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Physical issues will keep Mexican fans from enjoying Cristiano Ronaldo’s magic tonight at Estadio Azteca. The Portugal forward was left out of Roberto Martinez’s squad for the March FIFA international break, which is why he will not play against Mexico this Saturday or against the USMNT next Tuesday.

Ronaldo has been out of action for exactly one month. He last played an official match for Al Nassr on February 28, in a 3-1 win over Al Fayha in the Saudi Pro League. Following that performance, the forward was diagnosed with a hamstring injury that he is still recovering from.

This physical issue forced CR7 to miss his club’s last two league matches, but it has had an even bigger impact at the international level. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez was unable to include him in the squad for the March FIFA international break, during which the national team is facing Mexico and the USMNT.

That means Ronaldo will not return to action with Portugal before Martinez finalizes the 26-man roster that will represent the country at the 2026 World Cup, a decision that must be made by May 30. While this does not affect the forward’s chances of making the squad, it does represent a setback in the team’s preparation, as they will be without their biggest star at a key stage on the road to the FIFA tournament.

Possible return date for Cristiano Ronaldo

At the time Ronaldo’s injury was confirmed in early March, Al Nassr avoided providing a specific timeline for his return, instead stating that “he started a rehabilitation program and will be under evaluation day by day.”

Days later, Jorge Jesus was candid in acknowledging that the situation was not encouraging. “After tests, we see the injury suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo was more serious than expected,” said the Al Nassr coach.

Several weeks have passed since then, and Ronaldo has shown positive signs of nearing a full recovery with an optimistic message. “Good to be back! Looking good,” he said in a social media post. Based on that latest update, reports now indicate that CR7 could return on April 3, when Al Nassr face Al-Najma in the Saudi Pro League.

Who will replace Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal?

For Saturday night’s matchup vs. Mexico at Estadio Azteca, Roberto Martinez faces the challenge of finding a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. Reports indicate that Goncalo Ramos will take the center forward role in the starting lineup, supported in attack by Joao Felix and Pedro Neto.

A big update has been provided ahead of ‘s planned return to the ring. His last fight took place in September when he defended his undisputed super-middleweight crown against Terence Crawford, but the Mexican superstar suffered an upset unanimous decision loss. His hopes of securing a rematch with Crawford were ended when ‘Bud’ announced his […]

The post “He wants his belt back”: Canelo ‘as close as ever’ to world title comeback fight appeared first on Boxing News.

Moses Itauma headlines at Manchester’s Co-op Live tonight against Jermaine Franklin Jr, looking to become the first man to stop the durable heavyweight from Michigan and continue his rise through the division. Itauma has 11 knockouts in 13 wins, most recently blasting out Dillian Whyte inside two minutes. The question going into his 14th fight […]

The post Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin live scorecard and undercard results appeared first on Boxing News.

‘s long-term trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre believes there is one man that all other fighters would be wise to avoid sharing the ring with. For many years Crawford was a fighter who appeared to be avoided himself, before finally landing the big fight he craved when he took on Errol Spence in an undisputed welterweight […]

The post Terence Crawford trainer ‘BoMac names’ the one fighter everyone should avoid: “Stay away from him” appeared first on Boxing News.

Geçen yaz Okan Buruk'un ısrarla Galatasaray'a istediği ancak PSG'ye kaptırdığı Lucas Chevalier için bu kez Fenerbahçe devrede. Paris'te Safonov'un arkasında kalan Fransız eldiven, düzenli oynamak için ayrılık hazırlığında. Dev transferde rotayı Ederson'un Brezilya'ya dönüşü belirleyecek.

Fenerbahçe, gelecek sezonun kadro planlaması kapsamında kaleyi Ederson'dan daha konsantre, parayı değil kariyeri ana plana koyan bir hamle arayışında. Sarı-lacivertlilerin radarına giren son isim, PSG'de hayal kırıklığı yaratan Lucas Chevalier.

Geçtiğimiz yaz transfer döneminde Okan Buruk’un listesinin başında yer alan Chevalier için o dönem PSG devreye girmiş ve transferi bitirmişti. Sarı-kırmızılı ekip bu gelişme üzerine tercihini Uğurcan Çakır’dan yana kullanırken, Chevalier’nin Paris serüveni beklediği gibi gitmedi.

Rus kaleci Matvey Safonov üst düzey performansla birinci kaleci oldu. Safonov’un yükselişiyle birlikte Chevalier kulübeye hapsoldu. Düzenli oynayabileceği bir takıma gitmek için bu yaz Paris’ten ayrılmasına kesin gözüyle bakılıyor.

Fenerbahçe'de Ederson’un ayrılık ihtimalinin her geçen gün kuvvetlenmesi, dev kulüpler arasında bir domino etkisi yaratabilir. Fenerbahçe yönetimi, bu karmaşadan yararlanarak Chevalier’nin durumunu anlık olarak takip ediyor. Uygun şartlar oluştuğunda resmi adımları atmayı planlıyor.

Ederson'a üç dev teklif: Sezon sonu ayrılık kapıda

Juventus ile yolları ayırmaya hazırlanan Sırp yıldız Filip Kostic, sarı-lacivertli formayı yeniden giymeye yakın. Jose Mourinho'nun kadrosunda görmeyi çok istediği tecrübeli sol kanat oyuncusu için Fenerbahçe yönetimi düğmeye bastı.

Juventus'un Filip Kostic ile sözleşme yenilememe kararı aldığı ifade edildi. Bu gelişmenin ardından deneyimli sol kanat oyuncusunun geleceği transfer piyasasının öne çıkan başlıklarından biri haline geldi. Tutto Mercato'nun haberine göre Fenerbahçe de bu süreçte oyuncuyu yeniden kadrosuna katmak isteyen kulüpler arasında bulunuyor.

FENERBAHÇE ESKİ OYUNCUSU İÇİN DEVREDE

Filip Kostic'in, Jose Mourinho döneminde kiralık olarak Fenerbahçe forması giymesi transfer ihtimalini daha da dikkat çekici hale getirdi. Sarı-lacivertli kulübün, oyuncunun durumunu yakından takip ettiği ve sezon sonu oluşacak fırsatı değerlendirmek istediği konuşuluyor.

JUVENTUS'TA KALMA İHTİMALİ ZAYIFLADI

Juventus'ta Kenan Yıldız ve Weston McKennie ile yapılan sözleşme uzatmalarının ardından Filip Kostic'in takımda kalma ihtimalinin iyice düştüğü belirtiliyor. İtalyan ekibinde kadro planlamasının farklı yönde şekillenmesi, tecrübeli futbolcunun ayrılığını daha güçlü bir olasılık haline getirdi.

TRANSFERDE YOĞUN REKABET VAR

Filip Kostic için yalnızca Fenerbahçe'nin değil, birçok kulübün devrede olduğu ifade ediliyor. Benfica'nın da Mourinho'nun talebi doğrultusunda oyuncuyu transfer etmek istediği belirtilirken İtalya'dan Cagliari, Parma, Genoa, Fiorentina ve Atalanta'nın da 33 yaşındaki yıldız için girişimlerde bulunduğu öne sürülüyor.

Mourinho Kostic'in peşini bırakmıyor

BU SEZONKİ PERFORMANSI

Filip Kostic, bu sezon Juventus formasıyla tüm kulvarlarda 22 maça çıktı. Sırp futbolcu bu karşılaşmalarda 3 gol ve 1 asistlik katkı verdi. Tecrübesi ve hücumdaki etkinliğiyle dikkat çeken yıldız oyuncunun yaz transfer döneminde adından daha fazla söz ettirmesi bekleniyor.

“Real”ın gənc futbolçusu Tiaqo Pitarç milli komanda seçimini edib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, yarımmüdafiəçi İspaniya yığmasında oynayacağını açıqlayıb. O, bununla bağlı sosial şəbəkə hesabında paylaşım edib.

Pitarç “Real”ın yetirməsidir. O, bu mövsüm La Liqada və Çempionlar Liqasında 4 oyuna çıxıb.

Yarımmüdafiəçi daha əvvəl Mərakeşin U-18, İspaniyanın U-20 yığmasında çıxış edib.

Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic are edging closer to a contract renewal, but a formal meeting between all parties has yet to take place, and one is needed before any deal can be signed.

According to CalcioMercato, Vlahovic’s father Milos visited his son in Turin this week, but the timing did not align for a summit with the club, with CEO Damien Comolli abroad on scouting trips and international engagements.

Contract discussions therefore remained within the family circle, with a fresh meeting between all parties now expected before Easter.

The broad parameters of a deal are already understood by both sides.

Juventus will not go beyond the salary structure agreed with Kenan Yildiz in his recent renewal, meaning Vlahovic would need to accept a reduction to €6-7 million net per season, roughly half his current earnings.

In return, his entourage are pushing for a substantial signing-on bonus to offset the pay cut.

Juventus willing to give Vlahovic three-year extension

On contract length, there is agreement, a maximum of three years, potentially with an option in the club’s favour, replacing the five-year deal originally signed.

Vlahovic himself is understood to be genuinely open to staying.

A candid conversation with Luciano Spalletti, who has assured the Serbian striker of his central role in the attack going forward, has been pivotal in shifting his thinking.

Meanwhile, reported approaches from Barcelona and Premier League clubs have never materialised into concrete offers, with only Milan maintaining a communication channel without ever submitting a real proposal.

That lack of genuine alternatives strengthens Juventus’ hand in negotiations and could prove decisive.

Securing Vlahovic’s renewal would also free up what is expected to be a limited summer transfer budget for reinforcements in other positions, a practical consideration that makes the deal as important strategically as it is sporting.

A potential crisis is brewing at Napoli after Romelu Lukaku failed to return to the club following the international break with Belgium, opening what La Gazzetta dello Sport describes as a growing rift between the Belgian striker and the club.

For those with long memories, the situation carries uncomfortable echoes of previous episodes in Lukaku’s turbulent career, and Gazzetta has drawn the comparison explicitly, via CalcioNapoli, highlighting a pattern of behaviour that has surfaced at multiple clubs over the years.

The most striking parallel is with his departure from Manchester United in 2019.

Lukaku had been so determined to join Antonio Conte’s Inter that he engineered a dramatic exit from Old Trafford, making no secret of his desire to work with the Salento-born coach whom he has long regarded as a father figure.

That partnership delivered the Serie A title in 2020-21, albeit in the eerie silence of stadiums emptied by the Covid pandemic.

Lukaku & Conte relationship tense at Napoli

Now, with Conte once again his manager, this time at Napoli, the relationship that has defined Lukaku’s career appears to be under strain for the first time.

The Belgian’s decision to remain isolated in his homeland rather than report back to the club is being interpreted as a significant signal, particularly given that transfer windows are approaching and Lukaku has historically timed his periods of withdrawal to coincide with contract uncertainty.

Gazzetta’s verdict is blunt, Lukaku is a player capable of forming intense bonds with clubs and managers before abruptly reversing course when new opportunities arise.

Whether Conte can smooth things over with one of his most trusted attacking weapons remains to be seen, but the situation is one Napoli will need to resolve quickly with the season entering its decisive phase.

According to Marca, Inter star Alessandro Bastoni is open to joining Barcelona in the summer, yet club-to-club negotiations have not begun.

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Bastoni’s green light to Barcelona move

Inter defender Bastoni is reportedly open to discussing a summer move to Barcelona, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

Bastoni is said to have already informed Barcelona that he’d consider a move to Camp Nou in 2026-27.

According to the report, even Inter are open to offers for their star defender, but Barcelona have not yet made a formal approach to the Serie A table leaders.

Bastoni has been linked with a summer move to Barcelona for several weeks. This past February, the Italian received praise from the Catalans’ defender, Pau Cubarsì, who described Bastoni as a “spectacular centre-back.”

Marca adds that Barcelona will be looking for a left-footed central defender who is dominant in the air for next season and that Bastoni is their primary target for 2026-27.

Inter, however, are unwilling to negotiate a sale for less than €70m.

Bastoni, 26, has proved his ability on both ends, scoring two goals and providing six assists in 35 appearances with Inter this season.

• More Inter transfers – Tottenham’s Vicario joins Inter and Juventus stars for Italy dinner amid transfer speculation

Larne beat Cliftonville 2-0 on Saturday to move six points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership as nearest challengers Glentoran were held to a 1-1 draw by Linfield.

Goals from Matty Lusty and Andy Ryan kept the Invermen on course for a third league title in four years while at the Oval Matt Yates put the Blues ahead, with Aaron McEneff levelling from the penalty spot.

Third-placed Coleraine sit two points behind the Glens as they chase the runner-up finish which would guarantee qualification European qualification after they defeated Dungannon Swifts 2-1 at Stangmore Park.

Kobie Moore gave the hosts the lead but Joel Cooper and Mark Coyle struck to ensure victory for the Bannsiders in their first match after the split.

In the bottom half, Paul Heatley scored twice as Carrick Rangers inflicted a thumping 6-1 win on Crusaders, whose bid to avoid relegation to the second tier suffered a blow.

Larne secure crucial home win

Larne broke on the counter-attack early on at Inver Park with Andy Ryan crossing from the right-hand channel into the path of Matty Lusty but he opted to take the effort first time and put it well wide.

Almost straight away, Cliftonville spurned a glorious opening as a long clearance put Brian Healy in behind the Larne defence but, under pressure from Matt Ridley, the striker blazed over.

Ryan and Lusty combined again for Larne but the latter's effort lacked power, allowing Reds keeper PJ Morrison to dive to his right to palm the ball away.

The home side eventually went in front on 27 minutes when Aaron Donnelly's pass in to Sean Graham in the left hand channel saw the Larne player get to the ball ahead of keeper Morrison before squaring for Lusty to drill a low shot into the unguarded net despite Jonny Addis' efforts to block the shot.

Cliftonville almost levelled three minutes into the second period when Larne failed to deal with a high ball into the penalty area and the ball dropped for Liam McStravick, whose fierce strike cannoned off the crossbar.

As Cliftonville pressed for an equaliser, Ryan Curran's snap-shot brought a smart reflex save from Rohan Ferguson while at the other end, Ryan's point-blank header was superbly diverted over by Morrison.

The home side wrapped up the points with four minutes left when Jordan McEneff's corner was flicked on to the back post by Ryan Nolan where Ryan squeezed home a header with referee Mark Dillon adjudging that the ball had crossed the line before Morrison could claw it away.

Louisville vs. Michigan box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The No. 3 seed Louisville Cardinals and the No. 2 seed Michigan Wolverines and square off Saturday in a Sweet 16 matchup in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Michigan (27-6) enters as a slight favorite behind one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, averaging 83.9 points per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. The Wolverines have thrived in both Big Ten and non-conference play throughout the season. 

On the other end, Louisville (29-7) brings one of the ACC’s top defenses. The Cardinals allow just 60.7 points per game and hold opponents to 39.1% shooting, ranking among the conference’s best in both categories.

Here is a look at the box score from Saturday's Sweet 16 Regional 3 in Fort Worth.

Louisville vs. Michigan March Madness box score

Louisville stats

Michigan stats

The matchup should hinge on tempo, especially early. The Cardinals have a 79.4 scoring average against a Wolverines defense allowing 62.5 points. 

Both teams enter 7-3 over their last 10 games, setting up a tightly contested regional semifinal in March Madness. 

What channel is Louisville vs. Michigan on today?

Louisville vs. Michigan How to Watch
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Dickeys Arena- Fort Worth, Texas
TV: ABC (Available on FuboTV)

More college basketball news:

• Hubert Davis buyout, contract details as UNC Tar Heels coach
• Seven championship worthy teams in 2026 NCAA men’s basketball bracket
• John Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix it
• Fact check: AJ Dybantsa was paid $7 million-plus at BYU
• Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

The MLB season is underway, and teams are already pushing to exceed their 2026 expectations. However, some clubs still can’t seem to put everything together.

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored seven runs but delivered an embarrassing defensive performance. The outing unraveled so badly that the team pulled its starting pitcher before he could even finish the first inning.

MORE: Paul Skenes a New York Yankee? The blockbuster MLB trade that almost was

Now, the Pirates have made a tough and surprising decision ahead of Saturday’s Game 2 against the New York Mets. Reports indicate they have benched slugger Oneil Cruz.

It remains unclear whether this move will last, but Cruz has been one of the Pirates’ most dangerous offensive weapons. The decision is puzzling, especially since the team has remained committed to playing him in center field—a position he is still learning.

Cruz previously thrived as a shortstop. Last season, the Pirates moved him to center field midyear to address a glaring roster need.

MORE: Former Cubs World Series champion retires from MLB at 36

The experiment has not gone well, and instead of making the logical adjustment, the Pirates continue to mishandle the situation. They should move Cruz back to his natural position.

This benching may prove temporary, and Cruz could still bounce back. However, with little development at his new position, the Pirates risk wasting both his time and his talent.

This situation is not entirely surprising. The Pirates have struggled as an organization, and they now risk mismanaging their generational pitching talent in Paul Skenes.

Winning can fix many issues, but the current signs point in the wrong direction. The Pirates need to return to basics—starting with moving Cruz back to shortstop.

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

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Inter Milan have made contact with the agent of Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori as they plan for the possibility of Alessandro Bastoni leaving for Barcelona this summer, though the move would be far from straightforward.

The contact with Alessandro Lucci, Calafiori’s representative, also covered the situation of Luca Di Maggio, currently on loan at Padova, who could attract Serie A and Serie B interest in the summer. But the Calafiori conversation was significant in its own right.

He is Italy-capped, technically excellent and already proven at the highest level.

Arsenal Reluctance And High Cost Make Calafiori A Difficult Target For Inter As Bastoni Departure A Possibility

The obstacles are significant, however.

Arsenal have no intention of selling Calafiori at this stage, and even if their position changed, the combined cost of a transfer fee and salary would represent a major financial commitment for Inter.

The move remains a dream rather than an imminent reality.

Regardless of Bastoni’s future, Inter are already working on other defensive additions.

Solet of Udinese leads the shortlist for one position, versatile, athletic and capable of covering all three roles in a back three.

Muharemovic of Sassuolo is also a candidate, though his limited experience in a back three makes him a riskier proposition.

Inter plan to bring in just one of the two, with Solet currently ahead.

What is certain is that next season’s Inter defence will feature several new faces.

Liverpool are reportedly on the brink of welcoming back a truly incredible player.

Liverpool are about to enter a high-pressure period after the international break. The Reds will need to balance UEFA Champions League qualification with this season's campaign.

That means trying to find a way past Paris Saint-Germain over two legs while also battling for a top-five finish in the Premier League. And they won't have the advantage the Parisians boast in getting a week off ahead of each leg.

In other words, Liverpool needs all the help they can get and it appears they will get that. The Athletic reports that Alexander Isak is on the brink of a return and should face PSG.

Now, whether that means one leg or two, we're not sure (the Champions League tie, Isak should have both). But Liverpool would take just having him as an impact sub towards the end of the meeting at Anfield.

This is a boost, then. Isak's leg break was never keeping out of the entire campaign but it feels like this is the perfect timing for a return.

Alexander Isak: Situation Summary

Injury and Recovery Timeline

Isak has been out of action since 20 December 2025, after suffering a fractured fibula during Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Tottenham. Arne Slot recently provided a cautious update, confirming that while Isak is back in light training, he will not be fit for the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on 4 April. The club is targeting the Champions League quarter-final against PSG later in April for his competitive return.

Season Statistics

Before the injury, Isak's debut campaign at Anfield was largely disrupted. In 16 appearances across all competitions, he recorded 3 goals and 1 assist. His most recent goal came in the same match he was injured, scoring just 15 minutes after being substituted onto the pitch against Spurs.

Future Outlook

Despite his long layoff, rumours have surfaced regarding his long-term future. Reports suggest his representatives have been exploring potential interest from Barcelona, though Liverpool remains committed to the £125 million striker as a cornerstone of their post-Salah attack. Slot has emphasized that fans likely won't see Isak at 100% until after a full 2026 pre-season.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has spoken highly of Manchester United academy graduate James Garner following his performance against Uruguay. The English midfielder spent his formative years at Carrington and was once tipped to become a mainstay in the starting XI.

However, the Red Devils took the surprising decision to allow Garner to leave permanently in the summer of 2022. With Erik ten Hag taking charge of the first team, the player was deemed surplus to requirements and he joined Everton in a reported £15 million deal.

The decision has since come back to haunt United, with Garner going on to establish himself as a first-team regular for the Toffees. United, meanwhile, are missing a player of his calibre in the squad and are gearing up to invest heavily in midfield this summer.

United’s midfield conundrum

United are set to part ways with Casemiro at the end of this season once his contract expires. Manuel Ugarte, meanwhile, has been relegated to the bench by the Brazilian this season and could also be on his way out this year.

The Red Devils are looking for a suitable replacement for Casemiro and are reportedly eyeing several Premier League-proven candidates for the job. Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, and Sandro Tonali are among a host of names linked with United right now.

Recent reports have suggested that the Red Devils are also considering a reunion with Garner, who has excelled for Everton this season. The Englishman has registered three goals and six assists in 34 appearances for the Merseyside club, all of which were starts.

James Garner Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

Garner was in the starting XI for the Three Lions’ friendly game against La Celeste on Friday, before being replaced by Kobbie Mainoo in the 70th minute. England took the lead in the 82nd minute through Ben White, only for Federico Valverde to equalise from the spot in the fourth minute of second-half injury time.

Tuchel hails Garner

Speaking after the game, Tuchel hailed Garner as ‘mini-Valverde’, but insisted that the Everton man has room for improvement. Tuchel said: “I am very happy, he’s our mini [Federico] Valverde. He’s getting there and he played very, very good.”

“I was quite sure that he would play well because he has this natural confidence and he’s very physical; he won a lot of balls. There are some situations where he can be a bit more open and drive through midfield with the ball with a little bit more confidence.”

“In the last 10 minutes of the first half, he was involved in some ball losses, which cost us some confidence in the final 10 minutes. But I am very impressed with the way he trained, and the way he behaved and the way he played tonight.”

Garner signed a new contract with Everton in January this year and is now tied to the Hill Dickinson Stadium until 2030.

Final Thoughts

Allowing Garner to leave was one of United’s most controversial decisions in recent times and it is fast proving to be a costly error. However, the Red Devils are now putting greater emphasis on youth, and it is unlikely that such a lapse will be repeated.

Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images

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March Madness is calming down, and we’ll be turning the calendar to April next week. In other words, the 2026 NFL draft is steadily approaching, as the Las Vegas Raiders are holding and scheduling Top 30 visits to help put the final touches on the roster. So, we have a lot to go over for this week’s mailbag. Let’s get to it!

Q: Do you expect the Raiders to draft ten players or trade for more or fewer picks?

A: I’d be surprised if John Spytek didn’t make at least one trade during the draft, especially with three fourth-round picks. I could see Spytek using those picks as ammunition to get back into round one or two if there’s a player still on the board whom the front office likes. I also wouldn’t put it past him to do the same thing he did in the second round last year and trade back to get more picks, since there are a handful of holes left on the roster.

Ultimately, it may not be until day three, but I’d expect the Raiders to make at least one trade during the draft rather than stick and pick all 10 times. Whether that’s moving up or down, I could see an argument in both directions.

Q: If Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, A.J. Haulcy, Kayden McDonald, Denzel Boston and Max Iheanachor are on the board at No. 36, who are you taking?

A: Someone else asked the same question, but threw Dillon Thieneman in there, and my answer is Thieneman if he’s on the table. However, it seems like Thieneman is a lock to go in the first round at this point. So, to tie into the previous question, the Oregon product will probably be someone whom Spytek has to trade up for. If Thieneman does somehow fall to 36, I’ll go ahead and sprint the card in for Spytek.

As for the original question, you have a lot of really good options there. I like McNeil-Warren’s game, but I think he’s more of a strong safety who can cover the deep half in two-high looks than the true free safety that Las Vegas needs. To me, Haulcy is a better or more valuable option at 67 than 36, so that’ll eliminate the two safeties from the equation.

I know the Raiders have shown a lot of interest in this year’s receiver class recently, but if I’m calling the shots, that’s a position I’d wait to address until next year. I’m still interested to see what Tre Tucker and Jack Bech can do in Klint Kubiak’s offense. In other words, Boston could be the pick, but wouldn’t be my choice.

That leaves McDonald and Iheanachor, and that’s a really tough decision for me. Ultimately, I’d lean toward McDonald because the Raiders at least have another option at right tackle in Charles Grant, whereas the cupboard is pretty bare at nose tackle. Also, Iheanachor’s technique is still a work in progress, while McDonald would give the team an immediate starter who still has plenty of upside to become an even better player down the line.

A: Thieneman is the biggest one. If Jermod McCoy falls out of the first, since he basically hasn’t done anything since the 2024 season, then he’d be an intriguing option at 36. To be honest, this is a hard question to answer because if I think a guy is a “surefire first-rounder”, I have a hard time seeing them slip into day two. Also, this is a draft class that lacks a lot of top-end talent but has a lot of good, not great prospects in it. So, there aren’t a ton of guys who I’d pound the table for.

A: Yes, Domonique Orange would be a great option in the third round, Darrell Jackson Jr. is a good target at that spot or with pick 102, and I’m a fan of Tim Keenan III as a Day 3 option as well. Guys like Dontay Corleone and DeMonte Capehart are worth keeping tabs on, too. This is an unusually deep class at nose tackle, in my opinion, to give the Raiders plenty of options.

Now, if they don’t walk away from the draft with a nose, I’d much rather see JJ Pegues or Brodric Martin get a chance to prove themselves than sign a veteran as a holdover. I can’t stress enough that this offseason is and should be more about building for 2027 and beyond than next season for the Raiders. Adding past their prime veterans to serve as one-year starters is what they did last year, and look how that turned out.

The proper way to rebuild is to give the young guys opportunities to prove themselves, evaluate them over the season, and take it from there.

Q: Bud Clark or Genesis Smith at free safety?

A: This is a tough one because I like both guys a lot and think they’re similar prospects, but I’d go with Clark. Both players have issues or concerns with tackling; however, Smith missed 18 tackles at a 19.8 percent rate while Clark had nine misses at 14.5 percent last season, per Pro Football Focus. Also, the latter had more ball production with four interceptions and seven PDs to the former’s one and eight.

So, they have similar major issues, but Clark’s isn’t as significant, and there’s a better chance he can be the ballhawk the backend of the defense needs.

A: I’d be pretty shocked if Caleb Downs isn’t taken in the first round, and I think he’s probably going top 10. The Commanders (No. 7), the Saints (No. 8), the Chiefs (No. 9) and Bengals (No. 10) could all use a safety, so I think that’s the sweet spot for Downs, especially with his talent.

But if the knee issue does cause him to slide to 36, the Raiders should proceed with caution. While they’re under similar circumstances, Downs’ situation is different than McCoy’s, who I said I would take if he falls out of the first.

Teams got to watch Downs play this past year (and play pretty well), so if he slides in the draft, that tells me there is major concern about how his body is going to hold up. Whereas McCoy’s hypothetical slide could also be injury related, but there aren’t reports about him having a potential long-term issue like there are with Downs. I could justify to myself that the reason for the rest of the league passing on McCoy is that they only have seen one really good season from him. That’s not the case with the Ohio State product, and the only reason he’d fall is if that knee is in bad shape.

Q: This is the first head coach I’ve been excited about since Jack Del Rio (loved Jon Gruden as a coach, hated his draft picks). How big an improvement would you expect? Any weaknesses you see in the coaching staff? Seems like they nailed every coordinator and position coach. 

A: It can’t get much worse than last year! LOL.

I’m with you that getting Klint Kubiak is exciting and the Raiders are headed in the right direction, but I do think it will be more of a slow build-up than a quick turnaround. The roster needed significant improvement this offseason, and the front office was smart to target players seeking their second contracts in the league during free agency. But the downside is that they’ll have a young roster that will have to work through some growing pains. The 2027 and 2028 campaigns are where I think we’ll start to see a bigger improvement in the win-loss columns.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m not thrilled with Rob Leonard as defensive coordinator. That doesn’t mean I think he will be bad; I was just hoping they’d get a better outside hire. To Leonard’s credit, I did like what he did as defensive run game coordinator last season, though. So, it’s not like I’m completely out or down on him, but if we’re talking about weaknesses on the coaching staff, that’s a spot that leaves something to be desired for me.

A: A lot of the concepts are going to be short to intermediate routes with a heavy dose of motion and play-action, so creating yards after the catch is a big factor in the passing game. That bodes well for Brock Bowers and Jack Bech, and Bech’s run blocking should put him in Kubiak’s good graces. It may seem like something that isn’t a big deal for wide receivers, but if you watch the Seahawks’ offense closely last year, even Jaxon Smith-Njigba was mixing it up in the running game.

Also, the heavy use of 12 personnel should help carve out a role for Michael Mayer. With Mayer’s contested catch ability, I could see Kubiak scheming up some good redzone targets to get him favorable matchups for 50/50 balls.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. feels like he’s the guy who is a square peg in a round hole here. Kubiak likes having versatile receivers who can run full route trees or at least make an impact on two levels of the passing game. Thornton doesn’t fit that description, and Kubiak isn’t a height-weight-speed guy. He’ll sacrifice size for route running and YAC ability.

Tre Tucker is the pass-catcher who is tough for me to pin down with Kubiak. He’s grown as a route runner over the years, where I think he could be used similarly to Rashid Shaheed, but Tucker and Jalen Nailor are pretty similar players. Considering Tucker is about to enter a contract year, and that the Raiders have been connected to a few receiver prospects, it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets traded during the draft. Throw Thornton into that category, too.

A: Pretty low. Spytek lost a ton of leverage with the Ravens trade falling through, and Baltimore was the only club to offer two first-round picks. At this point, if another team is going to offer two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby, it will be because the draft didn’t fall their way and they’re getting desperate. Right now, there’s too much ambiguity/optimism that a contender can fill a need for a pass-rusher/edge defender with a high draft pick.

If you’re hoping Crosby gets flipped for draft picks, keep tabs on what the Lions do in the first round of the draft. They could target someone to complement Aidan Hutchinson at No. 17, but the Lions also need an offensive tackle after letting Taylor Decker go during free agency.

If Detroit prioritizes the o-line in round one, the organization could get desperate and make a big offer for Crosby after the draft. It feels like the Lions’ Super Bowl window is starting to close, so I could see them going all-in on a title run next season.

That’ll do it for this week’s mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, if you’d like to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95, email them to SBPQuestions1@gmail.com or look for our weekly call for questions on the site. The latter will continue to publish on Thursdays.

Betfred Super League

Wigan (4) 16

Tries: Eckersley, Farrimond, Farrell Goals: Smith 2

Huddersfield (16) 34

Tries: Gagai, Zenon, Evalds, Douglas, Wrench, Clune Goals: Zenon 5

Super League leaders Wigan Warriors suffered a shock home loss to bottom side Huddersfield Giants, ending their 100% start to the season.

It also ended Huddersfield's losing start, which stood at five games and had resulted in head coach Luke Robinson leaving.

Few would have expected the Giants to pull off this victory, but they ran in six tries, having only managed a total of eight in their previous five matches.

Tries from Jacob Gagai, Tanguy Zenon and Niall Evalds gave them a 16-0 lead, while debut scores from Jacob Douglas and Connor Wrench and returning captain Adam Clune clinched a deserved win, moving them level on points with Leigh Leopards.

Wigan, who stay two points clear of Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity at the top, had only tries from Zach Eckersley, Jack Farrimond and Liam Farrell to show for a miserable afternoon for them at the Brick Stadium.

More to follow.

Wigan: Hodkinson; Eckersley, Keighran, Farrell, Marshall; Farrimond, Smith; Havard, O'Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.

Interchanges: Mago, Partington, Eseh, Kerr.

Huddersfield: Evalds; Zenon, Wrench, Gagai, Douglas; Lolohea, Clune; Powell, Patolo, O'Donnell, King, Woolford, Rogers.

Interchanges: Milne, Burgess, Rush, Cozza.

Referee: Tara Jones

Guernsey FC kept up their pressure on the top three in the Southern Combination Premier Division with a 6-0 win over Peacehaven and Telscombe at Victoria Park.

This season's top scorer Sam Murray took his tally to 30 goals for the campaign when he converted Ross Allen's sixth-minute free-kick to put the Green Lions ahead.

Fin du Port kept the islanders in front nine minutes later when he headed a goalbound effort off the line before Will Fazakerley doubled the lead in the 26th minute - the striker reacted quickest after Charlton Gauvain's free-kick deflected off the wall to stab home from inside the box.

Du Port erased any hope of the visitors making a comeback when he made it 3-0 from the edge of the box 10 minutes before half-time, while Fazakerley gave the Green Lions a four-goal advantage at the break as he put away Jacques Cauvin's cutback.

Cauvin and Brandon Wallace went close in the early stages of the second half while home goalkeeper Josh Addison made an excellent save to keep it at 4-0 from Trevor McCreadie's low shot.

Guernsey made it 5-0 midway through the second half when Gauvain fired in substitute Callum Le Lachuer's cross on the half-volley, before Le Lacheur's excellent finish with eight minutes left made it 6-0.

"It was obviously a very important three points, particularly after last week where we didn't do ourselves justice," Guernsey FC manager Tony Vance told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"It was so important to win the game, but to go and win it in the style we did was brilliant.

"That first half performance was outstanding, the players were proper on it and they really put them to the sword so huge credit to them."

Related internet links

• Guernsey FC

As Florida State looks to add more talent to its 2027 recruiting class, they have taken its search to the state of Tennessee and labeled athlete prospect Dayon Cooper as a target.

Despite being an unranked recruit, Cooper has seen his offer list balloon up to around 20 schools. FSU is one of the programs pushing the hardest for him, but two schools in the SEC are right there with them.

“Florida State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are up there,” Cooper told Rivals. “Those three schools are really pushing and recruiting me hard. I have had good visits to each school too.”

Cooper was recently in Tallahassee for the first time at Florida State's Junior Day on March 7, which came a month after his offer from the program. Tennessee made him an offer a week later, and they hosted him for a game last season. Vanderbilt made an offer four days after Tennessee did.

The Seminoles were able to leave a good first impression on Cooper, and he acknowledged a certain member of the staff when talking about his time on campus.

“I love everything about Florida State," said Cooper. "The coaching and culture are great, and I love Coach Blue Adams. I also love the history of the school.

FSU is recruiting Cooper as a cornerback. Tennessee and Vanderbilt are looking to bring him in as a wide receiver.

Cooper hasn't set a date for his commitment, but he wants to make a decision before his senior year. Official visits will play a key role in what he decides, and Florida State will host him on June 5.

Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Football: Florida State fighting multiple schools for Dayon Cooper

The Oklahoma City Thunder have two goals remaining for their 2025-26 regular season — grab the first seed and get Jalen Williams back into a groove. We'll find out about the former in a couple of weeks. The latter, though, we won't know until deep in the NBA playoffs.

For the price of OKC immortality and a championship ring, Williams has been plagued by injuries. He's been limited to 29 games this season. Two wrist surgeries and two hamstring strains have sidelined him for most of the year. He hopes those days are behind him.

It was the first time Williams had dealt with lengthy absences in his career. Before this season, he was OKC's Iron Man. Alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Alas, such is life in the NBA. It was the 24-year-old's turn to get snakebitten by the injury bug.

The Thunder would've loved to have Williams for most of this season. That was kinda the expectation. OKC GM Sam Presti thought he'd be ready by Opening Night. But setbacks happen. And like in most aspects of life, the reigning NBA champions just had to move on and figure it out sans him.

To OKC's credit, they did. They barely missed a beat despite Williams being out for two-thirds of the year. It was a group effort to make up for the All-NBA talent. Ajay Mitchell has had a breakout season. Jaylin Williams has played lights out. Chet Holmgren became a first-time All-Star.

With just eight games to go, Williams hopes to seamlessly fit with the Thunder. He understands it's a lot to ask for a group that rolled without him. In an ideal world, he has the second-highest usage on the squad. That's a lot to take off the plate from others. But I think everybody on the team knows that for OKC to go back-to-back, it needs the All-NBA forward to return to being the Scottie Pippen to Gilgeous-Alexander's MJ.

"I don't want to step on any toes where this guy's been playing really well and now he kinda has to take a different role. So kinda trying to find that balance of figuring out my flow while keeping them engaged in it. That's one of the roles I have being one of the leaders of the team," Williams said. "Tonight felt a lot more cohesive. That just comes with more reps. We've been the most injured team in the NBA aside from Memphis. All that will string together. We're not complete strangers."

While there's definitely some nuance involved with Williams and how he fits with this group, there's no denying he increases OKC's ceiling tenfold. We saw it last year in the NBA playoffs on their way to a Larry O'Brien trophy. Not just as a go-to scorer on offense, but as a do-it-all defender on defense.

It'll be interesting to see how the Thunder balance Williams knocking off any rust and prioritizing the first seed. Those two goals could clash. At times, things have looked funky as he's tried to rediscover his jumper and feel around the rim. OKC's 131-113 win over the Chicago Bulls was a step in the right direction. He had 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Even if there are growing pains involved, the Thunder have to let Williams feel things out in the regular season. If that results in them struggling to put away bottom-feeders like the Bulls, so be it. Besides, the 24-year-old is confident that the rest of the team can pick up any slack he might have. That's how talented he thinks this group is.

"When you're watching the team, you realize how talented we are from top to bottom. When you're in it, you probably don't notice as much until you're on the court with a certain group. But we are extremely talented," Williams said. "That was really cool to watch. Obviously, I wouldn't like to watch it on the sidelines anymore. But from a team perspective, watching guys go to different roles and them blossom is really cool. I think just me personally, it's just not taking it for granted — not to say that I was — but you don't know when you get to play again. Just have to maybe look at basketball a lot differently."

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Jalen Williams doesn't want to 'step on any toes' as he ramps up

Tiger Woods is arguably the most well-known golfer in the world and certainly one of the most successful in terms of wins and money earned. But Woods made news for something other than golf on Friday, March 27.

Woods was involved in a two-car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida Friday. While neither driver was injured in the collision, Woods was identified as the impaired driver of a Land Rover, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, who said Woods crawled out of the car window on the passenger side following the crash.

Woods, 50, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test after refusing to take a urinalysis after the accident, according to Budensiek, who said the charges are misdemeanors. Budensiek indicated that Woods was not impaired by alcohol but likely by drugs or medication. The sheriff added that a substance was not initially found at the scene.

This is not the first time, the golf star has been invovled in car accident while he was driving impaired. And Woods is fortunate that he has more than enough money to cover any and all expenses.

How much is Tiger Woods worth?

Tiger Woods is worth $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Woods has earned roughly $1.8 billion, before taxes, during his pro golf career. He set a PGA Tour record, winning $121 million in prize money.

Woods ranked No. 4 on Forbes' list of highest paid golfers in 2025, despite playing no tournaments that year. Woods last major was the 2024 British Open, though he did play with his Jupiter Links team in the 2026 TGL Finals earlier this week.

Woods has used his winnings for investments, including two homes in Jupiter Island – the same area where Friday's crash occurred.

He has also invested in a golf-course design business and PopStroke, a high-end mini-golf chain.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods net worth, money earned on, off golf course in his career

Lerryan Douglas and Julian Erosa meet on the UFC Fight Night 271 main card Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Check out this quick preview of the matchup.

Lerryan Douglas vs. Julian Erosa UFC Fight Night 271 preview

Douglas (13-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his debut following a first-round finish on Dana White's Contender Series in September. The former LFA champion rarely goes the distance and is currently riding a five-fight, all-finish winning streak.

Erosa (31-12 MMA, 9-8 UFC) is guaranteed action every time he enters the octagon. He'll look to bounce back from a Fight of the Night decision loss against Melquizael Costa last May, a result that snapped a three-fight, first-round finish streak.

Lerryan Douglas vs. Julian Erosa UFC Fight Night 271 MMA Junkie staff picks

MMA Junkie staff pick results: Douglas 7, Erosa 3

Lerryan Douglas vs. Julian Erosa UFC Fight Night 271 odds

Douglas is a comfortable favorite in this matchup, coming in at -320. Erosa is a +260 underdog, according to Fanduel.

Lerryan Douglas vs. Julian Erosa UFC Fight Night 271 start time, how to watch

Douglas and Erosa are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 9:10 p.m. ET. The fight streams live on Paramount+.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Seattle: Lerryan Douglas vs. Julian Erosa preview, time

Canada vs. Iceland live score, updates, stats, result from international soccer friendly at BMO Field originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• Canada vs. Iceland live score
• Latest updates, highlights and commentary
• Kickoff time where you are
• Team news
• Where to watch the game

Canada host Iceland at BMO Field on Saturday for their first friendly of the March international break.

Jesse Marsch's CanMNT will face the Europeans before a game with Haiti next week as they ramp up preparations for this summer's home World Cup.

Time is running out for fringe players to stake a claim for the final tournament roster, and with a handful of stars including Alphonso Davies missing this month's camp due to injury, today could offer a chance to some of those back-ups to impress.

The Sporting News is following the Canada vs. Iceland match live, providing score updates and commentary

Canada vs. Iceland score

Starting lineups:

Canada (4-2-3-1, right to left): St. Clair (GK) — Laryea, Miller, Waterman, Sigur — Choiniere, Saliba — Buchanan, J. David, Ahmed — Larin

Canada subs: Cornelius, Crepeau, De Fougerolles, Flores, Goodman, Hoilett, Jebbison, Kone, Marshall-Rutty, Millar, Oluwaseyi, Osorio, Pepple, Priso, Russell-Rowe

Iceland (4-4-2, right to left): Olafsson (GK) — Palsson, S. Ingason, Magnusson, Ellertsson — Thorsteinsson, Okarsson, Johannesson, Hlynsson — Haraldsson, Willumsswon

Iceland subs: Einarsson, Valdimarsson, Tomasson, Hermansson, Gunnarsson, Thorhallson, Thordarson, Baldursson, Anderson, A. Sigurdsson, G. Sigurdsson, K. Ingason

Canada vs. Iceland live updates, highlights, and commentary

Kickoff: First half

We're off and running in Toronto.

Pregame: An interesting quirk about Canada's jersey numbers for these fixtures...

#CanMNT squad number changes in this camp.Jonathan David takes #7 and Junior Hoilett takes #10.
Lots of deference and respect in this squad.David wanted to pay respect to the veteran Hoilett,Eustáquio graciously let David wear #7. Won't affect World Cup squad numbers @TSN_Sports

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) March 28, 2026

Pregame: Team news is IN! Dayne St. Clair gets the nod in goal in what is a strong Canada lineup. Jonathan David and Cyle Larin both start in attack.

Pregame: Today's match is the first at BMO Field since it underwent some upgrades for the World Cup. Along with some new executive suites and big screens, an expanded (temporary) south stand is also in place, with those extra 17,000 seats taking the capacity to 45,000.

The BMO Field upgrades have officially been completed ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

🔸 Temporary South Stand
🔸 Premium Lounges
🔸 Upgraded Wi-Fi
🔸 Massive LED Screens pic.twitter.com/brxctKK7zU

— talkSPORT USA (@talkSPORT_US) March 25, 2026

Pregame: Canada are missing a handful of star names for today's friendly, so this could be an opportunity for others to push for a place in Marsch's final World Cup roster. Here's hoping they impress and make this an entertaining game.

Getting sharp for game day ⚔️

Affûtés pour le jour de match ⚔️#CANMNTpic.twitter.com/EpMa865VPb

— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) March 27, 2026

Canada vs. Icelandkick off time

This friendly clash takes place at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada and kicks off on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across North America.:

Canada vs. Iceland team news

Canada

• Captain Alphonso Davies is absent as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
• Promise David is out following hip surgery, while midfielder Stephen Eustaquio is sidelined with a hernia.
• Alistair Johnston and Moise Bombito have been training with the squad this week but will not play here as they are recovering from long layoffs.
• Ismael Kone is suspended due to a previous red card.

Iceland

• Defender Dagur Dan Thorhallsson is well known to the opposition as he plays for Montreal in MLS.

Canada vs. Iceland live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in the United States and Canada:

1pm CT on SEC Network.

Yesterday’s game was a much needed victory over the hated School to the East—an extra inning 3-2 victory fueled by 7 and 1/3 IP of one run, 9 K ball by Connor “The Spice” Fennel” and a 10th inning walk-off single by Johnstone the Elder.

Today, we go for win #2 with Ice Town on the mound. We’ll need it, too, as our Sunday starter is likely to be the shrug emoji for the rest of the season.

On the Mound

Saturday @ 1:00pm on SEC Network

Vanderbilt #88 Fr. RHP Wyatt “Ice Town” Nadeau (1-1; 3.27 ERA)

vs. THEM #18 So. RHP Landon “Mattress” Mack (3-2; 3.38 ERA)

The Lineup

*Will update when posted.

See you in the comments.

Maycee Barber is going to do eveything in her power to make sure Mark Smith is not the referee in the biggest fight of her career this Saturday.

Barber looks to avenge the last loss of her career when she faces Alexa Grasso in a rematch at UFC Seattle this Saturday. The flyweight bout serves as the co-main event. Since the UFC 258 decision loss to Grasso in February 2021, Barber has won all seven of her octagon bouts.

It was the most recent fight that left Barber scratching her head. After missing nearly two years due to a health scare, Barber returned at UFC 323 this past December and picked up a win over Karine Silva. During the fight, Barber got blasted with an illegal upkick on the ground. Referee Mark Smith called it a “glancing blow” and ordered Barber to make a decision if she wanted to keep fighting, which led her to tell MMA Fighting in a past interview that she “doesn’t feel safe in there” with Smith as the referee.

Three months later, Barber is set to return and was asked if Smith would be the referee for her fight with Grasso.

“I sure as hell hope not,” Barber told MMA Fighting. “I am going to personally request that he is not the ref for my fight. I will personally throw an upkick, and if he DQ’s me, then I will personally file a complaint. 

“No, I’m just kidding, but I will request that he’s not my ref. I don’t know [who the ref is] but thank you for reminding me to ask for him to not be my ref.”

Since the loss to Grasso, Barber has gone 7-0 inside the octagon, while Grasso, the former flyweight champ, enters a pivotal crossroad on a two-fight skid following dominant decision losses to Valentina Shevchenko and Natalia Silva.

Even though the first fight happened five years ago, Barber was able to take away some very key points that she can use to her advantage in the octagon this Saturday night.

“The only things that I’ve taken away from that fight is that, No. 1, is that she was the better fighter that night, and, No. 2, is that she does not want to fight that girl that I was in the third round again because the fighter that she fought in the third round was the true fighter that I am,” Barber explained. “The girl she fought in the first two rounds, I don’t even recognize that person.  I watched that fight back and I was like, ‘Who in the world was that?’ I didn’t even know who that was, and I was like, ‘What was I doing shadowboxing in those first two rounds?’ I laughed at myself. I’m like, what was that?

“To be honest, I was working with a team that literally had me for the entire camp, had me shadowboxing. It was the whole plan. They were like, ‘Do me a favor and just shadowbox.I want you to shadowbox in the rounds. I want you to punch the air, we want you to punch the air.’ And I was like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ That was part of the plan, was to punch the air, and I tried so hard for that fight to follow the plan, and I realized, I’m like, ‘That’s not me, like that is not me.’

“And when I realized that, I didn’t have success in that fight, I’m like, ‘I need to just say ‘F it and be me.’ And so in the third round when I said F it and be myself, that’s when I had success, and so that’s also when Grasso realized like, ‘I don’t want to fight that girl,’ and so had that been a five-round fight, I would have had way more success than than I did in a three-round fight.

“Also, I think that she got a taste of it, and I don’t think she liked it, and I’m excited to bring that back.”

Here’s a list of the top small-school prospects in this year’s draft for Cowboys fans to take note of, mixing current draft buzz with the traits that translate on Sundays.

1. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

He is the small-school prospect Cowboys fans should bet on earliest because he looks like a real NFL starter, not just a fun draft day story. McNeil-Warren gives a defense length, range, and coverage value on the back end, and that matters because teams are asking safeties to cover more grass and handle more matchup stress than ever. PFF graded him at 92.1 overall and 91.8 in coverage in 2025, both second among safeties in the class, and there’s a very real possibility he goes in the first round. Fans should take note because he has the frame, instincts, and role versatility to become the kind of safety who lets a coordinator disguise everything.  

2. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Johnson is a top Group of Five corner in the class because the tape, production, and athletic profile all line up. On the consensus board he ranks 43rd overall, PFF credited him with a 91.6 overall grade and a 92.4 coverage grade in 2025, and he ran 4.40s forty yard time at the combine. He brings outside-corner movement skills, ball production, and enough poise in zone to stay on schedule instead of panicking at the top of routes. Fans should care because he looks like the kind of small-school corner who can win a starting job much faster than people expect.  

3. Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

Lance has the best blend of upside and translatable receiver traits in the FCS group. He’s 87th on the consensus board, and his combine was ridiculous with a 4.34s forty time, 41.5-inch vertical, 11-foot-1 broad, and the top estimated athleticism score among wide receivers. Add in 1,079 receiving yards in 2025 and FCS Football Central’s number one FCS ranking, and you are looking at a vertical X receiver with real starter traits. 

4. Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin

Demmings is the best pure FCS defensive back in the class because his movement profile screams NFL player. At the combine he was one of the biggest winners, and earned the top athleticism score among cornerbacks. He also finished his career as Stephen F. Austin’s all-time leader in passes defended with a total of 35 breakups. His ball skills and traits give him a real shot to become a boundary corner and not just a camp darling.  

5. Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo

Murdock is one of the more NFL-ready small-school defenders because he already plays with the kind of urgency and violence that earns snaps early. Most evaluators have Murdock as a Day 3 projection, but his 2025 grades were excellent earning a 91.2 overall, 91.3 against the run, and 86.5 in coverage. He really is a big defensive sleeper here because of his pass-rush output and physical play style. He projects as the type of linebacker coaches trust on special teams immediately and then grow into a real rotational defender.  

6. Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern Louisiana

Proctor is the kind of small-school defensive tackle NFL teams keep talking themselves into for good reason. He was ranked fourth among FCS prospects by FCS Football Central, produced 43 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and nine sacks in 2025, and then went to Indianapolis and tested like a much bigger name, including a 4.79s forty time and the fourth-best athleticism score among defensive linemen. Interior defenders who can move like that are hard to find, and Proctor has both the production and the explosive testing to stick as a rotational penetrator with upside for more.  

7. Daniel Sobkowicz, WR, Illinois State

Sobkowicz is not the most explosive receiver on this list, but he may be one of the safest bets to help an NFL passing game. He was ranked the second among FCS prospects, set Illinois State career records with 262 catches and 41 receiving touchdowns, and his tape shows advanced route running, strong hands, and real possession-receiver value. He brings the kind of craft and body control that lets offenses keep the chains moving.

8. Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

Payton is one of the most interesting developmental quarterbacks in the class because he offers real athletic upside with actual production, not just gadget appeal. In 2025 he threw for 2,719 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 777 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, and his combine numbers were outstanding that ranked near the top all-time for quarterbacks. He gives an offense designed-run ability, movement-passing value, and enough arm talent to be worth a real developmental investment.  

9. A.J. Pena, LB, Rhode Island

Pena is the kind of small-school front-seven player NFL teams love on Day 3 because he plays angry and produces. He posted 72 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks in 2025, won CAA Defensive Player of the Year, and he’s a prospect that is a hot-motor edge rusher with a violent play style. He is not built like a classic NFL edge, but he wins with urgency, leverage, and disruption. 

10. Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State

Hunter is one of the more intriguing HBCU prospects because his game gives you real range and versatility. He finished his career with 226 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and seven forced fumbles. He projects as a developmental linebacker with big-nickel and special teams value. 

11. Jalen Jones, CB, William & Mary

Jones is a good reminder that ball production still matters, especially at corner. He was a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, a first-team All-CAA selection, and finished his career second in school history with 51 passes defended. He brings speed, length, and the kind of instincts and on-ball competitiveness that can translate to depth corner and special teams work right away. 

12. Jalen Walthall, WR, Incarnate Word

Walthall had 70 catches for 847 yards and eight touchdowns in just 10 games in 2025 and was ranked seventh on the FCS Football Central’s postseason list. He looks like the kind of receiver an NFL team can use as a field-stretcher, motion piece, and developmental depth option.  

13. Malachi Cooper, EDGE, San Diego

Cooper is more sleeper than consensus pick, but the production demands attention. He has 16 career sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss, and three straight All-Pioneer Football League selections. He brings a sturdy frame and real edge production, which at least gives him a puncher’s chance to stick in camp.

14. Joe Cooper, OT, Slippery Rock

Cooper is the lower-division name to keep in the back of the mind because offensive tackles with his size and résumé get chances. He’s 6-foot-7, 320 pounds of man mountain, an East-West Shrine Bowl standout, and started 38 straight games while helping a Slippery Rock line that allowed only 10 sacks in 2025. He is still more projection than polish, but tackle is a premium position and he has the kind of frame teams stash.

Thomas Tuchel has addressed reports that Ben White was booed by England fans during their recent match against Uruguay. The defender was recalled to the national squad for the first time since leaving the team’s camp during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. White had previously vowed not to play under Gareth Southgate, only reconsidering his international future after the former manager departed.

White is now aiming to secure a spot for the World Cup this summer and is working diligently to impress the coaching staff. His return to the squad represents both an opportunity and a challenge, given the scrutiny surrounding his previous departure from the national team.

Tuchel Defends White

Tuchel, who holds White in high regard, admitted he was surprised to hear about the boos but expressed understanding of the situation. As reported by Standard Sport, he said:

“I heard that he was booed. I didn’t hear it actually because I was involved in the changes and instructions.

“It cannot be the majority. There were some boos and some mixed reception for him which I’m disappointed about because of course we protect our players.

“He was excellent in camp and he deserved to come on. He deserved also to start. Got us almost a winner.

“But I also understood that it happened to other players before here. So he needs to take it on the chin. We will always protect him.”

Tuchel emphasised that while some fans may express their frustration, the club and coaching staff remain committed to supporting their players. His remarks highlight the importance of shielding players from undue pressure while maintaining focus on performance.

Moving Forward

White is expected to take the criticism in stride, recognising that the reaction stems from past events surrounding his departure from the team. His priority now is to contribute effectively on the field and help England achieve positive results.

With Tuchel’s support and his own experience, White can navigate this challenging period while focusing on making a meaningful impact for the national side. Consistent performances are likely to restore confidence among fans and strengthen his position within the squad.

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Former Olympic boxer-turned-pro wrestler Anthony Ogogo made his debut in AEW relatively early in the promotion's life, facing off against Cody Rhodes in a controversial Double Or Nothing 2021 bout. For various reasons, Ogogo has appeared infrequently on AEW TV after that, though he's seen more regularly in Ring of Honor. According to QT Marshall, Ogogo has continued working to improve through that entire stretch. 

"Anthony, like a lot of people in wrestling – if they're not on TV every week, they wonder what they could do better," Marshall said on the "What Happened When" podcast. "It's not for a lack of trying, let's put it that way. ... Real nice guy. I think it's very hard for someone like him because he's used to boxing, and ... if you win, you win."

Marshall was involved in Ogogo's feud with Rhodes, with Marshall requesting to work with Ogogo as tag team partners in order to see how he looked in the ring. Looking back on that time period, Marshall recalled giving Tony Khan a warning regarding the storyline.

"I just remember telling him ... it's a huge spot for someone pretty new," he said. Marshall clarified that he wasn't trying to worm his way into Ogogo's spot on the card, but was instead concerned about his growth as a wrestler. "I just think he got a little bit too much, too early maybe. It's hard to go backwards once you're there. But he hasn't given up. He's trying the best he can."

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "What Happened When?" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Read more: AEW Stars: Meet Their Spouses & Partners

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

The Wisconsin Badgers have been dealt quite the hand with injuries since head coach Luke Fickell arrived on campus, most notably at the quarterback position.

In 2023, the Badgers, who were 4-1 at the time, lost Tanner Mordecai to a broken hand, derailing their chances at getting the Big Ten West title. In 2024, Tyler Van Dyke went down with a torn ACL in Week 3. Then, in 2025, starter Billy Edwards played in just two games.

That hasn’t been the only area they’ve been hurt. Offensive line injuries were an issue last year, causing constant re-shuffling up front.

That made things difficult for offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes in his first year with the program, as the Badgers ranked 134th in scoring and 135th in yards per game last season out of 136 D-I teams.

Speaking to reporters after Wisconsin’s spring ball practice on Tuesday, Grimes acknowledged the difficulties as a playcaller dealing with injuries on offense.

“Well, I think your game plan and the evolution of your offense and the play calling, all of that is based on what you have,” Grimes said. “And certainly, there were a number of times last year where that style of offense and the play calling changed to some extent because of the quarterback we were playing with or the running backs that we had available for that game. And so, sure, it’s always impacted.

“Sometimes it changes a lot when you go from a quarterback who’s maybe more of a pocket guy to a guy that’s a little bit more elusive, more of a dual threat guy. And that’s really obvious. But at times, it might change if you don’t have maybe your best tight end available. Maybe he’s a big physical guy who can handle the defensive end on his own. And if I don’t have that, then we’ve got to adjust how we’re going to block certain things. And so, I mean, yes, that happens, and it should happen. That’s my job.”

“[It was] certainly, certainly frustrating. Disappointing. I mean, I want the people of Wisconsin to feel proud of their football team. I want them to resonate with who we are and how we play offense and how we win games. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been to sports, athletic events of other sports as well. And I see the love and the passion that the people have for this place and makes me want to win for them. And yeah, I felt really badly about that.

“And, the great thing about the thing that you get to do as a coach is you get to make the decision every year to move forward. And while there’s still a certain part of me and all of us who were here last year that weren’t pleased with that, you know, that we don’t even think about that anymore. Everything now is excitement about what we’re going to do this year.”

Wisconsin brought in a new quarterback from the transfer portal this offseason, landing Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph, who seems to be a better fit for Jeff Grimes’s offense with his dual-threat ability. They also added a couple of running backs, a large group of wide receivers, a pair of tight ends, and a couple of offensive linemen from the portal with increased financial resources to jumpstart the turnaround after three disappointing seasons.

We’ll see how Grimes is able to adapt to his new personnel, with hope that the Badgers don’t deal with the same number of injuries in 2026.

While fans of the Cleveland Browns often feel like the national media is against them or doesn’t want anything good for the team, the franchise has failed the fanbase so much that it is often hard for anyone to take the team seriously. That is why when the Myles Garrett contract news popped up, many were frustrated. In many ways, it does seem like the national media and the NFL in general would like to see the generational talent playing for a much better team.

A year ago, Garrett himself had the same desire. Before signing a huge extension to stay in Cleveland, the pass rush king had issues with the lack of quarterback success and winning on the field. Even in the middle of the 2025 season, Garrett was left searching for answers that would never come.

At this point, sources with the team and the NFL have said that the Browns are not planning to trade Garrett, and the contract change was about flexibility and options. That doesn’t mean Cleveland’s star pass rusher is satisfied with losing. Garrett will turn 31 years old near the end of the 2026 season and has already logged a Hall of Fame career.

All that is left is winning (playoff contender), on the way to winning big (AFC Championship contender).

Given Cleveland’s current roster, salary cap, and draft capital, when is the earliest that Browns fans and Garrett can expect them to turn that corner? Would another quality draft class, even if a first-round quarterback isn’t added, be enough to make the team a playoff contender? Could Shedeur Sanders or a first-round quarterback in 2027 put Cleveland in contention for an AFC Title by 2028 or 2029?

Bringing back to Garrett, the Browns best player, his contract runs out in 2030 when he will be 35 years old and have played 13 years in the NFL. Competing for an AFC Championship by 2028 or 2029 would be near the end of his career.

For Cleveland fans, competing for an AFC Championship at any point in our lifetime would be great to see, but sustained success at that level is the ultimate goal.

So, what say you? When do you think the Browns could realistically push for a playoff spot? How many years away, and what major decisions, are they from being true contenders to at least make the AFC Championship game?

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below

‘Speed Running This S—t

WWE management seems to be way too high on country music star Jelly Roll, and their overuse of the singer backfired on them during the final minutes of Friday’s episode of SmackDown.

It is no secret that WWE likes to involve celebrities in its content. It helped bring rise to the brand in the 1980s, and during peak periods, celebs more freely offer up their services to the company. We have seen that in recent years with Bad Bunny, Travis Scott, and Jelly Roll. However, the latter seems to be a favorite of management.

Jelly Roll has made several appearances for the company in the past and even had a tag match at last year’s SummerSlam. However, he has become a frequent participant on SmackDown in recent weeks, and actually had a singles match on Friday’s episode. Scoring an upset win over Kip Wilson.

But Jelly Roll has been popping up in a surprising number of backstage segments as well, including three on Friday. The company has thrust him into an awkward role as a source for advice and support for wrestlers. One of the oddest was appearing during a segment with Damian Priest, R-Truth, and Rhea Ripley. It has taken him beyond just being a visiting celebrity who is a friend of stars like Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.

WWE blew a big moment by overusing Jelly Roll

That recent overuse cost the WWE creative in a key moment on this week’s SmackDown. While fans in Pittsburgh were very supportive of the singer during his match with Wilson, they were less so when he arrived in the final minutes of the show during a brawl between WrestleMania 42 opponents and his friends, Orton and Rhodes.

When Jelly Roll showed up in the ring at the end of the show, it was the fifth time he appeared on the broadcast. That’s more than the brand’s top stars. His arrival was supposed to set up a moment they company has been clearly building to for weeks. And that was Orton turning on him. Which he did when he hit an RKO on the singer.

However, instead of fans being in shock, and the moment cementing Orton as the hated bad guy in what will be the Night 1 WrestleMania main event, fans actually chanted “one more time.” The creative team has been trying to push fans in a direction where they get behind Rhodes and hate Orton ahead of their April match. Jelly Roll being betrayed was supposed to further that plan.

Yet, the country star being on the show so much and being used awkwardly may have made fans in the arena grow tired of him and more accepting of being a victim of “The Viper.” Maybe they chant “one more time” even if he was on the show just once before. However, the obvious plan failed on Friday because they went to the well way too often with the three-time Grammy winner.

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United Rugby Championship

Lions (18) 42

Tries: Mahashe, Kriel, Smith, Steyn 2, Cronje Cons: Smith 3 Pens: Smith 2

Dragons (14) 26

Tries: Owen 2, Dyer 2 Cons: O'Brien 3

Lions boosted their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes by grinding down Dragons in Johannesburg.

The South African side ran in six tries to boost their push for the top eight but did not have things all their own way at Ellis Park, with the visitors claiming a deserved try bonus of their own.

Dragons showed resilience to stay in the fight in the first half to go in 18-14 down thanks to a pair of well-worked tries for centre Aneurin Owen.

They hit the front when Wales wing Rio Dyer scored a cracker soon after the restart before Lions put their foot down at altitude.

However, the Rodney Parade club went level on points with 14th-placed Scarlets in the URC table when Dyer went over for his second to earn a consolation.

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Dragons had not been beaten by double digits in the URC since Leinster stretched away in the closing stages of a tight contest at the end of November.

Despite the scoreline, they once again performed with spirit until South African power eventually told in tough conditions.

But worryingly for head coach Filo Tiatia before the trip to Stade Francais in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup, they ended with fly-half Jac Lloyd at scrum-half.

Che Hope is already out for the season and both Niall Armstrong and replacement Rhodri Williams were forced off in South Africa.

Lions led 8-7 after the first quarter with flanker Siba Mahashe's brutal finish and a penalty by fly-half Chris Smith sandwiching an Owen try from a strike play, the centre put over by midfield partner Fine Inisi.

The South Africans led 35-0 against Edinburgh at half-time seven days earlier but found Dragons a tougher nut to crack.

Lions stretched their lead when replacement back Richard Kriel went over from turnover ball only for Owen to respond again, combining with flanker Thomas Young for a second try from a line-out move.

Dragons almost scored a sensational try soon after the restart following a huge burst from their own 22 to the Lions' by Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright only for the hosts to scramble.

However, they got over that disappointment in style when Dyer acrobatically went over from Angus O'Brien's driven kick-pass, with the fly-half then adding a touchline conversion.

The Lions, who go fourth before Ulster's trip to bottom club Zebre, responded impressively with Smith and half-back partner Nico Steyn going over to make it 30-21, with Dyer shown yellow after penalties totted up.

Steyn got his second and wing Erich Cronje finished strongly before slick handling ensured the visitors would not return home empty-handed thanks to Dyer's second.

How they lined up

Lions: Q Horn, A Davids, van Wyk, Mills, Cronje; Smith, Steyn; Kotze, Botha, Schoeman, Oosthuizen, Nothnagel, Mahashe, Venter, F Horn (capt).

Replacements: Brandon, E Davids, Lombard, Delport, Hlekani, du Plessis, Pead, Kriel.

Dragons: Anderson, Rosser, Inisi, Owen, Dyer, O'Brien (co-capt), Armstrong; Martinez, Coghlan, Coleman, Davies, Carter (co-capt), Woodman, Young, Wainwright.

Replacements: Dee, Morris, James, Screech, Keddie, Williams, Lloyd, Paea.

Yellow card: Dyer 56.

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)

Assistants: Hanru van Rooyen & Stephen Geldenhuys (South Africa)

TMO: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

When was the last time Iowa was in the NCAA Final Four? Meet the 1980 Iowa Hawkeyes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It has been 46 years since the Iowa Hawkeyes reached the Final Four in men's basketball. The last time came in 1980, when a balanced, experienced group put together one of the best tournament runs in program history.

The 1980 Iowa Hawkeyes at a glance

The 1979-80 Iowa team finished 23-10 overall and 10-8 in Big Ten play, placing fourth in the conference. They averaged 73.0 points per game while allowing 65.6, shooting nearly 49 percent from the field. This is a team that made their run late to get to the biggest stage.

Head coach Lute Olson led a team built on balance, with five players averaging double figures and strong ball movement across the lineup.

Key players and production

• Ronnie Lester (G): 14.8 points, 4.2 assists

• Kenny Arnold (G): 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists

• Steve Krafcisin (C): 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds

• Kevin Boyle (F): 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists

• Vince Brookins (F): 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds

• Steve Waite (C): 8.0 points, 5.9 rebounds

• Bob Hansen (G): 5.6 points

• Mark Gannon (F): 5.6 points, 3.8 rebounds

The NCAA Tournament run

Iowa entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed in the East Region.

They opened with an 86-72 win over VCU, then defeated NC State 77-64.

In the Sweet 16, Iowa upset No. 1 seed Syracuse 88-77. They followed that with an 81-80 win over Georgetown in the regional final to reach the Final Four.

More: How Geoff Alexendar quietly turned Illinois into March's most unique team

Final Four results

The Final Four was held in Indianapolis.

Iowa lost to Louisville 80-72 in the national semifinal. Louisville went on to win the national championship.

Iowa then fell to Purdue 75-58 in the third-place game, finishing fourth in the nation.

Historical significance

The 1980 team remains the most recent Iowa squad to reach the Final Four and one of the most successful teams in program history.

The 2025-26 Iowa Hawkeyes: A modern run back to the doorstep

Forty-six years later, the Iowa Hawkeyes are back in a place that does not feel familiar for the program.

The 2025-26 team, led by first-year head coach Ben McCollum, finished 24-12 overall and 10-10 in Big Ten play. It was a quick turnaround after a coaching change and a roster overhaul, with multiple transfers forming the core of the team.

Iowa opened the season with seven straight wins and captured the Acrisure Classic, showing early signs of cohesion. The Hawkeyes spent three weeks in the AP Top 25 before settling into the middle of a deep Big Ten.

Their postseason run is what changed everything.

As a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Iowa beat Clemson 67-61 in the first round. Two days later, they delivered one of the biggest wins in program history, knocking off No. 1 seed and defending national champion Florida 73-72 on a late three-pointer from Alvaro Folgueiras. It marked Iowa’s first NCAA Tournament win over a No. 1 seed since that 1980 run.

They followed that with a 77-71 comeback win over Nebraska in the Sweet 16, taking their first lead in the final minutes and closing it out. That victory sent Iowa to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987.

Now, the Hawkeyes are one win away from ending a drought that stretches back to 1980.

It's Iowa. It's Illinois. It's the Elite 8. 

More College Basketball news:

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• Illinois vs Iowa has been building for 100 years and now it finally means everything

• Illinois looks to exorcise Elite Eight demons after statement win over Houston

• Illinois fans still haven’t forgiven Kelvin Sampson — now he stands in their way again

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With the “domestic” window closed, Cruzeiro is already preparing for moves in the transfer market in the middle of the year.

The next window opens on April 20. And Cruzeiro’s board already has its priorities defined in the search for reinforcements.

According to GE, Cruzeiro should prioritize reinforcements for the attack and left-back.

The top priority is to find a fast winger with dribbling ability and finishing quality, a position considered lacking since the start of the season.

In addition, the club is looking for a replacement for left-back Kauã Prates, who will join Borussia Dortmund in the middle of the year.

Meanwhile, coach Artur Jorge will have to work with the current squad.

The next challenge will be against Vitória, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday (1), at Mineirão.

After that, Raposa will face São Paulo, Barcelona-EQU and RB Bragantino.

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

Thanks to a bounceback effort from Friday starter Charlie West, UConn baseball (13-14, 1-0) picked up a win in its first Big East conference game of the year, taking down Xavier (8-19, 0-1) 3-1 in the first game of the series. 

“He was very good. 
I mean, he puts up zeros,” Head Coach Jim Penders said. “He makes it interesting, you know. He got behind a bunch of hitters, but made pitches when he had to.”

After allowing five earned runs in his first start of the team’s recent West Coast trip and seven in just two innings his last time out against San Jose State, the lefty opened this one with 3.2 hitless innings.

That included an early 14-pitch battle with Musketeers right fielder Clay Burdette, who fouled off nine consecutive pitches before West secured his first strikeout of the day on his ninth attempt at the payoff pitch.

“I thought he had his change-up early in the game,” Penders said. “
He got some bad swings on that. He had a three-pitch mix today, and we haven’t really had the three-pitch mix all that often.” Penders also said that West did a good job establishing the inner third of the plate to pitch in.

Spliced into West’s dominant outing was a big fourth inning for the Huskies’ offense, coupled with some poor defense from the Musketeers.

After looping a double towards the gap in left center, Jackson Marshall found his way to third on a Chris Polemeni single and would score on a wild pitch over the left-handed batter’s box to the backstop.

“Nothing seems to bother [Marshall] in the batter’s box,” Penders said. “He is able to separate pitches really well. He could take a bad swing…and he’s very capable of looking back on one pitch and then just being able to dismiss it and get ready for the next one. And he hits the ball so darn hard.”

Marshall also found ways to contribute defensively and in an eye-catching manner. After making a running over-the-shoulder catch just feet from the brick wall down the right field line in the sixth, the first baseman dove to his left and used every inch of his 6-foot-8 frame to snare a hard grounder shot off the bat of Carter Christenson for the unassisted out at third base in the ninth.

“He was a really good basketball player,” Penders said. “I think he was in Mr. Basketball in New Hampshire his senior year. He’s more athletic than people give him credit for. His legs look a little funny, but he can move a little bit out there.”

Following his single, Polemeni swiped third after advancing to second on the wild pitch. That steal extended his team-leading total to 12. 

Polemeni wasn’t done wreaking havoc on the bases. Creeping down the third base line, the right fielder was such a distraction to catcher Jonathan Fitz that the backstop made the ill-fated choice to fire to third and try for the back pick. Instead, the low throw bounced short and into foul territory past third, allowing Polemeni to ease his way into home.

The error also advanced second baseman Evan Menzel into scoring position, who later moved over to third on a Nater Wachter single. A batter later, Maddix Dalena tacked one on for good measure with a single of his own, making it 3-0 Huskies.

West responded to the run support from his teammates in the top of the fifth by inducing a double play and a fly out to keep the Musketeer bats at bay.

By the time West threw his 109th and final pitch of the day, the lefty had cruised through 6.2 innings of shut out baseball

Though the Huskies’ bats went cold for the latter four innings, collectively finding just one more hit (a Polemeni single) after the fourth and none over the next three innings, it wouldn’t matter much as Paxton Meyers and Greg Shaw III combined to close out the contest.

Meyers ran into trouble in both the eighth and ninth. A pair of singles left Meyers in a precarious situation in the former, but the right-hander generated a double play ball that elicited a loud cheer from the Huskies dugout.

The graduate student wasn’t as fortunate in the ninth. A leadoff single and a walk brought Jorge Valdes to the plate for the Musketeers. The left fielder worked a 3-1 count before Meyers got back in the at-bat to make it a full count.

Valdes lined the pitch back up the middle with enough speed to keep shortstop Rob Rispoli from reaching the resulting bouncer. The base hit drove in the Musketeers’ only run of the day.

With Meyers running into trouble and exiting the game with traffic on the base paths, relief ace Greg Shaw III came in to shut the door for his first save of the season.

Not dazed by the fact that the winning run was now standing at the plate, the senior made quick work of the Musketeers, striking out the first batter he faced and producing a soft tapper back to the mound that he flipped to first with plenty of time for the final out.

“His mindset is the thing that’s most impressive to me,” Penders said. “He’s a tough kid, he works really hard, he doesn’t say boo. He’s harder on himself than a coach can ever be, and those are the kinds of guys you love to go to war with.”

The Huskies will turn around less than 24 hours after game one’s first pitch to get back on the field for game two of the homestand with a series win on the line. UConn hasn’t won a weekend series since the three-game set at Old Dominion early in the month.

“It’s going to be a hard-fought series for sure, and I just hope that we show up with the same kind of energy tomorrow and hopefully win a series on a Saturday,” Penders said.

With the weather dropping to the low 30s, first pitch will be at an earlier 1:05 p.m. The game will stream live on ESPN+.

“It was obviously not an offensive day at Elliot Ballpark today with the wind blown in,” Penders said. “Our hitters, I thought, did a solid job of getting on top of some baseballs. It’s going to be even worse tomorrow, so we gotta continue that. 
We’re going to have to play for runs early and not count on crooked-number innings,”

Scotland centre Emma Orr scored two second-half tries as Bristol Bears came from behind to seal a 17-14 win and all but end Harlequins' hopes of reaching the Premiership Women's Rugby top four.

Staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium for the first time as part of Bristol's 'Big Day Out' the match was watched by 14,020 fans - a record for a 'home' game for Bristol -with a Prem meeting between the men's sides at 15:30 GMT.

Defeat was Harlequins' sixth in a row, and while they took a losing bonus point to move up to fifth in the table - level on points with Sale in fourth - they have played more than those around them and have just one game remaining.

The Bears remain eighth with this their first win in two matches, with games against Exeter and Gloucester-Hartpury to come.

Meanwhile, second-placed Saracens thrashed Sale 54-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the day's second game to cut Gloucester-Hartpury's lead at the top to four points, although they have played a game more.

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In Cardiff, Christiana Balogun barged over from close range to put the Bears ahead, but Beth Wilcock skipped past two tackles to score and edge Quins into the lead, before Aoife Wafer extended their advantage to 14-5.

Bristol wasted opportunities before the break as Ella Lovibond's pass was too long for wing Millie David, who would have had a walk-in to the line, and Delaney Burns was then held up under the posts.

Yet Orr turned the game on its head for Bristol midway through the second half, collecting and touching down a chip kick from centre Meryl Smith to cut the gap to two points.

Ten minutes later Orr doubled her tally with a standout solo try, shoving off one tackler and side-stepping two more to run over and make it 17-14.

At the other end replacement Quins prop Jessie Spurrier was held up as the London side were unable to put any points on the board during the second half.

Fourth-placed Sale Sharks may have play-off ambitions, but were handed a harsh lesson by a clinical Saracens side that hope to push Gloucester-Hartpury all the way for the Premiership title.

With player of the match Amelia MacDougall pulling the strings at fly-half, Sarries ran in eight tries.

Three were scored in the opening 10 minutes - Canadian internationals Olivia Apps and Gabby Senft going over, either side of one from Poppy Cleall.

Further tries followed from the experienced Marlie Packer and Liz Crake to make the score 33-0 by half-time.

Kelsey Clifford, Lotte Sharp and a late effort from Jess Breach completed the scoring in the second half, with Zoe Harrison kicking seven of eight conversion attempts.

The Chargers are looking to make a deep playoff run in 2026 with Jim Harbaugh in his third season as head coach and Mike McDaniel as the new offensive coordinator.

If the Bolts want to succeed in the postseason, there's still some work to be done following the first wave of free agency. The front office will still have to find a starting guard, edge rusher, and defensive tackle in order to look like a true contender.

Chargers Wire has rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where experts believe the Chargers will draft a guard or a defensive need with the No. 22 overall pick.

USA Today: T.J. Parker, DE/OLB, Clemson

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: "Even with Khalil Mack back for another season, it's time to plan for a future that won't include the 35-year-old. Parker would keep the Bolts' pass rush well stocked after Odafe Oweh's departure and give Jim Harbaugh a refined eventual replacement for Mack."

The Athletic: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State

Vic Tafur: "His teammates and coaches will be in for a treat, as not only can Ioane push defensive tackles around, but he is also an accomplished baker."

ESPN: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Field Yates: "In this year's deep safety class, McNeil-Warren has a strong shot to be the third one off the board in the first round. He is extremely fluid and long, with great play vision and natural disruption skills. He forced three fumbles in 2025, while recording 12 pass breakups and five interceptions over the past three seasons.

"The Chargers have needs at edge and guard to address in the draft, but safety is a sneaky area where they need to get younger. Derwin James Jr. will be a 30-year-old free agent next offseason."

NFL.com: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

Charles Davis: "The Chargers have been remaking their interior offensive line. Ioane would be a nice, nasty additional piece."

CBS Sports: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

Josh Edwards: "Vega Ioane this late into the first round would be considered one of the best values. Ioane lacks positional versatility, but the Chargers only need him to play guard. He has a physical play style which should be endearing to head coach Jim Harbaugh."

FOX Sports: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Ben Arthur: "The Chargers would love to get offensive line help here, but a blue-chip defensive tackle could be viewed as more valuable than the fifth- or sixth-best O-lineman in the back half of the first round. A unanimous first-team All-American, McDonald had 65 tackles (nine for loss), three sacks and two forced fumbles en route to being named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year."

Athlon Sports: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama

Luke Easterling: "Getting both of their starting tackles back from season-ending injuries will be a huge help, but the Chargers still need to upgrade the interior of their offensive line to ensure Justin Herbert remains well-protected in 2026 and beyond. Proctor is one of the most intriguing prospects in this class, thanks to his rare combination of size, power and athleticism, but his development will take patience. After playing tackle for the Tide, Proctor might be best suited to slide inside at the next level, where his strength and movement skills could make him an All-Pro down the road."

Pro Football Sports Network: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

Jacob Infante: Arguably, the top guard in the 2026 NFL Draft went right before the Los Angeles Chargers in this mock, robbing them of a chance to make a needed upgrade along the interior offensive line. However, with Khalil Mack in the tail end of his career, it would make a lot of sense to invest along the defensive line to find his successor.

With a starting opportunity now in his reach at Texas A&M, Cashius Howell lived up to the hype in 2025. He finished the regular season with an SEC-leading 11.5 sacks, and he’s displayed tremendous acceleration and flexibility off the edge. Howell’s arms aren’t incredibly long, but there’s a lot there to be excited about with him on tape.

Touchdown Wire: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Gavino Borquez: "The Chargers re-signed Khalil Mack to a one-year deal. However, this position group still needs more juice, and they have to be thinking about the long haul with a running mate to play opposite Tuli Tuipulotu, given that this could be Mack’s final year. Parker is a physical edge rusher who can get after the quarterback and do the dirty work against the run. He finished with 21.5 sacks at Clemson."

Draft Wire: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Curt Popejoy: "The Chargers secondary is solid but not spectacular at any cornerback spot and there is always room to upgrade. Terrell was the star of the Clemson secondary last season and fits perfectly in a modern NFL defense."

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Chargers address key roster needs

Texas Rangers lineup for March 28, 2026 against the Philadelphia Phillies: starting pitchers are Jacob Latz for the Rangers and Aaron Nola for the Phillies.

The Rangers look to win their first game of the year and get to a .500 record on a chilly day in Philadelphia this afternoon. Jacob Latz is filling in for Jacob deGrom, who is dealing with neck stiffness.

The lineup:

Nimmo — RF

Langford — LF

Seager — SS

Burger — 1B

Pederson — DH

Smith — 2B

Jung — 3B

Carter — CF

Jansen — C

3:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +125 underdogs.

This season, the Detroit Lions saw many veteran players who had been with the team for several years walk out the door in free agency. It was clear players like Alex Anzalone and Graham Glasgow weren’t like to come back, but for a player like punt returner/wideout Kalif Raymond, it wasn’t as sure.

It turns out the Lions did make an effort to bring back Raymond, but he opted to select the Chicago Bears’ one-year, $3.5 million offer instead.

In a great profile of Raymond by The Athletic Dan Pompei, he revealed that Raymond had several suitors in free agency, including the Seahawks and 49ers. Ultimately, Raymond was deciding between the Lions and Bears, who had “commensurate” offers on the table. It was far from an easy decision for Raymond, who holds a lot of love for the Lions organization and his teammates. He even consulted with Amon-Ra St. Brown before making a decision.

“Trust your gut,” St. Brown told him, via Pompei. “Either way, I love you, man.”

However, it appears the deciding factor with Raymond was opportunity. After drafting St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa in a matter of five years, Raymond was a distant fourth on Detroit’s depth chart. Whereas the Bears have a young, burgeoning receiver group that needed a savvy veteran. And with Raymond reuniting with his former offensive coordinator in Bears coach Ben Johnson, he knows he’ll be in a place where he’ll be properly utilized.

“The lure to Chicago was opportunity,” Pompei wrote. “The post-Johnson Lions veered to bigger wide receivers and had reduced Raymond’s offensive role. Johnson, however, remembers the wide receiver who was targeted 71 times in 2021 and 64 times in 2022.”

The Lions were able to pivot quite well, however. Detroit ended up signing former Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch to a one-year, $1.4 million deal. Dortch brings both returner ability and a familiarity with new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

OGDEN — As a kid growing up, Collin Crook’s dad, a Canadian, instilled in him a love of curling.

“Pretty much every Olympics, we’d sit there and watch it with my dad all day,” he said. “It’s so strategic and so interesting to see how it flows game to game.”

The love for the sport has remained, and the Pocatello man found himself in paradise on Friday, watching some of the world’s best curlers at the Ice Sheet on the Weber State University campus in Ogden.

“It’s awesome. I love it,” he said, seated in the stands of the converted hockey rink.

Ogden is hosting the LGT World Men’s Curling Championship, where Crook was getting his fix of the sport, and the action, which started Friday, continues through April 4, when the new world champ is to be crowned. It’s perhaps the biggest curling event after the Olympics, and Utah officials are eager to showcase the ability of the state to host world-class sporting events ahead of the 2034 Winter Games, to be held in the state.

“While the (curling) world championships are not specifically linked to 2034, the event is emblematic of the culture of sport that has developed here in Utah since 2002,” when the state last hosted the Winter Olympics, said Tom Kelly, spokesman for the 2034 Games. “As Utah 2034, we would anticipate that more events like this will come to Utah, not just for 2034, but because of the venues we have and the great culture of sport here.”

Similarly, Sara Toliver, president of Visit Ogden, Weber County’s tourism promotion body, sees the event as an opportunity to put Ogden on the world stage and showcase what the city and Weber County have to offer. “It’s a pretty fantastic opportunity to get to take advantage of,” she said.

Perhaps at a more basic level, though, the tournament gives Ogden and Utah a peek into a sport that doesn’t typically garner a lot of attention. The Ice Sheet hosted curling events during the 2002 Olympic Games, and the facility is home to club curling activities, but otherwise, it’s more commonly used by the Ogden Mustangs hockey team and figure skaters.

Now, it’s serving as host facility for 13 top curling teams from around the world, including some squads that took part in the Milano Cortina Games in Italy last February. Matches are to be held daily through the coming week, and tickets are still available.

“They are top-level curlers,” said Eeva Roethlisberger, head of competition for World Curling, the international governing body for the sport, and on hand for the Ogden tournament. The teams come from the United States, Canada, China, Czechia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Poland, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland.

She’s a curler, though she didn’t reach the level of the participants on the teams now in Ogden, and likens the sport to “chess on ice” because of the strategizing involved. Among the participants now in Ogden are John Shuster, part of the U.S. team that won gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

“I think it’s a fascinating sport,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s strategic. It’s very athletic, which a lot of people don’t think it is, but it is.”

Matches take place in a long corridor of ice, with teams taking turns sliding a large stone from one end of the lane to the other, trying to get the heavy rock into the house, the bullseye target. Team members will sweep the ice in front of the moving stone to aid in its travel, part of the strategy being to knock the stones from the opposing team out of the house. Points are scored based on which team gets their stones closest to the middle of the bullseye, or button.

“It is more difficult than you think,” said Crook, who was watching Norway and Japan face off with his wife, Sophie Crook, who’s become a curling fan. It may not be hard to heave the stone down the ice, he said, but “it’s hard to do it well.”

A lot of shouting is involved, as team members advise their sweepers on how best to direct the stone as it slides down the lane.

Weekend ticket sales have been good, and Toliver says the curling action could be a good option for kids who will be on spring break next week. Kids 12 and under can attend free for the 9 a.m. curling sessions during the week, she said, creating an opportunity “to see these world-class athletes and do something fun and different.”

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There’s an “anything is possible” vibe to MLB’s Opening Weekend, and Saturday’s slate features several teams looking to derail the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bid for a three-peat.

That group includes the Toronto Blue Jays, and my MLB player props target a strong outing from Dylan Cease, as well as a wager on Fernando Tatis Jr. to kickstart his season.

Check out my MLB picks for March 28.

Best MLB player props today

Player	Pick	Odds
Dylan Cease	Over 15.5 outs recorded	-128
Fernando Tatis Jr.	Over 1.5 total bases	+100
Matt Olson	Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI	-125

Dylan Cease Over 15.5 outs recorded [-128]

Dylan Cease takes the ball for the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon, and he’s facing an Athletics' offense that managed just three hits last night against Kevin Gausman and the Blue Jays bullpen.

I expect Cease to settle in quickly after pitching five scoreless innings to wrap up his Spring Training prep, and he has strong numbers against the A's top hitters. Shea Langeliers, Brent Rooker, and Tyler Soderstrom are a combined 3-for-20 against the right-hander.

Cease will get some leeway to pitch through jams, and John Schneider would surely like to get six innings out of his newest weapon.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC Sports California, Sportsnet

Fernando Tatis Jr. Over 1.5 total bases [+100]

Fernando Tatis Jr. has gotten off to a sluggish 1-for-8 start in two disappointing San Diego Padres losses, but facing Detroit Tigers starter Jack Flaherty should ignite his offense tonight.

Tatis Jr. has an eye-catching 7-for-13 career record against Flaherty, including four doubles and two homers, and the Tigers starter could be vulnerable after posting a 4.64 ERA in 2025.

The Padres need a spark from their talisman, and Tatis's speed on the basepaths is a recipe for extra-base hits. I’ll take the even odds for him to deliver.

• Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Detroit SportsNet, Padres TV

Matt Olson Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI [-125]

The Atlanta Braves are off to a winning start after a thumping 6-0 victory last night, and Matt Olson wasted no time padding his stat line. The lefty slugger had two hits and a run in the opener, and he’s poised for a similar impact today.

Olson has a .600 batting average in five at-bats against Kansas City Royals righty Michael Wacha, and he’s in a favorable spot in the Atlanta lineup, with Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies hitting ahead of him and Austin Riley looming behind.

I like this price for Olson to help the Braves keep the scoreboard ticking tonight.

• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FOX

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Fabio di Giannantonio edged out Marco Bezzecchi in the final minutes of qualifying to score his second consecutive pole position of the 2026 MotoGP season at the United States Grand Prix .

Di Giannantonio set a best time of 2m00.136s aboard the VR46 Ducati with just over a minute remaining in Q2, beating seven tenths under the previous lap record at Austin.

KTM’s Pedro Acosta secured the final spot on the front row, while factory Ducati duo Francesco Bagnaia jumped to fourth at the end ahead of Honda’s Joan Mir and team-mate Marc Marquez.

Bagnaia was the first rider to break Maverick Vinales’ record at the Circuit of the Americas, lapping the track in 2m00.815s in the first five minutes to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Joan Mir then took the entire field by surprise, going nearly a quarter of a second quicker than Bagnaia aboard the factory Honda - despite the RC213V’s persistent grip in qualifying.

Di Giannantonio held third place after the first runs, while Bezzecchi was fourth fastest. 

Reigning world champion Marquez languished in 10th place after the first half of the session, having been forced to abort his flying lap after catching Bezzecchi at the end of the back straight. The incident remains under investigation.

Lap times tumbled rapidly as riders returned on track on a fresh set of soft tyres, with Bezzecchi posting a 2m00.329s to become the first rider to go faster than Mir.

However, the Aprilia rider’s position at the top of the timesheets proved to be short-lived, with di Giannantonio snatching pole position just seconds after. This marked only the third time the VR46 rider topped a qualifying session, after his previous poles at Mugello in 2022 and Goiania last weekend.

Championship leader Bezzecchi held on to second place aboard the lead Aprilia, while Acosta shot up to third for KTM at the death of the session.

Bagnaia also managed to find a late improvement to qualify fourth, just beating an impressive Mir, while Marquez could only manage sixth at one of his favourite venues.

Aprilia’s Jorge Martin ended up seventh ahead of Gresini’s Alex Marquez, while Luca Marini (Honda) and Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini) rounded out the top 10. Both Mir and Aldeguer had made their way inside the top 10 after going through Q1.

Ai Ogura could only muster 11th aboard the Trackhouse Aprilia after crashing twice in FP2 ahead of qualifying, while Enea Bastianini wound up 12th for Tech3 KTM.

Bastianini was visibly agitated after feeling he was held up by Marc Marquez at the end of qualifying. The incident will be investigated after qualifying.

Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez was eliminated in Q1 for a second weekend in succession, although this time he missed the Q2 cut by just 0.018s to end up 13th.

Diogo Moreira beat his more experienced LCR team-mate Johann Zarco to 14th in qualifying, while Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo wound up 16th after suffering a low-speed crash at Turn 15 on his first run.

Pramac duo Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jack Miller qualified 17th and 19th respectively, separated by the factory KTM of Brad Binder.

Franco Morbidelli endured another difficult qualifying session on the VR46 Ducati to finish 20th, while Alex Rins, a two-time MotoGP winner at Austin, propped up the timesheets on the factory Yamaha.

Q2 results:

Q1 results:

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Texas Rangers scratched two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom from his scheduled start Saturday against the Phillies because of neck stiffness.

The Rangers gave left-hander Jacob Latz the start.

Latz failed to win a spot in the rotation out of spring training. He's pitched mostly out of the bullpen in parts of four seasons with the Rangers.

There was no immediate word when deGrom would make his next start.

DeGrom’s final two years with the New York Mets were plagued by injury before he left in free agency after the 2022 season. He then had Tommy John surgery after only six starts in his Rangers debut in 2023, the season of their only World Series title. They won each of his starts that all came before the end of April that year.

The $185 million, five-year deal deGrom signed with Texas included a conditional sixth-year club option worth at least $20 million and up to $37 million for 2028 that has been triggered because of the time missed injured.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The Chargers are set to host Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas on a private workout-meeting. Douglas will also do the same with the Raiders, Rams and Saints.

Douglas led Texas Tech in receiving yards (1,723) over the past two seasons and established himself as a key deep threat in the Big 12. He earned All-Big 12 second-team honors.

How Would Caleb Douglas Fit With the Chargers?

The Chargers are looking for an X-receiver to add to the positional room. Douglas is known as a deep-ball threat with a 79-inch wingspan and 4.39-second 40-yard dash speed.

Keenan Allen is still unsigned, and there's no guarantee he will return to LA. Moreover, McConkey is coming off a down year in which he failed to replicate his 1,000-yard rookie season, largely due to Allen's presence.

As for Johnston, there is speculation that the Chargers may trade the former first-round pick. All in all, the Chargers need another receiver, and perhaps the team will address the need via the NFL draft in April.

General manager Joe Hortiz was aggressive in his pursuit of top free agent receiver Alec Pierce, but he opted to remain with the Colts. Therefore, the Chargers could very well bolster the unit through the draft instead.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers to host Texas Tech WR on pre-draft visit

Despite delivering a disappointing performance against Switzerland yesterday, Leroy Sané has been backed by Julian Nagelsmann to make amends against Ghana on Monday. 

“I don't always expect two goals and three assists, it's about the overall picture. He showed glimpses of what he's capable of," the Germany coach said in his press conference.

“Of course he can play with more intensity and do better, but you have to take his lack of rhythm into account. He will get another chance to do better on Monday,” he added. 

With just nine goals for Newcastle this season, Nagelsmann also faced questions as to why Nick Woltemade featured ahead of an in-form Deniz Undav with 23 goals for VfB Stuttgart.

“Nick has a great record with us and isn’t having an easy time at Newcastle right now. Now I’ve got a choice to make. 

"Do I continue to boost the confidence of a top striker [Undav] in really good form, or do I drop another top striker [Woltemade]  who isn’t quite in such good form at the moment?

“I’d say it’s advisable for Nick Woltemade to get back on track with us, because things aren’t going well at Newcastle at the minute.

"Deniz is on a good run anyway. Whether he would have played today or not, it won’t change his confidence for this week,” he added, before saying he is still undecided. 

Ndicka Transfer Battle Signals Defensive Shift Across Europe

Credit to Caught Offside for the original reporting, this emerging transfer story around Evan Ndicka feels less like routine speculation and more like a reflection of where elite clubs believe modern defending is heading.

At €45 million, Ndicka represents a particular type of centre back, mobile, composed, and increasingly comfortable stepping into midfield spaces. It is no surprise that clubs across the continent are circling.

Premier League Interest Intensifies

The report states, “Manchester United have entered the race as well. The English club are keeping a close eye on Ndicka’s situation and could make their move in the summer.” That phrasing, deliberate and measured, hints at a market still forming rather than one nearing conclusion.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are also positioned as serious contenders. Both clubs are, in their own ways, searching for defensive clarity. Liverpool’s evolution under Arne Slot has exposed structural gaps, while Spurs continue to look for consistency at the back.

“Tottenham and Liverpool are also expected to increase their interest as part of their defensive reinforcement plans.” That line speaks to intent rather than urgency, yet in modern recruitment cycles, intent can quickly become action.

Photo IMAGO

Roma’s Financial Reality Shapes Decision

There is a subtle tension running through the situation at AS Roma. The club would prefer to retain Ndicka, yet financial obligations may dictate otherwise.

“Roma are prepared to consider offers exceeding €45 million (£39m).” This is not a fire sale, but it is a negotiation framed by necessity. UEFA-related financial pressures add a layer of inevitability, particularly with a June 30 deadline looming.

The rejection of a previous bid from Al Nassr suggests Roma are selective, not desperate. Still, the landscape has shifted.

European Giants Join Race

Interest from FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich elevates this beyond a Premier League tussle. It becomes a question of profile and projection.

“Top European clubs are closely monitoring him, and the competition for his signature is heating up.” That observation captures the essence of the modern transfer window, where players are not merely acquired for need, but for trajectory.

Ndicka, at this price point, sits in that sweet spot, proven enough to trust, young enough to mould.

Market Value Meets Strategic Fit

Financially, “Ndicka’s current market value is around €35 million. However, Roma are ready to evaluate offers in the €40–45 million range.” That gap between valuation and expectation often defines negotiations.

What matters more is fit. For Liverpool, it could mean balance alongside Virgil van Dijk. For Spurs, it could represent a stabilising presence in a system that often stretches its defenders.

In that sense, this is not simply a transfer story. It is a study in how top clubs attempt to future-proof their back lines.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Spurs perspective, this report feels both encouraging and slightly familiar. Encouraging because “Tottenham and Liverpool are also expected to increase their interest” suggests the club are once again targeting a defender with the right physical and technical profile. Familiar because Spurs fans have seen these pursuits drift before.

Ndicka looks like the sort of signing that could genuinely elevate the back line. Strong in duels, comfortable on the ball, and experienced in European competition, he ticks many of the boxes supporters have been calling for. 

Yet there is a lingering doubt. With Manchester United, Liverpool, FC Barcelona, and Bayern Munich all involved, Spurs risk being outmuscled both financially and in terms of prestige.

There is also the question of timing. Spurs “also wanted to sign Ndicka last season.” That detail may frustrate fans who feel opportunities have slipped through the net before.

Ultimately, this is a test of intent. If Tottenham are serious about competing at the highest level, this is the calibre of player they must secure. Missing out would not be a disaster, but it would reinforce a narrative that Spurs are often present in the conversation, but rarely decisive at its conclusion.

For supporters, that distinction matters.

Vikings have interest in 'premier' running back prospect ahead of 2026 NFL draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's no secret that the Minnesota Vikings don't have a great situation at running back entering the 2026 campaign.

The Vikings managed to keep Aaron Jones on a reworked contract, but he's also 31 years old and is coming off an injury-plagued season. Behind him is Jordan Mason, who doesn't offer much outside of his between-the-tackles running.

With the free-agent market having dried up, all eyes are on the Vikings picking a running back earlier than later in the 2026 NFL draft.

One of their targets is Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson, who draft analyst Ryan Fowler reports is going to visit the Vikings ahead of the draft.

"Source: Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson has a visit scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings," Fowler reported.

Fowler goes on to note that Johnson could be the second-best running back in this year's class behind Notre Dame superstar Jeremiyah Love.

"Potential RB2 in the class was named Big Ten RB of the year in ‘25 after rushing for 1,451 yds and 12 TDs. One of the premier ball-carriers in the class," Fowler added on Johnson.

Emmett Johnson scouting report

At 5-foot-10 and 202 pounds, Johnson has the ideal frame to be an NFL running back, especially with his impressive blend of speed and power.

He isn't an elite pass-catcher by any stretch, but he's got the goods to make an impact in that area.

Here's more on Johnson, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

Johnson is a hard-charging, gap-scheme runner. He brings a steady dose of urgency, decisiveness and fairly predictable run tracks. Johnson’s production and game-by-game consistency stand out despite average size and top-end speed. He steps on the accelerator once he touches the ball, but the run becomes segmented when he attempts to cut laterally. He struggles to create for himself when the point of entry is cloudy. Johnson can beat linebackers to the run fit but won’t usually run through them with power. He’s able to help as a pass-catcher and projects as a solid backup best suited for downhill concepts.

Barring a massive trade up and/or slide, the Vikings are going to be out of range to take Love, but they could still land themselves a solid back in Johnson, who could come off the board on Day 2.

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Carlos Alcaraz suffered a surprising early exit at the Miami Open, interrupting what had been a strong start to his season.

The world number one was beaten by Sebastian Korda in three sets in the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event. It was just his second defeat of the season.

Speaking in an episode of ‘Off Court with Greg’, Rusedski said: “I think with Alcaraz, he’s played a little bit too much tennis. You look at the end of the season, he didn’t really have an offseason.

“He played a lot of exhibitions in America, he went to the one in Korea before the Australian Open, then he played in Doha as well.

“So he’s played all the way from the end of the year, finishing number one, to continuing on the merry-go-round.

“And when you play too much tennis, I hate to say it, but you get a little stale, you get a little bit bored, it’s difficult being week in, week out on the road.

“That’s where Federer was a maestro. That’s why he had such a long career and had so much dominance. He’d only played 12 events, and then he’d win seven of them, and he’d be fresh every event he played.

Alcaraz remains focused on this year’s calendar Grand Slam bid after winning his first title at Melbourne Park. The next major is scheduled for May 20th – June 9th at Roland Garros.

Alcaraz is facing a busy clay stretch as Sinner closes the gap

Sinner’s run to the Miami Open final has tightened things up in the rankings, with Alcaraz now on 13,590 points following his early exit and Sinner able to reach 12,400 if he lifts the title.

Alcaraz is not only protecting his place at the top of the rankings but also a huge number of points. He’s defending 4,330 from last season’s clay swing, where he won Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros, and finished runner-up in Barcelona.

By contrast, Sinner didn’t play Monte-Carlo or Barcelona last year, giving him a good opportunity to gain ground. Alcaraz will have very little room for error during this stretch if he wants to hold onto number one.

Read more:

COLUMBUS — Nick Leddy appreciates being back in the NHL.

Waived in January by the San Jose Sharks, and unclaimed, in part because of his $4 million AAV, it was no sure thing that the veteran defenseman would ever play again in the best league in the world.

But here he was on Thursday night, helping the Sharks get a point against his last team, the St. Louis Blues. San Jose lost 2-1 in OT, Leddy playing 19:44 and providing a security blanket for a more aggressive Sam Dickinson, who had one of his better games of the season.

“It’s always fun to play against friends, guys that will be lifelong friends,” Leddy said post-game, about St. Louis, where he skated from 2021 to 2025. “When you go to battle with someone in the playoffs over and over again, and you have those experiences and long seasons, you create amazing friendships.”

Leddy struggled early in the season, hence getting waived, but the 16-year vet appears to have found some of his game since his return to the line-up on Mar. 17, suiting up for four contests. Small sample size and these stats aren’t be-all, end-all, but Leddy actually has the best 5-on-5 Expected Goals For % on the Sharks defense, per Natural Stat Trick, 68.13 percent, since then.

“He’s played some really good hockey when he’s came in, and really helps calm our defense down back there. There’s more predictability,” San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “He’s a pro in every sense of the word, even when he was not playing. Didn’t complain, just worked, put his head down, did what the coaches asked for him to do. Kept preparing himself to get in…He’s a true pro, and we’re happy to have him.”

San Jose Sharks (32-31-7)

Ohio native Alex Nedeljkovic is likely to start.

Warsofsky will share more line-up details at about 11:30 AM PT.

Columbus Blue Jackets (38-23-11)

Here’s how the Jackets lined up in their last game, a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Columbus is 19-4-4 under interim head coach Rick Bowness.

cooler than the Hôtel de Glace pic.twitter.com/cCvnUrlUYS

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 26, 2026

New: With the Sharks at Nationwide today, two familiar faces are back in town. Kiefer Sherwood and Alex Wennberg. Both are on their fifth NHL team. Despite different journeys, both were molded by their Columbus roots.

Pregame read: https://t.co/CyDSyBVXZc#CBJ#TheFutureIsTeal

— Mark Scheig (@mark_scheig) March 28, 2026

Where To Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets is at 2 PM PT at Nationwide Arena. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.

The post Preview/Lines #71: Leddy Appreciates Being Back With Sharks appeared first on San Jose Hockey Now.

The Diamondbacks were defeated by the Dodgers for the second time in a row last night during Game 2 of their MLB season-opening series. Tonight, they'll play once more for Game 3. 

Game 3 for the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers starts at 9:10 p.m. ET on local RSNs (SportsNet LA, DBacks.TV), MLB Network and MLB.TV. Here's what else you need to know about how to watch the D-backs vs. Dodgers game. 

Where to watch Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers Game 3 

Date: Saturday March 28

Time: 9:10 p.m. ET 

Location: Dodger Stadium

TV channel: MLB Network

Streaming: MLB.TV

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers start time 

Tonight's Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers game will kick off at 9:10 p.m. ET. 

Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers channel 

Game 3 of the Diamondbacks at Dodgers three-game series will air on MLB Network stream on MLB.TV. 

How to watch Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers:

Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers series schedule 

All times Eastern

Thursday, March 26

• Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: 8:30 p.m. (NBC, Peacock) 

Friday, March 27

• Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: 10:10 p.m. (MLB Network, MLB.TV)

Saturday, March 28

• Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: 9:10 p.m. (MLB Network, MLB.TV)

When is MLB Opening Day 2026?

MLB Opening Day has expanded, so "opening week" is a better term for the schedule. The action began with the Yankees vs. Giants game on Wednesday, March 25. There are 11 games to catch on Thursday, March 26 and eight on Friday. Plus, we’ll see the handful of three-game series kicked off during Opening Week conclude by Sunday. All in all, it’s a jam-packed week.

MLB Opening Day channels

Specific opening week MLB games will air across NBC, Apple TV and Netflix; the rest of the games will air on MLB.TV.

How to watch MLB Opening Day without cable:

2026 MLB Opening Week schedule

All times Eastern

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

• New York vs. San Francisco: 8:05 p.m. (Netflix)

Thursday, March 26, 2026

• Pittsburgh vs. New York: 1:15 p.m. (MLB.TV, NBC, Peacock)

• Chicago vs. Milwaukee: 2:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Washington vs. Chicago: 2:20 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Minnesota vs. Baltimore: 3:05 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Boston vs. Cincinnati: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Los Angeles vs. Houston: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Detroit vs. San Diego: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Texas vs. Philadelphia: 4:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis: 4:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Arizona vs. Los Angeles: 8:30 p.m. (MLB.TV, NBC, Peacock)

• Cleveland vs. Seattle: 10:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Friday, March 27, 2026

• New York vs. San Francisco: 4:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Athletics vs. Toronto: 7:07 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Colorado vs. Miami: 7:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Kansas City vs. Atlanta: 7:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Los Angeles vs. Houston: 8:10 p.m. (MLB.TV, Apple TV+)

• Cleveland vs. Seattle: 9:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Detroit vs. San Diego: 9:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Arizona vs. Los Angeles: 10:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Saturday, March 28, 2026

• Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis: 2:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Washington vs. Chicago: 2:20 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Athletics vs. Toronto: 3:07 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Minnesota vs. Baltimore: 4:05 p.m. (MLB.TV, FS1)

• Texas vs. Philadelphia: 4:05 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Boston vs. Cincinnati: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Colorado vs. Miami: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Pittsburgh vs. New York: 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Los Angeles vs. Houston: 7:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Chicago vs. Milwaukee: 7:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Kansas City vs. Atlanta: 7:15 p.m. (MLB.TV, FOX)

• New York vs. San Francisco: 7:15 p.m. (MLB.TV, FOX)

• Detroit vs. San Diego: 8:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Arizona vs. Los Angeles: 9:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Cleveland vs. Seattle: 9:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

Sunday, March 29, 2026

• Kansas City vs. Atlanta: 1:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Minnesota vs. Baltimore: 1:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Texas vs. Philadelphia: 1:35 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Athletics vs. Toronto: 1:37 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Boston vs. Cincinnati: 1:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Colorado vs. Miami: 1:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Pittsburgh vs. New York: 1:40 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Los Angeles vs. Houston: 2:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Chicago vs. Milwaukee: 2:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis: 2:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Washington vs. Chicago: 2:20 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• Cleveland vs. Seattle: 7:20 p.m. (Peacock)

We’ve reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, with March Madness going fairly predictably as three of the No. 1-seeded teams have advanced to this round. We now get true matchups between the best college basketball teams in 2026, creating high stakes and a lot of excitement this weekend.

Let’s dive into our Elite Eight predictions for the weekend matchups in the men’s NCAA Tournament.

(3) Illinois Fighting Illini vs (9) Iowa Hawkeyes

The Iowa Hawkeyes are the lowest-seeded team left standing in the NCAA Tournament and are coming off a run that includes a last-second victory over the reigning national champion Florida Gators. The three-ball has been instrumental to the Hawkeyes’ success during this ride to the Elite Eight, with the team making 20 combined in the last two games. The Illinois Fighting Illini are favored to punch their ticket to the Final Four, but it’s worth noting this program allowed 8.4 three-pointers made per game (275th in NCAA) during the season. With that said, Illinois has played strong defensively throughout the tournament and its scoring prowess is nearly unrivaled. We are calling for the upset, with Iowa dictating the pace of the game and getting threes to fall in a nail-biting victory.

• Prediction: Iowa Hawkeyes – 74, Illinois Fighting Illini – 71

Related: Saturday’s Elite Eight Schedule

(1) Arizona Wildcats vs (2) Purdue Boilermakers

The Arizona Wildcats are on a tear entering the Elite Eight, with their last defeat coming all the way back on Feb. 14 against Texas Tech. During this win streak, the program has top-10 victories over Houston and Iowa State twice, and then it just handed Coach John Calipari his most lopsided defeat ever in the NCAA Tournament. The Purdue Boilermakers‘ resume might not be quite as impressive, especially coming off a narrow victory in the Sweet Sixteen over No.-11 ranked Texas. However, Purdue does have its own wave of momentum coming into this matchup with Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn looking unstoppable. Against another opponent, we might be inclined to pick Purdue. This draws, however, favors Arizona winning comfortably.

• Prediction: Arizona Wildcats – 80, Purdue Boilermakers – 71

Related: Arizona Wildcats HC Further Tied to UNC Tar Heels

(6) Tennessee Volunteers vs (1) Michigan Wolverines

If you’re a fan of watching defense, this Elite Eight matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and Michigan Wolverines is right for you. Rick Barnes has taken Tennessee to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season, with this run being the most remarkable given the amount of roster turnover during the offseason. Tennessee is coming off two impressive wins over Virginia (79-72) and Iowa State (76-62), but this feels like a matchup where the story ends. Michigan’s suffocating defense and its ability to score efficiently should propel the Wolverines to victory and a spot in the Final Four.

• Prediction: Michigan Wolverines 73, Tennessee Volunteers 68

(2) UConn Huskies vs (1) Duke Blue Devils

The Duke Blue Devils haven’t exactly looked like one of the best college basketball teams during the NCAA Tournament. They took Siena lightly in the first round, only escaping with a six-point win, then nearly lost to St. John’s in the Sweet Sixteen. Still, All-American freshman forward Cameron Boozer is capable of taking over a game, and we just witnessed Caleb Foster put up 11 second-half points less than a month removed from suffering a broken foot. Duke has proven itself comfortable in tight games. On the other side, Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies have handled their business against the likes of UCLA and Michigan State, but they have struggled versus top competition. We think talent wins out in this one, with Duke headed back to the Final Four.

• Prediction: Duke Blue Devils – 77, UConn Huskies — 71

Related Headlines

• LSU’s Kim Mulkey Blasts ‘Crap’ Retirement Rumors: ‘They’re Flat-Out Lies’
• NCAA Tournament Schedule Today: Saturday’s Elite 8 Games Include Purdue vs. Arizona
• North Carolina Tar Heels Coaching Search: Top Candidate Named Who ‘Checks All Boxes’

Following the Dodgers’ narrow 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, manager Dave Roberts pointed to a combination of new faces and situational execution as the foundation of the victory.

The spotlight naturally shifted to closer Edwin Díaz, whose entrance brought a jolt of energy to the stadium. Accompanied by a live trumpet performance, a moment that resonated with both fans and players alike.

“It was great… I heard there might be a live trumpet player, so having that as part of the mariachi was really special, and he performed,” Roberts said.

Beyond the spectacle, Roberts emphasized what Díaz represents for this year’s bullpen structure. After navigating recent seasons without a fixed closer, the Dodgers now have a dependable presence in the ninth inning.

“To have somebody at the back end that you trust… that dependability is huge,” Roberts said. “You can manage the game differently when you know you’ve got a shutdown guy in the ninth.”

Offensively, the Dodgers relied on situational hitting from Kyle Tucker in the eighth and productive outs from Diaz, which ultimately helped them win this matchup.

“The two acquisitions this offseason came up big tonight,” Roberts said.

Execution also showed up on the defensive side, where a clean relay play helped limit damage and preserve momentum. Roberts praised the sequence for its precision.

Dave Roberts addresses the media after the #Dodgers 5-4 win over the D-backs. Get closer to the action with SNLA+, with the MLB app.
🔗: https://t.co/3Pk48S45KSpic.twitter.com/iJqzvZpqsZ

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 28, 2026

“It was executed perfectly… get it clean, hit the relay, and finish it—that’s exactly how you draw it up,” he said.

On the mound, the Dodgers saw flashes of effectiveness early before some inconsistency crept in from Emmet Sheehan. Roberts noted that while Sheehan's stuff looked sharp initially, it diminished as the outing progressed.

“Early on the stuff was good… then it just started to fall off a little bit—we’re still trying to figure out why,” Roberts said, suggesting the issue may be mechanical.

There were also encouraging signs from Mookie Betts, who continues to look strong at the plate early in the season.

“I think with Mookie, the first thing you notice is he’s more physical… the swing is in a really good spot,” Roberts said.

In a tightly contested game, Roberts ultimately framed the win as a product of timely execution and improved roster balance—particularly with the addition of a proven closer anchoring the bullpen.

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The latest installment of the Lone Star Showdown proved a wild affair Friday as Texas softball edged rival Texas A&M 9-8 in the first game of a three-game series at McCombs Field in Austin.

Shortstop Viviana Martinez led the way for No. 1 Texas (30-1, 7-0 SEC) with four hits, four RBIs and two home runs. She also scored the winning run after freshman designated player Hannah Wells laced a walk-off RBI single into the outfield in the bottom of the seventh inning. The nearly three-hour game featured four ties, five lead changes and a combined 14 strikeouts and 23 hits before the Longhorns extended their school-record winning streak to 28 games. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the No. 16 Aggies (23-10, 5-2).

Follow below for live scores and updates Saturday as the Texas Longhorns host the Texas A&M Aggies in game two of the series.

Texas softball vs Texas A&M scoring updates

This section will be updated when the game starts

Texas softball vs Texas A&M starting lineups

This section will be updated when available

No. 1 Texas (30-1, 7-0 SEC) vs. No. 16 Texas A&M (23-10, 5-2): How to watch

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: McCombs Field in Austin

TV/radio: ESPN2; texaslonghorns.com

Reach Texas beat reporter Thomas Jones via email at tjones@statesman.com.

For the most part, the Dallas Cowboys' offense last season was elite.

The unit led by Brian Schottenheimer in his first year as an NFL head coach/play-caller averaged 27 points per game.

When the Cowboys had the ball, the expectation was that they would score. Why?

Well, two names. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Both No. 1 receivers for Dak Prescott to tear defenses apart with.

But now, as we look ahead to 2026 and what the receiver room could look like, there is a case to be made that it might be a little better than it was last year.

Lamb (1,077 yards, 3 TDs) and Pickens (1,429 yards, 9 TDs) to get better? Possibly.

READ MORE:  Cowboys' Cobie Durant Reveals Dak Prescott-Related 'Motive' For 2026

But this is more about those behind them and the expected development that fans might expect.

Our own Mike Fisher broke down Dallas' receiver room as things stand right now, and Cowboys Nation has every reason to be bullish on what the offense could do in 2026.

“Lamb and Pickens, two WR1's, stars who together set this roster apart from many in the NFL,” Fish said. “Not many that have that.

“[Ryan] Flournoy, [KaVontae] Turpin, [Jonathan] Mingo. Now listen, if your biggest problem is I don't really love our fifth and sixth receivers, then you don't have very many problems. Flournoy is a real number three. Turpin is a little more than a gimmick guy.

"This is a special group. Now, just get the wide receiver one [Pickens], happy. He's got a contract. He hasn't signed it, but he's got a contract."

READ MORE:  Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb Lifts Year 2 Expectations With Brian Schottenheimer Review

With Lamb and Pickens doing what they do, behind them, Flournoy showed last season he can be a dependable No. 3 receiver, often connecting with Dak on third downs in the second half of the year.

Turpin did show flashes, but not as many as Dallas would have hoped. His home-run speed is still a threat, as evidenced by his 85-yard TD catch on Christmas Day against the Washington Commanders.

So that takes care of the top four at the position, and then you have Mingo and even Treshon Holden, who showed flashes in preseason.

The group, on paper, appears deep, and that will excite Dallas fans. Can they replicate their 2025 efforts?

I get the sense that if Dallas wants playoff football, they'll have to.

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners earned their first win of the season on Friday via a 5-1 win against the Cleveland Guardians.

Mariners second baseman Cole Young ended up providing the go-ahead hit — a three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth inning - but it was an outfielder that provided the final insurance runs for Seattle.

M's right fielder Luke Raley iced the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run homer to right field.

Raley's two-run shot Friday was his second homer in as many games, which have totaled three RBIs.

🗣️ LUUUUUKE! pic.twitter.com/j6jztmlPeD

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 28, 2026

In addition to the power he's shown at the plate, Raley has also started in right field for the Mariners in the first two games of the season and has been tested defensively.

It's still very early in the year, but early returns suggest the 31-year-old slugger is in prime position to bounce back after a lost 2025.

Raley was limited to just 73 games last season due to a pair of injured list stints. He was out from April 30-June 20 with a right oblique strain. Raley was back for just a week before he was placed on the IL again on June 30 (retroactive to June 27) due to back spasms.

By the time Raley, who mainly plays the outfield and first base, returned to the team Aug. 15, Dominic Canzone was in the middle of a career-best season and Josh Naylor, who was acquired by the team in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was firmly entrenched at first.

Raley was unable to get a high number of at-bats due to Canzone's emergence and Naylor's arrival and was unable to get back into rhythm as a result. He finished '25 with a slash line of .202/.319/.311 with a .630 OPS and hit eight doubles and four home runs with 19 RBIs in 73 games.

Now that he's back healthy following a full offseason of work, it seems he's beginning to return to form.

"Obviously he battled through some tough stuff last year," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a postgame interview Friday. "Just the way he's out there now, the way he's seeing the ball, the way he's driving the ball — his timing is there, he's got a good swing going right now. Made some nice plays defensively, as well. I think he's in a really good spot. Getting that confidence early in the season like this is big."

With Rob Refsnyder and Victor Robles on the roster, it's likely that Raley will get a break when the team goes against left-handed pitchers this season.

However, if this early start is a sign of a return to the norm for the former Lake Erie College product, Raley will continue to be a valuable and reliable contributor to the team in 2026.

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vivo is working on the T5 Pro, the successor to the T4 Pro, and it's expected to launch in India soon. The T5 Pro surfaced in an IMEI database back in February, and a few days ago its key specs got outed by a tipster. Today, a new report claims the phone will become official in India by mid-April. It allegedly comes with a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with "1.5K" resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, and it's powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 SoC. There's a 9,020 mAh battery keeping the lights on, which charges at 90W. vivo T4 Pro On the rear there's a 50MP main camera using Sony's IMX882...

The international window continues with a friendly between the USMNT and Belgium at 3:30 PM ET. The match, set to be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, will be the seventh meeting between these teams, with Belgium leading the series 5-1.

The USMNT have some missing players, as Mauricio Pochettino confirmed in his press conference. The defense is the main area affected, with Miles Robinson and Chris Richards ruled out through injury.

Belgium are entering what could be one of the final chances for some players from their golden generation to win a trophy. Even if that will not be easy, they have improved with an attack that still looks as dangerous as ever.

USMNT vs Belgium lineups

Pochettino could use this lineup for the match: Matt Freese; Joe Scally, Alex Freeman, Tim Ream; Timothy Weah, Tanner Tessmann, Sebastian Berhalter, Antonee Robinson; Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman; Folarin Balogun.

Rudi García may opt for this lineup: Matz Sels; Thomas Meunier, Zeno Debast, Arthur Theate, Timothy Castagne; Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana; Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Alexis Saelemaekers; Charles De Ketelaere.

USMNT and Belgium World Cup groups

The World Cup draw has already defined the groups and opponents for both national teams. The USMNT are in Group D with Paraguay, Australia and the winner between Türkiye and Kosovo, while Belgium are in Group G with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.

The Finalissima between Argentina and Spain was scheduled to be played this Friday, but it was canceled days ago due to disagreements between the two countries’ associations over the organization of the match, which was originally set to take place in Qatar. Now, Emiliano Martinez has admitted he is relieved the clash was called off.

“Good thing it wasn’t played,” Martinez said when asked about the scrapped matchup against Spain in an interview with TyC Sports following Friday’s 2-1 win over Mauritania in Buenos Aires. “If we played like that, we would have lost.”

The goalkeeper was visibly frustrated with Argentina’s performance in the friendly, in which they barely secured a narrow win against an opponent ranked No. 115 in the FIFA Rankings and one that failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

“It was one of the worst friendlies we’ve played. We lacked intensity, buildup play, speed, and defensive solidity. It’s something we have to analyze,” Martinez admitted. “Every time we put on the national team shirt, we have to do a little better—we need to show more heart.”

Dibu Martinez confident in Argentina ahead of the World Cup

Despite his criticism of Argentina’s performance against Mauritania, Emiliano Martinez expressed confidence heading into the 2026 World Cup. In particular, he was asked about the opinion of some Spanish journalists, who argued after the Finalissima cancellation that Lionel Scaloni’s side are unlikely to advance beyond the quarterfinals this summer in North America.

“The last World Cup was similar—we didn’t play many big matches beforehand and still had a great tournament,” said the Aston Villa goalkeeper, before delivering a pointed message toward Spain: “It’s one game at a time. We have experience going deep in the World Cup—they don’t.”

What’s next for Argentina?

Following the 2-1 win over Mauritania, Argentina will now have several days to rest and train before their next challenge. On Tuesday, they will face Zambia, also in Buenos Aires, in what will be their final home match before the 2026 World Cup.

By late May, Lionel Scaloni will have to finalize the 26-man roster that will represent Argentina in this summer’s FIFA tournament. During the June international break, they will play two friendlies in the United States before their group-stage opener. One of those matches will likely be against Serbia, as Scaloni acknowledged earlier this week.

Match Overview

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup drawing closer and most of the field already locked in, high-profile friendlies are ramping up across the globe—and this matchup fits the bill. The United States, automatically qualified as a host nation, continues fine-tuning its roster with the clear goal of peaking on home soil.

Belgium, meanwhile, arrives with a deep and dangerous squad capable of making a serious run on the world stage, adding extra intrigue to this clash. With both sides using this opportunity to measure themselves against elite competition, this is the kind of tune-up fans won’t want to miss.

has named who he is set to share the ring with in his next outing. Garcia was in action last month as he defeated Mario Barrios to win the WBC welterweight title, marking the first time that ‘King Ry’ has held world honours in his career. The 27-year-old is one of the biggest names in […]

The post Ryan Garcia names former world champion as next fight opponent appeared first on Boxing News.

The post Ethereum Is Mispriced, Says Coinbase Research Chief Ahead of EthCC on Monday appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

ETH is trading at $2,000 today, sitting 59% below its August 2025 all-time high. Most investors have written off altcoins in a brutal bear market.

David Duong, Global Head of Institutional Research at Coinbase, thinks that is exactly the wrong read, especially when it comes to Ethereum.

Speaking on the Milk Road Show this week, Duong laid out why Ethereum might be the most mispriced asset in crypto right now.

Ethereum’s Regulatory Pass

On March 17, the SEC and CFTC jointly classified 16 crypto assets as digital commodities, including ETH. For Ethereum specifically, this matters more than it does for most. Staking, a core part of Ethereum’s ecosystem, is now explicitly outside securities law.

“It gives ETH more of a clean regulatory pass,” Duong said, “and I think that has already been there but it’s just nice to see it in print.”

For institutions that were sitting out precisely because of legal uncertainty, that clarity is the green light they were waiting for.

BlackRock’s Staked ETH ETF: Why It’s Important

BlackRock launched its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF earlier this month, pulling $254 million in its first week – the fastest-growing crypto ETF launch of 2026. The fund intends to stake between 70% and 95% of its ETH holdings under normal conditions.

Duong called it “a massive development that you don’t really see priced into ETH.”

The logic is straightforward: more institutional demand coming in, less circulating supply available. That is a structural shift, not a sentiment trade.

Also Read: 5 Altcoins With the Strongest 10x Setup in the Current Bear Market

Watch EthCC This Monday

This is the angle most people have missed entirely. EthCC[9] opens in Cannes on Monday March 30, and Duong flagged a specific talk on the agenda titled “Issuance: The Cost of Inaction.”

His read is that a significant announcement about Ethereum’s monetary policy and issuance rate is coming.

“I would expect a big announcement coming about what’s going to happen with the potential ETH supply in the future,” he said.

Institutions Are Still Bullish

Coinbase Institutional’s 2026 survey of around 350 respondents found that 73% plan to increase their digital asset allocations this year and 74% expect crypto prices to rise over the next 12 months – even though the survey was conducted during the January drawdown.

As Duong put it, “anyone who wanted to sell likely already sold.”

ETH at $2,000, with regulatory clarity, a structural supply squeeze, and a potential catalyst arriving Monday. The market may not have caught up yet.

Read More: Citigroup Cuts Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Targets: Clarity Act to Blame?

Trabzonspor, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 28. haftasında 4 Nisan Cumartesi günü sahasında Galatasaray ile yapacağı maçın hazırlıklarını sürdürdü.

Mehmet Ali Yılmaz Tesisleri'nde teknik direktör Fatih Tekke yönetimindeki antrenmanın ilk bölümünde oyuncular, dinamik ısınma çalışması gerçekleştirdi.

5'e 2 ve dar alan oyunuyla devam eden antrenman, yarı sahada çift kale maç ile sona erdi.

Yarını izinli geçirecek olan bordo-mavili takım, hazırlıklarına 30 Mart'ta devam edecek.

A Milli Futbol Takımı, 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri play-off turu finalinde 31 Mart Salı günü Kosova ile karşılaşacak. Milliler çalışmalarını bugün yapılan antrenmanla sürdürdü.

2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri play-off turu finalinde 31 Mart Salı günü Kosova ile deplasmanda karşılaşacak A Milli Futbol Takımı, hazırlıklarını sürdürdü.

Türkiye Futbol Federasyonunun (TFF) Riva'daki Hasan Doğan Milli Takımlar Kamp ve Eğitim Tesisleri'nde teknik direktör Vincenzo Montella yönetiminde gerçekleştirilen antrenman, koşu ve ısınma hareketleriyle başladı.

Pas çalışmasıyla devam eden idmanın basına kapalı bölümünde taktik organizasyonlar üzerinde durulduğu öğrenildi.

Merih Demiral ile Hakan Çalhanoğlu, kondisyoner eşliğinde düz koşu yaptı. Kaptan Hakan, koşunun ardından takımdan ayrı çalıştı.

Antrenmanı TFF Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu ile 1. Başkan Vekili Mecnun Otyakmaz da izledi.

Ay-yıldızlı ekip, Kosova müsabakasının hazırlıklarına yarın basına kapalı yapacağı idmanla devam edecek.

Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi'nin 24. hafta maçında Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi Basket ile Aliağa Petkimspor karşılaştı. Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi Basket, konuk ettiği Aliağa Petkimspor'u 92-80 yendi.

Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi'nin 24. hafta maçında Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi Basket, konuk ettiği Aliağa Petkimspor'u 92-80 yendi.

Salon: Pamukkale Üniversitesi

Hakemler: Mehmet Serdar Ünal, Kaan Büyükçil, Ahmet Tatlıcı

Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi Basket: Zoriks 13, Bleijenbergh 20, Miles 19, Roko Badzim 11, Mahir Ağva 5, Emre Tanışan, Griffin 5, Ömer Can İlyasoğlu 9, Omic 10, Erbey Kemal Paltacı

Aliağa Petkimspor: Boran Güler, Whittaker 3, Efianayi 25, Blumbergs 3, Sajus 4, Brown 6, Franke 8, Mustafa Kurtuldum 2, Yunus Emre Sonsırma 5, Yiğit Kaba, Troy Selim Şav 7, Floyd 17

1. Periyot: 20-22

Devre: 45-38

3. Periyot: 73-55

Beş faulle oyundan çıkan: 38.79 Mahir Ağva (Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi Basket)

19 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan millisi (U-19) bu gün Avropa çempionatının seçmə mərhələsində son oyununa çıxıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, B Liqasının 6-cı qrupunda yer almış millimiz Litvanın Kaunas şəhərində Şimali İrlandiya yığması ilə qarşılaşıb.

Avropa çempionatının seçmə mərhələsinin birinci raundu çərçivəsində baş tutmuş görüş “Raudondvario” stadionunda keçirilib. Qarşılaşmanı Portuqaliya və Moldovadan olan hakimlər briqadası idarə edib. Görüş rəqibin 2:1 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb. Millimizin heyətində yeganə qolu 25-ci dəqiqədə Tuncay Əhmədov vurub.

Xatırladaq ki, İlham Yadullayevin baş məşqçisi olduğu Azərbaycan millisi ilk görüşdə meydan sahibi Litvaya da uduzmuşdu – 0:4.

Beləliklə, 3 komandalı qrupda yer almış U-19 millimiz hər iki görüşdə uduzduğu üçün sonuncu yeri tutub.

Avropa çempionatının seçmə mərhələsi
B Liqası, 6-cı qrup
28 mart

Şimali İrlandiya – Azərbaycan 2:1
Baş hakim: Miguel Noqeyra (Portuqaliya).
Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: Paulo Bras (Portuqaliya), Anatolie Basiul (Moldova).
Dördüncü hakim: Yon Orlik (Moldova).
Kaunas, “Raudondvario” stadionu.

Futbol üzrə Braziliya millisinin və İspaniyanın “Barselona” komandasının hücumçusu Rafinya uzun müddətə sıradan çıxıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, braziliyalı futbolu milli komandanın düşərgəsində ağır zədə alıb.

Belə ki, hücumçu Braziliya millisinin Fransa yığmasına qarşı keçirdiyi yoxlama oyununda (1:2) sağ bud əzələsini zədələyib. Onun ən az 5 həftə yaşıl meydanlardan kənarda qalacağı gözlənilir.

Yeri gəlmişkən, FİFA Rafinyanın aldığı zədəyə görə “Barselona”ya kompensasiya ödəməli olacaq. “Mundo Deportivo”nun iddiasına görə, 29 yaşlı futbolçunun sağalma müddəti Klub Müdafiəsi Proqramı çərçivəsində tələb olunan minimum 28 günü keçəcək. Braziliyalı futbolçu beş həftədən sonra (28-29 aprel) meydana qayıtsa, Kataloniya klubu minimum 143,836 avro məbləğində kompensasiya alacaq. Məbləğ bu 5 həftədən sonra hər gün artacaq.

Xatırladaq ki, Rafinya “Avai”nin məzunudur. Karyerasının Avropa dönəminə “Vitoriya”da (Gimaraynş) başlamış futbolçu “Sportinq” (Lissabon), “Renn” və “Lids”də çıxış edib. 2022-ci ilin iyul ayında “Barselona” Rafinyanı 58 milyon avro məbləğ müqabilində “Lids”dən tamhüquqlu əsasda “blauqrana”nın heyətinə qatıb. Braziliyalı hücumçunun Kataloniya klubu ilə müqaviləsinin müddəti 2028-ci ilin iyun ayının sonuna qədər qüvvədədir.

Cari mövsümdə Rafinya “Barselona” üçün 31 oyun keçirib, 19 qol və 8 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə fərqlənib.

Rafinyanın “Barselona” karyerası ümumilikdə 175 oyun, 73 qol və 59 məhsuldar ötürmədən ibarətdir.

Braziliyalı hücumçu Kataloniya nəhəngi ilə 2022/2023-cü və 2024/2025-ci illər mövsümlərində İspaniya La Liqasını qazanıb, iki dəfə İspaniya Super Kubokunun (2022/2023, 2024/2025), bir dəfə İspaniya Kral Kubokunun (2024/2025) qalibi olub.

Rafinya 2021-ci ilin oktyabr ayında debüt etdiyi Braziliya milli komandasının heyətində 37 oyuna çıxıb, 11 qol vurub, 7 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.

“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 29 yaşlı braziliyalı cinah hücumçusunun transfer dəyərini 80 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.

Bu gün futbol üzrə Azərbaycan İkinci Liqasında 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 20-ci turunun oyunlarına start verilib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, ilk oyun günündə bir qarşılaşma baş tutub.

Turun açılış oyununda “Şəki” –“Dinamo” ilə üz-üzə gəlib. Zaqatalada baş tutmuş oyunda “Dinamo” darmadağına sevinib.

20-ci turun qalan görüşləri martın 29-da və 30-da keçiriləcək.

İkinci Liqa
20-ci tur
28 mart

“Şəki” – “Dinamo” 1:6
Qollar: Tahir Zeynalov, 5 – Valeh Seyidov, 13-pen; 61; 89-pen. Yadigar Qarayev, 39; 71. Əli Abbasov, 59.
Hakimlər: Xəlil Xəlilov, Rəhman Aslanov, Elman Kərimov, Elçin Abdullayev.
Hakim-inspektor: İmanxan Sultani.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Yavər Rəhimov.
Zaqatala Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 15:00.

29 mart

“Ağstafa Gəncləri” – “Quba”
Hakimlər: Səbuhi Bayramov, Tural Bayramov, Rəşad Quliyev, İrşad Aydınov.
Hakim-inspektor: Anar Salmanov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Mübariz Hüseynov.
Göygöl Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 15:00.

“Ağdaş” – “Araz Saatlı”
Hakimlər: Nahid Xasıyev, Vüqar Bayramov, Hüseyn Vəliyev, Vüqar Alıyev.
Hakim-inspektor: Feyzulla Feyzullayev.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Elman Musayev.
Ağdaş şəhər stadionu, 15:00.

“Şəmkir” – “Göygöl”
Hakimlər: Murad Səlimov, Məmmədəli Kərimov, Elmin Süleymanov, Hacıağa Həsənov.
Hakim-inspektor: Orxan Məmmədov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: İlham Əliyev.
Şəmkir Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 15:00.

“Qaradağ Lökbatan” – “Şirvan”
Hakimlər: Rövşən Rəcəbov, Sevda Nuriyeva, Ruslan Babayev, Fəridə Lütfəliyeva.
Hakim-inspektor: Ömər Paşayev.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Namiq Əliyev.
Lökbatan Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionu, 15:00.

30 mart

“Xankəndi” – “Kür-Araz”
Hakimlər: Rəsul Babayev, Sənan Atayev, Aydın Baxşıyev, Ləman Əmirli.
Hakim-inspektor: Əmrah İbrahimov.
AFFA nümayəndəsi: Rüfət Əmirov.
“Neftçi” Futbol Mərkəzi (4-cü meydança), 14:00.

Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasında mübarizə aparan “Zirə”nin futbolçusu Leroy Mikels Ruanda yığmasında debüt edib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, forvard “FIFA Series-2026” beynəlxalq turniri çərçivəsində Qrenadaya qarşı keçirilmiş matçda meydana çıxıb.

Oyuna start heyətdə başlamış Mikels 45+2-ci dəqiqədə qol vurub. Görüş isə Ruandanın qələbəsiylə başa çatıb – 4:0.

Xatırladaq ki, Leroy Mikels 2025-ci ilin yayında “Şamaxı”dan azad agent kimi ayrılaraq “Zirə”yə keçib. 30 yaşlı oyunçununun paytaxt klubu ilə 2027-ci ilin 30 iyununadək müqaviləsi var. O, “qartallar”ın heyətində 23 oyuna çıxıb, 2 qola imza atıb.

Mikels 2024-cü ilin yayından “Zirə”yə keçənə qədər “Şamaxı”da çıxış edib. O, əyalət təmsilçisinin heyətində 24 oyuna çıxıb, 5 qol vurub, 4 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.

Mikels karyerası ərzində Almaniyanın “Borussiya” (Mönhenqladbax), “Sankt Pauli”, “Allemaniya Aaxen”, “Monheym”, “Velbert”, “Duysburq”, “Türkgücü Münhen”, “Rot-Veys Oberhauzen”, Bolqarıstanın “Spartak” (Varna), Səudiyyə Ərəbistanının “Əl-Tarayi” klublarında da çıxış edib.

Xatırladaq ki, Leroyun böyük qardaşı Coy-Lens Mikels uzun illərdir Azərbaycanda “Sabah”ın uğurları üçün çalışır. Coy-Lensin əkiz qardaşı Soy-Slayd Mikels də “Karvan”da forma geyinir.

Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasında XX turun oyunlarına start verilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, günün ilk matçında “Quba” “Naxçıvan”la üz-üzə gəlib. Matç “Naxçıvan”ın qələbəsiylə başa çatıb – 103:96.

Günün digər matçında “Sərhədçi” “Sumqayıt”la qarşılaşacaq.

19 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası Avropa çempionatının seçmə mərhələsinin birinci raundu çərçivəsində son oyununa çıxıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, B liqasının 6-cı qrupunda yer alan U-19 Litvanın Kaunas şəhərində Şimali İrlandiya yığması ilə qarşılaşıb.

“Raudondvario” stadionunda keçirilən görüş rəqibin 2:1 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb. Millimizin heyətində qolu 25-ci dəqiqədə Tuncay Əhmədov vurub.

Milli ilk oyunda Litvaya 0:4 hesabıyla uduzub.

Belçikalı hücumçu Romelu Lukaku “Napoli”dən ayrılacaq.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə insayder Nikolo Skira məlumat yayıb. Forvard artıq klub rəhbərliyini bu barədə məlumatlandırıb.

Lukaku bu mövsüm cəmi 7 oyuna çıxıb və 1 qol vurub.

“Liverpul”un sabiq baş məşqçisi Yurgen Klopp mövsümün sonunda komandadan ayrılacağını açıqlayan Məhəmməd Salahla bağlı açıqlama verib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, mütəxəssis misirli hücumçu haqda bunları deyib:

“Salah inanılmaz dərəcədə peşəkardır. Məşqlərə yanaşması, intizamı, oyunu bunları deyir. O, daha 6-7 il yüksək səviyyədə oynaya bilər. “Liverpul” onun yoxluğunu hiss edəcək”.

II Liqada XX tura start verilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, birinci oyun günündə bir oyun baş tutub.

“Sheki City” Zaqatalada “Dinamo”ya uduzub. Görüş qonaqların 6:1 hesablı qələbəsiylə başa çatıb.

II Liqa
XX tur

28 mart

Sheki City – Dinamo 1:6
Qollar: T.Zeynalov, 5 – V.Seyidov, 13 (pen.), 61, 89 (pen.), Y.Qarayev, 39, 71, Ə.Abbasov, 59

Son günlərdə bölgədə davam edən əlverişsiz hava şəraiti səbəbindən “Ağstafa Gəncləri” komandasının ev oyunlarını keçirdiyi Ağstafa şəhər stadionunun ot örtüyü yararsız vəziyyətə düşüb.

Futbolpress.az PFL-ə istinadən xəbər verir ki, bununla əlaqədar olaraq II Liqanın 20-ci turu çərçivəsində 29 mart tarixində keçiriləcək “Ağstafa Gəncləri” – “Quba” oyununun yeri dəyişdirilib.

Hər iki klubla müzakirənin yekunu olaraq Peşəkar Futbol Liqası qarşılaşmanın Göygöl Olimpiya İdman Kompleksinin stadionunda keçirilməsinə qərar verib. Oyunun başlanma saatında və digər detallar ilə bağlı dəyişiklik yoxdur.

Italy players enjoyed an evening off on Friday, and Inter target Guglielmo Vicario, who has joined the national team despite a recent surgery, was spotted at dinner with four Nerazzurri stars.

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Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso gave his players a Friday evening off after a day of training at Coverciano, the day after a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final.

As reported by Gazzetta, a group of Azzurri players, including Inter’s Federico Dimarco, Nicolò Barella, Alessandro Bastoni, and Francesco Pio Esposito, went out for dinner at a restaurant not too far from the Azzurri training centre.

Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli and Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario were also at the table and posed for photos with the restaurant owner, who later shared them on social media.

Several sources have been reporting for weeks that Vicario is Inter’s top goalkeeping target for next season, so his private dinner with some of the most influential Nerazzurri players has fuelled transfer speculation in Italy.

Tuttosport reported earlier this month that even Juventus had begun preliminary talks with the goalkeeper’s entourage.

Vicario recently underwent hernia surgery, so he’s not available for the World Cup play-off, but he still joined his teammates in Coverciano last week.

Italy players enjoy an evening out in Florence

Miralem Pjanic, a former Juventus and Roma star, says he doesn’t understand why Italy celebrated Bosnia and Herzegovina’s win over Wales: ‘They’ll need personality in Zenica.’

Ex-Serie A star Pjanic commented on Italy’s celebration of Bosnia’s victory against Wales in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Pjanic: ‘I don’t understand’ Italy’s celebration

“I don’t understand why,” said the ex-midfielder.

“Bosnia is waiting for them with open arms,” he added, smiling.

“We’ll see how it ends, anyway. Italy is Italy, and we have the utmost respect, but who knows?

“They’ll have to be good at playing a game in a terrible environment. They’ll need personality to leave Zenica with a victory.”

Pjanic also spoke to Sky Sport Italia, warning the Azzurri that the atmosphere in his country will be far from friendly on Tuesday.

Italy secured a home 2-0 win over Northern Ireland on Thursday to qualify for the World Cup play-off Final, while Bosnia and Herzegovina needed penalties to beat Wales away.

Some Italian players, including Federico Dimarco, were caught on camera celebrating Bosnia’s victory, and the video has quickly gone viral on social media.

Dimarco explained his reaction at a press conference on Saturday, insisting that he was not arrogant and that it was “disrespectful” to show the Azzurri’s celebration on live TV.

Pjanic scored 42 goals in 281 Serie A appearances with Roma and Juventus.

He won four Serie A titles with the Bianconeri and retired last year.

The World Cup play-off Final between Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be played in Zenica on Tuesday, March 31 at 20:45 CET.

Italy have an allocation of 500 tickets for the World Cup play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on Tuesday.

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Sky Sport Italia reports that only 500 Italian fans will be allowed in the away sector at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on Tuesday for the World Cup play-off Final between the Azzurri and the home side, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A draw determined the home side in December.

The stadium has a capacity of 15,600, which, however, has been reduced by 2,100 seats by FIFA following incidents during Bosnia’s most recent home match against Romania in November 2025.

The Bosnian Football Federation has already confirmed that all the tickets available for the Final against Italy were sold just a few hours after their victory on penalties against Wales in the semis on Thursday.

Date and time for World Cup play-off final

On the same day, Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo with goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.

The World Cup play-off Final will be next Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 20:45 CET (19:45 GMT).

Kevin De Bruyne admits Romelu Lukaku is ‘not in a good situation’ but feels that whatever happens at Napoli ‘gets amplified.’

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Belgium star De Bruyne commented on the latest incident involving his compatriot and Napoli teammate Lukaku during a press conference on Saturday.

De Bruyne comments on Lukaku’s Napoli row

Lukaku has remained in Belgium without Napoli’s consent as he aims to train individually to regain full fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The Partenopei are furious with the 32-year-old and will freeze him out of the team if he fails to return to the club’s training centre by next Tuesday.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia sided with Lukaku and said he hopes the striker will get more playing time at Napoli after the break.

“There’s always a lot of noise around Napoli. If something happens, it gets amplified. I don’t know the details or what exactly happened,” De Bruyne added, via Gazzetta, while on Belgium international duty.

“But it’s not a good situation for Romelu. There was a long-lasting injury, and I just hope he returns as soon as possible.”

Lukaku is currently in Antwerp, training at the same clinic where De Bruyne was treated for a high-degree muscle injury over the last few months.

De Bruyne has recently returned to action for the Partenopei, while Lukaku has only made seven appearances across all competitions, playing barely 60 minutes and scoring one goal.

“Romelu and I followed a similar path after our injuries. I did a full rehabilitation [in Belgium], Romelu partially in Antwerp and partially in Naples,” concluded De Bruyne.

“When there are two different views, it’s hard to work together. There have been differences, and this is not ideal if you aim to get back in shape.”

North Carolina's search for a new men's basketball head coach continues on. While there hasn't been much movement in terms of landing one of their top guys, that likely will come after the NCAA Tournament.

As the search continues on, more and more opinions are coming out on who should be the coach. The latest comes from NBA forward Draymond Green who has his pick for the next coach and it's someone he's familiar with.

On the latest episode of "The Draymond Green Show" the forward discussed the UNC job and made his case for Jerry Stackhouse.

“The University of North Carolina job is open and there are a lot of big names being thrown around… I think North Carolina is going to have an interesting choice to make… But this is the NIL era and how do you get a name that your biggest donors would be willing to support? I think it is interesting in this era,” Green said.

“And the name that jumps off the page at me is Jerry Stackhouse. In the day and age of NIL, where your boosters will rally around one of their own, one that they believe in. Stackhouse has the demeanor for this. He’s a guy that will be respected… He should definitely be in the running for this job… He had a great career at North Carolina…”

Stackhouse coached at Vanderbilt for five seasons, going 70-92 in that stint and failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Since then, he's been an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, picking up more coaching experience at the NBA level.

While Stackhouse is a 'family' candidate, it doesn't really make a lot of sense at this point. This is a crucial hire for the Tar Heels and finding someone established with success should be the goal.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Draymond Green wants Jerry Stackhouse to get job

SACRAMENTO — No. 10 Virginia is the first double-digit seed to make the Women's NCAA Tournament's second weekend since 2022. As the Cavaliers look to bust more brackets in Sacramento against No. 3 TCU on March 28, we put the Wahoos’ ball knowledge to the test to find out if they could name the last double-digit seed to make the Sweet 16.

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Pol Espargaro is backing Marc Marquez to turn his season around at the 2026 MotoGP United States Grand Prix, with the Ducati rider heading to a track where he has always run well.

No one in any category has had more than four wins in Austin, while Marquez’s seven victories have all come in MotoGP.

It could’ve been eight, too, if not for a crash while leading the 2025 race. Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia went on to win that day after Marquez crashed trying to build a bigger gap at the front.

Even with an early fall in FP1 at this year’s event, there are positive signs. He topped the timesheets with a lap of 2:00.927, just 0.063 seconds off the lap record.

Pol Espargaro backs Marquez to use COTA as a season boost

Maverick Vinales still holds the official MotoGP lap record at COTA, set back in 2024 with a time of 2:00.864, though many will be expecting Marquez to have a good shot at breaking it during qualifying. Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura also posted an impressive 2:00.980 in practice on his Aprilia RS-GP.

Espargaro also expects Marquez to be competitive in Sunday’s race, especially after he spent Friday practice focusing on the medium Michelin tyres. After a tough start to the season with issues in Thailand and Brazil, a strong showing this weekend could help him build some momentum.

“He’s been one of the few riders who have worked a lot with the medium front and medium rear tyres,” Espargaro told DAZN, quoted by Motosan. “Thinking not about tomorrow’s Sprint, but about Sunday when the temperature will be higher, and that will be the tyre of choice due to the degradation the rear tyre will experience.

“So Marc is working hard. We’ll probably see a very competitive Marc, who will use this Grand Prix – we’ve said it many times – that riders going through difficult times use these lucky circuits to get back to where they were before those difficulties.”

Marquez’s early season form has been held back by penalties and misfortune.

He had victory taken away from him in Buriram after receiving an in-race penalty for forcing Pedro Acosta wide on the penultimate lap of Saturday’s sprint.

Just one day later he suffered another blow as he picked up debris which caused a puncture.

Marquez managed to take his first win of 2026 by finishing P1 ahead of Jorge Martin in Goiania but was unable to carry over that success into Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Read more:

It was an exciting night of Sweet 16 basketball on Friday. Both teams from the state of Michigan gave it their all; unfortunately for the Michigan State Spartans, it was not good enough to take down the UConn Huskies. For the Michigan Wolverines, their best ball put them on a totally different level than their opponent, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Here are the scores and the rest of my analysis from the Big Ten games in the NCAA Tournament from the Sweet 16 games on Friday:

No. 1 Michigan 90-77 vs No. 4 Alabama

Alabama's hot-shooting offense falls flat versus Michigan. Michigan's defense showed up and showed out. The Wolverines held Alabama's offense to only 28 points in the second half to cruise to victory. Coming into this game, Alabama's offense was one of the best and most efficient in the country. This game, they were held in check. It was the defense and the great play from the Wolverines bench that made the difference in this one. Getting 33 points off the bench was huge, and Trey Mckenney really made a name for himself, showing that he very soon can be one of the best scorers in the country, whether it is at Michigan or somewhere else. Labaron Philon Jr. went off with 35 points, shooting 6-14 from 3, but he couldn't do it by himself. Michigan had production from everywhere, and of course, Yaxel Lendeborg led the way without another star performance. Last night, Michigan looked at a different level.

No. 2 UConn 67-63 vs Michigan State

UConn was the better team in this matchup, and they had to fight off some late-game heroics from the Spartans to seal this victory. The Spartans got off to a terrible start, down 20 points early in the game, and Dan Hurley was coaching circles around Tom Izzo. Tom Izzo was a big reason for this Spartans team making it to this point, but this game did not bode well for him. The Spartans did not help either, as they could not knock down easy shots. Tarris Reed Jr. handled Michigan State's size very well, and he iced this game. While the Huskies' other best player, Alex Karaban, went to work and drilled big-time shots late, he had 17 points. The Spartans did what they had to do to give UConn a scare, but the Huskies are the real deal.

Top performers from Friday

Michigan is at its best and most dominant when Yaxel Lendeborg is an aggressor. Lendeborg dropped 23 points, had 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. His impact was huge for the Wolverines, both on offense and defense. It seems recently Lendeborg is really coming into his own and playing his best basketball in the biggest stretch of the Wolverines' season.

Tarris Reed Jr. came up big for the Huskies, and the Spartans' defense did not hold down UConn's star. Reed Jr. managed to have 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks in this game. When UConn needed an answer, Reed Jr. wanted the ball in his hands, and he was able to get an easy bucket in the paint. Reed also closed the game out with clutch free throws to put an end to the Spartans' late comeback.

Overview

Both Michigan teams ended the day with two totally different outcomes. The Wolverines dominated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half, and the Michigan State Spartans gave UConn everything they had in the second half to give UConn a scare. Michigan State went down with a fight, but now that there are only 8 teams remaining, it is hard not to think Michigan is in that top 2 of teams left.

What's Next

It is the end of the road for the Michigan State Spartans, and an end to another great season for Tom Izzo and his squad. The Michigan Wolverines now have a match against the Tennessee Volunteers, who handled a really good Iowa State basketball team. Tennessee has great size, and its big guys can not only rebound but score as well. Tennessee should be able to match up very well with Michigan.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Big Ten basketball winners & losers in March Madness Sweet 16, part 2

Kirk Cousins has often been linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers as a 2026 alternative to Aaron Rodgers, but one insider claims there was trade interest one year prior.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Steelers were interested in trading for Cousins, but the Atlanta Falcons ultimately shot them down.

"Kirk Cousins is the one, and I know that they called on him last year, and the Falcons at the time didn't want to trade him. Didn't want to engage in trade talks, but now Kirk Cousins is free," Pelissero said via The Rich Eisen Show. "Cousins potentially could be an option if they pivot away from Aaron Rodgers, which hasn't happened yet."

Cousins signed with the Falcons in 2024 and was ultimately blindsided by the team's decision to draft Michael Penix that same offseason. He was benched later that season and was reportedly looking for a fresh start in 2025, which the Steelers apparently heavily considered.

Now a free agent, Cousins could be the perfect replacement for Rodgers if the Steelers choose to give up on this never-ending waiting game.

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 were interested in Kirk Cousins trade, says Tom Pelissero

Despite the offseason acquisitions of Juice Scruggs and Larry Borom, the Lions may still want to add to the OG position in the draft. If they pick a 2nd-round OG, that player is likely a starter as a rookie. DJ Campbell is a player projected to go in the Round 2 range and is also medically clean.

Here is the excerpt of my medical report on DJ Campbell:

(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)

DJ Campbell OG, (22) - Texas

Projected round 2. #5 OG per Mel Kiper.

Concern level 0/10

• 2025: 13/13 games. Rolled up on, minor injury.
• 2024: 16/16 games
• 2023: 14/14 games. Ankle rolled up on.
• 2022: 7/13 games

Campbell has been perfectly available the last 3 seasons and has suffered only very minor injuries. He appears to be a very clean prospect and is at the right age. If the Lions want a low-risk, instant-starter in the 2nd round, Campbell might be it.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL Draft Injury Analysis: DJ Campbell OG - Texas

ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky has been burning the boats when he describes Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, a Cleveland Brownstarget in the 2026 NFL Draft.

He stepped a little too far on Tuesday this week when he was on the Pat McAfee Show and challenged Pat and the Boys to prove why Fernando Mendoza was better than Ty Simpson when he asked "what games" when asking about which games Mendoza was better.

Well, the games that he was better in were against the best defense in the country, Ohio State, Simpson's Crimson Tide, the Oregon Ducks, and then in the National Championship against the Miami Hurricanes. Mendoza's approach and release are definitely different and more robotic than Simpson's natural release, but that's about the only thing that's different.

On Thursday, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah went on the You Better You Bet podcast and put water all over that flame. When asked if he had talked to anyone who had Simpson over Mendoza, he said:

"You can talk to different people, but I have not talked to anyone who has that. That's not saying that he's saying anything untrue, he is just talking to different people."

"You can talk to different people, but I haven't talked to anyone that has that."

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) chimes in on @danorlovsky7's comments that he and teams he has spoken to have Ty Simpson ranked over Fernando Mendoza. pic.twitter.com/Cxz1Aavxhi

— You Better You Bet (@YouBetterYouBet) March 25, 2026

The conspiracy theories are flowing about the connection between Orlovsky and Simpson through the same agency, along with many other things, but the point is that whatever is going on is very forced.

What does this mean for the Browns and the NFL Draft?

Now, what does this all mean for the Cleveland Browns? The best-case scenario for Cleveland would be if Simpson's interest skyrocketed thanks to all of this dialogue about him, and someone in the first round jumped up to pull the trigger on him.

The connection between Cleveland and Simpson is certainly a growing theory. I don't think that is a theory that is growing in legitimate draft circles, but it is a conversation that is getting louder on the outside. If the price is right for the Browns (maybe the fourth round), then they could pull the trigger.

However, if they are thinking that they need to grab him with pick No. 24 or pick No. 39, then they are sorely mistaken.

No matter wherever Orlovsky is getting his information, we can all only hope that Andrew Berry and the Browns aren't drinking the Simpson koolaid because they could make an incredible mistake if they are.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns NFL Draft: Daniel Jeremiah denies claims about Ty Simpson stock

Thiago Alcantara was the star of the show in the opening exchanges of the Liverpool Legends match at Anfield this afternoon.

The Spanish midfielder is back in the famous red shirt just under two years after his departure from the club, and as one of the youngest players on the pitch for Sir Kenny Dalglish’s side today, perhaps it’s no surprise that he didn’t take long to exert his influence on proceedings.

Thiago opens the scoring for Liverpool Legends

With just five minutes on the clock, the 34-year-old picked out Ryan Babel with a no-look pass, and the Dutchman returned the favour by picking him out with a clever through ball, with the ex-Barcelona maestro finishing to the net from a tight angle.

Just a couple of minutes later, Thiago lofted a magnificent pass towards Steven Gerrard, who exploited a gap in the Borussia Dortmund defence, but the former Liverpool captain wasn’t quite able to provide the finish.

The roles were reversed in the 18th minute as the Huyton native picked out the Spaniard, who attempted to backheel the ball into the net from close range but couldn’t finish the chance.

Thiago has still got it!

Injury problems plagued the ex-Spain international during his time at Anfield, especially in his final season with the club in 2023/24, but he still showed no shortage of class in a red shirt, and on today’s evidence it’s clear that his talents haven’t abated since his retirement from playing.

Best remembered for his exceptional goal against FC Porto in November 2021 with a drilled shot which saw the ball hover just over the surface without actually touching it, Thiago was the star attraction in the first 20 minutes of the Legends match this afternoon.

As noted by Connor O’Neill in his commentary for the Liverpool Echo, one suppoter near the press box at Anfield shouted ‘Give it to Thiago’ any time the ball was in close proximity to the 34-year-old.

Our former no.6 is showing today that he’s very much still got it!

You can see Thiago’s goal (from 5:12 in the match coverage) and pass to Gerrard (from 7:17) below, via Liverpool FC on YouTube:

Casemiro insists he will be leaving Manchester United at end of the season despite calls for him to stay for one more year. 

The Brazilian midfielder announced in January that he will be departing Old Trafford when his contract expires this summer.

The 34-year-old has had mixed fortunes since joining the club from Real Madrid in 2022, but has put in a string of strong performances since making public his intention to leave.

Casemiro reiterates stance on Manchester United future

United fans have been urging Casemiro to remain for at least one more year. There is a clause in his contract that can extend it for a further 12 months, but the club do not intend on triggering and he says his mind has been made up.

“I am still enjoying it a lot (in Manchester),” Casemiro said, as quoted by The Athletic. “I believe the announcement is now done. It is huge, the affection that the fans have shown towards me.

“But I do really believe the decision is made and done. I am enjoying myself right now. I believe it will be some difficult (emotional) moments, these (final) games at Manchester United.”

Read – Two MLS clubs interested in signing Man Utd’s Casemiro

Casemiro believes that Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim head coach has helped improve his game over the past few months and been a factor in United’s rise to third in the Premier League table.

“Above all, Michael is a specialist in my position on the field, he was a truly great player,” Casemiro added. “That makes everything much easier and he is always talking to us.

“I feel like we are in a good dynamic right now in Manchester and my objective now is to get the club back into the Champions League.”

Read – Should Manchester United re-think Casemiro contract?

See Also – Five big clubs in grave danger of relegation this season

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It’s the calm before the storm this weekend at Santa Anita Park.  Next Saturday, all the fanfare of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby will be on display: the winner of that race gets a spot in the Kentucky Derby.

This weekend, less.  But the Wilshire Stakes offers a graded stakes chance to a quintet of runners, including the Jonathan Thomas trained, graded stakes winning Rashmi.

Let’s meet this field, and try to take down the early sequence.  If you’re wagering on Santa Anita Park, check out AmWager!  They have a 100% deposit match up to $150.

Grade 3 Wilshire.  1 Mile, Turf.  Fillies & Mares 4+up.  $100,000.

1. Rashmi. 3/5.        Jockey: Kazushi Kimura.    Trainer: Jonathan Thomas.

Rashmi won the Grade 3 Megahertz last year, and followed it up with a near-miss in the Grade 2 Buena Vista.  Jockey Kazushi Kimura picks up the mount today, and I think his riding style will fit in this spot.

Comment: most likely winner.

2. Antifona. 5/1.        Jockey: Tiago Pereira.    Trainer: Vladimir Cerin.

Antifona was last seen in the Wishing Well, a stakes for Cal-breds over 6 furlongs.  She was charging hard at the end, so I imagine trainer Vladimir Cerin sees the move back to a mile as a logical next step.  She’s a candidate to fill out the exacta, for sure.

Comment: exacta candidate.

3. Miss Artois. 3/1.        Jockey: Juan Hernandez.    Trainer: Richard Baltas.

There are a fair number of questions around Miss Artois, but there’s no denying she’s been highly competitive in her last 3 races.  Her last race showed she can close into a pace, but with Rashmi likely inheriting the lead, it won’t be easy to run her down.  Dropping lasix here is the final question, and a big enough one to leave her off the win line.

Comment: exacta candidate.

4. Hannah Buckle. 9/2.    Jockey: Armando Ayuso.    Trainer: Leonard Powell.

I thought Hannah Buckle’s effort last out in the Grade 3 Frankel was an admirable one, and one the connections I have to believe were excited about.  She returns to graded company here, and I have her second in my handicapping.  Nice mare, just a step slower than Rashmi.

Comment: exacta candidate.

5. Walk’n the Beach. 20/1.    Jockey: Ricardo Gonzalez.    Trainer: Jonathan Thomas.

Walk’n the Beach will likely go off at odds longer than 20/1, and I will agree with the general public.

Comment: toss.

The Sporting Tribune Wager:

$2 Early Pick 5, Starts Race 1 ($64):    1 / 1,5 / 1 / 3,4,5,6 / 1,3,5,8.    Good Luck!

Fans are in for a treat on Sunday when Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff meet in the Miami Open final.

Sabalenka, who currently holds the title, is aiming to become just the fifth woman to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Having already secured Indian Wells earlier this month, she’s halfway there.

The American is looking for her first WTA 1000 trophy of the season and fourth overall. Their most recent meeting came at last year’s WTA Finals, where Sabalenka got the better of Gauff.

This will be their fourth final meeting, and former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski believes Gauff might have an edge this time around.

Greg Rusedski shares his take on the 2026 Miami Open final

Speaking on ‘Off Court with Greg,’ he noted: “The crowd’s going to play a part because there’s an American in the final.

“They want to see an American win in Miami, and conditions are slower in Miami than they are in Indian Wells, which favours Coco to defend more.

“When Coco has won her majors, who has she beaten? Sabalenka on both occasions, the US Open and at Roland Garros.

“So this is going to be a cracking final, and one thing I’d love to see is Coco having a good serving performance.

“If she does that, maybe this is the catalyst where everything falls into place, and the serve starts functioning, because that is the big question mark.

“And we know Sabalenka in finals, she struggles, she gets nervous, she gets tight, she feels expectations. So Sabalenka is the favourite, but she doesn’t always like being the favourite in the final.”

Recapping Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka’s 2025 rivalry

Gauff and Sabalenka have squared off a dozen times on the WTA Tour, including two finals last year.

Their first final in 2025 was at the Madrid Open, where Sabalenka won in straight sets.

Later in the clay season, they met again in the Roland Garros final, where Gauff came out on top to claim her second Grand Slam title.

Their head-to-head record currently stands at 6-6, and Saturday’s winner will take the lead for the first time.

Read more:

U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin cruised to his third consecutive world title in Prague on Saturday, returning to the top of the podium after a heartbreaking eighth-place finish at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

After his collapse in Milan, Malinin sought a redemption competition at the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. On Saturday, he achieved his goal. “My expectation was to leave the long program in one piece, and I think that happened,” Malinin said following his skate.

His skate included his signature quadruple Axel, the most difficult skill in figure skating. The American is the first athlete to complete the skill. With his win, the 21-year-old became the first men’s skater to win three titles since Nathan Chen.

Malinin edged out the reigning Olympic silver and bronze medalists, Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato of Japan, who repeated their results from Milan-Cortina. For Kagiyama, Saturday’s silver medal marks his fifth individual world medal and fourth silver.

MORE FROM FORBESKaori Sakamoto Wins Fourth World Title In ‘Storybook’ Career FinaleBy Caroline Price

Saturday’s competition was a marked improvement from the men’s free skate in Milan-Cortina, which saw many of the top competitors collapse on Olympic ice. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov won Olympic gold with a total score of 291.58 in February, a score that would have won bronze today in Prague.

Americans Andrew Torgashev and Jacob Sanchez finished in tenth and 12th overall, respectively. For Torgashev, the result marked a sizable improvement from his 22nd-place finish at the 2025 world championships.

Men’s Singles Final Results (Top 10):

1. Ilia Malinin (United States): 329.40
2. Yuma Kagiyama (Japan): 306.67
3. Shun Sato (Japan): 288.54
4. Stephen Gogolev (Canada): 281.04
5. Adam Siao Him Fa (France): 271.56
6. Aleksandr Selevko (Estonia): 270.92
7. Kevin Aymoz (France): 269.13
8. Daniel Grassl (Italy): 254.94
9. Lukas Britschgi (Switzerland): 251.90
10. Andrew Torgashev (United States): 249.41

The Prague Play-by-Play

Heading into the final group, Kevin Aymoz of France led the competition after a spectacular performance in the free skate. Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama skated first on Saturday, looking to redeem his fluke mistake in the short program.

Kagiyama started beautifully, nailing his quadruple Salchow. Landing his final jump – a triple Axel – the veteran broke into celebration on the ice as the crowd roared. Before Kagiyama finished his final spin, the crowd was already on its feet.

“One of the best performances that this sport has seen,” commentator Mark Hanretty remarked. The judges agreed, awarding Kagiyama with a record component score to rocket above Aymoz into first place.

Next up was the fifth-highest qualifier, Stephen Gogolev of Canada. Gogolev added to the list of incredible performances on Saturday, fighting through his jumps for a stellar free skate in his first world championship. Gogolov earned a strong 186.66 in the free skate, finishing behind Yagiyama with four skaters to go.

2026 Olympic bronze medalist Shun Sato skated next, hoping to mirror the successes of his veteran Japanese teammate. Sato delivered, skating cleanly to close his second world championship on a high note. With a 192.70 in the free skate, Sato secured a guaranteed improvement on his sixth-place finish from 2025.

Estonia’s Aleksandr Selevko was a surprise star in Thursday’s short program, finishing third over the Japanese duo thanks to a personal-best score. However, the same would not happen on Saturday, with the Estonian falling on his opening quadruple jump. While Selevko rebounded successfully, he received a personal-best 173.93 to rank behind Gogolev of Canada.

Kagiyama’s sizable lead held with just two men to skate. Adam Siao Him Fa, former European Champion and world bronze medalist, skated next. Like women’s skater Amber Glenn, Siao Him Fa has long had the talent to achieve top marks but often falters at the most crucial moments.

Unfortunately, the same was true today in Prague. Though Siao Him Fa fought for many of his landings in an improvement from Milan-Cortina, he crashed into the ice on a key quadruple jump and committed multiple costly errors. After sitting in silver-medal position, the Frenchman fell to fourth with Malinin to go.

Ilia Malinin would skate last, skating the same program from the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Could the 21-year-old put his Olympic mistakes behind him?

Malinin opened with two massive quadruple jumps, nailing his famed quadruple Axel as his second jump. Though Malinin downgraded a couple of his planned jumps, the skate marked resounding redemption.

The crowd rose to its feet as Malinin saluted the audience, breaking into celebration and a beaming smile – a stark departure from his heartbreak in Milan-Cortina. Malinin would win his third-world title, joining a list of iconic names in men’s figure skating.

MORE FROM FORBESControversial Cizeron And Fournier Beaudry Lead Ice Dance At World ChampionshipBy Caroline Price

A potential comeback for the ages and a fourth straight Elite 8 appearance was 2.6 seconds away for LSU (29-6) but instead a buzzer beater from Ashlon Jackson rolled around the rim and in to knock the Tigers out.

Duke (27-8) got its revenge against LSU last night in Sacramento, eliminating the Tigers 87-85. The Blue Devils advance to take on UCLA, the region’s No. 1 seed Sunday afternoon (2:00 P.M., ABC).

LSU entered the fourth quarter trailing 67-65, but a disastrous start to the frame almost doomed the Tigers. Duke went on an 11-0 run to open the fourth, and led by as many as nine with 3:35 left to play. LSU, however, rallied, went on a late 10-0 run and Mikaylah Williams knocked down a pair of free throws that gave LSU an 85-84 lead with nine seconds left to play.

Duke’s first attempt at a game-winning shot missed, but LSU couldn’t corral the rebound. LSU gave up a season-worst 20 offensive rebounds last night, and the 20th one ended up costing the Tigers their season.

MiLaysia Fulwiley scored a career-best 28 points off the bench and was largely responsible for keeping LSU in the game in the first half. Fulwiley scored 18 of LSU’s 40 first half points. Mikaylah Williams was second to Fulwiley with 22 points, and a perfect 9-9 at the free throw line.

Playing in her last game as a Tiger, Flau’Jae Johnson scored 13 points and five rebounds. She was limited to just 29 minutes due to picking up four fouls and, unfortunately, bit on the pump fake by Jackson before the buzzer-beating shot went in.

And so closes the chapter on a good, but maybe not great, season of LSU women’s basketball. LSU is clearly one of the handful of elite programs in the country, but there are questions that will need to be answered before the ‘26-’27 season tips off in the fall.

Change is inevitable in college sports, especially this current era, but Flau’Jae has been the one constant of the Kim Mulkey era, and now LSU will have to find a replacement for her. Even the coaching staff will look different now that Gary Reedus, one of Mulkey’s top assistants, has accepted the head coaching job at Rutgers.

But there’s still a lot to like about where this LSU program is. Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley will be seniors, and Jada Richard will be in her third year with the program; it also looks like LSU hit on this star-studded freshman class and, assuming you hold on to them all, players like Bella Hines, Grace Knox, ZaKiyah Johnson, and Divine Bourrage out to be the nucleus of the next iteration of LSU women’s basketball. And of course LSU still has Mulkey at the helm, and she’s done since getting to LSU is win and win a lot.

If a buzzer-beater loss in the Sweet 16 is considered a down year, I’ll take that every time.

The NHL's 15-game schedule on Saturday, March 28, could see a lot of movement in the playoff standings throughout the day.

The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Ottawa Senators at 1 p.m. ET and the New York Islanders are also in action at that time. If the Lightning win, they'd move in front of the Buffalo Sabres for the Atlantic Division lead based on points percentage because they have played fewer games.

If the Senators win and the Islanders lose, Ottawa would move into the second wild-card position. If the Islanders win, they'd temporarily move from the second wild-card spot into second place in the Metropolitan Division, passing the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets.

But all that could change later in the day. The Sabres could reclaim the Atlantic Division lead if they end their three-game losing streak. Buffalo would also move into the top seed in the Eastern Conference if it gains one more point than the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The Penguins and Blue Jackets have games later in the day.

Another team to watch is the Detroit Red Wings, who host the Philadelphia Flyers at 8 p.m. on ABC. If the Senators and Islanders lose early, the Red Wings would take over the second wild-card spot with a victory. The Flyers open the day five points out of a playoff spot and are desperate for a win.

In the West, the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks visit the second-place Edmonton Oilers at 3:30 p.m. The Ducks would bump their division lead to seven points with a regulation win or the Oilers could cut their deficit to three points.

Also, the Nashville Predators host the Montreal Canadiens at 7 and the Los Angeles Kings visit the Utah Mammoth at 9. The Kings would move into the second wild-card spot with a victory and a Predators regulation loss.

Here's what to know about the NHL standings, tiebreaker procedures and playoff bracket for the 2025-26 season:

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: None

Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas

NHL games today (Saturday, March 28)

All times p.m. and Eastern

• Ottawa at Tampa Bay, 1
• Florida at N.Y. Islanders, 1
• Anaheim at Edmonton, 3:30
• Minnesota at Boston, 5, NHL Network
• Dallas at Pittsburgh, 5
• New Jersey at Carolina, 5
• San Jose at Columbus, 5
• Seattle at Buffalo, 5:30
• Toronto at St. Louis, 7
• Montreal at Nashville, 7
• Winnipeg at Colorado, 7
• Philadelphia at Detroit, 8, ABC
• Utah at Los Angeles, 9
• Vancouver at Calgary, 10
• Washington at Vegas, 10:30

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

As of March 27. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated

Metropolitan Division

• Carolina Hurricanes (96)
• Pittsburgh Penguins (88)
• Columbus Blue Jackets (87)

Atlantic Division

• Buffalo Sabres (96)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (94)
• Montreal Canadiens (90)

Wild card

• Boston Bruins (88)
• New York Islanders (87)

Sitting out of playoff position: Ottawa Senators (86), Detroit Red Wings (86), Philadelphia Flyers (82), Washington Capitals (81), New Jersey Devils (76), Toronto Maple Leafs (75), Florida Panthers (73), z-New York Rangers (67)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

As of March 27. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated

Central Division

• x-Colorado Avalanche (106)
• x-Dallas Stars (97)
• Minnesota Wild (94)

Pacific Division

• Anaheim Ducks (86)
• Edmonton Oilers (81)
• Vegas Golden Knights (78)

Wild card

• Utah Mammoth (80)
• Nashville Predators (77)

Sitting out of playoff position: Los Angeles Kings (76), Seattle Kraken (74), Winnipeg Jets (72), San Jose Sharks (71), St. Louis Blues (71), Calgary Flames (68), Chicago Blackhawks (67), z-Vancouver Canucks (50)

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 27.

• Carolina (M1) vs. N.Y. Islanders (WC2)
• Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Columbus (M3)
• Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
• Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 27.

• Colorado (C1) vs. Nashville (WC2)
• Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
• Anaheim (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
• Edmonton (P2) vs. Vegas (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild cardld play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
3. Total wins
4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.

When do the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are expected to begin on Saturday, April 18.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket, latest 2026 standings, schedule and tiebreakers

The Mets are assigning Elian Peña to Low-A St. Lucie to start the season, according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy. 

SNY's Joe DeMayo and Jim Duquette mentioned during the recent spring breakout game broadcast that the organization was going to be aggressive with the 18-year-old prospect in his stateside debut. 

He now appears set to jump the Complex League and kick things off with St. Lucie on April 7.

Peña showcased some of his potential during the spring breakout loss to the Rays prospects, playing a few innings at shortstop and reaching twice with a walk and a 102 mph single to right. 

The youngster was also spectacular as he opened his career in the DSL last year, overcoming a dreadful 0-for-26 start to finish with 24 extra base-hits and a .949 OPS over 55 games. 

He also swiped 21 bases in 25 attempts and had as many walks as strikeouts (36).

Peña, the No. 7 prospect on DeMayo's updated Top 30 list, signed for franchise-record $5 million last year.

As DeMayo recently noted in his Prospect Mailbag, it wouldn't shock anyone to see Peña on top 100 prospect lists and competing to be the No. 1 ranked prospect in the system by the end of the season. 

Payton Pritchard Gets Real On Importance Of His Buzzer-Beater Heroics originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Celtics picked up another important victory on Friday night, as they handed the Atlanta Hawks a 109-102 defeat. With Jaylen Brown missing this game, it was Payton Pritchard who stepped up and led the Celtics to victory.

Pritchard has emerged as a lethal scoring threat for Boston this season, and that continued against Atlanta, as he led all scorers with 36 points. Along the way, Pritchard hit another one of his patented buzzer-beater shots, and after the game, he took a second to explain why these plays are so important to him.

"It's a momentum play, and the crowd feels it. Our team feels it," Pritchard said. "I feel like it's crucial because ending a quarter or a half and then going into the next possession, you get that energy and that momentum swing."

It's telling that, on a team featuring the likes of Brown, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, Pritchard is the guy getting the ball in these last-second situations. That's because, more often than not, he manages to find the bottom of the bucket and put points on the board for his team.

Even with Tatum's return, Pritchard has remained a crucial part of the offense, and considering how he's averaging a career-high 16.9 points per game, that likely isn't going to change anytime soon. Boston will face another tough challenge when it returns to action on Sunday, as it will square off against a streaking Charlotte Hornets squad.

More NBA: Jayson Tatum Explains New Role He's Taken On Since Making Injury Return

The Crown Point Bulldogs are headed to the IHSAA Class 4A championship game after beating Northridge 66-40 Saturday night at Elkhart's North Side Gymnasium.

One of the most complete teams in the Hoosier State, the Bulldogs look to make history against another program also in an unfamiliar position.

Here's what to know about the program.

Where is Crown Point High School located?

The school is located in Crown Point, Indiana, about 52 miles from downtown Chicago and the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls

What is Crown Point's record?

Entering the Class 4A championship game the Bulldogs are 25-1. Their only loss came by 14 to 21st Century Charter School (PA) on January 31.

Where is Crown Point ranked in USA TODAY Sports Super 25?

Crown Point is currently ranked just outside of the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 on the watchlist.

Who are some standouts on the Crown Point basketball roster?

Mason Darrell is a Bellarmine pledge and leads the Bulldogs in scoring. Forward Dikembe Shaw, a UIC commitment, is their highest-rated player ranking No. 9 in the state and the No. 40 power forward in the country.

Who is Crown Point's head coach?

Clint Swan is in his 20th season as Crown Point's head coach and 25th year as a head coach in Indiana. He's compiled a record of 306-162 with the Bulldogs.

Has Crown Point won a state championship before?

This is Crown Point's first time making it to the on the boys side after getting knocked out by Fishers in semistate the last to years. Its girls team have won three state championships in 1984, 1985 and 2021.

Who is Crown Point playing for the IHSAA Class 4A state title?

Crown Point is set to play against Mt. Vernon in a rematch of a game that Bulldogs won 60-56 on December 23. Mt. Vernon is also making its first state championship appearance.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Crown Point High School basketball, what to know ahead of IHSAA final

Thiago Alcantara only played 98 games for Liverpool before being forced to retire in 2024 due to a series of injuries suffered throughout his career. 

Today, he returned and scored within six minutes to give the Reds the lead in their Legends game with Borussia Dortmund.

The 34-year-old played the ball to Ryan Babel, darted into the box and received a return pass from the Dutchman. He then brilliantly finished from a very tight angle past Roman Weidenfeller. 

Added to the three he scored in his four years in red, all four of his goals have now come at Anfield. 

Many watching fans might wonder whether the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich man could still do a job in midfield, especially as they watch him combine with Steven Gerrard in a fantasy pairing.