We’ve seen a lot of fighters over the years throw out some pretty questionable first pitches, but not our man “Poatan.”

Alex Pereira was on hand at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx yesterday (Tue. May 5th, 2026) to watch the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 7-4 in the first of a three game series. He was welcomed as a proper two division UFC champion should be — they gave him a Yankees jersey with the number 1 on the back and let him throw out the first ceremonial pitch.

And how did Pereira do? He put the ball straight down the middle and over the plate. It was no heater, but it got exactly where it was supposed to go. Take a look.

Compare that to Conor McGregor’s infamous first pitch during a Cubs game, which went, er, slightly to the right.

Pereira was introduced as the ‘former’ two-division UFC champion which is technically true: he relinquished his light heavyweight belt to move up another division, where he’ll face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship. A win over Gane at the UFC White House event on June 14th will make “Poatan” the first fighter to ever hold titles in three weight classes.

Add that to the list of impressive accomplishments alongside his impressive first pitch.

By the time the Arsenal players eventually got back to their dressing room, unable to stop embracing each other and thumping the air in delight, Mikel Arteta barely said a thing. He knew he didn’t need to, but he also knew he probably wouldn’t have been able to get a word in if he tried. There was too much joy, too many people jumping around. It was all about the “feeling”, as Arteta put it.

The same was true of the 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid itself. Arsenal were obviously tactically drilled and primed but they were also well aware that the key to this match was a willingness to fight. The feeling.

Diego Simeone’s side may not have the most potent attack – some among Arteta’s staff were actually surprised that Julian Alvarez even played, given the first-leg injury and how he limped – but they can drag anyone into a battle and make you go deep.

“The way they compete,” Arteta purred afterwards. “The answer they immediately have to everything that you try to do to them. It’s incredible.”

The Basque’s enthusiasm for that may further inform the ongoing discussion about styles, Bayern Munich-Paris Saint-Germain and what the contrast between the eventual finalists will say about the wider game. By then, though, Arsenal might look very different, like something comparable to the more complete side that beat Bayern Munich 3-1 back in November.

They already feel different. They feel like Champions League finalists.

That is no small thing given it’s the stage every player wants to be on, to even have the chance of glory. By the time they get there, they may even be English champions, for the first time in 22 years.

And this win may help. It is the other effect of an achievement like this, immense as it is on its own terms. A season filled with “angst” – to repeat a word so commonly used about this campaign – now has a sense of assurance.

There’s an end destination. Arsenal know they’re going somewhere, in this case to Budapest. The meaning of that could be seen in Riccardo Calafiori jumping into the air at the final whistle and Gabriel sinking to his knees.

The mood from two weeks ago, and especially just before the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, is completely transformed. A wave of positivity is now rushing through the club. To think the supporters were suffering just two and a half weeks ago, when they lost in this same stadium against Bournemouth.

“You look to the supporters now and they are just immensely proud and happy,” Arteta said. “That’s when our job makes sense because many other times it’s difficult to find the right reason why we do what we do, but when these things happen, then everything that we do obviously is worth it.”

They still have to go and actually win something, but it currently doesn’t feel like there’s the same sense of toil about that. “Everybody can feel a shift in energy, in belief, in everything,” Arteta said. That’s not just psychological.

One of the most striking things about the victory over Atletico, and arguably one of the main reasons for it, was Arsenal’s strength in depth. After months of injury problems, they now have almost everyone back fully fit. One insider pointed to how crucial Kai Havertz is to Arteta’s pressing, to the point he’s been viewed as almost indispensable over the past few weeks. And yet here he couldn’t even get on, because Arsenal had too many options.

That could end up being the difference in everything. Diego Simeone was conscious of it, not least in trying to plan for the various stages of the game. The Argentine typically tried to ratchet up all tension beforehand to turn the game into a fight, but Arsenal were appreciative of how magnanimous he was once hostilities ceased. It’s all part of the game.

Even Simeone did reference that his team “did compete at an incredible level against a team with much stronger financial power than us”. The difference was witnessed in the benches. While Atletico struggled to create once Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann went off, Arsenal just had more options. It’s the difference between the super clubs and the rest, the key difference in the modern game.

Arsenal of course know it from the other side, having had to go toe to toe against Manchester City. They have kept persevering, though, as personified by two key players on the night.

Arteta made sure to praise Viktor Gyokeres. He rose to the moment, after a season where he’s often been criticised. The manager then talked at length about Myles Lewis-Skelly, who may well end up being seen as a real difference at an absolutely crucial period.

His sudden return to midfield has restored an energy to Arsenal when they needed it most; when he needed it most. The teenager was used so infrequently this season that talk rose over whether this boyhood Arsenal fan may have to leave the club. He can now suddenly be hopeful of a World Cup place.

Arteta again put the shift down to “a feeling”. “And I’ve been tough on him. I talked and he has been very persistent and consistent in his behaviours and in the manner that he’s been knocking on the door constantly to have the right to play. And I think he deserves it and that’s why he plays.”

Now, Arsenal actually have to go and play West Ham United on Sunday. They’ve had a great week so far. Fulham were dispatched with ease, in an expansive manner that sparked a resurgence. Manchester City unexpectedly dropped two points at Everton, to cede the initiative in the title race at this crucial stage of the season. Arsenal then got back to the European stage they’ve long dreamt of.

It can still go wrong. They still have to actually go and win something. The sense is rising that the entire title may well come down to Sunday, given the remaining fixtures.

Duly, once he’d requested that the huge speakers in the dressing room put on “that TikTok song”, as has become disparaged, Arteta did have one final word. “Let’s go and win on Sunday.”

For the first time in a long time, the Dallas Wings feel like must-see TV. The WNBA has obliged — 36 of Dallas’ 44 regular-season games are on national TV, second-most in the league.

The Wings bring Paige Bueckers back for year No. 2, fresh off her Rookie of the Year campaign. They add another blue-chip draft pick in Azzi Fudd, who won an NCAA national championship alongside Bueckers at UConn. Dallas also rolls into this hyped season with free-agent splash Alanna Smith, last season’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year. And mainstay bucket-getter Arike Ogunbowale pursues her fifth All-Star nod — and her first playoff berth in three years.

As the WNBA grows in scope and viewership, its broadcast rights expand across over-the-air networks, cable channels and streaming exclusives. Consider this your one-stop guide for the Wings’ TV schedule, sorted by regional and national listings. Don’t forget to follow The Athletic’s WNBA coverage and the “No Offseason” podcast this season, too.

All times listed below are ET. All prices are updated as of May 2026.

You can watch in-market and nationally televised WNBA games on Fubo (Stream Free Now). Out-of-market viewers can stream regional games with WNBA League Pass.

Out-of-market vs. in-market fans

For fans outside the Wings’ market

A majority of the Wings’ games are on national TV, which means they are available to fans anywhere in the U.S., without restrictions. The rotation includes ABC, ESPN, CBS, ION, NBA TV, NBC, Peacock/NBCSN, Prime Video and USA Network.

Most of those are accessible through a pay TV service — cable, satellite, Fubo, YouTube TV, Sling, etc. — though some require an expanded package or subscription.

However, whether you’re a dedicated Dallas expat or a Bueckers-Fudd obsessive since the UConn days, all out-of-market fans need WNBA League Pass to watch the eight games this season that aren’t on national TV.

Average monthly cost: $85-$100 for pay TV and $14.99 (or $39.99/year) for WNBA League Pass.

For fans in the Wings’ market

All games outside of the national TV schedule fall to a team’s local broadcast partner. For the Wings, that’s KFAA (channel 29). It carries 24 regular-season games this year, including eight exclusives.

In-market Wings fans need a pay TV package with KFAA, or a basic broadcast antenna for free over-the-air access.

Average monthly cost: $85-$100 for pay TV, depending on the provider. KFAA is also free with an antenna.

ABC and ESPN

These two channels are both operated by the Walt Disney Company, so they are available with a Disney+ and Hulu bundle as well. ESPN Deportes has Spanish-language coverage.

This summer, ESPN will debut a “Women’s Sports Sundays” block with W action as its centerpiece. Later this fall, the Disney networks will have two first-round playoff series, plus one of the two semifinal matchups. Expect to hear Ryan Ruocco and his famous “you bet!” call in clutch moments.

ABC and ESPN are home to All-Star weekend festivities, to be held at the United Center in Chicago for the first time ever.

Wings games on ABC

Saturday, May 9: at Indiana Fever, 1 p.m.

Sunday, July 19: vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 1 p.m.

Wings games on ESPN

Tuesday, July 7: at New York Liberty, 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 12: vs. Chicago Sky, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 2: vs. Connecticut Sun, 7 p.m.

CBS/Paramount+

Last season, CBS aired the WNBA’s first primetime regular-season games on broadcast television. This year, the network returns for a full 20 telecasts, which can also be streamed on Paramount+.

CBS Sports’ main announcing team has Jordan Kent handling play-by-play duties, Isis “Ice” Young on commentary and Tiffany Blackmon as the sideline reporter. Jenny Dell hosts the lead pregame show, with Lisa Leslie and Renee Montgomery in the studio.

One of this season’s highlights is a weeklong, 24-game WNBA Pride campaign. The title sponsor, Coach, is set to donate $100 per made free throw (up to $200,000) during these Pride contests. 

Wings games on CBS

Saturday, June 20 (Pride Games): vs. Chicago Sky, 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 28: vs. Minnesota Lynx, 2 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Phoenix Mercury, 1 p.m.

ION

ION tops all national partners with 50 regular-season dates. Its “WNBA Friday Night Spotlight” returns with a doubleheader format each week. ION, and its Friday lineup, can be accessed with a basic broadcast antenna.

The Commissioner’s Cup, the league’s in-season tournament with cash prizes on the line, is back for the sixth go-around. One of the Wings’ tournament games will air on ION. The network will also close out Rivals Week, which pairs teams with playoff history or longstanding beef.

Wings games on ION

Friday, May 22: at Atlanta Dream, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, June 5 (Commissioner’s Cup): at Los Angeles Sparks, 10 p.m.

Friday, July 10: at Toronto Tempo, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 31: at Washington Mystics, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 7: vs. Golden State Valkyries, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 14 (Rivals Week): at Indiana Fever, 7:30 p.m.

NBA TV

The national NBA TV telecasts are not available live on WNBA League Pass, even though NBA TV is owned and operated by the NBA, a direct WNBA stakeholder. Fortunately, Dallas’ NBA TV games are also available locally on KFAA.

Wings games on NBA TV (and KFAA in-market)

Thursday, June 25 (Pride Games): at Las Vegas Aces, 10 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23: vs. Seattle Storm, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 25: vs. Portland Fire, 8 p.m.

What you’ll need to watch these games: NBA TV is included with most pay TV providers, though some require an added sports package. It also streams with an NBA League Pass subscription (starting at $16.99/month), and these dates are free over the air on KFAA.

NBC and NBCSN/Peacock

NBC broadcast the first-ever WNBA game back in 1997. It then left the rotation for more than two decades, and now returns amid the league’s surging popularity. That means more “Roundball Rock” throughout 2026.

Games with Peacock as the primary broadcaster have a linear TV equivalent on the NBCSN channel. In-market Dallas viewers get the Wings’ two Peacock games on KFAA as well.

The studio team includes Sue Bird and Cheryl Miller. Play-by-play is handled by Zora Stephenson, Noah Eagle and Michael Grady. NBC will have one of the two semifinal playoff series, plus part of the WNBA Finals. Games 1 and 4 will be on NBC, and every game will be available on the Peacock app.

Wings games on NBC

Sunday, May 24: at New York Liberty, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 9 (Rivals Week): at Minnesota Lynx, 3:30 p.m.

Wings games on Peacock/NBCSN (and KFAA in-market)

Monday, May 18: vs. Washington Mystics, 8 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 17: at Golden State Valkyries, 10 p.m.

What you’ll need to watch these games: NBC is free over the air. NBCSN comes with select pay TV sports packages. Peacock subscriptions that include live sports start at $10.99/month with ads. Dallas’ Peacock dates are free over the air on KFAA.

Prime Video

For the sixth straight year, Prime has exclusive rights to the Commissioner’s Cup championship game. But new this season, it also gets a first-round playoff series.

Accordingly, the streaming behemoth has upped investment in its WNBA coverage. Retired greats Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon are new additions to the Prime roster. They join fellow Hall of Famers Swin Cash and Candace Parker, who are among the analysts. Grady, pulling double duty with his NBC role, headlines the play-by-play talent. Allie Clifton anchors pregame, halftime and postgame programming.

Prime has two Dallas games that will also be available for in-market viewers.

Wings games on Prime Video

Thursday, May 14: vs. Minnesota Lynx, 8 p.m.

Thursday, May 28: vs. Las Vegas Aces, 8 p.m.

Thursday, June 11 (Commissioner’s Cup): vs. Phoenix Mercury, 9 p.m.

Thursday, July 2*: at Connecticut Sun, 8 p.m.

Thursday, July 16: vs. New York Liberty, 9 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 20*: vs. Indiana Fever, 8 p.m.

* in-market simulcast on KFAA

USA Network

Of USA’s 48 regular-season games, 28 fall on Wednesday night. Kate Scott takes play-by-play, while Sarah Kustok and Tamika Catchings are game analysts. The network has also landed in-season appearances from Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. USA will get Games 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the WNBA Finals.

Like NBA TV, Peacock and a couple of the Prime Video games, Dallas’ appearances on USA are also on the local KFAA.

Wings games on USA Network (and KFAA in-market)

Wednesday, May 20: at Chicago Sky, 9 p.m.

Monday, June 1 (Commissioner’s Cup): vs. Seattle Storm, 8 p.m.

Monday, June 15 (Commissioner’s Cup): vs. Las Vegas Aces, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 22: at Portland Fire, 10 p.m.

Wednesday, July 29: vs. Atlanta Dream, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 12 (Rivals Week): vs. Toronto Tempo, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 17: vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 8 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 21: at Phoenix Mercury, 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 23 (regular-season finale): at Seattle Storm, 10 p.m.

What you’ll need to watch these games: USA Network comes with most pay TV plans. Additionally, these games are on KFAA for in-market viewers.

Wings franchise scoring leaders

Points through 2025 season

Arike Ogunbowale — 4,464

Deanna Nolan — 3,971

Skylar Diggins — 2,670

Glory Johnson — 2,446

Swin Cash — 2,369

Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Dallas Wings, WNBA, Fubo Partnership, How to Watch

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Will Hardik Pandya play against RCB in IPL 2026? Latest injury update and availability for MI's next match originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Hardik Pandya missed MI's last game against LSG earlier this week.
• MI next face RCB in a must-win clash in IPL on Sunday. 
• Hardik Pandya did not travel to Raipur for Sunday's clash.

What happened to MI captain Hardik Pandya?

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has experienced a nightmare IPL 2026 campaign, both as a player and as the skipper of MI side.

The star Indian all-rounder has been unable to perform with both bat and ball and under his leadership, MI have lost seven out of the 10 matches they have played thus far.

In their last game against Lucknow Super Giants, a must-win tie, fans were left surprised when Suryakumar Yadav walked out for the toss, alongside Rishabh Pant. 

After the toss, SKY confirmed that Pandya was not keeping well and thus he temporarily took charge of the team. To the broadcaster, Yadav said: "Hardik Pandya is unwell with a back spasm, hence Suryakumar Yadav is captain for today's game."

MI, however, are yet to provide any update on Pandya's condition formally, while the players are also tight-lipped. When asked about their captain, Ryan Rickleton said: "I don't know when he's expected to be back. I only found out this afternoon that he had back spasms. So I'm not aware of the extent of it - I wouldn't even call it an injury - or how serious it is or what he's feeling. But I'm sure he'll be back with the group as we head to Raipur this week."

MORE: MI’s biggest defeats in IPL history: Full list of Mumbai Indians’ heaviest losses by runs

Will Hardik Pandya play against RCB in IPL 2026? Latest injury update

According to Cricbuzz, MI players assembled at Mumbai airport to travel to Raipur to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a crucial and must-win encounter on Sunday, May 10. 

However, Pandya was nowhere to be found at the airport as the players prepared to board their flight. MI are yet to confirm whether Pandya would join the team in Raipur later this week. 

It now remains to be seen if the all-rounder regains full fitness in the next couple of days and flies off to Raipur by the weekend. 

MORE: MI's IPL 2026 playoff chances detailed: Qualification scenarios, wins and points required for Mumbai Indians

The Cricket News Opinion: Suryakumar Yadav capable of replacing Hardik Pandya as captain

India's T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav inspired MI to a crucial win over LSG in their last game.  MI headed into the game on the back of a series of losses and the tie against LSG was a must-win clash for the five-time champions to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot in IPL 2026.

Under SKY's leadership, MI once again looked like the dangerous outfit they once were as they comfortably chased down 229 runs, inspired by brilliant knocks from Rohit Sharma and Rickleton.

Even if Pandya cannot lead MI against RCB, fans can rest assured that SKY is more than capable of taking the leadership role and inspiring MI to yet another victory. 

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

The Bucs 2025 campaign started with a ton of promise. They started the season 6-2 with a win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. They went into their Bye Week with the expectation they would rest up and come out of it ready for a tough slate of games but would finish the season 2-7 after the break and lose their division title. Not many things could be seen as much more of a worst-case scenario for the Bucs, but what could be worse in 2026?

Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon laid out the worst-case scenario for every NFL team, including the Bucs. For Tampa Bay, it centers around a duo of things that could unfold.

Gagnon writes, "Baker Mayfield regresses, indicating that his decline in 2025 wasn't simply a down year, and the Bucs pick up where they left off with a 2-7 run to close out the 2025 campaign."

Baker Mayfield is heading into a critical year on multiple fronts, perhaps the biggest being on paper, literally. He is set to be a free agent in 2027, and Jason Licht and the rest of the Bucs front office remain steadfast in him sticking around for the foreseeable future. However, if the team falters out of the gate, that may not be the case.

Albeit, it would need him to really fall out of the gate. But crazier things have happened.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: The Bucs worst case for 2026 centers around the play of Baker Mayfield

With the 2026 NFL Draft weekend in the rearview, teams have introduced their latest rookie class to the league in hopes of having them become part of the next Super Bowl puzzle. The draft also means finalizing past trades that included future draft picks. That includes a deal made in March 2025, which sent wide receiver Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Houston Texans in a rare AFC South trade.

Original terms of the Christian Kirk trade to the Texans

• Jaguars receive: 2026 seventh-round pick
• Texans receive: Christian Kirk

How was Christian Kirk’s performance for the Texans last season?

Kirk served as a depth piece for the Texans, catching 28 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown. While it was a career low for Kirk in terms of yardage, he stepped up in the playoffs with a pair of touchdowns, one in each game with the team against the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.

What did the Jaguars do with the pick from the Christian Kirk trade?

With the No. 245 overall pick, the Jaguars paired it with pick 196 to move up to 191 and select WR Josh Cameron.

Who won the Christian Kirk trade between the Jaguars and the Texans?

Even though Kirk’s time with the Texans was limited, and he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in the offseason, this was still a winning trade for the Texans. Kirk was a strong playoff contributor for them, and that should be worth the price of a seventh-round pick.

The Texans could have nabbed a compensatory pick for Kirk, but they did not have a net loss of free agents.

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There are plenty of ways to build an NFL roster, and the Philadelphia Eagles don't follow most of them. That's not a criticism. It's a compliment. At least that's the skinny, according to Jonathan Greenard. During a recent appearance, he offered a perspective that stood out, not because it was flashy, but because it was honest. In a league where teams often chase trends, Philadelphia has built a reputation for sticking to its own formula.

Jonathan Greebard and Chris Long discuss the Eagles' roster.

The Eagles' approach has never been about quick fixes. It's about layers, and it shows. They are investing in the trenches, building depth, and creating competition at nearly every position. That philosophy isn't always the most exciting on paper, but it's effective. Year after year, the Eagles find themselves in a position to compete, not because they rely on one or two stars, but because their roster feels complete from top to bottom. That's what caught Greenard's attention.

During a recent appearance on Green Light with Chris Long, Greenard and the Super Bowl hero discussed how Philadelphia's roster-building philosophy is about more than who they bring in. It's just as much about the size of 'the dawg in the fight' as it is about the 'size of the fight in the dawg.' Here's your disclaimer. Some slightly NSFW content waits if you choose to do so. Philadelphia's strategy continues. Three of their eight 2026 draft choices were exhausted on massive human beings.

“These f***ers I feel like they find the biggest, fastest person they can find at every position”@jongreenard7 on this Eagles roster 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/oIIAP29h0g

— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) May 4, 2026

Markel Bell stands at six-foot-nine and weighs 346 pounds. Micah Morris is six-foot-five and 334 pounds. Uar Bernard stands just over six-foot-four. He tips the scales at 306 wars. There seems to be some gladiator-style battles at practice.

Every addition, every move, and every draft pick ties back to a larger vision. There's a level of intentionality that’s hard to miss once you see it. Players aren't just collected. They're curated.

That creates something different entirely. Jonathan Greenard didn't need a long explanation to make his point. The Eagles build their roster their way, and in a league built on copycat thinking, that might be what makes them the most dangerous.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jonathan Greenard reacts to Eagles’ focus on size, speed in roster

The signing on Tuesday of veteran nose tackle D.J. Reader might have been the last significant personnel move of the offseason for the New York Giants. So, let’s look at players who sit firmly on the roster bubble following an active, perhaps transformative, offseason for the Giants.

CB Deonte Banks

I keep getting asked whether I think a return to a more aggressive approach in the secondary will help Banks, drafted to play in Wink Martindale’s system, recapture the promise he showed as a rookie.

The truth is, I think Banks’ emergence as a home run threat on kickoff returns last season might be the only thing that saves him a roster spot.

The Giants can say what they want about how good Banks looks this spring, but I can’t really imagine John Harbaugh wanting to rely on a player who has a) played poorly at times over three seasons and b) shown such a poor on-field attitude when things have gone badly.

Entering his fourth season, Banks has yet to show real progress in grasping the nuances of cornerback play. He is still just an athlete running around out there, hoping his athleticism is enough. It hasn’t been.

LBs Micah McFadden/Darius Muasau

The Giants selected Arvell Reese No. 5 in the draft and immediately announced he would be a starting inside linebacker next to Tremaine Edmunds. Then, they drafted Jack Kelly in Round 6. That might set up a competition between McFadden and Muasau for one spot as a backup linebacker/special teamer.

PK Ben Sauls

Sauls was a great story last year, a left-footed rookie who finally settled the Giants’ placekicking situation after nearly three years of week-in and week-out questions due mostly to Graham Gano’s inability to stay healthy and the Giants’ lack of foresight in failing to move on from him quickly enough.

It really wasn’t a massive surprise when the Giants signed an accomplished veteran placekicker, Jason Sanders, in free agency. It might be considered surprising, though, that the Giants added undrafted free agent placekicker Dominic Zvada after the 2026 NFL Draft.

Best guess is that Sanders wins the job if he is healthy, Zvada lands on the practice squad if he shows enough in training camp and the preseason, and Sauls continues the nomadic life of a placekicker looking for a new job.

WR Jalin Hyatt/Isaiah Hodgins

Truth is, Hyatt and Hodgins have been on the 2026 roster bubble since the second the 2025 season ended. The hiring of Harbaugh as head coach made their mountain tougher to climb because neither contributes to special teams. The trade-up to select Malachi Fields in the draft brought yet another obstacle.

In my post-draft 53-man roster projection, I had Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, Malachi Fields, and Gunner Olszewski making the team. That’s six receivers. If the Giants keep a seventh, strong special teamers like Dalen Cambre and Ryan Miller might have an advantage.

G Aaron Stinnie

Stinnie is an adequate guard only backup. The Giants suddenly, though, have a crowd when it comes to reserve offensive line positions.

The drafting of Francis Mauigoa settles the starting lineup with Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan (unless something unexpected happens), John Michael Schmitz, Mauigoa, and Jermaine Eluemunor.

Marcus Mbow is one swing tackle. Daniel Faalele figures to make the roster as a backup guard. I doubt the Giants will want to expose sixth-round pick J.C. Davis to waivers, so give him a 53-man roster spot. Lucas Patrick has extensive experience at both guard and center, giving him an advantage over Stinnie.

That’s nine linemen. If the Giants keep 10 on the 53-man roster, which is possible but hardly guaranteed, Stinnie would seem to have a better chance. Still, Josh Ezeudu, Evan Neal, and undrafted free agent Ryan Schernecke might be in the mix for that last spot.

DT Elijah Chatman

The Giants have added … and added … and added … and added some more to the defensive line after trading Dexter Lawrence and letting Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson sign elsewhere in free agency.

It doesn’t figure that there will be a place for a 5-foot-10, 280-pound defensive tackle who doesn’t hold up well against the run because of his size.

Chatman has been a nice story for the Giants, but his time might be up.

[NOTE: Yes, I cheated a little bit. Instead of six players, I gave you eight names for six spots.]

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch chose his words carefully Tuesday night, but his frustration was impossible to miss.

Following the benches-clearing incident between the Tigers and Red Sox, Hinch repeatedly acknowledged how bad the moment looked and made it clear he understood Boston’s reaction after Framber Valdez hit Trevor Story with a fastball moments after surrendering back-to-back home runs.

A.J. Hinch Calls It a “Low Moment”

As tensions cooled following the confrontation, Hinch did not rush to defend the optics of the situation.

“We play a really good brand of baseball here. That didn’t feel like it,” Hinch said. “It’s not judging intent; I have no idea. But I know when you go out on the field and you end up sort of in those confrontations, you usually feel like you’re in your right. And it didn’t feel good being out there.”

Hinch continued by acknowledging exactly why the Red Sox were upset.

“So I understand their frustrations. I understand the moment, and it was a low moment of a frustrating night.”

Those comments stood out because they reflected more disappointment than outrage.

Hinch Focused on De-Escalating Situation

During the confrontation, cameras caught Hinch exchanging words with Red Sox slugger Willson Contreras near the first-base line. According to Hinch, the interaction was about calming the situation down before it escalated further.

“Willson was really frustrated,” Hinch said, “but I was just standing there making sure he calmed down. He was fine. Their coaches were there. I was just telling them to calm down.”

No punches were thrown, but emotions clearly boiled over as players from both dugouts poured onto the field.

Hinch Understands Why Boston Was Angry

Even after the game, Hinch never dismissed how the incident looked from the outside.

“I understand,” Hinch said. “I understand their frustration. I understand the optics. I understand the whole thing.”

That quote may ultimately define the Tigers manager’s response to the entire situation.

Rather than escalating the controversy, Hinch appeared more interested in acknowledging reality and moving forward.

Tigers Waiting on Possible MLB Discipline

One lingering question remains whether Major League Baseball will suspend Valdez for intentionally throwing at Story.

Hinch made it clear that decision is now out of his hands.

“I have no idea,” Hinch said. “That’s for the league to dissect. I know everybody on the field did a good job of just de-escalating the situation and making sure it didn’t go any further than it had to.”

With Detroit already dealing with multiple injuries in its rotation, the possibility of losing Valdez, even temporarily, would create another major challenge for the Tigers moving forward.

Defenceman Jimmy Oligny has agreed a new two-year deal with Cardiff Devils.

The Canadian, 33, impressed in 2025-26, scoring seven goals and 25 assists for 32 points and helping Devils seal a fourth Play-Offs Final win as they overcame Sheffield Steelers last month.

Oligny featured in all 68 Devils game across the season – his first in Wales – and played the final three weeks of the campaign with a broken thumb.

He has previously played for HKM Sloven in Slovakia and Austrian side Graz 99ers and spent six seasons for the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League.

The San Francisco 49ers made one of the biggest moves this offseason when they signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans to a reasonable three-year deal.

Evans' arrival in San Francisco gives Brock Purdy a true WR1 to target in 2026, but with the former first-round pick missing three games in 2024 and nine in 2025, there are some questions about his health as he enters his mid-30s.

Former 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens, who was pretty durable throughout his 15 years in the NFL, recently shared some advice for Evans to remain on the field.

“Obviously he’s been battling the hamstring injuries over the last few years with the Buccaneers, and that’s of some concern,” Owens told the "Action Network" recently. “Hopefully he can do some things in the offseason to eliminate that. It’s usually been late in the season when he’s been hurt, so he has to change up what he’s doing from a training standpoint. Even nutrition.”

Videos on social media have shown Evans putting in the work this offseason, and Owens believes that if he makes the necessary changes, the wideout can help the team reach great heights in 2026.

“There’s obviously something going on,” Owens said. “Bodies can get out of alignment. Hips and things of that nature. If he can address that and be productive, be available for the team toward the end of the season and into the playoffs, they’ve got a good chance.”

Evans began his career with 11-straight 1,000-yard seasons before catching 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns in eight games in 2025. San Francisco's hoping that Evans is healthy again this year and returns to the player he was before last season.

More 49ers: 49ers linked to Pro Bowl cornerback as potential trade destination

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers legend gives blunt advice to team’s new superstar

The possibility of Jose Mourinho making a sensational return to Real Madrid is no longer being treated as a distant rumour. In fact, momentum behind the operation now appears stronger than ever.

According to the latest reports emerging from Jose Felix Diaz (h/y Madrid Zone), there is growing belief that Mourinho is on the verge of becoming the club’s next head coach, with confidence around the appointment reportedly reaching extremely high levels internally.

As per the journalist, ‘there is a 90% chance that Mourinho will be Real Madrid’s next coach, and that all roads lead to him.’  

Despite multiple elite coaches being linked with the position in recent months, reports claim Real Madrid have not seriously advanced negotiations with other managerial candidates. 

Instead, the focus has remained centred on Mourinho, reinforcing the feeling that Florentino Perez already knows who he wants leading the next phase of the project.

Relationship is the driving force

Notably, the relationship between Mourinho and Perez has never truly disappeared.

Even after their intense and controversial spell together ended more than a decade ago, the two figures maintained mutual respect, regular contact and a shared sense that their story at Real Madrid was never fully completed. 

Mourinho is gaining strength at Real Madrid. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Now, with Madrid facing one of their most delicate rebuilding periods in recent years, the club president appears increasingly convinced that Mourinho may be the ideal figure to restore order.

Real Madrid are on course to finish another season without lifting a major trophy, something that has triggered serious internal reflection. 

Beyond the results themselves, there is also concern about the atmosphere surrounding the squad. 

A dressing room authority

Reports in Spain continue to point toward tension, fractured dynamics and dressing-room instability after a difficult campaign and that is precisely where Mourinho’s profile gains strength.

Throughout his career, the Portuguese coach has built a reputation as one of football’s strongest dressing-room managers. 

As a result, all signs coming out of Madrid suggest that Mourinho is becoming the overwhelming favourite to take charge of Real Madrid ahead of other candidates and attempt to rebuild a project that many inside the club believe has lost its identity.

Manchester United have reportedly reached a decision on the future of midfield prodigy Sekou Kone as the summer transfer window nears.

Big window

United are bracing for a very busy window, having already secured Champions League football. Sunday’s 3-2 win over Liverpool completed a league double over their bitter rivals and also booked United’s spot in Europe’s elite competition.

Focus is now set to start shifting towards transfers and with the expected increased workload, United will need a much larger squad.

Reinforcing the midfield is thought to be the priority but other positions could also come into play, including left wing, reserve goalkeeper, left back and central defence.

Then there is the issue of outgoings and loans. Typically, several youngsters will either be let go or head out on loan to further their development. According to The Athletic, United have made the decision to send Kone out on loan again after a disappointing spell at INEOS-owned FC Lausanne-Sport.

Kone call

Following his recovery from a fractured eye socket sustained earlier in the season, United authorised a January loan transfer for Kone to Lausanne-Sport.

The Senegalese midfielder has made significant strides in the youth ranks since he arrived at United in 2024 from Guidars FC. United felt that it was necessary for him to head out and experience being part of a competitive first-team environment.

However, things have not quite gone according to plan for the 20-year-old talent. He has made just one start and four substitute appearances in the Swiss Super League.

An injury has also sidelined him from Lausanne-Sport’s last four fixtures.

The Athletic say, “Another loan is likely next season, with the hope of a better fit and more game time.”

It remains to be seen whether United will send Kone out on loan abroad again or keep him closer to home, with a move to the Championship or the lower leagues a possible alternative.

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and his players are next in action on Saturday when they go away to Sunderland. Kick-off is at 15:00 BST.

Photo courtesy of Sekou Kone’s Instagram

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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

FOOTBALL
Champions League semi-final second leg, Bayern Munich v Paris-Saint Germain at 1900

- News ahead of Thursday's Europa League and Conference League semi-finals second legs, including Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest and Freiburg v Braga, as available

- RB Leipzig to pay respects to victims of car-ramming attack, moved

- Ex-captain Lahm doesn't see Germany as favourites for World Cup title, moved

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TENNIS
Rome ATP Masters and WTA Italian Open first rounds, as available

_______

OLYMPICS
IOC Executive Board meeting until May 7, as available

We asked for your views on whether it would be worth the risk to play Morgan Gibbs-White against Aston Villa in the Europa League second leg.

Here are some of your comments:

Phil: It looks a nasty cut. Hope he can play on Thursday, but his health must come first. He is key to Forest's success. I think whoever replaces him (if needs be) will do a fine job.

Maurice: Don't even think about playing Morgan Gibbs-White on Thursday! Let him recover first. The whole squad is motivated and will keep performing. Great to see everything coming together again for a fan who has been following the Reds since the early 1970's.

David: There's no reason to pressure Gibbs-White to play in Thursday's showdown at Villa Park. We have plenty of cover for him, like Taiwo Awoniyi or Omari Hutchinson.

Luke: He will 100% want to play, it might be a bigger risk telling him he can't. So long as his vision isn't impaired by swelling etc, then measure him up for a mask and get him out there. If we qualify, then you can wrap him in cotton wool until the final.

Simon: Got to be down to Gibbs-White himself to decide. Biggest game for us in 40 years and we're pretty well safe in the Premier League now, so if he feels he's up for it, play him.

Pat: If Gibbs-White says he's fit, let him play. It will be one of the biggest games of his career. One of the biggest in our recent history. One that can write a new chapter for us and one that explodes him to England glory.

Colton: Gibbs-White would be a better leader by making the right decision. The season ain't over yet, we could go down still. He has a huge part to play in our survival. Rest up Thursday, be there to be a potential super-sub. Then play for the rest of the season and hopefully a cup final if fate is on our side.

Mark: Yes, playing in a protective mask is pretty standard for football. He's a tough Red, and he won't want to miss this, he can be rested in Premier League games.

This is your Forest page. Bookmark it and come back for podcasts, stats, fan views, expert punditry and more.

And so another Rangers season comes to a premature end following another failure to put together a 90-minute performance.

Having put in a couple of pretty abject first-half displays in their games against Falkirk and Motherwell, it was imperative they started better against Hearts. And to be fair, they did.

In fact after a fairly even opening to the game, they took control after getting themselves in front and were knocking the ball about nicely, with Hearts unable to get close to them.

I said in commentary they were doing to Hearts what Motherwell had done to them in that first period. It was impressive to watch and with Hearts unable to get possession, it looked as though Danny Rohl's side were going to haul themselves right back into the thick of the title race, just a point behind their opponents and Celtic.

But of course that is not what transpired. Derek McInnes's tactical tweaks at half-time countered Rangers' dominance of midfield and as soon as Hearts got the early second-half equaliser, the momentum shifted and Rangers' title hopes were ended.

The fall-out from that, from a Rangers perspective, has been to apportion blame for yet another hugely disappointing season. Fingers have been pointed at Danny Rohl, at James Tavernier, at Andreas Skov Olsen among others.

Rohl deserves some praise. Firstly for having turned Rangers' fortunes around and got them back involved to the extent that they became many people's favourites to win the league. But also, on the night, his tactics at the outset were spot on. However, his and his players' inability to adapt once Hearts changed their own shape is unacceptable and ultimately, just as he was out-thought by Jens Berthel Askou the week before, he was outdone by Derek McInnes.

Questions are now being asked about his future as Rangers manager. I'll leave that for another week but he and his players have to show a response by taking something off Celtic on Sunday.

I think Tavernier has been unfairly criticised on this occasion, but as the captain of a side that has failed to deliver on another big occasion he will have to accept considerable responsibility.

As for Skov Olsen, he has been a major let-down since arriving to such great fanfare and it seems unthinkable that Rangers would now try to make his move a permanent one.

But it is as a collective that Rangers have failed in the end and there will have to be another period of soul-searching within Ibrox as the owners plot a way forward.

All that remains for this season is to try to overhaul Celtic in second, though that should offer only minimal solace.

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA confirmed a global ban Wednesday for Gianluca Prestianni that will rule the Benfica winger out of two World Cup games in the United States if he is selected in Argentina's squad.

UEFA imposed a six-game ban — with three games deferred on probation — on Prestianni two weeks ago for his verbal abuse of Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior in the Champions League. Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey while using the insult.

FIFA has now, as expected, fulfilled UEFA’s request to apply the ban beyond European competitions to the World Cup that starts next month.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the six-match ban imposed by UEFA on Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni to have worldwide effect,” the soccer body said in a statement.

It is unclear if Prestianni is still in Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni’s plans to defend the World Cup title. Argentina starts against Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City and plays Austria five days later in Arlington, Texas. The group also includes World Cup debutant Jordan.

The 20-year-old winger made his first and only appearance for Argentina in a friendly in November. He was an unused substitute in Argentina’s most recent game, a World Cup warmup against Zambia on March 31.

When Scaloni called up Prestianni in March for the warmups, he did not address the ongoing UEFA investigation. Scaloni noted he needed the Benfica player because Paulo Dybala was unavailable.

UEFA had investigated Prestianni for a racist insult alleged by Vinícius with support from Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé. They claimed Prestianni used the Spanish word for “monkey,” which he disguised by raising his red jersey to cover his mouth.

UEFA could not prove the racial insult which Prestianni denied, though he admitted using a homophobic slur.

Prestianni already served the first game of his ban when UEFA barred him playing against Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League knockout playoff in February.

Last week, FIFA’s push to make it a red card offense for World Cup players to cover their mouth when insulting an opponent was passed by soccer’s rulemaking panel known as IFAB.

If Prestianni is not selected by Argentina, he will serve the rest of his ban in a UEFA-organized European competition next season.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and more World Cup https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Bradford Bulls captain Joe Mellor has extended his contract through to the end of next season.

The 35-year-old loose forward joined the club on a one-year deal last November after leaving Salford.

The former Widnes and Leigh man is currently sidelined with a knee injury.

"I'm really happy to be staying, it's been really good since I arrived especially coming back into Super League," he told the club website.

Yankees 7, Rangers 4

• That game made me grouchy.
• Like the Very Grouchy Ladybug.
• Three runs in the first off of Elmer Rodriguez, then one run the rest of the way.
• The Yankees were 3 for 8 with runners in scoring position and stranded five. The Rangers were 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12.
• And that pretty much explains the ball game.
• I don’t want to talk about this game.
• Jacob deGrom topped out at 98.7 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.8 mph. Jalen Beeks reached 94.4 mph with his fastball. Tyler Alexander’s sinker reached 92.8 mph.
• Jake Burger had a 107.3 mph ground out, a 104.3 mph GIDP, and a 103.3 mph ground out. Ezequiel Duran had a 105.2 mph triple. Andrew McCutchen had a 104.6 mph single. Joc Pederson had a 103.1 mph sacrifice fly. Alejandro Osuna had a 103.0 mph ground out. Josh Jung had a 101.5 mph single.
• On to the next one.

The Nationals have admitted defeat on yet another first round draft pick from the 2010’s. While the Nats were having a magical turnaround in the summer of 2019, Mike Rizzo drafted Jackson Rutledge with the 17th overall pick. He did not work out, and the Nats new regime officially admitted that last night when they DFA’d Rutledge.

The Nats needed to remove someone from the 40-man roster to add new signing Max Kranick, and Rutledge was the guy. Despite Rutledge’s pedigree, the fact he was DFA’d did not come as much of a surprise. He just has not been productive enough to stick around in the big leagues.

Rutledge has appeared in 71 games, with five starts. In his career, Rutledge has an ERA of 6.29. This season he only made one disastrous MLB appearance, where he allowed 7 runs in 1.1 innings. At that point, it really felt like the writing was on the wall for the former first rounder.

In 2025, Rutledge was a full time big leaguer for the first time. He was a mainstay in the Nats bullpen. While he had some moments of success, there was more bad than good. He posted a 5.77 ERA in 63 outings last year. Despite throwing in the mid-90’s, Rutledge’s fastball was extremely hittable.

That has been one of the stories of his career. For a guy who was touted as having elite stuff coming out of the draft, he has always been hittable. Even in Single-A, hitters were not having trouble picking up his stuff. In 2021, he posted an ERA of 7.68 in various levels of A ball and in 2022, he had an ERA of 4.90 for the Fred Nats. For a 6’8 guy with a mid-90’s heater and a wipeout slider, he was always shockingly hittable.

Part of that is due to the fact that he does not take advantage of his big frame. Despite being a massive pitcher, Rutledge has below average extension down the mound. That means he is not a very deceptive guy. His fastball shape is also very ordinary, which was a problem for him. Coming out of junior college, Rutledge could dominate with pure velocity, but he could not do that in pro ball.

Despite the rough start to his pro career, Rutledge did appear to turn a corner in 2023. He posted a 3.71 ERA in 23 starts split between Double-A and Triple-A. That success earned him a big league call up in 2023. However, the success never came in the big leagues.

That 2023 turned out to be an outlier. Rutledge posted an ERA above 6 in AAA the following year. After that, he became a full time reliever. He had some success in that role in the big leagues at the start of the 2025 season. However, as we mentioned, that success did not last.

There is a pretty good chance that Rutledge goes unclaimed and remains in the Nats organization. If that happens, he will be off the 40 man roster, and will officially just be organizational depth, which he pretty much was already.

Mike Rizzo’s drafts from 2012 onwards were rough, but his stretch between 2017-2019 was his worst work. In that three year stretch, the Nats took Seth Romero, Mason Denaburg and Jackson Rutledge in the first round. Those drafts are a big reason why the Nats had to enter a rebuild.

You can talk about ownership’s lack of spending, and that is a real problem. However, all of those draft misses added up for this organization. It is tough to build an entire team through free agency, especially in a medium sized market like DC. You need homegrown talent to be flowing through the system, and the Nats just did not have that.

Hopefully the new regime can change that, and they are already showing signs that they are. The Nats minor league teams are having more success than they have had in many years. Prospects like Eli Willits, Ronny Cruz, Devin Fitz-Gerald and Seaver King are also having monster years.

As we head into the future, I hope the Nats can build a young core of homegrown players and augment them with free agent talent. That is what the Nats did when they were at their best in the 2010’s. They spent money, but there was also a core of young, controllable players. That eventually dried up once all the draft misses caught up to this organization.

With the 20th pick in that same 2019 draft, the Mariners took a different college pitcher in George Kirby. Obviously that one is working out a lot better. The Mariners taking guys like Kirby and the Nats taking guys like Rutledge are a big reason why the two teams are in such different spots. With a new front office that has a rich history scouting the amateur draft, I think the Nats will be on the winning side of these sorts of things before too long.

Barcelona are on the verge of clinching the La Liga title, and Sunday’s El Clasico at the Spotify Camp Nou presents them with the perfect opportunity to do it in the most spectacular fashion possible.

But with nothing left to play for except pride, the Real Madrid team will be determined to produce a strong response at Camp Nou and will be aggressive from the start.

Jules Kounde is one of the players who will be tasked with keeping Real Madrid’s attack quiet, and the French defender has been speaking ahead of the highly anticipated fixture.

Kounde on pressure and the Clasico

Kounde talked about the preparations that go into the El Clasico and focus becomes important in such a key fixture.

“I don’t like living without pressure. I take on responsibility naturally, as it’s part of a professional athlete’s life. I handle pressure well, as it’s part of our job, and I love the feeling of it,” he said.

On the mood inside the Barcelona camp, he sounded quite positive, stating that the team is determined to win the league.

Kounde is fully focused for the Clasico. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

“The team is in a state of great focus. We have a strong desire to win the league. A draw would be enough for us to achieve it, but we want to beat Real Madrid,” he added.

On stopping Real Madrid’s attack

When asked about the key to winning the Clasico, Kounde pointed to a collective effort rather than individual defending.

“The key to winning El Clasico will be good pressing from the entire team, not just defence. We need to be at peak focus,” he said.

Perhaps the key highlight of the interview was when Kounde was asked which attacker had caused him the most problems throughout his career.

“Vinicius. I suffered a lot against Leao as well. And even Lamine in training puts a huge effort on me,” he admitted.

Kounde is likely to take on Vinicius Jr. once again at Camp Nou this weekend.

Source: BarçaTV+

Bayern Munich host Paris Saint-Germain in Germany tonight to see who will face Arsenal in the Champions League final in what could be another thrilling game.

The first leg saw nine goals scored between two free-flowing, attacking teams with PSG having a one-goal advantage to 'defend', although hopefully defending will not be a big part of the game once again.

So how does this Champions League semi-final rank among those throughout history? And how many more goals are needed for it to break the record?

The first game in Paris means that this massive tie has already had more goals in a Champions League semi-final since its rebrand than all but four other games – and that's just after one leg.

In the Champions League era, there has been one two-legged semi-final with 10 goals (Juventus 6-4 Monaco), one with 11 (Manchester City 5-6 Real Madrid), and two currently level with the record. Both Liverpool 7-6 AS Roma and last season's semi-final, Barcelona 6-7 Internazionale, are currently the record for tonight's game to aim for.

That means should one of these teams win, let's say 3-2 in Munich, then we'll have a new record for goals in a Champions League semi-final.

Hw does that record compare with the old European Cup?

Well, there's only one semi-final to have more goals than those two 13-goals semi-finals. We'd have to go all the way back to the 1959/60 season.

Eintracht Frankfurt enjoyed a 6-1 win against Rangers in the first leg before going to then win 6-3 at the return leg in Ibrox for an emphatic 12-4 aggregate win.

Those 16 goals then are our current record for a European Cup / Champions League semi-final. We're just seven goals away from matching that this evening and if the game is as open as it was last time then we could well see that record being matched if not beaten.

Makai Lemon has star potential at receiver. Where he can make the most impact in Philadelphia: just by being a reliable target and doing exactly what he did for Jayden Maiava last season. In a recent article, Geoffrey A Knox highlights exactly how Makai Lemon will make a difference for Jalen Hurts:

"Lemon’s game is built on detail. He separates with technique. He understands spacing. He plays with a level of competitiveness that shows up in contested situations and critical moments.

For a quarterback like Hurts, one who has faced constant discussion about rhythm, timing, and operating within structure, that kind of receiver can be a stabilizer. It’s not about replacing anything. It’s about complementing everything. Lemon represents more than just potential. Philadelphia didn’t move up in the draft by accident. They identified a player they believed could help immediately and grow over time.

That level of conviction usually points to a clear vision. In this case, that vision appears tied directly to Hurts. Makai Lemon doesn’t have to be everything the Eagles need him to be right away. He just has to be what this offense needs in the moment, but he has help: Smith, Saquon Barkley, and Dallas Goedert, among others. If the early read is correct, and the fit is as clean as it looks on paper, the Jalen Hurts–Lemon connection won’t take long to develop."

The Eagles have weapons to make this offense dangerous already, but Makai Lemon is a weapon that will make things easy for Jalen Hurts. He can be a sure thing and a reliable target. Lemon will make Jalen Hurts right, and that will make more of an impact than elite production will.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: If Makai Lemon can be what he was at USC, Jalen Hurts will thrive

We are now over a month into the first season of what Shohei Ohtani can do on both sides of the field throughout the whole year as a Dodger.

Ohtani is seemingly back to his pre-injury, Cy Young award contending form on the mound, as he’s coming off a dominant month of April where he was named the National League Pitcher of the Month. On the other side of the field, where he hit 109 home run in his first two years with the Dodgers, his bat has cooled off recently as he is currently miring in an 0-17 slump dating back to Wednesday April 29 against the Miami Marlins.

Ohtani attempted to mitigate his struggles by taking batting practice before Monday’s 8-3 win over the Houston Astros, but it only resulted in his hitless streak reaching five games. Despite the recent offensive struggles, Ohtani knows that the early portion of the season isn’t his strong suit and has faith that his bat will wake up as the season marches on, notes Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.

“I do feel like over the course of my career it’s just a reality that I’m not exactly hitting at the best of my ability at this time of year,” Ohtani said last week through interpreter Will Ireton. “At the same time, as a player, I do want to be better and get to that position where I’m feeling really good. It’s a balancing act of the two.”

“It is easier to maintain something good when things are going well,” Ohtani said. “But when things are not going well, it’s not easy, in the sense that I have to make sure that I’m healthy and not overdoing it in terms of repetition. So while I’m working on certain things, it’s also a balancing act of making sure I’m not overdoing it physically and making sure that I’m healthy.”

Ohtani has already shown during his time with the Angels that pitching full-time wasn’t the main factor behind an offensive slump, and the reigning two-time MVP is adamant that the adjustment to being a full-time pitcher again hasn’t hampered his ability to hit, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

“I don’t think so, personally, that pitching has been affecting my hitting,” Ohtani said through his interpreter following Tuesday’s game. “At the same time, it has been a little bit longer than my expectation (to get going), in terms of the hitting side of things. So, I’ve been getting on base, which is a good thing. I just want to make sure that the quality of balls in play are better. And it’s not ideal that I’m trying to find that in the game (with less time to work in practice), but I just have to continue to do what I’m supposed to do.”

Tuesday was the third time this season that Ohtani solely took the mound, going a season-high seven innings while striking out eight, but his two home runs surrendered made the difference as he took another tough defeat. Ohtani spoke about the tenacity of Houston’s lineup and the ineffectiveness of his two mistake pitches following Tuesday’s game, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.

“It was really mislocated, to the area completely opposite of where I was intending to,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “If the execution was better, I think it wouldn’t have been a homer, but they also put good swings as well.”

When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2018, he was 33 years of age. He agreed to a four-year contract, and the expectation at the time seemed to be that by the last year or two of that contract, he would start to show some real signs of wear and tear.

Fast forward nearly eight years, and he has barely shown any such signs. While he perhaps cannot play at the same level as consistently for long stretches of games as he could back then, his ability to produce at that level when needed is still intact. James was the Lakers' third scoring option for much of this season, but ever since Luka Doncic suffered a hamstring strain about a month ago, the 41-year-old has gone back to being the team's primary scoring threat.

During the latest episode of his "Mind the Game" podcast, James said he never would've guessed in 2018 that he would still be the main man on the Lakers in 2026 and lead them to an upset win over the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.

“I definitely didn’t believe that. I mean, listen, I came to the Lakers in 2018 at 33, and there’s no way if someone had said would you be playing in 2026 in the postseason, just playing, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to answer that question,” James said.

“Let alone saying but now you’re the number one option on a playoff team and you’re helping them win a series. I wouldn’t have believed that. I knew I still had a lot left in the tank when I came to this franchise in 2018. But to say eight years later at 41, I would be leading a team into the postseason and coming out with a series win, I wouldn’t have guessed that. I wouldn’t have bet on that.”

When Doncic, along with Austin Reaves, went down due to injury on April 2, Los Angeles was supposed to fold. But the NBA's all-time leading scorer has not only kept the team afloat, but he has also gotten L.A. to overachieve.

In that first-round series versus Houston, James averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists a game, and while he shot 43.2% overall and 30% from 3-point range, the impact he made was unmistakable. In Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, he scored 27 points on 12-of-17 field-goal shooting, to go along with six assists.

He clearly still seems to have plenty left in the tank, and it may not ultimately surprise people if he delivers a couple more seasons of, at a minimum, All-Star-level basketball.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: LeBron 'wouldn't have guessed' he'd still be leading Lakers at 41

Football Australia called Wednesday for a ban on public watch parties for the 2026 World Cup in Melbourne's Federation Square to be reversed.

The governing body said it was "extremely disappointed" with the decision by Melbourne Arts Precinct, which cited previous "dangerous" fan behaviour in the square.

"The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world and unites Australia's multicultural communities, while reinforcing our national identity," said Football Australia chief executive Martin Kugeler.

"Live sites create iconic moments for Australian sports fans," he added.

"Melbourne is one of Australia's sporting and multicultural capitals, and this decision goes against this tradition."

Katrina Sedgwick, chief executive of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, which manages the square, said the behaviour of some fans led to its decision not to host World Cup watch parties.

"This issue is really with a very small group of fans who, unfortunately, behave in a way that is just antisocial and frankly, dangerous," she told public broadcaster ABC.

"The challenge is when you have a crowded square with lots and lots of people and people are smuggling in flares," she said.

Some people were injured by flares in previous World Cup screenings, Sedgwick said.

"I think on the final night of the last Socceroos game we screened, we counted over 100 flares and fireworks that had been let off in the square."

The Socceroos begin their World Cup against Turkey in Vancouver on June 13, followed by games against co-hosts the United States in Seattle six days later and Paraguay in California on June 25.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster criticised the ban on Federation Square watch parties, posting on social media: "All stakeholders should be working to overturn this absurd decision." 

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are locked into a less-than-ideal contract situation with T.J. Watt, but one NFL legend believes a time could be coming soon when the team decides to pull the plug.

According to former Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, the team could look to move on from Watt once his full guaranteed money runs out in 2028.

“T.J. has a lot of guaranteed money left on his contract,” Harrison said via the Deebo and Joe podcast. “T.J. has '26 and '27. I don’t see him going anywhere unless they could potentially get something for him in a trade because I don’t see anybody taking a $42 million cap hit in each year.

“So, '26 and '27 is $42 million each, and that is fully guaranteed. And then, '28, it’s not guaranteed, but he has a roster bonus that is due of $15 million on the third day of the new league year. So, I hate to say it, in all reality, I would see them releasing him in '28, along with him being 34 at the time.”

At the time in July 2025, Watt became the highest-paid non-quarterback when he signed his three-year, $123 million extension. He went on to have a mediocre 2025 season, however, failing to record at least eight sacks for only the third time in his nine-year career.

Hopefully, Watt can turn things around in a major way this upcoming season, proving that he deserved every penny of his then-record-setting extension.

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

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers could move on from T.J. Watt in 2028, says James Harrison

After signing a one-year contract worth up to $5 million to join the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the Dante Fowler era in Dallas is official over. Again. Last season was Fowler’s second stint with the Dallas Cowboys. His first tenure encompassed the 2022 and 2023 season with his second following a one-year interlude in Washington in 2024.

In many ways Fowler’s 2025 season was as much a disappointment as it was predictable. Fowler was coming off an outlier season with the Washington Commanders. The 10.5 sacks he logged with them marked only the second time in his 11-year career he posted over eight sacks in a season. But the Cowboys clearly saw a repeatable performance, inking Fowler to a one-year deal worth exactly twice what he made during his previous time with the Cowboys.

The Cowboys ignored the red flags staring them in the face. They ignored the outlier sack numbers, and they paid no mind to the static pressure numbers. Pressures, a far more stable statistic than sacks, have long been considered a better predictor of performance than sacks.

In his 10.5 sack season of 2024, Fowler posted 20 total pressures, which is actually less than his 21.5 average career pressure average. It just so happens Fowler posted 20 pressures again in 2025 with the Cowboys, only this time instead of pairing it with 10.5 sacks he only produced three sacks. This otherwise predictable outcome saw his numbers regress to the mean in 2025, leaving the Cowboys wondering what the heck had happened.

It’s a lesson the Cowboys would be wise to learn if they want to avoid further free agent mistakes. Pressure rate has long been considered a better indicator of future performance than sacks. It’s far more stable year to year and a better tool to follow when free agent hunting in the offseason.

Veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. is signing with the Seahawks on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, per sources.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Fowler is now entering his 12th NFL season. Deal negotiated by Sean Kiernan and Tom Povinelli of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/IOyRrcoWAJ

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 5, 2026

Now, Fowler’s specific situation does involve more details that would be disingenuous to ignore. He played 205 more defensive snaps with the Commanders than he did with the Cowboys. This might help us explain the outlier sacks numbers but at the same time raises questions with the stagnant pressure numbers.

Speaking of pressure numbers, not all accounting is the same. Pro Football Reference counts 20 for each season but Pro Football Focus tells a much different tale. PFF tracked 43 regular season pressures in 2024 and 30 pressures in 2025. These are much more in line with his snap count disparity. But PFF also points out Fowler played a higher proportion of pass rush snaps in Dallas than he did in D.C. meaning the Cowboys put him in better position to post gaudy sack numbers than the Commanders.

At the end of the day, it comes down to predictive stats and free agent expectations. For as frugally as the Cowboys shop in free agency, they sure can be dismissive of predictive stats. Signing a player coming off an outlier season is dangerous in itself, add in all the details outlined above and it’s a real head-scratcher.

All the best to Dante Fowler as he joins the defending champs in 2026, but let’s not forget the lesson he taught us in 2025 when Dallas laid some pretty unrealistic expectations at his feet.

You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Fowler’s official departure is a reminder for Cowboys future strategy

The New York Giants selected BYU linebacker Jack Kelly in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL draft.

At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Kelly is a talented linebacker who flashed major potential throughout his college career. The former Cougars standout anchored BYU’s defense over the last two seasons and was widely regarded as a steal by many analysts at his draft position.

Kelly recorded an impressive 23.5 tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks across those two seasons. He also posted the fastest 20-yard shuttle time among all linebackers at the NFL Combine, running a notable 4.19 seconds despite weighing more than 240 pounds.

Jack Kelly also had the best 20-yard shuttle time among linebackers at the combine, 4.19. ...He had a 37-inch vertical leap and 4.57 forty time. https://t.co/9lgRsaFQ8y

— Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) April 25, 2026

In addition, Kelly recorded a 37-inch vertical leap and a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

With his combination of talent and elite physical tools, the linebacker enters his rookie season in New York motivated to prove himself after sliding to the sixth round.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants rookie Jack Kelly could emerge as a sixth-round steal

The Florida football program is expected to improve under new head coach Jon Sumrall in 2026. The greater question, however, still remains: just how far can the Gators climb behind a revamped roster anchored by returning impact players?

USA TODAY Sports' post-spring SEC rankings offer an early snapshot of the conference ahead of this fall.

Playing the SEC presents a steep uphill climb for the Gators, who are set to take on the top-ranked Texas Longhorns, second-ranked Georgia Bulldogs and third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in consecutive weeks. The rank perhaps says more about the depth of the conference than Florida itself.

A veritable gauntlet of opponents sits between Florida and relevance. Even other teams in the middle class have improved on paper mightily from last season.

The message for Gator Nation is that Florida is in an identity-shaping phase of the rebuild, and while they appear to be ahead of schedule, the program is also not a finished product. In the midst of a program overhaul, Florida is improving but still chasing the conference's top tier.

Established programs at the peak aren't going anywhere, so Sumrall and his staff must do twice the work to catch up in a crowded conference.

From year to year, keeping pace in the SEC can be grueling. That complexity deepens with expanded portal movement, realities of NIL and regular roster turnover. While the changes in college football have shrunk gaps between these tiers, the unpredictability opens the door for teams to improve dramatically. Reference Indiana, Houston and Utah, who shifted from losing records to double-digit wins in just one season.

Florida could be this year's surprise SEC contender, but that result will depend on whether the Gators can find stability at quarterback, their transfer portal gambles pay off and the defense can earn at least a top-25 ranking. The Gators will need efficiency and steady play from Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones Jr. in order to compete week-to-week.

Decreasing turnovers and converting in the red zone will be paramount for whoever wins the starting job. Transfers Emmanuel Oyebadejo, Cam Dooley and Eric Singleton Jr. will need to make immediate impacts as starters. Lastly, Brad White must take the Florida defense from average to elite — generating pressure without the blitz and creating turnovers will help Florida steal wins in a conference where the margin of victory is often razor-thin.

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

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football's rebuild ahead of schedule in post-spring rankings

The New England Patriots decided not to take a wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft despite having a pressing need for one leading up to the event, but next year will present a new class of top prospects to choose from.

According to CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson, the Patriots select Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams with the No. 24 overall pick in a recent mock for the 2027 draft.

"Coleman-Williams' tape in 2025 looked nothing like what we all witnessed during his freshman season in '24," Wilson said. "If he can return to that player, he'll have a chance to be a top-10 pick and battle Jeremiah Smith for WR1."

Coleman-Williams went for 689 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 49 receptions last season at Alabama. He was more of a volume receiver for the Crimson Tide as a freshman in 2024, where he went for 865 receiving yards and eight touchdowns with only one less reception (48) than in 2025.

The Patriots are expected to trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown later this offseason. If New England is not able to execute a deal for the 1,000-yard receiver from 2025, the Patriots will need another volume receiver, especially with Kayshon Boutte approaching the final year of his deal in 2026, and also surfacing in trade talks this offseason, making Coleman-Williams a name to watch way before the time.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots get former First-Team All-SEC WR in early 2027 NFL mock draft

A very important decision day for one of the Nittany Lions' most coveted recruiting prospects has just been announced. Four-star running back Aiden Gibson will be announcing which school he will play for next week, on Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. ET. The No. 8 overall prospect in the state of South Carolina would immediately bolster the Penn State backfield and give head coach Matt Campbell a weapon with elite vision and body control.

In his junior season, he showed why he is one of the best running back recruits not only in the nation, but in South Carolina. He carried the ball 205 times for a total of 1,611 yards for a ridiculous 21 touchdowns on 7.9 yards per carry. He also contributed 387 yards as a receiver to go along with four touchdowns. A weapon like him out of the backfield would certainly elevate this team in the long run.

Still, it will not be easy to secure his signature. Rutgers, Louisville, and his home state school of South Carolina are all in the mix for Gibson. While Penn State certainly has the most national profile out of his finalists, Gibson still has a lot to consider in his decision. He did end up taking an unofficial visit to Penn State and has his official visit scheduled the weekend of June 12. Still, he has three others scheduled after it with a chance to sway his decision.

Gibson would ultimately be a dream for Penn State as their first running back in the class and potentially their fifth four-star signing in an already loaded 2027 class.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State RB target sets decision day

The Atlanta Braves reinstated right-hander Raisel Iglesias from the injured list on Tuesday, ahead of the late-night matchup with the Seattle Mariners. The club also designated fellow righty Carlos Carrasco for assignment, and lastly, provided updates on the rehabilitation of Dylan Dodd and Ha-Seong Kim.

Iglesias has been lights-out for the Braves so far this season. In late April, he was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, but he made his return on Tuesday night, where he recorded the save.

As for Carrasco, this marks the second time in a week that Atlanta has designated him for assignment.

More Braves News:

Matt Olson delivered a bomb in the ninth inning to power the Braves over the Seattle Mariners, 3-2. 

JR Ritchie was named International League Pitcher of the Month. 

MLB News:

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa suffered a significant ankle injury and will be out indefinitely. He will see a specialist Wednesday to learn further details. 

The Los Angeles Angels are shutting down lefty Yusei Kikuchi for the next three to four weeks with shoulder inflammation. He is attempting to rehab without surgery.

The Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander Max Kranick. The deal includes a club option for 2027. 

The San Diego Padres placed second baseman Jake Cronenworth on the seven-day concussion-related injured list. The club has not released further details about the injury.

The Tampa Bay Rays placed left-hander Steven Matz on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation. The move is retroactive to May 4. 

From the Feed:

After a fun one on Tuesday night, we’d like to hear your thoughts on who deserves Braves Player of the Game. 

Already six weeks into the campaign, Matt Olson is logging MVP numbers. 

Every team in the NFL is trying to win the championship. That is the stated goal every single August, in every locker room, in every city that has a team. But winning a championship once is hard. Winning it multiple times, in a compressed window, against the best competition the sport has to offer, in an era when the rules are specifically designed to stop any one team from doing exactly that, is something that separates a good team from a dynasty.

A dynasty is not just a team that won. It is a team that made winning feel like a habit, an expectation, something opponents spent the entire offseason preparing for and still could not stop. The teams on this list did not just reach the top. They stayed there long enough to define an era, long enough that the sport had to keep adjusting to account for them, long enough that their names became synonymous with what it looks like when everything in a franchise comes together at the right time.

MORE: NFL Draft attendance over the last decade

What makes a dynasty in the NFL is different from what makes one in other sports. The league’s salary cap, draft structure, and playoff format are all built to create parity, to make sure last year’s champion has a harder time repeating than they did when they won it the first time. That structure makes sustained dominance genuinely remarkable in a way it simply is not in sports with fewer competitive safeguards. The dynasties on this list had to repeatedly overcome that system. Some of them predate it. All of them found a way. This list ranks them from 10 to 1, with 1 being the most dominant dynasty in NFL history.

10. Miami Dolphins, 2 Super Bowls, and 17-0

The Dolphins belong on this list for one reason above all others. In 1972, Don Shula’s team went 17-0, the only perfect season in the Super Bowl era, and a record that every undefeated team in every season since has chased and fallen short of. They won back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1972 and 1973 seasons, built around a grinding ground game, a suffocating defense called the No Name Defense, and a quarterback in Bob Griese who understood exactly what his team needed him to be. The 17-0 season alone earns them a permanent place in any conversation about football’s greatest dynasties. Nobody has done it since, and the players from that team celebrated every year when the last unbeaten team finally lost, because they knew what it meant to protect that record.

9. Kansas City Chiefs, 3 Super Bowls in 5 Years

Patrick Mahomes arrived in Kansas City and changed everything almost immediately. Under head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs won three Super Bowls in a five-year window between 2020 and 2025, with Mahomes named MVP of the game in each of them. They reached five Super Bowls in seven years during the Mahomes era, a rate of championship game appearances that puts them in the same conversation as any dynasty in the sport’s modern history. The Chiefs built their dynasty around one of the most gifted quarterbacks the game has ever seen, a receiver core that kept evolving, and a defensive identity that grew sharper every season. They are still active, still competing, and still adding to the legacy.

8. Oakland Raiders, 3 Super Bowls in 8 Years

Under the ownership of Al Davis, the Raiders became one of the most consistently excellent franchises in football history, winning Super Bowls XI, XV, and XVIII across an eight-year span. They posted winning records in 19 of 20 seasons from 1965 onward, won 12 divisional championships in that stretch, and built a reputation as the most feared and most despised team in the league simultaneously. Davis ran the Raiders on a philosophy of speed, aggression, and an almost defiant refusal to play by anyone else’s rules. The three Super Bowl victories are the headline, but the sustained excellence across two decades tells the deeper story.

7. Chicago Bears, 6 NFL Championships

The Bears are the oldest dynasty on this list, their dominance rooted in an era before the Super Bowl existed, when the NFL Championship was the whole thing. They won six NFL Championships between 1932 and 1946 under George Halas, the franchise’s founder and one of the men who helped build the league. They added a Super Bowl title in 1985 with one of the most dominant single-season performances in football history, going 15-1 and crushing the New England Patriots 46-10 in the championship game. The 1985 Bears defense is still considered by many analysts to be the greatest in the sport’s history. Six championships across different eras, different styles of play, and different versions of the game is a legacy that almost no franchise can match.

6. Cleveland Browns, 7 Pro Football Titles

The Browns are the most underappreciated dynasty in this entire list, mostly because their greatest years came before the Super Bowl era and before the modern NFL’s media apparatus existed to amplify them. They won four consecutive AAFC championships from 1946 through 1949, then entered the NFL in 1950 and immediately won the NFL Championship in their first season, proving their dominance was not a product of weaker competition. They added two more NFL titles in the 1950s and 1964 for a total of seven professional football championships. The 1950 season, in which they went 10-2 in the regular season and then beat the Los Angeles Rams for the title as supposed underdogs in their first NFL year, remains one of the most remarkable single-season achievements in the sport’s history.

5. Dallas Cowboys, 3 Super Bowls in 4 Years

The Cowboys of the early 1990s were the closest thing the Super Bowl era has produced to a team that simply could not be stopped for a sustained stretch. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin formed a core that dominated the NFC for the better part of a decade, but it was the three Super Bowl wins in four years between 1993 and 1996 that defined the dynasty. Jimmy Johnson built the foundation, Barry Switzer came in for the third ring, and the Cowboys were so loaded with talent that changing coaches barely slowed them down. They went 57-7 during the regular season and postseason combined over that four-year stretch. No other team in the Super Bowl era had won three titles in a four-year window before them.

SEE ALSO: The biggest United States Championship upsets ever

4. San Francisco 49ers, 4 Super Bowls in 9 Years

Bill Walsh and Joe Montana did not just build a dynasty. They changed the game. The West Coast offense that Walsh installed in San Francisco became the foundation for how most of the NFL plays today, and the 49ers won five Super Bowls between 1982 and 1995, including four in a nine-year window. Montana won three Super Bowl MVP awards and was never intercepted in four championship game appearances. When Montana retired, Steve Young stepped in and won the fifth. The combination of sustained excellence, revolutionary offensive innovation, and championship production across more than a decade makes the 49ers one of the two or three greatest dynasties the sport has ever seen.

3. New England Patriots, 6 Super Bowls

The Brady-Belichick era in New England was the longest sustained run of championship-level excellence in the Super Bowl era. The Patriots won six Super Bowls between 2002 and 2019, appeared in nine total, won 17 division titles, including 11 in a row, and posted 19 consecutive winning seasons. Belichick holds the record for the most Super Bowl appearances by a head coach. Brady holds virtually every quarterback record the sport tracks. The 2007 team went 16-0 in the regular season before losing the Super Bowl in one of the greatest upsets in sports history, a testament to both how good they were and how hard it is to complete a perfect run in the sport. Six championships across two full decades of dominance is a legacy with no real parallel in modern professional football.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4 Super Bowls in 6 Years

The 1970s Steelers were built around a defense called the Steel Curtain, one of the most feared units in the history of the sport, and a running game led by Franco Harris that ground opponents down over four quarters. Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowl MVP awards as the quarterback of a team that won Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV across a six-year window from 1975 to 1980. In terms of championship concentration, four titles in six years in the Super Bowl era have never been matched. The Steelers of that decade were not just dominant. They were physically intimidating, changing how teams built their rosters for years afterward.

1. Green Bay Packers, 5 NFL Titles in 7 Years

Vince Lombardi arrived in Green Bay in 1959 and inherited a losing franchise. What he built in the following decade has never been replicated in professional football. The Packers won five NFL Championships in seven years between 1961 and 1967, including the first two Super Bowls. They won three consecutive championships from 1965 through 1967, something no other team has accomplished since postseason play began in 1933. Lombardi’s record in Green Bay was 89-29-4 in the regular season. Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Ray Nitschke, and Forrest Gregg gave him the players to execute a vision for the sport that was ahead of its time in almost every way. The trophy given to every Super Bowl champion is named after Lombardi, not because of one great season, but because of what those seven years in Green Bay represented. Five titles in seven years is the standard against which every dynasty in NFL history is measured. It has never been equaled.

Why dynasties matter

Every dynasty on this list did something beyond winning. They changed how the game was played, how franchises were built, and how the sport thought about what excellence looked like. Lombardi gave the sport a philosophy. Walsh gave it an offense. Belichick gave it a system. Shula gave it a standard. The teams on this list are not just the best of their era. They are the reference points that coaches and players in every era have used to define what they are trying to become.

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, where the Chicago Bears welcomed seven new rookies to the roster.

Chicago also added some new offensive pieces for Ben Johnson with center Logan Jones, tight end Sam Roush and wide receiver Zavion Thomas, while adding some new defensive players in cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. While it's not the flashiest class, it's one assembled by Johnson and GM Ryan Poles that one analyst believes will be the thing to get the Bears to the Super Bowl.

Chicago is slated to hold their rookie minicamp from May 8-11, where we'll get a first glimpse at the newcomers before the offseason program kicks into high gear with organized team activities (OTAs) later this month.

While we’ll be glad to give mock drafts a rest for the foreseeable future, there were some way-too-early 2027 mock drafts that surfaced after the 2026 draft. We rounded those up, where experts make their first picks for Chicago — where defensive tackle, edge rusher and running back were the popular selections.

USA Today: Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (28th overall)

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: "Dennis Allen's defense might require more meaningful disruption from the interior than Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett can provide. Moten's quick-twitch movements that leave plodding blockers playing catch-up could yield the level of penetration that Allen relishes."

The Athletic: Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State (18th overall)

Dane Brugler: "Listed at 6-4, Jones has rare speed and ability for a player his size, which will draw obvious attention from NFL teams."

ESPN: Ahmad Moten, DT, Miami (16th overall)

Jordan Reid: "The Bears went surprisingly light on the interior defensive line in last week's draft, waiting until the sixth round to address the position. Moten is an explosive disruptor who finished with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season. He has quick and powerful hands to swipe away interior blockers and is a stout run defender who can stand his ground in gaps. Moten needs to play with better pad level, as his aggressiveness can cause him to play high and be pushed out of position, but he could be the Grady Jarrett heir apparent in Chicago."

CBS Sports: Caden Green, OL, Missouri (17th overall)

Ryan Wilson: "Green plays with a sturdy anchor against power rushers, and while he needs to play with lower pads in the run game, his high-level awareness makes him a reliable blindside protector whose NFL future could be inside at guard."

Pro Football Focus: Cade Pieper, iOL, Iowa

Daire Carragher: "The Bears selected Iowa center Logan Jones with the 57th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pieper will transition from guard to replace Jones at center this season for the Hawkeyes, and if his form carries over, there is no reason he will not be the first interior offensive lineman selected next year. The bulldozing run-blocking style of these Iowa offensive linemen could remind Ben Johnson of players like Frank Ragnow in Detroit."

Sports Illustrated: Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami (18th overall)

Justin Melo: "Grady Jarrett is an aging asset, and Gervon Dexter Sr. will be a pending free agent. The Chicago Bears should re-sign Dexter, but even if so, pairing him with an appropriate running mate should be a priority. Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Ahmad Moten turned heads during the National Championship Game, and could build on a 2025 season that saw him register nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks."

Sporting News: Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss (26th overall)

Vinnie Iyer: "The Bears likely won't re-sign D'Andre Swift after the 2026 season and need to consider taking an explosive all-around back to support Kyle Monangai better in Ben Johnson's offense. Don't sleep on Lacy jumping Hardy at some point during the process."

FOX Sports: John Henry Daley, DL, Michigan (16th overall)

Rob Rang: "With his blond hair, physical play and motor always running, expect there to be plenty of comparisons to Michigan great Aidan Hutchinson. Daley starred this past season for Kyle Whittingham at Utah before following the legendary head coach to Ann Arbor. He lacks ideal twitch, but he’s powerful and relentless, recording 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 2025."

Bleacher Report: Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss (17th overall)

Brent Sobleski: "When Ben Johnson served as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator, the organization chose to select Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round even though D'Andre Swift was already on the roster. The Lions traded Swift a day later to make room for the dynamic Gibbs. Swift is now the Chicago Bears' RB1, though Johnson and the team's front office may not be in a rush to re-sign their lead back when the organization may have the opportunity to upgrade. 

Ole Miss' Kewan Lacy is a very different prospect compared to Gibbs, yet both have the ability to open up an offense. In Lacy's case, he's an explosive and powerful ball-carrier capable of carving through defenses. The Missouri transfer led the nation with 306 carries, ranked second with 24 rushing touchdowns and finished third overall with 1,567 yards. A staggering 1,010 yards came after contact. While listed at 205 pounds, Lacy is clearly put together and capable of being a workhorse option. He can be something special in the Bears ascending offense."

Pro Football Network: Quincy Rhodes Jr., EDGE, Arkansas (16th overall)

Ian Cummings: "Quincy Rhodes Jr. still has room to keep developing in 2026, but his 2025 film was enough to fuel NFL Draft consideration. He logged a stellar PFSN EDGE Impact grade of 86.4, while generating pressure on over 11% of his pass-rush reps. At 6’6″, 277 pounds, Rhodes has the size and power profile that Dennis Allen covets in his defensive linemen, along with slant, stunt, and alignment versatility. He’s explosive, agile, and hard to corral working across-face with swims and spins, and he has a hot motor in run defense."

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2027 NFL mock draft round-up: Way-too-early predictions for Bears

Alex Pereira is rooting for Sean Strickland to pull off the upset against Khamzat Chimaev.

Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) is a big underdog in Saturday's UFC 328 (Paramount+) main event against middleweight champion Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion Pereira has trained with Strickland in the past, and the pair linked up at the UFC Performance Institute recently.

"Before our fight, I saw him differently," Pereira said of Strickland on UFC Countdown. "But once he stepped into the octagon, you could see it on his face. He was a different guy. He's a warrior. The first time we trained together was after our fight, I learned a lot from those sessions. He's got a lot of experience. He knows his craft.

"He's always moving forward, firing that jab. That's a great weapon he has. Everyone knows I'm rooting for Sean Strickland. He's got to stay composed, keep pressing forward, stay alert, watch out for the takedowns, and use his jab and front kick. I'm really excited and motivated for this fight, and I hope he gets the win."

Pereira knocked out Strickland at UFC 276 to earn his middleweight title shot. He wound up putting an end to Israel Adesanya's dominant reign when he finished him by TKO at UFC 281.

Now, Pereira is chasing a belt in a third division when he takes on Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the UFC Freedom 250 co-headliner on June 14 from the White House in Washington D.C.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 328: Alex Pereira advises Sean Strickland after training with him

It has been an incredible period for exciting games with plenty of goals. It is also no surprise considering what is at stake. Many clubs are needing wins as opposed to just wanting them, and of course there is the tiredness at the end of the season which top players will always take advantage of.

Everton 3-3 Manchester City might just have outshone Manchester United beating Liverpool 3-2 on Sunday, but that win by Michael Carrick's men was another hi-octane nailbiter that had the emotions overflowing from the start. It wasn't quite the spectacle of PSG 5-4 Bayern Munich last Tuesday, but we are currently seeing classics on a more than weekly basis just now.

There were also a whole bunch of schoolboy errors on show, though to be fair Marc Guehi's bizarre, you-wouldn't-expect-that-in-an-under-eights-game backpass, did steal the show at the weekend.

The two big take aways were that first, Liverpool have a lot of work to do over the summer particularly with their defence. Second, if Manchester United do not give Michael Carrick the job full-time, then they will probably get what they deserve – more of the mayhem they have endured for the past 13 years.

I have never understood why they got rid of David Moyes, who I was convinced would have built a dynasty given a modicum of time and indeed due respect. Carrick is in the classic United mould, has done an exceptional job with 32 points from 42 available, that is league-winning form in many seasons.

Now that the draft is behind them, there’s a clearer sense of how the Cleveland Browns roster is shaping up for the 2026 season. Following an active free agency period and the development of a well-respected draft class, it’s time to take a step back and assess where the team stands overall. Did the front office succeed in rebuilding the roster this offseason?

One national site put it near the top of all offseasons.

The biggest concern going into this offseason was the offensive line, and the front office certainly prioritized that in both free agency and the draft. The free agent signings of Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson were a nice start, along with a trade for Houston Texans tackle Tytus Howard. They reinforced this group in the draft as well by taking tackle Spencer Fano in the first round and tackle Austin Barber in the third round. They added center Parker Brailsford as well on Day 3.

The team didn’t just address gaps at the position; they also added much-needed depth to protect against injuries or other issues within the group this season.

Wide receiver was another position of need for this team. The Browns neglected to address the position in free agency, aside from signing Tylan Wallace to a minimal one-year deal. This made the position an even bigger priority in the draft. The team filled the need by selecting KC Concepcion in the first round and Denzel Boston in the second. Even though there is a lot to like about these draft selections, it is tough to rely on young talent alone. It would’ve been beneficial to make another veteran signing in free agency to really solidify this group.

Let me know what you think in the comments – Are you satisfied with the Browns’ offseason?What grade would you give it?

Last year, PFF's John Kosko showed no respect for Bo Nix in his rankings. Even after his impressive rookie campaign, ProFootballFocus.com still ranked Bo's performance as in the bottom half of NFL quarterbacks, 19th of 32, heading into the 2025-2026 season.

Not anymore!

This year, Mason Cameron's PFF quarterback rankings have Nix ranked just outside the top 12 overall, and 6th in the AFC. Sandwiched between Jared Goff (11th) and Caleb Williams (14th), Bo's seven-spot jump is both commendable and expected after a historic run and breaking records in almost every game of the 2025-2026 season.

"The Broncos’ offense was among the units to surrender the fewest sacks in the NFL this season," Cameron wrote on PFF. "While a stout offensive line hosting a pair of first-team All-Pros is well deserving of the credit they receive, Bo Nix is also worthy of praise for his ability to avoid the take down. Nix’s 3.0% sack rate finished as an NFL-best, as his just 9.5% pressure to sack rate charted second among all qualifying passers."

Still, while a 13th overall finish is respectable, the Broncos' run to the AFC Championship (and possible Super Bowl appearance if Nix hadn't been injured) last year leaves us wondering what Bo will have to do to break into PFF's Top 10.

If Denver's 2026-2027 season is anything like last year's, Nix should climb PFF's rankings again on next year's list.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: See Bo Nix's rank among all 32 NFL quarterbacks

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke with reporters during last weekend's rookie minicamp. He praised general manager Brett Veach and the entire front office for their selections in the 2026 NFL Draft and undrafted free agent additions.

"I think Brett's (Veach) done a great job with that, along with those guys (player personnel staff). I think they've really made an effort to upgrade some spots – we did in free agency," said Reid, "Three or four guys come in, and they're quality players. Then you add the rookie class in, and there were some x's that probably needed to be filled on the board, and I think he (General Manager Brett Veach) was able to fill those spots with quality players. Then, seeing them out here move around, you are always curious to see how that goes, but it looks like they're (just like) what we saw on tape here, we'll see when we get into pads and that, but they move around well."

The Chiefs notably focused on the defense in the first four picks of the draft. Reid approves of the decision to fortify the defense after multiple starters departed at the start of the offseason.

"First of all, the majority of the holes there, but they were also good players we had a chance to put into position there," said Reid, "I know how important defense is. I know I've got this offensive thing going, but defense is a majorly part of winning in this league."

Kansas City was praised for its draft results by numerous analysts, who noted additions of many potential hidden gems as undrafted free agents.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs' front office earns positive feedback after the 2026 NFL Draft

Kristopher Negron’s first game as an acting manager couldn’t have been much more lopsided.

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost 9-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday at Chase Field, opening a three-game series and six-game trip. The loss followed a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds at home.

Negron, in his first season as the Pirates’ bench coach, managed in place of Don Kelly, who was suspended for one game by Major League Baseball earlier Tuesday.

Kelly and reliever Chris Devenski were suspended for an incident last Saturday; Devenski was ejected and fined for intentionally throwing at Reds infielder Sal Stewart.

Devenski’s original three-game ban was reduced to two after negotiations between the MLBPA and MLB. He will miss Wednesday’s game and return for Thursday’s finale. Pittsburgh was forced to play a man short on Tuesday night and will again have 25 players on Wednesday night.

Kelly and Devenski were also fined undisclosed amounts.

Devenski has pitched for the Pirates three times, allowing two runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings. He has pitched for nine major-league teams since making his debut in 2016 with the Houston Astros.

Tuesday’s game fell to Negron, who watched Eduardo Rodriguez and two Diamondbacks relievers pitch a two-hit shutout. Negron learned Monday night—before suspensions were officially announced—he’d manage Tuesday.

“He just was hoping he got some sleep last night,” Kelly told reporters in Phoenix before the game. “He's ready to roll. He's involved in every meeting. He's involved in all the decisions. So, he's well prepared."

Negron spent the previous four seasons as a base coach with the Seattle Mariners after leading their Triple-A Tacoma farm club to the Pacific Coast League championship in 2021. Negron, 40, was a utility player in the major leagues for six seasons between 2012 and 2019 with the Reds, Diamondbacks, Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .221/.291/.336 with nine home runs in 170 games.

"Just the steadiness, the guy, the positivity, how he gets after it every single day,” Kelly said when asked what has impressed him about Negron. “Keeps me in check, holds me accountable. He's been a great addition."

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There has been plenty of negativity over the San Francisco 49ers' draft class from last month. Some of it is warranted, while some of it is harsh.

The Niners addressed some needs, though outsiders don't feel the same as those who are in the team's scouting department. Nevertheless, the team did add talented players to supplement an already championship ready roster.

Jose Sanchez of San Francisco 49ers on SI provided optimism on the team's draft picks. Here's what he had to say about the Niners' 2026 NFL draft.

"This year’s NFL draft wasn’t loaded with quality players. In fact, it was widely regarded as one of the worst drafts of all time. It was a severely lacking one, to say the least. Even the 49ers indirectly acknowledged that. When John Lynch held his pre-draft press conference, he said the 49ers had fewer first-round grades on players this year than last.

"Our first-round grades are down," Lynch said. "I don't want to give an exact number, but we're down a little bit in terms of the first-round grades."

Last year, the 49ers had 20 first round grades on players. Just imagine how much it decreased this year, considering this year's draft was viewed poorly. It’s no wonder they traded down not once but twice. No one was worthy of their first-round pick, even though Kyle Shanahan said they would’ve taken De’Zhaun Stribling at No. 33.

Plenty of teams across the league were trading down as well. That only cements the point of it being a low-level draft. Most of the value was after the second round since that is where most players were worth being taken."

Like him or not, Stribling is a home run pick at No. 33. The Niners' scouting department viewed him as an elite get but had a feeling those outside the organization may not have valued him as such before they traded back in the draft. That's the big takeaway from the team's 2026 selections.

Some feel that the 49ers have yet to adequately address the edge rusher position. Instead of staying put at No. 27 the team traded back to draft a wide receiver. Receiver, of course, was a need, but not all viewed it as a pressing need. Even so, the pieces are in place around the edge rusher position to succeed in 2026.

The Niners will hope to put it all together when they take the field in September.

Few pitchers have been as iconic as Nolan Ryan.

Ryan was a durable, dominant force long before anyone paid attention to pitch counts. The Hall of Fame right-hander threw harder than anyone else at a time when it was rare for a pitcher to reach 100 mph on the radar gun. Over a 27-year career, Ryan established records that will never be broken, including career strikeouts (5,714) and no-hitters (7).

Longtime baseball writer Tim Brown has a new book about the Ryan Express. We caught up with Brown to discuss his latest work. Nolan: The Singular Life of an American Original will be available for purchase on May 19.

Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Awful Announcing: What inspired you to write about Nolan Ryan?

Tim Brown: “I’ve always been interested in him. I think he had such an interesting career that I never really knew what to do with it. You admire the man. He seemed like an honorable, decent guy. But his statistics were all over the place. He won only a little more than he lost. The record seems so mediocre when you hold it against his reputation, the no-hitters, the strikeouts, the records, and the longevity. I think I decided his career was more of a working man’s career. He pitched like he owed something to this arm, this gift he was given, and I was just curious about that.”

Why should someone buy your book?

“In my lifetime, I don’t think there’s an athlete more tied to his home state than Nolan Ryan is to Texas. There are areas like that that I don’t think have been written about in this depth. Nolan is 79, and we talked a lot. He’s such a fascinating figure not only in baseball but in America. I think it was worth telling and worth reading about.”

This is about the day I saw Nolan Ryan for who he was. Thirty-five years later, I wrote a book about him… https://t.co/ysYaXLYbFXpic.twitter.com/Q364hEP14G

— Tim Brown (@ByTimBrown) April 13, 2026

What do you consider the most interesting detail in your book?

“There was a kid named Sid Holland. He was a bat boy and a ball boy for the Astros in the mid-80s. His father was the umpire room assistant, and Sid, as a boy, would jump on the bus from Trinity Gardens in Houston to help his dad at the Astrodome. His father died when Sid was young, and Sid continued to work at the Astrodome. When it came time for him to go to college, he didn’t have any money. He wasn’t going to be able to go to school because he didn’t have a (baseball) scholarship right away, and Nolan paid for him.

“Years later, the kid was drafted by the Rangers. He was a ballplayer. They met again when Nolan’s career was winding down, and Sid’s career was just beginning. Sid went to Nolan and said, ‘Hey, by the way, someday I’m going to pay you back.’ Nolan said ‘No. Don’t bother. Just be kind to the next person.’ I loved that story.”

How much cooperation did you receive from Nolan Ryan?

“It was a slow process. The Ryans were slightly reluctant at first. I did not have a close relationship with Nolan before this started. By the end, they became more open. They live just outside of Round Rock. About a year ago, we spent a few days together and spoke with Nolan and Ruth. It took several hours, and then Nolan and I connected by phone. After that, they were very cooperative and gracious, and I really appreciated that.”

How did you convince him to participate?

“As I was nearing my deadline, the book was all but complete. I sent Reid, Nolan’s oldest son, a couple of chapters just to say, ‘Hey, I wanted to reach out one last time and let you know that the book is happening.’ I sent him one of the early chapters, and I think I also sent him the Sid Holland chapter. Reid got back to me. I had spent a few weeks in Alvin, where Nolan grew up, and had spoken to an awful lot of people around Nolan. Reid called me and said, ‘Hey, why don’t you come down?’ I think that because I persevered, they felt I’d earned some trust and time with them. It was January (2025).”

May 1, 1991: 44 year-old Nolan Ryan throws his 7th career no hitter, blanking the Blue Jays 3-0, becoming the oldest player in MLB history ever to throw a no-hitter.
pic.twitter.com/jPKkIfbHub

— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) May 2, 2026

So, there was a chance this book would have been published without the Ryans’ involvement?

“I was a couple of months away. I was very pleased. I think I’d spoken to enough people where I thought I had as much as I was going to be able to get without having spoken to the Ryans. But I thought the book was going to be a lot better with them.”

What would Ryan consider the greatest game he has ever pitched?

“He threw seven no-hitters, and you think that that would be the one he would pick. I asked him that very question, and it was in July of 1972. The Red Sox were in Anaheim for a night game. In the top of the first inning, he walks Tommy Harper. the leadoff hitter. He struck out the next batter. Then Carl Yastrzemski rolled a single into right field. He retired the next 26 batters in order, 15 by strikeout, including Carlton Fisk three times.”

Is there anything in the book about his famous fight against Robin Ventura?

“There is a chapter about Robin Ventura, as there would have to be, given that nearly every sports bar in Texas has a photo of their fight framed and nailed to a wall. What I found interesting, nearly 20 years later, is that the two reconciled with a short conversation and a handshake prior to Ventura’s first game as manager of the White Sox. The game was in Texas. Nolan was president of the Rangers. It bothered Nolan that Robin might be booed at the ballpark that day, so he asked to meet with him. They wished each other luck. And then, an hour later, Robin was booed at the ballpark.”

When Nolan Ryan beat up Robin Ventura, and then stayed in the game and retired 12 of the next 13 batters
pic.twitter.com/YfPeJQ69Kb

— Kent Murphy (@KentMurphy) April 8, 2026

What was Nolan Ryan’s relationship with the media like?

“He was fantastic as a minor league pitcher. Whenever he went to the big-league club, he would have command issues. He would lose games, and the media was a little rough, calling him “The Myth” because they kept hearing about this guy who was coming. This is the next (Tom) Seaver. When he got to New York, the results wouldn’t be there. And so the media could be very tough on him.

“In my experience, as a guy who covered baseball for 30-some years, if a guy has a rough go with the media early in his career, he is difficult to deal with from then on because he has had that experience and has trust issues and things like that. Nolan was just the opposite. He was very accessible. He understood that people had a job to do.”

Was there a player Nolan Ryan just couldn’t get out?

“The guy who comes to mind is Will Clark, who in his first at bat off (hit a home run off him). Nolan’s first pitch was a curveball. And if you watch the video, Will looks like he’s been electrocuted. He flinches so hard. Thinking fastball and getting curveball. He laughed in the box. The catcher looks up to him and goes, ‘What are you laughing at?’ (Clark) says, ‘The Express is throwing me curveballs.’ (Later,) he homers.

“His six home runs off Nolan Ryan are the most by anyone in history. The conclusion of that story is that Will goes to the Texas Rangers. Nolan has retired. Nolan is working for the club, and they would pass each other in the hallways. Will would be like, ‘Hey, Nolan.’ Nolan would coldly not even look up and just say, ‘Will.’ Still, after all these years, it was a personal thing for him that he couldn’t get Will Clark out.”

The post Baseball writer Tim Brown talks perseverance needed to write Nolan Ryan book appeared first on Awful Announcing.

ESPN has dropped its latest NFL power rankings, which has the Cleveland Browns moving on up thanks to two rookies they selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Cleveland Browns will hold their rookie minicamp in a couple of days and it shows how quickly the offseason is flying by. Cleveland just finished up the 2026 NFL Draft where they selected 10 rookies, and it looks to be another strong draft class. 

Cleveland has to hit on this draft class if they want to take a step forward in the future from just eight wins the past two seasons. Much of the success the Browns can claim in 2026 will ride on what they get from the quarterback position. Cleveland did a good job of better setting up their starter, whoever it may be. 

Browns move up in ESPN's NFL power rankings following the draft 

The feeling is that it will be either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders starting for the Browns in 2026. Cleveland hopes to improve on its 5-12 record last season with Todd Monken's first year as a head coach ahead.

ESPN has dropped its offseason power rankings following the draft, and the Browns check in at the No. 30 spot. Cleveland was at the No. 32 spot in ESPN's way-too-early ranking, so they're up two spots. 

Cleveland had to upgrade their wide receiver room from last season. Entering the season with Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman's top two players at the position could not happen. Concepcion's ability to create after the catch alone should be a boost for a Browns offense that lacked explosive plays last year. 

The Browns adding a big-framed wideout with 6-foot-4 Denzel Boston was key. Boston is going to have the ability to not only win downfield, but be a red zone target for Cleveland. For an offense already offering TE Harold Fannin Jr. as a real matchup problem, it's an intriguing possibility of what Boston can add.   

Cleveland has the ability to be better than the third-worst team in the NFL in 2026. Their schedule is favorable, they have the makings of an elite defense, and their offense should be improved. As mentioned, much of it is going to depend on what's happening at quarterback. 

How to Watch Paul Skenes Tonight: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for Pirates vs. Diamondbacks originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Pirates ace Paul Skenes will look to bounce back after a rough start when he takes the mound for Wednesday night's matchup against the Diamondbacks.

Skenes struggled against the Cardinals on Thursday, suffering just his second loss of the 2026 season. The 23-year-old had nine strikeouts in five innings, but St. Louis totaled seven hits and five runs (three earned) before Skenes left the game.

Now, Pittsburgh is hoping that Skenes will lead the team to victory after the Pirates dropped the series opener, 9-0, on Tuesday.

Here is everything you need to know about Skenes' next start, including TV and streaming options for Pirates vs. Diamondbacks.

How to watch Paul Skenes tonight: TV channel, live stream for Pirates vs. Diamondbacks

• TV channel: SportsNet Pittsburgh
• Live stream:SNP 360, fubo

Pirates vs. Diamondbacks will air locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh. The game can also be streamed on SNP 360 and 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-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Pirates vs. Diamondbacks start time

• Date: Wednesday, May 6
• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET

Pirates vs. Diamondbacks is scheduled to start at 9:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 6. The game will be played at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Pittsburgh Pirates schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Pirates:

Arizona Diamondbacks schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Diamondbacks:

More Pirates

• Latest Pirates news
• 2026 Pirates schedule
• 2026 Pirates roster
• Complete history of Pirates championships

With free agency and the NFL draft now behind us, let's take a look back at all of the moves that have shaped the Jacksonville Jaguars' 2026 offseason.

For much of the year up to this point, it's been quite quiet for Jacksonville. GM James Gladstone prioritized re-signing several of his own free agents, but made only one outside addition, signing running back Chris Rodriguez.

The catalyst behind this approach was Gladstone being mindful of the 2027 compensatory draft picks that Jacksonville is projected to receive.

The Jaguars also saw Devin Lloyd, Travis Etienne, Greg Newsome, and Andrew Wingard sign elsewhere. In the draft, Jacksonville made 10 picks, along with 18 undrafted free agent signings afterward.

To go along with the Jaguars' quite free agency period, most draft analysts were underwhelmed by their draft class. Gladstone's overall approach this offseason, however, does speak to his confidence in the current state of the Jaguars' roster.

Offseason additions during free agency period by the Jaguars

• Jacksonville signed free agent running back Chris Rodriguez to a two-year deal worth $10 million.

Free agency departures

• Free agent Andrew Wingard signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
• Devin Lloyd signed with the Carolina Panthers.
• The Jaguars released Johnny Mundt in favor of salary cap space.
• Dyami Brown signed with the Commanders as a free agent.
• Joshua Cephus was an exclusive rights free agent; however, the Jaguars non-tendered him. This, in turn, made Cephus an unrestricted free agent, able to sign where he pleased.
• Jaguars' free agent running back Travis Etienne signed a four-year, $52 million deal to join the New Orleans Saints.

Free agents re-signed by the Jaguars

• Jaguars re-signed free agent Keith Taylor.
• Jaguars re-signed free agent Christian Braswell.
• Jaguars re-signed free agent Montaric Brown.
• Jaguars re-sign free agent Dennis Gardeck.
• Jaguars re-signed free agent Matt Dickerson.
• Jaguars re-sign free agent Quintin Morris.
• Jaguars re-signed DeeJay Dallas.

Jaguars' 2026 NFL draft class

• Pick 56: Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M
• Pick 81: Albert Regis, IDL, Texas A&M
• Pick 88: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
• Pick 100: Jalen Huskey, DB, Maryland
• Pick 119: Wesley Williams, DE, Duke
• Pick 164; Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
• Pick 191: Josh Cameron, WR, Baylor
• Pick 203: CJ Williams, WR, Stanford
• Pick 233: Zach Durfee, DE, Washington
• Pick 240: Parker Hughes, LB, Middle Tennessee State

Jaguars' 2026 undrafted free agent signings

• Joey Aguilar, QB, Tennessee
• TJ Bollers, DL, Cal
• Brady Boyd, WR, Utah State
• Alex Bullock, WR, SDSU
• Ethan Conner, TE, Troy
• Garrett Digiorgio, OL, UCLA
• Quindarius Dunnigan, DE, Michigan State
• Preston Hodge, CB, Colorado
• Jalen Hunt, DL, Cincinnati
• Devon Marshall, CB, NC State
• Devin Neal, S, Virginia
• Jimto Obidegwu, OL, North Texas
• Ben Patterson, WR, Texas-Permian Basin
• Trebor Pena, WR, Penn State
• J'Mari Taylor, RB, Virginia
• Bryan Thomas Jr., DE, South Carolina
• Jordan White, OL, Vanderbilt
• Michael Wortham, WR, Montana

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL offseason: Recapping every move made by Jaguars

Bastian Schweinsteiger has offered a huge endorsement of Florian Wirtz despite the Liverpool midfielder enduring an inconsistent first season at Anfield.

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The German international arrived from Bayer Leverkusen last summer for a club-record fee and, while there have been flashes of brilliance, it’s fair to say supporters expected more from the 23-year-old across the campaign.

Schweinsteiger compares Wirtz to Bayern legends

Speaking to Sport Bild via Bulinews, the former Bayern Munich star grouped Wirtz and Jamal Musiala alongside two of the greatest attacking players Germany has seen in recent decades.

Schweinsteiger said: “I see Wirtz and Musiala as our Ribery and Robben.”

The World Cup winner also highlighted the Liverpool playmaker’s creativity and vision, insisting the attacking midfielder is the type of footballer teammates should constantly involve.

The ex-Manchester United midfielder explained: “If I were playing with Wirtz, I would simply give him the ball as often as possible, because he needs the ball to make his game more dominant.”

Schweinsteiger then pointed to a pass Wirtz produced for Germany against Switzerland, claiming very few players in world football can execute deliveries with that level of precision.

Liverpool still waiting for best version of Wirtz

There’s no doubt the German has shown quality at times this season, but too many matches have drifted by without him fully influencing proceedings.

Jamie Carragher admitted after the defeat at Manchester United that Wirtz had been “poor” at Old Trafford, while also suggesting Liverpool supporters have perhaps protected him from criticism more than other players.

Even so, there’s a strong argument that adaptation has played a major role.

Former Liverpool defender Marcus Babbel recently explained how difficult the Premier League can be for players arriving from Germany, describing English football as “faster” and “harder”.

That feels especially relevant with Wirtz, who has often looked like a player lacking confidence rather than ability.

The talent is clearly there, and Schweinsteiger’s comments underline just how highly the Liverpool midfielder is still regarded back in Germany ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

If Slot can get the best version of Wirtz next season, Liverpool could still have a truly elite player on our hands.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Arsenal became the first team to book its place in the 2026 Champions League final by beating Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich will join the Premier League club in the showpiece at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary this month.

Defending champion PSG leads Bayern 5-4 after a thrilling first leg in Paris. The second leg is on Wednesday in Munich.

Here's what to know about the Champions League final.

When is the Champions League final and what time is the kick off?

This year's final will be staged in Budapest on May 30. Kick off time has been brought forward to 1800 CET, having traditionally been played 2100 CET. Governing body UEFA said the decision for an earlier kick off was to enhance the matchday experience for fans and to optimize logistics such as public transport.

Who is headlining the pre-match show?

Rock band the Killers will be performing on the night. In recent years Linkin Park and Lenny Kravitz have headlined.

About the finalists

Arsenal is in the final for the first time since 2006. It is only its second time in the final and it has never won European club soccer's top competition, having lost to Barcelona in 2006.

Mikel Arteta's team was beaten in last year's semifinals by eventual champion PSG.

PSG is aiming to become only the second team to win back-to-back Champions League titles, having lifted the trophy for the first time last year.

Since the tournament was rebranded as the Champions League in the 1992-93 campaign only Real Madrid has retained the title, winning three times in succession from 2016-18.

Bayern has won the Champions League or European Cup on six occasions — most recently in 2020. Victory this year would see it equal AC Milan's total of seven titles to make the German giant the joint second most successful team in the competition's history behind Madrid, which is a 15-time winner.

About the Puskas Arena

The 67,000-seater stadium was opened in 2019 and built on the same site as the previous Ferenc Puskas Stadion — named after the Hungarian and Real Madrid icon, who won three European Cups as a player.

Recent winners

2025 PSG

2024 Real Madrid

2023 Manchester City

2022 Real Madrid

2021 Chelsea

Most Champions League/European Cup wins

15 Real Madrid

7 AC Milan

6 Bayern Munich, Liverpool

5 Barcelona

4 Ajax

3 Manchester United, Inter Milan

Where is the 2026-27 Champions League final?

The 2027 final will be staged at Atletico Madrid's stadium the Estadio Metropolitano. It is the second time it has held the final, having staged the 2019 showdown between Liverpool and Tottenham.

The city of Madrid has hosted the final on five previous occasions.

___

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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

Are the Carolina Panthers in need of a makeover?

Well, Andrew Lind of SportsLogos.net believes so. Lind listed the defending NFC South champions amongst the teams that are overdue for a uniform redesign, and even throws out a few interesting alterations:

While many fans would like to see claw marks integrated into Carolina’s design, there’s something to be said about the uniform’s staying power (31 seasons and counting). We would like to see them return to a shoulder design that wraps around the arm, though, as opposed to the UCLA-style stripes they currently use – and don’t tell us Nike can’t do it, they simply choose not to.

The black alternate helmets would also need to be adjusted as they move to primary status to include white eyes and teeth to accurately reflect their logo in all other applications, while new process blue alternate helmets with black stripes and a black facemask would complete their look – and, no, not every team needs a white helmet in the rotation.

Despite sticking close to their original look since their inaugural season in 1995, Carolina has been open to trying out some different looks in recent years. In addition to the black helmet, which was introduced to great acclaim in 2022, the Panthers have also mixed and matched their jerseys, pants and socks more often.

Five teams have either rolled out new or updated uniforms ahead of the 2026 campaign—the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders. So, could the Panthers be amongst the next group for 2027?

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers implored to undergo uniform redesign

Ohio State isn’t just moving into the offseason, it’s defining it.

Between a massive NFL Draft showing, meaningful spring game takeaways, and continued roster movement across both football and basketball, the Buckeyes are firmly in transition mode. But this isn’t a reset. It’s a reload, and the early signs suggest Ohio State is positioning itself for another run at the top.

NFL Draft: Ohio State sets the standard again

The headline is simple, Ohio State dominated the NFL Draft. Four first-round picks and 11 total selections reinforced what the program has become, the most consistent pipeline of NFL-ready talent in college football. Carnell Tate went No. 4 to the Titans, Arvell Reese followed at No. 5 to the Giants, Sonny Styles landed at No. 7 with the Commanders, and Caleb Downs went No. 12 after the Cowboys traded up.

And it didn’t stop there. Kayden McDonald, Max Klare, and Davison Igbinosun all came off the board on Day 2, with additional contributors like Caden Curry and Lorenzo Styles Jr. rounding out the class.

This wasn’t just about numbers. It was about top-end talent. Ohio State didn’t just produce draft picks, it produced cornerstone players. And that matters as much for recruiting as it does for perception. The standard in Columbus isn’t just getting players to the league anymore. It’s getting them there early and often.

Spring game takeaways: Flashes, questions, and early answers

Spring football didn’t answer everything, but it revealed plenty. At quarterback, Julian Sayin showed flashes but had limited reps, while TSC had a more volatile performance, high highs mixed with clear inconsistency. The takeaway is potential is there, but the position still needs clarity.

At running back, injuries limited evaluation. Top options like Bo Jackson and Isaiah West didn’t play, leaving more opportunities for depth players. Favour Akih saw significant usage and looked solid, but his size raises questions about how large his role can realistically be this season. Ja’kobi Jackson, meanwhile, showed enough to suggest he could factor into the rotation.

Wide receiver remains one of the most fascinating groups. Chris Henry Jr. stood out again, continuing his strong offseason momentum. The initial trio of Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Innis, and Devin McCuin was notable, and McCuin’s role is worth watching closely. There’s a real case that he could finish second on the team in receptions.

At tight end, Nate Roberts continues to trend toward TE1. The staff has shown confidence in him, and his versatility gives him a real chance to lead the room from Day 1.

The offensive line was difficult to fully evaluate due to injuries, but one thing stood out clearly, the defensive line dominated. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. consistently disrupted the front, highlighting both his growth and the potential strength of that unit.

Defensive momentum: A unit with real upside

If there was one clear takeaway from the spring game, it was this. The defensive line might already be ahead of schedule.

The starting group of Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Eddrick Houston, Will Smith Jr., and Beau Atkinson set the tone early, and the edge rotation looks deeper than expected. With players like Qua Russaw in the mix, there’s a real argument that this group could exceed expectations.

At linebacker, things remain fluid. With Pettijohn out, the starting group of Christian Alliegro, Pierce, and Alford got extended run. Alliegro and Pierce may have a slight edge heading into the summer, but this battle is far from decided.

In the secondary, the structure is becoming clearer. Devin Sanchez looks like CB1, with Jermaine Mathews Jr, Jaylen McClain, and Terry Moore rounding out the starting group. Sanchez, in particular, looks like a breakout candidate with true lockdown potential.

Recruiting and hoops: Momentum continues off the field

Off the field, momentum continues to build. Ohio State added four-star offensive tackle Jimmy Kalis, a top-200 prospect from Pennsylvania. The class now sits at 11 commits and ranks among the top groups nationally, continuing the program’s strong recruiting trajectory.

On the basketball side, the transfer portal remains active. Ohio State added depth with Jimmie Williams from Duquesne, who averaged 15 points per game last season, and Curtis Givens III from Memphis, who brings additional guard depth and playmaking.

Like football, the basketball roster is still evolving, but the pieces are starting to come together.

The bigger picture: A program reloading in real time

This is what Ohio State looks like in transition. Elite talent leaves, more arrives, and the standard doesn’t drop. The NFL Draft reinforced the program’s ceiling. Spring football revealed where the next strengths could come from. And recruiting plus the portal continue to shape what comes next.

The questions aren’t gone. Quarterback clarity, linebacker roles, and offensive line health all remain key storylines. But the foundation is there. And if the early signals hold, Ohio State won’t just be reloading, it will be right back in the national conversation.

The latest

Attorney: All criminal charges against L’Jarius Sneed have been dropped | Pro Football Talk

Free agent cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is no longer facing any criminal charges in Texas.

Sneed’s attorney Michael J. Todd told ESPN that all of the charges against his client have been dropped. Sneed was initially charged with aggravated assault for a December 2024 incident that saw his assistant accused of shooting at another man outside of a car dealership. A grand jury later indicted Sneed on a lesser charge of failure to report a felony, but he is now clear of all charges.

A lawsuit filed against Sneed related to the incident is still pending.

Sneed was released by the Titans in March. He was limited to 12 games over the last two seasons due to injuries and had 26 tackles in seven appearances last season.

NFL Power Rankings 2026: Which teams improved this offseason? | ESPN

12. Kansas City Chiefs

Way-too-early ranking: 12

Most improved position: Running back

No other position could’ve been better enhanced than at running back, as the Chiefs replaced Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt with a trio of Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado and Emmett Johnson. Last season, Pacheco and Hunt combined for only one rushing attempt that went farther than 20 yards. With the Seahawks last season, Walker finished second among all running backs in percentage of carries that gained 10 yards or more. Demercado and Johnson should be quality backups who offer versatility and receiving skills out of the backfield. — Nate Taylor

Chiefs Roster Cut Immediately Claimed Off Waivers by Giants | Heavy Sports

Among those roster cuts was veteran defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, and the Chiefs departure was immediately snatched up off waivers by the New York Giants. The NFC East team announced the news on May 5, and it was also on the daily NFL transaction log.

Per A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman, fellow roster cuts “QB Jake Haener and DE Ethan Hurkett cleared waivers after being let go by the Chiefs.”

However, with the Giants claiming Pickens, it officially marks “his third stop since being selected in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.”

Kansas City took a flyer on Pickens just before the start of the 2025 season. The former third-round talent failed to make the Bears’ 53-man roster that August, and the Chiefs picked him up off waivers, similar to the Giants now.

Chiefs’ Emmett Johnson becomes next draft pick to sign rookie contract, giving Kansas City running back room something they don’t have | A to Z Sports

On Monday, May 4, the Chiefs signed fifth-round RB Emmett Johnson to his four-year rookie contract. He joins fellow fifth-round pick WR Cyrus Allen and seventh-round pick QB Garrett Nussmeier as the only draft picks to have signed their rookie deals with Kansas City.

These three deals are the easiest to execute because there isn’t much room to negotiate when it comes to guaranteed salary. They’re also the cheapest and don’t require the Chiefs to make any contract-related moves to clear cap space. It’s ultimately only a matter of time before the remaining draft picks’ contracts are completed for Kansas City.

Johnson’s contract provides the Chiefs with significant financial flexibility moving forward. In 2026, the Chiefs are only spending $8.8 million (seventh-fewest) on the running back position. That number will balloon in 2027 ($19.8 million) as Kansas City gets deeper into its multi-year deal with RB Kenneth Walker. Johnson’s cap number won’t exceed $1.4M at any point during his rookie deal, unless his base salary is raised through the NFL’s Proven Performance Escalator (basically, if Johnson outplays his draft slot before the final year of his rookie deal). As things currently stand, Johnson helps keep the Chiefs’ running back room inexpensive, while having the ceiling of a high-volume contributor.

Arrowhead transformation begins as FIFA to take over venue ahead of World Cup 2026 | KCTV5

The Kansas City Chiefs confirm that FIFA will officially take control of the stadium ahead of the World Cup “in the next few weeks.”

FIFA crews will have a lot of work to do to prepare for the tournament that will be played in dozens of stadiums across North America, including here in Kansas City.

The first World Cup 2026 match is scheduled for Thursday, June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City between Mexico and South Africa.

The first match held in Kansas City is scheduled to take place June 16 between Argentina and Algeria.

A.J. Brown trade, Aaron Rodgers’ future among biggest post-draft questions facing every NFL team | CBS Sports

Kansas City Chiefs

Question: Will Patrick Mahomes be ready for Week 1?

All eyes are on Patrick Mahomes as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered in December. Head coach Andy Reid recently said that Mahomes is on track to take part in Kansas City’s OTAs, albeit possibly on a limited basis. The central question with Mahomes is whether he’ll be ready to suit up for the Chiefs in Week 1 or need extra time to rehab before taking the field again. That’ll be a fascinating balancing act for Kansas City to go through this offseason. On the one hand, they’ll want Mahomes to make positive strides in hopes of playing out of the gate, but they’ll also need to give Justin Fields, whom they acquired this offseason, work to prepare him in case he needs to start the season under center. 

Around the NFL

Former Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs is found not guilty of assaulting his private chef | Associated Press

Former New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs was found not guilty Tuesday of assaulting his personal chef in a case marked by conflicting accounts of what happened inside his home after disputes over money and their relationship.

His trial lasted two days and the jury deliberated for less than two hours.

The charges stemmed from a Dec. 2 incident at his house in Dedham, where Jamila Adams, a former live-in personal chef known as Mila, testified that Diggs slapped and choked her during an argument. He had pleaded not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge.

Diggs’ attorneys said the alleged assault never happened and challenged Adams’ credibility, arguing the dispute was about money or relationship tensions — including a disagreement over a planned trip to Miami — rather than a violent attack.

Source: Giants agree to two-year deal with DT DJ Reader | ESPN

The New York Giants have agreed to a two-year, $12.5 million contract sign veteran defensive tackle DJ Reader, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday.

Reader can make up to $15.5 million through incentives, the source told Fowler.

The move comes more than two weeks after the Giants traded standout defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft. New York also drafted Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round last month.

The Giants freed up more than $12.5 million in salary cap space by trading Lawrence.

Last week, the Giants also signed veteran defensive tackles Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu to one-year contracts. The Giants also claimed defensive tackle Zacch Pickens off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday.

Seahawks signing Dante Fowler as first major outside free agent add this offseason | CBS Sports

The reigning Super Bowl-champion Seahawks have made their first significant dip into the outside free agent pool this offseason, agreeing to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with Dante Fowler, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.

Fowler, who will turn 32 a month before the season begins, had three sacks for the Cowboys last season while playing on just under one-third of Dallas’ defensive snaps. One year earlier with the Commanders, he had one of the most productive years of his career, notching 10.5 sacks. He has 58.5 career sacks across 10 NFL seasons, spent with the Jaguars, Rams, Falcons, Cowboys (two stints) and Commanders.

The Seahawks have had a quiet offseason since their Super Bowl LX triumph over the Patriots. They brought back wide receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed on a three-year, $51 million deal and cornerback Josh Jobe on a three year, $24 million deal but had not brought in any outside free agents on deals worth more than $2 million until Fowler on Tuesday.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Blue Springs’ Xavier Loyd stands out in tryout, earns deal with Chiefs

He totaled just three catches for 37 yards over his time at the local universities, and entered the 2026 NFL Draft with Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranking him as the 211th best wide receiver in his draft guide ‘The Beast.” Brugler also uncharacteristically misspelled his name as “Xaiver.”

In between three unproductive college seasons, however, lies the potential the Chiefs likely saw when the front office invited Loyd to try out. He spent 2024 with a Championship Subdivision-level football program at Illinois State. In his only season with the Redbirds, Loyd totaled 66 catches for 912 yards and six touchdowns.

While Loyd undoubtedly would have liked to have made a bigger impact at the highest level of college football, he made the most of his chance with the Chiefs. Precious little has been reported of the team’s rookie camp due to the confidentiality rules Chiefs’ beat reporters operate under. One consistent media take, however, has been that Loyd had a great camp.

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As we move into a new era of the weekday Dawg Chow, we have a couple of questions for the faithful readers.

First, what kind of stories do you want us to link to every day? We try to include a nice variety, but are there certain stories you want more of? Or ones that you can do without?

Second, The Athletic recently changed its policy so that subscribers can share links to the stories that anyone can read. We have always tried hard not to include links to stories that are behind paywalls, so this is a nice change. There will be a linked story here in a moment, so the question is: can you click through and see the entire article?

Let us know in the comments, and we will do our best to continue building a Daily Dawg Chow that is enjoyable and worth your time to read and comment on.

Dawgs By Nature

• Browns schedule: Difficulty rank should give fans more hope (Jared Mueller) – The Cleveland Browns 2026 schedule hasn’t been released, but we know the opponents. This difficulty ranking is built on hope.
• Browns QB Shedeur Sanders graduates (Barry Shuck) – While preparing for his second NFL season, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders returned to Boulder, Colo., to walk in the ceremony.
• Sigh of relief for NFL, Browns fans? Sign of hope with refs (Jared Mueller) – The NFL may not have to deal with replacement refs for the 2026 season. Cleveland Browns fans have one less worry.

Rookie Minicamp is Coming!

The Browns will welcome the rookies to Berea this week for Rookie Minicamp, which runs from May 8 to May 10. We will have plenty of news about what goes on over those three days, but until then, here are some stories to help you get acquainted with the new guys, courtesy of our own Barry Shuck.

• Browns QB Taylen Green: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft
• Browns TE Joe Royer: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft
• Browns CB Nate Davis: Everything you need to know from childhood to UDFA
• Browns LB Justin Jefferson: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft
• Browns 2026 NFL draft: OT Austin Barber interview with DBN
• Browns C Parker Brailsford: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft
• Browns OT Austin Barber: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft
• Browns S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft
• Browns WR Denzel Boston: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft
• Browns WR KC Concepcion: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft
• Browns OT Spencer Fano: Everything you need to know from childhood to NFL draft

The Feed

In these troubled and divisive times, this is one thing that all Browns fans can get behind!

Cleveland Browns

• The Browns answered plenty of questions this offseason; here’s what’s left (cleveland.com) – The biggest question the Browns have left themselves post-draft is at quarterback. That’s why Deshaun Watson is suddenly the topic du jour, the early leader in the battle to start for new head coach Todd Monken.
• Carsen Ryan’s coach at BYU sees perfect opportunity with Browns (Beacon Journal) – Carsen Ryan wasn’t invited to the NFL combine. For a draft prospect, that can be a major hurdle to get over.
• Sound Smart: 5 Observations on the Biggest Post-Draft Storylines (Fox Sports) – Deshaun Watson is in pole position to start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2026. And … my goodness, why and how Where is Shedeur Sanders?
• Browns put on notice over latest Deshaun Watson decision (heavy.com) – There is a growing belief that the Cleveland Browns cannot hold a clean quarterback competition due to their investment in Deshaun Watson. (Editor’s note: This is what we are curious about – is this the type of story you want to read?)
• Which Browns have been overlooked this offseason? Quinshon Judkins leads the list (The Athletic) – The Cleveland Browns’ 10-man draft class officially arrives Thursday afternoon for a weekend rookie minicamp. Two weeks from today, the quarterback competition and overall installation of new coach Todd Monken’s offense will proceed to the next step when Cleveland holds its first organized team activity practice.

NFL

• Falcons believe rookie WR Branch fits new scheme (ESPN) – Zachariah Branch spent the night of April 24 in a five-bedroom suite at the Crockfords Las Vegas, a luxe offshoot of the Resorts World hotel and casino right on the famous Strip.
• NY Giants news: DT D.J. Reader finally agrees to terms with New York (Big Blue View) – The Giants land the veteran nose tackle they needed.
• Ranking the top 15 NFL quarterbacks on rookie contracts in 2026 (NFL.com) – The title window. It’s open when a team has a franchise quarterback who’s demonstrated the ability to lead his squad to the promised land, and it’s wide open when that quarterback is on his rookie contract.

Former Maryland football wide receiver Stefon Diggs was found not guilty on charges of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery in a trial verdict Tuesday. 

Diggs was accused of felony strangulation and assault and battery against his personal chef Jamila “Mila” Adams. Adams testified that Diggs slapped and choked her during a dispute over payment in his Massachusetts home in December. Diggs pleaded not guilty in a hearing in April. 

The trial, which lasted two days, featured video evidence and statements from associates that contradicted Adams’ testimony. Judge Jeanmarie Carroll at one point reprimanded Adams for her conduct on the stand.

Diggs played at Maryland from 2012 until 2014. Over his college career, he logged 14 touchdowns and averaged 14.8 yards per catch. His 2,227 career receiving yards rank second all-time in team history, earning him national media attention and a spot on the All-Big Ten second team in 2014.

Diggs was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He’s since played for the Buffalo Bills, the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots. The wide receiver is now a free agent after he was dropped from the Patriots following a productive one-season stint. 

In other news

Maryland baseball went off in a 23-11 victory over Towson. Zoe Hammond had the story.

Maryland men’s golf wrapped up its season over the weekend in North Plains, Oregon, where six Terps competed in the Big Ten Championships. Benjamin Siriboury finished tied for 29th, 13 shots behind the lead. He posted a 215, going 72/71/72 on the par 70 track.

South Sudanese class of 2026 forward Bol Thet will visit Maryland men’s basketball Wednesday.

Maryland men’s basketball extended an offer to 6-foot-7 class of 2029 forward Harlem Nunez.

Maryland football is among the finalists for three-star class of 2027 offensive lineman Jaiden Lindsay.

The University of Maryland is set to host this year’s Big Ten softball tournament, although the Terps will not be playing in it.

Joao Cancelo had a slow start to his second loan spell at FC Barcelona after arriving from Al Hilal during the January transfer window.

In recent weeks, however, the veteran Portuguese has replaced Alejandro Balde as the preferred starter in the left-back position.

Such has been his impact that Barça are now exploring ways to sign him permanently at the end of the ongoing season.

One condition Barcelona have for Cancelo signing

Indeed, according to SPORT, Cancelo is increasingly likely to remain part of the Barcelona project next season.

The Portuguese defender has full approval from both the sporting department and Hansi Flick, but there is a clear condition: the player must secure his release or force a minimal transfer fee for the deal to proceed.

Barcelona have already communicated the framework of the agreement to his agent, Jorge Mendes, who will now attempt to negotiate his departure from Al Hilal in the coming weeks.

Flick, who has publicly praised Cancelo, values his versatility and commitment. While there were initial concerns about his defensive lapses, the German coach has worked to correct these issues, and the player has improved in that regard.

Barcelona want to sign Joao Cancelo permanently. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Within the club, there is a belief that Cancelo meets the requirements of a signing: he has the necessary level, is already adapted and can compete for a starting position.

His ability to play on both flanks adds further value, as does his international experience, particularly important in a squad with many young players.

Financial aspects of the deal

From this point, the focus shifts to financial considerations. Cancelo has one year remaining on his contract with Al Hilal, but Barcelona are unwilling to pay a significant fee for a player who is not part of the plans of Simone Inzaghi.

Barcelona’s intention is for the player to obtain his release by renouncing the final year of his contract in Saudi Arabia. This is significant, as he earns approximately €16 million net per season.

Jorge Mendes will lead the negotiations, and there have been suggestions that Marc Casado could be included in the deal, as he is of interest to the Saudi club and is considered transferable by Barcelona.

Al Hilal are seeking at least €10 million for a transfer, but Barcelona are not willing to approach that figure. A compromise is therefore expected. Cancelo would then sign a two-year contract, or one year with an option for an additional season.

Discussions are expected to begin this month with the aim of resolving the situation before the World Cup.

A special moment for Inter, Champions of Italy: on the occasion of the away fixture in Rome against Lazio, a Club delegation will be received in audience by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday 9 May at 10:00 CEST: the visit to the Holy Father will open a day that will see Inter take to the field against Lazio at Stadio Olimpico at 18:00 CEST.

Bayern Munich are planning to tie Michael Olise down to a new long-term contract, according to Teamtalk.

With Olise’s current deal running until 2029, Bayern have yet to begin formal negotiations with the Frenchman, but have made their intentions clear to his camp and potential suitors.

Teamtalk reports that Bayern have received enquiries from a number of top clubs interested in Olise over the past six months, but have told them all that he's not for sale.

The 24-year-old himself is said to be happy with his situation at Bayern and is not looking to leave.

Bayern will be hoping for another strong performance from the French international when they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.

Arsenal supporters booking hotel rooms for the Champions League final in Hungary are facing fees more than 18 times higher than normal.

Thousands of the north London club’s supporters will descend on Budapest for the match on May 30, following the team’s semi-final victory on Tuesday.

Most hotels in Budapest are already fully booked and those with availability are charging high prices.

Analysis found a twin or double room for two people at the Expo Tower Hotel on the night of the match costs 1,458 euros (£1,259).

This is more than 18 times the price of 73 euros (£63) for arriving a day later.

At Bohem Art Hotel, the cost is 1,618 euros (£1,396) for staying on May 30, and 113 euros (£98) the following day.

Hotel President is charging £886 on May 30, and £104 on May 31.

Accommodation website Booking.com is warning consumers searching for a hotel room in Budapest on May 30 that “99% of places to stay are unavailable for your dates on our site”.

Akhil Vyas of the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust said: “You’re talking a lot of money.”

Asked if he thought the price of hotel rooms was fair, he replied: “I wouldn’t say so. It’s cheeky.

“I get it, it’s business, (but) how great is it for Budapest to have a Champions League final there, with all the tourism?

“It might put people off.”

Mr Vyas called for company bosses to be “a bit more sensible” about pricing, but said: “There’s no regulation or anything like that, so people can ultimately do what they want.”

He predicted that prices may fall slightly after rooms are cancelled by supporters of whichever team loses the second semi-final on Wednesday night between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal supporters booking flights to Budapest are also facing high prices.

The cheapest easyJet flight from Gatwick to the city costs £519 on the day of the match, compared with £58 on May 31.

Wizz Air has a flight from Luton to Budapest costing from £462, whereas flying a day later is possible for £46.

Supporters wanting to fly with British Airways and arrive in time to get to the match must travel two days early, on May 28.

A flight on that day costs from £740, compared with £96 on May 31.

Mr Vyas said: “It’s the Champions League final at the end of the day so people will do it, including me.”

Fans can save money by booking indirect flights, flying to other locations and completing the journey to Budapest by train, or even travelling by coach.

Coach operator Coach Innovations is offering return trips from London to Budapest for £339, leaving on the evening of May 28 and arriving by 10am on May 30.

This involves a cross-Channel ferry sailing from Dover to Calais, and travelling through France, Belgium, Germany and Austria.

The Coach Innovations website suggests passengers will “sleep for a week” after the return journey.

Arsenal said they have received an allocation of 16,824 general admission tickets for the match at the Puskas Arena, which has a capacity of more than 67,000.

Tickets will be made available based on supporters’ previous attendance at matches, costing from 70 euros (£60).

Reselling website ticombo is offering tickets for the match from £5,177.

Other English football supporters also face high bills for European finals in the current weeks.

Thousands of fans of Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest – whichever team wins their semi-final clash – will travel to Istanbul, Turkey for the Europa League final on May 20.

Many Crystal Palace supporters will travel to Leipzig, Germany for the Conference League final on May 27 if the team makes it through their semi-final.

Is the starting job of one of the Indianapolis Colts' offseason free agent additions now in jeopardy following the 2026 NFL draft?

Among the many free agent additions made by the Colts was linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. Given the state of the linebacker room for much of the offseason, it seemed like a given that he would be a Week 1 starter.

However, following the NFL draft, there is less certainty around that.

Why might Akeem Davis-Gaither's starting job be in jeopardy?

The Colts utilized two of their eight draft picks on the linebacker position, taking CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher. Allen will likely be the team's starting MIKE linebacker, potentially leaving Davis-Gaither and Bryce Boettcher to compete for the WILL linebacker role.

The Colts believe that Boettcher can play both linebacker spots. He's been a reliable tackler during his career, allowing him to make an impact against the run while limiting yards in coverage. Boettcher allowed only 6.0 yards per reception in 2025.

Davis-Gaither, who is entering his seventh NFL season, has experience on his side. He also spent five of his six seasons up to this point playing in Lou Anarumo's defense. That familiarity should help him hit the ground running.

When projecting what the starting defense will look like come Week 1, I did have Davis-Gaither as a starter, but he may no longer be a lock for that role with the addition of Boettcher.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Is Akeem Davis-Gaither's starting spot with Colts already in jeopardy?

At one point, it looked like the NFL was going to have to use replacement officials for the 2026 season, which would have been a total disaster.

In March, Collective Bargaining Agreement talks between the NFL and its officials that have spanned two years had hit a standstill.

That led to the NFL reportedly preparing to hire and train the backup referees, which would have begun this month.

We’ve seen what replacement officials look like before, and it wasn’t good.

The NFL was forced to use replacement referees back in 2012, which led to the infamous “Fail Mary” among a slew of officiating mistakes.

Thankfully, talks have improved since late March and now it appears the two sides might have a deal.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert and Kalyn Kahler, discussions between the NFL and NFLRA have been successful enough that the union could vote to ratify the new CBA by Thursday.

“Negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association on a new collective bargaining agreement have progressed far enough that the union has scheduled a ratification vote for Thursday night, sources told ESPN on Tuesday,” the ESPN report said.

The terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

If both sides agree to the new deal, it will avoid the need for the backup officials in 2026.

The bumpy road to a deal

An impasse was hit late in March, when the NFL and NFLRA broke off talks on the very first day of what was supposed to be multiple days of negotiations.

The league was less than thrilled with some of the demands from the NFLRA that included significant raises and millions of dollars in marketing fees.

The NFL was also looking for a way to hold officials more accountable for poor performance, which has become more and more of an issue over the years.

“We continue to focus on investing in accountability and performance in our officiating,” the NFL said after talks broke off. “[NFLRA executive director] Scott [Green] and his team haven’t changed their approach in almost two years, continuing to demand raises at almost double the rates of the increases realized by the players over the course of this CBA and, in addition, millions of dollars in marketing fees that rank-and-file union members never see.”

In order to try and get talks back on track, some NFL owners got involved and things went from “dire” to “productive” quickly, ESPN reported in April.

Now, a new deal looks imminent.

My, how far we’ve come.

Former Germany captain Philipp Lahm doesn't see the national team among the favourites to win this year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Twelve years after their last triumph in Brazil, of which Lahm was a part of, he acknowledged that the current team has good players who play for top clubs.

"But the past hasn't necessarily shown that we've really grown as a team in recent years or over the last few tournaments," he said at an event hosted by the Münchner Merkur/tz newspapers.

Since the title in 2014, Germany have suffered two group stages exits in Russia in 2018 and in Qatar in 2022. The team has also failed to reach an European Championship final in this period.

"That's why the favourites are definitely others, when I think about France or Spain, maybe even Portugal. But it's always possible," he said.

Lahm ended his national team career after the triumph in Brazil and retired from football in 2017 after more than a decade at Bayern Munich. Since then he's been active as businessman and football official.

Asked whether he thinks about returning to Bayern, he said: "Well, I'm keeping myself pretty busy and I'm enjoying it. My life is great. And that's why, to be honest, I'm not really thinking about FC Bayern right now."

The 2026 World Cup starts on June 11.

The owner of Inverness Caledonian Thistle says sorting out "simple things" helped the club recover from a financial crisis to becoming League One champions.

ICT was placed into administration in October 2024 after running up millions of pounds in debts.

Businessman Alan Savage stepped in with an initial injection of £1m of funding, and the club exited administration in September last year.

Recalling the actions taken to achieve that, Savage said: "It was about reassuring the staff, fixing things like shower heads, simple things that had gone wrong."

Inverness secured promotion to the Championship with a 2-1 win over Hamilton Academical on Saturday.

• More stories from the Highlands and Islands
• News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds

Savage told BBC Radio Scotland's Breakfast programme that administration had been the best way to "clean up" the club's debts.

"They were in a mess," he said.

"A few initiatives had gone south and I think it was looking like the club would be liquidated.

"They needed an injection of cash to pull it out of that and that is when I got involved."

Savage, who was the club's chairman between 2006 and 2008, said his ambition was to get ICT to a point where it was sustainable and no longer required bail-outs to survive.

He said new initiatives included establishing the club's stadium as a start point for the North Coast 500 tourist route and hosting music events.

"We want more than one day a fortnight of football. We are trying to get life into the stadium every day of the week," said Savage.

• Rise and fall and rise again of Inverness Caley Jags

Related internet links

• ICTFC

Roma still have 270 minutes left to play, after which it’s time to plan for next season.

The remaining fixtures against Parma, Lazio, and Verona will tell us whether the Giallorossi will finally return to the Champions League, a competition not seen in Trigoria for seven years.

But it’s not just on-pitch events that are making headlines these days. Four players’ contracts are expiring in June, and their futures are still up in the air.

These are Celik, Pellegrini, Dybala, and El Shaarawy.

According to today’s edition of Il Corriere della Sera, the latter met with Gian Piero Gasperini last week to discuss a possible contract extension.

The Piedmontese coach, in fact, is reportedly happy to retain all four players whose contracts are expiring.

The club’s owners appear willing to accommodate the former Atalanta coach’s requests, provided their salaries are sustainable and compatible with the club’s financial capabilities.

Liverpool’s difficult season has sparked criticism from plenty of pundits in recent weeks, and now Micah Richards has questioned whether Milos Kerkez is coping with life at Anfield.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

The Hungary international arrived from Bournemouth last summer with huge expectations after an outstanding campaign on the south coast, but the 22-year-old has endured a mixed first year under Arne Slot.

Micah Richards questions Milos Kerkez form

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards admitted the left-back has not looked anywhere near the same player Liverpool supporters expected to see.

The former England defender said: “Kerkez has been a shadow of the player he was at Bournemouth. I don’t know if that’s pressure. I don’t know if that’s system.”

It’s another concern for Slot after Liverpool’s chaotic defeat at Manchester United, where defensive issues once again cost us badly.

Richards had already criticised several of Liverpool’s summer additions, claiming the signings overall “have not worked”, while also questioning the tactical setup under the Dutchman.

The pundit argued Liverpool are now “too slow”, “too passive” and “too easy to play against”, which could partly explain why Kerkez has struggled to settle consistently despite playing regularly.

Robertson debate continues at Liverpool

Kerkez was immediately thrown into the starting side after his £40m arrival from Bournemouth, and there were periods earlier in the campaign where many supporters called for Andy Robertson to return more often.

The Scotland captain has still shown signs of quality this season, even if though this is his last campaign at Anfield.

Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders recently insisted Robertson remains the stronger all-round player right now.

Saunders explained: “He’s better than Kerkez, in my opinion… Kerkez is trying to get there and at the minute, I think it’s costing Liverpool games.”

That may sound harsh on the Hungarian, though there’s also context that can’t be ignored.

Kerkez is only 22, joined a struggling side dealing with injuries throughout the squad and has already played 45 games in all competitions this season.

Liverpool’s problems clearly run far deeper than one left-back, but Richards’ comments will still raise eyebrows given Kerkez will be Slot’s long-term first-choice option moving forward.

In IPL today, we will see a blockbuster clash as Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Punjab Kings in what has all the makings of a genuine title race showdown. SRH have had a remarkable turnaround, winning five on the bounce before KKR halted them, while PBKS have had two successive defeats after going unbeaten in seven. Both sides have had their wobbles. But both have had the quality to produce something special tonight in Hyderabad. 

Where will the IPL 2026 matches be held on Tuesday May 6 and this week?

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With only one week before the year’s second major, the PGA Tour heads to North Carolina for the Truist Championship and yet another small-field, no-cut signature event. Located just southeast of downtown Charlotte, Quail Hollow Club has hosted a PGA Tour event almost every year since 2003. Along with the 2017 and 2025 PGA Championship, the world-class course also hosted the prestigious 2022 Presidents Cup.

Quail Hollow is typically one of the most challenging courses on tour playing to an average of +0.75 strokes per round. At the two recent majors held here, the course played +1.99 per round. It’s a demanding par 71 that stretches to 7,583 yards from the back tees.

RELATED: Truist Championship picks 2026: Can our experts cash three winners in a row?

The tree-lined parkland layout is a favorite among players, combining pristine conditions with scenic, rolling terrain to create one of the most enjoyable walks on tour. Its routing flows seamlessly, with each green leading effortlessly into the next tee just steps away.

As with any course that has hosted major events, every facet of a golfer’s game will be tested this week. As recent past winners here demonstrate, including Rory McIlroy (four times), Wyndham Clark, Max Homa and Jason Day, distance off the tee and positive long iron play are especially advantageous this week. Another important skill is scrambling for pars on some of the toughest green complexes that players will face all year.

RELATED: PGA Championship picks 2026: Our 13 best bets to win at Aronimink Golf Club

Coming off his recent Masters win, Rory McIlroy returns to Charlotte as the most recent winner here, having cruised to a five-shot victory in 2024. The Grand Slam champion now sits at 30 PGA Tour wins, four of which have come at Quail Hollow Club, further cementing his dominance at this venue.

Here are my favorite plays and fades in each price range for the 2026 Truist Championship.

Orlando Ramirez

Yes, Rory McIlroy is coming off a Masters win, but it is hard to justify the $1,600 price gap when Cameron Young is also entering in top form after a victory of his own. Young can practically follow the same recipe for success that he had last week in his runaway victory at Doral as Quail Hollow shares many characteristics, placing a premium on driving distance and long iron play. That alignment plays directly into Young’s strengths, and his noticeable improvement on and around the greens over the past year could prove especially valuable on some of the toughest putting surfaces on tour.

Young also dominated the par 4s last week, leading the field with a 38 percent Birdie or Better rate. That success is highly relevant given that Quail Hollow’s par 4s are among the most difficult on tour. Even more encouraging, Young ranks second in this field over his past 36 rounds on difficult par 4s, reinforcing his ability to handle one of the key challenges this course presents.

Cameron Young’s yearly strokes gained summary from the Rabbit Hole.

Sign up for the industry's leading data tool to make golf stats easy to decipher—head to BetspertsGolf.com now and get access to The Rabbit Hole for only $10 for your first month. Use promo code GD10 at sign up for this amazing deal!

Andrew Redington

A well-rested Aberg arrives in Charlotte with outstanding form, having recorded four top-five finishes in his past five starts. Even more encouraging, his underlying strokes gained profile suggests that these ceiling performances should continue, as he ranks inside the top 20 in this field in each of the strokes gained categories over his past 24 rounds. His short game has quietly become a strength as he’s gained at least half a stroke on the field both on and around the greens in six of his past seven tournaments.

Off the tee, Aberg continues to separate himself as one of the elite drivers in the game. He ranks seventh in total driving this season, a skill set that should translate extremely well to a demanding layout like Quail Hollow. He has also been on fire with his recent approach game, gaining 0.89 strokes per round in his last five starts—and often on courses that mirror Quail Hollow with their emphasis on long iron play. His naturally high ball flight with an average apex of 118 feet into firm greens is another advantage, aligning with the profile of past winners at this event.

Read The Line's Joe Idone and John Haslbauer chat with golf writer Alan Shipnuck about the future of LIV and all things Rory McIlroy:

MacIntyre enters the week ranking second-to-last in the field in SG/approach this year, losing 0.61 strokes per round. In this upper-tier, there is not a single other golfer gaining less than 0.20 per round. He’s recent form is also lacking with a T-42 at the RBC Heritage, preceded by a missed cut at the Masters.

RELATED: Truist Championship 2026: Rory McIlroy's secret weapon at Quail Hollow

Kevin C. Cox

Long known for inconsistency earlier in his career, Min Woo Lee has spent the past eight months reshaping that narrative into one of reliability paired with elite upside. He has recorded nine top-15 finishes across his past 16 starts, a stretch that highlights both his consistency and ceiling. With noticeable improvement in his long-iron play, elite length off the tee and one of the strongest short games on tour, his skill set aligns perfectly with the demands of Quail Hollow.

I’m not putting much stock into Griffin’s third-place finish at last week’s Cadillac Championship. The result was driven almost entirely by an unsustainable performance on and around the greens, where he gained more than eight strokes, while actually losing 1.5 strokes on approach. That’s especially concerning given the broader trend, as he has now lost strokes with his irons in eight of his past nine events. That profile is a poor fit for this week’s test, where precise iron play is essential.

RELATED: The Bonus Years: Understanding the PGA Tour’s retirement reset

Carmen Mandato

After a slow start in Miami, Hojgaard closed the week on a high note with a Sunday 66, showing signs of the form that has defined much of his season. Despite a couple of underwhelming recent results, his overall body of work in 2026 remains strong with four top-six finishes, making his current price look too low given both his upside and course fit. He is one of the longest players in the field, ranks 12th in proximity from 200-plus yards, and has been the best spike putter on Poa trivialis greens over the past two years, gaining more than two strokes in 18 percent of his rounds.

Icon Sportswire

Fox is my favorite value play this week considering his body of work this year and past success on long and difficult courses. After four consecutive top-25s earlier in the year he was sidelined with kidney stones, which forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship. After a rough stretch, his game is rounding back into form with consecutive top-30s where he has gained over six total strokes ball-striking. He finished 28th here last year in the PGA Championship and has the upside to be in the mix come Sunday.

Sign up for the industry's leading data tool to make golf stats easy to decipher—head to BetspertsGolf.com now and get access to The Rabbit Hole for only $10 for your first month. Use promo code GD10 at sign up for this amazing deal!

Ron Klos (@PGASplits101 on X) is a PGA Tour data analyst for Betsperts Golf.

On Saturday, 1,000 lucky NJ/NY Gotham FC fans will get to see the reigning champions take on Boston Legacy FC for $5.

It is a small fee for a premium sports experience that feels almost out of place in today’s sports economy, especially for the National Women’s Soccer League, packed with global stars and nine-figure franchise valuations. The deal was part of a team promotion with the New York City government to highlight affordability issues, in sports and beyond.

It is also an example of why the NWSL is still the best deal in sports, especially when many leagues are looking to squeeze more revenue from loyal fans. However, rising valuations and interest threaten that affordability.

Across the sports landscape, especially in the women’s game, the math is changing quickly. Often called “fanflation”, the cost of being a fan is rising faster than the franchise valuations.

Another professional women’s sports league, the WNBA, is a cautionary tale.

The WNBA is, by just about every metric, a runaway success. Attendance is climbing, it recently agreed to a historic collective bargaining agreement with the players and franchise values are soaring, including the expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries, which became the first women’s team to be valued at $1 billion, according to CNBC. More expansion is on the horizon, with three new franchises expected by 2030 (combining to pay $750 million in fees to join). It’s easy to frame the league as a textbook growth story.

However, demand is outpacing supply, causing prices to climb fast. For example, the New York Liberty, in the same market as Gotham FC, is reportedly valued at $600 million and sold $2 million of tickets for a game against the Indiana Fever in May 2024. In some cases, the fans are feeling that increase in their own wallets. One Liberty season ticket holder told The Athletic she paid $600 for a Section 3 seat in 2023. By 2024, that figure had nearly doubled to just under $1,200, despite only two additional regular-season games. By 2025, as the team pushed toward another title run, her renewal quote for the 2026 season had ballooned to nearly $1,700. That’s an increase of roughly $1,100 over three seasons, a 183 percent jump.

So while the WNBA’s rise is real, and arguably overdue, it’s also creating a familiar tension: The more valuable the product becomes, the harder it is for the everyday fan to afford it.

When this article was published, the cheapest ticket available for Liberty’s home opener against the Connecticut Sun in the Barclays Center on Friday was around $50 for nosebleeds.

More than a dozen fans sitting on or near courtside tonight are wearing these bright orange shirts to protest the Liberty’s skyrocketing ticket prices for the playoffs and next season. pic.twitter.com/n95w5SPqL7

— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) September 10, 2025

The NWSL isn’t immune to these growing pains — it’s just two decades younger. In fact, it’s entering its own growth phase.

Expansion fees have exploded, climbing from $2 million in 2022 to more than $200 million for Columbus, the latest addition. A $240 million media rights deal has reset expectations. Owners are investing heavily in infrastructure, from dedicated stadiums to state-of-the-art training facilities.

But here’s where the NWSL has diverged from the script: It hasn’t fully passed those costs onto fans in the form of higher ticket prices — at least not yet, and not uniformly. The NWSL’s argument has always been that it offers something rare in modern sports: Elite-level competition without the inflated price tag.

Average ticket prices rose from $38 in 2024 to $43 in 2025, a measured increase reflecting what league executives describe as a focus on long-term fan strategy rather than aggressive price hikes.

Gotham’s $5 ticket initiative, in partnership with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, aligns with the league’s larger premise: If soccer is supposed to be for the people, then the price of entry shouldn’t feel like a luxury tax — even if it’s a limited or special offer from time to time, like this one.

Perhaps another reason the tickets are still affordable is that the league is struggling to fill seats in some markets. On one hand, the NWSL is hitting unique attendance records: 40,091 fans filled San Francisco’s Oracle Park last August, Denver Summit FC’s opener saw over 60,000 fans in Empower Field at Mile High and Gotham is aiming to break their attendance record in July at Citi Field. All of those venues were one-off experiences outside the teams’ normal homes. Overall, there has been a dip in attendance in 2025, nearly 10 percent in comparison to the 2024 season.

Still, the early signs in 2026 suggest renewed momentum. Through the first five weeks of the 2026 season, the league is averaging 11,510 fans per regular-season match, up from 10,670 in 2025 and on pace for a fourth consecutive season averaging more than 10,000 attendees per game, the league said.

With lots of seats to fill, many NWSL fans can still find many affordable ticket options, especially compared to other major leagues. In some markets, a family of four can attend a match for less than the cost of parking at an NFL game. Take Racing Louisville’s $5.02 offering, an ode to the city’s area code 502. It is one of the most economical ticket options this year for the supporters for each home game.

Racing hasn’t seen the sort of demand that would lead to increased prices, but even the most popular teams are not squeezing fans. Instead, they are experimenting with different ticket offerings that limit sticker shock.

“Myself and everybody in my circle, we’re talking about things being unaffordable. We’re all very intentional. Accessibility is not an afterthought, it’s a requirement, and it always will be,” Kim Stone, the CEO and co-governor of Washington Spirit, told The Athletic.

The Spirit averaged more than 15,000 fans per home match at Audi Field during the 2025 NWSL regular season. For 2026, the club did not increase ticket prices in the supporter section and 70 percent of season ticket members in non-premium locations saw less than a 6 percent increase over last year. They also continued their ‘First Match on Us’ program, giving those who are looking to attend their first Spirit match two complimentary tickets. More than 1,700 tickets have been claimed this year, up 201 percent year over year, creating 860 new accounts, up 213 percent year over year.

However, Stone does not deny there will be a moment when ticket prices have to go up, but she said the key is to spread the price hike where the impact would be felt the least acutely.

“What’s changing is not that games are becoming unaffordable, but we’re offering more options,” Stone said. “As the game grows, so does our responsibility to invest in our players, but the way we do that is by building a model where stands at every level can participate. So whether that’s a $20 ticket or a premium experience, they’ll have the choice.”

Similarly, the league’s other attendance heavyweights, such as Seattle Reign, Portland Thorns and Angel City FC, also said they kept their supporter-level ticket prices the same this season. On Tuesday, Orlando Pride launched their own “First Match on Us” campaign, giving away two complimentary tickets to first-time attendees.

“Accessibility is a huge part of how we think about it, and a big driver of how our ticketing model has evolved,” Alexis Lee, Portland Thorns’ president of business operations, told The Athletic.

With fans paying closer attention to what things cost and what they’re getting for it, affordability is at the core of Portland’s ticket strategy. The Thorns diversified their offering with half-season plans, partial packages and mini-packages where fans can pick matches, all the way down to single-game tickets.

“We’ve led the league in attendance nine out of 13 seasons, and our average ticket price is still below the league average,” Lee said. “That’s not an accident; that’s the strategy working. We’re putting world-class athletes on that field, genuinely the best players in the world, and we’re doing it in a way that keeps Portland one of the most accessible pro sports experiences in the market. That combination is why people keep coming back.”

This sweet spot won’t last forever. If the NWSL continues to grow, it will eventually face the same dilemma as the WNBA — and that includes potentially higher prices that risk alienating the very audience that built the league.

“Filling seats is not about chasing the highest possible price in a hot market, it is about creating such a compelling experience and sense of belonging that fans want to keep coming back and feel good about the value they are getting,” Julie Haddon, the interim CMO of Angel City, told The Athletic. “Our goal has been to make Angel City games feel unmissable without making them unattainable.”

NWSL’s top markets seem to align with Haddon’s approach in southern California. NWSL clubs are trying to fill seats without breaking the bank.

Gotham’s $5 ticket initiative is, in many ways, a unique test case.

On one level, it’s a clever marketing play. Fill the stadium, create atmosphere, generate goodwill. On another, it’s a philosophical stance: Fandom shouldn’t be gated by income.

Mamdani’s involvement adds a political dimension, framing affordability as not just a business decision but a public good. His criticism of FIFA’s pricing — particularly ahead of the men’s World Cup, where tickets are prohibitively expensive — taps into a broader frustration among fans who feel priced out of the very sport they love.

For now, the league remains a bargain, relative to the WNBA or the larger men’s pro leagues. The real test isn’t whether the NWSL can grow — it’s whether it can grow without becoming the very thing it once disrupted.

The NWSL isn’t immune to fanflation, but now is the time for it to get ahead of the curve.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Portland Thorns, Gotham FC, Washington Spirit, Angel City, NWSL, Sports Business, Women's Soccer

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Last game: 3-2 win over Reds

Next game: Wednesday, May 6, vs. Reds at Wrigley Field, 6:40 p.m. CT. TV: Marquee Sports Network.

Cubs regular season radio: WSCR 670/104.3 The Score (all regular season games), Cubs broadcast radio affiliates, Cubs Sirius XM radio schedule

Current MLB standings

2026 Cubs regular season schedule

Cubs 2026 regular season record: 24-12 (16-5 home, 8-7 road)
Al’s 2026 regular season record: 16-5 (all home)

Cubs 2026 regular season record on various TV channels

Marquee Sports Network: 23-11
Fox: 0-1
NBC/Peacock: 0-0
ESPN: 0-0
Apple TV+: 1-0

Cubs 2026 regular season record wearing various uniforms

White pinstripe: 14-4
Chicago Blues: 2-1
Blue alternate: 4-2
Road gray: 4-5

Cubs 2026 spring training record: 14-18 (14-17 Spring Training, 0-1 WBC exhibition)
Al’s 2026 spring training record: 7-8 (7-7 Spring Training, 0-1 WBC exhibition)

If you listen to Kentucky Sports Radio right now, Mark Pope should be standing up on a podium and talking with the media.

While Matt Jones and company are openly begging for some kind of communication, even joking about sending up “smoke signals,” the Kentucky basketball program has effectively gone completely dark.

Aside from a video asking fans for questions about the program and the obligatory social media graphics announcing player signings and assistant coaching hires, we haven’t heard a peep from Mark Pope since his final radio show back in March.

But is this silence actually a bad thing?

No. In fact, I think they are doing the right thing by remaining silent and doing the work that this roster desperately needs.

Coach speak doesn’t win games

Regardless of how you feel about where the roster currently sits, speaking to a hounding media and a fanbase that has been living on edge for weeks wouldn’t actually accomplish anything.

If Pope sat down at a podium tomorrow, what could he really say? We would get 20 minutes of standard coach speak. We would get a few optimistic quips about how “things are going to be good” and how much they “love the guys in the locker room.” Is that going to move the needle in a positive way for this program? Absolutely not.

So, the best thing Pope and his staff can do right now is put their heads down, ignore the outside noise, get to work, and figure out a way to fix this thing.

A massive offseason to-do list

When you actually look at the logistical nightmare the staff is currently navigating, you realize why they don’t have time for empty press conferences.

First, there are massive staffing questions that will probably be addressed in the next month. Cody Fueger and Mark Fox are currently sitting on expiring contracts that run out on June 30th. On top of that, Kentucky is still down an assistant coach, meaning the current staff is spread incredibly thin.

Then, there is the recruiting trail. Pope is still trying to fill out the last two spots to make sure year number 3 is better than year number 2. He flew out to Israel to meet Marcio Santos, all while meeting and having conversations with recruits from this year and next.

I don’t want him taking 20 minutes out of that schedule to sit down in front of a camera and tell us “everything is fine.” It would do absolutely nothing except provide a few fleeting clicks.

Give me wins over words

At the end of the day, I’d rather have wins on the court and on the roster. I take this prolonged silence as a sign that this coaching staff is working as hard as they can to field a competitive team. I will take that any day of the week.

It may not work out perfectly. The season could still go sideways if the portal guys don’t gel or injuries hit. But a little press conference in early May isn’t going to change any of that. It’s only going to slow progress.

Let the coaching staff work in the shadows for now. We can have all the press conferences we want later in the summer when the roster is finalized.

Mark Pope is working to make it work. And he decided he wanted to talk directly to fans. Pope went on Twitter to leave a video and let BBN know he wanted to talk directly to them, and asked them to leave questions.

Some of the responses are not great, but some of them are actually pretty solid questions. Who knows how he answers them, but if he were going to do an interview, I would rather he do it this way.

I still think I would prefer total silence until June, but I also can understand doing what they do. Are you looking forward to hearing from Pope? Did you leave a question, or do you think he should have just remained silent?

Real Madrid have decided to dismiss Álvaro Arbeloa at the end of the season, believing he has not met the objectives set when he took charge in January after Xabi Alonso’s dismissal.

The Merengues have dropped many points in the league and failed to reach the Champions League semi-finals, although their performances in Europe were considered competitive against strong opponents.

Names of potential candidates to take over the reins from Arbeloa are already doing the rounds, with Jose Mourinho emerging as a serious contender.

What Florentino Perez wants from the new manager

Now, according to Defensa Central, within Real Madrid, there is a belief that a coach with greater authority is needed to manage the dressing room and control strong personalities.

For club president Florentino Perez, the priority is clear: the next manager must be capable of organising and managing the personalities within the squad. While some may underestimate the importance of this, it is seen as essential in a group such as Real Madrid.

The search for a new manager is underway. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Over the past two seasons, this aspect has been problematic, and neither Alonso nor Arbeloa have managed to resolve it. As a result, the club believe a change in managerial profile is necessary, as they are not currently willing to part ways with their key players.

Unlock the Vini-Mbappe combination

Despite growing opinion that Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe are incompatible, there are still figures within Real Madrid who believe they can achieve success together. Both are considered exceptional players.

Their relationship off the pitch is not problematic, contrary to some reports. However, on the pitch they often occupy similar areas and make similar movements, which has made it difficult for them to combine effectively in certain matches.

And Real Madrid want someone in charge who can find a way to make their partnership click next season.

Barcelona’s pursuit of talented teenagers on the verge of a breakout continues, and their long-standing interest in Belgian winger Jesse Bisiwu has become formal. The 18-year-old caught the eyes of Barcelona’s scouts last summer, and for some months the Catalan club have been trying to find a way of doing a deal.

Their interest in Bisiwu was revealed in January, having first scouted him at the under-17 World Cup in November of 2025. Agent Mobindi Marthy confirmed Barcelona’s interest in Bisiwu back in February, but did note they were one of a number of big clubs following him. Two weeks ago, Barcelona’s Head of Scouting Joao Amaral attended the UEFA Youth League final between Brugge and Real Madrid, using the opportunity to speak with Brugge Sporting Director Devy Rigaux about Bisiwu.

Barcelona make offer for Bisiwu

Image via Bildbyran

As per MD, Barcelona have now made an offer to Brugge for Bisiwu. Previously it has been reported that he would prioritise a move to Barcelona, and their plan is to pull off a deal similar to that of Roony Bardghji, paying a relatively low transfer fee to add him to their Barca Atletic squad, and seeing how he adapts to the first team in training. Barcelona are still waiting for a response to their offer from Brugge, and no details are revealed with regard to the amounts.

Will Brugge allow Bisiwu to leave?

Image via Belga / Nieuwsblad

The Catalan paper suggest that Brugge’s reluctance to sell could be softened by Bisiwu’s desire to force through the move, and the fact he has just a year left on his deal. Previous reports have struck a different tone, with Brugge believing that they will eventually secure a renewal with Bisiwu, and that they were in little hurry to negotiate for a player whose value could increase exponentially after game time in the first team.

NCAA men's lacrosse bracket 2026: Schedule, TV channels, live streams, scores for college championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The march to Memorial Day is here for the nation's top college lacrosse teams. 

A trip through a tough bracket awaits before we get to the two teams contesting the sport's annual holiday afternoon championship game, though, beginning with a pair of opening-round games just three days after Selection Sunday. 

This year's NCAA tournament appears wide open. Notre Dame has held down the top spot most of the year, but the Irish have lost a pair of games to the team hosting this year's semis and final, Virginia. Top seed Princeton is right there with Notre Dame, along with defending champion Cornell and rising power Richmond. 

While Notre Dame could well win its third national title in four years, it will have plenty of competition on the way. Here's everything you need to know to watch this year's tournament. 

NCAA men's lacrosse bracket 2026

The bracket consists of 18 teams, with 10 automatic and eight at-large selections. The top eight schools are seeded nationally, and the four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers will play in the two opening-round games. See the full game schedule below.

1. Princeton
2. Notre Dame
3. North Carolina
4. Richmond
5. Virginia
6. Syracuse
7. Cornell
8. Penn State

The 2026 DI Men’s Lacrosse Bracket 🏆🥍

➡️ https://t.co/zLkT0Ue1iJ
🎟️ https://t.co/5av2exW2hS#NCAAMLAXpic.twitter.com/kUAk6cBkad

— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 4, 2026

Where to watch NCAA men's lacrosse tournament

• TV channels: ESPNU (first round, quarterfinals), ESPN2 (semifinals), ESPN (championship)
• Live streams:ESPN app, fubo

The 2026 NCAA men's lacrosse tournament will air on multiple ESPN platforms, including the first round and quarterfinals on ESPNU, the semis on ESPN2 and the championship game on ESPN.

All of those games will also be available to stream via fubo. Fans can also stream those games and the two opening-round games with the ESPN app.

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.)

NCAA men's lacrosse tournament schedule, scores 2026

Wednesday, May 6: Opening round

Saturday, May 9: First round

Sunday, May 10: First round

Saturday, May 16: Quarterfinals

Sunday, May 17: Quarterfinals

Saturday, May 23: Semifinals

Semifinals and final will be played at Charlottesville, Virginia

Monday, May 25: Championship

NCAA men's lacrosse champions list

Here are the last 10 NCAA men's lacrosse champions and runners-up. There was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19.

The Scout's Fantasy Premier League verdict is in ahead of Manchester City's double gameweek 36.

Pep Guardiola’s side welcome both Brentford and Crystal Palace to the Etihad Stadium across the next round of fixtures.

The Blues first host the Bees on Saturday 9 May at 17:30 (UK) before playing the Eagles at home on Wednesday 13 May at 20:00 (UK).

And FPL managers will be looking to boost their points tally at the business end of the campaign as the Club’s pursuit of the top-flight crown continues.

With that in mind, find out who the Scout is championing in Gameweek 36 ahead of Saturday 9 May’s 11:00 (UK) deadline.

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CITY STAR

Midfielder Jeremy Doku (£6.4m) registered 15-points in Gameweek 35 curtesy of two goals and all three bonus points.

He has now registered an attacking return in three of City’s last four Premier League matches. In this period, Doku is the Blues’ joint most attacking player with four attacking returns and the top FPL scoring with 31 points.

In the last four gameweeks, the Belgium international has created eight chances, supplied nine crosses and had nine shots.

ONES TO WATCH

Igor Thiago (£7.4m) and Maxence Lacroix (£5.2m) are opponents Brentford and Palace’s form players.

Only Haaland has scored more goals in the Premier League this season than the Bees’ forward, whilse Lacroix is eighth for points scored amongst defenders this season.

DIFFERENTIALS

Elsewhere, Richarlison (£6.3m) and Jack Hinshelwood (£5.1m) are two low-owned gems worth considering.

Richarilson is Spurs’ top scorer this season with 10 goals with the forward also picking up four assist this season.

Hinshelwood has scored in two of his last three Premier League matches and registered eight attacking returns this season which only two Brighton players can better.

Crystal Palace return to Selhurst Park on Thursday with one foot in the Conference League final, but their 3-1 first-leg advantage over Shakhtar Donetsk demands focus rather than comfort.

Oliver Glasner’s side have put themselves in a commanding position, yet the nature of knockout football means this tie is far from finished.

The first leg showcased Palace at their most efficient, with attacking quality and structure combining to secure a two-goal cushion.

That advantage now shifts the burden onto Shakhtar, who must chase the game from the outset if they are to have any chance of overturning the deficit.

Palace’s approach over the weekend offered a clear indication of priorities, with a heavily rotated side falling to defeat against Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The selection and performance pointed to a calculated decision to preserve energy and key players for this European semi-final.

It underlines just how seriously Glasner is taking the competition, with the opportunity to reach a second final in consecutive seasons firmly within reach.

However, that defeat also serves as a warning that momentum can shift quickly if standards drop.

Shakhtar arrive wounded but dangerous, knowing that a cautious approach will not be enough to rescue the tie.

They are likely to press aggressively and disrupt Palace’s rhythm, turning the game into a physical and unpredictable contest.

That approach represents their clearest route back into the tie, even if it carries significant risk at the other end.

For Palace, the challenge is to strike the right balance between control and ambition.

Sitting deep and protecting the lead may invite unnecessary pressure, particularly against a side with attacking quality.

Equally, overcommitting could open spaces that Shakhtar will be eager to exploit.

The ideal scenario lies in asserting control early, forcing Shakhtar to chase shadows while maintaining a threat in transition.

Players such as Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta could prove decisive if Palace are able to stretch the game.

A fast start would not only settle nerves but also increase the pressure on the visitors to score multiple times.

Defensively, Palace must remain organised and disciplined, particularly in the early stages when Shakhtar are likely to throw numbers forward.

The stakes are clear, with a place in a European final representing a defining moment in the club’s modern history.

Glasner’s side have already shown they can handle the demands of this competition, but this second leg will test their maturity and composure.

If they match the intensity of the occasion and avoid complacency, Palace are well placed to finish the job.

Anything less, however, risks turning a strong position into a nervy night that could still swing the wrong way.

One of the Manchester United players who appears to have benefited the most from Ruben Amorim’s departure is Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian arrived at Old Trafford at the beginning of this season in a bid to address the Red Devils’ goalscoring woes.

Sesko had admirers at clubs across the continent after an impressive rise with RB Leipzig, and the English giants managed a coup by winning the race for his signature. United were keen to improve their form in the final third after managing just 44 goals in 38 Premier League games last season.

Unfortunately, Sesko had a mixed time under former head coach Amorim, registering just two goals in 17 appearances. The Red Devils struggled to get results under the Portuguese, who was eventually let go at the turn of the year.

That proved to be the turning point in Sesko’s time at the Theatre of Dreams.

Sesko’s rise in 2026

Sesko celebrated Amorim’s departure by scoring three goals in two games under interim manager Darren Fletcher. Michael Carrick was appointed as Amorim’s temporary replacement in mid-January, and the Slovenian has also been impressive under the Englishman.

The 22 year old has registered seven goals in 13 games under the caretaker manager, helping the team climb up to third in the Premier League table. Sesko has now scored 10 goals in 16 games in 2026 and is one of the most in-form strikers in the league right now.

Benjamin Sesko Stats by Coach At United

Source: Transfermarkt.

Last Sunday, the Slovenian scored in the 3-2 win over Liverpool as United secured qualification for next season’s Champions League. However, the player picked up an injury during the game and had to be substituted at the break.

While his participation in United’s upcoming game against Sunderland remains in doubt, a recent report has now revealed a magnanimous side of the young footballer.

Sesko makes heartwarming donation to former club

Sesko spent part of his formative years with his hometown club NK Radece, who have now revealed that the player made a significant contribution to their academy. The Slovenian club shared the heartwarming news via a post on social media, which read: “A Generous gesture by Benjamin Šeško for the Young Players of NK RADEČE.”

“It is with great joy and gratitude that we announce that our former player, Benjamin Šeško, has once again shown his big heart by supporting our youngest teams with a donation. It was at NK Radeče that his soccer journey began, so we are especially proud that, despite his busy schedule, he never forgets his roots.”

“With this gesture, he demonstrates how important it is to give back to the community and encourage new generations of young soccer players. Benjamin has shown exceptional talent since he was a child, and today he remains a great role model for all our children—not only because of his successes, but also because of his kindness.”

“Sincere thanks, Benjamin, for thinking of our youngest players and helping them realize their soccer dreams! We also sincerely thank his management team, especially Elvis Bašanović, for their help in making this donation possible.”

“As it says on the back of the jersey—“Theatre of Dreams”—we believe that it is right here, on our fields, that new great stories begin.”

Final Thoughts

Sesko is United’s leading goalscorer this season, and fans will hope he can return to full fitness soon to add to his tally. The Slovenian will also be keen to continue his momentum and end the season on a high.

Featured image by Michael Regan/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

Every journey starts somewhere. For Chandler Rivers and Elijah Sarratt, that 'somewhere' now comes in the purple and black of the Baltimore Ravens. Rivers is a five-foot-nine, 185-pound cornerback. Sarratt is a wide receiver who stands at six-foot-two and tips the scales at 210 pounds. Both arrive highly decorated.

Rivers is a 2024 First-Team All-ACC mention who also earned second-team honors in 2025. Sarratt's collegiate run left little room in the trophy case. Part of the College Football Playoff National Championship-winning Indian Hoosiers, he led the NCAA in receiving touchdowns at the end of the 2025 season. He was named Second-team All-Big Ten after receiving Third-team All-Big Ten honors one year prior. He also has First-team All-NEC (2022) and First-Team All-Sun Belt (2023) honors on his resume.

Both are part of an exciting Ravens 2026 11-man draft class. Baltimore's social media team shared clips featuring the two as they enjoyed their time at the rookie minicamp.

The work has begun. Here's your first look at @elijah_sarrattpic.twitter.com/6ZVLHIdzNI

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 4, 2026

.@_ChandlerRivers getting active ❗ pic.twitter.com/1WtwDm6p8d

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 5, 2026

The journey is just beginning for two exciting Ravens rookies.

Early footage in shorts with no pads. We won't learn much until later. Practice time and eventual game reps will be key. Even in moments like these, there's something worth noting: the speed and the movement. There is also the comfort level. It's the first opportunity to see how college production starts translating to the professional stage. They're both traveling on two different paths. albeit to the same opportunity. Both seek spots on the 53-man roster.

Rivers enters as a defensive back with the kind of athletic profile that fits what Baltimore has consistently valued on that side of the ball: versatility, quickness, and the ability to compete in space. Sarratt, meanwhile, arrives with a different responsibility. At wide receiver, expectations come quickly. Route precision, timing, and chemistry aren't optional. They're required. And for a young pass catcher, every rep matters.

We've seen short clips and early reps, i.e., nothing definitive, but they signal something bigger. Rivers and Sarratt haven't proven anything yet, but they have taken the first step. In Baltimore, that first step is where everything of note always begins.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Chandler Rivers and Elijah Sarratt make Ravens debut

Bastian Schweinsteiger has likened Germany’s star duo, Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, to Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben.

The Germany legend believes Wirtz and Musiala resemble his former Bayern Munich teammates in the sense that they possess the individual quality to decide games on their own.

“I see Wirtz and Musiala as our Ribéry and Robben. Those are the players who make the decisive move in key moments. If I were playing with Wirtz, I would simply give him the ball as often as possible, because he needs the ball to make his game more dominant, to bring in his ideas. I think he has incredible vision in his play,” Schweinsteiger told Sport Bild and went on to look back on the assist Wirtz provided for Serge Gnabry back in March.

“When I think back to his pass against Switzerland to Serge Gnabry, I say: not many players make passes like that – especially with that level of precision. If Musiala and Wirtz can get going, then I am very, very confident.”

As for Musiala, Schweinsteiger believes the 23-year-old has made significant progress towards finding back to his top level following the serious injury he suffered last summer.

“You can clearly see his improvement from game to game, also in terms of minutes played," he said. 

"Serge Gnabry’s injury has accelerated things a bit. But Jamal seems to me to be back on the right track. The last five to ten percent might still be missing, but I’m very, very positive about it. If you listen around abroad to find out who excites people, you very often hear the name Musiala.”

This is grief with a purpose.

More than four years since the tragedy of losing his only son, Dwayne Haskins Sr. is so determined to add depth to the legacy of the former NFL quarterback’s complicated life with compassion that he is certain will help others.

Here are some words for this: Admirable. Courageous. Spiritual.

Haskins, through the family’s foundation, will host a talk-back discussion on mental health on May 16th at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn in Maryland that, following a community walk in conjunction with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will honor his son’s life and launch an awareness campaign. He is convinced that his son – a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2018 who led the NCAA with 4,831 passing yards and 50 touchdowns in his lone season as a starter at Ohio State, yet was cut less than two seasons after Washington drafted him in the first round in 2019 – suffered from unchecked mental health issues as his career and life quickly spiraled off-course.

“Bro, it’s personal to me,” Haskins told USA TODAY Sports, a day after commemorating Dwayne Jr.’s 29th birthday on May 3. “I’ve never said anything about Dwayne publicly.”

The floor is yours, Sir.

“We knew our son had some mental health challenges,” said Haskins, whose family includes his wife, Tamara, and daughter Tamia. “As a family, we recognize that it’s very hard for us to communicate that when a professional athlete is pursuing his dream, that he has mental health issues. There’s a stigma with that.

“We started to recognize warning signs, that we knew something wasn’t right with Dwayne. Now we’ve become an advocate to get people aware of that. There’s mental health that manifests over a period of time, then all of a sudden something will trauma a person, where they won’t be able to have effective decision-making. And it continually gets triggered and triggered.”

It’s a striking coincidence that Haskins is launching this campaign – he hopes to develop a comprehensive program and take it nationwide next year – at a time when the NFL is ramping up mental health support programs in the aftermath of tragedies in recent months where two active players, Marshawn Kneeland of the Dallas Cowboys and Rondale Moore of the Minnesota Vikings, died by suicide.

“I do think there is still a stigma, but I think the stigma is more around help-seeking behaviors as opposed to mental health in general,” Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti, NFL vice president of wellness and clinical services, told USA TODAY Sports.

“The stigma is: Is it a sign of weakness to ask for help?”

At the last NFL owners meeting in late March, the league announced the expansion of its mental health services to mandate that all 32 teams must employ a full-time mental health clinician who operates at each team’s headquarters. Previously, the league required teams to have a part-time clinician. Additionally, the NFL is now partnering with Cigna to form a network of specialists for players – and their families – to tap into beyond the team specialists.

“You would be surprised at how receptive players are at using these resources,” said NiiLampti, who worked in a similar capacity for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) before joining the NFL. “I’ve had players who say, ‘Listen, we’ve got an athletic trainer, right? I’ve got a strength and conditioning coach. Why would I not have somebody who’s going to work with me in terms of what’s going on in my head?’ ”

NiiLampti hopes that by expanding the NFL program, challenges in getting support and resources immediately will be addressed. Undoubtedly, when crisis strikes, timing is critical.

“They don’t have the time. I need to work with somebody now!” NiiLampti said. “We need to find a way to get them in, strike while the iron’s hot.”

Haskins was unaware that the NFL recently announced its added emphasis on mental health support programs yet applauds the effort. As he reflects on his son’s journey, he suspects a barrier existed with an inability to acknowledge his challenges from a mental health perspective.

“I think that’s what the problem was. He wasn’t strong enough to say, ‘Hey, I need help,’ ” Haskins said. “But we knew something was wrong. That’s why the celebration (on May 16) is a platform for people to know about the warning signs.”        

Put yourself in the father’s shoes. There is no playbook for losing a son or daughter. The grieving, Haskins realizes, will continue for the rest of his life. He pointed out that he and Tamara are still grieving the losses of their young mothers in 1988 yet have been forced to cope with losing their son in a different context. There was never a chance to say goodbye before Dwayne, Jr. was struck by a dump truck while crossing a highway in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in the early morning of April 9, 2022.

And the circumstances surrounding the death – according to the toxicology report, Dwayne, Jr., was legally drunk with ketamine and other drugs in his system, fueling allegations of foul play – left many unanswered questions. Dwayne, Jr., who played his third and final NFL season as backup with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021, was in Florida for several weeks of offseason training.

While Haskins didn’t address the controversies, including a dismissed lawsuit pertaining to image rights against Dwayne Jr.’s widow, Kalabrya, it seems clear that in processing the tragedy the focus on mental health is an anchor – in addition to his Christian faith.

At the upcoming event, they will use an acronym, “NINO,” to hammer home a theme of heeding warning signs. He’s hoping it will ultimately be widely recognized as a distress signal.

“NINO – ‘No, I’m not OK’ – is going to be a codeword for people who don’t understand or don’t know how to articulate their emotions,” Haskins said. “We believe that if we can get this acronym in place, we’ll be able to save more lives, or get people the attention or assistance from mental health organizations like NAMI to provide solutions.”

Talk about addressing a stigma. Here’s a suggestion, NFL: Enlist Haskins to visit teams to address their players by sharing his journey. Just imagine the real talk in those sessions.

Especially now, as so many NFL coaches and executives maintain that after the tragedies in recent months, they are more sensitive to mental health challenges. The awareness has resonated to the point that some say it was an increasing factor in evaluating prospects heading into the recent draft.

“This generation has a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety, maybe handle it a lot differently than our generation,” Les Snead, the Los Angeles Rams GM, told USA TODAY Sports, alluding to societal patterns. “But I do know this, too: If you think about what they’ve gone through, this group’s been getting driven.

“You’re a professional athlete, you’re a company. You make a bad play and the next thing you know, you’re a meme. I know there are other variables, but being a general manager and a father, you definitely understand what this generation’s reality is.”

Haskins knows. What happens on the field and on social media only scratches the surface. One of his key messages for the upcoming event addresses what he calls, “the perseverance of the dream,” which encompasses myriad potential pitfalls.

If he sounds like a man with a spiritual calling, he will not disagree.

Haskins says matter-of-factly that his campaign is inspired by this message from God: “For you guys to cope, you need to share this.”

He can also imagine a message from his son.

“Dwayne is looking down at us right now,” Haskins said. “And it’s, ‘I’m proud of you mom and dad. You’re bringing awareness on my behalf.’ ”

Which is quite the noble purpose.

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.

Contact Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dwayne Haskin Jr.'s dad opens up about son's mental health before tragic death

RB Leipzig will wear black armbands during their Bundesliga match against St Pauli on Saturday in remembrance of the victims of a deadly car-ramming attack in the eastern German city of Leipzig.

"The events in Leipzig's city centre on Monday left us deeply shocked. Our thoughts are with the victims, as well as their families and loved ones, and everyone affected by this horrific attack," the club said on X on Wednesday.

The under-19 team will also participate in the action. A moment of silence will be observed before kick-off at each match.

"RB Leipzig is thus sending a collective, silent message of sympathy and solidarity with our city," the club said.

According to preliminary findings, a 33-year-old man drove a vehicle into a pedestrian shopping street in central Leipzig on Monday. Several people were struck by the car before it came to a halt, with the driver surrendering to police without resistance while still inside the vehicle.

A total of six people aged 21 to 87 were injured, Leipzig police said.

They said a woman aged 84 and a man aged 75 sustained serious injuries. A 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man were killed.

Just when the Detroit Tigers needed someone to step up and be a presence in a sea of calamity, someone to throw them a life raft, someone to make them feel like their world isn’t collapsing around them, along comes Framber Valdez acting like a human Titanic.

Valdez is the Tigers’ new ace, their highest-paid player, the one the Tigers desperately are relying on to keep their postseason hopes alive until Tarik Skubal returns to the mound later this summer.

And on Tuesday evening, he melted down for the entire Tigers’ franchise to see, reminding everyone of the ugly warts in this talented left-handed pitcher.

Valdez’s selfish act of immaturity was so outrageous in the Tigers’ 10-3 shellacking to the Boston Red Sox that when he intentionally hit Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story with a 94.4 mph fastball in the middle of his back during his latest temper tantrum, even his own manager couldn’t stand up for him.

“We play a really good brand of baseball here,’’ Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said in his press conference after the game. “That doesn't feel like it. That's not judging intent. I have no idea.

“But when you go out on the field and end up in those confrontations, you usually feel like you're in your right.

“It didn't feel good being out there."

In other words, how are you going to actually fight for your own teammate when you feel like punching him yourself?

“I understand," Hinch said. "I understand their (Red Sox) frustration and the optics. I understand the whole thing.’’

Valdez, who gave up nine hits and 10 runs runs (seven earned) in just three innings, insisted with a straight face that he wasn’t deliberately trying to hit Story after giving up back-to-back homers, saying the pitch simply got away from him, and there’s no way he deserved to be ejected.

“Not at all," Valdez said through interpreter Carlos Guillen. “It was not on purpose. It might've looked like that but it wasn't. I was trying to throw a strike after two consecutive home runs, and the pitch just came out of my hand.

“It wasn't on purpose.’’

Benches clear in the 4th inning of the Red Sox-Tigers game in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/8CigiKH63L

— MLB (@MLB) May 5, 2026

Oh, of course not.

There is no chance that this same man who drilled his own teammate in the chest with a fastball last season with the Houston Astros would now intentionally hit an opponent.

No way, right?

Right?

Anyone else believe him?

Yes, just in case anyone forgot, this is the same guy who was so angry after giving up a grand slam to New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham last September, that he crossed up teammate and catcher Cesar Salazar by throwing a 92.8 mph sinker that slammed into his chest protector. Instead of apologizing, Valdez turned his back in disgust.

Valdez, summoned into Astros manager Joe Espada’s office after the game, told reporters it was simply miscommunication.

And you wonder why he was still on the free-agent market a week before spring training, signing a three-year, $115 million contract when he was expected to receive a deal close to free-agent starter Dylan Cease’s six-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays?

Now, with the Tigers badly needing an influx of help, with three members of their opening-day starting rotation and 14 players on the injured list, they are about to be playing one man short.

Valdez, 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA, surely will be suspended at least five days for his actions that should be announced Wednesday.

“I do not expect to get suspended,’’ said Valdez, who chose that moment to throw his first four-seam fastball of the season.

Maybe he should look around the room, and see if there’s a soul in the Tigers’ clubhouse that feels the same.

If you gave them a lie detector test, they’d probably all come to the same conclusion as Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy.

“I thought it was weak and I thought everybody saw it,’’ Tracy told reporters. “Their side, our side, I think everybody saw it. It was weak.”

Really, once Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu opened the fourth inning by hitting mammoth home runs off Valdez, with Contreras flipping his bat after his 449-foot shot, Story could sense it was coming.

“I was in there ready to hit,’’ Story said, “and it showed up way behind me, off the numbers. I think we all know what’s what ... it’s pretty indisputable.’’

Story glared toward Valdez after being hit, players poured out of the dugouts, but there were no punches thrown or even shoves. Why fight when everyone is in full agreement of what happened?

“We handled it,” Story said. “We said what we said on the field, and I think that’s where it stays.”

Now, Michael Hill, senior vice president of on-field operations for MLB, will have his say.

And, perhaps behind closed doors in a meeting with Valdez, Hinch will have plenty to say, too.

Follow Bob Nightengale on X and Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Framber Valdez melts down as benches clear in Tigers vs. Red Sox game

Over this past weekend, Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh welcomed 19 new members of the rookie class to Nashville for their first minicamp. While the eight draft choices didn’t do too much, they were present and got their first taste of the NFL.

Those 19 rookies were joined by a whopping 58 players on a tryout basis, making for an active two days at the facility. While some of the brief highlights looked good, Titans local reporter Paul Kuharsky took to social media to report that none of those 58 tryout players were offered a contract following the camp.

The #Titans will not sign anyone from their 58-player tryout class.

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) May 5, 2026

This does not mean that it won’t happen; there is a long way to go before training camp, and things can and will happen throughout offseason team activities (OTAs).

Currently, the Titans' roster sits at 91 after using an international exemption on David Ebuke Agoha, meaning they would have to make some moves to bring someone on board. Something that has been mentioned as a possibility in recent weeks by both Mike Borgonzi and other front office personnel.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans not signing any tryout players following rookie minicamp

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III recently spoke with Kay Adams on her show to discuss Patrick Mahomes' influence on his free-agent signing decisions and on building chemistry on the field.

"We've been working on getting connected in the passing game and everything, so that's good. I feel like I'll be used more in the pass game," said Walker, who praised Mahomes' focus on the game plan. "He's really good at being detailed with the whole team, and that chemistry is going to keep building."

Last season with the Seattle Seahawks, Walker rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns. He was also impactful in the passing game with 31 receptions for 282 yards. Mahomes reportedly was in contact with general manager Brett Veach, keeping an eye on Walker during his Super Bowl run.

Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III says he's working with Patrick Mahomes to be more involved in the pass game 👀@Kenneth_Walker9 | @PatrickMahomes | @Chiefs | @heykayadamspic.twitter.com/Yho3ZwSjJI

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 5, 2026

"I feel like it would have had a lot to do with it, you know, he's (Mahomes) the best quarterback in the league," said Walker. "So, I feel like he's got a lot of power in there. I'm glad he does because I'm here now."

The Super Bowl LX MVP signed a maximum of $45,000,000 over three years, with $28,700,000 of his contract fully guaranteed to lead Kansas City's backfield. He is expected to play a much-needed role in the offense and supply Mahomes with weapons.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III on Patrick Mahomes' free agency influence

New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor has been released from the hospital following a severe case of pancreatitis, reports TMZ.

The Hall of Famer was discharged late last week and is now on the road to recovery. Pancreatitis is an extremely painful condition that can be life-threatening in severe cases, and Taylor was fortunate to receive prompt treatment during his hospital stay.

LT is not yet back to full strength, but the legendary outside linebacker is feeling “much better” and continues to improve on a daily basis. The positive update has brought relief to Giants fans and football enthusiasts alike, with Taylor expected to return to full health in the near future.

Over his 13-year NFL career with the Giants, Taylor recorded 142 sacks and 41 forced fumbles.

A 10-time Pro Bowler, Taylor is widely considered one of the greatest football players of all time, regardless of position. No words can fully capture his immense impact on both the Giants franchise and the game of football as a whole.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor released from hospital

The 2026 WNBA offseason has been a sprint.

After the WNBA and WNBPA reached a new CBA in March following months of negotiations, the offseason was condensed into a weeks-long period that featured an expansion draft, college draft, free agency and training camp in April.

The fast-paced offseason presented some unique challenges for each team's front office, with Phoenix Mercury general manager Nick U'Ren summing it up with a this thought: "Few other leagues have gone through what this league just went through in terms of doing everything in a 3-4 week period."

Some teams were able to thrive in the chaos. The Las Vegas Aces (A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray) and New York Liberty (Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones) kept their cores in tact, while the Liberty took it a step further with the addition of three-time All-Star Satou Sabally.

The same can't be said about some rosters that were decimated in free agency, like the Seattle Storm. USA TODAY Sports breaks down the winners and losers of the truncated offseason.

Winners

Dallas Wings

The Dallas Wings finished 10-34 last season, tied for last place in the WNBA standings with the Chicago Sky, despite a sensational Rookie of the Year campaign from No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers. The Wings used its 2026 No. 1 pick to select UConn's Azzi Fudd to improve the team's perimeter shooting after finishing second-to-last in 3-point percentage (30.4) last year. The Wings also allowed the second-most opponent points per game last season and made moves in free agency to shore up their interior with the addition of Alanna Smith, the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, and Jessica Shepard.

New York Liberty

The New York Liberty's shocking first-round playoff exit just one season after winning a title meant the team needed to retool its roster and get healthy. New York was able to do both in the offseason, returning Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart, plus adding three-time All-Star forward Satou Sabally. The Liberty also re-signed Betnijah Lany-Hamilton, a former starter for the franchise and a glue player that they will utilize on both ends of the floor. New York also added head coach, Chris DeMarco, who should bring his experience with individual skill development and systems to the team.

More: Sabrina Ionescu injury update: Latest on Liberty star's ankle injury

Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream had a disappointing end to their 2025 season. After a franchise-best 30 wins in the regular season, Atlanta lost its first-round playoff series to Indiana. Still, the Dream remained confident in their core players and knew they wanted to run it back with the same group. Atlanta emerged from free agency victorious with four of its five starters, plus two-time All-Star Angel Reese, following a trade. That kind of feat is hard to pull off, but Atlanta seems poised to not only redeem its playoff loss but also the top-five defense that helped it cement the franchise as a contender.

Los Angeles Sparks

After missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, things aren't looking so bad for the Sparks heading into the second season of coach Lynne Roberts' tenure. Kelsey Plum — who was fourth in the league in scoring last season — returned to LA on a team-friendly deal, taking a discount to allow the Sparks to bring in other talented players. And the team took advantage of its cap space, bringing in Nneka Ogwumike, who won an MVP and led the Sparks to a championship in 2016. LA gave up Rickea Jackson in a trade to the Chicago Sky, but received two-time All-Star Ariel Atkins in return. The Sparks also re-signed Dearica Hamby, added Erica Wheeler in free agency, and potentially got the steal of the draft by picking up South Carolina's Ta'Niya Latson in the second round.

Losers

Seattle Storm

The Seattle Storm will look completely different after losing five players that accounted for 67.5 points per game last season in Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Brittney Sykes, Gabby Williams and Erica Wheeler. The Storm returned Ezi Magbegor (9.7 ppg) and Dominique Malonga (7.7 ppg), who will both have to take the next step offensively to replace the lost production. Seattle signed Natisha Hiedeman (7.3 ppg) and Stefanie Dolson (3.7 ppg) in free agency, drafted Awa Fam third overall and acquired Flau'jae Johnson in a draft-day trade with the Golden State Valkyries, but losing over 82% of your total scoring will be hard to replace.

Chicago Sky

The core of the Chicago Sky's roster has changed for the third consecutive season, and while the team has managed to add new pieces like Rickea Jackson, Natasha Cloud and Skylar Diggins to help recoup losses like Ariel Atkins and Angel Reese, continuity matters when trying to win a championship. Chicago is also dealing with several injuries to begin the 2026 season, and that's just never good for a team that needs as much time to get as possible. Courney Vandersloot is still out after a season-ending ACL injury, and Azurá Stevens and DiJonai Carrington are also out with unclear injury timelines.

More: Why Natasha Cloud’s arrival meant the end for Hailey Van Lith in Chicago

Phoenix Mercury

Unlike last season, when the Mercury had two returning players, Phoenix has nine back for this season, including MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper. But Phoenix wasn't able to re-sign Satou Sabally as the three-time All-Star walked in free agency after one season. Sabally was the team's leading scorer last season, and Phoenix hasn't brought in a replacement for her production. Instead, Mercury general manager Nick U'Ren said they will take a by-committee approach. That's easier said than done. The Mercury drafted international prospects Ines Pitarch-Granel and Eszter Ratkai, who won't play this year, and signed French forwards Valériane Ayayi and Noémie Brochant, who are not with the team yet.

Portland Fire

In this expansion franchise's first season, there's simply not a lot on this roster that inspires optimism about the Fire's immediate future. It is largely a collection of players who are either young, unproven or have failed to find a consistent role with past teams in the WNBA. Perhaps the exception is Bridget Carleton, the team's highest-paid player at $1.19 million, but even she has yet to prove she can carry an offense — averaging 9.6 points per game in her best season with the Minnesota Lynx. The hope here is a few of these players — from Haley Jones and Emily Engstler to Megan Gustafson and Sug Sutton — can seize opportunities and have breakout seasons.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news —  Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The WNBA offseason was quick, who are the winners and losers?

Brentford Move Quickly for Salzburg Prospect

Brentford appear close to another calculated move in the transfer market, with Florian Plettenberg reporting that the club have reached a verbal agreement with Red Bull Salzburg for defender Jannik Schuster in a deal worth around €20 million.

At 19, Schuster already carries the profile of a modern centre back. Comfortable in possession, physically composed and trusted regularly by Salzburg, he has made 30 appearances this season while also featuring for Austria’s Under 21 side.

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Salzburg Pathway Attracts Attention

There is growing recognition around Europe that Salzburg remain one of football’s strongest development clubs. Schuster’s rise has followed a familiar route, exposure to senior football at a young age, European competition experience and tactical education in an aggressive system.

Brentford’s recruitment department has repeatedly targeted players before their market value explodes. This deal feels consistent with that strategy. Rather than chasing established names, the club continue investing in profiles capable of developing into Premier League level performers.

Plettenberg reports that “a formal agreement and official announcement are expected once the final details of the deal are completed.”

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There will naturally be caution around spending €20 million on a teenager with no Premier League experience, but Brentford supporters have seen enough smart recruitment decisions to trust the process.

Schuster’s age is important. Brentford are not signing someone expected to dominate immediately. Instead, this looks like a long term investment with significant upside. Fans will also appreciate that the club are continuing to recruit from high level development environments rather than overpaying for domestic options.

There is another factor here too. Brentford’s defensive structure has needed refreshing at times, particularly against stronger attacking sides. A younger defender with mobility and confidence on the ball could fit seamlessly into the aggressive style supporters expect.

Much will depend on adaptation speed, but the profile makes sense. Brentford rarely move without extensive analysis, and supporters will view that as reassuring heading into another demanding Premier League campaign.

West Ham United star Crysencio Summerville is reportedly attracting interest from top Premier League clubs ahead of the upcoming transfer window. 

The Hammers could lose some of their big players this summer, as they are battling to survive in the English top-flight. 

West Ham are back in the relegation zone after a shocking 3-0 loss at Brentford last weekend. 

Summerville is expected to leave the London Stadium, despite his current contract not expiring until 2029. 

According to The Telegraph, a range of Champions League clubs in England and across Europe have shown interest in the talented forward. 

West Ham would expect to make a profit on the £25 million plus add-ons they paid for the Dutchman in 2024. 

The player’s valuation will depend on whether the Irons manage to stay in the Premier League. 

Summerville has been a key member of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this season. He has started 26 Premier League games, bagging five goals and three assists in the process. 

Summerville is still young and is highly rated for his dribbling skills, pace and work-rate. 

He is a versatile attacker who can play across the frontline. 

Several top Premier League clubs are looking to add a quality winger this summer. 

Arsenal aim to reinforce their attack, as Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both had underwhelming 2025-26 campaigns. 

Liverpool are expected to be in the market for a forward, with Mohamed Salah leaving the club at the end of the season.  

Manchester United could also look to add a winger, although reinforcing midfield is said to be their main priority. 

Stats from Transfermarkt 

Confidence Growing Around Ekitike Recovery

Liverpool remain convinced that Hugo Ekitike can rediscover his highest level despite the serious Achilles injury that cut short his campaign at Anfield.

The France international suffered the setback during the defeat against his former club Paris Saint-Germain, an incident that immediately cast doubt over both his short-term future and his hopes of appearing at the World Cup. Surgery has since been completed successfully, with the striker now beginning the long rehabilitation process that accompanies one of football’s most feared injuries.

Yet inside the club there is no sense of panic. According to Dominic King, Liverpool’s hierarchy believe the 23-year-old will recover fully and return to the standards he produced before the injury. Writing about Liverpool’s summer transfer plans, King explained: “Liverpool will not look to find a replacement for Hugo Ekitike.

“They are confident after successful surgery the France striker will return to the levels he showed before rupturing his Achilles tendon and it would not be their style to spend big after such huge recent expenditure in one area.”

Those words reveal much about Liverpool’s thinking heading into a critical summer. While supporters naturally worry over the timing and severity of the injury latest surrounding Ekitike, the club’s medical department and recruitment staff appear aligned in their belief that patience will be rewarded.

FOOTBALL : Paris Saint Germain vs Liverpool FC – Ligue des Champions – Quart de Finale – Match Aller – 08/04/2026 Hugo Ekitike FC Liverpool Willian Pacho Paris SG ParisFrance PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRAxBEL Copyright: xBaptistexAutissierx

Transfer Strategy Hinges on Fitness Outlook

Liverpool’s stance on Ekitike could shape the entire attacking structure for next season.

Arne Slot already faces uncertainty in the centre-forward department, especially with Alexander Isak also enduring physical setbacks across the campaign. Relying heavily on one senior striker would ordinarily force movement in the transfer market, particularly for a club competing on multiple fronts domestically and in Europe.

Instead, Liverpool appear reluctant to abandon the long-term investment made in Ekitike. That approach reflects a club increasingly careful with financial allocation after major spending in recent windows.

There is also recognition that elite-level recovery from Achilles injuries has improved considerably in modern sport. Rehabilitation programmes are more advanced, conditioning methods sharper and recovery timelines more manageable than they were a decade ago.

Still, caution remains essential. Achilles ruptures are not injuries players simply shake off. Explosiveness, acceleration and confidence in movement can take months to fully return. For a forward such as Ekitike, whose game relies heavily on sharp transitions and quick directional changes, regaining rhythm will be just as important as physical healing.

Challenges Facing Liverpool Attack

Supporters will understandably question whether optimism alone is enough.

Liverpool endured periods this season where attacking depth looked stretched, and Ekitike’s absence leaves a significant void. Even if recovery progresses smoothly, expectations around his return must remain realistic. Midway through next season may represent the earliest point at which he approaches full competitive sharpness.

That creates a delicate balancing act for Slot and Liverpool’s recruitment team. Signing another striker could provide insurance, but equally it risks disrupting plans centred around Ekitike’s long-term role within the squad.

The club’s faith in the Frenchman reflects how highly he is regarded internally. Before the injury latest emerged, Ekitike had shown flashes of becoming a decisive figure in Liverpool’s evolving attack. His movement between defenders, technical composure and ability to stretch defensive lines offered dimensions that Liverpool badly needed at key moments.

At 23, time is also on his side. Younger players generally recover more effectively from major injuries, particularly when rehabilitation is managed carefully and workloads are controlled correctly upon return.

Patience Could Reward Liverpool Long Term

There is little emotional comfort in long recoveries, particularly when supporters know how influential Ekitike could become. Yet Liverpool’s calm response suggests they view this setback as temporary rather than transformative.

Football history contains countless examples of careers altered by Achilles injuries, but equally there are players who returned stronger, smarter and more complete after adversity. Liverpool believe Ekitike belongs in the latter category.

For now, the focus remains entirely on rehabilitation. Every stage of recovery will be monitored closely, with Liverpool aware there can be no shortcuts. The immediate concern is not transfer headlines or external pressure but ensuring Ekitike has every possible chance to return at elite level.

If Liverpool’s confidence proves justified, the current injury latest may eventually become little more than an unwelcome interruption in what still promises to be a highly successful Anfield career.

Kris Boyd is urging Rangers to put their title frustrations aside and focus on finishing second in the league in order to secure a Champions League qualifying place.

A runners-up finish in this season's Scottish Premiership secures a place in the second qualifying round of the Uefa tournament and would give Rangers another crack at reaching Europe's premier club competetion.

Before the split Danny Rohl's side were just a point behind Hearts, but back-to-back defeats at home to Motherwell and away to the league leaders leave the Glasgow club seven points adrift with nine to play for.

While Rangers would need a lot to fall in their favour to have any hope of salvaging the title, they could catch Glasgow rivals Celtic in second place.

"I think there'll be more questions asked if Rangers don't get that second place," Boyd told Sky Sports.

"When you look at FFP (Financial Fair Play) and Rangers were on the threshold of that last season, you're then trying to rebuild another team.

"There's already players announced that they're going to be leaving. They've spent a lot of money already, but to allow Rangers to spend the money they'll need to spend to get back up there challenging next year, you're going to need every advantage you can get, and that will be that Champions League qualifier.

"So Rangers need to approach Celtic Park on Sunday as a game they must win. It's bad enough finishing second up here, but to finish third would be a huge, huge blow for Rangers."

Life of late has been a whirlwind of emotions for Duckens Nazon.

From the highest of highs - helping Haiti qualify for their first World Cup since 1974 - to fearing for his life while trying to escape the ongoing conflict in Iran, where he plays his club football for Esteghlal, it has been a turbulent time.

The 32-year-old, who spent six months of a colourful 13-year career spanning 13 clubs and eight countries in Paisley with St Mirren in 2019, now has his sights set on stunning the nation he briefly called home.

As Haiti's record scorer with 44 goals in 76 caps, starting in his country's first World Cup match in 52 years against the Scots will cap off a wild spell for the striker, who claims his life was saved by an eSIM during his recent evacuation from Iran.

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'I watched bombs drop from 100 metres away'

Nazon was set to depart Iran on the day the Israeli-US strikes began, but he was ordered off the flight for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, his wife from Morocco - a nation Haiti will also face in their World Cup group alongside Scotland and Brazil - and their four children were safe in France, where the former Coventry City striker was born.

Nazon is thankful his family were not part of his "crazy" evacuation trip, during which he watched bombs drop from just 100 metres away before finally escaping via Azerbaijan.

Speaking on the BBC's Sacked in the Morning podcast, he said: "I was about to take a plane to go to Istanbul or Paris, then the steward told everybody to get off because the war had started.

"Imagine you have your wife and your children by your side in that situation. If you're alone, I wouldn't say I don't care about my life, but you are more relaxed and taking decisions is easier and faster."

On the complications he experienced at the Iran-Azerbaijan border, he added: "I was stuck at the border for maybe 48 hours. They refused me, sent me back to Iran and I slept at the border.

"But I was so lucky because before the war started I bought an eSIM. After that, they cut the internet in Iran.

"So I had no contact and I was praying that when I reached the border I would get some signal - and it worked. This saved my life.

"I could talk to the French embassy and they helped me to get my passport. They spoke to the Azerbaijani forces and then I got out."

St Mirren, Scottish weather & ticket prices

With domestic football in Iran suspended because of the ongoing conflict, Nazon is following an individual training programme to prepare for the World Cup.

The current Haiti squad have become heroes for leading the nation back to football's grandest stage, where they will make just their second appearance at the finals.

Nazon acknowledges that the players are now "part of the country's history" but insists they will play without "extra pressure", starting with their opener against Scotland.

"We are ambassadors of our country and we know we have a responsibility," he says. "We know the young people also see us as examples.

"But we don't have to put extra pressure on ourselves and, when we play for our country, it's more a mission and we do it with passion and with love."

On loan at St Mirren from Belgian club Sint-Truiden for the second half of the 2018-19 season, Nazon "had a story" in Scotland. It was short-lived, though.

The forward played 12 games, scoring twice, but said he was "not ready for this kind of aggression and fight" in Scottish football, while the weather also played a part.

"I remember one game we had sun, snow and rain," he recalls. "After this, I was like, OK, I'm done."

Weather is unlikely to be an issue for Nazon this summer in North America. The striker, a friend of Scotland defender Dominic Hyam - with whom he played at Coventry - did, however, voice concerns about inflated ticket prices for the upcoming World Cup matches.

"There is only one thing that starts to go in my brain - it's the ticket prices," he says. "Hopefully this is not going to affect the crowd and people coming to the stadium, because we want this atmosphere.

"We want this energy around us. I'm looking forward to seeing Scottish people and Haitian people in the stadiums. This is going to be important."

Enzo Maresca ultimately left Chelsea for three reasons with one of them a dispute over transfers according to BBC Sport.

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The Italian left Chelsea in January after 18 months in charge, and just six months after winning the Club World Cup.

Maresca also won the Conference League and got Chelsea back into the Champions League in his first season in charge.

Enzo Maresca left Chelsea for three reasons

Chelsea weren’t planing for a mid-season departure, and the decision to appoint Liam Rosenior backfired massively.

The Englishman made a good start, but the wheels fell off very quickly and he was sacked last month following a run of five league defeats in a row without scoring.

Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez had spoken out against the departure of Maresca, and it’s clear he was very popular with the players.

His departure certainly impacted the season in a negative way, and BBC Sport have revealed the three reasons Maresca ultimately left.

The report states a dispute over transfers, his salary and what he perceived as interference from the medical department over use of players were the main reasons.

Maresca is currently out of work but is widely expected to take over from Pep Guardiola as the next Manchester City manager when he eventually leaves the club.

If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.

In other news…

It’s been reported nothing is going on between Chelsea and Xavi Hernandez, despite suggestions the Blues had reached out to the Spaniard.

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Chelsea are still in the process of deciding who their new head coach will be after sacking Liam Rosenior last month.

Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso are three names said to feature highly in their thinking at this point in time.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Jan Ziolkowski can leave Roma by June 30th. The Polish defender hasn’t found much playing time during his first season in the capital.

Gian Piero Gasperini has given him a few chances, but the 2005-born defender’s on-field performances haven’t entirely convinced the manager.

The former Legia Warsaw player has played 21 games, including a header against Panathinaikos that allowed Roma to avoid the Europa League playoffs and advance directly to the round of 16.

Roma wants to avoid selling too many big names to comply with the settlement agreement with UEFA, while also earning the appropriate capital gains by June 30.

As reported by SiamoLaRoma.it, the rumor from recent weeks has been confirmed: the Giallorossi want to sell Jan Ziolkowski before the beginning of July.

The Roman club is seeking a buyer for the Pole. Roma values ​​him at around €25 million: the goal is to sell him to avoid sacrificing at least one big name.

It remains to be seen whether the interest from several foreign clubs (one English and one French) can translate into an offer that meets the Giallorossi’s demands.

Milan legend Marcel Desailly feels Bayern Munich will win the Champions League this season and believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will be dark horses at the World Cup in the summer.

With the upcoming final stages of the UEFA Champions League and exciting run-ins for the domestic leagues across Europe, the football season has entered its most thrilling phase. Predicting which teams will come out on top is a challenge for fans as well as expert former players, like Marcel Desailly. The current odds present a number of intriguing opportunities, but exploring all the relevant betting bonus options on sites like NJ sportsbook promos before cementing those predictions with the bookies is always a sensible move for smart fans.

Inter reached the Champions League Final in 2023 and 2025, but unfortunately, this season, Serie A has no representative in the semi-finals of the three European club competitions: the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

The crisis in Italy’s top flight mirrors the issues facing the Italian national team, which has failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

Milan and France legend Desailly lifted the Champions League twice as a footballer, first at Marseille and then with the Rossoneri and has now predicted this season’s winner in Europe’s elite competition.

“I don’t know who will win, but I wish it were a different team, and I believe when I look at all the squads, it should be Bayern,” he told The Italian Football Podcast.

“Because of the consistency they’ve shown in the Bundesliga for the last two seasons, they have suffered but readjusted their philosophy to adapt to the talented squad they have.

“The consistency they have shown this season shows that to win the Champions League, you need these types of winners.

BERLIN – JULY 9: General view of the World Cup trophy prior to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium on July 9, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

“PSG have been on and off throughout with injuries as well. Real Madrid has been a disaster in La Liga. Luckily, Barcelona made some mistakes, so they couldn’t open a 15-point lead. Barcelona’s defence is weak.”

Barcelona and Real Madrid were knocked out in the quarter-finals, losing to Atletico Madrid and Bayern, respectively.

“So today I will tell you that definitely the next winner of the Champions League will make me happy if it is Bayern Munich,” confirmed Desailly.

The former defender also won the World Cup with France in 1998, crowning an impressive playing career that included six years at Chelsea.

MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 22: Laureus World Academy Member Marcel Desailly during the EURO 2024 Press Conference prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid 2024 at the Palacio de Cibeles on April 22, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images for Laureus)

France won the World Cup in 2018 and reached the Final four years later, and Desailly feels they are still the team to beat, although there could be a surprise.

“I have to say France will win it, otherwise Deschamps will kill me [laughs]. Didier has been able to start two different teams. The potential of France is huge; the same can be said of Spain,” he said.

“But the surprise could come from Portugal. They have talented players. I would like Cristiano to get a reward like Messi got his reward. Let Cristiano get his reward.

“If France cannot make it, I will say that the surprise could come from Portugal.”

Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain lock horns again in the Champions League’s last four tonight.

The first leg delivered one of the greatest Champions League games in modern memory, as two heavyweights went punch-for-punch at the Parc des Princes. Another epic could be on the cards tonight, as the star-studded squads battle it out for a place in the final.

Ahead of their semi-final showdown, we’ve picked our Bayern Munich and PSG Combined XI.

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich

The German great did not enjoy his best night in the first leg, but he has proven this season that he can still be formidable. An exceptional performance at the Bernabeu helped Bayern beat Real Madrid in the last eight.

Right-back: Achraf Hakimi – Paris Saint-Germain

Even amid a plethora of stars at Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern board member Uli Hoeneß picked Achraf Hakimi as the PSG player he’d most like at the German side.

“Achraf Hakimi. We would take him immediately, because he would fit in well with us”, he told Dazn.

It’s with good reason. The Moroccan is widely considered the best right-back in the game.

Centre-back: Marquinhos – Paris Saint-Germain

Has been through every peak and trough of Paris Saint-Germain’s modern project and continues to lead by example. No player has made more than his 519 appearances for the club, with Marquinhos a 10-time Ligue 1 winner.

Centre-back: Willian Pacho – Paris Saint-Germain

Part of an exciting generation of Ecuadorian talent alongside Piero Hincapie and Moises Caicedo, Pacho has matured into one of Europe’s most dependable defenders in Paris. He ranks in the top 10% of centre-backs for forward passes completed and percentage of defensive duels won.

Left-back: Nuno Mendes – Paris Saint-Germain

The flying full-back is an unmissable presence for PSG with his marauding runs down the left. Mendes last week became the youngest Portuguese player to reach 50 Champions League appearances, beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s record.

Midfield: Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich

After last week’s chaotic clash, the midfield may be where this tie was won as both teams look to gain some control. Bayern’s best football flows through Kimmich, who sits in the elite bracket (top 5%) for progressive passes completed and chances created.

Midfield: Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain

In the opposite corner will be Vitinha, PSG’s very own midfield metronome. His ascent to world-class status was acknowledged with a third-place finish in last year’s Ballon d’Or.

Right-wing: Michael Olise – Bayern Munich

Michael Olise has been unstoppable for much of the current campaign, breaking Bundesliga records in the process. His 33 direct goal involvements in this Bundesliga season (14G 19A) have equalled the record for a winger since the data was first collected in 2004/05.

Left-wing: Luis Diaz – Bayern Munich

Perhaps the most difficult decision on the team sheet. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has lit up the Champions League this season, including two first-leg goals, but Luis Diaz earns the nod.

The Colombian’s endless endeavour and threat have fit Bayern Munich like a glove, with Diaz forming part of the most dangerous frontline in world football.

Forward: Ousmane Dembele – Paris Saint-Germain

The Ballon d’Or holder can not be excluded, even if injuries have impacted his season. Dembele, when fit, has been as decisive as ever. He’s averaged a goal or assist every 72 minutes in Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season.

Forward: Harry Kane – Bayern Munich

The man who may replace Dembele as holder of the Golden Ball? Kane’s case for the Ballon d’Or is a strong one. The England captain has scored 54 goals in 47 games this season, the best return of his career. Winning this competition would make him the red-hot favourite.

Read – Bayern Munich vs PSG – Past meetings and head-to-head record

See more – Bayern Munich vs PSG – Match preview and team news

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Bayern Munich face Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie tonight.

Last week’s first fixture in Paris was an instant classic, as PSG edged a nine-goal thriller at the Parc des Princes. The 5-4 win for the French side made it the highest-scoring single semi-final game in Champions League history.

The stage is set perfectly for tonight’s return, as the two teams battle it out for a place in Budapest later this month. Arsenal await the winners, after the Premier League side eliminated Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain have faced off in the Champions League on 17 previous occasions, with the balance of the rivalry evenly split. Despite that, there has incredibly never been a draw between the sides in European competition.

Bayern Munich vs PSG – Past meetings

• Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 Bayern Munich – 2025/26 semi-final, 1st leg
• Bayern Munich 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain – 2024/25 league phase
• Bayern Munich 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain – 2022/23 Round of 16, 2nd leg
• Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Bayern Munich – 2022/23 Round of 16, 1st leg
• Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Bayern Munich – 2020/21 quarter-final, 2nd leg
• Bayern Munich 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain – 2020/21 quarter-final, 1st leg
• Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Bayern Munich – 2019/20 final
• Bayern Munich 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain – 2017/18 group stage
• Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Bayern Munich – 2017/28 group stage
• Bayern Munich 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain – 2000/01 group stage
• Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Bayern Munich – 2000/01 group stage
• Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Bayern Munich – 1997/98 group stage
• Bayern Munich 5-1 Paris Saint-Germain – 1997/98 group stage
• Bayern Munich 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain – 1994/95 group stage
• Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Bayern Munich – 1994/95 group stage

Bayern Munich vs PSG – Overall head-to-head record

• Bayern Munich wins – 9
• Draws – 0
• PSG wins – 8

Read – Bayern Munich vs PSG – Match preview and team news

See more – The teams with the most Premier League defeats in 2026 so far

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UFC 328 culminates in a title-fight double-header this weekend, as Khamzat Chimaev and Joshua Van defend their belts in Newark, New Jersey.

In the main event, Chimaev puts the middleweight title on the line for the first time, taking on former champion Sean Strickland after a tense build-up, which some fear could spill over into pre-fight violence.

The unbeaten Chimaev is a comfortable favourite here, having dominated Dricus Du Plessis to win the belt in August, after “DDP” twice outpointed Strickland.

And in the co-main event, Van makes his first defence of the flyweight strap, as he defends it against Tatsuro Taira – five months after winning the belt in unique circumstances, when Alexandre Pantoja suffered an injury early into their fight.

Here’s all you need to know:

What time does it start?

The early prelims will begin at 10pm BST (2pm PT / 4pm CT / 5pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 12am BST on Sunday (4pm PT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET on Saturday). The main card will ensue at 2am BST on Sunday (6pm PT / 8pm CT / 9pm ET on Saturday).

How can I watch it?

In the UK, the main card will air live on TNT Sports and is also accessible via HBO Max, EE TV, Virgin Media, Amazon Prime Video, and Sky Sports; beforehand, the early and regular prelims will stream live on UFC Fight Pass. In the US, Paramount+ will stream the action.

Odds

Chimaev - 1/6

Strickland - 4/1

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Full card

Subject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion

Main card

Khamzat Chimaev (C) vs Sean Strickland (middleweight title)

Joshua Van (C) vs Tatsuro Taira (flyweight title)

Alexander Volkov vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta (heavyweight)

Sean Brady vs Joaquin Buckley (welterweight)

King Green vs Jeremy Stephens (lightweight)

Prelims

Ateba Gautier vs Ozzy Diaz (middleweight)

Joel Alvarez vs Yaroslav Amosov (welterweight)

Grant Dawson vs Mateusz Rebecki (lightweight)

Jim Miller vs Jared Gordon (lightweight)

Early prelims

Roman Kopylov vs Marco Tulio (middleweight)

Pat Sabatini vs William Gomis (featherweight)

Baisangur Susurkaev vs Djorden Santos (middleweight)

Clayton Carpenter vs Jose Ochoa (flyweight)

Over the last few seasons, whenever he's on the pitch, it feels like the play naturally flows through the left flank. Federico Dimarco is something of a magnet: he attracts the ball and draws attention. His teammates already know he'll be there, ready to receive and create chances. Among the many names behind Inter's 21st Scudetto, his stands out as one of the brightest. Inter has always been a part of his identity, and winning in these colours means everything to him, especially after last season's disappointment, which only fuelled him to come back stronger. And that's exactly what he did, focused on one thing alone: winning. He has grown into a true leader on the pitch, one of the pillars of Inter's style of play. He has blended intensity and determination with his lethal left foot, contributing to both phases of the game to influence the play. He's given his all for the badge and for our colours.

When Dimarco scores, as part of his celebration, he points to his mind. It's a gesture that reflects a feeling that has been with him all year: awareness, built through consistent hard work, and demonstrated on the pitch through incredible performances and new milestones. A more mature Federico has been evident on the pitch, a crucial pillar of Inter's system and a Nerazzurri through and through, driving the team forward both in terms of his mindset and technique. His impressive numbers are the result of that effort and reflect the impact of a truly unique and decisive player. He has been unstoppable down the left flank, an ever-present threat to opponents and a constant force of creativity in Inter's attack. If Inter have made the most of set pieces and aerial goals, and if the fans are on their feet every time there's a corner or a cross from deep, it's because they know it's Federico Dimarco's left foot sending in the ball. It's this left foot that has assisted 18 goals; no one in Serie A history has done better. A left foot that has also produced six goals of his own in the league, taking him up to 24 goal contributions in total: once again the best tally in the current season, and the only defender to beat 20 goal involvements since the statistic has been recorded in 2004/05. He's better than a forward, better than midfielders, better than all the rest because that left foot is simply sensational.

Dimarco has had plenty of iconic moments, beautiful goals and assists, but if there's one game that encapsulates his quality this season, it's the match against Pisa at San Siro, in which Inter were two goals down in the first 23 minutes. Dimarco started on the bench, keen to come on and turn the game around. The team was struggling, and Chivu brought him on in the 34th minute to change the momentum. Federico was simply electric, and as soon as he came on, Inter found their momentum, San Siro came alive, and the Nerazzurri went into the break leading 3-2 after scoring three times in six minutes. Following Zielinski's penalty, it was the same type of goal: a cross from Dimarco, followed by a header from Lautaro and Pio to get the Nerazzurri back on track and make the Meazza erupt. This best captures Dimarco's awareness: when he lifts his head and picks out a spot, the ball will end up exactly where he wants it to go.

Dimarco has won his second Scudetto with Inter, a club he grew up loving, the Nerazzurri colours woven into his identity through both joy and hardship. This season, he has topped the assists charts, standing out among Inter's stars and playing a crucial role in winning the Club's 21st league title. Federico has not only made his dream of seeing Inter as Champions of Italy come true, but has also fulfilled ours.

Parma defender Mariano Troilo mocked Inter star Nicolò Barella on Sunday over Italy’s failed World Cup qualification, but the Nerazzurri midfielder hit back: ‘They don’t even know who he is in Argentina.’

There was tension between Parma defender Troilo and Inter midfielder Barella on Sunday during the Nerazzurri’s 2-0 victory at San Siro, which secured them their 21st Scudetto.

As reported by DAZN (via FCInter1908), Troilo stepped on Barella’s foot during a corner kick near the end of the game, prompting Inter captain Lautaro Martinez to defend his teammate by pushing Troilo, an Argentine compatriot, away.

Barella looked in a lot of pain while on the ground, but Troilo told him, “Get up, I didn’t even touch you.”

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Mariano Troilo of Parma Calcio celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Italian midfielder and Troilo continued provoking each other, prompting Inter coach Cristian Chivu to replace his star to avoid consequences.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

When Barella arrived on the bench, he told his teammate Marcus Thuram what exactly had happened with the Parma defender.

“Do you know what he told me?” Barella asked.

“Shut up, Bobo, you’re out of the World Cup!”

The Inter midfielder sarcastically added before sitting on the bench: “They don’t even know who he is in Argentina!”

Get French Football News sat down with former France, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton striker Louis Saha this week for a wide-ranging interview.

Another of your – and Michael Carrick’s – former clubs where things are not going quite as well as at United, is Tottenham. What is going wrong there? Are you fearful that they may go down?

Ah, we have the right to be afraid for them, that’s for sure; they are in a very tough spot. But at the same time, I have confidence in a group of talented players who I think, when they’re pushed into a corner, can be at their most dangerous. In any case, I hope that’s the case for them, that they will show their character, like they did in their last match [a 1-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers].

In terms of what’s gone wrong, I think it’s a lack of consistency going back years. Maybe – and that’s what Antonio Conte has said – you sometimes get the impression that they’re too hesitant and looking for a teammate to take the initiative, that maybe there is a mental disconnect at key moments, whether during the match or across the season. Sometimes it comes from the board and the type of signings made, strategically – it’s great to go out and sign super-talented youngsters but maybe you need to bring in players who have already established themselves as world-class – it’s a similar issue that Arsenal were long criticised for –  so you don’t find yourselves suffering from this lack of experience at key moments.

We see it with Chelsea today. Chelsea have made, I don’t know, about 20 signings of talented young players, but there are key moments in a match or in a season where mistakes are made at great cost to the team. So if you’re doing that regularly, to the detriment of the results and players, then it might work commercially, but then you find yourself in a situation like Tottenham’s.  

You mentioned Conte there – it’s strange that, even as the players change, the same problem continues within the club?

Definitely, because I remember maybe hearing Jose Mourinho complain about the same thing, hearing Ange Postecoglou make the same observation. There are things that clearly are not working. I can’t tell you exactly what, I’m not party to the board’s discussions! I’m just a fan who watches football, maybe through the eyes of a player who was on the inside, and it might not be for me to try to put my finger exactly on what the issue is – that would be too easy. I am sure that other players, especially legends like Ledley King or others, have given their suggestions, but they still haven’t yet found the solution. So I don’t know, it’s very complicated. They have the talent, they have the budget, they have the infrastructure, they have the coaches. I struggle to understand it.

Louis Saha was talking exclusively to Get French Football News courtesy of Betinia

This exclusive interview is a repost from Get French Football News and can be found HERE

GFN | Jeremy Smith

Get French Football News sat down with former France, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton striker Louis Saha this week for a wide-ranging interview.

Obviously, you’re very associated with Manchester United; you had a very good career there, won a lot of medals. They’ve completely transformed their season since Michael Carrick arrived. For you, what does he bring to the team and, if you were Jim Ratcliffe, would you keep him for next season?

I think that he has brought a certain simplicity, a cohesion in the group that suits the players. He didn’t arrive saying, “This is my style of play.” No, he came in with the attitude that, in order for the players to feel comfortable and play to their maximum potential, I have to make them understand a system of play that is simple, that plays to their strengths and that allows them to be that second or split-second ahead of their opponent. Period.

Because logically these players have more quality than most Premier League players, they were recruited because they are good, because they have great stats. So to get the players to recognise this and give them the roles that suit them, I think that has been his major strength.

His second major strength is really knowing the place and being able to say this is the way that this institution is run because it has always got results in this way. I think it brought a lot of confidence both to those who didn’t yet understand this and to those who did.

So yes I definitely ask Sir Jim Ratcliffe to think like me and to not only extend Carrick’s contract but to strengthen his position because I think that with the support of a few signings, with the support of a staff who will be able to work on a form of progression with this group, that would be the coherent thing to do, working with the very good spine of the current team, with a clear plan for the future, with two or three signings of key players in midfield who will have more running in them, more creativity, maybe more defensive potential, to be able to change system from time to time. I think they have that but some defenders are still a little young, some midfielders are a little old, some strikers a little young too. Those little things need improving and then I think things can progress very quickly.

Louis Saha was talking exclusively to Get French Football News, courtesy of BetVictor Online Casino

This exclusive interview is a repost from Get French Football News and can be found HERE

GFN | Jeremy Smith

Every great team throughout history has had a few key partnerships that fans instantly recall and fawn over.

For many Celtic fans, the level to which manager Martin O'Neill and Henrik Larsson were on the same wavelength is just as crucial as the striker's link-up play with Chris Sutton on the park.

It wasn't always sunshine and rainbows, though, with the sole time Larsson was on the end of O'Neill's half-time rage still a bone he picks with his former gaffer when they meet up well over 20 years later.

"Do I remember? Absolutely, because it only happened once," O'Neill recalls when asked about giving the striker a telling off in the changing room.

"It was against Dundee United and Henrik was playing in the first half... unlike him, he was flicking the ball all over the place.

"I think he flicked two over the stand and they ended up down at Dens Park, he was awful in the first half.

"So I had a go, and I think the players actually were in one aspect, secretly delighted that Henrik is getting a little bit of stick.

"I remember it distinctly because he was brilliant in the second half, that was his response."

Johan Mjallby, who also features in the Larsson edition of Icons of Football, was sitting next to the striker in the dressing room at the break and remembers it very well, as it was a one-off.

He adds: "And isn't that the best way to just shut your manager's mouth off up? That's Henrik."

In 2018 O'Neill, Sutton, and Larsson were all working during the World Cup in various punditry capacities, and when they met up, there was one item on the agenda for the Swede.

"The three of us went for something to eat, and that was the topic of conversation for about half an hour," O'Neill says.

"Henrik still hadn't forgiven me for embarrassing him in front of the rest of the team, but it stood him in good stead, and he's fine."

WATCH: Icons of Football: Henrik Larsson on BBC Scotland on Thursday, 7 May at 22:00 BST

Another impressive season, another trophy lifted to the air with the captain's armband: Lautaro Martínez continues to write unforgettable pages in the Inter history books, a Story that has earned the right to be amongst the most impressive of those who have worn the Inter shirt.

El Toro has been the beacon of this Nerazzurri side, a role model and leader of a dressing room that could always look to its Captain in moments of difficulty. A kind word for everyone, a piece of advice for a younger teammate, but also the ability to keep the whole group's intensity at its peak. Direct, even cutting when the situation called for it, but always and only with a single objective in mind, the one he has consistently underlined in every interview and public statement:

Ever upward, always higher, with ambition and self-belief. The very same qualities that drive Lautaro every day and that the Captain brings to the pitch in every touch of the ball. Since his arrival in 2018, El Toro has always stood out for his hunger, determination and garra: every match played giving absolutely everything he has, every duel approached as though it were his last.

It was no different in the 2025/26 season: a year of fresh starts, a year of change that was also meant to represent a rebirth. A resolve that was evident from the very first match, with Lautaro scoring a goal by pressing Torino's defensive build-up. It was a symbolic strike, one that demonstrated his relentless will to fight, celebrated with raw, furious emotion standing on the advertising hoardings: an image that has by now become inseparable from Lautaro's Inter career, whether it be a Champions League semi-final or the opening day of the league season. A roar that is a rallying cry for an entire fanbase: because when Lautaro scores at San Siro, the vibration that shakes the Meazza is unlike any other.

Lautaro steers the Inter ship through every storm, repelling every obstacle: overcoming every difficulty. A journey made up of goals, but above all, of extraordinary performances: an unstoppable path that flies straight towards the 21st Scudetto, while passing through the history and the eras of the Nerazzurri. The first part of El Toro's season allowed us to leaf through the album of Interista memories in a wonderful ascent. On 4 October, Lautaro scored against Cremonese at San Siro and reached 158 goals with Inter: the same tally as Luigi Cevenini, fifth in the all-time top scorers' rankings in Inter's history. Zizì is just the first of the Nerazzurri monuments alongside whom the Captain finds himself, with respect and humility, during the first half of the season: on 9 November, a wonderful finish against Lazio from out wide brings El Toro to 161, level with Sandro Mazzola. Fourth place, a dream in his heart and an objective that begins to feel within reach: the third step of the podium.

In un campionato dove gli attaccanti hanno faticato a segnare Lautaro Martinez è la principale eccezione: dopo un inizio positivo tra novembre e febbraio il Toro diventa decisivo nel trascinare l'Inter in vetta alla classifica. Pisa, Como, Genoa, Atalanta, Bologna: tra la fine del 2025 e l'inizio del 2026 l'Inter cambia marcia anche grazie alle reti del suo Capitano, a segno in cinque partite consecutive con sei gol totali. La squadra di Chivu conquista la vetta per non lasciarla più.

Gol spettacolari, importanti, segnati in ogni modo: di destro, di sinistro, di testa, lottando in area oppure con il classico gol alla Lautaro, tagliando con decisione sul primo palo per staccarsi dalla marcatura del difensore, vero e proprio marchio di fabbrica del centravanti argentino.

Six goals in five consecutive matches, four in four successive games between January and February during the period in which Inter began to open up the decisive gap in the title race. A crucial goal away at Udinese, a header of extraordinary power to spark the comeback against Pisa, the goal that broke the deadlock in Cremona. Right through to the away fixture in Reggio Emilia against Sassuolo: the date with history was 8 February, 2026. Inter were winning 2-0 away at the Neroverdi: the minute was the 50th. From a throw-in into the box, the ball reached Lautaro, who controlled and drove it across goal with his left foot, leaving Muric helpless: in that moment, there was the weight of history and the effortless touch of an artist who knows his craft. 171 goals in Nerazzurri colours, level with Roberto Boninsegna: the Captain had become the third-highest scorer in Inter's history.

This incredible journey suffered a setback due to an unfortunate evening in Norway. Away at Bodø/Glimt, Lautaro picked up an injury and was forced to stop. But the Captain fought as hard as ever, if not harder: he worked tirelessly, tried to shorten his recovery time, did everything in his power to get back on the pitch as soon as possible. In March, he watched Inter's difficulties from afar, champing at the bit and roaring like a caged lion, unable to make his contribution. A Lenten absence lasting 46 days that came to an end on Easter Sunday itself, when Inter faced Roma at San Siro. It took Lautaro just 60 seconds to remind everybody of his worth and that of the entire Inter side: the goal shook San Siro and sent every Inter supporter into raptures. Something had changed: El Toro scored a brace, Inter won 5-2 and once again emphatically reaffirmed their superiority in this title race.

Another knock kept him away from the pitch once more, but not from the team: the Captain took his place on the bench for the away fixtures at Como and Torino. He couldn't bring himself to miss the final stages of the journey, leaving his teammates at the crucial moment. The goals and victories came: only the last step remained. A step that Lautaro took personally during Inter vs Parma, when he came on in the 67th minute. Barella handed him the captain's armband as a mark of respect, and Lautaro fought with the same hunger and desire to score. A goal that the entire stadium dreamt of, to see him up there again: a goal that never came despite some extraordinary moments, including the assist for Mkhitaryan's 2-0 that set off the Inter celebrations in the stands and on the pitch. The decisive pass told us everything about who Lautaro Martínez is: a man who puts the good of the team first, a Captain who plays for Inter and for his supporters, the Nerazzurri faithful who have always stood by him.

Heart and soul of Inter, the symbol of a team that found a way to rise again and now celebrates the 21st Scudetto of its glorious history: a history that now welcomes Lautaro among its most beloved sons, a three-time Italian Champion, twice as Captain.

Get French Football News sat down with former France, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton striker Louis Saha this week for a wide-ranging football chat.

You mentioned Ledley King, you had the chance to play with incredible players like Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, for example. Who is the best player you have played with? And then – I don’t know if King will come up here, but who is the most underrated player you played with?

[Smiles] You mustn’t think that it’s just because he’s my friend that I think of Sylvain [Distin]. I’ve always teased him because I’ve never understood why he was never selected for the full France team. I think he’s a player who didn’t receive the same attention or recognition as other players in his position. Maybe others had the gift of the gab or knew how to promote themselves more. He had stiff competition, like William Gallas, Michaël Silvestre, Jean-Alain Boumsong and others – very good players. But I always felt that Sylvain was at the same level, he played in a huge number of Premier League games – certainly of all French players he must be among those with the most appearances. So yes, he’s definitely right up there and it’s incomprehensible to me that he never received a call-up. But hey, that’s football; sometimes we miss out on things and don’t understand why. But he’s certainly one of the most underrated players of his generation, at least as far as defenders go.

And if we’re talking about Ledley King too, I had the chance to play with him for four or five months and what impressed me the most was that he was very physically diminished but you would never have known that on the pitch because of his mentality, his ability to adapt and always perform. So Ledley King is a legend in that sense.

As for best player, without disrespecting “ZZ” – ZZ had amazing charisma, had that magic – I’m talking about pure talent.

But, after maybe Pelé for those of another generation, the most complete, the most perfect player, if you had to build the perfect footballer, it’s Cristiano Ronaldo. If you’re creating Lionel Messi, you’re going to create him within a certain tactical system. But the ideal player, with the physique, the guy who is 1m88 tall, who goes at 3,000 kilometres an hour, who has endurance, technique, strength, who has a high footballing IQ – maybe not as high as Paul Scholes or even Messi but still very high – who is strong mentally, who is a leader but who also continues to challenge himself,  who will give you confidence because he always has so much self-confidence. Well, I can’t think of any other player like that. It’s impressive. For me, he’s a cyborg!

Speaking of very talented players, France at the moment is blessed with several great strikers. Does Louis Saha, at the top of his form, have a place in the current France squad?

Oh, that’s a great question! I think I have a game that is a little different from the others who are in the team today. We don’t necessarily have the traditional number 9 à la Olivier Giroud. Between Giroud, Djibril Cisse and me, let’s say, we had that number 9 role. I’m not in the mode of a Hugo Ekitike, who is an incredible talent. I could see maybe Jean-Philippe Mateta in the squad. But when you see the likes of Dembouz – Ousmane Dembélé – and Kylian Mbappé as your strikers, with Marcus Thuram in the squad too – yes, I’d hope to be able to bring something too!

Louis Saha was talking exclusively to Get French Football News courtesy of ToonieBet

This exclusive interview is a repost from Get French Football News and can be found HERE

GFN | Jeremy Smith

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson wants to sign on-loan striker Toyosi Olusanya on a permanent basis, with the 28-year-old out of contract with Houston Dynamo this summer but with the Major League Soccer club having an option to extend it for another year. (Daily Record)

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson says some of his summer signings "won't be sexy" but will be granite solid in delivering seven or eight out of 10 performances in every game. (Press & Journal)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are keen to retain striker Alfie Stewart with the 19-year-old on-loan striker's contract with Aberdeen not being renewed. (Press & Journal)