Roma’s management is starting to take its first steps ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to ParmaToday, sporting director Frederic Massara has requested information on Mariano Troilo, the Argentine central defender currently playing for Parma.

After a difficult start to the season, the player has found consistent performance under Cuesta, attracting interest from major Italian clubs.

The former Belgrano player’s profile could be a good fit for Roma, who are seeking a reliable replacement in the event of Evan Ndicka’s departure.

The Ivorian defender could leave Trigoria in June if acceptable offers are received.

Troilo, however, tied to the Emilian club by a long-term contract until 2030, hasn’t only attracted Roma’s attention: Inter Milan and AC Milan are also monitoring the defender.

Despite his long contract, Parma have reportedly not closed the door on a transfer, considering the player’s departure should a satisfactory offer arrive.

Former Manchester United twins Fabio and Rafael da Silva have named their favourite current players at the club, as they tipped one to achieve an impressive milestone.

United tenures

The Da Silva twins joined United as teenagers in January 2008 from Fluminense, having drawn the attention of the club’s scouts during a youth tournament in Hong Kong.

The legendary Sir Alex Ferguson integrated the two full-backs into the first team set-up and they promptly adapted to the intensity and physicality of the Premier League. Rafael made his Premier League debut as a substitute in August. He grabbed his first goal for the club with a consolation effort against Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Fabio debuted around the same time as his brother but featured less so, due to injuries and competition from Patrice Evra.

The pair became cult heroes at United, making a combined 226 appearances. Rafael left United in 2015 for Lyon. Fabio moved to Cardiff City in 2014 after a QPR loan stint.

The Da Silva twins spoke to club media and were asked to name their current favourite United players.

Da Silva twins’ remarks

Rafael answered, “I think it’s easy. For me, it’s Bruno Fernandes by far, I just love him. He’s going to do it [get the Premier League assists record].”

Fernandes is of course just three assists away from the Premier League assists record (20), which is jointly held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.

Fabio said, “I like the Brazilian boys. I like Casemiro and I like [Matheus] Cunha. I think Cunha has a strong mentality for the game, I really like [him].”

Rafael and Fabio spoke proudly of paving the way for fellow Brazilians to come in and play for United.

Fabio explained, “Every time you have a Brazilian there, I love it. I love to watch the Brazilians because I watch Manchester United, so to watch Brazilians there makes me happy. It makes me think about the past as well, when we played there. I always want [to see] Brazilian players.”

Rafael added, “The good thing was, after us, Ando [Anderson], me, my brother, Rodrigo, other players… [previously] we didn’t have a lot of Brazilians in Manchester United. Now you just keep it [going]. After us, there’s a lot of Brazilian players.”

United note that Fabio and Rafael will attend United’s home meeting with Liverpool on 3 May.

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Tennessee‘s offseason roster overhaul continues, with Rick Barnes landing one of the top wings in the transfer portal in former Notre Dame guard/forward Jalen Haralson.

The former top-20 recruit in the 2025 class is coming off a freshman season where he led the Fighting Irish in scoring (16.2 points per game), was second on the team in rebounds (4.0) and assists (2.6). Haralson chose the Vols over Ohio State and North Carolina, securing another elite offensive weapon for Barnes and his staff.

The 6-foot-7 slasher was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention after his lone year in South Bend, shooting 52% from the field while starting 23 of his 27 games. Haralson also led the Irish in scoring 10 times this season while producing double-digit scoring efforts in all but three games. And while he did struggle to score outside — knocking down just 5 of 25 3-point attempts— Haralson will be one of the SEC’s most dynamic forwards next season.

“I’m a versatile guy,” Haralson said of his game before his freshman year. “I can do a lot of things on the court. Coming in, I don’t want to hold myself to just one position or doing one thing. I can rebound, push the pace. I can score the ball. I can pass. I can do a lot of things. So it’s really just making an impact on the game.”

Haralson also carried one of the country’s highest usage rates at 33.1, which measures the percentage of team plays used by a player while they were on the floor. He was expected to team up with star guard Markus Burton to lead one of the country’s best backcourts, but Burton missed the majority of the season due to injury.

As a high schooler, Haralson was a four-star recruit according to the Rivals Industry Ranking — an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services. He was the No. 20 overall player in the 2025 cycle out of powerhouse La Lumiere School (Anderson, Ind.).

This developing story will be updated.

The Cincinnati Reds will be trying to win the series against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night in Great American Ball Park after last night’s thrilling 2-1 win in the opener. Homers from Spencer Steer and budding superstar Sal Stewart were all the Reds needed, as Brady Singer turned in his finest performance of the season to date.

(Did I say budding superstar Sal Stewart? I believe I did.)

Su-per-star.

Anyway, Superstar Sal will try to take down old friend Tyler Mahle, who’ll get the start tonight for the Giants. He’s there after injuries decimated most of his 2023-2024 seasons, though he rebounded well enough in 16 starts with the Texas Rangers in 2025 to land a $10 million guarantee to pitch for San Francisco this season.

Mahle still lives on his fastball for the most part, though he’s dropped the slider he used in his time with the Reds almost exclusively while working a splitter into his repertoire 30.6% of the time this year. Given that he’s got a rising four-seamer, that’s likely his attempt to get the bottom to fall out of pitches hitters would otherwise think were elevated on purpose.

Rhett Lowder will toe the rubber for the Reds looking to rebound from a rough outing last time. First pitch in this one is set for the typical 6:40 PM ET start time, and the Reds lineup is listed below.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva has one of the best stories in NFL history. From doing multiple tours of Afghanistan to becoming a Pro Bowl offensive tackle, the former army ranger quickly became a fan-favorite in Pittsburgh due to his great play and for his service of his country.

Not only was Villanueva a Steelers fan favorite, he became a known figure league-wide in 2017. In the midst of the NFL’s National Anthem controversy, the Steelers didn’t take the field for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner ahead of their Week 3 contest against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. However, Villanueva came out of the tunnel to be present for the anthem, which led to him having the NFL’s highest-selling jersey in the 24 hours that followed.

Joining Todd Haley and I on The Pump Fake, Villanueva recounted that day.

“In Spain, my parents grew up in a dictatorship,” Villanueva said. “A military dictatorship… there’s not a single song that unites Spanish people. You cannot listen to anything that people will listen to and say, ‘I’m thankful.‘ So that’s how I started understanding American patriotism. It’s not nationalistic as in we believe America is better than everybody else. Americans really think that we are very thankful to be in America. That’s what’s so cool about it. People are watching the game from different socioeconomic backgrounds. You could be in the box and have billions of dollars or you can be in the nosebleeds counting your pennies for the eight beers you’ll be drinking. And those two people have this idea and this notion that they live in a wonderful magical place… the National Anthem is a very special song. I know it was a huge controversy and it was very confusing because we were getting ready for a game and we were debating morality… it was very intense.”

The Steelers went on to lose in overtime, which would be one of just three regular season loses that season. Villanueva earned his first of two consecutive Pro Bowl selections that season.

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!

• Steelers legend Hines Ward will be in Pittsburgh for NFL Draft
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• NFL analyst reveals QB prospect Steelers have their eyes on
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• Patrick Queen says Steelers need to be better for Aaron Rodgers

April 15 marks Jackie Robinson Day, honoring the day Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier 79 years ago.

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Every year, players across the league wear Robinson’s iconic number 42, a tribute to the trailblazer who became the first Black player in modern MLB when he stepped onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Robinson, who was born in Cairo, Ga., paved the way for generations of athletes, including legends like Hank Aaron.

Now, nearly eight decades later, there are signs his impact continues to grow.

According to Major League Baseball, the percentage of Black players in the league has increased for the third consecutive year, rising from 6.0% in 2024 to 6.2% in 2025, and now 6.8% in 2026. It marks the first sustained increase in about 20 years.

For former Chicago Cubs player C.J. Stewart, who grew up in the Atlanta area, that progress is meaningful.

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“It’s more than just a game,” Stewart said. “It’s a pathway to amazing opportunities.”

Stewart and his wife, Kelli, are helping drive that change through their organization, L.E.A.D. Center for Youth. The program focuses on removing barriers for young athletes by offering free baseball opportunities in exchange for strong academic performance and attendance.

“Just because you’re born in a certain ZIP code doesn’t mean your dreams should be limited,” Stewart said.

MLB credits development programs like L.E.A.D. as a key reason behind the recent rise in participation among Black players. Support from organizations like the Atlanta Braves Foundation has also helped expand access and resources.

Stewart says the benefits go far beyond the field.

“All those 21st-century skills that we talk about that you need to be successful in life, you can learn them in sports, and in baseball specifically,” he said.

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Atlético de Madrid will have to go through Premier League leaders Arsenal in order to reach the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in 10 years.

After Atlético eliminated FC Barcelona despite a 2-1 home loss on Tuesday, Arsenal played out a goalless draw against Sporting Clube de Portugal in north London to seal a 1-0 aggregate win.

This semifinal — Arsenal’s second in succession, and Atlético’s first since 2017 — marks the sides’ first meeting in a European knockout tie since the 2017/18 Europa League semis, which Atlético won 2-1 on aggregate to reach that season’s final in Lyon, France. Earlier this season, Atleti lost 4-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium during the third round of the league phase.

Atleti will host the first leg at Estadio Metropolitano on Wednesday, April 29. The return leg in London will be the following Tuesday, May 5.

The other semifinal will pit holders Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich in a rematch of this season’s league phase meeting as well as last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal. PSG host the first leg on April 28, with the return leg taking place in Munich on May 6.

The winners of these ties will meet at Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary on May 30 to contest the Champions League final.

Atlético will not have good memories from October’s heavy loss to Arsenal, but six months have passed and the Rojiblancos are a much different team than the one which sustained that crushing defeat. The coaching battle between Diego Simeone and Mikel Arteta will take center-stage here, as this tie on paper features a fascinating contrast in styles: Arsenal’s defensive security and set-piece proficiency against Atlético’s quicker, transition-focused football.

After Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad, Atlético will visit Elche and host Athletic Club in LaLiga before Arsenal come to town. Meanwhile, Arsenal on Sunday play a potential Premier League-deciding fixture against Manchester City before hosting Newcastle the following Saturday.

NASCAR took Kyle Larson's No. 5 car to the R&D Center after the Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Following a strong run at Bristol, the sport had a closer inspection of Larson's vehicle; however, did the Hendrick Motorsports driver receive any penalties?

Larson's No. 5 car had no issues at the NASCAR R&D Center, which is the best result from further inspection. In previous years, NASCAR has found issues that cost a race team and driver over 100 points and more, so Larson receiving the green light is excellent news.

Going into Kansas Speedway, Larson sits sixth in the point standings behind Chase Elliott with 18 races left in the NASCAR regular season. The driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports hopes to carry his momentum into Bristol, as the organization looks for more race-winning speed in 2026.

More: Latest update on Alex Bowman's status after wrecking at Bristol

This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR reveals status of Kyle Larson's No. 5 car at R&D Center

Dan Friedkin has chosen to maintain continuity, at least for the immediate future.

According to Manà Manà Sport, the Roma president has decided not to proceed with any corporate shakeup in the coming hours, preferring to stabilize the situation ahead of the season’s finale.

The owners’ intention is to maintain the current structure until June, postponing any definitive assessment of the club’s key figures until the final financial statements are released.

In this forced truce, Gian Piero Gasperini has received confirmation of his confidence from the president.

The coach, while aware of the internal friction, is now focused exclusively on preparing for the big match against Atalanta, a crucial match for the club’s European ambitions.

However, the atmosphere at Trigoria remains tense, and the postponement of decisions does not eliminate the crisis between the technical and managerial areas.

Indeed, it seems unlikely that Gasperini and Claudio Ranieri will continue to coexist next season.

Barcelona star Raphinha has taken to social media, to issue an apology to all associated with Atlético Madrid.

This comes owing to a gesture on the part of the Brazilian on Tuesday night.

Barca were of course back in action on the continent yesterday evening, making the trip to Spain’s capital for a Champions League showdown with Atlético Madrid.

When all was said and done, Hansi Flick’s troops were sent packing in devastating fashion, downed by three goals to two on aggregate.

And post-match, the aforementioned Raphinha could not help but allow his emotions to get the better of him.

Whilst on the pitch post-match, the former Leeds United man gestured towards the Metropolitano crowd that Atlético will be ousted from the Champions League in the next round:

As alluded to above, though, with the dust having now settled and tensions having quelled, Raphinha has issued an apology.

Taking to the comments section of an Instagram video showcasing his post-match behaviour on Tuesday, the winger wrote:

“Sorry for my gesture — it’s not something aligned with my values and my character. It happened in a tense moment, replying to a fan who was disrespecting me last night.”

Conor Laird – GSFN

The Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs starting on Sunday. The Cavs lost all three of their regular-season games to the Raptors, but each came before December. Let’s take a look at what the numbers say about this Raptors team.

Overall team efficiency

Offensive rating: 116.8, 13th

Defensive rating: 113.2, 7th

Net rating: +3.6, 11th

The Raptors have simply been a solid team on both sides of the ball, although they’re better defensively. What they do on that end heavily influences their offensive attack. So let’s dive into the defensive numbers first.

Key defensive metrics

Defensive turnover percentage: 16%, 4th

Points allowed in transition: 1.8, 4th

Half-court defensive rating: 96.7, 11th

Toronto is excellent at two things defensively. They force turnovers, and they keep teams from getting out in transition.

The Raptors induce turnovers on 16% of defensive possessions. This translates to 8.8 steals per 100 possessions.

Scottie Barnes (1.4 steals per game) and Immanuel Quickly (1.3 steals per game) have excelled in this area. Both are physical at the point of attack and have active hands in passing lanes.

The Raptors are also committed to getting back in transition and are good at stopping the ball on the break. This has led to them giving up transition opportunities to their opponent on just 13.3% of their defensive possessions, which is the second-fewest in the league.

NBA offenses are built and conditioned to score in transition. There are few teams better at keeping opposing offenses from doing so than the Raptors.

Scoring in the half-court is considerably more difficult than doing so in transition. Toronto has a 96.7 defensive rating in the half-court that ranks 11th in the league. That isn’t outstanding, but their ability to force teams into consistently going up against their set defense is a win on its own.

Key offensive metrics

Transition offense frequency: 17.8%, 3rd

Transition offense efficiency: 126.5, 15th

Points off turnovers per 100 possessions: 20, 5th

Turnover percentage: 13.6%, 7th

Halfcourt offensive rating: 116.8, 13th

Toronto’s defense kickstarts its offense. Their focus on one end is mirrored on the other.

It’s difficult to be a team that runs in transition, while also not getting burned on that end yourself. The Raptors have done that as they’re third in offensive transition frequency and second in points added in transition per 100 possessions.

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Your offense is going to be better in transition than it is in the half-court. Being able to generate shots in the open court is almost always better than the alternative. That’s worth highlighting because the Raptors aren’t elite at capitalizing on all of their transition looks.

They’re 15th in points added per 100 transition possessions. That means that they’re middle of the road in transition efficiency, but being able to get in the open court so often helps offset that. Ideally, you’d like to be great at both — as the Indiana Pacers were last season — but running this much does completely change how you guard them, as the Cavs saw in their three meetings this season.

The Raptors do this while limiting giveaways. They’re seventh in the league in turnover percentage and are fifth-best in opponent points off turnovers. Being able to protect the ball is imperative when playing fast, and it helps keep their opponent from getting fastbreak looks against them.

Where do the Raptors struggle?

Three-point percentage: 35.4%, 21st

Free-throw rate: 20.2, 17th

Midrange shot frequency: 33.5%, 6th

Defensive free-throw rate: 22.2, 25th

Defensive rim-shooting frequency: 32.9%, 21st

Defensive three-point shooting frequency: 38.4%, 17th

The Cavs’ three-point defense has been an issue all season. The Raptors aren’t a team that can really exploit that. Toronto doesn’t shoot threes at volume — 25th — and they don’t shoot it particularly well when they do generate looks.

The most efficient ways to score are the rim, the free-throw line, and from beyond the arc. The Raptors only excel in one of those areas. They take the ninth-most shots at the rim and have the eighth-best percentage (68.5%). However, that doesn’t translate to getting to the line.

If they aren’t getting to the rim, they mostly settle for in-between shots. They’re taking a higher percentage of shots in the midrange than they are from three. You don’t see that often. Toronto is only one of four teams that take more midrange shots than threes. The other three teams aren’t known for having great offensive processes: the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks.

Defensively, they don’t do a great job of keeping teams from getting to the basket and are prone to fouling them. This is partially due to a roster construction that is built more around wings than strong interior defenders.

The best three-point defense is limiting outside attempts. The Raptors don’t do that at a high level.

How to beat the Raptors

The Cavs need to keep the Raptors’ offense from running on them. This means they must limit turnovers and emphasize getting back defensively.

Since James Harden’s debut, the Cavs have done a good job of protecting the ball. They’ve been seventh in the league in offensive turnover percentage (13.1%) in that time. However, they’ve struggled with keeping opponents from getting out and running against them. They allow their opposition to attack in transition on 16.1% of their possessions since Harden’s debut, which ranks 20th in the league. Keeping the Raptors in the half-court is a must, considering that’s where a high percentage of their points come from.

Offensively, the Cavs need to keep focusing on their strengths since the Harden trade. They’ve done a better job of getting to the rim, drawing fouls, and generating three-point looks since the beginning of February. All of which are things the Raptors have struggled with.

Additionally, the Harden trade has boosted the Cavs’ half-court offense. They’ve attacked in transition the third fewest in the league since Harden’s debut. Instead, they’ve opted to operate in the half-court and have been exceptional at doing so. Since the beginning of February, the Cavs have registered a 104.7 offensive rating in the half-court, which is good for third in the league since that time.

If the Cavs can keep Toronto from getting out in transition and continue to execute at a high level with their half-court offense, they should win this series.

Stats taken from stats.nba.com and cleaningtheglass.com.

A Bellator legend paid a heavy price.

Former two-division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull suffered a unanimous decision loss to fellow ex-Bellator star Aaron Pico at UFC 327 this past weekend (Sat., April 11, 2026) inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

The defeat cost Pitbull his spot in the Featherweight Top 15, dropping down two spots, while Pico took over his No. 13 ranking.

But the rankings weren’t the worst part.

Days after the fight, Pitbull revealed he suffered a broken orbital early in the bout — an injury that severely impacted his vision and performance.

“Congrats to my opponent — he was well-trained and really fast,” Pitbull wrote on social media. “Some people said I was doing well in the first round, but my performance dropped sharply after that.”

Then came the explanation.

“I took a clean shot to the eye with my eye wide open — a jab and a straight right — and it fractured my orbital bone,” Pitbull added. “That compromised my vision at the start of the second round, so all I could do was try to protect myself from the blows that were coming. Of course, I tried to attack, too, but with very little success. I was hit with a barrage of strikes throughout the entire second round. And anyone who saw could tell this old man still has a bit of chin here, that I can take a few hits. Unfortunately, that was all I could manage given the condition I was in.”

The loss — and injury — has also forced a shift in mindset.

Since arriving in the UFC, Pitbull has been vocal about chasing a long-awaited title run. For now, though, those ambitions are on hold.

“Even though my heart is broken, I’m fine,” Pitbull added. “I’m aware of what I can still do in this weight class, but I’m also aware that, after taking a few steps back, I need to take a longer path. And I won’t talk about the title for now. I need to fight a few more times and get myself back in that position. I’m ready. My heart is broken because no one likes to lose. It was a fight I felt very confident about — I was sure I was going to win.”

Pitbull now sits at 1-2 inside the Octagon, with losses to Pico and Yair Rodriguez, and a lone win over Dan Ige.

For now, recovery comes first, and the comeback will have to wait.

For complete UFC 327 fight card results, coverage and highlights click HERE.

Johnson Wagner believes that Rory McIlroy can set his sights on winning 10 major titles following his second Masters victory, and thinks that he has a good chance to take one of Jack Nicklaus’ records at Augusta National.

McIlroy became only the fourth player to win The Masters in successive years this past week. The Northern Irishman beat Scottie Scheffler by one shot at the first major of the year.

Only Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods had won back-to-back tournaments. But the 36-year-old has now added his name to that list.

Johnson Wagner predicts how many majors Rory McIlroy will win

It is the first sign that his victory at Augusta National 12 months ago is going to unlock a different side to Rory McIlroy.

He played with plenty of freedom, particularly over the first two days. No one has ever had a bigger lead heading into the weekend at Augusta National. That is an ominous sign for all of his rivals.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Johnson Wagner backed McIlroy to win several more majors over the rest of his career.

He also thinks McIlroy could make history at Augusta National in around a decade.

“I’m very confident that we’re going to see number seven when he said he’s not going to stop here. I think 8.5’s a great total. I’m going to be optimistic, I’m going to say nine [major wins],” he said.

“You look at the way he’s conditioned his body over the last few years. I know he had that lingering back issue at Bay Hill from a workout, but when you’re as fit as he is, building your body to swing at the speeds he’s capable of, his age doesn’t bother me.

“I think Rory’s the kind of guy too, if he gets a stranglehold on those majors in the next few years, I think he’d like the opportunity to be the oldest winner of The Masters Tournament. Jack Nicklaus was obviously 46, and has held that for a long time. Justin Rose may have something to say about it next year, but I think that’s something going down the road if Rory still has motivation, I think 10 is well within reach.”

When Rory McIlroy gets his first opportunity to become the oldest Masters winner

McIlroy’s first opportunity to become the oldest Masters winner ever is currently set to come at the 2036 Masters.

Nicklaus had turned 46 a few months earlier when he won in 1986. Meanwhile, McIlroy will be rapidly approaching his 47th birthday at the tournament held 50 years after Nicklaus’ iconic victory.

As Wagner notes, it is hard to imagine that Justin Rose will not contend for The Masters again at some stage in his career. Rose still has more top three finishes at Augusta National than McIlroy.

But there does not appear to be many other candidates to set a new record before McIlroy gets a chance.

You should never be surprised if Phil Mickelson puts himself in the mix at Augusta National. Meanwhile, Shane Lowry has threatened to make a charge before two really poor final rounds in the last two years.

But McIlroy appears to have a golden opportunity now to only add to his legacy as one of the greatest players of all-time.

Declan Rice says reaching another Champions League semi-final with Arsenal is an “amazing achievement”.

Arsenal set up a semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid after their goalless draw at home to Sporting CP, winning 1-0 on aggregate following their first-leg victory.

But asked if there was frustration that they did not manage to make it more comfortable, he replied: “Frustration? Nah. We’ve just got to a semi-final. No frustration. Positivity all the way.

“Who cares what people think? All that matters is what this group thinks, what the manager thinks and we’re in another semi-final.

“Delighted. So, so happy. It was a really tough test over two games but to go to back-to-back semi-finals is an amazing achievement for this group and now we want to go one step further than last year and get to the final.

“We played Atletico once this year and it was a really good game and we know what to expect so bring on these last couple of weeks.”

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Asked about the difficulty of dealing with the noise around the club following three recent defeats, Rice said: “It’s like being at any other top club. There’s noise with everything. This is Arsenal Football Club.

“There’s noise with every game, there’s scrutiny if we play well, we play good, take it with a pinch of salt and keep moving and bring on the last few weeks.

“It’s a rollercoaster. No one is going to hand you anything in this game so keep going and what will be, will be. Keep going strong.”

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To this point in the NHL’s existence in Utah, fans have been fortunate to have ticket options as low as $10 (bumped up to $15 in year two).

Those prices are, of course, for the limited-view seats — and when they say limited view, they mean you can only see about two-thirds of the ice. But to experience NHL hockey for the cost of a movie ticket, no one’s complaining.

But what about the playoff pricing for those same seats? At the time of this writing, the lowest-priced ticket on SeatGeek, the Mammoth’s official ticketing partner, are $182.

On another note arms and legs are cheaper than single game tickets!

— Colby Barnes (@ColbyBa76883676) April 10, 2026

But how does that compare to the rest of the league?

The chart below lists the cheapest and most expensive tickets for each team’s first home playoff game. It excludes outliers, defined in this case as upper-bowl seats that cost more than premium seats.

All currency is set to USD, including Canadian teams.

At $182, the Utah Mammoth’s cheapest first-game playoff tickets are the sixth-most expensive in the NHL and the most expensive in the Western Conference. Keep in mind that this price is for limited-view seats, which no other NHL arena has at this time.

If the Vegas Golden Knights secure at least a point in their final game as they host the Seattle Kraken Wednesday evening, they will face the Mammoth in the first round of the playoffs.

At $76, the Golden Knights have the cheapest playoff tickets in the league. If they end up facing the Mammoth, Utah-based fans might consider making the trip down I-15.

The Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin Saturday. Utah’s first-round games will be available to stream on SEG+ and Utah 16, as well as the national broadcast channels.

It didn’t feel like Arsenal had just qualified for only their second Champions League semi-final in 17 years. The final whistle came with overwhelming but cautious relief rather than ecstasy; the feeling that Arsenal had got away with one by the skin of their teeth, but next time they won’t be so lucky.

Had Joao Simoes 94th-minute effort crept a few inches to the left, this last-eight tie was heading to extra time. That would’ve been catastrophic for their physical state ahead of their biggest game of the season on Sunday. In their current mental state, Arsenal progression would not have been a safe bet.

Mikel Arteta made a rallying cry in which he asked Arsenal’s supporters to come to the Emirates not with their dinner, but with “pure fire” and “zero fear” for the visit of Sporting. Fans struggled to comply. There was less a fire in their bellies, more a collective knot.

It was a stark comparison to this exact occasion 12 months ago. When Real Madrid came to town, there was an atmosphere unadulterated belief and optimism that this team could create magic. Maybe it helped that their Premier League title race had already been run at the time; Liverpool were 11 points clear, so their focus was streamlined.

But on this night, there was more than a tinge of anxiety in the air, a hangover from still being very much in the thick of a title race, and one that has a yellow flag being waved. Some were no longer allowing themselves to dream of the best, instead conditioned by three years of hurt to fearing the worst.

This did not help a team of players who currently appear tortured by their own psyche. Arsenal were error-prone, especially at the back, with David Raya and William Saliba each gifting Sporting possession when unsuccessfully trying to play out from the back. It was Tottenham-esque at times.

Both blunders went unpunished; against the attacking quality of any other team in the last eight, maybe barring Liverpool, things would’ve surely been different. But the concern is these aren’t isolated incidents in one match - Arsenal’s build-up from deep was hugely problematic against Bournemouth, too. A team previously heralded as one with the most resolute defence arguably in world football now looks shaky

Such was the case for the best chance - the only real chance - of a pedestrian first-half. The culmination of a sweeping Sporting move that cuts Arsenal open far too easily, Geny Catano is left completely untracked at the back post and volleys Maximiliano Araujo’s dinked cross off the left post. On the brink of half-time, this tie should have been level.

That is not to say Sporting were playing a perfect game. They were similarly susceptible to an error (or five) at the back; just Arsenal rarely looked like capitalising. Those meant to drive the hosts towards goal, like Noni Madueke, were frightened to take on a man as Arsenal overthought their opportunities until dispossession. Screams of “go forwards!”, often with an expletive, were ever-present.

When the Madueke finally did go through the gears, it fashioned Arsenal’s best chance of the game so far - darting across the box before firing into the side netting on 57 minutes. The Englishman turned a corner five minutes before he was forced off injured.

The moment that encapsulated the difference in mindset between now and that famous night against Real Madrid a year ago, fittingly, came with a free-kick. Declan Rice, then the hero from the dead ball, stood with the ball set 25 yards out - but plays it short. Sporting quickly snuff out the routine and counter. If not for the lung-besting recovery of left-winger Gabriel Martinelli down the right, the visitors were in. In diametric opposition to the Real encounter, Arsenal’s players looked scared to go for the spectacular.

In a second 45 that saw Sporting gas, they bookmarked the half with two close calls; first from Araujo three minutes after the restart, set up by Morten Hjulmand - an Arsenal fan and possible transfer target who has the club crest tattooed on his bicep - and then Simoes with practically the last kick of the game.

Otherwise there was improvement to speak of from the hosts, who pressed a tiring team well and came close to killing the tie when Leandro Trossard hit the post with seven minutes to play. A bright finish could instil a bit of confidence, even if a late scare will leave them wiping their brow.

This time, Arteta’s men managed to survive. In keeping with their display in Lisbon, they emerged from the night having done what was required and nothing more.

But heading to the Etihad, it is imperative they clear the mental fog that comes with the possibility of repeated failure. Against this Manchester City team in a ruthless vein of form, the question of whether they can emerge unscathed while still racked by such anxiety seems to answer itself.

Cubs lose 3.79 ERA reliever to season-ending surgery amid Phillies series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs will have to navigate losing another pitcher for the remainder of the season. 

After right-hander Cade Horton's injury revealed that he needed elbow surgery to repair the UCL in his throwing arm, a reliever faces a similar issue. 

Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network reported on Wednesday that right-hander Porter Hodge will undergo surgery on the UCL in his throwing elbow.

Presumably, the former 13th-round draft pick will also miss the beginning of next season. He made 36 appearances out of the bullpen in 2025, posting a 6.27 ERA after recording a 1.88 earned run average in 43 innings during his rookie campaign in 2024. 

Hodge, 25, began the season on the 15-day injured list after suffering from a right flexor strain in his elbow. 

More: Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

“He just didn’t feel right,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian after Hodge was diagnosed with the flexor strain. “Look, it’s a setback. It’s going to put him certainly behind, and it’s going to take him a while to get back to [being] healthy and ready to contribute. So that part’s unfortunate.”

Now, Hodge is facing a much longer and tougher uphill battle to return to the mound. He threw just two innings during spring training, giving up seven earned runs on four hits. 

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career
• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
• How Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto is connected to Rockies' Tomoyuki Sugano
• Marlins suggested to sign Max Kepler after Phillies’ OF was suspended for 80 games
• Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade
• Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

We are officially in NFL draft smokescreen time. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t rumors that will be based in reality, but with just over a week to go until the 2026 NFL draft, everyone has an agenda. Sometimes those agendas come from agents, sometimes from coaches, sometimes for teams not even involved in rumors, and sometimes it is actually connected to the teams.

The Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys have been rumored to be in discussions for a deal for a few weeks now. There are lots of reasons that the Cowboys would make a trade with the Browns, even if other teams also want to trade down.

Not all trade downs are worth it for Cleveland, but Dallas presents some unique options. So much so, that three big-time, long-term NFL draft analysts all had the two teams making trades near the top of this year’s draft this year.

Mel Kiper Jr.

In this scenario, Dallas would trade pick Nos. 12 and 20 to Cleveland for Nos. 6 and 39. That means the Browns suddenly have three first-round picks.

Kiper’s mock draft then had the Browns selecting OT Kadyn Proctor, WR Denzel Boston, and CB Jermod McCoy.

Todd McShay

The Cowboys trade no. 12, no. 92, and a 2027 second-rounder to the Browns for no. 6

A different version of a trade where Cleveland gets a key pick next year, while also adding a late third-round selection as well. McShay also has the Browns selecting Proctor, then WR KC Concepcion.

Dane Brugler

*Projected trade: Browns receive Nos. 12, 20 and a 2027 fourth-round pick; Cowboys receive Nos. 6 and 39*

Here we have the same trade as Kiper offered, but Cleveland also gets a Day 3 pick in next year’s draft. The author of “The Beast” has the Browns adding OT Spencer Fano, Concepcion, and S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the first round of this seven-round NFL mock draft.

Which of the 3 trades and which of the 3 mock drafts do you like the best? Do any of the results make the trade downs worth it to you?

Share your thoughts in our comment section below

Away at FAK, Rapid and LASK

We have three away games left in this ADMIRAL Bundesliga season, and we're counting on your loud and enthusiastic support on the road for all three! We've compiled all the information about away sector ticket sales and more for all the remaining matches here.

vs. FAKvs. Rapidvs. LASK

Away vs. FK Austria Vienna | Sunday 19.04.2026 at 14:30 CEST

Away sector ticket sales

• EUR 20– full price

Sale of away sector tickets:

• Tickets for our sector at the Generali-Arena are available until 16 April for fans registered online in our ticket shop and at our Ticketing & Service Center. On match day, tickets are available at the away ticket office from approximately 1.5 hours before the start of the match.
• Tickets for fans in wheelchairs can be obtained via email from fanbetreuung@redbullsalzburg.at.

Further information:

• Bus journey: Our fans have organised their own bus journeys to the away match in Vienna. Further information and contacts can be found via www.fanfahrt.info. FC Red Bull Salzburg takes no responsibility for the content on the website linked to or the journey itself!  
• Payment at the stadium: Payment can only be made cashlessly with debit and credit cards at the Merkur Arena.
• Fans travelling independently: There are no parking spaces available at the Generali Arena.
• Fan items: We have notified the home club of our intention to use the usual fan items. These will be checked as usual at the away entrance.

Away vs. Rapid | Sunday 26.04.2026 at 14:30 CEST

Away sector ticket sales

• EUR 20 adults
• EUR 6 children (up to and including the age of 13)
• Tickets for fans in wheelchairs can be obtained via email from fanbetreuung@redbullsalzburg.at.

Sale of away sector tickets:

• Tickets for our sector at the Allianz Stadion are available until 23 April for fans registered online in our ticket shop and at our Ticketing & Service Center. On match day, tickets are available at the away ticket office from approximately 1.5 hours before the start of the match.

Further information

• Bus journey: Our fans have organised their own bus journeys to the away match in Vienna. Further information and contacts can be found via www.fanfahrt.info. FC Red Bull Salzburg takes no responsibility for the content on the website linked to or the journey itself!  
• Payment in the stadium: Only card payments are accepted at the Allianz Stadion.
• Fans traveling independently: Parking is very limited directly at the stadium. Please contact our fan liaison team to register in advance.
• Fan items: We have notified the home club of our intention to use the usual fan items. These will be checked as usual at the away entrance.

Away vs. LASK | Sunday 10.05.2026 at 17:00 CEST

Ticket prices for the away sector

• EUR 20 adults
• EUR 9 children (up to and including the age of 14)
• Tickets for fans in wheelchairs can be obtained via email from fanbetreuung@redbullsalzburg.at.

Away sector ticket sales

• Tickets for our sector at the Raiffeisen Arena are available until 7 May for fans registered online in our ticket shop and at our Ticketing & Service Center. On match day, tickets are available at the away ticket office from approximately 1.5 hours before the start of the match.

Further information

• Bus journey: Our fans have organised their own bus journeys to the away match in Vienna. Further information and contacts can be found via www.fanfahrt.info. FC Red Bull Salzburg takes no responsibility for the content on the website linked to or the journey itself!  
• Payment in the stadium: Only card payments are accepted at the Raiffeisen Arena.
• Fans traveling independently: Parking is very limited directly at the stadium. Please contact our fan liaison team to register in advance.
• Fan items: We have notified the home club of our intention to use the usual fan items. These will be checked as usual at the away entrance.

to the online Ticket Shop

Bayern Munich booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena, sealing a 6-4 aggregate triumph in one of the ties of the season.

In a pulsating encounter packed with drama, momentum swings and moments of individual brilliance, Vincent Kompany’s side showed both attacking firepower and resilience to edge past the 15-time European champions.

Despite Madrid pushing until the very end, Bayern held their nerve in a high-scoring classic, underlining their credentials as genuine contenders for the trophy this season.

Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: Match report

Manuel Neuer’s costly error on the edge of his own penalty area was swiftly punished by Arda Guler, who reacted sharply before curling a superb 25-yard strike into the corner.

Bayern Munich responded in the sixth minute after falling behind early, as Joshua Kimmich’s superb corner caused chaos in a crowded penalty area, with the pace of the delivery leaving Andriy Lunin stranded before Aleksandar Pavlovic glanced home from close range.

Leeds United continue to pull further away from the relegation zone. They recently picked up a massive result that silenced the critics, beating Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford. This win marks the first time the Whites have won at the Theatre of Dreams since 1981, giving them a huge boost in their fight to stay up.

Noah Okafor was the star of the show, scoring two early goals that stunned the home crowd and set the tone for a disciplined defensive performance. With only six games left, the Yorkshire giants are now six points clear of the bottom three, sitting 15th in the table. Management and fans are now focused on a huge home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, knowing another win would basically guarantee their safety for next season.

Ao Tanaka’s future

Following the huge win in the Manchester derby, attention has shifted to Ao Tanaka’s contract. Keith Wyness, the former CEO at Everton and Aston Villa, recently shared his thoughts on the Football Insider podcast about where the Japanese midfielder might end up. Wyness thinks Tanaka has a clear quality, and with Leeds United looking safe in the Premier League, the club will likely start formal talks to keep him at Elland Road.

However, there’s an interesting twist, as Wyness mentioned Coventry City as a possible destination if Tanaka decides to push for a move. He believes Tanaka’s agents might use interest from ambitious Championship or newly promoted sides to gain some leverage during negotiations with Leeds.

“Tanaka’s got some quality, that’s for sure. Now that Leeds are looking as though they’re safe, I think they’ll open up contract negotiations.

“Leeds will want to keep him. If Tanaka were to go anywhere, he would probably be going to one of the newly promoted clubs. Coventry would be the one that I would place him at. And that may be something that his agent will be trying to keep Leeds honest in terms of the contract negotiations.

“But I think he’ll end up back at Leeds now after that win against Man United. That was quite an important sign for him and them. And I think that we’ll expect to see Tanaka in the white shirt next year.”

Statistically, Tanaka has been a steady hand in midfield, playing 22 matches so far in the 2025/2026 season. He has two goals to his name, both coming at Elland Road. His underlying numbers are also impressive; he maintains a non-penalty expected goals (npxG) of 0.23 per 90 minutes. That puts him in the top 78th percentile of Premier League players, showing he has a real knack for getting into dangerous spots despite playing deeper (stats via Footy Stats).

Should Leeds United prioritise a long-term deal for Tanaka?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 13: Ao Tanaka of Leeds in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford on April 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The club need to make a move fast to keep the midfielder because his tactical brain brings a balance that few others in the squad can match. Tanaka acts as the link between the defence and the attack, and losing him to a rival like Coventry City would be a major step back for Daniel Farke’s project.

While he might not have a ton of assists, his 86% pass completion rate and high npxG show he’s a player who makes winning football easier. The recent win at Old Trafford proved this group can compete with the best, but they need consistency in the engine room to stay out of future relegation scraps.

Keeping Tanaka would show the rest of the league that Leeds United are no longer a selling club. If the board lets his contract run down, they risk losing a valuable player for way less than he’s worth. Fans want to see a settled midfield that can grow alongside the planned expansion of Elland Road. Hence, the board should get a deal done with his agents now to make sure the Japanese star stays at the heart of the team for years to come.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Dallas Stars top-line center Roope Hintz will miss the start of the playoffs after experiencing a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury, while the team is getting healthier at other positions, coach Glen Gulutzan said Wednesday.

“We thought we could have him maybe for the beginning of the series, and it doesn’t look that way,” Gulutzan said before the Stars closed their regular season at the Buffalo Sabres. “I think he’s progressing now, and we’re just going to be careful here.”

Hintz has been out since getting hurt in a 5-4 shootout loss to Colorado on March 6.

The Stars are the Central Division’s No. 2 seed and will open the playoffs this weekend against third-seeded Minnesota.

Aside from Hintz, Gulutzan said he’s hopeful top defenseman Miro Heiskanen will be ready for the start of the playoffs. Heiskanen was scheduled to miss his third game since sustaining a lower-body injury in a 5-4 win over Minnesota on April. 9.

“He’s getting better, but it’s kind of day to day right now,” Gulutzan said. “So very hopeful, though, on that front. Obviously a big player for us.”

Gulutzan said center Sam Steel was set to return to play against Buffalo in his first outing after missing nine with an undisclosed injury. Steel’s return comes a game after center Radek Faksa rejoined the lineup after missing 24 games with upper- and lower-body injuries.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Real Madrid crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage in spectacular fashion with a thrilling 4-3 result in Munich as Bayern capitalised on playing the final minutes against 10 men to score twice and turn the tie on its head after a heroic attempt at a comeback from Real Madrid.

Three answers

1. Could Real Madrid launch an away Champions League comeback for the first time?

It seems hard to believe, but Real Madrid have never overturned a home first leg defeat to reach the next round of the UEFA Champions League. The last time they managed it at all in European competition was against FC Basel in the UEFA Cup, now the Europa League, in 1971. And for quite a while in Munich, it looked like that might change.
Arda Güler scored after 45 seconds, capitalising on a catastrophic Neuer mispass to lob into an unguarded goal from 35 yards. When he bent a free-kick into the top-right corner on 29 minutes, Real Madrid led 2-1 on the night and the tie was level at 3-3 on aggregate. The end result means Los Blancos were also the first side to score three goals against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Champions League knockout football since Real Madrid themselves did it with a 4-0 win in the 2014 semi-final. Kylian Mbappé added a third before half-time and Madrid went into the break in a position nobody had anticipated. The history Real Madrid nearly made ended where their season did.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

2.How offensive would Álvaro Arbeloa’s line-up be?

Very. With the exception of Gonzalo García, the midfield and attack consisted of his six most offensive players available to him. Aurélien Tchouameni’s suspension removed Real Madrid’s only natural defensive anchor in midfield, but Álvaro Arbeloa did not attempt to replace that profile. Instead he picked Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Brahim Díaz, and Arda Güler, four players who have each operated at the tip of a diamond at various points this season. There was no holding midfielder. There was no one sitting, it was Valverde in a much more dynamic role. Ferland Mendy at left-back provided the one concession to defensive structure, his positioning and discipline offering some cover for a midfield that had no intention of defending from the front of the pitch backward. It was the only orthodox defensive appointment in the eleven. The message was clear: Madrid needed three goals in Munich and Arbeloa decided the only way to get them was to pick his most creative, most attack-minded personnel available and accept the exposure that came with it. Given the aggregate deficit and the injuries to key players, the logic was sound. A side set up to defend would have lost more comfortably. Going all-in gave them Güler’s two goals and a tie that went to the wire. The gamble nearly paid off.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

3.Would this be the end of Real Madrid’s season?

Jude Bellingham called it himself. “Our season is on the line,” he said pre-match, so by his own framing, the season is over.
A Champions League exit to Bayern ends the one competition where Real Madrid’s squad depth or lack of it could be masked by knockout format and individual brilliance. They are out. That part of the season is finished. Which makes La Liga the only remaining measure. And the table does not offer much comfort. Barcelona have been the dominant force domestically, and Real Madrid’s campaign has left them chasing rather than leading. A second-place finish without a Champions League trophy would represent the kind of season that, at this club, prompts serious structural questions regardless of how many matches were played without Vinicius, Mbappé, or a functioning midfield. The cruelest part is how tonight unfolded. Güler gave Real Madrid a genuine belief that it could work out with two goals, a lead on the night, level on aggregate. Then it unravelled, and Camavinga’s dismissal was the moment that defined the tie. Ironically, that bears many similarities to a season which looked so promising, with a seven-point lead in the league in October, and looks set to end in failure.

Three questions

1. Is Arda Güler Real Madrid’s best midfielder this season?

The numbers from tonight make the case almost impossible to argue against. Two goals, both finished with his left foot, both from distance, the opener capitalising on a Neuer error from 35 yards with an xGOT of 0.98, the second a free-kick into the top-right corner carrying an xGOT of 0.33 that massively outperformed its 0.05 xG. Shot accuracy of 100%, 41 touches, never dispossessed. In a depleted Real Madrid midfield on a Champions League knockout night, he was the one player who looked like he belonged on that stage. The red card after the final whistle, for foul and abusive language, is a footnote. It showed passion for the club, and changes nothing about what he produced in 89 minutes. The wider season context matters here too. Güler has repeatedly delivered in big moments while Madrid’s established names have been absent or below their best. He has shown that he decides games. That is a different quality. The more interesting question is whether Real Madrid’s summer planning reflects this reality, or whether new arrivals push him back to the periphery he has spent two years escaping.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

2. What does this mean for Álvaro Arbeloa’s future?

Arbeloa leaves this Champions League campaign with his reputation largely intact, but intact is not enough when the result is elimination. A 6-4 defeat across a tie that Real Madrid may have hoped to navigate demands accountability somewhere. The fairness argument runs in his favour. He was handed a depleted squad, leaned on youth, and got genuine performances from players who had no business starting a Champions League quarter-final. That counts for something inside Florentino Pérez’s operation, where loyalty and optics matter. But Real Madrid do not retain coaches on moral victories. The question remains the same, whether Arbeloa is seen as a transitional figure who exceeded expectations, or a permanent appointment who fell short of the only standard that counts. His managerial CV remains thin outside the youth setup, and tonight’s exit will sharpen scrutiny of that. If Carlo Ancelotti’s shadow still hangs over the dugout, and if Florentino moves for an established name this summer, Arbeloa may find himself eased back toward the academy structure that made his name as a coach. A dignified exit, but likely an exit nonetheless.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

3. Did Eduardo Camavinga blow any chance of a future at Real Madrid?

Camavinga’s night against Bayern encapsulates exactly why his future at Real Madrid is now a live question. Brought on as a second-half substitute, he lasted just 24 minutes before collecting a yellow for a near-rugby tackle on Musiala, then a second for holding onto the ball after conceding a free kick, the kind of needless, avoidable dismissal that defines a player not thinking clearly under pressure. The stats tell a quiet story too. Eighteen touches, 78% pass accuracy, one tackle, one interception, functional but unremarkable in the minutes before chaos intervened. He won both his aerial duels but lost three of four on the ground, and committed two fouls in a game Madrid ultimately lost 4-3. One red card does not end a career at the Bernabéu. But Camavinga is 22, injury-prone, and has repeatedly struggled to nail down a starting role. Ancelotti needed him to be a calming presence in a knockout tie. He was the opposite. That, more than the card itself, is what will linger in the boardroom.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Golden State Warriors travel to Los Angeles Wednesday for a highly contested elimination game against the Clippers.

The matchup will provide another iteration of a classic matchup, Steve Kerr vs. Tyronn Lue. It'll also make for another battle between Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard, as the two have faced one another plenty of times when the Warriors squared off against the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors.

Ahead of the game, Los Angeles' head coach spoke about facing Curry once again after three battles against Golden State in the NBA Finals.

"I'm sick of it," said Lue when asked about facing Curry again. "He’s just a guy that can explode. He can score 50 if you’re not careful. He only had 24 last game, but he had nine 3-point attempts. We can’t let him get that many attempts up from the 3-point line. We gotta try to keep him down as much as possible."

Whichever team limits the other's star most effectively may find themselves as the winner.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Clippers coach Tyronn Lue admits he's 'sick' of facing Stephen Curry

Champions League bracket, explained: Possible knockout opponents for every team in Round of 16 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The change in UEFA Champions League format has altered the way the knockout stage is structured in a significant way.

After the thrilling conclusion to the 2025/26 league phase, which saw clubs jockeying for position until the final kick of the final match, the spotlight now turns to the knockout stage where 24 teams will battle for European supremacy.

The top eight finishers in the league phase advanced straight to the Round of 16, while the sixteen teams below them contested a two-legged playoff round to determine the other eight qualifiers.

Now, the competition is down to the final four, with defending champions PSG still alive hoping to defend their crown against Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid, the most successful side in the competition's history, are out, as are Premier League giants Man City and Liverpool.

The Sporting News details exactly how the matchups are decided, who can play who, and where each team's pathway to Champions League glory can be drawn.

MORE: Why the Premier League looks set to keep five Champions League spots

Champions League bracket, explained

In the new Champions League format, which follows what is known as the Swiss Model, the knockout-stage bracket is largely predetermined by final league-phase positions, although not entirely.

There was a draw following the league phase (taking place on Friday, January 30 this year) to set the playoff-round matchups and another prior to the Round of 16 to set the entire rest of the bracket.

In both the knockout playoffs and the Round of 16, each qualifier has only two possible opponents against whom they can be drawn.

MORE:Mbappe chasing Cristiano Ronaldo's single-season Champions League goal-scoring record

Possible opponents for every team in knockout playoffs

In the Champions League knockout playoffs, the top qualifiers from the league phase are drawn against the lowest-finishing qualifiers, and so on.

The matchups are as follows:

• 9th & 10th vs. 23rd & 24th
• 11th & 12th vs. 21st & 22nd
• 13th & 14th vs. 19th & 20th
• 15th & 16th vs. 17th & 18th

The table below shows how the ties were drawn.

League-phase position in brackets

Possible opponents for every team in Round of 16

In the Champions League Round of 16, the eight winners from the knockout playoffs are drawn against the top eight finishers from the league phase, again according to those final positions.

The matchups are as follows:

• 1st & 2nd in league phase vs. winner of 15/16 vs. 17/18
• 3rd & 4th in league phase vs. winner of 13/14 vs. 19/20
• 5th & 6th in league phase vs. winner of 11/12 vs. 21/22
• 7th & 8th in league phase vs. winner of 9/10 vs. 23/24

The table below shows how the seeding worked in the Champions League Round of 16 for the 2025/26 season. The teams in bold are those who were drawn against that particular seeded opponent.

Champions League knockout bracket, matchups for 2025/26

The schedule and matchups for the 2025/26 Champions League knockout playoffs were set at the draw on Friday, January 30.

Following that round, the schedule and matchups for the rest of the Champions League knockout phase were determined at the Round of 16 draw on February 27. There are no further draws from that point on, as the entirety of the bracket will be set at that point.

2025/26 Champions League knockout stage schedule

Playoff Round — 1st leg

Playoff Round — 2nd leg

Round of 16

The draw to map out the Round of 16, and the rest of the knockout bracket, took place on February 27.

Round of 16 — 1st leg

Round of 16 — 2nd leg

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinal ties are scheduled to be played over April 7-8 and April 14-15.

Quarterfinals — 1st leg

Quarterfinals — 2nd leg

Semifinals

The semifinal first legs are to be played on April 28-29, with the second legs over May 5-6.

Semifinals — 1st leg

Semifinals — 2nd leg

Champions League final

The Golden State Warriors look to keep their playoff hopes alive, battling the Los Angeles Clippers away from home Wednesday.

That said, the Warriors are underdogs due to their 1-3 record against Los Angeles this season.

If Golden State is to pull off the upset, here are three keys to their success.

3. Winning the three-point battle

Although the Golden State Warriors convert on 15.7 three-pointers per game, they rank 20th in the NBA in three-point percentage. On the other hand, the Clippers are much more efficient despite making fewer. Six of Los Angeles' current rotation players shoot over 37% from deep on the season, including Kawhi Leonard, Kris Dunn, Kobe Saunders, Nic Batum, Darius Garland and John Collins.

2. Rebounding

Keeping Los Angeles off of the glass will be a key factor in Wednesday night's game. Coming into the matchup, the Clippers rank 29th in the NBA in rebounding, ahead of only the Brooklyn Nets. After trading away Ivica Zubac, Leonard is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 6.4 per contest. For these reasons, Golden State needs to dominate the glass to keep extra possessions out of the hands of the Clippers.

1. Limit Kawhi

It's no secret that Kawhi Leonard has put Los Angeles on his back this season, especially after the trades of Zubac and former MVP James Harden. If Golden State is to prevail, they'll have to contain the 14-year pro who's averaging a career-high (27.9 points) in his age-34 season. After Leonard, the scoring drop-off is significant. Garland is the team's second-highest scorer, averaging 19.9 points in just 17 games with the team since being traded.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: 3 keys for Warriors in Play-In Tournament vs. Clippers

After years of waiting, FC Bayern Munich finally ended the Real curse and knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League in spectacular fashion in the quarter-final second leg at the Allianz Arena, thanks to late goals from Luis Díaz and Michael Olise.

And as so often when Real Madrid are eliminated from a competition, the referee was in the spotlight shortly before full time and after the final whistle. Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić did in fact cause some irritation when he sent Eduardo Camavinga, who had come on in the 62nd minute, for an early shower after just 24 minutes on the pitch.

After committing a tactical foul on Jamal Musiala (78'), Camavinga made a real blunder in the 86th minute. After fouling Harry Kane, he carried the ball with him for a few more yards. In a heated closing phase, that can certainly result in a yellow card, but it is not usually enough to earn a second booking.

Referee Vinčić immediately pulled out the yellow card and had already turned away again, but only seemed to realize shortly afterwards that the Real player had already been booked. As a result, he had no choice but to show the red card as well.

📸 Alex Grimm - 2026 Getty Images

That understandably caused anger among the football stars. While Vinícius Júnior gave in to sarcastic applause in the direction of the referee, Arda Güler was shown red after the final whistle after immediately charging toward the official. Díaz’s goal, incidentally, followed the sending-off almost by return post.

And of course, the debates online did not take long to begin either.

What’s your take on this controversy? Was this Champions League knockout match decided by the referee, and is the anger from Madrid justified — or is it ultimately just a formality?

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

In the old days, a week after a major championship was a time to relax. That’s not the case now, as the PGA Tour just simply moves onto another signature event, its fourth of the season. Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C., again is host to the RBC Heritage where eight of the top 10 players in the world are competing. Only Masters champ Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose are not playing.

That means World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the field of everyone playing for the $20 million purse, with the winner taking home $3.6 million. Scheffler went bogey-free over the weekend at Augusta National and bounced back from a 12-shot deficit after 36 holes to finish second place, only a shot behind McIlroy.

RELATED: LIV Golf's future is in doubt

Joining him are Cameron Young, Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Henley, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and J.J. Spaun. Justin Thomas is the defending champion.

Last year Thomas defeated Andrew Novak on the first hole of a playoff, draining a 20-footer for his first win since the 2022 PGA Championship. Thomas tied for 41st place last week at the Masters. Tony Finau, Billy Horschel, Wyndham Clark and Marco Penge are sponsor exemptions.

There is no cut. Check back here Sunday after play is complete for updates.

WIN: $3.6 million

2: $2.16 million

3: $1.36 million

4: $960,000

5: $795,000

6: $715,000

7: $665,000

8: $615,000

9: $575,000

10: $535,000

11: $495,000

12: $455,000

13: $415,000

14: $375,000

15: $352,000

16: $332,000

17: $312,000

18: $292,000

19: $272,000

20: $252,000

21: $232,000

22: $217,000

23: $202,000

24: $187,000

25: $172,000

26: $158,000

27: $150,000

28: $143,000

29: $137,000

30: $131,000

31: $125,000

32: $119,000

33: $114,000

34: $109,000

35: $104,000

36: $99,000

37: $94,000

38: $89,000

39: $84,000

40: $80,000

41: $76,000

42: $72,000

43: $68,000

44: $64,000

45: $60,000

46: $57,000

47: $54,000

48: $52,000

49: $50,000

50: $48,000

51: $47,000

52: $46,000

53: $45,000

54: $44,000

55: $43,000

56: $42,000

57: $41,000

58: $40,000

59: $39,500

60: $39,000

61: $38,500

62: $38,000

63: $37,500

64: $37,000

65: $36,500

66: $36,000

67: $35,500

68: $35,000

69: $34,750

70: $34,500

71: $34,250

72: $34,000

73: $33,750

74: $33,500

75: $33,250

76: $33,000

77: $32,750

78: $32,500

79: $32,250

80: $32,000

Late goals from Luis Díaz and Michael Olise meant Bayern Munich finally got the better of Real Madrid in another enthralling game on Wednesday to edge into the Champions League semi-finals alongside Arsenal, who knocked out Sporting.

Real's Arda Güler scored twice but Bayern won 6-4 on aggregate in the quarter-final after a 4-3 second-leg victory in Munich which will live long in the memory. They face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last four in late April and early May.

A terrible first-minute kick-out by Manuel Neuer, who was superb in a thrilling first leg, allowed Real's Güler to fire into an empty net from 25 metres for his maiden Champions League goal.

It was a quick and sudden blow for six-times champions Bayern, who had dominated for long spells while winning 2-1 in the Spanish capital last week.

But the hosts soon levelled to lead the tie again, Real keeper Andriy Lunin this time at fault as Aleksandar Pavlović headed in a corner while stood on the line.

Güler then bent in a free-kick just before the half hour mark, with Neuer arguably exposed again before Harry Kane scored with aplomb to put Bayern back ahead.

Kylian Mbappé netted his 15th of the Champions League season from Vinícius Júnior's slick pass before the break to leave the game poised for extra-time. Bayern appealed for a foul early in the build-up, but were waved away.

The drama slowed slightly in the second half but a second booking for Real substitute Eduardo Camavinga late in the half boosted the Allianz Arena.

Colombia's Díaz then struck on 89 minutes and Olise in stoppage time as Bayern ended a run of four defeats in a row against the 15th-times record champions in knock-out ties in the elite European event.

Arsenal will meet Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals after a 0-0 home draw with Sporting sealed a 1-0 aggregate victory.

Declan Rice said reaching another Champions League semi-final was "an amazing achievement" for Arsenal despite failing to silence their critics in a 0-0 draw at home to Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday.

The Gunners progressed 1-0 on aggregate thanks to Kai Havertz's late winner in the Portuguese capital last week.

Arsenal, who have never won the Champions League, were knocked out in the last four by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain last season.

They will face Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals for the chance to take on PSG or Bayern Munich in Budapest next month.

"To go back-to-back semi-finals is an is an amazing achievement for this group," Rice told TNT Sports. "We want to now go one step further than last year and get to the final."

Yet a stalemate short on excitement at the Emirates did little to set up Mikel Arteta's men for a potential Premier League title decider away to Manchester City on Sunday.

Arsenal have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, a run which includes losing the League Cup final to City and being dumped out of the FA Cup by second-tier Southampton.

"Positivity all the way," added Rice. "Who cares what people think. All that matters is what this group thinks, what the manager thinks, and we're in another semi-final. I'm delighted."

City trail Arsenal by six points at the top of the table but have a game in hand on the leaders and home advantage when they face off this weekend.

"Our record this year has been amazing in all competitions," said Rice.

"How much (do) you want it? I know I'll be ready, I know the boys will be ready, so let's go!"

kca/jc

So far, New England Patriots Mike Vrabel has managed to avoid saying much about his relationship with NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

Both Russini, who resigned from “The Athletic” yesterday, and Vrabel have denied any personal involvement with each other, but that hasn’t stopped the gossip.

While she has fielded most of the criticism, he has remained largely untouched, and some think it’s a double standard that Russini has taken the brunt of it.

Former ESPN reporter Jemele Hill spoke on the subject.

I didn’t say it didn’t raise concerns, but trust me when I tell you that a lot of insiders are in some truly compromised relationships. Maybe they aren’t holding hands, but they are drinking with these dudes, going on vacations, attending weddings and family events.

Dianna… https://t.co/qVvWSdX3ff

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 14, 2026

“I didn’t say it didn’t raise concerns, but trust me when I tell you that a lot of insiders are in some truly compromised relationships. Maybe they aren’t holding hands, but they are drinking with these dudes, going on vacations, attending weddings, and family events. 

"Dianna ain’t gotta give a [expletive] about me for me to understand an obvious double standard. If she has a compromised relationship, she should be relieved of her beat, but there is a clear difference in the level of scrutiny and judgment she’s receiving versus Mike Vrabel. Her career will be over. Him … see him on the sidelines for Game 1.”

NFL insider Albert Breer thinks it’s time for Vrabel to address the elephant in the room. 

"I think it becomes a credibility issue with the players. If you’re preaching accountability 365 days a year to a group of 24,25,26 year olds… and if you’re not addressing it at all and you’re pretending like nothing happened… they’re gonna look at you sideways."

Mike Vrabel can’t hide from the press forever, and the more he tries to avoid it, the louder the voices will get for not only him but the Patriots as well.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Will the Patriots suspend Mike Vrabel if relationship rumors are true?

Sergio Garcia says LIV Golf's players were told earlier this year the event would run for "many years" as rumours swirl the Saudi-backed venture is on the verge of collapse.

The Financial Times is among the publications to report that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is on the verge of ending its support for LIV Golf, which would jeopardise its future.

Garcia said on the eve of the LIV Mexico tournament that the players "have not heard anything" in relation to the rumours.

But the 46-year-old Spaniard, who is captain of the Fireballs team in LIV, told a news conference that speculation runs contrary to what PIF officials indicated at the start of 2026.

"That is not what Yasir [Al-Rumayyan, governor of PIF] told us at the beginning of the year," Garcia said.

"[He told us] that he is behind us, that they have a project of many years. There are always rumours and I cannot comment anything more to you than what we know."

LIV players were told at their most recent event that funding is in place until at least 2032.

BBC Sport has approached LIV Golf for comment.

Last year it was revealed LIV's net losses in its international markets outside the US had spiralled to $461.8m in 2024, meaning it had lost more than $1.1bn since it was established in 2021.

PIF's overall investment in LIV was reportedly approaching $5bn, while broadcast rights were said to have raised just $2.7m.

LIV chief executive Scott O'Neil said in February that the tour would not be profitable for another five to 10 years.

In January, a senior source in Saudi Arabia told BBC Sport that towards the end of last year there was "a shift" in the kingdom's attitude towards some investments, with "everything in the PIF world under serious review".

The source added: "More money has been put into AI and the tech sector. There is pressure in Saudi Arabia to make sure that we're inviting in the right things that are sustainable and bring a return, and I don't see how LIV Golf is going to do that.

"It has had new sponsors such as Rolex and HSBC, but that's not enough to get anywhere close to what the players are being paid."

LIV caused a 'civil war' in professional golf in 2022 when they started luring star names away from the PGA Tour with the offer of huge pay increases.

The PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced in 2023 they had agreed to a merger with PIF, but there is still no sign of the union coming to fruition.

However, in the meantime, a small number of LIV-affiliated players have been permitted to return to compete in select DP World Tour and PGA Tour events under certain circumstances.

• Watson's call for lifetime bans shows PGA Tour-LIV scars still run deep
• What is LIV Golf's future after Reed & Koepka exits?

Potentially seismic development - analysis

With LIV Golf not yet responding to the BBC's requests for comment, and senior golfing officials telling us they are also trying to clarify what the situation is, uncertainty surrounds the circuit's future.

One Saudi source told us that the speculation could be linked to the publication on Thursday of a new four-year strategy for the country's sovereign wealth fund PIF, which bankrolls LIV. It heralded a "new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximizing impact [and] raising the efficiency of investments."

There was no mention of LIV golf in a media release announcing the new strategy.

Even before the recent conflict in the Middle East, there had been a sense that the PIF was placing a new emphasis on more sustainable investments, and that its plans for LIV were under renewed scrutiny, especially with the 2034 World Cup being seen as a bigger sporting priority.

That uncertainty ramped up after top LIV star Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour early this year.

And then in February, amid billions of dollars of investment and major financial losses, LIV's chief executive admitted it could take a further decade for it to return a profit.

Nonetheless, if Saudi Arabia did seriously reduce or even end its commitment to the breakaway series, it would still be a seismic development for the sport.

LIV has driven a wedge through golf for the past five years, and given the scale of the stated ambition and amounts of money already invested, any such development would raise major questions about the rest of the kingdom's vast sporting enterprises.

'LIV shook men's professional golf to its core' - analysis

LIV's arrival shook men's professional golf to its core by recruiting some of the game's biggest names.

But even with major-winning stars such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Koepka, Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson, the breakaway tour struggled to attract television viewers.

Tournaments in Adelaide and Johannesburg have been successful sell-out events, but the wider ambition to create teams capable of attracting significant outside investment, in the way cricket's Indian Premier League (IPL) does, has not materialised.

So financially LIV has not come close to offering a return on the kingdom's massive investment. Meanwhile, many of their players have struggled to remain competitive against those playing on the established tours.

Although Koepka and DeChambeau won majors while competing on LIV, their players have rarely made an impact on the biggest stage. England's Tyrrell Hatton was the only LIV player to contend at last week's Masters.

Koepka's decision to go back to the PGA Tour at the start of this year was a big blow, as was Patrick Reed's decision to quit LIV.

Koepka took advantage of a hastily arranged returning player programme which was also available to Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith, who all declined. Whether that opportunity is still available remains to be seen.

More likely, LIV golfers who automatically face a one-year ban from the PGA Tour could follow Reed's example and play a season on the DP World Tour to try to win back a card on the US circuit.

If Saudi Arabia decide to shut down the LIV project, they might look to invest in the DP World Tour to maintain some involvement in men's professional golf.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed relief pitcher Brock Stewart began his Single-A rehab assignment Tuesday after undergoing surgery last year.

Stewart suffered a shoulder injury after just four games in a Dodgers uniform following his deadline day arrival from the Minnesota Twins, and underwent surgery in Sept. 2025. The Dodgers’ Single-A affiliate, the Ontario Tower Buzzers, announced Stewart would begin his rehab assignment with them on Tuesday, and he had a fantastic first outing back.

The right-hander threw 15 pitches in the outing and struck out the side after coming in for the third inning.

During the four games he played with the Dodgers last season, Stewart allowed two runs in 3.2 innings pitched for a 4.91 ERA. Prior to that, though, he had a 2.38 ERA with the Twins through 39 appearances, and struck out 41 batters in just 34 innings.

While Stewart had a great showing in Single-A on Tuesday, manager Dave Roberts doesn’t believe he’ll be joining the team immediately.

“You’re sort of looking at Spring Training and how many outings a reliever takes,” Roberts said. “I would say three weeks is probably what it’s going to take.”

Stewart definitely has a few more rehab outings in his future, and will try to string together a strong run of appearances before returning to the team.

The post Brock Stewart Begins Rehab Assignment, Dazzles in First Outing appeared first on LA Sports Report.

Late goals from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise earned Bayern Munich a 4-3 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday, securing a 6-4 aggregate victory and sending them through to face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

The tie was level at the break after a scintillating opening half, with Real going ahead three times on the night. 

Arda Guler pounced on a loose Manuel Neuer pass to put the visitors ahead after just 34 seconds and scored again from a free-kick after Aleksandar Pavlovic equalised. 

Harry Kane put Bayern ahead in the tie only for Kylian Mbappe to restore parity overall when he put Madrid 3-2 up before half-time.

Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for a second yellow with four minutes left and Bayern pushed forward, Diaz blasting into the corner from outside the box after a crucial deflection. 

With Real pressing for an equaliser, Bayern broke and Olise curled in a magnificent shot to rubberstamp their tickets to the last four, where Luis Enrique's reigning European champions await.

Tempers boiled over after the final whistle with Guler picking up a straight red for confronting the referee. 

For the first time in Real's long Champions League history, their starting XI did not contain a single Spanish player. Jude Bellingham, who impressed off the bench in the first leg, was one of four changes to Alvaro Arbeloa's line-up for the visitors.

Neuer, widely lauded after a vintage performance in Madrid, gifted Real an opener. The Bayern goalkeeper miscued a pass directly to Guler, who floated a first-touch shot into the unguarded goal in the first minute.

Bayern looked stunned but struck back almost immediately when Pavlovic headed in a Joshua Kimmich corner after Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin failed to read the flight of the ball. 

The match had barely time to settle before Real were ahead once more thanks to a Guler goal, with Neuer again not at his best. 

The Turkey international whipped a free-kick into the top corner which Neuer got a hand to but was unable to keep out.

The match continued to seesaw before half-time, with both Kane and then Mbappe getting on the scoresheet.

Kane slotted clinically into the bottom corner in the 38th minute to again haul Bayern level on the night -- and ahead in the tie -- before Mbappe ran onto a Vinicius Junior pass and slotted home just before the break to level the tie 4-4 on aggregate.

With Real regularly cutting into Bayern's high line, Kompany responded by introducing the pace of Alphonso Davies at the interval. 

Both sides traded chances in the second half, with Olise particularly dangerous, forcing a fingertip save from Lunin with 20 minutes left. 

Camavinga came on midway through the second half but picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to leave his team a man down in the closing stages.

It proved a turning point as Bayern struck three minutes later when Diaz's effort from outside the box took a touch off Eder Militao and flashed beyond Lunin.

Olise made certain of Bayern's progress deep into stoppage time as the German giants took down Real in a knockout clash for the first time since 2012. 

dwi/mw

Eric Musselman endured a very painful 2025-2026 season at USC basketball, but not because of his transfer portal decisions. Muss put together a good roster but was brutally unlucky due to injuries which ravaged his team. Musselman is reloading in the portal and is making a run at a UConn big man who, if acquired, would make USC a clear-cut NCAA Tournament team for 2027. College Sports Wire has more:

"USC and Eric Musselman are playing host to a former top-30 recruit as they look to boost their transfer portal class. Former UConn center Eric Reibe, who is originally from Germany but attended the Bullis School in Maryland in high school, is set to visit the Trojans on Wednesday, according to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein. The 7-foot-1 former four-star recruit appeared in 40 games this season for the Huskies, starting five of them.

"He finished the year averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds while playing 13.8 minutes per game. Now, he could be heading out west to join Musselman's program."

Reibe was stuck behind UConn's elite big man, Tarris Reed, who memorably posted 31 points and 28 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game against Furman and who led the Huskies to the national championship game. Reibe would have started for a number of college programs last season. Adding him to a roster which will have Rodney Rice, incoming transfer KJ Lewis, Jacob Cofie, and possibly also Alijah Arenas, would give USC balance in terms of frontcourt and backcourt strength, also in terms of offense and defense.

Let's see if Eric Musselman can add to his Portal King reputation. If he does, USC basketball will be set up well for 2027.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Eric Musselman uses full-court press on UConn transfer Eric Reibe

After battling injury adversity throughout her UConn women’s basketball career, Caroline Ducharme‘s resilience was rewarded with an opportunity to chase her WNBA dreams.

The Golden State Valkyries announced Wednesday that they signed the Huskies guard to a training camp contract, a one-year, nonguaranteed deal at the minimum salary. Players on training camp contracts are typically competing to make the final 12-player roster, and many are waived prior to the end of training camp.

Ducharme’s signing was announced alongside Texas Tech guard Bailey Maupin and Vanderbilt guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda.

“We’re so excited to be able to add Bailey, Caroline and Ndjakalenga to our training camp roster,” Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said in a release. “Each of these players have shown a high level of competitiveness, a winning mentality, and a desire to improve. Excited to have them join us here in the Bay for training camp.”

Ducharme’s shot with the Valkyries comes after she averaged 7.4 minutes across 25 game appearances for the Huskies in 2025-26. It was her first full season back on the court after she missed nearly all of the previous two years due to head and neck injuries.

The 6-foot-2 guard came to UConn as the No. 5 prospect in the Class of 2021 and was a standout in her freshman year, averaging 9.8 points in 21 minutes per game and making 11 starts in 31 appearances. But Ducharme suffered her first head injury at UConn in February of that season, then missed 13 games with a concussion her sophomore year. She dealt with neck spasms that kept her out her for all but the first four games of 2023-24, and she wasn’t cleared to return to the court until late February 2025.

Though Ducharme never had to miss extended time in her redshirt senior year, the impacts of the head and neck injuries lingered. She missed six games due to migraines, and coach Geno Auriemma often described her status in practice as day-to-day.

With Ducharme’s signing, all of the Huskies’ 2025-26 seniors are set to compete in WNBA training camp. Star guard Azzi Fudd, Ducharme’s classmate and longtime friend, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings, and Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams was traded to the Portland Fire on draft night after being selected by the Connecticut Sun.

In Golden State, Ducharme will reunite with former UConn teammate Kaitlyn Chen, who signed a training camp contract after appearing in 24 games for the franchise last season. The Valkyries selected Chen in the third round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, and though she was initially waived during training camp, she re-signed with the team in June and remained rostered through the end of the season. Former Huskies Gabby Williams and Kiah Stokes are also signed with Golden State.

Why UConn star Azzi Fudd was ‘the right fit’ for Dallas Wings with No. 1 WNBA Draft pick

Speculation over the future of LIV Golf ran rampant after league executives reportedly were summoned to New York for an emergency summit.

The Financial Times reported Wednesday that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is on the verge of cutting its support for the league and that an announcement could come as soon as Thursday.

LIV Golf members are currently in Mexico City preparing to play the sixth event on the 2026 calendar, starting on Thursday. Golfer Sergio Garcia told reporters there Wednesday that the players "have not heard anything."

All outward appearances indicated the event was proceeding as planned, with LIV Golf posting interviews and tee times on social media.

Garcia said a shutdown would be contrary to what they have heard from Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi PIF.

"That is not what Yasir told us at the beginning of the year, that he is behind us, that they have a project of many years," said Garcia, translated from Spanish.

The PIF has reportedly poured more than $5 billion into LIV Golf since it launched in 2022, luring stars like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson with lucrative contracts and massive tournament purses.

LIV Golf's potential demise would not come as a total shock given the circuit's stagnant television ratings and its inability to attract any big names of late, coupled with the recent departures of Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed back to the PGA Tour.

After Mexico City, there are nine events remaining on the schedule in LIV Golf's fourth season.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Saudi Arabia fund reportedly on verge of cutting LIV Golf support

Declan Rice was ‘delighted’ with how Arsenal reached a second Champions League semi-final in as many years despite a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium against Sporting CP.

The Gunners had lost three of their last four fixtures and were knocked out of both domestic cup competitions and stumbled in the Premier League with a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth meaning the pressure is mounting on Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal are closing in on winning the Premier League title and will now face Atletico Madrid in the final four of the Champions League as the Gunners chase the two remaining trophies of the season.

Rice, who is being backed to drive Arsenal to silverware, spoke to TNT Sports after Arsenal’s aggregate win and addressed the growing ‘noise’ around the club.

Addressing the next steps of Arsenal’s European campaign, Rice said: “Delighted, so, so happy. It was a really tough test over two games but to go back-to-back semi-finals is an amazing achievement for this group and we want to now go one step further than last year and get to the final.

“We’ve played Atletico already this year, it was a really good game and we know what to expect so bring on these last couple of weeks.”

Rice was then asked if there was any frustration with tonight’s performance as the Gunners weren’t able to break down Sporting and guarantee a win at home.

“Frustrating? Nah, we’ve just got to a semi-final,” he replied. “No frustration, positivity all the way.

“Who cares what people think? All that matters is what this group thinks, what the manager thinks and we’re in another semi-final. I’m delighted.

“You want to be able to score goals. Most teams that come here, we play against 5-4-1 every time so there’s a bit of perspective with that. Every time we’ve played this season changes from a four to a five to defend against us so the spaces aren’t there as much.

“It’s on us to find ways to score and break it down but we’re playing against top players every week. We’ll keep going, keep playing well, keep getting over the line. Bring it on.”

The recent defeats have also raised concerns about Arsenal’s ability to close out the season with silverware and Rice admitted that the noise comes all the time when playing for a club like Arsenal.

“There’s noise with everything, this is Arsenal football club,” he said.

“There’s noise with every game, there’s scrutiny. We don’t play well, we play good, take it with a pinch of salt. It’s a rollercoaster, no-one’s going to hand you anything in this game so we keep going and what will be will be.

“Yeah, of course, you have to win every game. We want to win every game in the Premier League. Our record this year has been amazing, that’s why we play the game. We’ll be ready for it [Sunday’s clash with Man City], we’ll be ready to go so how much do you want it?”

Bayern Munich produced a dramatic late surge to knock out Real Madrid and reach the Champions League semi-finals, sealing a 6-4 aggregate victory after a chaotic second leg finished 4-3 in Munich.

The tie exploded into life from the very first minute when Arda Güler punished a costly error from Manuel Neuer to level the aggregate score almost immediately.

Bayern responded quickly, though, as Aleksandar Pavlovic headed home from a set piece to restore their advantage.

Güler struck again with a superb free-kick to swing momentum back towards Madrid, but Harry Kane kept Bayern in the contest with a composed finish to reach his 50th goal of the season. Kylian Mbappé then made it 4-4 on aggregate before half-time in a relentless opening period.

After the break, both sides continued to trade chances in a more stretched contest. Mbappé went close again, while Bayern’s Michael Olise repeatedly threatened cutting in from the right.

The decisive moment arrived late when Eduardo Camavinga was dismissed for a second booking, leaving Madrid down to ten men. Bayern immediately capitalised, with Luis Díaz curling in a brilliant finish to swing the tie decisively.

In stoppage time, Michael Olise added a stunning second to wrap up a breathless night and send Bayern through to the final four in style.

The Bavarians will meet holders PSG in the semi-finals in what should be a blockbuster clash.

Onto the final four! Following their progression in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Real Madrid, FC Bayern already know when they’ll meet Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

The first leg will take place in Paris on Tuesday 28 April, with the return leg being held eight days later at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday 6 May. Both games will kick off at 21:00 CEST. Tickets can already be requested for the fixtures via the Online Shop.

Bayern to face PSG in semi-finals

With the NBA's play-in tournament ahead of them, the Philadelphia 76ers still have to, you know, play their way into the 2026 playoffs. Unfortunately for Tyrese Maxey and friends, doing so is likely to be the only path to seeing Joel Embiid return to their lineup this season. Even then, it's unclear if Embiid will actually come back to play, at least depending on the timing of a possible Philadelphia first-round series with either the Detroit Pistons or Boston Celtics.

You see, Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy last week. Given that the usual recovery timeline for the procedure is around a couple of weeks or so, Embiid has already been ruled out for the play-in. No matter how the 76ers fare, no matter how badly they might need him to advance in the first place, we will not see Embiid play again in 2026 unless Philadelphia gets to the playoffs.

Uh, no pressure, fellas!

Shams: Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) expected to be out for Play-In Tournament.

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 13, 2026

The real shame of this Embiid appendectomy situation is just how much of a rhythm he was getting into before he got sidelined. The former 2023 league MVP had scored at least 26 points in four of his last five appearances. Now, he'll have to wait and see if his teammates can buy him some time before he's ready to return to the court.

It's not ideal, but Embiid getting a chance to come back is likely the only way that he and the 76ers can make any noise in the playoffs this spring.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Joel Embiid injury: Latest on when 76ers star will come back

Reds linked to five-tool prep shortstop with elite bat speed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Reds are one team that understands the importance of making the most of their first-round picks. Plenty of their recent pick have already made the MLB roster and are core contributors right now. 

Chase Burns was the first-round pick back in 2024, and he already has a role with the big league club. The same can be said for Rhett Lowder, who was drafted in 2023, Sal Stewart in 2022, and Matt McLain in 2021. 

Last year, they took a chance on a high school shortstop, Steele Hall. And while they have preferred to take college players, there may be another high school player they will want to take a chance on. 

MORE: Reds' Elly De La Cruz makes baseball history not done since 1900

Reds linked to five-tool prep shortstop with elite bat speed

The amount of college talent on the board this year is outstanding. However, there are a few high school players that teams will want to take a closer look at. 

One of these players is James Clark, a shortstop from St. John Bosco HS in California. He is having a terrific spring, and Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has linked him to the Reds as the 18th overall pick. 

"Clark has some serious helium this spring and profiles as a five-tool shortstop who is only scratching the surface of his long-term potential. He has a polished approach at the plate, and while his swing is not built for power, he doesn't have impact potential thanks to his bat speed. The Princeton commit also has an extremely high baseball IQ."

Clark has risen on the boards and could be an excellent pick for the Reds. He has an exciting combination of upside, instincts, and a smooth left-handed swing. 

While the power is not there, he does have the ability to drive the ball. But the biggest concern is his ability to stick at shortstop, with some scouts believing a move to second or third could be in his future.

More MLB news:

• Rangers projected to bolster future core with elite Arkansas backstop

• Diamondbacks linked to dynamic SEC outfielder as first-round target

• Marlins projected to take chance on South Florida prep arm in latest mock

• Versatile ACC outfielder linked to the Cardinals in latest mock

• Angels projected to take elite SEC power hitter in latest mock draft

Bayern will face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the 2025/26 Champions League. The first leg in Paris is scheduled for 28 April, with the return fixture in Munich on 6 May. The winner will then compete in the final in Budapest on 30 May against either Arsenal or Atlético Madrid. Here’s the lowdown on PSG and what makes them such a threat.

Since Qatar's sovereign wealth fund bought PSG in 2011 and their subsequent rise to the top of world football, all of their encounters with Bayern have been played at the very highest level. In September 2017, the Bavarians suffered a 3-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes, but FCB later won three consecutive games against Paris sides featuring Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi from the Champions League quarter-finals second leg in April 2021 to March 2023.

The PSG management then changed course and focused less on big stars and more on a close-knit squad, which nevertheless impressed with its individual class. This development culminated in the 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final at the Allianz Arena - the highest winning margin in a final in the competition’s history. However, on the way to finally being crowned European champions for the first time, Luis Enrique's team were also beaten 1-0 by Bayern at the Allianz Arena in the league phase. “I think we're very similar to Bayern Munich. Both teams want the ball, both press aggressively. The stats say we're very similar,” said the PSG coach for that November 2024 encounter.

The two European heavyweights also met in last summer’s Club World Cup as the Parisians ended a run of four straight defeats at the hands of Bayern to advance to the semi-finals with a 2-0 win. It was a result that perhaps didn’t reflect the course of the game, as Vincent Kompany’s men had their opportunities to eliminate the Champions League holders. They got revenge of sorts in this season’s league phase, producing one of their best performances of 2025/26 to earn a 2-1 triumph in Paris.

Both teams had won their opening three fixtures of the league phase prior to November’s meeting at the Parc des Princes. Bayern had brushed aside Chelsea (3-1), Paphos (5-1) and Club Brugge (4-0), while the Parisians had seen off Atalanta (4-0), Barcelona (2-1) and Bayer Leverkusen (7-2). But the first half in the French capital was a real demonstration by Bayern. They pressed high, won their duels and were clinical in front of goal, Luis Díazstriking twice inside the first 32 minutes.

However, the Colombian was sent off on the stroke of half-time for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, meaning Bayern had to defend their lead with the utmost resolve in the second half. They did just that until João Neves finally got a goal back in the 74th minute, but Jonathan Tah and the defence repelled everything else that came their way. The game was so thrilling that Kompany ran onto the pitch at full-time to celebrate victory with his players. “Tomorrow won’t decide who’s the best team in Europe or the world, but we’ll see at the end of the season,” the Belgian’s opposite number Enrique had said ahead of the game. He could be proven right, given the winner of this semi-final tie will likely be the favourites in the Budapest final, on the back of Bayern’s excellent campaign and PSG’s current form.

The holders are once again through to the last four after two relatively comfortable victories over Liverpool in the quarter-finals. Enrique’s side won 2-0 at home in the first leg through goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but they had chances for several more. The return leg at Anfield produced the same result as Arne Slot’s team pushed for a way back in, before Ousmane Dembélé put the tie to bed with two late goals.

PSG’s league campaign

Before the Qatari acquisition of the club, the Parisians had finished 15th, 16th and 13th in Ligue 1 between 2007 and 2010. Between 2013 and 2025, PSG have been champions 11 times in 13 seasons, a run only interrupted by Monaco in 2017 and Lille in 2021. Recent years have very much filled the club’s trophy cabinet after a much more modest start since their 1970 founding, when Bayern had already existed for 70 years. A total of 13 league titles, 16 Coupe de France wins and the 1996 European Cup Winners' Cup have now been complemented by the Champions League trophy and the UEFA Super Cup in 2025. The latest honours are an incentive for the current team to remain at the top of Europe.

The Ligue 1 title race this season is proving to be the most exciting in recent years. PSG are top with 63 points, ahead of Lens (59), Lille (53), Marseille, (52), Lyon (51) and Rennes (50). But the champions have games in hand on their opponents, putting them in pole position to retain their title for a fifth straight year.

Barcola back, Fabián out

Apart from central midfielder Fabián Ruiz, Enrique has had a full squad at his disposal of late. The 30-year-old Spain international picked up his knee injury in the 2-1 loss at Sporting Lisbon in January. However, Bradley Barcola returned to the squad after a month out with an ankle issue and played most of the second half in Liverpool.

Fabián’s absence would likely affect any team in Europe, but PSG’s squad has no shortage of quality elsewhere. Doué, Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos all provide different options up top. The former three have a combined 17 goals in the Champions League this season, split as four for current Ballon d’Or holder Dembélé, five for Doué and eight for Georgia’s Kvaratskhelia. There are also many young emerging talents in Lucas Beraldo (22 year old), Neves (21), Warren Zaire-Emery (20), Senny Mayulu (19) and Ibrahim Mbaye (18).

The new Parisian chic

Filling Donnarumma’s gloves

Last summer’s transfer window was rather quiet by PSG standards. Centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi and goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier were the top new arrivals. Frenchman Chevalier replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma, who then moved to Manchester City, as the new number one. Players such as former Bayern midfielder Renato Sanches (to Panathinaikos) and Randal Kolo Muani (Tottenham Hotspur) were loaned out. While Chevalier played in the league phase encounter with Bayern, he’s since been replaced as first choice by Matvei Safonov, who will likely play in the semi-final meetings. Coach Enrique usually employs a 4-3-3 system in front of the 27-year-old Russian.

How do the Champions League holders play?

The defending European champions have impressed above all with their tactical finesse and flexibility. Ex-Eintracht Frankfurt man Willian Pacho and veteran Marquinhos will likely start in central defence, but Enrique could also bring in former FCB player Lucas Hernández, who was sent off for an elbow in the Club World Cup clash. In addition, the Parisians have two of world football’s most coveted full-backs in Nuno Mendes and Hakimi who like to get forward and create numerical advantages in the attacking third.

Vitinha, Neves or Zaire-Emery act as the link between defence and attack in build-up play. Ahead of them, Kvaratskhelia provides dynamism and a change of pace in between the lines, while Dembélé adds additional unpredictability to the French side's attacking play with his dribbling and variable positioning. If Bayern can keep the world-class trio of Doué, Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia in check as much as possible – as they have done in many recent meetings – it will significantly increase their chances of victory. “It'll be very intense and high class. It's the kind of game we all love to play, where we can show how well we perform as a team,” said Vitinha ahead of November’s clash, adding: “It'll be one of the challenges we're looking for. What will be key? Difficult… As I said, it’ll come down to little things - sometimes an individual action, sometimes by the whole team. Maybe the ball will just hit the post, maybe it'll glance off it and go in. It'll be difficult to say what made the difference in the end.”

Mia san mia à la française: Bayern fans in the middle of France

PSG's pressing is characterised by collective coordination, targeted trigger points and perfectly orchestrated positioning. They don't wait for mistakes to happen, they force them. The team sees possession as a means to control and gain space. Enrique's side combine surprising changes of position with getting back in a disciplined manner. “We have players who can perform well in different positions,” said the coach of his team. “We’re a real example of a team whose players can also change position during the game.”

Even with some absences, like Fabián, PSG remain one of the most dangerous and modern teams in Europe thanks to the depth of their squad and their tactical versatility. It means both sets of fans and every football lover can look forward to the next showdown between these two European heavyweights.

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis quieted some noise during last weekend's spring game with a fairly conservative performance that included one highlight touchdown pass to new target Danny Scudero.

Lewis is battling Utah transfer Isaac Wilson for the starting job, but remains the favorite to open up the 2026 season as Colorado's starter. Earlier this spring, ESPN ranked Lewis as the No. 62 Power Four starting quarterback, just six from the bottom among the 68 teams.

CBS Sports gives Lewis a slightly more favorable ranking, placing him in the top-15 at No. 49, good for No. 11 in the Big 12 Conference. Here's what Brad Crawford had to say about the Buffaloes' redshirt freshman signal caller.

Speaking of unlocking star potential, that is Brennan Marion's role this spring at Colorado as he works with Lewis. The former sought-after recruit was able to redshirt last season after playing in four games, finishing with 589 yards passing and four touchdowns (including three starts in November). Deion Sanders is trying to build around his quarterback after landing a top-25 transfer class once again.

As Crawford notes, everything for Colorado's 2026 hopes, especially offensively, rests on how Lewis and new playcaller Brennan Marion come together. It is a complicated offense to master, and Lewis' ability to grasp the Go-Go will determine how good the Buffs can be.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Julian Lewis Power 4 quarterback ranking per CBS Sports

As the 2026 NFL Draft draws closer, speculation continues to grow about the Cowboys and the possibility of trading up to get an impact player on defense. Media outlets are pushing the narrative that Dallas must move up, and many fans are in agreement.

It's easy to understand why some see the move up as appealing, with a top-heavy draft, and Dallas coming off one of the worst defensive seasons in team history.  But the reality is, while the Cowboys have a multitude of needs on that side of the ball, the team’s draft capital doesn’t allow them to trade away multiple picks for one impact player, especially having the rare chance to draft two. Focusing that many resources on a single player doesn’t make sense for a team reloading.

The Cowboys would be better suited to sit tight and use the No. 12 and No. 20 picks and draft players who can help them now. If there is a chance that Dallas moves one of these picks, it should be the 20th pick. Trading that selection to a quarterback-needy, or receiver-needy team makes more sense than trading up and losing multiple top 100 draft picks, including at least one in the top 20.

Cowboys insider Bobby Belt, recently echoed this sentiment, saying "One guy isn't going to fix the Cowboys defense. Yes... But Caleb Downs might get close."

In his mock draft, Belt resisted the temptation to trade up for Downs and instead kept both first-round picks, filling two major holes on defense. It mirrors the Baltimore Ravens draft philosophy, a strategy of patience.  Belt applied that logic and it allowed him to draft the Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain with the 12th pick and the Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood with the 20th pick. Based on his mock draft, waiting benefits Dallas for two big reasons. First, he got quality players who can help immediately, while at the same time keeping their third-round pick and controlling the rights to two players for five years.

Dallas also has other factors that will strengthen their ability to keep their picks or trade back from the 20th pick. This draft lacks depth at quarterback and offensive line, which will force teams to reach at these positions or overpay in draft capital to select the player they want.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Opinion: Despite risky battlefield, Cowboys should avoid trading up

DeCosta Calls No. 14 Pick a 'Sweet Spot' for Ravens in NFL Draft

Speaking at the team's predraft luncheon, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta pointed to the team's position at No. 14 overall as a key opportunity to strengthen the roster around quarterback Lamar Jackson.

"Well, I think it's positioned that way," DeCosta said. "When we look at it at [pick] 14… that's typically a different type of player that you can get. Looking at the board, we see tremendous value offensive-line-wise… receiver-wise… So, I feel like it's a sweet spot for us. We have a chance to address some positions early on, but also, I'm excited about what we see in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds as well."

DeCosta added that increased collaboration with the coaching staff, led by Jesse Minter, has helped expand the team's board and overall draft flexibility — giving Baltimore multiple paths to upgrade its supporting cast.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens GM Eric DeCosta on No. 14 NFL Draft pick

INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled to stay healthy all season. This has led to them having 41 different starting lineup combinations and just three players participating in 65 or more games. For context, a team like the Boston Celtics had 23 different starting lineup combinations and nine players available for 65 or more gams.

Fortunately for the Cavaliers, things are trending in the right direction heading into the start of the playoffs on Saturday. Head coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed that 14 of the team’s 15 players were full participants in what Atkinson described as a “real practice.” That includes Jarrett Allen (knee), Donovan Mitchell (ankle), and Sam Merrill (hamstring), who were on the injury report late in the regular season.

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The one player who wasn’t a full participant was Thomas Bryant. He was still able to do some on-court work. Atkinson noted that he was “surprisingly ahead of schedule” with the calf injury he’s been dealing with.

Being healthy has allowed them to focus on one of the most important aspects of succeeding in the playoffs, and one of the things that let them down last postseason: Conditioning.

Conditioning has been an overarching focus of practice this week. The Cavs want to be prepared to take on a Toronto Raptors team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the league. They’ve done circuit training with the VersaClimber to get ready for playoff intensity. However, that preparation didn’t just start this week. It’s been a focus for this group for almost a year.

“It wasn’t just about yesterday’s [circuit training],” Atkinson said. “It’s about June and July. We’ve done a lot of things in the offseason and in-season to be ready for the intensity and physicality. It’s going to be a big part of this series.”

Expansion is once again becoming a serious topic in Major League Baseball, and while cities like Nashville and Portland often dominate the conversation, there’s another market quietly gaining traction—Vancouver. At first glance, it might seem like a long shot. But the more you look into it, the more Vancouver starts to make real sense.

MORE: Major League Baseball ABS system is quietly impacting teams in 2026

A Proven Sports Market

Vancouver isn’t new to supporting professional sports. With successful franchises like the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL and a strong history of fan engagement, the city has consistently shown it can support major league teams. It’s a large, passionate market with a built-in fan base—and one that’s already proven it will show up.

Baseball in Canada isn’t a question mark—it’s already working. The success of the Toronto Blue Jays has shown that MLB can thrive north of the border. In fact, the Blue Jays have essentially become “Canada’s team,” drawing fans from across the country.

Adding a team in Vancouver would give MLB a second foothold in Canada and create a natural geographic balance.

A Strategic Geographic Fit

From a logistics standpoint, Vancouver fits perfectly. Located on the West Coast, it aligns naturally with divisions that include teams in Seattle, California, and the western United States. Travel would be manageable, and regional rivalries could form quickly—especially with the Seattle Mariners just down the coast. That proximity alone could create instant intrigue.

Vancouver is one of the fastest-growing and most economically strong cities in North America. A combination of population growth, corporate presence, and international appeal makes it an attractive market for ownership groups and MLB alike. Expansion isn’t just about fans—it’s about long-term financial sustainability. Vancouver checks those boxes.

The Stadium Question

Of course, no expansion conversation is complete without addressing the biggest hurdle—a ballpark. For Vancouver to become a reality, a modern MLB-ready stadium would need to be built. That means ownership investment, public-private partnerships, and long-term planning. But if that piece falls into place, the rest of the case becomes much stronger.

Why MLB Might Want Vancouver

For MLB, expansion is about growth. Adding a team in Vancouver would:

• Expand the league’s international footprint
• Tap into a proven market
• Strengthen West Coast scheduling and rivalries

It’s not just about adding teams—it’s about adding the right teams in the right places.

When might this happen?

Expansion isn’t happening tomorrow—but the groundwork is being laid. Cities are positioning themselves, ownership groups are forming, and MLB is evaluating its options. Vancouver is firmly in that conversation, even if it’s not always front and center.

Vancouver might not be the loudest candidate—but it might be one of the smartest. With a strong market, geographic fit, and proven sports culture, it has all the ingredients to become MLB’s next expansion city—if the stadium situation gets solved. And if that happens, don’t be surprised if Vancouver goes from “possibility” to “inevitability.”

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The Indiana Hoosiers have landed a massive commitment out of the NCAA transfer portal. Former Alabama Crimson Tide center Aiden Sherrell will make his way to Bloomington for the 2025-2026 season, On3’s Joe Tipton confirms. Sherrell spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa before deciding to spend his last two elsewhere. Darian DeVries decided to take advantage, bringing the big man in.

Sherrell will turn into a valuable player for Indiana in more ways than one. His offensive game is unique to the center position, as he is able to shoot well from distance. On around 2.5 three-point attempts per game, Sherrell made 33.8% of them. His overall shooting percentage from the field sat at 53.9% — which is nearly 3% better while seeing his field goal attempts go from 2.4 to 7.1 per game.

A few individual performances stand out from Sherrell from last season. Three double-doubles are in the game log, none more impressive than his 26-point and 13-point outing vs. Arkansas in February. Just over a month later, against Hofstra in the NCAA Tournament, Sherrell went for 15 points and 15 rebounds. He has proven to be capable of playing well in big moments and against quality opponents.

“Aiden Sherrell, who typically hasn’t been able to play much over 30 minutes, played almost 40,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said after the Arkansas game. “He ends up with 26 and 13, 10-of-13 from the field, 6-of-7 from the free throw line. He ends up winning the hard hat. He played hard, he played well. When we went to the switching and put him on some different guys there in the second half, he did a good job. A couple tough calls went against him, but he hung in there and kept playing hard.”

Indiana certainly will take that mindset moving forward. More than anything, the Hoosiers have to enjoy how Sherrell fits into the system. Very few teams in college basketball attempted as many three-point attempts as IU, finishing 32nd in the country. But 34.7% was just inside the top 150, from a make percentage.

Sherrell certainly brings the ability to make a few shots from deep. Oats was not afraid to give the big man the green light. You have to imagine DeVries will not either. Indiana will be hoping this addition can help them contend in a loaded Big Ten in DeVries’ second year in charge of the program.

Ravens, Community Partners Unite for Earth Day Effort at Inner Harbor

The Baltimore Ravens will once again lean into their growing role off the field, teaming up with M&T Bank and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore to celebrate Earth Day with a hands-on volunteer initiative focused on the city's waterfront.

Set for Friday morning at Port Covington Marina, the event will bring together approximately 70 volunteers from across five organizations, including Point Field Partners and the Bisciotti Family Foundation. The group will spend the morning contributing to the ongoing Healthy Harbor Initiative through a range of projects aimed at improving the Inner Harbor's ecosystem.

Participants are expected to engage in oyster gardening, habitat maintenance, and environmental data collection — all key components of long-term water quality efforts. There's also a more visible piece of the day's work, as volunteers will apply a fresh coat of paint to Mr. Trash Wheel, one of the harbor's most recognizable cleanup tools.

The outing reflects a broader, sustained commitment from the Ravens organization. In 2025, the team deepened its partnership with Waterfront Partnership through a five-year, $3.75 million investment supporting the Healthy Harbor Initiative — a signal that their impact in Baltimore is intended to extend well beyond football. Events like this have become a consistent part of that effort, blending community engagement with tangible environmental progress as the franchise continues to build connections across the city.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens join Earth Day cleanup at Inner Harbor

#TheRetention has officially kicked off.

Wednesday morning, the freshman forward went live on Twitch to deliver the news the Illini faithful had been nervously waiting for: that he’s gonna be back for at least one more year in Orange and Blue.

For Illinois fans, Mirkovic’s return immediately provides a sense of optimism surrounding next season. It also raises the question of whether Mirk’s return will rub off on the rest of the potential returners, and incentivize coming back for guys like the Ivisic twins, Andrej Stojakovic and Jake Davis.

It took just one game — the season-opening exhibition matchup against ISU — for the Montenegrin to begin drawing eyes from Illini fans, where he posted a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double.

And throughout the season, his stats spoke for themselves.

Weirdly enough, Mirkovic posted the same exact stat line in the official season opener versus Jackson State. Then posted another double-double in the next game against FGCU. And against Colgate? The freshman finished with 27 points and 21 rebounds.

That’s when Illinois knew they found a gem.

Game after game, Mirkovic improved. Not only did he learn from some of his early-season freshman mistakes, but he bought into the culture rapidly fast and learned what it meant to be an Illini.

And he wasn’t one to back down, no matter the stakes.

That became apparent during a post-game interview after the win over Purdue at Mackey Arena, where Mirkovic stated that if he didn’t play and Illinois had lost, he probably would’ve done some hurtful things to himself.

But that was just the beginning. David continuously reminded Illini fans how much this team meant to him, and how badly he wanted to win.

Mirkovic played a major factor in Illinois’ Final Four run, kicking off the tournament on a high note by exploding for 29 points and 17 rebounds in the first-round win over Penn. Over the course of the next four tournament games, he racked up 36 points and 32 rebounds.

David’s sophomore season is primed to be an even bigger one.

A recent USA TODAY Sports exclusive featured a lot of thoughts from Brian Kelly on a wide-ranging array of topics. LSU Tigers football, both past and present, came up prominently.

Kelly was asked about his four-year tenure in Baton Rouge and what ultimately did him in.

"I guess you do have to start with what is winning enough games? We were 34-14, 22-3 at home when I was fired," Kelly said. "We had two 10-win seasons, won an SEC (West Division) championship, had the No. 1 offense in college football, a Heisman Trophy winner. When you look at what is winning and what keeps you employed, other people make those decisions. But it starts with what is defined as winning, and unfortunately it wasn’t defined as enough winning leading into being fired.”

In 4 years, Brian Kelly never understood the fan base

In 2 months, Lane Kiffin already understands the fan base

— Justin (@ProPelsTalk) January 24, 2026

Kelly was also asked about any advice he would give Lane Kiffin about being the head coach at LSU. Kelly's wisdom perhaps revealed nothing, but may have also revealed a lot.

“The world we live in today, Michigan just won a basketball championship with five transfers. You can do it, but there are so many moving pieces. I don’t think he needs any advice. I think you just continue to be who you are. I think that's all you can be. People are going to judge you based upon what they think, anyways. So, just be Lane Kiffin."

Kelly finished with a 34-14 record at LSU.

Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: LSU Football: Brian Kelly offers Lane Kiffin advice

A new name has popped up on the Kentucky Basketball transfer radar.

6-11 forward Sebastian Rancik, who has spent the last two seasons playing at Colorado, is visiting Kentucky.

Rancik, a native of Slovakia, canceled a visit with Indiana and will instead visit Lexington, according to On3’s Jamie Shaw.

Rancik saw notable improvement in his sophomore season at Colorado, jumping from just under 6 points per game as a freshman to over 12 points per game as a sophomore. This past season, Rancik also averaged 5.6 rebounds per game to go along with 2 assists per game.

Rancik shot 40% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc, an improvement from 25.8% the year prior all while increasing his 3-point attempts from 1.9 per game to 4.1 per game.

Rancik was also one of the best big men in the country when it comes to free-throw shooting, knocking down free throws at an 86% clip, which was the 4th-best percentage in the Big 12.

Rancik’s most notable performances this past season included a 17-point, 11-rebound performance against Arizona State, where he made 3/5 3-pointers. He also scored 20 points in a matchup against UCF.

Rancik is also planning a visit to BYU following the Kentucky visit. This recruitment could be worth keeping an eye on.

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Former New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins grieved over the team’s loss in the Super Bowl last season.

On Wednesday’s episode of “Up & Adams,” Hawkins revealed that he, along with several of his Patriots teammates, were all watching the game on the plane ride home to compartmentalize New England’s 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

"I grieved, for sure. That hurt, obviously. I would say like a month after, you just thinking about, dang, we lost. It's tough to get to the pinnacle and work that hard," said Hawkins. "You still feel a type of way, a little bit. I feel like that will kind of never go away. ...When we were on the plane, I know we were all watching the game. ...I had to watch it so I could at least try to flush it, you know?"

The Patriots were overwhelmed by the Seahawks’ pass rush, led by Derick Hall and DeMarcus Lawrence, in the Super Bowl. New England also allowed Kenneth Walker III to gain 135 yards on the ground on his way to Super Bowl MVP honors.

Hawkins did play a part in New England limiting Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed to 27 receiving yards apiece, but the loss provided the Patriots with plays that they perhaps wanted to get back, as well as sources of chagrin.

Hawkins has since moved on from New England. The California native signed with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency after two seasons spent with the Patriots from 2024-25.

The Patriots have the 2026 NFL Draft to look forward to as they work toward finalizing a contending roster for another shot at the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season. Hawkins, meanwhile, will pose a new challenge for New England in 2026, as he remains in the AFC with the Patriots’ rivals over in Baltimore.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Former Patriots DB opens up about Super Bowl LX loss, plane ride home

The San Francisco 49ers could finally be looking to select Trent Williams’s replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft.

On Tuesday, Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, projected to be a first-round pick, posted that he was in the building at the 49ers facility, confirming a visit ahead of the draft.

Then, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared that Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, also a projected first-round pick, recently visited with the 49ers on a top-30 visit as well. Rapoport noted that Proctor has also spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles.

The news is quite interesting as the 49ers haven’t drafted an offensive tackle in the first round since taking Mike McGlinchey back in 2018 at No. 9 overall. They haven’t drafted one in the second round during that timeframe either (the only offensive lineman the 49ers have drafted in the first two rounds under Kyle Shanahan is Aaron Banks).

But there is a pressing need for a tackle of the future, with Trent Williams inching closer to 40 years old, which the 49ers have not addressed over the past few seasons. Moreover, San Francisco has an opening at left guard that a rookie could fill in Year 1 before kicking back out to tackle in Year 2.

Proctor is one of the more polarizing offensive line prospects in the class. He’s had some inconsistent years in college, but the highs have been really high, and he’s a very unique athlete at 6’7, 352 pounds. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Proctor:

“Proctor is a mass of humanity with rare size and length at his command. He’s capable as a move blocker but shines when rolling downhill as a bona-fide people mover with bulldozing power. However, slants and quick first steps beat him to the spot in the run game.

“When set and centered, Proctor is a roadblock to speed-to-power charges. He has a stout anchor and strong hands to stall the rush in its track. He struggles to mirror athletes in space and lacks the range to protect deeper pocket drops against speed. Inconsistency in pass protection hasn’t helped his draft standing, but he still has the potential to become a good right tackle or very good guard.”

When you look at the teams that have also considered Proctor, a majority of them are in the backend of the first round. The Lions have a big need at tackle and are at No. 17. The Eagles have the No. 23 pick. The Browns hold the No. 24 pick. The Chiefs are at No. 29. The Dolphins are at No. 30. And the Cardinals are near the top of the second round at No. 34.

So, there seems to be a range where Proctor could fall in the upcoming draft. Heading into the draft, there seem to be five projected first-round offensive tackles: Francis Mauigoa, Monroe Freeling, Kadyn Proctor, Spencer Fano, and Caleb Lomu.

With what’s perceived as a dropoff after those top five, the offensive tackles could be pushed up the board on draft night, but it seems San Francisco is doing its due diligence on the bunch as they prepare with the No. 27 pick.

Real Madrid need to win in the Allianz Arena to give themselves a chance of getting into the Champions League semi-finals, and after three goals in 15 minutes, they are on course for the win they need to force extra time at the very least.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s side made a golden start to proceedings in Bavaria when Arda Guler pounced on a Manuel Neuer error to score after 36 seconds, although their lead lasted five minutes as Aleksandar Pavlovic headed home soon after for the home side.

Guler scores again as Real Madrid level tie after 29 minutes

But they have now struck for the second time in the first half, and it’s a second of the evening for Guler. His free-kick from the edge of the box was just out of Neuer’s reach, which has brought Real Madrid back to 3-3 in the tie.

Kane strikes after relentless Bayern spell

But once again, Real Madrid failed to hold their lead for a sustained period. A relentless spell from Bayern has ended with their second equaliser of the night, scored by Harry Kane.

Mbappe makes it 4-4 on aggregate

But this time, it is Real Madrid that have got a quick response. An excellent run from Vinicius Junior has ended with him slipping in Kylian Mbappe, who makes no mistake to score his second goal of the tie.

It’s been a Champions League classic in the opening stages, and at this stands, Real Madrid are getting the minimum result they need to keep their progression hopes alive.

Aston Villa currently sit in a strong fourth place in the Premier League as the 2025/26 season enters its final phase. Unai Emery has turned the team into a real threat to the traditional big six, shown by their recent 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest and a solid 3-1 win over Bologna in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Fans can feel the momentum building around the club, especially as the team play a high-pressing, technical style that has them right in the contention for Champions League football. Tomorrow brings another huge European test as they host the second leg against Bologna, and the atmosphere at Villa Park is expected to be intense given the club’s current run.

Emiliano Buendia prepares for new contract talks

Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reports that Aston Villa plan to start contract talks with Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia once the season ends. The 29-year-old has seen a massive shift in his fortunes after spending the second half of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. While Unai Emery previously seemed okay with the midfielder leaving, the Spaniard now sees Buendia as a key part of his plans for the 2026/27 campaign.

Buendia has repaid that trust with 5 goals and 2 assists in 30 league games so far. His underlying stats are just as impressive; his Non-Penalty Expected Goals (npxG) per 90 minutes is 0.34, putting him in the top 89th percentile of Premier League players. This shows he is a constant goal threat from midfield, while his 1.52 key passes per game prove he’s still a creative force. (stats via Footy Stats)

Villa want to sort his future now since he enters the final year of his contract this summer, and the board is mindful of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Keeping a proven player like Buendia helps the club stay stable while staying within financial rules.

Why must Aston Villa prioritise the Argentine’s extension?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Emi Buendia of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on March 15, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

Tying Buendia down to a new deal is a smart move for a club trying to balance big ambitions with tight financial limits. His ability to play several roles across the attack gives Emery tactical options that few others in the squad can offer. Losing a player of his quality for a low fee, or for free next year, would leave a big gap in the squad that would be expensive to fill.

By agreeing to new terms, the club protect the value of a player in his prime who already knows the manager’s system inside out. Buendia’s comeback shows that improving from within often works better than taking expensive gambles on new signings. Keeping him at Villa Park ensures the squad has the quality needed to handle both the Premier League and Europe again next year.

Paolo Vanoli has called on his Fiorentina players to cast aside inhibition and play with complete freedom when Crystal Palace visit the Stadio Franchi on Thursday evening, with the Viola requiring a 3-0 victory to overturn their first-leg deficit and reach the Conference League semi-finals.

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It is a tall order by any measure, and Vanoli was not about to pretend otherwise. But the Fiorentina coach, who has overseen one of Serie A’s more remarkable survival stories this season, knows better than most that the impossible can sometimes be achieved when a group of players stops thinking and starts believing.

“We will play with a free head, knowing that we will need something special,” he said, with quotes via AldredoPedulla.com.

“Sometimes what matters is not so much technical quality but desire, doing something that goes beyond what is expected, with courage and freedom. We have to risk, try and dream.”

Vanoli was equally honest about the context of this European run. With four points from their opening 11 league matches this season, survival was the only objective that mattered.

“When we had four points we were talking primarily about the league, that was the priority,” he said. “Then the story says the Conference must be an objective for this club.”

He also pointed to the broader lesson his side can take from facing a Premier League opponent of Palace’s quality. “The strong teams make you grow. When you don’t win, you learn.”

FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 13: Head coach Paolo Vanoli manager of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Artemio Franchi on April 13, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Fiorentina coach Vanoli: ‘I don’t want my future decided by one game’

On his own future, Vanoli was characteristically direct. He expressed genuine ambition to continue but refused to let Thursday’s result define his tenure one way or the other.

“I don’t want my future to be conditioned by one Conference League match,” he said. “I’m not a genius if we go through and I’m not a mediocre coach if we go out. I keep believing, despite the difficulties.”

He also delivered a pointed observation about Italian football’s relationship with courage, fitting given the national conversation currently raging about the men’s team. “In Italy, people say they want courage but then criticise it when they see it.”

On team news, Dodô will miss the match through suspension, while Pongracic is being assessed after carrying a hamstring overload. Rugani, who impressed against Lazio, is available, and Vanoli confirmed Kean is being monitored day by day as the club works to have him fit.

Latest De'Von Achane update doesn't bode well for Seahawks, Giants and Vikings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Miami Dolphinstraded away wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos this offseason, signaling that a rebuild could be on the way, and other star players could also be available for the right price, such as running back De'Von Achane.

Achane had a breakout 2025 campaign with 1,350 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The 24-year-old also added 488 yards on 67 receptions and four scores through the air.

Though Miami is planning on rebuilding its roster and could get a lot of draft capital by trading Achane, it doesn't sound like that's the plan.

Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan shuts down Achane trade rumors

During a press conference on Tuesday, Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan made it clear that the franchise won't be trading Achane and is actually working on an extension with the Pro Bowl running back.

"He's not available for trade," Sullivan said of Achane via The List - Dolphins Podcast on X. "Things are going good. We've had some positive conversations (about a new contract) over the past couple days. Trending in the right direction. He's very important to what we do."

Trading Achane, a young and explosive running back still on his rookie deal, wouldn't make any sense for the Dolphins. Retaining the Texas A&M product for the future and signing him to an extension would be a logical move.

Seahawks, Giants, and Vikings delivered bad news

The Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, and Minnesota Vikings could be interested in trading for Achane, but it looks like they won't even get a chance.

Seattle has yet to effectively replace Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, who left for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. Achane would've been an electric replacement.

New York and Minnesota don't have a dire need for a running back, but Achane would've been an upgrade over both teams' current starters, Cam Skattebo for the Giants and Aaron Jones for the Vikings.

With Achane likely staying put in Miami, all three franchises will have to look elsewhere if they want to add talent to their running backs ahead of the 2026 season.

More NFL News

• Cowboys $4 million trade candidate could receive interest from Packers, Steelers, Rams and Jets
• Packers, Rams, Bucs and Ravens could show interest in Colts $33 million trade candidate
• Latest Trent Williams update should interest Packers, Chiefs, Bears and Steelers
• Seahawks, Packers, Vikings and Giants named top landing spots for Chargers 779-yard trade candidate

The seven-game suspension Los Angeles Angels outfielder and designated hitter Jorge Soler was appealing in the wake of his April 7 fight with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López has been reduced to four games, according tomultiplereports Wednesday.

Soler will reportedly start serving that suspension Wednesday night, when the Angels will play the third game of their four-game road series against the New York Yankees.

Soler piled up three home runs and eight RBI over six games while appealing his initial suspension.

A day after the fracas in Anaheim, where benches and bullpens cleared to break things up, an appealing López reportedly reached an agreement with MLB to reduce his initial seven-game suspension to five games.

Both players were hit with disclosed fines.

This story is being updated.

Maryland wrestling All-American Jaxon Smith plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

The other big news is Smith announced he would drop to 174 pounds for his final season. He has wrestled 184 and 197 in his career.

Smith previously announced he would take a medical redshirt due to an ankle injury back in January. He released a statement at the time.

“After a lot of thought, prayer and conversations with my coaches and medical team, I’ve decided to take a medical redshirt this season due to an ankle injury,” Smith wrote. “While this isn’t the season I envisioned for myself, my priority is getting back fully healthy so I can come back stronger for the 2026-27 season. I’m grateful for all of the support from my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who continues to believe in me. I’m excited for what’s the come.”

Smith is a three-time NCAA qualifier with a record of 91-12 for his career. He is coming off of an All-American finish in 2025, where he took sixth place at 184 pounds in the NCAA Tournament. He ranked No. 6 in the most recent InterMat rankings prior to his injury.

Maryland coach Alex Clemsen also released a statement regarding the injury for Smith. It’s a devastating blow for the team, but ultimately they had to keep his long-term health in mind.

“Jaxon Smith has been the face of our program since summer of ’22,” Clemsen said. “Losing him this year has been less than ideal. Seeing him struggle and work to try to get back for a title run, and to continue to lead this team, has been very impressive. At some point though, it is not what is best for both his short-term and long-term health.”

Smith was a late addition to the transfer portal after it opened up on April 1st. Originally, it seemed like Smith would finish out his career in College Park, as Clemsen outlined.

“What that said, we will be pursuing a medical waiver for Jaxon so that he can come back to College Park next year fully healthy and ready to compete at the highest level. We appreciate everyone who has poured into Jaxon’s treatment and reached out with support,” Clemsen said. “Having Jaxon back next year makes the future even brighter, and we cannot wait to see him be himself, doing what he loves, the way he is truly capable.”

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves. Check it out!

When the Lakers begin their opening-round playoff series against the Rockets Saturday, they will be without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, both working their way back from injury.

Consequently, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Rockets priced as -600 favorites heading into the first round of the postseason. LeBron James and the Lakers are 90:1 to win the Western Conference and 150:1 to win the NBA Finals as of this writing.

Are the Lakers completely without hope, though? Using FTN’s Stats & Charting, let’s take a look at their roster to see if there is any reason to think they could make some noise during these playoffs.

Can LeBron James turn back the clock?

During the regular season, LeBron James averaged 29.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 10.4 assists per 36 minutes with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves off of the floor. In the past month, James has a +2.6% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and has scored +0.7 Points Over Expectation, indicating that he’s still been performing at a high level.

Following the All-Star break, the Lakers were 8.4 points better per 100 possessions with James on the court, compared to when he was on the bench – offering further evidence that he’s still capable of turning back the clock.

What does the supporting cast look like?

In five games following the injury to Luka, the Lakers relied on Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard for more contributions on the offensive end of the floor.

The good news for Los Angeles is that those players performed well in an expanded role. Hachimura, who averaged 11.5 points this season, scored 16.6 points per game down the stretch. Notably, he was 7-for-10 from the field against the Thunder and shot 50% from the field against the Suns – two playoff teams. Ayton and Kennard saw similar increases in scoring while maintaining strong efficiency.

During the team’s final 3 regular season contests, Hachimura, James, and Ayton each posted an +8.0% FGOE or better.

Does Houston have a problem?

Houston was 25-15 SU and ranked fourth in the NBA in net rating during their first 40 games this season, but lost Steven Adams to injury Jan. 18. From that point, the Rockets were 27-15 SU, but they ranked only 11th in net rating.

Houston led the NBA in rebound% (55.7%) prior to Adams’ injury, but regressed slightly in that area during the second half of the campaign. They also had the seventh-worst turnover rate in basketball during that span, which diminished the potency of their offense.

The Lakers defensive rating was 1.3 points better with Doncic off of the floor following the All-Star break. It’s not impossible to think that Los Angeles could make life difficult for Houston’s offense in the opening round.

The Takeaway

The Lakers went 10-8 SU in games with Luka Dončić unavailable and 17-14 SU in games with Austin Reaves inactive during the regular season. LeBron James had his workload monitored diligently this year, hoping to keep him fresh for the most important games of the season. The level of difficulty goes up in the playoffs, but his recent production in our Stats & Charting metrics indicate that he has plenty left in the tank. If his supporting cast can continue to knock down some open shots against Houston, there is at least a little bit of hope for Lakers fans – more than the current betting odds suggest.

Nico Iamaleava’s first year with the UCLA Bruins was certainly a whirlwind. There were moments of greatness from Iamaleava, and some moments that the young quarterback would want back. Ultimately it was a tough season for the signal caller, as he saw UCLA go just 3-9 on the season.

Now Iamaleava has new head coach Bob Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy to rely on, as Iamaleava and the Bruins look to be more competitive during the 2026 season. Iamaleava entered the college football landscape with huge expectations, and while the talent is there, he hasn’t displayed it on a down-to-down basis.

Iamaleava could head to the NFL Draft following this upcoming season with UCLA, meaning there’s a lot on the line for the 6’6” quarterback. With his physical traits, a solid season of production would certainly garner him some interest at the NFL level.

Brad Crawford of CBS Sports ranked every Power Conference starting quarterback, with Iamaleava falling down the board all the way to No. 38 in Crawford’s list. Among Big Ten quarterbacks, Crawford had Iamaleava ranked as the 12th best. 

“Iamaleava was the center of unwanted attention last offseason after his messy exit from Tennessee,” Crawford wrote of Iamaleava. “The game plan this spring and summer is is to get back to national notoriety for the right reasons under new Bruins coach Bob Chesney. Iamaleava has obvious talent after previously helping the Vols get to the CFP as a freshman, but he tumbled a few pegs last season after finishing with 13 touchdown passes after he was sacked 27 times and missed a bowl game.”

UCLA’s offensive infrastructure wasn’t dependable for Iamaleava last season, we’ll see if a more consistent offense around him can yield better results for Iamaleava and the Bruins offense. 

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA's ranked as the No. 38 Power Conference starting quarterback

Sometimes, we make this pro-wrestling thing way more complicated than it has to be.

With art of any kind, there’s room for individual styles, unique interpretations, doing things people never expected to help further that art. But sometimes you gotta take that brush and paint that soup can. In WWE’s case, that latest Warhol is Oba Femi, the man who tore through the company’s developmental brand and is now slated to open Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 for ESPN’s free portion of the event, He’s big, he’s bad, he’s boisterous and beats the opposition down — Femi works so well because there isn’t an era you could drop him in where he’d seem out of place. He’s the king of any castle, and “The Ruler’s” decree for success? Stay grounded in the things that you know, communicate your worth, and tear apart whatever's in front of you.

In a now-viral clip from February, Justina Emmanwori, mother of Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, struggled to understand the importance of the Super Bowl as a singular event. Anyone lucky enough to spend their undergraduate days with Nigerian friends and classmates has heard a similar facsimile of her disbelief. While it extends across cultures, there tends to be a push from immigrant parents not just for education, but the pursuit of practical careers, like becoming a doctor, lawyer, or something else the world will always need.

“Engineer!” Femi exclaims, reminding me of the final piece of the immigrant career trinity.

Already a decorated track and field athlete at the University of Lagos, the American portion of Femi’s college education started at Middle Tennessee State in 2017, and he eventually found his way to the University of Alabama. He racked up numerous accolades along the way, culminating with back-to-back wins in the shot put event at the 2021 and 2022 SEC Indoor Championships, respectively.

Even then, he was on a unique path. The man with the strongest arm in the South wasn’t looking to become a lawyer, doctor or engineer. With his parents’ blessing, he was a studio art major, eventually earning a Bachelor's degree in visual arts. You can still see the graphic designer in him today; there’s precision in the way that he operates, in how he communicates with the audience, in how every time out, he paints the exact picture he’s trying to get across. And his literal canvas is now the wrestling ring, the place where power and personality intersect to create beauty and tragedy. Lately, the size of the spotlight has increased, but that doesn’t change his approach, effort or output.

“How you react to fame and fortune and things happening in your life is very dependent on how you are brought up,” Femi says.

“Because I had a good upbringing, I was very grounded in my foundation of who I am as a human being. So it can be rain, sunshine, win, loss, you remain the same. And I think that's a very powerful lesson that has helped me stay grounded as a grown man. And it's a lesson that I plan on also teaching my own children when I have them — you're never as good as you think when you're losing, and you're never as good as you think when you're winning. Stay the same. Know who you are. Stay grounded. Stay humble.”  

Yet there’s a switch that flips when he arrives at the building, an energy Femi can seemingly summon at will. He’s adjusted his cadence to give the crowd the opportunity to place an emphatic “HOO!” in the same place where Steve Austin’s famed “What?” filled empty space on WWE television for years. He doesn’t actually swing one arm in front of the other when he walks, but that emphasis — putting his foot firm on the ground as if to say he’s the one keeping the world in place — just seems to fit. The large, beaded necklace and the furry armbands — both influenced by his Nigerian heritage, but carving out something different, something that hasn’t really existed in the wrestling space.

WWE via Getty Images

Femi is the first of his family to spend his late teens in the States, in a hyper-competitive environment where he not only survived, but found a way to become something brand new in a business clamoring for it. And now, as WrestleMania fast approaches, he’s wanted on both WWE brands — “Raw” and “Smackdown” — and already had his first taste of the boisterous battle that is the Royal Rumble. He lasted almost 40 minutes in January’s big showcase and eliminated a match-best five other participants, before getting eliminated by his now-opponent Brock Lesnar after being caught off guard.

But even with all the changes in his life in 2026, it’s still his picture he’s focused on painting. He broke in his brush on WWE’s toughest canvas on the March 16th edition of “Raw,” confronting and physically dominating Lesnar in a way most of the audience has never seen. He’s now gotten the best of Lesnar twice, and this weekend looks to cement himself as WWE’s next big thing by defeating the former UFC heavyweight champion on the profession's biggest stage.

But Femi can also admit that Lesnar, The Undertaker and a few others caught his eye early, not just for their strength, but their fluidity at their size as well. “[If there was someone I was] emulating, I would say Brock, because he was always that big man, hybrid style,” he acknowledges. “He was grounded and he stayed strong and powerful and did big, powerful moves. But at the same time, he was light on his feet.

“When I say light on his feet, I don't mean his shooting star press or anything like that. Just the way he moved alone. I've always looked at Brock and Undertaker as well. There's a certain fluidity I like in my wrestling. Certain guys possess it.”

WWE via Getty Images

Getting the best of one of your inspirations on the very biggest stage is the kind of thing that takes you from the process to the promised land, but even with all of that in front of him, Femi is still rooted in the things that got him to this point.

“I think the only thing that has been different for me has been the travel schedule,” he says. “I stay very focused. I stay very grounded. I'm one of those people who has a strong belief that it doesn't matter if it's 500 people at the [WWE Performance Center] or 80,000 people at WrestleMania. The ring is the same size, the ropes are the same tightness, and it's up to me to go out there and deliver. So that's my approach.”

Femi became the focus of the NXT men’s division in 2025, and with good cause. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Nigerian wasn’t simply dominant — he talked like a champion, he dressed like a champion, and when the bell rang, every move, every expression, every burst of otherworldly power screamed champion. He won the NXT Championship at January’s “New Year’s Evil” event, and fended off any and all comers for almost nine months before losing the title to Ricky Saints in September, only to regain it in December. 

Recapturing the title was a prize in and of itself, but it also gave Femi a once in a lifetime opportunity — the chance to compete on the show that featured John Cena’s final match. Just over three years after his first pro-wrestling match, Femi found himself in a Champion vs. Champion showcase against Cody Rhodes, the top man in the industry. And where others may have shrunk, Femi looked every bit Rhodes’ equal, showing exactly why he’s in position to be the top man sooner than later. “I made it a mission of mine to show these people at the main roster, show all the producers, the bookers, the head honchos that I belong,” he says.

“I'm not just a prospect, because this thing that [people] keep saying, ‘The future, the future, the future’ — it's like, ‘No, man. These guys are at the top and they're in their 40s. I'm under 30. I'm ready to go.’ And I wanted to show them that day. And what better stage to do that than side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder with the No. 1 guy in the company, Cody Rhodes? And I think I accomplished my mission. My statement was clear: I belong here.”

WWE via Getty Images

After successfully defending the NXT title against TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater this past January, Femi left the belt in the middle of the ring, effectively relinquishing the championship en route to the WWE main roster. “[It] was time. You know when you've done everything you can do for a company, you know when you've done everything you can do for a brand, a relationship, a friendship,” he says. “You know when you've done everything and you've tried your best and you've put your all, and it's time for you to move on to the next thing. And that's just where I found myself when I had the NXT Championship.

“I'd done everything there was to do. I'm grateful for my time in NXT, of course. That was my indies. I appreciate everything I went through there.” 

One potential speed bump in going directly into the WWE pipeline is some wrestlers miss out on those rivalries built throughout smaller promotions that can follow them as they find more and more success. Talents like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, all the iterations of the Bullet Club and The Elite, they’ve all seen their closest friends and coldest foes through wins, losses and life experiences, only making those rivalries better over time. But to his credit, and to theirs, Femi found not one, but two peers that he looks to face going forward. “You have Oba Femi, Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans,” he says.

“You can't tell me the [WWE Performance Center] doesn't make stars. How often do you get such people getting called up to the main roster and they're already on that level? The PC did that, the NXT did that. We did that.”

WWE via Getty Images

What the trio did was something that hasn’t ever really been done — on the same roster, held in the same regard at the same time, you had three dark-skinned, dread-headed, main-event talents fighting for their show's top prize. And they were three distinctly different men, not only in moves but in mantras as well. Femi, “The Ruler,” made it his mission to not only intimidate, but to bulldoze anyone who stood across from him. Williams, a two-time NXT Champion in his own right, let his success go to his head — and wardrobe — leaning heavily into his South Carolina roots while finding his Southern Player showman. He’ll face Sami Zayn for the U.S. Championship at WrestleMania, where he figures to have a grand entrance and an even more grandiose response. And Evans, the effortlessly athletic 21-year-old with the giant smile, has a grace you don’t see out of 6-foot-2 wrestlers, and was instantly a hit with the NXT audience. He’ll show off that near-fictional athleticism in a five-way WrestleMania ladder match for the Intercontinental Title.

Femi ended Williams’ second reign in his final year in NXT, and fended off both men multiple times the rest of the year. It’s the rare feat that neither Williams or Evans seemed defined down after losing to Femi — it was simply understood that these are matchups you’ll need to see for years and years. “It puts joy in my heart knowing that we did what we did for the brand of NXT,” Femi says. “We became the top trio in the next year. And we all got called up around the same time. And it's good to watch the people around you grow as well. They pushed me to become a better version of myself.

“You know the way the [NXT] black and gold is romanticized by fans? I do strongly believe that the Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans and Oba Femi era will also be romanticized.”

With Evans on “Raw” and Williams on “Smackdown,” either choice for Femi could see a rivalry revisited immediately. But “The Ruler” hasn’t decided on a permanent destination just yet. All of the early success, from the titles to the history-making moments, the claims everywhere that he’s next up, none of it seems to phase him. Oba Femi has done — and will continue to do — the work. In only a few years, he’s had a career most would envy. But, grounded as he may be, he has no problem making sure the powers that be know exactly what he’s worth. “As long as I'm paid what I'm worth, I'm given everything I ask for, I will elevate whatever show I'm put on. I know that for sure,” he says.

“I'm a star in my own right. All that humility stuff, yes, humility, but you also have to know where you stand on the pecking order. And I understand that very clearly.”

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jon-Eric Sullivan is looking for generational players to add in next week's NFL draft.

The Miami Dolphins general manager knows he already has one on his roster in De'Von Achane, and he has no interest in parting ways with the star running back.

Despite unloading the majority of Miami's core from the last few seasons, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, Sullivan said Wednesday that Achane is not going anywhere amid contract negotiations.

“He is not available for trade," Sullivan said. "Things are going good. We've had some positive conversations over the last couple of days. Trending in the right direction.”

Achane is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is expected to be a key piece of Miami's rebuilt roster along with quarterback Malik Willis, whom Miami acquired after cutting Tagovailoa in March.

Achane rushed for at least 800 yards in each of his first three seasons, with 1,350 yards on 238 carries last season. He averaged a league-leading 5.7 yards per carry with eight rushing touchdowns, along with 488 receiving yards and four receiving scores.

The Dolphins have 11 total picks in the 2026 draft, including the 11th overall selection.

Sullivan also had had talks on potential contract extensions for center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks, though nothing is imminent for either veteran. Both were captains for the Dolphins last season.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

In need of linebacker help in the 2026 NFL draft, Louisiana's Jaden Dugger appears to be on the Indianapolis Colts' radar.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Justin Melo, Dugger said he has had a meeting with the Colts, among other teams. Whether this was an in-person meeting or virtual was unclear.

Let's take a closer look at what Dugger could bring to the Colts.

Colts 2026 NFL draft prospect to watch: LB Jaden Dugger

Dugger has played over 2,000 career snaps, spending the last two seasons at Louisiana. Before that, he played at FCS Georgetown, where Dugger was a safety.

Dugger saw significantly more playing time in 2025 compared to 2024, posting 12 quarterback pressures and four sacks as a blitzer, according to PFF. In coverage, he held opponents to 9.0 yards per catch, while coming away with one interception and one pass breakup. He recorded 125 total tackles as well.

Dugger has played 368 special teams snaps over four seasons, regularly playing on four of the six phases.

Jaden Dugger's athletic profile

Jaden Dugger is a LB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.60 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 139 out of 3460 LB from 1987 to 2026.

Correcting the school.https://t.co/Mgy62Hz3Yhpic.twitter.com/ZNMOJBg66t

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 6, 2026

What kind of impact can Jaden Dugger make in the NFL?

To wrap up the interview, Melo asked Dugger why a team should use one of their draft picks on him:

"I think I have the most upside of any player in this draft," Dugger said. "This is the worst I’m ever going to be and I’m still making plays compared to guys who are supposed to be the top players in this class. I’m only going to get better. I feel like I’ve proven myself. I love competing. I have the intangibles you can’t teach. The ball is in their court at this point. We’ll see how those 32 teams feel about me."

What is the Colts' need at linebacker in the NFL draft?

Despite the addition of Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency, there is still a significant lack of experience within this position group. Depth is needed, and more competition for playing time is needed. You name it, the Colts need it at linebacker. Relying on the current iteration of this room to make an impact comes with risks, given the lack of experience.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Colts meet with Louisiana LB Jaden Dugger

Film Profile | Analytical Profile

This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Elijah Sarratt Rookie Profile, Fantasy Outlook and NFL Draft Analysis

If you thought this season could not get any worse, well it did.

Hugo Ekitike suffered a terrible achilles rupture against Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday night. The injury will rule Ekitike out not just for this season and the World Cup but also for most of next season.

The expected prognosis at the moment is that he will be out of action for nine months. That's an awfully long time and it's devastating for both Ekitike and Liverpool.

Out of all the new signings, it was the Frenchman who has settled in the easiest and the fastest. He's amassed 23 goal contributions in his debut campaign, which is a more than respectable output considering the season Liverpool have had.

In many ways, he has become the new face of the Reds and one of the club's new fan favourites.

But now Liverpool are going to have to find a way to cope without him. Ekitike won't be able to help out Arne Slot's side for the considerable future.

Until then someone else will have to step-up. But who?

It's not like Liverpool are throning with attacking options. There's Alexander Isak, and that's about it.

Federico Chiesa is expected to leave the club this summer, Mohamed Salah is also on his way out. And then there's Jayden Danns, who is extremely unreliable when it comes to fitness.

His prolonged injury problems mean Liverpool simply cannot rely on him either.

Instead, they must look towards another exciting academy prospect in Will Wright.

The 18-year-old, had already made his first-team debut at Salford City by the time he joined Liverpool.

He was only 16-years-old in the summer but had EFL experience under his belt and had scored 40-goals for Salford City at academy level last season.

At the time of his arrival, Wright was tearing it up in pre-season with Salford's first-team.

When he signed for Liverpool, he immediately made his debut for the first-team as well against Athletic Bilbao in a pre-season friendly and so nearly scored.

MLB adjusted Los Angeles Angels slugger Jorge Soler’s punishment following his appeal after he received a seven-game suspension.

Soler served as the catalyst for an on-field brawl with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez last week, and both parties received seven games for their involvement in the fight. Lopez, who exchanged blows with Soler while still holding the baseball, got his suspension reduced to five games, and MLB reduced Soler’s suspension to four.

The 34-year-old will begin serving his suspension in the Angels’ third game of a four-game series against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.

Soler’s suspension will keep him out through Saturday, meaning he’ll miss the first two games of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres back at Angel Stadium.

The Angels will miss Soler during his absence, as he has been fantastic with the bat throughout the young 2026 season. He has five home runs on the season, and leads the American League with 18 RBIs. The 143 OPS+ he has so far this season is his highest since 2014—when he played just 24 games with the Chicago Cubs.

In the meantime, the Angels have several options they can consider to take over Soler’s spot. The best options are Mike Trout and Jo Adell, who have been below average fielders in the outfield this season.

What do you think of Soler’s suspension? Should it have been reduced further?

The post Angels’ Jorge Soler Gets Decision on Suspension Appeal After Brawl appeared first on LA Sports Report.

On Jets Final Drive, SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes and The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, along with a number of reporters and insiders from around the league, predicted the entire first round of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.  

Here are the results of the mega-mock draft, along with comments from everyone making selections.

No. 1 - Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
Selected by Brooke Hughes, daughter of Connor Hughes

“Yay!”

No. 2 - New York Jets: Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese
Selected by Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic

“It’s not a hard pick. He’s probably the highest-ceiling pick in this draft, can play EDGE, can play linebacker. The Jets need blue-chip players on defense, and he can be that.” 

No. 3 - Arizona Cardinals: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey
Selected by Jordan Hamm, Sports360az

“What Bailey can do for this Cardinals pass rush – 14.5 sacks last year – is just too good to pass up.”

No. 4 - Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
Selected by Turron Davenport, ESPN

“It is all about adding weapons for Cam Ward, and what better way to give Cam Ward an option that can score the football any time he touches it from anywhere on the field.”

No. 5 - New York Giants: Ohio State S Caleb Downs
Selected by Jordan Raanan, ESPN

“The Giants believe he can believe he can be the kind of player that Kyle Hamilton was for John Harbaugh in Baltimore: an All-Pro, difference-making kind of safety. There is nothing that the Giants believe that Caleb Downs cannot do.” 

No. 6 - Cleveland Browns: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate
Selected by Zac Jackson, The Athletic

“He can separate, he can make catches in traffic, he can create explosive plays, the Browns need all of that.”

No. 7 - Washington Commanders: Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
Selected by JP Finlay, NBC Sports Washington

“New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones wants a really versatile front and I think [Bain] can provide that.”

No. 8 - New Orleans Saints: USC WR Makai Lemon
Selected by Luke Johnson, New Orleans Times-Picayune

“The Saints went into this offseason looking to build around quarterback Tyler Shough,… in Lemon, they got a little bit different type of receiver than they already have, somebody who can line up in the slot and get a bunch of yards after the catch.”

No. 9 - Kansas City Chiefs: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson
Selected by Jesse Newell, The Athletic

“He’s been injured a lot for Arizona State, but that high upside and that ability for the Chiefs to reload the receiver room, with so many question marks there in the future, I think that’s a chance that they have to take.” 

No. 10 - Cincinnati Bengals: LSU CB Mansoor Delane
Selected by Marshall Kramsky

“The Bengals’ biggest draft needs have to be all on defense… the defensive line and the secondary.”

No. 11 - Miami Dolphins: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa
Selected by John Jastremski, SNY 

“They’ve had a dire need to go beef up the offensive line in a big way.” 

No. 12 - Dallas Cowboys: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
Selected by Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

“[The Cowboys] want to find big players that can move side to side. Styles is a big man… he is the perfect guy for this Cowboys scheme.”

No. 13 - Los Angeles Rams: Georgia OL Monroe Freeling
Selected by Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic

“He is a raw prospect, but he has a ton of upside, a massive 6-foot-7 frame and a lot of traits that will apply very, very well to the NFL level.”

No. 14 - Baltimore Ravens: Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane
Selected by Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic

“Ioane is one of the cleanest players in the draft. This offseason, the biggest item on Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta’s to-do list is solidifying the offensive line…. Ioane is a huge piece to getting that done. He has a high floor and a Pro Bowl ceiling.”

No. 15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor
Selected by Greg Auman, Fox Sports

“Really productive last year. He’s 25, everyone gets on him about his age. [But] 12.5 sacks last year, four forced fumbles, did really well opposite Bain there in Miami’s defense…. EDGE is a need position for [Tampa Bay].”

No. 16 - New York Jets: Indiana WR Omar Cooper
Selected by Connor Hughes, SNY 

"My only real concern with the selection is that Cooper spent basically his entire 2025 season, a productive 2025 season, playing within the slot. Garrett Wilson is somebody that we've seen have a lot of success in the slot. But if Wilson prefers to spend more of his career outside, this is an opportunity to get somebody else inside while AD Mitchell mans that other wide spot for the Jets. So they get their pass rusher early, and then they loop around here and get a playmaker for the O."

No. 17 - Detroit Lions: Utah OT Spencer Fano
Selected by Colton Pouncy, The Athletic

"To me, Fano is the most athletic tackle in this class. I know the short arms won't be for everyone, but I think for the Lions, they can move Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle. You can plug Fano in at right tackle. And if he doesn't pan out, I think he can be a really high quality guard in the league."

No. 18 - Minnesota Vikings: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
Selected by Alec Lewis, The Athletic

“Yes, he’s coming off a torn ACL. No, he’s not played an entire season. But, in terms of fit with Brian Flores’ defense… it just makes sense.”

No. 19 - Carolina Panthers: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman
Selected by Joe Person, The Athletic

“GM Dan Morgan has been looking for an over-the-top, rangy safety, and Dillon Thieneman checks those boxes.”

No. 20 - Dallas Cowboys: Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk
Selected by Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

“Christian Parker, the new defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, wants versatility in his defense, and Faulk can play in a two-point stance, can play in a 4-3, or in a 3-4.”

No. 21 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
Selected by Mike DeFabo, The Athletic

“Whether it’s 2027 or Week 1 of this year… they’re going to be looking for a new starting left tackle sooner than later. Maybe it’s Week 1 of this year with Kadyn Proctor.”

No. 22 - Los Angeles Chargers: Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker
Selected by Daniel Popper, The Athletic

“His pass-rush plan was really defined, plays with power as a rusher and a run defender. I think he’ll be able to contribute right away.”

No. 23 - Philadelphia Eagles: Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor
Selected by Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports Philadelphia

“A bit of a raw prospect, but a lot to like about this kid.” 

No. 24 - Cleveland Browns: Utah OT Caleb Lomu
Selected by Zac Jackson, The Athletic

“The Browns are mostly focused on the future, but they have offensive holes to fill, really, across the depth chart.”

No. 25 - Chicago Bears: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald
Selected by Dan Wiederer, The Athletic

“[Chicago has] a need for interior disruption. [McDonad] can be a force both as a run-stuffer and as someone who can collapse the pocket in passing situations.”

No. 26 - Buffalo Bills: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell
Selected by Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic

“Edge rusher is a big need for the Bills.”

No. 27 - San Francisco 49ers: Washington WR Denzel Boston
Selected by Matt Barrows, The Athletic

“He’s such an easy fit. He’s a big guy, he can step into that power-slot position… he has the ability to play on the outside, too.”

No. 28 - Houston Texans: Clemson DT Peter Woods
Selected by DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN

"Throughout coach DeMeco Ryans' tenure, the Texans have had a bunch of guys play the defensive tackle spot. This gives them an opportunity to get a long-term but young and talented answer at that position."

No. 29 - Kansas City Chiefs: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
Selected by Jesse Newell, The Athletic

“When a guy like that falls to 29, I just don’t think the Chiefs have many other options.”

No. 30 - Miami Dolphins: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
Selected by John Jastremski, SNY

”Hopefully can go and solve one side of the field for the Miami Dolphins.”

No. 31 - New England Patriots: Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas
Selected by Chad Graff, The Athletic

“This team made it to the Super Bowl with, frankly, just an OK pass rush, their edge rushers are not great. This is a chance to upgrade there.” 

No. 32 - Seattle Seahawks: Missouri EDGE Zion Young
Selected by Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic

“Zion brings a physical presence… strong guy, can play the run, can play the pass. Exact type of player Mike Macdonald would like to add.”

The acronym of “NFL” has been translated as “Not For Long” within the business of football for many years. This is particularly true when it comes to assessing the many trade rumors that fly around throughout the offseason. There is a(nother) possibility for the Bears to upgrade their defensive line with a big swing in the trade market.

Per several reports, including from national insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network ESPN — that will take some time to adjust — and Pat Leonard of New York Daily News, the New York Giants and star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence are possibly headed for a divorce. The Giants currently have him under contract for two more seasons.

The current expectation is that there will be significant interest from teams around the league if and when the bidding war for “Sexy Dexy” begins in earnest. One of those teams might very well be the Chicago Bears, as they have been “in” on a few trade rumors this year, including confirmation by general manager Ryan Poles of their interest in Maxx Crosby during his latest presser. As of the writing of this article, the suggested price tag could be somewhere between a 1st round pick and/or a combination of picks from day two.

Interestingly enough, the Bears have not shifted monies around to open up cap space recently. This is why they currently appear snug against the salary cap per OverTheCap. Theoretically, they have an ample amount of flexibility to tap into if / when the Bears pull the trigger on a sizeable move. They will need to alter salaries in the near future to get their draft picks under contract as well.

Adding a player like Dexter Lawrence II to their defensive line would arguably be the biggest force multiplier of any option on the market. A player who can truly open up opportunities for everyone else in their revamped front seven to make plays. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis has put together an amazing compilation of statistics and data for how rare of a player Dex is as a true nose who can rush the passer at an elite level.

The number which stands out most for me is how many pressures he’s generated since 2022. As posted above, he’s been credited with 108 pressures when lined up as a nose tackle (zero or one/shade). The next highest number… is 32 from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea. Generating a pass rush as a true nose is hard enough. To do so consistently, while handling the dirty work and double / triple teams, is unreal. Dexter Lawrence II is truly 1-of-1 as a nose tackle while coming in at 6-4 and over 340 pounds.

Will the Bears part with pick #25 straight up? Or, a combination of picks between now and 2027? It remains to be seen how interested they truly are in this sweepstakes. But for a team looking to win now, this would be a slam-dunk trade. One that will most certainly be accompanied by a new contract that shall pay him as the league’s top nose tackle.

It’s at this point in the college baseball season — halfway through conference play — when disappointed fans begin to doubt whether their pre-season dreams were just that, dreams. With 15 Big Ten games to go, the book is far from shut on the Wildcats, but their performance against Purdue at home over the weekend certainly didn’t imbue fans with hope for the home stretch. The Boilermakers came into Evanston and cruised to a sweep; across 28 innings, Northwestern held a lead for two of them. It just feels like the Wildcats can’t get out of their own way: when the pitching delivers, the bats fall flat and when the offense explodes, the arms can’t deliver. I’ve preached all year that the ‘Cats excel in the little areas, but you can’t out-hustle the second worst run differential in the Big Ten. So, let’s assess a brutal weekend.

The Good

There wasn’t much “good” across the board for Northwestern this weekend, but save a ninth inning blow-up in the series finale, the arms stayed (mostly) competitive throughout the series. Before that fateful seven-run Boilermaker explosion to seal the sweep, it was death by 1000 paper cuts. James Whitaker fell victim to the long ball, allowing three home runs while only striking out one, but Alex Grant and Drew Dickson held it down later in relief to keep the ‘Cats within striking range. In game two, the 6’6 righty Matt Kouser shined, allowing just one earned run and zero extra-base hits through six innings. Walks continue to limit Kouser’s length, as he leads the Big Ten in free passes allowed, but the stuff and frame is there for him to be a major arm going forward for the ‘Cats.

I know, the story sounds awfully similar to how it did going into the season, where young arms making a leap with their command and execution will be the x-factor, but those were rooted in the athletic nature of this pitching staff. It’s difficult to feel great about the ‘Cats pitching staff for the rest of the season, let alone 2027, given their inconsistency, but I still believe that some big leaps forward from just a few guys could seriously flip that narrative on its head.

The Bad

Northwestern got out-hit by Purdue 32-25 and out-scored 22-8. It seems almost unfathomable that a team could get outscored by double the margin they get out-hit, it goes against so many of the most fundamental tenets of good offense like getting on-base and “not trying to do too much.” However, the extra-base hit margin over the weekend ended at 13-4 in favor of the Boilermakers…that mostly sums it up. For much of the season, Northwestern hitters weren’t hitting for average or walking but the damage output and high slugging percentage relative to their contact metrics buoyed them as a middling Big Ten offense. If the slug isn’t there, it will get ugly fast and we’ll likely see more sweeps as the season continues.

Despite the lackluster performance from a power standpoint, the ‘Cats still rank fourth in conference in home runs and eighth in doubles, both respectable positions, especially for a bottom-of-the-standings squad. Did the Purdue hitters crack the code on how to attack Northwestern hitters to limit their power or was it just an off series for the Wildcats big bats? All Northwestern fans should be praying for the latter, because when a home-run dependent team stops hitting homeruns…

The Best

It was always a matter of “when” not “if” Jack Lausch would get hot. The ‘Cats clean-up hitter stuffed the stat sheet over the weekend, showcasing the unique, all-around offensive profile he brings to the lineup. The strikeouts, which were a major issue to start the season, have subsided as Lausch walked as many times as he punched out against the Boilermakers. He went deep once, notched two multi-hit games and stole a base. When he’s on, Lausch is the type of offensive contributor that can start rallies with an eight-pitch walk or deposit one over the seats to cap a big inning and if the ‘Cats want to get back right against Michigan, they will need him to keep seeing the ball well.

Yet, despite Lausch’s dominance, the weekend will go down as a major disappointment for Northwestern. The ‘Cats have put themselves far behind the 8-ball, sitting in a tie for the second-worst Big Ten record through 15 conference games. The lapses in performance are clear and numerous and the road back to winning Big Ten baseball games starts in Ann Arbor on Friday.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Adrian Del Castillo hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning and drove in five to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Arizona went 6-3 on its nine-game trip to the New York Mets, Philadelphia and Baltimore, winning two of three from each.

Jeremiah Jackson homered and drove in three for Baltimore, which has lost consecutive games for the first time since a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh April 3-5.

After Geraldo Perdomo advanced automatic runner Corbin Carroll to third on a sacrifice to open the 10th, Del Castillo lashed a 2-0 fastball from Tyler Wells (0-1) into the bleachers in center for his first home run of the season. Nolan Arenado’s single later in the inning drove in an insurance run.

Ryan Thompson (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for Arizona. Juan Morillo earned his first save with a scoreless 10th.

With the game tied 4-4, Baltimore’s Grant Wolfram surrendered Ketel Marte’s bunt single and Carroll’s double to start the seventh. Two batters later, Del Castillo hit a chopper off Wolfram’s glove, leaving shortstop Gunnar Henderson with only a play at first and allowing Marte to score.

The Orioles retied it in the bottom of the inning on Leody Taveras’ RBI pinch single against Kevin Ginkel.

Del Castillo also hit a two-run triple in the third that glanced off left fielder Weston Wilson’s glove and was originally scored an error.

Marte, who was scratched Tuesday with back tightness, went 1 for 5 as Arizona’s designated hitter.

Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed four runs, including Jackson’s two-run shot in the fifth, over five innings. He struck out three.

Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish worked a season-high six innings. He gave up four runs and struck out three.

Up next

Arizona opens a six-game homestand Friday as RHP Michael Soroka (3-0, 2.87 ERA) faces Toronto.

Baltimore begins a seven-game road trip Thursday as RHP Shane Baz (0-1, 4.50) starts at Cleveland.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Analysts are putting out their final mock drafts of 2026 with each passing day as we lead up to the big event next Thursday, including The Ringer’s Todd McShay. He released the fourth version of his first-round mock draft Wednesday and once again, he has the Rams taking a wide receiver.

However, after projecting Jordyn Tyson to land with Los Angeles in his third mock, he pivoted to Makai Lemon this time around. That’s because in his latest mock draft, Lemon falls to the Rams, whereas he went 11th to the Dolphins in mock No. 3.

Here’s what McShay wrote about the selection of Lemon for the Rams at No. 13 overall, saying he fits the team’s all-in strategy.

All chips are in on the Rams’ 2027 season, and Lemon is the best available prospect to support that plan. He may not have elite size or top-end speed for the position, but he’s built “Ram tough,” he’s as reliable as it gets at the catch point, and he consistently generates yards after the catch with excellent contact balance and body control.

It’s hard to truly go “all-in” in the NFL draft unless you’re trading away future picks to move up for one coveted player. Drafting Lemon doesn’t feel like an all-in move for Los Angeles, even as impactful as he might be as a rookie.

He’s primarily a slot receiver but in Sean McVay’s offense, receivers are asked to move all around the formation. Everyone seems to think it’s a good fit, and maybe it would be, but someone like Tyson – a true X-receiver on the outside – might be a better option, so long as the Rams can look past his injury history.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: Todd McShay has Rams taking Makai Lemon

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Massimo Taibi has detailed his time at the club and how he regrets an “impulsive” decision he made.

Infamous tenure

Taibi joined United in August 1999, then as a high-profile signing from Italian outfit Venezia.

He arrived in England with a strong, no-nonsense reputation earned during his time in Italy. Widely tipped as the natural successor to the retired Peter Schmeichel, he became the focus of Sir Alex Ferguson’s attention after Schmeichel’s replacement, Mark Bosnich, suffered an injury, forcing the legendary manager to seek cover.

United forked out £4.5m to sign Taibi, who put pen to paper on a four-year contract.

But his time at Old Trafford was a massively disappointing one. He lasted only four Premier League appearances, all of which came in the 1999/2000 season, before he was shipped out on loan and then sold.

Taibi enjoyed a good game in his debut against Liverpool, as the Red Devils came from behind to win 3-2. He endured a nightmare start, failing to claim a high free-kick ball and allowing Sami Hyypiä a header, but he redeemed himself with a string of fine saves.

The 56-year-old was unable to build on the positives as he made several howlers in subsequent games against Southampton and then Chelsea, the latter ending in a 5-0 loss for United. The Chelsea match was Taibi’s final appearance for United.

In January 2000, United loaned him out to Reggina in Serie A before then selling him in the summer of the same year.

Taibi makes honest admission

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Taibi revealed how his move to United came about. He also expressed regret for leaving the club permanently, despite having a family emergency that he needed to go and solve.

Taibi told the newspaper, “It was a spectacle. It was 1999, I arrived in Manchester as a semi-unknown. They wanted to sign Toldo at first, then they bought me while I was playing for Venezia.”

“And Sir Alex even came to pick me up at the airport and introduced me to the entire management.”

“It was 8 pm, it wasn’t a given. We had a good relationship, even though at half-time of that 5-0 Chelsea-Manchester United game he gave me a dirty look that I still remember.”

He further said about the Chelsea game, “I made a mistake and conceded a goal. At halftime, he turned the locker room upside down. When he got angry, he shook the walls. He took it out on everyone, even me. He looked at me badly and said, ‘Massimo, that save…’ But he would have kept me on.”

On departing Old Trafford, Taibi remarked, “I was the one who made the mistake of leaving. I had a family problem in Italy and I was in a hurry to resolve it.”

He labelled the exit his biggest regret. “Yes, I had a four-year contract. I was the best player on the pitch at Liverpool, then I made that mistake I was telling you about.”

“Ferguson advised me to learn the language and stay to play my cards right. I was wrong to be impulsive.”

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and his players are next in action on Saturday when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Featured image Grazia Neri via Getty Images

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

Highland (Ariz.) football program made a big addition with their coaching staff on Wednesday, according to a social media post by the team.

Per the post, the Hawks have added 9-year NFL veteran wide receiver Zachary Pascal as the team’s wide receivers coach. Pascal played professionally from 2018 to 2024 for the Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.

A huge addition for the Hawks offense! Please welcome 9-year NFL veteran Zach Pascal as our WRs coach! A proven playmaker with a résumé that speaks for itself. He brings elite experience and infectious energy that will help take our offense to the next level.

During Pascal’s nine years playing for the Colts, Cardinals and Eagles, the wide receiver hauled in a total of 169 passes for 2,057 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. Pascal’s best season came in 2020 for the Colts when the pass catcher caught 44 passes for 629 yards and scored five times.

Now Pascal will look to help assist a Highland’s wide receiving corps that totaled catching 114 passes for 1,612 yards and finding pay dirt 17 times. According to MaxPreps, the top returning wide receiver for the Hawks would be junior Kruz Cullimore, who caught 24 passes for 261 yards and two scores.

The Hawks ended this past season with a 6-7 record and finished as one of the state’s best teams, ranked No. 19 in the final 2025 Arizona High School Football Massey Rankings.

More about Highland High School

Highland High School, located in Gilbert, Arizona, is part of the Gilbert Public Schools District. Known for its strong academic programs, the school emphasizes student achievement and personal growth. It offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics, arts, and clubs, aiming to foster leadership, teamwork, and community spirit. With a dedicated staff, Highland is committed to providing a well-rounded education to prepare students for future success in college and careers.

How to Follow Arizona High School Football

For Arizona high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Grand Canyon State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Arizona.

Why Shams Charania breaks WNBA free agency news, like A'ja Wilson, despite being ESPN's NBA insider originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Shams Charania is ESPN's NBA insider.

Except when there's big WNBA news, it's often Shams breaking it on his social media accounts -- namely X (formerly Twitter).

To basketball fans, it's one of those things that might not make a lot of sense.

MORE: Valkyries' explanation of Flau'Jae Johnson trade is really confusing

Why does Shams Charania break WNBA news?

This all comes down to relationships.

Look at how Charania shared the news of A'ja Wilson's signing with the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday:

A'ja Wilson, the WNBA's first ever four-time MVP, is signing a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, sources tell me and @Andraya_Carter. The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date and fully guaranteed, was negotiated by Jade-Li… pic.twitter.com/xSJhkHOvId

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2026

He includes the agent's name, and the agency, at the end of the post. That's a little "thank you" from Charania to the source that gave him the information.

It's by no means a reporting necessity, and some old-school reporters definitely wouldn't appreciate that. But it's how these insiders have gotten to the point.

And then you consider Charania's following -- he has 3.6 million followers on X. An agency certainly doesn't mind its client's exciting news getting shared to that many people all at once -- many having Charania's X posts send notifications to their phones as soon as he shares them.

It can overshadow the quality work done by WNBA reporters, but it's just the way this oft-odd insider game is played.

MORE: Caitlin Clark made Raven Johnson want to quit basketball, and now they're teammates

2026 Premier League Darts Night 11 draw, match predictions and 3 storylines to watch in Rotterdam originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Premier League of Darts heads to Rotterdam this week for Night 11.

The Play-off race is a close one at the moment, with vast movement across the league and table each week.

2026 Premier League Darts Night 11 Rotterdam draw

Here is the draw for the quarterfinal round on Night 11 of the 2026 PL.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts schedule, scores, results and updated table

Night 11 - Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam (April 16)

• Luke Littler vs Gerwyn Price     
• Gian van Veen vs Luke Humphries     
• Michael van Gerwen vs Jonny Clayton     
• Stephen Bunting vs Josh Rock

2026 Premier League Darts table ahead of Night 11

* = one or more wins were credited via advancing against a player who withdrew

MORE: 2026 Premier League of Darts: Get to know the 8 participants

Night 11 match predictions

Here are my predictions for a stacked slate on Night 11.

*Semifinals and final listed below are my predictions based on the quarterfinals

Quarterfinal 1: Luke Littler vs. Gerwyn Price

Winner: Gerwyn Price, 6-5

Price has yet to win a match against Littler in the Premier League this year, with a record of 0-4 up to this point.

However, he's in top form lately, and Littler is coming off one of his worst  TV performances from Night 10, so he'll have a solid chance to win this time around.

Whether or not Littler returns to form shouldn't matter too much, as Price should keep it a close game either way.

Additionally, Littler might not have the crowd on his side this week in the Netherlands, after his on-stage incident with Dutchman Gian van Veen two weeks ago.

Quarterfinal 2: Gian van Veen vs. Luke Humphries

Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4

Humphries has been in inconsistent form in 2026, as he has won events, but has also had some concerning early exits at others, especially in the PL.

Humphries will have to face van Veen on his home soil this week, but he's the type of player to use pressure to his advantage, so I think we could see the Dutchman fall to Humphries in the quarterfinals.

MORE: PDC darts players to soar up rankings in 2026

Quarterfinal 3: Michael van Gerwen vs. Jonny Clayton

Winner: Michael van Gerwen, 6-5

MVG is the second Dutch player who will be returning to his home country this week, and his matchup will be a rematch of the final from last week.

Clayton finally grabbed a nightly win last week after a multi-week drought following his hot start.

MVG certainly had his chances to beat Clayton in that 11-leg contest, and I think because of that, he'll get revenge via a win in their rematch on Dutch soil this week.

Quarterfinal 4: Stephen Bunting vs. Josh Rock

Winner: Stephen Bunting, 6-3

Bunting is five points behind MVG for a play-off spot, which isn't bad considering his slow start.

Rock has experienced a similar start to his season this year, not winning his first PL match until Night 8.

Unfortunately, Bunting's scoring has been very consistent, so Rock could be in for a tough match because of that, as he's averaged a league-low 93.60 this PL season.

Semifinal 1: Gerwyn Price vs. Luke Humphries

Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4

Humphries has to act soon if he wants to make a run for a play-off spot.

He's five points out of fourth place and has had a lot of early exits at events.

A quarterfinal win should boost his confidence, though, and could be the spark of an eventual run to the final on Night 11.

MORE: Every 170 'Big Fish' checkout in 2026 Premier League Darts

Semifinal 2: Michael van Gerwen vs. Stephen Bunting

Winner: Michael van Gerwen, 6-3

MVG has appeared to get better as the season has progressed.

Bunting won't be an easy opponent for the multi-time Premier League champion, but expect him to make another nightly final if they match up in the semifinals.

Final: Luke Humphries vs. Michael van Gerwen

Winner: Luke Humphries, 6-4

Both players have beaten each other twice in 2026.

As good as van Gerwen has been recently, he's had trouble at times responding to pressure.

If Humphries can produce a clean and classic performance, it will be tough for MVG to counteract that with one of his own, as his scoring hasn't been as consistently explosive in recent months when he's playing well.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts prize money explained

Three storylines to watch during Night 11

Here are the main storylines to look out for on Night 11.

Will a Dutchman prevail?

Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen both have the chance to take home the nightly title on their own home soil this week.

Can Luke Humphries have a statement week?

Humphries will look to rebound after losing three consecutive quarterfinal matches in the PL.

Was last week a one-time fluke for Littler?

After one of his worst TV performances, he'll look to rebound against Gerwyn Price this week.

More darts articles:

• Luke Littler contract details: Teenage phenom signs richest endorsement deal in darts history
• PDC announces darts schedule for 2026: World Championship, Premier League and more
• Ranking the best PDC Darts moments from 2025: 9-darters to shocking upsets
• 7 darts players who could be in Premier League Darts one day
• Watch: Luke Humphries hits epic 9-darter at 2026 World Masters

• League One: AFC Wimbledon v Stockport County, Luton Town v Northampton Town (kick-off 19:45 BST)
• Sam Hoskins gives Northampton lead after 31 minutes
• Liam Walsh pulls Luton level 12 minutes later
• Bottom-club Northampton will be relegated if they fail to win
• Luton are six points off play-off places
• Wimbledon can go six points clear of drop zone with win
• Stockport looking to move closer to securing top-six spot

League One: Luton level with Northampton, Wimbledon and Stockport goalless

The UFC returns to "The Great White North" on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 273 from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Paramount+).

A matchup of ranked welterweights the card with former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) looking to break his skid against Mike Malott (13-2-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who gets his first headliner with the company on home soil.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 273 pre-event facts.

Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott

Gilbert Burns

Burns' four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since April 2023.

Burns is 3-6 in his past nine fights dating back to February 2021.

Burns’ three armbar submission victories in UFC competition are tied for third-most in company history behind Demetrious Johnson (four) and Royce Gracie (four).

Mike Malott

Malott has earned 11 of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his six UFC wins.

Kyler Phillips vs. Charles Jourdain

Kyler Phillips (12-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a triangle/armbar submission victory. He accomplished the feat at UFC 271.

Charles Jourdain (17-8-1 MMA, 8-7-1 UFC) is 2-0 since he dropped to the UFC bantamweight division in October 2024.

Jourdain has earned 15 of his 17 career victories by stoppage.

Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Karine Silva

Karine Silva (19-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has earned 17 of her 19 career victories by stoppage. She's finished 13 of those wins in Round 1.

Silva's three submission victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Gillian Robertson (six) and Erin Blanchfield (four).

Silva is the only female in UFC history to earn three consecutive victories by first-round submission.

Silva is one of three females in UFC history to earn a submission victory by D'Arce choke. She accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 207. Tatiana Suarez and Jasmine Jasudavicius also won with the technique.

Thiago Moises vs. Gauge Young

Thiago Moises (19-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC) has earned one of 18 stoppage victories in UFC history stemming from leg kicks. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 239.

Tanner Boser vs. Gokhan Saricam

Tanner Boser (22-10-1 MMA, 5-5 UFC) returns to the UFC for the first time since August 2023. He went 1-0 between stints with the promotion.

Boser defends 62.8 percent of his opponent significant strike attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Gokhan Saricam (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his promotional debut after a 5-2 run under the now-defunct Bellator banner.

JJ Aldrich vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth

JJ Aldrich (14-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is 7-4 since she moved up to the UFC women's flyweight division in March 2019.

Aldrich has earned nine of her 10 UFC victories by decision.

Jamey-Lyn Horth (9-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) absorbs just 2.09 significant strikes per minute in UFC women's flyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Valentina Shevchenko (1.81).

Mitch Raposo vs. Allan Nascimento

Allan Nascimento's (22-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Joshua Van (six), Kyoji Horiguchi (five) and Andre Lima (four).

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Winnipeg pre-event facts: Can Gilbert Burns end long losing skid?

Mike Evans has worn No. 13 his entire NFL and college career, but everyone knew that was probably going to have to change once he joined the San Francisco 49ers. No. 13 is already quarterback Brock Purdy's number, and the odds Evans could convince Purdy to change his number were slim.

So, what number will he wear? Evans told 49ers star linebacker Fred Warner on the "Real Ones: The League" podcast this week that he'll wear No. 5 for the 49ers in 2026, a number he hadn't worn since high school. Evans added that No. 5 was his Little League and middle school number.

Mike Evans confirms he will wear number 5 for the 49ers 👀🚨 pic.twitter.com/baDbvcC6yz

— Real Ones (@RealOnesGFS) April 15, 2026

Currently, fellow receiver Demarcus Robinson wears No. 5. So if Evans is truly taking on the mantle, it'll be interesting to see what, if anything, Evans had to do to secure that number from his new teammate.

Evans will be the 10th player in team history to don the No. 5 jersey. The others were Robinson, kicker Jeff Brockhaus, quarterback David Carr, quarterback Joshua Dobbs, quarterback Jeff Garcia, outside linebacker Randy Gregory, quarterback Trey Lance, kicker Chase McLaughlin and punter Bradley Pinion.

Evans is poised to be the 49ers' clear No. 1 receiver in 2026. Besides his injury-plagued 2025 season, Evans has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in his first 12 seasons. He'll look to get back to that form this year in Kyle Shanahan's offense with Purdy throwing him the ball.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Mike Evans reveals which number he'll wear for 49ers

The Washington Huskies need to upgrade their three-point shooting through the transfer portal, while adding some high-end local talent to coach Danny Sprinkle's roster ahead of his third year at the helm. Iowa State's Mason Williams checks both of those boxes.

The 6-foot-5 guard didn't play during his one season with the Cyclones while recovering from hip surgery as coach TJ Otzelberger's team made a run to the Sweet 16 before falling to the Tennessee Volunteers, but the former Eastern Washington star has still received plenty of interest.

According to The Portal Report, Boston College, Gonzaga, Portland, and Seattle University are among the other programs that have shown interest in Williams, who stood out with the Eastern Washington Eagles during the 2024-25 season, where he tallied 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest.

Iowa State transfer Mason Williams has received interest from the following programs, he tells TPR:

Washington
SU
Gonzaga
NMST
Portland
Boston College
Sam Houston State pic.twitter.com/iiYBdaalwQ

— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) April 13, 2026

Over his two years at Eastern, Williams connected on 37.2 percent of his three-point attempts and saw his percentage take a major dip during his sophomore season as his usage rate increased. He averaged 4.2 attempts from long range during his second season and shot just 34.5 percent from deep, but that could even itself out depending on his role at his next school.

If that program did happen to be Washington, Sprinkle could bring Williams off the bench as he continues to get comfortable coming back from his injury with the Huskies completely retooling their backcourt once again after JJ Mandaquit transferred to Arizona, while sophomore Zoom Diallo and freshman Courtland Muldrew are still in the portal.

The Huskies have made one addition to the backcourt in Davidson's Parker Friedrichsen, and are aiming to make several more in the coming weeks to round out the unit alongside junior Wesley Yates III.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies eyeing local guard transferring from Iowa State

A'ja Wilson contract details: Four-time MVP signs largest contract in league history to return to Aces originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The passing of the WNBA's latest collective-bargaining agreement took salaries to new heights, setting the stage for a windfall unlike any other among the league's player population.

No player benefitted more from the the players union's efforts than A'ja Wilson. Like more than 80 percent of the player population, the Aces standout and four-time WNBA MVP hit the open market ahead of the 2026 offseason. If and when players agreed terms to a new CBA, Wilson -- the mightiest of the league's myriad talents -- was slated to receive more than other player.

On April 15, Wilson was formally rewarded for her efforts on the roster. The Las Vegas standout inked a three-year, $5 million deal that sees her net the biggest contract in league history, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Andraya Carter.

With that, here's what you need to know about Wilson's contract details.

A'ja Wilson contract details

• Years: Three
• Contract value: $5 million

The South Carolina alum is the first player to sign a multiyear supermax deal under the new collective bargaining agreement. She is one of just two players to receive a supermax contract of any kind, joined by Fever standout Kelsey Mitchell.

Wilson’s $5 million contract is $1.25 million more than the next-highest deal (Ezi Magbegor at $3.75 million).

What is a supermax contract?

A supermax contract refers to the largest contract a team can dole out to a player. It is reserved for the sport's elite cadre of talent -- players with at least five years of service in the league who have earned All-WNBA honors, Defensive Player of the Year or MVP.

At present, the supermax contract sits at $1.4 million AAV. Per Charania and Carter, Wilson's salary will swell as the salary cap rises. Her contract will make up 20 percent of the Aces' salary cap across the whole of her contract. According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Wilson's contract is the first of its kind in WNBA history.

For teams looking to make a splash in the transfer portal, former LonghornJordan Lee has been a popular option. The California native is coming off a career year in which she made an impact in every game. While she has plenty of suitors, one program that is making a push is South Carolina, which welcomed Lee to campus for a visit on Tuesday. 

During the 2024-2025 campaign, Lee averaged 13.2 points and 2.5 assists per game. The talented guard was dangerous from three-point range, shooting 34.8 from beyond the arc. She also set a career high with 38 starts and held her own in the SEC.

Here's a look at Jordan Lee and Oliviyah Edwards with Dawn Staley and the #Gamecocks at Founders Park. Lee spending a lot of time talking with Adhel Tac.@abc_columbiahttps://t.co/z2ribtkGiwpic.twitter.com/yJXYeTEVIH

— Noah Chast (@NoahChastTV) April 14, 2026

Through the first two years of her college career, Lee has averaged 9.5 points per game while shooting 73.5 percent from the field. She has come through in big moments, which was on display in the NCAA tournament. In the Longhorns' five games, Lee scored 65 points and recorded 11 assists. That helped raise her stock before entering the portal. 

After falling just one win short of a national title, the Gamecocks have been busy looking for ways to improve their roster. Adding a score like Lee could help boost their title hopes, and she still has two years of eligibility. As a sophomore, she showed that there is still more to her game. At South Carolina, she would have an opportunity to get significant minutes as she did at Texas.

Three 3⃣s for Jordan Lee 🎯#NCAAWBB x 🎥 SECN / @TexasWBBpic.twitter.com/6qKcOONxSc

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 7, 2025

As Lee continues to weigh her options, TCU will be another school to watch. The Horned Frogs will reportedly welcome the Saint Mary's High alum to campus for a visit this week. Whoever ends up getting Lee will be adding an impactful piece to their lineup for the foreseeable future. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Former Lady Longhorn Jordan Lee seems close to joining an SEC rival

With the Frozen Four coming to a close last weekend, the 15-day window for players to enter the transfer portal is currently open, and a couple of Montreal Canadiens goaltending prospects chose to enter it, meaning they’ll be playing for another team next season.

Quentin Miller, who was a member of the national champion Denver Pioneers and posted a 12-10-2 record with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage, chose to enter the transfer portal. While he became a national champion last week, he did it in the backup role since Johnny Hicks was the number one netminder. Hicks joined Denver late after the program he had committed to in Tennessee State was delayed, and when he took over from Miller after he suffered an injury, he never looked back, going 16-0-1 with a 1.19 GAA and a .957 SV.

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Since Hicks was also a freshman and isn’t going anywhere, Miller’s decision makes sense. A fourth-round pick by the Canadiens at the 2023 draft, the netminder will have a much better chance at developing the right way if he gets more playing time.

Meanwhile, Alexis Cournoyer, who was a fifth-round pick for the Canadiens at the last draft, is also reported to be heading for the portal out of Cornell. He had an 18-10-0 record this season, including a shutout, with a .915 SV and a 2.05 GAA. According to reports, he is likely to be headed to the Wisconsin Badgers. Cole Caufield’s former team made it all the way to the Frozen Four final but was beaten 2-1 by Denver.

While the Canadiens currently have two very good young netminders, Kent Hughes said when he was hired that he wanted to build a perennial Stanley Cup contender, and that means planning not only for the current window of opportunity but also for the next ones. It will be interesting to see how both goalies fare with their new team.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the New Orleans Saints find themselves at a familiar crossroads. With a defensive identity historically rooted in "sticky" coverage and aggressive playmaking, the departure of key secondary pieces, most notably Alontae Taylor in free agency, has left a void that needs more than just a depth chart filler. It needs a cornerstone.

Let's talk Mansoor Delane, the LSU standout whose collegiate journey from Virginia Tech to the SEC has transformed him into one of the most pro-ready prospects in this class. For a Saints team under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, Delane isn't just a luxury pick, but more like the schematic missing link.

The SEC-Tested Pedigree

There is a specific brand of confidence required to thrive in the Saints’ secondary. Fans in the Superdome have been spoiled by the likes of Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry. Delane fits that mold perfectly. After proving his mettle in the ACC, he transferred to LSU and immediately became the premier "no-fly zone" defender in the SEC.

In 2025, Delane allowed a staggering 31.3 passer rating when targeted. To put that in perspective, a quarterback would literally have been more successful throwing the ball into the turf every play than testing Delane’s side of the field. For a New Orleans defense that thrives on forcing turnovers and dictating tempo, that level of efficiency is intoxicating.

A Master Key for Brandon Staley’s Scheme

Under Brandon Staley, the Saints' defense has leaned heavily into versatile, high-IQ looks that blend zone patterns with sudden transitions into man coverage. Delane’s scouting report reads like a wishlist for this specific system:

• Tactical Intelligence: Delane is praised for his "eye discipline" and ability to process route concepts in real-time. He doesn't just react; he anticipates.
• Run Support: Unlike many "finesse" corners, Delane is a high-end tackler. He recorded over 190 tackles in his college career, showing a willingness to stick his nose in the fan—a trait that endears players to the hard-nosed New Orleans faithful.
• Ball Skills: With 41 passes defended and 8 interceptions across his career, he has the "ball hawk" mentality required to turn defensive stops into offensive opportunities.

Why the Fit Makes Sense Now

With the Saints currently rostered with Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley, adding Delane would create a "Young Gun" trio that could stabilize the secondary for the next half-decade. While McKinstry provides the technical length, Delane brings the aggressive, pouncing style that mirrors the peak years of the Saints' "Boonk Gang" era.

There are concerns about his "average" top-end speed, but in a division featuring savvy veterans and physical receivers, Delane’s positioning and physicality often negate any biometric deficiencies. He is the type of player who plays faster than his 40-yard dash because he never takes a false step.

The Bottom Line

Drafting Mansoor Delane would be a statement of intent. It signals that New Orleans isn't interested in a "rebuild" in the secondary, but rather a reloading. By keeping the LSU star in Louisiana, the Saints wouldn't just be filling a hole on the roster, but rather they’d be securing a defensive identity.

If Delane is on the board when the Saints are on the clock, the choice shouldn't just be about who is available, it should be about who belongs in the Black and Gold. Mansoor Delane has already conquered the SEC; the Caesar's Superdome is the natural next step.

The Kansas City Chiefs might be the most intriguing team as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. 

They have two first-round picks, and they have a bunch of needs, which makes it a huge coin flip as to which player they will take at No. 9 overall. 

Landing a top-tier wide receiver such as Ohio State's Carnell Tate or Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson would be fun. Drafting a top-tier edge rusher such as Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. is another idea, and even selecting Ohio State safety Caleby Downs or LSU CB Mansoor Delane makes sense given the secondary woes. 

However, NFL.com expert Adam Rank has another idea. Rank had a new mock draft with a player each team should select, and he pegged Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the Chiefs at No. 9 overall. 

Now, yes, Travis Kelce did sign a three-year deal, although it is more likely a one-year deal with an option for him to return, which would make 2026 his final season in the league. "I don’t expect Kansas City to draft this high again any time soon. I know you could play it safe, Chiefs, but let’s get a little dumb and dangerous. Because you’re the Chiefs and you can do it," Rank wrote.

The best part is that Sadiq will be given an opportunity to learn from one of the best tight ends to ever play the position, and he can do a number of things on the offense.  "Let’s get creative here. You can line up Sadiq in the slot. He blocks. He’s tough. And Patrick Mahomes could use another big-bodied target," Rank added. 

On the other hand, selecting a tight end in the top-10 is a rare sight, but Sadiq is undoubtedly the best in the position group in this class, and it's not much of a debate, either. 

This would secure the tight end position for the future while also giving Mahomes and the Chiefs another pass-catcher, and they could still select a WR in the second or third rounds with plenty of options available once again in this class. 

The question here is this: Do the Chiefs take Sadiq and pass on a glaring need at cornerback or edge rusher? It's an option, especially with Kansas City having pick No. 29 also in the first round. 

For what it's worth, Rank has the Chiefs selecting Utah OL Caleb Lomu at No. 29, which would mean passing on a cornerback until the second or third rounds, which would be a bit of a surprise. 

Serie A giants Milan are facing the possibility of losing Max Allegri in the summer. It now seems like conditions for him to stay are on the table.

The Italian national team has increasingly emerged as an option for the Italian. There has been talk that if Giovanni Malago gets appointed, he would push for Allegri’s appointment as manager.

La Gazzetta delloSportnote that the ex-Juventus boss has been largely coy about the links, even if he would be interested in the role. But Milan’s hopes of keeping him aren’t dead and they would have to back Allegri significantly in the market.

Firstly, they need to present a plan that will be followed in the summer transfer window. Allegri wants a squad which has 20 players, so that Milan aren’t light when competing on all fronts.

He also expects signings to be made in every department and they should be reliable and experienced players who guarantee success right away. The veteran is also seeking a higher say in transfers and a shared vision that takes the club forward.

This indicates that he hasn’t been involved in strategy since arrival and he doesn’t want the same to be carried forward.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

Conor McGregor has settled a lawsuit filed against him by former teammate and friend Artem Lobov over profits from the sale of his whiskey brand Proper No. 12.

On Wednesday, Lobov’s attorney Andrew Walker appeared in court and told the judge that a settlement had been reached and the case no longer needed to go to trial. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Lobov initially filed the lawsuit claiming he was due 5% of the sale following a verbal agreement between the fighters that he would help launch McGregor’s whiskey brand. McGregor denied that he ever made any such agreement.

McGregor, along with his business partners, eventually sold Proper No. 12 to Proximo Spirits — the same company that owns Jose Cuervo tequila — for $600 million in 2021. As a result, McGregor reportedly earned over $100 million for his part of the sale.

At the time, McGregor remained the face of Proper No. 12, but Proximo eventually cut ties with the fighter after a court in Ireland found him liable in a civil lawsuit filed against him over an alleged sexual assault that took place in 2018.

Lobov claimed that he was “muscled out” of the business after Proper No. 12 launched and became a moneymaker for McGregor and his other business partners.

After Lobov’s attorney announced that a settlement had been reached, McGregor’s attorney Mark Lyman read a statement to the court from the Irish superstar while adding that he was now staying focused on his return to fighting, which is planned for “this summer.”

“I want to thank him for his hard work for my whiskey business,” McGregor said about Lobov in the statement (via the Irish Independent).

Per numerous reports, Lobov didn’t want to speak about the settlement after the court hearing ended but he said that he was “happy with the resolution” before exiting.

At one time, McGregor and Lobov were very close friends and training partners working with the same team and coaches in Ireland. Lobov stood by McGregor after the former two-division UFC champion launched a very public attack on a bus while trying to go after Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2018.

But that relationship was eventually severed after Lobov filed the lawsuit against McGregor. Now that legal action has been settled after both fighters agreed to a deal before the lawsuit could go to trial.

Right now, McGregor is preparing for his planned comeback to the UFC for his first fight in five years after suffering a broken leg in his previous outing back in 2021. All signs are pointing towards McGregor headlining the upcoming UFC 329 card in July 11 in Las Vegas as part of the latest International Fight Week festivities.

The NBA has declared its new television deals a resounding success after reporting record viewership figures for the past season.

The league announced on Wednesday that 170 million people in the United States tuned into NBA games across its four primary broadcast platforms – ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and NBA TV.

These figures mark the league's highest viewership in 24 years, representing an 86 per cent increase on last season.

This season marked the debut of Prime Video as part of the league's television rights package, while NBC/Peacock returned for the first time in a generation.

These platforms are part of a new 11-year media rights deal, valued at over $76 billion, signed in 2024, which commenced at the start of the current season.

Further highlights from the viewership data include the highest average viewership in 13 years, a 35 per cent rise from last season.

Fifty-seven telecasts this season attracted an average of two million viewers, the most since the 2011-12 season.

Furthermore, fans collectively watched NBA games for more than 920 million hours, a 25 per cent increase on last season and the highest total since 2011-12.

The NBA's social media platforms also saw record engagement, generating 228 billion views this season, according to Videocites, an increase of 13 per cent.

Arena attendance over the last three seasons has surpassed any comparable period in the league's history.

Viewership for NBA Cup group stage matches surged by 90 per cent, and the All-Star Game, broadcast on NBC, drew an audience of 8.8 million, making it the most-watched mid-season showcase since 2011.

The SoFI NBA Play-In Tournament began on Tuesday and is due to run until Friday.

The NBA playoffs will then start on Saturday, while the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for 10 May.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing mounting backlash after a turbulent 2025-26 NHL season collided with a controversial report involving artificial intelligence. A year that ended in a shocking playoff miss has now raised deeper concerns about decision-making at the top.

Toronto is going to finish last in the Atlantic Division and has a record of 32–35–14 with one game in hand, marking their first postseason absence since 2016. The off-season trade of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights set the tone for a difficult campaign. Injuries only made matters worse, with Auston Matthews suffering a season-ending MCL tear, while Chris Tanev and Anthony Stolarz missed significant time.

The collapse led to the firing of general manager Brad Treliving in March, signaling a major shift in direction.

MORE: Pressure on Maple Leafs as Auston Matthews seeks clarity on Toronto’s direction

However, the biggest controversy emerged off the ice. Tuesday’s reports from The Athletic revealed that MLSE CEO Keith Pelley presented AI-generated trade ideas at the deadline.

“As one team source put it, fans would have been surprised to see just how involved a non-hockey executive was that day,” The column reads. “Pelley didn’t come empty-handed either. He had notes that included possible trade returns that Leafs staff members believed were generated by Large Language Models and Artificial Intelligence — tools that have become increasingly influential at the top of MLSE but hadn’t been part of the usual process with its NHL team.”

The involvement was reportedly influenced by MLSE executive Humza Teherany.

Fans react to reports of Maple Leafs management using AI-generated trade returns

The report immediately led to backlash from Maple Leafs fans, with many questioning leadership decisions. Critics argued that relying on AI during crucial moments showed a disconnect from hockey operations.

“Fire Keith immediately, this joker is going to run the team to the ground. I don’t even think the man knows any deep analytics, just knows the buzz words,” a fan said.

“Worst professional sports franchise in North America, 60 years and counting…,” another fan reacted.

“Can u imagine being in the organization for decades and this idiot comes into a meeting with an AI-generated spreadsheet on who to trade and for what. For all we know, he gave a lineup sheet to Craig that was AI-generated as well as plays. That’s why the Leafs [expletive],” a fan wrote.

“If all this is true, I’m starting to think Pelley has got to go. I’ve always known MLSE only cared about money. However, this crap? This will guarantee we go another 59 years without a cup.” One user pointed.

“These people have absolutely no [expletive] shame at all man. Embarrassing [expletive].” A fan reacted.

“What do you expect when someone that high up in the organization literally doesn’t know [expletive] about hockey and is also running like 6 other pro sports teams? What a [expletive] loser,” an angry fan wrote.

Pelley had claimed he was only observing during deadline day, but the report suggests he played a more active role. That contradiction has fueled clear frustration across the Maple Leafs’ fan base.

With on-ice struggles and front-office scrutiny, the Maple Leafs now face a defining offseason.

Liverpool and France forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in his club's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, his national team coach Didier Deschamps said Wednesday.

The 23-year-old crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon during the first half of Liverpool's 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat to European champions PSG on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike's) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.

"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.

"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."

Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million ($105.5 million) last summer.

Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular in Les Bleus' set-up, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps.

jta/nf/mw

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Royal Challengers Bengaluru dismantled Lucknow Super Giants with incisive pace bowling in a five-wicket win to move atop the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Fast bowlers Rasikh Salam (4-24), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-27) and Australian Josh Hazlewood (1-20) shared eight wickets as Lucknow got bowled out for 146 after Bengaluru won the toss and elected to chase.

Virat Kohli, as an impact substitute, missed out on his third half-century of the season, but his 49 off 34 balls and impactful aggression in the power play led Bengaluru to 149-5 with nearly five overs to spare.

Lucknow got an injury scare when captain Rishabh Pant didn’t keep wickets after Hazlewood’s short ball struck the left-hander hard on his left elbow. Pant returned to bat but got dismissed for 1 off six balls when Phil Salt took a brilliant running catch at deep backward square leg.

Kohli struck six fours and a six off the first 14 balls he faced and set the platform of a solid run chase as Bengaluru raced to 60-1 runs inside the first six overs. Kohli holed out to long-on in the 11th over as he tried to complete a half-century with an ambitious shot against fast bowler Avesh Khan (2-23).

Rajat Patidar (27) and Jitesh Sharma (23) made sure Bengaluru displaced Rajasthan Royals from IPL's top spot on net run-rate with brisk knocks as the defending champions notched their fourth victory.

Fast bowler Prince Yadav, who removed Salt early in Bengaluru’s run-chase, dismissed both Patidar and Sharma in one over.

Earlier, Kumar and Hazlewood didn’t allow Lucknow to build momentum in the power play and Salam struck early when Aiden Markram (12) missed out on a low full toss and offered a tame catch at covers of a leading edge.

After Pant got retired hurt, Nicholas Pooran’s (1) disappointing season continued when the West Indian left-hander got dismissed for his third single-digit score in five games and was clean bowled by Hazlewood.

Left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya (2-38), who also completed 100 wickets in the IPL, then got quick wickets of Mitchell Marsh (40) and Abdul Samad (0) as Lucknow slumped to 83-4 in the 12th over.

Ayush Badoni made 38 off 24 balls before he Salam found the outside edge of the bat in his return spell. Mukul Choudhary made 39 off 28 balls but was one of the two Salam’s wickets in the final over.

___

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

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker came through for LA in Tuesday’s win, hitting a go-ahead single in the eighth inning.

Tucker signed with the Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million deal in the offseason, but hasn’t quite proven his worth since coming aboard. He has a 98 wRC+ through 17 games, and is slashing .242/.360/.306.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Mets, manager Dave Roberts commented on what Tucker should do to improve at the plate.

“He’s getting out of his zone, I see,” Roberts said. “And he’s not a guy that typically chases down below, but he’s chasing a lot more down below, for me.

“Typically when guys chase, they’re trying to do a little bit too much.”

After his game-winning hit, Tucker gave a brief assessment of his performance this season and how it felt to finally come up big for the Dodgers.

“It was nice,” Tucker said. “Haven’t had as many hits or barrels as I would have liked, but still grinding out the at-bats, still have to take my walks and stuff and come up with a huge hit right there, y’know get the run and win the game, so I’ll take it.”

What is Kyle Tucker Lacking so far in 2026?

It’s impossible to tell whether or not Tucker’s struggles will persist through the remainder of the season after just 17 games, but there are some clear absences from Tucker’s game.

At the moment, the most noticeable differences between Tucker’s 2026 and his previous seasons are his increased strikeout rate and his greatly reduced slug.

Tucker’s average has certainly dipped to start 2026, but he’s still managed a hit in six of his last eight games. His .360 on-base percentage is also consistent with his career average. His slugging percentage this season, though, is the greatest cause for concern, as he has a mark of just .306.

Only two of his 15 hits this season have been for extra bases, and his strikeout rate has increased by 8% since 2025.

Tucker is still making consistent contact, though, as is evident by his ability to reach base regardless of power, and if he can cut down on chasing, he will surely bounce back and show his value as a Silver Slugger-caliber bat.

When do the Dodgers Play on Wednesday?

The Dodgers secured a fourth consecutive series win with Tucker’s help Tuesday, and will look to land their first sweep since the third series of the season against the Washington Nationals on the road.

Shohei Ohtani will make his third start of the season in the series finale, and will look to keep his streak of starts without allowing an earned run. Tucker is likely to feature in the matchup, and will hope to continue stringing together good at-bats as he tries to break out of his minor slump.

The Dodgers’ series finale against the New York Mets comes Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. PT.

Will Kyle Tucker continue to improve as the season goes on?

France national team manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike (23) will miss out on the 2026 World Cup with Les Bleus after sustaining a serious Achilles injury on Tuesday against PSG. The Premier League side has yet to confirm the severity of Ekitike’s injury, but several outlets in France have confirmed Liverpool’s worst fears: the forward has ruptured his right Achilles tendon.

In a statement released by Fédération Française de Football, Deschamps confirmed that the severity of Ekitike’s injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and from taking part in the 2026 World Cup. “Hugo is one of about ten young players who have made their debuts for the national team in recent months”, Deschamps added. “He had integrated perfectly into the group, both on and off the pitch. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France national team.”

Ekitike scored two goals already with France, after making his debut with Les Bleus last Autumn. Given his form, he was nailed on to make Deschamps’ squad for the 2026 World Cup. The 1998 and 2018 World Cup winner said that Ekitike was “immensely disappointed“, but he assures that the Liverpool man will eventually get back to his best. 

“I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he will be fully behind the French team and we are all thinking of him.” Deschamps will unveil his World Cup squad next month, and Ekitike’s absence may play into the hands of several players, such as Tottenham Hotspur’s Randal Kolo Muani.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Bay FC midfielder Claire Hutton continues to put her name in the record books.

In the second match of the U.S. and Japan three-game series, Hutton, 20, became the youngest captain to start a match with the arm band since 2001.

“Literally everything,” said Hutton. “You dream of these moments.”

Only three other instances was there a player that started a match with the captain’s arm band who was younger than Hutton: Cat Whitehill was 19 years old on March 13, 2001 vs. Portugal; Aleisha Cramer was 18 years old on March 15, 2001 vs. Sweden and Cramer was still 18 years old on March 17 vs. Norway.

Only three of the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates were in action on Tuesday, as poor AAA Sacramento just can’t get in a game. The River Cats had both of their weekend games cancelled due to rain, which followed them as they traveled north from Sacramento to Tacoma, postponing their game on Tuesday. They’ll try again tonight, in what will hopefully be their first game since Friday, and the teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Thursday. Now let’s get to the action.

Link to the 2026 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)

All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.

News

Help is on the way for San Francisco. Major League LHP Sam Hentges, who started his rehab assignment over the weekend with a perfect inning for Low-A San Jose, was moved up to AAA Sacramento. He’ll likely pitch a few times for the River Cats, and then be activated and added to the Major League roster.

Sacramento had to make space for Hentges on the roster, and they did so by sending RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) back to AA Richmond. That’s a bit of a bummer for Bednar, who was a non-roster invitee, and already dealt with the disappointment of beginning the year on the Development List, presumably also for roster logistics purposes. Bednar pitched well in a pair of games for the River Cats, with 4 strikeouts and just 2 baserunners in 3 scoreless innings. He’ll surely be back in Sacramento when roster space allows it.

AA Richmond (9-1)

Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) 11-7
Box score

If the Squirrels weren’t on fire before, they certainly are now. After losing their opener, Richmond has now won 9 consecutive games, as they’re off to a truly brilliant start to the season. Then again, all of the affiliates are off to a brilliant start … if only the team in San Francisco could get the memo!

Richmond won this game on the back of hits, hits, and then some more hits, as they totaled 17 in the contest en route to their 11 runs.

It started at the top of the lineup, where a pair of hitters set the table with 3-hit days. Leading off was left fielder Scott Bandura, who had a brilliant day, hitting 3-4 with a pair of doubles, while also adding both a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. That flurry of productive contact rewarded Bandura with a whopping 5 runs batted in for the day.

Bandura is really putting on a clinic on how to master a level the 2nd time around. The left-handed hitter, who was taken in the 7th round of the 2023 draft, was promoted to Richmond late last year, and had some struggles as he got his feet under him. Bandura posted a .626 OPS and an 88 wRC+ in 45 games with the Squirrels last year, but even those numbers look a little worse with some digging, as they were propped up by a lot of walks. The now-24-year old hit just .199, and struck out 30.6% of the time.

But the old adage of “one to measure, two to rake” doesn’t just apply to individual at-bats. Bandura appears to have applied that to his time in the Eastern League, as he’s raised his average to .333, while slashing his strikeout rate in half, all the way down to 14.9%. That, combined with his 6 extra-base hits, has given him a .913 OPS and a 140 wRC+ through 10 games this year.

We’re still a few months of good performance away from talking about Bandura in AAA, but it’s not exactly the rosiest of outfield situations in Sacramento. Hopefully Bandura keeps putting pressure on, and can earn a 2nd consecutive midseason promotion.

Hitting behind Bandura was second baseman Dayson Croes, who went 3-6 and also bopped a pair of doubles, while knocking in 3 runs. It’s been a sensational start to the year for Croes, a 26-year old who was signed out of indy ball a year ago. But that really shouldn’t surprise anyone, as the lefty was awesome in his stint with Richmond a season ago … and also awesome in his stint with Sacramento.

But the Giants are having Croes repeat AA, despite those strong results, primarily because fellow second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39 CPL) has earned the AAA priority. Croes is taking it in stride, by taking all of his good numbers in AA last year and making them even better: his average has jumped from .307 to .349, his on-base percentage from .354 to .391, his slugging percentage from .400 to .488, and his walk rate from 6.0% to 6.5%, while his strikeouts have dropped from 18.1% to 15.2%. All of that has resulted in an .880 OPS and a 134 wRC+. Unfortunately, it does feel like Croes will be unfairly stuck in AA for a while, unless the Giants decide they want him (or Furman) to try a new position, which seems unlikely given that they both struggle to handle second as is.

If the top of the lineup was the star that drove the team to victory, the bottom of the lineup was one hell of a wingman. The trio that hit in the 7-9 slots — catcher Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL), third baseman Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL), and right fielder Turner Hill — positively shined. Cavanaugh offered up the latest data point that his 2025 breakout season was not a fluke, as he hit 2-3 with a double, a walk, and a hit by pitch, while also striking out and getting caught stealing.

The 7 extra-base hits in 7 games is the headline-grabber for Cavanaugh, but I’d argue that the most important thing he’s shown is improved contact. He only got into 14 games for Richmond last year, but hit just .186 with a 26.8% strikeout rate and a 14.8% swinging strike rate. This year? A .435 average, a 9.1% strikeout rate, and a 7.6% swinging strike rate. Those numbers will come down (or up, as the case may be), but when you start that great, you have room to fall while staying in a strong place. The result, for now, is a blistering 1.432 OPS and a 262 wRC+. So watch out, those who fear the talking heads: the Patrick Bailey discourse has already become insufferable thanks to Daniel Susac and Jesús Rodríguez, don’t let Cavanaugh join the party!

As for the other pair, Velasquez hit 2-4 with a hit by pitch to raise his OPS to .798 and his wRC+ to 128, while Hill went 2-4 with a walk, bumping his OPS to 1.007 and his wRC+ to 164. I expect both of those players — who initially made it to Richmond in 2024 — to get their first real glimpse of AAA at some point this year (I say “real” because Hill has been an emergency fill-in for the River Cats on numerous occasions over the years). It’s certainly notable that Velasquez, who is still somehow only 22 years old, played third base in this game for the 1st time in his career. Some of that may be due to roster logistics in Richmond, but it also may be a way to prepare him for AAA since, as mentioned, Furman is blocking second base.

While it was the top and bottom of the order that carried the team, the prettiest swing of the day belonged to the heart of the order, as center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) left the building with a gorgeous swing of the bat in the 7th inning.

That salvaged an otherwise poor day for Davidson — he finished 1-5 with 3 strikeouts — but my goodness, that really might be the prettiest swing in the organization. The 23-year old is showing there’s still plenty for him to work on in AA — neither his .240 average nor his 28.6% strikeout rate are telling the organization that he’s almost ready for AAA — but he’s also emphasizing his game-changing abilities. So far he has 3 home runs in just 7 games, all while holding it down in center field. Perhaps it’s that new dad strength I’ve heard so much about!

The pitching was better than the score would suggest, as 5 of Hartford’s 7 runs came in the 9th inning, when RHP Cameron Pferrer got roughed up and couldn’t make it through the inning, forcing long reliever RHP Shane Rademacher into emergency duty to record the final out.

But the piggybacking starters pitched quite well, with RHP Logan Martin and LHP Jack Choate (No. 37 CPL) handling the Yard Goats quite adeptly. Martin, who was making his 2nd start with the organization after coming over this winter in the Mason Black trade, had a bounce-back game after a rough AA debut. The 2023 12th-round pick, who will turn 25 later this season, gave up just 3 hits and 1 walk in 4.1 innings, with 4 strikeouts and only 1 run allowed.

The strikeouts and walks will be worth watching for Martin, as they may determine whether he’s able to continue developing as a starter or will have to move to a relief role at some point. He only had 7.7 strikeouts against 3.6 walks per 9 innings in High-A in 2025, and the Giants will need to see improvement on that front.

Speaking of fluctuating between starting and relieving, it’s still not entirely clear what role Choate has, but he played it damn well on Tuesday, giving up just 2 singles and a walk in 3.1 innings, while striking out 6 batters (he also gave up an unearned run). Choate, a soon-to-turn 25-year old whom the Giants selected in the 9th round in 2022, has been playing something of a hybrid relief/piggybacking starter role, with 7.2 innings through 3 appearances this year. So far his strikeout stuff — which has always been surprisingly high given his lack of velocity — has taken a leap forward, from 10.8 per 9 a year ago, to 15.3 this season. That’s still a very small sample size though, so we’ll see how that holds. Either way, it’s been a great start to the year for Choate, who is trying to prove he belongs in AAA as he nears the 150-inning mark in AA.

High-A Eugene (8-2)

Eugene Emeralds beat the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) 7-1
Box score

A really phenomenal pitching showing for the Emeralds, who allowed just 4 hits on the day. They did issue 6 walks, but 4 of those came from RHP Trey Dillard who, like Pferrer with Richmond, entered the game late, struggled, and had to be relieved for the final out of the game.

But the 3 pitchers who came before him pitched wonderfully. It started with LHP Charlie McDaniel, who took down 3 scoreless frames with just 1 hit, 1 walk, and 1 hit batter, while striking out 4. McDaniel wasn’t the most efficient — he needed 52 pitches for those 3 innings, with just 32 strikes — but 4 strikeouts and 0 extra-base hits paint the picture of someone who made hitters uncomfortable all day long. Through 2 starts, the 24-year old UDFA has yet to allow a run.

Next up was LHP Esmerlin Vinicio, who is having a much-needed awesome season. Vinicio threw 19 of 30 pitches for strikes while tossing 2 shutout innings with just 1 hit allowed, and striking out 2 batters.

It feels like Vinicio has been in the system forever, though he only just turned 23 years old. He’s still lacking physicality, though this year he no longer looks like he could blow away with a strong gust of Pacific Northwest wind. Most importantly, after a few seasons of really struggling with walks, Vinicio has shown much better command through an admittedly tiny sample size: he’s issued just 1 walk in 4.2 innings, with 6 strikeouts (he’s also only given up 1 hit, and 0 runs). Vinicio, who was signed in 2019 out of the Dominican Republic, might need a strong year to stay in the organization.

And then it was RHP Ryan Slater, San Francisco’s 18th-round pick in 2024. He was utterly dynamic in 2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out 5 batters. Slater had a solid debut season last year with Low-A San Jose, but so far he’s been much better in High-A … though he’s only pitched 5 innings. Still, a great start to the year for the 23-year old, who has a 1.80 ERA and a 2.89 FIP.

Despite the 7 runs, it was a fairly mild-mannered day for Eugene’s offense, as they had 7 hits, just 2 extra-base hits, and 2 walks. But they made the most of their swings, no one more so than catcher Onil Perez, who hit 1-3 with a strikeout, but bashed his 1st home run of the season.

Perez was once one of the better catcher prospects in the system, but has fallen on some tough times as of late, which has resulted in a 4th consecutive year getting reps in the Northwest League. He did finally put up some good numbers with Eugene last year, but really struggled in AA. That, combined with the emergence of Drew Cavanaugh, pushed Perez back down a level, and now he’s 2nd on the depth chart behind Diego Cartaya.

He entered this game just 1-12 on the year, but every hit helps, and that’s doubly (or perhaps quadruply) true for big flies. The season is long, so there’s plenty of time for Perez — who is only 23 — to find his swing again.

Second baseman Zander Darby had the only multi-hit game for the Ems, as he went 2-4 with a stolen base and a strikeout. It’s been a dreamy start to the year for the 23-year old lefty, who was a 12th-round pick in 2024, as he has a 1.029 OPS and a 178 wRC+ through 8 games (ignore the 29.4% strikeout rate and 0.0% walk rate). Darby had an excellent 2 months with Low-A San Jose last year, but struggled mightily in his month to end the year with Eugene. Nice to see him adapt to the level and start to take care of it.

Quiet — but not bad — games for the team’s pair of top prospects. Center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) hit 1-3 with a walk, while shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) went 1-4 with a double and a strikeout. Jordan, who has an .804 OPS and a 112 wRC+, has just 1 strikeout in his last 4 games, after amassing 13 Ks in his 1st 5 games of the year. Kilen, who has a 1.067 OPS and a 176 wRC+, has 7 extra-base hits in just 9 games, as July’s 1st-round pick is off to a brilliant start to his 1st full season.

Low-A San Jose (7-3)

San Jose Giants lost to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels) 12-6
Box score

The San Jose Giants did something we all desperately wish the San Francisco Giants would do: they hit a lot of home runs. Unfortunately, the end result for the Baby Giants was something the Adult Giants are all too familiar with: a loss.

But it wasn’t due to the long ball, as San Jose bopped a trio of big flies.

The 1st one came on the very 1st pitch of the day, from the very best prospect on the team, shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL).

Level returned to the lineup after missing a few games, and wasted no time making his impact with a gorgeous swing of the bat. It was his only hit of the day, as the 19-year old switch-hitter ended the game 1-4 with a walk, a strikeout, and his 1st error of the season.

There have been a lot of star performers in the Minors for the Giants this year, but I’d argue no one has had a better year than Level, who is building on last year’s breakout campaign by hitting 15-31 through 7 games, with 3 home runs, 5 doubles, 4 walks, just 7 strikeouts, and 3 stolen bases, all while playing solid defense at shortstop. Level has started to pop up at the very end of some top 100 lists and, if he keeps performing even remotely like this, I think he’ll likely be residing in the top 50 in every midseason prospect list. Really couldn’t ask for a better beginning to the year for someone who, it’s worth repeating, is more than 2 years younger than the average player in the Cal League.

If Level is the MVP of the farm system at this point, then catcher Junior Barajas is first or second-team All-Farm. Last year’s 11th-round pick continues to rake in his debut season, as he hit 1-4 with a home run and a walk.

The 21-year old lefty isn’t playing every day due to his position, but he’s making the most of his playing time, going 10-31 with 3 homers, 4 doubles, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts, for a 1.124 OPS and a 166 wRC+. Like Level, Barajas is doing that with solid defense at a premier position, as he’s wasted no time looking like the Giants latest late-round steal. We need more than 7 games before we can give him that crown, but still … the Giants have to be thrilled with what they’re seeing.

And rounding out the home run party was designated hitter Broedy Poppell, who hit 1-3 with a walk and his 1st career home run. That’s always worth celebrating!

Like Barajas, Poppell was a late pick by the Giants last year, as he went in the 13th round for a meager $50K signing bonus. The switch-hitter, who turns 24 soon, has been awesome in his debut season, hitting 6-20 with 5 walks against just 4 strikeouts. Normally an outfielder, Poppell is a little bit more a control the zone guy than a home run hitter, despite what he did Tuesday. That was his 1st extra-base hit, but he has more walks than strikeouts, which was also the case in his 2 seasons as a starter at Florida A&M.

Also a nice day for second baseman Dario Reynoso, who hit 2-4 with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. The right-handed hitter, who just turned 21, has had something of a mixed bag of a season. Last year he dominated the Complex League (.999 OPS, 158 wRC+), but was awful in his short stint with San Jose (.472 OPS, 45 wRC+). Things are much rosier in his 2nd pass through the level, as he has a .785 OPS and a 125 wRC+. But the issue with his 2025 was that he struck out a lot … even while decimating ACL pitchers, Reynoso had a red flag strikeout rate at 31.7%, which rose to 38.6% in San Jose. It’s still a troubling number this year, at 31.3%. And finally, there’s the power issue: Reynoso sported a .258 ISO in the ACL last year, thanks to 10 home runs and 27 total extra-base hits in just 53 games. He has just 1 extra-base hit this season, and through 22 total games in Low-A only has 4 … all of which have been doubles.

I’m stalling on the hitters because the pitchers weren’t good and I don’t want to talk about them. RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL) got the start, and it was a great game until it wasn’t.

Martinez was on absolute cruise control for a while, as he was perfect through the 1st 3 innings. But he ran into so much trouble in the 4th inning that he didn’t make it out of the frame, as he gave up 2 hits (both singles), 2 walks, and a hit batter, while only recording 2 outs. That, combined with RHP Mauricio Estrella allowing 2 of the inherited runners to score, tattooed 4 earned runs on Martinez’s ledger in just 3.2 innings, despite looking great for most of the game, and recording 5 strikeouts.

The 21-year old Martinez has yet to replicate last year’s breakout campaign, as he has a 9.45 ERA and a 6.57 FIP through 2 starts. But that’s a tiny sample size, and he has 9 strikeouts in 6.2 innings. There can be no denying that he has some of the best stuff in the system, he just needs to harness it.

RHP Melvin Pineda also showed off the strikeout stuff despite some struggles. The 2021 international signee from Venezuela, who turns 22 next month, gave up a hit, a walk, a hit batter, and a run in just 1.2 innings, but struck out 4 batters. He has 10 strikeouts through 5.2 innings this year.

Home run tracker

3 — Bo Davidson — [AA]
3 — Jhonny Level — [Low-A]
3 — Junior Barajas — [Low-A]
1 — Onil Perez — [High-A]
1 — Broedy Poppell — [Low-A]

Wednesday schedule

Sacramento: 6:05 p.m. PT at Tacoma (SP: Carson Whisenhunt)
Richmond: 4:10 p.m. PT at Hartford (SP: Greg Farone)
Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Everett (SP: Tyler Switalski)
San Jose: 6:30 p.m. PT at Rancho Cucamonga (SP: Cody Delvecchio)

Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV.

Fielding Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé on the same team sheet usually feels like something out of a video game fantasy.

For the occasion of the Champions League quarter-final second leg, we tried to put together the ultimate XI combining the Madrid and Munich squads.

From the wall that is Courtois to the metronome Olise, this mixed team highlights current form as much as historical prestige. A legendary XI for a quarter-final that is no less so.

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

For Boston Celtics head coach, a summer league game is a preseason game is a regular season game is a playoff game. Or to put it more plainly, for the Celtics coach, you have to win the game that is in front of you if you want to achieve the ultimate goal of winning a title. The expectations and challengers might vary, but the process does not.

And the Rhode Island native broke down why he feels that way after a recent Celtics practice, saying "It's the same in the fundamentals and the execution. What's different is the intensity -- (and) obviously the stakes."

"And so when you have to execute details and be disciplined under higher amounts of duress, it requires another level of physicality and mindset that you have to get to."

"And so we can't be distracted by the things that we can't control is what we're saying," said Mazzulla. "You still have to rebound, you have to run back on defense, you have to defend without fouling, you have to screen, you have to know your personnel, you have to be able to execute, you've got to be able to read two-on-ones, all that stuff is no different than a pickup game."

"What changes is the physicality that you have to do it, but also the intensity. And so that's the piece that we have to be ready to bring."

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Playoffs or preseason, approach the same for Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla

The Islanders offseason has begun with the signing of Quinn Finley to his two-year entry level contract.

Finley made the NCAA championship final with the University of Wisconsin as arguably the Badgers’ best forward in his junior year. They ultimately lost the title to Denver University, 2-1.

Listed at 6’, 190 lbs., the left-shooting winger was a third-round selection (78th overall) in the 2022 NHL draft. He played three seasons in the USHL before moving to the NCAA. He’s not a “top 100 NHL prospects” guy but could be a serviceable NHLer good AHLer.

Watching NHL draftees at the Frozen Four, the Athletic had this short blurb:

Finley was Wisconsin’s best forward for my money over the last two years, but he was less impactful this week. He spent a lot of his shifts in the offensive zone but struggled to break through.

That’s not as high as Scott Wheeler’s previous ranking of all Islanders prospects, where he put Finley in “Tier 3” (same as Isaiah George) and said Finley is a guy with:

above-average skill who processes the game at an advanced level and makes his plays without overstepping his boundaries. I like his work ethic, the consistency of his approach and his habits. He has a quick release and the instincts to get open for it as well. I’m not sure what his upside is as a pro, but he’s become an excellent college player and is on track to get signed. He plays a well-liked, well-rounded, versatile three-zone game that has shown more secondary skill over the last couple of years than I thought was there.

This signing was reasonably expected, so no big news here. Now the hard part begins.

Sunrise, Fla. — Paul Woods wasn't sure what the emotions were going to be.

Woods, 71, was set to do his last game as the Red Wings' radio analyst Wednesday when the regular season concluded against the Florida Panthers.

Working his 40th season as the Wings' radio analyst, Woods announced his retirement in February for this season's end.

"I'm not quite sure what to think," Woods said after the Wings' morning skate. "It's all good. Just so many great memories. I'm very satisfied with how everything turned out."

Woods played seven seasons and 501 games with the Wings before joining the radio booth in 1987, three years after his playing career ended. Woods accepted the radio opportunity on a lark, not expecting radio to be a long-time career, but suddenly "it grew on me."

"Just the game itself, to be able to see it and played at the highest level," Woods said of what he'll miss the most. "I was just going to do it for one year and then turned out to be 40. I love hockey. As a young kid on my house squirt team, I put on the Wings sweater and I wore it everywhere for two years.

"And now over 60 years later, it means a lot. I'll never forget it."

As for memories, calling the four Stanley Cup championships is foremost, but also the endless parade of Hall of Fame players that have played on the Wings and the special relationships around the team on a daily basis have made an impact with Woods.

"I love the game of hockey. I've had a great passion for it since I was 6 years old. I'll keep abreast of it. I'm just thrilled with how everything has turned out," Woods said. "I saw my first game at Maple Leaf Gardens (in Toronto) and the next one I was on the Wings playing against Toronto.

"This has all been a dream."

Woods is the longest-serving radio analyst in Detroit sports broadcasting history. Woods began his broadcasting career in 1987 working the booth with Bruce Martyn before Ken Kal replaced Martyn in 1995. Since then, Kal and Woods have become a favorite and trusted pairing for Wings fans for over three decades.

"Both of them are top play-by-play guys," said Woods, who worked his 3,000th game in 2022. "They just make the game so exciting and they drag into the fight, the tempo that they do with it.

"It's been exciting to be by their side."

Red Wings coach Todd McLellan has worked with Woods in two different stints, first when McLellan was an assistant on Mike Babcock's staff from 2005-08 and then when McLellan became head coach in 2024.

"I've been very fortunate," McLellan said. "Just his impact on the game and the ability to sell the game to Michigan for the past 40 years and the (seven) he played is remarkable."

As good a broadcaster Woods is, said McLellan, Woods the person has left an even bigger impact.

"Everybody can recognize his voice but maybe you don't recognize him at the grocery store or wherever it is," McLellan said. "But what I can tell you is, for as good a hockey man as he is, he's an even better human being. He's always positive. He means so much to the entire Red Wings family and to the game.

"I was just telling Ken Kal, we recognize players and coaches and managers, and they put statues up for people. I'm not saying Paul Woods needs a statue, but 48 years in one organization, we definitely have to acknowledge that."

Some Wings heading to playoffs

Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka and forwards Carter Mazur, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Dominik Shine will return for Grand Rapids and take part in the Griffins' run toward an AHL championship.

McLellan feels the experience can be extremely beneficial.

"We talked about Dominik Shine (the Griffins' captain) and the role he plays down there, how he drags everyone into the game, and I know he'll do that," McLellan said. "We spoke to him about it already and he's very hungry to go down there and lead.

"Then for the other players, this is a beginning, not an end. Everybody else has an ending (of the season) and this is a beginning for them. They can learn some valuable lesson in the playoffs and understand what it's like to play against the same team and in some cases seven games in a row, in hostile environments, playing through injuries. Being counted on is the big thing, so they can gain a lot."

The AHL playoffs will begin the last week of April.

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Paul Woods calls it a broadcasting career after 40 years with Red Wings

The new defense the Buffalo Bills will run under the watch of coordinator Jim Leonhard will look different. That will cause some changes in personnel and new responsibilities for players already on the team.

In terms of the latter, edge defender Greg Rousseau is squarely in that area.

A defensive end in a 4-3 defense, in Leonhard's 3-4 front (three D-line, 4 LBs), where is Rousseau a fit? Speaking to The Athletic, general manager Brandon Beane has revealed the answer.

A linebacker position was the most-likely answer, getting down to specifics, the GM revealed Rousseau will take on a further outside positioning (5-tech) as opposed to a spot closer to the middle (4i-tech).

Beane's full breakdown on Rousseau can be found below:

“Yeah, I think he’ll be on the outside ‘backer. You’re not gonna see him dropping [into coverage] as much as you would some other guys. But he can still do it enough — he might do it one time a game. Could he go play the 4i? Yeah, he could. I don’t know if you’re getting his value there, to be honest. It doesn’t mean he couldn’t do it. I think he’s versatile enough. Like anything, if we needed him to go do it, if these guys are like, ‘man, you’re the best guy,’ Greg would. But we see him in the outside ‘backer group, not that 3-4, 5-tech, 4i type stuff.”

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Brandon Beane: Bills' Greg Rousseau will see position change

Red Sox dealt tough Roman Anthony lesson amid .699 OPS start originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Last season, the Boston Red Sox called up Roman Anthony, and there was a ton of optimism about how much of an impact he could have in the big leagues for Boston.

He immediately produced, accruing 3.1 bWAR in 71 games, hitting eight homers and posting an .859 OPS before an injury cut his season short. This year has been a lot different.

As Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report noted, the Red Sox have been dealt a tough loss with Anthony after his .699 OPS start to the year. Despite how good Anthony can be, he just simply isn't a "finished product yet," according to Rymer.

Red Sox dealt a tough Roman Anthony lesson

"In all, the supposed savior of the Red Sox is really going through it," Rymer writes. "Perhaps there's something to the notion that he was tasked with too much, too soon."

The Red Sox were putting a lot on the 21-year-old's plate this season, and while he lived up to the hype last year, it's not too big of a surprise he's struggling this season.

Anthony has great potential, but he is struggling a good bit this season so far. A .699 OPS and one homer through the first 17 games of the season isn't great, and add in his very suspect defense when it comes to his arm, and the struggles are real.

More: Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade

Even though this isn't the start the Red Sox were hoping for out of Anthony this season, he's still playing at a decent level, especially with the rest of the lineup struggling in the early goings of the season.

But the team's superstar meant to lead the team, struggling like Anthony has made things seem a fair bit worse than they are.

Boston is 6-11 on the year, one of the worst records in Major League Baseball. But there's time to rebound, and this team has the talent to turn things around.

Anthony will be a big part of such a turnaround, as his current struggles, especially defensively, have been a tough lesson for the Red Sox to learn this season.

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career
• Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award
• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
• Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

Andre Agassi pickleball: Tennis legend reveals why he loves trending sport before Pickleball Slam 4 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The trendy new sport, pickleball, is in the spotlight on Wednesday.

Pickleball Slam 4 will be on national TV and it will feature the likes of Andre Agassi, James Blake, Ann Leigh Waters and Genie Bouchard.

Agassi is the eight-time Grand Slam champion, and he's also the Pickleball Slam defending champ.

The all-time great joined the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday afternoon to promote the night's event.

Why does Andre Agassi play pickleball?

Agassi plays pickleball because he loves it.

"I fell in love with pickleball because it's added a lot to our lives internally as a family, we're actually making friends now, which is hard to do at my age," Agassi told McAfee. 

He then went on to speak about joining the sport.

"Truth is, it's a low point of entry, nobody is intimidated to try it," Agassi said. "Everybody gets better quickly at it. It brings community together. There's a lot of gifts to it. It's a great physical outlet, believe it or not, and mentally it also requires a lot to lock on."

How to watch Pickleball Slam 4

The event is televised on a national broadcast on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

It's also on fubo, which offers a free trial for all new users.

Waters plays Blake to start the competition. Then it's Agassi against Bouchard. And then the two male tennis greats will team up against the female pickleball standouts.

MORE: The roots of Jackie Robinson Day on April 15

Bayern Munich have officially confirmed this evening that Tom Bischof has suffered a minor muscle tear in his left calf.

The news has broken on the eve of the Bavarian club's Champions League quarter-final duel with Real Madrid which starts at 21:00 CET.

This diagnosis was the result of an examination by FC Bayern's medical department who ran tests on the young midfielder.

As a result, the German record champions believe the 20-year-old will therefore be sidelined indefinitely for the time being.

It comes as a big blow to Vincent Kompany's side given the versatile German has been key in enabling rotation in recent Bundesliga games.

Last Saturday, Bischof played 90 minutes at left-back in the 5-0 win over FC St. Pauli and scored twice the previous weekend in a 3-2 triumph in Freiburg. 

The chapter at Florida State has closed for Maximo Garcia-Plata, and the Madrid native has found his next home. The former Seminoles redshirt guard has committed to the University of the Incarnate Word, giving the San Antonio-based program a player with an intriguing international pedigree and untapped potential.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard came to FSU from Madrid, Spain, having been a part of Real Madrid's basketball development system before arriving in Tallahassee. He played 19 games for Real Madrid's B team in the 2024-25 Tercera FEB league season, averaging 9.9 points per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 31.2% from three-point range. He also represented Spain on the international stage at the youth level before making the jump to American college basketball.

Garcia-Plata signed with Florida State in August of 2025 and ultimately redshirted the 2025-26 season as the Seminoles navigated a guard-heavy roster under first-year head coach Luke Loucks. His departure was ultimately a product of roster math rather than talent concerns. FSU's staff loved what Garcia-Plata could become, but with multiple guards already in the pipeline, the numbers simply didn't add up for him to stay.

He has the positional size coveted in a lead guard and the versatility to play either backcourt spot. At Incarnate Word, he will have the opportunity to play meaningful minutes immediately, something that was not possible in Tallahassee, given the depth around him.

For Garcia-Plata, the move to Incarnate Word represents the fresh start he needs. He arrives with a full four years of eligibility, professional-level European experience, and a skillset that was never truly tested at the college level. If his production with Real Madrid's B squad, nearly 10 points per game against professional competition, translates to the Southland, the Cardinals may have landed one of the more underrated portal additions in the conference this cycle.

Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Basketball: Maximo Garcia-Plata commits to Incarnate Word

Cavaliers superstar James Harden predicted to opt-out of current deal, receive $65 million contract update originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished off another good season, with a record of 52-30 and fourth in the Eastern Conference. Getting superstar James Harden at the trade deadline was also a key factor in their success.

However, Harden has the ability to leave after this season if he wants to. Luckily, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus predicts that he won’t, and will reject his option and will re-sign a longer contract with Cleveland.

MORE: Lakers predicted to upgrade from Deandre Ayton, sign $200 million All-Star center if current team doesn't extend him after breakout season

“The Cavaliers recently traded for Harden from the LA Clippers, knowing the former NBA MVP has the option to explore unrestricted free agency in July. Harden also had to approve the deal, which meant he lost his full rights (traded after re-signing for one year with the Clippers). Putting that all together, Harden and the Cavaliers presumably have an understanding that may include the veteran guard opting out to re-sign on a two-year deal starting at around $32.5 million (give or take $2.5 million).,” Pincus wrote.

Harden finished this season averaging 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and eight assists in 34.8 minutes per game. He became a vital part of the Cavs’ offense, becoming the playmaking maestro they’ve needed for a while. 

MORE: Proposed blockbuster Knicks trade sees New York pair Jalen Brunson with $175 million two-time MVP, lose Karl Anthony-Towns in the process

Pincus is projected Harden will receive a two-year, $65 million deal. Currently, Harden only has a $42 million player option for next season, so this works better for the Cavs as they get Harden for two more years instead of one, and for a lower AAV.

With that lower AAV, it allows them to pursue other stars in free agency, such as LeBron James, who could come home for his possible final season. Hopefully, the Cavs realize this is a move they need to make, and get to work.

It was a mild surprise to the college football world when Dante Moore announced in January that he would be returning to Eugene for another season with the Oregon Ducks. Although Ducks fans might not have been caught as off-guard, the decision put the nation on notice for the Ducks to be championship contenders once again in 2026 with some continuity under center.

Moore was a projected top-5 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, so his return meant one of, if not the best, quarterbacks in the country would be back in play. CBS Sports' Brad Crawford seems to believe in the latter, listing Moore atop his rankings for every power conference starter ahead of the 2026 season.

"Moore finished with 3,565 yards passing and 30 touchdowns in his first full season as a college starter, helping Oregon reach the College Football Playoff semifinals," Crawford wrote. "The former UCLA transfer will work with a new offensive coordinator this fall after spending the last two years with Will Stein, who's now leading Kentucky. He deserves the current spot as college football's top quarterback."

.@BCrawford247 ranked every projected Power Conference QB starter entering the 2026 season 👀

Full 1-68 ranking 🔗 https://t.co/MoEQBTcIGhpic.twitter.com/SpZnEjViQk

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) April 15, 2026

Within the top 10 of the rankings, there are three other quarterbacks from the Big Ten, two of which are on Oregon's regular season schedule. Ohio State's Julian Sayin falls one spot behind Moore at No. 2, while USC's Jayden Maiava and Indiana's Josh Hoover take the No. 9 and 10 spots, respectively.

At the end of the day, preseason rankings are all speculation, but it sets the table for what is expected of Moore next season. The Ducks have a more challenging schedule this year, particularly in November with matchups against Ohio State, Michigan and Washington. Still, the Ducks expect to be back in the College Football Playoff and contending for the conference crown, thanks to another year of progression for Moore and his increased role as a leader in the locker room this spring.

Beyond the outlook of next season, the rankings also show that Moore leads the way for what is widely believed to be a loaded 2027 quarterback class ahead of the NFL Draft. That class should feature Moore, alongside Texas' Arch Manning, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, Miami's Darian Mensah and many more.

The spring has gone well for Moore, both on and off the field, and the Ducks have one of the best receiving groups the program has ever had at his disposal. Time will tell if Moore can take the next step forward and live up to all the preseason hype.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon's Dante Moore tabbed top QB nationally in power conferences

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The Jose Soriano breakout is upon us.

The Los Angeles Angels right-hander has a microscopic 0.33 ERA through four starts and is tied for second in FanGraphs' Wins Above Replacement among qualified starters — New York Yankees righty Cam Schlittler is atop the board.

Soriano is still offering plenty of value in the latest Cy Young odds.

As the regular season continues apace, let's dig into the latest MLB odds and 2026 MLB Cy Young predictions below.

Odds to win AL Cy Young award 2026

Player
Tarik Skubal	+144
Bryan Woo	+429
Logan Gilbert	+429
Kevin Gausman	+558
Garrett Crochet	+567
Cam Schlittler	+614
Max Fried	+669
Jacob deGrom	+733
Nathan Eovaldi	+809
George Kirby	+817
Kyle Bradish	+910
Jose Soriano	+910
MacKenzie Gore	+910
Gavin Williams	+1011
Cole Ragans	+1595
Dylan Cease	+2281

Odds from PolyMarket.

Odds last updated on 4-15.

Odds to win NL Cy Young award 2026

Player
Paul Skenes	+223
Yoshinobu Yamamoto	+245
Cristopher Sanchez	+456
Shohei Ohtani	+492
Nolan McLean	+513
Chris Sale	+625
Zack Wheeler	+755
Freddy Peralta	+910
Jesus Luzardo	+1393
Tyler Glasnow	+1752

Odds last updated on 4-15.

MLB Cy Young futures bets

Bet	Odds	Bet date	Units
Eury Perez	+3500	March 25	0.25
Dylan Cease	+3000	March 25	0.25
Hunter Greene	+1400	February 24	0.25
Cole Ragans	+1300	February 24	0.25

The line movement hasn't been kind to our preseason picks. Hunter Greene is virtually out of the race due to a long-term injury, while both Eury Perez and Cole Ragans have seen their odds go in the opposite direction from when we took them.

Dylan Cease, at least, has seen his number go to +2000. 

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal hit his first stumbling block of the season after failing to get out of the fifth inning vs. the Twins, allowing four runs on eight hits in a losing effort. It will take more than that to torpedo his status as the betting favorite, though, as he's still +205. 

It's been tough sledding for pitchers named Hunter, as Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown is out for an uncertain amount of time with a shoulder injury. His Cy Young odds have fallen to +3500, but I'd argue they should be much longer or off the board entirely. 

With someone like Skubal leading the pack, with Garrett Crochet and others on his tail, missing any substantial time makes it so much harder to contend.

Though I'm tempted to drop a speculative wager on Sandy Alcantara after his start, he's also been subject to many trade rumors, so a midseason move to the American League is a real risk, which would derail any awards chances.

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Previous Cy Young Award winners

Here are the last 10 winners of the AL and NL Cy Young Award, with Detroit, Cleveland, Houston, Washington, and the New York Mets each leading the way with two. Overall, the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers have the most Cy Youngs all time (12), followed by the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves with eight and the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Mets with seven apiece.

Previous AL Cy Young winners

Year	American League Winner
2025	Tarik Skubal
2024	Tarik Skubal
2023	Gerrit Cole
2022	Justin Verlander
2021	Robbie Ray
2020	Shane Bieber
2019	Justin Verlander
2018	Blake Snell
2017	Corey Kluber
2016	Rick Porcello

Previous NL Cy Young winners

Year	National League Winner
2025	Paul Skenes
2024	Chris Sale
2023	Blake Snell
2022	Sandy Alcantara
2021	Corbin Burnes
2020	Trevor Bauer
2019	Jacob deGrom
2018	Jacob deGrom
2017	Max Scherzer
2016	Max Scherzer

Pitchers with multiple Cy Young awards

Twenty-two pitchers have won multiple Cy Young Awards, led by Roger Clemens' seven trophies. Of those 22 winners, five are still active in the majors.

Popular MLB futures markets

• MLB World Series odds
• MLB MVP odds
• MLB Rookie of the Year odds
• MLB playoff odds
• MLB HR title odds

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

NFL draft analyst Dan Brugler of The Athletic just put on a massive seven-round mock draft update just a week before the 2026 NFL Draft. Brugler didn't project any trades for the Steelers and instead made all 12 picks. This gives us a load of information to go over and break down so here we go.

First round - WR Omar Cooper Jr. - Indiana

Cooper is an ideal choice here because he's so strong inside after the catch but can also line up outside to allow DK Metcalf to slide in and create mismatches.

Second round - G Keylan Rutledge - Georgia Tech

Rock solid, day one starter who got better every week last season and carried that momentum into offseason workouts. Easy replacement for Isaac Seumalo.

Third round - LB Kyle Louis - Pitt

Louis is a tweener whose athleticism will get him drafted early but with the team's additions at safety, we aren't sure where he would play.

Third round - QB Garrett Nussmeier - LSU

We expect the Steelers to select a quarterback at some point and Nussmeier's ties to Mike McCarthy makes this choice make sense.

Third round - CB Chandler Rivers - Duke

Undersized but physical and probably best suited to compete with Brandin Echols in the slot.

Fourth round - TE Marlin Klein - Michigan

Solid sleeper tight end for that No. 3 spot on the depth chart. Great blocker and sneaky good as a receiver with his huge frame.

Fourth round - LB Jack Kelly - BYU

Not sure how to feel about coming back to Kelly here after taking Louis in the third. If Louis can't make the switch to safety you now have far too many linebackers.

Fifth round - DT DeMonte Capehart - Clemson

Capehart has a ton of potential as an inside/outside 3-4 defensive lineman but his length in particular meshes well on the outside.

Sixth round - EDGE Trey Moore - Texas

Big sleeper pick here and one our favorites in the draft. Great burst, highly productive and well coached.

Seventh round - OT Enrique Cruz - Kansas

Nice developmental tackle prospect this late in the draft.

Seventh round - WR Emmanuel Henderson - Kansas

Solid pickup this late with his skills as a returner.

Seventh round - P Ryan Eckley - Michigan State

Great college punter whose numbers were hurt by terrible special teams coverage at Michigan State.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Breaking down the Steelers picks in new mock draft from The Athletic

The Steelers have now used all of their 30 pre-draft visit slots, with Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders reporting Wednesday that the team hosted Arizona cornerback/safety Treydan Stukes for a visit.

Stukes visited alongside Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who was previously reported.

Now that the list is finalized, you can view BTSC’s pre-draft visit tracker here — all the top-30 visits as well as the three local visits.

Stukes, a 6’1, 190-pound defensive back, scored a strong 9.95 RAS ahead of the draft (no agility testing), headlined by a 4.33-second 40-yard dash.

“Sixth-year senior and team captain who went from walk-on to unquestioned leader of his defense. Stukes combines his infectious passion with hours of preparation that allow him to play fast,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in a pre-draft scouting report. “He communicates well from zone and works quickly from route to route. He has work to do in man coverage but possesses an excellent feel for disrupting catch-points at optimal angles despite a lack of ideal length. Stukes is an older prospect and has an ACL tear in his background (2024), but the football has a magnetic pull for him. Coaches will love his football character and versatility as a big nickelback or split safety.”

Stukes is an older prospect who will turn 25 in September. In 2025 with the Wildcats, he notched 52 total tackles, one sack, four interceptions, and six passes defensed. Per NFL Mock Draft Database, Stukes is projected as a second-round pick.

Aaron Sadler, communications director for the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, knows how to make a point.

For example, on buying marquee tickets for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, he said, “I suppose I’d have to take out a loan and sell a kidney.’’

Sadler, 49, has joined the chorus of shock and frustration over a presale ticket process marked by low inventory and high prices, according to Sadler and people sounding off online.

The price of four tickets to the Opening Ceremony for “OK’’ seats: $10,418.52, according to a screenshot on social media of the LA28 online checkout cart posted on X by @albertobelli.

Wrote Belli, “Guess I’m watching from the couch.’’

A scarcity of less expensive tickets for some events led to sticker shock. SwimSwam reported April 10 tickets to the Opening Ceremony still were available -- starting at $4,961.20 apiece. And tickets still were available for swimming prelims -- for $1,116.27, according to SwimSwam.

The highest price for non-couch seats at premiere events will exceed $5,000.

LA28, Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games, told USA TODAY its ticket program is "rooted in heavy analytics and extensive market demand research around entertainment and live sports in the U.S. Tickets are comparable to – or well under in many cases – professional sporting and major entertainment events in the U.S."  

Los Angeles residents, who had first access to tickets between April 2 and April 6, discovered the following: $28 tickets, billed as the lowest in modern Olympic history, quickly sold out; tickets for preliminary swimming priced at about $1,000; and, with virtually everything sold out, tickets for table tennis going for about $200 apiece.

Sadler entered the presale process with some experience. He bought tickets about a year before he and his wife attended their first Olympics, the Paris Games in 2024. Sadler shared a receipt showing he bought a pair of tickets for five events, including the women’s team gymnastics final, for about $3,500.

Tickets for some of the same events at the Los Angeles Games cost more than three times as much as the tickets for the Paris Games, according to Sadler.

“They’ve priced me out,’’ he said. “I don’t think it respects the spirit of the Games.’’

Responding to complaints from people who say they have found no $28 tickets, LA28 said, "Through the entire presale...there were $28 tickets available for purchase, which unsurprisingly were in high demand. We sold hundreds of thousands of $28 tickets during our LA & OKC Locals Presale — that's hundreds of thousands of locals who were able to get incredibly affordable tickets.''

Paris provides hope

Buying tickets during the presale required registering online, followed by a random draw. There will be multiple ticket drops, with the first one ending April 19.

Locals in Los Angeles and Oklahoma, site of Olympic softball and canoe slalom competition, got first crack. That left people like Sadler waiting until April 9 to look for tickets, with their experience with the Paris Olympics initially providing hope for him and his wife, Rev. Brittany Stillwell.

“So, I was reading an article in early 2023 about tickets for Paris,’’ Sadler said by email, “On a whim I just decided to register for a time slot. I had totally forgotten about it until May 2023 when I got an email about my ticket window.’’

In addition to tickets, they got something else: the idea of honeymoon during the Paris Olympics. At the time, Sadler and his wife weren't even engaged. They married in April 2024, three months before the Olympics started.

“In a way,’’ Sadler said, “you could say our Paris ticket buy was the catalyst for our marriage.’’

But talk of romance ends there.

What Sadler didn’t know when he logged on April 9 to buy tickets for the Los Angeles Olympics were the steeper prices, the scarcity of tickets for coveted events and the 24% service fee for purchased tickets compared to the 1.5% service fee charged for purchased tickets for the Paris Olympics.

“I would just like to know why it jumped that high,’’ Sadler said of the service fee.

LA28 told USA TODAY Sports the service fees "align with standard industry practices for ticketing live events in the U.S. Service fees cover the costs of securely processing and delivering tickets, such as ticketing platform development, customer service, payment processing, fulfillment and distribution. All-in pricing is displayed upfront, included within the prices people see as they shop, and a breakdown of the price and service fees are provided at checkout for further transparency." 

'OK, you guys win'

The 2028 Olympics will be privately funded, according to LA28, and the Los Angeles Times reported LA28 leaders project the Games will cost more than $7.1 billion.

LA28 told USA TODAY Sports the revenue goal for ticketing and hospitality (On Location packages) is $2.5 billion -- "an important part of delivering a fiscally responsible Games.'' 

Offered Sadler, "If the intent is to raise money and there is demand for a $2,400 gymnastics ticket, OK, you guys win. But I don’t see how that’s reflecting what the Olympics are all about."

Up to 14 million tickets will be available for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, according to the IOC, which on its website states, “There is a wide range of prices catering to all types of fans, with entry point ($28) Olympic tickets available.’’

LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover has promised more $28 tickets.. Most tickets cost over $100, with premium seats topping $5,500, according to MSN, which reported Hoover defended the pricing, while saying the “average ticket price is under $200” and calling it “accessible.”

Mark Adams, Communications Director for the IOC, said nearly half of the tickets are less than $200; more than 75 percent of tickets, including for finals, will be less than $400; and only roughly 5% of all tickets will cost more than $1,000.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LA Olympics ticket prices cause sticker shock for fans

The Butler Bulldogs have turned to a former player to turn things around after coach Thad Matta retired and moved into a different role with the program this offseason.

Butler hired Ronald Nored, who played for the team from 2008-12 and has spent the last 10 years working in the NBA. He's been the head coach for the G League's Long Island Nets, and he was an assistant for the Hornets, Pacers and, most recently, Atlanta Hawks.

Nored's college coach, Brad Stevens, had high praise for the hire in a statement posted online by Butler.

"I'll never forget driving down to Birmingham, Alabama, and meeting in that small room in Homewood High School," Stevens, who is currently the Boston Celtics president of basketball operations, said. "Walking out of there, not necessarily knowing how good of a player you would be, but knowing that you were the perfect Bulldog.

"As your high school coach told me: 'there's no better leader that he's ever been around.' And it was really clear from day one, when you walked into Butler, that you had a special ability to lead and to galvanize the room. And as a result: you're one of the best leaders I ever saw on the court and certainly one of the best that I have ever been around.

"We wish you nothing but the best and you know we are here for you whenever you need it. We are so thrilled that you will write the next chapter of Butler basketball.

"Go Dawgs!"

Ready to write the next chapter 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/xPUkuvhfa3

— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) April 15, 2026