The Detroit Lions are eyeing a bounceback 2026 campaign after its 9-8 finish in 2025 kept the Lions outside the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

After a trip to the NFC championship game in 2023 and after earning the NFC's No. 1 seed in 2024, missing the playoffs entirely in 2025 was a major disappointment. That disappointment meant urgency for Lions general manager Brad Holmes to reconfigure this roster back into championship conversations in a hurry.

Time will tell, but there's hope that Holmes addressed the Lions' necessary needs.

In CBS' look at the Detroit Lions' reason to believe in 2026, the Lions' "defensive youth movement" caught the network's attention.

Like the Cowboys, the Lions' high-scoring offense struggled to make up for a lackluster defense in 2025. Also like Dallas, Detroit looked to remedy that issue this offseason. 

The Lions added a slew of defensive depth during free agency, then used their second-round pick to acquire pass rusher Derrick Moore, a local product who tallied 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 10 tackles for loss during his final season at Michigan. Moore will look to pose a formidable duo with fellow defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. - Bryan DeArdo, CBS

In addition to Derrick Moore out of Michigan, the Lions also drafted Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder, Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II, Texas Tech defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard and Tennessee defensive tackle Tyre West.

The Lions signed defensive backs Christian Izien, Roger McCreary and Chuck Clark, linebackers Damone Clark and Joe Bachie, defensive tackle Jay Tufele and defensive ends D.J. Wonnum and Payton Turner. Detroit also re-signed linebackers Trevor Nowaske and Malcolm Rodriguez, defensive backs Rock-Ya Sin and Avonte Maddox and defensive lineman Myles Adams.

The Lions' defense ranked No. 22 in points per game (24.3), 18th in total defense (331.9 yars per game) 14th in rushing defense (114.5 rushing yards per game) and 20th in passing defense (217.4 passing yards per game).

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: CBS shares Detroit Lions' 'reason to believe in 2026'

FC Barcelona are on cloud nine after they won the La Liga title on Sunday night, doing so by securing a convincing 2-0 victory over bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Coming into the game needing only one point to secure the title, the Blaugrana took control of the game at the Spotify Camp Nou with goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres.

Joan Laporta elated

Speaking to the media after the title win and the celebrations that ensued on the field at the Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona president-elect Joan Laporta could not hide his pleasure.

Laporta acknowledged last night that the Clasico that secured the league title for his team “was historic because it was like a final.’

“Winning against our eternal rivals is fantastic, but the important thing is that we played a great match. We’ve shown that we have a great team and that, in addition to winning titles, we have a team for years to come,” he added, highlighting the performance.

Laporta was full of praise for Flick. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Laporta also had kind words for manager Hansi Flick, who stayed with the team despite having lost his father earlier on Sunday.

The president-elect highlighted Flick’s “humanity” in demonstrating his “commitment to the team” by wanting to be present at this match on the very day his father passed away.

Laporta played a critical role in bringing Flick over to Barcelona after the club parted ways with Xavi Hernandez at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The German has been excellent in his two years at the club so far, already winning five trophies. So, it does not come as a surprise to see the Blaugrana being poised to renew his contract by an additional year until 2028.

Source: SPORT

Kylian Mbappe may have missed Real Madrid’s painful El Clasico defeat against Barcelona, but the French superstar has already made one thing clear that he wants to return before the season ends.

According to MARCA, Mbappe is fully determined to play in Real Madrid’s final three matches of the campaign as he looks to regain rhythm and fitness ahead of this summer’s World Cup preparations.

The report arrives after growing speculation surrounding the forward’s physical condition following his last-minute withdrawal from Sunday’s Clasico at Spotify Camp Nou.

What happened to Mbappe?

Ahead of the Clasico, Real Madrid’s coaching staff was optimistic about Mbappe’s availability heading into the biggest game of the season.

However, everything changed during the final training session at Valdebebas.

With only minutes remaining in training, Mbappe suddenly stopped after feeling discomfort in his hamstring area. 

According to the report, the French forward immediately informed staff that he could not continue before leaving the session unexpectedly.

The incident surprised everyone present, especially because the session had gone smoothly up until that moment and confidence around his availability had been growing.

Kylian Mbappe reported to Valdebebas today. (Source: Instagram)

It must be noted that the French forward has been unavailable since suffering a hamstring injury against Real Betis on April 24.

So what now?

Despite the setback, Mbappe has no intention of ending his season early and Real Madrid are equally hopeful over his return.

The report claims the striker will continue his recovery work over the coming days in the hope of returning in time for Thursday’s match against Real Oviedo at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That game has now become increasingly important for a Real Madrid side trying to salvage some pride after a disappointing campaign.

Madrid will then close their home schedule on May 24 against Athletic Club after playing Sevilla away in what is expected to be an emotional end to a frustrating season at the Bernabeu.

As per the outlet, Mbappe’s situation is currently viewed as a medical issue rather than a personal decision from the player.

The French star wants to build match sharpness again before the World Cup and remains determined to finish his season at Real Madrid.

Man City Fixture Crunch Tests Guardiola’s Pursuit of Glory

Guardiola Takes Aim at Premier League Schedule

Pep Guardiola has rarely hidden the competitive fire that drives Man City, and his latest remarks carried the familiar edge of a manager battling on every front. With Manchester City still chasing Arsenal in the Premier League and preparing for an FA Cup final against Chelsea, the calendar has tightened at precisely the wrong moment.

City host Crystal Palace on Wednesday, then head to Wembley to face Chelsea, before finishing their league campaign against Bournemouth and Aston Villa. For Guardiola, the frustration is clear, even if he accepts that such pressure comes with success.

Photo IMAGO

He said: “We don’t think about the ‘generosity’ of the Premier League. As always they have been really nice for this schedule!

“But it is what it is. We accept. I always said, if you don’t play the final of the FA Cup, you will not have this schedule. So we are in the final, you have this schedule.

“And I would love to have the schedule (of being) in the Champions League semi-final in the middle of the title race.

“When we won the treble or quadruple we were there in that dynamic. So it’s really nice.”

Man City Chase Arsenal Under Pressure

Man City trail Arsenal by five points, with three league matches left to Arsenal’s two. That leaves Guardiola’s side needing perfection, plus a slip from the Gunners. It is a familiar late-season battlefield for City, where margins shrink and every team selection becomes a statement of intent.

The FA Cup final adds prestige, but also strain. For Guardiola, however, there is no appetite for picking and choosing.

Winning Culture Remains Non Negotiable

He said: “The competitions, knockout stages, it’s like life or death – it’s nice. It’s like now at the end of the (league) season.

“I’ve tried with my staff since I arrived 10 years ago, to make this club, (from) when you play the first game in the pre-season, in Asia or America or wherever, think we have to win.

“We have to try to win, not choose competitions, games, anything. We have to, all of us, inoculate in our bodies that we have to do our best every game for respect of our people, respect for the job.

“All of us are incredibly well paid – we have to do it.”

That is Guardiola’s Man City creed, expectation, responsibility and relentless pursuit, whatever the fixture list demands.

Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season will begin in a familiar fashion: With the Dallas Cowboys in a prime-time game. The Cowboys will open the regular season with a “Sunday Night Football” matchup against the division-rival New York Giants.

The game will take place on Sept. 13 on NBC and Peacock.

This story will be updated.

The Kansas City Chiefs made a significant free agent splash in the signing of running back Kenneth Walker III at the start of the offseason. The intention is to revamp the running game, and the change almost happened during the trade deadline last season.

The New York Jets were reportedly close to trading running back Breece Hall to the Chiefs before the 2025 trade deadline, but a deal never materialized. Rumors swirled that Kansas City refused to part with a third-round pick, leading to Hall remaining in New York for the remainder of the season. Last week, Hall and the Jets agreed to a three-year contract extension that includes $29 million in guarantees, with an average per year ($14.5 million) ranking fourth among NFL running backs.

The #Jets and star RB Breece Hall have a deal, extending him long-term rather than have him play on the tag.

It’s a 3-year, $45.75M deal worth $15.25M per year done by agent @AgentNicoleLynn of @KlutchSportspic.twitter.com/vJ0x90kGcF

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 8, 2026

Hall’s new contract puts him behind Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Derrick Henry but slightly past Super Bowl LX MVP Walker’s $14.35 million with Kansas City.

During the 2025 season, Hall rushed for 1,065 yards to go along with four touchdowns. He was also effective in the passing game with 36 receptions for 350 yards for a Jets team that struggled offensively without consistent quarterback efficiency.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Former Chiefs trade target lands lucrative contract extension

York City have released goalkeeper Harrison Male and midfielder Dan Batty ahead of their new campaign in the EFL.

Male played all 46 games as York won the National League, conceding 41 goals, but he leaves after two seasons at the club.

Batty, 28, made over 100 appearances for the Minstermen in his three seasons with them.

Tyrese Sinclair, Cameron John, Rory Watson and Ricky Aguiar are also leaving the club, but they all spent the majority of the season out on loan.

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Edgbaston (day four)

Warwickshire 147 & 553-6 dec: Hain 164*, Yates 81, Mousley 70, Barnard 60

Yorkshire 152 & 171: Revis 41, Bess 39*; Bamber 4-50, Hannon-Dalby 3-33

Warwickshire (19 pts) beat Yorkshire (3 pts) by 377 runs

Match scorecard

Warwickshire completed an emphatic demolition of Yorkshire by 377 runs on the fourth morning of a memorable County Championship match at Edgbaston.

Yorkshire resumed on the last day on 98-5, chasing an unlikely 549 for victory, and were bowled out for 171 as Ethan Bamber took 4-50and Olly Hannon-Dalby 3-33.

Matthew Revis resisted for 41 but, well though the home seamers bowled, to be dismissed in 53.1 overs on a pitch on which Warwickshire eased to 553-6 the previous day was a poor effort.

Warwickshire banked their second highest ever Championship win by a margin of runs, just one shy of the 378-run victory over Northamptonshire at Edgbaston in 1927 when seamer Tom Durnell, playing only his second championship match, took 7-29.

Having ended the first day well behind in the game, Ed Barnard's side steamrollered the White Rose for the next two and a half and will head into another home game, against Glamorgan, on Friday full of belief that a serious challenge for the title could lay ahead.

Yorkshire, meanwhile, will prepare to face Surrey at Headingley with much to ponder after their encouraging win over Somerset last week was followed by such a defeat in Birmingham.

The visitors entered the last day requiring either something miraculous from their lower order or rotten weather. The latter let them down – after some early morning rain, the clouds relented and play started just 15 minutes late.

Warwickshire quickly resumed their happy alliance, displayed throughout this match, of testing seam-bowling supported by excellent slip-catching.

Revis and Logan van Beek edged Hannon-Dalby to second slip where Rob Yates took his fifth and sixth catches of the match and George Hill was taken by Sam Hain at first off Bamber.

Hannon-Dalby needed no assistance from fielders when he removed Ben Cliff's leg-stump to take his side to the brink of victory, which arrived when Jordan Thompson struck with his first ball, edged to wicketkeeper Alex Davies by Jack White.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.

• Hain helps put Bears on brink of win over Yorkshire
• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen believes pushing and shoving at corners in Premier League has become a major problem after VAR denied his side a late equaliser against Arsenal for a foul on Gunners counterpart David Raya.

Relegation-threatened West Ham thought they had rescued a precious point against the league leaders when Callum Wilson equalised in stoppage-time at the London Stadium on Sunday after Raya had dropped the ball.

But the goal was disallowed by referee Chris Kavanagh, following a lengthy review that saw him advised to consult the pitch-side monitor, for a foul by Pablo on Reya. 

The decision meant Leandro Trossard's 82nd-minute strike eventually proved enough for Arsenal to secure a 1-0 win that took them five points clear at the top of the table and left London rivals West Ham in the bottom three with just two games left to play.

West Ham were furious with the decision and now reportedly plan to raise their concerns with referees' body Professional Game Match Officials.

"If you ask any goalkeeper in the league, if he's been illegally blocked, pulled, pushed on corners this season I think you will not find anyone who has not experienced this," Hermansen said. 

"So to give this (decision against West Ham), I'm not sure I understand why.

"Of course, we watched it afterwards and we can see there's shirt pulls on (Konstantinos) Mavropanos, shirt pulls on (Tomas) Soucek, even shirt pulls on Pablo before the goal. So to pick this situation..."

The 25-year-old Denmark international made it clear he accepted Raya had been impeded but questioned why other similar incidents had not been penalised in the same way.

"You know, I agree it's a foul," he said. 

"You can give the foul on the goalkeeper, definitely.

"But (with) what has been given during this season of goals with illegal blocks and illegal pulls and pushing and stuff on goalkeepers, I don't understand why that's been given. That's all.

"I spoke with David after the game and I think we have the same experience on this matter during this season.

"Because, of course, he has every right to ask for a free-kick or a foul on him. But I think you can find a lot of situations during this season where it's been different."

jdg/iwd

When one speaks of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA, one tends to think of squads like the version of the Golden State Warriors with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls of 1995-96, and the Boston Celtics from their 1986 title run.

And while there may be a throughline from that Dubs squad to the Bulls via Warriors coach Steve Kerr (and from the Bulls to Boston with Hall of Fame big man Robert Parish, if a season removed), the latter also sees a throughline in how they played. "Those teams mirrored how we played," said Parish via Essentially Sports' Mark Medina. "There was a lot of ball movement and a lot of body movement; there was solid coaching. That’s where it starts, with the coaching."

"Every great team mirrors the coaching philosophy," he added. "I think it would’ve been exciting -- It would’ve been physical, too. If we had the same rules that we had back then when we were active players, it would be a more physical ballgame. There would be a lot more contact and less freedom of movement. I think that would add to the allure of the two teams competing."

"I like the fact that the officials would let the players decide the outcome of the ballgame, not the officials making calls that they should not have called," said the Chief.

"They would just let it go and let us play. Those are the best officials. They let the teams decide the outcome of the ballgame. That’s how we would’ve been adjudicated. They would let us decide who is going to win."

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Robert Parish on what connects his Celtics, Dubs, Bulls all-time teams

Get ready for the biggest FIFA World Cup ever. 

Soccer’s greatest international spectacle kicks off next month, and its format is unlike anything we’ve seen before. For the first time, the tournament will be hosted by three countries (the United States, Canada, and Mexico). The field has expanded from 32 to a record 48 teams.

More participants mean more media. To meet demand, The Athletic will have reporters at all 104 games across the 16 host cities, with over 100 journalists producing written, video, social, and podcast content.

Laura Williamson, editor-in-chief of The Athletic’s UK newsroom and global soccer coverage, is overseeing this unprecedented event, running from June 11 to July 19. We caught up with her to discuss taking on this challenge.

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

Awful Announcing: Why should someone check out The Athletic’s World Cup coverage?

Laura Williamson: “I think we will have the most comprehensive coverage of the biggest soccer tournament. We’ll have more writers on the ground throughout the three host countries than any other outlet. We’ll bring our unique expertise to dedicated soccer fans, telling them everything they need to know about whatever they care about. At the same time, we’re very conscious that this tournament is going to be the first experience of a beautiful game for so many people.”

What will The Athletic offer to casual fans?

“We really want to talk to them too, explain what’s going on and why it matters, and lean into the fun of the tournament and its spectacle. We want to be there alongside newcomers to sports, holding their hands and guiding them through it. So hopefully that’s a comprehensive package for people. We’re hoping it’s going to be a one-stop shop for whatever level of fandom you approach it with, really.”

How would you describe the World Cup?

“I think it’s that cultural crossover. World Cups, whether you’re a passionate soccer fan or not, dominate the space and the airwaves for the period of time that they’re on. And because this is just going to be so much bigger than we’ve ever had before, it’d be impossible to move even in a country as vast as the United States without coming into contact with it. So, I think it’s that influx of people from other nations, as well as the cultural moment. I think people back to 1994 would remember where they were and the effect it had on them. We’re hoping for an even bigger impact this time.”

What’s the biggest challenge in arranging coverage?

“Just the scale of the tournament, with three countries and 16 host cities, and so many games. We’ve been very clear that we want reporters on the ground at every stadium for every game, and we want to cover every game live. So there are two things to organize. There’s the physical movement of people across the three countries, and we’ve tried to keep reporters in one or two cities wherever possible. Then the second is the wraparound, with editors in L.A., London, and on the East Coast as well, to provide 24-hour coverage and editorial support. And then, how to utilize our vast soccer personnel in both the U.S. and the UK, because this is going to be a World Cup that so many people will watch on TV. We want to be alongside them in that respect.”

What’s the No. 1 story of this World Cup?

“I’m fascinated by how the U.S. is going to fare, with a former Premier League manager, Mauricio Pochettino, in charge, and by whether the U.S. can, well, I really hope they’ll progress from the group stage, how far they can go, and the impact that has on soccer in the United States in the long term. Very interested in that. The honest answer is that there are so many unknowns about this competition because of its scale, the heat, and the travel. Who comes through is going to be absolutely fascinating to watch.”

What else stands out to you?

“Off the pitch, our coverage has been absolutely dominated by ticket prices, the cost of travel, and the barriers some fans have faced in trying to get into the United States, etc. I think that’s going to be really interesting to keep an eye on. We had a story the other day, for example, that the opening U.S. game had only sold out by about 50%, and to see how that manifests itself on the ground. That’s going to be really interesting as well.”

Could you elaborate on the challenges for fans?

“I think we’ve got two reporters, Henry Bushnell and Adam Crafton, who have been all over these stories from the outset, really, sort of forensically looking at ticket prices and hotel costs in host cities, as well as the cost of travel. We’ve been ahead of the game in charting the news developments on that front. And we’ve surveyed fans of each qualified nation to find out what their experience has been like when booking travel. We are always thinking about what it actually means for a fan. How will this impact a fan? How will a supporter experience this tournament?”

Who are some of the top stars in this tournament?

“I think we’re still in an era of (Lionel) Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo. It’s obviously their last tournaments, but given their enduring popularity and the fascination with them, I think it’s going to be incredible to watch, especially for fans in the U.S. Ronaldo hasn’t played on U.S. soil for such a long time. I think you’ll also be looking at Lamine Yamal, if he’s fit. I think his status as a phenomenal emerging star will be good to watch. Kylian Mbappé, again, if he’s fit, with France. And then I’m really interested to see whether somebody like Erling Haaland, who in Europe is such an incredible star, translates to a new audience on the international stage as well.”

Where will you be stationed for the World Cup?

“I’m going to be in New York City for the first couple of weeks, hopefully taking as many games as I can, then a couple of weeks back in London, and then back out to New York City for the last 10 days or so. I was at the last World Cup in Qatar. I was there for the duration, and it was a bit different because you could just take the train between games. It was a lot easier to get around.”

Do you have a favorite2022World Cup memory?

“It’d be remiss of me not to say the final was one of the greatest football matches in history. The fact that it went to penalties, and then seeing Messi and Argentina lift the trophy was a real pinch-yourself moment.”

The post Laura Williamson on The Athletic’s comprehensive 2026 FIFA World Cup coverage appeared first on Awful Announcing.

The 24 Hours of Nurburgring has been running since 1970. It has survived fuel crises, pandemics, and decades of indifference from drivers who considered it beneath them. In all that time, it had never sold out. Until now.

The official Nürburgring X account confirmed that weekend tickets for the 2026 event are completely gone – a first in the race’s history. The cause is not hard to identify. Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen‘s venture into the iconic endurance race around the Nordschleife is drawing a sell-out crowd, with the Dutchman having spent much of the year preparing through NLS races.

Entries had to be turned down by organisers several weeks ago, with the 150-car field filling up for the first time since before the COVID pandemic, largely due to Verstappen’s presence. The 2026 entry list is the largest at the Green Hell since 2014, comprising 161 cars including Verstappen himself, with the SP9 GT3 class alone growing to 41 entries.

One driver has reshaped an entire event’s economics before even turning a wheel in anger.

What Verstappen Is Actually Getting Into

He’ll be driving the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO under the Verstappen Racing flag, alongside teammates Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Lucas Auer.

The circuit uses a combined layout of the Nordschleife and the GP circuit, producing a lap of roughly 25km with over 150 corners, dramatic elevation changes, and conditions that can swing from dry to rain to fog within a single lap.

This is not an exhibition run or a charity drive. Verstappen has been preparing specifically since last year, building the necessary requirements for a start through Nordschleife appearances and intensive SimRacing.

Race Director Walter Hornung talked about how the entry process worked:

“The fact that he is taking his start seriously and approaching it in an incredibly professional manner is already evident from his intensive preparation. He went through the normal qualification process without any special treatment, prepared himself with drives on the Nordschleife, completed the mandatory e-learning and familiarised himself intensively with the track with countless SimRacing laps.”

The race gets underway on Saturday, May 16 at 3pm local time and runs for 24 hours straight, with the four-day event opening on Thursday, May 14 with free practice.

ADAC Nordrhein has also introduced a new F1-inspired knockout qualifying format, the revamped ‘Top Qualifying,’ divided into three segments – Top-Q1, Top-Q2, and Top-Q3 – reserved for the highest-performing classes including the SP9 GT3 category where Verstappen competes.

If You Don’t Have a Ticket, Stay Home Saturday

The advice from the circuit is to stay home. All multi-day tickets have already sold out in advance, leaving only single-day tickets for Thursday, Friday, and Sunday available. Anyone without a ticket valid for Saturday should under no circumstances drive to the Ring on Saturday on a whim.

Parking and camping capacity around both the GP circuit and the Nordschleife is finite, and the limited access roads to the venue simply cannot absorb additional visitors on the busiest day.

Hornung discussed the sheer scale of the demand:

“We are, of course, delighted by the overwhelming support from long-time and new fans, who have literally flooded us this year. At the same time, however, we are naturally working closely with the Nürburgring and the authorities to ensure an orderly and safe experience for all visitors. That is why, for the first time in the 24h Nurburgring’s more than 50-year history, we had to limit the number of tickets.”

In 2025, the previous attendance record already stood at around 280,000 fans over the race weekend.

Whatever the 2026 figure ends up being, it’s going to be pretty insane. Verstappen chasing a bucket-list race in a GT3 has done more for endurance racing’s visibility in Europe than years of marketing budgets ever managed. Whether he wins is almost beside the point – though you can be certain he doesn’t see it that way.

Tennessee (34-18, 13-14 SEC) has one series remaining in SEC baseball play. The Vols will face Oklahoma, Thursday-Saturday, at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Thursday's series opener between the Vols and Sooners is slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT, while Game 2 will take place Friday at 7:30 p.m. EDT. A series and regular-season finale will be contested Saturday at 3 p.m. EDT. All three games can be watched on SEC Network+.

The SEC Tournament will be contested May 19-24 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.

Tennessee will host its final regular-season home game on Tuesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols will face Belmont at 5 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+).

Below are SEC baseball standings entering the final week of the 2026 regular season.

More: How 2026 SEC Tournament strike zone challenge system will work

SEC baseball standings with one week remaining

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

This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: 2026 SEC baseball standings ahead of final week in regular season

Max Verstappen will make his debut in the Nurburgring 24 Hours on May 16. In doing so, he joins a long list of Formula 1 drivers who have taken part in the endurance classic.

Verstappen’s entry is not only big news because of his status, but also because he becomes part of a select group. Since 1970 – the first year of the race – more than 30 Formula 1 drivers have competed in this legendary event on the Nordschleife.

However, what immediately makes Verstappen unique is his resume. With four world titles, he surpasses almost every previous F1 driver to participate in the Nurburgring race. Only names such as Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Jack Brabham come close in terms of championships. Of these, Lauda is also the only F1 world champion to have actually won the race (1973).

In terms of Formula 1 experience, Verstappen also stands out. With more than 230 grand prix starts, he has more starts than any other F1 driver who has ever competed in the 24 hours race. That underlines his status as one of the most experienced and successful active drivers ever to take the start – although it should be noted that the F1 calendar has featured significantly more races in recent years than it did in the 1980s, for example.

However, there are also statistics in which Verstappen cannot (yet) compete. Hans-Joachim Stuck holds the record with no fewer than 19 entries in the Nurburgring 24 Hours between 1970 and 2011, including three victories. Markus Winkelhock (16 starts, three wins) and Pedro Lamy also stand out. The latter is, in fact, the most successful former F1 driver in the race’s history with five overall victories.

A New Chapter

What stands out in the statistics is the strong German representation. A large proportion of participants come from Germany, which is logical given the historical and geographical ties to the Nurburgring. Names such as Bernd Schneider, Christian Danner and Heinz-Harald Frentzen all made the switch from F1 to the Nordschleife.

The question now is where Verstappen will place himself in this list. In previous races, he has already shown he can fight at the front immediately and has twice battled for the lead with experienced GT3 driver Christopher Haase.

Verstappen even won the second race of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) alongside Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella – until the team was disqualified for using too many tyre sets.

Max Verstappen neemt met de Mercedes-AMG GT3 deel aan de 24 uur van de Nürburgring.

A win on debut would be historic and would place him alongside Lauda in the record books. More realistically, he may first gain experience, as many predecessors did, although with such a strong team the objective is clear: to fight for the overall victory.

Either way, Verstappen’s participation marks a new chapter in the rich history of Formula 1 drivers on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

Every F1 drivers to compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours

		2 grands prix (1994)	3 (1997–1998, 2000)	–
		3 qualifying sessions (1992)	1 (1985)	–
		4 qualifications (1991)	7 (1991, 2000–2001, 2003–2006)	2 (2000, 2001)
		126 grands prix, 3 titles	1 (1980)	–
		18 grands prix	4 (1988, 1990–1992)	1 (1992)
		36 grands prix	7 (1978–1979, 1985, 1990–1992, 2000)	1 (1992)
		156 grands prix	2 (1988, 2008)	–
		91 grands prix	1 (2024)	–
		3 grands prix	2 (1994–1995)	–
		183 grands prix	2 (2012, 2014)	–
		1 qualifying session	5 (1971–1973, 1994–1995)	–
		3 grands prix	3 (1994–1996)	–
		49 grands prix	1 (2025)	–
		176 grands prix	1 (2006)	–
		32 grands prix	12 (2001–2005, 2010–2016)	5 (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2010)
		171 grands prix, 3 titles	1 (1973)	1 (1973)
		105 grands prix	2 (1971, 1999)	–
		57 grands prix	4 (2005, 2007–2009)	–
		70 grands prix	1 (2000)	–
		37 grands prix	4 (2019–2021, 2024)	–
		204 grands prix, 3 titles	1 (1994)	–
		37 grands prix	3 (1989, 1993, 2009)	1 (1989)
		1 grand prix start	10 (1982, 1984, 1987–1988, 1990–1991, 1993, 2004–2006)	–
		114 grands prix, 1 title	1 (1982)	–
		9 grands prix	9 (1987, 1990–1991, 2012–2013, 2015–2018)	2 (2013, 2016)
		54 grands prix	2 (1981–1982)	–
		74 grands prix	19 (1970–1972, 1981–1982, 1984, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002–2011)	3 (1970, 1998, 2004)
		5 grands prix	4 (1987–1989, 2006)	–
		10 qualifying sessions	2 (1986–1987)	–
		7 qualifying sessions	9 (1984, 1986–1988, 1990–1992, 1994–1995)	2 (1990, 1991)
		47 grands prix	1 (1982)	–
		1 grands prix	16 (2010–2025)	3 (2012, 2014, 2017)
		69 grands prix	1 (1992)	–
		18 grands prix	5 (2012–2017)	–

Logan Sargeant hopes for Max Verstappen in Ford Hypercar: “He’s going to kick everyone’s ass”

Are we at a turning point for Verstappen – and F1?

The real reason F1 star Max Verstappen is drawn to GT3 racing

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

The Denver Broncos re-signed veteran linebacker Alex Singleton to a two-year deal worth up to $15.5 million dollars with $11 million guaranteed this past offseason. While this move left some fans scratching their head, the Broncos were elated to bring back the leader of their top-ranked defense, a team captain, and someone who the locker room loves on and off the field.

Whether we like it or not, the team absolutely loves Alex Singleton. He’s beloved by the coaches and his teammates, and while he may have his flaws on the field at times, the Broncos believe he’s necessary for their hopeful Super Bowl run this upcoming season.

At the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this offseason, Denver Broncos GM George Paton told reporters they wanted both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad back and added, “If we let those guys leave (Singleton/Strnad), what are we doing?’

“Alex and Justin, we’d love to have those guys back. We’d love to have them back, regardless of what’s in the draft. We see those guys as Broncos. If we let those guys leave, what are we doing?

There is a lot to like about Alex Singleton. First, he’s tough as they come. In 2024, he tore his ACL early in the game vs. the Bucs and played through the pain the rest of the game without giving up. Then, this past year, he unfortunately learned he had testicular cancer and still played a Thursday Night game vs. the Raiders with this on his mind. He would tell his teammates after the game, and thankfully, he had successful surgery and returned to the field a few weeks later. You cannot deny his mental and physical toughness.

His biggest play last season came in the Broncos thrilling Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills. The Bills were up 7-3 and driving early in the 2nd quarter, and honestly, it started to look like the wildcard game the year prior. However, Singleton would hit Bills running back James Cook hard and force what would be a game-changing fumble for the Broncos, who would go on to win this game in overtime.

Player Profile

Alex Singleton | Linebacker | Denver Broncos

• Height: 6-2
• Weight: 240 pounds
• Experience: 8th NFL season
• Age: 32 years old
• 2025 stats: 135 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 4 pass deflections

Singleton played in 16 games this past season, only missing one game due to cancer, and was once again a tackling machine for the Broncos. In three of four seasons, Singleton had at least 135 tackles for the Broncos, with 2024 the lone down year due to missing the majority of the season because of a torn ACL.

Alex Singleton’s 2026 Outlook with the Broncos

Alex Singleton will be a team captain and starting linebacker, and will wear the green dot once again this season for the Broncos. He will start alongside Justin Strnad, whom the Broncos also re-signed this offseason, and be the Broncos starting linebackers heading into the 2026 season.

You know what you’re getting with Alex Singleton. Team leader on and off the field, he will be the quarterback of the defense, get a ton of tackles, and struggle at times in coverage and space. He has been a starting linebacker for the Broncos for the past four seasons, and we have seen his highs and lows as a player. 2026 should be no different.

The Broncos trust him to lead their top-ranked defense, and he will do that once again in 2026.

With that said, he is 32 years old and will turn 33 late in the season. Father Time is undefeated, and we have seen Singleton struggle at times in space and in coverage already. These struggles would be magnified if he were to lose a step and become a liability in certain areas of the defense. Obviously, we do not want that to happen, but it is a legitimate concern to keep an eye on as we progress through the season.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the Broncos like Alex Singleton a lot more than most fans. They value his knowledge of Vance Joseph’s defense, his leadership on and off the field, his teammates love him, and they view him as a key part of their potential Super Bowl run this upcoming season.

It’s as simple as that.

Hopefully, the Broncos are proven right, and Singleton is a key piece to the Broncos 2026 Super Bowl-winning team. If he struggles, fans and media will be questioning this move.

With the player additions mostly finalized for this offseason, many fans are curious where the Panthers stand in terms of cap space and distribution. In this series, we’ll take a look at just how much the Panthers have tied up in specific position groups over the next couple of seasons, what contracts could be terminated or extended, and what percentage of the cap each group takes up. For this series, I’ll be using the numbers at Over the Cap. Next on our list, the wide receivers!

On the Books

Last year’s first round pick, Tetairoa McMillan, counts about $6.35 million against the 2026 cap since he’s entering year two of his rookie contract. Xavier Legette is entering the third year of his rookie contract, though his cap hit is only $3.37 million because he was a late first rounder compared to McMillan’s top ten pick status. The Panthers signed John Metchie III to a $1.9 million contract in the offseason as well, and brought back David Moore at about $1.62 million. Both contracts are one year deals with limited guarantees. Chris Brazzell II signed his rookie tender and will make $885,000 this season while Jimmy Horn Jr will make just over $1 million in the second year of his rookie contract. Dan Chisena and Jalen Coker were UDFAs who signed their Exclusive Rights Free Agent tags, meaning both will be making a non-guaranteed $1.075 million this season. Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.

Next Year

Tetairoa McMillan won’t be going anywhere because he’s incredible and cutting him would actually lose the Panthers over $16 million in cap space. The team will need to make a decision next offseason on Xavier Legette’s fifth year option, which would hit in 2028 and probably be over $13 million. For next year, though, Legette’s cap hit is around the same only going up about $200,000 (so still just under $4 million). Cutting Legette next year would neither cost nor free any cap space. Chris Brazzell II will get a slight raise as well, probably around $1.2 million, with Jimmy Horn Jr likely getting a similar amount. The ERFA contracts for Tremayne and Coker will expire, so they’ll come off the books (though Coker will absolutely be extended). The remaining receivers are also on expiring contracts, so the Panthers will have some additions they will need to make next offseason.

Measuring Up

All told, the Panthers are sitting around 6% of their 2026 cap dedicated to receivers, which is near the bottom of the league (29th) since they are relying on cheap vets and players on rookie contracts. Teams like the Bengals (19%), Cowboys (17%), and Lions (15%) lead the league in receiver spending in 2026, which should not be a surprise given the massive contracts for multiple receivers on those rosters. Only the Falcons (5.89%), Bears (4.93%), and Dolphins (2.27%) are projected to spend less on receivers in 2026.

Pitching plays in the playoffs. It played during the regular season, too — the Tahoma Bears posted a 19-1 record with one of the South Sound’s best rotations. The crown jewel of the group: ace Neal Burtis, a 6-foot-1 lefty Oregon State commit and one of the state’s top prospects.

Burtis has thrown 35 1/3 innings this spring, compiling a 0.40 earned run average with 59 strikeouts and 16 walks. He’s not the only big arm on the staff, though. Including Burtis, three Bears pitchers with at least 20 innings have an ERA under 2.00: Talon Coker (0.42), Brayden Fenton (0.69), while senior Sean Evans (2.21) is close behind.

It’s hard not to like Tahoma’s chances in the 4A District 3/4 tournament, but there are a number of other teams with a shot to win the title heading into this month’s state tournament, also. Here are a few South Sound teams we think could challenge the top-seeded Bears.

The first round of the tournament begins on Tuesday, May 12, with the semifinals and championship game being played on Saturday, May 16 at Tahoma High School.

No. 3 Sumner (16-4)

The Spartans have just one puzzling loss to South Kitsap, but otherwise, losses came to contenders Curtis, Emerald Ridge and Olympia. P/OF Wyatt Plyler is one of the state’s top two-way players. UW commit Jake Miller has the clutch gene. When the bats are going, it’s contagious.

No. 4 Emerald Ridge (19-4)

Jags have been one of the 4A SPSL’s top programs this spring and feature a good rotation, with Jackson Dion and Zack Morris. CF Pretson Bolam has torn the cover off the ball all spring. A matchup against Olympia looms in the first round. The teams split the regular season series.

No. 5 Olympia (18-5)

Speaking of the Bears, maybe Derek Weldon’s group is peaking at the right time. Olympia closed out the regular season with a 3-1 win over Emerald Ridge and 1-0 win over Sumner in the 4A SPSL championship game, in which RHP Landyn Keister threw a complete-game shutout against the Spartans.

No. 7 Curtis (15-7)

The Vikings will have their work cut out for them, having to travel south to face second-seeded Battle Ground in the opening round. If Bryan Robinson’s group can clear that hurdle, though, I think they have a shot at reaching the championship game. A matchup against the winner of Sumner and Kennedy Catholic would await in the semifinals, and Curtis already has as a win over Sumner on its resume.

THE TOUGHEST PATH TO STATE

Because of the way the district bracket is structured, only the top eight seeds have a chance to advance to the district tournament semifinals. That leaves No. 9 Puyallup with a challenging path to the state tournament, needing to win three straight elimination games.

Can the Vikings do it? Absolutely. Since first-year coach Sean Taunt stepped aside, Puyallup has been one of the area’s hottest teams, winning 10 of its final 12 games. It’s worth noting that the second half of the schedule was more favorable than the first half, but Puyallup’s run included wins over 4A contender Kennedy Catholic and 3A contender Gig Harbor. Don’t count the Vikings out.

TNT CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

No. 3 Sumner over No. 1 Tahoma

Jonathan Taylor is entering the final year of his contract, which means the Colts have another major decision coming with one of their core offensive players.

This one is a little different from most contract debates. Taylor is not a declining player. He is not someone the Colts need to move on from. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best running backs in football and one of the few players on the roster who can completely change a game by himself.

The question is how much tread is left on the tires, and how much the Colts should be willing to pay for what comes next.

I’ve written about the running back wall several times over the years, most recently looking at how many quality seasons Taylor might have left. The basic idea is simple: running backs do not usually decline gradually forever. They tend to hit a point where the workload, age, and physical punishment all catch up at once.

Based on my previous research, the general running back wall sits around 3,300 total NFL + college touches, with a wide range of outcomes. The standard deviation gives you about 600 touches in either direction, which means some backs hit the wall much earlier and others last longer than expected. But 3,300 is the key baseline number.

That brings us back to Taylor; he will be 27 years old this season. That’s not old in normal football terms, but for a running back with his workload, it definitely makes a difference. When healthy and stretched over a 17-game season, Taylor is averaging roughly 375 touches per year over the past couple of seasons, which is in the true workhorse running back territory.

Right now, Taylor has 1,738 NFL career touches and 968 college career touches from his time at Wisconsin. Add those together and he is already at 2,706 total touches.

If we use the 3,300-touch wall as the baseline, Taylor has about 594 touches before he reaches that point. At his healthy-season pace of 375 touches, that works out to roughly 1.5 to 2 more high-quality seasons.

That is probably the most realistic read of the situation. Taylor is not finished and he is not even close to finished if he stays healthy. The math, however, suggests the Colts should be careful about paying for three or four more years of elite running back production when the most likely outcome is closer to two.

There are different ways to look at it. The cautious view says Taylor may only have one more truly high-end season left before the workload starts to show. That would make any extension risky, especially if he has another massive workload in 2026.

The optimistic view says Taylor could be one of the outliers. If he lands on the high end of the range, around 3,900 total touches, then there could be three or even four more quality seasons left. That is possible and great players sometimes beat the curve, and Taylor has the size, speed, and durability profile to make that argument reasonable. Nevertheless, contracts should be built around the most likely outcome, not the best-case scenario.

That’s why a long-term extension would make me nervous. Giving Taylor three or four more years with heavy guarantees would be paying for a version of him that might not exist by the back end of the deal. It would also ignore the reality of the position. Running backs take punishment at a rate no other offensive skill position does, and once decline starts, it usually comes fast.

At the same time, letting this play out into the season is risky too. If Taylor has a monster 2026 season, the Colts are going to want him back and if the Colts wait until after another huge year, they could find themselves in the same kind of uncomfortable situation they had with Alec Pierce, waiting too long and sweating out a contract that should have been handled earlier. So it goes without saying… they should not repeat that mistake. Taylor is still worth extending. The key is doing it intelligently.

My recommendation would be a two-year extension worth around $34 million total, with about $16 million guaranteed and most of that guarantee concentrated in the first year. That gives Taylor strong money and rewards him for what he has meant to the franchise, while still protecting the Colts if the wall arrives sooner than expected.

The second year should have less guaranteed money and more of a flexible structure, whether that comes through higher base salary, roster bonuses, or incentives. That way, if Taylor remains elite, he gets paid well and the Colts keep their offensive centerpiece. If the decline starts to show, the team is not trapped in a long, painful running back contract.

That kind of deal makes sense for both sides. Taylor gets security before the season and avoids entering a contract year with all the risk on his body. The Colts keep one of their best players, maintain offensive continuity, and avoid overcommitting into the danger years of the running back curve.

In a perfect world, Taylor has three or four great seasons left and makes the whole conversation look too cautious, but the data says the Colts should not plan that way. The smart move is to respect the player, respect the production, and respect the risk.

Jonathan Taylor should be extended before the season, but it should be short, protected, and built around the reality that the running back wall is getting closer.

The Wolverines are getting closer and closer to hosting prospects for official visits, with the first batch of recruits set to invade Ann Arbor the weekend of May 29. But the coaching staff continues to put out new offers in an attempt to build the best recruiting class possible, including an offer that came last week for a wideout committed to a team in the ACC.

Four-star WR was ‘shocked’ when he received his Michigan offer

2027 four-star wide receiver Chuck Alexander has been committed to Louisville since November, but Michigan clearly doesn’t care about that. Special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs extended an offer to the 6-foot-3, 185-pounder from Cincinnati, Ohio last week, instantly vaulting Michigan up his top list of schools.

“Coach Coombs told me that I had an offer and I was shocked, but proud and excited with myself,” Alexander recently told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($). “(The Michigan offer means) to just keep putting my faith in God and I just got to work harder than I ever been working.”

There’s no denying Michigan is a better program than Louisville, but Alexander said he remains committed to the Cardinals at the moment even though “I’m interested in (Michigan) a lot.” He also said “maybe” when asked if he will take a trip to Michigan, adding that, “right now, I’m still thinking on it.”

Alexander also has offers from schools like South Carolina, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Cincinnati and others. He also took a spring visit to Ohio State, although he was not offered by the Buckeyes.

In-state RB target discusses Michigan interest

Tony Alford has cast a wide net at the running back position in the 2027 class, but one of the fastest-rising targets on the Wolverines’ board is in-state three-star Lundon Hampton. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Grand Rapids native earned his offer recently and he took a couple trips to Ann Arbor this spring.

The vibes are very high in this recruitment, as there are few predictions in favor of the Wolverines to eventually land his commitment.

“Michigan is definitely a great program,” Hampton told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong ($). “I like their culture, the way they develop players, and how they compete at a high level every year.”

A big reason for his high interest in the Wolverines is the new coaching staff.

“The coaching staff has been real with me and I’ve built a good relationship with them,” Hampton said. “I feel like it could be a good fit because of how they use their players and prepare them for the next level.”

Despite having those aforementioned Michigan predictions, Hampton is keeping an open mind to other schools. Other options for him include Michigan State, Iowa, Kentucky and Kansas, per Wiltfong. He also has offers from Penn State and Pitt, among others.

“I’m still keeping my options open and focused on finding the best situation for me,” Hampton said.

Michigan making elite in-state edge rusher feel like a priority

Shifting gears to the 2028 class, and the Wolverines are prioritizing a ton of local talent in that cycle as well. One of the stars of the Mitten State in the junior class is four-star edge rusher Jayden Bell. The Brother Rice High School standout is a Top 100 overall prospect and is a Top 5 player in the state in his class and 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. He was offered by the Wolverines a couple months ago and most recently visited this spring.

In a recent conversation with On3’s Ethan McDowell ($), Bell said he is “very interested” in Michigan thanks to the bond he has made with the coaching staff, particularly defensive tackles coach Larry Black, which goes back to his days in the SEC.

“(Getting the offer) meant a lot,” Bell said. “With coach Black, he just got there from Vanderbilt, so like two weeks before he got there, I went and checked out Vanderbilt, so it was kind of crazy how that worked out.

“When he got to Michigan, I just stopped by. He was just like, ‘Yeah, I want to re-offer you because you’re a guy I want,’ so it was great.”

Michigan is “definitely” making Bell feel like a priority, and the coaches want him to visit again soon.

“They’ve been trying to get me down back on campus,” Bell said. “I for sure got to go back up there a couple times.”

Bell already holds other offers from Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Indiana, Florida, Oregon, Wisconsin, Miami and many more.

Even if you are a big PGA Tour fan, there is a good chance you don’t know the name Kristoffer Reitan. The Norwegian golfer hadn’t won on the PGA Tour entering the 2026 Truist Championship, but that all changed with his two-shot victory at Quail Hollow Club Sunday.

It was Reitan who outlasted some big name players down the stretch to not just claim his first PGA Tour victory, but a signature event which will net him over $3 million dollars.

Reitan pulled off all the shots as he overcame the likes of Rickie Fowler, Nicolai Højgaard, and Alex Fitzpatrick who all faltered down the stretch to open the door for the 28-year-old to win in Charlotte, NC.

The signature win will not just have Reitan in the PGA Championship next weekend, the second major of the 2026 PGA Tour schedule, but also into the Masters in 2026 and all signature events next year.

Reitan will boost his overall value from sportsbooks entering the major next week, but only time will tell if this was a one-and-done situation, or Reitan planting his flag as a mainstay on tour.

Only time will tell, but it’s time to take a look at our picks from the Truist Championship to see how we did.

2026 Truist Championship Odds

Let’s start with a review of the odds to win the tournament heading into Thursday:

• Rory McIlroy (+580)
• Cameron Young (+980)
• Xander Schauffele (+1150)
• Matt Fitzpatrick (+1700)
• Ludvig Aberg (+1750)

When it comes to picks for this signature event, I like to start with my favorite and long shot picks for the tournament. The favorite pick is the pick I like the most for an outright winner. For the long shot winner, that is a golfer who has over +2000 odds to win. It is a long shot pick for a reason, and finding those can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

We have hit a couple outright winners this season, but last week we swung-and-missed at the Cadillac Championship.

Did we do better in the Truist?

Favorite: Rory McIlroy (+580) - MISS

Rory hadn’t played since the Masters, and there were times during the Truist where it showed. Even though Rory has dominated Quail Hollow throughout his career, his Saturday round put him out of the running for the victory. Ultimately, I don’t think Rory played poorly, but his T19 finish is a far cry from the winner’s circle.

Long Shot: Tommy Fleetwood (+2400) - MISS

I haven’t hit a long shot pick since I started making picks, and Fleetwood was closing in on the lead until he just couldn’t make the shots necessary to win. Fleetwood finished T5, and is rounding into form, but could have cashed a big pa out had some of his putts down the stretch fallen.

Top 5

• Rory McIlroy (+125) - MISS

As I stated above, McIlroy looked rusty throughout the tournament, and it was his 74 on Saturday in Round 3 which ultimately did him in.

• Matt Fitzpatrick (+300) - MISS

Fitzpatrick’s T52 finish might have been almost as surprising as Kristoffer Reitan’s victory. Fitzpatrick entered the tournament as one of the hottest golfers on tour, and his 74/70/69/72 tournament had him well out of the Top 5 prediction range.

Top 10

• Ludvig Aberg (+160) - HIT

Aberg has proven his disastrous final round of the Players Championship is in the past. He has improved his play every event since, and he had just one round not in the 60s to put him with a T8 finish, having this bet hit for the event.

• Sam Burns (+245) - MISS

I went with my gut and thought Burns would put together a great tournament and finish near the Top 10. His T37 finish showed Burns finish at the Masters might have put a dent in his game moving forward.

Top 20

• Justin Thomas (+130) - HIT

The Kentucky born Thomas seems to always play well in the south, and his 13th place finish showed he is still a capable player on tour. I often have to remind myself Thomas started the season recovering from surgery, and it has taken some time for him to get his game back to where it was. The Top 20 play for Thomas was a winner.

• Ben Griffin (+126) - MISS

Like Matt Fitzpatrick, Griffin had been one of the tour’s hottest players, but Griffin struggled at Quail Hollow on his way to a T63 finish. Consistency is the name of the game on the PGA Tour, and Griffin is struggling in this regard.

Bonus Plays

For bonus plays, these are picks which I don’t necessarily hang my hat on, but still provide value for some who want more exotic plays outside of the aforementioned picks. Sometimes bonus plays are parlays, double chances, triple chances, and even some fun plays for that particular event.

Here were the Bonus plays for the 2026 Truist Championship:

Double Chance: Rory McIlroy or Xander Schauffele (+345) - MISS

McIlroy didn’t hold up his end of the bargain, but neither did Schauffele, who finished T60. Schauffele has yet to regain his 2024 form after an injury-plagued 2025 season.

Triple Chance: Rory McIlroy or Xander Schauffele or Ludvig Aberg (+260) - MISS

Throw in Aberg with a Top 10 finish and it didn’t help this triple play cash.

Top 20 Parlay: Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg (+240) - MISS

McIlroy and Aberg did their jobs finishing inside the Top 20, but it was Fitzpatrick and his T52 finish which ruined this play.

Margin of Victory: 2 shots (+355) - HIT

After Alex Fitzpatrick double bogeyed 17, it gave Reitan a two-shot lead. Reitan almost drained a birdie putt on 18, which would have killed this bet. However, the putt ended just near the cup in tap-in range. When he sank the par putt it gave him a two shot victory, and had us cash the margin of victory play.

Tournament Review:

Outright Plays: 2/8

Bonus Plays: 1/4

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

This is the fourth installment in Purple Row’s series on the Colorado Rockies Cultural Education & Development Program. Sam Bradfield described what the program does and how it got started. She followed that up with an article about its curriculum. This week, we’ll be exploring how the Rockies help non-English-speaking players develop their language skills.

If you were a college student studying Spanish, you’d probably want to take a class with Dr. Paul Worley, who’s a Professor of Spanish and World Literatures at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He’s student-centered in his teaching and manages to juggle that with being the department chair, publishing books and articles, serving as the poetry editor for the “North Dakota Quarterly” — and a list of other academic projects.

Those other projects include working as a tutor with Colorado Rockies prospects who are playing with the High-A Spokane Indians. Worley is one of four teachers who help Latin American prospects adjust to life in the United States, and in April, he talked with Purple Rows about how this job found him and his work with future Rockies.

Getting started

A native of North Carolina, Worley spent five chilly years at the University of North Dakota before heading home to “cold I understand,” as he put it, and took at job at Western Carolina University. That’s when he began working with the then-Rockies affiliate Asheville Tourists. A friend mentioned to Worley that his neighbor taught English to some of the Tourists players during the summer, and she was looking for a co-teacher. He expressed his interest to Sherry Mahawald, and that’s how it started. (This — he thinks — 12 years ago.)

(Read more about Mahawald’s work with the Tourists here.)

Around 2020, Mahawald moved to other projects, so Worley began teaching the courses himself as an in-person project.

“Once the season hit, I would teach class during the day, and then (my family and I) were at the park every night,” he said.

However, with the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and MLB’s decision to realign the Minor League system, Worley found himself without that job — until Angel Amparo and the Rockies put their classes online and asked Worley to continue his work.

“I was happy to stay on with them,” Worley said.

Today, the instruction happens online with Worley and his family making a yearly trip to Hartford to see the Yard Goats and “connect with the guys and meet with them in person.”

For Worley, “It’s been a really rewarding experience.”

How it works

In terms of the classes, it’s pretty much like any other educational environment — except the students are professional baseball players.

Worley begins by laying out the requirements of the course: “You’ve got to come to class. If you’re not going to come to class, you’ve got to let me know.”

But he’s also aware that the players’ English work is in addition to their day job, which is playing professional baseball.

“This is an extra thing that these guys do,” he said.

His instruction is mostly one-on-one because, Worley explains, “For me and my teaching style, I feel like that works a lot better than a group.”

This means that the sessions tend to be an “intense,” 25 minutes, which is something he cautions the players about early on.

But like any good teacher, Worley wants the assignments to have “a very specific product associated with them.”

As a case in point, he cites an assignment that involves students making an advertisement.

“We have an assignment that is basically you have to do an ad,” he said. “One of the ways that all athletes make extra money is to create or to do endorsements, and so I walk them through everything from the language that you need and ‘What do you want to say?’ ‘How do you want to say it?’ ‘How you want to dress?’ One of the things that we really emphasize is, ‘You all need to remember that you’re always being looked at. You’re a professional athlete. People are looking at you.’”

This is an assignment that encourages students to consider where they should film, how they should present themselves and the product, and how they should talk about it — or vocabulary.

At the same time, Worley is committed — like the best teachers are — to making learning fun.

“I want them to have a good time,” he said. “They need to be fun because the more fun they’re having, it lowers the affective filter, and they’re more comfortable. And the more comfortable they are, the more open they are to learning and even to making mistakes.”

In addition, the players make visits to schools, whether that’s in person or via Zoom. Part of that involves players learning to provide community service; part of it is about players interacting with a new group of English speakers.

“It’s because kids tend to be less judgmental,” Worley said.

The students submit questions in advance so that Worley and the player can review them, but it leads to a 25-minute Q&A session — and it’s more challenging than you might think.

“It’s hard to operate in a language other than your first language,” Worley said.

There are also lessons that happen outside the classroom. After all, the primary goal of the cultural development program is for players to learn to navigate their lives in the United States.

Worley recalls a player he worked with who was traded to a team with a Florida spring training camp. When Worley went to visit him, the player said, “Teacher, I went, and I did my cellphone completely by myself!” which is a significant accomplishment for someone whose primary language is not English.

This has to do with the pragmatic focus of Worley’s curriculum.

“You’re going to go to this place. You’re going to talk to this person. What’s the vocab you need? What do you got to practice? How you greet them? How do you walk through it?” Worley said, explaining his approach.

“He was incredibly proud,” Worley added, “and he has every right to be proud because he took the English that we were using right in class.”

Besides, most players are committed to having more seamless interactions with those around them.

“I’ve never had a student who wasn’t aware of (the cultural integration piece) and didn’t want more and better interactions with folks in the stands, folks at the grocery store.”

It’s part of the program’s focus on developing the player as the whole person.

“The world’s most-intense study abroad”

Worley is clear about the challenges his students face.

“I think the way that I’ve described this — both in teacher meetings and to folks I know — is that the only way I can conceptualize what these players do as students is it’s kind of the world’s most-intense study abroad,” Worley said.

“They come to the United States. They’ve had English classes down the Dominican Republic, and then they’re up here. So let’s just say it’s like a second- or third-year language student from the United States who leaves. But the catch is that every night they’re going to be doing something professionally in front of a few thousand people.”

In addition to the pressure from the crowd comes the need to communicate with teammates.

“You’re under the microscope in front of a couple thousand people, and your teammates that you were interacting with as colleagues a little bit ago, now, everybody’s yelling at each other to do something in English, and you’ve got to do it right. And so that, I think, is a real challenge.”

An additional challenge is scheduling because baseball players lead busy lives, which has led to Worley teaching — whether in person or virtually — in some unusual classrooms.

“For example, I’ve done English class at a barber shop. I’ve done English class at the mall because they very intentionally make time for English class,” Worley said. “Sometimes, I’ll get a message, and they’ll just say, ‘Teacher, I have to go to the bank,’ and you can’t be mad and say, ‘Listen, I need you in your apartment doing English.’ A player’s got to go to the bank, and I’m not going to ask why.”

For Worley, teaching virtually has its benefits and its challenges.

“It makes us more flexible,” he said, but he also understands the value of face-to-face interaction.

There are also times when a student is missing class, and Worley has to intervene, but such is the nature of teaching.

Generally speaking, though, these are dedicated young men who see the big picture.

“Given how international signings happen, they’re super focused,” Worley said. “I think part of that focus is recognizing on a certain level that, long-term trajectory, on top of everything else, whether that’s hitting off-speed stuff or working on a changeup, they also have to learn English. And it is an awesome extra thing for them to have to balance.

“All of them, I think, are envisioning a future for their families, and I think that is a weight that a lot of them carry,” he continued. “They are powerfully intrinsically motivated to do the things that they’re doing, and English, class becomes a part of that for lots of them.”

On the farm

Triple-A:Albuquerque Isotopes 5, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 4

Cole Carrigg got the game off to brisk start by hitting a home run (4) in the first inning. However, the lead was short-lived after Carlos Pérez answered with a three-run homer at the bottom of the inning. In the third, the Space Cowboys extended their lead with a CJ Alexander RBI-double, making the score 4-1. The ‘Topes started their return in the sixth when Braxton Fulford hit a two-run double (5) that scored Vimael Machín and Chad Stevens. Fulford doubled (6) again in the eighth inning, scoring Machín and tying the game. Finally in the ninth, Nic Kent struck out swinging but then advanced to first on a wild pitch, which allowed Chad Stevens to score the winning run.

The Isotopes are 23-16.

Double-A:Hartford Yard Goats 5, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2

Zach Kokoska got the scoring started in the second inning, hitting a two-run homer (5) that allowed Cole Messina to score. The Rumble Ponies answered back in the bottom of the inning when Eli Serrano III doubled to score Matt Rudick. Following that, Diego Mosquera scored on a throwing error by center fielder GJ Hill. In the third inning, Messina was hit by pitch with the bases loaded, and Dyan Jorge tallied the Yard Goats third run. Then, Kokoska singled to score Andy Perez. Roc Riggio hit a homer (6) in the fifth, and that finished the scoring for the day. Starting pitcher Connor Staine went five innings, allowing two runs, both earned, on two hits. He struck out six and walked three.

Hartford Yard Goats 5, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 0

The Yard Goats and Rumble Ponies played two, making up for a missed game on Saturday — and it was all Goats, so much glory. In the second inning (again) Zach Kokoska homered (6), scoring Aidan Longwell and Bryant Betancourt. Then, still in the second, Dyan Jorge singled on a ground ball to score Conner Capel. Following that, Andy Perez singled, bringing home Jose Torres. And that was it for the scoring.

The Yard Goats are 16-16.

High-A:Spokane Indians 8, Tri-City Dust Devils 3

Kevin Fitzer got the Indians on the board early by hitting a homer (5) in the first inning. A Matt Coutney homered in the second tied the game followed by an Anthony Scull home run that gave the Dust Devils the lead. In the bottom of the second, Fizter homered again (6), this time a grand slam that scored Jacob Hinderleider, Juan Castillo, and Caleb Hobson. In the third, Hinderleider also homered (3), scoring Kevin Hildago. Scull answered back with another homer in the fourth, but the Grizzlies never looked back. They scored on a wild pitch in the ninth for their final run.

Starter Yujanyer Herrera went four innings, giving up three runs (earned) on three hits. He also walked two and struck out two.

The Indians are 13-20.

Low-A:Fresno Grizzlies 8, San Jose Giants 2

The Giants struck first in the third inning when Cam Maldonado whacked a two-run double. But then, the Grizzlies entered the chat. In the third inning, Jack O’Dowd singled to score Roldy Brito, and the game was 2-1. In the fifth, the Grizzlies tied things up with a Clayton Gray single that scored Carlos Renzullo. Following that, Cameron Nelson doubled (3) and scored Gray, giving the Grizzlies the lead. When the fifth inning was over, the Grizzlies had a 5-2 lead. They scored in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings as well. O’Dowd went 3-for-5, including two RBI.

Starter Ethan Cole went four innings, giving up two runs (both earned) on three hits. He struck out two and walked one.

The Grizzlies are 19-14.

2026 Rockies’ good, bad and tradeable at the season’s quarter mark | Denver Post (gift link)

Patrick Saunders compares the 2026 Colorado Rockies to their 2025 counterparts. (TLDR: This team is better.) In addition, he considers players that the Rockies might consider trading.

Mickey Moniak: Trade or extend? | Blake Street Banter

You know about the home-road splits and the struggles against LHPs. With this in mind, David Cooper sorts through the numbers and games out the Rockies options.

With ‘slow heartbeat’ and top marks among MLB rookies, TJ Rumfield having immediate impact for Rockies | Denver Gazette ($)

First baseman TJ Rumfield is having quite a rookie season with some eye-popping numbers. Kevin Henry has the details.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

There was a lot of criticism when UFC decided to slot Sean Strickland against Khamzat Chimaev for UFC 328, overlooking true No. 1 contender Nassourdine Imavov in the process. But it’s hard to say the promotion was wrong after this weekend’s results: The UFC 328 press conference did massive numbers, bigger than any in years. UFC CEO Dana White said the event metrics were huge. And Strickland went and beat Chimaev via split decision, proving he was worthy of the shot after all.

Now “Tarzan” says he hopes the UFC goes back to more traditional matchmaking where the top guy in the ranking fights the champion. That would be Imavov, coincidentally a guy that Strickland already beat back in 2023.

“They say Nassourdine is next,” Strickland said at the UFC 328 post-fight press conference. “I will take a little breather. I want to go support my boy Alex [Pereira] at the White House. I want to watch him make history and get that third belt.”

“Me and my girl have been in camp for over six months, and you guys know how camp is. We don’t do things on weekends, we don’t travel, we don’t go out to eat. She’s pretty much my dietitian. I am going to give her a break. Give me a little time, let my broken nose heal, and let’s get back in there and get some fights going.”

“I truly believe in UFC rankings,” he added. “I think they f–king matter. I hate when guys jump it. So if that’s who the UFC [wants], if that’s the rankings, that’s who it is. Let’s go.”

Imavov, who hasn’t fought since a September 2025 win over Caio Borralho, showed his interest by tweeting “I’m gonna put your lights out.”

“F–king Nassourdine, are you really getting me on this f–king racism again?”” Strickland responded. “No, I can’t avoid the racism, come on.”

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 4, Gwinnett Stripers (ATL) 1

Norfolk wasted no time in this one, posting a three-spot in the first inning, courtesy of Creed Willems’ three-run shot after shortstop Payton Eeles and outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez reached. The next inning, Ryan Noda took a leadoff walk, advanced on a Silas Ardoin single, and scored courtesy of Jud Fabian’s single to left. Regrettably, the catcher Ardoin tried to steal home, too, and got rung up at the plate.

On the other hand, the lead held, as the Stripers couldn’t do much against Tides starter Nestor German, who threw 5 ⅔ one-run innings on Sunday. Gwinett scored in the top of the third on an RBI double by Brett Wisely, but they couldn’t hit with runners in scoring position after that, stranding two on base in the third and failing to score despite loading the bases with one out in the fifth.

It was a satisfying win for German, who had a 5.49 April ERA, but a nice 0.82 mark in the month of May. Willems’ homer was his eighth of the year. Gwinnett won the series 4-2 and went 7-5 on the two-week road trip.

Box Score

Double-A: Altoona Curve (PIT) 9, Chesapeake Baysox 3

Bullpen shenanigans buried the Baysox late, but for Yaqui Rivera it was, tentatively, a decent first career Double-A start. The right-hander, typically used as a bullpen arm, made his first start since August 10, 2023. Despite allowing a first-inning run on a two-out single, he still delivered a strong performance, working one full trip through the Altoona lineup and striking out five hitters, allowing the lone run on one hit and one walk in 2 ⅔ innings.

The Baysox did all their scoring in the bottom of the second. Chesapeake clubbed three doubles off Altoona right-hander Peyton Stumbo. Thomas Sosa doubled with one out, later scoring on an automatic double that bounced over the wall from Frederick Bencosme to tie the game. The Baysox loaded the bases with two outs before another automatic double, this time from Griff O’Ferrall, plated two more and gave Chesapeake a 3-1 edge.

Regrettably, the Curve flipped the script in the sixth. Left-hander Juan Rojas allowed a single hit and two walks to load the bases before being lifted. Too bad: Zane Barnhart allowed a grand slam to put the Curve on top 5-3. A fifth run scored on a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Altoona added three more runs in the top of the ninth on four hits and a Baysox error.

Jackson Holliday had the day off; his rehab assignment continues when Chesapeake opens a home series against Somerset on Tuesday.

Box Score

High-A: Frederick Keys 9, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (PHI) 1

Do moms like homers? This was a romp—call it a belated Mother’s Day gift for Keys fans. The Frederick Keys hit seven home runs in a 9-1 dismantling of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws in the series finale at Nymeo Field.

There were, if you follow me, a lot of home runs. Three were hit in back-to-back-to-back fashion in the first inning, helping to set up a 6-0 lead, as Reed Trimble, Wehiwa Aloy, and Ike Irish all went deep. Aloy himself homered three times this game. Elis Cuevas homered twice.

So that was pretty good.

Box Score

Low-A: Salem RidgeYaks (BOS) 13, Delmarva Shorebirds 3

Last and maybe least, if we’re being honest, it was a tough Mother’s Day finale for the Shorebirds. Starter Brayan Orratia got rocked, to the tune of seven runs (although just two earned) in 1.2 innings. Riley Cooper wasn’t much better, allowing four more runs in 2.1 innings… on a grand slam. Then, a combined outfit of Bradley Brehmer, Brendan Parks and J.D. Hennen allowed three runs in 3.1 innings.

The Shorebirds had actually struck first, capitalizing on back-to-back Salem errors in the top of the first, as Jose Perez brought home Raylin Ramos to make it 1-0. The RidgeYaks answered with seven straight runs over the next two innings (gah) to take a 7-1 lead. Delmarva chipped one run back in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Junior Aybar, but Salem responded with a Kleyver Salazar grand slam to go up 11-2. DJ Layton drove in the Shorebirds’ third run, but Salem cruised to a 13-3 win, splitting the series.

Box Score

Today’s Schedule

There are no scheduled games on Monday, May 11.

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.

The 2010 World Cup was a major low point for a French national team rich with history. Les Bleus were coming off a second-place finish in 2006, but failed to advance past the group stage after a very poor showing.

On top of that, France made headlines for the team’s tense locker room, which culminated in players staging a boycott after one of their teammates, veteran forward Nicolas Anelka, was expelled from camp.

Part of the issue was that the results were falling far below France’s expectations. The French opened the tournament with a 0-0 draw with Uruguay, before losing 2-0 to Mexico.

During that loss to Mexico, Anelka put all of his frustration onto manager Raymond Domenech, verbally abusing Domenech at halftime and sparking a feud between player and coach. Domenech responded by sending Anelka back to France in between the second and third games of the group stage as punishment.

That didn’t go over well with Anelka’s teammates: The team boycotted one of their practices ahead of their third game in protest. France’s players wrote a note for Domenech explaining their refusal to train, which the manager read to the press in lieu of a training session.

The bad vibes continued into that third match, where France — who was already mathematically eliminated from advancing to the knockout stage — lost 2-1 to South Africa after going down by two goals early on.

Once the dust settled, Anelka was banned for 18 matches by the Fédération Française de Football (FFF). Anelka, then 31, had already planned to retire from national team duty after the World Cup, but the ban brought his international career to an abrupt end.

All 23 players on the World Cup roster were suspended for the first friendly after the tournament, while three other players were given additional punishment for their role in the player boycott, including a five-match ban for captain Patrice Evra. Meanwhile, Domenech was promptly dismissed and replaced by Laurent Blanc.

Interpersonal drama is often a part of soccer, but few teams reach the point Les Bleus did in 2010. Luckily, France would go on to regroup over the next decade, winning the 2018 World Cup and finishing second in 2022.

Avalanche will have a couple tough decisions this summer now that NHL salary cap is set. [The Denver Post]

Pressure falls on Avalanche as they aim to purge playoff ghosts. [Sportsnet]

Avalanche remain confident in goaltending duo entering Game 4 against Wild. [NHL]

Necas’ breakout year with Avs includes 100-point season, playoff success and locker-room pranks. [TSN]

Gavin McKenna’s mom allegedly snuck teen hockey phenom alcohol at Pennsylvania bar. [Edmonton Journal]

Sharks an example for Canucks, Flames in their respective rebuilds. [USA Today]

Hockey icon Ernie ‘Punch’ McLean killed in northern B.C. crash. [CBC]

P.K. Subban speaks with The Gazette on Canadiens’ playoff run. [Montreal Gazette]

Hurricanes gift for rolling in playoffs? Another lengthy rest between rounds. [The Score]

NHL gambles away its credibility with draft lottery. Even if the Leafs winning it was on the up-and-up, and it probably was, a blatant conflict of interest remains. [Ottawa Citizen]

Blair Kerkhoff writes that Carlos Estévez is frustrated by his injury.

The team announced this week that Estevez has a right rotator cuff strain after experiencing shoulder discomfort in his first rehab assignment Wednesday. Estevez will be shut down for the next three weeks.

“It’s been a crazy first part of the year already, snowballing everything,” Estevez said before Sunday’s game. “It sucks. I’m not going to tell you I’m not mad. But it happens. I’ve been on a long run of being healthy. Knock on wood. Hopefully, this is the only thing.”

Jaylon Thompson writes about the inside-the-park home run Bobby Witt Jr. hit on Saturday.

Kauffman Stadium erupted as he crossed home plate Saturday night. The 26,724 fans in attendance knew they’d seen something special, showering him with gratitude, and the Royals never looked back.

“I feel like every base I hit, it got a little louder,” Witt said. “And so yeah, I just knew when I was rounding third, it got loud. So I just had to keep going.”

Anne Rogers has reaction from his teammates.

“All bets are off,” said Michael Massey, who added an out-of-the-park three-run homer in the fourth inning. “Usually, balls down the right-field line don’t turn into home runs in the park. Unless it’s that guy.”

“I was watching him run,” added Vinnie Pasquantino, who was in the on-deck circle. “Is he going to second or third? But then I saw the ball kick, and I was like, ‘Oh, he’s going to score.’”

She also writes about Noah Cameron’s mom Diane, throwing out the first pitch from her wheelchair.

And it sure doesn’t stop her from making sure she gives Noah her thoughts on his starts, he said with a smile.

“Yeah, they like to let me know,” Noah said, laughing. “But they’ve been there through it all. My dad was the best dad ever growing up, and still is, and my mom especially was so involved in my childhood. Just wanted to be involved in everything, school stuff, sports stuff, everything. She was super protective, especially over me because I’m the baby, which all my older siblings let me know about constantly.

“She was just always there. She’s super strong.”

Columbia Fireflies pitcher Jordan Woods throws six perfect innings with 14 strikeouts.

Jacob deGrom becomes the second-fastest ever to 1,900 career strikeouts.

Scott Boras says his client, Tarik Skubal, could have a short rehab.

The Giants send their struggling former closer Ryan Walker to the minors.

Bradford Doolittle at ESPN grades the Guardians trade for catcher Patrick Bailey.

Teams are bunting more this year.

Things probably can’t get worse for the Reds.

Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox dies at age 84.

Banning defensive shifts hasn’t seemed to help batting averages, writes The Athletic. [$]

Did the 1968 Dodgers have the best draft class ever?

The Washington Wizards land the #1 pick in the NBA draft lottery.

Barcelona defeats Real Madrid to clinch the La Liga title.

Who are the advisers behind top YouTube channels like MrBeast?

Why humans are obsessed with numbers too large to understand.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is having a moment.

Your song of the day is Culture Wars with Don’t Speak.

The 3A District 3 baseball tournament is here. Here are four teams I think can win it, plus a dark horse candidate.

The first round of the tournament begins on Tuesday, May 12. The quarterfinals are Wednesday, May 13. The semifinals and championship game will be held on Saturday, May 16 at Auburn High School.

Decatur (18-2)

The Gators are the favorite, with their only two losses this season coming to 4A Kentridge and 4A Tahoma, which is the No. 1 seed in the 4A District 3/4 tournament next week. Otherwise, Decatur has been flawless, tearing through its schedule. Nate Gilmore (.476, two home runs, nine doubles) and Ethan Flavel (.442, five home runs, triple, three doubles) have been mashing baseballs all spring.

Gig Harbor (15-8)

I think Gig Harbor should’ve been the No. 2 seed on the top of the bracket after beating Peninsula in the 3A PSL championship game last week at Lincoln. It feels like the Tides are peaking at the right time. Consistent hitting remains the question mark, but pitchers Quentin Bockhorn, Jake Cuda and emerging sophomore arm Max Bergford will have the Tides in every game.

Kentlake (16-4)

The Falcons haven’t lost since early April and have maybe the best brother duo in the state: senior Christopher Moore (.638 batting average, four home runs, three triples, 10 doubles, 36 RBI; 0.66 ERA, 59 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched) and Lincoln Moore (.377, three triples, nine doubles, 19 RBI).

Peninsula (16-5)

The Seahawks will be eager to reverse a short skid (losses to Kelso, Gig Harbor) when the district tournament begins. Peninsula is a well-rounded group with a good lineup. Junior catcher, leadoff hitter Pete Browand, a Fresno State commit, is as tough an out as they come. He’s hitting a team-high .443 with three home runs, three triples, five doubles and 25 RBI.

DARK HORSE

Don’t count out North Thurston (16-5). The Rams are one of the area’s hottest teams, winners of 12 straight after a shaky start.

TNT CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

Decatur over Peninsula

Good morning, baseball fans!

We are in the middle of a new feature for May that I’m calling the “12 Days of Mays-mas” because I won’t be around for this week, and I want to leave you guys with some fun things to watch while I’m gone.

For the eleventh day of Mays-mas, I thought we could take a look at the game that launched a thousand McCovey Chronicles memes, and that would be Game 5 of the 2012 NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds! If you want to watch the full game, it is available on YouTube but not available to embed here.

However, let’s be real, the moment we’re all watching for is Buster Posey’s grand slam in the fifth inning. And I’ve got you covered there. So grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy!

What time do the Giants play today?

The San Francisco Giants head south to begin a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight at 7:10 p.m. PT.

Happy Monday, everyone, and a belated Happy Mother’s Day to all the BCB moms out there. We have a couple of big bits of news from over the weekend. The biggest is likely the unexpected May trade that sent Patrick Bailey from the Giants to the Cleveland Guardians. There has, naturally, been a fair bit of discourse about what this means for the Giants’ struggling season, and if the Guardians are the clear winners of this deal. Also, just general discourse about the craziness of a May trade.

The other big story over the weekend is the passing of former Braves manager Bobby Cox. This comes right on the heels of the passing of former Braves owner Ted Turner, so it has been a rough week for Braves fans.

We’ve got that and more little tidbits from around baseball for you to sink your teeth into, so let’s just jump right into it.

• Michael Baumann thinks Matt Olson is back in his peak form.
• Bobby Witt Jr. managed to get an inside-the-park home run on a ground ball. Story by Anne Rogers.
• A look at the Patrick Bailey trade and what it suggests about the Giants right now. Story by Tim Capurso.
• Bradford Doolittle grades the Bailey trade as well.
• Give me more Muppets in broadcast booths, please. (and yes, Sesame Street characters ARE Muppets.) (Here’s a direct link to the BlueSky post for those reading on Apple News)

• Tough week for Braves fans, first Ted Turner and now Bobby Cox. Story by Scott Flynn.
• Some things Ben Clemens liked (or didn’t like) in the past week.
• Jesse Borek spotlights the A’s minor leaguer who went 5-for-5 on back-to-back nights.
• Jay Paris looks at the unusual legacy of Mason Miller’s 4K inning.
• Who are the 10 best catchers in baseball right now? (SI)
• Eno Sarris explains how Pull Air is impacting some hard-hitting batters. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Dear baseball teams, more of this medical update format, please.

• Kiri Oler doesn’t think things could get much worse for the Reds.
• A celebration of major league moms. (MLB)
• One surprising performer from every MLB team. (SI)
• Karl Rasmussen explains why the Braves have been the best team in baseball so far in 2026.
• The Orioles are down, but don’t count them out. Story by Brittany Ghiroli. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• I was legitimately not prepared.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.

The most important day of any fantasy basketball season is, of course, draft day.

But the first few days of the actual WNBA season can be just as crucial for fantasy managers looking to get off to a fast start. If you’re in a competitive league, you’re probably checking your waiver wire often, and there’s no better time to do so than early in the season, before the competition has caught up on injury replacements or breakout candidates.

To be clear, leagues aren’t typically won or lost in the first weekend. It’s a solid window of opportunity to make changes to one’s roster, though, especially while rosters are still in flux due to overseas commitments and other absences. If you have an open spot or two on your fantasy team, consider using it on one of these players.

Odyssey Sims (Dallas Wings)

Now in her third separate stint with the Wings, Sims is certainly no stranger to Dallas, so it wasn’t a surprise when she made the team out of training camp. Sims got the starting nod in the Wings’ season opener against Indiana and made the most of her time on the court, recording 20 points, two 3-pointers and two steals in 26 minutes. Playing alongside Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale will obviously limit Sims’ playmaking opportunities, but she’s never been bashful when it comes to shooting the ball, and Wings head coach Jose Fernandez clearly feels that a three-guard lineup is the way to go, at least for the time being. Rostered in 13 percent of leagues, Sims is worth an add until Dallas’ prized rookie Azzi Fudd gets her sea legs.

Jovana Nogic (Phoenix Mercury)

With Sami Whitcomb (knee) and Monique Akoa Makani (overseas commitments) out of the Mercury’s lineup, Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts turned to Nogic as the team’s starting lead guard, and she didn’t disappoint. Nogic scored 19 points and knocked down four 3-pointers in her WNBA debut, chipping in four assists and two steals in her 21 minutes of playing time as the Mercury spoiled the Aces’ championship celebration. Given how much of the Mercury’s offense runs through Alyssa Thomas, don’t expect Nogic to put up big assist numbers, but do expect her to get plenty of open 3-point looks; Phoenix wants to surround Thomas with as much shooting as possible, and with the team’s backcourt a little thin at the moment, Nogic should get plenty of opportunities to build on an impressive first game.

Carla Leite (Portland Fire)

The Fire’s rotations are probably going to change quite a bit throughout the course of their inaugural season, and on paper they aren’t looking like a very competitive team. That being said, Leite appears to be one of the few Portland players who already has a secure role. She didn’t shoot the ball well in the Fire’s season opener against Chicago, but she still scored 18 points thanks to her ability to get to the free throw line (11-for-12), and she played 29 minutes—a mark she hit only three times last year with Golden State. Unlike her rookie season with the Valkyries, Leite won’t be competing with an established veteran for more playing time, so she’ll have a clear runway for consistent playing time.

Kennedy Burke (Connecticut Sun)

After struggling in her Sun debut, Burke bounced back against the Storm, recording a healthy stat line of 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 34 minutes. Connecticut will have a lot to figure out this season and probably won’t win many games, but as one of the team’s few veteran perimeter players, Burke will likely have a much bigger role with the Sun than she’s had at any other point in her WNBA career. She’s also very comfortable playing for Rachid Meziane, who previously coached her in France when she won back-to-back MVP honors in the Ligue Féminine. The playmaking opportunities will dry up a bit when the Sun get Leïla Lacan back from overseas commitments, but Burke should otherwise remain a steady contributor.

Marine Johannès (New York Liberty)

This is more of a short-term add, but it’s an important one nonetheless. With Sabrina Ionescu out for at least two weeks due to a foot injury, the Liberty have turned to Johannès to fill that void in their backcourt. Through two games, she’s been scorching hot, totaling 42 points, 11 3-pointers and five steals. Johannès is a streaky shooter and is bound to cool off sooner or later, but as long as Ionescu is out of the lineup, she’ll have the ball in her hands much more often, and she’ll be playing plenty of minutes alongside the rest of the Liberty’s starters. Just be prepared to drop her when New York returns to full strength.

Real Madrid TV have been making headlines all season and are back in the news again after Sunday’s Clasico win delivered Barcelona the title at their rivals’ expense.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres secured another win for Barcelona to move them 14 points clear of Madrid with just three games left to play.

Real Madrid TV were once again left furious by the whole situation and so decided to once again criticise the refereeing, taking aim at Eric Garcia and his challenge on Jude Bellingham.

“Perhaps a push at neck level is something more, but we didn’t see it. What we did see was an elbow from Eric García that is clearly a penalty and also a red card offense,” was the argument on Real Madrid TV.

“It’s yet another demonstration of VAR inaction that fails to correct what could be an injustice. If this is considered a play in the game, then everything can be considered a play in the game; anyone who has played football knows that Eric García did that intentionally.”

There were also claims that Dani Olmo should have been sent off, before RMTV went to lauch a full-blown attack on La Liga, television coverage and Javier Tebas.

“The Spanish League is not serious. The Spanish League, Tebas’s league, Negreira’s league. It’s a circus and a farce. This is appalling. The broadcast of the Spanish League is a disgrace.

“The most serious issue is the lack of footage. When there have been controversial plays, we’ve seen excellent panoramic shots when Real Madrid was the intended target of the foul. Suddenly, once again, the broadcast cuts out during a crucial foul.

“This broadcast is handled by HBS, a company contracted by Tebas, which, in turn, is a subsidiary of Mediapro, and whose directors belong to the former Mediapro and are the ones dictating the editorial line and how they want the match to be presented to the fans.

“Every time there are questionable plays, VAR intervenes when it suits them. And when does VAR intervene? It only intervenes to harm Real Madrid.”

The defeat comes at the end of a difficult week for Los Blancos which was marred by allegations of an alteration between Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni that saw the Uruguayan hospitalised and both players handed hefty fines.

I think now is a very good time to check on the minor leagues. A month has been played at all levels (except the rookie leagues, but they haven’t started their seasons yet) and while a month of playing time isn’t necessarily a good sample, it can tell us things. Players can have such strong first months that it fuels their later promotion, or players can start so slow that it significantly delays when they will get promoted. We shouldn’t overreact to either. Today I wanted to focus on the hitters, because they simply have a better sample than the pitchers.

Memphis

Joshua Baez, OF – 23 (#6 VEB prospect)

Stats: 33 G, 146 PAs, .229/.308/.450, 7.5 BB%, 34.2 K%, .221 ISO, .311 BABIP, 94 wRC+

I know there were some people who wanted Baez to make the team out of spring training, but I think we need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that Baez might not be ready for the big leagues all year. At this point, I think an ideal outcome is something like what happened with Masyn Winn. Winn got hot in the middle of the year in 2023, built up his hitting line and got a final month and change to see what MLB pitching looks like. Baez doesn’t have as far to go as Winn did (Winn was as low as a 77 wRC+ on June 11th), but he does need to strike out significantly less. I also would expect a bit of a learning curve when he does make the majors (hence why a month and change this year might be ideal).

Leonardo Bernal, C – 22 (#7 VEB prospect)

Stats: 31 G, 133 PAs, .243/.331/.374, 12 BB%, 23.3 K%, .131 ISO, .301 BABIP, 85 wRC+

Things are more or less on track for Bernal – I would expect him to have a below average hitting line in his first 100 PAs, and there’s nothing alarming in the way he’s gotten there. You’d hope for a little more power and a little less strikeouts, but again these look like what I would expect from Bernal if he needed some time to adjust to a new level. He’s still walking, the strikeouts are reasonable, and he has a little punch. We will see Jimmy Crooks this year, we will probably not see Bernal, but that was the expectation going in.

Jimmy Crooks, C – 24 (#8 VEB prospect)

Stats: 30 G, 134 PAs, ..264/.418/.632, 17.9 BB%, 30 K%, .368 ISO, .296 BABIP, 165 wRC+

By the numbers, it looks like Crooks is ready for the major leagues with his K rate finally going down. I’m going to push back on that a little here. Two reasons: first, I don’t really trust his BB rate. Pitchers will not walk him 18% of the time in the majors. He has certainly increased my expectation of how much he’ll walk at the MLB level, but I don’t know if he’ll be a high BB guy based on 2025, both in the majors and Memphis. I also don’t trust his power numbers, because I didn’t realize this until now, but his HR/FB% is literally 50%. Half of the flyballs he has hit have been homers. Aaron Judge doesn’t do that. Judge’s career rate is 31.8% and just 19 qualified hitters had even over a 20% HR/FB% last season. These would not be concerns for me if his K rate was 25%, which I think he is capable of at Memphis. He lowered his K% four and half points this past week and had four extra base hits so he might get there soon.

Bryan Torres, 2B/OF – 28 (40 man roster)

Stats: 29 G, 135 PAs, .330/.440/.500, 15.6 BB%, 13.3 K%, .170 ISO, .382 BABIP, 148 wRC+

I’m not going to say his ISO is misleading, but he’s on pace for three less homers than last season with the same amount of PAs. He’s only hit two homers. He’s hitting more doubles. Which is great, but I don’t really think his power has actually improved, you know? I would still like to see him at the MLB level. He definitely won’t walk this much, I’m more curious on how much he’ll strike out. Because I think he’ll walk as much as a player like him can, so his success at the MLB will hinge on if his K rate is 15% or 20%.

Blaze Jordan, 1B/3B – 23

Stats: 33 G, 140 PAs, .307/.371/.575, 7.9 BB%, 12.1 K%, .268 ISO, .304 BABIP, 141 wRC+

Unfortunately, Jordan got hit by a pitch in his face yesterday and had to be removed from the game. Hopefully, nothing is seriously wrong, he can come back soon, and continue raking. To compare him to Crooks, Jordan’s HR/FB% is 29.6%, which is more than he’ll have in the major leagues, but hopefully represents a genuine improvement in power. For most of his minor league career, he’s been around 14%. Bump that up a few percentage points and his MLB picture certainly changes.

Colton Ledbetter, OF – 24

Stats: 30 G, 127 PAs, .200/.268/.304, 7.1 BB%, 37 K%, .104 ISO, .324 BABIP, 48 wRC+

There is good news. He was on an epic slump from April 14th to April 24th, where he went hitless in six of his eight games played and in the two games he got a hit, he hit a single and that was it. But since April 25th, Ledbetter has a 9.5 BB%, 23.8 K%, a .164 ISO, and a 134 wRC+. Yes, he didn’t hit a homer and yes he had a .444 BABIP in that stretch, so let’s hope he gets home run power, but I am particularly encouraged by the K/BB after his awful, awful start to the year.

Ramon Mendoza, 2B/3B – 25

Stats: 26 G, 107 PAs, .316/.393/.495, 11.2 BB%, 23.4 K%, .179 ISO, .403 BABIP, 134 wRC+

I don’t think Mendoza is a part of the plan. He’s not technically a starter. Blaze Jordan tends to be at 3B, Torres tends to be at 2B, the outfield is a combo of Nelson Velazquez, Baez, and Ledbetter while one of the catcher DHs. But he keeps hitting. He is forcing his way into more playing time. He hit his third homer yesterday. He exclusively plays 2B or 3B so I don’t know how good his defense is, but he’s a fun story.

Nelson Velasquez, OF – 27

Stats: 29 G, 114 PAs, .188/.316/.344, 14.9 BB%, 28.1 K%, .156 ISO, .233 BABIP, 76 wRC+

I thought about not sharing his stats at all, but he is outfield depth on a team that regularly plays infielders in the outfield so it’s possible he will get hot and become a factor later in the year, especially if Baez doesn’t appear to be ready. With that aside, he is going to need to go on a real heater for that to be the case, because he has started very slow.

Springfield

Deniel Ortiz, 1B/3B – 21 (#18 VEB prospect)

Ortiz suffered a wrist injury, and that’s about all we know. Minor league injury information is very scant. He hasn’t played since the first game of the year, when he went 0-5 with two strikeouts. Pretty unfortunate.

Chase Davis, OF – 24

Stats: 27 G, 118 PAs, .198/.347/.385, 18.6 BB%, 29.7 K%, .188 ISO, .250 BABIP, 95 wRC+

That is one ugly average to look at, however I do think there’s reason for optimism with Davis. Namely, the thing that got him drafted was his power and he’s already hit half the homers he did last year. It remains to be seen if that’s causing his low BABIP, but we’re still in far too small sample territory. He wasn’t going to be anything more than a defense-first outfielder with how he hit last year, if he can find power, maybe there’s something here.

Zach Levenson, OF – 24

Stats: 29 G, 119 PAs, .186/.303/.265, 14.3 BB%, 23.5 K%, .078 ISO, .247 BABIP, 58 wRC+

Levenson has the kind of hitting line that really makes you appreciate Chase Davis’ line. Which says more about Levenson unfortunately. But not a whole lot in the numbers to get excited about here. He finished his season strong last year in Springfield, but in slightly more PAs this year, he has not been able to build on that quite yet.

Jeremy Rivas, SS – 23

Stats: 27 G, 104 PAs, .247/.365/.376, 13.5 BB%, 21.6 K%, .129 ISO, .302 BABIP, 101 wRC+

Very good start for Rivas. He did start hot last year too, so buyer beware. But Rivas is a defense-first shortstop who isn’t considered a prospect, because of his bat. If he can hit at all, literally at all, he will be a major leaguer. He made it to Springfield very young, at 21, entirely on the strength of his defense, and he got close to an average hitting line, but it came with no power. Last year, he added sufficient power, but the strikeouts and BABIP made him a bad hitter. If, and it’s a big if, he can have just enough power, strike out a normal amount, and still manage decent BABIPs, he might become an actual prospect.

Travis Honeyman, OF – 24

Stats: 27 G, 108 PAs, .293/.398/.391, 13 BB%, 17.8 K%, .098 ISO, .352 BABIP, 118 wRC+

Honeyman still needs more power, especially at Springfield, but he hit his second home run yesterday. He hit two all last year. He was drafted in 2023, and then had 82 total PAs between the rest of 2023 and the 2024 season. He missed some time to injury last season too. It’s entirely possible he will find enough power to make the rest of his profile work – because power is really the only thing missing.

Miguel Ugueto, OF – 23

Stats: 26 G, 110 PAs, .283/.351/.434, 5.5 BB%, 14.5 K%, .151 ISO, .321 BABIP, 108 wRC+

Claimed in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft prior to last season, there was no reason to think anything of Ugueto, especially when he hit for a 67 wRC+. There probably still isn’t, but he’s made himself interesting. He has also, it’s worth noting, stolen 16 bases to one caught stealing. This is a pretty stark difference from last season when he stole 9 bases to 5 caught stealing in Springfield.

Ryan Campos, C – 23

Stats: 27 G, 116 PAs, .295/.414/.484, 16.2 BB%, 23.4 K%, .189 ISO, .364 BABIP, 138 wRC+

Oh boy you are in the wrong organization. That’s right, we have a catcher who has always had a good eye but never had power come bursting out in the first month with power. He has hit more homers so far this season than his previous 527 PAs as a professional. He is a tiny, tiny guy, so there are still concerns, but do we have to start paying attention to yet another catcher? This is getting ridiculous.

Jon Jon Gazdar, 2B/SS – 24

Stats: 24 G, 113 PAs, .227/.333/.361, 10.6 BB%, 12.4 K%, .134 ISO, .235 BABIP, 85 wRC+

Springfield is just filled with guys who need to add power. They are in the right place. If Gazdar had a normal BABIP, he’d have a really good hitting line. And it’s tough to say if a hitter is unlucky or not in this small of a sample. But I’d say this is good news more than bad news despite the below average hitting line.

Well honestly, I ended up covering more players than I expected, so this one is going to have to be a two-parter on just the hitters. Memphis has a pretty stacked lineup, Springfield certainly is worse off than last season.

The biggest homestand of the season is upon us and to kick things off, we sit down with Angie Mentink from the Seattle Mariners broadcast team.  

Q:  Let’s start with the injuries that Dan Wilson has had to juggle and manage, albeit Cal Raleigh is back.  Injuries are certainly something Astros fans can relate to.  What is the latest on injuries for the Mariners?

A:  Injuries? How much time do we have? Of course the loss of Cal hurts for any amount of time—and his bat is just a small part of it—his catching and the trust that the staff has in him is so central to this team‘s success.

There have been so many—impacting several things—This team was just figuring out how lucky they were to have Brendan Donovan when we lost him.  J.P. Crawford has been good at the top of the order so that has helped with the sting of losing BD but he should be back on this trip. I don’t want to overlook the absence of Victor Robles in right field either, just a guy that plays great defense and lengthens the batting lineup— having said all that— I think the really difficult injuries are to the leverage arms in the bullpen, to Matt Brash and Gabe Speier, it pinches Dan Wilson for sure.

Q:  Bryan Woo.  I’d pay good money to see him but he’s been somewhat up and down thus far.  What have you seen from him?

A:  His last start was terrific, but the two starts before that had everyone shocked and perplexed. He hadn’t given up a home run up until that point and then it was like Oprah—you get a home run and you get a home run and you get a home run. The league is always going to zero in on you when you are successful and you have to adjust and I think we are seeing that with him.

Q:  Julio had a big homerun a few days ago against the Braves.  Does it “feel” like he’s about to heat up?

A:  Yes, and I think he’s early this year! Everybody wants Julio to get off to a fast start. He just hasn’t done it yet, but when he does, I think he will start putting together those MVP seasons in the meantime, I enjoy watching him grind out at bats in April and May and I look forward to looking up in September and seeing another 30/30 from him.

Last Q:Any general thoughts on the division and how no one (yet) has broken away from the pack?   
A:  Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of the division. Every team seems to be dealing with a different problem or issue. I still think the Mariners have the most complete team. Their rotation is gross— and that was before they had Emerson Hancock filling in for Bryce Miller, who is nearly back. It is no secret—The heart of the order didn’t come out of the gates hot, but they are starting to slug and if that continues, I think they will start to pull away.

Welcome to today’s roundup of New Orleans Saints and NFL news!

Saints 2nd round draft pick DT Christen Miller signs 4-year deal

The last Saints rookie to sign their contract.

Saints rookie guard Jeremiah Wright sharpens technique while eagerly awaiting physicality

All good things to hear from a developmental offensive lineman.

Former Saints offensive lineman signs with New York Jets after tryout

A player who kept staying on the roster is finally on a new team.

Rhonda Revelle and crew capped off their regular season softball championship with a tournament championship. The ladies have a chance at the overall #1 seed in the tournament after Oklahoma faltered in the SEC tourney. You will know by the time this article is published whether they accomplished that or not. I was traveling yesterday and unable to update with the latest and greatest information.

Corn Flakes

Nebraska softball vs UCLA recap, stats, highlights
The Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the UCLA Bruins 7-2 to win the Big Ten Softball Tournament. 

Husker baseball beats Iowa on Saturday to clinch the series
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska baseball honored its seniors on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln.

Jasa spins seven-inning gem as Huskers run-rule Iowa on Friday
Carson Jasa struck out nine and allowed just two hits across seven scoreless innings in No. 25 Nebraska’s 10-0 run-rule victory in eight innings against Iowa in front of a crowd of 7,094 fans on Friday night at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

Caleb Smoot building his own football story, adds Husker offer
The son of a former NFL player, his last name will ring familiar to football fans. Caleb is off and running toward his own possibilities. 

Husker volleyball to face Texas, UNLV in Players Era Showcase in Vegas
The Nebraska volleyball program will play in the first-ever Players Era Volleyball Showcase in Las Vegas this August to officially begin the regular season. 

Sports!

Bobby Cox, manager of the Atlanta Braves teams that dominated the National League, dies at 84
ATLANTA (AP) — Bobby Cox, the folksy manager of the Atlanta Braves whose teams ruled the National League during the 1990s and gave the city its first major title as well as World Series trips that fell short, died Saturday. He was 84.

Then There’s This

The new wild west of AI kids’ toys
AI toys are seemingly everywhere, marketed online as friendly companions to children as young as three, and they’re still a largely unregulated category.

The UFC is back in its “Sin City” home base this week with featherweight standouts atop the card.

Here's how to watch UFC Fight Night 276, where a former British contender will try to get back on track in his first main event in three years.

Broadcast and streaming info

UFC Fight Night 276 has a main card that streams at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+. The prelims stream on Paramount+ at 5 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned to MMA Junkie for additional broadcast details later this week.

Main event: Arnold Allen

• Record: 20-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC
• Opponent: Melquizael Costa (26-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
• Division: Featherweight
• Key wins: Giga Chikadze, Calvin Kattar, Dan Hooker, Sodiq Yusuff, Nik Lentz, Gilbert Melendez
• Misc.: The 32-year-old Allen has dropped three of his past four, but they’ve all been by decision to some of the division’s top names: former champion Max Holloway, a then-unbeaten Movsar Evloev and, in January, Jean Silva. 

Main event: Melquizael Costa

• Record: 26-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC
• Opponent: Arnold Allen (20-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC)
• Division: Featherweight
• Key wins: Morgan Charriere, Julian Erosa, Christian Rodriguez, Andre Fili, Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
• Misc.: Brazil’s Costa has made a quiet rise up the ranks at 145 pounds over the past two years. He went 4-0 in 2025 and started his 2026 with a bonus-winning knockout of Dan Ige and found himself ranked in the top 15 for the first time. Over his current six-fight winning streak, he has four stoppages and a pair of post-fight bonuses. 

Co-main event: Dooho Choi

• Record: 16-4-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC
• Opponent: Daniel Santos (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
• Division: Featherweight
• Key wins: Nate Landwehr, Bill Algeo, Thiago Tavares, Sam Sicilia
• Misc.: “The Korean Superboy” is back for the first time in 18 months and will try to extend his modest two-fight winning streak on the heels of a knee injury that took him out of a scheduled return to the cage this past fall. Choi once had bonuses in five straight fights, though the last three of them were losses. Some of those were a decade ago, though, so Choi would be well served to remind people of what he can bring to the conversation.  

Co-main event: Daniel Santos

• Record: 13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC
• Opponent: Dooho Choi (16-4-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) vs. Daniel Santos (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
• Division: Featherweight
• Key wins: Johnny Munoz Jr., John Castaneda
• Misc.: After he dropped his promotional debut, Santos has four straight wins. He’s also dealt with a bunch of his own injuries and pullouts and, this past fall, Choi’s withdrawal from their scheduled matchup. But now it’ll come to fruition, finally, as the co-feature, and Santos will do it trying to build on his second-round knockout of Joo Sang Yoo in a matchup he took after Choi’s pullout.

UFC debut: Juan Diaz

• Record: 15-1-1
• Opponent: Malcolm Wellmaker (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
• Division: Bantamweight
• Misc.: Diaz’s spinning back elbow knockout on DWCS this past October earned him a contract. Now the Entram Gym teammate of the likes of Michael Morales will make a promotional debut high on the show in a featured spot on the main card.  

UFC debut: Thomas Gantt

• Record: 11-0
• Opponent: Trey Ogden (18-7 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
• Division: Lightweight
• Misc.: Gantt comes to the UFC by way of DWCS, where he submitted Adam Livingston midway through the first round this past September. The 33-year-old has 10 of his 11 wins by stoppage with an equal mix of knockouts and submissions. 

UFC Fight Night 276 lineup

MAIN CARD (Paramount+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa
• Dooho Choi vs. Daniel Santos
• Juan Diaz vs. Malcolm Wellmaker
• Rodolfo Bellato vs. Modestas Bukauskas
• Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj

PRELIMINARY CARD (Paramount+, 5 p.m. ET)

• Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Khaos Williams
• Ivan Erslan vs. Tuco Tokkos
• Thomas Gantt vs. Trey Ogden
• Jacqueline Cavalcanti vs. Ketlen Vieira
• Cody Brundage vs. Andre Petroski
• Alice Ardelean vs. Polyana Viana
• Daniel Barez vs. Luis Gurule
• Shauna Bannon vs. Nicolle Caliari

UFC Fight Night 276 main card betting odds

• Allen -185, Costa +155
• Choi +105, Santos -125
• Diaz +210, Wellmaker -260
• Bellato +110, Bukauskas -130
• Cuamba +130, Sopaj -155

UFC Fight Night 276 preliminary card betting odds

• Veretennikov +105, Williams -125
• Erslan -180, Tokkos +150
• Gantt -230, Ogden +190
• Cavalcanti -175, Vieira +150
• Brundage +180, Petroski -220
• Ardelean -205, Viana +170
• Barez -110, Gurule -110
• Bannon +175, Caliari -210

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Night 276: How to watch Allen vs. Costa, Vegas lineup, odds

There’s been a lot of talk surrounding how Matthew Stafford feels about the Los Angeles Rams drafting his potential successor, Ty Simpson, though we still haven’t heard from the reigning MVP himself. The Rams gave him a heads-up beforehand and let him know they were going to take Simpson, but it’s still reasonable to think he may not be overjoyed that they took his replacement instead of someone who can help now.

The good news is that Stafford did, in fact, reach out to Simpson and welcome him to the Rams after the draft, as did his wife. Stafford’s message to the rookie quarterback was a “funny” one, too.

Stafford, a former Georgia Bulldog, ribbed Simpson for playing at Alabama.

“It was funny because, of course, he was like, ‘Welcome, man. I’m super pumped,’” Simpson said Saturday, via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times. “He was like, ‘Loved watching you play, but you played for the wrong jersey,’ because he’s pumping up Georgia.”

SEC rivalries are no joke, and now Simpson is outnumbered by two former Bulldogs in Stafford and Stetson Bennett.

“So when I see him on Monday, I’m going to give him heck about that,” he said. “But it’s cool. I’m super excited, especially having him and Stetson in there, Georgia guys, and me, an Alabama guy, so I’ve got to stand up for myself.”

That being said, it’s the perfect landing spot for the young quarterback. He’ll get to learn from Stafford and get coached up by Sean McVay before potentially taking the reins as the starter in a year or two (or three).

It may not be an ideal scenario for Stafford as he approaches retirement, but being the leader that he is, anything besides taking Simpson under his wing would be a surprise.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' Ty Simpson initially missed Matthew Stafford's text after draft

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert is hoping their supporters can give the players a "very big lift" for Tuesday's Championship play-off semi-final second leg.

Saints welcome Middlesbrough to St Mary's and will be hoping to book their spot at Wembley for the play-off final as they did two years ago against West Brom under Russell Martin.

Saturday's scoreless draw at the Riverside was a fine result for Eckert's side who had to endure a huge amount of pressure in the first half but had chances to score late on.

"We are at half-time now and I think you can interpret this in many different ways," Eckert told BBC Radio Solent.

"In the end it's important that we bring it to our side on Tuesday and I think that the crowd and the supporters are going to give us a very big lift.

"The boys were outstanding over 90 minutes (on Saturday) and we take lots of the positives into the game on Tuesday."

Southampton are currently on a 20 game unbeaten run in the league and have not lost at St Mary's since a 2-1 defeat by Hull City in mid January.

When Southampton managed to navigate this stage two years ago they eased past the Baggies 3-1 in the second leg of a play-off semi-final that had also had a scoreless first leg.

You can follow all of the action in Tuesday's game live on the BBC Sport website and app or listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Solent.

Lloyds Banking Group is warning World Cup fans about a sharp rise in football ticket scams, with reported cases climbing 36% during the current Premier League season and fraud victims losing £215 on average.

The bank expects the same playbook to follow fans into the 2026 tournament, as fraudsters target ticket buyers on social media and unregulated crypto fan tokens emerge as a second avenue for tournament-themed scams.

Ticket Fraud Already Climbing Before Kickoff

Lloyds said the average victim lost £215, but some lost far more. Total losses jumped 42% compared with the same six months a year earlier, and football accounted for 32% of all ticket scams the bank tracked.

The pattern is well-rehearsed. Sellers post fake tickets on social media, move buyers to WhatsApp, demand a bank transfer, then disappear once the money lands. Lloyds also flagged counterfeit QR codes, fake waiting lists, and bogus pre-release offers in a fraud warning.

FIFA has added scarcity that scammers can exploit. The governing body listed top Category 1 seats for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium at $32,970, about three times the previous high of $10,990. FIFA received more than 500 million ticket requests for 2026, far above the combined demand for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

Crypto Fan Tokens Open a Second Front

Beyond fake tickets, Lloyds and law enforcement campaigns flagged crypto-themed fraud tied to the tournament. Fan tokens linked to national teams, sold on platforms outside UK or US consumer rules, have a history of underperforming during major competitions and of being copied by rug-pull projects that vanish with investor funds.

UK lawmakers have already pushed back on the model. A House of Commons committee concluded that promoting fan tokens to supporters put fans at financial risk and could damage club reputations. Previous tournament cycles also produced imitation tokens, including a "World Cup Inu" project flagged for siphoning funds through hidden swap taxes.

Investigators want fans to check ticket sources through FIFA's official resale marketplace, treat unsolicited offers as red flags, and avoid token launches that ride tournament hype without regulated issuers behind them.

The opening match is roughly a month away, and the next reading from Lloyds will show whether new awareness campaigns can keep losses from climbing further.

Read the Original story Football Ticket Scams Up 36% Ahead of 2026 World Cup, Lloyds Warns by Phil Haunhorst at beincrypto.com

Justin Joly's fit with Broncos explained in exciting way by ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Denver Broncos may not have known the name Justin Joly before the 2026 NFL Draft.

Now, though, he's a guy that they probably should start getting excited about.

Joly was just a fifth-round pick out of North Carolina State, but the athletic tight end has a chance to make an impact early and often.

ESPN's Field Yates included Joly on his list of Day 2-3 draft picks who can make an "instant impact." Given that Denver is an AFC contender, having a young player contribute immediately would certainly be a plus.

"Sean Payton-coached teams have long emphasized having a 'Joker' -- a running back or tight end who creates mismatches in the passing game," Yates writes. "The Broncos signed Evan Engram last offseason to fill that role, but his numbers (50 catches, 461 yards, one touchdown) were modest. Joly is a nimble, talented pass catcher who specializes in making catches outside his strike zone. He averaged more than 6.0 yards after the catch per reception his first three college seasons and didn't have a drop in 2025."

MORE: Shilo Sanders under fire for telling female reporter to 'make a sandwich'

The tricky part for Joly will be that Engram is still there. If he's meant to take over for Engram, that could be a gradual process, and maybe less immediate than Yates speculates.

Denver also has Adam Trautman, although he fills a more traditional tight end role.

In the modern NFL, teams seem to be deciding that they can't have too many tight ends, so in that context, Joly should also be useful to Sean Payton's offense. 

Maybe the ideal scenario is that Joly can learn for a big chunk of the season and start to hit his stride by the end of the year, when he might be fresh and ready to show what he can do. If injuries come earlier, so be it -- Joly might be ready anyway.

It's certainly exciting for Broncos fans to have Joly on board as a potential key piece to the season ahead.

More NFL news:

• Saints still have an Alvin Kamara decision to make
• What's going on with Aaron Rodgers and the Cardinals?
• Eagles might have a DeVonta Smith problem
• Patriots give another A.J. Brown signal
• From Falcons to Cardinals, Tyler Allgeier can't catch a break

At the conclusion of every season, the all-time rankings in New Orleans Saints history tend to shift. Franchise legends continue climbing higher up the record books, while others with shorter tenures slowly begin to fade down the list as new names emerge. As the years pass, each season adds another chapter to the organization’s rich history and reshapes where players stand among the franchise’s all-time greats.

Starting with the passing categories, we’ll take a closer look at the most prolific quarterbacks to ever suit up for the Saints. While there’s little debate over who sits comfortably at the top of nearly every major category, the names behind him tell an interesting story of the franchise’s evolution through different eras. Several signal callers have left lasting marks on the organization, whether through longevity, unforgettable moments, or record-setting production that still holds weight in Saints history today.

With that in mind, here’s an updated look at the top-20 passing yardage leaders in New Orleans Saints franchise history entering the 2026 season:

20. Jameis Winston (2020-2023): 2,367 yards

19. Richard Todd (1984-1985): 2,369 yards

18. Tyler Shough (2025): 2,384 yards

17. Taysom Hill (2017-2025): 2,426 yards

16. Wade Wilson (1993-1994): 2,629 yards

15. Edd Hargett (1969-1972): 2,727 yards

14. Bobby Scott (1973-1981: 2,781 yards

13. Andy Dalton (2022): 2,871 yards

12. Spencer Rattler (2024-2025): 2,903 yards

11. Billy Joe Tolliver (1998-1999): 3,343 yards

10. Ken Stabler (1982-1984): 3,670 yards

9. Steve Walsh (1990-1993): 3,879 yards

8. Derek Carr (2023-2024): 6,023 yards

7. Dave Wilson (1981-1988): 6,987 yards

6. Billy Kilmer (1967-1970): 7,490 yards

5. Jim Everett (1994-1996): 10,622 yards

4. Bobby Hebert (1985-1992) 14,630 yards

3. Aaron Brooks (2000-2005): 19,156 yards

2. Archie Manning (1971-1982): 21,734 yards

1. Drew Brees (2006-2020): 68,010 yards

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Ranking the top 20 passing yards leaders in Saints franchise history

Liverpool Facing Summer of Reckoning as Anfield Crowd Boo Slot’s Faltering Side

Liverpool’s season has drifted into deeply uncomfortable territory, with the Anfield crowd booing performances and questioning whether Arne Slot is truly steering the club in the right direction. Less than a year after lifting the Premier League title, Liverpool now find themselves accused of regression, tactical confusion and a worrying loss of identity.

What should have been the beginning of a new dynasty has instead become a campaign clouded by uncertainty. Supporters who once sang with swagger now leave Anfield frustrated, wondering how quickly standards have slipped.

Speaking after the latest setback, several journalists covering Liverpool painted a bleak picture of a side that has lost momentum under Slot. One described the debate around the Dutchman as “utterly perverse” given he won the league only last season, but admitted there are major concerns over the tactical direction of the team.

Another argued Liverpool have “gone far backwards” despite heavy spending and squad investment. The criticism centred on recruitment failures, ageing stars and a system that no longer appears capable of breaking down opponents.

Anfield Crowd Boo as Tactical Questions Grow

The atmosphere around Anfield has shifted dramatically in recent months. Supporters are no longer simply frustrated by results. They are increasingly unconvinced by the football itself.

One journalist noted: “Teams are facing them with a low block. They’re playing more directly against them. Arne Slot doesn’t seem to have come anywhere close to finding a solution for that.”

That criticism cuts to the heart of Liverpool’s problems. Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool overwhelmed opponents with intensity, speed and relentless pressing. Under Slot, the structure appears slower and more predictable.

The concerns do not stop there. Alexis Mac Allister, previously regarded as one of the finest midfielders in world football, has endured a sharp decline in influence. Mohamed Salah has struggled to reach his usual elite standards, while senior defenders Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson have looked increasingly vulnerable.

As one pundit put it: “Players are regressing under Slot, not progressing.”

That single sentence may explain why the Anfield crowd boo reaction has become more common. Liverpool fans can tolerate transition. What they struggle to accept is visible decline.

Liverpool Regression Linked to Ageing Squad

Liverpool’s issues cannot be pinned entirely on Slot. Several journalists highlighted how the squad itself is approaching the end of a cycle.

Van Dijk is no longer at his physical peak. Robertson appears to be nearing the end of his Liverpool journey. Alisson has not consistently hit the remarkable levels supporters became accustomed to. Salah’s long-term future remains uncertain.

One reporter described it bluntly: “This is a squad that’s ageing.”

That reality has intensified scrutiny on sporting director Richard Hughes and Liverpool’s recruitment strategy. Questions are now being asked about whether last summer’s spending actually improved the squad at all.

The same journalist argued Liverpool were “never going to lose a player like Trent Alexander-Arnold and get better”, adding that the club did little to properly compensate for such losses and transitions.

Recruitment concerns have also surrounded some newer arrivals. Signings that initially appeared exciting have struggled to make the expected impact, raising doubts over whether Liverpool’s transfer planning truly fits Slot’s system.

Chelsea and Rivals Sensing Opportunity

While Liverpool stumble through uncertainty, clubs like Chelsea are beginning to sense vulnerability.

Chelsea’s own rebuilding process has been chaotic at times, yet there is a growing feeling that rivals now view Liverpool as a side in decline rather than domination. One journalist compared Liverpool’s current trajectory to Manchester City reaching the opposite end of their cycle.

“I think they’ve hit this peak point by winning the title last season and this year we’ve seen quite a lot of natural decline,” he explained.

That assessment will sting Liverpool supporters because it suggests the club are no longer evolving. Instead, they are sliding backwards while competitors rebuild with fresher squads and clearer long-term plans.

There is still belief that Liverpool possess enough quality to recover. Florian Wirtz was highlighted as a player capable of stepping into a more central role should Salah eventually depart. One pundit even joked that the German possesses “main character energy”.

Yet potential alone will not solve Liverpool’s current issues.

Slot Summer Rebuild Could Define Liverpool Future

Slot himself has already admitted Liverpool require major improvements this summer. He reportedly believes progress will return if he receives the players he wants in the transfer market.

Liverpool are expected to target quicker wide forwards and younger defensive reinforcements as part of a significant rebuild. The challenge is enormous because this is no longer about adding depth. Liverpool may need to reshape the spine of the team entirely.

The deeper fear among supporters is that the side has gradually become weaker the more it has moved away from Klopp’s principles. One journalist argued Liverpool’s title-winning form last season came from “a great blend” of Klopp’s ideas mixed with Slot’s adjustments.

Now, however, the balance appears lost.

“The more Slot it’s become and the less Klopp it’s become, the worse they are,” the journalist claimed.

That may be the most damning verdict of all.

For now, Liverpool remain caught between two eras. The Anfield crowd booing reflects more than frustration with results. It reflects anxiety over whether the club still know exactly what they want to become.

Scott Taetsch/PGA of America via Getty Images

The 2026 PGA Championship will run from May 14-17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, attracting some of the tour’s top talent. Last year’s winner, Scottie Scheffler, is expected to compete this year; he’ll be defending his Wanamaker Trophy from 155 of the world’s best golfers, including Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, and more.

To watch all the action at this week's PGA Championship, you can stream daily coverage on ESPN+, or tune into daily live broadcasts on ESPN. Weekend coverage will also be available on Saturday and Sunday afternoon on CBS and Paramount+. Here's what you need to know about this week's schedule, streaming info, and tee times. 

How to watch the 2026 PGA Championship:

Dates: May 14-17

TV channel: CBS, ESPN

Streaming: ESPN+, ESPN Unlimited, Paramount+, DirecTV, YouTube TV

When is the 2026 PGA Championship?

The 2026 PGA Championship golf tournament runs from May 14-17, 2026.

What channel is the PGA Championship on?

Daily coverage of the PGA Championship will be broadcast on ESPN. Afternoon coverage will also air on CBS on Saturday and Sunday.

2026 PGA Championship broadcast schedule:

All times Eastern

Thursday, May 14:

• 6:45 a.m. - 7 p.m.: First Round (ESPN+)

• 12-7 p.m. First Round (ESPN)

• 7 - 8 p.m.: First Round (ESPN2)

Friday, May 15: 

• 6:45 a.m. - 7 p.m.: Second Round (ESPN+)

• 12-7 p.m. Second Round (ESPN)

• 7 - 8 p.m.: First Round (ESPN2)

Saturday, May 16

• 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.: Third Round (ESPN+)

• 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Third Round (ESPN)

• 1 -7 p.m.: Third Round (CBS/Paramount+)

Sunday, May 17

• 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.: Final Round (ESPN+)

• 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Final Round (ESPN)

• 1 -7 p.m.: Final Round (CBS/Paramount+)

How to stream the PGA Championship without cable:

The 2026 PGA Championship will be streaming on ESPN+ every day of the tournament. You'll be able to watch any broadcasts listed on the schedule that are on CBS or ESPN on DirecTV or YouTube TV too, and weekend coverage will stream on Paramount+.

First round tee times TBD

All times ET

TBD

Kaj Sierhuis announced that he will likely be leaving Fortuna Sittard this summer. The striker may have signed off in style in front of the home support, grabbing a goal and an assist as the side beat PEC Zwolle 3-2. That gave the striker 12 goals for the season and means he looks set to leave the club with at least 29 goals in 77 games.

For Fortuna Sittard, losing Sierhuis will be a blow. That goal at the weekend meant he overtake Burnley striker Zian Flemming as the most prolific striker for the club at Eredivisie level this century. As VI noted, Flemming scored 24 goals in the league during his time with Fortuna Sittard, with Sierhuis having grabbed his 25th league goal this past weekend. With one more game in the regular season to go, the striker has a chance against Utrecht to extend that number.

Flemming joined Burnley in 2024 on loan from Milwall. The striker had left the Eredivisie to join Millwall back in 2022, having spent two seasons with Fortuna Sittard. During that time he had scored 27 goals in 63 games. In London, Flemming grabbed 23 goals in 92 games for Millwall. During his loan spell with Burnley, Flemming scored 14 goals in 37 games and was signed permanently last summer. This past weekend, Flemming scored his 10th Premier League goal for Burnley, giving the 27-year-old 11 goals overall this season.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

Now that the draft lottery is over, people can start to make some educated guesses about who goes to what team.

Here’s an interesting factor we had not considered: not only is Carlos Boozer Cameron Boozer’s father, he’s also a scout for the Utah Jazz, and the Jazz hold the #2 pick.

Utah can get an 18-year scouting report on Boozer. In all seriousness, Carlos could deliver the most in-depth analysis of not just Cameron’s basketball talents, but also the most in-depth psychological analysis any athlete has ever received.

The question is how objective he could be. Even so, it’s a valuable gift to the Jazz, whatever they decide to do.

Generally speaking, everyone seems to expect Washington to take BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the #1 pick. But this guy argues that Washington needs post play more, and Boozer fits the bill.

On the other hand, here’s an argument that Boozer’s tailor-made for Memphis, that he and Zach Edey would be monstrous inside. He would also be teammates with near-Devil Cedric Coward, who committed to Duke as a transfer last season before opting to stay in the draft.

Meanwhile, this article expects that with the fourth pick, Chicago will get either Boozer or UNC’s Caleb Wilson. If it works out that way, that’s not bad.

• Cameron Boozer Draft Stakes Loom Large After 2026 Lottery
• How Cameron Boozer became the most polished NBA prospect
• Cameron Boozer: NBA draft scouting report and intel

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

Saturday afternoon like so many this season, ended with the team in red being outworked, outfought and outthought by the opposition. Chelsea, on a six-game losing streak, outrun in almost all of their Premier League games, turned up to Anfield and found it easy.

Anfield isn't supposed to be easy. It's supposed to be the hardest place. Home of the champions and all that. There aren't supposed to be gaps metres wide in the midfield for Chelsea's moody bunch of hundred million pound midfielders to stroll through. To allow this means they can gain confidence and remember why they cost one hundred million in the first place.

Anfield is supposed to be a place where price tags don't matter. Where opponents are humbled by the sheer collective will of 61,287 people — unified in a shared ambition. But that isn't what Chelsea encountered on Saturday afternoon. It isn't what Tottenham, on a five-game losing run of their own, found when they showed up to L4 in similarly downtrodden condition.

At a certain point it ceases to be coincidence or luck that Liverpool have so often accommodated a weak opponent desperately needing encouragement. Chelsea's players visibly grew through the contest.

And it doesn't wash because Liverpool don't have to win the title every season for fans to go home satisfied. They don't have to win any trophies or even compete for them. But they do have to show an identity, and a desire to be part of all that Liverpool Football Club represents.

And this season, time and again, this group has been found lacking.

The excuses don't wash anymore because it's May and I don't know what a Liverpool goal looks like. They don't wash because Liverpool have conceded a Premier League record 18 goals from set-pieces this season. They don't wash because the team still looks short of fitness and it doesn't wash because these players are, or at least were in September, the envy of Europe.

No belief in the stands, no belief on the pitch. The football team a joyless chasm of emptiness compared to teams before them. Time to end it. Time to bring the joy back to Anfield.

Find more from Lola Katz Roberts the Goal Difference podcast

The New York Giants will kick off the 2026 NFL regular season at home against their NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, in primetime.

The NFL announced Monday that the matchup will headline the first Sunday Night Football game of the year on NBC.

.@dallascowboys vs. @Giants on the first @SNFonNBC of the 2026 season 🔥

📺: NFL Schedule Release - Thursday at 8pm ET on @nflnetworkpic.twitter.com/ZliiBKJgTZ

— NFL (@NFL) May 11, 2026

This marks the 12th time the two franchises have opened the season against each other—the most frequent Week 1 pairing in NFL history. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 78-48-2 and have won 10 of the previous 11 season-opening meetings, with the Giants’ lone victory coming in 2016.

The rivalry, which dates to 1960, consistently delivers massive TV audiences and early-season drama.

A primetime opener at MetLife Stadium will set an electric tone for both clubs as they chase playoff contention in a loaded conference.

Fans now await the rest of the slate.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants will open 2026 season at home vs. Cowboys in primetime

Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid shrugged off a direct hit from San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday. 

Reid absorbed an elbow to the neck during Minnesota’s 114-109 win over the Spurs, tying the series 2-2. 

MORE: Victor Wembanyama’s immediate reaction after getting ejected

The incident occurred at the 8:39 mark in the second quarter as Reid and Wembanyama jockeyed for rebound position. The 26-year-old fell from the impact. 

Wembanyama was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game.

Reid joined teammates Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu for a postgame interview. Asked about the violent hit, Reid remained defiant.

“Pain is weakness leaving the body, that’s it,” Reid told reporters postgame.

Naz Reid is not backing down from Victor Wembanyama

That short message has been Reid’s favorite mantra throughout the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The 2024 NBA Sixth Man of the Year has also uttered the phrase when asked about playing through a right ankle injury. Edwards and Dosunmu both laughed after Reid delivered his line once again postgame.

Reid was a game-changer for the Timberwolves in a pivotal Game 4 victory. He notched 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes off the bench. He has been a steady presence for head coach Chris Finch, averaging 14.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists across four games.

Edwards continued his postseason rampage to even the series, tallying 36 points in the victory.

With the series tied at 2-2, Wembanyama’s status for Game 5 will be pivotal. The league is reviewing the incident for a possible suspension. Regardless of the outcome, Reid and the Timberwolves will be ready.

Blue Mountain and Williams Valley shined under the lights when they won Schuylkill League quarterfinal matchups at Pine Grove’s Walter Stump Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Eagles (17-4) scored five of their nine runs after the fourth inning for a 9-5 win over Schuylkill Haven (12-9). The Vikings shut down Pottsville’s (13-8) bats much of the night for a 6-3 win.

“It’s a big backyard rivalry so I was pleased with the way we hung in there and did a good job,” Blue Mountain coach Jarrod Kramer said. “As the game progressed we got better as a team and it’s high school baseball so anything can happen on any given day.”

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Schuylkill Haven’s Alan Evans (28) pitches during the quarterfinal round game against Blue Mountain of the Schuylkill League Baseball Playoffs at Pine Grove’s Walter Stump Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sunday May 10, 2026. Submitted Photo

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Schuylkill Haven’s Alan Evans (28) rounds second heading for third during the quarterfinal round game against Blue Mountain of the Schuylkill League Baseball Playoffs at Pine Grove’s Walter Stump Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sunday May 10, 2026. Submitted Photo

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Blue Mountain’s Evan Setlock (6) pitches during the quarterfinal round game against Schuylkill Haven, of the Schuylkill League Baseball Playoffs at Pine Grove’s Walter Stump Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sunday May 10, 2026. Submitted Photo

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Blue Mountain’s Riley Sebastian (1) runs to third base during the quarterfinal round game against Schuylkill Haven, of the Schuylkill League Baseball Playoffs at Pine Grove’s Walter Stump Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sunday May 10, 2026. Submitted Photo

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At first base Blue Mountain’s Brady Strause (9) beats the tag by Schuylkill Haven’s Landon Trostle (8) during the Schuylkill League quarterfinal round game at Pine Grove’s Walter Stump Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sunday May 10, 2026. Submitted Photo

1 of 5

Schuylkill Haven’s Alan Evans (28) pitches during the quarterfinal round game against Blue Mountain of the Schuylkill League Baseball Playoffs at Pine Grove’s Walter Stump Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sunday May 10, 2026. Submitted Photo

Blue Mountain will take on Marian Catholic (16-3) in the league semifinals on Monday while Williams Valley goes up against Tri-Valley (16-4) in the other semifinal matchup.

Blue Mountain 9, Schuylkill Haven 5

Blue Mountain came out with the bats when they scored four runs in the fifth inning on the way to a four-run win to advance to the semifinals.

Evan Setlock threw six innings on the mound for the Eagles, allowing five runs on five hits while striking out six. Setlock got through the first two innings in just 17 pitches and sat down Schuylkill Haven 1-2-3- in the top of the second on just seven pitches.

“The conditions aren’t great so I was first worrying about the mound and then I got to throwing strikes,” Setlock said. “It was an intense game and they’re a good team so we have to stick to what we’ve been practicing and play our game.”

Aiden Finn led the Eagles lineup with four hits while Josh Hoover had three hits and Cohen Kirby, Brady Strause, Sonny Amato and Setlock each had two hits. Kirby and Strause each had two RBI’s.

Riley Sebastian and Kirby each walked to start the bottom of the first for the Eagles before Strause came through with a two-run single to center field for the 2-0 lead.

“The bottom of our order came through and a lot of guys had good at bats,” Kramer said. “It was situational hitting that came through in the clutch and that was a big difference.”

Setlock sat down the Hurricanes 1-2-3 in the top of the second before Blue Mountain scored another run in the bottom of the second. Aiden Finn singled on a line drive to left field to score Josh Hoover for the 3-0 lead.

Chase Yoder cut into the Schuylkill Haven deficit in the top of the third inning with a two-run single into right center field for the 3-2 deficit.

Setlock shot an RBI groundball single to center field to score Amato for the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third.

“In order to beat a good team you need guys to step up at the right times and the defense was good too,” Setlock said. “We’re putting the ball in play as much as possible and it’s transitioning to runs.”

Evans stroked a three-run triple to right center field to score Chase Maley, Landon Houck and Landon Trostle for the 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth.

After the Hurricanes took a one run lead to start the fourth, Blue Mountain scored four runs in the fourth and fifth innings to run away for the win.

Amato began the scoring rampage for the Eagles as he singled to right center field to score Strause to knot the score at 5-5.

Setlock sat down Schuylkill Haven 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth before the Eagles scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth, beginning with a Hoover RBI double to right field to score Setlock for the 6-5 lead.

“It’s fun to play when we’re hitting this well and we tried to get Alan (Evans) off the mound once his pitch count got up and we got to the bullpen,” Setlock said.

Andrew Blehm flew out to center field to score Hoover for the 7-5 lead before Kirby stepped up with a two-run double to left field to score Finn for the 9-5 final score.

Schuylkill Haven 5 — Evans P 4 1 3 3 , Trostle 1 1 0 0, Gerber CF 3 1 0 0, Yoder SS 4 0 2 2, Hanniskitz 3B 4 0 0 0, Maley 2B 2 1 0 0, Terefencko RF 3 0 0 0, Houck DH 2 1 0 0, Diehl C 3 0 0 0. 26 5 5 5.

Blue Mountain 9 — Sebastian C 2 2 0 0, Finn LF 4 2 4 1, Kirby 3 0 2 2, Strause 2B 4 1 2 2, Amato RF 4 1 2 1, Clemas P 0 0 0 0, Russo 3B 4 0 0 0, Setlock P 3 1 2 1, Hoover CF 4 2 3 1, Blehm DH 3 0 0 0. 31 9 15 9.

SH (12-9);0;0;2;3;0;0;0;—5

BM (17-4);2;1;1;1;4;0;X;—9

LOB — Schuylkill Haven 5, Blue Mountain 8; 2B — Evans, Yoder 2, Hoover, Amato, Kirby, Setlock; SB — Finn, Strause, Amato, Setlock

Schuylkill Haven

IP H R ER BB K

Evans 4.2 13 8 8 3 1

Yoder 1.1 2 1 1 1 0

Blue Mountain

Setlock 6 5 5 5 5 6

Clemas 1 0 0 0 0 1

Pottsville 6, Williams Valley 3

Williams Valley scored six runs across the first three innings and Cadyn Witmer struck out seven and allowed just three runs to Pottsville’s lineup in 5.1 innings on the mound.

Fletcher Thompson drove in two of the Vikings first three runs in the first two innings before Camden Berger unloaded for a three-run double into right center field for the 6-1 lead in the third.

“In any game it’s important to get on top quick, especially tonight,” Williams Valley coach Steve Barner said. “Cadyn’s been our go-to guy all year long and it showed tonight because he’s one of the best.”

Berger drove in a team-high three runs for Williams Valley while Thompson brought home another two runs. John Rautzahn, Berger and Witmer each doubled for the Vikings extra-base hits.

Thompson came through early in the bottom of the first when he reached on a groundball error to shortstop to score Cole Hubler for the 1-0 lead. Witmer then doubled into center field to score Thompson for the 2-0 lead.

“This group is full of gamers so they’ll go out and compete with anyone for seven innings,” Barner said. “Hopefully we can come out tomorrow and compete with Tri-Valley.”

Witmer sat down Pottsville 1-2-3 in the top of the second on two strikeouts and a groundout and then the Vikings got more run support from Thompson in the bottom of the second.

Thompson singled on a groundball into right field to score Hubler for the 3-0 lead.

Pottsville opened their scoring in the top of the third when Dominic Rynard flew out to center field to score Christian Alvarez for the 3-1 lead.

Rynard walked three straight Williams Valley batters in the bottom of the third before Berger doubled on a fly ball to center field to score three runs for the 6-1 lead.

Mason Bowser shut down Pottsville through the final 1.2 frames, allowing just one hit and striking out two in the fifth inning. a

Pottsville 3 — Trout RF 4 0 2 0, Eroh CF 2 0 0 0, Rynard P 2 0 0 0 1, Clews 3B 4 1 1 0, Hess 2B 1 1 0 0, Ciavarella LF 3 0 0 0, Allen SS 3 0 1 2, Rynard DH 3 0 0 0, Alvarez 1B 3 1 1 0. 25 3 5 3.

Williams Valley 6 — Hubler CF 1 2 0 0, Thompson C 4 1 1 2, Witmer P 2 0 1 1, Rautzahn 2B 4 0 1 0, Deiter LF 3 0 0 0, Trawitz 1B 2 1 0 0, Green 3B 2 1 1 0, Bowser RF 1 1 0 0, Schaeffer RF 1 0 0 0, Berger SS 3 0 1 3. 23 6 5 6.

P (13-8);0;0;1;0;0;2;0;—3

WV (14-7);2;1;3;0;0;0;X;—6

LOB — Pottsville 7, Williams Valley 8; 2B — Trout, Allen, Berger, Rautzahn, Witmer; SB — Deiter, Thompson 2, Hubler 2, Schaeffer

Pottsville

IP H R ER BB K

Rynard 2.1 2 6 5 7 3

Hess 3.2 3 0 0 2 4

Williams Valley

Witmer 5.1 4 3 2 4 7

Bowser 1.2 1 0 0 2 2

Who is Fred Davis II?

The Washington Commanders signed Davis, a cornerback out of Northwestern, as an undrafted free agent. Davis participated in the Commanders' rookie minicamp this weekend.

The first thought for several on X (formerly Twitter), for those old enough to remember, arose as Washington fans asked whether this Fred Davis II is the son of former Redskins tight end Fred Davis. The elder Davis played for the Redskins from 2008-2013. The Patriots signed him in May 2015, before releasing him in June, ending his NFL career. That Fred Davis had been drafted by the Redskins in 2008, No. 48 overall out of USC, as a 6-3, 250-pound tight end. He caught 162 passes (13 touchdowns) in his 72 games for the Redskins, averaging 12.6 yards per reception.

The current Fred Davis II, though also named Fred Davis, is not the son of the former Redskins tight end. Davis is listed at 6-0, 190 pounds, trying to make the Commanders at cornerback. Davis first put on the pads for Clemson (2020-22), having signed as a 5-star recruit.

However, things did not work out for Davis as he would have liked, and he chose to search for his happiness at UCF (2023), Jacksonville State (2024) and Northwestern (2025). Davis found his most success in college, his final season at Northwestern, starting in 11 of the 12 games he played. He recorded 32 tackles, defended six passes and recovered a fumble. He was also invited to the 2026 Senior Bowl.

Fred Davis II is a CB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 5.60 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1352 out of 3069 CB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/g4GmwnT0Hgpic.twitter.com/rHNefIu4La

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 7, 2026

Davis being undrafted is not letting that stop him, as he told Donna Hopkins, Friday, after rookie minicamp practice. "I've learned I can grasp on to whatever my environment is. I can grasp onto anything quick. We had some install going on, and I caught on real fast," expressed Davis.

"I am going to bring just being a great teammate, just put a step forward every day, bring competition into the room. I am a great athlete, but also a technician. I am looking to bring a whole complete package to the Washington Commanders' cornerback room."

Being an undrafted rookie is certainly not easy. Sure, there is the Joe Jacoby story, but that is the exception. The norm is that nine out of ten undrafted rookies do not make the active 53-man roster of an NFL team. Hopefully, the young man can stay healthy, enabling him to give it his best shot this summer and then in training camp.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Who is undrafted rookie CB Fred Davis II?

When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected former Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, hopes were high. Wilson was fresh off a big season with the Wolverines, where he started 15 games and caught 48 passes for 789 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. Now, according to SI NFL Draft analyst Justin Melo, Wilson is a prime candidate to be on the trading block this offseason.

Wilson was going to be the answer for the Steelers in the slot but instead everything fell apart. After suffering an ankle injury in the first padded practice of training camp, Wilson wasn't able to get on the field until Week 6 of the regular season. However, after playing just a handful of snaps, Wilson ended up being put on IR with a hamstring injury.

2025 was supposed to be a comeback year for Wilson. The team had very few options at wide receiver but it didn't help as Wilson got only four starts and finished the season with just 12 receptions. With the addition of Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Germie Bernard, Wilson is buried at the end of the depth chart and likely on the roster bubble. The Steelers could try and deal Wilson with the sales pitch of a fresh start and a chance for playing time is all he needs.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers WR named potential trade candidate by NFL analyst

Bayern had a packed April schedule with eight fixtures, including the 4-2 win over VfB Stuttgart to claim the Bundesliga title, the two Champions League quarter-final legs against Real Madrid, the semi-final first leg in Paris and also the 2-0 DFB Cup semi victory at Bayer Leverkusen. It was an exciting month with seven wins, although only two games were played at the Allianz Arena.0

Key to April’s success was Michael Olise. The 24-year-old has been praised across the world of football for his impact on games and elegance on the ball. “Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it. I was so frustrated after the game because I hardly felt I could do anything,” bemoaned Heidenheim’s Hennes Behrens after coming up against Olise.

April turned into Olise’s month, although Vincent Kompany chose not to use him for 90 minutes in Bundesliga games, given the key Champions League and DFB Cup ties. Even then he provided an assist off the bench in the second half against Freiburg, scored in his 60 minutes against St. Pauli and again when he came on to complete the 4-3 turnaround against Mainz.

Some of his most-eye-catching displays were in Europe, which included his assist for Harry Kane to make it 2-0 at the Bernabéu and then his finish to wrap up the 4-3 victory in the second leg in Munich. The right winger also played his part in the first-leg thriller in Paris. It makes his accolade as the best player in April even more special, given the month’s significance in the context of the season.

Kane overtaken

Olise claimed 42.3% of the vote to finish just ahead of fellow winger Luis Díaz (40.1%). It’s the fourth time he’s been named Player of the Month this season to overtake Kane on three in the 2025/26 standings.

Olise also netted the winner against Wolfsburg in May:

Why Wolfsburg win is worth more than three points for Bayern

Texas A&M offensive line coach Adam Cushing is widely considered one of the top recruiters in the country, and after seeing four starting O-linemen from the 2025 roster hear their name called in the 2026 NFL Draft, Cushing's background as a developer is even more well-known, and is resulting in elite blue-chip prospects flocking to College Station.

In the 2027 recruiting class, third-year head coach Mike Elko and Cushing have already landed commitments from four-star tackles DeMarion Johnson and Kaeden Scott, while five-star IOL Kennedy Brown chose the Aggies over nearly every blue-blood program in the country late last month.

Still in the running with Miami and others for five-star tackle Mark Matthews, who will reportedly take all his official visits this summer before making a final decision, the Aggies remain a finalist to land fellow five-star tackle Oluwasemilore Olubobola, who announced his commitment date and will choose between Miami, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame.

Early in his recruitment, Olubobola was favored to land at Texas A&M, but that was before the Aggies received a prediction from On3's Steve Wiltfong that they would secure Mark Matthews' commitment. Now, Notre Dame is reportedly the leader for the New Jersey native, which, given the program's vast history of developing future first-round offensive linemen, isn't surprising.

According to On3's Joe Tipton, Olubobola will reportedly announce his commitment on Tuesday, May 12, and will be available to watch on Rivals' YouTube channel.

NEWS: Five-Star OT Oluwasemilore Olubobola will announce his commitment LIVE Tuesday on the @Rivals YouTube Channel 👀

The No. 20 Recruit in the ‘27 class will choose between Miami, Texas A&M, and Notre Damehttps://t.co/Yeboi9GaX8pic.twitter.com/NP418oMDmP

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 10, 2026

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: 2027 5-star OT Oluwasemilore Olubobola announces commitment date

Once again, the Wisconsin Badgers have been beaten out for one of their priority class of 2027 targets.

While Luke Fickell seems unbeatable when it comes to Wisconsin natives, top out-of-state talent, such as Tate Wallace, continually slips away from him.

Wallace is a four-star linebacker out of Iowa who is currently the No. 2 player in the state. He'll finish out his senior season at Regina High School in Iowa City before reporting to Minnesota, according to Leyton Roberts.

The 6-foot-2 recruit chose the Golden Gophers over the Badgers and Arizona State. Whether or not the Sun Devils were truly in the mix remains to be seen, but Wisconsin definitely thought they had a chance at landing 247Sports No. 29 linebacker in the class.

BREAKING: Four-star LB Tate Wallace (@tatewallace_2) has committed to Minnesota, he tells me.

Tate is the No. 2 ranked player in the state of Iowa.

He chose Minnesota over ASU and Wisconsin.#Gopherspic.twitter.com/FvaH7qr0km

— Leyton Roberts (@LeytonCFB) May 10, 2026

Earlier in the week, Fickell's staff failed to make enough of an impression on four-star cornerback Raheem Floyd. Now, Wallace is the latest name this team has missed out on. Either way, they still have a Top 15 recruiting class of 2027 and are looking to keep it that way as things begin to heat up heading into summer.

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

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Minnesota edges Wisconsin for four-star 2027 linebacker Tate Wallace

With the 233rd overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Washington defensive end Zach Durfee.

Here is a full breakdown with everything you need to know.

Profile

• Height: 6-046
• Weight: 247
• Age: 24

Zach Durfee's Washington bio

Quick breakdown

The 2025 season was a breakout year for Durfee, who produced 35 pressures after having only 10 the season prior. Behind that production was Durfee's ability to win quickly, ranking 11th in pass rush win rate among defensive ends, according to PFF. Durfee was highlighted by ESPN as their 2026 Prospect X.

Zach Durfee's athletic profile

Zach Durfee was drafted in round 7 with pick 233 in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.78 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 51 out of 2257 DE from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/1SmzkdW9OXpic.twitter.com/hqx27JJOM3

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 25, 2026

Scouting report on Zach Durfee

"Durfee is an edge defender with good short-area quickness. He’s a twitchy athlete boasting sudden change of direction. However, he’s lacking in overall production, has short arms and could struggle with edge-setting/take-on duties while scrapping against tackles. When blocked early, Durfee often finds ways to stay alive to rally to the ball-carrier. He lacks polish/planning as a pass rusher but creates pressure with his footwork and rush surge. Durfee needs more work in both phases, but his athletic profile and special-teams potential could buy him time to develop on the back end of a roster." - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

They said it

GM James Gladstone: "Certainly excited to bring him into the organization, knowing that he's got really a cool background, and one that is not all that different than some of the others that we drafted, and overcoming the odds and earning their place. And he was really, really effective in rushing the passer or creating disruption this past season."

Zach Durfee's fit with the Jaguars

Durfee, along with BJ Green, Danny Striggow, and Williams, will be in the mix for the rotational snaps at defensive end. Typically, four players see regular playing time, leaving two spots up for grabs with Hines-Allen and Walker leading the way.

Zach Durfee highlights

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Full breakdown of new Jaguars' DE Zach Durfee

For fans as a title race comes to its conclusion, the overwhelming feeling is nervousness.

As Hearts and Celtic go into the penultimate round of games separated by a single point at the top of the Scottish Premiership it is more tension than enjoyment for supporters who have to endure the run-in before football nirvana or misery.

But what about the players at the centre of it all? They are the ones who have to perform under intense scrutiny and pressure.

BBC Sport Scotland asked former Celtic defender Darren O'Dea and ex-Hearts and Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday about what it's like in the spotlight.

• Are Celtic now favourites to win Premiership?
• Hearts & Celtic seal Champions League qualifier spots

Looking at other results & embracing nerves

Managers and players will often tell journalists it is one game at a time and their focus is purely on their own performances.

However, O'Dea says when it gets into the final few games, the mindset of players does change.

"You would definitely be looking at other results a lot more than what you would maybe normally do," the Irishman, who was part of the Celtic squad which won the title on the final day in 2008, said.

"The reality is you do concentrate on what other teams are doing. This season has shown you things flip back and forth. What you potentially need in terms of results changes."

Halliday agrees there is always an eye elsewhere, but nerves are ultimately a good thing.

"There's no margin for error, so you always want to do the basics extremely well," the retiring Motherwell midfielder said.

"You don't want to give up easy chances or easy goals. Nerves shows that you feel something when it comes to football. And I think the worry would always be if you don't feel the nerves.

"What is a nerve settler at times is when you've prepared well. If you go into a game with a clear game plan, with clear instructions on exactly what's expected of you, I think it settles you."

'You would rely on certain players'

For Hearts and Celtic, key players have come to the fore in the past few weeks.

Captain Lawrence Shankland has scored six times in his last seven starts, including the equaliser against Motherwell and winner against Rangers.

Meanwhile at Celtic, Daizen Maeda produced two crucial goals in the Old Firm derby to take his tally to five in three post-split games.

As a centre-back, O'Dea says he always looked to the most talented and important players to step up and drag the rest of the team through.

Not every player in a winning squad thrives under pressure.

"Genuinely, you would rely on certain players," he said

"Big players win you championships. And that's how you define a big player really for me, is they arrive in the big moments.

"The players that I would have looked at is [Shunsuke] Nakamura, who always had a free kick in his locker even if he hadn't particularly had a great game.

"There was a moment in Scott McDonald, Aidan McGeady, whoever it was. The rest of us are literally just trying not to lose the game. But it's the reality, and you're just hoping these guys can come up with the goods."

Consistency from the dugout

As the vastly experienced pair of Martin O'Neill and Derek McInnes prepare their teams for a tense end to the season, Halliday believes neither will, nor should change anything in their demeanour or strategy.

"Modern footballers, I do think they need every bit of information possible," he said.

"So try and get as much of that into the players without having any grey areas involved.

"And I think if that's the case, then as players you can hold people accountable. But in terms of my manager, it's always kind of remaining the same whether you win or lose."

O'Dea agrees that an increase in effort and intensity in training comes at big points in the season, which means the manager does not need to add to the tension.

He said: "I can think back to Gordon Strachan, for instance. He probably would have become calmer the more the pressure heightened."

Does experience help?

In the Celtic dressing room, there is experience of reeling off wins to secure a title.

Winning their last five league games nods to the defending champions' ability to harness experience.

They might not have been challenged to the final day much before, but in contrast to Hearts their winning experience is considerable.

"I honestly do feel that Celtic will be calm, just because they've been in this situation so many times before," Halliday said.

"Now, some people don't think that counts for much. For me, I personally do.

"Hearts have felt the pressure of being the team that's been hunted for 30 weeks consecutively now, and they've handled it already extremely well.

"You talk about a manager's role, I've no doubt whatsoever that Derek McInnes has played a huge part in that."

O'Dea also believes that however different players and managers handle these situations, neither Celtic nor Hearts, who have come from behind to take points in their last five games, have shown signs of toiling.

"Both teams have an abundance of character," he said.

"I don't know if I could pick a winner in terms of the character from both groups, they've both shown it, so it makes for a good ending."

Audi suffered a third consecutive point-less Formula 1 round at the Miami Grand Prix, amid numerous technical problems on both cars.

Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg qualified an encouraging 11th and 12th for the sprint, but the German failed to even start the race as his car caught fire due to a leak, while the Brazilian finished 11th but was disqualified over a spike in air pressure intake.

Audi changed both gearboxes as well as Hulkenberg’s power unit ahead of qualifying, with the veteran taking 11th while a brake problem consigned Bortoleto to 22nd.

Hulkenberg’s race lasted just seven laps after he collided with Carlos Sainz’ Williams in Turn 1 and subsequently suffered an unspecified “technical issue”, while his sophomore team-mate recovered to 12th – 13 seconds away from points.

These hardships occurred amid Formula 1’s technical overhaul and Audi’s debut as a power unit manufacturer, as the German brand takes over the Sauber outfit.

“I don't think we had a single issue that was similar,” Bortoleto commented. “We had many, if I'm very honest, this weekend. But we haven't had one that was the same. It's just that, you know, first weekend of the year for me, I had zero problems. And then you go to the second weekend, you have three. And then you go, and you have zero again. And it keeps going like this until everyone gets mature with the new regulations.

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

“Things like this, they are going to happen. We are a new manufacturer of engines. We only have two cars. There are teams that are running eight cars with a power unit,” he added, referring to the Mercedes-powered cars. “So, imagine the amount of learning you can get by having that amount of cars, you know? We have only me and Nico, and sometimes one of us is not finishing the race. So, we just need to be patient. And when it is fixed, I'm sure it will be good.”

As far as Hulkenberg’s issue in the main race was concerned, racing director Allan McNish clarified that the drivetrain was “overheating” and that it likely was unrelated to any previous problems.

Hulkenberg’s sprint trouble – a leak the team wrongly believed it had fixed, McNish said – marked the third time this year an Audi failed to start a race, after unspecified technical issues sidelined him and Bortoleto at Albert Park and Shanghai respectively.

Asked if this was concerning, McNish replied: “Oh, not at all. It's not. But obviously that's not what we need. We need reliability. And then we can also start developing in other areas as well. We can improve. Clearly, the frustrating part is not having two cars at the start [in the sprint]. And especially with the performance that we – the underlying part of it. And that's certainly an area that's on clear focus, number one. And we need to work on that.”

Allan McNish, Racing Director of Audi F1 Team

The Scot was keen to point out his team was not the only one encountering trouble, though Audi is last in terms of race mileage so far this season, having completed 331 out of 524 possible laps due to the problems.

“Well, obviously, you don't want them, that's for sure. But if you look, a lot of PU manufacturers are having some issues. It's not just sitting on us,” McNish said, mentioning yet another poor start by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.

“Certainly, we are learning about a lot more than some of the others, because they are already in the system with, you know, understanding 75% of it.

“Definitely, we need to tidy up those. There's no question about it. And it was obviously, it's not something that was performance-beneficial yesterday for Gabi. However, the penalty is in or out. That's the rules. However, I think, as you mentioned, we do have to improve on that. And that's a clear focus where we are. It's also clear learning for a new operation as well.”

The ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) mechanism may help Audi improve its power unit in the near future, with Period 1 now ending after the Canadian Grand Prix following the cancellation of both Middle Eastern rounds in April. Manufacturers that are between 2% and 4% down on the best engine’s power will then be allowed an additional upgrade, while those who are more than 4% down will get two.

Honda gets extra F1 power unit help after FIA tweaks cost cap rules

Additional reporting by Cihangir Perperik and Filip Cleeren

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

18-year-old Samuele Inácio made his third consecutive start for Borussia Dortmund in Friday’s 3–2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga and even got on the scoresheet for the first time.

The young Italian forward played in attacking midfield alongside experienced Julian Brandt, who made his last appearance for Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park ahead of his departure as a free agent this summer.

With Inácio having impressed recently, BVB coach Niko Kovač suggested after the game that it may not even be necessary to sign a replacement for Brandt.

“I think we have already seen a small generational change. He could perhaps one day become Jule’s replacement. Big shoes to fill, but the youngster is only 18 and Jule is now 30,” Kovač said, according to Bild.

BVB managing director for sport Lars Ricken and sporting director Ole Book spoke in a similar vein.

“He has started three games in a row and also played through the last two matches. We must not unnecessarily place too much burden on him, but of course it is an indication for next season,” said Ricken, while Book commented:

“We will not block his path and will give him every opportunity to earn a good position for himself.”

Inácio is said to be close to extending his contract until 2030 or 2031

The latest

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift Steal the Show at Chiefs DE’s Wedding in Greece | Heavy Sports

Chiefs star defensive end George Karlaftis tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Kaia Harris at One&Only Aesthesis.

According to Huffington Post Greece, Karlaftis “married his beloved Kaia Harris in a ceremony that deeply honored his Greek family and roots. And Taylor Swift was there, dancing late into the night at the grand party that followed at One&Only.”

Karlaftis, who signed a four-year, $88 million contract extension with the Chiefs last year, went all out for the nuptials, a three-day celebration at the five-star resort. “It was a wedding with a Greek soul, family emotion, and international glamour — but without noise,” Huffington Post reported.

Patrick Mahomes salutes KC Current star after Mother’s Day hat trick | Chiefs Wire

In front of a packed crowd at CPKC Stadium, KC Current star Temwa Chawinga managed to score a hat trick that helped her team earn a 3-0 win over the Chicago Stars.

After Chawinga put the ball in the net for a third time, Mahomes removed his cap and saluted the outstanding forward with the rest of Kansas City’s fans.

Take a look at this video of Mahomes recognizing Chawinga’s accomplishment, which was posted to Twitter by Matt Foster of KSHB 41.

Bengals claim LB Swayze Bozeman off waivers | Pro Football Talk

Bozeman is a second-year player out of the University of Southern Mississippi. He entered the league as a college free agent signee of the Chiefs in 2024.

Bozeman has played nine career games for the Chiefs (2024) and Giants (2025), totaling five defensive tackles along with four special teams stops.

These 5 Chiefs will be fighting for a job after rookie minicamp | FanSided

DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah

The 24-year-old Uzomah missed all of 2025 with injury and enters this season having to fight for his spot. In two years as an NFLer, he has only 24 total solo tackles and three sacks. Uzomah has a promising career ahead of him if he’s truly back to full health but any kind of setback or failure to grasp his opportunity is only going to open the door for a younger, hungrier prospect.

That would be R Mason Thomas in this case. The 6-2, 241-pound edge rusher out of Oklahoma is smaller than the typical model defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likes but that suggests the latter is looking to evolve. That’s a bad sign for Uzomah who could see his usage dwindle if Spagnuolo opts to deploy Thomas and his speed to get to opposing quarterbacks.

Around the NFL

Sean Payton says Bo Nix could be back for OTAs and be full go well ahead of training camp | Mile High Report

Payton told reporters that there is a “good chance” we see quarterback Bo Nix on the field in some capacity for June’s minicamp practices, but they will play it safe with him. He also added that Nix will be full-go in July and be ready well ahead of the start of training camp.

As we know, Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle in the final plays of the Broncos’ thrilling overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. He would undergo surgery on his ankle in the following days and was expected to be ready to go come the start of the Broncos’ offseason practices. However, after the draft, news dropped that Nix underwent a cleanup procedure on his ankle, and the timeline for him to be ready shifted to the start of training camp.

This obviously concerned many Broncos fans and media, but today’s update is one that should calm the masses down some. Payton told the media that they will be playing it safe and will be the ones taking it slow, while Nix will be the one pushing to do more. However, the update that he will be out there in some capacity in the month of June is really positive news. Payton added that Nix will be full-go in July, well ahead of the start of Broncos training camp, and that he will have no limitations once those practices begin.

Harbaugh: Odell Beckham Jr. call could wait until training camp | ESPN

New York Giants coach John Harbaugh said he has talked to former star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. three or four times over the past week as they remain in touch about reuniting. But they will “play it out over the next month and into training camp” before making a decision.

Beckham, 33, is currently a free agent. He worked out for the Giants last month and “looked good,” according to Harbaugh.

The Giants’ first-round pick in 2014 out of LSU wants to return to New York. But Harbaugh has emphasized it’s a move that has to make sense for both sides.

“Talked to Odell a lot, probably three of four times in the last week, [see] where he’s at, where we’re at,” Harbaugh said Saturday after a Giants rookie minicamp practice. “He’s in Arizona right now training and spending time with his son. The goal for right now is for him to train and get as ready as he can be. And then we’ll see where we’re at at that time.”

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs used 2026 offseason to insulate Patrick Mahomes from all sides

Kansas City’s complete inability to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable last season finally led the team to make a change. It’s no longer enough to have All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones wreck an opposing offensive line 5-10 times per game. He needs his cohorts to win one-on-one opportunities.

Insert 2026 first-round picks, Peter Woods and R Mason Thomas, two players capable of doing exactly that.

Woods can certainly help as an interior rusher next to Jones, but he can also help take some of the load off of Jones’ shoulders as he enters his age-32 season. Jones played more than 80 percent of the snaps through the first 13 games last year. The only other defensive linemen over the age of 30 and weighing 300+ pounds to play 700+ snaps a year ago were Leonard Williams, Zach Seiler, Vita Vea and Jonathan Allen.

Jones and Williams are the players on that list who are also asked to be critical pieces of their respective teams’ pass-rush plans. Asking less of Jones this year could be for the best for everyone involved. Woods’ presence might be exactly what the doctor ordered to get Jones the rest he needs.

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Marc Cucurella played a key role for Chelsea against Liverpool, and he gave his thoughts on the performance after the game.

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Marc Cucurella ended up playing a key role in an attacking sense for Chelsea against Liverpool at the weekend, with his runs into the left channel really unsettling the Reds throughout the game.

Speaking after the draw, the Spaniard saw lots of positives from his team’s performance, especially considering the context of the run of defeats they’ve had recently.

Cucurella on team’s “really good” reaction to defeats

“I think the reaction of the team was really good after the last performance. I think we showed again that if we want to fight, if we play together, we are a really good team,” Cucurella said in quotes picked up by the club’s official website.

“Hopefully we can grow in confidence after this draw. I think maybe at some points we deserved the win, but we need to build on this.

“We have a massive game next week. We need to take the positive from Saturday and prepare good for the game and arrive in the best condition.”

In other news…

Gary O’Neil has laid into the Strasbourg players and the club’s January decisions which left him with a weakened squad.

Chelsea are going to struggle as they search for elite managers, according to Ruud Gullit, who named a couple of reasons why.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Maryland football is set to host former VMI linebacker Stephen Dean on Monday and Tuesday, bringing in an intriguing, high-upside option in an area in need of depth.

Dean has spent his entire career at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he consistently improved his production. As a redshirt junior in 2025, he finished the season with 62 solo tackles and 117 total tackles, numbers that were 11th-best and 10th-best, respectively, of any player at the FCS level.

Dean has one year of eligibility left. He was rated as a three-star transfer by 247Sports.

Maryland has three seemingly entrenched inside linebackers in Daniel Wingate, Trey Reddick and CJ Smith, but behind them, the Terps lack the depth they have at other positions. Of the seven other rostered linebackers, only three saw action in multiple games, and two were used on special teams. If head coach Mike Locksley and the rest of the coaching staff like what Dean presents, he could be an under-the-radar useful addition for Maryland.

In other news

Maryland football is among the top four schools for three-star quarterback recruit Brodie Campbell.

Maryland men’s basketball alumnus Derik Queen hosted a Mother’s day event giving back to the community with his mom Sunday.

Dawgs By Nature

• Browns roster: A clear role’s emerging for Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in 2026 (Matthew Wilson) – McNeil-Warren could be incredibly productive for Cleveland in year one.
• Browns 2026 NFL draft gave fans what they want, CLE does what they’ve never done before (Jared Mueller) – The Cleveland Browns are hoping the 2026 NFL draft pushes them ahead. Fans are just glad the team gave them receivers.
• Browns roster: Analyzing how Cleveland’s RB room could shake out in 2026 (Jared Mueller) – What will Cleveland’s running back depth chart look like in 2026?
• Browns schedule release: Week 1 opponent key to season or just a game? (Jared Mueller) – Could the Cleveland Browns start their 2026 schedule facing Kevin Stefanski or Baker Mayfield? Week 1 important or not?
• Browns schedule release: 3 things I am rooting for, against (Jared Mueller) – The Cleveland Browns will find out their 2026 NFL schedule when released this week. What are you rooting for this year?

The Feed

The Browns are so far away from having a good quarterback …

Cleveland Browns

• Browns rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren ready to make rapid impact (Beacon Journal) – The message that Browns second-round pick Emmanuel McNeil-Warren received from his coaches after he was drafted was crystal clear.
• QB Taylen Green stands out on field, among QBs: ‘I really don’t think there’s anybody like me’ (Browns Zone) – Taylen Green was impossible to miss. Whether standing alone in the middle of the field in his orange No. 15 jersey. Firing a pass down the seam. Or taking off on a scramble with the long strides of a sprinter.
• How the two other offensive linemen the Browns drafted fit in their plans (cleveland.com) – The Browns had a clear purpose for Spencer Fano when they took him No. 9 overall. The Browns didn’t stop with Fano, as they also selected Florida tackle Austin Barber and added center Parker Brailsford from Alabama. The roles for both of those players aren’t quite as clear as Fano’s, but there’s a vision for both that could have them playing important roles in 2026.

NFL

• Steelers WR Germie Bernard, QB Drew Allar already building strong chemistry (Behind the Steel Curtain) – The Steelers’ rookies are building something strong.
• QB Anthony Richardson giving Colts something to think about (ESPN) – For two full weeks of offseason workouts, the Indianapolis Colts proceeded through offensive drills behind a pair of quarterbacks whose combined NFL résumés could fit on a bar napkin.
• Chargers’ Mike McDaniel lays out vision for Justin Herbert: ‘Be elite at everything’ (The Athletic) – The Los Angeles Chargers opened rookie minicamp Friday at The Bolt, the team’s facility. It was an eventful day both on the field and at the lectern.
• Giants’ John Harbaugh on potential Odell Beckham reunion: ‘It’s got to be right for both parties’ (NFL.com) – This weekend’s rookie minicamp was an opportunity for new Giants head coach John Harbaugh to get a closer look at exciting newcomers such as top-10 picks Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa. It also provided him a chance to address a potential reunion with Odell Beckham, who is a dozen years past his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign but has been linked to New York since working out for the team on April 20.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has been managing a minor back issue in recent weeks, according to Ryan Taylor. The Gunners star played the full match yesterday as Mikel Arteta’s men secured a huge 1-0 victory over the Hammers. Arsenal returned to the Emirates Stadium with all three points to inch closer to the Premier League title but the North Londoners lost Ben White to an injury. The Gunners defender left the London Stadium with a brace on his right knee and Arteta could be left sweating over the fitness of Rice too.

The England international was spotted holding his lower back at the end of the game and it appeared he was in some discomfort. Rice has had to cope with it and other minor issues in recent weeks. The Arsenal star was seen pausing, blowing out his cheeks and holding his lower back with both arms, but he has been training as usual. The Gunners are back in action next Monday with a home game against Burnley before taking on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the final day of the season. Victories in both games will hand Arsenal their first Premier League title since 2004 even if Manchester City win all their remaining three league fixtures.

Cameron Young has been in sensational form on the PGA Tour so far this season, but everything finally caught up with him on Sunday at Quail Hollow.

Young ended his week at the Truist Championship by posting a round of 74, to drop down into a tie for 10th.

On paper, a top-10 finish is always a very strong result on the PGA Tour.

However, a very worrying observation has been made about Cam Young just days away from the start of the PGA Championship.

Young was on fire on day three at the Truist Championship, shooting a sizzling 63 to vault himself right back into contention.

However, the 29-year-old New Yorker finally hit a brick wall on Sunday as his game slipped well below his usual standards.

Cameron Young told what to do before the PGA Championship

Johnson Wagner was speaking on the Scorecard Show on CBS after the final round of the Truist Championship.

And Wagner shared the worrying observation that Mark Immelman made about Cam Young during a commercial break.

He responded when asked whether he believes the three-time PGA Tour winner looks a little tired right now.

“Absolutely. 100% he is,” Wagner exclaimed.

“What it takes out of you, even though he won by six last week, what it takes out of you being in contention all week long, wire-to-wire, and then putting yourself right back in it?

“Fatigue was definitely a factor.

“Our teammate, Mark Immelman, was with his group, that second to last group today, and he said it during a commercial break when they were on the 15th hole.

“He’s like, ‘Guys, he looks gassed out there’.

“So I think, to your point, Shane, definitely take the day off tomorrow, maybe go out there and have a light day, Tuesday, play nine holes, and play nine Wednesday, but he needs to conserve some energy, for sure, heading into Aronimink.“

Cam Young’s schedule could cost him

The PGA Championship next week will be Young’s third event in a row.

He has just played back-to-back Signature Events on very challenging golf courses, and now he will be heading to Aronimink for another difficult test.

The best players in the world never like to play three weeks in a row.

Doing so is not only physically demanding but it’s mentally challenging as well.

Now Cam Young has to pick himself up and go again at the PGA Championship. He will have to play practice rounds, work on his game and fulfil media duties as well.

The PGA Tour definitely need to change their schedule next year so that there are never back-to-back Signature Events heading into major championships.

However, even if they don’t, Young must look at these last two weeks as a real learning curve. Winning golf tournaments takes it out of you.

And playing three huge events in three weeks is simply not sustainable.

Juventus are reportedly ready to launch a new attempt to recruit departing Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi.

The Bianconeri have been tracking the 29-year-old for several months, identifying him as a potential defensive reinforcement for next season.

The Argentine has been a pillar at the back for the Cherries since making the move from Feyenoord in 2022, but he has no desire to extend his stay at the Vitality Stadium beyond the current campaign, so he’s heading towards free agency.

Juventus rekindle interest in Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi

Senesi’s contract situation attracted interest from all over Europe, with top clubs vying to sign him on a free transfer.

While Juventus were quick to react, it was reported in recent weeks that Premier League suitors are well ahead in the race, especially Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. However, these negotiations have seemingly stalled, opening the door for other clubs to pounce.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via JuventusNews24), the Bianconeri have decided to revive their interest in the Argentine defender.

As the pink newspaper explains, Luciano Spalletti is keen to add a defender capable of playing the ball from the back. Gleison Bremer might be one of the most reliable defenders in Serie A. However, the Brazilian’s technical limitations on the ball have been exposed on a few occasions, especially in the draw against Hellas Verona, when he gifted Kieron Bowie the opener with a clumsy pass.

On the other hand, Senesi is renowned for his distribution skills and has an impressive tally of five assists in the Premier League this season.

Juventus also tracking Kim Min-jae

In addition to the Bournemouth man, Juventus continue to keep tabs on Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae.

Although the South Korean represents a different profile, he is equally appreciated by Luciano Spalletti, who coached him during his solitary season at Napoli.

The 29-year-old has been a backup for Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano, so he would relish the opportunity to work under Spalletti once more.

But unlike Senesi, Kim’s arrival would command a comprehensive transfer fee, as Bayern don’t intend to register a capital loss on the player who cost them €60 million in 2023.

With only a few days separating us from the Coppa Italia final against Inter Milan, Lazio have resumed work on the training ground.

Lazio Start Preparing for Coppa Italia Final vs Inter Milan

The Italian capital side fell short in Saturday’s dress rehearsal, with Cristian Chivu’s men prevailing by three unanswered goals. Nevertheles, this league result won’t matter for the Aquile if they can have the last laugh on Wednesday.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Maurizio Sarri is expected to make five changes to his starting lineup, reinstating those who were rested at the weekend, while regaining the services of others who should overcome their physical problems in time.

Nuno Tavares Back in the Starting Lineup

Alessio Romagnoli, Mario Gila, and Adam Marusic will all retain their starting berths in front of Edoardo Motta, whereas Luca Pellegrini will make way for Nuno Tavares, who has recently established himself as the ultimate first choice at left-back.

Maurizio Sarri to Ring the Changes in Lazio Midfield

The Roman newspaper considers Patric the favorite to start in the Regista role, as he can provide more defensive cover than Nicolo Rovella, who would instead settle for a second-half cameo. The Spaniard picked up a slight knock on Saturday, but should be fit to start.

On the other hand, Danilo Cataldi’s availability remains uncertain. The Lazio youth product missed the last three games with an adductor problem. While he’s expected to rejoin his teammates in training on Monday, he still has to regain his athletic condition.

In the box-to-box roles, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru will be relegated to the bench in favor of Kenneth Taylor, while Toma Basic should maintain his spot.

Mattia Zaccagni to Lead Lazio’s Charge

The in-form Tijjani Noslin is expected to lead the attack at the expense of Daniel Maldini, who has now lost his starting berth. Gustav Isaksen will get the nod on the right wing, as Matteo Cancellieri is hampered by a slight issue he picked up in the league fixture against Inter. Finally, Mattia Zaccagni should overcome the knock he suffered in recent days to lead his teammates to the field.

Lazio Need a Different Spirit Against Inter Milan

Aside from the change in personnel, CdS emphasizes the importance of entering the game with a different mentality. The Lazio players were perhaps ‘too respectful’ of their opponents, and paid the price by conceding early.

Curiously, they only improved when Alessio Romagnoli left them a man down, as they shook off the fear and started to exploit the spaces Inter left at the back. A similar approach would be needed to achieve a glorious result on Wednesday

Swindon midfielder Ollie Clarke has signed a new one-year contract at the Nigel Eady County Ground.

Clarke, 33, scored eight goals in 36 appearances for the Robins this season and has been a regular since joining from Mansfield in 2024.

Manager Ian Holloway praised Clarke, saying he "gives everything" for the club.

"Ollie is exactly the sort of character you want around your football club," Holloway told the club website.

"He gives everything every single day, drives standards within the group, and his experience is incredibly important for us both on and off the pitch.

"His commitment to the club has been first-class since I came in. I'm delighted we'll have him with us moving forward because players like Ollie are vital to what we're trying to build here at Swindon Town."

Clarke began his career at Bristol Rovers, before leaving after more than a decade in 2020.

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe says he left forward Anthony Gordon on the bench for the second week running because he is "looking at the future".

The England international has been the subject of formal interest from Bayern Munich.

Although Gordon missed the defeats by Arsenal and Bournemouth in April with a minor hip flexor issue, he was fit enough to return to the squad for the subsequent fixtures against Brighton and Nottingham Forest.

However, Howe did not call upon the club's top scorer for either game despite naming him on the bench.

"It was tactical," he told BBC Radio Newcastle about Gordon's latest omission, following Sunday's 1-1 draw at the City Ground.

"The team has performed well in Anthony's absence. Obviously, we have gone with a bit more solidity with Joelinton playing wide and one winger the other side just to try and strengthen us defensively, because we weren't happy with how we were defending.

"Since January, really, we have been disappointed - so a change of structure really. Ant has come back to fitness. He's training well but, also, I'm looking at the future as well."

How do you feel about the Gordon situation? Tell us

The New England Patriots held their 2026 rookie minicamp at Gillette Stadium this weekend. Besides hosting their nine draft picks, they also welcomed a 17-man group of tryout players and their initial class of undrafted free agents: a total of 12 now-former UDFAs were part of the mix, with their signings announced leading up to the event.

Those deals include running back Myles Montgomery, wide receivers Jimmy Kibble, Nick DeGennaro, Kyle Dixon and Cameron Dorner, tight end Tanner Arkin, offensive linemen JonDarius Morgan and Jacob Rizy, defensive tackle David Blay Jr., linebacker Khalil Jacobs, as well as defensive backs Channing Canada and Kenneth Harris. In addition, the Patriots announced signing seven of their nine draft selections between Friday and Saturday.

Tight end Eli Raridon, cornerback Karon Prunty, offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover, linebacker Namdi Obiazor, quarterback Behren Morton, running back Jam Miller and edge Quintayvious Hutchins are now all officially on the books as well.

Let’s assess what all of that means for the Patriots.

No surprises

The Patriots did not pull any surprises out of their hat as far as their signings are concerned, both in terms of undrafted free agents and draft picks.

All 12 of the UDFAs had previously been reported. Meanwhile, late-round picks — and a majority of the Patriots’ draft class falls into that category — typically get signed relatively quickly after the draft. In fact, the only real hold-ups in recent years came with second-rounders and specifically how much of their third-year salary would be fully guaranteed.

Receiver depth

New England, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, opted not to bring any wide receivers aboard in the NFL Draft; a sign that the A.J. Brown trade very much remains on track even with no formal agreement in place at this point in time. The Patriots did, however, take to rookie free agency to bolster their receiver corps: four of their 12 UDFAs were wideouts.

With Kyle Dixon, Nick DeGennaro, Jimmy Kibble and Cameron Dorner added to the mix, the Patriots’ receiver room now looks as follows:

Wide receiver (11): Romeo Doubs (87), Kayshon Boutte (9), Mack Hollins (13), Kyle Williams (8), DeMario Douglas (3), Efton Chism III (86), Jeremiah Webb (29), Kyle Dixon (83), Nick DeGennaro (23), Jimmy Kibble (19), Cameron Dorner (88)

Even though 11 players is sufficient depth at the position for spring and summer, the group is bound to undergo more change. The aforementioned A.J. Brown seems like a safe bet to be added, while Kayshon Boutte continues to be mentioned in trade rumors.

Interest confirmed

According to the Pats Pulpit draft meetings tracker, the Patriots had at least one point of close reported contact with almost 150 prospects. Among them, 22 had more than one meeting, including two who registered three: tight end Eli Raridon, who was selected by the team in the third round, and linebacker Khalil Jacobs, whose signing as an undrafted free agent was made official on Friday.

The Patriots and Jacobs met at his pro day, virtually and through a pre-draft visit at Gillette Stadium. Their interest in him was a sign of things to come, and for good reason: while New England did add Namdi Obiazor in the sixth round of the draft, their linebacker position remains a work in progress behind starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.

Outside the top two, there are no locks in the linebacker room. This means that several spots are up for grabs, with the youngsters including Jacobs in a prime position to make a play. For the UDFA to do so, he will likely have to not just find a niche on defense but also prove himself a four-unit special teamer, something he was at Missouri.

Explosivity at cornerback

Even though they had added Karon Prunty in the fifth round, the Patriots were not done adding to their cornerback group on draft weekend: Channing Canada and Kenneth Harris were signed as rookie free agents, and both bring intriguing athletic profiles to the group.

While Canada runs a 4.35-second 40, which puts him in the 92nd percentile among cornerback prospects since 1999, Harris performed well in the vertical (39 1/2”) and broad jumps (10’9”) as well as the three-cone drill (6.85s). Both have a long way to go before emerging from what is currently an eight-man group behind starters Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones, but they both have NFL-caliber traits to build on.

Backfield speed

The Patriots added two running backs on draft weekend, with seventh-rounder Jam Miller being joined by rookie free agent Myles Montgomery. The two have something in common: both are speedsters.

Whereas Miller ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash in the pre-draft process, Montgomery clocked a 4.44 — still good enough to put him in the 86th percentile among NFL running back prospects. Add sophomore TreVeyon Henderson, and you get three backs with 4.4-second speed in New England now.

As for Montgomery, he projects as a potential change-of-pace/third option at the position. He does have some athletic deficits and is not the most elusive weapon, but his presence should add another interesting element to what is shaping up as a four-man competition for what will likely be no more than two spots behind Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson: Montgomery will go up against Miller, Terrell Jennings and Lan Larison.

Line depth

Whether it was by design or circumstance, the Patriots did not add to their interior lines on both offense and defense despite both spots being regarded as potential target areas before the draft. They did pick up three UDFAs, though: Jacob Rizy and JonDarius Morgan along the offensive line, with David Blay Jr. now the eighth DT under contract.

Throwback TEs

The Patriots picked one of the most well-rounded tight end prospects in the class in the third round in Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon, and they doubled down on their desire to improve their Y-TE group by in free agency: Illinois’ Tanner Arkin is a blocker first whose receiving contributions in college have been limited.

At 6-foot-4 (and 262 pounds), Arkin lacks Raridon’s length, but he is willing to get his hands dirty in the run game. New England already has a player of that type in its midst — free agency pickup Julian Hill — but Arkin could seve as an understudy this year and potentially challenge the veteran’s standing in 2027.

Minor cap impact thus far

Including their draft picks and rookie free agents, the Patriots signed 19 players this weekend. However, their combined salary cap impact is marginal. While there is no full information available about UDFA signing bonuses yet, the seven signed draft choices carry a combined cap hit of under $1.6 million with the NFL’s Top-51 rule in place during the offseason.

The rookie free agents adding significantly to that amount is unlikely. The same cannot be said about first-rounder Caleb Lomu and second-rounder Gabe Jacas, who still remain unsigned and will ultimately carry cap hits of around $3.5 million and $1.6 million this year.

Spots left open

Excluding offensive tackle Lorenz Metz, who carries an exemption on the basis of his international status, the Patriots have 88 of their 90 available roster spots currently occupied. The expectation is that the final two spots will be filled rather quickly, presumably from the list of tryout players.

Based on the only open practice from rookie minicamp on Saturday, safety Peter Manuma and linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski are two players to keep an eye on.

The names of those to play both cricket and football for England conjures up the feeling of a very different era: cigarette cards, blazers and the faint whiff of Brylcreem.

Sporting greats of a bygone time such as Denis Compton, CB Fry and Tip Foster are among the 12 men to do it.

Arthur Milton was the last man when he played the first of six Tests in 1958 - seven years after he won his solitary England football cap against Austria.

Another on the verge of joining that pantheon is of a more recent vintage in the form of goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.

Well, kind of...

Martyn, capped 23 times by the Three Lions in football, has forced his way into the reckoning for the England Over-60s cricket team after returning to a sport he has always loved.

He might be a little greyer at the temples but the prospect of becoming a dual international this summer has nevertheless stirred something in him.

"It's pretty special," Martyn told BBC Sport.

"Obviously as a professional goalkeeper I wasn't allowed to play cricket in the summer, as it would threaten breaking fingers and things like that.

"I retired with a stress factor on my ankle so I didn't think I was able to play cricket again. But I got the all-clear to do it in about 2011 so I started playing again."

Martyn got his professional football break for Bristol Rovers in 1987 after being recommended to their then manager Gerry Francis by the club's tea lady Vi Harris.

The Cornishman later played for Crystal Palace, Leeds and Everton, making 666 league appearances before he retired in 2006.

Martyn still plays club cricket and is currently with Scarcroft CC, just outside Leeds.

A few years ago he helped Knaresborough CC reach the North Yorkshire Premier Division alongside fellow ex-England goalie Paul Robinson.

St Austell-born Martyn's road to the international fold came off the back of county age-group matches for Cornwall - which necessitate a 800-mile round trip for matches from his Yorkshire home.

"My good friend Sean Hooper, who was the captain of Cornwall Over-50s, spoke to me about six years ago asking if fancied playing for Cornwall," he said.

"We last played when we were together with Cornwall Schools Under-15s. From there Cornwall recommended me to England.

"It's a long trip but being able to go home and see family more often was always the added bonus with it as well."

Knott, Taylor and World Cup dreams

Despite his prior sporting pedigree Martyn, a wicketkeeper, was not shown any preferential treatment when he attended England Over-60s trials at Loughborough University earlier this year.

After a recent intra-squad match he was subsequently picked for the England Over-60s 'Lions' squad - the 'emerging' pool of players who support the full side, which the 59-year-old qualifies for later this year.

"The batting and bowling standard is really, really high," Martyn said.

"The fielding is the one area where it gets more difficult, but there's still blokes in their sixties diving around stopping the ball, sprinting after it and throwing it in, it's quite incredible to watch really.

"I just love playing. If you're going to play into your 60s and 70s, you've got to love it. I love the camaraderie that you get."

Martyn cited England wicketkeepers Alan Knott and Bob Taylor as men behind the stumps he most admired.

"Because I wanted to be a goalkeeper, I also wanted to be a wicketkeeper," he explained.

"There's some transferable skills of hand-eye coordination and I'm sort of used to a round object being either thrown or kicked at me.

"I've had several thousand of those things happening to me in my life. So I can seem to get my hands pretty much in the right place most of the time."

Martyn went to two football World Cups - in 1998 and 2002 - but was understudy to David Seaman so did not make an appearance at either tournament.

He actually turns 60 on 11 August, which has effectively rendered him ineligible for this year's Over-60s Cricket World Cup in Canada which starts a few days earlier.

The chance to make the XI for a cricket World Cup in the future is on his radar, though.

"That would be great," Martyn added.

"I trained with the two wicketkeepers picked for the World Cup and they are both excellent, so the competition [for places] does drive you on to push the people ahead of you.

"They're in spot at the moment, and I'll just keep doing my thing."

• A BBC Cornwall Sport Special - The Story of Nigel Martyn
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The Suzuka 8 Hours will again feature representation from active MotoGP riders, with both Jack Miller and Johann Zarco being confirmed for the 47th running of the event.

Pramac rider Miller will reprise his role at the factory Yamaha team, teaming up with World Superbike frontrunner Andrea Locatelli and four-time race winner Katsuyuki Nakasuga aboard the #21 R1.

In a statement issued on Monday, Yamaha said a decision on contesting the 2026 race was made immediately after it finished second on its factory comeback last year.

Initial testing of the bike will be undertaken by Nakasuga, before Miller and Locatelli join him on the updated R1 for the final test in the build-up to the event.

“I’m absolutely stoked to be lining up for the Suzuka 8 Hours again this year,” said Miller.

“Last year was a bit of a tough one, having that off in the Top 10 Trial and then finishing second in the race was pretty frustrating, to be honest. But seeing the massive turnout from the Yamaha fans and staff, and getting to ride with Nakasuga-san and Loca, plus the team putting in the hard work, it actually turned out to be a real blast. 

“For 2026, the goal is simple. We want to go one better and take pole, take the win, and get ourselves onto that top step for Nakasuga-san’s final year before he hangs up the leathers! With the home crowd, the fans from all over the world, and the whole Yamaha family behind us, we’re going to give it everything we’ve got to make this the best Suzuka 8 Hours yet.” 

Jack Miller,YAMAHA RACING TEAM

Meanwhile, LCR’s Zarco will be gunning for his third consecutive victory at the Japanese endurance classic, sharing the factory HRC bike with Takumi Takahashi, and WSBK legend Jonathan Rea.

The Frenchman celebrated his first Suzuka 8 Hours win in 2024 with Takumi Takahashi and Teppei Nagoe, before winning as a duo with Takahashi last year after both Luca Marini and Xavi Vierge were forced to withdraw for various reasons.

“I am truly happy to return to the Suzuka 8 Hours again this year as a member of Honda HRC,” said Zarco. “Winning last year’s eight-hour race was a special honour for me, and I will give everything I have again this year to aim for the top step of the podium.

"In addition to Takumi, Rea, a highly experienced and reliable rider, will join us as a new teammate this year. I am confident that we can become an even stronger team. I look forward to seeing everyone at Suzuka.”

Honda has been unbeaten at the Suzuka 8 Hours since 2022, and all three riders in its 2026 factory line-up are race winners. Not only did Takahashi win the last Suzuka 8 Hours with Zarco, he has a record seven wins at the famous Japanese venue. Rea, best known for his record six titles in WSBK, has also won the Suzuka 8 Hours twice - first with Honda and then again with Kawasaki - but last contested the race in 2022.

After retiring full-time from WSBK at the end of last year, he returned to Honda as a test rider in 2026, opening the door for another Suzuka appearance.

The 47th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours will take place on 5 July, with the race date being moved earlier in the month to avoid clashes with other championships.

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

• Day four of six County Championship matches
• Div 1: Notts start well in second innings against Surrey; Glamorgan set target of 283 to beat Somerset
• Warwickshire nearing victory over Yorkshire; Leics lose five wickets in reply to Sussex's 430
• Div 2: Kent chasing 261 to beat Glos; Northants following-on against Derbyshire
• Wins for Wins for Essex, Middlesex and Durham on day three
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County Championship: Bears closing in on win over Yorkshire; Kent need 261 to beat Glos

Will Hardik Pandya and MI part ways after IPL 2026? Exploring whether Mumbai Indians captain could leave team in 2027 originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Hardik Pandya briefly unfollowed MI on Instagram before restoring his following count.
• His stats this season, 146 runs and four wickets, make him one of the least productive captains.
• A viral video of Pandya chatting with CSK's CEO has sparked IPL 2027 trade rumours.

Will Hardik Pandya leave Mumbai Indians after IPL 2026?

A last-ball defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday night confirmed Mumbai Indian's elimination from the playoff race.

However, within minutes, the conversation had moved from cricket to social media. Hardik Pandya, the MI captain who was not even on the field that evening due to a back spasm, had apparently briefly unfollowed the franchise's official Instagram account.

Though the follow count returned to 151 and Mumbai Indians reappeared among the accounts Pandya follows, questions continue to be asked about his future with the blue and gold brigade. 

MORE: Did Hardik unfollow MI on social media? 

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Hardik Pandya's diminishing returns at MI

When the Mumbai Indians brought Hardik Pandya back to the franchise ahead of the 2024 season, the logic was backed by numbers. He was thirty years old and perceived as the future.

He was Rohit Sharma's long-standing deputy for India in T20Is and had captained the national side across a sustained stretch between 2022 and 2024. MI wanted to build its next era around a player whose prime years still lay ahead.

They got their wish and then watched him struggle across three consecutive seasons. In 2024, they finished last. In 2025, they reached Qualifier 2 before losing to the Punjab Kings.

In 2026, they are out in the group stage with eight defeats in 11 matches. The Pandya era has not delivered what the franchise hoped for, and that cannot be sidestepped any longer.

Pandya's individual contribution this season has been difficult to defend, regardless of loyalty or goodwill. In eight innings with the bat, he has scored 146 runs; his highest score was 40, at a strike rate of 136.44.

With the ball, he has claimed four wickets at an economy of 11.90. For a player of his profile and price, those returns would prompt serious questions even if he were a regular squad member. As captain, they are harder still to justify. 

Is Hardik Pandya headed to CSK in 2027?

Before the Instagram episode, another piece of footage had already set social media ablaze.

After CSK's comfortable eight-wicket win over MI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 2, cameras caught Pandya in an extended conversation on the field with CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan.

The footage spread quickly, and fans asked: Could Pandya be heading to Chennai? In fact, the speculation was fuelled by a notable precedent.

Viswanathan had engaged in a similarly prominent on-field conversation with Sanju Samson during IPL 2025, and the former Rajasthan Royals skipper was subsequently traded to CSK ahead of the 2026 season. Whether that parallel means anything is impossible to say without facts, but it has been enough to keep the rumour alive.

MORE: 'Hates MI to the core': Fans react to Tim David's rude gesture vs. Mumbai

The Cricket News Opinion: Should MI continue to back Hardik?

The uncomfortable truth is that loyalty and performance have to coexist. 

Pandya is clearly committed; nobody questions that, but commitment and impact are not the same thing. MI deserves a captain who can influence games with both bat and ball, command dressing room authority, and keep the franchise competitive.

Whether Pandya remains the right man for all three of those things is the question management must honestly answer this off-season. The franchise is too big and too storied to spend another season searching for the answer on the field.

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

All-rounder Liam Scott will be unavailable for Gloucestershire's opening games of the T20 Blast after being called up to Australia's side for their upcoming tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The 25-year-old had signed to play in this season's Blast, as well as two County Championships matches.

Australia's schedule includes six one-day internationals - three in Pakistan and three in Bangladesh - from 30 May to 14 June, which means Scott will not be available until Gloucestershire's County Championship match against Worcestershire on 19 June.

He will miss the start of the T20 campaign at home to Warwickshire on 22 May as well as games away at Glamorgan, Northamptonshire and Yorkshire and at home to Somerset and Worcestershire, plus the County Championship match at Northamptonshire, starting on 12 June.

Caitlin Clark has always been known for her three-point shooting ability. However, she is in the midst of a rather significant slump from beyond the arc.

Even going back to her time at the college level with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark has been lethal from beyond the three-point line, as she has made more three-pointers than any player in NCAA history throughout her college career. She continued that hot shooting at the professional level, setting a rookie record for the most made three-pointers in a season.

Clark’s entire game revolves around the three-pointer as she shoots from beyond the arc at high volume and from long distances. In turn, the Fever offense relies heavily on Clark’s deep shooting, as her ability to stretch the court and draw attention from opposing defenses opens things up for other players.

Over the past several games, however, Clark has not exactly been on target from beyond the three-point line.

In Clark’s last eight WNBA games, she has made just 9 of 58 three-point attempts, which works out to just 15.5% from beyond the arc – an absolutely dismal three-point percentage.

For context, one fan pointed out that Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks, who just put up the worst shooting season in NBA history, has made 16 of his last 58 three-point attempts, which works out to 27.6% from beyond the arc. This means that the worst shooter in the NBA has been considerably outperforming Clark over the same span.

Needless to say, Clark’s struggles from beyond the arc have led to a lot of criticism from fans, considering that’s supposed to be her specialty.

“Stop callin her Steph Curry,” one fan wrote in a post on X.

“It’s getting scary for CC, I know she missed a ton of time so ima give her some grace. But boy it’s getting spooky for her,” someone else added.

“Once there’s tape, you gotta evolve. If not…well…” another fan wrote.

“Genuinely concerned about her health,” someone else added.

“This is why they want her off the ball so she can find some open space and bank one in but her fans hate it,” another commented.

“It’s not even the shooting issues. She’s turning the ball over at a generational rate. She has 294 turnovers in 54 career games,” another fan pointed out.

Obviously, it’s a long season, and Clark has proven to be a prolific scorer and shooter over the years, so she’ll likely bounce back. But it’s safe to say that fans are growing concerned.

The post Caitlin Clark criticized for poor shooting: ‘Stop calling her Steph Curry’ appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

Lorenzo Insigne was a key starter for Italy national football team when they won UEFA Euro 2020. After lifting the trophy, he went on to record 23 goal contributions in a single season for SSC Napoli, establishing himself as a constant danger to Milan’s rivals in Serie A.

At the height of his career, he chose to become the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer - until the arrival of Lionel Messi - by joining Toronto FC. From that moment, however, his career began to decline sharply.

The statistics alone do not fully reflect Insigne’s spell in Canada. Signed by Bill Manning as the figurehead of a “new era” for Toronto FC, he instead came to symbolise the club’s sporting collapse.

His partnership with Federico Bernardeschi, another high-profile arrival from Serie A, was marked by disappointing performances on the pitch and controversy away from it. According to several Canadian reports, the two Italians were alleged to have worked behind the scenes to push for coach Bob Bradley to be sacked.

With Insigne in the squad, Toronto became one of the weakest sides in MLS in recent years, and the midfielder never managed to guide the club into the play-offs. His relationship with supporters also deteriorated, with the Italian reportedly insulting fans during a match he was watching from the executive box.

Despite earning an enormous salary, Insigne remained in Canada until 2025, when he eventually agreed to terminate his contract. Following his disappointing spell in Toronto, he made what he described as a decision “from the heart” and signed for Pescara.

It was at Pescara, during the 2011/12 season, that Insigne first enjoyed a breakthrough campaign. He scored 20 goals and, alongside Ciro Immobile and Marco Verratti, helped the club secure promotion to Italy’s top flight before later moving to Napoli.

The “homecoming”, however, quickly turned sour. Although Insigne arrived in January, he did not begin receiving regular playing time until March. His numbers themselves were respectable - five goals and three assists in 13 appearances - but the final chapter once again ended in turmoil.

On 1 May came the incident the Italian press labelled “il rigore della discordia” - “the penalty of discord”. During a match against Calcio Padova, Pescara were awarded a penalty, but Insigne declined to take it. Young forward Flavio Russo stepped up instead and missed, before Padova snatched victory with a stoppage-time winner.

Insigne was then subjected to abuse from supporters, criticism in the media, and even comments from coach Giorgio Gorgone, who hinted at tensions within the dressing room after the match.

“To take a penalty, you have to pick up the ball and kick it. I’ve never seen anyone forced to take a penalty,” the manager said during his post-match press conference. He also stressed that Insigne had been the designated penalty-taker. The midfielder later stated that he was “perplexed by some of the comments made after the match”.

On the final day of the Serie B season, Pescara were relegated to Serie C alongside Spezia Calcio. At 34 years of age, Insigne had gone from the pinnacle of European football to a bitter and deeply disappointing conclusion to his career in the space of just a few years.

Welcome to The Athletic’s 2026 WNBA power rankings. We’re tweaking the format this season to focus a little more on the teams moving up and down, so expect even more movement than usual.

That’s especially true for the start of the season, after the defending champs lost by 33 points on their home court, the runners-up forgot how to play defense in the second half of a back-to-back, and the other two 2025 semifinalists lost heartbreakers at home. It wasn’t just the expansion teams who were unable to deliver their fans opening-day victories — in total, home teams were 2-9 through the first three days.

Without further ado, let’s get to it.

Rank	Team
1	New York
2	Dallas
3	Atlanta
4	Phoenix
5	Las Vegas
6	Golden State
7	Indiana
8	Minnesota
9	Washington
10	Chicago
11	Seattle
12	Los Angeles
13	Toronto
14	Connecticut
15	Portland

Two teams trending up

New York Liberty

Even if Breanna Stewart never becomes a plus-3-point shooter again, she will remain an MVP candidate and one of the best players in the world. She played the first game of the season as if Aneesah Morrow had personally wronged her, repeatedly scoring over and through the undersized Connecticut Sun forward and providing some vicious blocks on Morrow and Diamond Miller on the other end. The Liberty had an embarrassment of riches compared to the Sun roster, even with their injury absences, and didn’t need a vintage Stewart game, but they got one anyway, to the tune of 31 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. And when New York needed more out of its MVP after Jonquel Jones and Han Xu fouled out against the Washington, there was Stewart, playing all of the fourth quarter and overtime to protect the rim against the Mystics.

The Liberty also got an unexpected boost from Julie Vanloo in their opener. The expansion of roster sizes with 12 mandatory players and two developmental spots hasn’t yet eliminated the need for hardship players. Due to injury, New York fell below 10 active players and was thus eligible to sign Vanloo and Aubrey Griffin. All Vanloo did was become the 16th player in WNBA history to post at least 12 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in one game. Two years ago, Vanloo was a 31-year-old rookie who thought she had found a WNBA home in Washington. Instead, she was poached in the expansion draft, then waived from the Golden State Valkyries after winning EuroBasket for Belgium. She landed with the Sparks and then didn’t make it through training camp in Los Angeles, either. But she can still hoop, and this league clearly means a lot to her after the winding road she has taken.

 

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Golden State Valkyries

One of my preseason concerns was how the Valkyries would generate efficient offense, especially after they lost Iliana Rupert and her spacing at the center position. Instead, Golden State has scored at least 90 points in its first two games after recording only four such games in its expansion campaign. Janelle Salaün is shooting the absolute leather off the ball, making 9 of 16 3-point attempts through two games. Kayla Thornton wasn’t a one-hit wonder in 2025 and has resumed her aggressive drives to the basket. Sometimes, it seems like the Valkyries are creating spacing out of thin air since most of their players aren’t historically great 3-point shooters, but it works, and their guards and wings have clean lanes to the basket.

Golden State hasn’t even needed transition to pad its point totals. Although the Valkyries scored 24 points off turnovers against the Phoenix Mercury — the backcourt of Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton is as ball-hawkish as expected — they had only 12 points off giveaways and two fast-break points in the opener against Seattle. They are manufacturing points in the half court, too, a good sign for a team expecting a return to the postseason.

Two teams trending down

Connecticut Sun

The Sun miss Leïla Lacan. Without Lacan in the 2025 season, Connecticut was historically bad, getting outscored by 18.1 points per 100 possessions. With the rookie French guard on the court, the Sun were basically average with a net rating of minus-0.5. As Lexie Brown lit up the Sun in the second half of the Storm’s win Sunday, it was hard not to imagine what Connecticut could have done defensively with Lacan available. The Sun have a bevy of young ballhandlers but needed someone a little more sure-handed against New York and Seattle’s ball pressure.

This is a developmental season for Connecticut, so the goal is to determine which of these young players makes sense for the future in Houston. It’s pretty obvious already that Lacan is a cornerstone going forward and the sooner she can get on the court and figure out her chemistry with her new teammates, the better.

Los Angeles Sparks

The Sparks spent the entire preseason talking about their commitment to being a better defensive team. They hired Ebony Hoffman, who architected a top defense in Seattle for three seasons. They brought in former all-defense players Nneka Ogwumike and Ariel Atkins.

And then they fell flat on their face against the Las Vegas Aces. Their one-on-one defense was putrid. They had no rim protection on drives. They lost the 50-50 balls. The effort and execution weren’t there all night. The Aces shot 62 percent from the field and topped 100 points despite making only seven 3s.

Ogwumike said postgame: “I think that was probably one of my worst one-on-one defending nights … but defense is definitely not something that you guys should be sitting here watching and hoping we get it down by the end of the month. You should see it on Wednesday (against the Indiana Fever).” L.A. has no hope of making the playoffs if the defense doesn’t improve, and quickly.

Rookie of the week

Georgia Amoore, Washington Mystics

What a delight to watch Amoore back on the court for the Mystics. After missing what would have been her rookie season with a torn ACL, Amoore assumed the starting point guard role for a comically young Washington squad — not since 2001 has a team had so many first- or second-year players on their roster — and immediately showed off the playmaking and flair that made her a fan favorite at Kentucky and Virginia Tech before that.

Amoore had the ball in her hands so often in college, often taking her time to survey the court in a slow-paced system. Now, she gets to play with other creators, and the Mystics are trying to run. That allows Amoore to push the tempo in transition or even make quick decisions off of offensive rebounds. Her seven assists to one turnover in the home opener against New York were a product of some generous scorekeeping from the Washington scoreboard operators, but her passing was creating positive outcomes, even if it was just getting her teammates on the move to the basket.

The Mystics still have Amoore on a 20-minute limit as she returns from injury, and they could have used her in the overtime period against the Liberty Sunday. Nevertheless, it has been a strong debut for the Australian point guard in whatever time she gets on the floor.

Game to circle

Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings, 8 p.m. (ET) Tuesday

Both Atlanta and Dallas went into enemy territory — the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana, respectively — and captured clutch wins to start their seasons, initially validating their preseason hopes of contention. The Dream are more defensive-minded, especially on the perimeter, than the Wings’ first opponent (Indiana), but Dallas is a much more potent scoring team than Minnesota, giving each team a new challenge during a tough opening schedule.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Golden State Valkyries, Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo, WNBA

2026 The Athletic Media Company

Kentucky Football is in the mix for another key 2027 recruiting target as 3-star offensive tackle Reed Gerken has narrowed his recruitment down to four schools.

The 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman from Perrysburg announced on Sunday that Kentucky, Illinois, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin remain in contention for his commitment. According to Riley Alberts of 247 Sports, Gerken is set to announce his college decision on June 22.

Kentucky has continued to prioritize Gerken throughout the recruiting process. During the week of May 4, Wildcats offensive line coach Cutter Leftwich and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan visited Gerken at his high school, showing that Kentucky has strong interest in the talented lineman.

Gerken also has multiple visits scheduled ahead of his commitment date. He is expected to visit Virginia Tech on May 29, Wisconsin on June 5, and Kentucky on June 19, which is just three days before he announces his decision. That timing could play a major factor in Kentucky’s chances if the staff is able to make a great impression during the official visit.

Momentum may already be trending in Kentucky’s direction. Back on April 20, Josh Edwards of CatsPause logged a prediction for Gerken to eventually become a Wildcat. 247 has him ranked 50th among offensive tackles and 20th in the state of Ohio.

As recruiting momentum continues to build under Will Stein and his staff, Kentucky appears to be in strong position heading into one of the more important offensive line recruitments in the 2027 cycle.

Stephen Warnock believes Liverpool’s two marquee attacking signings have badly underperformed this season, although the former defender still thinks there is hope for both Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz going forward.

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Speaking exclusively to Empire of the Kop on behalf of BetWright who provide Premier League Odds, the ex-Liverpool left-back delivered a brutal assessment of the pair after another frustrating team display in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

The criticism comes with Liverpool still fighting to secure Champions League football after a season which has seen both expensive arrivals struggle for consistency.

Warnock brutally rates Isak and Wirtz

Warnock was particularly harsh when discussing Isak’s first campaign at Anfield.

The Sweden international arrived from Newcastle in a £125m move but has managed just four goals in 22 appearances across all competitions.

The former Blackburn defender admitted: “Isak’s a two out of 10, isn’t he?”

Warnock then added: “He’s done nothing. He hasn’t contributed at all.”

However, the pundit also felt Liverpool must share responsibility for the striker’s difficult season.

“If you know you’re going for a player over the summer transfer window, get him in quickly. Don’t drag it out and allow him to train on his own, so he can’t then get up to speed properly.”

The 26-year-old’s injury problems and lack of rhythm have clearly played a role, with Virgil van Dijk recently insisting nobody inside the dressing room is worried about the forward long term.

Wirtz still showing flashes of brilliance

Warnock was slightly more forgiving regarding Florian Wirtz, even if he admitted the German has failed to justify his £116.5m fee so far.

The England international explained: “Florian Wirtz, I can’t make my mind up on.”

Warnock continued: “I think he’s technically one of the most gifted players we’ve seen, but at the moment he looks like a luxury player that Liverpool can’t afford to have.”

The German playmaker has contributed seven goals and eight assists in 47 appearances, although the former Red believes the issue is consistency rather than talent.

“He has spells in games for five or 10 minutes where you go: ‘Wow, there he is.’ Then he just disappears again.”

It feels like the best way both can improve their current form, is by combining well with each other – something Wirtz has recently commented on.

Importantly for Liverpool supporters, Warnock still believes there is far more to come from both players if the club recruit properly around them this summer.

Milan have only accumulated 25 points in the second half of the season, the lowest total in the last nine years.

Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan find themselves fighting for a Champions League place with just two games remaining following a dreadful run of form in the second part of the campaign.

As reported by TMW, the Rossoneri have only earned 25 points in the Gione di Ritorno, the fewest in the last nine seasons.

Milan have lost three of their last five league games and are now level on 67 points with Roma in fourth.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 10: Fans of AC Milan spell out “G.F OUT”, as they protest against Giorgio Furlani, Chief Executive Officer of AC Milan, prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

If Rossoneri and Giallorossi finish level on points, Allegri’s side will finish ahead, having a better head-to-head record against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side this season, with one win and one draw.

Tension is running high at San Siro, where fans protested against club CEO Giorgio Furlani before the kick-off of a Serie A match against Atalanta on Sunday.

Milan’s remaining fixtures are away at Genoa and at home to Cagliari, while Roma will play their city rivals Lazio in the next round and already-relegated Verona in the last game of the season.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 10: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Milan’s record in the Girone di Ritorno until Round 36

2025-26 – Massimiliano Allegri: 25 points 2024-25 – Sérgio Conceição: 30 points 2023/24 – Stefano Pioli 35 points 2022/23 – Stefano Pioli 26 points 2021/22 – Stefano Pioli 38 points 2020/21 – Stefano Pioli 32 points 2019/20 – Stefano Pioli 35 points 2018/19 – Gennaro Gattuso 31 points 2017/18 – Gennaro Gattuso 35 points

Tyson Fury has questioned Anthony Joshua’s resilience in the ring, noting how “AJ” was the exception to a recent Daniel Dubois rule.

On Saturday night, Dubois climbed off the canvas twice to stop Fabio Wardley in the 11th round, winning the WBO heavyweight title in the process.

The result made the Briton, 28, a two-time world champion, after his interim IBF belt was upgraded to the official title in 2024 – before he retained it by stopping Anthony Joshua at Wembley.

And Fury, who is contracted to sign Joshua later this year, referenced that 2024 bout on Sunday while discussing Dubois’s win over Wardley.

“Well, I’ve just been sat here thinking, after Dubois’s unbelievable fight last night,” Fury said in an Instagram video. “Dubois fought ‘Big Baby’ [Jarrell] Miller, stopped him, never put him down.

“Then he fought [Filip] Hrgovic, stopped him, never put him down. He fought Wardley last night in an unbelievable fight, stopped him, never put him down.

“He hit [Oleksandr] Usyk with some big bombs, never put him over, but yet he fights Anthony Joshua and pummels him, puts him to the floor five times.”

Dubois in fact dropped Joshua four times in their bout, while AJ was ruled to have slipped in a separate moment.

“I’m not saying Anthony Joshua’s chinless,” Fury continued, “but they’re the facts. Take it as you wish and as you will. Everybody else never went over, not a singular person – Big Baby Miller, Hrgovic, Usyk or Wardley, but Joshua goes down five times.

“Chinny, get up!” the 37-year-old laughed, before ending the video.

Dubois was stopped by Usyk in 2023 and again last summer, with his wins over Miller, Hrgovic and Joshua taking place between those defeats. Dubois actually dropped Usyk to the mat in their first clash, but his attempted body shot was ruled a low blow. Dubois’s team attempted to have the fight result overturned, but their attempt was unsuccessful.

Before facing fellow Briton Fury, Joshua will box relative unknown Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on 25 July. Fury has also said he wants a warm-up fight before taking on Joshua – with their bout expected to take place at Wembley this autumn.

Fury actually fought as recently as 11 April, outpointing Arslanbek Makmudov while emerging from retirement for the fifth time. And Joshua’s latest outing was a sixth-round stoppage of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, 10 days before AJ survived a fatal car crash in Nigeria. That accident claimed the lives of two of his teammates: Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.

Since then, Joshua has been training with old rival Usyk in the latter’s native Ukraine. Usyk, who holds the unified heavyweight belts, outpointed Joshua in 2021 and 2022, and he did the same against Fury twice in 2024.

The 2026 NBA Draft lottery is in the books. Every NBA team knows when it's drafting in the 2026 NBA Draft, and so now the evaluation process begins in full. Front office personnel from around the league, top prospects and their agents have all convened in Chicago this week for the annual NBA draft combine.

The entire draft class typically goes through medical examinations, as well as agility and shooting drills, at Wintrust Arena with private workouts conducted through agents during the week-long event. There are also live-action scrimmages the top of the draft class usually decline to play in, but the right performance in front of so many influential eyes can often propel a fringe prospect.

This year's combine will feel different than some of its recent predecessors due to the decline in underclassmen who have declared for the draft, which is a reflection of the NIL money available at the college level these days. But it nonetheless carries enormous weight for players trying to improve their draft stock while figuring out whether to return to school before the NBA Draft's June 13 early entry withdrawal deadline.

Here's a look at a group of players, as well as two potential college basketball national championship contenders, with the most at stake as the 2026 NBA Scouting Combine gets underway in Chicago:

When is the 2026 NBA Draft Combine?

The 2026 NBA Draft Combine officially began on Sunday, May 10 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago and runs through Sunday, May 17. It is not open to the public.

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WHO'S NO. 1? Ranking the top 25 prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft

2026 NBA Draft Combine: Prospects with most at stake

Darryn Peterson, Kansas

The Kansas star doesn't have to show NBA teams he might be the best prospect in this draft class based on talent. They know that. But if he's to be the No. 1 pick, Peterson will have to prove to the Washington Wizards front office that the mysterious health issues surrounding his availability with the Jayhawks were indeed just a one-off due to the introduction of creatine into his workout regimen. Peterson's medical evaluation with the NBA at the scouting combine is likely to be scrutinized as much as any prospect.

2026 NBA DRAFT: How Darryn Peterson figured out mysterious injury issues

Nate Ament, Tennessee

Ament began this season at Tennessee rated as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. An intriguing but inconsistent freshman year has him hovering with a group of prospects who could go in the lottery or fall to late in the first round. Ament is perhaps the most intriguing because of his length as a wing and long-term development possibilities. He could benefit from the measurement portion of the combine. Ament nearly returned to the Vols for a lucrative NIL offer, according to multiple reports, so his draft position will determine whether he made the right decision.

Koa Peat, Arizona

Peat, like Ament, watched his draft stock slide a bit despite a relatively successful freshman season at Arizona. There are concerns about Peat's lack of perimeter shooting and whether his physical style can translate to the NBA. What his measurements are at the combine, as well as how we he does in shooting drills, will help dictate if he's closer to a potential lottery pick or more like a fringe first-round pick.

Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky

The 6-foot-10 center played just four games at Kentucky this past season after spending his first year of college at Arizona State and suffering a torn ACL. The former five-star recruit has been pegged as a potential lottery pick for years and showed flashes of becoming a defensive force as Arizona State. He can show NBA evaluators in Chicago that he has put the knee injury behind him and cement his status as a lottery pick and possible steal in this deep class.

Allen Graves, Santa Clara

Graves blossomed into a 6-foot-9 two-way playmaker as a redshirt freshman while helping Santa Clara make the NCAA tournament. He has to decide whether to stay in the NBA draft or return to college as one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal. As a 19-year-old who was an under-the-radar recruit out of high school in Louisiana, Graves fits the mold of a player whose stock could improve with a strong showing at the combine. Former Santa Clara standout and current Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams did just that in 2022 when he became a first-round draft pick.

2026 NBA Draft Combine: College teams with most at stake

Michigan Wolverines

The defending national champions have three players invited to the NBA combine and two have left open the possibility of returning to the Wolverines. Aday Mara seems more likely stay in the draft than Morez Johnson, Jr., but there's a possibility both go pro. Michigan coach Dusty May has replenished the Wolverines' roster through the transfer portal, but bringing back either one of these two impact players would place Michigan squarely in the national championship hunt again.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Perhaps no school could benefit more from a poor showing at the combine than the Razorbacks (even though coach John Calipari would never say that out loud). Guards Meleek Thomas and Billy Richmond III have both declared for the draft while maintaining their college eligibility to return to Arkansas. Both could be late first-round picks or even second-round picks, and therefore have the potential to earn more money next season staying in college. If both are back at Arkansas, or maybe even just one, the Razorbacks will be a national title contender despite losing likely top-10 pick Darius Acuff, Jr.

NBA MOCK DRAFT: First-round projections following NBA draft lottery

NBA Draft Scouting Combine 2026 invite list

• Matt Able, North Carolina State
• Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
• Amari Allen, Alabama
• Nate Ament, Tennessee
• Christian Anderson, Jr., Texas Tech
• Tobe Awaka, Arizona
• Flory Bidunga, Kansas
• Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
• John Blackwell, Wisconsin
• Cameron Boozer, Duke
• Kylan Boswell, Illinois
• Nick Boyd, Wisconsin
• Jaden Bradley, Arizona
• Trevon Brazile, Arkansas
• Maliq Brown, Duke
• Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
• Braydon Burries, Arizona
• Cameron Carr, Baylor
• Chris Cenac, Jr., Houston
• Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
• Ryan Conwell, Louisville
• AJ Dybantsa, BYU
• Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's
• Isaiah Evans, Duke
• Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
• Kingston Flemings, Houston
• Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
• Allen Graves, Santa Clara
• Keyshawn Hall, Auburn
• Juke Harris, Wake Forest
• Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
• Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
• Alex Karaban, UConn
• Jack Kayil, Alba Berlin (Germany)
• Sergio de Larrea, Valencia (Spain)
• Tobi Lawal, Virginia Tech
• Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
• Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers (NBL)
• Aday Mara, Michigan
• Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
• Baba Miller, Cincinnati
• Dillon Mitchell, St. John's
• Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State (also in transfer portal)
• Malachi Moreno, Kentucky
• Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida
• Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt
• Ebuka Okorie, Stanford*
• Felix Okpara, Tennessee
• Ugonna Onyenso, Virginia
• Otega Oweh, Kentucky
• Koa Peat, Arizona
• Darryn Peterson, Kansas
• Labaron Philon, Alabama
• Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
• Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
• Billy Richmond III, Arkansas
• Richie Saunders, BYU
• Emanuel Sharp, Houston
• Braden Smith, Purdue
• Hannes Steinbach, Washington
• Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
• Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
• Peter Suder, Miami (Ohio)
• Luigi Suigo, Mega (Serbia)
• Dailyn Swain, Texas
• Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
• Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
• Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
• Milos Uzan, Houston
• Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
• Keaton Wagler, Illinois
• Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
• Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA draft prospects, teams with most at stake during scouting combine

In Austin Mock’s NFL Projection Model for The Athletic, the New York Giants finished 26th out of 32 teams in post-draft roster rankings, projecting an expected margin of victory of -2.5 points against a league-average opponent.

Mock’s model assesses individual player impact using advanced metrics to determine how much better or worse each contributor is than a replacement-level performer against an average NFL opponent. These values are then summed across the roster to produce a team projection expressed in points.

The Giants feature promising young talent at key positions, most notably wide receiver Malik Nabers and edge rusher Abdul Carter, both of whom have impressed early in their careers. Yet Mock believes the roster still contains numerous holes that keep the team near the bottom of the league rankings.

On quarterback Jaxson Dart specifically, Mock noted the uncertainty surrounding the position following the rookie’s 2025 performance, calling it "unspectacular."

The Giants have a few promising pieces, mainly Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter. They're both young, play crucial positions and have impressed early in their careers. There are plenty of holes on this roster, however, and the future at quarterback is unclear after Jaxson Dart's unspectacular rookie season.

The Giants' main problems are on defense, where their interior D-line ranks as the league's worst, and their cornerbacks room is 30th.

Meanwhile, the Giants arguably got weaker along the defensive line after trading Dexter Lawrence despite the additions of D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, and others.

At cornerback, they added Colton Hood in the 2026 NFL draft. He is expected to start alongside veteran Paulson Adebo this coming season.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: NFL analyst: Giants QB Jaxson Dart's rookie season was 'unspectacular'

For a long time, it has been reported that Kasper Hjulmand is practically certain to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Now, Bild reports that Die Werkself have made a final decision on the Danish coach’s future.

The German tabloid claims that Hjulmand’s time at the club will be over at the end of the season, and that his final game in charge will be Saturday’s match against Hamburger SV.

Even though it is still mathematically possible for Leverkusen to qualify for the Champions League, Die Werkself almost certainly threw away their chance of reaching Europe’s premier club competition on Saturday with a 3-1 loss to VfB Stuttgart.

With just one game left to play, Leverkusen sit sixth, three points behind both Hoffenheim and VfB Stuttgart in fifth and fourth place respectively.

The field is set. The 2026 NCAA Softball Tournament is here and the road to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City begins on Friday with regionals.

Despite losing to Texas in the SEC Tournament title game, Alabama is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA field. The Crimson Tide ranked third in RPI and had a 15-5 record in Quad 1 games. They’re also second nationally in ERA with a 1.60 mark.

Being the top seed comes with its own sort of pressure, and Alabama will certainly feel the weight of those expectations. But there are a few teams with even more at stake.

Here’s five teams under the most pressure ahead of the start of the tournament.

Texas Tech

The Red Raiders pushed Texas to a decisive Game 3 in last year’s Women’s College World Series but fell short of capturing the national title in its first trip ever to Oklahoma City. Not only did Texas Tech bring back NiJaree Canady and her million dollar arm for a second crack at winning it all, but they also secured prized transfers in UCLA’s Kaitlyn Terry, Tennessee’s Taylor Pannell, Ohio State’s Jazzy Burns and Florida’s Mia Williams.

On paper, it looks like the most talented team in the sport, but the selection committee didn’t think the Red Raiders were worthy of a top-eight seed — meaning if they make the super regional round, they’ll likely have to play on the road.

Canady has played in the World Series in each of the past three seasons, twice with Stanford and once with Texas Tech. Winning a national championship is really all that’s left for her to accomplish.

UCLA

Similar to the UCLA’s women’s basketball team, time is running out for this particular group of Bruins to accomplish something great together. This is the last time they’ll have Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery anchoring their offense and ace Taylor Tinsley leading the pitching staff. All three were drafted by AUSL teams last week.

UCLA fell short of winning the Big Ten championship this season, but bigger goals await. The Bruins will likely go as far as the bats of Grant and Woolery can take them — which is good news considering they’ve combined for 71 home runs this season.

It would be a disappointment if the Bruins fail to return to Oklahoma City.

Texas

Only four programs in the history of Division I college softball have won consecutive national championships: Oklahoma, Florida, UCLA and Arizona. The Longhorns have the opportunity to join that exclusive group.

Led by Reese Atwood, Texas has the pieces to make it back to Oklahoma City. And its path to returning to the World Series is manageable. At first glance, Baylor, Wisconsin and Wagner don’t look like teams that will be able to keep pace with Texas, and neither do the teams in the College Station Regional — Texas A&M, Arizona State, UConn and McNeese.

It would be arguably the biggest upset of the tournament if Texas is sent home during the first two rounds.

Oklahoma

Since the turn of the century, coach Patty Gasso’s Sooners have become arguably the most iconic and recognizable brand in college softball. Between 2013 and 2024, Oklahoma ripped off seven national championships. A season ago, they swept the SEC’s regular season and tournament titles, but their run of national championships came to an end with a loss to Texas Tech.

Can the Sooners return to their perch atop the sport this postseason?

They certainly have the offense to do it, ranking first in batting average at .389. Leading that Oklahoma lineup is freshman catcher Kendall Wells, who has blasted 36 homers this season.

Belmont

Belmont’s pressure is different from the other teams on this list. Few expect the Bruins to compete for a national championship, but for the past three seasons they’ve been led by one of the best pitchers in the sport — Maya Johnson — and have had little national success to show for it.

Johnson, who was the third overall pick in the AUSL Draft, leads the nation in ERA this season with a 0.66 mark. But during her time at Belmont, the Bruins have never advanced to a super regional. She hasn’t had her signature postseason moment as we’ve seen from mid-major stars in other sports — think Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne leading the Blue Hens to the Sweet 16 in 2013.

Unfortunately, Belmont got one of the toughest draws in the tournament. They were placed in No. 1 overall seed Alabama’s regional and will face a strong Southeast Louisiana team to open the postseason.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five teams under the most pressure as the NCAA Softball Tournament begins

The Georgia Bulldogs (38-18) softball team punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament after a strong SEC Tournament run that featured wins over LSU and Oklahoma. The Bulldogs lost in the SEC Tournament semifinals in a heartbreaker to Texas.

Georgia will host the Athens Regional, which features four teams. The Bulldogs are the No. 10 national seed and would be projected to play the No. 7 national seed Tennessee Volunteers in the super regionals if highest ranked seeds advance in the tournament.

Georgia was hoping their comeback SEC Tournament win over Oklahoma would propel them to a top-eight seed, but the Dawgs came up just short.

Georgia will host the Athens Regional from Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17 at the Jack Turner Stadium. The Bulldogs' opening game is against Charleston at 7 p.m. ET on Friday. The other opening matchup in the Athens Regional is Clemson versus UNC Greensboro, which will take place at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday.

Clemson is the second-highest seed in the regional. Clemson beat Georgia 10-1 back in February.

This is the 14th time in school history that Georgia has hosted a regional and the third time in the Tony Baldwin era. Twelve SEC teams made the NCAA Tournament.

The Athens Regional

The 2026 NCAA Athens Regional 🐶#Team30 | #GoDawgspic.twitter.com/e9cMMkndsI

— Georgia Softball (@UGASoftball) May 10, 2026

• Georgia
• Clemson
• UNC Greensboro
• Charleston

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X or Threads for more Georgia softball coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia softball hosting NCAA Tournament regional

South Africa's Yurav Premlall was one shot away from equalling Tiger Woods' 26-year-old record for the biggest winning margin on the DP World Tour as he stormed to victory at the Catalunya Championship.

Premlall carded a final-round 63 to finish on 28 under and secure his maiden DP World Tour win by 14 shots from compatriot Shaun Norris.

American great Woods finished 15 shots clear of the field when he won the US Open in 2000.

Premlall repeated his 63 in the third round a day later, once again carding 10 birdies and one bogey.

On top of his prize money of just under 400,000 euros (£345,000), the 22-year-old received $50,000 (£36,700) for the 63 being a course record and also moved up from 598th to 250th in the world rankings.

"No words," said Premlall, who also went from 157th to 26th in the Race for Dubai rankings.

"I've worked so hard to get into this position and it's so rewarding to finally see the results of it.

"I mean the last eight, nine months have been such a struggle just to build myself on to a platform where I know I could give myself a chance to win and to end up obviously in this position.

"I'm just so grateful so it's a dream come true."

Premlall's win came on his 29th start on the DP World Tour, with his previous best having been when he tied for 19th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2024.

"There's not much else I can say," added Premlall. "I mean my whole team, support structure, all my family. It's so rewarding to stand up on this pedestal and be able to thank everyone for being part of this journey so far."

For the first time since 2022, the Wisconsin Badgers softball team is going dancing.

Longtime head coach Yvette Healy is set to make her eighth appearance with the Badgers after the team notched a 30-win regular season.

Coming off their semi-final appearance in the Big Ten tournament, Wisconsin earned the No. 2 seed in the Austin Regional.

To no surprise, Texas is hosting that regional. The 2026 SEC Champions finished the year 42-10 and will likely be the team standing in Wisconsin's way should they take care of business on Friday, May 15.

For just the third time in program history, Wisconsin is set to do battle with Baylor. The Bears bring their 28-26 record to Austin as they take on Healy's 32-19 Badgers.

The bracket is set! 🥎

👉 https://t.co/qkDzWWahWh
🎟️ https://t.co/QxhUYg5UXP#RoadToWCWSpic.twitter.com/vodddfl1RT

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 10, 2026

On the other side of the bracket, Texas is facing a hungry 22-26 Wagner squad.

Remember, the last time Wisconsin made the tournament, they advanced to the Gainesville Regional final before falling to Florida.

LET'S DANCE! 💃

We're set to compete in the Austin Regional! #OnWisconsin || @uwhealthpic.twitter.com/vXKzUfG97s

— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) May 10, 2026

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

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin ends four-year softball tournament drought, will face Baylor

The Atlanta Falcons held their rookie minicamp over the weekend, allowing their 2026 NFL Draft class a chance to make a good first impression on the coaching staff. The team signed 14 undrafted free agents, including three talented wide receivers prospects.

The Falcons have also been playing UDFA running back Cash Jones at wide receiver, highlighting just how big of a need they had at the position entering the draft. Due to this lack of depth, the team's three undrafted wide receivers have a realistic shot at making the roster.

In our latest Falcons undrafted free agent profile, we take a look at former Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Le'Meke Brockington.

Falcons UDFA profile: WR Le’Meke Brockington

• 2025 Stats: 46 catches, 484 yards, 4 TD

Brockington's 2025 season was the best of his collegiate career, finishing with 484 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound wideout appeared in 45 games for the Golden Gophers, recording 80 total catches for 1,042 receiving yards.

The former Minnesota standout also has some kick return ability, which is a common trait of many of the team's latest wide receiver additions. Brockington averaged 26.8 yards per kick return over his four collegiate seasons. While his production at wide receiver was somewhat underwhelming, he has several traits that could translate to the NFL.

He doesn't have elite speed but has good burst and strength as a receiver. Brockington even set a school record for wide receivers by squatting over 600 pounds.

"Brockington had a team-leading 46 catches for 484 yards last season, showing he can be a reliable option after years of run blocking and a brief interlude recovering from a fractured leg," wrote Andrew Krammer of the Minnesota Star Tribune. "Brockington reportedly squatted a Gophers program-record 664 pounds for a receiver."

Le'Meke Brockington #Minnesota#NFLDraft

- Read step off the line
- Underhand attack tight to frame vs tight coverage at back
- Consecutive spins to get free after the catch pic.twitter.com/gxrmJwtG7F

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) December 9, 2025

Falcons' undrafted free agents: 14 players signed

The Falcons officially signed their 2026 undrafted free agent class on Thursday evening, agreeing to terms with 14 players. Check out the full list of Falcons UDFA signings below.

1. QB Jack Strand, MSU-Moorhead: Atlanta met with Strand before the draft and now he joins the team as its fourth quarterback. Last season, Strand had 3,546 yards and 42 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.
2. RB Cash Jones, Georgia: Jones met with the team ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The pass-catching weapon is someone to watch in training camp.
3. TE Brandon Frazier, Auburn: A blocking specialist, Frazier gives the team some much-needed tight end depth. The former Auburn Tiger has great size at 6-foot-7, 260 pounds.
4. TE Jack Velling, Michigan State: The Falcons have signed former Michigan State tight end Jack Velling. Last season, Velling had 36 catches for 359 receiving yards and three touchdowns over 12 games in East Lansing.
5. WR Keelan Marion, Miami: The Falcons are signing undrafted Miami wide receiver Keelan Marion, per report. Marion had 57 receptions for 746 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Hurricanes last season.
6. WR Vinny Anthony, Wisconsin: The former Badgers wideout will reportedly get $265,000 guaranteed to join Atlanta. Last season, he had 31 catches for 391 receiving yards and one touchdown.
7. WR Le'Meke Brockington, Minnesota: The Falcons also signed Minnesota wide receiver Le'Meke Brockington. Last season, he had 46 catches for 484 receiving yards and four touchdowns for the Golden Gophers.
8. OL Kam Dewberry, Alabama: The Falcons are signing former Alabama's Kam Dewberry. The former Crimson Tide offensive lineman gives the team another developmental guard prospect with some upside.
9. OL Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin: The Falcons are signing Wisconsin offensive lineman Riley Mahlman. The 6-foot-8 left tackle is an intriguing developmental prospect.
10. C James Brockermeyer, Miami: The Atlanta Falcons are signing Miami center James Brockermeyer. The former Hurricane offensive lineman can provide depth behind Ryan Neuzil in 2026.
11. DT Carlos Allen, Houston: Atlanta has signed Houston defensive tackle Carlos Allen Jr. The Falcons needed help at defensive tackle and Allen is someone to watch in training camp.
12. DL CJ Nunnally, Purdue: The Falcons have signed former Purdue defensive lineman CJ Nunnally.
13. CB Malcolm Dewalt, Akron: The Falcons are signing Akron CB Malcolm Dewalt. Last season, he had two interceptions, one forced fumble and eight passes defended.
14. LSPhilip Florenzo, Clemson: The Falcons have signed long snapper Philip Florenzo out of Clemson. Florenzo was one of just seven long snappers at the combine.

The Falcons completed their rookie minicamp over the weekend. Up next for the team are OTAs (May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4) followed by mandatory minicamp starting on June 9.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons UDFA class: Le’Meke Brockington scouting report

Liverpool Sound Out Real Madrid Over Alonso Amid Growing Pressure on Slot

Liverpool’s interest in Alonso has moved beyond admiration and into serious due diligence, with reports from Spanish outlet AS.com claiming the club have contacted Real Madrid to gather information on the former midfielder’s coaching credentials and personality.

The Premier League side are enduring a turbulent campaign despite enormous investment in the squad. More than €450 million was spent across recent transfer windows, yet the return has fallen well short of expectations. Pressure has intensified around Arne Slot, whose position is no longer viewed as untouchable inside football circles.

According to the original source, Liverpool have “called Valdebebas to try and clear things up” regarding Alonso and his previous spell working within the Real Madrid structure. The article suggests Liverpool’s hierarchy are conducting extensive background checks before making any decisive move about the managerial future at Anfield.

It is hardly surprising that Alonso remains high on Liverpool’s list. Few figures bridge the emotional connection between club and supporter base quite like the Spaniard. He remains one of the most admired midfielders of the modern Liverpool era and has steadily built a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising coaches.

Photo: IMAGO

Real Madrid Relationship Opens Door

One intriguing aspect of the report is the willingness of Real Madrid to engage in conversations with Liverpool despite recent tensions between the clubs. The fallout surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold speculation had complicated relations in some quarters, yet communication channels appear very much open.

The report states Liverpool sought “a kind of letter of recommendation from the business world”. That line alone reveals the seriousness of their approach. This is not idle gossip or opportunistic speculation. It reflects a club attempting to minimise risk before making a potentially defining appointment.

Real Madrid’s perspective on Alonso carries weight. He left the Spanish giants in January 2016 and has since climbed rapidly through the managerial ranks. His work has drawn admiration for tactical clarity, calm authority and an ability to improve younger players without sacrificing competitiveness.

Liverpool’s owners are understood to be taking a measured approach rather than reacting emotionally to disappointing results. The article notes that what appeared to be Slot’s dismissal was temporarily halted while the club entered a “period of reflection and decision-making”.

That phrase feels significant. Clubs at elite level rarely pause unless genuine uncertainty exists behind closed doors.

Alonso Reputation Continues To Grow

Alonso’s appeal stretches well beyond nostalgia. Liverpool supporters remember his elegance on the pitch, but executives will be more interested in his composure under pressure and the tactical sophistication he has demonstrated as a coach.

Modern football increasingly values managers capable of balancing identity with adaptability. Alonso appears to fit that mould. He has developed a reputation for structured football without becoming rigid, and for handling scrutiny with intelligence rather than defensiveness.

Importantly, Liverpool are not alone in monitoring the Spaniard. The report also mentions interest from Chelsea, reinforcing the sense that Alonso is becoming one of the most coveted managerial names in European football.

Yet admiration alone does not guarantee an appointment. Liverpool’s hesitation indicates there are still unanswered questions internally. Replacing a manager, particularly one backed heavily in the market, carries financial and sporting consequences.

That explains why conversations with Real Madrid matter. Liverpool are not merely evaluating tactics or formations. They are examining personality, leadership style, communication and resilience. Elite clubs increasingly recruit managers in the same manner major corporations recruit chief executives.

Liverpool Future Hinges On Summer Decisions

What happens next may depend on how Liverpool finish the season. Football moves quickly, and momentum can alter narratives within weeks. A strong end to the campaign could ease pressure around Slot. Further disappointments would almost certainly intensify calls for change.

For now, Alonso remains a compelling possibility rather than an inevitable successor. The original source makes clear that Liverpool’s enquiries “suggest it’s not a definitive move”.

Still, the very fact Liverpool have approached Real Madrid for insight tells its own story. Clubs do not conduct this level of investigation without serious intent behind the scenes.

Alonso’s connection with Liverpool guarantees emotion will surround the conversation, but the decision facing the club is ultimately a strategic one. They are searching for certainty in an uncertain season, and one of football’s most respected institutions has reportedly been asked whether Alonso could provide it.

It's hard to have much perspective in the immediate aftermath of your first league Old Firm derby defeat. But Danny Rohl has to learn some lessons, and quickly.

The Rangers head coach has been put out of the League Cup, Scottish Cup and now condemned to third place in the Scottish Premiership by his wily old Celtic counterpart Martin O'Neill.

There will be no Champions League qualifier for the Ibrox side after three destructive post-split defeats against Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic.

It begs a series of difficult questions and another long summer of introspection and rebuilding at Ibrox.

But how many times can this keep happening? And will Rohl be there to be part of the latest fresh start amid reports of interest from Germany?

Is Rohl right man for Rangers?

The question is already being asked on social media feeds, down the pub and across the kitchen table among Rangers folk.

Up until the split, the answer would have been a fairly unequivocal 'yes'.

Rohl inherited a complete mess in October, including a 13-point deficit to Hearts. But, at the beginning of April, Rangers edged to the top of the league on goal difference with Hearts not playing until the following day.

However, they have won just once in four games since, losing three in a row in the top flight for the first time since 2000. Nowhere near good enough, as the German is the first to concede.

"We had a great position before the split and this is hard to take and we have to improve and develop quick," he told BBC Sport Scotland after the Celtic Park loss.

"We have to learn in these key moments to be clinical and play without mistakes. We will learn from this.

"I will take a lot from the last three games to be prepared the best way possible. I will lead this group and I am clear about what we have to improve."

Former Ibrox midfielder Andy Halliday said it was "only natural for some Rangers fans to have their doubts" over Rohl.

Speaking on the BBC Scottish Football Podcast, he added: "It's the manner of their last two performances, in particular. When Hearts gave them a punch on the nose at Tynecastle, they didn't respond and it was the same after Celtic gave them a one-two inside four minutes.

"He doesn't like questions about mentality but it's no surprise these questions are coming.

"I think there is quality in that squad and, at the moment, Rohl is struggling to get the best out of them."

How big is Rangers' summer rebuild?

Rangers have already spent a relative fortune this season on their squad - in the ball-park of £40m, although a significant amount came back into the club with some high-profile, lucrative departures.

Rohl may bristle when the mentality of his squad is queried, but the way the side buckled when it came to the crunch begs the question if there are enough of the right characters in the Ibrox dressing room.

Former Scotland international James McFadden isn't convinced.

"Winning's hard," he said on Sky Sports. "You need to run more, you need to up the intensity. That's the suffering you need. But Rangers drop their levels when they're in front and that's allowing teams in."

His former international colleague - and ex-Rangers player - Kris Boyd agrees.

"Danny Rohl will come under serious questions," Boyd said on Sky Sports. "There is a mentality problem within that group, there is no doubt about it.

"Again, it'll be another rebuild in the summer. How long does it go on for, though? There's a big, big summer for Rangers coming up and I'm fed-up saying it."

• Celtic win Old Firm derby to condemn Rangers to third
• Celtic eye own fairytale as Hearts' story continues to captivate
• Latest Rangers news, analysis and fan views

Is there a case for the defence?

Rangers have been on a bit of goal-spree lately, scoring 18 in their past six matches.

But they have only taken half of the points available, which draws serious questions about the side's inability to keep them out at the other end.

Boyd admits he had to cover his eyes at some of the defending at Celtic Park. "That's 13 goals in the last five games that Rangers have conceded," he added.

"Celtic had to suffer in that first half but they dug in and that's what real teams do. Rangers, when the going gets tough, they disappear. They become individuals.

"The defending is incredible. I look at [Nasser] Djiga and [Emmanuel] Fernandez and I don't think there's any real pride in defending. I think they want to get on the ball, and look good. If that's the way you want to play, you have to make sure you defend properly and that was abysmal."

Rangers have nothing but pride left to play for now, while their bitter rivals have eyes on yet another league and cup double.

Not for the first time, a consequential summer is in store around Ibrox way.

"I think he will be backed", Halliday said of Rohl. "But there's no Champions League pot, or a guaranteed later round in the Europa League, so it wouldn't surprise me if there's a set figure leading up to the qualifiers and then it depends on how that goes.

"The difficulty with that is you're talking about the last two or three weeks of the window when a lot of people have done their business and you might have to pay over the odds."

What are Rangers fans saying?

Alex: "This was a weak performance. It doesn't matter how well they start as soon as the opposition score the team falls apart. No passion, fight, aggression, determination, absolutely nothing to give the fanbase any hope whatsoever."

Graeme: "Can't keep sacking managers and spending millions on players. Should give coach and players more time to develop together. Can then dominate again like 40 years ago."

Ian: "The truth is at least nine players won't be here in the summer - nearly all of Russell Martin's signings. Rohl needs to buy at least four defenders and three midfielders if he stays. The jury is out."

Lewis: "Rohl has to go. When the going has got tough his team have folded without a fight and his "cup finals" have all been lost. I don't see any signs that anything would be different next season. Bite the bullet and change now or regret."

Nick: "Rohl has to go. He's being better than the worst manager Rangers have ever had is not reason enough to stick with someone who is clearly out of his depth."

Chief executive Phil Alexander has renewed the National League's call for the English Football League (EFL) to adopt a three-up, three-down promotion and relegation system between the two leagues.

Rochdale came back from two goals down 12 minutes from the end of normal time to beat Boreham Wood on penalties in the promotion final at Wembley on Sunday.

The win came two weeks after one of the most memorable games of the season across the top five leagues, when first Rochdale and then York scored in stoppage time in a league title decider.

For long spells at Wembley, it appeared Rochdale would miss out on promotion despite amassing an incredible 106 points in their league campaign.

Alexander feels that should focus minds within the EFL.

"We think three up could be done, we think three up should be done," he said. "The EFL could take the higher ground and make that happen."

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch and chief operating officer Nick Craig were both at Wembley.

Before the game outgoing National League chairman Jack Pearce praised the pair but added they were not in charge of adopting three-up, three-down - the clubs were.

The National League feel there is broad agreement for its implementation and had hoped it would be voted on at a meeting of all 72 EFL clubs in March.

That did not happen. Instead, it was listed as a discussion topic, meaning it could not be adopted for another year.

• 'Footballing justice' served for jubilant Rochdale
• Boreham Wood's Garrard can't argue with 'football Gods'
• Rochdale beat Boreham Wood on penalties to seal EFL return

In performance terms, three promotion places make sense. The top tier of the National League is virtually fully professional and the gap in standard to League Two is negligible.

While two recently promoted teams – Barrow and Harrogate – have been relegated from the EFL this season, Bromley, promoted out of the National League two years ago, have just won the League Two title.

Notts County and Chesterfield, who contested the 2023 National League promotion final, are facing each other in the League Two play-off semi-finals, while Wrexham, also a National League club as recently as 2023, only missed out on a Championship play-off spot on the final day of this season.

However, the fear at the National League is that EFL clubs will stick rigidly to their stance that change in their league should not be made until the Premier League – who provide significant financial backing to the fifth tier - reach a funding agreement with them, which, as yet, there are no signs of.

Alexander feels the newly installed Football Regulator, chaired by David Kogan, has a role to play but hopes a solution can be found for the good of the game.

"Really the National League should be part of a larger pyramid with regards to connection with the EFL," said Alexander.

"It is league five in every sense and needs to be recognised in that way. At the moment it is on a bit of an island.

"The regulator has the power to make changes for the betterment of the game and that's where I'm coming from.

"We do think there is good feeling within the EFL for three-up and pretty much everyone thinks it's the thing to do but I am very concerned it might just drag on."

• 'National League is League Three' - inside non-league's 3UP campaign
• The case for 3UP in the National League

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West Ham United's late equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday was correctly disallowed by the referee and VAR, says former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.

Callum Wilson scored in stoppage time to salvage a point at London Stadium but referee Chris Kavanagh overturned his on-field decision after being sent to the monitor by VAR, judging that Hammers forward Pablo had fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as he attempted to collect a corner-kick.

"It's a clear foul I think," Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

"A lot of people say it probably should have stood and because it's controversial, Manchester City players, staff and fans are going to say it should have stood and then the Tottenham fans, staff and players saying it shouldn't have stood.

"But it's a clear foul, you can clearly see his [Pablo's] arm across his [Raya's] face, and it impacted him getting to the ball so, I think it's the right decision."

Arsenal's victory meant they went five points clear of City in the Premier League title race while West Ham stay in the relegation zone, a point behind Tottenham.

Rooney added: "It's the one time I actually think VAR's done a really good job in such an important game. I didn't think it was a hard decision – I think it was a simple decision and I get the importance of it but you can't take that into account, you've just got to take it for what it is and it's a foul."

Listen to more from this week's episode on BBC Sounds here

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

NFL players love Dan Quinn. He may be the most player-friendly coach in the NFL. It's easy to see why players revere Quinn. He builds relationships, not just with every player on the 90-man roster, but with everyone in the building, too. He also takes care of his players.

Since taking over as head coach of the Washington Commanders in 2024, Quinn has given his veteran players a rest day during the week. Whether it was Zach Ertz, Laremy Tunsil, or others, Quinn takes care of his guys. You could add Bobby Wagner to that mix, too, but Wagner didn't like to miss any practice unless he was dealing with an injury.

Quinn taking care of his players also extends to the offseason workouts and training camp. Teams are already restricted in what they can do during offseason workouts and OTAs. In training camp, you're not allowed to practice in full pads until Day 7. Two-a-days, which used to be common, are much different now. If you schedule two-a-days, one must be a walkthrough only.

Dating back to his time as head coach of the Falcons, many have said Quinn takes it too easy on players in training camp. That was mentioned often last summer, with the Commanders coming off a 12-5 season, in which they reached the NFC Championship game.

Whether that's true or not, it's the perception. Players like it. But after a 5-12 season in 2025 that Quinn said went "terribly," could things be changing this summer?

In his rookie minicamp notebook from Friday, Zach Selby of commanders.com offered the following observation:

Practice felt a little more loaded compared to previous years. The afternoon featured two team periods and two seven-on-seven periods -- a marked increase from what the 2025 class experienced during their first rookie minicamp practice. Perhaps it doesn't mean much, but Quinn did say at the end of the season that there would be several changes to the team's operations during the week. It's possible it's the start of something new for the team.

This is an encouraging sign. Remember, Quinn also hired two new coordinators, OC David Blough and DC Daronte Jones. He may be allowing them to run things at their discretion. But since the end of last season, he's had a bit of a different tone when he's met with the media. Quinn hasn't treated anyone differently, but he's stressed that the 2025 season was unacceptable for everyone, including himself.

Selby, noting that practice felt a little more "loaded" is an excellent observation. While it may mean nothing, it could also be significant. We'll know more when Washington's OTAs begin later this month, and the Commanders hold their mandatory minicamp next month.

Quinn has always tried to maintain a true balance by making sure he gets the most out of players while also taking care of them. After running what many believed was a soft camp last year, the Commanders were among the most injured teams in the NFL.

Quinn understands how important this season is not only for him and his future in Washington, but also for the entire organization.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Could training camp be more difficult in 2026?

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has predicted that George Russell will end the 2026 season as runner-up if Kimi Antonelli can "keep his cool".

While we are only four rounds into the season, Steiner has seen enough to boldly predict the final drivers' championship standings.

During an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner discussed Antonelli's impressive start. The Italian driver took the lead in the standings after back-to-back wins in China and Japan and has since extended his advantage over Russell to 20 points after another victory in Miami.

"It's not only that you need the machine, but his team-mate is George Russell. He has got a good team-mate, a very good driver, who I rate highly," Steiner said. "And I thought it's his time to bring it home this year, the championship. But I think Kimi is slowly taking it away from him, if he can keep his cool.

"George, I think he will be the vice champion, not the champion."

When asked if he thought it was now Antonelli's championship to lose, the former team chief added: "He still needs to win it. But he's showing all the signs of not being bothered by whatever is happening. The thing which I mostly fear is that maybe he has got some issues and then loses his cool about it, a little bit like Oscar did last year.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

"He was well in command before the summer break, and after the summer break, two things happened which he didn't like, and he lost the championship. Maybe it is for him to lose, but I think we are early in the season."

The season will continue with the Canadian Grand Prix on 22-24 May at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track that Russell argues is one of his strongest. Heading into the Canadian Grand Prix, Antonelli leads the drivers' standings on 100 points, with Russell following on 80 points in second. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc sits third with 59 points and 2025 champion Lando Norris is fourth with 51 points.

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison says Jeremy Doku has been "breathtaking" in recent performances, having scored a brace in Manchester City's 3-3 draw with Everton and a 60th-minute goal in their 3-0 win over Brentford.

Pep Guardiola's side overcame European hopefuls Brentford in a must-win game to keep their slim Premier League title hopes alive, with the Belgium international playing an "important" part.

"Brentford made it difficult and I was sat there thinking: 'Who's going to produce a bit of magic?' - and it was Jeremy Doku who did with an unbelievable finish," Morrison said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily.

"He has been brilliant. He is breathtaking. When he plays like that, he is a world-beater and one of the best around.

"He causes opposition full-backs all kinds of problems by being able to go inside and outside.

"This particular finish against Brentford was outstanding. He has been outstanding.

"If Manchester City want to win the league, he needs to continue to keep these kinds of levels. It will even be important in the FA Cup final."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

With the penultimate matchday of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season in the books, Bulinews Editor-in-Chief Rune Gjerulff has named his Team of the Week, set up in a 4-2-2-2 formation.

Goalkeeper:

Jonas Urbig, FC Bayern

Urbig produced a series of outstanding saves – five in total – to help Bayern secure a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolfsburg.

Defenders:

Vladimir Coufal, Hoffenheim

A rock on the right side of defence, Coufal was strong in duels, created five key passes, and completed four dribbles in Hoffenheim’s 1-0 win over Werder.

Luka Vuskovic, Hamburger SV

In what was almost certainly his final home appearance for HSV, Vušković once again showcased his class, winning seven duels and getting on the scoresheet. A fitting farewell performance.

Wili Orban, RB Leipzig

The experienced defender stepped up when it mattered most, helping Leipzig secure Champions League qualification. He won five of six duels, scored the winner, and completed 96% of his 146 passes.

Robin Fellhauer, Augsburg

Made a real impact off the bench after an early injury to Dimitrios Giannoulis. Fellhauer was heavily involved going forward, scoring once and later seeing another effort ruled out for offside.

Midfielders:

Jan Schöppner, Heidenheim

Struck an impressive brace to guide Heidenheim to a vital 3-1 win over 1. FC Köln.

Fabian Rieder, Augsburg

A composed and creative presence in midfield, Rieder registered four key passes and also won four duels.

Michael Olise, FC Bayern

Delivered another moment of brilliance, scoring a superb long-range effort to seal Bayern’s victory.

Arijon Ibrahimovic, Heidenheim

Scored a goal, along with three key passes and a completed dribble in Heidenheim’s win.

Strikers:

Michael Gregoritsch, Augsburg

The Austrian striker led the line superbly, scoring twice to inspire Augsburg’s 3-1 win over Mönchengladbach.

Ermedin Demirovic, Stuttgart

A constant threat in Stuttgart’s crucial 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, Demirović found the net again and also won a penalty.

Northern Ireland's Josh Rock secured his first title on the European Tour in almost two years with a 8-6 win over Kevin Doets in the final of the Austrian Darts Open on Sunday.

The 25-year-old from Broughshane scored five straight wins in Graz to secure the £35,000 top prize and a green jacket - joking "I'm just happy that two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year".

Rock saw off Patrik Kovacs on Saturday to move into finals day on Sunday where he survived three match darts against Niko Springer to come through in a last leg decider to reach the last eight where he overcame Cristo Reyes.

In an all-Northern Ireland semi-final, Rock was a 7-3 winner over Daryl Gurney and finished the job in the decider with an 8-6 win against Netherlands' Doets.

"I'm very relieved," Rock said afterwards.

"To come here this weekend and win is a massive achievement. I'm just happy that two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year!

"I made my first final against Jonny [Clayton] here [in 2023], and when he got the jacket I was kind of jealous. Then Martin [Schindler] beat me last year in the semi-final and won it, so I was determined to win it this year, and I'm happy I finally got it.

"Kevin has been playing unbelievable this year, and he has proved it by winning his first ProTour on Monday. He's only going to keep winning more, I'm just grateful I got the edge against him in this one."

In the final, the opening four legs were shared with breaks of throw before Doets edged ahead thanks to an 11-darter.

Rock rattled off the next three legs which included a 170 checkout, but the Dutchman hit back as he punished a checkout error to level the final at 6-6.

However, Rock held his nerve to break back thanks to a 78 checkout and with the darts, produced a 14-dart leg to claim his first Austraian Darts Open and the customary green jacket.

AS Monaco waved goodbye to their slender chances of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League following a 1-0 loss to Lille OSC on Sunday night. It leaves the Principality club seventh going into the final day of the season. They will have to win and hope that Olympique de Marseille lose against Stade Rennais next weekend to have any hope of climbing into sixth. Otherwise, they will have to rely on RC Lens beating OGC Nice in the final of the Coupe de France in order to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League. 

‘We don’t get the maximum out of this team’ – Monaco’s Hradecky

Any form of European football will now do for Monaco, who, according to Lukas Hradecky, didn’t deserve to return for a third successive UCL campaign. “Tonight’s match showed that we don’t belong in the Champions League. We can forget about it. Overall, individually, as a club, as a team, we have to do much better,” said Hradecky in a mixed zone interview attended by Get French Football News. 

He continued, “The sixth or seventh spot is not what I came to play for. At the end of the day, we are where we deserve to be, and next season has to be better […] we have to look at ourselves in the mirror. We have really good players, but as a team, we underperformed […] we don’t get the maximum out of this team, and maybe there are multiple reasons, but also today, there was not too much freshness. Lille were more controlled on the ball.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco

Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 2-0 on Sunday evening to secure the Spanish league for the second straight season. As a result, João Cancelo became the first player ever to win four titles in Europe's 'big 5' leagues.

Cancelo's first title in one of the world's top leagues came in 2018/19. That season, the full-back was at Juventus, alongside international teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, and won Serie A with an 11-point lead over second place (Napoli).

The following season, Cancelo moved Manchester City, but had to wait until his second year in England before lifting the Premier League title.

After a period of tension with City boss Pep Guardiola, Cancelo was loaned to Bayern München for the second half of 2022/23 campaign. The Bavarians clinched the title on the final matchday, under Thomas Tuchel to add a third 'big 5' title to Cancelo's collection.

The 31-year-old played all of the 90 minutes at Camp Nou at the weekend to help his side seal their second La Liga title in a row to put his tally up to four out of five.

And Cancelo has been important to his sides – across the Big 5 clubs where he has won a domestic league title, he has scored 16 goals and provided 40 assists in 271 appearances.

All that's left now is to win in France to complete the set...

Alan Shearer has criticised inconsistent officiating after Arsenal’s controversial 1-0 win over West Ham.

Relegation-battling West Ham had a stoppage-time equaliser from Callum Wilson disallowed for a foul by Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

The VAR check, with official Darren England reviewing replays before sending referee Chris Kavanagh to the screen, lasted over four minutes.

Appearing on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer agreed with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards that the officials ultimately made the right call, but argued VAR has failed to eradicate inconsistency in officiating.

“I guess some people will think it was a foul, some won’t, some will think, ‘Where on earth is the consistency?’ because we’re seeing something like that every single week,” Shearer said.

“I do think it was a foul but I also think the one at Everton last week with Bernardo Silva, when that was given as holding, clearly, the defender (Merlin Rohl) – where was VAR for that one?”

The former England captain added: “We’re having this discussion all the time, they’re taking far too long. I know it’s a hugely important decision, but so is every decision.

“Every fan will give you a screenshot of a similar incident that’s happened this season and they probably didn’t get the foul. So that’s where the anger comes from.”

The decision cost West Ham a goal which could have earned them a priceless point in their fight against relegation, while Arsenal survived to stay five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.

Lineker added: “(It was) probably a foul, but that’s not quite what they are supposed to be, is it? If I were a West Ham fan, or indeed a Manchester City fan, I think I’d be a little bit angry, because there was a lot of fouling going on at that corner.

“There was a lot of grappling by Arsenal players on the West Ham attacks. I know goalkeepers are protected more than anyone else, and it was probably a foul on him, but do you look at what happened before when people are being held which is probably a more obvious foul?”

Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney praised the officials for getting the decision right.

Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show, he said: “It’s a clear foul. I think you can clearly see the arm crosses (Raya’s) face and it impacts him getting to the ball. So I think it’s the right decision.

“It’s the one time I actually think VAR has done a really good job in such an important game.”

Celtic FC Women lost out narrowly to Hearts at the weekend, going down 2-1 against the league leaders.

It was a game which had some positives and negatives for manager, Grant Scott, though, ultimately, he was disappointed to have lost the game.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, he said: “Overall, I’m not massively displeased apart from the result, but I don’t think it’s been our best performance.

“I was a wee bit disappointed with the urgency we showed. At times, in flashes, we saw the attacking team I want us to be, but I don’t think our quality shone through and we didn’t create enough chances to put them under enough stress.

“It’s always disappointing in a defeat but we’ll take what we can from it, take our learnings and try to keep moving on.

“There wasn’t a lot in the match. In individual battles all over the pitch, some won, some lost, but ultimately, our quality with the ball didn’t really show through.

"It was there at times, but we didn’t really threaten their goal enough.”

Next up for Celtic is a Glasgow derby on Sunday (May 17) when they take on Rangers at Broadwood Stadium (KO: 4pm).

The game is a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final between the sides at the end of the month, and the Celtic manager is looking for a positive performance and, of course, a positive result.

“It’s the oldest thing in football but you need to dust yourself down from these tough moments,” he said.

“It’s a good game to bounce back in, a good game to play in.

"They’re always tough battles but, again, I’ll ask the players for performance and quality over anything else next week and we’ll go into the game and try to win it.”

Fixtures

Celtic Women Vs. Hearts Women - Sun, May 10th 2026, 16:10 Final score: 1 - 2

Fifa's rules allow a player to switch the nation they represent for a number of reasons.

Inter Milan striker Ange-Yoan Bonny is among the latest players to officially switch nations, transferring from France to Ivory Coast ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Ivory Coast are competing at the tournament, meaning Bonny could feature if called up to the squad.

In order to do so, players must be eligible to play for the nation they are switching to.

There are five different sets of circumstances in which a player is eligible to switch nations.

A new rule introduced in 2021 allowed players who had played up to three senior international caps prior to the age of 21 to switch nations.

Previously, the rule stated that players could not switch nations once they had earned a senior cap in a competitive match.

England midfielder Declan Rice benefited from this rule when switching from the Republic of Ireland.

Rice won three senior caps for the Republic, all of which came in international friendlies, before opting to instead play for England in 2019.

Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa also swapped nations to Spain in 2014, having played for Brazil in two friendly matches in 2013.

How can a player switch nationalities?

While Fifa sets guidelines for nations and players in their rules on switching nationalities, it is ultimately the responsibility of all of Fifa's 211 members to individually ensure the players they are registering are eligible.

There are five different sets of circumstances in which a player can become eligible to switch nationalities.

• The player has played for the country they are leaving only at youth level and was already dual-registered to the country they are joining
• The player has played for the country they are leaving only at youth level, was not dual-registered to the country they are joining, their last international appearance for the country they are leaving came prior to the age of 21, and meets article six or seven of Fifa's player eligibility guidelines
• The player played for the country they are leaving at senior level, were dual-registered with the nation they are joining whilst making their debut for the nation they are leaving, have not played for the country they are leaving since before turning 21, have not played more than three times for the country they are leaving at senior level, three years have passed since their last international appearance, and they have not played for their first nation at a major tournament
• The player wishes to represent a nation that were not Fifa members when they made their debut for the nation they are leaving, have not played for their first nation since the second nation became Fifa members, were either dual-registered or obtained nationality with the nation they wish to join as soon as reasonably practical, and meets article six or seven of Fifa's player eligibility guidelines
• The player has played in a senior match for their first nation but then permanently loses their nationality without their consent due to government authority and holds the association they wish to represent

More questions answered...

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Matthews the hero

Johnny Matthews was quite emotional talking about the tremendous ovation he received from the Glasgow fans as he left the field in the second half of the victory over Cardiff.

The hooker has become a cult hero at Scotstoun in his seven years at the club – for his phenomenal try-scoring exploits, but even more so for his personality.

He marked what could possibly be his last home appearance in Warriors colours before his summer move to France with a couple of tries.

Gregor Hiddleston and Seb Stephen may well be preferred when it come to the playoffs and if this was Matthews' last outing for the club, what a way to sign off.

Destructive Dempsey to the fore again

Another man sailing off into the sunset this summer is Jack Dempsey and the number eight showed Glasgow exactly what they will be missing with another destructive display.

It was Dempsey who got Glasgow on their way with the opening try, charging up the wing for the initial break and then getting himself back into position to crash over when the ball was recycled.

He was a menace to Cardiff in those wide channels all evening and rarely does he go to ground without the attention of at least two defenders.

Glasgow have made moves to compensate for his departure from the back-row, not least the impending arrival of Jamie Ritchie, but Dempsey's bludgeoning carrying will be missed.

Horne brings the tempo

There were a number of reasons why Glasgow were off the boil in the defeats to Toulon, Lions and Stormers, but right at the top of the list was the absence of George Horne.

On his return from injury Horne brought all the energy and tempo that has been missing from Warriors play in recent weeks.

He was quick to every breakdown, either getting the ball away sharply or having a snipe himself, but always keeping the Cardiff defence guessing.

Horne nailed four of his five attempts at goal (the game was done when his final effort drifted wide) and his all-round influence helped his side rediscover their form just when they needed to.

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards believes Manchester United's performance against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light was "a reminder of how bad and limp" the Red Devils can be at the moment.

Having already secured Champions League for next season, Michael Carrick's side failed to find a breakthrough away from home, with their only shot on target coming in second-half stoppage time.

"Michael Carrick said the suggestion that there is nothing to play for offended him in his post-match news conference," Edwards added on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily.

"The suggestion offended him because they are playing for a magnificent football club etc - but I do think they had switched off mentally.

"Sunderland should've won because they were the better team. They were sharper, hungrier and stronger. I do think Carrick might've just wanted to take a look at a few of his fringe players though.

"He had a little look at Mason Mount, who was neat and tidy with a few flashes but was outmuscled. He also got a look at Joshua Zirkzee up front, who has probably come to the end of being a viable option to lead the line for Manchester United.

"Their mentality is still worrying to me, if not only a slight worry because they have had a fantastic run and they are back in the Champions League.

"They just looked flaky against Sunderland and if there's still that mentality in the dressing room, it raises the question of whether they are going to let Carrick down as well.

"It showed me they are still capable of throwing up the performances they did earlier on in the season."

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison said: "I would agree. When you are Manchester United boss, you cannot be saying a point at Sunderland is good. I still don't understand what they are waiting for to give him this job, though."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Liverpool disappointing season on the pitch has many supporters focussing on what could happen in the summer transfer window.

For many, the upcoming window represents the perfect opportunity to get Liverpool back competing for titles, but there is a lot of work to be done.

Several positions need to be addressed if Liverpool are to get back to their best and Richard Hughes and the Reds’ recruitment team will no doubt be hard at work identifying the best value targets.

Last summer saw the Reds pay out several massive fees, breaking the British transfer record twice and spending over £400 million in total, but that level of spending is unlikely to be repeated this year.

Liverpool to battle Premier League rivals for perfect defender

One of the players that Liverpool are considering is Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, but they are not the only side interested.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Reds will face competition from Manchester United and Arsenal for the 26-year-old who could be available for around £30 million this summer.

The Italian defender’s biggest strength is his versatility, with experience playing as a fullback on either side, a wingback on either side and also as a central midfielder.

This level of versatility will be a huge positive for Liverpool, who have struggled with injuries this campaign, and Cambiaso is a player who could fix multiple problems for the Reds this summer.

Right-back has been a particular issue, with Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai often being relied upon to cover and Conor Bradley out with a serious injury.

One of the club’s two left-backs, Andrew Robertson, is also leaving in the summer so bringing in Cambiaso to reinforce both fullback positions would be excellent business, especially for £30 million.

Liverpool will be looking for high value transfers in the upcoming window, and Cambiaso represents an excellent market opportunity if the Reds can secure his signature ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal.

121.93 kilometres covered v LASK

This Sunday wasn't just about the ADMIRAL Bundesliga for us. While thousands of runners worldwide took part in the Wings for Life World Run 2026, our lads were also running in their own way at the Raiffeisen Arena. For every kilometre covered during the match, we donated €100 to the Wings for Life Foundation, which puts all proceeds straight into spinal cord research. The goal: to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.

The result on the pitch wasn't what we had hoped for. All the more reason to be pleased with what the odometers showed at the end of the game, as we significantly surpassed our previous year's result of €11,300. This time, we covered a total of 121.93 kilometres against LASK, which means we're donating €12,200 to this good cause.

The motto Run for those who can't will apply again next year when thousands of people from all over the world take part in the 14th edition of the Wings for Life World Run. You can find more details on the official website:

Wings for Life World Run