Bitcoin wiped out much of its latest gains thanks to a market reaction to Strategy's 3,600 BTC sell-off, but analysis eyed a potential buy announcement in the coming days.

Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasında mübarizə aparan “Sumqayıt” komandası bu gündən etibarən 2026/2027 mövsümünün hazırlığına start verib.

Arena.az bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidmətinə istinadən xəbər verir.

Bildirilir ki, komanda məşqlərini iyulun 24-nə qədər “Sumqayıt Arena”da keçirəcək. Ayın 25-də isə komanda Qəbələyə yola düşərək hazırlığın ikinci mərhələsini burada davam etdirəcək.

Avqustun 8-nə qədər davam edəcək təlim-məşq toplanışı müddətində 4 yoxlama görüşü nəzərdə tutulub. Komanda iyulun 26-da “Kəpəz”, 30-da “Şamaxı”, avqustun 3-də “İmişli” ilə üz-üzə gələcək. Avqustun 7-də isə Qətərin “Əl-Xaraitiyat” kollektivi ilə yoxlama oyunu nəzərdə tutulub.

“Sumqayıt” Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasında 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünü 41 xalla 12 iştirakçı arasında 7-ci pillədə başa vurub. Saşa İliçin rəhbərliyi altında 33 oyunda 12 qələbə qazanıb, 5 heç-heçə etmiş komanda 16 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb. Mövsüm bitən kimi İliçlə yollarını ayırmış klub hələ yeni baş məşçqçi seçimini açıqlamayıb. Amma göründüyü kimi, klub rəhbərliyi yeni baş məşqçi olmadan yeni mövsümə bütün hazırlıq planlarını müəyyənləşdirib. Bu da sözügedən klubun necə “yüksək səviyyədə” və “peşəkarcasına” idarə olunduğunu bariz şəkildə sübut edir.

Fransa Futbol Federasiyası (FFF) dünya çempionatının 1/8 finalında Maykl Oliseyə göstərilən sarı vərəqənin ləğvi üçün FİFA-ya müraciət edib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 24 yaşlı hücumçu Paraqvaya qarşı 1:0 hesabı ilə başa çatmış oyunun sonlarında rəqib futbolçu Matias Qalarsa ilə yaşadığı mübahisəyə görə xəbərdarlıq almışdı.

Fransa tərəfi hesab edir ki, videoyazılar Olisenin rəqibə toxunmadığını açıq şəkildə göstərir. Kadrlarda fransalı futbolçunun sadəcə barmağını dodaqlarına apararaq rəqibini susmağa çağırdığı, bundan dərhal sonra isə Qalarsanın üzünə zərbə almış kimi özünü yerə atdığı görünür.

FFF məhz bu görüntülərə əsaslanaraq sarı vərəqənin ləğv edilməsini tələb edir.

Əgər FİFA müraciəti rədd etsə və Olise 1/4 finalda Mərakeşə qarşı keçiriləcək görüşdə daha bir sarı vərəqə alsa, avtomatik cəza səbəbindən yarımfinal oyununu buraxmalı olacaq.

Qeyd edək ki, Fransa – Mərakeş arasında 1/4 final qarşılaşması iyulun 9-da keçiriləcək.

Maykl Olise 2024-cü ilin yayından Almaniyanın “Bayern” klubunun formasını geyinir. O, Münhen təmsilçisi ilə iki dəfə Bundesliqanın, bir dəfə isə Almaniya Kuboku və Super Kubokunun qalibi olub.

“Sabah”ın baş məşqçisi Valdas Dambrauskas UEFA Çempionlar Liqasında TNS-ə (Uels) qarşı keçirəcəkləri oyundan öncə fikirlərini bölüşüb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Azərbaycan çempionu sabah ÇL-in 1-ci təsnifat mərhələsi çərçivəsində doğma meydanda TNS-lə ilk oyununa çıxacaq.

Dambrauskas doğma meydandan baş tutacaq oyundan öncə mətbuat konfransında jurnalistlərin suallarını cavablandırıb. O, komandasının yeni mövsümdəki ilk oyuna hazır olduğunu bildirib:

“Ümid edirəm ki, bu mövsüm bizim üçün çox uğurlu alınacaq. Hazırda qarşımızda böyük məsuliyyət var. Həyəcanla oyunu gözləyirik. Avstriyada toplanış keçdik. Azarkeşləri stadiona çağırıram. Nəticəni demirik, amma əlimizdən gələni edəcəyik”, – litvalı mütəxəssis vurğulayıb.

O, təlim-məşq toplanışının çox gözəl keçdiyini bildirib:

“Toplanış zamanı güclü rəqiblərlə qarşılaşdıq. Oyunçular istədiyimiz formaya yaxındırlar. Çox yaxşı hazırlaşmışıq. Düşünürəm ki, bir addım daha irəlidəyik”.

Dambrauskas rəqibi də dəyərləndirib:

“TNS təcrübəli komandadır. Hər oyuna qələbə üçün çıxırlar. Ötən mövsüm rəqiblərini 20 xal qabaqlayıb çempion olublar. Ona görə də öz oyunumuz haqqında düşünməli, matça ciddi yanaşmalıyıq”.

“Sabah”ın futbolçusu Velko Simiç də matçdan öncə mətbuat konfransında iştirak edib və bu görüşə hazırlığı dəyərləndirib:

“Çox yaxşı təlim-məşq toplanışı keçdik. Bəzi ideyalarınızı oyunlarda həyata keçirmək istəyirik. Öz oyunumuz barədə düşünürük. Fikrimcə, oyuna tam hazırıq”.

Xatırladaq ki, “Sabah” – TNS görüşü sabah “Masazır Arena”da baş tutacaq. Oyuna saat 20:00-da start veriləcək. Cavab matçı isə iyulun 14-də Uelsdə baş tutacaq.

Braziliya millisi futbol üzrə dünya çempionatlarında (DÇ-2026) penalti qaçırmaqla 40 illik arzuolunmaz seriyasını yeniləyib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, söhbət dünya çempionatlarında əsas vaxt ərzində təyin edilmiş penalti zərbəsindən yararlana bilməməkdən gedir.

DÇ-2026-nın 1/8 final mərhələsində Norveç yığmasına qarşı keçirdikləri oyunun ilk hissəsində Braziliya yığması penalti qazanıb. Lakin Bruno Gimaraynsın zərbəsini Norveç millisinin qapıçısı Eryan Nyuland dəf edib.

Beləliklə, Braziliya millisi dünya çempionatında son 40 ildə ilk dəfə əsas vaxtda təyin olunmuş penalti zərbəsini qola çevirə bilməyib.

Braziliyalılar sonuncu dəfə belə uğursuzluğu 1986-cı il dünya çempionatının 1/4 finalında Fransa ilə oyunda yaşamışdılar. Həmin görüşdə Zikonun penalti zərbəsini fransalı qapıçı Joel Bats qaytarmışdı. Oyun daha sonra penaltilər seriyasına qədər uzansa da, statistikaya yalnız matçın əsas və əlavə vaxtında təyin olunan penaltilər daxil edilir.

Qeyd edək ki, Braziliya Norveçə 1:2 hesabı ilə məğlub olaraq son 36 ildə ilk dəfə dünya çempionatının 1/4 finalına yüksələ bilməyib.

Portuqaliyalı hücumçu Rafael Leao “Milan”dan ayrılmağa qərar verib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə insayder Fabrizio Romano məlumat yayıb. 28 yaşlı futbolçunun agenti artıq Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı klubları ilə danışıqlara başlayıb.

Leao 2019-cu ildən “Milan”da çıxış edir. İtaliya klubu hücumçunu 40-50 milyon avro qarşılığında buraxmağa hazırdır.

“Sumqayıt” bu gündən etibarən 2026/27 mövsümünün hazırlıqlarına start verib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, iyulun 24-dək məşqlərini “SOCAR Polymer Arena”da keçirəcək komanda ayın 25-də Qəbələyə yola düşərək hazırlıqların ikinci mərhələsini burada davam etdirəcək.

Avqustun 8-dək baş tutacaq təlim-məşq toplanışı müddətində 4 yoxlama görüşü nəzərdə tutulub. Komanda iyulun 26-da “Kəpəz”, 30-da “Şamaxı”, avqustun 3-də “İmişli”, 7-də isə Qətərin “Əl-Xaraitiyat” kollektivləri ilə qarşılaşacaq.

“Sabah”ın futbolçusu Velko Simiç Çempionlar Liqasında sabah TNS-ə qarşı keçirəcəkləri oyundan əvvəl təşkil olunan mətbuat konfransında iştirak edib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, yarımmüdafiəçi matçla bağlı bunları deyib:

“Çox yaxşı təlim-məşq toplanışı keçdik. Daha çox öz oyun üslubumuza köklənmişdik. Yoxlama oyunlarındakı iki heç-heçə və bir böyükhesablı məğlubiyyətın sabahkı matça heç bir təsiri olmayacaq. Daha çox öz oyunumuzu düşünürük. İnanıram ki, sabahkı oyuna tam hazırıq”.

Milan are projected to post a loss of around €25 million for the 2025/26 financial year, according to estimates from Calcio e Finanza, a sharp downturn on the €2.9m profit recorded the previous year.

The reports claim, via CalcioMercato, that the accounts, which closed on 30 June and will be formally approved by shareholders in the autumn, bring an end to three consecutive years in the black.

The primary cause is sporting: a second successive season without Champions League football.

Revenues fell from almost €500m to around €433m, with the steepest drop in broadcast income, down 42%, compounded by a 17.6% fall in matchday revenue, both direct consequences of the missing European nights. Commercial income rose slightly, by 5.9%, helped by a new agreement with main sponsor Emirates.

Player trading and severance costs shape Milan’s bottom line

Cushioning the blow was player trading, which reached around €100m, roughly a quarter of the club’s total revenues, up from €83.2m the year before.

The sales of Theo Hernández and Malick Thiaw were booked in this year’s figures, with Tijjani Reijnders’ earlier departure having counted in the previous accounts, and it is a level of trading Milan will likely need to sustain again in another campaign outside the Champions League.

Adding to the outlay, Milan have had to set aside roughly €13m to cover the forced exits of former chief executive Giorgio Furlani and former sporting director Igli Tare. No such provision was required for Massimiliano Allegri, who agreed terms to terminate his contract before joining Napoli.

Crucially, the loss is described as sustainable. With positive net equity of €199m, the deficit will be fully absorbed, and brighter news lies ahead: the purchase of the San Siro stadium and surrounding land removes an annual rent liability of around €5m, and owning the ground should lift matchday revenues in future accounts.

Aurelio De Laurentiis has made clear that Napoli’s priority this summer is to trim a heavily bloated squad rather than add to it, while backing new head coach Massimiliano Allegri to fit seamlessly into his vision for the club.

Speaking at the presentation of Napoli’s new home kit, via the Corriere dello Sport, the president was asked about the club’s transfer plans and pointed to the sheer volume of players on the books as the issue to resolve first.

“In the last month I must have received 200 proposals for players to sign, but I told them to stay calm: we have 47 players, and we need to place 25 before we can talk,” De Laurentiis said. “In my opinion we won’t need to buy anyone and will give away many.”

De Laurentiis backs Allegri to align with Napoli’s approach

The president was warm on his new head coach, framing Allegri as a natural fit for the way he runs the club.

“Mr Allegri is a company man, we’ll get along very well,” De Laurentiis said, before adding a characteristic flourish: “I’ll ask Max for advice on buying a horse, and we’ll put a jockey in a Napoli shirt on it.”

The message from the top is unambiguous: before Napoli entertain any incomings, a substantial clear-out must come first, with a squad of 47 needing to be whittled down significantly.

It is a stance that chimes with the picture built elsewhere this window, in which Napoli’s overcrowded ranks, particularly among the deadweight forwards, have been flagged as the pressing issue for Allegri to address in his first summer at the helm.

Milan may harbour ambitions of signing Virgil van Dijk, but a move for the Liverpool captain is simply not realistic, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, via MilanNews24, the transfer journalist moved to shut down the speculation linking the Netherlands defender with a switch to San Siro.

Romano explained that Van Dijk is an integral part of Liverpool’s plans and has already held talks with new head coach Andoni Iraola, effectively ruling out any departure in this summer’s window.

Liverpool stand firm on captain Van Dijk as Iraola plans rebuild

Van Dijk is considered a crucial figure at Anfield, Romano stressed, valued for the leadership and stability he brings to the side.

Liverpool have never entertained the idea of losing their skipper, a stance that has only hardened after the high-profile sales of the likes of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, which have already stripped experience from the squad.

The conclusion, per Romano, is a clear one: as things stand, Van Dijk will remain a Liverpool player, and Milan will need to turn their attention elsewhere to strengthen their defence.

That aligns with the wider picture we’ve built this shift, in which Milan have been pursuing more attainable defensive targets, Lazio’s Mario Gila chief among them, as Ruben Amorim, who arrived in the city on Monday, sets about reshaping his backline.

A player of Van Dijk’s stature was always more likely to be an aspiration, rather than a realistic option.

Kaishu Sano has attracted significant interest from top clubs due to his performances at the World Cup with Japan.

The Mainz defensive midfielder is a target for Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal. According to FussballDaten, Liverpool have already contacted the players’ representatives regarding a potential move and discussed personal terms with them. They are now expected to follow up with an offer to the German club.

They need a quality defensive midfielder, and the 25-year-old would be ideal for them. He could be the anchor for them in the middle of the park and protect the back four. He would also allow the creative players to operate with more freedom.

The opportunity to join Liverpool will be exciting for the Japanese international, and it would be a huge step up in his career.

Meanwhile, Manchester United and Arsenal are keeping tabs on him as well. It is no secret that Manchester United need a quality defensive midfielder following Casemiro’s departure. It will be interesting to see if they decide to make a move for the 25-year-old Bundesliga star.

Similarly, Arsenal could use more quality in the middle of the park. They need an upgrade on Christian Norgaard, who is simply not a part of the plans going forward. He is likely to be sold this summer, and they need to replace him.

The opportunity to play for all three clubs will be tempting for the 25-year-old midfielder. He should look to join a club where he can play regularly. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

The report claims that the player could cost around €50-60 million this summer.

The post Liverpool make first move for €60m World Cup star as Man United and Arsenal join race appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has been linked with a surprise move away from the club.

The 29-year-old Portuguese international has been outstanding since joining Manchester City, and he has been a key player for club and country.

According to a report from Hooligan Soccer, Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in signing the player and have made enquiries about the 29-year-old. However, Manchester City is unwilling to sanction his departure and is prepared to block any potential exit.

Clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring his situation as well.

Dias is one of the best defenders in the Premier League, and there is no doubt that he would improve most teams in the world. He has been hailed as a “man mountain”.

Arsenal already have a world-class defensive unit, but they are looking to add more depth to the team. Naturally, they wanted to test the waters with an enquiry for the Manchester City player. The report claims that they might return for the player in future after facing rejection this summer.

On the other hand, Chelsea have been quite vulnerable at the back, and they need to improve defensively in order to bounce back strongly. Newly appointed manager Xabi Alonso is looking to bring in a ball-playing defender with leadership qualities. The 29-year-old Manchester City star could be the ideal fit for them.

Dias has been a key player for Manchester City and has consistently won trophies with them. There is no reason for him to leave the club and join a project in transition at Chelsea.

Despite interest from multiple clubs, it seems the Portuguese International will remain with Manchester City for the foreseeable future.

The post Arsenal, Chelsea eye ambitious move for 29-year-old “man mountain” from rival club appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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President Donald Trump has called the FIFAWorld Cup referee who sent off U.S. striker Folarin Balogun in last week’s match against Bosnia-Herzegovina “very suspect” as the controversy over the American’s red card grows.

Speaking at the White House Monday ahead of the U.S.’s last-16 clash with Belgium, where Balogun will now be allowed to play after his one-match ban was effectively lifted, the president said: “I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports... That wasn’t a foul.

“That wasn’t even an infraction. This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. He made a call that nobody could believe. He’s our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant... Yes, I asked for a review by FIFA.

“I didn’t know what the hell a red card was. When I found out, I said, ‘You gotta be kidding!’”

He went on to deny that he had set a destructive precedent for the tournament by making a political intervention before veering off into discussing basketball star Caitlin Clark and the “rather rough” treatment the Indiana Fever player is often subjected to on court.

“I thought our young, wonderful basketball player – Caitlin – I thought she was treated rather rough, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said.

“That was a much different kind of an event. That was a pretty bad event.”

Looking ahead to the U.S.’s knock-out tie with Belgium later, the president concluded: “If they beat us, they can be really proud. The other way, if they beat us, we’ll say – I say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020, but I won’t get into that.”

The president’s baseless attack on Brazilian official Raphael Claus, who oversaw last week’s 2-0 win for the U.S. over Bosnia in San Francisco and ejected Balogun for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic in the 64th minute. The red card saw Balogun not only out for the rest of that game but also suspended for the American’s next clash. That was until FIFA moved Sunday to grant the striker an almost unprecedented reprieve.

Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino – who last year awarded him the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize,” inviting widespread derision – lobbying him to intervene on Balogun’s behalf.

FIFA obliged, explaining its decision in a statement that read: “In line with Article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.

“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to thank the federation for “reversing a great injustice” – his first meaningful involvement in the World Cup, having attended none of the games so far despite the U.S. being one of the co-hosts, alongside Canada and Mexico.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously said the U.S. “got screwed” by Balogun’s sending off, signaling official displeasure.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup Task Force, also privately reached out to FIFA over the matter, according to reports.

While the development has been welcomed by U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino and playmaker Christian Pulisic, many observers have been more inclined to agree with Belgium’s manager, Rudi Garcia, who said: “I didn’t know that at the World Cup the 5th of July is actually the first of April. It’s April Fools.

“We’re not defending the national team or the federation, we are defending football, integrity. It’s the first time in World Cup history that such a decision has been taken.”

The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the rule-bending, given that there is no appeal process in place to challenge bookings at the tournament, and Europe’s governing body UEFA said FIFA had “crossed a red line” and made an “unjustifiable” decision.

European pundits reacted with even greater disdain.

Gary Neville said on the U.K.’s ITV Sunday that Balogun’s exemption from the rules “absolutely stinks,” while on the BBC, Wayne Rooney said: “If I’m the USA’s opponent, I’d be absolutely fuming. I think it’s wrong in every way. I think it’s an absolute disgrace.”

Others have warned that the affair could tarnish the on-field achievements of Pochettino’s side, who began their campaign with a thrilling 4-1 win over Paraguay in which Balogun scored twice and went on to win Group D.

Washington — President Trump said he saw the World Cup play that led to U.S. Men's National Team soccer star Folarin Balogun's one-game red card suspension, and then spoke to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for a review. 

The U.S. team's striker was given a red card during the team's Wednesday match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, eliminating him from the next game. Balogun was penalized for stepping on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

FIFA reversed the one-match suspension, although that reversal is facing criticism and an appeal. The president told reporters in the Oval Office Monday that he "saw the play," and Balogun's move didn't constitute a foul or an infraction. Mr. Trump said he talked with Infantino about the incident.

"I'm a person that loves sports and was a good athlete," he said. "And I understand sports really well. Really well. And that wasn't a foul. That wasn't even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other. You can't take your foot and properly place it on somebody else's foot when you're going — no, these were two great athletes that got tangled up."

"And this referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his, if you check his past," the president said. "I don't want to say that because I don't like to create controversy, but very suspect. If you like, I'll provide you with the past. He made a call that nobody could believe. Even people on the other side, they said 'We got lucky.'" 

The president said Balogun "didn't do anything wrong." Despite his assertion that he knows sports "really well," the president admitted he at first didn't know what the red card meant.  

"Then I started hearing that that means you can't play in the next game — at least in the next game," he said, arguing it's "very unfair" to penalize someone for a "game that hasn't been played yet."

"Yes, I asked for a review by FIFA," he said of his conversation with Gianni. 

"I spoke to a man who's highly respected and by the way, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold," he added, apparently referring to Infantino. 

But Mr. Trump said he didn't tell Gianni what to do, and he didn't take credit for FIFA's reversal. 

"All I did, I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," he continued. "... If they wouldn't allow, you know, a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best players on the team, I think it would have had a big stain. And I related, just that, I didn't tell him what to do, I can't tell him what to do."

The Dallas Cowboys find themselves right in the middle of the pack in ESPN's projected starting lineup rankings heading into the 2026 NFL season. In their latest rankings, Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder recognized the talent on both sides of the football, placing Dallas 14th among all 32 NFL teams.

It's not hard to see why the Cowboys landed where they did. This roster has talent, depth, and plenty of upside. Clay highlighted Dallas' wide receiver room as the biggest strength among the team's projected starters.

The Cowboys led the NFL in passing yards in 2025, thanks in large part to a dangerous receiving group led by CeeDee Lamb. Add in the arrival of George Pickens, the emergence of Ryan Flournoy as the third receiver, and the explosive playmaking ability of KaVontae Turpin; Dallas has the luxury of attacking defenses in different ways. The front office also bolstered the group's depth by signing veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Denzel Mims, adding some insurance should injuries occur. On paper, this receiver room may be even more dangerous than the one that helped lead the league in passing a season ago.

ESPN says cornerback is the team’s biggest weakness; a fair assessment for a secondary that struggled to slow down some of the league's weakest passing attacks in 2025. The Cowboys finished last in defensive EPA, allowed a 58.4 QBR to opposing quarterbacks, and managed just six interceptions all season.

There are still questions surrounding the outside cornerback spots as well. DaRon Bland is looking to bounce back after foot injuries slowed his progression, while Shavon Revel Jr. enters the season one year removed from an ACL tear and a poor rookie season. The Cowboys did not ignore the problem this offseason, though, adding players to create competition and more skill in the secondary.

Dallas added veteran cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, both of whom will compete with Revel for a starting role opposite Bland, and also have the ability to play the nickel position if needed. The team also invested in depth by adding rookie cornerback Devin Moore.  

They added safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke to help ensure better play on the back end of the defense. Just as importantly, the organization made changes to the coaching staff to develop and maximize the talent already on the roster. The front office clearly saw upgrading the secondary as a priority, and the expectation is that this unit will improve in 2026.

Walder highlighted rookie nickelback/safety Caleb Downs as the Cowboys' biggest X-factor heading into the season.

His versatility, instincts, and playmaking ability give him a chance to make an immediate impact. Walder believes Bland, if healthy, could once again be the team's interception leader, but if he doesn't, Downs has the talent to fill that role. Two other potential X-factors mentioned were rookie edge rushers Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence. Both defenders possess the tools needed to generate pressure off the edge, and each could benefit from the attention offenses will dedicate to Rashan Gary and Quinnen Williams. If Downs becomes the playmaker many expect him to be and the pass rush takes a step forward in 2026, this defense could look drastically different from the one that struggled last season.

The final Cowboys player highlighted in ESPN's rankings was Turpin. Schatz noted that despite a relatively quiet season by his standards, Turpin is still one of the NFL's best return specialists. Combined with his ability to consistently generate explosive plays in the passing game, making him one of the more unique weapons on the roster.

Overall, the Cowboys have built a roster that's better than a lot of people are giving it credit for. There's talent on both sides of the football, a strong mix of veterans and young players, and several newcomers who could make an immediate impact. If the offense continues to put up points and the defense takes a step forward, Dallas could quickly prove that a middle-of-the-pack ranking was too low.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys' 2026 roster in middle-of-the-pack in ESPN's latest rankings

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — France winger Damian Penaud will miss the team's remaining matches in the Nations Championship this month after sustaining a calf injury in the tournament-opening 34-32 loss to New Zealand.

Penaud scored a national record-extending 41st try inside two minutes of Saturday's game in Christchurch but was replaced at halftime.

His withdrawal from the squad was confirmed by France on Monday, forcing him out of matches against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday and Japan in Tokyo on July 18.

Les Tricolores didn't announce a replacement for Penaud, who returned to the squad after being dropped for the Six Nations.

___

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

From treble winner to youth coach: Dante is back at FC Bayern – this time in the dugout. Following a long career as a professional player and an intense spell at Nice, the Brazilian moved straight into his new role as head coach of the reserves. In an interview with fcbayern.com, the 42-year-old chats about his early dream of becoming a coach, the years during which he meticulously worked on obtaining his coaching licences and undertook further training alongside his playing career, and why, for him, professionalism and humanity are inextricably linked. Dante also explains how he gives young players responsibility and freedom, the role one-to-one conversations play for him during training camp – and why Munich still feels like home to him.

Dante – The interview

Dante, you’d only just been through the cup final and the play-offs with Nice, and then you came straight to Munich with hardly a break. After such a long career, many people would have taken some time out first. Why was it clear to you that you wanted to start coaching straight away? "I was just absolutely delighted to have this opportunity. Bayern is a special club for me and Munich feels like a second home. I’ve always wanted to come back to Germany. I’ve always liked the Bundesliga. Even back when I first came to Europe as a player, playing in Germany was a major goal for me. Many Brazilian players, such as Rafinha, Élber, Ailton and Lincoln, played in the Bundesliga back then. So when the opportunity arose to work with the Bayern reserves, I didn’t have to think twice. Of course, I could have taken some time out after my playing career. But this opportunity at this club and the chance to work with young players was simply too special. I’m very grateful for that.”

When did you first feel the desire to become a coach? "I can still remember it very clearly. It was in February 2011, under Lucien Favre at Borussia Mönchengladbach. He explained the game to me in a completely different way. Suddenly, I wanted to understand so much more – why we do certain things, why we train the way we do, and how I could convey his ideas to my teammates on the pitch. Back then, I immediately thought: ‘You’ve got to become a coach one day.’ Later, at Bayern, I spoke to Pep Guardiola about it. He encouraged me and said I had what it takes. Of course, I still wanted to enjoy my playing career at the time, but the thought of pursuing a career in coaching was always there.”

You spent years working towards your coaching qualifications while still a player. Now you’re head coach. Does it feel how you imagined it would? "Yes, actually, it does. Of course, it’s a different kind of workload. As a player, you might spend four or five hours at the training ground. As a coach, that can easily turn into 12 hours. But that’s exactly what I’ve been preparing for. For the past seven years, I’ve used every spare minute to get my coaching licences. Every time the holidays came round, I had to make a choice: do I enjoy my free time, or do I invest it in my training? I still remember clearly how I first spent a few days’ holiday in Brazil and then flew to Wales for ten days to continue my training. Then back again. It wasn’t always easy, but I always knew why I was doing it. During my playing career, I didn’t just train and play. I was constantly observing as well. Why is the coach doing this particular drill? Why this analysis? Why is he making this decision? I rang lots of coaches, asked them questions and tried to learn as much as possible. Today, I realise that all that effort was worth it.”

And now you’re back in Germany. How are you settling in – including with the language? "I’ve been listening to lots of German football podcasts over the past few weeks to get back into the language. It’s really helped me. And even after just the first two weeks, I can already tell that a lot of it is coming back. It’s getting better every day. My speech is becoming more natural and I’m feeling more and more confident."

How does it feel to be wearing the Bayern crest on your chest again? “To be perfectly honest: I feel at home. When I returned here, I was initially a bit nervous. But as soon as I stepped onto the training pitch, that feeling came flooding back straight away. I knew: this is the right place. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. Being back here is something special. Now I want to do everything I can to help the players, support them on their journey and pass on to them some of the things I’ve learnt during my own career.”

Dieser Inhalt kann hier leider nicht dargestellt werden. Zum Anschauen kannst du die Website des FC Bayern München besuchen:Artikel auf fcbayern.com

You’ve played under some of the best coaches in the world. What have you taken away from that experience to apply to your own work today? "I learnt something from every coach. Pep Guardiola was exceptional when it came to tactics. He showed me just how detailed football can be and how important every little thing is. From Jupp Heynckes, I learnt above all how to deal with people. He had incredible empathy and knew exactly how to bring a team together. For me, that’s one of the most important lessons: a coach is, first and foremost, a person. Of course, tactics and training are part of the job, but it’s just as important to understand people, build trust and lead a group in the same direction. Naturally, there were also coaches where I saw things and thought: that’s not how I want to do it later on. You learn from that too. Ultimately, every coach played their part in my development.”

What sort of coach would you like to be yourself? “I hope that one day the players will say: ‘He always gave his all for us. He helped us to improve – not just as footballers, but also as people.’ Of course we want to win. That’s what we work towards every day. But my main aim is to develop the players. If we make each and every one of them better, our chances of success will automatically increase. Development and results go hand in hand. I want my team to play with passion, take responsibility and always be ready to learn.”

You’re now working with a very young squad. Some of the players never actually saw you play for Bayern. How does that make you feel? “Of course, some of them know me from my playing days in Munich, whilst others don’t. But that’s not what matters at all. It’s not important that they know me as a former footballer. What matters is that they get to know me as a coach and trust me. We have to build that trust together. I can certainly help the defenders in particular, drawing on my own experience. But ultimately, the only thing that will count is what we build together today.”

Have the lads asked you about your playing career yet, despite all that? "A few have, of course. But to be honest, I don’t really want to talk that much about titles or big matches. What’s much more important to me is the question of why I was able to play football at this level for so long. That’s the experience I want to pass on. I want to explain to the lads how important being professional is. Nutrition, sleep, recovery, concentration – all of that is part of this profession. As a footballer at this level, there’s really only one way to live. If you want to be successful, you have to devote yourself entirely to football. You can’t let yourself get distracted. Talent is important, but talent alone isn’t enough. You have to be prepared to work hard every day and push yourself to the limit.”

In training, too, you provide the lads with guidance, but you consciously give them the freedom to make their own decisions in many drills. Why is that important to you? "Because football isn’t a science. Of course, we give the players guidelines and a clear plan, but they have to make their own decisions and find their own solutions. Attacking players, in particular, need freedom. They have to be brave, take risks, dribble with the ball and be creative. Up front, taking risks is simply part of the game. There’s one thing that’s essential, though: conviction. If you do something, you have to believe in it. Nothing works in football without conviction. It’s important to me that the players take responsibility and don’t just wait for the coach to sort out every situation. That’s exactly how they develop.”

You also convey this to the lads in many one-to-one conversations. What role do these days at the training camp play for you? "A very big one. Training camps aren't just about football. Of course we do train a lot, but we also spend the whole day together. We eat together, talk about all sorts of things and get to know each other as people – both the players and the staff. That’s incredibly important, especially at the start. Trust isn’t just built on the pitch. It’s also built through those little chats in between. I want to know how the players think, what makes them tick and what’s on their minds. Only by building this trust can we go on to be successful together later on. I’ve already learnt a great deal about the lads over the last few days. They’re focused in their work, they’re full of energy and they’re keen to improve. I’ve really enjoyed that, and we can build on it further in the coming weeks.”

Check out the latest news on the FC Bayern World Squad in our live blog:

Follow the journey of the FC Bayern World Squad Class of '26

There was jubilation, exhaustion and plenty of caffeine across England on Monday after the Three Lion's dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico, sending them into the World Cup quarter-finals.

Fans powered through a 02:00 BST kick-off gathering in packed pubs, while others celebrated quietly from their sofas, and a few woke up devastated to realise they slept through the game.

Here are some of the stories you shared with us.

Schools watch the game 'as-live'

At Malmesbury Church of England Primary School in Wiltshire, pupils arrived early to watch the game "as-live" at school so they could "enjoy the game together as a community".

When Jude Bellingham scored two goals in two minutes in the first half, one pupil told the BBC it was "looking really good" for England, but they had a gut feeling that "Mexico are going to win".

Little did they know…

When the final whistle blew, excited pupils celebrated as though they had watched it live.

"It was better [watching] with my friends than it was with my parents," one pupil said.

Meanwhile, children watching the match at Castleway Primary in Leasowe, Wirral, were told they would miss playtime for the rest of the week if they spoiled the result for anyone.

'An incredible evening'

Pubs across the country remained open all night after the government U-turn on licensing laws permitted them to stay open until 05:00.

About 350 people watched the game at the Brittania Inn in St Austell, Cornwall.

Landlord Phil Lafferty said it was "an incredible evening and something we have never done before".

He said: "Japan in 2002 was something else, playing at 06:00, but nothing like this. It was amazing."

Sarah Badrock, manager of The Ship Inn in Trefin, Pembrokeshire was one of the few pubs in Wales that stayed open until 05:00 for the England game.

She was offering a free drink for every goal scored… but only four people turned up, including actor Keith Allen, who wrote the iconic 1998 England World Cup song Vindaloo.

Thea Barratt, who runs Cramptons Sports Bar in Broadstairs, Kent, said: "I took more money than I did on New Year's Eve."

The bar added extra portaloos and an outside bar to accommodate more revellers. Thea says she expects to top last night's takings for Saturday's quarter-finals: "Long may they [England] continue and hopefully get to the final".

• An incredible night when England heroes were made
• Who produced another iconic performance? England player ratings

England's run 'beyond magical'

It is not just those of legal drinking age who pulled an all-nighter.

Keen eight-year-old fan Wren was not supposed to be up for England's late-night fixture, but mum Jess Clark told the BBC she couldn't resist waking him to celebrate.

"It was incredible, my son and I were jumping up and down hugging each other singing Wonderwall - it was just a dream," she said.

Jess added that experiencing England's success at the World Cup so far has been "beyond magical".

'I watched the match over a taxi driver's shoulder'

Michelle, from Evesham, ended up watching part of the game in a car park at Birmingham Airport.

She was there early to pick up her husband from a work trip, with two daughters in tow, and they were "trying to get some sleep" as they waited.

"There was a couple of cheers and I jumped out of the car and... ran over to a taxi driver who was watching it on his phone, so I managed to get the second goal and then also our penalty," she told BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine.

"I got so excited when Harry Kane scored that I hit the guy on the shoulder."

Sadly, Michelle didn't get to watch the whole game because "obviously the taxi driver had to go off and do his job", she said.

'I slept in and missed it all'

But spare a thought for those who tried and failed to stay up for the match, including former Olympian Katharine Merry.

"I ploughed on through yesterday, thinking I'm not going to take a tactical nap," the ex-English sprinter explained.

But when the kick-off was delayed from 01:00 to 02:00, Merry said her husband wandered off for a nap.

"Half past one, I was still awake, all still bright-eyed, and kind of bushy-tailed, and then I went horizontal and dozed off," she recalled.

"My husband never came back. I woke up at 06:30 and missed everything."

'Cushions were thrown'

Some supporters who did not make it to a pub were faced with the risk of waking up their sleeping children if their celebrations became too rowdy.

As England took the lead it was a battle to stay silent, said BBC journalist Owen Amos, who watched the game "as-live" from 03:30 before an early start at work.

He performed "a silent leap off the sofa" as Bellingham scored his first, which was rapidly followed by a "wild (but equally silent) fist pumping" when the second goal went in less than a minute later.

As Mexico pulled one back "cushions were thrown" and there was a quiet "peep of dissent when England's Jarell Quansah was sent off", he said.

Fortunately though, "despite the best efforts of the VAR [video assistant referee]", Amos managed to keep the volume down for the full game and - crucially - his sons stayed asleep.

Elsewhere, journalist Mark Ansell from BBC Look North said a strict no-phones policy was in play to stop anyone knowing the final score as four families gathered at his place to watch the game on playback from 06:00.

"Six adults skipped to work, happier than ever as our dream of a World Cup win continues", he added.

'We watched the game on our night shift'

"Text your bosses and tell them you're not coming in."

That was the advice from man-of-the-match Bellingham who scored two goals within two minutes in the first half.

While some industries like manufacturing and retail were less able to provide flexibility, others offered bleary-eyed fans later starts so they can catch up on sleep.

Workers at a distribution centre in Rochdale didn't need to follow Bellingham's advice as they watched the game while on shift.

"It's not good for my heart, but football's my heart," said one worker.

Joshua Elash, who runs London-based firm MT Finance Group, allowed his staff to start work at 11:00, telling the BBC it was a "no-brainer".

"It's good for morale," he added, saying it will be worth it even if Monday isn't particularly productive.

Octopus Energy allowed engineers to start home visits a couple of hours late, while staff in office or home-based roles looking after customers can also start and finish later.

Kevin Craig, founder and chief executive of communications agency PLMR, is a huge football fan and went to see England v Panama game last weekend.

He gave his staff - around 100 employees across four offices in London, Coventry, Birmingham and Ipswich - permission to start at 12:00 if they wanted to stay up and watch the match.

"I just instinctively knew it was the right thing to do," he told the BBC.

"We try to be pro-family alongside making money. I know it's not possible for all organisations in the land but... these days are special."

But it was business as usual for supermarkets Sainsbury's and Aldi in their stores on Monday. There was also no change for the car manufacturer Nissan.

'Ten espressos and a Red Bull chaser'

Parents who stayed up to watch might be feeling a little like Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy as they headed off on the school run on Monday morning.

"I have no idea how I do the school run this morning after a red card and a penalty… Like having had ten espressos and a red bull chaser," she wrote on X at 03:28 BST.

Meanwhile, BBC DJ Sara Cox's husband had the result spoiled by cheering neighbours - after deciding to sleep downstairs so as not to disturb his wife ahead of her Radio 2 debut on Monday.

She told listeners her husband heard the result ruined by revellers coming down their street, chanting: "Where were you when we won 3-2."

• How did you watch the game - and how are you feeling now? Are you croaky like Harry Kane? Send us your stories and pictures here.

Additional reporting by Alex Emery

• England win epic tie against Mexico to reach quarter-finals
• Who produced another iconic performance? England player ratings
• How Mexico's World Cup run brought joy after a year of fear

The coach of former Sheffield United footballer Maddy Cusack told the Football Association (FA) she was "generally a liar", an inquest into her death has heard.

Cusack, 27, was found unconscious by her father David at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023 and was pronounced dead the same day.

Jonathan Morgan, who coached Cusack from February 2023 while she was at Sheffield United, gave evidence to a two-week inquest at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Monday.

When responding to the claim, which the inquest heard was made in an account he gave to the FA, Morgan said that she had "omitted a lot of information" when she spoke to her family about his behaviour.

The inquest has previously heard from Grace Riglar, who played for the team and was in a relationship with Cusack, who said Cusack was "anxious" about Morgan joining the club after her experience of working with him at Leicester City.

Cusack's mother Deborah described Morgan as her daughter's "nemesis", adding he had made comments about her weight and relationship to "cut her down to size" and be "in control".

Her family sent a written complaint to Sheffield United in the week after her death, outlining issues allegedly stemming from her relationship with the club's coach.

Giving evidence, Morgan said he had no concerns about his relationship with Cusack when he joined Sheffield United as manager.

He had previously released the player when he was a coach at Leicester City, the inquest was told.

'One-sided information'

The inquest heard Morgan had given an account of his relationship with Cusack to the FA as part of the investigation following her death.

In response to Dean Armstrong KC, who is representing Cusack's family, Morgan said: "In terms of the scenarios since Maddy passed away, I genuinely feel things have not been portrayed factually or correctly with how she was feeling.

"With the lying comment, it was based on the back of things after Maddy passed away. It became evident she omitted things to her family and others that I had supported her with."

He told assistant coroner Sophie Cartwright KC there had been "a lot of one-sided information".

When asked about the way he spoke to Cusack, Morgan said: "I never shouted at Maddy Cusack at Sheffield United.

"I've never shouted directly at Maddy at Leicester City.

"Maddy left Leicester in the January transfer window - it wasn't my wish, I don't think it was Maddy's wish either."

When questioned about Cusack's lack of playing time after he came to the club, Morgan told the inquest she was still recovering from a foot injury when he first picked the side.

The inquest heard the midfielder had played a full 90 minutes the week before his arrival.

He then said, due to the form of other players, she had not been selected until his fourth game in charge.

Morgan denied he was trying to "cut her down to size" by not letting her play, adding that she was recovering from an injury she sustained before he came to the club.

Morgan told the inquest Cusack had disclosed her relationship with Riglar at his request to everyone in his team.

Justifying his request, Morgan said: "In the past, relationships have had issues within the environment. People would break up, it would cause scenarios that sort of divided the team's opinion and make things a bit uncomfortable."

Cusack's mother Deborah previously told the inquest that her daughter would have been "absolutely humiliated beyond belief" when Morgan called her girlfriend and teammate Riglar "Mrs Cusack" in front of other players.

However, Morgan told the inquest that "never happened", adding that he said "here come the girlfriends".

He said the comment was a "tongue-in-cheek", which was "meant to be taken as a bit of banter", and that they had then made a joke about his weight.

The coach was also asked about a comment he had made to Cusack during a meeting.

Morgan said he had told the player she was "too muscular, too bottom-heavy" to carry out the number of sprints needed with his style of football.

He said her strength and conditioning training was then changed, and her running statistics were "much better" by the end of the season.

Morgan said he started to see a difference in Cusack's behaviour in August 2023.

"She was just less bubbly, less energetic," he said.

Morgan said he arranged a meeting with Cusack on 4 September, and afterwards contacted the club doctor about her health.

He told the doctor he thought "something was bothering Maddy", and that she might need some help.

Earlier in the inquest, a former team-mate of Cusack told the court her death was "definitely preventable".

Nina Wilson said Morgan had left a number of players feeling "ostracised and isolated".

The inquest continues.

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

More on this story

• Maddy Cusack's death 'definitely preventable'
• Maddy Cusack's coach her 'nemesis', mum tells inquest
• Maddy Cusack 'struggled with girlfriend move'
• Coach called Maddy Cusack a 'psycho', inquest told
• Maddy Cusack feared mental health stigma - inquest

Related internet links

• HM Courts and Tribunals Service

LOS ANGELES -- The Sparks made another move as they shuffle another one out of development into a standard deal.

And, unfortunately, that also meant someone had to be waived.

Martin was signed by the Sparks to a developmental contract on May 10 after she was surprisingly waived by the Valkyries. 

"Kate has made a meaningful impact on our group both on and off the court," said Sparks General Manager Raegan Pebley. "She brings versatility on both ends of the floor, competes at a high level and consistently puts the team first. We’re excited to see her continue to grow."

She had nearly used all 12 games of her eligibility and with contracts becoming guaranteed on Tuesday, the Sparks had to decide about giving a standard roster spot to Martin.

That meant letting go of their second round draft pick Ta'Niya Latson, who fell to the Sparks at the 20th spot. But it didn't work out for Latson as fellow rookies Chance Gray and Jihyun Park passed her on the rotation. There's still a chance the Sparks could pick her back up for a developmental spot (now that it's open after Martin's move to the main roster) if she clears waivers.

Martin has played 10 games for the Sparks, averaging 2.6 points in under eight minutes per contest. She scored a season-high 11 points against the Toronto Tempo on May 17th. Martin was chosen by the Las Vegas Aces 18th overall in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. She was then picked up by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft. Martin played a season there and then she was released right before the 2026 season.

Latson appeared in 10 games, averaging 1.8 points in five minutes of play per game.

As quarterback Demond Williams Jr. prepares for his junior season with the Washington Huskies, he's widely expected to continue on his trajectory towards becoming one of the top signal callers in college football.

Across his first full season as a starter, the former four-star recruit out of Basha High School completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns with 8 interceptions, while adding 611 yards and 6 scores on the ground, displaying the elite talent and athleticism that coach Jedd Fisch has touted since the moment he stepped on campus.

Now, amid the scrutiny of Williams' brief flirtation with the transfer portal, ESPN's Max Browne highlighted Williams' sophomore film, including one of the most hotly contested parts of his game: playing from the pocket.

"He has the chops to win from the pocket," the former Pittsburgh and USC quarterback stated on his YouTube channel. "He can get under center and give you a play action fake, set up, and hit a deep over route on a dime with a defender hugged right on the receiver."

In his film breakdown, Browne highlighted several plays from Williams' historic outing against Rutgers, where he became one of just 16 quarterbacks in FBS history to throw for over 400 yards and rush for over 100, accounting for 4 touchdowns in the process. Now, Williams will need to tap into that potential and improve in the pocket in the biggest moments.

Last year, he threw 5 of his 8 interceptions in a pair of UW's 4 losses on the year, while the offense struggled as a whole to the tune of just 9.3 points per game in those contests. Looking ahead, if the undersized Williams can continue to show off his talent in the pocket and learn to throw with more anticipation over the middle of the field, his ascension should continue quickly in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: ESPN analyst highlights Demond Williams Jr.'s pocket presence

Few players around the NFL are getting more hype for the 2026 season than Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. A growing chorus of analysts and insiders are expecting a monster year for Atlanta's fourth-year star as he enters what should be the prime of his career.

The latest accolades come from ESPN, where they are ranking the top 10 players at each position according to anonymous league executives. They have Robinson ranked No. 1 for the first time.

"Bijan is just more dynamic than the rest of the field in terms of creating positive runs despite blocking failure," an NFC executive said. "Combo of his bend, feet and agility. His size shows up with physicality. And while Gibbs is top-end faster, Bijan is still explosive in his own right, creating home run plays... Routes, hands and pass protection, he's elite in that area."

Robinson's production since entering the NFL has been undeniably impressive. As a rookie he posted 976 rushing yards and eight touchdowns from scrimmage despite a relatively light workload for a star running back.

In each of the last two seasons he's totaled over 1,400 rushing yards and averaged 10.5 touchdowns on the ground, while chipping in another 1,251 yards and five scores as a receiver.

Robinson has established himself as one of the best dual-threat backs in the game. The former No. 8 overall pick is the complete package from an NFL running back standpoint. Plus, he's still just 24 years old.

Now that he no longer has to split carries with Tyler Allgeier, Robinson should be able to post better numbers than any other running back in the league - and as is appropriate he's the consensus top overall pick in fantasy football this year.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFL execs rank Falcons star No. 1 at his position

A pair of Auburn Tigers have made the cut and will join USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team roster.

Catcher Chase Fralick and pitcher Jackson Sanders will represent Auburn on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team roster, which was revealed Sunday. The duo earns spots after competing in workouts, practices, and exhibitions over 11 days in Cary, North Carolina.

Fralick was a consistent threat at the plate during exhibition play. He hit for a .333 average over eight games and was one of seven players to log multiple hits and RBI during training camp. Sanders appeared in three games, where he struck out four batters and allowed just two hits during his outings.

The duo will now compete alongside several of college baseball's top performers, including Texas pitcher Luke Harrison, Georgia infielder Kolby Branch, and Arizona State outfielder Landon Hairston. Team USA will be led by Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb, with Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs serving in the same role for the squad.

Fralick and Sanders will now head overseas to play in the World Collegiate Baseball Championship at Taichung City Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung City, Taiwan, from July 11-15. USA Baseball will compete in three pool games before the semifinals and finals begin. The USA will face Korea on July 11 at 11:30 p.m. CT to begin the championship, and will also face Chinese Taipei and Japan.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Two Auburn Tigers earn USA Collegiate National Team roster spots

Former Fox Sports and ESPN host Marcellus Wiley has been released from Orange County Jail after posting a $1,000 bond, according to a report by Mike Florio in Pro Football Talk. The former NFL defensive end was arrested on Saturday after police responded to an alleged domestic battery incident.

Florio reports, per details obtained from the Arrest Affidavit, that the incident occurred at the World Marriott in Orlando on Saturday afternoon, and the alleged victim was Wiley’s wife. Wiley’s wife asked officers to “remove her husband from their shared hotel room due to her being afraid of him,” saying that Wiley “told [her] he was going to kill her and [she] was afraid of his behavior.”

Asked to elaborate by the officers, Wiley’s wife said “on the previous morning Marcellus had put his hands on her,” by using “one finger to sternly and intentionally poke her in the cheek.”

The affidavit noted Wiley’s wife displayed no “visible injuries” and that she did not request medical attention. However, she did say that Wiley “had an unreported history of violence toward her and she was planning to divorce him when they returned home to California.”

Per Florio, “Wiley denied any physical altercation with his wife,” and claimed she made the report because she intended to divorce him.

Authorities concluded that Wiley “did intentionally touch [his wife] against her will,” and thus there was probable cause to charge Wiley with domestic battery.

Wiley’s arrest comes amid an ongoing sexual assault case involving seven accusers, one of which is a former ESPN production assistant who claims Wiley raped her while they both worked at the network. After Awful Announcing reported on the new claims in May, Wiley responded on his YouTube show and denied the allegations.

The post Marcellus Wiley released on bond, details of alleged domestic battery case emerge appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Broncos Wire's 91-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at third-year* defensive lineman Jordan Miller, No. 90.

*Note: The Denver Broncos' official website lists Miller as a second-year player, despite having signed with the Broncos for two seasons.

Before the Broncos: Miller (6-3, 307 pounds) spent five years at the University of Miami (Florida), recording 60 total tackles (23 solo, 37 assisted, 11 tackles for loss), three sacks and two fumble recoveries in 48 games. Miller then became a graduate transfer to SMU ahead of the 2023 season.

In 14 games with the Mustangs, Miller made 26 total tackles (12 solo, 14 assisted, four behind the line), one pass breakup and a half sack. He participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl in the spring of 2024 after wrapping up his college career.

Broncos tenure: Miller came to the Denver Broncos as an undrafted college free agent in 2024, but spent the whole of his service on the practice squad. In 2025, Miller was signed to a futures contract, before being again assigned to the practice squad. He has yet to play a snap in a Broncos uniform in two seasons.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Practice squad, or roster cut. Miller does know the Broncos' system, but he has significant competition for a defensive lineman spot in the 2026 season. Unfortunately, Miller may not be on the roster come late August.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos roster: DL Jordan Miller (No. 90) aims to win rotational role

I just can’t wait until the end of the season to do the final analysis of the San Francisco Giants/Farhan Zaidi opting not to sign Kevin Gausman to an extension after the 2021 season. With the trade deadline less than a month away now and Robbie Ray almost certainly on the move, it’s begging to be written right now.

The history of the Giants getting burned by long-term pitching contracts is pretty spectacular. I don’t know what moron opted to sign Barry Zito to that 7-year deal after the 2003 season, and if it was Larry Baer, it just goes to show what an untouchable and blessed man he is. But after that, extensions for Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain didn’t provide value in the actual extension years. The Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto deals were similarly hailed as massive failures that doomed the franchise. So, that’s a pretty good sampling of failure, which ignores the context of all the success.

That’s pretty much what happened with Gausman. The Giants ignored the context of success or that the player wanted to remain in San Francisco or that he worked well with a burgeoning young pitcher already in the fold in Logan Webb. A couple of years later, Farhan Zaidi would be able to show his work and convince ownership that signing Webb to an extension in a similar AAV range as Gausman would be good for the team and they acquiesced… but they’ve still bothered to let their disgruntlement echo through the halls of Oracle Park and into the curious ears of beat writers and pundits. It is known that the Giants don’t favor, value, or want pitchers signed to big, long-term deals. It’s why they were willing to let Madison Bumgarner walk after his deal.

When you’re the sole team in a country as the Blue Jays are in Canada, it’s not a big deal.

This isn’t to say that the Giants totally have the wrong idea and high value, high payroll teams like the Blue Jays do, but before we look at Kevin Gausman and his Blue Jays teammates, let’s finish this analysis. Kevin Gausman left the Giants and signed a 5-year, $110 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays that started in 2022. Rather than re-sign him, the Giants went with Carlos Rodón, Alex Cobb, and Robbie Ray. Here’s how the plan has worked out over the past almost-five seasons:

Now, the total amount for the Giants’ side of the equation is based on two assumptions: that the Giants, owing Alex Cobb $10 milion for 2024, saved about $3.333 million the rest of the season after trading him away to the Guardians before he’d finished his rehab; and, that in trading Robbie Ray with approximately two months to go in 2026, they will have paid Robbie Ray $16.7 million and gotten half a win above replacement out of him (yes, this is envisioning a trade before his next start).

So, if all this holds, the Giants’ missed it by… an awful lot. From a straight money perspective, they were off by just about $2 million, and for most wagon circling front office lovers out there that might be more than enough to still bother to affirm the previous regime’s “genius,” but the substantive part of the analysis — that wins above replacement total — is a big whiff. The Giants were so afraid of committing long-term to a pitcher out of fear of injuries or ineffectiveness that they wound up acquiring THREE pitchers with injury histories and 2/3 of them saw their production hampered by injuries. This was some penny wise, pound foolish nonsense and I’m glad we all got to experience it. Farhan Zaidi, encouraged by ownership, attempted to recreate Kevin Gausman in the aggregate so that the Giants could have a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation, and the team failed.

Anyway, this post’s headline is a reference to the penultimate episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, which was about Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beaming down to a planet that was about to be obliterated by its star going supernova after getting signs of life. Upon beaming down, they discover that the entire civilization has devised a time travel technology that will allow every single person to escape into their planet’s past to live out their lifespans and not have to be lost to the supernova.

It’s a good enough episode that if it had been the series finale it would’ve been a good one to go out on — certainly better than the actual finale, the genuinely awful and misogynistic “Turnabout Intruder” — but as a talking point for the 2026 San Francisco Giants it carries exactly this weight: as nice as it is to escape into the past to avoid a terrible future, the punishing nature of the major league schedule and the cruel passage of time prevents that from happening.

We’ll never know if re-signing Gausman would’ve worked out as well as it did for the Blue Jays and if that working out would’ve meant a couple more winning seasons interspersed in the last 5 seasons, and as nice as it would be to escape into that past or that reality, the supernova is here and the Giants must once again ask if the rules they’ve self-imposed that have brought them into its path were of any use. Hmm, why bother wondering. Powerful, successful people have made these rules. They can’t fail, they can only be failed.

But I can’t be totally critical. Since 2020, when the Blue Jays kicked off this latest competitive window, their pitching staff (with or without Gausman) hasn’t been as valuable as the Giants, trailing the orange and black 82.2 to 94.1 Sure, they have a better record over this same span (514-446 to 494-465) and four postseason appearances including a World Series loss, but the Giants have had the better pitching — or, at least, Logan Webb along with their aggregate approach has mostly worked.

Not this year, of course. This year has been an unmitigated disaster. Not much the Giants have done has worked.

That’s sort of what’s happened with the Blue Jays. They’ve done all the things a big market/high-spending team is supposed to do: build through the draft and international signings, developing talent through the farm system, retaining the most valuable farm players with long-term deals and supplementing the roster with free agents. They signed Vladimir Guerrero to a 14-year, $500 million deal last April. Gausman was brought in to be the #2 behind Alek Manoah, and when that didn’t work out, he’s managed to be the steadiest pitcher behind whoever was considered “the ace,” ascending to that role in the 2025 World Series year. This year, he’s part of a three-headed monster with Trey Yesavage (drafted) and Dylan Cease (free agent).

Still, with all that talent at the top of the rotation, Toronto’s pitching staff is a lot closer to middle of the pack (13th in fWAR). Compounding problems is that their lineup just hasn’t clicked. Their 92 wRC+ is just 23rd. They are second to last in runs scored (356), making them the lowest-scoring team in the American League. The cause? Well, they let Bo Bichette go and 36-year old George Springer won’t replicate 35-year old George Springer’s 32 home run season of 2025. The team’s power dropoff is precipitous and their team batting line compared to last year — keeping in mind that the 2025 squad is the type of lineup the Giants seem to want — is stark:

2025: .265/.333/.427 (.162 ISO), 8.4 BB%, 17.8 K%
2026: .244/.306/.382 (.139 ISO), 7.4 BB%, 20.0 K%

Walking less, striking out more, hitting for less power, making less contact — a bad recipe that makes a bad lineup, which is just what Toronto has had. Since getting back to 39-39 a few weeks ago, they’ve gone 3-9 thanks to averaging just 3 runs per game. They’ve been shutout in 3 of their last 5 games including 2 straight. They were 3-7 on their last homestand.

This team still has playoff aspirations. The Giants do not.

Series overview

Who: San Francisco Giants (37-52) vs Toronto Blue Jays (42-48)
Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California
When: Monday & Tuesday at 6:45pm PT, Wednesday at 12:45pm PT
National broadcasts: Peacock (Sunday)

Projected starters
Monday: Landen Roupp (RHP 5-8, 4.55 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (RHP 4-7, 4.19 ERA)
Tuesday: TBD vs. Trevor McDonald (RHP 3-6, 4.42 ERA)
Wednesday: Logan Webb (RHP 5-6, 3.66 ERA) vs. Dylan Cease (RHP 5-4, 2.79 ERA)

Blue Jays to watch

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Vlad Guerrero has yet to homer at home this season! That has no bearing on this series, necessarily, but it’s an interesting factoid. He has just 4 all season anyway and a very bad .698 OPS to boot. Baseball Savant took a look at Vladito’s power drought and found some reasons to think he’s due for a turnaround in-season. You’d like to think that the slump would linger a little longer, though. He’s played at Oracle Park just twice in his career (2019 & 2024) and the two homers he’s hit came in 2019. He was 1-for-13 in the 2024 series.

Tyler Rogers: Why didn’t I make the whole series preview about the Tyler Rogers’ return? Well, because he’s got two more years left on his deal. Instead, Buster Posey will get to watch the funky submariner attack Giants hitters and see if the organization’s familiarity with him gives any of the hitters an edge. Rogers has allowed 0 homers in 42 appearances (40.2 IP). Toronto’s closer, Louis Varland (18 saves, 2.2 fWAR) has allowed just 1 in 47 IP.

Ernie Clement: I am not the only one who remembers how he absolutely obliterated the Giants at Oracle Park back in that 2024 series. Total annihilation. He was 5-for-11 with 2 homers and 7 RBI. Both of his homers were 3-run homers, one off of Ryan Walker and another off of Logan Webb, both of whom he’ll face in this series. But! He’s just 13-for-55 in his last 16 games (.236/.276/.273) with only 2 extra base hits (doubles) and a single RBI.

Giants to watch

Logan Webb: Can the Giants’ ace get back on track after a disastrous start in Coors Field or have the wheels come off the season and now it’s all about turning to next season?

Rafael Devers: He has 24 career homers against Toronto across 108 games and 449 plate appearances. A career .927 OPS hitter in the matchup. His two homers yesterday gave him 18 on the season which ties him with Manny Machado, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and CJ Abrams — good company. Half of them have come since June 15th… the day I published a post assessing Devers’ present and projecting his future. I didn’t think he’d be much better than around the league average. Since that post went up, he’s hit .306/.386/.790 (70 PA), an 11.4 BB%, and 20 K% — far, far better than the league. Is he reading my posts???

Heliot Ramos: He’s got a couple of homers in 7 games off the IL with a 6.9 BB% and surprising 17.2 K%. Whether or not the Giants trade him is irrelevant. He’s an easy Giant to root for and if he’s back on track, really fun to watch.

Prediction time

Kevin Gausman will strike out some Giant at least twice. Tyler Rogers will get a pair of strikeouts in at least one appearance. Jung Hoo Lee will hit a home run.

The US men’s national team have waited nearly four years for another shot at the World Cup last 16. Mauricio Pochettino and his players have been building to this moment since the Argentinian’s appointment two years ago, with a beatable Belgium team all that’s between the co-hosts and a place in the final eight.

Earlier in the day, Portugal and Spain face each other in a tantalizing Iberian derby. The European champions found top form to get the better of Austria in the previous round, reaching a level that will be difficult for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co to match.

The two blockbuster ties will decide two more places in the World Cup quarter-finals. All four teams involved have a realistic chance of extending their run at the tournament by at least one more round.

Here is your complete guide on how to watch today’s World Cup games, including kick-off times, broadcast networks and online streaming options.

• Complete guide to all the players

• A visual guide to every stadium

• The full bracket

• Golden Boot leaders

***

Portugal v Spain

Time (ET): 3pm

Stadium: AT&T Stadium (Arlington)

How to watch

United States: Fox / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: BBC One (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

Whether Ronaldo or Roberto Martínez is to blame for the struggles Portugal have endured at this World Cup depends on whom you ask. What isn’t in doubt is that Portugal will have to significantly lift their level to stand any chance of overcoming a Spain team that finally appears to be finding their stride.

The European champions have improved with almost every match they’ve played at the World Cup with their 3-0 victory over Austria a well-rounded display. Spain will play with intensity on both sides of the ball, something that will be easier in the air-conditioned confines of Jerry World.

Player to watch: Lamine Yamal, Spain – Spain are growing into this tournament because Yamal is growing into this tournament. They are a completely different team when they have the Barcelona youngster as a dribbling threat on the right wing.

What to read

Portugal team guide

Spain team guide

***

USA v Belgium

Time (ET): 8pm

Stadium: Lumen Field (Seattle)

How to watch

United States: Fox / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: BBC One (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

The USA are playing like a Pochettino team. Their attacking verve and energy have made the co-hosts one of the most exciting sides to watch at this World Cup, although defeat to Belgium would prompt a sense of deja vu after last-16 exits in 2010, 2014 and 2022.

Belgium got the better of the USA at the same stage of the 2014 World Cup, but the country’s so-called golden generation has faded (or altogether disappeared) since then. Rudi Garcia’s side have toiled throughout this summer’s tournament and can’t be relied upon to create goalscoring opportunities. This is a big chance for the USA.

Player to watch: Folarin Balogun, USA – After his one-game red-card ban was suspended by Fifa, Balogun will once again be the USA’s biggest threat in the attacking third. The Monaco striker is enjoying a breakout tournament.

What to read

USA team guide

Belgium team guide

Portugal vs. Spain free live stream: How to watch World Cup game online without cable originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Portugal and Spain face off in a Round of 16 matchup that pits European neighbors and competition stalwarts against each other.

Not only do the two countries share a border, but they also share a football history. Spain and Portugal have played 41 matches against each other, though most have been friendlies. Most recently, the Portuguese took down the Spaniards on penalties in the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals.

Both teams head into this clash with different momentum. Spain is coming off a dominating 3-0 win over Austria, led by Mikel Oyarzabal's two goals. On the Portuguese side, the Selecao shook off an early second-half deficit to come back and beat Austria 2-1 thanks to a penalty kick from Cristiano Ronaldo and a stoppage-time goal from Gonçalo Ramos.

The winner will head back to the quarterfinals, a place both sides have been to before. Portugal made the quarterfinals in 2022 before falling to Morocco, while Spain last made the final eight in 2010 when they won the entire tournament.

Here's everything you need to know to watch the Portugal vs. Spain World Cup match, including where to watch on TV or live stream, what time the game starts and more.

Portugal vs. Spain free live stream

Portugal vs. Spain is available to stream for FREE on fubo.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Portugal vs. Spain channel, live stream

• TV channel: FOX
• Streaming: fubo, Fox One, Fox Sports app/website

Portugal vs. Spain will be broadcast on FOX in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.

The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up for a FREE trial.

What time does Portugal vs. Spain kick off?

Portugal vs. Spain kicks off Monday, July 6, at 3 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Here's how that time translates across the United States time zones:

Portugal vs. Spain betting odds

World Cup schedule today and tomorrow

All times Eastern.

Monday, July 6

• Portugal vs. Spain (3 p.m.)
• USA vs. Belgium (8 p.m.)

Tuesday, July 7

• Argentina vs. Egypt (12 p.m.)
• Switzerland vs. Colombia (4 p.m.)

MORE:Complete World Cup schedule and fixtures

2026 FIFA World Cup FAQs

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?

The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men's World Cup hosted by three countries.

The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.

How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.

The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.

How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?

There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.

Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?

Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.

What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?

In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock. Check the schedule for the specific match you want to watch.

When is the 2026 World Cup final?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA's tournament name for MetLife Stadium.

What time do World Cup games start?

Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.

Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?

Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.

Aurelio De Laurentiis has made clear that Napoli’s priority this summer is to trim a heavily bloated squad rather than add to it, while backing new head coach Massimiliano Allegri to fit seamlessly into his vision for the club.

Speaking at the presentation of Napoli’s new home kit, via the Corriere dello Sport, the president was asked about the club’s transfer plans and pointed to the sheer volume of players on the books as the issue to resolve first.

“In the last month I must have received 200 proposals for players to sign, but I told them to stay calm: we have 47 players, and we need to place 25 before we can talk,” De Laurentiis said. “In my opinion we won’t need to buy anyone and will give away many.”

GENOA, ITALY – MAY 17: Massimiliano Allegri, head coach of Milan, reacts during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on May 17, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

De Laurentiis backs Allegri to align with Napoli’s approach

The president was warm on his new head coach, framing Allegri as a natural fit for the way he runs the club.

“Mr Allegri is a company man, we’ll get along very well,” De Laurentiis said, before adding a characteristic flourish: “I’ll ask Max for advice on buying a horse, and we’ll put a jockey in a Napoli shirt on it.”

The message from the top is unambiguous: before Napoli entertain any incomings, a substantial clear-out must come first, with a squad of 47 needing to be whittled down significantly.

It is a stance that chimes with the picture built elsewhere this window, in which Napoli’s overcrowded ranks, particularly among the deadweight forwards, have been flagged as the pressing issue for Allegri to address in his first summer at the helm.

Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.

MONDAY

The Mets committed their 19th error in 12 games, the most errors they’ve committed in a 12-game span since committing 20 from August 20-September 2, 2014.

TUESDAY

Within the first three innings, the Mets recorded five outs on balls with an exit velocity of 101 mph or higher. That’s the most outs the Mets have recorded on balls hit that hard in the first three innings of a game in the Statcast era (since 2015). The only team to record more outs on balls hit that hard in the first three innings of a game since 2015 was the Dodgers (6) against the Padres on April 4, 2017.  (credit: SNY broadcast)

Nolan McLean racked up seven strikeouts for the 14th time in his first 25 big league games. The only other pitchers to debut since 2015 and post that many seven-strikeout performances in their first 25 outings are Paul Skenes (17), Jacob Misiorowski (15), and Chase Burns (15).

WEDNESDAY

Francisco Lindor has hit a solo homer in three of his past four games at Rogers Centre in Toronto, dating back to a ninth-inning, no-hitter-ending homer on September 11, 2024 against Bowden Francis (see Saturday’s entries for more on that game). All three homers came on fastballs between 91.9 mph and 93.0 mph.

With his 10th homer of the season, Benge is already just the fourth Mets rookie to record 10 homers, 10 doubles, and 10 steals, joining: Darryl Strawberry (1983), Gregg Jefferies (1989), and Ty Wigginton (2003).

Benge racked up multiple extra-base hits in the same game for the fifth time this season. The only other rookie with that many multi-XBH games this season is Sal Stewart, who has eight.

FRIDAY

Juan Soto hit the 71st opposite-field home run (as categorized by Statcast) of his career. Since 2018, Soto’s rookie season, the only player with more opposite-field homers is Aaron Judge, who fittingly has 99. Soto and Judge are the only players in MLB with more than 60 opposite-field homers during that span. (credit: SNY Broadcast)

In just a year and a half, Soto already has 13 opposite-field homers with the Mets, which rank second for the club from the left side since 2015 behind only Michael Conforto (31).

The Mets allowed three home runs with a projected distance of 410 feet or more, their most in a game since July 14, 2024, when Jose Quintana allowed a trio of 410+ foot homers to the Rockies at Citi Field (see Saturday’s entries for more on that game, as well). The Mets have now accomplished the unfortunate feat three times at Truist Park in Atlanta (tied with Coors Field for their most in any opposing ballpark), with Matt Olson hitting a combined four homers of 410+ feet in those games.

SATURDAY

Mark Vientos hit his 65th career home run before turning 27 years old, moving him into a tie with José Reyes for 11th place among Mets for homers before their 27th birthday.

Sean Manaea threw 108 pitches, his second-most in a game as a Met behind only a 109-pitch outing in Toronto on September 11, 2024.

The Mets allowed five home runs in a game for the first time since July 14, 2024, against the Rockies at Citi Field.

The Mets allowed four or more home runs in back-to-back games for just the sixth time in franchise history, and the first since May 24-25, 2022, in San Francisco.

The Mets allowed nine home runs in a two-game span for the sixth time in franchise history, and the first since September 17-18, 2020, when they allowed 10 in a two-game span (allowing four homers in Philadelphia, and six at Citi Field the following day to the Braves).

The Mets allowed 14 or more runs for the third time this season, tied for second-most in the majors. The Nationals are the only team in MLB to have allowed 14+ runs more times (4) this season. The only other seasons in Mets history where they have allowed 14+ runs on at least three occasions through their first 90 games were 1962 (5), 2012 (3), and 2020 (4).

On the nation’s 250th birthday, the Braves celebrated by winning their250th home game vs. the Mets since moving to Atlanta in 1966. (credit: FOX Broadcast)

SUNDAY

Luke Weaver recorded his 23rd consecutive scoreless outing, tied with Aaron Loup for the fifth-longest streak by a pitcher in franchise history behind Mark Guthrie (33), A.J. Minter (25), Francisco Rodríguez (24), and John Franco (24).

Bo Bichette recorded his sixth three-hit game since May 18, tied for fourth-most in the majors during that span behind Yordan Alvarez, Otto Lopez, and James Wood, who each have seven.

The Mets have now allowed nine grand slams this season. No other team in MLB has allowed more than five. Since 2024, the Mets have now allowed 11 grand slams in the eighth inning or later. No other team has allowed more than seven during that span.

Mark Vientos initiated his 23rd ABS challenge of the season, and his second unsuccessful one in as many days. Vientos is one of only four batters in MLB to have initiated that many challenges (along with Sal Stewart, Gary Sanchez, and Bryce Harper), and his 19.7% challenge rate (out of called strikes with a challenge available to use) ranks first among players with a minimum of 50 plate appearances.

The Mets scored and allowed nine runs in a game for the first time since August 29, 2025, a 19-9 win against the Marlins at Citi Field.

The Mets scored and allowed five runs in two halves of a single inning for just the eighth time in franchise history, and the first since September 3, 2019, during the ninth inning of a heartbreaking walk-off loss in Washington.

Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:

Juan Soto became the third player to earn an All-Star selection with both the Mets and the Yankees, joining David Cone and Carlos Beltrán.

Manchester United face a fierce battle with Europe’s elite to sign Werder Bremen centre-back Karim Coulibaly, according to a new report.

Man Mountain

Despite only turning 19 in March, Coulibaly already possesses a powerful 6’3″ frame, combined with excellent mobility for such a tall defender. His “incredibly fast” stride allows him to keep pace with most attackers in the Bundesliga, enabling him to cover large areas in transition.

However, the Germany under-21 international is arguably even more impressive in possession, ranking highly across virtually every passing metric and demonstrating the ability to play out from the back as a result. The fact he is left-footed only adds to his allure.

One scouting report states: “His scanning frequency before receiving the ball is elite for his age group, allowing him to take a first touch that immediately opens up a vertical passing lane.”

The Oldenburg native’s “passing repertoire is defined by punch and precision”, with Werder Bremen manager Daniel Thioune utilising him as a key part of their build-up play. This “elite line-breaking passing” is fundamental to Die Werderaner, while the “physical dominance” he offers acts as a failsafe for the backline.

It is clear to see why Coulibaly’s rise last season has put a number of top clubs, including the Red Devils, on red alert over a swoop this summer. Werder Bremen are understood to be willing to open talks at the £35 million mark, though there will be hope the considerable interest from across the continent drives this figure up to around £43 million.

Eyed by Europe’s Elite

Even with Harry Maguire putting pen to paper on a new deal in April, Manchester United remain interested in defensive targets, particularly in the younger bracket, such as Coulibaly.

TEAMtalk reveals United are “monitoring the teenager closely, seeking reinforcements in a position that has caused them issues in recent seasons” – a nod to the injury woes faced in central defence by Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez.

European champions Paris Saint-Germain are also mentioned as a suitor, while Napoli, Newcastle United, and Olympique Marseille are other interested parties. However, it is a major Premier League rival who is understood to be leading the race.

The report states Chelsea have “entered into negotiations” as the Blues look to reinforce their backline at the request of new manager, Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard is “keen to add defensive depth and quality, and Coulibaly fits the profile of a player capable of thriving in a possession-based system.”

Interestingly, Werder Bremen director Clemens Fritz revealed last month there had been “movement” around Coulibaly. The German club would “prefer to retain him for another season or insert a loan-back clause in any deal”, though this would prove an expensive outlay for a long-term signing.

Final Thoughts

A key part of Manchester United’s transition under Michael Carrick next season will be the team’s ability to be more proactive; both in terms of playing out from the back, but also maintaining a high line to force the opposition to drop deep. Coulibaly is the prototypical modern defender who allows a manager to implement this approach without leaving too many gaps at the back.

However, both Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven – both highly regarded at Old Trafford – have similar profiles, making it doubtful INEOS will sanction a big-money raid for the German giant ahead of Chelsea. But if Coulibaly was to arrive, it would almost certainly mean this season will be Maguire’s last in a red shirt as the queue in central defence would need someone to step out.

Feature image Sona Maleterova via Getty Images

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

Not every position battle is created equal. Some determine depth, while others could shape the Cowboys’ ceiling in 2026. Let’s analyze some of the position battles that could determine the Cowboys’ fate this season. We know Brian Schottenheimer has declared left tackle an open competition, but it’s hard to believe he isn’t using a motivational technique on Tyler Guyton, so we’re skipping it here.

Running Back

This is the only offensive group on this list, and it’s on here because of the question marks behind Javonte Williams. Williams accounted for 52% of the Cowboys’ rushing attempts last season, 56% of rushing yards and 61% of the Cowboys’ rushing TDs. The term bell-cow is used a lot, but there is no denying how important Williams is not only to the run game, but to the entire offense.

The next rusher in 2025 after Williams was Malik Davis, and although he has proven to be a serviceable back, the dropoff in stats is immense. Davis gained 250 yards on 52 carries and scored two touchdowns last season, a 951-yard difference in yards gained and a difference of over 200 attempts.

Williams is not going to get 300 carries. Another one of these backs needs to emerge like Davis, Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah, to not just spell Williams, but bring a different dimension to the run game that complements him. Both the floor and the ceiling for this offense, that was already an exceptional unit in 2025, will be taken to new heights if they get an explosive RB2.

Inside Linebacker

It is no secret how bad Dallas’ defense was last year. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus paid for it with his job. Linebacker was one of those positions that was constantly getting exposed. Perpetual missed gap assignments and a lack of speed and athleticism exposed this corps. They were among the reasons Cowboys fans were despondent of the defensive performance in 2025.

Now the energy has shifted. Christian Parker’s move to a base 3-4 has insulated the interior linebacker position and afforded the would-be starters, DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters, the opportunity to shine. Outside of those two, the position will be defined by depth. Solid depth will allow Overshown and Winters to stay fresh when they need a spell, without having a huge drop-off. There is also the specter of Overshown’s injuries which means someone needs to be ready to step in.

This will all depend on whether the second and third unit can develop. As it stands, Jaishawn Barham, Justin Barron, Shemar James, Curtis Robinson and Langston Patterson are penciled in as the backups behind Winters and Overshown. It’s a safe assumption Barham will be playing all over the line of scrimmage and the second level; his ceiling is high, but he still might be a project. Can Barham and James make enough noise to solidify their standing on the roster? If that happens, the second level that saw so much turbulence last year could finally gel and get the Cowboys the stops they couldn’t last season.

Cornerback

Another maligned position group in what was a terrible defense, the cornerback battle will be a contest where multiple positions are up for grabs. The projected starters are DaRon Bland and Cobie Durant. Durant will be trying to establish himself in Dallas as a first-year Cowboy; Bland is trying to bounce back from another injury-riddled season.

The Cowboys’ secondary allowed the second-worst defensive passer rating last season, as opposing QBs averaged 109.6; only the Jets were worse, averaging 110. The Cowboys will look to make something out of a healthy mix of veterans like Bland and Durant, along with youngsters like Shavon Revel Jr., Caelen Carson, and Devin Moore.

The key here for the cornerbacks is simply improving on what was bottom-of-the-barrel defense from a year ago. With reinforcements along the front seven and help on the back end with Caleb Downs, who will be seeing a ton of action at the nickelback position, this proposition isn’t far-fetched. The corners will be pushed by facing a great Cowboys receiving corps in practice. They could make the biggest turnaround as a position group one year to the next.

Edge/OLB

Dallas is rebuilding its defensive identity, and as the old trope goes, “football is won and lost at the line of scrimmage.” And for the Cowboys, they are looking for more than just replacing their leading sacks leader, Jadeveon Clowney, with 8.5, at edge. Unlike the other positions, the defensive edge can set the tone from the ground up, thereby affecting every level behind it, either positively or negatively. This is something last year’s defensive edge position failed to do consistently.

Now, buoyed by the arrival of players like Rashan Gary and first-round pick Malachi Lawrence, the Cowboys have fresh blood to build upon. Joining those two are James Houston, last year’s No. 2 sack leader, and Donovan Ezeiruaku, who many are expecting to see a big leap from.

If the edge position can feed off the defensive interior, anchored by Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, then the rest of the defense could fall into place like dominoes. That, however, will start in training camp, and these battles could be among the most physical and intense of any positional battles.

Which of these battles is most important for the Cowboys?

There is always more on the line when these two teams play each other. However, could a crushing defeat to Miami be the final nail in the coffin for head coach Mike Norvell? The Noles have a bye week after this game, and if the early-season results do not go their way, the talk after the Hurricanes will not be about the contest but about the coach’s next steps.

Florida State vs. Miami Hurricanes

Date: Saturday, Oct. 17, TBD

Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Previous matchup: L, 22-28

All-time series: 33-37

Miami Hurricanes: 2026 Team Preview

2025 record: 13-3 (6-2)

Two things to know:

• The one-year Carson Beck era is over in Coral Gables, but head coach Mario Cristobal made sure to retool at the position. Late in the transfer portal, Miami landed Darian Mensah from Duke, one of the best portal pickups from any team in the country. Mensah began his career at Tulane before being named All-ACC Second Team in 2025 and helping bring the Blue Devils an ACC Championship. The junior was one of the most expensive acquisitions in the country, but UM believes his ability to push the ball downfield will be worth it.
• In addition to replacing Beck, the Hurricanes must find five new starters on an offensive line that was downright dominant a season ago. The ‘Canes are prepared to pickup where they left off in 2025, however, with one of the most highly-touted fronts anywhere in the country, headlined by true freshman LT Jackson Cantwell, a five-star prospect by every major recruiting site. Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal have done an excellent job building UM in the trenches, but there is always risk with such a young group.

Three key players

• So. WR Malachi Toney: The All-Everything wide receiver is back for year two with the Canes after putting together one of the greatest college seasons ever by a freshman wideout. Toney was a Second-Team AP All-American and scored in three of Miami’s four College Football Playoff games last year. It is hard to believe that he still needs to play two more seasons in college before turning pro, as he feels like Detroit Lions RB Jahymr Gibbs, just at wide receiver.
• Sr. DL Damon Wilson: Miami did not take many players from the portal, but when they did, Cristobal went big-game hunting. Wilson transferred to Miami from Missouri, where he recorded nine sacks and was named Second-Team All-SEC in 2025. The senior will instantly plug the gap left behind by Rueben Bain and should also hear his name called in the first round of the NFL Draft with another productive season.
• Sr. RB Mark Fletcher Jr: Even though the Hurricanes are breaking in a relatively inexperienced offensive line, the running backs behind them are a veteran group, headlined by Fletcher Jr., who begins his fourth season in Coral Gables. The senior was named Third-Team All-ACC last season and helped Miami control games on the ground and milk the clock. He is an imposing force and one of the most physical backs in the country, but can be explosive given the opportunity.

Florida State vs. Miami Hurricanes: Game preview, predictions

Best Case

It is difficult to figure out a best-case scenario because there is almost no way Florida State does not open this game as at least a double-digit road underdog. Does it matter if the Noles fight hard in the first half, only to give way in the second half as they did a few years ago? The best case for Florida State is that the administration has a plan to carry into the bye week, unlike what happened against Stanford.

Realistic Case

As far as the game is concerned, the most realistic scenario is that it starts close and cagey early, before Miami’s talent takes over in the second half. The Seminoles just do not match up with UM at almost any position, and Cristobal has done an amazing job the last two years making sure his team gets up for this game to take care of business.

Worst Case

The worst case is just the flip of the best-case scenario. What happens if Florida State gets pummeled in Coral Gables, but the administration did not see it coming or continues to turn the other cheek? What if the program does not take advantage of the bye week and instead sticks with Ashton Daniels rather than trying out one of the younger quarterbacks? The loss is almost inevitable, a lack of preparation afterward does not have to be.

2026 FSU football schedule

• Saturday, Aug. 29: New Mexico State Aggies (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 7:00 p.m. (The CW)
• Monday, Sep. 7: SMU Mustangs (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
• BYE
• Saturday, Sep. 19: Alabama Crimson Tide (Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.) | 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
• Saturday, Sep. 26: Central Arkansas Bears (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
• Saturday, Oct. 3: Virginia Cavaliers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
• Friday, Oct. 9: Louisville Cardinals (Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Ky.) | 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
• Saturday, Oct. 17: Miami Hurricanes (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
• BYE
• Saturday, Oct. 31: Clemson Tigers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
• Saturday, Nov. 7: Boston College Eagles (Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.)
• Friday, Nov. 13: Pitt Panthers (Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.) | 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
• Saturday, Nov. 21: NC State Wolfpack (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)
• Friday, Nov. 27: Florida Gators (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Michigan’s offseason didn’t just add talent, it added elite skill on both forward and defense. The Wolverines landed arguably one of the biggest recruit in college hockey history in Landon DuPont, brought in several impact freshmen, and return a strong core from last season. On paper, head coach Brandon Naurato easily has the deepest roster of his tenure at Michigan.

Of course, plenty can and probably will change before opening night, but here’s how I see Michigan lining up heading into the 2026-27 season.

First line: Will Horcoff — Michael Hage — Jayden Perron

If you’re trying to build a line capable of matching up against anyone in college hockey, this is probably it.

Michael Hage is the centerpiece for the entire team, after emerging as one of the nation’s premier young forwards. His vision and puck skills make him an ideal first-line center in today’s college hockey. Horcoff complements him perfectly. At 6-foot-5, he wins puck battles, creates space around the crease and does a lot of the dirty work that allows his skilled linemates to operate. He doesn’t need the puck on his stick every shift to make an impact.

Perron rounds out the trio as the playmaker. His hockey IQ and vision allow him to find soft spots in coverage, and he’s creative enough to capitalize when Hage or Horcoff draw defenders toward them.

Overall, this line is littered with legitimate All-American potential and could be the best line in the entire NCAA.

Second line: Malcolm Spence — Jack Nesbitt — JP Hurlbert

Calling this Michigan’s second line almost feels unfair. It’s 3 first round NHL picks.

Spence looked more comfortable as last season went along and has all the tools to take a big sophomore leap. He’s relentless on the forecheck, plays a mature two-way game and has more offensive upside than his freshman numbers showed. Hurlbert arrives after a monster WHL season that saw him score 42 goals and earn WHL Rookie of the Year honors. Pair him with the big-bodied Nesbitt down the middle, and Michigan suddenly has another line capable of matching up with anyone.

Third Line: Adam Valentini — Garrett Schifsky — Nick Moldenhauer

Michigan’s captain this season, Schifsky has been one of the Wolverines’ most reliable forwards over the last two seasons and should continue to anchor the middle of the ice. Moldenhauer has battled injuries during his career, but when healthy, he can produce and brings some offensive creativity. Valentini is the wildcard. The freshman plays with plenty of pace and should fit nicely alongside two veterans. This line has a little bit of everything.

If Michigan gets consistent secondary scoring from this line, it’ll make life awfully difficult on opposing defenses.

Fourth Line: Kieren Dervin — Cole McKinney — Aidan Park

This isn’t your typical fourth line. McKinney has the talent to play much higher in the lineup, but slotting him here gives Michigan four lines it can trust. Dervin and Park both bring energy, speed and a willingness to do the little things that win games. That should allow McKinney to use his skill while matching up against favorable competition. Dervin was a quiet addition to the team this offseason, but has NHL pedigree and could make a massive impact over the next few years.

Don’t be surprised if this group plays more minutes than most fourth lines around the country, keeping the rest of the forwards fresh and able to make the impact we expect from them.

Extra forward: Kason Muscutt – He was an ideal extra forward this year. He can take face-offs, he can hit and he can chip in offensively.

Projected scratches: Nick Sima, Justin Larose

First Defensive Pair: Ben Robertson — Landon DuPont

There’s no reason to overthink this one. Robertson is the steady veteran every young offensive defenseman wants to play with. He’ll handle plenty of the defensive-zone responsibilities and allow DuPont to do what he does best: push the pace, join the rush and create offense. The expectations for DuPont are enormous, but this pairing should give him every opportunity to succeed from Day 1.

Second Defensive Pair: Cameron Reid — Henry Mews

This pairing has a chance to be one of Michigan’s biggest strengths. Reid arrives as a first-round NHL draft pick and is expected to be one of the top freshman defensemen in the country. He’s an outstanding skater who can log big minutes in every situation, and his poise with the puck should translate immediately to the college game.

Mews looked great before getting hurt as a freshman last year and should be ready for even more responsibility this season. His offensive instincts and confidence with the puck make him a natural complement to Reid, giving Michigan another pairing that can move the puck quickly and contribute at both ends of the ice.

Don’t be surprised if these two are playing just as many minutes as the top pair.

Third Defensive Pair: Asher Barnett — Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen

There’s a nice mix of youth and experience here that could be the top pair for a ton of college hockey teams.

Barnett continues to develop into a dependable two-way defenseman, while Rhéaume-Mullen has played enough college hockey to provide stability on the back end. Neither player has to carry the pairing, and that’s exactly what makes this combination work so well in my opinion. Having this much experience on the third pair says a lot about Michigan’s depth.

Extra defenseman: Drew Schock

Projected scratches: Josh Orrico, Miles Gust

Starter in Net: Jack Ivankovic

Michigan doesn’t have many questions in net heading into the season. Now entering his sophomore season, expectations are even higher for Ivankovic. The Nashville Predators prospect has already proven he can handle a heavy workload, and with a deeper roster in front of him, he should once again give Michigan a chance to win every night. If the Wolverines are going to make another national title run, it will likely start with Ivankovic between the pipes. If he can stay healthy all year long, look out.

Backup: Stephen Peck

It’s honestly crazy he is back as Michigan’s backup after how well he played last year. Peck gave Michigan quality minutes when his number was called as a freshman, going 6-0-0 after Ivankovic got hurt. He is exactly what teams hope for from a backup, someone who can step in and keep the season on track.

Third String: Julian Molinaro

• Man City defender Rico Lewis could push to leave the club this summer, per a new report
• Lewis made just 11 Premier League appearances in Pep Guardiola’s final season at Man City
• Nottingham Forest & Everton are among the clubs said to have shown interest in the 21-year-old

Manchester City defender Rico Lewis could push for a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer if he is not guaranteed regular first-team football under incoming manager Enzo Maresca, as per a new report.

Lewis has been an intriguing figure in Manchester City’s squad in recent seasons, with the versatile defender’s ability to operate across the back line and in midfield making him an unconventional but highly valued asset under Pep Guardiola – though his involvement in Guardiola’s final term fell well short of what Lewis and those around him would have hoped.

The England international made just 11 Premier League appearances throughout the 2025-26 season, starting only four league games, despite having signed a new five-year contract extension in September 2025 that ties him to the club until 2030.

Rico Lewis weighing up options ahead of potential Manchester City exit

That combination of long-term contractual commitment and short-term frustration on the pitch has created an uncertainty around Lewis’s future that the arrival of new manager Enzo Maresca as manager has done little to resolve, with the new head coach yet to make his intentions around every member of the squad publicly clear ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Director of football Hugo Viana is overseeing a significant rebuild at the Etihad Stadium this summer and the question of Lewis’s role within the new structure is one of several personnel decisions that Maresca must resolve before the window closes.

Report: Lewis ‘could push to leave’ if not part of Maresca’s plans

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Lewis could push for a move away from Manchester City this summer if he is not promised regular minutes under Maresca – a development that would represent a significant and surprising departure for a player who was regarded as one of the most distinctive talents to emerge from the City Football Academy.

Lewis accumulated five goal contributions across 23 appearances in all competitions last season despite his limited involvement in the Premier League, figures that suggest his impact when given the opportunity was considerable even if the frequency of those chances left much to be desired.

The report adds that Nottingham Forest and Everton are among the Premier League clubs to have already shown interest in Lewis, broadening the pool of potential destinations available should the 21-year-old decide that his ambitions can no longer be met at the Etihad Stadium under the current setup.

The situation is further complicated by Manchester City’s ongoing pursuit of Malo Gusto from Chelsea, with the arrival of a specialist right-back of the France international’s quality likely to push Lewis further down the pecking order in that position and narrow his opportunities for regular involvement even further.

Manchester City place £30M price-tag on Rico Lewis ahead of mass summer exodus

What does Lewis’s situation mean for Man City’s summer plans?

The possibility of Lewis departing would represent a notable shift in the club’s thinking around a player who was still highly rated within City’s coaching structure as recently as the end of last season – and it underlines the degree to which Maresca’s appointment has created genuine uncertainty across every area of the squad.

Lewis earned five England caps in 2024 during a period of more consistent involvement at club level, but was not considered for Thomas Tuchel’s FIFA World Cup squad this summer – speaking to the impact his reduced game time has had on his standing at international level and the urgency he feels around returning to playing week-in, week-out at club level.

Maresca is expected to assess all options across the squad before reaching final decisions on potential exits – and Lewis’ situation is understood to be one that the Italian manager will address directly with the player before any definitive conclusion is reached.

Whether that conversation provides Lewis with the clarity and assurance he is looking for – or instead confirms that his path to regular football at the Etihad Stadium is blocked for another season – is set to become one of the more consequential personnel discussions of Manchester City’s summer.

It’s time to start preparing for the 2026 Syracuse Orange football season. We’re going through the roster to take a look at each Syracuse player as we get to know a lot of new faces for Year 3 of the Fran Brown Era.

Up next is…

Name: Trey Dudley

Position: Linebacker

Year: Redshirt freshman

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 230 lbs.

Hometown: Ashburn, VA

High School/Previous College: Briar Woods High School

2025 stats: Appeared in four games (redshirted rest of the season)

2026 projections: Dudley will likely continue getting reps on special teams. As for defense, there’s a chance he could get some action (at least more than in 2025), but I think it comes more as a second-string/depth linebacker.

How’d he get here?: Flipped his commitment to the Orange in November 2024 after initially committing as a running back to James Madison. Also had offers from UMass, Old Dominion, Marshall, Temple, and East Carolina.

What’d recruiting sites say?: Three stars on 247Sports, ESPN, and On3

Social Media:

X: @TreyDAthlete

Instagram: @tr3ydathlete

Interesting nugget o’interest: Ashburn is also the hometown of NFL veteran Jonathan Allen, former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Nate Davis, and USWNT player Emily Fox.

Let’s get a look at ya: Senior year tape:

Injuries are an unfortunate part of football and especially so in youth football. As the body goes through its changes, it can be particularly vulnerable. Bayern Munich are no strangers to this. But the slate of injuries so many of the footballers in the Bavarians’ youth academy had to combat in recent seasons bordered on the ridiculous. The U-23s had to deal with an injury list that ranged into the double digits throughout most of the 2025/26 season, most academy injuries would usually take months on months to heal while most of those who trained with the first team (Wisdom Mike, David Daiber, Vincent Manuba, Maycon Cardozo, Grayson Dettoni, Cassiano Kiala, etc.) suffered serious muscular injuries.

Lennart Karl’s injury during German national team duty, which ruled him out of the World Cup entirely, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Bayern concluded that this was more than just bad luck. Somebody in the academy fitness department was not doing their job well enough.

According to German news site Tz (as captured by @iMiaSanMia_GER), Bayern have found their culprit(s):

FC Bayern parts ways with Carsten Schünemann (57). He has been head of the athletics department at the Campus since 2019 & has been facing internal criticism for some time. One of the accusations: He deliberately kept qualified athletics trainers in his department down. Furthermore, there was reportedly no clear concept for managing player workload. Example: Wisdom Mike suffered a thigh injury on February 11, 2025, during a Youth League match at Betis Sevilla. In the 2 weeks prior, he rotated through U17, U19, and the senior team without a single day off.

One possible internal solution for the succession is Quirin Löppert, who only joined from FC Augsburg as an athletics and rehab trainer in January. As an external candidate, Johannes Wieber (53) from 1. FC Nürnberg is being considered. He already worked in FC Bayern’s youth academy from 2013 to 2019.

Campus doctor Jan-Philipp Müller is also not without controversy. Long rehab phases without any significant reason repeatedly cause astonishment among players and coaches. For instance, his predicted absence period for Jonathan Asp Jensen in the fall of 2024 turned out to be significantly too long. Initially, there was talk of a 10-week break, but after obtaining a second opinion in Asp Jensen’s home country of Denmark and undergoing a new MRI at the doctors of the professional department, this was shortened to 3 weeks. A topic that concerns both the medical department and the athletic sector was talents being re-injured immediately after making their comeback from a previous injury (e.g. Louis Richter, Chivano Wijks, Vincent Manuba).

BFW Analysis

Certainly, the mismanaged workload could explain why those who train with the first team get injured so frequently, while unexplained lengthy rehab phases could explain why these enforced absences are always so long. It is impossible to to know from the outside if Bayern have indeed identified the right causes of the problems, but it certainly seems possible.

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Tacoma Rainiers

The Rainiers dropped the series to a poor Reno team, unable to best the Arizona affiliate that’s struggled for much of the 2026 season. There’s reason for optimism for the Rainiers and they should have a reasonable chance of rectifying their losing ways over the next month or so, but they’ve really struggled up to this point and will need to get things turned around quickly if they want any hope of sneaking into the PCL playoffs.

He’s largely flown under the radar for the past few years, but lefty reliever Peyton Alford has been incredibly consistent during his time in the Mariner system. Primarily a fastball-breaking ball pitcher, Alford has posted excellent K-rates across all six of his seasons as a professional and makes him a strong candidate to debut in the big leagues at some point this season. He’s older (28) for a prospect, but given his reliability and lengthy track record of success, he’s a name to know as a bullpen candidate for the stretch run.

Arkansas Travelers

The Travelers, who dropped last week’s slate by a score of 4-2, will be losing two of their best hitters after to promotion in the coming days. Top sluggers Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo have reportedly earned their way up to Tacoma this week and will make their Triple-A debuts at just 21 years of age, a well deserved move that puts them on the doorstep of a big league debut. Montes (25 HR, .919 OPS) has seemingly optimized his “Three True Outcomes” approach while Arroyo (.820 OPS) has steadily improved his numbers after a slower start to the year. Two of the top five prospects in this system, Tacoma will get some much needed prospect power in their lineup that’s really struggled to put together consistent production.

Reclaiming the lead on the minor league strikeout leaderboard, Kade Anderson was again lights out on the mound this past week. Now sitting with a ridiculous 108/10 K/BB ratio, Anderson’s elite command and deceptive stuff have arguably made him the best pitcher in all of minor league baseball, baffling hitters with four pitches he can place anywhere he wants at any given time. The Mariner brass have made it clear they have little desire to move Anderson up to the hitter-friendly PCL despite his dominance against Texas League competition, so both he and Ryan Sloan (who was also excellent this week) seem like locks to hold down this rotation for the foreseeable future, giving the Travs a great shot at staying competitive through the summer. The offense will need some people to fill the hole left by Montes and Arroyo, but with a nasty bullpen and elite rotation, expect the Travelers to be just fine through the dog days of summer.

Everett AquaSox

It was a clean sweep for the Frogs this week, punctuating a dominant week over the Angels’ affiliate with an 11-6 victory in Sunday afternoon’s contest. The bats have really come alive in recent days and should give this club a great chance at a playoff spot; Spokane’s currently on a nine game winning streak and looks unreal right now, but Everett’s managed to keep pace and sits just one game back with plenty of season left to play.

It’s been a rough handful of weeks for stud catching prospect Luke Stevenson, but he had a great week against the Tri-Cities and has hopefully escaped his slump. Launching two homers (one being a grand slam off of Tyler Bremner) and reaching base in half of his plate appearances, Stevenson showed off just how good he can be when he’s got things going right offensively. The power is the key for him; he both walks and whiffs at extremely high clips and needs consistent pop to make his offensive output tenable. Now showing off extra base thump for the first time six weeks, Stevenson is a bat to monitor in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

Jonny Farmelo has been truly unconscious at the plate for the better part of two months now and could be a candidate to replace Lazaro Montes in Arkansas’ outfield. Collecting 11 hits across five games this week, Farmelo has raised his season OPS up to .877 and cut his strikeout rate down to 25%, both excellent progressions that bode well for his seemingly inevitable jump up to the Texas League. Healthy for the first time in his career, Farmelo’s combination of speed and power make him one of the most exciting prospects in this entire system; a 20 homer season is certainly on the table, and he’s got a very real shot at pushing his stolen base total up beyond 40 if he continues to be aggressive on the basepaths. Look for Farmelo to take his talents to Arkansas in the coming weeks. He’s earned it.

Inland Empire 66ers

IE split yet again this week and largely remain in a state of limbo in the standings. Yet to break through and truly get hot for an extended period of time, the 66ers have been stagnant for the majority of this season and lack star power up and down their roster. They’ll likely get an injection of talent after this weekend’s draft, but until those reinforcements make their way to the Cal League, it seems unlikely a marked change is on the horizon.

Despite the general struggles of the team overall, there’s a handful of bullpen arms that have earned some praise for their strong 2026 campaigns. Anthony Karoly, Anderson Guevara, Connor Wilford, and Cole Cheatham each have produced in the opportunities they’ve been given, with Guevara in particular carrying a large load for the 66ers ‘pen. Relief prospects in A-ball are always hard to evaluate and are closer to lottery tickets than anything else, but having arms that are producing at every level of the minor leagues is important for the overall health of the system and affords them some peace of mind as they construct waves of prospect talent for the coming years. Watch out for these guys over the coming seasons; the M’s turned some arms not wholly dissimilar from them into Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez at last year’s trade deadline and radically changed the outlook of the team for the next half decade.

ACL Mariners

The electric tandem of Nick Becker and Yorger Bautista continued to rake in the ACL and look to be heating up rather rapidly. Becker, who’s had a great stretch at the plate that’s lasted nearly two months at this point, stole another two bags and collected five hits across four games, smacking a pair of doubles in Friday night’s contest. Bautista, who had a four-hit game in that same game, launched his seventh homer of the season and continues to flash some elite power potential. Both players will need to prove they can hit enough to make their offensive profiles work as they climb through the minor leagues, but with steady improvements being made as the season progresses, the two teenagers have given evaluators enough to overlook the present bat-to-ball issues and dream on the gaudy potential if it all clicks. Both immensely talented, it seems closer to a coin flip if we see these two in A-ball this year; they’re producing, but slow playing bats with contact problems may prove to be a prudent decision.

DSL Mariners

This is easily the best lineup the DSL squad has had in years. Juan Rijo, Gregory Pio, Gabriel Guanchez, Jarvis Gomez, Fabian Gonzalez, and Elias Perez all have an OPS north of .900, and there’s plenty of others that have consistently helped with the run production all season. With a strong crop of talent this season and one of the best tandems of talent incoming next season, the DSL squad has found new life after several years of ineptitude and disappointment.

The Cubs had a successful homestand, going 4-2, though they had some real ups and downs in scoring runs, first crushing the Padres and then being crushed by the Cardinals. They outscored San Diego 35-12 in sweeping them, then got outscored by the Cardinals 24-7, though managed to win the final game against St. Louis.

That said, let’s see who was hot and not for the Cubs over the past week.

Three up

Dansby Swanson had himself a week in just three games

Over the six-game homestand, Swanson batted .409/.409/1.136 (9-for-22) with a double, five home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs scored.

The thing is, that split up in this way: 8-for-13 against the Padres with all five of the homers, then 1-for-9 against the Cardinals. It’s a weird way to have a possible Player of the Week performance. We’ll find out whether Dansby gets that honor later today.

In the meantime, enjoy his three-homer game vs. the Padres [VIDEO].

Pete Crow-Armstrong gets an All-Star nod and has another fine week

PCA is another candidate for Player of the Week, which would be his third this year (along with his NL Player of the Month for June award).

Over the six games, he batted .474/.615/.842 (9-for-19) with a double, two home runs, five walks, six runs scored and three stolen bases. That gives him 19 home runs and 23 steals for the year, on pace for about 35 homers and 40 steals. His .383 OBP ranks ninth in the NL, his .527 SLG ranks eighth, and his .910 OPS is fifth.

And he continues to play stellar defense. Here’s a sliding catch he made in the fog on Saturday [VIDEO].

Alex Bregman has shown signs of coming out of his season-long slump

Bregman batted .261/.393/.478 (6-for-23) over the week with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and five walks. Even with his batting drought, he continues to draw tons of walks. His season OBP of .340 is decent enough, and over his last 23 games it’s .377.

His three-run homer last Tuesday helped galvanize that 9-7 win [VIDEO].

Three down

David Peterson, yikes

Peterson’s first start, against the Brewers in Milwaukee, was pretty good.

His second, Friday against the Cardinals, was… I don’t really have words for how bad it was. He would get ahead of hitters and not put them away. He’d get two easy outs in an inning and then get pounded.

Maybe it’s the Cardinals. Peterson has a 19.64 ERA (16 earned runs in 7.1 innings) vs. St. Louis this year and a 5.40 ERA (42 earned runs in 70 innings) against everyone else. Okay, 5.40 isn’t great but it’s a lot better than 19.64.

Peterson is scheduled to start Thursday against the Orioles in Baltimore. Do better, David.

Ian Happ is slumping again

Happ had kept his OPS in the .800 area for a while, which is a good range.

Now it’s at .768 after he hit .143/.217/.190 (3-for-23) over the six games with seven strikeouts.

The good news for Happ is that three games this week will be in Cincinnati, where he loves to hit. In 63 career games at GABP, Happ has batted .291/.393/.619 (65-for-223) with 18 home runs. The 1.012 OPS is by far his best at any ballpark, including Wrigley Field.

Hopefully three games there will help send Happ into the All-Star break on a high note.

Nico Hoerner just can’t seem to turn the corner

Nico again had a mediocre week, batting .227/.280/.273 (5-for-22) with one extra-base hit (a double). He hasn’t stolen a base since June 2.

He continues to play solid defense. Here’s hoping the All-Star break will get Nico back on track.

The New York Mets acquired 31-year-old pitcher Matt Seelinger from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations on Monday, the team announced on X.

Seelinger has yet to make his big league debut, but he was pitching well in Triple-A for the Tigers organization. He has a 3.89 ERA through 27 outings in Triple-A Toledo this year. He could be getting a spot on the 40-man roster, as Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reported on Monday that he has an upward mobility clause in his contract.

Do you have a take to get off your chest? Do you want to engage in a growing Mets community? Comment on our content alongside staff and fans alike!

Seelinger was originally drafted in 2017 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was born in Westbury, New York, and attended college not far from there at Farmingdale State. The Pirates traded him for shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and cash in 2018. In 2019, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants, who then waived him in 2021.

After two seasons with the Phillies, he signed in the Atlantic League and posted a 0.87 ERA in 21 games for the Long Island Ducks. His success in the Atlantic League earned him a shot with the Tigers. Last year, he had a 2.74 ERA in 47 games across Double-A and Triple-A. Now, he is back in his home state.

The Mets' season looks like a lost cause. They have a 37-53 record entering play on Monday, and are 11 1/2 games out of a wild card spot in the National League. Pitching woes have plagued the Mets again this year, and Seelinger could finally get a shot to prove himself in the big leagues.

More MLB: Phillies Need To Swing Trade For This Red Sox Player

We’ve talked about the insurance the Cleveland Browns have had on Deshaun Watson’s contract in the past, but how much money has the organization actually saved over time?

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk was asked by a fan how much Cleveland saved due to an insurance policy of Watson missing the entire 2025 season. Fans had feared at one point that Watson would recover sooner and try to force a return to action, which could negate that insurance policy. Even though Watson returned to some team activities, he was never activated.

According to the NFLPA records that PFT obtained, from 2023 to 2030, they found several records noting “a return of [signing bonus] from insurance policy.” In total, it shows that the Browns received :

• 2024: $8.79 million credit
• 2025: $16.773 million credit
• 2026: $21.724 million credit
• 2027: $16.773 million credit
• 2028: $16.738 million credit
• 2029: $7.983 million credit

In total, the payments add up to $88.781 million in cap credit from 2024 to 2029, as a result of Watson’s shoulder injuries in 2023 and the Achilles tendon injury suffered in 2024. As PFT notes, while the contract given to Watson has often been talked about as one of the worst in NFL history given what Cleveland gave up and how they’ve gotten nothing out of it, the insurance premiums that Cleveland paid to protect themselves (albeit expensive in themselves) definitely appears to have paid off.

All of this seemed to stem from a March 2023 restructuring of Watson’s original five-year deal with the Browns that contained an Insurance Addendum that allowed the Browns to purchase up to $91,801,463 in insurance covering 2023, 2024, and 2025 for an injury occurring between the signing of the contract and the start of the 2023 offseason program.

For weeks, San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk has been expressing his desire to be traded or cut from the team so he can join the Washington Commanders on social media.

Aiyuk is friends with quarterback Jayden Daniels, but now something has changed. Aiyuk has decided to come for Daniels in his recent social media rant.

“Tf always so funny lil n—-. Turn your savage up,” Aiyuk wrote in an Instagram story that tagged Daniels’ account according to The Athletic.

“‘5’ gonna text me talking about some, ‘You’re on my team now. You follow my rules,'” Aiyuk said, again tagging Daniels’ account. “Boy, I’m a grown-ass man, boy. You gonna have to start running behind your momma and I might believe what you talking about. But until then, mmm-mmm.”

Any chance Aiyuk had of joining the Commanders may have been blown away by that statement. Aiyuk and Daniels played together briefly at Arizona State. Daniels even attended Aiyuk's wedding, and the pair appeared to be close.

Daniels has yet to comment on Aiyuk's latest post.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Brandon Aiyuk trolls Commanders QB Jayden Daniels on social media

Sometimes, greatness becomes its own worst enemy. Just ask Baltimore Ravens superstar Lamar Jackson. When a player produces an MVP season, anything short of another one is suddenly labeled as disappointing. Fair or not, that's the reality of Jackson's existence. Already the owner of two MVP mentions, every time he takes the field, every throw is critiqued. Every incompletion is picked apart.

In 2024, he had more of the former than the latter. He led the league in QB rating (119.6) and QBR (74.8), but come awards time, Josh Allen was crowned. No disrespect is intended, but that seemed like another campaign where Jackson should have taken the trophy again. He threw for 4,172 yards and tossed 41 TDs vs. only four interceptions.

After delivering one of the greatest quarterback seasons in recent memory the year before, postseason honors were given elsewhere. In 2025, Jackson battled injury and missed four games. This time, Matthew Stafford would secure the MVP trophy.

For Jackson, every limp drew its discussion. Every missed throw sparked a conversation. Every statistical dip birthed a theory that he'd somehow regressed. The numbers, if one is willing to research them, tell a much different story.

The Ravens are still home to the NFL's ultimate difference-maker

Pro Football Focus recently ranked all 32 NFL starters with training camps on the horizon. Lamar Jackson ranked third. Only Josh Allen, of the Buffalo Bills, and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals landed higher.

As most would, PFF stated, "Jackson wasn't quite the same player in 2025 after producing one of the greatest seasons we've ever graded the year before." His passing grade fell, but they also revealed a few things that suggest Jackson is still elite when the situation calls for it.

"Many of the traits that make him one of football's most dangerous players remained firmly intact. He continued to punish defenses that brought pressure, earning a 91.9 PFF passing grade against the blitz, while his 88.9 play-action passing grade ranked third. As a runner, he remained one of the NFL's most dynamic quarterbacks, posting a 78.6 rushing grade that ranked seventh among his peers."

The Ravens don't need Lamar Jackson to recreate 2024. They simply need him to remain Lamar Jackson, and everything will take care of itself. Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick, the writers of this one, added a little more for perspective. Perhaps the following puts things in their proper perspective.

"Perhaps most importantly, Jackson never lost his ability to attack the most valuable areas of the field, earning a 93.5 PFF passing grade on intermediate throws between the numbers and a 94.3 mark on deep throws between the numbers, a hallmark of his game dating back to Louisville."

Ladies and gentlemen, that, and the eteball test, don't suggest that Jackson has fallen off the wagon. Declan Doyle now inherits a quarterback capable of punishing defenses before the snap, after the snap, and everywhere in between.

Few offenses begin with that luxury. Fewer still pair it with a quarterback who continues ranking among the league's best both inside and outside the pocket. Maybe 2025 wasn't Jackson's finest statistical season. Maybe that is the outlier based on everything else we have already seen.

What it did prove is something equally important. Even when Lamar Jackson isn't performing at his absolute peak, he still does things almost no other quarterback in football can match. That's less evidence of decline than it is a reminder of just how impossibly high the bar has become.

What often gets overlooked is everything that remained elite when adversity exposed troubled areas.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Lamar Jackson’s 2025 stats push back on narratives about a‘down year’

England midfielder Jordan Henderson will miss the remainder of the 2026 World Cup after suffering a broken arm in a freak post-match accident following England's dramatic last-16 victory over Mexico.

Henderson was injured while celebrating with supporters after the final whistle, slipping as he attempted to climb back over the advertising hoardings. The 36-year-old was treated on the pitch, given oxygen and stretchered off before being taken to hospital.

According to reports from the BBC and The Athletic, Henderson has sustained a broken arm that will require surgery, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament.

The injury casts a shadow over England's memorable 3-2 win, which secured a quarter-final meeting with Norway. Although Henderson did not feature against Mexico, his experience and leadership have been viewed as valuable assets within Thomas Tuchel's squad throughout the tournament.

On Monday, Rivals updated its class of 2027 player rankings for the sixth time. This is the fourth update for the 2027 class with a full allotment of 150 players (the Rivals150). The movement and additions are based on two key sources: 1) in-person player evaluations through the mid-part of the high school season, and 2) film study and intel gathered on prospects since the previous update. 

Updated 2027 Rivals 150 player rankings

Since this cycle’s last update, in April, the Rivals National Basketball team has attended or streamed NBPA Top 100 Camp, Nike EYBL, USA Basketball Training Camp, Adidas 3SSB, USA Basketball U17 World Cup and U18 AmeriCup, Under Armour Next, regional travel events, two scholastic live periods, Puma Pro16, and practices. With multiple events taking place every week(end), Rivals has also collected streams and film to comb through for the maximum exposure of countless events and players.

The ranking process is a continual and often fluid one. Rivals starts ranking recruits after their freshman-year travel seasons, before their sophomore years of high school. Each recruit can look a lot different for our final ranking after their senior year championships and all-star games are played. 

We have spent the last several weeks working on this 2027 update so it will reflect the most accurate and current representation of the recruiting cycle. This work has resulted in 22 players making their debuts in the latest Rivals150 update. We have also continued collecting viewings and data on the previously ranked players, keeping an eye on their progression since the previous update. 

These prospects are entering the July live period between their junior and senior years of high school. Our next class update for the 2027 cycle will be released after the summer travel season evaluation period.

The goal of rankings at Rivals is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential. As we move forward, a player’s performance on the court and their continued growth will ultimately outweigh their earlier rankings. Again, every player’s arc is different, and each ranking is a snapshot in time. 

Updated 2027 Player Rankings

Here are some storylines from Rivals’ sixth update of the 2027 recruiting cycle. 

Grading the 2027 Rivals150

The basketball player rankings scale is as follows: five-star prospects have grades 98-100, four-star recruits have grades 90-97, and 80-89 grades are for three stars. 

This update has two five-stars, carrying a rating of 98 or higher. The players ranked Nos. 3 to 110 are classified as four-star prospects, with grades ranging from 90 to 97. The remainder of the 150 and position rankings are considered three-star prospects. 

Our goal is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential, ultimately manifested by the NBA Draft. The goal of the ranking is not to determine who had the best high school career or who will be the best college player. This is why we aim to conclude each cycle with 14 five-star prospects, following the lead of the NBA Draft Lottery. Our vision, as we end each cycle, is draft night.

CJ Rosser moves back to the No. 1 spot

CJ Rosser was the No. 1 overall player for our last class of 2027 update, and he is back in the top spot now. When Adan Diggs reclassified into the 2027 class, he was put at the No. 1 spot, and he has been very good since the move.

However, over the past six or so weeks, Rosser has taken his game to a different level. And when you are looking at a 6-foot-9 player who is pushing 6-foot-10 with his skill set, he brings intriguing long-term positional fluidity. Rosser has shown himself capable of self-creating consistent advantages, really leaning into the positionless style of the highest levels.

Rosser is originally from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and played his junior season at Southeastern (FL) Prep. He is a scorer, someone who can go out and has shown he can create — and get — buckets at multiple levels. As he continues to progress, his three-point shooting will be the x-factor for how far and how high he goes, but his positional versatility and ability to create advantages and produce efficiently remain hard to ignore. Perhaps no player has shown more upside over the past six weeks than Rosser.

Rosser and Diggs are the only two five-star prospects currently in the 2027 Rivals150.

Diggs, a 6-foot-5 guard at Millennium (AZ) High School, finished No. 2 in this update. The five-star guard can consistently dribble, shoot, or pass into an advantage. And that is where the intrigue begins with him. Watching the NBA playoffs over the past couple of months, we are seeing the very noticeable trend of teams having multiple guards in the 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-7 range who can consistently create ball-in-hand advantages.

Both prospects have had success this summer, seeing production come against high levels of competition. Diggs and Rosser are both playing Nike’s EYBL circuit, and each participated with their respective USA Basketball teams. En route to a U17 World Cup gold medal, Rosser averaged 16.4 points (second on the team) and shot 51.3 percent from the field. Diggs was the third-leading scorer on the USA Basketball U18 silver-medal team, averaging 10.4 points and 6.6 rebounds.

This summer, Diggs is averaging 19.6 points and 3.4 assists on 36.1 percent shooting from three with the Vegas Elite program in Nike’s EYBL Circuit play. Rosser, playing with the Team United program on the same Nike EYBL Circuit, is averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game.

At this point in the process, Diggs and Rosser are currently in a tier by themselves in this high school class.

Iowa State has three 4-star prospects committed

Iowa State leads the way with three players rated as four-star prospects in the updated 2027 Rivals150 already committed. Josiah Harrington, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of North Scott (IA) High School, is the Cyclones’ highest-ranked committed player at No. 37.

Also ranked with four stars are 6-foot-5 shooting guard Jack Kohnen (No. 46) of Slinger (WI) High and 6-foot-7 forward Donovan Davis (No. 53) of Freedom (WI) High.

Wisconsin also has three players listed among the updated 2027 Rivals150 who are committed. However, only two of them are rated as four-star recruits. The Badgers’ highest-ranked recruit is Baboucarr Ann (No. 72), a 6-foot-4 guard out of Maple Grove (MN) High School.

Wisconsin’s other committed four-star is 6-foot-5 guard Jalen Brown (No. 89) of Wauwatosa West (WI) High School. Maple Grove (MN) High School’s three-star center Jack Thielen is the third commitment; he is ranked No. 127 in the update.

In total, 26 players in the updated Rivals150 are already committed to a program.

Iowa State– 3
Wisconsin– 3
Purdue– 2
Illinois– 2

Gonzaga, Duke, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, LSU, Indiana, Cincinnati, Texas A&M, Creighton, Louisville, Iowa, and Colorado State each have one player committed.

Gonzaga has the highest-ranked commitment in the update

Dooney Johnson, of Juneau (WI) High School, is the highest-ranked commitment in the 2027 Rivals150 update. The 6-foot-6 lead guard was also one of the recruiting cycle’s earliest commitments when he committed to Gonzaga in October of 2025.

Johnson, ranked No. 12 in the updated ranking, is a paint-touch lead guard. Listed at a lengthy 6-foot-6, Johnson plays his summer ball with the Team Herro organization on Nike’s EYBL Circuit. Not only has he shown a consistent ability to put two feet in the paint, but he is a disruptive defensive presence. He is averaging 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals in league play.

There are currently only four players among the top-25 of the 2027 Rivals150 who are committed to a school. Along with Johnson, 6-foot-8 power forward Kager Knueppel (No. 14) is committed to Duke, 6-foot-6 shooting guard Ryan Hampton (No. 21) is committed to Kentucky, and 6-foot-11 center Isaiah Hill (No. 25) is committed to Purdue.

Deng Ngor makes highest debut in Rivals150 ranking update

Deng Ngor, a 6-foot-8 forward at Fort Erie (CAN) Prep, made his Rivals150 debut at No. 30 in Monday’s update. He is a lengthy wing forward who has an intriguing skill set as a connector. Someone who spaces the floor beyond the arc and defends across multiple positions, getting in passing lanes and sliding down to disrupt around the basket. Ngor had a successful high school season on the Grind Session, has continued that success on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit this summer, and capped it off with a strong U18 AmeriCup performance, earning a gold medal with Canada.

In total, six players (five other than Ngor) made their Rivals150 debuts with four-star status.

4-star SF Deng Ngor (No. 30) Fort Erie (CAN) Prep
4-star F King Rachal (No. 69) DNA (CA) Prep
4-star SF Frashad Tisby (No. 71) Cross Creek (GA) High School
4-star PG Javion Tyndale (No. 94) Montverde (FL) Academy
4-star PF Philipe Ndong (No. 99) The Newman (MA) School
4-star PF Emmanuel Ahamefule (No. 101) Archbishop Riordan (CA) School

Florida has 22 players in the updated Rivals150

Florida led the way with 22 players in the updated Rivals150 ranking. Their highest-ranking player was No. 1 overall CJ Rosser. Rosser is a 6-foot-9 power forward at Southeastern (FL) Prep. In total, 32 states and Canada are represented in the Rivals 2027 rankings.

Florida- 22
Texas- 13
California- 13
Arizona- 12
Georgia- 10
Missouri- 9
Ohio- 8
Wisconsin- 6
North Carolina- 6
Indiana- 5

Read the original on HuffPost

It is Chris Gotterup’s world and everyone is just living in it.

Things certainly seem that way as Gotterup picked up his fifth career PGA Tour victory on Sunday at the John Deere Classic. Gotterup began Sunday five shots back of the lead and carded a final round of 62 to take home the win. Pretty impressive stuff.

Gotterup’s comeback was two strokes shy of the largest in tournament history (Roger Maltbie overcame a 7-shot deficit in 1975), but it was his largest individually as he “only” overcame a four-stroke deficit to win the WM Phoenix Open earlier this season.

The Sony Open was also claimed by Gotterup which means he has three victories on Tour this season. This most recent one comes a week before the Genesis Scottish Open where Gotterup is also reigning champion. Like I said, his world.

Following the Scottish the world of golf will see its final major this year in the Open Championship. Right now Chris Gotterup makes as much sense as anybody.

Congratulations to him!

While there's just weeks left until the start of the team's first training camp under head coach Jeff Hafley, the Miami Dolphins still had several free agents left unsigned on the market.

However, that list shrunk by one on Monday, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that cornerback Rasul Douglas is set to sign with the Washington Commanders. That deal is reportedly worth up to $3.8 million for one season.

More to come...

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins 2025 starter signing one-year deal with NFC East team

NEW JERSEY — The energy was tense at New York/New Jersey's MetLife Stadium as Norway and Brazil entered halftime tied 0-0.

But the mood lightened a touch when a 6-foot-2, 198-pound humanoid robot named Atlas made its way pitchside from the player tunnel nine minutes into the break. Built by Boston Dynamics and owned by Hyundai Motor Group, Atlas was tasked with delivering the match ball to the referee.

It was the first time a humanoid robot played an official role in a FIFA World Cup match-day ceremony.

Before delivering the ball, though, Atlas performed signature celebrations made famous by tournament stars, including Brazil's Matheus Cunha, England's Harry Kane, and South Korea's Son Heung-min.

Atlas also replicated Norway's Erling Haaland's signature cross-legged meditation celebration, drawing one of the louder reactions from the crowd.

"The way we trained Atlas to perform these fun movements at the match is similar to how we teach the robot to take on real-world industrial applications," Alberto Rodriguez, director of robotics behavior at Boston Dynamics, said.

"It’s a great way to introduce people everywhere to the incredible potential of today's AI-enabled robots.”

As it turned out, Atlas wasn't the only robotic figure to draw attention in the second half.

Haaland, who has long been nicknamed a robot for his machine-like scoring, broke the deadlock in the 79th minute. Rather than recreating the seated meditation pose Atlas had just mimicked, he tried out the “robot” dance popularized by Peter Crouch.

The celebration played into a long-running social media meme around Haaland, with fans frequently pairing his posts with robot emojis to reflect his clinical finishing style.

"I think everyone knows why I did this," Haaland said last year. "If you check my comment section on photos and videos, you will see."

Later, his second goal moved him into a tie atop the Golden Boot leaderboard while securing Norway's victory and a spot against England in the upcoming quarterfinals on July 11.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Robot delivers World Cup match ball before Haaland scores and does robot dance

Jasmine Paolini secured a gritty win over Alexandra Eala to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals and end the Filipina's historic run.

Eala became the first player from the Philippines to reach the fourth round of a major in the Open era when she beat defending champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday.

Despite fighting hard to force a deciding set, the 21-year-old was unable to continue her dream run as she fell to a 6-4 4-6 6-3 defeat by the resilient Italian.

It is the first time Paolini has reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam since she reached back-to-back finals at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024.

Her bubbly personality and energy on court saw her become a crowd favourite at the All England Club two years ago, when she finished runner-up to Barbora Krejcikova.

And 14th seed Paolini, who has struggled with a foot injury this year, celebrated with a beaming smile before saying her positivity was her "superpower".

"It was really tough, a rollercoaster. 2026 proved a lot to me," the 30-year-old said.

"There were tough moments but I kept working. Every day I'm feeling better, I feel in the right way when I compete on court again.

"I love what I do but I have to enjoy it - it's my superpower."

Paolini will next face Ukrainian 12th seed Marta Kostyuk, who beat American qualifier Ashlyn Krueger earlier on Monday.

Eala made a nervous start as she returned to Centre Court following her statement win over Swiatek, but managed to make it through her first service game unharmed - despite some wayward forehands and a double fault.

While Eala seemed tense, Paolini looked lively, and she landed a series of fiery winners two games later to strike the first blow.

At 5-3 down, Eala broke back after a handful of unforced errors by the Italian, but slow serves clocking in at around 70mph did her no favours as she was serving to stay in the set, and Paolini took advantage to wrap up the opener.

The pair traded breaks at the start of the second before Eala nudged ahead and, after going 0-40 down on serve, delighted fans on Centre Court by forcing a deciding set.

Having grown increasingly frustrated during the second set, Paolini composed herself for third and held serve easily, while Eala clung on.

But a double fault in the eighth game by the Filipina gifted Paolini a break point, which Eala conceded with an overhit forehand to fall 5-3 behind.

Despite the nerves of being watched by her "idol" Roger Federer, who was in the Royal Box, Paolini served out the win after two hours and 22 minutes.

"I want to thank Roger. In the match I was trying to stay focused, don't think about him being here," Paolini said as Federer applauded her.

"I watched all the finals and tournaments that he played here."

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FIFA is being criticized over its decision to lift the red card suspension for leading U.S. Men's National Team scorer Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play against Belgium on Monday.

The Union of European Football Associations, Europe's soccer governing body, said FIFA "crossed a red line," and expressed its "disbelief" at a decision it called "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable."

"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," the governing body said in a statement. "[Soccer] is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws."

Sources familiar with the matter had told CBS News that Balogun's reinstatement came after President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday and spoke about the suspension, which would have kept the 25-year-old striker from playing in the round of 16 World Cup match.  

Mr. Trump on Monday said he asked for a review by FIFA "because I didn't think it was a foul."

"When they take your best player, or just about, they have some great players ... and they say you can't play, that's very unfair," the president said in remarks in the Oval Office.

"If they wouldn't allow a top player, maybe among the best on the team, I think it would have left a big stain," he said.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, also spoke to Infantino about the situation, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick was in communication with FIFA.

Spokespeople for the White House, Lutnick and Giuliani did not immediately respond to CBS News' request for comment.

The Royal Belgian Football Association, whose national team will face the U.S. Monday, said it was "astonished" by FIFA'S decision, and added it contradicts FIFA's own rules.

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," the body said in a statement. 

Prominent British commentators have expressed similar condemnation.

Wayne Rooney, a former player for Manchester United and England's national team, called the decision an "absolute disgrace."

"Infantino should be ashamed of this because I think the sportsmanship of the game is in question here," Rooney told the BBC on Sunday.

Prominent commentator and former England player Gary Neville said Sunday the decision "absolutely stinks."

"There should be a review process in place," he told ITV Sports. "Are we surprised? No, not with this lot," Neville added.

The European Union's Commissioner for Sport said he also believed it was the "wrong decision."

"Decisions on sporting rules and sporting matters belong to sporting bodies, not politicians. Influencing sporting decisions would undermine the autonomy of sport," Glenn Micallef said in a social media post.

A Belgian source familiar with the matter told CBS News that the Royal Belgian Football Association is appealing, and that the timing of any FIFA decision regarding the appeal remains unclear.  

The Royal Belgian Football Association said Monday it "has no alternative but to challenge the player's eligibility for the upcoming match," and it has not "received any decision or any explanation from FIFA" regarding the matter.

It also said it sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision and an explanation of the process that was followed. In the letter, the association also expressed "its position regarding the applicable regulations."

The association said FIFA sent a letter in response, "stating that it considered this correspondence to constitute an appeal, that a judge had been appointed, and that the RBFA had only a few hours to complete that appeal. No information whatsoever was provided by FIFA."

"For an appeal to be admissible, FIFA's own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant," the association said in a statement. "While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible."

CBS News has sought comment from FIFA. 

A European Commission spokesperson, Eva Hrncirova, told reporters Monday that the EU supports "the principle of fair play and transparency in the competition."

The 2026-27 women's basketball season will be the third for Tennessee under head coach Kim Caldwell. The campaign will also mark a return to Adidas.

Tennessee and Adidas began a 10-year partnership on July 1. Adidas serves as the official footwear, uniform, apparel and sideline partner of Tennessee athletics.

"We couldn't be more excited to launch our new partnership with Adidas," Caldwell said. "It's a global brand that is part of the incredible history of Tennessee athletics, recognizes the strength of our brand and is committed to investing in the future of our student-athletes and programs.

"We're proud to rep the three stripes and unite in building on to the incredibly successful era our department is experiencing."

On Monday, the Lady Vols released photos featuring Adidas orange uniforms for basketball.

the finer details pic.twitter.com/ZcfDUaO2Y9

— Lady Vols Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) July 6, 2026

Adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany. The company employs more than 62,000 people worldwide and generated sales of €24.8 billion in 2025.

More: 2026-27 Lady Vols basketball roster

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: First look at Lady Vols' Adidas orange basketball uniforms

Xbox is downsizing, and five studios are on the way out Xbox is in the middle of the largest restructuring of the company’s history, with Asha Sharma, the CEO of Xbox, confirming that the Xbox team will be reduced by around 3,200 employees. Today, there will be around “1,600 role eliminations”. Four game studios will […]

The post Four game studios are leaving Xbox, and there could soon be a fifth appeared first on OC3D.

The 2026 World Cup knockout stage rolls into Dallas for an absolute thriller of a Round of 16 matchup: Portugal vs. Spain. With a coveted spot in the quarterfinals on the line, there are no second chances. Beyond simply surviving the tie, a victory here will completely scramble the road to the final, so here are the massive bracket implications riding on this clash.

The Iberian rivals will renew one of international soccer’s oldest rivalries at AT&T Stadium in Texas. Portugal enters the match after edging Croatia 2-1 in the Round of 32, while Spain arrives following an impressive 3-0 victory over Austria, setting the stage for one of the tournament’s biggest knockout matches.

The encounter brings together two nations that know each other extremely well. Their most recent meeting came in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final, where Portugal lifted the trophy after a 2-2 draw by winning on penalties, thanks to Diogo Costa’s save from Alvaro Morata and Ruben Neves converting the decisive spot kick.

La Roja, however, enters the match as the slight favorite after enjoying a stronger World Cup campaign. Luis de la Fuente’s side remains unbeaten in the tournament and has yet to concede a goal, while the Selecao has had to overcome several difficult moments, including a dramatic late victory over Croatia.

For Cristiano Ronaldo, the match could prove especially significant. At 41 years old, the Portugal captain is widely expected to be playing in his final World Cup, adding another layer of emotion to Monday’s showdown.

Their road to the knockout stage as Ronaldo and Yamal headline clash

Portugal finished second in Group J with five points, defeating Uzbekistan before drawing against DR Congo and Colombia. Roberto Martínez’s side then survived a major scare against Croatia, eventually progressing with a dramatic 2-1 victory after a controversial stoppage-time decision ruled out Croatia’s equalizer.

Spain enjoyed a smoother route. The European champion topped Group H with seven points, defeating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay while drawing with Cape Verde before comfortably dispatching Austria in the Round of 32.

The contrast in form has influenced many predictions ahead of the match, although knockout soccer has repeatedly shown that previous performances often matter little once elimination is on the line.

One of the biggest storylines surrounding the match is the meeting between Cristiano Ronaldo and 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. Ronaldo continues to lead Portugal despite entering the final stage of his remarkable international career. Meanwhile, Yamal has quickly become one of Spain’s biggest stars after recovering from an early tournament injury scare.

What happens if Portugal wins and Spain loses?

If Portugal defeats Spain, whether in regulation time, extra time or a penalty shootout, Portugal will qualify for the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals.

The next opponent would be the winner of the United States vs. Belgium Round of 16 tie, keeping Portugal alive in its pursuit of a historic first World Cup title.

Victory would also keep Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream alive, extending what could be the final tournament of his legendary international career.

What happens if Portugal and Spain are level after 90 minutes?

Although many supporters speak about the possibility of a draw, the Round of 16 cannot end in a draw.

If Portugal and Spain finish tied after normal time, 30 minutes of extra time will be played. Should the score remain level, a penalty shootout will determine which nation advances to the quarterfinals.

In other words, a draw after 90 minutes only delays the decision rather than affecting the tournament bracket, as one team must ultimately progress.

What happens if Spain wins and Portugal loses?

If Portugal loses, regardless of whether it happens in regulation time, extra time, or penalties, Portugal will be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

Spain would advance to face either the United States or Belgium in the quarterfinals, while Portugal’s campaign would come to an end.

Perhaps the biggest consequence would involve Ronaldo himself. With retirement from international soccer expected following Portugal’s World Cup run, defeat would likely mark the final international appearance of one of soccer’s greatest players.

Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Spain have shined one of the tournament’s top contenders, excelling as a collective unit. While Lamine Yamal has yet to shine in front of goal, he has played a key role in driving the team’s overall play. In addition, head coach Luis de la Fuente has built a highly solid midfield, helping Spain remain unbeaten. However, they have dropped places in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking just before facing Portugal.

According to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, Spain are ranked 3rd with 1892.28 points. Despite their solid performances, they have lost one position in the ranking. After several years without shinning in a tournament, head coach Luis de la Fuente has managed to recover their impact, winning a UEFA Nations League and a UEFA Euro. However, they have yet to match their highest-ever ranking, which was 1st in July of 2014.

Despite losing one position in the rankings, Luis de la Fuente’s team remains above Portugal. Roberto Martínez’s team sit seventh in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking with 1,787.85 points. While their performances have not been entirely convincing, they have a wealth of individual talent that could prove decisive, as Gonçalo Ramos did in the latest match against Croatia. For that reason, the game is expected to be highly competitive.

Spain have established as one of the most dominant national teams. Led by Pedri and Rodri, they consistently control the midfield, while Dani Olmo has become a key figure in the attacking midfield role. In addition, Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena, and Marc Cucurella are essential out wide, stretching the pitch and delivering dangerous crosses. On top of that, Mikel Oyarzabal has been in outstanding goalscoring form, making him the team’s greatest attacking weapon.

Spain’s path to beating Portugal may be possession dominance

Head coach Luis de la Fuente has built a highly effective playing style for Spain. Rather than relying solely on their dominance through the middle, they also excel out wide. Thanks to their control of the midfield, they consistently find space on the flanks. As a result, they are able to stretch opposing defenses and create openings, something that could prove crucial in defeating Portugal in the Round of 16.

If Spain manage to impose a high press and dominate possession, Portugal would be forced to sit deep inside their own penalty area. By limiting Cristiano Ronaldo’s team’s attacking threat, they would be able to maintain their advantage and look to take control of the scoreline. To do so, the creative support of Dani Olmo and Álex Baena is key, but Mikel Oyarzabal is the one who needs to deliver another great performance, being effective in front of goal.

Portugal entered the 2026 World Cup as one of the clear top contenders, but their performances have fallen short of expectations. In a highly competitive clash, they edged past Croatia in dramatic fashion, yet they continue to raise serious doubts. Although they have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, they have dropped places in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking just before facing Spain in the Round of 16.

According to the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, Portugal are ranked 7th with 1787.85. Despite their latest victory, they have lost one position in the ranking. With their promising project, they have managed to significantly improve their international standing, winning two UEFA Nations League trophies and UEFA Euro trophy. However, they have yet to match their highest-ever ranking, which was 3rd from September of 2017 to April of 2018.

While Portugal have a promising roster and have won several trophies in recent years, they are ranked behind Spain. Luis de la Fuente’s team sit third in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking with 1,892.28 points. Arriving in excellent form, they are considered the favorites ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s team, especially with several highly promising players who can make the difference, while Mikel Oyarzabal is in peak scoring form.

Head coach Roberto Martínez has managed to keep his team winning, but their style of play is far from dominant. Against DR Congo, Colombia, and Croatia, they struggled to impose their high press and assert their preferred style of play. In addition, they found it difficult to create space in the opposition’s defense. On top of that, their opponents’ well-organized defensive structures have limited Cristiano Ronaldo’s goalscoring threat.

Cristiano Ronaldo may find more scoring opportunities against Spain

Portugal are set to face one of the tournament’s best attacking teams in Spain. Although this could pose a major challenge, they often leave plenty of space in behind, something Roberto Martínez’s team could exploit to great effect. With Vitinha and João Neves controlling the midfield, Portugal have the ability to launch dangerous counterattacks into space. As a result, Cristiano Ronaldo could have his best opportunity to get on the scoresheet.

With space to attack on the counter, Cristiano Ronaldo could find in a much better position to score. Although he is no longer the fastest player, he remains one of the greatest in history at identifying spaces against high-pressing defenses like Spain’s. With only three goals in the tournament, the 40-year-old striker will be looking to silence his critics by delivering a commanding performance against a top contender like Luis de la Fuente’s team.

Former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs has given his prediction for the strongly rumoured showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder. Last week, Usyk announced the decision to vacate the WBC, IBF and WBA. However, the Ukrainian confirmed he wouldn’t be retiring straightaway, targeting one more fight before hanging up the gloves on a stellar career. […]

The post Former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs predicts Usyk vs Wilder: “He’s gonna do it” appeared first on Boxing News.

After weeks of rumors and speculation, Xbox has confirmed today that it is cutting 3,200 jobs, with some of its first-party studios under the Microsoft umbrella either getting sold or returning to independence. In the accompanying note from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, there is no mention of anything specific regarding ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, but according to reliable journalist Jason Schreier of Bloomberg, the creator of The Elder Scrolls series is being affected by this restructuring to focus on its key franchises. "ZeniMax, as I mentioned, is going to be impacted pretty significantly. They're going to be restructured to a franchise first model. […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/bethesda-pivots-to-a-franchise-first-model-as-xbox-cuts-3200-jobs-betting-everything-on-the-elder-scrolls-and-fallout/

More new mini PCs are being launched with the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, coupled with capacity RAM. Lenovo Launches YOGA AI Mini PC, Featuring 16-Core Ultra X7 358H Processor for Up To 180 TOPS of AI Power Lenovo has quickly adopted Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 3, aka Panther Lake, processors for its devices, and whether you look at its laptop catalog or mini PC arsenal, you will find newer offerings with these chips. The company has now debuted its latest high-end mini PC called YOGA AI Mini PC, which is already available with processors like Core […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/lenovo-launches-yoga-ai-mini-pc-with-core-ultra-x7-358h/

The battery capacities within the upcoming Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have become a subject of considerable interest after a high-profile information theft from a Tata-controlled iPhone factory in India revealed a sizable bump in battery capacities for the Pro duo. Well, just a few days later, we've now become privy to the official battery capacities that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will sport, courtesy of a regulatory filing. Apple's iPhone 18 Pro (eSIM) to sport a battery capacity of 4,288mAh in the US, while its Pro Max counterpart will feature a 5,567mAh one As we […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-iphone-18-pro-max-will-sport-a-battery-that-is-even-bigger-than-the-5425mah-one-detailed-within-the-documents-stolen-from-indias-tata-factory/

Vendors now seem to be prioritizing DDR4 platforms, which is obvious since DDR5-based systems have become unaffordable. Minisforum Launches Elite Mini NAB9S, Featuring Intel Core i9 13900HX, SO-DIMM DDR4 Memory, and Support for SATA Driver at $399 for Barebones Despite being nearly 12 years old, DDR4 isn't going anywhere. It took a lot of time for the market to transition from DDR4 to DDR5 properly, but right when DDR5 became the norm, the RAMpocalypse hit the market like a truck. Since DDR5 memories have become 4-5X more expensive than July 2025 levels, it's understandable that vendors might be struggling with […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/minisforum-revives-ddr4-in-its-new-nab9s-mini-pc-powered-by-intel-core-i9-13900hx/

Last month, Take-Two and Rockstar Games announced that GTA 6 would not receive a physical release, sending parts of the gaming community into upheaval. As if this wasn't enough, Sony Interactive Entertainment doubled down on the matter, announcing the controversial decision to stop production of new game discs by 2028. Although the gaming community is rightly opposed to these decisions, which are likely to have severe consequences, CI Games founder and CEO Marek Tyminski believes this shift is unavoidable because publishers, both big and small, earn significantly more per digital sale. "GTA6 shipping with no disc feels unfair to studios […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/gta-6-ditching-discs-kill-physical-releases-2027/

The increase in memory prices reflects the price hike in memory chips made by Samsung, and both DDR4 and DDR5 have been reportedly affected. Samsung Reportedly Raises DDR4 and DDR5 Memory Chip Prices as Retail Memory Modules are Now Up By 10-19% Once again, we are witnessing a noticeable hike in the prices of memory modules. The ongoing RAMpocalypse is continuously fueling the DRAM prices, affecting electronic devices worldwide. The never-ending RAMpocalypse seems to have caused another hike in memory prices, as spotted on the Danawa. Danawa, which tracks the prices of consumer products sold by retailers have shown a […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-ddr4-memory-spikes-19-in-a-month-in-korea-outpacing-ddr5-as-the-rampocalypse-hits-an-unlikely-target/

A new agreement between Broadcom and Apple meant that both firms could accomplish their individual goals without being adversely affected by external forces. With the latest partnership, Apple will be receiving chip supply until 2031. The deal was absolutely necessary for Broadcom, as Apple accounts for 20 percent of the chipmaker’s annual revenue Ditching Qualcomm and entering the custom 5G modem market enabled Apple to introduce the C1 and C1X, but that doesn’t mean the story ends here. These baseband chips still require wireless and RF components to operate cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity on devices, which is where Broadcom […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/broadcom-inks-multi-year-chip-supply-deal-with-apple/

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney continued to share his pro-AI sentiments in a tweet, noting that AI could have helped Bungie produce Destiny content faster, potentially avoiding its eventual demise (and subsequent layoffs at the studio). If only some sort of newfangled technology could come along and make it possible to overcome bullet point #1 and enable games like Destiny to thrive! Sweeney recently championed AI on a couple of different occasions. First, he claimed that the MCP integration of LLMs into Unreal Engine can be a "real accelerant" for game creators; then, he slapped Valve's Steam for "forcing" AI […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/sweeney-ai-destiny-clair-obscur-5-seconds/

Samsung is set to unveil the full One UI 9 experience later this month. Galaxy users are waiting for the new software more than the foldable phones. With Apple also dropping its first foldable phone, the craze for Samsung foldables is not as much as in previous years.

Back in May 2026, Samsung launched the One UI 9 Beta Program. The company didn’t hold a press conference to unveil the Beta Program. A press release on the official newsroom did the work, but it included an important note.

Full One UI 9 reveal later this month

Samsung’s press release pledged in May 2026 that the One UI 9 full experience will be introduced later this year. The time has come as we entered the month of July, scheduled to hold the Galaxy Unpacked event in London.

The Korean tech giant also teased the advancements of the full experience. The official One UI 9 will debut “advanced AI features” that will make mobile interaction easy and effortless.

The full experience of One UI 9 will be introduced with upcoming Galaxy flagship devices later this year, which will include advanced AI features that will make mobile interaction easy and effortless.

Notably, One UI 9 Beta is already available on Galaxy S26 series. However, Samsung has reserved the biggest upgrades for a reveal at the event. Beta builds to come in August would start to include those upcoming AI advancements.

Official One UI 9 rollout later this year

Samsung could begin selling its new foldable phones in the first week of August. Following the launch on July 22, there will be a preorder period. However, the existing devices will not immediately receive the software upgrade.

One UI 9, based on Android 17, would still stay away from Samsung flagships. The rollout may only start later this year, sometime in September 2026. This isn’t a confirmed timeline, but it is the most likely release window.

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• Samsung confirms One UI 9.0 Beta 4 to release next week

The post Samsung One UI 9 full experience officially unveiling later this month appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Corendon Alanyaspor, Tunus Ligi takımlarından CS Sfaxien'da forma giyen 21 yaşındaki Tunuslu forvet Omar Ben Ali ile 4 yıllık sözleşme imzaladı.

Alanyapor Kulübü Başkanı Hasan Çavuşoğlu, Cengiz Aydoğan Spor Tesisleri'ndeki imza töreninde, yılın ilk transferini gerçekleştirdiklerini söyledi.

Omar Ben Ali'nin Tunus 23 Yaş Altı Milli Takımı'nın oyuncusu olduğunu anlatan Çavuşoğlu, "Arkadaşlarımız gittiler, bu oyuncuyu izlediler. Profesyonel ekibime de teşekkür ediyorum. Transfer çalışmalarını güzel yönettiler." dedi.

Omar Ben Ali'nin hedefleri olan bir futbolcu olduğunu ve Alanyaspor'un da böyle futbolculara ihtiyaç duyduğunu dile getiren Çavuşoğlu, "Transfer yaparken gelecek vadeden ve daha büyük takımları hedefleyen oyuncuları seçiyoruz. Omar da bunlardan biri. Ona güveniyoruz, inanıyoruz. Artık Alanyaspor için ter dökecek. Yılın ilk transferi olan Omar Ben Ali'ye Alanyaspor ailesine hoş geldin diyorum. Ondan beklentimiz yüksek. İnşallah çok faydalı işler yapacağına inanıyoruz." diye konuştu.

Alanyaspor'un bu sezon izleyeceği transfer politikasıyla ilgili de konuşan Çavuşoğlu, bu sezon fazla transfer yapmayı düşünmediklerini ifade etti.

Teknik heyetle ve transfer komitesiyle değerlendirmeler yaptıklarını aktaran Çavuşoğlu, bir veya iki transferlerinin daha olabileceğini belirtti.

Tunuslu forvet Omar Ben Ali ise sıcak karşılamadan dolayı Başkan Çavuşoğlu ve yönetimine teşekkür ederek, "Alanyaspor'da olmak büyük bir gurur. Bu kulüp için her gün savaşacağım ve elimden gelenin en iyisini yapacağım. Bugün benim için yeni bir tecrübe, yeni bir macera başlıyor. Bundan dolayı da çok mutluyum." ifadelerini kullandı.

Konuşmaların ardından Omar Ben Ali, kendisini 4 yıllığına Alanyaspor'a bağlayan sözleşmeye imza attı.

Tunuslu golcü, geçtiğimiz sezon Tunus Ligi'nde CS Sfaxien formasıyla çıktığı 23 maçta 11 gollük katkı sağladı.

İngiliz futbolcu Jordan Henderson, Dünya Kupası'nda kalan maçlarda forma giyemeyecek.

İngiltere Milli Takımı futbolcusu Jordan Henderson, 2026 Dünya Kupası'nda Meksika'yı 3-2 yenerek çeyrek finale yükseldikleri maçın ardından sakatlandı.

Karşılaşma sonrası tribündeki taraftarlarla galibiyeti kutladıktan sonra sahaya dönmek için reklam panolarının üstünden atlamak isteyen 36 yaşındaki oyuncu, dengesini kaybederek sol kolunun üzerine düştü.

Sahadan sedyeyle ayrılan ve oksijen takviyesi alan futbolcunun bileğinden ameliyat edileceği ve turnuvanın geri kalanında forma giyemeyeceği kaydedildi.

İngiltere Milli Takımı Teknik Direktörü Thomas Tuchel, maçtan sonra yaptığı açıklamada, "Jordan'ın bileğinden sakatlanmasından dolayı üzgünüm. Oldukça ciddi. Hastanede. Sürecin nasıl işleyeceğini bilmiyorum." ifadelerini kullandı.

Henderson, grup aşamasında Panama karşısında sonradan oyuna girmişti.

Beşiktaş sezon içinde birkaç kez CSKA Moskova forması giyen Matvey Kislyak'ı izlettirmişti. Sonrasında orta alan konusunda farklı isimlere ağırlık verildi. Durum değişebilir.

Beşiktaş orta sahasını güçlendirmek istiyor. Aynı zamanda TFF'nin belirlediği +4'lük genç yabancı kontenjanı da burada önemli bir faktör... Siyah-Beyazlılar, geride bıraktığımız sezonda CSKA Moskova forması giyen Matvey Kislyak'ı birkaç karşılaşmada izlettirmişti. 20 yaşındaki genç yeteneğin raporları olumluydu.

SICAK BAKMIYORLAR

Fakat yaşanan teknik heyet değişikliğinin ardından Matvey Kislyak hamlesi kenarda kalmıştı. Şu anda Rus futbolcu konusunda yeniden harekete geçilebileceği öğrenildi. CSKA Moskova Kulübü, 25 milyon euronun altındaki tekliflere kesinlikle sıcak bakmıyor...

TAM BİR JOKER

Merkez orta saha, ön libero ve 10 numarada görev yapabilen 1.80 boyundaki futbolcu, bu anlamda tam bir joker... Geçen sezon Rus Ligi'nde 29 karşılaşmaya çıktı. Sahada 2.521 dakika kaldı. 6 gol ve 6 asist üretti. Matvey Kislyak, Rus Milli Takımı'nın da bir parçası... Beşiktaş Yönetimi'nin bazı sponsorların desteğiyle bu transfere tekrar gireceği konuşuluyor.

Gençlerbirliği Başkanlığına aday olduğunu açıklayan İsmail Geliç, Gençlerbirliği'nde son günlerde yaşanan gelişmeler hakkında konuştu. 'Gençlerbirliği Spor Kulübü'nde son 10 yıldır değişmeyen tek şey, 'zengin başkan' arayışı oldu' diyen Geliç, bu anlayışın değişmesi gerektiğini belirtti.

Haber Ankara’ya açıklama yapan başkan adayı İsmail Geliç açıklamasında şu ifadeleri kullandı;

- Rahmetli Başkanımız İlhan Cavcav sonrası Murat Cavcav, Niyazi Akdaş, Talip Çankırı, Osman Sungur, Mehmet Kaya ve Arda Çakmak gibi kulübümüze başkanlık yapan isimlerin ortak paydası; imkânları ölçüsünde Gençlerbirliği’ne koşulsuz hizmet etme iradesiyle hareket etmiş olmalarıdır.

- Ama perde arkasında hep aynı isimler, aynı anlayış ve kulübe ne maddi ne de sportif anlamda kalıcı bir değer katamayan vizyonsuz yönetim (yönetici) yaklaşımı var.

- Gençlerbirliği, yıllardır kongrelerden beslenen dar bir çevrenin etkisinden kurtulamadı.

- Dün Arda Çakmak’ı evinden çıkarıp başkan yapanlar, bugün hiçbir sorumluk üstlenmeden onu harcayıp aynı senaryonun yeni oyuncusunu arıyor. Çünkü onlar için önemli olan Gençlerbirliği’nin başarısı değil, kulüp üzerindeki etkilerini ve güçlerini korumak.

- Her başarısızlığın ardından başkan değişiyor, ama kulübü bu kısır döngüye mahkûm eden anlayış hiç değişmiyor.

- Gençlerbirliği’ni yıllardır aynı çıkmazın içinde tutan bu düzen, bu zihniyet ve değişime direnen bu anlayıştır.

- Gençlerbirliği’nin ihtiyacı; yeni bir vitrin ya da yeni bir ‘zengin başkan’ değildir.

- Kulübümüzün ihtiyacı; alternatif yeni gelir modelleri, profesyonel yöneticiler, dünyanın her noktasını takip eden izleme ekipleri, dünya kulübü olma hedefi ve kurumsal yapıya dayanan adamcılıktan uzak yeni bir yönetim anlayışıdır.

- Gerçek değişim, yıllardır kulüp üzerinde etkisini sürdüren bu kısır zihniyetin değişmesiyle mümkün olacaktır. Saygılarımla..

Redmi is launching the Note 17 series in China this month, but the global models could still be many months away, if history is any indication. Anyway, when they do arrive in other markets, they may be very different compared to their Chinese counterparts, as usually happens. Now BIS has certified a Redmi device with the model number 2607DRA18I and a Poco device with the model number 2607DPC18I, and these may in fact be the exact same phone under two different names - it would definitely not be the first time Redmi and Poco pulled something like that. The Redmi version is rumored to...

Samsung has just confirmed the names of its upcoming wearable devices, expected to be unveiled on July 22 at its next Unpacked event in London. So, we unsurprisingly have the Galaxy Watch9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, but also the Galaxy Able. This is rumored to be Samsung’s first pair of clip-on earbuds, previously thought to launch as the Galaxy Buds Able. Now, the "Buds" in the name has been dropped. They are reportedly going to use bone conduction technology to reproduce sound, unlike the Galaxy Buds which have speakers. All of this information comes from the Galaxy Wearable app,...

Yes, SEO and AEO have plenty of overlap, but they aren’t the same. Sticking with your tried-and-true SEO approach won’t get you as far in AI search visibility.

So what needs to change?

Rather than revisit content structure for AI search, I’ll focus on three priorities that matter more in AI search and three that matter less.

3 SEO priorities to emphasize more

Establish brand authority and strong entities

AI systems need to “know” your brand exists and what it stands for before they’ll cite you. Entity recognition is foundational to AI visibility in a way it never was for traditional search, although Google’s Knowledge Graph has long highlighted brands using this approach. LLM training data rewards brands with a consistent, cross-platform presence.

For our agency’s clients, we focus more on ensuring brand information is consistent across Wikipedia, LinkedIn, Crunchbase, industry directories, and anywhere else an LLM might pull entity data.

PR and SEO/AEO teams also need to work more closely together because earned media mentions are now entity-building signals.

E-E-A-T was already pointing in this direction, but building author entities matters even more now. Bylined experts with their own credible web presence add authority to the content they produce.

When we can invest in entity building, we tend to see faster AI citation gains when we produce strong content because the infrastructure is already in place.

Build topical depth with content clusters

AI systems favor sources that demonstrate comprehensive authority on a topic, not just individual pages that rank for individual keywords. A thin content footprint is much more exposed in AI search than it was in traditional search.

Keyword-by-keyword content planning needs to give way to topic ownership planning. Stop asking, “What do we rank for?” and start asking, “What topics do we want AI systems to associate us with?”

Internal linking becomes more important because it signals topical relationships between pieces for LLM ingestion. Content audits should also become a regular exercise to identify gaps in topic coverage, not just underperforming pages.

When we can go deep on a niche, we tend to see content cited across multiple related queries. One strong content cluster can generate broad AI visibility.

Owning a topic cluster around the problem a client’s product solves positions them as the authoritative resource before the sales conversation even starts. We also get more feedback that buyers are seeing them in LLMs while researching before making a purchase.

Earn unlinked brand mentions and community presence

LLMs are trained on the broader web, beyond pages with backlinks. A mention of your brand on Reddit, Quora, a niche forum, or an industry community carries weight even without a link.

AI systems pattern-match what the web says about you across many sources, not only what ranks in Google. Owned content alone can’t manufacture that signal.

Trusted third-party communities like Reddit carry particular weight because LLMs have been heavily trained on them and often treat their content as authentic user sentiment.

Community participation and digital PR are now SEO-adjacent priorities. Getting your brand mentioned in the right places matters, whether a link is attached.

Monitoring unlinked brand mentions is becoming as important as tracking backlinks. Tools like Brandwatch and Mention, along with manual Reddit and Quora monitoring, can surface where your brand is and isn’t appearing organically.

Talk with your team less about who’s linking to you and more about where your brand is being discussed, and whether those conversations are positive and accurate.

Brands with an active presence in relevant communities tend to surface more naturally in AI answers to conversational, recommendation-style queries, such as “What does Reddit think about X?” or “What’s the best Y according to users?”

For challenger brands trying to break into a category, earned community mentions can build AI-visible authority faster than traditional link building, which takes time to accumulate.

B2C brands, in particular, benefit from genuine community presence. Consumer AI queries often skew toward social proof and peer recommendations over authoritative publications.

3 SEO priorities to emphasize less

Chasing high-volume keywords with thin content

AI Overviews absorb the click for generic informational queries. Ranking No. 1 for a broad head term increasingly means you’ve put a lot of effort into attracting traffic that never arrives.

Volume alone is no longer a proxy for opportunity. A query with 50,000 monthly searches that triggers an AI Overview may deliver less traffic than a query with 2,000 searches that doesn’t.

Craft specific, authoritative content that answers a narrower question better than anything else available. Focus on queries where the searcher needs to take action, make a comparison, or access something only your site provides. Those are harder for AI to fully resolve.

The traffic potential of a keyword is no longer the primary metric. First ask whether someone will still need to click through after AI answers the query. If the answer is no, the opportunity isn’t what it used to be.

Pursuing exact-match and manipulative link building

Low-quality link volume does nothing for AI citation likelihood. LLMs weight the authority and relevance of citing sources, not raw link counts. The publications that matter for AI citation are those with genuine editorial standards, which can’t be gamed the way link networks can.

Focus on earning coverage and links from the outlets AI systems actually draw from, such as trade publications, respected blogs, and academic-adjacent sources. Build content worth referencing instead of relying on outreach designed to extract a link.

A hundred low-quality links won’t get you cited in ChatGPT. Five links from publications your target audience actually reads might. The metric that matters is source authority, not link volume.

Optimizing for CTR on standard blue links

A growing share of informational queries are resolved without a click. As a result, optimizing titles and meta descriptions for CTR on queries dominated by AI Overviews offers diminishing returns. Time and resources spent on micro-optimizing CTR for zero-click queries could be better spent earning the citation within the AI answer.

Aim to become the cited source within the AI answer rather than the blue link below it. For queries where clicks still happen, focus on transactional and navigational intent because those are more resistant to AI resolution.

CTR optimization assumes someone is choosing between results. For a growing share of queries, that choice is made before the blue links appear. The game has moved up the page.

The payoff isn’t always more traffic

There are certainly more shifts to consider, but these are the first ones I’d make. You may lose some volume in traditional SEO metrics like impressions and clicks, but that should have little downstream effect on the metrics that matter most, including conversions, pipeline, and revenue. That’s the tradeoff AI search increasingly rewards.

AI search doesn’t work like traditional search.

A prospect might ask ChatGPT for the best CRM for manufacturing companies, compare options in Google’s AI Mode, refine their requirements over several follow-up questions, and make a shortlist — all without ever clicking a website.

If your company appears in those conversations, you’ve influenced the buying process. The challenge is proving it.

Prompt-level visibility measurement has become one of the fastest-growing areas of AI search optimization. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. Many vendors promise complete visibility into AI conversations, but the reality is far messier.

Here’s what you can measure today, what you can’t, and how practitioners are building useful reporting despite the current limitations.

A 5-step framework for tracking AI visibility

1. Accept that AI doesn’t have ‘rankings’

The biggest mistake marketers make is trying to recreate traditional SEO reports — because there is no universal “position 1” inside ChatGPT.

The same prompt may produce different responses based on:

• Conversation history
• User location
• Personalization
• Follow-up questions
• Model version
• Available web retrieval
• Time

Visibility is now probabilistic rather than deterministic. Instead of asking, “Do we rank?” the better question is, “How often are we included across the conversations that matter?”

That shift changes everything about measurement.

2. Build a prompt library instead of a keyword list

Keywords are still useful. They’re just no longer enough.

Instead of tracking individual search terms, build a library of prompts that reflect how real people research purchases.

The easiest way is to organize prompts by search intent: