Although Arne Slot is in the running, Oliver Glasner remains the Milan favourite and it’s reported he is doing homework to prepare a presentation in Tuesday’s meeting.

LEIPZIG, GERMANY – MAY 27: Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, acknowledges the fans while wearing his winners medal following the UEFA Conference League Final 2026 match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Football Arena Leipzig on May 27, 2026 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

The Rossoneri are currently without a coach, director of sport, CEO or technical director after Max Allegri, Igli Tare, Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada were all sacked in one fell swoop.

As part of a total rebuild, they are seeking a new coach, and the shortlist currently seems to be down to two names.

Milan race down to Glasner and Slot

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on December 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Slot is available after he was sacked by Liverpool, just a year on from winning the Premier League, but Glasner remains the hottest target following his Conference League success at Crystal Palace.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, a meeting is planned on Tuesday in Austria for both Glasner and potential new technical director Ralf Rangnick.

The tactician is doing his homework and seemingly preparing a presentation based on the current strengths and weaknesses of the Milan squad.

He wants to be ready for any difficult questions, and with a list of the players he feels should stay or go.

That includes the long selection who will return to base at the end of failed loan experiences at other clubs.

The Corriere della Sera warns that even Rangnick isn’t entirely certain as technical director, because RedBird Special Advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes there shouldn’t be too much power given to one figure.

What salary cap concerns do the Boston Celtics have as they rebuild this offseason? The Celtics fell short of the expectations they themselves raised with a wildly overachieving 2025-26 NBA Regular season, falling in the first round of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs to the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that spent most of the season far below them in the East standings.

As a result, Boston's President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and the rest of the front office have their work cut out for them when it comes to retooling a clearly non-playoff ready squad. What constraints does the team have when it comes to spending? What exceptions, draft picks, and other tools do they have at their disposal to add talent to the team? And what else do we need to know about the cap heading into next season?

The folks behind the "98.5 The Sports Hub" YouTube channel put together a clip from a recent broadcast featuring Spotrac salary cap guru Keith Smith on to break all of the above down. Check it out below!

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: What salary cap concerns do the Celtics have as they rebuild this offseason?

The rumour mill is churning with major moves reportedly on the horizon in the Women's Super League.

According to two separate reports from The Athletic and the BBC, both Katie McCabe and Niamh Charles are on the move with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all involved.

First, Manchester City are "set to sign" Charles from rivals Chelsea. The English left-back has a single year left on her contract, and her medical is "still to be completed."

Meanwhile, with one blockbuster exit incoming, Chelsea are setting up their own headline conquest in signing Katie McCabe from Arsenal on a free transfer.

Manchester City were initially interested in the Ireland international, but Chelsea had pursued McCabe's signature "for some time." 

It might require a few takes next season when we see Charles and McCabe wearing new colours!

Whenever PSG wins, Paris is always a party.

After the Champions League victory, the Parisian players paraded this Sunday through the Champ-de-Mars, all the way to the Eiffel Tower.

Unlike last year, the parade was held on foot, which allowed the fans and the club to be much closer to one another.

A look back in pictures at those moments in the middle of the supporters.

By the way, before it began, Ousmane Dembélé promised to come back next year with the third title. And if...

Now, on to the Parc des Princes, where the Parisians are expected at 9 p.m.

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

VALLADOLID, Spain (AP) — Australia swept the Valladolid Sevens finals after comeback wins over the No. 1-ranked teams in the rugby sevens world series on Sunday.

The men won their first trophy since November 2022 in Hong Kong when they overcame South Africa 26-19 in a sweltering Estadio Jose Zorrilla. The Blitzboks had a last-gasp try ruled out by a forward pass.

The women comfortably handled the United States 27-14 in their final after finally stopping New Zealand in the semifinals. New Zealand had won the last five tournaments since February, beating Australia in the final every time.

Australia won without two of its best players with Maddison Levi and Tia Hinds missing through injury, and take a two-point lead over New Zealand into the world championship decider next weekend in Bordeaux, France.

The Australian teams celebrated their first title double since 2018 in Sydney.

The men were the bigger surprise. Even though they beat South Africa 24-14 in pool play on Saturday, the Australians were still underdogs in the final.

South Africa made an ominous 14-0 start through converted tries by Shilton van Wyk and Sebastiaan Jobb. But by halftime the score was level after Australia scored on both wings through James Turner and Ethan McFarland, who broke through two defenders each.

To start the second half, Australia captain Henry Hutchison made a try-saving tackle on Tristan Leyds, who was then sin-binned for a cynical foul.

In his two-minute absence, Australia romped ahead 26-14 after tries by Ben Dowling and Hutchison, the latter after a spectacular restart catch by a leaping Aden Ekanayake above his head.

But then Turner was red-carded for a high tackle with about 90 seconds left. South Africa rallied with a try by Gino Cupido, who then offloaded to van Wyk for what appeared to be the try forcing extra time. But the try was scrubbed after video replay showed Cupido's pass was forward.

South Africa is still favored to remain world champion next weekend as it has a four-point lead over Argentina.

The New Zealand women will also be favored in Bordeaux. They blew a 26-14 lead over Australia with three minutes to go in the semifinals.

Australia was pushed into New Zealand's half of the draw after losing to the U.S. 14-10 in pool play for the first time in eight matches.

But the final was less dramatic. Huge miss-out passes by Australia exposed the U.S. on the wings and Heidi Dennis scored two routine tries in their 22-7 halftime lead. Dennis was named the player of the final, though, thanks to two outstanding try-saving tackles from behind on Alex Sedrick and Sereana Vulaono.

___

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

Detroit at Tampa Bay — Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Rays.TV

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

If Brazil gets the better of Scotland at the World Cup, one man in East Dunbartonshire might have to reflect on his unusual family connection to their success.

Malcolm McLean's grandfather moved to Brazil in the early 20th Century, where he became involved in the game during its early development.

"My grandfather, Archie McLean, is in all the history books of Brazilian football," he said.

Archie lived in Paisley and, before moving to Brazil, played for a number of clubs including Ayr, Galston and Johnstone, winning the Consolation Cup in 1912.

He moved to São Paulo through his work as a mechanic with the textile company J & P Coats, initially expecting to stay only briefly.

Instead, he became involved in football and helped form a team known as the Scottish Wanderers, who competed in the São Paulo State League.

'I learned a lot from him'

"He's credited with introducing what they call the 'tabelinha', which was Scotland's short passing game," Malcolm said.

His on-pitch performances also earned him the nickname "Veadinho", or "little deer".

At a time before a national team had been established, Archie was selected to play for the São Paulo state side, indicating his standing within the sport in the region.

He continued to be involved in football in Brazil into the 1920s before later returning to Scotland. He died in 1971.

Malcolm, who was born in Brazil, also made his way back to Scotland at a time of political unrest.

"I lived there permanently until I was 10," he said. "I was sent to Scotland to school, partly to get me away from national service. There was a very nasty military regime in power in Brazil at the time."

• Scotland set off for World Cup - in pictures
• When Scotland qualified for the World Cup... but didn't go
• We followed Scotland to France 98 - now we're dreaming of another World Cup

Just as Archie had played a key role in the development of Brazilian football, he also had a similar influence on Malcolm, becoming his guardian.

"I actually knew him better than my own father, I have to say, because I lived with him in my formative teenage years," Malcolm said.

"I was always curious about his football in the past and I learned a lot from him. I think he is part of me, helped to form me."

Malcolm went on to study architecture in Glasgow before getting married and settling in Lenzie.

Malcolm was speaking at an event at Glasgow Central Station which saw a flash mob performance organised by the Brazilian consulate to celebrate the cultural links between Scotland and Brazil ahead of their World Cup clash.

He also maintains a strong connection to the country's culture and music.

"I was brought up with all that music going on all around me in Brazil and I just love it. It keeps me in touch with it," he said.

Malcolm frequently returns to Brazil and will be flying out on Wednesday for the World Cup.

Although he said his "standard uniform is a Brazil top and a kilt", there are no doubts where his loyalties will lie on 24 June when the two nations meet.

"When Scotland plays Brazil, I support Scotland," he said.

Malcolm is humble about his connection to his grandfather's role in shaping modern football.

"I just feel pride for Scotland. Not for me - I've done nothing," he said.

Looking at Brazil's current prospects, he said there were some similarities with past tournaments.

"They've also got some world-class players, but I always remember that in 1970, when Brazil had that fabulous World Cup win in Mexico, they actually went to Mexico in a complete shambles," he said.

"And in Brazil they're regarded as being in a shambles now, so there might be a parallel, you know? I'm just hoping for the best."

Teenage Leeds United left-back Jayden Lienou has been called up to the senior Wales squad for the first time for friendly matches against Ghana and Romania.

The Wales Under-19s international, who turned 18 in April, joined Leeds' academy from Manchester City last year.

Lienou has yet to make a first-team appearance for Leeds, but was an unused substitute in two Premier League matches earlier this month.

The Football Association of Wales did not say whether Lienou was replacing anybody in the squad when it announced his call-up on Sunday.

Wales host Ghana at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, before facing Romania in Bucharest the following Saturday.

• Wilson and Cabango out of Wales' friendlies squad

The future of the Oregon Ducks' quarterback position is in good hands, and on Saturday night, that showed once again with 5-star QB commit Will Mencl showing out at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles.

On day 2 of the camp, Mencl was once again named one of the standout players, impressing with his accuracy and arm talent throughout the drills. While he wasn't named the MVP of the day, he did make the list of top performers for the second-straight day.

"Will Menclwas a steady performer for the second straight day at the Elite 11 Finals," Rivals' Charles Power writes. "The Oregon pledge’s well-rounded skill set was on display Saturday night. Mencl displayed clean footwork and was assertive when working through the pro day script. The ability to throw with power and touch on downfield targets was evident, as Mencl delivered great passes on a deep post and box fade. He continued to be a standout in the rail shot throw, which isn’t a surprise given his excellent showing in the rail shot challenge on Day 1. Overall, it was another strong outing for the Rivals five-star prospect."

Top performers from Day 2 of the Elite 11 Finals🎯

(via @CharlesPower)

Read: https://t.co/te4VacGHmlhttps://t.co/Z5PuDGGqCLpic.twitter.com/rGVHdwJSmL

— Rivals (@Rivals) May 31, 2026

The final day of Elite 11 comes on Sunday night, where Mencl will work once again to prove that he is the top QB in the class and has a bright future ahead of him. All eyes will be on what the 5-star can do, as future wide receivers around the nation look to decide where they want to play their college ball, and whether or not Eugene is the place for them.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.   

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 5-star QB Will Mencl impresses for Oregon Ducks at Day 2 of Elite 11

Le'Veon Bell would be proud, as Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle went viral at OTAs for a hilarious drill that emphasized patience at the point of attack.

At OTAs, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic posted some footage of an interesting drill in which Warren and Dowdle hilariously dodged two moving football tackle wheels for patience, which quickly garnered buzz on social media.

Steelers RBs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle working on their patience through the hole. pic.twitter.com/2GIb9XIimc

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) May 28, 2026

With two trainers on each side and one in the middle, the drill is designed to help Warren and Dowdle become more patient, waiting for their opportunity and eventually bursting through the gap.

Warren and Dowdle, two undrafted yet exceptional running backs, form what should be a top-three running back duo for Pittsburgh, likely playing a massive role in the Aaron Rodgers-led offense in 2026.

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' Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle dodge giant football wheels at OTAs

The Prem

Leicester: (14) 26

Tries: Pearson, Cracknell, Clare Cons: Bailey Pens: Bailey 3

Exeter: (13) 35

Tries: Woodburn 2, Ikitau, Zambonin Cons: Slade 3 Pens: Slade 3

Exeter Chiefs moved back into the Prem play-off places as they left it late to win 35-26 against third-placed Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Olly Woodburn's early try was cancelled out by Leicester debutant George Pearson as Orlando Bailey kicked three first-half penalties to Henry Slade's two.

Len Ikitau's try put Exeter in front soon after the break before he set up Woodburn for his second score 11 minutes later.

Woodburn was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on with 22 minutes left as the hosts upped the pressure and Olly Cracknell forced his way over for the Tigers.

Leicester continued to control the territory and were rewarded when Charlie Clare put his side a point in front with 11 minutes to go.

But four minutes later Andrea Zambonin went over in the left corner for Exeter to secure a try-scoring bonus point and a vital win in the play-off shake-up.

Exeter's win - a first home defeat for Leicester since March 2025 - means they move back into fourth place in the Prem, three points clear of fifth-placed Saracens, who they host in their final regular season game next weekend.

Henry Slade kicked a late penalty to deny Leicester a losing bonus point but they remain in third place, two points off second-placed Bath and three in front of Exeter, with a showdown at Bath for home advantage in the play-offs on Saturday.

More to follow.

Leicester: Pearson; Radwan, Wand, Bailey, Hassell-Collins; Titcombe, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Martin, Chessum (c), Liebenberg, Reffell, Moro.

Replacements: Clare, Van der Flier, Hurd, Henderson, Watson, Cracknell, Whiteley, Kata.

Exeter: Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ikitau, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Norey, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau.

Replacements: Dweba, Burger, Tchumbadze, Tuima, Tshiunza, Cairns, Wimbush, Brown-Bampoe.

Sin-bin: Woodburn (58).

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe.

Scotland have been forced into a late change to their World Cup squad after Billy Gilmour was ruled out through injury, with teenage Manchester United midfielder Tyler Fletcher stepping in as his replacement.

Gilmour picked up a knee injury during Scotland’s 4-1 friendly win over Curaçao at Hampden Park and was withdrawn from Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad shortly after the match. The Napoli midfielder had been expected to play a key role in Scotland’s tournament plans, making his absence a significant setback ahead of their trip to the United States.

In his place comes 19-year-old Fletcher, who only made his senior international debut earlier the same evening, coming on at half-time in the friendly victory. Remarkably, that brief appearance now means he has earned a shock World Cup call-up just days after his first cap.

Fletcher, the son of former Manchester United and Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher, has progressed quickly through the ranks. His twin brother Jack has opted to represent England at international level, highlighting the split pathways within the family.

The youngster has spent most of his club career in United’s academy system, with limited senior minutes to date, but has now been thrust onto the world stage in a major tournament squad.

Scotland, who will travel to the United States ahead of their Group C fixtures against Bolivia, Haiti and Morocco, are preparing for their first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Hundreds of thousands of Arsenal fans filled north London's streets for a jubilant celebration of the club's Premier League victory after a 22-year wait.

Proudly displaying the coveted trophy, the players waved to the crowds from open-top buses as the Gunners travelled a five-mile loop through Islington, circling the Emirates stadium.

They were joined by the women's team, who lifted the first-ever Fifa Women's Champions Cup earlier in the season.

The victory parade comes a day after the men's team lost a nail-biting Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout in Budapest.

Crowds of fans were reaching their arms out towards buses as they travelled along the parade route.

Flags were waving with the players hyping up the crowd, occasionally throwing Arsenal scarves out towards the fans.

Fireworks could be heard along with the deafening sound of the vuvuzelas.

Joe, who attended the parade with his young son Trey, told the BBC: "We've been knocking on the door for the last four seasons and we've finally done it.

"I'm so excited."

Following the team's European near-miss on Saturday, Trey added: "In the late 2010s, they weren't in the best form, they weren't finishing in the top, top, like, sixth every season. So, it was a struggle.

"But now, since 2022, we've been finishing the Champions League spots, week in, week out.

"It feels surreal to come up against such a good team with PSG."

Another fan out celebrating was Theresa, who was born streets away from Arsenal's home ground.

She told the BBC: "You could say I've been a fan since I was born."

While she did see Arsenal win the trophy two decades years ago, she said: "it has been a long time since Arsenal has had anything to scream and roar about."

Michael and Teju were also enjoying the parade. Michael said he'd been "an Arsenal fan since [Thierry Henry] - and Teju as my partner is one by default".

He said the club's win was "a dream come true", adding, "it's only up from here. I'm over the moon."

He said his favourite player at the moment was Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Teju said she supported Bukayo Saka - and his partner Tolami Benson, whose outfits she admires.

Another fan told the BBC: "I had to be here because I waited 22 years for this."

He said he was only nine years old when Arsenal last won this trophy in the legendary Invincibles season - where they did not lose a single Premier League game.

He said the parade on Sunday was "one of the best days of [his] life".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

More on this story

• Arsenal title parade: What you need to know
• 'The first in my lifetime' - Arsenal fans rejoice after shedding 'bottlers' tag
• Watch Premier League highlights: Arsenal lift trophy, West Ham down as Spurs stay up

Related internet links

• Arsenal

VCU vs. East Carolina baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Baseball championship tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The East Carolina Pirates baseball team enters a must-win situation on Sunday against the VCU Rams. The NCAA Tournament regional elimination game at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina will be full of fireworks.

ECU is coming off a 7-5 loss to top-seeded host UNC on Saturday after beating No. 2 seed Tennessee in an extra innings special on Friday. No. 4 seed VCU eliminated Tennessee, but UNC still runs the bracket at home and also beat the Rams. 

VCU vs. East Carolina baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Championship

VCU Rams

2B: 

• Petite 1 (15)

• Campbell 5 (3 strikes)
• Vaughan 33 (19 strikes)

East Carolina

RBI: 

• Kalinich 1 (31)
• Irby 2 (38)

• Rose 17 (12 strikes)

How to watch: VCU vs. ECU 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship Game

Date: Sunday, May 31

Time: Noon 

TV: ESPN+

More NCAA News

• Saint Mary's vs. UCLA baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1
• Milwaukee vs. Auburn baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1
• Arkansas vs. Georgia box score: Final stats from 2026 SEC Baseball Championship
• Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson at Kentucky Derby leaves everyone saying the same thing
• Demond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin fired by LSU

After a productive six-game homestand, the Dodgers hit the road for a single series, playing the Arizona Diamondbacks for four games at Chase Field in Phoenix in the second meeting of the year between these two National League West rivals.

The Dodgers swept their opening series of the season from March 26-28 at Dodger Stadium. Arizona has been playing much better of late, winning 10 of 11 games before a hiccup this weekend in Seattle, putting themselves squarely in wild card contention.

Emmet Sheehan starts on Monday for the Dodgers, making his first career start at Chase Field. Left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez on the mound for the home team.

The Diamondbacks are 18-10 at home, and have won eight of their last nine games in Phoeni. The Dodgers have won their last four road series.

Monday game info

• Teams: Dodgers at D-backs
• Ballpark: Chase Field, Phoenix
• Time: 6:40 p.m.
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

New Orleans St. Augustine four-star wide receiver Miguel Whitley has committed to Ole Miss, per Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett.

He chose the Rebels over LSU in another big recruiting win for Pete Golding and Co. Tennessee and Arkansas were also in the mix for the coveted pass-catcher.

Whitley is the No. 205 overall prospect and No. 30 WR in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 7 player in Louisiana.

Rivals ranks Whitley higher than other recruiting services. He checks in as the No. 66 recruit and No. 11 receiver in the recently-updated 2027 Rivals300.

The 5-foot-11.5, 185-pounder began to trend toward the Rebels earlier this month and he was back in town this weekend. He’s leaving the Magnolia State as the SEC program’s latest commitment.

“When I went there, I met with DK (Metcalf), so just seeing that really opened my eyes … seeing the biggest of the biggest come from that school,” Whitley told Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman earlier this spring. “It’s like a blueprint.”

As a junior for St. Augustine, one of the top high school programs in The Boot, Whitley caught 46 passes for 869 yards and 14 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps. He’s gearing up for a monster senior campaign.

Ole Miss is heating up on the trail heading into the summer and it now has 12 total commits. The class ranks inside the top 20 of the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

This story will be updated.

When PSG wins, Paris celebrates.

After Paris Saint-Germain’s penalty shootout victory, Parisians paraded this Sunday on the Champ-de-Mars, all the way to the Eiffel Tower.

Unlike last year, the parade was held on foot, allowing the supporters and the club to be as close as possible.

A look back in pictures at these few minutes in the middle of the supporters.

Before getting started, Ousmane Dembélé also promised to come back with the third title next year. What if...

Next stop is the Parc des Princes, where the Parisians are expected at 9 p.m.

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

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout’s strong season so far has seen him accrue 2.4 bWAR, which is enough to make him the 47th player in MLB history to reach the 90 career bWAR benchmark.

WAR, or wins above replacement, determines how many wins a player contributes to their team in comparison to a league-average, or replacement, player. With Trout’s career mark of 90.1, he leads all current MLB players.

Trout has been among the best in the game this season, and has proven he can still post MVP-caliber numbers depite being in his age-34 season. he has 14 homers on the year, and has driven in 31 RBIs for the Halos. He has a .910 OPS, which leads qualified hitters on the team by a large margin.

Additionally, Trout leads the American League with 45 runs scored, as well as all of MLB with 56 walks.

How Close is Mike Trout to Other MLB Greats?

In terms of WAR, Trout is sure to keep climbing the leaderboards and could very well surpass some of the greatest names in the history of the sport—not that he isn’t already one of them.

The superstar is still under contract with the Angels for four more seasons after 2026, and could make a dent in the leaderboards if he continues to average 8.6 bWAR per 162 games. Assuming Trout plays all four of those seasons in their entirety and reaches 8.6 bWAR this season, Trout will find himself ranked 14th all-time in terms of bWAR by the end of his contract.

What Else Has Mike Trout Achieved in 2026?

Earlier in the season, Trout surpassed the late Garret Anderson for the Angels’ franchise lead in extra-base hits. He currently has 808 in his MLB career. While not in 2026, Trout also hit the 400 career home runs mark during the tail end of 2025.

Trout also has 1,049 career RBIs, meaning he cleared the 1,000 RBIs mark last season with his 64 over the course of 130 games.

He has already established himself as the greatest Angel ever, and is well on his way to Cooperstown whenever he decides to hang up the cleats.

Where do you think Mike Trout ranks all-time?

The post Mike Trout Continues to Reach Milestones in Fantastic Season appeared first on LA Sports Report.

Is Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown hurting his value as a player with his Twitch streams? It likely depends upon who you ask, if we are being honest, as much as it matters what it is in his Twitch streams we are talking about. Some of what Brown does on those streams is break down game film, which is a purely value-added venture from where we are sitting.

But we also have to admit that some of his comments in the wake of Boston's first round exit at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs did not exactly help him keep his name out of the rumor mill. Others, such as his ongoing feud with the media and Stephen A. Smith of ESPN in particular likely fed flames he'd rather see diminished.

The folks behind the "98.5 The Sports Hub" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Toucher and Hardy" show in conversation with "Locked On Celtics" host John Karalis taking a closer look. Check it out below!

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Is Celtics star Jaylen Brown hurting his value with his Twitch streams?

Alexander Zverev underlined his status as favourite for the French Open men's singles title with a clinical straight-set win over Jesper de Jong, which sent him through to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the sixth consecutive year.

The second seed, 29, has long been earmarked as a future Grand Slam champion but despite reaching finals at three of the four majors, he is still searching for a maiden title.

However, with world number one Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both eliminated in the first week, plus defending champion Carlos Alcaraz absent because of injury, the German's route to the title has opened up.

Showing few nerves on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Zverev came through his fourth-round match 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-1.

"It was a bit difficult in the beginning," Zverev said on court. "I didn't start strong and he started really fast. But once I found my rhythm, I was comfortable.

"My game is there. It's about showing it on the match courts."

The loss ends De Jong's career-best run at a Grand Slam after entering the main draw as a lucky loser, but the Dutchman - who was defeated on his 26th birthday - will climb back into the world's top 100.

Zverev will face 27th seed Rafael Jodar, who he described as "incredibly talented", in the last eight.

The Spanish teenager, playing in his second Grand Slam, dropped just five games across the final three sets as he fought back from two sets down to beat compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta.

• Sabalenka v Osaka in French Open night session
• Kostyuk beats four-time French Open winner Swiatek

There was little to separate Zverev and De Jong in the opening set, with De Jong going toe-to-toe with the heavy-hitting German in the baseline exchanges while also showing attacking intent on the approach.

He raced into a 3-0 lead, breaking Zverev in his opening service game and giving away just two points on his own serve, and later led 3-0 in the tie-break before Zverev reeled off seven consecutive points to take the first set.

Zverev had to be patient in the second, waiting until the 10th game to convert one of only two break-point opportunities offered to him, but was far too strong for his opponent in a 24-minute third set.

Relentless on serve in the final two sets, he conceded just six points across nine service games while also showing his formidable touch at the net, winning 29 of 38 points.

A former world number two, Zverev has won 24 ATP titles in his career, including seven Masters crowns, is a two-time Tour Finals champion and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

A Grand Slam title has so far eluded him but he has come agonisingly close, including at Roland Garros in 2024 when he led Alcaraz by two sets to one, and he is unlikely to get a better opportunity to end his wait for a first major.

He is one of only three top-10 seeds left in the draw, one of three players with experience of playing in a major final and is competing on a surface on which he has won nine of his 24 titles.

Perhaps most crucially, while many of his rivals have battled through multiple five-set matches, Zverev has won three of his four matches in straight sets and spent a little over nine hours on court.

• Live scores, results and order of play
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Marc Marquez says his comeback MotoGP weekend at the Italian Grand Prix deserved a perfect 10 out of 10 score, although he admitted he was “still far” from where he wished to be.

After missing the Sunday race at Le Mans and the entire Catalan GP due to injury, the factory Ducati rider returned to action at Mugello this weekend and immediately found himself back at the sharp end of the pack.

The reigning champion took risks in Friday practice to earn a direct entry into Q2, before qualifying fourth as the leading Ducati rider. He even briefly led Saturday’s sprint race before finishing fifth, but it was on Sunday where he truly shone, as he battled his physical limitations to grab seventh.

The highlight of his race was a long and intense battle with KTM’s Pedro Acosta, with Marquez doing everything in his power to hold off his countryman before eventually conceding the position.

What Pedro Acosta learned from Marc Marquez fight at Italian GP

Given the reservations he had about his form heading into the weekend, Marquez said he can take immense satisfaction from how he performed at Mugello.

"Honestly, I'm very happy with how the weekend went, and we exceeded expectations," the Ducati rider said. "I had doubts about coming or not, because it's very difficult to drive on this circuit when you're under pressure. But I decided to come and we had a fantastic weekend.

"I showed glimpses of speed, even if only briefly, but I decided to go out there and give it my all, and whatever happened, happened."

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Marquez eventually finished Sunday’s race 10.7s behind winner Marco Bezzecchi and five seconds adrift of his team-mate Francesco Bagnaia, who rounded out the podium in third.

While that represented a sizeable deficit to the front, Marquez is aware rebuilding his form is a gradual process: “I’d give the weekend a ten. Obviously, I don’t like finishing so far behind the winner. But it’s impossible to win without first making it to the podium.

“I still feel I’m far from where I want to be, but we have to see if I can reach that level. If I’m here, it’s to try to extend my career in the championship.”

The Spaniard underwent two separate operations in the wake of his crash in the sprint race at Le Mans earlier this month. The first was a relatively minor procedure to fix his broken toe, but the other one concerned a screw on his shoulder that was intermittently touching a nerve.

Although declared fit to take part in the Italian GP, Marquez was still lacking the full strength he needed for a top result.

“The first thing to do is assess how my shoulders are reacting,” he said. “Today, I ended up with more irritation than usual in the shoulder capsule, which is normal. The goal of the surgery was to improve the condition of the nerve.”

Francesco Bagnaia: Losing Italian GP podium late on would have been a "disaster"

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

As easy as A-B-C.

From Australia to Berkeley from Cardinal Newman, Santa Rosa (Calif.) Cardinal Newman offensive lineman Joshua Bunni committed to Cal on Sunday morning.

The Australia native, he moved to the U.S. last fall to play in the North Bay at Cardinal Newman, took his official visit to Berkeley over the weekend and told the Bears on Saturday that he was in.

On Sunday morning, he let the world, literally, know he was committing to Cal.

“I committed to Cal,” said Bunni.

The Bears had been working hard on him for months, since offering.

He has strong ties to Hawaii, where offensive line coach Famika Anae is from, and he recruited him.

“I have a great relationship with coach Famika and all of the Cal coaches,” Bunni told Rivals.

Bunni actually had his real breakout at the Warriors 4 Youth Showcase in Hawaii in January and when that film went public, offers came in.

That’s largely because he didn’t get to play as a junior – his move to the US prevented him from suiting up for Cardinal Newman per CIF-NCS rules, so he was limited to camps.

But he’d never played football before – he grew up in Australia playing rugby.

Yet he quickly took to football, crowning it off with a really good showing at last month’s Rivals Camp in San Francisco.

Several offers came in, but the Bears ultimately landed him.

And he’s excited to join the Bears.

“What a crazy day for Cal,” said Bunni. “We landed a crazy recruiting class as I’m sure you can see with all these guys.”

Spain's teenage sensation Rafael Jodar is through to his first grand slam quarter-final after fighting back from two sets down to defeat compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta at the French Open.

The 19-year-old has been the breakout star on clay this spring and he has lived up to the hype brilliantly at Roland Garros.

It appeared his race may have been run when he lost the opening two sets to 34-year-old Carreno Busta but Jodar stormed back to win 4-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2.

Having also gone the distance against American Alex Michelsen in the third round, Jodar is now only one short of equalling Rafael Nadal’s tally of five-set matches at Roland Garros in his first tournament.

In a wide open draw, it is not inconceivable that Jodar could match Nadal’s achievement by lifting the trophy on his debut, but tougher tests lie ahead and the miles in his legs must be a concern.

This was not a particularly long five-setter, with Carreno Busta, who has worked his way back up the rankings after elbow surgery, in peak form for two sets but unable to sustain it.

He had treatment to his right shoulder after the end of the third set but Jodar was in the ascendancy by then and swept through to the last eight.

Next up for the Madrid teenager is a tantalising encounter with second seed and title favourite Alexander Zverev.

The German so far appears to be coping just fine with the expectation on his shoulders and, after a slow start, eased to a 7-6 (3) 6-4 6-1 victory over Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong.

Zverev said: “The beginning was a bit difficult, I didn’t start off strong and he did, he was playing very fast, but, once I found my rhythm, I felt very comfortable on the court and that’s the most important thing for me.

“I feel like my game is there and now it’s just about showing it on the match court.”

Zverev has reached three grand slam finals but is yet to win a major title, and he is expecting a serious test of his credentials from Jodar.

“He’s a very young player, incredibly talented, he’s come on the scene this clay-court season and gone from outside the top 100 to almost being top 20,” said the world number three.

“He’s playing incredible tennis. It’s going to be a very difficult challenge but I have to trust myself and I’ll be ready for it.”

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has been included in Uruguay’s World Cup squad, but there was no place for veteran striker Luis Suarez.

Ugarte, 25, is one of three Premier League players to be selected for the tournament, alongside Wolves defender Santiago Bueno and Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.

However, in a surprising call, boss Marcelo Bielsa has decided to omit former Liverpool striker Suarez from his final squad, with the tournament in North America kicking off in just two weeks time.

Suarez said recently he would reverse his decision to retire from international football, having last featured for his country 20 months ago and it was expected that Bielsa would include the 39-year-old in his final 26-man roster.

Ex-Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been included, despite not featuring for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal since February.

Uruguay are in Group H and play their first match against Saudi Arabia on 15 June, followed by games against Cape Verde and Spain.

Manchester City have won the Adobe Women’s FA Cup after recording a 4-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion in the final at Wembley this afternoon.

Khadija Shaw, Alex Greenwood, Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema got the goals for The Cityzens in front of 43,917 fans at Wembley. 

The first chance of the game came in the opening 10 minutes when Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Fran Kirby saw a shot blocked. The Seagulls then saw a long-range shot from Marisa Olislagers cleared. 

Dario Vidošić’s side went close through a Kirby shot which was blocked by Ayaka Yamashita. The follow-up effort from Kiko Seike then went over the goal. 

Despite The Seagulls’ chances, it was Manchester City who took the lead through Shaw in the 38th minute. The Jamaican international headed a looping cross from Greenwood past Chiamaka Nnadozie. 

Just before the break, Manuela Vanegas sent a left-footed low shot towards goal but the ball was comfortably gathered by Yamashita. 

Manchester City doubled their lead in first half injury time through a Greenwood free-kick. It was the defender’s first goal for the club in two years. 

Andrée Jeglertz’s side added another goal in the 66th minute. Second half substitute, Fujino, planted a left-footed strike into Nnadozie’s goal. 

Another second half substitute, Miedema, added a fourth goal to Manchester City’s tally in the 86th minute. She diverted Kerstin Casparij’s cross past Nnadozie. The Brighton & Hove Albion keeper did get her gloves to the ball but failed to keep it out of the net.  

Manchester City’s 4-0 victory means that Jeglertz’s side have completed the domestic double and claimed their first Adobe Women’s FA Cup since 2020. The Cityzens are the third team to win the Barclays Women’s Super League and the Adobe Women’s FA Cup in the same season.

Cristian Stellini lashed out at Kevin De Bruyne for criticising Napoli coach Antonio Conte. ‘He had no joy or enthusiasm at being there, especially compared to Luka Modric at Milan.’

The row erupted after Conte left the Napoli job by mutual consent this summer, having steered them to second place in Serie A and victory in the Supercoppa Italiana.

Not everyone was sad about his departure, as confirmed by De Bruyne to Nieuwsblad in Belgium, when confessing he was ‘happy’ Conte was gone due to his defensive approach.

De Bruyne blamed for moaning about Napoli

NAPLES, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on August 30, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Now Conte’s long-term assistant manager Stellini has hit back on behalf of his old boss.

“Perhaps there’s no point in Napoli signing players who are 33 years old with an important career behind them, who think about aesthetics more than the results of a season,” Stellini told the Corriere dello Sport.

CASTEL DI SANGRO, ITALY – AUGUST 14: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli in action during the pre-season friendly match between Napoli and Olympiacos at Stadio Teofilo Patini on August 14, 2025 in Castel di Sangro, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

“If players with so much experience are to arrive in Italy, then at least they ought to set the example for the younger players on how to relish a club like Napoli with enthusiasm and joy. De Bruyne showed no joy or enthusiasm.

“I can only hope that in future he can experience situations that he’d prefer, perhaps for the Belgium national team with Rudy Garcia.”

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli leaves the pitch after being substituted whilst Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, speaks to Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

It isn’t just about the tactics or all that he had won in the past, because Stellini makes a damning comparison between the former Manchester City star and ex-Real Madrid legend Modric, who also arrived in Serie A last summer.

“I was really struck by the way Modric settled in at Milan, showing leadership and enthusiasm, despite being part of a team that played a very pragmatic style of football. He never went around criticising the directors or coach.

“Being a professional also means being able to understand what you can do to make the work environment better by setting the example!” concluded Stellini.

If De Bruyne was unhappy with the negative style of football expressed by Conte, then the likely arrival of Max Allegri from Milan isn’t going to improve matters.

The Belgian’s future at Napoli is therefore very much in doubt.

LONDON (AP) — Manchester City won the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday, wrapping up a first league and cup double in style.

Women’s Super League champion City beat Brighton 4-0 in the final in front of almost 44,000 fans at Wembley to claim its fourth FA Cup and the first since 2020.

Alex Greenwood floated in a cross for Khadija “Bunny” Shaw to head in the opener in the 38th minute and the City captain then got on the scoresheet herself with a brilliant free kick on the stroke of halftime.

Substitutes Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema extended City’s lead in the second half against first-time FA Cup finalist Brighton, which was bidding for its first major trophy.

City had clinched its first WSL title in a decade last month in Swedish coach Andrée Jeglertz’s first season at the club after joining from Denmark’s national team.

___

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

Mission Viejo (Calif.) tight end Luke Karby committed to Duke and broke down his decision. 

After moving up his official visit date from June to this weekend, there was plenty of buzz Duke was in a good position to land Karby. That’s exactly how it played out as the Blue Devils picked up one of the more versatile pass catchers out West. 

“I’m very excited about my decision,” Karby said. “I know Duke is the place where I can develop as a person and a player.

“At Duke, I can play my best football and set myself up for a great future. It’s a really a blessing for me to be in this position.”

Karby has the versatility to play multiple spots in an offense. 

“They want to use my athletic ability and let me stretch the field and make plays that I make daily,” Darby said. “They want to use me in the blocking game as well and create mismatches in the receiving game so I love the fit.”

Karby had official visits lined up to Colorado State and Oregon State but had decided to shut it down and will not take any more trips.

“I saw everything I needed to see at Duke,” Karby said. “They have shown me nothing but constant love and confirmation I can come here and do my thing. 

“This weekend showed me everything I needed to know about how much I’m going to enjoy being here. I know I’m going to be able to come to Duke and work hard to be the best player I can be.”

Karby is a player we like a lot as a jumbo receiver. He’s a hybrid who plays more receiver now but has the frame to easily bulk up and move to tight end at the college level. 

He runs well and had a strong showing at the recent Under Armour Next Camp in Los Angeles. He was a standout at the Diablos College Showcase back earlier in the month and put up solid numbers as a junior with 42 catches for 612 yards and two touchdowns. 

IPL's Purple Cap award: Full list of winners for taking most wickets in an IPL season from 2008 to 2026 originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• RCB faced GT in the final of the IPL 2026 season. 
• Sohail Tanveer won the first-ever IPL Purple Cap award.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dwayne Bravo have won the Purple Cap award the most times. 

How is Purple Cap award decided?

The Purple Cap is presented to the highest wicket-taker of a particular edition of the Indian Premier League. At the end of the season, including the playoffs, the bowler who took the most wickets is presented with the award, which is in the shape of a cap and is Purple in colour.  

If two bowlers are tied in total wickets taken, then the bowler with the lowest economy rate would win the award. 

Who won Purple Cap award in IPL 2026?

(To be updated with the winner after the final)

Full list of winners for taking most wickets in an IPL season from 2008 to 2026

Sohail Tanveer won the first-ever Purple Cap in 2008, as the then RR bowler took 22 wickets in 11 matches. RP Singh is the first-ever Indian to win the award in 2009. 

To date, only two bowlers have won the award more than once: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2) and Dwayne Bravo (2).

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — Joaquin Niemann closed with a 3-under 67 and made birdie on the first playoff hole against Talor Gooch to win LIV Golf Korea, the first title of the year for Niemann and his league-leading eighth career victory.

Gooch also shot 67 in a bid for his first LIV victory since Spain a year ago. Gooch and Niemann finished at 12-under 268 at Asiad Country Club in Busan, South Korea.

Bryson DeChambeau, who already has two wins this year, shot 65 and missed the playoff by one shot. Dustin Johnson (66) was another shot behind.

Jon Rahm, a runner-up at the PGA Championship two weeks ago, tied for 16th. It was his first finish outside the top 10 at LIV Golf in nearly a year.

European tour

KITZBUHEL, Austria (AP) — Kota Kaneko chipped in for birdie on the par-3 17th hole and closed with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot victory in the Austrian Alpine Open, making him the ninth Japanese player to win on the European tour.

Kaneko, who won the Order of Merit on the Japan Golf Tour last year to earn a European tour card, finished two ahead of Ricard Gouveia (69) and Davis Bryant (65). He finished at 18-under 262.

Bryant, who played at Colorado State, was tied for the lead when Kaneko holed his chip on the 17th. Bryant took bogey on the final hole.

Kaneko was a runner-up last week in the Soudal Open. The victory moved him to No. 11 in the Race to Dubai.

Other tours

Shaun Norris of South Africa closed out his victory in the Mizuno Open with a 7-under 65 for a five-shot victory, earning a return to the British Open this summer. The Japan Golf Tour event offered British Open spots to the leading three players. Ryutaro Nagano (66) and Ren Yonezawa (65) tied for second to earn their places at Royal Birkdale. ... Helen Briem of Germany closed with a 4-under 67 for a seven-shot victory in the Jabra Ladies Open de France at Evian Golf Resort. It was the of victory this year on the Ladies European Tour. ... Ryan Van Velzen closed with a 2-under 69 for a two-shot victory in the Spanish Challenge on the Challenge Tour. ... Yui Kawamoto shot 4-under 68 and defeated Yuzuki Toshizawa in a playoff to win the Resort Trust Ladies Championship on the Japan LPGA. ... Minji Park rallied from a four-shot deficit with an 8-under 64 to win the Suhyup Bank MBN Ladies Open on the Korea LPGA.

___

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

FC Barcelona likes the idea of signing Bernardo Silva from Manchester City on a free transfer, but there are some sticking points to be ironed out before the deal can go ahead.

Silva has been linked to Barça in the past, but his reported €50 million price tag during times of trying to return to the 1:1 rule under Financial Fair Play (FFP) limits in the summer windows of 2022 and 2023 got in the way.

Three or four years on, the landscape has changed. Bernardo will leave Manchester City on a free transfer after it expires on June 30, and he’s again being matched with a potential move to the Catalans or Atletico Madrid.

Barça fancy the idea of signing Silva according to Mundo Deportivo, and the Portuguese international is eager to sign on the dotted line to don Blaugrana.

As of yet, though, head coach Hansi Flick hasn’t given the transfer his thumbs up. Furthermore, there must also be departures from midfield or further up the pitch to facilitate him, both in terms of squad planning and making the numbers work in terms of FFP.

Where would Bernardo Silva play at FC Barcelona?

In Flick’s current 4-2-3-1 set up, there are two midfielders - usually Gavi and Pedri, or sometimes Frenkie de Jong in the place of the former, and a more advanced CAM that is usually Fermin Lopez or Dani Olmo.

On the right wing, Bernardo would face competition from Lamine Yamal, but his injury has shown that nobody else - such as Roony Bardghji, Marcus Rashford or Ferran Torres - has managed to become a solid back up when the number 10 is injured or needs a rest.

Rashford might also fight for minutes there if his loan from Manchester United is made permanent via triggering a €30 million buy option. Yet at the moment, with Anthony Gordon bought for €80 million on Friday, that looks unlikely.

Of the midfield options which include the mentioned names plus Marc Casado and Marc Bernal, it is Casado that is most likely to leave and make space.

This weekend, it’s been reported that Bernardo Silva’s former employers AS Monaco are tracking the La Masia product.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Why is Ben Cutting trending in India during IPL 2026 final? Revisiting the SRH hero who denied RCB the IPL title in 2016 originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• RCB bowlers dominated against GT in the final of the IPL 2026 season. 
• SRH cult hero Ben Cutting denied RCB from winning the IPL title in 2016.
• Ben Cutting started to trend in India during the IPL 2026 final. 

Why is Ben Cutting trending in India during the IPL 2026 final between RCB and GT?

Ben Cutting established himself as a cult hero at Sunrisers Hyderabad with his match-winning performance in the final of the IPL 2016 season. 

Cutting's all-round performance against RCB in Bengaluru helped SRH win their maiden IPL title as he broke thousands of RCB hearts.

After David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan gave SRH an excellent start, the middle-order crumbled a bit as RCB bowlers were looking dangerous at one point. However, it was Yuvraj Singh and Ben Cutting's knocks of 38 and 39, respectively, that helped SRH post a total of 208.

Then, while defending the total, Cutting took two wickets for 35 runs in his four overs as SRH restricted RCB to 200 runs in 20 overs and lifted the trophy.

As RCB returned to Ahmedabad to defend their title in 2026, some fans on social media spoke about Cutting's epic performance that denied RCB the title in 2016.

The biggest disrespect to Ben Cutting's career is they compared him with Jason Holder to save humanity vs RCB. pic.twitter.com/E4IugVuM4F

— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) May 31, 2026

Who will be Ben Cutting tonight?#RCBvsGT

— Jahnavi Kapoor (@JahnviKapoor_FC) May 31, 2026

Today is the IPL final, and only two questions matter:

Who will save humanity?

Who will become Ben Cutting tonight? 😏🏏#RCBvsGT#IPL2026

— Vipul Dabgotra (@VipulAura) May 31, 2026

MORE: Most IPL titles won by a player: Full list of players with the most IPL trophies

Can Washington Sundar become GT's Ben Cutting in the IPL 2026 final?

GT batters, who consistently performed throughout the season, crumbled under pressure in the IPL 2026 final as RCB bowlers thoroughly dominated the first innings.

Washington Sundar, though, proved to be the only headache for RCB as he scored an unbeaten half-century and helped GT post 155 runs on the board.

After Sundar's brilliant knock with the bat under pressure, the GT fans would hope that the off-spinner weaves his magic with the ball too and miraculously win GT the title with an all-round performance like Ben Cutting from 2016.

Gill and sai gone but still Ben Washington cutting scares me a lot 🤧

— RDK 🐿️🇪🇸 (@Champ_VK18) May 31, 2026

washington sundar is our ben cutting man 💔

— Pallavi Anand (@PallaviSAnand) May 31, 2026

washington GT's ben cutting kya 💔

— nou (@mandhanahive) May 31, 2026

MORE: Fans rage after Cox catch ruled not out in IPL 2026 final

The Cricket News Opinion: Ben Cutting IPL's 'streets won't forget' player

'Streets won't forget' is a popular term used by football fans to describe a player who achieves cult status in a team with a memorable performance in a particular tournament or a season.

However, in most cases, those performances are one-off flash-in-the-pan moments as they fail to maintain consistency. Ben Cutting did not really produce any more memorable moments after that IPL final performance, however, SRH and IPL fans will forever remember Cutting. 

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Minnesota Twins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, May 31, 2026, 1:35 p.m. ET

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet

Pitching Matchup: Zebby Matthews (1-2, 2.37 ERA) vs. Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.75 ERA)

The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Minnesota Twins looking to grab a win.

Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

• Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
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BD community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!

Liverpool have confirmed that Ibrahima Konaté will leave the club on a free transfer when his contract expires on 30 June, bringing an end to a five-year spell at Anfield.

The French defender departs after talks over a new deal broke down following more than 18 months of discussions between both parties. Konaté’s exit comes as Liverpool begin a new chapter, with changes already underway in the coaching setup following the recent departure of Arne Slot and his staff.

Signed from RB Leipzig in 2021 for around £35 million, Konaté quickly established himself as Virgil van Dijk’s primary defensive partner. Over the course of his Liverpool career, he made 183 appearances across all competitions and played a key role in several trophy-winning campaigns.

During his time at the club, the 27-year-old lifted the Premier League title in 2024/25, along with the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups, while also featuring in the 2022 Champions League final.

Liverpool are already planning for the future in defence, with young French centre-back Jeremy Jacquet arriving from Rennes in a £60 million deal. He is expected to compete with Giovanni Leoni for a starting place, while Joe Gomez remains an experienced option in the squad.

San Diego Padres (32-25) at Washington Nationals (30-29), May 31, 2026, 10:35 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Nationals Park – Washington, DC

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

• Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
• Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
• Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads

Craig Breslow Addresses Possibility Of Demoting Struggling Infielder originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Despite his offensive struggles this season, Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin has strung together a few solid performances in a row recently. 

The Red Sox have gotten a different version of Durbin this season after an impressive rookie campaign where the 26-year-old infielder slashed .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs and 53 runs batted in, finishing third in the voting for the National League Rookie of the Year award.

Even after going 5-for-12 across his last three games, hitting three doubles and driving in four runs, Durbin is still only slashing .182/.251/.270 this season. The 26-year-old has been an excellent defender this season, but with how poorly he's performed at the plate, a potential demotion has been looming over him recently. 

The Red Sox's chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, did not dismiss the possibility of sending Durbin down to the minor leagues amid his struggles this season when asked whether it would benefit the team for him to figure out what has been wrong for him offensively and return to form in the minors.

“We, the coaches, (interim manager Chad Tracy) are doing everything possible to get him to perform at the level that he did all season last year, that we know he is capable of. It’s going to turn,” Breslow said on Saturday, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. “But we’re constantly thinking about, where’s the best environment for that to happen? But I think it is premature in terms of making decisions.”

It's encouraging that, despite his struggles this season, the Red Sox clearly believe in Durbin and that he's going to turn things around. Boston is in a tough situation, sitting at 24-33, and needs every win the team can scrape together. 

Breslow didn't dismiss the possibility of sending Durbin down to the minor leagues for a reason. The Red Sox can't wait all season for the young infielder to return to form. 

More MLB: Connor Wong Reflects On Home Run Being Called Back

In their latest attempt to get back on track, the Wisconsin Badgers have announced their football program's next general manager.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Wisconsin hired longtime NFL personnel executive Morocco Brown.

Brown will be the program's new general manager, following Marcus Sedberry, who was appointed GM back in February of 2025.

"Brown’s NFL career includes stints with the Colts, Browns, Commanders and Bears. His last role in Indianapolis was as Chief Personnel Executive," Thamel wrote.

Thamel continued, "He also served as director college scouting in Indianapolis, VP of Player Personnel for Cleveland and Director of Pro Personnel for Washington. He interviewed for six NFL GM jobs during his time in the NFL. This marks another step for Wisconsin in modernizing the football program and athletic department."

Sources: Wisconsin is hiring longtime NFL personnel executive Morocco Brown as the football program’s new general manager. Brown’s NFL career includes stints with the Colts, Browns, Commanders and Bears. His last role in Indianapolis was as Chief Personnel Executive. pic.twitter.com/eBgR3WbUAy

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 31, 2026

Wisconsin has gone above and beyond to bring an NFL-experienced executive to help rebuild a struggling football program. Whether or not Luke Fickell remains in the mix or not remains to be seen, but Brown is the new GM as the team continues to search for its next athletic director.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers football program names Morocco Brown new GM

Real Madrid could sign two central defenders in the summer transfer window, depending on which players end up leaving the club, according to a report from AS.

Real Madrid will start preparing for life under new manager Jose Mourinho after the elections, with the defense being the most important position for reinforcement.

The report stated that Raul Asencio’s future is not certain, and Mourinho will directly decide whether he stays or leaves. If he does leave, then Real Madrid could potentially sign two central defenders in the summer.

It is also mentioned that Ibrahima Konate — who has just been confirmed to be leaving Liverpool in a statement by the club on Sunday — could be in the mix once again.

Real Madrid had shown interest in him before, and may have reignited it in the last week or so, and it remains to be seen which players the club ends up signing.

The World Cup would also be a good indicator of which players Real Madrid could go for, and it will be interesting to watch how it all unfolds.

The New York Knicks secured a series sweep with their defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday (May 25), thrusting fans into a decidedly 1999 frame of mind in the process.

Indeed, the last time the Knicks were in the NBA Finals, the world was steeped in (ultimately unfounded) Y2K panic, with era-defining albums from Eminem and blink-182 serving as the soundtrack.

Put another way, it’s been a long time.

Below, we take a closer look at the state of pop culture circa June 1999, the same month the Knicks roared into that year’s NBA Finals, only to later be bested by the San Antonio Spurs. As it stands now, there’s a very real possibility of a Knicks and Spurs rematch next month, meaning the general 1999ness of it all could multiply significantly in the days ahead.

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Celebs sitting courtside for the Knicks in 1999

Spike Lee has been a full-fledged Knicks superfan for decades. In ’99 footage that has garnered renewed attention on social media after the Knicks knocked out the Cavs on Monday (May 25), he’s among the familiar faces seen cheering on the team nearly 30 years ago.

How much have things changed since 1999? Here's what celebrity row looked like for Game 4 of the Finals - the last year the Knicks made it that far until 2026 pic.twitter.com/6cf6mrxDCy

— Velodus✨ (@velodus) May 26, 2026

But what about celebrity row in Game 5, the final game in which the Knicks played in the Finals (until now)? Well, here ya go! pic.twitter.com/b8gnd2ds23

— Velodus✨ (@velodus) May 26, 2026

Eminem, blink-182, Ja Rule, Britney Spears, Missy Elliott, and more released pivotal albums

By the time the Knicks and the Spurs faced off in the 1999 NBA Finals, the world was a mere four months removed from the explosive arrival, and sustaining cultural omnipresence of, Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP.

Other prominent album drops from the first half of 1999 include blink-182’s genre-redefining Enema of the State (the group’s first studio album with Travis Barker); TLC’s FanMail (featuring “No Scrubs”); Ja Rule’s studio debut Venni Vetti Vecci; Britney Spears’s blockbuster …Baby One More Time; Foxy Brown’s Chyna Doll; Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity; The Roots’ Things Fall Apart; Snoop Dogg’s No Limit Top Dogg; Ricky Martin’s self-titled English language debut; Backstreet Boys’ Millennium; Slick Rick’s The Art of Storytelling; Smash Mouth’s Astro Lounge; Mase’s Double Up; The White Stripes’ self-titled debut; Missy Elliott’s Da Real World; Limp Bizkit’s Significant Other; Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Californication; and more.

The Matrix, Austin Powers, Varsity Blues, and more made a splash at theaters

The Matrix, now widely regarded as a classic that forever changed the look and feel of action films, debuted in the States in March 1999. The film ultimately went down as one of the most commercially successful titles of the year, joining other pre-NBA Finals ’99 entries like Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace in the final top 10 at the domestic box office.

Varsity Blues, Office Space, Cruel Intentions, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Mummy, Run Lola Run, and more also captured the hearts of moviegoers as the world careened toward a new millennium.

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The Sopranos and SpongeBob SquarePants debuted on TV

The pop cultural blessings of 1999 extended to TV, as well, as both The Sopranos and SpongeBob SquarePants had made their debut by the time the Knicks put forth their best effort in pursuit of a chip.

Family Guy and Jon Stewart’s Daily Show run also kicked off in early ’99, while continuing series in the post-Seinfeld TV landscape in the first half of the year included Buffy the Vampire Slayer,South Park, Friends, and The X-Files.

Knicks fans from now on pic.twitter.com/2WyRXRDeVW

— Sopranos World (@SopranosWorld) May 26, 2026

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The Seminoles have been quiet on the recruiting trail but made some noise today as the first weekend of official visits comes to a close. Defensive lineman Eric Vaulx Jr. has given his verbal commitment to Florida State.

Vaulx is a 6’2, 265-pound defensive lineman from Lake Cormorant (Mississippi). 247 Composite has him as a 3-star and the 439th best player in the nation (51st best DL, 14th best player in MS). I think there is a good chance Vaulx will finish as a blue-chip as long as he stays healthy his senior year.

Vaulx had a very productive junior campaign, notching 75 tackles (18 for loss), six sacks, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and three blocked kicks. Florida State got in on Vaulx early and Terrance Knighton managed to beat out fellow finalists Tennessee and Missouri as well as a dozen others who offered, including Oklahoma, Auburn, Colorado, Mississippi State, and Arkansas.

Vaulx becomes Florida State’s seventh commitment in Tribe27.

Wake Forest vs. West Virginia baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Baseball championship tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

West Virginia Mountaineers Baseball is trying to stay alive in the NCAA postseason. After falling to the Kentucky Wildcats, 11-9, the loser's bracket feels lonely. Now they'll try and get past Wake Forest, who's looking to escape by beating the host team. 

The Mountaineers and Demon Deacons have met a total of 17 times, with Wake holding a decisive 14-3 advantage in the series, which started in 1914. Kentucky runs the regional having beat both teams. 

Wake Forest vs. West Virginia baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Championship

Wake Forest

• Dressler 7 (4 strikes)

West Virginia

• Montesa 15 (11 strikes)

How to watch: Wake Forest vs. West Virginia 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship Game

Date: Sunday, May 31

Time: Noon ET

TV: ESPN2

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Tabor Academy (Mass.) safety Brady Scott tells Rivals he has committed to Indiana, giving head coach Curt Cignetti and the defending National Champs a pledge from one of their top defensive back targets in the 2027 cycle.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Scott also strongly considered Iowa, Louisville and several others.

“What made Indiana right for me were the coaches, culture, and the development,” Scott said. He visited a couple times in the spring including for a practice in March and his official visit in April. Scott caught a game in Bloomington last fall as well.

“Every time I showed up there they treated me like a priority, from the top with Coach Cignetti all the way to the interns. Everyone was on the same page with Coach Cignetti’s message with a ton of discipline. I just knew they could develop me the best and that I could help contribute to the future of being the best program in the country.”

Scott becomes commit No. 9 for Indiana in the 2027 recruiting class.

“I’d say my favorite thing is knowing I’m ultimately playing for the best coach in the country,” Scott said. “I believe in what he has done in the past and what he is doing in the future. He is just a tell it like it is coach and I like that. 

“I want to be challenged and I want it to be hard and I know he will do that for me.”

Over the last three seasons Scott has over 150 tackles and seven interceptions. He also shines as a playmaker on offense. The Rivals Industry tabs him the No. 49 safety in the country.

The 2026 Dodgers are shooting to become the first MLB franchise to three-peat since the Yankees of the late ’90s/early 2000s.

New York won the World Series in 1998, 1999, and 2000, and that era is revered by Yankees fans and baseball historians alike.

The mid-2020s Dodgers are on a similar path, as they are currently viewed as an unstoppable machine. LA has won two straight titles, and are the betting favorites at Fanatics Sportsbook to win it again.

There are plenty of similarities between these two iconic franchises and these unforgettable eras, but there are also many differences. Below, we will highlight both.

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How the 2026 Dodgers are Similar to the 2020 Yankees
Star Wars
The Yankees had, and the Dodgers currently have some of the biggest names in baseball. Those New York teams employed legendary players like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Darryl Strawberry, Roger Clemens, David Cone, and Doc Gooden.

In recent years, the Dodgers have had some of the biggest names in the sport, with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Clayton Kershaw on the marquee.

Fire-starters
Those Yankees teams and the Dodgers of the last two years had elite starting pitching. Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished third in NL Cy Young award voting last year as he sported a 2.49 ERA and struck out 201 batters and was phenomenal in the postseason as well, posting a 1.45 ERA in 37.1 innings pitched. Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Blake Snell also came through with big postseason outings.

The Yankees had phenomenal starting pitching in their glory years, with Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, David Cone, David Wells, and Doc Gooden each coming up with elite performances.

Sustained Success
The Yankees’ three-peat was far, far more than just a three-year blip. New York made the playoffs in 1995, won the World Series in 1996, and made the playoffs again in 1997. After the three-peat, they continued to be in the World Series mix throughout the 2000s. The Yanks made the playoffs from 2001 to 2007, and then won the World Series in 2009.

The Dodgers’ back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025 came as no surprise. LA has remarkably made the playoffs every season since 2013, and won the World Series in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Know Your Role
The Dodgers and Yankees have had plenty of A-listers, but neither franchise would have had nearly as much success if it weren’t for key role players. Those great Yankees teams had “glue guys” like Scott Brosius, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Ricky Ledee, Jim Leyritz, and set-up men Mike Stanton and Jeff Nelson. Brosius even won MVP of the 1998 World Series, as he hit .471 with two home runs and 6 RBI in the series sweep over the Padres.

The Dodgers have had major contributions from the likes of Kike Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas in recent years. The biggest came in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series against the Blue Jays. Rojas hit a game-tying solo home run, and LA would go on to win the title in extra innings.

Mega Bucks
Playing as the flagship franchises in these two massive media markets, the Yankees and Dodgers are expected to spend big each year. According to SteveTheUmp.com, the Yankees had the second-highest team payroll in MLB in 1998 ($65.6 million), the highest payroll in MLB in 1999 ($88.1 million), and again the highest in MLB in 2000 ($92.5 million).

According to USA Today, the Dodgers had the third-highest payroll (behind the Mets and Yankees) on Opening Day 2024 at $249,823,654. They had the second-highest (behind the Mets) in 2025 at $321.2 million.

LA had the second-highest payroll (behind the Mets) on Opening Day this season with a $316.5 million price tag, according to the Associated Press.

How the 2026 Dodgers Differ From the 2020 Yankees
Core Four
While the Yankees did have plenty of hired guns, the foundation of their dynasty was built on homegrown talent like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte. This group was dubbed the “Core Four.” Bernie Williams, who played his entire 16-year career with the Yankees, was also a homegrown talent.

Most of the Dodgers’ top players—most notably Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts—were acquired via free agency or trade.

The Boss vs. The Consortium
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was larger than life. There was no doubt about where the buck stopped in the Yankees organization when “The Boss” was in charge.

Steinbrenner was known for quickly disposing of managers if they had a subpar season. Joe Torre won the World Series in his first year with the Yankees (1996), buying him some immediate leeway with Steinbrenner.

The consortium that runs the Dodgers, Guggenheim Baseball Management, has been a lot more patient with Dave Roberts, who has been manager since 2016. Early in his Dodgers tenure, Roberts faced plenty of criticism for the team’s lack of success in the postseason. Can’t imagine “The Boss” would have been as kind to Roberts.

Different Forms of Dominance
The Yankees went an incredible 114-48 in 1998. In 1999, New York went 98-64, and in 2000 the pinstripes went 87-74. Joe Torre’s club swept the Padres in the 1998 World Series, swept the Braves in the 1999 World Series, and then needed just five games to dispose of the Mets in the 2000 World Series.

The Dodgers went 98-64 in 2024 and 93-69 in 2023. Dave Roberts’ bunch beat the Yankees in the 2024 World Series, 4-1.

Last year was the outlier, as the Dodgers needed a full seven games (and extra innings in Game 7 against Toronto) to win their second consecutive crown.

Closing Time
Mariano Rivera, widely regarded as the greatest closer of all-time, was the difference maker for those great Yankees teams. “Mo” posted a win and two saves in the 1999 World Series against the Braves, earning the World Series MVP award. In the 2000 postseason, Rivera broke Whitey Ford’s record for most consecutive postseason scoreless innings at 33 ⅓.

On the other hand, the Dodgers have relied on something of a closer-by-committee approach these past couple of years, with Tanner Scott, Roki Sasaki, and Evan Phillips getting the most work late in games. They signed All-Star closer Edwin Diaz last winter, but the former Met was largely ineffective before landing on the IL with elbow problems.

Bombs Away
The Yankees are dubbed the Bronx Bombers, but in their most recent dynasty years they weren’t typically among the league leaders in homers. During the height of the steroid era, the Yankees were 7th in MLB team homers in 1998 (207), 13th in dingers in 1999 (193), and 10th in homers in 2000 (205). Tino Martinez led New York in homers in 1998 with 38, but that landed him tied for 38th in MLB. Tino hit 28 in 1999 (tied for 47th in MLB). Bernie Williams led the Yankees in homers in 2000 with 30 (tied for 43rd in MLB).

The modern day Dodgers are more reliant on the long ball. As a team, the Dodgers were third in MLB in home runs in 2024 with 233. They hit 244 homers last year (second in MLB).

Shohei Ohtani is the Dodgers’ biggest bopper as he hit 54 homers in 2024 (second in MLB), and 55 in 2025 (third).

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Robert Thomas, for a moment, saved Canada from a big upset at the IIHF World Championship bronze medal game on Sunday.

The St. Louis Blues center scored twice inside of two minutes remaining in regulation, including the game-tying goal with 7.6 ticks left, to tie the game against upset-minded Norway.

But the Norwegians finished what it started, scoring at 3:32 of overtime on a goal by Noah Steen to down the Canadians, 3-2 at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich, Switzerland to claim the country's first-ever medal in this competition despite being outshot 45-23.

Norway, which was blasted by the host country, Switzerland, 6-0 on Saturday in the semifinals, led 2-0 before Thomas fueled Canada's comeback by making it 2-1 with 1:16 remaining in regulation:

Robert Thomas gets on the board late in the game to make it 2-1.

It's not over yet. #MensWorldspic.twitter.com/u1pAXWxpGE

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) May 31, 2026

Thomas would then tie it 2-2 on a goalmouth play after a flip pass from behind the net from former Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly (Nashville Predators) moments after Norway missed by mere inches from sealing the game with an empty-net goal:

MITÄ DRAAMAA! 😱🤯

Norja oli senttien päässä laittaa kiekon tyhjiin ja varmistaa näin mitalin, mutta niin vain kiekko lipui ohi. Tästä hetkeä myöhemmin Robert Thomas survoi Kanadan tasoihin vain seitsemän sekuntia ennen ottelun loppua.#ViaplayMMlätkä#MMkisat#ihankaikkipic.twitter.com/wWEcJ0yiIi

— Viaplay Urheilu (@ViaplayUrheilu) May 31, 2026

Thomas, who also scored his first of the competition Saturday in a 4-2 semifinal loss to Finland, finished the tournament with six points (three goals, three assists)  and a plus-5 in 10 games.

Blues forward Dylan Holloway, who did not factor in the scoring on Sunday although helped create the first Thomas goal with a shot on goal, also had six points (four goals, two assists) in 10 games and was a plus-3.

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MSI plans to make high refresh rate OLED monitors more affordable with its MAG OLED 271QPX32 gaming monitor At Computex 2026, MSI are upgrading their OLED monitor lineup with new display technologies, which include several “world’s first” achievements. One of these first is MSI’s MAG OLED 271QPX32 monitor, which is the “world’s first 27-inch WQHD […]

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Bahattin Sofuoğlu, Dünya Superbike Şampiyonası'nın İspanya'da düzenlenen 6. ayağının ikinci yarışında 16. sırayı aldı.

Aragon özerk bölgesiyle aynı adı taşıyan 5,1 kilometrelik pistte yapılan yarışların ikincisi de sona erdi.

Superpole yarışında 16. olan Motoxracing Yamaha takımının pilotu Bahattin Sofuoğlu, ikinci yarışı da 16. sırada bitirdi.

Aruba Ducati takımından Nicolo Bulega, hem superpole yarışı hem de ikinci yarışta damalı bayrağı ilk sırada gördü. 26 yaşındaki İtalyan pilot böylece bu sezon koşulan 18 yarışı da kazandı.

Geçen sezonki Estoril ayağının ikinci yarışından itibaren üst üste 22. birinciliğine ulaşan Bulega, kendisine ait Superbike rekorunu geliştirdi.

Pilotlar klasmanı lideri Bulega, puanını 372'ye yükselterek 2. sıradaki takım arkadaşı Iker Lecuona ile arasındaki farkı açtı.

Şampiyonanın 7. ayağı, 13-14 Haziran tarihlerinde İtalya'nın Emilia-Romagna bölgesinde düzenlenecek.

Real Madrid forması giyen milli futbolcu Arda Güler, UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde sezonun en iyi çıkış yapan oyuncusu seçildi.

UEFA'dan yapılan açıklamada, Arda Güler'in Şampiyonlar Ligi'ndeki performansına değinilerek, "Ekim ayında Real Madrid'in Juventus'a karşı lig aşamasındaki galibiyetinde itici güç olarak öne çıktı ve takımının orta sahasına getirdiği kontrol ve yaratıcılık sayesinde o gece maçın oyuncusu ödülünü kazandı." ifadeleri kullanıldı.

Şampiyonlar Lig'inde bu sezon 2 golünü de çeyrek finalde Bayern Münih ile oynanan maçta atan 21 yaşındaki milli futbolcu, 4 golün de pasını veren isim oldu.

Kvaratskhelia, sezonunun futbolcusu seçildi

Paris Saint-Germain'in Gürcü futbolcusu Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde sezonun oyuncusu seçildi.

UEFA'nın açılmasında Kvaratskhelia için "Heyecan verici Gürcü kanat oyuncusu, Paris'in üst üste ikinci şampiyonluğunu kazanmasında büyük rol oynadı. Turnuva boyunca sol kanatta gösterdiği performansla on gol attı ve altı asist yaptı." denildi.

Bu sezon Paris Saint-Germain ile 48 maça çıkan 25 yaşındaki sol kanat, 19 gol kaydetti.

Sezonun en iyi 11'i açıklandı

UEFA, Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde sezonun en iyi 11'ini açıkladı.

Açıklanan takımda, sezonu şampiyon tamamlayan Paris Saint-Germain'den 5, finalist Arsenal'dan 3, Bayern Münih'ten 2 ve Atletico Madrid'den 1 futbolcu yer aldı.

Sezonun en iyi 11'inde yer alan futbolcular şunlar:

Kaleci: David Raya (Arsenal)

Defans: Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel (Arsenal), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)

Orta saha: Michael Olise (Bayern Münih), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forvet: Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Harry Kane (Bayern Münih)

Sezonun ikinci grand slam tenis turnuvası Fransa Açık'ta (Roland Garros) tek kadınlarda Iga Swiatek ile Belinda Bencic, 4. turda elendi.

Fransa'nın başkenti Paris'te düzenlenen organizasyonun 8. gününde Polonyalı Iga Swiatek (3), Ukraynalı Marta Kostyuk ile karşılaştı. Rakibine 7-5 ve 6-1'lik setler sonucunda 2-0 yenilen Swiatek, daha önce 4 kez şampiyonluk yaşadığı turnuvaya veda etti.

Günün diğer maçında Ukraynalı Elina Svitolina (7), İsviçreli Belinda Bencic'i (11) 4-6, 6-4 ve 6-0'lık setlerle 2-1 mağlup ederek adını çeyrek finale yazdırdı.

36 yaşındaki Romanyalı sporcu Sorana Cirstea ise Çinli Xiyu Wang'ı 6-3 ve 7-6'lık setlerle geçerek bir üst tura çıktı.

Beşiktaş'ta yola devam edilmemesi beklenen isimlerden biri Milot Rashica... 29 yaşındaki kanat oyuncusuyla bazı Avrupa ekiplerinin ilgilendiği konuşuluyor. Peki kulübe ulaşan bir teklif var mı?

Milot Rashica'nın Beşiktaş'la sözleşmesi 30 Haziran 2027 tarihinde bitecek. Yani kontratının son senesine girdi. Kosovalı oyuncunun, yaz döneminde satılması bekleniyor. Hatta bazı Avrupa ekiplerinin de onun için nabız yokladığı konuşuluyor. Ancak bugün itibarıyla durum pek öyle değil...

KİMSEDEN TEKLİF GELMEDİ

29 yaşındaki futbolcu için şu ana kadar yönetime ulaşan hiçbir resmi teklifin olmadığı öğrenildi. Siyah-Beyazlılar, Rashica'nın sözleşmesini de uzatmayı düşünmüyor. Yani kalırsa, önümüzdeki sezonun ardından bedelsiz olarak ayrılacak. Transfer dışında ayrılık için 1 yol daha var: Sözleşme feshi...

5.25 MİLYONA ALINMIŞTI

Bu durumda da oyuncunun alacaklarının ödenmesi gerekecek. Beşiktaş Yönetimi, eğer bir teklif gelirse gereken bütün kolaylığı gösterecek. 1.78 boyundaki futbolcu, 2023 yazında Norwich City'den alınmıştı. Kartal 5.25 milyon euro bonservis bedeli ödedi. Beklentiler büyüktü. Ancak hikaye bu yönde gelişmedi...

Galatasaray önümüzdeki sezon uygulanacak yabancı kontenjanını da düşünerek genç isimlere ağırlık verdi. Yabancı forvet konusunda Matviy Ponomarenko'nun adı ön plana çıktı. Oyuncuyla Trabzonspor da ilgileniyordu.

Galatasaray hücum hattına yabancı bir isim ekleyecek. Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu'nun yeni sezonda uygulayacağı 10+4'lük genç yabancı kontenjanı sebebiyle ağırlık daha çok bu özelliklere uyan futbolculara verildi... Sarı-Kırmızılılar'ın, Dinamo Kiev forması giyen Matviy Ponomarenko'yla ilgilenmeye başladığı öğrenildi.

24 GOL VE 3 ASİST

20 yaşındaki Ukraynalı forvet, Trabzonspor'un da listesinde bulunuyordu. Galatasaray'ın kısa süre içinde konuyla ilgili resmi adımları atması bekleniyor. 1.88 boyundaki futbolcu bu sezon Dinamo Kiev'le bütün kulvarlarda 31 resmi maça çıktı. Sahada 2.038 dakika kaldı. 24 gol ve 3 asist üretti.

PİYASASI HAREKETLİ

Galatasaray ve Trabzonspor haricinde Matviy Ponomarenko'nun adı şu takımlarla da anılıyor:

Borussia Dortmund

Brentford

Leipzig

Şu anda Dinamo Kiev Yönetimi, resmi teklifleri bekliyor. Genç oyuncu konusunda kapının en az 15 milyon eurodan açılacağı düşünülüyor. Hatta bu rakamın üstü bile görülebilir.

Galatasaray'ın merkez orta saha adayları arasında Rennes forması giyen Djaoui Cisse de bulunuyordu. 22 yaşındaki futbolcuyla ilgili son karar verildi...

Galatasaray bu yaz orta sahasını kesinlikle güçlendirecek. Listedeki isimlerden biri de Djaoui Cisse'ydi... Rennes forması giyen 22 yaşındaki merkez orta sahanın durumu değerlendirildi. Fransız ekibiyle 30 Haziran 2030'a kadar sözleşmesi bulunan 1.88 boyundaki oyuncu için harekete geçilmeyecek.

EKSİK YÖNLERİ FAZLA

Kulüpteki toplantının ardından Fransız futbolcunun birçok eksiği bulunduğuna karar verildi. Djaoui Cisse, bu sezon Ligue 1'de 24 maça çıktı. Sahada 982 dakika kaldı. Gol veya asist katkısı sunamadı. Oyuncunun tahmini piyasa değeri 15 milyon euro civarında... Sarı-Kırmızılılar, bu parayı da Djaoui Cisse için fazla buldu.

ALMANYA İHTİMALİ

22 yaşındaki futbolcu için Bayer Leverkusen ve Eintracht Frankfurt'un da harekete geçebileceği konuşuluyor. Ancak şu ana kadar iki Alman ekibinden de resmi bir hamle gelmedi. Rennes altyapısından çıkan Djaoui Cisse, başka bir takımın da formasını giymedi. Satılırsa, o da büyük bir değişim yaşayacak.

AS gazetesinin haberine göre; Villareal, Pape Gueye'yi satış listesine koydu. İspanyol ekibi, kış döneminde Galatasaray'dan 40 milyon euro talep etmişti. Peki Aslan tekrar harekete geçecek mi?

Galatasaray ara transfer döneminde birçok orta saha oyuncusu için teklif vermişti. Bunlardan biri de Villarreal forması giyen Pape Gueye idi... Ancak La Liga temsilcisi 40 milyon euro talep edince Galatasaray geri adım attı. AS gazetesinin haberine göre; Vilarreal, Senegalli orta saha oyuncusunu satış listesine koydu.

Şu anda Galatasaray'ın 27 yaşındaki futbolcu için tekrar devreye girip girmeyeceği merak ediliyor. Sarı-Kırmızılılar'da konuyla ilgili fikir alışverişi yapıldı. Pape Gueye konusunda resmi adım atılsa bile masaya 40 milyon euro gibi bir para konulmayacak. Villarreal ciddi bir indirim yapmadığı sürece bu transferin gerçekleşme ihtimali yok.

1.89 boyundaki merkez orta sahanın İspanyol ekibiyle 30 Haziran 2028'e kadar sözleşmesi var. Galatasaray'ın Senegalli futbolcusu Ismail Jakobs geçtiğimiz günlerde, "Pape Gueye'nin Galatasaray ihtimali vardı. Onunla çok konuştum. Gerçekten buraya gelmeyi çok istiyordu. Ama olmadı. Kulüp isterse, onunla tekrar konuyla ilgili konuşurum" demişti.

Real Madrid'de istenmeyen adam haline gelen Kylian Mbappe'nin, Liverpool'a gidebileceği konuşuluyor. Bu durumda Liverpool-Osimhen iddiaları da son bulacak.

TEAMtalk kaynaklı habere göre; Kylian Mbappe, annesinin en sevdiği kulüp olan Liverpool'a transfer olabilir. İngiliz ekibinde Hugo Ekitike sakatlığı sebebiyle önümüzdeki sezonun devre arasına kadar yok. Ayrıca Alexander Isak da düzenli şekilde sakatlık sorunlarıyla karşılaşıyor.

MECBUREN GÜÇLENDİRİLECEK

Kırmızılar bu sebeple hücum hattını güçlendirmeyi planlıyor. Hatta listelerinde Galatasaray'dan Victor Osimhen'in de bulunduğu konuşuluyordu. Ancak Mbappe transferi gerçekleşirse, Osimhen ihtimali de kalmayacak. Real Madrid taraftarları, Fransız yıldızın gitmesi için kampanyalar düzenlemişti.

73.4 MİLYON KİŞİ İMZA VERDİ!

Kylian Mbappe'nin ayrılmasını isteyen milyonlarca insan, imza kampanyasına dahil oldu. 7 Mayıs itibarıyla Fransız futbolcunun Real Madrid'den gönderilmesi için imza verenlerin sayısı 73.4 milyon kişiydi! 27 yaşındaki futbolcunun İspanyol ekibiyle 30 Haziran 2029'a kadar sözleşmesi var. Liverpool'un kısa süre içinde konuyla ilgili harekete geçebileceği öğrenildi.

Fenerbahçe'yle sözleşmesi 30 Haziran'da bitecek olan Emre Mor, Şampiyonlar Ligi finali hakkında bir paylaşım yaptı. Ardından da büyük tepkilerin hedefi oldu...

Fenerbahçe'nin TFF'ye bildirmediği Emre Mor, bu sezon sahaya çıkmadı. Sarı-Lacivertli ekiple sözleşmesi ise 30 Haziran'da bitecek ve bedelsiz şekilde ayrılacak. 28 yaşındaki futbolcu, son olarak Şampiyonlar Ligi finalini takip etti. PSG ve Arsenal arasındaki maçla ilgili de bir yorumda bulundu.

Emre, "Futbol oynamaya çalışan bir takım, satranç oynayan başka bir takım... Eğlence nerede? Futbola ne oldu?" ifadelerini kullandı. Sonrasında da olanlar oldu. Sosyal medyadaki birçok kullanıcı, bu gönderiye yorum yaptı. Hedefte ise Emre Mor'un bizzat kendisi bulunuyordu!

Bu paylaşıma, "Arda Güler'den çok konuşulurdu, yazık etti yeteneğine... Kardeşim eğlenene kadar keşke sen de biraz futbol oynasaydın. Futbolculuğu bırakıp yorumculuğa mı başladın? 1 yıldır top oynamadan para kazanıyorsun. Sen eğlencenin ayarını biraz kaçırdın galiba" şeklinde yorumlar geldi.

Victor Osimhen bu sezon Harry Kane, Francisco Trincao ve Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ile birlikte Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde en çok maçın oyuncusu ödülünü alan futbolcu oldu (4). Üstelik, bu isimlerden daha az sayıda karşılaşmaya çıktı.

Galatasaray adına bu sezon Şampiyonlar Ligi'ndeki en etkili isim hiç şüphesiz Victor Osimhen'di... Genel performanslara bakıldığında Nijeryalı yıldız, birçok önemli ismi de geride bıraktı. 4 kez maçın adamı seçildi. Harry Kane, Francisco Trincao ve Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ile bu alanda zirvedeydi...

Üstelik Osimhen bu başarıya rakiplerinden daha az sayıda karşılaşmada ulaştı:

Victor Osimhen: 10 maç

Francisco Trincao: 11 maç

Harry Kane: 13 maç

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: 14 maç

Hatırlanacağı üzere temsilcimiz, Liverpool eşleşmesinden sonra Şampiyonlar Ligi defterini kapatmıştı.

Galatasaray yoluna devam edebilseydi, çok büyük bir ihtimalle Victor Osimhen bu kulvarda tek başına zirveyi ele geçirecekti. Yönetim şu anda takviyeler konusunda çalışıyor. Cim-Bom yeni sezonda da grup aşamasında yer alacak. Bu kez hedef daha da üst turları görebilmek...

Avrupa basınından Victor Osimhen'in bonservis bedeli konusunda yeni bir haber geldi. Buna göre; Galatasaray Yönetimi, 150 milyon euronun altındaki teklifleri değerlendirmeyecek.

TEAMtalk kaynaklı habere göre; Victor Osimhen, Manchester United için ideal bir çözüm olarak görülüyor. Ancak Galatasaray'ı ikna etmek için yaklaşık 150 milyon euro civarında bir bonservis gerekiyor. Aslında konuyla ilgili Başkan Dursun Özbek'ten açıklamalar gelmişti.

Özbek, Osimhen'i kesinlikle satmayı düşünmediklerini ifade etmişti. Burada belirleyici nokta kesinlikle oyuncu cephesi... Osimhen ayrılmak istemediği sürece, gönderilmeyecek. Sadece Nijeryalı yıldızdan bu yönde bir talep gelirse, taliplerle temaslar başlayacak.

Galatasaray, Osimhen için Napoli'ye 75 milyon euroluk serbest kalma bedelini yatırmıştı. Bir gün satış ihtimali doğarsa, talep edilecek rakam kesinlikle düşük olmayacak. Örnek vermek gerekirse bu sezon Premier Lig'de Liverpool Isak transferi için Newcastle United'a 145 milyon euro ödedi...

AIK forması giyen Zadok Yohanna hem Beşiktaş'ın hem de Trabzonspor'un listesinde yer alıyordu. Ancak 18 yaşındaki sağ kanat için Premier Lig'den hamle geldi.

İsveç ekibi AIK, yüksek bedelli bir satışa hazırlanıyor. 18 yaşındaki sağ kanat oyuncusu Zadok Yohanna'nın piyasası iyice yükseldi. Brighton Kulübü'nün çok kısa bir süre içinde 25 milyon euroluk resmi teklif sunacağı öğrenildi. Nijeryalı oyuncu da kariyerinde dev bir adım atmak istiyor.

DOĞAL OLARAK YÜKSELDİ

Genç yeteneğin adı Brighton dışında şu Avrupa ekipleriyle de anılıyor:

Leipzig

Stade Rennes

Borussia Dortmund

Bayer Leverkusen

Ülkemizden Beşiktaş ve Trabzonspor da genç futbolcuyla ilgileniyordu. AIK Kulübü bundan bir süre önce 15 milyon euroluk bonservis beklentisi içindeydi. Fakat talipler artınca, rakam da doğal olarak yükseldi.

BÜYÜK İHTİMALLE

Nijeryalı genç yetenek, bugün itibarıyla pek Süper Lig'e gelecek gibi durmuyor! AIK cephesi resmi teklifleri bekliyor. Brighton Kulübü, 25 milyon euroyu masaya koyduğu anda iş büyük ihtimalle bitecek. Zadok Yohanna'nın ilerleyen yıllarda ciddi bir gelişim göstereceği düşünülüyor.

Alanyaspor forması giyen Ümit Akdağ'la hem Galatasaray hem de Fenerbahçe ilgileniyor. Akdeniz temsilcisi, resmi teklifleri bekliyor. Kanarya'daki başkanlık seçiminin ardından büyük hareketlilik yaşanacak.

Bu sezon Süper Lig'de en çok dikkat çeken oyunculardan biri hiç şüphesiz Ümit Akdağ'dı... 22 yaşındaki stoper, Alanyaspor ile 30 maça çıktı. Sahada 2.624 dakika kaldı. 1 gol ve 2 asist üretti. 1.92 boyundaki savunmacının Akdeniz ekibiyle 30 Haziran 2028 tarihine kadar mukavelesi bulunuyor.

İKİSİNİN DE LİSTESİNDE

Şu anda hem Galatasaray hem de Fenerbahçe cephesi, Ümit'le ilgileniyor. Kanarya'daki başkanlık seçiminin ardından Sarı-Lacivertliler'in daha ciddi şekilde devreye girmesi bekleniyor. İki başkan adayının listesinde de solak oyuncunun bulunduğu belirtildi...

KENDİ KENDİNE YÜKSELECEK

Alanyaspor Yönetimi daha önce Galatasaray'ın girişimlerine net bir yanıt vermemişti. Onlar da Fenerbahçe'deki başkanlık seçimini bekliyor. Çünkü yeni başkan sonrasında Ümit Akdağ'da bir rekabet yaşanacak. Doğal olarak bonservis bedeli de kendi kendine yükselecek!

Beşiktaş'ta yeni teknik direktör konusunda çalışmalar sürüyor. Ancak Salih Uçan'ın geleceği belli oldu. Yönetim, mukavelesi sona erecek tecrübeli isimle yola devam etmeme kararı aldı.

32 yaşındaki tecrübeli orta saha oyuncusu Salih Uçan'ın Beşiktaş'la sözleşmesi 30 Haziran'da bitiyor. Fakat kontratta +1 yıllık uzatma opsiyonu bulunuyordu (çift taraflı). Kulüp tarafı, bu maddeyi aktif hale getirmeyecek. Yani opsiyon ihtimali otomatik olarak düştü...

Normal koşullarda ayrılık kararları hoca ve yönetimin ortak görüşüyle alınıyor. Ancak Beşiktaş Yönetimi, yeni teknik adam gelmeden Salih'e veda etmeye karar verdi. 1.82 boyundaki oyuncu bu sezon Süper Lig'de 19 maça çıktı. Sahada sadece 514 dakika kaldı. Gol veya asist katkısı sunamadı.

Beşiktaş'ta dev temizlik! İşte gidecek ve kalacaklar listesi

Salih'in de şu anda seçeneklerini değerlendirdiği konuşuluyor. Bazı Süper Lig ekipleri, onunla ilgileniyor. Muhtemel transferi, bonservis bedeli olmadan gerçekleşecek. Salih Beşiktaş'a da 2021 yazında Alanyaspor'dan bedelsiz şekilde gelmişti. Aynı şekilde de ayrılacak...

“Neftçi”nin futbolçusu İqor Ribeyro paytaxt klubuna keçidi, Azərbaycandakı həyatı və karyerasının başlanğıcı ilə bağlı təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, klubun mətbuat xidmətinə danışan braziliyalı oyunçu əvvəlcə futbola gəlişindən və Bakıdakı yaşayışından bəhs edib:

“Futbola atamla başlamışam. Atam da futbolçu olub. Hara gedirdisə, məni də özü ilə aparırdı. Futbol meydançasında topla oynamağı çox sevirdim. Çox gözəl hisslərdir. Braziliyada çox adlı-sanlı futbolçular var. Hamı da istəyir ki, böyüyəndə böyük futbolçu olsun. Azərbaycanda bəyəndiyim şeylərdən biri də şəhər oldu. Bakı çox təhlükəsiz və fərqli mədəniyyətə malik şəhərdir. Çox bəyənirəm. Artıq üç ildir buradayam. Azərbaycan çox gözəl ölkədir və burada yaşadığıma görə şadam”.

“Ağ-qaralar”a transferi barədə danışan İqor Ribeyro belə bir köklü klubda çıxış etməkdən qürur duyduğunu bildirib:

“Hamımız bilirik ki, “Neftçi” böyük klubdur. Təbii ki, böyük ənənəyə malik olan Bakı klubundan təklif alanda çox sevindim. Dərhal sevincimi valideynlərimlə bölüşdüm. Təklif məni qane etdi və “Neftçi”yə keçməyə qərar verdim. “Neftçi” çox yaxşı komandadır və burada olduğum üçün çox məmnunam”.

Müsahibənin daha ətraflı videosunu təqdim edirik.

17 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası iyunun 1-dən 10-dək Qəbələdə təlim-məşq toplanışında olacaq.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, U-17 hazırlıq çərçivəsində Qazaxıstanın müvafiq yaş qrupundan ibarət komandası ilə iki yoxlama oyunu keçirəcək.

Milliyə dəvət edilən futbolçuların adlarını və oyunların təqvimini nəzərinizə çatdırırıq:

6 iyun
17:30. Azərbaycan (U-17) – Qazaxıstan (U-17)
Qəbələ şəhər stadionu

9 iyun
17:30. Azərbaycan (U-17) – Qazaxıstan (U-17)
Qəbələ şəhər stadionu

Rennes are reportedly lining up a €10m offer for versatile Venezia right-back Antoine Hainaut, who just helped the club to promotion into Serie A.

The 24-year-old came to Italian football from US Boulogne in January 2022 with a €300,000 transfer to Parma.

He was then sold to Venezia last summer for just €550,000 and flourished in Serie B, where he helped the Lagunari to promotion by topping the table.

Perfect season for Hainaut at Venezia

Hainaut contributed five goals and six assists in 37 Serie B games this season, playing in a variety of roles from right-back to central defence and midfield.

His value on the transfer market has now sky-rocketed and Footmercato in France report that Rennes are eager to bring him back to his homeland.

It is even suggested the offer could reach €10m, which would be very hard for Venezia to resist, even after promotion to the top flight.

His current contract with the Stadio Penzo side runs to June 2028.

Roma are prioritising Mason Greenwood to reinforce their attack and are reportedly preparing a €40m offer for the Olympique Marseille striker.

The Giallorossi have a bigger budget than usual this summer after securing Champions League qualification for the first time in seven years.

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini complained bitterly last term about the lack of forwards suited to his style of football, noting that the difference following the January arrival of Donyell Malen from Aston Villa was astonishing.

Greenwood top of Roma wish list

Now he has pin-pointed Greenwood as the ideal addition to the attack, especially as the Englishman is on the market due to Olympique Marseille’s struggles.

According to Le10Sport in France and Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma are lining up an opening proposal worth €40m plus add-ons to get the 24-year-old, who plays largely on the right side of a trident attack.

It probably won’t be enough, as Marseille are asking for closer to €50-55m.

A former England international who came up through the Manchester United youth academy, his career was almost ended by a personal scandal off the field, but he has been revitalised since the €26m move to France in 2024.

Greenwood scored a remarkable 26 goals with 11 assists in 45 competitive games for Marseille this season.

As part of that transfer, 40 per cent of the sell-on fee will go to Manchester United.

There are some mixed reports over how much Manchester United will pay Atalanta for Ederson, as Fabrizio Romano claims they’re asking for a discount.

Everyone is confident the agreement will go through and the Brazilian is heading to Old Trafford, especially after they matched the personal terms that he had originally shaken hands on with Atletico Madrid.

The difference was that they were prepared to pay more on the transfer fee to Atalanta than the Colchoneros had been ready to shell out.

Ederson price tag reports wavering

Transfer pundit Romano claims today that Manchester United expect to get the deal done for €40-45m in total.

This is not the version of events provided by most other Italian sources, who are confident the total including add-ons will be around €48-50m.

It is generally believed by Alfredo Pedullà and Tuttomercatoweb, amongst others, that the fee will be €45m plus performance-related bonuses.

That is already a discount from the original asking price set by Atalanta of €50m, but still a big profit considering they only paid €22.9m to buy him from Salernitana in the summer of 2022.

They had wanted significantly more for him last year, but were more amenable this time because his contract only runs to June 2027.

The Brazil international will celebrate his 27^th birthday in July.

A reporter who met with patron Gerry Cardinale warns ‘the worst is yet to come’ from the Milan restructuring, while it’s reported the club is in such chaos they risk missing the Serie A deadline.

The RedBird chief swept the board clean after their failure to qualify for the Champions League, sacking coach Max Allegri, director of sport Igli Tare, CEO Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada in one fell swoop.

None of those places have been filled yet, so there is nobody able to make decisions or even organise on the most basic level going into pre-season.

Milan a rudderless ship without sailors

According to the Corriere della Sera, this created a bizarre situation where the Lega Serie A had to make a warning phone call, because Milan have until June 16 to file the paperwork to register for the new season.

Failure to do so can lead to expulsion from the league, although that is usually because the financial documentation doesn’t add up, rather than simply forgetting to file it.

Last week, RedBird patron Cardinale called just five select few journalists to explain his vision for the future, which many considered to be an attempt to get more positive media coverage.

However, it backfired because one of those involved had a harsh warning for the fans.

“If we didn’t go to talk to him, then we wouldn’t know what this guy had in mind,” revealed Sport Mediaset journalist Franco Ordine.

“Now we know and I can say the worst is yet to come. They don’t want Italians, because they have to speak English. They don’t need to know Italian football either.

“Seeing as there is hardly any money, because they’re out of the Champions League, I would do something crazy and go hire Alberto Aquilani.”

The coach is fresh from taking Catanzaro to the Serie B promotion play-off Final, losing narrowly to Monza.

Match Overview

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup drawing closer, the United States and Senegal will meet in a high-profile international showdown featuring two teams with plenty to prove. Led by Christian Pulisic, the Americans continue preparing for a World Cup on home soil.

Meanwhile, Sadio Mane and Senegal arrive after another strong AFCON campaign and will look to test themselves against one of CONCACAF’s top nations. As both sides aim to build momentum ahead of next summer’s tournament, this matchup offers an intriguing early benchmark.

More details about watching the game on DirecTV Stream

Lamine Yamal managed to become the central figure of Barcelona’s sporting project, rising to become one of the best players in the world. After several seasons in elite soccer, he has constantly been compared to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, being considered the “chosen one” to replace them. However, the 18-year-old star has decided to distance himself from these debates, surprising everyone with his clear perspective.

During an interview with FIFA, Lamine was asked if he thought he could reach the level of Messi, Cristiano, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar. In response, he answered emphatically: “My goal isn’t to be compared to them; it’s to be mentioned alongside them. So that the next time you ask someone that question, my name will be in that group… If you get caught up comparing yourself to others, you can shoot yourself in the foot.”

Far from being the first time he has said it, Lamine Yamal is clear that he is not coming to replace anyone. Instead, he seeks to establish his own style of play, cementing his name in the soccer history. After doing so with FC Barcelona, the 18-year-old star made it clear that he wants to break records with Spain at the World Cup, aiming to become the first Spanish player of his age to score a hat trick in the competition.

At only 18 years old, Lamine still has more than 10 years of his career ahead of him, with the potential to improve his performances exponentially. In addition, he still has to achieve what Messi and Cristiano accomplished: Leading numerous titles with both his national team and clubs while being the central figure. Far from considering himself a finished project, Yamal recognizes that he still has untapped potential, pointing to the 2026 World Cup as a defining tournament.

Lamine Yamal eyes a career-defining moment at the 2026 World Cup

Unlike previous editions, the 2026 World Cup is a highly defining tournament for numerous generations. Not only is it the final edition for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but it could also mark the coronation of Lamine Yamal. Just like Kylian Mbappé in the 2018 edition, the Spaniard arrives as the best young player in the world, with the chance to shine both as a goalscorer and creator for his national team, potentially crowning a legendary career.

If Lamine Yamal manages to lead Spain to becoming World Cup winners as the central figure, he would establish himself as a legendary player. Just like Kylian Mbappé did, he would go from being a promising talent to a world-class player, putting all doubts aside. Appearing in decisive moments, he would build a definitive legacy similar to that of Andrés Iniesta, who is for many the greatest player in the history of the national team.

Match Overview

Germany continues its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the four-time champions work to regain their status among the sport’s elite following consecutive group-stage exits. Fueled by a promising new generation, the Germans are focused on building momentum and strengthening their case as future title contenders.

Finland, still pursuing its first World Cup appearance, views this matchup as an important measuring stick after making steady progress in recent years. With both teams looking to take another step forward, this international clash is one fans won’t want to miss.

Former unified featherweight world champion Gamboa suffered defeat in his comeback bout, dropping a decision to Ecuador’s Alexander Espinoza in Fort Lauderdale. The 44-year-old Olympic gold medallist was fighting for the first time since his 2022 stoppage loss to Isaac Cruz and had previously shared the ring with elite names including Terence Crawford, Devin Haney […]

The post Former Crawford, Haney and Tank Davis opponent Gamboa loses comeback fight after 4 years out appeared first on Boxing News.

has promised a knockout victory after a fiery exchange with a reigning world champion. Stevenson is currently the WBO super-lightweight champion, capturing the belt with a unanimous decision win over Teofimo Lopez in January, becoming a four-weight world champion in the process. The unbeaten sensation has since been linked to a number of different rivals, […]

The post Fired up Shakur Stevenson vows to KO rival champion: “I don’t run from nobody” appeared first on Boxing News.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a significant investment in their passing game this offseason, acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. to pair alongside DK Metcalf and provide veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers with additional weapons. Despite those additions, one NFL analyst believes rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard could play a critical role in the offense from day one.

Genaro Filice of NFL.com named Bernard among 12 rookies across the league who need to succeed immediately in their first NFL season, pointing to Rodgers’ evolving playing style as a major factor.

“Among qualified quarterbacks last season, Rodgers finished dead last in air yards per attempt at 5.9 — more than half a yard lower than anyone else, per NGS,” Filice wrote.

Filice believes Bernard’s skill set could make him an ideal fit for Rodgers at this stage of his career.

“At this stage in his career, the future Hall of Famer generally looks to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible, as evidenced by his league-low time-to-throw figure in 2025 (2.59 seconds),” Filice wrote. “But after losing his favorite checkdown target in free agency — RB Kenneth Gainwell signed with the Buccaneers — Rodgers needs a new easy button. Insert Bernard, a slot receiver with run-after-catch ability.”

The reasoning is understandable. Bernard’s ability to create yards after the catch and operate effectively in the short passing game could provide Rodgers with a reliable underneath option.

However, there are reasons to question whether that level of responsibility will fall on the rookie immediately.

Under new head coach Mike McCarthy, the Steelers’ offense could feature a more aggressive downfield passing approach than what Rodgers operated in during recent seasons. Pittsburgh also added proven veterans in Pittman and Metcalf, which should reduce the pressure on Bernard to make an instant impact.

There’s also Rodgers’ history with rookie pass catchers to consider. Throughout much of his career, the veteran quarterback has been known to place a premium on trust and timing, often taking time to develop chemistry with younger receivers before heavily involving them in the offense.

Bernard is widely viewed as an important part of Pittsburgh’s future, and there is plenty of optimism surrounding his long-term outlook. Still, labeling the second-round pick as a rookie who must succeed immediately may be a bit premature given the talent already surrounding him in the Steelers’ offense.

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

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A.J. Russell started for Hickory, striking out five and walking two in 2.1 innings, allowing two runs, including a solo homer.

Paulino Santana had a hit and a stolen base. Josh Springer had three hits.

Hickory box score

Hub City starter Ismael Agreda allowed six runs in five innings, including a grand slam, striking out six and walking four. Andrew Susac struck out two in a scoreless inning.

Malcolm Moore had a pair of hits. Maxton Martin doubled. Yeison Morrobel, Paxton Kling and Gleider Figuereo all had a hit and a walk apiece.

Hub City box score

Frisco was having a perfect game pitched against them until the ninth inning, when they managed two runs on a walk, a HBP, and two hits, one of which was a Dylan Dreiling RBI single.

Ryan Lobus allowed three runs in 1.1 IP, striking out two. Josh Trentadue struck out two in a scoreless inning.

Frisco box score

For Round Rock, Luis Curvelo walked one in a scoreless inning. Josh Sborz allowed a two run homer in an inning of work. Alexis Diaz struck out one in a shutout inning. Emiliano Teodo faced three batters, striking out one, retiring one via a fly out, and walking the third batter before being lifted. He threw 18 pitches, 11 for strikes.

Wyatt Langford started his rehab assignment and was 0 for 2 with two walks as the DH for the Express. Blaine Crim homered. Cody Freeman was 2 for 3 with a double, a homer and a walk. Aaron Zavala had a pair of hits. Cam Cauley had two hits and a stolen base.

Round Rock box score

ACL Rangers box score

The Atlanta Braves rolled into Great American Ball Park on Friday with the most wins in Major League Baseball and the league’s best winning percentage, too. So far, they’ve done nothing in their time in Cincinnati to diminish either count.

Atlanta claimed Friday’s series opener by the score of 8-3 and backed it up with a 5-2 win on Saturday, too. On Sunday, they’ll send Spencer Strider to the mound with a sweep on the mind.

Cincinnati will counter with lefty Nick Lodolo, who has slowly but surely begun to round into form after blister issues caused him to miss the entire month of April while recovering. His most recent outing against the New York Mets saw him finally dial-in the strike zone as he threw 6.0 IP of 6 H, ER, 0 BB, 7 K ball, the lone blemish against him being a 6th inning solo homer by Marcus Semien. Most important, though, were the lack of walks, as he’d walked 8 in just 9.2 IP across his previous two starts.

If there’s ever an indication that Lodolo is ‘on,’ it’s when he’s pounding the zone and not walking a soul, something he made a habit of during his breakout 2025. Cincinnati will hope upon hope that’s what they get from him on Sunday, as a loss would not only result in a sweep at home, but also would sink the Reds all the way back to the .500 mark for the season.

First pitch is set for 1:40 PM ET.

Here’s how the Reds will line up for the finale, with the return of Will Benson to the lineup to start and Spencer Steer again at 2B in lieu of the struggling Matt McLain:

Paul Joyce Confirms Liverpool to Begin Talks with Andoni Iraola

Liverpool sacked Arne Slot yesterday after a disastrous season which saw their title defence collapse entirely. The Reds finished the season in fifth place and on just 60 points.

Despite the struggles, the decision still came as a surprise to many. Liverpool remained firm on their stance of backing Slot until yesterday morning, when the Dutchman was removed from his position.

But now attention turns to sorting a replacement. AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola is the frontrunner to replace Slot in the Anfield dugout.

Liverpool to Begin Talks with Iraola

According to Paul Joyce for The Times, Liverpool are set to begin formal talks with the Spaniard this week.

“Liverpool will begin formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week and want to have Arne Slot’s successor in position by the start of the World Cup,” Joyce said.

“Iraola is the frontrunner to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday after two years in charge.”

Photo: IMAGO

It’s clear to see why Liverpool rate Iraola so highly. The Spaniard has guided AFC Bournemouth to European football for the first time in the club’s history after a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League.

He also adopts a high-pressing style of play, which will surely get Liverpool fans back on the edge of their seats.

It’s important to remember that sporting director Richard Hughes appointed and worked with Iraola during his time on the South Coast, and the pair are now set to reunite.

Aurélien Tchouaméni spoke today at a press conference during the French national team’s training camp for the upcoming World Cup. The Real Madrid player gave his version of the incident with Federico Valverde that led his club to fine both of them and open disciplinary proceedings against them.

“A lot of nonsense was said,” the French international stated.

“Obviously things happened, but it was blown out of proportion because it came out in the media. I read that there had been a fight and that I had punched him... That’s not what happened,” he explained.

“Fede and I have the goal of winning titles with Real Madrid. There are no problems with Valverde right now,” he admitted.

Tchouameni also took the opportunity to congratulate PSG on their Champions League triumph, although “I would have preferred Real Madrid to win it.”

And what about Mbappé? The midfielder considers his teammate “a leader on and off the pitch.” “He is our captain and the one who sets the example for us. He fulfills his role very well.”

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

Chelsea Step Away From Ibrahima Konate Transfer Race

Chelsea have made their call on Ibrahima Konate, and it is a decision that says plenty about the club’s summer thinking under new manager Xabi Alonso.

According to Graeme Bailey for TEAMtalk, the Blues “will not make an offer for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate despite having monitored the France international’s situation closely.” It is a significant update because Konate, now set to leave Anfield after failed contract talks, had looked like one of the most attractive defensive opportunities on the market.

The central appeal was obvious. TEAMtalk reported that “the prospect of signing a defender of Konate’s calibre without a transfer fee naturally held appeal,” especially given Chelsea’s need for defensive certainty, physicality and experience at elite level.

Yet the Stamford Bridge hierarchy have now chosen not to pursue the deal.

Chelsea Transfer Decision Reflects Financial Caution

On paper, a free transfer for a 27-year-old France international with Premier League and Champions League experience looked tailor-made for Chelsea. In reality, there is no such thing as a free signing at this level.

TEAMtalk’s report makes clear that “any deal would still require a substantial financial commitment in terms of wages, signing-on fees and agent commissions.” That appears to have been central to Chelsea’s decision.

The club have spent heavily across recent windows and, under Alonso, there will be a need to align recruitment with tactical clarity. Konate may be a high-class defender, yet Chelsea have seemingly judged that the total package does not represent the right value.

It is a calculated move, rather than a passive one.

Photo IMAGO

Real Madrid And Bayern Munich Enter Frame

Chelsea’s withdrawal does not mean Konate lacks options. Far from it.

TEAMtalk state that Konate’s representatives have “re-engaged in discussions with both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich regarding a potential move.” That alone underlines the level of player Liverpool are losing.

There has also been contact with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, while Saudi Pro League clubs have made their interest known. However, TEAMtalk add that Konate’s priority remains “assessing opportunities at the highest level of European football.”

That feels decisive. Konate is at an age where his next move should define the peak years of his career. Real Madrid and Bayern offer Champions League pedigree, domestic dominance and a stage suited to his profile.

Liverpool Exit Creates Elite Market Opportunity

Liverpool’s failure to retain Konate will raise questions, particularly given his age, status and resale value. Contract breakdowns can happen, yet allowing a player of this calibre to walk into a market containing Real Madrid, Bayern, PSG and Barcelona is hardly ideal.

Chelsea’s stance may prove wise if the financial demands become excessive. However, if Konate joins one of Europe’s elite and performs as expected, this could also look like a missed opening.

For Alonso, the decision now places emphasis on Chelsea’s alternative defensive targets. The club need players who can handle possession, defend large spaces and bring authority to a back line that has too often looked unsettled.

Konate ticked several of those boxes. Chelsea have chosen to look elsewhere.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Chelsea perspective, this feels like another frustrating half-step in the transfer market.

Konate was not some speculative gamble. He was a proven Premier League defender, a France international, and someone who has already operated under huge pressure at Liverpool. If Chelsea are serious about giving Xabi Alonso the platform to build something credible, then opportunities like this should be examined with real ambition.

Yes, the wages, signing-on fee and agent costs matter. No supporter should pretend otherwise. Yet Chelsea have spent huge money on players with far less top-level experience. That is what makes this decision difficult to accept.

Alonso will need defenders who can play high, stay composed in possession and physically dominate when games become chaotic. Konate fits that brief. Watching Real Madrid or Bayern Munich potentially move ahead while Chelsea decide the package is too expensive will not sit well with many fans.

There is also a wider concern. Chelsea cannot keep talking about elite standards while backing away from elite players when they become available. If Konate’s demands were excessive, walking away is sensible. If this was caution for caution’s sake, it could become another summer regret.

Chelsea need conviction. This decision will only look smart if the alternative is better.

After the Champions League final that saw PSG crowned kings of Europe for the second year in a row, the next major event on the pitch will be the World Cup, scheduled from June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Unfortunately, once again this year, without Italy.

Watch all Serie BKT matches live on OneFootball for just €9.99 a month. Click here to buy the LaB Channel Monthly Pass with no automatic renewal. 

In the meantime, Serie A continues to deliver surprises amid the coaching carousel and the transfer market. Let’s take a look at the biggest news of the day.

Juve, Icardi back in fashion

Juventus are once again closely evaluating Mauro Icardi ahead of the summer transfer window. As reported by La Stampa, the Argentine striker could become a real opportunity for the Bianconeri, especially if Dusan Vlahovic’s future lies away from Turin.

The Galatasaray forward could in fact soon part ways with the Turkish club, a scenario that would make a low-cost deal even more attractive. International experience, knowledge of Serie A, and a favorable contract situation are all factors pushing Juventus to keep a close eye on the situation. 

Milan, Pavlovic is not for sale but...

Strahinja Pavlovic was one of the few bright spots in Milan’s season, which is why the Rossoneri see him as a key piece on which to build the future. However, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, interest from the Premier League should not be underestimated. 

Several English clubs are closely following the Serbian center-back and, in the event of a particularly significant offer, Milan could find themselves facing a difficult decision. For now, Pavlovic is considered untouchable, but English interest is just around the corner. 

Inter, what future for Stankovic?

Aleksander Stankovic continues to make headlines after an excellent season on loan at Club Brugge. The Serbian midfielder, who came through Inter’s youth academy, has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs. As journalist Fabrizio Biasin explained on SportMediaset, Inter are at a crossroads: cash in on a substantial capital gain or bring the player back to Milan and gradually integrate him into the technical project.

According to the journalist, the second option would be the more exciting one, with Stankovic potentially becoming one of the key figures in Inter’s midfield in the future.

Napoli, Alisson Santos redemption one step away

Napoli appear to have already resolved all doubts over Alisson Santos’ future. According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, as relayed by CalcioNapoli24, the Partenopei are ready to exercise their option to buy the Brazilian winger who arrived from Sporting in January.

The club have reportedly already informed the Portuguese side of their decision, confirming their willingness to pay the €16.5 million set out in the agreement, in addition to the €3.5 million already paid for the loan. The 2002-born player’s second half of the season fully convinced both the management and coaching staff, who see Alisson as an important asset for the future as well.

Roma, Freuler still an option for Gasp

Remo Freuler’s name continues to be linked with Roma ahead of next season. The Swiss midfielder, tied to Bologna by a contract expiring on June 30, is a profile particularly appreciated by Gian Piero Gasperini, who previously coached and developed him during their time together at Atalanta.

According to ForzaRoma.info, the Rossoblù are working on a renewal, but the situation remains open and no final decision has yet been made. What’s more, the strong relationship between Freuler and Gasperini could favor a move to the capital.

Lazio, Esposito back on the radar

Lazio are looking ahead and could make significant moves in attack. Among the names being followed most closely is Sebastiano Esposito, the 2002-born striker coming off a spell at Cagliari, where he recorded 7 goals and 6 assists across the league and Coppa Italia. According to Il Tempo, the player is one of the profiles most appreciated by sporting director Fabiani and has long been on president Lotito’s radar.

Torino and Como are also said to be interested in the striker, but any move from the Biancocelesti will depend on the club’s decisions regarding the attacking department: the track could gather pace especially if Lazio decide not to make Daniel Maldini’s move permanent or to sell one of Dia or Noslin.

Fiorentina, defense to strengthen but stars staying

Fiorentina have already begun moving in the market to strengthen their defense. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the name at the top of the Viola management’s list is Viery, considered the main target for the back line, with Obert and Comert representing the most concrete alternatives.

At the same time, the club do not appear inclined to overhaul the group already at their disposal: Luca Ranieri and Marin Pongracic are considered key pillars of the project, while Pietro Comuzzo is also expected to stay unless particularly significant offers arrive. Daniele Rugani’s situation is different, however, as he was not signed permanently and will return to Juventus at the end of his loan spell.

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

Perhaps he's speaking truth, or he could be a jilted lover. Either way, former NFL star safety Eric Weddle is throwing shade at Michigan football quarterback Bryce Underwood.

The Wolverines are recruiting Gaige Weddle, Weddle's son, who happens to be a 2028 four-star running back ranked No. 13 overall by Rivals. And apparently, Weddle visited Ann Arbor at some point over the past two months and took in a practice. And with that, he came away with some strong opinions of the second-year starting quarterback.

Via the New York Post:

“Mark my words, I was out there for spring ball,” Weddle said. “Don’t be surprised if the backup [is] playing early because that Underwood kid, you know, I don’t think he could throw or play quarterback, so we’ll see.”

It should be immediately noted that Weddle played college ball at Utah under both Kyle Whittingham and Urban Meyer -- so could he just be still coming to terms that his former head coach left Salt Lake City for Ann Arbor? It's certainly within the realm of possibility.

But can Underwood not throw or play quarterback? Sure, he's had his struggles, but Weddle would be joining a minority having that opinion (comprised mostly of Michigan's rivals). Because if there's one thing that Underwood absolutely can do, it's throw. The bigger question is can he pass rather than throw. We've seen evidence that he can, but he needs to be more consistent in doing so.

Regardless, Kyle Whittingham, Jason Beck, and the staff have all made it clear that Underwood is QB1 and that's not changing anytime soon. Certainly, they're not throwing their chips in the middle of the table just to support a name brand when there's someone else who would better help them win.

So take Weddle's comments with all of the grains of salt. Because the chances that he's just sounding alarm bells out of the kindness of his heart are slim, if not none.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Former Utah safety Eric Weddle slams Michigan football QB Bryce Underwood

Dean Harrison claimed a dominant victory in the opening Superbike race at the Isle of Man TT.

Honda rider Harrison won by 15.580 seconds, finishing ahead of Peter Hickman and Michael Dunlop who had an entertaining battle for second place.

Hickman pulled clear in the closing stages to take second by 12.416 seconds from Dunlop, who has a record 33 wins at the TT.

Behind the podium trio, Josh Brookes and John McGuinness - running a special livery on his Honda to mark the 30th anniversary of his debut - were in the top five.

It is a sixth victory at the event for Harrison, who backed up his pace throughout practice week around the 37.73-mile course, which is comprised of closed public roads.

"I'm over the moon. I went hard at the start to try and make a buffer. I've felt strong all week," Harrison said on TT Plus.

"It's hard to keep your concentration over six laps, it's so physical. We'll try again later in the week and hopefully there's a few more to come."

• Harrison fastest in final Isle of Man TT qualifying
• Weather postpones opening Isle of Man TT race

Starting third on the road, Harrison, 37, came flying out of the blocks as he led by 4.8 seconds from Dunlop by the time the riders reached the first timing line at Glen Helen.

Harrison kept growing his lead throughout his opening lap and toured the circuit with an average speed of 134.892mph from a standing start to lead by 12 seconds over Dunlop and Hickman, who were separated by less than one second.

The lead at the top grew to 20 seconds by the time the Yorkshire rider reached Ramsey on the second lap, as Hickman and Dunlop battled their way through traffic.

After the pit stops at the end of the second lap, Harrison checked out and built his advantage to 28 seconds as Hickman and Dunlop continued to battle behind.

They swapped second position several times on the fourth lap, but Hickman's second pit stop, which was four seconds faster than that of Dunlop, gave him a buffer he would not relinquish.

Harrison took the chequered flag and the race win as he cruised over the line with a 15-second margin, and he will be the favourite for the Senior TT, which is scheduled for Saturday.

He will also be favourite for the two Superstock races, the first of which has yet to be rescheduled after being postponed from Saturday, following his lap of 135mph in practice.

'We know what the problem is'

Hickman, who was injured in a crash at last year's Isle of Man TT, said that Harrison was "riding the crest of a wave".

"It's fantastic to be back on the podium. Well done to Dean, he has done a fantastic job all week," Hickman said.

"I'm just happy to be here. It has been a long way to get here. I'm not quite feeling me yet, but I'm starting to get there.

"I'm so thankful to everyone for their support, they have been fantastic."

After he opted to ride his Honda Superbike in a last-minute change after issues with the Ducati he had planned to run, Dunlop said he was struggling and did not expect to be on "podium pace".

"It's been really tough with the big bikes this week. We know what the problem is, but there's not much we can do to solve it," he said.

"We knew it was going to be hard work. You need to bring your 'A game' to beat Dean on the big bike at the minute and he has played it smart.

"We left it too late to be here and it's my own fault."

The next races are set to take place on Tuesday when the Supersport and Sportbike TTs are scheduled - both of which Dunlop will be favourite for - but showers forecast over the next seven days could have an impact on race week.

The two sidecar races have been cancelled on safety grounds after a review of a crash during qualifying that left reigning sidecar champions Ryan and Callum Crowe in hospital on Wednesday.

In a qualifying week that had been overshadowed by accidents, Maria Costello and passenger Shaun Parker were also injured in a sidecar crash on Tuesday.

On Monday, eight spectators and a rider were injured when a solo bike crashed into the crowd in untimed practice, and English rider Daniel Ingham died in a crash in qualifying on Wednesday at Doran's Bend.

Superbike TT race results

1. Dean Harrison (Honda) 1:43:08.867/131.681mph

2. Peter Hickman (BMW) +15.580 seconds

3. Michael Dunlop (Honda) +12.416 seconds behind Hickman

4. Josh Brookes (Honda) +56.781secs behind Dunlop

5. John McGuinness (Honda) +19.568

6. Ian Hutchinson (BMW) +48.059

7. Jamie Coward (Honda) +1.273

8. Nathan Harrison (Honda) +45.624

9. Mike Browne (Honda) +27.110

10. Paul Jordan (Honda) +20.572

Since transferring to Texas, Aiden Robbins has been one of the best outfielders in college baseball. The Pennsylvania native has been on fire at the plate and has been a key piece of one of the best offenses in the country. That has continued through tournament play, as Robbins has been a an RBI machine. 

Through two games, the former Seton Hall star, has driven in seven runs and hit two home runs. As the Longhorns outscored Tarleton State and Holy Cross 35-3, Robbins was at the center of their success and offensive explosion. It has been a repeat of what the Pennsylvania native did during the regular season.

Aiden ROBbins 🤝#HookEm | #SCTop10 | @AidenRobbins43pic.twitter.com/goMPnOWaNX

— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) May 29, 2026

The Holy Ghost High alum finished his first season on the Forty Acres with 60 RBI and a .346 batting average in 54 games. He also showed some power with 33 extra-base hits, including 22 home runs. In his first season in the SEC, Robbins set new career-highs across the board and became an irreplaceable piece of the lineup. 

Due to his stellar play, Robbins has seen his draft stock skyrocket. For teams looking for a play that can get on base and make a pitcher pay for a mistake Robbins should be a popular target in the early rounds of the MLB Draft in a few months.

The Horns go BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK

Aiden Robbins: 3 HR’s in last 4 AB’s
Anthony Pack Jr: 4 HR’s in the Regional@TexasBaseballpic.twitter.com/J1oArniAOL

— College Baseball Insiders (@Theinsiders) May 30, 2026

As the Longhorns look to continue their playoff run, Robbins will be a player relied on heavily. He has shown that he can change a game with one swing and has thrived out of the leadoff role. While his sample size is only two games, Robbins is making sure his run in Austin is one to remember. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns star Aiden Robbins is shinning during NCAA tournament play

Victor Wembanyama, 'sic semper tyrannis,' John Wilkes Booth and a Spurs moment that doesn't need parody originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

No, Victor Wembanyama didn't quote John Wilkes Booth after Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.

The San Antonio Spurs' once-in-a-lifetime superstar simply didn't have to.

Wemby's emotion said it all.

His play said it all.

His monster dunk in the first half all over Chet Holmgren was worth thousands of words.

Wembanyama is well-spoken, yes. He knows history, yes.

But the viral rumor about him saying "sic semper tyrannis" -- thus always to tyrants -- to Holmgren after the dunk isn't true. 

It came from an account that has the word "parody" in its description:

Windy Talks Wemby

“When Victor dunked on Chet Holmgren in game 7, he yelled Sic Semper Tyrannis, which is what John Wilkes Booth yelled after he killed Abe Lincoln. That’s the level of understanding history and embracing the moment we are talking about here.” pic.twitter.com/NWSEoBWdAQ

— Hubie Talks Hoops (@HubieTalksHoops) May 31, 2026

MORE: One player will get a ring regardless of whether Spurs or Knicks win NBA Finals

Aside from the fact that it actually wouldn't make that much sense, it's just truly not necessary.

Wembanyama is the ultimate competitor, putting everything he has into getting better and winning. He called it an "addiction" after Saturday night's win.

He's made Holmgren look small, both physically and performance-wise. If Wemby didn't exist, Holmgren might get called a "unicorn." With Wembanyama in the league, Holmgren unfairly feels underwhelming.

That doesn't require Latin from Wemby to make a point.

The point was made, over and over, throughout the seven-game series. The Spurs are still playing, and the Thunder out.

Wembanyama eliminated the defending champions. There's actual nobility in that.

More NBA news:

• James Harden might be delusional
• Bobby Marks sees 5 possible outcomes for LeBron James
• There's a 7th-grade hooper named Kobe Bryant
• CJ McCollum heads for interesting free agency
• Timberwolves can't afford to lose this talented free agent

Uruguay have confirmed their 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Marcelo Bielsa naming a blend of experienced campaigners and established stars for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

La Celeste will be making their 15th World Cup appearance and will be aiming to add to the two titles they won in 1930 and 1950. Atlético Madrid defender José María Giménez will captain the side, bringing a wealth of experience with nearly 100 international appearances to his name.

One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. The 39-year-old, who previously retired from international football, has returned for what is expected to be his final World Cup. He is set to feature at the tournament for a fifth time, extending his remarkable international career.

Uruguay's hopes will also rest on several of their leading players, including Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araújo, Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte, Flamengo playmaker Giorgian de Arrascaeta and striker Darwin Núñez.

There are notable absentees, however. Former Galatasaray midfielder Lucas Torreira has not been selected, while record goalscorer Luis Suárez misses out on a World Cup squad for the first time since South Africa 2010.

Uruguay begin their campaign against Saudi Arabia before facing Cape Verde and Spain in the group stage.

Full squad here:

Germany will face off with Finland in a match to help figure out some of the finer details for Julian Nagelsmann’s plan at the World Cup.

In a weird way, Germany is starting from scratch once again as it will look to finalize a few starting positions, slot other players into defined roles, and try to build some chemistry ahead of the tournament.

Of course, many other countries are much more settled, but Germany has been in a state of flux for almost 10 years. Nagelsmann’s insatiable need to tinker has followed him to the German national team and he might have to get some of that out of his system in the next two games before the squad gets moving with World Cup matches. Here is to hoping that his mad scientist ways are beneficial (and not detrimental) to Die Mannschaft!

Let’s dive into the details!

Match Info

Location: Mewa Arena, Mainz, Germany

Date: May 31st, 2026

Kickoff: 8:45PM Local time | 2:45PM EDT | 11:45AM PDT

TV/streaming: Fox Sports 2, Find Your Country

Team news

German national team boss Julian Nagelsmann revealed some key parts to his lineup, which not many saw coming. Lennart Karl and Deniz Undav will start. If you remember, Undav was sort of slighted Nagelsmann just a few months ago, but now will lead the frontline (at least until Kai Havertz is done his duty with Arsenal).

It still feels like this team needs a double pivot of Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović to be at its best, but Kimmich will play right-back and Pavlović will be joined by Felix Nmecha in the central midfield. Everyone else looks pretty solid in their standing as a starter.

Player status updates:

• Manuel Neuer, out (calf) — Neuer is still working through the calf issue he picked up at the end of his Bayern Munich season.
• Kai Havertz, out (Champions League) — Havertz is in Budapest, Hungary attempting to help Arsenal dethrone Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Three things to know about Germany:

• Julian Nagelsmann is trying to sort out his lineup for the World Cup, so expect a lot of different looks against Finland and next week against the United States.
• Right now, only the starting backline (Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum, Kimmich) and two attackers (Wirtz, Musiala) appear to be totally solid in their starting roles. Once Neuer returns he will start as well, but there is competition in every other spot. Havertz is expected to start when he returns as well, but he could have to battle for minutes.
• Lennart Karl is going to get his chance to shine. The youngster’s ascension this season from youth team player to potential German national team starter has been wild.

Three things to know about Finland:

• Finland is not in the World Cup, so this is all exploratory for them.
• The Finns will also play Hungary later this week as well.
• Finland is truly a team that is more about the sum if its part than any individual brilliance.

Prediction: Germany 3-0 Finland

While you’re here, do consider listening to the latest episode of Bavarian Podcast Works! Check us out on Spotify! You may also read some of our other articles below:

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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Orioles have a massive starting pitching problem led by 6.84 ERA former ace originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Baltimore Orioles have been struggling a bit this season, with their 27-32 record being far from what the team was hoping for during what was hopefully going to be a bounce-back season following their 2025 disappointment.

However, the team has struggled, and while they might've been finding success recently with series wins over the Detroit Tigers and a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, the overall struggles of the team can mainly be pointed towards one thing: pitching.

As Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller pointed out, the Orioles biggest problem during the 2026 season so far has been the starting pitching. Former ace Trevor Rogers, with his 6.84 ERA this season, has led the way for what's been a brutal rotation in 2026.

Orioles have a starting pitching problem

"Over the course of the full season, though, Baltimore has had arguably the worst starting rotation in the American League," Miller writes. "At any rate, their full pitching staff ranks dead last in the AL in total runs allowed, and any dreams of winning this division are already just about dead because of it."

Rogers has been the main culprit for this rotation being one of, if not the worst, in the American League, let alone all of MLB.

He has a 6.84 ERA this season after posting a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts last year. Rogers went from looking like an ace to being the worst starting pitcher for the Orioles, and one of the worst in baseball overall.

Bradish has a 3.86 ERA, which isn't terrible, but not nearly good enough for a team's No. 1 pitcher. Baz was acquired for a massive haul, and his 4.48 ERA this season, even after three impressive starts in a row, is a big issue.

MORE: Yankees’ Aaron Judge on track to become first player in MLB history with five 50+ homer seasons

Chris Bassitt has a 5.06 ERA, Dean Kramer had a 4.09 ERA before hitting the injured list, and Brandon Young's 3.35 ERA is the best of the entire rotation, but there's still a lot of uncertainty about his game long-term.

Overall, this starting rotation has been a mess this season, and it is the biggest issue with the Orioles right now.

Had they been getting elite, or even middle-of-the-road production from the rotation, the Orioles might be a legitimate contender, and not a team under .500 heading into June.

More MLB news:

• 5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for Cardinals
• Roman Anthony might’ve been overhyped for Red Sox
• Dodgers still have a Roki Sasaki problem
• Chase Burns becomes first Reds pitcher with elite stat line since 1922
• Phillies’ Aidan Miller finally beginning baseball activities amid back injury

Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar appeared to ignore a ball girl who was waiting to hold his hand ahead of his fourth-round match at the French Open.

The 19-year-old Jodar was back on court two days after denying that he pushed a ball girl during his third-round win against Alex Michelsen, after footage of what appeared to be an unfortunate illusion went viral.

This time, a small child was waiting for Jodar with her hand outstretched as he was introduced onto court ahead of playing Pablo Carreno Busta on Sunday, but he seemed to forgot to take her hand and walked on by.

Earlier this month, Italian tennis player Luciano Darderi apologised after forgetting the hand of a ball girl before his semi-final against Casper Ruud at the Italian Open. Darderi, 24, burst onto the court in sunglasses, missing the ball kid who was waiting to take his hand. He later apologised on Instagram for an “involuntary gesture”.

Speaking on Friday, Jodar said he would “never” push a ball girl and insisted he did not make any contact with the child after she stumbled backwards and tripped over a piece of tarp on the court just as Jodar walked past her. The angle of the footage was unfortunate for Jodar.

"I didn’t push her or anything. I was telling my dad to give me the things that he was going to give me after a toilet break when I was coming back," Jodar clarified after the match.

"She was in the middle, so I think she was trying to get out of the way. She was going backwards, but I think she, like, fell, but not because I push(ed) her because it was something for [the court cover].”

The tarp has proven controversial in Paris this week, with injuries caused and its inconvenient location proving awkward for both the 27th seed and the ball girl.

"It was right behind her,” Jodar added. “So when she was walking backwards, she fell with that," he said, emphasising his respect for the young helpers.

"I appreciate all the work that the ball kids are doing. I know it’s difficult with the heat and the conditions to stay there, so I appreciate. I could never, you know, push a ball kid."

Jodar fought from two sets down to beat Carreno Busta and reach the quarter-finals of a grand slam tournament for the first time his career. The teenager has enjoyed a breakthrough season, and has emerged as one of the favourites to win this year’s Roland Garros, which will crown a new grand slam champion following the exits of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic and the absence of the injured defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Connor Wong Reflects On Home Run Being Called Back originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Connor Wong nearly ended his home run drought on Saturday in the Boston Red Sox’s 9-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

Wong appeared to have hit his first home run in a year-and-a-half to give the Red Sox a 3-1 lead. He was able to round the bases and celebrate in the dugout, but replay review revealed it hit off the yellow padding.

“[The explanation] was that it hit on the top of the yellow pad,” interim manager Chad Tracy said postgame on Saturday. “Tough because I know he hasn’t had one in a while.”

Wong, meanwhile, felt like after watching the replay it still was a home run.

“I still think it was a homer, I wish I could challenge it myself,” Wong said. “It is what it is.”

Although Wong was disappointed to have the home run taken away from him, he’s just glad the Red Sox were able to get the win.

“It sucks that it was taken away, but we got the win, so it’s fine,” Wong said.

Wong has become the backup catcher for the Red Sox, as Tracy has revealed that Mickey Gasper will play more now.

With the lopsided win over the Guardians, the Red Sox improved to 24-33 on the season.

More MLB: Red Sox 'Well Aware' Of Looming Opt-Out Date For Veteran Pitcher

Do the Houston Texans have an exact timeline for when star receiver Tank Dell will be cleared for contact, thus inching him closer to a return to the gridiron?

No.

Did Thursday's comments from OTAs provide a glimmer of hope that his time on the mend could be reaching its end?

Probably not.

The Texans' 2023 third-round pick was seen stretching and working out during the first day of OTAs outside of the bubble at Reliant Stadium. The fourth-year pro has been recovering from a knee injury suffered in the regular-season loss to Kansas City in December of 2024.

Brevin Jordan and Tank Dell looking to comeback from Injuries that kept them out for the entire 2025 season have arrived. pic.twitter.com/31WHbPvS5U

— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) May 28, 2026

When asked if there was a chance Dell could actually practice with the 1s and 2s, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans gave a standard response.

"Tank is still working off on the side," Ryans said Thursday. "When that time is set for him to be back, he'll be back out there.”

Coming into his own in 2024, Dell was carted off the field in December of 2024 after hauling in a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud, tearing multiple ligaments in his left knee while also dislocating his kneecap. Because of the severity of the injury, he missed the entire 2025 season while undergoing multiple surgeries and rehabilitation workouts.

Midway through last season, Dell began to ramp up his workouts. He even tried to make a push for a postseason return after the Texans clinched 12 wins, but the team chose to give him more time to get acclimated to his body and prep for the start of a new season.

Houston would love nothing more than for Dell to be good to go for September, especially as a secondary weapon for Stroud. For now, the offense continues to move forward with him sidelined and younger players looking to expand their roles.

Ryans praised the growth of both Iowa State standouts Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins for their offseason progression as they enter Year 2 under coordinator Nick Caley. They are expected to be factors the passing game outside of Pro Bowler Nico Collins.

"Higgins has done a really great job of taking advantage of the offseason, really coming back in shape," Ryans sad. "He's looking bigger, stronger, faster, which is what you expect for a second-year player of his caliber. He's definitely taking advantage of it. I'm really excited to see what it's going to look like this season.

"J-Noel’ has done a really great job as well, improving at his craft and how we're able to move him around different areas. He's doing a great job as a kick returner and punt returner. We're emphasizing him on working on getting vertical."

A third-round pick from 2023, the University of Houston product had 98 catches for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games.

The Texans return to the practice field later this week for the second stage of OTAs.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Will Texans WR Tank Dell play in 2026? DeMeco Ryans provides update

About 40,000 people have taken to the streets for this year's Great Manchester Run.

Huge crowds watched as elite athletes lined up alongside fun runners for either the 10km (6.1 miles) race or the longer half-marathon course.

Among those taking part were Race Across the World participants, who raced in memory of former contestant Sam Gardiner, who died in a crash near Manchester a year ago.

Sam's mum, Jo Gardiner, said it was a "very moving" day and she had "already cried twice".

She told BBC North West Tonight "the fact that they are doing this is fantastic".

"We are this lovely dysfunctional family and every year we add the next series to the WhatsApp group and it's lovely to meet some of them properly [today]," Jo added.

She said Sam's best friend was also running.

Event founder and former British long distance runner Sir Brendan Foster said the people taking part and the city itself made the event what it was, and, at its heart, it was all about "ordinary people doing extraordinary things".

He said that since it began in 2003 it "grew and grew and grew and now we are up to the biggest ever - 40,000 and we are absolutely delighted".

"We organise the event but it's the people of Manchester and Greater Manchester who populate the event and also the atmosphere comes from them - it doesn't come from us," he added.

"You'll feel today the humour, the relaxation and the effort and the consistency and you also see ordinary people doing extraordinary things and raising loads of money for charity but helping each other on the way and keeping fit themselves."

Some of the pairs from the current sixth series of Race Across the World ran in Sam's memory, including siblings Katie and Harrison along with Liverpudlian friends Jo and Kush.

The 24-year-old died on 26 May 2025 and his fellow participants were marking a year since his death and raising funds for charity.

"I think it's really important to honour Sam and we've got Jo, his mum with us today, and it's really lovely that we can all get together to support her, with it being a year on," said Katie.

She said it was also important for them to be doing the 10k to raise money for The Christie Charity as "everyone knows somebody who has been affected by cancer".

Thousands of spectators lined the streets to support the runners and double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes returned to the starter's platform for the elite women's race.

Rugby league star and fundraiser for motor neurone disease (MND) Kevin Sinfield, and actor, writer, producer and Alzheimer's Society ambassador Sally Lindsay MBE were also set to race.

Catherine Makinson, from Cannock, Staffordshire, ran the 10k to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society in memory of her mum, who was from Manchester, and had lived with disease for three years before her death last year.

Catherine, who was running the 10k for the eighth time, said the charity was hugely important.

"We want a cure because it could be my future," she added.

Joanna Beswick and Dennis Moran, both teachers at the Manchester Hospital School, were running the 10k to raise money for a therapy room at The Leo Kelly School for secondary age pupils referred by a medical practitioner.

They were also raising funds for the Manchester Foundation Trust.

Dennis said: "We know, working within the school and within the hospital, the impact days like this have because it makes such a big big difference."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

More on this story

• All you need to know about Great Manchester Run
• Race Across the World pairs unite for tribute run
• Thousands race in 20th Great Manchester Run

Stephon Castle gave San Antonio far more than debutant support during the Western Conference Finals, averaging 18 points, five rebounds and 7.6 assists against Oklahoma City.

His Game 7 line was quieter, but still useful, as he delivered 16 points, six rebounds and six assists in the Spurs’ 111-103 win.

That production helped San Antonio reach the NBA Finals, but it also pushed Castle into a historic group.

Stephon Castle breaks MVP trend set by NBA legends

According to StatMuse, Castle became the fourth player this century to record at least 125 points and 50 assists in a Western Conference Finals.

The other three names are Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, all of whom went on to win the NBA MVP award.

That is the pattern Castle has disrupted. He now shares a playoff production marker with three MVP winners before even entering his prime.

It speaks to his long-term ceiling. Castle already blends point-of-attack defence, playmaking strength and enough scoring touch to hurt elite playoff opponents.

The complication is obvious. Playing next to Victor Wembanyama gives Castle the perfect platform to win, but it may limit his route to individual awards.

Wembanyama is San Antonio’s franchise centerpiece and already owns the kind of two-way profile that usually drives MVP campaigns.

For Castle, that makes the situation a double-edged sword. He can chase championships beside a generational teammate, while knowing the spotlight may often tilt elsewhere.

Still, joining Bryant, Westbrook and Gilgeous-Alexander is no small signal. Castle has already shown his rise is not just theoretical.

Read more:

With the 2026 NBA draft fast approaching, the first round is on June 23, now's the time to look at some potential options for the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick. If one wants to look at Sixers Wire's draft big board, one can do so here.

This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.

Up next in this series is Arkansas forward Meleek Thomas:

Strengths

There is so much to like about Thomas as a young prospect. He has a ton of athleticism, great offensive instincts, understands how to move without the basketball, and has a tight handle to take defenders off the dribble and set up opportunities at the basket. He shot 43.5% from the floor overall, which isn't a great number, but he shot 41.6% from deep on 5.3 attempts in the 2025-26 season. Thomas, standing at 6-foot-5, can rise up over defenders on the perimeter and he has such a smooth stroke that he makes it look effortless.

Another big aspect to Thomas is his high motor. In order to make it in the NBA, one has to have a ton of competitive spirit and bring it on a nightly basis. The Sixers need players like that off their bench to give them a spark as well as an offensive threat. He's also a solid defender as he competes on that end of the floor and never gives in.

Weaknesses

Shot selection can be an issue at times due to his tendency to rely so much on that 3-point shot. He's an elite shooter, but it leads to some wild shots at times. He will also need to add some more weight as he has a bit of smaller frame at 189 pounds. He will be pushed around a bit by the stronger and bigger guards in the NBA in the early going, but once he figures it out and adds to his body, then he will become a regular rotation player.

Potential fit on the Sixers

Thomas has experience playing next to a high-volume scorer like Maxey as he played with lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr. at Arkansas. The Sixers could always use another player who can hop off their bench with a scorer's mindset and an ability to make an impact right away. Thomas can throw in a couple of triples right away and give Philadelphia a spark while also being a competitor on the defensive end. If the Sixers go this route at No. 22, he gives an upgrade to the bench unit from the wing spot.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Meleek Thomas

'Neither can look their team in the eye': Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan slammed for reckless shots in RCB vs GT IPL 2026 final originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• RCB and GT locked horns in the final of the IPL 2026 season. 
• Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill were in contention to win the Orange Cap in IPL 2026.
• Sudharsan and Gill were dismissed early in the IPL 2026 final after playing reckless shots.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan slammed for reckless shots in RCB vs GT IPL 2026 final

Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan headed into the final as two of the most in-form players in the IPL 2026 season. Both openers had scored more than 700 runs in the season and were strong contenders for the Orange Cap award.

Sudharsan and Gill, who had registered a record century opening partnership in their win over RR in Qualifier 2, were expected to get the show running for the 2022 IPL champions.

Unfortunately for GT, captain Shubman Gill first went back to the pavilion in the third over after scoring 10(8). Gill half-heartedly attempted to play a short-ball outside the off-stump from Josh Hazlewood but the ball hit the lower side of the blade and went straight up in the air, before Rajat Patidar took the catch.

In the next over, it was Sudharsan's turn to return to the pavilion as he nicked Bhuvneshwar Kumar's delivery to Jitesh Sharma for 12(12).

The GT openers' knocks were slammed by fans and experts. Reacting to their innings, journalist Vikrant Gupta said: "Neither Shubman Gill nor Sai Sudarshan can look their team in the eye with those reckless shots."

Neither Shubman Gill nor Sai Sudarshan can look their team in the eye with those reckless shots
कातिल भी तू, मुंसिफ भी तू #RCBvsGT#IPLFinals

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) May 31, 2026

MORE: RCB IPL finals record: Appearances, results, highest score & win percentage

Fans react strongly to Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan's dismissals

If I had a penny for Shubman Gill getting out to that shot in crucial matches…

— absy (@absycric) May 31, 2026

Both Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill are out for cheap when it mattered the most. Only good thing is that Orange Cap is now locked for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

— Arjun* (@mxtaverse) May 31, 2026

Both Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill are back in the pavilion inside the powerplay of the IPL final. GT are completely finished. pic.twitter.com/gLuurvFH8L

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) May 31, 2026

Gill and Sudharsan in GT dugout pic.twitter.com/JyLuPHDPrR

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) May 31, 2026

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have been getting out inside the powerplay far too often this season.

Instances in IPL 2026:
vs MI - Ahmedabad
vs RCB - Ahmedabad
vs RCB - Dharamsala
vs RCB - Ahmedabad (Final)*

RCB have clearly done their homework. They kept both openers in check… pic.twitter.com/Fit3tuihOg

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) May 31, 2026

MORE: IPL champions list: Winners from 2008 to 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to win Orange Cap after Gill and Sudharsan's early dismissals

With Gill and Sudharsan dismissed early in the final, RR wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the favourite to win the Orange Cap award in IPL 2026.

The young opener will now become the youngest recipient of the award at the age of just 15 after he scored 776 runs in 16 innings for RR. Unless Virat Kohli scores 177 runs during RCB's run chase, Sooryavanshi will win the award. 

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson couldn’t resist a jibe at Arsenal after their loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday evening.

Champions League disappointment

Having already secured the Premier League trophy, Arsenal were determined to make history by winning their first Champions League and completing a legendary double.

Standing in their path were PSG. But Arsenal were in dreamland after just five minutes, as Kai Havertz produced a fabulous finish to put them ahead.

But rather than pile on the pressure, the Gunners retreated into a low block, which has been the defining feature of their season, aiming to frustrate the Parisians. PSG struggled to find a way through until the second half, when Ousmane Dembele scored from the penalty spot following Mosquera’s foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

PSG continued to probe for a weakness in the Arsenal defence, yet after extra time failed to produce a winner, a penalty shootout was needed to settle the showpiece occasion in Budapest.

Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães each failed to score from the penalty spot, handing PSG their second consecutive Champions League trophy.

According to French news outlet L’Equipe, Sir Alex sent a congratulatory message to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.

Sir Alex, who shared a heated rivalry with Arsenal counterpart Arsène Wenger during their time in the dugout, delivered a scathing verdict on Arsenal’s style of play.

Sir Alex’s dig

L’Equipe report that Sir Alex sent the following message to Al-Khelaïfi: “Nasser, this is Alex Ferguson.”

“Well done, it was a tough night for you, but you played against a boring team that did nothing but defend.”

“Enjoy your holidays, you deserve it.”

Meanwhile, United’s attention now turns to the summer transfer window, which opens on 15 June.

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

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nineteen players have registered a point for the Carolina Hurricanes during their nearly perfect playoff run. The Vegas Golden Knights have gotten at least one from 22 players on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.

Carolina has 12 different goal-scorers. Vegas has 15.

“They’re deep, we’re deep, so it’ll be a good matchup,” Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb said.

A matchup so close on paper that the Hurricanes are a very slight favorite. They've won 12 of 13 games through three rounds and have home-ice advantage.

But after NHL-best Colorado got swept by Vegas, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said he and his team “ran into a buzzsaw.” The Western Conference Final was one-sided with the Golden Knights dominating.

“They dismantled Colorado,” player-turned-ESPN analyst Ray Ferraro said. “I don’t know if there’s ever such a thing as perfect, but whatever next door to perfect was, that’s how they played in that series. It’s what they are. This is their team, and they’re healthy.”

So are the Hurricanes, which could lead to an epic series.

When is the Stanley Cup Final?

Games 1 and 2 are Tuesday and Thursday night in Raleigh, where the fanbase full of Caniacs has been waiting years for the team's first trip to the final since 2006. Carolina won it all that year, with now-coach Rod Brind'Amour as captain.

Games 3 and 4 are Saturday night and June 9 at the arena on the Las Vegas Strip that has become known as the Fortress. The Golden Knights hoisted the Cup on home ice there three years ago.

If necessary, Game 5 is June 11 at Carolina and Game 6 is June 14 at Vegas. If a Game 7 is required, at Carolina, it would be June 17.

Every game will air in the U.S. on ABC and in Canada in English on CBC and Sportsnet and in French on TVA Sports.

Who are the stars to watch?

With Vegas, Mitch Marner has gone further in the playoffs than ever before in his NHL career, which included only first- and second-round exits during nine years in Toronto. Marner leads all scorers with 21 points.

Not far behind is Jack Eichel with 18, three years removed from playing a big role in the Golden Knights win the Cup. And he's just as good at keeping the puck out of his team's net.

“Jack Eichel might be the best 200-foot center in the game right now,” 2003 Cup champion Mike Rupp said.

Vegas has gotten timely saves from Carter Hart, especially in the West final when he stopped 118 of the 125 shots he faced. Carolina has ridden goaltender Frederik Andersen to this point, counting on him to come up big on quality chances while outshooting opponents.

“He’s so strong mentally,” said retired goalie Cory Schneider, who like Rupp now is with NHL Network. “He’s able to play games where he only sees eight or nine shots and make the save he has to make. Some goalies really struggle with your team possessing the puck all game and now you get that breakaway and you’ve got to find a way to make a save.”

Who are the X-factors in the Cup final?

The Hurricanes’ best players during the regular season were Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov. Their second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake has led them here as their leading scorers.

“Lots of times, coaches throw three names together and it looks like it’s going to work and it doesn’t,” Ferraro said. “Stankoven and Blake and Hall, they fit.”

For Vegas, the standout scoring stars of the playoffs have been Brett Howden and Pavel Dorofeyev, with 10 goals apiece. The Golden Knights also have three players — Marner, captain Mark Stone and defenseman Shea Theodore — who lost in the Olympic final with Canada. Jarvis was also on that team.

Eichel, teammate Noah Hanifin and Carolina's Jaccob Slavin have the chance to pull off the gold medal-Stanley Cup double after winning in Milan with the U.S.

___

AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Mark Anderson in Vegas contributed to this report.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Surrey and The Blaze both suffered their first defeats of the 2026 Women's T20 Blast on a day that shook up the top of the standings.

Just three points now separate the top five in a congested race to Finals' Day.

Mady Villiers starred with both bat and ball for Durham as they stunned The Blaze - who had won all three of their opening games - by seven wickets at Trent Bridge.

The Blaze had begun the day second in the table but dropped to fifth as they were leapfrogged by Sunday's three winners - Durham, Somerset and Essex.

Somerset moved level on points with leaders Surrey after a nail-biting four-wicket victory - with three balls to spare - over the defending champions at the Kia Oval.

At Chelmsford, Lissy MacLeod's half-century helped Essex to the day's most comfortable win, a six-wicket victory over lowly Lancashire with 19 balls to spare.

• Women's T20 Blast: Hampshire & Surrey tie thriller
• Women's T20 Blast fixtures and results
• Women's T20 Blast table

Somerset skipper Sophie Luff continued her impressive Blast form with a career-best 82 not out from 53 balls to lead her side to victory over Surrey, sealed by successive fours from Ruby Davis.

Luff's imperious innings, her third half-century in four games, dug Somerset out of trouble at 59-4 as they triumphed on 154-6 despite seamer Alice Monaghan's 3-24.

Earlier, left-arm spinner Olivia Barnes (3-21) reduced Surrey to 60-4 before Jemima Spence's maiden T20 half-century, an unbeaten 51 from 35, spearheaded a recovery to 153-5.

In Nottingham, England all-rounder Villiers claimed 3-21 with her off spin as The Blaze were bowled out for 153, before striking 47 from 34 balls as Durham eased home with five balls to spare.

Villiers' opening stand of 83 with skipper Hollie Armitage, who went on to make an unbeaten 50 off 47 balls, helped Durham to victory, with Bess Heath also in the runs, hitting 36 from 18 balls.

Georgia Elwiss top-scored for The Blaze with 31 from 24 balls and skipper Marie Kelly hit 28 from 15 but 153 always looked tough to defend.

In Sunday's other game, MacLeod - who had already struck 59 against Warwickshire earlier in the competition - paced Essex's chase against Lancashire to perfection, with partnerships of 40 and 66 with Grace Scrivens and Jodi Grewcock respectively.

Scrivens had earlier claimed 3-23 as the headline bowling act as Lancashire Thunder spluttered to 128.

Match report details supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network.

• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Why Jeremy Sochan is an NBA champion whether the Knicks or Spurs win the title originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jeremy Sochan plays for the New York Knicks, and so he'd like the Knicks to win the NBA Finals and claim a championship.

Sochan, though, is in a fascinating position. If the San Antonio Spurs lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy instead, Sochan will still get a ring.

Either way, Sochan is a winner -- sort of.

MORE: There's a 7th-grade hooper named Kobe Bryant

How does this work?

Sochan played for the Spurs first this season before joining the Knicks.

He played 28 games with San Antonio, his last of parts of four seasons with the team that drafted him.

The Spurs waived him on Feb. 11, though, and the Knicks then signed him on Feb. 13.

Sochan appeared in 16 regular season games with the Knicks, and he has now added five playoff appearances for New York prior to the beginning of the NBA Finals.

Jeremy Sochan is officially an NBA Champion

He will receive a ring whether the Knicks or Spurs win pic.twitter.com/aORwrOpkEK

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 31, 2026

There is no hard and fast rule on which players get rings versus which don't. A team could choose to withhold one from a guy who started the season with them and didn't finish it.

Tradition generally has guys who played as much as Sochan did for each team lined up for a ring either way.

It sure would be a more fun beginning to June if the team he's currently on won the whole thing, but if the Spurs beat the Knicks instead, Sochan still played for a championship team for part of this season, too.

More NBA news:

• James Harden might be delusional
• Bobby Marks sees 5 possible outcomes for LeBron James
• Heat, Norman Powell can impact the Giannis trade picture
• CJ McCollum heads for interesting free agency
• Timberwolves can't afford to lose this talented free agent

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The road to Eugene is never easy, but for the Iowa State track and field program, the NCAA West Prelims served as a definitive statement of intent. Over four grueling days of competition, the Cyclones battled through rain delays, lightning threats and the highest level of collegiate competition to secure 13 entries for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

This marks the third-straight year the program has sent double-digit entries to the national stage, finishing just one shy of the all-time program record of 14 set in 2024.

The tone was set early by the men’s distance squad. On the opening day, Robin Kwemoi Bera and Sanele Masondo became the first Cyclones to punch their tickets to nationals, navigating a tactical 10,000m race to finish sixth and seventh, respectively. For Bera, it marked his third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships, while Masondo returned to the big stage seeking to build on his 2024 First Team All-America honors. However, the night was also a reminder of the “one-spot” margin of error at this level, as Rodgers Kiplimo finished 13th, missing a qualifying berth by a single position.

As the women took the stage on day two, the theme shifted from endurance to precision. Sydney Willits, the 2024 Indoor National Champion, proved her mettle in the long jump. Sitting outside of qualifying range heading into her final attempt, Willits delivered a clutch mark of 20-10 (6.35m) to leap into 11th place and secure her fourth career trip to the NCAA Championships.

The evening concluded with a freshman takeover in the women’s 10,000m. Mercyline Kirwa and Betty Kipkore, already All-Americans from the indoor season, showed no signs of freshman nerves. Kirwa crossed the line in fourth, followed immediately by Kipkore in fifth, ensuring Iowa State would be well-represented in the longest distance event in Eugene.

Day three belonged to the men’s finals, where the Cyclones added three more qualifiers in spectacular fashion. Joash Ruto provided the highlight of the day in the 3,000m steeplechase. Ruto didn’t just win his heat for an automatic advancement; he scorched the track with a final lap of 64 seconds, clocking 8:26.87. The performance shattered a facility record that had stood since 2002 and registered as the fastest time in the region this season.

The youth movement continued with freshman Jailan Sohna, who delivered the performance of his life in the 800m quarterfinals. Sohna clocked a personal-best 1:46.48—the eighth-fastest time in Iowa State history—to take second in his heat and secure his first career outdoor national berth. Rounding out the men’s qualifiers was the veteran Bera, who showcased incredible recovery to finish second in his 5,000m semifinal, becoming a double-qualifier for Eugene.

The final day of competition was a masterclass in sprinting and relay execution. Rachel Joseph continued her unprecedented assault on the Iowa State record books. After posting the fastest time in the first round of the 400m, Joseph cruised through the quarterfinals with a time of 50.32. Remarkably, Joseph now owns the top 30 times in Iowa State history for the 400m and has dipped under the 51-second barrier six times this season alone.

She was followed by Makayla Clark, who delivered a career-best performance in the 800m. Clark’s time of 2:01.01 was not only a personal record but placed her just .13 seconds off a school record that has stood since 1990.

The distance duo of Kipkore and Kirwa then returned to the track for the 5,000m, both securing their second entries of the meet. Betty Kipkore provided the fireworks, storming past the field in the final curve to set a new facility record and a personal best of 15:14.28, the third-fastest time in program history.

The meet concluded with a historic performance in the women’s 4x400m relay. The quartet of Brooklyn Sandvig, Rachel Joseph, Emma Vorpagel, and Makayla Clark braved a looming lightning delay to clock a blistering 3:28.81, shattering the school record they had set the previous season. Joseph’s split was particularly eye-popping, as she moved the baton with a sub-50 second leg (49.02) to help the team take third in their heat and clinch their spot at nationals.

While 13 entries moved on, the meet also marked the end of several storied Cyclone careers. Zach Verzani (hammer throw) and Alec Carr (hurdles) concluded their time in Ames as some of the best to ever compete in their respective disciplines, with Carr leaving as the school record holder in both the 60m and 110m hurdles. Others, like Candra King and Tyson Seeser, came agonizingly close to advancing, finishing 13th and 15th in their events, respectively.

The NCAA Championships will be held from June 10-13. With a mix of seasoned veterans like Joseph and Willits, and a surging group of freshmen like Sohna, Kipkore, and Kirwa, the Cyclones are poised to make significant noise on the national stage. Thirteen entries, multiple school records, and a program reaching its peak—the Cyclones are ready for the ultimate test.

One week after the Indianapolis 500, the top drivers in the NTT IndyCar Series are back on the track for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, which is held on the streets of Detroit.

How to Watch Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

• When: Sunday, May 31, 2026
• Time: 12:30 PM ET
• TV Channel: FOX
• Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)

An exciting Indianapolis 500 was capped off with a win by Felix Rosenqvist, who used a fuel strategy to get to the front in the final 50 laps of the race. A late caution set up a final shootout between Rosenqvist, David Malukas, and Marcus Armstrong, with Rosenqvist coming out on top.

This year’s Indianapolis 500 saw the most lead changes in the history of the race. Rosenqvist ended up winning by the smallest margin of victory ever in the 500.

Now, the full-time drivers head to a much different kind of track on the streets of Detroit. Last season, Kyle Kirkwood won the race, with Santino Ferrucci and Colton Herta rounding out the podium.

Alex Palou enters Sunday as the points leader. He’s in search of his fifth IndyCar title and what would be his fourth in a row.

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