Lalos started his NFL career by joining the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2020. From that opportunity, he went on to spend time with the New Orleans Saints and now-defunct XFL team, the Seattle Sea Dragons.
He played on the defensive line during his run with Seattle, racking up 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 10 games. However, unlike the Sea Dragons, the Patriots are likely more interested in Lalos' special teams abilities.
And just like that, we're onto the Masters! And there's no debating about whether this one's a major. The game's biggest event will have the attention of all golf fans—and even many of their family members and friends who normally wouldn't be watching CBS on a Sunday afternoon in April.
Of course, we'll have plenty of coverage of the year's first men's major, but before we get there, it's time for our annual Masters gambling ranking. Here's a rundown of our top picks (with odds via DraftKings) to slip on the green jacket this year.
1. Xander Schauffele (18/1)
Richard Heathcote
Reason to pick: Schauffele has five top-10s at Augusta National in his past seven starts, including the last three years. And he looks to be back near top form after finishing third at the Players.
Cause for concern: The putting (currently 53rd in strokes gained) is not nearly where it was during his two-major season of 2024.
2. Bryson DeChambeau (10/1)
Patrick McDermott
Reason to pick:The big hitter has clearly flipped a switch when it comes to playing Augusta National the past two years with back-to-back high finishes. And he's coming off a LIV victory in Singapore.
Cause for concern: There are some big bunkers at Augusta National for Bryson to fall into like he did in Singapore.
Reason to pick:The World No. 1 has won two of the last three of these things.
Cause for concern:Dare we say Scheffler is in a slump? His five-tournament losing streak actually feels that way. And, as always, you're not exactly getting a lot of bang for your buck betting on him.
Cause for concern: The 2023 Masters win was the last time he seriously contended on Sunday at a major.
6. Ludvig Aberg (16/1)
Ben Jared
Reason to pick:Man, the 2025 Masters runner-up looked so good for 64 holes at the Players Championship.
Cause for concern:Man, he didn't look so good for those final eight holes at the Players Championship.
7. Cameron Young (27/1)
Kevin C. Cox
Reason to pick:After winning golf's unofficial fifth major, it might be time for this young star to finally win an official major after coming so close at both the 2022 PGA Championship and Open Championship.
Cause for concern: None really, but you probably wish you bet him before he won the Players given his odds were 40-to-1 at Augusta National.
8. Brooks Koepka (22/1)
Orlando Ramirez
Reason to pick:After coming back to the PGA Tour, Koepka flashed signs of a return to top form with a T-13 at the Players.
Cause for concern:This is still the only U.S. major Koepka has yet to win, despite close calls in 2019 and 2023.
9. Tommy Fleetwood(18/1)
Andrew Redington
Reason to pick: After finally winning a PGA Tour event at the Tour Championship, the Brit feels overdue already for another, especially a major where he finished T-3 in 2024.
Cause for concern:Since that T-3, Fleetwood has failed to finish in the top 15 in seven consecutive majors.
10. Patrick Reed (30/1)
Stuart Franklin
Reason to pick:Reed may have left the PGA Tour, but the 2018 green jacket winner never left as a Masters contender, finishing in the top five in two of the past three years, including a solo third last year. He's also won twice already on the DP World Tour in 2026.
Cause for concern: Is his globe-trotting gap year between LIV and the PGA Tour going to catch up with him?
11. Justin Rose (30/1)
Harry How
Reason to pick:The Englishman is in the conversation with Greg Norman and Ernie Els as having the best track record at Augusta of any non-winner.
Cause for concern:Is the scar tissue here of two playoff losses, including last year, too much to overcome for the 45-year-old?
12. Collin Morikawa (22/1)
Kevin C. Cox
Reason to pick:His strong start to the year, including a win at Pebble Beach, had seemingly everyone picking him to win the Players …
Cause for concern:Where the heck did that back injury at TPC Sawgrass come from? We'll have to monitor his health, but his backers that week might be wary of going down that route again.
13. Jordan Spieth (40/1)
Icon Sportswire
Reason to pick: Going to give the edge to Spieth over guys like Justin Thomas and Robert MacIntyre because of the 2015 champ's impressive course history at Augusta National, where he's finished in the top five in half of his 12 career starts.
Cause for concern: There's a lot to list here, but we'll start with the fact that it's been nearly four years since his last win anywhere.
EMMITSBURG, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Gavin Doty #4 of the Siena Saints takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at the Knott Arena on January 11, 2026 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Siena will take on #1 Duke on Thursday. The odds are heavily against the Saints, but that isn’t stopping guard Gavin Doty.
Doty, whom his coach describes as a “psycho,” in a complimentary way, is not shy, and apparently not intimidated by playing a #1 seed, much less Duke. How do we know?
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 10: David Peterson #23 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets at Clover Park on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 12: Fletcher Loyer #2 of the Purdue Boilermakers attempts a shot during the second half of a Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Third Round game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the United Center on March 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. The Purdue Boilermakers won the game 81-68. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Purdue is in a familiar spot as a top two seed ready to face off a college whose geographical placement reads like a trivia question.
This time, Purdue is the #2 seed in the West Region and will play the ASUN Tournament Champs, Queens.
Sorry, Oscar, not that Queens.
Instead, Queens, a small college from Charlotte, North Carolina, will be making its first tournament appearance against a Purdue team that starts three seniors who have been a 1 or 2 seed three of their four years playing.
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How did Queens get here?
Queens 18-13 (13-5) was the three seed in the ASUN Conference Tournament and pulled off the overtime upset over Central Arkansas 98-93.
It is Queens first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Queens challenged its program in the non-conference with a healthy meal of top-100 teams. Queens played at Villanova, Wake Forest, Arkansas, Auburn and Virginia. It lost all of those games without much drama.
The throughline in all those games is that Queens defense could not hang with any of those teams. It gave up 94 points to Villanova and Virginia, and over 100 points to the other three teams.
But Queens showed resiliency and a streakiness that has made them a dangerous team in the ASUN.
It bounced back from its brutal non-conference finish to win its first seven conference games.
Drew will have a more in-depth numbers breakdown so we will stick to this. Queens is a good offensive team, with shooting and scoring throughout the roster. It has six players averaging double-figures that have played together and played well.
Who to know on Queens:
Queens, much like Purdue, relies mostly on players brought to and developed by its own programs. Just three players in its rotation have come from elsewhere with Avantae Parker coming from Georgia Southern, Carson Schwieger playing a year at Valparaiso, and Gus Larson who played at Penn for two years, California a year, and now finishing his career at Queens.
Queens has four guards scoring double-figures: Nasir Mann, Jordan Watford, Yoav Berman, and Chris Ashby.
Those three guards are joined in the scoring bonanza by stretch forward Carson Schwieger who is shooting over 41% from three on more than 200 attempts on the season.
Avantae Parker is the sixth double-figure scorer, a 6-9 throwback who dominates down low and in the middle of the paint, shooting 70% from inside the arc, but doesn’t naturally spread the floor. He looks to score inside and in the post.
Queens outside/in
Queens is going to shoot a lot of threes, led by Schwieger and Chris Ashby, but what makes them unique is that it gets even more efficient from inside.
Queens lacks size, real post pounders, and instead relies on skill inside and a lot of shooting on the perimeter. Queens is shooting nearly 60% as a team from inside the arc. Combine that with a nearly 36% mark from three and you have a team that only takes efficient shots. It’s an offensive built on metrics and with the idea of maximizing every possession and every shot.
Queens is an offensive team and it will score points against Purdue even if it lacks physical presences that match up with Purdue.
But on the defensive end, Queens is an even stronger extreme. It does almost nothing metrically well on the defensive team. It was able to score teams in its own conferences, but the defense’s deficiencies allowed all the tournament quality teams it played to go nuclear on offense.
In particular, and what could soothe any FDU PTSD from Purdue fans, Queens lacks defensive pressure at all levels. It doesn’t have size outside or on the wings. It doesn’t get into dribblers or shooters. It doesn’t fight through screens or track shooters particularly well. If a team wants to get up threes against Queens, it’s going to get good looks from the perimeter.
Queens also lacks heft and height inside and struggles to grab rebounds on both ends.
But offense wins in March, as Matt Painter said about his own team. This will be an interesting showdown for Purdue. The line is over 20 leaning Boilers. It shouldn’t be close, but Queens is good enough on offense to let off some fireworks.
Purdue has been here before. FDU’s defense was one of the worst in the country and found a unique gameplan to stall Purdue’s offense when Purdue fell as only the second ever 1-16 upset. That experience should lead to Purdue staying locked in even in the first round.
That’s been your first look at Queens. We’ll have more and more breakdowns and coverage throughout the week as Purdue opens the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis on Friday.
Alex Ovechkin became the fresh face of the franchise for the Washington Capitals more than two decades ago when they selected the big, skilled Russian winger with the first pick in the 2004 NHL draft.
He's now 40 and nearing the end of his 21st season with them. He hoisted the Stanley Cup as playoff MVP in 2018 and last year passed Wayne Gretzky as the league's career goal-scoring leader.
Ovechkin has yet to say whether this is it or if he wants to play again in 2026-27, so the front office is planning for either contingency. While doing so, Washington is ushering in a youth movement on the fly, with the trade of 36-year-old organizational cornerstone John Carlson the latest step in turning the page on a generation of players responsible for not only a championship but 16 playoff appearances in 18 seasons.
“They’re these guys (who go from) sometimes they don’t even have a shaving kit to getting married and having families and having the careers that they’re having,” assistant general manager Ross Mahoney said in a phone interview. “Things don’t last forever.”
Capitals are building around a new core
The Capitals have done something rare in the NHL since the salary cap era began in 2005: replenish talent while consistently contending. Brian MacLellan, the general manager from 2014-24, and successor Chris Patrick have simultaneously bought and sold at times and made some shrewd offseason trades and free agent signings along the way.
The result is a new core of players in their mid-to-late 20s and early 30s, all signed through at least 2029: goalie Logan Thompson, defensemen Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy and Martin Fehervary, and forwards Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson, the latter of whom is likely to succeed Ovechkin as captain.
“That’s a pretty good starting point for a competitive team, a Stanley Cup-winning team,” Patrick said. “We just felt like going into the deadline, if we are going to make moves, we should make moves with that in mind — giving us assets that we can use to try to add impact players to this current group."
Sending Carlson to Anaheim less than 15 hours before the trade deadline made it a sad day for former teammates. He spent 17 years with the Capitals, so Ovechkin called it probably the toughest day of his career from a personal standpoint.
The first- and third-round picks the Capitals got in the trade were among the best returns any team received for a pending free agent rental player. That deal and trading mid-30s fourth-line center Nic Dowd to Vegas added to a stockpile of draft capital: 13 selections in the first three rounds over the next four years.
Some of those picks will be used and others dealt for immediate help. A fast-rising cap has reduced the pool of high-end free agents available on July 1 because teams have plenty of space to re-sign their best players, so the trade market has become the place to go for talent.
“There’s not as big a bucket to shop from this summer, so I think having assets that are tradeable is good," Patrick said. "Are those trades going to happen? I don’t know. We hope. There tend to be names that become available for some reason or another.”
Plenty of elite prospects already in Washington's pipeline
The rare playoff misses and sell-offs have allowed Mahoney and his staff to infuse the organization with prospects from all over the world.
Already in the NHL are Ryan Leonard, the No. 8 pick in 2023, and fellow winger Ivan Miroshnichenko, a first-rounder the previous year. Defenseman Cole Hutson, selected 43rd in ‘24 is joining them this week after signing his entry-level contract Sunday fresh off his college season at Boston University ending. Ilya Protas, a find at No. 75 in that same draft, is leading the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears in scoring at the age of 19 and is close to following his older brother to Washington.
“I’m really happy with where we’re at,” said Mahoney, who been head of amateur scouting since 2000. “My guys have done a fantastic job of trying to kind of stockpile the shelves again.”
Protas, a 6-foot-5 center, might be able to slide into Dowd's old spot as soon as next season. Hutson is a dynamic, offensively minded right-handed shooter whose impending arrival in part paved the way for Carlson to go to the Ducks, because there's a succession plan in place.
"We felt a little bit more comfortable saying if we have to let a guy kind of towards the end of his career, in his mid-30s go, and could get good assets in return, hopefully we’re in a good spot,” Patrick said. “We won’t be right away, but within the next couple seasons hopefully we’re in a pretty good spot with where our younger guys have come.”
Mahoney, as he did in the late 2000s when the likes of Ovechkin, Backstrom, Mike Green and Alexander Semin were 20 and 21, would love to “speed up the clock” and fast-forward this next crop of prospects to being NHL ready. He knows that's not possible, acknowledging, “You’ve got to be patient and let it evolve.”
And yet the expectation still is to win now — and whenever Ovechkin hangs up his skates. The Capitals are confident the players who have studied under him will keep the positive culture going and trust that management will keep making moves to supplement the core already in place.
“No one can replace Alex Ovechkin and what he brings to a team,” Patrick said. “Those guys, they just want to know that we’re going to be a competitive team and when it’s time to push the chips in, we will."
Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz haven’t faced off against each other yet in the 2026 season.
Sinner did not have to beat Alcaraz in the final. But Sinner went on to break another record at Indian Wells when he beat Medvedev, becoming the first player since Roger Federer to win 20 matches in a row to start a season.
Sinner beat Medvedev, who had earlier ended Alcaraz’s 16-match unbeaten streak that stretched back to last year. Sinner then became just the sixth man in history to record a perfect 15-0 start to an ATP Tour calendar year, following his Australian Open triumph earlier this year.
Darren Cahill thinks Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could use more competition
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Before the Indian Wells final, Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill appeared on Sky Sports and spoke about his player’s rivalry with Alcaraz. The pair have combined to win the last nine Grand Slam titles, but Cahill believes that more players need to break through.
While he acknowledged that their head-to-head has been good for tennis, he pointed out that the ATP Tour would benefit from seeing a wider group of contenders emerge in the coming years.
“I think the rivalry has been good for everyone, especially as we have had the golden generation and Novak is still doing amazing things and Roger and Rafa and Andy no longer playing the game, to have two players step up and try to fill some of the size of the shoes they have left has been amazing for everybody,” said Cahill.
“The interest is there, the rivalry is great. Carlos being number one and Jannik number two at the minute gives Jannik something to chase, and so far he is doing a good job.
“I think the rivalry is something tennis needs. We need rivalries, and in fact, we need two or three more players to come through and create four or five players at the top of the game that week in and week out we see amazing tennis, and we see great tennis at the moment.”
Alcaraz has a chance to deny Sinner history at the Miami Open
Alcaraz will aim to bounce back from his loss to Medvedev as he heads to Miami, where he lifted the trophy back in 2022.
He’ll be motivated not only by a shot at another title but also by a chance to stand in the way of Sinner’s place in the record books.
Sinner now has a shot at becoming just the eighth man ever to complete the Sunshine Double, which means winning both Indian Wells and Miami in succession.
The elite list includes Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, who managed it an impressive four times. Others like Jim Courier, Michael Chang, and Marc Rosset did it before Indian Wells became an ATP Masters 1000 event.
If both players make it all the way through, Alcaraz could have his first chance to complete this rare achievement by preventing Sinner from doing it first.
The men’s singles draw gets started on Wednesday, 18 March, but since they’re both seeded players, neither will be in action until Friday at the earliest.
The Oklahoma Sooners have a long and storied history of great head coaches over the 131 seasons that the program has played football. From Bennie Owen to Bud Wilkinson, Chuck Fairbanks to Barry Switzer, and Bob Stoops to Lincoln Riley and Brent Venables, OU has had head ball coaches who have been among the most recognizable in the entire sport.
Oklahoma has had 23 full-time head coaches in the program's history, and those coaches have hired hundreds of assistants over the years. Many of those assistants are well-known for their time in Norman, and many of them went on to become head coaches elsewhere.
However, there are some major names in the coaching world that some fans may have forgotten spent at least one season coaching at Oklahoma. Though none of these eight coaches were ever OU's head coach, many of them went on to become head coaches for other teams long after their days with the Sooners had ended.
Here are eight coaches who worked at Oklahoma that you may have forgotten spent some time with the Sooners.
1. Jimmy Johnson (1970-1972)
The legendary Jimmy Johnson was the head coach at Oklahoma State before his incredibly successful run as Miami's head coach, winning the national title in 1987. Then, of course, he coached the NFL's Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl wins in the 1990s, assembling a dynasty in Big D.
Before all of that, Johnson was the defensive line coach at Oklahoma from 1970 to 1972 under Fairbanks. That led him to two stints as a defensive coordinator at Arkansas and Pittsburgh, before he landed the head gig in Stillwater that sent him on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
2. Mack Brown (1984)
You've probably heard this one, but Mack Brown's final stop before he was a head coach for decades was at Oklahoma as the offensive coordinator under Switzer in 1984. He would go on to be the head coach at Tulane and North Carolina, before he got the Texas gig in 1998.
Brown led OU's biggest rival until 2013, and came back to coach at North Carolina from 2019 to 2024. Fortunately for the Sooners, Stoops never had too much trouble with Brown in the Red River Rivalry, winning nine out of 15 matchups between the two. Both coaches walked away with one national title to their name.
3. Jim Donnan (1985-1989)
Former Marshall and Georgia head coach Jim Donnan spent five years as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator, working under both Switzer and his successor, Gary Gibbs. His time with the Sooners got him the job coaching the Thundering Herd, where he won a Division 1-AA title in 1992.
During his time with the Bulldogs (1996 to 2000), Donnan was reportedly one of athletic director Joe Castiglione's candidates to become Oklahoma's head coach after the 1998 season. Donnan and a slew of others lost out on the job to Stoops, Florida's defensive coordinator, and the rest is history.
4. Larry Coker (1990-1992)
Gibbs hired Larry Coker to replace Donnan as the OC in 1990, and he spent three seasons in Norman. The Oklahoma native left for another assistant gig at Ohio State, before taking the offensive coordinator job at Miami under Butch Davis.
Coker helped Davis turn the Hurricanes into a powerhouse again, and when Davis left for the NFL, Coker was chosen to replace him. He coached the 2001 national championship team for the Hurricanes, which is largely considered one of the greatest college football teams of all-time. He coaches the 'Canes until 2006.
5. Sam Pittman (1997-1998)
Sam Pittman is another Oklahoma native, and he was OU's offensive line coach under John Blake in 1997 and 1998. Pittman was regarded as an excellent o-line coach for decades, before he finally became Arkansas' head coach in 2020.
With the Razorbacks, Pittman oversaw some peaks and some valleys, but lasted five-plus seasons in Fayetteville before he was fired last season. Though his time at OU comes during a stint many fans would like to forget, Pittman has mentored some top-notch offensive linemen during his long coaching career.
6. Rex Ryan (1998)
Another Oklahoma native, Rex Ryan is obviously well-known for his time as the head coach of the NFL's New York Jets, where he led the team to consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009 and 2010. He was also the coach of the division-rival Buffalo Bills for two seasons in 2015 and 2016.
Before that though, Ryan was Blake's defensive coordinator during his final season in charge in 1998. Though that job lasted just one year, the polarizing coach parlayed it into a job with the Baltimore Ravens, where he rose through the ranks and became the defensive coordinator. His work in Baltimore got him the Jets job, where he led the franchise's most successful run in recent memory.
7. Steve Spurrier Jr. (1999-2001, 2016)
Steve Spurrier Jr. coached wide receivers at Oklahoma during the first three years of the Stoops era (1999-2001), helping the program win the national championship in 2000. His father was Stoops' final boss before he became a head coach, andson ended up spending two different stints in Norman.
After time in the NFL with Washington, a season at Arizona, and a long run at South Carolina, Spurrier spent the 2016 season as an offensive analyst, helping the Sooners win another Big 12 title. Though he has yet to become a head coach, Spurrier has worked for some coaching legends, and has had a couple of stints as an OC as well. He's currently an offensive analyst at Florida.
8. Bo Pelini (2004)
Here's another one you might already know about. Bo Pelini spent just one year at Oklahoma, serving as the co-defensive coordinator on Stoops' staff in 2004. He worked alongside Venables after Mike Stoops left to be the head coach at Arizona. He came to OU after being Nebraska's DC/interim head coach in 2003.
Pelini would then leave to be LSU's DC from 2005 to 2007, helping the Tigers win the national title in his final year in Baton Rouge. He would become the head coach at Nebraska the following season, where he lasted until 2014. He beat the Sooners just once during his time with the Cornhuskers, losing twice to his former boss Stoops.
Honorable Mention: Galen Hall (1966-1983)
Before Brown, Donnan, and Coker were at the controls of the offense in Norman, that honor was held by Galen Hall. He coached wide receivers under Jim Mackenzie and Fairbanks until Switzer got the head job after the 1972 season. Hall was promoted to offensive coordinator, where he served until he was not retained on Switzer's staff after the 1983 season.
From there, Hall became the OC at Florida, which lasted less than a year before he was promoted to head coach. He coached the Gators until 1989, and his replacement was none other than Steve Spurrier. After, stints coaching in various professional leagues, Hall was also the offensive coordinator at Penn State from 2004 to 2011.
Honorable Mention: Watson Brown (1993-1994)
Watson Brown was the head coach at Austin Peay, Cincinnati, Rice, and Vanderbilt before he was the offensive coordinator at OU for two seasons under Gibbs after Coker's departure. The '93 and '94 seasons were Gibbs' last two years at the helm in Norman before Howard Schnellenberger replaced him.
When Schnellenberger took over at OU, Brown took the head coaching job at UAB, where he served until 2006, when he left to take the Tennessee Tech job. He coached there until 2015.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
NFL Media reports that they have agreed to terms on a new deal with Sam Martin. It's a two-year contract worth up to $5 million.
Martin signed a one-year deal with the team as a free agent last offseason and handled the punting and holding duties in every game for the NFC South champs. Martin had an average of 40.5 net yards per punt in 2025.
Martin played for Buffalo, Denver and Detroit before heading to the Panthers. His career average is 41 net yards per kick over 13 NFL seasons.
The Panthers are also set to have kicker Ryan Fitzpatrick and long snapper J.J. Jansen back for the 2026 campaign.
Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa – ‘There are no sacred cows here’, ‘can’t give Guardiola tips’
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has told the press that none of his players receive special treatment under his watch. It contradicts the narrative that has followed Los Blancos this season, and despite his excellent handling of the first leg, Arbeloa said that he was in no position to give his counterpart Pep Guardiola advice.
“In the two months I’ve been here, I haven’t felt like there are any sacred cows. There are players like Valverde, Vinicius, and Tchouameni who have earned their minutes on the pitch; they aren’t sacred cows
“What all the youngsters from the academy are doing is performing at a very high level; they’re playing very well, which is what they know how to do. They’re very talented lads who are contributing a lot. When some players recover, I’ll have more options, and hopefully, we’ll be able to always field the most suitable eleven players.”
Fede Valverde and Arda Guler roles
The last three games have seen a more offensive version of Fede Valverde too, providing Los Blancos with five goals. Yet Arbeloa was keen for him to continue his production when he has more attacking options available.
“Fede can play in any position and he does really well everywhere. He’s at his best and he’s scoring. He has freedom of movement. When Bellingham and Mbappe return, we have to continue with this version of Fede.”
On the other hand, it has raised eyebrows that Arda Guler was one of the first players taken off against Manchester City, and was on the bench against Elche. He came on to score one of the goals of the season from his own half.
“The goal against Elche was spectacular. A fantastic goal. And that duel [marking him at corners] with Haaland… We have to defend the Norwegian, and the more people the better. But I think Arda did a good job, and let’s see if we can repeat that tomorrow.”
‘I’m in no position to give Guardiola advice’
Another surprise recently was Guardiola’s decision to give his players the day off before facing Los Blancos. Arbeloa was asked what he made of it.
“I think he explained it well this morning. It’s nothing new for them. It’s the 987th match that Guardiola has managed. I’m in no position to give him advice. It’s a team that knows each other very well; they play with their eyes closed because they’ve been together for so many years.”
Arsenal given encouragement to step up their interest in midfielder
Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Sandro Tonali as they continue to strengthen their midfield options ahead of the next transfer window. The Gunners have been proactive in improving their squad in recent seasons, and further reinforcements in the middle of the pitch appear to remain a priority for the club.
The Gunners added Martin Zubimendi to their midfield, and his arrival has contributed to an improvement in the team’s overall balance and control. Arsenal are determined to maintain that upward trajectory and are expected to continue reinforcing key areas of the squad.
Their interest in Tonali reflects that approach. Four Four Two reports that Arsenal have been encouraged to pursue a deal for the Italian midfielder, who is regarded as one of the most talented players in his position in European football.
Arsenal Monitoring Tonali Situation
According to the report, Tonali’s entourage is actively attempting to find a new club for the midfielder. They aim to secure a move to one of the leading teams in world football, a category that Arsenal are widely considered to belong to, given their recent progress.
Manager Mikel Arteta is believed to admire the qualities Tonali would bring to his squad. His technical ability, vision, and composure in midfield have made him one of the most highly rated Italian players of his generation. Bringing in a player of that calibre could provide Arsenal with additional depth and quality as they look to compete at the highest level.
Transfer Could Be Complicated
Despite Arsenal’s interest, completing a deal would not be straightforward. Tonali is currently at Newcastle United, and any move would likely involve a substantial transfer fee. The midfielder remains one of the standout performers at the club, which means Newcastle would be reluctant to allow him to leave easily.
However, Newcastle are enduring a disappointing season, which could complicate their efforts to retain some of their most important players. If the team struggles to meet expectations, convincing a player of Tonali’s quality to remain beyond the current campaign may prove difficult.
Even so, Arsenal would likely need to make significant financial adjustments to fund such a transfer. That could mean considering the sale of certain players in order to generate the resources required to bring Tonali to the Emirates Stadium.
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The next Jurgen Klopp is coming to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool
Arne Slot is destined to be replaced by the next Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
There is simply nothing left to redeem the Dutchman anymore. Slot's time at Liverpool will be coming to an end sooner or later.
His football is tepid, his excuses are tiring and there has been zero signs of improvement since the start of the season.
In fact since the turn of 2025, Liverpool have not been the same.
There is no excitement when it comes to games anymore. Fans are debating not even attending matches at Anfield.
Following Liverpool has become a chore. You can excuse the uninspiring and boring football if you get results but as soon as those results turn into draws and defeats, the fans will quickly turn on the manager.
It's clear now most people want a change. It simply has to happen and that is made all the more likely by the emergence of an exciting new manager following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp.
Many people yearn for the return of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. However, we all know that just isn't going to happen.
Instead, what may be far likelier is Liverpool moving towards a promising young manager who is being regarded as the next Klopp in Germany.
The Germans have long waited for a second-coming of Klopp. Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann were billed as such but none have lived up to his achievements.
His true heir is now finally arriving on the scene, though.
Meet Sebastian Hoeness. He's a former Hertha and Hoffenheim player who had to retire at an early age due to injuries. Since then he has been working as a coach getting his first big break as the manager of Bayern Munich's II team.
Hoeness then became the manager of Hoffenheim where he led the team to two mid-table finishes before parting ways.
His biggest role so far has been at Stuttgart, where he has transformed the club. When he arrived at the German side in April 2023, they were in the relegation zone.
Hoeness rescued them from the drop and over the course of the next few seasons he had turned Stuttgart into a challenger.
Last season, he led the side to a Europa League spot, where they recently battered Celtic away from home 4-1 in the knock-out round.
This season Hoeness' side have a genuine chance of qualifying for the Champions League, currently sitting in fourth place in the Bundeslig after beating RB Leipzig at the weekend.
They will also be one of the favourites in the Europa League, giving Honess the chance to do something remarkable with a side he literally lifted up from the very bottom of the league.
Only 43-years-old, his achievement at Stuttgart is akin to what Jurgen Klopp did with Borussia Dortmund and Mainz. There's also his demeanour. Like the former Liverpool boss, Hoeness loves to wear a baseball cap and he's very animated on the sidelines.
He's confident, has excellent man-management skills and has been able to get t he best out of all of his players.
At the same time, he's playing really attractive and eye-catching football with those key gegenpress principles.
In many ways, he seems like the perfect fit for Liverpool. And just like Klopp, it feels as though he is destined to manage at Anfield and replace Slot.
Van de Ven And Simons To Start | 4-2-3-1 Tottenham Hotspur Predicted Lineup Vs Atletico Madrid
Tottenham Hotspur will welcome Atletico Madrid at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Wednesday night as they look to earn a good result in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie. Spurs managed to grind out a 1-1 draw away at Liverpool recently, which should give them some confidence going into this game.
Igor Tudor will opt for the 4-2-3-1 formation and is expected to make some changes to his first team for this game. Micky van de Ven, Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons could all get the nod to impress from the start of this game.
4-2-3-1 Tottenham Hotspur Predicted Lineup To Face Atletico Madrid
Defence
Guglielmo Vicario will feature in between the sticks for the North London club after he conceded one goal in his last appearance. Kevin Danso will operate alongside Micky van de Ven at the heart of the Tottenham backline as they look to maintain a solid shape on the defensive end of the field.
Pedro Porro will try to put in a good performance as the right-back, while Djed Spence hopes to give a good account of himself on the other side as the left-back. Both of them will have to pick and choose their moments to join in on the attack.
Radu Dragusin will provide cover for the centre-back positions on the bench.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Kevin Danso of Tottenham during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on March 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Midfield
Archie Gray and Pape Matar Sarr will operate as the defensive midfielders as they try to make life tough for the visitors at the centre of the park.
The talented trio of Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani will function just ahead of them as part of Tudor’s attack. All three of them need to combine well if Spurs want to orchestrate enough chances to win this clash.
Souza and Callum Olusesi will make up the numbers on the bench as they await their chance to make an impact in the second 45 minutes if needed.
Attack
Dominic Solanke will lead the line for the London giants up top. He has to find a way to be a real threat in the final third.
Richarlison will be named on the bench and might come on to influence the game in the final quarter if Tottenham are in need of a goal by then.
College basketball fans are preparing for their favorite time of the year as the March Madness tournament is set to kick off this week with its first round of games.
Every year, the NCCA selects 68 Division 1 College basketball teams to participate in a single-elimination tournament throughout the month of March, with the men’s and women’s competitions held simultaneously.
Millions of people attempt to guess exactly how the tournament will shake out by creating their own bracket, predicting the results of each game until there’s one final winner.
While basketball fans may be ready to cheer on their favorite school, they can also enjoy some of the restaurant promotions that come with the big sporting event.
From Buffalo Wild Wings to Red Robin, here are all the best food deals during March Madness.
The March Madness Tournament consists of dozens of games until the final match is played April 6 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Buffalo Wild Wings
For tournament days, the chain is offering 20 boneless wings, large fries and four dips ranging from $17.99-$19.99, or traditional bone-in wings from $21.99-$24.99 using the Buffalo Wild Wings app or website.
KFC
KFC is offering its own deal on wings during March Madness, with 20 wings for $20 available online, in the chicken chain’s app and in-store.
Insomnia Cookies
From March 17 through March 20, the cookie chain will be offering a buy-one, get-one deal on its Classic cookies to anyone wearing college team apparel in-store.
Red Robin
Throughout the tournament, the fast casual restaurant chain is celebrating with five pounds of wings to-go for $49.99 in addition to offering a new $12 speciality burger for each week during the tournament — plus one week after.
As the weeks-long college tournament kicks off, restaurants are offering promotional deals to celebrate (Getty Images)
TGI Fridays
The chain is celebrating those who lost the March Madness competition by asking customers to show their busted bracket in exchange for six free chicken wings from March 15 through April 6.
Taco Bell
Through Grubhub, the fast food chain is offering a different reward for each week of the tournament. For the first and second rounds, customers can receive a free Chalupa Supreme on orders of $20 or more. For the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8, the reward becomes a free chicken or cheese quesadilla on orders of $22 or more.
The semifinal reward is a free Beefy Five-Layer Burrito on orders of $22 or more, and the final reward is a free order of nacho fries with the purchase of any taco and is $20 or more.
Moe's Southwest Grill
The Tex-Mex chain will be offering $5 off orders of $20 or more from March 19 through 22 and March 26 through 29.
Wendy's
Wendy’s is celebrating March Madness with its Dunks menu running in the store’s app from March 16 through April 6, where customers will automatically be entered to win $100,000, plus limited edition prizes, such as custom sneakers.
The fast food chain is also holding a Dunks for America promotion that will be launched when the first slam dunk takes place on the court during the men’s or women’s championship games. The deal includes a free Hot & Crispy Fries and a small chocolate or vanilla Frosty Classic in-restaurant April 7.
Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones was back in the Tigers’ lineup in Lakeland on Monday after spending the last two weeks with Team Korea, who was eliminated by the Dominican Republic in the WBC quarterfinals Friday.
“I couldn’t be more thankful,” said Jones, who made an immediate impact with a two-run single and a three-run double in the Tigers’ 13-6 spring win against the Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium on Monday. “If I ever get the chance again, I would love to do it. It meant so much to me and my family.”
Jones went to Japan for pool play with high expectations for what the experience would be like.
“It think it exceeded it, honestly,” he said. “I don’t think people prepare you for the emotions that you feel when you play in a tournament like that. I sure as heck wasn’t prepared for it. It couldn’t have been a better experience, not only for myself but for my family.
“It was a very emotional time, but one I am extremely grateful for.”
Jones’ mother is from Korea. She had never been to Japan before. Being able to share that journey with her, not to mention with his wife and 4-month-old baby, was priceless.
"It was some top moments, not only just baseball but also I felt like I became more well-rounded as a human being,” he said. “Just from being able to experience another culture.”
The baseball was pretty special, too. Jones started in left field in all five of Korea’s game, even producing a dramatic home run in one of the pool-play wins.
“It’s electric,” he said. “I loved it. It’s such a fun environment; so unlike the environment we play in here. For nine innings, the fans are full-go. Doesn’t matter what the score is, doesn’t matter the situation. …Amazing and it’s allowed me to come back even more excited to get our season started.”
If there was one thing that might’ve given Jones pause about playing in the WBC, it's that he's still competing for an Opening Day roster spot. Even though he played a vital role in the Tigers’ playoff run last season and has the inside track on the right-handed hitting bench job, he isn't taking anything for granted.
So leaving camp for two weeks, not always conducive to securing a spot, was a tough call. As it turned out, like manager AJ Hinch said, Jones’ ramp-up is probably farther along than most WBC participants because of how much he played.
“I went out there and right away we were playing nine-inning, meaningful games,” Jones said. “And you are taking every at-bat even more so because of the importance of it. You are in a different country, you have the name of a different country across your chest and you’re playing in an environment you’ve never played in before.
“You get put into an environment where you can feel the adrenaline, the emotion and the fire you want to feel getting ready to go into the season.”
He looked like he was game-ready Monday. He capped the Tigers’ seven-run first inning with a two-out, two-run single. He came to bat in the third inning with the bases loaded and lined one off the wall in left-center, clearing the bases.
The master's eyes
Justin Verlander was watching Jack Flaherty throw his slider in a bullpen session Saturday and asked if he ever considered trying to manipulate and elongate the horizontal shape of the pitch. Verlander, like Flaherty, has always relied on a tight slider.
But in recent years, he’s learned how to occasionally mix in a sweepier slider.
Out of that conversation, Flaherty did indeed mix in a couple of sweepier sliders Monday, in his 5-plus innings of work.
“There are certain days when you have a better feel for it and today was one of those days,” said Flaherty, who became the first Tigers’ starter to pitch into the sixth inning this spring. “Talking to Verlander, like, I can make it smaller and I can make it bigger. You work with what you got on certain things.”
He struck out Phillies shortstop Christian Cairo to end the second inning with a slider that swerved out of the zone. Earlier in that inning, he didn’t get one to swerve enough and Felix Reyes hit it out of the park for a three-run homer.
“Even that one felt good out of my hand,” he said. “It was a good pitch today. I will keep working with it and building off it and keep executing it better.”
The changeup has always been Flaherty’s least-used pitch (3% last year). Of his 71 pitches Monday, he threw 11 of them (17%). It’s a pitch he will typically use against lefties but the Phillies started only two lefties. So he threw six changeups to right-handed hitters.
“I’ve got to throw it somehow,” he said. “I need to be able to execute it and in a game like this, we just have to find places to throw it.”
Game bits
The Tigers have scored 25 runs in the last two days. Spencer Torkelson ignited the offense both days. He hit a three-run homer in Tampa on Sunday and had another homer (424 feet to center) and an RBI double Monday. Riley Greene had three hits.
…Kevin McGonigle, Philadelphia native who had 50 family members and friends in attendance, rewarded them with a long, 437-foot, three-run home run in the first inning. He hit a first-pitch slider and drove it beyond the bullpens and over the concourse in right field. He also drew two walks, the last with the bases loaded. McGonigle raised his spring OPS to 1.096.
… Parker Meadows had a busy day. He made three long running catches in center. The best came on a slicing drive by right-handed hitter Otto Kemp. Meadows was shaded to the left-center gap and Kemp hit it up into a 20-mph wind blowing it out toward right-center. Meadows was able to run it down. He also doubled (off a lefty), singled, walked twice and scored twice. “Probably his best day of the spring,” Hinch said. “And very rewarding for all the work he’s doing.”
... Meadows' baserunning was electric, too. He stole a run in the first inning, smartly bolting for home after he saw the cutoff throw go to second base. In the third he scored from first on Jones' double and he nearly ran down Jace Jung, who had started on second base.
… Right-hander Beau Brieske was on the pitching list Monday but was held out of the game. When asked about it, Hinch said the medical update would be released on Tuesday.
…Hinch also announced that Framber Valdez would be the No. 2 starter after Tarik Skubal in the regular-season rotation. There had been some thought to splitting up the two lefties. Hinch said he had not yet determined the rest of the order. But if things stay as they are, Verlander would be third with Casey Mize and Flaherty in the four and five spots.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 14: Zaire Franklin #44 of the Indianapolis Colts reacts against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Since the Green Bay Packers traded for their new projected starting Mike linebacker Zaire Franklin, he had no remaining guarantees left on his deal. In theory, he could have been a very flexible piece for the Packers this summer, as they could have chosen to move off him, via a release or trade, before his 2026 salary was guaranteed in Week 1, as a vested veteran of the league.
Instead, the Packers have already touched Franklin’s contract, giving him some extra money and guarantees. Presumably, this was either a do-right decision or to avoid a potential holdout situation, since the move does not benefit Green Bay financially or cap-wise in any way.
Ultimately, the Packers gave Franklin a $2 million raise in 2026 and guaranteed $3.75 million of the total money due for him (in the form of a signing bonus that he didn’t previously have) while keeping his 2027 cash flow flat. Moving forward, Franklin will have a $7.1 million cap hit in 2026, but now the team would only save $3.38 million on the cap if they moved on from Franklin before Week 1, compared to the $7 million that was an option prior. In 2027, he will carry a $10.9 million cap hit. He’ll bring in $9 million in cash in both 2026 and 2027.
Green Bay kept him on a two-year deal without adding any void years, either.
In other previously not-reported news, safety Xavier McKinney received a $1.5 million roster bonus in 2027 as part of his contract restructure that created cap space for Green Bay this offseason. Because the Packers kicked the can on McKinney’s money, they’re highly incentivized to give him a new contract next year to lower his cap hit. With the new roster bonus, they’re also compelled to make the decision early in the 2027 offseason, before the bonus triggers, instead of dragging it out. It seems like his camp wanted to protect him from a Jaire Alexander-type situation.
📸 Igor Thiago marks first Brazil call up with latest PL goal vs. Wolves 💪
Igor Thiago has been having the season of his life and today might just be the best day of his entire career.
The striker was called up by Brazil for the very first time hours before Brentford kicked off against Wolves.
He then celebrated by bagging his 19th goal of a brilliant Premier League season for both him and the Bees, who can go to within two points off the top five with a win tonight.
It might just have been his easiest too as he tapped into an empty net after a brilliant long ball by Caoimhín Kelleher was collected by Dango Ouattara and played into the path of Thiago.
Here's the goal in all its glory for UK and Irish users.
It also means the Brazilian is now just one goal off equalling Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney's goal record in a top flight season for Brentford.
With the World Cup less than three months away, could Thiago yet be Carlo Ancelotti's main man up top this summer?
A miracle run to the semifinals for Team Italy is what makes the World Baseball Classic great. But if the Italians want the espresso shots to keep flowing, they’ll have to beat Ronald Acuna Jr. and Venezuela tonight.
My Venezuela vs. Italy predictions and World Baseball Classic best bets tell you why the Italians' time is up at this tournament.
Don't miss first pitch at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
Venezuela vs Italy prediction
Venezuela vs Italy best bet: Venezuela -1.5 (-120 at DraftKings)
What made Venezuela's 8-5 win over Japan impressive was that Ronald Acuna & Co. got to some of the best pitchers in the world, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Nola was great in his start against Mexico, but this Venezuela lineup is deeper with Maikel Franco and the Contreras Bros. aiding Acuna. The Italian relievers have been shaky behind their starters, too.
The Venezuelan bullpen quartet of Jose Butto, Andrew Machado, Angel Zerpa, and Daniel Palencia haven't allowed a run in 15 2/3 innings while striking out 17.
The Italian bats have taken them far, but no more espresso after today.
This semifinal is a matchup of two of the most productive offenses in the World Baseball Classic, which is why we’re getting a total of 10. But that number is inflated.
Nola didn’t allow a run in four innings against Mexico, and while he’s coming off a tough year with the Phillies, he’s still regarded as one of the better pitchers in the National League.
Keider Montero is just 25 years old but had a bit of a breakout with the Tigers in the postseason, allowing just two hits and no runs in 8 1/3 innings over five appearances.
Ronald Acuna Jr. star player prop
Ronald Acuna Jr. best bet: 1+ home runs (+340 at DraftKings)
If you’re looking for a home run bet, the last leg of our same-game parlay is also worth a single wager. Acuna has great career numbers vs. Nola with a 1.024 OPS with four home runs in 52 career at-bats against the Phillies starter.
Venezuela vs Italy opening odds
Moneyline: Venezuela -185 | Italy +145
Run line: Venezuela -1.5 (-120) | Italy +1.5 (+100)
Over/Under: Over 10 (-115) | Under 10 (-105)
How to watch Venezuela vs Italy and game info
Location
LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL
Date
Monday, March 16, 2026
First pitch
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FS1
Venezuela starting pitcher
Keider Montero
Italy starting pitcher
Aaron Nola
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
After being out for nearly two months, the Oklahoma City Thunder have thrown Ajay Mitchell right into the thick of things. Back-to-back rare starts provided the 23-year-old a chance to make up for lost time in a pair of wins over high-quality opponents.
The Thunder capped off a strong four-game homestand with a 116-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Usually in a Sixth Man role, Mitchell started alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It's a spoil of riches to opt with him over a probable All-Defense Team member Cason Wallace.
Mitchell finished with 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting, five rebounds and three assists. While the scoring wasn't there, he helped slow down Anthony Edwards — who was quiet with 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting and six turnovers.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault explained why they promoted Mitchell with two starts. He's had 12 starts among his 82 career games. Including 11 in 46 games this season. While OKC usually has a constantly shifting starting lineup, his minutes with Gilgeous-Alexander always produce.
“We’re going to need him and he’s not played a ton of games despite being a high-impact player,” Daigneault said. “So, the opportunity to get him out early in the game in some of these high-level games is an opportunity we want to take advantage of right now.”
Among OKC's two-man lineups with 600-plus minutes logged together, the Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell combo easily sports the best net rating at a plus-20.5. That's a weapon the Thunder will likely lean on in the NBA playoffs. It's the perfect mix of scoring and defense.
“A guy that can go make a play at any given time,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “A guy that can pass, dribble, shoot at a high level, on a basketball floor and also defend. Having guys like that on the court is a luxury. You kinda have no holes out there when he's out on the court from his position standpoint. So, it's a luxury having him out there. I don't think we've lost since he's been back, and it's no surprise."
Bringing back mostly the same group from last year's NBA champion, Mitchell has popped off the most. He went from a decent two-way rookie to an integral part of OKC's success this season. Being an efficient 14-point scorer has helped the Thunder overcome an unending supply of injuries.
It'll be interesting to see how Mitchell looks in his first real playoff run. Last year, he was mostly on the bench as he missed three months with a toe injury. By the time he returned, it was too late to knock off any rust before the playoffs started. This year, that won't be the case.
If this four-game sweep of a homestand taught us anything, though, it's that Mitchell should help OKC's back-to-back title ambitions. The talent is too overwhelming to let inexperience get in the way.
Coming into the 2026 NFL offseason, there were a few clear goals for the Cleveland Browns in free agency and the trade market.
While wide receiver was a need, the bigger need, by far, was the offensive line. The entire line was hitting free agency. The Browns needed to completely rebuild the OL.
For Bleacher Reports Alex Ballentine, the Browns offseason so far can be summarized in one word: "Rebuilt." This 1-word assessment is exactly what the Browns were hoping to hear, as their offseason moves have done exactly what they set out to do: rebuild the OL.
Browns get welcome 'rebuilt' description of offseason
"Cleveland Browns: Rebuilt," Ballentine writes. "The offensive line was in need of new blood, and the Browns delivered. Acquiring three competent starters on a limited budget isn't an easy task, yet Andrew Berry pulled it off with Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson, and Elgton Jenkins coming to Cleveland."
Through the opening portion of the offseason, just one week in, and the Browns have already filled in three of the starting spots along the offensive line.
Zion Johnson signed for $49.5 million, maybe a slight overpay, but for a starting-caliber left guard, that could be a solid deal if he can play better than he did with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Cleveland also signed a new center in Elgton Jenkins, agreeing on a two-year, $24 million deal. It's a very reasonable contract for Jenkins, who was let go by the Green Bay Packers this offseason.
The biggest move they made was the trade for right tackle Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans. They sent a 2026 fifth-rounder, and then agreed to a contract extension, making his new deal come in at $63 million over the next three years.
With the signing of Teven Jenkins, the Browns added a starting-caliber right guard to the roster. Dawand Jones is currently slotted into the left tackle spot, but if the Browns want to upgrade, they will have some good options at 6th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
They did lose Devin Bush to the Chicago Bears this offseason, but they answered with Quincy Williams signing a two-year deal to join the linebacker room.
Overall, through the first week of the offseason, the Browns have done exactly what they needed to do: rebuild the offensive line. Add on a few other nice additions, and this is a great start to the offseason for the Browns.
The 2019 NFL draft presented the New York Giants' front office with an opportunity to select defensive end Maxx Crosby in the later rounds. Instead, the Giants chose defensive end Oshane Ximines with the No. 95 overall pick in the third round.
Ximines spent five seasons with the Giants from 2019 to 2023. However, the New York native started only nine of the 48 games he played for the team. He concluded his Giants tenure—and his NFL career—with 6.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits.
The Giants passed on the chance to draft from a strong 2019 class that included a pair of standout performers—one of them a defensive end—instead of selecting Ximines.
Top pick in hindsight: DE Maxx Crosby
Selected by the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 106 overall pick (fourth round).
Crosby remained available when the Giants made their selection at No. 95. The then-Oakland Raiders ultimately took him at No. 106. He recorded 10.0 sacks in his rookie season alone. Now 28, the Michigan native is widely regarded as one of the NFL's top defensive ends. He has earned two second-team All-Pro honors in his career and finished fourth in AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2023.
Other players of note
LB Quincy Williams - (New York Jets)
Selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 98 overall pick.
Another notable player the Giants could have drafted was linebacker Quincy Williams, now with the New York Jets (and recently signed by the Cleveland Browns as of 2026). The Murray State product earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2023 while playing for the Jets.
The St. Louis Cardinals are fully committed to rebuilding, and have totally blown up their team. One place they haven’t blown up is the manager, as Oliver Marmol heads into his fifth season with the team.
FanSided’s Jake Elman believes that if the Cards decide to move on from their skipper as well, they might not have to look far for a replacement. He predicts St. Louis can call on a former legend that played for the team and currently works for them in Yadier Molina, who’s currently Venezuela’s manager in the World Baseball Classic.
“We saved our third and final reunion for last, but for good reason. Molina is currently a special assistant under president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, and he’s managed internationally in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League. Sometimes, the fit is simply obvious: Molina remains a beloved figure among Cardinals fans with managerial experience. Besides, it’s not like players-turned-managers don’t succeed if they join their former teams. The Dodgers brought Dave Roberts back, and he’s won three titles over his 10 years as manager. Boone isn’t perfect, though he’s regularly made the postseason with the Yankees. Mark Kotsay has kept the Athletics afloat and competent amid a disastrous few years. What’s stopping Molina from being next up to thrive?,” Elman wrote.
Currently, Venezuela is doing great in the WBC, making it to the semifinals and playing undefeated Italy tonight. If they were to win, and somehow beat the U.S. in the finals, St. Louis might have to really consider switching leadership.
Molina would satisfy fans immensely as he was a favorite back in the day, and he has tons of experience with success. The man has won two World Series, was an All-Star ten times, and a Gold Glove nine times.
With that in mind, Molina could help craft their young core into a true contender. If the Cards are smart, they’ll let him know immediately if they decide to part ways with Marmol.
A little under two months after Washington Huskies secondary coach John Richardson extended an offer to one of the top-rated defensive backs on the West Coast, four-star Julius "Juju" Johnson, a product of Long Beach Poly High School in Southern California, is expected to make a trip up to Seattle soon.
Although it's unclear whether he'll be visiting in an official or unofficial capacity, getting the 5-foot-11, 170-pound prospect on campus is a good sign that the Huskies have made up some ground in the hunt for his commitment.
Johnson, who is ranked as the nation's No. 65 overall prospect and No. 8 cornerback in the 2027 class by the 247Sports Composite, has set up official visits to Miami (May 29), Nebraska (June 4), Oklahoma (June 12), and UCLA (June 19), while he's also reportedly lined up trips to California and Michigan.
Johnson currently holds a crystal ball to choose coach Brent Venables and the Sooners, however, the Huskies may be attempting to sell the talented prospect, who holds 22 offers, on the aggressive style that Richardson teaches and defensive coordinator Ryan Walters has found ways to maximize on the outside throughout his career.
"Johnson is one of the most versatile athletes in the ’27 class. He could play corner, safety, or receiver at the college level and is a legit high-major college prospect at all three spots," former 247Sports analyst Greg Biggins wrote in his evaluation. "He’s a twitchy athlete who has both short area quickness and top end speed, and always comes with a high compete level and toughness. At receiver, he runs well after the catch and is a game breaker with the ball in his hands."
"He plays a lot of safety as well as corner and makes plays wherever he lines up. He has more of a corner frame, and that’s probably where his upside is highest. He may only be 5-foot-10, but has a 77” wing(span) and can really run. He’s a standout in track and has run personal best times of 10.50-100 meters and 21.25-200m."
Darius Slay announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons on Monday, ending a run of dominance that included two Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl win, and an All-Pro selection for a talented cornerback. The Eagles traded third- and fifth-round picks in the 2020 NFL draft to the Lions, plus signing Darius Slay to a contract extension that made him among the highest-paid CBs in the NFL. Prior to joining the Eagles, Slay led the NFL with 82 passes broken up since 2015 and was one of just two cornerbacks named to 3 straight Pro Bowls (Jalen Ramsey).
Slay is a six-time Pro Bowl honoree (2018, '19, '20, '22, '23, '24) and was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2017.
Eric Allen has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, but Slay could be the next greatest Eagles cornerback ever. In all, Slay made 74 starts, logged nine interceptions, 56 passes defended, three Pro Bowl selections, an All-Pro selection, and a Super Bowl championship.
Slay has always hinted that 2025 could be his final NFL season, and after being waived by Pittsburgh and claimed by Buffalo, the Pro Bowl cornerback was done. Slay was released to make room for Asante Samuel Jr. on the Steelers' roster. Slay decided not to report to Buffalo, and he'll depart the NFL despite saying he'd answer for only the Eagles if a team needed cornerback help next season.
NFL players across the league congratulated Slay after he announced his retirement following 13 seasons, praising the veteran cornerback for his impact on and off the field.
We’re now less than two weeks away from Opening Day, and the Yankees have a few choices left to make regarding their roster. Namely, they’re whittling down who on the pitching staff is going to be heading with the team to San Francisco, and then based off of that deciding if they’re going to carry an extra infielder or not. On top of that, they’re waiting for the rest of their players to return from the World Baseball Classic, which will be wrapping up tomorrow, freeing them to start making more of the expected cuts to their spring camp.
As we approach the start of the 2026 season, it’s time to start nailing down the final pieces of the puzzle. Who will be the last handful of relievers that the Yankees carry with them to start the year? Will they opt for a shorter bullpen to give themselves an extra position player on the bench, and if they do how do they solve things once the off-days shorten up? How well do you expect the team to do in their opening month or so, and will the early standings be favorable or an uphill battle? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of March 19th will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. | NBAE via Getty Images
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s second declared deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires Monday night.
Will a new deal done by then?
After Sunday’s session, which began at noon, concluded around 3 a.m. ET, Engelbert told the on-scene reporter assemblage of ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile, the AP’s Doug Feinberg and The IX Sports’ Jackie Powell:
We’ve got progress for sure. We’re gonna keep going. We’re gonna get this deal done.
Negotiations began Sunday morning at roughly noon, so another 12+ hour day.
“Progress” was the word of the night with negotiations set to continue tomorrow. https://t.co/8ZyzxypWO5
Deb Willig, outside counsel for the WNBPA, offered similar assessment later on Monday, noting that real progress had been achieved and that term sheet could be agreed to within the next 15 to 20 hours.
Just spoke to Terri Jackson & outside counsel Deb Willig.
Both said big issues remain. But for the first time, Willig believes they can now say "we've made some progress."
Adds she "would hope" a term sheet gets done the next 15-20 hours but it's been an unusual negotiation
However, WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson, while agreeing that the sides have made progress, resisted engaging in too much positivity, telling reporters before Monday’s session:
There are deadlines, arbitrary ones, that the league has set, and then there’s a season schedule that has its own milestones. Absolutely, we recognize that, and we respect those.
But do we also recognize that these are big-time negotiations, and so there may be a need to adjust? Absolutely. And the players, more importantly, recognize that, understand that, and are prepared for it as they always have been.
Day 7: Progress has been made but there’s still work to do on big issues according to WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson.
Both sides are picking discussions back up shortly.
The latest round of negotiations began at 2 p.m. ET on Monday, less than 12 hours after Sunday’s session wrapped up. The WNBA and WNBPA have continued to engage in near non-stop negotiations since the passage of the first league-imposed deadline of March 10, exceeding 72 hours of bargaining.
Engelbert herself acknowledged that the latest deadline in not absolute, expressing to reporters:
Can things move 24 to 48 hours? Sure. But not much more before you start to look at can we open training camp up?
The commissioner declined to indicate whether training camp delays could be announced, only saying, “I wish I knew the answer.”
The WNBPA, however, remains committed to achieving a “transformational” CBA, and at the core of that goal is revenue sharing.
Based on the comments of WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike the two sides did not begin to broach this major point of contention until the weekend’s bargaining session. Housing policy, another preeminent priority for the players, also moved to the top of the agenda over the weekend. Prior to that, when the two sides had exchanged 15 proposals, the focus had been on other issues. As Ogwumike told reporters during a break on Saturday:
It’s very important for us to nail those two things down, which is I think the biggest thing on the agenda today. So we want to make sure that we can get that.
Nneka Ogwumike told us the biggest things on the agenda today are to nail down rev share & housing.
This comes after both sides spent a lot of time the past few days working through the more ancillary issues.
"There's still work to do, but ultimately we want to get this done."
We’ve talked a lot about revenue share, which that’s obviously going to be, I don’t even really like calling it the elephant in the room. Like it’s there, you know, like we’re going to talk about it.
She additionally underscored why an equitable housing policy is essential for the WNBPA, saying:
The fact we are here talking about housing shows that we care about every single player—in the same way that we do about revenue share. It’s very important for us to nail those two things down, which is the biggest thing on the agenda today.
Day 6: Not much to report right now other than the main focus is hammering out rev share.
Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner are back in the building along with Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier.
Progress has been made but rev share is obviously what a deal…
On the players’ side, Ogwumike and fellow WNBPA executive committee members Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier were present for all of the the weekend’s meetings. On Sunday, executive committee members Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner, who had departed before the conclusion of Friday’s session, returned to rejoin the proceedings.
Based on the most recent publicly-reported details, the league is firmly holding to a revenue sharing model that would provision 70 percent of net revenue to players. That’s estimated to be less than 15 percent of gross revenue. Players are seeking 26 percent of gross revenue; their original ask was reported to be 40 percent of gross revenue.
Willig, the outside counsel with 50 years of experience with labor negotiations, called the negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA “unusual,” further explaining:
I think the why, frankly, is because the league underestimated, seriously, the resolve of the players and what they sought to achieve.
We also spoke with PA outside counsel Deb Willig, who said that after 50 years in labor negotiations, this has been an “unusual” one.
“I think the why, frankly, is because the league underestimated, seriously, the resolve of the players & what they sought to achieve,” she said.
Jackson likewise asserted, “I’m certain that this is a fight that is meaningful to [the players], and that they are committed to it and to the end, and that they will hit that goal.”
‘She can change a game very quickly’ – Brighton boss Vidošić mindful of James threat
Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Dario Vidošić says that his side will have to be alert to the threat of Chelsea forward Lauren James when the two sides meet at Kingsmeadow on Wednesday evening.
The Seagulls face The Blues in a rearranged fixture off the back of Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the Subway Women’s League Cup final on Sunday.
Forward James starred for Chelsea in the showpiece, netting the first goal and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Vidošić says that his side need to be switched on to the player’s threats on Wednesday.
“She’s a very good player,” Vidošić said when speaking in the pre-match press conference. “She’s one that when she gets the ball, your heart stops for a little bit. She has that ability to change games and even yesterday, she looks for the space, gets on the ball and is very hard to stop in terms of how she moves with the ball, how she carries the ball, how she brings others into play and dribbling.
“She possesses a lot of strengths, so we will have to be aware of that, especially with her movement and other players fill the nine. It’s something that we have to be aware of.
“She’s a fantastic player, as was witnessed yesterday. She can change a game very quickly.”
Chelsea’s long grip on the Barclays Women’s Super League title looks set to end this season but Vidošić still thinks that The Blues will be eager to play catch up on leaders Manchester City.
He said “It’s not easy, it’s hard for a team to dominate year-on-year. We have to give credit to [Manchester] City and the other teams that have pushed them, even throughout those six years but they’ve always found a way of getting into that number one place.
“At the minute, they’re not in the place that they want to be but yesterday, I’m sure they were very happy with the outcome, it was a good win. [Manchester] City slipping up at the weekend is going to put even more emphasis on a positive result to keep catching up. For us, we want to go there and get the three points, so it’s set up for a really good game.”
With two games in-hand, Brighton & Hove Albion could yet claim a top half of the table finish but Vidošić is only focusing on the here and now.
He said “It’s one for the end of the season. I’m never one to look at the fixtures ahead, it’s full concentration on Wednesday night. We want to get that one [won], so we are not taking anyone more or less [seriously], it’s always equal.
“I’ve thought a little bit about Liverpool but not a lot. It’s full preparation for Wednesday. Every game, we set out to win and then at the end of the season, we will see where we are.”
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Chelsea kicks-off at 7pm on Wednesday evening.
Expectations were already high when the school year began for freshmen AJ Dybantsa, Jane Hedengren, Kihei Akina and Bear Bachmeier — and months later, BYU’s “Fantastic Four” are still firing on all cylinders.
In just the last week, Dybantsa made history at the Big 12 Tournament, Hedengren won two national titles at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Akina turned heads on the PGA Tour and Bachmeier marched the football team deeper into his first spring practice.
These are different times at BYU with different athletes.
Adding to their appeal is the fact that each one has immersed themselves in their own BYU experience — athletically, academically and spiritually. In the last month, Dybantsa has talked more enthusiastically to TV broadcasters about his Book of Mormon class than about being the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
These four are not all of the same faith, but they are believers in themselves and what BYU can do for them. In many ways, they are walking billboards, uniquely aligned in a quest for excellence that gives Cougar athletics the kind of street cred that will attract others just like them.
AJ Dybantsa
By burying a last-minute 3-point shot against Houston on Thursday, Dybantsa broke Kevin Durant’s long-standing Big 12 Tournament scoring record with 93 points in three days. He watched his stock spike to the top of the NBA draft board and he is receiving first-team All-America accolades by one national outlet after another.
With eight points during Thursday’s NCAA Tournament game, Dybantsa, the nation’s leading scorer, will become the second highest scorer in a single season in BYU history — a basketball history that dates back to 1902.
What makes Dybantsa endearing to so many is the fact that the Big 12 Freshman of the Year is as humble as he is confident. He plays like a selfless senior but is only months removed from being 18, and even after the rigors of playing 40 minutes, whether BYU wins or loses, Dybantsa will stand with the fans and sign autographs until everybody has one.
As a young boy, when he wasn’t pretending to be Spider-Man, Dybantsa was dreaming of playing in the Big Dance — a dream that will come true Thursday and where he will proudly represent Cougar Nation when he steps onto the court.
Jane Hedengren
When it comes to distance running, nobody is faster than Jane Hedengren, at least in the 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters. At her first NCAA indoor national championships on Friday, Hedengren finished first in 15:00.12 — three seconds faster than the runner-up. The win earned her First Team All-America status and brought BYU its first indoor individual title since 2022.
BYU's Jane Hedengren holds the trophy after winning the women's 5,000-meter race at the NCAA indoor championships on Friday, March 13, 2026, in Fayetteville, Ark.
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Emma Thomas, BYU Photo
Last fall, Hedengren raced three times during the cross-country regular season and won all three. She ran to the Big 12 individual title in record-setting form and finished second behind an Alabama senior at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Even while running like a gazelle, the Timpview grad and freshman phenom remains grounded — loyal to her teammates, her family and her faith. She is a nice champion, friendly and courteous — a dream to coach according to Diljeet Taylor.
Hedengren is having a year for the ages and BYU’s outdoor season hasn’t even started yet. So long as there is good health ahead, additional championships, even gold medals seem well within her grasp.
Kihei Akina
With his first shot at the Puerto Rico Open on March 5 and his last putt at the R.E. Lampkin Invitational on March 10, BYU freshman Kihei Akina did more in six days than most golfers will accomplish in a lifetime.
BYU golfer Kihei Akina on the first tee during an NCAA golf tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark.
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Michael Woods, Associated Press
An impressive -10 earned Akina a top 20 (T-16) and best amateur finish at the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open. Days later, the Lone Peak High grad won his first collegiate title by one stroke at the Lampkin Invitational in San Diego.
The flurry of flights, car rentals, hotel food and minimal sleep did nothing to frustrate his confidence and concentration — traits molded by his family. The soft-spoken, faith-driven, straight-driving youngster has winning in his blood.
Even before his first class at BYU, Akina’s mystique in Provo was already growing as he claimed the Larry H. Miller Utah Open on Aug. 17 at Riverside Country Club. With a stunning 17-under total, Akina became the youngest champion in the 99-year history of the tournament.
He and the Cougars will take their swings at the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational in Napa Valley, California, on March 23-24 as Akina’s freshman year continues to pick up speed.
Bear Bachmeier
BYU has been playing football for over 100 years, but Bear Bachmeier turned 2025 into a season of firsts. Not only did he become the first true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for the Cougars, but he also became the first to win 12 games, the first to take BYU to the Big 12 championship tilt and the first to earn a No. 11 ranking in the season ending AP Top 25.
Along the way, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound teen ran past the likes of Taysom Hill and Steve Young to set the program record for most quarterback touchdown runs in a season (11). Additionally, Bachmeier was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week seven times, which culminated with Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors.
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier throws a pass during spring practice on Feb. 27, 2026.
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Aaron Cornia/BYU Photo
As he did it, he remained true to his humble persona. Even in the wake of so much early success, Bachmeier regularly deflects individual praise toward his teammates. He credits the coaches for his development and honors his family with his demeanor.
Having joined the Cougars last summer, Bachmeier is midway through his first spring camp with expectations soaring for his sophomore season.
Signature moments
Dybantsa, Hedengren, Akina and Bachmeier are just kids, but they are team-first and capable of individual conquests; each has a signature moment from their freshman year.
Leading 17-14 late in the fourth quarter, Bachmeier, dragging Utah defenders along the way, ran 22 yards for a touchdown to put the game away for BYU.
Trailing 43-22 at halftime to Clemson at Madison Square Garden in New York, Dybantsa came alive in the second half to bring the Cougars back. The 6-foot-9 all-purpose player outscored the Tigers by himself 22-21 in the second half. He finished with 28 points and set the table from Rob Wright’s buzzer-beater to win the game 67-64.
Running at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston, Hedengren turned in the fastest time in the 5,000-meter in NCAA history (14:44.79) and the second fastest by an American — ever.
Firing the lowest 54-hole score of his career (14 under) Akina charged back from five shots down on the final day of the R.E. Lampkin Invitational in San Diego. Calm and determined, Akina sank a birdie putt on the final hole to win his first collegiate championship by one stroke.
None of these “Fantastic Four” athletes are perfect and while they are each driven by a team-first mentality, their individual abilities have them breathing rare air, and the rarity of all four competing like they are at BYU has made this year second to none — even fantastic.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) speaks with a Red Bull sitting in front of him during a press conference after BYU defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 68-48 in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
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Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.
As co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States are set to embark on one of the most important months in men's national team history.
Led by Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT is gearing up to push for a legendary performance on home soil, aiming to use this tournament as a springboard for exponential growth in soccer popularity across the country.
A big part in determining their success in such an endeavor will be the performances on the pitch, as the USMNT aims to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup for the second time in history and first since 2002.
The Sporting News brings you a look at the U.S. depth chart with mere months until the start of the World Cup on June 11, with the USMNT set to get their tournament under way in Group D play the following day.
It is unclear whether Pochettino will be able to call in 26 players to the FIFA World Cup, or if rosters will be restricted to 23 individuals.
In recent decades, the FIFA World Cup traditionally has featured 23-player squads. However, FIFA increased the size to 26 players for the 2022 World Cup "because of its unique timing [being moved to December] and the disruptive effects caused by COVID-19."
While there has been no announcement or indication whether FIFA will revert back to the status quo or keep the expanded size, the general assumption seems to be that the 26-player squad will be adopted permanently, given the increase in player load across professional football in recent years. Thus, we are progressing under this assumption unless reports to the contrary begin to filter through.
There is also a report from mid-October that claimed FIFA is exploring the expansion of World Cup rosters all the way up to 30 players. If this happens, the following four players could see their way into the mix.
Position breakdown for USMNT 2026 World Cup roster
Goalkeepers
Locks: Matt Freese
In the mix: Chris Brady, Jonathan Klinsmann, Patrick Schulte, Zack Steffen, Matt Turner
On the outside: Drake Callender, Roman Celentano, Ethan Horvath, Diego Kochen
Matt Turner had been the incumbent goalkeeper since breaking into the squad at the 2021 Gold Cup, and was the starter at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, after moving back from Europe to MLS in an effort to find more game time, his spot has been challenged by Matt Freese who himself has been a favorite of Pochettino since his selection at the 2025 Gold Cup.
It appears now that Freese has undoubtedly taken over for Turner as the supposed starter. In fact, Turner's lengthy absence from national team duty calls into question if he will even be brought in when the World Cup comes around.
The third-string position is a complete unknown. Patrick Schulte and Jonathan Klinsmann seem to be the two favorites, but Chris Brady could also be the final selection in the end.
In the mix: Noahkai Banks, George Campbell, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty
On the outside: Tristan Blackmon, Nathan Harriel, Jalen Neal, Erik Palmer-Brown, Jackson Ragen, Walker Zimmerman
The center-back position is wide-open with the U.S. national team at the moment, with just Chris Richards the only guaranteed starter. At 38 years old, Tim Ream remains a steady and consistent option, even as he has lost a step and becomes a bit more mistake-prone with age.
Beyond them, it's impossible to know who will make the roster, especially as the position opens up a bit with Pochettino seeming to consider a three-at-the-back tactical approach. Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson have received significant playing time under Pochettino and appear to have an edge as well, even if his performances haven't been terribly convincing.
Behind those four, it's unclear who is in contention. George Campbell has immediately established himself as a regular starter for West Brom after moving from CF Montreal, but still sits on just one international cap coming back in January of 2025.
Look out for young Noahkai Banks who was called in to his first international camp in September. The 18-year-old scored his first professional goal in early October, and if he begins to earn more playing time at his German club Augsburg, he could crop up as a late contender. Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered an Achilles injury in November that threatens his availability in the lead-up to the World Cup, leaving him likely on the outside.
Full-backs
Locks: Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman
In the mix: Joe Scally, John Tolkin
On the outside: Marlon Fossey, DeJuan Jones, Kristoffer Lund, Caleb Wiley
Well established as one of the best left-backs in Europe, Antonee Robinson is one of the first names on the USMNT team-sheet when fully fit. On the right, Sergino Dest has battled injuries over the past year and may not be the lock to start he once was considered, but he is still a no-brainer for at least a roster spot if healthy.
It certainly feels as though Max Arfsten and Alex Freeman have put themselves into a pole position for a World Cup roster spot after endearing themselves to Pochettino through 2025. Their strong performances in Pochettino's system seem to indicate they are in a pole position.
Behind those four leading candidates are a mish-mash of players who are very likely too low on the depth chart to contend for a spot, unless the versatile Joe Scally can revive his international career with a turnaround at his club Borussia Monchengladbach. John Tolkin appeared off the radar until he participated in the 5-1 demolition of Uruguay in November.
Midfielders
Locks: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman
In the mix: Brenden Aaronson, Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Aidan Morris, Gio Reyna, Cristian Roldan, James Sands, Tanner Tessmann
On the outside: Benjamin Cremaschi, Yunus Musah
Leader Tyler Adams has not only developed into one of the most imposing figures in the USMNT locker room, but also into a force at his Premier League club. Adams has anchored the Bournemouth midfield, and having seemingly shaken his persistent fitness concerns, the U.S. star has become integral at a club playing in the biggest league in the world.
Weston McKennie continues to prove doubters wrong at Juventus, making him a key presence in the USMNT squad as well. Cristian Roldan has emerged as a strong contender for a place in the squad, as he performs well as the backup to Adams in the No. 6 position.
Behind those two, the depth chart is crowded for a spot in the U.S. midfield, especially if one starting spot is gobbled up by an extra defender in a possible 3-4-3 formation. Jack McGlynn and Diego Luna seem to have grabbed the eye of Pochettino, while Tanner Tessmann and Sebastian Berhalter have also impressed the coaching staff.
A summer move to Atletico Madrid seemed to drop Johnny Cardoso down the pecking order, but he has established himself as a starter as the calendar turned to 2026, and he could be a viable roster candidate once again. Brenden Aaronson is still hanging around getting playing time at Leeds and could be a possibility. Yunus Musah was considered a fixture of the squad not long ago, but his struggle for club minutes and a continued failure to establish a natural position have suddenly put his presence at the World Cup in real jeopardy.
It feels too late for Gio Reyna, who continues to struggle not only for club form but also fitness, to make an impact on this World Cup roster. His strong performances in the November international window breathed new life into his candidacy, but he has flopped back at the club level since then. Persistent muscle injuries continue to impact his availability, once again complicating his availability to Borussia Monchengladbach, and once again he is up against a rising tide of other contributors.
Forwards
Locks: Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah
In the mix: Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, Alejandro Zendejas
On the outside: Cade Cowell, Damion Downs, Jesus Ferreira, Jordan Morris, Josh Sargent, Brandon Vazquez, Brian White
Christian Pulisic has blossomed into one of the best attackers in Serie A and indeed Europe, and is the first name on the USMNT teamsheet every game in which he is available.
While Ricardo Pepi continues to recover from multiple injuries, Folarin Balogun has performed in his stead at the No. 9 position. Yet given Pepi's repeated goal-scoring prowess when actually on the pitch for PSV, he is still largely considered the best option up front. Balogun is a lock to start at the World Cup, while it feels Pepi is a strong candidate to appear as well as long as he remains healthy and wins back his starting spot at the club leve.
Haji Wright and Alejandro Zendejas have coupled strong performances for their club and country to put themselves in good position to appear, while Patrick Agyemang is also in the mix after moving to Derby County in the summer. The chance has come and gone for Josh Sargent, who despite strong form for Norwich City over the last two years has failed to make an impact at the national-team level.
Predicted USMNT lineup for opening game of 2026 World Cup
While it's still early, Pochettino has trialed a three-at-the-back system in recent games to good effect, and thus it's likely that he could stick with this approach for the foreseeable future. This system is a 4-4-2 out of possession, and a 3-4-2-1 in possession.
Matt Turner is the more experienced option at goalkeeper, but it seems he has been supplanted by Matt Freese as the regular starter in goal, and that appears likely to continue up to and through the World Cup.
In November, Pochettino showed a desire to play a full-back at the "third center-back" position, due to its hybrid nature, and Antonee Robinson is a real option at that spot should he recover from injury. This would allow Tim Weah and Sergino Dest to both see the field in wing-back positions.
Adams is a guaranteed anchor in midfield when healthy, and Tessmann is likely to partner him as a possessional foil to Adams' elite defensive presence. Malik Tillman has been fantastic in a U.S. shirt, but is likely a direct backup to Pulisic amongst the two No. 10s, with McKennie sitting alongside them.
USA predicted starting XI (3-4-2-1, right to left): Freese (GK) — Ream, Richards, A. Robinson — Weah, Adams, Tessmann, Dest — Pulisic, McKennie — Balogun
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 06: Fraser Minten #93 of the Boston Bruins flips the puck into the offensive zone during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils on December 6, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to another edition of Monday Night Hockey, folks!
After a needed win over the Capitals in D.C. on Saturday afternoon, the Bruins will face a New Jersey team with one (or both) eyes on the end of the regular season.
It’s been a tough year for Jersey, but the Devils still have enough talent to give teams trouble, so here’s to hoping the Bruins aren’t looking past this one to the Montreal game Tuesday night.
Here are The Arizona Republic's picks for the top 10 high school boys track and field athletes from the third week of the 2026 season, March 9-14. Vote in our poll for the athlete you think had the best week. The poll closes on Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. Print readers can find the poll online at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
Top Arizona boys track and field athletes
1. Trey Smith, Gilbert Williams Field, sprints, Jr.
In a highly competitive race, he won the 100 meters at the Brophy Devon Allen Invitational on March 13 in 10.52 seconds to set the state lead.
2. Reyden Stewart, Waddell ALA West Foothills, throws, Jr.
He won the shot put at the Phoenix Christian Small School Invitational on March 12 with a massive personal best throw of 57 feet, 10 inches to set the state lead.
He won the pole vault at Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep’s home meet on March 11, clearing 16-8 to set the state lead and move up to No. 5 in the United States.
Finishing up his indoor season, he ran 4:11.86 in the mile at New Balance Indoor Nationals on March 15. That’s the fastest time this year in the state for both indoors and outdoors.
5. Jett Merrill, Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge, hurdles, Jr.
He won the 110-meter hurdles at the Nighthawk Early Bird Invitational on March 12, running 14.00 to set the state lead.
He ran 48.31 to win the 400 at the Brophy Devon Allen Invitational on March 13, setting the state lead. He also hit 22-7 to win the long jump, moving up to No. 3 in the state.
7. Logan Lute, Chandler Basha, throws, Sr.
He won the javelin at Red Mountain Rampage on March 13, throwing 183-4 to move up to No. 2 in the state.
8. Robert Barker, Chandler, sprints, Jr.
He ran 10.62 to finish second in the 100 at the Brophy Devon Allen Invitational on March 13, moving up to No. 2 in the state.
9. Mason Aughe, Chandler Basha, throws, Sr.
He won the shot put at Red Mountain Rampage on March 13, throwing 57-4.5 to slide into the No. 2 spot in the state.
10. Brigham Burnham, Gilbert Campo Verde, jumps, Sr.
He continues to show that he’s more than just a hurdler, picking up another win in the long jump (23-2.25) at Red Mountain Rampage on March 13 to move up to No. 2 in the state.
11. Christian Hinton, Chandler Hamilton, sprints, Jr.
He came in second in the 400 at the Brophy Devon Allen Invitational on March 13, running 48.48 to move up to No. 2 in the state.
He came in second in the 200 at Red Mountain Rampage on March 13, running a personal best of 21.96 to move up to No. 2 in the state.
13. Tanner Bice, Phoenix Brophy Prep, jumps, Sr.
He reset the school record in the triple jump at the Brophy Devon Allen Invitational on March 13, hitting 45-3 to finish second and move up to No. 7 in the state. He also finished second in the high jump, clearing 6-5 to move up to No. 3 in the state.
14. Crew Comish, Mesa Red Mountain, distance, Jr.
He won the 800 at Red Mountain Rampage on March 13, running 1:54.03 to move up to No. 3 in the state, and he won the 1,600, running 4:19.09 to also move up to No. 3 in the state.
15. Ryder Hall, Snowflake, jumps, Sr.
He won the triple jump at Red Mountain Rampage on March 13, hitting 47-2 to move up to No. 2 in the state.
Vote: Who's No. 1?
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
Chelsea's Eden Hazard signs a new contract in the presence of Director Marina Granovskaia in a club Millennium suite at Stamford Bridge on 12th February 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) | Chelsea FC via Getty Images
The Premier League have concluded their own investigation of Chelsea’s self-reported “incomplete financial reporting” from the Abramovich Era, and have levied a fine of £10.75m on the club, along with a suspended first-team transfer ban for two years as well as a nine-month ban on signing any Academy players from any other English club’s academy.
The fine is a bit heavier than what Chelsea were expecting (£8m) but inflation’s everywhere these days. More importantly, the punishment is only a fine (i.e. no actual transfer ban, points deductions, or worse). The fine is also in line with the settlement that Chelsea had agreed with UEFA a couple years ago over these same financial irregularities from the previous decade (€10m).
This might not be the last time we have to pay a fine over this stuff, as according to The Times, The FA are now looking for their cut as well. Presumably, they’ll take their £10m as well here shortly.
These irregularities were discovered when BlueCo took ownership of the club, setting aside £100m at the time to cover “unforeseen liabilities”. The club then reported what was found to the relevant footballing authorities. The fact that we self-reported on all this has played a major role in avoiding any serious punishment.
The one new bit of information now is that some of these “incomplete” financial details have been reported more specifically. Here’s a list of “secret payments” that were made between 2011 and 2018. Some of these were already pretty much open secrets (like the double deal for Willian and Samuel Eto’o with bankrupt Anzhi Makhachkala, or how Eden Hazard ended up choosing us after a six-month transfer saga back in 2012).
£23million to seven unregistered agents in connection with the transfer of seven players: Hazard, Ramires, David Luiz, Schurrle and Matic plus two others whose names have been redacted — possibly because they were under 18.
£1.37million to Arnesen, De Visser and one unnamed individual.
£19.3million to two entities in connection with the transfer of Willian and Eto’o.
The Denver Broncos have to feel good after last season, but their moves in free agency don’t reflect a team that thinks they have to do much.
Instead, with Bo Nix showing some nice signs a year ago, Denver should be doing what it needs to in order to land decent players. There are many options for the Broncos to pursue.
One name that makes sense is ex-star receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs was released by the New England Patriots at the start of the offseason.
While Diggs may not get the same money value he once did, and his production is far from what we’re used to seeing, he’s not a bad option to pair in this offense.
Wynston Wilcox predicted that the Broncos would go that route, even saying that they need to find a No. 1 option and Diggs could be that.
“The Denver Broncos have to find a true No. 1 target and there’s no reason why they don’t sign Stefon Diggs. He shouldn’t be nearly as pricey as he was last offseason, with Spotrac projecting an $13.8 million AAV, an $8 million drop from last year,” he wrote.
“Diggs had 1,013 yards last season, his seventh 1,000-plus yard season in the last eight seasons. He can still produce. The caution here is will Bo Nix actually get the ball to him?”
Diggs probably isn’t a WR 1 at this stage of his career, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a nice piece to the puzzle.
“I get it, but I’m not with it,” Golden said Monday. “We’re going to definitely learn from it. We’re going to use it to our advantage, for sure, but I’m never going to be like, ‘Oh, man, I’m glad we lost.’”
The Gators (26-7) landed a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament despite getting thumped by Vanderbilt in the semifinals of the league tourney. Florida got punched in the mouth early and never responded, a disappointing — some might call it eye-opening — showing before the Big Dance.
Golden is hoping the 17-point setback serves as a wake-up call for a team that had won 12 in a row up to that point. The defending national champion Gators open their repeat bid Friday night in nearby Tampa against the winner of a play-in game between Lehigh and Prairie View A&M.
“When you do lose, you can really drill down on some areas that you need to improve on,” Golden said. “When you’re winning, I think that’s more difficult. It’s more difficult to teach. It’s more difficult to hold accountable. But now we don’t have that issue off a loss and hopefully we respond the same way that we did after we lost to Auburn on January 24th.”
The Gators looked downright unstoppable during their streak that included an average margin of victory of 20.5 points. But they seemed off against the Commodores, missing 10 layups, turning the ball over 14 times and allowing wide-open looks from 3-point range.
Was it a blip? A bad matchup? Or maybe something more foreboding?
Golden insists it was a one-off performance, not a sign of something being wrong or a blueprint for how to beat the best rebounding team in the country.
“The great thing for us is we have already been an iteration of ourselves that we need to be to make a deep run,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been over the last two months. So we need to get back on track to what we were.
“We have been playing like the No. 2 team in America since January (6th). We know what we’re capable of. We know what that looks like. We just have to go back out and do it.”
The Gators have responded all season, whether it was stringing together wins after losses or answering questions about perceived flaws: Can they close out tight games? Yes. Are they good enough from 3-point range? For sure. Do they have consistent contributors off the bench? No doubt.
Florida started the season 5-4 and was unranked by January. But the Gators have since figured out how to mesh dual point guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, how to get more shots for sixth man Urban Klavzar and how to best utilize the most dominant frontcourt in school history, a lineup that features Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh.
The group was good enough to go toe-to-toe with Arizona, Duke and UConn early and good enough to reel off 12 straight in SEC play late. Now is it good enough to repeat?
“We want to bring the fight to everybody,” Golden said. “We do that more often than not. We talk a lot to our team about being the mentally and physically tougher team. … Vandy got us because they ran to the fight quicker than we did.
“We can’t allow anybody else to dictate how we play. It’s really important that we take pride in that and take the accountability that it’s on us and not on anybody else.”
Auburn baseball swept its first SEC series of the season and has moved up in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll ahead of its most crucial week of the season to this point.
Auburn baseball secured its SEC-opening series by winning close games in its first two games of the series on the road at Missouri before winning in blowout fashion in game three of the series to nail down the sweep. Georgia Tech took two of three from Clemson last weekend on the road, while Texas handled Ole Miss by taking two of three from the visiting Rebels.
The UCLA Bruins earn the top spot in this week's poll, followed by Texas, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Georgia in the top five. Six of the top 10 teams in this week's rankings hail from the SEC, with 11 total teams from the conference earning a spot. One team not included in the mix is LSU, which dropped two of three games on the road to Vanderbilt over the weekend and has lost 6 of its last 10 games. Due to its rough spell, LSU fell out of the top 25 after ranking No. 13 in last week's poll.
Here is the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll, released Monday, March 16.
Rank
Team
Record
PTS
1st
Prev
Chg
Hi/Lo
1
UCLA Bruins
17-2
746
26
1
-
1/2
2
Texas Longhorns
18-1
720
4
2
-
2/3
3
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
17-3
687
0
4
1
3/5
4
Auburn Tigers
17-2
644
0
5
1
4/9
5
Georgia Bulldogs
17-4
564
0
8
3
5/13
6
Mississippi State Bulldogs
16-4
556
0
3
3
3/6
7
Arkansas Razorbacks
14-6
540
0
6
1
5/9
8
Oklahoma Sooners
17-3
501
0
11
3
8/NR
9
Florida State Seminoles
16-3
455
0
15
6
9/17
10
North Carolina Tar Heels
17-3
409
0
14
4
6/14
11
USC Trojans
19-1
400
0
19
8
11/NR
12
Virginia Cavaliers
16-4
399
0
16
4
12/NR
13
North Carolina State Wolfpack
16-4
394
0
10
3
10/19
14
Florida Gators
18-3
351
0
18
4
8/18
15
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
16-4
340
0
7
8
7/20
16
Oregon State Beavers
14-4
327
0
17
1
12/18
17
Clemson Tigers
16-4
305
0
9
8
9/17
18
Kentucky Wildcats
18-2
295
0
22
4
18/NR
19
Oregon Ducks
17-3
187
0
NR
7
19/NR
20
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
13-6
133
0
25
5
7/25
21
Texas A&M Aggies
16-3
125
0
20
1
20/NR
22
West Virginia Mountaineers
13-4
115
0
NR
6
22/NR
23
Tennessee Volunteers
14-6
112
0
21
2
15/23
24
Ole Miss Rebels
16-5
89
0
24
-
21/NR
25
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
15-5
87
0
12
13
12/25
Schools Dropped Out
No. 13 LSU; No. 23 TCU;
Others Receiving Votes
LSU 70; Alabama 48; Arizona State 36; Vanderbilt 21; Louisiana 18; Louisville 13; UC Santa Barbara 12; TCU 10; Kansas State 9; Arkansas State 6; South Florida 5; Jacksonville State 5; California Baptist 5; Nebraska 3; Mercer 3; Cincinnati 2; UTSA 1; Texas Tech 1; Cal Poly 1;
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__
The Patriots have announced Terrell Williams's title for the 2026 season.
Williams will be the team's assistant head coach with Zak Kuhr moving up to the defensive coordinator role. Williams opened last season as the coordinator, but took a medical leave while battling cancer.
The Patriots also announced a few other coaching moves on Monday. They have promoted defensive assistant Vinny DePalma to replace Kuhr as the team's inside linebackers coach. They have hired offensive assistant Charles London, offensive line assistant Jonathan Decoster, and defensive assistant B.J. Edmonds.
In addition to DePalma and Edmonds, Kuhr will be joined on the defensive side by secondary coach Scott Booker, cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton, defensive line coach Clinton McMillan, defensive assistant Kevin Richardson, and outside linebackers coach Mike Smith.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will work with London, Decoster, tight ends coach/passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, running backs coach Tony Dews, wide receivers coach Todd Downing, quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, assistant offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling, offensive assistant Chuckie Keeton, offensive assistant Riley Larkin, and offensive line coach Doug Marrone.
Head coach Mike Vrabel's staff will also include special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer, vice president of football operations and strategy John Streicher, assistant special teams coach Tom Quinn, director of coaching analytics Ekene Olekanma, and director of sports performance Frank Piraino. Deron Mayo, Brian McDonough, and Brandon Martuccio make up the strength and conditioning staff.
Gaps to close, streaks to extend, and spots in the quarter-finals at stake: the second legs of the C1, C3, and C4 round of 16 promise to be decisive. Here’s an overview of the must-watch matchups this week.
Real Madrid ⚔️ Manchester City (C1)
With a 3-0 win in the first leg, Real Madrid holds a significant advantage ahead of the return match against Manchester City. Now a modern classic of the Champions League, this duel sees the English side forced to pull off a feat to turn things around. Los Merengues have won 13 of their last 15 round of 16 ties, while the Citizens will once again count on Erling Haaland to attempt an unlikely comeback.
Paris Saint‑Germain ⚔️ Chelsea (C1)
Paris Saint‑Germain took a commanding lead with their 5-2 victory in the first leg against Chelsea. The Parisians are playing their 14th consecutive round of 16 and remain true to their offensive reputation: they have never had a 0-0 draw in the knockout phase of the competition. Chelsea will need to score at least four times without conceding to hope to continue their journey.
Bodø/Glimt ⚔️ Sporting CP (C1)
Bodø/Glimt took a step towards qualification with their 3‑0 win in Norway. The Norwegian club relies on an efficient attack, and Sporting, who have only reached the quarter-finals once in their history, will need to pull off a feat at home to qualify.
Arsenal ⚔️ Bayer Leverkusen (C1)
Everything is still open between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen after the 1-1 draw in the first leg. The Gunners come in with a high-flying attack this season in the Champions League, but Leverkusen have often shown they can compete with English clubs in European competition.
Barcelona ⚔️ Newcastle (C1)
The 1-1 draw secured by FC Barcelona at Newcastle leaves the Catalans slight favorites for the return leg. Barça boasts remarkable offensive consistency in the Champions League, having failed to score only once in their last 28 matches in the competition.
Galatasaray ⚔️ Liverpool (C1)
Galatasaray took a valuable advantage by winning 1-0 against Liverpool in the first leg. The Reds will therefore need to win at Anfield to turn things around. Their fans will be pushing them, but the Istanbul side arrives with the psychological edge.
Atlético de Madrid ⚔️ Tottenham (C1)
Atlético has already done the hardest part by recording a 5-2 win over Tottenham in Madrid. Historically, the Colchoneros perform well against English clubs in the knockout phase, which makes the task even harder for the Spurs. The latter will have to play an almost perfect match to hope to turn things around in the return leg.
Lyon ⚔️ Celta Vigo (C3)
Olympique Lyonnais approaches the return leg after a 1-1 draw away at Celta Vigo. Les Gones, who finished first in the C3 group stage with seven wins in eight matches, are well placed to qualify in front of their home crowd.
Lille ⚔️ Aston Villa (C3)
LOSC will need to overturn the situation after their 1-0 defeat in the first leg against Aston Villa. Les Dogues travel to England with the obligation to win to continue their Europa League adventure.
Strasbourg ⚔️ Rijeka (C4)
Strasbourg took a real step towards the quarter-finals by winning 2‑1 away at Rijeka thanks to goals from Panichelli and Godo in the opening minutes. This victory in Croatia gives the Alsatians a slight psychological advantage ahead of the return leg at the Meinau, where they will try to manage this lead to secure qualification.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith is on the verge of making history with Team USA, as they’re just one win away from the WBC title
Team USA hasn’t won the WBC since 2017, which marked the first time they had won the tournament. Two of the three favorite teams — Japan and the Dominican Republic — are eliminated, with the USA remaining as a heavy favorite.
Smith took over as the starting catcher for AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh in the semifinal against the Dominican Republic, and has started in two of their last three matches. Through the three games he’s featured in throughout the tournament, he has three hits in 10 at bats with an RBI.
He is the sole representative remaining for the Dodgers in the tournament, as Clayton Kershaw — who held a spot on Team USA — is no longer on the roster.
“Well, it’s always been a bucket list thing for me to do this and put Team USA across my chest, be able to represent the country,” Kershaw said after leaving the team.
“You see the group of guys that signed up for it, so I think it’s the same for everybody, just to be able to be in the clubhouse, be able to hang out. Obviously, winning is super important to everybody and the intensity and all that stuff, but for me, just to kind of be a fly on the wall and get to hang out has been, it’s been a blast.”
Mar 15, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; United States pitcher Mason Miller (19) and United States catcher Will Smith (16) celebrate after defeating the Dominican Republic in a semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Who Will Team USA Face in the Final?
Team USA doesn’t yet know their opponent for Tuesday’s final, as Team Italy and Team Venezuela will play their semifinal against each other at 5:00 p.m. PT.
The USA has already lost to Team Italy once in the tournament, falling in the group stage against them. Venezuela is also among the best teams at the tournament, with a lineup filled to the brim with All-Stars and quality players.
The road to the final has been anything but easy for the USA, and they still have plenty of work to do to become the second team to win multiple WBC titles.
Do you think Team USA will bring home the 2026 World Baseball Classic Title?
Hofstra is first on deck for Alabama basketball in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
As the Crimson Tide returns for its sixth consecutive March Madness appearance — tying a program best set by former Alabama coach Wimp Sanderson — the Pride is dancing for the first time in 25 years.
Here are three things to know about the Coastal Athletic Association conference champions before the Crimson Tide meets Hofstra in Tampa, Florida on Friday, March 20.
Nate Oats to face former NBA player on sidelines in NCAA Tournament
Hofstra has been coached by NBA former Speedy Claxton since April 2021. Claxton, a Hofstra alum, was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft and had a nine-year career in the league as a point guard.
Pride will bring international flair to Tampa
Four players on the Pride roster bring an international flair.
Six-foot-10 forward Victory Onuetu hails from Alhaurin el Grande, Malaga, Spain. Two players — Alex Tsynkevich and German Plotnikov — are from Minsk, Belarus. Seven-foot senior Silas Sunday is originally from Ireland.
Previous college home of a former Alabama basketball star
Prior to joining Alabama (23-9) for a Final Four run in his final season of eligibility, Aaron Estrada played for Claxton at Hofstra for two seasons. He told the New York Post in 2024 that he had to sway Estrada to enter the portal in order to find an offensive system that would serve him best.
"He honestly wanted to stay here, and we had to force him into the transfer portal," Claxton said. "It was hard, because if he came back, I might have had a top-25 team in the country."
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 18: Arizona Wildcats forward Blessing Adebanjo (14) on defense during the second quarter of a women's basketball game between the Bellarmine Knights and the Arizona Wildcats on December 18, 2025, at McKale Center in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Two of the most athletic players on this year’s Arizona women’s basketball team are heading for the portal, according to Talia Goodman at On3. First, it was guard Tanyuel Welch. Now, it’s forward Blessing ‘Adde’ Adebanjo based on information Goodman received from Adebanjo’s representation.
NEWS: Arizona’s Blessing Adebanjo intends to enter the transfer portal, her representation at @staylinesports told @On3.
The 6-3 sophomore forward averaged 3.7 ppg this season.
Adebanjo joined the team late with her addition announced after the beginning of classes. While her numbers weren’t huge, she showed a great deal of potential in her first year in NCAA basketball.
In her 10.4 minutes per game, she contributed 3.7 points on 50 percent shooting, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks. The blocks put her in the 92nd percentile. On a per-40 basis, that worked out to 14.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 3.6 blocks.
The native of Nigeria spent several years playing in Japan. After finishing high school at Japan Aviation Academy, she started playing college ball at Yamanashi Gakuin University.
She was added to the roster shortly after the sudden departure of fellow Nigerian forward Ogheneruona ‘Miracle’ Akpotayobo.
When she got to the U.S., it took Adebanjo some time to see the floor, but she played double-digit minutes in the last eight games of the season and made four starts. During those final eight games, she averaged 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 2.0 bpg in 18.3 mpg.
Her best game came in the win against Kansas State, which was the first of three straight starts in February. She went 5 for 8 from the floor and 7 for 8 from the line to score 17 points in 33 minutes on the court. She also logged 6 blocks in that game.
The transfer portal does not officially open until Apr. 6, 2026 unless a player is a grad student or her head coach has left. Players are already announcing their intentions, though.
NASCAR is headed to Darlington, South Carolina this weekend for three days of racing with the Truck Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Cup Series all hitting the track at Darlington Raceway.
As we look at the Goodyear 400 entry list this week, there are a few things worth noting. First, there will be 37 drivers in the field on Sunday with Timmy Hill getting behind the wheel of the No. 66 car for Garage 99. It’s also worth acknowledging that Alex Bowman is on the NASCAR entry list this weekend for Darlington, but he was on the preliminary list the last two weeks and missed the race due to vertigo.
The Los Angeles Rams are in a position to win now, and there’s reason to believe that Sean McVay and co. still want to add.
While slight speculation had linked them to a blockbuster move for WR A.J. Brown, that isn’t on the table at this point due to many reasons.
One name they’re being linked to as a potential option is receiver Marquise Brown.
The former first-round pick has shown signs of decent play throughout his career, but he’s yet to perform at a high-level on a week-to-week basis.
Wynston Wilcox of FanSided believes he’s worth the risk for the Rams to see if he has it in him.
“The LA Rams were in the market for Brown and the only way a trade was going to work is if they offloaded Davante Adams as part of the deal.
“They don’t need to make a big splash signing at this point so they could either turn to the NFL Draft or sign someone like Marquis Brown. Brown is a low-risk, high-reward move. Brown needs to find some semblance of success at this point in his career,” he wrote.
Adding a player like Brown wouldn’t require much in terms of money, as it’d be a low-risk move with the possibility of it working out if Brown can stay on the field and do what he’s shown he’s capable of doing.
Manchester City “can practically play with their eyes closed,” warns Arbeloa
Álvaro Arbeloa warned that Real Madrid must not get complacent when they face a Manchester City side that can “practically play with their eyes closed” on Tuesday.
Speaking in his pre-match conference after landing in Manchester on Monday, Arbeloa insisted that “we cannot go out with any other mentality than to win this match.
“I want to see the same Real Madrid as in the first leg. We have no other objective than to go out and win, which is what this badge demands of us. With the same humility, commitment, and sacrifice that we had in the first leg, even more so because we know this stadium is not easy and their fans will push them a lot.”
The Spaniard accepted it won’t be an easy task though, affirming that Real Madrid “have to perform at a very high level – at our best level – like we did in the first leg. That’s the goal, to go out and look for that performance, that level of commitment, solidarity, effort and sacrifice and hurt them a lot with it, like we were able to do in the first leg.”
Pep Guardiola revealed earlier on Monday that Manchester City did not train today, opting instead for a session ahead of kick-off on matchday. That didn’t surprise Arbeloa, who noted that “they’ve done it several times this season and it has worked well for them.
“The other day I heard that against Madrid it was Pep Guardiola’s 987th match as a coach, so I won’t be the one bold enough to give him advice.
“It’s a team that can practically play with their eyes closed. They know each other very well and have been together for many years. I don’t think the fact they didn’t train today will change much about tomorrow’s result.”
Kylian Mbappé has travelled with the squad to Manchester and participated in Real Madrid’s training session on Monday, and Arbeloa noted that “Kylian gives us different qualities than other players like Brahim [Díaz], but he’s also a player who links up very well.
“If Mbappé has one thing, for me, it’s that he’s a very intelligent player. You can look at all of the qualities that he has, but I think intelligence stands above them all. He’s a player capable of moving well into the spaces left by the opponent.”
The World Baseball Classic isn’t over quite yet, but it is for Paul Skenes.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace completed his tournament duties with Sunday’s gem in the semifinal game against the Dominican Republic. Now, all that’s left for him to do is watch and cheer on his teammates during Tuesday’s championship game.
As promised, Skenes made two starts for Team USA during the tournament, and both were excellent. He won both of them, going 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner earned tons of praise along the way, from teammates, managers, reporters and opponents. Some wondered if the 23-year-old would be able to handle the pressure of facing elite competition on such a big stage, and he left no doubts.
“He wants the moment,” Mark DeRosa said. “He’s the stopper,” Bryce Harper said. “Special presence, special man,” DeRosa added.
Last night, Paul Skenes faced the toughest lineup he’s ever faced. Here’s the story of how he lead Team USA to the semifinal win:https://t.co/EZe3N8Rrih
Now that his playing time in the tournament is over, Skenes is glad he took the opportunity and pitched for his country, even though it meant altering his offseason routine and ramping up a bit earlier than usual.
“It was an easy decision for me,” Skenes told Colin Beazley of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Yeah, there are sacrifices that you have to make. You have to do a little more in the offseason, do things a little bit differently. Easy decision, and definitely glad I made that decision.”
Skenes admitted he didn’t know what to expect coming into the tournament, but he’s loved it.
“It’s been awesome,” Skenes added. “I didn’t really have any expectations coming into the tournament. Didn’t know what to expect. It hasn’t disappointed.”
Wavy red-and-white stripes define one of the two U.S. Men's National Team kits for World Cup 2026.
Nike
Wavy red and white stripes and chrome-tinted navy stars define the World Cup 2026 look for the U.S. Men’s National Team. The USMNT and Nike revealed the updated look ahead of a friendly against Belgium in Atlanta later this month, showing a look that will define the team throughout one of the host country’s most visible World Cup events.
To kick off the creation, Nike designers met with USMNT players and staff. The obvious starting point for the 2026 World Cup design was red, white and blue. From there, though, design could go a lot of direction, so Nike asked players what they wanted. Key words cropped up, such as “sophisticated,” “luxurious” and “swag.” That sent the dark kit for the U.S. into a “rich color palette,” with a deep navy blue that almost looks black from distance. Close up, though, stars knit into the design features a hint of chrome to help them shine on the big stage.
“What a way to bring the swag out of the star jersey,” Natalie McKeough, Nike color designer, says in a statement.
Chrome-adorned stars mark a deep navy USMNT kit for World Cup 2026.
Nike
With the blue dialed in, the red paired with white for the other U.S. kit. With no other federation in the world having the red-and-white striped look that helps the U.S. stand out the same way other countries do with signature designs, Nike opted for a slight curve of the stripes to create a feeling of energy, mimicking the American flag waving in the wind. The design also updates and modernizes the horizontal striping that was made popular during 2012, linking to the past with a reinvention.
“Updating something that is recognizable is our way of honoring the past but still creating something new,” McKeough says.
The phrase “The Best of U.S.” is included on the inside collar of both tops, which are each paired with navy shorts to complete the look.
The horizontal red-and-white stripes set the U.S. World Cup team apart.
Nike
Nike plans to reveal a long list of federation kits for the World Cup, starting with the U.S., Canada and Brazil. No matter the federation, Nike gives each country its Aero-Fit fabric, a stitch-specific knitting process designed to help players stay cool during the summer tournament. The brand says they’ve engineered the yarn at the stitch level to craft a highly texturized knit that combines open and closed mesh zones to move air across the body and help lift the fabric off the skin, claiming it delivers “more than twice the airflow of legacy fabrics.
Graphic elements and prints get placed directly into the kits, not added on top. “These kits bring the best of Nike together with an apparel innovation designed to remove climate as a variable for athletes and design that reflects a deep connection to each federation’s DNA,” Amy Montagne, Nike president, says in a statement, “creating something athletes feel proud to wear and fans feel truly connected to.”
Canada's World Cup 2026 away kit comes in black with cracked ice in white
Nike
Canada unveiled the federation’s pair of uniforms ahead of the World Cup, opting for a multi-toned red design for one and a black kit for the other. In the red design, the Canada-centric maple leaf in red shading marks the center of the kit. The black uniform features a cracked ice design of white meant to harken to the country’s frozen landscapes.
The maple leaf stands out for Canada's red World Cup 2026 design.
Nike
“When we put this jersey on, it represents every place and every community that helped build the people’s team,” Jesse Marsch, Canada head coach, says in a statement. “We take this responsibility seriously.”
Brazil and Nike go dark blue with Jordan Brand's first federation kit for World Cup 2026.
Nike
The Brazilian kit from Nike’s Jordan Brand—the label’s first federation kit after working alongside Paris Saint-Germain since 2018—offers a fresh take on Brazil’s alternate blue colorway. The away design goes dark, with the deep navy and black kit inspired by the poison dart frog and featuring shading and texturing akin to the frog’s skin. The Jordan Brand’s famed elephant print from the 1980s sneaker design is part of the backdrop.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills continued adding to their secondary by signing safety Geno Stone to a one-year contract on Monday.
Stone has six NFL seasons of experience, and was a starter the past two years with Cincinnati. The 26-year-old was selected by Baltimore in the seventh round of the 2020 draft out of Iowa, and spent his first four seasons with the Ravens.
Stone had a career-best seven interceptions in his final season in Baltimore, and added six more in 34 games with the Bengals, including two returned for touchdowns. He was a free agent after completing a two-year contract.
He joins C.J. Gardner-Johnson as the second safety signed by Buffalo in free agency. The Bills defense is undergoing a transition with Jim Leonhard taking over as coordinator under new coach Joe Brady.
Stone has experience playing both safety positions. He and Gardner-Johnson are projected to compete for a starting job opposite Cole Bishop, and after Buffalo released Taylor Rapp earlier this month.
Jude Bellingham (left) and Kylian Mbappe had been sidelined for several of Real Madrid's most recent fixtures [Getty Images]
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe is fit to face Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie - but midfielder Jude Bellingham will not feature despite travelling over for the match.
France international Mbappe, 27, was diagnosed with a left knee sprain at the beginning of March and has been missing from Real's line-up since their La Liga game against Osasuna on 21 February.
Bellingham sustained a hamstring injury less than 10 minutes into a league game against Rayo Vallecano on 1 February and left the field in tears.
The 22-year-old midfielder had initially been expected to miss about four weeks, but the injury was found to be more significant than first thought.
Bellingham was included in Real's travelling party for Tuesday's fixture but boss Alvaro Arbeloa said he will not feature against City.
"Bellingham wanted to come with his team-mates to be with the team. He will continue and do part of the training, but he won't be available tomorrow," Arbeola told a news conference.
"Mbappe is already available, so you will see him. I am eager to have him on the field, to enjoy him and his goals, but also in the game, he will be a very important player."
Bellingham's absence had raised doubts about his availability for England's friendlies later this month against Uruguay and Japan.
Arbeloa said he was "very happy" to see Bellingham "getting closer" to a return and acknowledged his presence will lift Real's squad for the game.
"It will be very important for his team-mates to see him training today and tomorrow before the match, at half-time, or afterwards," he added.
"He is a player who will be one of the leaders, and he already is. It's very important that he is here with us."
Real travel to Manchester in control of the tie, having won the first leg 3-0 at the Bernabeu last Wednesday when Federico Valverde scored a first-half hat-trick.
The margin of victory could have been greater, but City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Vinicius Jr's penalty early in the second half.
We know that Fields has struggled for most of his NFL career, and now he might finally have landed in a spot where he can thrive.
Given Mahomes' injury, Fields could take some starting reps to begin the offseason, and with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, plus weapons in Rashee Rice, Kenneth Walker, Xavier Worthy, and Travis Kelce, this is Fields' best collection of talent he's ever had.
Plus, Reid's offensive wizardry will put Fields in a position to succeed.
If Mahomes isn't ready for Week 1, it could be Fields, in a Reid system and a handful of top weapons.
Kansas City could get off to a flying start before welcoming back Mahomes.
That's not good for the AFC, which is hoping another poor season is on the way from Kansas City.
Approval, which requires a vote in favor from 23 of the league’s 30 owners, would open bidding to offers expected to reach as high as $10 billion, the recent sale price of the Los Angeles Lakers, per Charania. Final approval could come “later in the year.”
The WNBA, NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball have all expanded into Seattle or Las Vegas, or both, in recent years. They are, after all, two of the wealthiest markets.
As soon as news dropped — first thing on a Monday, right when morning talk shows needed a jolt — I thought: On one hand, the league is deep enough to expand into 32 teams; on the other, a third of the NBA is tanking already. Pros and cons, you figure.
Hey, a good gimmick: Pros and cons of NBA expansion into Seattle and Las Vegas.
Pro: The NBA is deeper than ever
After yet another draft loaded with talent, there is more of it in the NBA than ever. Welcome Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, among others, to a field of 450 players, all of whom can play. There are guys in the G League and elsewhere that can really play.
Last year’s Sixth Man of the Year, Payton Pritchard, would have been an All-Star in the 1980s and would have dominated the 1950s. It is just a fact of life. Athletes get bigger, stronger, faster; they train harder and smarter. There are more elite athletes than ever.
And more places to draw from. Last year’s draft alone featured players from Russia, the Bahamas, South Sudan, France, China, Lithuania, Canada, Israel, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, the Dominican Republic, Serbia, Ukraine and Italy.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, as another example, added Jared McCain, who was a Rookie of the Year contender as recently as the middle of last season, to a roster that is already stacked with talent; and he is fully capable of helping them win games.
Where to put all these talents? The NBA adds 60 draftees to its pool of 450 players each year. On the way are AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and more. Why not add 64 to a field of 480, then? What is the difference? The spots will get filled, the league will persist, and 20 years from now you won’t remember which was the last team to enter the league. If the product is as good as it is now, you’ll take it.
Con: Are there enough superstars to go around?
Do we have enough superstars to field these new teams? The 15-man All-NBA roster will be a tough one to crack, but once we got past the initial round of 24 All-Stars this year, the league started to name Brandon Ingram, Alperen Şengün and De’Aaron Fox as replacements — hardly the household names who put a**es in seats from city to city, night to night.
Once you get past, say, Deni Avdija on the Portland Trail Blazers, you are kind of running out of the types of offensive engines who can power entire franchises, and even he may be a stretch. Attendance numbers may be decent, because it is still something to do on a Friday night in the city, but I am sure people are not lining up to watch Alex Sarr on the Washington Wizards or Egor Dёmin on the Brooklyn Nets.
Pro: Two more destination cities
According to Charania, Seattle and Las Vegas are both expected to “be among the NBA’s top eight revenue generators,” mostly because they are both destination cities.
People want to spend time in Las Vegas and Seattle, just like they want to spend time in Miami and the Bay Area. NBA players are no different. Think of the success the Heat and Warriors have enjoyed in recent decades. Might Vegas and Seattle soon join them as power players on anyone’s list of preferred trade or free-agent destinations?
Con: More tanking
We already have as many as 10 teams — from the Milwaukee Bucks on down the standings — who are tanking the remainder of the season for a better draft pick.
Either that, or they are the New Orleans Pelicans, who can’t get out of their own way.
Point is: There are already a lot of teams who do not treat the regular season with the respect it deserves. Do we really need to be adding more teams on top of that mix?
Pro: LeBron James, the owner
Is this a retirement gift for Lakers superstar LeBron James? The 41-year-old will almost certainly be part of one of the ownership groups, presumably the one in Las Vegas, where you can catch him on the sidelines of an event on multiple occasions each year.
It will be pretty cool to keep one of the all-time greats involved in the game, even after he ends his playing career, assuming he ever ends his playing career. James, who has amassed a fortune in excess of $1 billion, has earned his right to reinvest in the NBA.
Several years ago, LeBron James said he wanted to own an NBA team in Vegas. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Allen Berezovsky via Getty Images
What an investment it would be. Prices for teams have skyrocketed. Michael Jordan paid $275 million for the Charlotte Hornets in 2010 and sold his majority stake at a $3 billion valuation in 2023. Last year, two of the NBA’s signature franchises — the Lakers and Boston Celtics — respectively sold for increasing records of $7.3 and $10 billion.
And they show no sign of slowing down. The league signed an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal, which began this season. Who is to say what franchises will fetch in 2036, as sports remain one of few live events to draw fans to arenas and viewers to devices.
Con: LeBron James, the owner
Then again, Jordan was a terrible steward of the Hornets. He rarely spent on his team, and they performed like it, making the playoffs just twice — a pair of first-round exits — in more than a decade with him at the helm. It is probably no coincidence that their ascent as an organization has occurred in the immediate aftermath of Jordan’s exit.
If his playing career was any indication, can you imagine the passive-aggressiveness with which James will post on social media about his own team — a team that he built.
Remember: It was James who wanted his Miami Heat to draft Shabazz Napier. And it was James who wanted his Cleveland Cavaliers to sign a 32-year-old Deron Williams.
But it was also James who wanted to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and made it happen. It was James who coordinated his partnership with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in Cleveland, and with Anthony Davis in L.A. All yielded championships.
Then again, that was James, the player, not James, the owner. He had his own great performance to rely on when he played. It does not appear Bronny is ready to shoulder that load. Could make for an interesting general manager selection, though.
Pro: New team names!
Seattle will be the SuperSonics, I presume, which is awesome, especially if they bring back their skyline uniforms. What will Las Vegas be? They have the WNBA’s Aces and NHL’s Golden Knights. Las Vegas Raiders does not have as nice a ring to it in the NFL.
They could be the Sharps, or High Rollers. Name them after the local newspaper, the Las Vegas Review. Or the Cabaret. Or just Dice. The Las Vegas Strip? I’m spitballing.
It’s fun to come up with a team name, and to laugh at the terrible ones that could live forever — like naming Toronto’s team after a character from “Jurassic Park” — until you are the one who actually must come up with a name. It’s a lot of pressure for a team.
We could get a terrible team name. We could get a great one. Either way, we win.
Con: The rich get richer
Can you imagine being in a conference room for the board of governors meeting?
“Should we create two teams out of thin air and sell them for a total of $20 billion?”
“That’s $667 million apiece!”
“But … but our share of $15 billion in annual revenue goes from 1/30th to 1/32nd!”
“Hmmm, that’s only $469 million every year instead of $500 million. Bummer.”
“Well, I guess my new $667 million check will help. Thanks for making up some teams!”
Meanwhile, the average customer is struggling to bring their family of four to a game. Welcome to the world of big business, Seattle SuperSonics and the Las Vegas Fear and Loathing. It is ruthless out there. Wizards and Magic and Pelicans are awaiting.
The teams and seeds have been set for March Madness 2026 and now the only thing left to do (besides finish up your fantasy bracket) is tune in to the First Four. The men's First Four will whittle the current field of 68 teams down to 64 with games being played on March 17 and 18. This year's First Four matchups will be UMBC vs Howard, Texas vs. NC State, Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh, and Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU. Every first four game will be broadcast on TruTV, which means you'll also be able to stream them on HBO Max, DirecTV and more.
For a list of key dates, teams and how to watch every game, we've got you covered. Here's a look at how to watch the entire tournament, starting with the First Four and going right up to the Championship Final.
How to watch the men's First Four March Madness games in 2026:
Dates: March 17-18, 2026
Times: 6:40 p.m./9:10 p.m.
TV channels: TruTV
Streaming: DirecTV, HBO Max, Hulu + Live TV and more
When does March Madness start?
The 2026 men's NCAA basketball tournament begins Tuesday, March 17. The First Four games take place on March 17 and 18, wit
March Madness men's First Four schedule:
Tuesday, March 17
6:40 p.m.: No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard (TruTV)
9:10 p.m.: No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State (TruTV)
All men's tournament games will be available across TBS, truTV, TNT, and CBS.
Where to stream March Madness games without cable:
Every game of the 2026 men's March Madness Tournament will stream on HBO Max. You'll also be able to access every game on live TV services like Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV.
Which teams are competing in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament?
The following is a breakdown of every First Round game schedule including who's playing and how to watch.
All times Eastern
Thursday, March 19
12:15 p.m.: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU (CBS)
12:40 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy (TruTV)
1:30 p.m.: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida (TNT)
1:50 p.m.: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point (TBS)
2:50 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena (CBS)
3:15 p.m.: No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese (TruTV)
4:05 p.m.: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State
4:25 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii (TBS)
6:50 p.m.: No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU (TNT)
7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 UMBC or Howard (CBS)
7:25 p.m.: No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas or NC State (TBS)
7:35 p.m.: No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (TruTV)
9:25 p.m.: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn (TNT)
9:45 p.m.: No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis (CBS)
10 p.m.: No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (TBS)
10:10 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho (TruTV)
Friday, March 20
12:15 p.m.: No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (CBS)
Chelsea began their huddle away at Aston Villa and have continued it for four matches [Getty Images]
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior says his players "don't want to antagonise and bring more noise on ourselves" by conducting their pre-match huddle in the centre circle.
It follows the unusual scene before Saturday 1-0 Premier League defeat by Newcastle when referee Paul Tierney was standing over the ball before kick-off but did not move away as the Chelsea players gathered around him for captain Reece James delivered his team talk.
Rosenior says a decision has not yet been made over where they will do the huddle for Tuesday's Champions League match against Paris St-Germain but it is expected they will move its positioning from the centre circle.
It is understood that the officials had warned Chelsea not to gather around the ball before kick-off because it risks a mass confrontation when the opponents are due to start the match.
After the Newcastle match, Rosenior said Tierney should "focus on his job" and said he would be speaking to his bosses at PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), insisting his players had "respected the ball".
Speaking on Monday, Rosenior said discussion about the huddle had been "blown out of proportion" and was a "distraction for the media"
"The lads always wanted to show unity and togetherness: the lads will continue to do that," he said before their Champions League last-16 match against Paris St-Germain on Tuesday.
"We don't want to antagonise and bring the noise on ourselves. We will make a decision on where we do that tomorrow."
Rosenior said he had not yet spoken to the PGMOL but he had a meeting in person scheduled with them this week.
"The point of what I was saying after the game, it wasn't about the huddle. It was about my perspective on certain decisions made in the game. It would be great to meet them and have an in-depth conversation with them," he added.
The huddle was the brainchild of now-injured captain Reece James rather than Rosenior, who explained their purpose saying: "That is the best way I think I can get messages across to them."
Chelsea need to overcome a 5-2 deficit on Tuesday night after a late collapse away at PSG in the first-leg at Parc des Princes.
Speaking about the issue, PSG boss Luis Enrique said: "I was surprised when I saw it. But I heard Liam talk about it with maturity.
"We can see different things but if there is respect - and I think there is a respect from Chelsea players and staff - no problem at all."
Former Premier League assistant referee referee Darren Cann told BBC Sport he had never seen anything as strange "in 50 years of watching football" after seeing the incident on Saturday.
He was also able to shed some light on the incident, saying: "As it was Newcastle's kick-off, the referee [took] control of the ball on the halfway line and was there to prevent any potential issues.
"When it is their kick-off, there is no particular issue. However, when their opponents have to kick off, there is potential for confrontation."
Grimsby Town boss David Artell has said the future of midfielder George McEachran remains unclear.
McEachran, 25, was the Mariners' player of the season for 2024-25 but is out of contract in the summer.
Artell revealed in January that McEachran had asked to "bide his time" over the club's offer to open talks on a new deal.
"We know George's position and he knows ours," Artell told BBC Radio Humberside before Tuesday's League Two game against Fleetwood.
"If we knew definitively one way or the other, we could plan, but that's fine.
"It's his prerogative and we fully respect that."
McEachran joined Grimsby in July 2024 and has made 89 appearances, scoring twice.
Artell has now hinted developments may hinge on whether the club is promoted to League One and the sort of budget he has next season, adding: "George has been really honest with us and we've told him our situation. That's where we're at."
Meanwhile, Evan Khouri, who suffered a knee injury against Salford City on 4 March, saw a specialist on Monday to determine whether he may need an operation.
Artell also confirmed the club will consider whether to request the postponements of League Two games against Cambridge United and Chesterfield because of international call-ups.
Geza Turi (Faroe Islands), Jude Soonsup-Bell (Thailand) and Clarke Oduor (Kenya) have all bee named in their national team's squads for the upcoming international break.
"I don't know what the timeframe is but it's certainly on the agenda to discuss it," Artell said.
The doc “looks at the small towns of Puerto Rico, eventual Major League players starting off in neighborhood parks, the drive to represent their country in the World Baseball Classic, the rivalry with the Dominican Republic, and an examination at each WBC played — including Díaz’s injury — and more,” an MLB Network spokesperson said.
Hernandez and Diaz are far from the only players to contribute to the film. In face, they’re not even the only Dodgers.
“The program includes Javier Báez, Carlos Delgado, Alexis Díaz, Francisco Lindor, current Puerto Rico players Christian Vázquez and Eddie Rosario, plus Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina, Hall of Famer Iván Rodríguez, and historian Angel Colon,” according to MLB Network. “The Dominican perspective is touched on by Robinson Canó, Teoscar Hernández, and Hall of Famers David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero Sr.”
Mar 15, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Puerto Rico center fielder Enrique Hernandez (5) hits an RBI single during the third inning against Dominican Republic at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
What Does the World Baseball Classic Mean to Players like Hernandez and Diaz?
Over the course of this most recent World Baseball Classic, Hernandez, Diaz and other players have made clear that they consider the tournament to be the pinnacle of the sport.
Hernandez has been around Diaz and the other Team Puerto Rico players, even as his recovery from surgery prevents him from taking the field.
“I’m still bummed that I don’t get to be a part of it, but I still support my people,” he said.
“For us this tournament is just as important or even more important than our work in the Major Leagues,” he adds in the documentary.
A three-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro with the Lions in 2017, Big Play Slay departs the game after a decorated NFL career. Slay ends his career with 655 tackles, 163 passes defended, 28 interceptions, six fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one sack in 187 career regular-season games with 176 regular-season starts.
"Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you've done for me. I've been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything.
"This game put me in a position to take care of my family and loved ones and I'm forever grateful. It's hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I'm ready to turn the page and start my new journey," Slay wrote in his social media post.
Slay would play in and start an additional 11 NFL postseason games, totaling 40 tackles, eight passes defended and one interception in NFL playoff games. The 6-foot, 192-pound corner won Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles to cap the 2024 NFL season.
Originally drafted by Detroit in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft out of Mississippi State, the Lions dealt Slay to the Eagles in exchange for third- and fifth-round selections in the 2020 NFL draft.
Arne Slot sack decision is coming with review now scheduled
Pressure mounts on Arne Slot
But the Dutchman is unable to generate consistent performances and results in his second season in the hotseat.
His future could now hinge on re-qualification for the Champions League - no easy task with Everton, Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa all in store before the end of the season.
The 47-year-old could also stave off the criticism coming his way with a trophy win and Liverpool are still fighting for the Champions League and FA Cup.
They are behind 1-0 to Galatasaray in the CL’s round of 16 and face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Football Insider is now claiming that an end-of-season audit is set to be conducted by sporting director Richard Hughes which will decide Slot’s fate.
“The pressure has been on Slot for a while now, results, performances have not been good enough,” the report reads.
“He really needs a strong end to the season to really boost his chances of keeping that job on a long-term basis.
“It’s a difficult time for Slot, but I don’t think any result next week against Galatasaray will have an immediate impact on his future.
“At end of the season, I’m sure there will be a review and maybe then a decision might be made on his future.”
Slot safe... for now
Liverpool are facing a crucial Champions League showdown with Turkish giants Galatasaray at Anfield on Wednesday. And following the drab game against Spurs - which provoked a hugely negative reaction inside the ground - Slot cannot afford another big slip-up.
“It’ll definitely ramp up the pressure on him, whether it’ll have a direct influence on a decision to be made on his future before the end of the season, I don’t think so,” the report reads.
“He’s got a bit of credit in the bank and obviously the goal is now to try and end the season with some silverware. Then it’s all about finishing in that top five for the Champions League.”
Leeds United Receive Response Regarding 25-Year-Old Championship Star: Does He Fill The Attacking Gap In The Team?
Derby County have been blunt about it. Patrick Agyemang is not for sale at a knockdown price, and any club hoping to take him away this summer will need to pay a serious fee. According to Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, where journalist Pete O’Rourke broke down the situation in detail, Leeds United have been tracking him for months, though Derby remain extremely reluctant to lose one of their key attacking players. Agyemang joined Pride Park from Charlotte FC in July 2025 for a fee in the region of £6 million, signing a four-year contract until 2029, and his performances since then have pushed his price up sharply.
The Connecticut-born forward has produced ten goals and four assists across 33 Championship appearances this season, playing a central role in Derby sitting in eighth place, just three points short of the playoff positions. At 6ft 4in, he possesses physical presence with real quality on the ball, and his early record for the United States Men’s National Team, five goals in 12 caps, and his numbers for the USMNT back that up.
O’Rourke stressed that Derby have no real plans to lose him unless their promotion bid fails, adding that Leeds would need to table a significant fee to open talks. Derby’s asking price has almost certainly risen well beyond the initial £6 million outlay, with his current market value sitting around £7 million and likely climbing with each goal he scores.
Speaking on Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Pete O’Rourke said:
“Yeah, he’s obviously been a long-term target for Leeds. Look, if they stay in the Premier League, there’s no doubt they will have the money to strengthen the squad. Agyemang has had a very good debut season in England for Derby. Derby spent a decent fee on him when they did sign him in the summer; it was around six million pounds. So I’m sure his price tag has gone up since that. Derby have no real plans to lose him. But if Derby are unsuccessful in their bid to try and win promotion, I’m sure there will be a number of clubs looking at Agyemang as a potential target in the summer transfer window.”
Does Patrick Agyemang Fill The Attacking Gap Leeds United Actually Need To Address This Summer?
DERBY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Patrick Agyemang of Derby County celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park on January 23, 2026 in Derby, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Leeds currently sit 15th in the Premier League, deep enough in the table for relegation to remain a genuine threat. So Daniel Farke’s priorities for the summer should run well beyond simply adding attackers. That said, the question of whether Agyemang would be a sensible signing is worth picking apart.
What he brings to a team is clear: aerial dominance, direct running in behind, impressive composure in front of goal, and a World Cup year ahead of him with the USMNT that will keep him motivated and sharp. But there are real questions worth asking: his assist return is relatively modest, his involvement in build-up play is limited, and his Premier League readiness remains unproven, given he has never played above Championship level.
Realistically, if Derby miss out on promotion, a bidding war emerges, and Leeds stay up, Farke may well revisit the target seriously. That could easily happen. But chasing him while fighting relegation would represent a strange way to spend money.
Today marks the beginning of the last full week of MLB Spring Training before the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants kick off the 2026 regular season next Wednesday. As a result, with the season right around the corner, teams like the Athletics are beginning to narrow the amount of players in big-league camp, sending minor league prospects and non-roster invitees unlikely to make the team to minor league camp.
The Athletics reassigned left-handed pitchers Gage Jump and Matt Krook; right-handed pitchers Nick Hernandez, Brooks Kriske and Wander Suero; catcher Chad Wallach; infielders Leo De Vries, Michael Stefanic and Tommy White; and outfielders Henry Bolte and Cade Marlowe to their…
This roster-trim was expected as the majority of these players were not considered candidates to open the season with the A’s. However, them being reassigned will not prevent them from continuing to appear in the remainder of the team’s Cactus League games.
Speaking of which, the A’s have the chance to get back in the win column this afternoon following yesterday’s 12-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. In that game, top prospect Leo De Vries impressed again, hitting his third home run of the spring. However, A’s minor league pitching prospects Wei-En Lin and Zane Taylor each allowed six runs.
Veteran left-hander Jeffrey Springs will start on the mound for the A’s today against the Los Angeles Angels. Springs has had a rough spring so far, allowing six runs in 2 2/3 innings in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox. Carrying a 13.50 Cactus League ERA into his fourth start, Springs needs to pitch better today, especially with this potentially being his penultimate preseason appearance. For the A’s to have a chance at contending this year, Springs and right-hander Luis Severino, who pitched well last night for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, need to put forth strong performances in the majority of their starts.
Here’s how the A’s lineup versus the Angels looks this afternoon:
The Athletics have historically zigged when other teams have zagged. Traditionally, teams put their high-contact, on-base hitters near the top of their lineup in front of their power threats. The A’s are taking the opposite approach, batting sluggers Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Brent Rooker ahead of contact hitters Jacob Wilson and Jeff McNeil.
The only odd thing in today’s A’s lineup is second baseman Zack Gelof getting his first-ever start in right field. Yesterday, he started in center field for the first time, making a nice catch on the only ball hit to him out there. With Denzel Clarke back, Gelof slides to right as the A’s continue expanding his positional versatility. Lawrence Butler, the team’s starting right fielder, will make his spring debut tomorrow as the designated hitter before playing the outfield this weekend as he aims to be ready for Opening Day.
That lineup will be facing George Klassen, who is one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects. Klassen has had an impressive spring, going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three games played. He will look to further strengthen his candidacy for the Angels starting rotation with another solid outing today.
Superstar Mike Trout is one of several regulars in the Angels lineup this afternoon. Injuries have limited him in recent seasons, but he remains one of the most talented players of his generation. With him, Jo Adell and Logan O’Hoppe all starting, it should be a decent challenge for Springs and the Athletics. Should be a fun one in the desert. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Let’s go A’s!
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to struggle during the 2025–26 NHL season. Former defenseman Chris Pronger believes the team is feeling the loss of Mitch Marner more than expected.
Marner left Toronto last summer after a blockbuster sign-and-trade deal. The winger signed an eight-year, $96 million contract before being moved to the Vegas Golden Knights. Thus ending Marner’s nine-season run with the franchise.
During a recent appearance on the “Missin Curfew” podcast, Pronger explained how important Marner was to the Maple Leafs’ system. When asked if the winger made a major difference, Pronger gave a direct answer.
“Well, you’re losing a hundred points,” Pronger said. “Yeah. And he was kind of the catalyst in the power play. He drove– a lot of offense drove through him. You know, do they miss him? Yes. He was a good fit. They built their roster around him and Auston [Matthews] and Willy [William Nylander].”
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) celebrates his goal with center Auston Matthews (34) and right wing William Nylander at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Marner played a major role in Toronto’s attack for several seasons. He ranks sixth on the Maple Leafs’ all-time scoring lists with 741 points.
Pronger also pointed to deeper issues beyond Marner’s departure. He believes Toronto struggles because the team lacks strong defensive commitment.
“I just think the style that they play, it’s not – they’re not committed defensively,” Pronger said. “I think it’s a couple different things. They’re not committed defensively; they make a lot of mistakes in their own zone, so they spend a lot of time in there.”
The former Stanley Cup champion also added that Toronto struggles to win loose pucks and quickly transition out of the defensive zone. Without strong defensive play, the team often stays pinned in its own end instead of pushing the pace offensively.
“Similar to Vancouver, they don’t get stops. They don’t – they’re not able to seal guys off quickly, get loose pucks, and then get transition and get going, because they don’t defend well enough. They’re not committed as a group to shut it down.
“They’re just kind of there taking up space, hoping to go the other way and, you know, either circling or doing whatever. And the same thing goes for Edmonton.”
Toronto’s current record reflects those concerns. The Maple Leafs sit at 29-27-12 with 70 points, and the team is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Matthews leads the roster with 27 goals, but he is out for the season due to injury. Forward Nylander holds the team scoring lead with 63 points. However, defensive problems continue to hurt Toronto’s chances, with them allowing 3.44 goals per game.
As the season moves forward, the absence of Marner’s offensive production remains a major storyline.
Who should be the Nashville area's early season TSSAA baseball player of the year?
You get to decide.
We whittled down our list of top players in 2026 down to a select few candidates. Vote for your favorite choice in our poll below.
Voting closes March 20 at noon.
Kaden Powell, Beech, Sr.: Powell, a Kentucky signee, batted .440 last season with 51 hits, 15 home runs, 38 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He went 4-3 on the mound with 74 strikeouts and one save in 44.2 innings.
Joey Ansell, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Ansell, a left-handed pitcher signed with Kentucky, struck out 40 batters and held a 3.33 ERA.
Gunner Skelton, Columbia Academy, Sr.: Skelton, a Vanderbilt signee, was named DII-A Mr. Baseball last season after batting .438 with 31 RBIs, 14 doubles, five home runs and 30 stolen bases. He went 10-0 pitching with a .74 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 66 innings.
Eli Dickey, CPA, Sr.: Dickey, a right-handed pitcher committed to Jacksonville State, went 8-2 with 74 strikeouts, 18 walks and a .759 ERA.
Brody Gleason, Eagleville, Sr.: Gleason, a Columbia State signee, batted .311 with nine doubles, four home runs and 38 RBIs. On the mound, he went 12-0 with 82 strikeouts and seven walks.
Kason Young, East Robertson, Jr.: Young batted .443 with 47 hits, two triples, nine home runs, 35 RBIs, 54 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.
Carter Hullett, Ensworth, Jr.: Hullett, a Louisville commitment, batted .367 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 38 RBIs.
Jack Dugan, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: Dugan, a Tennessee signee and DII-AA Mr. Baseball finalist batted .417 with 53 hits, 14 home runs, 42 RBIs, 54 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.
Casen Springer, Loretto, Sr.: Springer was the District 10-2A Pitcher of the Year last season after recording 41 strikeouts in 25 innings with a 0.56 ERA. He also batted .404 with 20 RBIs, 13 doubles, six triples and two home runs.
Evan McElvain, Nolensville, Sr.: McElvain, a Duke signee, batted .380 with 11 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 29 RBIs while playing catcher and third base.
Michael Holt, Ravenwood, Sr.: Holt, a Vanderbilt signee, batted .357 with 41 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 21 RBIs, 44 runs scored and 16 stolen bases.
Beckett Haselhuhn, Rossview, Jr.: Haselhuhn batted .445 with 61 hits, three home runs and 43 RBIs. He also went 8-2 on the mound with a 2.51 ERA and 96 strikeouts.
Stephen Bobo, Shelbyville, Jr.: Bobo, a Vanderbilt commitment, batted .534 with 55 hits, eight doubles, five home runs and 36 RBIs. On the mound, he went 6-3 with 66 strikeouts and 17 walks in 44.1 innings.
Ryan Russell, Siegel, Sr.: Russell, a Lincoln Memorial signee, went 7-1 with 81 strikeouts while keeping a .955 ERA. He batted .264 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs.
Chris Wirsing, Upperman, Jr.: Wirsing, a right-handed pitcher and infielder, batted .396 with 55 hits, nine doubles, one home run and 31 RBIs. He went 8-4 on the mound with 71 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA in 67 innings.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
The conundrum for drafting players is always: do we draft the best player available or what we need the most?
For the Tennessee Titans, they must select the best player available on the big board.
Titans Must Address Edge Rusher This Offseason
The Titans enter the 2026 offseason with a long list of positions of need. The most glaring is to find another pass rusher to play alongside Jeffery Simmons. New Head Coach Robert Saleh has a defense that will force rapid changes to the roster from a personnel standpoint.
The Titans already moved former second-round pick T’Vondre Sweat earlier this offseason in a trade for Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson. Tennessee has spent the scouting phase of the offseason evaluating edge rushing talent in the draft, and there are risks everywhere they look.
There is no denying the on-field production of Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., but his measurables aren’t just bad — they are historically bad. Bain measured in with the first percentile of arm length for edge rushers in the NFL combine since 2010.
Another highly touted edge rusher is David Bailey of Texas Tech.
On tape, Bailey is by far the most explosive pash rusher in the class. He led all of Division I in sacks with 14.5 during his senior season, but there is a large downside to his play. He is non-existent in the run game. His frame will not allow him to set the edge, and it will be exploited at the next level.
Given the lack of certainty with the options provided, the Titans need to shift their focus to taking the best player on their draft board.
Who Is the Best Player in the Draft?
There are 1A and 1B in this draft class competing for the best player: running back Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame and linebacker Sonny Styles from Ohio State.
They play on different sides of the ball but in positions that are often not taken high in the draft due to the idea that their value can be found later on.
There are reasons to draft either player, but both are as skilled in their positions as any prospect can be.
Why the Titans Should Draft Jeremiyah Love
With the hiring of Saleh, the Titans brought in former Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll to be the offensive coordinator. Daboll will have some tools to start with in Nashville as Cam Ward will enter his second season, but they desperately need to get him weapons.
Who better than to draft the class’s best offensive player in Jeremiyah Love?
Love has all the traits that a team could ask for in a modern-day back. His 4.36 40-yard dash highlights his elite breakaway speed. His vision allows him to always find yards on broken plays and catch passes out of the backfield.
Aquí el primer intento en las 40 yardas de Jeremiyah Love.
Drafting a running back early has always been considered malpractice due to many not being able to sustain their prime over a long career, but the Titans desperately need Love’s explosiveness.
Love would allow the Titans to return to play action plays more often, which Ward thrived in during his rookie season. While Tony Pollard had a good season for the Titans in 2025, Love would bring a new dynamic to the Titans while being eight years younger.
If the Titans consider using the No. 4 overall pick on offense, it has to be Love.
Why the Titans Should Draft Sonny Styles
Saleh is bringing a new defensive scheme to Nashville, and there isn’t a better fit in the entire draft than Styles. He is an athletic freak, as he posted a score of 9.99 out of 10 in RAS (Relative Athletic Score). This makes Styles one of the most athletic linebackers to enter the NFL Draft in recent history.
Styles does anything and everything at the position. He can attack the gaps to stop a run play, drop back into coverage on third downs, or blitz the quarterback.
Not only is he explosive in all of these areas, but he is also always making the right decision on the field.
The Titans as a whole are a very young defense that will need another leader in the locker room. Styles can be that guy and more for this defense.
He would partner up with one of the best young linebackers, Cedric Gray, who was second in the league in solo tackles last season with 97.
Styles would completely change the defense for the Titans at the fourth overall pick. If the Titans are considering adding a defensive player, Styles’ name has to be the one.
Titans Have Plenty of Options
The Titans are in a spot where they need to take the best available player to help build the backbone of the franchise.
There will be options on both sides of the ball, but it is ultimately up to General Manager Mike Borgonzi to make the call to Pittsburgh, where someone’s NFL dream will become a reality as they become a Tennessee Titan.
The wait is officially over. Selection Sunday 2026 is in the books and the road to Indianapolis is open. Duke has claimed the No. 1 overall seed, joined on the top line by Arizona, Michigan, and defending champion Florida.
Get ahead of the curve with our freshly updated digital March Madness bracket. We'll track every result of every matchup in real time from the First Four to the National Championship Game.
The 2026 March Madness bracket
Follow along with each round right up to the National Championship to keep track of Covers' 2026 College Basketball Men's Tournament Bracket.
You can also download and print our official bracket by visiting ourprintable March Madness bracketpage. Make sure you fill out your bracket and enter free bracket challenges and contests before the tournament starts for a chance at huge prizes for March Madness.
March Madness 2026 schedule
Event
Date
Location(s)
Selection Sunday
March 15
--
First Four
March 17-18
UD Arena (Dayton, OH)
First Round
March 19-20
Various
Second Round
March 21-22
Various
Sweet 16
March 26-27
Toyota Center (Houston, TX); SAP Center (San Jose, CA); United Center (Chicago, IL); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
Elite Eight
March 28-29
Toyota Center (Houston, TX); SAP Center (San Jose, CA); United Center (Chicago, IL); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
Final Four
April 4
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)
National Championship Game
April 6
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)
The perfect March Madness bracket
A question often asked of us is whether there has ever been a perfect March Madness bracket. The answer is simple: No. And there likely never will be.
That's because the odds of successfully predicting a perfect March Madness bracket are 1 in 120.2 billion — assuming you know a little about college basketball! If you're flipping a coin? Those odds become 1 in 9.2 quintillion, per NCAA.com.
No wonder Warren Buffett offered $1 billion to anyone who could fill out a perfect bracket.
The madness is almost here, and there’s nothing quite like the rush of staring at a blank slate of possibilities. It’s nearly time to grab your lucky pen and fill out a printable March Madness bracket. Whether you’re a seasoned stat-head or someone who picks based on the coolest mascots, the anticipation is half the fun.
Our free 2026 bracket is completely downloadable, printable, and fillable, giving you total flexibility. You can start slotting teams into their regions the second the seeds are announced, mapping out every upset and "Cinderella story" you see coming. Don’t just watch the drama unfold - get your picks on paper and claim your bragging rights early!
Printable March Madness bracket
Selection Sunday has come and gone, and now we have our full printable 2026 March Madness Bracket below!
Download Our 2026 March Madness Bracket.
March Madness 2026 schedule
Event
Date
Location(s)
Selection Sunday
March 15
--
First Four
March 17-18
UD Arena (Dayton, OH)
First Round
March 19-20
Various
Second Round
March 21-22
Various
Sweet 16
March 26-27
Toyota Center (Houston, TX); SAP Center (San Jose, CA); United Center (Chicago, IL); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
Elite Eight
March 28-29
Toyota Center (Houston, TX); SAP Center (San Jose, CA); United Center (Chicago, IL); Capital One Arena (Washington, DC)
The 2026 offseason is in full swing, and it's another important one for the Baltimore Ravens, who are looking to get back to the postseason in head coach Jesse Minter's debut season. Here at Ravens Wire, we're going position by position to break down where Baltimore stands entering the 2026 offseason. First up is quarterback, where Lamar Jackson is looking to rebound after an injury-filled 2025 season, and Tyler Huntley returns as the backup quarterback after signing a two-year deal.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson's contract was recently restructured to clear up roughly $40 million in salary cap space after the two sides "ran out of time" on negotiating an extension, GM Eric DeCosta said. After a near-MVP season in 2024, Jackson was battered and missed four games, going 192-302 passing (63.6 completion percentage) for 2,549 yards (196.1 per game), 21 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and a 103.8 passer rating. He'll work with Declan Doyle to take his game to another level in 2026.
Tyler Huntley
Huntley, 28, had something of a journeyman period over the past two years, but went 2-0 last season in his third stint with the team, filling in for Jackson and leading Baltimore to wins over the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. Last season, Baltimore initially had Jackson and Cooper Rush on the roster before Huntley returned in a midseason deal. In 2025, Huntley won both of his starts, including a crucial Week 17 game at Lambeau Field, and earned the coaching staff's favor after he replaced Rush against the Rams, going 10-of-15 for 68 yards passing and 23 yards rushing. Overall, Huntley maximized his opportunities and set himself up for a return in 2026 after he went 52 of 67 attempts for 426 yards and two touchdowns across five appearances. Huntley played a key role in keeping Baltimore's season afloat while Jackson missed multiple games due to various ailments. He was cut by Cleveland in August and joined Baltimore's practice squad. The Ravens signed Cooper Rush as the new backup during the offseason, and when Lamar Jackson went down with a hamstring injury against the Chiefs, Baltimore initially turned to Rush, who finished that game and started against the Texans and the Rams.
NFL Draft
Baltimore could look to add a third quarterback via the draft.
Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
Height: 6 feet 3/ Weight: 233 pounds
From Carson Wentz to Trey Lance, North Dakota State produces solid prospects. A 2025 Walter Payton Award finalist (3rd), Payton led the Bison to a 12-1 record, including an 8-0 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in his first year as a starter. Payton Set NDSU single-season records for pass efficiency. After missing the final eight games of the 2024 season with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, he bounced back in 2025, finishing with 3,188 passing yards, 29 total TDs (16 passing, 13 rushing), and four interceptions.
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 210 pounds
Once considered a potential No. 1 pick, Klubnik finished 2025 with 2,943 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Kludnik is most comfortable operating off play-action, as he had 10 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 72.7% completion percentage in that formation.
Klubnik is also a threat as a runner when forced to break the pocket.
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 235 pounds
Allar has prototypical size and arm strength, starting 35 games and playing 45 overall during his career at Penn State. Allar increased his completion percentage from 59.9% in 2023 to 66.5% in 2024. Once a potential first-round pick, Allar suffered a broken left ankle in the Northwestern game and was sidelined for the season. Prior to the injury, Allar had 1,100 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 224 pounds
Green immediately became the Razorbacks' starter after transferring from Boise State following the 2023 season. He had 2,714 passing yards, 19 touchdown throws, and 11 interceptions this season, along with 771 rushing yards (12th most among FBS QBs) and two touchdowns on the ground. A true dual threat, Green had eight games with 50 or more rushing yards.
Four-star offensive lineman Kennedee Jackson will visit the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens on June 12, per 247Sports.
At 6-foot-8, 297 pounds, Jackson is a massive target for the Dawgs in the 2027 class. The lineman will visit Athens from June 12-14, and Jackson has been rumored to have Georgia among his top schools despite having five other visits currently scheduled. Jackson is expected to visit Georgia Tech (April 10-12), LSU (April 17-19), Florida (May 28-30), North Carolina (June 5-7), and Auburn (June 19-21) in addition to his visit with Georgia, but the Lithonia native may find himself staying home and landing with the Bulldogs in the near future.
Jackson is ranked as the No. 16 offensive tackle and the No. 120 overall player from the class of 2027, per the 247Sports rankings. He is ranked as the No. 9 overall player from Georgia as well. Jackson is an extremely dynamic playmaker that thrived last season at Lithonia High School, as the rising star recorded 15 tackles and 5 TFL throughout 8 games at both offensive and defensive tackle.
Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia have the No. 6 recruiting class in the 2027 cycle. Georgia has six commitments including one from four-star in-state offensive tackle Kelsey Adams.
Georgia continues to target some of the top offensive linemen from the class of 2027, including five-star offensive lineman Mark Matthews.
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 24: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff reacts to a call during the second round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament against the Duke Blue Devils held at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 24, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to March, which means corned beef, a handful of fake springs in Central Ohio and the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State women’s basketball is back in the annual tournament for the fifth season in a row, and the fourth time hosting the first two rounds of tournament. The Buckeyes host the Howard Bison on Saturday, with a potential matchup on Monday with either the Fairfield Stag or Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Regardless of what happens in Columbus, you can be part of all of the women’s basketball action this March with the Land-Grant Women’s Basketball Challenge.
It is simple, head to this link and sign up for the group. Then, make your picks for who you think wins the NCAA Tournament by 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, March 20. It costs nothing to play and all scoring gets updated real time from the fine computers at ESPN.
If you win, you will receive a moderately priced souvenir from the first and second round games in Columbus. That item and its value is unknown, which adds an element of intrigue to this year’s challenge. Also, you get one word that Thomas Costello, Land-Grant’s women’s basketball beat writer, and the author of this article, has to put in an article this offseason.
The word has to be respectable, no words unsuitable for print. In previous seasons, people won books, shoutouts and the pride of a job well done. Winners still get the pride of a job well done.
Sign up, sit back and enjoy all of the basketball over the next month.
The wait is finally over! Selection Sunday has concluded, the field of 68 is set, and the Road to the Final Four is officially paved.
Whether you’re looking to dominate your March Madness office pool, challenge your friends, or finally predict that elusive perfect bracket, the path to (prognostication) glory begins with your bracket... well, it actually begins with downloading your bracket — which is where we come in.
We’ve provided a free printable March Madness bracket in high-definition PDF, fully updated with the 2026 seeds and regions. From the high-stakes First Four in Dayton to the National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, we have every matchup covered — including expert March Madness predictions every step of the way.
Ready to play? Download your 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket below and let the madness begin!
Printable March Madness bracket
Click the button below to download our free printable March Madness bracket and start your path to becoming an expert bracketologist!
Download Our 2026 March Madness Bracket.
How to use our printable bracket
1) Download our bracket PDF (or print — preferably on standard 8.5" x 11" paper — it off if you want to go old school).
2) Fill in the "First Four" play-in winners (not a requirement for all contests, but why not start the fun ASAP).
3) Predict every matchup through the Championship game.
4) Enjoy watching your teams progress through the Big Dance.
Pro-Tip: Don't forget to fill in the tie-breaker score (total points in the final game).
Key Dates: The 2026 March Madness schedule
Round
Dates
Location
Selection Sunday
March 15
Brackets released
First Four
March 17-18
Dayton, OH
First Round
March 19-20
Various
Second Round
March 21-22
Various
Sweet 16
March 26-27
Houston, TX San Jose, CA Chicago, IL Washington, D.C.
2 Get our prediction based on our research and official Covers March Madness bracket predictions (coming soon). Make sure to check out picks before you fill out your bracket.
If you have any doubt about Ronda Rousey's war against the UFC being genuine, her choice words on Monday might convince you otherwise.
After Most Valuable Promotions announced Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry will take place at the May 16 Netflix event headlined by Rousey vs. Gina Carano, the UFC Hall of Famer took to social media to boast about the addition – but with some choice words directed at UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell.
"Welcome to the revolution @NateDiaz209 @PlatinumPerry!!" Rousey wrote on X. "It's the FIGHTERS vs the establishment – and we're gunna win! May 16th only on @netflix.
"P.S. #HunterCampbell pissed off the wrong b*tch, I'm coming for your job motherf*cker."
Welcome to the revolution @NateDiaz209@PlatinumPerry !! It’s the FIGHTERS vs the establishment - and we’re gunna win! May 16th only on @netflix
It's unclear how or why Campbell would have angered Rousey, although it could be in reference to the fact that the UFC was unable to make Rousey vs. Carano happen under its umbrella after the three sides discussed it.
In the immediate aftermath of Netflix announcing her return to MMA last month, Rousey made it clear that "MVP vs. UFC" would be a big storyline heading into the event, adding that she was ready "to go real hard in the f*cking trenches" – and that certainly appears to be the case.
Rousey has publicly shamed the UFC for the quality of its highly anticipated White House card June 14. Last week at the first press conference for her fight with Carano, Rousey said even UFC CEO Dana White "knows the White House card sucks" and went on to call the UFC boss "an employee" of the company.
Florida State has safeties four-star Mekhi Williams and three-star Jemari Foreman committed in their 2027 recruiting class. However, they're still looking to land their first cornerback. Enter three-star Khamani Estrada.
The 6-foot, 175-pounder has around 20 offers. According to Chad Simmons of Rivals, FSU and one school from the SEC are leading the way in his recruitment.
Florida State and Kentucky are recruiting Khamani Estrada the hardest right now, putting the Seminoles and Wildcats at the top of his list. Estrada is in frequent contact with coaches from both staffs and was in Tallahassee, Florida earlier this week, where the connection with the Florida State coaches continued to grow.
Estrada is coming off a strong junior year at Westlake High School. He finished with 43 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery per MaxPreps.
Kentucky will host Estrada for an official visit on June 5 and Florida State on June 12. Pittsburgh and Purdue are others schools to watch in the recruitment of Estrada.
He is the nation's No. 506 player and the No. 56 cornerback per Rivals industry rankings. Estrada is the No. 59 recruit from the state of Georgia.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has always considered Malcolm Rodriguez a starting linebacker. After playing most of the past three seasons as a backup, Rodriguez could get the chance to prove his coach right this fall.
"It’s a big opportunity," Rodriguez said Monday, March 16, in Allen Park. "Just one of the things I'm just going to come in and have that same mentality I had when I first got here. It's always competition here, so just putting my best foot forward and seeing where it goes."
Rodriguez started 15 games as a rookie sixth-round pick in 2022, lost his starting job to first-round pick Jack Campbell the following season and has made just 10 starts the past three years.
He played more defensive snaps as a rookie (614) than he did in 2023-25 combined (510), but is currently penciled in as the team's No. 3 linebacker after officially signing a one-year deal to stay with the Lions in free agency.
The Lions return starting linebackers Campbell and Derrick Barnes from a defense that played more three-linebacker sets than any team in the NFL last season but lost longtime starter Alex Anzalone - their best coverage linebacker - to a free-agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Campbell, Barnes and Rodriguez are the only linebackers the Lions currently have under contract. And while they still will add multiple linebackers through free agency and/or the draft - Trevor Nowaske also has agreed to a deal to return as a non-tendered restricted free agent. - Rodriguez re-signed with the team in part because of the chance to get on the field.
"It's one of those things where, come in fully healthy, it’ll be nice to see me out there flying around and kind of doing my thing," he said.
Rodriguez tore the ACL in his right knee in a Thanksgiving win over the Chicago Bears in 2024 and spent the first half of last season rehabbing the injury.
He played in seven games, mostly on special teams, made one start and finished the season with a career-low 12 tackles and a career-high 110.4 passer rating against, according to Pro Football Reference.
Rodriguez acknowledged Monday he felt "a little unusual" in his return to the field. He needed a second surgery to clean up scar tissue last summer and said he had trouble getting his knee loose at times.
But after taking time off early this offseason, he said "everything feels smooth and right back to normal" again.
As he spoke to reporters Monday, holding his almost-1-year-old daughter, Mia, he said he had interest from several other teams in free agency but was "excited" to stay with the only NFL team he's ever known.
“Blessed to sign back again and come into a full offseason healthy," he said. "So just staying healthy and going out there and playing my style of game."
The San Francisco 49ers may have made a splash signing by bringing in former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, but the most impactful move may have come on the defensive side of the ball.
Odighizuwa has three years left on his current contract, so 49ers fans should get to know him before he plays a single snap for the team this year.
Dual sport athlete
At David Douglas High School in Portland, Oregon, Odighizuwa was a more successful wrestler than football player, as he won three straight state heavyweight championships, going 91-0 in his final two years.
Bruins days
The three-star recruit committed to UCLA in 2015 for the 2016 season. After redshirting his freshman year, Odighizuwa appeared in 43 games over his final four years with the Bruins, recording 120 tackles, 11.5 sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown. He earned All-Pac-12 honors once for his efforts.
Strong NFL start
The Dallas Cowboys took Odighizuwa in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft, and he took over as a start right away. Over the last five years, he's appeared in 84 games and started 76 while recording 216 tackles, 81 quarterback hits, 17 sacks, two forced fumbles and pass defensed.
Family business
Osa isn't the only member of the Odighizuwa family to make the NFL. His brother, Owa, was a third-round pick of the New York Giants in 2015. He spent two years with New York and had a short offseason stint with the Buffalo Bills.
The New England Patriots announced their 2026 coaching staff on Monday. By doing so, the team revealed that former defensive coordinator Terrell Williams will be the team's new assistant head coach.
Williams was initially brought on as the defensive coordinator by head coach Mike Vrabel last year, but he was forced to step away for a significant stretch after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, he still contributed remotely and stayed in contact with the team.
He eventually returned late in the season, cancer-free. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr took over the play-calling duties in Williams' absence and did a tremendous job filling in. The Patriots had one of the best defenses in the NFL under Kuhr's watch, which led to him earning the official defensive coordinator title.
As the 2026 NFL draft order comes into focus, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is looking likely to be the No. 4 overall pick. Unless some team trades up to No. 3 to get him.
The current odds at DraftKings have Love at -115 to go fourth overall, meaning he's got a better than 50-50 chance of being the fourth pick.
The odds have Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as an enormous -20,000 favorite to go first, Ohio State linebacker Arvel Reese as a more modest -185 favorite to go second, and Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey as a more modest +290 favorite to go third.
With no clear favorite at the third overall pick, and the Titans widely believed to want Love at No. 4, another team that wants Love could try trading up with the Cardinals to take Love at No. 3. Love's odds are currently +500 to go with the third pick.
No team has taken a running back with a Top 5 pick since 2018, when the Giants drafted Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall. But Love just might be a good enough prospect to make some team do it.
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 17: President of Football Operations and General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers addresses the team in the locker room after the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 41-6. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers are into Week 2 of free agency with the NFL Draft just down the line next month. The 49ers added future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa in a trade with Dallas, reunited with linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and added CB Nate Hobbs.
The real way to grade the offseason will be with on-field results, but it is a fun exercise to grade the first few moves for the 49ers.
Gordon McGuiness of PFF gave each team a grade for their first week of free agency.
2025 PFF Grade: 69.8 2025 PFF WAR: 0.14 Contract: 3 years, $60.4 million PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $48 million PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
In a stunning turn of events, Evans will suit up elsewhere for the first time in his 13-year career. Although his production dipped in 2025 after he endured multiple injuries, he still managed a solid 1.62 yards per route run and caught 48% of his contested targets. Evans’ presence will be coveted in a 49ers receiving room that will likely lose both Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk.
Dallas Cowboys trade DI Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco 49ers
2025 PFF Grade: 65.9 2025 PFF WAR: 0.16 49ers PFF Deal Grade: Above Average Cowboys PFF Deal Grade: Average
Odighizuwa, a consistently good interior pass rusher, is likely to make a bigger impact than any player at the position the 49ers could have selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He has earned a 70.0-plus PFF pass-rush grade and registered 50 or more pressures in each of the past four seasons. The Cowboys clear some cap space and get a decent return for a player whom they seemed set on trading, but they do now have a significant production gap to fill on the interior defensive line.
2025 PFF Grade: 76.1 2025 PFF WAR: 0.07 Contract: 1 year, $7.5 million PFF Contract Grade: Above Average
This is a reunion that makes complete sense. Although Greenlaw has struggled to stay on the field over the last two years, playing just 420 snaps in that span, he’s remained a high-level run defender with a 90.2 PFF run-defense grade. Although Greenlaw’s coverage capabilities appear to be on the decline, his presence will be welcome back with Fred Warner in San Francisco.
2025 PFF Grade: 61.7 2025 PFF WAR: 0.05 Contract: 1 year, up to $4.5 million PFF Deal Grade: Average
Hobbs has never reached the heights of an impressive rookie season that saw him earn a 79.1 PFF grade as a fifth round rookie out Illinois for the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s coming off a lone season for the Green Bay Packers that saw him earn a 77.4 PFF run defense grade and a 58.1 PFF coverage grade, and does at least offer the versatility of having experience both on the outside and in the slot.
Three starters are in the fold with Hobbs giving the 49ers secondary a boost as Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green will start outside with the budding youngster Upton Stout in the slot. Evans provides leadership and stability to the 49ers receiver room, and Greenlaw returning makes the 49ers linebacker duo push for the top spot in the NFL.
The 49ers have time to fill in other positions and retained multiple players from last season while adding offensive line depth. The next wave of moves will be lower, under-the-radar type signings with eyes on the draft class for the 49ers in 2026.
Real Madrid youngster dealing with knee discomfort for a month – report
The injury list at Real Madrid has been quite long in recent weeks, with Alvaro Arbeloa having to deal with several notable absences across the pitch.
While there have been significant blows in defence, the attacking unit has also been left short-handed with both Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo Goes having been unavailable.
It had opened the door for youngster Gonzalo Garcia to feature regularly and stake a claim for a bigger role in the team heading into the final phase of the season.
However, he has not started any of the team’s last three games, with Brahim Diaz being preferred ahead of him.
Indeed, according to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, the 21-year-old La Fabrica striker has been experiencing discomfort in one of his knees for close to a month now.
Dealing with knee discomfort. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
While Real Madrid have not made his injury public, the Spanish forward is understood to have been undergoing some conservative treatment during this period to address the problem.
The report states that Gonzalo has seen improvement in his condition because of the conservative treatment. However, the discomfort is still causing problem in some of his movements.
This might explain his lack of starts in recent games, with Arbeloa opting to pair Brahim with Vinicius Jr. in attack in the last three matches, whereas the youngster has played only 45 minutes in that period.
So far this term, Gonzalo has racked up 1184 minutes across 32 appearances, scoring six and assisting two goals in the process.
“I like him a lot” – Rosenior backed by former Chelsea player who blamed bad squad for issues
Wayne Bridge has spoken this week, and has defended Liam Rosenior as the Chelsea boss comes under pressure for the first time.
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After two painful defeats in a week, it’s a funny time to come out and defend Liam Rosenior. So credit to Wayne Bridge, who’s done just that in an interview with TeamTalk.
“I do like him a lot, and I like the way he speaks,” Bridge continued.
“I think as a young manager, especially one who hasn’t won anything elsewhere yet, he’s always going to come under a lot of criticism in the Premier League, particularly at a club like Chelsea.
“Chelsea is a club that are used to competing in the Champions League. Securing qualification for that will be really important for him.”
Chelsea stuck in same cycle if Rosenior fired
Unfortunately, right now those qualification chances are dwindling away to nothing. The Blues were beaten at home by Newcastle at the weekend and now face a real uphill battle to make the top 5 at all.
Whispers about Rosenior being under pressure were inevitable after that, no matter how unrealistic they are.
“These days, sometimes clubs just swap managers too easily. But then what progress will the next manager make if they’re still dealing with the same squad?” concluded Bridge.
Well said.
In other news…
Bridge also defended some of Rosenior’s in-game decisions by pointing out how poor the squad is in some areas.
Another thing making headlines this week was Chelsea’s pre-match huddle, which has been slammed by journalists.
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The further we get in this series, the easier the posts are to write. Part of that is finding a bit of a groove in terms of how I want to present the information, but the other (more obvious) part is that there are fewer plays in these sections. We had 22 plays in 1st & 10. We had 10 plays in 2nd & Long. And today, for 2nd & Medium, we have 4 plays.
If you’re new to this series, we’re reviewing how the Packers offense performed in 2025 by down & distance, and we’re doing that by building out a callsheet. I ran it all down in the initial post.
A few definitions and then we’ll dig in. I’ll be referencing Success Rate and Explosive Rate. On 2nd down, a play is considered a success if it gains at least 50% of the yards needed to gain a 1st down. An explosive play is a pass play that gains 16+ yards or a run play that gains 12+ yards. As far as the down & distance, “Medium” is needing 4-6 yards for a 1st down.
So how did the Packers do on 2nd & Medium in 2025? They averaged 3.8 plays per game on 2nd & Medium, 13th in the league. In this down & distance, the Packers had a Success Rate of 67.4% (3rd in the league), gained an average of 4.8 yards per play (19th) and an explosive play rate of 8.1% (tied for 21st). So they were efficient, but this wasn’t a huge situation for them in terms of gaining yards or generating explosives.
They had a pass rate of 46.5% on 2nd & Medium, 25th in the league. I wanted to see if there were any major differences between what they did when running or passing.
Success Rate is nearly identical, but they averaged 1.6 more yards per play and had a 3.5 percentage point bump when passing.
We’re going to split this right down the middle today: 2 passes and 2 runs, but we’re throwing an additional pass play at the end of the sheet for a potential explosive.
Passes
Two Man Stick (3.5 YPA, 87.5% Success)
A quick game staple. The Packers will run this a handful of different ways, but this has been their favorite over the years. On the Trips (3 receiver) side, the outside receiver runs a vertical clear-out route while the two inside receivers run quick out routes. The vertical route is an alert (the QB can throw it if it’s against the right defensive look and he likes the match-up), but otherwise this is read outside-in. He’ll look to the #2 receiver first, then work back inside to #3.
It’s a 3-step drop on Stick, and it’s typically paired with a 5-7 step drop on the backside. In the clip above, the Packers are running a version of Bow on the backside.
Dragon (19.0 YPA, 100% Success)
Otherwise known as Slant/Flat, this concept became a bit of a dirty word in Green Bay near the end of the McCarthy era (I, for one, never wanted to see Richard Rodgers on a flat route again).
This is a simple concept that can lead to a nice gain if you can hit the slant in-stride. In the clip above, Jordan Love waits for the flat defender to clear then hits Christian Watson on the slant. Watson is able to catch it without slowing down and ends up with 19 yards.
Runs
Power (4.3 YPA, 66.7% Success)
The split-back Spinner run game wasn’t quite as big a piece in the 2025 offense as I thought it would be, but it was still effective when they broke it out. This is one of my favorites: Spinner FB Lead. Emanuel Wilson motions behind Love as if he’s releasing into the right flat, but then breaks off the motion at the snap. Chris Brooks works as a fullback, leading to the left. That gives Wilson a lead fullback along with Jordan Morgan pulling to the left.
Wide Zone (7.0 YPA, 100% Success)
Anthony Muñoz described zone blocking as blocking on “a railroad track…if a defensive lineman or linebacker crosses onto the track, your job is to take him and move him.” (Taken from Tim Layden’s Blood, Sweat and Chalk)
When LaFleur came to Green Bay, this was the basis of the offense. They have moved away from it a bit over the years, but it’s still very much a big piece of their run game. Its overall effectiveness has been fine (45.3% Success Rate on Wide Zone runs in 2025), but was fairly limited in terms of yards gained (3.8 YPA) and explosiveness (6.8%).
Explosive
All Go (57.0 YPA, 100% Success)
One of my favorite vertical concepts. Its effectiveness has waxed and waned over the years, but the Packers found a bit of a resurgence this year. The above play is out of 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TE, 1 WR). Going that heavy on this down & distance can really help sell the run, which can help this pop. This is something that doesn’t really work against two-high coverages, but if you can catch the defense in single-high, I’d have this as a check for a potential explosive. Going this heavy can help force defenses into single-high looks, so it’s a good concept to have in your pocket for this down & distance.
Gosens: ‘Fiorentina face very different type of pressure’ in relegation battle
Robin Gosens admits Fiorentina are dealing with ‘a very different type of pressure’ in the relegation battle with Cremonese, so ‘mentality is everything’ in tonight’s showdown.
It kicks off at the Stadio Giovanni Zini at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
This result could well decide who stays up and who drops into Serie B this summer, because going into this game Fiorentina are in 17th place on 25 points and Cremonese are in the drop zone in 18th on 24 points.
At the same time, the Tuscans are also forced to think about the Conference League Round of 16, after beating Rakow 2-1 on Thursday, they will visit Poland this week for the second leg.
Gosens warning for Fiorentina
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 8: Luca Ranieri of ACF Fiorentina shows his dejection during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Parma Calcio 1913 at Artemio Franchi on March 8, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“When you have to fight against relegation, the match plan works to a certain extent, but then mentality is everything,” Gosens told DAZN Italia.
“It’s a very different type of pressure to the one we had last season, for example, when we had other objectives.
“We want to be aggressive at the right time and clear-headed when unexpected things happen. We are coming off an important Conference League win that gave us enthusiasm, so we are ready.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 12: Head coach Paolo Vanoli of ACF Fiorentina looks on during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 round of 16 first leg match between ACF Fiorentina and Rakow Czestochowa at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 12, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina have also shifted their tactics recently to a four-man defence, and that means a different role for ex-Atalanta and Inter wing-back Gosens now that he is a full-back.
“I am a full-back who likes to attack, because those are my characteristics, but it’s very different in a four-man defence, as I don’t get to attack the back post in quite the same way.
“The important thing is that I have got my fitness levels back, which is absolutely fundamental for a player with my style of football. I am happy the coach chose me today and want to repay that faith.”
The change also means that Fabiano Parisi moves into a more advanced role for Fiorentina as part of a supporting quartet behind centre-forward Roberto Piccoli.
“Fabiano is having a great season, he put himself at the disposal of the coach and doing a good job in this position,” concluded Gosens.
Antoine Semenyo has enjoyed the best season of his career. The Ghanaian has hit the ground running since making the January transfer window move from Bournemouth to Manchester City, registering six goal contributions in nine Premier League outings for his new side.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on March 14, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Izzy Poles - AMA/Getty Images)
Getty Images
City spent £64m to sign Semenyo and that already looks like being a good investment in a player who is still improving. And yet Pep Guardiola’s use of the 26-year-old has limited his team recently, as demonstrated by the lacklustre performances in back-to-back matches against Real Madrid and West Ham.
Effectively, Manchester City’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns might have come to an end last week. It’s difficult to envisage City clawing back the difference on Arsenal at the top of the table or winning the second leg against Real Madrid by four clear goals to make the Champions League’s next round.
It wasn’t so long ago that City looked to have built some serious momentum. Indeed, the Etihad Stadium side won six matches in-a-row in all competitions last month as they put up a strong fight on all fronts for silverware. Since then, though, Guardiola has adopted a new tactical approach that hasn’t worked.
This approach has deployed Semenyo in a more central role to the one he impressed in for Bournemouth. Guardiola has used the Ghanaian alongisde Erling Haaland as a secondary forward or as a roaming attacking midfielder in a 4-2-2-2 shape that sees Manchester City clog the centre of the field.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 04: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, interacts with Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The problem, however, is that this role doesn’t get Semenyo into open space. That’s where the 26-year-old is most effective, as he demonstrated in a number of eye-catching performances for Bournemouth when Andoni Iraola built his quick-transition style of play around the natural threat of Semenyo on the break.
Guardiola clearly saw Semenyo as more than just a player to knife through opponents in quick transition, and with good reason. The Ghanaian is comfortable with both feet, can change directly swiftly and is as good at creating as he is finishing. In many ways, he’s a perfect fit for Manchester City.
And yet Guardiola is being accused of limiting Semenyo in the same way he did Jack Grealish. He too was a mercurial wide player who was at his best when he could make quick decisions in the final third. Semenyo’s addition made City’s squad stronger, but his specific deployment by Guardiola might be making them weaker.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury may finally be edging closer to reality after years of failed negotiations and missed opportunities.
The long-discussed heavyweight showdown has resurfaced after Gareth A. Davies reported that both fighters have already signed an agreement to face each other in a blockbuster bout expected to be broadcast on Netflix.
The fight would represent one of the biggest events in modern boxing if it goes ahead. However, several details remain unclear.
Gareth A. Davies reveals possible timeline for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
According to Davies, the two British heavyweights have signed contracts for the contest, although the exact date has not yet been finalised. He suggested the bout could take place either late in 2026 or early in 2027.
If confirmed, the event would mark one of the most commercially significant fights in boxing history. Joshua and Fury have spent years dominating the British heavyweight scene, and a meeting between them has been repeatedly discussed but never delivered.
A Netflix broadcast would also represent a major shift in boxing distribution, reflecting the growing influence of the American streaming platform in combat sports.
Regarding that, one crucial complication remains: Joshua’s exclusivity agreement with streaming platform DAZN, which broadcasts his fights.
That arrangement was bypassed in his Netflix fight with Jake Paul after a £10 million deal was reached, but a showdown with Fury would likely require tough negotiations.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury currently on different paths
While the potential fight generates excitement, both fighters are currently focused on separate priorities.
According to talkSPORT, Joshua is close to returning to training after stepping away from the gym following a tragic car crash in Nigeria in December that killed two of his close friends.
Fury, meanwhile, is preparing for his next fight. The former world champion is currently in training camp ahead of a bout against Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov scheduled for 11 April.
Those fights and circumstances could influence when the long-awaited Joshua vs Fury clash finally happens, even if the agreement is already in place.
Vinnie Pasquantino has one of the best nicknames in baseball.
And the Kansas City Royals star has brought that to a world stage, shining in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy, which went undefeated in the WBC pool play and is now trying to advance to the championship.
Pasquantino already made history in this tournament when he slugged three home runs against Mexico in the final game of pool play to secure a spot in the quarterfinal.
He's also made a name for himself as the captain and leader. He leads the home run celebrations, when he's not hitting them himself.
“Obviously playing four games in four days is something we haven’t done before,” longtime coach Matt Painter said.
Yet there wasn't time for the Boilermakers to even change out of their jerseys, much less think about recharging and recovering, before seeing their names in the March Madness bracket.
League tournaments are over, but could have a lingering impact and offer an indication of what teams are positioned for tournament success. Roughly half of all Final Four teams and eventual champions since the expansion to 64 teams in 1985 won league titles; no team has won it all without reaching at least the semifinals of their conference tournament.
There is a short window to regroup, too. Most teams coming off playing at least four games in four days haven’t survived the tournament's first weekend.
Yet there are unforgettable stories like Casey Morsell’s N.C. State team two years ago, illustrating how the spectacle of March Madness captures the imagination every year. That team unexpectedly became only the second to win a league title with five games in five days before carrying that surge all the way to the sport’s biggest stage at the Final Four.
“We had to really make it happen,” the former Wolfpack guard said, “but with that, you have these miles that you’re kind of adding up.”
Springboard or burden?
For decades, college basketball’s major conferences generally had teams playing three games in three days in league tournaments. That was before waves of realignment began roughly two decades ago, gradually leading to sprawling leagues. Among power conferences in men's basketball, the Big East is the smallest at 11 schools; the Big Ten has 18.
That has led to longer regular-season schedules followed by tougher tournament grinds, particularly for those without multi-round byes awarded to top seeds.
Going back to 2005, 33 teams have entered March Madness having played at least four games in four days in the top leagues: the Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern.
Roughly two-thirds (21) fell in the NCAA opening weekend of those 20 tournaments, with 13 failing to win even a game. Six ultimately reached the Final Four, while the Kemba Walker-led UConn team in 2011 is the lone national champion after its own five-games-in-five-days run through the Big East.
Many teams in those positions needed long runs to snag at-large NCAA bid. Or they had to win their league's automatic bid to reach the Big Dance at all and weren't expected to make deep runs.
But top-16 overall seeds haven't been immune, either.
Regional No. 2 seeds like Duke in 2017, North Carolina in 2018 and Ohio State in 2021; or regional 3-seeds like Georgetown in 2010 and Wisconsin last year are among those with an opening-weekend exit after playing four games in four days in league tournaments.
Seeding aside, the challenge is the same: pivot quickly.
“We’re pouring it all out. We’re doing everything we can to win every game," said Clemson coach Brad Brownell, whose Tigers are an 8-seed in the NCAAs after playing three of a possible four games in the ACC Tournament. "I mean, that’s what competitors do. You figure it out later, what’s next.”
Carrying momentum
Badgers coach Greg Gard knows that's tricky, though. His previous two teams each won three Big Ten Tournament games before falling in the title game. Each lost early in the NCAAs to a lower-seeded opponent: a first-round loss to 12-seed James Madison in 2024, followed by a second-round loss to 6-seed BYU last year.
“Obviously you want to continue to advance and win, and there’s a trophy at stake and they’re keeping score,” Gard said during the Big Ten Tournament before earning the West Region's No. 5 seed. “But just like any other experience, you have to build upon it and use it to your advantage as you walk forward.”
“You dream about having the opportunity to be playing such meaningful games in March, and how special that truly is," Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “So I want our guys to be in the moment. I want our guys to absorb all of it, soak it all in.”
Regrouping quickly
Morsell said he will never forget the euphoria that came as N.C. State completed its wild ACC Tournament run in 2024, coming amid uncertainty about the job security of then-coach Kevin Keatts.
“Literally just everything changed so fast,” Morsell said.
That included the time to get ready for a March Madness run that brought the Wolfpack to Pittsburgh, Dallas and Glendale, Arizona. Along the way, the team leaned on walkthroughs, shootarounds and film study to avoid putting additional wear on tired legs. Everyone was focused on recovery, including Morsell, who relied on massages and electrical-stimulation treatments.
“Everybody has little things going on, the whole team,” Morsell said. "You kind of have that moment to refresh, regroup. But you’ve definitely got to prioritize (physical therapy) to bring yourself back to normal. That’s a big important week, especially if you play five games.
“Especially if you played like over 20 minutes each game, you’re going to feel something," Morsell added with a chuckle.
The approach worked, with the Wolfpack reaching the program's first Final Four since the late Jim Valvano's “Cardiac Pack” won the 1983 NCAA title.
This year, Purdue is the only tournament team from a major conference coming off a four-games-in-four-days run. The West Region's 2-seed has a four-day window ahead of its NCAA opener against Queens in St. Louis.
“In the moment, you can't really think too much about it,” Morsell said. “You just have to go because the next game is right around the corner.”
___
AP Basketball Writer Dave Skretta in Kansas City, Missouri, and AP Sports Writer Jay Cohen in Chicago, contributed to this report.
Scotland sustained a third defeat at the Women's World Curling Championship as Switzerland recorded a 9-5 win.
Fay Henderson's rink had opened with an extra-end defeat by China and bounced back with a comprehensive 8-3 victory against the United States before losing 5-3 to Turkey.
Against the Swiss, Scotland led 5-4 after the fourth end but Xenia Schwaller's rink finished strongly.
Team Scotland - made up of Henderson, Lisa Davie, Hailey Duff and Katie McMillan - next face Denmark then Sweden.
Hosts Canada as well as Japan and Turkey lead the standings with three wins out of three. Switzerland have three wins and one loss so far.
The Denver Broncos, through the first week of free agency and the NFL offseason, have not added any outside help on either side of the ball.
In fact, they've brought back all of their offensive skill players. Anyone who touched a ball in 2025 for the Broncos on offense is back on the team for 2026. But the Broncos desperately need playmaking help.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport has a playmaker for the Broncos in a former Washington Commanders versatile wide receiver. This WR, Deebo Samuel, was linked to the Broncos as his best fit in free agency, as he could take on a "joker" role in 2026.
Broncos named best fit for Deebo Samuel in 'Joker' role
"WR Deebo Samuel. Best Fit: Denver Broncos," Davenport writes. "Tight end Evan Engram flopped last year in the 'joker' role in Sean Payton's offense, and the Broncos still came a game away from the Super Bowl. If Samuel is a better fit in that role, he could be the final piece that puts Denver over the top in the AFC."
Samuel is a 30-year-old wide receiver who was a former All-Pro and Pro Bowler for the San Francisco 49ers in the early-goings of his NFL career.
In 2021, Samuel had 77 receptions on 122 targets for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns to go with 59 rushing attempts for 365 yards and eight touchdowns.
That kind of playmaking season would be exactly what the Broncos are looking for going forward. But, there is one big question mark for Samuel: can he reach such heights again?
It's not likely, especially looking at last year's production for the Commanders. He caught 72 of 99 targets for 727 yards and five touchdowns. In the running game, he ran the ball 17 times for only 75 yards and one touchdown.
His production has dipped significantly over the last two years, and there are very real worries that he won't be able to recapture the magic of his 2021 season.
However, for a Broncos team looking for any kind of playmaking ability, the upside of Samuel is appealing.
This fit makes a lot of sense, and with Samuel not likely to sign a massive contract in free agency, he makes even more sense for the Broncos as a depth WR addition to pair with a strong WR room already.
Tonight's Peacock NBA Monday slate features an exciting tripleheader. First, at 7:00 PM ET, the Orlando Magic go head-to-head with the Atlanta Hawks. At 9:30 PM, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the KevinDurant and Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, followed by a San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clippers match up at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's tripleheader. Follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Ten days ago, the Spurs overcame a 25-point deficit in the the second half to defeat the Clippers 116-112, in a game that tied for the largest comeback in the NBA this season. Tonight, both teams meet again for the second of three meetings this season.
San Antonio, currently second in the Western Conference, has won 17 of it's last 19 games and is looking to snap a six-season playoff drought.
The Clippers currently sit eighth in the West. They've won six of their last eight games and are 28-12 in their last 40 games, a major turnaround from starting the season 6-21.
Kawhi Leonard has been leading the charge for the Clippers. The 14-year NBA veteran is averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game, while also leading the team in rebounds.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball coverage will also be available on NBC and Peacock. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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At this point, Patriots fans might be concerned about all the positive buzz surrounding New England and its attempt to trade for star receiver A.J. Brown.
Numerous reports have identified the Patriots as the most likely landing spot for Brown, whose days with the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be numbered. However, recent reports indicate the Los Angeles Rams have considered trading for the veteran wideout.
Then, on Sunday, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported the Rams no longer are pursuing Brown and that New England remains the favorite to acquire the 28-year-old.
"There continues to be a league-wide belief that (a Brown trade) will eventually happen," Florio wrote. "Multiple league sources have characterized it to PFT as inevitable. ... As we understand it, however, the Rams tapped out of the talks.
" ... The Patriots remain in play, despite the recent addition of former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. One source predicts that the Patriots will be the eventual destination."
Brown obviously would be a huge get for the Patriots.
He remains one of the NFL's best receivers despite having a lengthy injury history. Brown's mercurial personality is somewhat concerning, but it's fair to assume that head coach Mike Vrabel knows how to handle him, given their time together with the Tennessee Titans.
In 15 games last season, Brown posted seven catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. He eclipsed 1,000 yards in six of his first seven NFL campaigns.
It was a game largely won by Purdue's dominant presence from center Oscar Cluff, who finished with 21 points and kept the Wolverines in check from 3-point territory by only shooting 29 percent. Michigan failed to find the spark that guided it to a semifinal victory against the Wisconsin Badgers the day before, securing a 68-65 win in the final seconds thanks to forward Yaxel Lendeborg's heroics.
Wolverines coach Dusty May is fully aware of this as his team prepares for an opening-round NCAA Tournament matchup opposite the UMBC vs. Howard Bison winner this Thursday (7:10 p.m. ET, CBS) in Buffalo, N.Y.
"Typically, the NCAA Tournament, I don't think, is going to be quite this physical, but you never know," May told a pool of reporters about needing to be matchup-heavy. "We've got to do a better job of adjusting however the game is being called. If it's called close, we need to adjust. If it's prison ball, we need to adjust. We have to do a better job."
It starts with leadership, something guard Nimari Burnett is taking greater responsibility for as the season goes on. Having him and his teammates believe in the same thing makes everyone's job easier, he says.
"The lesson that we'll take away from this will be applied directly to practice as we go and get ready for [the] NCAA Tournament, to be more physical in areas that we need to and to fight through ball screens with a little bit more aggression as far as guards and the bigs doing what they do," Burnett said.
Even with the loss, Burnett, a Chicago native who finished with a 12-point outing, still recognizes the goals he and his teammates have in front of them.
"Although we didn't want this to happen, we plan to go three-of-three: Big Ten, Big Ten tournament championship, NCAA," Burnett said. "But this is a part of the process, and we're going to use this as fuel into this next month of basketball."
With March Madness looming, the season could be over momentarily for any team in the field. Anything is possible, but for the Wolverines, the goal is simple: win at all costs.
"As he said, we're going to watch film, and we're going to try to know what we did wrong and just keep getting better as a team," center Aday Mara said. "I think that this loss and, well, all the losses we had this season make us know that we are not unbeatable. We can lose games too. So we cannot relax during the games. I would say that just keep learning, keep improving, and make sure that we don't relax during the games."
While the Wolverines (31-3) try to move past this loss, the Boilermakers (27-8) will attempt to keep their momentum going by continuing postseason play in the opening round against Queens NC in St. Louis this Friday (7:35 p.m. ET, truTV).
We'll see which path both of these teams take, but it's clear the preseason rankings didn't fail to deliver, as both of these teams made it to the championship after being projected to finish near the top of the conference.
Tommy Lloyd is a phenomenal 144-35 in five seasons as Arizona’s head coach, but there’s another stat you’ll hear a lot over this NCAA tournament.
Lloyd has yet to take Arizona beyond the Sweet 16 in the tournament. This should be the season Arizona gets beyond that point. They have a team that was an obvious No. 1 seed and is on a very short list of favorites to win it all. And the Wildcats woke up Monday as the biggest favorite in any first-round game.
Here are the first-round picks for the West region with all odds from BetMGM (No. 6 seed BYU isn’t listed; the Cougars will play the winner of the First Four game between Texas and NC State):
Freshman forward Koa Peat leads the Arizona Wildcats into a first-round matchup against LIU. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Chris Coduto via Getty Images
No. 12 High Point (+9.5) over No. 5 Wisconsin
For years, the moment the odds for the first round of the NCAA tournament came out, bettors would search for the Wisconsin game and take the under. Those days are done. This is a different Wisconsin era, with a team that wants to shoot 3s more than play defense. And High Point can score, with an up-tempo attack that averaged 90 per game. You’d have never taken over 164.5 on a Wisconsin game for decades, but for this one it seems low. High Point can score enough to give Wisconsin a scare.
No. 13 Hawaii (+15.5) over No. 4 Arkansas
Hawaii plays a truly unique no-help defense, and it works. They are 43rd in college basketball in defensive efficiency via KenPom.com and the best in opponents’ assists per basket. Basically, the Rainbow Warriors will not allow any assisted baskets as they play one-on-one defense and never come off their man to help. Not helping at all on Arkansas superstar freshman Darius Acuff Jr. might lead to Acuff going for 50 points, but we’ll see. It’s a strange prep for Arkansas, and it could keep the game within the number.
No. 3 Gonzaga (-18.5) over No. 14 Kennesaw State
Gonzaga is good and of all the matchups Kennesaw State could get, this isn’t a great one. Kennesaw lives off of offensive rebounds and getting to the free-throw line. The Bulldogs limit offensive rebounds and don’t foul much. Gonzaga should roll to an easy win.
No. 2 Purdue (-25.5) over No. 15 Queens
This line opened at -22.5 or -23.5 and moved toward the favorite. As we’ve seen with other matchups with the top teams, early bettors clearly believe it will be a very chalky tournament again. Purdue has the most efficient offense in college basketball and Queens is 322nd in defense, via KenPom. This could get ugly.
No. 10 Missouri (+2.5) over No. 7 Miami
Sometimes the selection committee makes an avoidable mistake in bracketing. There’s no way that Missouri, as a No. 10 seed, should get the benefit of playing what will amount to a first-round home game in St. Louis. That’s unfair to Miami, which played well in Jai Lucas’ first season as head coach. Miami is probably the slightly better team but we’ll go with the pseudo home-court advantage.
No. 1 Arizona (-31.5) over No. 16 LIU
There were two spreads with No. 1 seeds posted early in the week (the First Four determines the other two No. 1 seed matchups), and both moved at least two points toward the favorites. Think everyone was noticing the trend of the top seeds being more dominant over the past couple tournaments? Like Duke’s line moving three points, this one moved from its opener of -29.5. Arizona is a very good team, and while 31.5 points is a lot, let’s just buy into the chalk trend.
No. 9 Utah State (-1.5) over No. 8 Villanova
This is a fun 8-9 matchup. Neither team is that bad. Usually you’d go with the Big East team over the Mountain West team, but the Big East wasn’t great this season and Villanova went 0-4 against its top teams, UConn and St. John’s. Utah State is well rounded with an efficient offense, and the Aggies get the nod.
Former Spurs Scout Provides Update On Midfielder’s Transfer To Aston Villa: Should The Club Make A Genuine Move In Such A Scenario?
James Maddison may opt to remain at Tottenham Hotspur even if they suffer the unthinkable fate of Premier League relegation this summer, according to former Spurs scout Mick Brown. Speaking to Football Insider, Brown argued that the 29-year-old England international’s immediate priorities are entirely about getting fit again rather than chasing a transfer, regardless of which division Tottenham occupy next season.
Brown specifically named Aston Villa among the clubs likely to circle the midfielder, but his reading of the situation suggests any deal realistically falls into January territory at the earliest. Maddison has missed the entire 2025-26 campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, crucially, the same knee he previously injured during Tottenham’s pre-season fixture against Newcastle United in South Korea last August.
He will not return before the season closes in May. Brown told Football Insider that Villa and other interested parties may need to wait until the midseason window before Maddison genuinely looks for his options, and only then if he can sustain a convincing spell of form through pre-season.
The broader situation makes this even more telling: Tottenham sit just one point above the relegation zone with nine games remaining, having not won a domestic match in 2026, cycling through multiple managers and presently sitting with Igor Tudor in the dugout.
“Maddison is going to be an interesting one. If the reports on his recovery are positive and he returns for Tottenham in pre-season, there could be an opportunity to bring him in on a bargain deal.
“If Tottenham are relegated, they’re going to struggle to keep hold of players, and they’ll have to sell, so the opportunity will be there for clubs like Villa. From Maddison’s point of view, though, I think there’s a strong possibility he could stay at Spurs.
“The major factor for him is getting back fit and playing, and I would think he needs a good pre-season to get back playing first and foremost. If he can do that and get back to form early in the season with Tottenham, whichever league they might be in, then it might be something he looks at in January.The big thing for him, though, is returning to playing regularly, and that might mean turning down interest from elsewhere and staying at Spurs,” said Brown.
Should Aston Villa make a genuine summer move for James Maddison?
HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 31: James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Kai Tak Stadium, Kai Tak Sports Park on July 31, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Bluntly, no, and the case against is stronger than the romance of the headline suggests. Emery has deliberately shaped his squad around players who carry the ball with intensity and intelligence, placing high value on dribblers and carriers in midfield and forward areas, with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Amadou Onana, and Youri Tielemans excelling in this department. Maddison’s creative profile does complement that framework on paper.
His late runs from deep, incisive distribution, and consistent set-piece threat address gaps Villa periodically expose in tight games, and in full health, he represents one of the more complete attacking midfielders in English football. Those are genuine strengths. However, a second ACL rupture to the same knee raises genuine doubts about his long-term explosiveness and durability, and Emery does not build squads around players working their way back from serious injuries; he signs ready-made contributors.
Beyond the injury concern, Villa face a complicated summer with potential exits from Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Emiliano Martinez, which directs their transfer priorities far more urgently to defensive reinforcement and proven attacking quality. Lucas Bergvall, younger, fitter, and already attracting Villa’s reported attention alongside Chelsea, fits Emery’s system more completely and carries none of the post-ACL uncertainty. Realistically, Maddison stays at Spurs through pre-season, works his way back into contention, and the conversation about a Villa move only resurfaces in January 2027 if everything aligns perfectly, which, given how much has to go right, may never actually happen.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the calendar moves deeper into March, many baseball fans have found a welcome distraction in the World Baseball Classic. For Astros fans like me, it has been exactly that, a high-level brand of baseball played with passion and intensity at a time of year when we’re usually stuck parsing spring training box scores and trying not to read too much into them. The games have been competitive, the atmosphere electric, and the quality of play a reminder of just how great this sport can be.
But when the World Baseball Classic winds down, Astros fans will have to confront a reality that’s much closer to home. The regular season is less than two weeks away, and at least for me, General Manager Dana Brown and the Astros front office haven’t done much to ease the concerns that still linger about this roster.
At last check, there is still a noticeable imbalance on the roster. The Astros have a logjam of infielders while lacking the kind of left-handed bat in the outfield that could lengthen the lineup and provide better balance. That issue has been talked about all spring, yet here we are with Opening Day fast approaching and no clear resolution in sight It is also worth noting, unlike a year ago with Cam Smith, no one is really stepping up to take charge of an opportunity.
Behind the plate, I still believe the Astros could benefit from adding a veteran backup catcher. Even with the minor league signing of Christian Vázquez helping the organizational depth chart, there’s value in having experience and reliability backing up the starter over the course of a long season. Victor Caratini was huge for this team and he’s gone, can you replace him and his versatility?
Pitching is another area where additional depth wouldn’t hurt. A left-handed arm in the rotation or another arm in the bullpen would add versatility to a staff that will inevitably face the wear and tear of a 162-game season. And when you factor in that closer Josh Hader won’t be ready to start the season, the bullpen suddenly feels a little thinner than Astros fans might like.
None of this is meant to suggest that the Astros aren’t talented enough to compete. Quite the opposite. The roster as currently constructed should absolutely be capable of competing for another American League West title. The core of this team remains strong, and the expectation of meaningful baseball in Houston every year is something fans have come to appreciate.
But competing for the division and competing for another championship aren’t always the same thing.
Owner Jim Crane often says the championship window for this organization is always open. If that’s truly the case and the Astros have certainly operated that way in recent years, then there’s still work to be done to ensure this team is positioned to compete for more than just a division banner.
Dana Brown has been patient this spring, perhaps waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. But with Opening Day rapidly approaching, the clock is ticking. Standing pat may ultimately be the decision the organization makes.
If that’s the case, Astros fans will have to hope the talent already in place is enough.
Personally, I’m not quite comfortable yet and with time running out before the season starts, I can’t help but wonder if the Astros are leaving a few important moves on the table.
Let me know what you think, and until then, GO USA!
The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't done much so far this offseason, with only one new addition to the roster so far in running back Chris Rodriguez. Otherwise, free agency has been fairly quiet, with Jacksonville mainly prioritizing retaining current talent.
Montaric Brown agreed to terms on a new contract with the Jaguars before free agency officially started, an unsurprising yet highly lauded move after his standout season in 2025.
Brown finished the season with two interceptions and nine pass breakups, held opponents to just 10.4 yards per catch, and allowed a completion rate of just 54% on 68 targets.
With Brown locked down, the Jags' cornerback unit looks strong, with Brown alongside Travis Hunter, Jourdan Lewis, and Jarrian Jones as the main contributors.
There are still other things that need to be addressed on defense, and general manager James Gladstone has acknowledged that. But step one was keeping Brown in Jacksonville, and in a recent press conference, he explained why that was his first priority.
"When the [opportunity] presented itself again and he was available, he didn't flinch," Gladstone said of Brown. "And that carried through the course of the season and he made plays — plays on the ball, plays on ball carriers that really made an important dent on the outcome of a number of our games. And the marriage between the scheme, his skill set, it's a match that all of us are constantly looking for at every position."
Re-signing Brown doesn't just bolster the existing Jaguars defense. It allows Jacksonville to have more flexibility if they choose to pursue anyone else in free agency, but most importantly, in the draft.
The Jags can now turn their attention to building up the pass rush, the only real weakness on the defense last year. If they're successful, the Jaguars defense is going to be truly formidable in 2026.
The Boston Bruins remain on the road to play the New Jersey Devils on Monday, who have struggled this season.
Although New Jersey is well outside of a playoff spot, Bruins head coach Marco Sturm sent a message to the team, as he doesn’t want them overlooking the Devils.
“It is always a tricky situation when a team like this, they’re not really happy, but they’re 5-2-0 in their last seven games, I think, so they have a lot of weapons, and they can score,” Sturm said pregame on Monday. “We just have to make sure we do our job. We’ve got to keep them off the scoresheet.”
The Bruins are coming off a shootout win over the Washington Capitals in the first game of the road trip on Saturday.
Although Boston won, Sturm is making some lineup changes, as Marat Khusnutdinov is on the top line alongside Fraser Minten and David Pastrnak. Morgan Geekie, meanwhile, is on the third line with Elias Lindholm and Alex Steeves, who replaced Mikey Eyssimont. Tanner Jeannot is back on the fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic.
Along with the changes at forwards, Henri Jokiharju is also entering the lineup for the first time since Feb. 28, and he’ll play alongside Nikita Zadorov.
“I just want him to go out and play good defensively. Play fast and close a little bit quicker,” Sturm said. “I think that’s really the message with him. Guys are pushing here, not just the forwards but also on D.”
Boston will also be starting Jones Korpisalo in the first half of the back-to-back, leaving Jeremy Swayman to start on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
San Francisco 49ers rumors have been lingering all offseason. Whether it’s a potential Mac Jonestrade, moving on from Brandon Aiyuk, or other moves, general manager John Lynch has a lot of tough decisions to make.
Yet, the latest batch of 49ers free agency rumors ties the team to five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa. The older brother of 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, Joey spent last season with the Buffalo Bills after inking a one-year, $12.6 million contract in free agency. Now a free agent again, there’s been heavy speculation of Joey becoming teammates with Nick in San Francisco.
Recently, The Athletic‘s Vic Tafur suggested that the 49ers “could still add” Joey in the next phase of free agency.
“The 49ers not only didn’t add a pass rusher the first week of free agency, but they lost one as 2025 sack leader Bryce Huff (with four … yes, four) retired suddenly on Thursday at the age of 27 to start a company to build safety infrastructures for the use of lithium batteries. The 49ers need to get a charge out of the draft, and Texas A&M’s bendy, quick pass rusher Cashius Howell should be there at No. 27. It’s also possible that the 49ers could still add Nick Bosa’s older brother, Joey, in the next stage of free agency. The 49ers wanted to get younger, but would settle for better with additions Mike Evans, Osa Odighizuwa and Bosa.”
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur on Joey Bosa/49ers
Of course, that same speculation ignited last offseason, too, after he was released by the Los Angeles Chargers after nine seasons with the team. Bosa wound up finding an enticing offer to play for another Super Bowl contender in Buffalo. Of course, it didn’t work out the way anyone imagined, with the Bills being eliminated in the AFC Conference Championship instead.
As for Bosa, he was still fairly productive, recording five sacks in 15 starts. He also led the NFL with five forced fumbles. Even if he can’t return to being a double-digit sack producer as he did four times with the Chargers, being able to play alongside his brother could be a special experience for the two sack masters.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a left knee injury with just under four minutes to go in the third quarter of the Bucks’ Sunday matchup with the Indiana Pacers:
After rebounding a missed 3-pointer by Pacers center Jay Huff, Antetokounmpo brought the ball up the court himself, drove into the backtracking Huff, spun off him at the free-throw line and exploded to the basket for a two-handed dunk. When he came down, though, he landed awkwardly, with his left knee briefly buckling upon contact with the ground.
As the Pacers inbounded the ball and play headed the other way, Antetokounmpo remained seated on the baseline before slowly getting to his feet. He’d actually get another dunk seconds later, after a steal by Myles Turner and a length-of-the-court hit-ahead pass by Ryan Rollins found Antetokounmpo, who’d never crossed half-court, all by himself in the paint.
Antetokounmpo gingerly jogged back on defense after the dunks, and drew a foul on the Bucks’ next offensive possession, getting himself back to the line for his 12th and 13th free-throw attempts of the game. Just under a minute later, he’d check out of the game; he wouldn’t check back in, finishing with 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in 23 minutes in a 134-123 Bucks win.
"Yeah, I think I hyperextended my knee," Antetokounmpo said. "I haven't seen the clip. I want to see the clip. Doesn't matter. That's pretty much it." [...]
"I've had an injury like this before," Antetokounmpo said. "The moment that you kind of take a step away from the game and you don't stay loose, it's gonna get stiff, you're going to start feeling pain, I won't be able to move and other things might be impacted by that, from your ankles and your calves and your hips. Your body's not aligned, right, because you're not running, same way you're not stepping the right way.”
Hoping to avoid that stiffness, pain and misalignment, Antetokounmpo did try to check back in, but to no avail, as detailed by Eric Nehm of The Athletic:
As the fourth quarter got underway, the Bucks built a 13-point lead while Bucks vice president of sports medicine Luke O’Brien and physical therapist Tommy Brice started a conversation with Antetokounmpo in the tunnel that leads to the locker room near the Bucks bench. After some convincing, Antetokounmpo ultimately went to the locker room.
“I had the conversation with Luke and Tommy, and again, I don’t think anything changed,” Antetokounmpo said. “I wanted to get back in the game. They looked at me and said, ‘No, it’s not worth it.’ We were up 13, 15. They was like, ‘No, no way, it’s not worth it.'” [...]
When The Athletic asked if he would be getting any imaging done on the knee to see if there was any more serious damage done on the play, the two-time NBA MVP said no.
“I’m just going to go back home, sleep, see how I feel tomorrow, try to lift some weights,” Antetokounmpo said. “And if I have a little bit of discomfort, then I’ll go from there. But as of now, I’m not really bothered by it at all.”
On one hand, Antetokounmpo has made no secret of the fact that, if he feels good enough to get onto the court, he wants to play, irrespective of the context in which the Bucks find themselves. However, that context matters a great deal when considering how “worth it” a prospective Giannis return would be.
After first losing All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard to a ruptured Achilles tendon, then waiving-and-stretching the remainder of Lillard’s contract to create enough salary cap space to sign Turner away from the Pacers to serve as Antetokounmpo’s new frontcourt partner, the Bucks entered the season in precarious position. On the court, the Bucks seemingly lacked a high enough level of complementary talent to support Antetokounmpo’s preferred pursuit of championship contention. Off the court, the seemingly constant rumblings that Antetokounmpo’s eyes might start to wander if he lost faith that the Bucks could compete for another NBA championship reached a fever pitch, amid reports that the Knicks and Bucks had communicated about a possible blockbuster to land Giannis in New York.
Milwaukee opened up 7-4, with Antetokounmpo playing at an MVP level and fourth-year guard Rollins opening eyes around the league by seizing the opportunity to earn a starting role in the Bucks’ backcourt. And then, the injuries started.
“Things I could do in the past, maybe I can’t do anymore. I’ve just got to be smarter,” Antetokounmpo recently told reporters. “I’m not old, but I’m older for sure. I’m not 24 anymore — 31, but I’m still 31. It’s not like I’m 36 or 37. When you deal with a lot of soft-tissue injuries, it’s hard. I’ve dealt with knee pain in the past; it’s totally different. If you’re not able to take care of soft-tissue injuries, they can linger. I think that’s what happened this year, and I feel like I’ve been playing the whole year with a deficit.”
Public-facingpostseasonprojectionmodels give the Bucks virtually zero shot of climbing into the play-in tournament before season’s end. They do, however, currently have about a 14% shot at landing a top-four pick in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, according to Tankathon. And while the Atlanta Hawks own the right to take whichever pick lands higher between Milwaukee and New Orleans, stemming from last June’s draft-night deal that made Derik Queen a Pelican, the possibility that the Pels’ pick lands higher could still result in the Bucks coming away from this lost season with a lottery pick — a prospect that could either slot in alongside Antetokounmpo or be used in a trade to return a more established player who might help vault the Bucks back into contention.
The big question now: whether Antetokounmpo will once again push himself to get back onto the court as soon as possible to continue plying his trade down the stretch, or the Bucks will convince him that discretion is the better part of valor in the dying days of what’s become a lost season.
“For me, every game is worth it,” Antetokounmpo told reporters Sunday. “Every time I step on the floor, I try not to take it for granted. I appreciate just being out there, especially when I’m getting my rhythm back and I’m feeling good. But again, that was the time that you gotta look back and you just gotta listen. Just gotta listen. And I listened.”
Nov 23, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) looks on before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Justin Fields was surprisingly traded to the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday in a deal nobody saw coming. The former 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft has now been on four different teams in four years, and his career outlook is grim. But NFL veteran Chase Daniel believes the move to Kansas City might be exactly what Fields needs to jumpstart his career.
Fields has always been an athletic freak who feels like he should be better than he is. He should fit right into today’s mold of QBs. He’s a dual-threat guy who can really make a difference with his legs. In 2022, with the Chicago Bears, his best season, he averaged a staggering 7.1 yards per carry.
While Fields mostly struggled in the following years, he never had an offensive-minded HC to guide him. And that’s why KC’s Andy Reid could have a massive impact on the QB, maybe even nudging him in the direction he needs to go to flourish.
“I love this move so much,” Daniel said in a video posted on his X account. “Everyone knows that I really like Justin Fields. He’s had a really tough go at it. He’s been on 4 different teams in 4 years. But this will be his first time with an offensive head coach.”
Fields’ coaches while he’s been in the NFL have been downright atrocious. He first had Matt Nagy with the Bears, who was immediately fired and replaced by Matt Eberflus. Fields spent two seasons with Eberflus before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers and finally playing for Mike Tomlin, an excellent coach.
The issue with Tomlin, however, is that he doesn’t call the offensive plays. He’s a defensive-minded coach and handed the duties to Arthur Smith, whom the Atlanta Falcons previously fired. Then, this past season with the New York Jets, Fields played under Aaron Glenn, another former defensive coordinator.
If you’re keeping tally, that’s three defensive-minded head coaches, and basically half a season with Nagy. Now, with Reid in KC, Daniel thinks Fields could turn into something special.
“Do you remember what Andy Reid did with Mike Vick?” Daniel questioned, before adding, “I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but you can turn your career around.”
The former QB went on to mention that this move could also signify Patrick Mahomes won’t be ready for Week 1. At the very least, Fields will now get all of the offseason reps in camp as the QB1. The team and situation are a massive step up from anything he’s had in his career.
If Mahomes isn’t ready for the start of the 2026 season, having Fields should be quality insurance. Furthermore, if Mahomes re-injures himself at any point, he will be a better backup than what the Chiefs were trotting out there last season.
“Can you imagine what Andy Reid’s going to do with Justin Fields and Kenneth Walker and Rashee Rice and a receiver they’re probably going to draft in the first round? Look, Mahomes is the guy, but we don’t know about his recovery. I love this move, not only for the Chiefs, but for Justin Fields’ career trajectory.”
It’ll be interesting to track Mahomes’ injury as we get closer to the season and explore the possibility of Fields starting in Week 1.
Still, it’s not like Fields is going to walk into the KC system and magically become a new player. He has a career 61.4 completion percentage, which is well below the league average. He also hasn’t attempted more than 300 passes since 2023 while in Chicago, showing his recent coaches’ aversion to trusting him to throw the ball downfield. Fixing these issues will be of the utmost importance.
Pool play at the 2026 World Baseball Classic is behind us, and there are WBC odds available to wager on at Kalshi ahead of the knockout games.
Team USA was nearly sent packing following a loss to Italy, but they have advanced all the way to the final after a tense battle with the Dominican Republic.
Tonight's Venezuela vs. Italy game will determine which team the Americans must play in the Final.
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Favorites to win the World Baseball Classic
USA
The Americans went 3-1 in pool play, with the lone loss coming to Italy in a stunner. They've since shaken off that defeat with wins over Canada and the DR to reach the final.
Kyle Schwarber led the way in the round robin round with six hits, but he's far from the only big bopper in the lineup with Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper supporting him.
Tarik Skubal has already made his one appearance in the WBC, but Paul Skenes, Logan Webb, and promising Mets prospect Nolan McLean are still here.
Venezuela
Venezuela is favored to beat Italy on Monday night. It beat Japan, which hadn't lost a WBC game since 2017, 8-5 to punch its ticket to the semifinal.
Ronald Acuna Jr. leads a potent Venezuelan lineup, which is supporting a pitching staff in great form. In fact, Venezuelan bullpen arms Jose Butto, Andrew Machado, Angel Zerpa, and Daniel Palencia have combined for 15 2/3 shutout innings so far in this tournament.
World Baseball Classic format
The WBC features 20 national teams, divided into four pools of five teams apiece. Each group plays four round-robin games, and the Top 2 teams from each pool advance to the single-elimination knockout stage.
The knockout rounds culminate with the winner-take-all championship game on Tuesday, March 17.
Past World Baseball Classic winners
Japan has been dominating while recording three first-place finishes, and ending up on the podium in each tournament so far. Puerto Rico has also been a consistent contender appearing in the gold-medal game in two of the last three tournaments.
Year
Champion
Runner-up
2023
Japan
United States
2017
United States
Puerto Rico
2013
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico
2009
Japan
South Korea
2006
Japan
Cuba
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 02: New England Patriots helmets on the bench during the NFL 2025 game between Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Unlike the last two years, the New England Patriots are entering 2026 with some stability. Mike Vrabel is back as head coach after leading his team to a 14-3 record and Super Bowl berth in his first season, and together with a front office led by executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf is set to continue remodeling the team.
They have some resources at their disposal to do so, including around $41 million in salary cap space. While ranked in the top 10 in the NFL at the moment and with only 14 players set to enter the market, a 2025-like spending spree will not be in the cards for the organization this spring.
Nonetheless, New England is expected to be quite busy over the coming weeks.
The action is set to pick up on Monday, March 9; at noon that day, the so-called legal tampering period will open. Two days later, on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, free agency as well as the 2026 NFL league year and trading period will officially begin.
As is the case every year, our Patriots Free Agency Tracker will help you stay atop the flurry of news and rumors surrounding the team and the NFL as a whole. Please make sure to bookmark and regularly re-visit, and to check out our up-to-date Patriots roster.
Patriots signing: Niko Lalos, who previously spent time with the Giants and Saints, is joining the Patriots as a second long snapper alongside 2025 draft pick Julian Ashby. | Source
A.J. Brown getting traded is “not imminent” despite the Patriots remaining interested. | Source
K’Lavon Chaisson’s one-year deal with the Commanders has a base value of $11 million. | Source
The deals signed by Julian Hill and Mike Brown are for three years and one year, respectively. | Source
Patriots departure: Alex Austin, who was not tendered by the team as a restricted free agent, has signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins. | Source
Patriots signing: Safety Mike Brown is joining the Patriots. | Source
Patriots signing: Tight end Julian Hill is joining the Patriots. | Source
Patriots decision: Running back Deneric Prince and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy were not tendered as restricted free agents. | Source
Patriots decision: New England has opted against tendering restricted free agent linebacker Jack Gibbens. | Source
Tight end Chig Okonkwo, a former Tennessee Titan considered a possible target for the Patriots, is signing with the Commanders on a three-year deal worth a maximum of $30 million. | Source
Patriots departure: Jaylinn Hawkins, a Patriots starting safety in 2025, is leaving the team for a two-year deal with the Ravens. | Source
Patriots signing: New England is signing safety Kevin Byard on a one-year, $9 million deal. | Source
Patriots signing: Linebacker K.J. Britt is joining the Patriots on a one-year deal. Britt projects to have an impact on special teams. | Source
The Patriots are working on a deal with Jaylinn Hawkins and might reach an agreement as early as today. | Source
Patriots release: Anfernee Jennings will be let go by the Patriots today. | Source
Patriots departure: K’Lavon Chaisson is headed to Washington on a one-year, $12 million deal. | Source
The Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade, reportedly due to a failed physical. | Source
The Jaguars have no interest in trading wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. | Source
Patriots signing: Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is coming to New England on a four-year, $70 million contract. | Source
Alijah Vera-Tucker’s deal with the Patriots is worth $42 million with a maximum of $48 million. | Source
Patriots signing: Left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is coming to New England on a three-year deal. | Source
Names linked to the Patriots at wide receiver include Romeo Doubs, Chris Olave and Christian Kirk as well as A.J. Brown. | Source
Isaac Seumalo, one of the top left guards on the market, is joining the Cardinals at $31.5 million over three years. | Source
The Jaguars are “entertaining offers” for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. | Source
Patriots departure: Backup left tackle Vederian Lowe is joining the 49ers on a two-year deal at a maximum value of $12 million. | Source
A Patriots deal with WR Romeo Doubs is considered unlikely at this point in time. | Source
Charlie Kolar, who was considered a possible Patriots target at tight end, is signing with the Chargers. | Source
The Patriots continue talking with Jaylinn Hawkins about a potential return. | Source
Patriots departure: After a career season in New England, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Chiefs. | Source
Patriots signing: Fullback Reggie Gilliam is joining the team on a three-year, $12 million contract. | Source
Patriots departure: Tight end Austin Hooper is leaving the Patriots after two seasons. He has signed a one-year deal to return to the Falcons, where he started his NFL career in 2016. | Source
Potential Patriots target Isaiah Likely is headed to the Giants on a three-year, $40 million deal. | Source
Patriots signing: Defensive lineman Dre’MontJones is coming to the Patriots on a three-year, $39 million contract.| Source
Wide receiver Alec Pierce is re-signing with the Colts on a four-year, $116 million contract. | Source
Patriots decision: Fullback Jack Westover received tge exclusive rights tender. | Source
Patriots release: Jahlani Tavai, who has been with the team since 2021, has been released. | Source
The Patriots, Eagles and Commanders are expected to be in on Jonathan Greenard. | Source
The Patriots are on A.J. Brown’s “wish list” should he be traded. | Source
The Patriots are being joined by the Titans, Raiders and “several others” in their pursuit of Colts WR Alec Pierce. | Source
Trading for Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard “will likely involve a Day 2 pick.” | Source
The Dolphins are cutting starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 release. | Source
Trent McDuffie has signed a four-year, $124 million with the Rams, setting the floor for a Christian Gonzalez extension. | Source
The Patriots are among several teams “closely watching” wide receiver Romeo Doubs’ market. | Source
Wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to command upwards of $27 million per year should he make it to the open market.| Source
The Patriots are not willing to give up a first-round draft pick for A.J. Brown, but “an adjustment to a multi-asset asking price was floated.” | Source
Maxx Crosby has been traded from the Raiders to the Ravens for first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027. | Source
Patriots trade: Garrett Bradbury, who started all 21 games for the Patriots in 2025, is being traded to the Bears. The Patriots are getting a 2027 fifth-round draft pick back in return. | Source
Patriots decision: Defensive tackle Isaiah Iton, an exclusive rights free agent, is not getting tendered by the Patriots. He is off to the open market. | Source
A Maxx Crosby trade is “not imminent right now.” | Source
Patriots signing: The Patriots have re-signed quarterback Tommy DeVito to a two-year, $7.4 million extension that includes $2 million in guarantees. | Source
The Eagles are “holding firm” on their asking price for A.J. Brown. Meanwhile, the Chargers are also “keeping tabs” on the situation. | Source
The Patriots and Ravens are considered the “most likely potential partners” for a trade with the Eagles for A.J. Brown. | Source
The Patriots are expected to make a “big push” for free agent wide receiver Alec Pierce. | Source
Patriots signing: The Patriots are signing free agent edge Jesse Luketa to a one-year deal. | Source
The first wide receiver shoe has dropped: the Bills are trading a second-round pick to Chicago for D.J. Moore and a fifth-rounder. | Source
The Patriots recently hosted former first-round draft pick Jedrick Wills on a free agent visit. | Source
Patriots decision: Offensive tackle Yasir Durant won’t be tendered as a restricted free agent. | Source
Patriots decision: Cornerback Alex Austin will not be tendered as a restricted free agent. | Source
New England “could be a landing spot” for Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore in a trade. | Source
The Patriots have shown interest in some big-name wide receivers, including Colts free agent Alec Pierce. | Source
Patriots release: New England will reportedly let wide receiver Stefon Diggs go next week. | Source
The Raiders are looking for two first-round picks and a player for Pro Bowl edge Maxx Crosby. | Source
The Patriots did not use the franchise tag on any of their free agents. | Source
The Vikings are open to trading Pro Bowl edge Jonathan Greenard. | Source
The Patriots believe the asking price for Eagles wide receiver and potential trade target A.J. Brown is “unserious.” | Source
The NFL has set its salary cap for the 2026 season at $301.2 million. The Patriots are $41.3 million under that number, ranking in the top 10. | Source
New England came close to extending Khyiris Tonga during the season, but talks fell apart. | Source
The Patriots are apparently willing to take a patient approach with Jaylinn Hawkins. | Source
Potential Patriots free agency target Kyle Pitts is getting the franchise tag from the Falcons. | Source
Patriots release: Running back Antonio Gibson has been released after two seasons with the team. | Source
Jaylinn Hawkins hopes to “remain home” in free agency. | Source
The Associated Press released its final AP Top 25 rankings ahead of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and the Florida Gators find themselves in a familiar spot as March Madness begins.
Much like in the previous update, as well as the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll's latest edition, Todd Golden's team is still the fourth-ranked team in the country, just behind the third-ranked Michigan Wolverines and ahead of the fifth-ranked Houston Cougars.
The AP's top four teams mirror the four No. 1 seeds heading into the Big Dance, with the Duke Blue Devils sitting at the head of the table and the Arizona Wildcats also joining in at No. 2.
SEC schools in AP Top 25 before NCAA Tournament
The Southeastern Conference maintained its five-school count at the conclusion of conference tournament play, with Florida still headlining the league at No. 4. The Arkansas Razorbacks got another three-spot bump up to No. 14 thanks to winning the SEC tourney, while the Vanderbilt Commodores got a six-spot promotion up to No. 16 due largely to their thumping of the Gators in the semifinal round.
The Alabama Crimson Tide fell three places to No. 18, but the Tennessee Volunteers gained some ground, moving up two spots to No. 23 to round out the top 25. The Kentucky Wildcats were the only other SEC school on the ballot with four votes.
AP Top 25 men's basketball rankings before NCAA Tournament
Duke
Arizona
Michigan
Florida
Houston
Iowa State
UConn
Purdue
Virginia
St. John's
Michigan State
Gonzaga
Illinois
Arkansas
Nebraska
Vanderbilt
Kansas
Alabama
Wisconsin
Texas Tech
North Carolina
St. Mary's
Louisville
Tennessee
Miami (FL)
Others receiving votes
Miami (Ohio) 100, BYU 62, UCLA 38, Utah St. 28, TCU 17, High Point 14, VCU 12, Clemson 9, Ohio St. 5, Kentucky 4, Saint Louis 3, Akron 3, Santa Clara 2, McNeese St. 1.
The Colorado Avalanche are set to welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins this evening for a late-night and nationally televised contest in downtown Denver, Colorado.
It’s not yet been confirmed, but Sidney Crosby was a full participant at today’s morning skate and could return to play his first game since suffering an injury at the hands of Radko Gudas in the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
This could have been the first game against his former club for Sam Girard, who won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, but it appears he won’t be in the lineup.
Can Colorado bounce back after a loss to a Winnipeg Jets team that has struggled all season? The Penguins continue to climb the Metropolitan Division standings and are currently sitting in second place.
Will the Pens build on their recent success or be shown the ropes by the league-leading Avalanche?
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche didn’t quite undergo the full facelift we saw last season ahead of the deadline, but there are a few new kids on the block as a result of dealing away some players we saw at the beginning of the season.
Brett Kulak has swapped in for Sam Girard, who will return to Ball Arena but isn’t likely to play. Victor Olofsson was dealt as part of re-acquiring Nazem Kadri, who’s fallen right into the fold yet again.
All of Colorado’s trade pieces have been good at the start, as Nicolas Roy has also logged some power-play goals. Keep an eye on the new guys again tonight!
The Avalanche have to figure things out between the pipes, as assumed back-up Scott Wedgewood has emerged as the likely 1A, with hopeful starter MacKenzie Blackwood still struggling to find his game after recovering from off-season surgery.
The plan in Colorado was to have MacKenzie Blackwood as the starter, and the pay scale shows that, but you gotta ride the hot hand, and Scott Wedgewood has been downright great game in and game out. He’s earned the starter’s net as far as I’m concerned.
As mentioned in the intro, the Penguins have been winners since the Olympic break, despite losing their captain, Sidney Crosby. You know what they say, good teams find a way, and this Penguins team should make the playoffs and could make a real run in a tight, but lackluster, metro. The NHL is a better place when Sidney Crosby is in the playoffs.
Sam Girard could get a tribute video tonight despite being in the press box, probably to the shegrin of some of the more doltish fans, but make no mistake: Sam Girard was a huge part of Colorado’s success in the 2022 season and throughout his tenure in burgundy and blue. He deserves the recognition he will get tonight.
Sidney Crosby did appear in full contact gear for the morning skate, but it remains to be seen if he will, in fact, slot back into the lineup to face his Nova Scotian buddy in Nathan MacKinnon.
There’s no bigger payday than the one awaiting baseball players on the other side of free agency. We saw nine players this offseason take home contracts worth north of $100 million over the course of the deal. Nearly 20 free agents got deals worth $20 million annually or more. Some of those names who got paid big were top fantasy baseball assets in 2025, including Dylan Cease, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.
We all know money talks, so here are some of the most notable soon-to-be free agents in 2027, playing for their next contract, who are worth keeping an eye on going into the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
Note: We’re excluding players with opt-out clauses (Bo Bichette) and those with club options (Ozzie Albies, Luis Robert Jr., William Contreras), sticking to unrestricted free agents, per Sportrac.
Batters
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B/3B, Yankees
Jazz is a true UFA in 2027 and enters this season making just under $12 million. His market value should land him above $20 AAV, so long as he has another strong season in the Bronx. Last year, Chisholm finished with career highs in homers (31) and RBI (80) while stealing over 30 bags with an .813 OPS. The 28-year-old made his second All-Star appearance and ranked fourth in WAR among second basemen at 4.2.
Chisholm has solid placement in a Yankees lineup that should finish toward the top in terms of scoring. There’s no reason he can’t duplicate his numbers from last season and has even stated his lofty expectations for himself publicly going into free agency in 2027. Right now, Jazz is a consensus second-round pick at a weak 2B position, so you aren’t getting much value in terms of ADP. But if Chisholm wants that big payday, he should duplicate or exceed his numbers from 2025.
Randy Arozarena, OF, Mariners
The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year was dealt to the Mariners from Tampa Bay prior to the deadline back in 2024. We all remember his magical run during 2020 with 10 HRs in 20 games before the Rays lost to the Dodgers in the World Series. His career trajectory has been slowly on a downward angle since then, though he did set a career high with 27 HRs last season in Seattle.
Arozarena’s borderline 30-30 season may get fantasy managers and GMs a bit hype but his underlying numbers aren’t that great. He set another career high with 191 strikeouts in 160 games and is on the other side of 30 years old. Still, Arozarena has that next contract in mind, giving him plenty of motivation along with the M’s World Series hopes. As the OF24 on Yahoo, Arozarena isn’t the worst outfield target in the middle rounds of your draft.
Alec Bohm, 1B/3B, Phillies
Bohm once looked like the future at one of the corner infield positions for the Phillies. But after 2025, there’s a good chance this is his last chance to prove himself in Philly. Bohm only played 120 last season after a strong 2024 in which he had 15 HRs and 97 RBI. His power went down from a .168 ISO to .123 last season, when he missed time due to a fractured rib.
He has three homers in 10 games this spring and has a lot to prove to get paid this upcoming offseason. If Bohm can get his power back and hit 20+ dingers, there’s a good chance he becomes a strong sleeper pick late in your fantasy draft. His ADP right now on Yahoo is 196.4, meaning he’s going undrafted in plenty of leagues. Bohm isn’t a bad final pick given the depth at 1B and 3B this season.
Honorable mentions: Adolis García, Brandon Lowe, Gleyber Torres, Luis Arráez, Taylor Ward
Pitchers
Tarik Skubal, Tigers
As the SP1 overall on Yahoo, there’s not much that needs to be covered with Skubal’s pending free agency. There’s a good chance the Tigers opt to deal the ace prior to the deadline this season, before he could potentially walk in free agency before 2027. The two-time back-to-back AL Cy Young winner doesn’t have much else to prove but we also know he wants to get that big contract.
Skubal should set the market with the biggest SP contract in MLB history, which could be in the $45 million per season range. The highest-paid pitcher on an AAV basis is Phillies ace Zack Wheeler at $42 million per season. You could make a case for Paul Skenes or Garrett Crochet as the top pitching option in fantasy baseball. But if you need a tie-breaker of sorts, you could look at Skubal’s pending free agency.
Freddy Peralta, Mets
The Mets acquired Peralta from the Brewers this offseason to shore up the rotation. He should operate as New York’s ace, set to pitch on Opening Day vs. the Pirates against Skenes. Peralta will turn 30 years old this summer but has been one of the more consistent pitchers in baseball over the past three seasons. He’s coming off a career-high 17 wins for Milwaukee in 2025, finishing with a sub-3.00 ERA for the second time in his career.
If all goes well in his first season in Queens, Peralta should see over 170 innings, 200+ strikeouts and be in the NL Cy Young race. He’ll have one of the best offenses in baseball backing him up and has plenty of incentive to perform at a high level again. As the SP15 on average in Yahoo drafts, Peralta presents plenty of value if he can replicate last season’s effort for the Brewers.
David Bednar, Yankees
The 31-year-old pitched well in New York as the closer after being dealt by the Pirates prior to the deadline last season. He posted 10 saves with a 12.8 K/9 and sub-1.00 WHIP over 22 appearances for the Yanks. With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver across town in Queens this season, Bednar takes over as the no-doubt closer for a Yankees team that is the favorite to win the AL East.
Bednar is being drafted as the RP6 on Yahoo but would it surprise anyone if he led the American League in saves? He led the NL in saves with 39 back in 2023 for a Pirates team that won just 76 games. There’s also a good chance the Yanks cut Bednar loose after 2026 to make room for promising young prospect, Carlos Lagrange. Bednar is a great closer target in the mid-rounds of drafts this season playing for a new deal.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Harshit Rana was seen using crutches during the BCCI Naman Awards in Mumbai on Sunday, raising questions over his recovery as the player is set to miss the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The pacer attended the BCCI's award ceremony but was unable to walk onto the stage to collect his award for Best International Debut (Men’s). IPL chairman Arun Dhumal instead presented the honour to Rana after walking down the stage himself.
The video of Rana walking with crutches went viral on social media, further fuelling speculation about the extent of his injury.
— Cricket_live247 (@Cricket_live247)
Rana sustained a knee injury during a T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa earlier this year.
The injury proved serious enough to rule him out of India’s T20 World Cup campaign, with Mohammed Siraj called up as his replacement in the squad.
The 24-year-old underwent surgery in Mumbai on February 9 but will not recover in time to play for KKR in the cash-rich league.
KKR's injury problems
Rana played a crucial role in KKR's 2024 title-winning campaign, returning with 19 wickets, which helped him become a regular feature for India across formats. He was retained by the franchise for Rs 4 crore ahead of the 2025 season, and he picked up 15 wickets in the 13 games he played.
For KKR, the situation becomes more difficult as Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman is no longer part of the squad, while Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana is still dealing with fitness concerns.
The franchise has signed Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement option, who will join the squad for the upcoming IPL season.
Apart from Rana, the team’s pace attack currently includes Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi and Akash Deep. Without the young fast bowler, the unit could look far less experienced heading into IPL 2026.
ESPN’s March Madness coverage just got significantly bigger after “The Pat McAfee Show” revealed a college basketball coaching great will be joining the NCAA Tournament festivities.
McAfee has become a major figure at ESPN throughout their college sports endeavors, as well as NFL and NBA coverage. However, McAfee will be joined by a Duke Blue Devils legend throughout March Madness.
McAfee revealed Monday that Mike Kryzewski will be on the show throughout the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Coach K will provide insight during March Madness and likely give some takes on his former Duke team.
Coach K will be joining us throughout the entirety of March Madness..
The Blue Devils earned the number one overall seed for this year’s tournament after winning the ACC Tournament last week. Meanwhile, Duke also has the best championship odds at +300 heading into March Madness.
Coach K’s inclusion in ESPN’s coverage is quite unique considering the Duke legend has rarely been involved in sports media throughout his career.
The five-time national championship-winning head coach has been voted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame after recording decades of success with the ACC program.
Duke University coach Mike Kryzewski speaks during their game against California State Fullerton during the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. Jm Duke 031822 024
The addition of Coach K for McAfee proves to be the latest major get for his show. McAfee has been known for building massive relationships with players and coaches, especially in the NFL realm.
Darius Slay announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons on Monday, ending a run of dominance that included two Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl win, and an All-Pro selection for a talented cornerback. Slay has always hinted that 2025 could be his final NFL season, and after being waived by Pittsburgh and claimed by Buffalo, the Pro Bowl cornerback was done. Slay was released to make room for Asante Samuel Jr. on the Steelers' roster. According to Ian Rapoport, Philadelphia did, in fact, put in a claim to reunite with Slay, but Buffalo had priority based on the 2025 NFL draft order.
Slay decided not to report to Buffalo, and he'll depart the NFL despite saying he'd answer for only the Eagles if a team needed cornerback help next season.
With the move now official, here's instant analysis and key takeaways from the longtime Eagles and Lions cornerback stepping away.
It's been a while since Nate Diaz had an MMA fight. |
Getty/UFC
Most Valuable Promotions is planning on making a serious impact
with its first mixed martial arts event.
MVP announced on Monday that a five-round clash pitting Nate Diaz
against Mike Perry
has been added to its May 16 card at the Intuit Dome in Los
Angeles. Diaz vs. Perry will be contested at welterweight. The
MVP card is headlined by a women’s featherweight tilt between
Ronda
Rousey and Gina Carano,
while Francis
Ngannou will square off against Philipe
Lins in the evening’s co-main event. The card will be the first
MMA event to be broadcast on Netflix.
"MVP delivered the most-viewed boxing event since the advent of
cable, and now we're set to break records again with the biggest
viewership in MMA history with the addition of Diaz vs Perry to
Rousey vs Carano and Ngannou vs Lins," said MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian
in a release. "Nate Diaz is
the real BMF, and Mike Perry
is the ‘King of Violence.’ This will be a war from the first press
conference all the way to the end when one of them has their hand
raised.”
Diaz will return to MMA for the first time since September 2022,
when he ended his Octagon tenure with a fourth-round submission
victory over Tony
Ferguson at UFC 279. The Stockton, California, native emerged
as one of the sports biggest stars during his
UFC tenure, thanks in large part to a pair of bouts against
Conor
McGregor. The 40-year-old has competed twice in boxing since
leaving the UFC, dropping a unanimous verdict to Jake Paul in
August 2023 before defeating Jorge
Masvidal via majority decision in July 2024.
‘Time to Set the Bar Again’
"Glad to be in action. It's time," Diaz stated. "Don't forget where
this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10
years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again, so get
ready for a new takeover again and again until the end of
time.”
Perry, 34, hasn’t fought in MMA since April 2021, when he lost a
unanimous decision to Daniel
Rodriguez in his final UFC appearance. “Platinum” went 7-8 in
the UFC but has since found a home in BKFC, where he has become the
organization’s top star. Perry is 6-0 in BKFC, capturing the “King
of Violence” crown while defeating noteworthy names such as
Jeremy
Stephens, Thiago
Alves, Eddie
Alvarez, Luke
Rockhold and Michael
Page.
"The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the
f—ing face," Perry said "Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is
going lights out.”
Group chats everywhere are about
to explode over this one…
Tarik Skubal has won back-to-back AL Cy Young Awards and will make $32 million this season after winning his salary arbitration hearing. Detroit's ace left-hander could next set more contract records for a pitcher in free agency.
Skubal could become a free agent for the first time after the World Series next fall, along with players like two-time All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and 31-year-old slugger Randy Arozarena. Trevor Rogers and Kris Bubic, both 28-year-old left-handed starters who have been All-Stars, could also be among that group.
But they will go into that offseason amid the backdrop of another potential lockout. The sport's collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1 and MLB appears on track to propose a salary cap, so it's uncertain how that will affect the next free agency class.
When the last CBA expired at that same point after the 2021 season, owners locked out players for 99 days, but there were some big deals completed in the days and hours before baseball's first work stoppage in a quarter-century. Those included AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray on a $115 million, five-year contract with Seattle, Marcus Stroman's $71 million, three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs and a half-billion dollar middle infield for the Texas Rangers: shortstop Corey Seager ($325 million, 10 years) and second baseman Marcus Semien ($175 million, seven years).
Here are some of the players who could be free agents after the 2026 season:
LHP Tarik Skubal, Tigers
Skubal, who will turn 30 in November, was 31-10 with a 2.30 ERA over 62 starts in his two Cy Young seasons, and is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six years overall. He won a record arbitration case in February against the Tigers, who had offered $19 million. He was 13-6 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, when he struck out 241 and walked 33 in 195 1/3 innings. The biggest contract for a pitcher is the $325 million, 12-year deal Yoshinobu Yamamoto got from the Los Angeles Dodgers two years ago. The highest average salary was $43.3 million, which three-time Cy Young winners Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer got in free-agent deals with the New York Mets before both got traded at the 2023 deadline.
RHP Freddy Peralta, Mets
Peralta led the National League with 17 wins and had 204 strikeouts last season, the last of his eight with Milwaukee before being traded to the Mets, who tabbed him their starter for opening day. He turns 30 in June and is 54-34 with a 3.30 ERA over five seasons as a full-time starter. He signed a five-year pre-arbitration deal in 2020 that included club options for 2025 and 2026.
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees
The 28-year-old Chisholm was an All-Star again last season, for the first time since he was the primary second baseman for Miami in 2022. The Marlins then put him in center field until trading him at the deadline in 2024 to the Yankees, who moved him back to the infield. He hit .242 with 31 homers, 80 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last season.
OF Randy Arozarena, Mariners
Arozarena, the 2020 AL Championship Series MVP with Tampa Bay even before being the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, hit a career-best 27 homers with 76 RBIs and 31 stolen bases last year in his first full season with Seattle, which acquired the two-time All-Star from Cuba at the 2024 trade deadline.
LHP Trevor Rogers, Oriole
s
The 13th overall pick by Miami in the 2017 amateur draft, Rogers made his big league debut with the Marlins in 2020, got traded to Baltimore at the 2024 deadline and sent to the minors less than a month later. Now he is set to start the season opener for the Orioles. He missed two months last season with a right kneecap issue before going 9-3 with a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts.
LHP Kris Bubic, Royals
Bubic was an All-Star last year but made only one more start for the Royals after the Midsummer Classic because of a strained rotator cuff. He was 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA.
INF Luis Arráez, Giants
The three-time NL batting champion while finishing each of those seasons with a different team, signed a $12 million, one-year deal with San Francisco after becoming a free agent for the first time. The 28-year-old Arráez is a .317 career hitter with only 215 strikeouts in 3,533 career plate appearances. He had 584 hits, 460 of them singles, the past three seasons.
Some players with options
Third baseman Bo Bichette, who joined the Mets this offseason on a $126 million, three-year free-agent deal, can opt out after this season. So can 30-year-old right-hander Michael King, who after becoming a free agent for the first time last offseason, signed a $75 million, three-year contract to stay with the San Diego Padres.
Team options
Among the players who could become free agents if club options aren't exercised for 2027 are second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. from the Atlanta Braves, Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes. First baseman Yandy Diaz, the 2023 AL batting champion and a .290 career hitter, has a vesting club option with Tampa Bay.
Some former Cy Young winners
Ray, traded to San Francisco two years ago, is going into the final year of his deal signed before the lockout. The 34-year-old Ray is 88-81 with a 3.94 ERA in his 12 big league seasons with stops also in Detroit, Arizona and Toronto, the team he was with in 2021 for his Cy Young season.
Right-hander Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner with Cleveland, started only twice in 2024 before Tommy John surgery and becoming a first-time free agent. He got a new deal with the Guardians that had a $16 million player option for this season, which is for Toronto after being traded last July and making seven starts. The 30-year-old Bieber is 66-34 with a 3.24 ERA in 143 career games.
Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner who is also 30, is set to make his franchise-record sixth opening day start for the Marlins. He missed the 2024 season after Tommy John surgery. He initially struggled in his return last year, but went 7-3 with a 3.13 ERA over his last 12 starts. Miami has a $21 million club option for 2027.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 4: A detail shot of a Dallas Cowboys helmet next to a Wilson football prior to an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on September 4, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do in the NFL draft if they want to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. They are armed with multiple first-round selections and thanks to the Osa Odighizuwa trade also have a third-round pick to give them three picks in the top 100.
One of the critical parts of the draft process is the 30 visits that each NFL team has. These are visits to the team’s headquarters, 30 of them if that is not obvious, where the Cowboys can get more intel on players who they have interest in.
It is worth noting that the Cowboys also have “Dallas Day” which is a separate opportunity to interview local prospects without them counting against their 30 total. The Cowboys usually take advantage of this in a proper way and are fortunate to have such talented local prospects in their area.
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 14: Thiago Pitarch of Real Madrid runs with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Elche CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 14, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The growing influence of the academy was discussed on Cadena SER’s Carrusel Deportivo radio program, where analyst Bruno Alemany argued the current squad context makes the youngsters particularly valuable.
“In Arbeloa’s current moment with Real Madrid, the academy players fit perfectly. This Madrid no longer has Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić or Cristiano Ronaldo. Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior are there, but the squad has less quality than it did four years ago. In this Madrid you have to run a lot, and the ones who always run a lot are the academy players.”
However, not everyone is convinced the commitment will last once injured players return. Julio Pulido questioned whether the enthusiasm around the academy might be temporary.
“For me this commitment to the academy is a bit inflated. Right now it sounds great to talk about the academy players, but I want to see what happens when all the injured players return and when Arda Güler is available as well.”
That is the lingering question for fans and media alike. When all players are fit and healthy – does Arbeloa revert back to the untouchables, refusing to substitute the likes of Vini, Mbappe, and Bellingham?
We’ve entered March Madness, and many Americans will be secretly watching the tournament while at work or in classrooms.
For North Carolina fans, the question is what happened to the team they saw against Kansas and in the first Duke game, compared with the one they saw against Miami, NC State and Duke the second time around.
Here are some takeaways from what transpired in the regular season — the highs and the lows.
Caleb Wilson's season will be remembered forever
It’s a shame his season was cut short because he was having arguably the best season a freshman has ever had at UNC.
He was UNC’s leading scorer (19.8 points per game) and rebounder (9.4 rebounds per game) before his season-ending injury. He also averaged 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks, which are still team highs. Wilson recorded 11 double-doubles, tied for the second most for a freshman in program history.
Wilson rewrote the Tar Heels’ record book for scoring, rebounding, 20-point games and double-doubles by a freshman.
Despite his injury, he was a first-team All-ACC selection and had the second-most votes behind Cameron Boozer by just 15 votes.
Seth Trimble is a relic of what College Basketball once was
Seth Trimble finished his career with his best season of the four years he spent in Chapel Hill, averaging 14 points and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the floor — all career highs. On top of that, his game-winning buzzer-beater to beat Duke will be remembered forever in Chapel Hill and around the Triangle as one of the greatest moments in the history of the Carolina-Duke rivalry.
However, what makes Trimble so unique is that he was one of 22 players who spent all four seasons at one power-conference school. That illustrates how much NIL and the transfer portal have changed college athletics, especially college basketball.
Backcourt has been disappointing
Outside of Trimble, the backcourt has been brutal to watch. Not only is its perimeter defense terrible, it can’t score either. Outside of Trimble and Luka Bogavac, no other UNC guard or wing is shooting 40% or better from the field.
Kyan Evans, who was brought in from Colorado State via the transfer portal to be Carolina’s point guard and bolster its 3-point shooting, has averaged only 4.1 points while shooting just 32% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. He was eventually benched for Derek Dixon, but the freshman has struggled as well, shooting just 36% from the field.
Interior play sputtered late
North Carolina was one of the better interior teams in the country entering conference play. However, by the end of the regular season, cracks were beginning to show.
By the end of ACC play, this UNC team was worse in league play in both offensive rebounding percentage (28.8) and opponent offensive rebounding percentage (29.4) than last year’s smaller group (29.8 offensive rebounding, 26.8 opponent offensive rebounding).
Overall, the Tar Heels rank 91st nationally in opponent offensive rebounding percentage (28.6), the program’s worst mark since 2015-16. Making matters worse for UNC, Wilson had been the team’s best rebounder at both ends. The freshman posted a 22.2 defensive rebounding percentage, good for 88th nationally.
UNC was also outscored in the paint in seven of its last 13 games of the regular season, including both meetings with Duke. Some of those games were the result of Wilson being out, including the infamous 82-58 blowout loss to NC State, when both he and Veesaar were sidelined. However, there were three games during that stretch in which UNC was outscored in the paint with Wilson on the court: Miami, Syracuse and Virginia. So this isn’t just a post-Wilson issue.
It’s also an issue with roster construction, as UNC’s roster this season was built to be a better rebounding team with considerable size added at each position.
Perimeter defense has been atrocious
The Tar Heels have allowed opponents to shoot 34.5% from beyond the arc, which ranks 238th nationally and 14th in the conference, and there were nine games in which UNC allowed opponents to shoot 40% or better from downtown. The Tar Heels were last in conference play in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot 38.5% from beyond the arc.
Free Throw shooting might be worse
North Carolina is shooting 68.4% from the free-throw line, which ranks 315th nationally and 15th in the ACC. Only two players are shooting 75% or better: Jaydon Young (75%) and Derek Dixon (81.8%). UNC’s three leading scorers — Caleb Wilson, Seth Trimble and Henri Veesaar — are shooting a poor 67.2%, 67.2% and 62%, respectively. That’s not good at all.
This has plagued UNC all season, especially in some of its closer games. Free throw shooting has been the reason why teams have made late rallies on Carolina or why it loses close games. Case in point: its 80-79 loss to Clemson in the ACC Tournament, when it missed seven free throws. Make just two of those, and UNC likely completes the comeback and remains in the hunt for its first ACC Tournament title since 2016.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
In Kansas City, starter Patrick Mahomes is recovering from a torn ACL. He's determined to return as soon as possible. The Chiefs need someone who can handle the reps until the team is comfortable clearing him to practice.
In New York, it was clear they wanted to move on from Fields. They were facing the possibility of cutting him and eating his $10 million in fully-guaranteed salary, less whatever he'd make elsewhere (most likely, the $1.215 million minimum for his level of experience).
And while the Chiefs could have waited for Fields to be released, the Jets could have dragged their feet. Since the Jets would have owed Fields nothing beyond the guaranteed $10 million until Week 1, they could have kept him from going to Kansas City and getting to work.
So the Chiefs will pay $3 million ($1.785 million more than they would have paid if/when he'd been cut) and give up a 2027 sixth-round pick to get him immediately. And the Jets will gain the draft pick and pay less than they would have owed if they'd cut him.
On that point, Fields was due to make $20 million total in 2026. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Fields's total 2026 salary has dropped to $11 million. As we understand it, the Jets will pay $8 million total and the Chiefs will pay $3 million.
To summarize, the Jets save $785,000 and get a pick, the Chiefs get a veteran quarterback now, and Fields receives $11 million and a potentially perfect destination for his sixth NFL season. He'll learn from coach Andy Reid, from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and Mahomes.
And maybe Fields will get some playing time, if Mahomes isn't ready — or if the Chiefs aren't comfortable with the idea of rushing him back.
Chelsea fined £10m over historic transfer payments
Chelsea have been fined £10 million and handed a suspended transfer ban after admitting to making £47m in undisclosed payments linked to player transfers between 2011 and 2018, BBC Sport has reported.
The punishment, issued by the Premier League, represents the largest financial penalty in the competition’s history, surpassing the £5.5m sanction imposed on West Ham United in 2007 over the controversial registrations of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
The investigation found that “undisclosed payments by third parties associated with the club were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties” for Chelsea’s benefit. The payments were connected to several high-profile transfers during the ownership of Roman Abramovich, including deals involving Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, Willian, David Luiz and Nemanja Matić. There is no suggestion that any of the players were involved in wrongdoing.
Although the Premier League considered imposing sporting sanctions, including a points deduction or immediate transfer ban, Chelsea avoided those penalties after voluntarily self-reporting the irregularities following the club’s takeover by a consortium led by Todd Boehly in 2022. Officials confirmed the £10m fine had been reduced from a potential £20m because of the club’s “proactive self-reporting and co-operation”.
Chelsea also received a separate punishment relating to their academy operations: a nine-month ban on registering new academy players, alongside a £750,000 fine for breaches linked to youth recruitment between 2019 and 2022.
In a statement, the club said it had treated the investigation “with the utmost seriousness” and had provided “full cooperation to all relevant regulators”.
Current head coach Liam Rosenior sought to draw a line under the issue, insisting it would not disrupt the team’s focus. “I think actually that’s a line drawn through that issue and we can move on,” he said. “We can plan to make this club as strong as possible in the long term.”
It is step four of the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ (33-18-15) five-game gauntlet road trip and perhaps the most difficult. No team in the league is better, and no team in the league has a better goal differential than the Presidents’ Trophy-contending Colorado Avalanche (44-12-9). The Penguins face Colorado Monday at Ball Arena.
The puck drops just after 9:30 p.m. EST.
The Penguins are stiff underdogs in the FanDuel NHL odds, going off at +190. Colorado is a -235 to win outright. The Penguins are slight favorites to cover the 1.5 Puckline (-132), but the FanDuel research and prediction models favor the Avalanche 67%.
Mar. 16—Illinois women's basketball team returned home from Indianapolis with a clear plan in mind for how the Illini would approach the bye week between the end of the Big Ten tournament and Selection Sunday.
Illinois knew it would make the field of 68 for the NCAA tournament. The Illini could be confident in that given their solid resume with three Quad I wins and a Top 30 NET ranking. understood the need for rest after the long grind of a four-month-long regular season and a stretch of three games in three days at the Big Ten tournament with Illinois defeating Wisconsin and Michigan State before a quarterfinal loss to Iowa.
That meant Green gave her Illini players two days off before diving back into practice. A practice week at Ubben Basketball Complex that was almost exclusively self-scout. Illinois, after all, had no idea who they would be playing in the NCAA tournament.
That much wasn't revealed until Sunday night when the Illini (21-11) landed a No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup with No. 10 seed Colorado (22-11) at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
"We've just been doing a lot of competitive stuff, playing a lot, getting up and down, kind of just getting back to the basics of our core values, our participles both ends of the floor," Green said of the practice plan in the week leading to Selection Sunday. "You don't really know (what opponent) you are going to see (in the NCAA tournament until the bracket reveal). Are you going to see zone (defense)? Are you going to see man. So, we really tried to tighten up both things and focused in on ourselves and then (Monday) we'll get going with Colorado."
A new spring and summer coed sport is coming to Tuscaloosa.
Northridge head volleyball coach Danielle Stephenson is bringing beach volleyball to T-Town. Stephenson, who has 17 years of high school coaching experience, will lead junior beach club volleyball session for ages 7-18. Adults, don't worry: plans for an adult league will be coming as soon as June.
"It's a similar game to indoor (volleyball), but also totally different in so many respects," Stephenson said. "You're only playing with one other person, your communication looks different, your technique, your strategies are totally different, but you're still learning the game of volleyball. You're still harnessing those skills, just in a different way."
The junior league spring season will hold its first practice at 4 p.m. March 25 at the Venue, located at 6052 Watermelon Road in Northport. The first practice will be free for anyone interested in the 7-18 age bracket.
The spring season, which usually begins in February, will be shortened this year as the courts were getting their finishing touches last month. The season will last from March 25 to May 2.
In beach volleyball, a participant picks a partner, and the pair can choose wherever the'd like to sign up for tournaments. There are various opportunities across the state in areas like Birmingham, Huntsville, Pelham and Gulf Shores.
"It's pretty relaxed, and you can make it what you want to make it," Stephenson said. "If you want to come to just practice and learn the game, you can come. If you have a partner in mind and you want to practice and sign up for all these tournaments, we're there to help you do all that, too."
Stephenson will be joined by two student coaches: University of Alabama junior Ady Pitts and Northridge senior Chloe Calhoun.
Pitts, while working toward a degree in advertising and public relations, founded the Bama Beach Volleyball Club her freshman year at UA with six years of beach volleyball experience under her belt in Panama City, Florida.
Calhoun has played volleyball for nine years. In her senior season, the libero amassed 233 digs, 53 assists, 37 aces and six kills in Northridge's 25-21 record that ended with an Elite Eight berth in the AHSAA postseason. Calhoun was named a 2026 Tuscaloosa News All-Area volleyball honorable mention.
There are three tiered rates to participate. The mini spring season, which lasts until May 2, has a basic, full time plan, which includes all practices offered, coaching at two tournaments and a spirit pack of apparel for $500.
If participants would like to combine packages for spring and the summer season, they can save 10% by signing up for both for all practices offered, coaching at five tournaments and a spirit pack of apparel for $1,328.
The program also offers a try out rate, which includes five practices that participants may choose throughout the season for $175. Tournament coaching and apparel is separate from this offer.
For more information, email tuscaloosabeachclub@gmail.com.
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.
Call it a trend or just a sign of the times, but sports betting operators aren’t worried about Cinderella this March.
Key Takeaways
Bettors are banking on Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and other top contenders to make deep runs again.
USF is getting a lot of attention for Thursday’s game against Louisville.
March Madness betting is expected to be massive this year.
Instead, sportsbooks could use an unlikely giant killer doing some damage for them during the men’s NCAA Tournament, which begins with play-in games Tuesday.
“We’re expecting a fairly chalky tournament this year, similar to what we saw last season,” said Patrick Berbert, Caesars Sportsbook college basketball trader. “The NIL era has really widened the gap between the top programs and the rest of the field.”
In 2025, all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four. This year, Duke, Arizona, Florida, and Michigan were named region leaders during Sunday’s NCAA selection show. Connecticut, Purdue, Houston, and Iowa State are the two seeds. Those are all massive brands in the sport, leading to heavy liabilities, as bettors aren’t expecting many wild upsets, especially early.
Arizona opened as a 29.5-point favorite over Long Island in its first-round game Thursday. Duke, Purdue, Illinois, Iowa State, and Houston all opened as at least 20-point favorites.
Early March Madness College Basketball betting @BetMGM 🏀
Most bet games 🎟️ 1. SMU at Miami OH 2. NC State at Texas 3. Howard at MD Baltimore 4. Northern Iowa at St. Johns 5. High Point at Wisconsin
That doesn't mean bettors won’t take shots on upsets during individual games, but Duke (+300) and Michigan (+325) have combined to account for 22% of the entire market’s bets at BetMGM. However, odds aren’t as long, making Miami (Ohio) at +200,000 to win it all a bigger liability than any No. 1 seed.
“Among the favorites, UConn, Florida, and St. John's are our biggest liabilities to win the tournament,” BetMGM senior trader Michael Ranftle said. “Duke and Arizona have been popular with bettors but are the best outcomes of the title contenders for the sportsbook.”
Arizona has received the most bets to win the national championship since Sunday on theScore Bet, accounting for 16.8% of tickets and 22.3% of the handle. Michigan is second in money at 10.9%, with Duke getting the second-most tickets at 11.5%. However, the Blue Devils’ 7.9% handle is behind Purdue (8.9%) and Iowa State (8.6%).
First-round insights
South Florida has emerged early as one of the most popular teams for spread bettors. The 11th-seeded Bulls, 5.5-point underdogs against sixth-seeded Louisville, are the most-bet team playing in Thursday’s first round at BetMGM.
Early Thursday NCAA Tournament betting at @BetMGM@USFMBB +5.5 - most bet team to cover
USF is the most-bet underdog at BetMGM and has taken the second-most action at theScore Bet as of Monday afternoon.
No. 12 seed Akron, +7.5 against No. 5 Texas Tech on Friday, is the most-bet spread team at theScore Bet. Houston, a 23.5-point favorite over Idaho in the first round, is another popular spread pick, along with Duke (-29.5 versus Siena).
Akron is also getting the most moneyline action at +250, ahead of McNeese State (+425 versus Vanderbilt) and Saint Louis (+130 versus Georgia), at theScore Bet. St. John’s is the most-bet moneyline team by handle as a -650 favorite over Northern Iowa, which is the second most-bet spread team at BetMGM. UNC at -135 against VCU is second in moneyline handle at theScore Bet.
First Four action
Miami (Ohio) is getting a lot of love heading into Tuesday and Wednesday’s First Four games. The Redhawks (+7.5 versus SMU) have received the most spread tickets and handle in what is the most-bet game at BetMGM so far. They’re also the most-bet moneyline team at +240.
Tuesday’s 11-seed play-in game between NC State and Texas is the second-most bet game as of Monday, with the Wolfpack (+1.5) getting the fourth-most spread tickets. The under 159.5 is the most-bet total at BetMGM.
UMBC, a 2.5-point favorite over Howard on Tuesday, is getting the third most bets.
Massive betting event
March Madness is a massive betting event and one that the American Gaming Association estimates will generate $3.3 billion in wagering. The men’s and women’s three-week tournaments offer hundreds of betting markets and draw professional and novice action.
This year could represent the most-bet March Madness ever.
“From a betting standpoint, we’re projecting record engagement again,” Berbert said. “College basketball has been a phenomenal product all season, and the television ratings reflect that, as it was reportedly the most-watched regular season ever.”
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 19: Nate Hobbs #21 of the Green Bay Packers reacts as Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch in the third quarter of a game at State Farm Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers have been active in free agency. They signed Mike Evans to a deal that was effectively a bet on himself. Offensive line depth was addressed by bringing in veterans with starting experience in Brett Toth and Vederian Lowe. Dre Greenlaw is back like he never left.
We’ll get to the best move in free agency later in the week. Moving on from Thomas Morstead was a no-brainer on paper. The 49ers go from the punter who was 32nd in net yards per punt to Corliss Waitman, who finished 15th last season. Morstead’s punts had the sixth-highest average of return yardage, while Waitman had the 8th-fewest.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs came over from the Packers, while the splash move was trading for Osa Odighizuwa from Dallas.
Today, we ask which move was the worst so far in free agency for the 49ers. It doesn’t have to be a signing. Maybe you wanted the team to bring back a player like Jauan Jennings or Brian Robinson Jr. Perhaps you think the team should sign another pass rusher.
We all know a safety will be selected sooner than later in the NFL Draft next month. That would be the biggest surprise if the 49ers headed into the 2026 season with the safety group unchanged.
What has been your least favorite 49ers free agency move so far?
My answer: Nate Hobbs 1 year, $4 million
It’s less about the contract and the player and more about the plan for Hobbs. Hobbs played 29 special teams snaps last season for the Packers. He spent 232 of his 358 snaps playing cornerback out wide, while the rest were at nickel.
When Hobbs was lined up at cornerback, he allowed 12 of his 19 targets to be completed for 190 yards, a 131.5 quarterback rating, with an EPA of +15.4. Two of those targets resulted in touchdowns.
OK, so how did he fare against the one NFC West team the Packers played last season? Hobbs allowed three first downs on five targets and gave up receptions of 24 and 35 yards against the Cardinals in Week 7.
The most concerning part about Hobbs’ last season when targeted was the separation. George Pickens got the best of him on three targets. One was a 50/50 ball, but Hobbs was about five yards away on a 15-yard touchdown pass he surrendered. In that Week 4 matchup, Hobbs allowed two touchdowns and three first downs for an average of 13.8 yards on six targets. One of those targets was dropped.
In Hobbs’ defense, he didn’t exactly have the easiest of matchups. Terry McLaurin, Ja’Marr Chase, Pickens, Marvin Harrison Jr., Tet McMillian, the Ben Johnson offense. But that’s the NFL today. There’s nowhere to hide.
Hobbs average separation this past season on his targets was 2.6 yards. With the Raiders last year, it was 3.6 yards, and 4.1 the year prior. Hobbs lack of special teams usage is what makes this move peculiar. Is he a Renardo Green hedge? Does Hobbs play nickel, and Upton Stout moves to safety? Or do they look at the quality athlete Hobbs is and say, “Hey, if you wanna play in the league, you’re gonna have to cover kicks.”
The 49ers aren’t paying Hobbs like a starter. Again, the critique is more about the unknown(from the outside looking in) than anything else.
What is your answer? What should the 49ers have done differently through the first week of free agency?
In just over 24 hours, the 2026 NCAA Tournament will finally commence with the First Four games on Tuesday, March 17, from Dayton, Ohio. That means March Madness is finally upon us.
UMBC and Howard will kick off the action at 6:40 p.m. from UD Arena with a matchup that will determine the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region, with the winner taking on No. 1 Michigan.
The second game will pit Texas against North Carolina State to decide the No. 11 seed in the West Region, and the first opponent for No. 6 seed BYU.
Wednesday, March 18, will feature two more First Four games before we dive into first-round action on Thursday, March 19.
Here's what you need to know about Tuesday's schedule for the First Four games, including how to watch:
March Madness games on Tuesday
First Four
(16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard | 6:40 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
(11) Texas vs. (11) North Carolina State | 9:15 p.m. | truTV (Sling TV)
UMBC and Howard kick off the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a game that will determine the No. 16 seed in the Midwest Region. The Retreivers and Bison are scheduled for a 6:40 p.m. ET tip, from UD Arena, in Dayton, Ohio.
Following that will be a matchup for the No. 11 seed in the West Region, when Texas takes on North Carolina State.
Both First Four matchups will be nationally broadcast on truTV. Jordan Kent and Jim Spanarkel will be on the call for UMBC and Howard, with Jenny Dell as the courtside reporter. Brian Anderson, Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale will call the second game, with Dell as the courtside reporter.
Mar 14, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) reacts after defeating the Houston Cougars during the men's Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
TUCSON — One Valley basketball player has been a central ingredient in Arizona men’s basketball’s success during the 2025-26 season, especially as the program clinched a No. 1 West Region seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
But which Valley ties do the Wildcats have, and how has one player helped Arizona reach this milestone?
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
Nate Diaz and Mike Perry will square off in a welterweight bout on the MMA card featuring Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which was co-founded by Jake Paul and is promoting the MMA event, made the announcement Monday, March 16 – a week after revealing UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight Philippe Lins.
“A blockbuster, triple-headliner’’ MVP called the three bouts at the event to be livestreamed by Netflix.
Diaz, a 40-year-old fan favorite, is taking on his first MMA bout since 2022, when he fought out of his UFC contract and became a free agent. He’s 21-13 (16-11 UFC) and one of his biggest victories came against Conor McGregor in 2016.
“Glad to be back in action,” Diaz said, according to a news release issued by MVP. “It’s time.’’
Perry, a 34-year-old bareknuckle brawler nicknamed “The King of Violence,” also has a history in MMA. He is 14-8 (7-8 UFC) and this will be his first MMA fight since 2021.
“The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the (expletive) face,’’ Perry said, according to the new release.
The fight between Diaz and Perry is scheduled for five rounds.
One thing Diaz and Perry have in common: Paul has beaten both of them in boxing.
In 2023, Paul defeated Diaz by unanimous decision. In 2024, Paul defeated Perry by six-round TKO.
Good news for women’s college basketball in general has been terrible for NCAA Tournament underdogs in particular. As public attention keeps rising and more resources keep flowing into the sport, perennial powerhouses have developed around the country, creating a crop of national championship contenders that now goes considerably beyond the roster of old UConn-South Carolina-LSU suspects. This makes for a broader but top-heavy ruling elite.
UCLA, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, TCU, West Virginia … the list goes on, and there are 18 teams at least 40 points per 100 possessions stronger than the D1 average, according to our model. But their kinds of talent and depth have not reached anywhere near the bottom of tournament brackets. The standard deviation, or spread, in power ratings among the top 68 women’s teams is 71 percent greater among women’s teams than on the men’s side. And the results are dire if you’re hoping to see broken brackets. Our upset projection model, Slingshot, estimates that no team seeded 13 or worse has even a 5 percent chance of pulling off a first-round upset this year.
That said, women can carry slingshots, too. In fact, in one possible matchup, Goliath vulnerability, long-shot traits and mis-seeding could combine for greater upset potential than anything we are likely to see in the men’s game. (See our men’s most likely upsets here.)
Here are the top 10 upset odds for the women’s tournament, with special attention to a handful of contests our model thinks most merit your attention.
No. 11 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No. 6 Baylor Bears
Upset Chance: 63.8 percent
(Note: Nebraska must win its First Four game against Richmond first.)
Whoa, here’s a game where the so-called overdog (read: better-seeded team) would actually be likely to lose! Look, it’s been something of a down year for Baylor, which ranks as the No. 32 team in the nation according to our model. Nebraska is nine slots higher and 4.4 points per 100 possessions stronger. (And we are not outliers: Her Hoop Stats puts Nebraska at 27, Baylor at 31.) The Huskers have been severely underrated by the NCAA Tournament selection committee and others because of an 18-12 record that included three losses by 3 or fewer points. They’re a classic “wounded assassin,” our name for a power conference team whose results don’t seem all that impressive but who remains dangerous at tournament time. Nebraska has dealt with injuries but still has a top-20 offense, and has posted a scoring margin per 100 possessions just about equal to Baylor’s — all while facing a significantly tougher schedule. The numbers like the lower seed here.
No. 11 Richmond Spiders vs. No. 6 Baylor Bears
Upset Chance: 41.1 percent
(Note: Richmond must win its First Four game against Nebraska first.)
These really aren’t your mother’s Bears. Baylor ranks just 89th in the NCAA in offensive rebounding rate, and they’ve been sloppier with the ball than usual, committing turnovers on 19.6 percent of possessions (ranking: 176th). These are ominous signs for a Goliath trying to keep games safely in hand. And the Spiders not only hoist 3s more often than almost any team in the nation (45.2 percent of shots, ranking third), they are ninth-best at hitting them, too (37.0 percent). On the evening after St. Patrick’s Day, keep an eye on Maggie Doogan, one of three Richmond players hitting more than 40 percent of their 3s, and look out below! Of course, it’s cosmically unjust that Richmond and Nebraska will have to face each other just to make it into the first round. But we fans of women’s upsets have to work with what we’ve got.
No. 11 Rhode Island Rams vs. No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide
Upset Chance: 24.8 percent
The Tide don’t do the kinds of things that protect favorites from slipping — specifically, they rank an abysmal 224th in the country in offensive rebounding rate. The Rams make opponents play like they’re walking over broken glass, with a pace ranking 347th. Rhode Island has allowed 50 or fewer points in 13 of its 28 wins this year. It’s easy to see this game turning into a slog, and that favors the underdog.
No. 12 James Madison Dukes vs. No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats
Upset Chance: 18.5 percent
The Dukes can shoot (effective field goal percentage: 50.1 percent). They’re strong rebounders at both ends of the floor. They’re above average at both forcing and preventing turnovers. In other words, JMU has become highly efficient, with a scoring margin per 100 possessions that ranks 39th, while showing no evident weaknesses. There’s no red on their stat sheets; they’re good enough to scare any giant.
Here’s our favorite underdog story in the country. Back in 2022, Fairfield, facing the daunting task of recruiting in UConn’s backyard, hired Carly Thibault-DuDonis, a coach half Geno Auriemma’s age who was smart enough to be the valedictorian of her college class. She built the Stags with the specific goal of landing a tournament berth above the 13-line, to escape facing first-round opponents who would have home-court advantage. She got them to play like smart long shots: Fairfield has replaced Florida Gulf Coast as the nation’s premier long-range shooting specialist, and this year has made more than 11 3s per game, the most in the country. And it’s all worked!
The Stags are coming off three straight seasons of 28 or more wins and three MAAC championships, and have landed an 11-seed. For all that, their reward is an under-20-percent chance of beating Notre Dame. Sigh. That’s just where the women’s game is at these days. But we’ll say this: While Hannah Hidalgo is as game-changing a player as you will see, the Irish rank just 251st in the country in offensive rebounding rate. Give Fairfield extra chances instead of grabbing your own missed shots, and you can easily land in hot water. Don’t sleep on this one.
No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 5 Mississippi Rebels
Upset Chance: 8.4 percent
No. 11 South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. No. 6 Washington Huskies
Upset Chance: 7.6 percent
No. 13 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. No. 4 West Virginia Mountaineers
Upset Chance: 4.5 percent
No. 12 Colorado State Rams vs. No. 5 Michigan State Spartans
Upset Chance: 3.9 percent
No. 13 Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels
Upset Chance: 2.4 percent
If Stephen F. Austin wins the 16-seed play-in game in Fort Worth 3, they will have a 0.05 percent chance of then beating Texas. This field really is top-heavy.
BOSTON — Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker is all for it.
The NBA Board of Governors is looking to vote March 24-25 at their annual spring meeting on the league expanding to 32 teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, league sources confirmed March 16 to The Arizona Republic.
“I would love it,” Booker said after Monday's morning shootaround as the Suns face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. “I’d love it. I like those cities, personally. So does that mean we move a couple of teams from the West to the East?”
Memphis Grizzlies? New Orleans Pelicans?
“Cool with me,” Booker added. “Let’s do it.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news the morning of March 16.
Having been a topic of conversation for years, the NBA is looking to add the franchises for the 2028-29 season, Charania reported.
“I think it’s really cool,” Suns guard Grayson Allen said. “Two good cities. Seattle obviously has a good fan base. I think Vegas will, too.”
Seattle was home to the SuperSonics from 1967 to 2008, but the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City as owner Clay Bennett had a dispute over building a new arena.
Las Vegas has never had an NBA team, but it now has NFL and NHL franchises in the Las Vegas Raiders and Vegas Golden Knights.
The city has also hosted NBA Summer League for 20 years. That has factored in the league’s interest in having an expansion team in Vegas.
“It’s cool,” Allen continued. “It’s exciting for the league. It’s awesome that our league, our game is in a cool enough spot where expansion is even an option. I’m all for it. I’m excited for it.”
Charania reported the bids for the expansion teams range from $7 billion to $10 billion for each team.
The NBA last expanded in 2004 with the Charlotte Hornets.
This upcoming vote allows the NBA to see purchase plans for Las Vegas and Seattle. Then there’d be vote this year to finalize expanding to 32 teams with the bids being reached.
The league needs at least 23 of the 30 owners to vote in favor of having league expansion.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed league expansion during NBA All-Star weekend last month in Los Angeles.
“In fairness to the cities, Seattle and Las Vegas in particular, I’ve been very clear I don’t want to tease teams,” Silver said Feb. 14. “I don’t want to tease cities or mislead anyone. I think we wanted to get through collective bargaining, national television deals. We’ve done that, and now we’ve turned to it as a league.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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The Dolphins announced the signing of offensive tackle Charlie Heck on Monday.
Heck appeared in 17 games and made six starts for the Buccaneers last season. Heck played 41 games for the Texans over his first four seasons and split the 2024 season between the 49ers and the Cardinals. He started 21 times for the Texans and will join the returning Austin Jackson and Patrick Paul at tackle in Miami.
The Dolphins have also added Jamaree Salyer to their offensive line since the start of free agency. Tackle Larry Borom left to sign with the Lions and guard Cole Strange is now a member of the Chargers.
The Dolphins also announced the previously reported signing of wide receiver Jalen Tolbert.
The Alabama Crimson Tide were swept by the Kentucky Wildcats during the opening weekend of SEC baseball play.
The Tide were unable to get in the win column at any point, despite scoring 15 total runs throughout the series. Alabama dropped to an overall record of 15-6 following the sweep, as the Tide will look to bounce back on Tuesday against South Alabama.
Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s series sweep against Kentucky.
Tyler Fay struggled immensely on Friday, surrendered six earned runs
Fay had been red hot prior to the Tide’s matchup vs. Kentucky on Friday. The talented pitcher surrendered eight hits and six earned runs throughout seven innings pitched, as Fay was able to stay in the game despite getting hit hard on a multitude of occasions.
The star flamethrower will look to bounce back this Friday, as Fay has been solid in 2026 prior to his nightmare outing against the Wildcats.
Justin Lebron stays red hot, records one home run and three total hits
Lebron has been electrifying at the plate to begin the 2026 campaign. The star shortstop recorded three total hits vs. Kentucky, including a moonshot home run on Friday.
Lebron currently holds an impressive .304 batting average on the year, as the star player was elite despite the Tide being swept in Lexington.
John Lemm thrives at the plate, records two home runs
Lemm has been widely regarded as one of the best catchers in college baseball to begin the 2026 season. The star slugger currently holds an eye-opening .328 batting average on the year, as Lemm continues to stay red hot at the plate on a nightly basis.
The catcher recorded two home runs in the series loss to Kentucky, as Alabama as a team had no problem at the plate against the Wildcats’ pitching staff throughout the entirety of the series.
Alabama will be on the road to face South Alabama on Tuesday evening, as the Tide will look to get back in the win column against the Jaguars.
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After an ankle injury sidelined him for two weeks, Smart returned and Memphis went 10-2 in its next 12 games before he suffered a partial tear of the proximal extensor hood of his right index finger. Around this time, Smart says, he felt a shift in how the Grizzlies organization treated him. He says he felt pressured to play through it. "I wanted to be 100%, to give everything I got," Smart said. "As I'm still working out and getting ready, they're just like, 'No, your doctor said you're ready now.' And I'm like, 'I hear what my doctor said, but ... it's how I feel. Yes, surgically the finger is fine. But physically, no. The finger is still weak. I'm still strengthening it. This is my dominant hand.' So, they didn't want to hear it and they just kept saying, 'You need to play.'"
Rubin Colwill scored twice in his last appearance against Exeter City [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Rubin Colwill has signed a new deal with Cardiff City which ties him to the club until the summer of 2030.
Wales international Colwill has made 181 appearances for the Bluebirds since making his debut in 2021.
The Cardiff vice captain's contract was set to expire next year, but he has agreed a deal to remain with the League One side for the next four years.
Colwill has impressed for the Bluebirds this season despite missing three months with an ankle injury.
The 23-year-old has scored seven goals this season, including three goals in his last two matches.
In a club statement Colwill said: "I'm very happy to get this sorted. This is my club and it's the only place I've wanted to be since I was nine.
"I want to thank Tan Sri Vincent, the board and Brian [Barry-Murphy] for showing such faith and belief in me.
"I'm extremely proud to be wearing this shirt and I'll give everything I can to get us back to where we belong. I can only see exciting times for us ahead."
Colwill is the latest young Welsh player to sign a new deal with Cardiff.
The Darius Slay era is over, as the talented cornerback has announced his retirement via social media after 13 illustrious seasons spent with the Lions, Eagles, and Steelers. Slay is a six-time Pro Bowl honoree (2018, '19, '20, '22, '23, '24) named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2017.
Last spring, the Eagles released the Pro Bowl cornerback with a post-June 1 designation. The move saved Philadelphia $4 million in cap space and ended one of the most dominant runs by a cornerback in franchise history.
Slay started 14 games in 2024, recording 49 tackles (39 solo) and leading the NFL's No. 1 pass defense. He also led the Eagles with 13 passes defended, marking the third straight season he has recorded 13+ pass breakups. Slay recorded his first career playoff interception when he picked off a Jordan Love pass with 14:52 remaining in the second quarter of the Eagles' 22-10 win over Green Bay in the NFC Wild Card game.
Here's the reaction from fans and media members around the league.
Darius Slay has announced his retirement
“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you've done for me. I've been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a… pic.twitter.com/5t1fqXFAIw
Beyond Darius Slay's career achievements (All-Pro, 6x Pro Bowl, SB LIX champion, etc.), he had a big impact on Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as rookies.
“He is getting old. So, I want him to get a Super Bowl. I’m playing for him.” - Mitchell in 2024https://t.co/csFuukW7as
Dortmund and Leipzig linked with talented Newcastle full-back
Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have reportedly set their sights on Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, according to CaughtOffside.
The two Bundesliga clubs are among those monitoring the 21-year-old left-back who has made two appearances for England's national team.
However, the chances for either German club to sign him are questionable, with interest from fellow Premier League sides also lingering.
Scouts from Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as unnamed La Liga clubs are reportedly also monitoring Hall.
In any case, the interested parties could face an uphill battle with Newcastle who are reluctant to sell their young star.
Hall, now an experienced 21-year-old was signed permanently from Chelsea for €33million in the summer of 2024.
CaughtOffside references market experts who claim the Magpies would demand a starting price of around €75million in negotiations.
It's quite possible that Dortmund and Leipzig will have to bow out of the race to sign for Hall who has played 39 games in all competitions this season.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey has won two of the three Six Nations tournaments he has played in [Getty Images]
Antoine Dupont is arguably the best player of all time.
Dupont lifted back-to-back Six Nations titles on Saturday as France edged England 48–46 in an epic finale in Paris.
What eluded the 29-year-old during the early part of his international career was trophies, but that has now certainly changed.
His CV may lack a Rugby World Cup, but it continues to strengthen the debate that he is rugby's GOAT.
Outshining the star of French rugby has not even been worth entertaining over the past few seasons.
The France captain won the player of the Six Nations in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
However, Dupont is still not long back from a nasty anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered against Ireland in round four of last year's Six Nations.
He missed the end of that tournament and France wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey rightfully took the limelight.
The 22-year-old bagged a record eight tries to win player of the championship.
Roll on 12 months and he scored four tries against England to help Les Bleus win another title, taking his tally in this year's tournament to nine - breaking his own record.
Bielle-Biarrey, who has a strong chance of winning the player of the championship for a second successive year, has now scored in 10 straight Six Nations games, a record he will look to extend next year.
Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll is the tournament's highest-ever try-scorer with 26 - eight clear of Bielle-Biarrey, who has only played in 14 Six Nations games.
The French flyer, who is showing no signs of slowing down, is scoring at a rate rarely seen in international rugby.
Bielle-Biarrey showed excellent footballing ability to nudge the ball in front of England's Jack van Poortvliet for his vital fourth try.
"He is running at over 10 metres per second - the fastest player in the Six Nations - and he has the deftest of touches. Dennis Bergkamp would be thrilled with that," former England wing Ugo Monye told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.
"He is the Erling Haaland of the rugby world. Give him the ball and he will finish."
In terms of pure numbers, the Bordeaux Begles wing scored 33 times for club and country last season.
That was one shy of prolific Manchester City striker Haaland, who is known for breaking multiple goal-scoring records.
This season, Bielle-Biarrey has a total of 27 tries and will be aiming to better his 2024–25 campaign.
Haaland has been criticised for offering only output - something that cannot be said of Bielle-Biarrey.
Having made a name for himself by using his lightning speed to get on the end of scores, Bielle-Biarrey has far more to his game.
"His defence is very good, and he is so busy," Monye added.
"He also had a number of assists in this Six Nations. His aerial work is brilliant, as is his kicking game. He is more than a finisher."
Bielle-Biarrey, at only 20, forced his way into France's starting XV for their home World Cup in 2023, where he scored four times.
France's all-time top try-scorer Damian Penaud was on the other wing and had been a key performer for Fabien Galthie until his shock omission from this year's Six Nations.
"No-one has mentioned Penaud in the last few weeks," former Wales captain Sam Warburton told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.
"I remember saying last year that, hypothetically, if I was a director of rugby then the first player I would sign would be Penaud, as he had that crazy strike rate. Now Bielle-Biarrey has surpassed that."
Could Bielle-Biarrey surpass star Dupont?
Dupont's 2025 Six Nations ended at the back of a ruck in the Aviva Stadium. Ireland forward Tadhg Beirne fell on his leg, twisting the scrum-half's knee and rupturing ligaments.
Dupont was sidelined for nearly nine months before making his return for club side Toulouse to considerable fanfare.
And with neat symmetry, his Test return was also against Ireland in the first night of the tournament.
Dupont's game was never just about fast-twitch burst of pace, but there was still a question of whether he would come back as the same player.
France fans needn't have worried.
The 2021 World Player of the Year, Dupont buzzed around pulling his team into shape and poking holes in Ireland, none more so than when a cute chip ahead helped set up Bielle-Biarrey for his second try in a 36-14 win.
Come the end of the tournament that combination was still clicking, with France trailing by a point deep into the second half against England, Dupont's roundhouse box kick set up Bielle-Biarrey's fourth try.
Dupont has long been the face of the team. The star of adverts, billboards and viral moments, not least his brilliant try-saving tackle on Mack Hansen in the 2023 Six Nations.
He memorably appeared on the front of the French edition of GQ magazine in a canary-yellow dressing gown and has been on the front row of designer runways at Paris Fashion Week.
Bielle-Biarrey, still only 22, is not quite so comfortable in the off-pitch limelight.
And given he wears a signature red scrum cap, he is not as recognisable.
His father Joel told BBC Sport last year that Louis finds the impossibility of satisfying all the requests for selfies and autographs he gets a difficult part of the job.
But his supersonic speed and sky-high try-scoring rate – the easiest currency for casual fans to understand - mean those requests will only increase.
For Dupont, it means he has someone else to share top billing with in a national team that rivals its football counterpart for popularity and prominence in France.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket is set and March Madness has officially begun with the Florida Gators holding the No. 1 seed in the South Region. Thus begins Todd Golden's endeavor to bring the national championship trophy back to Gainesville for a second-straight year.
The Big Dance is no walk through the park, as every team — no matter how they fared during the regular season — is fighting tooth and nail to move on to the next round. It is a time of year when Cinderellas emerge and unexpected upsets bust brackets.
While the top seeds in the regions are set up for an ostensibly easier avenue to the Final Four, there are still plenty of roadblocks en route to the semifinals. USA TODAY Sports writer Craig Meyer ranked the No. 1 seeds' paths based on what he sees in the initial bracket, with Florida having the third-hardest road back to the penultimate round.
"The Gators enter the tournament as one of the country's hottest teams, with 17 wins in their past 19 games after an underwhelming 9-5 start. They've got all the potential to make a second consecutive Final Four, with Sunday's bracket reveal confirming as much," Meyer offers.
"Either No. 8 seed Clemson or No. 9 seed Iowa could be a squirrely second-round opponent, but the Sweet 16 won't be nearly as daunting for Todd Golden's squad as it will for some of its fellow No. 1 seeds. No. 5 seed Vanderbilt beat Florida by 17 in the SEC tournament, but the Gators have shown they can beat the Commodores, with a 98-94 in Nashville back in January," he continues.
"Or they could take on No. 4 seed Nebraska, which is just 6-6 since a 20-0 start to the season. No. 2 seed Houston, a rematch of last year's national title game, or No. 3 seed Illinois would be challenging in the Elite Eight, but Florida's path to that point isn't especially arduous."
One way or another, Golden's gang will need to bring their A-game, but at least they are not the Duke Blue Devils, who could potentially face the Kansas Jayhawks, St. John's Red Storm, UConn Huskies or Michigan State Spartans along the way. Or the Arizona Wildcats, who have the Arkansas Razorbacks, Wisconsin Badgers and Purdue Boilermakers in their region.
Ranking the hardest path to the Final Four for 1-seeds
Duke
Arizona
Florida
Michigan
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Matt Campbell has been working to get settled in his new position as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, and he's working to make some inroads on the recruiting trail. While the program doesn't yet have any commitments in the 2027 class, the Nittany Lions landed a pretty big prediction to start the week.
According to Rivals' inside Steve Wiltfong, 4-star quarterback Peter Bourque is projected to commit to Penn State. Bourque stands at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and is rated by 247Sports as the No. 80 overall player in the 2027 class, and the No. 7 passer.
He is also the No. 1 rated player in the state of Michigan, and up until this point, has been projected to stay in-state and commit to the Wolverines. However, it appears that Campbell has been able to sway him, and there are now expectations for Bourque to find his way over to Happy Valley.
If Campbell ultimately is able to land Bourque, it would be a big win in his early recruiting days with Penn State. Getting a QB committed early in the cycle is often critical to landing other commitments, as he is able to help recruit his peers. We will see what takes place with Bourque's timeline over the coming weeks.
The 6-foot-2 guard did not travel with the team to the SEC Tournament because of a concussion. After Tennessee's loss to Alabama on March 5, Caldwell said Prawl was in concussion protocol after Lauren Hurst "clocked her in the head" in practice.
When Caldwell met with reporters March 16, she expected Prawl to return to practice that day.
"She should be back today in practice," Caldwell said of Prawl. "And then Janiah (Barker's) a little banged up, she'll be limited today. Other than that, everyone's full go."
No. 10 seed Tennessee (16-13) will face No. 7 seed NC State (20-10) on March 20 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) in the first round of March Madness in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A win would match the Lady Vols with No. 2 seed and host Michigan (25-6) or No. 15 seed Holy Cross (23-9) in the second round on March 22.
Prawl has been a solid piece of the rotation for Tennessee. Prawl has averaged 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and a steal in 15.4 minutes per game while shooting 40.4% from the field.
The Toronto native, was a five-star recruit ranked No. 17 in the 2025 class. She's one of three McDonald's All-Americans in Tennessee's freshman class along with Mia Pauldo and Jaida Civil.
Barker has been one of Tennessee's top producers this season, averaging 14.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.5% from the field and and 36.5% on 3.9 attempts from 3-point range.
Barker has started in 21 games and missed one game this season. The 6-foot-4 senior forward did not travel with the team to Oklahoma due to not meeting team standards, but returned the next game.
The Chicago Bears have not made the flashy or big signing during this NFL offseason, but they have made a concerted effort to fill their voids properly. When the team released veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, they moved quickly to replace him with another veteran, known for his speed, in Devin Bush.
The former first-round pick is coming off the best season of his career with the Cleveland Browns, including three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. In the first wave of free agency, while the Bears have not made the "big" move as they did prior to the 2025 season, they have been praised for the signing of Bush.
NFL.com's Next Gen analytics team listed the Bears' signing of Bush as one of the best free agency acquisitions this offseason. Here's what they said about Bush joining Chicago and how he fits Dennis Allen's defense:
"Dennis Allen’s defense is based out of Cover 2, which relies on highly athletic linebackers to account for significant space in the middle of the field. After releasing Tremaine Edmunds, the Bears were left with just two off-ball LBs on the roster who played 50+ snaps last season, and neither is a natural Cover 2 anchor," The article said. "Enter Bush, who allowed 0.49 yards per coverage snap last season, the second-fewest of any linebacker who logged at least 250 coverage snaps. He also recorded three interceptions (returning two for touchdowns) while allowing just one touchdown. He and Edmunds were two of the 14 LBs who were trusted to play man-to-man over 20% of the time, suggesting Allen will continue to cater to Bush's strengths. Bush was a lynchpin of the Browns’ run defense in 2025, as well, recording 75 run tackles, more than any Bears defender not named Roquan Smith in a single season over the last decade."
Bush is going to have a significant role in Allen's defense and should be a good fit alongside another veteran in T.J. Edwards next season. Chicago has lost several key members of their defense, especially in the secondary where they lost both starting safeties in Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. Given his performance over the last two seasons, Bush should be expected to be a high-level contributor for the Bears defense in 2026 and beyond.
In this new and rapidly evolving era of college sports, it might be harder than ever to be a true Cinderella in the NCAA Tournament. Many of the players who would ordinarily be some of the best mid-major talents in the country instead play for high-major schools, throwing off college basketball's balance.
On the flip side, talent at smaller schools can still come from just about anywhere. Some of the top mid-major players in the country started out at more prominent schools, while others began their careers outside of Division I entirely and have been overlooked their entire careers.
While short on upsets, 2025 proved that talent can still be found anywhere. Drake knocked off 6-seed Missouri with a core that was just playing at the Division II level a year earlier. There are some tremendous players outside of the schools with the most resources, and some have the potential to become brand names this March.
Here are the biggest potential Cinderella stars who could bust your 2026 March Madness bracket.
6 potential Cinderella stars in 2026 March Madness bracket
Dominique Daniels Jr., Cal Baptist
Cal Baptist's Dominique Daniels Jr. checks all of the boxes to be a potential March Madness star. He's undersized at 5-10, puts up a ridiculous amount of shots and started his college career at the junior college level. All that's left to do is at least give Kansas a scare.
Is Daniels efficient? Well, that depends. He shoots 44.4 percent from the floor, a significant improvement from last season, but he's only 32.4 percent from 3-point range. Either way, he is going to shoot. Daniels has attempted at least 20 shots in 13 of his last 24 games, 11 of which were wins.
When he's hot, he's one of the most entertaining players in the country. A day before hitting the game-winner that sent Cal Baptist to the NCAA Tournament, Daniels scored 41 points on 15-of-23 from the field. A dud is also possible against a defense of Kansas' caliber, but Daniels will go down swinging even if that is the case.
Bennett Stirtz led Drake to an NCAA Tournament win after jumping from the Division II level last season. Can Wes Enis do the same for South Florida?
Enis has a great deal of talent around him at USF, where Bryan Hodgson brought much of his talented core from Arkansas State, but the former Lincoln Memorial University star has transitioned seamlessly. Enis is averaging 16.7 points per game and enters the tournament coming off four consecutive 20-point performances for the Bulls.
69 percent of Enis' shot attempts are 3-pointers, which makes him a candidate to rain 3s on Louisville and send the Cardinals home early with the help of an impressive supporting cast.
Akron largely kept the band together from last season aside from losing star guard Nate Johnson, but Tavari Johnson stepped right into Johnson's shoes and emerged as one of the top mid-major players in the country.
Standing at just 5-11 and 155 pounds, Johnson's production far outweighs his size. The four-year Akron veteran is averaging 20.1 points per game along with five assists, shooting a career-high 51.2 percent from the field this year, plus 88.3 percent from the free-throw line over the last two seasons.
Johnson will have a tough assignment against a talented Texas Tech backcourt, but he has stayed loyal to Akron and would be a tremendous story if he led the Zips to a win.
Imagn Images
TJ Power, Penn
A top-25 recruit in 2023, TJ Power started out at Duke and Virginia but couldn't find his way into the rotation at either school. He chose to go the small-school route for his junior season, joining Fran McCaffery at Penn and leading the Quakers to an Ivy League Tournament title.
Penn doesn't have much size and will have its hands full with Illinois in the first round, but Power has the potential to keep the Quakers in it. A 43.2 percent 3-point shooter, Power is averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and is coming off a brilliant 44-point, 14-rebound performance against Yale in the Ivy League title game.
Power is more talented than most Ivy Leaguers and seems to have a knack for big moments. Penn faces long odds after needing overtime to take down Harvard and Yale, but Power could make it a fun battle with the Illini.
Santa Clara enters as an underdog against Kentucky in its first NCAA Tournament appearance in three decades, and Aleksander "Sash" Gavalyugov isn't necessarily the most important piece of the Broncos' offense as they try to pull off a mild upset. He could be the most fun.
The Bulgarian guard started out at Villanova last season but only played a total of 19 minutes. He's found his niche at Santa Clara, averaging 8.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in a sixth-man role. That doesn't tell the full story.
Gavalyugov has been prone to explosive performances, including a 37-point outburst against Loyola Marymount, 21 points against Seattle and 23 points in a WCC Tournament over St. Mary's that sealed an at-large bid for the Broncos. He primarily shoots 3-pointers and is 39.4 percent from beyond the arc since Jan. 24. Look for Gavalyugov to be a sneaky candidate to break Kentucky's heart.
Hawaii's upset chances aren't nearly what they were before the win over California in this tournament 10 years ago, but if the Rainbow Warriors are going to give Arkansas a scare, Isaac Johnson will have to be the reason why.
The 7-footer started out at Oregon before emerging as a rotation piece at Utah State and sliding over to Hawaii for a more featured role this season. Johnson has delivered on that promise, averaging 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. While not as much of a rebounder as one might expect from a 7-footer, Johnson posted 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a terrific Big West title game performance and isn't afraid to shoot from beyond the arc, attempting 14 3s between Hawaii's two Big West Tournament wins.
Arkansas' backcourt is one of the best in the country, but with Johnson, Hawaii can attack the Razorbacks at the rim and try to use that potential advantage to pull off a stunner.
The former Detroit Lions standout announced his retirement via Instagram on Monday, ending his time in the NFL after 13 seasons. Slay was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft after attending Itawamba (2009-10) and Mississippi State (2011-12). He spent seven seasons in Detroit before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2020.
"Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me," Slay wrote on Instagram. "I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey. To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given to me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Just A kid from Brunswick, GA with BIG dreams."
Slay recorded 19 interceptions during his career with the Lions, including an NFL-best eight in 2017, the same year in which he earned All-Pro honors as a member of the first team. The Lions, at the time led by former head coach Matt Patricia and former general manager Bob Quinn, traded Slay to the Eagles for third- and fifth-round picks in the 2020 draft.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
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PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are, obviously, a veteran-laden team that has their eyes on winning a title, but there are a handful of younger players on the roster who benefit from being around those veteran players.
For example, a guy like second-year forward Justin Edwards or rookie VJ Edgecombe, and others are benefiting from having those veteran players to lean on. The biggest presence is Andre Drummond.
Drummond, a 14-year veteran and a 2-time All-Star, has taken on the role of being the mentor for the younger guys as he has used his voice on multiple occasions to help out the younger Sixers.
"He's a big voice for me, honestly," Edwards explained. "That's someone that I go to for advice when I'm not playing or not in rotation, or not getting the minutes that I think I should get. So, he’s someone that I can talk to, to help me understand the game."
The Sixers are in a good position with the blend of vets and youthfulness they possess on the roster and Drummond is relishing the opportunity to help those youngsters along and push them forward. Especially, with a guy like Edwards who has had a much different role now than he had as a rookie.
"That's the role that I took upon myself this past year, and, you know, years before that," said Drummond himself. "Just to make sure these guys are staying positive despite the ups and downs of the season. It's a long season. It may not go your way right away, but staying with it."
The Sixers will be relying on Edwards a ton until they can get healthy again and Drummond wants to keep pushing him forward.
"He's a great player," Drummond added of Edwards. "When his number is called, he's prepared to go, and tonight was a great night for him, too. He comes to me all the time, whenever he's having those moments of doubt, and I was telling him, ‘Man, just play within your game and it’ll come to you, and you're great. So don't ever second-guess yourself.’"
Naturally, when a player of Drummond's stature gets to where he is in his career, the roles change. Teams aren't going to rely on him as the main piece to help them win games anymore. It's going to be about whether or not he can be this type of helpful player for the younger guys.
"I think it's naturally happened," Drummond said of being a mentor. "I think it's just my personality. I care about my teammates and I care about their success, especially guys that are five years and below. It's hard, you know, especially with the team that we have, too. With all the talent that we have, too. So, it's easy to fall into that space of not being happy with what you have going on, because you have so much talent on this team."
Drummond knows the ropes of the NBA. He knows that there are some players who will need to understand that just because a player is talented doesn't mean they are going to be in the rotation consistently. However, when their number is called, that player has to be ready.
"I rate it by myself to tell these guys, like, listen like your number is going to be called," he finished. "You're here for a reason. Just stay prepared. Stay ready, and when your number is called, do what you're supposed to do and go out there and play to the best of your ability."
Barcelona president Joan Laporta celebrates his reelection triumph on Sunday, with work beginning on Wednesday as Newcastle visit Camp Nou (Josep LAGO)
Cava was flowing before the votes had even begun to be counted, and it was spilling everywhere when the counting was done, and long after that too, Barcelona's president reelect Joan Laporta exuberantly shaking a bottle of it in the early hours of Monday morning in his beloved party venue Luz de Gas.
The battle was over, rival election candidate Victor Font dispatched with consummate ease, but now the real fight begins -- with Laporta desperate to propel Barcelona back to the European throne.
Newcastle visit on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16, the tie delicately poised after a 1-1 draw on Tyneside last week, Eddie Howe's men underdogs but posing a clear threat to Laporta's dream as shown by their strong first leg display.
If the last five years were about bringing Barcelona back from the ICU, as he put it after inheriting a tower of debt, then the next five must build on the platform they have created.
Should the Catalan giants go one better than last season, when they reached the semi-finals for the first time in six years, and then triumph in Budapest, theoretically Laporta wouldn't even be the president yet.
His second consecutive mandate -- and fourth in total, having led the club from 2003-2010 -- begins in July, with temporary chief Rafa Yuste in charge until then.
"If Yuste wins this Champions League, it will be wonderful, he is like a brother to me," said Laporta.
However the reality is charismatic 63-year-old Laporta will be pulling the strings, as he did on Sunday's election day, zealously greeting famous faces from the club's past who turned up to vote.
Sergio Busquets was one of them, with the defensive midfielder part of three Champions League triumphs with Barcelona, in 2009, 2011 and 2015.
The latter of those was the last time Barca lifted the trophy, over a decade ago, with all-time great Lionel Messi still at the peak of his powers, still wearing Blaugrana colours.
Losing the Argentine, whom he had pledged to keep at the club, just a few months after taking charge in 2021 was a black mark on Laporta's presidency.
There was plenty to criticise, with the return to the club's partially rebuilt Camp Nou home delayed by a year, and registration issues with Dani Olmo's contract embarrassing the club.
Many feared Laporta's decision to activate the 'palancas' -- financial levers -- would send the club to ruin, selling off future television rights and parts of the club for an immediate cash injection.
- 'Best years of our lives' -
However the approach worked, at least in the short term. Laporta and his sporting director Deco bet the house on Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Jules Kounde, trying to power Barca back to the elite, and in time the deals paid off.
Most importantly, the duo turned to Hansi Flick. That was a gamble too, on the former Bayern Munich coach, but Flick's thrilling attacking football entertained fans and has proven successful.
It led the team to a domestic treble last season, and the final four in Europe where they fell short against Inter Milan.
Flick's side were defensively weak, and that still appears to be the case, with Newcastle aiming to get in behind their high line to cause an upset in Catalonia.
However in teenage winger Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri Gonzalez, Barca have arguably the best two players in their positions in the world.
"We are going to live the best years of our lives these next five years," pledged Laporta after his victory, a sizable claim considering he also oversaw the arrival of Ronaldinho, the emergence of Messi and Pep Guardiola's treble-winning campaign in 2009.
With Camp Nou now able to house nearly 63,000 fans, and a planned capacity of 105,000, Laporta believes Barca's finances are now in a healthier position to compete with clubs funded by Gulf states, including Saudi Arabian owned Newcastle.
"No one can stop us," added a jubilant Laporta before heading into the Barcelona night, although 11 years of misery in Europe hints the Catalans are sometimes capable of stopping themselves.
The Magpies' visit gives Barca the chance to begin Laporta's new era with a bang, with a Champions League quarter-final place beckoning.
Eden Hazard was signed from Lille for a fee of £32m in 2012 [Getty Images]
Chelsea have been handed a Premier League record fine of £10.75m and a suspended transfer ban.
It was a result of the club making secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.
But it could have been a lot worse. Only a frank admission of guilt and full co-operation avoided a larger fine - and a potential points penalty.
The Premier League published a 28-page document highlighting all the wrongdoings - how much money was paid out, by who, and for which transfer deals.
This is what the written reasons tell us.
What did Chelsea do wrong?
Chelsea made 36 separate payments totalling £47.5m to 12 individuals or corporate entities.
They were made via a series of third-parties, which were primarily registered in the British Virgin Islands.
The payments either completed the signings of players and/or acquired transfer options without the payments appearing on the club's accounts.
It was found that they were "obvious and deliberate breaches" which also "involved deception and concealment in relation to financial matters".
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was implicated.
The payments happened "with the knowledge and approval of certain senior former officers and/or Directors" and using funds "controlled by or associated with the former owner".
Which player transfers came under scrutiny?
David Luiz had two spells at Chelsea between 2011 to 2014 and 2016 to 2019 [Getty Images]
The documents name most of the players, though they are not accused of being involved.
The biggest payment, £23m, accounts for almost half the total.
The money was paid to seven unregistered agents (or entities associated with them) to sign players including Eden Hazard (Lille), Ramires (Benfica), David Luiz (Benfica), Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen) and Nemanja Matic (Benfica).
The combined £19.3m transfer fees for Samuel Eto'o and Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala were also paid off the books.
Payments of £1.37m were paid to director of football Frank Arnesen, plus scout and advisory Piet de Visser and an unnamed third member of staff. This was considered to be their wage.
The final payment of £3.8m was in relation to a redacted player transfer.
Why have some names and details been redacted?
It is common practice for names to be removed from official sanction documents or commission judgments.
This usually applies to any person who is not directly connected to football.
Other times it may relate to the identity of minors or there could be data protection issues.
However, in this document there are three players and one member of staff who have had their names redacted.
No reason has been given for their identities being protected.
Did Chelsea unduly benefit from the transfer deals?
Willian helped Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 in the 2018-19 Europa League final [Getty Images]
The majority of Chelsea's misconduct happened between approximately 2013 and 2017. But they were charged for offences over an eight-year period.
It was a period when Jose Mourinho returned the club, and they won six pieces of silverware.
Chelsea took two Premier League titles (2014-15, 2016-17), two FA Cups (2011-12, 2017-18), the EFL Cup (2014-15) and the Europa League (2018–19).
Most of the players named in the document had glittering careers at Stamford Bridge. They became vital players and helped the club win many trophies.
Chelsea fought off most of Europe's top clubs to the £32m signing of Lille's Hazard, who would score 110 goals in 352 games across all competitions.
The Belgium international was in the PFA Team of the Year four times, and was the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2013-14.
Willian played 339 matches for Chelsea, and Matic 121 after signing for the club for a second time.
David Luiz made 248 appearances across two spells, with Ramires playing 251 times.
Two were not quite so successful.
Germany forward Schurrle failed to find his form across 65 appearances in two seasons in West London. Eto'o scored 12 goals in 35 games and left after one campaign.
Eto'o, Schurrle and Hazard all scored in the match.
Why did Chelsea escape stronger punishment?
With Chelsea enjoying so much success after signing star players through secret payments, did they get off lightly?
If the club had not been so co-operative they faced a much tougher financial penalty and potentially a points deduction.
The starting point was the aggravating factors - length of time of the wrongdoing, the size of payments, that they were made with the knowledge of senior figures and the seriousness of the breaches.
The Premier League Board concluded Chelsea should be fined of £20m with a transfer ban for two complete and consecutive windows.
But there were mitigating factors to take into account.
BlueCo, which bought Chelsea out of Abramovich's ownership, self-reported the breaches once it had looked through the club's books.
Added to that, BlueCo made voluntary disclosures and showed "exceptional co-operation".
This saw the fine halved to £10m and the two-window transfer ban suspended.
The suspension will be activated if they commit a similar breach in the next two years.
The Board also reserved the right to be able to trigger the suspension at any time in the future if the club makes intentionally untrue declarations.
Chelsea were, however, ordered to pay an unpaid transfer levy of £771,288 in connection to Willian and Eto'o. They were banned from signing academy players for nine months, too.
Importantly, there was no breach of profit and sustainability rules.
When the payments were added to Chelsea's accounts they were not in excess of the £105m, three-season spending limit.
If they had been then the prospect of a points deduction would have been real.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 2: Darius Slay #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, United States. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Joe Sargent via Getty Images
Long-time cornerback Darius Slay Jr. announced on his Instagram on Monday that he is retiring after 13 NFL seasons.
Slay, 35, spent his first seven years with the Detroit Lions after being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He then played for the Philadelphia Eagles for five seasons, where he won a Super Bowl in 2025. Slay finished his career last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Slay earned the nickname Big Play Slay for forcing turnovers in crucial moments of games. He finished his NFL career as a six-time Pro Bowler, a 2017 All-Pro, and with 28 career interceptions.
This is a breaking news story that will continue to be updated.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw the final pitch of the 2025 baseball season, and it’s no surprise that he’ll throw the first pitch of the 2026 season for the Dodgers as well. Manager Dave Roberts on Monday made official that the right-hander will start on opening day against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, March 26.
Yamamoto was unquestionably the Dodgers’ ace last season, the only starting pitcher to remain active for the entire season. He finished third in National League Cy Young voting after posting a 2.49 ERA and 2.74 xERA in 30 starts, with 201 strikeouts and 59 walks in 173 2/3 innings. But it was his work in the postseason that pushed his season into legendary status.
Yamamoto will be the second Dodgers pitcher to record the final out of the World Series then start on opening day the following year, joining Sandy Koufax in 1963-64.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 12: Darius Slay #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Cleveland Browns on October 12, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done fore me,” Slay writes. “I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5 years old for an amazing 13 years at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything. This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a nw chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey. To all my BigPlay fans, I will always appreciate the love and support y’all have given to me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Just a kid from Brunswick, GA with big dreams. BigPlay on and off the field! We out.”
Slay signed with the Steelers ahead of the 2025 season, appearing in 10 games before being released midway through the season. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2017 with the Detroit Lions.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
That starts with Duke, the No. 1 seed in the entire NCAA tournament. But there are plenty of brand names up and down the region, including UConn, Louisville, Kansas, UCLA and Michigan State. That’s a lot of titles among those programs.
Here are the picks for the first-round games in the East region, with all odds from BetMGM:
Cameron Boozer (12) leads the Duke Blue Devils, who are the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Grant Halverson via Getty Images
No. 8 Ohio State (-2.5) over No. 9 TCU
This is a fun matchup to start the first round on Thursday. Ohio State was on the bubble before playing itself off it by winning four in a row (including one over Purdue) before losing a tight game to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament. TCU finished well too, but doesn’t shoot it great, and Ohio State all-time leading scorer Bruce Thornton is ready to show what he can do in the NCAA tournament.
No. 11 South Florida (+5.5) over No. 6 Louisville
Louisville with a healthy Mikel Brown Jr. would be the pick, but they also probably wouldn’t be a No. 6 seed either. The freshman star point guard missed the ACC tournament with a back issue. Will he be ready for Thursday? Will he be 100%? Nobody knows. The uncertainty leads to a pick of USF, which won the AAC regular season and tournament and is on an 11-game winning streak.
No. 1 Duke (-29.5) over No. 16 Siena
The line has been on the move since opening at -25.5 at some books. That has to be a reflection of the trend of the top teams being more dominant than usual over the last two tournaments, a storyline that will be tracked during this year’s event as well. Duke is dealing with injuries to two starters. Caleb Foster and his 8.5 points per game might return at some point in the tournament but probably not in the opener, though 6-11 Patrick Ngongba II could return for Thursday’s game. Either way, Duke is a machine. Siena doesn’t have much size to match Duke and doesn’t shoot 3s well enough to keep it close that way.
No. 3 Michigan State (-16.5) over No. 14 North Dakota State
Michigan State has won its last three first-round games by 10, 18 and 25 points, easily covering all three times. This is a good Spartans team led by stellar guard Jeremy Fears, and they shouldn’t have much trouble getting another easy first-round win.
No. 12 Northern Iowa (+10.5) over No. 5 St. John’s
St. John’s probably is underseeded after winning 19 of 20 including the Big East tournament. Rick Pitino is a masterful coach. But Northern Iowa presents matchup issues. The Red Storm won’t be able to get out and run against a glacially slow Northern Iowa team, and its dominance on the offensive boards could be mitigated by a Panthers team that does well keeping teams off the glass. It’s hard to see Northern Iowa winning, but if they can keep the pace down they can cover.
No. 10 UCF (+6.5) over No. 7 UCLA
It’s hard to trust coaches on injury updates before the tournament starts, so Mick Cronin’s optimism that star point guard Donovan Dent and leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau will be fine after suffering injuries in the Big Ten tournament is hard to fully buy. And also, just because they suit up doesn’t mean they’ll be healthy. KenPom.com projects this as a 4-point UCLA win, so there’s value there too. UCF went 4-7 down the stretch so there are flaws there. Keep an eye on UCLA’s injury reports for this one.
No. 13 Cal Baptist (+14.5) over No. 4 Kansas
It’s entirely possible that the Darryn Peterson takeover happens. But we all know Peterson has had a weird freshman season before he becomes perhaps the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. There’s a lot of noise in the stat that Kansas is 14-8 when Peterson plays but 9-2 without him, but it speaks to how odd the situation has been. Cal Baptist will play good defense and don’t have to travel far to San Diego, for what that’s worth. It’s just hard to trust Kansas yet.
No. 15 Furman (+20.5) over No. 2 UConn
UConn looked like a title contender for the first half of the season, so it’s hard to figure out what happened when they lost four of their last 11 including bad losses to Creighton and Marquette and a 20-point loss to St. John’s in the Big East title game. Furman isn’t great, but they do have rare size for a small-conference team (fifth in the nation in average height according to KenPom.com). That helps. Furman doesn’t shoot 3s well, which isn’t great when taking a big underdog, but we’re just hoping the Paladins can keep it within 20.
After a short one-season stint with the New York Jets, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, per Adam Schefter.
For the Ohio State product, things started well in New York, as Fields and the Jets gave his former club all they could handle in Week One. Despite the valiant effort against Pittsburgh, things went downhill fast, as Fields and company soon stared an 0-7 record in the face.
Seeing the lack of results, Jets coach Aaron Glenn turned to Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook. Now, with the team recently acquiring an old friend in Geno Smith, it appears Fields is getting the boot.
On Monday, NFL insider Adam Schefter announced the Kansas City Chiefs are acquiring Fields in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick. Additionally, Kansas City will pay $3 million of the $10 million owed to the newest Chief next season.
It will be a new-look offense for the Chiefs, as general manager Brett Veach added Super Bowl LX MVP RB Kenneth Walker to the roster. Furthermore, Veach elected to bring back 36-year-old TE Travis Kelce, despite rising doubt from the media.
Fields started six games with the Steelers in 2024, going 4-2 with five passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns, and one interception.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
The Bulldogs will enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region, facing the No. 9 seeded Saint Louis Billikens in the opening round. Georgia will enter the matchup as a slight favorite, as the Dawgs have been widely considered as a team that could make some serious noise throughout March Madness in the upcoming weeks. Star playmakers Jeremiah Wilkinson and Kanon Catchings have been scoring at a high clip, as the duo could quickly find themselves catching fire against Saint Louis on Thursday evening. Both Wilkinson and Catchings will play crucial roles for Georgia, who is among the country's leading scoring offenses.
Reuter highlights Georgia's offense as a big reason why UGA could make a run as a bracket buster.
"The Bulldogs rank No. 16 in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency, and they play as up-tempo as any team in the tournament field," Reuter said. "That gives them intriguing upside, though the defense will need to show up, as they are 4-9 in games where they allow 85 points."
The Billikens are listed as one of five teams that could be a bracket buster in addition to Georgia. Saint Louis will serve as an excellent test for the Bulldogs in the opening round of the tournament, as the Billikens hold an impressive 28-5 overall record and a 15-3 record in conference play.
Reuter notes that Saint Louis shoots over 40% from three-point territory and has the scoring offense to keep up with Georgia. Saint Louis center Robbie Avila was named as the Atlantic 10 player of the year.
No. 8 Georgia will face No. 9 Saint Louis in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night at 9:45 p.m. ET (televised on CBS).
In 2016, Tuscaloosa drug agents began charging suspected drug dealers for breaking a law that requires them to purchase tax stamps.
The law, passed in 1988, requires any individual who sells drugs to pay a tax and affix a stamp to the product. If convicted, authorities can collect fines from dealers, who are unlikely to have complied with the little-known law.
The stamps, which read "Say no to drugs" and "Say no to marijuana," are administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Should a person possess more than 42.5 grams of marijuana, the Alabama Marijuana Tax Stamps law imposes a $3.50 a gram tax. If dealers are convicted of selling drugs without a stamp, any fines they are required to pay go into the state's general fund.
When purchasing stamps, revenue department employees don't ask buyers for a reason, nor can the public employees reveal facts contained in an application. Unless the criminal charge is related to the tax stamp itself, information collected can't be used against a dealer in a criminal proceeding.
Agents found a pound of marijuana when searching Holloway at a residence within the 400 block of 30th East Avenue.
The University of Alabama has yet to speak out on Holloway's arrest and status with the team as it approaches a sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament run.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
Best early bet: Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+1600) – Game fits the demands of the Copperhead Course and just gained true strokes across the board at THE PLAYERS to finish second.
Best early value: Ryo Hisatsune to win (+4000) – Finished T4 here last year and carded his fourth Top 20 across six events while ranking third in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week.
Course: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) is a 7,352-yard Par 71 featuring narrow, treelined fairways with plenty of doglegs that have traditionally rewarded accurate ball-strikers who take advantage of the four Par 5s.
Weather: Early forecasts are favorable for scoring conditions with mostly sunny and dry weather, with Round 1 on Thursday a potential outlier due to gusty wings.
Expected cut: The Top 65 players and ties after Round 2 will advance to the weekend, and the cut has been between +1 and +3 the past three years.
Valspar Championship odds: favorites & full field
The Valspar Championship runs March 19-22 at Copperhead Course. Below are the latest outright odds, followed by the picks and market-by-market best bets we like this week.
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) is a difficult 7,352-yard Par 71 featuring narrow, treelined fairways with plenty of doglegs, water hazards, and bunkers. The track has traditionally rewarded accurate ball-strikers who take advantage of the four Par 5s, and there are also five Par 3s ranging between 195-235 yards.
Copperhead has also played more difficult the past three years, with the winning score ranging between -10 and -12, after Sam Burns carded -17 in both of his back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023.
Additionally, this layout plays longer than its yardage because of the doglegs and often penalizing rough. Accuracy off the tee and strong long-iron play are musts with one of the most common approach distances historically being from 175-200 yards. Designer Larry Packard has 12 doglegs on the layout, including signature double doglegs on four holes. The elevation changes are also atypical of the three most recent stops on the Florida Swing.
Excellent ball-striking had been a trait of each of the eight winners from 2015 through 2023, as they all finished Top 6 in true strokes gained tee-to-green.
Peter Malnati finished 13th in the metric while ranking third in true strokes gained putting in 2024, while 2025 winner Viktor Hovland respectively ranked 11th and second.
Finally, while The Snake Pit garners desired attention as a demanding three-hole finish, the entire course has been challenging the past three years, with the rough grown higher and closer to the putting surfaces.
Narrow, treelined fairways and doglegs often take driver out of play
Overseeded Bermudagrass featured throughout
Five long Par 3s (195-235 yards)
Course knowledge and experience are rewarded
The Snake Pit is one of the most difficult finishing stretches on tour
Players to watch
Jordan Spieth: The 2015 winner is beginning to string together a nice run of solid approach play and excellent putting.
Justin Thomas: Finished solo second here last year for his fourth Top 10 in the event, and his game flashed at THE PLAYERS during a T8 finish.
Brooks Koepka: A T9-T13 run entering the week, Koepka’s trending in the right direction, and will be playing this event for the first time since his T12 in 2022.
Key stats & player profiles to target
True strokes gained on approach
Par-5 scoring
Bogey avoidance
Scrambling/true strokes gained around the green
True strokes gained tee-to-green
Players to watch
Matt Fitzpatrick: Finished second in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week in THE PLAYERS and ranks sixth in birdie-or-better leaders and 19th in adjusted scoring average this PGA Tour season.
Xander Schaueffle: The betting favorite has carded a T12-T5-T12 run in this event, and he’s carded four consecutive Top 25s while gaining true strokes across the board after finishing third at THE PLAYERS.
Ryo Hisatsune: Carded his fourth Top 20 across his past six events while ranking third in true strokes gained tee-to-green last week, and he’s gained true strokes off the tee and on approach in each of his past seven events.
Outright picks: winners to bet
Pick 1: Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+1600)
Matt Fitzpatrick’s game suits the demands of the Copperhead Course, and he just gained true strokes across the board to finish second in THE PLAYERS and climb to sixth in birdie or better percentage on tour this season.
Course Fit: Fitzpatrick has a T5 here in 2022 on his resume
Recent Form: Elite tee-to-green game is producing birdies in bunches
Market Value: Properly positioned near top of betting boards
Risk: Has missed the cut in two of three events here.
Pick 2: Ryo Hisatsune to win (+4000)
Ryo Hisatsune finished T4 in this event last year while gaining true strokes across the board, and he’s carded four Top 20 across his past six events after finishing third in true strokes gained tee-to-green in THE PLAYERS.
Course Fit: Carded a T4 here last year
Recent Form: Four Top 20s across past six events
Market Value: His odds will be lower by Round 1 tee time
Risk: Hisatsune has never won a PGA Tour event.
Odds movement & market notes
This field is deeper with proven PGA Tour and international winners than many of the most recent editions of the Valspar Championship, with major champions Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Brooks Koepka all hovering atop the odds board. Additionally, Viktor Hovland, Akshay Bhatia, and Jacob Bridgeman are all in solid form and check in as chalky contenders.
Golf bettors often look to the top of the board, so I'm anticipating Schauffele and Fitzpatrick to be popular bets early this week following strong showings in THE PLAYERS, while the popularity of Thomas and Hovland also draws plenty of action.
Finally, I'm interested to see the betting numbers for Koepka at BetMGM this week. He opened at +2500 and has carded a T8-T13 run across his past two events, so I also expect him to be highly touted and bet leading in Round 1.
How to watch & tee times
How to watch:
Thursday and Friday: 2-6 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
Saturday and Sunday: 1-3 p.m. ET, Golf Channel, and 3-6 p.m. ET, NBC
Tee times:
Round 1 and 2 tee times and featured groups should be released on the official PGA Tour website Tuesday, March 17.
Valspar Championship betting FAQ
When is the 2026 Valspar Championship?
The 2026 edition of the Valspar Championship is Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22.
Where will the 2026 Valspar Championship be played?
The 2026 Valspar Championship is being played at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) in Palm Harbor, Florida.
What is the “Florida Swing?”
The Valspar Championship is the fourth and final event of the "Florida Swing," which is a series of tournaments played on the state's challenging Bermudagrass courses.
Who is the 2026 Valspar Championship favorite?
Xander Schauffele is the pre-tournament betting favorite in the Valspar Championship odds at BetMGM, followed by Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland.
What are Valspar Championship FRL markets?
First Round Leader (FRL) markets center around which player(s) will be in the lead following the first 18 holes of the tournament.
How do Valspar Championship matchup bets work?
When betting Valspar Championship matchups, you're selecting which golfer will score better between the two players listed in that specific market. There are 18-hole, single-round matchups, in addition to tournament-long, 72-hole matchups.
What is the Valspar Championship cut line?
The Top 65 players and ties after Round 2 (36 holes) will advance to the weekend, and the cut has been between +1 and +3 the past three years.
Are Valspar Championship odds the same across all sportsbooks?
You'll see slight variations in odds across sportsbooks for the Valspar Championship; it's always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.
The New England Patriots signed Dre'Mont Jones and Kevin Byard to improve their defense, but also lost K'Lavon Chaisson and Jaylinn Hawkins.
The Patriots' pass rush was among the worst in the league in terms of sacks last season. Losing Chaisson, but adding Jones does not improve the group. It keeps it about the same. Now the team must look to add to the pass rush as a whole. The NFL Draft will be a great opportunity to do just that.
The Patriots have the No. 31 overall pick right now, and NJ.com's Cayden Steele projects the Patriots will select University of Clemson defensive end, T.J. Parker.
"Strong, physical, defensive ends like Parker typically offer a high floor," Steele wrote of Parker. "He would be a quality starter on New England’s defense."
The Patriots getting a healthy Harold Landry back will be a huge boost for the pass rush. However, Parker is more than just a pass rusher. He had 21.5 sacks in three seasons at Clemson, but also had 41.5 tackles for a loss. In 2024, he led the ACC in forced fumbles with six. He can impact the game in different ways and has the feel of a player Mike Vrabel would love.
He is not a perfect player, but no prospect is. NFL Network's Lance Zierlein called him a "powerful" player who needs some coaching to become a star in the NFL.
"Powerful edge defender with NFL length whose 2025 tape might be closer to his pro projection than his gaudy 2024 numbers," Zierlein wrote. "Parker’s hand work is above average in both phases. He strikes early to set very firm edges, then sheds quickly to finish tackles. Average short-area burst limits his ability to pursue the run in space and threaten tackles in a race to the top of the rush. He can long-arm tackles into the pocket when he catches them right, but he fails to find quick solutions when that approach stalls. His rush production will be muted until he expands his approach but improvement is likely. Parker profiles as an average to above-average starter."
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nate Diaz will return to mixed martial arts for the first time in nearly four years when he fights fellow brawler Mike Perry on the undercard of Ronda Rousey's meeting with Gina Carano.
Most Valuable Promotions on Monday announced the latest addition to the Netflix card scheduled for May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The bout is scheduled for five rounds at the 170-pound welterweight limit.
Diaz, who turns 41 next month, hasn't fought in a cage since September 2022, when he choked out Tony Ferguson in his final bout for the UFC. The California native is best known for splitting two memorable fights against Conor McGregor a decade ago in a rivalry that exponentially boosted both fighters' star power.
Diaz also took two big-money boxing matches in the past three years. He lost a decision in 2023 to Jake Paul, the social media star-turned-boxer whose company is promoting the Rousey-Carano show, before beating his former UFC rival, Jorge Masvidal, in 2024.
“Glad to be back in action. It’s time,” Diaz said. “Don’t forget where this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10 years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again."
The 34-year-old Perry fought for the UFC until 2021, establishing a reputation for exciting bouts and troubled behavior outside the cage. He also lost a boxing match to Paul, getting stopped by the YouTuber in July 2024.
After losing seven of his final 10 fights for the UFC, Perry has since made a successful move into bare-knuckle boxing, where he is 6-0. His MMA bout with Diaz will be his first time in a cage since 2021.
Diaz-Perry is the third bout announced for the first MMA show for Paul's burgeoning promotional company, which is showcasing combat sports icons whose fame far outstrips the current crop of relatively anonymous UFC champions.
Former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou is also fighting Brazil's Philipe Lins in Inglewood.
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets have agreed to a trade that will send quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.
The Jets will receive a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 for Fields and pick up $7 million of his guaranteed $10 million salary for this upcoming season, the person told the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams didn’t announce the trade.
The deal, first reported by ESPN, is pending a physical.
The 27-year-old Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal — with $30 million guaranteed — with New York last March and was the starter for most of the season until he was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor in Week 12 in November. He didn’t play another game for the Jets, ending the season by being placed on injured reserve in late December with a knee injury.
Fields went 2-7 as the Jets’ starter with seven touchdowns and only one interception for 1,259 yards. He threw for fewer than 55 yards in four games, including a season-low 27 in a loss to Buffalo in Week 2.
The Chiefs were searching for a veteran backup quarterback capable of filling in if two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes, who is rehabbing after tearing knee ligaments late in the season, is not ready for the start of the season.
With the Jets’ trade for Geno Smith last week, it appeared Fields’ days with the team were numbered, whether by being released or traded. New York held onto Fields through the start of free agency and general manager Darren Mougey found a taker in Kansas City.
Fields was the No. 11 overall pick by Chicago in the 2021 draft and the Bears moved on after three seasons and traded him to Pittsburgh in 2024. With Russell Wilson dealing with a calf injury, Fields opened the season as the Steelers’ starter and had five touchdown passes and five TD runs with just one interception while leading the Steelers to a 4-2 start.
But with Wilson healthy again, Pittsburgh turned back to the veteran and Fields was sent to the bench.
After he was signed by the Jets last offseason to replace the released Aaron Rodgers, Fields insisted he was confident he could be a productive NFL starter. But it didn’t happen in New York.
After the Jets started 0-7 during what would be a 3-14 first season under Aaron Glenn, owner Woody Johnson blamed poor quarterback play by Fields as a primary reason for the team’s struggles.
“The defense is pretty good. If we can just complete a pass, it would look good,” Johnson said at the NFL’s fall owners meetings last October. “We’ve got to complete some passes. You’ve got to convince them that you can do something. Otherwise it’s hard to have a game that you can win.”
For his career, Fields is 16-37 as a starter and has thrown for 9,039 yards and 52 touchdowns with 32 interceptions. He has also run for 2,892 yards and 23 scores.
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AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.
Another power conference men's basketball job has officially opened.
On Monday, Butler announced that coach Thad Matta has decided to retire following the season. Matta, who coached at Ohio State from 2004-17 and led the Buckeyes to a pair of Final Fours, was in his second stint with the Bulldogs, having been rehired in 2022.
Matta was 63-69 over the last four seasons at Butler with a 39-55 record in Big East play and no NCAA tournament appearances.
Congratulations on your retirement, Thad! Thank you for all you did for Bulldog Nation.⁰⁰
Butler has a long history of success, reaching back-to-back Final Fours in 2010 and 2011 and six total Sweet 16s (most recently in 2017). This Big East job is sure to draw some interest, so let's take a look at a few names that could be in the mix to replace Matta, who is remaining with his alma mater as a special assistant to the university president and athletics director.
Ronald Nored - Atlanta Hawks assistant
A former star player at Butler, Nored was a member of both Final Four teams and was a two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year selection. The 36-year-old has spent most of his coaching career in the NBA, spending two seasons as the head coach of the Long Island Nets of the G League. He did spend one year in the college ranks as an assistant at Northern Kentucky, and he has been on the Hawks staff since 2023. Nored is a "name to keep in mind" at his alma mater, per basketball insider Adam Zagoria.
Travis Steele - Miami (Ohio) coach
Steele was just 70-50 in his previous Big East stint at Xavier, but he's become a hot name in the coaching carousel once again after leading the Redhawks to an unbeaten regular season. He's 83-47 in his four years in Oxford, and he led the Redhawks to their first NCAA tournament bid since 2007 this season.
John Groce - Akron coach
Another MAC coach with power conference experience, Groce only made the NCAA tournament once in five years at Illinois. However, he has led the Zips to four March Madness bids, including in each of the last three seasons. He's 197-93 in his time in Akron.
Ryan Pedon - Illinois State coach
A former Butler assistant under Chris Holtmann from 2015-17, Pedon is in his fourth season with the Redbirds. He's just 68-64, but he's turned in back-to-back winning campaigns. Illinois State won the CBI last season, and it secured an NIT bid this year.
Brad Stevens - Boston Celtics president of basketball operations
Let's have a little fun. Stevens has been a white whale in quite a few college basketball coaching searches since he left Butler to take over the Celtics in 2013. Those rumors have only ramped up since he left his head coaching job in 2021 to move into a front office role with Boston. It's certainly a long shot, but if Stevens has any desire to return to college coaching, Butler is a more appealing job than it was when he left, now that it's a member of the Big East.
Butler head coach Thad Matta, who coached at Xavier for three seasons, will retire, the school announced on Monday, March 16.
Matta just finished his fourth season since returning to Butler as the head coach in 2022. He coached the Bulldogs for one season in 2001 before leaving for Xavier.
Butler finished 16-16 overall and lost to Providence in the first round of the Big East Tournament on March 11. Matta earned his 500th career win in February.
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in a statement.
The news comes just days after Butler Athletic Director Grant Leiendecker said that Matta would return to coach in the Bulldogs for the 2026-27 season, according to The Field of 68.
On March 13, Akeem Glaspie of the Indianapolis Star reported that Matta would return next season, noting that there was speculation that the 58-year-old would retire.
Matta will remain with Butler as Special Assistant to the President and Athletic Director, the school announced.
Matta led Butler to a 24-8 record in 2001, then left the Bulldogs to become the head coach at Xavier. In three seasons with the Musketeers, he led Xavier to the NCAA Tournament three times and won a pair of A-10 regular season and conference tournament titles.
Matta left in the summer of 2004, leading to the hiring of Sean Miller as Xavier's head coach. Matta went to Ohio State, where he stayed for 13 seasons. He led the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament nine times and went to the Final Four twice, including a national runner-up finish in 2007.
Matta went 63-69 in his second stint with Butler. The Bulldogs went to the NIT in 2024 and the Crown Basketball Tournament in 2025.
Findlay Curtis says he was shocked to receive his first Scotland call-up and revealed the news had his mum in tears.
Curtis, 19, is on loan at Kilmarnock from Rangers and has been given his first chance to impress as head coach Steve Clarke prepares to lead Scotland at the World Cup finals in June.
Scotland host Japan at Hampden on Saturday 28 March before taking on Ivory Coast at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday 31 March.
"It's unbelievable, I didn't expect it at such a young age but it's a dream come true and I just can't wait to get going," Curtis told Kilmarnock's in-house media channel.
"I got a call yesterday from the gaffer here [McCann] and he said you're in the consideration set-up, and I'm thinking to myself 'It's mental'. Then he phoned me and said I'm in the full squad.
"I was bursting with pride and told my mum and dad. My mum started crying. It's huge."
The 2026 high school softball season is beginning to be underway around the country as players, coaches take to the circle. National softball rankings started several weeks ago, with some new teams climbing in and out of the Top 25.
For the fourth straight week in the early stages of the 2026 high school softball season, Alabama’s Orange Beach Makos remain No. 1 in the latest Rivals High School Top 25 rankings, boasting an undefeated record to start the year. Two noticeable programs have entered our fifth edition of the Rivals High School Top 25 softball rankings are JSerra Catholic (Calif.) and Western (Fla.), with Orange Beach continuing to lead the way—but how does the order of teams look this week?
We dive in to the best high school softball teams around the country and give you our take on which teams stay in the conversation as of Mar. 16.
Holding strong in the No. 1 spot in the latest Top 25 rankings for the fourth straight week are the Orange Beach Makos (13-0) of Alabama as they’ve rushed out to an unbeaten start and showing no signs of slowing down. Though the team graduated a few key pieces from last year’s bunch, the Makos bring back plenty of punch at the plate and to the circle as well. On the mound Orange Beach will lean on sophomore MK McMullan, who is currently 9-0 with 60 strikeouts on the season so far. Also add the fact that the Makos bring back power hitters Teagan Revette (Mississippi State commit), Ava Hodo (Arkansas commit) and you see why this is a group certainly worth right towards the top of our latest Top 25 rankings. Orange Beach through 13 games has only yielded 17 runs.
The Calvary Baptist AcademyCavaliers (19-0) are in postseason form as they’re on a roll to start the 2026 campaign. The Cavaliers ended up winning last year’s the LHSAA Division III Select state championship and did so in dominating fashion. Calvary Baptist Academy is once again dominated the competition, out-scoring opponents 196-21. Baylor Bockhaus has carried over a massive freshman campaign into this spring, belting 12 home runs and driving in 29 runs through 19 games so far. Georgia commit Kynzee Anderson is back in the circle and this season is 15-0 with a 0.44 ERA and 144 strikeouts. With 15 games to go, going 34-0 is a distinct possibility for the Cavaliers.
Melissa Cardinals (16-2) remains firmly in the No. 2 spot for the second consecutive week after bouncing back from two losses, which the program had only one in their previous 50 games. The roster is loaded and it all starts with Class of 2027 right-handed pitcher Eloisa Maes (Arizona commit), who is currently 13-2 with 79 strikeouts. Coming off a season in which Melissa defeated Barbers Hill in a Best of 3-series to win the UIL Class 5A, Division I state championship, the Cardinals have high expectations once again this spring to repeat. Florida Gator commit Kennedy Bradley has been red hot at the plate this season, belting 10 home runs and driving in 29 runs already.
The always talented Barbers Hill Eagles (21-3), which though they have lost three games this season are still one of the best programs nationally. The Eagles feature a number of players that will be moving onto the collegiate level, including junior catcher Isabelle Lawrence, who is committed to the University of North Carolina. The last time Barbers Hill won a state title was in 2021 and with the talent that’s dotted up and down the roster, it’s certainly something that could happen again this spring. In their last five games, Barbers Hill has out-scored the opposition 76-0.
The Montverde Academy Eagles (8-1) stays within the Top 5 just despite dropping a contest to Bartow recently. We’re not so much staring at that one loss on the slate as we are with the kind of experienced roster Montverde Academy brings back as the Eagles only graduated four seniors. One of the best pitchers in Florida returns to the circle in senior Nevaeh Williams, who is committed to Ole Miss. Williams this season is 6-1 with an impressive 0.71 earned run average and striking out 57 batters. Montverde Academy has this week before resuming play next Wednesday against Inspiration Academy out of Bradenton.
Rivals High School Softball Preseason Rankings Nos. 11-25
Another major name in MMA will return to the cage this summer – and like other recent big announcements, it won't be in the UFC.
Nate Diaz, who hasn't fought since a submission of Tony Ferguson in September 2022, is set to meet fellow former UFC welterweight Mike Perry in June. They'll fight on the first MMA card in the history of MVP Promotions, which is headed by Jake Paul. MVP announced the new booking Monday.
Group chats everywhere are about to explode over this one…
— MVP - Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) March 16, 2026
That show, set for June 14 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., just outside Los Angeles, will be headlined by the return of Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano – a massive coup for MVP, considering Paul has been a thorn in the side of UFC CEO Dana White over fighter pay.
But if that wasn't enough, MVP also managed to get Francis Ngannou out of his deal with the PFL to return to MMA against Philipe Lins. And now Diaz and Perry, two swing-for-the-fences fighters covered in battle scars, have joined the party.
Riccardo Calafiori believes team-mate Max Dowman's goal against Everton was "the best moment of the season".
The 16-year-old became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history with his stoppage-time goal against the Toffees that sealed a vital win in Arsenal's title challenge.
"That's why I was so, so happy after the game, especially after the goal," Calafiori said. "We were all happy. We ran towards him, towards the fans.
"It was the best moment of the season so far. At least in the Premier League, for sure."
Dowman's late goal came after Viktor Gyokeres had given the Gunners the lead in the 89th minute, as Mikel Arteta's side moved nine points clear at the top of the table over the weekend.
Before the late drama, Calafiori had produced an acrobatic 'scorpion kick' block to keep the scores level.
"It is the best [block of my career]. I think it was so important for the result and for the team. I'm really happy for the team." the 23-year-old defender said.
"I didn't think about it too much. I just looked at the guy who was shooting and I thought I had to cover as much space as possible. I just reacted.
"We love to defend our house and our goal. We try to do everything."
Arsenal are in action their second-leg tie against Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Calafiori was asked if his block on Saturday made him feel like things are all falling into place for the Gunners. He responded: "I believe that these small big things normally happen when something big is going to happen."
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 19: Nate Diaz reacts during the Nate Diaz v Jorge Masvidal press event “The Baddest Tour" at The Novo on April 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kaelin Mendez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When UFC doesn’t want you and Jake Paul already beat you … where do you go?
The answer is “Rousey vs. Carano” on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, the MMA fight card that is starting to feel like the old Affliction events that were based around UFC stars with residual name value.
UFC veterans Nate Diaz and Mike Perry will collide for the MVP-promoted lineup on Netflix. Diaz, who turns 41 in just a few weeks, has not competed since defeating Jorge Masvidal in a fight that nobody watched. As for Perry, 34, he’s fresh off a technical knockout victory over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82.
In addition to the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano headliner, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will return to MMA in a battle against ex-UFC bruiser Philipe Lins. More fights are expected to be added to the May 16 lineup over the next few days.
Manager Michael O'Neill has included uncapped Liverpool teenager Kieran Morrison in his Northern Ireland squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy.
The versatile winger has impressed for Liverpool's Under-21s this season with 14 goals, and he has made two senior appearances for Arne Slot's side in cup competitions.
O'Neill said that it was the "right time" to include the 19-year-old, who has played at an underage level for the Northern Ireland.
But who is Morrison and what could he bring to the team ahead of one of their biggest matches in recent years?
Morrison joined Liverpool's academy from Manchester United in 2019 and has impressed as he has moved through the academy structure.
In 2024, he signed a three-year professional contract for the club after a successful scholarship contract, and this season made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup during Liverpool's defeat against Crystal Palace.
He also came off the bench against Wolves in the FA Cup and was part of the match squad who travelled to Istanbul to face Galatasaray as he trains regularly with Arne Slot's squad.
In Premier League 2 this season, Morrison has been rewarded for his impressive form with the captain's armband with Liverpool U21 manager Rob Page saying the youngster is "absolutely shining" since becoming captain.
"You see him work hard in training and giving him the armband has given him another lift as well," said Page.
"Giving him the armband has made him step up and say: 'Well, I can't be the class clown any more and I have to lead by example.' He's doing that and some, and I'm so proud of him."
'He is not going to be shy'
As a result of the impact he has had this season at club level, BBC Sport's Liverpool reporter Aadam Patel is not surprised that he has been included in Michael O'Neill's 28-man squad.
"Given the season is having, it wouldn't have come as a big surprise," Patel said.
"The numbers he is putting up on PL2 level are really cool and he knows deep down that this or next year is the year that he takes the step up.
"This year a lot more people are finding out about him and he knows his qualities. Kieran will be buzzing and excited as he loves playing football."
With the likes of Mohammed Salah and Cody Gakpo playing in the same position as Morrison, Patel is unsure if he will get a start in the first team before the end of the season.
But he added that he "needs more proper, first team game time" to develop fully.
"He has shown he is good enough to be at the squad there and if you can be at the squad at Liverpool, why can't you do it an international level?," Patel continued.
"He just needs more proper, first-team game time. He is a leader as well, so he is not going to be shy.
"He just needs to show what he can do and keep up with the standards he has set."
After being named in his first senior Northern Ireland squad, Morrison, who qualifies through his grandmother, will be hoping to make his debut in the World Cup play-off semi-final in Italy on 26 March.
O'Neill said "the time is right to have a look at him" after an impressive Premier League 2 campaign.
As well as playing on the right wing, he can also play in midfield and has proven that score goals and, with Northern Ireland's struggles in the final third, that attribute could prove key.
"We know the player [Morrison] from his time in our Under 19s and Under 21s. He's also been around the Liverpool squad in recent weeks, and he's got some minutes for the first team, so he's clearly doing very well," O'Neill said.
"You only pick five squads a year as an international manager, so it's important for me to bring young players into the squad.
"We have to accelerate players and get them into senior international football, which I believe helps their development at club level."
A name for the future
Morrison has played at U19 and U21 level for Northern Ireland [Getty Images]
During both of his spells as Northern Ireland boss, O'Neill has always tried to integrate youth into the side.
Players such as Pierce Charles, Trai Hume, Isaac Price and Justin Devenny were promoted into the squad in recent years and impressing opens the opportunity for fellow young players to follow in their footsteps.
Morrison is regarded as one of the most promising youth players to come through the Northern Ireland underage set-up despite making just three appearances for Northern Ireland at Under-21 level.
He will take encouragement from teammate Conor Bradley, who before his injury was a regular in the Liverpool squad.
Bradley has captained Northern Ireland on multiple occasions, is a fan favourite and played a key role in the side's recent encouraging run of form.
Whether he makes an appearance this campaign or not, it is certainly an exciting prospect for the future for Northern Ireland.
Feb 22, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kymora Johnson (21) celebrates after time expires against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images
After a long, stressful wait until Selection Sunday, the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team is officially headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
— Virginia Women's Basketball (@UVAWomensHoops) March 16, 2026
Though it took a while (Virginia was the very last team to be revealed during Sunday evening’s bracket show), the ’Hoos were awarded a No. 10 seed by the selection committee. But as one of the last four at-large teams to make the cut, they will head to the First Four in Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, where they’ll try to earn a spot in the main field.
Virginia, which was placed in one of the two Sacramento regions, will face fellow No. 10 seed Arizona State in its First Four matchup at 9 PM EST on Thursday. Coverage will be available on ESPN2.
— Virginia Women's Basketball (@UVAWomensHoops) March 16, 2026
With a win, the ’Hoos would earn the right to take on the seventh-seeded Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, March 21st, in the Round of 64. That game, as with the First Four matchup, would be played in Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye arena.
An NCAA Tournament bid was no sure thing for Virginia, which had to sweat it out on Selection Sunday after dropping its final three games of the season, including a one-and-done loss in the ACC Tournament to Clemson. Nevertheless, Coach Mox’s squad has punched its first ticket to the Big Dance under her tenure and the program’s 26th overall.
In the end, UVA’s critical road victory over then-No. 8 Louisville on February 22nd was the result that gave it just enough breathing room to survive a late swoon. The ’Hoos enter this week with a 19-11 overall record, ranked 36th in the NET, and with a 3-5 record against Quad 1 opponents (the metric that likely put Virginia over the top).
A strong 11-7 record in the ACC — a conference that produced a league-record nine NCAA Tournament bids — also gave the ’Hoos a strong case to be included in the field.
Though the ’Hoos were hoping for a longer stay in Duluth for the ACC Tournament, the 10-day break until Selection Sunday could be useful for a group that is looking to re-find its identity going into the NCAA Tournament.
“We had a really good week this past week, just to get back to what we were doing that was helping us win games,” Coach Mox told ACC Network’s Nothing But Net. “We did some team bonding, we had some really tough practices, we had some talks, we had some soul searching, and I felt like we got better this week.”
The Sun Devils, however, will be no small task for Virginia on Thursday evening. Arizona State boasts the nation’s 15th-highest-rated defense, according to BartTorvik.com, and a 12-9 record against top-100 teams in the NET.
But ASU has never had to deal with Kymora Johnson. Virginia’s superstar point guard will be making her first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning First-Team All-ACC honors again this year. Johnson is averaging 19.0 points and an ACC-best 5.9 assists per game this season while shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc.
“[Kymora] belongs on the big stage,” Coach Mox said. “She knew what she was coming to do here at UVA, and she has stayed true to that process … She wanted to come here and get her hometown school back on the map, and she’s done a great job of that. So, I’m happy that she gets to showcase her talent on the big stage.”
Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) reacts after an interception in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The Tennessee Titans were one of the most active teams in the first wave of free agency. Mike Borgonzi would love for the day to come when he does not have so much to do early in free agency, but unfortunately, the roster he inherited was so bad that he had a lot of holes to fill. That is what led them to spend more than anyone besides the Las Vegas Raiders last week.
I asked you to grade the Titans’ work in free agency:
Borgonzi needed to raise the floor of the roster. He did that. The money that was given out to this point is really irrelevant. Nothing they have done so far hinders them from the moves that they will need to make in future years. That’s the most important thing here.
Are there any moves that you still want the Titans to make? What is your favorite signing the Titans have made to this point? Let us know in the comments.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 28: Aden Holloway #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the first half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 28, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aden Holloway has been one of Alabama’s best men’s basketball players this season. The junior is shooting 43.8 percent from three while being a critical secondary playmaker next to star guard Labaron Philon. He’s a super efficient scorer for a 6’1, 180-pound guard with remarkable 64.3 percent true shooting this season. He’s money from the foul line (86.4 percent) and doesn’t turn the ball over much.
Losing Holloway for the NCAA tournament would be a devastating blow for the Crimson Tide. Alabama starts it’s NCAA tournament run on Friday afternoon against No. 13 seed Hofstra. If Alabama wins, it will face the winner of Texas Tech vs. Akron on Sunday for the right to go to the Sweet 16.
NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised Pakistan’s cricket selectors after the national team lost the ODI series 2–1 to Bangladesh national cricket team.
The defeat came shortly after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, increasing pressure on the team’s management and decision-makers.
Bangladesh sealed the series with an 11-run win in the deciding match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Following the defeat, Afridi publicly blamed the selection committee for the team’s struggles. Speaking in a video shared on social media, he questioned their decisions and leadership.
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“You saw the performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and after that we also lost the Bangladesh series 2–1. In my opinion, the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket, yet you still don’t seem to have the idea of who should be the captain for which format,” Afridi said.
He also criticised what he called excessive experimentation with young players.
“You keep making too many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. What you are doing is picking youngsters and players who have barely played a few first class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even of that standard that it can consistently produce players ready to secure a place in the Pakistan team,” he added.
Afridi further claimed that experienced players with good ODI records had been unfairly pushed aside. While he has not mentioned any names, it is somewhat clear that he was hinting at players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, who were dropped from Pakistan's squad for the Bangladesh series.
“The senior players who actually deserved their place even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances had very good records in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined those experienced players despite their solid ODI performances,” he stated.
He concluded by arguing that the selectors’ strategy lacks direction and could destabilise the team.
“Instead, you brought in youngsters who have only played a few domestic and first-class matches. The standard of domestic cricket is not high enough, and those players are not ready to come straight into the Pakistan team and cement their place. You keep handing out Pakistan caps again and again, this is not surgery. If anything, the real surgery should be done on the selection committee,” he said.
Bangladesh beat Pakistan to win three-match series 2-1
Batting first, Bangladesh put up a solid total of 290 for 5 in 50 overs. The innings began strongly with an opening stand between Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan.
While Saif scored 36 runs, Tanzid delivered a standout performance with his maiden ODI century, scoring 107 runs with six fours and seven sixes. Later contributions from Litton Das (41) and an unbeaten 48 from Towhid Hridoy helped Bangladesh reach a competitive total.
Pakistan’s chase began poorly as both openers were dismissed within the first two overs, leaving the team at 2 for 2.
Despite the early setback, Salman Ali Agha fought back with an impressive century, scoring 106 from 98 balls to keep Pakistan in the contest.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 37 runs, while debutants Saad Masood (38) and Ghazi Ghori (29) showed some promise. Abdul Samad also chipped in with 34, but Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 279, falling short of the target.
Bangladesh’s bowling played a key role in sealing the victory. Taskin Ahmed led the attack with four wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman took three. Earlier in the match, Pakistan bowler Haris Rauf had been the most successful for his side, claiming three wickets.
The Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team was picked as an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, earning its fourth appearance in five years. The 10-seed Buffaloes will face off against the seventh-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini in the first round of the Big Dance on Saturday. Colorado will tip off against the Illini at 7:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2.
The Buffaloes are back in March Madness a year after being the First Team Out, following back-to-back Sweet Sixteen runs in the two previous tournaments. Overall, it is the program's 17th appearance.
The selection comes after a semifinal run in the Big 12 Tournament, where the Buffaloes captured two wins. After a first-round bye, the Buffaloes beat Kansas and locked in their March Madness chances in the quarterfinals. Colorado took down the No. 20-ranked Baylor Bears before taking a close loss to the eventual champion in West Virginia.
— Colorado Women's Basketball 🦬 (@CUBuffsWBB) March 16, 2026
Colorado is in the first Fort Worth quadrant, where the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores are hosting the first two rounds in Nashville, Tennessee. With a first-round win, the Buffaloes would face the winner of Vanderbilt versus No. 15 High Point, with a trip to the second weekend on the line.
But first, the Illini await. In a tough Big Ten conference, Illinois finished 10th with a 9-9 record. The Illini shoot 36.1% from the 3-point line, the fifth-best in the conference, while scoring 77.5 points per game.
Chelsea captain Reece James is facing several weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury during Saturday’s Premier League defeat by Newcastle, a significant blow coming just days after he signed a new six-year contract.
The 26-year-old will miss Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Paris St Germain, a match where the Blues must overturn a daunting 5-2 aggregate deficit. Adding to head coach Liam Rosenior’s concerns, Malo Gusto is also a doubt due to illness.
Rosenior confirmed the injury, stating: "Reece felt something in his hamstring at the end if the game against Newcastle. Really frustrating and disappointing one for us. We don’t know the full extent of that injury but he’s out for tomorrow’s game."
He expressed concern over the potential duration of James’s absence, adding: "It could be (weeks) with a hamstring injury, it’s never great. Hopefully we can get him scanned, find out the full extent then we’ll know more."
He highlighted James’s importance, calling him "an important leader" and "our captain."
Liam Rosenior admitted James’ injury could keep him out for a while (AP)
The injury is particularly frustrating given James’s extensive history of hamstring issues, which saw him miss around seven months of the 2023/24 season after surgery and only recently regain the fitness to play regularly, making 36 appearances this campaign – his most since 2021/22.
However, there was some positive news for Rosenior, with Brazilian teenager Estevao returning to training.
"It’ll be assessed whether he can take part PSG," the coach confirmed, as the team prepares for the monumental task against the French champions.
Meanwhile, Rosenior addressed the controversy surrounding the team’s pre-match huddle, which drew attention during Saturday’s match when referee Paul Tierney became inadvertently caught in the middle.
A decision is yet to be made on whether the team will continue the ritual around the match ball. Rosenior reiterated the huddle is intended to foster unity, not to intimidate.
"I think it’s been blown out of proportion," he commented. "It’s a small thing amongst many serious things that we need to address, such as the massive game against PSG."
Rosenior said his players are yet to make a decision on whether to do their pre-match huddle (Getty Images)
He added: "The lads have always wanted to show unity and togetherness, think they’ll continue to do that. But what we don’t want is to antagonise and bring more noise on ourselves. We’ll make the decision on where we do that on the pitch tomorrow."
Rosenior also revealed plans to meet with PGMOL this week to discuss refereeing decisions that have gone against his team, though not necessarily the incident involving Tierney.
He dismissed the huddle debate as a "distraction for the media," emphasising the team's primary focus.
"We have a huge game against PSG tomorrow. We have an opportunity to do something really special. We know we need to be perfect. I’d rather focus on that," he concluded.
Rutgers Baseball began Big Ten play with a series against Michigan State over the weekend at Bainton Field in Piscataway. The Scarlet Knights got off to a good start, taking two out of three from the Spartans and improving to 11-8 overall.
Game One
Rutgers began the weekend with a strong offensive performance during a 9-4 win.
The Scarlet Knights scored two runs in the bottom of the first before extending in the third. Trey Wells got a four-run inning started with a single before Matt Chatelle and Yomar Carreras drove in runs with hits.
Michigan State cut into the lead with two runs in the sixth but Rutgers put it away late. Wells delivered a two-run triple to put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth. Wells finished with two hits and three RBI while Carreras drove in two runs.
Peyton Bonds continues an incredible start with a 4-for-4 game with three runs scored.
Game Two
Michigan State flipped the script in game two on Saturday with a 9-3 win.
The Spartans totaled 16 hits on the way to nine runs. They got to Zack Konstantinovsky early. He allowed seven hits and five runs, three earned in 2 1/3 innings. Michigan State took an 8-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Rutgers got on the board on a Quinten Perilli double in the fifth inning. Bonds and Joey Erace drove in runs in the seventh as well.
Erace and Chatelle finished with two hits and an RBI each.
Game Three
Rutgers ended the weekend with an 8-6 victory in the rubber game of the series.
After falling behind 1-0 early, Rutgers scored in four consecutive innings beginning in the fourth on the way to an 8-3 lead.
Ryan Jaros got it started with a sac fly in the fourth before a Perilli double scored one. Jaros would score two more on a single in the fifth inning.
The Scarlet Knights stayed hot as Wells and Chase Krewson contributed RBI to a three-run sixth inning.
Rutgers totaled 12 hits in the game. Carreras went 3-for-5 while Charlie Meglio finished with two hits and two runs scored. Jaros drove in three to lead the way.
Chris Sand got the start on the mound, going 3 1/3 innings allowing one run on four hits. Joe Mazza earned the win going 2 2/3 innings and allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts.
Let the good times roll! The 2026 NCAA Tournament guarantees a wild collision of bracketology, surprise victories, high-stakes pools, surging prediction markets and pure mascot-related pandemonium.
To boost your chances of winning your bracket pool, we’ve created a central hub for expert insights, upset intel, predictions, odds, game previews, bracket tips and some lighthearted folly. This is your go-to guide for everything March Madness.
From Duke’s Cameron Boozer, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and South Florida’s Izaiyah Nelson on the men’s side to Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, TCU’s Olivia Miles and Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes on the women’s, your favorite players on the teams you root for will take center stage.
Whether you choose to create a bracket, take part in our predictions game, or bet on the men’s or women’s side (or both), The Athletic has you covered. Come back often to see what new content we’ve added.
Men’s NCAA Tournament winner odds
Women’s NCAA Tournament winner odds
Brackets
Printable March Madness 2026 brackets: Men’s | Women’s
For those of you who like to fill out the matchups by hand, we’ve got you covered with this blank bracket from The Athletic.
Aged 16 years and 73 days, Arsenal’s Max Dowman created history against Everton to become the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer. It was a record that had stood for 21 years.
As well as his goal, Dowman played a key role in Viktor Gyokeres’ opener, setting Arsenal on the way to a precious victory in their quest for the title.
Despite Dowman making his Premier League debut at 15 against Leeds United in August and becoming the youngest player in Champions League history against Slavia Prague in November, it was in those 23 minutes against Everton that Dowman announced himself to the wider world.
This got The Athletic thinking about the other young players who declared themselves stars on the big stage with one huge performance. Here, our writers pick their favourites. And please let us know yours in the comments below.
Robbie Keane, Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Norwich City, 1997
Everyone who was at Carrow Road on August 9, 1997, knew a superstar had been born.
In the pre-internet age, only diehard Wolverhampton Wanderers fans knew about Irish lad Keane, who had scored 36 goals for the youth team the previous year.
The 17-year-old was better than the adults in pre-season, so manager Mark McGhee put him into the team at Norwich City for the first game of the season.
Keane scored both goals in a 2-0 win, the first a stunning volley with his weaker foot, the second a drag-back and poke through the keeper’s legs, leaving four players on their backsides.
His mother, Anne, nearly fell over the balcony celebrating in the posh seats, the Norwich fans applauded and McGhee called Keane “mesmerising”. The teenager celebrated with a special family meal out and drank blackcurrant and lemonade.
Three years later, Keane was playing for Inter.
Tim Spiers
Mohamed Salah, Al Mokawloon vs Al Ahly, 2010
Before December 25, 2010, only a minority in Egypt — never mind the world — knew who Mohamed Salah was.
At 18 years old, this was Salah’s third senior start for Al Mokawloon, playing against the Egyptian champions Al Ahly.
Al Mokawloon drew 1-1 thanks to Salah’s impressive performance, including his second senior goal.
“I hadn’t heard about him before and was surprised by his level,” Al Ahly’s ex-forward, Gedo, told The Athletic last year. “It was the first time I saw him and he had a huge game. He scored a goal with great skill — he surprised me and I really liked him
“Salah was disturbing our defence with his pace and skills. He was Al Mokawloon’s main source of threat (in that game) because he was fast and there were spaces, which he exploited well. He scored from attacking those spaces (in behind).”
Salah’s display on that day put him in the spotlight, and the rest is history.
Ahmed Walid
Michael Olise, Crystal Palace vs Millwall, 2022
The Den can be an unforgiving place to play. Factor in a local rivalry, and Millwall’s stadium becomes even more hostile. But Olise thrived on that intensity to guide Crystal Palace to victory in their FA Cup third-round tie in January 2022.
Projectiles rained down from the Dockers Stand after he bent a glorious shot into the corner to draw Palace level within a minute of the second half, and then provided an assist for their winner. The Frenchman had put his finger to his lips to silence the home crowd. Unfazed, he lobbed the missiles off the pitch.
In that environment, at only 20, his performance was outstanding. He tore Millwall apart in a devastating 15-minute spell. There were even better moments to come, but this was the day that everyone knew he was destined to be something special.
Matt Woosnam
Mallory Swanson, USWNT vs Republic of Ireland, 2016
Few players have announced themselves on the international stage as Mallory Swanson (neé Pugh) did. At just 17, she scored her debut goal for the USWNT against Republic of Ireland, becoming one of the youngest goal scorers in history. A decade later, Swanson has grown into one of the defining faces of the next generation of American stars.
Alongside Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson, she forms USWNT’s attacking trio nicknamed “Triple Espresso.” This season, the 26-year-old Swanson returns to club action with Chicago Stars FC after maternity leave, stepping back onto the field not just as one of the league’s most versatile forwards but as a new mother and a veteran national player gearing towards the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Asli Pelit
Murillo, Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace, 2023
Murillo’s second game in English football will be remembered as an ‘almost’ moment as much as a breakthrough moment.
Nottingham Forest had wanted to gently ease the Brazilian defender into the Premier League, following his arrival from Corinthians in the summer of 2023. Though at 21, he was older than many players on this list, the bright lights of England’s top division firmly put him in the spotlight for the first time.
After collecting the ball in the centre circle, Murillo sidestepped Will Hughes, sped beyond Jairo Riedewald and left England defender Marc Guehi on his backside with a neat shimmy. He had only Sam Johnstone to beat.
Unfortunately, the Palace ’keeper denied him not once, but twice, keeping out a second effort from Murillo on the rebound.
“It’s John Barnes here jinking through the middle!”
Rooney was 16, on £80 per week (about $100), all raw, rough and ready. But he was already the boy on whom Everton were pinning their hopes.
There had been nine appearances already that season, and a brace of goals at (pre-Welcome to) Wrexham in the League Cup, but the Premier League was still waiting to be completely convinced.
With it went Arsenal’s 30-game unbeaten league run. The din of celebration shook the very foundations of the old stadium.
“He’s supposed to be 16,” the beaten manager, Arsene Wenger, told reporters at Goodison Park. “He’s the best English under-20 I’ve seen since I came here (in 1996). He can play people in, he’s clever and a natural, built like a (Paul) Gascoigne with his low centre of gravity. And he can dribble. I like strikers who can dribble.”
Rooney became Everton’s youngest scorer, beating Tommy Lawton’s 65-year-old record, and, at the time, the youngest in the Premier League.
The world had witnessed something very special. It proved the hors d’oeuvre to a glittering career.
Dominic Fifield
Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace vs Peterborough United, 2012
On the day of his 20th birthday, Zaha delivered the outstanding performance of his burgeoning career.
At 1-1 against Peterborough with time slipping away, the visitors half-cleared a Peterborough corner and the skinny winger — who had run his opponents ragged — picked the ball up outside his own penalty area.
He embarked on a twisting, thrilling dribble up the pitch, leaving opponents trailing desperately in his wake before feeding it to Kagisho Dikgacoi, who scored a late winner to send Palace top of the Championship.
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said: “Zaha is the best player in this league and will go to the top. He was unplayable at times.”
Darren had a word with his dad, legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex, and the richly gifted Zaha was the Scot’s last signing at Old Trafford.
It never worked out for Zaha at United, but he had served notice of his talents.
Max Mathews
Jack Grealish, Aston Villa vs Liverpool, 2015
A 19-year-old Grealish didn’t need much time to announce himself as Grealish’s new hero.
He’d already made a handful of appearances before the FA Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool in 2015, but this was the game that really made him stand out. With his socks rolled around his ankles and those giant calves bursting out from above, he showed swagger and composure to help struggling Villa to a surprise win at Wembley.
Grealish didn’t score, but he shaped the match through fearless dribbling, intelligent movement, and a willingness to take responsibility in possession.
Rather than shrinking under pressure, Grealish repeatedly drove at Liverpool’s midfield and helped create space for the goals in a 2-1 win. He was given the freedom to express himself under Tim Sherwood after the previous Villa manager, Paul Lambert, kept him firmly on a leash.
This performance acted as a springboard for even brighter things to come as he became the creative heartbeat of Villa’s midfield and attack for the next six years before a record-breaking £100million move to Manchester City in 2021.
Katie Whyatt
Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool vs Newcastle United, 2026
Dowman’s goal etched his name in Premier League history, but another teenager has announced himself to the world this season.
Ngumoha entered the pitch with Liverpool needing a goal against Newcastle, and a well-worked sequence saw the then-16-year-old find himself unmarked in the 100th minute. He slotted a first-time finish like a seasoned veteran, rather than a player making his Premier League debut.
A stoppage-time goal, away from home, to win the game. It could hardly have been better. Many Liverpool fans have pushed for Arne Slot to start the fearless dribbling dynamo in the league ever since, with their wishes granted for yesterday’s home draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool have seen their fair share of young talent over the years, but not all have remained at the elite level.
For every Michael Owen, there has been Ben Woodburn. For every Raheem Sterling, there has been Jordon Ibe. Ngumoha’s task now is to build on the excellent start he has made.
Mark Carey
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona vs Tottenham Hotspur, 2023
On such a different level from anybody else in La Masia, Barcelona decided to give Yamal his debut in La Liga aged 15. He played just seven minutes against Real Betis, enough time to have a big chance at his feet, and deliver an outstanding pass that Ousmane Dembele failed to turn into a goal.
There was a strategy behind the decision to give Yamal his debut. Top European clubs were circling him, trying to lure him from the Camp Nou, but Barca made it clear to him that there was no better pathway to stardom than staying home.
The trust was well worth it. A few months later, he became the sensation of Barca’s pre-season tour under Xavi, topped off with a brilliant performance against Tottenham in the Joan Gamper Trophy, the last friendly game Barca played before starting the 2023-24 season.
Yamal was still a youth prospect by then, but Dembele’s sudden departure to Paris Saint-Germain opened a door for him to the first team. Barca brought him on with 13 minutes to go, with the team trailing 2-1.
Aged 16, Yamal tore apart Tottenham’s defence — Spurs left-back Sergio Reguilon will not forget the game. Yamal was involved in the three goals that came after his entrance and Barca won the game 4-2.
Two weeks later, he had his first league start at Villarreal.
Pol Ballus
Michelle Agyemang, England vs Sweden, 2025
Lauren Hemp was an established talent for Bristol City by the age of 16 and scored in the FA Cup final in her debut season for Manchester City. Georgia Stanway was a first-team regular for City by the age of 16, and Eniola Aluko made her Birmingham City debut aged 14 with the kind of fearlessness that drew comparisons to Wayne Rooney.
But Agyemang’s landing on the world stage, coming as it did in two unignorable parts, is the one that truly springs to mind.
None who came before burst out with so many eyes on them, for one thing, given the growth of women’s football over the past few years: Agyemang became a household name overnight for the equalising goal in the 81st minute against Sweden that paved the way for England to win on penalties, only to burnish the legend days later by repeating the trick when she equalised against Italy in the semi-finals to send the game to extra time.
England’s 2025 European Championship was fraught with that kind of chaos but ultimately defined by those who not only kept their heads but were able to bend the world to their will — Agyemang more so than any.
Katie Whyatt
Robbie Fowler, Liverpool vs Fulham, 1993
A sense of gloom hung over Anfield.
It was September 1993, and Liverpool manager Graeme Souness was under mounting pressure after four defeats in five league games. In the search for solutions, Souness turned to an 18-year-old striker from the club’s youth ranks for the first leg of a League Cup second-round tie against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Fowler’s impact was sensational as he was heavily involved in two goals and scored a stunning third in a 3-1 victory.
The boyhood Evertonian was handed his first league start three days later and never looked back. Remarkably, in the second leg against Fulham at Anfield, the prolific youngster scored all five goals in a 5-0 win — only the fifth player in the club’s history to achieve that feat.
A first league hat-trick followed against Southampton in only his fifth league appearance as supporters took the tenacious home-grown talent to their hearts. Fowler proved himself to be one of the most natural finishers English football has ever seen.
The extent to which he was revered by Liverpool fans is underlined by the fact that they nicknamed him ‘God’. He went on to score 183 goals for the club in 369 games across two spells — putting him seventh in Liverpool’s all-time list.
The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday to win their second series of SEC play two games to one.
Alabama entered the series with a head-turning record of 24-0, as the Tide have been widely regarded as one of the top teams in all of college softball to begin the 2026 campaign. Star senior Alexis Pupillo continues to shine at the plate, as the talented utility player recorded an extremely clutch three RBI during Alabama’s 4-1 victory over the Razorbacks on Friday.
Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s series victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Alexis Pupillo stays red hot, records 2 hits and 3 RBI on Friday
Pupillo has been widely regarded as a top player in all of college softball this season. The utility star was electrifying against the Razorbacks on Friday, as Pupillo recorded two hits and three RBI during Alabama’s 4-1 victory over the Hogs.
Pupillo currently holds a .461 average on the year, as the senior continues to play a vital role for the Tide on a nightly basis.
Jocelyn Briski thrives in the circle, improves to 10-0
Briski has been nothing short of elite in the circle for Alabama this season. The star flamethrower pitched two complete games in the series against Arkansas, including a 14-strikeout performance on Friday.
The star pitcher has been excellent all year, as Briski was at her best against one of the best lineups in all of college softball this weekend.
Ambrey Taylor continues to shine off the bench
Taylor has been excellent off the bench for the Crimson Tide this season. The talented player hit her second pinch hit home run of the season against Arkansas on Sunday, as Taylor has had a very solid start to the 2026 campaign despite seeing a limited amount of playing time.
Taylor currently holds a .450 average on the year in 20 at-bats, as the freshman continues to flash her potential throughout SEC play.
Alabama will face ULM on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT, as the Tide will look to improve to an overall record of 27-1 on the season.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Dispatch.com readers can vote for their favorite boys high school athletes of the week on their desktop, the Dispatch.com mobile web or Dispatch app once per hour by scrolling down to ballots listed below.
Deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, March 20.
The girls Athlete of the Week poll will be published on Tuesday, March 17.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center high school Athlete of the Week voting occurs each week during high school sports competition and recognizes athletes across all sports.
If you can't see the ballot when you scroll to the bottom of this story, try refreshing the link or clearing the cache in your browser. You do not have to be a subscriber to vote.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Athletes were nominated over the past week for the vote starting March 16.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Athletes are on this week's ballot based on information made available to The Dispatch and nominations.
Once athletes win during the regular season, they're not eligible to be back on the ballot until the postseason. If athletes haven't won in the regular season, they can be nominated more than once.
The Dispatch staff reserves the right to remove ballots or athletes from the ballot where voting irregularities have occurred.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Here are this week's Boys Athlete of the Week candidates:
Michael Boyle, Watterson wrestling: Won his third consecutive state championship, beating Napoleon's George Eggers by technical fall 21-5 in the Division II 215-pound state final.
Kypton Norris, Hilliard Bradley basketball: Had 25 points, including 13-of-14 shooting from the free-throw line, in a Division I, Region 3 final win over Newark. He also had 13 points in a semifinal win over Olentangy and was 7-of-8 from the line.
Jason Singleton, Columbus Academy basketball: Totaled 61 points, 14 rebounds, eight steals and six assists in Division V, Region 18 tournament wins over Africentric and Castalia Margaretta.
Rangers defender Tuur Rommens says confidence is flowing through the squad after Sunday's gritty 1-0 win at St Mirren.
The Belgian's first goal for the club - tapping home Nico Raskin's cross in the first half - was the difference between the sides in Paisley.
The result takes Danny Rohl's side to within three points of Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Although Rommens says they were not at their best, he was delighted to return to winning ways after drawing in the league against Celtic and then being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by their rivals.
"I think we played better last week than we did on Sunday, but we didn't win," Rommens said.
"We played an OK game [on Sunday], not our best game.
"It was difficult, but we won, so that's the most important thing.
"I think we have a great group. If you see our performance in the last weeks, I think we deserved more points.
"But it is what it is, and maybe we didn't play our best game on Sunday, but we won, and that's the most important thing.
"I think there are 24 points to play for and we are three behind.
"So, of course, we have the confidence, but we need to take it game by game, and then we'll see where we end."
Rommens previously played for Genk and Westerlo in Belgium and he is enjoying the heightened pressure that comes with playing for Rangers.
"Yes, it's no secret that I hadn't played for a club like Rangers, and I wanted to come here," he said.
"I want to play for a club like Rangers, and I want to have this feeling, to have this pressure to win every game, and I think I integrated well into the group.
"I had some good moments on Sunday, I had some difficult moments, but I'm just happy with my first goal and happy with the win.
"I try to help the team offensively also. In the last couple of years I haven't scored a lot.
"I have to score more, that's an aspect of my game that I have to improve and I know this."
The Boston Red Sox made the playoffs last year in large part due to Roman Anthony, who gave the lineup a massive spark after debuting in June. Unfortunately, however, he missed the postseason after suffering an oblique injury in early September.
While Anthony was robbed of that experience, he's getting a pretty good substitute for it by playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
The atmosphere at this year's WBC games has often been described as electric, with many observers saying it rivals or even surpasses the environment at MLB playoff games. Aaron Judge said the crowds are bigger and better than the World Series, and some have even compared it to the Super Bowl.
It's been huge for Anthony to get that experience and feel that pressure at age 21, hopefully preparing him for the postseason the next time the Red Sox reach October.
"You can't beat this environment this early in the year," Anthony told FOX's postgame crew after Sunday's tense victory over the Dominican Republic. "Just being out there and being around this atmosphere and these guys and all these fans...getting this experience has been huge."
While Anthony regrets not being able to face the New York Yankees last fall, he's still enjoyed this experience and getting to represent his country on such a big stage.
"I love going out and competing, I love the moment," Anthony continued. "So missing the postseason last year, it killed me, but just to be here and to turn the page and be healthy and get the opportunity to represent this country, it's everything to me."
If this tournament has proved anything, it's that Anthony isn't afraid of the moment. He can handle the bright lights, which should serve him well with the Red Sox.
It will be shocking if expansion doesn't happen. Within league circles, it has been seen as the expected outcome for several years, though it was far from a certainty because of some pushback from different owners over the economics for the reasons laid out above. However, when Silver said in December a decision was coming in 2026, the belief within the league was that expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas was close to inevitable. While next week's vote is not a binding resolution, something like that is more likely to come at the July board of governors meeting during the Las Vegas Summer League, sources told ESPN.
Former Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta, the winningest coach in program history, is retiring, he announced in a statement March 16. He just completed his fourth season coaching Butler in 2025-26 and will remain with the school as special assistant to the president and athletic director.
Matta coached the Buckeyes for 13 seasons and made the NCAA Tournament nine times, including an NCAA runner-up finish in 2006-07, two Final Four trips and five Sweet Sixteen appearances. Matta also led the Buckeyes to an NIT championship in the 2007-08 season.
Matta amassed a 337-123 record (150-78 conference record) and has 40 more wins than Fred Taylor for the most in the program. He won five Big Ten regular-season titles and four tournament titles with the Buckeyes
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in a statement via Butler Athletics. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here."
Matta ended his coaching tenure with a combined eight conference regular-season championships at Ohio State, Butler and Xavier, and a 502-223 overall record.
Fans hoping to see “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on WWE Raw tonight are likely to be disappointed. Despite today being 3:16 Day and the show taking place in San Antonio, Texas — Austin’s original home state — the WWE Hall of Famer has indicated he will not be making an appearance.
WrestleVotes had reported that WWE was hopeful Austin would show up, but Austin himself has put those expectations to rest. Speaking with The Takedown on SI, Austin explained that he’ll be deep in race preparation rather than tuning in to Raw or making a surprise appearance. When asked if fans had a special reason to watch tonight, Austin ruled it out.
“Man, they should tune in because they love WWE and Monday Night Raw. I’ll be a few days out from that race, the race I’m talking about with my racing career, and we’re trying to get that car ready, and we’re working our asses off.
“So, yeah, I’ll be hunkered down in a garage out here in BFE, Nevada, trying to get this buggy ready — side-by-side utility vehicle — to race this grueling 250-mile race with everybody else that I race with. So I want to get out there and put my own show on in the desert.”
Credit: WWE
Off-road racing has become one of Austin’s primary pursuits outside of wrestling. He has built his own racing team based out of Nevada, where he currently lives, and has been putting significant time and resources into that venture. The upcoming 250-mile race he referenced is clearly a priority, and Austin made clear that getting the vehicle competition-ready is taking up his full attention right now.
While Austin won’t be in San Antonio tonight, he will be in Las Vegas for WrestleMania 42 weekend. It has been confirmed that he will be signing autographs and meeting fans at the WWE World convention. Austin told The Takedown on SI that he values those fan interactions. Whether
Austin will have any on-screen role at WrestleMania 42 itself remains unconfirmed. At WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas in 2025, he made a brief cameo and announced the night two attendance figure, but nothing beyond the WWE World appearance has been locked in for this year.
Frost Bank Center in San Antonio is the venue for tonight’s Raw. The show is expected to feature appearances by Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, along with a Women’s Intercontinental Championship match between AJ Lee and Bayley. Fans will have plenty to follow on tonight’s card regardless of Austin’s absence.
As UConn baseball aims to push its record above .500, the Huskies held the line, splitting a pair against the University of Portland on Saturday.
The Huskies (8-10) secured a come-from-behind 8-5 win in game one and nearly replicated that in game two before the Pilots (9-7) pulled away in the later innings to hand UConn an 8-6 loss.
In the opener, Jackson Marshall continued his strong start to the season with an RBI single lined over the head of second baseman Jonas Salk in the first. Tyler Minick extended his own resurgent return with an RBI-double to the warning track in the third inning.
That two-run advantage held all the way to the fifth inning, at which point the wheels fell off for UConn starter Charlie West.
After allowing a leadoff double and a bunt single, Brady Bean sent a seed over the left field wall and over the head of Nater Wachter in left for a no-doubter home run. As the ball disappeared into the trees, the Husky lead disappeared with it as the Pilots took a 3-2 lead.
Portland extended that lead two batters later with a runner on first, when Dakota Chun mashed a ball off the scoreboard in right to put two more runs on said board for the Pilots on their second round-tripper of the inning.
West finally made it out of the fifth by recording three straight outs after the Chun homer, and got two more outs in the sixth before his day ended with a walk. The junior finished with five earned runs across five-plus innings of work despite a scoreless first four frames. All five of the left-hander’s strikeouts came within those four innings.
Though neither team threatened in the sixth, the Pilots’ lead lasted just one inning.
The middle of the UConn lineup made sure of that, as Evan Menzel, Wachter, and Gabriel Tirado led off the inning with three straight singles. Tirado’s hit sent Menzel home as the Huskies began to chip away.
That chipping became hammering when Cam Righi sent a bouncing double down the right field line and all the way to the wall. Wachter and Tirado both touched home to make it a fresh ball game and knot it up at five.
A Rob Rispoli single one batter later landed in no man’s land in right field to plate Righi and give UConn the lead.
Chris Polemeni, who is currently batting .418, made sure to make his only hit of the contest count. The outfielder’s screaming line drive into left plated another for the Huskies to grow the lead to a pair.
The next inning, Righi again doubled, this time to the corner in left, to add an insurance run for the Huskies.
It wouldn’t have mattered, as Charlie Hale excelled once again for UConn in relief. Across three innings, the righty kept the Pilots off the board and claimed his second win of the season. The outing was the fourth scoreless multi-inning relief appearance of the year for the junior.
Paxton Meyers came in to retire the final batter and pick up his third save of the season.
Righi, the Huskies’ top performer in game one, posted his second multi-hit performance in three games. It was both the first three-hit and three-RBI showing of the freshman’s young career.
Wachter also had three hits for the Huskies.
Game two’s plot was almost a repeat showing of game one.
The Huskies once again scored first. Righi sent a dribbler to the left side in the top of the second that ate up shortstop Brooks Avery, scoring Polemeni and giving Righi his fourth hit and RBI of the afternoon.
Again, the Pilots erased the UConn lead via a long ball to left. This time, it was Salk who tied the game with a lead-off solo shot in the bottom of the frame, extending the lead before the Huskies’ next turn at bat with an RBI walk from Carter Stewart and a run-scoring fielder’s choice off the bat of Bean.
The Huskies continued their part in the encore with another late-inning rally, this time in the sixth. After grabbing an unearned run off an error by Salk, who traveled too far into right and took a chance away from Landon Kauffman to make a sliding catch, Polemeni sent a three-run home run of his own into the trees in left to smash his third hit of the night and recapture the lead for the Huskies.
However, the Huskies’ big comeback inning wouldn’t be the final chapter to the story this go-around.
Instead, the Pilots rallied right back. Salk made up for his defensive miscue by getting the run back on an RBI double that landed just inside fair territory in right field.
Leo Cote added another two in short order, golfing a ball into the left field parking lot to bring Salk home and retake the 6-5 lead for the Pilots.
Both starter Cayden Suchy and reliever Greg Shaw III experienced uncharacteristic struggles in game two.
Suchy allowed all three runs in the big sixth inning for the Pilots, along with the three in the second, while Shaw III allowed his first earned runs in almost a month.
After his first three starts of the season left him with a 1.83 ERA, the sophomore has come back down to Earth as of late. Eight earned runs over 10.1 innings in his last two starts have ballooned his ERA to 3.60.
The Pilots added an insurance run in both the seventh and eighth, both charged to Shaw III. Chun and Stewart each picked up RBIs to make 8-5.
Down to their final out in the ninth, Polemeni momentarily kept the game alive for the Huskies by dunking a bloop single into shallow center for his fourth hit of the game. The base hit scored one, but it wasn’t enough. Menzel singled a batter later to load the bases, but Wachter struck out to end the game and the Huskies’ final comeback attempt of the evening.
With both teams still looking for the series win, the rubber match is set for 3 p.m. EST Sunday afternoon. The game will stream live on ESPN+. The Huskies are 8-10 going into the weekend finale.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have put in some serious work this offseason under General Manger Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy. The team has wasted not time in solidifying multiple depth charts via trade and free agency but this doesn't mean the roster is complete. Quite the contrary. The Steelers still have work to do and there is still another wave of free agency and the 2026 NFL draft to fill these final four roster needs.
Starting quarterback
With the Steelers so quiet on the free-agency front at quarterback, we assume there's been communication and an agreement behind the scenes between Pittsburgh and Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is going to come back for one more season, the coaching staff will take a long look at Will Howard and plan accordingly for 2027.
No. 3 wide receiver
The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman, giving the Steelers an excellent tandem along with DK Metcalf. However, Pittsburgh doesn't have a No. 3 receiver on the roster and with two very expensive veterans already on the roster, we expect this spot to be filled via rookie or post-draft veteran who can be had for a minimal contract.
Starting left guard
Pittsburgh lost Isaac Seumalo to free agency but it never felt like the Steelers had much interest in keeping him around. This one is something of a mystery. The team could bring in a veteran to add some age and wisdom to a very good young group. The front office might go with a rookie here thanks to just how good center Zach Frazier and guard Mason McCormick have become so quickly.
No. 3 tight end
We have no issue with Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward being gone. Heyward is a good guy, a good special teams player, but he offered little on offense, and Smith was a complete failure with Pittsburgh. We don't know exactly what kind of offense new head coach Mike McCarthy is going to run, but we are willing to bet that if a tight end is sitting there on day two of the 2026 NFL draft who can be a dual threat, the Steelers won't hesitate to pick them.
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 01: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers warms up prior to the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Tigers have reached the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, only to fall in the ALDS. They’re the only team in the division projected to have a top ten payroll, and the expectations are for them to make a serious run at their first pennant since 2012. Not only are they spending money, but they have one of the top farm systems in baseball, with two prospects expected to make a big impact this year – Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark.
Key losses: Justyn-Henry Malloy, Andy Ibáñez, Tommy Kahnle, Alex Lange, Chase Lee, Rafael Montero, Chris Paddack, Paul Sewald
Offense
Baseball America ranks Kevin McGonigle the second-best prospect in baseball after he hit .305/.408/.583 with 19 home runs in 88 games across three levels of baseball last year. Riley Greene enjoyed his first 30+ home run season and won a Silver Slugger award, but he also led the league with 201 strikeouts. Gleyber Torres accepted a Qualifying Offer and will return to the Tigers after posting a career-high .358 on-base percentage. Catcher Dillon Dingler won his first Gold Glove Award last year.
Zack McKinstry will likely serve as a utility player and depth at shortstop if McGonigle isn’t ready for the big leagues. Outfielders Wenceel Pérez and Austin Slater could also contribute, and the Tigers are expected to call up top prospect Max Clark at some point this summer. The Tigers were eleventh in runs scored last year, but dead last in stolen bases.
All statistics from 2025.
Pitching
There were rumors the Tigers might trade the best pitcher in baseball, Tarik Skubal, but it looks like he will begin the season in Detroit. Joining him in the rotation is free agent Framber Valdez, a two-time All-Star who is fifth among all starting pitchers in fWAR from 2022-2025. Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander returns for his 21st season, reuniting with the team he pitched for from 2005 to 2017. The Tigers are also hoping to get Jackson Jobe and Troy Melton back from injury by the end of the season, but Reese Olson is expected to miss the entire season following shoulder surgery.
Kenley Jansen brings his 476 career saves to the Tigers bullpen after finishing strong last year with a 1.48 ERA after the break. Drew Anderson returns to the States after stints in Japan and Korea. The Tigers re-signed Kyle Finnegan after he posted a 1.50 ERA in 16 games following a trade from the Nationals at the deadline last summer. Will Vest had a 58 percent groundball rate last year, ninth-highest among relievers.
All statistics from 2025. *-denotes numbers in Korea.
The Tigers are being picked by many to win the division, but there are concerns with this roster. The top hitters aren’t that proven and have a high strikeout approach that could subject them to regression. Verlander and Jansen are clearly in their twilight years. It is not unthinkable that Skubal is traded this summer. Still, they are a team to be reckoned with, and the Royals will have to do better than winning 4 of 13 from them as they did last year.
Heather Graham has played in The Hundred for Trent Rockets and Northern Superchargers [Getty Images]
Durham have signed Australia all-rounder Heather Graham for the entire T20 Blast competition this summer.
Graham, 29, has played six white-ball internationals for her country, the most recent of which was in 2024.
She has scored nearly 3,000 runs in T20 cricket, taken more than 200 wickets and was part of the Women's Big Bash-winning Hobart Hurricanes side in 2025.
She played for The Blaze in last year's T20 Blast in England.
"Having played in the Blast previously, I know how strong of a competition it is and I hope to bring success to Durham," Graham told the club website.
The north east county will look to improve upon their fifth place last year when the T20 Blast begins in May.
Mar 14, 2026; New York, NY, USA; St. John's Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor (24) grabs the rebound over Connecticut Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) during the second half of the men's Big East Conference Tournament Championship at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
The Huskies breezed through the first two rounds of the Big East Tournament, only to lose badly to St. John’s in the final.
Does UConn have what it takes to make a deep NCAA Tournament run? Despite a 29-5 record and a stellar run through non-conference play, some doubts have emerged around this team.
The Boogeyman
Martin: UConn finishes the regular season with the 30th-ranked offense on KenPom. It’s looked downright brilliant at times, and unwatchable at others.
You can have all of the off-ball movement, slips, pindowns, and decoys you want, but if you can’t deprogram it on occasion, it becomes a book too easily read by a scout. Rick Pitino is among the best in the business at taking away your strengths. He knows that the top-locking and ball pressure grinds UConn’s offense down to a halt, and he has the athletes up and down the roster to apply that pressure consistently throughout a game without wearing out.
This isn’t a novel concept; Hurley’s talked about deprograming the offense for the last 12 months. Silas Demary Jr was supposed to be that downhill, go-get-a-bucket guy. But to do it against a defense like St. John’s, they need more than just one person on the roster who can break the first line of ball pressure comfortably.
But that’s a discussion for May. The good news for Husky fans is that not many teams 1. have Rick Pitino and 2. the talent to pull off that type of strategy.
Which leads me to my second takeaway…
This Feels Familiar
Martin: Hurley has been adamant all year about avoiding comparisons of the 2023 and 2024 teams. That’s smart. But there are parallels with the season dynamic.
People forget, that was Marquette’s Big East. UConn was overmatched in that title game. And that 2023 team blew through the non-con, struggled a bit in the Big East, was exposed in the Big East final, and even struggled a little vs. Iona before, well, you know.
But the same questions about UConn that people have now, people had on Selection Sunday in 2023. “Those wins vs. Alabama and Iowa State were a long time ago.” “They didn’t cruise through the Big East.” “They can’t beat a team like Marquette.”
Don’t be surprised if UConn looks like an entirely different team away from the Big East. The Huskies’ inability to handle the Big East is a conversation for another time. Right now, there’s a world where this sour feeling is gone in a week.
Bigger than the result
Wilson: While it would have been nice to see UConn cut down the nets on Saturday night and fulfill one of its many goals this year, especially after missing out on one the week prior, the result is secondary to the injury news of Silas Demary Jr.
Demary went down twice in the second half, both times going back to the locker room, with what looked like a lower-body injury. After the game, Hurley confirmed that it seemed like it was a mild ankle sprain, which is amazing news for Husky fans after their last vision of him was Alec Millender and the team trainer helping him off the floor at MSG.
X-rays came back negative on Demary’s ankle and he was spotted on Sunday at the team’s Selection Sunday watch party walking without a boot, which is also a great sign. With the NCAA Tournament starting later this week, any injury is a bad injury for every player, especially your starting point guard.
Should Demary have gone back into the game after his initial fall after getting blocked (and probably fouled) by Zuby Ejiofor? Seeing how they had to stop play and wait a good couple minutes before he could get up, that would have been a sign for him to sit for the rest of what ended up as a 20 point loss. The Huskies dodged a bullet if he is ok, but things could have been a lot worse.
Still Very Inconsistent
Wilson: The Huskies have been playing as inconsistently as any top team in the country the past few weeks. Starting really with the shocking home loss to Creighton, UConn has turned in some great performances, followed by head-scratchers.
In a 10-day span, they beat St. John’s by 32 and lost on the road against a bottom-feeding Marquette squad with a comeback win over Seton Hall in between. They had a dominant win and a blow out loss against the Red Storm in a two-and-a-half week span. They followed up the loss to the Bluejays by winning by double digits on the road against an NCAA Tournament team in Villanova.
When asked about why the team hasn’t been able to put it together as of late, Alex Karaban didn’t really have an answer.
“I’m not sure what the inconsistency is,” Karaban said after the loss Saturday. “It might be turnovers. We had a lot of turnovers today. I think in all those losses, we had a bunch of turnovers. We just didn’t defend at the level that we typically would defend at.”
If you don’t defend in the NCAA Tournament, you won’t be going very far. We’ve seen the Huskies at their peak this year earlier this winter when they beat Illinois, Kansas and Florida in succession. If that UConn team shows up, it will have a bunch of success. It’s on Hurley and the staff to reignite whatever fire the team had in November and December.
Turnovers May Not Go Away in the NCAAs
Kidwai: While I believe that the Huskies will look better when they’re not being mauled in front of Big East refs, I don’t know if that will address the turnovers or the lack of a go-to scorer when things aren’t going right.
As the Huskies prepare for the NCAA Tournament, it’s clear that the top tier of competition in the country is looking pretty fierce. UConn still should make it out of the first weekend, but after that, anything can happen. They’re in Duke’s region and could meet 3-seeded Michigan State or 6-seed Louisville in the Sweet 16 and No. 4 Kansas, No. 5 St. John’s, or the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight.
While the NCAA Tournament matters most, winning a league crown is one of the ways to mark success for your season no matter what happens in the Big Dance. The Huskies missed out on two opportunities to capture on of those titles this year, leaving doubts as to their ability to win a big game. They’ve had a lot of close games, coming out on top in most, so if it gets there in the tourney they should hold up, unless foul shooting and inbounding become issues again.
Colby Covington welcomes a fight with Bo Nickal, but at his weight class.
Nickal accused Covington (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) of turning him down for UFC Freedom 250 June 14 at the White House, but Covington revealed to MMA Junkie that he never got an offer. Nickal drew Kyle Daukaus instead, but since he's yet to sign the contract, he offered Covington a final chance to step in.
While taking shots at Covington, Nickal (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) said they weigh the same, which the former interim welterweight champion has now used against him.
"All right bozo. I know you're a big fan of weight classes and refuse to wrestle a 50-year-old man (Yoel Romero) that was six pounds too heavy," Covington said on his YouTube channel. "We all know someone of your moral superiority would never try to have a weight advantage in a fist fight. You won't stop talking about us being the same weight which is honestly refreshing to hear because I'm 190 pounds right now and will weigh 170 without a problem on a full camp. So if we're the same weight like you claim, that means you're 190 pounds right now and full camp should get you down to 170, as well. I propose we do this in a weight class where one of us is ranked and there's actual stakes. So how about bring that stupid ginger bowl cut down to 170 pounds, and I'll grant your wish to fight the biggest name in the welterweight division. We could do it this summer, too, if you want.
"But let's get one thing crystal clear: I'm not going to take away an opportunity from someone who, unlike you, has done things the hard way to earn a spot on a big card, like Kyle Daukaus. He's 10 times the man and fighter you ever could be. You're just a competitor, bozo. You're not a fighter. You've had everything fed to you on a silver spoon. Nobody likes you because you're a spoiled brat dildo, and nobody respects you because you're a quitter. We all watched the real bozo come out on a stool against the Dutch grappler (Reinier de Ridder). Daukaus will bring that same quitter out of you on the White House lawn. Fact of the matter is, I don't need to fight you. You need to fight me because I violated you via truth bombs right to your face at the RAF press conference. You wouldn't be throwing a tantrum or saying my name if you weren't such a fragile, narcissistic crybaby."
Covington claimed that the only offer the UFC presented to him was the winner of Mike Malott vs. Gilbert Burns in the UFC Winnipeg headliner on April 18.
Liam Livingstone has won exactly 100 caps for England across all formats [Getty Images]
Liam Livingstone has criticised the England set-up, saying there "wasn't any part of me" that wanted to be involved with the team that reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
Livingstone has not played for England since last year's Champions Trophy and lost his central contract in September.
The 32-year-old said he has subsequently had two phone calls, one each with England coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Livingstone said neither call lasted longer than one minute.
The all-rounder struggled at the Champions Trophy as England lost all three of their matches. He had a highest score of 14 with the bat and took three wickets with his spin bowling.
He said the tournament in Pakistan was the "worst experience I've had playing cricket" and the advice he got from the England hierarchy was that he "cares too much".
"I was just trying to ask for help to get better: what do they see that isn't going right?" said Livingstone. "You'd hit a couple out of the middle of the bat and they'd go 'Great, you found it. Let's go back to the hotel.''"
Livingstone's comments come at the end of a difficult winter for England. Although they reached the last four of the T20 World Cup, a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia was blighted by poor performances on the pitch and accusations of a loose attitude off it.
On the tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes, white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer while out drinking on the eve of the final one-day international in Wellington.
At the end of the World Cup, McCullum said he made "no apologies" for his style, saying the England set-up is "informal" but not "casual".
The England and Wales Cricket Board have conducted a review into the Ashes, with Key and McCullum expected to remain in their posts.
Describing how he was left out by England last summer, Livingstone said: "I don't think [the call] would have reached a minute. I asked why, they said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz [McCullum].
"Keysy said nothing - he said 'I'll speak to you in the summer'. I actually rang him one day, and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough. And then I didn't hear off him until the end of September.
"That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime: if you're in, you're in, and if you're not in, no-one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward."
After Livingstone publicly raised a lack of contact from Key, the former England batter told Sky Sports: "I don't know if he's got a phone, if he's allowed to ring, he's 32 years of age - it's not hard. If you want to find out where you are, you've got my number, mate."
Livingstone said he eventually spoke to Key in September, when the lack of communication was discussed.
Livingstone said Key told him he had "100 more important things to do than speak to you".
Though Livingstone believes he will not play for England again under the current management, England have insisted the door remains open for his selection. England also dispute the nature of the conversation between Key and Livingstone.
Livingstone's place in the England team went to fellow all-rounder Will Jacks, who won four player-of-the-match awards at the T20 World Cup and was named in the team of the tournament.
Livingstone, who has played exactly 100 matches for England across formats, won his only Test cap in Pakistan in 2022 and stood in as white-ball captain at the end of 2024, said: "I didn't miss it one bit."
Referring to the T20 World Cup, he said: "There wasn't any part of me that was wishing I was playing in that team, to be honest."
Livingstone will now link up with Sunrisers Hyderabad for the Indian Premier League, then return to England to play for Lancashire in the Blast and London Spirit in The Hundred.
Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring against Everton (Ben STANSALL)
Mikel Arteta said Max Dowman is ready to start "regularly" for Arsenal after the history-making teen sensation pushes for a place in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
Dowman starred as Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 on Saturday to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Aged just 16 years and 73 days, Dowman came off the bench to secure a vital victory for the Gunners as he provided the cross for Viktor Gyokeres to score the opener before netting himself in stoppage-time.
The midfield prodigy's goal made him the youngest scorer in Premier League history, earning plaudits from Arteta, who now has to decide whether to start him in the last-16 second leg against Leverkusen.
When asked if Dowman is ready to play regularly, Arteta told reporters on Monday: "Yeah regularly. Depending on what you call regularly.
"Depending on the game and how he reacts. I think his reaction has been really positive and in relation to what we need in the game.
"To do what he did in such a moment, it's very rare to see, or impossible almost.
"He's done it and now it's football and what you've done a few days ago is not relevant any more, it's about the next one."
Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori said Dowman, who is still studying for school exams, is already a popular figure in Arsenal's squad.
"The first time that you see him on the pitch, you're quite curious about him. He's so young but at the same time so mature on the pitch," Calafiori said.
"He can improve so many things but he's a talent, as you can see. But at the same time we have to leave him quiet and don't speak about him too much because he has everything.
"For sure we try to give him some advice but for the moment he's doing well even without our advice."
Arsenal drew the first leg against Leverkusen 1-1 in Germany thanks to a late Kai Havertz penalty.
They are firm favourites to see off the Bundesliga side in north London, but Arteta warned against complacency.
"We know what we have to do and in front of our crowd, with our people, putting all the energy in the world again. Hopefully we're going to do it," he said.
Arteta also revealed Martin Odegaard could be fit to lead Arsenal into Sunday's League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Odegaard has been sidelined since the 4-1 win at Tottenham on February 22 because of a knee injury.
The Norway midfielder is pushing to be available for Arsenal's attempt to win their first major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020.
"We are really pushing him. He really wants to try to be available but we'll have to wait and see how he feels over the next few days when he trains with the team," Arteta said.
"We know the game that we're going to be playing in a few days again and the more players that we have the better."
GM Chris Ballard has re-signed several of his own pending free agents, while also making a handful of outside additions.
The Colts remain positioned well with the salary cap to make more additions. However, at this stage of free agency, options are limited when it comes to finding high-impact players.
Despite the moves made already, there are still several roster holes that have to be addressed by Ballard.
If we are going to continue to see the Colts add to their roster on Monday, here is one player who could fit what Indianapolis is looking for at key positions of need.
DE Jadeveon Clowney
The pass rush depth behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker needs to be boosted. Clowney could come in and provide some added pass-rush juice to this position group. Clowney has recorded at least 40 pressures in each of the last two seasons.
LB Bobby Okereke
A reunion with Okereke makes a lot of sense. The Colts are very short on experience at linebacker without Zaire Franklin. Currently, Jaylon Carlies is the most experienced player on the roster at this position with just over 200 career snaps. Addin Okereke could provide needed stability at this position. Okereke had two interceptions and four pass breakups last season.
IOL Danny Pinter
A reunion with Pinter should be on the Colts' radar. While it would appear that Indianapolis' starting five for the 2026 season is already on the roster, they are short on experienced depth along the offensive line. Pinter could provide a veteran presence who is able to fill in at guard or center as needed.
The offences relate to player transfers between 2011 and 2018, when the club was owned by Roman Abramovich.
They were brought to the attention of the Premier League, Football Association and Uefa by the current owners in 2022 after being uncovered during their due diligence when buying the club.
In 2023 they were fined €10m (£8.6m) by Uefa for self-reported transactions that were made between 2012 and 2019. The FA’s separate investigation has not yet reached its conclusion.
The Premier League transfer ban announced on Monday is suspended for two years, while Chelsea have also been given a nine-month academy registration suspension.
But what does it mean for the club’s future transfer activity and could there be further punishments down the line? Here’s everything you need to know.
What are they being punished for?
The settlement agreement said that in total £47.5m was paid to a dozen different entities which were deemed to have “implicated one or more of the rules” that were enforced at the time.
That included payments worth £23m that were made to seven unregistered intermediaries in relation to the transfers of Samuel Eto’o, Eden Hazard, David Luiz, Nemanja Matic, Ramires, Andre Schurrle and Willian.
The breaches came to light when the BlueCo consortium were finalising their purchase of the club from Abramovich four years ago.
According to the Premier League, had they not been self-reported knowledge of the payments may never have come to light.
The transfers of Eden Hazard (left) and David Luiz were among those referenced in the Premier League’s sanction agreement (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Archive)
How will it impact the summer transfer window?
These sanctions will not affect the first team’s recruitment plans for this summer window, meaning head coach Liam Rosenior’s squad could face another period of significant change.
However, the club will not be able to register underage players who have previously been at another Premier League or EFL academy for the next nine months. The academy suspension does not relate to players already at the club or youngsters based abroad, though it could help rival academies when it comes to signing up and coming talent for the rest of this year.
Chelsea’s first-team summer plans will not be affected (PA Archive)
Does this change Chelsea’s PSR position?
No. The Independent understands that it was determined by independent accountants that there were no infractions around the league’s Profit and Sustainability Rules and will therefore have no implications.
How have the club and Premier League reacted?
Chelsea said they were “pleased to confirm that the club has reached a settlement with the Premier League … [having] voluntarily and proactively disclosed” the issues in 2022.
The league, meanwhile, said that Chelsea “demonstrated exceptional co-operation throughout the course of the investigation” – hinting that the new owners’ assistance informed the severity of their punishment, which could have included a sporting sanction.
The 2026 Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament field has been set.
This marks Year 3 of the WBIT, which replaced the WNIT as the second-tier women's basketball postseason tournament. The full 32-team field has been revealed, with games starting on Thursday, March 19.
As the WBIT tournament progresses, the bracket will take shape, and the matchups will be determined. Here are the dates for the remainder of the tournament.
Second round: Sunday, March 22 (campus sites)
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 26 (campus sites)
Semifinals: Monday, March 30 (Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas)
Championship: Wednesday, April 1 (Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas)
COMO, ITALY - MARCH 15: AS Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini looks on during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AS Roma at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After closing out 2025 on a high note with seven wins out of 10 matches, Roma’s good fortune carried into the new year as Gian Piero Gasperini’s group won four of their first five league matches in 2026. However, just as winter loosen its grip on the Northern Hemisphere, so too has Roma lost its hold on a top-four spot. Since beating Stuttgart 2-0 in the Europa League on January 22nd, the Giallorossi have gone into a downward spiral, winning only two of their last 10 matches: a 2-0 victory over Cagliari and a 3-0 win against Cremonese.
If you’re looking for the proverbial canary in the coal mine, look no further than Roma’s gut-wrenching 3-3 draw against Juventus, where the Giallorossi squandered a two-goal lead down the stretch. And since Jeremie Boga’s 78th-minute goal at the Olimpico on March 1st, Roma has been outscored seven to three—and only one of those goals came in the run of play.
Needless to say, things aren’t going Roma’s way at the moment; a pattern that continued yesterday, where the club’s struggles against top-of-the-table clubs continued in a 2-1 loss to Como, who now sit in 4th place, three points ahead of 6th-place Roma.
Considering everything, today’s Sinners & Saints won’t be a joyful event, but we’ll start with two bright spots that you might have to strain to see — it was a pretty dull match, after all.
The Saints
Stephan El Shaarawy
Considering that Roma only saw 34% of the ball and mustered a pitiful three shots on goal, we have to stretch the definition of CdT Sainthood here. Still, Roma’s veteran winger and their star new signing were the only bright spots in attack yesterday. Making only his fourth league start of the season, El Shaarawy delivered an understated but effective performance. In 56 minutes, SES registered one successful dribble, played three balls into the final third, won five out of eight duels, contributed seven defensive actions, and of course, drew the penalty that gave Roma the early lead.
Donyell Malen
With only 11 touches in 67 minutes, there wasn’t much Malen could do to tip the scales in Roma’s favor, considering how passively the club played and how little assistance he received in the final third. Nevertheless, Malen continued his torrid run in Serie A, converting an early penalty to extend his scoring streak to seven goals in nine matches.
The Sinners
The Entire Midfield Four
For expediency’s sake, we’re going to lump Bryan Cristante, Manu Kone, Zeki Çelik, and Wesley into the same sad lot. With Roma ceding possession and initiative to Como after Malen’s early goal, these four were victims of circumstance, but they were notably plagued by fatigue, indecision, or worse, indifference. If Roma stands any chance of sneaking back into the Champions League race, let alone winning the Europa League, they need more action from the midfield.
Gian Piero Gasperini
I approached this season, the club’s first under Gasperini, as a period of transition. While Gasperini managed to turn Atalanta around fairly quickly, Roma presents a completely different challenge. Given the club’s tendency to cycle through managers and directors like sliced bread, Gasperini inherited a patchwork squad assembled for José Mourinho—who also had to work with a ragtag roster—and later Daniele De Rossi, along with some leftover pieces from Paulo Fonseca and Eusebio Di Francesco.
While I am confident Gasperini will find more success next season when he presumably has more players to his liking, he has enough experience to work with what he’s given. And lately, the results haven’t been encouraging, with the club appearing complacent, careless, and sometimes too compact; all of which were evident yesterday against Como.
I haven’t lost faith yet, but we’ve seen Roma swallow too many managers whole to think Gasperini is beyond reproach.
Stuck In Between
There’s only one SIB this week, and unfortunately, it’s Mile.
Mile Svilar
In many respects, Svilar was as sharp as ever last night, making 5 saves in the box to go along with one high claim and even 14 recoveries, but he made a crucial mistake on Taso Douvikas’s 59th-minute equalizer when the ball went right in between his legs. Not his finest moment, but he’s saved Roma more times than we can count, so we won’t hold it against him.
The 2026 Players Championship is officially in the books. Despite Cameron Young’s career-defining breakthrough and all the “fifth major” chatter throughout the week, that can only mean one thing:
It’s Masters season, babyyyyyy.
Of course, the marketing geniuses down at ANGC HQ didn’t miss a beat either. On Monday morning, mere hours after Young prevailed at TPC Sawgrass, they released a new teaser for the 90th playing of the Masters that sent golf fans into a state of pure delirium. Sound up, lock in.
Set to the invigorating tones of James Brown, this 90-second feast celebrates 90 years of Masters magic, from Jack’s charge in ’86 to Tiger’s chip in 2005 to Rory’s rollercoaster last spring. It’s a glorious time machine and if it doesn’t have you chomping at the bit for next month, then you may want to check your pulse.
Though the 2026 Masters will clearly have one eye on the past in celebration of its 90th birthday, there’s no shortage of storylines in the here and now. Will Rory repeat? Can Ludvig Aberg avenge his Players collapse? Will Scottie Scheffler shake off his (relative) struggles or will Brooks Koepka announce his return to the PGA Tour with authority? We’ll get the answers to those questions and plenty more when the 90th Masters begins Thursday, April 9th.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 10: Nate Diaz prepares to fight Tony Ferguson in a welterweight fight during the UFC 279 event at T-Mobile Arena on September 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Nate Diaz and Mike Perry are returning to MMA.
Most Valuable promotions announced that Diaz and Perry are set for a five-round welterweight contest at the Rousey vs. Carano event on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The bout will serve as the third piece of a triple-headliner — which also includes Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou vs. Felipe Lins.
“Glad to be back in action. It’s time,” Diaz said in a press release. “Don’t forget where this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10 years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again, so get ready for a new takeover again and again until the end of time.”
”The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f*cking face,” Perry said. “Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out.”
Diaz hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since he submitted Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 279 in September 2022. The bout served as the final one on his UFC deal, and hasn’t fought for the promotion since. Diaz went on to compete in a pair of boxing matches, winning a decision against Jorge Masvidal, and dropping one to Jake Paul.
Perry has been out of the MMA side of things even longer, last competing in the octagon in an April 2021 decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez. “Platinum” has gone on to become the face of BKFC, and has 6-0 in the company, and is the reigning King of Violence champion.
MVP is trying to make an impact on the mixed martial arts world, and feel the addition of this bout is doing exactly that.
“MVP delivered the most-viewed boxing event since the advent of cable, and now we’re set to break records again with the biggest viewership in MMA history with the addition of Diaz vs. Perry to Rousey vs Carano and Ngannou vs Lins,” MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said.
“Nate Diaz is the Real BMF, and Mike Perry is the King of Violence – this will be a war from the first press conference all the way to the end when one of them has their hand raised. It’s an absolutely massive night of fights in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 16th, as we continue building some of the biggest global events in combat sports. Thank you to Netflix for believing in our vision. The future of MMA is bright.”
HENDERSON, Nev. — The members of the University of Hawaii men’s basketball team could have danced all night.
“It doesn’t matter how good a dancer is as long as you get on the dance floor, ” associate head coach Brad Davidson said after the Rainbow Warriors won the Big West Tournament and accompanying invitation to the NCAA’s Big Dance. “We’re on the dance floor, and we’re doing some major dancing.”
From dance party at Lee’s Family Forum on Saturday to Sunday’s selection show watch party in downtown Las Vegas, the’Bows learned they are a 13th seed and will face fourth seed and Southeastern Conference champion Arkansas on Thursday in Portland, Ore., in the first round of the West Regional.
Arkansas won the SEC title on Sunday behind the play of tournament MVP Darius Acuff Jr., who recorded 30 points and 11 assists.
UH and Arkansas are in the same bracket as Arizona, No. 1 overall seed in the West. The other games in the upper half of the West feature Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU, No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point and No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State.
This will be the’Bows sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2016, Eran Ganot’s initial season as UH head coach.
Because of Ganot’s late hiring—April 2015—that 2015-16 roster had many players recruited by the previous coaches. But Ganot’s staff also inherited a situation in which the previous regime was ruled to have committed ethical violations against NCAA policy. After appeals, the’Bows were docked a scholarship for each year of a two-season probation period.
The’Bows also had to face a changing landscape of easy transfers through the NCAA portal, growing fundraising challenges to compensate players, and scheduling congestion that have reduced Hawaii’s attraction as a multi-team tournament venue in late December.
Last year, the Rainbows did not qualify for the eight-team Big West Tournament, and some players, as anticipated, entered the portal. The 2025 Diamond Head Classic, a staple for competition and promotion, went on hiatus. Following the 2025 season, the goals were to 1 ) retain key players, such as forward Harry Rouhliadeff and point guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, and 2 ) build an older roster of experienced players from all levels.
With post and stretch skills, 6-9 Rouhliadeff would have been in high demand in the free-agency market. But Rouhliadeff and Hunkin-Claytor never wavered in their commitments to the Rainbows.
“It was the coaching staff that sold it to me back in 2022, ” said Rouhliadeff, who grew up in Australia. Because Australia’s school calendar ends in December, UH coaches kept in frequent contact until Rouhliadeff enrolled in the summer of 2023.
Assistant coach Gibson Johnson used his connections to pursue three Utah-reared players in the portal—7-foot center Isaac “Big Fish ” Johnson (Utah State ), 6-7 point guard Tanner Cuff (Evansville ) and 6-3 combo guard Hunter Erickson (Utah ).
“It was because of this coaching staff, ” Johnson said of his decision. “I came out here on my visit with Tanner Cuff and Hunter Erickson. To immediately be able to feel the love from the coaching staff. And we also went to watch the volleyball game on our visit. The crowd was unreal. … Coming from a place where the crowd was the same type of way, I knew that’s where I wanted to be in that type of atmosphere, where we were treated like one of the hottest things in town. We’re the only Division I university in Hawaii, so we’re kind of the hottest thing in Hawaii. Now we’re the hottest thing in the Big West.”
After playing for three Division I programs in as many years, Quandre “Dre ” Bullock sought a program that would offer extended playing time. Bullock impressed with his talents—44 1 /2-inch vertical jump—but he was never a full-time starter at Louisiana Tech, Niagara or South Dakota. Davidson, the point recruiter, shared his vision of Bullock as a quick-handed, on-ball defender and innovative scorer.
UH also signed Isaac Finlinson, last season’s junior college player of the year ; Isaiah Kerr, a multi-skilled guard from Chico State, and Yacine Toumi, who used to practice against Victor Wenbanyama. And Gytis Nemeiksa, last year’s scoring leader, won a waiver that allowed his return to the program.
Rouhliadeff, the captain, has set the tone with his workmanlike approach. Johnson is a three-level shooter and towering defensive obstacle. Bullock has thrilled with his cloud-touching dunks and gritty defense. After Cuff and then Hunkin-Claytor suffered season-ending injuries, Erickson moved over to the point and Finlinson moved into the starting lineup. Nemeiksa is a key post in the rotation. Kerr has made defensive stands in two victories. And Toumi has contributed as a rim protector and ball-handling center.
Bullock, Johnson, Erickson, Rouhliadeff, Nemeiksa and Toumi all were honored during senior night, and all played major roles on Saturday. Bullock (37 ) and Erickson (31 ) logged the most minutes, while Johnson led the way in scoring with 22 points, followed by Rouhliadeff (15 ) and Bullock (15 ).
Patty Mills, who played 16 NBA season, is serving as an unpaid general manager. Mills leads several challenges, provides free meals for students at certain UH games, and advises players. Ganot also led in the retirement of Anthony “AC ” Carter’s jersey.
The Rainbows had to alter the offense, twice, because of injuries to Cuff and Hunkin-Claytor. After a senior night loss to Long Beach State cost a share of the Big West’s regular-season, the Rainbows regrouped. They defeated Cal State Fullerton in the Big West Tournament—they are 7-1 after a loss—and then beat top seed UCI for the title.
“We learned from it, ” Bullock said of missing out on the regular-season title. “Watched film. Grew from it And, yeah, we brought our energy to Vegas (for the tournament ) and shifted gears quickly.”
Bullock said the success is rooted in the team unity and ties to the community and alumni. Among the former UH players attending the title game were Jarinn Akana, Kawika Hallums, Troy Ostler, Garland Hughes, Mike Thomas, Quincy Smith and Noah Allen. UH quarterback Micah Alejado and running back DeVon Rice also attended.
“Teammates are super cool, ” Bullock said. “Every day we hang out almost. Everybody gets along. The coaches do a good job of having bonding events over summertime, throughout the season, having dinners, stuff like that. We did a lot of crazy stuff. Swam with sharks together. We’ve been through it all, I mean. Credits to my teammates, coaches. It was all about family and trust. It not always 100 % about basketball. It’s about, ‘how’s your family doing ?’ ‘How’s your mom ?’ ‘How’s your sister, brother ?’ All that type of stuff. It was about building relationships on and off the court.”
Rouhliadeff added : “We’ve got such a mature group of guys. We don’t need babysitters. We’re ready to step out into the real world when all this is done and just be professionals. Everyone on this team could be part of that atmophere.”
Boston-based athletic company New Balance announced on Monday that it has reached a long-term agreement to serve as the exclusive footwear and apparel provider of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.
As part of the deal, New Balance says the Patriots will unveil a new state-of-the-art training center next to the stadium in Foxborough this spring, named the New Balance Athletics Center.
The 160,000-square-foot campus for football operations will bring together training, strength, conditioning, and recovery into one ecosystem, according to New Balance. The Patriots previously said that the facility will also feature training rooms with a significant expansion of “hydro” capabilities, to include hot tubs, cold plunge tubs, a pool, and an underwater treadmill.
New Balance says it will also serve as the presenting sponsor of Patriots training camp and Patriots youth football programs, while also working to collaborate to develop, support, and promote charitable initiatives.
“At the heart of this partnership are two global brands united by shared values and a deep commitment to New England,” Chris Davis, brand president and chief marketing officer of New Balance, said in a statement. “The Patriots embody excellence, performance, and an authentic connection to the local communities, both on and off the field. This collaboration represents an enduring investment in performance, culture, and community, with the goal of creating opportunities that inspire and empower the next generation of athletes to play, grow, and compete. We’re excited to innovate together.”
Kraft Group President Jonathan Kraft added, “New Balance is a brand that shares our deep roots in New England and our. As we look to the future, this new training facility will be a reflection of our relentless pursuit of improvement, providing our players and coaches with a world-class environment to prepare and compete for championships. We are proud to partner with New Balance, a company that understands what it means to represent this region with pride and to perform at the highest level.”
New Balance says it will also work with the New England Revolution, including youth soccer programs and clinics throughout New England.
Latest: Two Chelsea players miss pre-PSG training, but fan favourite attacker is back with the group
Chelsea are licking their wounds after a bruising week of two defeats, and there were some things to note in attendance at training.
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Chelsea are at Cobham getting stuck into an open training session ahead of the game against PSG tomorrow night.
The Blues face an almost impossible task of turning around a 5-2 scoreline, and do so on the back of a really painful 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle on Saturday. The mood can’t be great.
To make things worse, there’s not even full attendance in the session. Some of the journalists there have noticed a couple of players missing.
Chelsea players miss pre PSG session
Nizaar Kinsella of the BBC is watching the session, and has noted that both Reece James and Jamie Gittens are not taking part.
In James’ case we’d assume this is a planned absence. He played a lot of minutes in the last couple of weeks and is probably just being given an extra day off compared to his teammates. In Gittens’ case, it shows that the setback in his recovery from injury we heard about from Liam Rosenior is clearly as bad as feared.
On Saturday evening the manager said that Gittens “was due back on the bench” but had “felt his hamstring after training.” Clearly he’s still feeling it.
On the other hand Estevao Willian, who has been struggling with an injury since the win over Hull last month, is back working with the group.
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Barcelona preparing summer offer for Benfica forward after successful scouting mission
Barcelona have plans to address their forward line during the summer, with two particular areas set for signings. A new striker is wanted to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is set to leave when his contract expired, while a decision must also be made as to whether Marcus Rashford’s buy option is triggered.
Rashford can be signed for €30m, and while Barcelona have already started exploring the permanent acquisition of the Manchester United loanee, other left wing targets are being considered. One of those is Andreas Schjelderup, who has been on sporting director Deco’s radar for over a year.
According to O Jogo (via Sport), Barcelona scouts were in attendance at Benfica’s victory over Arouca over the weekend, with one club official telling the Portuguese outlet that “we are closely following Schjelderup’s evolution. His potential is undeniable and our observations have been very positive”.
On the back of this, Barcelona are believed to be considering an offer to sign Schjelderup in the summer. Premier League and Serie A clubs are also keen on the 21-year-old Norway international, but those in Catalonia are ready to move ahead of the chasing pack in order to give themselves the best chance of reaching an agreement with Benfica.
Benfica want top dollar to part ways with Schjelderup
Barcelona may well view Schjelderup as a market opportunity, but Benfica have made it clear that an offer well in excess of his €18m transfer value will be needed in order for a sale to be sanctioned. This could make things tough for the Catalans, who are prioritising the signing of a new centre-back and striker above all else – if they cannot mark their return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule before the end of the season, it will be very difficult to get their desired business done during the summer.
Barcelona two games away from triggering €2.5m transfer clause
In recent years, Barcelona have been clear that every little helps when it comes to rectifying their financial problems. No amount too small is being spared, and this has been made apparent in a number of cases – the most notable being the club’s request for Robert Lewandowski to stop scoring when he was on course to trigger a clause that would have seen them pay €2.5m to Bayern Munich.
That incident occurred during the 2022-23 season, and since then, Barcelona have significantly improved their finances. €2.5m does not matter as much now as it did then, which is why they may not be too fussed that a similar clause is close to being activated.
As per Diario AS, Barcelona have an agreement with Sevilla that sees them pay €2.5m per season every time that Jules Kounde starts 60% of their matches, and this clause is two matches away from being activated. This has been trigger in each of the Frenchman’s three previous campaigns at the Spotify Camp Nou, and although he is injured now, it’s set to be reached again.
Kounde clause expires at end of next season
Kounde has been ever-present for Barcelona this season, despite a significant drop in form compared to his performances during the 2024-25 campaign, which saw the Catalans secure a domestic treble. This is good for Sevilla – who have their own financial woes – as it should mean another €2.5m in their coffers once the France international returns from injury.
They would receive another €2.5m if Kounde plays 60% of Barcelona’s matches next season too, with the agreement valid for the duration of the 27-year-old’s original contract, which was signed until the summer of 2027 upon his move from Sevilla in 2022.
It’s not ideal for Barcelona to be paying out this €2.5m, given they are closing in on a return to La Liga’s 1:1 rule. However, they will hope to get there despite this.
What Liverpool’s Matchups Reveal About Their 2025-26 Prospects
Liverpool entered the 2025/26 season with excitement and high expectations. After the progress shown under Arne Slot and with a squad full of attacking talent, many fans believed the team could challenge for another Premier League title. The early matches supported that belief, as the Reds began the campaign with five straight wins.
As the season progressed, certain matches began to shape LFC’s story. Some games showed their strength in controlling possession and creating chances, while others required patience against well-organised opponents.
Looking at the season in phases helps explain how Liverpool’s title hopes deteriorated and why the focus has gradually shifted toward finishing strong and securing Champions League qualification.
The Strong Start and Early Warning Signs
Liverpool began the season with resolute performances which showed the attacking quality in the squad. A 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on the opening night highlighted the team’s quick movement in the final third and their ability to create chances. The momentum continued with a 3-2 victory at Newcastle, where the Reds kept attacking with confidence.
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
These early results also affected Liverpool game odds as strong performances increased confidence in the team’s chances in subsequent games. The midfield partnership of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister helped Liverpool control possession and move the ball forward effectively. However, matches like the 0-0 draws against Leeds and Arsenal showed that well-organised defenses could make it harder for the Reds to create clear opportunities.
The Autumn Slump and “Big Six” Struggles
As the season moved into October and November, Liverpool faced a tougher stretch of fixtures which tested the team’s consistency. A narrow defeat to Manchester United was followed by another loss against Brentford, slowing the momentum which had built during the opening weeks. Both matches were competitive, but moments in transition and defensive organisation played an important role in shaping the final results.
The challenge continued with a difficult trip to the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City secured a 3–0 win through controlled possession and efficient attacking play. The match highlighted the intensity of facing top sides in the league and the level of focus required in these direct encounters.
The “Low Block” Enigma
During the winter months, Liverpool often controlled matches but struggled to turn that control into wins. Draws against Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley followed a similar pattern in December and January. The Reds had most of the possession and spent long periods attacking, but strong defensive setups limited clear chances.
Many opponents defended deep to protect the centre of the pitch. LFC continued to apply pressure, but crowded defensive lines made it difficult to find space in the penalty area. Because of this, Slot’s team often relied on attacking from wide positions and patient build-up to create opportunities.
(Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
A clear example came in the home match against Burnley, when Liverpool took 32 shots. While this showed strong attacking intent, many of those attempts came from outside the box as the Clarets defended with discipline and earned a 1-1 draw. That match showed how difficult it can be to break down compact defences and create clear scoring chances.
The Final Nail in the Coffin
February included one of Liverpool’s most important matches of the season when Manchester City visited Anfield and won 2-1 in a close contest that the Reds were winning with 10 minutes to go, only to be hit by late sucker punches from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
On occasion, LFC delivered some encouraging performances to keep them competitive in the Champions League race. A strong 5-2 win over West Ham showed the team’s attacking quality, while a 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest highlighted their ability to come out on top in tight games. Those results helped shift attention toward finishing the season strongly and securing a Champions League spot.
The Upcoming Gauntlet – The Race for Top Four
The final months of the season present an important challenge for Liverpool as they push for a top-four finish. Alongside their league campaign, the team are also still involved in the FA Cup and Champions League. Balancing these competitions will require careful squad rotation and strong performances across both tournaments.
Several upcoming matches will play a key role in shaping Liverpool’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season, including three consecutive games against fellow chasers for that competition.
2 May: Manchester United away
9 May: Chelsea at home
17 May: Aston Villa away
Liverpool’s Season in Perspective
Liverpool’s season shows how important each game can be in the Premier League. Different opponents bring a different challenge, some of which have caught out the Reds.
The remaining matches give the squad a chance to finish the campaign strongly and secure a place in the Champions League. Fans around the world will now watch closely to see how Slot’s side will fare out over the next couple of months.
BREAKING: Key Chelsea starter suffers hamstring injury and will miss “several weeks” according to exclusive
Reece James has picked up a hamstring injury and will miss several weeks of action according to an exclusive from the Athletic.
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Well, there you have it. Things go from bad to worse at Chelsea. Fresh on the heels of two defeats in a week and news of a record breaking fine and a transfer ban, the Blues have added some bad injury news to the mix.
It had been noted that Reece James wasn’t with the group at the open training session at Cobham today, but we were hoping this was just part of his modified training plan to keep him fit.
However the latest news coming from Cobham is that the club captain has suffered a hamstring injury.
James suffers brutal setback in run up to World Cup
Simon Johnson of the Athletic has just Tweeted that James could be out for “several weeks” with this issue. He’s been fit and well for over a year now, but the exertions of last week were clearly too much for him.
For James, there are other things at stake too. He looked set to finally get a World Cup as England’s right back, and will be praying that this problem doesn’t end up being worse than suspected so that he can be back playing in time to prove his fitness for Thomas Tuchel before the season is out.
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Dominik Szoboszlai’s post-match message to Liverpool fans had strong echoes of Klopp in 2015
Dominik Szoboszlai had an impassioned plea to Liverpool supporters off the back of the 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Despite taking the lead through the Hungarian’s latest free kick goal, a 90th-minute equaliser from Richarlison meant that the Reds dropped yet more points in their laboured pursuit of Champions League qualification.
The 25-year-old warned his teammates that they might end up being ‘lucky’ to salvage a Conference League berth unless they learn from recurring mistakes, and in comments which were publicised on Monday, he urged match-going fans not to leave with 10-15 minutes remaining.
Szoboszlai says players ‘need’ the fans’ support
Having noticed Liverpool fans leaving Anfield several minutes before Spurs’ equaliser, Szoboszlai pleaded (via The Athletic): “I don’t think it helps us also that after 80 minutes people start to go home. It doesn’t help us at all.
“Everyone is noticing that and when we concede a goal still people are leaving the stadium – you don’t leave when we score. I understand the frustration but we need them. We need everybody.
“I don’t say they have no right to leave the stadium. They can leave if they want, but we need them and they should know this. We are one less without them.
“Let’s say it like this – we want to make them happy; it’s not that we do it on purpose. They can be angry but stick with us because we are a family. We need you guys.”
(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Szoboszlai’s displeasure at Liverpool fans leaving Anfield early had strong echoes of Jurgen Klopp from his early weeks as Reds manager.
After a 1-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace in November 2015 when Scott Dann netted a late winner for the Eagles, the German lamented (via The Guardian): “After the goal on 82 minutes, with 12 minutes to go, I saw many people leaving the stadium. I felt pretty alone at this moment. We decide when it is over. Between 82 and 94 [minutes] you can make eight goals if you like.”
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Unity is essential in Liverpool’s quest to save their season
It’s the prerogative of every paying spectator who goes to Anfield to leave the stadium as early or as late as they please, although we can understand why Szoboszlai has called for unity at a hugely testing time for Liverpool.
The Reds’ match-going supporters have stuck by their team this season even after so many disappointments, but the patience of many snapped yesterday as the final whistle was greeted with boos, a rare occurrence in L4 even in times of hardship.
There are worrying signs of fractures in the relationship between fans and players, and between now and the end of May, unity and togetherness is crucial. Both parties want the same thing – for Liverpool Football Club to be successful.
The supporters can absolutely play their part in galvanising the team on the pitch, but those in the privileged position of playing for this world-famous sporting institution so need to give the fans something to get behind.
Let’s hope that, in our remaining home matches this season, we’ll once again see LFC and Anfield at their cacophonous best.
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That’s unsurprising, given the Reds’ performance levels have significantly dropped off from their Premier League-winning campaign of 2024/25.
FSG won’t pull the trigger on Arne Slot just yet
Whilst Slot continues to hold some credit in the bank owing to our success last term, there remain growing questions over the former Feyenoord’s capabilities.
“Serious questions are going to be asked of Arne Slot,” Brown said.
“There have been doubts since right at the start of the season, everybody expected them to turn things around, but this result didn’t come as a surprise.
“You went into it thinking Liverpool should be beating Tottenham convincingly because of how they’ve been playing recently, so ultimately it’s a disappointment.
“Ultimately the blame does come back on the manager when things aren’t going right.
“They’re not as effective going forward as they were last season, and they’re certainly not as strong defensively, they always look like conceding.
“If Liverpool feel those issues are down to Slot and his management of the team, then maybe they will have to make a decision about his future.”
A morale-sapping set of results to Galatasaray and Tottenham in quick succession have hardly helped the growing perception that Liverpool would be better off making a change sooner rather than later.
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However, we find it difficult to believe that FSG’s patience will be unlimited should they feel Champions League is slipping through the club’s fingers.
When could Slot be sacked by Liverpool?
The club’s current position is that Arne Slot has until the summer to turn things around and prove he deserves to remain Liverpool boss going into the 2026/27 season.
Failure to secure silverware or a place in the Champions League will reportedly be enough to see the 47-year-old moved on.
FSG are sure to be disappointed if Liverpool fall out of the Champions League before the quarter-finals. Especially, with the greatest of respect to Galatasaray, to an outfit of comparatively poorer quality.
Follow that up with poor outcomes against Brighton (Premier League) and Man City (FA Cup quarter-final), and perhaps this could be enough to tip the club over the edge in the business end of the season.
If not, Arne Slot will have to count himself considerably lucky to survive through to the summer.
The Los Angeles Rams are looking to go all-in for the 2026 NFL season, but that doesn't mean they can't also plan for the future. Their Trent McDuffie trade and extension are a great example of making moves for now and for the future.
Matthew Stafford is coming back for one more season, and the Rams need to capitalize on their Super Bowl chances while they still can. Spending premium assets on trades and free agents makes a lot of sense.
Recently, they've been linked to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. Despite the two being linked frequently recently, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shared some bad news on the chances of a trade occurring, as the Rams are reportedly "out" on a Brown trade.
Rams are 'out' on A.J. Brown trade with Eagles
"The Rams were one, and they looked into it deeply," Rapoport said. "Ultimately decided it was not for them. And they are, essentially, as far as I can tell, out on the situation."
From @GMFB: A future AJ Brown trade remains a possibility, but by Dallas Goeddert returning to the #Eagles, it removed any time element. Brown's trade scenarios may be revisited in June. pic.twitter.com/B0MB8UoL97
Brown, the Super Bowl champion and three-time second-team All-Pro, is the best wide receiver that's been rumored to be on the move this offseason.
Despite the Rams having both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, they've shown interest in Brown and could use another wide receiver anyway. Why not land the top option for not just 2026, but for the future as well?
However, their interest didn't last long, as this reporting form Rapoport indicates that the Rams are out on a trade for the Eagles' All-Pro.
The 28-year-old wide receiver would've been a very fun addition for the Rams offense, but based on this report from Rapoport, the odds for a trade are all but zero as the Rams are "out" on trade talks with the Eagles for Brown.
Adding Brown, a WR with 8,029 yards and 56 touchdowns in seven seasons, would have been a great pickup for the Rams to go all-in this season.
But now, with the Rams backing out of trade talks with the Eagles, the New England Patriots are the only team remaining showing serious interest in Brown.
While a Brown addition for the Rams would've been fun, this report from Rapoport effectively shuts down any chance a deal happens between the Rams and Eagles.
A few weeks ago, Joel Dahmen was riding high. After everybody's favorite bucket-hat aficionado finished outside the PGA Tour’s top-100 in 2025, his strong start to 2026—including a T-6 at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T-9 at the Cognizant Classic—paved the way into the fields at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship. Unfortunately, Dahmen missed the cut at both, and without eligibility for the next three events based on his 2026 status, he found himself where no golfer wants to on a Monday morning:
In the backseat of an Uber on the way to a Monday qualifier.
Just 48 hours removed from playing the premier event on the PGA Tour calendar, Dahmen will tee it up at Southern Hills Plantation Club on Monday morning in hopes of playing his way into this week’s Valspar Championship. It won’t be easy though. As part of recent and ongoing changes to PGA Tour field sizes, qualifying spots have been halved from four to two for 2026, making the making the week-to-week quest for conditional tour pros like Dahmen harder than ever.
Dahmen has been through a lot in his life though—from testicular cancer to his documented struggles with anxiety and alcohol—so a Monday qualifier won’t daunt him in the slightest. He knows the score and he know what he needs to do—#playbetter. If he doesn’t, then he gets a few weeks to rest up and spend time with his family. Things certainly aren’t easy for fringe pros like Dahmen, but they could be a heck of a lot worse.
If the season started today, one 49ers player would be their biggest fantasy bargain, another a likely bust, and a third a likely wild card.
My biggest bargains and busts are interdependent, which is often what happens in fantasy. One player’s loss usually marks another player’s gain -- or, for our purposes, a fantasy manager’s gain if we guess correctly.
In 2025, for the third time in his career, Christian McCaffrey racked up 400+ touches (including the playoffs). In NFL history, 93% of RBs coming off 400+ touch campaigns have regressed the following year statistically, usually by 25% or more. McCaffrey’s RB ADP will probably be around three or four. Why not better for last year’s runaway RB1? Because he’ll turn 30 in June, and the market generally prefers younger RBs with comparable ceilings.
It’s not just that McCaffrey went over 400 touches. It’s that he hit a career-high 450. That is absurd and almost unprecedented for someone his age. Sizable injury risks and declining efficiency make him a massive fantasy risk, and as a result, a highly probable bust.
That means his handcuff will be the team’s biggest bargain -- and possibly one of the biggest bargains in all of fantasy. At the moment, it might be Brian Robinson Jr., 2025 fifth-rounder, and college bell cow Jordan James are also candidates to be this year’s Jordan Mason (circa 2024). Or if Robinsons leaves and James isn’t ready, Isaac Guerendo could be this year’s . . . Isaac Guerendo (circa 2024). However, it turns out that managers should draft McCaffrey’s backup several rounds early.
The biggest wild card is Ricky Pearsall. If Jauan Jennings leaves in free agency -- and safely assuming Brandon Aiyuk will be gone -- this once deep receiving corps will begin the season with Pearsall, 33-year-old Mike Evans, nearly 32-year-old journeyman Demarcus Robinson, and backup TE Jake Tonges.
A 2024 first-round pick, Pearsall has a clear path to top-20 production. Despite not scoring last year, he hit 13.5+ points in 44% of his contests. More consistent usage (and health) could catapult him into must-start territory. However, this remains a “could happen” scenario. We haven’t yet seen him put it all together. That’s what makes him a fantasy uncertainty.
Ryan Yarbrough and Tim Hill are the two likely candidates to be the Yankees' two left-handed bullpen options on Opening Day. Neither are strikeout pitchers, mixing speeds and using funky arm angles to induce outs.
There is another reliever who flies under the radar despite standing 6-foot-6 and limiting hitters to a .197 batting average against his fastball in 2025. He's recorded 11 strikeouts in 5.2 innings in spring training.
Why Brent Headrick could play a 'very crucial' role for Yankees
Bouncing back and forth from the Majors to Triple-A led to just 23 innings thrown for Brent Headrick last season. He posted a 3.13 ERA and struck out 30. FanSided's Chris Landers envisions that Headrick will play a much larger role in 2026.
"New York's lack of lefties in the bullpen is an underrated subplot this spring; there's virtually no depth beyond Tim Hill, who showed signs of decline last season," Lander wrote. "The opportunity is there for someone to earn a very crucial role on the Opening Day roster, and Headrick appears set on taking advantage of it."
At 28, Headrick has thrown just 51.2 combined innings in his career between the Yankees and Minnesota Twins. He could easily surpass that total during the upcoming season.
Bernardo promises Man City will ‘fight’ to save Real Madrid tie
Bernardo Silva has said anything can happen and has promised Manchester City will fight to turn around their Champions League tie against Real Madrid.
City lost 3-0 to Real Madrid in the first meeting a week ago, as Federico Valverde’s hat-trick sealed the Spaniards a significant first-leg advantage.
Only four teams have ever overturned a three-goal deficit in the second leg of a Champions League tie, but Bernardo has insisted City will not give up their European campaign easily.
“This sport has taught us that a lot of things can happen. Even though the result in Madrid was really bad, we will fight until the end,” he said at a pre-match press conference.
“The opponent is a very good one. At home, a lot of things can happen. We are going to try create the right atmosphere for that to happen.
“It’s never easy, especially after just a week. Usually after a big defeat, on the day you feel like everything is very dark, then it gets brighter.
“Even though this week was really bad for us, we know what we are capable of. The problem we lacked is the consistency. If we are on it tomorrow, we know it is possible.”
Man United weighing up shock Shea Lacey transfer decision
Manchester United are reportedly contemplating a transfer decision on Shea Lacey that will undoubtedly send shockwaves across the fanbase.
Lacey’s rise
Lacey is widely considered to be among the best and most exciting talents currently coming out of Carrington.
He has taken big steps this season, finally making his senior debut in the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in December under Ruben Amorim.
The youngster also featured as a substitute in the Premier League draw with Burnley back in January, catching the eye with an electric cameo that nearly produced a dramatic late winner for the Red Devils.
Lacey has not turned out for the United first team since he was sent off in the FA Cup third round defeat to Brighton on January 11.
The 18-year-old sustained an injury, which has kept him from playing a role since Michael Carrick was named Ruben Amorim’s replacement. A recent report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Lacey is back in training, and he will be hoping that his upward trajectory in the side continues.
Carrick has repeatedly made it clear that he will not hesitate to hand opportunities to young players, provided they prove they can handle the pressure and responsibilities of representing United.
According to journalist Alan Nixon, there is a chance that United will loan out Lacey during the summer transfer window.
Lacey transfer update
Nixon revealed on his Patreon page that United’s decision is motivated by doubts over whether Lacey will receive sufficient opportunities to make his mark at Old Trafford.
United are bracing for another busy transfer window, and potential reinforcements in the attacking department could result in fewer minutes for Lacey, potentially stunting his development.
Football League World have named Middlesbrough, Norwich and Preston North End as Championship teams that should be alive to Lacey’s situation.
However, it’s important to wait for this claim to be substantiated by more reliable sources. Lacey is highly regarded at United, and the club would almost certainly prefer to keep him rather than sanction a temporary exit.
Bernardo backs Erling Haaland to rediscover best form
Bernardo Silva has backed Erling Haaland to find his form at Manchester City but admits he ‘wouldn’t be shocked’ to see the forward left out against Real Madrid.
Haaland has endured a goal drought since the turn of the new year, with just four goals in his last 18 appearances across all competitions.
The Norwegian’s decline has been a concern for the Citizens, and Haaland drew another blank in last week’s 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
City host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie tomorrow, needing a huge performance to save their European season.
Asked about Haaland before the game, Bernardo told a pre-game press conference that he would always ‘prefer to have Erling’ in the side but will back the manager’s decision.
“We wouldn’t be shocked with anything, because it is not our job to judge the managers decision, he gets paid a lot of money to make those decisions,” the City captain said at a pre-game press conference.
“We have a big squad, anyone is ready to play. Erling is a massive player for us, very important player, and in the big games you need those players. But we have fantastic players everywhere.
“No one is irreplaceable. I would obviously prefer to have Erling because when you have Erling on the pitch you are scoring goals, and we need goals tomorrow.
“We’ve played without Erling when he was injured, we’ve dealt with those situations.
Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal teenager Max Dowman to stay grounded after his record-breaking moment against Everton.
Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at the weekend, after sealing Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton in stoppage time.
The 16-year-old’s reputation is on the rise after his first-team involvement this season, with his record-breaking goal garnering plenty of headlines in recent days.
Arteta admits Dowman’s impact at such a young age is ‘rare’, but has told the teenager he must look forward. Discussing Dowman, Arteta said the winger has all the support needed to be a sustained success.
“What he did in such a moment, very rare to see. He’s done it, and that is football. It’s not relevant anymore, it’s about the next one,” Arteta told the media on Monday, ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen.
“The most important one is his family, he’s in a very good place there as well. He is used to a lot of things, he takes it normally and knows what the sport is about.”
Arteta gives Odegaard and Timber update ahead of Leverkusen and Carabao Cup final
Mikel Arteta has said Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard could be fit to feature for Arsenal in this weekend’s Carabao Cup final.
Arsenal take on Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday with the first silverware of the season at stake.
For Arsenal, it’s a chance to end a six-year wait for a major trophy and continue their quest for an unprecedented quadruple.
Arsenal have issues heading into the clash, with both Timber and Odegaard facing battles to make it.
Both will miss tomorrow’s Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen, but Arteta was optimistic over their involvement at Wembley.
On Odegaard, Arteta said at his press conference on Monday: “Yeah. He really wants to be available, but we will have to see in the next few days when he trains, how he feels. The more players we have, the better.
“With [Jurrien Timber’s injury] it will be a matter of days, so I’m not sure [on his availability]. We need everybody available. We know what [Ben White] gives us. He trained today, so he is good. We need everybody’s contribution.”
Instead, he took the increasingly popular position of applauding Bam Adebayo, Erik Spoelstra, and the entire Miami Heat organization for going for it. He also channeled Bill Simmons in calling out the Washington Generals (Wizards) in saying that’s where anyone’s hate should be directed for their inability to stop him. “I don’t care if it’s your local church league. You get a chance to go for history, you go for it. And I’m so tired of all these podcasters and all these guys who never played the game talking about ‘oh the sanctity and they ruined basketball.’ I do not care. 83 is 83 and for Coach Spoelstra and for Bam to be getting a lot of hate from this, your hate is misdirected. Because it should be towards the Washington Generals. I know they’re the Wizards, but the way they were playing they looked like the Washington Generals. And that’s where your hate should be,” Miller said.
The Hawks’ Magic City Monday promotion was not going to include erotic dancing. Several concession stands were set to serve the club’s famous chicken wings, which include a flavor named after Lou Williams, a former Hawks player. Mr. Williams was famously observed visiting Magic City with the rapper Jack Harlow when he had been excused from the N.B.A.’s quarantine bubble in 2020 to attend a funeral. “It was just chicken wings and a name, that was all going over there,” said Michael Barney, whose nickname is Magic. Mr. Barney founded the club in 1985. He now owns the building, but not the club, which is owned by Paradise Entertainment Group. “They said maybe we could use the Magic name over there to sell some hoodies and see if we can put out a special edition. Just hoodies and wings, that’s all.” He added, “They took it from Magic City wings to stripper, stripper. Every other word was ‘stripper.’ That’s how they beat you down.”
Mr. Kornet’s post infuriated Natalie Clark, who goes by NatsHoney and is the president of Strippers United, a labor organization for strippers. “It was clear to me that it’s not that you’re thinking about us as workers, you’re just saying that we don’t belong in any traditional place within society,” Ms. Clark said in a phone interview. After the event was canceled, the Freedom Collective and eight other organizations published a letter in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution thanking the league for stepping in. “I’ve talked with traffickers that have said they have taken victims into strip clubs to strip before they were sold to desensitize them,” said Susan Norris, the founder of Rescuing Hope, an organization that helps sex trafficking victims, who signed the letter. She said the promotion would have been harmful to women who had experienced that, and said she also believes strip clubs are inherently exploitative.
If the season started today, one Rams player would be their biggest fantasy bargain, another a likely bust, and a third a likely wild card.
This team’s biggest fantasy bargain will be whoever starts the season as the #3 WR. Davante Adams will turn 34 later this year. It is almost inconceivable that he could start every game -- something he’s achieved only twice in his past nine seasons. His over/under on the game played will be around 13.5.
There’s room for 2025 seventh-round rookie Konata Mumpfield or 2024 sixth-rounder Jordan Whittington to step into that role. Or this “win-now” franchise might look to upgrade. Regardless, the #3 WR in this top-heavy passing attack probably will have an ADP outside the top 70... but with realistic top-50 upside if he earns a few starts.
Not surprisingly, Adams is my biggest projected bust. For only the second time in his career, he averaged at least one touchdown per game last year. That’s not sustainable for an aged journeyman -- even one as talented as Adams. The fact is, he averaged only 2.0 yards after the catch (compared to 4.5 for his career) and also didn’t break a tackle for the first time ever. (He averaged one every 22.5 catches entering Week 1.)
He was great largely because of a solid target share and an outsized scoring clip. His target share won’t go any higher, his productivity per catch probably will decline, and his scoring clip probably will plummet.
That leaves Matthew Stafford as the wild card. Despite his QB3 fantasy numbers, the market surely won’t place him in the top five. The seven-to-nine range seems likely. He could just as easily meet/exceed those expectations as he could fall short.
There was an expectation that the Toronto Maple Leafs would trade defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
The Maple Leafs scratched the veteran blueliner for roster-related reasons during trade deadline week, which is normally an indicator that a move could be on the way. Yet Ekman-Larsson was not traded and will finish the campaign with the Maple Leafs.
While Ekman-Larsson did not get traded by the deadline, the possibility of him being moved during the summer remains. The Maple Leafs are retooling, and the 34-year-old defenseman could land them a nice return during the offseason, given that he is in the middle of a strong season, as evidenced by his eight goals and 35 points in 63 games.
Because of this, let’s take a look at three teams that could look to trade for Ekman-Larsson during the summer.
The Boston Bruins have been linked to Ekman-Larsson several times over the years, and that included leading up to this year’s deadline. With this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if they kicked tires on Ekman-Larsson during the summer.
With Ekman-Larsson capable of playing on the right side, he could slot well on the Bruins’ second pairing with Hampus Lindholm if acquired. It is no secret that the Bruins need an upgrade in that spot of their lineup, so they could be a team to keep an eye on when it comes to Ekman-Larsson.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are another team that have been connected to Ekman-Larsson, and it is easy to understand why. The Oilers should look to upgrade their blueline in the offseason, as it is currently one of their biggest weaknesses. Bringing in a veteran like Ekman-Larsson could help change things on that front.
If the Oilers landed Ekman-Larsson, he could fit nicely on either their second or third pairing. He would also provide them with another defenseman who can play in all situations, making it an excellent pickup for the Oilers during the summer.
The Detroit Red Wings made a smart move at the deadline when they acquired defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues. Yet, they should still look to improve their defense over the summer. Ekman-Larsson could be a good fit on their roster because of it.
Whether he played on their left or right side, Ekman-Larsson would strengthen the Red Wings’ blueline if acquired. He would also give them another veteran who is a good leader, which would not be a bad thing at all for a Red Wings club on the rise.
The Miami Dolphins had three first-round picks in the 2020 NFL draft and used them on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, offensive tackle Austin Jackson and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.
After six seasons, only Jackson is still on the team, as Miami cut Tagovailoa this offseason and released Igbinoghene after three years. However, the cornerback recently found another team, as he signed a deal with the Seattle Seahawks, according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar.
The Dolphins originally took Igbinoghene with pick No. 30 in that 2020 draft, but in his three years in Miami he appeared in 32 games and started just five while recording 29 tackles, five passes defensed, two fumbles recovered and one interception.
Miami trade Igbinoghene to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, and he played just five games for America's Team without recording a single stat.
Igbinoghene spent the last two years with the Washington Commanders, playing more than he had in his two prior spots, as he started 12 games and recorded 90 tackles, 12 passes defensed and one sack.
Ancelotti shrugs off pressure, picks the best Brazilians he’s managed
Carlo Ancelotti, now at the helm of the Brazilian National Team, welcomed the newspaper Marca to his office at the CBF headquarters for an exclusive interview.
A successful coach with an enviable résumé, Ancelotti spoke about his first months in Brazil, adapting to the environment, and the challenges that separate him from the long-dreamed-of sixth World Cup title – and made sure to deny any "pressure" for the World Cup trophy.
For the legendary Italian coach, competing in the World Cup with the National Team is just another "motivation" in his long and victorious career.
"Difficulty has to be a motivation to do better. The feeling I have is that there is an environment prepared to win. There is a lot of pressure, it’s true, but there is also an incredible affection for the national team," he said.
On the eve of announcing the squad list for the last tests of the National Team, against Croatia and France, Ancelotti commented on the difficulty of selecting players for Brazil.
"It’s not easy to make the list because there are many options, especially in attack, because we have many options. A little less in midfield or on the wings (full-backs), but there is the possibility to choose the players who will play in the upcoming friendlies and at the World Cup," he said.
In the interview, Carleto also picked the best XI he has coached, counting only Brazilian players.
Check it out below:
After a historic and multi-award-winning spell at Real Madrid, Ancelotti revealed that the Brazilian National Team was the only path he saw for the next stage of his career.
"I didn’t have the idea of going to another club after Madrid. The opportunity with the Brazilian national team came up two years ago and then I renewed with Madrid, but last year we thought it was time to leave and now I’m happy," explained the coach.
The atmosphere at the CBF, according to him, is marked by colors and a lot of joy, contrasting with the formality of his old office in Valdebebas.
Despite the initial resistance from part of the "old school" of Brazilian football towards foreign coaches, Ancelotti says he feels welcomed.
"People welcome me very well here, I am very respected and they love me a lot. The environment in Brazil is a football environment, very passionate, people are very connected to football," he celebrated.
With the World Cup approaching, the pressure for results and for the sixth star is a constant reality in Brazil.
However, the coach faces the scenario in a positive way.
"They’ve been asking for this for a long time. This is not just a goal, it’s also a motivation."
Ancelotti highlighted the cultural difference in the weight the National Team carries for Brazilians compared to Europe.
"The feeling I have is that there is an environment prepared to win. There is a lot of pressure, it’s true, but there is also an incredible affection for the national team. Here, when the national team plays, everything stops, it’s not the same environment as in Europe," he observed.
He believes that, in Europe, national teams have lost strength due to the intense club competition calendar, such as the Champions League.
However, this national passion takes its toll on the players.
"In Brazil, the most important team is the national team and, for the players, it’s very special to wear the shirt. That’s good, but there is also a lot of pressure on the football player. A mistake in a friendly here punishes you, and I want to treat them so they don’t put so much pressure on themselves," Ancelotti added.
Accustomed to the daily training routine at clubs, Ancelotti detailed that working with a national team requires a different pace, with less continuous stress but a strong component of observation.
The coach emphasized the difficulty of assembling the ideal squad due to the vast amount of talent available: "Brazil has at least 70 [players] who could be on the national team, and evaluating all of them is not so simple." He revealed that he maintains constant contact with coaches from Brazilian clubs, citing Palmeiras, Flamengo, and Bahia, to help monitor the athletes playing in domestic football.
The process of defining the World Cup squad list is underway, and the attack is the sector that generates the most "positive headaches" for the coach.
"It’s not easy to make the list because there are many options, especially in attack," he admitted.
Direct contact with Brazilian players in the day-to-day of the National Team has strengthened his admiration for the profile of athletes from the country.
When commenting on Vinicius Jr., a player he worked closely with at Real Madrid, Ancelotti praised the Brazilian character.
"He is Brazilian, he has the character of a Brazilian. Brazilians are joyful people, very humble. I haven’t met an arrogant person either at the CBF or among any of the Brazilian people I know. Vinicius is humble, cheerful, and has extraordinary talent."
And to dispel any doubts about the striker’s ability to deliver, he was categorical: "Vinicius has never failed in important matches... I’m sure he will have a great World Cup if he’s on the team."
Chapecoense v Grêmio close out round six of the Brasileirão Betano Monday
Chapecoense vs Grêmio closes the sixth round of Brasileirão Betano this MondayCredits: Rafael Bressan/ACF and LUCAS UEBEL/GREMIO FBPA
The match between Chapecoense and Grêmio will close the sixth round of Brasileirão Betano on the evening of this Monday (16), at Arena Condá, in Chapecó, at 8 PM (Brasília time). The match will be broadcast live on SporTV and Premiere.
If it follows the trend of the recent matches in the competition, the clash between the teams from Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul promises to be eventful. This is because, on Sunday (15), the round featured a thrilling 3-3 draw between Cruzeiro and Vasco and Fluminense's last-minute victory over Athletico-PR by 3-2.
At Mineirão, Cruzeiro ended the first half with a partial victory of 1-0, with a goal by Christian. Vasco responded with two goals from Barros and then conceded an equalizer from Villareal. In the end, Brenner put the team from Rio in the lead, but Japa leveled the score for the team from Minas Gerais.
Vasco and Cruzeiro drew 3-3 in the sixth round of Brasileirão Betano, at MineirãoCredits: Gustavo Aleixo/Cruzeiro
At Maracanã, Fluminense practically started the game at a disadvantage with an early goal by Athletico-PR, scored by Mendoza. They managed to turn the game around thanks to Hércules and Canobbio. Even with one player down, Athletico equalized with Luiz Gustavo. However, Guilherme Arana secured the three points for the Tricolor das Laranjeiras.
Away from home, São Paulo came from behind to beat Red Bull Bragantino 2-1, at Cícero de Souza Marques. Sabino and Calleri scored - Herrera had opened the scoring for Massa Bruta. Also away from home, Bahia overcame Internacional 1-0, at Beira-Rio, with a goal by Willian José.
By 1-0, Palmeiras defeated Mirassol at Allianz Parque (goal by Flaco López), and Coritiba beat Remo at Couto Pereira (goal by Pedro Rocha). Santos and Corinthians, at Vila Belmiro, drew 1-1. Goals by Memphis for Corinthians and Gabriel Barbosa for Santos.
On Saturday (14), two red-and-black teams defeated black-and-white teams: Flamengo defeated Botafogo 3-0 at Nilton Santos, with goals by Samuel Lino, Léo Pereira, and Pedro, while Vitória beat Atlético-MG 2-0 at Barradão, with goals by Erick and Renato Kayzer.
Fluminense defeated Athletico-PR 3-2 at Maracanã in the sixth round of Brasileirão BetanoCredits: MARCELO GONÇALVES / FLUMINENSE F.C.
It’s officially playoff season for Yahoo Fantasy basketball if you play in a public league or your commish is content on doing things by the book. All good either way, because hopefully you made it to the dance and have a chance to keep moving towards a fantasy basketball championship.
It’ll be a decent week for streaming, with only Saturday being a double-digit slate. Most of my waiver targets are guys who play on lighter slates, but play the wire as best you can. If any notable players were dropped that can help you in your matchup, make that move!
Usually, you can just blindly play the volume game. However, this isn’t a week when I’d feel extra confident just picking anyone up. Let’s start with Washington.
The rotation is a mess, and Will Riley is the only player averaging 30+ minutes over the past 10 games. I’d add him. Also, Bilal Coulibaly is playing well enough to deserve a roster spot in shallow leagues. Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington are the only guys I’d consider for deep leagues because all of the other Wizards have been so hit-or-miss. I’m holding Trae Young for now, but I fully expect to have to drop him at some point because of the back-to-backs. Start by picking up one of the Wizards (or Suns) on Monday and Tuesday, and then pivot (if necessary) thereafter.
Phoenix has some tough sledding ahead, facing the Celtics and the Timberwolves on Monday and Tuesday. Then the Spurs on Thursday. Things will lighten up over the weekend against the Raptors and Bucks. That said, I’d stream Grayson Allen in shallow leagues with Royce O’Neale, Oso Ighodaro and even ascending Rasheer Fleming if you need stocks for 12+ team leagues.
Tristan da Silva - SF/PF, Orlando Magic (26%)
Da Silva should be added to all leagues. Over his past 10 games, he's averaging 14.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.2 stocks per game. Orlando begins the week with a Monday-Tuesday back-to-back, which should set fantasy managers up nicely and the Magic play two additional games later in the week. He dropped 55 fantasy points in a win over Washington last week, so there is spike-game potential as well for High Score.
The minutes restriction is officially lifted and Scoot should be a viable option for those in shallow leagues. The Blazers start the week with two fantasy-friendly matchups against the Nets and Pacers on Monday and Wednesday. That’s a good thing for Scoot — He just scored a season-high 28 points with 6 dimes vs. Indy last week. He had two 25+ point performances in Week 20 and is heating up at the right time for fantasy managers. The Blazers end the week with light Friday and Sunday slates, so keep him rostered.
Derrick Jones Jr. - SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers (18%)
Kawhi Leonard is nursing an ankle injury that will keep him out of Monday’s game. DJJ is usually a 3-and-D guy, but he’ll be needed for more with the Clips’ best player sidelined. Jones finished Week 20 inside the top-70 and will be a strong asset for fantasy managers looking for 3s and stocks. In a four-game week and the injury to Kawhi, Jones could fill up more areas of the box score in all leagues. The Clippers play the Pelicans on Wednesday and Thursday back-to-back, which should be good for fantasy purposes.
Justin Edwards - SF, Philadelphia 76ers (17%)
Four of the Sixers' top-five players in scoring and usage rate are out of the lineup, affording Edwards the opportunity to display his two-way game. He’s coming off a 21-point, 2-stock performance on Sunday and over the last five games, he’s been averaging over 13 points with 2.8 stocks per game. Philly has no choice but to play him heavy minutes with their wing depth so depleted, so even in a three-game week, Edwards makes for a good streaming option in deeper leagues. Obviously, if you see one of Quentin Grimes or Cam Payne on waivers, get them.
Small came out of nowhere to be one of the Grizzlies’ most consistent guards over the past two weeks. While Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. are under minutes caps and being rested, Small’s been playing anywhere from 26-32 minutes a night, delivering top-100 value in 9-cat formats. He’s been both efficient and productive, chipping in across categories, averaging 14/4/5 and 1.5 steals with 49/45/86 shooting splits. The Grizz play Chicago on Monday (a good matchup), Denver on Wednesday and close the week with a Friday-Saturday back-to-back against Boston and Charlotte, where you know the other guards likely won’t suit up for one of the back-to-back legs.
Kris Dunn - PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers (13%)
You won’t find many players on waivers who have been a top-100 player for the past month and nearly for the entire season. Dunn remains one of the most underrostered players in fantasy, sitting at 13% as of Sunday. He provides fantasy managers with a consistent mix of assists, steals, strong percentages and a low-turnover rate. That’s what you want for 9-cat formats. Four games and a hurt Kawhi could lead to more shots and usage for Dunn.
Cody Williams - SG/SF, Utah Jazz (13%)
The Jazz are running out of bodies and they’re giving away 10-day contracts like candy. Williams was a lottery pick who is finally getting a chance to make mistakes, but also take on far more responsibility than he normally would. He had the best game of his career on Sunday (34/7/7) and has scored over 10 points in six straight contests. He’s improving and his minutes are safely into the mid-to-high 30s lately. If you see him in shallow leagues, scoop him up because this is what silly season is all about.
Danny Wolf. - PF/C, Brooklyn Nets (9%)
I picked up Wolf in a couple of spots because of Brooklyn’s schedule. There are no back-to-backs and at the end of the week, they play on Friday and Sunday (lighter slates). Wolf’s also been playing better, averaging 12/8/2 with 1 stock per game in his last five contests. If you need a rebounder and possible low-end double-double threat, Wolf is a serviceable streamer for points leagues in Week 21.
Leonard Miller - PF, Chicago Bulls (4%)
The Wolves castaway has been doing numbers over the past week. He closed Week 20 averaging 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 53% from the field. Billy Donovan is playing Miller 34.9 minutes per night in his last three contests. That’s a serious confidence booster that fantasy managers should recognize. One downside to adding Miller is that his week will be over by Friday. Still, that leaves three games from Monday through Thursday to get a streamer with double-double upside.
A busy week for St. John in high school softball included a tight battle against a highly regarded perennial state title contender.
Doyle mounted runs in the fifth and seven innings to squash St. John’s early lead in a 5-4 heartbreaker for the Eagles.
The loss came despite a dominant showing by senior pitcher/third baseman Charli Neumann who finished with a homer and three RBIs.
Centerfielder Emily Kirkland went 1-for-3
Meanwhile, catcher Cinclare Landry — also 1-for-3 — had a double for SJHS.
Neuman struck out one and walked one in five innings at the mound, while relief pitcher Courtlynn Alexander walked two and sent back one.
St. John had a better showing in the following game that ended 16-6 win over five innings against Oakdale.
Alexander struck out nine and walked one in the SJHS victory.
The Lady Eagles led the Warriors 5-3 at the end of the first but piled six runs against Oakdale’s two in the second frame. A five-run rally in the top of the fourth helped put the lid on Oakdale.
Landry and Gracelynn Anderson each homered for the Lady Eagles. Landry tallied four RBIs, while first baseman Gracyellyn Anderson knocked in three.
Neumann, meanwhile, smacked a triple and two RBIs. Left fielder Kobi Bickham and second baseman Aubrey Purpera also had two RBIs.
The Eagles finished the week 9-4.
District 8-1A action pits St. John against vesting Ascension Christian of Gonzales at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. The Lady Eagles visit East Iberville in district fare at 4 p.m. Feb. 20.
A home showdown looms Tuesday, March 24, when St. John hosts longtime archrival Ascension Catholic of Donaldsonville.
Did your favorite college basketball team miss out on the 2026 NCAA tournament? Well, not all is lost because 32 teams will soon have a chance to compete in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Here's what you need to know for the 2026 National Invitation Tournament.
NIT stands for the National Invitation Tournament.
What is the NIT? What to know about NIT tournament 2026
The 2026 National Invitation Tournament will include 32 teams and conclude with the semifinals April 2 and the championship April 5. The final two rounds will take place at Hinkle Fieldhouse and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Who is playing in the NIT? How NIT field is chosen
Exempt bids: Two eligible teams from each of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) with the best KNIT score as of the morning of March 15 will receive an exempt bid. The KNIT is a compilation of other established rankings to judge a team's merit. Those four teams will have the opportunity to host first-round games.
Each of the top 12 conferences, as determined by the KenPom ratings as of the morning of March 15, will receive one exempt bid. The bid will be given to the team in each conference with the best KNIT score. Those teams will have the chance to host first-round games.
Automatic bids: Those go to regular-season conference champs that have a KNIT score of 125 or better as of the morning after that league's regular-season ends.
At-large bids: A committee selects teams to complete the 32-team field.
When does the NIT start? 2026 NIT schedule
First round: Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18, at campus sites, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Second round: Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22, at campus sites, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, March 24, and Wednesday, March 25, at campus sites, ESPN2.
Semifinals: Thursday, April 2, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, ESPN.
Championship: Sunday, April 5, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, ESPN 2.
When do NIT brackets open?
The teams and contests for the 2026 NIT release March 15.
When it comes to having success in the NFL, the odds have always been against defensive back Ar'Darius Washington.
He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of TCU back in 2021 and spent his first three seasons flipping back and forth from injured reserve (IR), the practice squad, and, occasionally, the active roster. He played in just eight games over that span.
But in 2024, Washington would stay healthy, play in 16 games, start nine, and appear to be on his way. That ended quickly last May when Washington tore his Achilles tendon and missed the first 13 games of the regular season.
This past week, Washington, like several other former Baltimore Ravens, followed John Harbaugh up to New York. He was inked to a one-year, $3 million prove-it deal, and he intends to do just that. He's been here before.
Washington has always been doubted. His size (5-foot-8, 180 pounds) is less than ideal for an NFL safety, and his 40-yard time (4.61) was less than desirable at his college pro day. He is determined to beat the odds and make this Giants' roster.
"That chip has always been on my shoulder. I ain’t just become 5’8. I’ve kind of been small my whole life," Washington told John Schmeelk. "I don’t think about it. Everybody is big to me. Every time I go out there, I just try to have that chip on my shoulder."
Harbaugh and his defensive coordinator, Dennard Wilson, know Washington's story. They know what he can do and what to expect. That cuts both ways. Washington is hoping they remember him, too.
Washington likely won't win a starting role. High-priced free-agent Jevon Holland and former second-round pick Tyler Nubin speak for the safety spots, and Dru Phillips is the Giants' main slot corner.
"I just want to be wherever the ball is," said Washington.
Harry Hardwick's jaw was a mess after UFC Fight Night 269.
Hardwick (13-5-1 MMA, 0-2 UFC) couldn't continue after two rounds of brutal action against undefeated featherweight Marwan Rahiki (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) on Saturday's main card at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The fight was ruled a TKO victory for Rahiki after Hardwick told his corner that he can't continue.
A battered and bruised Hardwick showed off the inside of his mouth after the fight.
While on his way to the ambulance, Hardwick released a statement insisting that he's doing well despite the severe damage suffered.
"I'm OK, my jaw is obviously f*cked," Hardwick said on Instagram. "But, that's alright, I like soup, and I like smoothies, and I like milkshakes, and I like energy drinks. So all these things, I can still have. Life's good. I cannot complain about my position.
"I have an amazing, beautiful girlfriend, good health, good family, good support network. No one needs to cry for me. I'm OK. I'm obviously gutted, but that's the sport I'm in. I wanted to win, but it is what it is. Hats off to Marwan. He threw the shot that broke my jaw. He did it on purpose. It's not luck. It is what it is."
Former Cage Warriors champion Hardwick is now 0-2 in the UFC after suffering a TKO loss to Kaue Fernandes on short notice, then a corner stoppage TKO to Rahiki.
Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet was originally scheduled to pitch during Sunday's spring training game against the Minnesota Twins. Instead, he'll now pitch a minor league game on Monday while Sonny Gray starts for the Red Sox against the Baltimore Orioles.
Boston fans don't need to worry, however, as there isn't anything wrong with Crochet. According to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, the team is shifting him to a six-day schedule to begin the year in an effort to manage his workload early in the season.
Boston has five off days during the first month of the season, giving Crochet plenty of opportunities for additional rest. The Red Sox want to take advantage of that coming off a 2025 campaign where he led the American League with 205 1/3 innings -- by far the most of his career.
Boston expects to be playing October baseball this year and wants to preserve Crochet's arm for the long haul.
While the two-time All-Star is used to pitching every fifth day, he sounds on board with the new plan.
Garrett Crochet was pushed back from a Sunday start to a minor-league game today. It's all part of a plan for Crochet to work on a six-day schedule over the first month.
“I like the five-day routine and then I look at the schedule and it’s like six-day, six-day, six-day the first month of the season,” Crochet told Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic(subscription required). “We have a lot of off days, thankfully at home. I’m trying to be adaptable as best as I can in that regard.”
Crochet pitched better on extra rest last season, too, so this schedule should help him be more effective as well. His ERA was 3.16 on four days of rest last year compared to 2.27 on five days of rest.
“It’s funny because I said I like the five-day routine,” he told McCaffrey. “Then last year, I see the stats on four days of rest and it’s not very good, so maybe I shouldn’t say that anymore.”
“I’ve been working through some mechanical adjustments and I hope that that’ll clean up my pitch profiles a little bit,” Crochet told McCaffrey. “The overall shapes are very similar to where they were last year. Velocity is a little down, but that’s not really something that I feel like I’m working on. Would I like to see it go up? Would I like to see it stay the same? Either (one) I’m fine with, for me, it’s just pounding in the strike zone.”
Despite the schedule change, Crochet is still expected to be the Red Sox's Opening Day starter against the Cincinnati Reds next Thursday.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 12: Jalen Thompson #34 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL 2025 game between Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are officially into the second week of free agency which in the past has been when the Dallas Cowboys have only begun to come out of hibernation and get involved in the proverbial dance.
Last week saw the Cowboys partake in action across the first four days that they could. I suppose Friday is for rests when it comes to this front office.
Here are the moves the Cowboys have made to date starting from last Monday.
New:
Rashan Gary (trade)
Jalen Thompson
PJ Locke
Otito Ogbonnia
Sam Howell
Tyrus Wheat
Matt Hennessy
Cobie Durant
Back:
Sam Williams
Losses:
Osa Odighizuwa (trade)
Solomon Thomas (trade)
Jalen Tolbert (Dolphins)
Juanyeh Thomas (Colts)
If you had to pick your thee favorite moves from the list, what would they be? You can choose any three to be clear so perhaps it was a trade or outright loss. This is your adventure that you are choosing, after all.
Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
CJ Perry, aka Lana, is excited about Danhausen in WWE, and is eager to see how WWE CCO Triple H does comedy in pro wrestling.
Danhausen's debut drew a polarizing reaction both in the arena and on social media, but one person who was very positive about him is Perry, who wants to see WWE cater more to the entertainment side of pro wrestling.
"It [Danhausen's debut] made me really excited again about WWE because lately we've been doing all — well not just lately but in the Triple H era, as well as just in the ESPN era, we really have to push a lot of sports more than anything, right? And that's very understandable. It's professional wrestling, it's on ESPN right now, you know, it has to be very, very sports driven and I feel like in the old regime, we had a lot more comedy acts. We had a lot more comedy acts and dance acts and you know, I've kind of been missing the entertainment. I've been kind of missing someone going through a cake possibly," she said on "TMZ Sports." "I personally love the entertainment part. I love the soap opera stories. I love the comedy acts. I love the cakes. I love the flags and the medals."
While she loves the hard-hitting matches, she enjoys the entertainment aspect of WWE, which she reasoned is the reason why she fell in love with pro wrestling. She is curious to see how Danhausen fares in the promotion, and urged the fans to be patient with him.
"It will be really interesting to see how Danhausen does in this Triple H era because it used to be that Vince McMahon, it was a one-man show, right? And in this one-man show, Vince really drove all the comedy. He drove the comedy and the entertainment acts. And so now we're going to see what Triple H's comedy era looks like. And that's really exciting."
So far, Danhausen has featured in backstage skits on both "WWE Raw" and "WWE SmackDown," and has yet to wrestle.
MUNICH, GERMANY - JANUARY 18: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Herbert Hainer, president of FC Bayern Muenchen, and Uli Hoeneß of FC Bayern Muenchen and during the FC Bayern Legends Cup at SAP Garden on January 18, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images
Controversy around refereeing decisions is nothing new in football, but occasionally a moment arises that leaves clubs feeling particularly aggrieved. That appears to be the case for Bayern Munich following a contentious decision that led to the dismissal of Luis Díaz during the team’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Díaz’s ejection was a moment that has clearly not sat well with the club’s leadership.
Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer rarely speaks publicly about refereeing decisions, which makes his latest comments stand out even more. When someone who typically avoids criticism of officials chooses to address a call directly, it signals just how strongly the club feels about the situation.
“I don’t usually comment on referees, but this time he had a bad day. That was a complete disaster. The fact he admitted after the game that he wouldn’t have given Luis Díaz a red card after seeing the TV footage is commendable – but it doesn’t help us or Lucho at all,” said Hainer (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
The remark highlights a recurring frustration in modern football: the gap between post-match accountability and in-match consequences. While it is notable that the referee acknowledged the mistake after reviewing the footage, the damage to the match itself cannot be undone. A red card fundamentally alters the flow of a game, forcing a team to adapt tactically while potentially influencing the final result.
From Bayern Munich’s perspective, that admission may provide a degree of validation, but it offers little practical relief. The match outcome, the suspension implications, and the competitive disadvantage remain unchanged.
Situations like this inevitably reignite debates about officiating standards, the use of video review, and how football should handle clear mistakes after they occur. Transparency from referees can be appreciated, but clubs and supporters often want more than acknowledgement — they want systems that prevent such decisive errors from happening in the first place.
For Bayern Munich , Hainer’s comments capture a simple reality — admitting a mistake is admirable, but it rarely changes the consequences once the final whistle has blown.
This is the first time that Sabalenka has won Indian Wells in her career, having lost her two previous finals at the WTA 1000 tournament.
After winning her biggest title of the 2026 season so far, Sabalenka revealed how she plans to celebrate.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Aryna Sabalenka planned to have a couple of drinks after Indian Wells victory
Sabalenka has now won five of the 10 WTA 1000 titles at least once, but she had to fly to her next tournament at the Miami Open in the same night after winning Indian Wells.
While she has her sights firmly set on the Miami Open now, Sabalenka did reveal that she plans to have a couple of drinks and a Five Guys meal.
“Well, I guess a couple espresso martinis, probably, and Five Guys to go,” Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference.
“Basically, that’s why I’m never in good shape, because it’s Five Guys and espresso martinis in celebration (laughing). Yeah, I guess that’s it. Maybe a couple drinks just to cheer ourselves.
“And that’s it, because the schedule is really tight and we’re on to the next one, and I cannot relax too much, because I’m defending champion there, and also, it’s Miami. I love being there, playing there, so I want to do well there, as well.
“So I will try to stay loose but focused. I guess it’s, again, going into the balancing everything, so I will try to balance it the best way possible.”
Who is Aryna Sabalenka playing at the Miami Open?
Sabalenka is the defending champion at the Miami Open, and will hope to go back-to-back this year.
Receiving a bye as the top seed, Sabalenka will play either Ann Li or a qualifier in her second round match.
The first seeded player Sabalenka could face is Xinyu Wang, with Madison Keys and Qinwen Zheng also in her quarter of the draw.
Sabalenka could also face a rematch with her biggest rival at the moment, Rybakina, but only if they both reach the semifinals in Miami.
Not only will Sabalenka be hoping to defend her title in Miami, she will also be bidding to make history.
Only four women have completed the sunshine double before, which occurs when a player wins both Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back.
This list is comprised of Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek, with Sabalenka looking to become the fifth.
The Miami Open main draw gets underway on Tuesday, March 17, but Sabalenka will not play her first match until at least Thursday.
Changing the trend – How Arbeloa is making the most of Real Madrid’s homegrown talents
Real Madrid’s convincing victory over Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu carried far more substance than just another three points in the league table.
For a club accustomed to making headlines with superstar signings and Galactico-level names, this particular match told a very different story.
It was a performance that showed a possible shift in identity under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
More importantly, it suggested that the future of Real Madrid may already be emerging from within their own academy system.
Arbeloa shaping a new identity
Arbeloa’s start to life as Madrid manager has not been entirely smooth.
The former defender stepped into the role following the departure of Xabi Alonso, and with that came enormous expectations.
Yet what is beginning to emerge is a manager determined to leave his own mark rather than being remembered as a caretaker.
Are we seeing a new Real Madrid? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Against Elche, Arbeloa’s philosophy became clearer than ever.
The team that finished the match represented one of the youngest line-ups Real Madrid have fielded in recent years, something that showed the manager’s deep connection with the club’s youth structure.
By the time the final whistle arrived, the average age of the side on the pitch had dropped dramatically.
Arbeloa’s faith in academy players is hardly surprising.
Before stepping into the first-team role, he spent years working with Real Madrid’s youth teams, developing many of the players who are now beginning to receive opportunities at senior level.
This connection was clearly visible in the Elche match.
Among the young players trusted with minutes were Dani Yanez, Diego Aguado and Thiago Pitarch.
Pitarch, in particular, has quickly become a regular presence under Arbeloa, earning several starts and accumulating valuable first-team experience.
Thiago Pitarch is a first-team regular. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Several other academy products also featured prominently, including Cesar Palacio and Manuel Angel, further showing the growing influence of the club’s youth system.
To put things in perspective, by the end of the match, eight of the players on the pitch had been born in the 21st century.
A glimpse of Real Madrid’s future
Across the 15 matches Arbeloa has overseen so far, he has already used eight players from the club’s Castilla side.
Pitarch currently leads the group in minutes played with 291, thanks to four starting appearances.
David Jimenez follows closely behind, while Jorge Cestero has also crossed the 100-minute mark with 109 minutes on the pitch.
These numbers may still be modest, but they reveal a clear willingness from Arbeloa to trust the next generation.
Real Madrid have occasionally fielded young line-ups in the past, but the one that finished the Elche match stands out.
Arbeloa seems to have a clear pattern. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Interestingly, Arbeloa had already hinted at this direction earlier in his tenure.
The very first team he selected as Madrid manager, the side he sent out in Albacete without a single player in their 30s, had an average age of just 23 years.
While this does not break the club’s historical record for youngest starting XI, it does illustrate the direction Arbeloa appears to be taking.
For decades, Real Madrid have built their reputation on the Galactico model. Yet the closing stages of the Elche match suggested that the next chapter could look very different.
With players such as Pitarch, Yanez, Aguado, Cesar Palacio and Manuel Angel emerging, the foundations of a new generation are beginning to take shape.
Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos insists he is not focusing on next season despite losing ground on the Championship play-offs.
The Swans lost 2-0 away to Welsh rivals Wrexham - a result which leaves them eight points adrift of the top six with eight games remaining. The club's next game is at home to Championship leaders Coventry City on 21 March (17:15 GMT).
When asked if he is now looking ahead to the next campaign, Matos said: "No. Same as before. Next game. Nothing has changed."
"It's of course [about] building for the future, that is always the idea and that we can go step by step is most important.
"Not everyone is rushing for step three before [step] two and that's what we want of course.
"Now is not the time to speak about next season, now is the time to focus and improve for Coventry because it will be a good game against a team that is top of the league.
"We need to put in a proper performance and compete as much as we can."
The Green Bay Packers gave linebacker Zaire Franklin a signing bonus in the deal he signed after being traded from the Indianapolis Colts to Green Bay at the start of the 2026 league year. Per NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the two-year deal included a $3.75 million signing bonus -- giving Franklin some guaranteed money and all but locking him into the roster for the 2026 season.
The signing bonus gave Franklin a raise in cash in 2026 without drastically affecting his cap number or hurting the Packers' ability to move on in 2027. Instead of bringing home roughly $7 million in cash on the deal inherited from the Colts, Franklin will now get roughly $9 million in 2026.
Here's how the reworked deal now looks, per Ken Ingalls, who says the new deal increases Franklin cap number this year by $125,000:
Zaire Franklin agreed to a new deal with the Packers after the trade. Gets a $2m raise for his services in 2026 and $3.75m guaranteed, while keeping his 2027 cash the same.
This is not a cap saving move - 2026 becomes $125k more costly. No void years - just more money. pic.twitter.com/Wep34rDgLU
The Packers can still save $9 million on the salary cap next year by releasing Franklin.
This new contract doesn't fundamentally change much. As a sign of good faith, the Packers provided the defense's new starting linebacker a few million dollars of guaranteed money, locking him in for the 2026 season, but this remains a one-year, prove-it commitment with an unlikely stay past 2026 for a player who turns 30 in July.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 18: Jaquan Brisker #9 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after a play during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers were as active as any team in the first week of free agency. They signed six external free agents, four internal free agents, and made a splash trade for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
After a very busy week, the Steelers already look much different than they did at the end of the 2025 season. With that in mind, be sure to get your questions in for the post-free agency mailbag, and return tomorrow to have your questions answered.
Questions can be submitted in the comment section of this post or in the replies on The Feed.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
We're in the heart of fantasy baseball draft season, which means it's time to try to identify hitters who might be undervalued or in for breakout seasons based on last year’s overall process. While I often use my own custom leaderboards to identify hitters who I think could provide sneaky value, I'm also a firm believer in using Pitcher List's Process+ stat because it identifies all the things a hitter does under the hood to set themselves up for success.
If you want to learn a little bit more about Process+, then I highly recommend you check out Nate Schwartz’s article, which won an FSWA Award. The stat, created by Kyle Bland at Pitcher List, is essentially a hitter’s version of Stuff+. It’s “a combination of PLV’s Decision Value, Contact, and Power metrics formatted into one holistic number” that represents how good a hitter has been at making swing decisions, making contact on those swings, and making authoritative contact when he does hit the ball. That gives each hitter a Process Value grade as well as a Performance Value grade, which tries to represent how well they’ve done, independent of just the process.
Both the Decision Value and Contact Value portions of Process+ stabilize at 400 pitches seen, while the Power Value stabilizes at 800 pitches, so I downloaded a leaderboard of all hitters who saw at least 800 pitches from June 15th on (so we ignore just an early-season spike) and focused on the hitters who had an above-average Process+ score. I also looked at current ADP in order to find hitters who had a strong overall process last year and should be in for success this season, but aren't being drafted as if that were the case.
All ADP is from NFBC Online Championship (12-team) drafts from March 2nd to March 16th (49 drafts)
⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
I'm not going to spend too much time on these players because they're all going inside the top 150 picks, so fantasy managers are already interested in them; however, I did want to point out that they could still be values where they're being drafted.
I firmly believe that Jackson Merrill (ADP: 70) had an almost lost season last year due to injuries. He was on the IL three times last season, beginning with a hamstring strain in April, then a concussion in June, and an ankle sprain in August. Not only can that disrupt your timing at the plate, but it certainly impacts him as a baserunner, limiting him to just one steal. In 2024, Merrill stole 16 bases in 131 games before a September knee injury led to him stealing no bases that month. I know projections have Merrill for seven or eight steals, but I think he's going to get to 12, if not more, and get back to hitting .270-.280, so I'm buying in
Michael Busch (ADP: 104) and Jo Adell(ADP: 117) both had their Process+ scores impacted by below-average contact grades, but that shouldn't surprise you. However, they both had good Decision Value scores, which means their overall swing decisions were good. They also had Result Value scores that were below their overall process and decision scores, which suggests they arguably should have done even better. I'm not going to go ahead and predict growth for them just because of that, but I think we should at least look at what they did last year as 100% valid with the POTENTIAL to exceed that in 2026.
I also think this Process+ grade shows that for Jakob Marsee(ADP: 136) as well. I know people don't believe in his batting average, and that's fair, but he also had a 108 Decision Value score and a 95 Contact Value score, so I'm not so sure his batting average is such a fluke. Yes, he has below-average overall contact, but his swing decisions are good, which can often make the most of mediocre contact ability. I don't think he's going to hit .292, but I also think the .230 batting average that projections give him is too low. I'd be comfortable projecting him for about .250-.260, and I think that drastically improves his value from what projections have for him.
Taylor Ward (ADP: 149) is also just one of those boring veterans who doesn't get mentioned enough, but I'd still target him in drafts, and I already wrote about Michael Harris II (ADP: 97) in my article on bounceback hitters, so I'd encourage you to check that out.
Potential Fantasy Baseball Hitter Breakouts
Name
Team
ADP
Process+
Alejandro Kirk
TOR
158
117
Alec Burleson
STL
175
116
Brandon Lowe
PIT
184
109
Bryan Reynolds
PIT
204
104
Daylen Lile
WAS
206
111
Ramon Laureano
SDP
224
117
Otto Lopez
MIA
225
104
Caleb Durbin
BOS
225
100
Xander Bogaerts
SDP
237
108
Colson Montgomery
CHW
246
109
Mickey Moniak
COL
248
113
Kyle Manzardo
CLE
248
109
Dillon Dingler
DET
261
115
Andrew Vaughn
MIL
275
125
Miguel Vargas
CHW
282
106
Brett Baty
NYM
284
109
Bryan Reynolds(ADP: 202) was another hitter who appeared in my article on bounceback hitters, which explains why I'm in on him at his cost this season. I wrote about Colson Montgomery (ADP: 247) in my Pull Air% article earlier this offseason, and the gist of that argument was that I don’t think Montgomery is going to hit for a high average. Swing-and-miss will always be part of his game, but the zone contact rate makes me believe that something around .225-.235 is manageable. That should mean Montgomery can hit 25+ home runs, but you have to have a batting average buffer around him. Brett Baty (ADP: 273) also appeared in my article on post hype hitters, so you can read that hereto see a more detailed breakdown of why I like him this season, especially at this price.
Alec Burleson - 1B/OF, St. Louis Cardinals (ADP: 175)
The key to Burleson's value is that he's finally going to get a chance for near every day playing time in 2026. Despite hitting left-handed, Burleson has no real platoon splits, so there's no reason for the Cardinals to bench him against lefties, but he often sat last year due to his poor defensive value. With Willson Contreras now in Boston, Burleson should be the everyday first baseman in St. Louis. He scored slightly below the league average in Decision Value, but his Contact and Power Value were very strong, which helped offset it. He does swing outside of the zone a touch more than you'd want, but he posted an 84% contact rate and 8% SwStr% last year, so contact is not an issue. If Burleson could be a bit more selective, we could see his power improve, because his 9.4% barrel rate and 91 mph average exit velocity suggest at least 25 home runs are in his bat. However, even without those gains, you'd be looking at a 20 home run bat who should hit .270-.280 in the middle of the lineup and have multi-position eligibility. That has plenty of value.
Ramón Laureano - OF, San Diego Padres (ADP: 223)
Laureano is coming off his best season since 2019, slashing .281/.342/.512 with 24 home runs and 76 RBI in 132 games. His Process+ was the 5th-highest of any hitter on this list, and he also has the same Power Value as Colson Montgomery and just below Jo Adell, which speaks to his overall quality of contact. You may be surprised that Laureano has an 11.2% barrel rate for his career, but he got more out of that quality of contact this season by being more selective. He was also challenged more in the zone, which figures to happen again, hitting in that Padres lineup. His career 73.5% contact rate is fine but not great, and his 12.5% SwStr% shows some swing-and-miss in his game. However, Laureano plays in a park with a spacious outfield, and he has plenty of power to drive the gaps. Perhaps he's more of a .270 hitter than a .280 one, and he may not steal double-digit bases like he used to, but we should not be treating last year as if it was a fluke.
Caleb Durbin - 3B, Boston Red Sox (ADP: 222)
Guys like Durbin showing up here are not a surprise. He makes an elite level of contact and shows a tremendous understanding of the strike zone. In fact, his Decision Value score was the 5th-highest on this list, and his Contact Value score was second behind Liam Hicks. He even scored OK when it came to Gap Power, but his overall Power Value was the second-lowest on this list, just ahead of Hicks. However, those contact and decision grades are crucial because Durbin is moving from a park that ranked 19th for right-handed hitters, according to Statcast’s Park Factors, to one that ranks 8th. If you sort just for hits, Boston is the 4th-best park for right-handed hitters, while Milwaukee is 24th. The issue is that Boston ranks 22nd in right-handed power, while Milwaukee ranks 6th. Good thing for Durbin that his value doesn't come from his power. He may only hit 10 home runs in Boston, but it would not surprise me if the Green Monster helps improve his batting average from .256 to something over .270. Considering he's also a threat to steal at least 20 bases and play almost every day in a good lineup, that makes him a strong buy this fantasy season.
Mickey Moniak - OF, Colorado Rockies (ADP: 244)
I think some people are not convinced by what Moniak did in Colorado last year, and, in some ways, I understand. He was the first overall pick in 2016 and didn't earn meaningful MLB at-bats until 2023. In that year, he struck out 35% of the time. He returned in 2024 and slashed .219/.266/.380 with 14 home runs, while still striking out 27.3% of the time. There was some thought that it would never really click; however, his age-27 season was his best yet, and not just in surface-level stats. His bat speed increased, his barrel rate jumped to nearly 14%, his hard-hit rate was a career-high 45%, and he made more contact than he ever had before.
Now, he did still post a 14.7% SwStr%, he doesn't walk, and a lot of the contact gains could have just been that he was challenged in the zone more than he ever had been before. His Decision Value grade was just 82, and his Contact Value was 85, so he was well below league average in both. Yet, he has plenty of power and hits in arguably the best offensive environment in the game. Maybe he's more of a .250-.260 hitter, given his league average overall contact, but he's going to make that contact count. Another 20 home run season feels like a given, and he has the speed to swipe 10 bases as well. He may sit versus lefties sometimes, but Colorado doesn't have tons of options to challenge him early, so you're going to get a .255 hitter who goes 20/10 as a baseline. That's pretty good at this cost.
Andrew Vaughn - 1B, Milwaukee Brewers (ADP: 269)
Another player who we're seemingly not believing in. Vaughn made his debut with the Brewers on July 7th, so these metrics are just from his time in Milwaukee, but his time there was impressive. He hit .308/.375/.493 with nine home runs and 46 RBI in 64 games. He also posted an 11% barrel rate and 47.4% hard-hit rate while having a 113 Decision Value grade, 114 Contact Value grade, and 108 Power Value grade. He and Josh Bell (more on that later) are the only players on this list to post 100 or higher in all three categories. It's also important to point out that Vaughn was never really bad with the White Sox. In 2024, he hit .246/.297/.402 with 19 home runs. In 2023, he hit .258/.314/.429 with 21 home runs. He also posted barrel rates of 9.3% and 8.4%, respectively, and averaged abouta 45% Hard-Hit rate. So now you take that same hitter, you cut down his chase rate a bit, you put him in a better home park and in a better lineup, and it makes sense that you get better production. I think Vaughn is a legit .270 hitter with 20-25 home run power who will hit in a decent lineup. I'd even take him as my 1B in deeper formats.
Miguel Vargas - 1B/3B, Chicago White Sox (ADP: 287)
Nothing Vargas did last year jumps off the page, but he consistently put himself in good positions to succeed. His Decision Value grade was 130, which is not only the best of any player on this list, but one of the best of any player in the league. That makes some sense since he doesn't chase out of the zone and has a high zone swing rate while also posting a near double-digit walk rate. He has a tremendous understanding of the strike zone. His Contact Value was just above 100, but he had an 87% zone contact rate and just an 8% SwStr%, so he makes more than enough contact. His power also isn't great, but a 9.3% barrel rate, 40% hard-hit rate, and 89.7 mph average exit velocity are all slightly above league average. In the second half of the season, Vargas hit .267/.354/.436 in 45 games with six home runs and 25 RBI. Given that last year was also his first year as a full-time player, it makes some sense that he would begin to settle in as the year went on. I think that second half is a pretty good reflection of who Vargas could be as an MLB hitter, and that type of player has value for you as a multi-position bench bat or a corner infielder in deeper formats.
⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Fantasy Baseball Late-Round Hitter Targets
Name
Team
ADP
Process+
Colt Keith
DET
329
101
Lenyn Sosa
CHW
333
108
Dominic Canzone
SEA
337
117
Mark Vientos
NYM
340
110
Jesus Sanchez
TOR
350
101
Mike Yastrzemski
ATL
355
100
Victor Caratini
MIN
356
108
Josh Bell
MIN
357
124
Liam Hicks
MIA
Undrafted
105
Spencer Horwitz
PIT
Undrafted
105
Eric Wagaman
MIN
Undrafted
101
I wrote about Mike Yastremski (ADP: 354) in my Pull Air% article, so I'm certainly interested in him now that he's in Atlanta. I wouldn't be drafting him outside of 15-team leagues and deeper, but he's a name to know. Jesus Sanchez(ADP: 355) was also in that same article about bounce-back hitters, so you can read about him in detail here. Mark Vientos (ADP: 349) doesn't have a starting job and hasn't had great stats this spring, but his underlying process has always been pretty solid. I'm not ready to write him off. I also don't fully know how Seattle is going to rotate their outfielders, so I assume that Dominic Canzone (ADP: 337) has a starting job, but it's unclear how many games he'll start or how long his leash will be if he struggles to begin the season.
Lenyn Sosa - 2B/1B, Chicago White Sox (ADP: 332)
Sosa was pretty good last season, hitting .264/.293/.434 with 22 home runs in 140 games for the White Sox. He has a 116 Power Value and 106 Contact Value, but the issue, as you can probably tell from his OBP, is that he swings at almost everything. Sosa had a 41% chase rate last year, and even though he just had a 10.5% SwStr% overall, when you swing that much at pitches out of the zone, those are not usually pitches you can do damage on. Sosa has a nearly 90% zone contact rate and a 10.4% barrel rate, so he makes tons of quality contact in the zone, but there are also too many at-bats that end with him making contact on a pitch out of the zone that he can't hit well. I don't expect him to all of a sudden change who he is as a hitter, but if he could rein it in slightly, we could easily see him duplicate what he did last season. He doesn't run, and his defensive value is pretty weak, so he's going to need to hit consistently to stay in the lineup, but I'm watching him with real interest to start the season. If I see even a modest growth in that chase rate, I'm going to be adding him wherever I can.
Josh Bell - 1B, Minnesota Twins (ADP: 358)
As I mentioned above, Bell and Andrew Vaughn are the only two hitters on this list who scored over 100 (better than league average) in all of Decision Value, Contact Value, and Power Value. The decision part shouldn't surprise you for Bell since he has a career 11.2% walk rate and sub-26% chase rate. The power value also makes sense since he tied his highest home run total since 2021. He also posted a 12% barrel rate and 47% hard-hit rate, which were the second-best marks of his career, and he saw a nearly THREE MPH increase in his bat speed last season. Bell also has a acreer 10% SwStr% and has been above an 85% zone contact rate every year since 2022, so he has at least league average contact ability, if not slightly better. All of that is pretty appealing. As a switch-hitter, he doesn't have any natural platoon needs, and he's on a Twins team that will probably play him 140+ games or at least basically every day until they try and move him at the trade deadline. That's a situation that I'm interested in in deeper formats.
Horwitz got off to a slow start last year after his season was delayed due to a wrist injury. However, he hit .272/.353/.434 in 108 games with 11 home runs. His best grade was his 113 Decision Value mark, which makes sense because he has an 11% walk rate in his career and doesn't expand the zone much at all. He pairs that with solid contact skills, as represented by his 90% zone contact rate and 7.6% SwStr%, but modest power. In truth, Horwitz is more of a gap-to-gap guy who I don't really see eclipsing 15 home runs in a season, but I would expect him to always hit around .270 or better, which can be helpful. The issues against him are that he doesn't have a single career stolen base, and the Pirates have a lot of options at 1B/DH with Horwitz, Ryan O'Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna, so it's unclear how playing time is going to be divided up. That makes Horwitz more of a deeper league option for me.
Following the initial wave of NFL free agency, what does the Indianapolis Colts' current starting defensive lineup look like?
Overall, the Colts have been relatively active, re-signing several of their own free agents along with making a handful of outside additions. That will, of course, impact what the starting lineups look like on each side of the football.
What this lineup looks like today may not be what it will look like come training camp, with additions still able to be made and the NFL draft taking place. But what this exercise does do is provide us with insight into the current state of the Colts' roster.
To preview what the starting offensive line may look like, you can find that here.
Colts projected starting defense after first wave of NFL free agency
With Key's experience, I'll put him as the starter opposite of Latu over JT Tuimoloau. However, ideally, the Colts add another impact presence at defensive end, for Key to then take on a rotational role.
Linebacker: Jaylon Carlies, Austin Ajiake
This position group is void of experience currently. Carlies, who has played just over 200 career defensive snaps, is the most experienced player on the roster at this position. Linebacker remains a major need.
The Colts are positioned very well here, and from the sounds of it, Ward intends to play this season after expressing uncertainty at the end of last year.
Safety: Cam Bynum, Juanyeh Thomas
We still have to see how the competition for that starting spot next to Bynum unfolds. Hunter Wohler and Jonathan Owens could be two other options. However, Thomas gets the nod at this time. At 25, there is still potential to tap into, and had he not been injured last season, he seemed to be taking on a much larger role in Dallas.
Waters was looking 'Pretty in Pink' as she won her 42nd career triple crown.
PPA
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) finished up one of the more grueling sections of its schedule in recent memory, having played four events in five weeks, with the 2026 Veolia Texas Open, played at the The Courts McKinney Pickleball & Tennis Center in McKinney, Texas, the rare community park host for a PPA pro event in the far northern Dallas metroplex suburbs.
The event struggled with wind issues all week, culminating with periods of play stoppage during the gold medal matches, a struggle typical of springtime in the wind-blown plains of central Texas. Observers point out the same issue happened in 2025 at the same venue, and that perhaps a mid-March event in Dallas isn’t the greatest idea (in the years before, this calendar slot was in Austin, a bit more temperate this time of year). However, by Sunday evening, for the second tournament in a row all five gold medals were taken by the No. 1 seeds, contining a run of dominance for the sport’s top players.
Staksrud holds serve as the top seed to claim the title.
PPA
Long-time Men’s singles No. 1 Federico Staksrud took the top seed in Texas in the absence of tour No. 1 Johnson and laid down a statement, coming back from a game down in the final to top the tour’s hottest singles player No. 2 seed Christopher Haworth (2),5,5. Zane Ford fought to the bronze from the No. 10 seed spot to earn his first medal since December, 2024.
Other notable results from the draw: Haworth and Zane Navratil played perhaps the weirdest match ever seen in the round of 32: Haworth topped Zane 0,(0),0; three pickles in a row. No. 51 Armaan Bhatia had a solid run into the 16s, showing off his singles skill despite not playing the tour full time. No. 7 teenager John Lucian Goins, who won twice in a row last fall but hasn’t made a podium since, fell in the bronze medal match but put a loss on No. 3 Alshon. Teenage sensation Tama Shimabukuro continued to raise eyebrows on tour by downing No. 4 Garnett early and making the quarters. He’s just 15 and will feature as a starter for the Utah Black Diamonds in MLP this coming summer. Lastly, Haworth’s path to the finals was a gauntlet of singles quality: after beating Chrysostom in the 64s, he had to get through Navratil, Alhouni, Joseph, and Ford to get to Sunday.
Gold: Staksrud. Silver: Haworth. Bronze: Ford.
Women’s Pro Singles Recap
No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters blitzed past her competition, topping recent winners Jansen in the quarters, Christian in the semis, and Fahey in the finals to claim the title without dropping a game. ALW continues to show no signs of being approached in singles, and maneuvered here way around the windy conditions with ease.
Special mention to a couple of surprise quarter finalists, including teenager No. 11 Kiora Kunimoto (who topped Ingram and Wang before playing Christian tough), No. 12 Isabella Dunlap (who topped Bui and Parenteau before losing to Fahey), and No. 47 Kelsey Laurente (who got a walkover from Bouchard then beat Truluck before falling to Buckner). Speaking of Genie Bouchard; there some pointed comments on twitter made at the tour, who re-made the draws last minute to include Bouchard … who was onsite in Indian Wells live for the Tennis Channel all week and who subsequently withdrew. The tour has summarily terminated player contracts for missing events to fulfil other sports’ obligations; is there a double standard here?
Gold: Waters. Silver: Fahey. Bronze: Christian.
Mixed Pro Doubles Recap
The tour got a gold-medal rematch of the rare team to beat No. 1 Ben Johns & Anna Leigh Waters, but the top pair were not terribly troubled by Anna Bright & Hayden Patriquin while taking gold and their 61st career Mixed Pro title together. Nonetheless, we have a new primary challenger to the throne: Bright & Patriquin have now made the Mixed pro final in 5 of the last 6 events, a stretch that hadn’t been seen since Jorja & JW Johnson made the gold medal match in 7 of 9 events spanning from June to December 2025.
Johns laughed his way to another quiet double-gold weekend, winning both Men's and Mixed.
PPA
No. 1 Ben Johns & Gabriel Tardio won their 6th straight title together and improved to 81-4 as a team in topping No. 4 Staksrud & Daescu in the final. In a rarity, the top guard of Men’s doubles teams was pierced by an interloper; No. 7 Jaume Martinez Vich & Jay Devilliers upset the No. 2 seeded Alshon & Patriquin team and made a run to the bronze medal.
Tardio has taken back over the No. 1 ranking in Men’s Doubles from his partner Johns; he played a couple of events mid 2025 with others while Ben took off, meaning he’ll maintain a 200 point lead over his partner for the considerable future. Assuming the pair play exclusively with each other going forward, it will take until December 2026 for Johns to catch up. I wrote about “Reigns of No. 1 Ranked Players” in PPA history in late January, and the data used to derive that article is now in this Google Sheet, which will continue to be updated going forward for reign changes at the top of the rankings.
No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters & Anna Bright cruised to the title without dropping a game, topping the surprising No. 4 team of Parris Todd & Alix Truong in the final. It is just the second ever medal in Truong’s career, and the first in a “full strength” domestic draw. It also represents an interesting development for the Columbus Sliders, who just traded for Truong and who many thought would be buried on their bench behind the $180k Danni-Elle Townsend draftee, but a silver medal in a full-strength draw may turn some heads.
With the win, Waters secures yet another Triple Crown on tour, her third this season and her 42nd ever on the PPA.
Anna Leigh Waters was looking Pretty in Pink as she earned her 42nd career triple crown.
PPA
Shout out to the no. 9 seeds Mari Humberg & Millie Rane, who took out Buckner & Fahey in the 16s and Johnson & Black in the quarters before falling in the semis and getting edged for the bronze.
Men’s Senior Open Singles: Blake Arrant stopped the Cooperman singles train and took the title.
Men’s Senior Open Doubles: Altaf Merchant/Steve Deakin returned to action together and took the title as expected.
Mixed Senior Open Doubles: the unbeatable Julie Johnson/Steve Deakin took another PPA senior Mixed title.
The Pro Pickleball Medal Tracker spreadsheets have now been updated with these results. Click here for the Pro-only Medal Tracker, and click here for the Senior Pro Medal Tracker. These spreadsheets hold Medal winners for every pro event going back to the beginnings of the tours.
Next up on the Pickleball Calendar? According to my Master Pickleball Schedule, the PPA has a much-needed week off, then heads to St. George, Utah for the 2026 Greater Zion cup.
Any Head to Head or career match stats quoted in this article are courtesy of PickleWave. Visit picklewave.com for the premier source of Pro Pickleball data, including match replays, highlights, stats, and discussion. PickleWave has more than 31,000 matches in its database across all the pro tours.
Other resources I use frequently to cover Pickleball include:
It is the business end of the season and the race to stay in the Premier League is getting more tense.
With Opta giving Burnley and Wolves just a 0.35% and 0.07% chance of survival respectively and Crystal Palace a 0.08% chance of going down, it looks like it is a fight between four teams to avoid the remaining relegation spot.
Just three points separate West Ham in 18th and Leeds in 15th, with only goal difference currently keeping the Hammers in the drop zone.
Opta's supercomputer has been running the scenarios and providing the percentage chance of Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham finishing in 18th place.
At 6.36%, Leeds are currently predicted to have the best chance of staying in the top flight in their first season back, while bottom-of-the-form-table Tottenham - who are just one point ahead Forest and West Ham - have been given a 13.03% likelihood of being in that third relegation spot come the end of the campaign.
Things look a bit more worrying for Vitor Pereira's Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham with a 32.85% and 45% chance respectively.
As Spurs and Forest face each other in a crucial match this Sunday, the picture could yet look a whole lot different heading into the international break next week.
Do you agree with the supercomputer? Who do you think of those four teams is most likely to go down?
The Golden State Warriors are a loss away from sinking all the way to the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Coach Steve Kerr and Co. have found it hard to close games against top contenders without Stephen Curry. But, the star guard is a big reason as to why they nearly won 110-107 against the New York Knicks. His return from injury could signal a huge run to clinch an outright NBA Playoffs spot.
Curry delivers on leadership despite injury woes
It has been 17 games and nearly two months since Curry last suited up for the Warriors. He has been ruled out because of runner's knee but continues to join the team on their road trips. One thing that he values more above all else is winning. So, the four-time NBA champion found a way to help his team despite their woes of because of his injury absence. Coach Kerr revealed that it was because of the star guard's support that they got so close against the Knicks, via ESPN.
"Just feels better when he's in the room. He was in our meeting today, he got a workout in this morning. So he's trending in the right direction and he's in good spirits, and just having him on the trip is important for our morale," the Warriors head coach declared.
Kerr has not had Curry play since the 30th of January against the Detroit Pistons. Since then, the Warriors have been patching up his production through committee. Gui Santos, Brandin Podziemski, LJ Cryer, and Gary Payton II have all played significant minutes to cover their veteran star guard's production. Curry is visibly seen giving insights at huddles and also shouting schemes at the sidelines to help his team.
Despite this important display of leadership, Curry is still very much missed on the court. He is expected to return either when the Warriors face the Brooklyn Nets or Washington Wizards. By that time, there will only be eight more games left in their regular season campaign. So, Coach Kerr really wants his player back on the court.
"He's just one of one and this is the longest stretch that I can remember being without him since I think it was 2020 when he missed the basically the whole season. So yeah, we miss him. We miss watching him," the Warriors coach added.
These intangibles have been the difference-maker in getting the Warriors close against top teams. Hopefully, they get Curry earlier than expected to ensure a postseason position without a need to go through the NBA Play-In Tournament.
We asked you about Liverpool's priorities for the rest of the season and where Arne Slot stands.
Here's what you said:
Ben: The only ways for this season not to be regarded as a failure would be either winning a trophy or qualifying for next season's Champions League - or both. We shouldn't have spent the money we did in the summer to end the season with nothing. That would show that we have gone backwards, not forwards, and would seriously ask questions of the management.
Erik: Liverpool winning the CL would make Slot a bit of a sly genius and also secure his position for next season.
Thom: Arne Slot has show an Amorim level of stubbornness when it comes to team selection, tactics and tweaks... take Gakpo as an example. I wasn't a 'Slot out' kind of fan, but since January I've found it difficult not to agree with that stance. However, a cup? Champions League, FA Cup or even both! The FA Cup would be a satisfactory season, Champions League would be a successful, both would be incredible. It wouldn't take away the questions around Slot, but it does buy him time. Get players back from injury, reinforce the squad in the summer and go again next season.
Eddy: It's irrelevant whether we focus on the league or the FA Cup or even the Champions League. If Slot insists on playing the way we are, it's ugly football, with over reliance on players such as Salah and Gakpo, who are just not good enough at the moment. Slot is out of ideas, and before too long probably out of all of these competitions - which is ridiculous.
Keith: Enough is enough, Slot has got to go now! Not at the end of the season, NOW!
Gareth: This was potentially going to be a transition season after the multiple signings made in the summer and so it has transpired. Results have been frustrating, game strategy and squad selection somewhat confusing. Some of the new signings haven't quite bedded in as may have been expected and certain established players have seen a huge drop in their performance levels (no player is TOO BIG to be dropped) which has resulted in inconsistent performances/results. However, Slot is the man for the job going forward and fans should have patience as I'm sure when we have a full strength, fully fit squad then we'll see the best of this team.
Scott: I don't think it's about trophies, but rather getting UCL football next season. Obviously winning the CL would get us that, but the FA Cup only gets Europa League on its own. The goal should be either to win the Champions League or finish in the top four or five, which are both easier said than done.
Stevie: Liverpool will be better next season. Wirtz for me is the new Dalglish, give him time. And we still have something to fight for this season. Fellow fans, be positive!
Nickal has been calling out Covington for over a year, either for a
UFC fight or a wrestling match at RAF. Covington recently
accepted the callout while going on a rant about Nickal. “Chaos”
slammed Nickal for pulling out of a RAF 5 booking against Yoel Romero
after Romero missed weight. Considering Nickal is particular about
weight classes, Covington wants the middleweight wrestler to drop
to welterweight to fight him.
“I know you’re a big fan of weight classes and refused to fight a
man that was six pounds too heavy… I propose we do this in a weight
class where one of us is ranked and has actual stakes,” Covington
said on YouTube. “So how about bring that stupid ginger
bowl cut down to 170, and I’ll grant your wish to fight the biggest
name in the welterweight division.”
Despite being an avid supporter of Donald Trump, Covington is not a
part of the
UFC White House card. Meanwhile, Nickal will take on Kyle
Daukaus at the White House on June 14. Covington says Daukaus
has earned his spot on the card with hard work, unlike Nickal.
“Chaos” predicts that Daukaus will make Nickal quit as Reinier
de Ridder did.
‘You’re a Spoiled Brat
“But let’s make one thing crystal clear. I’m not gonna take away an
opportunity from someone who, unlike you, has done things the hard
way to earn a spot on a big card like Kyle
Daukaus,” Covington said. “He’s 10 times the man and fighter
you ever could be. You’re just a competitor, bozo, you’re not a
fighter. You’ve had everything fed to you on a silver spoon. Nobody
likes you because you’re a spoiled brat. And nobody respects you
because you’re a quitter. We all watched the real bozo come out on
a stool against the Dutch grappler. Daukaus will bring the same
quitter out of you on the White House lawn. I don’t need to fight
you. You need to fight me because I violated you via truth bombs
right to your face at the RAF press conference.”
Nickal (8-1) suffered his lone professional loss against De Ridder
last year. The former three-time NCAA Division 1 champion has since
rebounded with a stoppage win over Rodolfo
Vieira. Meanwhile, Covington (17-5) hasn’t fought in the UFC
since a stoppage loss against Joaquin
Buckley in December 2024.
March Madness is here, which means Yahoo Sports has you covered with all the information you need to fill out your brackets and make your bets.
Even though the bracket was just released, we already have odds for every first-round game, including the two First Four matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday night at the University of Dayton.
Last year, the No. 1 seed Florida Gators defeated the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars 65-63 in the national championship game to win their first title since 2007.
In this year’s tournament, the No. 1 seeds are Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Florida. The Blue Devils are the +300 betting favorites at BetMGM.
Here is everything you need to know to help you fill out your bracket on Yahoo Sports’ Bracket Mayhem game and with make your wagers.
Who are the betting favorites?
Overall No. 1 seed Duke is the favorite at +300 at BetMGM, followed by Michigan (+350), Arizona (+400) and Florida (+650). Michigan was the betting favorite after the brackets were released on Sunday night, but Duke moved up. Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg has more.
Biggest March Madness bets
One BetMGM bettor is a big Purdue fan, wagering $100,000 on the Boilermakers to make the Final Four at +600 odds. Will the No. 2 seed in the West Region get past Arizona and others? Keep track of all the biggest March Madness futures wagers right here.
New to March Madness either from a betting perspective or filling out a bracket? Fear not, we've got a few tips to help you wade into the wagering pool and not lose all your money in the tourney's first few days.
4 NCAA tournament bets we like right now
We've got odds on every first-round game, which means that we have opinions on them as well. Our college basketball handicappers Matt Russell and Corbie Craig combine for four wagers you should make right now.
Can Cinderellas bounce back after favorites dominated last year?
For many years, part of the beauty of the NCAA tournament was underdogs winning in the early rounds. March Madness was good for underdog bettors, too, but favorites have dominated recently. Is this the start of a new trend or an outlier the last few years? Frank Schwab investigates what bettors and those filling out brackets can expect this year.
Manuel Neuer returns to pitch training as Bayern assess goalkeeper options ahead of Atalanta clash
Just two days before Bayern Munich’s Champions League round-of-16 return leg against Atalanta, Manuel Neuer has resumed goalkeeper training, according to Munich-based outlet Merkur.
The 39-year-old, who suffered a calf fiber tear during his comeback match against Borussia Mönchengladbach on March 6, completed short sprints, performed agility drills and made ground-level saves – but did not perform any airborne dives.
The session, overseen by goalkeeper coach Michael Rechner and rehab coach Simon Martinello, appeared to be a test ahead of the Atalanta clash, which will most likely come too soon for Neuer.
Whether Jonas Urbig will be available is also uncertain. The 22-year-old missed Saturday’s 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Bayer Leverkusen after sustaining a concussion in the first leg against Atalanta. A decision on his availability for Wednesday is expected today, Monday.
With third-choice Sven Ulreich and fourth-choice Leon Klanac also sidelined, a young goalkeeper could get his chance if neither Neuer nor Urbig is deemed fit.
One possibility is 16-year-old Leonard Prescott, who has been on the bench for Bayern’s last two games against Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.
Another option is 19-year-old Jannis Bärtl, who has started the last six games for Bayern’s reserves in the Regionalliga this season.
Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all got on the scoresheet to help United consolidate third place and remain in the frame to finish within the guaranteed Champions League spots.
The Red Devils are now three points ahead of Villa with eight games left to play.
Emery also spoke to reporters and complimented United for the incredible levels they showed, admitting that they proved too much for his team.
Emery’s admission
Emery said on Match of the Day [via the Manchester Evening News], “Bad result. We played 90 minutes trying to continue in our mentality and the good form we had in Lille, but today was a huge challenge.”
“The first half was equal. In the second half, we started poorly, they dominated more, and we needed to react and try to get control of the game.”
On mistakes costing Villa, Emery answered, “Yes. This is the key. When you can keep the ball and try to stop them with the ball, it’s like we want. In 90 minutes a lot of things happen, some we did fantastic and some we missed momentum. Overall we needed to play smart with our idea.”
The Spanish coach added, “Manchester United are at a high level and to face them today was a huge challenge for us. We are competing and were with the same points.”
“Today, we finish three points behind them. Keep going, we must use the points we had before to try to keep going, keep fighting and keep recovering tactically and with confidence.”
United are next in action on Friday when they go away to Bournemouth.
Spalletti hopes to regain key Juventus duo for Sassuolo match
Juventus head coach, Luciano Spalletti, can only hope to regain the services of Dusan Vlahovic and Khephren Thuram for the next match against Sassuolo.
The Bianconeri are currently in the midst of a challenge for a Champions League spot against Como and Roma. They currently sit 5th in the standings, one point behind the Lariani, and two ahead of the Italian capital side.
Therefore, the tight race could be decided by small margins, so Spalletti needs every boost he can get in the final nine rounds of the campaign, especially on the injury front.
Dusan Vlahovic will finally rejoin Juventus squad
Following more than three months on the sidelines, Vlahovic will finally make his return to the matchday squad.
The Serbian was expected to join the team on the trip to Udine last weekend, but he and Spalletti agreed that he should remain behind, as he wasn’t feeling 100% mentally readyto make his long-awaited return to action.
But according to La Gazzetta dello Sportand Tuttosport, another full week of training should be enough to dispel all fears of relapse. Therefore, the two newspapers expect Vlahovic to be called up for this Saturday’s contest against Sassuolo.
The 26-year-old will definitely start the match on the bench, but could be granted a late cameo in the second half.
Khephren Thuram pushing for a quick recovery
Unlike Vlahovic, Thuram’s availability remains uncertain after suffering a knock last weekend. The French midfielder has luckily avoided a serious injury, only sustaining a heavy bruise to the left ankle.
Nevertheless, it remains unclear if the 24-year-old can pull off a swift recovery. In any case, the Juventus technical staff isn’t willing to take any risks.
Finally, Tuttosport mentions Emil Holm, who is expected to undergo new clinical tests between the end of this week and the start of the next, as the club doctors look to determine the stage of his recovery path.
“We lost it on moments” – Skinner laments United’s flaws in Women’s League Cup final defeat
Manchester United boss Marc Skinner believed his side lost the Women’s League Cup to Chelsea “on moments”, dismissing the idea the Blues outplayed them as they lifted the trophy courtesy of a 2-0 win at Wembley.
In their first Women’s League Cup final in their history, Manchester United kept defending champions Chelsea at bay before conceding a cheap goal with Lauren James pouncing on an individual error by centre-back Dominique Janssen.
After scooping the domestic treble last term, The Blues’ experience at winning silverware shone through as Agnes Beever-Jones extended the lead in the 77th minute, even though United were not swiftly swept aside.
United boss, Skinner, drew comparisons to when his side narrowly missed out on a second major trophy in last season’s 2-1 FA Cup final loss to Chelsea.
He said: “I think that’s the difference between these games for us. We’re losing these, I remember last year, the FA Cup final, we lost it on moments, we lost it on a penalty before half-time, a free-kick, and then obviously the last one was a counter attack.
“I don’t think they’ve beaten us today. In terms of the result they’ve beaten us, but I don’t think they outplayed us by any means.”
Although Sonia Bompastor’s decorated career in management would have made it hard to topple the Blues from the outset, Skinner insisted his side were not tentative.
“Someone said to me the other day, ‘Do we fear Chelsea?’ There’s no fear”, he said. “You don’t play the way we played through the thirds if you fear playing against Chelsea.”
Nonetheless, he lamented a lack of aggression when defending, particularly highlighting the space afforded to Chelsea talisman James, who scored the opening goal in this contest against her former club.
He added: “There’s some block we need to unlock in both boxes. I think we know how good Lauren James is as a player, but I think we gave her a little bit too much respect today.
“She can play left and right feet. And you have to go the extra distance, and risk the fact that she could beat you, if you’re going to go toe-to-toe.
“And I think we were just doing too many moments in this game, and I’ll reflect on it, where I felt there’s times to be cautious, and there’s times to be aggressive.
“I felt we got that balance wrong in some of those moments. And I think if you make her quiet, you can keep Chelsea quiet a little bit.”
This lack of conviction was mirrored in United’s offensive play, according to Skinner’s admissions in his post-match press conference.
Chelsea were plagued by defensive injuries before proceedings got underway at Ashton Gate, but Nathalie Bjorn’s unfortunate injury less than five minutes after coming on forced Bompastor to assemble a makeshift back four with a slender one-goal lead.
The Red Devils had the opportune time to raise their intent and take the shackles off. However, they did not manage to exploit their opponent’s weakened defensive unit and this immediately backfired.
“Now they’ve got a makeshift right-back, (Sjoeke) Nusken who’s more than a competent player”, Skinner said. “But we have to attack the side, and then we go and concede a goal. And it’s poor again. A poor goal from us as a collective.
“It’s against Chelsea that we don’t produce the moments of clarity that we need, when we’re trying to score goals. But I don’t want to blame, it’s not blame, it’s actually just clarity in the moment.”
With his current deal expiring in June 2027, the option for an extra year may be denied if United are unable to reap the rewards those committed to the growing project under Skinner are now expecting.
He said: “We have to stop getting closer and just be there and above. I think that’s where we have to be in the next couple of seasons. But that’s what I challenge my players.”
They are on course to pipping Arsenal and Chelsea to the superior Champions League qualification spot, while Manchester City’s cushion at the WSL summit seems too great to overcome.
Buoyed by additions made in January, they had not lost a game this calendar year, until the last two cup meetings with Chelsea. A historic European campaign remains in reach, too.
This uninspiring defeat in Bristol may epitomize their shortcomings, but they must not let their recent setbacks see them falter.
Confirmed: Chelsea staff member departs the club to join former club legend
It’s been confirmed that Chelsea staff member Jack Mesure has left the club to join Blues legend Ashley Cole.
Cole is taking on a managerial job, and Mesure is joining him as his assistant manager after leaving his role as Player Loan Manager at Stamford Bridge.
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Mesure becomes the latest in a long list of Chelsea staff members leaving the club after a long period there. But it looks like a case of him wanting to go help his good friend at another club and perhaps start his own coaching career.
Cole will be looking at this as a perfect opportunity to kick on with his managerial career and step up the ladder, perhaps following in the footsteps of someone like Cesc Fabregas, who of course also played for Chelsea and is now enjoying a very successful time as Como manager.
Mesure joining Cole in Italy
As reported by the reliable Training Ground Guru, Ashley Cole has taken on his first senior managerial role after being named Head Coach of Italian Serie B side Cesena to the end of the season, with Jack Mesure leaving Chelsea to become his Assistant.
It will be a good move for both coaches as they look to get some solid experience in order to develop some more.
In other news…
Liam Rosenior has summed up Chelsea’s issues after yet another defeat on the pitch at the weekend by saying they could be contained intwo main “aspects.”
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Is it still possible for Arsenal to bottle the Premier League title?
Arsenal has been handed a major opportunity to push towards the Premier League title after Manchester City failed to secure a victory over the weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s side now holds a nine-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the table, although the Citizens still have a game in hand. The gap places Arsenal in a very strong position as the season approaches its decisive stages.
Both teams will have further opportunities to collect points in the coming weeks, but the current standings mean Arsenal is widely regarded as the leading contender for the title. Their consistency throughout the campaign has helped them build a valuable cushion over their closest challengers.
Arsenal Leading the Title Race
Despite their strong position, there are still sceptics who question whether Arsenal will be able to see the job through. The club has not won the league title for a long time, and memories remain of previous seasons in which promising positions were not converted into championship success.
Nevertheless, the Gunners will be determined to meet expectations this time. With the advantage they currently hold, it is increasingly difficult to view any other team as the favourite to lift the trophy between now and the end of the campaign.
This season could become one of the most significant in Arsenal’s recent history if they manage to maintain their momentum and secure the league crown.
Supercomputer Predicts Arsenal Success
Statistical projections have also reinforced Arsenal’s position in the title race. As reported by Football Insider, a supercomputer has calculated the probabilities following the latest round of results.
The report claims that Arsenal has now been given a 97.42 per cent chance of winning the Premier League title, compared to Manchester City’s 2.58 per cent probability.
Such figures represent one of the highest chances of success Arsenal has received since the beginning of the season. While football often produces unexpected outcomes, these projections underline how strong their position has become.
If the Gunners continue to perform at their current level, they could finally end their long wait to be crowned champions of England when the season concludes.
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PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has a luxury of choice in deciding who to leave out of his attack against Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.
All of Luis Enrique's forwards are fit, which is a welcome rarity for him this season, and the pressure is off his side considering it heads to the second leg in London with a 5-2 lead.
Kvaratskhelia made a big impact as a substitute in the first leg last week, scoring twice and assisting on Vitinha's goal as PSG pulled away for a flattering win. The scores were level and Chelsea was looking dangerous until a 74th-minute blunder from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen gifted PSG a lead it then embellished with Kvaratskhelia's two late goals.
For his first goal Kvaratskhelia cut in from the left with typically quick feet before bending an unstoppable strike of ferocious power past Jörgensen.
Although Kvaratskhelia prefers playing on the left flank, that is where Barcola plays and his recent good form makes him hard to drop.
Barcola is a hard-working, pacy forward with good dribbling ability, and his physicality offers Luis Enrique the option of using him through the middle during games. Barcola struggled to get into the team earlier this season but has come back into the reckoning in recent weeks.
He opened the scoring with a fine finish against Chelsea and grabbed winning goals in the French league away from home against Le Havre and Auxerre. Overall, he has netted 11 goals in 37 games, compared with 11 in 35 for Kvaratskhelia; 12 in 27 for Dembélé, and nine in 28 for Doué.
With Dembélé assured of playing in his roaming center forward role, that means Kvaratskhelia is more likely to start on the right in place of Doué — who has not shown his best form during an injury-hit campaign.
Kvaratskhelia seems to save his best for the Champions League.
Six of the Georgia star's goals this season have come in the competition — the most for PSG along with Vitinha.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Newcastle United player Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring the second goal as Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk reacts dejectedly during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool have failed to live up to expectation throughout the 2025-26 season, with last season’s Premier League title winners given a £450M transfer market glow up last summer and expected to be in the title mix but instead now on the fringes of Champions League qualification with play best described as dull, uninspired, ineffective.
Everyone agrees is isn’t good. That this side lacks a tactical identity. That these former mentality monsters are prone to late-game collapses and are regularly outworked by their opponents. And most agree this situation has roots that reach back into last season. One thing people don’t quite agree on is where to mark the starting point.
A popular one for many, though, is the 2025 League Cup final. There, a Liverpool side that had flown through the autumn and was widely considered to be both the best team in England and Europe on the strength of that were outworked by a Newcastle group that ran further, fought harder, and left as deserved 2-1 League Cup winners.
Before that, there had been other stumbles, with an early January 2025 stretch that saw Arne Slot’s Reds draw with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League around a first leg League Cup semi defeat to Tottenham—though they would later fight back to win the tie in leg two—much cited as a start to their decline.
Most, though, at the time wrote it off as an understandable dip for a side that had all but won the league. Most expected when the games mattered they would click into gear. On March 11th they faced Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in the second leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie. Liverpool lost. PSG were the better side.
In their next match, they headed to Wembley to face Newcastle United in the final of the League Cup on the 16th of March. Liverpool lost. Newcastle were by far the better side. Since then, such underwhelming performances have become the norm. Games in which Liverpool impose themselves on their opponents are now the exception.
If one is inclined to trace the roots of Liverpool’s current problems—or at least the on pitch manifestations of said problems—back to the start of January, 2025, it’s been nearly 15 months of heading in the wrong direction. If one is inclined to pick the week where they were beaten by PSG and Newcastle, it’s now been a full calendar year.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) works out during spring training baseball on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
During this two-week span, I’m taking a look at the Opening Day true-talent rankings of the 30 MLB clubs on a division-by-division basis. While the rankings are based on actual 2025 batted-ball data, off-season player movement and potential impact of 2026 rookies will be addressed. Last week, we started it off with the NL East and NL Central. Today, it’s the NL West.
1 - Los Angeles Dodgers - ”Tru” Talent Record = 96-66 - Offensive Rating = 112.8 (3rd), Pitching Rating = 91.9 (4th), Defensive Rating = 100.6 (19th) IN: RHP Edwin Diaz, RF Kyle Tucker; OUT: RHP Kirby Yates, LHP Anthony Banda
This is pretty much the same bunch that won its second consecutive World Series last fall, with the two pretty significant additions of closer Diaz and RF Tucker. If anything, you would have to assume the Dodgers will have a little better injury luck this time around, particularly on the pitching side. Though Blake Snell will be sidelined to open the season, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani are all healthy and will be a fearsome presence atop their rotation. Honestly, a relatively healthy Dodger club is a pretty safe bet to exceed a 96-win true-talent level, though surviving the postseason for a threepeat is more of a crapshoot.
2 - San Diego Padres - ”Tru” Talent Record = 90-72 - Offensive Rating = 101.5 (12th), Pitching Rating = 95.7 (9th), Defensive Rating = 94.0 (3rd) IN: UT Sung-Mon Song, LF Miguel Andujar, RHP German Marquez, RHP Griffin Canning, RF Nick Castellanos, RHP Walker Buehler; OUT: RHP Dylan Cease, RHP Robert Suarez, LF Ryan O’Hearn, 1B Luis Arraez
Mostly subtractions and bargain bin acquisitions here as the club remains in ownership flux after the death of Peter Seidler. Any hopes for contention rest on the return to health of Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish, because as things stand their rotation is wide open behind Michael King and Nick Pivetta. There is still some star power in the lineup in the persons of Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., but the lineup just isn’t as long as it’s been in the recent past. The bullpen, fronted by Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada, remains a strength.
3 - Arizona Diamondbacks - ”Tru” Talent Record = 81-81 - Offensive Rating = 102.1 (9th), Pitching Rating = 105.2 (24th), Defensive Rating = 97.1 (10th) IN: RHP Michael Soroka, RHP Merrill Kelly, 3B Nolan Arenado, 1B Carlos Santana, RHP Paul Sewald; OUT: LF Jake McCarthy, RHP Gus Varland, UT Blaze Alexander
Held back by awful pitching in 2025, the Diamondbacks are surprisingly largely running it back in that facet of the game, hoping that the likes of Zac Gallen, Brandon Pfaadt and Eduardo Rodriguez can give up less thunderous contact this time around. If they can, this bunch could make some noise as the offense is legit. Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll and even catcher Gabriel Moreno are established among the best hitters at their position, and SS Geraldo Perdomo, despite subpar batted ball metrics, was exceptional last season. The eventual return of Corbin Burnes from Tommy John surgery will be a godsend.
4 - San Francisco Giants - ”Tru” Talent Record = 77-85 - Offensive Rating = 93.3 (26th), Pitching Rating = 94.2 (8th), Defensive Rating = 104.2 (27th) IN: RHP Adrian Houser, RHP Tyler Mahle, 2B Luis Arraez, CF Harrison Bader; OUT: RHP Justin Verlander
The NL West is largely a low turnover division this year. The Giants had sneaky good pitching last season, and it should be at least as good this time around, with the additions of Mahle/Houser slightly outweighing the loss of Verlander, who pitched much better than his record in 2024. Still, this lineup isn’t striking fear into anyone’s hearts. Arraez is likely to be miscast as a leadoff man here, with his low OBP and marginal speed. He’d be a much better hit-and-run guy in the #2 hole or farther down in the order. DH Bryce Eldridge is an X-factor who could provide a big power boost. These guys could fit into the huge pack of potential NL wild cards.
Oh the humanity. This was as bad a major league club as possible in 2025, and might not be all that much better this time around. They somehow assembled a club that could not hit at mile-high altitude, a pretty tough feat. A new administration is in place, and patience will be required. Eventually pitchers who can miss bats will be needed (maybe Chase Dollander is one), but for now, cover your eyes when Quintana, Sugano and maybe even Lorenzen are on the mound. Positives? C Hunter Goodman is an exciting player, Dollander could be something, and there are some exciting talents a little ways down in their farm system.
Zak Sturge has made 32 appearances and scored one goal in all competitions for Millwall this season [Shutterstock]
Millwall defender Zak Sturge received online racist abuse after he was sent off against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Sturge was dismissed in the 59th minute for a foul on Yuki Ohashi with his side leading 1-0, before Blackburn's Mathias Jorgensen scored twice in five minutes to turn the game around for Rovers late on.
Millwall said the abuse had come from two overseas Instagram accounts and neither appeared to have any affiliation to either club.
"Both accounts have been reported to Instagram's parent company, Meta, and the EFL and the club is waiting for an update on this," Millwall said in a statement.
It continued: "Emojis with racist intent and slurs about his skin colour were sent to Zak from two separate overseas Instagram accounts - one from Belgium and another from Mexico.
"Neither account appears to have any fan affiliation with Millwall or Blackburn Rovers.
"The club is doing everything it can to support Zak and his family and wholeheartedly condemns this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.
"It is disgraceful that in 2026 players continue to be subjected to such abuse. It has no place in the sport we love or in society."
The Lions had taken the lead through Luke Cundle's acrobatic bicycle kick after 54 minutes before Sturge, 21, fouled Blackburn attacker Ohashi just before the hour.
The Japan international looked to be through on goal, leading to referee Andrew Kitchen brandishing a red card, though Millwall captain Jake Cooper appeared to be providing cover.
Goals from Jorgensen in the 80th and 85th minutes sealed the comeback win for Blackburn to deny the Lions three points that would have sent them second in the Championship.
Turning point: Adam McMaster scored the game-winner at 18:54 of the third period, giving the Jacksonville Icemen a 3-2 win over the Florida Everblades in ECHL hockey on March 15 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Three stars: 1. McMaster, Jacksonville (one goal). 2. Cameron Rowe, Jacksonville (28 saves). 3. T.J. Friedmann, Jacksonville (one goal).
Penalty box: In a largely penalty-free game, McMaster scored the winner with Florida's Patrick Kyte serving two minutes for holding.
Around the rink: Will Hillman gave the Icemen (22-28-7-1) a second-period lead, before Oliver Cooper and Ross MacDougall responded for the Everblades (22-28-7-1). … Cam Johnson saved 18 shots for the Everblades. … Florida has already clinched an ECHL playoff berth.
Up next: The Icemen next travel to the Atlanta Gladiators, playing at 7:10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18.
The first wave of NFL free agency has reshuffled the Raiders' NFL draft needs. With that in mind, we've conducted a three-round mock draft that addresses the Raiders' remaining holes.
Round 1 (No. 1 overall): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders spent the opening portion of free agency preparing for Fernando Mendoza's arrival. Signing Linderbaum and wide receiver Jalen Nailor improved the infrastructure on offense. The Raiders are counting down the days until they can finally make Mendoza their next franchise quarterback.
The Raiders did not receive much production from rookie wide receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. last year. Though it was current GM John Spytek who drafted them, new head coach Klint Kubiak may want more at the position. No wideout prospect in this class would help Mendoza more than Germie Bernard would. Bernard is a high-IQ receiver who consistently gets open by exploiting soft spots in zone coverage.
Round 3 (No. 67 overall): Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
Is sophomore cornerback Darien Porter ready to be a full-time starter? The current depth chart suggests he has to be, with Eric Stokes opposite him and Taron Johnson at nickel. The Raiders should at least consider drafting competition. Washington cornerback Tacario Davis is a big, long corner who is also athletic.
One more win might have earned the Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team the right to be a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament. That would have allowed them to host the first two rounds. However, they'll enter March Madness as a five seed instead, and head to Morgantown, West Virginia.
The Wildcats will face a familiar foe for coach Kenny Brooks in round one. He began his head coaching with James Madison, and was very successful there, becoming their alltime leader in wins. Now, they're the 12 seed, and Kentucky's first round opponent.
If the Cats get the win, they'll likely face West Virginia in round two. The rest of the region has an SEC lean to it. The Texas Longhorns are the top seed. The Alabama Crimson Tide and Tennessee Volunteers also share that set of brackets.
Kentucky won't have an easy road to the Final Four, but they avoided sharing a region with Connecticut and South Carolina. Their quest begins on Saturday at 2:30 P.M. ET against James Madison.
After one week of NFL free agency, the Denver Broncos have 71 players on their roster.
The NFL's offseason limit is 90 players, and the Broncos currently hold nine picks in the 2026 NFL draft. The team will probably make a few budget free agent deals leading up to the draft in late April, then Denver will fill out the roster by signing college free agents following the draft.
With more moves likely still on the way, we're taking a quick look at the team's (projected) depth chart after one week of free agency.
Broncos (projected) depth chart
Quarterback: 3
QB1: Bo Nix
QB2: Jarrett Stidham
QB3: Sam Ehlinger
If the Broncos opt to trade Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger could be a candidate to replace him as the team's new QB2. For now, the same QB room from 2025 returns.
Running back: 6
RB1: J.K. Dobbins
RB2: RJ Harvey
RB3: Tyler Badie
RB4: Jaleel McLaughlin
Depth: Cody Schrader, Deuce Vaughn
Denver is also running it back with the same backfield in 2026, but they seem likely to add more depth and competition through the NFL draft.
Wide receiver: 6
WR1: Courtland Sutton
WR2: Pat Bryant
WR3: Marvin Mims
WR4: Troy Franklin
WR5: Lil'Jordan Humphrey
Depth: Michael Bandy
The Broncos are also expected to take a look at receivers in this year's draft.
Tight end: 5
TE1: Evan Engram
TE2: Adam Trautman
TE3/FB: Nate Adkins
TE4: Lucas Krull
Depth: Caleb Lohner
Adam Trautman, Kucas Krull and Nate Adkins all returned last week, but Denver could still use a playmaker at the position. There are a few notable tight ends still available, so this will be a position to watch.
Offensive line: 14
LT: Garett Bolles, Frank Crum
LG: Ben Powers, Alex Palczewski
C: Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth
RG: Quinn Meinerz, Calvin Throckmorton
RT: Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski
Depth: Matt Peart, Marques Cox, Nick Gargiulo, Michael Deiter, Nash Jones
DE: Eyioma Uwazurike/Sai'vion Jones, Jordan Jackson
Following the departure of John Franklin-Myers, Eyioma Uwazurike and Sai'vion Jones will likely compete for a starting spot this summer. Uwazurike might have the early edge due to his experience, but fans will hope to see Jones step up after he was picked in the third round of last year's NFL draft.
Outside linebacker: 7
OLB1: Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss
OLB2: Nik Bonitto, Dondrea Tillman, Que Robinson
Depth: Johnny Walker, Garrett Nelson
After bringing back Dondrea Tillman, the Broncos have a lot of depth at outside linebacker, so much so that it seems fair to wonder if the team might consider trading away an edge defender this offseason.
Inside linebacker: 6
LB1: Alex Singleton, Karene Reid
LB2: Justin Strnad, Drew Sanders
Depth: Jordan Turner, Lavelle Bailey
Denver re-signed Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, then they cut Dre Greenlaw. They should look to add long-term depth during the NFL draft next month.
Cornerback: 7
CB1: Pat Surtain
Slot: Ja'Quan McMillian
CB2: Riley Moss or Jahdae Barron
CB4: Kris Abrams-Draine
Depth: Reese Taylor, Jaden Robinson
The Broncos are bringing McMillian back on a second-round tender, which presumably means Barron will get an opportunity to compete with Moss for an outside role in 2026.
Safety: 4
S1: Brandon Jones
S2: Talanoa Hufunga
S3: Devon Key
ST: JL Skinner
After P.J. Locke left in free agency, Denver could use more depth at safety.
Special teams: 3
LS: Mitchell Fraboni
P: Jeremy Crawshaw
K: Wil Lutz
There's no competition for the three incumbent specialists at the moment. We'll see if that changes later this spring.
Broncos players are scheduled to report to the team's facility for the start of the offseason program in May. Following a mandatory minicamp in mid-June, players will have a break until training camp begins in late July. Before the offseason program, though, the front office still has some free agency to sort through, followed by the draft in April.
Mar 13, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd (2) shoots the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illiniduring the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images
Selection Sunday revealed that the Wisconsin Badgers will take on the High Point Panthers on Thursday in the 5-12 matchup in the West Region. Tip-off is slated for 12:50 p.m. CT on TBS at the Moda Center in Portland Oregon.
Wisconsin, cracking the field as the last No. 5 seed and the No. 20 overall seed in the bracket, were sent to the West Region, where the Arizona Wildcats are the No. 1 seed, and will be a part of the Thursday/Saturday slate in the first weekend.
They draw the High Point Panthers, who went 30-4 this season and won the Big South, earning them a No. 12 seed in the bracket alongside Akron (Midwest Region), McNeese (South Region), and Northern Iowa (East Region).
When betting lines opened for the first round, the Badgers were actually seen as a 12.5-point favorite over High Point, which was the highest of any No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchup, indicating that Wisconsin may have gotten the best draw of the field.
But, those odds have quickly shifted, as Wisconsin is now only a 9.5-point favorite on ESPNBet, with the over/under at 164.5 points. In fact, FanDuel Sportsbook had the line dropped down to as low as 7.5, but now lists the Badgers as a 9.5-point favorite.
Looking at the other No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchups, Vanderbilt is an 11.5-point favorite over McNeese. Texas Tech is a 7.5-point favorite over Akron. And St. John’s is an 11.5-point favorite over Northern Iowa.
We’ll see how the line settles heading into Thursday, but it seems like money has come in on High Point to cover the spread, resulting in the line dropping right after the opening odds were revealed.
Join "The Ariel Helwani Show" live on Uncrowned and YouTube at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. UK time as Ariel and the Boys in the Back kick off the combat sports week with a monster lineup, headlined by Alex Pereira stopping by our New York City studio. Monday's rundown can be seen below.
1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang kick off the week by breaking down the latest news and notes.
2:10 p.m. ET: Kyle Daukaus previews his UFC White House fight against Bo Nickal.
2:35 p.m. ET: Head coach extraordinaire Eric Nicksick talks Sean Strickland's upcoming UFC title challenge, Francis Ngannou's return to MMA and more.
3 p.m. ET: Living legend Anderson Silva checks in with the latest.
Feb 17, 2026; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during media day at Surprise Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Good morning.
Shawn McFarland checks out what we’ve recently learned from camp as the Texas Rangers enter their final week in Arizona.
Evan Grant writes that Skip Schumaker has named Nathan Eovaldi as the Opening Day starter for Texas for their upcoming season opener in Philadelphia.
Kennedi Landry writes that 2023 World Series hero Eovaldi will be making his sixth career Opening Day start and will become the first starter to make three Opening Day starts in a row for Texas since Kevin Millwood started four consecutive openers a couple of decades ago.
Grant has a few observations from camp from yesterday where Marc Church made his spring debut and the bullpen battles continued.
Jeff Wilson writes that prospect Cam Cauley put himself on a trajectory to eventually contribute to the big league team with a head-turning spring.
Grant notes that despite his impressive spring, Cauley was among the players who were cut from big league camp yesterday.
In her weekly newsletter, Landry writes about how the late-spring signing of Jalen Beeks could impact how the Rangers construct their pitching staff.
Grant writes that the Rangers were needing to see something quickly from Andrew McCutchen, and the veteran former MVP has already delivered in his short time in Surprise.
As a standout for the Rangers this spring, Jim Bowden writes that Evan Carter could be due for a breakout year for Texas.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: (L-R) Kevin Vallejos of Argentina battles Josh Emmett in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on March 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
UFC Vegas 114 went down this past weekend (March 14, 2026) inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, leaving several fighters feeling the post-fight blues. Among them was Brad Tavares, who suffered his second straight defeat — four of five overall — at the hands Eryk Anders, who opted to retire on top after his big win.
And Amanda Lemos, who suffered her first back-to-back losing streak after getting out-scored by Gillian Robertson after three rounds of women’s Strawweight action. But, which fighter is suffering from the worst post-fight hangover, now a few days removed from the show?
Coming into his headlining bout against Kevin Vallejos, more than a few eyebrows were raised after questioning why Emmett was getting an opportunity to headline another UFC card. After all, he was on a two-fight losing streak and was just 1-4 in his last five outings. Undeterred, the long-time Octagon veteran was out to prove that he was deserving of the gig with an impressive win.
Indeed, Emmett didn’t get much of a chance to pop off his offense because Vallejos looked like man on a mission from the jump, putting pressure and pace on Emmett, not allowing him an inch to breath and get settled. With a little more than three minutes into the fight, Vallejos kicked it into overdrive and pounced on his foe after hurting him with a big shot, ultimately forcing the referee to put an end to the fight (watch highlights).
While an impressive win for Vallejos, it’s a devastating blow for Emmett, who has now lost three straight fights for the first time in his career, bringing him to 1-5 in his last six UFC fights. And if we’re being honest, he simply didn’t look good whatsoever. He never fired off anything of note and once Vallejos started tagging him, his defense was non-existent.
At 41 years of age, many are wondering if Emmett’s best days are behind him (it sure seems that way) and whether or not it’s in his best interest to keep fighting at the highest level. He’s always been tough, fan-friendly and a grueling matchup for most, but since 2023, he has looked like a shell of his former self, getting stopped in three of those defeats.
As far as what could be next for the long-time veteran (if he decides to stick around at 145 pounds) perhaps a showdown against someone like Ricky Turcios is in order. Why Turcios? Well, like Emmett he, too, is on a three-fight losing streak and has lost four of his last five fights. He isn’t ranked at the moment — and never has been — but Emmett can’t bank on getting a Top 15 opponent next since he did just lose to the No. 14-seeded guy. If Emmett can’t get past someone of Turcio’s caliber, then it might be time for the promotion to part ways with him.
Thoughts?
For complete UFC Vegas 114 results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 12: Shemar Jean-Charles of the Seattle Seahawks appears as a guest alumni for an interview during the Appalachian State Spring Game at Kidd Brewer Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Boone, North Carolina. (Photo by Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Today’s Links: the signings, and rumors continue, as our beloved Seattle Seahawks keep taking their time this offseason. Dive into the shallow end of the links, but be careful. I promise, there will be more later. Thanks for being here. Go, ‘Hawks!
Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Dame Sarr (7) celebrates after a play against the Virginia Cavaliers during the men's ACC Conference Tournament Championship at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
As you probably saw Sunday, the NCAA brackets were announced, and the general reaction was that Duke got screwed and also that Duke got the toughest bracket, and it’s not fair.
To which we say: meh.
Look, we get the argument that the #1 seed is supposed to have earned the easiest bracket, and in the East, Duke sees #16 Siena, and then will face the 8/9 winner, either Ohio State or TCU.
The second weekend, assuming Duke advances, they would see either #5 St. John’s or #12 Northern Iowa, and then vs. the winner of #4 Kansas and #13 California Baptist.
On the bottom side of the bracket, #6 Louisville gets a potentially tough draw in #11 South Florida, and the winner will face either #3 Michigan State or #14 North Dakota State.
In the final pod, #7 UCLA takes on #10 UCF, and will play the winner of #2 UConn and #15 Furman.
On the surface, you see Ohio State, TCU, St. John’s, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, UCLA, and UConn.
And they’re all good.
But here’s the thing: at best, Duke can only play four of them, starting with Siena on Thursday. Assuming Duke beats Siena, that means they’ll get either Ohio State or TCU to finish the first round on Saturday.
Assuming they win there, the following weekend, they’d most likely face either St. John’s or Kansas, and in the regional finals, should they make it, they’d most likely face Michigan State, UCLA, or UConn.
For argument’s sake, let’s say that Duke plays Siena, Ohio State, Kansas, and UConn.
Alternatively, let’s say it’s Siena, TCU, St. John’s, and Michigan State.
Or for one more scenario, Siena, Ohio State, St. John’s, and UConn.
Those are all successful teams, and all capable of winning, but ask yourself as a fan: you surely respect the other teams in the regional, but do any of them scare you? Duke has already beaten two of the teams in the regional. That doesn’t mean they necessarily would again, but it’s there. They know they can do it.
Of the others, UConn and St. John’s have each given the other a major beating in the last few weeks. But UConn also lost to 12-20 Marquette recently (St. John’s, on the other hand, has only lost once since January 3rd, but all of those wins were in Big East play, and the Big East is pretty weak this season).
Obviously, several of these teams are capable of beating Duke, and in the short term anyway, the Blue Devils are down two starters, and therefore more vulnerable than they would have been otherwise. Hopefully, Pat Ngongba will be back soon and that will help a lot.
But having an easier bracket only helps so much. At least theoretically, you still have to beat better teams each game, or at a minimum, the teams that are playing better.
In the end, you’re going to have to play the better teams anyway, and honestly, you should want to. Why?
Listen to your Inner K ™, because you know what it’ll say: if you focus on the unfairness of the bracket, or worry about who you might lose to…you’re focused on losing instead of winning.
And that’s…well, let’s just say, that’s stupid.
Duke is a very good team that’s already beaten the #3, #4, #8 (twice), #11, #15, #17, #21, #24 (twice), and to the #25 team in an exhibition game, and lost to the #19 team by 1 and the #21 team by 3 on a last-second shot.
Since #21 UNC beat Duke 71-68 about six weeks ago, no one scored more than 64 points against Duke until the ACC Tournament, when Florida State hit 79 and Virginia managed 70.
And again, Duke won those games despite being down two starters, showing immense heart and resilience. Against Florida State, remember, Jon Scheyer put Cameron Boozer at the point, and when Cayden Boozer was ready to step up on Friday and Saturday, he ran the point.
In other words, they adapted.
We can’t say that they’ll beat every team they face. No one can promise that. But will they play hard? Will they get the most out of what they have? When this is over, will Duke fans be proud of this team?
The answer to all three of those questions is going to be yes, and it’s going to take a very good game by anyone to beat them. If someone else is better, then so be it. Only the best teams advance, and if Duke is one of those, it will. If not?
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 09: New Orleans Saints defensive end Jonah Williams (54) during an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers on November 9, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A lot has been written about how bad the Arizona Cardinals’ offense was last year, and could not finish games. But the defense going into this year’s offseason needs quite a bit as well.
So far in the free agency period, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort has seen the holes and has attempted to fix the team’s needs.
Overall, Arizona’s defense ranked #27 this past season. The breakdown is ranked #24 against the pass and #25 in run defense. Things need to change this year. New bodies need to arrive.
The defensive line has been a concern. Ossenfort signed DT Roy Lopez III and has brought back DT L.J. Collier in free agency, and now has inked DE Jonah Williams. The “other Jonah Williams.”
Former Saints DE Jonah Williams signed with the Cardinals
Williams, age 30, was raised in Meridian, Idaho, which is a short hop from Boise along I-84 West. The city is inhabited by just over 117,000, where the summers are hot and dry, while the winters are brutally cold.
He played tight end and was named captain for the football squad at Rocky Mountain High School, where he earned First Team All-Conference honors as a senior, along with being named Second Team All-State. In high school, he weighed 270 pounds with a height of 6’-5”.
Williams had only three college offers, but only one included a free ride: Weber State University. He had interest from Boise State and Utah State, which wanted him to come as a preferred walk-on and work his way into a scholarship. Instead, he took the sure thing and attended Weber State.
This decision was the correct one because he received four-years of education plus ended up with a wife. He was a late enrollee because he served on a mission trip in São Paulo, Brazil, through his faith at Latter-Day Saints.
Weber State played Williams right away. He started all 12 games as a freshman and was impressive right away. He recorded 53 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 hurries, plus he blocked a kick. For his efforts, he was named to the Hero Sports FCS All-Freshman Team. He also earned Big Sky Academic All-Conference honors.
In his sophomore campaign, he played in all 14 games with 12 starts, and finished with 37 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 hurries, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, and had two blocked kicks, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Williams was named Second-Team Big Sky All-Conference plus earned his second consecutive Big Sky Academic All-Conference honors.
He continued his success in his junior year in 2018 with 42 tackles. He was finally named First Team Big Sky All-Conference plus earned another Big Sky Academic All-Conference honor.
Williams really balled out as a senior. He was named defensive captain as Weber State won its third consecutive Big Sky title and advanced to the FCS Semifinals.
For Williams, he had 62 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5 hurries, 3 pass breakups, 7.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble. He was named to his second straight First Team Big Sky All-Conference and earned All-American honors. Plus, he was voted “Big Sky Defensive MVP.” He was also selected for the Big Sky Academic All-Conference honors for the fourth time in his career.
For his college career, Williams tallied 194 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 54 games played, and three blocked kicks.
On to the NFL
Unfortunately for Williams, being named a conference’s defensive player of the year meant little as he went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft. He did have plenty of clubs calling for him to sign an undrafted rookie free agent deal, and he chose the Los Angeles Rams.
He had a great camp and was a last-day cut. He was then signed to the Rams’ practice squad, where he remained all season. During the offseason, he was inked to a reserve/futures contract. This time around, after another very good training camp, he made the final roster. Williams played sparingly and appeared in eight games with 96 defensive reps and 41 special teams snaps, mainly on the kickoff team.
In the next two seasons, Williams increased his playing time with the standard defense. He had 23 and 49 tackles, respectively, with 2.5 sacks, 12 pressures, and 8 QB hits. However, right before the Week 9 game against the Tennessee Titans, he was waived after the Rams signed DE Von Miller.
The following day, three teams put in a waiver claim on him: Arizona, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Minnesota Vikings, who had the lowest waiver claim and ended up with Williams. However, he failed the physical.
The cause of the failure was that the physical revealed a hernia issue. The hernia was a discouraging development, but perhaps another club would be willing to overlook it and keep him on their roster. The Rams then reclaimed him and designated Williams to their practice squad. That was the year that the Rams won the Super Bowl, so Williams owns a ring.
Williams talked about his time with the Rams to Rene Nadeau of Crescent City Sports:
“In 2020, while with the Rams playing under (defensive coordinator) Brandon Staley, I was 270 lbs. and playing outside linebacker. That was my skill set. I had come from a 4-3 system [at Weber State], and then I was told to report at 295 lbs. I played all along the defensive line, including nose tackle. You just have to know when and where you’re going to get thrown in. The more you can do, the better.”
He ended up on the practice squad of four NFL clubs, filling up his frequent flyer miles card. Last year, he was signed by the New Orleans Saints when Staley was hired as their DC. Williams appeared in 15 games with New Orleans with 18 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5 QB hits, 3 sacks, 8 pressures, 2 knockdowns, 3 hurries, and 0 missed tackles.
Every defensive line needs four guys on the outside, and four along the interior. Then, the DC will rotate players in and out all game so that in the final stanza, they have their legs. Williams can provide a decent player who will come in and bring high energy to the huddle. He is dependable at tackling with a quick first step. Extremely intelligent. High character, a great physique, and can disrupt the pocket.
Is he Josh Sweat 2.0? Of course not, but he can rush the passer and has good instincts with stopping the run game.
He is married to Kennedy Williams, who was a member of the Weber State volleyball team. His brother, Savannah, is a professional rugby athlete. Williams’ Instagram is @jonahcwilliams.
Alex Bregman already looks right at home wearing a Cubs jersey as he looks to lead the team to an NL Central title. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Having already looked at the West divisions in both the National League and the American League, now it’s time to look at the Central Division, starting in the NL.
Chicago Cubs
It took an extra year, but the Cubbies finally got their guy, reeling in third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year/$175 million contract. According to the front office and his teammates, he is already having an impact.
Shota Imanaga had the best contract story of the off-season. The team declined a three-year, $57.5 million option, and then he declined a one-year $15.25 million option, so the team made him a $22.025 million qualifying offer, which he accepted.
The club is hoping to get more of first half Pete Crow-Armstrong (.265/.302/.544, 21 homers, 71 RBI, 27 stolen bases) than second half PCA (.216/.262/.372, 6 homers, 24 RBI, eight stolen bases). Around the Fourth of July, PCA was in the MVP conversation. By the end of the season, people were asking “what’s wrong with the kid?” The outfielder is already saying that Bregman is helping him, and Bregman in turn believes that PCA is poised for a breakout full season – not just a half.
Anything less than a division title will feel like a lost season for the fans on the North Side.
Cincinnati Reds
There was sadness in Cincinnati as the team truly believed that they could entice Ohio native Kyle Schwarber to come home and hit dingers at Great American Ballpark. Alas, it was not meant to be. When Schwarber re-signed in Philly, the club went out and got another guy they know well – Eugenio Suarez – who hit 49 homers last year in Seattle, and who played seven seasons in Cincinnati from 2015-2021.
The rest of the players the Reds gave up and acquired over the off-season are not too saddening or exciting. Did anyone on the riverfront shed a tear when Gavin Lux went to Tampa Bay, or when Taylor Rogers left for the Twins or when Brent Suter signed with the Angels? Similarly, did anyone jump for joy when the team signed JJ Bleday to a one-year deal? How about when they re-signed Emilio Pagán?
The most important news of the day is that their ace pitcher, Hunter Greene, will be out until mid-season as he has bone chips removed from his elbow. Gulp!
All of that said, with Elly De La Cruz in the lineup, this team always has something and someone to watch.
Milwaukee Brewers
This is an organization that keeps losing players (and a star manager) and just keeps winning. The Brewers won their division last year, and are predicted to win it again in 2026. Pat Murphy is looking to become the first manager to ever win Manager of the Year three years in a row. While that is not likely, his team contending is.
The Brewers are coming off a disastrous sweep at the hands of the world champion Dodgers in the NLCS. Arguable staff ace Freddy Peralta was traded to the Mets. Third place Rookie of the Year finisher Caleb Durbin was traded to the Red Sox. And fourth place ROY finisher Isaac Collins was traded to the Royals. Pitcher Jose Quintana signed a one-year deal with the Rockies. And the club allowed Rhys Hoskins to leave in free agency. Future stars Andruw Monasterio and Tobias Myers also left as parts of trades.
And yet, Brandon Woodruff, coming off two injury-plagued seasons, signed a qualifying offer and could be in the rotation by Opening Day. Hard-throwing second-year pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who pitched in last year’s All-Star Game, may start the season as the team’s number one. Chad Patrick and Quinn Priester round out a strong staff.
Will retreads Gary Sanchez or David Hamilton move the needle in Milwaukee? On any other team, most likely not; but the Brewers have a strange way of making other team’s trash into their treasure. And look out for future stars Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. Come October, don’t be shocked to see this motley Brew Crew back in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Pirates
For the first time in more than a decade, there is talk – quiet talk, to be sure – that this team might, could, maybe, make a run at the post-season. The Pirates employ either the best or the second best pitcher on the planet in Paul Skenes, coming off his first (of potentially many) Cy Young Awards. And they have phenom Bubba Chandler coming up the mound right behind him.
The Buccos grabbed Brandon Lowe from the Rays to man second base. They signed Marcell Ozuna to be their everyday designated hitter; and in doing so, foreclosed any possibility of fan/city favorite Andrew McCutchen coming back to the team (he has since signed a minor league deal with the Rangers). And to add thump from the left side of the plate, they signed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year contract.
To round out their outfield, the team traded flamethrower Johan Oviedo to the Red Sox in return for Jhostynxon Garcia, known, for obvious reasons as “The Password.” He has prodigious power and could be something in Pittsburgh in the years to come.
And look for shortstop Konnor Griffin to make the club as a teenager and vie for Rookie of the Year.
Konnor Griffin is poised to make the Pirates big league club as a teenager. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
FanGraphs shows the Pirates over .500 with an 82-80 record. If either the Mets or Braves falter, that could mean they squeak into the playoffs.
St. Louis Cardinals
This is the first year since 2006 without John Mozeliak at the helm of the team. Chaim Bloom is now in charge after taking a year to learn every facet of the organization.
Once in the big chair, Bloom got to work making deals with his former team, the Red Sox. His first moves were to send first baseman Willson Contreras and pitcher Sonny Gray to Boston in two separate trades. And then he ate a bunch of salary ($31M) to trade Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The rebuild is officially on, but watch out for rookie JJ Wetherholt, who could be Rookie of the Year at second base, and will make an incredible double play combo with Masyn Winn, who arguably has the best infield arm in the game.
The Cardinals are looking to improve attendance this year, which last year was at its lowest since 2021, and the second lowest since 1995 (not counting the 2020 Covid season). They had the biggest decline in all of baseball, losing 628,000 fans, which is more than 7,700 per game, nearly a 22% drop. They need to staunch that bleeding if they want to be able to afford to play in the free agent market next year.
The Pirates could make things interesting, but this – once again – will be a battle between the Cubs and the Brewers.
Imagine if you will a team that wins the Big East regular season title. Not a share of the title, not some Mickey Mouse way like playing fewer games than their competitors while also playing the easiest conference schedule of anyone in the league, but a pure, outright, double round robin win. Pretty impressive, right?
Imagine that same team turned around and won three games in three days to win the Big East Tournament at the World’s Most Famous Arena. Imagine that, in so doing, they avenged their only two regular season conference losses by an aggregate of 33 points, including whopping a team that would end up as a two seed in the NCAA Tournament by 20 to earn the right to cut down the nets.
Of course you’re not imagining anything right now, you’re just thinking of the 2026 St. John’s Red Storm. Their efforts on the season accumulated for them 7.3 Wins Above Bubble, tied for 14th in the country. They sit 0.1 WAB behind 3 seed Gonzaga in 13th and 0.6 WAB above 3 seed Illinois in 15th. It doesn’t take a genius or even a math major to see that they’re probably deserving of a similar seed as the two teams on either side of them.
Nope, 5 seed.
So… why? NCAA Selection Committee Chairperson Keith Gill did maybe as good a job of answering questions regarding selection and seeding as anyone we’ve see in that seat for quite some time. When questioned about the Big East, he implicitly devalued the league by saying that the included teams – and 21-12 Seton Hall, who missed out – didn’t do enough in the non-conference to backup their league results, ending in either omission or harsh seeding.
This stems from two fairly obvious issues. The first is that the Big East has to get better. The entire league outside of DePaul finished inside the top 100 of the KenPom, though you can argue that DePaul’s trajectory is finally trending in the right direction. Unfortunately, only three teams finished inside the top 50. Only two teams were in the top 30 of the NET, meaning they were a Q1 game home and away. A staggering seven teams were Q3 games at home; that can’t happen in a power league.
Worse still, some programs seem content to remain mired in mediocrity. Georgetown, once a proud national powerhouse, now seems flattered by the honor of having Ed Cooley go 16-44 in conference games while he whiles away his dotage in a retirement gig, more concerned with the hydration levels of small children around him than he is with winning games. Butler fired Lavall Jordan for going 31-35 in the Big East in his last four years, including 14-26 in his final two seasons. They just confirmed that they’ll bring back Thad Matta for a fifth year despite the fact that he is 28-52 in his four seasons there, including 13-27 in his last two.
Providence, having whiffed on replacing Ed Cooley, is rebooting again.
The league needs the bottom half to pull its own weight. Xavier is trending the right way under Richard Pitino, Marquette has Shaka Smart finally embracing the transfer portal, Shaheen Holloway seems to have gotten his feet under him (and a bankroll behind him) at Seton Hall, and only a fool would count out a coach with a track record like Greg McDermott.
The bare minimum expectation in this league should be to be within the top 75 of the NET. Programs that aren’t pushing for it can be pushed towards the door.
I think even more concerning that the on-court performance is the perception of the league. It wasn’t that long ago that you could tell if someone wasn’t a ball-knower if they referenced the Power 5 in a college hoops context. Take it back to the gridiron, you ignoramus.
Now there is what seems to be a concerted push to shoehorn the term “Power 4” (RIP Pac-8/10/12) into every conversation around college basketball. ESPN’s bracket breakdown show even had the talking heads at the desk referencing the “most Power 4 teams – not counting the Big East – ever in the tournament” or some such nonsense immediately before I turned it off and let my daughter use the TV to play Horizon: Zero Dawn.
I don’t think that’s anything other than intentional. The big money TV contracts are handed out in football, and the broadcasting entities paying that money are going to turn their noses up at any league that isn’t handing out concussions like party favors on fall Saturdays. They don’t care about the health of college sports as a whole or the actual quality of the competition, they just want to drive narratives that generate traffic and engagement. Whether or not it has any basis in fact is a minor concern at best. Sorry to be the one to have to tell you this.
The bottom line is that the Big East needs someone out there advocating for it. Rick Pitino, ever shameless, does a pretty good job as the face of the league, but he’s also busy preparing his team for the greatest sporting event on earth. If raising heck about something like this isn’t Val Ackerman’s job, I’m not sure whose it might be. It is obviously incumbent on the league members to put the best product possible on the floor on a nightly basis, but someone needs to be drawing the spotlight away from the same chattering buffoons that sit behind a desk stumping for their nepo babies on a nightly basis and onto the Big East’s stars.
In the current college sports environment, the future of the league might depend on it.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 15: Mason Miller #19 and Will Smith #16 of Team USA celebrate after striking out Geraldo Perdomo #2 of Team Dominican Republic in the ninth inning to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic WBC game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
There was only one game, so let’s get right to it.
United States 2, Dominican Republic 1
I’ll admit, I was a little biased here. I wanted to see the United States come out and destroy the Dominican Death Star, hoping they would continue marching towards a WBC title. However, in my heart of hearts, I kind of thought there was no way it was going to happen. Even with Paul Skenes on the mound for at least four innings, my thought was that the Dominican lineup would eventually rise up against the bullpen of the United States and pound them into dust.
I was quite wrong.
A game fraught with tension, it got off to an unspectacular start as both starters, Skenes and Luis Severino, came out and handled the lineups. Skenes made one mistake to Junior Caminero that the Rays third baseman did not miss.
Now, while Severino was great to start the game, eventually the adrenaline he was fueled by ran out and he started missing more often. Gunnar Henderson took one of those misses and hit a moonshot to left to tie the game at one.
Once Severino was removed in that inning and replaced with Gregory Soto, it looked as though the game would settle into a battle of the bullpens. Soto being Soto, however, he missed with a fastball to Roman Anthony and Anthony did not miss it.
The game continued like this, the United States up 2-1. Instead of the offense on display, it was the defense that sparkled in this game. In addition to his throw at third, Judge also had a diving catch to rob a hit off the bat of Juan Soto. The favor was returned in the sixth when Judge hit a drive to center that was robbed by Julio Rodriguez.
It was the seventh where the game was decided. David Bednar was brought into the game to start the inning and allowed two runners on, those two both getting into scoring position with two outs. Bednar, though, got Ketel Marte swinging to end the frame and kept the U.S. out in front. In the ninth, the Dominican lineup mustered some noise against Mason Miller, but the Padres closer was able to keep them in check, striking out Geraldo Perdomo to end the game.
1 back, 3 out: Arsenal injury update pre-Bayer Leverkusen clash
Leandro Trossard is back in training for Arsenal, but there were still three first-team players absent from Monday’s session pre-Bayer Leverkusen.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Arsenal held an open training session in front of the media on Monday morning, ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg match at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
The big news from the session is that Leandro Trossard was involved, as the winger closes in on a return from injury. Trossard missed the first leg and Arsenal’s win over Everton after picking up the problem in the FA Cup match away to Mansfield Town.
But balancing out that positive update was the more disappointing news than Jurrien Timber wasn’t involved, following the right-back’s injury in the Everton match. Martin Odegaard also remains absent.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Odegaard had said in the Arsenal programme last week that he’s “desperate to get back to playing”, adding: “It’s been difficult for me with the knee injury lately, but I’m working as hard as I can to get back to full fitness now.
“The main thing is to be 100% again, and make sure I can properly help the team.”
It looks like Arsenal still aren’t comfortable including the playmaker in full training yet, making him an early doubt for Sunday’s League Cup final against Manchester City, let alone Tuesday’s Champions League game.
Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images
The only other senior absentee on Monday was Mikel Merino, who is a long way off his own comeback.
The player posted on his Instagram page on Friday and revealed he’s been using crutches and a mobility scooter, so it will be months until he’s available.
The 2026 edition of the World Baseball Classic is now in the semifinal round. If you plan to watch MLB’s World Cup of baseball today, below you can get a look at Monday’s game, upcoming matchups on the World Baseball Classic schedule, and other important details on this year’s WBC, including how to watch.
WBC schedule today
Date
Game
Time (ET)
TV Info
March 16
Italy vs. Venezuela (Semifinal)
8:00 PM
FS1
What channel is the World Baseball Classic on?
If you are planning on watching the World Baseball Classic games today in the United States, ematchup for the WBC can be found on FOX’s family of sports networks. Those channels are FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes (Spanish), TUBI, Fox Sports App
Who advanced to the WBC semifinals?
After four games of Pool Play and the first elimination round the teams that have reached the semifinals the World Baseball Classic are the United States, Dominican Republic, Italy and Venezuela.
Upcoming WBC schedule
Date
Game
Time (ET)
TV Info
March 17
Italy/Venezuela vs. United States/Dominican Republic (Final)
8:00 PM
FOX
When is the World Baseball Classic final?
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The finals of the 2026 WBC will take place on Tuesday, March 17, at 8 PM ET on FOX.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 15: Mason Miller #19 of Team USA throws the final pitch to Will Smith #16 to strike out Geraldo Perdomo #2 of Team Dominican Republic in the ninth inning to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic WBC game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well, that was absolutely not a showcase for the WBC, or baseball as a whole. Woof. A whole dog park, or pet hotel, full of woof.
USA 2, Dominican Republic 1. Paul Skenes and Luis Severino got the start for their respective teams in a semifinal match. Severino wriggled out of trouble first, as Gunnar Henderson grounded out with two on and two out. But, the D.R. drew first blood, as Junior Caminero whacked a hanging Skenes sweeper into left-center for a solo no-doubter.
Severino was again threatened in the third, as a single and double with one out brought Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber to the plate with a chance to tie or go ahead. But, Severino beat Judge on a sweeper in the zone, and then froze Schwarber on the same. The bottom of the third ended as Judge threw out Fernando Tatis Jr. trying to take third on a single by Ketel Marte.
Henderson led off the fourth with a game-tying solo shot off Severino. The Dominican pitcher had gotten away with a few secondaries in deep counts just hanging out in the heart of the zone, but not so much for this cutter. After a hard lineout by Will Smith, the D.R. swapped Severino for Gregory Soto, but that move did the opposite of pay off when Roman Anthony crushed a full-count, challenge sinker over the boards in center to put the U.S. ahead, 2-1.
After that, the game basically took on the same tenor in inning after inning: the D.R. threatened, but the score didn’t change. In the fourth, there was a double, a single, and a hit-by-pitch, but Austin Wells chased a pitch outside and hit a routine flyout to end the threat. There were two singles in the fifth, but Juan Soto hit into a double play against Tyler Rogers. (Skenes went 4 1/3 but had just a 2/0 K/BB ratio. Severino went 3 1/3, with a 6/0 K/BB ratio.)
David Bednar seemed like he might end up being the goat when Wells doubled and Geraldo Perdomo singled with one out, but the former ended up striking out both Tatis and Marte.
That eventually led to the ninth, with Mason Miller trying to lock it down, where the woofing occurred. Julio Rodriguez walked with one out, and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. He later scampered to third on a groundout, which brought up Perdomo as the D.R.’s last hope. Perdomo took five straight pitches, working himself into a full count without taking the bat off his shoulder. He then fouled off a high fastball at 101 mph, and did the same on a much meatier one down the middle. On the eighth pitch, Miller unleashed a slider well below the zone (not even questionably so), Perdomo took it, and…
…the umpire ruled that it was a strike and the game was over.
So, one of the tensest games in this year’s WBC ended on a bad call, as MLB prepares to implement some degree of bad ball/strike call reversal in the regular season. Not the showcase MLB was looking for.
Both bullpens had a dominant showing: after Soto, the D.R. used five pitchers who combined for an 8/1 K/BB ratio; the U.S. lineup collected just one hit off this quintet. Meanwhile, Team USA’s own quintet had a 6/1 K/BB ratio, with the two hits coming off Bednar as noted… but Miller should’ve had at least another walk, and who knows what would’ve happened then.
Tonight, there’s a Venezuela-Italy slugfest on tap. The victor will go on to play the U.S. in a game that hopefully won’t also be decided by a bad call.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Yaxel Lendeborg #23, Nimari Burnett #4, Aday Mara #15, Morez Johnson Jr. #21 and Elliot Cadeau #3 of the Michigan Wolverines look on against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the 2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game at the United Center on March 15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite coming up short in the Big Ten Tournament, the Michigan Wolverines still earned a 1-seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Dusty May and his team had a historic season in the regular season, winning 29 games, going 10-0 in true road games, and winning the Big Ten regular-season championship by four games.
The Wolverines were so good, in fact, that if you only counted double-digit wins as an actual win, they still would have won the Big Ten championship outright.
Michigan finished with a 29-2 record and 24 double-digit wins despite facing the No. 4 strength of schedule in the country.
It had 16 double-digit wins in the Big Ten — no other Big Ten team had more than 15 conference wins total.
Now heading into March Madness, the oddsmakers view the Wolverines as one of the most likely teams to cut down the nets on the first Monday in April. Per the betting experts at FanDuel, Michigan has +390 odds — the third-best — to win it all. The only teams ahead are Arizona (+340) and Duke (+380).
Other teams near Michigan in the odds include Florida (+800), Houston (+1,300) and Iowa State (+1,700). Other Big Ten teams you may be curious about include Illinois (+2,000), Purdue (+2,700), Michigan State (+6,000) and Wisconsin (+12,500).
There are also odds for Michigan to make the National Championship Game. The Wolverines are at +195 in that category, with Duke and Arizona both slightly ahead with +170 odds. To make the Final Four, Michigan is at -120, right behind Arizona (-140) and Duke (-130) once again.
Interestingly enough, there’s also a category to place wagers on teams to not make the Final Four. Despite having favorable odds in the last category, Michigan is at -105 to not make the Final Four, with Duke (+102) and Arizona (+112) being the only teams to have plus odds.
My main takeaway here is pretty simple — it’s March, and March is unpredictable. Nobody knows what teams will get upset at what time because it can happen to any team in any round. There have been plenty of 1-seeds that go all the way, and there have also been 1-seeds that lose before the first weekend is over. They call it March Madness for a reason, folks.
So while I very likely won’t be putting down any large wagers on Michigan to make it to the Final Four or to win the whole thing, I also won’t be doing that for any team. I’ll fill out my one bracket like I normally do — yes, I only have one set of picks so I don’t have conflicting rooting interests — and hope that the teams I pick to win end up advancing to the next round.
Your turn. Who do you think will win the NCAA Tournament this year? Let us know in the comments below!
KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 25: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just before the start of the NFL’s “legal tampering” period, we learned that the Kansas City Chiefs had reached an agreement with tight end Travis Kelce to return for a 14th season. Word immediately leaked that the contract would pay him $12 million in 2026 and be worth up to $15 million.
In the week since, however, little more was known about the contract. A major question was whether the Chiefs would force the entire $12 million under the 2026 salary cap. After starting the offseason almost $60 million over the limit, the Kelce contract would seem to undo much of the work over the last month to create financial breathing room.
It turns out that less than half of Kelce’s contract will be charged to the 2026 cap. On Sunday, Albert Breer of Sports Illustratedreported the details of the tight end’s compensation.
The Chiefs are technically still avoiding “void years” — extra seasons that nullify at the start of the following league year for the purpose of spreading out a signing bonus. Effectively, though, the Chiefs are doing the same thing — and actually spreading out of future dead money more than void years typically allow for.
Kelce will receive a $3 million base salary. The rest of his earnings come via a $3 million roster bonus at the start of training camp and $6 million in per game roster bonuses. The total amount is guaranteed, even if Kelce misses games while injured.
On paper, Kelce is actually signed to minimum salaries for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. This will allow the Chiefs to convert over half of his base salary and the already guaranteed roster bonuses into and optionable signing bonus and spread the hit out over three seasons. Kelce will still earn $12 million in 2026 — while counting just under $4.9 million against the salary cap.
Although the Chiefs still are not adding “void years” to their front office vernacular, the structure achieves a near-identical. To protect Kelce from being held to the minimum salaries he never intended to play for, he would be guaranteed $40 million if still on the roster on June 8, 2027. By that date, the Chiefs will have either released Kelce — or more likely, placed him on their Reserve/Retired list.
Assuming either outcome occurs after June 1, 2027, Kelce will be on the Chiefs’ 2027 and 2028 salary caps with dead money charges of almost $3.6 million.
Kelce’s contract was the biggest unknown of Kansas City’s overall salary cap situation. Contract numbers still are not known for safety Alohi Gilman, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, cornerback Kader Kohou, and running back Emari Demercado. Once their contract breakdowns are available, we will have a fresh look at the Chiefs’ remaining salary cap room at Arrowhead Pride.
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 10: New York Yankees Outfielder Spencer Jones (78) points towards the fans in right field after hitting a home run during the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 10, 2026 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For someone who’s never taken a big-league at-bat, there’s been an awful lot of talk about Spencer Jones. Taken by the Yankees in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt, the 6-foot-7 outfielder immediately drew the obligatory Aaron Judge comparisons that follow anyone with his physical profile. It didn’t hurt that he carried with him a prodigious power swing and an ability to play center field. Jones has risen steadily through the Yankees’ system during his four seasons as a pro, consistently showcasing a varied skill set to dream on. He was Baseball America’s No. 46 prospect entering the 2024 season and broke out in a major way last year between Double-A and Triple-A, swatting 35 homers.
And yet, his prospect stock has waned as his real-life performance has taken off. The reason is as simple as it is confounding: the man swings and misses too much.
Last year, Ryan McMahon led all big-leaguers with a 32-percent strikeout rate. Jones’ 37-percent rate at Triple-A dwarfed that number and, while his overall offensive package was still highly productive due to his power, it’s difficult to project success for the prospect against MLB competition if he continues to demonstrate those kinds of contact issues. And 2025 was not an anomaly — the year prior, he had an even higher strikeout rate as he was punched out an astonishing 200 times.
To his credit, this offseason the 24-year-old tackled these concerns head-on, retooling his swing and modeling it after another lefty-hitting masher, Shohei Ohtani. “He’s a great reference of a really good mover with a great swing,” Jones said of the four-time MVP in what amounts to a bit of an understatement. “He’s one of those guys that I look at with some of the stuff he does, and I try to apply it in whichever way I can.”
Success followed in spring training, where he posted a 1.345 OPS while striking out at a more tenable 29-percent rate, albeit in a sample of just 28 plate appearances.
His fellow 6-foot-7 outfielder was impressed. “The minute he puts that foot down with that little toe-tap, he’s ready to hit,” Judge said of Jones’ new swing. “They might have gotten him with a lot of high heaters in the past, or even last season. I think that’s just going to help him.”
The Yankees reassigned Jones to minor-league camp last Monday. With the Yankees’ outfield set to feature Judge alongside lefties Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham, there would be limited opportunities for Jones and Jasson Domínguez, a switch-hitter who fared much better from the left side of the plate last season. Both are expected to start the year at Triple-A, with Domínguez, who appeared in 123 games with the Yankees last year and showcased strong lefty hitting and plus speed, the clear favorite as the next man up should the need arise. This is why, while FanGraphs’ Depth Charts projections expect Jones to make his Yankees debut this year, they only project him to get into five games.
Upon sending him out to minor-league camp, the prospect’s manager provided some advice. “As much as you can, don’t focus on things that right now might be out of your control a little bit,” Aaron Boone said. “Reality is, he’s coming off a really strong season. He continues to make really solid adjustments. He came in here this spring and has represented really well and has performed. You’ve seen the signs of him continuing to get better.”
It’s good advice. If Jones can demonstrate an ability to avoid the strikeout, his combination of power and outfield defense will be impossible to keep down at Triple-A for long, regardless of the other outfielders ahead of him on the depth chart. Given the team’s depth in the outfield, it’s possible that shot could come elsewhere, with Jones (and, for that matter, Domínguez) theorized throughout the offseason as potential trade bait to help out elsewhere on the roster.
This year will be a make-or-break campaign for Jones. If he can get his strikeout rate down, he’ll get some run to show he can fulfill the potential that made him a first-round pick and top-50 prospect. If not, Jones, who’ll turn 25 in May, will start to look like a former prospect whose time has passed.
CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 26: Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) in action during the game against the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals on October 26, 2025, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s been a busy start to the offseason for the Baltimore Ravens, who dominated national headlines during the first week of free agency. The Ravens made a blockbuster trade for Maxx Crosby only to back out of the deal within days in unprecedented fashion. Hours later, they compensated by signing Trey Hendrickson to a big contract and making several other acquisitions. The Ravens also watched a large number of their own free agents walk away and sign with new teams.
The Ravens will likely still make more moves in the coming weeks, but let’s break down some winners and losers from the start of free agency.
Winner: Pass Rush
Improving their pass-rushing talent on the defensive line was arguably the Ravens’ most pressing need this offseason. Hendrickson was the top free agent edge rusher available and the Ravens signed him a four-year contract. It was preceded by the Crosby trade debacle, but nevertheless Hendrickson is a significant addition for the Ravens and will make a big impact. Over the past several years, Hendrickson ranks near the top of the league in sacks, pressures, quarterback hits and pressure rate. There is some concern given he’s coming off season-ending core injury that limited him to seven games in 2025 and will be 32 years old in December. He is also not as complete of a run defender and tackler as Crosby. Nevertheless, Hendrickson’s elite pass-rushing ability will be a huge lift for Jesse Minter’s defense and should have a rising tide effect on the rest of the unit. In particular, his addition could pay dividends for sophomore edge rusher Mike Green.
Loser: Interior Offensive Line
As many feared would happen, the Ravens were ultimately priced out of the Tyler Linderbaum sweepstakes, as the Las Vegas Raiders signed him to a record-setting contract. While the Ravens might be justified in not paying $27 million annually for their starting center, losing Linderbaum for nothing is undoubtedly a big blow. The task of replacing the perennial Pro Bowler of the last three years will be a tall one. The Ravens’ interior offensive line was already a pressing offseason need even if Linderbaum were retained, as the team was due for an upgrade at both guard spots. The Ravens signed veteran John Simpson to a three-year contract, who will likely step in as the new starting left guard and should hopefully provide more stability at that position. However, right guard remains a glaring hole and the center spot now is too. The only other addition the Ravens made is guard/center Jovaughn Gwyn from the Atlanta Falcons, but he’s a career backup and is likely no more than a depth addition. Barring another unforeseen big splash, the Ravens will need to use multiple early-round picks to bolster their interior offensive line now.
Winner: Defensive Backfield
The Ravens opted not to re-sign either of their free agent safeties, as both Ar’Darius Washington and Alohi Gilman departed for new teams. With this in mind, it may seem strange to deem the defensive backfield as a “winner” from free agency. However, the Ravens made two important moves to counter their subtractions: signing safety Jaylinn Hawkins and re-signing cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. Hawkins is coming off a strong season with the New England Patriots as their starting free safety. He’s versatile and has a well-rounded skill set, profiling as a potential upgrade over both Washington and Gilman in Jesse Minter’s defense next year. Bringing Awuzie back was another small move that should have a big impact. Awuzie was consistent for the Ravens last season and the team’s best coverage cornerback. He gives the Ravens a starting-caliber outside corner with veteran experience, alleviating the need to draft a cornerback with a high early-round pick.
Loser: Tight End Depth
Another position where the Ravens lost two free agents is tight end. Both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar earned big paydays elsewhere and the Ravens could not compete with the price tag. This was not unsurprising, but it seemed possible that the team may at least be able to keep Kolar. Instead, they’ll now have to rebuild their tight end depth chart behind Mark Andrews, who is the last man standing. They moved quickly to replace Kolar with another blocking tight end, veteran Durham Smythe, who was signed to a one-year deal. Smythe is a fine cheaper alternative but offers less pass-catching upside and potential. At 30 years old, Smythe is also not a long-term pipeline player. Even though his 2025 season was underwhelming, Likely could have been the Ravens’ tight end of the future at 25 years old. He made a number of big catches for Lamar Jackson over the past few years and had good chemistry with the star quarterback. Now, the Ravens will probably need to hit on a draft pick to reboot their succession plan behind Andrews, who has shown signs of athletic decline in recent years.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 16: Michael Page of England prepares to face Jared Cannonier in a middleweight fight during the UFC 319 event at the United Center on August 16, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)
When Michael “Venom” Page signed with the UFC from Bellator, he was not only excited about the chance to prove himself against the best fighters in the sport, but he also anticipated keeping a busier schedule because his new promotional home rarely goes a weekend without putting on a card.
But since signing with the UFC at the end of 2023, he’s only fought twice each year, and he actually ended up moving to middleweight just for the chance to stay busy with no viable matchups available to him at welterweight. Following his win over one-time title challenger Jared Cannonier this past August, Page immediately started asking for another fight before 2025 came to a close, but instead, he’s sat out for the past seven months with his return now booked at UFC London on Saturday.
“To be fair, the goal was to get another one in like November/December because I knew they were going to make me wait [for London],” Page told MMA Fighting. “I knew if it got to the other side of the New Year, then they would definitely make me wait until the March card. I wanted to get one in sooner, but it doesn’t seem that they had the opponents, or whatever’s going on.
“But I wasn’t able [to fight] until now. It’s a shame, because I definitely wanted to get another one in, but we’re here. I’m excited to get back in.”
To his credit, Page saw an ideal opening to ask for a fight against fellow striker Shara “Bullet” Magomedov after he dropped a decision to Ian Machado Garry and the UFC loved the idea. He moved to middleweight, took out Shara Bullet in impressive fashion and then he was just in a good place to stay at 185 pounds.
But his detour to middleweight was never in his long term plans because behind the scenes, Page was constantly seeking a top opponent at 170 pounds.
“I always wanted to be back at welterweight,” Page said. “Even the Shara [Bullet] fight was a bit opportunistic, I made a little callout, and the UFC liked it and we made it happen. I was searching for fights at welterweight, wasn’t able to get any fights. I suggested if I just fight at middleweight again while welterweight is doing whatever welterweight is doing. They found a competent name and landed on Jared Cannonier, which is an amazing fight.
“I got that fight, but then straight afterwards I was like guys, I still want to go back to welterweight. Can we get any fights? It’s been since August. I’ve been asking for fights since August. It didn’t quite come until now.”
When the call finally came for the UFC London card, Page got the name Sam Patterson as an opponent.
Page, who actually started his own promotion called Total Kombat in his spare time, has never been in the business of turning down fights so he accepted immediately even if the matchup didn’t make much sense to him.
While Patterson sports a 4-1 record in the UFC, he’s not ranked in the top 15, and to make matters worse, Page has actually spent quite a bit of time working with him in the past. He was able to set aside their friendship for the fight, but Page just didn’t understand why that was the only choice presented to him after such a long layoff.
“I’ve been fishing but not too many people biting,” Page said. “I’ve asked for many, many different competitors, and we haven’t had anybody take the fight. For whatever reason, it’s not always the same thing, I’m not going to belittle anybody and be like they’re scared. That’s too easy to do. But they’re definitely more cautious of fighting a star like mine and would prefer to fight people with a more generic style of MMA. That side of it has been frustrating, which is why I feel like I’m not getting as many fights or getting to fight as regularly.
“Big up to Sam Patterson for stepping up. You’ve got to respect somebody who is game. He’s a talented athlete, but I respect someone who is willing to step up to the occasion. Because not many guys are stepping up.”
When UFC London was initially announced, many of the fighters occupying spots in the rankings at welterweight weren’t already booked. Several marquee fights have been announced since then including Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley, Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates and Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim.
But none of them were booked when Page was seeking an opponent for the UFC London card, which is why he was a little dumbfounded at the matchup he was offered.
“That is what has been the most frustrating,” Page said. “That just means I’m being turned down. Because I’m taking a look and I’m asking well this guy, I haven’t heard anything about this guy, what’s going on here. [They’re telling me] ‘yeah, he doesn’t want to do it, oh there’s something wrong, there’s an injury.’ I’m sure there are legit fighters. Joaquin Buckley is game. I don’t want to believe he would say no or say he wouldn’t want to take the fight. But it’s confusing because [he wasn’t] booked, and I’m game to fight anybody.
“It’s not about me building my name. I feel like I’ve created a name with this world, and I’m respected in this world. I just want exciting fights. It is weird. I don’t understand what’s going on. It’s difficult to figure out. All I can do is just fight whoever comes in front of me.”
Add to that, Page really just wants to stay busier, especially knowing that time is eventually going to run out on his fight career.
He’s still quite spry at 38 years old, but Page knows he can’t fight forever so he’s trying to make the most of his career and being active is a huge part of that equation.
“It was down to us, we’d be fighting way more regularly,” Page said. “It’s very different but if you think about the sport that I came from in freestyle kickboxing, it was near enough every weekend you’d be competing. So I’m used to being aggressively fighting. That’s been many years now, I’ve kind of become accustomed to MMA.
“But when I got to the UFC, I was expecting it to be regular fights as long as I’m fit to go. I’ve been fit to go and it hasn’t been regular fights. So yes definitely frustrating. I guess it’s part of the game. I’m hoping this next fight, I get to go straight back in again as long as I’m fit and ready.”
As much as he wanted to fight sooner with hopes for a ranked opponent, Page is really just ready to get back to work and that’s going to remain his only focus until after he competes on Saturday.
“There’s no point talking about it,” Page said. “I’ve got an opponent now. Let’s focus on putting on an amazing show for the UK fans. A great big highlight reel and then move forward and start searching for these guys again.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Mason Falslev #12 and Kolby King #7 of the Utah State Aggies celebrate with the trophy after the team defeated the San Diego State Aztecs in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference men’s basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aggies defeated the Aztecs 73-62. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Monday, and March Madness is finally upon us. As you fill out your brackets, keep up with Mountain West news right here. Check out our original coverage and what we can find from the World Wide Web below.
Aggies are MW Tournament Champs
The two best MW programs in recent years battled for the tourney championship once again. The first half was a slugfest, with both teams trading blows, and the Aztecs leading 35-34 to close out the initial 20 minutes. But Utah State came out and took over the lead early on. In the second half, San Diego State kept it close for most of it, but couldn’t make enough big plays, while USU hit shots and got turnovers when they needed to. MJ Colins paced the team with 20 points, and he was flanked by Mason Falslev, who had 16, and Drake Allen, who had 13. The downside of the Aggies’ win is that it likely cements the conference’s status as a one-bid league this year.
The Athletic takes a stab at a football version of March Madness, looking at a 68-team tournament. As far as Mountain West and PAC-12 teams, four teams make the tournament. Hawaii enters as a 10-seed, which makes sense. So does Boise State, which seems a bit low, but blame the committee. North Dakota State would have been a 13-seed last year, and Washington State joins them in another side of the bracket. UNLV was snubbed, and fell victim to the FCS auto-bids this year. At least, that’s the theory as they didn’t get a mention.
The Wolf Pack wanted to bring more size into the running back room this offseason, and when scouring junior college film, Janerious Jackson stood out. He’s making an impression so far this spring as a physical runner who stands at 6’1 and 218 lbs. Coach Choate says Jackson is already emerging as someone who has a business-like approach that is rubbing off on the other backs. It’s shaping up to be quite the running back battle this spring for Nevada.
How Finalissima Call-Off Affects Inter Milan & Argentina Megastar’s Return From Injury
Inter Milan center-forward Lautaro Martinez is reportedly on the verge of recovering from a niggling calf problem.
According to Tuttosport via FCInterNews, the highly anticipated clash between Argentina and Spain has been cancelled.
UEFA and CONMEBOL confirmed they couldn’t secure an alternative venue in Qatar, forcing the cancellation of the Finalissima between Argentina and Spain.
Therefore, Lautaro Martinez will not feature for his country in what was set to be a high-profile clash.
Meanwhile, El Toro could make his long-awaited return from injury this weekend.
Indeed, Cristian Chivu might have the 28-year-old at his disposal for Sunday’s trip to Tuscany to face Fiorentina.
How Finalissima Cancellation Affects Inter Milan Talisman Lautaro Martinez
Lautaro was desperate to play for Argentina against the Spaniards.
Indeed, he was even ready to postpone his return to action to ensure he could feature in this marquee clash.
That probably best illustrates how much the match meant to him
However, with the Finalissima now out of the picture, there’s no reason for El Toro not to feature against Fiorentina.
Still, the Argentine star is lacking match fitness and should start from the bench.
Nevertheless, his recovery comes as a massive boost for Inter, who have won just one of their four matches in his absence.
AEW's Johnny TV, aka John Morrison, strongly feels that he can still be a world champion in AEW or WWE.
Morrison, who has been a part of the pro wrestling industry for over two decades, spoke to Chris Van Vliet on "Insight" about his ECW world title run and how that could've led to bigger things in WWE. The veteran star, though, feels he's still at his prime to have a world title run.
"I mean, you can say what you want about this, but to this day, I still feel like I could be world champion of WWE one day, maybe of AEW, maybe. I feel like I just need another opportunity. And the way wrestling works in my mind is things come in waves. [I] Might have mentioned that to you before, but you ride a wave for a while and then it passes and you're kind of waiting for the next wave. Sometimes you're waiting longer than other times. But when waves come and you catch them, they take you places," he said.
The former WWE star recalled how the ECW world title win happened after he caught a wave, which he feels could've taken him to greater things, like winning a WWE world title, but things eventually didn't go his way. Despite that, he doesn't regret how his career has panned out.
"And like the ECW Heavyweight Championship win, for me, was like the first huge wave that I caught. And it led me to some really amazing places, and it could have ended up leading me to become like a world champion on Raw or SmackDown, or it could have like just completely backfired, and like something else weird happened and then led to nothing. So, I'm kind of happy with how things turned out," added Morrison.
The AEW wrestler is proud of being labeled "underrated" by fans, and reiterated how he firmly believes he should've been a world champion in WWE.
The Dallas Cowboys have finally decided to join the free agency party this year, showing a level of activity that has surprised many fans. Leading the charge is the signing of former Arizona Cardinal safety Jalen Thompson, who inked a three-year deal, averaging $11 million, and worth up to $36 million with incentives. In a move that signaled a major shift in philosophy, the front office spent more money on Thompson than they have on any single external free agent over the previous 14 years, dating back to the infamous free agent “mistake” of Brandon Carr in 2012.
Other notable additions include cornerback Cobie Durant and safety P.J. Locke, both signed to one-year deals for $5.5 million and $5 million, respectively.
This offseason feels considerably different because it genuinely looks like the front office is trying to address roster holes with proven veterans rather than just bargain hunting in the clearance aisle. After years of criticism for ranking last in free agency spending, the Cowboys are suddenly more aggressive, and these moves suggest a new sense of urgency in the building.
Despite this different appearance, the Cowboys are still maintaining a degree of their trademark caution. While the Thompson signing is a splash by the Joneses standards, in the grand scheme of the NFL market, you might be surprised to learn that it only ranks as the 40th most expensive signing of this free agent cycle. Here are the top 40 most expensive free agent signings so far in terms of average annual value. Guess where the Cowboys’ most pricy purchase landed them?
While teams like the Titans, Raiders, and Panthers are spending big bucks to bolster their roster, the Cowboys continue to fall way down on the list when it comes to high-priced free agents. This again speaks to the front office’s apprehension about throwing a lot of money at outside free agents. Even when they finally wade into the waters of free agency, they are still wearing their life jackets.
The biggest work for the Cowboys lies ahead of them in the upcoming draft. Even with these veteran additions, the team still has significant needs on defense that will inevitably be addressed early in the draft. Free agency is used to stabilize the floor of the roster, which the Cowboys are gradually raising, but the draft is where they will find the high-ceiling stars needed to push for a deep playoff run. Relying on the draft has always been the Cowboys’ way.
The front office may have successfully hoodwinked fans into thinking they are moving past their frugal ways, but when you look closely, they are still making calculated, but relatively cheap moves that they believe will help their football team. Breaking a decade-plus-long streak of not spending eight figures on a single player is something for sure, but clearly, there still remains a limit to just how much the Joneses are willing to bust that budget. The hope is that these slight alterations, combined with an improved coaching staff, will provide the Cowboys with what they need to be contenders in 2026.
Are the Cowboys really making a splash in free agency this year, or are they still wading into the waters cautiously? pic.twitter.com/UiQkxkw9ZN
MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 09: Alphonso Davies of FC Bayern München arrives for training session at Bayern Munich trainings Ground Saebener Strasse on March 09, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Alphonso Davies made his return to the training pitch for Bayern Munich earlier today for an individual workout. According to Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), the Canadian star will be looking to make his return on April 4th:
Alphonso Davies is expected to make his comeback against Freiburg on April 4. He’ll use the international break to get back to full fitness.
So far this season, Davies has missed 13 games and 73 days with three injuries (ACL recovery, torn muscle fiber, hamstring stain), one illness, and some fitness days mixed in during his comeback from the ACL tear. Clearly, it has not been an easy campaign for the 25-year-old.
Bayern Munich plays at SC Freiburg on April 4th.
Neuer on the pitch
Per Tz journalists Vinzent Tschirpke and Philpp Kessler (via @iMiaSanMia), Manuel Neuer picked up his goalkeeper training, but will probably not be available on Wednesday vs. Atalanta:
Manuel Neuer has resumed goalkeeping training today, but was only able to complete exercises on the ground. A return on Wednesday is unlikely. Regarding Jonas Urbig, a decision will be made today.
At this stage, Leonard Prescott will likely be the starter vs. Atalanta if Urbig or Neuer is not medically cleared. Sven Ulreich is out for six weeks with a muscle tear.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Taylor Ward #3 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The ideal baseball lineup has players with high on-base percentages near the top of the order, setting the table for the sluggers in the middle. Optimizing a lineup like this can allow a team to score a few more runs per year. On a given day it may not make much of a difference, but over a 162-game season it could net your team an extra win or two. That’s nothing to sneeze at, and teams—especially those on the fringes of the playoff discussion—should be doing whatever they can to maximize runs.
This topic of lineup optimization has become a hot one as Orioles camp comes to a close. Manager Craig Albernaz was asked about it over the weekend, specifically who he planned to put in the leadoff spot on Opening Day. The skipper kept it vague with his answer.
“It all depends,” Albernaz said. “Depends on the hitter, depends on the pitcher, depends on the team we’re playing. Depends on a lot of different stuff.”
It also depends on who is healthy. That is what has really complicated things this spring. Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg are two guys that would probably top the list of consideration. But both will open the season on the IL instead.
MLB.com’s Jake Rill indicates that Albernaz won’t be committing to any one guy day in and day out. But he does seem to prefer either Gunnar Henderson or Taylor Ward in the role for now. While Henderson has been with Team USA, Ward has been getting a lot of at-bats in the top spot.
Ward does not scream “leadoff hitter” when you look at his recent numbers. He’s been a run producer that hits home runs. But he has experience in the role. The 763 plate appearances he has batting first are his most of any spot in the order, and the numbers have been good (.259/.326/.456, 32 homers). He’s also a patient hitter that doesn’t chase much and walks at a solid clip (11.3%). Putting him first and then, presumably, Henderson second, could benefit both. Pitchers may be more likely to give Ward pitches to hit, and it would also give Henderson traffic on the bases more often.
For whatever it’s worth, Ward does not seem to care when or where he hits.
“Really, it doesn’t matter to me. I mean, hit me ninth, eighth, I really don’t care,” Ward said. “I try to treat it like the same thing, just all the same. I like to keep it simple like that. So wherever Alby wants to put me, I’m good for it.”
The leadoff spot has also been Henderson’s most frequent role throughout his career. Over 789 plate appearances he owns a .276/.347/.533 line with 42 homers. Clearly, he is better than Ward, but putting Henderson first could be a waste of his slugging potential. He’s healthy this year and swinging the bat well for Team USA. If he is going to bounce back and return to the 37 home run form he had in 2024, it would be wise to have that happen with more runners on base. Moving him down a spot in the order makes sense.
But before we go and etch all of this in stone, let’s be clear that committing to any one lineup at this point in the year is foolish. So much is going to change throughout the summer. Players will get hurt. Hot streaks and cold streaks will pop up. A certain pitching matchup will present itself. Someone other than Ward or Henderson will lead off at some point. All of this could completely change Albernaz’s way of thinking.
Consider a few alternatives.
When healthy, Holliday and Westburg are going to be in the conversation. Holliday led off more than any other Orioles hitter in 2025. It didn’t go great (.236/.311/.366), but he is still young. You have to think the Orioles want him to eventually own the role if he can produce. Westburg has hit all over the lineup, usually settling into the second or fifth spots. But he can do a a job anywhere. He feels like the guy they will turn to if the lineup is in the midst of a bad run and needs some sort of spark.
Colton Cowser began the 2025 season as the Orioles’ leadoff hitter. At the time, he had a reputation for controlling the strike zone. His nightmarish campaign may have altered some perspectives, but it’s entirely possible he gets back to that point.
Dylan Beavers showed impressive plate discipline during his first taste of big league baseball. He walked 19 percent of the time and rarely chased pitches out of the strike zone. Putting a rookie atop a lineup with playoff aspirations right out of the gate might be a bit much, but Beavers could force the Orioles hand at some point.
And what about Adley Rutschman? His performance over the last season and a half suggests he should be in the bottom third of the order rather than the leadoff spot. But it wasn’t that long ago when he looked like the best hitting catcher in baseball. His 2023 season saw hime finish with a .374 on base percentage. If he could get back to that sort of production, he might be the team’s best option to hit first. He will need to prove that he’s actually back to that level before getting the distinction as everyday leadoff hitter.
The reality is that the Orioles do not have an “ideal” leadoff hitter on their roster. But they have plenty of competent big league players that they can cycle in and out to find advantageous matchups and put runners on base ahead of Henderson and Pete Alonso. That should be a recipe for success no matter who actually ends up in the top spot day to day.
Aug 7, 2024; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) during Clemson football practice at Jervey Meadows in Clemson, S.C. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images
With a week of free agency behind us, let’s take a look at how some of the mock drafts around the interwebs have the Chicago Bears picking at 25 overall.
The Athletic’s latest has the Bears going with a 6’6”, 327-pound defensive tackle from the Gators.
25 – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida: The Bears have been very active on both sides of the ball in free agency so far, but both edge and DT could still be a first-round option for a new-look Chicago defense that’ll have new faces (LB Devin Bush, S Coby Bryant) up the middle.
Banks’ NFL Combine page compares him to current Bear, Gervon Dexter Sr., and you can see the similarities in their games. He had a foot issue he played through last season, but had a strong Senior Bowl. It was revealed a couple of days ago that he suffered a broken foot at the combine, and surgery will keep him sidelined for about three months.
The USA Today also has the Bears going with a defensive tackle.
25 – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson: They didn’t land Crosby as some speculated they might, but the Bears still have a chance to ramp up the disruptiveness of their front four. Woods’ high-end flashes separate him from all other interior defenders other than Banks, though his inconsistency could cost him a spot on Day 1.
Woods produced at Clemson, but his athletic testing was awful. However, it was reported he had a hamstring issue at his pro day.
The New York Post has the Bears going defensive end.
25 – T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson: A 6-3, 263-pound power-broker bookend for Montez Sweat.
Parker would be a nice pick in what is a pretty deep D-line class. His ability to set the edge and play the run will get him in the rotation as a rookie, while the coaching staff works on his pass rush toolbox.
CBS Sports has a three-round mock for the Bears, and I guess with it going three rounds deep, they figured they could go outside the box with the pick at 25.
25 – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana: Ben Johnson wants to be confident in the trio of receivers he has on the field at any given time. Luther Burden III really began to emerge toward the end of the season, but Chicago is leaving nothing to chance as it aims to prove last season was not an aberration. If you’re a Bears fan questioning why the team would draft another receiver, I’d encourage you to think about the possibilities with Johnson pulling the strings.
Wide receiver at 25 is a no from me. I don’t care if Cooper is the best player on their board at the time, because Chicago already has three pass catchers primed for a bigger role in 2026. If this is how the real draft falls, then a trade back or taking one of their top-rated defenders would be preferable to a receiver.
Here’s the rest of the CBS Sports Bears’ mock.
57 – Sam Hecht, IOL, Kansas State 60 – AJ Haulcy, S, LSU 89 – Nick Barrett, DL, South Carolina
I could see the Bears getting a center on day 2, but waiting to address the d-line until 89, and then doing it with a guy more known as a space eater, is another no from me.
Here’s another from CBS Sports, and another that has the Bears going in an unconventional direction.
25 – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia: Monroe Freeling could be Caleb Williams’ new left tackle after being Georgia’s full-time left tackle in 2025. The size and agility are there, and he’s quick off the line of scrimmage, as evidenced by an excellent combine effort. Freeling needs to work on better connecting on his punches toward opposing defensive linemen, which could be aided by a more balanced foundation, but he’s ready to roll in the run game. Ben Johnson will love that about him.
Freeling is fine, I’m just not taking an offensive tackle in the first round. Ozzy Trapilo looked solid before his knee injury, so I’m giving him 2026 to see if he can get back on track. And then after assessing his progress, I’d revisit left tackle in 2027.
Pro Football Network also has the Bears taking an offensive tackle at 25 in their latest three-rounder.
25 – Spencer Fano, Utah, OT: Thanks to the front office addressing several roster needs early in free agency, the Chicago Bears could prioritize adding depth along the offensive line in the first round. That could make Spencer Fano an appealing selection if Chicago chooses to reinforce the trenches. Adding Fano would give Chicago another young building block up front, helping stabilize the offensive line while supporting the development of Williams and the Bears’ offensive identity.
Once viewed as the top tackle prospect on several draft boards, thanks to a blend of athleticism, power, and refined technique. Fano moves smoothly in space, allowing him to mirror defenders in pass protection while also climbing to the second level in the run game. He also shows the strength needed to anchor against physical pass rushers.
Same as with Freeling above. Fano is fine, but I’m holding off on left tackle this draft.
57 – Kamari Ramsey, USC, S: Kamari Ramsey’s biggest strength is his ability to contribute from virtually anywhere on the field. He is comfortable patrolling deep zones as a traditional safety, stepping into the box to support the run, or sliding down into the slot as a nickel defender. That versatility allows defenses to disguise coverages while still maintaining strong run support. For Chicago, Ramsey’s skill set could immediately strengthen the secondary.
As the Bears roster sits right now, adding a safety early makes a ton of sense, and the versatile Ramsey would likely be in line to start next to the newly signed Cody Bryant.
60 – Cashius Howell, Texas A&M, EDGE: The Chicago Bears could turn to Cashius Howell as a developmental pass-rushing option with significant upside. The former Texas A&M Aggies football edge defender has the tools to carve out a role early as a situational rusher while continuing to grow into a larger role over time.
Howell wasn’t really on my radar much, but after checking out some of his tape, he’d be a welcome addition to the Bears’ pass rush. His speed off the edge helped him rack up 25 sacks over the last three years, while he was unanimously selected as a 2025 All-American.
89 – Will Lee III, Texas A&M, CB
Corner is a sneaky need for the Bears, but if they stay away from the position, that means they truly believe in the returning Zah Frazier and Terell Smith to push Tyrique Stevenson. I think adding some competition makes sense.
Which of these mocks do you like best for the Bears?
Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) goes to the basket against Virginia Cavaliers center Ugonna Onyenso (33) during the men's ACC Conference Tournament Championship at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
One positive for Liverpool against Tottenham was the performance of 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha on his first Premier League start.
He became the first player to attempt seven or more dribbles in a Premier League game and complete them all since Matheus Cunha for Wolves against Aston Villa in May 2023.
Ngumoha had previously made 11 substitute appearances in the league, and featured in each cup competition this season.
"I think I have said two months ago, he progressed so well as a 16-year-old and now 17 he is progressing well," said boss Arne Slot.
"A performance like today will only help him to get more minutes for this club.
"I have 12 or 13 players that are able to bring good performances. Rio is doing that well it makes sense to play him."
Auburn men's basketball will get the chance to make a postseason run after all.
After missing out on an NCAA Tournament bid, the Auburn Tigers will head to the NIT as the No. 1 overall seed, ensuring that the 2025-26 squad will play at least one more game. Their first matchup will be against South Alabama on Tuesday, March 17, at 9 p.m. CT. ESPN 2 will broadcast the game live from Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama.
Auburn takes the No. 1 seed in the Auburn Regional, with Nevada, George Mason, and Seattle rounding out the top four seeds in the bracket. New Mexico, Wake Forest, and Tulsa are the remaining No. 1 seeds in this season's tournament. The Tigers, who were the second team out of the NCAA Tournament, will look to make a splash in their first NIT appearance since 2009, and their seventh appearance overall. Auburn made the deepest run in its NIT history in 2009 by advancing to the third round, and is 4-6 overall in the NIT.
Auburn is in line to host the second round of the NIT should it beat South Alabama on Tuesday. The Tigers will host the winner of No. 4 seed Seattle vs. St. Thomas (Minnesota) on either Friday or Saturday at Neville Arena with a win over the Jaguars.
Let's do this‼️
The #NIT2026 bracket, complete with first round tip-off dates/times, is here 🏀
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Carnell Tate of the Ohio State Buckeyes participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Most of the targets that Cleveland may have wanted in free agency at receiver are gone, but the team is exploring all options to improve the room.
Trade for a WR?
Free agency is still going on, but that doesn’t prevent general manager Andrew Berry from calling around the league about any wide receiver who could be getting shopped. Could Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr be an option? Unlikely considering how the Jaguars have reportedly stated they have no interest in moving him, but as we’ve seen, situations change. It would not make much sense for the Jaguars to move off Thomas Jr as their receiver room gets demonstratively worse, so it’s likely he stays in Duval.
As mentioned before, the Browns kicked the tires on potentially trading for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Could the team try again and go back to it? Could New Orleans wide receiver Chris Olave be an option? Some would scoff at the idea, but if the Browns were interested in Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston, would the Chargers part ways with him?
It’s not hard to imagine general manager Andrew Berry having one more splash move in him; never count him out.
Draft a WR at #6 or 24?
The NFL Draft is not until April. Most, if not all, fans want the Browns to draft Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with their 6th overall pick. Will Tate be there at 6? Possibly. If not, the Browns have other options. Reminder, the Browns have two 1st round picks, so the team can choose what route they want to go and pick a receiver that fits their team.
This year’s wide receiver class is deep, but the fans, and perhaps the team, aren’t in a position to be picky about who they want the team to draft to help their receiver room. Whether it’s Carnell Tate, USC Makai Lemon, Indiana Omar Cooper Jr, Arizona State Jordyn Tyson, or many others, the team has options to choose from with their two first-round picks.
Any receiver the team drafts can bring a jolt to the passing game, regardless of where they are selected.
As always, it is possible that Berry decides that the Browns need to add multiple players at the same position. Draft two receivers in the team’s first three picks? It is possible. Trade for Olave and complement him with fellow Buckeyes star Tate? Interesting. Trade for a receiver and draft two others? Again, anything is possible, especially with the team’s draft capital.
If you had to choose, how would you have the Browns address the WR room?
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) says it has not received any notification from Iran that it will withdraw its national football team from the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Iran have qualified for the 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico starting on June 11 and are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Iran’s sports minister has said it was impossible for the players to participate in the tournament after the US launched air strikes with Israel against Iran, killing its supreme leader.
US President Donald Trump said last week that Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup but he believed it was not appropriate that they be there “for their own life and safety”.
“It’s a very emotional moment. Everybody’s saying a lot of things,” AFC General Secretary Windsor John told reporters on Monday in Kuala Lumpur.
“At the end of the day, it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup.
“They are our member. We want them to play. You know, they qualified, … so we hope that they will solve their issues, whatever it is, and be able to participate.”
An official withdrawal by Iran from football’s global showpiece would be the first in the modern era and would leave FIFA with the urgent task of finding a replacement.
It is unclear whether FIFA would have time to replace Iran should they decide to withdraw from the 2026 tournament. One option could be choosing the highest ranked team in Asia that did not make it into the tournament.
Iran’s Group G could also play out with special rules with three teams instead of four.
Keane unconvinced by Carrick credentials for Man United
Roy Keane has questioned whether Michael Carrick is the best option for Manchester United despite his impressive run as interim manager.
Carrick has guided Manchester United into the Champions League places with seven wins in nine games since replacing Ruben Amorim.
A 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday strengthened the club’s position in the top four, with increased calls for Carrick to be handed the permanent job.
Former teammate Wayne Rooney has backed Carrick for the full-time position, but Keane has warned that the Red Devils need someone ‘more experienced of winning trophies’.
“Most players love a caretaker manager. He hasn’t had any distractions. When you get appointed manager, you have a lot of different responsibilities,” Keane said to Sky Sports.
“I think Man Utd need someone with more experienced of winning trophies, competing in Europe, and he hasn’t got that.
“All this chat that everyone loves him – I don’t know if everyone was loving him last week when they couldn’t beat a Newcastle team with 10 men.
“The timing was good for Man Utd. Remember this is the same team who finished 15th. People get giddy that United are third in the league – I don’t. I’m not one of them. I get excited when teams are winning trophies.”
Asked who he believes his former side should target, Keane named Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone and Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique as options.
“There’s loads, Simeone and Enrique. You go and try and find the best, Tuchel you have [to Jamie Redknapp] just mentioned.”
Stat – Numbers Show Inter Milan Heavily Rely On Argentina Megastar Who Could Return For Fiorentina Clash
Serie A giants Inter Milan have reportedly become increasingly reliant on headline performer Lautaro Martinez.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInter1908, the Nerazzurri are a different team with El Toro on the pitch.
Cristian Chivu lost his talismanic striker to a calf injury in mid-February.
Indeed, Lautaro Martinez had to come off in the first leg of Inter’s fateful Champions League knockout tie against Bodo/Glimt.
As a consequence, he has missed the last three matches in Serie A, including a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to AC Milan.
Furthermore, Inter’s overall performances have noticeably dipped in his absence, with the Nerazzurri winning just one of their four games without their captain.
Inter Milan Become Reliant on Lautaro Martinez
Despite several injury setbacks, Lautaro is on course to lift another Capocannoniere award in Serie A.
Indeed, he leads the scoring charts with 14 goals, ahead of Rasmus Hojlund and Anastasios Douvikas, who are both on ten.
Meanwhile, the Argentine’s presence has been crucial for the Nerazzurri, who boast a 77% win ratio with El Toro in the team.
However, the percentages plummet to just 33% without the 28-year-old.
Moreover, Inter average 2.4 goals per game with Lautaro on the pitch, but that drops to just 1.0 per game when he’s absent.
Bruno Fernandes equals remarkable Ronaldo record from 2008
Bruno Fernandes was at his best again this weekend as Manchester United beat Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United captain created two goals in the 3-1 win at Old Trafford, a result which saw the Red Devils take a massive step towards Champions League qualification.
Fernandes delivered a set piece onto the head of Casemiro for the opener, before threading through for Matheus Cunha to finish one-against-one for the second.
Those assists made it 16 in the Premier League for Fernandes, comfortably the highest number in the division and second only to Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise (17) across Europe’s top five leagues.
Alongside the quality and quantity of Fernandes’s goals and assists, however, has been their importance to the side.
Manchester United would be a whopping 25 points worse off without Fernandes’s goal involvements this season. Only two players’ contributions having been more important to the Red Devils in a single Premier League campaign.
Robin van Persie’s incredible 2012-13 campaign is well out in front, with Manchester United gaining 38 points from the Dutchman’s 26 goals and nine assists. Van Persie won the Premier League’s Golden Boot that season as United were crowned champions.
Second is Eric Cantona, whose goal involvements equated to 26 points in 1993-94. That season saw the Red Devils win the domestic double for the first time.
Incredibly, Fernandes has matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2007-08 season for Premier League points gained from goal involvements. Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or for the first time that season as United lifted the Premier League and Champions League.
Fernandes, however, still has eight games to move past his compatriot and close in on Van Persie’s club-record mark.
Neville names ‘problem’ Man United must fix this summer
Gary Neville has said ‘the centre of midfield is a problem’ that Manchester United must address in the summer transfer window.
United have impressed under the stewardship of interim manager Michael Carrick, with seven wins in nine games propelling the Red Devils into the third in the Premier League table.
Sunday’s win over Aston Villa has made United frontrunners for Champions League football, a scenario that Neville believes will present problems without investment.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said the club need to sign ‘two really good central midfield players’ in the summer window, amid Casemiro’s imminent exit and doubts over Manuel Ugarte’s future. He believes defensive additions are also needed but reiterated that midfield must be the focus.
“The centre of midfield is a problem. Mainoo and Casemiro are doing a great job right now for Michael Carrick. However, every Man Utd fans in this stadium know that is going to be nowhere near enough when they start playing in the Champions League next season.
“It is more than likely they will [qualify] and when they play a bit further in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and they are playing in the Champions League they are going to need three or four really good midfielder players. At the moment you’ve got Mainoo, a midfield player you can buy into, but you can’t really look at any of the others and think that is going to work.
“Casemiro is leaving and Manuel Ugarte I think will leave. They need two really good central midfield players. Probably one that’s more positional, like a Michael Carrick-type, and one that’s more of a destroyer.
“I do think the back needs looking at but the midfield would be the real focus in the summer transfer window.”
Atletico Madrid open to Jan Oblak sale – replacement lined up
Atletico Madrid will be busy once again this summer, as they seek the necessary improvements to Diego Simeone’s squad. As part of their business, they may have to replace two club legends: Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak.
In recent weeks, Griezmann turned down an immediate move to Orlando City, but it is increasingly likely that he ends up in the MLS come the summer. As for Oblak, he also has chances to leave, with Marcos Duran (via ED) reporting that Atleti will not stand in the way of the Slovenian goalkeeper, should he wish to leave.
However, a move within Europe would be difficult, given that Oblak commands a very high salary. He is not prepared to reduce his wages, which is why the only option that would exist in the summer would be Saudi Arabia. Fortunately for Atleti, this is considered to have a decent chance of playing out.
Atleti have Oblak replacement in mind
In preparation for Oblak’s possible department, Atleti have moved quickly to identify their desired replacement. ED say that Juan Musso would continue, and he could be joined at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano by Leo Roman, who is considered to be the preferred option for sporting director Mateu Alemany.
Roman has starred for Mallorca since taking over as number one last summer, following Dominik Greif’s move to Lyon. He signed a new long-term contract at Son Moix in 2025, but Atleti are very capable of paying what is on offer, given that the arrival of Apollo Sports Capital has significantly improved their financial situation.
It will be interesting to see how the situation with Oblak plays out over the coming months. His exit would be a blow for Atleti, although it could be the right time for his 12-year stay in the Spanish capital to be brought to an end.
Kieffer Moore has made 52 appearances for Wales, scoring 15 goals [Rex Features]
Wrexham striker Kieffer Moore has been ruled out of Wales' World Cup play-offs with a hamstring injury.
The 33-year-old had been a major doubt since sustaining a tendon split during the FA Cup defeat against Chelsea earlier this month.
Having missed subsequent Championship matches against Hull City and Swansea City, Moore is not expected to return to action until April.
That means he will be unavailable for Wales' World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 26 March and, if they win that game, their play-off final against Italy or Northern Ireland five days later.
"Kieffer's not going to be right for the internationals, which is a blow for him and for Wales," said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.
"He's got this tendon injury which he feels OK with, but he's shown up on the scan and it's one of those injuries that, up to 80-85% you're fine, but if you extend beyond that you make yourself susceptible to muscle injuries."
Wrexham wing-back Liberato Cacace is also on the sidelines for his club, the latest setback in an injury-ravaged first season for the New Zealander since his move from Italian side Empoli last summer.
"Libby will miss New Zealand's internationals and we've just got to focus on getting him to hopefully contribute for the end of the season," said Parkinson.
"Because he's had a couple of setbacks, I don't really want to put any pressure or time scale on him.
"But it's not a major injury, it's just he keeps getting slight setbacks, which is obviously not him. We just do everything we can to get him to contribute."
We kick off our previews of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships with the heavyweights. We are going to go through every weight class and look at the favorites and the sleepers. And, of course, since this is an Ohio State website, we will place extra focus on the Buckeye wrestlers and their paths to becoming All-Americans.
Before we start, just one word about the team competition: It's Penn State's to lose. The Nittany Lions have one of the most absurdly dominant wrestling teams in history. It would take an absurd amount of bad luck and upsets for anyone else to win. But the fun part about starting with heavyweight is that it's Penn State's weakest weight class. So, let's look at the contenders.
Favorites: Yonger Bastida (Iowa State), Isaac Trumble (N.C. State)
The top two seeds in this weight class are the two undefeated wrestlers on the season. Trumble competed a relatively abbreviated year, with only 16 matches, but he was pretty dominant in winning all of them. Bastida is a cool 25-0 on the year, also relatively untroubled.
However, neither wrestler has faced much elite competition this year. And neither is so dominant that an upset would shock us. (And, remember, the most dominant heavyweight in history managed to lose in the final last year, so nothing would shock us anyway.) Bastida will likely face either Ben Kueter (Iowa) or Cole Mirasola (Penn State) in the quarterfinals, which could be a potential upset. Trumble actually has the seemingly more manageable path as the No. 2 seed in this bracket.
Ohio State's Wrestler: Nick Feldman
Feldman is the No. 5 seed in the bracket, coming in with a 22-5 season and a third place finish at the Big Ten Championships. Feldman will face Jarrett Stoner (Missouri) in the first round. Stoner is much more talented than your typical No. 28 seed, but it's a match Feldman should win.
Braxton Amos (Wisconsin) is Feldman's likely second-round opponent. Feldman beat Amos twice this year, though both matches were close. The likely third-round opponent is No. 4 seed A.J. Ferrari (Nebraska). Ferrari just beat Feldman at the Big Ten Championships, though Feldman won the regular-season meeting. Both matches were extremely close, and I would expect another tight one if they meet again.
In fact, other than a loss to Mirasola in the disastrous Penn State dual meet, Feldman's four other losses have come to this tournament's top four seeds (one to each). All of those matches were close, too. Margins are small at heavyweight this year, but Feldman winning five matches and taking home the trophy in Cleveland wouldn't be a total shock, either.
Sleepers: The entire top nine
This weight class is wide open, and nothing coming from the top nine seeds would be a stunner. And with All-American honors going to the top eight, things are going to get very intense in the wrestlebacks. This is a weight class you don't want to miss. Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State) is seeded seventh, but he only has three losses on the season––all of them close matches against top four seeds (two against Bastida).
Nathan Taylor (Lehigh) is seeded sixth and probably the weakest link among the top seeds. Unlike the others, he actually has a relatively bad loss on the year. Then again, he also beat Mirasola back in December and almost beat Bastida. So he might be more upset-prone, but he can also beat anyone in this weight class on the right day.
Tennessee is recruiting toward its 2027 football signing class.
Three-star athlete Caleb Cooper announced he will visit Tennessee on Tuesday. He will also visit Florida, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech and Ohio State.
The 6-foot, 207-pound prospect is from Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Providence Day School is home to Vols' offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. and former Tennessee basketball forward Grant Williams.
247Sports ranks Cooper as the No. 62 athlete in the class and the No. 28 player in North Carolina.
Tennessee offered him a scholarship on Feb. 6. His visit on Tuesday will be his first to Tennessee.
Purdue was the first school to offer Cooper a scholarship on Jan. 26, 2025. Other schools to offer him scholarships include Syracuse, Southern Miss, Maryland, SMU, Boston College, Indiana, Iowa State, Wake Forest, East Carolina, Charlotte, Louisville, UNLV and Nebraska.
Michael Carrick's Old Trafford record essential for Man Utd going forward
Manchester United made it five home wins in a row against Aston Villa on Sunday as the Red Devils continued their 2026 bounce.
Last time out the Red Devils fell to a 1-0 defeat away to 10-men Newcastle United having failed to take advantage of superior numbers for a second time this season.
That result was the culmination of some flat performances under interim boss Michael Carrick but the 3-1 win over Aston Villa was a marked improvement and one that means that Carrick has still won all of his home games in charge of the club.
United have now defeated Manchester City, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, and Villa at Old Trafford in the Premier League with no other team in the top flight having picked up as many points at home (15) than United. Neighbours City are the closest with 12 from having paid one game further.
In general, United haven't been at their best at home in recent years and this season could prove to be one of the better post-Alex Ferguson campaigns in front of their own fans.
Of course, last season was the nadir of United's home record, winning just seven games and losing nine, picking up just 24 points in total. In Ferguson's final campaign, the Red Devils picked up 48 points – double that amount.
In fact, the 15 defeats suffered at home from the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons combined were just one fewer than the previous five seasons (2018/19 through to 2022/23) combined.
Carrick still has four more home games in charge (at least for now), win all of those and they'd end up on 45 home points in total. Only twice since Sir Alex's retirement have they managed more: 47 in the 2017/18 season under José Mourinho and 52 points picked up in the 2022/23 in Erik ten Hag's first season. That 52-point season was in fact United's best since the 2010/11 campaign where they were undefeated at home, picking up 55 points (18 wins, 1 draw).
Leeds United, Brentford, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest are all still to visit Old Trafford this season which is now a far more difficult journey than it once was.
Win all of those games and United will not only have their third-best home season since the title-winning campaign, but they'll almost certainly be back in the Champions League.
Hamburg set budget for Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira – a contract has already been agreed with the 25-year-old
Bildreports that Hamburg have set their budget for what it will take to sign Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira permanently in the summer.
Since moving from North London to northern Germany in the summer, Vieira has been one of Hamburg’s best players in their maiden season back in the Bundesliga, and now HSV want to try to sign him permanently.
The attacking midfielder has already agreed a contract with the club, in the case that he does join permanently. However, the Bundesliga side must now reach an agreement with Arsenal.
In the loan agreement, there is a €20m buy option, but it is way too much for HSV, so they will look to try and renegotiate the deal, and have set their budget at a high single million digit fee. Hamburg’s current record transfer was for Filip Kostic in 2016 when he joined from Stuttgart for €14m.
Vieira’s season at HSV:
The 25-year-old has played 21 times for Hamburg this season, scoring five and assisting four, including a great chip against 1.FC Köln at the weekend. This makes Vieira one of HSV’s joint top scorers this season alongside Ransford Königsdörffer, Rayan Philippe and fellow loanee Luka Vuskovic.
The New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California Jan. 25, 1987.
While there are still many of us who say it’s still too soon to pick at the scab that is the Broncos Super Bowl XXI loss to the New York Giants in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, I promise this won’t bring back too many bad memories of that fateful day in January of 1987.
I thought that everything there was to know about the game, I already knew. Yes, John Elway and the Broncos engineered a legendary AFC Championship comeback win over the Browns that now lives in infamy as “The Drive” to get there. No, it didn’t go well once they did get there, losing 39-20, in what was the first of three crushing Super Bowl losses in the 1980’s.
This People Magazaine article credits a police officer for losing the gun after scuffling with a fan who had run out onto the field. Perhaps a Giants fan, all spun up by the glory that was Phil Simms at the time? Cheers to Phil McConkey (how many guys were named Phil on that team?!) for having the presence of mind to pause his celebration to bring the situation to the attention of security.
So, there you have it, folks! A little bizarre Broncos trivia to start your day in what is one of the most bizarre free agent periods in recent Broncos memory.
We’ll sign someone outside the family here soon, we hope.
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes Michael Carrick should be given the job at Old Trafford based on how the team are performing under him.
Since he was named head coach for the remainder of the season in January, Carrick has guided his side to seven wins in nine games.
United chiefs want to assess all options before making a decision in the summer, but Rooney - who was on holiday with his former United and England team-mate when Ruben Amorim was sacked - has no doubts what should happen next.
"100% he should [get the job]," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I knew this was going to happen with Michael Carrick. I know him very well. I know his character and his personality.
"It needed a calm head, but someone who knows the place. The players needed some love, and he has given them that.
"We have seen the players play with more quality, more together as a team, and they look like a very strong team. Why would you change?"
Carrick confirmed he had spoken to chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox after the Aston Villa win on Sunday, but says his sole focus is Friday's trip to Bournemouth.
Tottenham's relegation battle is a result of poor recruitment after losing big figures at the club, says BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.
For the second season running, Spurs have found themselves down the wrong end of the Premier League table, with this campaign seeing them in a genuine fight for top-flight survival as they sit just one point above West Ham in the relegation zone.
"Quality counts at the end of the day," Mokbel told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
"What has happened at Tottenham over the course of the past three or four years is that squad has been allowed to decay maybe. They lost Harry Kane, and any club in the world would suffer if they were to lose Harry Kane.
"So they lost Kane, they lost Son Heung-min, the two who have been their main source of goals over the years. And I have some sympathy with the club and the recruitment staff there because trying to replace those to players is nigh-on impossible. I don't know how you do it.
"But regardless, they have had to replace them and unfortunately for them, the players they have been replaced with just haven't been up to scratch."
Despite their form seeing them slide towards those danger places, there were some positives for fans to take from a hard-earned point away at Liverpool on Sunday.
"We need to be careful to not over egg the pudding. It is still just a point, albeit a very good one at Anfield," Mokbel added. "But also, my understanding going into Sunday's game was that a defeat, certainly a heavy defeat and poor performance, would have cost Igor Tudor his job.
"There is some room for optimism if you are a Tottenham fan, but we still have to point out that he is very much not out of the woods. He is on the cusp of a very big week.
"The game against Nottingham Forest on Sunday is probably the biggest game of Tottenham's season."
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard has been included in Northern Ireland's squad for their World Cup qualifying play-off against Italy later this month despite an injury scare.
Ballard was forced off in the second half of the Black Cats' Premier League loss to Brighton on Saturday, and is considered a doubt for next weekend's Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park.
However Michael O'Neill, who is combining his international duties with managing Championship strugglers Blackburn for the rest of the season, has included the 26-year-old in a 28-strong squad for the trip to face Italy in the play-off semi-final in Bergamo on March 26.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has been combining his international duties with his role at Blackburn (PA Archive)
Southampton midfielder Shea Charles and his brother Pierce, the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, return from injury along with Preston midfielder Ali McCann and Oxford defender Brodie Spencer.
There is also a first senior call-up for Liverpool's teenage winger Kieran Morrison.
The 19-year-old has made two senior appearances for Liverpool this season, against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in November and in their FA Cup win over Wolves earlier this month, while scoring 13 goals in 17 apearances for the club's under-21s this term.
Liverpool starlet Kieran Morrison has earned a first senior call-up (Getty Images)
However, his club team-mate Conor Bradley is out with injury, while Bristol Rovers goalkeeper Luke Southwood, Wimbledon defender Ryan Johnson, Preston defender Jamal Lewis and winger Ross McCausland, on loan at Aris Limassol from Rangers, are left out.
The winner of the semi-final in Bergamo will travel to play either Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina in the play-off final on 31 March.
The winner of that match will then go into Group B at this summer's World Cup alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.
Northern Ireland squad for World Cup qualifying play-offs
Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham), Conor Hazard (Plymouth), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Josh Clarke (Partick Thistle, on loan from Celtic).
Defenders: Trai Hume, (Sunderland), Dan Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Paddy McNair (Hull), Eoin Toal (Bolton), Ruairi McConville (Norwich), Brodie Spencer (Oxford United), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth).
Midfielders: Jamie Donley (Oxford United), George Saville (Luton), Ali McCann (Preston), Jamie McDonnell (Oxford United), Shea Charles (Southampton), Isaac Price (West Brom), Paul Smyth (QPR), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Patrick Kelly (Barnsley), Kieran Morrison (Liverpool).
Forwards: Josh Magennis (Exeter), Dion Charles (Huddersfield), Callum Marshall (Bochum, on loan from West Ham), Jamie Reid (Stevenage).
On two consecutive Sundays, the P5 white box on the starting grid has been left eerily vacant and abandoned. The first was bad enough, with thousands of fans adorned in green t-shirts perched in the grandstand, named after the hometown hero, left crestfallen. But the second was more excruciating, wheeled away from the starting blocks with just five minutes to go, joining a stricken companion in the garage.
To say the least, Oscar Piastri has endured the roughest of opening salvos to the 2026 season. After his devastating pre-race crash at his home race in Melbourne, an electrical issue with his McLaren car removed him from the start line and out of the race in Shanghai. His teammate, Lando Norris, had an unrelated power unit problem of his own, with neither car participating in the Chinese Grand Prix.
It was McLaren’s first double DNS (Did Not Start) in more than two decades.
Oscar Piastri has not taken part in one grand prix lap so far in 2026 (Getty)
Despite his disastrous start to the year, Piastri was typically magnanimous in his reaction. “While this is never what we want to happen, this is just sometimes how it goes in racing,” he said in the media pen. Norris, more downbeat, added: “It’s disappointing to come such a long way and put in so much effort, not just me but the whole team, and not start the race.”
Piastri is not point-less, courtesy of a sixth-place finish in the sprint race on Saturday. Yet three points to his name already leaves him 48 behind F1 championship leader George Russell. Six months on from being in prime position to land his first world title, Piastri has missed out on that career-defining accolade and is now 12th in the standings at the start of the next campaign, at 50/1 odds to win the championship. Life comes at you fast in Formula 1.
To a point, his calamitous opening has been out of his hands. Sure, perhaps he was on the gas a smidge too aggressively when spinning his car into the wall on the reconnaissance lap to the grid at Albert Park, but his car experienced 100 kilowatts more power than expected. That, combined with cold tyres and riding the kerb, triggered the accident. In Shanghai, McLaren have not disclosed the specific issue with either car, but clearly it was out of the driver's hands. From dominating the sport last season, the papaya-clad outfit are completely on the back foot at the beginning of F1’s new era.
What has been sharper is team principal Andrea Stella’s criticism of engine partner Mercedes. Having raised concerns about communication channels in Melbourne, the finger-pointing was more obvious this time around. In McLaren’s post-race press release, they referred to Mercedes’ HPP (High Performance Powertrains) programme eight times.
“They look to be separate electrical faults on the power unit occurring at the same time,” Stella detailed. “We’ll investigate together alongside our partners at HPP to understand what happened. We move forward as one team, both trackside and in Woking, with our partners at HPP.”
Of course, the irony is that McLaren’s customer team are back to their previous standing on top of the sport and are clearly the standout team on the grid. Kimi Antonelli’s emotional first F1 victory, becoming the second-youngest grand prix winner of all time – a day after becoming the youngest-ever pole-sitter – proved Mercedes’s superiority to the rest of the field. When Russell encountered a mechanical issue in qualifying, 19-year-old Antonelli was ready to step into the role of chief protagonist.
Piastri crashed before the race even started at the season-opener in Australia (AP)Kimi Antonelli celebrates the first win of his career in China on Sunday (Andy Wong/AP) (AP)
And while Ferrari are keeping them honest – particularly off the start line and with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc battling supremely for frontrunning positions – Mercedes’s power advantage on the straights is too much for the rest of the field right now. Thus, at the vast majority of circuits, the three-pointed star will have an unassailable advantage.
Yet the connection between Piastri’s sudden downfall and Antonelli’s moment in the spotlight is indicative of the sport’s rapidly changing tides. It is why Russell himself stated last week the need to “make hay while the sun shines.” When opportunity opens up, a grasp with both hands could define a life’s work.
Now, that sounds excessive, but much was made last year (particularly when Max Verstappen launched his end-of-season comeback) that one of Norris and Piastri had to capitalise on McLaren’s phase of dominance. Norris got it done; Piastri flailed at the end. Much like his manager Mark Webber, up against Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull, the Australian lost out at the end. Webber ended up title-less.
Antonelli finished ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in China (Getty Images)
So, back to Antonelli. In a joyous conversation on Sky Sports after the Italian’s win, his dad Marco and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff both played down the teen’s chances of winning this year’s world championship. “Kimi is young, but not perfect,” a very proud but honest Marco said. “Experience is very important, but George is a super driver and it’s difficult to beat him.”
Wolff was firmer: “You have to keep your feet on the ground now. Kimi had a great race… but he will make mistakes and have great days. We shouldn’t be carried away with world championships.”
But there is no saying how long Mercedes’s current sport-leading excellence lasts. This year, more than ever, is expected to be a rapid development race and the Silver Arrows will be stymied by the engine technical directive coming into force in June. Though only 19, Antonelli has proven he has the pure pace to challenge Russell. And sure, he is the underdog in a title battle which looks likely to be intra-team at this stage.
Yet casting an eye on a hopeful future, downplaying the opportunity at the doorstep, is heedless. Antonelli only needs to look down the paddock at Piastri, with a career trajectory not dissimilar, to understand why taking the fight to Russell is paramount. Not down the line, but now.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.'s first quarterback with the Colts was Philip Rivers and he wound up playing with Rivers again to close out his six-year run with the team in 2025.
Those were Rivers' first games since the end of Pittman's rookie season in 2020 and his improbable return to action came after Daniel Jones tore his Achilles in the team's 13th game of the season, but Pittman was no stranger to quarterback changes before that twist. The Colts ran through Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles, Anthony Richardson, Gardner Minshew, and Joe Flacco before getting to Jones, Rivers and Riley Leonard last season.
Living through all of those changes may explain why Pittman is sanguine about the Steelers' quarterback uncertainty after being traded to the team last week. Aaron Rodgers has not shared his plans for the 2026 season, which leaves Mason Rudolph and Will Howard as the in-house options in Pittsburgh. Pittman said he feels confident about moving forward with either player if that's how things play out.
“Whenever you have a chance to play with a Hall of Fame quarterback, you always take that,” Pittman said, via Chris Harlan of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “We also have two really good quarterbacks here in Mason and Will, so whatever ends up turning out, I think we’ll have a good plan offensively and we’ll make the most of it.”
If Rodgers opts to do something other than lead the Steelers offense, there may be other options on the table in Pittsburgh but it seems unlikely that Pittman will find himself catching passes from Rivers again in 2026.
“A gamer who can take over games and in a variety of different ways," Ivins wrote. “He stars as a do-it-all utility player on Friday nights and is the type of talent who could legitimately warrant snaps on both sides of the ball in college.
“Ceiling appears to be highest at safety given the IQ and physicality, but has the skills to also be an effective three-down running back with his vision, hands, and agility. Should be viewed as one of the top overall prospects in the class and a potential impact player for a College Football Playoff hopeful based on what he put on tape as a junior.”
If Ivins’s evaluation is correct, Fa’alave-Johnson has the potential to be a legitimate star for the Trojans. That is something that should have USC fans very excited.
West Bromwich Albion interim boss James Morrison said giving his squad the spa treatment was a factor in ending their long search for a win.
As well as time on the training ground and in the gym, Morrison sent the players for a spa day on Thursday as part of pre-match preparations in an attempt to calm tension.
The team responded by beating promotion-chasing Hull City 3-0 at The Hawthorns to end a 13-match winless run in the Championship stretching back to 29 December and move out of the relegation places in the process.
"I want them to be able to breathe in this time because it is pressurised.
"I'm trying to take it (pressure) off them and let them be free and trying to play free as well like you've seen today.
"The spa day was only at a hotel just up the road but it seemed to work."
It was also the Baggies' biggest margin of victory this season and just the second time this year they had scored more than a single goal in a game.
"Goals have been hard to come by of late and one of the things we wanted to put right was how we can get better in front of goal," Morrison added.
"Having more people in the box, working on the crosses, getting down the sides of teams with the full-backs. Also being resilient so we can stay in games and give ourselves the best chance."
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 26: David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New England Patriots had a busy first week of NFL free agency, signing eight players since the opening of the legal tampering window last Monday. While not all of the moves are guaranteed to have a major impact on the team, they did address some holes and improved either the starter level or the overall depth of the team.
Still, with the first wave of free agency over, the Patriots are still lacking at some positions. Wide receiver, tight end, defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback and safety could still benefit from more talent being brought aboard to compete. Some of it will surely come via the draft, but free agency also still has some candidates the team might consider.
In order to find out who those players are, we are looking at the top-200 consensus board compiled by Acme Packing Company’s Justis Mosqueda.
Quarterback
25: Aaron Rodgers
45: Kirk Cousins
102: Russell Wilson
128: Joe Flacco
181: Carson Wentz
The Patriots have no need at the quarterback position. They entered the offseason with Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs both under contract, and later retained third-stringer Tommy DeVito on a two-year extension. Even if they had not made that move, none of the QBs listed here would have been realistic targets in the first place.
Running back
106: Najee Harris
110: Brian Robinson
183: Jeremy McNichols
191: Raheem Mostert
In an expected move, Deneric Price was not tendered by the Patriots as a restricted free agent. While this removes another option from a running back group that currently carries three players behind a top two of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson — Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, Elijah Mitchell — the Patriots do not appear to be under much pressure to add another RB to the mix, particularly not one of the high-profile variety.
Wide receiver
15: Jauan Jennings
35: Deebo Samuel
43: Stefon Diggs
49: Tyreek Hill
79: Keenan Allen
(92: Brandon Aiyuk)
103: Christian Kirk
130: DeAndre Hopkins
133: Marquise Brown
Even though they signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract, the Patriots are not done adding to their wide receiver group. The question is what form those next additions will take. They could still pursue A.J. Brown or Brian Thomas Jr. as trade options o wait for the draft to add to the mix. They also, however, could look to a free agent group that still has some big names unaccounted for — including Stefon Diggs, whose return to New England on a more favorable deal was not ruled out by executive vice president Eliot Wolf.
Tight end
63: David Njoku
118: Jonnu Smith
159: Darren Waller
179: John FitzPatrick
The Patriots signed Julian Hill to a three-year deal to serve as a blocking tight end, but the Patriots could still benefit from more receiving talent at the position. The draft offers some even beyond the early rounds, while a veteran option like David Njoku also might be attractive at the right cost.
Offensive tackle
38: Taylor Decker
108: Jonah Williams
122: Jawaan Taylor
153: Cam Robinson
The Patriots’ tackle depth behind starters Will Campbell and Morgan Moses is questionable, but that does not mean the team will go out and spend top dollar on a player at the position. Maybe Cam Robinson might be an attractive option if willing to function as a swing tackle, but other than him it appears the lower-tiers of free agency or the draft are the more realistic markets for the team to explore at this point in time.
Interior offensive line
42: Joel Bitonio
61: Wyatt Teller
72: Kevin Zeitler
89: Mekhi Becton
114: Greg Van Roten
143: James Daniels
147: Ethan Pocic
149: Daniel Faalele
Signing Alijah Vera-Tucker to a three-year, $42 million contract gives the Patriots some definitive starter potential at left guard, but he comes with his own set of questions after struggling with injury for much of his career. The team put up some contractual safeguards, but the depth behind him at the moment consists primarily of Ben Brown and Caedan Wallace. If they feel this is enough, players such as the ones listed here are not realistic options to be brought aboard. If not — and there is little indication at this time that that is the case — the veteran market might become attractive again.
Interior defensive line
60: Calais Campbell
64: D.J. Reader
77: DaQuan Jones
Khyiris Tonga taking his talents to Kansas City last week created a sizable hole along the Patriots’ interior D-line. While a soon-to-be 40-year-old Calais Campbell might not be the answer despite still playing quality football, D.J. Reader and DaQuan Jones look like potential targets to help fill the early-down role played by Tonga in 2025: both are massive human beings at 330 and 320 pounds each, respectively, and could serve as space eaters up front.
Defensive edge
29: Joey Bosa
76: Jadeveon Clowney
90: Cameron Jordan
132: Von Miller
137: A.J. Epenesa
145: Brandon Graham
150: Dante Fowler Jr.
157: Derek Barnett
160: Haason Reddick
166: Kyle Van Noy
169: D.J. Wonnum
200: Preston Smith
The Patriot suffered a net loss on the edge last week. While they did sign Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year pact worth $36.5 million, they also saw K’Lavon Chaisson sign with the Commanders and decided to release Anfernee Jennings. More reinforcements are needed, and free agency still provides some intriguing options. Among them is former first overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, who worked under Mike Vrabel in both Houston and Tennessee.
Linebacker
62: Bobby Wagner
111: Germaine Pratt
131: Matt Milano
(142: Lavonte David)
172: Jack Gibbens
197: Eric Kendricks
Re-signing Jack Gibbens after not tendering him in restricted free agency still seems like a potential move the Patriots might make to bolster their linebacker corps, but they also added K.J. Britt on a one-year deal recently. Could they follow that move up with another veteran addition? Theoretically, yes. However, Eliot Wolf indicated at the Scouting Combine that his team might be looking to the draft to bolster a group currently headlined by Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.
Cornerback
84: Rasul Douglas
104: Mike Hilton
129: Trevon Diggs
154: Cam Taylor-Britt
195: Fabian Moreau
199: Tre’Davious White
Even though the Patriots have one of the best starting trios in football, the depth behind Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Alex Austin could benefit from some improvement particularly after Alex Austin’s departure. The expectation is that the position will be targeted at some point the draft, but the veteran market also has some talent sill unaccounted for.
Safety
98: Jabrill Peppers
115: Harrison Smith
138: Geno Stone
139: Donovan Wilson
162: Xavier Woods
164: Kyle Dugger
168: Jordan Poyer
173: Chuck Clark
175: Tony Jefferson
176: Andrew Wingard
185: Ifeatu Melifonwu
There are some familiar names on this list, but it seems like the Patriots already made their main move by signing Kevin Byard to a one-year, $9 million contract. Adding extra depth might still be important, especially with the same lacking at cornerback as well, but no splashes should be expected at this point in time.
Stoke City have looked like a different team going forward, at least since the return to fitness of two of their natural full-backs in Eric Bocat and Junior Tchamadeu.
Bocat regularly inverting high, almost as a number eight whilst still offering some width and covering defensively on the left helped Stoke break Oxford down a few weeks ago, whilst Tchamadeu has instantly resumed his position as one of the league's most dynamic and threatening right-backs since coming back from an injury suffered at AFCON with Cameroon.
Both were good again against Watford and Stoke have had to be patient not to overuse either as they build up their fitness after injury.
Aaron Cresswell, the club's other senior left-back, is out and at right-back the hole left by Tchamadeu was never successfully filled by a succession of centre-backs playing out of position.
Maksym Talovierov never looked nearly as comfortable on the ball, Ben Wilmot lacked the athleticism to overlap with the same intensity and Bosun Lawal suffered two injuries trying to replicate Tchamadeu's ability to get up and down the touchline.
At times, Ben Gibson, another centre-back has had to play left-back leaving Stoke without any real dynamism coming from full-back on either side and that in turn has hurt their wide forwards.
All of the above did their best to fill in as square pegs in round holes and deserve plenty of credit but the return of Tchamadeu in particular gives Stoke so much more balance.
The Potters injury crisis has affected every area of the pitch but after the win against Watford, Million Manhoef spoke honestly about the additional options he has on the ball and the added threat he feels he can provide from the right wing when he knows Tchamadeu is in the team and will overlap or underlap enthusiastically.
Balance, variety and athleticism were all missing as Stoke slipped down the table either side of new year but six goals in their last two games suggest much of that is back.
🚨Breaking: Date and time set for the women's Clásico
Next Sunday, March 29 at 21:00 at the Di Stéfano, the great Clásico of Spanish women's football will take place.
It is undoubtedly the biggest match of the season in women's football, even though these teams have already faced each other several times this season. Real Madrid and Barça meet again in Liga F, and the date and time have already been confirmed.
On Sunday, March 29 at 21:00 at the Alfredo Di Stéfano, the Merengues and the Culers will face off in a clash that could definitively decide the title for the Blaugranas.
There is a ten-point difference between the two sides, but also the record of a season in which Barça has hardly given Real Madrid any chances—although Madrid already knows what it feels like to beat them.
Deco outlines Barcelona’s “clear idea” on permanent Marcus Rashford stay
Barcelona chief Deco has outlined the club’s true position on the permanent signing of Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford.
Uncertain future
Rashford has done well in Spain since sealing a season-long loan switch to the Blaugrana last summer. He was part of the infamous bomb squad under Ruben Amorim, whose presence in the dugout made the forward’s stay at Old Trafford untenable.
There was plenty of interest in Rashford but he made it clear he was only keen on joining Barcelona. He got his dream move as the side swooped in for him.
Rashford has managed four goals and eight assists in La Liga this season as Barcelona push to retain their La Liga crown. Across all competitions, the England international has plundered 10 goals and 13 assists.
Hansi Flick has repeatedly declared his admiration for Rashford and there have been suggestions that the Blaugrana have already decided to take up the £26m option to keep him permanently. Rashford has made no secret of his desire to stay at the Camp Nou.
More recently however, Barcelona president-elect Joan Laporta hinted that they could try to convince United to sanction another loan spell for the 28-year-old.
Such an outcome would be a frustrating development for the Red Devils, who may have been banking on the financial boost from Rashford’s exit to fund their own plans.
Sporting director Deco spoke to journalists on Sunday and clarified Barcelona’s stance on Rashford.
Rashford transfer update
Deco said [as quoted by GOAL], “Rashford staying? We have a clear idea regarding Rashford and we know what needed to be done for him to stay.”
He added about the delay, “But the matter is tied to financial fair play, priorities, performance, and the coach’s decision.”
“And it’s something we haven’t done yet because it’s not the right time.”
Meanwhile, United return to action on Friday when they face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. United lie in third place in the Premier League table, three points above Aston Villa after beating them on Sunday at Old Trafford.
United’s goals were scored by Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
Truro City's players were left dejected as they lost for the seventh time in eight games [Shutterstock]
Truro City assistant manager Stewart Yetton says some of his players need to "have a good, long, hard look at themselves" after the 1-0 loss to Hartlepool United.
The defeat was a seventh in eight league games for the Tinners, who are 11 points from safety and nine adrift at the bottom of the National League.
Charlie Caton's goal early in the second half ensured yet another disappointing day for Truro, who have won just once since Boxing Day.
"It probably goes up to about the 12th or 13th game now where it's a close game and we come out on the losing side," Yetton told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"It's so incredibly disappointing and frustrating - the manner of the goal is poor again, and we've had to say to a few of them in there to have a good, long, hard look at themselves."
With nine games to play, Truro would need a footballing miracle to stay in the fifth tier for a second successive season.
They have won just six games in their first-ever campaign in the National League and realistically need at least the same amount again from their remaining matches to have any hope of staying up.
But Yetton says he and the squad will not give up: "We'll come to training on Monday, and we'll get straight back on the horse.
"We'll try and stay positive, we'll try and motivate the players, we said to them before the game, and we said it to them after, they've got to find something within.
"This football club is a special place, and they've got to improve their performances."
The Finalissima is a football match played between the latest winners of the Copa America and the European Championship, organised by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) and Uefa.
The upcoming men's Finalissima had been due to take place in Qatar on 27 March between South American champions Argentina and European champions Spain, but has been cancelled due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Argentina had been looking to defend their Finalissima title having defeated Euro 2020 winners Italy 3-0 at Wembley in 2022.
England are the inaugural Women's Finalissima cup holders, beating Brazil 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in June 2023.
When did the Finalissima begin?
Argentina had been looking to secure back-to-back Finalissima wins following their 2022 victory [Getty Images]
Previously called the European/South American Nations Cup, only two matches were played - in 1985 and 1993 - before the contest was discontinued until 2022.
Euro 1984 winners France defeated 1983 Copa America winners Uruguay 2-0 in 1985.
There was no match between Euro 1988 winners the Netherlands and 1987 Copa America champions Uruguay as a date for the match could not be agreed.
The contest returned when Copa America champions Argentina defeated Euro 1992 winners Denmark 5-4 on penalties - but the competition was then sidelined.
It relaunched in 2022 as the Finalissima, with the first Women's Finalissima being played the following year.
When is the next Finalissima?
There is not currently a rescheduled date set for the cancelled men's 2026 Finalissima.
Conmebol has also not listed a date for the next Women's Finalissima.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
With the basketball team’s season over, and with the NCAA wrestling tournament ahead, we sit currently in a semi lull between major sporting events that normally might have been filled with idle football chatter.
Instead, the men’s and women’s hockey teams are keeping us all on our toes!
First up, the women.
The women’s hockey team has been on an absolute tear, first winning their fourth consecutive Atlantic Hockey America conference championship a few weeks ago, beating Mercyhurst 3-2. The team got the 3-seed, and thus a first round bye. In the quarterfinal round this past Friday, the Lions took on UConn, who had just dismantled Princeton 4-1 in the opening round.
Well in less than 2 minutes of play, the Lions scored, and would go on to shut out the Huskies, winning 3-0. With that win, Penn State is headed to its first ever Frozen Four, and will take on 2-seed Wisconsin this coming Friday at 7:30 PM. Pegula Ice Arena is the host for the Frozen Four, which means that the team will get to skate on home ice against the Badgers – and if they win, they’ll play at home for the national championship as well.
The men, meanwhile, appear to all but be a shoo-in for the tournament, but have struggled down the stretch. Most recently, the team made it to the semifinals of the B1G tournament, but exited with a 5-1 loss to #1 Michigan. This may be a bit of a blessing in disguise, because the team has been battling injuries for a while. An extra week off to rest up may help get them ready for the NCAA tournament, which is scheduled to begin on March 16th. A week and a half off can only help the team rest up and get ready for their first round opponent.
In any case, the hockey teams have been playing spectacularly, and have helped to fill the void as we near the end of the winter sport season.
The FIBA Women's World Cup is on the horizon in 2026, but first, international teams must qualify. The USA women's national team gets started in Puerto Rico this week.
Luckily for U.S. fans, the Americans are one of five countries to have already qualified for the World Cup taking place later this year in Berlin. This five-game tournament will give the team a chance to play ahead of Berlin, while other countries will be competing to clinch their spot.
This USA basketball squad will feature 2024 Olympic Gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, as well as new stars Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and more, who will be making their senior national team debuts.
You won't want to miss these highly anticipated games.
Here's everything you need to know about USA FIBA Women's World Cup qualifying, including TV channel and streaming options for each matchup.
Team USA FIBA Women's World Cup qualifying schedule 2026
The Americans are competing in Group A alongside Puerto Rico, Senegal, Italy, New Zealand and Spain. Their schedule for the group phase is below.
The USA's FIBA Women's World Cup qualifier games will be broadcast live on truTV and TNT. Fans can also stream the action live on on HBO Max or DIRECTV.
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USA FIBA Women's World Cup basketball roster
Player
Pos.
Team
Monique Billings
F
Golden State Valkyries
Paige Bueckers
G
Dallas Wings
Rae Burrell
G/F
Los Angeles Sparks
Caitlin Clark
G
Indiana Fever
Kahleah Copper
G/F
Phoenix Mercury
Chelsea Gray
G
Las Vegas Aces
Dearica Hamby
F
Los Angeles Sparks
Rhyne Howard
G
Atlanta Dream
Kiki Iriafen
F
Washington Mystics
Kelsey Plum
G
Los Angeles Sparks
Angel Reese
F
Chicago Sky
Jackie Young
G
Las Vegas Aces
USA FIBA Women's World Cup basketball coaching staff
Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James said that giving up a win against Tottenham won't matter if the Reds can qualify in the Champions League.
The hosts were on track to claim all three points at Anfield before Richarlison equalised in the 90th minute on Sunday - which James said was something of an inevitability after Liverpool took a slim lead into the second half.
"If you look at Tottenham's results since Igor Tudor has been there, they're not good," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"But if you look at the way the results have panned out, there is a consistency - Spurs lose the first half and generally don't lose the second half.
"I felt that if Liverpool didn't put it to bed early, Tottenham were going to have a chance of getting back into it."
On Wednesday, Liverpool will host Galatasaray for the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
Overcoming a 1-0 first-leg deficit to stay on the path to silverware is more important than the Reds' Premier League standing, James says.
"Liverpool would love to qualify in the Champions League position - but they need to win a trophy," he said.
"They need or want to win the trophy more than focusing on finishing fifth.
"Win the Champions League or the FA Cup and I think Liverpool fans will think this is a good season. And I agree.
"There's always frustration because you expect to win the game. Everyone expected Tottenham to roll over and Liverpool to win comfortably. As long as the focus is there for the game against Galatasaray, the Tottenham result won't matter so much.
"The main focus will be trying to win the Champions League. Within the plan, Arne Slot will be OK."
You can catch up on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on BBC Sounds.
With tip-off set for 5:50 p.m. CT on Friday, March 20, from Tampa, Florida, the Hawkeyes have a few days to dig into the film and analytics of the Tigers, who enter the tournament 24-10 overall. Iowa will need to avoid a slow start, or the tournament could be over as fast as it gets underway.
There are a lot of schools that are dancing in their first seasons with a new coach. Iowa is among that group. Ben McCollum's team plays through everything that whiz point guard Bennett Stirtz commands. Stirtz, who has taken the ride with McCollum from D-II to Drake to Iowa City, plays 37.5 minutes per game and is one of the five most valuable players to his team in college basketball. - Matt Norlander, CBS Sports
With this being a No. 8 versus No. 9 matchup, it figures that Iowa and Clemson would be close in the overall rankings, and CBS confirmed that. The Clemson Tigers come in just behind Iowa at No. 32 in the rankings of all 68 tournament teams.
32. Clemson Tigers (24-10)
Brad Brownell has coached Clemson to a third straight NCAA Tournament — and with a single-digit seed in every trip, too. This group isn't as good as the past two years, but it's got a chance at some noise in the Dance so long as point guard Dillon Hunter is controlling the tempo. The team is most comfortable beating you in the mid-to-high 60s. - Matt Norlander, CBS Sports
Clemson will welcome Iowa's slow, slug of a pace type of game. The Tigers score just 74.1 points per game, but are the No. 28 defense in America, limiting teams to 66.7 points per game.
With wins over SMU, Miami, Louisville, and UNC, the Tigers can play, but they don't come without their own flaws. Like some of Iowa's head-scratching losses, Clemson carries blemishes from losing to Georgetown and Wake Forest, but also enters the tournament with six of their 10 losses coming in the last 10 games, a 4-6 stretch to end the year.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
Inter Primed to Continue with Chivu No Matter What
Inter breathed a sigh of relief, as Milan didn’t seize the opportunity to reduce their gap to five points, further solidifying the hierarchy’s belief in Christian Chivu. He has been able to aptly navigate the perils of Serie A in his first year at the helm, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The Nerazzurri could be headed for a significant overhaul to try starting a new cycle. On the other hand, they have no doubts about their coach, despite his relative lack of experience and their poor UEFA Champions League campaign.
Inter will stick with Chivu, who might get an extension in the summer. His deal is up in 2027. The Nerazzurri could bring home two trophies this year, which hasn’t happened since the José Mourinho era.
The management will focus on reworking the squad if they wish to go in a different direction. Despite their remarks, they are ready to entertain offers for Marcus Thuram and Nicolò Barella, who have underperformed this season, and Alessandro Bastoni, who has rich suitors. Hakan Calhanoglu’s future is in jeopardy because of his contractual situation. The officials will also examine some recent newcomers. Luis Henrique, Andy Diouf, and Petar Sucic have all been inconsistent.
Our Take on Inter and Chivu
He might not be a master tactician, but he’s been good enough amid weak competition. They surely haven’t forgotten that they threw away a pair of titles while having the best squad in previous years. Nothing should be taken for granted. At the same time, they’ll likely move on from a pair of aging players to inject some new energy, but a revolution littered with massive departures would be rather surprising.
Jens Berthel Askou used Celtic Park atmosphere to inspire Motherwell
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou used the atmosphere at Celtic Park as a key focus point during his half-time message to his players on Saturday…
Elijah Just of Motherwell shoots past Benjamin Arthur of Celtic and scores to give Motherwell a 0-1 lead. Celtic v Motherwell, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 14 March 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock
The Steelmen had initially taken the lead through Elijah Just, but their advantage was short-lived after a misplaced pass by Tommy Sparrow under pressure allowed Yang to level the match for Celtic.
Hyunjun Yang celebrates scoring Celtic’s opening goal with Benjamin Nygren during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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Tomas Cvancara of Celtic celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Hoops eventually seized control of the contest – particularly after Emmanuel Longelo was shown a red card – with Martin O’Neill’s side going on to claim a crucial 3–1 victory.
Despite the defeat, Askou felt his team’s confident and attacking approach in the first half made a noticeable impression on the home support.
Jens Berthel Askou is seen during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Askou said: “There is only one reason for the crowd to be on their side, and it is that they scored a goal.”
“They were all over them until they got a moment of luck. It doesn’t matter, keep going because we will create chances out there in the second half.”
“We have so much control of this game now. Don’t be intimidated by the crowd trying to help them get back in the game. Be brave and run some long attacks out there, as they will hate it. We are the ones who decide if we lose control or not.”
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is seen during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Prior to the game, Askou told his players: “We all know that we are more than capable of coming here and outperforming this team. All you need to do is be who you are and do what you do.”
“You don’t need to invent anything, you don’t need to dig deep or find something you haven’t found before. Just go out and give yourself and each other the opportunity.”
“We’ve learned our lessons and improved our skill set along the way. Today we’re not first-year students anymore. Today is a celebration of how far we have come. So I want you to go out and enjoy it. Go out and have a party out there. Are you ready, boys?”
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
Man City legend shocked by Real Madrid’s performance – ‘Surprised me just like everyone else’
Real Madrid delivered one of the most impressive performances of the UEFA Champions League knockout stage when they defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of the round of 16 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The result shocked many, especially considering the strength of Pep Guardiola’s side and the expectation that the tie would be far more balanced.
One of the people who admitted to being surprised by the magnitude of the result was former Manchester City star David Silva.
Speaking during a recent media appearance, Silva acknowledged that the outcome of the match was not something many expected.
“It surprised me just like everyone else, didn’t it?”
Warning Man City
Silva was referring to the dominant performance produced by the Spanish giants, particularly during the opening half of the match when Real Madrid seized control and built the advantage that ultimately decided the first leg.
The Man City legend went on to explain that the early momentum created by Madrid made a huge difference and admitted that the result caught most viewers off guard.
Valverde scored a hat-trick in Man City win. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“I think it surprised us all. And it all happened in the first half. But this is football, and these things can happen.”
Despite Real Madrid holding a strong advantage heading into the return fixture, Silva believes the tie is not completely over yet.
However, he stressed that Manchester City will need to take risks and start aggressively if they want to keep their hopes alive.
“There’s still another match to go, and let’s hope City can score early and make the tie interesting,” he noted.
Furthermore, according to the former midfielder, the key for City will be scoring early to apply pressure and disrupt Madrid’s ability to control the match.
“City has to go all out and score early, to make it exciting and prevent Real Madrid from playing calmly and scoring, because it changes everything if Madrid manages to score in the first half.
“With Madrid, you have to be very careful with your marking—we’ve already seen that they can kill you on the counterattack,” Silva concluded.
After three successive promotions, Wrexham are in pursuit of their ultimate goal under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Phil Parkinson's side secured automatic promotion from League Two and League One on the back of their return to the Football League in 2023.
That put them in the Championship, the second tier of the English football pyramid.
Automatic promotion appears out of the question for the North Wales outfit this time around, but they are firmly in the hunt for a place in the end-of-season playoffs as we reach the business end of the campaign.
In the Championship, the top two teams in the standings at the end of the season are promoted to the Premier League.
The teams placed third to sixth enter the playoffs: a mini single-elimination tournament consisting of two two-legged semifinals and a final. The winner of the showpiece match at Wembley on Saturday, May 23 will join the top two in the Premier League for the 2026/27 season.
Last updated Monday, March 16
Pos.
Team
GP
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Points
1.
Coventry City
38
23
8
7
78
40
38
77
2.
Middlesbrough
38
20
10
8
59
37
22
70
Top two are automatically promoted to Premier League
Wrexham's next game sees them visit Watford on March 17.
The Hornets are still in the hunt for the playoffs and have at least one game in hand on the teams around them, but a defeat to Parkinson's men could prove terminal to their promotion hopes.
In December's reverse fixture, these teams played out a 2-2 draw, with Oliver Rathbone scoring a 92nd-minute equaliser for Wrexham.
The New York Giants entered the 2026 offseason with clear priorities, and they aggressively attacked the first wave of free agency under head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen.
Key additions included tight end Isaiah Likely for a reliable receiving threat, cornerback Greg Newsome to bolster the secondary, wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III to rebuild the passing attack after losses like Wan'Dale Robinson, and fullback Patrick Ricard to add physicality and blocking prowess in the run game.
These moves addressed several pressing needs and injected veteran talent, but the roster still craves more depth across the board—particularly along the offensive line, on the defensive front, and potentially at skill positions.
With limited cap space remaining and the market shifting to value deals, the second wave offers intriguing opportunities to round out a competitive group.
Here are seven remaining free agents the Giants could target.
OG Wyatt Teller
The Giants remain without a right guard (Evan Neal does not count), and they must address the position ahead of the 2026 NFL draft. They've been reported to have interest in Wyatt Teller, with some NFL insiders suggesting the two sides even briefly discussed a contract. Whether that's accurate or not, Teller is among the best guards remaining unsigned, and it seems like a perfect match for the Giants.
OG Kevin Zeitler
If Teller proves too costly, the Giants could pivot and target guards like Greg Van Roten or Daniel Faalele, an ex-Raven they reportedly have some interest in. They could also turn to the familiar face of Kevin Zeitler, who played well during his time in East Rutherford and remains a consistent, steady option at the position.
DT D.J. Reader
Similar to guard, the Giants have a glaring need at defensive tackle. They've been unable to find a solution outside of nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, leaving the defense vulnerable to the run. D.J. Reader is a proven run-stuffer with a solid resume, who could come in and immediately shore up a leaky D-line. A short-term deal would be ideal given his age (32 in July).
CB Trevon Diggs
After several injury-plagued seasons in which he underperformed, Trevon Diggs is a potential buy-low option at cornerback -- an area the Giants need reinforcements. He looked awful in his final days with the Dallas Cowboys, but some of that could have been his displeasure with the organization. Either way, Diggs remains available as a potential team-friendly, low-guarantee option.
CB Mike Hilton
The Giants have a solid slot corner in Dru Phillips, but every position on the roster needs depth and competition. Following Phillips' second-year regression, Harbaugh could look to beef up the room with a player like Mike Hilton, who excels against the run. He could also come cheaply after appearing in just two games last season (both as practice squad elevations) and missing time due to a shoulder injury.
LB Bobby Wagner
Yes, the Giants just signed Tremaine Edmunds. Yes, Bobby Wager will turn 36 in June. However, even if the Giants intend to target a player like Sonny Styles in the draft, they are one injury to their inside linebackers away from Darius Muasau playing meaningful snaps. Even with Micah McFadden, who is returning from a season-ending foot injury, providing some level of insurance, the team needs more run-stopping depth. Wager is still very productive and would bring culture-setting veteran leadership to the locker room.
LS Jacob Bobenmoyer
The Giants have completely revamped their special teams unit under Harbaugh, which should come as no surprise given his expertise in the area. They have added punter Jordan Stout and kicker Jason Sanders, while allowing long-snapper Casey Kreiter to exit via free agency. With an obvious roster need, Jacob Bobenmoyer could be an ideal solution as a return to the Raiders appears off the table.
After navigating a demanding and competitive nonconference slate, the Texas A&M softball team finally got a chance to reset before opening SEC play on the road against LSU.
Consistency has been elusive for the Aggies this season. Ranked wins have been scarce — just 1–7 against top‑25 opponents — and losses to a pair of mid‑majors have stung. Yet at their best, A&M has looked every bit like a top‑25 program, stacking seven run‑rule victories and flashing the firepower expected from a postseason contender.
The trip to Baton Rouge offered a prime opportunity to set the tone in league play against a familiar and spirited rival. Both teams entered the weekend with something to prove. LSU was reeling after being swept by No. 1 Tennessee, while the Aggies were eager to show they could compete inside the conference. A&M delivered early, taking Game 1, 7–2, for its first SEC win of the year.
Game 2: Perez powers early lead, defense carries it home
Game 2 opened with a similar script. The Aggies struck first, as All‑American Mya Perez launched a two‑run home run to give A&M an early advantage. From there, the matchup tightened into a defensive duel, with both teams trading scoreless frames until the sixth.
From there, the matchup tightened into a defensive duel, with both teams trading scoreless frames until the sixth.
With Kennedy Powell standing on third, Perez came through again — this time with a clutch RBI single — extending the lead to 3–0.
LSU refused to fade. The Tigers answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, then held A&M scoreless in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate in the final frame. A hit‑by‑pitch and a single put two on with no outs, prompting head coach Trisha Ford to turn to Sydney Lessentine to close it out.
LSU scratched across another run on a pair of infield groundouts, trimming the lead to 3–2, and another hit‑by‑pitch put runners on the corners with two outs. The pressure was real.
Lessentine delivered. She induced a high pop‑up that Tallen Edwards secured, sealing the win and the series victory for the Aggies.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers needed all hands on deck on Sunday night when they played host to the Portland Trail Blazers. When considering the Sixers are still missing the likes of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, they needed a number of guys to step up and produce for this team out on the floor.
One of those guys is Andre Drummond. The 14-year veteran missed the previous two games due to back spasms and the Sixers missed his presence on the floor. When he is right, Drummond is an elite rebounder who can do a number of different things on the floor.
In Sunday's 109-103 win over the Blazers, Drummond produced six points, 17 rebounds, four assists, and two steals off the bench. He was excellent against Portland's Donovan Clingan and gave Philadelphia a presence as he disrupted some lobs the Blazers tried to throw and he helped the Sixers win the rebounding battle 51-49 on the night.
"We definitely missed his presence the last couple games when he was out," Quentin Grimes said of Drummond. "You can see how much he impacts the game rebounding-wise and defensively and he made some timely shots as well. He was big for us today."
There was a sequence in the fourth with Philadelphia leading by 10 when Portland All-Star Deni Avdija tried to throw a lob, but Drummond broke it up and Grimes went the other way for a layup. It was a huge sequence for Philadelphia and it allowed the Sixers to expand their lead.
"He looked really fresh and was great," added coach Nick Nurse. "I thought the biggest thing was he just plugged the paint. They maybe got one lob behind us tonight. When we played them there (in Portland), it was like, nonstop, it felt like, right? They put so much pressure on you coming downhill with all those guys that can score, and usually the big sometimes gets caught up uphill, helping, but we did a little bit of both."
Drummond was able to give the Sixers that presence all night long and they probably don't win that game without him.
"I thought we plugged the gaps, and then when they throw it up, we got back and knocked a few away and, obviously, he was fantastic on the glass tonight," Nurse added. "I know we gave up some offensive rebounds, but the rebounding numbers in general, we win that which is largely due to Drum."
After the win, Drummond was lying on his back in the locker room as he clearly had to go through a lot just to play in this game on Sunday. The 2-time All-Star revealed it was a lot for him to prepare for this game and give the Sixers a good 35 minutes off the bench.
"Yeah, it took a lot just to get myself ready to go," Drummond laughed. "Was not expected to play 35 minutes, but I did what I was supposed to, and we came away with a great win."
The Sixers will now begin a 3-game road trip on Tuesday when they take on the Denver Nuggets.
What did the signing of defensive tackle Tim Settle reveal concerning the Washington Commanders' defensive line?
Well, the first thing that is clear is that we don't know the scheme the Commanders are utilizing next season. They have not only hired a new defensive coordinator (Daronte Jones), but might be changing their overall scheme. A difficulty with such a move is how much change a GM can make to the roster in one offseason.
It's not easy, but GM Adam Peters has charged ahead, working hard to make several personnel changes as quickly as he could. For instance, the signing of defensive tackle Tim Settle. What does this mean for defensive tackles like Daron Payne and Johnny Newton? When Settle was asked what had been communicated about this role for 2026, he mentioned he was here to cause chaos "in the middle." Did Settle let the cat out of the bag? Is Settle now a 3-4 nose tackle for the Commanders? Or was he simply referring to his playing a 4-3 DT?
What does this mean for Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne? Are they now ends in a 3-4? Ends in a 3-4 are bigger, heavier, playing heads up over an offensive tackle. In a 4-3 ends play on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle and are quicker and lighter.
But immediately my mind then went to, "What about 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton? Is Newton going to be backing up Kinlaw and Payne as a 3-4 DE? Interestingly enough, Payne and Kinlaw are both heavier than Settle. Settle is listed at only 308, while Kinlaw is listed at 319 and Payne at 320. In addition, many NFL nose tackles are much heavier.
Newton (295) has gotten pushed around playing inside in a 4-3. No question, Peters and head coach Dan Quinn are disappointed in Newton's run defense. So, the 3-4 would result in Newton moving further outside from the ball, playing over the offensive tackle. With Daron Payne's contract ending after 2026, perhaps Peters' plan is for Newton to simply replace Payne in 2027?
The Commanders can't simply rely on Settle to play the nose in 2026; they are going to need to get someone bigger to add to the rotation. But for now, perhaps the signing of Settle means he actually plays more than Newton in 2026? Certainly not what Peters imagined when he saw Newton on the board at No. 36 overall in the 2024 draft when he selected him.
Looking at the roster actually produces more questions than answers. That's because the personnel listed are not clearly for a 3-4 or 4-3. It's quite mixed. Here's a quick look at who the Commanders currently list as their defensive tackles and defensive ends as of March 15, 2026. But keep in mind, this is all in a state of flux.
Commanders Defensive Tackles
Ricky Barber: 6-3, 295
Javon Kinlaw: 6-5, 319
Johnny Newton: 6-2, 295
Daron Payne: 6-3, 320
Tim Settle: 6-3, 308
Shy Tuttle: 6-3, 300
Commanders defensive ends/EDGEs
Dorance Armstrong: 6-4, 255
Andre Carter: 6-4, 265
K'Lavon Chaisson: 6-3, 254
Drake Jackson: 6-4, 273
Javontae Jean-Baptiste: 6-4, 260
T.J. Maguranyanga: 6-4, 222
Charles Omenihu: 6-5, 280
Deatrich Wise Jr: 6-5, 280
So, as you can see, there are more questions than answers at this point regarding style of defense and even more, which guys will actually make the roster to play that style.
IOWA CITY — Iowa men’s basketball reached a benchmark on Selection Sunday this year.
For the first time since 2023, the Hawkeyes made the NCAA Tournament. Iowa earned a 9-seed and will play 8-seed Clemson in Tampa on Friday, March 20 (5:30 p.m. CT, TNT). If the Hawkeyes can get past the Tigers, they would likely face a matchup with 1-seed Florida, barring a stunning upset.
Iowa coach Ben McCollum has bigger ambitions for this program than simply getting to Selection Sunday. But in his first season at the helm, this was an important step, ending the program’s March Madness drought.
“I think it’s been a long road,” Iowa coach Ben McCollum said. “I think for me it’s been two years. Just because we’ve moved two straight years and tried to reinvigorate two different programs. Obviously, we were fortunate enough to get this one off the ground. We’ve had great players to help us with that, and then obviously my staff. You kind of see the result of that being able to make an NCAA Tournament.”
As a program, Iowa’s NCAA Tournament experience has been fleeting recently.
After winning the Big Ten Tournament in 2022, the Hawkeyes flamed out in the round of 64 against Richmond. The following year, 8-seed Iowa lost to 9-seed Auburn. You have to go all the way back to 2021 to find Iowa’s last NCAA Tournament victory — when the Hawkeyes defeated Grand Canyon, before falling a step short of the Sweet 16 in a loss to Oregon.
But because the program was almost entirely turned on its head after the coaching change, this is an Iowa team and staff littered with experience on the big stage.
Drake played in two games in the Big Dance last season, which included a win over 6-seed Missouri. In that victory over the Tigers, Bennett Stirtz had 21 points on 8-of-11 from the field. Tavion Banks had 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Isaia Howard, Kael Combs and Cam Manyawu combined for 18 points.
“I don't really get nervous for games," Manyawu recalled. "But I remember, I think, Bennett picked up a foul early. They were shooting free throws … and I can feel my heart beating in my chest. I don’t know what kind of nervous it was, but I think it was just kind of like a happy nervous. Like it’s a March Madness game."
Much of McCollum’s staff at Iowa was on the sideline for that run at Drake, too. The only current Iowa assistant coach who wasn’t with McCollum at Drake was Luke Barnwell, who has experience of his own in that setting and was actually on the opposite sideline as Drake last season. Barnwell was on the staff at Texas Tech, the team that beat Drake in the NCAA Tournament last season and eventually lost in the Elite Eight, before he left to join McCollum at Iowa.
On top of that, Alvaro Folgueiras, an X-factor for Iowa this season, played in the NCAA Tournament with Robert Morris. Folgueiras had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in the round of 64 against Alabama last season.
So while the program itself has not been under those bright lights of the NCAA Tournament since 2023, there are newcomers who have.
“We have a lot of guys who played a lot of minutes in those two games,” Manyawu said, referring to Drake's pair of NCAA Tournament games last season. “So we’ve kind of seen what it takes to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. And at the same time, we've seen what gets you beat. So we can take those lessons and grow from them and prepare the right way and go in with the right mindset and kind of help everybody who hasn’t been in the tournament kind of figure out the right attitude to have to win a game in the tournament.”
What are some of those lessons learned?
“Being ready right away,” Manyawu said. “And then, these practices right now that we’re going to have, for how many days it is, those are really crucial. Making sure we’re really locked in and really honing in on every little thing that we need to know. Making sure we execute the scout and just playing with ultimate energy. I mean, there’s nothing like playing in a March Madness game. And so, we’re all going to feel that. And just being ready for that.”
Stirtz, who averaged 21 points across two games in the Big Dance last season at Drake, has been the engine for the Hawkeyes this season.
“Just embracing each day,” Stirtz said of what he learned from March Madness last season. “I think it’s kind of a silly thing to say. But it’s just like the open practices and stuff like that are super fun. So you don’t really get these opportunities a lot — playing in March Madness. It’s hard to get here. So, taking all that in. And then, not looking past the next game or anything like that. You’ve got to beat Clemson. We’re just focused on them right now. And then after that, if we win, we’ll be focusing on the next.”
Stirtz has risen the ranks with McCollum — from Northwest Missouri State to Drake to Iowa — and now made the NCAA Tournament in each of his two seasons at the Division I level. There is, for a moment, some satisfaction about making the NCAA Tournament, which serves as a measuring stick for the program’s growth in the first season under McCollum. But according to Stirtz, that feeling doesn’t last long.
“Just seeing our name up there on the screen, I think, it’s just a little bit of relief and you can take a deep breath,” Stirtz said. “But then after that, (Monday) morning, we’ll be ready to go and watch film. That relief has turned into, ‘Let’s go, let’s get into excitement to play in the tournament.'"
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
When the Denver Broncos announced their updated coaching staff last week, the changes included Chris Morgan being promoted from assistant offensive line coach to the main offensive line coach.
Zach Strief, who initially joined the team as offensive line coach in 2023, was promoted to assistant head coach and offensive run game coordinator last year. Strief's title already elevated him above OL coach in 2025, so his and Morgan's duties might not change much, but Morgan has officially received a promotion.
Morton "had options elsewhere," according to a report from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, and his title change undoubtedly came with a pay raise. He is entering his 18th season in the NFL. Before joining the Broncos, Morgan worked for six other NFL teams. He previously held head offensive line coach duties with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-2020) and Chicago Bears (2022–2024).
Elsewhere on the coaching front, former NFL linebacker Zaviar Gooden is set to join Denver's strength and conditioning staff, according to the Denver Post's Parker Gabriel. The Broncos will mark Gooden's first NFL job following four gigs at the college level.
The Iowa high school boys state basketball tournament headlined the slate of action last week.
Solon fell in the Class 3A quarterfinals, while Iowa City Regina saw its season end in the 2A semifinals.
The Iowa high school track and field season also got started last week.
Here are the nominees for the Iowa City Press-Citizen's high school Athletes of the Week for March 9-15. Press-Citizen.com readers vote to decide this week's winner. Voting closes at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 19.
Athletes are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Girls
Calissa Fruin, Soph., Iowa City High
Fruin put together a strong performance for City High at the Wartburg invitational on March 9.
She placed second in the 800 meters (2:31.61) and fourth in the 3000 meters (11:20.48).
Amara MacLagan, Soph., Iowa City West
MacLagan turned in an impressive showing for West track and field at the IATC Indoor Championships.
She placed third in the 4A long jump (17 feet, 2.25 inches). She was also a member of the 4x100 relay team that placed fifth.
Amara Maclagan did spectacular at the IATC indoor championships placing third overall. With a jump of 17-02.25 she earned a place on the podium. Amazing work Amara! pic.twitter.com/aOGQPjGrqf
Maher earned a first-place finish for Liberty track and field at the Wartburg invitational.
She ran a time of 1:03.86 in the 400 meters.
Reese Naeve, Sr., Iowa City Regina
Naeve had a strong performance for Regina track and field at the IATC Indoor Championships.
She placed third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.59 in 2A.
Elizabeth Timmerman, Sr., Clear Creek Amana
Timmerman earned a pair of third-place finishes for CCA track and field at the IATC Indoor Championships.
Individually, she placed third in the 200 meters (26.53). She also ran for the 4x100 team that won bronze in 3A.
Boys
Keegan Decker, Jr., Iowa City Liberty
Decker turned in an outstanding performance for Liberty track and field at the IATC Indoor Championships on March 12.
He secured first place in the 3200 meters with a time of 8:59.49 — a meet record and a Blue Oval standard. He was also a part of Liberty's 1600 sprint medley team that placed first in 4A.
Olney secured an state title for Regina track and field at the IATC Indoor Championships.
He won the 400 meters in 2A with a time of 51.17.
Tay Seals, Jr., Clear Creek Amana
Seals put together an elite performance for CCA track and field at the IATC Indoor Championships on March 12.
He placed first in the 60 meters (6.87) and 60-meter hurdles (7.79) in Class 3A. He was also a member of the 4x100 team that secured fifth place.
Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
Kansas City Chiefs team president Mark Donovan recently spoke at the Olathe Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. He discussed the possibility of a women's flag football team representing the franchise.
"That young girl from Olathe comes back with a medal around her neck, she'll have the opportunity potentially to play professional flag football in a league that's going to be started and owned by the National Football League," Donovan said via FOX 4 News. "and one that I would tell you without making any promises, the Kansas City Chiefs will be heavily involved in and potentially play for a Chiefs' version of professional flag football."
Donovan believes the high schools in this school district could train at a new complex in Olathe once it's built. He reportedly told the crowd to call their district athletic director to lobby for support for KSHSAA approving women's flag football.
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with over 20 million players across 100 countries, where women and girls are driving the fastest growth. The sport will officially be included in the LA 2028 Olympic Games program, led by the International Federation of American Football and supported by the NFL.
Hopes for the new headquarters and training facility are that they will be open by December 2030.
Fans make their way into the arena Sunday, March 15, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Selection Sunday watch party at Timmons Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
NFL teams are allowed to have 30 draft-eligible prospects visit their facilities during the NFL Draft process.
These visits can take place at Pro Days, on campus, or at the facility. Then, at the NFL Combine, teams can have more personal visits with players to get to know them better.
These local visits allow teams to get to know their prospects on and off the field ahead of the draft. This may not seem as important as the physical tests the prospects undergo, but it will play a big role in who the Bears decide to pick in April.
It can also help the team identify ideal undrafted free agents, an area where General Manager Ryan Poles has found success, bringing in players like Theo Benedet, Jahdae Walker, Jack Sanborn, and others in recent years.
This year's draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 23-25. The Chicago Bears aren't wasting any time visiting with multiple draft prospects.
The Bears addressed a few needs in free agency.
Two of the biggest ones were at linebacker and safety. General Manager Ryan Poles brought in safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush in free agency.
The Bears needed to sign players at those positions after releasing Tremaine Edmunds and losing both starting safeties, Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, to free agency.
There is still a big need for an edge rusher to complement Montez Sweat in the Chicago pass rush. However, the Bears are reportedly visiting with a player with ties to Illinois, but at a different position.
Per Bears Analyst Jacob Infante, the team is hosting former Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis for a visit.
If that name sounds familiar to Illinois natives, it's because it is. Kaliakmanis played high school football for Antioch Community in Antioch, Illinois.
He was a four-star prospect in the 2021 class and was the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year.
He started his college career at Minnesota, but didn't start right away for the Golden Gophers. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2021 and then had to sit behind starting quarterback Tanner Morgan in 2022.
He then got his shot at the starting job in 2023, throwing for 1,838 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. After one season as the starter in Minnesota, he entered the transfer portal and landed at Rutgers.
In Kaliakmanis' first year as the starting quarterback at Rutgers, he set career highs in passing yards (2,696) and touchdowns (18), throwing seven interceptions.
Last season, he accounted for 3,124 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
There isn't much need for Kaliakmanis with the current state of the Bears' quarterback room.
Caleb Williams is firmly cemented as the starting quarterback for the long term, and the team already has a backup quarterback in place after signing Case Keenum to a two-year, $5.5 million deal.
Tyson Bagent is still on the roster, but with Keenum being paid backup quarterback money, it looks like his time with the Bears is over.
A player like Kaliakmanis would most likely be the practice squad quarterback if he does find himself with the Bears in the future. If Poles likes what he sees in the former Minnesota and Rutgers quarterback, he may be the next undrafted free agent to walk into Halas Hall.
Ashley Cole appointed Cesena manager until the end of the season
In one of the more unexpected appointments of the season, Ashley Cole has been named manager of Serie B side Cesena FC until the end of the season.
The Italian side have appointed Cole on a contract until the end of June though should the former England defender prove his worth then there is an option for renewal for next season.
Cole replaces Michele Mignani who was in his second season in charge of the club but dismissed after just one win in his last 10 games.
I Cavallucci Marini (or the Seahorses) are currently eighth in Serie B which would qualify them for a spot in the preliminary round of the promotion play-offs.
The former Arsenal, Chelsea, and Roma man will begin his managerial career on Tuesday evening when Cesena face a trip to take on 14th-place Mantova 1911.
He joined Newcastle in the summer of 2024 to work under director of rugby Steve Diamond, but was promoted to head coach when Diamond left after one game this season.
The Red Bulls' current senior assistant coach, former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, has been appointed head coach until the end of the season.
Dickens, who has coached at Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers and the England Under-20s, managed just one win from his nine Prem games in charge, with Newcastle bottom of the table, five points adrift of Harlequins.
But he did lead Newcastle through their group in the Challenge Cup to set up an enticing last-16 tie against French giants La Rochelle next month.
However, while the Red Bulls spent January signing a host of new players to bolster the squad for next season, there was no talk of Dickens' future.
But now with eight Prem games and a Challenge Cup tie still left to play, Dickens departs.
First head coach role for Wales great Jones
Jones, a veteran of more than 100 caps for Wales and two British and Irish Lions tours, arrived at Kingston Park in December as senior assistant coach, responsible for backs and the attack.
He had been an attack coach for more than a decade with the Wales national team, Wasps and Scarlets, and in Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika, but this will be his first spell as a head coach.
Jones' first game in charge will be away to current Prem leaders Northampton Saints on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes produced another outstanding performance as he set a new club record for assists in a single Premier League season during Sunday’s 3–1 victory over Aston Villa.
The Portuguese midfielder registered two assists in the match to take his total to 16 for the 2025/26 campaign, surpassing the previous Manchester United record of 15 set by David Beckham in the 1999/00 season.
Fernandes first matched Beckham’s tally early in the second half when he delivered a precise corner that Casemiro headed home in the 53rd minute. The United captain then set a new record shortly after with a superb through ball that allowed Matheus Cunha to double the lead for Michael Carrick’s side.
The 29-year-old is now edging closer to the overall Premier League record for assists in a single season, which stands at 20 and is jointly held by Thierry Henry (2002/03) and Kevin De Bruyne (2019/20). With eight league matches still remaining, Fernandes needs five more to establish a new benchmark of 21.
Since arriving at Old Trafford from Sporting CP in January 2020, Fernandes has been one of United’s most influential players. He now boasts 105 goals and 100 assists in 319 appearances for the club in all competitions.
The milestone also places Fernandes among an elite group in Manchester United history, becoming just the third player in the Premier League era to reach 100 goals and 100 assists for the club, alongside Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs.
With his creativity continuing to drive United forward, Fernandes could yet finish the season by rewriting the Premier League record books once again.
Lille president Olivier Létang voices security concerns before Marseille trip
Lille president Olivier Létang has again raised concerns over the scheduling of Olympique de Marseille’s upcoming Ligue 1 meeting with LOSC, questioning whether the security arrangements surrounding the fixture are coherent.
The Matchday 27 clash at the Orange Vélodrome was originally scheduled for Sunday evening (20:45 CET) but has since been moved to an earlier 17:15 CET kick-off following discussions between the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the French Interior Ministry and the Prefecture of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
Speaking over the weekend, the LOSC president reiterated that the earlier start time could still see Lille’s players and staff leaving the stadium just as tensions related to the election results peak.
“If the police authorities say it is too dangerous to play at 20:45, why would it be safer for our delegation to leave the stadium around 20:30 or 21:00?” Létang asked, speaking to L’Équipe.
The Lille chief had previously requested that the fixture be postponed entirely, suggesting alternative dates in late April that would coincide with the Coupe de France semi-final window. That request was rejected by the LFP, which cited a congested calendar at the time.Lille manager Bruno Génésio also acknowledged the sporting impact of the revised schedule. With LOSC facing Aston Villa FC away in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, the earlier kick-off reduces the team’s recovery window ahead of the trip to Marseille.
“It’s not ideal,” Génésio admitted. “Playing Thursday at 21:00 and then Sunday at 17:00 reduces the recovery time. But we’ve managed similar situations before.”GFFN | George Boxall
Ever since the 2025-26 season tipped off, one question has persisted across the country and throughout the season. Can anyone beat UConn?
Through 34 games, the answer has been a resounding no. The defending champions have been tested at times, usually for no longer than a quarter — kudos to Michigan, Tennessee and Villanova for managing even that — but never enough to actually take down the Huskies.
“We haven’t varied that much from November to the tournament last week. We pretty much stayed at a certain level. No team is gonna be perfect for four months, five months, but we’ve been pretty consistent during all that time,” Geno Auriemma said Sunday. “I think our team has great confidence in what we’ve been able to do.”
UConn’s schedule wasn’t exactly overwhelming during the regular season. The Huskies didn’t face any of the other No. 1 seeds. Only one other tournament team came from the Big East, while the four nominal power conferences (Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12) all landed at least eight teams in the field.
Now that UConn has to match up against the best teams in the country, this is the time for their weaknesses — if there are any — to show in the light.
One statistic that stands out on the Huskies’ profile is the amount of 3-pointers they concede, an average of 25.1 per game. That isn’t inherently a bad thing. UConn protects the paint, which is the most valuable real estate on the floor, and opponents often resort to hoisting triples because they can’t generate any other shots against the Huskies’ defense.
If a team gets hot from beyond the arc, however, UConn won’t necessarily shift to take away the 3. The Huskies trust their base defense. That’s what allowed Michigan to nearly make a comeback in its November matchup, when Syla Swords shot 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. Villanova benefited from hot outside shooting when it took a halftime lead against UConn; the Wildcats made seven 3-pointers in the first half.
Twelve tournament teams have attempted at least 25 3-pointers per game, and two (Fairfield and Vanderbilt) are in the Huskies’ region. It’s improbable that the Stags would complete three upsets to get to the Elite Eight, but the Commodores are UConn’s most likely opponent in the Fort Worth 1 regional final. Not only is Vanderbilt 24th nationally in 3-point attempts, it is ninth in 3-point makes, cashing in on 36.4 percent of their tries. Mikayla Blakes, the nation’s leading scorer, can get up 3s as easily as Swords can, and the Commodores are used to playing at a fast pace, like the Huskies.
If Vanderbilt were to meet UConn in the regional final, it would be Shea Ralph’s first matchup as a head coach against Geno Auriemma. In theory, no one would understand how to beat the Huskies better than the former UConn star and 2000 Final Four most outstanding player.
Tennessee is another team that takes a high volume of 3-pointers, and the Lady Vols had success for about a half against the Huskies. What Tennessee did well, however, was turn UConn over. The Huskies had 10 turnovers in the first 20 minutes when they averaged only 12.6 per game. One of the few times Sarah Strong looked like an underclassman all season was against the Lady Vols’ full-court pressure.
Many teams employ some type of press on defense. Tennessee, Ohio State and Texas immediately come to mind. The Buckeyes are in UConn’s regional and are another potential Elite Eight foe. When the teams met earlier in the season, the Huskies had little difficulty dispatching Ohio State by 32 points and committed 13 turnovers in the process. The Buckeyes have improved significantly since — they force 21.6 turnovers per game. It was only three seasons ago that Kevin McGuff coached Ohio State to a victory over UConn in the Sweet 16 by forcing 25 turnovers.
The Longhorns loom as the toughest foe that plays full-court defense. Texas forces 22.7 turnovers per game, second among tournament teams to UConn. Coach Vic Schaefer believes in getting into a defensive stance the moment his players get off the bus, and with a deep roster, the Longhorns can afford to be physical without worrying about foul trouble.
Texas’ SEC tournament win against South Carolina provided the perfect proof of concept of how the Longhorns can fluster top opponents. Texas got into the Gamecocks’ air space from the jump, as Madison Booker literally moved in front of Raven Johnson to steal the opening tip. The Longhorns forced a veteran, championship-winning roster to commit five turnovers in its first six possessions, and they never looked back.
That’s the formula to disrupt UConn, and Texas can keep up that pressure for 40 minutes, provided it gets to the championship game to face the Huskies.
Then there is UCLA. The Bruins did not acquit themselves well in last season’s Final Four against the Huskies, falling behind early and failing to put up much of a fight afterward. UCLA also doesn’t defend in the full court, preferring to sit back and let Lauren Betts wreak havoc closer to the rim, and UConn excels against a set defense.
But the Bruins are the near-undisputed second-best team in the country behind the Huskies. The Bruins have added perimeter talent in the form of Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens. Kneepkens can do a damn good Swords impression. The fifth-year guard made 44.2 percent of her 3-pointers this season and isn’t shy about getting them up. She can warp an opposing defense beyond what UCLA’s guards were capable of last season, and that offensive firepower could keep the Bruins competitive with UConn.
The odds are still in the Huskies’ favor to complete an undefeated season. They lead the country in scoring differential, shooting percentage, assists per game, assist-to-turnover ratio and defensive rating, among a myriad of categories. They pounce on opponents’ weaknesses, not the other way around.
A program has gone wire-to-wire undefeated 10 times, and UConn owns six of those seasons. This is what Auriemma and his longtime assistant Chris Dailey do. Even if Vanderbilt, Texas or UCLA finds a way to put a scare into the Huskies, it’s smarter to not bet on UConn failing.
Who is Leonard Prescott? 16-year-old goalkeeper could make Bayern debut against Atalanta in Champions League
Bayern Munich find themselves in a highly unusual situation on the goalkeeper front, with all four of their senior shot-stoppers out injured.
Sven Ulreich, Bayern's third-choice goalkeeper, featured in the 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Bayer Leverkusen over the weekend, filling in for Manuel Neuer (calf strain) and Jonas Urbig (concussion). Unfortunately, Ulreich suffered a muscle bundle tear during the match, with Bild reporting he could be sidelined for six weeks.
Meanwhile, fourth-choice goalkeeper 19-year-old Leon Klanac is out with a thigh injury, opening the door for 16-year-old Leonard Prescott to potentially make his Bayern debut when the German champions face Atalanta on Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
Jonas Urbig, who sustained a concussion in the first leg, will be assessed shortly before the game. Given Bayern's comfortable 6-1 lead from the first leg, it's unlikely they will risk him if he's not fully fit. This gives Prescott a genuine chance to feature, with Kicker reporting that the coaching staff has full confidence in him.
Who is Leonard Prescott?
Born in New York and holding dual citizenship, Prescott began his youth career at 1. FC Union Berlin before joining Bayern's academy in 2023.
Since then, he has made 16 appearances for Bayern’s U19s, including four in the UEFA Youth League.
He has also represented Germany at youth level with six U17 caps and three U16 appearances.
Prescott was first called up to Bayern’s senior squad for the first leg against Atalanta and was on the bench for the Bayer Leverkusen draw at the weekend.
The 16-year-old has earned high praise from Bayern U19 coach Peter Gaydarov, who previously said:
"He's technically outstanding – you feel like he could play outfield. He's very courageous in his actions and definitely very advanced for his age."
Interestingly, Prescott has previously worked as a ball boy at Allianz Arena, stationed behind Manuel Neuer's goal to study his idol’s technique. Now, he could potentially get the sensational opportunity to stand in that goal himself.
For the first time in three years, the Iowa men's basketball team is going dancing in March.
The Hawkeyes heard their name called on Selection Sunday as a nine-seed in the South Region, taking on the eight-seed Clemson Tigers on Friday. The winner of that game will face the winner of the top-seeded Florida against either Lehigh or Prairie View A&M. After weeks of up-and-down play, Iowa lands in the 8/9 game that many people projected them at.
The first season under Ben McCollum has now officially resulted in an NCAA tournament appearance, which is a great first step for everyone involved. Now the question is, how far can Iowa go? Here are some instant reactions to Iowa's first tournament berth in three years.
Iowa basketball got a tough March Madness draw
This could be said for almost every team in the 8/9 game each year, but it rings especially true for the Hawkeyes right now. In the first round, they'll take on a Clemson team that finished fourth in the ACC and had some marquee wins over North Carolina, Louisville, and SMU this season. They're a veteran-laden team with a coach who's been there before.
And if Iowa finds a way past them in the first round, their reward will probably be a matchup with top-seeded Florida. The Gators are a bad matchup for the Hawkeyes, as they have a ton of size that Iowa can't match in the post. A sweet 16 run seems like a stretch, given the matchups and Iowa's play as of late. This is a difficult draw.
Location is great
Tampa Bay has treated Iowa nicely over the past few years. Just a few months ago, the football team took down Vanderbilt in Tampa to win the ReliaQuest Bowl. And now the men's basketball team will head down there for the NCAA Tournament.
There are plenty of Iowa fans down in the Tampa/Florida area who will show up in droves to support the Hawks. They should have a nice home-court advantage against Clemson, which could help elevate them to a victory. Outside of the Midwest, you couldn't pick a better spot for Iowa to play in the tournament.
A successful first season
With a berth in the NCAA Tournament, this season is now officially a success for McCollum in his first campaign. When he arrived, Iowa hadn't tasted the tournament in years, and with a ragtag group of transfers, he's got them back in the postseason.
Regardless of what happens down in Tampa, this season is a positive step in the right direction for this program. McCollum has shown an ability to do more with less, and now he'll have a full offseason to work some magic on this roster. This is the start of something special in Iowa City. And that timeline can be expedited with some wins in Tampa.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
The Serb last played in a three-set loss to Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells, and will now miss the second half of the ‘Sunshine Double’.
Draper, the defending champion, won 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) and Djokovic looked exhausted by the end of a gruelling two-and-a-half hour encounter.
He said afterwards: “[I have] a bitter feeling right now, losing a match like this. But proud of myself for fighting and really giving it all on the court. That's for sure.
“That's the one thing that I'll take as a highlight. Just the fact of not giving up and trying. I lost to a great player, and it was really such an even match throughout the entire two-and-a-half hours. But I am just a bit disappointed.”
Djokovic has won the Masters 1000 event in Miami six times and reached the final last year, losing to Czech youngster Jakub Mensik.
His failure to defend the significant ranking points accrued from a run to the final means he is set to drop out of the world’s top three, with Germany’s world No 4 Alexander Zverev in prime position to overtake him after reaching the semi-finals in Indian Wells.
Djokovic has played a slimmed-down schedule in recent years, aiming to peak for the grand slams and other major tournaments.
The 38-year-old did not play between losing the Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz in January and the start of the Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells earlier this month. His withdrawal from Miami and preference to largely skip smaller events means he is likely to next play at the Monte-Carlo Masters in early April.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 8: Mike Brown #44 of the Tennessee Titans walks off the field after a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on December 8, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 10-6. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New England Patriots made some investment in their safety group last week. Besides signing All-Pro Kevin Byard to a one-year deal, they also brought in another ex-Titan, Mike Brown, on a deal that spans only the 2026 season.
Bernd Buchmasser: Brown’s defensive exposure has been limited throughout his career, but he projects to compete for a core special teams role. Getting a player like that at a cost-efficient contract is certainly not the worst way to spend your resources. | Grade: C
Matt St. Jean: Add Mike Brown to the list of former Mike Vrabel players rejoining their head coach. Brown should be fighting for a depth role at safety and a starting role on special teams, where he joins players like Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler. | Grade: C+
Pat Lane: Another familiar face for the Patriots and Mike Vrabel. He’s probably not going to play a ton, but he’s a decent depth option who can also play special teams. Vrabel obviously wants guys that he’s familiar with and can trust on the back end of the roster, and Smith fits that bill. | Grade: C
What do you think about the Patriots signing Mike Brown? Do you like the move? Do you not? And how would you grade it? Please head down to the comment section to discuss.
Mar 15, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; United States pitcher Mason Miller (19) and United States catcher Will Smith (16) celebrate after defeating the Dominican Republic in a semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
On what was a controversial third strike call to Geraldo Perdomo to conclude a thrilling WBC semifinal game on Sunday night, Padres closer Mason Miller punched Team USA's ticket to the Classic's title game slated for Tuesday at Daikin Park in Houston.
The Red, White, and Blue faced off against the Dominican Republic in what was a thrilling, Goliath vs. Goliath match-up that saw 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes take on a fierce D.R. lineup that included San Diego stars Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
The Dominican's jumped out to a quick and early 1-0 lead on a Junior Caminero solo shot off of Skenes in the second inning. That lead would be short-lived though, as young phenoms Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony launched home runs in the fourth to give the US all the runs they'd need to pull off the triumph in-front of a capacity crowd at loanDepot Park
However, it was the last pitch of the contest that had people abuzz, as Miller's 3-2 slider to Perdomo, who batted with the tying run at first base and the ever-so dangerous Tatis Jr. waiting on-deck, was rung up by home plate umpire Cory Blaser after the pitch appeared to be well below the strike zone.
"I knew 100% it was a ball," Perdomo said postgame. "I knew it."
"It's part of the game," Dominican Republic GM Nelson Cruz stated. "You lost by inches. We'll have ABS in a few years, so hopefully next time we can challenge plays like that.
"This event is really good for baseball. You have regular fans that love the game — and you have people who don't pay attention and you're attracting them," he added.
Major League Baseball is set to introduce an Automatic Balls and Strikes system to regular in-season and postseason play this year. Something that players, executives, and fans alike have been clamoring for the past several years, citing umpire-based decision making is having too much of a direct impact on the end result of games.
As for Miller, his streak of dominance continues. Not only does 'The Reaper' have his velocity working in mid-season form, opposing hitters are now 0-for-50 with 39 strikeouts against him stemming back to September 8, 2025.
The no. 1 reliever in all of baseball entering the '26 campaign, according to ESPN.com, will speak with the Padres on Monday regarding his availability to pitch in Tuesday's championship game. Per Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune, the club seems inclined on letting him take the bump if called upon by US skipper Mark DeRosa.
“I would do everything in my power to pitch,” Miller said after Sunday's win.
In 160 career innings, the flame-throwing righty owns a 2.81 ERA with 246 punch outs, an 0.91 WHIP, and 50 saves.
The United States awaits the winner of Venezuela vs. Italy on Monday night at 5:00 p.m. PT.
Ireland's power game has proved too much for Scotland to handle over the past nine years and Saturday at the Aviva Stadium was just another chapter of the same story.
The Scots were knocked off their game by a ferocious Irish defence, and with Tadhg Beirne and company all over the breakdown, the quick ball Scotland thrive on was in short supply.
In that scintillating first hour against France, Scotland were so clean in their work, but they just could not get close to those levels again.
That was in large part down to a mighty Irish performance, but Scotland's error count was way too high. While many of those errors were as a result of Irish pressure, some were self-inflicted wounds, and that will sting.
Gilchrist goes down fighting
Grant Gilchrist was part of a Scotland pack that quite comprehensively came off second best in Dublin, but the old warhorse produced a fine individual display.
On the day he became Scotland's most-capped lock on his 88th appearance, Gilchrist's work rate was outstanding.
He carried time and again into the guts of the Irish defence, and even showed velvet hands to put Rory Darge in for Scotland's third try.
It was a courageous display from the veteran lock as he left it all out on the field and went down fighting.
Progress bookended with disappointment
If you offered Scotland fans before the Six Nations a third-place finish that included wins over the two tournament favourites, France and England, then many would have taken it. Just about all of them would have snapped your hand off for that scenario after the opening defeat in Rome.
In a way it's a shame last week's thrilling win over France was not the final match as there would be an strong sense of positivity around where this Scotland team is going. As Huw Jones told us after the game, the Ireland defeat "has taken the wind out our sails".
A top-half finish is a decent return and there was so much to like in those three victories over England, Wales and France. The two defeats confirmed there is still work to do for this team to get their hands on silverware.
If Scotland are to win a trophy, they will need to figure out a way to finally put one over the Irish.
The 2025-26 high school basketball season is already down to its last throes.
Most of the country has finished its girls basketball state championships entering the week of Monday, Mar. 16, and all state championships will be done by the end of this weekend.
Below, you can find the state finals results – or upcoming matchups – for every classification of all 50 states, including almost every state association in high school basketball. We will update this post throughout the week as new state finals results roll in.
We were sad when TJ Power chose to leave Duke. We thought, with a little time and some more muscle, he could turn into a heck of a player.
It didn’t happen for him at Virginia, where Tony Bennett recruited him, only to retire just before the season started last fall.
Now a junior at Penn, Power is averaging 15.8 ppg, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. And on Sunday, Power had the game of a lifetime.
Penn played Yale for the Ivy League championship, and Power scored 44 points, half of Penn’s 88, to lead the Quakers to an overtime win over the Bulldogs.
And in this play, with Penn down three near the end of regulation, Power brings the ball down and calmly nails a three to help take it to OT. One of the best things about this game was watching his teammates joyfully mob him after the game ended. It’s really wonderful to see him doing so well.
Penn opens NCAA play against #3 Illinois in the South Regional, and Coach Fran McCaffery knows the Illini very well from his days at Iowa. Can they pull it off? Seems unlikely, but it’s March. Here’s hoping!
Both Jazza Dickens and Anthony “The Apache” Cacace belong to a different time in the boxing business, a time when boxers without infamy and entourages won and lost title fights as part of their day job.
On Saturday night in Dublin, in front of boxing’s loudest crowd, Cacace beat Dickens on points over 12 torrid rounds to win the WBA super-featherweight title. The win kept his journey inside the boxing world alive. The Belfast boxer became a two-time world champion and remains one of the sport’s gentle heroes, a man with no concerns for the limelight.
It was the sixth defeat in 42 fights for Dickens, and he had entered the ring as the champion on a night when it was obvious that the two veterans would fight for every second of every round and across every inch of the blood-stained canvas. It was not a classic; it was never going to be a classic, but it was always going to be hard.
Dickens, who is from Liverpool, thought that he had done enough at the end, but the three judges made the right call, and Cacace won with scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 116-113. The judges only agreed unanimously on five of the 12 rounds. On the night, Cacace was just too smart at times, too big, and did enough in tight rounds.
Cacace, who is now 37, has been on an exceptional run of wins, the type of sequence that can be compared with the best by any British or Irish fighter in modern or ancient days. Cacace won the IBF super-featherweight title when he stopped Cardiff’s Joe Cordina in Saudi Arabia in 2024, then he beat Josh Warrington, stopped Leigh Wood and defeated Dickens. A stunning quartet of consecutive wins in less than two years.
Cacace won in the eyes of every judge but each score was close (Getty Images)
“I want big fights now. Unifications with the other champions,” said Cacace at the end, when an attractive fight with Southampton’s unbeaten Ryan Garner, an easy winner on Saturday’s undercard, was suggested. “I want bigger names; I deserve bigger names.” He is probably right, but the Garner fight could deliver a career-high payday, and that is generally enough to turn a fighter’s head.
The two options right now for Cacace to pursue a unification, or even an undisputed title, would both be difficult fights. His old IBF belt and the WBO version are held by a formidable Mexican, Emanuel Navarette, and the WBC belt is currently owned by O’Shaquie Foster, who sounds like he would be right at home on a fight night in Belfast or Dublin. Foster is from Texas and he is beatable.
Navarette has stopped or knocked out 33 of the 40 men he has beaten, his recent form has been stunning, but he is the man that Cacace wants. It would be a super-fight if it could be secured for Britain or Ireland this summer.
Belfast’s Cacace is now a two-time world champion (Getty Images)
Equally, a fight with Garner at Croke Park in Dublin as part of an Irish boxing extravaganza would also be sensational. There is still bold talk of Katie Taylor finishing her career with a send-off fight at Croke Park, and a bout involving Dublin idol Pierce O’Leary has also been linked to the historic venue.
It would be some night if Croke Park erected a boxing ring in the middle of that sacred turf. Cacace might just be the fighter dancing down the steps to the bright lights, in search of one more scalp.
The Wisconsin Badgers 24-10 (14-6 Big Ten) are officially a No. 5 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Bracketology projections had Wisconsin around the No. 5 seed line for quite some time and that was made official on Selection Sunday. The team finds itself in the West Region, where the No. 1 seed is Arizona.
The Badgers' first-round opponent will be No. 12-seed High Point, which finished the regular season at 30-4 (15-1 Big South). That’s an incredibly dangerous matchup for Wisconsin, as the Panthers haven’t lost a game since January 14.
In fact, High Point has lost just one game since it got off to an 8-3 start. The team is 21-1 in its last 22 games and has scored as many as 129 points in a game this season.
Wisconsin will be playing in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, March 19. Should the Badgers win, they’ll take on either No. 4 Arkansas or No. 13 Hawaii on Saturday, March 21.
Contact/Follow@TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebook to follow ongoing coverage of WisconsinBadgers news, notes and opinion.
Jeffery Simmons is on pace to enter the top 10 on the Tennessee Titans’ all-time career sacks list in 2026.
Simmons currently has 42.5 career sacks to his name. He ranks No. 12 on the Titans’ all-time sacks list. Simmons trails Derrick Morgan (No. 11) as well as Ted Washington (No. 10) for a spot in the top 10. Morgan has 44.5 career sacks while Washington has 45.
Simmons’ production has him on the precipice of entering the top 10 next season, fairly quickly at that. The Mississippi State product has recorded at least five sacks in each of the last five seasons. Simmons went for 11 sacks in 2025, his first time with 10 or more in a season. He previously recorded 7.5 in 2022 as well as 8.5 in 2021.
The Titans’ coaching staff, led by coach Robert Saleh, as well as defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, is prepared to play with a fast and violent approach on defense. Simmons is on pace to pass not only Washington as well as Morgan, but also Robert Brazile (No. 9), who has 48 career sacks with the franchise, if Simmons’ season average of 7.5 sacks dating back to the 2021 season persists in 2026.
Laporta and Font share warm embrace with a common goal – ‘Let’s win the Champions League’
Even before the final results of the Barcelona presidential election were officially announced, candidate Victor Font had already acknowledged that victory was slipping away.
As the counting of votes continued and early projections strongly favoured Joan Laporta, Font chose to address the media and accept the likely outcome with complete calmness.
According to Mundo Deportivo, after finishing the questions from the media, Font walked directly toward Laporta’s campaign booth.
Font approached the re-elected president and the two men greeted each other warmly before sharing an embrace.
Font-Laporta exchange
During the brief exchange, both candidates shared words that reflected their shared passion for Barcelona. “Visca el Barça and visca Catalunya,” Font began.
“Well said,” replied Laporta.
“Now, let’s win the Champions League,” Font replied.
“First, let’s knock out Newcastle and keep it up in La Liga. We played a good game today,” Laporta said, referring to the 5-2 win over Sevilla.
The exchange ended with another embrace between the two figures, a moment that was widely interpreted as a sign of unity following a competitive election campaign.
Before leaving the area, both Laporta and Font raised their voices once more in support of the club. “Visca el Barça.”
Shortly afterwards, the candidates went their separate ways and returned to their respective campaign tents as the vote counting continued.
Moments later, the club released updated figures showing that nearly 75% of the ballots had been counted, with Laporta approaching 70% of the vote, confirming the scale of his victory.
Later, it was confirmed that Laporta has been re-elected as the Barcelona president with 32,934 votes, accounting for 68.18% of the total.
Ancelotti talks Vinicius, Mbappe, Valverde, Real Madrid – ‘It didn’t surprise me’
Former Real Madrid manager and current Brazil national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti recently spoke to Radio MARCA (h/t Mundo Deportivo) in an interview, during which he reflected on his departure from the Spanish capital club.
Having enjoyed a successful second stint with Los Blancos, Ancelotti stepped down from his post in 2025, following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign where they failed to win any major trophy despite the addition of Kylian Mbappe.
Discussing what went wrong for him and the team during his final season in charge, Ancelotti explained:
“Football changes with very little, and with that, the chemistry changes. It’s not just about the atmosphere, it’s not just about swapping Kroos for Mbappe. That same year, Nacho left, Carvajal got injured, and Modric played less.
“The old generation that had created a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing room was gone, and a new generation of players had to come in, bringing character, personality, and setting an example. That doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time.”
Continuing, he added: “Mbappe’s arrival coincided with two important departures, Kroos and Nacho, creating a different atmosphere.
“Mbappe did fantastically, scoring around 50 goals, but the team struggled to win titles because football is about small details, and when you change something, it doesn’t always work out.”
On deciding to take up the Brazil role upon leaving Real Madrid, Ancelotti stated: “I had no intention of going to another club after Madrid.
“The opportunity with the Brazilian national team came up two years ago and then I renewed with Madrid, but last year we thought it was the right time to leave and now I’m happy.”
Ancelotti is the Brazil national team coach now. (Photo by Lucas Figueiredo/Getty Images)
The Italian legend then revealed that he was still in contact with players from Madrid, as well as club president Florentino Perez, saying:
“Yes, sometimes. After the match against Manchester City, I congratulated the club and the president. I also speak with the players. The other day I spoke with Rodrygo to see how he was doing. I’m in contact with them, yes.”
Discussing the importance of Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr. for the club as well the Brazil national team, Ancelotti remarked:
“Vinicius has never let us down in important matches. I can’t recall a semi-final or quarter-final where Vini has made a mistake.
“Maybe Vinicius got frustrated in Valencia and lost his focus, but he’s never done that in important matches. I’m convinced he’ll have a great World Cup if he’s in the squad.”
Ancelotti also confidently claimed that Real Madrid will go through to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, having beaten Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg.
“Yes, it’s going to happen. They have to defend well and maintain their balance,” he stated.
“It didn’t surprise me, I kept my coaching license for a reason… but the three goals were incredible. I sent him a message.”
On being asked what message he sent to the Uruguayan midfielder, Ancelotti cheekily replied: “I told him, ‘It’s a shame you don’t have a Brazilian passport.'”
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A leading soccer official in Asia says Iran is still set to play at the World Cup which kicks off in June in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
On Monday, Asian Football Confederation general secretary Windsor John said the sport's continental governing body has heard nothing to suggest Iran won't contest the World Cup.
“They are our member. We want them to play,” he told a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, where the AFC is based. “As far as we know, Iran is playing.
“It's a very emotional moment, everybody is saying a lot of things. At the end of the day, it’s the (Iran soccer) federation who should decide if they’re playing and, as for today, the federation … has told us that they're going to the World Cup.”
Trump had posted on social media that the Iranian team was welcome at the World Cup despite the ongoing war with Iran but that “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Iran is set to play all three of its World Cup group games in the U.S., which is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada.
The regional war has put doubt on Iran’s ability to fulfill its World Cup entry, and sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state TV last week that the current circumstances meant it was not possible to play.
But the Iran team’s riposte on Instagram confirmed it still wants to participate, and pointed out that the tournament is run by FIFA, soccer's world governing body, not Trump or the U.S.
Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21, before finishing group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 27.
Iran is a power in Asian soccer, ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and has qualified for its fourth straight World Cup edition.
Before the World Cup, Iranian soccer officials are due to attend FIFA’s annual congress on April 30 in Vancouver. The Iranian federation was unable to attend meetings in Atlanta last week to help teams prepare for the 48-nation tournament.
In a season where nothing comes easily, Charlton Athletic's 1–1 draw at Oxford United had all the tension of a Championship scrap - two sides in form, fighting for every inch, and neither quite content at full-time.
Coming into the clash, Charlton could take rare comfort in the stats. Oxford's passing accuracy sat even lower than ours but both sides arrived confident.
Nathan Jones brought back his big defensive guns that beat Birmingham City. Up top, Miles Leaburn was drafted in replacing the ill Lyndon Dykes, a late blow that unsettled the rhythm before kick-off.
The contest itself echoed December's meeting: scrappy, low quality, and short on cohesion.
Oxford's opener came via a contentious penalty, Kayne Ramsay harshly judged after what looked minimal contact on Will Lankshear.
Cameron Brannagan duly converted, leaving Jones seething on the touchline as his team started to miss the chance to hit the 50‑point mark by mid-afternoon.
Yet as Charlton often do under Jones, they refused to fold.
Oxford's Ciaron Brown - who'd graciously praised Charlton's survival prospects pre‑match - handed the Addicks a lifeline when he pulled back Lloyd Jones in the dying embers of the game to concede the second penalty of the match.
Charlie Kelman stepped up with ice in his veins, converting his sixth goal of the season to silence the Kassam. His celebration, charging towards the away fans, summed up the release of a draining week.
Up against Birmingham at home, away to Middlesbrough and then to Oxford in a gruelling seven days, seven points in three matches represents a major stride towards safety. Still, Jones' frustration was plain. He demands standards, and Charlton's display in Oxfordshire lacked the urgency shown midweek on Teesside.
Now comes Norwich City at The Valley - a proper test before the international break.
Will Mannion should keep the gloves after another steady showing, even with Thomas Kaminski fit again. And while many already talk of safety, seasoned Charlton hearts know better: complacency is fatal in this league. But with 48 points on the board and spirit intact, this team has earned the right to believe.
The first thing you notice when you stroll towards your seat at the spaceship-like dome that is SoFi Stadium is the jaw-dropping ‘halo board’. Hovering above the pitch, this gigantic screen is both entertaining and informative as the Los Angeles Chargers glide and bounce across the turf throughout warm-ups.
The $5.5bn (£4bn) home, shared with fellow NFL team Los Angeles Rams, will host next year’s Super Bowl. And SoFi brings a unique visual experience to live games and even major cultural moments as Beyonce, Taylor Swift and more stop by during their world tours.
It becomes apparent at SoFi and beyond, across the vast City of Angels, that this place elevates how fans consume sport, with options galore. Across the very biggest cities in the United States, American sport brings a plethora of options to sport junkies, notably in the four major leagues: NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, with LA boasting the juggernaut Dodgers after back-to-back World Series. Given the overlapping calendars of the sports and the reliable sunshine for more than 40 weeks of the year, sports fans have plenty of meaningful action to feast on.
But even beyond the quintessential American experience, LA will host eight Fifa World Cup matches this summer. The Chargers and Rams, buoyed by reigning MVP Matthew Stafford’s return next season, will hope to arrive at Super Bowl 61 and a chance at landing the Lombardi trophy at home. Then there are the Olympics, with LA28, the city’s third Games after 1932 and 1984, tying Paris, the last summer Games hosts, and London, both notably contenders for sporting supremacy worldwide.
SoFi will be front and centre there, too, as it transforms into a swimming hub, catapulting a sport into a new era, with an expected spine-tingling atmosphere to roar on the Stars and Stripes in one of its strongest sports. The infectious support behind both the men’s and women’s USA ice hockey teams landing gold at the Winter Olympics offers a glimpse into how LA will capture a moment for American sport and deliver a backdrop for the rest of the world in sporting escapism. LA28 has even flipped the traditional formation of swimming in the first half of the Games, followed by athletics, ensuring SoFi will not only deliver defining moments but likely deliver the exclamation points and finale to a sporting extravaganza.
Expectations surrounding sporting stadia have drastically changed, but while LA has cutting-edge infrastructure and technology in Sofi Stadium and Intuit Dome, more of which later, the tradition and history of some of its sporting hubs shine through, too. The LA Memorial Coliseum is based in the Exposition Park neighborhood and positioned next door to the astounding Lucas Museum of Narrative Art project, with plans for a Fifa World Cup 2026 fan festival this summer. It will host the Olympic flame months after a drastic makeover from the conclusion of the USC Trojans, guided by football savant Lincoln Riley, and the college football season.
From Carl Lewis’ four gold medals to stuntman Evel Knievel using the historic venue as a playground, the Coliseum is destined to bring a new set of moments. With 77,500 in attendance, the athletes will be able to hear the roars minutes before their events in 2028, offering another unique experience and atmosphere. That’s thanks to plans to carve out enough space beneath the pitch and track to ensure athletes can conduct warm-ups.
Beyond the traditional sporting experience, and a blue-chip event such as the Olympics, LA has always been the epicentre of the NBA, one of the biggest global sporting leagues. And while the Lakers historically preside over this city, the Clippers continue to jostle for prominence, namely through its futuristic new home: Intuit Dome. The facility is mindblowing, with a full outdoor court for fans to enjoy and numerous exhibitions paying tribute to LA and its artists. The franchise’s owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer revolutionising the American live sport experience with GameFace ID tech.
Fans can park, enter the venue and pay for food, drinks and merchandise by simply pausing for a second as up to 52 cameras recognise each registered fan at checkout. Its impact? Tedious queuing has largely been eliminated. The consistency of the technology needs some work, but the upside was clear during a first visit.
An absence of screens in the concourse also appeared to force most fans to return to their seats in a hurry. This attention to detail includes a 4,500-seat, one-tier stand behind one hoop, resembling Borussia Dortmund’s ‘Yellow Wall’, to heighten the atmosphere and make for an intimidating presence for visiting teams. The first 300 seats are standing room only, too. You could immediately see the impact of the Clippers’ ‘ultras’ at free throws, with the Phoenix Suns’ Dillon Brooks unsettled enough by those donning rubber chicken heads and screeching as the ball looped around and out of the hoop.
Juggling injuries and unpalatable contracts lately, the Clippers aren’t ready for a title just yet, but the live experience, particularly once they return to play-off contention, ought to establish them as one of the better sporting experiences around.
And if the live experience isn’t quite your cup of tea, then the ongoing evolution of the traditional American sports bar experience can also be found in LA, where flights are readily available through Virgin to LAX, where its new Clubhouse lounge can be found. Enter: Cosm. The immersive experience, centred around an 84ft-wide 12K+ LED screen, with smaller pop-up screens that include the traditional network’s broadcast feed for those vital replays. But the attraction is the specific pictures from numerous spots inside the stadiums of elite sport, including Premier League grounds. The result is the same view your friend holds from his season ticket. It’s a spectacular vantage point and will revolutionise the way fans consume their sport. From a cosy position next to Declan Rice as he takes a set-piece, while noticing the frantic movement on the edge of the area, to NFL games and a deeper view behind the end zone as the ball spirals towards your seat in the theatre.
Cosm should prove a popular add-on to any fans at this summer’s World Cup with games across the USA, Canada and Mexico. While LA’s Pacific Time Zone (PT) also makes Cosm a delightful appetiser in the morning or at lunchtime before US-based sport later in the day and evening.
Overall the options are plentiful with bucket list items aplenty. And an intense run, stretching from the World Cup 2026 and next year’s Super Bowl to LA28, positions LA as an essential destination for sports fans.
Rooms at The Shay start from $325 (£249) per night.
Virgin Atlantic flies direct between London Heathrow and Los Angeles with return fares from £499 per person, including complimentary food, drink, and in-flight entertainment. For further information, visit www.virginatlantic.com or call 0344 8747 747
Prices given are correct as of 13 March 2025 and are subject to change
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"If a women's football team does not have their own stadium in 10 years' time, they will be at a disadvantage."
So says Chris Long, co-owner of Kansas City Current, who have played at the CPKC Stadium for the past two seasons.
It is the world's first purpose-built ground for women's football.
New US franchise Denver Summit are also building their own stadium, with a planned opening for the 2028 season.
Is this the direction of travel for women's football, including in the UK?
Why have American teams taken this route?
And how do the new venues differ from existing stadiums?
With the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) 2026 season kicking off this weekend, BBC Sport travelled to the American Midwest to find out.
Why are these stadiums being built?
Kansas City has a strong relationship with football, which is of course commonly known as soccer in the US.
FC Kansas City were a founding member of the NWSL in 2012 but folded after the 2017 season.
KC Current were born in 2021 thanks to the investment of local business executives Angie and Chris Long, plus Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
They wasted no time in plotting an ambitious course for the new franchise, including the opening of CPKC Stadium in March 2024.
With a capacity of 11,500, it ranks middle of the road for average attendance. But a crowd at that level would place them behind only Arsenal's average in the Women's Super League (WSL) and, unlike with most venues in the UK, games at CPKC Stadium are always sell-outs.
"Our job is to create the best home advantage and make sure every seat is filled," explains KC Current president Raven Jemison. "That is so our opponents feel it's going to be very hard to play here."
But how does a bespoke stadium help Kansas City achieve that?
"For so long, we talked about women's sports as nice to have, but now we want to talk about these amazing athletes," says Jemison.
"Our business perspective is to invest in infrastructure and put a great product on the pitch. Give these world-class athletes a home they deserve."
The CPKC Stadium is the world's first purpose-built stadium for women's football [Getty Images]
Like with WSL clubs, most US teams share another franchise's premises, be it a men's team's ground or a venue usually reserved for other sports, such as NFL stadium Lumen Field for Seattle Reign.
Kansas City buck this trend, and Denver Summit president Jen Millet believes it makes financial sense to follow suit.
"A big part of a sustainable business model is controlling revenue streams," Millet says. "Women have been tenants and missed out on those things – food, beverage, parking, rentals, retail.
"It's massively important to operate your own stadium."
Having their own venue has also enhanced KC Current's marketing strategy - something Kirsten Ross, president of official supporters' club The Blue Crew, says has greatly raised the team's profile.
"[The club] do a really good job of ramping up when the team is playing," she says.
"Previously, people had no idea FC Kansas City existed. Now you can't walk anywhere without knowing there's a game for KC Current."
Chris Long argues a bespoke stadium brings the best out of players – after all, Kansas City dominated the 2025 regular season and won the NWSL Shield by 21 points, even if they lost in the play-offs.
"It's the feeling of belonging," he says. "If you're a tenant, the schedule isn't based on you... you put your stuff in the locker room but have to take it out because it's temporary."
Jemison adds: "You feel like a visitor in your own home. We didn't want that."
How are these stadiums distinctive?
Designing a stadium for women's sports offers opportunity to be different.
Senior principal at Populous, Sherri Privitera, says inclusion was key to the design.
She points to a number of distinctive elements.
On tickets: "We will have flexible seating for people to be communal and areas for children who cannot sit for three hours. It's about making it easy to enjoy the game without hassle."
On changing rooms: "Ours will be fully private so the players feel comfortable getting ready."
On facilities: "We have more toilets than we are required to and sensory rooms for mothers who are nursing or need to pump."
Kansas City president Jemison echoes Privitera's comments, saying integration and ownership are central to CPKC Stadium.
"We want female athletes and fans in a facility that feels like it is their own, where all feel welcome," she says. "It is a community asset."
Not that this aspect blunts the atmosphere.
"It's a very loud, intimidating place," co-owner Long adds. "It's tight, it's intimate, it's sold out."
What challenges arise?
Everton have averaged 3,522 fans in their seven home games at Goodison Park this season - filling less than 10% of its near-40,000 capacity [Getty Images]
For WSL clubs offering admiring glances, challenges are abundant.
Eleven out of 12 top-flight teams are attached to men's operations, with only London City Lionesses fully independent.
That has led to playing games at huge stadiums such as Anfield and Villa Park, but most WSL games are hosted by small shared grounds such as Leigh Sports Village for Manchester United or Brighton at Crawley Town's Broadfield Stadium.
Filling those is difficult.
Brighton had proposals for a purpose-built stadium approved in October 2023, but owner Tony Bloom could not "put a time on it" in autumn last year.
Even Chelsea's ground Kingsmeadow, while owned by the club, was originally built for men's team Kingstonian before the Blues took control in 2017.
In America, the 16 NWSL teams are independent of men's franchises, although that has been an evolution.
"When the league started, the successful teams were those tied to men's clubs as the infrastructure was there," The Blue Crew's Russell explains.
"But by putting resources behind standalone teams, it has been proved you can be successful."
Kansas City's Jemison agrees, saying: "There's a misconception that sport is a men's thing, but there's a whole subset of fans who love and have a real affinity for women's sport.
"They have been neglected for some time – but we're seeing investment now."
For WSL sides, investment is a big issue. Striking out alone requires significant finances and, for clubs propped up by revenue streams from the men's side of the business, separation is a leap.
In January, the 2025 Deloitte Rich List showed WSL sides are in a healthy place in terms of revenue - with eight in the top 15 for women's clubs.
That list did not include US data, and analysis from American publication Forbes last summer suggested Kansas City were leaders for revenue generated with $36m (£26.6m).
That is not a large amount higher than European leaders Arsenal (£21.5m) and Chelsea (£21.3m) but is comfortably above the other six WSL clubs featured on Deloitte's list.
On top of that, in recent accounts detailing 2024-25 finances, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all mention "reliance" on their parent companies for funds.
Long is not blind to this financial barrier.
"It is very expensive – and when we started up, we approached 40 banks and got 39 noes," he says. "You need them to believe.
"There were plenty of naysayers too, saying we were wasting money and just being negative. That stopped when we opened the stadium!"
What does the future hold?
Circling back to the beginning, Kansas City's Chris Long is convinced about where the women's game is heading: new homes for all.
"I truly believe in 10 years' time, this will be commonplace," he says. "It'll be absolutely critical to getting players, retaining them and being financially successful."
It may seem a long way off for the WSL, but architect Privitera believes the visible benefits of teams having their own stadiums cannot be ignored.
"It makes sense," she says, "financially, culturally and from a brand perspective."
The fight for the final points-scoring place in the Chinese Grand Prix became physical as Esteban Ocon launched a highly optimistic move up the inside of Franco Colapinto’s Alpine at Turn 2 on lap 32 of the race. As Colapinto took the racing line into the corner, he clipped the front wing of Ocon’s Haas and they both spun.
Colapinto recovered and later passed Arvid Lindblad’s Racing Bulls car for 11th, then benefitted from Max Verstappen’s retirement to finish 10th and claim the final point. Ocon was handed a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision and was classified 14th after making a second pitstop to serve it.
“I deserve the penalty,” said Ocon in the media ‘pen’ after the race, having already approached Colapinto to apologise before they did the round of media interviews.
“I was fighting with Franco the whole race, so that's clearly my fault on that last incident. I was a bit over-optimistic and the gap was not really there.
“There was one point to catch, which for me and him there should have been a lot more today.
“I'm glad he still scored a point, because he drove a good race.”
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Colapinto and Ocon were 12th and 13th on the grid and started on Pirelli’s hard-compound tyres, which required them to extend their first race stints to make the strategy work. Both drivers had made excellent starts, assisted by the absence of the two McLarens from the third row of the grid.
Colapinto ran sixth in the early laps. The safety car deployment after Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin halted at Turn 2 on lap nine gave both Colapinto and Ocon the immediate benefit of gaining track position but, in turn, handed their immediate rivals a ‘cheap’ pitstop in terms of time lost.
Both drivers later had to make their pitstops under green-flag conditions. Ocon stopped two laps before Colapinto and found the Alpine emerging from the pitlane ahead of him as he passed the start line.
“It was either I get him or it was nothing today,” said Ocon. “It was taking all the risks, but it shouldn’t have ended that way.”
“I didn't see the replay, he just hit me on the rear right and broke my car,” said Colapinto.
“It is what it is and he apologised and it's all good, but of course really annoying to have lost a few points for that.”
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Colapinto’s agency Bullet Sports Management, run by former sportscar racer Jamie Campbell-Walter, issued a statement in a pre-emptive bid to discourage social media abuse.
“Public service announcement: please do not send hateful messages or death threats to Esteban, his family, or the Haas team,” it said.
“It will not change the incident and only reflects poorly on Franco’s fandom. Thank you for maintaining positive and respectful support.”
Mar 15, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; United States pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch against the Dominican Republic during a semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Team USA is heading to their third straight World Classic Baseball championship game appearance coming off a victory over the Dominican Republic in a 2-1 nail biter. The Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes was on the mound for the Americans and earned his second win in the WBC.
In this semi-final matchup, the Dominican Republic brought one of the most stacked lineups with a power hitter at every position. The USA brought out the best pitcher they had to offer who did the impossible by limiting DR to just one run scored.
In 4.1 innings pitched the 23-year-old former Air Force cadet struck out two batters while allowing just one run off of a Junior Caminero homer in the second inning. From there though Skenes was able to limit the damage with the help of a stellar USA defense that had several highlight plays to keep the Dominican hitters under wraps. Bobby Witt Jr. had several stellar plays (again) from shortstop, and Aaron Judge had a huge throw to catch Fernando Tatis Jr. at third base.
Overall, Skenes finished the contest calm and composed, but had clearly had given his team everything he had when he was relieved in the fourth. Physically, he was throwing high heat and the most pitches so far this tournament, finishing with 71 pitches on the night. The mental fortitude showed up as well, as Skenes proved he could be rattled but recenter himself after facing some adversity against this stacked lineup. Skenes showed up in a pivotal moment for the U.S and finishes his WBC run with a 1.08 ERA, nine strikeouts, and just one run allowed across two contests.
Former Pirate David Bednar has been a workhorse in the bullpen for the U.S and he had another scoreless frame against D.R, and also ended his night with two strikeouts in a high leverage spot.
Team USA will face off against the winner of Italy and Venezuela in Miami at LoanDepot Park on Tuesday night.
After one week of free agency, there's no doubt that the Washington Commanders have improved their roster. Washington had so many holes ahead of free agency that it was almost impossible to fill each and every one. General manager Adam Peters has attacked almost every position on the roster, signing 12 outside free agents thus far and bringing back several key internal free agents.
The Commanders still need a center, although Nick Allegretti could start there in Week 1. Washington will probably add a center in the 2026 NFL Draft. Wide receiver remains a significant need, and the Commanders still need another running back. But the one position that stands out among them all is cornerback.
Washington's cornerback play was abysmal last season. New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones is a defensive backs coach. He should be able to help the returning players, such as Mike Sainristil. The Commanders also signed veteran Amik Robertson, who can play inside or outside.
It's not enough. Three of Washington's top cornerbacks from last season are gone. The Commanders released Marshon Lattimore. Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene departed as free agents. In fairness to Peters, he probably didn't make an attempt to bring back Jones or Igbinoghene. Remember Trey Amos, Washington's top cornerback as a rookie before his injury, returns.
Again, that's not enough. With the top free-agent cornerbacks gone, Peters will need to take a chance or two.
How about L'Jarius Sneed?
At first glance, the answer would be a resounding no. The Tennessee Titans traded multiple draft picks for Sneed after the Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on him. Then, the Titans signed him to a four-year, $76 million contract.
In return, Sneed gave the Titans 12 games, 49 tackles and zero interceptions. When he was on the field, he wasn't good. Tennessee made two big cornerback signings in free agency and cut Sneed in a salary cap move. He's now free.
The 6-foot-1 Sneed is 29 years old and was one of the NFL's best cornerbacks in 2023. Was that a fluke? Did Kansas City foresee that he couldn't maintain that level of play? That's possible. While Pro Football Focus isn't the most defining metric, it's a part of the evaluation. And PFF gave Sneed a 50.4 overall grade in 2025, which was 104th out of 114 qualifying cornerbacks. In 2024, he received a 36.3 grade — 117th out of 117 qualifying cornerbacks.
Was he THAT bad, or was he just a bad fit for that system?
Here's the deal. Washington needs to take chances. Sneed isn't going to earn much more than the veteran's minimum in an effort to get his career back on track. Why not take a chance on Sneed? Sign him to a one-year deal, and if he looks bad in training camp, cut him.
The Commanders have few options at cornerback outside of their current top three, and there are still questions surrounding Sainristil.
Does Sneed get away from the offseason strategy of getting "younger and faster"? Somewhat, yes, but on a one-year, veteran-minimum type of deal, it's worth a shot. There is no risk here. Sneed's best days could be very well behind him, but if he is healthy and can pass a physical, someone is giving him an opportunity. Why not Washington?
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers were able to earn a rather impressive 109-103 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Despite, once again, missing so many key pieces, the Sixers were able to rally together to beat a pretty talented Blazers team who beat them pretty good back on Feb. 9 in Portland.
Quentin Grimes had a season-high 31 points for Philadelphia, VJ Edgecombe had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Justin Edwards had 21 points. Dominick Barlow added 11 points, Cam Payne had 11 points, and Andre Drummond added six points, 17 rebounds, and four steals.
Here are the three biggest takeaways following the win:
Edwards doing it on both ends
There was a lot of good things done by Edwards on Sunday as he provided a big lift for the Sixers on both ends. He shot 9-for-14 from the floor and 3-for-5 from deep in an effort to give Philadelphia some offensive production on a night it continues to miss so many key pieces and he also had two steals. It felt like he had more than that as he was terrific on the defensive end of the floor. When Edwards is on a roll on the offensive end as he was in this one at all three levels, it makes one helluva difference for Philadelphia and everybody knows it.
"He kind of makes the game easy," Grimes said. "He simplifies the game. I mean, he gets to his spots easy out there on the court. So, I mean, when he shoots the mid-range, it's not a bad shot for him. We encourage him to be aggressive. He likes a shot, gets it all the way to the rim, 3-ball, he wants the middy, to be aggressive. I think an aggressive Justin is great for us, for sure."
Slowing down Deni Avdija
Portland's All-Star had 25 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, but the Sixers held him in check for the most part. Avdija shot only 2-for-12 on 3-pointers and 7-for-19 overall. When he got into the paint, he was effective as he shot 9-for-11 from the free-throw line, but guys like Edwards, Barlow, Grimes, and MarJon Beauchamp deserve credit for how they were able to stay in front of him and bother him on this night.
Coach Nick Nurse on the defense on Avdija:
Our guys did a good job, I thought, of just really working on him. I mean, he's so fast. Like, he's like, end-to-end. He’s gotta be right up there in the league when he gets it 70 feet away, and it's at the rim so fast. Most of it's going to the right. So we were trying to do a pretty good job of shading him and trying to cut him off there. We did some stuff tonight we don't normally do. We shot the gap a little bit more and tried to meet him on the other side of screens and and we were going to kind of see if we could live with some of his pull behind the screen 3s until maybe that wasn't right, but it seemed to be a good deal. I just thought our bigs were very good at being able to get out and show a little presence and then get back and not give up too much behind them.
Edgecombe coming up large
It shouldn't be a huge surprise at this point, but Edgecombe once again shook off an overall tough night shooting the ball and came up large down the stretch. He shot just 8-for-18 overall on the night, but he did knock down some dagger jumpers over the outstretched arms of Portland's Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara. Both players are elite defenders and Edgecombe was able to come up with some tough buckets over both defenders to really put this game away. It was really some imrpessive stuff.
"That shot, I mean, it was a tough one," said Nurse. "It was obviously a huge one, but he is able to kind of get to places, and he's got the combination of some space. He kind of gets up in the air and gets back so we get can get him off. He's kind of been doing stuff like that all year. I mean, I know that was probably one of his better shots, but that kid can take it to a spot and bolt up and get a shot off, which is invaluable in this league, especially tough games."
There hasn’t really been another reason to chat about the position much. The Bengals want a starter-caliber backup like Flacco if possible and enjoy the luxury of being a premier spot for backups, given the presence of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
But a new idea has thrown the whole thing for a loop.
Jacob Camenker of USA Today has suggested the Bengals might actually make sense as a top landing spot for Kirk Cousins:
“Cousins would provide the Bengals a steady hand behind Burrow in the event the No. 1 pick from the 2020 NFL Draft is banged up again. If he isn't granted an opportunity to compete for a starting job, he could relish a chance to play with a strong stable of weapons highlighted by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.”
It was easy to assume Cousins would just get a starting job somewhere and call it a day.
But… the quarterback market has been weird. Kyler Murray, with plenty more upside, just signed a veteran minimum contract.
There just might not be all that much room for veteran starters left before a draft class enters the league.
That includes Cousins, who will turn 38 in August and is the top veteran on the market at the spot. He appeared in 10 games last year, completing 61.7 percent of his passes with 10 scores and five picks.
Cousins just doesn’t feel like a Bengals signing for a variety of reasons. But if he’s still out there and Flacco chooses to go elsewhere, it might be worth revisiting the topic.
A dramatic edition of the Six Nations to rival any in recent memory was settled with the final kick as Thomas Ramos secured back-to-back titles for France.
Ramos’s nerveless strike with the clock dead against England provided a fitting finale to a remarkable campaign of twists and turns, with Ireland narrowly finishing second thanks to the full-back’s penalty
Scotland pushed to a new level to challenge for a title, though ultimately fell short again, while both Italy and Wales could take heart after ending long waits for wins over England and in the Six Nations respectively.
And what of Steve Borthwick’s side? A disappointing campaign ended with four defeats but an improved showing in Paris perhaps provides hope for the future.
Which individuals stood out across the five rounds? Here is The Independent’s selection for the team of the tournament:
Loosehead prop: Jean-Baptiste Gros, France
There might have been other props more prominent at the set-piece, yet Gros got through a load of work for France. Be it biffing back carriers in defence or showing both aptitude as a carrier and delicate hands in attack, the loosehead was uber impressive.
Hooker: Dan Sheehan, Ireland
Dan Sheehan scored against Scotland (PA Wire)
Such a fine athlete, Sheehan’s nuts and bolts are now just as trusted as what he can do in the loose. A word for JamieGeorge, as well, who always fronted up in a tough England campaign.
Tighthead prop: Simone Ferrari, Italy
Italy's scrum was one of the stories of the tournament (AFP via Getty Images)
He may have missed the final round but Simone Ferrari was a titan throughout in a tournament of such strides for Italy. A set-piece force, Ferrari also provided a number of thumping hits in the Ireland game particularly. Joe Heyes was probably England’s best player from start to finish.
Lock: Charles Ollivon, France
France's lock Charles Ollivon was excellent (AFP via Getty Images)
It was the No 8 shirt on his back for the tournament finale but Ollivon embodied France’s shift in strategy by adapting to a relatively new second row role at the start of the campaign. He covers so much ground and has a scoring strike-rate that plenty of backs would be ecstatic with.
Lock: Tadhg Beirne, Ireland
Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne celebrates after beating England (PA Wire)
Below his best in Paris on the opening night, Beirne bounced back with trademark showings against England and Scotland particularly. How many times does he manage to get hands on ball near his own line for a crucial turnover? A late-bloomer is ageing like a fine wine.
Blindside flanker: Francois Cros, France
(REUTERS)
An ugly incident removes OscarJegou from candidacy but his fellow France flanker was just as impactful in France’s success. Cros is the oil in the machine for Les Bleus, keeping everything moving in attack and defence.
Openside flanker: Rory Darge, Scotland
(Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
Sorting the back row selection is a nightmare with so many standouts across the six sides. Darge, though, characterised much of Scotland’s defensive steel with his breakdown nous and persistence. He even managed a cameo at centre in the 50-40 France win, too.
No 8: Caelan Doris, Ireland
Caelan Doris was one of Ireland's best at Twickenham (Getty)
The leadership of Doris was questioned in parts after Ireland’s tough start; few are questioning him now. Such a beautifully-rounded back row, he straddles the line between licit and less so expertly to disrupt in defence, and always seems to make metres with ball in hand. Any of Jack Dempsey, Lorenzo Cannone, Ben Earland AaronWainwrightmight have been worthy.
Scrum half: Antoine Dupont, France
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jamison Gibson-Parkruns him very close but there are times where Dupont appears to be playing a different sport to other scrum halves in the competition. His capacity to navigate in and out of contract is supreme, while his kicking game can be forgotten yet is so crucial in providing France stability when exiting the 22. Not, maybe, at his best, but still pivotal in a French success.
Fly half: Finn Russell, Scotland
(Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
Scotland may have fallen short in the end, but their mid-tournament transformation had much to do with Russell’s calm, creative controlling head. His moment of quick-thinking ensured Scotland escaped Cardiff with a narrow win, while the more extravagant performances against England and France were built around his delicious range of skills. France’s MatthieuJalibert burned brightly, also.
Left wing: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, France
(Getty Images)
A try-scoring phenom, Bielle-Biarrey just seems to get better and better. Added security and strategy under the high ball has given France greater capacity to attack in transition, and few are more devastating in that phase than the speedster. Still just 22 – a freak.
Inside centre: Stuart McCloskey, Ireland
(Getty Images)
A decade on from his international debut, McCloskey has come of age as an Ireland player after seizing his opportunity at inside centre. A thunderous carrier with deft offloading hands, he’s been key in Ireland unlocking opposition defences, and his performance against England was a real tour de force. SioneTuipulotu runs him close.
Outside centre: Tommaso Menoncello, Italy
(AFP via Getty Images)
Menoncello more often wears No 12 when Juan Ignacio Brex is available in a midfield marriage of wonderful contrast, but is often running amok in the 13 channel in attack. Devilishly difficult to stop in full flow and with room for much more growth.
Right wing: Kyle Steyn, Scotland
(AFP via Getty Images)
An all-rounder, Steyn seems to have just about everything you would want in an international wing. He was one of few Scots to emerge in credit from their defeat in Rome and then scarcely put a foot wrong thereafter, showing both his attacking gifts and the defensive discipline that have made him a key leader at Glasgow for so long.
Full-back: Thomas Ramos, France
(AFP via Getty Images)
There’s a lot to like about the way that Jamie Osborneis tracking in Irish green but the current class of full-back play in Europe is clearly Ramos. That Dupont/Jalibert/Ramos creative axis worked so wonderfully at times, and it was he who had a fitting final word with a nerveless penalty to seal success against England.
Feb 3, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Executive vice president, football operations and general manager Andrew Berry speaks to the media during a press conference to introduce new head coach Todd Monken at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 14: Mike Brown #44 of the Tennessee Titans warms up prior to an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New England Patriots gave out some big contracts during the first week of free agency. Safety and special teamer Mike Brown, who is coming over after a three-year stint in Tennessee, does not belong in that same category.
Brown’s contract with the Patriots is for one year only, and as a look at its details shows not necessarily putting too much of a dent into the Patriots’ books.
S Mike Brown: Contract details
Base value: $1,350,000 Maximum value: $1,350,000
Guarantees: $50,000 Signing bonus: $50,000
2026 (age 27): Base salary: $1,250,000 Signing bonus: $50,000 Workout bonus: $50,000 Salary cap hit: $1,175,000
The Patriots signed the fifth-year man to a contract only slightly above the veteran’s minimum for a player of his experience, which says a lot about his outlook. Unlike other members of New England’s free agency class, he is not guaranteed a spot on the roster come September.
As for the pact itself, it includes a $1.25 million base salary, $50,000 workout bonus and fully-guaranteed $50,000 signing bonus. Despite those numbers adding up to $1.35 million, only parts of that sum actually are counted against New England’s cap at the moment. Brown, after all, qualifies for the veteran salary benefit: as a player of four or more credited seasons, he is eligible for such a deal.
In essence, this means signing a qualifying unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract that includes no more than $187,500 in additional compensation on top of his base salary. If those requirements are met, teams are allowed to reduce the salary impact, which in Brown’s case is $200,000 (the difference between him having four or two credited seasons on his résumé).
Despite the favorable nature of that arrangement, however, his chances of making the roster will hinge entirely on his performance this summer.
Max Dowman becomes Premier Leagues youngest-ever goalscorer
Arsenal teenager Max Dowman has written his name into Premier League history after becoming the youngest player ever to score in the competition.
The 16-year-old winger found the net during Arsenal’s 2–0 victory over Everton, scoring at the age of 16 years and 73 days to break a record that had stood for nearly two decades. The previous milestone belonged to James Vaughan, who scored for Everton against Crystal Palace in April 2005 at 16 years and 270 days.
Dowman came off the bench to seal the win for the Gunners in dramatic fashion. Collecting the ball inside his own half, the youngster surged forward, beating two Everton players before racing clear and finishing into an empty net. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had ventured forward for a late corner, leaving the goal unguarded.
The strike came in just Dowman’s third Premier League appearance. The Arsenal academy product had already made history earlier in the season when he debuted against Leeds United at 15, becoming one of the youngest players to feature in the competition, behind only Ethan Nwaneri.
Dowman’s goal also sees him surpass another long-standing Arsenal benchmark. Cesc Fàbregas previously held the club’s record as the youngest scorer when he netted in a League Cup tie against Wolves in December 2003 at 16 years and 212 days - six years before Dowman was even born.
With his record-breaking finish against Everton, the teenage winger has now become the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history since the competition began in 1992, marking a remarkable early milestone in his career.
CHICAGO — Is this finally the Big Ten’s year to break the drought?
Are we tired of hearing this question every March?
It has been 26 years since the last NCAA championship in men’s basketball for a power conference that’s perennially touted as one of the country’s best. To put things in perspective, that 2000 Michigan State team that won under a bright, young coach named Tom Izzo played in an era before smartphones, social media and the proliferation of sports-debate shows, back when the Big Ten consisted of only 11 teams.
Besides Big Ten hopefuls waiting forever for their “One Shining Moment,” the only common denominator between 2000 and 2026 is perhaps Izzo, who once again guides Michigan State into the tournament with great expectations and fingers crossed.
Befitting its reputation, the Big Ten will send nine teams to this year’s Big Dance, with top-seeded Michigan having the best chance to end the streak, followed by Purdue, Illinois and Michigan State.
But who really knows after the Wolverines barely survived their first two Big Ten Tournament games at the United Center, then lost 80-72 to Purdue in Sunday’s title game?
Nevertheless, Michigan ranked behind only Duke and Arizona, the top overall seeds, and its regular-season dominance was enough to make it the top seed in the Midwest Region. The Wolverines will face the 16th seed, either UMBC or Howard, on Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y., and with a second-round win over Georgia or Saint Louis should be right back at the UC in two weeks for the Sweet 16.
Purdue, which began the season ranked No. 1 in the nation, earned the No. 2 seed in the West with its convincing win Sunday and will face 15th-seeded Queens in St. Louis. That probably was a spot for the Illini before they lost Friday to Wisconsin in overtime in the Big Ten quarterfinals, blowing a 15-point lead and their composure. Illinois wound up the No. 3 seed in the South and will play 14th-seeded Penn on Thursday in Greenville, S.C.
Michigan State earned the No. 3 seed in the East and will play 14th-seeded North Dakota State on Thursday in Buffalo. No. 7 seed UCLA, which plays No. 10 UCF on Friday in Philadelphia, and No. 8 Ohio State, which faces No. 9 TCU on Thursday in Greenville, join the Spartans in the East.
Nebraska and Iowa join the Illini in the South. The Cornhuskers are the No. 4 seed, facing 13th-seeded Troy on Thursday in Oklahoma City, while the eighth-seeded Hawkeyes meet No. 9 Clemson on Friday in Tampa, Fla. Wisconsin earned the No. 5 seed in the West and will play 12th-seeded High Point on Thursday in Portland, Ore.
So which Big Ten players and coaches are under the most pressure? Here are a few likely suspects:
Illinois coach Brad Underwood
Underwood is always under fire from Illinois fans come tournament time, and if the Illini don’t at least get past the first two rounds, the season will be considered another bust despite a high-scoring offense and a ton of talent.
“I don’t like narratives,” Underwood said after being upset by Wisconsin. “I like figuring out how to solve the problem.”
Figuring out how to solve Ivy League champ Penn shouldn’t be too difficult, though what figures to be a marquee matchup against sixth-seeded North Carolina could be trouble, even with Tar Heels star Caleb Wilson out with a hand injury.
The Illini have lost four overtime games and seem to wilt in the clutch.
“We’ve lost some (where) we’re a possession away in a lot of games from being one of the best teams, record-wise, in the country.” Underwood said. “I still think we’re one of the best teams in the country.”
Time to prove it.
Purdue guard Braden Smith
Smith might be the best pure point guard in the nation and needs one assist to catch Bobby Hurley for the all-time NCAA record. He figures to get it in the opening minutes of the Boilermakers’ first game against Queens. But he still needs to come up big in the tournament after some up-and-down performances.
Smith helped lead Purdue to the Final Four in 2024 but went a combined 5 for 21 from the field (23.8%) in the semifinal win over N.C. State and title-game loss to UConn. Last year Smith was a combined 11-for-33 (33.3%) in Purdue’s three tournament games, ending with a loss to Houston in the Sweet 16.
Of course, no one can forget top-seeded Purdue’s loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023, one of the great upsets in NCAA history.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin
The Mad Man of the Big Ten personally ejected Steven Jamerson III from a game at Michigan State on Feb. 17 after Jamerson committed a flagrant foul with the Bruins down by 27 points.
“We’re soft,” Cronin said afterward. “It’s really hard to coach people who are delusional. We act like somebody stole our favorite toy and we’re a 3-year old.”
That epic rant seemed to get the Bruins on a roll. They rebounded to beat Illinois at home on a last-second lay-in by Donovan Dent and had won six of seven before losing to Purdue on Saturday in the Big Ten semifinals.
Is Cronin a mad genius, or just a grumpy, old man coaching basketball? We may find out against UCF.
Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg
Izzo called Lendeborg “the most complete player” in the conference, and though he averaged only 14.4 points, he earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors. But Lendeborg sometimes can be too unselfish, as he was in the win over Ohio State on Friday, when he took only four shots.
He made amends with the last-second game-winner the next day against Wisconsin. Still, Michigan coach Dusty May needs him to be more aggressive in the tournament for the Wolverines to have a shot in the Final Four. Barring a collapse, they should make it out of the Midwest.
Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg
The Cornhuskers were the Cinderella story of the nation after a 20-0 start but closed 6-6, including a loss to Purdue in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
Hoiberg earned the coaches’ vote for Big Ten Coach of the Year, but the mediocre finish had some wondering whether Nebraska was playing over its head the first three months. Bryce Sandfort has to step up, and the Huskers have to remember why they succeeded in the first place.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo
It goes without saying Izzo is one of the best coaches in the nation. But the years are catching up with him, and his kid-gloves treatment of star guard Jeremy Fears Jr. after a blatant groin kick in a game against Michigan was sad to see.
“I chewed him out for it, but I watched it on tape and the guy’s pushing him in the back and sometimes that stuff happens, you know?” Izzo said. “I’m sick of it being one-sided though.”
Is Izzo getting soft?
The Big Ten
The most pressure of all might be on the collective group. Despite its lofty reputation, the Big Ten has only 10 NCAA titles since Indiana won in 1940 — the second year of the tournament — and only two since 1987: the 2000 Spartans and 1989 Wolverines.
The conference seemingly peaked from 1976-89, with Indiana winning three titles under coach Bob Knight in ’76, ’81 and ’87 and Michigan State winning in 1979, when Magic Johnson and Indiana State’s Larry Bird famously dueled in the championship game.
For a conference that has produced so many great players, it’s hard to believe its trophy cases are relatively empty. Purdue, Illinois and Iowa still are seeking their first national titles, and Wisconsin is looking for its first since 1941.
We hear all year about how tough it is, but the Big Ten has little to show for that toughness in the end.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch
Winless in their last two games, Manchester City now look to stage the ultimate comeback against Real Madrid to avoid elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Blues will face last year’s La Liga runners-up for the third time this season as they enter the tie trailing 3-0 courtesy of a first-half hat-trick from Federico Valverde in the first leg in Madrid last week.
On Saturday night, Pep Guardiola‘s side travelled to the London Stadium to take on relegation-threatened West Ham in a bid to draw closer to Arsenal at the top of the table after the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Everton 30 minutes before kick-off in east London.
City looked well in control of opening stages and Bernardo Silva was the man to capitalise on this control with a deft chip over Hammers keeper Mads Hermansen in the 31st minute. Whether it was meant as a shot or a cross is debatable but what is for sure is that the more dominant side were the ones to break the deadlock.
Despite this, it took just four minutes for West Ham to get themselves back into the game with their first and only shot of the match. Gianluigi Donnarumma misjudged Jarrod Bowen’s corner kick, leaving Konstantinos Mavropanos to take advantage and bring his side level.
“It feels really dark” – Bernardo Silva admits ‘the situation is bad’ but hopes remain of Real Madrid comeback
From there on, the story played out in the same way as so many games have in recent times, Manchester City in total control of the ball with no end product. City attempted 21 shots to West Ham’s one and maintained 71% possession throughout the match, but in the end it wouldn’t be enough for anything more than a point.
Real Madrid come into this one off the back of a 4-1 win against Elche, wherein Turkish sensation Arda Guler scored from deep within his own half. Despite a number of injuries, confidence will be at a high in the Real Madrid camp with four wins from their last five matches.
However, the Blues have famously won with their backs against the wall before so some wariness will no doubt be creeping in. Manchester City fans will be hoping that the Blues can produce yet another iconic comeback win in order to keep hopes of European glory alive for this season.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid!
Match Details
Manchester City vs Real Madrid will take place at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 17 January, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 UK.
Match Officials
Clement Turpin will referee this fixture for the second time this season, having overseen Manchester City’s 2-1 win against Real Madrid in the group-phase in December 2025.
You can check out the full team of referees appointed to this week’s fixtures below!
Match Officials: Clément Turpin to referee Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Team News
For Manchester City, Josko Gvardiol is set to miss out on action until the end of May. Savinho missed the weekend trip to West Ham as he was “not fully fit”, with Erling Haaland also understood to have felt pain in his groin on Saturday at the London Stadium.
Real Madrid have eight key players unavailable through injury. They will be without Eder Militao (muscle injury), Rodrygo (ACL), Jude Bellingham (hamstring), Dani Ceballos (calf), David Alaba (calf), Ferland Mendy (muscle injury), Alvaro Carreras (calf) and Kylian Mbappe (knee). Of those listed, only Mendy was available for the last match.
Press Conference Quotes
Pep Guardiola is slated to speak to the press at 12:30 UK on Monday to preview the Round of 16 return leg. Refresh for more updates.
Head To Head
This will be the third time this season that the two sides have faced one another. At present, the head-to-head record for the campaign is level, with both teams claiming a victory.
Manchester City won the league phase encounter 2-1 thanks to goals from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland; while Real Madrid, of course, secured a commanding 3-0 win in the first leg of the Round of 16 tie in Madrid last week.
Real Madrid have had the upper hand in the most recent meetings between the clubs, winning four of the last five encounters. Despite that recent run, the overall record between the two remains extremely tight. City have recorded five victories compared to Los Blancos’ six, while five matches have ended in draws – across the 16 meetings played between the sides.
The fixture has also proven to be a consistently entertaining one for supporters. Across those 16 games, there have been a total of 54 goals scored, with Manchester City contributing 26 and Real Madrid edging slightly ahead with 28. With such a narrow margin separating the two historically, their meetings have often produced dramatic and high-scoring contests.
Statistics
This fixture has seen 54 goals in 16 matches, an average of 3.37 goals per game.
In the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, the winner of the Real Madrid vs Man City knockout tie went on to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy.
Prior to the 2024-25 season, Real Madrid had never won a game at the Etihad Stadium in six attempts (three draws and three losses).
Federico Valverde’s 22-minute hat-trick in the first leg is the fastest treble recorded in this fixture.
Real Madrid have kept a clean sheet in four of the 16 meetings, while Manchester City have only managed two clean sheets against the Spanish giants.
How To Watch
Viewers in the UK will be able to watch on Amazon Prime Video. Radio coverage will be available on BBC Radio Manchester.
For those watching in the USA, the match will be available on Paramount+ and DAZN.
A full list of global TV listings can be found here!
City Xtra will have full live coverage available on X, Facebook and Instagram throughout the matchday, with content also on cityxtra.co.uk!
Smylie Kaufman fears that Rory McIlroy could be about to make a decision that will hurt his chances of winning The Masters for a second time next month.
McIlroy can take some positives from his performance at The Players Championship this past week. The Northern Irishman did not contend at TPC Sawgrass, but did get four rounds under his belt.
The 36-year-old had previously withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational ahead of the third round after tweaking his back in the warm-up.
Rory McIlroy undecided over his schedule ahead of The Masters
All eyes are going to be on Rory McIlroy once the golfing world heads to Augusta National in April. Of course, he is the defending champion after his emotional victory last year.
It will be fascinating to see whether the win frees him up at the first major of the year. He had been a Masters win away from completing the Career Grand Slam for more than a decade before stumbling across the line last year.
So his injury has come at a poor time. McIlroy spoke of not being sure whether he will play in another tournament before The Masters.
But speaking on The Smylie Show after Sunday’s final round at The Players, Smylie Kaufman expressed a worry about the prospect of McIlroy not playing again before heading down Magnolia Lane.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
“I’m not concerned about his back. I would be concerned more about his form and having enough reps heading into Augusta. If he doesn’t play before Augusta, do I think that deters his chances of winning? I think it plays a factor,” he said.
“I think any time you take three weeks off leading into an event, especially when it’s not something that has been your typical routine, he’s kind of bounced around playing the week before or two weeks before, it seems like to me that Rory would be better suited to tee it up one more time, especially since he played four rounds and it didn’t seem like we saw videos of him labouring around.
“Who knows internally how bad it was for him this week. If he spends three weeks at home playing and practicing, sometimes when you show up to that Thursday round, you find some things about your game that you didn’t really know were going to come out in tournament play.
“I think it would probably be better if he showed up at Houston and played, and obviously I would love for him to play Houston or any of those events. Show up Wednesday night, play four rounds, don’t spend a whole week there, just go and see what it’s like under the gun.”
Why Rory McIlroy may be reluctant to play again before he defends his Masters title
McIlroy would be forgiven for wanting to replicate his schedule in the build-up to last year’s Masters.
He did win at Pebble Beach and then at The Players Championship in the weeks leading up to the first major of the year.
He also featured in the Texas Children’s Houston Open. McIlroy finished tied for fifth at Memorial Park, five shots back of Min Woo Lee.
It seemed like an ideal result for McIlroy at the time. The game was clearly sharp, but another win would have somehow made expectations ever harder to deal with.
Finishing behind Scottie Scheffler took a small amount of the focus off of the world number two.
He perhaps feels that continuing to work out of the spotlight this time around is a good way to take some of the pressure off ahead of what is going to be a very surreal Masters for McIlroy.
MOTM – Yang Impressing again, he deserves great credit and a new deal
Yang impressing once again, he deserves great credit, and a new contract…
One player who was hugely influential in our win over Motherwell on Saturday was South Korean winger Yang, scoring a brace as well as looking a threat throughout.
The South Korean international is a player who’s had his fair share of criticism during his time at the club, some merited and some not, but to his great credit, he never lets it get him down, and he is always looking to improve.
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Hyunjun Yang of Celtic scores his team’s opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
His brace against the Steelmen brought his tally to eight this campaign which is a decent return for a wide man, particularly in a poorly performing Celtic side. Form that has made him something of a mainstay under Martin O’Neill.
After the match on Saturday, Martin O’Neill was asked about Yang’s performance. The Celtic manager was full of praise for the South Korean in his response.
“Yang? He was sensational, really, really great! Obviously, he scored the goals, a big, big boost. But it was the work that he did going backwards as well too. I wouldn’t know what sort of distances he covered today, but it would have been immense,” Martin O’Neill said.
Hyunjun Yang of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Looking back to his first impressions of Yang when he arrived back at the club in late October for his first stint as interim manager, O’Neill admitted that Yang caught his eye in training.
“Well, I believe that he was about to leave the football club in August time, which was a wee bit strange, I must admit. What he’s done in my two spells here has been… I couldn’t have asked for any more, really. Not too far behind him was Daizen Maeda today. I thought he was great in terms of what he does for the team. Goes up and plays centre-forward in the first half, comes wide in the second half, but Yang’s performance was just, as I said, immense.”
Hyunjun Yang of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“Yeah, I don’t know what was happening before. The first time I saw him, he played wide left in a little seven-a-side game here. My first week or something, I guess, in the training session. He left the full-back for absolute dead, turned both ways, he could go both ways. In fact, I said to him, I thought that he might even be better on the left-hand side. He said it didn’t matter to him, in the way he played today, I’ll go with it.”
That’s quite an amazing turnaround for a player who was reportedly close to leaving in the last few transfer windows, with serval English Championship sides said to be interested in acquiring his signature.
Yang’s major flaw is his consistency. He has the ability that’s not in question, but he fails to show that form on a regular basis, and if he finds that consistency he will be a fantastic player, that’s not in doubt.
Hyunjun Yang of Celtic scores his team’s opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The 23 year old former Gangwon FC player has a terrific mentor in Martin O’Neill, a great motivator and man manager, and it’s no coincidence that the South Koreans game went up a notch under the guidance of the veteran Irishman.
Yang boasts a record of 15 goals and 9 assists in 102 appearances for the club, which whilst not the best, it’s not the worst, and considering he’s made a chunk of appearances from the bench, it’s not the best stats, but certainly not the worst.
Hyunjun Yang of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s opening goal with Benjamin Nygren during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Yang has shown he has the mentality to succeed at Celtic, and more importantly he wants to improve. He deserves great credit for his upturn in fortunes, and is worthy of a new deal with his contract due to expire in two years.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
Officials at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are proposing to rewrite the rules after Washington has for years refused to pay its dues to the watchdog, in response to the handling of a doping case involving Chinese swimmers and several other issues.
If passed, the rule would likely be symbolic, as WADA would have little power to prevent the U.S. President from attending events.
But WADA has described the story, reported by the Associated Press, as “entirely misleading.” Spokesman James Fitzgerald said there is “nothing new here,” noting that talks on how to address governments' withholding of funding have been ongoing since 2020 and don’t relate directly to the U.S.
The proposal applies to any government that has not paid its dues by 31 January of the year following the billing. The U.S. has not paid WADA dues since 2023 (Getty Images)
The proposal was first brought up in 2024, before U.S. authorities lobbied for its rejection. The U.S. no longer holds a seat on the committee.
The proposal applies to any government that has not paid its dues by 31 January of the year following the billing. The U.S. has not paid WADA dues since 2023.
A three-tiered set of sanctions would be introduced for countries failing to pay dues. For the U.S., this would amount to around $3.7 million from last year, plus $3.6 million it didn’t pay in 2024.
But among the most extreme sanctions include “government representatives being excluded from participation in major events such as World Championships and Olympic & Paralympic Games,” a ban that would include Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and members of Congress.
WADA added in its response to AP story that if proposals being discussed were “introduced, given that the rules would not apply retroactively, the FIFA World Cup, LA and Salt Lake City Games (in 2034) would not be covered”.
The report has also thrown into question whether the proposal could ban Trump from attending the World Cup (AP)
When asked to clarify this, he explained that because the next meeting of the board is scheduled for November and the measure would not apply retroactively, he doesn’t see “how it could come into play for this year’s World Cup” - although this still raises into question whether it could affect the Olympic Games in 2028 and the Winter Olympic Games in 2034.
But a WADA response in February to a question from the European authorities regarding possible timings said: “The proposal could be implemented without undue delay. If necessary, the Foundation Board could consider the proposal by circular or within the context of an extraordinary meeting.”
“In spite of WADA’s increasing threats, we continue to stand firm in our demand for accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sport,” said Sara Carter, the director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
The proposal was also heavily criticised by Rahul Gupta, Carter’s predecessor at the ONDCP. Gupta was formerly on the WADA’s executive board, where he led opposition to the proposal.
“I have never heard of a $50-million-budget Swiss foundation being able to enforce a rule to, for example, prevent the United States president from going anywhere. And the next question you have to ask is: How are you going to enforce it? Are they going to post a red notice from Interpol? It’s ludicrous. It’s clear they have not thought this through.”
This coveted additional place stems from Uefa's European Performance Spot (EPS) system, granting an extra berth to the two nations whose clubs collectively perform best across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. For England, which typically receives four spots, this would elevate the total to five.
Currently, England leads the 2025-26 country coefficient rankings, with Spain second and Germany third.
Points are accumulated through wins (two) and draws (one) respectively across all three competitions.
Additional points are awarded for progressing through rounds, and bonuses are given for clubs' league phase positions, weighted in favour of Champions League participants.
These points are then divided by the total number of teams each country entered into European club competitions at the start of the season – in England’s case, nine.
However, English clubs face a challenging path. None of the six Champions League representatives won their last-16 first-leg ties.
Arsenal getting past Bayer Leverkusen could be crucial for the Premier League’s hopes of getting an extra Champions League spot (AFP/Getty)
Only Arsenal, with a draw, and Liverpool, following a narrow defeat at Galatasaray, appear particularly well-placed to progress to the quarter-finals after their away ties, while Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham all have three-goal deficits to overcome.
In the Europa League, Nottingham Forest trail Danish side Midtjylland after the first leg, though Aston Villa are well placed to progress after winning 1-0 away to Lille.
Crystal Palace’s progress in the Conference League is uncertain after they were held to a goalless draw at home by AEK Larnaca.
Third-placed Germany, effectively 33 points behind England, still has five of its original seven clubs involved.
Bayern Munich are a shoo-in for the Champions League quarter-finals after their thrashing of Atalanta.
However, none of their other four clubs hold leads heading into the second legs, with Europa League duo Stuttgart and Freiburg trailing.
The coming European fixtures are therefore critical in determining whether the Premier League can clinch this coveted extra qualification spot for next season.
With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we're analyzing the moves made by the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys
Key additions
TE | Princeton Fant Re-signed with DALCB | Cobie Durant Agreed to terms with DALOL | Matt Hennessy Agreed to terms with DALOLB | Tyrus Wheat Signed with DALQB | Sam Howell Signed with DALDT | Otito Ogbonnia Agreed to terms with DALS | P.J. Locke Signed with DALDE | Sam Williams Re-signed with DALS | Jalen Thompson Signed with DALOLB | Rashan Gary Signed in trade with GBK | Brandon Aubrey 2nd-Round Tender Placed by DALG | T.J. Bass 2nd-Round Tender Placed by DALWR | George Pickens Placed on franchise tag RB | Javonte Williams Signed with DAL
Key departures
WR | Jalen Tolbert Agreed to terms with MIA
Quick take
In seven years with the Packers, Gary, who was acquired for a 2027 fourth-round pick, has recorded 46.5 sacks and at least six in each of the past five seasons, topping out at 9.5 in 2021. In each of the past two seasons, he recorded 7.5 sacks, although in 2025 all of his sacks came in the first seven games.
Washington Commanders
Key additions
DE Odafe Oweh: 4-yrs, $96M
DE K'Lavon Chaisson: 1-yr, $11M
LB Leo Chenal: 3-yrs, $24.75M
TE Chig Okonkwo: 3-yrs, $27M
S Nick Cross: 2-yrs, $14M max
DT Tim Settle: 3-yrs, $24M
CB Amik Robertson: 2-yrs, $15M
DL Charles Omenihu: 1-yr
RB Rachaad White: 1-yr
RB Jerome Ford: 1-yr
WR Van Jefferson: 1-yr
WR Dyami Brown: 1-yr
Key departures
Re-signed
G Chris Paul: 1-yr
QB Marcus Maritota: 1-yr
G/T Andrew Wylie: 2-yrs, $7.5M
WR Treylon Burks: 1-yr
DE Deatrich Wise: 1-yr
DE Drake Jackson: 1-yr
DT Shy Tuttle: 1-yr
K Jake Moody: 1-yr
Quick take
Laremy Tunsil (6-5, 313) has started in all 139 games he has appeared in and is a five-time Pro Bowler (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024). In 2016, he earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. During the 2025 season, Tunsil allowed 1.5 sacks in 14 starts. He earned an 88.9 pass block grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked second among all offensive linemen with a minimum of 554 offensive snaps.
New York Giants
Key additions
TE Isaiah Likely: 3-years, $40M
LB Tremaine Edmunds: 3-years, $36M
P Jordan Stout: 3-years, $12.3M
WR Darnell Mooney: 1-year deal
WR Calvin Austin: 1-year deal
FB Pat Ricard: 2-years, $7.6M
CB Greg Newsome II: 1-year deal
K Jason Sanders: 1-year deal
S Ar'Darius Washington: 1-year deal
S Jason Pinnock: 1-year deal
S Elijah Campbell: 1-year deal
Key departures
Re-signed
RT Jermaine Eluemunor: 3-years, $39M
LB Micah McFadden: 1-year deal
WR Isaiah Hodgins: 1-year deal
TE Chris Manhertz: 1-year deal
WR/KR Gunner Olszewski: 1-year deal
OT Evan Neal: 1-year deal
Quick take
John Harbaugh got the band back together, adding four former Ravens. Likely, 6-4 and 245 pounds, has 135 receptions for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns in 63 career regular-season games (26 starts). He has also appeared in five postseason games, where he has two touchdown catches. He was a fourth-round pick in the Ravens' 2022 draft class with John Harbaugh as head coach.
Southampton could book a place in the play-offs when they host Norwich City on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).
Should Wrexham fail to take any points away at Watford on Tuesday, the door will open for the Saints to take their sixth placed spot thanks to a superior goal difference.
However, Norwich's form under boss Philippe Clement has seen them rise from the relegation zone to just nine points under the Red Dragons and with a four-match winning streak to extend, beating the Canaries will be no easy task.
Southampton are winless in their last three league meetings with Norwich City (D2 L1), since a 2-0 victory in the Premier League in February 2022.
After a 1-0 victory in January 2008, Norwich City are winless in their eight league visits to Southampton since (D3 L5), conceding 20 goals in that run (2.5 per game).
Southampton have lost only one of their 11 home league games under Tonda Eckert (W7 D3), winning three of their last four matches since a 1-2 loss to Hull City in January. Indeed, only Ipswich Town (0) have lost fewer home games in the Championship in that time.
Norwich City have won five of their last six away league games (L1), as many as in their previous 33 matches (D12 L16), while they could record three successive away league clean sheets for the first time since January 2018 (4).
Southampton's Finn Azaz has four goal involvements in six previous league appearances against Norwich City (3 goals, 1 assist)
MIAMI (AP) — On a night when All-Stars and future Hall of Famers thrilled fans and each other until the final out, Aaron Judge proclaimed the World Baseball Classic had grown into the sport's biggest event.
“It’s bigger and better than the World Series,” the U.S. captain said after a 2-1 semifinal win over the Dominican Republic that came down to Sunday night's final pitch. “The passion that these fans have, representing their country, representing some of their favorite players, there’s nothing like it.”
American tradition emphasizing understatement on a team led by Judge and Bryce Harper was showcased against Latin flair on a side featuring Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. When Junior Caminero homered against Paul Skenes to put the Dominicans ahead in the second inning, he celebrated with an overhand bat flip.
In the sixth tournament of an event that started in 2006, the game featured starting lineups featuring 17 All-Stars totaling 56 selections among the 20 starters. They had won five MVP awards, one Cy Young, five Rookies of the Year and three batting titles.
Before a crowd of 36,337 at IoanDepot park, the U.S. overcame the deficit on fourth-inning home runs by Gunnar Henderson off Luis Severino and Roman Anthony against Gregory Soto.
Anthony, at 21 the youngest American player, had bought a ticket for the 2023 WBC final in Miami and watched from the seats as Japan beat the U.S. 3-2.
“Coming to the WBC here, you dream of representing this country and being here the next time around,” Anthony said.
American relievers allowed two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings, capped by Mason Miller topping 100 mph with 13 of 22 pitches. Miller's last appeared to be low for ball four to Geraldo Perdomo but plate umpire Cory Blaser emphatically signaled strike three.
“Just a game we’ll remember forever, right?” U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said. “We understood this was going to be a talked-about game, probably one of the most watched games of all time.”
Dynamic defense was commonplace.
With the U.S. trailing by a run in the third, Judge threw a 95.7 mph strike from right field to third base to cut down Fernando Tatis Jr. for the inning's final out. Judge then made a diving backland catch to rob Soto, his former New York Yankees teammate, in the fourth.
Julio Rodríguez denied Judge a home run with a leaping catch at the center-field wall in the fifth, 407 feet from the plate.
“I was like, OK, maybe we got a shot here,” Judge recalled. “But hit it to a guy like J-Rod, who’s one of the best if not the best center fielder in the game, he’s going make exciting plays like that in big moments.”
Shortstop Bobby Witt ranged to the right field side of the infield to snag Soto's slow bouncer in the fifth, scrambled to back to touch second base and made an off-balance throw to first for an inning-ending double play. One inning later, Witt threw out Manny Machado at first from the outfield grass.
Pitching moments were memorable, too.
Dominican starter Luis Severino stranded runners at second and third in the third inning when he struck out Judge and Kyle Schwarber, and Skenes escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth when Austin Wells flied out.
Wells doubled with one out in the seventh and the relatively slow-footed catcher was held at third on Perdomo's single to Crow-Armstrong in center. David Bednar then struck out Tatis Jr. and Ketel Marte on breaking balls below the strike zone.
Before Miller got the strike three call in the ninth, Perdomo had fouled off a pair of full-count pitches.
“The whole world saw in two teams some of the best players in the game,” said Dominican manager Albert Pujols, a likely future Hall of Famer.
Rosters included 18 of the 41 players who received MVP votes last year.
Judge gave a postgame speech to teammates, looking ahead to Tuesday's championship against Venezuela or Italy. He had perceived a special night Sunday from the start.
“You get chills standing there on the line, hearing them announce all the names,” he said. “It was like an All-Star team they got over there.”
Morocco hoping to repeat Brahim Diaz trick with Real Madrid breakout star
Real Madrid have seen a number of academy stars break out in recent weeks, but none more so than Thiago Pitarch. Despite only being 18 years of age, he has already established himself as a first team player, with four starts in a row for Alvaro Arbeloa’s side – including in the Champions League against Manchester City.
Pitarch is making waves at Real Madrid, and it is no surprise that the wider footballing community is taking notice. Specifically, those in the Spanish and Moroccan Football Federations are keeping a close eye on his progress, with a view to making a move to defining his international allegiance.
As per Marca, Moroccan officials have already shown off their project to Pitarch and his entourage. They see the 18-year-old as being a key player for the senior team, with the plan being for him to be fully integrated in time for the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Pitarch, who has represented Spain at youth level, qualifies for Morocco through one of his grandparents, who was born in the North African country. The Atlas Lions are hoping to convince him to move away from La Roja, as they did with his Real Madrid teammate Brahim Diaz.
Pitarch reacts to international allegiance dilemma
Pitarch was recently asked about the situation regarding Spain and Morocco, and while he admitted that no decision has been made, he spoke well on the possibility of representing the Atlas Lions in the future.
“Morocco or Spain? I haven’t decided yet. Brahim talks to me a lot about Morocco and he feels very good in the national team.”
As talented as Pitarch is, he has no clear pathway to the Spanish national team at this stage. Luis de la Fuente already has the likes of Pedri, Martin Zubimendi, Gavi, Pablo Barrios and Rodri Hernandez well ahead of him in the pecking order, and this could give Morocco the edge in convincing him to represent them.
Kilmarnock 1-0 Hearts: Jam Tarts’ title grip slips at Rugby Park
The Scottish Premierhsip leaders, Heart Of Midlothian, suffered only their fifth defeat of the season on Saturday night, as Kilmarnock defeated them 1-0 at Rugby Park with Estonian defender Michael Schjønning-Larsen netted the winner inside the opening half an hour.
As It Happened
Hearts flew out the traps with Cláudio Braga forcing Kelle Roos into his first save, of many, within the first minute of the game with his header looking destined for the bottom corner. The visitors continued to push for an opener, but the Killie defence held strong with multiple shots being blocked.
Then came the fruits of their labour when Schjønning-Larsen stabbed the ball home from inside the six-yard box, converting a lovely cross from Greg Kiltie. The hosts almost added a seconsd just minutes later when Joe Hugill saw his effort blocked in the centre of the box. Roos was soon to be called into action yet again to deny Braga, this time from a left-footed strike.
Hearts were forced into a substitution in the 35th minute, when Tómas Magnússon was forced off through injury and replaced by Oisin McEntee. Hugill once again looked to double his side’s advantage shortly before the break, but Jam Tarts keeper Alexander Schwolow was on hand to keep it out. The German was called into action again on the stroke of half-time to deny Rangers loanee Findlay Curtis.
The visitors made their second change at the break, which saw Islam Cheskonov replace Pierre Landry Kabore. Early on in the second period, Roos made yet another save this time getting down fast to his right to prevent Blair Spitall from levelling the score. Hearts’ third substituition of the afternoon came just before the hour mark, with Jordi Altena introduced to proceedings and Michael Steinwender withdrawn.
Killie waited until the 65th minute to make their first change, which saw Tom Lowery replace young midfielder David Watson. Two more followed shortly after, with goalscorer Schjønning-Larsen’s and kiltie’s nights coming to an end in favour of Dominic Thompson and Rory McKenzie.
Robbie Deas was the first name in the referee’s notebook after he saw yellow for a challenge on McEntee with 15 minutes of the 90 remaining. Moments later, Hearts defender Craig Halkett joined him in the book for a foul on Curtis inside his own half. The league leaders continued to push for an equaliser with Braga seeing his header fly wide of the post before Hearts’ fourth change of the match saw Sabah Kerjota replace Harry Milne.
Former Bristol City forward Marley Watkins was then introduced for Kilmarnock as Hugill’s night came to a close, Curtis was also withdran and replaced by Jack Thomson. The visitors’ final changes of the game saw Alexandros Kyziridis replaced by Frankie Kent and Spittal make way for Elton Kabangu.
As the game drew to a close, Kilmarnock made their final substitution which saw Aaron Tshibola replaced by Lewis Mayo. Liam Polworth picked up the third yellow card of the match in the 91st minute, after bringing down Marc Leonard inside the Kilmarnock half. Hearts continued to huff and puff but couldn’t blow the house down, and instead fell to defeat of the season as their lead at the top of the table was cut by both sides of Glasgow.
The Pakistan national cricket team have reportedly filed a complaint with match referee Neeyamur Rashid following a controversial Decision Review System (DRS) incident during the final over of the third ODI against the Bangladesh national cricket team. The dramatic moment occurred during the closing stages of the match, which Bangladesh eventually won by 11 runs to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1.
Controversy over late Bangladesh review
Pakistan’s complaint revolves around a decision made by on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena, who allowed Bangladesh to take a review on the penultimate delivery of the match.
According to reports by Cricbuzz, the Pakistan team management believes Bangladesh opted for the review after watching a replay on the stadium’s big screen, which they feel goes against the standard DRS protocol.
“The Pakistan team management believe Bangladesh took the review after a replay of the delivery flashed up on the big screen and raised the issue with the match referee after the game,” a source said.
Pakistan also felt the review was taken outside the 15-second window permitted for teams to signal a DRS challenge.
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Coach Mike Hesson meets match referee
Following the match, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson met with match referee Neeyamur Rashid to formally register the team’s concerns regarding the incident. While the exact outcome Pakistan are seeking from the complaint remains unclear, sources suggest the referee spoke with Hesson and attempted to clarify the situation, indicating that the Bangladesh team did not gain any unfair advantage.
What happened in the final over
The incident unfolded when Pakistan were chasing 291 runs and required 12 runs from the final two balls with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi at the crease. Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain bowled a delivery down the leg side, which Dharmasena initially called a wide. Bangladesh then appealed for LBW, prompting the decision to be reviewed. Although teams cannot directly review a wide call, the LBW review allowed the third umpire to re-examine the delivery.
Replays showed a spike on UltraEdge, indicating contact between bat and ball. As a result, the original wide call was overturned. Although Bangladesh ultimately lost the review, the overturned wide significantly reduced Pakistan’s chances of completing the chase.
Bangladesh seal historic series win
On the final delivery, Shaheen Afridi was stumped, confirming Bangladesh’s 11-run victory and sealing a 2–1 ODI series win. The triumph marked Bangladesh’s first ODI series victory over Pakistan in 11 years.
Costacurta: Leao was more angry at Pulisic than at substitution in Lazio 1-0 Milan
Rossoneri legend Alessandro Costacurta says that Rafael Leao was more angry at Christian Pulisic than he was at his substitution two thirds of the way through Milan’s 1-0 loss away against Lazio on Sunday evening.
Leao reacted angrily when he was taken off after 65 minutes of Milan’s disappointing defeat in the capital on Sunday night and appeared to reject a hug from head coach Massimiliano Allegri on the touchline at the time of the change.
Many have taken the opinion, however, that the Portugal international was most frustrated with teammate Pulisic, who had failed to slip him in on goal just moments before the substitution board went up.
Costacurta reacts to Leao substitution
Milan’s defeat against Lazio means that they have now slipped eight points behind league leaders Inter with nine games of the season left to go, when they could have moved within five points of the Nerazzurri. Reigning champions Napoli are now just one point behind the Rossoneri in third place.
“Eight points with nine games to go is a lot. If I were in that team, I’d start thinking about the other sides behind,” said Costacurta on Sky Calcio Club after Milan’s loss on Sunday night (via Milannews.it).
Costacurta agrees that Leao was naturally frustrated about having to come off with almost half an hour left to play, but that he was probably more frustrated at Pulisic for the lack of passes in on goal.
“I was amazed that despite some excellent shots from Leao, Pulisic never gave it to him. Captain America preferred to give it to others and made that clear. I was making the same gestures as Leao: ‘Give it to him, give it to him!’
“He wasn’t angry about the sub, but about Pulisic’s lack of pass. I wouldn’t have taken Leao off, I would have moved him.”
Costacurta also agrees that this was a missed opportunity for his old club.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan shoots whilst under pressure from Patric and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Lazio during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“For me, Milan missed a great opportunity to put pressure on the strongest side and see how they would have reacted.
“The first 10 minutes, Lazio seemed really up for it, when Milan should have been. The message you send at the beginning is important for the rest of the game. They also played a decent game, but you can’t just give minutes away.”
Official: Real Madrid squad list to face Manchester City – Mbappe, Bellingham return
Real Madrid will fly to England today as they take on Manchester City on Tuesday in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 tie.
With a big 3-0 advantage from the first leg, courtesy of Federico Valverde’s hat-trick, Los Blancos will be aiming to finish the job at Etihad Stadium tomorrow.
Ahead of the game, manager Alvaro Arbeloa has announced the squad list of players that will be flying to Manchester for the game.
And the biggest news is that Kylian Mbappe has been passed fit to be included in the squad, after missing the last few matches through knee injury.
It is unlikely that the French superstar will start the game, but his availability even from the bench comes as a big boost for Real Madrid.
Jude Bellingham, too, has been named in the squad, although it is unclear if he will be ready to play.
Meanwhile, Alvaro Carreras also returns to the squad having recovered from the knock he sustained a little over a week ago. David Alaba, too, makes a comeback.
However, Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy have not recovered from their problems and miss out, along with Rodrygo Goes, Eder Militao, and Dani Ceballos.
Youngsters Diego Aguado, Jorge Cestero, Manuel Angel, Cesar Palacios, and Thiago Pitarch have been called up again, and have been joined by another Castilla prospect, Mario Rivas.
Franco Mastantuono is back in the squad too, after missing the weekend league game through suspension.
‘A joy to watch’ – Wayne Rooney lauds Liverpool maestro who made life ‘difficult’ for Spurs
Wayne Rooney said that one Liverpool player was ‘a joy to watch’ in the Reds’ 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
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Following a series of impressive cameos from Rio Ngumoha in recent weeks, Arne Slot rewarded the 17-year-old with a first Premier League start for the visit of Spurs to Anfield, with the Dutchman acting upon his pre-match hints that the teenager could be included in the starting XI.
The young attacker played for just over an hour before being substituted to a standing ovation from the home fans, and his performance against Igor Tudor’s side came in for plenty of praise.
Rooney: Ngumoha was ‘a joy to watch’ against Spurs
Speaking on Match of the Day on Sunday night, Rooney said of the Liverpool starlet: “Ngumoha is direct and positive. It is a joy to watch these young players willing to take the ball… You wanted the Liverpool players to keep giving him the ball. He is exciting and entertaining.”
Micah Richards concurred with his punditry colleague, saying: “We see a lot of modern-day footballers get into good positions and play the safe pace to recycle possession, but he is positive and sharp.
“Pedro Porro found it very difficult because he didn’t know what to do with Ngumoha. The next part of his development is the final ball.”
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Ngumoha must be in line to start against Galatasaray
Ngumoha’s performance on Sunday was also lauded by Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports, with the former Liverpool defender saying that the 17-year-old was ‘brilliant’ and virtually impossible for opponents to stop when facing him one-on-one.
Liverpool Echo reporter Ian Doyle awarded him 7/10 in his post-match player ratings, opining that the teenager was ‘pretty quiet’ in the first half but ‘improved’ after the interval, echoing Richards in noting the ‘problems’ he caused for Porro.
The Reds winger completed 90% of his passes and all seven dribbles that he attempted on Sunday, along with winning eight out of his 10 duels, a very impressive return for such a young player against far more experienced operators (Sofascore).
It wouldn’t surprise us if Slot were to restore Ngumoha to the bench for the must-win Champions League game against Galatasaray in midweek in favour of more seasoned attackers, but the youngster would fully merit another start on Wednesday night.
With Liverpool requiring a victory to keep their European campaign alive, the fearlessness and attacking thrust of the 17-year-old is exactly what we need at Anfield. Right now, he appears to be one of the likeliest prospective match-winners in a team which has looked all too mundane of late.
Gabriel Jesus must leave Arsenal this summer to revive stalling career
Arsenal claimed a 2-0 win over Everton to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table with only a handful of games to go, but Gabriel Jesus was an unused substitute on the bench.
The Brazilian has fallen down the pecking order following the arrival of Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta using him as a rotation option these days.
Jesus has been an excellent servant to the club since joining in 2022, bagging 31 goals and 22 assists in 116 appearances.
However, injuries have plagued his recent seasons. He made his comeback in December after suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury last year, and his involvement has been limited.
He has made 20 appearances this season, recording five goals and two assists.
Spending extended periods on the sidelines, along with limited playing time, has made it hard for him to build momentum.
Jesus now faces a dilemma. Does he stay and fight for a place at Arsenal, hoping the club cashes in on Havertz instead, or does he leave for playing time elsewhere?
Transfer interest in Jesus
During the winter transfer window, two Premier League clubs registered interest in Jesus, lining up to take him on loan.
West Ham United needed a replacement for Niclas Fullkrug, an injection of pace and quality up top. They had their eyes on the Arsenal ace before eventually signing Taty Catellanos.
Everton also admired the player and wanted to bring him to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to provide competition for their misfiring duo, Beto and Thierno Barry.
Unfortunately, Arteta declared that Jesus would stay, effectively ending any pursuit of his signature.
The decision came as a surprise, as many expected Jesus to go somewhere he could play week in, week out ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This summer, he will have more suitors to choose from. He will consider the appeal of these destinations and weigh it against staying at Arsenal.
What should Jesus do?
Jesus now looks like a player whose career has stalled in North London. He is no longer a developing prospect who can afford to spend months on the bench waiting for opportunities.
If he wants to rediscover the sharp, aggressive forward who once thrived under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, a change of scenery may be necessary.
A new environment might do him a world of good. In an ideal world, a move to Serie A suits his technical profile and intelligent movement.
Juventus and AC Milan will be in the market for a centre-forward this summer.
The slower tempo and tactical structure of Italian football might help him rebuild confidence and rediscover his scoring rhythm.
However, the financial reality is that no Italian club can realistically afford his massive wages.
That could open the door elsewhere on the continent. Villarreal would be an intriguing destination.
The Spanish side already has a small Arsenal connection within the squad and staff, which can help Jesus settle quickly.
His pressing ability and link-up play will also fit neatly into their fluid attacking system.
France is another possible landing spot. Olympique de Marseille can emerge as a serious contender depending on their summer plans.
If they cash in on Mason Greenwood or begin planning for life after Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, Jesus is an experienced replacement with Champions League pedigree.
The writing is on the wall. Arsenal are evolving, their attacking hierarchy has shifted, and Jesus risks drifting further into the background.
There's a big game in the Championship play-off race as Watford host Wrexham on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).
The Hornets are 10th and now eight points adrift of the sixth-placed Red Dragons after a run of one win in four, going down 3-1 at Stoke on Saturday.
Phil Parkinson's men bounced back from a home defeat to Hull City with a 2-0 win over Swansea on Friday night and know a win would take them above the Tigers on goal difference and into fifth for the first-time this season.
It would also open a six-point cushion to the play-off chasing pack with just eight games to come after their trip to Vicarage Road.
Three of the past five Football League meetings between Watford (W1) and Wrexham (W1) have been drawn, including the reverse fixture in December (2-2), with Ollie Rathbone netting a 92nd minute equaliser for the Welsh side.
Wrexham have won on only one of their previous 10 Football League trips to Watford (D2 L7); a 2-1 victory in March 1975.
Watford have lost three of their past five league games at Vicarage Road (W1 D1), as many defeats as in their previous 20 matches (W11 D6).
After failing to win their final eight away league matches in 2025 (D5 L3), Wrexham have won five of their six away league games so far in 2026 (D1).
Wrexham's Josh Windass has scored in his past two league games against Watford, netting at Vicarage Road for Sheffield Wednesday in May last season and in December in the reverse fixture.
When Steve Waugh’s Australians arrived in India, riding a 15-match winning streak — extended to 16 after a 10-wicket win at the Wankhede — they carried an air of intimidation. Waugh indulged in some aura farming while addressing the media after the win in Mumbai. “I think we made some psychological dents in the opposition,” he had said with a smirk.
A week later, it was 31. In the second Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India lasted just 58.1 overs in the first innings and were dismissed for 171 in reply to Australia’s 445.
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Australia smelled blood. They had a lead of 274 against a batting line-up low on confidence. Their attack featured Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz, and the so-called “final frontier” of conquering India seemed close. Notably, the bowlers had delivered just 12 overs on Day 3, so fatigue hardly appeared to be an issue.
Warne, however, saw things differently. During commentary for Sky Sports during a 2020 England-Pakistan Test at Southampton’s Rose Bowl, he recalled the debate around enforcing the follow-on.
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“It was 45 degrees, we’d been out on the field a long time, and the wicket was going to get worse,” Warne said. He remembered Waugh checking on his bowlers as India collapsed. McGrath admitted he was “a bit weary”, while Kasprowicz, who had bowled only 13 overs, was eager to continue. Warne felt enforcing the follow-on was a mistake. If Australia had batted again and stretched the lead beyond 450, the game could have unfolded very differently.
Former Australia coach John Buchanan has also admitted that the follow-on decision was one of his poorest tactical calls.
Waugh, however, remains unapologetic. In an interview with Cricket Australia, he has said, “That’s the way we played at the time — we played positively. I would have liked to have won, but honestly, I haven’t spent one second regretting not beating them or enforcing the follow-on.”
The Eden Gardens Test is widely viewed as the match that altered perceptions about the follow-on. Before the game, enforcing it with a 200-run lead was the default aggressive move. But the epic 376-run partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid as India followed on — turned the match and delivered one of cricket’s most improbable victories.
The psychological impact was immense. Between Botham’s Ashes in 1981 at Headingley and the Kolkata Test, captains enforced the follow-on 82 times, winning 64 of those. The only two defeats came against Australia — ironically, the team enforcing it in 2001.
Kolkata showed that if a side gets a solid start and two set batters on a true pitch even the best bowling attack can be neutralised. Waugh’s ultra-attacking fields also helped India pierce gaps and score freely.
Fatigue eventually became a factor. Australia’s bowlers delivered 178 overs in India’s second innings. By the fifth day, they were exhausted, allowing India to seize control.
In modern cricket, protecting fast bowlers has become a priority. Enforcing the follow-on means bowlers must return to the field within minutes of finishing an innings, raising injury risks — especially during long seasons. With rest days long gone from Tests, captains have grown more cautious.
India captain Shubman Gill faced this dilemma during a Test against the West Indies in Delhi. After India declared at 518 for 5 and dismissed the visitors for 248, Gill enforced the follow-on despite his bowlers already delivering 81.5 overs.
The fatigue showed. West Indies batted 118.5 overs in the second innings before setting India a modest 121-run target. India chased it comfortably but would likely have preferred a lighter workload for the bowlers.
Today, captains often choose to bat again. Doing so ensures they bowl last on a deteriorating pitch that may offer sharp turn or variable bounce. It also spares batters the pressure of a fourth-innings chase.
Another reason is time management. Even a slow third-innings effort of 50 or 60 overs eats into the match, reducing the chances of defeat and making a draw or victory more likely.
Interestingly, the statistics still favour the follow-on. Since the 2001 Eden Gardens Test, captains have enforced it 114 times and won 89 of those matches. There have been 21 draws, and only one defeat — when Ben Stokes’ England lost to New Zealand by one run in Wellington in 2023.
Waugh may still have his critics. But he has a statistic ready: after Kolkata, he enforced the follow-on seven more times — and won every one of those Tests.
New York Islanders (38-24-5, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (29-27-12, in the Atlantic Division)
Toronto; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Islanders visit the Toronto Maple Leafs after Simon Holmstrom's two-goal game against the Calgary Flames in the Islanders' 3-2 win.
Toronto has gone 17-11-7 at home and 29-27-12 overall. The Maple Leafs have given up 234 goals while scoring 214 for a -20 scoring differential.
New York has a 20-13-3 record on the road and a 38-24-5 record overall. The Islanders have a 28-4-3 record when scoring at least three goals.
The teams meet Tuesday for the second time this season. The Islanders won the previous meeting 4-3 in overtime. Matthew Schaefer scored two goals in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Matthew Knies has 18 goals and 39 assists for the Maple Leafs. William Nylander has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.
Bo Horvat has 28 goals and 19 assists for the Islanders. Schaefer has scored four goals and added five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Maple Leafs: 2-5-3, averaging 2.5 goals, 3.6 assists, 5.3 penalties and 14.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.
Islanders: 7-3-0, averaging 3.1 goals, 4.6 assists, 2.4 penalties and 4.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Maple Leafs: None listed.
Islanders: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Minnesota Wild (38-18-12, in the Central Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (25-30-11, in the Central Division)
Chicago; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Wild aim to end their three-game slide with a win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago is 10-6-4 against the Central Division and 25-30-11 overall. The Blackhawks have a 9-10-6 record in games they have more penalties than their opponent.
Minnesota is 38-18-12 overall with an 11-6-3 record against the Central Division. The Wild have scored 222 total goals (3.3 per game) to rank eighth in NHL play.
Tuesday's game is the third meeting between these teams this season. The Wild won 4-3 in a shootout in the last matchup.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Donato has scored 14 goals with 13 assists for the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard has four goals and five assists over the last 10 games.
Quinn Hughes has six goals and 61 assists for the Wild. Matthew Boldy has six goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blackhawks: 3-5-2, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.7 assists, 3.3 penalties and 7.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Wild: 4-4-2, averaging three goals, 4.8 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
INJURIES: Blackhawks: None listed.
Wild: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Nashville Predators (29-28-9, in the Central Division) vs. Winnipeg Jets (28-28-10, in the Central Division)
Winnipeg, Manitoba; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Central Division opponents meet when the Winnipeg Jets play the Nashville Predators.
Winnipeg is 9-7-3 against the Central Division and 28-28-10 overall. The Jets are 26-9-6 in games they score three or more goals.
Nashville has a 9-9-4 record in Central Division games and a 29-28-9 record overall. The Predators have a 23-6-3 record in games they score at least three goals.
Tuesday's game is the third time these teams meet this season. The Jets won the last meeting 5-2. Nino Niederreiter scored two goals in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Gabriel Vilardi has scored 25 goals with 29 assists for the Jets. Kyle Connor has six goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Ryan O'Reilly has 22 goals and 39 assists for the Predators. Matthew Wood has scored five goals with two assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jets: 6-2-2, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.9 assists, 1.9 penalties and 4.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.
Predators: 3-5-2, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.8 penalties and 8.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
INJURIES: Jets: None listed.
Predators: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Buffalo Sabres (41-20-6, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (31-22-14, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Buffalo Sabres after Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals in the Golden Knights' 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Vegas is 31-22-14 overall and 16-10-7 at home. The Golden Knights are 30-6-8 in games they score three or more goals.
Buffalo is 19-11-3 on the road and 41-20-6 overall. The Sabres are third in the league with 231 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).
Tuesday's game is the second time these teams meet this season. The Sabres won 3-2 in the previous matchup.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jack Eichel has scored 24 goals with 50 assists for the Golden Knights. Mark Stone has one goal and eight assists over the last 10 games.
Tage Thompson has 34 goals and 36 assists for the Sabres. Alex Tuch has scored six goals and added three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 4-6-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 5.1 assists, 4.3 penalties and 10.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
Sabres: 9-1-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.5 assists, 4.9 penalties and 13.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.
Sabres: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Jose Sharks (32-27-6, in the Pacific Division) vs. Edmonton Oilers (33-26-9, in the Pacific Division)
Edmonton, Alberta; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Pacific Division opponents meet when the Edmonton Oilers take on the San Jose Sharks.
Edmonton has gone 33-26-9 overall with a 10-5-3 record against the Pacific Division. The Oilers serve 9.5 penalty minutes per game to rank ninth in NHL play.
San Jose is 32-27-6 overall with a 9-9-3 record against the Pacific Division. The Sharks have given up 228 goals while scoring 202 for a -26 scoring differential.
The teams match up Tuesday for the third time this season. The Sharks won the last matchup 5-4.
TOP PERFORMERS: Zach Hyman has scored 28 goals with 17 assists for the Oilers. Leon Draisaitl has six goals and 11 assists over the past 10 games.
Tyler Toffoli has 18 goals and 26 assists for the Sharks. Macklin Celebrini has seven goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Oilers: 5-4-1, averaging four goals, 6.7 assists, 4.1 penalties and 9.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.7 goals per game.
Sharks: 5-3-2, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.5 assists, 3.8 penalties and 11.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.
INJURIES: Oilers: None listed.
Sharks: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Carolina Hurricanes (42-18-6, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (34-21-11, in the Metropolitan Division)
Columbus, Ohio; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Columbus Blue Jackets after the Blue Jackets defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in a shootout.
Columbus is 8-7-4 against the Metropolitan Division and 34-21-11 overall. The Blue Jackets have a 31-4-8 record in games they score at least three goals.
Carolina has a 42-18-6 record overall and a 13-3-1 record in Metropolitan Division games. The Hurricanes have a 17-6-1 record in games they convert at least one power play.
Tuesday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Hurricanes won 4-1 in the last matchup.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kirill Marchenko has 25 goals and 32 assists for the Blue Jackets. Adam Fantilli has six goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Seth Jarvis has 28 goals and 25 assists for the Hurricanes. Nikolaj Ehlers has six goals and four assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jackets: 5-1-4, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.5 assists, 3.4 penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game.
Hurricanes: 7-3-0, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
INJURIES: Blue Jackets: None listed.
Hurricanes: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Premier League Awards – Monster Mavropanos, Dowman Delights
Our Premier League Weekly Awards feature Max Dowman’s record-breaking moment and West Ham’s fast-emerging cult hero Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Moment of the Week
Each title run-in has definitive moments, and was this weekend one for Arsenal? The three points looked in danger of slipping away from the Gunners, as a valiant Everton frustrated the league leaders at the Emirates – and spurned chances to win it.
With time running out, Mikel Arteta threw on his wildcard and was rewarded. Max Dowman’s introduction changed the game, with the 16-year-old’s teasing cross leading to the opener on 89 minutes, before the teenager tore away on the counter-attack to score a second in stoppage time.
Dowman’s goal, filled with composure and drive, made him the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. What a moment for the youngster, whose future looks bright.
After Manchester City dropped points later in the night, Arsenal’s lead is now 10. A first title in over two decades is edging closer.
Player of the Week
Konstantinos Mavropanos is in the midst of a remarkable redemption arc at West Ham. The centre-back was consigned to the flop folder after an underwhelming start at the London Stadium, but has emerged as a crucial figure under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Mavropanos was magnificent in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City, a result that extended the club’s run to one defeat in six Premier League games.
He made 10 clearances and blocked four shots with some heroic last-ditch defending, while thumping home the equaliser from Jarrod Bowen’s corner.
West Ham need more of this to survive, but Mavropanos is fast becoming a cult hero. If his – and West Ham’s performances continue, the Hammers have enough to escape trouble.
Goal of the Week
Did he mean it? The jury’s out. But we’re going to give Bernardo Silva the benefit of the doubt.
A lovely lifted finish over at the London Stadium saw the Manchester City captain break the deadlock in style.
Save of the Week
Truly extraordinary from Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian’s instinctive scorpion-style block ensured Arsenal kept the game goalless against Everton, before scoring twice late on to claim the points
“The block from Calafiori on Dwight McNeil is unbelievable. And it tells you a little bit about maybe the way Arsenal are. They’re fighting for it, they’re defending their goal with their lives,” Moyes said after the game, as per ToffeeWeb.
“Probably in the end, I think, Raya made more saves than Jordan Pickford in the game. But the block from Calafiori was amazing”.
Stat of the Week
Jamie Carragher labelled Liverpool’s draw with Tottenham a ‘disaster’ for their Champions League hopes and accused the Reds of ‘sleepwalking’ to dropped points at Anfield.
It was the eighth time this season that Liverpool have conceded in the 90th minute or late, a record that is a huge concern.
A week to forget for…
Arne Slot. The boos at Anfield at full-time summed up the frustration with Liverpool’s form this season. Spurs arrived on Merseyside as the ideal opponents. The North Londoners have not won a Premier League game since December and had lost six in a row across all competitions.
Instead, Liverpool got in front early but failed to build on it, and there was a sense of inevitability when Richarlison equalised late on. With Aston Villa and Chelsea losing, this was a missed opportunity. Slot has credit in the bank after last season, but there is undoubtedly scrutiny on him right now.
The New York Knicks have been a generally good team this season. On Sunday, they struggled against the Golden State Warriors, a disappointing performance that head coach Mike Brown disliked.
It has become a tradition for Brown to name a Defensive Player of the Game this season, but he was not in the mood to give one on Sunday. He was also asked about specific players' performances, including the inconsistent Mikal Bridges.
Brown wants better performances from the Knicks, not just Bridges
Even if they are third in the Eastern Conference standings, the Knicks are unhappy with how they are playing recently. The performance against the Warriors was disappointing, especially since they still don't have Stephen Curry.
Struggling against a shorthanded team is not a good look, especially when the Knicks weren't playing the best defense. That is what annoyed Brown, as the energy was way off from his team.
Bridges is a player who has struggled this season to be consistent. Against the Warriors, he only played 21 minutes and scored only seven points.
Considering that there were high expectations for him, his performances have not been lighting the world on fire. Some people are suggesting his struggles with feeling fresh and the possibility of the consecutive games played streak weighing on him.
"We all have to play better. I mean, it's no secret that Mikal has not shot the ball well. He's given us life at times. I thought he was great in Indiana, on both sides of the floor. It's not just Mikal, it's us collectively as a group," Brown said about Bridges and the rest of the Knicks.
It will be a challenging way to keep winning games, but the Knicks need to find solutions on the fly. There are only a few games left in the season, so they have to be prepared ahead of the postseason.
☕️🥐 FC Breakfast: Bruno Fernandes nears legend, Tudor puzzled 😅
Bruno Fernandes on the Verge of a Legendary Record 🔥
With two decisive assists on Sunday against Aston Villa (3-1), Bruno Fernandes is now the top assist provider in Manchester United's history for a Premier League season with 16 assists.
However, the Portuguese player can aim for an even more legendary record. With eight league matches remaining, Bruno Fernandes can surpass the record for most assists in a season, currently held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne (20).
To surpass these two Premier League legends, he will need to deliver five more assists.
Tudor Mistakes the Bald Guy 🤣
Thinking he was going to shake hands with Arne Slot, Igor Tudor apparently mistook the bald man. As a result, he had a slightly awkward moment.
Esteban Lepaul Enjoying the Moment 🤩
Scoring in Rennes' defeat against Lille (1-2), Esteban Lepaul is having a remarkable season.
With 14 goals in Ligue 1, the Breton striker is simply the second top scorer in the five major leagues behind Kylian Mbappé (23) according to StatsduFoot.
One week of NFL free agency is in the books. There was a lot of money spent over the past week, and, at least on paper, several teams got better. The Washington Commanders were one of those teams. Washington has signed 12 outside free agents thus far, and has re-signed several others, led by backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. Perhaps the most important piece of business that GM Adam Peters accomplished was agreeing to an extension with star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, which will keep him in burgundy and gold through 2028.
The Commanders went into free agency with massive holes on the roster, specifically on defense. Flush with ample cap space, Peters went to work, signing multiple edge rushers, an interior defensive lineman, a linebacker, a cornerback and a safety. All will figure prominently into Washington's plans in 2026.
Edge rush Odafe Oweh won some of the headlines because he had the biggest deal — 4 years, $100 million — but you could make the case that some of the Commanders' other signings are equally as important.
Here are six takeaways one week into free agency.
Younger and faster
Remember when Peters said the goal for Washington this offseason was to get younger and faster. If you look at every Commanders' signing, that holds true. Let's look at the ages of each player Washington signed:
EDGE Odafe Oweh: 27
DL Charles Omenihu: 28
EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson: 26
LB Leo Chenal: 25
CB Amik Robertson: 27
S Nick Cross: 24
DT Tim Settle: 28
TE Chig Okonkwo: 26
RB Rachaad White: 27
RB Jerome Ford: 26
WR Dyami Brown: 26
WR Van Jefferson: 29
In addition to getting younger, Peters focused on the RAS (Relative Athletic Score) numbers for many of his signings, most of whom were elite athletes.
Mission accomplished.
Availability
The problem with signing so many older players, as Washington had done in the previous two years, to patch up a bad roster Peters inherited, is that it makes the roster more prone to injury. The Commanders had injury luck on their side in 2024, but it went the other direction in 2025. Peters targeted younger, faster, and available players. When you look at most of Washington's signings, the list is filled with players who have not missed significant time due to injury. Sure, anyone can get injured at any time. But you play the numbers, and older players are at greater risk.
Attacked the EDGE position
Going into free agency, the Commanders' weakest position was edge rusher. Not only was it weak before last season, but two of the top returning players are also coming off significant injuries. Peters is betting big on Oweh. He was a part-time player throughout his career for the Ravens, and in 2024, began taking advantage of his opportunities, setting a new career-high in sacks with 10. Sure, he had a slow start in 2025 and Baltimore traded him to Los Angeles, but he finished with a flurry, recording 7.5 sacks in 12 games and had one of the NFL's best pressure rates.
Oweh has length, elite athleticism, and is coming off his two best seasons. The arrow appears to be pointing up. It was a risk worth taking for Peters. Additionally, Washington signed Chaisson, who is also coming off his best two seasons. After being a draft bust for the Jaguars, Chaisson got his career on track when he signed with the Raiders in 2024. He parlayed that into a one-year deal with the Patriots, where he was an integral part of New England's AFC championship team. The Commanders signed Chaisson to a one-year deal and could try and make it a longer arrangement if he gets off to a good start. Chaisson can also play the run. And, he's just 26, one year younger than Oweh.
Finally, the Commanders added Omenihu. Omenihu has great size and can play inside or outside. A versatile pass rusher with recent success.
The best part of these signings for Washington is that it does not have to force the pick at No. 7 overall. The Commanders do not have to draft an edge rusher now, but it is still on the table because only Oweh is signed for multiple years. A good spot to be in.
Aggressive pursuit of WRs acknowledges need
The Commanders went hard after Alec Pierce. That means they would have had to pay him close to $30 million annually for a player with a career-high of 47 receptions. That's risky. But Pierce is different. He's a game-changing deep threat, young, great size, and the potential to take on a more significant role. He chose to remain with the Colts. Washington also pursued Romeo Doubs, but he landed with the Patriots. Eventually, the Commanders did add two receivers, Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson. Those are depth signings and change nothing. Washington likes Brown a lot. He has speed and has shown chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Peters' aggressiveness suggests he believed Washington's two biggest weaknesses heading into the offseason were at edge and wide receiver. He addressed the edge position. He's not done at receiver. The Commanders will draft at least one wide receiver next month, potentially with the No. 7 overall pick. And that is in play whether Washington eventually lands Brandon Aiyuk or not.
Offensive player odds-on-favorite for 1st-round pick
Several positions are possibilities when the Commanders go on the clock at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Before, the best available edge rusher was the most common pick. With three pass rushers signed and Dorance Armstrong returning, that's still possible, but it's far from urgent. Signing Leo Chenal lessened the need at linebacker. The Commanders signed Nick Cross at safety. While Caleb Downs is an elite prospect, Washington does not need to force a pick there. If Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love falls to No. 7, it appears more and more likely he's the pick. He could take the offense to another level behind Daniels.
But there's a good chance he doesn't make it out of the top five. So what's next? The top receiver on the board, whether you like Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, or Jordyn Tyson, all appear as possibilities for the Commanders now.
Adam Peters raised the floor
Not only did Washington's roster need to get younger and faster, but it simply needed better players. It's better now. How much better? We shall see. But the roster is younger, faster and better. Several of Washington's signings have a high floor, meaning they will be good, consistent players for the Commanders. However, some still have significant upside, such as Oweh, Chaisson, Chenal, Okonkwo, and Cross. If each of these players takes the next step in their respective careers, this could be a transformative offseason for the Commanders.
The first week of free agency is nearing an end, and the Tennessee Titans have made some strides in rebuilding their roster.
While there is still work to be done, there is no question that the team is better today than it was just last week. But what exactly is the Titans' biggest need heading into the coming weeks and the NFL draft? Joe Rexrode for The Athletic believes it is offensive weapons for Cam Ward.
Offensive weaponry is the Titans’ biggest remaining need, though a difference-making edge and reliable starters at center and right guard also would help a lot. The Titans did add Wan’Dale Robinson, and he’ll be a high-volume contributor in Brian Daboll’s offense, as he was with the Giants. But the rest of the receiving corps is either aging (Calvin Ridley) or young and perhaps a bit too high on the depth chart (Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor). At running back, Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are solid but not dynamic. It would not shock if the Titans were to take Jeremiyah Love at No. 4, then a receiver at No. 35. — Joe Rexrode
Rexrode is right, Tennessee must add some more playmakers to the offense, but those additions mean little if the offensive line can’t protect Ward. The Titans have a significant hole along the interior of their offensive line, with right guard Kevin Zeitler a free agent, and general manager Mike Borgonzi deciding to part ways with center Lloyd Cushenberry.
Tennessee did add a couple of offensive linemen, Cordell Volson and Austin Schlottmann, on one-year contracts, but neither appears to be a long-term solution, and there are many questions about the unit's makeup heading into the rest of the offseason. So while playmakers are important, fortifying the offensive line would appear to be a greater need than at wide receiver, running back, or even edge.
Come this week, four televisions will assemble in my living room, because once March Madness arrives, neither one nor two nor three TVs is enough to capture all of the simultaneous magic of America’s greatest postseason sporting event.
Except Cross can skip the TVs this year. His Trojans will be playing in March Madness for a second straight season. That means they’ll be on one of my four TVs.
When I think about what I love about March Madness, I think about that four-TV setup, including one TV I keep in a closet for 11 months, purely to use each March.
The bracket is ubiquitous to the tournament, so much so that the NCAA even embraced it into its March Madness branding.
Four regions with 16 teams apiece. No byes. No bizarre seeding rules. Perfectly symmetrical. Neurologically pleasing. Win and advance. Lose and you’re out.
So easy to understand that everyone from your 90-year-old grandma to your 9-year-old son can fill out a bracket without much need for explanation of how this works.
2. The March Madness upsets
Pop quiz!
I’ll give you the underdog, and you provide the opponent it stunned in the first round.
Ready?
Norfolk State
Saint Peter's
Florida Gulf Coast
Hampton
Farleigh Dickinson
Richmond
Here come the answers . . .
Missouri
Kentucky
Georgetown
Iowa State
Purdue
Syracuse
How’d you score? Pretty good, I’m guessing.
The Cinderellas stick with us, decades after we’ve forgotten who won the national championship in a long-ago year.
Cinderellas cause the bracket-busting havoc that adds that layer of unpredictability to level the playing field in your office bracket pool. Nothing’s more satisfying than knowing you called the 14-over-a-3 upset all your buddies were sleeping on.
People who’d otherwise never bet on sports, who might otherwise never watch sports this side of the Super Bowl, throw down $5 for the chance to enter a bracket and earn potential bragging rights over friends, family and coworkers.
More ambitious gamblers have the chance to bet on 48 games across four days. The tournament is a degenerate’s paradise.
4. The NCAA selection show
The College Football Playoff selection show specializes in team-specific outrage and faux drama. Fact is, we could predict most of the football bracket without needing to tune in.
The NCAA Tournament selection show, on the other hand, is legit entertainment, as we see the bracket slowly revealed.
Who slipped in? Whose bubble burst? Which first-round upsets catch our eye? Which region is toughest? Who’s your knee-jerk Final Four?
The selection show lubricates each of those conversations.
There’s no denying that, on the whole, results under Leam Richardson have been good. However, the performances that have accompanied those results haven’t always been up to scatch.
So Saturday was a bittersweet game in that we continued to see the dynamism, pace and aggression Richardson has so often mentioned he’s looking for, but didn’t manage to put it all together to get all three points.
Here’s how the fans reacted to the game’s key talking points…
A better performance
It seems the general consensus among the fans is that Saturday’s performance was a huge improvement on what the average has been in recent weeks.
Yes, we’ve had some very good days, but rarely have we put in a 90-minute showing that’s left the fans feeling overtly positive about the direction we’re going in.
Despite the result not being what we wanted it to be, there was more than enough optimism to go around…
Best performance since Stockport(H) for me. 1st half was great and we dropped off a bit in the second. I think it just came down to us not being clinical enough. Ward HAS to start over Dorset on Tuesday however. #readingfc
Can’t be too mad about that, not an awful performance but not a good one either against a team in good away form. Roll on Stevenage #readingfchttps://t.co/UW3gRY2Cvk
Win would have flattered our defensive switch offs, loss would have been too harsh on what I think was our best attacking performance under Richardson.
Both Williams and Lane with their best games for Reading. #readingfc#pafc
That’s a performance to be happy with. Had a lot of chances which we needed to take, but positive overall. Defence caught sleeping today a few times. Randell MOM. Happy to see they put midweek behind them. We go again Tuesday. Must win. You effing Royals. #readingfc#dingarmy
Best I’ve seen us play in a long time unlucky not to finish some of the chances we had. Need to correct the mistakes we made at the back but apart from that it looked a lot better and would of taken a point at the start of the game too 👍🏻 #readingfc
There were some good performances all over the pitch, but a few impressed the fans in particular. Paddy Lane (who’s struggled to live up to the excitement that greeted his signing), Kamari Doyle and the two Williams all put in solid showings – some of which were arguably their best in a Reading shirt.
And that’s not just me saying that…
That was a much better watch, Kamari, Lane & Randell were superb.
Substitutions and Dorsett existing cost us the 2 points.
No idea what Kelvin did…
Hopefully that sees the end of Wing, Fraser & Savage starting together
Lane actually decided to play like a real winger yesterday…always wanting to make that run in behind when Doyle received the ball. Better from him, let’s hope he hits form at the right time. Bad note- Keane and Ritchie subs slowed the paced and killed the game.#readingfc
Lane playing like an actual winger today and a million times better, constantly on the a diag from Wing as well as being free for a pass generally #readingfc
Thought Paddy Lane was great today, hope he’s turned a corner now. Wins a lot of headers for a small guy, more than Kelvin who seems to jump half an hour before the ball gets to him 😂 #readingfc
The performance, though pleasing, is utterly baffling considering how appalling we were on Tuesday. Both Williams were excellent, Derek shading it. Lane’s best game and Doyle creative and actually played in the space we’ve been crying out for him to. #readingfc
It’s very hard sometimes to prioritise a performance over a result (and, to be honest, I know we haven’t walked away with three points, but a draw at home to a fellow playoff chaser isn’t that bad). However, it seems Saturday’s game was one that has injected a little bit more optimism into the fanbase.
For a long time now all we’ve really been crying out for are some signs that we’re heading in the right direction. Leamo’s tendency for defensive tactics has made that difficult, but Saturday was so much more positive and aggressive, and therefore more entertaining and enjoyable as a spectacle.
It does make Tuesday’s trip to Burton Albion a big one though.
Manchester City want Pep Guardiola to stay as manager but will allow 2026 summer exit
Manchester City still want Pep Guardiola to remain as manager into next season despite the club facing a demoralising run of recent form, as per a new report.
Despite winning six games in a row since the start of February – and at one point closing the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just two points – Guardiola’s side have dropped points against Nottingham Forest and West Ham in the past two weeks.
On Saturday night, Bernardo Silva scored after 31 minutes to secure a deserved lead against West Ham at the London Stadium, but Konstantinos Mavropanos equalised only four minutes later as the gap to Arsenal grew to nine points.
Pep Guardiola: Why Manchester City’s title challenge fell short of Arsenal’s
Why are there question marks over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City future?
In their next five games, Guardiola’s pack will try to overcome Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League), Arsenal (Carabao Cup final), Liverpool (FA Cup), Chelsea (Premier League) and Arsenal (Premier League) – with each game a final for the Blues between now and the end of the season.
And if those proceedings fail, it will mark a second straight season where Guardiola has finished a campaign without lifting a trophy – which will understandably lead to doubts over his future – which has already come into question in recent months as Manchester City officials plan for life beyond their greatest-ever manager.
Indeed, Guardiola is one of the most successful managers football has ever seen and certainly the most triumphant to have coached in the dugout at the Etihad Stadium – but cracks have appeared in recent months – in the backdrop of a dismal 2024-25 campaign that Guardiola deemed the most challenging year in management.
‘Pep Guardiola will not want to leave Manchester City in transition and after a trophyless season’
Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, however, believes that the 55-year-old will not want to leave on such a low as he nears a decade in east Manchester.
In a recent appearance on the Transfer Insider podcast, O’Rourke said: “I don’t think the defeat to Real Madrid and the potential early exit from the Champions League will have any immediate influence on Guardiola’s future.
“(There has been) a lot of talk that he could end up leaving at the end of the season, but obviously he won’t want to bow out with an early Champions League exit on his CV in his final season at the club.
“Man City will let Pep Guardiola make whatever decision he wants to make. It’ll be in his own hands and there won’t be any forcing him.
“You can criticise me incredibly” – Pep Guardiola takes aim at critics after consequential West Ham draw
When will Pep Guardiola make a decision on his Manchester City future?
“If Pep wants to stand down come the end of the season after a long time in charge at City, I think it’s been over nine years now at the club, I think they’ll go along with his wishes in that respect.
“They would love to keep him but if he feels it is the right time to move on, then the club will reluctantly choose to accept it.
“I think if he’s going to make that decision, he probably has made it already. I don’t think results between now and the end of the season will have any major influence on that decision.”
Newcastle United interested in signing former Real Madrid midfielder tipped for Bernabeu return
Real Madrid are keeping a close watch on the development of former academy midfielder Chema Andres, who is beginning to attract serious attention from several top Premier League clubs.
According to a recent report from AS, the 20-year-old midfielder has emerged as a player of interest for teams in England following his impressive performances since moving to Stuttgart.
Chema left Real Madrid during the summer transfer window in a deal worth €3 million, seeking regular first-team opportunities in Germany.
However, Madrid ensured they would retain influence over the player’s future by inserting important clauses into the agreement.
The Spanish giants hold a buy-back option worth €10 million, allowing them to bring the midfielder back to the Santiago Bernabeu if his development continues to progress.
In addition, the club also secured 50% of any future transfer fee, meaning they would benefit financially if Stuttgart eventually decide to sell him.
A move that is paying off
Just like Nico Paz, Chema’s move to Germany appears to be paying off so far.
This season, he has already made 30 appearances across all competitions, contributing two goals and one assist.
Newcastle United are interested in Chema Andres. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
More importantly, his performances in midfield have caught the attention of several scouts across Europe.
Reports indicate that representatives from Newcastle United have watched the midfielder in person multiple times as they assess a potential move for the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Premier League club are not alone in their interest. Two other English giants, Arsenal and Manchester City, are also believed to be monitoring the player’s progress closely.
Chema not in a hurry
Despite the growing attention, Chema himself is not rushing into any decision about his future.
The midfielder is reportedly focused on continuing his development at Stuttgart, where he has been able to gain valuable playing time.
For Real Madrid, however, the situation remains extremely interesting. With the buy-back clause in place, the Spanish club effectively holds a strategic advantage.
If Chema continues his upward trajectory and attracts bigger offers, Madrid will have the option either to bring him back or benefit financially from any transfer.
As a result, the coming months could be decisive for the young midfielder’s career, with Premier League interest intensifying while Real Madrid monitor every step of his progress.
Gavi, Xavi Espart react after Barcelona 5-2 Sevilla: ‘Dreamed of this moment many times’
Barcelona midfielder Gavi experienced an emotional night at Spotify Camp Nou as he finally returned to the pitch after more than 200 days on the sidelines.
The Spanish international made his long-awaited comeback during Barcelona’s impressive 5-2 victory over Sevilla, a moment that the home supporters had been waiting months to witness.
As soon as Gavi came out to warm up, thousands of fans began chanting his name, creating a powerful moment that clearly meant a lot to the academy graduate.
After the match, the 21-year-old admitted that returning to the pitch was an emotional experience.
“It’s an indescribable feeling. I’m very happy to be back with the team and the fans,” he said after the match.
Overcoming the injury
The midfielder spoke more openly about the difficult months he had endured during his recovery.
Gavi thanked Flick for his support. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Injuries have been a recurring challenge for the young star, and he admitted that the rehabilitation process had been far from easy.
“The truth is, it’s been really tough, much harder than last time. I’ve had a pretty rough time. It’s been the most painful process.
“It’s been harder for me day to day. I’m very happy. I’ve dreamed of this moment many times,” he added.
Flick’s support
During his recovery, Gavi received strong support from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, something the midfielder made sure to acknowledge publicly.
“He’s always been there for me, like a father. He’s always supported me, even with the other injury.
“I’m grateful to him because he’s always trusted me despite the two serious injuries. I hope he stays for many more years,” he added.
Despite playing only a short cameo, Gavi immediately showed the competitive spirit that has made him one of Barcelona’s most admired players.
“I’m always going to be the same. I’ve been like this since I was born. It’s my way of competing. I always give my all for this club, and I’ll keep doing so for the rest of my life,” he noted.
“I’ve felt really good; I hope to keep it up. Ultimately, it’s a complicated injury, but I know I can overcome this and many more.
“I’ll try to improve every day. I’m not yet at 100% like my teammates, but I’m close and hope to be there soon,” he acknowledged.
Xavi Espart takes the stage
The night was also special for another young Barcelona player. Full-back Xavi Espart made his first start at Camp Nou, just days after making his first-team debut against Newcastle United.
Xavi Espart made his first start against Sevilla. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
After the match, Espart described the moment as a dream come true.
“It was incredible to play at Camp Nou, and as a starter to boot. It’s crazy. I approached it with excitement and tried to give it my all.
“In the end, we managed to win, so I’m very happy,” he began.
The youngster also revealed the message Flick gave him before the game to calm his nerves ahead of his first home start.
“He told me to have confidence; he trusts me. He told me not to play with fear. That if I play my game, everything will be fine,” he revealed.
Despite stepping into the spotlight with the first team, Espart remains grounded about his current role within the club.
“I’m from the reserve team; I’m registered with the reserves. Now I’m with the first team.
“Wherever I am, I try to give my all. I’m always very grateful for the opportunities and try to make the most of them,” he said.
At one stage, it briefly looked as though Gavi’s return might be delayed after Espart suffered discomfort during the match. However, the defender later clarified that it was simply cramps.
“It was cramps. Everything was cramping up. I tried to tough it out—these things happen,” he concluded.
HSV set budget to make Vieira loan from Arsenal permanent
Fabio Vieira once again made a difference for Hamburger SV over the weekend, scoring his side's only goal in their 1-1 draw with 1. FC Köln to take his total goal involvements to 10 this season (five goals, five assists).
Given the impact Vieira has had since joining on loan from Arsenal, it’s no surprise that HSV are keen to sign him permanently.
The challenge, however, is that the Bundesliga side cannot afford to activate the €20 million purchase option agreed with Arsenal.
As a result, they will likely try to negotiate a lower fee, with Bild reporting that HSV have set a budget in the high single-digit million range for the transfer.
According to the German tabloid, HSV have already agreed on a follow-up contract with Vieira, but finalising the deal depends on Arsenal’s willingness to compromise.
Arsenal paid €35 million to sign Vieira from FC Porto in 2022, and his contract with the London club runs until the summer of 2027.
Farrell's Ireland finished second in the Six Nations table behind France after four wins from their five games [Getty Images]
Head coach Andy Farrell says that he will "have a conversation" with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on what comes next after Ireland's Triple Crown winning Six Nations campaign.
Speculation of Farrell's departure from the role he has held since 2019 rose during the tournament, with English Prem side Saracens releasing a statement to distance the club from "disrespectful" reports they had offered Farrell a coaching role after the 2027 Rugby World Cup when his Ireland deal ends.
But after their 43-21 win over Scotland which closed their Six Nations campaign on a high, focus has once again turned to Farrell's future.
And as he did before the Wales game, Farrell said he will talk to the IRFU on his future, jokingly adding that while he would not want to step away, he would sometimes rather watch Ireland from the bar that from his coaching position.
"We've already spoken about having a conversation. That won't be too far away. So, we'll see how that goes," Farrell said.
"Nobody wants to give those away [days like Saturday]. I'd like to watch it though, sometimes. Walking down from the Shelbourne and doing a bit of a pub crawl, it sounds nice to me!
"The staff that we've got is second to none. Great people. Great at their jobs. As a coaching staff, I think we're getting better. We're learning about each other more. We're getting more cohesive and getting better as well. It's not just the players.
"You know that I love this. There's all sorts of stuff that needs to be talked about. I've no doubt."
After four wins from five games, the Triple Crown retained and 35 players used across the tournament, there were plenty of positives from Ireland's Six Nations campaign, despite the fact they fell agonisingly short in their quest to win the championship.
The focus, aside from his future, for Farrell is already starting to turn how he will prime his squad to peak for the summer and further down the line to next year's Rugby World Cup.
In Farrell's view, that starts with players going back to their provinces and replicating their international form shown in the impressive wins over England and Scotland, on the club stage for the remainder of the season.
He believes that is the easiest way for them to guarantee a place in the squad for the summer's inaugural Nations Championship, where Ireland will take on Australia, Japan and New Zealand, which will act as good preparation for the World Cup.
"We'll see what the momentum is when the lads go back to their provinces now," he added.
"People have to grow through this and the lads who have had a sniff of it, it's up to them to keep competing to show they've learned some lessons and everyone is fighting for a seat on the plane.
"You have to understand what we're trying to get to and what we're trying to achieve if you look at it like that there are five more chances to do it and they come quick and fast."
Former rival admits Liverpool star doesn’t get the credit he deserves
Liverpool Captain Virgil van Dijk Still Deserves Greater Recognition
Virgil van Dijk has been the defensive cornerstone of Liverpool for years, anchoring one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history. From Premier League triumphs to European glory, the Dutch defender has played a central role in Liverpool’s rise back to the top of English football.
Yet despite that consistency, debate around Van Dijk’s standing among elite defenders refuses to disappear. Comparisons with other centre backs frequently surface, and some former players have even suggested others would be preferable picks.
Former goalkeeper Tim Howard believes the explanation is surprisingly simple. When a player performs at the highest level for such a long time, the football world can start to take that excellence for granted.
Tim Howard Explains Van Dijk Recognition Debate
Speaking on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, Tim Howard argued that longevity at the top can actually work against players when it comes to public appreciation.
Howard said: “Oh man, it’s so difficult with players like him who they don’t get enough credit.
“Like when you’re at the top for so long, when you’re the best at anything, like he’s been considered the best defender in the world for a number of years.
“I don’t know, six, seven, eight years, whatever. Right, and you’re playing at a club that’s consistently challenging for European titles, for Premier League titles and then you got then you go into your national team, which is one of the most famous shirts in the world, and you’re asked to lead that team, you don’t get enough credit, there are not many of those around.”
Howard’s point reflects a broader pattern in football discussion. When dominance becomes normal, supporters and pundits often look elsewhere for something new or different to praise.
Liverpool Success Built On Defensive Leadership
Van Dijk’s influence at Liverpool extends far beyond individual performances. Since arriving at Anfield, he has helped transform the defensive structure of the team.
Under Arne Slot, who guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in the 2024-25 season, the Dutch captain has continued to provide leadership and authority at the back. His composure, positioning and ability to organise the defensive line remain crucial to how Liverpool play.
While attacking stars often grab headlines, centre backs who quietly control matches rarely receive the same level of acclaim. Van Dijk’s calm presence and ability to read the game have long been essential to Liverpool’s tactical balance.
Premier League Numbers Tell Mixed Story This Season
Statistics from the 2025-26 Premier League campaign show that Van Dijk is not leading the league in several traditional defensive categories.
Among centre backs, he ranks outside the top tier for tackles, interceptions and blocks per 90 minutes. For example, he averages 0.6 interceptions and 0.6 tackles per 90 minutes, placing him well down the rankings compared with other defenders in the division.
However, numbers rarely tell the full story for players in Van Dijk’s role. Liverpool often dominate possession, meaning their defenders face fewer situations that require last ditch tackles or blocks. Positioning and anticipation frequently prevent danger before those actions become necessary.
Clearances offer a slightly different picture, where Van Dijk ranks third among Premier League centre backs with 7.6 per 90 minutes. That reflects his continued importance when Liverpool are forced to defend deeper.
Legacy Of Virgil van Dijk At Liverpool
Judging Virgil van Dijk purely by individual statistics risks missing the wider impact he has had at Liverpool. Over several seasons he has been central to a side that has consistently challenged for major trophies.
Players who perform at an elite level for many years can sometimes fade into the background of football debate. Tim Howard’s comments highlight how sustained excellence can make greatness feel routine.
When Van Dijk eventually steps away from the game, there is every chance appreciation for his achievements will grow even further. For Liverpool supporters, his importance has been clear for a long time.
Liverpool legend can’t wait for the return of attacking star
Rush sees classic No.9 qualities in Isak
Liverpool legend Ian Rush believes Alexander Isak still has everything required to justify his record-breaking transfer and become a defining striker for the club. Speaking recently, Rush made it clear that patience will be key as the Swedish forward prepares to return from injury.
Isak’s first months on Merseyside have been turbulent. Signed for a club-record fee reported around £125 million from Newcastle United, expectations were immediately sky high. The striker showed flashes of his ability but suffered a major setback in December when he broke his leg while scoring in a Premier League match against Tottenham.
Before that injury, Isak had managed three goals in a Liverpool shirt. Those numbers barely scratch the surface of what the 26-year-old has demonstrated throughout his career, and Rush insists the forward’s attributes are exactly what modern football often lacks.
Speaking in an interview originally reported by the Echo, Rush praised the striker’s traditional centre-forward qualities. He said: “You don’t see proper No.9s now, do you? You’ve got [Erling] Haaland, [Harry] Kane and you’ve got Isak.”
For Rush, who built his reputation as Liverpool’s greatest goalscorer, the role of a genuine No.9 still matters. The Welshman recognises something familiar in Isak’s game — movement in the box, instinctive finishing and a striker’s hunger for goals.
Rush added: “I can’t wait for him to get back because he’s in my sort of position. I like to see a proper No.9 and hopefully we’ll see him soon.”
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has already indicated that Isak could return to full fitness early next month, raising hopes that supporters will soon see the striker properly integrated into the team.
Photo: IMAGO
Ekitike’s rise gives Liverpool attacking depth
While Isak has been recovering, Hugo Ekitike has emerged as one of the brightest attacking sparks in Liverpool’s campaign. The French forward has quickly settled into life at the club and has become the team’s leading scorer this season.
Ekitike’s form has inevitably sparked debate about how Liverpool will line up once Isak returns. Will the two strikers compete for the same role, or can they operate together in the same attacking unit?
Rush believes there is no reason why both players cannot thrive side by side.
The former Liverpool striker sees flexibility in Ekitike’s game that could allow the pair to complement each other. Rather than forcing a choice between the two forwards, Rush believes Liverpool could harness both of their strengths.
“Isak is a No.9,” Rush explained when discussing the tactical situation.
His point was simple: elite players find ways to fit into successful teams.
Partnership potential between Isak and Ekitike
For supporters eager to see Liverpool’s attacking options flourish, the prospect of an Isak and Ekitike partnership is an exciting one.
Rush is confident that if both players continue performing, the manager will find a way to accommodate them. Competition in the forward line is often what drives top teams to success, and Liverpool appear to have two strikers capable of delivering goals.
Rush said: “All you have to do to the manager is show them what you can do on the pitch and they can’t leave you out. If they’re both performing, then they can both start in the same side.”
That statement captures a core truth of elite football. Managers respond to form, and if both Isak and Ekitike continue producing decisive performances, the tactical puzzle becomes an opportunity rather than a problem.
Ekitike’s ability to drift wider or operate from the left could provide the balance needed for both forwards to play together. Meanwhile, Isak’s presence through the middle would give Liverpool a focal point capable of finishing moves inside the penalty area.
Rush enjoying return to Liverpool ambassador role
Away from the tactical talk, Rush has also been enjoying his return to public duties after a difficult health scare last year. The Liverpool legend was hospitalised after collapsing due to a severe strain of influenza, but he has since made a full recovery.
Now back in his role as a club ambassador, Rush has been reconnecting with supporters and reflecting on his relationship with the club.
Speaking about the support he received during his illness, Rush said: “The amount of support I had was incredible. I was in hospital for six days. You don’t get any younger and I managed to come out.”
He added: “The support I had from all the fans was immense and is something that I will hold with me until I do pass away. It brings me even closer to the Liverpool fans as well.”
Rush also spoke warmly about how younger supporters still recognise his achievements for Liverpool.
“The younger generation when you see them supporting Liverpool. It’s amazing that they still remember my name.”
For a player who scored 346 goals for the club, that connection is hardly surprising.
As Liverpool look ahead to the final stretch of the season, attention will turn to Isak’s return and whether he can ignite a powerful attacking partnership with Ekitike. If Rush’s instincts are correct, the club may soon have a striking duo capable of shaping Liverpool’s next chapter.
Tottenham Snatch 1-1 Draw With Liverpool After Richarlison Strike
Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham as Richarlison Strike Denies Slot Late Premier League Win
Liverpool were left frustrated at Anfield after a dramatic late goal secured Tottenham a 1-1 draw in the Premier League. Richarlison’s strike deep into stoppage time denied Arne Slot’s side what appeared to be a valuable victory and instead ensured Tottenham departed Merseyside with renewed belief.
The contest had seemed destined to swing Liverpool’s way following Dominik Szoboszlai’s early free kick, yet Tottenham’s persistence brought reward in the closing seconds. For Liverpool, the result halted momentum in their pursuit of the Premier League’s upper places. For Tottenham, the point carried significant emotional weight after a challenging run of results.
Szoboszlai Free Kick Lifts Liverpool
Liverpool began with purpose and energy, seeking to control possession and impose rhythm on proceedings. Arne Slot made a notable decision before kick off, leaving Mohamed Salah among the substitutes while handing 17 year old Rio Ngumoha his first Premier League start.
The youngster embraced the opportunity with confidence, offering movement and enthusiasm that helped Liverpool stretch Tottenham’s defensive structure.
Liverpool’s breakthrough arrived in the eighteenth minute. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped forward to take a free kick that appeared manageable for Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Yet the Italian misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing Szoboszlai’s effort to slip past him despite getting a hand to it.
The goal lifted Anfield and reinforced Liverpool’s early dominance in the Premier League encounter.
Photo: IMAGO
Tottenham Response Led by Richarlison
Tottenham entered the fixture under heavy pressure, with interim coach Igor Tudor still searching for his first positive result. Injuries and suspensions had left the squad severely depleted, with thirteen players unavailable.
Despite those challenges, Tottenham competed with determination. Richarlison led the attack with relentless energy, providing a constant threat to Liverpool’s defence.
The Brazilian forward came close on several occasions, first guiding a header narrowly wide before forcing Alisson into a pair of important saves either side of the interval.
His movement unsettled Liverpool’s back line throughout the match. Tottenham’s attacking play gradually improved and they began to carry increasing belief as the game moved towards its closing stages.
Ngumoha Opportunity Reflects Slot Confidence
One of the most intriguing aspects of the evening was Slot’s decision to trust youth. Ngumoha’s inclusion represented a significant moment for the academy graduate.
The 17 year old displayed composure that belied his age, linking effectively with Liverpool’s midfield and demonstrating a willingness to attack defenders directly.
Such selections underline the philosophy that has begun to define Slot’s Liverpool. Young players are encouraged to step forward and seize opportunity within a competitive Premier League environment.
Although Liverpool controlled large phases of the contest, the narrow advantage kept Tottenham within touching distance.
Richarlison Late Strike Secures 1-1 Result
The drama arrived in the final minute. Tottenham continued pushing forward and their persistence was finally rewarded.
Randal Kolo Muani threaded a pass into the Liverpool penalty area where Richarlison reacted first. The forward struck decisively, sending the ball beyond Alisson and into the net to silence Anfield.
The goal secured a 1-1 draw and delivered Igor Tudor his first point in charge of Tottenham.
For Liverpool, the outcome felt cruel after controlling large portions of the match. Szoboszlai’s free kick had seemed sufficient to secure victory, yet football often turns on late moments.
Tottenham departed with renewed spirit after ending a difficult run, while Liverpool were left reflecting on missed opportunities in a Premier League contest that slipped away in the final seconds.
Slot admits Liverpool fans boos after Spurs are understandable
Arne Slot Reflects on Frustrating Liverpool Draw With Tottenham
Liverpool were left to reflect on another missed opportunity at Anfield after a 1-1 draw with Tottenham, a result that prevented Arne Slot’s side from climbing into the Premier League’s top four. Dominik Szoboszlai’s early free kick had given Liverpool control of the match, yet a late equaliser from Richarlison ensured the points were shared and left the Anfield crowd audibly frustrated at full time.
For Arne Slot, the evening contained both encouragement and disappointment. Liverpool dominated large periods of the contest but failed to convert that control into the decisive second goal that would have settled the match.
Rio Ngumoha Impresses on Liverpool Debut
Amid the frustration, one Liverpool player emerged with significant credit. Seventeen year old Rio Ngumoha made his first Premier League start and delivered a fearless performance that caught the eye of both supporters and his manager.
Ngumoha’s direct running consistently unsettled Tottenham’s defence. During his 64 minutes on the pitch he completed all seven of his attempted dribbles and recorded seven touches inside the Spurs penalty area. It was a performance full of energy and confidence, particularly striking given the occasion and the pressure surrounding Liverpool’s pursuit of points.
Arne Slot was quick to praise the teenager after the match. He explained his reasoning behind selecting Ngumoha ahead of more established names.
“I have 12-13 players that are able to bring good performances,” Slot told BBC Radio 5 Live post-match. “Rio is doing that well it makes sense to play him. It is a mix of playing the ones that are fit and using the quality that these players can bring.”
Photo: IMAGO
Frustration Grows at Anfield
Liverpool supporters voiced their dissatisfaction after the final whistle, a reaction shaped by a pattern that has become all too familiar in recent months. Dropped points at home have prevented Liverpool from turning strong performances into the consistency required at the top of the Premier League table.
Slot acknowledged that frustration among the supporters was understandable.
“I think it’s understandable for fans to be frustrated because it happened already so many times that they’ve seen the home team not picking up the points that they’re expecting to, us conceding goals in the last minute,” Slot replied.
“Now it’s up to us to bring that frustration to Wednesday and come up with a big performance. Because that we are all frustrated, that’s completely clear.
“And it’s now up to me and the players to take that frustration into Wednesday evening and show the fans the performance and the results they deserve, because they’ve been supportive throughout the whole season to us. Then if it happens so many times that they are frustrated in the end of a game or after the final whistle, that makes complete sense to me.”
Missed Chances Cost Liverpool
Slot also reflected on the tactical flow of the game and the moments Liverpool failed to seize.
“In the large parts of the game that we were the better team, I think that is a moment where you have to score the second. I think we had moments to do so quite a lot and in the part of the game where it was more equal, the last 15 to 20 minutes, on both sides, it was waiting for one of the two teams to score.”
“They created the chances all in a similar way, the four or five moments they had, long ball, picking up the second ball and then try to be a threat in moments like that. We also picked up a lot of those second balls where we were able to counter attack them.
“But from all these counter-attacks, all these four versus three, three versus two, all these moments that I felt with the quality players we have that we should be able to either get a bigger chance or when we have it, to score it, we didn’t and then in the last minute we conceded the equaliser and then there’s not a lot of time left to make up for it.”
For Liverpool and Arne Slot, the task now is clear. Dominance must translate into results, particularly at Anfield, where expectation remains as high as ever.
Alisson Becker Shines as Liverpool Held by Tottenham at Anfield
Liverpool 1 – 1 Tottenham – Premier League Man of the Match
Alisson Becker – Liverpool FC
Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction;
Liverpool 4 – 1 Tottenham
When Liverpool required calm, authority and genuine world-class quality, it was once again the giant Brazilian goalkeeper who stepped forward to deliver. On an afternoon where the Reds struggled to control the rhythm of the game and failed to turn early promise into a comfortable result, Alisson Becker stood tall as the most influential player on the pitch.
From the opening minutes at Anfield, it was clear that Tottenham were prepared to remain patient and strike when opportunities appeared as they looked efficient and confident. Liverpool held plenty of possession and territory, yet the structure of the match always carried the risk of sudden transitions. It was during these moments that Alisson’s importance to this Liverpool side became obvious. Even after the reds opened the scoring, the sense of urgency never followed.
His first significant intervention came during a dangerous Tottenham counterattack, where quick reactions and strong positioning allowed him to smother the attempt before it could develop into something more threatening. That moment settled the crowd and reinforced the sense that Liverpool had the security of a world-class presence behind their defensive line.
Throughout the first half the Brazilian’s handling and command of his penalty area were excellent. Crosses were claimed with authority, and loose balls were gathered without hesitation. In many ways it was the kind of quietly dominant performance that Liverpool supporters have come to expect from their number one — controlled, confident and composed.
After the restart, however, the match began to tilt in Tottenham’s favour. Liverpool’s energy dropped and their control of midfield spaces started to fade. As Spurs increased their attacking intent, Alisson was forced into a series of far more dramatic interventions.
One low save to his left demonstrated the sharp reflexes that have defined his career, while another instinctive stop at close range prevented what looked a certain equaliser. In those moments he single-handedly kept Liverpool ahead and gave the impression that three points were still within reach.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian goalkeeper, the protection in front of him eventually disappeared. As Tottenham pushed forward late in the contest, Liverpool’s defensive organisation faltered and the pressure finally told. When the equalising goal arrived, Alisson had little chance of preventing it, left exposed by a defensive lapse that no goalkeeper could reasonably be expected to solve.
It was a frustrating conclusion for a player who had done everything possible to secure victory.
In truth, Liverpool’s point owed a great deal to their number one. Without his string of impressive saves and his commanding presence throughout the ninety minutes, the afternoon could easily have ended in defeat.
For Liverpool supporters, it was another reminder of a familiar reality: when the team struggles for cohesion and control, Alisson Becker remains the man who keeps them competitive.
David Lynch’s 5 Key Takeaways from Liverpool’s 1–1 Draw with Spurs at Anfield
“I struggle to see Arne Slot being around much longer”
Liverpool’s 1–1 draw with Spurs at Anfield has intensified scrutiny on Arne Slot, and according to Liverpool reporter David Lynch, the questions surrounding the manager are becoming harder to ignore.
Speaking after the Premier League clash, Lynch delivered a brutally honest assessment of where Liverpool stand right now. The performance, the atmosphere at Anfield and the long term trajectory of the team all point to a club heading into a decisive summer.
Here are five key takeaways from David Lynch following Liverpool’s 1–1 draw with Spurs.
1. Arne Slot Under Serious Pressure After “Worst Result of the Season”
Lynch did not hide how damaging he believes the result against Spurs could be for Liverpool and their manager.
“Tonight really has to be arguably the worst result of the season for me.”
The context makes it even worse. Spurs arrived at Anfield in dreadful form and with huge squad problems.
“They had six defeats in the last six games. They had 14 first team players missing.”
Yet Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, still could not win.
For Lynch, that raises serious questions about whether Slot can survive beyond the season.
“It’s very, very hard… I think it’s almost impossible to make the case that Arne Slot should remain in post.”
2. Liverpool Are Getting Worse, Not Better
One of Lynch’s biggest concerns is that Liverpool are heading in the wrong direction as the season progresses.
“What we’re seeing is a Liverpool team that is just getting worse and worse with each passing week.”
The expectation during a transitional season is improvement as the months go on. Lynch believes the opposite is happening.
“You kind of try and tell yourself that things have to get better towards the end… but it just isn’t happening.”
Instead of building momentum for next season, Liverpool appear stuck in the same cycle of poor performances.
Photo: IMAGO
3. Liverpool’s Football Is Ineffective and Hard to Watch
Lynch acknowledged that much of the Premier League has become difficult viewing this season due to low blocks, physicality and set piece battles.
But Liverpool have a bigger problem than just aesthetics.
“You don’t have to also be along with being awful to watch ineffective as well.”
He compared Liverpool’s situation to Arsenal.
“You can talk as much as you like about how terrible they are to watch at times, but the fact is they get the job done.”
Liverpool are not doing either.
“The job when you’re Liverpool manager… is to win football matches. And Liverpool can’t do that.”
4. Serious Questions About Coaching and Structure
Another major takeaway from Lynch’s analysis was his concern about the lack of tactical structure.
Liverpool’s play in the final third appears improvised rather than rehearsed.
“When they get into the final third and they look up it’s just like, okay, individuals do what they want.”
He also questioned the training processes behind the scenes.
“There’s no patterns… you start to say, well okay, what are they doing in training?”
The defensive side of the game is also worrying.
“They don’t seem to be well organised. They seem far too easy to get at.”
For Lynch, those issues ultimately point back to the head coach.
Photo: IMAGO
5. One Bright Spot: Rio Ngumoha
Despite the frustration surrounding Liverpool’s performance, Lynch did highlight one major positive.
Young winger Rio Ngumoha impressed again and looks like a huge talent for the future.
“That kid, no matter how bad things are for Liverpool at the moment, he is the future of Liverpool.”
Ngumoha’s numbers were impressive.
“Seven dribbles completed out of seven dribbles attempted.”
Lynch also praised Slot for managing the youngster carefully before introducing him to the team.
“You give him credit there… his handling of Ngumoha has been spot on.”
How Can Slot Survive From Here?
Ultimately, Lynch believes Liverpool’s hierarchy will wait until the end of the season before making a final decision.
Slot has not been handed a new contract and will have one year remaining on his deal this summer, which Lynch believes is telling.
“They clearly want to wait till the end of the season… and make an informed decision.”
But based on what he has seen so far, the Liverpool reporter finds it difficult to see a path forward.
“It’s really hard to see how the head coach survives it.”
The next few months could decide everything at Anfield.
Former Liverpool star claims things must be happening behind the scenes
Liverpool Draw with Spurs Sparks Pennant Concerns Over Arne Slot
Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham has prompted renewed debate about the direction of Arne Slot’s team, with former winger Jermaine Pennant offering a pointed assessment of the club’s current situation. What should have been a routine Premier League victory instead turned into a night of frustration, and the performance has intensified questions surrounding Liverpool’s trajectory this season.
The result came at a moment when opportunity presented itself. Both Chelsea and Aston Villa dropped points across the weekend, leaving the door open for Liverpool to strengthen their position in the race for Champions League qualification. Instead, Tottenham snatched a late equaliser through Richarlison, punishing a Liverpool side that had drifted through long stretches of the contest.
Spurs Result Raises Fresh Liverpool Questions
Liverpool entered the match as favourites, a status built on reputation as much as expectation. Slot’s side struggled to translate possession and territory into authority, and their late lapse allowed Tottenham back into the game.
Richarlison’s equaliser in the closing stages felt symptomatic of a broader pattern that has followed Liverpool during parts of the campaign. Despite significant investment in attacking talent over the summer, consistency has been elusive. Performances have rarely carried the fluency or intensity supporters expect at Anfield.
The outcome has sharpened the spotlight on Slot, whose team now faces increased scrutiny as rivals compete for the same European places.
Pennant Reaction to Slot Decisions
Jermaine Pennant, who represented Liverpool between 2006 and 2009, voiced his concerns shortly after the final whistle. His reaction focused on tactical choices made during the game, particularly substitutions that altered Liverpool’s structure late in the match.
Pennant wrote on social media:“But if we, and I’m guessing most of the fans would agree, [can see the problems] how can the man in charge not see this? There has to be s*** going on behind the scenes that we have no clue about, because this is blasphemy.”
His frustration extended to earlier decisions in the match, where he questioned several changes to the lineup and positioning.
“Someone please help me, help me understand, help me understand why 1. [Hugo] Ekitike doesn’t start, 2. [He] takes Rio [Ngumoha] off, leaves [Cody] Gakpo on, and 3. Takes [Jeremie] Frimpong off and then leaves Szoboszlai at RB…”
Pennant’s comments captured a mood shared by sections of the Liverpool fan base, particularly regarding how the game was managed in its closing stages.
Questions Around Liverpool Leadership
Pennant’s theory that unseen issues may exist behind the scenes has prompted wider discussion about Liverpool’s internal dynamics. Some supporters interpret his comments as a suggestion that Slot could be facing challenges within the dressing room. Others believe the influence of Fenway Sports Group may be shaping decisions on and off the pitch.
Those debates arrive at a time when Liverpool’s hierarchy must consider the club’s immediate future. The squad underwent a significant transformation during the previous summer, with 14 players departing and several new arrivals tasked with reshaping the team.
Decisions Ahead for Slot and Liverpool
Slot guided Liverpool to the Premier League title last season, a remarkable achievement in his first year. Expectations inevitably rose as a result. This season has produced more uncertainty, both in style and outcome.
Liverpool remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League football, yet the margin for error is narrowing. With experienced managers such as Xabi Alonso currently without a club, speculation around potential alternatives has begun to circulate.
For now, Liverpool’s leadership must decide whether stability offers the best path forward, or whether a different direction will ultimately be required.
‘Sack Him’ – Liverpool Fans Turn on Slot After ‘Disgraceful’ Spurs Draw at Anfield
Liverpool 1-1 Spurs: Premier League Champions Booed Off as Anfield Frustration Boils Over
Liverpool dropped more points in the Premier League after a 1–1 draw with Spurs at Anfield, and the reaction from supporters has been fierce. On the Anfield Index podcast, The Gags Tandon Show, contributors Gags Tandon and Lola Katz-Roberts did not hold back after what they described as another unacceptable performance from Arne Slot’s side.
The conversation was raw, emotional and brutally honest. Liverpool fans are losing patience, and the result against Spurs felt like a breaking point.
Fury After Liverpool Drop Points Against Spurs
The podcast opened with Lola Katz-Roberts summing up the mood of many Liverpool supporters.
“I’m furious, I’m absolutely furious and do you know what the worst thing about it is I’m not at all surprised.”
She continued by describing the result as completely unacceptable for a club that lifted the Premier League title last season.
“It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s an absolute disgrace. This is one of the worst Tottenham teams there’s ever been. We are the Premier League champions.”
Liverpool had already dropped points to Wolves in their previous league match. Taking one point from Wolves away and Spurs at home has left fans stunned.
Later in the show, Katz-Roberts repeated the feeling shared by thousands watching at Anfield.
“It’s a disgrace getting one point out of those two games. It’s a disgrace.”
Growing Anger Toward Arne Slot
Much of the discussion focused on manager Arne Slot, who guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2024–25 but is now facing increasing scrutiny.
Katz-Roberts admitted her frustration has reached the point where she no longer enjoys watching Liverpool.
“I’m just going to say it now. I don’t really want to watch Liverpool until they get rid of the manager.”
She explained how disconnected the current team feels compared with previous Liverpool sides.
“I do not feel represented by my team at the moment.”
For Gags Tandon, the problem has been building for months.
“I’ve been saying it since November… I’m sick of Slot, sick of the excuses.”
The pair argued that results, performances and underlying numbers all point in the same direction.
Photo: IMAGO
Liverpool Performances Raising Serious Concerns
The debate turned to how Liverpool are actually playing in the Premier League.
Katz-Roberts pointed out that the team once created chances freely but now look blunt.
“We cannot create an open play chance anymore. We can’t score from open play anymore.”
Tandon highlighted how worrying Liverpool’s recent record has been.
“Spurs at home, Wolves away as your last two Premier League games and you took one point.”
For a squad packed with talent, the drop in performance levels has left supporters confused and angry.
Fans Losing Connection With Liverpool
Perhaps the most striking part of the podcast was how both contributors spoke about the emotional disconnect supporters now feel.
Katz-Roberts reflected on the atmosphere surrounding the club.
“It’s been a year since I felt really, really excited and emotionally connected to the team.”
She also described why Liverpool supporters are struggling to accept what they are watching.
“Football is supposed to be an escape from your life… and I just don’t feel like watching Liverpool.”
For Tandon, the frustration is simple.
“Right now we feel like saying sack Arne Slot.”
Despite the anger, both made clear that the ultimate goal remains the same.
As Katz-Roberts said during the show:
“What we all want is Liverpool to win.”
Photo: IMAGO
Pressure Mounting in the Premier League Season
The draw with Spurs leaves Liverpool fighting to stay in the Champions League places in the Premier League. With rivals also dropping points, the door remains open, but performances are not convincing supporters.
As Tandon bluntly concluded on the podcast:
“Dropping points is a familiar feeling for Liverpool Football Club this season.”
Right now, patience among Liverpool fans is wearing thin. The reaction to the Spurs draw shows just how quickly frustration can boil over at Anfield.
Liverpool 1–1 Tottenham: Player Ratings as Reds Drop Points at Anfield
Liverpool 1 – 1 Tottenham PL Player Ratings
The Premier League brought two struggling coaches together as mediocre met disappointment at Anfield.
The lineup and subsequent ratings are listed below.
Alisson Becker – 7.0
The giant Brazilian stopper was able to control much of what came his way as the Reds participated in a game of lacklustre football.
After the restart, the Reds’ world-class keeper was let down by his back line as the guests grabbed a goal late on after he had done his best to ensure a win.
Joe Gomez – 6.0
The England international was fairly decent if unable at time to match the aerial prowess of the man next to him.
In the second half the former Charlton man was solid and reactive as the game started to slip towards Spurs favour.
Andy Robertson – 6.0
The Scotland international was able to offer decent width as the reds took territorial advantage.
After the break, the veteran full-back was poor for the equaliser as he failed to compete.
Photo: IMAGO
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7.0
The Hungarian international was able to open the scoring with a searing free kick and delivered good opportunities into the box.
When the match resumed, the former Bundesliga star was always willing to make up for the lack of energy of others.
Virgil van Dijk – 6.0
The captain and leader of this team untested for large periods and seemed to be coasting and dealing with issues as they arose.
After the intermission, the former Celtic giant was more on the midst of defensive play and struggled for the equaliser when he maybe could have won the first ball.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6.0
The former Brighton star was lacking in control and energy as Spurs were more purposeful.
Rio Ngumoha – 7.0
The England youth international was able to offer continual energy as the spark from the flank.
After the restart he was less incisive yet still able to offer chances when the game opened up.
Subbed – 64 mins
Photo: IMAGO
Ryan Gravenberch – 5.0
The Dutch midfielder was poor and ineffective as he struggled to impact the half.
After the half-time break, the former Ajax man was a passenger and failed to protect his VAM line as the starting six.
Florian Wirtz – 6.0
The German attacking midfielder was clever and expressive against a team designed to frustrate.
In the second half, the creator was unable to ignite the spark needed to make a true impression.
Subbed – 64 mins
Jeremie Frimpong – 6.0
The jet heeled attacker was a little peripheral in the opening 45 minutes, as his desire to push past his full back was nullified by a deep block.
After the break, the former Celtic man was busy and productive on the ball before leaving the field.
Subbed – 64 mins
Photo: IMAGO
Cody Gakpo – 6.0
The Dutch attacker was a solid central striker who allowed movement around him. However, too often he was vacant from that central position when the game needed a poacher.
After the intermission, the former PSV attacker was peripheral and lacked cutting edge before leaving the pitch.
Liverpool Confirmed XI vs Tottenham as Slot Makes Bold Anfield Changes
Liverpool arrive at Anfield on Sunday facing a Tottenham side enduring a turbulent campaign, yet the focus remains firmly on Arne Slot’s reshaped lineup. The Liverpool confirmed XI for the Premier League clash reveals a mixture of experience, youth and tactical adjustment as Slot looks to regain rhythm in a season that has drawn scrutiny.
Tottenham travel to Merseyside under difficult circumstances. Results have faltered and injuries have tested their squad depth, creating a stark contrast with Liverpool’s ambition to rediscover consistency in front of their home crowd.
Confirmed XI Signals Slot’s Tactical Shift
Arne Slot has introduced five significant changes to the Liverpool lineup, a decision that reflects both rotation and a desire to sharpen his side’s attacking threat.
In goal, Alisson returns after injury, immediately restoring a commanding presence between the posts. Giorgi Mamardashvili, who filled in against Galatasaray, returns to the bench.
The defensive unit contains a notable positional adjustment. Dominik Szoboszlai lines up at right back alongside Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson. The quartet combines leadership with athleticism, providing the structure Liverpool rely upon when pushing high up the pitch.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister anchor the centre of the pitch. Both players carry responsibility for tempo and control, ensuring Liverpool can dictate possession against a Tottenham side expected to sit deep and search for counter attacking opportunities.
Further forward, Slot’s selection reveals a blend of creativity and youthful promise.
Young Talent Ngumoha Earns Premier League Start
Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha operate in advanced roles behind Cody Gakpo, who leads the line for Liverpool.
The youngster makes his full Premier League debut after previously appearing from the bench on eleven occasions.
Such moments carry symbolic value at Anfield. Liverpool supporters have always embraced emerging talent and Ngumoha’s opportunity reflects Slot’s willingness to trust young players on the biggest stage.
Photo IMAGO
Frimpong and Wirtz bring flair and movement to the attacking unit. Their pace and technical ability could prove decisive against a Tottenham defence that has struggled for stability throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile, Gakpo’s presence through the middle offers physicality and link play, allowing Liverpool to vary their attacking approach.
Tottenham Struggles Shape Match Context
Liverpool’s season has drawn debate in recent weeks. Many observers feel the team have underperformed compared with expectations.
Yet Tottenham arrive at Anfield facing far deeper concerns. The North London club find themselves battling relegation after winning only seven of their previous 29 league matches.
Igor Tudor is expected to lead Tottenham for what may be his final game in charge. Injuries have ravaged his squad and selection options appear severely limited.
Tottenham have named only seven substitutes for the trip to Liverpool. The bench includes three goalkeepers and three teenagers who collectively possess only a single minute of senior football.
Such circumstances underline the scale of Tottenham’s challenge at Anfield.
Full Liverpool Confirmed XI vs Tottenham
Liverpool: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Gakpo
Notably, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate begin the match among the substitutes. Their presence on the bench ensures Liverpool possess game changing options should Slot wish to alter the contest during the second half.
For Liverpool supporters, the confirmed XI represents both experimentation and opportunity. For Tottenham, the journey to Anfield arrives during one of the most challenging stretches in their recent history.
As the teams step onto the pitch, attention will centre on whether Slot’s reshuffled Liverpool lineup can rediscover the authority that once defined their performances at Anfield.
Ancelotti backs Brazil: Chasing sixth World Cup is real motivation
Carlo Ancelotti has given one of his most personal interviews since taking charge of the Brazilian national team.
From his office at the CBF, the Italian coach spoke to Radio Marca to discuss his current role with the "Canarinha" and share several deep reflections on the current state of Real Madrid, a club with which he maintains an unbreakable emotional bond.
The coach did not hide the magnitude of the challenge ahead: bringing Brazil back to the top of world football. "They have been asking for the sixth for a long time. This is not just a goal; it is also a motivation," he stated firmly about the possibility of winning the sixth star.
Despite initial doubts about a foreign coach, Carlo feels fulfilled: "People welcome me very well here, I am very respected, and they like me a lot. It is a happy, joyful, and good-natured people."
How has Madrid changed in two years?
One of the most interesting points was his analysis of Real Madrid's evolution after the Fifteenth. Ancelotti explained that cycle changes are not easy: "Football changes with few things, and with that, the chemistry changes. It's not just about swapping Kroos for Mbappé."
According to the Italian, the departures of figures like Nacho or Carvajal's injury have forced an internal restructuring: "The old generation had created a fantastic environment, and a new one needs to come in with character. That doesn't happen with a click; it takes time."
Vinicius, his great reference
Regarding Vinícius Jr., his great asset both in Madrid and now with the national team, Ancelotti was emphatic in defending his competitiveness: "Vinicius has never failed in important matches. I don't remember a semifinal or quarterfinal where Vini has failed."
He also highlighted the winger's human side: "He is humble, cheerful, and with extraordinary talent. I am convinced he will have a great World Cup."
Carletto, convinced about this Madrid... and with a nod to Valverde
Finally, the coach analyzed the upcoming Champions League clash between Madrid and Manchester City. With his characteristic confidence, he bet on the whites advancing.
"Yes, Madrid will go through. They need to defend well and maintain balance. It's ideal." He even shared an anecdote with Fede Valverde after his great performance in the first leg: "I sent him a message. I said: 'It's a shame you don't have a Brazilian passport.'"
Monday's newspaper back pages are about Richarlison's all-important 90th minute equaliser against Liverpool on Sunday that could prove vital in Tottenham's attempt to pull away from the relegation zone.
It's left the media and pundits wondering whether a point at Anfield could be the turning point that Igor Tudor and Spurs need.
"The whole season has been very poor by their standards and the pressure was mounting on the new manager after another heavy defeat midweek," says former Premier League footballer Charlie Adam.
"To go to Anfield and get a point will look to kick-start the season for them because they are in the mix [of the relegation scrap]. They need to start getting results so that will hopefully give them some confidence going into the final run-in.
"They were well-organised, well-drilled and more competitive than they have been.
"They now just need to keep going so that Tottenham are in the Premier League next season."
Ex-England striker Wayne Rooney has praised Max Dowman's impact after the Arsenal winger became the Premier League's youngest goalscorer - but wonders if the 16-year-old might have to focus on his GCSEs for the rest of the season.
The teenager scored in a 2-0 win over Everton that helped the Gunners move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Rooney was once the Premier League's youngest scorer when he netted for Everton against Arsenal in 2002.
"He has got his GCSEs and his education, I'm sure for him and his family, is important as well," he said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
"What an opportunity for him to be around the squad. He could be a Premier League winner when he's still finishing school off.
"He's got an aura and a belief about him and it was the same against Everton. If it's education first, I don't think we'll see much of him over the next few weeks."
Rooney added: "He won't be in as much as he'd probably like, but then you've got many years ahead of you."
"He seems, from the games I've watched, to not let that pressure affect him because he gets the ball, he holds on to it, he commits defenders, he goes to take them on, and so he definitely looks like he's got a confidence about him.
"Mikel Arteta, some of the senior players in the Arsenal squad, will not let him get ahead of himself. But I think you have to enjoy it as well."
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes played a pivotal role in Sunday's 3-1 win over Aston Villa by providing two assists for Casemiro and Matheus Cunha.
The quality of his performance prompted high praise from former United striker Wayne Rooney on Match of the Day, who called him "a joy to watch and the best player in the league this season".
That was further echoed by former Premier League midfielder Charlie Adam on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast.
"He's a top player," Adam said. "We saw under Ruben Amorim that he was the shining light with his performances during a tough time but he's gone to another level since Michael Carrick came in.
"In fact, the team has gone to another level and they've put themselves right in the mix for Champions League football."
So could Fernandes go on to break the Premier League assist record this season?
With 16 assists, he has already achieved the most of any Manchester United player in a single campaign after going one more than David Beckham's record of 15 from the 1999-2000 season.
The Premier League record stands at 20 and is held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne, so with 10 games remaining that record is within Fernandes' reach.
Charlie Adam says his former side Liverpool "looked laboured" against Tottenham and that's why they were ultimately "undone" by a late equaliser by Richarlison.
"It's the dynamism and quality at the top of the pitch that's missing," Adam told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Arne Slot left Mohamed Salah out of the team again and played Jeremie Frimpong on the right-hand-side.
"Yes, he has pace and power but he doesn't have the quality of Salah.
"Everyone felt Liverpool were going to win this game easily but they looked laboured.
"There's no given right to win any football match in the Premier League, but they didn't play to the level they are capable of and that's why they were undone by a Richarlison goal.
Jack Dempsey is to leave Glasgow Warriors this summer after agreeing a deal to join a club in Japan.
The Scotland number eight was a standout performer in the Six Nations, delivering terrific displays in the victories over England and France, and the upcoming move leaves his future with the national team uncertain.
With the Japanese domestic season running from December to May, it is unclear if Dempsey will be available for the November fixtures of the Nations Championship.
He is unlikely to play in the 2027 Six Nations unless Scottish Rugby are able to negotiate a deal to release him from his club commitments to play in the tournament.
Any absence from the Test arena would impact his chances of selection for Gregor Townsend's squad for next year's Rugby World Cup.
Dempsey's national team-mate George Turner did not feature for Scotland during his year in Japan playing for Kobelco Kobe Steelers, only returning to the national fold when he joined English side Harlequins last summer.
It is understood terms had largely been agreed on a new contract for Dempsey to remain at Scotstoun beyond this season.
However, the length of the deal proved a sticking point in negotiations and Dempsey, who turns 32 next month, has decided to take up the lucrative offer to play his rugby in Japan.
He was a key figure in Glasgow's United Rugby Championship title win in 2024 and has become Scotland's undisputed first-choice number eight since making the switch from his native Australia - for whom he won 14 caps - in 2022.
Dempsey is one of a number of high-profile departures from the Warriors squad this summer, with Huw Jones and Adam Hastings both moving to France to join Toulon and Montpellier respectively.
Slot responds to Liverpool boos after late Tottenham equaliser
Arne Slot admitted he understands the frustration from supporters after the Reds were booed at full-time following the 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Anfield.
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It was another damaging result for us in the race for Champions League qualification, particularly given the circumstances of the equaliser.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s first-half free-kick had looked set to secure three points for the Reds, but Richarlison struck in the 90th minute to rescue a point for Spurs and leave the Anfield crowd visibly frustrated.
The reaction from sections of the crowd at the final whistle was clear.
Slot said: “I think it’s understandable for fans to be frustrated because it happened already so many times that they’ve seen the home team not picking up the points that they’re expecting to, us conceding goals in the last minute.”
Our manager acknowledged that the recurring nature of these late setbacks has understandably tested the patience of supporters.
Slot calls for response from Liverpool players
Rather than criticising the fans, the 47-year-old placed the responsibility squarely on himself and the players to respond.
Slot insisted that the frustration inside Anfield must now be used as motivation ahead of the next fixture.
The former Feyenoord boss explained: “Now it’s up to us to bring that frustration to Wednesday and come up with a big performance.”
He also emphasised that the squad must repay the backing they have received throughout the campaign.
The Dutchman added: “Because that we are all frustrated, that’s completely clear.
“And it’s now up to me and the players to take that frustration into Wednesday evening and show the fans the performance and the results they deserve.”
Late goals becoming a major Liverpool problem
The result against Tottenham continued a worrying trend that has plagued Liverpool throughout the season.
Richarlison’s stoppage-time equaliser was the eighth goal the Reds have conceded in the 90th minute or later in the Premier League this season, highlighting a recurring issue with closing games out.
That frustration was also reflected by pundits during the match.
MIAMI — Junior Caminero sat in the third-base dugout, glued to his seat while his teammates retreated inside, sinking into an unfamiliar feeling. To that point, his rollicking and resplendent Dominican Republic team had spent the World Baseball Classic outclassing and overwhelming its opponents, emphatically enjoying every second along the way. But this time, Caminero was left to watch someone else celebrate.
Moments earlier, the Dominicans fell 2-1 to Team USA in the WBC semifinals. It was a game that will be talked about for years to come, with the unprecedented amount of talent on display culminating in what felt like an All-Star Game with postseason tension. In the end, D.R. landed on the wrong side of the nail-biter, marking an abrupt end to a tournament run that at times seemed impossible to derail — at least until a foe with equal star power stood in its path.
“Just unbelievable,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said postgame. “That was high-level baseball at its finest.”
About two-and-a-half hours before he lingered forlorn in the dugout as the USA players traded high-fives in the infield, Caminero delivered the Dominicans yet another jolt of baseballing electricity. Facing super-ace Paul Skenes, who swiftly recorded five outs on 14 pitches to begin the game, Caminero uncorked his thunderous, right-handed swing and connected with a high-and-away sweeper on a 1-2 count, sending the ball over the left-field wall for a solo shot to open the scoring. It was his third homer of the tournament and the 15th by a Dominican batter in six games, a record for homers by a team in a single Classic.
As Caminero chucked his bat back toward the dugout and hopped his way to home plate to the delight of the Dominican-heavy crowd at loanDepot Park, another memorable night of prolific production at the plate and exuberant trips around the bases seemed to be in store for Team D.R. Instead, that turned out to be the last time a Dominican batter scored in this year’s tournament, as Skenes and a quintet of top-tier American relievers stymied the star-studded lineup from that point on.
With that outstanding collective effort on the mound, solo homers from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony and a pair of questionable strike-three calls falling in its favor, Team USA secured the one-run victory and punched its ticket to the championship, where it will face the winner of Monday’s semifinal between Italy and Venezuela.
After Caminero put his team on the board in the second inning Sunday, Team D.R. spent the remaining frames failing to cash in on run-scoring chances. The game was always within reach — the D.R. pitching staff delivered a remarkable effort of its own to tame a loaded American lineup that has yet to really break through against a quality opponent — but that next big hit never came. Fernando Tatis Jr. was thrown out at third base to end the third inning, rather than Juan Soto coming to bat with runners on first and second. Austin Wells flied out with the bases loaded to end the fourth. Soto grounded into a double play against submariner Tyler Rogers to end the fifth. It took Griffin Jax just seven pitches to retire Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado and Caminero in the sixth. David Bednar wiggled out of a second-and-third, one-out situation in the seventh, striking out Tatis and Ketel Marte to inch USA closer to victory.
In the middle innings, Dominican scoring opportunities were undeniably squandered. Later on, however, a difficult night for the D.R. lineup became more challenging for reasons beyond its control. Leading off the eighth, the ever-dangerous Soto was rung up on a slider below the zone by home plate umpire Cory Blaser. And in the ninth, with two outs and the tying run on third, another slider — this time from Mason Miller, and this time even farther below the zone — was called strike three on Geraldo Perdomo rather than ball four, eliminating the chance of a D.R. rally with Tatis the next man up. That call also ended the contest with a groan, lessening the chance that this last-out highlight will sustain as one worth replaying for years to come.
Bad calls in big moments are far from a novelty in this game’s history, but the circumstances of this pair of blunders from Blaser were particularly cruel. That’s because these WBC games will be the last of consequence played without the ABS challenge system, which is being introduced in MLB this year to provide teams with a means of recourse when they disagree with ball-strike calls.
But the system is not in place for this tournament, so Perdomo had no option to protest the last pitch he saw. Adding to the evolving dynamic of strike-zone judgment are the specific hitters who were hurt by these calls: Soto and Perdomo had the lowest and seventh-lowest chase rates among all qualified hitters last season. On Sunday, their advanced plate discipline went unrewarded in unfair fashion at the worst possible time.
Those two missed calls are sure to be lamented in the Dominican Republic for years to come. But the umpiring misfires are a fraction of what unfolded in Sunday’s semifinal, and they shouldn’t overshadow what was a spectacular showing from Team USA on the mound. A Dominican offense that exploded for 51 runs across its first five games was held to one — one! — tally by USA’s six pitchers. Skenes wasn’t nearly at his best, yielding a healthy amount of hard contact and benefitting from some terrific defense behind him, but he still set the tone for what came after: a comprehensive demonstration of Team USA’s mighty mound talent, from ace-level starters to funky relievers to unflappable high-leverage hurlers to fireballing closers.
“Yeah, the D.R. is the toughest lineup I've ever faced, for sure,” Skenes said afterward. “I think they would probably say the same thing about facing us.”
"You go into a game with a lineup of guys that are staples in the middle of every order around the league, some of the best players in our game,” Miller said. “You got to be at your best because you know that they are."
Indeed, once the D.R. got rolling in pool play, it became clear that it would take an extraordinary collection of arms to slow this offense down. But that’s exactly what Team USA brought to the table, delivering on the pre-tournament hype that USA Baseball had finally assembled a pitching staff that resembled the best it had to offer — in contrast to the American arms who appeared in the WBC three years ago.
The entire purpose of the USA putting together a pitching staff of this caliber was to be well-equipped when encountering a lineup as powerful as the Dominican Republic’s. And when that marquee matchup finally arrived, the pitching plan headlined by Skenes and punctuated by Miller recorded the necessary outs to stifle such an astonishing array of hitters, sending the Americans to the championship and the Dominicans back to spring training.
For the starter and closer, perhaps the best examples of USA Baseball recruiting its top arms to participate in this tournament, games such as Sunday’s are exactly what they signed up for.
“I don’t think it was a hard decision,” Miller said of joining Team USA. “This is something that is an extremely high honor for a lot of players that would love to be in our position, love to have this opportunity. So it's not something that I took for granted when I was asked to be a part of it. It was an immediate yes.”
“It was an easy decision for me,” Skenes said. “There are sacrifices that you have to make. You have to do a little more in the offseason to do things a little bit differently. But easy decision.
Andy Robertson is a potential target for Celtic, whose hopes of signing Julian Araujo permanently have also been boosted...
Andy Robertson is a summer transfer target for Celtic and could be lured to Scotland with the right offer this summer (Football Insider).
Ferencvaros' sporting directior says no club has yet shown an interest in manager Robbie Keane despite links with Celtic (Scottish Sun).
Celtic's chances of keeping right-back Julian Araujo beyond his loan from Bournemouth have been given a boost (Daily Record).
Liverpool have won the race to sign highly-rated Celtic youngster Dara Jikiemi (TEAMtalk).
Celtic winger Hyun-jun Yang says he is finding life at the club easier in his third season (Daily Record).
Hibernian defender Warren O'Hora says the team need to embrace the expectation from fans to be challenging higher in the league (Edinburgh Evening News).
Jim Goodwin has described Dundee United's late collapse against Dundee as "pathetic" (Courier).
Lê "Hizto" Văn Hoàng Hải of Team Secret Whales is seen onstage at League of Legends Worlds 2025 Swiss Stage on October 16, 2025 in Beijing, China.
The reality when it comes to competitive League of Legends is that Korea’s League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) and China’s League of Legends Professional League (LPL) are the top two regions in the global ecosystem.
That doesn’t mean the remainder of Asia is willing to just throw in the towel to those regions. Enter the League of Legends Champions Pacific (LCP), incorporating eight teams from Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Team Secret Whales emerged victorious from the 2026 LCP Split 1, finishing 9-1 overall to earn a spot in São Paulo, Brazil, to take part in First Stand 2026. They open their tournament Monday against a European side, G2 Esports.
“We have made it through the LCP to bring Vietnam to be the representative of the region,” TSW jungler Lê "Hizto" Văn Hoàng Hải said.
Split 1 started off rocky for Team Secret Whales, with a 1-1 record in the first two weeks. TSW rallied, winning their next eight series to earn the LCP’s slot in Brazil.
“In the very beginning of this split, we had a lot of problems going on,” Lê said. “But as we move into the playoffs, we have made major improvements, and we have become way better.”
TSW ranks 16th in the first edition of the League of Legends Global Power Rankings, though the rankings can be skewed by 2025’s season despite roster shakeups.
TSW is still early in its history. The team was formed in December 2024, following a merger of two Vietnamese teams – Team Whales and Team Secret. The 2025 season was a strong year for the first-year team. They began the 2025 season ranked 36th in the world but gradually improved to finish 21st.
More importantly, the end of 2025 provided Team Secret Whales with something far more valuable: an opportunity to travel to their first international. TSW qualified for the 2025 World Championships in China, finishing in the 12-14th place range.
“We have proven to the world that we are definitely not a weak region at all,” Lê said.
The international experience was valuable, as it gave Lê and his teammates the chance to play against other high-level players from other regions. His experience is typical of many first-time players on the international stage.
“After last year’s Worlds, I was able to meet a lot of new people. I was able to encounter a lot of strong opponents in my games,” he said. “As I went home, I started setting out new standards for myself. I started raising the bar so that I could become better.”
The mindset isn’t limited to Lê and Team Secret Whales. Lê credits the overall dedication of players in the country to growing collectively, not only to define the country’s player expression and style, but also to create a strong competitive scene where experiences like traveling to international events can be had.
“Each player developed themselves, they work together more closely,” Lê said. “Vietnam as a region has a very distinctive playstyle, which leans more towards teamfight than mechanics and solo kills.”
Lê is the second youngest player at the event. At 18, he is one month older than Korean bottom laner Nam “Diable” Dae-geun of BNK FEARX, the youngest player at First Stand 2026. It might only be Lê’s second international tournament, but he looks at every chance to play in another country as a blank canvas.
“Every time I go to an international tournament, it’s like opening a new chapter for myself,” he said. “It feels like you’re opening up your own new world.”
For Lê, and for Vietnam, the world is still opening up.
Paul Delos Santos covers the Fighting Game Community and Riot Games ecosystem for The Sporting Tribune and Inside Esports, a newsletter publishing every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe at insideesports.media.
UEFA thanks Real Madrid after Finalissima plans collapse despite Bernabeu proposal
European football’s governing body UEFA has publicly thanked Real Madrid for their cooperation and support during efforts to organise the highly anticipated Finalissima match between Argentina and Spain.
The fixture, originally scheduled to take place on March 27, has now been officially cancelled following unsuccessful negotiations between the different parties involved.
In an official statement, UEFA explained that several options had been explored to ensure the game could go ahead, with Santiago Bernabeu Stadium emerging as the primary venue.
UEFA revealed that hosting the match at the Bernabeu was considered the most realistic alternative.
“The first option was to hold the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on the original date, with 50% of the fans in the stadium.
“This would have provided a world-class setting, befitting such a prestigious event, but Argentina refused,” UEFA explained, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
There was a second proposal
The governing body also revealed that a second proposal had been presented in an attempt to find a compromise between both federations.
Santiago Bernabeu was proposed to host the Finalissima. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
“The second option was to play the Finalissima as a two-legged series.
One leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 27 and the other in Buenos Aires during an international window before the 2028 European Championship and Copa America, again offering a 50-50 fan split for the match in Madrid.
“This option was also rejected,” UEFA revealed.
Acknowledging Real Madrid
Despite the collapse of the project, UEFA took time to publicly acknowledge the efforts made by Real Madrid and other organisations that attempted to make the match possible.
“European football’s governing body wished to express its sincere gratitude to Real Madrid CF, the organising committee, and the Qatari authorities for their support and cooperation in the attempt to organise this match.
“In the case of Real Madrid, their efforts were made with extremely short notice,” the statement added.
Laporta received 32,934 votes, representing 68.18% of the total, a result that confirmed the overwhelming support he continues to enjoy among Barcelona members.
The election day itself was filled with emotion for the Barcelona president.
Throughout the day, early poll indications suggested Laporta was heading towards a decisive win.
Despite the strong projections, the president remained cautious and attempted to contain his excitement until the official result was announced.
Wild celebration
Once the final count confirmed his triumph, however, the celebrations quickly began.
Laporta and members of his team embraced the moment as they gathered to mark the victory that reaffirmed the confidence of the Barcelona membership.
After being officially proclaimed president for the next five years, Laporta addressed the media while surrounded by members of his candidacy and the executives who will form his new board of directors.
The Barcelona president made his ambitions clear, promising supporters an exciting future for the club.
“These years will be passionate and magnificent. We will become unstoppable,” he said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.
Thanking everyone
Laporta also took the opportunity to thank several key figures within the club who participated in the election process, including head coach Hansi Flick, sporting director Deco, and Bojan Krkic.
“It’s good that Barça’s coach participated.”
Finally, Laporta delivered a passionate message to Barcelona members, emphasising that the overwhelming nature of the victory will give the club renewed strength moving forward.
“This result is resounding and gives us a lot of strength. So much so that it makes us unstoppable.
“No one will stop us, friends. We will continue to fight against everything and everyone.
“Exciting years are ahead that will be the best years of our lives for Barça and its members. Visca el Barça and Visca Catalunya!”
Arne Slot must axe 'horrendous' Liverpool star after what he did
Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams put in rather terrible performances during their Premier League clash and, if we're being honest, a draw seemed like a fair result.
However, with how poor Spurs have been over the last few weeks, Sunday's clash should have been a game where Liverpool came out on top.
In the end, that's not how things worked out with this performance casting doubts about whether the Anfield outfit have what it takes to even beat Galatasaray in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
If Liverpool don't manage to emerge from that game triumphant, some serious questions will need to be asked and their hopes for Champions League qualification will rest solely on their Premier League performance.
At this moment in time, that's far from ideal which means that Arne Slot must do everything he can to try and beat Galatasaray on Saturday, no matter what.
Arne Slot must axe Alexis Mac Allister from his Liverpool starting XI vs Galatasaray
For the last few years Alexis Mac Allister has been one of the first names on Liverpool's team sheet.
No matter where the Argentinian has been played, he's always been one of the Reds' hardest workers and has often been a level above his teammates.
However, much like the rest of the team, that's been far from the case this season with the former Brighton man falling well below expectations.
And, Sunday's 1-1 draw against Tottenham was no different, in fact, it was arguably one of his worst games of the campaign.
From the very first minute the midfielder looked uninterested and whenever he did try and make a move, it looked like his feet were stuck in cement.
This version of Mac Allister is far from the version that Jurgen Klopp brought to Anfield and, if Slot doesn't axe him against Galatasaray on Wednesday, the same outcome is likely to occur.
Alexis Mac Allister must perform better for Liverpool
The 2025-26 season has been a complete disaster for Liverpool, there's no way to sugar coat it.
No matter what formation, system or players Slot tries to use, nothing seems to be working with the Anfield outfit often ending up on the back foot.
Liverpool's midfield is one of their most stacked areas so it makes no sense for Slot to continue sticking with Mac Allister.
Others such as Curtis Jones, Trey Nyoni or even Dominik Szoboszlai could all do a far better job.
As per Sofascore, during the 89 minutes that the Argentinian was on the pitch, he only won 16 per cent of his ground duels and was dribbled past four times.
This performance would be acceptable if it was just a one off but the fact that this is yet another "horrendous" performance from Mac Allister proves how poor he's actually been.
Indeed, Jones, Nyoni or Szoboszlai could all end up performing the same way but, at this moment in time, it feels like anything would be better than Mac Allister starting in a must-win game against Galatasaray.
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That came after the 1-1 draw at home to struggling Tottenham Hotspur yesterday as Arne Slot’s side spurned yet another opportunity to capitalise on dropped points for their rivals in the race for Champions League football.
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Keane calls Liverpool ‘bad champions’ who were ‘partying too much’
Speaking on punditry duty for Sky Sports, Keane bemoaned: “I’ve said it before and I’ve said it a number of times – Liverpool are bad champions, and they were bad champions a few years ago. They’re now 21 points behind Arsenal – what a drop-off that is. That is so bad.
“When you win league titles, sometimes the challenge is the following year. Can you back it up? You can have a drop-off; City have had a drop-off recently by their high standards but they’re still competing in second or third. They’re not 20-30 points behind the team who’s winning the league. That’s a drop-off.”
Keane felt that the root of the Reds’ current problems stemmed back to the tail end of last season, when he criticised Slot and the players for going on holidays after the Premier League title had been won.
The pundit said: “I was critical of Liverpool towards the end of last season. I thought they were almost partying too much. They were partying with four weeks to go and there were celebrations after every home game and you’re going, ‘You’re Liverpool Football Club. Are you not expected to win league titles?’
“Enjoy it, don’t get me wrong, but let’s back it up next year. That’s why you’re playing for the big clubs.”
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The same old, same old from Keane
There’s no disputing that Liverpool have suffered an abysmal defence of their top-flight crown, which realistically had ended by November, but Keane’s ‘bad champions’ narrative is just getting tiresome now.
The Reds are fifth with a 21-point gap to Arsenal. That’s poor, but it’s far from the worst title defence put up by a defending champion in the Premier League era.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Where was the same energy from Keane when Chelsea finished 10th in 2015/16, 31 points behind Leicester? Or when the Foxes plummeted to 12th the following year and were 49 points off the pace set by Chelsea? Or even his beloved Manchester United in 2013/14 when they were seventh and 22 points adrift of Manchester City.
Also, we’re not having this accusation that Liverpool were wrong to switch off towards the end of last season after winning the title. The players had earned the right to enjoy the final month of the campaign, a rarity in an ever-intensifying football calendar which leaves minimal room to breathe.
The Sky Sports pundit could point to multiple facets of the Reds’ play which are legitimate grounds for criticism – poor finishing, lack of penetration in attack, slow build-up play, weak set-piece defending, the lack of a killer mindset when leading, late lapses in concentration – but instead he goes for the clichéd cheap shot that we’ve heard before.
Liverpool have two months of the season left to prove Keane wrong and show that they can salvage something from a hitherto dreadful campaign.
Emily van Egmond will become Australia's most-capped player in the Asian Cup semi-final against China (Saeed KHAN)
Australia coach Joe Montemurro urged his team Monday to be brave in their Women's Asian Cup semi-final against defending champions China, who are wary of the hosts' attacking prowess.
The Matildas scraped into the last four after a 2-1 win over North Korea in which they were on the back foot for much of the game.
"We haven't always been brave enough to control the ball, and as you all know, my way of thinking is with the ball," said Montemurro ahead of the clash in Perth on Tuesday.
"So obviously the focus has been on that. We're playing a team that is very, very well structured, very well organised."
Australia received a boost with star players Steph Catley and Hayley Raso both declared fit after missing the quarter-final with concussion.
The semi-final will be extra special for Leicester City midfielder Emily van Egmond, who will become Australia's most-capped player in her 170th game, surpassing Clare Polkinghorne.
Van Egmond has played at four World Cups, three Olympic Games and three Asian Cups, and said it was all about collective effort.
"We've worked hard to reach the semi-finals and it's all about team performance," said the 32-year-old, who Montemurro called "one of the best footballers that we've produced".
Australia have the benefit of an extra day's rest following their efforts against North Korea on Friday.
China played a day later and needed to toil through extra time to tame Taiwan 2-0 in a game that saw key striker Wang Shuang pick up a second yellow card.
She is suspended for the semis, but China have a coach who knows Australia very well.
Ante Milicic coached the Matildas at the 2019 World Cup, leading them to the round of 16, and always keeps close tabs on them.
"I always follow the Matildas from afar and track the players' journey," he said.
"Right now I'm enjoying my time with China, and leading them to the semi-finals is a dream for me and the staff."
Milicic is particularly wary of the threat posed up front by Australia's Sam Kerr, Raso and Caitlin Foord.
"These forward players of Australia can unlock any defence and have been performing at the top level for a long time," he said.
"Defensively we have to be very strong.
"We not only have to contain Australia's attacking threat, but we have also shown that we can attack and need to find the right balance."
The winner will face either Japan or South Korea in Saturday's final in Sydney.
Chelsea fan group announce plans for another protest against the club’s owners
A Chelsea fan group have announced plans for yet another protest against this current ownership group.
It will be the third protest organised by Chelsea fans against Clearklake and Todd Boehly in the four years since they bought the club after Roman Abramovich was forced to sell it by the UK Government.
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Blues fans have been fuming at a lot of stuff the owners have done and have not done, with many of them now sick and tired of the so-called project that has been put in place by the owners.
The organisers of the protest will be hoping for a much bigger turn out if they want to have any effect at all. But either way, the fact that they want to protest again is very damning for this ownership group.
The plans
Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart with Behdad Eghbali.
The fan group, named ‘Not a Project CFC’ posted this update via their X account yesterday:
‘We would like to announce that further protest action is being planned.
‘In light of recent events and the continued erosion of the values that once defined Chelsea Football Club, we believe “it’s fucking obvious” sustained action is required.
‘Since the first protest we have engaged with numerous fan groups and organisations. We recognise that not everyone feels comfortable standing outside the ground protesting, but we would welcome the support of those who, like us, believe the current state of the club and the direction it is heading cannot continue.
‘One of the key reflections since the last protest is that the message must be aligned and the fanbase needs to be united. It is clear to us that the current ownership are not listening. They do not care about supporter concerns and they are jeopardising the future of our football club.
‘Our message is simple.
‘BlueCo / Clearlake Out.
‘We are currently finalising the details of the next protest. We are also looking to organise opportunities for fans who may have concerns about protesting but still want a space to share their frustrations and engage with others who feel the same way.
‘We also want to be clear that the message on the day must remain focused. The protest is about the ownership and the direction of the club.
‘That means:
‘No Tottenham songs
‘No chants about former or current players
‘No chants about former or current managers
‘All of our energy should be directed at the same message.
‘BlueCo / Clearlake Out.
‘Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.’
In other news…
Liam Rosenior has summed up Chelsea’s issues after yet another defeat on the pitch at the weekend by saying they could be contained intwo main “aspects.”
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Not just an accurate passer, but a precision passer; he is spectacular at putting the ball in a position for his receivers to do work after the catch.
Advanced decision-maker, especially as his team gets in scoring position (39 TDs and no INTs inside the opposition’s 20-yard line since 2024, per PFF).
Was not asked to work through his reads very often but does not get stuck on one read or hesitate to cut it loose when he sees a throw he likes.
Possesses a great feel for the type of throw that is needed in every situation, something that is not overly surprising given his 35 career starts.
Better athletic ability than one might expect; while he is far from a big-play threat as a runner, he proved time and again he can at least move the chains if he is not accounted for as a runner.
Absorbed numerous huge hits throughout career and seemed to be no worse for wear for it; unaffected as a thrower when the pass rush closes in on him.
Negatives
Even at 235 pounds, he still likely needs to add more muscle to protect himself against the punishment he is likely to endure in the NFL.
First reaction is to fade away or take off and run (as opposed to sliding around the pocket) when he feels pressure.
Too quick to look at the rush and abandon the pocket.
Leads his receiver into traffic too often on inside throws.
While his decision-making is excellent as a passer, he repeatedly puts himself in harm's way on scrambles and designed runs.
Occasionally gets lazy with his footwork on quick throws.
Bottom Line
At his best (and particularly when he feels comfortable in the pocket), Mendoza can pick apart a defense with precision passing. He doesn't just put the ball in the general area for his receivers, the ball is almost always where it needs to be so his receiver does not have to break stride. Tight-window throws do not face him at all either, which has to be a byproduct of the confidence he has in his accuracy. On the downside, the pass rush noticeably affects him when it is consistent and he lacks the athleticism to make defenses devote resources to account for him if he escapes pressure. Indiana also did not ask him to cycle through his progressions very often, instead opting to give him a plethora of RPOs and easy-money throws within five yards of the line of scrimmage.
With that said, Mendoza is an excellent deep-ball thrower with exceptional accuracy (52.7% completion rate on throws that traveled more than 20 yards down the field). It also made sense for the Hoosiers to have Mendoza play work more as a point guard than someone who needed to carry the offense: Indiana was very good at running the ball and had one of the best defenses in college football. He is ready to play Day 1 as a passer; his accuracy is already NFL-caliber and his ability to process quickly will give him a chance to avoid some of the punishment young quarterbacks generally suffer as they are getting acclimated to the next level. The most immediate concerns for Mendoza figure to be durability and pocket presence. There is little question his new coach will make it clear very quickly that he needs to learn how to protect himself better. Learning how to feel the rush will take more time. It is the primary reason why Mendoza is not the kind of quarterback who should be expected to start Week 1 and dominate as a rookie. He should eventually emerge into a quality NFL starter, but it will likely take the perfect fit for him to become something more than that.
Cameron Norrie has a career-high ranking of eighth in the world [Getty Images]
Cameron Norrie has replaced Jack Draper as the British men's number one - but it is a position which could change hands several times this year.
Both players lost in the Indian Wells quarter-finals last week, and Draper - who was defending the title and 1,000 ranking points to boot - has fallen 12 places to 26th in the world as a consequence.
Norrie, meanwhile, has climbed five spots to 24th to become British number one for the second time in his career.
"It's a nice thing, obviously, but I'm not really thinking about that too much," Norrie, 30, told BBC Sport.
He was impressed that Draper, working his way back to full sharpness after a long arm injury lay-off, managed to reach the last eight in Indian Wells.
Draper defeated Novak Djokovic along the way before losing to Daniil Medvedev.
"It's unfortunate Jack's been out with injury but I just want to say that was extremely impressive - his second tournament back and he's already competing at that level," Norrie said.
"I don't think there's too many players that can do that. I was out with injury for three or four months and it took me four or five tournaments to really start feeling OK.
"He's already competing with the best. I think we are going to be battling for the spot for the rest of the year."
There are just 43 points and two places between Norrie and Draper in the rankings.
Neither has a good record at the Miami Open, which starts later this week, and they have virtually no points to defend there from last year.
Draper could retake pole position immediately if he goes at least a round further than Norrie in Florida.
After that, the pendulum may swing Norrie's way, as Draper had impressive results during last year's European clay-court swing, including a run to the Madrid final and the quarter-finals in Rome.
After Wimbledon, though, Draper has only 50 points to defend for the rest of the year, and so will have the chance to gain ground rapidly.
Of more pressing concern to Draper will be whether his ranking can stay high enough for him to be among the seeds for May's French Open.
With all those clay-court ranking points to defend, Draper will have to play very well to be among the top 32 seeds in Paris.
It is a coveted position, as a seed cannot play another seed before the third round.
Norrie success 'great for British tennis' - Draper
Cameron Norrie beat Jack Draper at Wimbledon in July 2024 - one month after Draper replaced him as British number one [Getty Images]
Draper had been British number one since June 2024 when he took over from Norrie, who had held the position since October 2021 when he won Indian Wells.
The 24-year-old has only played two ranking tournaments since last August's US Open, having returned from injury in February.
Before the injury, Draper was steadily building his way to the top of the game.
He reached the 2024 US Open semi-finals, won the biggest title of his career at Indian Wells six months later and reached as high as fourth in the world rankings in June.
The friendly British rivalry with Norrie could help to nudge him back towards the top 10.
"Cam is playing some great tennis," Draper said.
"He's been really consistent. I think it's great for British tennis that he's back playing really well - a former top-10 player who had a really tough injury with his forearm a couple of years ago.
"I'm really happy for him and his team and if we can keep on pushing each other to play well, that's only a great thing."
Rankings are calculated over a 12-month period, with players effectively defending points they won at the same tournament a year earlier.
Draper's absence from the tour is the overriding reason why he has lost the British top spot, but Norrie has had an excellent run after falling outside the top 90 in April.
He reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July and beat world number one Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Masters in October.
"I was in a tough spot," Norrie said. "Just a little bit too much expectation, but I let that go and enjoyed my tennis a bit more, and then suddenly I finished inside the top 30 at the end of last year."
Flick talks Gavi, Cancelo, Lamine, Pedri, Joan Garcia after Barcelona 5-2 Sevilla
Hansi Flick was pleased with the result but far from satisfied with the overall performance after Barcelona secured an entertaining 5-2 victory against Sevilla in La Liga.
The German coach approached the match with caution, as Barcelona are entering a crucial stage of the season, with a decisive UEFA Champions League clash against Newcastle United looming.
While the win over Sevilla strengthened the team’s domestic momentum, Flick made it clear that improvement is still needed if Barcelona are to compete for silverware during the final two and a half months of the campaign.
Speaking after the match, Flick admitted that despite the scoreline, he was not entirely happy with aspects of Barcelona’s play.
“We need to do better. Our passing was a bit slow, and we lacked pace. But, of course, we’re happy about the win and Gavi’s return.
“For him, it’s an important step in the right direction. Today, with such a comfortable lead, the situation was right for him to come on.
“Everyone at Barça is happy he’s back. Ronald decided to give him the captain’s armband… it was his decision. And that shows the atmosphere in the locker room.”
Conceding two goals
Cancelo was on the scoresheet. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Despite scoring five goals, Barcelona conceded twice late in stoppage time, something Flick was clearly not pleased about.
Reflecting on those defensive lapses, he explained where the team went wrong.
“Yes, but a goal starts when the play begins, not just there. And when you lose the ball, you have to press.
“There are players who have been very good, like Olmo, Raphinha, Cancelo… But I insist, there are things the team needs to improve.”
Among the players singled out for praise was new signing Joao Cancelo, who delivered an impressive performance, including a goal and winning penalties.
“He needed time to adjust to certain things. He’d played his last matches in November and hadn’t seen any playing time, but he’s fantastic.
“He scored a great goal and also drew the penalties. I think signing him was the right decision.”
On Lamine and Pedri
The German tactician also explained his decision to initially leave teenage sensation Lamine Yamal on the bench, before eventually bringing him into the match.
Lamine Yamal was rested. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
“It’s good to play. You have to stay sharp. And Roony had been having some issues. But I already knew before the game that Lamine would play.”
Barcelona’s goalkeeper Joan Garcia also endured a frustrating moment after conceding late goals. Flick admitted that goalkeepers rarely accept such moments calmly.
“I’ve never seen a goalkeeper happy when he lets in goals. I think on the first goal we could have pressed better, and on the 5-2, we could have been a bit smarter.
“Pass the ball and let them move, but… We’re always thinking about attacking.”
Finally, Flick addressed the delicate management of Pedri, who has recently returned from injury and must be handled carefully.
“I don’t know. We’ll have to adapt. We have to take it step by step, but I’m happy that he can play and that he’s available.
“If it’s 45 minutes, fine. If it’s 60, better. And if it’s 90, perfect. But he’s had two injuries, and we have to be careful,” he concluded.
Real Madrid midfielder under extreme pressure as academy star steps ahead in pecking order
While the atmosphere around Real Madrid is currently one of excitement following important victories over Manchester City and Elche, not everything appears to be going smoothly for midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, the French international is currently experiencing one of his most complicated periods since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu.
This is because, despite being considered a highly talented and versatile player, Camavinga has struggled to fully align with the team’s current momentum.
Unable to cope
During the match against Elche, Camavinga found himself under scrutiny after making a mistake that ultimately led to the opposition scoring.
The reaction from sections of the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu was noticeable, with some supporters expressing their frustration by booing the midfielder.
While criticism from the stands is not unusual at Real Madrid, it showed the growing pressure surrounding the 23-year-old.
Camavinga is losing his relevance. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Recent events have also contributed to the difficult situation, as Camavinga was previously absent from the squad for the match against Celta Vigo due to a toothache.
However, some observers interpreted the situation negatively, with reports suggesting that he was labelled as “unengaged,” something that has further fuelled discussion about his role in the team.
Lagging behind
At the same time, Real Madrid’s academy continues to produce promising talents, and several young players are pushing hard for opportunities in the first team.
One of those players is Thiago Pitarch. The 18-year-old has recently gained attention after being trusted with an important role during the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Man City.
In a decision that surprised many, coach Alvaro Arbeloa opted to select Pitarch ahead of Camavinga.
For Camavinga, the situation is challenging, especially since he is now in his fifth season at Real Madrid.
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels coach Josh Pastner coaches his team from the sideline during the second round of a Mountain West Championship tournament game between the UNLV and Utah State on Thursday March 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Turns out the first year of the Josh Pastner era at UNLV will feature postseason play after all.
On Sunday, while the Rebels missed out on the NCAA Tournament for the 13th consecutive year, they have been selected to participate in the NIT tournament.
UNLV will begin its NIT run against the UC Irvine Anteaters on Mar. 17 at 8 p.m. local time.
“We're excited to receive an invitation to the NIT and grateful for the opportunity to continue our season," Pastner said in a statement. "Any time you get the chance to keep competing with your group, it's something you appreciate. For us, especially in our first year building this program, it's a great chance to continue our positive trajectory toward our larger goals."
It will be the second time in three years UNLV has participated in the NIT, advancing to the quarterfinals in 2024 before being knocked out by Seton Hall.
They face an Anteaters team that will be feeling somewhat slighted, winning the Big West regular season title but seeing their tournament bid disappear after falling to Hawaii in the conference championship game on Saturday.
This matchup will be the first time since 2012 that UNLV and UC Irvine will face off, when freshman Anthony Bennett lead the then-24th ranked Rebels to an 85-57 rout.
The winner of the game will await the winner of Tulsa and Stephen F. Austin in the second round, which will take place at a currently undisclosed location on either March 21 or 22.
UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) celebrates during a Big Ten Conference college basketball game against the Arizona Wildcats, Friday November 14, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif.
LOS ANGELES - It's official, UCLA has earned a spot in the NCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament.
The Bruins were named the No. 7 seed in the East bracket and the path ahead of them looks difficult, to say the least.
Their first opponent will be No. 10 UCF on March 20 in Philadelphia, but beyond that the road ahead will be a true test for the surging Bruins. Their potential second-round opponent could be No, 2 UConn, pitting the Bruins against a true powerhouse in men's basketball.
Netting a tournament spot at all, let alone the seventh-seed, is a true testament to the journey that the Bruins have been on this season.
With just a handful of games left in the season, especially after back-to-back brutal losses against both Michigan and Michigan State, put UCLA's chances at the national tournament as a long shot, with a spot in the First Four looking like an optimistic projection.
But, a strong showing at the end of the season changed all of that. Huge wins against Illinois, Nebraska and USC dramatically changed UCLA's tournament outlook and the Bruins followed that up by reaching the semifinals of the Big Ten conference tournament, toppling Michigan State in the process for some revenge.
Seniors Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent, arguably the two biggest proponents of UCLA's late-season success, both suffered injuries by the time that UCLA was bounced from the Big Ten tournament by Purdue, but it looks like the two star seniors will be back in action by the time the first round begins.
Playing their first game on Friday as opposed to Thursday definitely works in the Bruins' favor as it gives Bilodeau and Dent extra time to recover as much as they can.
Where The Bruins Can Go in the Tournament
With their firepower back in the lineup and the chemistry of the team at an all-time high, UCLA could prove to be more than anyone bargained for in the tournament.
UCLA guard Donovan Dent (2) dribbles past defenders during an NCAA basketball game against SDSU, Friday October 17, 2025 in San Diego, California.
Aaron Brenner – The Sporting Tribune
UCLA guard Donovan Dent (2) dribbles past defenders during an NCAA basketball game against SDSU, Friday October 17, 2025 in San Diego, California.
As tough of a challenge as the potential of UConn presents, the Bruins have shown that they can topple big teams before. They did so against Illinois, Nebraska and Purdue in the regular season and Michigan State in the tournament, so truly nothing is certain when it comes to when or if the Bruins will be knocked out of the tournament at all.
But, before all of that can be considered, UCF will have to be dealt with first.
Monday’s matchup between the Penguins and Avalanche brings together two teams heading in different directions, which only adds to the intrigue.
Pittsburgh enters the game looking to steady itself, while Colorado comes home with momentum and getting another big night from Nathan MacKinnon, who continues to drive one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.
The Penguins still have the kind of veteran star power that can make any game uncomfortable, especially with Sidney Crosby leading the way, but this one sets up as a major test against an Avalanche group that has been piling up points and pushing the pace.
With Colorado back at Ball Arena and Pittsburgh trying to snap out of a rough stretch, Monday’s game has the feel of a matchup that could get intense in a hurry.
Looking to tune in? Here’s everything you need to know about watching Pens vs. Avs, including start time and streaming information.
Canadian viewers won’t find Penguins vs. Avalanche on a standard English TV broadcast. The game will stream exclusively on Prime Monday Night Hockey for Canadian Prime members at no additional cost.
Penguins vs. Avalanche start time
Date: Monday, March 16
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
The Penguins and Avalanche are set to get underway at 9:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 16. The matchup will take place at Ball Arena in Denver, CO.
The first midweek action of the 2026 K League 1 season sees seven teams go in search of their first wins of the season, including Incheon United at home to Daejeon Hana Citizen and Gimcheon Sangmu hosting Gwangju FC.
Match of the Round
Pohang eye first win as FC Seoul chase third straight victory
Round 4 sees Pohang Steelers take on FC Seoul. Pohang currently sit ninth after drawing their opening two matches, while Seoul are second in the table after back-to-back league wins. In the last 10 meetings between the sides, Pohang hold a slight edge with three wins, five draws and two defeats. They also had the upper hand last season, recording two wins, one draw and one loss.
Pohang have drawn both of their opening games and are still searching for their first victory of the season. This year they have shown to be aggressive with their press, posting a 50% tackle success rate in the attacking third. They have also performed well in aerial duels in attacking areas, with a success rate of 56.2%. However, they have lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
FC Seoul, meanwhile, claimed a dramatic 2-1 win over Jeju SK in Round 3, with Lee Seung-mo scoring the winner just before full time to secure their second consecutive K League victory of the season. The capital side have been efficient in attack, registering 26 shots and 13 on target across their first two matches. Their crossing success rate of 26.3% ranks second in the league, highlighting their strong wing play. Wide players such as Song Min-kyu, Moon Seon-min and Jung Seung-won have been particularly influential. New signing Song Min-kyu has made an immediate impact, recording one goal and one assist in two appearances. Having previously thrived under head coach Kim Gi-dong at Pohang, Song has quickly established himself at Seoul as well.
The match will take place on Wednesday 18th March at 7:30 PM KST at Pohang Steel Yard.
Incheon target revenge for first win of the season
Incheon United ended a run of defeats with a 1-1 draw away to Pohang in Round 3. Having earned a valuable point on the road, they now return home looking to claim their first win of the campaign.
Incheon showed attacking intent in their previous two matches, recording 17 shots against Gwangju in Round 2 and 11 against Pohang in Round 3. However, they were left frustrated after failing to convert key chances. Stefan Mugosa has been in strong form, registering two goals and one assist, contributing an attacking return in every match so far. New arrivals Oh Hu-seong and Seo Jae-min have also shown promise in attack. If Gerso Fernandes and Park Seung-ho rediscover their scoring touch, Incheon could be capable of producing a high-scoring performance in this round.
Defensively, however, Incheon have looked vulnerable. They conceded two goals against Seoul in Round 1, three against Gwangju in Round 2 and one against Pohang in Round 3. In each of their three matches they have allowed at least four shots inside the penalty area, meaning defensive concentration in front of goal will be crucial if they are to secure a win this week.
Incheon face Daejeon in Round 4, the team that condemned them to relegation in Round 37 of the 2024 season. The match is scheduled for Wednesday 18th March at 7:30 PM at Incheon Football Stadium.
Watch live on K League TV with English commentary: here
Player of the Round
Gimcheon Sangmu's defensive marshal, Lee Jung-taek
Gimcheon Sangmu extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-1 draw against Daejeon in Round 3, making it three consecutive draws. Central defender Lee Jung-taek was a standout performer, delivering an excellent display at both ends of the pitch.
After producing a composed performance against Jeonbuk in Round 2 that earned him a place in the Round’s Best XI, Lee once again impressed in Round 3 against his parent club Daejeon. Facing physically strong foreign forwards such as Gustav Ludwigson and Diogo Oliveira, Lee held his own by recording three successful aerial duels, six blocks and eight clearances.
A versatile player capable of operating as a defensive midfielder, centre-back or full-back, Lee also contributed going forward. In the 41st minute, he provided the assist for Lee Geon-hee’s opening goal. He further underlined his influence with 10 successful passes into the attacking third and 19 successful forward passes.
Gimcheon face Gwangju in this round. Last season, Gimcheon recorded two draws and one defeat in three meetings with Gwangju. Attention will be on whether Lee Jung-taek can help his side break that winless run. The match will be played on Tuesday 17th March at 7:30 PM at Gimcheon Sports Complex Stadium.
Watch live on K League TV with English commentary: here
2026 K League 1 Round 4 Fixtures
Tuesday 17th March
Gimcheon Sangmu vs. Gwangju FC - 19:30 [ENG]
Wednesday 18th March
Bucheon FC 1995 vs. Gangwon FC - 7:30 PM
Incheon United vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen - 7:30 PM [ENG]
Jeju SK vs. Ulsan HD - 7:30 PM
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“Some patience” – Chelsea fans will fume after latest words from top journalist
Chelsea fans are going to hate what David Ornstein has said about the club in some quotes released on Sunday night.
The Athletic chief transfer reporter has some info and updates for Chelsea fans, but once again, he is telling us all to remain patient. Which of course, is completely farcical at this stage of the so-called ‘project’ that these owners have put together.
EXCLUSIVE! Chelsea closing in on deal to sign top midfielder from France!
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Fans are sick to death of constant briefings from the owners with wording such as this, and we have heard it all before. Telling fans that they are building an ‘elite’ team and to be patient whilst doing so and still not succeeding on the pitch, has grown completely tiresome for most of us and hearing it just makes us even more annoyed these days.
“Reece James’ new contract at Chelsea means he joins the core of the likes of; Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo being on deals at least until 2030 and some of them well into 2030’s.
“So what Chelsea feel they are building here is an elite, talented squad. Not only for the now but for the future as well. So some patience whether the fans like it or not will be required.”
Oh absolutely BORE OFF mate. Sick of it.
In other news…
Rosenior also summed up Chelsea’s issues after yet another defeat on the pitch by saying they could be contained intwo main “aspects.”
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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has highlighted key concerns for the Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL 2026 season, pointing to their reliance on the top-order and star batter Jos Buttler’s lacklustre form as potential trouble spots.
The Titans reached the IPL 2025 playoffs but fell to the Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator. Their success last season largely stemmed from standout performances by Sai Sudharsan (759 runs), Shubman Gill (650), and Jos Buttler (538).
In a recent YouTube video, Chopra explained that Gujarat’s batting strategy leans heavily on the top three. “What are their weaknesses? They can be called weaknesses or challenges. A slight overdependence is still seen on the top three. It's great if they replicate what they did last year, which means the top three together bat till the 14th or 15th over, and at least one of them should 100 per cent be there till the 15th over. You should only be one down by the 14th or 15th over,” he said.
Chopra also flagged Jos Buttler’s recent struggles, calling his form “pedestrian” compared to his past standards. He stressed that if Buttler continues to falter, it could pose problems for the Titans, as both openers cannot be expected to consistently carry the scoring load.
“However, the truth is that Jos Buttler's current form is very, very pedestrian. We have not seen Jos Buttler playing more ordinary than this in any World Cup edition. He was seen struggling in good conditions this time. So will that be a bit of an issue for the Gujarat Titans? You want to start with Jos Buttler, but what if the form isn't good? Both openers can't score runs every time,” Chopra added.
Buttler’s poor run in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, held in India and Sri Lanka, saw him accumulate just 87 runs across eight matches.
Gujarat Titans are set to begin their IPL 2026 campaign on March 31, facing Punjab Kings at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.
MIAMI — Six months ago, Aaron Judge could hardly throw a baseball. On Sunday night, Team USA’s captain changed the entire World Baseball Classic with his right arm.
With Team USA trailing 1-0 in the third inning of a highly anticipated semifinal matchup with the Dominican Republic, D.R. second baseman Ketel Marte clanged a two-out liner into right field. The fleet-footed Fernando Tatis Jr. rounded second and dashed toward third without breaking stride. Judge, all 6-foot-7, 282 pounds of him, charged to the bounding ball, gathered it into his 12.75-inch Rawlings glove and uncorked a 95.7-mph lightning bolt.
The throw, Judge’s hardest since the 2024 World Series, reached Gunnar Henderson at third base 2.3 seconds later. He slapped a tag down onto an outstretched Tatis, who tumbled to the turf, disappointed and very, very out. Juan Soto, who would’ve hit next with two on and two out, trudged back to the dugout.
But Judge’s throw did more than end a threat and an inning. It flipped the entire game on its head.
“That was just a rocket of a throw,” Henderson told MLB Network’s Jon Morosi after the game. “He’s unbelievable for a reason. He got the boys fired up right there.”
“It was beautiful,” center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong gushed.
“That [throw] was huge,” Bobby Witt Jr. said on the broadcast after the game.
Henderson, the very next USA hitter, tied the proceedings with an electrifying solo shot to right field. Two batters later, Red Sox youngster Roman Anthony doubled things up with a big fly of his own. The Americans wouldn’t score again the rest of the night. They wouldn’t need to.
A strong performance from Skenes and an absolutely dominant showing from the American bullpen propelled Team USA to a nail-biting, 2-1 victory over a Dominican team that had yet to lose in the World Baseball Classic.
The night was billed as a clash of titans, a showdown between the two most talented lineups ever assembled. Every single hitter in the Team D.R. lineup except catcher Austin Wells received an MVP vote in 2025. Team USA’s top four hitters — Bobby Witt Jr, Bryce Harper, Judge and Kyle Schwarber — averaged 40 long balls last season.
As it turned out, pitching ruled the day, and that kept the fireworks to a minimum. The game was more tense than exhilarating, more suspenseful than explosive, and it lacked a final act worthy of the stakes. Unfortunately, it might be remembered more for how it ended — with a brutal called third strike on Geraldo Perdomo — than how it transpired.
But nobody in attendance will forget Judge’s laser beam of a throw.
It was a remarkable play, one that seemed physically impossible toward the end of last season, when Judge was battling a significant elbow issue that left him compromised on defense. The Yankees superstar hit the injured list in July after being diagnosed with a flexor strain. He came back less than two weeks later but didn’t appear in the outfield until early September and looked incredibly tentative when throwing upon his return.
A winter of rest seems to have done Judge’s arm a world of good. When healthy, the three-time MVP has one of the hottest rockets in the sport, something Tatis and Co. relearned the hard way on Sunday.
Celebrated all tournament for their unapologetic, brash and exciting style of play, Team D.R. seemed to cocoon somewhat after Judge’s play and the two fourth-inning long balls. Crucially, Judge’s throw appeared to drastically alter how the Dominicans ran the bases for the rest of the evening. Caution, not aggression, suddenly ruled the day.
“Doing something like that definitely puts that idea [in the other team’s head],” Crow-Armstrong explained afterward.
Case in point: Two innings after Tatis was cut down, he cautiously pulled up at second instead of racing toward third on another Marte single. The next batter, Juan Soto, grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The seventh inning created even more regret for the Dominicans. With Austin Wells stationed in scoring position at second base, Geraldo Perdomo clocked a liner just over Witt’s outstretched glove at shortstop. Wells barrelled toward third, home his final destination. But third-base coach Carlos Febles threw his hands into the air, and Wells slammed on the brakes. The throw from center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was offline, reaching catcher Will Smith 10 or so feet up the first baseline.
USA reliever David Bednar struck out the next two hitters, Tatis and Marte, to escape the jam.
“I think that throw today definitely changed the way ... maybe it was the base coaches, maybe it was the players. It made a shift somewhere, for sure,” Crow-Armstrong said.
Team USA’s fortunes, all of a sudden, have shifted as well.
After an embarrassing loss to Italy last week, the Stars and Stripes have rattled off two elimination-game victories. They are through to the final on Tuesday against the winner of Monday’s semifinal between Venezuela and Italy.
And while this offense, with all its household names, continues to underwhelm, Team USA’s pitching, defense and captain did just enough against the Dominican Republic to keep its tournament going.
Fabregas calls out Gasperini for lack of respect: “I shake hands even when I lose badly.”
Como and Roma faced off at the Sinigaglia stadium in a crucial Champions League match.
Cesc Fabregas spoke to Sky Sport after the match. The coach praised his players for their performance: “We have quality and variety, which is important when building a team. Games change quickly. I’m happy with the lads’ performance. It wasn’t a deserved result after the penalty. We continued with our identity and mentality.”
Fabregas then focused on a tense moment he had with Gian Piero Gasperini: “In every situation, I’ve always shaken hands with the opposing coach. I think it’s a sporting gesture, out of respect. When I saw him go down the tunnel, I walked away.”
The incident the Spanish coach refers to occurred after Davide Massa’s final whistle. The Giallorossi coach didn’t take kindly to the referee’s decision to send off Wesley and immediately headed to the locker room.
The Spanish coach then pointed his finger at his opponent to indicate his frustration over the moment. Mario Hermoso intervened to calm things down, embracing his opponent and trying to calm him down.
Romano post-Villa update: Man Utd want record-breaking midfielder in their squad next season if they qualify for UCL
Manchester United are keen for Bruno Fernandes to stay this summer and play an integral role throughout 2026/2027.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the club will be even more desperate for their skipper to stick around if they secure Champions League qualification by the end of the term, which they’re well on track to do following yesterday’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
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Bruno Fernandes: What’s been said about his United future?
There wouldn’t be any shortage of interest, either.
At only 31 years of age, the club captain remains one of the most influential and dependable midfielders in world football. As of right now, he’s head and shoulders above the rest.
As such, it’s thought that’s why United might also have been open to cashing in on Fernandes, given they could demand a lucrative fee from any potential suitor before his value decreases as he gets older – or before he reaches the final months of his contract, which expires in 2027 (though the club have a 12-month option).
(Fernandes’ record in all competitions for United)
United keen to continue with Fernandes for the foreseeable
However, his world-class showings this season have put an end to any desires to part ways from United’s end.
They are now preparing for a future with the Portuguese whiz continuing at the heart of their midfield, irrespective of who’ll be in the dugout long-term.
His contributions on Sunday saw him break the record for most assists in a single campaign; Fernandes took his tally to 16, overtaking David Beckham’s previous record, achieved in 2000, of 15.
The summer additions of forwards Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha have allowed Fernandes to take something of a backseat when it comes to goalscoring this term – albeit he still has eight goals to his name in the league – and tap into his creative side by producing chances for his teammates.
France clinched the Six Nations title after an astonishing win over England in a Paris thriller, after Ireland ended Scotland's hopes with victory in Dublin.
And Wales ended their miserable three-year losing run in the championship by beating Italy in Cardiff.
Let's take a look at some of the talking points from the final round of the Six Nations.
England left to rue indiscipline
England's last-gasp defeat by France will have their fans discussing certain moments for years to come, but their indiscipline throughout the Six Nations came to the fore once again - particularly at the end of both halves in Paris.
Leading 27-17 with half-time looming, Ellis Genge was sin-binned after referee Nika Amashukeli ruled the prop had dragged down a maul, soon after two quick penalties had handed momentum back to France.
"After those three penalties in less than two minutes, England then conceded 21 points including that penalty try," former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton said on BBC Rugby Special.
"Then with 14 men they conceded another 14 points, so that is 21 points in that period. It was a really crucial two minutes that they got wrong."
Then in the dying moments of normal time with England 46-45 ahead, the referee gave France the option of a penalty kick from either of two positions, following infringements by Trevor Davison and Maro Itoje.
Thomas Ramos made no mistake to secure the title for France. Speaking on Rugby Special, former Scotland captain John Barclay said that short spell will be one England will regret.
"In the final two minutes after Tommy Freeman scored, France had a player in the sin-bin. When England look at how they managed this period, they had the game in their hands and threw it away.
"It was a really disappointing end for England. It will be a really tough debriefing on how they manage those crucial moments in the final bit of the game.
"Across the championship they are the top for penalties conceded, with eight yellows and one red, and the damage it did to them - they conceded 63 points with a player off the pitch."
Glory for France with 'cheat code' Bielle-Biarrey
While England fans will be scratching their heads over a sub-par championship, France's followers can celebrate an eighth Six Nations title win that came courtesy of some breathtaking play.
Former England fly-half Paul Grayson told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, "France have been on an amazing odyssey, the Top 14 is magnificent and France loves its team so all credit to them."
Key to the title was Louis Bielle-Biarrey's incredible form, which saw the winger grab another nine tries to make it 18 tries from 14 appearances in the Six Nations.
"It's a cheat code that France have got, they kick into space and Bielle-Biarrey is there," Warburton told Rugby Special.
"He has turned into such an incredible weapon, but couple that pace with great tactical kicking from Ramos and [Antoine] Dupont, and you are looking at one of the best wingers of the modern generation."
Ireland rebuild to Triple Crown triumph
Ireland secured a fourth Triple Crown in five years with a pulsating 43-21 win over Scotland at a raucous Aviva Stadium.
There had been a feeling in some quarters that Ireland were not quite the force of yore, and an opening day defeat in Paris did not bode well.
But a second-place finish and four consecutive wins point to a bright future, as former Ireland and Lions winger Tommy Bowe told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"Going into this campaign they were without Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Hugo Keenan, all tried and tested players who had been starting for Ireland in the back three for so long," Bowe said.
"But all of a sudden, Jamie Osborne comes in, Robert Baloucoune has been absolutely sensational, and there was Tommy O'Brien.
"Stuart McCloskey has been there or thereabouts for so long, but to think that Bundee Aki has been lucky to make the bench against Scotland because McCloskey has been playing out of his skin means that there are so many positives for Andy Farrell.
"There are questions in the scrum, and they maybe are not the vintage side of a few years ago, but they are a year and a half out from a World Cup.
"Getting past a quarter-final, that is where we are judged as nation nowadays. We will be absolutely delighted with the Triple Crown, but there is a bigger picture going into the future."
Scotland's campaign was bookended by losses to Italy and Ireland, but superb wins over Wales, England and France gave Gregor Townsend's side hope of a first title since the final Five Nations in 1999.
The 50-40 victory over eventual champions France will live long in the memory, and former Scotland captain Andy Nicol says it was a positive campaign although the side were running on empty by the end of the defeat in Dublin.
"When you think how low it was in Rome, the reaction has been really good," Nicol said on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"This is a disappointing end, but there are still positives in the performances. We need to develop more depth, Ireland had an extra day to prepare and Scotland looked out on their feet at the end.
"Fifty points at home against France was incredible, so the end was disappointing but it should not disguise that this has been a good Six Nations for Scotland."
Wales end three-year wait for win in style
Wales brought their three-year losing streak in the Six Nations to an end in their final match with an impressive 31-17 victory over Italy.
The hosts raced into a 21-0 lead at the break in Cardiff, before Italy - seeking their third win of an excellent campaign - ran in three second-half tries.
Wales' chastening opening defeat by England was followed by three more losses, but with markedly improved performances and now with the win over Italy, there is hope Steve Tandy's side have turned a corner.
"There were questions about whether Wales' physicality was up to it and maybe those fears were asked after England in round one, but they have been answered very well," Warburton said on Rugby Special.
"The stadium was alive again. It was gutting after England, and in the autumn, but the crowds have been getting bigger. Confidence is back in this team, and it is great to see some progress again."
The best Six Nations so far?
The 2026 Six Nations delivered attacking rugby in spades, with 111 tries the most scored in the championship since Italy were admitted.
France ran in 30 of them, just as they did in 2025, so with defence coaches wondering how to set their teams up, pundits were left to wonder at how the game has evolved.
England World Cup winner Matt Dawson told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast: "France deserved to be champions. They played some breathtaking rugby and continue to set the standard with Scotland on how international rugby will be played. It feels like the 'you score 30 or 40 points, and we'll score 50' might be a theme going forward.
"It wasn't terrible defences from either side [in Paris], it was awesome attack - and that is telling. All the teams realise that if you do not perform like that then the opposition do, then you are going to lose by 20 or 30."
Grayson was pleased matches were not just end-to-end attacking play but featured "massive collisions" and other traditional rugby elements.
"A maul turned the game, with Genge having to infringe and getting [sin-] binned at half-time. The scrum was a contest and the line-out was a contest," Grayson said.
"A game that produced that many points also had everything that rugby is about - Ollie Chessum's try was a barnstorming run from the halfway line - it had the lot.
"If you are trying to sell the game, then why would you not want to watch that? The tournament is impossible to predict every year."
MIAMI (AP) — Paul Skenes pitched with poise through pressure, dispatching a series of stars on a night of great stakes in a sold-out stadium with millions watching on TV.
This was the type of game he never sees with the Pittsburgh Pirates and he may not experience on a regular basis until 2030.
Skenes dominated the Dominican Republic's lineup of All-Stars for 4 1/3 innings in the America's 2-1 semifinal victory Sunday night, allowing his only run when Junior Caminero hit a go-ahead home run in the second on a 1-2 sweeper at the top of the strike zone.
“The D.R. is the toughest lineup I’ve ever faced, for sure,” Skenes said.
The NL Cy Young Award winner last year in his first full season at age 23, Skenes mixed six pitches among 71 offerings that included a fastball averaging 97.6 mph. He allowed six hits and finished the tournament 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and a .226 opponents batting average.
“You can make the argument he’s the best pitcher in the game,” U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said. “Special presence, special man, wants the moment, wasn’t too big for him. Controls his emotions, makes pitches.”
Skenes retired his first five batters before Caminero homered, then hit Geraldo Perdomo with a pitch and allowed Ketel Marte's single in the third, when right fielder Aaron Judge threw a 95.7 mph strike to third, cutting down Fernandez Tatis for the inning's final out.
“Aa moment like that where I can throw a guy out and help out Paul Skenes, who is electric as he is. I was excited about that,” Judge said.
Skenes stranded the bases loaded in the fourth when Austin Wells flied out. He had been given the lead when Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony homered in the top half.
“He’s very smart. He likes playing with the mind of the hitters,” said Juan Soto, who went 0 for 2 against Skenes. “We have to think a lot when we face him. That’s why I think he’s so special.”
Skenes has a 1.96 ERA in 55 career starts, striking out 386 while walking 74 in 320 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 right-hander has not come close to the playoffs on Pirates teams that finished 76-86 in 2024 and 71-91 last year.
Pittsburgh enters this season with seven straight losing records and 27 in 30 years that included a record 20 in a row from 1993 to 2012. The Pirates haven't reached the World Series since winning the 1979 title.
Skenes is on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2029 season, having earned extra major league service time by finishing among the top two in voting for the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year award, which he won. That provision was added to the collective bargaining agreement in 2022.
If he stays healthy and keeps pitching like the way he has been, he likely would command a record contract for a pitcher. Given the Pirates lack the revenue of large-market teams, they could consider trading him for prospects before he reaches free agency.
Skenes tends to not look too far ahead. He marveled at the Dominicans’ batting order that included eight All-Stars combining for 27 selections.
“Before and after,” he said, “but can’t get too caught up on that.”
Nebraska set a program record with five conference finalists last weekend in a rugged Big Ten Tournament, placing third behind Penn State and Ohio State in the team race.
“The Big Ten is the toughest wrestling conference, and nobody can really dispute that,” Husker coach Mark Manning said Thursday afternoon. “To get five guys in the finals is really something.”
Despite the impressive weekend, perception of Nebraska’s tournament was marred by its 0-5 record in the finals, dropping four matches to #1 seeds. Antrell Taylor, Christopher Minto and Camden McDanel each lost to Nittany Lion wrestlers in front of a raucous crowd at Bryce Jordan Center.
“Out of those five matches, we wrestled three Penn State guys, and the environment we wrestled in was even more hostile than the dual meet,” Manning said. “I thought our guys did a really good job, and I think they’re going to be battle-tested. Antrell Taylor wrestling PJ Duke at Penn State twice, but he never wrestled on our ground — we’ve always had to wrestle in his environment and his comfort zone. It bodes well for our guys who are looking forward to having a little bit more even playing field in Cleveland.”
Speaking of the returning NCAA champion Taylor, he beat Duke in tiebreakers in the dual but dropped a 12-4 major decision in the Big Ten final.
“Antrell has already learned a lot from that loss, and we’re going to change it around here in a week,” Manning said. “There’s a lot of really great takeaways (from the weekend) — I thought we wrestled really well. Was it a good finish and could it have been better? Sure, absolutely. We could have walked out with three Big Ten champs, but we didn’t. We’ve got to change the narrative at the NCAA tournament and turn those guys into champions.”
Injured Huskers Already Back
A few Huskers left Big Tens with some injuries, but Manning expects Jacob Van Dee, LJ Araujo and Silas Allred to be ready to go in Cleveland, Ohio. Van Dee suffered a concussion against Lucas Byrd of Illinois, Araujo injury defaulted out of his third-place match against Joey Blaze, and Allred medically forfeited out of the tournament after beating Dylan Fishback in the quarters.
“They’re all a lot better and they all practiced today. Jacob has already passed the concussion protocol, so he’s good to go,” Manning said. “LJ sprained the inside of his knee, so he’s a lot better than he was on Sunday, but we’re very cautious with LJ just because we knew there is a lot of wrestling in two weeks. That’s why we pulled the plug on him on Sunday to not hurt his knee worse than it was. He’ll be fine in a week.”
As for the sixth-year senior Allred, he came into the tournament with an injured elbow and left with it re-injured in addition to a sprained ankle.
“Silas sprained his ankle and he had hurt his elbow coming into the tournament,” Manning said. “His elbow was really bad, so just giving it time off on Sunday was huge in getting him back on track.”
10 Qualifiers For Nebraska
For the first time in 10 years Nebraska, will be bringing a full lineup to NCAAs. The last time the Huskers qualified all 10 was in 2020, only for the tournament to be cancelled. Before that was 2016.
Despite going into Big Tens as the #11 seed at 125 pounds, redshirt freshman Kael Lauridsen earned an allocation for the conference. After losing by technical fall in the opening round, Lauridsen won two in a row on the back side to secure the automatic qualifying spot. He then dropped a 4-3 decision to Iowa’s Dean Peterson before beating #5 seed Ayden Smith of Rutgers for seventh place.
“I think Kael not only wrestled a good tournament, but he gained momentum as the tournament was going on,” Manning said. “Beating the Michigan State kid (to place) was a huge match, then coming back and getting a huge win against the Rutgers kid, who is tough. And he wrestled really tough against Dean Peterson, so he’s starting to wrestle the way we know he can.”
The Huskers auto-qualified nine of their guys at Big Tens, but Chance Lamer missed the cut and needed an at-large bid, which he then received, making Nebraska one of six teams to qualify 10.
“I think we’re in a good spot right now, and our guys are fired up for this opportunity and are in a good spot mentally and just have to get ready to take it to another level,” Manning said. “Our guys are really positive and excited about being in the room. They’re really thriving off of each other. We have a really tight team and they believe in each other.”
Six Huskers Earn Top-8 Seeds
The seeds for the NCAA Championships came out Wednesday night, and Nebraska is projected to finish fourth based on those seeds.
Nebraska’s NCAA Seeds
125 – #25 seed Lauridsen
133 – #13 seed Van Dee
141 – #3 seed Brock Hardy
149 – #20 seed Lamer
157 – #2 seed Taylor
165 – #6 seed Araujo
174 – #3 seed Minto
184 – #8 seed Allred
197 – #11 seed McDanel
285 – #4 seed AJ Ferrari
For Manning and his staff, the seeds don’t really mean a lot.
“We’re not really fixated too much on seeds because it's more about getting our guys ready to go,” Manning said. “I thought for the most part it was where we thought we’d be. We thought Jacob Van Dee was definitely going to be higher, but we like him where he is. Cam McDanel, we thought would be higher, but at the end of the day it is what it is, and you go and try and be your best.”
Nebraska actually has better seeds this year than it did a year ago when it hoisted the runner-up trophy with nine qualifiers. A number of Huskers made the medal stand who were not seeded to do so – Van Dee at 133, Minto at 165, Allred at 184 and McDanel at 197.
“It doesn’t matter,” Manning said of where guys are seeded. “We’ve had guys in the past, like Christopher Minto went in last year the 12-seed, Jacob went in the 17-seed, and Camden McDanel was the 20-seed. You make your own bed and you’ve got to go and beat someone good.”
After last season’s program-best second-place finish, Nebraska has extra confidence going into this NCAA tournament. Last season was Nebraska’s first team trophy since 2009’s fourth-place finish.
“There’s a lot of confidence in our team and a lot of belief,” Manning said. “Confidence is a huge aspect, but believing in it when you put your foot on the line and the whistle blows and go show them what you’re all about. Our guys are excited about competition, and I think that’s where our team was last year, too.”
Anthony's three-run homer against Mexico in pool play was the difference on Monday, helping Team USA prevail 5-3. During Sunday night's semifinal game against the Dominican Republic, he came up big again.
With the score knotted at 1-1 in the top of the fourth, Anthony worked a full count against left-handed reliever Gregory Soto. He unloaded on the payoff pitch, launching a 95 mph sinker over the center field wall for his second blast of the tournament.
Not only did Anthony's blast travel 421 feet according to Statcast, but it was also his first homer off a sinker in his MLB career.
The big fly was Anthony's only hit of the game, but the 21-year-old outfielder made it count. He gave Team USA its first lead of the night, allowing Paul Skenes and the bullpen to take it from there and hang on for a 2-1 victory.
Despite being the youngest member of Team USA and an injury replacement for Corbin Carroll, Anthony will try to help win the tournament during the final on Tuesday. If Team USA succeeds, it will mark the second WBC title and first since 2017 for the Americans.
Anthony has played a massive role for Team USA so far, but time will tell if he has one more clutch hit up his sleeve.
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 14: Arda Guler of Real Madrid celebrates his amazing goal from 70 meter during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid v Elche at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 14, 2026 in Madrid Spain (Photo by M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job Kung_Fu_Zizou, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, Ezek Ix and yours truly, Valyrian Steel.
Back in Practice!!
Could he feature? Don’t think it’ll be a good idea to start him just yet. Meanwhile no Asencio for the return leg.
"For the first time in Real Madrid’s history, a top flight league game featured six players born in Spain aged under 21, all six having come through La Fábrica in Gonzalo García, Manuel Ángel, Diego Aguado, Daniel Yáñez, Thiago Pitarch and César Palacios."
Mar 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (9) leads Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe (19) during the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Credits- Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Chase Elliott had his most promising run of the season at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, coming within half a second of the win in a race that went down to the wire. Though he never led a lap, Elliott went from 15th and crossed the line just 0.502 seconds behind Denny Hamlin, who won his first race of the year.
While Hamlin celebrated with family after claiming the Pennzoil 400, Elliott was left to replay the closing laps in his mind, knowing he had come within striking distance yet ran out of road before he could make a move for the lead.
The No. 9 Chevrolet driver kept himself in the mix throughout the race. He wrapped up Stage 1 in eighth place and followed it with a ninth-place finish in Stage 2. As the laps wound down, by Lap 242, he had climbed to second place behind Hamlin and began chipping away at the gap. At one point, Elliott sat around 1.6 seconds behind the No. 11 car, but lap by lap, he reeled Hamlin in until the margin shrank to roughly half a second.
Despite the late charge, Hamlin held serve and carried that edge to the checkered flag. Looking back on the final stretch, Elliott said the team kept digging even after a hiccup earlier in the race.
“I just kind of kept fighting before we had one bad pit stop there and fell back in the second stage. And then, yeah, I thought those last couple runs, honestly, we got our balance really good. I thought I fired off well, and our car held on good, too.”
“So, obviously, room for improvement, but I thought it was a good start for, you know, this new package for us.” Elliott also noted that the car came alive as the run went on, giving him hope that he could close the deal if the laps played out right.
“It was definitely better there towards the end than we had started the run. I thought there might be an opportunity. I knew that he was starting to get tight there at the end of runs. As bummed as I am to come up that close to a win, I have to kind of bring myself back to a reality check, how much better we ran today than we’ve been running,” he added.
The #9 driver said he could see Hamlin wrestling with grip late in the run, while the Hendrick Motorsports driver hugged the line with ease. Elliott believed that the advantage might open the door for a pass, yet he never closed the gap enough to throw a move into the corner.
In the end, the margin between a win and second place proved thin, as Elliott admitted he wished he had been tidier during the final laps while riding the line near the wall.
SOUTH BEND, IN - CIRCA 1986: Head Coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish smiling in this portrait circa 1986 at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. Holtz coached the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 1986-1996. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The University of Notre Dame released details of Lou Holtz’s public funural to be held inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. There was a public visitation for the legendary Irish football coach on Sunday from 7:00-10:00.
The University is sharing opportunities for the extended Notre Dame family, including the campus community, to pay their respects to legendary football coach Lou Holtz.
A public visitation will be held from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
On Monday, March 16, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Basilica. Limited seating in the Basilica will be available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. The line for those seats will begin at 8:00 a.m. outside of Sorin Hall.
Additional overflow seating with a livestream of the Mass will be available in Washington Hall (with Communion available) and the Purcell Pavilion in the Joyce Center. Doors to all three facilities will open at 11:30 a.m. Seating in Washington Hall and at Purcell Pavilion in the Joyce Center will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Following the Mass of Christian Burial, the public is welcome to honor Coach Holtz by assembling on both sides of Notre Dame Avenue as his family leads the funeral procession from Notre Dame Circle to the main entrance of the Cedar Grove Cemetery. At the request of the Holtz family, graveside services are private.
The livestream for the funeral mass can be viewed on the player below.
Ex-England striker Wayne Rooney has praised Max Dowman's impact after the Arsenal winger became the Premier League's youngest goalscorer - but wonders if the 16-year-old might have to focus on his GCSEs for the rest of the season.
The teenager scored in a 2-0 win over Everton that helped the Gunners move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Rooney was once the Premier League's youngest scorer when he netted for Everton against Arsenal in 2002.
"He has got his GCSEs and his education, I'm sure for him and his family, is important as well," he said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
"What an opportunity for him to be around the squad. He could be a Premier League winner when he's still finishing school off.
"He's got an aura and a belief about him and it was the same against Everton. If it's education first, I don't think we'll see much of him over the next few weeks."
Rooney added: "He won't be in as much as he'd probably like, but then you've got many years ahead of you."
Rooney says he was on £75 a week before turning professional - and borrowing money from his parents - when he scored against the Gunners aged 16.
"I was back out playing with my mates on the streets when I scored after the game," he said.
"Now we're in social media," Rooney said. "People will be messaging, Instagram or Twitter, whatever he's got. And you'll be seeing it everywhere.
"So I don't think he will have slept many hours [on Saturday night] because I'm sure he will have been up watching it.
"It's different now, a different age when I was coming through. There was no social media at that time.
"So it was all about the newspapers and whether you liked it or not - front page and back page. I think the scrutiny's not on you as much maybe these days."
Rooney also praised Dowman's attitude.
"He seems, from the games I've watched, to not let that pressure affect him because he gets the ball, he holds on to it, he commits defenders, he goes to take them on, and so he definitely looks like he's got a confidence about him," Rooney said.
"Mikel Arteta, some of the senior players in the Arsenal squad, will not let him get ahead of himself. But I think you have to enjoy it as well.
"Sometimes people think that enjoying success is arrogant and I just think they do it in the [USA]. They enjoy it and they celebrate it.
"So when we've got a young lad like that coming through as a 16-year-old, he's clearly got a lot of ability and you just hope he can go and fulfil that potential.
Harry Maguire: Man United star comes up big in massive victory
Manchester United came out on top in a vital victory over Aston Villa.
Huge victory
The Red Devils won 3-1 at Old Trafford, giving themselves a cushion in third place in the race for Champions League football.
United had many important contributors to the match yesterday afternoon, especially in attack.
Nonetheless, the visitors had very little luck in front of goal, which was largely due to the stellar job United’s defence did.
One of the surprise performers of this season has been Harry Maguire, who has returned to form in a big way.
The England international is out of contract this summer but has played out of his skin, making 19 appearances in all competitions this season.
Versus Aston Villa
Maguire has stepped in admirably since the injury to Matthijs de Ligt in November and once again demonstrated his defensive prowess alongside Frenchman Leny Yoro.
He won one of his two tackles and made two clearances in the match.
Maguire typically impressed in the air, winning 100% of his aerial duels and three out of four ground contests.
He was also effective on the ball, making one key pass and completing 91% of his passing attempts.
The big defender also carried the ball effectively up the pitch to gain valuable yards for his side.
Potential England return
With the international break fast approaching, it will be interesting to see if Maguire has done enough to force his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s plans.
Maguire will also have an eye on finishing the season in the best possible way to resurrect his chances of going to the World Cup this summer.
Cleveland Cavaliers (41-27, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (28-39, 11th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Ryan Rollins and the Milwaukee Bucks host Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Bucks are 9-5 against Central Division opponents. Milwaukee is the worst team in the Eastern Conference scoring 43.1 points per game in the paint.
The Cavaliers are 8-5 in division play. Cleveland is 2-5 in one-possession games.
The Bucks are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.7 percentage points higher than the 46.3% the Cavaliers allow to opponents. The Cavaliers average 119.1 points per game, 3.0 more than the 116.1 the Bucks allow.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Bucks won 118-116 in the last matchup on Feb. 26.
TOP PERFORMERS: Rollins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games.
James Harden is scoring 24.0 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Jaylon Tyson is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 2-8, averaging 104.5 points, 39.7 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 7.7 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.1 points per game.
Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 115.6 points, 41.3 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 7.2 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.8 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Ousmane Dieng: out (illness).
Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson: day to day (ankle), Craig Porter Jr.: day to day (groin), Sam Merrill: day to day (hamstring), Tyrese Proctor: day to day (quadricep), Jarrett Allen: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (15-53, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (44-25, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: New York is looking to continue its three-game win streak with a victory against Indiana.
The Knicks are 28-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York ranks fifth in the NBA with 46.2 rebounds led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 11.9.
The Pacers are 11-32 in conference games. Indiana is 4-32 in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Knicks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 more made shots on average than the 11.8 per game the Pacers give up. The Pacers are shooting 45.0% from the field, 0.7% lower than the 45.7% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Knicks won 101-92 in the last matchup on March 13.
TOP PERFORMERS: Towns is averaging 20 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson is averaging 24.1 points over the last 10 games.
Jay Huff is scoring 9.5 points per game and averaging 3.9 rebounds for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 115.4 points, 47.9 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.0 points per game.
Pacers: 0-10, averaging 109.6 points, 39.5 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.4 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Miles McBride: out (ankle).
Pacers: Pascal Siakam: out (knee), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Andrew Nembhard: out (calf), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Ben Sheppard: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn looks to break its three-game skid when the Nets take on Portland.
The Nets have gone 9-23 at home. Brooklyn ranks last in the Eastern Conference averaging only 106.7 points per game.
The Trail Blazers are 14-20 on the road. Portland has a 6-5 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Nets are shooting 44.5% from the field this season, 2.9 percentage points lower than the 47.4% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 115.1 points per game, 0.5 fewer than the 115.6 the Nets allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nic Claxton is averaging 12 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Nets. Danny Wolf is averaging 12.2 points over the last 10 games.
Deni Avdija is scoring 24.1 points per game with 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Trail Blazers. Jerami Grant is averaging 19.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 49.2% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 2-8, averaging 105.8 points, 39.4 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.0 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 4-6, averaging 111.6 points, 45.5 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 9.3 steals and 7.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points.
INJURIES: Nets: Noah Clowney: out (rest), Ben Saraf: day to day (calf), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Day'Ron Sharpe: out for season (thumb), Michael Porter Jr.: out (ankle), Terance Mann: out (achilles).
Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Golden State comes into the matchup with Washington after losing five in a row.
The Wizards have gone 11-22 in home games. Washington is ninth in the Eastern Conference with 47.3 points per game in the paint led by Anthony Davis averaging 13.1.
The Warriors are 13-20 on the road. Golden State ranks seventh in the Western Conference shooting 35.8% from 3-point range.
The Wizards' 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.2 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Warriors allow. The Warriors' 45.8% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.1 percentage points lower than the Wizards have allowed to their opponents (47.9%).
TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is averaging 9.8 points and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 14.4 points over the last 10 games.
Gui Santos is shooting 50.0% and averaging 7.9 points for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 0-10, averaging 113.6 points, 39.5 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.5 points per game.
Warriors: 2-8, averaging 112.0 points, 44.9 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.
INJURIES: Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Leaky Black: out (ankle), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related).
Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Seth Curry: out (adductor), Al Horford: out (calf), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Moses Moody: out (wrist), Draymond Green: out (back), Kristaps Porzingis: out (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans will try to keep its four-game home win streak intact when the Pelicans play Dallas.
The Pelicans are 6-8 against division opponents. New Orleans is fourth in the Western Conference with 12.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Yves Missi averaging 2.8.
The Mavericks are 4-10 against opponents in the Southwest Division. Dallas is the best team in the Western Conference scoring 17.7 fast break points per game led by Cooper Flagg averaging 3.4.
The Pelicans average 11.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 fewer makes per game than the Mavericks give up (12.5). The Pelicans average 113.2 points per game, 6.6 fewer points than the 119.8 the Pelicans give up.
The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Pelicans won the last meeting 119-113 on Dec. 23, with Zion Williamson scoring 24 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Murphy III is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 19.2 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.
P.J. Washington is scoring 13.9 points per game and averaging 7.0 rebounds for the Mavericks. Flagg is averaging 13.0 points and 4.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 118.9 points, 46.8 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 9.1 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points per game.
Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 105.5 points, 46.0 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Bryce McGowens: day to day (toe).
Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Daniel Gafford: day to day (rest), Klay Thompson: day to day (rest), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia 76ers (37-31, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (41-27, fifth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia will try to break its four-game road slide when the 76ers play Denver.
The Nuggets are 18-13 on their home court. Denver has a 7-11 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The 76ers are 17-15 on the road. Philadelphia ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 16.7 fast break points per game led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 5.7.
The Nuggets score 120.7 points per game, 4.7 more points than the 116.0 the 76ers give up. The 76ers average 115.6 points per game, 1.1 fewer than the 116.7 the Nuggets give up.
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Nuggets defeated the 76ers 125-124 in overtime in their last meeting on Jan. 6. Jalen Pickett led the Nuggets with 29 points, and Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 32 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Hardaway Jr. is scoring 13.9 points per game and averaging 2.6 rebounds for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is averaging 27.9 points and 13.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Dominick Barlow is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 4.7 rebounds for the 76ers. Quentin Grimes is averaging 17.1 points and 4.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 5-5, averaging 119.9 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.8 points per game.
76ers: 5-5, averaging 109.7 points, 42.0 rebounds, 22.4 assists, 10.0 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Peyton Watson: out (hamstring).
76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Jabari Walker: out (illness), Dalen Terry: out (shoulder), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The 2026 men’s NCAA tournament begins Tuesday with the First Four. The tourney’s first round officially begins two days later after the field shrinks to 64 teams.
That’s a lot of games. Need help looking for potential upsets? Or even just a little guidance on how to best spend your viewing hours?
Using KenPom ratings as a barometer, here’s how the 36 games rank in terms of competitiveness — from most to least:
West No. 8 Villanova vs. 9 Utah State: Utah State is 32nd in KenPom, one spot ahead of Villanova. Best 8/9 in bracket.
Midwest No. 8 Georgia vs. 9 Saint Louis: Georgia is eight spots ahead of Saint Louis in KenPom, but susceptible to upset.
South No. 8 Clemson vs. 9 Iowa: Iowa is 11 spots ahead of Clemson in KenPom. Strongest case for 9-over-8 upset in bracket.
Midwest No. 11 SMU vs. 11 Miami (Ohio): Closest First Four game, despite Miami of Ohio having lost just once in 32 games.
Midwest No. 7 Kentucky vs. 10 Santa Clara: One of the most competitive 7/10s in the bracket.
East No. 8 Ohio State vs. 9 TCU: Ohio State has edge, but TCU is a strong defensive team (23rd in KenPom).
South No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. 10 Texas A&M: SMC is experienced but A&M’s athleticism could win out.
West No. 11 Texas vs. 11 NC State: Two 11-seeds battle for spot vs. BYU
West No. 6 BYU vs. 11 NC State/Texas: AJ Dybantsa will be the difference for BYU, regardless of their first-round opponent.
West No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. 10 Missouri: Missouri (KenPom No. 51) is a big step below Miami on paper, but the 7/10 line historically sees upsets often.
East No. 7 UCLA vs. 10 UCF: KenPom gap is 25.
South No. 6 North Carolina vs. 11 VCU: VCU (No. 47) is a tournament-tested defensive team. UNC missing Caleb Wilson (broken thumb) tightens this even more.
Midwest No. 6 Tennessee vs. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU: Tennessee is KenPom 14; if Miami (Ohio) beats SMU, it could test Vols.
West No. 5 Wisconsin vs. 12 High Point: Wisconsin is KenPom 24 but only No. 62 defensively. High Point is battle-tested. Not a sure thing for the Badgers.
East No. 6 Louisville vs. 11 South Florida: Bulls have won 11 in a row.
Midwest No. 4 Alabama vs. 13 Hofstra: Alabama is KenPom 16, but its defense (No. 68) is a weakness.
Midwest No. 5 Texas Tech vs. 12 Akron: Texas Tech has strong defense; Akron has a 44-spot KenPom gap but is MAC-tested.
East No. 5 St. John's vs. 12 Northern Iowa: Northern Iowa's No. 25 KenPom defense is elite but St. John's is KenPom 21 overall.
East No. 3 Michigan State vs. 14 N. Dakota State: MSU is KenPom 9 overall but struggled against UCLA in Big Ten tourney.
South No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 McNeese: Vanderbilt is KenPom No. 13, but McNeese is a capable Southland mid-major.
East No. 4 Kansas vs. 13 Cal Baptist: Kansas KenPom No. 10 defense vs. first-time tourney team Cal Baptist.
West No. 4 Arkansas vs. 13 Hawaii: Arkansas is KenPom No. 16 overall with a top-10 offense (No. 6).
South No. 4 Nebraska vs. 13 Troy: Troy has won conference tournament but faces a 70-spot KenPom gap.
South No. 3 Illinois vs. 14 Penn: Illinois is KenPom 5 overall with the nation's No. 1 offense.
Midwest No. 16 UMBC vs. 16 Howard: UMBC is a significant KenPom favorite; 80-spot gap.
Midwest No. 3 Virginia vs. 14 Wright State: Virginia is KenPom No. 19. Wright State has a 76-spot gap to cover.
West No. 3 Gonzaga vs. 14 Kennesaw State: Gonzaga is an elite program with deep tournament experience. Kennesaw has a 91-spot gap.
West No. 2 Purdue vs. 15 Queens: Purdue is KenPom 8 overall with a No. 2 offense. Queens is a first-time tournament team.
East No. 2 UConn vs. 15 Furman: UConn is a national title contender. Furman is a capable mid-major, but gap is enormous.
Midwest No. 1 Michigan vs. 16 UMBC/Howard: Michigan is KenPom 2. Even if UMBC wins in First Four, gap is too much.
South No. 2 Houston vs. 15 Idaho: Houston is a KenPom power with an elite defense. No contest.
South No. 16 Lehigh vs. 16 Prairie View A&M: Not all 16 seeds are created equal. Could be a walkover in the First Four.
South No. 1 Florida vs. 16 Lehigh/Prairie View A&M: Winner of First Four faces an overwhelming gap. Smooth opener.
East No. 1 Duke vs. 16 Siena: Duke's No. 1 KenPom defense vs. Siena’s No. 155. One of the most lopsided matchups on paper in the entire bracket.
Midwest No. 2 Iowa State vs. 15 Tennessee State: Tennessee State has a 158-spot gap.
West No. 1 Arizona vs. 16 LIU: Arizona No. 3 KenPom, LIU No. 168. Enough said.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Robert Sanchez of Chelsea looks on prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on March 14, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) | Chelsea FC via Getty Images
1. ROBERT SÁNCHEZ (5.8)
We’ve seen plenty of Chelsea defeats over the years, but this one felt fairly unique amid all of that. It’s hard to think of a more flat, boring, toothless approach and execution, especially given the magnitude of the game at hand. Newcastle weren’t much better, but they take the win thanks to a defensie breakdown.
Sánchez didn’t necessarily stand above the rest, but he did make all the saves you’d expect him to make, and did not commit any too many egregious turnovers. The bar is low, but he cleared it easily. Only Moisés Caicedo (18), João Pedro (15), and Reece James (13) have more player ratings podium finishes than Bob (12).
2. MARC CUCURELLA (5.3)
Eleven of the fourteen players who played for us in this game finished in the “subpar” range, and that seems about right. No one rose above, only a couple were particularly worse than our baseline average: efforts disappointing not just on an individual level, but on the collective as a whole.
3. REECE JAMES (5.2)
Reecey hit the post in added-time, which was the closest we’d come to scoring. He played in midfield the first half, but looked better at right back in the second.
vs. NEWCASTLE UNITED (PL, H, L 0-1)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): —
GOOD (6.5-7.4): —
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Sánchez (5.8)
SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): Cucurella (5.3), James (5.2), Enzo (5.0), Caiceod (4.9), João Pedro (4.8), Palmer (4.8), Garnacho (4.7), Hato (4.6, sub), Chalobah (4.6), Lavia (4.5, sub), Gusto (4.5)
Monday’s matchup between the Red Wings and Flames brings together two teams with plenty to play for as the stretch run tightens across the NHL.
Detroit enters the game at Little Caesars Arena looking to protect home ice and finish off a season sweep after beating Calgary earlier this season, while the Flames arrive trying to flip the script and steal a road win against an Eastern Conference club fighting for position.
The Red Wings have leaned on leading scorers like Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat to keep their offense moving, while Calgary turns to veterans such as Mikael Backlund and a group still searching for consistency in a crowded Western race. With postseason urgency building and every point growing more valuable, this has the feel of a game that should carry a little extra edge from the opening faceoff.
Looking to tune in? Here’s everything you need to know about watching Flames vs. Red Wings, including start time and streaming information.
Canadian viewers won’t find Flames vs. Red Wings on a standard English TV broadcast. The game will stream exclusively on Prime Monday Night Hockey for Canadian Prime members at no additional cost.
Flames vs. Red Wings start time
Date: Monday, March 16
Time: 7 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
The Flames and Red Wings are set to get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, March 16. The matchup will take place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Fans can tune into Flames vs. Red Wings live on SiriusXM channel 91 (Red Wings). Flames fans can tune in online or use the SiriusXM app to listen to their radio announcers call the action.
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Sunday’s 5-2 win over Sevilla in La Liga made it 14 in a row at home for Flick’s side, matching Ernesto Valverde’s best during his time with the Catalans.
Flick is now just one behind Guardiola’s record and can match it next time out in La Liga against Rayo Vallecano.
Barcelona managers with the longest winning home runs in LaLiga in the 21st century:
Flick spoke about his team’s performance after the game and said he was happy but wanted more improvements.
“There are many things going well, but there are situations on the pitch that aren’t fantastic. It’s five goals and three points. But at the beginning, we didn’t play with the conviction I want to see. We have many games left, but we need to play faster. We need to focus; Newcastle is a very good team,” he told reporters.
“As I’ve already said, there are many things I liked, but we can improve. But I’m happy. It’s a very important week, and on Wednesday we have a big game, and we have to give our best. Right now everyone is happy, but we need to improve in some areas.”
Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid, recently honoured with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the BCCI’s annual awards function, expressed his gratitude for the recognition and reflected on the opportunities he has had throughout his cricketing journey. Speaking to Star Sports, Dravid said, “I’m very grateful for receiving the award. Very grateful for the many opportunities that I've received in my life and the opportunities that I've got,”.
Dravid recalled his career with humility, noting, “I was lucky to have played with some of the greatest cricketers and been lucky to have travelled the world playing for my country. I’ve been lucky to be involved in the game after I retired as well and very humbled by the opportunities the game has given me.”
The former skipper also praised Sanju Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament for his match-winning performances in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. “It was really nice to see Sanju be able to sort of get it all together in those final three games — very important games for India,” Dravid said.
He highlighted Samson’s perseverance, saying, “For a long time, Sanju has been in and out of the team. He has performed well, he also has had some tough times. It was just really good to see someone like him who's worked pretty hard.”
Dravid added, “It's really nice to see when it all comes together and the success that he did at such a critical and important phase for Indian cricket.”
Samson’s tournament was nothing short of extraordinary. Playing just five matches after being drafted into the side following India’s loss to South Africa, the 31-year-old scored 321 runs, producing three consecutive half-centuries at key stages. He smashed an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in the virtual quarter-final, followed by scores of 89 in both the semi-final against England and the final against New Zealand.
The wicketkeeper-batter set multiple records, hitting 24 sixes — the most in a single T20 World Cup edition — and registering 89 in the final, the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup final, surpassing Marlon Samuels’ 85* in 2016 and Kane Williamson’s 85 in 2021. His 321-run tally also became the highest by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup, overtaking Virat Kohli’s 319 runs in 2014.
The Chargers re-signed Pro Bowl linebacker Denzel Perryman to a one-year deal Thursday.
Day 4 of Chargers free agency consisted of two signings: former Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell and Perryman.
The return of the linebacker gives the Bolts another veteran presence back on the defense. The Chargers signed edge rusher Khalil Mack to an $18 million deal earlier this week, signaling the team's priority of keeping veterans in the locker room. Perryman and Mack should help the unit adjust in defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary's inaugural season in the position.
The 33-year-old is entering his 13th NFL season, his ninth season with the Bolts amid his second stint with the organization. Perryman began his professional career with the San Diego Chargers and later returned to the organization in 2024.
He earned his first and only Pro Bowl as a member of the Raiders in 2021. In 2025, Perryman posted 30 solo tackles, five tackles for loss and three quarterback hits.
Here were the best social media reactions to the return of the longtime Charger, Perryman:
Denzel Perryman’s back with the Chargers at 33! 🏈💪 Veteran presence locked in.
Solid Signing that's definitely not going to break the bank. BUT, it's starting to look like the Chargers are going to carry $45M into the season with huge holes on the o-line and d-line.
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 15: Kyle Larson ( 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet) makes a mid race pit stop during the NASCAR, Motorsport | Credits- IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
Kyle Larson walked into the weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a chance to sweep the board. After taking the win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event on Saturday, Larson had his eyes on doing the same in Sunday’s Pennzoil 400. But by the end of the race, though, handling issues left him fighting an uphill battle against a pack of Toyotas circling around him.
Starting fifth, by Lap 94, Larson had taken the lead after William Byron lined up behind the No. 5 car and pushed him ahead. During the opening stretch, Larson paced the field for seven laps while keeping his car in the thick of the fight near the front. Larson logged 91 laps inside the top five and 94 laps inside the top ten, with an average running spot of 4.01.
Stage 1 turned into a duel at the front. Christopher Bell surged ahead late in the stage to grab the stage win, leaving Larson to cross the line in second place. The next stage followed a similar end, this time with Byron taking control while Larson again came home second when the stage ended. By the time the final laps played out, the No. 5 machine slipped down the order, and Larson crossed the line in seventh place after leading 62 laps during the race.
Larson later walked through the turning point of his race that came between the end of Stage 2 and the start of Stage 3. “Yeah, the final stage. I guess to end the second stage, we were getting really loose. And William got by. And then, to start the third stage, I just didn’t get, like, the launch I needed or the push I needed, and kind of was side-by-side with them. And then Bell had a huge run behind me and was going to be hard to block.”
He said the balance of the car kept shifting, leaving him to hang on as the run unfolded. “And so, yeah, they got by. I fell in the fourth. And then my balance was just kind of tight that run. So I was hoping to get to a green flag stop. That way, we could be in traffic, and maybe my balance would be in a good spot, and have a good shot to race for the win.”
“But, yeah, I think we had the caution, like, just before the cycle was about to start. And then the next run, I just was really loose. So, just kind of hanging on,” the Hendrick Motorsportsdriver added.
Despite the drop, Larson still walked away with a top ten and 48 points, leaving him seventh in the standings in the NASCAR Cup Series table.
Larson also lauded his teammates at Hendrick Motorsports. Chase Elliott brought his car home in second place, while Byron closed the race in third, giving the organization a strong showing in the fifth race of the season.
Big news as top source says key Chelsea player is looking to take ‘next leap’ in career
Some major news came out late last night, and it appears that Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez might be looking to leave.
Fernandez is a key player to Chelsea and to manager Liam Rosenior. He starts in Chelsea’s best Xl, and he is the vice-captain of the team. But it seems that he may well now be looking to push his way out of the club, if the latest reports via a very reliable source for Argentinian news are true.
EXCLUSIVE! Chelsea closing in on deal to sign top midfielder from France!
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONTHE APP STORE
Chelsea wont want to sell Fernandez, but you’ve always had the feeling that if a good offer came in for him, they would probably at least listen – and now that scenario may actually happen in the summer.
Fernandez out?
Enzo Fernandez drops his Maradona celebration. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Argentine journalist Gaston Edul is literally the best source you can get for Argentinian news, especially related to Enzo Fernandez. So when he reports stuff, it’s always going to be at least 99% the truth.
His latest article for TyC Sports reports that these could be Enzo Fernandez’ last months in London. Liam Rosenior considers him an irreplaceable piece. In the previous windows, Real Madrid and PSG had already set their eyes on him. His departure from Chelsea will not be easy at all but he is prepared for another leap in his career.
In other news…
Liam Rosenior has summed up Chelsea’s issues after yet another defeat on the pitch at the weekend by saying they could be contained intwo main “aspects.”
If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as apreferred source on Googleto make us a favourite and see more of our content.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
When Virginia Tech takes its 10-man crew to Cleveland for the NCAA Championships, it will be the team’s first road trip since Feb. 6. But coach Tony Robie has had the Hokies on a season-long road to success.
They went 11-3, including 6-0 in the ACC regular season, and won the ACC Championships by 22 points over second-place Stanford with six champions from eight finalists.
With the bulk of this year’s team set to return next season and the addition of the country’s second-ranked recruiting class, one can believe Robie when he says “our best days are in front of us.”
For the time being, the Hokies must settle for the three days in front of them in Cleveland. They have a #2 seed in Eddie Ventresca (125) and #4 seeds in Aaron Seidel (133), Colin Gaj (149) and Sonny Sasso (197). They also have a pair of #14s, a #16 and a trio of #25s who will need to wrestle above those seeds to garner more team points.
It’s the fourth time Tech has qualified all 10 men, and the Hokies will look to improve on numbers from the past three seasons when they have won 69 bouts at the NCAAs and lost 45 while having 12 All-America finishes and one champion.
Seeds alone project the Hokies with 53.5 points and seventh place, but off the pace of the six teams ahead of them. Eddie Ventresca placed fifth at 125 last season and Mac Church (165) and Jimmy Mullen (285) also qualified.
Here is a look at what the tournament holds for the Hokies:
125 pounds — #2 seed Eddie Ventresca
Ventresca is 19-2 and lost in overtime to top-seeded Luke Lilledahl of Penn State in last season’s consolation semifinals. His first-round opponent is Desmond Pleasant (23-8) of Drexel. He’s a strong favorite to make the quarterfinals, where he could face Stanford 7-seed Nico Provo (13-5), whom he beat in a 2-1 tiebreaker in the ACC finals, or former teammate Cooper Flynn (18-4) of Chattanooga.
A possible quarterfinal bout between 3-seed Nic Bouzakis (16-2) of Ohio State and Jore Volk (22-5) of Minnesota would determine Ventresca’s likely semifinal foe.
Lillledahl has anything but an easy path to the finals. West Virginia’s Jett Strickenberger (19-7), Iowa’s Dean Peterson (14-6), defending NCAA champ and 12-seed Vincent Robinson (15-4) of North Carolina State and Lehigh 4-seed Sheldon Seymour (19-0) are all possible opponents.
“Eddie Ventresca is having a heck of a year,” Robie said earlier this season. “Not a lot of people are talking about him, but I think Eddie Ventresca has really, really jumped levels. He was definitely good enough to win last year. And I think he's on a different level, mentally, technically, physically. So we’re excited about Eddie for sure.”
133 pounds — #4 seed Aaron Seidel
Seidel, a true freshman and three-time Pennsylvania state champion, had no plans to compete this season until previous Tech starter Dillon Campbell was injured. Here he is, in one of the NCAA’s most difficult and talented brackets.
He won 18 of 19 matches, losing only to top-seeded Jax Forrest of Oklahoma State in the February dual meet, 10-9, in which he took down Forrest three times but yielded a seven-point move.
Seidel opens with Luke Willochell (15-10) of Wyoming, another former Pennsylvania wrestler. If Seidel wins, the winner of 13-seed Jacob Van Dee (17-6) of Nebraska and 20-seed Julian Farber (18-9) of Northern Iowa awaits.
A possible quarterfinal bout with 5-seed Kyler Larkin (18-2) of Arizona State would be entertaining, and if Seidel wins three straight, it’s a likely rematch with Forrest in the semis.
That’s just the top bracket. Ohio State’s Ben Davino (27-1) is #2 and Penn State’s Marcus Blaze (21-1) is #3, while defending champion Lucas Byrd (20-2) of Illinois is #7. Two-time runner-up Drake Ayala (13-8) of Iowa is the #6 seed. No matter what happens, Seidel will gain valuable experience.
“He's tough, and when you have that, and you have a lot of talent, and you've had a ton of success throughout the course of your life, it usually continues to go in a positive direction,” Robie said about Seidel.
141 pounds — #25 seed Tom Crook
Crook (20-12) is a two-time qualifier at 141 who won three of seven NCAA bouts in 2023 and 2024.
The ACC fifth-placer will face #8 seed Vance VomBaur of Minnesota, who placed third in the Big Ten.
Ohio State two-time champ Jesse Mendez (19-0) is the overwhelming favorite, and 2-seed Sergio Vega (19-0) of Oklahoma State also is unbeaten and has an 11-2 win over Crook.
149 pounds — #4 seed Collin Gaj
Another freshman from PA, Gaj (20-8) has had a strong, late-season run to an ACC title, beating NCAA #10-seed Aden Valencia (16-7) of Stanford and #5-seed Koy Buesgens (21-3) of N.C. State.
Gaj’s first-round foe is Kaden Cassidy (15-4) of George Mason. If he wins, he gets the winner of #13 seed Joseph Zargo (18-6) of Wisconsin and #20 seed Chance Lamer (17-8) of Nebraska.
He could have a rematch with Buesgens, and top-seeded Shayne Van Ness (21-0) sits at the top of Gaj’s bracket.
“Collin Gaj is, I think, just a super talented true freshman, a guy that is going to do great things for us,” Robie said.
157 pounds — #14 seed Ethen Miller
The Maryland transfer and grad student had a rough start as a Hokie, recovering from a foot injury early on.
Miller (16-6) rebounded to place second in the ACC, losing 5-2 to Stanford’s Daniel Cardenas (17-3), the NCAA #9 seed.
Miller is paired with #19 seed Kai Owen (18-7) of Columbia. A win there most likely puts him against #3 seed Meyer Shapiro (15-1) of Cornell. Nebraska #2 seed Antrell Taylor (22-3) is at the bottom of Miller’s bracket; Penn State freshman PJ Duke (19-1) is the #1 seed.
165 pounds — #25 seed Mac Church
Church (24-10) qualified last year and went 1-2 and placed second in the ACC this season.
He’ll face #8 seed Matty Bianchi (19-2) of Little Rock. If he wins, he could have a rematch with UNC #9 seed Bryce Hepner (15-4), who beat him last week.
Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink (22-0) is the defending champ and #1 seed while Purdue’s Joey Blaze (22-1) is the #2 seed.
174 pounds — #25 seed Sergio Desiante
A redshirt sophomore who transferred from Chattanooga, Desiante (20-13) knocked off NCAA #6 seed Matty Singleton (16-3) in the ACC finals.
Desiante is paired with #8 seed and Penn State transfer Alex Facundo (16-6) of Oklahoma State. Michigan #9 seed Beau Mantanona (21-7) is above Desiante and Penn State’s Levi Haines (21-0) is the #1 seed.
184 pounds — #14 seed Jaden Bullock
The graduate student who transferred from Michigan was an NCAA qualifier in 2024.
Bullock (20-10), who won an ACC title, will face #19 seed Jared McGill (17-3) of Edinboro.
If he upends McGill, a past qualifier as well, he’ll get the winner of #2 seed Max McEnelly (19-2) of Minnesota and #30 seed Tyler Bienus (19-14) of Bucknell.
197 pounds — #4 seed Sonny Sasso
Sasso (25-5), one of Tech’s six ACC champs, majored Stanford’s NCAA 9-seed Angelo Posado (16-5) in the ACC finals.
Sasso will wrestle Missouri transfer and #29 seed Colton Hawks (7-9) of Arizona State in the first round. Above him in the bracket are #13-seed Bennett Berge of South Dakota State and #20 seed Wyatt Ingham (17-8) of Wisconsin.
Wyoming’s Joey Novak (17-3) is the 5-seed while Penn State’s Josh Barr (19-0) is the #1 seed in the same bracket.
285 pounds — #16 seed Jimmy Mullen
The Hokies’ 10th of 10 entrants went 22-7 and finished third in the ACC.
He’ll face #17 seed Vincent Mueller (25-6) of Columbia and that winner moves out to most likely face top-seeded Yonger Bastida (25-0) of Iowa State.
ACC champ Isaac Trumble (16-0) is the #2 seed while Michigan’s Taye Ghadiali (23-2) is #3.
After suffering a Jones fracture in his left foot during the 2025 offseason, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus has been recovering. He has been waiting for a long time, which naturally led to some frustration.
On Sunday, he finally returned to the active roster as he played 23 minutes, while scoring 24 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. It was a magical return, but it was spoiled by the Dallas Mavericks winning 130-120.
Strus' return to the Cavaliers was bittersweet
Strus has been a much-needed player for the Cavs this season. They have missed his three-point shooting, as the Cavs lack that with the current roster.
Of course, the offense is good with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. However, they need some more complementary players alongside that backcourt and the big man duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Strus has proven over the years that he is a great player to have in any rotation. Now that he is active, he will be a crucial piece for the Cavaliers in their quest to succeed in the postseason.
Even though they lost, it was an emotional night for Strus. It has been a rough season for him, but now, he is raring to go.
"I worked my ass off. I only know one way to work, and that’s to push myself to the max. It made me realize I do love playing basketball. I love doing it with a good group of guys. I’m just happy to be playing," Strus said after the game.
Now that he is back, the Cavaliers have a mostly healthy team. Of course, there are still some injuries here and there, but the Cavs could be the team that lives up to the pre-season expectations.
“There's nobody who's able to cut like Bijan in the NFL. There's not. You can go argue your mom about that. ... Trust me. I love myself and I think I have great cuts. There's nobody. ... It's finna get scary for a lot of people,” Barkley said.
The Falcons are now looking for a counterpart to Robinson after Tyler Allgeier signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
“The Arizona Cardinals are signing running back Tyler Allgeier to a two-year deal worth $12.25 million, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Allgeier, 25, had 514 rushing yards on 143 carries for the Atlanta Falcons during the 2025 season. The power back was particularly effective in the red zone with a team-high eight touchdowns, one more than star Bijan Robinson,” ESPN wrote.
The Falcons still have some low-cost options available, and one of them could be Najee Harris.
“We have discussed the idea of Nick Chubb joining the Falcons enough at Blogging Dirty, so I decided to go another direction. Now that Tyler Allgeier is enjoying desert life after signing with the Cardinals, one of the biggest unfulfilled needs on the roster is running back depth behind Bijan Robinson. Instead of another Stefanski reunion, Harris makes sense. Not only Harris a solid change-of-pace back who can play the Allgeier role near the goal line, he's coming off of season-ending Achilles tear that'll likely affect his free agent market. So if the Falcons can get him for cheap, he's worth a shot,” Blogging Dirty’s Jason Kandel wrote.
Harris would be a solid option for the Falcons to consider, but signing a player coming off an injury always carries some risk. Atlanta is looking to add a reliable backup behind Robinson.
The Falcons are hoping to get over the playoff hump this season, and it could come down to having a dependable RB2. Atlanta likely wouldn’t have a problem giving Harris the opportunity.
MIAMI (AP) — Ten days later, the United States and the Dominican Republic would have kept on playing.
Geraldo Perdomo watched Mason Miller's full-count slider appear to drop just under the strike zone and took a step toward his team's dugout on the third-base side, thinking he walked to put runners at the corners.
Then plate umpire Cory Blaser emphatically signaled strike three, stranding the potential tying run at third base and giving the United States a 2-1 win Sunday night that advanced the Americans to the World Baseball Classic championship game against Venezuela or Italy.
“He knew he was wrong," Perdomo said. "I knew it was 100% wrong.”
Major League Baseball's Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System will launch when the season starts March 25, and it likely will be adopted for future editions of the WBC. The Dominicans would have been able to appeal to the so-called robot umpire if they had a challenge remaining.
“It looked a little down. Yes, I’m glad we had no ABS,” U.S. outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m happy that the human element was in full effect.”
Perdomo heard the call, found it hard to believe and while still holding his bat lurched it overhead in an arc, nearly tapping the wood against his butt.
“We didn’t lose the game there," the Arizona star said.
“I don’t want to focus on the last pitch,” Dominican manager Albert Pujols said. “I’m disappointed about the way that the game ends, but I don’t want to criticize any of that. It just wasn’t meant to be for us.”
Miller threw 13 of 22 pitches at 100 mph or higher. He gave up a one-out walk to Julio Rodríguez, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and Oneil Cruz's groundout.
Perdomo fell behind 1-2, worked the count full, then fouled out a pair of triple-digit heaters. Miller followed with his second slider of the at-bat.
“He called strike three. That's all I care,” American first baseman Bryce Harper said.
After more than five hours of pro wrestling, the seventh edition of AEW Revolution is in the books. As expected, it was an action-packed show, but there were plenty of surprises tonight as well, and not all of them were pleasant.
In the marathon main event, Maxwell Jacob Friedman endured a barrage of offense from "Hangman" Adam Page, ensuring that he held onto the AEW World Championship while Page can supposedly never challenge for the title again. We'll cover that match in great detail here, along with some other highlights and lowlights of the show.
However, there will be plenty we don't get to. If you need a refresher on everything that took place, you'll find that at our results page. Otherwise, take a look at some of our thoughts on the show and share your own with us in the comments.
Loved: Big Returns Kick off Revolution in Huge Way
Will Ospreay poses on the stage during his entrance before a match on "AEW Dynamite." - AEW/Lee South
There were some really nice surprises tonight at Revolution; some expected, but fun and exciting none the less. Some were less expected, making them even more special, with one big shock that has the internet wrestling community divided.
AEW kind of front-loaded the show with all the big returns, but they worked, so I don't think I minded that aspect at all. The first return was Adam Copeland and Christian Cage making their way back to AEW to set their sights on the World Tag Team Championship. While I'm sure a lot of fans expected them back, nobody was exactly sure when we'd see them. They not only stared down FTR, but were confronted by the Young Bucks, who had just lost a brutal, bloody match to the team to kick off the show. The veteran team being the first return and surprise of the night just felt right.
I don't think anyone expected to see Ronda Rousey in AEW ahead of her big fight against Gina Carano on Netflix in May. Think how you want about Rousey, of course, and she has certainly lost me as a fan over the years, but this appearance was unexpected, at the very least. I didn't mind it as much later in the night, as when commentary announced "Timeless" Toni Storm's No Holds Barred match against Marina Shafir on "Dynamite" this week, there was no mention of Rousey being there as well. Even writing the news story tonight after it happened, I was hesitant to call it a "debut for AEW," as it was hopefully just a one-off appearance in an attempt to pop the crowd.
The best return of the night was accompanied by an incredible video package teaser, and right after, Will Ospreay's music hit, and the "Aerial Assassin" returned to our screens, seemingly to challenge Continental Champion Jon Moxley and the Death Riders. I had no idea where or when we were going to see him, and I kind of expected it at Double or Nothing. I also expected him in the top title scene immediately, so when the video played following Moxley's victory, I was pleasantly surprised.
And even though he wasn't gone for an awfully long time, we saw Kenny Omega pop back up to protect Brody King from a further beatdown by Swerve Strickland, slightly furthering that story. It's always nice to see Omega, so I also liked that. The first half of this show was full of surprises, both good and bad, depending on how you feel about these stars, and it helped Revolution feel even more big and exciting, which was great after a few months without AEW pay-per-views.
Written by Daisy Ruth
Hated: Ronda Rousey's face-off with Toni Storm
Ronda Rousey at AEW Revolution 2026 - AEW
The introduction of Ronda Rousey in All Elite Wrestling probably makes great financial sense for everyone involved, as Rousey prepares for her big return to MMA on Netflix in a few months. Just because it makes great business sense, though, doesn't mean I have to be excited to see how it all unfolds on TV.
In all likelihood, Rousey isn't going to wrestle in AEW; at least not before her fight in May. A No Holds Barred rematch between Storm and Marina Shafir has been booked for this Wednesday's "AEW Dynamite," and it stands to reason that Rousey will appear once again there and will get physical in some capacity. What remains to be seen is if this is the extent of her AEW involvement, or if she'll continue to appear on TV in the lead-up to her bout against Gina Carano.
Either way, I can't say I'm too happy about the development. Throughout her time in WWE, Rousey was always just fine, but seemed to mostly rely on her name recognition and reputation. On top of that, Rousey hasn't shied away from sharing some fairly abhorrent opinions over the years. While it's great that Rousey's name brings with it a lot of attention, which will undoubtedly benefit AEW, I can't exactly envision her elevating the quality of any storylines or delivering a PPV singles match on the level of anything we saw tonight. I'll happily be proven wrong if things work out great, but my expectations aren't high.
Written by Nick Miller
Loved: Mox and Takeshita wrestle a classic
Jon Moxley retains Continental Championship over Konosuke Takeshita - AEW/TrillerTV
Jon Moxley continues to be one of the world's greatest workers between the ropes, and every now and then, when there is a moment of doubt that begins to creep in whether or not he deserves his place atop the card, he stages matches like Sunday's with Konosuke Takeshita to remediate that.
Heading into this weekend, Takeshita had been the asterisk against Moxley's reign as Continental Champion. Moxley had won the title in a bit of a surprise and slingshot manner, coming off of huge submission losses both to Darby Allin and Kyle O'Reilly before entering the Continental Classic, then losing to Claudio Castagnoli and Takeshita before managing to secure a place in the semi-finals; there he eliminated Kyle Fletcher and beat Kazuchika Okada in the final to win the title. Then Takeshita and Moxley battled to a draw at Grand Slam Australia, so the Revolution bout was made with no time limits.
Takeshita brought everything he could to the battle, and as the bout went past 20 minutes both had fired some of their best shots but not quite everything in the chamber yet; Takeshita finally landed Raging Fire, a move, in a world of finishers that get sponged, that had put everyone it had hit away. And yet Moxley kicked out. Moxley fired back with his own finishing move, the Death Rider, and Takeshita kicked out at one, prompting Moxley to follow it up with an avalanche Paradigm Shift, which Takeshita still kicked out of.
When it gets to the point where both man has kicked out of the finishers and the question starts to be asked over what could get the job done, Moxley went back to basics and locked in the rear choke. Takeshita, a man that could power out of effectively any cover before the count of three, saw time turned into his enemy as he was cinched into the hold with nowhere to go. After all was said and done, Takeshita had passed out and Moxley had retained his title.
He beat Takeshita at long last, allowing him to continue on whatever his reign holds next. And as it would turn out, Will Ospreay would then return and confront him. I don't know if there is a better advertisement for Moxley versus Ospreay for the Continental title than that match with Takeshita. It was genuinely great. On the face of it, one might look at the amount of near-falls and big moves and feel as though it was a hollow contest. But it genuinely wasn't. There was a sense of story to everything, a weaving of the challenger desperate to prove himself and the champion proving that he still deserves to be so.
Written by Max Everett
Hated: The Dogs lose their first AEW pay-per-view appearance
David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, and Clark Connors look in disgust down to the ring after being attack by Roderick Strong during an episode of "AEW Dynamite." - AEW/Lee South
I wasn't a fan when Roderick Strong, Darby Allin, and Orange Cassidy stood tall over The Dogs' Gabe Kidd, David Finlay, and Clark Connors on "AEW Dynamite" on Wednesday, and I certainly wasn't a fan of it here tonight during the latter factions' first-ever AEW pay-per-view appearance. I didn't think this match necessarily needed to be on what was already a very packed card tonight that just screamed "very long show!" before it even got underway, and despite being a pretty fun match, I just didn't think it needed to be on this show tonight.
I thought it was a choice to give it the semi-main event spot with so many other matches being well-deserving of it, like the Continental Championship match, complete with Will Ospreay return, the tag title match, or even Brody King vs. Swerve Strickland. So, I figured we'd be getting a Dogs win with maybe an exciting return or something, but no. I had no problem with any of the in-ring action, and I do quite like tornado tag team matches, but I am just already so tired of the Allin vs. Kidd feud that even adding Connors and Finlay to this didn't do much for me.
The one spot I did have a problem with, speaking of Allin and Kidd, is Allin I guess zip-tying Kidd to a road case somehow after a crazy gross spot where Allin dropped in with his skateboard right on Kidd's neck. When the camera cut back to Kidd, he was somehow stuck, and it just looked silly and made him look really stupid.
I thought we were headed toward a Strong heel turn or something here, since he hasn't been there for Cassidy. I just didn't think much of this made sense, and if you were going to have the Dogs lose, this could have been a "Dynamite" main event, which is certainly crazy to say about a match that got the semi-main event spot tonight.
Written by Daisy Ruth
Loved: The bad guy won
MJF wins at AEW Revolution 2026 - AEW/Triller TV
Going into tonight it certainly seemed as though "Hangman" Adam Page had been booked into a position where he would win the AEW World Championship from MJF, considering it had been stipulated that, if he lost, he would never challenge for it again.
Much had been said and shown about Page and his position as the main character of AEW, the protagonist one could rely on to take down the villain when all was said and done.
The match was a Texas Deathmatch, a bout that can and is argued to be a staple for Page, and MJF was beaten brutally and bloody throughout a contest that would and probably has upset a few people with refined tastes over the scripted fighting.
That is fine, constitutions vary and that is the essence of art and its many different flavors. But it also shouldn't be argued that it did exactly what you would want it to do for a villain. It was purely exciting to watch MJF get his rear-end handed to him in the most brutal ways.
It was also exciting to see Page endure his own collection of "Ouch I bet that really f****ing hurt" spots. It was a Texas Deathmatch, in Los Angeles, so it made sure to deliver on at least half that promise. Could this writer have maybe done without the syringe spot? Probably. But it was hardly out of place in a match that asked itself how violent is too violent for every second it went on. It was pretty violent.
The crowd being a conglomeration of sickos in one building called for fire, and Page as the main character for those sickos asked, on more than one occasion, "Has anyone got a lighter?" Alas, no one had a lighter. LA had been exposed for the faux sickos they are. But Page went and got some barbed wire on a board instead. There were also light tubes, which are always ill-advised, but Page was syringed in the cheek, nothing here was advisable it was just fun.
They both went through a table that went all sparky because it had some pyro on it – you know those tables you just have lounging about, waiting to spark at the right moment – and that still didn't prove to be the end of the match. They nodded very hardly at CM Punk with Page and MJF bonded to one another by dog collars, and it was all looking to be a Page win as predicted. That was until MJF draped Page over the ropes and hung him, choking him out and dropping him onto glass for the final count. Just like that, Page lost... And what happens now?
Written by Max Everett
Hated: Hangman Adam Page locks himself out of the world title picture
Hangman Adam Page's entrance at AEW Revolution 2026 - AEW
When Adam Page announced that he'd never challenge for the AEW World Championship again if he lost to MJF, I'm not quite sure how Tony Khan wasn't backstage having terrorized flashbacks to the early days of Cody Rhodes in AEW. For those who don't remember, or weren't fans at the time, Rhodes did the same thing Page just did and, like Page, Rhodes lost. It wound up being a major obstacle through the rest of his time in AEW, and one can see how that decision might've contributed to Rhodes' decision to leave the company.
I understand the appeal of adding such high stakes to tonight's main event, especially considering Page and MJF have had some level of a rivalry since the promotion's first-ever show in 2019. I even believe that it's possible for them to write themselves out of this corner, though ideally with more effort and thought put into it than simply having Page turn heel and go back on his word. The problem is that I don't think any of this was really necessary, as MJF and Page are more than capable of telling a great story without a plot device like this one.
The results of this match will undoubtedly leave a compelling impact on Page's character, and he'll have a reason to go after some of the company's other championships. Eventually, though, they are going to want Page back in the world title picture, and Tony Khan is going to have to walk a fine line to do that in a way that doesn't feel cheap or lazy.
Chase Elliott guided his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro to a runner-up finish in the Cup Series race at Las Vegas on Sunday. For many drivers in the field, that kind of result would be more than welcome. Elliott had every reason to be pleased with his performance, but he did not appear that way when speaking to the press after the race. Veteran crew chief Steve Letarte took notice of it.
Letarte and Kyle Petty were on NASCAR’s Inside The Race segment when Elliott’s dissatisfaction came to light. Letarte explained that his feelings were connected to high ambitions.
He said, “Chase Elliott’s interview was the best interview of the day for me. It was like cold water on my face. He wanted to say the second place was good. And he wanted to be excited about scoring points.”
“He is like, ‘Man, we haven’t run well enough.’ He wants to win! I think Chase Elliott fans out there should cheer that he was so conflicted in his interview,” Letarte added.
This is what any fan wants to see from their favorite driver. The yearning to be the best in the field. Elliott’s countless admirers will certainly be proud of him.
But by no means was Elliott‘s performance average. He started from 15th place and traveled to the front of the field by the end of the race. That’s a serious display of skill on a track like Vegas. If he had a few more laps at his disposal, he might very well have overtaken Hamlin and seized the day for himself. But within half a second of a win was the best he could do with what he had.
What did Elliott say in his post-race interview?
Mixed feelings ran high when the mic was put in front of the No. 9 driver. He said, “It was definitely better there towards the end than it had started the run. I thought there might be an opportunity. I knew that he was starting to get tight there at the end of runs. As bummed as I am to come up that close to a win, I have to kind of bring myself back to a reality check.”
Elliott wanted to focus more on how much better he and his team performed than they had been doing in recent weeks. He also expressed his confidence and pride in his crew. The back and forth of emotions in his words reflected the internal debate in his mind very clearly. Hopefully, he will be more satisfied at the end of next Sunday’s race at Darlington.
These days, it seems as if the South Bay Lakers can't lose a game even if they tried to. They took an 11-game winning streak into Sunday's game against the Rip City Remix, and they looked to continue the tear that they have been on of late.
Unlike plenty of South Bay's other games during its current winning streak, this game was competitive throughout. It started to pull away late and had a 93-87 lead going into the fourth quarter, only to see the Remix remain on its tail down the stretch. But South Bay was able to outlast the Remix and claim a 129-122 victory.
While the Remix outshot South Bay 50.6% to 48.9% from the field, they committed 22 turnovers and were outscored by 12 in the paint. Arthur Kaluma led the Lakers in scoring by tossing in 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting off the bench. Guard R.J. Davis scored 24 points and dished off six assists while making half of his 16 shot attempts and six 3-point tries.
Center Malik Williams turned in 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Nick Smith Jr. also had 19 points, although he shot 7-of-19 from the field.
South Bay now has the G League's best record at 22-8, and it is half a game ahead of the second-place Mexico City Capitanes in the Western Conference.
The NCAA March Madness logo on the basketball cart on the court before an NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and Purdue Boilermakers, Wednesday January 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
LOS ANGELES - The Bruins are going Dancing, and now the stage is set.
Of course, the Bruins already knew that they would be the No.1 regional seed and host team for the first two rounds of the tournament, but the lingering questions were who exactly UCLA would be playing in the bracket and the operative question, where they would be seeded nationally. No. 1 or No. 2.
A packed crowd filled the Mo Ostin Center at UCLA to watch what the final verdict would be and as it was revealed, UConn, who had consistently been the ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation, though their hold on that spot began to slip as the season came to a close, was named the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament while UCLA was named No. 2.
“People have been asking me, do I care about the No. 1 overall seed? I really don’t,” UCLA head coach Cori Close said. “It has no bearing on where we’re going. We just care about the next matchup ahead of us. Bottom line for us is that I just really want us to keep a present mindset. What’s the challenge in front of us? How do we play our best basketball for that?"
UCLA, being the No. 1 seed in the Sacramento-2 regional bracket, is slated to play No. 16 Cal Baptist in the opening round of the tournament on Saturday, March. 21.
Should the Bruins win that game and advance, they’ll face the winner of No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 9 Princeton.
"Taking it day by day and right now, I'm just really focused on Cal Baptist," graduate forward Angela Dugalic said. "That's going to be my mindset, who we're playing against each time. I'm just going to be staying present."
While UConn reigned as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation throughout the season, UCLA’s dominance, especially as the season came to a close and through the Big Ten Tournament, raised questions that the Bruins were serious contenders for the top spot instead.
UCLA forward Angela Dugalic (32) looks for a pass during a NCAA basketball game between UCLA and Southern University on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA.
Jack Haslett -- The Sporting Tribune
UCLA forward Angela Dugalic (32) looks for a pass during a NCAA basketball game between UCLA and Southern University on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA.
While the Huskies were undefeated the entire season, UCLA’s schedule was often pointed at as the determining factor, with the Bruins dominating the tough competition of the Big Ten and racking up more Quad 1 wins than the Huskies.
Ultimately, it went to the Huskies, though it seems that decision did not come lightly. During the Selection Sunday live show, it was stated that the choice between the two premier programs went down to a committee vote and what amounted to an eye test pointed in the Huskies’ favor.
The Time for Talk is Over
Close even said during UCLA’s watch party that the No. 2 seed was expected and the Bruins might even prefer the competition they’ll face in the Sacramento-2 bracket, which features some of the toughest competition in the entire tournament with teams like Duke, Ole Miss and LSU.
The Selection Show hosts are comparing UConn and UCLA’s resumes and they said UConn “looked” better than the Bruins, despite what the stats say.
The Bruins may not have the top spot in the tournament, but the anticipation of rankings has come and gone and now all that’s left is to decide winners and losers on the court.
“I don’t care who we play, where we play… this is all talk. Let’s do our talking on the court,” Close said.
“We’ve explored the starting rotation, adding and getting some type of starter, whether that’s trade or signing. We’d like for it to be someone impactful, someone we think can start a playoff game,” Anthopoulos said.
Now the Braves are in a position where they may simply be happy to add any reliable arm after a series of injuries to the rotation. First, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep went down with the same injury. More recently, Joey Wentzwas ruled out for the season.
“One awkward step has cost Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz the 2026 season. The club said Monday that Wentz tore the ACL in his right knee while covering first base against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. There was initial hope that Wentz had avoided serious injury, but further testing revealed the ligament tear,” ESPN wrote.
A trade could be the route Atlanta chooses, which would not be surprising given Anthopoulos’ history of making aggressive moves. One name to watch is Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins.
“The Marlins moved two veteran-ish starters this offseason (Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers) but hung on to Alcantara, who was a prime trade candidate last winter and again at last year's trade deadline. He instead remains in Miami. How long will that last? I don't think it will be too much longer given his $17 million salary this year and $21 million club option next year. Interested teams will give up more to get two postseason of Alcantara rather than one, making a trade this summer more likely,” CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa wrote.
Acquiring Alcantara would be a risk worth taking for the Braves, especially given his success at the major league level. Last season was not his best as he worked his way back from injury, but this year would mark a fully healthy campaign.
Atlanta is in desperate need of a starter, and Alcantara is a pitcher the organization knows well. The Braves have a chip on their shoulder this season, but it could be difficult to reach their goals if they cannot keep the rotation healthy.
Mar 14, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (11) during qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. | Credits- Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Denny Hamlin went through a lot in the months building up to the 2026 season, with a long-awaited title slipping through his fingers last year in Phoenix, and then losing his dad to a tragic house fire. No one would blame him had he chosen to step aside, or at least taken the year to recover.
Instead, Hamlin came back and went straight back to work in the NASCAR Cup Series. Through five starts this season, he has stayed near the front of the field in every race except the opener at Daytona International Speedway. The run reached a high point at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Hamlinled 134 of 267 laps and won the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday.
Speaking after the win, Hamlin explained why he chose to keep racing despite the weight he carried through the off-season. “Well, I mean, ultimately I’m still a competitor, right? And, you know, everyone’s got to go through that process, the grieving process,” he began.
“And just there were a lot of different things through the offseason. It was, you know, really, really tough. And, yeah, I mean, I showed up at Bowman Gray. I ran the race.”
Hamlin admitted that the loss affected him deeply. Even after the new season started, he admitted he wasn’t fully mentally present yet. Still, he found reasons to stay the course. He understands that“Everyone has to go through stuff.”
Despite that struggle, two things pushed him to keep going. “It’s promise to Joe Gibbs and that family that I’d fulfill my obligations to them. And then the thrill of going out there and getting more wins. That to me is what drives me, and it makes me work as hard as I do at this.”
The Joe Gibbs Racingdriver also spoke of the loss as part of a road everyone must travel at some point. Yet those moments do not erase who a person is at their core. For the JGR ace, that identity has remained steady since the first time he strapped into a race car. He is still the driver who shows up to race and chase wins.
That belief is why he calls the sport his life’s work. For Hamlin, stepping aside in the face of grief was never the first thought. Climbing back into the car and going racing became his way of moving forward.
Despite facing a star-studded lineup featuring Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Manny Machado, Skenes allowed just one run on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.
By his own admission after the game, Skenes didn’t have his best stuff, allowing a solo homer to Junior Caminero in the bottom of the second and loading the bases in the fourth. He managed to escape the jam unscathed, however, before turning the game over to the bullpen in the fifth and leaving the mound to a standing ovation at LoanDepot Park.
Paul Skenes leaves to a standing ovation for Team USA
The reigning NL Cy Young winner cooled off the DR’s sizzling bats that came into the contest averaging over 10 runs per game in the tournament. He also got some run support from Roman Anthony and Gunnar Henderson, both of whom launched solo homers in the top of the fourth to give Team USA the lead.
Skenes held it long enough to earn his second win of the tournament, finishing his first World Baseball Classic with a 2-0 record, a 1.08 ERA and nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.
While Skenes’ job is finished, Team USA’s isn’t. They’ll try to win the final on Tuesday and secure their first World Baseball Classic championship since 2017.
Aaron Wainwright won a Grand Slam with Wales in 2019 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Taulupe Faletau is arguably Wales' greatest ever number eight and remains a quality performer but has not played since the first Test in Japan last summer because of injury.
Aaron Wainwright's displays led to Tandy being asked ahead of the Italy game whether Wales would keep the Lions legend in mind on his return from a calf issue.
"I don't think you can ever write anyone off, especially with someone of his quality," said the head coach.
"But ultimately we've got a lot of young men that are starting to perform, starting to get consistency, so for me it'll always be based on performance."
Wainwright was man of the match for his two-try performance against the Azzurri, when he also showed his work rate in defence to go along with his physicality with ball in hand.
The Leicester-bound Dragons talisman finished the official Six Nations charts fourth for carries (67), ninth for defenders beaten (17), fourth for dominant contacts (13) and fifth for post-contact metres (80).
"I still think that I could do more," said Wainwright. "There is always room to deliver more."
Wales are also blessed for flankers after strong campaigns by Alex Mann - the tournament's top tackler - and James Botham, while British and Irish Lion Jac Morgan is nearing return from injury.
Carre's champagne moment
Dan Edwards' try against Italy was the moment that put Wales within touching distance of a long-awaited win yet it is an unexpected score in a defeat that will be replayed in years to come.
Loose-head prop Rhys Carre's fend and turn of pace to run over from 25 metres in Dublin was a champagne moment for the entire 2026 Six Nations, let alone Wales' campaign.
It led to plenty of social media clips, questions in press conferences and the front-rower's name getting a cheer as loud as Louis Rees-Zammit's when the teams were read out before the finale against Italy.
The Saracens prop has been rejuvenated under Tandy and his Dublin effort was not just a terrific individual score, it was a key moment in the Wales revival.
They went into half-time just 12-10 down at Aviva Stadium and stayed in the fight to lay the foundations for the success against Italy.
Strong-running James has breakthrough campaign
Eddie James missed out on the autumn series through injury but the Scarlets centre, with Max Llewellyn sidelined, started all five games on his return.
The 23-year-old, who made his Test debut in 2024, led the championship for post-contact metres per carry (2.2) and was Wales' joint leader for dominant contacts with Wainwright (13).
James started all fixtures at 13 but his physicality and offloading ability means he could be an option at 12, where he had predominantly played before this season.
Wales have gone for playmaking options at inside centre in Joe Hawkins and Ben Thomas but will also have the fit-again Llewellyn and promising Louie Hennessey, who made his debut off the bench in Ireland, in the mix.
"I feel that I am getting more and more confident with the minutes I have in the jersey," said James after his first win at senior level with Wales.
"I really appreciate all the chances I get and hopefully I can perform if I get more chances in the summer."
Unsung hero returns to Test stage
Tomas Francis left Ospreys for Provence in 2023 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Tomas Francis does not feature on any statistical leaderboards but the tight-head prop has been a hugely welcome returnee to the international stage.
The 33-year-old had not featured since the 2023 World Cup while playing in France's second tier with Provence.
He was recalled for the Six Nations by Tandy prior to a summer move to Sale where he will join forces with loose-head Nicky Smith.
Wales were denied the services of Keiron Assiratti - who had a strong autumn - because of injury and that led to Francis sharing the load with Bath's Archie Griffin.
Francis started four times after returning off the bench at England and ensured set-piece solidity to go with some unflashy heft.
The former Ospreys prop provides experience and reliability, which puts him in a strong position to feature in a fourth World Cup.
Ambassadors amid uncertainty
Wales continue to play fixtures amid off-field turmoil, with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) not budging on their plan to cut from four men's professional teams to three.
Tandy and captain Dewi Lake have had to be the face of Welsh rugby and have conducted themselves impeccably.
The hooker will have played his last Ospreys game before a summer move to Gloucester when the Wales squad link up again in the summer.
"That was a performance we have built towards and this group deserves it massively," said Lake after the win against Italy.
"We have gone through a lot of emotionally tough things recently, whether that is on the field or off it."
It remains a cause for concern as Wales build towards the World Cup, with Scarlets and Ospreys on a Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) that expires in the summer of 2027.
Tandy's squad next take to the field against Barbarians at Twickenham in June before three Nations Championship fixtures in July against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
By then the WRU will have held an extraordinary general meeting, with chair Richard Collier-Keywood facing a vote of no confidence, while there is also a legal battle with Swansea Council over the future of Ospreys.
Tandy has created a positive environment for his players after outlining his approach before the campaign.
"If they've got something to share, if they're seeking more clarity or anything they want to talk about then we have to be open," he said.
"One thing we can't do is run away from it or pretend it's not happening."
Tandy has allowed his players to grow in their Vale Resort bubble and will aim to keep taking everything in his stride in the summer.
The Atlanta Braves are playing good baseball in Spring Training, which could set them up for a strong regular season in 2026. However, it has been a hectic spring due to several injuries and the PED suspension of Jurickson Profar.
“Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in the last year, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Profar, 33, is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since Major League Baseball increased the penalty for two-time offenders to a full season in 2014. He will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary,” Jeff Passan wrote.
Profar’s suspension could free up some money for Atlanta, potentially allowing the team to pursue another starting pitcher. Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos was comfortable with the rotation during the offseason, but recent injuries have complicated that plan.
“We’ve explored the starting rotation, adding and getting some type of starter, whether that’s trade or signing. We’d like for it to be someone impactful, someone we think can start a playoff game,” Anthopoulos said.
One name the Braves could target is Lucas Giolito, who remains available and could make sense for Atlanta’s rotation.
“Aside from Boston, the Atlanta Braves may actually be the most logical fit for Giolito. The Braves are currently experiencing some intense deja vu with the injury bug and need all the depth they can get. Acquiring Giolito could add some more experience to a fairly young staff and lengthen the rotation. At the moment, Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Reynaldo Lopez feel like the only guaranteed starters in the Braves rotation. Other arms like Bryce Elder are fighting for their opportunity following unfortunate injuries that have sidelined Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and Joey Wentz,” FanSided’s Austin Owens wrote.
The Braves have already seen Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz land on the injured list. Adding Giolito would provide valuable depth and veteran experience to the rotation.
Atlanta has a history of signing players to one-year deals to help them bounce back. A good example is when the Braves signed Josh Donaldson in 2019. Those types of moves are often where Anthopoulos thrives, especially when the team needs to stabilize an area like the starting rotation.
ELIJAH BRYANT (left) and Hapoel Tel Aviv beat host Barcelona in Euroleague action. (photo credit: Hapoel Tel Aviv/Courtesy)
Hapoel Tel Aviv downed Barcelona 80-75 as Dan Oturu and Elijah Bryant paced the Reds to their first road win after a three-game losing streak away from home.
Israeli teams in Euroleague play were back in action with mixed results after a two-week break due to the war with Iran.
Hapoel Tel Aviv downed Barcelona 80-75 as Dan Oturu and Elijah Bryant paced the Reds to their first road win after a three-game losing streak away from home. The win moved Hapoel’s record to 18-11 and it finds itself in fifth place with a pair of games in hand as it tries to move closer to the top of the standings and away from the Play-In zone.
Oturu scored 22 points, Bryant added 21 points, and Blakeney put in eight points in the win. Kevin Punter scored 17 points to lead Barca, and Will Clyburn added 15 points as Tomas Satoransky had 11 points in the loss.
“We started rusty, let’s be honest,” Itoudis said after the game. “But we got used to it after that very well. In two quarters, we gave up 14 points, the second quarter and the last quarter. The problems for us were turnovers. We turned the ball over too much and missed free throws. But other than that, we had a clear target of what to do.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv, meanwhile fell at Milano 96-87 as Gur Lavy’s career night for the yellow-and-blue was not enough against former center Josh Nebo, who starred in the victory for the Italians.
Maccabi Tel Aviv players celebrating. (credit: Dov Halickman)
Maccabi Tel Aviv drops to 13th place
The loss dropped Maccabi’s record to 14-16 and it now finds itself in 13th place, three games out of a Play-In spot with only eight games remaining in the regular season.
“We played against a good team and they shot the ball really well,” Maccabi coach Oded Kattash said. “We did a better job in the second half and the most important thing is that we kept fighting. We have a week to recover and get the next one.”
Nebo, the game’s MVP, added: “In the past we had some trouble in the fourth quarter and today was a big step forward in responding to their run and closing the game out. It was a tough game and we’re trying to push for a spot in the playoffs, so I try to bring my best effort to every matchup.”
See more Israeli sports coverage at www.sportsrabbi.com/en
Not many gave them a chance, but Clarkson University pulled off one of the more recent shockers in NCAA hockey, and St. Louis Blues prospect Matthew Mayich played quite a role in it.
The Golden Knights came into their best-of-3 ECAC quarterfinal series against perennial toughie and top-seeded Quinnipiac University as a huge underdog. The Bobcats were not only the top seed but also ranked seventh in the nation in the latest USA Today Men's Hockey poll.
But the underdogs Golden Knights and Mayich would have none of it with a shocking sweep in two games, winning 3-0 in the opener on Friday, then winning the series 4-3 at M&T Bank Arena in Hamden, Ct. on Saturday.
Mayich, a defenseman and sixth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had an assist on Friday, then had a goal (at the 3:30 mark on the video) and an assist in the clincher on Saturday, including this shorthanded, game-tying goal at 12:58 of the third period, 38 seconds after the Golden Knights made it 3-2, also shorthanded:
Mayich, who has who has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 33 games this season, then set up what would be the game-winning and series-clinching goal at 14:21 to help Clarkson (18-16-3) advance to the semifinals, where they will face second-seeded Dartmouth College in Game 1 on Friday in Lake Placid, NY.
* Justin Carbonneau -- It was a rather quiet week as far as goal scoring is concerned for the 2025 first-round pick (No. 19) until the forward cashed in for his 51st of the season for Blainville-Boisebriand of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. It was the only ray of light for the Armada in their 5-1 loss to Drummondville:
Carbonneau, who is up to 80 points (51 goals, 29 assists) in 58 games on the season, had an assist Thursday in a 7-0 win over Baie-Comeau, then added another helper Friday in a 6-3 win over Val-d'Or.
The Armada are 38-18-5-1, in third place in the Western Conference, two points behind Drummondville and one behind Rouyn-Noranda.
* Lukas Fischer -- The defenseman scored his first goal since Feb. 11 on Friday for Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League in a 5-2 loss to Flint:
Fischer, a 2024 second-round pick who has 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists) in 62 games, had an assist on the game-winner in overtime Thursday of a 4-3 win over Windsor as the Greyhounds, currently in fourth place in the Western Conference with 82 points (38-21-1-5) as they jockey with fifth-place London, which is one point back.
* Aleksanteri Kaskimaki -- It was quite the weekend for the 2022 third-round pick, who is helping to push Springfield of the American Hockey League.
He had three assists in the Thunderbirds' 6-3 win over Utica on Friday, then had the empty-net goal, which turned out to be the game-winner, and an assist on Sunday in a 4-3 win at Providence to help up Springfield's record to 24-27-6-2, just two points behind Lehigh Valley for fifth place and into a tie for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with Bridgeport having each played 59 games.
Kaskimaki is now up to 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 51 games and is just two points off his personal season high in points having played 12 fewer games.
* Juraj Pekarcik -- After having just scored one goal in 32 games, it's now two goals in the past six games for the 2023 third-round pick after he got the Thunderbirds going with a netfront goal on Sunday in Providence:
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) March 15, 2026
In his first season in the AHL, the 20-year-old has 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 57 games.
* Dylan Peterson -- The 2020 third-round pick is normally asked to play a heavy game and be a net front presence, and he chipped in with this goal on Friday in the win over the Comets to give him 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 46 games:
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) March 14, 2026
* Marc-Andre Gaudet -- The 2022 fifth-round pick has been bringing some offense from the blue line as of late, scoring on Wednesday in a 3-2 overtime loss to Providence:
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) March 11, 2026
He had two assists in the win Sunday to five him five points (one goal, four assists) the past six games and 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) on the season in 41 games.
* Colin Ralph -- It was an early exit for Ralph and Michigan State, which was upset by Ohio State, 3-2 in overtime, on Saturday, thwarting the Spartans' chance at a Big 10 Tournament title three-peat by losing in the semifinals.
Ralph, a 2024 second-round pick, will get another opportunity as the third-ranked Spartans (25-8-2) will advance to the NCAA Tournament but will wait until Sunday's selection show to see where they head.
Ralph has a goal and 10 assists on the season with 45 blocked shots; he had two on Saturday.
* Julien Gauthier -- A first-round pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2026 draft, the 27-year-old was acquired from Bridgeport for Matt Luff last month played in his third game on Friday and scored his first goal:
Harenstam, who guided Sweden to the 2026 World Junior Championship, won his third start in a row when he stopped 37 of 40 shots in a 6-3 win over Kalmar on Sunday in a playoff quarterfinal.
Harenstam finished with a 14-18-5 regular-season record with a 1.81 goals-against average and .920 save percentage; he is now 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA and .948 save percentage in the playoffs.
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Bergamo, Italy - March 10: head coach Vincent Kompany of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Atalanta BC and FC Bayern München at Stadio di Bergamo on March 10, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Following a dramatic night in the UEFA Champions League that saw Manchester City fall to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany made it clear that his focus remains firmly on the task directly in front of his team.
Speaking about watching the match, Kompany offered a personal glimpse into how he followed the action while also emphasizing Bayern Munich’s current priorities.
“I watched the game with my kids; they wanted us to watch the simulcast. So, we also saw the goals in the other games. There were a lot of goals. I’m not thinking about the quarterfinals yet. I want to win the home game against Atalanta properly. I’m not thinking about the next round yet; it certainly won’t be easy – whether it’s against Real Madrid or Manchester City. Those will be great games for our fans,” said Kompany (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
The quote reflects a familiar approach from Kompany throughout the season: stay grounded in the present and avoid looking too far ahead. While the possibility of facing either European heavyweight is exciting, Bayern still have business to handle against Atalanta BC before anything else becomes relevant.
It is also notable that Kompany previously captained Manchester City during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Despite that connection, his comments avoided any emotional reaction to City’s big loss and instead focused entirely on Bayern Munich’s own path forward.
That mentality may be exactly what Bayern Munich needs at this stage of the tournament. The Champions League has a long history of punishing teams that get distracted by potential future opponents. For Bayern Munich, the equation is simple — take care of Atalanta first. If it does, the reward could be a blockbuster quarterfinal matchup against one of Europe’s biggest names — exactly the type of nights that define the Champions League and excite supporters at the Allianz Arena.
U-19 World Cup sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who first made headlines at 14, is now turning his focus to the Indian Premier League, aiming to deliver a title-winning season for Rajasthan Royals.
Sooryavanshi left fans in awe during IPL 2025 as the youngest centurion in the tournament, and earlier this year, he powered India to their sixth U-19 World Cup in Harare with a blistering 175 off 80 balls in the final against England.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BCCI Naman Awards, the young batter said his priority is clear: “The goal this IPL season is to win the trophy for the team, as it is a very important thing. I want to do well, and my performance will help the whole team. This is my goal — to contribute to RR's wins and win the trophy for the franchise.”
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Sooryavanshi also expressed his delight at reuniting with his U-19 teammates during the awards ceremony. “It feels really nice. Won a trophy as well for India at the World Cup. Because of this award ceremony, feeling nice to meet my teammates and coaches again here,” he said.
The Bihar-born youngster made history as the youngest IPL signing when Rajasthan Royals secured him in 2024, aged just 13, for Rs 1.1 crore. Reflecting on those early days, Sooryavanshi said: “When I made my domestic debut, RR had been keeping an eye on me during my domestic and Under-19 games. Their scouting team had been keeping an eye on me for a long time. I felt that I could go to RR because my trial with them had gone very well. I am happy to be with RR, as I have improved a lot too in my life while playing for them.”
He also credited learning from the team’s seniors and the legendary Rahul Dravid during his initial IPL experience. “For any youngster, the first IPL camp is always interesting and it was the same for me too. Rahul (Dravid) sir was there at that time, so I got to learn a lot from him. There were a lot of senior players in the team, and I had a good learning experience from them during the first camp as well as the first IPL,” he said.
With the IPL 2026 season approaching, all eyes will be on Sooryavanshi as he seeks to turn his prodigious talent into franchise glory.
Ludvig Aberg at the Players Championship on Sunday.getty images
Ludvig Aberg has a knack for making the game look easy. Like, really easy. A big part of that is his swing, which pairs more firepower than an F1 car with more tempo than Yo-Yo Ma. But it’s also his demeanor: never too high, never too low. “He’s so laid-back, like, ridiculously laid-back,” Rory McIlroy said Sunday as Aberg, the 54-hole leader at the Players Championship, was plotting his way around the Stadium Course.
Aberg’s mellowness, McIlroy added, is “a really good thing, especially in environments like the Ryder Cup.” Those pressure-cooker settings include the majors and, yes, the Players Championship, where Pete Dye’s masterwork can have the same effect on the world’s most skilled golfers that a meat grinder does on three-day-old ribeye. “It’s all about executing,” Aberg said Saturday evening of the Stadium Course’s sundry challenges. “You’re going to get punished if you don’t, which is a fun way to play golf.”
For three and a half rounds, Aberg did just that: he executed. A bogey-free 69 on Thursday. A six-birdie-two-eagle 63 on Friday to seize the lead by two. A what-me-worry 71 on Saturday to extend his lead to three. Another one-under round on Sunday would probably be enough to secure Aberg, who is 26, his third and biggest Tour win.
Whatever the golf gods were cooking up for Players Sunday, Aberg at the very least would be thinking about what winning on so grand a stage might look and feel like, just as he used to do in his college days at Texas Tech and in his early days as a pro. “We spend so much time practicing, playing, training, preparing, so why wouldn’t we think of what it would actually mean to win?” Aberg said Saturday evening. “So naturally that’s what I’m going to do tonight. But does it change anything for me tomorrow? I don’t think so.”
Through Aberg’s first nine holes Sunday, there was little reason to doubt that he wouldn’t keep on keeping on. The only real blip came on the par-4 3rd, where he tugged a 7-wood off the tee into the left rough and made 5, giving back a stroke he’d picked up at the par-5 2nd. Still, after closing the front side with five straight pars and making another at the 10th, Aberg was still in pole position.
Then came the par-5 11th.
After blistering his drive, Aberg didn’t have to think long about whether he’d attack a green guarded short and right by sand and water. Out came the 7-wood, and with it, something you don’t see often from Aberg: a momentary loss of tempo. Aberg’s ball never had a chance. It started right and stayed right. Splash. He escaped with a bogey, but the loose swing from the fairway might have done more damage to his psyche than it did to his scorecard.
That much became clear on the next tee when Aberg uncorked another clunker: a hard pull into the water that lines the left of the par-4 12th. The misfire left Aberg, after a drop, with 181 yards in from the rough, from where he failed to hold the green. A chip and two putts later, he’d made a double — and, with Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick trading highlights ahead of him, effectively played his way out of contention. For a player who, for 64 holes, had exhibited such mastery over his ball, it was a shocking turn of events.
“I would imagine if I look at those swings on sort of 11, 12, they probably were quick swings,” he said after he’d signed for a four-over 76 that dropped him to nine under and into a tie for 5th. “Takeaway got really fast and then the rest of it kind of spirals from there. That’s something that I should have been aware of, now looking back. But yeah, that’s the way it goes.”
Aberg also admitted to pressing on 12, where, for a player of his length, he could have taken less club off the tee. Was the aggressive club selection, then, an overcorrection for the gaffe on 11?
“I wouldn’t say so,” he said. “In my opinion, it was probably just a really fast swing. I got really quick on it, and all of a sudden it’s a poor flaw of mine in my golf game. It kind of ties in together with all of it. That’s my learning from those two holes.”
We also learned something else about Aberg this week: for all his even-temperament and seeming unflappableness, he is not impervious to nerves. Far from it. He’s still young. Still maturing. Still dialing in all the elements required to win at the game’s highest level. He showed as much Sunday with two out-of-character swings, and he’d also foreshadowed as much Saturday evening.
“Whenever I get in a stressful situation, I have to slow myself down,” he said. “Because I get really fast, I start talking fast, I start breathing fast, and I kind of get, like, a little worked up like that. So I just have to really calm myself down, try to walk slow, talk slow, make everything just a little bit slower, which is a challenge.”
DULUTH, GEORGIA - MARCH 07: Hannah Hidalgo #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a three-point basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the second quarter of the semifinals of the Women's ACC Tournament between the Duke Blue Devils and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Gas South Arena on March 07, 2026 in Duluth, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite a very strong end to the regular season and a NET ranking of 21, the Notre Dame women’s basketball team was slotted as a 6-seed for the NCAA Tournament, and will take on the Fairfield Stags in some Catholic on Catholic crime.
Irish Columbus Bound For First Round Of NCAA Tournament
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s basketball team will travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the No. 11 Fairfield for the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Notre Dame enters the tournament with a record of 22-10 on the season and 12-6 in ACC play. The Fighting Irish have won nine of their last 11 games coming into the first round matchup.
The last time the Irish played in Columbus for the NCAA Tournament they won the 2018 national championship, defeating UConn and Mississippi State in the Final Four and national title game, respectively.
The winner of Notre Dame’s first-round contest will take on the winner of the first-round tilt between No. 3 seed Ohio State and No. 14 Howard in the second round on Monday, March 23. The Irish are in the Fort Worth regional, which will be played on either Friday, March 27 or Saturday, March 28.
NOTRE DAME IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Notre Dame and Fairfield have played one time prior in program history, with the Irish defeating the Stags 75-62 in Villanova, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 28, 1987.
The Irish have won two national championships in program history, coming in 2001 and 2018.
Notre Dame owns a 75-28 record in its 30 previous trips to the NCAA Tournament.
The Irish have now made each of the last five NCAA Tournament fields.
Notre Dame has an all-time record of 26-4 in NCAA Tournament first round games.
The Irish have advanced to at least the Sweet 16 on 21 occasions, including in each of their last 14 tournament appearances.
This marks the second time the Irish have earned a No. 6 seed in the tournament with the other time occurring in 1997 when the team made a run to the Final Four.
Notre Dame has advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four nine times and has played in seven national title games.
The full bracket is below. CLICK HERE for printable bracket.
There are several interesting matchups in the Fort Worth bracket for the Irish should they get past Fairfield. Outside of any possible games against ACC foes, the Irish could see a regional rival in the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Notre Dame advances to the Elite 8 for the first time I’m a number of years, rival UConn could be waiting for them. The Huskies beat the Irish in January, 85-47.
The semifinals have arrived at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with just one game remaining after this round. Some of baseball's top stars, both in and out of MLB, have been on display throughout the tournament — and now, on Monday night, Venezuela and Italy will meet for a trip to the title game.
Venezuela dethroned Japan with an 8-5 win on Saturday, riding hot bats to an upset that ensures the World Baseball Classic will have a new champion. They will meet the darling of the tournament, Italy, after the Italian team remained perfect by holding off a Puerto Rico comeback in the quarterfinals.
Who will move on to face the United States in the championship game?
Here's everything to know about watching Italy vs. Venezuela in the WBC semifinals, including TV channel, live streaming and more.
Italy and Venezuela's matchup will air on FS1 in the U.S. Spanish speakers can follow along with the coverage on Fox Deportes, while cord-cutters can find the action on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Italy vs. Venezuela start time
Date: Monday, March 16
Time: 8 p.m. ET
First pitch between Italy and Venezuela will take place at 8 p.m. ET on Monday night. The game will be at LoanDepot park in Miami, Florida.
Those hoping to listen to Sunday's WBC semifinal matchup can do so on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can listen to SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
World Baseball Classic knockout schedule
Here is how the WBC's knockout schedule will play out, including results from the quarterfinals up until the championship game on March 17.
Friday, March 13 - Quarterfinals
Game
Dominican Republic 10, South Korea 0
United States 5, Canada 3
Saturday, March 14 - Quarterfinals
Game
Italy 8, Puerto Rico 6
Venezuela 8, Japan 5
Sunday, March 15 - Semifinals
Semifinals and championship will be played in Miami
Sunderland's Wilson Isidor arrives at the ground ahead of the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Picture date: Sunday February 22, 2026. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images
Is it all over?
Is a player who scored an array of sublime goals en-route to promotion and appeared to have thrown himself wholeheartedly into life on Wearside before kicking off the 2025/2026 season in encouraging form edging ever closer to the Stadium of Light exit — or is there some form of redemption arc within reach as Sunderland attempt to end the campaign in positive fashion?
As the Lads sought to chase the game at 0-1 down against Brighton on Saturday, Régis Le Bris’ decision to bring Dennis Cirkin into the fray for Chemsdine Talbi raised eyebrows and felt far more significant than your classic left-field, “Let’s try something a little bit different at this stage of the game”-type substitution.
Wilson Isidor was on the bench and presumably primed and ready, but that’s where he stayed as we slumped to defeat with Le Bris subsequently opting for Eliezer Mayenda when Brian Brobbey exited late on. Once again, the decisions didn’t pay off, we didn’t find the breakthrough and Sunderland were left to rue another game that got away from them.
It was desperate stuff for Isidor; a far cry from those memorable times he often enjoyed following his arrival in the summer of 2024, and a sad turn of events for a player whose talent is substantial but — as Le Bris himself revealed ahead of Saturday’s game — has struggled with form and fitness as well as the intensity of the Premier League.
Isidor’s Sunderland story is one of the more interesting of recent times.
He gave me a great deal of enjoyment as we gained promotion back to the Premier League and after announcing his arrival with goals in each of our first three home games, it felt as though he was another Championship signing who had the capacity to make an impact in the top flight.
Quite what (if anything) has gone on behind the scenes — either in his personal life, regarding his physical state or on the training ground — remains a mystery but it’s hard to overlook, as well as being concerning.
The bigger picture here concerns what happens if and when Brobbey is unavailable, and of course, only a fool would deny that the drop off from the former Ajax striker to the mercurial Isidor and the talented-yet-raw Mayenda is significant.
The Dutch striker’s unique blend of skill and strength — of which he showed flashes as he marked his return from injury against the Seagulls — is fundamental to how we play and ahead of 2026/2027, I do feel there’s an argument in favour of adding a genuine, Dominic Calvert-Lewin-style poacher to the ranks; someone who can ghost in, catch defences unawares and grab goals from very little.
However, that’s a discussion that’ll undoubtedly dominate the agenda in the summer but here and now, with the season still very much alive and plenty to play for, it’s going to require a significant effort from all concerned to break the current cycle.
Open-play goals for Sunderland are currently rarer than competent Jarred Gillett refereeing displays, with a single non-set piece strike registered in our last eight games, and questions of service from the wings are never far away, but the strikers themselves have as big a role to play in terms of their application as they do when it comes to finishing the chances that may come their way.
Despite rumours linking Isidor with a move away from Wearside in January, I did feel — and to a point, I still do — that keeping him in the fold was the right thing to do, but after displays against Leeds and Port Vale during which he looked worryingly downcast, it feels as though something is amiss, and it’s a problem we could really do without.
His lack of game time could easily be frustrating but he owes it to himself, the fans and Le Bris to embrace that challenge and try to regain the credit that’s seemingly been lost.
Competition either spurs a footballer on or saps them of motivation, rendering them little more than a bit-part player who merely goes through the motions and hopes nobody really notices. I sincerely hope that Isidor isn’t in that headspace at this stage and if he is, he needs to try and emerge from it pronto.
Sunderland presented Isidor with an opportunity back in 2024, snapping him up from Zenit St. Petersburg and giving his talent a bigger stage on which to thrive. He’s currently going through the toughest period of his time and red and white and I hope it doesn’t signal the beginning of what could be a long, distracting and potentially painful parting of the ways.
Nobody should wish for that. Let’s hope the situation is recoverable.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Sunderland fans are seen leaving the stadium before the match has ended during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stadium of Light on March 14, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ian Bendelow says…
If you’re offended by any of the below and leave early – good. Because I mean every word.
And if you don’t like it? Piss off and support Newcastle.
Three years ago a survey was carried out to find out which club had the most “early leavers.” Interestingly, the top six places were taken by the clubs considered the “big six.”
The reason why, I suspect, is that there are far more casual fans of their clubs who go as tourists, on a corporate ticket or simply because the wins don’t mean as much.
Though I’d be willing to bet if this survey were carried out across the last three home games, Sunderland AFC would come out so far in front that it would be like the equivalent of winning the league in November.
It might be an excuse when the club is floundering at the bottom of the league, but when the stadium is emptying in front of a team that is the best we’ve had in decades, it’s a terrible look. The players notice it, senior club officials notice it, and it’s talked about; don’t worry about that. They see you, we all see you.
Rumours are that Granit Xhaka noticed fans flocking to the exit, in a mass movement that would have put the great Serengeti wildebeest migration to shame. When other players come to him, or any other senior player and ask whether they should sign for Sunderland, I’ll tell you now, the kind of nonsense witnessed against Fulham and Brighton will stick in their minds.
To all those early leavers, I ask you this: why do you do it? You actively harm the club’s chances of getting a result. The crowd can and does have an impact. Are you desperate to get the number 56 bus back to Concord? Do you like riding up front on the Metro and insist on nabbing that seat? Or are you just so desperate for a pint of Carling (because that’s what early leavers drink) that you just have to leave?
So, unless there is a good reason, your behaviour is pathetic. I hate it, and I hate you for doing it. It adds to the frustration felt in a game that is already maddening, as it was against Brighton. It also means I need to stand up to see the action.
It dispels the notion that this is a great club, with passionate fans that create atmospheres that make opposition clubs not want to come here. Conversely, it tells the away side that after 85 minutes, it’s job done, because these melts are a soft touch.
The club cannot call you out, but you should be held to account. You should have to scan your season card when you leave the stadium, so the club knows who is taking an early dart, and the bunch of helmets who do leave early should go to the back of the queue when it comes to away tickets, as well as for Wembley. You should have to pay more on renewal. You should get letters from the club reminding you of your responsibilities.
You leave a match early, you’re basically a fair-weather fan, with no cojones to see the game out. And you probably just don’t care as much. If that is the case, please – don’t bother coming in the first place.
Personally, I find the concept of leaving early beyond baffling.
We demand that the team give everything they can until the final whistle blows. Why, then, can we not all show our full support until the end of the game? What’s especially confusing for me is how long we’ve waited and had to suffer to get to the Premier League. Now that we’re playing much stronger opposition, week in, week out, why would you choose to not support the team and sack the game off after 80 minutes?
Had you fucked off on 83 minutes against Coventry, you’d be expecting to be listening to a penalty shootout on your traffic-free journey back home.
Against Sheffield United, you’d be listening to an emotional Chris Wilder (or as emotional as you can get Chris Wilder), talking about his plans for next season in the Premier League with Kieffer Moore leading the line for 25/26.
Brentford at home? 1–0 defeat, but I got home in record time!
Arsenal at home? A disappointing result, but the drive back through East Boldon was blissful.
Against Newcastle, nobody would have dared to go home before full-time. I don’t understand, then, why it’s seemingly fine to do so against other teams in the league. We want to finish as high as possible this season in what’s been an amazing return to the top tier. To do that, we need every marginal gain to go in our direction. Part of that comes down to the home crowd.
Earlier in the season, we were buzzing to see players getting involved with the crowd at important moments, whether it be winning a corner or a crunching tackle. Now, it feels like they’re asking us to get involved in games. We need to step up and stay. Til the end, and then assess where we are once the curtain comes down on this season. On a personal level, I want to be able to say I’ve done everything I can to get behind the lads.
You can’t do that and be leaving on 83 minutes.
Paddy Hayes says…
Recently, it seems we’ve reverted to type… at least, the type we became accustomed to during the years under Short and the subsequent drop to the third tier. Although early leavers had a much stronger argument back then.
This has been the first time in mine, and no doubt thousands of others’, Sunderland-supporting lives that we’ve really had a team and club to be proud of. And this is how some repay them?
Heading into the season, I really thought witnessing fans streaming out of the stadium was behind us – a symbol of a bygone era. The familiar sight of empty red seats, discarded crisp packets floating around the pitch, and fans heading for the exits en masse – it was symptomatic of where we were as a club.
The current crop of players have given us everything we’ve asked of players in the past. They’ve been the embodiment of heart and desire, and they so visibly feed off the energy us fans give them. Not to forget an owner who has worked to relocate the atmosphere that became so synonymous with the club and Roker Park.
Unfortunately, success and positivity can breed entitlement and frustration. We go into games, especially at home, expecting a result, and anything less is often met with disappointment and reactions that simply aren’t warranted… i.e. fans leaving before the final whistle.
We were 1–0 down against Brighton on Saturday. A la Dan Ballard against Coventry, Tommy Watson vs Sheffield United, football is a game built on moments, and results can be determined at any second.
What do we expect from a side trailing by a goal in the dying embers? The customary launch of the kitchen sink is a final push that creates an unnerving ending for the visitors. It’s in these moments that our support is most crucial; we should be the 12th man the players can rely on to get them over the line when cramp and fatigue set in. So, when they look around and see that thousands have left early, it hardly instils confidence that’ll inspire a comeback.
From beating the traffic to getting that takeaway ordered a little earlier, there are all manner of excuses. Yet, I can assure you that curry will still taste as good, if not better, if you’ve stayed and cheered the lads on to pinch a result. After all, we are called supporters for a reason.
John Wilson says…
The whole topic is toxic/interesting, whichever take on it you want. You have the “It’s my ticket, I can leave when I want” lot at one extreme, and on the other, some have said that the early leavers aren’t as loyal as fans who stay to the end – and indeed can harm the team.
I view much of it as ‘sheep mentality’ – when people start to leave, others will follow. Whatever reasons folk have for leaving early (and make no mistake – there will be a few with legitimate ones), I personally don’t understand their viewpoint. I’ve never left a match early in my life – no, I don’t want a Blue Peter Badge – I go to a game of football to watch the whole game of football. I’d need to know the reasons some people leave early to address their perspective. The only one I’ve heard is concerns about beating the traffic. But again, purely from my own point of view, the travel time is all part of the match day.
I didn’t see a mass exodus before Christmas, so where were the ‘beating the traffic brigade’ then?
I think fans who leave early are naïve if they think they don’t have an effect on the players. It’s fickle, it smacks of entitlement, and it’s embarrassing in my opinion. If people want to have a go in the replies – feel free – at least we might get some idea as to why people leave early.
As I’ve said before, can you remember what you’ve done with the extra half an hour or hour that you’ve saved by leaving early? That extra cup of tea? That extra pint? How many late goals have you missed?
One way to keep bums on seats, of course, is for the team to be scoring goals – granted – but personally I don’t know why anyone would leave a game early, it’s not in my DNA, and I’ve passed that onto my son.
No one has the right to tell any other fan how to support their team – I just don’t understand people who leave early, and I’m entitled to my opinion. For sure, it’s probably been going on all my life, but you can’t say this has been one of the best sides and best seasons we’ve seen at the SoL – and then leave early.
The team has to entertain, but we also have to support; it’s a joint effort.
Joseph Tulip says…
To be honest, the matter of people leaving early is something I’ve become used to over the years at the SoL.
During the first two seasons in the late 1990s, the atmosphere was very different to what it is now – even in good times – due to the unique fact that it was a new stadium. Granted, we had a team that was scoring lots of goals at the time, but even during second-tier games, there was singing and chanting throughout, while it wasn’t uncommon for Mexican waves to spontaneously break out.
This changed early into the new millennium. Yes, the novelty of our new ground had worn off a little, but it also coincided with the team falling into decline.
Since those days, there has always been a tendency for people to either leave early or to show a bit of frustration when things aren’t going well in a match.
I don’t think people are generally disheartened about our current position. Yes, we’re on a poor run of form and the season is potentially tailing off, but the fanbase is generally content that we have achieved our aim of survival this season, and that we appear to be going places under the current ownership.
However, after years of unfulfilled potential, false dawns and tales of narrow misses passed down the generations, I think there’s a level of impatience across our fanbase. People are just desperate to see us do well and sometimes show their disappointment a bit too easily, whether that be with an early exit from the stadium or with a few moans and groans. I heard a few in the West Stand on Saturday.
Obviously, some people will have their own personal reasons for leaving, but with others, I think it’s just disappointment getting the better of them. They still love their club and still turn up for the next match.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: A detailed view of the "more than a game" campaign prior to the Premier League match between Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stadium of Light on March 14, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Roker Report,
We’ve been pretty poor for weeks now, bar the odd game.
Am I worried? Yes. Is it just a matter of coasting along for the last eight or nine games because it looks like we’re safe from relegation? Yes.
I understand looking to next season, but we have a great chance to push on and aim for the top half of the league instead of looking down like the bad old days.
Let’s not lose the momentum we’ve built up since the playoffs!
No more moaning! Just give the skunks a good game next week (and a win, of course).
Keep the faith. ‘Til the end and FTM forever.
John Robson
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, John. Thank you for your letter.
I agree that we seem to be limping as opposed to sprinting towards the finishing line — not entirely unexpected, given our injury situation, lack of goal threats and patchy form — but I still believe that fifty points is an achievable target and given some of the fixtures on the horizon, I think we’ve got an excellent chance of reaching that total.
The derby will be a very tough task but if we can get something out of it, we can hopefully head into the international break in a good place before regrouping for the final swing of league games.
There’s a lot to play for and I hope that message is being transmitted from the coaching staff to the players.
Dear Roker Report,
I actually think we played pretty well on at times on Saturday and given we’ve been ravaged by injuries, it’s not exactly a shock that we lost — yet all I’m seeing are over-the-top reactions to the result.
Where did the ego come from that people get so angry after losing to a good, established team like Brighton? It’s not like we were battered.
Perspective required for the whingers.
Ian Hughes
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Ian. Thank you for getting in touch.
I agree that we played quite well on Saturday — until falling 0-1 behind, that is, and then we seemed to lose our shape, our composure and our attacking threat.
I thought Brighton were quite good at times but the goal we conceded was absolutely infuriating and the fact the game was ultimately decided by such a scrappy passage of play following Chris Rigg’s VAR-denied opener made it a tough one to take.
Overall, I didn’t feel there was a great deal in the game but had we taken some of the chances we carved out in the first half, it could’ve easily been a different story. That’s the way it goes, sadly.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland applauds the fans during the warm up while wearing a shirt in support of the "Foundation of Light" prior to the Premier League match between Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stadium of Light on March 14, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As football fans, we’re conditioned to react to results. Whether we win, lose, or draw, the outcome of the most recent match generally dictates our mood, our perception of the performance, and our perception of the general state of the club.
And after Saturday’s defeat – our third successive at the Stadium of Light, not that anyone really needs reminding – and our FA Cup exit to Port Vale, questions are being asked of the playing squad and Régis Le Bris too.
Some of those questions are fair enough – particularly after the FA Cup performance – but it’s important that collectively we don’t spend much time looking back and picking over the bones of just one Premier League win in the last six, and that poor FA Cup exit.
The reality of Saturday’s game against Brighton was – as it has been with many games this season – it could really have gone either way. A yard here and there, and we’re one up, the referee deciding to make Brighton retake a corner due to a clear push, or deciding a cynical foul was worthy of a second yellow… those moments matter, and they didn’t go our way on Saturday.
That’s not to say we couldn’t have been better; we absolutely could have, and I was thankful we weren’t a goal or two down in the first half, before we came back into it and really should have taken the lead; however, we must have some perspective here.
Wide areas have been an area of huge promise and also a huge weakness for us at different times this season, and we were without Reinildo, Mukiele, Traoré, Le Fée, Mundle, Ta Bi and Angulo this weekend – four of those seven would likely start in wide positions if everyone was fit.
Add to that the injury to Roefs, Ballard having to go off, the obvious fitness issues Xhaka’s dealing with and Brobbey just getting back to fitness and there’s a bit of leeway that’s warranted.
In fact, as a collective, we need to give this squad a bit of leeway in general – they’ve had an excellent season overall, and this period now, when we’re all but safe (I’m not saying it definitively until it’s mathematically impossible by the way), needs to be something of a runway into next season.
And that goes just as much for us as supporters – whether you’re in the ground or watching from afar, talking in the pub or having the crack online. Because it’s easy to support in all of those ways when things are going well in terms of results.
The real test – as we’ve known and proven over the past decade – is when things aren’t going so well.
And in context, a narrow Premier League home defeat that leaves us mid-table, on 40 points with seven left to play, isn’t a huge ‘down’. Especially given we’ve got 11 points in our last 11 games – certainly not championship form, but not relegation cert form either, despite what some would have you believe/
So it’s important our reaction to a spell of form that’s not as good as what came before doesn’t turn into something it’s not.
It’s important that we don’t turn it into something it’s not.
Yes, there’s areas for improvement – everyone knows that, Le Bris better than anyone. We need to be better at set pieces. We need to score more goals from open play; that’s stating the bleeding obvious. But that doesn’t negate all of the good things in our play too; the defensive solidity that’s usually there, the grit and fight, and the tacical nous particularly in away games.
The club are improving off the pitch too – Legends’ Way will be fantastic and I can’t wait to see the Welcome To Sunderland sign once more, towering over Monty and Bob Stokoe.
As a collective, we need to step up too. The club, the manager, and the players have all earned our trust, they’ve all earned the right to be supported, and that’s where we – whether in the ground or online – need to come in.
Xhaka looked frustrated as some fans once again left the ground early on Saturday with a decent chunk left to play (Til The End?), while make no mistake about it, players read what’s said about them online.
In many respects, therefore, it’s good we’ve got the derby game this weekend as it takes the focus off a lot of stuff that would rumble on ahead of a run-of-the-mill game.
We need to improve in a few aspects, on the field and off the field, because we all want to win, we’re all in it together, and we need to show that definitively between now and the end of the season.
So that run starts on Sunday, and it’s essential we’re all pulling in the right direction for that one. Context and perspective don’t automatically come easily for us as football supporters, but we’ve got to take a beat and see the bigger picture here – because while there’s obvious areas of improvement in the short term, in the longer term there’s so, so much good happening.
Alex Rae, Sunderland {C} has words with Steve Clarke,{R} Chelsea & Frank Sinclair, {L} Chelsea (Photo by Chris Turvey/EMPICS via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images
It was almost like the football gods conspired to create a season like this. When Sir Bob Murray kicked off plans to build a new stadium for Sunderland at the old colliery once the Nissan site had fallen through, it seemed a little bit ridiculous.
Since relegation in May 1991 from the top flight, we’d struggled to stay in the second tier. All the while there was a party at the top of the pyramid with the introduction of the Premier League – a party that our friends up the road had managed to join and even Middlesbrough were part of in its inaugural year.
But even though the plans to move from Roker Park were moving quickly off the pitch, the club was drifting on it. Mick Buxton might have been tactically astute, but the club needed a shot in the arm as we were drifting towards relegation.
A last throw of the dice was rolled with the signing of Brett Angell for a princely sum of around £600,000 and a loan move that saw Dominic Matteo arrive from Liverpool – a move that would almost lead to a points deduction. The change was made after a defeat at Barnsley where both players were in action, and for the first time since the summer of 1987 Sunderland made an external managerial appointment.
In late March 1995, Peter Reid was appointed as the new manager and he went to work keeping us out of the relegation places at the end of the season. The following year nobody knew what to expect – and we went and won the league title. Talk about sliding-doors moments.
We went from potentially dropping into the third tier again, which had it happened might have indefinitely put the plans for the new stadium on hold. Football was different back then and in a crumbling Roker Park, who knows how long it would have taken to get back?
But instead, out of nowhere, we’d joined the Premier League party.
Because Reid had worked his miracles with virtually the same squad – only Paul Bracewell, John Mullin and David Kelly were significant permanent signings throughout the season – we were playing catch-up to prepare ourselves for the Premier League.
Very quickly that summer Sunderland signed our first player for an initial £1m fee when Alex Rae joined from Millwall, and not long after, Niall Quinn broke that new transfer record when we paid around £1.3m to Manchester City. Tony Coton arrived from Manchester United for around £600,000 and those three would be the only debutants for Sunderland until Lionel Perez replaced Coton at Southampton.
Despite this, all looked good after we had beaten Arsenal at Roker Park in the 22nd game of the season in mid-January, where the three points lifted us to 11th in the table. After this however, we won just once in the next eight.
By this point we were three points and three places above the drop ahead of a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Ruud Gullit’s Chelsea. It would be in front of the Sky cameras on a cold, windy March day for a game that Reid was looking to stop the rot, and look to repeat our 3–0 win over the Blues in December.
Sunderland started brightly and the game looked fairly even in the early stages, even though Gianfranco Zola was pulling the strings. Dennis Wise forced a decent save from Perez early on and David Kelly wasted a good opportunity for Sunderland – as the Lads attacked the end without a stand behind the goal in the opening forty-five minutes.
Michael Bridges also missed a couple of great opportunities and Mullin forced a good save from Grodas in the Chelsea goal to put Sunderland ahead, and as most weeks we were giving as good as we got, but that changed with five minutes remaining of the first half. Dan Petrescu crossed and Zola volleyed perfectly past Perez to give the home side the lead.
Five minutes later the lead was doubled when Frank Sinclair headed home at the back post and five minutes after the break it seemed to be all over when Petrescu followed up a save from Perez and made it three.
But around the hour mark Sunderland fought back. A looped ball in was met by Kevin Ball, and his header found Paul Stewart a few yards out to pull one back. At this point Chelsea got nervous and it was all Sunderland pushing for a second and it took just two minutes to come.
Ball once again caused havoc in the Chelsea defence and his header fell to Rae six yards out who pulled it back to 3–2 with half an hour still to play. Michael Gray then had a chance after the keeper palmed the ball to him on the edge of the box, but his effort sailed over when he tried to lift it over him and into the net.
The game became a battle in midfield with Bracewell and Ball winning tackle after tackle, and with just over ten minutes left on the clock and all to play for, Ball won the ball back who gave it to Bracewell, who passed it short to Kelly. The Irish international’s touch in the middle of his own half was awful and fell straight to Mark Hughes who ran in on goal and slotted past Perez to make it 4–2.
All that hard work undone in an instant. Two late goals from Hughes and Di Matteo put the game out of sight on an afternoon that Sunderland deserved more but it highlighted everything that would eventually see us get relegated.
Sunday 16th March, 1997
FA Carling Premiership
Chelsea 6-2 Sunderland
[Zola 38’, Sinclair 43’, Petrescu 51’, Hughes 78’, 89’, Di Matteo 90’ – Stewart 58’, Rae 60’]
Stamford Bridge
Sunderland: Perez, Hall (Rae), Melville, Ord, Kubicki, Gray, Bracewell, Ball, Kelly, Mullin (Stewart), Bridges (Howey) Substitute not used: Preece, Russell
Chelsea: Grodas, Petrescu, Minto, Sinclair, Myers (Parker), Clarke, Burley, Di Matteo, Zola (Vialli), Hughes, Wise Substitute not used: Colgan, Morris, P. Hughes
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