic predisposition accounts for approximately half of the risk. The remaining risk comes from life experiences, particularly those occurring during formative years. However, the specific ways these factors interact have remained a subject of debate.

One specific gene of interest produces a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, or BDNF. This protein acts much like a fertilizer for the brain. It supports the survival of existing neurons and encourages the growth of new connections and synapses. This process is essential for neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

Variations in the BDNF gene can alter how the brain adapts to stress and foreign substances. Because alcohol consumption changes the brain’s structure, the gene that regulates brain plasticity is a prime suspect in the search for biological causes of addiction.

Yi-Wei Yeh and San-Yuan Huang, researchers from the Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical University in Taiwan, led the investigation. They aimed to untangle how BDNF gene variants, childhood trauma, and family dysfunction contribute to alcoholism. They specifically wanted to determine if these factors worked alone or if they amplified each other. For example, they sought to answer whether a person with a specific genetic variant would be more susceptible to the damaging effects of a difficult childhood.

The team recruited 1,085 participants from the Han Chinese population in Taiwan. After excluding individuals with incomplete data or DNA issues, the final analysis compared 518 patients diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder against 548 healthy control subjects.

The researchers categorized the patients based on when their drinking became a disorder. They defined early-onset as occurring at or before age 25 and late-onset as occurring after age 25. This distinction allowed them to see if different drivers were behind the addiction at different life stages.

To analyze the biological factors, the researchers collected blood samples from all participants. They extracted DNA to examine four distinct locations on the BDNF gene. These specific locations are known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms. They represent single-letter changes in the genetic code that can alter how the gene functions. The team looked for patterns in these variations to see if any were more common in the group with alcoholism.

Participants also completed detailed psychological assessments. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire asked about physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as physical and emotional neglect. A second survey measured Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which covers a broader range of household challenges such as divorce or incarcerated family members. A third tool, the Family APGAR, assessed how well the participants’ families functioned in terms of emotional support, communication, and adaptability.

The genetic analysis revealed a specific pattern of DNA variations associated with the disorder. This pattern, known as a haplotype, appeared more frequently in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder. A deeper look at the data showed that this genetic link was specific to late-onset alcoholism. This category includes individuals who developed the condition after the age of 25. This was a somewhat unexpected finding, as earlier research has often linked strong genetic factors to early-onset disease. The authors suggest that genetic influences on brain plasticity might become more pronounced as the brain ages.

The results regarding childhood experiences painted a different picture. Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder reported much higher rates of childhood trauma compared to the healthy control group. This included higher scores for physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. The study found a clear mathematical relationship between trauma and age. The more severe the childhood trauma, the younger the patient was when they developed a dependency on alcohol. This supports the theory that some individuals use alcohol to self-medicate the emotional pain of early abuse.

The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) was particularly stark. The data showed a compounding risk. Individuals with one or more adverse experiences were roughly 3.5 times more likely to develop the disorder than those with none. For individuals with two or more adverse experiences, the likelihood skyrocketed. They were 48 times more likely to develop Alcohol Use Disorder. This suggests that there may be a tipping point where the cumulative burden of stress overwhelms a young person’s coping mechanisms.

The researchers uncovered distinct differences between men and women regarding trauma. Men with the disorder reported higher rates of physical abuse in childhood compared to female patients. Women with the disorder reported higher rates of sexual abuse compared to males. The data suggested that for women, a history of sexual abuse was associated with developing alcoholism seven to ten years earlier than those without such history. This highlights a critical need for gender-specific approaches when addressing trauma in addiction treatment.

Family environment played a major role across the board. Patients with the disorder consistently reported lower family functioning compared to healthy individuals. This dysfunction was present regardless of whether the alcoholism started early or late in life. It appears that a lack of family support is a general risk factor rather than a specific trigger for a certain type of the disease. A supportive family acts as a buffer against stress. When that buffer is missing, the risk of maladaptive coping strategies increases.

The team tested the hypothesis that trauma might change how the BDNF gene affects a person. The analysis did not support this idea. The genetic risks and the environmental risks appeared to operate independently of one another. The gene variants did not make the trauma worse, and the trauma did not activate the gene in a specific way. This suggests that while both factors lead to the same outcome, they may travel along parallel biological pathways to get there.

There are limitations to this study that affect how the results should be interpreted. The participants were all Han Chinese, so the genetic findings might not apply to other ethnic populations. Genetic variations often differ by ancestry, and what is true for one group may not hold for another.

The study also relied on adults remembering their childhoods. This retrospective approach can introduce errors, as memory is not always a perfect record of the past. Additionally, the number of female participants was relatively small compared to males, which mirrors the prevalence of the disorder but limits statistical power for that subgroup.

The study also noted high rates of nicotine use among the alcohol-dependent group. Approximately 85 percent of the patients used nicotine. Since smoking can also affect brain biology, it adds another layer of complexity to the genetic analysis. The researchers attempted to control for this, but it remains a variable to consider.

Despite these caveats, the research offers a valuable perspective for clinicians. It suggests that patients who develop alcoholism early in life are likely driven by environmental trauma. Treatment for these individuals might prioritize trauma-informed therapy and psychological processing of past events. In contrast, patients who develop the disorder later in life might be grappling with a genetic vulnerability that becomes relevant as the brain ages. This could point toward different biological targets for medication or different behavioral strategies.

The authors recommend that future research should focus on replicating these findings in larger and more diverse groups. They also suggest using brain imaging technologies. Seeing how these gene variants affect the physical structure of the brain could explain why they predispose older adults to addiction.

Understanding the distinct mechanisms of early versus late-onset alcoholism is a step toward personalized medicine in psychiatry. By identifying whether a patient is fighting a genetic predisposition or the ghosts of a traumatic past, doctors may eventually be able to tailor treatments that address the root cause of the addiction.

The study, “Childhood trauma, family functioning, and the BDNF gene may affect the development of alcohol use disorder,” was authored by Yi-Wei Yeh, Catherine Shin Huey Chen, Shin-Chang Kuo, Chun-Yen Chen, Yu-Chieh Huang, Jyun-Teng Huang, You-Ping Yang, Jhih-Syuan Huang, Kuo-Hsing Ma, and San-Yuan Huang.

Some new opportunities for streaming providers and entertainment brands. 

Russian authorities are pushing users towards the government-owned Max app instead.

Musk has shared some new notes on X's performance.

The data shows that more businesses are using AI, but performance results are mixed.

As the SaaS market reels from a sell-off sparked by autonomous AI agents like Claude Cowork, new data shows a 53% drop in AI-driven discovery sessions. Wall Street dubbed it the “SaaSpocalypse.”

Whether AI agents will replace SaaS products is a bigger question than this dataset can answer. But the panic is already distorting interpretation, and this data cuts through the noise to show what SEO teams should actually watch.

Copilot went from 0.3% to 9.6% of SaaS AI traffic in 14 months

From November 2024 to December 2025, SaaS sites logged 774,331 LLM sessions. ChatGPT drove 82.3% of that traffic, but Copilot’s growth tells a different story:

SaaS AI Traffic by Source (Nov 2024 – Dec 2025)

Starting with just 148 sessions in late 2024, Copilot grew more than 20x by May 2025. From May through December, it averaged 3,822 sessions per month, making it the second-largest AI referrer to SaaS sites by year-end 2025.

Investors erased $300 billion from SaaS market caps over fears that AI agents will replace enterprise software. But this data points to a less dramatic force: proximity.

Copilot thrives because it captures intent inside the workflow. Standalone tools saw a 53% traffic drop while workplace-embedded AI grew 20x.

Software evaluation is work, and Copilot sits where that work happens.

When someone asks, “What CRM should we use for a 20-person sales team?” while building a business case in Excel, that moment is captured—one ChatGPT never sees. The May surge reflects that activation: Microsoft 365 users realizing they could research software without opening a new tab.

41.4% of SaaS AI traffic lands on internal search pages

SaaS AI discovery sends users to internal search results first, not product pages.

Top SaaS Landing Pages by LLM Volume

Despite capturing 320,615 sessions — more than blog, pricing, and product pages combined — this dominance likely reflects LLM limitations, not superior content. LLMs route users to search when they lack a specific answer.

For SaaS companies watching their stock crater, that’s useful news: there’s a concrete technical fix. The 41.4% isn’t an existential threat. It’s a crawlability problem.

When an LLM can’t find a direct answer, it defaults to the site’s internal search. The AI treats your search bar as a trusted backup, assuming the search schema will generate a relevant page even if a specific product page isn’t indexed.

At 1.22%, search page penetration is 8.7x the site average. The cause is a “safety net” effect, not optimization.

When more specific pages — like Product or Pricing — lack the data an LLM needs, it falls back to broader search results. LLMs recognize the search URL structure and trust it will return something relevant, even if they can’t predict what.

Blog pages follow with 127,291 sessions and 1.13% penetration. These are structured comparison posts — “best CRM for small teams” or “Salesforce alternatives” — that LLMs cite when they have specific recommendations.

Pricing pages show 0.45% penetration; product pages, 0.28%. When users ask about software selection, LLMs route to comparison surfaces — search and blog — first. Direct product or pricing pages get cited only when the query is already vendor-specific.

The July peak and Q4 decline reflect corporate work cycles

SaaS AI traffic peaked in July at 146,512 sessions, then declined steadily through Q4:

Every platform declined. ChatGPT’s volume was cut in half, dropping from 127,510 sessions in July to 56,786 by year-end. Copilot fell from 4,737 to 2,351. Perplexity dropped from 7,475 to 3,752.

Two factors drove the slide:

• People weren’t working. August is vacation season, November includes Thanksgiving, and December is the holidays. Software research happens during work hours; when offices close, discovery drops.
• Q4 ends the fiscal “buying window.” Most teams have spent their annual budgets or are deferring contracts until Q1 funding opens. Even teams still working aren’t evaluating tools because there’s no budget left until the new fiscal year.

The July peak reflects midyear momentum: people are working, and Q3 budgets are still available. The Q4 decline reflects both fewer researchers and fewer active buying cycles.

This is where the sell-off narrative breaks down.

Investors treat a 53% traffic drop as proof that AI discovery is stalling. But the data aligns with standard B2B fiscal cycles.

AI isn’t failing as a discovery channel. It’s settling into the same seasonal rhythms as every other B2B buying behavior.

What this data means for SEO teams

Raw traffic numbers don’t show where to invest. Penetration rates and landing page distribution reveal what matters.

Track penetration by page type, not site-wide averages

SaaS shows 0.41% sitewide AI penetration, but that average hides concentration. Search pages reach 1.22%—8.7x higher. Blog pages hit 1.13%. Pricing pages are at 0.45%. Product pages lag at 0.28%.

If you’re only tracking total AI sessions, you’re measuring the wrong metric. AI traffic could grow 50% while penetration on high-value pages declines. Volume hides what matters: where AI users concentrate when they arrive with intent.

Action:

• Segment AI traffic by page type in GA4 or your analytics platform.
• Track penetration (AI sessions ÷ total sessions) by page category monthly.
• Identify pages with elevated concentration, then optimize those surfaces first.

Search results pages are now a primary discovery surface

Internal search captures 41.4% of SaaS AI traffic. If those results aren’t crawlable, indexable, or structured for comparison, you’re invisible to the largest segment of AI-driven buyers.

Most SaaS sites treat internal search as navigation, not content. Results return paginated lists with minimal product detail, no filter signals in URLs, and JavaScript-rendered content LLMs can’t parse.

Action:

• With 41.4% of traffic hitting internal search, treat your search bar as an API for AI agents.
• Make search pages crawlable (check robots.txt and indexability).
• Add structured data using SoftwareApplication or Product schema.
• Surface comparison data — pricing, key features, user count — directly in results, not just product names.

Make your data legible to LLMs — pricing and content both

The sell-off is pricing in obsolescence, but for most SaaS companies the real risk is invisibility. Pricing pages show 0.45% AI penetration—below the 0.46% cross-industry average. Blog pages captured 127,291 sessions at 1.13% penetration, but only when content directly answered selection queries. The pattern is clear: LLMs cite what they can read and parse. They skip what they can’t.

Many SaaS sites still gate pricing behind contact forms. If pricing requires a sales conversation, AI won’t recommend you for “tools under $100/month” queries. The same applies to blog content. When someone asks, “What CRM should I use?” the LLM looks for posts that compare options, define criteria, and explain tradeoffs. Generic thought leadership on CRM trends doesn’t get cited.

Action:

• Publish pricing on a dedicated, crawlable page. Include representative examples, seat minimums, contract terms, and exclusions.
• Keep pricing transparent. Transparent pages get cited; gated pages don’t.
• Replace generic blog posts with structured comparison pages. Use tables and clear data points.
• Remove fluff. Provide grounding data that lets AI verify compliance and integration capabilities in seconds, not minutes.

Workplace-embedded AI is growing 10x faster than standalone LLMs

Copilot grew 15.89x year over year. Claude grew 7.79x. ChatGPT grew 1.42x. The fastest growth is in tools embedded in existing workflows.

Workplace AI shifts discovery context. In ChatGPT, users are explicitly researching. In Copilot, they’re asking questions mid-task—drafting a proposal, building a comparison spreadsheet, or reviewing vendor options with their team.

Action:

• Track Copilot and Claude referrals separately from ChatGPT. Monitor which pages these sources favor.
• Recognize intent: these users aren’t browsing — they’re mid-task, deeper in evaluation, and closer to a purchase decision.
• Show up in workplace AI discovery to support real-time purchase justification.

Survival favors the findable

The 53% drop from July to December reflects AI usage settling into the software buying process. Buyers are learning which decisions benefit from AI synthesis and which don’t. The remaining traffic is more deliberate, concentrated on complex evaluations where comparison matters.

For SaaS companies, the window for early positioning is closing. The $300 billion sell-off is hitting the sector broadly, but the companies that survive the repricing will be those buyers can find when they ask an AI agent, “Should we renew this contract?”

Teams investing now in transparent pricing, crawlable data, and comparison-focused content are building that findability while competitors debate whether AI discovery matters.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Will BTC Rebound or Retest $55K Support? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

After months of correction, Bitcoin is attempting to stabilize, but technical analysts say the market has yet to confirm a decisive bottom, leaving the possibility of another dip before a stronger recovery begins.

Early Rebound Signals Stabilization

Bitcoin recently rebounded roughly 20% from its February lows, recovering into a broad support range between about $55,500 and $67,000. While the bounce suggests improving short-term sentiment, analysts describe the move as corrective rather than the start of a full bullish breakout.

A sustained upward trend would typically require stronger buying momentum and a clearer multi-stage upward pattern. Until such signals emerge, the recovery remains tentative.

Resistance Levels Holding Back Breakout

In the near term, analysts are watching a resistance band between $68,000 and $70,800, an area where selling pressure has repeatedly slowed advances. A decisive move above this range could reduce the risk of further downside and improve the outlook for a broader rally.

Conversely, failure to break above resistance may keep markets locked in a consolidation phase. Analysts say a drop below $62,600 support could increase the likelihood of another decline, potentially pushing prices back toward the mid-$50,000 range.

Market Still Searching for a Bottom

Technical indicators currently show a market moving sideways rather than trending strongly in either direction, with short-term price action fluctuating between support and resistance zones. Analysts warn that such conditions often precede either a renewed sell-off or the beginning of a stronger upward move, depending on which levels break first.

Despite near-term uncertainty, some analysts remain cautiously optimistic, arguing that the broader risk-reward balance increasingly favors long-term buyers as prices consolidate after the extended correction. Still, they stress that confirmation of a durable bottom will likely require stronger upward momentum and sustained trading above key resistance levels.

The post Altcoin Market on the Brink—Is a Massive Breakdown Toward $500B Coming? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The altcoin market is approaching a critical technical moment. Excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, the total crypto market capitalization is testing a long-standing ascending trendline that has supported prices since late 2023. At the same time, a large head-and-shoulders pattern is forming on the higher timeframe—a structure often associated with trend reversals. If confirmed, this breakdown could drag the altcoin market cap toward the $500 billion mark in the coming weeks.

With volatility rising and liquidity tightening across the broader crypto market, traders are now watching closely to see whether this is just another pullback or the start of a deeper correction.

Head-and-Shoulders Pattern Signals Weakening Momentum

The chart below shows a clear three-peak structure, a left shoulder formed after an early rally, a higher head marking the cycle peak and a right shoulder printing a lower high, which is a key sign that buying strength is fading. This pattern becomes active once the price breaks below the neckline, which in this case aligns closely with the rising green macro trendline.

The projected move from a head & shoulder pattern breakdown is measured from the top of the head to the neckline. Applying this projection to the current chart structure, it points towards a downside target between $500 billion and $520 billion in total altcoin market capitalisation. Currently, the levels are hovering around $690 billion, which implies a potential 25% to 30% decline if selling pressure accelerates. 

This move could increase Bitcoin dominance, trigger sharper corrections in mid- and small-cap altcoins and postpone any immediate altseason narrative. 

What’s Next for the Altcoins?

Bearish scenario: If the breakdown holds and the trendline fails to recover, the technical structure favors a deeper correction toward $580B and potentially $500B. This would mark a broad market reset and likely extend underperformance across the altcoin sector.

Bullish scenario: If buyers step in aggressively and reclaim the broken support, pushing market cap back above $750B–$820B, the breakdown would turn into a false move. In that case, altcoins could stabilize and resume upside momentum.

For now, the structure and sentiments remain cautious, and the upcoming weekly close will determine whether altcoins will face a deeper correction or rebound, transforming this into a small shakeout.