Liverpool and Newcastle could potentially be on a collision course over two more wingers this summer, following on from the transfer of Victor Munoz to Anfield.

As detailed by Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, the Magpies had been on the verge of completing a deal to sign the Spain international, only for the Reds to make the most of an opportunity to swoop in and snap him up instead, with the move being officially confirmed last week.

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That dramatic plot twist followed on from the tempestuous transfer of Alexander Isak from St James’ Park to Anfield at the end of last summer, and the two Premier League sides could be set to do battle over a couple more players in the next few weeks.

Newcastle and Liverpool both eyeing the same two wingers

According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are showing an interest in Said El Mala (Köln) and Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille), two wingers for whom Liverpool are also ‘waiting in the wings’ if they fail in their pursuits of Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola.

Last week, Ben Jacobs named the first two of those players – along with Yankuba Minteh of Brighton – as ‘options’ being considered by FSG if they don’t manage to sign the RB Leipzig star, who’s currently their primary wide attacking target.

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Might one transfer influence the outcome of another?

The Newcastle-Liverpool ‘market rivalry’ of this summer feels reminiscent of 2023 when the Reds had heavily pursued Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo – even agreeing a £111m deal for the latter – only for Chelsea to sign both midfielders.

Between the nature of Isak’s exit from St James’ Park last year and the Merseysiders’ swoop for Munoz a few days ago, the Magpies’ hierarchy will surely be bristling at the thought of potentially missing out on LFC to El Mala and/or Fernandez-Pardo, both of whom can play on the left or through the middle.

The former (19) enjoyed a terrific first campaign in senior football in 2025/26, scoring 13 goals and setting up another five for Köln, while the latter (21) netted eight times and claimed seven assists for LIlle last term.

Having signed Munoz already and reportedly agreed personal terms with Diomande, Liverpool might be content with their wide attacking business for the summer if they both come off, thus potentially leaving Newcastle a free run at El Mala and Fernandez-Pardo.

The transfer window domino effect could well swing into play here, with the outcome of one deal quite likely to influence the turn of events with another. The arms race for wide attacking additions at St James’ Park and Anfield is set to be compelling.

Day 14 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings a busy slate, with several teams closing out the group stage and three matches on tap.

Coverage begins at 2 p.m. on Boston 25 News with FIFA World Live, leading into a tripleheader of games.

The action kicks off at 3 p.m. with Switzerland taking on Canada. At 6 p.m., Scotland faces a tough test against Brazil. The nightcap features Czechia battling Mexico at 9 p.m.

Mexico has already secured enough points to advance to the knockout round, but the final matches will determine their positioning and which teams join them in advancing.

The next match at Boston Stadium in Foxborough is on Friday, when powerhouses Norway and France square off with Group I on the line.

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With group play winding down, every match carries major implications as teams fight to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

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Manchester United are preparing a £35m move for Borussia Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton.

The Germany international has emerged as a target as Michael Carrick looks to add steel to his backline, with the head coach reportedly endorsing the pursuit personally.

The interest, first reported by The Mirror and Dortmund paper Ruhr Nachrichten, is rooted in injury concerns.

Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt both endured fitness-hit campaigns last season, and United harbour doubts over their long-term durability.

Manchester United line up £35m bid for Waldemar Anton

Anton fits the profile Carrick wants. The 29-year-old is an imposing, no-nonsense centre-back who can also cover right-back.

He is regarded as a quiet leader in Dortmund’s dressing room. He made 32 Bundesliga appearances and nine in the Champions League last term.

There are reasons for caution, though. United already field five senior centre-backs, including Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.

Several reports suggest a deal only makes sense if one of that group departs first. His age sits awkwardly with the club’s policy, too.

INEOS have largely targeted players aged 26 or under, making the 29-year-old an unusual choice. His leadership and Premier League readiness are seen as justification.

Dortmund will not make it easy. Anton is contracted until 2028 and is not pushing to leave, handing the German club a strong negotiating position.

A £35m fee would, however, represent a healthy profit on the £18m they paid Stuttgart in 2024. Anton may not be the only Dortmund player United chase.

Felix Nmecha, the former Manchester City academy graduate, is also admired, with a fee of around £52m mooted. Liverpool are credited with interest in the midfielder as well.

Any move for either is unlikely before the World Cup concludes. Anton is in action at the tournament, where strong displays could push his price higher still.

Read more – Aston Villa’s stance on Morgan Rogers transfer revealed

See Also- Chelsea and Man United target Bournemouth star

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Aston Villa have moved to shut down the speculation surrounding key midfielder Morgan Rogers.

Sky Sports report that the club have no intention of selling the England international this summer, despite mounting interest in one of their prized assets.

The suitors are gathering. Arsenal are seen as the frontrunners, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain all monitoring the 23-year-old.

Rogers himself is thought to be open to a move to the Premier League champions.

Aston Villa’s stance on Morgan Rogers transfer revealed

Villa, though, are not playing ball. They are not encouraging offers and have pointedly declined to place any valuation on Rogers. That refusal is, in itself, a statement of how highly they rate him.

A figure of £80m had circulated earlier in the window. According to Sky, however, that was largely speculation, and no realistic sum would currently shift Villa’s stance.

Owner Nassef Sawiris is said to be ready to play hardball. The club’s position is underpinned by his contract.

Rogers is tied to Villa Park until 2031, leaving them under no pressure to cash in. That long-term security hands Unai Emery’s side total control of any negotiation.

His appeal is easy to understand. Since a £8m move from Middlesbrough in early 2024, Rogers has registered 31 goals and 29 assists in 125 appearances.

He can operate as a central attacking midfielder or off the left, a versatility that suits every club chasing him.

For Arsenal, the message is a tough one. Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta view Rogers as ideal for the left flank, particularly with the futures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli uncertain.

Rogers is currently with England at the World Cup, where his profile has only risen further.

Read more – Chelsea and Man United target Bournemouth star

See Also- World Cup Day 13: Ronaldo proves point, England snooze fest

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Josh Hokit’s star continues to rise in the UFC despite all the horrible things he says … or perhaps in large part because of it. There hasn’t been a fight in the promotion involving “The Incredible Hok” where he hasn’t said some truly heinous stuff, yet he keeps winning and moving up. Even after his UFC White House victory speech ended with him declaring “Michelle Obama is a man,” it looks like like there’ll be no backlash towards the heavyweight.

Instead, he could be rewarded with more quick turnarounds and maybe even a title fight. In a new episode of The Ariel Helwani show, Hokit said another fight in 2026 was likely.

“I would say so,” he said. “I might even fight two times. I think there’s news on the horizon … There’s a great chance [I fight for the title this year]. I said on the Contender Series, I said in two years, I’d be champion or fight for the title at least. Two years. And yeah. This is what happens when you express some courage and then you back it up.”

Hokit’s comments about former U.S. president Obama’s wife are still making waves across the political news landscape. We’re sure a fight announcement would further enrage his critics, and that may be what’s coming.

“It might be quicker than people would like,” Hokit said of his return to the cage, before suggesting his antics are the reason he’s set to make more money than ever in his career. “I got seven figures in seven months. Just put it like that. By the end of the year, this might be a three to four million dollar year.”

As for the Michelle Obama comment, he claimed it was all just a very public expression of his first amendment rights.

“I thought it was a perfect opportunity to show the world how great this country is with the freedom of speech, you know?” Hokit said. “You go somewhere [else] and say something like that, and you die. You know?”

And while UFC CEO Dana White has publicly denounced Hokit for his comments, the fighter says he was never contacted by his bosses over the incident.

“I’m not trying to piss off Dana Whites and Hunter Campbells and the like,” he said. “But they would also message me if they really felt a certain way. They could comment and stuff like that. If they really felt a type of way, they would message me.”

“But at the end of the day, all the other people? They weren’t there when I was down. They weren’t there when I was broken. And so I couldn’t care less what anybody thinks. I’m here to make a splash, and I’m here to back up my words as well. And so if anybody feels some type of way, they know where to find me.”

It's way too early to begin making statistical predictions for Makai Lemon's first Philadelphia Eagles season. Naturally, that's all the fuel needed to make a few. Here's someone that Howie Roseman and his staff traded up to acquire.

Naturally, that created some buzz. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury slowed his progress during offseason workouts. That limited the amount of time Eagles fans could watch him operate on the practice field. Fortunately, there's no reason to panic. Philadelphia made the smart decision by exercising patience. The expectation remains that Lemon will be ready to go when training camp opens in late July.

Once that happens, the conversation will shift from recovery to production. So, with all the appropriate disclaimers attached, here are four early predictions for Lemon's rookie campaign. Some are bold. Some are more reasonable.

A full 17 games played and 17 starts

Let's begin with the obvious. Forget the hamstring issue. At least for now, it feels more like an unfortunate offseason speed bump than the beginning of a trend. Every player deals with something over the course of an NFL season. Staying completely healthy is nearly impossible. The goal is simply avoiding major setbacks.

The Eagles didn't trade up to draft Lemon so he could spend Sundays watching from the sideline. Philadelphia expects him to play. More importantly, Philadelphia expects him to start. That's why the prediction here is straightforward: 17 games played and 17 starts.

The Eagles' third-highest reception total

Let's make another prediction while we're here. DeVonta Smith leads the Eagles in receptions. That shouldn't surprise anyone. Smith feels destined for another monster season and could realistically challenge the 90-catch plateau.

Dallas Goedert checks in second. His chemistry with Jalen Hurts remains undeniable, and he should continue serving as one of the offense's most trusted targets.

That leaves Lemon. The rookie should settle comfortably into third place. Let's call it four catches per game on average. Over a 17-game season, that lands him around 68 receptions, which would qualify as an outstanding rookie campaign.

Five to seven touchdown receptions

Predicting touchdowns is always tricky. One tipped pass. One missed tackle. One goal-line decision can dramatically alter the final number. Still, Lemon's skill set should translate well near the end zone. His route-running precision creates separation, and his toughness allows him to win in contested situations.

Assuming he establishes a strong rapport with Hurts early, reaching five touchdown receptions feels realistic. Would seven be surprising? It shouldn't be. In fact, the prediction here falls somewhere between 5 and 7 scores.

A new Eagles rookie receiving record

Now for the boldest prediction of all. In 2021, DeVonta Smith set the Eagles' rookie receiving record with 916 yards. Four years later, that mark could fall. Think about it. Hurts is a better quarterback today than he was during Smith's rookie season. The Eagles' offense is more established. There is also a significant amount of production available following A.J. Brown's departure. Someone must absorb those targets. Why not Lemon? The prediction here is 1,000 receiving yards, making him the first rookie in franchise history to reach that milestone.

Would he need a meaningful Week 18 appearance to get there? It's possible. Would Nick Sirianni give him that opportunity if the record were within reach? That's another conversation entirely. For now, let's simply state the following.

The Eagles drafted Lemon because they believe he's special. If these predictions come close to becoming reality, Eagles fans may discover that belief was justified much sooner than expected.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Predicting Makai Lemon's rookie season for the Eagles

CROMWELL, Conn. — Shane Lowry remembers when his dad started to struggle with joint pain in his knees and hip, including when they played golf at their home club in Ireland. 

Lowry’s father, Brendan, was a Gaelic football hero for the Offaly County senior team for more than a decade as a left corner-forward and scored three points in the final when his team won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1982. But the rough and tumble sport also took its toll on his body.

“We did some research on what we needed to do going forward and that’s when we first introduced to Stryker products,” Lowry said Tuesday. “He had his hip replaced 12 years ago and knee replaced three years ago.” 

It makes for a fitting back story as to why Stryker, a global leader in medical technologies, announced a new partnership with Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion on Wednesday at the Travelers Championship, naming him a sponsored brand ambassador for its Joint Replacement division. Lowry will sport the company’s logo on his golf bag beginning this week.

Through this collaboration, Lowry will share his deeply personal story, highlighting the critical role caregivers play in supporting loved ones through joint pain, surgery and recovery.

As a caregiver to his father, Lowry brings a unique perspective, having seen firsthand the impact joint pain has on both patients and their families. Research shows that support from family and caregivers can positively impact recovery and outcomes.

“Watching my dad in pain because of his hip and knee was as hard as anything I’ve come across on the course. As a caregiver, you want to help, but it’s not always clear where to start,” Lowry said. “I’ve learned that asking the right questions, finding the right doctor and simply being there along the way can make a big difference.  I didn’t realize at the time how many Stryker technologies are out there to support those who suffer from joint pain, and I’m proud to now be partnering with a company helping people to keep moving forward. I hope sharing my story encourages others to take that first step with a loved one.”

Brendan attends about 10-12 tournaments per year, walking all 18 holes in support of his son and was at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, last week rooting him on. “He lives for watching me play golf and hanging with his grandkids,” Shane said. “That’s his life at the minute, and it’s great for him to be fit and healthy.” 

Together with Stryker, Lowry will help raise awareness of the experience someone struggling with joint pain may go through and empower caregivers to take an active role throughout their loved one’s journey, from education to recovery.

“We know joint replacement is more than surgery — it’s a personal journey that affects both patients and the people who support them every step of the way,” said Katherine Truppi, president of Stryker’s Joint Replacement division. “As we continue to move lives, we also value the essential and often underrecognized role caregivers play in helping loved ones navigate treatment decisions and recovery. Shane’s story brings that perspective to life in an authentic and meaningful way that we hope can help more people.”

Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Shane Lowry partners with Stryker for joint health

The San Francisco 49ers are looking into relocating their practice facility. And, in a surprisingly ironic way, it has nothing to do with electrical substation theories.

49ers CEO Al Guido revealed in an interview with The Athletic's Vic Tafur that the organization is exploring a possible nearby move of its practice facility after spending money on an updated weight room as well as hydrotherapy. The reason, per Tafur, is that the 49ers "are running out of space at and next to Levi’s Stadium.

The timing will inevitably invite speculation, given how loud the conversation around the team's current home has gotten over the past couple of years. The 49ers have been based at their Santa Clara facility since 1988, with Levi's Stadium opening next door in 2014. In recent seasons, a viral theory spread online suggesting that a nearby electrical substation is responsible for the team's persistent injury problems, which have ranked among the worst in the NFL over that stretch.

The theory gained enough traction that it stopped being a fringe internet rumor and started becoming a legitimate organizational headache. Players noticed. Fans noticed. And eventually, the front office had to respond.

General manager John Lynch addressed the substation theory directly earlier this year, revealing the organization retained a scientist with more than four decades of experience studying electromagnetic fields. The findings offered no support for the theory.

"We're safe," Lynch said. "We're in a safe place of work, the levels I think I read in (the report) are 400 times less than unsafe zones. So it's a normal place of work, it's a normal gym. We are safe, we're healthy and we feel really good about that."

Whether or not the substation played any role in San Francisco's mounting injury toll isn't really provable, one way or another. A rival executive believes the 49ers' injury concerns are simply because of the players they bring into the organization. But the theory was sticky enough that it won't die quietly, regardless of what any report says.

That's part of what makes a potential facility move so interesting. On paper, the team has outgrown its current location and needs more space. In practice, relocating would carry a secondary benefit of finally ending the substation theory, even if it's true.

No timeline for any move has been reported, and the comments suggest it remains in the early exploration phase. But for a franchise that has spent the better part of two years fielding questions about power lines and player health, a fresh address might be as much about optics as square footage.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers 'exploring' facility move, but not because of the substation

The New York Jets haven't won many football games over the previous five campaigns. Naturally, all that struggling comes with lackluster results on offense.

The Jets have especially struggled in high-stakes situations, and that includes on fourth downs.

Pro Football Focus recently examined advanced data regarding fourth downs over the previous five seasons (2021-25). What they found about the New York Jets won't surprise this fanbase. It's an area new offensive coordinator Frank Reich has to improve in 2026.

The Jets have the fourth-lowest conversion rate on fourth down, according to PFF's data. From 2021-2025, the Jets have only converted 47.8% of their fourth-down attempts. Only the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and San Francisco 49ers have been worse.

The Jets have a new-look offense. Not only is Reich a first-year play caller. Geno Smith is the new starting quarterback, and the 2026 NFL draft added Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq to the supporting cast of Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, and Adonai Mitchell.

Smith has been among the more aggressive starting quarterbacks in recent NFL history. Will his gunslinging mentality impact the Jets' approach on fourth downs? If the Jets do attempt more fourth-down conversions, Coach Reich will be tasked with overseeing a far better success rate than what 2021-25 produced.

The NFLs most and least aggressive teams on 4th down 👀https://t.co/SNsT3Rx6fG

— PFF (@PFF) June 22, 2026

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Analyzing the Jets' 4th down rate (and you won't be surprised)

Lewis Neilson has the "raw material" to flourish at Falkirk, says John McGlynn, as the centre-back makes a permanent switch following his Hearts exit.

The defender, 23, has signed a two-year contract after making 24 appearances on loan last season at the Bairns, who finished sixth on their Premiership return.

Neilson also top-flight experience from spells with St Johnstone and Dundee United.

"At 23, he's the perfect age, and we know he has a little bit of improving to do, but the raw material is there," said manager McGlynn.

"He's one of the quickest centre-backs I've ever worked with and he's good on the ball. There's still some fine-tuning to be done with Lewis but, overall, he's a very good professional and he's a joy to work with.

"He's got a good career ahead of him and we want to try and make the most of that and get him playing at the top of his game, which is something we're looking forward to."

Barcelona are preparing to officially reveal their new home kit for the 2026/27 season, with the club planning a special launch event in one of the city’s most iconic cultural locations.

The Barcelona 2026/27 home kit has already generated significant excitement among fans following a series of leaks in recent weeks. 

Now, the club is ready to present the shirt officially, with the launch expected to take place on June 30, reports Mundo Deportivo.

Inspired by elements of the ongoing Spotify Camp Nou transformation, the new Barcelona home shirt aims to blend the club’s traditional colours with a modern design concept that shows the future of the Blaugrana.

Barcelona to unveil the kit at iconic city landmark

According to the latest information, Barcelona have chosen the MACBA (Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona) as the venue for the official presentation of the new Barcelona home kit.

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A post shared by Barca Universal (@barcauniversal)

Located in the heart of the city, MACBA is one of Barcelona’s most recognisable cultural landmarks and has become closely associated with the city’s modern image. 

By staging the event there, Barcelona are hoping to connect the new shirt with both the club’s heritage and the city’s artistic identity.

The official presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, while the Barcelona 2026/27 home jersey is expected to become available for purchase from July 1.

Supporters, club members and collectors will therefore not have to wait long before getting their hands on the new Nike design.

Kit takes inspiration from Spotify Camp Nou

Barcelona’s new kit will be inspired by Camp Nou exterior. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

One of the most interesting aspects of the new Barcelona kit is the inspiration behind its design.

The club’s new jersey draws influence from the decorative panels currently being installed on the exterior of Spotify Camp Nou as part of the stadium’s ongoing redevelopment project.

Leaked images of the Barcelona home shirt suggest the traditional Blaugrana colours remain at the heart of the design, although several different shades of blue and garnet have been incorporated to create a more modern visual effect.

The result is a shirt that seeks to link Barcelona’s future home with the team’s identity on the pitch.

Lazio Women must pay former player Maja Gothberg over €69,000 compensation after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled they unlawfully terminated her contract due to pregnancy.

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: SS Lazio President Claudio Lotito prior the Serie A match between Juventus FC at the Juventus stadium on February 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

This is considered to be a landmark case in the world of women’s football, and Lazio will therefore have an unfortunate place in the history books.

Gothberg had disclosed her pregnancy in the summer of 2024 and Lazio had negotiated a new contract with her for the 2024-25 season, but it was never signed.

She argued this was because the club backed out due to her pregnancy, and the CAS agreed with them today.

Lazio defeated in landmark case

ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: SS Lazio fans during the Coppa Italia Final match with FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

The 28-year-old had been expected in Rome on July 18 for routine medical tests and pre-season training, but did not travel on the precise date due to nausea, fatigue and vomiting.

Lazio claimed that her failure to travel meant that she had withdrawn from the proposed contract.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected their argument that Gothberg’s agent had been in talks with Parma, showing messages telling the Stadio Tardini side that they were not available for transfer.

It was therefore considered to be a binding contract in existence before the pregnancy was disclosed.

FIFPro, the union for all professional football players, said this “groundbreaking” ruling “establishes an important precedent around the confidentiality of pregnancy-related medical information.”

It was the first time ever that the CAS had awarded compensation to a player for unlawfully ending an employment relationship due to pregnancy.

The FIFA World Cup has not stopped short of entertainment as more underdog sides continued to put up brave fights in the group stage. The results rarely reflect the flow of the games involved as this tournament has its way of bringing out the best from the rest when the moment matters.

Longevity is overrated. Just presence alone can often ask the question, what is the output of an important position being taken by a veteran partly due to their legacy and aura? Longevity seems overburdening when the choice is between the country and a name. Especially when the name has brought a lot of glory and is not willing to retire.

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the two biggest names in football in modern times. Lionel Messi is his partner rather than rival in the battle against age in the beautiful game. At 41 and 39 respectively, both legends are well past the usual expiry date for attacking footballers in a tournament as big as the FIFA World Cup.

Coming from Portugal and Argentina, their nations are brimming with younger talents who can play in their positions. But, these legends just proved to the world that their presence always comes with impact. And in a game that rewards moments over dominance, impact always trumps longevity.

MD 13 had brilliant moments that saw one game full of goals and the others with very few. The excitement and the tension however, were full to the brim in every single game.

Portugal bounced back with a blistering 5-0 win over Uzbekistan

The white wolves took on a hungry Portuguese side in the first Group K match of the matchday. The gap in quality, technical ability and big names between the two sides was too wide on paper. The Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro aimed to bridged this gap with tactics, disciplined marking and hounding after half chances like nothing else mattered. And his team gave him exactly that. But, the gap could not be bridged.

Portugal proved to be just too good for its opposition. Against DR Congo, the team movement was lethargic and lacked chemistry to break the defense. However, the second game saw a completely different side of Roberto Martinez’s men. They moved liked they meant every pass and willed every movement aimed to score a goal. The exceptional technical ability was fused with total domination of space during attacks. This forced mistakes and technical fouls from the opposition to prevent getting overwhelmed. The mistakes and fouls were converted into goals by Portugal’s skill and guile.

Ronaldo’s strikes were impeccably perfect. The first, a volley at short range saw him deflect a knee height ball. The acrobatic leaning angle turned a powerful cross from Cancelo into a missile that Nemetov had no chance of stopping. The second goal was a vintage CR7 goal. Beating his markers for pace and laser guiding the shot into the far corner from the tightest of angles.

Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, João Cancelo, Vitinha. The list of names goes on. Against Uzbekistan, they showed what can become of this list. If they can continue, then this Portugal is the darkhorse of the tournament.

Ghana was immovable in the face of England

Despite heavily dominating the ball, Thomas Tuchel’s England squad was left frustrated by a resilient Ghanaian defense. So meaningless was the possession of England that they have set a new record. Their 79 percent possession against Ghana is the highest without a goal in 60 years at the World Cup.

The shot accuracy was wayward with only 3 of 19 shots from Tuchel’s men were on target. Ghana on the other hand did much better with a 50 percent accuracy of their two shots taken. Ghana’s marking was as precise as it was rigid. Facing against a wildly precise England side, they did not let lanes open up. England were forced to make a majority of their shots from within the box.

The Ghanians were happy to absorb all the efforts of the English side. 22 tackles, 8 interceptions and 39 clearances coupled with 24 long balls is a clear reflection of their strategy to react to England’s mistakes and find an opening.

England almost were done in by one of the long balls that saw Prince Adu run away with space and take a dangerous lead but for a last moment tackle. It was a frustrating game in Group L that got chaotic but ended up scoreless.

Croatia waded their way through Panama with a slim lead

Croatia needed to win against Panama to survive in Group L. Having lost the first game to England, they were in a dangerous position in the group with both Ghana and England ahead with three points. Panama proved to be a surprisingly difficult opponent that needed a lot of work to understand and create any opportunity.

Lacking the blistering pace of attackers across the lineup, Croatia relied more on tactical movement to open up spaces. The xG 1.65 was a fair reflection of Modric and co.’s outing. A 34-year-old Ante Budemir slotted home the only goal as Bayern Munich’s Josip Stanišić played a sensational ball that beat three opponents before reaching the striker. Budemir held his composure to get a cool finish for his nation.

Marco Pašalić had a great chance that but was rushed into making a decision by the Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera, who ultimately prevented the goal with a great save.

The Croatians could have done better had they managed to push the opposition more into their own half. Kudos to Panama to put up a stiff resistance. They matched the opposition’s and made 62 passes in the final third. This was just 10 short of Croatia’s final third passes. It captures presence and movement in the opposition’s own third. Zlako Dalić will need to do more as keeping up with some of the teams in the World Cup will need more than just grinding out low scoring results.

Colombia threw everything and the kitchen sink at DR Congo

This was the most entertaining 1-0 victory of MD 13. Colombia are a great side and it is always a lot of fun to watch them play. They are probably one of the few teams who are not winning the World Cup on paper, but always play their hearts out. It is very rare that any player on their sheet to have a bad game. Everybody is doing something and are always in the action somehow.

Coming up against DR Congo in Group K’s second game, this was the unstoppable force coming up against the immovable object. The Congo side is so well structured, it is a phenomenon of this tournament. They have not cracked open at the back they maintain an incredible press and marking tactic that needs constant micro movements and adjustments. Colombia were always outnumbered in any active zone of the pitch other than their own third. Such was DRC’s sheer dominance by numbers.

Colombia did create chances even against an opposition that always had an advantage in numbers. This is thanks to the rare combination of magical flair and unyielding work ethic. However, the chances that cameby were not easy tap-ins. The Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was a master in making every shot seem very inconvenient for Colombia. He made a total of eight saves and has kept the game to just 1-0.

Luis Diaz missed out narrowly due to the brilliance Mpasi. Diaz was perhaps one of the few players who could temporarily break free from his marker and create a tiny pocket of time before being hounded back. Nonetheless, the goal to give Los Cafeteros the three points came from Daniel Muñoz.

Juan Quintero, a player who mixes the number 8 and number 10 role all into one found an impossible through ball between two charging defenders at the edge of the box. Muñoz redemeed his earlier missed chances with a gorgeous finish that finally beat Mpasi legally.

Both these teams will bother every opponent they face in a way that no else can. Portugal and Ronaldo will face a stiff test against Luis Diaz and Colombia. And DRC could genuinely make it to the knockouts and can deliver a shocking knockout in the playoffs!

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One of the top players in the Magnolia State will be staying in Mississippi as four star defensive lineman Mitchell Turner committed to Ole Miss over Texas, LSU and Alabama on Tuesday.

Turner stands at 6’3″ weighing 285 lbs. out of Louisville, Miss. is ranked number one, two or three in the state depending on which recruiting site you visit. He is also a consensus top five defensive lineman nationally, so Turner had his pick of almost anywhere in the country to play college football.

He reportedly visited Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas and Mississippi State in the last month before announcing his commitment on Tuesday. With a No. 64 national ranking overall, he becomes the highest ranked recruit in the Ole Miss class of 2027 and the eleventh four star prospect.

You gotta love a young man who includes his mom in his commitment graphic. Class act move.

Head coach Pete Golding and his staff have made the Magnolia state a priority clearly in this recruiting cycle as the first year head coach is not new to the recruiting game. Turner and fellow commit Ben’Jarvius Shumaker are two of the top players in Mississippi with plans to play for the Rebels, and two of the top four recruits in the state, Caden Moss and Antonio Berry, are trending toward a future in Oxford as well.

Turner’s commitment is a massive deal for Ole Miss as Louisville is typically Miss. St. stomping grounds for recruiting with its close proximity. It seemed it was going to be hard for another school to come in and move him to another state however.

With this latest commitment, Ole Miss is now No. 17 nationally and No. 8 in the SEC in recruiting for the class of 2027 with some time to continue to work. The defensive line this staff is putting together, however, will be one of the most talented and complete Ole Miss has seen in years. It’s clear Golding wants to get players who can control the line of scrimmage first and foremost and then build from there.

The post The Daily: Larkin Deal Could Take Time; Devils May Re-Trade Picks appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Only three NHL centers have scored 30 or goals in each of the last five seasons. One of them is Detroit’s Dylan Larkin. The other two are Leon Draisaitl and Nathan MacKinnon.

Auston Matthews’ streak of nine seasons in row was stopped by an injury-plagued 27-goal season in 2025-26. Connor McDavid finished with 26 goals in 67 games in 2024-25. Sidney Crosby finished with 29 goals last season mostly because he dealt with injuries.

This is not to suggest that Larkin is an equal to the aforementioned players. He is not. The presentation of this statistic is to point out Larkin’s production and value is such that Detroit GM Steve Yzerman is entitled to take his time in the name of making the best possible deal.

This is not the kind of deal where you take what you can get and move on.

Yzerman needs to get a center in the deal and needs to land a prospect or younger player with at least the potential to be as productive as Larkin. Maybe that’s the same person, maybe that’s multiple players.

The Minnesota Wild didn’t have those players to offer. The Florida Panthers have no desire to give up younger center Anton Lundell. Some fans thought there might be a fit in Vegas with Tomas Hertl coming back but he has a modified no-trade list. We are told he doesn’t want to come to Detroit. (Plus, he will be 33 next season). The Dallas Stars need time to figure out what they are going to do with Jason Robertson.

Larkin has a no-trade clause, and he has given Detroit only a small number of teams to approach about a deal.

This could take a while. Patience is a strategy.

This is not a deal where Yzerman should pull the trigger for multiple first round picks that are going to be outside the first 15 picks of the first round. History shows that first round picks beyond No. 15 are roughly a 50-50 proposition of even receiving a player who plays 300 NHL games. Some draft years, it’s closer to a 40% chance.

When you trade a player of Larkin’s caliber, you have to get someone in return that you can count on. That’s why Yzerman is prepared to wait.

In Case You Missed It

Former Red Wings draft pick is proud of his soccer-playing son.

The Red Wings are saying goodbye to Traverse City. Training camp and the rookie tournament will be at Little Caesars Arena.

Hockey insider says Larkin would like to go to the Dallas Stars.

Red Wings Extra

Tankathon.com’s Mock Draft has Michigan center Adam Valentini available to the Red Wings at No. 47, but has Detroit drafting Calgary (Western Hockey League) defenseman Ben Macbeath (seven goals,). He’s committed to Denver.

Hockey Now Digest

Florida: Brady Tkachuk made the deal happen by saying he would only go to the Florida Panthers.

New Jersey: NJHN offers that the return of the Simon Nemec “weaponizes” the New Jersey Devils

Pittsburgh: Former Penguins player Pascal Dupuis is back in the NHL as director of player development for the New York Islanders. Pittsburgh Penguins.

San Jose: It seems like the Sharks’ acquisition of the No. 9 is setting up a larger deal for a bigger star. San Jose Sharks.

The post The Daily: Larkin Deal Could Take Time; Devils May Re-Trade Picks appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

It doesn’t matter that Edwards is under contract for three more years. It doesn’t matter that he has made the most money a player his age could possibly make in the NBA. It doesn’t matter that, according to multiple people with knowledge of Edwards’ thinking, the Timberwolves star is not flinching at the challenge ahead and believes the team has a bright future ahead of it. It doesn’t matter that the Timberwolves have put a veteran team around him with good leaders that has won five playoff series in the last three years.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: It doesn’t matter that, according to multiple people …

Edwards is happy in Minnesota. Despite his global reach as one of the most popular young players in the league, a signature pitchman for Adidas, Sprite and more, and his supporting role in Adam Sandler’s move “Hustle,” Edwards enjoys relative solitude here. He likes to go to work and then return to his home with his family and friends unbothered, and that is exactly what he is allowed to do.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Edwards is happy in Minnesota.

It isn’t just media talking heads who love to play this card. Executives across the NBA are constantly combing the rosters to see where the next vulnerability will surface, where the next star player can be swiped. As soon as the Timberwolves were eliminated by San Antonio in the second round of the playoffs last month, front office personnel from other teams started to check in with me, wondering about Edwards’ patience with the Timberwolves’ direction. The game is the game.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: As soon as the Timberwolves were eliminated by San …

On Tuesday, a Shanghai fan whose social media account takes the name of the Dallas Mavericks star as well as his jersey number posted a video on a Chinese platform that sparked widespread envy in the comments section. In the clip, the 18-year-old fan introduces himself and claims that Irving is currently inside his home, before panning the camera to reveal the NBA star waving to the audience. Inside the home, Irving chatted with the fan as if he were a friend, comparing hand sizes and gifting him multiple autographed jerseys and trainers. The NBA star also readily agreed to leave his signature on the fan’s wall. “It’s like a dream; Kyrie came to my house,” the fan captioned the post, which attracted 863,000 likes in less than two days.

SCMP

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: A Shanghai fan whose social media account takes the …

In 1993, the United States Soccer Federation handed a contract to Rinus Michels. But the Dutch godfather of Total Football, operationalized through his on-field avatar Johan Cruyff, was not hired to coach the national team, or to coach anybody, really.

By this time, Michels, who managed the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League in 1979 and 1980, had already turned down the chance to manage the US men’s national team twice. Once, in 1983, when it would be entered, disastrously, into the NASL as Team America. And once more in 1991, when Bora Milutinović was appointed instead.

The federation’s general secretary Hank Steinbrecher had something else in mind now.

He dispatched Michels, accompanied by his wife, on a three-month-long tour of the United States. Then, one of the sport’s leading minds was to report back on what he found. “He said, ‘Well, Hank, you have a problem. You are a continent; you are not a country,’” the late Steinbrecher recalled when I spoke to him for my book on the USMNT’s history. “‘The football you play in Los Angeles is very different from the football you have to play in Maine, because of your climatic conditions. The football you play in Chicago is very different from Miami.’ He was crystal clear.”

Michels also pointed out that the Dutch federation – whose national team he had coached four times, taking Oranje to the 1974 World Cup final and lifting the 1988 European Championship – had a unified playing and coaching methodology that ran all the way down to the grassroots game.

The Michels report, which seems to have been lost to time, was followed by one written up by the Portuguese journeyman coach Carlos Queiroz, who laid out a blueprint for implementing just such a national philosophy. The key, Queiroz argued, was to build a national training center as an incubator of national soccer talent and thought, followed by regional ones. This insight begat Project 2010, which impounded the under-17 men’s national team in a full-time residency in Bradenton, Florida, in early 1999. The Bradenton camp ran for 18 years and yielded 33 senior national team players – powering the rise of the USMNT in the early 2000s and supplying the current core of Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, too – an extraordinarily high success rate when compared to other such national talent factories.

Michels was right that developing talent in such a vast country would require a modicum of ideological coherence. But he was wrong in diagnosing this regional diversity as an issue.

If this incarnation of the United States men’s national team, this joyous bouillabaisse of accents and backgrounds and origin stories, has demonstrated anything, it’s that the unusual variety of paths its players have taken to get there is an asset.

For decades, there were hardly any routes into pro soccer north of the border with Mexico. In the vacuum, a tangle of pro leagues and semi-pro leagues and college circuits filled the space, flourishing or failing and sometimes doing both, in rapid succession. Sitting loosely underneath this ragged landscape emerged an equally chaotic youth game that was eventually captured by commercialism.

It all made for a senior national team that’s as varied as the regions and realities they emerged from.

Some members of this team passed through college soccer – briefly in some cases, like in goalkeeper Matt Freese’s, or for all four years like his positional rival, Matt Turner. Freese for personal reasons, because it was expected in his family. Turner because he wasn’t remotely ready for the next level and simply needed more time to mature, to develop with players his own age, but at a competitive level. There’s a plausible school of thought that credits the longevity of the 38-year-old USMNT captain and starting center-back Tim Ream to the four years he spent in college. Had he been a pro for those years, the thinking goes, his body would have broken down sooner. But the schedule in the collegiate game, which essentially amounts to that of an unpaid, part-time pro, allowed him to improve and fill out.

It wouldn’t have made sense for Christian Pulisic to play college soccer, as evidenced by the fact that he was playing in Borussia Dortmund’s first team by the time he was 17. Gio Reyna did the same at an even younger age. But that alternative simply didn’t exist a generation earlier. Tab Ramos, a peer and USMNT teammate of Gio’s father Claudio Reyna, once said that when he emerged from college soccer at North Carolina State the exact same player he had entered it as. It’s just that he had no choice. The New York Cosmos drafted him out of high school, only for the North American Soccer League to crumble.

Tim Weah and Weston McKennie made their competitive debuts with Paris Saint-Germain and Schalke 04, respectively, at age 18.

Others went pro as teenagers but stayed stateside. Joe Scally signed with New York City FC at age 15, just as Ricardo Pepi did with FC Dallas; Tyler Adams with the New York Red Bulls at 16; Alex Freeman with Orlando City at 17; two days before his 18th birthday, Auston Trusty signed with the Philadelphia Union, which also developed Brenden Aaronson. Haji Wright spent time as a teenager with the reincarnated Cosmos, then a minor league team, before heading to Schalke.

For as long as the USMNT has existed, it has benefited from, and actively cultivated, the talent that washed on our shores with each wave of immigration. But it has profited, too, from the prolific siring of European-born children by our armed forces stationed abroad. Dozens of such players, the product of some kind of alchemy between nature and nurture, have fallen into the laps of the USMNT and its coaches. This team is no different, gaining Sergiño Dest via the Netherlands and Malik Tillman from Germany, both of them born to American servicemen fathers. Antonee Robinson was born to an American father in England, albeit one who worked in IT.

And then there is the delightful upshot of birthright citizenship, which brought Folarin Balogun to the team quite by accident – his mother had planned to return to England before having her baby, only to be told by the airline that she was too close to her due date to do so safely. Yunus Musah, who was on the 2022 World Cup team, happened to the USMNT program in much the same way. And so, it appears, did Johnny Cardoso – who missed this World Cup through injury – whose Brazilian parents had him in New Jersey before moving back home a few months later.

The combination of having both college soccer and MLS academies, a tangle of minor leagues, and some combination of all of the above is often dismissed as untidy and inefficient. This magnificent mess is seen as a weakness, an anachronism, as a sign that something is still amiss with our structure. But it’s worth wondering if efficiency is really the objective here. Is more soccer not by definition better? With more pipelines open, more players are likely to emerge, all in their own time and on their own journey.

After all, we do not offer the same chances to every community – in soccer as in all other things. Our elite youth system in the United States caters almost exclusively to the upper-middle class, yet we have produced a senior national men’s team that defies this structure and these strictures. The fact of this team’s delightful diversity made a mockery of the Department of Homeland Security’s hateful “OUR SOIL” social media post ahead of the USMNT’s 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday. The Trump administration, after all, is doing its utmost to rid the nation of birthright citizenship.

In whatever manner they made it to the national team, what counts is that these players got there in the end and formed the most talented and pedigreed version of this team. This team reflects a nation that offers a bit of everything, and a bit of everyone, because there are lots of ways of getting to it. Yet the men’s soccer team that represents this nation is defiantly diverse, in every way, and all the better for it.

The US soccer system has a diversity problem; the 2026 US men’s national team doesn’t.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is the author of The Long Game: U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts, which is out now. He teaches at Marist University.

There are many paths to immortality in sport. Winning a race is one of them. But rolling a scooter into a peloton is another, though history may not file that choice under wisdom.

Cycling asks riders to trust roads, rivals, and fate. Fate, it turns out, sometimes arrives on four wheels with a basket. The race in Habkirchen offered a lesson with no lecture. People can train for months and still lose a contest to timing.

Paul Vriesman’s troubled 2026 season continued at the LVM Saarland Trofeo when an elderly spectator on a mobility scooter caused a freak accident. The Dutch junior, recently back from a three-month injury layoff, had no time to avoid the collision and crashed heavily, forcing him to abandon.

Though other riders were involved, none suffered serious injuries. Vriesman lamented the incident online, calling it a sad end to his comeback week. The race itself remained a success for the Netherlands, with teammate Sindre Orholm-Lønseth winning overall, ahead of Splinter van ’t Hoff and Elias Wändel.

The riders came for points and progress. Spectators came for a view. One person wanted a closer look. The peloton paid the price.

What Happened?

🚨 Wth?! 😱

An older spectator caused a seriously dangerous incident today at #SaarlandTrofeoJuniors by trying to get a better look and entering the course with her rollator while riders were flying past at full speed!#LVMSaarlandTrofeo#Habkirchen#Saarland#Germany#Cyclingpic.twitter.com/WsmobxIR3B

— Kingdom of Cycling (@Cycling_Kingdom) June 14, 2026

The LVM Saarland Trofeo brought riders through Habkirchen in Saarland, Germany. The event has served as a stage for names that later found places in the sport. Houses stood near the road. Trees lined parts of the route, and spectators gathered along the course as the peloton approached.

Riders from many nations pushed toward the next stretch of racing. Legs turned, wheels spun, and minds fixed on position. Then a scooter moved from the side of the road.

Footage shared on X shows the peloton bearing down on the section. A rider from Denmark saw the scooter and changed course by a margin measured in instinct. Paul Vriesman of the Netherlands had no path left. He struck the scooter and flew over his handlebars.

Bodies and bikes followed. The crash spread through the group as riders met riders and wheels met frames. One rider landed near the pavement. Equipment was scattered across the road while people nearby reacted to the scene before them.

Cycling has long embraced chaos as part of its bargain. This bargain usually involves weather, tactics, and punctures rather than traffic from the crowd. There are ways to secure a place in the race footage. Most do not involve becoming an obstacle.

The Aftermath

Vriesman did not finish the race. On Instagram, he wrote that the end of his campaign was brought about by the actions of an "old lady who was just living in her own world." His words carried frustration shaped by effort. He had worked through rehab and had spoken of gains in form before the crash erased his plans.

No reports indicated injury with lasting consequences for the group in the days that followed. No reports described arrests or sanctions involving the spectator. Discussion spread across X, Instagram, Reddit, and cycling sites. People argued over blame, barriers, marshals, and spectator conduct.

Some saw failure in crowd control. Others saw failure in judgment. The scooter became a symbol onto which everyone projected a theory. Sport often does that with moments that resist easy answers.

Why The Video Went Viral

The clip quickly escaped cycling circles. On X, the original post had drawn more than 4 million views, along with thousands of likes, reposts, bookmarks, replies, and quote posts.

Many viewers treated the collision as an accidental metaphor for generational tension. One widely shared reaction joked that boomers would not stop until they had "ruined literally everything." Another framed the crash as a painfully funny image of an older person moving into the path of young people simply to improve their own view.

you know life really does like to make its point in the funniest ways, can you think of a more poetic example of the elderly than an old woman driving into the path of young people to improve her own lived experience even if it means potentially killing those young people?

— The Green Recon (@green_recon) June 15, 2026

That was only one side of the argument. Others pushed back against blaming the elderly and turned their frustration toward cyclists instead. Some commenters joked that the crash was somehow the rider's fault. Others complained about the "spandex brigade," even though the riders were competing in an organized junior race rather than casually taking over a public road.

pic.twitter.com/fYgbWx0nCi

— Parable of the American (@ParableoftheA) June 15, 2026

Tesla jokes also found their way into the replies. Several viewers joked that the crash was something Full Self-Driving would never do, treating the mobility scooter like a tiny autonomous vehicle gone wrong.

That mix helps explain why the video traveled so far. It was not just a strange cycling crash. It became a proxy fight for everything the internet already likes to argue about: cyclists, older drivers, crowd control, entitlement, and who gets blamed when common sense disappears.

That is also why some of the comments should not necessarily be read as deeply held beliefs. Online humor often works by exaggerating familiar stereotypes rather than sincerely endorsing them. A joke about boomers is often less about actual Baby Boomers than it is about a stereotype everyone recognizes. The same applies to jokes about cyclists, Tesla owners, or just about any other group that spends enough time online.

In many ways, the humor follows the same tradition that made movies like Blazing Saddles so popular. The film was packed with outrageous stereotypes, but the joke was usually the absurdity of the stereotype itself rather than the people being portrayed. Modern meme culture often works in a similar way. The internet takes a recognizable social trope, turns the dial to eleven, and lets people laugh at the exaggeration.

For younger generations raised on The Simpsons, South Park, late-night comedy shows, internet forums, and social media, memes often serve a similar role. Instead of professional comedians making jokes about society, millions of ordinary people now participate in the same tradition every day. The technology changed, but the basic formula remains familiar.

The mobility scooter crash was the event. The comment section was the show.

What do you think? Was the internet just having fun with an absurd moment, or did some of the jokes cross the line?

Play at Wimbledon qualifying at Roehampton was suspended for over an hour due to a power outage that caused the tournament’s Electronic Line Calling (ELC) system to fail amid extreme heat.

Players were taken off court shortly after midday on Wednesday, with the temperature in south west London reaching a brutal 33C, before returning at around 1:30pm BST.

ELC replaced replaced line judges at Wimbledon last year, but the system was accidentally deactivated during the match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkov and Sonay Kartal, due to “human error”.

Speaking ahead of this year’s Wimbledon, chief executive of the All England Club Sally Bolton said there was confidence in the system - but the extreme heat is likely to have played a part in this latest outage.

“There was a temporary loss of power to part of our Qualifying venue, which meant that the electronic line calling system could not function,” a spokesperson for the All England Club said. “Power has now been restored and play is expected to resume shortly."

On the BBC, presenter Annabel Croft said it had been a “very challenging day”, with temperatures expected to rise to 37C later in the day.

Britain’s Dan Evans, who is playing in his last tournament before retirement at Wimbledon, was one of the players. The 36-year-old had just lost the first set 7-5 to Australia’s Tristan Schoolkate.

Wimbledon has a heat rule in place for this year’s tournament and players are allowed to request a 10-minute break when the heat stress index is at or above 30.1C.

The heat stress index accounts for air temperature, humidity and surface temperature - creating a ‘feels-like’ reading that is also known as the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature [WGBT].

The heat stress index will be measured 30 minutes before the start of play, then at 2pm and then at 5pm. The 10-minute break would take place between the second and third sets for women’s singles matches and between the third and fourth sets for men’s matches.

A rare red weather warning for extreme heat has come into force across large parts of the county, as Britons have been told to stay out of the sun for a four-hour period.

Record-breaking temperatures of 40C are expected on Wednesday, with the Met Office alert stretching from London across to Somerset and Swansea, and up towards Birmingham, until 9pm on Thursday.

People have been warned to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm as the severe heat is expected to cause a danger to life, while Network Rail has advised passengers to only travel if “absolutely necessary”.

Extreme heat has played a part in both of this season’s tennis grand slams, with temperatures of 46C at the Australian Open and a heatwave hitting the French Open, too.

Defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has at times struggled in the heat, and was knocked out of the French Open during a sweltering second round.

Wimbledon recorded its hottest opening day at last year’s Championship and the heat could be a significant factor once again across the fortnight, which begins on Monday 28 June.

For the second time in the past four years, the Boston Celtics reportedly included Jaylen Brown in an offseason trade. And for the second time in the past four years, the trade didn’t go through.

That could create a bit of an awkward situation between Brown and the organization that drafted him. After being involved in trade rumors for the second time in his career — and after a career-best season — Brown might not be too pleased with returning to the Celtics ahead of next season.

In an attempt to head off any frustration, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens called Brown a “big part of us” after the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, per ESPN.

"Jaylen Brown is a big part of us," Stevens said. "I'm never going to predict the future. Every indication, everything I think about, over the last few years, has been building around those guys. You never know. But at the same time, the one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he's always been. He's been amazing. He's been an amazing teammate and a great person to be around."

Stevens added that he’s been in touch with Brown and Brown’s agent during the offseason and that the team has been “as proactive and up-front with that as possible.” Stevens declined to get into specifics about the nature of those conversations, however.

Brown, who signed a five-year, $285 million extension with the team in 2023, is coming off arguably his best year in the NBA. The 29-year-old averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game with Jayson Tatum sidelined for a large chunk of the season.

Thanks to Brown’s efforts, the Celtics surprisingly finished with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference in a season where many expected the team to take a significant step back. Brown’s performance earned him MVP votes at the end of the season.

Despite that, Brown was rumored to be the centerpiece in a deal for former Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks opted to instead take an offer from the Miami Heat, presumably sending Brown back to the Celtics for another season.

It’s not the first time Brown’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors. Back in 2022, Brown was rumored to be the centerpiece in a possible deal for Kevin Durant. That deal also fell through, and Brown returned to Boston, signed his massive extension and led the team to a title during the 2023-24 NBA season.

During his decade with the Celtics, Brown — who was selected by the team with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft — developed into one of the best players in the NBA. Over his past six seasons, Brown has made four All-Star teams, received two second-team All-NBA nods and earned MVP votes. He’s put his name among the elite superstars in the game.

But that hasn’t stopped the Celtics from putting Brown on the block. While the relationship between Brown and the team might still be fine, especially after Stevens’ comments, it’s tough to imagine Brown will continue to feel that way if his name keeps coming up every time the Celtics are looking to improve.

Rangers 6, Marlins 4

• This was not a game one was feeling terribly optimistic about beforehand.
• And it was a game that the Rangers lost.
• It was a winnable game. The offense had three baserunners in the first, and the bases loaded with no one out in the second, and scored just one run.
• Combined with the late comeback, which saw Texas bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, it was an opportunity lost.
• The middle innings were the Rangers’ downfall.
• Cal Quantrill started what was effectively a bullpen game for the Rangers, facing nine batters over two innings and allowing a single run, to former Ranger farmhand, and key piece in the Nathaniel Lowe trade, Heriberto Hernandez.
• Hernandez is one of five former Rangers (or Ranger minor leaguers) who is a member of the Marlins, along with John King, Tyler Phillips, Liam Hicks, and the Accountant, Pete Fairbanks.
• The funny thing about it is that Miami didn’t acquire any of those players directly from the Rangers. Some other team acquired each of those five players from the Rangers, and then the Marlins ended up getting them for, essentially, nothing.
• The Marlins got Phillips from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash. Hicks was a Rule 5 selection, taken from the Tigers. King, Fairbanks and Hernandez were all free agent signings.
• King and Hernandez were traded by the Rangers in trades that worked out very well for Texas, and contributed to their World Series title.
• Fairbanks and Hicks were traded by the Rangers in trades that did not work out for Texas. The Fairbanks for Nick Solak swap was a coup for the Rays, though the Nathaniel Lowe deal more or less balanced that out.
• Hicks was traded, along with Tyler Owens, to the Detroit Tigers at the deadline for Carson Kelly in 2024. The 2024 team finished below .500 and Kelly didn’t play well for the Rangers. That said, the Rangers weren’t going to add Liam Hicks to the 40 man roster that offseason, and so would have been lost to the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft anyway, unless there was something very Tigers-specific that happened once Hicks got to Detroit that wouldn’t have happened if he were playing the final month and a half of the 2024 season with the Roughriders that prompted Miami to want to select him.
• Hicks has been a very good righthanded hitting 1B/DH/third catcher for the Marlins this season, and you know, the Rangers could use someone like that on their roster right about now.
• That said, I don’t think anyone expected Hicks to hit like he has this year (or even last year, when he had a 693 OPS in 390 plate appearances). Certainly Detroit didn’t, or else they wouldn’t have left him exposed in the Rule 5 Draft.
• I’d probably be more irked about losing Hicks if he’d been with the Rangers when the Marlins took him in the Rule 5 Draft. I’m not sure that makes sense logically, but then, what’s logical about sports fandom?
• Getting back on topic, Quantrill was followed by Jose Corniell, newly called up and making his second major league appearance.
• In Corniell’s first major league appearance, in the final game of the 2025 season, he pitched a scoreless inning against the Guardians, and then gave up a walkoff homer in the next inning, resulting in the Rangers going 81-81 instead of 82-80 on the year.
• Corniell, I regret to inform you, now has two major league appearances and two “L”s. The second batter he faced, catcher Joe Mack, homered off of him, giving the Marlins the lead.
• He then had a Very Unfortunate Fifth Inning. Two outs, a runner at first, Xavier Edwards hits a grounder up the middle that you think is a ball that will be the third out, but instead goes into center for a base hit.
• Thus setting the stage for Owen Caissie to thump a ball over the fence in right field for the most momentum shifting play in baseball.
• At that stage, it was 5-1, Marlins, and the game felt over. Hernandez doubled and Mack singled to make it 6-1, and this felt like the kind of game that would result in double digit runs being given up and Nicky Lopez pitching the bottom of the eighth.
• That didn’t happen, though. Corniell got out of the inning with no more damage being done, allowed a double and got a fly out to start the sixth, and then was replaced by Joe Ross, who went the rest of the way and kept the Marlins off the scoreboard.
• And it almost mattered! The Rangers threatened late, got back into the game, could’ve made Joe Ross a hero!
• Or, at least, the winning pitcher.
• That said, the Rangers played a game in June in the Year of Our Lord 2026, and the three pitchers they used were Cal Quantrill, Jose Corniell, and Joe Ross.
• If you were a time-traveler and came back from the past and looked at the box score and saw that, you’d say…

• But no, someone killed that fish. You know who you are.
• On the positive side, Quantrill, Corniell and Ross allowed the rest of the bullpen to have the day off. Jakob Junis and Robby Ahlstrom were probably not available after pitching the previous two days, and Jacob Latz had thrown 31 pitches the day before and so ideally would not have been used, which meant the Rangers’ pen was pretty thin for the game to start with.
• The offense had opportunities, but did little with them until it was late. An underwhelming 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. That’s not going to win you many games.
• A pair of singles in the first were followed up by a Brandon Nimmo double play ball. Josh Jung walked to put runners on the corners, but an Ezequiel Duran pop out ended things.
• The second featured an Alejandro Osuna single, a Jarred Kelenic walk, and a Kyle Higashioka bunt single to load the bases with no one out. And with offensive catalyst Nicky Lopez coming to the plate, we were feeling good.
• We were getting hyped. We were getting crunk. We were on fleek.
• Lopez did get a run home, on a U3 groundout that put runners on second and third. Osuna was thrown out at home on a Pederson fielder’s choice for the second out, and Wyatt Langford flew out to end the inning and lead ominous posts about how the Rangers were going to regret their misses opportunities.
• Texas did a whole bunch of nothing until the late innings, after Sandy Alcantara left the game. Brandon Nimmo homered to start the eighth to make it 6-2. Then in the ninth, against the Accountant, whose debits and credits have been out of balance this season, Pederson hit a two out homer, Langford reached on a HBP, and Nimmo tripled…
• And suddenly it was 6-4! And Josh Jung, who has been great this season, was at the plate as the tying run!
• Alas, twas not to be. Jung flew out. The game was over. The Rangers had lost.
• Cal Quantrill reached 95.7 mph with his fastball. Jose Corniell topped out at 95.9 mph with his fastball. Joe Ross’s fastball touched 95.2 mph.
• Brandon Nimmo had a 110.5 mph triple and a 105.9 mph home run. Joc Pederson’s homer was 106.7 mph. Kyle Higashioka had a 103.8 mph groundout. Ezequiel Duran had a 101.6 mph ground out. Josh Jung had a 101.1 mph groundout, a 101.0 mph groundout and a 100.0 mph groundout, with his ninth inning fly out being 97.1 mph.
• Two down, eight to go.

NEED TO KNOW

• England soccer star Djed Spence appeared to avoid shaking the hand of Ghana's Thomas Partey during the pre-game handshake when the teams met each other at the World Cup on Tuesday, June 23
• Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to incidents involving four women between 2020 and 2022
• Spence, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, and Partey previously faced each other when the latter played in the Premier League for Arsenal

A Premier League soccer star appeared to snub an opponent facing multiple rape charges during the pre-game handshake before England played Ghana at the World Cup on Tuesday, June 23.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence, 25, seemed to be the only England player not to shake the hand of Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, 33, who plays for Villarreal in Spain.

Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025, following an investigation by London's Metropolitan Police after three women reported incidents that allegedly took place between 2021 and 2022 when he played in the city for Arsenal. He pleaded not guilty.

In April 2026, Partey pleaded not guilty to two further charges of rape relating to alleged incidents in 2020, per the BBC. A trial originally scheduled for November 2026 may be pushed back until January 2027 as a result. His lawyer has said he welcomes the chance to clear his name, The Guardian reported.

Amid speculation over the customary pre-match handshake ahead of the game against Ghana, which finished 0-0, the BBC reported that England's Football Association did not discuss it with players beforehand.

Many of those in the England team, including Spence, have faced Partey before, while two — Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka — were Partey's teammates during his time at Arsenal.

Television coverage cut away before Partey's handshakes were shown, but in footage circulating on X, Spence seemed to keep his hand in his pocket as the Ghana player walked past. Partey then glanced back at the defender before continuing on his way.

The BBC also reported on the moment during their coverage of the game, with host Gabby Logan commenting that Spence had appeared to not shake Partey's hand.

The England fans in Boston Stadium reacted to the player's name with boos when it was read out over the public address system before the game, the outlet reported, while fans also jeered him when he touched the ball.

Partey missed Ghana's first game against Panama in Toronto on Thursday, June 18. He was denied entry into Canada after telling authorities that he had never been arrested nor charged with a crime, and a judge rejected his appeal, The Guardian reported.

Before the England game, meanwhile, Partey said he felt "okay and ready to play," explaining, via the BBC, "It's part of football. Things happen outside football that you cannot control."

After the game, England head coach Thomas Tuchel was stopped from answering a question on the matter after a spokesperson cited "legal reasons," The Guardian reported.

Ghana's manager, Carlos Quieroz, did answer, however. “We refuse to be part of people that try to bring dust and politics inside the game," he said, via the newspaper. "We fight to keep the four lines sacred. It's difficult sometimes, but it happens. So we have to congratulate everybody who leaves politics outside the four lines."

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Earlier this month, Partey was permitted to enter the U.S. for Ghana's training camp in Smithfield, R.I.

"The U.S. is aware of the pending court case for Mr. Partey. However, at this time, he has not been convicted of a crime and was admitted to the United States after being issued a visa," the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement last week, per the BBC.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

Read the original article on People

The Brendan Sorsby saga is not over yet. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Sorsby and his attorney plan to fight the NFL's decision to keep him out of the Supplemental Draft, and he may have a good chance of winning.

This is what the league's policy is on this situation:

“If a player who was not eligible for the Draft in any League Year becomes eligible after the date of the Draft, he will be eligible to be selected in a Supplemental Draft, if the League elects to conduct such a Draft, on or before the seventh calendar day prior to the opening of the first training camp that League Year. No player may elect to bypass a Draft for which he is eligible to apply for selection in a Supplemental Draft.”

So, according to Florio, the question is not his gambling but his eligibility.

 Article 6, Section 2(b), when “three NFL regular seasons have begun and ended following either his graduation from high school or graduation of the class with which he entered high school, whichever is earlier.” Sorsby, if he had decided to forgo remaining college eligibility, could have entered the 2026 draft in April under the “special eligibility” rule.

To break it down, according to the rules, Sorsby is eligible for the Supplemental Draft. Now the NFL could come back and reverse their decision but still make Sorsby sit a bit because of his gambling allegations, which may be a compromise both parties could live with this season.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Sorsby to challenge NFL ruling on his eligibility for the draft

Jack Draper is set to make his return to tennis at the Eastbourne Open, with Andy Murray by his side as coach.

The 24-year-old has been out of action since early April due to injury and brought in Murray to guide him through the grass-court season.

This will be Murray’s second coaching role after his stint with Novak Djokovic, which lasted until early last year.

There aren’t many that know British tennis better than Andy Murray, who’ll be able to offer Draper guidance from not only the technical side but also from the perspective of understanding what it takes mentally.

Draper still has plenty of development ahead of him, and there are certainly worse people he could have guiding him through this phase than one of Britain’s most successful players ever.

Andy Murray shares his thoughts on Jack Draper before the Eastbourne Opener

Speaking to the BBC, Murray explained: “After I stopped working with Novak, I had a number of opportunities to coach again. I had no interest in being on the road and away from my family.

“It wasn’t that I disliked coaching – I just didn’t enjoy it more than I do being at home with my family.

“When Jack asked me, I thought about it, spoke to my wife and told Jack that I’d love to help him.

“I think Jack’s a brilliant player. There is no doubt that when he gets back on the court, he will perform well and win matches at the highest level.

“But right now the focus is on trying to get him back competing consistently again.”

Jack Draper gets Brandon Nakashima in the Eastbourne first round

Draper’s last match came during the clay season at the Barcelona Open, where he was forced to retire against Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Since then, he has been recovering from a shoulder issue and is now ready to return, with fifth seed Brandon Nakashima standing in his way in the opening round of Eastbourne.

Nakashima and Draper have faced off three times on the ATP Tour, with Draper currently leading their head-to-head 2-1.

Their most recent meeting was at Queen’s last year, where Draper edged out a three-set win to reach the semifinals.

Read more:

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool are in talks for an exciting midfielder.

Okay, let's admit it, this summer is not off to as exciting of a window as last summer. By now Liverpool had Jeremie Frimpong wrapped up and were closing in on the transfers of Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.

This time around, it's just Victor Munoz who has signed for the Reds, and on top of that so many players have left.

But a lot of that is down to the World Cup. The market is expected to be a lot slower during a major international tournament. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for a lot of these players, World Cups only come around once every four years and so it's understandable if a lot of players just want to concentrate on the tournament.

Selling clubs will also be far more eager to keep hold of their assets until the tournament ends, when their prices will hopefully have inflated.

So, right now feels like the calm before the storm, and for Liverpool it's likely going to be a huge storm when the window does really get going.

There just simply way too much to do.

Richard Hughes' itinerary includes replacing Mo Salah, signing a centre-back, right-back and potentially more midfielders. At the same time, he mat also need to replace Cody Gakpo.

The midfield department is the most interesting one.

Liverpool on paper don't look like a team in dire need of midfield reinforcements. However, that's before you take into account the fact that Curtis Jones is clearly angling to move. Alexis Mac Allister is also open to an adventure elsewhere. Who knows what the future holds for Wataru Endo.

And on top of that, let's be honest Liverpool do need a holding midfielder. The Reds still haven't replaced Fabinho since he left the club.

There's a lack of proper true no.6s in the market. A lot of teams don't really play with a sitting midfielder anymore. The game has become a lot more dynamic and fluid and it means a player like Fabinho needs to do a lot more.

So, who could Liverpool actually target?

There's been so many names being floated about. The English market seems crazy with huge prices being demanded for Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton.

That could force Hughes to conduct his search elsewhere.

And this elsewhere could be in Ligue 1. Liverpool have been linked with a number of midfielders in France's top flight. Lamine Camara and Mamadou Sangare are both on the club's shortlist.

But they are not alone.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool are also holding talks and meetings for another exciting African midfielder.

Speaking on Born and Red's YouTube channel, Romano confirmed that Liverpool are in talks to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi and have held two meetings in order to lure the Moroccan international to Anfield.

“Liverpool had 2 meetings and more clubs involved in that [PSG and Arsenal], so could be an opportunity to go for him," Romano said.

"It depends on price, it depends on what Lille want to do but Liverpool have been scouting the player for a long time, it has been almost 1 year monitoring the player closely. Let’s see if they enter this one. I think it could be interesting, not just for Liverpool but for other clubs.”

Bouaddi is still only a teenager but he has so much experience so he would be an ideal fit. He's someone who would flourish under Andoni Iraola.

However, Arsenal and PSG being in the race does make things a lot more complicated.

June 24 (UPI) -- Athletics infielder Zack Gelof sustained punctures from spikes in his right hand, resulting in his exit and snapping a 24-game hitting streak.

Gelof sustained the injury in the second inning of a 3-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday in San Francisco. He was manning second base when Giants third baseman Matt Chapman accidentally stepped on his hand, piercing his skin and drawing blood.

Jeff McNeil replaced Gelof, who retired Chapman during the play. Gelof, who went 0 for 1, failed to record a hit for the first time since May 24. He went 33 for 94 (.351) during his 24-game hitting streak, which was tied for the longest in MLB over the last two years.

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas started the 2026 season with a matching hot streak. Gelof hit .282 with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, a triple, eight stolen bases and 29 RBIs through his first 62 appearances this season.

Manager Mark Kotsay told reporters the Athletics will monitor swelling in Gelof's hand and called him "day-to-day." He also said he didn't believe he would go on the injured list.

"There is a laceration to the hand," Kotsay said. "No stitches required. Pretty much got him just on the top between the thumb and the index. There is some swelling. No fracture. X-ray was negative. Best positive outcome for that situation.

"It's unfortunate for him, with the hitting streak, that circumstances took him out of the game and his hitting streak comes to an end."

Giants first baseman Rafael Devers started the bottom of the second inning with a ground out. Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee settled in for the next at-bat. He hit the second pitch he saw from starter Aaron Civale to right center field for a 414-foot solo homer for the game's first run.

Shortstop Willy Adames followed with a double, bringing Chapman to the plate. The veteran infielder hit the second pitch of that exchange to left field, plating Adames. Chapman rounded first base and attempted to slide into second, but was beaten by a throw to Gelof.

Gelof caught the ball and dove toward Chapman, tagging him with his gloved left hand while his right hand landed in the dirt. Chapman's left foot came down on top of Gelof's bare hand, resulting in the punctures and his early exit.

The Athletics plated their lone run off an RBI single from third baseman Max Muncy in the third inning. Devers went on to drive in the game's final score with an RBI single in the seventh.

Giants starter Robbie Ray allowed just two hits and one run over eight innings to improve to 6-6 this season. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom collected two of the Athletics' three hits.

Civale allowed six hits and two runs over four innings to drop to 5-4 this season. Tuesday's loss extended a three-game losing streak for the Athletics, who sit in second place in the American League West, 2.5 games behind the division-leading Seattle Mariners (41-39).

The Giants (32-46) will host the Athletics in the second game of the series at 9:45 p.m. EDT Wednesday in San Francisco,

Newcastle will be better off selling Sandro Tonali this summer, says former Magpie John Anderson.

Newcastle rejected an initial offer worth £80m from Tottenham for the Italian midfielder last week - having demanded a fee closer to £100m - but Anderson thinks there is an air of inevitability to the transfer.

"It has that 'Anthony Gordon feel' to it, doesn't it? To a certain degree," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"I think everybody accepted the fact that Gordon was going to go and you just get that same vibe about Tonali. I know there's been a lot of talk about Tottenham and why he would go there with them having finished 17th in the last two seasons, but it's all about getting the right deal isn't it?

"We stood by Tonali in his first season here when he had the problems with the gambling situation but again, if you've got a player who doesn't want to be at your football club and he doesn't want to play for you, you're better off [letting him go]."

• Hear the full debate by clicking play above or on BBC Sounds here

But it isn't just player retention that Anderson is worried about.

Newcastle were in talks for Spanish youngster Victor Munoz when the summer transfer window opened, but it was a familiar thorn in Liverpool who beat them to his signature, and Anderson believes there is an overarching recruitment problem at the club.

"They need to do something to get players in. This is the second time this has happened where we thought we had a deal done," Anderson said.

"The James Trafford one springs to mind last season where it dragged on and dragged on, and everybody thought it was a deal that was going to be done and all of a sudden he ends up going back to Manchester City - and now he's another one who has been linked back.

"We said at the back end of last season, they need to do deals and they just need to go and get them done. Go get them done and say 'we've signed this player' but the problem is everything is played out in the press – whether that's a deliberate ploy by the agents to get other clubs interested I do not know – but recruitment needs to be better."

Listen to the clip by clicking play below or on BBC Sounds here

This week saw Major League Pickleball’s third Waiver wire period of the season. Combined with a couple of additional trades ahead of the waiver period, we have enough transactions and player movement intrigue as to make it worth its own post.

So, here goes a quick recap of the moves made this week, with some analysis and some thoughts.

• Before the St. Pete event even ended, we got word of a weird move (broken by Erik Tice on twitter): Dallas traded their bench player Albie Huang and cash to Phoenix to acquire the well-traveled Alix Truong. Dallas clearly is rebuilding, but why send cash out the door to acquire a player to ride the pine? That is unless there’s more moves coming. Meanwhile, Huang moves to Phoenix where she may start over their youngster bench star Alexa Schull. Truong reunites with Danni-Elle Townsend in Dallas, with whom she played so well in MLP’s first event; could Truong be sending Brooke Buckner to the bench? Or, could Dallas be looking to make more moves?

• Coincidentally, here’s Alix Truong’s MLP season so far:
  • She started the season with Bay Area, who traded for her last March 2025.
  • Bay Area trades Truong to Miami for Mya Bui in a cost-cutting move in February 2026 ahead of the draft.
  • Miami then moves Truong to Columbus in a 3-way deal with Carolina that nets Miami cash and Isabella Dunlap in Mid-March 2026 just after the draft.
  • Columbus then moves Truong to Phoenix in late May 2026 after she stars for them in the opening weekend with Parris Todd absent.
  • Phoenix then flips her to Dallas to potentially ride the bench for Dallas in June 2026.
• On 6/23/26, a 3-teamer trade was announced:
  • Bay Area gets Blaine Hovenier from Las Vegas
  • Las Vegas gets Clayton Powell from Miami and Cash from Bay Area
  • Miami gets Luc Pham from Bay Area and Cash from Las Vegas
• Impact Analysis for each team
  • Bay Area definitely improves its starters, replacing the Pham/Yang platoon with high-energy Hovenier, who will rove on the left with lefty Tellez. Is this enough to propel the Breakers (currently 3-12 on the season and sitting 16th) into playoff territory? Probably not, but they’ll be better.
  • Miami may be cashing in on another asset by moving Powell and netting Cash. As we’re about to see, Pham is surplus to requirements and was immediately dropped for another player in the waiver period, so it sounds like Miami got cash for someone they were about to give away for nothing.
  • Las Vegas plugs in Powell for Hovenier, which is almost a like for like switch (Hovenier is ranked 54th for the season while Powell is ranked 56th) and nets a bit of cash for a treading water move.
  • I’d love to see a “Cash tracker” at some point; how much Cash has Miami netted with all these moves over the years? Just this year Miami has netted Cash in deals where they moved Roddy to Atlanta, where they moved Truong to Columbus in a 3-way deal, they got cash AND Frazier from Texas, and now they get cash from Las Vegas for the privilege of a player they were going to drop anyway.

• The latest waiver period hit on 6/23/26. Here’s the moves:
  • Palm Beach puts Greyson Goldin on the IR and officially picks up Casey Diamond. Apparently the expansion Palm Beach had one additional perk of being a new team this year, and that was first waivers selection. They re-claim Diamond, who subbed for them last weekend, and Goldin (who was alleged to have been “faking” his illness or injury last weekend) is now on the IR for presumably the rest of the season. Diamond will serve as a solid insurance policy for further injury to PB’s two male stars Bar and McGuffin. After the move, the team released a statement announcing in essence that the two sides agreed to this move to enable Goldin to go play some Challengers instead of sitting on their bench, which is what he really needs to prepare for the upcoming PPA season.
  • Florida’s owner Travis Rettenmaier dropped himself, picks up Connor Mogle. Mogle was rostered and traded around earlier this season but has yet to see any MLP action, and likely is a bench player for Florida. Is he an improvement? Possibly; Rettenmaier is a great example of a veteran player in a league going through a major youth movement, and he’s recognized the time has come. It’s too bad, b/c he played pretty well last weekend on his home court and energized the crowd each time.
  • Miami drops the just-acquired Luc Pham, picks up Zane Ford. Miami’s GM Goldberg strikes again, turning a player he was going to drop into a bit of cash that he can use going forward. Miami picks up a premier league starter from last season in Zane Ford (he was in the NY Hustler’s starting lineup) and improves their singles rotation.
  • Texas drops Matt Barlow, picks up Rafa Hewett. Barlow as Texas’ bench player has gotten very little playing time and made little impact while doing so, and the Ranchers pick up glue-guy Hewett, who may almost serve as a player-coach to the team.
  • Texas also drop their other bench player Marcela Aguila Ampon (aka Marcela Hones) and picks up Angie Walker. Ampon struggled greatly when pressed into action last week and Texas probably just used the opportunity to try to incrementally improve the bench.

Teams head back into action with their new players this weekend in New York for Week 6 of the MLP season. Play starts thursday 10am EDT from Randall’s Island.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Hornchurch have signed midfielder Nathan Ferguson after his departure from fellow National League side Hartlepool United.

The 30-year old has previously played for the likes of Crawley Town, Wealdstone, Maidenhead United and Southend United.

Urchins manager Daryl McMahon told the club's website: "I've known Nathan for a long time, going back to his days when he was in Dagenham & Redbridge's youth team.

"He is an athletic box-to-box player, with a good passing range as well as bringing real physicality."

• National League

Australia's Liam Paro is the new IBF welterweight champion with a points win over Belfast's Lewis Crocker at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia on Wednesday.

Paro, who previously held the IBF's light-welterweight title, becomes the first Australia-born boxer since Jeff Fenech to become a multi-weight world champion, earning a 115-113 nod on all three cards after a gruelling battle.

The 30-year-old produced a display of skill and heart to dethrone Crocker who was making the first defence of the title he won in Belfast last September, improving his record to 28 wins with one defeat.

Crocker, 29, appeared on the brink of a stoppage late in the fight but just couldn't find the finishing shot with Paro reeling, suffering a first career reverse in his 23rd contest and will now seek to rebuild.

More to follow

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Hearts have completed the signing of "exciting, direct attacker" Sabri Guendouz from Belgian second-tier club Beerschot for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old Frenchman has signed a contract until summer 2029.

Guendouz started his career with Valenciennes in the French third tier before moving to Guingamp in 2020 and, after promotion from the B team, helped them to the promotion play-offs and a Coupe de France quarter-final.

"Last season, he made the move to Belgium where he became Beerschot's creative outlet with 10 goal contributions," Hearts say on their website.

Guendouz was also their main goal assist provider, most active dribbler and winner of penalties as Beerschot finished third but missed out on promotion after being edged out in their play-off final.

He becomes Hearts sixth signing of the summer as they rebuild the squad that came runners-up in the Scottish Premiership last season.

The 2023 NFL Draft class for the Los Angeles Rams has been a legendary group during their first three seasons in the league and despite not having a first-round selection that year, the class has rebuilt the team after a horrific 2022 season.

Their emergence ended the Rams' rebuild in a matter of months, leading to playoff appearances in all three seasons they've been with the team and continuously building on the previous season's successes. Before players like Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, and others became household names, it was clear to the players already in the building that the class was special.

Former Rams running back and Super Bowl LVI champion Darrell Henderson Jr. spoke to FootballbyNikko about the 2023 class, providing his insights on the work they did early on and how their ability to block out noise and focus on their work led to winning seasons.

"Everything that they got going right now, all the successes, they earned it," stated Henderson. "Those guys came in and worked and blocked out everything, and that's one of the best classes they've drafted."

The Rams made 14 selections in 2023 and were forced to play their rookies and younger players early due to the financial nature of their roster. Those players were brilliant, with Nacua breaking the NFL record for rookie receptions and receiving yards, while Turner and Young finished first and second in sacks among rookies.

Along with those three, other members include starters Steve Avila, Warren McClendon Jr. and Ethan Evans, with rotational contributors Davis Allen and Desjuan Johnson participating in a variety of roles to help the team, too.

In three years since the 2023 draft, the Rams have finished every year with a better record than the year before, putting up three playoff wins over that time.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Former Rams RB shares why 2023 class had success early

After 48 matches in North America, it’s time for the final round of games in the group stage at World Cup 2026.

Sixteen teams will be eliminated after these fixtures, with 32 nations heading through to the knockout stages.

The top two teams from each of the 12 groups – along with the eight best third-placed teams – will proceed to the next phase.

Here are the top five “must-watch” matches in the second round of fixtures from June 24 until June 27.

⚽️ Scotland vs Brazil

Miami Stadium – Wednesday, 6pm (22:00 GMT)

These two sides will meet at the World Cup for the fifth time and there’s plenty to play for in an intriguing encounter in Miami.

Brazil are looking to secure their place in the knockout stages as group winners and are currently tied with Morocco on four points at the top of Group C.

Scotland are aiming to escape the group for the first time at a major international tournament and know that a point will almost certainly guarantee a spot in the round of 32.

Expect Group C to change a lot during these final fixtures, with Morocco taking on Haiti at the same time.

If that isn’t enough, Brazil’s Neymar is also set to make his first appearance at this World Cup.

⚽️ Japan vs Sweden

Dallas Stadium – Thursday, 6pm (23:00 GMT)

It’s difficult to predict which Sweden will turn up in Dallas on Thursday.

Graham Potter’s side beat Tunisia 5-1 in their opening match of the World Cup, before losing by the same score to the Netherlands.

Japan have been entertaining to watch at this tournament and were in fine form during their 4-0 win over Tunisia at the weekend.

Expect plenty of goals in this match and plenty of drama. The winner will secure a top-two finish in Group F, so there is a lot to play for.

⚽️ Norway vs France

Boston Stadium – Friday, 3pm (19:00 GMT)

Norway and France are already through to the knockout stages, but this game looks set to be a blockbuster affair with both sides looking to top Group I.

Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have both scored four goals so far and they’ll be desperate to add to their tally as they chase down Lionel Messi.

France are one of the favourites to lift the World Cup next month and are looking to end the group stage with three wins from three.

But Norway have the opportunity to prove that they truly are dark horses in this tournament and can compete with elite international sides.

Buckle in for a big one in Boston.

⚽️ Uruguay vs Spain

Seattle Stadium – Friday, 6pm (00:00 GMT on Saturday)

Group H has been a tight affair following some surprise results in the opening round of fixtures.

Uruguay drew with Saudi Arabia, while Cape Verde shocked the world with a goalless draw against Spain.

La Roja bounced back by thrashing Saudi Arabia and they go into their final game as group leaders, with Uruguay two points behind in second.

Spain will secure top spot with a win in Seattle, ensuring that they avoid Argentina in the round of 32.

⚽️ Egypt vs Iran

Seattle Stadium – Friday, 8pm (04:00 GMT on Saturday)

Neither of these sides have ever made it out of the group at a World Cup, but on Friday, at least one of them will achieve that feat.

Group G is closely bunched after a number of drawn matches and it sets things up nicely for an intriguing final round of fixtures.

Victory for either Egypt or Iran will guarantee them a spot in the knockout phase, so expect both sides to be up for this one.

Iran have faced numerous challenges at this World Cup, with restrictions on travel and visa issues before the tournament even began.

If Iran progress, there’s also still a chance that they will face the US in the knockout stages.

World Cup 2026: Remaining group-stage full schedule

Wednesday, June 24

• Switzerland vs Canada at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
• Bosnia vs Qatar at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
• Scotland vs Brazil at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
• Morocco vs Haiti at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
• Czechia vs Mexico at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
• South Africa vs South Korea at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Thursday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico

Thursday, June 25

• Ecuador vs Germany at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
• Curacao vs Ivory Coast at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
• Japan vs Sweden at 6pm CDT (23:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
• Tunisia vs Netherlands at 6pm CDT (23:00 GMT) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US,
• Turkiye vs USA at 7pm PT (02:00 GMT on Friday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
• Paraguay vs Australia at 7pm PT (02:00 GMT on Friday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US

Friday, June 26

• Norway vs France at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
• Senegal vs Iraq at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
• Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at 7pm CDT (00:00 GMT on Saturday) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
• Uruguay vs Spain at 6pm CST (00:00 GMT on Saturday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
• Egypt vs Iran at 8pm PT (03:00 GMT on Saturday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
• New Zealand vs Belgium at 8pm PT (03:00 GMT on Saturday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada

Saturday, June 27

• Panama vs England at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
• Croatia vs Ghana at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
• Colombia vs Portugal at 7:30pm ET (23:30 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
• DRC vs Uzbekistan at 7:30pm ET (23:30 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
• Algeria vs Austria at 9pm CDT (02:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
• Jordan vs Argentina at 9pm CDT (02:00 GMT on Sunday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US

Dani Ceballos’ long-awaited return to Real Betis appears to be edging closer, with the Real Madrid midfielder now prepared to make significant sacrifices to complete the move.

After being granted his release by Real Madrid, Ceballos is expected to leave the Santiago Bernabeu as a free agent and return to the club where his professional career began. 

However, despite the willingness shown by both the player and Betis, the operation has not progressed as smoothly as many initially expected.

According to AS, there are still figures within the Real Betis hierarchy who have not fully moved on from the events of three years ago when Ceballos opted to extend his stay at Real Madrid instead of returning to the Benito Villamarin.

Ceballos ready to sacrifice millions for Betis move

The desire to return to Real Betis has never appeared stronger for Ceballos, who is prepared to walk away from nearly €5 million net in salary in order to make the transfer happen this summer. 

Despite receiving interest from elsewhere, including Ajax, the Spaniard has prioritised a return to Betis over any alternative destination.

Ceballos is set to leave Real Madrid. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

From the outside, it may seem like a straightforward deal, but the situation remains complicated.

Why is that?

One of the biggest obstacles in the Dani Ceballos transfer involves lingering resentment from within parts of the Real Betis leadership.

It is said that some influential figures at the club have not forgotten what happened in 2023 when Ceballos approached the final months of his Real Madrid contract.

At the time, there was strong optimism that the midfielder would return. Instead, Ceballos chose to renew his contract with Real Madrid and remain at the Santiago Bernabeu for another four years.

That decision left a bitter taste among some directors.

Now, there is a belief in certain areas of the club that Ceballos kept both options open simultaneously, negotiating with Real Madrid while also maintaining conversations with Betis.

Betis are doubting Ceballos’ intentions. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

On the other hand, others inside the club understand why he made that choice.

At 29 years old, Ceballos was still competing for major trophies at one of the biggest clubs in world football while also remaining part of Spain’s plans. 

For many, extending his Real Madrid career was simply the logical sporting decision, but not everyone has completely moved on.

So what now?

Right now, Real Betis are hesitant about making Ceballos one of the highest-paid players in the squad. 

There are also discussions surrounding the signing bonus that typically accompanies a free transfer and those details still need to be resolved before the agreement can be completed.

From Ceballos’ side, there is a clear willingness to compromise, but he does not want his desire to return home to be interpreted as desperation and that is where the final negotiations become important.

The Lega Serie A has recently confirmed the kick-off schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 season, which will get underway on Friday, August 21.

When will Serie A matches kick off in 2026-27?

The full fixture list for the 2026-27 Serie A season was confirmed earlier this month. Click here to see the full list of scheduled fixtures.

A typical weekend round of fixtures in 2026-27 will feature one game at 19.45 (BST/GMT) on a Friday evening, three games on a Saturday at 14.00, 17.00 and 19.45 (UK time), four games on a Sunday at 11.30, 14.00, 17.00 and 19.45 and one game on a Monday night at 19.45.

There will, however, be several exceptions to that rule of thumb.

TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Khephren Thuram of Juventus scores his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and FC Internazionale at Allianz Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

The first round of Serie A fixtures will feature four matches on Saturday, two at 17.30 and two at 19.45, there will be four games on the Sunday, again with two at 17.30 and two at 19.45 and there will then be a further two matches at 17.30 and 19.45 on the Monday evening.

The second round of Serie A fixtures will all be played at either 17.30 or 19.45. The third round of fixtures will also not feature any matches at 11.30 in the summertime sunshine.

On matchdays five, 11 and 29, preceding the scheduled international breaks, there will be no matches played on a Monday.

Similarly, on matchdays six, 12 and 30, immediately after the international breaks, there will be no games taking place on the Friday night. The same will also be true for matchdays 10 and 19, which come immediately after a full midweek round of fixtures.

Those midweek rounds on weeks nine and 18 will be played from Tuesday to Thursday and their kick-off times will be confirmed at a later date, and the timing will depend on the games that are selected for live TV coverage.

There will also be some alterations to the schedule for weeks 17 and 18 of the 2026-27 season, i.e. the games that come immediately after the new-year.

The Philadelphia Eagles will enter training camp with one of the NFL's deeper rosters, and that should create difficult decisions when the team begins trimming toward the initial 53-man roster.

Philadelphia has star power at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle, and cornerback, but the most competitive roster battles will occur near the bottom of the depth chart. The Eagles have added veteran insurance, traded for skill-position depth, drafted potential future starters, and brought in several young players who could make the back end of the roster difficult to predict. That leaves several players under pressure to prove they have a defined role, special teams value, or enough upside to avoid becoming a numbers casualty.

Here is an early look at seven Eagles bubble players under the most pressure ahead of training camp.

1. Darius Cooper, wide receiver

Cooper may be one of the more obvious players under pressure because Philadelphia's wide receiver room changed dramatically around him. DeVonta Smith is the clear lead option after A.J. Brown's departure, while the Eagles traded up for Makai Lemon, added Hollywood Brown, signed Elijah Moore, and acquired Dontayvion Wicks. Those moves changed the depth chart and made it harder for returning receivers to feel safe.

Cooper is talented enough to remain in the conversation, but he must show more than developmental promise. Hollywood Brown gives the offense vertical speed, Wicks is getting significant snaps and has drawn a Keenan Allen comparison from Nick Sirianni, and Lemon was drafted to contribute early. Johnny Wilson is also trying to regain momentum after a significant knee injury, while Quez Watkins, Danny Gray, and Britain Covey are competing for return, speed, and depth roles. Cooper needs a strong camp to prove he can help the active roster rather than remain just a practice-squad candidate.

2. Will Shipley, running back

Shipley is not in immediate danger because of talent, but he is under pressure because the running back room has become more crowded. Saquon Barkley is the centerpiece of the offense, and Tank Bigsby has a clear role after averaging 5.7 yards per carry last season following his arrival as a key trade acquisition. Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele add more competition, while Cameron Latu's role as a fullback/tight end could affect how many backs Philadelphia keeps.

Shipley needs to regain momentum and show he can contribute in a specific way. That could come as a change-of-pace runner, a receiving option, a pass protector, or a special teams player. The Eagles are excited about a new zone-rushing scheme that could help revive the run game around Barkley, but the backup roles behind him remain unsettled. Shipley's roster path is still real, but he needs a strong summer to avoid being squeezed by Bigsby's defined role and the added competition behind him.

3. Grant Calcaterra, tight end

Calcaterra has experience in the Eagles' system and has appeared in 62 games with 22 starts, but the tight end room looks different entering camp. Dallas Goedert is back on a one-year deal after catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns, while Philadelphia drafted Eli Stowers in the second round as a potential long-term successor. Johnny Mundt is expected to fill the third tight end, run-blocking role, and Cameron Latu is being used as a fullback/tight end hybrid.

That puts pressure on Calcaterra to prove he still brings enough value to keep a roster spot. Stone Smartt, E.J. Jenkins, and Dae'Quan Wright also give Philadelphia options, and the Eagles may not have room for every tight end with receiving traits. Calcaterra's familiarity with the offense matters, but the question is whether he can provide enough blocking, special teams value, and offensive reliability to hold off younger or more specialized competition.

4. Fred Johnson, offensive tackle

Johnson has given the Eagles valuable swing-tackle depth in the past, but the offensive line numbers could become difficult to manage. Philadelphia's starting five is set with Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, and Lane Johnson, while Markel Bell, Myles Hinton, Cameron Williams, John Ojukwu, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Jake Majors, Hollin Pierce, and Jaeden Roberts are all part of the competition behind them.

Johnson's pressure comes from age, roster math, and the team's need to develop younger linemen. He has value because experienced tackles are hard to find, and Lane Johnson's injury history makes swing-tackle depth important. Still, the Eagles have several young offensive linemen who could force their way into the picture. Johnson must show he remains reliable enough to justify a roster spot over players with more long-term upside.

5. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, edge rusher

Tryon-Shoyinka has the draft pedigree and athletic profile to remain interesting, but he enters camp in a crowded edge group. Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Arnold Ebiketie give Philadelphia several athletic pass-rush options, and the Eagles could still add more depth to the room. Jose Ramirez, Ta'Quon Graham, Keyshawn James-Newby, and Joshua Weru are also competing for roles.

Tryon-Shoyinka's pressure is tied to production. He earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade last season, but he played only 142 snaps and has never produced more than five sacks in a season. Philadelphia needs edge rushers who can affect the quarterback and defend the run, and Tryon-Shoyinka must prove he can be more than a traits-based rotational option. If younger players flash on special teams or as pass rushers, his roster security could become uncertain.

Final analysis

The Eagles have several other players who could land on the bubble depending on how camp unfolds. Quez Watkins, Danny Gray, Stone Smartt, E.J. Jenkins, Jake Majors, Gabe Hall, Tariq Castro-Fields, and Ambry Thomas all have roster questions to answer. Still, Cooper, Shipley, Calcaterra, Johnson, Tryon-Shoyinka, Campbell, and Epps stand out because each has a believable path to the 53-man roster, but each also faces enough competition to make training camp critical.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles training camp: 5 bubble players under pressure

The Philadelphia Eagles have built and constructed several of their greatest eras through first-round draft picks, from Hall of Fame players in the franchise's earliest decades to modern cornerstones who helped deliver Super Bowl championships. The Eagles have also had their share of first-round misses, but the top of their all-time draft history includes some of the most important players ever to wear the uniform.

With training camp set to begin, we're looking at the best first-round pick at every position in the Eagles' franchise history. This list focuses only on players drafted by the Eagles in the first round. That means several franchise legends do not qualify, including Brian Dawkins, Jason Kelce, LeSean McCoy, Harold Carmichael, Brian Westbrook, Trent Cole, DeSean Jackson, and Eric Allen. It also means the list is based on the player's value to Philadelphia, not his entire NFL career if he produced elsewhere.

Here is a position-by-position look at the best first-round picks in Eagles history.

Quarterback: Donovan McNabb, 1999

McNabb remains the clear choice at quarterback. The Eagles selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, and he became the face of the Andy Reid era, leading Philadelphia to five NFC Championship Games, one Super Bowl appearance, and the most sustained run of winning in modern franchise history before the team's later championship breakthroughs.

McNabb left Philadelphia as the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, and quarterback wins. His career will always be defined by debate over what the Eagles did not finish during that era, but the draft pick itself was a franchise-changing success. Philadelphia used a top-two selection on a quarterback and got a long-term starter, perennial Pro Bowl player, and one of the most important players in team history.

Running back: Steve Van Buren, 1944

Van Buren was selected in the first round in 1944 and became one of the greatest players in Eagles history. He was the offensive engine for the franchise's first championship era, helping Philadelphia win NFL titles in 1948 and 1949 while establishing himself as one of the premier backs of his generation.

Van Buren led the NFL in rushing four times, was a multiple-time first-team All-Pro, and was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His production came in an entirely different era, but his place in Eagles history remains secure. For this exercise, he is not only the best first-round running back the Eagles have drafted; he is one of the best first-round picks the franchise has ever made.

Wide receiver: Mike Quick, 1982

Quick was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 1982 NFL draft and became one of the most explosive wide receivers in Eagles history. He made five Pro Bowls, earned first-team All-Pro honors, and gave Philadelphia a true No. 1 receiver during the 1980s.

His best season came in 1983, when he led the NFL with 1,409 receiving yards. Quick had the size, speed, and downfield ability to tilt coverage, and his career remains one of the strongest receiving résumés among players drafted by the Eagles. DeVonta Smith has already made a strong case as one of the franchise's best first-round receivers, but Quick's peak and league-wide recognition keep him at the top of this position for now.

Tight end: Charle Young, 1973

Young was selected sixth overall in the 1973 NFL draft and gave the Eagles immediate high-level production at tight end. He earned Pro Bowl honors early in his career and was one of the more gifted receiving tight ends of his era, even though the position was not featured in passing games the way it is today.

The Eagles have had more familiar tight ends across franchise history, including Pete Retzlaff, Keith Jackson, Zach Ertz, and Dallas Goedert, but this list is limited to first-round selections. Young's draft status, production, and impact make him the top choice among Eagles first-round tight ends.

Offensive tackle: Lane Johnson, 2013

Johnson was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft and developed into one of the best right tackles of his generation. He became a multiple-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection, helped anchor the offensive line for two Super Bowl-winning teams, and gave Philadelphia elite play at one of football's most valuable positions.

Bob Brown, a Hall of Fame tackle selected by the Eagles in the first round in 1964, deserves a major mention here. Tra Thomas also had an excellent career after being selected in the first round in 1998. Johnson gets the edge because of his longevity in Philadelphia, his role in the franchise's championship era, and his sustained performance as one of the NFL’s most dominant offensive linemen.

Guard: Shawn Andrews, 2004

Andrews was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft and became one of the most physically dominant guards in football when healthy. His Eagles career was shorter than it could have been because of injuries and other challenges, but his peak was outstanding.

Andrews earned three Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors, giving Philadelphia elite interior offensive line play during the mid-2000s. He was powerful in the run game, athletic enough to thrive in the Eagles' offense, and capable of overwhelming defensive linemen. Longevity keeps him from ranking higher among all-time Eagles offensive linemen, but at guard, among first-round picks only, his peak makes him the choice.

Center/linebacker: Chuck Bednarik, 1949

Bednarik was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1949 NFL draft and remains one of the defining players in Eagles history. He was a two-way force at center and linebacker, helped lead Philadelphia to championships, and became one of the last great full-time two-way players in NFL history.

Modern positional labels make Bednarik difficult to place, but his greatness is not in question. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, a multiple-time first-team All-Pro, and a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Whether viewed as a center, linebacker, or two-way football icon, he is one of the best first-round picks the Eagles have ever made.

Defensive end/edge rusher: Brandon Graham, 2010

Graham was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft and authored one of the best career arcs in franchise history. Early in his career, he was often judged against players selected after him, but he developed into a consistent, disruptive edge defender, respected leader, and one of the most beloved players in Eagles history.

His signature moment came in Super Bowl LII, when his strip-sack of Tom Brady helped seal Philadelphia’s first Super Bowl championship. Graham’s sack totals do not fully capture his value because his game was built on pressure, run defense, energy, and reliability. Jerome Brown and Fletcher Cox own the interior defensive line conversation, but among first-round edge players, Graham’s longevity, leadership, and championship impact make him the pick.

Defensive tackle: Fletcher Cox, 2012

Cox was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft and became one of the greatest defensive players in Eagles history. He made six Pro Bowls, earned first-team All-Pro honors, and was a centerpiece of the defensive front that helped Philadelphia win Super Bowl LII.

Cox combined power, quickness, and durability, giving the Eagles a game-wrecking interior presence for more than a decade. Jerome Brown’s peak was extraordinary and deserves the strongest possible mention, but Cox’s longevity, production, and championship role give him the edge for this spot. Jalen Carter could eventually enter this conversation, but Cox remains the standard among Eagles first-round defensive tackles.

Linebacker: Chuck Bednarik, 1949

If Bednarik is listed strictly as a linebacker, this is not a close race. He was one of the most important defensive players in franchise history, a Hall of Famer and a symbol of the Eagles’ championship foundation. His physical style and two-way workload made him one of the most iconic players the sport has produced.

Jerry Robinson, a first-round pick in 1979, deserves mention after becoming a productive linebacker and Pro Bowl player for the Eagles. Jihaad Campbell could become part of the future conversation if he develops into the player Philadelphia envisioned when it selected him in the first round. For now, Bednarik remains the easy answer.

Cornerback/defensive back: Lito Sheppard, 2002

Sheppard was selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft and developed into one of the Eagles’ top defensive playmakers of the 2000s. He earned two Pro Bowl selections, was named first-team All-Pro in 2004, and became a key part of a secondary that helped Philadelphia remain among the NFC’s top teams.

Sheppard played behind established veterans early in his career before emerging as a ball-hawking cornerback with the confidence and instincts to thrive in Jim Johnson’s aggressive defense. Roynell Young, a first-round pick in 1980, also deserves consideration after becoming a Pro Bowl defensive back and long-term starter. Quinyon Mitchell could eventually challenge for this spot, but Sheppard’s peak gives him the current edge among first-round defensive backs.

Safety: None selected high enough to qualify cleanly

This is the position where the first-round-only rule matters most. Dawkins is the greatest defensive back in Eagles history, but he was selected in the second round of the 1996 draft. Wes Hopkins, Malcolm Jenkins, and other important Eagles safeties also do not fit the criteria for this list because they were not drafted by Philadelphia in the first round.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Ranking Eagles’ top first-round picks at each position

The Pittsburgh Pirates made waves in the offseason when they signed Ryan O’Hearn to a 2-year $29 million contract in January. That signing was the largest ever handed out to a free-agent hitter in franchise history and was the first free-agent signed to a multi year contract by the club in a decade. Despite the big splash signing that it was at the time and what the left-handed hitter has done to this point in the season, O’Hearn finds himself on the outside looking in with regards to All-Star voting.

O’Hearn has quietly been exactly what the Pirates needed for their young team. O’Hearn provides a veteran presence for what is a very young clubhouse and has gracefully embraced that role since signing with Pittsburgh. Although his role in the clubhouse is usually attached to a player that’s over the hill, this couldn’t be further from the truth in the case of O’Hearn.

Not only does O’Hearn provide the steady mindset as a veteran player off the field, he also provides that on the field. The 32-year-old lefty has been one of the consistent performers in manager Don Kelly’s lineup that has completely transformed this offense. 2025 saw Pittsburgh as bottom dwellers for homers and runs scored, but 2026 has seen the club completely flip the script and suddenly the bats have awakened. O’Hearn has been a catalyst in that way. It hasn’t been flashy or over the top, but it’s been a steady driving force. On the year O’Hearn is slashing .274/.333/.447 with a .780 OPS. At the plate O’Hearn has gathered 11 homers, 65 total hits and 41 RBIs. He knocked in a career high six runs against the Athletics on June, 17.

Despite the model of consistency that O’Hearn has been, he finds himself not in the top percentage of players receiving All-Star votes. He’s made significant impacts for the team at first base, right field and as a designated hitter, but still is not receiving the votes that teammates like Oneil Cruz (outfield) and Spencer Horwitz (first base) are receiving. Even with the time Cruz has spent on the injured list, he’s still in the top 20 of votes for outfielders while O’Hearn is nowhere to be seen.

O’Hearn has been named to the All-Star team once in his career. Last season as a member of the Baltimore Orioles, O’Hearn was named to the American League All-Star team as the starting designated hitter. O’Hearn is currently on pace to replicate those same numbers that made him an All-Star just a season ago.

At the time of his signing, Kelly was very impressed with O’Hearn’s career path and said he could be a game changer for the Pirates.

“The resiliency that he showed in that moment of going from being DFA’d to starting in the All-Star Game, that’s what Pittsburgh is all about, is that toughness and that grit,” Kelly said. “Really excited to add him to the organization.”

Pittsburgh and O’Hearn seem to already be a match made in heaven as he really seems bought in to changing the organization and delivering a winner to the city. Even if he doesn’t make it on the National League’s All-Star roster, O’Hearn has more than impressed to this point as a Pirate and could end up being one of those special signings that the Buccos have made in recent history. O’Hearn has made his confidence in the team known since the minute he was signed.

“I couldn’t be anymore excited to be a Pirate,” O’Hearn said. “I love the stadium, I love the city, what it’s about. I did my research before I made a decision, and it’s a team that can pitch and just seemed like one or two pieces away from being a legit contender.”

The Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres completed a borderline blockbuster trade. Chicago sent the 4th & 45th overall picks, along with Louis Crevier, to Buffalo in exchange for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway. 

Byram is an incredible defenseman who comes to Chicago hoping to be their number one. He feels that after a career year, it is time for him to get the ice time and paycheck that he deserves. With Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power already established in Buffalo, Byram felt overshadowed. 

As a Blackhawk, Byram will be the number one guy on defense. On most nights, he will lead the team in time on ice, and should be their top offensive producer from the back-end. The team will be better with him on it. 

The catch is that Byram has one year left on his deal, which carries a cap hit of $6.25 million. After that, he will require a substantial pay upgrade on a long-term extension. His salary will likely double. He is just 25 years old, which means he has some great hockey ahead of him, but it will still be a hard contract to live up to. 

Jordan Greenway is not a game-changer. He will be a fourth-line option for Jeff Blashill, bringing a physical presence to the game, but you can't point to him as a reason the team will be better. 

Early in the life of the trade, it has the makings of a legitimate disaster for the Chicago Blackhawks. They gave up a top-five pick and a second-round pick, along with a solid defenseman in Louis Crevier, for Bowen Byram without an extension and a fourth-line forward. 

The outlook of the trade will improve if they get Byram signed, but there will also be worry about it becoming an albatross. They gave up a lot, including their most valuable asset, and Connor Bedard still has a huge hole on his wing. 

In the likely event that they are unable to get Bedard a true top-line winger, that will make it four years in a row to start his career. That's terrible asset management. 

Byram is a really good player, and the Blackhawks should have taken him 3rd overall in 2019, but this is a massive overpay for him 7 years later. 

Blackhawks Trade Grade: D+ 

The trade grade will become a C if Byram signs a fair extension, and it will become an A if he is the true number one defenseman that the Blackhawks need for a large portion of the Connor Bedard era. For now, there are way too many question marks. 

Social Media Reacts To Sabres Trading Byram, Greenway To Blackhawks For No. 4 Pick And MoreSome posts on social media described the Chicago Blackhawks sending picks Nos. 4 and 45 and Louis Crevier to the Buffalo Sabres for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway as one of the worst trades ever. Others defended the deal.

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Ben James is one of the most promising college golfers since Tiger Woods. But he missed crossing paths with the 15-time major champion on Tuesday for a hilarious—but understandable—reason.

James recently turned pro after graduating from the University of Virginia, where he won seven times and became the first player in a quarter century to earn First Team All-America honors for all four years in school. In his pro debut at the RBC Canadian Open earlier this month, he held the 36-hole lead and he finished T-23 at the U.S. Open last week.

RELATED: Tiger Woods makes first public appearance since DUI arrest

So, the dude is a total stud. Which is why the Travelers Championship extended a sponsor invitation to him this week for this PGA Tour signature event. Well, that and the fact that he also happens to have grown up in nearby Milford, Conn.

That plays a key role in this story, because James is getting to sleep in his own bed this week. And apparently, he's still got the sleep habits of a college kid because here's what he said when he was asked about whether he saw Tiger Woods, who was on hand at TPC River Highlands for the big PGA Tour announcements.

"I was sleeping in my bed in Milford," James replied. "I wasn't here."

Amazing. Maybe next time, Ben. It should be pointed out that Tiger wasn't exactly there at the crack of dawn, either. He was on hand for Brian Rolapp's session with the media that ran from 10 a.m. to about 11 a.m.

It should also be pointed out that James didn't do his Q&A until noon. Smart move by tournament officials. Although, he's got a 9:05 a.m. tee time on Thursday. Better set a couple alarms, Ben.

RELATED: 15 things to know about the PGA Tour's new world order

Norway secured an early place in the knockout stage of the World Cup after a thrilling 3-2 win over Senegal. Coach Ståle Solbakken is normally the picture of calm. But after the match, he really let loose in the dressing room in front of the whole team. It was one long hymn of praise for his squad. We would, however, quite like to know what the cameraman did to him. 

Clearly, though, the mood in the Norwegian camp is so good that even such an emotional reaction can be laughed off. Striker Alexander Sørloth also had a joking piece of advice at the end: "You have to get him back for that."

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

CROMWELL, Conn. — Shane Lowry is the latest prominent PGA Tour player to change caddies. Lowry said he parted ways with Darren Reynolds after he missed the cut at the U.S. Open last week at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

Lowry made a call to the bullpen to Dermot Byrne, his former caddie who was on the bag for the first 10 years of his career. Lowry said this was just for the Travelers Championship because he needed a caddie on short notice and he’s still in the process of figuring things out on a future bagman.

“We’ll see what the plan is going forward. No idea really,” he said.

Lowry won the 2019 Open Championship with Bo Martin by his side. Martin has been working for Min Woo Lee since late 2024.

In other caddie news, John Ellis is filling in this week for Chris Gotterup. Ellis, who was on the bag for Wyndham Clark when he won the U.S. Open in 2023, had the week off from Max Homa, who isn’t exempt for the signature events. Gotterup’s regular caddie, Brady Stockton, took the week off because his wife is expecting a baby.

Julien Trudeau, formerly with Mackenzie Hughes, has a new bag. He rode Ryder Cowen to co-medalist honors among the amateurs last week but he starts a new gig with Sudarshan Yellamaraju, the Canadian rookie who has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. 

Welcome back, Travis McAlister, who formerly worked for Maverick McNealy and most recently was on the bag for PGA Tour U grad Gordon Sargent earlier this year. McAlister is hopping on to the bag of veteran pro Tom Hoge. 

Steve “Pepsi” Hale, who had been on Ryan Gerard’s bag for more than a year until the PGA Championship, has dipped down to the Korn Ferry Tour to land recent University of Arizona golfer Filip Jakubcik and Micah Fugitt, who had been on Billy Horschel’s bag until The Memorial, is working for Chez Reavie at the KFT event in Springfield, Illinois, too.   

Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Shane Lowry and other PGA Tour pros swap caddies ahead of Travelers

A total of five nations have already been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after the first two rounds of group stage fixtures.

Of the 48 nations competing, 16 will be eliminated by the time the group stage is concluded in the early hours of Sunday morning (BST).

Five nations which have lost both of their opening group stage matches have been eliminated.

All teams finishing bottom of their group will depart at the end of the group stage, as well as the four third-placed nations with the worst group stage records.

From Group C, Haiti's exit from their first World Cup since 1974 has been confirmed after losses against Scotland and Brazil.

Turkey are the first European nation whose exit has been confirmed following successive defeats to Australia and Paraguay.

Tunisia are the only African nation guaranteed to exit at the group stage at present. They have suffered four-goal defeats to both Sweden and Japan so far.

Tournament debutants Jordan are the only Asian nation already mathematically guaranteed to not advance past the group stage.

In England's Group L, Panama have had an early exit confirmed after 1-0 defeats to Ghana and Croatia.

A format change to this World Cup means head-to-head records instead of goal difference are the primary tiebreaker for countries level on points.

Full list of teams who have been eliminated from 2026 World Cup

• Haiti
• Turkey
• Tunisia
• Jordan
• Panama

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

More questions answered...

• Who is the DR Congo superfan?
• How does qualification for the World Cup knockout stage work?
• Why do some World Cup shirts keep tearing during matches?
• Why Saudi Arabia and Iraq flags are not laid down at World Cup

England midfielder Eberechi Eze insists the goalless draw against Ghana has not altered Group L’s dynamic, despite Thomas Tuchel’s side failing to break down a resolute defence in Boston.

The stalemate marked the fourth consecutive tournament that England have drawn their second game.

The point all but secured last 32 qualification, with top spot against Panama on Saturday dependent on bettering Ghana’s result against Croatia.

Asked if the Boston outcome had changed anything, Eze stated: "No, we set out to win anyway, so it changes nothing for us, the mentality is still the same, so we’re focusing on doing what we need to win. I think that’s the main thing.

“It’s a long journey, you can’t be too high, you can’t be too low, you’ve got to be trusting what you’re doing in the present moment. So, we’re trying to do that, we’re trying to enjoy it as much as we can, and being confident of what’s to come."

Eze also dismissed suggestions that England are overly reliant on captain Harry Kane for goals. Kane, who bagged a brace in last week’s opener against Croatia, hardly featured against Ghana, notably skying a late chance he would normally convert.

Eze explained: "I think it makes it look like that, because he scores so many goals, and he’s that effective. But we’ve got so much talent, so much creativity, and options to score. But, of course, it helps having someone as incredible as him, and we won’t look too much past that."

The squad returned to their Kansas City base on Tuesday night, with attention now firmly fixed on Saturday’s crucial Panama match in New Jersey. Eze expressed his anticipation for returning to the team's 'bubble’, aiming to shield themselves from external commentary surrounding the Ghana result.

He added: "It’s good being around, full of professionals, and enjoying time together. Blocking out a lot of the noise, and we know there’s a lot going on around us, but we’re very focused on what’s going on inside, and we’re enjoying that little bubble that we’re in.

“It’s important to look after that and to hold on to that, because, as I said, there’s a lot of media, a lot of conversations about us and what’s going on, but as long as we can stay tight, that’s all that matters really."

With their focus now squarely on the upcoming fixture, England will be keen to secure their position and advance deeper into the tournament.

As part of OneFootball's collaboration series with Shoot Music we're interviewing an artist about their love of football and, over the next few weeks, it will be all about the World Cup.

This week it's Eamon & Paul Ewins of Glasgow indie-punks Gallus, who, as you might have guessed, are Scotland fans.

How exciting has it been to be back at the World Cup so far as a Scotland fan?

Eamon: It's a first for all of us so it's been incredible. Watching the Haiti game felt genuinely historic, and getting a win made it all the sweeter. Feeling very proud!

Can you describe your feelings heading into the Brazil game?

Eamon: Genuine pride. I think we can get a result against them but we've given a good account of ourselves so far. Morocco are a really good team and I think we were unlucky not to get something off them. I just want to see us attack Brazil and play on the front foot. We're looking good for qualification so avoid a total doing and we're fine. But we have a chance for a real upset against them.

What was your favourite Scotland World Cup memory prior to this tournament, and did John McGinn's goal vs Haiti come close to matching that?

Eamon: Our Scotland world cup memories prior to this are non-existent! We were all babies during France ‘98. The goal against Haiti is right up there with Scotland memories in general though.

If Scotland are to go far this year, which one player do you think will be key to that success?

Paul: Every squad needs an architect. There are a few who could be the architect behind Scotland’s success. But all architects need builders to do the hard work and graft for them, and the only builder in that squad is our bricky, Anthony Ralston.

Who do you think will win the World Cup and why?

Paul: I can’t see much further than Spain and Argentina. Would be happy with either of them winning it, but Germany do look pretty good too. I’ll say Spain to win it after putting Scotland out in the semis

'Letter From America' by Gallus is out now.

You can follow the band on Instagram here: @gallusareaband

Maybe this World Cup had been just too exciting. Previously sceptical Americans were in danger of being converted to soccer. The various ills of Gianni Infantino and Fifa were being camouflaged by a flood of goals, many of them fine.

Not here. Loud boos greeted the hydration breaks, though they were no less eventful than much of the match. At least when nothing happened during them, there was no actual expectation of anything occurring. This was the worst match of the World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel had stated he had enjoyed one of the best weeks of his career. But that was before a shocker of a match. His team emerged with a point and retain top spot in Group L. But, frustrated and frustrating, they were dismal nonetheless.

The English are no strangers to unpleasant experiences in Massachusetts; after all, more than 300 chests of their tea were dumped at the bottom of Boston Harbor in 1773. If the English are chased out of Boston this time, it will be less about a determination for no taxation without representation than annoyance at their sheer dullness. Although, presumably, no one will want to mark the 250th anniversary of this.

At the least, however, this should dampen expectations of Tuchel’s team. There were suggestions they had been the most impressive side in the first round of fixtures. Not the second. After the buccaneering demolition of Croatia, the bland stalemate with Ghana.

Maybe Tuchel is discovering that problems which predate him remain. Gareth Southgate’s England were often uninspired in the second game of a tournament, as anyone who stayed awake throughout the Euro 2024 draw with Denmark can testify. It is 14 years since Time Magazine branded England the “world’s most disappointing team”. And if the Southgate era then provided more overachievement than underachievement, the World Cup has had few more disappointing games this year.

Not that Ghana confounded predictions. They did precisely what might be expected of a Carlos Queiroz team; they did it well, too, and the ends justified the means. They have four points and, for the first time since 2010, Ghana are surely headed for the knockout stages of the World Cup. For a side ranked 73rd by Fifa, that is no mean feat.

But England did too little to break them down and they did it too slowly. After the talk they had fearsome amounts of firepower, there was precious little evidence of it. Jude Bellingham became the youngest man to get 50 caps for his country, but his stand-out contribution was a last-ditch tackle. Harry Kane played at the old home of his hero Tom Brady, but with rather less impact, and skied his best chance.

England almost abandoned any idea of creativity in the middle, forever looking to move the ball wide. Tuchel has looked for pace on the wings; but with Ghana defending deep, there was little room behind their back four. Noni Madueke was too predictable, forever checking inside, as though hearing the voice of Mikel Arteta inside his head.

Anthony Gordon had his powers diminished by Ghana’s low block. The Merseysider was replaced, having looked anything but a Barcelona player. The closest anyone came to a breakthrough was when the goalscoring left-back, Nico O’Reilly came off the bench to head against the bar and when his fellow defender Marc Guehi had an effort cleared off the line.

Meanwhile, England looked more fragile than Ghana. Ezri Konsa inexplicably escaped without conceding a penalty for a knee-high challenge on Prince Kwabena Adu. Ghana had a counter-attacking threat; in the second half, anyway, because they began with no intent.

It was the first game in this World Cup with no shots on target in the first half; Ghana had none off target, either. It was not until the 57th minute that either goalkeeper was worked, and even then Gordon shot straight at Benjamin Asare.

Meanwhile, Ghana had 11.6 percent of possession in the first 20 minutes. They completed 34 passes in the first 36 minutes. One man probably enjoyed it. This was Queirozball, a formula refined across World Cups. The great anomaly was when his Iran opened their 2022 World Cup campaign with a 6-2 thrashing by England. When the final whistle blew here, only Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Ghana have not conceded in this World Cup.

Their national anthem, God Bless Our Homeland Ghana, contains the phrase “to defend forever”. It seemed Queiroz’s charges were happy to do just that. The jubilation at the final whistle came from their spectators. They can plan to extend their stay in the United States.

There were glummer faces painted with the cross of St George. The colony of Massachusetts has had different experiences of the visitors from the old country. While the Scotland supporters brought entertainment to Boston, the England team offered only tedium.

The prize money available at the 2026 World Cup is a record-breaking $871 million (£662m).

Fifa initially announced that the total pot would be $727m (£552m), which was already a 50% increase on the funds distributed at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

But in May they announced a further increase to the pot, by increasing the base participation prize and the preparation fee, bringing it to the new total.

The prize money is split into performance-based rewards and non performance-based financial support.

So how are the rewards broken down?

Performance-based prizes

The further teams progress in the tournament, the more they are rewarded financially.

Fifa will award teams finishing in each position as follows:

• Winners: $50m (£38m)
• Runners-up: $33m (£25m)
• 3rd place: $29m (£22m)
• 4th place: $27m (£20m)
• 5th-8th place: $19m (£14m)
• 9th-16th place: $15m (£11m)
• 17th-32nd place: $11m (£8m)
• 33rd-48th place: $10m (£7m)

These payouts will form $671m of the $871m on offer in the prize pot, with the remaining $200m (£152m) being paid out among teams regardless of performance.

Non performance-based prizes

The remaining money will be spread evenly across all participating teams in the form of:

• Preparation money: $2.5m per nation
• Additional team contributions: over $16m

This means each team is guaranteed at least $12.5m for taking part in the tournament when combined with the minimum $10m qualification fee.

Preparation money is to contribute towards costs such as training camps and travel for squads pre-tournament.

Fifa describes 'additional team contributions' as 'subsidies for team delegation costs and increased team ticketing allocations', with the aim of reducing financial disparity between nations when paying for the costs associated with playing in the World Cup, such as travel, logistics and administration.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

More questions answered...

• Why are England playing a darts song at the World Cup?
• Who England and Scotland face in World Cup last 32 as it stands
• Why has Erling Haaland added 'Braut' to Norway shirt?
• Why have there been two World Cup trophies?

On Thursday, Australia and Paraguay will clash in each team’s final group game of the 2026 World Cup, with automatic qualification up for grabs for one of them.

Australia started their Group D campaign with a 2-0 win over Turkey, while Paraguay fell 4-1 to co-hosts USA. Then, on gameday 2, Australia were beaten 2-0 by USA, while Paraguay saw off Turkey 1-0 despite going down to 10 men.

Due to a change in rules for this World Cup, the second deciding factor in the final table of a group (after points of course) is the head-to-head record between teams – not goal difference, as was the case in previous years.

With this in mind, USA have already sewn up top spot and qualified for the knockout stage, and Turkey have already been eliminated, ahead of the tie between those nations on Thursday.

But what of Australia and Paraguay?

One of these two teams will advance as the second-placed side in the group, while the other will have to hope they are one of the best eight third-placed nations at the tournament.

In other words, the winner between Australia and Paraguay would qualify for the knockouts for certain (on 6 points), while the losers’ fate (3 points overall) would only be clear by the end of the group stage.

However, if the game were a draw, Australia and Paraguay would both finish on 4 points, with goal difference finally coming into play. Given Australia’s is 0 and Paraguay’s is -2 – with these remaining the same in the case of a draw – Australia would qualify in second place ahead of Paraguay. As such, Paraguay would be left waiting on other results, to see if they were one of the eight best third-placed teams. It is very possible that 4 points would be enough for them.

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — The wall behind Mauricio Pochettino’s desk in his office at the U.S. men’s national team hotel is covered in motivational phrases.

"If I dream of touching the moon, maybe I can get close to it. If I only dream of getting close, I’ll stay on earth."

"The talent has brought us here but it is the heart, effort and unity that will make us unforgettable."

"Believe Work Compete"

"Everything represents our journey from day one until today," Pochettino said during a roundtable with a small group of reporters on Tuesday, June 23, two days before the USMNT wraps up the World Cup group stage against Turkey.

And what a journey it’s been.

USMNT off to best start in almost 100 years

If you are new to the USMNT, or have paid only fleeting attention since the last World Cup in Qatar, what the Americans have done in the first two weeks of the tournament is probably about what you expected with a high-profile coach like Pochettino.

They won their group for the first time since 2010, and their two wins are their most in the group stage since 1930. They’ve already scored six goals, one shy of their record for the entire World Cup. They’ve got fans singing John Denver.

Easy as Pochettino and his staff – and with Pochettino, it is always a collective effort – are making it seem, it’s been anything but.

"Maybe we didn’t feel or saw how difficult was going to be the process. We were so naïve when we signed the contract," he said. "We misjudged the situation. It was worse than we really believed."

Bigger challenge than anticipated

No country, or club, switches coaches because things are going well. Especially not when the World Cup is less than two years away. A World Cup you are hosting, for only the second time.

More: Mauricio Pochettino 'open' to continuing as USMNT coach after World Cup

Pochettino will not speak ill of predecessor Gregg Berhalter, but one look at the results tells the story.

This is the "golden generation" of the USMNT, with an abundance of world-class talent in players like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Sergino Dest. But the Americans were stagnating, showing no sign they were going to close the gap on the rest of the world anytime soon.

When Pochettino and his staff arrived, they expected players would feel the same sense of urgency as they did. The World Cup, their World Cup, was right around the corner.

The reality was different.

"We don't say that we have better standard, better culture, better habit. We came with different things and we wanted to make the things how we really feel, and that is always a process to change," Pochettino said.

"If you have the habit to every morning to go (somewhere) and someone say, 'No, you cannot go there,' you are going to fight because it was your comfort zone and you say, 'No, I want my comfort zone.'"  

Cultural shifts take time

Pochettino was a longtime club manager before he came to the USMNT. Making cultural changes with a club team is different, because you’re with the players for nine months out of the year. The USMNT gathers every six to eight weeks, and the longest stretch they’re together is at a World Cup.

On top of that, Pochettino was trying to figure out who his players were, what strengths they had, where they needed to add depth.

Pochettino's résumé speaks for itself: he's won roughly 50% of the games he's managed, and he's made every team he's gone to better. Most of his staff has been with him for years, if not decades, and they have found a system that works. Training sessions are intense, and talent will only get you so far.

"Football rewards work," Pochettino said.

That the USMNT would get "punched in the nose," as Pochettino puts it, at some point during the transition process was inevitable. It happened in March 2025, when the USMNT lost to Panama in the Nations League semifinals.

It was the first of four consecutive losses.

"That was good crash," Pochettino said. "When we detect all the problems, we go for the solution and … we knew that the solution will arrive. The object is to challenge people. We challenge the organization, we challenge players, we challenge everyone.

"That was the process (so) that now is not a coincidence."

Pochettino has won league titles and taken a team to the Champions League final. He had options when U.S. Soccer came calling. But part of the appeal of this job was the cultural shift, not only for a team but an entire country.

About a year after he was hired, Pochettino went to the Texas-Ohio State football game. Looking around the stadium filled with 100,000-plus rabid fans, he imagined the U.S. men drawing a crowd like that. Of soccer being center stage like it is in Europe and South America.

"My question was why not? If the fans are very passionate, why not with us? With soccer?" Pochettino said.

"To help, to evolve in a very good direction, the sport that we really love … why not be here, be part of something that can create a legacy?" he added. "For me, that is the most important legacy, the connection between the national team and the fans."

That idea of why not eventually evolved into why not us?

Why not us?

It was something Pochettino said at a meeting in November 2025, and it’s become something of a mantra for the USMNT.

"If we believe we can, we can do it. If we work hard, we can do. If we change our mindset, we can do," Pochettino said. “And that is why not us, no?"

Even in the weeks leading up to the World Cup, no one knew quite what to expect from this team. It had talent, of course. But it had been soundly beaten by Belgium and Portugal to start the year. It barely got by Senegal and then lost to Germany in the send-off games.

When the USMNT got to the World Cup, however, it hit the gas. Paraguay and Australia might not be the caliber of France or Argentina, but they are solid teams and the USMNT dominated both.

Pochettino likened this "sudden turnaround" to gardening. You plant a seed and, for a time, nothing happens. Then, one day, there is a tree.

"It's difficult to analyze the process," Pochettino said. "The process was a process that was necessary, necessary to change, to really change things and to go in the good direction, no?

"Always the orientation was to make them better and to give the possibility, the platform, for them to perform."

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: On the USMNT and World Cup, Mauricio Pochettino is leaving his mark

Mexico has dominated Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, winning their first two matches against South Korea and South Africa. That means they've already secured a spot on the Round of 32, no matter what the outcome of their third group stage match.

Today, they'll face their final rival, Czechia, in Mexico City to determine who else from their group will move on to the knockout round. Find out more about this game and all of this week's biggest matches in our 2026 World Cup guide.

Here's everything you need to know about watching the Czechia vs. Mexico match at the 2026 World Cup live from the U.S. (Plus, find out how you can catch every other game of the tournament).

Where to watch the Czechia vs. Mexico match:

Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Location: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

TV channels: FOX, Telemundo

Streaming: YouTube TV, DirecTV, Peacock, and more

Czechia vs. Mexico game time:

Coverage of the 2026 World Cup game between Czechia and Mexico begins at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 24.

Czechia vs. Mexico game channel:

FOX will be broadcasting the Czechia vs. Mexico World Cup game in English. A Spanish-language broadcast of the game will air on Telemundo.

Where to watch the 2026 World Cup without cable:

2026 FIFA World Cup group stage schedule: 

All times Eastern

Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs Canada: 3 p.m. (FOX) — BC Place, Vancouver
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar: 3 p.m. (FS1) — Lumen Field, Seattle
Scotland vs Brazil: 6 p.m. (FOX) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Morocco vs Haiti: 6 p.m. (FS1) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Czechia vs Mexico: 9 p.m. (FOX) — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
South Africa vs South Korea: 9 p.m. (FS1) — Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Guadalupe

Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs Germany: 4 p.m. (FOX) — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Willemstad Curaçao vs Ivory Coast: 4 p.m. (FS1) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Tunisia vs Netherlands: 7 p.m. (FOX) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Japan vs Sweden: 7 p.m. (FS1) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Türkiye vs United States: 10 p.m. (FOX) — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
Paraguay vs Australia: 10 p.m. (FS1) — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara

Friday, June 26
Norway vs France: 3 p.m. (FOX) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Senegal vs Iraq: 3 p.m. (FS1) — BMO Field, Toronto
Uruguay vs Spain: 8 p.m. (FOX) — Estadio Akron, Zapopan
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia: 8 p.m. (FS1) — NRG Stadium, Houston
New Zealand vs Belgium: 11 p.m. (FOX) — BC Place, Vancouver
Egypt vs Iran: 11 p.m. (FS1) — Lumen Field, Seattle

Saturday, June 27
Panama vs England: 5 p.m. (FOX) — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Croatia vs Ghana: 5 p.m. (FS1) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Colombia vs Portugal: 7:30 p.m. (FOX) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan: 7:30 p.m. (FS1) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Jordan vs Argentina: 10 p.m. (FOX) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Algeria vs Austria: 10 p.m. (FS1) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

The Philadelphia 76ers added a dynamic scoring guard in Alabama's Labaron Philon with the No. 22 pick in the 2026 NBA draft on Tuesday night. The Sixers are bringing in a player who can get into the paint, create for himself and others, and knows how to attack when defenses load up on him.

In his sophomore season in 2025-26, he averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 50.1% from the floor and 39.9% from deep. He was terrific in every sense of the word and he now joins a Sixers team that features two other dynamic guards in Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

"I would just say, just watching a lot of basketball, me personally, I feel like being selected by Philly, it's destined," Philon said over a Zoom call on Tuesday night. "Just because they got two good guards, and I feel like I fit in with those guards, and playing at that fast pace, and at that level of basketball."

A big part of Philon's game that will fit next to Philadelphia's young stars is his ability to shoot the ball. He made big strides with his 3-point shot as he doubled his attempts from 3.2 as a freshman to 6.4 as a sophomore and his 3-point shooting percentage went up from 31.5% to 39.9%.

"I would just say the ability to play on and off the ball, make the game easy for others around you," Philon said of his improvements. "I feel like I did that at a high level, and then just being able to play with that unselfishness, and just being able to score what you need to, being able to pass the ball, and like I said, having that mentality to do it on both sides of the ball."

Labaron Philon Jr. has some special offensive tape…

Skinny guards are a horror story as old as time, but Philon’s hyper-efficient 3-level scoring, free throw rate, & nasty work out of the pick-n-roll suggest a role at the next level. VERY fun to watch. pic.twitter.com/WDpAoA1dAR

— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) June 18, 2026

His usage rate went up in his sophomore season as well from 20.9% as a freshman to 30.0% as a sophomore. He played next to Mark Sears as a freshman and when Sears moved onto to the NBA, Philon was able to take advantage.

"I would just say going back to the usage was definitely like important in these, because the first year playing with another great guard with Mark Sears, and then like the second year, me being a lead guard, it kind of helped me being able to adapt in any situation and adapting at the guard spot," Philon further explained. "So, like I said, I was just working on my shooting for sure, just being able to space, make the game easy for your teammates, really on the perimeter."

Time will tell if Philon can fit in well next to Edgecombe and Maxey, but on paper, his game is tailormade for Philadelphia to be one dynamic team with the rookie joining the two established players.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Labaron Philon reacts to joining Sixers, talks fit with star guards

The New York Giants selected quarterback Jaxon Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Dart was nothing short of a star throughout his first NFL season in New York. The quarterback will look to play at an even higher level in his second year, as he enters 2026 with a plethora of talented weapons at his disposal.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan recently caught up with Dart and asked about his plans this summer, both before and after training camp. Dart said he will be training as much as possible throughout the remainder of the offseason.

Jaxson Dart: Loves ball.

This is what makes him such a good match with new coach John Harbaugh. Football is important to them. pic.twitter.com/3yTlqJeseX

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) June 23, 2026

“I’m working, man,” he said. “I’m getting ready. I can’t wait. I wish the season started tomorrow. I’ll be training this year.”

Dart accumulated 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns across 14 appearances in 2025. The quarterback has proven he can shine both through the air and on the ground, and he is expected to play much smarter football in 2026 as well.

The young star flashed his potential on numerous occasions last season, and Dart appears to be taking his offseason work very seriously.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants QB Jaxon Dart embraces rigorous summer prep for Year 2

The new recruiting calendar has brought along players opting to commit earlier in the process and help recruit for their team, and Notre Dame could see that in the 2028 cycle.

The Irish have two current commits, but an elite quarterback could be a game-changer in the pursuit of another top class. Enter Florida’s Neimann Lawrence, a 6-foot, 1-inch and 202-pound passing surgeon. Last season he completed 70.8% of his passes for 1,971-yards with 32 touchdowns and a single interception.

Stats like those get you noticed, as 247Sports has Lawrence ranked as the No. 53 player in his class. He’ll be participating at The Opening Finals, a top high school camp that ends with a 7-on-7 tournament. To start off the festivities Lawrence will make his commitment and choose between the Irish, Michigan, Miami, Texas and Texas A&M.

At this point, Notre Dame might be chasing the Longhorns, who do have a projection by On3’s Steve Wiltfong to land the talented quarterback. However, we’ve seen plenty of those being wrong, as the Irish staff hopes that they’ve made enough of a connection for the 4-star to commit to them.

NEWS: 4-star QB Neimann Lawrence is set to announce his college commitment LIVE on the CBS Sports College Football YouTube channel at The Opening Finals. 👀

Lawrence is down to Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and Texas A&M. 🔥

Where should he go? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eO6UGPVMKI

— 247Sports (@247Sports) June 23, 2026

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame finds out Friday if elite 2028 quarterback commits to them

We're halfway through the 2026 NBA Draft and the intrigue is far from over. The Washington Wizards got the festivities going by selecting BYU's AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick, followed by Darryn Peterson to the Utah Jazz and Cameron Boozer to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Some minor slides occurred in an otherwise chalky Round 1, like Tennessee's Nate Ament falling to the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 13 and Alabama's Labaron Philon Jr. slipping all the way to No. 22.

Plenty of talent remains on the board when Round 2 opens tonight. Let's get into the best available prospects, as well as some other things you need to know about Night 2.

Best available players for Round 2 of NBA Draft

• Isaiah Evans, Duke G
• Meleek Thomas, Arkansas G
• Henri Veesaar, North Carolina F
• Baba Miller, Cincinnati F
• Ryan Conwell, Louisville G
• Jack Kayil, Germany G
• Richie Saunders, BYU G
• Braden Smith, Purdue G
• Emmanuel Sharp, Houston G
• Dillon Mitchell, St. John's

When does Round 2 of NBA Draft begin?

It starts at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Who picks first in Round 2 of NBA Draft?

The New York Knicks will select 31st. The Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs will round out the top five picks of Night 2.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NBA Draft 2026: Best players available in Round 2 tonight

Former Florida football tight end Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons have reached an agreement on a three-year, $54 million contract, per his agency, Athletes First.

Pitt's new contract includes $36 million in fully guaranteed compensation.

The former Gator now slots in as the third-highest annual value for a tight end at $18 million average behind the San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle with $19.1 million and the Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride with $19 million.

Before this new contract, the Falcons used the franchise tag on Pitts for 2026, which was at $15,045,000 in annual value. Following the franchise tag, the Falcons and Pitts had until July 15 to work out a long-term extension. The new contract will now lock him up until 2028.

Pitts' contract news comes weeks after the team extended his teammate Drake London with a four-year, $141 million deal.

This past season, Pitts was second in the league in receptions with 88 and receiving yards of 928 among tight ends to add to his five touchdown catches. Last December, he had an all-time great performance by a tight end in NFL history with 11 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With that performance, Pitts became the first tight end to reach at least 150 yards with three touchdowns in a game since Shannon Sharpe in 1996.

The Falcons drafted Pitts at No. 4 in 2021 out of Florida, in what was arguably a controversial selection at the time, as tight ends are typically not drafted that high.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football TE Kyle Pitts signs lucrative contract with Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have handed out their second big contract of the offseason, agreeing to terms with Kyle Pitts on a three-year, $54 million extension to keep the tight end in Atlanta through the 2028 NFL season.

Pitts' new deal reportedly includes $36 million in fully guaranteed money, and will make him the third-highest paid tight end in the NFL at $18 million per season. Only San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle ($19.1 million) and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride ($19 million) will earn more than Pitts in terms of yearly average.

The 25-year-old has had his share of ups and downs since being selected fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, however, he posted a career-high 88 catches last season and led the team with 928 receiving yards. Pitts' draft class has been among the lucrative in NFL history.

Pitts is now the 12th player selected in the first round of the 2021 draft to earn a monster second contract. Per NFL insider Ari Meirov, the Falcons tight end's new deal brings the total career earnings of the 12 players to over $1.3 billion.

"Of the top 15 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, 12 have cashed in on lucrative second contracts worth a combined $1.33 BILLION," Meirov posted on social media. "The only top-15 picks from that draft who have not received large second contracts are all QBs: Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones."

Of the top 15 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, 12 have cashed in on lucrative second contracts worth a combined $1.33 BILLION.

💰#1 Trevor Lawrence: $275M
💰#4 Kyle Pitts: $54M
💰#5 Ja’Marr Chase: $161M
💰#6 Jaylen Waddle: $84.75M
💰#7 Penei Sewell: $112M
💰#8 Jaycee Horn: $100M… https://t.co/LLWU4vcvta

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 23, 2026

• Pick 1: Trevor Lawrence: $275M
• Pick 4: Kyle Pitts: $54M
• Pick 5: Ja’Marr Chase: $161M
• Pick 6: Jaylen Waddle: $84.75M
• Pick 7: Penei Sewell: $112M
• Pick 8: Jaycee Horn: $100M
• Pick 9: Patrick Surtain II: $96M
• Pick 10: DeVonta Smith: $75M
• Pick 11: Justin Fields: $40M
• Pick 12: Micah Parsons: $186M
• Pick 13: Rashawn Slater: $114M
• Pick 14: Alijah Vera-Tucker: $42M

As Falcons fans will remember, there were plenty of discussions on who to take leading up to this draft. While Pitts was the most popular projection, fans debated others, including wide receiver DeVonta Smith, WR Ja'Marr Chase, offensive lineman Penei Sewell and edge Micah Parsons.

Pitts topped 1,000 yards as a rookie, but he struggled to produce once the team traded quarterback and current president of football Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. Ryan has now helped Pitts secure three more years in Atlanta.

Over his first five NFL seasons, Pitts has recorded 284 catches for 3,579 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Falcons. He will look to add to those numbers in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Kyle Pitts is latest 2021 draft class member to get 2nd contract

Leaving captain Maro Itoje out of next month's titanic meeting with world champions South Africa is the right thing to do, says England senior assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth.

Itoje has been rested for the 4 July match against the Springboks as well as Tests against Fiji and Argentina on subsequent weekends in order to give him extended time away from rugby.

The 31-year-old has exceeded World Rugby's recommended limit of 30 matches a season in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

He captained the British and Irish Lions in Australia last summer and will lead England into the Rugby World Cup in Australia next year.

"I'm incredibly happy that we've been able to do right by him," said Wigglesworth.

"He has had a lot on, not just last year but for the last however many years of his career, so we are lucky to be in that position with the strength in depth in that position so Maro is going to take his rest."

Leicester's George Martin is back in the England set-up after making his comeback from a 14-month injury lay-off in April, while Northampton lock Alex Coles' development was one of the few positives from a disappointing Six Nations campaign.

Ollie Chessum, who shone in the final-round defeat by France, is another second-row option, but could also be deployed at blindside flanker. Bath's Charlie Ewels and Gloucester's Arthur Clark are also part of the Nations Championship squad.

Wigglesworth, who played alongside Itoje at Saracens and England, backed his captain to "come back better".

"What Maro does as well as anyone is use his time really well, so I'm looking forward to catching up after he's had a bit of rest and he's flying," he added.

The format of the new Nations Championships - which pits six northern hemisphere sides against six of their southern rivals over two Test windows and culminates in a November weekend of play-off matches - has handed England a testing itinerary.

After playing the Springboks in Johannesburg, they face Fiji in Liverpool and Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

However Wigglesworth shrugged off concerns about how the travel would impact preparations, adding that Northampton and Exeter players would fly to South Africa with the rest of the squad on Wednesday despite only joining up on Monday after they contested the Prem final last weekend.

"We're all going to stick together on this," he said. "It is an exciting challenge that we're not going to shy away from.

"There will be some adaptions on a couple of training sessions, but we get well looked after with how we travel.

"There's people doing far tougher things than some business-class flights, so we'll be right."

• Itoje rested as Caluori among five England call-ups
• Rugby Union Weekly discuss England's summer squad
• Three countries, 25,000 miles - England's daunting summer itinerary

Erasmus backs 'exceptional' Pollock to tame haters

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has said he is unsure what to expect from England at Ellis Park, as they attempt to move on from an unprecedented four defeats in a single Six Nations campaign.

"Tactically, Steve [Borthwick, England head coach] is someone who works with numbers and chases trends, and that's always difficult to prepare against," Erasmus said.

"If I say we know exactly what they'll do next Saturday, I'd be lying."

Erasmus has recently recruited two backroom staff from England's set-up to help his preparations.

Defence coach Felix Jones re-joined the Springboks in February 2025 after an ill-fated 10-month spell as part of England's set-up, while England's chief analyst Joe Lewis swapped to South Africa in March.

In addition, Englishman Andy Edwards, previously Saracens' long-serving strength and conditioning coach, took up a role with the Springboks in 2020.

Erasmus has backed back row Henry Pollock to have an impact for England over the summer.

The 21-year-old put in successive superb performances to help Northampton to the Prem title, but his exuberant on-pitch persona had attracted flak from some South African pundits.

Schalk Burger memorably described Pollock as "a Tik-Tok dancer who plays some rugby", while Duane Vermeulen, fellow former Springbok back row, now an assistant to Erasmus, said "there's a hell of a lot of people that obviously dislike him".

"People make a big deal about certain players, but I don't always think the players themselves want that attention," said Erasmus, comparing Pollock to his own skipper Siya Kolisi.

"What counts is what they do on the field, and recently, he's been doing that. If I were coaching him, I'd only look at his output, and that has been exceptional."

• Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate
• Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast

Entering his second year at the helm, Texas A&M basketball coach Bucky McMillan ushered in a new roster partially built from the transfer portal after landing six future starters/reserves, including star shooting guard PJ Haggerty, who averaged nearly 24 points per game with Kansas State last season.

Losing most of the 2025-2026 roster to expired eligibility, the return of forwards Mackenzie Mgbako, Zach Clemence, and Jamie Vinson is absolutely crucial for the Aggies' postseason hopes, especially after Mgbako missed all but seven games during his first season in College Station due to a foot injury.

Needing a go-to scoring option, something the roster lacked last season, PJ Haggerty, who was the top-ranked shooting guard in the portal, provides McMillan an elite inside and outside scoring option who can create shots and find his teammates in transition. Paired with transfer guards Bryson Warren, Tyshawn Archie, Jalen Reece, and Lukas Walls, Texas A&M's backcourt doesn't lack depth in the slightest.

However, while McMillan awaits the verdict regarding Bryson Warren's waiver after playing in the NBA G-League last season, getting Haggerty and the rest of the roster accustomed to the Aggies' fast-paced system is the focus during practice this summer, and during Tuesday's practice, the media was granted access.

Speaking with PJ Haggerty, the Kansas State transfer was asked what interested him most about Texas A&M, starting with McMillan's intense play style.

“I love the play style. Bucky was the first one who called and told me I fit his system. Fast, get up and down, and I love to play in transition. It’s close to home. Having my family be able to come is awesome.”

Widely seen as a perfect fit based on his own play style, Haggerty could have gone anywhere after his elite 2025 season, but he feels that Texas A&M is on the come-up and will continue to develop into one of the more feared opponents in the SEC, especially now that he is on the roster.

"I control the pace of the game, get my teammates involved. Got a lot of shooters I can hit and big men I can dump the ball off to. I think I fit pretty well."

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: Star transfer G PJ Haggerty 'loves' Texas A&M basketball's play style

Quite some time has passed since Auburn football last competed in a postseason game. However, one publication is optimistic that the Tigers will return to a bowl game in 2026.

Athlon Sports predicts 12 teams from the SEC to reach the postseason in 2026, including the Auburn Tigers. The publication's preseason magazine shows the Tigers earning a Liberty Bowl bid, matching up with the Kansas State Wildcats at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis.

If this prediction comes true, it will mark the first time since the 2023 season that Auburn has earned a bowl bid. The last time the Auburn Tigers took the field in a postseason game was on Dec. 30, 2023, in the Music City Bowl, where Auburn lost 31-13 to Maryland. The Tigers last won a bowl game in 2018 by defeating Purdue in the Music City Bowl, 63-14, a stretch of four bowl appearances.

Auburn is 4-0 all-time against its projected bowl opponent, Kansas State. The Tigers and Wildcats played a home-and-home series that started in 2007, with Auburn winning the first game, 23-13, inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. The series ended in 2014 in Manhattan, Kansas, with Auburn winning, 20-14.

Auburn begins a new era in 2026 with Auburn head coach Alex Golesh leading the charge. He will look to end Auburn's seven-loss streak at four seasons, and a bowl appearance will be a good indicator of a positive trajectory for the Tigers.

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

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Athlon Sports predicts Auburn to face Kansas State in Liberty Bowl

World Cup third place standings: Updated table, FIFA rankings for last eight teams in Round of 32 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the first time at a World Cup, finishing third in your group does not mean going home.

The expanded 48-team format in 2026 hands eight of the 12 third-placed sides a route into the new Round of 32, and with the final round of group games still to come, the race for those eight golden tickets is going down to the wire.

Here is where the third-place standings sit, how they are worked out, and who the qualifiers could meet in the knockouts.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

World Cup third place standings

The top eight advance to the Round of 32; the bottom four miss out. With the final group matches still to be played (June 23 to 27), every position remains up for grabs.

Table updated after England vs. Ghana on June 23

How are World Cup third place standings determined?

When you finish third in your group, you are no longer being judged against the other three teams in front of you. Instead, you are ranked against the other 11 third-placed sides across all 12 groups. FIFA separates them using the following criteria, in order:

• Points earned across all three group matches
• Goal difference from all group matches
• Goals scored in all group matches
• Disciplinary record based on yellow and red cards picked up in the group stage (fewer cards is better)
• FIFA world ranking, used only as a final resort if teams cannot be separated any other way

In short: rack up points first, then it comes down to goals, then discipline, and, should everything else be level, your place in the FIFA rankings.

This is exactly the kind of margin that decides who goes through. In the current table, Czechia hold the eighth and final spot ahead of Ecuador only on goals scored, with both sides locked on one point and a -1 goal difference. If they finish level after the last round, fair play and then the FIFA rankings would come into play to settle it. It is also worth noting there is no drawing of lots at this World Cup, as FIFA scrapped it for 2026, so the rankings are the ultimate tiebreaker.

World Cup knockout opponents for third place teams

The Round of 32 slots the eight qualifying third-placed teams against a group winner, with the exact pairings decided by which groups those teams come from (FIFA published all 495 possible combinations in advance). Based on the eight sides currently in the qualifying places, the third-place matchups would look like this:

• Mexico (Group A winners) vs. Cape Verde (third, Group H), Match 79
• Germany (Group E winners) vs. Scotland (third, Group C), Match 74
• France (Group I winners) vs. Sweden (third, Group F), Match 77
• USA (Group D winners) vs. Algeria (third, Group J), Match 81
• Group B winners vs. Belgium (third, Group G), Match 85
• Group G winners vs. Czechia (third, Group A), Match 82
• Group K winners vs. Paraguay (third, Group D), Match 87
• Group L winners vs. DR Congo (third, Group K), Match 80

Mexico, USA, Germany, France and Argentina have already wrapped up qualification, though not every group has confirmed its winner yet, so the group-winner side of these ties can still change. The third-place pairings will only be locked in once all 72 group games are complete on June 27.

World Cup bracket 2026

The knockout stage is brand new in shape. With 48 teams in the tournament, the bracket opens with a Round of 32, which has never existed at a World Cup before, and runs through the Round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.

The full Round of 32 schedule is set out below. The top two from each group fill most of the slots, with the eight best third-placed teams completing the 32:

• Match 73: Runner-up Group A vs. Runner-up Group B
• Match 74: Winner Group E vs. Best third (A/B/C/D/F)
• Match 75: Winner Group F vs. Runner-up Group C
• Match 76: Winner Group C vs. Runner-up Group F
• Match 77: Winner Group I vs. Best third (C/D/F/G/H)
• Match 78: Runner-up Group E vs. Runner-up Group I
• Match 79: Winner Group A vs. Best third (C/E/F/H/I)
• Match 80: Winner Group L vs. Best third (E/H/I/J/K)
• Match 81: Winner Group D vs. Best third (B/E/F/I/J)
• Match 82: Winner Group G vs. Best third (A/E/H/I/J)
• Match 83: Runner-up Group K vs. Runner-up Group L
• Match 84: Winner Group H vs. Runner-up Group J
• Match 85: Winner Group B vs. Best third (E/F/G/I/J)
• Match 86: Winner Group J vs. Runner-up Group H
• Match 87: Winner Group K vs. Best third (D/E/I/J/L)
• Match 88: Runner-up Group D vs. Runner-up Group G

The Round of 32 runs from June 28 to July 3, with the Round of 16 (July 4 to 7), quarterfinals (July 9 to 11), semifinals (July 14 to 15), the third-place play-off (July 18) and the final (July 19) to follow.

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

• Who will win the World Cup in 2026?
• Updated FIFA World Rankings
• Full 2026 World Cup schedule and fixtures
• Explaining the expanded World Cup bracket

This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Jones discusses his role at Tight End University 2026, presented by Reese's, founded by teammate George Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, and retired legend Greg Olsen. He reveals that the current and former 49ers quarterbacks are serving as throwers during drills.

"It seems like every year, it's a great collab when you get (San Francisco) 49ers guys coming here, like C.J. Beathard, Nick Mullins, me, and Brock Purdy," said Jones, "I feel like that's a cool little lineage going, but they do a great job. This is a great event, we love it. Quarterbacks love tight ends, great combo, kind of like Reese's, it's a good spot, I'm excited."

Tight End University was created to bring the Tight End community together for an immersive three-day program. Purdy appreciates the camaraderie from all the attendees and the leadership of the founders.

View this post on Instagram

The 2026 NBA Draft is set to begin Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

While the two-round event used to be a single-night affair, with all 60 picks being announced on the same evening, that changed in 2024. That year, the league opted to move to a two-night draft format, which remains in place today.

In this year's draft, the first round will be held on Tuesday night while the second round will take place on Wednesday night.

Why did NBA Draft go to 2 nights?

There are a few reasons the NBA opted to make this change. At the time, the league argued that it gave front offices more time to deliberate, strategize and formulate trade offers.

“Based on feedback about the NBA Draft format from basketball executives around the league and my own experience in draft rooms, we believe that teams will benefit from being able to regroup between rounds and having additional time to make decisions during the second round,” NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said at the time.  “Two nights of primetime coverage will also enhance the viewing experience for our fans and further showcase the draftees.”

That quote from Dumars also addresses the elephant in the room: television revenue. By stretching out a second night of the draft, the league now has two separate primetime events that are sure to draw attention.

Fan sentiment regarding the two-night draft has been mixed, with some preferring the get-in, get-out style of old school drafts. Still, given the reasons previously outlined, the league is likely to keep this format in place for the foreseeable future.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why NBA Draft is now held on 2 different nights

For several teams fighting for a place in the last 32, Wednesday’s round of group games are a do-or-die moment. Scotland are among those attempting to make history.

Steve Clarke’s side are still in contention for the knockout rounds after beating Haiti and losing to Morocco, both by a scoreline of 1-0. A point against Brazil would all but secure their spot, although a narrow defeat may also be enough.

All four teams in Group A and Group B are either through to the round of 32 or can still make it. Co-hosts Mexico are already through as group winners while Canada still have some work to secure top spot in their group.

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

• Complete guide to all the players

• A visual guide to every stadium

• Standings

• Golden Boot leaders

***

Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar

Time (ET): 3pm

Stadium: Seattle Stadium

How to watch

United States: FS1 / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: ITV4 (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

Everything points to Bosnia and Herzegovina standing a good chance of making it out of the group stage of a World Cup for the first time. A win over Qatar would almost certainly get the job done for Sergej Barbarez and his players, who have been more competitive at this tournament than the late collapse against Switzerland suggested.

Qatar also enter their final group game with a chance of making the last 32, but their 6-0 thumping at the hands of Canada has surely hit their confidence. A second successive group stage exit looms for the 2022 World Cup hosts.

Player to watch: Edin Dzeko, Bosnia and Herzegovina - The former Manchester City striker hasn’t had much service so far, but will surely have opportunities to find the back of the net against a defensively vulnerable opponent.

What to read

Bosnia and Herzegovina team guide

Qatar team guide

***

Switzerland v Canada

Time (ET): 3pm

Stadium: BC Place Vancouver

How to watch

United States: FOX / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: CTV / TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: ITV1 (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

Switzerland finally hit their stride in the closing stages against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which the introduction of Johan Manzambi off the bench completely changed the dynamic of their attack. The Freiburg forward will surely keep his place in the lineup for this match.

Co-hosts Canada lost Ismaël Koné to a serious leg injury in their last outing against Qatar. That, however, was the only negative of a morale-boosting 6-0 win that highlighted the attacking capacity of Jesse Marsch’s side even with Alphonso Davies still unavailable on the sidelines.

Player to watch: Jonathan David, Canada - The Juventus forward found his shooting boots against Qatar, netting a hat-trick. He is their best link-up player and their most reliable finisher in and around the penalty area.

What to read

Canada team guide

Switzerland team guide

***

Morocco v Haiti

Time (ET): 6pm

Stadium: Atlanta Stadium

How to watch

United States: FS1 / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: BBC Two (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

Morocco have shown glimpses of their excellence at this World Cup, but have yet to produce a 90-minute performance. That could change against Haiti who enter the final round of group games already eliminated. The Atlas Lions want top spot in the group and may finally play with the handbrake off.

Haiti should feel good about how they have equipped themselves in one of the most challenging groups in the entire tournament. They certainly haven’t embarrassed themselves, although Wednesday’s meeting with Morocco could be their toughest test so far.

Player to watch: Brahim Diaz, Morocco - If one player embodies how Morocco have added more to their game since making the World Cup semi-finals in 2022 it’s Diaz, whose dribbling ability and natural creativity is always a threat.

What to read

Morocco team guide

Haiti team guide

***

Scotland v Brazil

Time (ET): 6pm

Stadium: Miami Stadium

How to watch

United States: FOX / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: BBC One (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

Scotland have moved from Boston to Miami for Wednesday’s crunch match with Brazil and The Tartan Army have come with them. If Clarke’s team can string something together in the final third in the way that evaded them in defeat to Morocco, they stand a chance of making the knockout rounds of a World Cup for the first time.

This tournament has been an uneven one for Brazil who struggled to impose themselves against Morocco only to sweep away Haiti in their next fixture. Carlo Ancelotti is edging closer to finding the right attacking formula, but concerns about the balance of the rest of his team remain.

Player to watch: Matheus Cunha, Brazil - The Manchester United attacker gave Brazil some much-needed attacking cohesion in the win over Haiti and is expected to keep his place in the lineup as the South Americans target top spot in the group.

What to read

Brazil team guide

Scotland team guide

***

Czechia v Mexico

Time (ET): 9pm

Stadium: Mexico City Stadium

How to watch

United States: FOX / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: BBC One (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

With Mexico already sure of their place in the last 32 as group winners, Javier Aguirre could be tempted to rest some of his best players for Wednesday’s encounter with Czechia. Indeed, El Tri have earned the opportunity to preserve themselves for the knockout rounds where their World Cup campaign will be defined.

Czechia, on the other hand, likely need a win to make it out of Group A. Miroslav Koubek’s side have underwhelmed in their two games so far, failing to impose themselves in two winnable matches against South Africa and South Korea. They may have left it too late to salvage a round of 32 spot.

Player to watch: Obed Vargas, Mexico - If Aguirre rotates his squad, as expected, Vargas could be in line for a start in central midfield. The Atletico Madrid youngster is an energetic presence in the middle of the pitch and a driving force with the ball at his feet.

What to read

Mexico team guide

Czechia team guide

***

South Africa v South Korea

Time (ET): 9pm

Stadium: Monterrey Stadium

How to watch

United States: FS1 / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: BBC Two (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

There hasn’t been much between the four teams in Group A so far with three of the four matches played to this point producing under 2.5 goals. Wednesday’s encounter between South Africa and South Korea could also be keenly contested even if the AFC outfit are the slight favourites.

South Korea only need a draw to secure their spot in the last 32 while South Africa require three points to stand any realistic chance of progressing beyond the group stage. At some point, Hugo Broos will have to release the handbrake on a team that has played with a lot of caution at this tournament.

Player to watch: In-Beom Hwang, South Korea - The Feyenoord midfielder has been a commanding presence for South Korea in the centre of the pitch, offering plenty on both sides of the ball. He will be a key figure in their final group game.

What to read

South Korea team guide

South Africa team guide

The offensive line has always been a big deal for Wisconsin. The program is known for its toughness, player development, and producing NFL-level blockers.

In recent years, things haven’t looked like the classic “O-Line U.” The Badgers have dealt with injuries, coaching changes, new schemes, and too much inconsistency up front.

Thankfully, after the 2026 spring practices, there are good reasons to think this group is heading in the right direction.

One major change is that Eric Mateos is now leading the offensive line. He has worked with offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes before, which helps. Wisconsin has been searching for stability on offense, and the line is where that’s most important.

The Badgers also made several additions through the transfer portal, bringing in Austin Kawecki from Oklahoma State, PJ Wilkins from Ole Miss, Lucas Simmons-Johansson from Florida State, Blake Cherry from Arkansas, and Stylz Blackmon from Augustana.

The starting lineup seems to be set at least initially with PJ Wilkins at left tackle, Colin Cubberly at left guard, Austin Kawecki at center, Emerson Mandell at right guard, and Kevin Heywood at right tackle. Overall, it’s an interesting mix.

Wisconsin's projected starting offensive line in 2026

• Left Tackle: PJ Wilkins (Ole Miss transfer)
• Left Guard: Colin Cubberly
• Center: Austin Kawecki (Oklahoma State transfer)
• Right Guard: Emerson Mandell
• Right Tackle: Kevin Heywood

Kawecki brings experience and stability at center. Cubberly and Mandell have Big Ten experience on the inside and upside to get better. Heywood is a high-ceiling player who missed last season with an injury. Wilkins could be the key factor. He’s a big, athletic player who mostly played guard before, but Wisconsin seems confident he can handle tackle.

The tackle spots are the most interesting part of the group. Heywood and Wilkins are likely the top two, but both are still developing. Heywood has great physical tools but needs more game experience. Wilkins has the size, but there are some questions about his quickness that revolve around his game.

Wisconsin wants to see if Wilkins can handle being a full-time Big Ten left tackle. Behind them, Simmons-Johansson is the main backup. If he improves, Wisconsin will have real depth at tackle. If not, the Badgers could be just one injury away from having to make changes again.

The interior of the line seems more solid. Kawecki is expected to anchor the center spot, and Cubberly and Mandell give Wisconsin two young players with real starting experience. Mandell had foot surgery this spring, but he’s expected to return by fall. While he was out, Blake Cherry got important first-team reps, which could help if Wisconsin needs extra linemen during the season.

The main takeaway after spring is that the offensive line isn’t a finished product, but it has more depth. Last year, Wisconsin was just trying to fill gaps. This year, there are real options. The Badgers have a likely starting five, a solid third tackle, young players to develop, and more competition overall.

How good this group can be depends on whether Heywood and Wilkins become reliable tackles. The lowest point depends on whether the depth holds up if injuries happen. Still, for the first time in a while, Wisconsin’s offensive line feels less like a weak spot and more like a group that could return to the program’s usual high standard.

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: Post-spring Wisconsin Badgers offensive line outlook and 2026 preview

Broncos Wire's 91-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at fourth-year tight end Nate Adkins, No. 45.

Before the Broncos: Adkins (6-3, 252 pounds) was a five-year collegiate player, attending East Tennessee State from the FCS (2018-21) before transferring to the South Carolina Gamecocks as a graduate transfer in 2022. In his lone season of FBS play in the SEC, Adkins played in 13 games, catching 13 passes for 168 yards.

Broncos tenure: Adkins joined the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL draft. Adkins had a decent rookie year, playing in 10 games (one start), catching four passes for 22 yards. In 2024, Adkins had the best statistical season of his pro career, playing in 17 regular season games (10 starts) and the lone Broncos' playoff game, catching 14 passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns. In 2025, Adkins found himself limited by injury, only playing in nine games, catching six passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. Adkins has primarily been used as a blocking tight end for the Broncos.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: Likely. As one of the veteran members of the Broncos' offense, Adkins has the experience factor over younger players like Justin Joly, Caleb Lohner and Dallen Bentley. Because of his added value as a blocker and his ability to fill in at fullback, Adkins still feels likely to make the active roster even in a crowded tight end room.

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

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Nate Adkins competing for more playing time

Two years on from his most recent international outing, tight-head prop Dillon Lewis is looking to help fill Wales' problem position.

The 30-year-old earned an international recall for the summer schedule against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in the Nations Championship.

Wales tune up for those Tests with an uncapped fixture against Barbarians at Allianz Stadium on Saturday (14:00 BST).

It presents Lewis with the opportunity to represent his country for the first time since winning his 57th cap against Italy in the 2024 Six Nations.

"The two years have been riddled with a few injuries, which hasn't helped my case, but it is something that I never gave up on," said Lewis, who toured Australia the following summer but did not play.

• North prepares for one last dance against Wales
• Wales captain Callender excited by Baa-Baas bonus
• Lake to captain Wales in summer internationals

Lewis brought up a half-century of Wales caps while with Cardiff before spending two seasons with Harlequins.

He relished the change of scene, saying it made him "a more mature and more rounded player", but last summer moved to Dragons to boost his chances of featuring in a third World Cup.

"Coming home to Wales was a big driving factor in that, just trying to be in the shop window as much as possible, and luckily I picked up some form towards the end of the season," said Lewis, who made nine appearances after an autumn calf injury.

"It was never something I closed the door on. I aspired to get back in and there was a lot of competition as well to make it even harder."

Wales' tight-head prop issue

The two tight-heads that played in the Six Nations for Steve Tandy's side will not feature this summer.

Sale-bound Tomas Francis was brought back into the international fold to shore up the scrum.

The 34-year-old is rested after his exertions with Provence as Wales try to get him through to the World Cup, while Bath's Archie Griffin is absent after surgery.

Keiron Assiratti, the leading tight-head last autumn, withdrew from the squad after suffering a calf injury in Cardiff's United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final defeat.

Lewis is joined in the squad by Sam Wainwright and Ben Warren, while Chris Coleman and Rhys Henry have helped in in training before the Baa-Baas fixture.

The three official members of the squad have a combined tally of just eight professional starts in 2025-26, but opportunity knocks.

"You always like to think you can add something to a team, so it has been a frustrating time for me," said Lewis.

"The way the team finished the Six Nations was brilliant to watch. You could see a definite change and it was exciting, and something I was desperate to be a part of."

After missing out twice, Lewis has worked for the first time under Tandy and his new scrum coach Paul James.

"You hear all the boys coming back into the clubs and speaking so highly of the environment and how much they enjoyed it," said Lewis.

"It's tough to listen to, but it also spurs you on to try to get back here, so I've loved being back in with a completely fresh, new coaching staff.

"Everything's a bit different - there is a new outlook on the game and culture. I've loved it and it's been nice to get back in."

Here at Cat Scratch Reader we have counted down the final 100 days leading up to the Carolina Panthers season opener by for at least the past ten years. We’ve always done this by highlighting the current player on the roster whose jersey number matches the day on the countdown. This year, we decided to change that up a bit by counting down our own list of the Top 100 Panthers of all time. This does not correspond to jersey number, does not need to be somebody who wore a jersey, and will in no way be controversial.

#81: QB Matt Moore

Matt Moore joined the Panthers after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007. Moore didn’t make the final 53 man roster, so he was waived and was claimed by the Panthers in September of that season. He played sparingly in 2007 following Jake Delhomme’s unfortunate elbow injury, finishing with a 2-1 record as a starter and managing an offensive rookie of the month award for December.

Moore stuck around in 2008, however between a very good Jake Delhomme season and leg injuries keeping him out, Moore didn’t need to play in that year. 2009 became a famous season for him, as he started 5 games and won 4 of them for a Panthers squad that was reeling from a struggling Jake Delhomme and injuries at the quarterback position. Moore’s best game of the season and one that will always remain in my memory, was a 26-7 upset victory over the Minnesota Vikings, led by Brett Favre and very much trying to push for Super Bowl glory again. Moore completed 21 of 33 passes for 299 yards and 3 TDs in that effort as a Panthers team many expected to lose handily won in one of the more wild upsets in the franchise’s existence to that point.

That late season surge by Moore saw him as the de-facto starter in 2010. However, as we all remember, that season was not fun and Moore got one of the two Panthers wins that year in only 5 games started. Moore eventually moved on to greener pastures and played 8 more seasons in the NFL, 7 as a Dolphin and his final year as a Chief.

Full disclosure, we had someone else pegged for this spot when making the countdown, but their off field issues ultimately trumped multiple years of successful play and I personally felt Matt Moore deserved a spot on this countdown. It isn’t often you find a quarterback like Moore as a UDFA off waivers in their rookie year who spins off the type of career he had. And that Vikings game plus several games of what I would call plus production for a guy who was meant to hold a clipboard, that pretty much embodies what the Carolina Panthers have been all about since their inception. Many of their best players in history were guys people would never have given that opportunity to, such as his running mate at times in Jake Delhomme.

Share your favorite memories of Matt Moore in the comments!

We are delighted to announce that Maria McAneny has signed a new two-year contract which will see her remain at the club until 2028.

Maria has had a standout season in the Hoops contributing 13 goals and five assists, including a Goal of the Month award for December.

Having come through the Academy, McAneny has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the club at just 21-years of age, playing a key role for the Ghirls this campaign.

To top off her great season, that halfway-line strike against Hibernian last December earned her a place in the record books, with Guinness World Records officially recognising it as the fastest goal ever scored in women's professional football at 4.1 seconds.

Her consistent form saw her called into the Scotland squad for the first time in November, where she marked her debut with a goal against Ukraine in Spain, then capped off her first appearance for the national team at Hampden Park with a memorable strike against Luxembourg in March.

Speaking to the official Celtic website on extending her stay, Maria McAneny said: "This is where I want to be as I love being here and I love being part of this club and it's something that I want to keep doing.

‘So, yeah, I'm really happy about being here.’

“I feel like I'm not finished with Celtic and I want to be here. And for as long as possible that may be. 

“But I think right now that this is the right step for me in my career. And yeah, I want to continue to keep winning trophies for this team and take it to the next level.”Celtic FC Women Head Coach, Grant Scott added: "Maria had a great season last year and has become an integral part of what we are trying to build upon.

'As a player who's come through the academy system she completely understands what the club is about and showcases the talent we are able to produce here.'

"We look forward to Maria working herself back to full fitness and playing her part in the team next season." 

Brian Rolapp spoke to the media at TPC River Highlands on Tuesday and he came across really well.

Rolapp spoke with a certain air of authority as he delivered an exciting new plan for the PGA Tour.

Big changes are coming to the PGA Tour in 2028 and each and every bullet-point of Rolapp’s plan was greeted with excitement from the vast majority of golf fans.

Brian Rolapp outlined his plans to introduce two tiers – PGA Tour Championship Series and the PGA Tour Challenger Series.

The former will have purses of at least $20 million while the latter will boast purses of $4 million as a bare minimum.

The top 100 PGA Tour players will compete on the Championship Series while the next 100 in the rankings will play on the Challenger Series.

Read also: Brian Rolapp issues strong response to Rory McIlroy’s ‘glorified Korn Ferry Tour events’ comments

How Brian Rolapp could enable fans to watch live PGA Tour golf seven days a week

Those playing on the second tier can earn promotion to the top tier either by winning twice in one season or finishing inside the top 20 of the season-long points list.

Rolapp has already outlined how the majority of Challenger Series events will be played concurrently with the Championship Series tournaments.

However, there is a big change he could make to the schedule that would be genuinely game-changing for golf fans.

Why not have PGA Tour Challenger Series events run from Sunday through Wednesday?

This way, golf fans would be able to watch PGA Tour action seven days a week.

Sure, the opening round on Sunday would cross over with the Championship Series final round, but that wouldn’t change anything when it comes to viewing figures.

PGA Tour tiers competing for views would be pointless

If the Challenger Series was played on the same days as the Championship Series, how many fans would actually watch the lower tier instead of the top tier anyway?

There is no point having both series battling against each other for viewership figures. The Championship Series will obviously always win that battle.

Brian Rolapp has made some incredibly exciting moves with his proposed changes for the PGA Tour.

However, there is no question that there is another level that could be reached.

It would be hard to top having PGA Tour golf to watch live on television seven days a week.

Over to you Mr. Rolapp.

Good morning Gang Green Nation! Here are your links to your New York Jets this glorious Wednesday in June.

Amanda Vogt – Jets’ Marcelino McCrary-Ball Extra Motivated After Indiana FB National Championship

Rich Cimini – Cops investigate Jets QB Geno Smith after battery accusation

NJ.com – Super Bowl-winner makes heartfelt Jets admission: ‘That wasn’t in the stars for me’

Edward Lewis – Geno Smith had contentious encounter with police three months before alleged battery incident: ‘Do your job better’

Erich Richter – NFL refuses to hold supplemental draft in blow to Brendan Sorsby after Jets speculation

Edward Lewis – Ex-girlfriend claims Geno Smith ‘beat me up’ in tearful 911 call

Alex Smith – NFL informs potential Jets target Brendan Sorsby there will be no 2026 Supplemental Draft

Geoffrey A Knox – NFL officially makes decision on Jets-Brendan Sorsby speculation

Geoffrey A Knox – Jets’ offseason buzz is praised, showing no signs of slowing down

Justin Melo – Is Harrison Phillips the most important next extension for the Jets?

Justin Melo – What are the best & worst case scenarios for the 2026 Jets offense?

Andrew Gould – NFL Releases Statement On Concerning Geno Smith Situation

Chris Rosvoglou – Jets Facing Pressure To Cut Geno Smith Before Training Camp

Tzvi Machlin – NFL Shuts Door On Brendan Sorsby’s Potential Arrival In 2026

Matt Sullivan – Why Jets can’t add Brendan Sorsby after wild NFL decision

Carter Bahns – NFL declines Brendan Sorsby’s supplemental draft application, leaves Texas Tech QB with few options for 2026

Nick Faria – Cade Klubnik’s Summer with Jets Just Took On Bigger Meaning

Phil Sullivan – Brendan Sorsby Reaction, Jets Fans Debate NFL Supplemental Draft Decision

Justin Fried – Jowon Briggs might be the Jets’ best-kept secret entering 2026

Charlie Baduini – Jets QB Geno Smith under investigation following battery allegation

Charlie Baduini – NFL slams the door shut on potential Jets-Brendan Sorsby addition

Charlie Baduini – 3 winners (and 3 losers) who stood out at Jets mandatory minicamp

Charlie Baduini – Jets’ Adonai Mitchell hype-train continues barreling down the tracks

Here are your missed connections from yesterday.

The Detroit Tigers’ four-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday night in a 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees to even up the three-game home series. Casey Mize cruised through the first five frames before surrendering three runs in the sixth and the offense just did not have enough gas to get over the hump before they ran out of time.

On Wednesday night, left-hander Tarik Skubal will make his third start since returning from the injured list after having an innovative nanoscope procedure performed on his pitching elbow. The 29-year-old has not found his old form just yet, posting a 4.35 ERA and a 5.42 FIP in his last two games stretching over 10 1/3 innings of work, allowing 12 hits (three home runs) and two walks while striking out 12 and hitting a batter.

Up against him will be fellow southpaw Ryan Weathers, who is having his best season since his 2024 campaign with the Miami Marlins. The 26-year-old hit a rough patch recently, putting up an 8.47 ERA and a 7.63 FIP over three starts stretching across 17 frames before bouncing back his last time out, allowing one run on a solo shot over 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight vs. one walk for a no-decision in a 5-1 home loss against the Chicago White Sox.

Here is a look at how the two matchup in the series finale.

Detroit Tigers (34-45) vs. New York Yankees (47-31)

Time (ET): 6:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:Pinstripe Alley
Media: Detroit SportsNet, Amazon Prime Video, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 80: LHP Tarik Skubal (3-3, 3.02 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Weathers (2-5, 4.13 ERA)

SKUBAL

WEATHERS

A new Tiger Woods-designed course is coming to the Tributer Resort in Lake Anna, Virginia, a future member offering for the growing residential component in development at the destination property that in 2021 opened one of the top new courses in the state.

The second course won’t begin construction until 2028 but the project from TGR Design is part of the ambitious expansion plans from Reef Capital Partners, the ownership group behind newer golf destinations such as Black Desert Resort (UT) and Sweetens Cove (TN) that continue to gain popularity.

Situated in central Virginia, about 55 miles north of Richmond and 85 miles southwest of Washington D.C., Tributer Resort currently has Cutalong Golf Club, an 18-hole championship layout modeled after C.B. Macdonald’s National Golf Links of America. The current course was recognized by Golf Digest in 2023 as one of the Top 5 best new private courses in the U.S. and the forthcoming TGR course will provide a second distinct championship golf experience.

Tributer Resort is evolving into a lifestyle and residential destination under Reef Capital Partners, which acquired the property in 2018, with a year-round environment rooted in golf as well as hospitality and waterfront living near Lake Anna. When complete, the community will include more than 900 residences along with multiple dining spaces, wellness amenities, lakeside recreation, curated outdoor experiences, and trail systems.

“This new course announcement represents a major milestone in the evolution of Tributer Resort and reinforces our commitment to building a premier golf destination at Lake Anna,” said Tributer Resort General Manager Ian Sikes. “Together with our existing offerings, this addition brings a new level of excitement and distinction to the club and community.”

Golf Residences

The residential component of the resort currently includes seven golf villas and eight cottages, all of which are member-owned but available to guests interested in stay-and-play packages at the property, in addition to estate lots with golf course views. Buildout plans call for a total of 22 golf villas (four bedrooms) and 34 cottages (two bedrooms), although guests will only have access to the Cutalong course, not the new TGR Design, which will be member-only.

Golf memberships, which offer priority access to both courses, are now available. There are also social memberships reserved for residents interested in the Tributer lifestyle beyond golf.

“Our vision is to create a vibrant, enduring community where resort amenities are seamlessly integrated into everyday life,” said Reef CEO Jared Lucero. “This next phase brings together thoughtfully designed residences, elevated amenities, golf, and world-class recreation.”

While the Cutalong course is inspired by strategic principles of golf’s Golden Age architects (Donald Ross and Alister MacKenzie among them), the forthcoming TGR Design course will showcase the property’s dramatic topography and natural landscape of a property where miners in the 19th and 20th centuries once dug for copper, pyrite and traces of gold. Routed through rolling farmland, mature hardwood forests and pine groves overlooking Lake Anna, the second course will stretch to 7,310 yards from the championship tees and be defined by strategic shot values and a distinct variety of holes with expansive vistas.

“A balanced mix of uphill and downhill holes, shifting perspectives, and natural landforms will ensure no two holes feel alike, creating a course that feels organic in its movement and varied in its demands,” said TGR Design President Bryon Bell, who noted that strategy, creativity and thoughtful decision-making will define the overall experience.

True to Tiger’s design principles, it will challenge elite players yet remain playable and engaging for less experienced or less skilled players.

“Lake Anna provides a remarkable setting for championship golf,” added Bell, “and we’re excited to see this design come to life in a way that fully reflects its sense of place.”

Woods and TGR Design have an existing relationship with Reef, having designed the first of two courses at the private club community of Marcella in northern Utah. Cutalong was the first golf property acquired by Reef Capital Partners, evolving --and re-branding -- as Tributer, and was the launchpad for an expanding portfolio of golf developments.

Complementing the golf courses at Tributer is an 18-hole, lighted putting course (The Shenandoah Green) that’s designed as part of a social and entertainment venue adjacent to the clubhouse that overlooks the 1^st and 18^th greens of the existing course. Single-night and multi-night stay-and-play packages are available at the resort, providing a member-type experience within private residences.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

The FIFA World Cup rolled full steam ahead with important games for all teams involved. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo were eager to make their mark vs. Uzbekistan after missing out on the first game against DR Congo. This was the game with the most goals scored. The chemistry-fueled comeback of the Portugal team was as glitzy as it could get.

England vs. Ghana ended at a goalless draw with Harry Kane and co missing good chances to take the game away. Croatia bore the fruit of their efforts to grind out a 1-0 victory over Panama. DR Congo once again were stubborn to the very end and did not allow Colombia much room to operate. Daniel Muñoz got Colombia’s lone goal to edge past the Congolese challenge.

The magic of the World Cup is the absolute no prisoners taken approach in attack and defense. This has always led to some fantastic sequences of play and a fair chunk of ridiculous goals scored. The underdog teams have proven themselves in this World Cup, often putting punching above their weight and also playing proper football.

Without further ado here the goals from MD 13’s fixtures.

Cristiano Ronaldo finally got his first goal…oh wait not yet

The 1-1 draw against DR Congo saw Portugal and Ronaldo receive a lot of negativity. The 41-year-old was determined to exorcise those demons and prove his place for his country and this tournament. This chance missed by millimeters. Nuno Mendes continued to show why he is one of the most highest rated left-backs in the world. The venomous cross across the face of goal was begging to be finished.

Ronaldo finally blasted in his first goal and it was a stunner

João Cancelo’s ball into a crowded box was fished out by Cristiano. He freed himself from his marker and took the shot as perfectly as possible. The dropped shoulder and leaning angle preserved the pace and the tricky height of the cross. There was no chance to react to this blinder from CR7.

Ronaldo with a free-kick!…A fantastic bluff that let Nuno Mendes score

This free kick took its own sweet time. The ref had to intervene several times to organize the Uzbeks and the Portuguese players. Meanwhile Ronaldo was preparing himself in his signature style, a few paces away from the ball taking deep breaths. When the whistle blew and Ronaldo launched, the entire wall reacted to him as Nuno Mendes slyly shot in the second goal. It was a beautiful bluff that worked due to Ronaldo’s reputation of being the one to take free-kicks and penalties.

Uzbekistan’s rocket strike that went in vain

What a shot from Aziz Ganiev. One can only stand and applaud a screamer like this. Unfortunately VAR intervened and called Fayzullayev’s challenge on Cancelo illegal. What a dissappointment.

Vintage Cristiano Ronaldo is back

Attacking forward type of run, beat the defenders as he reached the ball. Topped it all off with a laser guided shot into the corner from an impossible angle. This is looked reminiscent of the Ronaldo from his Real Madrid era!

Nematov read the second bluff from Ronaldo to stop the hattrick

Another free-kick and another bluff from Portugal. This however, Abduvohid Nematov never took his eye off Ronaldo even after the fake jog towards the ball. A close quarters save to deny a hattrick.

Own goal rubbed salt on Uzbekistan’s wound

This was just unfortunate. A fatal deflection from the Uzbek goalkeeper gave the fourth goal away. The crowded box was doing its job of reducing time and awareness for the opposition, but this time it backfired and led to an own goal.

Rafael Leão made it five for Portugal!

Once again Ronaldo’s movement occupied the defender’s attention that created an empty pocket of space behind the veteran attacker. The substitute, Rafael Leão, pounced on the opportunity and smashed in the cross.

No way through for England

It was a frustrating day for the Three Lions.

Ghana almost punished England

Prince Adu ran away with the game if not for the late challenge. Thomas Tuchel almost got Thomas Tuchel’d with that counter attack.

England’s costly mistake

Two late chances and two misses. The team needed Harry Kane to finish that. It was a difficult height for a volley, but that was the moment for England. The group stage of the expanded format is not easy at all. Two dropped points for England.

A perfect Croatia combination

The perfect hoodwinked exchange between Mario Pašalić and Josip Stanišić. A bewitching cross from Stanišić that beat two defenders and the goalkeeper to reach Budimir before being directed into the back of the goal. Magical stuff from Croatia!

Diaz denied!

The DR Congo team deserved a lot of appreciation for their consistent and constant structure and defensive organization. Colombia were always outnumbered due to the constant micro movements and readjustments from the Congolese team.

Los Cafeteros finally get a deserved goal!

Juan Quintero at the playmaker role for Colombia was the key to unlocking the watertight Congo side to open space. Other than long balls, a tricky playmaker is often the solution against teams like the DR Congo. With a feint and flick, his pass found Daniel Muñoz in the box. Having missed out twice already, Muñoz made it up with a fine finish that was sufficient to win the game for his country.

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NEED TO KNOW

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking place across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada
• Players range in age from 17-year-old Mexican prodigy Gilberto Mora to 43-year-old Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon
• Soccer legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah are competing alongside rising stars like Lamine Yamal

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has arrived and brought some of the world's best soccer players to the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Every four years, a select group of qualifying national teams recruit their best players to compete for the coveted title of the best soccer team in the world. The 2026 tournament is taking place in a total of 16 different cities — including Miami, Atlanta and New York.

Several of this year's star athletes have been playing the sport for decades, while others are new to the world stage. The youngest athlete playing in the 2026 World Cup is 17-year-old Mexican prodigy Gilberto Mora, while the oldest is 43-year-old Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Here are the ages of your favorite soccer players competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

01 of 26

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is widely regarded as one of the best soccer players of all time. The athlete started playing when he was 7 years old. He began his career at the Portuguese club Sporting CP at the age of 12 before signing with Manchester United in 2003.

Ronaldo has also played for Real Madrid and Juventus. He returned to Manchester United in 2021 before joining Al-Nassr in 2023, where he’s played ever since. He has represented his native Portugal in every World Cup since he was 21 years old.

02 of 26

Gilberto Mora, 17

Gilberto Mora, 17, is the youngest athlete to compete in the 2026 World Cup. Mora, who was born in October 2008, has played with the Liga MX club Tijuana since 2024.

He is representing his home country of Mexico in the World Cup.

03 of 26

Lionel Messi, 38

Lionel Messi, 38, has led his native Argentina in the World Cup since 2006 — when he became the youngest player ever to compete and score in the tournament.

The veteran athlete helped his team take home the title at the 2022 World Cup, marking the country’s first win in nearly four decades. Messi, who spent most of his career with Barcelona, currently plays for Inter Miami.

04 of 26

Cédric Bakambu, 35

D.R. Congo's Cédric Bakambu, 35, has played for the national team since 2015. As a teenager, he played for France's national team.

In his professional life, Bakambu plays for the Spanish team, Betis.

05 of 26

Lamine Yamal, 18

Lamine Yamal is competing in his first World Cup tournament for Spain at the age of 18 years old.

Yamal, who was born in 2007, played for two youth clubs before signing with Barcelona in 2023.

06 of 26

Harry Kane, 32

Harry Kane, 32, is the captain of the England national team in the 2026 World Cup.

Although Kane is representing his native country, he has been playing for the German club Bayern Munich since 2023.

07 of 26

Michael Olise, 24

Michael Olise, 24, also plays for Bayern Munich, however he competes internationally for France.

Olise, who was born in England, previously explained that he decided to represent France because his mother is French-Algerian and it’s been his dream since he was a child.

France's first match on June 16 also served as Olise's World Cup debut.

08 of 26

Joshua Kimmich, 31

Joshua Kimmich, 31, is a fellow teammate of Kane and Olise’s on Bayern Munich.

Kimmich has represented his native Germany on their national team since 2016 and previously competed in the World Cup in both 2018 and 2022.

09 of 26

Erling Haaland, 25

Erling Haaland made his World Cup debut for the Norwegian national team in 2026 at 25 years old.

Haaland, who is considered one of the greatest Norwegian soccer players of all time, competed at the youth level for years before going professional. He has played for Manchester City since 2022.

10 of 26

Christian Pulisic, 27

Christian Pulisic, a.k.a. “Captain America,” is 27 years old and was born and raised in Pennsylvania. Pulisic, who is thought of as one of the best American players of all time, started representing the United States in international competitions when he was still a teenager.

In 2016, Pulisic became the youngest player ever to appear at a World Cup qualifier match when he took the field at the age of 17. Two years later, he broke another age-related record when he became the youngest person ever to be named captain of the team during a friendly match against Italy.

When he isn’t playing for the U.S., Pulisic can be found competing with AC Milan.

11 of 26

Amad Diallo, 23

Amad Diallo, 23, made his World Cup debut in 2026 with his national team, Côte D'Ivoire.

He has played professionally for Manchester United, Rangers and Sunderland.

12 of 26

Jude Bellingham, 22

Jude Bellingham, 22, was born in 2003 in England and competes on behalf of the English national team.

Bellingham made his World Cup debut in 2022 before being selected for the 2026 team. Bellingham, who has already broken various youngest age records, has played professionally for Real Madrid since 2023.

13 of 26

Bruno Fernandes, 31

Bruno Fernandes, 31, has been representing his home country of Portugal since he was a teenager.

Fernandes, who has played for Manchester United since 2020, has been a member of the Portuguese national team for the 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups.

14 of 26

Luka Modrić, 40

Luka Modrić, 40, is regarded as one of the greatest Croatian soccer players of all time.

Ever since 2006, Modrić has competed in every international tournament that Croatia has qualified for — including five total World Cups. He previously played for Real Madrid from 2012 to 2025 before joining AC Milan in 2025.

15 of 26

Mohamed Salah, 34

Mohamed Salah, 34, has been representing his native Egypt at the international level since he was a teenager.

Salah, who has been dubbed the “Egyptian King” by fans, previously competed with Egypt in the 2018 World Cup and has been the team’s captain since 2019.

Salah played for Liverpool from 2017 to 2026, at which point he departed the Premier League club after nine seasons.

16 of 26

Pedri, 23

Pedri López, who goes by Pedri, is a 23-year-old Spanish player who competes for both his country's national team and FC Barcelona.

Pedri made his World Cup debut in 2022 before returning for the 2026 tournament.

17 of 26

Kevin de Bruyne, 34

Kevin De Bruyne, 34, is representing his native Belgium in 2026 for his fourth World Cup appearance.

De Bruyne made his debut with the national team in 2010 before serving as captain from 2023 to 2025. He played with Manchester City for 10 years before joining Italy's Napoli in 2025.

18 of 26

Craig Gordon, 43

At 43 years old, Craig Gordon is the oldest person to compete in the 2026 World Cup. He is a member of the Scotland national team, as well as the Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian. He has represented his native country since 2002 and previously competed in the team’s 2006 World Cup qualifying matches.

However, a myriad of injuries prevented Gordon from competing internationally again until 2014, when he played in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Germany. In 2025, he was selected as the starting goalkeeper for Scotland's first World Cup appearance since 1998.

19 of 26

Tyler Adams, 27

Tyler Adams, 27, has been playing soccer on the international stage since he was a teenager in New York. He served as the captain of the U.S.' 2022 World Cup team — becoming the youngest American captain at the tournament since 1950.

The midfielder, who is competing in his second World Cup tournament in 2026, has been a member of the Premier League club Bournemouth since 2023.

"We look at it as an opportunity to really grow the game even more,” Adams told PEOPLE of his team's World Cup appearance. “If the team is successful, then kids around the country will look at us and say, ‘I wanna be the next us.’ ”

20 of 26

Kylian Mbappé, 27

Kylian Mbappé is a 27-year-old forward for the France national team. He was born in Paris and helped lead France to victory in the 2018 World Cup before taking his team to the final in the 2022 tournament.

Mbappé, who is currently serving as his squad's captain, joined Real Madrid in 2024.

21 of 26

Luis Díaz, 29

Luis Díaz, 29, made his World Cup debut in 2026 for the Colombian national team after previously playing in a 2023 qualifier.

The world-renowned winger previously competed with Liverpool for three years before joining Bayern Munich in 2025.

22 of 26

William Saliba, 25

William Saliba, 25, played for his native France in the 2022 World Cup before making the team for a second time in 2026.

Saliba, who is considered one of the best center-backs in the world, currently competes for Arsenal.

23 of 26

Ousmane Dembélé, 29

Masour Ousmane Dembélé, who goes by his middle name, is a 29-year-old member of the France national team.

Dembélé competed in the 2018 World Cup and helped lead his team to victory, while also playing in the 2022 and 2026 tournaments.

The star forward, who plays with Paris Saint-Germain, is one of only 10 players to have won the World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.

24 of 26

Achraf Hakimi, 27

Achraf Hakimi, 27, also plays for Paris Saint-Germain, however he represents Morocco at the World Cup.

Although Hakimi was born in Spain, he grew up with Moroccan parents who helped influence his decision to play on behalf of their country. He previously competed in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

25 of 26

Vinícius Júnior, 25

Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, who goes by Vinícius Júnior, is a 25-year-old Brazilian soccer player.

The forward, who has already made a name for himself in the soccer world at a young age, has played with Real Madrid since 2018.

Prior to the 2026 World Cup, he competed in the 2022 tournament.

26 of 26

Tim Ream, 28

Tim Ream, 38, plays for the U.S. national team and has won several titles since starting his soccer career as a child in St. Louis.

Ream spent much of his career playing with Fulham before signing with Charlotte FC in 2024. He previously represented the U.S. in the 2022 World Cup.

"I actually call it my superpower now," he said of soccer in an interview with PEOPLE. "I put my boots on, I step outside, and it's like nothing else is there. Nothing else matters. It's just you, it's a ball, it's your teammates. It's the goal. It's everything. And it's probably why I am just pushing myself to still play to this day, and try to play in this World Cup."

Read the original article on People

A busy lead-up to the draft. Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Farewell to Simon Nemec:

Assessing the Simon Nemec trade: “This trade ensures the Devils avoid a risky contract and arms them with draft picks that can be leveraged as currency to add top-six winger help.” [The Athletic ($)]

“The Brady Tkachuk blockbuster to the Florida Panthers underscores an unfolding truth in today’s NHL. Power is shifting in favor of the NHLs star players. New Jersey Devils fans watching the Hughes speculation might feel uncomfortable. However, they’re not in a Tkachuk-like predicament… yet.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

Hockey Links

We have trades:

Seems like Morgan Rielly could be on the move soon:

Mike Babcock is official in Edmonton:

“Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the NHL found no basis to prevent the Edmonton Oilers from hiring coach Mike Babcock but that the league expects ‘a certain level of decorum and conduct’ from him.” [ESPN]

“The NHL is exploring putting a second team in Texas, with Austin and Houston as potential targets, commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Tuesday following a board of governors meeting.” [ESPN]

“Will Connor Hellebuyck be the next American-born star to leave a Canadian NHL franchise? It appears the Team USA Manifest Destiny is real, and we have to take the trade rumors seriously at this point.” [Daily Faceoff]

“For decades, NHL teams asked players to be loyal and commit on long-term deals that locked them up from their teenage years until retirement. These teams then acted in cutthroat ways to buy out or otherwise dump them, however, when their play declined. That paradigm has now changed entirely, to where star players (and their agents) realize they hold the cards, especially with how free agency has been hollowed out and how vital the trade market has become to building a top team. Whether that shift has created a permanent imbalance in the league, with talent flowing from north to south, remains an open question. But it’s one worth asking yet again, as another top player heads to Florida and another Canadian team’s GM is left scrambling to fill a gaping roster hole.” [The Athletic ($)]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed on Tuesday.

Montreal Canadiens News

• The Vancouver Canucks are still the front-runners in a potential deal involving Brendan Gallagher, however, Darren Dreger brought up the possibility the Canadiens may end up buying out the final year of Gallagher’s contract. [Canadiens Offseason: Gallagher Trade Talk, Potential Buyout Cost]

• Given how much he has offered to the organization, Gallagher is definitely taking his departure from Montreal with class.

Brendan Gallagher in a recent interview with the Athletic’s Arpon Basu:

“About halfway through the season, I kind of figured it out. I could kind of sense the direction (the Habs) were looking to go. And it was OK. At that point, I had had conversations with them and they were… pic.twitter.com/F4CqMw8Lfm

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 23, 2026

• There’s no doubt about it, from a production standpoint, Ivan Demidov enjoyed a great rookie season. His underlying numbers leave something to be desired, but given his elite skill level, logic dictates the team is yet to find his ideal linemates. In other words, there’s still work to be done, but overall, Demidov was fantastic in his first year in the NHL. [Canadiens Player Grades: Demidov Dazzles In Rookie Season]

• Speaking of Demidov, he took some time off from mentoring prospect Alexander Zharovsky to spend time with Warrior Hockey, his stick sponsor. Meanwhile, Zharovsky is in Florida taking part in a camp for Russian prospects hosted by his agent, Daniel Milstein.

Ivan Demidov at a video shoot for Warrior Hockey pic.twitter.com/lfK6Azmoxz

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 23, 2026

• TSN mentioned a potential free agency target for the Habs: Jeffrey Viel. The 29-year-old Rimouski native would be an interesting addition to the bottom six, but the lineup is already overflowing with forwards, making it a rather cramped situation.

• ICYMI: We’ve reached phenom Lane Hutson in our Montreal Canadiens player grades, and as expected, he received an A+ due to his excellence. He not only improved his production, his underlying numbers were fantastic in his sophomore season. Hutson is the rising tide that lifts all Canadiens boats. [Canadiens Player Grades: Hutson Is The Rising Tide]

NHL Trades

The Canadiens were not involved in any deals, but it was a very busy day from a trade standpoint. A few deals were made, including some heavy hitters.

• The St. Louis Blues traded Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals in exchange for the 16th overall pick (2026), Connor McMichael and Milton Gastrin.
• The Ottawa Senators acquired William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen, and the rights to Brandon Svoboda in exchange for the ninth overall pick at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. This is on the heels of the trade that saw former Senators captain Brady Tkachuk join the Florida Panthers in exchange for a package of draft picks.
• The New Jersey Devils sent Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Etienne Morin, a second-round pick (2026), a first-round pick (2027, top-10 protected), and a first-round pick (2028, top-10 protected).
• The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Jordan Greenway and Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Louis Crevier, a first-round pick (4th overall, 2026), and a second-round pick (45th overall, 2026).
  

Sportsnaut Network

• Sunny Mehta just put his first fingerprints on the New Jersey Devils. The Devils moved Nemec to the Flames with Tsyplakov, opened up $2.5 million to use in the week ahead, and set themselves up with a plethora of assets to use on the trade market that has already seen a magnitude of 10 regarding player movement. [New Jersey Devils]

• Columbus has not made the playoffs since the 2019-2020 season. One player that the Blue Jackets could potentially draft is Boston College Eagles forward Oscar Hemming. Will they select him or potentially draft another player? [Columbus Blue Jackets]

• Brady Tkachuk seems pretty jacked to be joining the Florida Panthers, saying Tuesday morning that he wished “the season started tomorrow.’’ It does not. But it certainly has been a whirlwind couple of days for Brady and the entire Tkachuk clan.[Florida Panthers]

Related Headlines

• Canadiens Offseason: Gallagher Trade Talk, Potential Buyout Cost
• Canadiens Player Grades: Demidov Dazzles In Rookie Season
• Habs Daily: Price Enters HHoF, Hutson Season Analysis, Suzuki

A new episode of the Football Italia Summer Show is now out on YouTube. Today, we discuss Ruben Amorim’s time at Manchester United, where he failed and which errors he must avoid at San Siro.

Milan confirmed Amorim’s appointment last week. The Portuguese signed a three-year contract just five months after he was sacked by Manchester United.

Latest Football Italia YouTube Show: Amorim’s problems at Man United and what they mean for Milan

In this new episode of the Football Italia Summer Show, Manchester Evening News reporter Jack Flintham explains why and how Amorim failed at Old Trafford and which mistakes he’ll have to avoid in his tenure at Milan.

From transfer to tactical decisions, we break it all down in our new show.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford on August 30, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

If you haven’t yet subscribed to the Football Italia YouTube channel, you can do it here so you don’t miss any of our content, and you can join our shows with your comments and thoughts.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (38-37/1-0)

SYRACUSE 9, LEHIGH VALLEY 6 (BOX)

Deadlocked at 0-0 for the first few innings, Syracuse finally broke the ice with a two-run fourth but they wouldn’t hold the lead for long, as the IronPigs plated four runs in the bottom of the inning on a Dylan Moore grand slam. Syracuse scratched back, scoring a run apiece in the fifth and sixth, and despite allowing another Lehigh Valley run in the bottom of the sixth, retook the lead in the seventh, when the rehabbing Francisco Lindor led off the inning getting on base thanks to an error and Tyrone Taylor drove him in with a home run to left center. After a balk in the bottom of the inning tied things up at 6-6, those rehabbers once again had an impact on the game in the top of the eighth. Lindor singled, Taylor doubled, and with runners on second and third, Ronny Mauricio singled to drive both home and give Syracuse the lead, a lead they would finally hold onto.

·  REHAB ALERT SS Francisco Lindor: 2-5, 2 R

·  SS Grae Kessinger: 0-0

·  REHAB ALERT CF Tyrone Taylor: 3-5, 3 R, 2B, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 K

·  CF Cristian Pache: 0-0

·  REHAB ALERT 3B Ronny Mauricio: 2-4, R, 3 RBI, K, SB (7)

·  1B Ryan Clifford: 1-4, RBI, BB, 2 K

·  RF Nick Morabito: 2-4, 2 R, BB, 2 K, 2 SB (23, 24)

·  LF Ji Hwan Bae: 1-2, RBI, 2 BB, K, SB (26)

·  C Kevin Parada: 0-4, BB, 2 K

·  DH Hayden Senger: 0-5, RBI, 2 K

·  2B Vidal Bruján: 0-3, R, 2 BB

·  RHP Jack Wenninger: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

·  RHP Guillo Zuñiga: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, WP

·  RHP Joey Gerber: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Dan Hammer: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

·  LHP Jefry Yan: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, BLK, W (1-0), BS (1)

·  RHP Dylan Ross: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, S (2)

ROSTER ALERT: New York Mets optioned CF Jared Oliva to Syracuse Mets.

ROSTER ALERT: Syracuse Mets placed 2B Andy Ibáñez on the 7-day injured list.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-42/0-1)

ERIE 10, BINGHAMTON 2 (BOX)

Nick Lorusso homered in the top of the first to give the Rumble Ponies an early 1-0 lead, but the SeaWolves reversed things in the fourth with a big six-run inning and controlled the rest of the game from there on in. Jose Ramos hit a solo homer of his own in the sixth, but a lot of good it did, as it was Binghamton’s only additional run. So much for the Rumble Ponies starting the second half on the right hoof.

·  C Chris Suero: 0-4, 4 K

·  CF Jose Ramos: 1-4, R, HR (11), RBI, 3 K

·  3B Nick Lorusso: 1-4, R, HR (12), RBI

·  1B JT Schwartz: 0-3, BB, K

·  DH Vincent Perozo: 0-4, K

·  RF Matt Rudick: 1-4, 2B, K

·  SS Wyatt Young: 1-4, 2B, K

·  2B Kevin Villavicencio: 0-4, K, SB (1)

·  LF Nick Lucky: 1-3

·  RHP Bryce Conley: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, L (1-3)

·  RHP Danis Correa: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Brian Metoyer: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Justin Armbruester: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, BLK

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (25-40/1-3)

BROOKLYN 8, JERSEY SHORE 7 / 10 (BOX)

Both teams scored a few runs in the early innings, but Jersey Shore landed what seemed at the time to be the decisive blow, plating five runs in the fifth and surging ahead to a 7-3 lead. To their credit, the Cyclones kept things competitive, scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to bring them within one. A few innings later, in the eighth, the recently reassigned Sam Biller successfully plated that run, tying things at 7-7. In the tenth inning, Hoss Brewer hunkered down and was able to prevent the BlueClaws from scoring. In the bottom of the inning, Daiverson Gutierrez led off the inning and drove the first pitch he saw in the zone for a line drive into left that the fielder played poorly to win the ballgame.

·  SS Mitch Voit: 1-4, 2 R, BB, SB (25), E (4)

·  DH Ronald Hernandez: 1-5, R, 2 K

·  CF-2B Yonatan Henriquez: 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 K, CS (5)

·  RF-CF John Bay: 1-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI

·  C Daiverson Gutierrez: 2-5, R, RBI, 2 K

·  1B Corey Collins: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 E (2, 3)

·  3B Colin Houck: 1-4, RBI, 3 K

·  LF-RF JT Benson: 3-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B, HR (3), RBI

·  2B Jamari Baylor: 0-1, BB

·  PH-LF Sam Biller: 1-2, RBI, K

·  RHP Nicolas Carreno: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, HBP

·  RHP Hunter Hodges: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HBP

·  RHP Robert Stock: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

·  RHP Parker Carlson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Hoss Brewer: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, W (2-3)

ROSTER ALERT: OF Sam Biller assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones from Syracuse Mets.

ROSTER ALERT: Brooklyn Cyclones activated SS Jamari Baylor from the 7-day injured list.

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (33-33/2-1)

ST. LUCIE 6, FORT MYERS 2 (BOX)

The St. Lucie Mets were on the basepaths all evening, logging 10 hits, drawing 4 walks, and getting on base an additional 4 more times thanks to defensive miscues on the part of the Mighty Mussels. They made the most of those opportunities, stealing eight bases in ten attempts. The team hit only two extra base hits, a Julio Zayas double in the first and a Jeremy Rodriguez double in the fourth, but kept the train going, scoring six runs; with a few more extra base hits, this one could’ve been a true blowout, as St. Lucie only went 3-18 with runners in scoring position and left 9 runners on base.

·  SS Elian Peña: 0-4, R, BB, SB (22)

·  CF Trey Snyder: 2-5, 2 R, K, 3 SB (5, 6, 7)

·  3B Antonio Jimenez: 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, SB (8), 2 CS (3, 4)

·  DH Julio Zayas: 4-5, 2B, 3 RBI

·  LF Branny De Oleo: 0-4, BB, 3 K

·  RF Simon Juan: 1-5, K, SB (4)

·  2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 1-4, R, 2B

·  C Francisco Toledo: 1-4, SB (3)

·  1B Jack Scanlon: 0-3, K, HBP, SB (1), E (2)

·  RHP Emilio Obispo: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K

·  RHP Zack Mack: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, W (2-0)

·  RHP Miguel Mejias: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 WP, HBP

·  RHP Ernesto Mercedes: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, WP

ROSTER ALERT: 2B Taylor Darden assigned to St. Lucie Mets from Brooklyn Cyclones.

Rookie: FCL Mets (15-20)

FCL CARDINALS 7, FCL METS 4 (BOX)

·  CF Wyatt Vincent: 0-2, K, E (1)

·  LF Adolfo Miranda: 1-1, RBI, BB

·  LF-CF Bohan Adderley: 2-4, R, 2B, K

·  DH Yovanny Rodriguez: 2-4, 2B, RBI

·  C Josmir Reyes: 0-3, E (4)

·  2B Anthony Frobose: 1-3, R, 2B, 2 K

·  SS Yorber Semprun: 0-3, K

·  RF Heriberto Rincon: 2-3, R, RBI, SB (11)

·  1B Yeider Mindiola: 0-3, 3 K

·  3B Vladi Gomez: 2-3, R, SB (20), E (5)

·  RHP Calvin Ziegler: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, L (0-1)

·  RHP Wilmer Lugo: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, WP

·  RHP Roberto Pena: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HBP

·  RHP Jose Lopez: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

ROSTER ALERT: OF Heriberto Rincon assigned to FCL Mets from St. Lucie Mets.

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Tyrone Taylor

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Bryce Conley

As a Guardians fan you may not be very familiar with Kody Huff, but you are way too familiar with Gabriel Arias. Let’s adjust the familiarity vortex there, real soon.

Gabriel Arias currently has a 54 wRC+ and a 46% strikeout rate. I think it is fair to note that his planned rehab was cut short by the injury to José Ramírez. Still, for his career, Arias has a 74 wRC+ and a 34% strikeout rate. Among ML hitters with 1,000 or more plate appearances since 2022, he ranks last with a swinging strike rate north of 20%. He is just a terrible hitter.

Enter Kody Huff. Acquired from the Rockies for Cal Quantrill, Huff is a right-handed hitter having a breakout season as a 25 year-old in Cleveland. Huff has a 141 wRC+ with a 17/15 K/BB%, with a home OPS of 979 at Columbus and a .875 OPS in road games. He also has a 1.012 OPS against LHP this year. Admittedly, his wOBA of .407 is belied a bit by a .366 xwOBA… but .366 reduced down to, I don’t know, .315 in the bigs would still be a huge improvement over current options, especially if it included production vs. southpaws. Huff has seen his hitting output skyrocket with slightly higher exit velos (+1 mph in average exit velo) and moving about 9% of his prior groundball rate to line drives and 6% to flyballs. Nothing looks particularly unsustainable… he simply seems to have made some hitting growth later in his development, as catchers often do.

“Aha, he’s a catcher,” you say. “How can we fit him on the roster with our catching all-stars Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedges??” Leaving aside all sarcasm there (Bailey and Hedges are excellent defenders and both have hit fine with Cleveland this year), Huff has started 20 games at first base and 9 at third base this year.

Huff is fine at third base. He has a good arm and looks smooth picking the ball. He may actually be a pretty good first baseman. And he’s got a solid reputation as a catcher. I think the team should pause Huff’s catching work and tell him, “Kid, you are gonna fill in for José and get some great reps at third base.” Then, DFA Arias (who will get through waivers, and if he doesn’t, who cares?) and add Huff to the roster. If he hits and Jose is back, then keep Huff in the David Fry role.

It’s probably bad that I want to solve our offensive woes with catchers. But in Ingle and Huff, I see professional hitters. And we need more of those in Cleveland, by George. Get Huff the magic dragon up!

Throughout the offseason, SB Nation will host surveys for NFL fans, sponsored by the folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook. For Pride of Detroit, we are tasked with fielding questions from Detroit Lions fans, and with OTAs/minicamp behind us, let’s predict which undrafted rookie could make an impact on the Lions roster in 2026.

This offseason, the Lions signed nine undrafted rookie free agents, and we broke down their on-field skill sets and potential, explored the guarantees in their contracts, and our staff even picked our favorite UDFA rookies immediately following the draft.

However, we have yet to get Lions fans’ opinions on this year’s UDFA class, which brings us to this week’s question:

Which UDFA is most likely to make an impact on the Lions roster in 2026?

For this exercise, we have provided fans with five players to vote on, or they can choose the “other” option and expand on their selection in the comment section. Here are the five options the Pride of Detroit staff previously nominated:

Quarterback Luke Altmyer has impressed during OTAs and minicamp with his arm, confidence, and ability to pick up on the Lions’ scheme quickly.

“I think he is unflappable, I guess, would be the word that comes to mind,” Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said during OTAs. “Every day he’s the same guy, he puts in the same process, he works. He never seems overwhelmed by what we’re asking him to do or how we’re asking him to do it, and he’s willing to learn and to work at it, which has been great.”

If Altmyer can continue to develop and impress, it’ll be interesting to see how much he pushes Teddy Bridgewater for the QB2 role, or potentially force the Lions to consider rostering three quarterbacks.

Tight end Miles Kitselman was one of Jeremy Reisman’s “winners” from OTAs and minicamp, as he has already climbed up the depth chart and is firmly in “roster bubble” range. With Sam LaPorta and Tyler Conklin dealing with injuries, Kitselman was getting some run with the first and second team, illustrating how quickly an opportunity could show up for him.

Defensive tackle Aidan Keanaaina didn’t stand out in OTAs/minicamp, but that was to be expected for all trench players with no pads on during this portion of the offseason. Once the pads come on in training camp, Keanaaina should have a chance to stand out more, especially at a position with questionable depth.

EDGE AnthonyLucas stood out this spring due to his length, high energy level, and willingness to mix it up, even drawing praise from defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. While the Lions invested in the edge rusher position to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson–selecting Derrick Moore in the draft and signing DJ Wonnum and Payton Turner in free agency–, there could still be an opportunity for a player to grab snaps in a situational pass rushing role with room to grow.

Linebacker Erick Hunter grabbed NFL Draft analysts’ attention with his production and coverage skills during the evaluation process. While he’s yet to stand out at practice, he should get plenty of opportunities in a linebacker room that typically rosters at least six players and currently only has eight on the active roster.

And with that, it’s time to vote in the survey, share your feedback in the comment section, and check back with Pride of Detroit this weekend for the results.

If you want to get these surveys emailed to you weekly, you can sign up here, and don’t forget to check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

The Milwaukee Brewers continue to boast arguably the top farm system in all of baseball and that’s even with a large number of graduations that have happened through the first two and a half months of the season. Because of those graduations, and a pretty good sample size of play down in the minor leagues, it’s time to make some updates and adjustments to our Brewers Top 50 prospects list from the pre-season.

There are some notable risers and fallers with their performances early this season. The recently extended Luis Lara is certainly one of them with his breakout season. But he’s not the biggest riser on this list.

Biggest risers: 2B/LF Dylan O’Rae (+17 spots), OF Braylon Payne (+16), RHP Jayden Dubanewicz (+14), RHP Jaron DeBerry (+10), OF Luis Lara (+9)

Biggest fallers: 1B/3B Eric Bitonti (-8 spots), RHP Melvin Hernandez (-4), OF Jose Anderson (OUT)

Graduations: RHP Brandon Sproat, RHP Logan Henderson, LHP Robert Gasser, LHP Shane Drohan, RHP Carlos Rodriguez, 1B/LF Tyler Black

1. Jesus Made, SS

2. Luis Pena, SS

3. Cooper Pratt, SS

There are no changes to the top three spots in the Brewers farm system. However, since the pre-season, Jesus Made has vaulted to the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball status and Cooper Pratt signed an eight year contract extension with the Brewers. Pratt was recently called up to make his MLB debut and has taken over the starting shortstop job in Milwaukee, which will likely be his for years to come, that is unless one of the other two names above him take that title.

4. Luis Lara, OF (Up 9)
5. Jett Williams, SS (Down1)
6. Josh Adamczewski, IF/OF (Up 8)

Luis Lara and Josh Adamczewski are the big risers into the Top 10 in this update. Lara has completely crushed Triple-A pitching and earned himself a long-term contract extension from the Brewers. It’ll only be a matter of time before he joins Cooper Pratt in Milwaukee. Jett Williams has struggled a bit offensively this year, leading to Lara surpassing him. Josh Adamczewski also put up big numbers in High-A Wisconsin before earning the mid-season promotion to Double-A Biloxi.
7. Jeferson Quero, C (Up 2)
8. Andrew Fischer, 3B (Up 2)
9. Blake Burke, 1B (Up 3)

Jeferson Quero continues to be blocked by William Contreras and Gary Sanchez, though he was able to make his MLB debut earlier this season. Quero has been solid in Triple-A and is ready when an opportunity presents itself. Andrew Fischer has been the talk of this Brewers system almost with his home run barrage this summer that pushed him up to Double-A. The strikeout rate is still a concern long-term, but in spite of it he’s hitting nearly .300 with an OPS over 1.100. Blake Burke, another former Tennessee Volunter, is also mashing in Biloxi with 15 homers himself, plus even more stolen bases. Keep an eye on Burke.
10. Bishop Letson, RHP (Down 2)
11. Marco Dinges, C —
12. Tyson Hardin, RHP (Up 4)
13. Braylon Payne, OF (Up 16)
14. Coleman Crow, RHP (Up 9)

Bishop Letson really struggled to start the season in Double-A, but has finally started to turn things around, which keeps him in the Top 10. Tyson Hardin has done much better after a promotion to Triple-A and he finds himself pretty close to making it to the big leagues given the amount of injuries the Brewers have had in their rotation. Braylon Payne has been one of the biggest risers in this update as he’s hitting the ball extremely hard in High-A and he’s also dropped his strikeout rate. That K rate will remain important to watch as the 19 year old develops. Coleman Crow has also gotten himself to the bigs and risen up the list. He’s on the IL, which has prevented him from graduating, but he will return and graduate soon.
15. Brady Ebel, SS (Up 2)
16. Luke Adams, 3B/OF (Down 1)
17. JD Thompson, LHP (Up 3)
18. Tate Kuehner, LHP (Up 6)
19. Jayden Dubanewicz, RHP (Up 14)

Luke Adams missed a ton of time early in the season with a wrist injury so the sample size is a bit smaller than the other hitters. Since returning from the IL, Adams has looked great and he could leap back up in the August re-rank. Lefties JD Thompson and Tate Kuehner get a nice boost as their development remains on track. Jayden Dubanewicz is another big riser as his stuff has looked nasty and he’s already pushed his way to High-A Wisconsin. In his first two starts there, he’s struck out 11 and is yet to walk a batter. Dubanewicz could be that next pitching lab success story.
20. Craig Yoho, RHP (Down 2)
21. Brock Wilken, 3B (Down 2)
22. Mike Boeve, 1B/3B (Down 1)
23. Brett Wichrowski, RHP (Up 2)
24. Bryce Meccage, RHP (Up 2)

Brock Wilken has not adjusted well to Triple-A, still hitting below the Mendoza Line with not a lot of home runs to make up for it. It’s not too late for him, but that future infield is looking crowded already and there are a lot of good ones right around him in the upper minors. Mike Boeve has looked a little better a year removed from shoulder surgery, but his numbers still haven’t returned to what they were pre-injury.
25. Ethan Dorchies, RHP (Up 2)
26. Manuel Rodriguez, RHP (Up 2)
27. Josh Knoth RHP, (Up 5)
28. Dylan O’Rae, 2B/OF (Up 17)
29. Jaron DeBerry, RHP (Up 10)

Some of the numbers are unsightly for the young pitchers across the lower levels when it comes to ERA, but that doesn’t mean their stuff has diminished. Numbers are like that all across those levels this year so I’ll take them with a grain of salt and not ding guys like Dorchies or Rodriguez too much. Knoth is returning from TJS and has looked good, ramping the velo up to 97 MPH but generally sitting around 94 with his fastball. Dylan O’Rae is having a great year after missing 2025 with wrist surgery. Jaron DeBerry is also putting himself on the radar in the upper minors with some strong outings this year.
30. Diego Frontado, SS (Up 8)
31. Ricki Moneys, SS (Up 6)
32. Brian Fitzpatrick, LHP (Up 8)
33. Josiah Ragsdale, OF *
34. Frank Cairone, LHP —

Down in the DSL, two of the Brewers big signings this year were Frontado and Moneys and they are living up to the hype, showing off power and bat-to-ball skills, giving them a big boost in this update. Brian Fitzpatrick put himself clearly in the big league bullpen picture before an elbow injury sidelined him. Josiah Ragsdale is the first player to make this list after missing the pre-season top 50. He’s showcased a combo of speed and contact skills with a little bit of pop in High-A. Frank Cairone is back in Arizona after recovering from a January car accident. He’s yet to see game action, but could be in ACL games soon.
35. Braylon Owens, RHP *
36. Tyler Renz, RHP —
37. Alexander Frias, OF *
38. Eric Bitonti, 1B/3B (Down 8)
39. Mark Manfredi, LHP *

Another handful of new faces here. Braylon Owens, a 10th round pick last year, has done really well in High-A and is among the organization’s leaders in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP. Alexander Frias has finally gotten promoted to Low-A Wilson after tearing up the Arizona Complex League. He looks like he has big-time potential. Eric Bitonti is striking out at a high clip still in High-A and it worries me about his long-term viability. Mark Manfredi is up to 97 MPH on his fastball and his strikeout rate has ticked way up this year. Keep an eye on Manfredi as a bullpen option in Milwaukee in the near future.
40. Griffin Tobias, RHP (Up 4)
41. Handelfry Encarnacion, OF —
42. Pedro Ibarguen, OF (Up 4)
43. Jacob Morrison, RHP (Up 6)
44. Cameron Wagoner, RHP *

Some young players still with good potential with Tobias, Encarnacion, and Ibarguen here. They’re in the lower levels, Ibarguen in particular has had a nice year in Low-A. Jacob Morrison, out of Coastal Carolina last year, is on the IL right now but looked good in his limited action in Low-A. Cameron Wagoner is throwing upper 90s and hitting triple-digits on occasion after missing a long stretch due to injury. He could move up quickly as a bullpen arm.
45. Brailyn Antunez, OF *
46. Melvin Hernandez, RHP (Down 4)
47. Chase Bentley, RHP *
48. Joey Broughton, LHP *
49. MaKale Holden, RHP *
50. Luis Lameda, SS *

Brailyn Antunez was the big international signing last year, but struggled in the DSL. Upon heading to the ACL this year, there’s been some positive reports, and it’s starting to translate into on-field results. Melvin Hernandez has not pitched at all this year due to visa issues, per a source. He’s still a talented arm when he is on the field. This list is rounded out with some of the young, projectable talent the Brewers possess. Chase Bentley had the biggest “Day 3” signing bonus the Brewers gave out last year and has looked good. Broughton is back from TJS finally and has done well upon his promotion to Low-A. MaKale Holden also got a big bonus last year and has showcased some nasty stuff. Luis Lameda is hitting over .300 with more walks than strikeouts for Low-A Wilson.

Spain star Mikel Oyarzabal has insisted he’s happy at Real Sociedad amid whispers he’s a potential target for Barcelona if the Catalans fail to sign Julian Alvarez this summer.

Barcelona have been offered hope of landing Alvarez this week after the striker admitted he wants to move on, but Atletico are furious with the situation and have said they will file a complaint to FIFA about the Catalans.

Hansi Flick’s side may therefore need a Plan B this summer, with Oyarzabal one of several names mentioned recently and even Gavi admitting he’d sign the striker for Barcelona.

Oyarzabal was therefore asked if he could guarantee he’ll stay at Real Sociedad while at World Cup 2026 and offered up the following response.

“I’m focused on helping the team win in three days. I’m where I want to be, at what I consider my home, Real Sociedad,” he told reporteres.

“My mind isn’t on that, but on arriving in Uruguay in the best possible condition.”

The striker bagged a brace last time out against Saudi Arabia and was also asked whether he feels underrated by the world press.

“I’m actually tired of answering this question; I don’t dwell on it,” he added. “What matters to me is what my teammates, my coach, the staff, and the people whose opinions actually count have to say.

“We know how football works these days, and it’s normal for people to talk, but I don’t let it bother me.”

Oyarzabal has 14 goals and seven assists in his past 13 Spain games and is likely to start again when La Roja face Uruguay in their final group fixture.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Commanders fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The question

In this week’s Reacts survey, we have only one question, and it focuses on the defense. We want to know who you believe will lead the team in sacks this season.

Setting the official bar

For all those who might not know, the all-time official sack leader for the Washington franchise is Ryan Kerrigan.

Per Pro Football Reference, he finished his 11-year career in burgundy & gold with 95.5 sacks, finishing with at least 11 sacks in a season four times. His highest total was 13.5 in 2014, but in ’18 & ’19, he put together back-to-back seasons with 13 sacks each. His final two years in DC were his least productive from a sack perspective, yielding 5.5 sacks per season. His consistency extended to his ability to stay healthy as well; in 11 seasons, he missed only 4 games, all of them in 2019.

The ‘unofficial’ career sack leader for the Redskins

Older fans may remember watching the wrecking ball named Dexter Manley, who played on two of Washington’s super bowl winning teams back in the last century. Many people will insist that it is Manley, not Kerrigan, who deserves the mantle of ‘all time franchise sack leader’.

The argument rests entirely on the 6.0 unofficial sacks that Dexter recorded during his rookie season in 1981, which came right before the NFL began tracking sacks as an official statistic.

Seen in this light, Manley set the standard in his 9 seasons playing in a Redskins uniform.

How many sacks have some of Washington’s veteran front line defenders tallied so far in their NFL careers?

Let’s look at some current Washington players to see what kind of sack numbers they have put up in their careers.

One thing that jumps out at me is that Deatrich Wise tops the list despite having played less than 2 games in 2025 and, thus, producing zero sacks. At 31 years of age, Wise played for 9 years in New England before joining the Commanders, averaging about 4.5 sacks per season, with a low of 2 in a Patriots uniform in 2019.

Dorance Armstrong, currently 29 y.o., was on a 1-sack-per-game pace last season before getting injured in Week 7 and missing the final 10 games. In his 6 seasons with the Cowboys, he compiled just 2.5 sacks in his first three years, but 21 in his final three years in Dallas playing for Dan Quinn. He has produced 10.5 sacks in 23 games as a Commander. His career average is 5 sacks per 17 games.

Odafe Oweh is 27 years old, and is the only player on this list to have double-digit sacks in a single season, which he accomplished in 2024 playing for the Ravens. He had strong production in 2025 as a Charger, when he finished the season tallying 7.5 sacks in 12 games. His career average is 6.6 sacks per 17 games.

Charles Omenihu is 28 years old and has played for 3 different teams in his 7 year career. Despite getting blanked in 2021, Omenihu averages 4.1 sacks per 17 games for his career.

K’Lavon Chaisson is the youngest player on this list at 26 y.o. He produced just 5 sacks in 4 seasons playing on his rookie contract in Jacksonville. In 2024, as a Raider, he compiled 5 sacks, and playing for the Patriots in ‘25, he tallied 7.5 sacks. With 12.5 sacks over the past two years, the Commanders believe that he will be totally unleashed as an inside pass rusher in Daronte Jones’ defensive scheme here in Washington.

The rookie

Here are the college stats for rookie 5th round pick, Joshua Josephs:

Impact: How Jeffery Simmons’ extension could affect Quinnen Williams -DallasCowboys.com

The Dallas Cowboys could lock up one of their cornerstones on defense this offseason.

The Tennessee Titans made defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history, with the 29-year-old signing a three-year, $105.8 million deal with $100 million guaranteed and $35.3 million in AAV, well above the previous high from Chiefs DT Chris Jones at $31.8 million per year.

Who could be next among star defensive tackles to earn a big pay day? Cowboys DT Quinnen Williams’ name certainly comes to mind. He and Simmons are both 29, and Williams is only under contract for the next two seasons with Dallas.

As it stands, Williams is currently the ninth-highest paid DT in the league in AAV at $24 million per year. The Cowboys being willing to trade a first-round pick for him in next year’s draft shows how important they feel he is to the defense, which means a contract extension to back that up could be in the future to make Williams either the highest paid, or close to the highest paid, player at his position. – Tommy Yarrish

What Drake London’s new deal could mean for George Pickens

Falcons WR Drake London is now the NFL’s third-highest paid wide receiver in AAV, signing a four-year, $141 million extension with $100 million guaranteed and $35.26 million per year.

London, who is 25, is the same age as Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, and both are heading into their fifth seasons in the NFL. Pickens too was seeking a long-term contract, but the Cowboys told him and his representation that would not happen this offseason, and he instead signed his $27.3 million franchise tag that keep shim under contract for the 2026 season.

Pickens’ one-year deal on the tag makes him the 17^th highest-paid wide receiver in the league in AAV. Should Pickens go out and post a year similar to his 2025 campaign where he had more than 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, a deal similar to London’s may be in the ballpark of what Pickens could seek. For reference, CeeDee Lamb is the league’s fifth-highest paid WR at $34 million annually. If Pickens surpasses him and is closer to London’s $35 million per year mark, he and Lamb would become the highest-paid WR duo in NFL history, surpassing the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who currently combine for $69 million per year. – Tommy Yarrish

Dallas Cowboys CB Shavon Revel wants to the NFL’s best, he needs to earn a starting job in 2026 first – Clarence Hill Jr, DLLS Cowboys

The Cowboys’ former third-round pick could be the key to how good the defense becomes this season.

In an interview with DLLS Cowboys during the last week of minicamp, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel made headlines by proclaiming he was going to be the best cornerback in NFL.

He didn’t say when.

He said someday.

That’s still lofty talk from a 2025 third-round pick who missed 10 games as rookie, was mediocre at best when he did take the field last year and is not guaranteed to be starter in 2026.

Revel is currently alternating at left cornerback with veteran free agent Cobie Durant, who has turned the most eyes in the offseason.

Calen Carson has held down the right cornerback spot with DaRon Bland sidelined rehabbing a foot injury. 

The best two will start.

The Cowboys continue to have high hopes for Revel, who was considered to be a first-rounder after a stellar junior year at East Carolina.

He entered his senior season widely considered one of best cornerbacks in college football.

But that was before he suffered a season-ending torn ACL, thus tanking his draft stock.

The cornerback needy Cowboys took a flier on him in the third round of the 2025 Draft, armed with inside information.

Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper did his surgery at East Carolina and could vouch for his ability to recover and return to health.

2026 NFL offseason: Judging biggest overreactions to moves – Dan Graziano, ESPN

Will George Pickens be with the Cowboys beyond 2026?

George Pickens will play for the Cowboys in 2026 … but not 2027

Pickens’ presence and comments at the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp made it clear he’s fine with playing this season on the $27.3 million franchise tag. Barring a complete reversal by the Cowboys, he won’t have a long-term extension by the July 15 deadline for teams to extend franchise players.

Spinning this forward, if the one-year carrot is enough to bring the best out of Pickens the way it did in 2025 — when he had 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 93 catches — then it’s easy to see him pricing himself out of Dallas next year with a huge contract from some other team. If he has a bad year, it’s easy to see the Cowboys moving on to another option, too.

Verdict: OVERREACTION

First of all, the Cowboys could absolutely franchise Pickens again in 2027. It would cost them $32.8 million, but there are already six NFL wide receivers averaging more than that per year, and there likely will be more by next March. The fact that CeeDee Lamb, Pickens’ Dallas teammate, is one of those six is part of the issue. The Cowboys might not feel they can afford to pay two receivers top-of-market money and still manage their salary cap.

But the fact is, there’s no way to know how this season will go or how the Cowboys will feel about it when it’s over. Is there a world in which Lamb, who has missed games due to injury each of the past two years and has just $7 million in guarantees on his contract beyond 2026, is the one they move on from, allowing them to keep Pickens? Sure. I’m not saying that’s the way I’d predict this to go, but it’s not out of the question, right?

Pickens showed the Cowboys a lot last season after they traded a third-round pick to get him in the offseason. They’ve made it clear they’d like to see more before making any long-term decisions about him. He now has the opportunity to give them a difficult decision next offseason if he does everything they’re asking him to do.

5 players with the most to gain in training camp – Jorge Guajardo, Blogging the Boys

It could be a big training camp for a few players and their future in Dallas.

Jaydon Blue

In the immortal words of Cris Collinsworth, “Now here’s a guy…” Here is a guy who has the opportunity to make a big leap on the 53-man roster if he stands out in camp. The RB rotation behind Javonte Williams is not set in stone, and even though fifth-year pro Malik Davis has done fairly well with the opportunities given, it’s not a stretch to think that the soon-to-be 28-year-old back has reached his ceiling.

Blue, on the other hand, is in his second year and is building on his already formidable speed and elusiveness. If he continues to develop those skills, he is absolutely a viable option for the second back behind Williams. The only thing that could hold him back is how well he holds up in pass-protection. It isn’t a secret how much the Cowboys covet RBs that can block, and if Blue can at least prove serviceable in that area, be prepared to see a dramatic increase in snaps for the second year back in 2026.

Shavon Ravel Jr.

The second-year corner recently made waves by saying he sees himself as being the best corner in the league someday. For that to be true, he has a long way to go, but luckily for him, he has his whole career ahead of him.

Last year, Revel Jr. had a hard time staying healthy and getting onto the field. He played in only seven games, starting five, and had a negligible impact on what ended up being one of the worst defensive units of all time.

Revel Jr. also has the physical tools to make an impact. At 6’1”, 194 lbs., he’s equipped to handle the best receivers in the league. Positionally, Cobie Durant and DaRon Bland are probably shoe-ins for the outside corner positions, and Caleb Downs will be seeing a ton of action as the nickelback, but beyond them, a large rotational role as the third cornerback is up for the taking.

DeMarvion Overshown

Overshown is someone who has shown us glimpses of absolute magic when he’s been healthy, but that phrase has haunted him: “when healthy.” The third-year pro is looking to put together a complete season, which would be a first, and the shifting defensive scheme should give him a chance to shine even more on the interior of the second level of the defense.

From a camp perspective, nobody is challenging him for one of the two starting MLB spots on the defense, assuming Dee Winters is taking the other position. Ideally, the influx of talent on the defensive line could help Overshown, and with the speed and explosiveness he’s shown in spots in his career, he could see a huge role leading the charge of a possibly much improved defense.

---

Daily discussion question: Are you going to training camp this year?

The Florida State Seminoles return home to close out September against the University of Central Arkansas, following an expected physical road battle against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. After taking on the Tide and SMU in back-to-back games, FSU gets a welcome reprieve as the Seminoles host the Bears, who are expected to arrive at Doak Campbell Stadium as double-digit underdogs.

This matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Central Arkansas will net a $450,000 guaranteed payday for the trip, but the key storyline will center on FSU head coach Mike Norvell facing his alma mater. Norvell starred as a wide receiver for the Bears from 2001 to 2005, finishing his career as the school’s all-time receptions leader with 213 catches. He started his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 2006 and has since been inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame.

Norvell, a former walk-on receiver who was inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in August 2016, is the school record holder for career receptions (213) and is fifth in career receiving yards (2,611). He played on teams that won 33 games in his four seasons, including UCA’s best team in the NCAA Division II era. The 2005 Bears finished 11-3 and lost in the Division II quarterfinals.

Florida State vs. Central Arkansas Bears

• Date: Saturday, Sep. 26, TBD
• Location: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
• All-time series: First-ever meeting

Central Arkansas Bears: 2026 Team Preview

2025 record: 3-9

Two things to know:

• The Bears compete in the United Athletic Conference (UAC), a FCS football-only alliance created from the former Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
• Central Arkansas last beat an FBS opponent on August 29, 2019, when they upset Western Kentucky. In that season-opening upset, the Bears defeated the Hilltoppers by a score of 35-28 on the road.

Three key players

• Bears quarterback Austin Myers entered the transfer portal during the offseason after leading the Bears in most passing categories in just 7 games, but decided to withdraw and rejoin the program. His prior production was not enough to be named starter when the coaching staff left the competition wide open following spring practices, leaving Myers locked in a three-way battle with Luther Richesson and Caleb Koger as they head into fall camp.
• Whoever gets the nod at QB will inherit a weapon in wide receiver Malachi Henry, the offense’s most explosive big-play threat. Henry led the team last season with 889 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging nearly 13 yards per reception.
• Offensive lineman Will Diggins is the anchor of the Bears’ offensive front. The 6’4″, 320-pound tackle is a multi-year starter who earned Preseason All-UAC honors.

Florida State vs. Central Arkansas Bears: Game preview, predictions

• Best Case

While the Bears are a respected program in their lower division, the size, speed, and depth of FSU will heavily favor the Noles, who should easily dominate their undermanned opponent, maintain control of the game, and have the score in garbage time by early in the second half.

• Realistic Case

For FSU, it should be about gaining confidence, building momentum, and working on their execution in what should be a tune-up game before heading into the meat of their ACC schedule. The game should be in hand with enough time left for the 2nd and 3rd-team players to get significant playing time in preparation for Virginia.

• Worst Case

The FCS Trap. Florida State demonstrates the same complacency and lackadaisical performance as it did against Jacksonville State—another FCS opponent—five years ago, squeaking by in a matchup it should have dominated and heading into October with the nightmare feeling around the program hitting a high.

2026 FSU football schedule

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

What will FSU’s record be after September? Anser in SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA, where we ask questions of the most plugged-in FSU fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Usually, we eschew stories about other sports, but this is a pretty funny Phillies connection to be made. The Trail Blazers hired Micah Nori as their next head coach. Does that name sound familiar?

Philadelphia truly is the center of the sports universe.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Alan Rangel was actually pretty good Monday night in his audition for the fifth starter’s spot. The team looks committed to him for now ($).
• Good or bad, Bryce Harper’s cycle on Saturday night does not happen unless he uses his trademark aggressive baserunning ($).

MLB news:

• Benny Montgomery was the eighth overall pick in the 2021 draft. He’s retiring from the game having never made it to The Show.
• Even as they say things like this about Byron Buxton, I’ll believe the Twins aren’t trading him when the deadline has passed.
• The CBA negotiations are going to be rough with the draft now a focus of attention. What if that draft were built over, starting from scratch?

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:W, 7-2 at Indianapolis Indians

3B Oswaldo Cabrera 3-6, 2 RBI, 2 K, fielding error – after a dreadful start to the year, Oswaldo has come alive with a .967 OPS in June
2B Marco Luciano 2-4, BB, K, SB
RF Yanquiel Fernández 1-4, BB, 2 K, GIDP
CF Garrett Martin 3-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 K, SB – he did it all last night
1B Tyler Hardman 0-5, 3 K
DH Ernesto Martinez Jr. 0-2, 3 BB, K, SB
SS Jonathan Ornelas 0-4, 2 K
C Payton Henry 0-4, K
LF Duke Ellis 1-4, RBI, BB, K

Alexander Cornielle 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 2 K
Zach Messinger 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 0 K
Carson Coleman 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (win)
Yordanny Cruz 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (hold) – good to see a steady outing from Cruz
Bradley Hanner 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Double-A Somerset Patriots:L, 4-0 at New Hampshire River Cats – Somerset stifled, four hits, all singles

LF Jackson Castillo 2-3, BB, SB
CF Jace Avina 0-4, K
RF DJ Gladney 1-3, BB, K
DH Nick Torres 1-4
3B Coby Morales 0-4, K
C Tomas Frick 0-3
1B Josh Moylan 0-2, BB, K
SS Owen Cobb 0-3, 2 K
2B Connor McGinnis 0-3, K

Cade Smith 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR (loss) – probably the 24-year-old’s best start of the year, tough luck loss
Chris Kean 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Tony Rossi 1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 1 K

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:L, 5-4 at Bowling Hot Rods

3B Kaeden Kent 1-5, K
SS Core Jackson 1-4, 2 K, throwing error
DH Eric Genther 0-4, RBI, 2 K
1B Kyle West 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, K
RF Wilson Rodriguez 2-3, BB
2B Roderick Arias 1-4, 2 K, SB
C Josue Gonzalez 0-3, RBI, SF
CF Camden Troyer 0-4, K
LF Luis Durango 2-4, 2B, SB

Bryce Cunningham 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR – 2024 second-rounder has given up three runs over his last three starts
Hansel Rincon 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Brandon Decker 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Aaron Nixon 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (hold)
Brady Kirtner 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB 0 K (loss, blown save)

Low-A Tampa Tarpons:W, 3-1 at Dunedin Blue Jays

3B Jackson Lovich 0-4, K
CF Brando Mayea 0-4
DH Luis Puello 0-4, K
LF Logan Maxwell 0-1, BB, SB
LF Gabriel Lara 0-2, K
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 2-3, RBI, SF, SB
RF Willy Montero 1-4, 2B, 2 K
1B Hans Montero 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB
C Engelth Urena 0-3, K
2B Luis Escudero 0-2, BB, 2 K

Justin West 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K (win)
Kevin Stevens 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (hold)
Greysen Carter 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K (hold)
Matthew Tippie 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (save)

Florida Complex League Yankees:L, 10-6 (7) vs. FCL Tigers

3B Richard Matic 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, K
CF Wilberson De Pena 1-1, 2B, 3 BB, 2 SB, fielding error – a nice .417 OBP on the year for the 19-year-old
DH Queni Pineda 0-3, BB, 2 K
2B Leni Done 0-3, RBI, BB, K, SB
LF Jose Castro 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, CS
RF Francisco Vilorio 0-3, K
SS Dexters Peralta 0-3, fielding error
C Justin Capellan 1-3, 2B, K, throwing error
1B Christofer Reyes 0-3

Hueston Morrill 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Jerson Alejandro 1 IP, 0 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K
Sunayro Martina 0.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 0 K (loss) – a 4-1 fourth-inning lead evaporated quickly
Rafael Arias 1.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Edinzo Marquez 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Brian Arias 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 11-3 vs. DSL Cardinals

DH Isaias Castillo 0-2, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, SB
SS Stiven Marinez 1-5, 3B, RBI, K, fielding error
CF Yostin Pena 3-4, K, 2 SB
2B Juan Torres 2-3, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB
1B Cesar Lopez 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
C Juan Martinez 1-3, K, SB
L Manuel Aguilar 1-4, 2B, 3 K
RF Eliezer Adames 0-2, RBI, 2 BB, K
3B Emmanuel Orozco 0-2, RBI, 2 BB, K, SB

Fredy Penuelas 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K
Angel Salazar 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K (win) — one of the cleanest DSL lines you’ll see
Luis Ilarraza 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 3 K (hold)
Varis Villarreal 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 12-5 at DSL Tigers 2

SS Mani Cedeno 1-5, 2B, 2 K
2B Carlos Bello 2-4, 2 2B, K, SB
C Alessandro Rodriguez 0-3, RBI, BB, K, SB, two throwing errors, one pickoff error – oops
RF David Carrera 1-4, HR, RBI, K
3B Kevin Beltre 0-4, K
DH Poly Ojeda 0-1, 2 BB
1B Adrian Feliz 0-2, K
1B Jesus Guerrero 1-2, 2B, RBI, K
LF Sebastian Pinto 0-1, BB
LF Eddison Charles 1-2, K, SB
CF Alfiery Matos 0-4, K

Randy Angomas 2.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K
Kevin Centeno 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Carlos Hampshire 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 2 K
Lenin Caceres 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Julian Alvarez has broken his silence and insists he has told Atletico Madrid that he wants to leave the club this summer as several teams continue to compete for his signature.

The Argentinian forward is one of the most sought-after players in the current transfer window, with Barcelona and Real Madrid having reportedly seen bids rejected, while Arsenal are also monitoring the situation closely. The Gunners view him as an ideal attacking addition for Mikel Arteta’s team and remain interested in bringing him to the Premier League.

Growing Transfer Interest Across Europe

Arsenal have admired him since his time in England, although Manchester City were previously unwilling to sanction a move. With the player now in Spain, there is a belief within the club that a transfer could be more achievable this summer.

Barcelona are still considered his preferred destination, while Real Madrid have also maintained strong interest, including reports of a significant offer being rejected earlier in the window. The situation has therefore developed into a highly competitive transfer battle among Europe’s elite clubs.

Alvarez Statement on His Future

Alvarez has now addressed his situation directly and, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, said:

“I don’t want to hide or act like I don’t want to be clear. I try to be honest.

“I spoke to Atlético people and I think the best for everyone involved is for me to leave.

“I want to fulfill my dream.”

His comments have significantly intensified speculation over his future, with multiple clubs expected to reassess their next steps as the transfer window progresses.

Atletico Madrid now face a major decision regarding how to respond to the player’s stated position, while interest from across Europe is expected to remain strong until a final resolution is reached.

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Arsenal faces paying over £100 million for Premier League star

24 June 2026, 9:00

We live in a college football world of lists, rankings, and countdowns. Many players on Notre Dame’s roster have been talked about and written about over the last few months — so let’s fall in line.

This will be my official Top 20 Notre Dame Football Players ranking. I will unveil each player, and list the three things I like about them. It seems simple enough, but I have no doubt that some of these ratings will be highly criticized, but you can always share your thoughts in the comments below.

#27 Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa LB

The best athlete

Notre Dame is currently blessed with a handful of really good linebackers. Under Chris Ash and his defensive system that works out of a 4-2-5 base, the number of linebacker snaps doesn’t just decline, but they are more spread out with their rotations. In my opinion, the most athletic football player of the linebackers is KVA. He provides more on the field as he is in incredible thumper and solid in pass coverage, but he is also a good pass rusher. He’s just really good at pretty much everything he does.

The Poly Pipeline

One of my favorite themes about Notre Dame over the last 20 years is how much of a Polynesian pipeline it has become. Obviously, we can thank Manti Te’o for leading the way, and ever since his time at ND, we have seen more and more of Polynesian blood flood South Bend with their talent. KVA is now a part of that legacy.

Contract year

Even though KVA has two years of eligibility remaining after this year, he’s likely to enter the NFL Draft in 2027. While that’s sad news for all of us later, right now it works as a positive. If his true intention is to get to the NFL ASAP, then this year is a contract year – the better he plays the higher he rises. Right now he considered to be the #3 LB in the NFL Draft which puts him somewhere in the second round at best. A magnificent showing could better his case.

TOP 20 COUNTDOWN

#20 DT Francis Brewu
#19 LB Jaylen Sneed
#18 LB Jaiden Ausberry
#17 WR Mylan Graham
#16 CB DJ McKinney
#15 RB Aneyas Williams
#14 OL Anthonie Knapp
#13 DB Christian Gray
#12 DT Jason Onye
#11 OL Will Black
#10 DE Bryce Young
#9 OL Guerby Lambert
#8 DE Boubacar Traore

Pirates' Paul Skenes may need to wait two years to win another Cy Young originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The reigning Cy Young Award winner in the National League, Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes, has pitched well enough to win the award again. Still, he has not been as great as his division rival, Jacob Misiorowski. 

The Pirates are not helping their ace win the award, as the Pirates have lost seven straight of Skenes starts. To add to his woes, Skenes is not even the second-best pitcher in the National League, as Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez holds that spot. 

Paul Skenes will likely have to look to 2027 or 2028 to reclaim his Cy Young Award

According to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan's latest poll of who will win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, Misiorowski received 29 first-place votes and 153 total vote points, far surpassing Skenes, who finished in third. Skenes tallied 55 total vote points and has an ERA of 2.86, while Sanchez (1.80) and Misiorowski (1.45, leading Major League Baseball) have ERAs in the 1.00s. 

More MLB News:Brewers' Brandon Woodruff pitched like an ace when facing the Reds

"If Skenes’ performance this season feels like a step back, it’s only because he set such an insanely high bar over his first two years in the Majors," wrote Harrigan. "The right-hander may not be the current favorite to repeat as the NL Cy Young winner, but he’s kept himself in contention with a 2.86 ERA, 107 strikeouts and 18 walks over 88 innings." 

Given how well Misiorowski and Sanchez have pitched, Skenes needs to be perfect every time out to win, and he didn't help himself in two starts in May. In back-to-back starts to the Phillies (May 17) and the Toronto Blue Jays (May 23), the two-time All-Star allowed nine earned runs in 10.0 innings. 

With another half of the season still to go, Skenes does have a chance and what it takes to win, but he may need a miracle. If Skenes doesn't win this season, he may have to wait until 2028 to do so, as the looming work stoppage due to the CBA (Collective Bargaining) negotiations may cause games to be missed in 2027. 

More MLB News: 

• The Red Sox and Sonny Gray could benefit from a change of scenery
• Two East Coast teams named as landing spots to acquire the Giants' Matt Chapman
• Tigers' Dillon Dingler may wind up being an All-Star snub
• Phillies' J.T. Realmuto voices displeasure with Marlins coaching methods
• Two East Coast teams named as landing spots to acquire the Giants' Matt Chapman

Colombia next World Cup match: Fixture schedule, start time, draw bracket as Los Cafeteros face Portugal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Colombia will hope to embrace the tag of World Cup 2026 dark horses when they continue their Group K campaign.

Copa America runners-up two years ago, Nestor Lorenzo's team finished third in the highly competitive CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying section and were unbeaten for a year until their March friendly defeats to Croatia and France.

Los Cafeteros reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 2014 in Brazil and will be targeting another run to the latter stages this time. Their opening two games against Uzbekistan and DR Congo should set them up to progress to the knockouts before they face Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in Miami Gardens.

Here is everything you need to know about Colombia's appearance at the World Cup, including the latest results from the tournament.

When is Colombia's next match at World Cup 2026?

Colombia sit top of the group heading into their final match against Portugal.

A battle for top spot takes place on Saturday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET from Miami.

Colombia match schedule, results from World Cup 2026

BUY NOW:Tickets for FIFA World Cup matches

World Cup Group K table

How to watch Colombia matches at World Cup 2026

TV channel: FOX, FS1
Live stream: fubo,FOX One,FOX Sports app/website

FOX is the main English-language FIFA broadcast partner in the United States, and will have the rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.

The broadcaster has announced that all 104 matches of the tournament will be televised throughout the competition. 69 matches from the competition will air on the main FOX network channel, while 35 others will be televised on FS1.

For Spanish-language coverage, all 104 matches will stream live on Peacock, with 92 matches airing on Telemundo and 12 on Universo.

All those channels, both English and Spanish, are available to stream in the United States on fubo, who are offering a FREE trial for new users.

Every match will also stream live on FOX One and the FOX Sports app.

Colombia World Cup 2026 draw bracket for Group K

The Group K winner will progress to the Round of 32, where they will be paired with a third-placed team from either Group D, E, I, J or L.

The Group K runner-up will be scheduled to meet the runner-up in Group L in the Round of 32.

Should the Group K third-place finisher qualify as one of the eight best third-place teams (out of 12 groups), they would face the winner of Group L.

Round of 32

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Third-place match

Final

Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez is a long shot to win the NL Cy Young Award originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez was once the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award, but is slowly watching his chance slip away to Jacob Misiorowskiof the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Sanchez had one of the best months of the season by a pitcher -- Sanchez made history by recording 50 2/3 scoreless innings (fifth all-time), which included not allowing an earned run and striking out 45 in 39.0 innings in May. However, the former All-Star's dominance hasn't been enough to overtake Misiorowski. 

Cristopher Sanchez trails Jacob Misiorowski in the latest polling to win the Cy Young Award

According to Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com's latest poll of MLB experts on who will win the Cy Young Award in both the American and National Leagues, Sanchez finished far behind the Brewers' All-Star to win. The 29-year-old Sanchez finished with two first-place votes to Misiorowski's 29 and 122 total vote points (Misiorowski had 153 total vote points). 

More MLB News:Brewers' Brandon Woodruff pitched like an ace when facing the Reds

"In almost any other season, Sánchez would be running away with the NL Cy Young," wrote Harrigan. "He recorded one of the longest scoreless streaks ever (50 2/3 innings) and boasts a 1.80 ERA with 121 strikeouts and only 20 walks over 105 innings on the year. Yet he has slipped to second in our latest poll after leading the previous one, now trailing a surging Misiorowski. It’s a familiar spot for the left-hander, who finished as the NL runner-up behind Paul Skenes in 2025."

Harrigan is right that "Sanchy" would be running away with the award any other season, but Misiorowski has held firm, being one of the best pitchers in baseball. Misiorowski leads Sanchez in ERA, strikeouts and home runs allowed (Misiorowski: four and Sanchez: seven). Still, Sanchez has more innings pitched (Misiorowski: 93.0 innings and Sanchez: 105.0 innings) and one more start (Misiorowski: 15 and Sanchez: 16). 

With over half of the season still left to play, Sanchez does have time to establish his case to overtake "The Miz." But Sanchez could wind up like his rotation mate, Zack Wheeler, and lose the award to another Brewers pitcher. Wheeler lost the 2021 Cy Young Award to Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes.

More MLB News: 

• The Red Sox and Sonny Gray could benefit from a change of scenery
• Two East Coast teams named as landing spots to acquire the Giants' Matt Chapman
• Tigers' Dillon Dingler may wind up being an All-Star snub
• Phillies' J.T. Realmuto voices displeasure with Marlins coaching methods
• Two East Coast teams named as landing spots to acquire the Giants' Matt Chapman

Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski is the clear favorite to win the NL Cy Young originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski is solidifying himself as the odds-on favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award, as the right-hander continues to dominate. 

Named an All-Star with very few starts last season, Misiorowski made the team over Philadelphia Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez, and he is now leading the Phillies' left-hander in the race to win the National League Cy Young Award. 

Jacob Misiorowski is the clear favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award

Misiorowski isn't just the best pitcher in the National League; he is showing that he's taking the throne from Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal as the best pitcher in Major League Baseball. Misiorowski is the major league leader in strikeouts (138), ERA (1.45) and has the fewest home runs hit against him among qualified pitchers (four in 93.0 innings). 

More MLB News:Brewers' Brandon Woodruff pitched like an ace when facing the Reds

According to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan's latest poll of who will win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, Misiorowski received 29 first-place votes and 153 total vote points. In comparison, Sanchez received two first-place votes and 122 total vote points, while finishing in second place. 

"While Misiorowski has been wowing all year long with record-setting heat, he’s really taken his Cy Young case to the next level of late," wrote Harrigan. "The right-hander posted a 0.17 ERA from May 1 through June 12, culminating with a 15-strikeout, one-hit masterpiece against the Phillies. That’s the lowest ERA in an eight-start span (excluding openers) since earned runs became official in 1913. Overall, he leads MLB in ERA (1.45), strikeouts (138) and WHIP (0.75) and opponents’ batting average (.146)." (all stats through Monday).

Nearing the halfway point of the season, it wouldn't be fair to crown Misiorowski the winner now. However, if the 24-year-old stays healthy, there's no reason why he can't win the Cy Young in his second season as a major leaguer. 

More MLB News: 

• The Red Sox and Sonny Gray could benefit from a change of scenery
• Two East Coast teams named as landing spots to acquire the Giants' Matt Chapman
• Tigers' Dillon Dingler may wind up being an All-Star snub
• Phillies' J.T. Realmuto voices displeasure with Marlins coaching methods
• Two East Coast teams named as landing spots to acquire the Giants' Matt Chapman

Four-star defensive line recruit Tyler Alexander has committed to the Texas Longhorns, per Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett. Alexander chose Texas over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Colorado Buffaloes and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Standing at 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Alexander is a talented defensive lineman who was a top target for head coach Kirby Smart and his staff prior to his announcement. The massive lineman has flashed major potential during his time at Palm Beach Central High School in Florida. Georgia will be on the road at Texas in 2027 and could face Alexander and the Longhorns in Austin, where the big man will look to shine against one of his top schools throughout his recruiting process.

Alexander has the potential to emerge as a star at Texas. The big man is the No. 49 DL and the No. 428 player from the class of 2027, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the No. 37 player out of Florida, but Alexander has ultimately decided to play for the Longhorns despite a push from Georgia.

The Bulldogs will now be forced to turn elsewhere following Alexander’s commitment to Texas. Georgia is currently attempting to flip speedy West Virginia wide receiver commit Jacobi Pasley to UGA, while elite DL Antwan McKoy recently committed to Georgia.

Following Alexander's commitment, Texas has the No. 6 recruiting class in the country. The Longhorns have 18 total commitments while Georgia has 17 commitments and the nation's No. 13 recruiting class.

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X, or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: 4-star DL, Georgia football target Tyler Alexander makes commitment

Cristiano Ronaldo next World Cup match: Fixture schedule, start time, draw bracket as Portugal face Colombia originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Cristiano Ronaldo returns with Portugal for what will surely be his final tilt at World Cup glory.

Ronaldo inspired the Selecao to a historic victory at Euro 2016 and they have since won the UEFA Nations League in 2018/19 and 2024/25.

The World Cup has proved too tall an order, though, with Portugal's best showing during his career coming two decades ago when they reached the semifinals in 2006. 

Now 41, Ronaldo is aiming for a fairytale finish to his career at the very highest level with Roberto Martienz's talented squad.

Here is everything you need to know about Ronaldo's record sixth appearance at the World Cup, including the latest results from the tournament.

When is Cristiano Ronaldo's next match at World Cup 2026?

Ronaldo finally got his campaign underway as he bagged twice in a convincing 5-0 win over Uzbekistan last time out.

They now face group leaders Colombia in their final match, scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Portugal match schedule, results from World Cup 2026

BUY NOW:Portugal tickets for FIFA World Cup

World Cup Group K table

How to watch Cristiano Ronaldo's matches at World Cup 2026

TV channel: FOX, FS1
Live stream: fubo,FOX One,FOX Sports app/website

FOX is the main English-language FIFA broadcast partner in the United States, and will have the rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.

The broadcaster has announced that all 104 matches of the tournament will be televised throughout the competition. 69 matches from the competition will air on the main FOX network channel, while 35 others will be televised on FS1.

For Spanish-language coverage, all 104 matches will stream live on Peacock, with 92 matches airing on Telemundo and 12 on Universo.

All those channels, both English and Spanish, are available to stream in the United States on fubo, who are offering a FREE trial for new users.

Every match will also stream live on FOX One and the FOX Sports app.

Portugal World Cup 2026 draw bracket for Group K

The Group K winner will progress to the Round of 32, where they will be paired with a third-placed team from either Group D, E, I, J or L.

The Group K runner-up will be scheduled to meet the runner-up in Group L in the Round of 32.

Should the Group K third-place finisher qualify as one of the eight best third-place teams (out of 12 groups), they would face the winner of Group L.

Round of 32

Round of 16